Monday night Ramblings

NBA News

Howard in a Chicago Bulls uniform?
The Dwight Howard saga takes on new heights after he recently indicated that he would be open to being traded to Chicago to join forces with Derrick Rose. Just about every week Dwight has a new preferred destination. Now Im just waiting for him to refute the rumors for the next two weeks before he becomes interested in joining the Timberwolves. Will this trade happen......No......... Unless Gar Forman will be willing to trade Joakim Noah, Luol Deng and a role player to eqally credit the Magic value. I am highly confident Howard will be moved by the NBA trade deadline and I wouldn't be surprised if he lands in New Jersey where he and another disgruntled player Deron Williams can team up and play happily ever after. Dwight Howard's chances of being a Bull is slim.







Are the T'Wolves the next big thing


I must admit I enjoy watching these guys play after last Friday's K.Love buzzer beater again LAC. I like the whole squad, Kevin Love who scores and is a great rebounder. His scoring counter part Mike Beasley and the highly touted rookie guard Ricky Rubio can make this young Wolves team a perennial power house in the near future. I like the pieces they have Anthony Randolph who is very athletic for his size. The rookie Derrick Williams a high flying 6-8 forward who can also shoot the three. Complentary pieces in Luke Ridnour, Anthony Tolliver, Wayne E.Wes Johnson and JJ Barea can actually make some noise coming out the West. I compare the upcoming franchise to the current Oklahoma City Thunder they have all the tools to be a force wreckoned with. They are inexperienced but watch out come 2014 Rick Adelman has the right mindset to keep the young team entact.

Rumors

Chris Kaman who is on the NBA trading block more than likely he will land with either Milwaukee or Cleveland.
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Tonight's notable NBA Games

Orlando vs. Philadelphia
The Orlando Magic take on the Atlantic division leader Philadelphia 76ers. Lets see if the Orlando Magic can end this dry spell as they face a difficult oppenant in the young 76ers.

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

Let's see how "Lob City" plays against the Durant and Westbrook. Their first BIG test against a rising contender. I expect a big night from KD and Russ Westbrook and a W from OKC. Should be pretty entertaining

  


MLB

With Spring Training around the corner there are some key free agents still looking to sign with a team. There are some rosters that can do for a transaction or two which can help the team come April here are the top 5 free-agents still remaining.

Pitcher Javier Vasquez


Javier Vazquez who started off slow in 2011 finished the season 13-11 with a ERA of 3.69. There are some reports that Javy will retire, but he has some juice still left. I would like to see him rejoin the Marlins to be the 3rd starting pitcher, or sign with either Milwaukee, Atlanta, Washington, or Cleveland. I think he still has it a great quality pitcher who will give you a good 6 2/3 a start and post 12 wins.

Johnny Damon


Johnny Damon was the vital part in last years playoff run with the Tampa Bay Rays a seasoned veteran and a potental hall of famer at the age of 38 JD can still get the job done. With Luke Scott signing with TB Damon is not needed in the Tampa line up, but believe you me he can help a hell of alot of teams. Likely suiters. Detroit. He loved his stay in Detroit in 2010 and is interested in coming back. I think he would be a great pick up for Detroit where he can split time playing OF or DH'ing. Also a good place for Damon would be Chicago White Sox to replace Juan Pierre, or Toronto adding the vetran leadership for a young Jay's squad.

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero may not give you 30 hr's anymore but he can be asset to any American League team. Last yr was a injury-plagued season for Vlad but was still an important piece to the Orioles line up. I think he can hit 20 or more homers and drive in about 80 RBI's but what team is willing to sign him? Vlad has not seen that many interest but he may be a spring training invitee to a team who needs a middle line up hitter. Likely locations Cleveland, KC Royals, NY Yankees, or Seattle

Raul Ibanez


I am surprised Raul wasn't picked up early. If you ask me he would be a steal once he is acquired. Ibanez 39, is coming off a 20 HR 84 RBI season can very well be a productive hitter to any teams line up. Likely locations NY Yankees, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago White Sox, Arizona D'Backs, or Washington Nationals.

Edwin Jackson

Fresh off a WS with St. Louis, Edwin Jackson can be a starter for numerous teams. Jackson 28, has a ERA average of 3.55 in the past 4 seasons can be a great pick up for any team who is in dire need of a starting pitcher. Likely location Baltimore, Kansas City, Detroit, Seattle, Texas, San Diego, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto

Also Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen who both battled injuries over the years are looking for spring training invitations. If healthy both Guillen and Ordonez can be great acquisitions for any big league club.


NHL

2nd half of the season starts tomorrow and I think it will be interesting. I got the LA Kings making a run in the second half to get back into contention although ranked 7th in the western conference I expect them to finish 4th BOLD PREDICTION and Calgary will get the 7th seed they will rebound and break into the top 8th seed. Also watch out for the Winnipeg Jets they're gonna leap frog for the 8th spot in the East.

My prediction 2012 Stanley Cup

Detroit Red Wings vs. NY Rangers Red Wings  4-2


NFL

Superbowl is 6 days away. Im just waiting for the annual media day trash talk

College Football

Signing day is Wednesday and Im salty the Ohio State Buckeyes got the best recruiting class damn you O-State


Fun Stuff

Is it me or does Bismack Biyombo have the coolest name in the NBA? LOL but he will never top former NBA player Alaa Abdelnaby thats all time best hands down.

Coolest Name ever LOL

2nd Coolest name ever Bismack LOL

NBA Throwbacks

Did anyone watch last Thursday night's Clippers and Grizzlies game? Is it more or was the Memphis Grizzlies uniforms were thee most ugliest shit I ever saw in my life.

Yeah those bad boys were shitty LOL

Best NBA Throwbacks

The 80's Nuggets were actually nice very different but they was nice.

The Shawn Kemp Sonic era jerseys were crispy

The 80's Cavs

I like the Pete Maravich "Pistol" jersey. Walt Bellamy's says "Bells" on it No lie

The Lakers are legendary can't touch it

Worst Throwbacks

LOL the worst but I like the trolley hahahah

NBA and Upcoming Super Bowl

January 30th

Super bowl

I am amped for this yrs Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the NY Giants. I am no fan of either team but if I had money to wage I would place bets on the Giants to upset the Patriots again like they did in 2007. The Giants have great defensive compared to the Patriots. With the emergence of Jason Pierre-Paul the Patriots will have a tough time defending Brady with the Giants defensive line. The offensive end of the field can match up quite evenly. Mannings targets of 2 1,000 yrd receivers Hakeem Nicks, and the ever entertaining Victor Cruz makes the secondary of the Patriots worried. The 3rd receiver Mario Manningham is also making a name for himself this post season as well. The Giants offensive line is also highly touted despite the fatigued portrayed in the NFC championship against SF 49ers. I have them winning 35-24 exploiting the Patriots league worse pass defense.

Peyton Manning Saga
Honestly Im tired of Jim Irsay and Peyton Manning saga. Trade Manning to the Browns for draft picks and start all over.

NBA News

New York Knicks dismal season

The New York Knicks had high expectations entering the 2011-2012 season with the acquisition of Tyson Chandler to fill in the defensive void. That has not filled in with Spike Lee and other Knick fans watching their 7-13 team lose 9 of their last 10 games. Carmelo Anthony is playing sub-par and Amar'e Stoudemire is playing like Jerome James of late averaging less than 15 points in the past 8 games. Chandler's presence is not helping the Knicks matters on both the defensive end and under the basket. I still have the Knicks making it in the playoffs as an 7th seed. But if things don't turn around quickly you can see Mike D'Antoni out the door and the echoes of Phil Jackson starting to mount up


 The Dwight Howard Saga

The disgruntled Magic Center is really starting to irk me. It's like one week you wanna leave and go to LAL, LAC, Dallas, or New Jersey and next you wanna stay. After Friday's embarrassing loss to the leagues worst New Orleans Hornets Dwight let his team have it. There is no room for Howard to talk. If you are the team's leader and you are constantly in the media about leaving that will affect the team's play in the court and in the locker room. Howard needs to grow up and continue his 20-20 nights. Orlando is playoff bound, but there are not gonna be title contenders anytime soon unless Otis Smith makes a big move. I don't see Dwight going anywhere just tough it out in Orlando shut up and play.

The Minnesota Timberwolves

I love this team after years of being crappy and non-existent I have a want to watch these guys play more. I like Ricky Rubio he is nice. A flashy passer and a good big man in Kevin Love they will be an exciting team to watch for years to come.

Gilbert Arenas to LAL?

That's the rumor. LAL is in disparity to sign a PG. Darius Morris and Andrew Gouldececk are rookies and Derek Fisher is experiencing father time. Arenas who is 30 has some controversy in his resume. After numerous knee-injuries and a locker room gun incident Gilbert is ready to put his past behind him. He averaged a little over 8 points last season with Orlando but what can he bring to LA?
I think he can perform above average drop 11 pts a game you won't get the Gilbert Arenas from 2004-2008 but he can be a good piece in the Lakers aging line-up providing a lil scoring punch to Kobe, Pau, and Bynum. we'll see how this plays out

Washington Bullets.................. I mean Wizards

The Washington Wizards are so terrible Charles Barkley said he wants to shoots them LOL. Where's Tom Gugliotta when you need him? The Wizards are 4-16 and recently fired the HC Flip Saunders late last week. I like Wizards they have the talent to atleast make a little buzz in the east but goooooooosh they are terrible.




MLB

The Athletics have interest in Manny Ramirez. Nobody cares.

I am hoping the Tigers sign either Edwin Jackson, or Roy Oswalt.

More MLB wild card teams I can dig it.

Yoenis Cespedes close to signing with the Marlins? That's the rumor. The recently Cuban defector is sought after by many MLB teams but Miami is top of his list. Miami Marlins will be stacked if they acquire him after a busy off-season. P.S. talk Javier Vazquez into playing another season

Suprise teams for 2012........ I had faith in Pittsburgh until July smh c'mon Pirates, Honestly I would say Miami Marlins the new look team in the NL East have some stiff competition with Atlanta, Philadelphia and the yeah I said it Washington National's. I think they will be up there but will miss the playoffs give them 2 yrs tops. In the American League I would like to say the Toronto Blue Jays they always finish .500 but are in a really tough division with Boston and NYY. I don't expect them to be a playoff team but they can make a buzz. Bolster the starting rotation and they could be in the discussion within the next 3 yrs.

Yu Darvish? I never heard of this guy, but they say he's the real deal. Texas threw 60 million landing him so hopefully he'll be the next Randy Johnson, or Hideo Nomo. I think he'll be decent another Dasuike Matsuzaka LOL.

NHL

I definitely am not feeling the NHL all-star set-up -__-


Golf

Since Tiger Woods won his last unofficial PGA tourney we all jumped on the bandwagon again. He held his own but unfortunately the same Tiger since 2010 had to fumble under pressure..... BUMMER. Long live the Abu Dhabi





Tennis

Today's Rafi Nadal and Novak Djokovic was a classic match up. I always pick Novak to come up victorious great match very long but quite entertaining,

Off-Season rambling

January 30th, 2012

MLB

This off-season's free-agent class has been one to remember in part to the free-agent acquisitions of both Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols. Pujols, the St. Louis Cardinals most prized player packed up his bag and left for Anaheim for an astounding $254 million dollars. Prince Fielder on the other hand left the Brewer's to sign with Detroit for a 214 million dollars. I think both teams will fare off well for the 2012 season. The LAA Angels should have no problem conquering the AL West with weak divion foes. The Angels also signed Rangers SP C.J. Wilson to bolster the Angels starting rotation. The Angels are loaded a very good 9 batting order and a good rotation have the Angels in contention for the American League title. We'll see when the time comes. These transactions can also be disatrous as well like the 2001 New York Mets and the 2008 Detroit Tigers. Sour memories for fans but that can also happen.

The Detroit Tigers made headlines with acquiring Prince Fielder just 20 yrs ago his father Cecil was the Tigers most feared hitter. After Victor Martinez tore his ACL in a off-season training accident the Tigers went from contender to a 2012 doubted future. There were some options available in the free-agent pool with players such as Johnny Damon, Raul Ibanez, Vladimir Guerrero, and Derrek Lee. They would be great 1 yr rentals to play DH but Mike Illitch had a trick up his sleeve. The move suprised all the sports world. Prince Fielder finally coming to Detroit, I didn't see this coming neither did anybody else. I was happy I jumped for joy we were a player short from winning the world series in 2011, with Prince in the line up we became the most feared 1,2 combo in all of baseball. The only worries I have with Detroit is the defensive area of both Miguel and Prince who both plays 1st base. Cabrera okayed the move to 3rd base but there is a little concern about that. Neither players are gold glove basemens but hopefully this move will work. Expect big things from the Tigers in 2012. Great Pitching a good bullpen with the acquisition of Octavio Dotel strengthen the Tigers chances of advancing to the Fall Classic in 2012.