Bleacher Report - Articles by Divya Parmar

San Francisco 49ers Inept and Incompetent?

Divya Parmar — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:15:46 -0500

Year after year. Failure after failure after failure.

The last five seasons: a combined 25-55 record. Furthermore, the 2009 season is heading down the drain before our very eyes. There is no doubt that this franchise is mismanaged from the coaching staff to front office.

Take, for example, the offensive line. The offensive line is horrible, and that is a huge reason the Niners can't get anything going on offense. The front office may claim that the line is "a work in progress."

Really? Five years of drafts and development have meant absolutely nothing? How can a front office not have a solid offensive line with all that time to work with? The abysmal failure in the trenches reflects the ineptitude of this franchise.

Speaking of ineptitude, who can forget about Alex "Small Hands" Smith? At this point, there can be no more flip-flopping. Either Smith is the guy for the future or not. Open it up, use the shotgun, and let it rip. No more short dump-off passes to the flat or halfback draws. Let's see what Alex Smith can do when he's truly in his spread offense element.

If Smith succeeds, the Niners may have a quarterback for the future. If he fails, move on. Cut bait. There is no time to be wasted on bust players. Then give Nate Davis the reigns and see if he's the man for the future.

Find the best man at the QB position, plain and simple. The Niners have wasted five years on Alex Smith, and the franchise still doesn't know if he's the QB of the future. The pick of Alex Smith has set the franchise back at least half a decade. The Niners can't waste any more time on Smith if he is deemed to be a bust.

Just when it seemed like Singletary would be the ray of hope, things have turned sour, and the team is on a slide. Singletary is very motivating, and he knows every single platitude in the book, but his speeches aren't translating into wins. Nothing has changed since the Nolan Era. Singletary says the same things every single week: we need to finish, we aren't executing, etc, etc. Yet the Niners haven't improved in those areas.

The problem isn't the just the coaching staff. It is just as much, if not more so, the front office. Scot McCloughan has swung and missed at too many draft picks.

For example, in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Niners had a clear need at wide receiver and needed a playmaker. Yet McCloughan takes Kentwan Balmer and Chilo Rachal, while passing on a dangerous DeSean Jackson. Balmer and Rachal both had question marks and were high risk picks, as was Jackson. But Jackson's potential was huge, and it is now clear the Niners made a mistake with that pick.

With each passing year comes new hope, but false hope. It's like deja vu. A good ending to the previous season, newfound optimism, a fast start. The bandwagon grows, then the team crashes and burns.

These years have shown that the fundamentals of the economy team are not, as some want to believe, strong. The rapid turnover at offensive coordinator is an indicator of instability. With Jimmy Raye's likely firing after this season, the cycle will likely repeat itself.

The Niners need to clean house. Get rid of anyone that can't perform. Don't blindly hope, while lingering in the past. The Niners need to move past this era of incompetence to a bright new future.

San Francisco 49ers: Encouraging Signs in a Loss

Divya Parmar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:56:23 -0400

Oh, what a heartbreaking loss. After playing really well, the San Francisco 49ers were set to win and go to 3-0. Everything was in place, and all the 49ers needed was one stop on defense.

Then Brett Favre happened. A miracle throw with two seconds left doomed the 49ers.

But despite this tough loss, Niners fans have a lot to be happy about.

Shaun Hill led a big fourth quarter drive to put the team ahead and showed the composure of an elite NFL quarterback. He showed why he deserves to be a starter in this league.

One of Shaun Hill's key weapons, Vernon Davis, had a breakout game and showed that he can be the offensive force the 49ers wanted when they made him the highest paid tight end in the NFL.

On the defensive side, the 49ers contained Adrian Peterson, limiting to him to less than 100 yards. The defense also forced Favre to throw an interception and limited the Vikings passing attack.

Sure, the 49ers had special teams breakdowns, and they couldn't stop the Vikings on the last drive, but the 49ers were competitive the whole game.

The 49ers established themselves as contenders by going toe-to-toe with a very good Vikings team on the road in a hostile environment. The 49ers of past years would have crumpled under the adversity, but this team held firm and almost won.

This was an encouraging game, and the 49ers are definitely for real. This team should have great success this season.

San Francisco 49ers: Looking For Some QB Stability

Divya Parmar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 21:49:35 -0400

It's been a while since the Niners had a very good quarterback. It's about time someone steps up and owns the position.

But is Shaun Hill really the guy? Sure he's gutsy, but does he have the tools? Does he have a good enough arm? Will other teams respect the Niners passing game?

The offense has been shaky so far. Shaun Hill has made a few good reads, but hasn't had the time in the preseason to show his full abilities. The first team hasn't impressed too much, and this offense isn't scaring anybody.

Even with Frank Gore and Glen Coffee, this offense isn't going to be successful unless Shaun Hill becomes a competent quarterback. He's done it in meaningless games, and has put up a fine record, but no one really knows how he can handle the pressure of a big moment in a key game.

Now that Hill has claimed the job over Alex Smith, he is the undisputed quarterback and he has no excuse not to be successful.

If he delivers, the Niners will be in the playoff hunt. The defense is solid, and the Niners can definitely compete in the division. The big question is whether Hill can right the ship and lead this team in the right direction.

Plus, having a trusted QB would go a long way in terms of fan support and confidence. Look at teams like the Patriots and Colts. With Brady and Manning under center, fans are confident that the team will win year in and year out.

Once the Niners find that franchise guy, many great years lie ahead.

Brett Favre: Where's The Dignity?

Divya Parmar — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:45:45 -0400

Good ole' Brett is at it again. He "retired" today, just like he "retired" last year.

What the hell Brett? What's with this circus?

Don't go all the way down this path only to turn back. Don't put teams and fans through all this hope year after year.

Where's the respect for the game? How about being a class act? This reality show is totally unwarranted. You need to learn how to make a decision and stick with it.

He's like "the boy that cried wolf." For every antic Brett pulls, he loses credibility. No one believes him anymore, and everyone is sick of hearing about him.

If Brett really wants to end this saga and gain his credibility back, he needs to just sign his retirement papers already. Until pen hits paper, I refuse to believe him, no matter how many tears come out of his eyes.

Brett Favre has as much credibility as a smoker who always says that he will quit, but never does. Basically, he has no credibility whatsoever. Why should I believe anything he says?

Brett will say one thing, but then decide to do another. Who knows? He will probably come back and start for the Vikings by Week One.

His actions represent a lack of respect for the NFL and the sport of football. His bait-and-switch maneuver is tactless and unacceptable.

Brett, just have some dignity please, and end this long affair.

Oakland A's Offense Comes Up Empty Against Los Angeles Angels

Divya Parmar — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:27:58 -0400

On Sunday against the Angels, Brett Anderson threw a great game. He had good stuff and was forcing the Angels hitters into weak grounders easily fielded by the infielders. He had a perfect game going into the seventh inning.

It felt like a possible no-hitter in the making. The crowd gave him Anderson a standing ovation in the seventh when his perfect game was finally broken up.

His defense also deserves a lot of credit. It helped him out with some great plays at third and second base to steal some hits from Angel hitters.

But the offense did not uphold it's end of the bargain. With the great pitching, a single run could have won the game for the A's. But the A's came up empty in clutch situations.

Scott Hairston had a very solid game, and got on base right away in the first inning, then promptly stole second. Holiday came to the plate with a runner in scoring position and two outs. These are situations where a big bat has to deliver, but Holliday quietly struck out.

Lackey got in a rhythm in the second and the third, but the A's threatened again the fourth. Harrison worked the count and walked. Holiday again made an out with a runner on base. Harrison went to third on a Cust single. But Suzuki could not deliver in the clutch, and another chance was squandered.

Giambi and Sweeney hit warning track shots that almost left the yard, but overall the team had too many pop outs and not enough solid line drives. The team's lack of power was obvious in this game.

In the bottom of the ninth, Adam Kennedy was on third with two outs. Holliday with a chance for redemption with the crowd on it's feet. He popped out.

The A's went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Any one of those could have won the game. Holliday came up small in some big moments. This A's offense continued to frustrate even in a winnable game.

East Coast Bias? San Francisco Giants Ignored Despite Success

Divya Parmar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:15:01 -0400

While the sinking Mets and the mediocre Phillies receive loads of attention, there is a team flying under the radar.

The San Francisco Giants, 46-37, nine games over .500, second best record in the NL. Granted, it is the NL.

There is all this talk of pennant races, but all I hear about is the Yankees and Red Sox.

The Giants have a great pitching staff, but there is no national coverage of that. I understand that West Coast games start at 10 p.m. on the East Coast, but that doesn't excuse the lack of coverage and attention. Jessica Simpson got more coverage last year than the whole Giants team.

Average players in New York get more coverage than players like Albert Pujols, who is putting up numbers that rival some of the greatest in history, but even he doesn't get enough coverage. Imagine if Pujols was putting up these numbers as a Yankee. There would be five to ten minutes at a time dedicated to Pujols.

Tim Lincecum won the Cy Young last year, but that story got covered for one day, then dropped. Whenever the Yankees have a newsworthy pitcher, it gets 24/7 coverage. Joba Chamberlain couldn't hold Tim Lincecum's jock strap, yet he got hours of coverage every single day (Joba to the bullpen....Joba starter...bullpen...starter), while Lincecum was putting up historic stats, and getting ignored by the national media.

Even players on the Red Sox like Dustin Pedroia get so much love from the national media, while star performers like Pablo Sandoval are unknown on the East Coast.

I don't blame ESPN or any other network, but they can't deny the truth.

That there is an imbalance in attention and coverage, and that should be fixed.

San Francisco Giants: Time to Give Sabean Some Credit?

Divya Parmar — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:35:15 -0400

As the Giants have made a push through this season, it has got me thinking.

Does Brian Sabean deserve better? Some credit instead of the criticism that calls for him to be run out of down? He may be a better GM than we thought.

The Giants are ahead of schedule in their "rebuilding" and were not expected to be a good team this year. Not only are the Giants an above average team with a very good base of talent, the Giants are contenders in the very weak NL. The Giants hold the lead in the wildcard, and have a decent shot to make the playoffs.

One has to give Sabean credit for putting together some very solid players. Sabean has always drafted pitchers well. Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain, 25 and 24 respectively, anchor a top-notch pitching staff. Those two give the Giants an upperhand everytime they pitch. Add on a streaky but wise Randy Johnson, Jonathan Sanchez, and very good arms in the bullpen, and the pitching is set, credit to Sabean. For position players, Pablo Sandoval has been a great find. Bengie Molina and Aaron Rowand are solid signings.

Although he took a lot of heat over the last couple years, Sabean never blew up this team and started over. He held on to Lincecum and Cain when trade offers came (like Toronto's Rios for Lincecum). Sabean resigned the veterans like Molina to provide stability to this team. Sabean also held on the a very boring Bruce Boche as manager, even as the team faltered last year.

Ultimately, time will tell Sabean's fate. If the Giants continue the run and make the playoffs, Sabean is a genius. If they falter, there will be calls for Sabean's firing.

The amazing part of all of this is that the Giants are actually a real threat in the playoffs if or once they make it. Imagine a rotation of Lincecum, Cain, and Randy Johnson coming at you in series. Not many teams can hang with that level of talent, and in Johnson's case, clutch playoff experience. If the offense can muster enough to get this team to the playoffs, good things will happen.

All eyes will be on Sabean at the trade deadline. Will he got for it, or lay back and wait for the future. He can't trade his best pitchers, but the team needs a bat. Whether he can make a good trade remains to be seen.

We'll see whether this team is successful in the long run. But for now, let's give some credit and respect to Brian Sabean.

Oakland Raiders: The Great Dysfunction

Divya Parmar — Thu, 14 May 2009 21:00:16 -0400

I was looking through the newspaper and couldn't help but notice this tidbit; "Javon Walker underwent surgery on his right knee a few weeks ago. [Tom] Cable said the Raiders learned about the surgery this week."

Wait, wait, what?

What a screwed up organization. Nobody is on the same page. Nobody cares for the team. Nobody is a winner. It's a losing mentality.

It makes no sense.

It makes no sense is that Cable, the head coach, did not know about a key receiver's surgery. From this, we can conclude that Al Davis must still be in control. Cable is totally in the dark about the team and has no influence whatsoever on personnel and general team matters.

As long as Davis runs everything without the input of others, the coach of the Raiders will be powerless and have no control over the locker room.

This is exactly the reason the Raiders have gone down the toilet the last five years.

Nothing has changed. The "Al Davis method" is still in effect, and that means the status quo will continue. The locker room will not be united and there will be leaks that compromise team harmony.

Players don't believe in each other, or the team. Everyone just wants a pay check. Players don't play up to their potential in Oakland.

Look at Randy Moss in Oakland, where he dogged success consistently. Once he got out of there and into New England, he was motivated and became a beast.

Would a New England player hide a surgery?

No, there is a culture of accountability. The Raiders don't have that. Walker couldn't care less about the Raiders as a team. Could he be another bust along the lines of DeAngelo Hall?

So much for the greatness of the Raiders. Looks like the status quo.

They are a dysfunctional team, crappy results.

Why It’s a No Brainer: Manny Ramirez Should be a San Francisco Giant

Divya Parmar — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:48:23 -0500

People, people, people, what the heck is going on here?

Why the hell isn’t Manny Ramirez signed yet?

More specifically, why haven’t the Giants pulled up to Manny with a dump truck full of money?

Why? Anyone...anyone...Bueller... Bueller...?

First, the obvious. The Giants need a big bat who can strike fear in opponents. This is compared to the alternatives. Fred Lewis? Dave Roberts? Aaron “I broke my nose so sign me” Rowand? Are you kidding me?

Let’s face it, the lineup is crap. Complete and utter BS. High school players could get through the heart of this lineup.

Winn-Molina-Sandoval? That doesn't scare anyone.

Look at it this way. The Giants are counting on a player with three months of experience to be their third baseman. They are banking on a 22-year old with only three home runs to be their cleanup hitter. What?

The last time the Giants had a Manny Ramirez-kind of bat, it was the one and only Barry Bonds.

Sure, Barry was a jackass. Sure, Barry fought with Jeff Kent. Who gives a crap?

The Giants, with Bonds and Kent, were winners. Sure, you wouldn’t let them babysit your kids, but is that what sports is about? Babysitting?

For all that can be said about Bonds (his circus, his entourage, steroids, Greg Anderson), he was a winner. He won in Pittsburgh. When he left, then they sucked.

Barry Bonds saved the Giants in San Francisco.

He brought the franchise to prominence. He got them into the playoffs.

Someone always says, “Well, he never won a World Series.” Well, he did all he could to get the Giants there, and he put them in a position to succeed. If the bullpen didn’t blow it, he would have ring. He’s a winner in my book.

If the Giants win, no one will complain about the circus. Winning cures all. If the Giants can come back to the playoffs, all will be forgiven.

Guess what? Manny’s a winner. Ask Boston fans if they are happy with the last eight years. They know, Manny’s a winner.

Okay, let’s get to the other argument against Manny. The “he’s disinterested, doesn’t run out ground balls and choked the travelling secretary" argument.

Hey, if he hits .330 with 40 homers, I couldn’t give a damn if he runs out ground balls. You can have David Eckstein. Give me Manny every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Running out ground balls is nice, very symbolic gesture, and makes for a great role model. But this isn’t about that. This isn’t about a role model. It’s about a baseball player.

Just produce, baby.

Manny is a damn good baseball player who is guaranteed to put up big numbers. A “disinterested” Manny is a million times better than Dave Roberts in any state of mind. Manny, even when “disinterested” is a great hitter, and that’s all that matters.

The cynics bring up his age. “Oh, he’s 37.” Well, look at his numbers from last year. On base 24 out of 36 times.

An average of .396 while with the Dodgers. If that’s aging, sign me up this second!

By signing Manny, the Giants not only gain a Hall of Famer, they punch their arch-rival Dodgers in the gut. The Dodgers would fall back toward the Giants.

And, last, but not least, is money.

Manny will be great for ticket sales. Just a couple thousand extra tickets a game will more than make up for his salary. Hey, if you can pay Zito $19 million, isn’t Manny worth his paycheck by comparison?

With all the reason to do it, what are the Giants waiting for?

Are they scared to pull the trigger? Are they cheap? Do they not want to win?

Whatever the reason, the verdict is clear, sign Manny. Now.

Oakland Raiders: A "Commitment to Crap"

Divya Parmar — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:54:23 -0500

Don’t kid yourself.

Stop being delusional.

The Oakland Raiders were a disaster, are a disaster, and will be a disaster for a long time. They are such a disaster, not even the President could salvage this situation. FEMA couldn’t even solve his situation.

Unless something changes, there’s no denying the facts. The Raiders have lost 11 games or more six consecutive years, a feat (or lack thereof) that wasn’t accomplished by even the “worst team ever” Tampa Bay Bucs.

As the cliché goes, it starts at the top. Raider fans, cut the BS. It’s on Al Davis.

Al’s lost it. He’s old and rotting away.

He’s lost the touch. Look at the DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker signings. Look at the pick of JaMarcus Russell. Either Russell is a bust, or the offensive line is built terribly, and both of those are on Al.

Al is more concerned with his ego and pride than winning football games. That’s a fact.

He could rather lose games than sacrifice his ego. I bet you if I offered him a 14-2 record, but he had to give up control, he’d turn me down and go back to being 4-12.

Al is cheap and petty. He cared more about symbolically boosting his ego by firing Lane Kiffin than he did about the actual football ramifications of his actions. He couldn’t care less about the results on the field.

Maybe he wants to win, but his ego will always come first. That is why the “greatness of Raiders” is dead. Some say “hip-hop is dead,” but we know for sure the glory days of the Raiders are over and gone.

It is commonly accepted that the Raiders can only improve and come back when Al dies. I’m sorry, but it’s true.

Oh, I can hear it already. Blind and delusional Raider fans will call me a “hater.” They’ll say, “Don’t mess with the Raider Nation.” They’ll say there is hope around the corner.

Stop lying to yourself. I don’t “hate” the Raiders.

Why should I hate a team that consistently goes 5-11 or 6-10? They are not worth hating. They haven’t earn the hate.

I hate the Red Sox and Patriots, and for good reason. They win and beat everybody. The Raiders are awful. I pity them, or laugh at them, depending on my mood.

The Raiders claim to have a “commitment to excellence”, but it only takes a five-year old to read a stat sheet to tell you it’s not true.

Their records since 2003, when Al Davis let go of a very successful young coach by the name Jon Gruden because of a petty feud:

2003: 4-12

2004: 5-11

2005: 4-12

2006: 2-14

2007: 4-12

2008: 3-11 (so far)

If that’s excellence, then our economy is in excellent shape.

We (except for a few delusional fans) know what it really is. Not a commitment to excellence.

It’s a commitment for sure.

Commitment to crap.

Barry Zito: Screwing Up The Pitching Market

Divya Parmar — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 05:58:35 -0400

We all know about "The Contract."

Seven years.

$126 million dollars.

Record: 6-15. ERA: 5.73.

In the word of the great Jon Miller, "The disaster that is Barry Zito in a Giants uniform continues."

The Giants bid against themselves, offering $126 million to a man who's HIGHEST OTHER OFFER WAS $100 million. They could have got him for $101 million, but gave him more for no reason.

Now, for the Giants mistakes, there is hell to pay, not only for the Giants, but for the rest of the major leagues.

Other pitchers will use Zito and his contract as a building block/stepping stone to gain leverage to get huge contracts.

When Tim Lincecum comes up for free agency, he will not, and should not, accept any less than $127 million from the Giants. He's better than Zito, and deserves more.

When CC Sabathia comes up for free agency, he's twice as good as Zito, so he should get $252 million dollars.

Using the Zito scale, contracts will start to get ridiculous. Teams around the majors are extremely angry at the Giants for creating this scale.

The MLB contract universe is out of whack, and it's all due to one man, Barry Zito, and his agent, Scott Boras.

Will Anyone or Anything Step Foward and Challenge ESPN?

Divya Parmar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:38:00 -0400

You see it online. On message boards. And even this site.

People hate ESPN. People absolutely hate "The Worldwide Leader," also known as "The Four Letter Network" to competitors.

People hate their "cheesyness" of a lot of their promotions. Remember "Who's Now?" and "Titletown"? What a joke!

Also, they overcover Brett Favre, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and most East Coast teams.

The problem is: they're running a monopoly. They have no competition.

Sure, Fox Sports and Sporting News Radio compete with them on the radio side.

Sure, Foxsports.com, si.com, cbssportsline.com, and Yahoo! Sports compete with them online.

Sure, networks like NESN, SNY, MASN, and the YES Network grab ratings in their local markets.

But no media entity can compete with ESPN's all around power. They have each part. If you want sports, you have to go to ESPN.

If you avoid SportsCenter and go to ESPNEWS, it's still an ESPN entity. Fox Sports Net is trying to compete, but isn't available in all markets, and isn't on lower level cable packages.

Sure you hate ESPN, but you have to suck it up. You have no choice.

Until a competitor is created, or someone steps up and creates a rival to ESPN.

Which doesn't seem like it will happen anytime soon.

Oakland A's Are the Witness-Protection Program of MLB

Divya Parmar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:45:01 -0400

If the Yankees represent too much media, tabloids, and back pages of newspapers, the Oakland A's represent the total opposite. The A's are irrelevant. It's like a witness-protection program for Major League Baseball.

Oakland is where players go to rot away and leave the spotlight.

That is because the A's don't receive any coverage nationally, or even locally. The A's don't get coverage on sports talk radio.

The only sports station in the Bay Area is 50,000-watt station KNBR, and they are the San Francisco Giants' flagship, and they give the A's no attention, adding to the A's irrelevancy. To top it off, half of their games aren't even on TV.

The A's aren't covered like a major franchise. They are covered and treated like a minor-league team. They aren't even on the major-league landscape.

Oakland is a place where major leaguers can play without any pressure. It is unlike other teams, where players are closely tracked. Barry Zito saw how hard the transition is from Oakland to a team that actually gets coverage—the San Francisco Giants.

When Barry signed with San Francisco, he immediately changed his pitching delivery. The outrage he took on KNBR forced him to immediately change his delivery back. If he was still with the A's, this story would have died and got no mention whatsoever.

Barry Zito was stunned by how much attention he received, because the A's were, and still are, second-class citizens to the Giants in the Bay Area.

When Barry started 0-8, he felt the pressure of the fans and the media. This was tough for him to deal with because he never got this amount of attention and criticism in Oakland.

If this had happened in Oakland, it would go largely unnoticed. That is why he worked out of so many slumps in the past.

Need more proof that the A's are way, way off Major League Baseball's radar? Look at these quotes by Rich Harden: "Everybody's been telling me how much fun I'll have here and how great it is," he said. "It was good to come in a few days before my start and kind of get a feel for it...[The Cubs] get a full house here every day, which is great. Coming from Oakland, we're getting 12,000 to 14,000 paid attendance in the middle of the week, unless they're giving something away...It's a lot different, a lot more exciting."

Guess what Harden said after his first Cubs start? "You know how I felt?" he confided in a Wrigley Field tunnel afterward. "I felt like I was back pitching in the majors for the first time."

If that doesn't prove the A's are irrelevant, nothing will.

The A's are clearly off the national radar.

They better do something about it.

Soon.

Comments (either criticisms, suggestions, or compliments) appreciated.

Why Is the National League So Inferior to the American League?

Divya Parmar — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:59:22 -0400

If you have ever wondered which league, the AL or NL, is better, there's no debate. The answer is obvious: the American League.

There are 10 teams in the AL with records above .500, and only four teams with records below .500. In the NL, there eight teams with records .500 or better, and eight teams with records worse than .500.

There are FOUR teams in the AL East with records equal to or better than the leader of the NL West. If the NL East-leading New York Mets were placed in the AL East, they would be fourth. If they were placed in the AL Central, they would be third.

The AL has four out of the top-five records in baseball. The NL has three of the worst four records in baseball.

The AL has won (or tied) the past 12 All-Star Games. The AL has swept three out of the last four World Series.

All of this data shows that the NL is vastly inferior to the AL.

So, I'm just wondering: Why?

A lot of this comes back to the Red Sox and Yankees. Their high payrolls have motivated (forced) the other teams to spend more to keep pace. That motivation has led to teams constantly trying to upgrade their clubs and improve.

That creates a ripple effect that has spread across the whole AL. Everyone is now under constant pressure to get better, or else they will fall out of contention.

On the other hand, there is no such pressure in the NL. The NL West is an extremely mediocre division, as shown by the Padres making the playoffs one year with only 82 wins.

Teams know that the other clubs aren't pushing the limits, and that there isn't as much of a need to improve. It takes less effort to make the playoffs in the NL, so teams don't have the incentive or motivation to go out and strive to make their clubs better. The bar is set much lower.

Also, the AL is a better-designed league for hitting. The DH has allowed AL teams to develop prolific offenses that NL teams can't even sniff. The quality of offense of teams like the Tigers, the White Sox, and the Red Sox isn't found in the weak-hitting NL.

Those are just some reasons I see for this AL domination. I'm asking you: Why do you think the AL is as dominating as it is?

San Francisco Giants Rebuilding: Too Little, Too Late

Divya Parmar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:05:14 -0400

Everyone knows that the Giants aren't going to make a run this year, even in a weak division. Also, the Giants didn't make a run last year or the season before that.

The Giants should have realized that the time to rebuild was long ago. Back in 2006, the Giants knew the party was over. Their run of contending was over, and it was time to move on.

Despite knowing that, the Giants kept signing older veterans every off-season hoping for a miracle World Series run. With old players comes a time in which the veterans start slipping, and the playing time of the younger players is taken away, stunting their growth.

That is why they must rebuild, and should have started long ago, to avoid the situation they are in now. The younger players need time and opportunity to shine, and that can only happen without veterans competing with them.

The Giants claim that they building for the future, and are playing the young players, but on closer examination, that is totally false.

Look at some of the players getting regular playing time: 41-year-old Omar Vizquel (who has already been told that he will see his playing time reduced later), 36-year-old Rich Aurilia, and 36-year-old Dave Roberts (playing after returning from the DL).

The lineup is still old. Randy Winn is 34. Bengie Molina is 34.

Even their "young guys", including Jose Castillo and Fred Lewis, are 27, relatively old in the world of hot prospects, who are 21 or 22.

The solution is get Nate Scherholtz up here and get rid of Randy Winn. Sit down Omar almost all the time and get Velez and Burriss lots of at-bats. Cut Dave Roberts and let Fred Lewis play every day.

The Giants show a few signs of rebuilding. But this could have been done a lot earlier, and a lot better.

The Giants foolishly signed Dave Roberts and Ray Durham to extensions and gave aging Bengie Molina a three-year contract. These mistakes stalled the rebuilding and have make it harder to move into the future.

San Francisco have made mistakes, and could have rebuilt faster and better, but one thing is for sure:

The Giants aren't contenders, and need to move on into the future.

When Will the Oakland A's Stop Being a Second-Class MLB Franchise?

Divya Parmar — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:47:55 -0400

It is a harsh, sad reality for fans of this once-proud franchise. A franchise that used to regularly outdraw their cross-bay rivals many times over.

But alas, things change. The cross-bay rivals have not only surpassed the Oakland Athletics, but have grabbed a huge share of the baseball fans in the Bay Area.

The San Francisco Giants dominate the media, attendance, and in the process have made the A's almost irrelevant in the Bay Area baseball scene.

This has nothing to do with team success. The A's could win 100 games while the Giants lose 100 games, but talk radio and attendance will still favor the Giants.

I addressed some things the A's can do in another article. This including gaining a presence in talk radio and getting a new stadium.

The A's make it hard to be a fan of their team. They make it hard to find any coverage of the team what-so-ever, and their facilities aren't exactly the greatest in the world.

These difficulties make even people who want to support the A's change their alliances to more fan-friendly teams.

But it also goes deeper. The A's have brought this second-class label on themselves. They spend like a second-class franchise, getting robbed of free agents on a regular basis by teams like the Red Sox and Yankees.

That shows no commitment to winning at all. Lew Wolff is crying poor, and all the great work done by Billy Beane is lost in free agency and constant rebuilding.

The A's get less attention and attendance than some minor-league teams. On weekdays, they're lucky to get 15,000 fans to see a pretty good product. Old-time A's fans are rolling in their graves right now seeing what has happened to a once great franchise..

The A's need to act now, and make changes immediately.

Or their will be no A's fans left.

Open Mic: The Most Powerful Sports Figure Is...Money

Divya Parmar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:22:21 -0400

Don't lie. You know it as well as I do.

Everything comes down to the Almighty Dollar. The Buck. The George Washington.

It affects everything in sports these days. Take a look at the situation of the former Seattle Supersonics.

Clay Bennett was going to lose money if he stayed. He also would have to pay for an arena out of his own pocket. He was too cheap to pay for his own arena and wanted public financing to do it for him, but since that didn't happen, he bolted for Oklahoma City.

How about Baron Davis? In Warrior Land, we loved him. "We Believe." We thought he cared about us and loved the Bay Area and wanted to stay.

But alas, he went to the Clippers for the money. It hurts, but we understand. Baron sold out, and he couldn't care less about the Warriors fans that supported him.

Money runs sports today in huge part because of free agency. The money has created a setting where players jump from team to team to get paid. This breaks up teams, prevents championships, and kills dynasties. Rivalries died when free agency started.

All of this because athletes, like the rest of us (we would do the same), want to paid as much as possible. This goes for everyone, including owners as well.

Look at the NFL's possible strike in 2011. It's all about money. All the dominance of the NFL today could be thrown away because of petty disputes over small percentages of money between owners and players. It doesn't make any sense, but it's just the way it is.

With all this money, athletes today are judged on salary more than ever before. Look at Barry Zito. He's getting ripped to pieces over the money he's making. Kevin Brown and Mike Hampton went through the same criticism over their huge contracts.

Our favorite players leave because of contract disputes. We all learn the hard way that sports is just a big business. Players don't have loyalty or selflessness. They hold out and demand trades all for the cash.

It sucks, buts that's just the way it is.

As someone once said, "It's all about the money."

2008 Bay Area Sports Awards

Divya Parmar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:19:46 -0400

I would like to welcome all of you to the Bay Area Sports Awards. Without further delay, lets get to it.

Best Surprise: Tie between Justin Duchscherer and Bengie Molina.

Duchscherer has been putting out great start after great start. He has been the best pitcher on a good A's pitching staff. Bengie Molina has provided a spark to a lineup predicted to be the worst in baseball. Bengie is so clutch that people nicknamed him "Money."

Best Stadium: AT&T Park.

There is no-doubt, this was hands down the easiest choice. AT&T is an incredible park with waterfront views. Lots of credit to Peter Magowan and the rest of the Giants management for getting this ballpark built.

Best Up-And-Coming Young Star: Tie between Tim Lincecum and Patrick Willis.

Lincecum is electric on the mound, and will anchor the pitching staff for years to come. Lincecum is a Cy Young winner waiting to happen. On the other hand, Patrick Willis is the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and looks like a future Hall of Famer ala Mike Singletary. Willis has Niner fans excited for years to come.

Most Important X-Facor: Alex D. Smith.

The Niners season revolves around Alex Smith, and his play. Also, the last three seasons of development will be considered a waste of time if Smith is a bust. So basically, if Smith is a bust, the Niners wasted at least five seasons going nowhere.

Worst team: Tie between San Francisco Giants and Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders are an absolute mess, with Al Davis signing players to enormous contracts. The Giants are stuck with veterans that are preventing the team from moving forward into a new era.

Best Team: Tie between San Jose Sharks and Golden State Warriors.

The Sharks are extremely talented and win close to 50 games every season. They make the playoffs and contend for the Stanley Cup. The Warriors have revived Run TMC (or at least tried to) and make all their games extremely exciting. Baron Davis and Stephen "Stack Jack" Jackson have Oracle Arena going crazy. It's a great time out!

LVP: Barry Zito.

What a disaster. $18 million per season (he's making $14 million this season) for 2-10 and a 6.32 ERA. Everyone in the Bay Area is desperate. What can we do for this guy? His fastball is only 84 mph, and his confidence is destroyed. People have suggested the bullpen, Single-A, Triple-A, Rick Peterson, buy him out, or even cut him entirely.

MVP: Tim Lincecum.

This guy brightens every Giants fan's day, even if the team sucks. He is almost a guaranteed win when he is on the mound. Lincecum is one of the top-five pitchers in the majors right now. What can I say? Everyone knows how good he is, and now he is an absolute superstar.

NBA: My Trade Value Column

Divya Parmar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 19:38:18 -0400

This is an amateur version/tribute to Bill Simmons and his Trade Value Column. This column takes into consideration if Player A was traded for Player B straight up, who wins the trade, taking into account salaries. Also, if a team offered another team Player A for Player B, would the other team accept the offer?

Without further delay, this is my list. It is merely a rough idea. Don't be too harsh with me.

13. Kevin Durant—This guy is the total package. He can shoot, is athletic, and is a good-character, hard-working guy. Once Durant's body grows and he learns to take over a game, this guy will be a franchise player in the NBA.

12. Gilbert Arenas—I know Gilbert is a distraction and kills team chemistry, but you can't deny his talent. Gilbert is an assassin, clutch, and an explosive shooter. Guys that can put up 50 points don't grow on trees. Gilbert has injury issues as well, but if, if he can get healthy, he will be near the top on many teams' wish lists this summer, when he is a free agent.

11. Paul Pierce—After what Pierce has done this season, he is definitely a top-15 player in the NBA. His offensive game is incredible. He can shoot it, create off the dribble, and finish the play. He has shown to be a good defender on LeBron James. Pierce is a leader and inspires his teammates as well.

10. Chris Bosh—Bosh is young, athletic, and extremely skilled. He has long arms and can block shots. He can also score in the post, and can jump out of the gym. Bosh is a stud already, and he will only get better.

9.Tim Duncan—I know Duncan is old, but he still has a lot of value. Duncan is still a 20-and-10 guy, and is a perfect face of a franchise. He can score at will in the post, and anchor a solid defense. Duncan is a tone-setter, and he sets a perfect example by working hard and never getting in trouble.

8. Dwayne Wade—The great things about Wade are his intangibles. Wade is tough, clutch, and his desire to win is off the charts. Add "Flash" quickness and explosiveness, and you get a complete-package superstar. Wade, if he gets healthy, will continue to be a face of the NBA and carry his team to greatness.

7. Amare Stoudemire—Just look at the numbers. In February and March, Stoudemire, aka STAT, averaged 29 points and 10 rebounds. I repeat: 29 points and 10 rebounds. Stoudemire can run the floor, score in the half court, and can dominate the pick-and-roll. He has the potential to dominate every game he plays. All fans should wish to have Amare Stoudemire on their team.

6. Kevin Garnett—The Big Ticket is a man-child. If you watch him, you'll notice he is so big and athletic that he can dominate games and make it look easy. After rotting away in Minnesota, Garnett's passion and energy, plus incredible talent, have revived the Celtics franchise. Garnett has average 19 ppg and 10 rpg, and played incredible defense.

5. Deron Williams—This guy is incredibly tough, and is a leader at such a young age. Williams is talented enough to be a great point guard for many years to come. He is big and strong, and can physically dominate a game. Williams is also very clutch.

4. Kobe Bryant—There is no doubt "the Black Mamba" is the best player in the game. But he doesn't have the highest trade value. That is because Kobe is 29, while the players above him on this list are younger and have more productive years left in the NBA. Bryant's trade value has soared these playoffs. The Lakers will not trade him for anybody other than LeBron James himself. Kobe can get to the hoop, and shoot jumpers. Kobe is clutch, and his will to win is comparable to none other than Michael Jordan.

3. Dwight Howard—I was torn between the second and third spots on this list. I decided to put Chris Paul over Dwight Howard, but that doesn't change the fact that Howard is a freak of nature, and that he will dominate the NBA for years to come. Howard is so strong and athletic that he blocks lots of shots and dominates the glass. Every team in the NBA would take Howard's future in a heartbeat.

2. Chris Paul—Paul's court vision is incredible. "CP3" gets all his teammates involved, and executes his offense perfectly. He is also incredibly quick, and can get into the paint at will and score. With Paul, the Hornets are a title contender for years to come, and will be near the top of the Western Conference.

1. LeBron "King" James—Just look at the stats. This guy averaged 30 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game, and he is only 23 years old. When he enters his prime, how high is his ceiling? This guy is talented enough to average 40 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists per game. James will put up numbers rarely seen in NBA history. His size, strength, and quickness are unmatched in the league.

Thanks for reading. Hopefully you won't rip me.

Mavericks: How To Use Josh Howard and "High" in the Same Sentence

Divya Parmar — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:21:51 -0400

I know this is old news, so I'm sure you all know about Josh Howard's marijuana use. This idea just came to me.

(Note: I know I am taking the low-class road. But this is just for fun and joking around. I'm just kidding around, and don't think marijuana is OK or acceptable in any way.)

So, lets get to it:

"Josh Howard drives to the hoop, and scores with his left hand. He is playing at such a 'high' level right now."

"Howard shoots, and makes the jumper. His confidence level has been extremely 'high' the last couple games."

"So, I'm just wondering how 'high' is Howard's trade value right now?"

"Josh Howard is so talented. He has a very 'high' ceiling. His upside is extremely 'high'."

"Ginobli drives, blocked by Josh Howard! Look how 'high' in the air he got to block that shot!"

"So, how would Josh Howard fit into a 'high-powered' offense?"

"So, would the Mavericks trade Josh Howard for a 'high' first-round draft pick?"

These are just some that came to my mind. Feel free to comment and rip me if you want to. Remember: this was done tongue-and-cheek. Not seriously.

NBA Finals: Who Should I Root For?

Divya Parmar — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:51:24 -0400

In this Lakers-Celtics matchup, I have a conflict.

I don't know who to root for. I could make a case for either side.

On one hand, I hate Boston. The Patriots, Red Sox, and now the Celtics. I'm just Bostoned-out. Too much Boston.

Maybe it is just jealousy. But part of it is the Red Sox bandwagon-jumping fans. The fans that, before 2004, couldn't name four Red Sox, but now act like they are loyal, hardcore fans.

On the other hand, the more I read about Kobe, the more he seems like a selfish, crazy, spoiled, over-competitive brat. He comes off as unlikable. I also should hate L.A. because I am a Nothern California guy, and we hate Southern California teams.

One reason to root for the Lakers is it isn't fair that the Celtics got such an easy conference and easy path to the NBA Finals. If the Celtics were in the West, they wouldn't get out of the second round. The Lakers deserve the championship more because of the tough road in the West.

Rooting for the Lakers is pro-West Coast, and anti-East Coast/New York and Boston bias. Plus, we don't have to feel sorry for Boston fans. They're in a great situation these days. All three major teams are good. Don't complain, Boston fans.

Before the series, I expected Lakers in five, so I would love to be right on my prediction.

All in all, I'm not sure who to root for. Both sides have positives and negatives.

I'll just go with my gut, whatever it tells me.

Instant Replay in Baseball: No Duh!

Divya Parmar — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:26:49 -0400

There are many people who think that instant replay should absolutely not be implemented in Major League Baseball.

I respectfully disagree. There is not doubt that instant replay should be implemented.

First of all, purists say that baseball has lived without it for over 100 years, so why switch now? That is the stupidest argument I have ever heard. People lived for thousands of years without electricity, so should we turn off all electronic devices? No. People lived for thousands of years without the Internet, so should we all disconnect our Internet connections? No.

The game must evolved, and people must move on. It's not the 1890s anymore. Get over it, purists.

Plus, we NEED TO GET THE CALL RIGHT. The "mistakes are part of the game" argument is a bunch of BS. If a team gets screwed in the playoffs over a bad call, will we accept it as "human mistakes are part of the game"? No, we all want fairness, and to get the call correct. "Human error" is irrelevant.

Another myth is it would slow down the game, and again, I disagree. These replays would only be used two or three times a game for fair or foul calls. Those replays would only take a couple minutes, if that.

Replay would be extremely simple to put in. Everyone watching on TV can see the play clearly, so why can't the umpires? Give them technology and let them use it to their advantage.

All in all, replay would be great for Major League Baseball. Put it in as soon as possible.

NFL Draft: 49ers Don't Address Needs

Divya Parmar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:58:51 -0400

With the 2008 NFL Draft in the rear-view mirror, lets look back on it and break it down.

My beloved San Francisco 49ers, in my opinion, did not have a good draft.

The two things they needed were an impact wide receiver and a pass rusher. The Niners did not address either need.

With their first round pick, the Niners took Kentwan Balmer, a run stopping DT. The Niners desperately needed a DE or outside linebacker to rush the passer, but passed on players like Quentin Groves of Auburn or Phillip Merling of Clemson. The 49ers didn't take a single DE in the whole draft.

The Niners also needed a No. 1 wide receiver. The 49ers are relying on Bryant Johnson, an unproven No. 3, and an aging Issac Bruce. With the 39th pick, the Niners passed on DeSean Jackson and James Hardy. Offensive guard was not enough of a need to pass on quality wide receivers. The only wide receiver the Niners took was Josh Morgan, a sixth round pick who won't make an impact.

Overall, the San Francisco 49ers had a solid draft and acquired good talent, but did not address holes that desperately needed to be filled.

NBA Playoffs: Ranking the Matchups

Divya Parmar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:47:06 -0400

Now that the playoff matchups are set in stone, let's take a look at them and figure out which ones are must-see-tv and which ones aren't worth tuning in for.

A countdown of the series from worst to best:

8. Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks. Is anybody going to waste any time on this match-up? What a joke. Atlanta doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. They are only in the playoffs because the East is so weak. This series is a sweep. Verdict: Don't watch a single minute.

7. Detroit Pistons vs Philadelphia 76ers. This series is a total mismatch as well. Detroit will roll. Philadelphia is under .500 and not a great team. The only reason Philadelphia is in the playoffs is because the East is so weak, the same reason the Hawks are in. Verdict: Only watch a few minutes.

6. Orlando Magic vs Toronto Raptors. This series has an excellent match-up with Dwight Howard going up against Chris Bosh. Toronto has been playing better toward the end of the season. This series has a little intrigue, but not much compared some of the others. Verdict: Watch a few quarters.

5. Cleveland Caveliers vs Washington Wizards. The star factor is huge with King James going head to head with Agent Zero, Gilbert Arenas. Each star's respective team is weak because the supporting cases are mostly horrible. Watch this series for star power, not great quality basketball. Verdict: Watch some parts of the series, but not much.

Let's take a break for a second. Notice how the four worst series are all in the crappy East, while the four best are in the super-competitive West. Just saying.....

4. Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets. This series is extremely even, but the reason I don't rank it higher is because of the boring half-court slow pace of the teams. Never mind the pace of the game, this series has the feel-good-story Rockets vs the up and coming Utah Jazz. This is a series that deserves a lot of attention. Verdict: Watch most of the series.

3. New Orleans Hornets vs Dallas Mavericks. This series has a lot of intrigue. Can the Mavericks get back their playoff mojo? Can the unproven Hornets get it done in the playoffs? The match-up here are excellent. Chris Paul vs Jason Kidd. New kidd (pun intentded) on the block going against the old veteran. David West vs Dirk Nowitzki. Great series. Verdict: Watch almost all the series.

2. Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets. This series have off the charts star power. Meloand AI against Kobe. Superstars galore. Also, the Nuggets play up-tempo and no defense, so this series will be extremely high scoring. Get ready for some exciting, fast-paced basketball. Watch the new-look Lakers against the explosive Nuggets. I know this series may be a mismatch, but it will be damn entertaining. Verdict: Watch every minute of it.

1. San Antonio Spurs vs Phoenix Suns. This is the ultimate first round heavyweight match-up Shaq vs Duncan and a big man battle for the ages. It's time to settle the "who's better, Shaq or Duncan" argument once and for all. Also, a rivalry has been created by the bad blood in the past, including the Horry hip-check on Nash. This series matches two title contenders with a sense of urgency. Both teams know that Father Time is catching up to them and know that their windows of opportunity are closing. Both are veteran teams and know how to win. The intensity in this series will be off the charts, and Phoenix wants revenge for last year. Great, great, great first round match-up. Verdict: Watch every single second of every single game. Don't miss anything.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to provide feedback or rip me.

Ranking NBA Playoff Teams: How Will They Fare?

Divya Parmar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 08:46:39 -0400

Now that the playoffs are set in stone, let's breakdown the teams in detail. Here is how I see the teams stacking up against each other.

Please note: The following does not rank the teams' chances to win it all. I think, for example, the Utah Jazz are better than the Detroit Pistons, but the Pistons are more likely to win the championship because of the easy competition they will face in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Without further delay, let's get to it.

16. Atlanta Hawks

I actually think the Hawks have some good talent in Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, and Al Horford. Most of this team is very young and unknown, and their bench/depth is not good. The future is somewhat bright for this franchise, but they'll be swept this year.

15. Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Iguodala is a stud and a borderline star. Andre Miller is solid at the point. Philadelphia is a feel-good story, but they are not a great team.

14. Toronto Raptors

Chris Bosh is a star, while Jose Calderon is improving at the point guard spot. Jason Kapono and Jamario Moon are solid role players. This team isn't great, and would not even be competitive in the West (same with Atlanta and Philadelphia).

13. Washington Wizards

The Wizards have Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. Gilbert Arenas is coming back. The talent is solid, and this team could be very good for years to come.

12. Cleveland Cavaliers

LeBron, LeBron, and more LeBron. Z, Varejeo, and Daniel "Boobie" Gibson are solid, but the only reason the Cavs are even out of the lottery is LeBron. His incredible potential will carry the Cavs to great heights.

11. Orlando Magic

The Magic are a very good team. Dwight Howard is a stud, and Hedo Turkoglu, Rashard Lewis, and Jameer Nelson are good. The Magic look better than they are because they are in the East, but they are still a very solid team.

10. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets are extremely talented. AI, Melo, Camby, Kenyon Martin, Nene. The Nuggets can score with anybody. The problem is their defense.

They also don't play great team basketball—too much one-on-one—and are not well coached. I like the individual players a lot, but the team doesn't have great chemistry.

9. Houston Rockets

Without Yao, the Rockets aren't a serious title contender, but they are good. Tracy McGrady has been playing great. Alston, Battier, Scola, Mutumbo, and Head make a solid rotation. The Rockets are solid, even by West standards.

8. Detroit Pistons

This group of Pistons' players is very experienced. Billups, Rip Hamilton, Prince, and 'Sheed are excellent. This team is a contender in the East, but might not be a contender in the West.

7. Dallas Mavericks

Despite past failures, there is a lot of talent in Dallas. Jason Kidd is a leader, Dirk Nowitzki is a tough matchup, and Jason Terry/Josh Howard/Jerry Stackhouse are good in the rotation. Dallas is a solid team, and is no easy opponent.

6. Utah Jazz

The Jazz are unbeatable at home. Boozer and Deron Williams make a great combo. Okur, Korver, Kirilinko, and Ronnie Brewer make a solid rotation. The Jazz are a title contender if they can just win some road games.

5. New Orleans Hornets

I know that Chris Paul is great, and David West is an All-Star. Also, Peja and Tyson Chandler are solid. I just wonder about how playoff-tested they are. Paul has no playoff experience.

The Hornets are an uncertainty. How will they deal with the challenge that is the Western Conference playoffs?

4. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs have Duncan, Parker, Ginobli, and Popovich. But they are getting old, and the supporting cast is on the decline. Horry, Finley, Bowen, and Brent Barry are fading fast. The experience is there, but "Father Time" is catching up to them.

3. Phoenix Suns

I really have a good feeling about the Suns. Stoudemire is an absolute stud, and a future MVP candidate. Nash is aging, but still can get it done.

Shaq provides the mojo and experience. He will be the shot in the arm that will revive the franchise's confidence.

Raja Bell, Grant Hill, and Sixth Man of the Year candidate Leandro Barbosa have played well.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are absolutely loaded. Kobe, Gasol, Odom, Fisher, Radmanovic, Farmer, Vujacic, Walton, and Turiaf make an excellent rotation.

Kobe is still the best player in the NBA. In the clutch, there is no player I would rather have than Kobe Bean Bryant.

The team has struggled a little lately, but I expect a deep, deep playoff run.

1. Boston Celtics

Allen, Pierce, and Garnett make up the Big Three, the best trio in the league. Perkins, House, Posey, and Powe are good in the rotation. Rondo has improved a lot this season, and Sam Cassell provides a veteran presence.

There you have it. My thoughts. Feel free to rip me as you please. Thanks for reading.

Why We Love the NFL

Divya Parmar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:42:38 -0400

With all the problems in many other sports, we always turn to the NFL. No problems stick to the NFL, and ratings are always great. Here are some reasons why.

1. The NFL niped the drug problem in the bud. The NFL was pro-active toward drug problems, not reactive. Sure, there are steroid users in the NFL. In the NFL, they are actually caught and suspended. At least the NFL instituted the drug testing, and didn't stall like baseball. MLB resisted drug testing, and that made the steroid problem much worse.

2. The NFL has a fair playoff system, not a crappy screwed up joke (*wink* *wink* NCAA *wink*). Everyone plays the same numbers of games, and the best records go to the playoffs. The playoffs are a fair, single-elimination tournament. The team that survives wins the Super Bowl. Also, the playoffs don't make the regular season irrelevant.

3. The NFL has a salary cap, evening the playing field. There are no Yankees or Red Sox, and no one can buy a championship or players, unless they are smart with their budget. That contributes to the "any given Sunday" parity in the NFL.

4. Everyteam DOES have a chance. The NFC South in the NFL has had four different winners in the past four years. Would you ever see that in the AL East? No. Either the Red Sox or Yankees win every year, and the Orioles, Rays, and Blue Jays have to just stand and watch.

5. The NFL is the ultimate team game. There are no ball hogs, and no one goes 1-on-1 while every one else stands and watches. Five offensive lineman have to block, the QB has to read the field, and the receivers have to run their routes correctly. The NFL isn't a superstar league. Teams, not individuals, are the key to success.

6. The ratings are always great, and it doesn't matter if you have big market teams, or small market teams. The NBA relies on the Lakers and Celtics to deliver ratings, while MLB relies on the Yankees to get ratings. That is why NBA Finals ratings are so low when San Antonio and Detroit play in the Finals. Also, MLB ratings suffered when Detroit and St. Louis played in the World Series.

7. The Super Bowl is a great show and means everything. Other sports have seven game series that dilute the importance of each individual game. The Super Bowl is a one game all or nothing scenario. Also, the Super Bowl is extremely entertaining, with the music and festivities.

8. The NFL doesn't try to make the Pro Bowl "count". Baseball's "this time it counts" was a stupid idea to add meaning to an exibition game. For the NFL, it is just a trip to Hawaii.

9. Fantasy and gambling. All of us play fantasy football. It adds great fun and interest to a game you would otherwise not care about. Also, gambling (Note: I do not and will not gamble) adds to the excitement for some people.

Thanks for reading.

Baseball's Untouchable Stadiums...Or Are They?

Divya Parmar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 13:58:33 -0400

With the closing of Yankee Stadium this year, I was thinking about other historic stadiums, and when their time will come.

Here are some that came to mind.

Wrigley Field

There has been a lot of confusion, commotion and chaos about the Tribune Company and Sam Zell's ownership. Will they remodel Wrigley? Will they sell Wrigley Field separately from the team? Will they sell the naming rights?

I think that even though Wrigley is historic, its time will eventually come. Wrigley is not a cash cow like the new stadiums. To deal with that, ads were placed in the Ivy.

Also, naming rights provide necessary money to compete in today's big money, high stakes MLB. Wrigley is an untouchable name, but it may be changed.

Wrigley doesn't have the capcity necessary, and is not in great shape architecturally.

Cubs fans are probably thinking "say it ain't so!", but the possiblity exists that the Cubs will leave Wrigley.

Fenway Park

I don't think Fenway is at risk.

Despite being a small ballpark that can only hold 36,000, the Red Sox have found ways to turn Fenway into a cash cow. They have expanded it, added Monster Seats, and found creative advertising.

There was a small scare that the Red Sox would go to a new stadium, but this is extremely unlikely.

Dodger Stadium

Dodger Stadium will stay the Dodgers home for many years, and a change is extremely unlikely.

But to me at least, Dodger stadium looks old. I know it has tradition, including being the Dodgers home for nearly all their time in Los Angeles. To newer fans, modern and high-tech stadiums are the way to go.

I understand the Dodgers have great attendance, nearly 50,000 a game. But newer stadiums are cash cows, and make it easier to compete with the high-payroll teams.

Things can happen though. The Dodgers moved from Vero Beach, but they won't move from Dodger stadium for a very very long time.

Thanks for reading, and hearing some of my thoughts.

Stupid Sports Cliches

Divya Parmar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 10:09:47 -0400

I was thinking about annoying cliches and here are three that stood out.

1. "Inning eater" or "never missed a start." This one really annoys me. Who cares if someone pitches a lot of innings? Are they good innings or not?

If I offered your team a pitcher that would pitch 35 starts and 9 innings each start guaranteed, but would allow 6 runs each time, would you want him on your team? NO. You'd cut him immediately.

Barry Zito never misses a start, but he allows 7 runs when he pitches, that's not good for your team. You would rather have an injured pitcher than a crappy pitcher that is never hurt.

2. "Energy guy." I hate when they call a guy an "energy guy." That usually means they aren't very talented, but just throw their body around for the good of the team.

Also, are they saying that the other nine players (out of the 10 on a basketball court), who are world-class athletes themselves, have no energy?

In addition to that, how did these players get to such a high level? By working hard. To get so high, you have to be dedicated to your game. You have to have energy and hustle and give it your all. So why is that one guy the "energy guy?" Is everyone else not trying or something? It makes no sense.

3. "They have a good RPI". For college basketball, that is an overrated measurement of a good team.

Arizona got in the Tournament over Arizona State because of RPI. RPI should be used less in favor of head to head records and conference records. That is a fairer way to decide which team is better.

Who cares if you have a hard schedule and play tough opponents if you lose anyway. Judge based on other criteria, not RPI.

The NBA Mount Rushmore

Divya Parmar — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 09:40:46 -0400

I was thinking about ideas for articles, so I came up with this. If I were to make a Mount Rushmore for a sport, in this case basketball and the NBA, who would be on it?

I came up with this.

First of all, Michael Jordan is a no-doubt lock for the NBA Mount Rushmore. He has 6 rings, multiple awards, and was the best player in the NBA for nearly a decade. Also, he raised the popularity of the NBA through his endorsements. To see how important he was to the NBA, look at how hard it was to adjust to a post-MJ league.

Another great player who should be there is Earvin "Magic" Johnson. He was the key to Lakers dominance of the '80s. He could play anywhere from point guard to center. He had unbelievable court vision, and could make almost impossible passes. He almost handled himself with class and dignity, while helping others and himself fight HIV.

To make that great Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the '80s, the Celtics had Larry Bird. He definitely deserves to be on the NBA Mount Rushmore for what he did for the Celtics, and how he transcended the NBA, while boosting the league's popularity. The Bird-Magic rivalry made basketball great in the '80s. Bird could shoot the lights out, and had many clutch moments.

To round out the group, I would select Red Auerbach. He build the Celtics dynasty in the '60s, making the organization great. He laid the foundation for the great history and tradition of the Celtics. Red Auerback is arguably the best NBA coach of all time.

Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant: Three Definitions of the NBA's MVP

Divya Parmar — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 11:17:31 -0400

All this confusion about who should win this year's Most Valuable Player stems from the fact that the role of an MVP is not clearly defined. Because there is no set criteria the voters can follow, there is a lot of debate.

To understand what the voters might be thinking, I am presenting three different schools of thought determining what characterizes a most valuable player.

Definition One: Best Player on the Best Team—Kevin Garnett

In the Dirk Nowitzki model, Garnett would win the award because he is the best player on and leader off the best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics. He has revived the Celtics, but because he has not had a career year, he probably won't win the MVP award.

Definition Two: Most Indispensable Player—LeBron James

Without LeBron, the Cavaliers would be the worst team in the NBA, just like they were before they got him. LeBron carries the Cavaliers every night, even when teams are focused solely on defending him.

Definition Three: Most Outstanding Player—Kobe Bryant

I concede that Kobe is the best player in the league. He is the complete package. His offense, defense, and teamwork set him apart.