Hot/Not

HOT

Yu Darvish - 8 2/3 innings pitched, 1 hit, no walks, 14 K's in his season debut.  An almost perfect way to start off the year.

Photo Cred www.basketball.wikia.com

John Wall - Coming off of a 27 point - 8 rebound- 9 assist game, he's finally living up to his potential.  If he would have been able to play all season, we may have seen the Wizards in the playoffs, something that is foreign to the NBA (averaging 24-6-8 in last 10 games).

Jacob Markstrom (FLA-G) - 5 wins, 1.5 GAA, .944 SV% in 7 starts behind a horrible Panthers defense.  Faced an average of 36 shots per game over that stretch.  Typical Florida goalie - seeing LOTS of rubber.

Photo Cred www.elpasonic.com

Chris Davis - Listen to the stats of the Orioles first baseman so far.  Four games, 9 for 15 (.600 avg), 4 homeruns, 3 doubles, 16 RBIs, 1.600 SLG., 2.211 OPS. That's averaging 1 homerun and 4 RBIs per game. That's a hot way to start off the year!

Louisville Basketball - Both the men's and women's programs have made the Final Four.  The men's team overcame a dramatic and terrible injury and the women's team beat the she-man Brittany Griner to make the Final Four.  It's early spring and the Cardinals have arrived.

Alexander Ovechkin - He is hotter than the sun.  9 goals and 15 points in 9 straight games.  Good to see him back.  The NHL missed the old Ovechkin.


HOT/NOT - Roy Halladay - 3 1/3 innings: 9 Strikeouts.  Same 3 1/3 innings: 6 hits, 5 runs, 2 homeruns, 3 walks.  You try and explain it.

NOT

Rutgers FORMER Basketball Coach Mike Rice - Video of Rice pushing players, throwing basketballs at them and screaming racial and homosexual slurs at practice have surfaced int he media. What's worse?  When the AD found out a few months ago he suspended Rice for 3 games.  Suspended?  Now that the media has gotten hold of the footage, and Rice has been fired.  Too late Rutgers, far too late.

Photo Cred www.businessinsider.com

Mark Cuban - Just came out saying he was thinking of taking Britney Griner in the second round.  She's a woman.  It's the NBA.  That should be the dumbest pick since passing on Kevin Durant for Greg Oden.  Don't get me wrong, she's good, but there is NO POSSIBLE WAY she could play at that level.

Miami Marlins - The Marlins are the only team in the majors not to win a game yet.  They were swept by the Nationals in the year's first series.  Looks like more of last year's woes just keep on coming.

Photo Cred www.twitter.com

Denny Hamlin - Not only was he wrecked by Joey Logano in the final turn of the California race to finish 25th instead of winning.  Hamlin will now miss at least 5 races with a compression fracture in his lower spine.  Chances of winning a championship this year just dove off a cliff.

Sidney Crosby & the Penguins - Crosby took a puck to the jaw last week.  The Penguins have lost two in a row.  They are easily a top seed in the playoffs, but without their star and any momentum, one must wonder what kind of chances they stand.

Rory McIlroy - It's been a tough road as of late for the kid.  Two weeks ago he lost the #1 golf ranking.   This is his last weekend to get his swing back before the Masters.  I just looked it up, he had a great round today (-5).  Let's see if he can carry any momentum into the weekend now.

Hot/Not

Some of these athletes dominated their sport this week...some of them did not

HOT

Photo Cred www.loudville.com

Sidney Crosby - Crosby led his team last week to 4 straight victories, notching 2 goals and 9 assists for 11 points in those 4 games. Along with those points he was a +7 to lead all skaters and is on pace, if this were an 82 game season, to finish with 41 goals and 107 assists.

Columbus Blue Jackets - Despite the overwhelming odds against their favor, the Jackets are finding ways to win. Sergei Bobrovsky posted 4 straight wins last week with a 0.77 GAA, capping off the week with 2 straight wins against division rival Detroit Red Wings.

Photo Cred auto.howstuffworks.com

Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. - These three drivers are the only ones who have yet to finish outside of the Top 10 in a race.  Keselowski, the defending champion, hasn't finished lower than fourth.  At the moment, the points standings are a three man race.

Anquan Boldin - One of the great wide receivers in the game, Boldin led the team with 22 receptions in the playoffs, a huge piece of the Super Bowl.   What does he get in return?  An offer to cut his pay.  Props to Anquan for sticking to his guns and going to a team, the 49ers, who appreciate who he is and what he's done.

Kobe Bryant -  Kobe is carrying a team and he's 32 years old. Let that sink in! 32. Since the All Star Break the Lakers are 8-2 and Kobe is averaging 32.2 points. He's hitting more clutch shots than anyone in the NBA and it looks like not even Father Time can slow him time.

Miami Heat - They have won 18 straight games, 'nough said. 


NOT


Photo Cred www.senstown.com

Florida Panthers - A good start to the week with a 4-1 win over Winnipeg was quickly forgotten after the Panthers got back to their old ways and gave up 15 goals in a 3 game skid. The Panthers have given up 97 goals in 26 games. Next most? New York Islanders with 88.

Tomas Vanek - Though appearing on the last issue of Hot/Not as a "Hot" player, he is now a "Not". In the first 11 games of the season, Vanek was unstoppable, tallying 11 goals and 12 assists. In his last 15, he has managed a measly 2 goals 4 assists. Biggest drop off ever? Maybe not, but it's gotta be pretty close.

Danica Patrick - After a strong showing at an easy track in Daytona, Danica has run around 30th the next two races, crashed hard at Phoenix, was hit in the head with a rock at a dirt track and finished 5 laps down at Las Vegas.  My how her stock is flatlining.  

Photo Cred bleacherreport.com

Michigan Free Throws and Offensive Rebounding - Just when it was looking like Michigan would end their season with a big win over #2 Indiana, they missed 3 out of 4 free throws down the stretch and 7 of 13 overall. To make matters worse, they gave up 25 offensive rebounds to Indiana. One could say they practically gave the game away.

Steve Stricker - He finished runner up in the World Golf Championship event this past weekend.  Not so bad, huh?  The catch: He gave Tiger Woods some putting advice before hand...Tiger Woods beat Stricker by two strokes.  Oops.

Brandon Knight - Props to him for going up and trying to defend DeAndre Jordan, but the man got owned. Ouch. Not good. That's all that needs to be said. 


          



Got any Hots or Nots to add?  Comment below!

Hot/Not

Some of these athletes dominated their sport this week...some of them did not

HOT

Photo Cred static3.businessinsider.com

Lebron James - Putting video game like numbers up the past few weeks.  Lebron is proving that one ring just wasn't enough.  Averaging 27 points, 7 assists and 8 rebounds a game.  Lebron has the Heat at the top of the Eastern Conference and not ready to be dethroned.  The newly self titled LJ is hunting for Rint #2.


James Harden - Averaging 32-8-7 on his way to leading the Rockets to a 4-2 record.  His player rating the last 15 days is 13.94 (second only to LeBron).  It seems the beard is feeling it.


Photo Cred pictures.zimbio.com



Brandt Snedeker - In five events this year, Snedeker, last year's Fedex Cup Champion, has a third, two seconds and one win.  He won this past week by two strokes for his first ever victory.  This kid's got something special going on.  Watch out Tiger!

Thomas Vanek - The Buffalo Sabre hot shot has been spreading widespread Vanek around the NHL. Leading the league in points (23), and goals (11), Vanek is proving he is one of the best forwards in the league.

Indiana Hoosiers - Indiana is ranked number one this week, and may be the first No. 1 ranking team in five weeks to not lose!

NOT

Photo Cred www.espn.go.com



Kentucky Basketball - Just one season after a 6 pack of freshmen took March Madness by storn, Kentucky is struggling to stay in the Top 25.  In the preseason Top 10, Kentucky already has 6 losses on the season and sits at #25 in the nation.  With a big injury to prospected #1 pick Nerlens Noel, Kentucky's 2013 future is not looking promising.

2013 NFL Draft Class - When a linebacker is considered as the #1 overall pick, you know things are grim.  After a dynamite quarterbacking class in '12, this year's class seems to have missed the boat.  Oh well, one more year till Johnny Football hits the big stage.

Hedo Turkoglu - Tested positive for methenolone, and anabolic steroid, and got banned for 20 games.  C'mon man, really?  Steroids?  All you do it shoot 3's, you don't need to be that jacked.  Get with it.



Photo Cred www.nhlhockeybetting.com



Alex Ovechkin - With a measily 5 goals and 5 assists in the 2013 season, Ovechkin is quickly regressing.  One of the most dynamic and explosive players in the NHL just a few years ago, his 'one trick act' seems to have been figured out.  To 'Cap' it off, he has an atrocious -5 plus/minus rating which proves not only is he not scoring, he is negatively affecting his team when on the ice.

#1 Ranked NCAA Basketball Team - Going into this past week, the last five number one ranked teams in college basketball had lost and been dropped from #1 standing.  I guess what they say is true, it really is hardest to be number one.  I'd hate to be in Indiana's shoes right now.

Got any Hots or Nots to add?  Comment below!

Hot/Not

Some of these athletes dominated their sport this week...some of them did not

HOT

San Antonio Spurs - Winners of 9 straight, the Spurs (37-11) have shown they are not ready to concede the West to Oklahoma City quite yet.  Tim Duncan continues to dazzle in the most boring way as he leads his team to the top spot in the West.

Photo Cred www.vuhoops.com

San Jose Sharks - The Sharks have begun the 2013 campaign with a perfect 6-0 start.  While the Kings got all the preseason hype.  Patrick Marleau and the Sharks have dominated opponents with a +16 goal differential.  A perennial regular season powerhouse, the question remains: Can the Sharks prove themselves in the playoffs?

Villanova Basketball - Amidst a mediocre 2012-2013 season, the Wildcats surprised the nation by taking down Syracuse and Louisville in the same week, ranked #3 and #5 respectively.  This monstrous week has given the young Wildcats new life in a Big East Conference with no legitamate #1 team.

Novak Djokovic - Djokovic captured his 3rd Australian Open this past weekend.  Further, in an era of Federer and Nadal dominance, he has established himself as the legitamate #1 player in the world.

Deer Antler Spray - Have you ever heard of Deer Antler Spray before this week?  What does it even do?  Thanks to Ray Lewis alleged usage, Deer Antler Spray is the new HOT commodity!

NOT

Photo Cred www.washingtonpost.com

Randy Moss - Did you hear the humble statement Randy made this week during media week?  He only said that he was the greatest wide receiver to ever play the game.  Really Randy?  That's bold, especially without even mentioning the greatest ever, Jerry Rice.

Andrew Bynum - Another star with a dumb statement this past week.  According to Andrew, it doesn't really matter when he comes back to the court.  Yeah, just so you know Bynum, the Philadelphia fans don't care when you come back either...NOT!

Lesean McCoy - On the field, McCoy is the man.  Off the field, he has some growing up to do. This week on Twitter, Lesean got into a tweeting fight with his son's mother.  After a slew of uncalled for and inappropriate tweets, he finally deleted his account.  Gotta do some maturing bro, and get a PR person.

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

MLB Players Using HGH - At least 20 players, including Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and Gio Gonzalez, were reported to have used illegal HGH.  Guys, it's a banned substance.  Stop using it!

Marshall Faulk and Tim Brown - Both of these former players have come out the past couple of weeks complaining they were cheated out of a Super Bowl ring.  Brown says his coach threw the game.  Faulk says the Patriots cheated through Spygate.  Both Super Bowls were at least 10 years ago.  Let it go men, let it go already.

Got any Hots or Nots to add?  Comment below!

Hot/Not

Some of these athletes dominated their sport this week...some of them did not

Hot

Mante Te'o's Girlfriend - She's so far off the hot-ometer that she doesn't even exist.

Photo Cred www.dailymail.co.uk

Sloane Stephens - Huge win for the 19 year-old against Serena Williams at the Australian Open. In her words, "I hope this gets me more twitter followers".

Atlanta Braves - Seriously upgrading the outfield by picking up the Upton brothers. Watch out NL East. 

Colin Kaepernick - Breaking records against the Packers, going to the Super Bowl in his 9th start...

Ray Lewis - Dude's got the entire Ravens team rallied around him.  He's on fire!

Not

Flyers - The Broad Street Bullies have been tossed around in their first 3 games resulting in a rancid 0-3 start. 

Lakers - Record 17-25. The Lakers haven't lost 25 games in a season in 5 years.

Photo Cred www.bleacherreport.com

Dwight Howard - Last night he scored 2 points and collected 2 rebounds. Plus, he picked up another injury. Things are getting embarrassing in LA. 

Lance Armstrong - It's bad enough Lance lied and doped for all those years.  Then he goes crawling to Oprah.

Mante Te'o - We feel for this guy.  He was Catfished.  But we have to say, seriously?!