Bleacher Report - Articles by CHRISTIAN GRAVES

Illinois-Minnesota: Illini Taking on the Gophers!

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:47:40 -0400

The Fighting Illini take on the Minnesota Gophers. Let’s make this short and quick.

The Gophers are better than they have been, and they are on their way up. They still are no match for the Illini.

The only hope the Gophers have is if the Illini just show up and try to go thru the motions. If the Illini show up and play up to their ability, this will be a blowout.

The Illini are better on paper and on the field. There is no way to look at this and think the Gophers can win. Illini will win another thanks to the Gophers.

This is a homecoming game and Coach Zook wants the place to rock. It should be fun for Illini nation.

Da Bears Take On The Faclons! Who Will Win? Da Bears!

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 07:12:40 -0400

The Chicago Bears play the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday at noon. The Bears are 6th in the NFL in stopping the run while the Falcons are 21st. The Bears are 9th in rushing yards while the Falcons are 2nd.

This should be a great battle between a good running team in the Falcons against a good run defense in the Bears.

Not so fast!

Thankfully I do my homework.

The Falcons are running frauds. Let me prove it to you.

In week 1 they played the 30th ranked run defense of the Detroit Lions who allowed them 320 total rushing yards.

In week 2 they played the 14th ranked run defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and were held to 105 total rushing yards.

In week 3 they played the 31st ranked run defense of the Kansas City Chiefs who allowed them 194 total rushing yards.

In week 4 they played the 13th ranked run defense of the Carolina Panthers and were held to 118 total rushing yards.

In week 5 they played the 27th ranked run defense of the Green Bay Packers who allowed them 176 total rushing yards.

Just to add the Bears have won the last 8 of nine against the Falcons.

You can make it 9 out of 10 after Sunday.

The Falcons running game will be held in check by da Bears!

Bears Vs. Lions: Chicago will rush to victory

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 06:26:24 -0400

The Lions have been outscored by their opponents by a total of 54 points. To make it even worse, the Lions have played the lowly Falcons and 49ers. The Lions finally fired Matt Millen, but that won’t help them this year.

The Lions are one of the worst teams in the NFL, and the Bears should beat them. They are dead last in the NFL at stopping the run. They are giving up an incredible 207 rushing yards a game. The Lions are averaging 19 points a game and giving up 37 points a game.

I just don’t see anyway that the Bears can lose to this Lion team. The Lions are nothing more than two guaranteed wins in the NFC North and should be treated as such.

Look for the Bears to take their 10th-ranked rushing attack to Detroit and run wild on the worst run defense in the NFL and get the win.

Da Bears!

All-Time All-Caucasian NBA Team

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 13:48:32 -0400

All time all caucasian N.B.A. team

POINT GUARD
John Stockton
All-NBA First Team (1994, '95); All-NBA Second Team (1988, '89, '90, '92, '93, '96); All-NBA Third Team (1991, '97, '99); NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1989, '91, '92, '95, '97); 10-time NBA All-Star; Olympic gold medalist (1992, '96); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)

SHOOTING GUARD
Jerry West
Elected to Basketball Hall of Fame (1980); NBA Finals MVP (1969); NBA Champion (1972); All-NBA First Team (1962-'67, '70-'73); All-NBA Second Team (1968, '69); NBA All-Defensive Team (1970-73); NBA Champion (1972); 14-time NBA All-Star (1961-'74); NBA All-Star MVP (1972); Olympic gold medalist (1960); NBA 35th Anniversay Team (1980); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

SMALL FORWARD
Larry Bird
Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1998); NBA champion (1981, '84, '86); NBA Finals MVP (1984, '86); NBA MVP (1984, '85, '86); Nine-time All-NBA First Team (1980-88); All-NBA Second Team (1990); All-Defensive Second Team (1982, '83, '84); NBA Rookie of the Year (1980); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medalist (1992).

POWER FORWARD
Kevin Mchale
Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1999); NBA champion (1981, '84, '86); All-NBA First Team (1987); Sixth Man Award (1984, '85); All-Defensive First Team (1986, '87, '88); All-Defensive Second Team (1983, '89, '90); Seven-time All-Star;
One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996).

CENTER
Bill Walton
Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1993); NBA champion (1977, '86); NBA Finals MVP (1977); NBA MVP (1978); All-NBA First Team (1978); All-NBA Second Team (1977); NBA All-Defensive Team (1977, '78); NBA All-Star (1977, '78); Sixth Man Award (1986); One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996)

WEED is The Official Sponsor Of The NFL and NBA

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:05:52 -0400

Weed: The official sponsor of the NFL and NBA.

The fact that it is still a big deal in the news when a player gets caught with weed is crazy. The better story would be who doesn’t smoke weed.

You have to remember that for more people than you could believe smoke weed and it is just as common as drinking a beer. Growing up I saw families smoke weed together.All my friends at one time spent some time smoking weed. Some stopped, but most didn’t.

I do not endorse drugs at all. All I am saying that the majority of NFL and NBA players smoke weed. How can I say this? I can say this because smoking weed is in the fabric of this generation. Anyone of you know people who smoke weed.

So don’t be surprised the next time you hear of a player with weed. He is just doing what comes natural. Weed is the official sponsor of the NFL and NBA.

Chicago White Sox Vs. Minnesota Twins Tonight!

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:27:34 -0400

A flip of a coin will turn out to be the Chicago White Sox best friend as they play the Minnesota Twins tonight in Chicago. If the Sox had to play this game in Minnesota they would lose. Since they are playing in Chicago they will win.

There are no need for stats and reasons why the Sox will win really. It is enough to say that both teams are 53-28 at home this season. Making it a critical coin flip for each team to be at home for this right to be in the playoffs. A coin flip has decided that the Sox will play at home and advance to the playoffs.

I like to think fate decided the Sox should play at home since they have been playing without M.V.P. candidate Carlos Quentin, Joe Crede, and Jose Contreras.

Tonight we Sox fans will celebrate home win 54 and advance to the post season to play Tampa Bay. Yes I said Tampa Bay.

Illinois-Michigan: Why the Illini Will Beat the Wolverines

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:27:28 -0400

Michigan starting running back Sam McGuffie is averaging 3.8 yards a carry. As a team they are averaging 4.0 yards per carry on the ground, and that will not get it done against the Illini.

Michigan starting quarterback Steven Threet is completing 48 percent of his passes and is averaging 100 yards a game. That too will not get it done against the Illini.

Michigan is ranked 114th in total offense, 106th in passing, and 82nd in rushing. They also rank 98th in scoring.

Michigan has been outscored 39-10 in the second quarter of games this year. Look for a big second quarter for the Illini. Michigan has outscored their opponents 39-13 in the fourth quarter, so the Illini must be ready to finish the game strong.

Michigan is strong on run defense, only giving up 88 yards a game on the ground, but they give up 220 passing yards per game.

On paper this should be no contest, but we all know the game must be played. Wisconsin was caught sleeping and was beaten by Michigan last week.

Michigan held Wisconsin to only three yards a carry on the ground but had no respect for the Wisconsin passing game and loaded up on the run. The Illini have a passing game, so no worries there.

I don’t see the Illini falling asleep against Michigan. The Illini have the better team on paper and on the field. Now it’s time to go out and handle their business.

Enough of All This Running Game Talk: Illinois Will Be Fine

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:51:18 -0400

I am sick of hearing how the loss of Rashard Mendenhall is going to hurt us. It is true Rashard would have been the No. 1 back in football this year and a true Heisman contender. But the Illini will not lose a game this year because Rashard is not on the team.

People act like the Illini lined up in running formations all day and just pounded the ball. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

When on defense against the Illini, you have to ask yourself many questions: Is Juice going to run it, pass it, hand it off to a back, hand it off to a receiver, or run the option? Will he keep it on the option? Will he pitch it? That is a lot to think about on defense.

This is why every single one of running backs averaged over six yards a carry last year. In this offense you will get your yards on the ground, no matter who runs the ball.

I would have loved to have Rashard back, but this year we are better at the running back position as a whole. We will be four-deep as opposed to the two-deep we were last year. The running game will be more than fine.

This offense is a juggernaut in the waiting—waiting for Juice to become an accurate passer and a better decision maker.

If reports are true and Juice has improved, as I believe he has in these areas, then we are one step closer to becoming that juggernaut. So all this talk about how the loss of Rashard will hurt the team and will affect our win-loss total is nonsense.

It was just last year that everyone was wondering how would we run the ball without E.B. and Pierre. All Rashard was known for was for fumbling. He stopped fumbling and became a great back.

This year again, there is so much doubt and many questions. We have four backs who will ease your minds. The running game is no reason for concern. You can ask Missouri after the game.

The real concern is, what are teams going to do with an improved Juice? Not a damn thing! 13-0 ILLINI!

The Disgrace of Baseball

CHRISTIAN GRAVES — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 03:37:33 -0400

America’s favorite past time has now become America’s athletic disgrace.

The words steroids will define this generation of Major League Baseball.

For those that still don’t know what steroids are, they enhance athletic performance.

We heard many former MLB players report that steroids are common in baseball.

Many didn’t want to believe that. We didn’t want to believe our favorite sport or its players were putting up stats and setting records that were tainted.

We have seen star names linked to this disgrace— names like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and many others.

It seems that baseball is full of athletes who were more than willing to take drugs to enhance their ability.

Baseball is now the shame of an athletic nation.

With more and more players being found guilty of using steroids our love for baseball is fading with it.

There are those that understand one thing: it’s not about the names on the back of the jerseys; it’s about the name on front of the jersey.

As long as your team plays, you will watch, regardless of what some of the players do you will watch your team— even if your favorite player is found guilty of using.

Baseball needs to take a bath in front of our country and make itself clean.

Let the truth set you free and let’s move on to a game where steroids are not normal, but abnormal.

Baseball has and will always live thanks to the names on the front of our jerseys.

Play ball!