Bleacher Report - Articles by Andrew Bailer

WFAN Sports Radio's Boomer & Carton Show: Always Entertaining in the Morning

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:42:48 -0400

If you listen to New York radio stations in the mornings between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and are looking for sports analysis garnished with a topping of bathroom humor and pop-culture, look no further than WFAN Sports Radio 66 or 660 on your AM dial.

Here, you will find the Boomer & Carton radio program, which features radio personality and perpetual funny-man, Craig Carton, and former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, who has been great for the New York community in the fight against cystic fibrosis. Here is the show’s website.

If you are a feminist who believes that all men are evil pigs, then this radio program is probably not the best choice. However, if you are a casual fan of New York sports and can stand the occasional display of utter chauvinism and testosterone-filled quips you probably wouldn’t want your 7-year-old to be hearing, perhaps you have come to right place.

What is somewhat ironic about this radio program is that Mark Chernoff, executive producer at WFAN, had to make a replacement decision after embattled radio personality, Don Imus, had his show removed by CBS Radio in 2007 for racist and sexist comments. Chernoff decided to take Esiason, the former quarterback of the Cincinnati Bengals and the New York Jets, and pair him up with a proven talk radio personality, Carton, who was previously heard crossing the line with comments about gender and ethnicity on 101.7 FM in New Jersey as part of the "Jersey Boys" program at that station.

So far, Chernoff’s decision has paid off, especially for the young adult audiences (ages 18-25), who would probably rather watch re-runs of "I Love Lucy" than listen to Imus. As far as for Esiason and Carton, it seems like Carton has got the better end of the deal here in terms of his recent rise to a semi-celebrity status in the New York metropolitan area. There is no doubt that Carton is good at what he does, but it is his pure narcissism and his border-line inappropriate treatment of women that could potentially stir up controversy and also continue to aggravate the good-natured humanitarian, Esiason.

The Rocky Road Ahead for the New York Mets in 2009

Andrew Bailer — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:38:36 -0400

If there is to be any kind of a scapegoat in the Mets' recent three-game losing streak in a series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, it would have to be the number of injuries the team has sustained over the past few weeks.

With reliever J.J. Putz allowing four runs and blowing the Mets' lead in Monday night's game in an eventual 8-5 loss to the Pirates, many fans including myself thought Putz was experiencing a mechanical problem, but apparently the issue is an elbow injury.

Putz has seen his ERA climb to 5.22 over his last three starts as he allowed eight runs and nine hits over just 1 1/3 innings of work, which is absolutely atrocious for a guy who recorded 40 saves with a 1.38 ERA as the Mariners' closer last season.

New York Manager Jerry Manuel tried pitching Putz yesterday as the Mets were already trailing the Pirates by a significant deficit in an eventual 11-6 loss to Pittsburgh. Even in this situation, with the game not on the line and no pressure on Putz, he struggled to get batters out, as he gave up two singles and a triple during an appearance in the seventh inning.

Putz will join Mets' shortstop Jose Reyes on the disabled list. Reyes suffered a setback in his rehabilitation starts in Florida by tearing his hamstring. Reyes was originally placed on the D.L. on May 21 for tendinitis in his right calf, but he will now have to undergo treatment for his hamstring, presumably keeping him out of the Mets' lineup for much longer than initially expected.

With Carlos Delgado out at least another eight or nine weeks after undergoing hip surgery on May 19, the Mets appear to be fielding a lineup that is more a lineup of replacements and bench players.

According to Mike Francesa of WFAN-660 AM, a sports radio station in New York, the Mets expect Reyes to be out for 14 to 16 days, and Putz will undergo elbow surgery that will keep him out for eight to 10 weeks.

Obviously, the situation for the Mets looks dire right now, and things are only going to get worse for this injury laden team, who are now 28-24 and four games behind the Phillies in the loss column for the lead in the National League East.

Right now, the Mets cannot afford to fall further and further behind, especially considering their upcoming schedule, which includes three games at home against Philadelphia next Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and then a weekend series at Yankee Stadium Friday through Sunday.

This is going to be a definite test to a Mets' lineup that has not gotten the production it needs to win ballgames and has certainly missed Delgado's presence in the cleanup spot.

First, New York is in Washington for a three-game series with the Nationals, the worst team in baseball. However, if guys like David Wright, who has been in the midst of a terrible slump, don't start to turn things around, the Mets will not stand much of a chance against any team they face.

Last, New York cannot expect much more production than it has already got out of Gary Sheffield, and if the bullpen doesn't heal from its wounds, the Mets may not even get out of Washington with a victory.

BU-Miami Preview: Redhawks and Terriers Meet For Frozen Four Title

Andrew Bailer — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:54:42 -0400

After the Miami University Redhawks defeated the Bemidji State Beavers in Thursday's Frozen Four semifinal match-up by an impressive margin of victory, 4-1, they awaited the winner of the Boston University/University of Vermont semifinal match-up.

The BU/Vermont game had plenty of momentum changes, with the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament, BU Terriers, coming out on top.

In the third period with the Catamounts leading 4-3, Boston's Chris Higgins was able to fire a shot past Vermont goaltender, Bob Madore to even the score at 4-4 with just over 6:50 remaining in the game.

Then, it was Hobey Baker Finalist and sophomore stud Colin Wilson, who collected on the game-winning rebound just over one minute later to beat UVM and advance to the championship game—looking for their fifth national title in school history.

For Miami and its hockey program, which has only been in existence since the 1970's, this is very much un-chartered territory. Being in a national championship game in any sport is an entirely new occurrence for the Miami University Athletic Department and the school of Miami, which is a 16,000 person undergraduate university located in southwest Ohio.

The Redhawks, led by senior forward Justin Mercier and a pair of sophomores, Pat Cannone and Tommy Wingels, also rely on their strong defensive play, which ESPN hockey analyst, Barry Melrose noted during the team's victory over Bemidji State.

"Everytime a Bemidji player touches the puck, there is a white jersey on him almost immediately," said Melrose.

What also has made Miami so tough to beat during their run through the NCAA Tournament has been the play of freshman goaltender Cody Reichard, whose 5'11" 160 lb body has been able to limit opponents to a 1.33 GAA* in his last three starts, all of which have come in the postseason.

So, it all comes down to the boys from Beantown against the Midwestern toughness of the boys from Miami University.

Miami certainly likes to play physical and Boston University has been the best team in college hockey all year long.

Look for No. 22 of the Redhawks, Justin Vaive to cause some physical disruption to the ebb and flow of the BU style of play.

Also, look for both teams to heavily fore-check in the neutral zone (meaning they will play very physical as soon as the other team touches the puck).

It will be a very scrappy and heated battle, with the outcome most likely decided in the late third period or even in overtime.

My prediction: BU makes a late rally to tie the game and force overtime, but Miami freshman Alden Hirschfeld scores in overtime to give the Redhawks their first ever championship in ice hockey—and any sport—in school history.

The Cincinnati Reds' Outfield Needs Willie Taveras

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:35:02 -0400

It was a opening day game on Monday afternoon against the New York Mets that the Cincinnati Reds and their outfield would like to have back.

Without their usual centerfielder, Willie Taveras, the Reds seemed out of sync all afternoon, the team that is now 2-1 against New York in opening day games.

Even after the Mets' opening-day starter, Johan Santana, was pulled by manager Jerry Manuel after just five-and-two-thirds innings, the new and improved Mets bullpen was able to hold the Reds scoreless and preserve the win for Santana by the score of 2-1.

Amid freezing temperatures and rainy conditions, the Mets relied on the play of their defense, which helped keep five Reds runners stranded on base throughout the game.

New York, meanwhile, managed to strand 11 men on base, going a meager 1-12 with runners in scoring position.

Even with the lack of offensive production, all the Mets needed was two RBI from left fielder, Daniel Murphy, to secure the victory.

Murphy, who only had 30 plate appearances for the Mets last year, proved that he belonged with his hitting and with his defense.

Murphy made Reds' starting pitcher, Aaron Harang, pay for a belt high fastball in the top of the fifth inning by delivering with a line-drive shot that cleared the right-center-field fence for the Mets' first home run and run scored of the season.

As opposed to the Mets' outfield and the defensive play of Murphy, Carlos Beltran, and Ryan Church, the Reds defense had trouble coordinating with each other, allowing several bloopers to fall in between diving white jerseys.

Making the start in center field after 10-plus years in the minor leagues, was Darnell McDonald, while Taveras is still recovering from the flu. McDonald confused his outfield teammates with his hesitations on fly balls that normally should have been handled cleanly and instead fell in for bloop singles.

McDonald did redeem himself on offense by getting on base with a single and then scoring the Reds' only run off of a Brandon Phillips sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the Mets' lead to 2-1.

After McDonald scored the first run off of Santana, the Mets' ace was pulled after five-and-two-thirds innings of work, seven strikeouts and a 1.59 ERA.

Unlike last year's inconsistent bullpen, this year's Mets' bullpen kept the Reds scoreless for the rest of the game, something Santana was not used to.

Sean Green and J.J. Putz, two new Mets relief pitchers acquired from Seattle Mariners in the off season, were able to set up Mets' closer, Francisco Rodriguez, with two-and-one-third innings of set-up work.

Rodriguez, also known as K-Rod, was able to get his first save as a member of the Mets, preserving the victory for New York.

The Mets hope it is just the first save of many for Rodriguez, who led the American League in saves last year as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Snow Looms Over the Grand History of Opening Day in Cincinnati

Andrew Bailer — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:54:14 -0400

Both the Mets and the Reds conducted their final preseason workouts on Sunday in preparation for Monday's Opening Day Game.

The Mets prepared for the cold weather that is supposed to hit the Cincinnati area for the next few days by practicing in long underwear.

With a chance of snow threatening to potentially delay or even postpone the 1:00 PM game, Great American Ballpark may not be as filled as it usually is for a Reds opening day game.

Since 2003, the Reds have occupied their beautiful ballpark on the banks of the Ohio River, and each year the honor of throwing out the first pitch has gone to someone of great prominence.

President George W. Bush became the first acting president to throw out the opening day first toss in Cincinnati in April of 2006.

His father, George H.W. Bush threw out the first pitch at the stadium's first opening day ceremony in 2003 and Vice President Dick Cheney had the honor of doing so in 2004.

Opening Day in the Queen City is a very popular and well attended event, kicking off with a parade at around 11:00 a.m., which leads up to the first pitch shortly after 1:00 PM.

Lots of Cincinnati Reds fans will take off from work to attend the game on Opening Day, but this year, they may be better suited just to stay in the office, with game time temperatures in the 30s and the possibility of snow fall throughout the afternoon.

The Reds and the Mets are scheduled to open up their regular seasons against each other for the first time since 2005, with the Reds winning on a Joe Randa walk-off home run.

For New York's national league team, there are high expectations, considering their off season acquisitions of relief pitchers, namely closer Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) and setup man, J.J. Putz.

The Mets are hoping these new pitchers will help erase the memories of last year's late season collapse, which kept them out of the playoffs for the second straight year.

The Reds are a young team hoping to build upon last year's 74-88 record, which situated them in fifth place in the National League Central Division.

Here are the projected starting lineups for both teams, who are probably as concerned about the weather as the fans, particularly with the risk of injury to a star pitcher like Johan Santana, who will take to the mound against the Reds' Aaron Harang.

Starting Lineup for the New York Mets

1. Jose Reyes, SS
2. Daniel Murphy, LF
3. David Wright, 3B
4. Carlos Delgado, 1B
5. Carlos Beltran, CF
6. Ryan Church, RF
7. Brian Schneider, C
8. Luis Castillo, 2B
9. Johan Santana, P

Starting Lineup for the Cincinnati Reds

1. Willy Taveras, CF
2. Jerry Hairston Jr., LF
3. Joey Votto, 1B
4. Brandon Phillips, 2B
5. Jay Bruce, RF
6. Edwin Encarnacion, 3B
7. Ramon Hernandez, C
8. Alex Gonzalez, SS
9. Aaron Harang, P

New York: Big City, Bright (New) Lights

Andrew Bailer — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:30:06 -0400

Both the New York Yankees and Mets will be playing in brand new stadiums this season, thanks to the help of several key players, including the City of New York, the owners of both teams (Steinbrenners and Wilpons), and you, the taxpayers.

The total cost of these state-of-the-art facilities is estimated to be at around $1.5 billion for the new Yankee Stadium and around $800 million for the new Citi Field, where the Mets will call home.

Each stadium is uniquely beautiful and built based on incredibly rich tradition and history. For the Yankees, the whole idea was to replicate the old Yankee Stadium with the exact same dimensions, monuments, and bleachers. Over in Queens, the designers and architects wanted to commerate National League baseball in New York City by honoring the likes of Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants.

Of course, no one is doubting the rich and storied history of baseball in New York, but what many people might be realizing is just how expensive new ballparks are these days, especially in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

About 30-35 percent of the cost of these stadiums is being financed by the government, which is above average in comparison to other ballparks that have been built in the last decade (Nationals Park in Washington D.C., Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Comerica Park in Detroit, PNC Park in Pittsburgh).

Unlike Yankee Stadium, which does not have a corporate sponsor in its name, Citi Field has come under controversy with its name due to the high-priced naming rights deal with Citigroup, which recently received federal bailout money.

“With that in mind, House members Dennis Kucinich, D-OH, and Ted Poe, R-TX, this week urged Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner to intervene,” according to a CNN Money report in January 2009.

Geithner, a native New Yorker himself, said he would not intervene with Citigroup’s $400 million deal, which gives Citi exclusive naming rights for 20 years at $20 million per year.

Regardless of the issues with Citigroup and the stadium naming rights, the timing of these brand new bohemoths in the Big Apple is going to be questioned by Main Street U.S.A., when most people in America are struggling to get by.

Can the Miami Redhawks Advance to Their First Frozen Four in Program History?

Andrew Bailer — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:01:47 -0400

The Redhawks have been in this position before, one win shy of a trip to college hockey's prestigious national semifinals, known as the Frozen Four.

Three times in the last four years, Miami of Ohio has fallen to the Boston College Eagles in the NCAA Tournament, and two of those season-ending loss have come at this very stage.

This year's Redhawk team carries with it the emotion of those defeats, especially last season's, in which the Eagles made a dramatic comeback to defeat Redhawks en route to an NCAA Championship victory against Notre Dame.

Yet this younger and less experienced team that relies on the ability of two freshman goaltenders to protect the net on any given night appears to be less anxious and more determined than ever.

Last night, Miami defeated the Denver Pioneers by a score of 4-2, sending the one-seed in the Minneapolis regional back home, wondering what had just taken place at Mariucci Arena, home of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Justin Mercier, Alden Hirschfeld, Bill Loupee, and Andy Miele all scored for the Redhawks, who are now 3-5 in NCAA Tournament games under Coach Enrico Blasi.

The team's matchup tonight will be against a University of Minnesota-Duluth team that will be riding after a dramatic come-from-behind victory over Princeton in which the Bulldogs scored two goals in the last minute to force overtime against the third-seeded Tigers.

The last-minute rally by UMD was unprecedented, as they used a six-on-four empty-net advantage to put the puck past the Princeton goaltender. To make things even more exciting, the game-tying goal by Evan Oberg came with a mere 0:00.08 left on the clock. In the extra period, the Bulldogs' Mike Connolly scored the game-winning goal on a power play resulting from Princeton's Cam MacIntyre being called for a tripping penalty.

Tonight should prove to be an interesting battle between teams who have not faced each other since the 2006 regular season, when the Redhawks defeated the Bulldogs to win the Ohio Hockey Classic in Columbus, OH.

The question for the Redhawks is whether or not they will start Cody Reichard or Connor Knapp in goal. Reichard looked very solid against the top-ranked Denver squad, but the two freshman netminders have been alternating starts all season.

Who will Coach Blasi start between the pipes tonight? Tune in at 9:00 p.m. EST to ESPNU to find out which team will be representing the West Regional in this year's Frozen Four in Washington D.C.

Creature vs. Creature Sweet 16 Showdown: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Syracuse Orange

Andrew Bailer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:38:53 -0400

The South Regional Semifinal will pin second seeded Oklahoma against third seeded Syracuse. The tip-off in Memphis is set for Friday at 7:27 p.m. EST

The 27-5 Sooners knocked off Morgan State in the opening round 82-54 and took care of business against Michigan in the second round, 73-63. Syracuse hasn't won quite as easily, thumping Stephen F. Austin by a 59-44 score before sneaking by Arizona State, 78-67.

Andrew Bailer fills us in about Oklahoma while Jameson Fleming provides the info on the 'Cuse.

Oklahoma's Offensive Game Plan

Strong guard-play: Austin Johnson and Willie Warren need to shoot well from outside the perimeter. When the Sooners won 11 consecutive conference games, their guards shot around 40 percent from beyond the three-point line. Johnson and Warren need to step up against the Syracuse 2-3 zone and hit big shots when called upon. The Naismith Trophy finalist, Blake Griffin cannot beat the Orange by himself.

As a whole, the Sooners need to effectively read the double-teams Blake Griffin will face in order to get everyone involved including the elder Griffin, Taylor. Oklahoma must get the ball inside to Blake in order to open up the floor for the other offensive weapons. The Sooners must be smart with their passing in order to avoid turnovers against the Orange's zone defense.

Syracuse's Offensive Game Plan

Get everybody involved: The 'Cuse features six players that can change and even win a game with their offense. Super sophomore Jonny Flynn will beat defenders off the dribble to take the ball to the paint will he can facilitate or finish, but the point guard has also shown the ability to cross a man over to stop and pop a jumper.

Junior Eric Devendorf can also get to the lane easily and is a better finisher than Flynn, but also knocks down the long range bomb frequently and efficiently (80 threes made, 40 percent overall). Fellow guard Andy Rautins will come off the bench as a long range threat; he's essentially a very poor man's J.J. Redick.

Paul Harris hits the glass hard, but also has a solid mid-range jump shot and can take the ball to the hoop occasionally.

In the post, Jim Boeheim has two tanks that simply never miss around the basket. Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson both finished in the top five in field goal percentage in the Big East.

With all those weapons, Boeheim basically lets the offense run freely. He gives Flynn the command to get everyone his shots and get everyone on track.

Oklahoma's Defensive Gameplan

Oklahoma must defend against the three-point shot. Similar to the Sooners, the Orange like to work the ball into the blocks with forwards Rick Jackson and Arinze Onuaku and then kick the ball out to their shooters, Eric Devendorf and Andy Rautins.

Defend the transition: The Sooners must be able to run with Syracuse when the 'Cuse gets into its transition game. The Orange's Jonny Flynn likes to play up-tempo basketball and he is one of the best in the country getting down the floor and making quick decisions. This could spell problems for Oklahoma considering its lack of depth at the guard positions.

Syracuse's Defensive Gameplan

Jim Boeheim will likely rely on his 2-3 zone to do what it does best, force teams into bad shots. He won't care if Blake Griffin is in the middle, he'll want his players to rotate accordingly to force the potential Player of the Year to have a poor shot selection. If the Orange rotates properly which will be difficult as Oklahoma will likely have at least three long range threats at all times, then OU will settle for bad perimeter jumpers.

Stopping both Griffin and the Sooners' shooters will be nearly impossible for the 'Cuse unless it plays a perfect game defensively. OU can help out the Orange by taking advantage of the first open look the Sooners get each possession and taking quick shots.

What this rivalry means to Oklahoma

Back in 2003, these two teams met in an Elite Eight matchup in Albany, NY, with Syracuse advancing to the Final Four and eventually defeating the Kansas Jayhawks for the National Title. None of the current players were present at this game nor was current Oklahoma coach, Jeff Capel. However, this is not say Oklahoma doesn't want to seek revenge for what former Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony did to Kelvin Sampson and his Sooner team, advancing to the Final Four by a score of 63-47.

What this rivalry means to Syracuse

It's not much of a rivalry really. The 'Cuse doesn't have any gripes with Oklahoma since the Sooners laid down in Albany during the Orange's incredible run to the school's only National Championship. With many similarities between the '03 title run and this year's tournament for the Orange, a win against Oklahoma to advance would be very fitting.

Will Willie Warren be able to hang with Eric Devendorf and Jonny Flynn?

Wille Warren is going to bring his A-game just like he did against Morgan State and Michigan. Although he is just a freshman, he has been solid thus far in the tournament, shooting well from the field and coming up big in key spots. Defensively, Warren must step up his game in order to guard against the perimeter shooting of the Orange guards.

Should the Orange focus on stopping just Blake Griffin or equally stopping everybody?

To make this simpler, do you want to die by lethal injection or guillotine? If the Syracuse 2-3 zone plays the way it has during this stretch of nine wins in ten days, then the 'Cuse won't have too much trouble stopping everybody.

The defensive players have been rotating through the zone flawlessly which allows the Orange to double the post, but also cover the perimeter to prevent the three-point shot. If Griffin catches the ball in the high post, the Orange will commit a forward (Jackson or Onuaku) and a guard.

This defensive strategy will be similar to what the Orange employed against Jeff Adrien and forced UConn into 20 turnovers during their regular season meeting. The 'Cuse's remaining forwards will have to really pay attention to know whether someone is making a back cut to the basket or sneaking to the corner for a three-point attempt.

If Griffin catches the ball near the baseline, the Orange will collapse two forwards on him. The remaining defenders better be ready to zip around the perimeter and keep their hands up. When the ball goes baseline, Griffin will expect a trap. With a likely pass coming, the defenders must keep their hands up to deflect or steal the pass.

Will Griffin carry the team to the Elite Eight?

There is no doubt about it that Griffin has impeccable work ethic and toughness. Even Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops would like to have this kid on his team. But in basketball, the x-factor for Griffin is foul trouble and he must be careful not to pick up costly fouls throughout the game.

There is no doubt that coach Jim Boeheim will be trying to use his big bodies against Griffin and try to catch him off-guard, but he is just too tough mentally and physically to be stopped.

Will the balanced, up-tempo Orange attack be too much for Oklahoma?

Most teams are finding it very hard to slow down the 'Cuse offensively (when not tired from six overtimes). Oklahoma simply doesn't have the flexibility because of its lack of depth to compensate for the fact that the 'Cuse can will again by flexing its muscle in the post, but also from drilling shots around the perimeter.

OU may need to commit one less player to the offensive glass in order to have one more player back on defense when Flynn, Harris, Devendorf, or Rautins bring the ball up court looking for an easy basket before setting into the halfcourt offense.

Andrew's Prediction

OU will win, 74-67, behind Blake Griffin’s 30 points and 15 rebounds. Willie Warren and Austin Johnson come up big for the Sooners, shooting 45 percent behind the arc. The Sooners are able to apply defensive pressure to stop Jonny Flynn and Eric Devendorf on the perimeter. The Griffin brothers are able to out-muscle Onuaku and Jackson underneath the basket.

Jameson's Prediction

Syracuse wins, 83-79. This game will have plenty of offensive fireworks. Oklahoma won't have enough answers for the Orange defensively while either Blake Griffin or Jeff Capel's guards will go off, but both won't happen.

In the end, its usually the Orange's opponents who go cold from the perimeter because its opponents usually take too many quick, somewhat open looks. That will be the difference as long as Blake Griffin doesn't go off for 40 and 20.

Oklahoma's Road to the Final Four Begins with Syracuse

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:31:24 -0400

The Oklahoma Sooners will have to win their next two games in Memphis, Tennessee in order to secure a birth in this year's Final Four in Detroit. For the No. 2 seed in the South Region, that means advancing past Big-East powerhouse, Syracuse, and then winning another tough game against the winner of North Carolina and Gonzaga.

This is no easy road for the Sooners, who last appeared in a Final Four in 2002 under former coach, Kelvin Sampson. However, current coach, Jeff Capel, appears to be enjoying his team's run in this year's NCAA Tournament.

"You know, probably my two favorites moments as a coach was right now, this is one of them, and then my team at VCU when we won our conference tournament," said Capel following the victory over Michigan this past Saturday.

Capel's superstar forward, No. 23 Blake Griffin, has been nothing short of rough-housed in his first two tournament games, where he managed to put up consecutive double-doubles against Morgan State and Michigan.

Even as he was double-teamed and triple-teamed, the Big 12 Player of the Year and Naismith Trophy finalist scored 28 against Morgan State and then dumped 33 on Michigan, while grabbing an average of 15 rebounds over those two games.

If the Sooners are to contain the high octane offense of Syracuse, they are going to need another strong defensive performance from Tony Crocker, who drew three offensive fouls and held Michigan's leading scorer, Manny Harris, to just 3-of-9 shooting and 11 points.

Despite his strong defensive play, Crocker has not had offensive success as of late. Normally an above average three-point shooter, Crocker went 0-4 from behind the arc against Michigan and only managed four points in the win over the Wolverines.

If and when Griffin gets double-teamed against the Orange, the Sooners will have to rely on guards, Willie Warren and Austin Johnson, who both hit key shots down the stretch in the second round victory against the Wolverines. The duo combined for 6-of-13 shooting from three-point range and both scored in double figures.

Another option for the Oklahoma offense is to rely on another forward, Griffin's older brother, Taylor, with whom Blake is accustomed to having as an outlet when he gets surrounded by defenders.

Defensively against Syracuse, the Sooners will have to keep the hot-hand of Eric Devendorf in check. Devendorf lit up their second round opponent, the Arizona State Sun Devils, for 21 points, while fellow guard, Andy Rautins recorded 17 on the day.

If the younger Griffin can out-muscle the likes of Arinze Onuaku and Rick Jackson, while also getting the ball to Warren and Johnson, then the Sooners could be headed to the Elite Eight for the first time under Coach Capel.

If Griffin gets himself into foul trouble and Oklahoma's other weapons don't perform, then it could be a long night for the Sooners, who were also defeated by Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament back in 2003, when the Orange advanced the Final Four and won the title, led by Carmelo Anthony, Gerry McNamara, and Hakeem Warrick.

Curtis Granderson—A Humanitarian, Philanthropist, and Educator

Andrew Bailer — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:07:13 -0500

Curtis Granderson, 27-year old outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, represents Major League Baseball as an ambassador for MLB International. He has travelled to places like China, Italy, and South Africa, representing the face of America's pastime.

Commissioner Bud Selig wrote a letter to Granderson, thanking him for his personal convictions in his own life, and for what he has done for the sport.

"There are so many fine young men playing Major League baseball today, but I can think of no one who is better suited to represent our national pastime than you," Selig told Granderson in his letter.

The Chicago-area native is a great leader for the Tigers' organization on and off the field.

In addition to a .310 batting average, leading the league in triples (23), and finishing 10th in AL MVP voting in 2007, Granderson recently started his own foundation, which focuses on education.

The Grand Kids Foundation, which was established in 2008, holds a variety of events, sponsorships, and donations each year. Curtis' mission is to enforce educational initiatives to youth, and to help bring the sport of baseball back to the nation's inner cities.

Granderson, who also served as a studio analyst for TBS when the Tigers missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, focused his foundation initially on the urban areas of Detroit and Flint, Michigan. These are inner-city districts that have been troublesome for youth and education for quite some time.

If anything, the American League All-Star does too much outside of the baseball diamond. However, his active involvement in the community doesn't seem to have slowed his play, as he is scheduled to represent Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in March.

In actuality—Sam Abrams, the team's manager of player relations, once said, "The more Curtis does in the community, the better he plays."

Is Alex Rodriguez reading this article? I sure hope so.

The Humility of a Champion: Ben Roethlisberger

Andrew Bailer — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 15:10:32 -0500

Ben Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the franchise with the most Super Bowls of any team in the National Football League.

Since being drafted in 2004 by the Steelers, he has achieved a level of success that no other quarterback in his draft class has attained. Of the 10 players chosen in front of him in the draft, only Eli Manning has a Super Bowl ring to his credit. Roethlisberger, whom Pittsburgh presented an opportunity to play immediately, went 13-0 as a starter in his rookie season, guiding the Steelers to the playoffs; an amazing feat that won him the NFL AP Rookie of the Year Award.

While Manning struggled to gain respect playing for the New York Giants his rookie season, Roethlisberger had already earned the “franchise quarterback” tag as captain of the Steeler offense. The very next season, “Big Ben” guided his team to a Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the youngest quarterback in history to win the big game.

However, the humble Roethlisberger recently admitted to the media that “He was so nervous before that his legs were like jelly.” Ben’s passer rating was the lowest in Super Bowl History at 22.6, yet his team still won the game, thanks to a 75-yard touchdown run by Willie Parker and a flea-flicker touchdown pass from Antwan Randle-El to Hines Ward.

Like all great athletes, Ben was determined to redeem himself for his two interception performance in Super Bowl XL. The Findlay, Ohio native, whose “Pittsburgh-like toughness” helped him overcome a severe motor cycle accident in 2006 and several additional injuries, led his team back to the Super Bowl, this time in a more relaxed frame of mind.

If his rookie season was Roethlisberger’s “recognition season,” then the 2008 season was his “respect season.” All the critics and doubters who thought that Ben was just riding on the Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker train back in 2005 were silenced when he led the Steelers to a 12-4 record, another AFC championship, and just over one week ago, his second Super Bowl title.

In Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals, Roethlisberger’s passer rating was much improved, as he completed 21 of 30 passes for 256 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.

Not only were Big Ben’s numbers better than his previous Super Bowl, but he also scripted a story-book ending, leading his team to victory in the last 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the game. It was Ben’s 19th such victory in which he had rallied his team from a fourth quarter deficit or tie.

Perhaps somewhere, Ben’s childhood idol and Hall of Fame Quarterback John Elway is watching and admiring. Elway, who is the winningest quarterback in NFL history, is also famous for his last minute drives, all 47 of them, including “The Drive” against the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship game.

Although it is yet to be determined whether or not Roethlisberger will last as long as the 16 seasons that Elway did, Ben’s ultimate legacy may have just been determined by his ability to pull off one of the greatest come-from-behind drives in Super Bowl history.

Even if Ben never makes an appearance in another Super Bowl, the 26-year old quarterback has shown the determination, toughness, and proven ability to win that Montana, Elway, Brady, Favre, Unitas, Bradshaw, and all the great quarterbacks in NFL history have demonstrated.

The humble Roethlisberger may just surpass them all in total victories in the regular season and in the playoffs, where Ben somehow finds a way to win in the most gutsy and dramatic of ways.

The New York Mets: Top Five Questions for 2009

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:06:33 -0500

The New York Mets have been referred to as "choke artists" by players on their division rival, the Philadelphia Phillies. The team that was one win away from the World Series in 2006, sustained two years of back-to-back September collapses. Will 2009 be a year in which the Mets are finally able to put the late season demons behind them?

A new beginning in brand new Citi Field is something the organization and its fans have looked forward to for several years. However, new facilities do not guarantee success, even if the backdrop is no longer Shea Stadium.

With pitchers and catchers scheduled to report for spring training in just over nine days, there are many important questions that the Mets need to address if this team is going to finish the season at the top of their division.

Let's examine the strengths and weaknesses of this year's Mets team compared with its division rivals, most notably the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves.

1. Will the new Mets' bullpen acquisitions of J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) help to solidify the lackluster relief pitching that has occurred for the past few years?

Answer: Now that former Mets reliever Aaron Heilman is a member of the Chicago Cubs and J.J. Putz is the new set-up man, the Mets should have a much easier time getting opposing batters out in late innings. The Mets are also excited about giving the ball to K-Rod (62 saves last year) in save situations. Thanks to Omar Minaya, there will be no more blown saves by Billy Wagner.

2. What will be the projected rotation of starting pitchers for the Mets come April?

Answer: No one will deny that Johan Santana will be the Mets' number one starter, but the question is whether or not Santana will get back to being a 20-game winner. With the newly acquired relief pitching, I predict Santana will achieve that mark. As far as the other starting pitchers go, the recently signed Oliver Perez should move up to the two spot, with John Maine or Mike Pelfrey in the three spot. To round out the rotation, New York will look to one of the recently acquired pitchers—Tim Redding or Freddy Garcia.

3. What place in the NL East will the Mets finish the season?

Answer: Second place. With Philadelphia returning virtually all of its roster from last year's World Series team, the Mets are going to have to play consistent baseball not just through the All-Star Break in July, but all the way to October. I predict the Mets will finish the season with 90 wins and a second place finish in the NL East and a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

4. Which Mets player will have a "break out" year offensively?

Answer: Jose Reyes, who batted .297 last year with 204 hits and 68 RBI will turn things around and have even better numbers. I predict he finishes the season with a .310 average, 220 hits, and 90 RBI, while stealing a club record 80 bases.

5. Will Citi Field play out to be a "Pitcher's Ballpark" like everyone predicts?

Answer: Unlike Yankee Stadium, in which left-handed hitters love the short right field porch, Citi Field has a considerably larger outfield (408 ft. to dead center field, 335 ft. to left field and 330 ft. to right field). I actually predict that Citi Field will not be as "pitcher-friendly" as everyone thinks. Of course, it's not going to be a "hitting frenzy" like Minute Maid Park in Houston, but when the weather starts to warm up in New York in May and June, look for baseballs to be clearing the fences of the outfield and the "Home run Apple" to be bobbing up and down.

When Are The New York Mets Finally Going To Make a Move On Oliver Perez?

Andrew Bailer — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:43:40 -0500

There was an article in the Tuesday (1/27) edition of Newsday saying that the Mets "are a little bit closer to re-signing left-hander Oliver Perez, but are also continuing talks with three other remaining free agent pitchers."

This is getting ridiculous.

Perez already turned down the initial three-year, $30 million offer that the Mets made, most likely because his agent, Scott Boras, told Ollie that he was worth more than that.

Both sides are at fault in this case, but perhaps the Mets are more to blame.

Mets General Manager Omar Minaya, who was so keen on signing another one of Boras' clients, Derek Lowe, is now in denial over the fact that Lowe ended up getting the deal that he wanted from the Atlanta Braves.

Minaya, can you please put your ego aside for one second and offer the left-hander who started Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS the contract that he wants?

I know that Perez has been inconsistent in the past, but when given the ball in a key situation like the win-or-go-home game against the Cardinals in 2006, he exceeded expectations.

Also, newsflash to Minaya: Your best pitcher, Johan Santana, wants Perez back with the ballclub this upcoming season.

I agree with Santana, and I don't want to see Pedro Martinez or Jon Niese having to pitch in Ollie's absence.

A Weird Silence: Where Is The Hype for Super Bowl XLIII?

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:40:51 -0500

Usually, in the week leading up to the NFL's championship game, there is media buzzing over several issues related to the Super Bowl, in an effort to fill up space until the game is played.

But it appears as though there is nothing remotely buzzworthy about this year's game. No headlines involving players getting arrested before the big game or a star quarterback like Brett Favre finally getting his shot at a Super Bowl title after being in the league for several years.

This year has no such story, especially when the quarterbacks of both the Steelers and the Cardinals have already won Super Bowl rings. The latter quarterback, Kurt Warner, has an amazing saga of rising to NFL stardom after coming out of the small Division 1-A school of Northern Iowa, where he once worked as a stockboy at the local grocery store for extra money.

However, that story has already been told many times.

The quarterback representing the Pittsburgh Steelers has a unusual track record of postseason success for only being in the league for five seasons. Ben Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl in only his second year at the helm of the Steelers offense, becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to win the big game.

Roethlisberger also had an unconventional rise to stardom, playing wide receiver until his senior year of high school, when he finally got a chance at playing the quarterback position.

However, this story has been told before as well.

Will there be anything to report this week? Will a player become incarcerated? Maybe Larry Fitzgerald will proclaim a certain number of touchdown catches that he will make during the game.

About the only story is how the Cardinals went from years of futility to finally getting a chance, but that's already been done to death. What else is there?

I just hope there is something this week that is newsworthy enough to get us excited for the "Recession Bowl," or else we'll have to look forward to the commercials.

What Has Gotten Into The New York Knickerbockers?

Andrew Bailer — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 13:22:54 -0500

Jan. 27, 2009

New York, NY

The New York Knicks have only lost one game in their last fives match-ups! This is great news considering the Knicks lost a franchise record 59 games last season. For the Knicks to have a record of 20-25 this season is definitely a testament to new head coach, Mike D'Antoni, whose guidance seems to have transpired into winning at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks have gone 7-1 in the month of January.

After being acquired in a trade from Golden State, Al Harrington has led the team in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game, while David Lee and Nate Robinson are both averaging over 15 points per game for New York. Chris Duhon leads the team in assists, with 8 per game and David Lee is the Knicks' rebounds leader with over 11 boards per game.

Perhaps the missing ingredients that the Knicks needed this season are the quick guard play of Nate Robinson, whom the Knicks drafted back in 2005, and the three-point shooting ability of Harrington to spark them on. However, nobody in New York thought it was a good idea at the time to trade away Randolph as well as Jamal Crawford, who were the two leading scorers on the Knicks at the time.

There definitely needs to be credit given to the general manager of the Knicks, Donnie Walsh, for having the fortitude to make that trade, as well as D'Antoni for being able to coach Robinson and Harrington into his system of basketball.