Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Devivero

A Message To Jameer Nelson: Please Do NOT Play in the Finals

Michael Devivero — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:25:39 -0400

Jameer Nelson, please heed this warning:

You have no business playing in the NBA Finals.

Yes, you have been cleared by doctors to practice. Last time I checked, these doctors aren't qualified to judge your ability to play in an NBA game.

Sure, you can shoot and absorb contact on your right shoulder. I can also shoot and absorb contact with my right shoulder, but I am in no way ready to play in the NBA today.

In truth, Magic fans like myself should be pleased that you are reportedly two months ahead of your rehabilitation schedule. That's great news. We can't wait for you to be back in all-star form.

The problem is, in all likelihood, you will not be in all-star form if you play in these Finals. And even if you do play decently, ultimately you will have a negative impact on the team unless you are able to play at a higher level than Rafer Alston and overcome the disruption in team chemistry at this critical juncture.

Rafer's averages have been solid this postseason: 12.7 points, 4.4 assists, 1.61 steals, and a 2.47 assist to turnover ratio. He's also a three-point shooting threat as he is making 35.1 percent of his treys. Most importantly, the Magic are winning with Alston running the point, so there is no urgent need for your return.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy made no effort to downplay the possible impact on team chemistry, and his skepticism was apparent. "You always worry about that...to me, four months is a long time to be out to have two practices and play in the NBA Finals."

Besides the team chemistry aspect, Jameer, you are also risking your long-term health.

Just listen to the defensive player of the year and your team's best player, Dwight Howard: "I just want him healthy. He doesn't have to play if he doesn't feel up to it. I'd rather see him healthy more than anything because his career in the long run is more important. This is just one series."

Repeat after me, Jameer: This is just one series!

You and the rest of the Orlando Magic have a bright future ahead since much of the team is still in its 20's.

So please, Jameer, swallow your pride and do what's best for you and the team: don't lace up those sneaks until training camp.

Bradford, McCoy, or Tebow? Who Deserves To Win The Heisman?

Michael Devivero — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 05:01:53 -0500

Allow me to preface this by saying that Graham Harrell had an outstanding season. If it weren't for the news that he was not invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation, I would have made a case for him as well.

Now on to our three Heisman finalists...

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida:

Key Stats:

Passing: 2515 yds, 64.9 CMP%, 28 TDs, 2 INTs, 176.7 QB rating

Rushing: 564 yds, 3.7 ypc, 12 TDs

Analysis:

Tebow's rushing numbers are down from his Heisman campaign a year ago because the Gators have more playmakers at the running back position. His 2 INTs is an impressive stat that indicates his excellent decision-making and his accuracy. However, what separates Tebow from everyone else is his leadership ability and passion for the game.

This was on full display against Alabama last week when he lead the Gators down the field for a game-sealing TD and proceeded to raise his arms to the crowd reminiscent of his days as a freshman. Tim leads a Gators team that scores 45.2 pts a game, and more importantly he has put them in the national championship with a 12-1 record and an SEC Championship.

Colt McCoy, QB, Texas:

Key Stats:

Passing: 3445 yds, 77.6 CMP%, 32 TDs, 7 INTs, 179.2 QB rating

Rushing: 576 yds, 4.5 ypc, 10 TDs

Analysis:

Most impressive in McCoy's stat line is his 77.6 completion percentage, which is an FBS record. Of the three finalists, McCoy has the least talent surrounding him. He leads the team in rushing and has been Tim Tebow-like in his ability to take over a game with both his arm and his legs. Colt has scored 12 total TDs in his last three games, but this came against Baylor, Kansas, and Texas A&M.

Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma:

Key Stats:

Passing: 4464 yds, 68.3 CMP%, 48 TDs, 6 INTs, 186.3 QB rating

Rushing: 65 yds, 1.6 ypc, 5 TDs

Analysis:

Bradford is clearly the best pure passer of the three. His 48 passing TDs and his QB rating are strong evidence of this. He isn't anywhere near the running threat that McCoy and Tebow are, but Oklahoma's offense doesn't need him to be.

With two 1,000 yd rushers and a brick wall of an offensive line, Sam can let his running backs gain the tough yards and has plenty of time to throw when he doesn't. He has led the Sooners to 60+ points in five straight games with 21 total TDs in that streak. Oklahoma is the highest scoring team in FBS history with 702 points.

...So who deserves to win?

Sam Bradford has been more impressive than Colt McCoy, and the two players faced six common opponents. Bradford has accounted for 11 more TDs than McCoy. This is too big of a gap for McCoy to outweigh with his completion percentage and the disadvantage of having less talent to work with. Ultimately, Bradford's lead role in the Oklahoma scoring machine is too impressive for me to call McCoy a more outstanding player.

Thus, the debate must be between Bradford and Tebow. Tebow should be given credit for playing against tougher defenses in the SEC. He accounted for 40 TDs, but how many would he have scored if he played in the Big 12? Conversely, how many would Bradford have scored if he played in the SEC?

The Big 12 has been accused of having weak defenses, but at the same time it has two Heisman finalist QBs and another QB who just won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award for outstanding Sr. QB (Harrell). Most of the teams in the SEC that have struggled this season have dealt with poor QB play.

Basically, the difference in talent level between the Big 12 and the SEC at QB has contributed to the perception that the Big 12's defenses are so much worse.

I'm not convinced that the SEC defenses are superior enough to let the guy who scored 53 TDs go home empty-handed.

Regardless of what happens on the field January 8th, Sam Bradford deserves the Heisman.

Florida—Alabama: 5 Reasons Why the Gators Will Win The SEC

Michael Devivero — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:47:49 -0500

This is another attempt for me at a response article. I'm disputing Mike Dockery's Can Alabama Beat Florida? Five Reasons Why Crimson Tide Could Win the SEC.

And here we go...

1. Florida's big wins against teams that Alabama squeaked by do matter, a lot

The BCS computers, whether you agree with their results or not, are based on formulas developed by genius mathematicians. These geniuses have determined that including margin of victory in a ranking system is a better predictor of a team's future results than by simply considering the result (won or lost).

The BCS computers by rule cannot currently use margin of victory, but the formula inventors still can keep track of margin of victory for their own research.

The computer ranking creators have decided that margin of victory is significant. It is logical to me, so I will agree with the geniuses

2. 'Bama does not match-up well when you look at common opponents

However, there are some qualifications that have to be made.

One cannot simply say that since Florida beat Tennessee by 24 and Alabama beat Tennessee by 20, Florida is a better team.

It's possible that one of those games was a fluke.

But what do we mean by fluke? A fluke occurs when unusual circumstances have to occur in order to achieve a certain score. Maybe there is a heavy rainstorm, or strong wind gusts, or every fumble bounces to one team.

So I'm not buying the idea that there are several flukes that have led to the margin of victory difference.

If you want to talk about flukes, talk about the Florida—Ole Miss game. 30 percent of the Gators' turnovers this year came in that game. Also, Jonathan Phillips has attempted 67 extra points/field goals this season. He made 66 of them. The one that was blocked happened in the same game that the Gators had a season-high in turnovers. Talk about a fluke.

Alabama squeaked out the Ole Miss win because they won the turnover battle three to two. Florida lost because they lost the turnover battle three to one. All we can conclude from those two games is that Florida made too many mistakes.

But that isn't a trend for Florida, so it must be a fluke.

Comparing Arkansas and Tennessee results is not really productive because the results were similar and those two opponents are not exactly firing on all cylinders.

What is significant is the way Florida and Alabama played Georgia and LSU. There is no excuse for a letdown in these games. The only reason why a team would not play up to its potential would be injuries. Injuries also explain why Florida destroyed Kentucky 63-5. That was not the same Kentucky team that lost to Alabama by three.

So we can learn a lot from these teams' performances against Georgia. For example, Alabama led 31-0 at halftime. Then they allowed Georgia to score 30 points in the last 30 minutes. Florida led 35-3 with over 18 minutes left. Georgia only managed 7 more points when both teams were using backups.

Florida played better defense when looking at the entire game. Both teams built a lead, but Alabama was unable to maintain their performance while Florida kept Georgia's starters out of the endzone the entire game.

In the LSU match-ups, Florida rushed for 265 yards while allowing 80. Alabama rushed for 138 yards while allowing 201. Which leads me to my next point...

3. Alabama does not have an edge in the running game

I would have made this point before Florida piled up 346 yards rushing against South Carolina, but it is nice to have that kind of proof.

Disregarding rushing yards per game, which is a category that Florida now leads anyway, Florida has a better running game right now. They now have Emmanuel Moody back from an injury he sustained in the Ole Miss game. In the Arkansas game, Urban Meyer discovered how good Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey are.

If Florida plays the SEC Championship with Moody, Demps, Rainey, and Percy Harvin healthy, I give the Gators an advantage in the running game. Don't forget that Tebow is a good runner too.

Sure, Alabama allows 75.1 rushing yds a game, but holding Clemson to zero and Western Kentucky to 42 does not prove they can hold Florida under 200.

I can now hear Alabama fans screaming: Alabama only allowed Georgia to run for 50 yards!

Hm, maybe that's because when Georgia got down 31-0 at halftime, they decided they didn't have time to run the clock out in the second half. Quick scores from the passing game were their only chance. Georgia was forced to throw.

4. Alabama is a first half team; Florida ends games in the third quarter

Alabama has consistently played better in the first half than the second half. In the first half they have outscored opponents 224-47. In the second half the margin is only 119 to 91.

Florida, meanwhile, has outscored opponents 227-26 in the first half and 214-87 in the second half.

This cannot be explained by saying that Alabama just protected their lead in the second half. Alabama has been up by at least 24 at halftime three times this year, while Florida has led by that much four times.

If anything, Alabama has been involved in more competitive second halves. Alabama has led by 14 or less at the half six times, while Florida has only allowed opponents to stay that close five times.

Clearly, it is Florida that has had less at stake in the second half overall, and yet they are the ones playing like the game is still in question.

The Gators' scoring margin in the second half is actually a little misleading. They've allowed 39 points during the fourth quarter of blowout victories. Only 14 of Alabama's points allowed have come in similar "garbage time."

So if we could only count the competitive portion of the games, Florida would have an even greater edge in scoring margin.

5. Florida has the best special teams in the nation and is better at turnover margin

The Gators use Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Carlos Dunlap to block punts. Who else uses key offensive and defensive players on special teams? Heck, who else has a head coach who doubles as the special teams coach?

If they don't block the punt, then Brandon James is waiting to return it. He averages 17.1 yards a punt return and has two punt return TDs. He also averages 26 yards a kickoff return.

Chas Henry has punted 33 times. 17 of those have been downed inside the 20 yard line.

Even more impressive is that the Gators have blocked seven kicks this season.

Then there is the other key factor that gives the Gators excellent field position: turnovers.

Florida has forced 25 turnovers this year while only having ten themselves. Alabama doesn't protect the ball as well. They have 15 turnovers while forcing opponents into 21. This reinforces the idea that the mistake-plagued Ole Miss game was a fluke.

So please, do not bother trying to convince me that Alabama's offense is going to overcome bad field position to score a large number of points against Florida's defense.

And do not bother trying to convince me that Alabama can stop Florida's running game. (keep in mind that Florida's passing game is better than Alabama's).

There is absolutely no way Florida loses to Alabama...

...unless there's a fluke.

Florida Gators Basketball: 10 Most Intriguing Games of 2008-2009

Michael Devivero — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:08:28 -0500

Another year of "Billy Ball" has begun in Gainesville, and Billy Donovan is telling us how young this team is.

Sounds a lot like last year.

Truth be told, the 2008-2009 Gator men's basketball team features 11 underclassmen and just two upperclassmen (not counting Georgetown transfer and junior forward Vernon Macklin, who must redshirt under NCAA transfer rules).

But a huge difference from last year is that the Gators have increased their number of scholarship players from nine to 12. This means practices are more competitive, and playing time only goes to players that have earned it.

To borrow a phrase from Bill Belichick, there were a lot of players who got to third base without hitting a triple.

Not anymore.

If you would like evidence that their is more competition for playing time this year, look no further than Jai Lucas's decision to transfer. The starting point guard last year, Lucas has decided that he will transfer in the spring to an undecided school. He will not play any games this season so that next season he does not have to redshirt.

It's likely that Lucas witnessed the influx of new talent, and also considering the already established presence of Nick Calathes, Jai determined that he would not receive the amount of playing time that he wanted.

However, the true test to determine if this team is any better than last year's version is the games themselves.

With that, here are my top 10 most intriguing games on the Gator's schedule this year, with the ability for a game to identify how much the Gators have improved a key factor in making the list.

10. Feb. 24 at LSU, 9 PM on ESPN

The Gators have lost the past two meetings largely due to LSU's strong, physical play. The Florida frontcourt was unable to defend on the post last season, and that contributed to LSU putting up 85 points in Gainesville. A win in this game would be a strong indication that the Gators are playing more physical this year.

9. Feb. 3 vs. South Carolina, 9 PM on ESPN

It seems both ESPN and I are excited about the point guard match-up here between Devan Downey of South Carolina and Nick Calathes/Erving Walker of Florida. Downey is a pure scorer, Calathes is an unselfish playmaker, and Walker is an excellent defender and outside shooter.

8. Dec. 7 at Florida State, 6 PM

The Seminoles have upset the Gators two years in a row. I'm just glad the Gator football team keeps winning, but Florida's returning players will definitely be fired up to even the score after FSU won in Gainesville last season.

7. Jan. 3 vs. North Carolina State, 4 PM on CBS

The first real test at home for this Gator team comes on national TV. Beating an ACC team could help prove that Florida deserves a spot in the big dance.

6. Nov. 24 vs. Syracuse in Kansas City, MO, 7:30 PM on ESPN2

The Gators leave home for the first time this season and head to the site of the O'Reilly Auto Parts CBE Classic. Playing a Big East team is always a good early season test.

5. Nov. 25 vs. Washington or Kansas in Kansas City, MO, TBA

This is the second game in a back-to-back for the aforementioned tournament. Who the Gators play depends on the outcomes of the day before. Both Washington and Kansas would be formidable, but a chance to beat the defending national champion Kansas team would be especially appealing.

4. Mar. 7 vs. Kentucky, 2 PM on CBS

This is the game that inspires Florida students to camp outside the arena for a week. This has nothing to do with obtaining tickets. That is done on-line. These students guarantee themselves front row seats by virtue of showing up before other students, but in reality, they would still be close to the court if they arrived about three hours before the game.

It's the only basketball game in Gainesville that comes close to generating the buzz of a Gator football game.

3. Mar. 1 vs. Tennessee, 2 PM on CBS

The atmosphere for this game is always electric, and considering how close the Gators came to knocking off a highly-ranked Tennessee team last season, this should be more of the same.

Key returning players like Calathes, Dan Werner, Walter Hodge, and Chandler Parsons will certainly want to avenge that heartbreaking three point defeat at home.

2. Jan. 31 at Tennessee, 9 PM on ESPN

The Gators struggled mightily in the second half last year up in Knoxville. When their shots stopped falling, their intensity waned. How this team responds to adversity on the road will go a long way to determining their postseason fate. This one barely misses out on the top spot because Florida's biggest rival is Kentucky.

1. Feb. 10 at Kentucky, 9 PM on ESPN

The loss up at Rupp Arena at the end of last season went a long way toward erasing any chance the Gators had of earning an NCAA Tournament at-large berth. Only a mature team can go into that hostile environment and win an important conference/rivalry game.

If the Gators can win at least six of these games, expect them to be in excellent position to return to the NCAA Tournament after a one-year hiatus.

If not, be prepared for a return trip to the NIT.

White Men Can Jump: The All-Light Complexion NBA Team

Michael Devivero — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:27:10 -0500

When someone asks you to picture an NBA basketball player in your mind, you probably won't conjure up an image of a skinny Caucasian guy.

So this team is giving some credit to the players who have overcome an apparent genetic disadvantage and certainly a stereotype.

Namely, white men can't jump.

So this is for the guys who can jump and have displayed several other skills in the NBA.

PG: John Stockton, Utah Jazz, 1989-90 season

This is an easy choice.

He's the NBA's all-time leader in assists (15,806) and steals (3,265). He's second in NBA playoff history with 1839 total assists, a 10.1 per game average. During the 1989-90 season, Stockton established a career high in points per game (17.2) that was matched the following season. He also had a remarkable 14.5 assists per game that season.

SG: Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs, 2007-08 season

Ginobili seems to improve every season. Last season was no different. He averaged career highs in points (19.5), assists (4.5), and rebounds (4.8). Imagine what he would have done if he had played more than 31.0 minutes per game. He's the sixth man on a talented Spurs team, but he gets the start on this one.

SF: Larry Bird, Boston Celtics, 1984-85 season

Bird's numbers in his 1984-85 MVP season were just ridiculous. He averaged 28.7 points, 10.5 rebounds, 6.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks. He did all this while shooting 52.2-percent, including 42.7-percent from 3-point range. He also made 88.2-percent of his free throws.

PF: Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, 2006-07 season

Most impressive in Dirk's MVP campaign was his 50.2-percent field goal percentage. But, 24.6 pts and 8.9 rebounds per game aren’t bad either.

However, the main reason he is on this list is that he is a match-up nightmare. He's 6-foot-11 and yet he shot 41.6-percent from beyond the arc that year. There are very few good perimeter defenders that have the height to challenge him.

C: Bill Walton, Portland Trailblazers, 1977-78 season

As the 1978 MVP, The "Big Red-Head" averaged 18.9 pts, 13.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He put up similar numbers in the 1976-77 Portland championship season, but since he won the MVP and averaged 1.2 more assists per game, the 1977-78 season gets the edge.

So that's my team. Feel free to mention any names you feel are more deserving. Better yet, create your own All-anything NBA team, and if you're lucky, you might create one better than mine.

Florida-Vanderbilt Preview: Commodores Will Be Commandeered by Tim Tebow and Co.

Michael Devivero — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:17:57 -0500

There are several reasons to think that Saturday night's SEC battle between Florida and Vanderbilt will not even be close.

The main reason is that Florida can clinch the SEC East division with a victory. Urban Meyer knows what's at stake, and he has certainly already conveyed the importance of clinching the division this week to his players. Besides, we know Meyer doesn't want the division on the line when Steve Spurrier makes his latest return to the Swamp.

Also important is that the Gators have this guy called Tim Tebow. The same Tebow who promised after the Ole Miss defeat to try harder than any other player in college football the rest of the season. Recent history shows that Tebow will do anything. The guy performed circumcisions during the offseason for Christ's sake (no pun intended).

So we aren't expecting much when we assume Tebow will give his full effort and focus in an attempt to win this game.

The next key sign that the Gators will win lies in a weakness of their opponent. Vanderbilt averages 110.4 passing yards a game.

One common theme in the last two Gator defeats (Michigan way back in the Capital One Bowl in January, Ole Miss in September of this season) was Florida's inability to defend the pass. The secondary got burned or fell for a fake, and big passing plays for the opposition ensued.

But there is no threat of that here. UF's secondary is becoming a strength of the team. The defense has intercepted 11 passes and returned four of them for touchdowns so far this season. More than likely, the big play when Vandy's offense is on the field will be a Gator interception.

In defense of Vandy's offense, it does run the ball well. Averaging 144.2 yards a game is very respectable. The Commodores just happen to be going against the same team that shut down Charles Scott of LSU and Knowshon Moreno of Georgia in the past month (those two combined only came up with 90 yards rushing).

The Commodores have excelled this year in forcing turnovers, but they will face a Gators team that avoids mistakes at all costs (except for that Ole Miss game, of course).

Also considering that Vanderbilt's defense is its strength, and that UF averages 405.6 yards of total offense a game, it is clear that Vandy will be pitting strength against strength and weakness against weakness.

There is no area of the game for Vanderbilt to exploit, so there is little reason to believe this game will be close. Florida's strengths can overcome Vandy's, and the Gators' weaknesses are less problematic.

After all, it is a stretch to call the Gators defense a liability when it gives up 11.6 points a game.

And I haven't even mentioned special teams yet. Florida has arguably the best special teams in the nation. With Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey on the field to block punts, Chas Henry punting the ball inside the 20, and Brandon James racking up return yards and return touchdowns, the Gators are guaranteed to find some advantage in special teams.

The only noticeable flaw in that unit is that it kicks the ball out of bounds on kickoffs far too often. The penalty for such a mistake is equivalent to a Brandon James kickoff return (ball goes to the 40-yard line).

All signs point to a Gator blowout, so enjoy the competitive nature of the first half.

It won't be duplicated.

My prediction: Gators 42, Commodores 10

Florida-LSU: Tebow, Spikes, and Demps Lead Gators to 51-21 Taming of Tigers

Michael Devivero — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:31:27 -0400

This time, there were no fourth down conversions to save LSU.

A year after storming back in Death Valley with five fourth down conversions to erase a 24-14 deficit, LSU couldn't muster any more magic and fell 51-21 in the Swamp.

The Gators, on the strength of a 70-yard TD pass from Tim Tebow to Percy Harvin on its first drive, torched the LSU secondary in the first quarter for 149 passing yards and built a 17-0 lead.

Even more impressive, the Gators outgained LSU in yards in that quarter 186 to four.

The Tigers, meanwhile, were hurt by early miscues. Danny McCray had a chance to knock down the 70-yard TD pass but instead tipped the ball up and could only watch as Harvin collected it and scampered into the end zone.

LSU had even more difficulty creating any early momentum on offense after LB Brandon Spikes picked off QB Jarrett Lee. Then Andrew Hatch, the other QB in LSU coach Les Miles's scheme, was involved in a bad exchange with RB Charles Scott that led to a fumble.

The Gators actually didn't score off those two turnovers, but they used those plays and return man extraordinaire Brandon James to control field position.

Still, LSU put together two touchdown drives bookending halftime to make another impressive comeback seem possible as they only trailed 20-14.

But Tebow, Spikes, and the Gators were forced to watch key moments of last year's defeat all week on TV screens in the weight room, so they knew a knockout blow was necessary.

And they delivered.

Tebow immediately led the Gators on an eight-play, 67-yard drive highlighted by a 37-yard pass to Louis Murphy that set up a two-yard TD run by...you guessed it, Tim Tebow.

After LSU was forced to punt, the Gators turned to one of their new weapons this year, freshman running back Jeff Demps.

If Demps's 42-yard TD run off an option pitch by Tebow didn't end LSU's hopes, then Brandon Spikes' interception and touchdown runback at the beginning of the fourth quarter certainly did.

That made it 41-14.

Seemingly the only mistakes made by Florida all night were Spikes' unsportsmanlike punting of the football after his score and a later fumble by Tim Tebow that led to LSU's final touchdown, a six-yard pass from Jarrett Lee to Richard Dickson.

A late TD run by Florida RB Kestahn Moore concluded the scoring and made this contest the highest scoring game in the history of the series between the two teams at 72 points (Florida's 56-13 win in 1996 produced the old mark).

Also worth noting was the continued emergence of Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey.

The stat sheet will show you that Tebow accounted for three TDs and Harvin had two of them, but the contribution from Florida's young running backs was equally important.

Demps and Rainey combined for 195 of Florida's 265 rushing yards.

The 42-yard TD and an elusive 37-yard run by Demps showed that his performance in the Arkansas game was no fluke.

Florida now has a bye week to find more ways to incorporate their young stars into their attack. They next face Kentucky in their homecoming game.

LSU will attempt to get back on track at South Carolina on Saturday.

Screw Your Head Back on Tight: Tiger Woods Still Good for Ryder Cup Team

Michael Devivero — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:57:25 -0400

This article is in response to Adam Lindemer's article, "Why the U.S. Ryder Cup Team Doesn't Need Tiger Woods Anymore," as well as other articles and comments from various media sources that suggest that the U.S. Ryder Cup team was or is better off without Tiger Woods.

Here's a link to Adam's article. You may want to read his first.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/59981-why-the-us-ryder-cup-team-doesnt-need-tiger-woods-anymore

Without further ado...

Some golf analysts insist on sticking to the notion that the U.S. Ryder Cup Team is better off without Tiger Woods.

My feeling is that they are simply looking to start an argument. Luckily for them, I will oblige.

The most obvious objection to their argument is that Tiger Woods is the No. 1 player in the world by a significant margin and quite possibly the greatest golfer of all time. To suggest that the greatest golfer of all-time is weakening or hurting the strength of a golf team just doesn't make sense.

The counter-argument is that Tiger has fared poorly in foursome and fourball matches. His won-lost-tied record in those team matches is 7-12-1, so this seems like a legitimate point.

But the entire argument focuses on Tiger. Tiger's record in each of those matches is influenced greatly by his teammate and the opposing team. When Tiger needs a teammate to hit half the shots in foursomes, you naturally should expect that Tiger will be less dominating in those matches than if he could hit every shot himself.

In addition, to suggest that Tiger is somehow hurting the team implies that there is someone better suited to replace him. Are we really supposed to believe that Tiger wouldn't have earned more points this year than Steve Stricker (0.5), Stewart Cink (1.0), and Ben Curtis (1.5)?

Tiger's average in 5 appearances is 2.2, and he has never earned less than 1.5 points in a single Ryder Cup.

In 2006, his most recent Ryder Cup appearance, Tiger had a record of 3-2-0 and earned a team-leading 3 points. If Tiger did not belong on that team, then neither did the rest of the team, which is an absurd notion.

In 2004, Tiger was second on the team with 2 points and a 2-3-0 record.

In 1999, the only time the U.S. won with Tiger, he had 2 points. We expect more out of Tiger because he is so dominant in stroke play.

But at the same time, we praise Anthony Kim, J.B. Holmes, Jim Furyk, and Boo Weekley for leading the U.S. team to victory this year.

All of them had 2.5 points.

Further, now that the U.S. won the Ryder Cup without him, we're hearing that this is more evidence that Tiger has been hurting the team.

This gives no credit to the job done by Captain Paul Azinger and doesn't distinguish the U.S. performance this year from past years, when they couldn't buy a putt.

I think it is fair to expect Tiger to do better in the Ryder Cup, but I also think that if Isaac Newton took the SAT and only scored a 700 on the Math, he would still be accepted into college.

So give the man a break, don't kick a man when he is down with an ACL injury (even if you could steal a million dollars from his wallet), and face the facts.

Tiger Woods belongs on the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, and you better believe that he will lead the team in points at Medina in 2012.

And if you don't, find out what happened in the 1999 and 2006 PGA Championship.

Gators Poised to Recapture National Title, But Not Another Heisman for Tim Tebow

Michael Devivero — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:14:00 -0400

If I told you I knew this quarterback who played three unranked teams, threw a total of five touchdowns, and averaged 163 passing yards and 39 rushing yards, would you be impressed?

I didn't think so.

But as soon as I say Tim Tebow, the media will be dreaming up the back-to-back Heisman trophy scenario.

Don't get me wrong, Tebow has done everything Coach Urban Meyer has asked him to do. He has no interceptions or fumbles through three games, and more importantly, the Gators are 3-0.

Just don't let anyone tell you Tebow is going to win the Heisman again. In fact, Tebow already told ESPN's First Take in the off-season that he would not win the Heisman.

He was simply asked if he would win it again and told to answer true or false; Tebow, being his typically humble self, responded false.

But maybe he was being more than humble. Maybe Tebow knew that he and Urban Meyer's strategy this season would not lead to those ridiculous numbers Tebow produced last season.

Maybe Tebow knew that Florida would use 12 players to run the ball over 60 percent of the time (104 runs, 67 passes) through three games.

So should Gator fans be worried that their hero's production has gone down?

Absolutely not. Meyer's strategy is and will continue to be to limit the number of planned runs for Tebow in an effort to reduce the number of hits he must endure.

Part of the reason Tebow has not run for a touchdown yet is that he has yet to run more than 13 times in one game.

And as far as the passing game is concerned, at this point it seems to be the backup plan. Plan A is to establish the running game with Florida's numerous speedsters such as Chris Rainey, Jeffrey Demps, Percy Harvin, and now Emmanuel Moody.

When that doesn't work, such as the Miami game, Meyer will try plan B: Tebow will throw to all his weapons instead (11 different Gators have caught a pass this year).

I don't foresee many teams shutting down Florida's run attack, so I can't see Tebow needing to frequently gunsling the Gators to victory.

Plus, we're seeing a much improved defense from last year. No one can complain about a unit that has recovered four fumbles, caught four interceptions, and allowed 6.33 average points through three games.

Throw in an impressive special teams unit (one blocked punt, two punt return TDs by Brandon James), and you're looking at a complete team deserving of their No. 4 ranking in the polls.

Even the schedule is promising. The only serious threat the Gators face away from home is the Georgia game in Jacksonville. That game will likely decide who wins the SEC East.

If the Gators win that game, the sky is the limit for this team (or maybe not, if you believe Tebow can actually fly).

Ryder Cup: Experience Not the Deciding Factor

Michael Devivero — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:04:13 -0400

With the Ryder Cup approaching this weekend, you may hear some hoopla about the overall lack of experience (10 rookies between the two teams) being showcased, and specifically a perceived disadvantage the U.S. team may have with their six first-timers.

But what are these numbers really telling us? Should we simply group players into veterans and rookies and presume the veterans will be more successful?

If you look a little deeper, there are other facts that have been hidden by those statistics above.

Let's start by examining the European side. Three of their "veterans" actually have only one Ryder Cup appearance each. Robert Karlsson (2006), Ian Poulter (2004), and Henrik Stenson (2006) have a combined won-lost-tied record of 2-3-3.

This is respectable, but the bottom line is that they combined for 3.5 points of the 37 total for the Europeans in their dominating victories of the Americans in 2004 and 2006. In Ryder Cups that were basically over by the end of day two, it is doubtful that these players felt any serious pressure that would give them an experience edge over rookies this week.

So why then, are the Europeans the favorites?

Their trio of Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, and Lee Westwood are veterans in every sense of the word. They've all been through a dramatic loss (1999), a close victory (2002), and the aformentioned runaway wins.

Westwood was even there in 1997 when the Europeans won by the slimmest of margins, a single point. Those three players boast an impressive 35-20-7 record, including Sergio Garcia's team-leading career mark of 14-4-2.

But haven't the Americans accumulated experience as well?

Certainly. Phil Mickelson is the only player competing this week who played in the last six Ryder Cups. Jim Furyk is right behind and matches Westwood with appearances in the last five. Of course, most of that experience has come in defeat. Mickelson and Furyk were a combined 4-13-1 in the last two Ryder Cups.

But Mickelson and Furyk were still a part of the huge comeback in 1999 as they both won their singles matches on the final day. It is this fact that is genuinely important. Ryder Cup success, rather than experience, is the true edge that a veteran can have. That ability to recall past triumphs and use them as a guide and confidence boost in pressure situations is what gives a veteran an edge over a rookie.

This is why you hear U.S. Captain Paul Azinger downplay the need to have experienced players on his team, saying, "The experience that anyone has had to deal with in the past has been bad experiences...when you lose five out of six Ryder Cups that's never very good."

Essentially, he is saying that a losing experience is not an advantage over no experience.

Unfortunately for the U.S., Justin Leonard is the only player not already mentioned who was on the team in 1999. He undoubtedly will bring good memories to this Ryder Cup (his clutch putt was the most memorable shot in 1999), but the remainder of the team has never won a Ryder Cup.

With the exception of Paul Casey, none of the players not mentioned previously have any past Ryder Cup success to act as a mental aid this week.

Yet there are other ways to obtain a mental edge.

The cocky, confident Anthony Kim and the happy-go-lucky Boo Weekley could have just the right attitude to deflect pressure away from themselves and toward their opponents.

J.B. Holmes and Kenny Perry, who have never won a Ryder Cup match, will gain support from the crowd in their home state of Kentucky.

Steve Stricker and Hunter Mahan were both members of the winning President's Cup team last year.

It is easy to see that the U.S. cannot be discounted simply because they have less Ryder Cup experience.

Ultimately, there are other intangibles at play that are equally important and could result in a very close finish come Sunday.

Top 10 Things to Do When There is No Golf on TV

Michael Devivero — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:05:55 -0400

For the past 36 weeks, there has been a PGA Tour tournament for the viewing pleasure of myself and other golf fanatics. That streak ends this week.

I'm not saying that I watched every week, but when something is on TV for 36 weeks in a row, it's easy to expect it to be there for 37.

So here are my top 10 things to do when there is no golf on TV. Hopefully they will help fill the void you are feeling now that there is no golf to watch:

10. Buy a New Golf Shirt: Any day that you buy a golf shirt is a good day.

9. Watch Instructional Videos: Some of you may have watched golf in an attempt to mimic a professional's swing. So this is your substitute until your favorite professional returns.

8. Go For a Walk: Mark Twain called golf "a good walk spoiled." This is your opportunity to have a pleasant walk. Maybe the next time you play golf, you will have some good memories from this walk and not give up walking altogether.

7. Watch Old Golf Events: In a feat of brilliance, I actually saved Tiger Woods's last 55 holes of the U.S. Open on tape. Then we all learned the true extent of his knee injury. If you weren't so wise, there are frequently old events to watch on the Golf Channel. I recommend this for those of you in denial that there is no golf to watch.

6. Break Out That Putt-O-Matic: Your TV can't bring golf into your home, but you can. It's always fun to putt indoors and have your ball come back to you. Take precautions to avoid damaging your home with those mishit long putts, especially if you have a significant other. Otherwise, your Putt-O-Matic will have a new home: the trash can.

5. Play Your Favorite Tiger Woods video game: Or for those of you who are also broke college students, play whatever Tiger Woods video game you happen to have. The Wii game is especially fun, but a classic favorite of mine is the 2005 game. I am happy to report that my low round is a 44, and I always play from the back tees.

4. Read "How I Play Golf" By Tiger Woods - At the moment, the only clear downside to being Tiger Woods is that you have problems with your left knee. But how many of us would undergo a few surgeries if we had an opportunity to make a billion dollars? So read the book, and see what good comes of listening to the billion dollar man.

3. Read "How I Play Golf" By Tiger Woods - No this isn't a typo, you should read it again! Even if you've given up on your ability to improve your golf game, Tiger gives you some insight into his diet and his exercise routine. Plus, there is a great deal of information to digest. Remembering all of Tiger's tips in one read is no small feat.

2. Practice: Television coverage of a golf event is typically between three to four hours. This is ample time for you to practice your golf game. Who knows, if you do this enough, people might be watching YOU play golf on TV.

1. Play Golf: For most of us, playing on the PGA Tour is only a dream. If you've been dreaming after watching golf, just wait until you play more and notice your game improves.

...And if none of these appeal to you, have no fear. Ryder Cup matches begin on Sept. 19.

Vijay Singh's Win Gives Him Commanding Lead in FedEx Cup Playoffs

Michael Devivero — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:15:03 -0400

He keeps telling himself he's the greatest putter in the world. On this day, Vijay Singh was.

After three days of struggling with putts over 10 feet, Vijay found his range in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship by making three putts over 35 feet on the back nine in route to victory.

The hot putter enabled Singh to cruise to a 63 for the round and a 22-under-par 262 total for a five-stroke win over Mike Weir in second.

The long putts on the back nine actually gave Singh more total feet of putts made in the final round (175) than during the first three rounds combined (157).

When asked if he really was the greatest putter in the world, Vijay responded, "You better believe it, you saw it...Finally when they start going in, you know, you kind of believe it."

The victory gives Vijay Singh a commanding 12,225-point lead over second-place Sergio Garcia in the FedEx Cup Standings. If Vijay were to finish last and Sergio wins the upcoming BMW Championship, Vijay would still lead the FedEx Cup going into the final FedEx Cup Playoff event, the Tour Championship.

That's the last thing on the hard-working Fijian's mind though. When asked about the next event, Singh appropriately responded, "I'm going to go out and play really hard. If I can have another win, that'd be the icing on the cake."

Vijay was dead on. If he wins the BMW Championship, he clinches the FedEx Cup and the accompanying $10 million prize before the Tour Championship even begins.

The biggest threat to Singh in these playoffs appears to be Garcia. But three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine today gave Garcia a one-over-par 72 and dropped him into a tie for fifth for the tournament.

Other players displaying the consistency that will be required to overtake Singh are Mike Weir, Justin Leonard, and Jim Furyk. These players, along with Garcia and Singh, are the only ones to finish in the top 12 in both playoff events.

Those five players make up the top five in the current FedEx Cup Standings, a strong indication that the revamped points system has rewarded strong play in the playoffs over regular season success.

But nothing else matters if Singh finds a way to win one of the final two events.

FedEx Cup Standings

1. Vijay Singh...........120,500

2. Sergio Garcia........108,275

3. Mike Weir.............106,965

4. Justin Leonard......105,388

5. Jim Furyk.............104,230

6. Kevin Sutherland...104,065

7. Anthony Kim.........104,019

8. Phil Mickelson.......103,951

Will Sergio Garcia's Newfound Maturity Result in a Major Victory?

Michael Devivero — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:01:34 -0400

Just over a year ago, those who witnessed Sergio Garcia's playoff loss to Padraig Harrington at The Open Championship saw an immature man lament his poor luck.

"I'm playing against a lot of guys out there, more than the field," was one of the more memorable quotes from Garcia that week.

To those who watched closely, it was clear Sergio was struggling with makeable putts and not the golfing gods.

This past May, Garcia overcame sub-par putting and effectively channeled his emotions into a victory at The Players Championship. Although he finished that week tied for 39th in putting average, he had a different look in his eye and his stroke on the greens during the final round.

His clutch putts on 17 and 18 were a complete 180 from his finish at the aforementioned Open Championship at Carnoustie.

But he won The Players, so his improved mental outlook was no surprise.

This past Sunday, we again saw Garcia's improved control of his emotions at the Barclays. He was more likely to yell at his ball to keep going down the fairway than mourn aloud when he failed to hole a chip or execute a shot to his liking.

The bad breaks were there. There were several chips, including one that ricocheted off the pin that seemingly should have gone in. But Garcia shrugged them off quickly this time and stayed focused through the end of the tournament.

In the end, he didn't win, but that had nothing to do with his mental toughness or his putting stroke. Garcia actually led the field at the Barclays in putting average and finished tied for second in putts per round.

More telling than the errant drive and ensuing recovery shot that cost him on the second playoff hole was his clutch putt on the previous hole.

Even more proof that Garcia has changed was the way he laughed when Vijay Singh matched Sergio's 27-foot birdie with a 26-footer of his own.

Maybe this was just an exchange between friends, but a year ago Garcia would not have been so jovial at that stage.

He even joked with a reporter after the round, saying, "I think I should get the most improved putting stroke of the year."

Garcia's inability to win a major so far is really the result of three things: his poor putting, his lack of mental toughness, and Tiger Woods.

He certainly has improved upon the first two, and with a few good breaks, a major championship will be his in the near future.

Padraig Harrington, You Are Not Tiger Woods

Michael Devivero — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:47:30 -0400

I'm sure you've heard by now. The greatest golfer in the world just missed the cut at the first event of the PGA Tour Playoffs. Wait...you didn't? Then you're not alone.

I'm referring, of course, to Padraig Harrington, officially ranked No. 3 in the world rankings. His impressive back-to-back major championships (make that two leaves of the four leaf clover slam) have inspired some to compare him to a certain Tiger Woods.

Listen to Ben Curtis, former British Open Champion and recent T2 finisher at Padraig's most recent leaf, the PGA Championship. When asked about Padraig's three wins in the last six majors, he said "That's Tiger-like".

Padraig has responded to such attention appropriately, as he appears just honored to be considered in Tiger Woods's stratosphere.

I will take a different viewpoint. PADRAIG HARRINGTON IS NOT TIGER-LIKE!

Those of you who were starting to believe the hype should be brought back to reality by Padraig's missed cut yesterday at the Barclays.

Tiger Woods, in general, does not miss cuts. According to tigerwoods.com, he has only missed four cuts in his professional career.

The dissimilarities do not end there, however. On the par-5 17th hole yesterday, Padraig was on the cut line at 1 over par. He promptly hit a poor tee shot and eventually made a 7.

I will concede that the 17th at Ridgewood is a difficult hole, but I will not concede that Padraig was anything like Tiger yesterday.

Tiger making a 6 on a par-5 is a rare enough occurrence. If you want to see him make a 7, even when he is healthy, you will be waiting a long time.

Padraig was anything but Mr. Clutch yesterday, and we all know how well Tiger does in pressure-packed situations.

Even more telling was that Padraig's failure didn't even make headlines. The golf page on ESPN.com displays Steve Stricker, the leader of the Barclays after the second round. If Padraig truly was Tiger-Like, there would be more reaction to his missed cut.

So how far behind is Padraig? Well, look at the standings. In the FedEx Cup, Tiger finished the regular season with 22,695 points and Padraig had 15,555 points.

Remember that Tiger played half as many events as Padraig played (six to 12, respectively), and he did so with a ruptured ACL. The world rankings are further evidence.

Currently, Tiger at 17.99 average points more than doubles Padraig's 7.90 average points. Essentially, the world rankings say that Tiger was more than twice as good as Padraig over the last two years.

I hope that in the future more caution will be used before someone is called Tiger-like. After all, there is only one man who has won more majors in the history of the game than Tiger Woods.