Domination Station

Tiger Woods

By Ryan Frisco

This segment is dedicated each week to an athlete who dominated their sport that week

The Old Tiger Woods.  The New Tiger Woods.  We've heard both of these terms thrown around the last couple years.  What do they mean?

Photo Cred www.thebiglead.com

The Old Tiger Woods was great.  He was an unstoppable force on the golf course.  Players shivered in their golf shoes when they saw his name on the sign-up sheet.  The Old Tiger Woods was going to break all the records.

Then there is the New Tiger Woods.  He was a broken man who had lost his swing, his fierceness and his dominance.  He couldn't putt.  His drives didn't find fairway.  Players looked over his name on the sign-up sheet, looking for real competition.  These are two very different people.

Last weekend, we saw the Old Tiger Woods again.  We saw a man that got inside the head of PGA greats.  We saw the man that won 14 majors in 10 years.

Photo Cred www.eurweb.com

In one of the greatest displays of dominance on the golf course, Tiger ran away from the competition at the Farmers Insurance Open.  No one came close.  At one point, he had a 9 shot lead in the tournament.  He was so far ahead that after going four over on the last five holes, he still finished a whole four shots ahead of the next closest competitor.

All this happened at Torrey Pines, where he had previously won 7 times.  As one writer put it, 'Tiger makes this prestigious public course look like his own private course.'  It's not home field advantage, but it may as well be.  He has won at Torrey Pines 8 times, and won the Farmers Insurance Open 7 times. 

Tiger Woods dominated the tournament.  He also dominated that course.  That was his 75th PGA tournament victory.  Eight more wins breaks Sam Snead's all-time record.  Four more majors to catch Jack Nicklaus.  It's on folks.  The Old Tiger Woods is back.

Showcase Showdown

Super Bowl XLVII Champion Debate

Baltimore Ravens vs. San Francisco 49ers
By Caleb Musselman and Ryan Frisco



Photo Cred www.fox5sandiego.com

We are just a few short days away from Super Bowl XLVII. The excitement is contagious and the storylines are endless. As of Wednesday, San Francisco is a 3.5 point favorite in this highly anticipated Harbaugh showdown. However, if any analyst is honest with him/herself, there is really no legitimate favorite in this matchup. The 49ers most likely have the edge because of overall talent at each position, but Baltimore makes up for in passion what they lack in talent. In this week’s Showcase Showdown, Ryan and I will debate our Super Bowl picks.

I’ve got San Fran. Ryan’s got the Ravens.

Caleb – My head tells me Baltimore because of their outrageous momentum coming in, but my heart tells me San Francisco. I learned my lesson last week about the head and the heart. The 49ers will win for a few reasons. First, with the exception of the WR position, they are equal or stronger at almost every position. The Ravens bread and butter is its line-backing core. They are stronger than almost every NFL team at this position, except for one team, and that team happens to be San Fran. Patrick Willis is the Ray Lewis of his generation, and he leads a stiflingly athletic 49er Defense. Second, Joe Flacco has been fantastic this postseason. In fact, almost too good. I think he’s due for a mediocre performance. Obviously this is just conjecture, but I have a feeling that Flacco could fold under the pressure. I have much more to say but I’ll give my friend a chance to rebut. Ryan?

Photo Cred www.zimbio.com

Ryan – Caleb, I’m happy to hear that you learned the crucial lesson of listening to your heart instead of your head.  Unfortunately this time, I fear your heart is in the wrong place.  In a dome free from the outside elements, Joe Flacco is going to have a field day.  Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin are the league’s closest comparison to Julio Jones and Roddy White, and we saw what that tandem did to San Fran’s secondary two weeks ago in the first half.  They lacked the drive and passion to close; the Ravens will close the second half out. Disagree?

Caleb - There is no comparing this Ravens passing attack to the Falcons. Having 3 of the best receivers in the league on one squad is enough to give any Defense fits. The Ravens have 3 good receivers, but they are not the Falcons. Additionally, Flacco is not Matt Ryan. Carlos Rogers is a very underrated safety who will lock down Smith or Boldin, whoever he’s matched against. I have no doubt the Ravens deep attack will be successful. However, San Francisco’s running attack and ability to control the clock on long TD drives is going to cause problems for Baltimore. This may be a solid Ravens passing attack, but how effective can they be if they aren’t on the field?

Photo Cred www.sfgate.com

Ryan – Easy.  This Ravens offense WILL control the Time of Possession battle.  Yes, the 49ers have a great rushing attack.  Three powerful backs, plus one of, if not the fastest, quarterback in the league.  But check out the Baltimore defense in the playoffs; they haven’t let up a 100 yard rusher.  They haven’t let up a single rushing touchdown.  And, they’ve only allowed four touchdowns in three playoff games.  This new Baltimore defense is clamp down solid.  No one, not even Frank Gore, is getting through them.  Ray Rice is the elite overall running back on the field, and between his powerful, agile running and his presence in the passing game, Baltimore is going to eat up the clock.  Do you seriously think San Francisco can manage more then 21?

Caleb – Yes, in fact, I think both teams will score more than 21. I just don’t see this being a low-scoring game. The more I think about this game, the more I think it will come down to turnovers. Both of these teams have the ability to strike quickly, but they also both have the ability to grind the clock: the mark of two truly complete teams. However, a big turnover in a big moment is enough to crush an entire season. I’m thinking Bernard Pierce, the guy who steals all of Ray Rice’s carries, is going to get one too many touches and cough the ball up in a big spot. Do you really think Flacco will go another game without a pick? He’s due.

Photo Cred www.sfgate.com

Ryan – You are right, these teams do both have a complete offense.  And I agree, I think a big turnover may play a major factor in this game.  It’s going to be close, we both know that.  So, in a close game, what does it come down to?  The kickers.  This game will be decided by one score.  One missed field goal is what crushes this season, not a turnover.  Justin Tucker has missed 3 of 33 (91%) while Akers has missed 13 of 42 (69%).  Who do you trust under pressure?  (And don’t play the experience card, Tucker has proven he’s solid under pressure).

Caleb – Every kicker has his rough points in his career. David Akers has solidified himself as one of the best in the game over the past 15 years. Further, he has been waiting for his second chance at a ring for a few years now. He’s had a rough season, but he won’t miss on anything under 45 yards in this one. He understands the gravity of the moment. Finally, neither Jim nor John Harbaugh has lost after a bye week in their coaching careers. So maybe we’re looking at a 6 OT thriller? I hope so. I’m going 49ers 27-24. Akers with a chip shot for the win. What you got son?

Ryan – Hmm, I like the idea of an overtime thriller.  I don’t think I’ve seen a Super Bowl go OT yet.  And these are definitely the teams to do it.  I don’t necessarily like to argue what I’m about to, but I’m going to do it anyway.  This game comes down to the drive and motivation to win.  The Ravens have that.  The 49ers don’t.  We’ve seen the passion that Baltimore has displayed this post season.  They don’t give up.  It’s never over for them.  They will not let this season end until they are on top.  Kaep will have more chances definitely, but this year, no soup for you! Akers will miss an early, long FG.  49ers drive late, but stall at the 20.  Final Score Ravens 21 - 49ers 17.

This ends the pre Super Bowl coverage.  What do you think?  Who’s going to come out on top in the Super Bowl?  We’d love to hear your opinion!  Comment below and let us have it for dissing your team!

4th and Long

Road to the Super Bowl

A Ravens Story

By Ryan Frisco



The Baltimore Ravens ended last season too early.  Ray Lewis’ season ended too early.  Joe Flacco’s season ended too early.  They were the AFC’s first loser, in a game they should have won.  This year, the tables turned; big time.

Photo Cred www.bleacherreport.com

With 2011’s AFC Championship loss fresh in their minds, John Harbaugh’s Ravens team came out in 2012 with a vengeance.  This much was obvious based off of the season opener Monday night against Division rival Cincinnati Bengals, where Baltimore went on a hometown romping, 44-13.  That win was over a talented Bengal team that finished second in the AFC North and made playoffs as the second wild card.  Not too shabby.

After a great start to their redemption season, Baltimore fell embarrassingly to the Philadelphia Eagles.  The same Philly team that finished the year 4-12.  In Baltimore’s defense, the team they faced week two was not the same team we saw the rest of the season, but still shameful and sloppy.  Things were about to pick up though.

The NFL brought in one of the year’s headline games early this year, with a rematch of last years AFC Championship in week three.  In their second Prime Time game in the first three contests, Baltimore inched by the Patriots 31-30 with a last second boot off the foot of rookie Justin Tucker, who was key to Baltimore’s success.  Record: 2-1.

Photo Cred www.blackchristiannews.com

That win sparked a run for the Ravens, who would win their next three games, all by only one score.  They won a tough game against the rival Cleveland Browns in week four.  They squeaked by the Kansas City Chiefs in week five in a barn burner, 9-6.  Week six against the Dallas Cowboys looked to be in the bag, but Tony Romo did what he somehow does best, lead a comeback.  Dallas scored a touchdown down by eight with four minutes left in the game, but Baltimore stopped the two point conversion and held on to win 31-29.  Record: 5-1

Week seven was the most forgettable week of the year for Baltimore, as they fell to the Houston Texans 43-13.  They looked horrible.  They couldn’t run, they couldn’t pass, they couldn’t defend…most of their points and yardage was during garbage time.  At this point, many were wondering how viable a threat the Ravens were.  This was a good time for the Bye week.

And, from what we saw the next four weeks, the bye came just in time.  Baltimore went on a four game winning streak.  First was a 10 point victory over Cleveland for the season sweep over them.  Next was one of the greatest blowouts of the year, as they steamrolled the Oakland Raiders 55-20.  The next two wins were each by three points over two very capable teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.  Record: 9-2.

At this point, the Ravens held a commanding upper hand in the AFC North.  It seemed only a colossal collapse would see the Ravens losing the division…and it almost happened.

Photo Cred www.profootballtalk.nbcsports.com

Over the next five games, Baltimore lost four of them.  The first was to Pittsburgh in an offense-less competition.  The second of these losses came in an embarrassing way to the Washington Redskins.  The Ravens had the game locked up and somehow blew it, losing in the end by three after a massive comeback.  They then lost to the AFC best Denver Broncos, and the last game (which didn’t matter) to Cincinnati.  In that span they beat the New York Giants, who were in the middle of their collapse. 

Baltimore won their division, but only because the division fell around them.  Pittsburgh lost their Quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, and their defensive leader, Troy Polomalu, and couldn’t keep up.  The Bengals are good, but not good enough to contend for the division just yet.  Baltimore lucked out in making the playoffs, but what happened next is no joke.

Wild Card Playoff: Indianapolis Colts.  In the first game all season that saw Baltimore’s big four playing together on defense, Indy’s Luck ran out (gotta love that pun!).  Unable to get anything at all going on the ground or through the air, Ray Lewis and his Ravens defense cruised to an easy 24-9 victory.  On to Denver!

Divisional Round Playoff: Denver Broncos.  Something special was in the air during this game.  It’s not everyday that Champ Bailey gets burned twice for touchdowns in one game.  It’s not common place for Denver’s stellar defense to let up 38 points.  And it’s unheard of for a safety to let up a 70 yard touchdown to tie the game with 30 seconds left in a game.  I still have no idea how it happened, but Baltimore pulled off the Mile High Miracle.



Photo Cred www.bangordailynews.com



AFC Championship: New England Patriots: You can see the review of last week’s game in an earlier article.  But, to put it plainly, Baltimore handled Tom Brady and the Patriot’s offense.  In the rematch of last year’s Championship game, Baltimore completed their turning of the tables revenge.  Onward and Upward from here!



So now what?  How do the Ravens stop the streaking 49ers?

1. Stop the RUN GAME!!! – The San Francisco offense is built around the run.  Frank Gore.  LaMichael James. Anthony Dixon.  Oh, and let’s not forget Colin Kaepernick.  This newly restored Baltimore defense has stymied the run so far in the playoffs.  They cannot afford to stop now.

2. Contain Vernon Davis – We saw last week how deadly Vernon Davis can be, when he’s playing for the team an not himself.  He is the fastest man on the 49ers offense, and he plays Tight End.  Ray Lewis needs to cover him in the middle, and the Safeties need to keep an eye out in the secondary.  Do not let #85 behind you!

Photo Cred www.thenosebleeds.com

3. Attack the 49ers Secondary – Getting anything going on the ground is near impossible against San Fran.  I think they let up only one rushing touchdowns last year, and maybe four this season.  The weakest part of this D (and it’s not really weak) is the defensive backs.  Flacco needs to get that ball 20+ yards down the field (and this time, Caleb, wind will not get in the way).  Split Ray Rice out wide and let him get in the passing game (this is a must!).  I’d also add in a little trickery as well, say, let Ray Rice make a pass or two…

An interesting tidbit I'd like to add: Three years ago, the Eagles home opener was against the New Orleans Saints, who won the Super Bowl.  Two years ago, the Eagles home opener was against the Green Bay Packers, who won the Super Bowl. Last year, the Eagles home opener was against the New York Giants, who won the Super Bowl.  This season, the Eagles home opener was against the Baltimore Ravens, who...

Bring on the Souper Bowl!

4th and Long

Road to the Super Bowl

San Francisco 49ers Quest for #6

By Caleb Musselman



Intro – One year ago, the 49ers were still swallowing their recent 20-17 defeat to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship game. Licking their wounds, they slowly came to grips with the fact that the season was over. Anyone who has ever played a highly competitive sport knows the beautiful joy of victory and the gut-wrenching pain of defeat. When a team strives to be the best, and gets within inches of this mark, the road to recovery can be a struggle. In fact, upon this type of defeat, teams usually go one of two ways. They either fall into a depression and have a next season slump, or they rise from the ashes with even more hunger and desire to achieve their goals. Well, unless you have just woken up from an 11 month coma, you should know which of these paths the 49ers have chosen to take. However, if you did just wake up from an 11 month coma I’ll help you out. First, call the nurse and ask her to bring you a pair of pants, then go on www.youtube.com and search Colin Kaepernick. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s move forward.

Photo Cred www.cdn.bleacherreport.net

            After a heart breaking loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants, the 49ers entered the 2012-2013 season with a full bag of chips on their shoulder. From the outset, it was rather obvious that Jim Harbaugh and his squad meant business. With virtually their entire team intact from the year before, San Francisco was ready for redemption, and Alex Smith was ready to silence the critics. My how things can change in a 17-week season.

Photo Cred www.yimg.com

Regular Season – Week 1 slated San Fran against Aaron Rodgers and the high-flying Packers offense at Lambeau Field. In a battle of NFC giants, San Francisco established themselves as top dog with a convincing 30-22 victory. Alex Smith did his best Alex Smith impersonation going 20-26 for 211 yards, two TD’s and no interceptions. Frank Gore had a dominating 100+ performance and the 49ers were off to a fantastic start to the 2012 campaign. The next week the 49ers handled a pesky Detroit team on there way to a 2-0 start. Weeks 3-6 brought some interesting trends to San Francisco’s season. A loss to the Vikings 24-13 in Week 3 was followed by two consecutive thrashings of the Jets (34-0) and the Bills (45-3). They finished off this four game stretch with a very bad loss to the Giants (26-3). Throughout these games an uncomfortable trend had been established. The 49ers were one of the best teams in the league, but on occasion, the offense would forget to play. The Niners may not have thought much of it, but the league began to take notice.

Photo Cred ww4.hdnux.com

            During week 7 and 8 San Francisco got back on the horse and returned to their stellar play. A tough 13-6 win against Seattle was followed by a drubbing of the lowly Cardinals. Alex Smith was putting up over 200 yards a game. In fact, he was having an excellent campaign in the first 8 weeks. After their bye in week 9, the 49ers had their first matchup against division rival St. Louis. During the first half, Alex Smith was hit and came up woozy. Enter Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco faithful held their breath as they watched their backup take the field. Kaepernick’s first action was by no means smooth. He appeared panicked in his first few snaps during the 2nd quarter and came up with no points. However, in the second half, he steadied the ship enough to come away with a disappointing tie, 24-24. Week 11 brought Kaepernick’s first start. Alex Smith and Jay Cutler were ruled out, and thus began the battle of the backups on Monday Night Football: Colin Kaepernick and Jason Campbell. Well, long story short, one of them looked like a backup and one didn’t. I’ll let Jason Campbell tell you who was who. Come on Jason, speak up. Final score 32-7. Kaepernick shone bright like a diamond. (shutters)

            Thus came the decision; with a 7-2-1 record, Jim Harbaugh had an enormous decision in front of him. Does he go with the QB who took them to the NFC Championship game in 2012, or does he start the 2nd year kid whose talent and future are higher than the Eiffel Tower? Harbaugh made the tough decision on benching Smith, and (sorry Alex), it was the best decision of his career.



Photo Cred www.jacksonville.com



            Kaepernick proceeded to lead the 49ers to wins over the Saints, Dolphins and Patriots with a quirky OT loss to St. Louis sprinkled in the mix. Kaepernick was like parmesan cheese; he kept getting better with age. You could see him becoming more comfortable under center as each week progressed. His arm was getting more accurate and his gazelle legs were a constant threat on any broken play. He was exactly what the Niners were missing. San Francisco cruised into week 16 with a 10-3-1 record and a full head of steam. Russell Wilson, however, had different plans for the day. Seattle brought the 49ers back down to earth with an embarrassing 42-13 win. Just like earlier in the season, San Fran was prone to hiccups, and this was certainly one of those weeks. Despite this loss, the division was still clinched by the time week 17 came around and San Fran cruised to a 27-13 win over Arizona and a final record of 11-4-1.



Wild Card Round - Bye

Divisional Round - Green Bay vs. San Francisco at Candlestick Park. This game did not disappoint. Turning in the best performance of his young career, Kaepernick had his way with Clay Matthews and the Green Bay Defense. Throwing for 263 yards and rushing for 181 yards, Kaepernick combined for 4 all-purpose touchdowns. Additionally, Gore carried for 119 and a score. For the second time in one season, the 49ers beat Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, 45-31.

NFC Championship - I will keep this short as we have already written many articles on this game. You can check them out on our NFL archive tab. In short, Kaepernick gave his best Alex Smith impression and the San Francisco D did the rest. 28-24. This storied season had carried San Fran to Super Bowl 47.

Super Bowl XLVII - What does San Fran need to do to win?

Photo Cred www4.pictures.zimbio.com

First, Colin Kaepernick needs to play within himself. Last week he showed incredible maturity by taking what the defense gave him and not trying to make unnecessary big plays. Atlanta’s goal was to neutralize the legs of Kaepernick, I expect Baltimore’s goal will be somewhat similar. Will he be able to rely on his arm and his running back to make the plays? We shall see.

Second, the Smith brothers must get to Flacco. In the NFC championship, Matt Ryan was allowed to pull out his La-z-boy and hang out in the pocket. The Niners D-line did a dreadful job of pressuring Ryan. Flacco is a similar quarterback who relies fully on his arm to make plays. If San Fran doesn’t pressure him, he could potentially pick apart their defense. Potentially.

Third, Kaepernick MUST utilize Vernon Davis. This is my biggest key to the game. As Ryan mentioned in his article, Ray Lewis will be doing most of the covering of Vernon Davis. In my mind, this is an enormous mismatch. Putting a 37 year-old run stopping linebacker on the fastest tight end in the game could be a mistake. If they can establish the running game early, which they will, Vernon Davis is going to have free reign of anything over 15 yards. Ray Lewis is just not going to be able to keep up with his speed and elusiveness. But this all relies on Kaepernick’s ability to find him, and until last week their chemistry was far from fantastic.

Photo Cred www.13.yimg.com

            Fourth, Akers MUST capitalize on his chances. I believe this will be a 5 point game or less. If either kicker misses a field goal it could mean the game. Akers has the experience, but his confidence is shot at a crucial moment of his career.

            Will San Fran be able to execute their game plan effectively? Will Kaepernick fold under the pressure of the limelight? Or will he catapult himself into the history books? Just 4 days till our questions are answered. Tick Tock

Boom Goes the Dynamite!

Eden Hazard and the Ball Boy

By Ben Makin

This section is devoted each week to an embarrassing performance by a professional athlete.

Professional athletes are always in the spotlight, it comes with the territory of making big money. Sometimes an athlete is unfairly scrutinized, but most of the time (especially in this case) they have what’s coming to them. Ball Boy’s on the other hand pretty much always go unnoticed, unless they get hit in the face.

Let’s start with Harzard. Most of our readers are probably thinking, “Who the HECK is Eden Hazard?” Well friends, he is a 22 year old soccer star for the English Premier League club Chelsea. He has risen up the ranks and is known as one of the best young soccer players in England. In just his first season at Chelsea (after being bought for 50.3 million dollars in 2012!!) he has made a name for himself with his quick and dynamic attacking skill. In 21 games he has 6 goals and 6 assists, not bad for a youngster.

So why is this seemingly bright player in our folly section? Check out this video! 

REALLY!??  I’ve probably watched this video 20 times and each time I am amazed at what happened. What we see is a ball boy diving on a loose ball, pretty strange if I do say so myself. Then after a couple attempts to get the ball Hazard “BAM” kicks the ball boy in the stomach. He rolls over, and Hazard nonchalantly grabs the ball to start play again. So the question is….

Who’s at fault?

Photo Cred www.dreintaiwan.blogspot.com

1.  Hazard: You have to control yourself man, you’re a professional! You make more money in 20 minutes than that ball boy does in a year.  Tempers were high because you’re team was losing, and about to be knocked out of a cup tournament, I get that! But that doesn’t mean you can haul off and Jet Li some kid on the sidelines.   

2.  The Ball Boy: You have one job, GET THE BALL BACK IN. Don’t go diving on the ball trying to waste time. I don’t care if your team is about to win an important game, have them win it fair and square. Foul play on him and Swansea City for encouraging such behavior.

It came out that Hazard will receive more than a 3 match ban, and will most likely have to pay a fine on top of his red card. What could be a promising career for Hazard could be headlined by one kick…not on goal. 

Left Handed Larceny

Where the Big Fish Swim

By Caleb Musselman

Photo Cred www.nbcprohockeytalk.files.wordpress.com

The Atlantic Division is absurd. In 2012, it was one of only two divisions in hockey to place 4 teams in the playoffs. In fact, the Rangers, Penguins, Flyers and Devils occupied 4 of the top 6 spots in the Eastern Conference. Further, the Rangers and Devils fought for the Conference title, and if it weren’t for a magical run by LA, the Devils would have captured the Cup. It is simply incredible to think that one division, which only holds 5 teams, could produce 4 playoff teams who are all legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Well, the year is different, but the story is much the same.

            The Atlantic Division is primed for another 4 or 5 team boxing match to the end of the regular season, and one thing can be promised; it is going to go 12 rounds. A mere 5 games into this brand new season, and rivalries have already been rekindled and teeth have already been sacrificed. So in the name of dentist appointments, the New Jersey Turnpike and Crosby’s playoff beard, let’s take a look at how each team has fared over the first 5 games.

Photo Cred www.d36tylzqkflm47.cloudfront.net

Devils (3-0-1) - Key Victories - PHI, WASH

            The New Jersey Devils are the most boring team in the National Hockey League. They show no sparkle, but they also don’t give up any goals. Since the mid 90’s, the Devils have had the same philosophy: A team must be shaped from the goaltender up. Beginning his 18^th year as an NHL starter, Martin Brodeur is one of the greatest goaltenders of all time. His career numbers are quite simply staggering: 659 career wins, 2.23 GAA, .913 save %, 120 shutouts. To top it all off, he has hardly slowed down as his career progresses. This Devils team, fresh off a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011-2012, is right back to the grindstone. Tough defense and timely scoring have given this team a fantastic start to the young season, and promises to guide them to another successful year. However, with the loss of Parise, this team lacks the offensive talent of the rest of the Atlantic. The Devils will heavily rely on their defensive scheme to propel them past the likes of Pitt, NYR and Philly. Can it be done? Yes. Will it be done? I think it’s unlikely, but so did the rest of the league last year.

Photo Cred www.rackcdn.com

Penguins (3-2-0) - Key Victories - PHI, NYR, OTW

            The Pittsburgh Penguins come into this season with colossal expectations. With 8 to 1 odds of winning the cup, this team seems primed for another run. After 2011-2012 was marred by Crosby issues (hang nail, ingrown hair on his face, hurt feelings, etc.), Yinzer nation has been chomping at the bit for this season to begin. After a solid 2-0 start with road wins over Philly and NYR, the Penguins were bit by their old friend, the weak finisher. Throughout the season last year, Pittsburgh struggled with the ability to close out games. In fact, against Philadelphia in the 2012 playoffs, the Penguins had a 2-goal advantage before eventually falling in 2 of their 4 losses. This season the old friend seems to be back at least in some small way. Both of the Penguins losses, to Winnipeg and Toronto, they have led in the first period. With Malkin and Crosby operating at top levels and James Neal unleashing wicked wristers from the high slot, it seems the only thing stopping them from success is inconsistency. Can Crosby stay healthy? Can Fleury stay consistent? Time will tell. Expect this team in the Conference Finals.

Photo Cred www3.pictures.zimbio.com

Rangers (2-3-0) - Key Victories - BOS, TOR

            It has been a long time since any team has fielded a first line quite like the Rangers. Richards, Nash and Gaborik. The work horse center, the dazzling wingman and the scintillating finisher. With the pickup of Rick Nash, the Rangers believe they have finally found the final piece of the puzzle to an extremely talented team. The first seed in the East last year, New York struggled to score in key situations in 2012, specifically in the playoffs. Scoring only 226 goals in last year’s campaign, they made their living off of one goal victories. However, when Lundqvist struggled so did the team. The acquisition of Nash gives this Rangers team the offensive talent they need to take the East by storm. Look for the Rangers to challenge for the Presidents Trophy again this year. Also, watch the Rangers highlights after every game. Richards, Nash and Gaborik are sure to thrill.

Photo Cred www.assets.nydailynews.com

Islanders (2-3-0) - Key Victories - TOR, TBL

            The Islanders have been the odd team out in the Atlantic for many years. Without consistency from the front office, this team has struggled to keep pace with the rest of the division, and recently has been a cellar-dweller in the East. However, a new chapter is slowly unfolding for the other team in New York. With an extremely young team spearheaded by John Tavares, Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner, the Islanders franchise is on the rise. Unfortunately for this squad, up is the only way they can go after years of futility. With an average goaltender and a very inexperienced squad, this team is far from being a legitimate contender in the division, however, this year they hope to make large steps forward in a long road toward the playoffs in the coming years. Look for NYI to be in the playoff conversation by 2014-2015.

Photo Cred www.2.cdn.nhle.com

Flyers (2-4-0) - Key Victories – NYR

This is a sore subject. After six games played this season, Philadelphia has shown many flaws. During a sub-par offseason that saw Matt Carle, Jaromir Jagr and James Van Riemsdyk leave the fold, the Flyers failed to land either Nash or Suter and scrambled to pick up a few role players (Luke Schenn, Bruno Gervais, etc.). Without a legitimate upgrade in the offseason, the front office showed its current squad they were expecting more from the group in the coming season. The best part of the offseason for Philadelphia was to see that Pittsburgh did not upgrade either. However, arguably less talented than Pitt and NYR, the Flyers have showed thus far that they have serious defensive flaws and inconsistencies on the offensive side. Compounding this problem are the injuries of Hartnell (6 weeks) and Meszaros (4 weeks), some of the Flyers most effective players at their respective positions. Giroux can only do so much on his own offensively, and the Flyers desperately need their young talent to emerge quickly to swim with the big fish in the division. If Bryzgalov keeps up his solid early play, Philadelphia needs Sean Couturier, Matt Read and the other young guns to make a bigger impact. As they stand now, they will fight for the 7^th or 8^th seed in the East. If some youngsters arise as stars, they have a sliver of a shot at the division. Just a sliver.

           

            In a league full of talent, it is clear the biggest fish in the sea swim in the Atlantic. Will it be New York, New Jersey, Pittsburgh or Philadelphia that comes away with the division? The talent is tough, the competition is elite. The question remains, who will set themselves apart.  

And the Foul

Well, ya know what, He’s pretty good.

What you should know about the leagues rising stars
By Ben Makin

           

The league is on the rise. There are a bunch of ratings, numbers, and facts supporting this statement, but to be honest, I found most of them from Wikipedia. I’ll just refer to The Nielsen Ratings because those are actually legit. To keep it simple, the ratings (aka people who watched) for the NBA finals last year were up 9%.  This marked the highest number of people who watched an NBA finals since Mr. Michael Jordan was playing. While it wasn't quite as high as it was back then, it is getting there.

Photo Cred www.nbablogstalk.blogspot.com

I think there are a couple reasons why it’s getting there. First, (the most common answer, and the eventual topic of this article) there are some awesome young athletes that are extremely good at basketball. Second, players are utilizing social media, regular media, and obnoxious media to promote themselves more than ever. Every major player has a Twitter, Facebook page, and a This is the NBA commercial that’s awkward enough to make you laugh. Third, the hate LeBron stirred up during The Decision made national news and got people who weren’t fans interested in this “traitor”. He created a hype that got people wanting to be able to have an opinion on this subject. They started watching games, got interested, and now there is a newer fan base that got hooked on a shortened NBA season.

So now that the NBA is getting popular again, here’s the top 5 players who’ll have the best shot at taking the reigns from LeBron, Melo, Kobe, and Dwight. Hopefully they’re good enough to keep the league going in the right direction.

Exclusions

1. James Harden- He’s really good, but his personality is one that doesn't lend itself to the limelight. He’s an all-star this year, and only going to get better. But to be a superstar, you need to be able to promote yourself.

2. Jeremy Lin- Linsanity was an annoying 3 months. The kid has an AWESOME backstory, he’s a good player, but there is no way he deserved that big of a contract, an all-star bid, or elite status.

Photo Cred www.miserableretailslave.com

3. Ricky Rubio- This kills me because Rubio is my favorite NBA player. It is just hard to see him making a name for himself in Minnesota. They don't have the market, and Kevin Love will always be bigger. Rubio and Love (best case scenario, highly unlikely) could turn out to be the next Stockton-Malone, which would obviously change Rubio’s status for the better. BUT for this to happen, both need to stop getting hurt and Minny needs to add a couple pieces. Doubtful, but hey “it could happen.” 

4. Anthony Davis- I’m not big on the brow. He’s good, don't get me wrong, but I don't see him being a “superstar”. College basketball is so depleted that I think the media had to find a big star for one year—enter the Brow. He was dynamic and tore up the college circuit, but I just don't see him getting any better than a Serge I-block-a. Dynamic down low, can anchor a defense, but will never hit a LeBron, DWade, Durant level.

Drum Roll Please….The Top 5 players with the biggest star potential

5. Blake Griffin – He’s a freak and His athletic ability is unreal. He has the quickness of a guard, and the strength of a big man. Actually, that a lie- he has the strength of a large ELEPHANT. I watched the Clippers play OKC the other night (without CP3) and He abused OKC down low. He literally did what he wanted. Passed, rebounded, dunked, post moves, high post jumper, you name it. The only reason he isn’t number 1 on this list is because he is practically a superstar in his 2^nd year (technically 3^rd because of his injury). He’s funny, has his look (cabbage patch kid), and is a freak athlete: People love those things. Lead the way Blake.

4. Jrue Holliday- He’s really good, just doesn't have the media hype right now. I could see him being a dominant point guard in the next couple years, but I think he’ll play third fiddle to Lillard and Kyrie. He has the ability to take the 76ers back to the playoffs if Bynum ever decides to stop bowling. (Caleb will finally be happy I gave the sixers some credit). Side note-- Jrue has a cool name that the media can do something with too. “Dropping off presents like it's a HOLLIDAYYYYYY” (Lame I know). Given his numbers with no other stars on the team, the 6ers are a piece or two away from making noise in the weak east.

Photo Cred www.bigstory.ap.org

3. Damien Lillard – The next Chris Paul? I think so. He can dime, he can shoot, and he seems to be a good man to lead a team. Sure he has a great starting 5 to play with (Batum, Matthews, Aldridge, and Hickson. That's a lineup no GM would pass on.)  But he is doing big things. His stats haven’t dropped this first half of the season (surprising because young point guards can start strong and fade i.e. Jeremy Lin), and if he can continue bringing it every night, He’ll run away with the ROY award. I’m worried about the amount of minutes he is enduring so early in his career, but the Trail Blazers know what they’re doing. It’ll be great to see him and Kyrie battle the next couple years.

2. Paul George- "I don't want to be cocky in anyway, but I knew this is the level I could play at…" Paul George on his all-star selection. The man has some swag. The art of the humble brag is something that doesn't go unnoticed, it's a confidence all the great players have. In his second year in the league, he is carrying the load for a pretty decent Pacers team who is currently 5^th in the east. He is leading his team in: Points, Rebounds, and Steals; and is second in assists. Not only is he a fantasy stud (on my team thank you), he is good in the clutch, wanting (and getting) the ball when his team needs buckets. His wingspan is like an Eagle, and the dude plays like a kid who snorted some sugar packets, real high energy. The coaches around the league can see he is going to be a good player and voted him to the all-star reserves. I think we may have another Paul Pierce type player if the Pacers manage him, and keep building around him. 

Photo Cred www.cleveland.com

1. Kyrie Irving- He’s sick. He dropped 40 the other night and single handedly beat a Celtics team who needed a win. Mr. 4^th Quarter, as he has been affectionately called, is a stud in the last 12 minutes of the game. I think he is the one of the most clutch players in the eastern conference (Ray Allen, JR Smith, Melo). He goes into a 6^th, 7^th, sometimes 8^th gear when the game is on the line. What LeBron does in the first three quarters of a game, Kyrie does in the last. The kid (he’s younger than me!) can market himself really well too. He has his Uncle Drew videos, which are hilarious and have almost 20 million views on YouTube. If he keeps this up, I can see him becoming the leagues favorite player….until he leaves Cleveland in 2015. 

4th and Long

The Ravens Redemption

By Caleb Musselman

Last week Ryan gave his preview of the AFC championship game and I did the NFC preview. This week we decided to swap stories and critique each other’s work. Before I begin, I would like to quickly respond to Ryan’s comment about my picks. I chose the Patriots because Ryan chose the Ravens. My head said Patriots, but my heart said Ravens. If we both chose the same teams, where’s the fun in that? From now on I’ll ignore my head and go with my heart every time. Maybe.

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            So, what did Ryan predict? And what actually happened? First, he said the Patriots needed to establish the ground attack. The three-headed rushing attack of Ridley, Vereen and Woodhead combined for a total of 97 yards on the ground (and 1 fumble). By all accounts, not a great game for the Patriots backfield. However, upon further review, Ridley received 18 carries for 70 yards for a 3.8 yards per carry average, a solid day in the backfield considering he was up against the Ravens D. Vereen and Woodhead combined for only 7 carries in the game, proving that they were not used enough to make a legitimate impact. With Gronkowski out, the Patriots needed their ground attack to step up. However, with Tom Brady playing the worst game of his postseason career, the running game could hardly save this New England team from impending failure.

            Second, Ryan said the Ravens needed to connect early and often on the deep ball to exploit the Patriots shaky secondary. According to sportsonearth.com, in 2012, the Ravens attempted 47 passes of more than 30 yards, completing 12 of them. Further, 20 of those passes were overthrows by the strong arm of Flacco. However, with the speed of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, and the leaping ability of Anquan Boldin, Flacco was able to capitalize much more consistently on the long passes towards the end of the season (particularly against Indy and Denver). I believe Ryan was spot on with this key; however, as Sunday rolled around, the weather did not agree. With gusts of over 20-25 miles an hour, Flacco’s attempts at the long pass were sent spiraling out of bounds or far beyond his intended targets. In fact, Flacco’s longest pass completion in the game was to Boldin for 26 yards.

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            However, Flacco’s willingness to throw the deep ball opened up enormous opportunities to exploit the underside of this Patriots secondary. Although he only had 240 yards passing, his three TD’s show that willingness to stick to the game plan paid off in a big way.

            Finally, Ryan predicted a spirited Ravens team to stand behind Ray Lewis and beat the Patriots with a last second field goal. Now, this Baltimore team did play for Ray on Sunday. However, this defense played so well, that they put Tom Brady to bed in the beginning of the 4th quarter. No need for heroic redemption for Justin Tucker, Brady forgot he had to play the second half of this one.

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            All in all, a solid call by Ryan on this game. Not even the most prophetic of sports analysts would have called Brady throwing for 140 yards/0 TD’s/2 interceptions. You went with your heart and it came through for you.

            Finally, there is one thing you hit absolutely spot on. Ray Lewis is an absolute monster who will not go down without a fight. In fact, I’m not convinced he’ll go down unless he puts himself down. This man is an inspirational leader who has made some big mistakes in his life. A mistake is a mistake no matter how big or small, so if any of you are perfect, feel free to speak up. *crickets* That’s what I thought.