Bleacher Report - Articles by Naveen Maliakkal

The Tragic Death Of Nick Adenhart and How Baseball Needs To Send a Message

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 14:17:57 -0400

“I can drive.”

How many times have you heard people say that, even though they have had too much to drink? It is an all too common occurrence in America.

Too many people think they are capable of driving, ignoring the fact that they are impaired. You may have driven home drunk before and not been caught.

You may have not endangered your life or the life of another. On Thursday morning, April 9, 2009, drunk driving claimed another life, Nick Adenhart's.

Nick Adenhart was a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Baseball America listed him the top prospect in the Angels' farm system.

In all of the minors, he was ranked 68th by Baseball America. He had started three games last year, but posted a 9.00 ERA. He was then demoted to the minor leagues.

But instead of regressing due to this setback, he worked diligently to improve himself and get back to the Big Leagues.

This spring training, his effort got him a spot in the Angels' starting rotation. It is always a risk to put a rookie pitcher into a Major League starting rotation, but, in his first start of the season, he did not disappoint.

He pitched six innings of shutout baseball. I did not watch the game in its entirety, but I did see the highlights of his performance. What struck me was his poise and his demeanor when he was in jams in the first and the fifth inning.

He looked unflappable as he pitched his way out of trouble. In a tight ball game, he kept his cool and delivered when it mattered. That is what being an Major League pitcher is all about.

Sadly, after a dream-fulfilling outing, Nick Adenhart was killed Thursday morning.

This is more than a tragic story. It is a sickening story that a young man with his whole life ahead of him was killed due to the reckless actions of another man. Andrew Gallo, a repeat offender, was convicted of DUI in 2006 and was arrested in 2007 for drunk and disorderly conduct.

He was driving with a suspended license. This man did not even have the decency to own up to his error. Instead of staying at the scene like a man, he fled like a coward.

Along with being a coward, Gallo is a murderer. Coward and murderer characterize Andrew Gallo perfectly, and I challenge anyone to refute that.

He is facing three murder charges and is looking at a lengthy jail sentence. However, drunk driving is an all too common thing when it comes to athletes, because they do not pay for their actions.

I remember when Leonard Little killed Susan Gutweiler in 1998. His blood alcohol level was more that double the statutory limit in the state of Missouri. He pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

In many states, that merits at a lengthy prison sentence. However, Little only received 90 days of jail time, 1,000 hours of community service, and was placed on four years of probation.

Even after killing someone due to his drunk driving, Leonard Little was again arrested for DWI and speeding in 2004. He failed three sobriety tests and smelled of alcohol.

In being characterized as a persistent offender, he was charged with a felony. However, he was acquitted and only found guilty of a misdemeanor speeding charge.

For the Gutweiler family, where was their justice? How many families could Leonard Little have destroyed in 2004? Yet, all he got was an eight-game suspension, only 90 days in jail, and he continued to play football until 2008. Does it surprise you that so many athletes drive drunk?

Donte Stallworth is being charged with DUI manslaughter. But, how long will he be put in jail? Will he walk away from court with just a slap on the wrist, like Leonard Little? I hope not.

The Reyes family deserves better than that. Just like the Gutweiler family deserved better. Because in the eyes of the law all men are equal.

Regardless of the money you have or the status you hold, in a courtroom, you must be judged as any other person.

Now, I am a Yankees fan. I am a fan of Joba Chamberlain. He is an important player for the Yankees' drive to a 27th World Series win. Despite that, he should not be playing for the Yankees right now. He should be suspended.

Earlier this year, he pleaded guilty of driving under the influence. He was sentenced to nine months probation, a $400 fine, and his license was suspended for 60 days.

But, he will pitch for the Yankees as if nothing happened. How much damage could Joba Chamberlain have done due to his foolish and careless actions?

In this tragedy, Bud Selig and MLBPA need to come together to end the drunk driving of MLB players. Severe suspensions need to be in place to discourage drunk driving.

If a person is guilty of DUI or DWI, they should be suspended for half the season. If they cause injury to anyone that does not lead to death or debilitation, they should be suspended for the whole season.

If their reckless actions led to the death or paralysis or they convicted a second time, they should never be allowed on a baseball field again.

Players will then think twice about driving drunk because they could lose their careers and cost their teams a chance to win the World Series.

There can be no tolerance for these kind of actions. None. If you want to show these athletes leniency, then go to the Gutweiler family or the Reyes family and tell them that.

I do not want to make Nick Adenhart in to a martyr. He did not choose to give his life to this cause. He was a victim. Nor do I want to make the two others who died or those injured into martyrs. They were victims.

His family and the other families are victims of something that occurs too often. It is time for the MLB, along with all of the sports world to take a stand against drunk driving.

They must show no tolerance for these irresponsible and life-threatening actions. We, as fans, must show no tolerance.

We are too tolerant to those who commit DUIs. We still go to the games to watch these players and spend our money that goes to towards their contracts.

Our tolerance gives rise to the deaths of innocent people. Our tolerance gives rise to tears of grieving mothers and anger of loving fathers. Our tolerance gives rise to the shattering of families with no one around to pick up the pieces. How can you tolerate that?

I wish to apologize for not knowing the names of the other victims involved. More specifically, I would like to apologize to the victims' families and friends.

Releasing Plaxico Burress: How The Giants Can Fill The Void

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:33:15 -0400

We all saw what happened in the playoffs last year. The Giants could move the ball between the '20s, but when it got to the red zone the Giants could not do very much. Being a smash mouth team is a good thing, but when people are stacking the box expecting run, it's not much use.

Without Plaxico there was no red zone threat, no 6' 5" target that could catch the ball at its highest point which made it impossible for the defensive back to make a play. That was the reason for the loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Going forward, the loss of Plaxico Burress will hurt the Giants offense. Without Plaxico Burress, teams will stack the line against the run. Without Plaxico Burress, Eli Manning can no longer be the same quarterback. Before, Eli could throw a ball in the vicinity of Plaxico and trust in Plaxico to make a play.

This was especially true in Giants stadium. The notorious swirling winds made Eli's passes float and become prime targets for defensive backs. With Plaxico, the swirling winds did not matter as much because Eli did not have to throw with great accuracy. However, as shown in the playoff game, without that accuracy, Eli is a mediocre quarterback.

Regardless of the evidence, the Giants did the right thing in releasing Plaxico Burress.

First, the Giants are one of those model franchises in the NFL. Along with teams like the Steelers, the Giants represent a model of respectability and integrity for every team to follow. The Giants could no longer hold that position if they let Plaxico Burress stay on the team. If they had, they lose their respectability as a franchise.

Letting Plaxico would set a horrible precedent for the New York Giants. The Giants become an organization run by the star players of the team instead of the coaches, the management, and the owner. Teams run by star players do want bring home championships, just headlines.

That does not mean that the Giants are stronger today than they were last year on the offensive side of the football. The have helped to remedy that situation by strengthening a strength. In signing Chris Canty, Michael Boley, and Rocky Bernard, they strengthen that defense by getting more playmakers. With the return of Osi Umenyiora, the Gaints will have that depth on the defensive line that led them to a championship. Last year, the lack of depth led to Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka wearing down by the end of the season. Do not expect that to happen this year.

Current Wide Receivers

Looking at the offensive side of the football, the Giants do need help at the wide receiver position. Every team has a window to win in the NFL and that window is open for the Giants. Some people argue that the Giants should develop the receivers they have in a solid receiving corps, but lets look at the current wide receivers of the Giants:

Steve Smith - The best wide receiver and route runner on the New York Giants. He has formed a bond with Eli Manning which can be seen on third down. He is Eli's favorite target on third down. He is already a great receiver in the slot and has the potential to be a very solid No. 2 receiver.

Domenik Hixon - Speedster who still needs to work on catching the football (remember the touchdown he dropped in the Philadelphia game). He needs to learn how to run routes with more precision. However, he can stretch the field with his speed.

David Tyree - We all remember him for "The Catch" in Super Bowl XLII. But, that's the only thing we remember him for. He has never had more that 20 receptions in one season and has never been a frequent contributor to the offense.

Mario Manningham - The problem with Mannigham is his lack of NFL play. Based on his time and Michigan he has a great burst of the line and can create separation. He has good hands and runs routes well. However, he is inconsistent and lacks the size to become the red zone threat the Giants need.

Sinorice Moss - He's got plenty of speed, there is no doubting that. However, he has yet to make an impact on the Giants. That may be due to Eli Manning's lack of accuracy in his throws. A small speedster needs to have the QB lead him with his throws so receiver can run after the catch. He has not been able to create the kind of separation needed in order to successful with a QB like Eli.

Looking at all of these receivers, I do not see a true No.1 receiver or a red zone threat. Kevin Boss did lead the team in receiving touchdowns, but he is not going to create the match-ups the Giants need to be consistently dominant in the red zone.

Eli Manning

Regardless of what the Giants do with their receiving corps, Eli Manning needs to improve drastically. He can no longer throw the ball in a general area and how that his wide receiver makes a play. Without that tall deep threat, look for the Giants to employ more short crossing routes to utilize the speed of those receivers. He needs to develop that accuracy that allows his smaller, faster wide receivers. That will give his receivers the ability to run after the catch and create big plays that way. Eli also needs to develop his throwing strength and his spiral. In the winds of the Meadowlands, Eli can not let his passes get knocked down or carried by the wind. The only way to prevent that is by getting a tighter spiral on the ball. If I was Chris Palmer, the Giants QB Coach, that would be the most important thing to work on.

Proven Options - Free Agency

Torry Holt - Right now, I think the best option in free agency is Torry Holt. He did have a down year last year and he is 32-years-old, but he is still a productive receiver. He was not released because he was not a quality football player, but because he wanted to be released and it made sense for the Rams who are a rebuilding team looking to create cap space. I think he was agitated about playing for one of the worst teams in football. That would not be the case if he played for the Giants. Except for last year, Torry Holt has always (except for his rookie year) had at least 80 receptions and 1000 yards.

Marvin Harrison - Unlike Torry Holt, Marvin Harrison is a declining player and declining fast. Once the best route runner and ball catcher in the NFL, he has aged remarkably and is a shell of his former self. Also what made Marvin Harrison great was the chemistry he had with Peyton Manning. After all of those years, it will be difficult for Marvin Harrison to attain that connection with his quarterback over the offseason.

Proven Option - Trades

Anquan Boldin - This has been the dream of every Giants fan in America. If the Giants got Anquan Boldin, they would be the odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. Remember Boldin put up Pro Bowl number before Warner and Fitzgerald became Cardinals. We all know what he would bring to the Giants, but at what cost? If all the Cardinals wanted were draft picks, I would be fine with that. Like I said earlier, the Giants have a window to win multiple Super Bowls and they will do it with Anquan Boldin. However, many reports state that the Cardinals want both Steve Smith and Mathias Kiwanuka in the deal, as well. I think that is too much to give up a two or three draft picks along with two valuable players.

Braylon Edwards - Like Boldin, he can be a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver for the the Giants. He is bigger than Anquan Boldin and would be a great red zone target. However, he is notorious for dropping the football. With trust being the most important thing for Eli Manning, that may cause Eli not to trust Edwards like he did Plaxico. Once again, from the reports, the price for him is too high. They want, along with two draft picks, Steve Smith. The problem with any trade involving Smith would be that the Giants would only have a No. 1 and a bunch of slot receivers. That would lead to teams doubling Boldin or Edwards making them ineffective. Any trade for a wide receiver must allow the Giants to keep Smith in order to keep defenses honest.

Broncos Duo - With the Jay Cutler trade, both Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall may look for a way out of Denver. With the Broncos needs on defense, I think they would be content in getting just draft picks for either of them. Both of them could be legitimate No.1 wide receivers for the Giants, however it there is only a chance they might want out of Denver. Though I don't think the price will be as high, the odds are less likely that the Broncos would put Royal or Marshall on the trading block unless pushed.

The Draft

As every day goes by, it seems more likely that the Giants will look to the draft to solve their problems at wide receiver. They should go after a possession receiver who can develop into a red zone threat. However, the problem with rookie receivers is that they are rookie receivers. They are inconsistent, and usually do not make an impact in their first year. There are exceptions like Randy Moss, Eddie Royal, and Anquan Boldin but those are blips on the radar as opposed to a pattern.

Michael Crabtree - This is the one wide receiver that I see who can make an impact as a No.1 receiver in his rookie season. He has all the physical and mental tools of any great No.1 wide receiver. The problem is that foot injury and the severity of it. Though that could be a problem, it may help the Giants. Before the injury many saw Crabtree being drafted by the Seahawks with the fourth pick in the draft. Now he could go to the Raiders at seven or the Jaguars at right and could fall even further if Jeremy Maclin is taken before him. That gives the Giants the ability to trade up in the draft to grab this once in a decade talent. Usually, the more draft picks the better. However, the Giants are one piece away from being the favorites for the Super Bowl and I can make an exception for that. With the second and the fifth round picks the Giants got for Shockey, they could trade into the top ten for two or three picks and still have picks left to create depth on the offensive line and line-backing corps.

Hakeem Nicks - Other than Crabtree, I think Nicks is the most polished of any of the wide receivers in this class. He is a great route runner and has glue for hands. Also he is very effective in running down the middle. People complain that he lacks the deep threat speed to stretch the defense. However, greats like Jerry Rice, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald were all criticized for that going into the draft. I am not saying that Nicks will become as great as those players, but you saying that he can not stretch the defense without playing a down in the NFL is a premature characterization of the man. Other that Crabtree, I believe he would be the best fit at receiver for the Giants. The Giants should trade up to get him if, he may be taken in the 20th-28th range.

Kenny Brit - The local man out of Rutgers does have the mouth watering physical tools that every one would want in a wide receiver. However, he is still a very raw receiver compared to Nicks and Crabtree. In the NFL, he can not rely simply on his physical abilities to beat defenders and catch touchdowns. That is why I see him more as a project than a kid who can make an impact right way.

Darius Heyward-Bey - His stock has rocketed due to his amazing performance at the combine. He has elite speed and better size than Hakeem Nicks. However, his lack of production at Maryland raises some doubts. Also, a 40 time means nothing when you do not have the pads on and there are no defenders. I do not believe the Giants will get him, because many see him going in the middle of the first round. If that is the case, I do not think the Giants should trade up to get him. I do not think he would be an impact player in his first year and Kenny Brit has more potential in my mind that Heyward-Bey.

The Giants will be legitimate contenders for the Super Bowl this year. They have the experience, the defense, and the running game to get back to the promised land. But, they are missing that No.1 wide receiver that Eli can trust in the red zone and can prevent the defense from stacking the line against the run. There are many options, each with serious risks, but the reward may out-weigh them all.

The Injustice in Dubai and What Arthur Ashe Meant to Tennis

Naveen Maliakkal — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 12:57:55 -0500

As Americans, we have had issues with race relations unlike any nation before us. From slavery, to Jim Crow, to the Civil Rights Movement, race relations have shown America at its worst while also showing the good in our country.

Men like Martin Luther King helped to change America and promote progress between races. Dr. King showed us the injustice in our society and called upon us, as Americans, to fix it.

The Civil Rights Movement helped Americans fix problems domestically and also created a foundation for Americans to fight injustice throughout the globe. There needed to be new leaders to replace men like Martin Luther King.

Men of law and politics were looked upon to continue the fight for equality. However, one of America's leaders did not come from law school or politics. He came from a tennis court.

He was Arthur Ashe.

Arthur Ashe was born in 1943 in Richmond, VA. He was a successful tennis player, winning three Grand Slams, and was a trailblazer for the sport. Among many other firsts, he was the first African American to win the US Open, Wimbledon, and play for the Davis Cup. However, his achievements on the court paled in comparison to his actions off it.

Along with his crusade against AIDS and his attempts to promote education in the African-American community, he crusaded against injustice around the world. One of his famous stances against race injustice occurred in 1970 when he was denied a visa to travel to South Africa and play in the South African Open.

Instead of accepting this injustice, Ashe fought back. He used this to launch a campaign against the evils of South African apartheid. In 1973, he received a visa to travel to South Africa, but he did not stop his battle against injustice.

In my mind, Arthur Ashe was the most important figure, outside of South Africa, in the effort to end apartheid. While Stephen Beco and Nelson Mandela fought on the frontlines, Arthur Ashe openly protested and spoke against the South African government in an effort to create American support for the anti-apartheid movement.

He was even arrested for protesting against apartheid.

He was an athlete, but he did not care about what endorsement deals he would have lost. He did not care about what the tennis world thought about him.

He cared about ending injustice.

Today, it seems, the tennis world has forgotten Arthur Ashe. Sure, there is Arthur Ashe Stadium, but who cares? What good does his name do, when his message has been destroyed?

The United Arab Emirates denied an Israeli woman, Shahar Peer, a visa to travel to Dubai and play in the Barclays Dubai Tournament. They stated that this action was taken because of the security risk an Israeli would be in a Muslim nation. That should not be an issue. They could easily protect her from any anti-Semitic people.

And let's get this straight; in Dubai, there is a deep-seated animosity against Jewish people, as with almost all Muslim nations (with a possible exception for Turkey). That tells me that they do not lack the ability to protect an Israeli, but lack the desire to protect an Israeli.

Now, what do the players of today do to show their disgust with the people of Dubai? Nothing. Sure, they have made statements supporting Shahar Peer, but they are still going to play in the tournament because they do not want to let the sponsors down.

In essence, the dollars are more important than justice. None of these women or men are willing to stand defiantly against discrimination.

It is shocking and disturbing that Venus and Serena Williams are not showing any backbone in the matter. As the two biggest American players in the world, they need to set an example for the entire tennis community to follow, just as Arthur Ashe did.

It does not matter that they are African Americans, because all Americans have a responsibility to fight discrimination, segregation, and other forms of race-related injustice. For Americans are not defined by their creed or their color, but by their character.

February is Black History Month, and ESPN will probably show a piece on Arthur Ashe. However, looking at tennis today, celebrating Arthur Ashe's legacy means nothing. Naming stadiums, having journalists talk about him, and showing documentaries is not what Ashe would have wanted.

Instead, he would have wanted us to stand up for Peer and against the Muslim discrimination against Israelis. In fact, it would be best to remove Arthur Ashe's name from every stadium and statue.

For what is the point of keeping his name alive, when we have killed his message?

Alex Rodriguez: Baseball's Last Chance To Clean the Records Books

Naveen Maliakkal — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:32:25 -0500

Baseball's legacy is based on two things, its legends and its records. Baseball's legacy is full of names the we revere. Ruth, Gehrig, Aaron, and Mays, are some of the legends that have graced the diamond.

Unlike any other sport, the records in baseball matter.

Basketball fans, what do the numbers 15,806 or 38,387 mean to you?

Football fans, what do the numbers 464 or 18,355 mean to you?

Now I ask you, what do the numbers 61 and 755 mean to you? Hitting in baseball is an individual task. In order for a basketball player to score a basket or a football player to score a touchdown, he is dependent on his team. In baseball, hitting is a task that is completed solely by the individual. That is why these records matter. They are inspiring and true representations of individual greatness.

That is what made Alex Rodriguez the most important player in the games today. He may not have been well liked player by many fans. He may not have been a good person or one of high character. But, before last Saturday, he was baseball's savior.

He was the one to bring credibility back to the records that had been spat upon by men like McGwire, Sosa, and Bonds. He was supposed to be a hero. A man who played clean while all those around him played dirty. He was supposed to be the face that led us out of the steroid era. He failed us.

Now there is no hope.

By the time Rodriguez is done, he will have hit 800 home runs. No one will break Rodriguez's career mark and Bonds's season mark of 73. To break Alex Rodriguez's record, a player would have to average 40 home runs over a 20 season career. That is too much to ask of any man.

Bud Selig will not change the record books because he was the man, along with the MLBPA, that let this happen while in full knowledge of what was going on. These records no longer stand for individual greatness. Now, they stand for individual weakness.

You may call me naive in thinking Alex Rodriguez was clean. I will admit I was and still am. But as a fan of the game, I could not be cynical of any players or their achievements without clear evidence.

Some say, he only used steroids for three years. Rodriguez said that he wanted people to look at what he did as a Mariner and a Yankee, while ignoring his years and numbers as a Texas Ranger. But, as I heard Dan Shaunessey say, “If you shoot 31 on the front nine, and cheat on the back nine, you forfeit the round.”

Even after Saturday, I can not be skeptical of any player when there is no proof. Speculation is not enough. Even though people say they would not be surprised if other big name players took steroids, I will be. I could never enjoy another baseball game if I believed or even speculated that many of the players had used steroids or performance enhancing drugs.

Even though I am 17 years old, the numbers that matter to me are still 61 and 755. The greatest home run hitters are Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Ken Griffey Jr. All I can do about Rodriguez, Bonds, McGwire, and Sosa is ignore their numbers.

All I can do is forget.

Another Record Contract: New York Yankees Sign Mark Teixeria

Naveen Maliakkal — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:19:59 -0500

Reported by Buster Olney a couple hours ago, the Yankees have signed slugger Mark Teixeira. The deal is a reported 180 million dollars over eight years.

This is exactly what New York needed. First, it keeps Teixeira away from the Boston Red Sox. That is huge to keep such a powerful hitter and fielder away from the Red Sox and if David Ortiz continues to decline, Boston will lack serious power in their lineup. Also, as it turns out, the difference between the Yankee's offer and the Red Sox offer was 12 million dollars or 1.5 million dollars per season.

The Yankees also get an increase in offense, obviously, but they improve dramatically on defense. It is already well known that Jason Giambi was one of the worst defensive first basemen in baseball and Betemit was a liability at the plate. Mark Teixeira is a great hitter and one of, if not the, best defensive first baseman in baseball.

With a sinker ball pitcher like Wang and young pitchers coming up, it is imperative have people in the field who won't give up out and also take away hits. The will help the confidence of the pitchers and keep pitch counts lower. That is so valuable for the Yankees who do have question marks when it comes to the health and durability of their pitching staff.

Offensively he gives them a Silver Slugger caliber first baseman to bat behind Alex Rodriguez. His has averaged 30+ HRs and 100+ RBIs throughout his career and hits around .300. Most important are his averages with RISP. He bats .303, his OBP is .419, and his SLG is .524 (last season). That is crucial because that was the problem last year for the Yankees. They could put men in scoring position, but could not get them home.

I don't want to hear anything about how Yankees should not be spending this kind of money on the players. The Yankees have two obligations, and both go hand in hand. They are obligated to win and obligated to their fans. For the prices Yankees fans pay for tickets, it is imperative that the Yankees go deep in the postseason and make the World Series.

They need to achieve this through any means necessary. Also the Yankees payroll (if they don't sign any more players) is 25 million dollars less than last season's.

The Yankees have gotten a rock for eight years at first base, have greatly improved their offense and defense, they are frontrunners to go to the World Series, they are putting out the best product for their fans to watch, and they are going to spend 25 million dollars less. Can't argue with that.

Yankees Have Signed A.J. Burnett For Five Years, 82.5 Million Dollars

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:28:55 -0500

While watching ESPN, it has been made known to me that the Yankees have made their second big acquisition of the off-season in signing A.J. Burnett. While I would have gone with Derek Lowe, A.J. Burnett gives the Yankees depth in the starting rotation, and a potentially dominant pitcher.

One of the most important things about A.J. Burnett has been his history against teams in the AL East. From 2006-2008, Burnett has gone 5-0 against the Red Sox with a 2.56 ERA and has struck out more batters than he has given up hits. Against the Rays, he did go 1-2, but had a 3.12 ERA and struck out more batters than he gave up hits. These are critical stats if the Yankees want to make the playoffs.

He is a power pitcher who can be near un-hittable. Probably the most important thing about signing Burnett is that he will not face the Yankees anymore. As an avid Yankees fan, I have seen him tear up the Yankees too many times.

He does have issues being consistency and control. In my mind, he walks too many batters. He does not give up many hits (less than one per inning), but the amount of walks he gives up makes his WHIP appear more pedestrian.

He needs to be more consistent. When it comes to each season, he needs to show that he can perform in a non-contract year. His best two seasons have suspiciously come during his contract year which could make the Yankees look foolish in giving him a five year deal.

Also when it comes to each start, he needs to be more consistent mentally. Against inferior opposition, he seems to pitch down to the competition, but when playing big name teams like the Red Sox or Yankees he constantly rises to the occasion. Maybe because he is playing in pinstripes he will feel like he needs to play well enough to earn that uniform every night. I mean, playing for the Blue Jays and the Marlins is nothing compared to the Yankees.

The rotation of the Yankees now can do something it has not been able to do in years  – inspire fear. Before the only starting pitcher teams feared was Wang. Though Mussina had a great year, teams never feared going to the plate against them. Also the backend of the rotation was completely laughable. Going into a three game series with the Yankees instead of seeing names like Aceves, Rasner, and Ponson, teams will see the names Sabathia, Wang, and Burnett. Joba makes a great fourth starter and even if no one is signed, Hughes can get another opportunity as the fifth starter.

The Yankees have arguably the best rotation in baseball. These signings have put the Yankees back as one of the favorites to win the World Series. The problem is that they have two other favorites in their division.

Sitting Brandon Jacobs Is the Right Move

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:04:11 -0500

When Tom Coughlin decided to sit Brandon Jacobs this weekend against the hated Dallas Cowboys, there were probably many fantasy owners who lost hope of advancing in the playoffs.

If the Giants wish to go far in the playoffs, however, it is best to sit Brandon Jacobs this weekend.

Without Jacobs, the Giants are still a better team than the Cowboys and should win. I understand that the Dallas defense has been more physical and effective since Wade Phillips took over the playcalling, but they were playing the Seahawks, 49ers, and Steelers. These three teams' offenses are not close to the caliber of the Giants.

And without the Meadowland winds, the passing game will be more productive. Their depleted secondary should make Eli Manning's job much easier. Bradshaw and Ward can still run the football. Though neither of them can run as well as Jacobs, the two of them should contribute positively for the Giants.

The Dallas offense played horribly against the Steelers. They were inept in every facet, except for Tashard Choice. Romo was not throwing the ball well and the recent Terrell Owens' problems will be a huge distraction for a team that has no leadership whatsoever. They did not have Marion Barber, but it is unsure if he is going to play on Sunday.

Even if he does play, toe injuries severely inhibit running backs. The injury will prevent Barber from planting his foot properly and getting the explosion he needs when running the football.

These factors make me believe the Giants will still win in Dallas.

It's more important that Jacobs is healthy against Carolina and for the playoffs. If the Giants beat Carolina, even if they lose to the Cowboys, they will clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. This would force Panthers or Buccaneers to come to Giants Stadium. Both teams, especially Carolina, have shown ineptitude on the road.

Jacobs must be healthy for the playoffs. Without Jacobs, the Giants become a more beatable team.

In the cold, wind and snow, it is essential to run the football and there is no one better than Brandon Jacobs at wearing down a defense over the course of a game.

Giants fans, do not worry whether or not we lose Sunday, just look forward to the game against Carolina and the playoff run. Then you will see Coughlin made the right decision.

Omar Minaya, What Were You Thinking?: The NY Mets Trade for J.J Putz

Naveen Maliakkal — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:58:55 -0500

The Winter Meetings have been dominate by both New York ballclubs this year. Though the Yankees made the biggest signing with C.C. Sabathia, the Mets were the center of the baseball world in signing Francisco Rodriguez and trading for J.J. Putz.

However, bringing two closers on the same team is not something that will benefit the Mets in the long term.

The trade for J.J. Putz was the wrong move for two reasons: The loss of Franklin Gutierrez and the acquisition of a closer to set up another closer.

Franklin Gutierrez could have been the corner outfielder that the Mets desperately need. They lack any kind of production from that sport and do not have a defensive stud there. Gutierrez has already been noted as an excellent defender in the outfield and many believe he will develop as a hitter.

I don't see Jeremy Reed as a viable solution to this problem. He has never played a full season, and he isn't a power guy. He hasn't hit above .270. Unless they plan on signing Manny Ramirez, I don't see any solution the Mets have to deal with that issue.

That is minor in comparison to having two closers on the same team. There is no doubting that J.J. will be setting up for Rodriguez. This will work fine for this season because Putz still has a $8.9 million option for 2010. The biggest problem will come next season for the Mets.

In his contract year, Putz needs to show his abilities as a closer to get the fattest contract he can. Relief pitchers don't get paid big money just to set up for someone else. This could lead to some serious issues when in comes to the chemistry in the locker room and the bullpen. I'm not saying that Putz is a bad guy, but closer's have—and need to have—an ego.

In all likelihood, that will lead to Putz leaving the Mets after the 2010 season. He is a closer and will not stay a set up man. There are always going to be teams that need a closer and Putz has shown he can do it effectively.

The Mets would have to exceed every other offer in order to keep him as their set up man which would create tension between K-Rod and Putz in a fragile clubhouse. This clubhouse does not have any leaders and can not afford any increased amount of controversy.

If they don't sign J.J Putz the Mets will be in the same situation as were a week ago. They have a closer but no bridge to him. Unless they can develop a set up man or find an actual sett up man, the Mets will find themselves in a little deja vu.

I understand, Mets fans. Your bullpen cost you a chance to play in the postseason last year. However, with these moves, I don't see the Mets as a better team that the Phillies, the Cubs, the Cardinals, the Astros (when healthy), or a young and improving Dodgers team (if Manny signs with them).

They have a holes in the starting rotation. They do have Johan Santana and Pelfrey showed he could pitch, but they lack the depth and consistency from their rotation that is needed to get into the playoffs.

I don't see the Mets getting Lowe or Burnett and Ben Sheets spending more time on the DL than on the mound. They have to get more consistent on offense and need to see Jose Reyes set the table for Delgado, Wright, and Beltran on a more consistent basis.

Ultimately they gained a chance to make the playoffs at the expense of a solution to a glaring need.

What's Next For The New York Yankees: Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett?

Naveen Maliakkal — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 08:16:40 -0500

Brian Cashman already made the most important move of the off season in signing CC Sabathia. And though my birthday is today, I'm going to thank Cashman for the early gift.

The Yankees have the best front two starters in baseball right now in CC and Wang. If Joba can last the whole season, then maybe the best front three. Yet, the Yankees teams I grew up with did not have a dominating front end to their staff, but instead had six or seven legitimate stating pitchers.

In the playoffs, teams can be carried to a World Series championship because of their front two or three starters (Arizona in 2001), but in order to make the playoffs in a division like the AL East, the Yankees need a deep rotation.

That is what brings us to the debate on who the next Yankee signing will be. Derek Lowe or A.J. Burnett. Now they have already made an offer to A.J. Burnett, but I think they could make a better move. The guy they should be going after is Derek Lowe.

First off, I have major concerns about Burnett. I understand Burnett is younger and can be more dominating than Derek Lowe, but he has major health concerns. The last thing the Yankees need is another starter on the DL.

Another Carl Pavano would destroy the team. Also A.J. Burnett has very little, if any postseason experience. This is something that should concern the Yankees because every year its about winning the World Series, not just getting in the playoffs.

Lastly, Burnett does not seem to play as well when he is not in a contract year. Giving him five years guaranteed may led to an apathetic approach to the game for him.

Derek Lowe is a horse. The man has never been on the DL in his entire career and he eats up innings. In his seven years as a starter, he has pitched over 200 innings four times and had another year with 199.1 innings.

During his time in Los Angeles, he has quietly been one of the most consistent pitchers in all of baseball. Lowe's ERA has not been over 3.90 and his WHIP (a stat I put great emphasis on) has not been over 1.26 in his four years as a Dodger.

Most importantly, he is the most proven pitcher in the postseason in this free agent class. Everyone remember's how dominating he was in the 2004 postseason and he was effective in his one start in the 2008 postseason.

He has an ERA around 3.33 and in his starts, he has averaged about six innings a start. That ability to go deep into games is one of the most important things in the playoffs.

I'm not saying Burnett is the wrong move. He can be a dominate starter if he stays healthy and is motivated to succeed. However, to take one that kind of risk with your starting rotation is a dangerous risk.

Like Bill Parcells said, "You lose with potential. You win with performance."

Derek Lowe has shown he can perform when it matters most and is the rock in the middle of the rotation the Yankees need.

Arsenal Have Their Eye on Miguel Veloso

Naveen Maliakkal — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 03:37:30 -0400

After Arsene denied interest in signing Stephen Appiah, and Chelsea's possible coup of Carlos Mineiro, it has been reported that Arsenal and Manchester United are in a race for Miguel Veloso of Sporting Portugal. The central midfielder is only 22-years-old, and also plays for the Portugese national team.

His agent stated that Veloso's price tag will be over 20 million euros. Obviously Arsenal needs to fortify their midfield with a more defensive minded player. That would not only improve their defense, but ease Fabregas's workload every match. Fabregas is constantly playing defense and offense—and runs about 15 km per game.

It is important that he is able to stay healthy the entire season.

Manchester United's interest in Veloso most likely comes from the health of Owen Hargreaves. With his constant injuries, Manchester United needs another central midfielder. They need a stopper since their midfielders aren't the greatest in defense.

What I have seen from Veloso has primarily come in Champions League matches. In his debut he was effective in stopping both Patrick Vieira and Luis Figo. He was definitely the man of the match. He is almost always playing for Sporting Portugal and looks to be a great young player.

His agent says that a deal could be done by the January transfer window. If it is done by then, will it determine who wins the Premiership or at least who (Man U or Arsenal) has the better season?

Gambling: A Problem Tennis Needs To Fix

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:01:50 -0400

It was reported today that Nikolay Davydenko is no longer being investigated by the ATP for match fixing.

Though I think Davydenko did throw the match, that is not my main point. If the ATP doesn't crack down on gambling in tennis, all credibility could be lost in the sport.

Tennis is one of the easiest sports to fix. Unlike team sports, you only need to pay off one player.

Tennis also an easy sport to dump a match in. Slightly mis-hitting the ball can cause horrible shots. Back footwork can put people out of position and cause difficult returns. In a game of such subtly, it is difficult to tell if people are throwing matches.

There have already been players punished for fixing matches, but no one has been fixing matches at Grand Slams. However, with the amount of money at stake, it won't be long before someone attempts to fix a match at Wimbledon or Roland Garros.

That would strike a blow so fatal, that the sport would never recover. All credibility in tennis would be lost. Every upset would be questioned, instead of celebrated. There will always be second thoughts about who was truly the better player that day.

I love the sport of tennis. I love playing and watching it. Yet, it would be impossible to watch a sport where gambling effects the outcome of the matches. For the game's sake, the ATP needs to make sure that gambling never ruins tennis' reputation again.

Auburn Beats Mississippi State 3-2; Wins a Thrilling Baseball Game, Right?

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:44:21 -0400

I honestly couldn't believe this when I saw the score. There I was watching Norte Dame thrash Michigan and I see this crazy score. I thought that the college baseball season had already ended. When I realized that this was the No. 9 team in the nation and one of the lower tier SEC teams, I still couldn't believe it. Now that I have come to terms, this game shows two things about Auburn.

One, Auburn's defense is very good (which you probably knew). They have already proved that they have the ability to play good defense.

I was more impressed by their composure. When your offense can barely do anything, it is very easy for a defense to become frustrated. They know that no matter what they do, they won't be helped out. It's similar to a pitcher pitching a great game and getting no run support; however, Auburn's defense persevered and continued to play at a high level.

The offense is a completely different situation. They are in a new system and that takes sometime to get used to, but if you can only put up three points on Miss. St, you have serious problems.

There is absolutely no way Auburn can compete with LSU, Florida, and Georgia with an offense like that. You can't turn the ball over like Auburn did and expect to win the football game. There were way too many penalties as well. In fact it was a holding penalty that led to the only points for Miss St.

If Auburn doesn't get their act together on offense, they are going to struggle mightily in the best conference in college football.

The Future Of The New York Yankees: Pitching Prospects To Keep An Eye On

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 10:50:02 -0400

Now it's time to look at the pitching prospects of the Yankees. Unlike hitting prospects, the Yankees are overloading with pitching prospects and have had a much more proven history in developing them.

Here are some (who have yet to play a game in Yankee Stadium) to look out for.

Zach McAllister

This 6'6" right-hander was drafted in 2006, with Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. Unlike Joba and Ian, McAllister came directly from high school. He was a project pick for the Yankees.

Though his rise through the minors has been slow, he has shown great progress. He throws a four-seam fastball that is mistaken for a two-seamer.

It is around the low 90s, but its natural movement is what sets it apart. Movement, not speed, is the most important thing about pitching.

Kyle Farnsworth may throw 100 mph, but it is straight and easy to make contact with.

They had McAllister stop throwing a slider and tried to teach him the curveball. His first year was disastrous due to a lack of spin and control on the curveball

Now he is 20 years old and iis lighting it up this season.

In Low-A ball he had 2.45 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and his record was 6-3. He has 53 K to 8 BB in about 62 innings.

When he was promoted to A ball, he continued his success. His record was 7-6 with a 1.98 ERA and 1.04 WHIP. Though he only had 53 K in 83 innings, he only has 13 BB.

His progression through the Yankees system will remain slow. In all likelihood he will be called up in 2011 or 2012. To me, he is capable of being a solid 3, 4, or 5 starter.

Andrew Brackman

The kid has not thrown a single pitch in the minors but still made Keith Law's top 100 prospects in the majors. He was a first round pick for the Yankees and is more of a college project.

Had he been healthier in college, some believe that he could have challenged David Price as the No. 1 pick in the 2007 MLB draft.

It doesn't usually make sense to draft projects out of college. These players are expected to be polished and make an impact quickly. Brackman, like Austin Jackson, was more of a basketball player in high school and began focusing more on pitching at NC State.

He is a 6'10", 230 lb right-handed flame thrower. He has been compared to Randy Johnson due to his size and amazing fastball. He throws both a two-seamer and four-seamer.

His two-seamer is in the lower 90s, while his four-seamer in in the upper 90s, both have exceptional movement and he can place it anywhere at will.

He throws and knuckle-curve and a changeup with average command and movement.

He had to have Tommy John Surgery right after being drafted and hasn't pitched in an actual game since the end of his junior year at NC State. He is going to start pitching in winter ball this season and will start in A ball in 2009.

If he recovers properly, Brackman may have some extra life on his fastball making it even more unhittable.

Unless he gives a Joba type performance in the minors, he won't be on the Yankees next season. He will probably be called up in 2010, possibly 2011 if he doesn't develop like he should.

His talent could make him one of the best pitchers the Yankees have. The most important question is if he can stay healthy. If he can he will be a dominant No. 2 starter behind Joba by 2012.

Dellin Betances

Another big pitcher that the Yankees picked up. The high school draftee stands at 6'9" and is 230 lb. After being thought of as a sure first round pick, teams passed on him due to the very real possibility he would go to college.

He fell to the Yankees in the eighth and they couldn't say no. Last year Betances did not advance through the system due to a injured elbow that hurt him the entire season.

This year that problem seems to have been remedied.

He throws his fastball around 95-96 mph and it can come close to 100 mph. Unlike Brackman, Betances does have a secondary pitch—the knuckle-curve—he can rely on.

Yankee's scouts have been saying that he has made a lot of imporvement when it comes to throwing the change up. His mechanics are solid and I don't see him having many injury concerns.

This season in Low A ball, he has posted a 3.61 ERA and had a 1.24 WHIP. He was near unhittable and gave up less than one hit per inning (about .72 hits per inning). His K/9 ratio was 10.6, which is dominant.

His problem is the same problem Randy Johnson had coming up—he walked too many batters. He had 68 BB in 117 innings. That is usually a problem with big pitchers. The Yankee's coaches will be able to fix that.

This guy is exactly like Brackman in the kind of pitcher they are. These guys can be absolutely filthy. Betances could easily be anywhere from a No. 1 to a No. 3 starter.

If Kennedy and Hughes turns it around it will be interesting to see how the Yankees deal with him. If that happens, he could be the heir apparent to Mariano Rivera—just a thought.

He will probably be called up around the same time as Brackman, 2010 if things go right or 2011 if there is any delay.

Alan Horne (Picture)

The highest ranked Yankee pitching prospect other than Kennedy and Joba, Horne is by far the most polished pitcher in the Yankee's system.

He throws a four-seam fastball anywhere from 92-95 and has an good change up and slider. He can throw all these pitches for strikes consistently.

He had a great season last year. He had a 3.11 ERA and a WHIP of 1.34. He had a K/9 of 9.68 and a K/BB ration of 2.89.

However, this season was lost due to injury. His biceps have been a problem and kept him from making his Yankees debut this season as many had predicted.

Hopefully, he can rebound and pitch in the bullpen and may start next year for the Yankees.

He is 25 and time is running out for him. Yet, the Yankees should not be impatient with him. Like Aceves and Paul Byrd, some pitchers show their potential later than others. He will be the first Yankee called up in this group.

He will be called up next season and will start his career in the bullpen. Unless there is a horrible setback, he will be pitching in the first year of the New Yankee Stadium.

He will be a backend rotation guy, but that is something the Yankees desperately need stability in.

These are only the best of the best when it comes to the Yankees starters. There are other names that could make an impact for the Yankees in the future; Humberto Sanchez, Mark Melacon, Jeff Marquez, Kevin Whelan, and Jairo Heredia.

Projected Starting Rotation 2011 (without signing CC Sabathia)

1. Joba Chamberlain

2. Chien Ming Wang

3. Phil Hughes

4. Andrew Brackman/Dellin Betances

5. Alan Horne

If they sign C.C. Sabathia, he will be the No. 1 or No. 2 starter. This would just bump everyone down. If Hughes doesn't fix himself, then Betances will be a fixture in the starting rotation.

The Yankee's plethora of pitching has allowed them to be patient with their talent. They have been able to polish their players so they are ready to make an impact in the MLB.

Also, if a prospect doesn't pan out, there are plenty that can replace him which can give the Yankees the starting pitching depth they haven't had sine 2000.

Yankee's Hitting Prospects

Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba

Arsenal 4-0 Blackburn: Dominant Performance Leads to an Easy Win

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:00:58 -0400

It was a great win for the Gunners against Blackburn. They got off to a quick start and never looked back. The last thing the Gunners needed was another tie with Blackburn at the beginning of the season.

Theo Walcott carried his momentum from the English national team into today's match.

For the first time in a long time, it was not Cesc Fabregas who was the greatest creative force on the pitch. He made his presence felt immediately by setting up the first goal of the match for RVP. His speed and technique may be unmatched in all the EPL and he was giving Blackburn defenders fits all day.

Though the stat line didn't show it, Walcott was Arsenal's man of the match based on his form.

Adebayor was the Man of the Match with a hat trick against the Rovers. His performance epitomized what Adebayor is capable of. He can be one of the best strikers in the world if he maintains his form.

Van Persie was also in good form during the match scoring the opening goal.

If these two can stay healthy, I think they can be the best partnership in all of football. The quality these two strikers have and how their abilities complement each other so well makes a manger's mouth water and puts great fear in defenses. I would be hard pressed to find a better pair in all of football.

Concerning the midfielders, Cesc was himself. He made great passes and was the commander of the attacking.

Denilson made some good passes and had an assist. His confidence seems to have returned to him with the return of Cesc Fabregas.

Arsene needs to see how ineffective Denilson is when he is the primary creative force and it important that Cesc is with Denilson. Without Cesc, Denilson is a confused wreck who constantly gives away possession and shows no vision.

The defense wasn't spectacular in this match, but they did pick up another clean sheet. Kolo Toure was an absolute rock in central defense, along with providing some offensive pressure.

Clichy and Sagna were fabulous as well and you come to expect this from them every match. Gallas was not burned like he had been recently, but this was Blackburn. It is important that he marks better and can be more of a stopper for Arsenal.

I was really impressed with Aaron Ramsey. He didn't look tense or nervous in his first Premier League match and contributed with an assist. Though Wilshere did come into the game and became the youngest Gunner to play in a match, he did not have much time to show anyone anything.

This match was important in that Arsenal needs to pick up three points against these teams that are greatly inferior to them. Their performances against Newcastle and Blackburn have showed me that there will be no more painful draws or losses to inferior clubs (as long as Cesc is playing). This is paramount if Arsenal wishes to recapture domestic glory.

New York Yankees: Future Hitting Prospects To Keep an Eye On

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:46:14 -0400

This year has been a year of transition for the Yankees.

I know that many fans are frustrated, and you should be. For $200 million dollars, we should be in the playoffs. However, if Cashman sticks to his plan, look for a new influx of homegrown talent.

I am here to tell you which hitters (who have yet to play a game in Yankee Stadium) to look for in the future.

Outfielder - Austin Jackson

By far the best athlete in the Yankees farm system, the outfielder was committed to Georgia Tech as a 3 or 4 star basketball recruit.

Obviously, he chose baseball over basketball and is the highest ranked outfield prospect the Yankees have. He was a very raw player when he was drafted. He was athletically gifted, but lacked the development of his baseball skills. They have started to do that with him, and have seen the results.

He has good speed—faster than Bobby Abreu was in his youth coming up with the Phillies. This will give him good range if he plays centerfield, and he is learning how to steal bases.

This season, he stole 19 bases, he has a plus arm, which is a vast improvement over any outfielder the Yankees have other than Melky.

After tearing it up in single A last season, Jackson has performed modestly in AA.

He is batting .285 and his OPS is .773, but he hit 33 doubles, and this shows he has the ability to develop into a legitimate power hitter. His major issue is striking out, which he did 113 times this year.

Yet, Jackson is still an unrefined prospect, as he improves his baseball skills and realizes how to use his athleticism, he can become a solid 5-tool player.

Projected call-up possibly mid to late 2009, but most likely he will be a major part of the Yankees outfield in 2010.

Catcher - Austin Romine

Though Montero is a catcher know, I believe Romine will the heir to Posada.

He was a second round draft pick by the Yankees in 2007 Draft.

His defense is what sets him apart from Montero, his arm scored almost an 80 on that 20-80 scale. Though he has a strong arm, his quick release is what makes him so effective.

He is a good contact hitter, but is average when it comes to power. Some predict his power to be like Todd Zeile's at best. Now he is in A-ball and is batting .300 with 10 HRs and 24 doubles.

Austin isn't going to match the offensive production of Jorge, but he will not be an easy out in that lineup. His defense will pay it's dividends. I don't seeing him coming up in 2009 at all due to the more experienced and polished Fransciso Cereveilli.

Projected Call-up: 2010

Catcher - Jesus Montero

If you don't know who that man in the picture is, get familiar with that face. He is going to be the best slugger on the New York Yankees. He was signed at the age of 16 in 2006 for $1.6 million.

What he had coming to the Yankees was power, at 16, he scored an 80 on a 20-80 power scale.

More importantly, he has a great eye at the dish. He doesn't strike out a lot, he is second in all of Class-A baseball in batting average (.326) and has 17 home runs (Top 20). He has 34 doubles, which was 4th in Class-A. (For people unfamiliar with the minor leagues, doubles are a key stat to determine a prospects power). Also, he is batting .350 with RISP. That is something the Yankees sorely miss.

Defensively, he is okay. He's pretty big to be a catcher (6'4", 225lb). If he keeps growing, I see a move to first base, especially with his power and the trust the Yankees farm system has in Austin Romine.

Legitimately, this guy could be a 40 HR guy who hits at a +.300 clip.

That is the ceiling with him. If the Yankees sign Teixera, they can be more patient and let Montero develop in the minors. He would probably DH a majority of the time as well. If they don't find a quality first baseman, Montero could be seen as early as 2010.

Projected Call-Up: Possibly 2010, more likely 2011.

The Yankees don't have too many stand out hitting prospects compared to the stronger farm systems in the MLB. Where their strength lies is in the multitude of quality pitching prospects they have acquired. The ones to watch out for will be in my next article.

Projected 2011 Lineup (Assuming The Yankees Don't Sign Teixera)

1st. Brett Gardner OF

2nd. Derek Jeter SS/OF

3rd. Xaiver Nady OF

4th. Alex Rodriguez 3B/SS

5th. Robinson Cano 2B

6th. Jesus Montero DH

7th. Austin Jackson OF

8th. Juan Miranda 1B

9th. Austin Romine C

If the Yankees sign Teixera, I would put Texiera 3rd, Nady 5th and bump everyone behind them down.

Yankee's Pitching Prospects

Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Joba

England Beats Croatia 4-1: Is This The Turning Point For Theo Walcott?

Naveen Maliakkal — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:09:15 -0400

England was completely dominant in their win against Croatia. Though Croatia was without Eduardo da Silva, England was impressive in Zagreb. They dealt the Croatians their first loss in Croatia during World Cup qualifying. England looked like a different team and one of the reasons was the play of Theo Walcott.

Theo Walcott bagged the first hat-trick for England in seven years. Last time that happened it was when Michael Owen (amazing what he can do when he was healthy) bagged three goals against the Germans. Theo Walcott's pace and finishing ability helped England to jump out to an early and commanding lead.

This performance could make Theo a permanent fixture on the wing for England. His pace can set up great opportunities for him and England's strikers. In the future, he may be a striker for England, but now he is best suited at the wing. His performance is something that the English have been looking for from Walcott.

To me, it was the right move to put Walcott on the English side, but not start him as Sven did. He was completely star struck during the World Cup in 2006 and a bad performance could have been detrimental to his confidence and the faith the English people had in him. After some time acclimating to the climate of international play, Walcott did not disappoint.

I think that he should be a main fixture in the English side. What Walcott does is push the defense. His amazing pace creates pressure on defenders. England's play in international competition has been notoriously slow the past eight years. Though he doesn't have the amazing form on set pieces that Beckham had, he makes it up with his play. There are still problems with the English team, but Walcott will help them compete against the best of the best in the world.

However, I don't think that this will make Walcott a 90 minute player at Arsenal or maybe even a starter. Arsene has showed great faith in Denilson and he has performed well as long as Fabregas plays alongside him. Fabregas is the most important player on the team. Nasri has fit in so seamlessly that he will become a favorite at the Emirates. When Rosicky comes back from injury it will be interesting to see how Arsene deals with his surplus of attacking midfielders.

He can't take Eboue's spot because of a lack of strength in the defense. Arsenal shouldn't play five midfielders in that none of their strikers can handle being the lone striker. Adebayor, in theory could, but his best play comes when he is partnered with RVP.

Hopefully Walcott's performance could lead to a productive career for the English team and Arsenal. Also, Walcott's inclusion into the English team could change the dynamic of the English national team that could help them compete against the best teams in the world.

Andy Murray Beats Rafael Nadal at His Own Game

Naveen Maliakkal — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:57:29 -0400

Watching Andy Murray play the last two days has been awe-inspiring. He beat the best player in the world, in Rafael Nadal. More impressive, is that he beat Nadal at his own game.

If you read my last article on the match, I thought Murray wouldn't play as well the second day. Like Tim Henman before him, I thought the rain delay would give Nadal an advantage going into the match today.

First, I thought Murray would begin to realize the magnitude of the moment, in a negative way. I thought he would tighten up and not play the game naturally, but try to force it on the court.

Second, I thought the larger crowd and their support of Nadal would be detrimental to his playing. I was obviously wrong.

Murray's serve was still great. He was hitting aces like he did the day before. His serves were never returned well. Nadal would either return weakly or he was completely overwhelmed. It was a sight I had never seen before.

I can't believe I am saying this, but Andy Murray outattacked Rafael Nadal. I thought Nadal's attacking ability would win him the match. However, the greatest offensive game in all in the world was beaten by Andy Murray's offense.

Andy's passing shots were nearly perfect, which completely negated Nadal's net game. I guess its true that the best defense is a good offense.

Andy Murray also was able to create offense from what looked like defensive positions. There were shots where most people would have simply returned it, but Murray was unloading and making what should be defensive shots into winners. His return of serve was solid as well. He even got some winners directly off the serve.

Nadal looked like he was constantly on the defensive. He could not turn points around to his favor. He also couldn't wear down Andy Murray through long rallies from the baseline. His footwork looked horrendous on the hard court.

He was constantly out of position and reaching for balls instead of cleanly striking them. The only thing that prevented him from losing in straight sets was the service break.

Overall, I was amazed at the young Scot's performance. I can't definitively say who is going to win the final, but the way Murray has played throughout this tournament, it will take an almost perfect game from Federer to beat him.

I am going to predict that Murray will be the US Open champion in five sets.

The Rain Delay: Andy Murray's Bad Luck

Naveen Maliakkal — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 03:05:36 -0400

Andy Murray blew my mind yesterday. I didn't think that he would be this dominant in the first two sets against the best player in the world.

I thought that Rafa would outmuscle Murray and be too quick for him. I did think that he would win two sets by virtue of his play in the US Open so far.

But I'll be damned if anyone thought Murray would be up two sets, winning the first set 6-2.

However, the rain may prove to cost Andy Murray a chance to play in a Grand Slam final. What I think helped Murray yesterday was the lack of pressure he felt.

He played very effortlessly and loosely. This wasn't like his performance at Wimbledon. Al the All England Club he was very tense and you could see the pressure he felt being the hope of Brits everywhere.

In the US Open, he is just playing for himself and doing well. He was two or three steps ahead of Nadal. His shot selection was perfect the first two sets. I thought that his mind would help him win two sets, but it gave him a commanding lead.

What impressed me about Andy was his serve and the pace he was hitting his shots with. I believe he had 12 aces against Nadal. When he wasn't getting aces he put Nadal out of position leading to him winning the point.

Secondly, he was overpowering Nadal on the baseline and this was remarkable. Nadal was being beaten at his own game. This was something no one else had done.

Yet in the latter part of the second set and the third set, the match seemed to change as people started sprinting over to the match after the conclusion of the Federer v. Djokovic. The smaller crowd played into Murray's advantage because it was all about the pressure he had on him.

With a larger audience, he seemed to make more mental errors that the first 1 1/2 sets. Today, the stadium will be packed, and I'm sure they will be playing at Arthur Ashe. The crowds have also been rallying behind Nadal much more that Murray.

Secondly, the rain gives Murray time to think about the match. Murray is not the underdog he was at the beginning of the match. He can't play like he has nothing to lose anymore. Instead he is the overwhelming favorite with a two-set lead and has everything to lose.

Rafael Nadal can recompose himself after losing the first two sets and start clean, to an extent. He can make all the adjustments he needs and I don't think he will play as poorly.

What surprised me was how abysmal his footwork was on the court. When returning serves, he was constantly reaching for the ball instead of getting to position. Nadal needs to fix that.

It would be interesting to see if he comes to the net some more. Murray has been ineffective in lobbing Nadal when he was at net and when Nadal is at net he has had great success.

Though Murray has a two-set lead, this match is far from over.

Washington Huskies Were Robbed, NCAA and Referees Were Both Wrong

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:37:56 -0400

If you saw the Washington-BYU game, you witnessed an awesome game that should have gone to overtime. However, a dumb rule by the NCAA and a referee's dumb decision cost the Huskies the game.

The controversy was due to the celebration that Washington Huskies QB Jake Locker did. Locker drove the Huskies 76 yards in 17 plays in the last three minutes. After scoring a potential game tying touchdown on an impressive run, the QB immediately threw the ball into the air in the excitement of scoring the touchdown.

The referee threw the flag calling an excessive celebration penalty for throwing the ball up into the air. The penalty cost the Huskies 15 yards and led to a blocked extra point.

I think the rule itself is insane. I don't see how throwing the ball into the air should be considered excessive celebration. Especially when the player throws it immediately after scoring.

That is just the emotion of the player scoring manifesting themselves into an almost instinctual action. This was not a premeditated act. There was no Sharpie in Locker's pocket. He didn't go to the cheerleaders, take their pom-poms and kiss them. He didn't start River dancing or golfing. He just threw the ball up in the air.

The NCAA shouldn't police its players like the NFL does when it comes to end zone celebrations. That action Locker did wasn't an attempt to gain attention. He was just happy he scored. That is what the game is about, pure enjoyment.

The referee is also at fault. I know that he is supposed to adhere to NCAA rules and call the game based on the NCAA rules. However, in this instance I think the spirit of the law should be taken into account.

It should have been a no call. A referee is supposed to police the game, but, honestly I don't think anyone could tell me that what Jake Locker did was wrong.

Hopefully, the NCAA will see the ramifications of their over-policing and change the rule. I also wish that referees will also look at end zone celebrations in a less critical light. One of the great aspects of college football is the raw emotion players have. They play the sport because they love it and I don't think they should be penalized for it.

Will Stephen Appiah Be Arsenal's Midfield Fixer?

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:20:55 -0400

Now that Arsenal have missed the chance to get players like Xavi, Gareth Barry, and Gokhan Inler, they are looking towards recently released Stephen Appiah to add depth to their midfield.

The Ghanaian was released from the Turkish club Fenerbahce, and before that played for Juventus, Parma, and Udinese.

What many people remember when they hear the name Stephen Appiah was the 2006 World Cup. He was the captain of the Ghanaian national team that reached the knockout phase of the World Cup. He was the heart and soul of that team and was the best player on that team not named Michael Essien. His physical play helped Ghana beat the United States.

He was released by Fenerbahce due to his problems with injuries for the past two years. He has played primarily in Serie A and has also had experience in the Champions League with Juventus. He would provide a physical presence that Arsenal are currently lacking, and he wants to play for an English club, due to the success of fellow Ghanaians Michael Essien, and John Paintsil.

The other teams who are looking to acquire his services are West Ham, Tottenham, Genoa, Portsmouth, and Juventus.

Can he solve Arsenal's problem in the midfield and provide a much needed physical presence?

Zach Randolph To Memphis?: Donnie Walsh, What Are You Waiting For?

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:53:16 -0400

If what I am reading is true, the Knicks have received an incredible blessing. A team is willing to take Zach Randolph away from the Knicks and give us some players that can contribute. It is only a matter of Donnie Walsh accepting the offer the Grizzlies have made him.

I say that you do it right now before they change their minds. First off, the Knicks can not have a front court with Eddy Curry and Zach Randolph. With the two of them on the court, there is no way either of them will get the amount of touches they want. More importantly, they don't play any defense.

That is huge, especially when playing man-to-man. Secondly, Randolph's contract runs until the 2010-2011 season. That is after the fantasy draft of a free agent market, where the Knicks will be looking to bring LeBron James to the Garden.

This will also give the Knicks some players who can contribute off the bench. Milicic has been a bust and there is no doubting that. However, Milicic can be a decent role player for the Knicks as a backup center. I don't see a place for him at the power forward position when Chandler and David Lee are taking up those two roster spots.

Jaric doesn't have any basketball talent that the Knicks can use. However, his hot wife (Adriana Lima) can help to bring more fans to the game and give the people watching the game on TV something beautiful to look at. Because this season, the Knicks won't be pretty.

Most importantly, their contracts will expire before the 2010 free agent market opens. Their contracts will also give the Knicks 17 players on their roster. They will need to cut two of them, and I can't see anybody more deserving that Stephon Marbury. That cancer needs to be removed from the team. He's the second player I don't care about.

Though that makes the Knicks less talented overall, it improves the cohesion of the pieces. The Knicks would both improve and become closer to reaching their goal of being under the cap for 2010.

So, in light of all of that: Donnie Walsh, accept the deal.

When Money Gets In the Way of the Game: The Destruction of Yankee Stadium

Naveen Maliakkal — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:08:12 -0400

This season had been an absolute disappointment for the Yankees. In the last year of the greatest baseball stadium ever created, the Yankees won't be playing in October. There will be no new postseason and World Series memories to be made. Once again, us Yankee fans will have to remember the glory days.

For me, being only 16, those glory days were in the beginning of the Joe Torre era. From 1996 to 2000, the Yankees never disappointed me (excluding '97). By the time I was 10, I thought that it was the Yankees' right to play in the World Series.

There were so many memories during my life at Yankee Stadium. Cone's and Wells' perfect games, the 2001 World Series, the 1998 team (greatest baseball team ever), and so many more. There are the greats that have played on that field: Ruth, Gehrig, Dimaggio, Mantle, Maris, Ford, Munson...if I keep, going I could fill an entire book.

Baseball will still always be America's pastime, and Yankee Stadium will be America's ballpark. I don't care what you guys say about Fenway Park or Wrigley Field or any other stadium. No place in all of the baseball world has more history and more importance to the game than Yankee Stadium.

Now Yankee Stadium will become a parking lot. The stadium will be torn down to make room for the new Yankee Stadium, and that isn't right.

This isn't like Shea Stadium and Citi Field; Shea is a complete dump of a stadium and has little significance when it comes to the history of baseball. Yankee Stadium has witnessed some of the greatest moments and players in the game's history. The team will sell off pieces of Yankee Stadium and make a large amount of money from the memorabilia.

I know that there is a necessity for a parking lot in order to accommodate the fans coming to the new Yankee Stadium, but there should have been more of an effort to keep the old Yankee Stadium. People like me will still have memories of past Yankees who played on that magnificent field.

But in the future, what will the legacy of Yankee Stadium be? I believe that Yankee Stadium will become that of the Polo Grounds and Ebbets Field. Something that those who experienced could always talk about, but those who were too young to experience won't be able to understand. All the history will be lost to time and just become words on a page. That is much more important than the money it would cost to keep the stadium standing.

However, it could still become something usable. A park, a national landmark, or, even better, keep it a baseball field. Have high schoolers and little leaguers play where the titans of the game once did. Imagine it being the last inning and a kid getting the winning hit like the greats once did.

There is a saying, "If these walls could talk, what stories they would tell?" Well, if those walls at Yankee Stadium could talk, it would take a lifetime to hear all the wonderful and amazing stories they would have to tell.

US Open: The Final Four Breakdown

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:14:55 -0400

Although there are no Americans in the field, this US Open has a great Final Four heading into Saturday.

Andy Murray, the best player in Britain, has played with great confidence in the US Open. Rafa Nadal is in the middle of one of the greatest summer runs in the history of tennis.

Roger Federer isn't as dominant in this tournament, but we know what he is capable of. Novak put a disappointing Andy Roddick away and he's playing on his best surface.

Djokovic vs. Federer

This match is a story of two players that are going in opposite directions. Federer has seemed mentally broken since he lost Wimbledon. He isn't hitting the shots he used to and he doesn't seem as composed.

Djokovic has been playing well on hard courts all year. He didn't do as well on grass and clay, but those aren't his surfaces. He looked sharp in his match against Roddick.

Why I think Djokovic will win is because he has become so much better than he was last year at the US Open final. He had plenty of chances to beat Federer in 2007. The problem was that he couldn't put him away on those set points.

In the Australian, he did put those points away and was able to beat Federer. Where once he could have outclassed Djokovic with his serve, Federer doesn't seem to be himself. His placement of the serve used to be amazing, however, in this Grand Slam he isn't placing the serve deep into those corners or on the line as well as he used to.

Djovokic in four sets, but will have to win seven games at least once.

Nadal vs. Murray

Murray has really come into his own in this Grand Slam. Though the British would have liked to see him do this at Wimbledon, they have hope that Murray could return the British to prominence in tennis.

His first serve is greatly improved, and his forehand is a huge weapon. The backhand is solid, not a powerful Gasquet-like weapon, but good enough to be used aggressively and his return of serve is impressive.

The greatest characteristic of Murray is his mental game. He is one of the smartest tennis players in the world. His change of pace, variety of shots, and his serve strategy are what separate him from the rest of the pack.

Nadal has looked dominant throughout this tournament. As he has all summer, Nadal has simply overwhelmed his opposition. He is the most physically built tennis player I have ever seen. He is completely ripped and probably the strongest tennis player in the world. His forehand and backhand are absolutely world class and he can hit a passing shot from anywhere on the court.

His speed and footwork make it difficult to try to swing the momentum of a point in your favor. His serve is greatly improved and is a potent weapon.

All in all, I see Nadal as too much of a player for Murray to handle. However, Murray will not go down without a fight. Nadal in five sets, but having to win seven games at least twice.

Patrick Ewing: Paying Homage to the Knicks' Greatest Player

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:14:51 -0400

The Knicks have become the laughingstock of the NBA and probably all of professional sports. It has been hard being a Knicks fan for the past five years.

Everything that could have gone wrong, did. It's times like these that make me want to watch ESPN classic and YouTube to remind myself that the Knicks were once great and no one was better at personifying that greatness than Patrick Ewing.

Today Patrick Ewing was inducted into the Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame class was stacked. Names like Pat Riley, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Dick Vitale all were a part of it. Though Olajuwon and Riley have won championships, Ewing is definitely the headliner of this class.

He brought basketball back home to New York, where it belongs, and is the greatest player the Knicks ever had. Patrick was one of the greatest players coming out of college ever. They invented the draft lottery because of Patrick Ewing. Luckily my Knicks won and got the player that changed their franchise.

The Knicks had only made the playoffs four times in the nine years before they drafted Ewing. When Ewing came on board it began a series of playoff appearances that many teams would crave. Ewing played in 16 seasons with the New York Knicks and made 11 All-Star teams.

He made the All-NBA first or second team seven times and was a three-time All-NBA defensive second team. During those seasons the Knicks made the playoffs 13 times in a row. He is the Knicks' all-time leader in almost every major stat. He is the Knicks' leader in points (24,815), rebounds (11,607), and blocks (2,894).

However, a lot of fans remember the one negative throughout his career. He never won that ring. Obviously there were reasons outside of Patrick Ewing's control that prevented him from winning a title. The main reason was No. 23 Michael Jordan.

The Knicks in the early '90s were probably some of the greatest Knicks teams ever and were some of the toughest and best defending teams of all time. From the 1988-1989 season to the 1992-1993 season the Bulls eliminated the Knicks four times. With Jordan out of the equation in the early '90s, the Knicks would have won at least one title.

When Jordan retired it seemed like it was the Knicks' time to finally make the NBA Finals. This wasn't as good of a team compared to the teams that lost to the Bulls, but they were still capable of winning the championship. However, they lost in the Finals to the Rockets.

Though Ewing was out-performed by Hakeem, the Knicks' downfall in Game Seven was the failure of Starks' horrendous shooting and Riley not taking Starks out of the game. In 1995, the infamous Ewing finger roll cost the Knicks another chance at the title and when MJ came back the door slammed shut on Ewing's championship hopes.

Though he did not win the ring that Knicks fans wanted, he represented all the Knicks were about. He was a tough player who never backed down and gave 100 percent all the time. Though he never won a championship, there is no doubting that Patrick Ewing had the heart of a champion.

Daunte Culpepper Should Have Sucked It Up and Swallowed His Pride

Naveen Maliakkal — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:30:31 -0400

At one time, Daunte Culpepper was the prototype of the NFL QB of the future. His size, strength, and speed, along with his quarterbacking abilities, made him one of the most gifted quarterbacks in the game.

He put up some great years with Minnesota and seemed to be the face of the franchise. However, when his knee completely blew out, his career as one of the top 10 QBs in football came to an end.

Though he attempted a comeback in both Miami and Oakland, neither stint fared well for him. He had offers this season to play with the Packers and the Eagles. However, Culpepper turned both teams down because he did not want to be a backup. This selfish nature cost him a chance to revitalize his career.

In the NFL, backup QBs are never guaranteed to ride the bench the whole season. Many QBs get their starting jobs by taking over for injured QBs. It's not even true that these backup QBs always lose their jobs the next year.

Here are some of the notable QBs who rose to prominence as backups taking over for injured players:

2006

David Garrard starts for the Jaguars in Week Eight, taking over for an injured Byron Leftwich. Though he did not start the whole year, the next season he became the undisputed starter and led the Jaguars to a playoff victory.

2002

Marc Bulger takes over for two injured QBs (Kurt Warner and Todd Martin). He has been one of the most productive QBs in the league for the past five years.

2001

Tom Brady takes over for an injured Drew Bledsoe. 'Nuff said.

1999

Kurt Warner takes over for Trent Green, who went down in the preseason. Warner goes on to be the Super Bowl MVP, throws for almost 100 TDs in his three seasons in St. Louis, and is still good enough to start. Not bad for a guy who was bagging groceries.

1987

Doug Williams becomes the Redskins' starter after Schroeder goes down with an injury. He wins Super Bowl XXII and is named MVP, making him the first black QB to win an NFL title

Daunte Culpepper's situation reminded me mostly of Doug Williams's situation. Williams had played football for eight years before joining the Redskins. He was drafted 17th overall in the 1978 draft and also started in the USFL.

However, when the USFL folded, Williams found himself out of a job. Instead of quitting, Williams sucked up his pride and agreed to be a backup in Washington. When he got his opportunity, he took advantage of it.

Daunte Culpepper had a great chance to do what Williams did by accepting the deal to go to Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers has a history of injury problems. In his first NFL season, it will be difficult for him to stay healthy all 16 games.

Rodgers is also an unproven commodity. Who knows if he can play well enough for the Packers to be successful?

Daunte would have been the next in line if Rodgers couldn't play. He wouldn't have had to hope to play as a third string QB a la Mike Bulger. He would have easily been ahead of Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm.

Secondly, he wouldn't have to have been a superstar on the team to be successful. The team has a good running back and a solid defense. All they need is someone who can move the chains, get first downs, and someone with playoff experience. These are all things Culpepper has.

I hope that Culpepper doesn't influence kids who want to become players in any sport. Instead of sucking up his pride and grinding it out until he got another chance, he quit. I have never supported a quitter. Culpepper is only 31 years old and still has good years ahead of him. Instead he will be like us, watching football on Sunday wishing he could be out there.

Is Sam Querrey the Future of American Tennis?

Naveen Maliakkal — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 17:18:06 -0400

As I watch the US Open and Wimbledon, I often get nostalgic. I wish I could see my favorite tennis player of all time, Pete Sampras, walk onto that court and perform the way only Pete could.

Agassi was the one that I clinched to after Sampras. He was the last of the Americans left from the 1990s. He had the greatest return of serve I have ever seen.

However, when Agassi retired, there was a large void in US men's tennis. Andy Roddick was seen as the next great American and showed his potential in winning the 2003 US Open. However, his inconsistency is maddening to the point that it can be painful to watch. It has led me to believe that tennis will no longer have a competitive American.

Sam Querrey changed those thoughts. His performance at the US Open has given me faith in the future of United States tennis. He is 20 years old, only two years younger than Nadal, but is developing at a fast rate.

Querrey stormed through the competition at the U.S. Open. He even took a set from Rafael Nadal and pushed him to a tiebreaker in the third set.

This kid has all the tools to compete at a high level. He has a huge serve (thanks to a 6-foot-6 frame) and a huge forehand. He needs to further develop his backhand in order to avoid opponents preying on that weakness. He has shown great progress in when comparing his strokes from the beginning of the year.

The attribute that is most important for him is movement. As a big tennis player, he needs to improve his movement in order to keep up with smaller and faster players. I would say that he should develop his net game, but the way the game is played today people win at Wimbledon without serve and volley anymore.

He is still inconsistent in his quality of play, but unlike Roddick, he has been able to lower his inconsistency as the year has progressed. His attitude is one of the best features of his game.

He doesn't get down on himself easily and has a Jimmy Stewart "aw-shucks" mentality that allows him to stay composed when he is struggling and in high pressure situations. Thankfully, he is not like Donald Young. He doesn't lose to absolute nobodies and didn't have the hype Young did.

He has also had the luck of running into Djokovic this year in the third round of the Aussie Open. At Wimbledon, he drew Juan Carlos Ferraro in the first round. This has limited his exposure to the American public.

However, the fourth-round match against Nadal may serve as a turning point in his career and could help to get him some exposure. This will hopefully create increased enthusiasm in one of the world's great sports in its greatest country.

Can Anyone Tell Me Why Phil Fulmer is Still at Tennessee?

Naveen Maliakkal — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 10:39:59 -0400

I have always been a Gators fan and an SEC fan when it comes to college football. Our conference is easily the best in all of the nation. The teams have amazing talent and we have the best coaches. Urban Meyer, Nick Saban, Steve Spurrier, and Les Miles are all elite coaches.

A while ago Tennessee's Phil Fulmer was considered an elite coach. Though he does have a national championship, he doesn't deserve the job at Tennessee due to his failure to recruit the best talent and adapt to a more powerful SEC.

Watching Tennessee play UCLA was almost unreal. Though they got a lead in the first half, the entire game went the wrong way for the Volunteers. They looked completely outplayed by UCLA.

A team with supposedly inferior talent, a team that was in rebuilding mode, a team with a new coach and a new offensive system beat one of the "powerhouse" teams of the SEC. However, that game has amplified how Tennessee has fallen from grace since 1999.

At the turn of the century Phil Fulmer was sitting on top of the SEC. He had led the Volunteers to three BCS bowls in the past three seasons. He had won a national championship and two SEC titles.

He had players such as Peyton Manning coming to Tennessee and won Coach of the Year in 1998. Things couldn't look better for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Yet in this millennium the Volunteers have continually underperformed in comparison to the early years of Fulmer's reign.

Though they have had winning seasons every years, with exception to 2005, they have yet to win an SEC title in this millennium. They haven't finished in the top 10 since 2002. Though he is known for his recruiting, Fulmer's teams have been able to attract less talent every year. Since 2002 this is how their recruiting had gone.

2002—No. 5 recruiting class in the nation with 25 commits, five five-star players, and fourteen four-star players
2003—No. 18 recruiting class in the nation with 22 commits, only one five-star recruits and seven four-star recruits
2004—No. 11 recruiting class in the nation with 24 commits, only two five-stars and eight four-stars
2005—No. 4 recruiting class in the nation with 27 commits but only one five-star recruit and sixteen four-stars and only three in top 100
2006—No. 24 recruiting class in the nation with 21 commits with only one five-star recruit and four four-star recruits
2007—No. 4 recruiting class in the nation with 32 commits but only four five stars, twelve four-stars, and only six in the top 100
2008—No. 35 recruiting class in the nation with only 18 commits, zero five-stars, and two four-stars

Let's compare this to Florida, the best team in the SEC East,

2002—No. 20 recruiting class in the nation with 21 commits, five three-stars, and seven four-stars
2003—No. 4 recruiting class in the nation with 28 commits, five five-star recruits and fourteen four-star recruits and 10 in the top 100
2004—No. 8 recruiting class in the nation with 24 commits, only one five-star player and nine four-stars and five in the top 100
2005 (Urban Meyer becomes coach)—No. 11 recruiting class in the nation with 18 commits two five-star recruits and ten four-stars and only two in top 100
2006—No. 2 recruiting class in the nation with 27 commits, six five-star recruits and twelve four-star recruits and seven in the top 100
2007—No. 1 recruiting class in the nation with 27 commits, 10 five-stars, thirteen four-stars, and 12 in the top 100
2008—No. 12 recruiting class in the nation with 22 commits, four five-stars, four four-stars and four in the top 100.

Urban Meyer has out recruited and out-coach Fulmer in not only recruiting the best talent but developing the talent.

That 2005 class that Fulmer recruited, though highly touted, has failed to win an SEC title and the 2007 class was embarrassed by Cal and by UCLA (who haven't had a recruiting class ranked better than 20th until this season. During this time LSU has won two national titles and Florida has won in 2006.

The coaching not what it was in the 1990s.Nick Saban has proved a recruiting titan and Alabama has shown definite progress after their win against Clemson. The old ball coach has made progress at South Carolina.

In light of these changes in the SEC and the failure of Phil Fulmer to win ONE SEC TITLE in this millennium, the University of Tennessee gave him an extension. WHAT?

I know that winning a national title gives a coach a guarantee of employment. However, when a program as great as Tennessee once was has regressed so much, this leniency can only go so far.

Tennessee needs to find a new, big time coach from a smaller conference if they want to resurrect their image in the SEC.

Looking To The 2008 NFL Season: Division and Wild Card Predictions

Naveen Maliakkal — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:18:44 -0400

I think that everyone can agree with me when i say, "Thank God the preseason is over!" That being said, it is time to look forward to games that matter and determine who will compete for the NFL title in January

AFC EAST

1. New England Patriots

2. New York Jets

3. Buffalo Bills

4. Miami Dolphins

The Patriots are still the top of the AFC and should coast to the division crown. I think that Brett Favre will put the Jets ahead of the Bills. That running game will be able to open up a bit more and the defense should show some improvement.

The Bills, while I like their running game, have questions in the passing game. Trent Edwards needs to show that he can be productive for 16 games. The Miami Dolphins need to do some serious rebuilding and shouldn't contend for anything but a high draft pick.

AFC NORTH

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

2. Cleveland Browns

3. Cincinnati Bengals

4. Baltimore Ravens

I know this looks familiar but I didn't do that on purpose. The Steelers are still going to win the division though it will be close. The drafting of Mendenhall will give the Steelers a great 1-2 punch and Santonio Holmes should give Big Ben a quality wide receiver, other than Hines Ward to throw to.

The Browns are going to be a fun team to watch. Derek Anderson should have a solid season if he is healthy and Jamal should run for 1000 yards. However I don't think the defense is good enough to win the division.

Though the Bengals are dysfunctional they have weapons on the offensive side of the football that will keep them out of last place. The Ravens are in last for two reasons; one is the aging defence that the Ravens did not instill with youth and two there quarterback is Joey Flacco.

I did not like Flacco and I am against rookie QBs starting their first year. This year will be a disaster for the Ravens.

AFC SOUTH

1. Indianapolis Colts

2. Jacksonville Jaguars

3. Houston Texans

4. Tennessee Titans

The Colts will just barely squeak the division title. The gap has quickly shut as Jacksonville's defense is one of the best in football and the running attack give the Jaguars the ability to play physical football better than any team.

Garrard doesn't kill his team with mistake and manages a game well. Houston is a team that will continue to improve. If Schaub and Johnson can stay healthy they have a chance contend for a wild card spot.

Tennessee is last because I don't believe in Vince Young. As an NFL QB you have to be able to throw the football and have people who can catch. Vince can do neither and his mental mistakes will cost the team

AFC WEST

1. San Diego Chargers

2. Denver Broncos

3. Oakland Raiders

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers should easily win this division. Even without Merriman, there is no way the Chargers don't win this division. The Broncos will finish second but not come close to making the playoffs because of that defense. The Oakland Raiders and Chiefs are interchangeable. Both franchises are rebuilding and have a long journey before they can make the playoffs.

NFC EAST

1. Dallas Cowboys

2. New York Giants

3. Philadelphia Eagles

4. Washington Redksins

The Dallas Cowboys are the best regular season team in the NFC. They have so much talent on both sides of the ball it's hard to see them losing the division crown. The Giants have drafted and adapted to their losses well enough that they will finish in second.

That running game and the evolution of Eli should lead to more points and less pressure. The Eagles, with a healthy McNabb, will contend for a playoff spot. When the Eagles added Asante Samuel Jim Johnson must have been like a kid in a candy shop.

With two shut down corners expect the aggressive blitz packages to be much more effective than last season. The Redskins did acquire Taylor, but the secondary is much weaker than last year.

The transition to a new offense will lead to a slow start for the Skins that will cause them to be the best last place team in the NFL.

NFC NORTH

1. Minnesota Vikings

2. Green Bay Packers

3. Detroit Lions

4. Chicago Bears

The Minnesota Vikings are head and shoulders ahead of the other teams in their division. The best running attack will benefit from the emergence of Sidney Rice as a great receiver. The addition of Jared Allen will make the best run stuffing team a formidable pass rushing team as well.

The Packers are here because I have no faith in Aaron Rodgers' ability to perform or stay healthy. Had Brett played for them, I would have picked them to go to the Super Bowl. The Lions do have the best QB in the division but that defense will hurt them too much.

The Bears aging defense, their lack of a running game, and their horrible situation at QB will make this proud franchise the laughing stock of the NFC North.

NFC SOUTH

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. New Orleans Saints

3. Carolina Panthers

4. Atlanta Falcons

The Bucs are the most well rounded team in the division. Good QB play and the a solid defense will help them to edge out the Saint for the division, but it is the health of the RBs that will determine that.

If Cadillac, Graham, and Dunn are all healthy they will win the division. The Saints have a great offense, but it still in the air about the impact that Vilma and Eliis have. Reggie Bush can't be an every-down back and that is why McCallister's health is critical to the Saints' success.

The Panthers may have some weapons on offense, but the defensive line is not what it used to be. The Falcons need to rebuild and like the Ravens, I don't believe in rookie QBs starting.

NFC WEST

1. Seattle Seahawks

2. Arizona Cardinals

3. St. Louis Rams

4. San Fransico 49ers

The Seattle Seahawks are better in every facet of the game compared to the teams in the NFC West. They will easily roll through into the playoffs in the last year of Mike Holmgren. Arizona is almost second by default in that the bottom two teams are so bad.

The St. Louis Rams need to stay healthy if they want to get to .500. Pace needs to stay healthy but that defense won't win them any games. For the 49ers I give you one name. JT O'Sullivan.

AFC Playoff Seeds

1. New England Patriots—The ease of their division will give them home-field throughout as long as they stay healthy.

2. San Diego Chargers—In an easy division and a large amount of talent should give this team a bye, but the loss of Merriman may cost them a game and home field throughout.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers—The Steelers additions along with the health of Polamalu will give the Steelers a better record than the Colts.

4. Indianapolis Colts—The team's division is the second best in football (NFC East takes that title) but health of the team along with the lack of cupcakes in their division will hurt their record.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars—The most physical team in football will make the playoffs again and are easily the best team that won't win their division and are better than the Steelers.

6. Cleveland Browns—Finally Cleveland will see postseason football. No referees are going to screw this one up. Their offense is too explosive and any improvement on defense should but them in the playoffs.

NFC Playoff Seeds

1. Dallas Cowboys—The most talented team in the conference, but I still don't see playoff success for this team.

2. Minnesota Vikings—This team plays in a horrible division, stuffs the run and runs the football better than anyone and added one of the best pass rushers in football.

3. Seattle Seahawks—A solid team but they lack the crazy skill at key positions that the Vikings and Cowboys have to get a bye week. Improved play of the WRs and RBs may give them a bye week but I doubt it.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers—A solid team but like the Seahawks don't make me say, "Wow!"They don't have very much when it comes to WRs and their defense can't carry them like the Bucs of Sapp, Brooks, and Dungy.

5. New York Giants—Seems familiar, but the Giants will play the Bucs in the first round again. The play of Eli and the running game should take some of the load off the defense's shoulders. The improved secondary should help the defense remain effective even with the loss of Osi.

6. Philadelphia Eagles—The Saints may have a dynamic offense, but the acquisition of Asante Samuel put the Eagles in the playoffs. McNabb's health aside, the Eagles have good players at the skill position and decent receivers. The defense will get many more sacks and give QBs nightmares since Jim Johnson can leave his two CBs on islands without worry

That is my prediction of how the 2008 NFL regual season will end. Now it's time to still back, relax, and watch.

Giants-Redskins: New York's First Step Towards Defending Their Super Bowl Title

Naveen Maliakkal — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 16:03:52 -0400

I don't know about you, but I have been waiting too long for this. Real, meaningful, NFL football is back! No more meaningless preseason games that only serve to injure key players. Every game counts, as teams take their first step towards an NFL title.

The season begins on Thursday with a classic NFC East rivalry. The best conference in football will showcase the defending champions and the most inspirational story from last year (RIP Sean).

This game should be a classic NFC East game, where the running games will be the key to victory

The Redskins made a big splash this offseason by trading for Jason Taylor. This will help their pass rush, which is very important for the Redskins. The secondary is a problem for the Redskins. They don't have a shutdown corner, and Springs is a year older. The safeties aren't the greatest in the world, especially after the tragic loss of Sean Taylor.

The LB corps doesn't look that impressive, but Fletcher is a good performer every year and is a leader on that team

On the offensive side of the football, everything rides on the health of the offensive line and the ability for Jason Campbell to continue his growth and grasp a new offensive system.

Samuels needs to stay healthy, and second-year tackle Stephon Heyer needs to show that he can replace Jansen as a blocker and a leader on that offensive line. The change in offense is something that Jason Campbell needs to grasp, or the Redskins are going to be in a world of hurt.

The Giants' defense is solid, despite the loss of Strahan and Osi. Tuck and Kiwanuka will still provide a potent pass rush, and unlike the Redskins, the secondary has improved from last year. This year, Aaron Ross has become the CB the Giants have looked for. Corey Webster has regained his confidence will be a solid No. 2 corner.

The X-factor will be the play of rookie Terrell Thomas. At nickel, his physicality can help jam receivers at the line. Gibril Wilson was only a good player due to that line, but Kenny Phillips has looked explosive and is a playmaker on defense.

The offense is only going to get better for the Giants. Healthy RBs are going to give the Giants a number of rushing options, and the evolution of Eli Manning, along with the drafting of Manningham and the blossoming of Smith and Hixon, gives the Giants depth at WR.

But as I stated earlier, this game will come down to the running game.

The Giants have a much better rushing attack and will benefit from taking an early lead. Eli should continue the form he had in the playoffs, making smart decisions and limiting his mistakes.

Though I think this is Jason Campbell's breakout season, the first regular-season game with a new offensive system will cause the Redskins to struggle. Especially against the Giants' pass rush and the playmakers in the secondary.

Look for the Redskins' offense to make some mistakes, leading to turnovers and points for the G-Men. The only way for the Redskins to win is to take the lead and hope that Portis and Betts run all over the Giants. I don't see that happening, and I predict the Giants to win the first game of the season.

Giants 24

Redskins 13

How the Olympics Have Hurt the NBA

Naveen Maliakkal — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:28:02 -0400

The basketball competition in the Olympics was something I enjoyed wholeheartedly.

It gave me a chance to experience a type of team basketball that you don't see anymore in the isolation era.

Yao Ming really made me feel better about pro basketball players. His commitment to his country was so inspirational. I also got to see players like Ricky Rubio (please be a Knick) and Rudy Hernandez, who I had heard of but hadn't seen them play outside of a YouTube video.

However, the Olympics has cost some NBA teams, with injuries to their star players.

Yao Ming was the most popular player at the Beijing Olympics. Due to his devotion to his nation and the Chinese government looking out for themselves, Yao played injured throughout the Olympics.

Yao wasn't as effective as he should have been, but the Chinese team overplayed him because he was their only chance to win a medal. However, his lower body was absolutely worn out during the NBA season. Had it not been for the Olympics, Yao wouldn't have thought about playing basketball and rested during the off season.

Now Yao has not made any progress in recovery from his injuries, and that could hurt the Rockets' chances of contending in the West. I know that they have done well in the regular season without Yao, but in the playoffs Yao at 100 percent is the only way the Rockets can get to the Finals.

The Olympics probably have cost the Rockets a chance at the title—and with the defense they have, they could win it all.

Manu Ginobili played through the Olympics injured as well. Ginobili's injuries during the regular season and postseason were well-documented. Due to those injuries, the Spurs failed to make it to the NBA Finals and gain the chance to win back to back titles.

The Spurs didn't want Manu to play in the Olympics, but they knew that his feeling of obligation for his nation outweighed the Spurs' desires. Ginobili looked horribly disabled by his injury in the semifinal game against the US. In fact, the injury was bad enough that surgery is required.

If the surgery is successful, they Manu should be playing in two months—but any setbacks in recovery could cost him significant regular-season time.

Manu is also 32 years old.

This wouldn't be a problem if the Spurs played in the East, because they could still take home court advantage after a slow start. However, in the West a slow start can be the difference between home court and looking at a a sixth or seventh seed.

The Olympics is an important stage to many players throughout the world. Many international players' dream is to win the gold medal for their country, not an NBA title. However, the Olympics can cost an NBA team a chance at a title—and a franchise player in the process.