Bleacher Report - Articles by Dillon Robinson

Who Will Win the 2009 NBA Championship?

Dillon Robinson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 07:15:29 -0400

Will the Boston Celtics retain there NBA Championship? That's the question on everyone's mind. I'm no basketball expert, but here are my predictions:

2009 NBA Playoffs:

Los Angeles Lakers

Boston Celtics

New York Knicks

Chicago Bulls

San Antonio Spurs

New Orleans Hornets

Orlando Magic

Detroit Pistons

Cleveland Cavaliers

Utah Jazz

Denver Nuggets

Dallas Mavericks

Washington Wizards

Philadelphia 76ers

Toronto Raptors

Phoenix Suns

Conference Finals:

Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics

NBA Finals:

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Cleveland Cavaliers

Message to Cristiano Ronaldo: Your Manchester United Contract Is Until 2012

Dillon Robinson — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:52:15 -0400

Cristiano Ronaldo wiil return to Manchester United with no new contract and no compromise deal allowing him to leave in the near future in return for his loyalty now.

United chief executive David Gill has revealed the total success of the club's uncompromising stance over the Portuguese star and manager Sir Alex Ferguson's own brand of hardball diplomacy.

Asked whether Ronaldo, the subject of three months of speculation over his future, had been promised a departure from Old Trafford as a condition of his remaining at United for another season, Gill's reply was a terse...

"No."

He also indicated that the stand taken over the player and Real Madrid's pursuit of him had the full backing of the club's American owners, the Glazer family.

After a no-holds-barred confrontation between Ronaldo and Ferguson in Lisbon last week, the player has been told he must honour the five-year, £120,000-a-week agreement he signed last year. Ferguson was so incensed by Ronaldo's comments about slavery that he cancelled a planned meeting with the player and his agent Jorge Mendes.

Mendes then spent most of the day pleading with the United boss, who relented and met them in the Portuguese capital last Monday. It was the only time Ferguson entered the controversy and it proved decisive, as Gill revealed.

"Ronaldo has got a contract that lasts until 2012, he's a valuable member of the team and that's the situation," said Gill. "Obviously there are some issues there, but that's for Alex and it's why Alex had the meeting with the player; to discuss things and put his point of view and hopefully we can move forward. But without doubt, there could have been clarity earlier on, shall we say.

"All we were doing, effectively, is saying we clearly have a player who is one of the best in the world. He entered into a new contract, which is his third contract with us and was only signed 15 to 18 months after his previous contract. He did this freely of his own will in April 2007.

"It was a long-term contract and with that, we believe, go some responsibilities and obligations. There was an increased salary within it and we clearly feel there was to be some commitment and loyalty and he can't just say 'I've entered into it, but I'll leave a year down the line'. It's a two-way street and contracts are entered into with a view to getting that kind of commitment."

Gill was unequivocal about reports that Ronaldo would be offered an improved deal.

"There will be no new contract," he said. "He only entered into the previous contract 18 months before and in terms of wage hierarchy, he's doing pretty well.

"It was suggested that Ronaldo's aim was a new deal, but I don't think it was necessarily that and if the figures bandied about that Real Madrid are talking about are true, we wouldn't go anywhere near that. That would be lunacy."

Twenty20 World Rankings—Where Are They?

Dillon Robinson — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 02:27:54 -0400

Why are there no Twenty20 world rankings? I think their should be, because there's a world championship. Test cricket is a thing of the past, ODIs are the present, and Twenty20 is the future.

Most of the Twenty20 bests are from South Africa. Graeme Smith (captain of S.A.) is the all-time leading Twenty20 run-scorer and Shaun Pollock retired Twenty20 international cricket as the leading wicket-taker.

That says a lot about S.A. cricket, and yet they are not the best Twenty20 team in the world.

Twenty20 World Champions India are. Players like Virender Sehweg, Gautem Gambhir, Mahendra Singh Dhona (captain), and Suresh Raina make a formiddable batting-order. And their bowlers R.P. Singh, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, and Harbhajan Singh make a strong bowling attack.

Teams that do well in ODIs do not perform in Twenty20s—teams like Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, and West Indies.

These are my Twenty20 world rankings:

1—India

2—South Africa

3—Sri Lanka

4—England

5—Pakistan

6—West Indies

7—New Zealand

8—Australia

9—Bangladesh

10—Zimbabwe

Who will win the UEFA Champions League?

Dillon Robinson — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:09:21 -0400

Who will win the UEFA Champions League?

Will Manchester retain their title, will Liverpool continue their dominance or will Real Madrid win a record tenth European Cup?

Well I think they can. They have a brilliant team of young talent and experience.

Manchester United has no chance of retaining their title. They have Fifa Club World Cup matches, League Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Super Cup and their Champions League matches to go.

Tough season ahead, but never say never they have a chance.

Here are my predictions:

Last 16:

Real Madrid AS Roma

Manchester United Porto

Juventus Arsenal

Olympique Lyonnais Bayern Munich

Barcelona Werder Bremen

Inter Milan Athletico Madrid

Chelsea Glascow Rangers

Liverpool Villareal

Quarter-final:

Manchester United Real Madrid

Chelsea Liverpool

Barcelona Juventus

Olympique Lyonnais Inter Milan

Semi-final:

Real Madrid Manchester United

Juventus Chelsea

Runner-up:

Manchester United

Winner:

Real Madrid

EPL: Players European Teams Should Sign

Dillon Robinson — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 07:35:45 -0400

Players European teams should sign for this season:

Fernando Torres [Liverpool to Real Madrid] to partner Raul and van Nisterooy upfront.

Cristiano Ronaldo [Manchester Utd to Real Madrid] to provide pace on the right hand side.

Robinho [Real Madrid to Chelsea] to replace Malouda on the left wing.

Victor Valdes [Barcelona to Arsenal] to replace Manuel Almunia.

Andriy Shevchenko [Chelsea to AC Milan] doesn't suit Chelsea.

Francesco Totti [AS Roma to AC Milan] join the oldies.

Gareth Barry [Aston Villa to Liverpool] would be a great partner for Gerrard.

Bastian Schweinstager [Bayern Munich to Manchester United] to replace Cristiano if he goes.

Ronaldinho [Barcelona to Manchester City] to bring experience.

David Villa [Valencia to Liverpool] to partner Torres upfront.

Ricardo Querasma [Porto to Chelsea] more useful than Joe Cole.