Green - White - Checkers

Stop #18: Daytona #2

By Ryan Frisco

That's right fans, buckle your seat belts 'cause we're about to go racing at Daytona for the second time this season!  This is the third restrictor plate race of the year, and we've seen already the excitement and surprises these tracks have to offer.  I love these races!

Let's cut to the Chase already: What is the race going to look like tomorrow night?!  

Photo Cred www.blogs.orlandosentinel.com

Excitement.  From start to finish.  You've got the gleam of the lights shining off the cars as they race around the track.  You've got 40 cars within half a second of each other on the track, banging on each other's doors.  You've got the potential for 20 cars to be caught up in a crash at any second of the race.  It's suspense.  It's craziness.  It's that feeling that you never know what's about to happen till it happens. I love it.  The fans love it.  Try it out, you'll love it!

Kyle Busch won the pole for the race, with teammate Matt Kenseth starting second.  Joe Gibbs Racing had three of the dominant cars in the Daytona 500 earlier this year until engine failures doomed them.  So far, it looks like they're going to be the cars to beat going into the second round in Daytona Beach.  Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Denny Hamlin; keep your eyes on them.

Photo Cred www.draftingthecircuits.com

For Denny, this is literally do or die.  He has less than 10 races to get himself back into the Top 20 in points and win at least two races.  After missing four races due to a compression fracture in his spine, the going's been tough getting back into the picture.  He has no room to play it safe.  The team is calling crazy strategies to have a shot at the win, he's taking chances on the track...sometimes it pays off, sometimes it doesn't.

You can't call a winner at Daytona.  Anyone has a shot until the checkered flag flies.  David Ragan won at Talladega earlier this year...he's 29th in points.  Trevor Bayne won in his second ever start two years ago in the 500.  Derrike Cope won two Daytona 500s...yes, you don't know who he is.  Just for that reason, I'm not going to predict a winner tomorrow night, I'm just going to sit back, relax and enjoy the action!  

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder of Sports Eye View, as well as the Head NASCAR Analyst.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com

30 Degrees of Banking

NASCAR Nuggets: Kentucky

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.floridasportstalk.com

The Victor: Another 1.5 mile track, another win for Matt Kenseth and the Joe Gibbs Racing Team.  They've really got these intermediate tracks down, as that is Kenseth's fourth victory of the season.  What does that mean?  It means he'll start out with at least 12 bonus points once the Chase starts.  In an era where most championships come down to less than 20 points (and some times the number of wins) every bonus point Matt can collect now bodes well for his standing after Homestead in November.

The First Loser: Jamie McMurray came home second at Kentucky, a nice run for the Chip Ganassi driver.  McMurray may not have had the second fastest car Sunday, but it was decent nonetheless.  In a season burdened by the obscure happenings, it's nice to see Jamie's finishing position mirror the kind of car he actually had.  He still has a looooong way to go to have any chance at the Chase.

Pat on the Back: I'll tell you what, Joey Logano is having a good year.  It seems the switch to Penske was almost as good for him as it was for Kenseth to move to Gibbs!  The kid is really coming into his own, and after so many well run races like his fourth place at Kentucky, I'm going out on a limb that he is not far away from a breakout year!

Also, Kurt Busch.  I bring him up every week, and I'm really close to just making him one of the guys who should be finishing in the Top 10 each week instead of a scrub in shoddy equipment.

Photo Cred www.nascar.com

Can't Start, Won't Start: Jimmie Johnson, the points leader, has dominated the season.  There is no doubt about it.  He has won three times, and that number isn't six only because of himself.  Restarts have been the death of Johnson this year, and Sunday was no different. After being the man to beat all day and leading almost 200 laps, Jimmie fell victim to the restart once again.  Blaming it on Matt Kenseth not starting the race fast enough (the truth is that Johnson couldn't get going and got in the way) he was spun out and went from the front row back outside the Top 20.  He was able to work his way back to 9th, but should have won the race.  Big mistakes so far for the 48 team.

Excitement at Kentucky Motor Speedway last weekend.  The Chase picture is starting to take shape.  I'll leave you with a nasty crash that took out defending champion Brad Keselowski and Greg Biffle!

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder of Sports Eye View, as well as the Head NASCAR Analyst.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com

And the Foul

The NBA Draft Recap

By Ben Makin

Well, It's been a while, funny how life doesn't let you catch up on things. Since my last article I graduated, got a job, moved to Pittsburgh, and no one really cares except my Mom (THANKS MA!). All in all, I’m doing better than Aaron Hernandez. I have been watching a good amount of NBA, and thought to myself, “HEY, other people should listen to me again,” so now I’m writing my draft recap. I plan on going through the first round, pick by pick and I’ll try not to get too sidetracked, no promises. Let’s get it on.

PART 1

David Sterns Last Draft- I think it should be noted that this was the Stern Dogs last draft. It was a cool thing to see that even after all the Boo's, Stern was Stern. I dont really agree with a lot of things he did, but He was still good at being the Comish, and he actually had the best quote of the night.

Rd. 1 Pick 1: Cleveland Cavaliers- Anthony Bennett, SF, UNLV: Easily the biggest surprise of the draft. Projected to go 8^th to the Pistons, the Cavs once again tried to “outsmart the draft." Don't get me wrong, Bennett is good, but at number one overall it was a reach. Because of the layout of the draft and it being deep, not strong, it was hard for anyone to take a chance and reach out to Cleveland and take their pick. I think Bennett will be a solid role player for the Cavaliers, a little less than what you really want from a #1 pick. He is very athletic, and when you watch his highlight tape you see the power he can bring down low. Also, his touch from range will fit in nice with the trending “stretch 4” mentality of the league (because teams are playing small ball, they want an athletic 4 who can get out of the paint and stretch teams defensively). If he can find a good work ethic and lose the baby weight, we could see a great starting five for the Cavs in a year or two.  Grade: C+

Photo Cred Bleacher Report

Rd. 1 Pick 2: Orlando Magic- Victor Oladipo, SG, Indiana: Solid pick for the Magic. It fills a need (athletic, can play great D, shoots the ball well). There are rumors that he may actually be the starting point guard come the start of the season, which would be great for his “fantasy stock”. He’s a guy who is going to put it all on the floor every night, great for a Magic team that can go through the motions at times. I don't think he’ll make any all-star teams in the near future, but don't be surprised to see Oladipo show up on the All-Defensive teams, he has a real future being a shut down player. Since I wrote this part of the article (about an hour ago) I've gotten three times as pumped to watch him. Grade: A- 



Photo Cred: Huffington Post



Rd. 1 Pick 3: Washington Wizards- Otto Porter Jr., SF, Georgetown: High first round picks coming out of Georgetown usually workout (Greg Monroe, Roy Hibbert, Jeff Green, Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing just to name a few). I though Porter Jr. would go to the Cavs; I know they don't need a scorer, but the small forward for them is a weak spot. I think he will be one of the bright spots of the draft. He is going to a Wizards franchise that has had some turmoil, but I think they are slowly finding a place in the league. John Wall will be happy to have this great defender and mid range shooter to rely on. Look out for the Wizards to make a run towards the playoffs this year; their starting five is sneaky good. Grade: A

Photo Cred: Sportswithballsshow.com

Rd. 1 Pick 4: Charlotte Bobcats- Cody Zeller, PF, Indiana: They suck, any addition will help them, but I thought they would go more athletic and take Noel. I can see why they didn't because they need immediate help, and Noel is a year out with his ACL injury. Zeller was thought to be the #1 overall consensus just a year ago, so he definitely is not a bum. I see him starting early on in the season on a weak Bobcats roster; don't sleep on Zeller, He’ll be the next Varejao. Grade: C 

*Side note! I didn't know if I should put it in the Georgetown section or not, but Patrick (Ch)Ewing will be the new head coach of the Bobcats. What do they have to lose here? They already suck so why not bring on a new coach and see if he can somehow right the ship. 

Rd. 1 Pick 5: Phoenix Suns- Alex Len, C, Maryland: I Think Alex Len will be a solid NBA player. Similar to a Brooke Lopez. Great personality, good work ethic, travels with his mom. #suns. I tweeted this earlier in the week and am sticking by it. He is a little young, but if he can develop I think he will be a solid starter in the NBA. Grade: B

Photo Cred: ESPN

Rd. 1 Pick 6: New Orleans Pelicans (TRADED TO: Philadelphia 76ers for Jrue Holliday)- Nerlens Noel, C, Kentucky: Great pick for the Pelicans (I love saying Pelicans, I think I’m buying a hat). They knew they weren’t going to keep him, but he has #1 overall talent. Personally I really don't think Noel will pan out in the NBA, he is so high on everyone’s list because of his shot blocking, but he miserable on the offensive end. I can see why Philly traded for him- Jrue has hit his ceiling (he’ll never take it to the next level like a CP3) and Bynum most likely will opt out of Philly. They can now rebuild around a guy with “potential” superstar ability (still don't see it, and am not talking myself into it). Grade: A 

BONUS: If they tank this year (and they will with Noel out and a rookie PG in Carter-Williams), they could be in position to claim the prize of next year’s draft- Andrew Wiggans: a straight up stud freshman at Kansas.

Speed Round- go.

Rd. 1 Pick 7: Sacramento Kings- Ben McLemore, SG, Kansas: Great athleticism, decent shot, needs a year or two and could emerge as a Paul George like character. Perfect fit in Sac. Grade: B+

Rd. 1 Pick 8: Detroit Pistons- Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, SG, Georgia: Could be the best shooter in the draft, the word deadly comes to mind. Needs to work on midrange, but reminds me of a Ray Allen type. Good value at 8. Grade: C

Rd. 1 Pick 9: Minnesota Timberwolves (TRADED TO THE UTAH JAZZ for SHABAZZ MOHAMED)- Trey Burke, PG, Michigan: I love Trey Burke. He was the best player in the NCAA tournament, even in the games he disappeared. This is a great pickup for the Jazz who could have the next Chris Paul in their locker room.

Photo Cred: maizenbrew.com

He can dime with the best of them, and isn’t afraid of taking the big shot. Big things coming for this  Jazzy Wolverine (you know something had to be super corny in my article!). Grade: A- 

Rd. 1 Pick 10: Portland Trailblazers- CJ McCollum, PG, LeHigh: I was confused with this pick at first, but the more I see it, the more I like it. Great shooter/scorer, and if they get a second Lillard like player, they’ll have the best young backcourt in the league. Either can play point or the 2. Should really workout in Portland who need some depth. Grade: C+

Rd. 1 Pick 11: Philadelphia 76ers- Michael Carter-Williams, PG, Syracuse: I saw him play live against Pitt this year and wasn't that impressed. He is huge, but is lacking something and I can’t figure it out yet. He’ll be solid, has size, but never better than a role player (which might be what the 6ers need).  Grade: D+

Photo Cred: Celticslife.com

Rd. 1 Pick 12: Oklahoma City Thunder- Steven Adams, C, Pittsburgh: He has a great upsize, but I think he should’ve stayed in college another year. Has no offensive game what so ever, but can learn how to score under the awesome tutelage of Kendrik Perkins (insert sarcastic laugh). I think Adams is a project, but in the long run will be worth it because of his size. Oklahoma was the ideal spot for him to land; there is time to learn.  Grade: C- 

Rd. 1 Pick 13: Dallas Mavericks (TRADED TO THE BOSTON CELTICS)- Kelly Olynyk, PF, Gonzaga- I think this would’ve been a better pick if he was able to learn from KG, but not that the Big Ticket has gone to Brooklyn. Olynyk will be thrown out on the floor too early and get eaten alive. Grade: C

Rd. 1 Pick 14: Utah Jazz (TRADED TO THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES)- Shabazz Mohamed, SF, UCLA- He goes from UCLA to the tundra of Minnesota. The kid has serious talent, and I know that Rick Adleman can bring it out of him, it is just weather he’ll comply. Coming into college, Shabazz was supposed to be the next big thing, but I see him being more of a problem than a solution. Hopefully he’ll prove me wrong and not turn out like Michael Beasley. Grade: B

Photo Cred: Businessinsider.com

Rd. 1 Pick 15 Milwaukie Bucks- Giannis Antetkounmpo, SF, Greece, #16 Boston Celtics (TRADED TO ATLANTA HAWKS) Lucas Nogueira, C, Brazil, and #17 Atlanta Hawks, Dennis Schroeder, PG, Germany : To be honest I don't know much about any of these guys. They're most likely going to be stashed overseas for a couple years, so it is a long-term investment. We’ll see in 2016! Grade: ??? 

Well, that concludes the first half of the draft. So far, I think the 6ers have the best chance of looking back to 2013 and saying- “wow that was a great draft for them.” Short term I think the Wizards took the biggest step in filling a hole that could possibly right the ship. The east is still weak towards the middle and bottom- could we see Washington float up to the 7,8, or 9 seed? I think the 76ers 2nd pick was too much of a reach. Don't see him playing out as well as a top 10 pick should, but he was the best available at the position. As is the case for all drafts, only time will tell. Is it October yet?!

Ben Makin is the Head NBA Analyst for Sports Eye View.  He can be reached at ben.makin11@gmail.com.

Green - White - Checkers

Stop #17: Kentucky

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.espn.go.com

I'll be honest with y'all; I'm not looking forward to the race at Kentucky.  I think NASCAR has brought in too many of the intermediate level tracks that don't have much character.  Tracks like Bristol, Martinsville, Talladega, Richmond...these tracks have a little something different about them you don't see anywhere else.  I like that, and most of the fans like that as well.  The races at tracks like Kentucky turn into a fuel mileage race, which is about the most excitement you really see.  I will say one thing positive going into it: it's a night race.  You know how much I talk about my love for night races!  If NASCAR was going to do anything to make racing at Kentucky better (besides removing the track from the circuit) making it a night race was the way to go.

So, Saturday night...what's going to happen?  I really don't have too much to say this week.  Kentucky will come down to pure speed and great strategy.  Brad Keselowski and Paul Wolfe have killed it in the strategy section the past three years.  Let's see if they can pull out a fuel mileage win here again.

Photo Cred www.sbnation.com

Expect the Hendrick cars of Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. to be near the front all night.  Junior has the pole, I expect him to run well.  Why did I leave out the fourth Hendrick car, Jeff Gordon?  Every time I lump him in with the Hendrick squad, he seems to be the only one who doesn't run well.  I'm using reverse psycology this week; I'm not picking him to be fast, so he'll prove me wrong as usual and probably win the race! 

Other cars that win when it comes to pure speed?  Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart. 

My Pick: Kurt Busch.  He has proven he is fast this season, and they usually go with an obscure pit strategy.  This week, I'm thinking the strategy just might work.

NASCAR...under the lights...tonight! 

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder of Sports Eye View, as well as the Head NASCAR Analyst.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com

Rounding the Bases

Big League Division

Ranking the MLB

By Ryan Frisco

We're getting close to the midway point of the baseball season, and things around the league are beginning to take shape.  Instead of a team by team ranking like you usually see, Sports Eye View is going to break down the strength of the 6 MLB Divisions to see where the strength of Baseball lies.

Photo Cred www.bostonherald.com

1. American League East: All 5 teams in the AL East are above .500.  I could end right there and no one would argue.  Baseball is used to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox dominating, but lumping the Tampa Bay Rays, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays all right there in the running changes the game.  Each team in this division has a legitimate shot at taking the Crown, and it seems likely that both Wild Cards will be coming out of the East.

2. National League Central: This division is close in the discussion for #1.  the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds are killing it this year. Yes, I said the PIRATES in that sentence!  Shout out to Eric.  If not for the horrid performance of the Brewers and Cubs, they would easily be the best division in baseball.  But hey, second ain't so bad.

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

3. American League West: From the Top 2 divisions to the 3rd, there is a steep drop off.  The only reason the AL West qualifies in the top half of the MLB is because they have two quality contenders for the World Series in the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics.  Each of these teams made the playoffs last year, and each one is a step better this season.  Oh, you want to know about the other three teams in the division?  Seriously, you don't.  The Angels, who I would rank in the Top 3 MLB on a list of potent offenses, can't win a game to save their lives.  Seattle is stuck in the same rut they've been in for 10 years, and Houston still stinks, although a lot less than a month ago.  

4. National League East: This division has it all.  They have the up and coming team of the future in the Nationals.  They have the bottom feeders of the MLB in a well below par Miami Marlins team.  They've got one of the league's better lineups with the Atlanta Braves, who aren't playing their best baseball but still lead the division by 6.  And then, there's the Philadelphia Phillies who can't figure out if they're winners or losers and the New York Mets who need to rebuild.  Why are they #4?  Potential.  The Braves are good, the Nats can be great and the Phils could come out of nowhere.  It could go either way.

Photo Cred www.foxnews.com

5. American League Central: On paper, you would think the AL Central would be at least #4 in the MLB.  They've got the defending AL Champions (Detroit Tigers) along with the Cleveland Indians who are over .500.  That's one more team than the NL East with a winning record.  So, why am I dropping them down so low?  Because, if your honest with yourselves, you know that the only team who stands a chance at the postseason is the Detroit Tigers, and the only reason is because they win the division, which is poor.  Playing so many games against the Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox will boost your record, but it's not extremely impressive.  This division hasn't been great for a long time, and this year's not their year either.

Photo Cred www.bleacherreport.com

6. National League West: What happened?!  Last year, the San Francisco Giants won the World Series!  The Dodgers were also acceptable, almost making the Wild Card.  The division has flip flopped, with the bottom three last year on top this year and the two standouts from 2012 in the cellar.  With 4 of the 5 teams below .500, and the Arizona Diamondbacks leading the division, things are looking bleak for the NL West halfway through the season.



I probably won't catch too much heat for this column because it's ranking divisions and not actual teams individually, but I'd still like to know what you think.  Should someone else be #1?  Am I missing any key points, or showing some sort of personal bias? Let me know, we'll have some friendly fire back and forth!

Ryan Frisco is a co-founder and MLB Analyst for Sports Eye View.  He can be reached at ryanafrisco@gmail.com.

Left-Handed Larceny

Dy-Nasty
By Caleb Musselman

photo cred: www.bostonherald.com

It's not over til Chicago scores two in the final minute and a half. That just happened so now it's over. Whoa.

In quite possibly the most shocking 17 seconds in the history of the NHL, Chicago turned a sure Boston victory into an event that would have rivaled the quiet game played between 20,000 mice. Boston doesn't lose with a lead. They just don't. Well, they didn't until Monday.

I watched all 6 games of the NHL playoffs and plain and simple, I want more. While everyone hoped for a Penguins/Blackhawks final, Boston was readying itself for a cup run that would prove to be electric. However, Chicago, from start to finish in the shortened 2013 season, was always the team to beat.

Dominant Performances:
Patrice Bergeron

photo cred: www.barstoolsports.com

Patrice has been one of the best players on the Bruins for a few years now. However, in these playoffs, he
established himself as one of the best players in the league. A strong leader and dynamic talent both offensively and defensively, Bergeron scored 9 goals and contributed 6 assists to the Bruins finals run. At only 27 years of age, Bergeron will be a force in the league for many years to come.

Brian Bickell
Bickell scored 9 goals in all of the regular season. In the playoffs, he scored 9 goals and added 8 assists. Easily the best breakout performance of this year's playoffs, Bickell increased his trade stock immensely by proving to be an offensive threat for Chicago all throughout their cup run.

photo cred: checkingthescore.wordpress.com

Chicago's Back Line
Crawford got completely snubbed by the NHL by not receiving the Conn Smythe. Chicago's goaltending brought them through the season and all the way to the cup and Crawford was front and center for most of that. His 1.84 GAA throughout the playoffs proved enough even to oust the electric Tukka Rask for the Bruins. However, Crawford could not beat the Bruins single-handedly. Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Johnny Oduya, Niklas Hjalmarsson deserve to have their named etched into the cup twice. Known for their stellar offensive talent, Chicago's defense, matched with Crawford in net, proved to be too much for any team this season.

photo cred: www.chicagotribune.com

You all know I don't like recaps, so I tried to keep this short. If you didn't get a chance to watch any of the Finals, don't worry, they will be playing reruns for many years to come. Specifically, Game 4 and Game 6. Don't know what happened in those games? Call me and I'll let you know. For now all you need to know is that Duncan Keith's newborn baby rested in the mouth of the Cup at TD Garden on Monday night. Talk about a special day for Duncan.

When Chicago beat the Flyers in the finals in 2010 (sore subject), I said Kane and Toews were on the brink of creating a dynasty. Now they have a young goaltender who proved that he was up for the task (providing they don't ship him out like they did with Niemi). Chicago is so young and talented that they could easily win 3 or 4 more cups in the next 5-7 years. Thankfully, there should be enough parity in the league to even things out.

Who wins the cup next year? Penguins? Chicago? LA? St. Louis? The possibilities are endless. Now I just can't wait for November.

photo cred: www.thenervousbreakdown.com

Caleb Musselman is a co-founder and NHL Analyst with Sports Eye View.  He can be reached at cbmusselman@gmail.com.

30 Degrees of Banking

NASCAR Nuggets: Sonoma

By Ryan Frisco

Photo Cred www.yahoosports.com

The Victor: The last time Martin Truex, Jr. won a race, I was still in high school. Since then, I've graduated college, gotten a real job, gotten married and had a son.  Needless to say, it's been a while for Martin, and victory in the rolling hills of Sonoma couldn't be sweeter. A track where he has performed well the last 5 years before running into trouble, the breakthrough second career victory is finally in hand.  Now the wins can start flowing.  I have a feeling the nickname The 'Other' Junior will soon wear off and Truex, Jr. becomes a valid title contender.

The First Loser: Hmm, I'm pretty sure we've had Jeff Gordon in this segment before this year.  Again, oh so close!  If not for that totally ridiculous ill timed pit stop right as the caution came out, I'd say Gordon would have been the one sipping wine in victory lane.  As it fell, Gordon had to fight his way back from 38th on a ROAD COURSE to finish second.  I'd say a win for him given the situation.  Jeff is inching closer to that Top 10 in points, and oh so close to a win.  I'd say we'll be calling his name in the Victor column before the Summer's out!

Photo Cred www.speedtv.com

Tough Luck: Three guys on Sunday had great cars but ran into hard times in Sonoma.  Kyle Busch's day just never seemed to go right.  A speeding penalty on pit road and more than one spinout caused by someone else resulted in a 35th place finish.  Tony Stewart was in prime position in the last quarter of the race before a spin relegated him to 28th.  Juan Pablo Montoya, the king of road racing, dominated the Top 5 for much of the race. Sitting in second place with 2 laps left, his car ran out of gas and he fell from runner up to 34th.  Chase hopes are looking slim for him.

Pat on the Back: Gotta hand it to a few guys again.  Kurt Busch finished fourth.  He runs so well in underfunded cars.  Greg Biffle and Carl Edwards both finished in the Top 10...at Sonoma!  They aren't known for running well there.  Marcos Ambrose went home 7th, which is expected for him here, but still good for the man from Down Unda'.

The standings are crowded from 10th to 20th, and races before the Chase are dwindling.  Guys have to start making their moves soon to stand a chance.  On to Kentucky next week!...yeah, I can't even fake that I meant that excitement.  More on that this weekend...