Bleacher Report - Articles by Jake Livinston

Where Did All Of the Marlins Fans Go?

Jake Livinston — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:16:39 -0400

Let's keep this this short and sweet. Where did the Marlins Fans Go?

While watching the game between the hometown Brewers and the Florida Marlins on my raggedy blue couch, a thought swirled around in my mind.

Wasn't it just six years ago that the Fish were in the World Series, and their makeshift baseball field was filled with a capacity crowd, each of the members of the turquoise-clad group on their feet, rooting on their Marlins.

Yes, the stadium they play in is still the same dump as in that glorious title year of 2003, but the fans have not shown up.

Watching the camera's bird's eye view of the entire stadium, which held no more than 6,000 people, it appeared as if I was watching a Minor League game. Maybe I wouldn't have realized that it was a Big League game if Ryan Braun hadn't stepped up to hit.

Earlier this season, when the Brewers were in Houston, Miller Park held a "Border Battle," a show down between the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Milwaukee's Class-A affiliate, and the Peoria Chiefs, the Cubs counterpart Farm Team. The game was said to have hosted around 17,000 fans.

How can two Class-A teams draw 10,000 more fans than two Major League teams, one of them in first place?

Miami is a much bigger city than Milwaukee, yet the Brewers draw many more people than the Fish, with over three million people entering the Miller Park gates in 2008.

The Marlins have won two World Series titles compared to the Brewers' none. The Marlins need fans to come to the games in order to rise to their previous form.

It is sad for Major League Baseball to see that few amount of people at a game.

Marlins fans: Start going to games and supporting your team.

The Presidential Cabinet of Major League Baseball Players and Coaches

Jake Livinston — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:20:31 -0400

President Barack Obama can't do it all by himself, nor could any other leader of any organization or country.

That is why there is a Presidential Cabinet to assist the Commander-in-Chief. The Cabinet carries out particular functions to allow the government to run smoother.

I decided to have a little fun and come up with the Presidential Cabinet of the MLB.

Who said Bleacher Report was just about sports? Now B/R members can learn about the United States government while reading about sports.

President

The President of the United States of America duties are: executing federal law, acting as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, nominating executive and judicial officers, and granting pardons and reprieves.

My selection: Bud Selig

This was not a tough decision and didn't require much thinking. Alan "Bud" Selig is the current commissioner of Major League Baseball and runs the show. He sets forth the law and enforces it.

Vice President

The Vice President of the United States is also the President of the Senate and assists the President perform duties he or she assigns them to.

My selection: Tony La Russa

La Russa has led two teams to World Series titles, the Athletics and Cardinals, and is truly one of the greatest minds in baseball. La Russa would be a great assistant to any leader if not the leader himself. LaRussa seemingly pulls the right strings at the right times nearly all of the time.

Secretary of State

The United States' Secretary of State deals with foreign affairs and policies.

My selections: Ichiro Suzuki and Albert Pujols

To simply choose one foreign player as the Secretary of State was too hard, so I chose one Hispanic and one Asian player.

Pujols is one of the most feared and dominant hitters in the game. The two-time MVP has been bashing the National League, hitting .335 with 325 dingers in only nine seasons. The Cardinals slugger doesn't seem to be slowing down and looks like he could continue his torrid hitting for years to come.

Ichiro has brought Japanese players on to the scene in America ever since his MVP and ROY season in 2001. A singles hitter, Ichiro has showed flashes of power in games and good power in batting practice. He has hit .330 over eight times, all with the Mariners. Suzuki has been the consistant bat in their lineup and the most prolific player from Asia.

Secretary of Treasury

The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States deals with money and financial matters. He or she maintains economic and financial balance in America.

My selection: Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez

In baseball, wins are like money. Someone must maintain the money, and that someone is the closer.

A main key to a team's postseason success is their closer.

Francisco Rodriguez, the current Mets closer, broke the record for most saves in a season in 2008, 62. K-Rod has led the league in saves three times and averaged 11.7 K/9 innings over his career. Rodriguez's windup and violent delivery can throw any batter off. He has been a shut-down closer over his entire career.

Secretary of Defense

The Secretary of Defense of the United States deals with armed forces and military matters.

My selections: Yadier Molina, Jimmy Rollins, Andruw Jones

Due to the fact that each position has a different difficulty level and separate tasks to complete at their position, I chose three; one catcher, one infielder, and one outfielder.

Yadier Molina is one of the toughest, if not the toughest, catchers to run on in the game. He also has a wicked pick off move, throwing behind runners. Over his career, he has thrown out 48 percent of would-be base stealers.

Jimmy Rollins has won back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2007 and 2008. He frequently makes astonishing plays. His range and arm are both one-of-a-kind.

Andruw Jones may not be the greatest outfielder nowadays, but he has compiled ten Gold Glove awards. That number is the second most by outfielder. He could run down balls that were hit to nearly anywhere and make great catches. His arm wasn't one to be messed with, either.

Secretary of Labor

The Secretary of Labor heads the Department of Labor. The SoL mainly enforces and suggests laws involving business-related topics.

My selection: Livan Hernandez

Hernandez may not be the obvious pick for this position, but he is a workhorse on the hill. He isn't one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, either. Livan has led the National League in innings pitched three times and thrown more than 200 innings nine times in his career and eight of the last nine seasons. Livan may need someone else assisting him at this position, such as Randy Johnson. The Big Unit has done so 14 times.

Secretary of Transportation

The Secretary of Transportation is in charge of what it sounds like, matters of transportation.

My selection: Jose Reyes

Reyes is arguably the best base-stealer in the Bigs today. He has led the NL in thefts three times in only four full seasons in the Majors. His career-high total is 78 swipes, set in 2007.

Secretary of Energy

The Secretary of Energy was originally to focus on energy production and regulation. The job then shifted to finding more efficient energy sources and energy education.

My selection: David Eckstein

Eckstein has been a model of consistency throughout his Major League career. He has hit .285 over his entire career but provides much more to the team. To go along with his solid hitting, Eckstein is one of the most energized players in the game. He sparks a lineup, even with his 5' 6'', 170 frame. This has been clear, winning the World Series MVP in 2006 with the Cardinals and helping Anaheim to a Championship in 2002.

Secretary of Commerce

The United States Secretary of Commerce deals with business and industry. The Department of Commerce, headed by the SoC, is supposed to develop foreign and domestic commerce.

My selection: Matt Stairs

Just as the US exchanges goods, Matt Stairs exchanges teams. Stairs, currently with the Philadelphia Phillies, is with his eleventh team in the MLB. He has short stints with numerous teams and has had success with all of them. Matt has hit 256 home runs over his career.

Which team will he be with next?

An Open Request for Major League Baseball To End the Steroid Era

Jake Livinston — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:49:04 -0400

On December 17, 2007, Senator George Mitchell published his 20-month study on Major League Baseball players that used anabolic steroids and human growth hormone (HGH).

Eighty-nine current and former players were named in the Mitchell Report, but there were many unmentioned players that have used performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).

The report signaled that the MLB was not yet making an attempt to get over the steroid era.

Thanks to the steroid era, numerous records and achievements have an asterisk placed next to them. Whether or not a player deserves a milestone and a place near the top of the record books is constantly debated, all courtesy of PEDs.

Steroids and HGH have caused doubt in the fans' and media's mind that a particular player is clean. If a player's power numbers jump from year to year, automatic doubt spreads across baseball nation as to whether or not a player has been using illegal drugs.

This is getting really old and has been for four or five years.

It is nearly impossible to calculate the number of current and former players that used PEDs. The MLB will never catch every single player, and even if they get a good number, not everyone can be punished.

The legacies of great players such as Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Barry Bonds, and Miguel Tejada have been tarnished forever and, in some cases, may keep them out of the Hall of Fame.

Baseball needs to put an end to this era soon and forget about any player's use. If they don't end it, numerous players' records and accomplishments will be debated and, in some sense, a new record book will have been formed.

Seemingly everybody is tired of player after player being accused of steroid use. The MLB will never catch every PED-using player, so why even try?

PEDs have tarnished the game and put every player under a microscope.

We have all heard of and seen for ourselves the dramatic incline of home runs and other offensive statistics. It is clear that steroid use is still common throughout the Big Leagues and doesn't seem to have an end any time in the near future.

But with the amount of players that have used and are using PEDs, how can Major League Baseball put an end to the steroid era? There are a few possible solutions:

They could put a lifetime ban on any player caught, but that seems pretty harsh. Another solution is to keep any player caught using out of the Hall of Fame starting in a few years. Or they could simply allow the use and every player could be free to use PEDs if they wanted even though the game would change dramatically.

Nonetheless, the steroid era has to come to an end quickly. Just the wondering and doubt that if any particular player is clean has driven baseball fans up the wall.

PEDs are terrible to a person's body and also terrible to sports. Professional athletes who use them are a bad influence on young and aspiring athletes.

The players that have used PEDs, caught or not, need to come forward, admit, and apologize for their use. It would take away a lot of distrust in the game and keep some respect for the players.

Take a look at the A-Rod fiasco; reports found that he had used steroids while with the Texas Rangers and an entire ruckus broke out. Press conferences were held and the news was all over USA Today, ESPN, news stations, and many other large news companies.

If this were to happen for each of the star players that were caught, imagine what would become of Major League Baseball. The League would be disgraced and a large amount of the fan base would be lost.

This is a plea to the MLB to put an end to the steroid era. They will never catch everyone and that seems unfair. Not all players can be punished and PEDs ruin the game. Fans are sick and tired of the constant debate over a player's career numbers.

So, Major League Baseball, put an end to the steroid era. I, as a fan, speak not only for myself, but for the rest of my baseball fanatic colleagues.

Now That I Think About It, I Already Miss The NCAA Tournament

Jake Livinston — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:35:52 -0400

It began with 65, then 64, to 32, down to 16, then to eight, and then there were four, the two best, and finished with one.

The NCAA tournament is over, and has been for about two weeks now, but the aftershock still remains.

The buzzer beaters, the story lines, the intense match ups, the coaching clashes, and even the CBS theme music thrills me to no end. But now college basketball season has entered its dormant stage and we will have to wait until November for these aspects of the season to be renewed and given new life.

College basketball is a game like none other; nobody really knows who will end up as the National Champion until someone is cutting down the nets at the Final Four. Anything can happen in March, and I mean anything. Upsets are a common theme in the month that comes in like a lion and out like a lamb.

No other sport or league can boast as many shocking twists and turns in its regular season and postseason. College basketball is made up of upsets and they lurk at any and every corner of the season.

There is just something about college hoops, besides the aforementioned aspects, that makes it unique, but I can't seem to put a finger on it. There's something special that draws millions of people to watch the games and gets people everywhere talking about it.

And now I miss every part of the season. While it's a smooth transition into baseball season, the Masters, and the NBA and NHL Playoffs, none of those match March Madness, though the Masters sure was entertaining.

The MLB season is just starting and enjoyable, and the NBA and NHL Playoffs take too long. The NCAA Tourney defeats all of those sporting events.

I, even on this very day, am attempting to recover from the end of the NCAA tournament by taking in a heavy dose of baseball and basketball. The only problem is that it doesn't always work and I am stuck thinking about the 2009-'10 season.

It was only two weeks ago that the season came to a close, but I can't help but wait for the next season.

But don't worry about me. No need to, I'll be fine with watching plenty of baseball, the NBA and NHL Playoffs, the NFL Draft, even the World Series in October.

There's nothing quite like seeing a buzzer-beater in the NCAA tournament, much less five or six of them. There's nothing quite like filling out a bracket and slowly watching it get demolished and busted. There's nothing quite like watching 10 hours a day of college hoops. There's nothing quite like the NCAA tournament.

But don't worry about me. No need to, I'll be fine with watching plenty of baseball, the NBA and NHL Playoffs, the NFL Draft, even the World Series in October.

I'm sure that I am not alone, but I still miss college basketball. But now, on second thought, there's no need to miss college basketball too much. There's plenty of sports to fill up my summer schedule.

But that CBS theme music will be what kills me the most. Heck, I have to wait all year to hear it played over and over again.

Do they have that on iTunes?

The Disaperance of the 300-Game Winner in Major League Baseball.

Jake Livinston — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:30:38 -0400

There's just something special about career milestones in professional sports; 10,000 rushing yards in football, 300 career touchdown passes, 25,000 points in basketball, and so on.

But the most prolific and famous milestone may belong to the sport of baseball, and more specifically pitching. It is the 300 game winner.

Only 23 pitchers have ever accomplished the feat in the 120 year history of the league. The list may be filled with the biggest names of any milestone list; Cy Young, Christy Mathewson, Walter Johnson, Warren Spahn, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, and many more.

As if the sight of a 300 game winner isn't rare enough, it seems to be disappearing in today's game.

Critiques may argue 300 game winners are not that rare, due to the fact three have done it in the last ten years. Soon there will be four with Randy Johnson joining the esteemed group of hurlers to accomplish the task.

Their argument is strong, but has a weak spot; the late 80's and early 90's produced some incredible pitchers and the hitting, though solid, wasn't as strong as it is now. The hitting nowadays is phenomenal and better than ever.

300 game winners seem to be disappearing from the game. Not only are pitchers being watched more cautiously by managers, but by the hitters are too.

Hitters watch film after film trying to find a weak spot in the pitcher's delivery. Technology is becoming more advanced and it will affect sports in more ways than ever before.

Want an example of the disappearing 300 game winner?

Johan Santana, arguably the most dominant pitcher in the game today, is age 30. He has 110 wins, meaning he would have to average 16 wins per season over the next 12 years. Not impossible, but highly unlikely.

Injuries are popping up on the scene quite frequently. Just this week, Chris Carpenter and Daisuke Matsuzaka have been shelved with injuries. Injuries tend to hang around pitchers and nag them for years, wrecking havoc on their games pitched and win totals.

Pedro Martinez, another dominant pitcher for his career, could probably win 12 games at the most for the rest of his career. He would have to play six and a half more seasons in order to accomplish the feat. Martinez has become a common DL visitor, making his attempt to win 300 hard.

Take a peek at the active wins leaders and you will see the leader's numbers aren't extremely high. That's why Randy Johnson's, soon to be, accomplishment may be one to remember. All 300 game winner's feats are to be remembered, but this one may stand out for a while to come.

Though the chances are that someone will win 300 games again, it may not happen for a while. Take a look at Randy Johnson who has been dominant throughout his entire career, but is only now reaching 300 victories.

Reaching 300 wins is one of the most difficult tasks to accomplish in all of sports, but Randy Johnson will do it, barring injury. Enjoy his accomplishment of reaching the milestone and make sure it earns a spot in your memory.

300 game winners seem to be fading from the game. As we hope Johnson won't be the last to do it, the idea may be a reality.

That reality is the vanishing art of the 300 game winner.

Looking into the Art of the Obnoxious Fan

Jake Livinston — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:06:56 -0400

We all know the feeling. You take your seat at the game, set down your scorecard, and are about to take a sip of your extra large soda when you hear, "Naw, man, I don't see you."

The man in front of you stands up, "Where are you? I'm in," he turns around to check your section number and you smell his terrible body odor, "215. Where are you? Yeah, I'm looking. I don't see you. Look, I'll wave my hand. See if you can find me. 215."

This continues for about five minutes as the obnoxious fan in front of you (let's call him "Stan") tries to find his buddy on the other end of the ballpark.

This scenario may occur at any venue at any sporting event. Obnoxious fans are everywhere, like it or not. One cannot do much to stop their actions except talk to an usher and ask him to remove the fan. But in order for this to happen, the fan must have done something really dumb.

Because these fans are everywhere, why not talk about them? Let's take a look into the intriguing world of the obnoxious fan.

The typical appearance of one of these fans consists of a t-shirt, jeans or shorts, a cell phone being visible, and some type of fan accessory, such as a foam finger or baseball cap.

The foam finger is the ideal product for an obnoxious fan. Foam fingers have no practical use except to obstruct the view of the person sitting behind the person waving it, exclaiming, "We're No. 1!", even if their team is in the divisional cellar.

Some fans frequently stand up, usually at different times than the rest of the crowd. They tell the players that they suck and boo every call that goes against them. The facts that the players and referees cannot hear them nor do they rattle them does not get to the fan's mind.

Meanwhile, the fans behind this behemoth of a fellow squirm around in their seats in attempt to see a clear view of the action occuring on the playing surface. Stan (remember him?) usually doesn't notice and continues to yell at the players and referees.

Stan finally sits down and remains quiet for a couple of minutes before deciding that he needs a beer and a jumbo hot dog. He stands up and, without excusing himself, slowly works his way down the row of occupied seats, spilling a child's soda and stepping on feet. As Stan reaches the end, all of the spectators sitting a row behind Stan and those in his row peer at the scoreboard and see that they missed a big play.

Not much can go worse than this, but the one thing that always does is the obnoxious fan's arrival back at his or her section.

Stan once again slowly works his way back to his seat and steps on feet, but this time he spills his cup of beer all over. The smart fans in his row got out of their seats before Stan came back with his beer.

He then chugs down his beer and loudly chews on his jumbo hot dog, much to the annoyance of those surrounding him. Stan continues to yell, but this time food flies out of his mouth. Everybody in his section is ready to kick him out of the stadium.

When his team scores, he turns around and gives everyone a high five and cheers extremely loudly. If Stan happens to be a fan of the visiting team, he stands up and claps, and tries to bring attention to himself by cheering for the visitors.

His cell phone is put to good use in calling his buddy across the stadium numerous times.

"Hey, man, where are we going to eat after the game?"

"Did you see the price on the beer? Insane, dude?"

"My seat sucks! Any open seats near you?"

"I just saw this hot chick in my row. I bet she's into me. You should come check her out."

Most of the calls aren't of much importance and are heard throughout the section.

The obnoxious fan goes down the row to get another beer a few more times throughout the course of the game and goes to talk to his buddies a few times as well.

By the end of the game, everybody is annoyed. But in some way, they are intrigued by the obnoxious fan.

Sports are unique and have many interesting aspects to them. The obnoxious fan is just one of them. After all, deep down, we love the crazy fans that dress crazily, spill their beers, talk loudly on their cell phones, and yell with great frequency.

So, if you excuse me, I'm going to go paint all of my body, grab my foam finger and my megaphone, and head to the game.

The 25 Funniest and Dumbest Nicknames in All of Sports

Jake Livinston — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:48:11 -0400

Sports teams are associated with their respective nicknames. Some teams have common nicknames such as the Tigers, Bears, Pirates, or Eagles. But some teams have to seperate themselves from the rest of the sports world with strange nicknames. I have compiled a list of the 25 funniest and dumbest nicknames in the world of sports. Enjoy!

Begin Slideshow

Spartans Prove That Sweltering Defense and a Sound Offense are Unbeatable

Jake Livinston — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:51:09 -0400

Defense wins championships...and a good offense sure can help.

The Michigan State Spartans' dancing shoes haven't worn off, and neither have the soles of their sneakers.

Sparty granted itself a National Championship berth with a victory over Connecticut on Saturday night in Detroit. They won by doing what they had been doing all tournament, playing defense.

Sweltering defense, that is.

Michigan State danced their way into the Final Four by not allowing 70 points in a game.

They held Louisville, run and gun Louisville, to 52 points in the Midwest regional final, as well as Kansas to 62 points.

When seeing the daunting task in front of them in Jim Calhoun's Connecticut Huskies, they didn't shy away from the task.

7' 3" Hasheem Thabeet didn't scare them; just ask the players involved in a skirmish with the Huskies' big man.

The Spartans stole the ball 11 times; the highlight steal coming with 3:18 left in the game.

UConn forward Stanley Robinson took the ball into the lane, and was stripped by Travis Walton of MSU. Kalin Lucas then launched a full-court pass to a wide open Raymar Morgan, who dunked it with a scream that was heard 92 miles away on the Michigan State campus in East Lansing.

Robinson was stripped on the next possession, and that turnover resulted in a Kalin Lucas three-pointer for the Spartans.

Lucas led the Spartans in scoring with 21 points, and Thabeet led Connecticut with 17. Raymar Morgan had a game-high five steals, and UConn committed 16 turnovers.

Michigan State's offense looked very impresive after being simply solid throughout the tournament.

Lucas hit three of the team's six triples, and they shot 70 percent from the charity stripe.

State was able to run all over the Huskies, mainly due to their scrappy defense causing turnovers and forced shots. Numerous times the Spartans had numbers, and cashed in for an easy bucket.

The Spartans' were able to put an exclamation mark on one of their fast breaks, with Durell Summers dunking over Stanley Robinson, and the "home crowd" in Detroit going crazy.

Every time that the Huskies would drive, the Spartans would surround the ball handler. The three-point attempts weren't there, with Connecticut only attempting six and making two.

They got their paws on the bal,l and then a swarm of green chased after it...and usually came up with it.

This would lead to a fast break and, in Morgan's case, a throw down on the other end.

With Michigan State locking up their opponent on one end, and either running or setting up their half-court offense (which is one of the best in the nation), Sparty has a great chance at cutting down the nets in Detroit, and taking the championship 92 miles to East Lansing, home of the Izzone.

To the Memphis Tigers, John Calipari Leaving Is an Unrelenting Nightmare

Jake Livinston — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:47:42 -0400

Over the course of the world, humankind has seen the rise and the fall of many great empires: the Romans, Greeks, Maya, Inca, Aztec, British, French, and more. On Wednesday, we witnessed the fall of another great empire: that of the Memphis Tigers.

Memphis head basketball coach John Calipari signed a contract to become the head coach at Kentucky. This signing ended a very successful run at Memphis that resulted in 11 NCAA tournament appearances, two Final Fours, and a second-place finish. He brought two mid-major programs out of the dust in Massachusetts and Memphis.

Calipari was the most successful mid-major coach when it came to recruiting. He was able to lure in players such as Dajuan Wagner, Shawne Williams, Derrick Rose, Joey Dorsey, Chris Douglas-Roberts, and Tyreke Evans. No other mid-major coach brought in as many great collegiate players.

Before he arrived at Memphis, the Tigers didn't receive national attention, finishing under .500 in the Conference USA. In his first two seasons, he brought home a third place finish championship in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). He then boosted the Tigers into the NCAA tournament, a complete turnaround for the program.

He reached consecutive Elite Eights before he led the Tigers to their best season in ages. The National Championship was theirs for the taking, but his players' inability to hit crucial late-game free throws allowed the Kansas Jayhawks to take the game from out of the Tiger's paw.

With the appearance in the National Championship, Memphis had established themselves as a perennial power in college hoops. Calipari would be able to continue to get great recruiting classes and continuously be a Final Four threat.

With all of their success, could the Memphis Tigers' empire collapse with a changing of the coach?

Yes.

In college, the head coach plays such an important role. He or she recruits and teaches the kids how to play the game and improve fundamentals.

One of the reasons high school players sign with a certain team is because of the coach; he or she is the face of the program, and if he or she leaves, then the recruit won't be going to that school for the reason he wanted.

With John Calipari gone, it will be much more difficult for Memphis to compete on a national stage. They may be able to have success in the Conference USA, but reaching a Sweet Sixteen will be a difficult task.

Star freshman guard Tyreke Evans, the national Freshman of the Year, has declared for the NBA Draft. Evans said that Calipari's departure for Kentucky played a big role in his leaving.

Many other high school recruits will drop Memphis down on their list of schools. The new coach will have to work wonders to get the same class that Calipari would be receiving this upcoming season.

Memphis will no longer be one of the top teams every year. The Tigers will have to, basically, start all over. Not only will they lose their seniors, but the recruits that John Calipari would have easily snatched.

Meanwhile, the Kentucky Wildcats have a new coach and are looking at a bright future. All they have to do is look at what Calipari has done in his first few seasons at each school that he has coached at. Now he is coaching a team that already has great potential. The Cats bring back Jodie Meeks and Patrick Patterson for 2009-10.

But in Memphis, the search for a coach continues. Whoever receives the job will have huge shoes to fill.

John Calipari is one of the greatest coaches in the game, and his departure would be an unrelenting nightmare for any program.

Non-April Fools' Predictions: Orlando to Be NBA Champs, Plus More

Jake Livinston — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:41:10 -0400

I bet that we have all been surfing the web, looking for great April Fools' jokes to play on our siblings, co-workers, girlfriends, spouses, etc. I willingly admit that I have.

But you'd know for sure it was a joke right off the bat if I told you that the Phoenix Suns were going to win the NBA Finals or that the Cincinnati Reds were going to win the World Series.

Heck, I'd almost have to say "April Fools'" in order to keep my sports sanity in those cases.

But all that being said, allow me to present you with some dead-serious predictions.

Lots of people will disagree with me, but I expect that to happen. Keep in mind that I am just tossing out events that have a chance of happening but have been largely crossed out in most peoples' minds.

Enough talking, let's get to the list:

NCAA Basketball Predictions

First, North Carolina will win the NCAA tournament without scoring 75 points in regulation. Looking ahead at the teams that they will play, Villanova and (most likely) UConn, they will struggle to score 100 points against either.

Though 75 is a very low number for the Tar Heels, Villanova can hold them to this by employing intense defense and using Scottie Reynolds to lock down Ty Lawson. UConn can do the same with Price and, of course, Thabeet.

But UNC will be able to adapt to these good defenses and still will force the opponent to run and take bad shots. Their speed cannot be beaten, and they showed they can win without huge numbers when they put up just 72 against Oklahoma.

Hasheem Thabeet will not be very effective against Michigan State.

The All-American will be matched up against Spartan center Goran Suton, who has showed his range against Louisville, and Thabeet will be forced to play on the perimeter. This will decrease his block totals and allow MSU to drive.

Suton is the best rebounder Hasheem has faced yet, so Thabeet's offensive board totals will suffer. I expect a 10-point, eight-rebound, and one-block game from the gigantic Husky.

Seth Curry will become a better player than his brother.

With news of his transfer to Duke, we know he will become better coached, and that his skills will therefore improve.

Seth's point totals may go down due to tough ACC comp, but he won't be putting up as many shots as Stephen must. Coach K will get him to become a better passer and shooter.

NBA Predictions

The Orlando Magic will win the NBA Finals. They have the best center in the NBA, and he can win the battle down low over any other big man in the league.

To boot, Orlando is a good road team, shown with a win in Boston. Their guards and Rashard Lewis can light it up from triple land on any given night, and Hedo Turkoglu can get to the hole and draw fouls.

Boston won't advance past the first roundof the Playoffs. They are not a good road team and have problems winning when two of their "Big Four" (the trio now expands to include Rondo) aren't on. They lost in Milwaukee, for Pete's sake!

They struggled away from Beantown in the postseason last year and will have trouble against a team like Chicago, Detroit, Miami, or Philadelphia in the first round.

NFL Predictions

The Jets won't have a quarterback come September.

They may be stuck with Kellen Clemens or Eric Ainge. They've got to feel pretty stupid for getting rid of Pennington.

Devin Hester will be the Bears' leading receiver.

He showed his skill at the position over the seven or eight games and will continue to improve. He is elusive and can rack up tons of yards after catch.

MLB Predictions

The Yankees won't make the Playoffs. Just look at their stacked AL East division.

Only two teams at the most can make the postseason out of that group of five, and the Yankees are too star-studded. Teams need the role players to be successful, and the Bronx Bombers don't have enough guys willing to swallow their pride.

The Cubs will win the World Series.

This year may be their best shot in ages; they're loaded with more talent and a phenomenal pitching staff. I'm firmly of the belief that the Cubbies can rock their way to the Fall Classic, where Sweet Lou will work his magic and bring joy to the Windy City.

Or at least its North Side.

Other Predictions

A surprising 20 percent of Americans that claim to be "sports fans" will know who won the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship.

Apparently, lacrosse is growing in popularity across the nation. The men's final is, believe it or not, the most-attended NCAA Championship.

By the way, Syracuse won last season.

Dale Earnhardt, Jr. will make a summer run and win the NSCS Cup. He's due for a championship.

Only Jimmie Johnson has a shot at taking it from him.

If you have any other predictions that aren't April Fools' Day jokes, feel free to tell me about them.

A Little Dose Of B/R Poetry: "Casey At The Bat-Part 2" and "To The Sports Fan"

Jake Livinston — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 14:57:55 -0400

With Bleacher Report being filled with only articles, I decided to have some fun and write poetry for B/R. I'm sure you have all heard of the great poem "Casey at the Bat", and I decided to make a sequel to the original classic written by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Though mine isn't as great as his, I hope you enjoy it!

Casey at the Bat

All the patrons at the ball game

Began to curse Casey's name

For they were in shock, in awe

That Casey struck out to lose, not even to draw. (end stanza)

For there was no joy in Mudville

Oh, no joy at all.

But then there came a thrill

For, behind home plate, sat a baseball. (end stanza)

Then "Blue" realized, as the crowd began to cheer

And Casey sprinted, for first base was near

That the catcher dropped the third strike

So Casey could reach base and he dug in his spike. (end stanza)

All of the fans stood up and cheered

To the left, the catcher veered.

He looked around for the ball

But couldn't find it at all. (end stanza)

And Flynn, at third, sprinted for home

But stopped half-way and began to roam

For the catcher peered down and saw the baseball

"Run! Score!" The patrons would call. (end stanza)

So Flynn decided to try to score

But the catcher wanted the out even more.

And Flynn's eyes had a passionate gleam

That made him thrive to score for the team. (end stanza)

Now Flynn lowered his left shoulder

And the catcher grasped tight to the small white boulder

That was tightly compressed in the catcher's glove

And the catcher wouldn't drop it and gave it all of his love. (end stanza)

The crowd grew to a deathly quiet

For an out would lose it, and two runs tie it.

The two collide and a dust cloud formed

It looked as if Mudville had been "dust stormed". (end stanza)

When the dust cleared, everyone saw

The catcher on the ground, no ball in his paw,

And Flynn standing on top of home plate, a run he scored?

"Safe! Safe!" The patrons implored. (end stanza)

Good ol' blue agreed with their cries,

Four to three, now the score, gave the opponent some sighs.

With Blake at third and Casey two behind that,

Out came Thomas Baines, who was now at bat. (end stanza)

This tiny kid, about the size of my brother Curt,

Stepped into the box and rubbed his hands in the dirt.

There was fear in Baines's eyes

For if he got out, there would be no more tries. (end stanza)

He hit with no power, and whiffed many a few

And before you knew it, the umpire yelled, "Strike two!"

Thomas then stepped out and looked into the crowd

He silenced them all, for they were getting very loud. (end stanza)

He then took in a deep breath and spit out a seed,

Then dug in his cleats, for a run they would need

To tie the game and bring joy to the town;

But if he struck out, all would wear a frown. (end stanza)

The pitcher wound up an Baines squeezed the bat.

And a mist from the sky fell upon his hat.

The pitch spun down and passed below his knees-

"Ball one!" The umpire cried, granting the crowd's pleas. (end stanza)

"That's good, that great!" One man said, "One more chance!"

They all stood as Baines crouched into his stance.

The pitcher wound up and out the ball flew;

It was high and the umpire called, "Ball two!" (end stanza)

As the mist turned to rain, the pitches kept getting fouled and fouled,

And the pitcher got mad and scowled and scowled.

But Baines wouldn't give, and the pitchers kept firing away,

And the continuous battle lasted seemingly all day. (end stanza)

It kept going till the pitcher hung a curveball

That Baines swung at and drove to the wall!

Jimmy Blake scored and Casey rounded third-

"Run, Casey, run!" Could easily be heard. (end stanza)

For if Mudville won, joy would returns

And the championship trophy is what they would earn.

But Casey needed to score,

Or the game would still be tied and they'd have to play some more. (end stanza)

In sped the ball from a cannon in right,

While Casey chugged down the line with all of his might.

The ball arrived just as Casey slid,

And the catcher slapped the tag-that he did. (end stanza)

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,

And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children do the same;

That place is Mudville, for Casey, mighty Casey, has won the game! (End Poem!)

My next poem that I wrote is entitled "To the Sports Fan".

To the Sports Fan

The world has read about "once upon a midnight dreary",

Or humorous verse by a man named Shel.

Those works are niced, great literature composed

By men with great talent for the pen. (end stanza)

The world has read poems that make one shed a tear,

And frightful poems from the deceased Poe,

That delight us, amuse us, intrigue us,

Or, for a minute, take us away from reality. (end stanza)

They fill our sweet tooth and enhance our mind

For poetry is great and can soothe a soul.

But what lies outside is real, no joke to be told;

It's called life and no second chances are given. (end stanza)

Life is for real, you win some and lose some

But, then, what compares to life?

Different responsed are given, but discarded till

Few remain, like soldiers on a battlefield. (end stanza)

When all's said and done, just one word remains;

Just six letters:s-p-o-r-t-s.

Yes, sports are tough, hard to handle at times,

But after a loss, a win is still in the aiden. (end stanza)

The goal is the championship, but only one can win

That coveted prize that drives the players to play,

And the coaches to coach,

And the spectators to spectate. (end stanza)

This poem goes out to the devoted fans,

Whom have survived agonizing seasons

And endured the art of the loss;

Hoping, searching for light at the end of the tunnel. (end stanza)

This poem goes out the Bleacher Bums;

To the Cameron Crazies, the Packer Backers, the Izzone;

To the Fenway Faithful, the Dawg Pound, and to

The unmentioned loyalists of their respective teams. (end stanza)

For you have all experienced, just as in life, the bitter taste of loss.

But the sun comes out the next day,

And the you strive to excel, just as your team does,

And you never say die, as the new day bring new hope. (end stanza)

Sports aren't for the weak at heart;

They, like life, break your heart

In many different ways that hurt,

But make you want to win even more. (end stanza)

And, when times are tough,

Sports will always be there

As the constant happiness in our lives,

And bring a smile to our face. (end stanza)

But the bad, we'd rather not talk about that

For, just as in life, you strive for the best

And won't settle for any less

Because sports and life are precious gems. (end stanza)

The world has read poems

For pleasure and thought.

But sports are tough, heart shattering.

And those who love them have experienced it all. (end stanza)

So, to the sports fan;

Keep cheering, chanting, and body painting,

And Rock, Chalk, Jayhawk-ing,

Until you can't do so any more.

March Madness Preview: Contenders, Flukes, and Teams to Watch

Jake Livinston — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:07:47 -0400

Hey, college hoops fans, it's March Madness time. Time for buzzer beaters, upsets, great single-player performances, and, in the words of Dick Vitale, "a little dipsy-doo, slam-a-roo!"

With conference tournaments finishing and beginning, the field of 65 for the NCAA tournament is beginning to become more clear. Bubbles are popping and some are becoming more secure for the many teams vieing for a bid.

But with 65 teams in the tournament, how do you know which ones to pick for your bracket?

Well, this article will point out the contenders, the flukes, the teams to look out for, and the others.

Contenders

This section will look at the contenders for the Final Four in Detroit.

North Carolina Tar Heels-North Carolina won the ACC regular season and will most likely get a No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Tar Heels can run with any team and can score with any team. They feature five double-digit scorers in Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Danny Green, Wayne Ellington, and Deon Thompson.

The Heels are the best in the country at rebounding and running. North Carolina is one of the most veteraned teams and their experience, along with Tyler Hansbrough, will push them into the Final Four.

Duke Blue Devils- It seems like the Blue Devils are always dancing in the Final Four. This year, they are contenders, but will have to beat a top team. Duke failed to beat North Carolina or Clemson and tied the series with Wake Forest.

If they are going to reach Detroit, the Blue Devils must play tight defense and get a big game from Gerald Henderson or Kyle Singler.

Pittsburgh Panthers- Equiped with the top RPI and ninth Strength of Schedule, Pitt is rolling into the Big East. They beat Marquette and Connecticut to finish out the season. Forwards DeJuan Blair and Sam Young are two of the top players in the Big East.

Blair, the Big East co-MVP is one of the best in the nation at dominating a game with his offense and defense. If the Panthers can get him going, look out!

Connecticut Huskies- If I can give any advice to opposing teams, DON'T DRIVE AT HASHEEM THABEET! The Big East defensive player of the year leads the nation in blocked shots. UConn is one of the most balanced teams, with their top four scorers within .5 points of each other. Thabeet, like Blair, can dominate a game.

Louisville Cardinals- When was the last time a team won their regular season conference title but was only the third-highest ranked team in their conference? I'm not going to look up the answer, but I doubt it has ever happened.

The Cards surprised the nation with their season and hope to keep up their success. Louisville can go inside to Terrence Williams or can shoot a three with Earl Clark, Edgar Sosa, Jerry Smith, Andre McGee, or others. They have proved that they can beat the top teams with wins over Pitt, Marquette, West Virginia, and others.

Other contenders: Oklahoma Sooners, Michigan State Spartans, Wake Forest Demon Deacons, Purdue Boilermakers, Memphis Tigers

Flukes

This list of teams are those who are candidates to be upset.

Clemson Tigers- Clemson is on this list for three reasons: They have lost to teams they should have beaten, haven't held leads, and don't have a great tournament history.

The Tigers suffered a loss to Virginia (10-17). They led Florida State by nearly twenty points but lost. Also, if you haven't heard, Clemson has started off hot, but have ended up disappointing.

Marquette Golden Eagles- When Marquette played UConn at home, senior guard Dominic James injured himself and the injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. Now Marquette has lost four straight and are really struggling. Teams may be able to jump all over their struggles.

Xavier Musketeers- The Musketeers could make a run in the tourney, but don't have enough big-game experience. Not playing in a big conference will make it harder for Xavier to win games against better teams.

Illinois Fighting Illini- Illinois took second in the Big Ten, but suffered too many losses to mediocre teams such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State, and Minnesota. Though they have great defense, Illinois struggles if their offense isn't clicking. The most points they scored in a conference loss was 66, and they only scored 33 in a loss to Penn State.

Other Possible Flukes- Utah, Boston College, Washington, Syracuse

Cinderella Contenders

These teams are those who have chances at upsetting a team and, in some cases advancing to the Sweet 16.

Siena Saints- The Saints won the MAAC championship by defeating Niagara on Monday. Siena has the No.22 RPI and may be able to surprise a team. Kenny Hasbrouck is able to score on any given night and we all know about mid-majors having players shine in the tourney.

Michigan Wolverines- Michigan may not even make the Big Dance, but if they do, look out. They defeated both Duke and UCLA in the non-conference season and took down Purdue in a Big Ten game.

Forward Manny Harris is a great shooter and can slash into the paint. DeShawn Sims is one of the best post players in the Big Ten. With those two going, Michigan can take down another perennial power in the tournament.

Chattanooga Mocs- The Mocs were able to win the Southern Conference title over Davidson (or as I like to call them, the Curry's) and Charleston. With steam coming into the tournament, I like them as an upset bidder.

Boston College Eagles- The Eagles are also a bubble team, but they could make a difference if they receive a bid. They have beaten North Carolina and Duke. The Eagles know how to beat top teams and can do it in the tourney. After all, someone has to upset another team, and I like Boston College.

Other Possible Cinderellas- Northern Iowa and Virginia Commonwealth

A Lesson We All Need to Learn: There's More To Life Than Sports

Jake Livinston — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 20:22:09 -0500

Times are tough in the America right now. People are losing their jobs left and right and the economy continues to go down the tubes.

One thing that has remained is sports. Sports are great and have boosted morale during this recession, but sports aren't everything and shouldn't have a huge effect on the way we carry out our lives.

Last week, my church youth group went to a homeless shelter in inner Chicago. Going to the shelter was not mandatory, but we were encouraged to go.

I told myself that if wouldn't hurt to go and I nonchalantly slipped my hand into the air to volunteer for the trip.

We were going to serve soup and sandwiches and give out used clothing items that the church had been collecting for a month.

Before I went on the trip, though this is hard to say, I took sports too seriously. When my team would lose a game they should have or could have won, I would mope around in a foul mood.

In the NFL Playoffs, when my Indianapolis Colts lost in overtime to the San Diego Chargers, I went to my room, slammed the door, and broke one of its hinges.

Losing never came easy to me and, even though I knew I took sports too seriously, I couldn't find a way to lose this habit.

I had never looked at my life as a lucky one. I had everything you need to live and much, much more.

But the people at the homeless shelter that day had nearly nothing, and despite their lack of material possessions, they seemed content and were very grateful and excited people when given even the smallest of gifts.

There was one boy that I distincly remember. I won't mention his name, but he was an orphan who showed up at that shelter about a few weeks ago with barely anything.

When I handed him some of my old clothes, he had the most grateful look in his eyes. He was truly grateful and happy for the few clothes he received. I had never really thought about the clothes I wore, but simply put them on.

And then something hit me: Here I was, with a family that loves me, a house, heat, hot water, lots of food, a television, a bed, a computer, even an iPod, and so much more.

But even with all of those blessings, I would get angry and be in a foul mood after my team would suffer a defeat. You could even say that sports were my downfall.

But all of the people at the shelter were happy with what they had, whether it be a free t-shirt or a toothbrush.

That day, my Youth Group was simply feeding them soup and sandwiches and giving them clothes, but their expressions were priceless. They had experienced poverty and were content with what they had.

I then realized, there at the homeless shelter, that there is more to life than sports. There's no need to get angry or just feel down and blue because of a loss. It's not the end of the world (or so we hope).

After all, life could be much worse. My parents could both lose their jobs and have to foreclose our house or I could be an orpan like the boy from the homeless shelter.

So, if your bracket does terrible or your team gets upset in the first round this upcoming March Madness, don't take it too hard.

Before I close out this article, I want to give a huge thanks to that homeless shelter in Chicago for changing my outlook on life—I now know that life is a birthday cake and sports serve as the icing on the cake.

While sports are great, there still is more to life than sports.

Rules to Abide By: Your March Madness Etiquette Guide

Jake Livinston — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 21:11:51 -0500

It's that time of year, again. Yep, February has been ripped off our calendars and staring us in the face is the month of March.

To college basketball fans, March is the Promised Land. We have gone through four months of a long roller coaster ride that is the regular season, and March is the final destination.

When it comes to the NCAA tournament, we look over each game, we criticize the selections, we record every game, and, most importantly, we predict the entire tourney.

The bracket is a thing of beauty to sports fans. On it, we predict the entire tournament and who will win each game. Hours are spent contemplating and pondering which team to pick—Kansas or Villanova?

Because March Madness is such a big event, there have to be rules to follow. So, without further ado, here is your March Madness etiquette guide.

Rules for filling out your bracket:

Only one bracket!—Nobody's going to be impressed when you go claiming that you had Davidson in the Elite Eight or the 14 seed winning on your FOURTEENTH bracket.
Pick at least three total upsets—It's not cool to have all one, two, three, four, and five's in the Sweet Sixteen. Everyone else is taking chances and so should you. This doesn't include a nine seed over an eight or a five over a four. The upsets can be spread out over the entire tournament.
No changing your bracket after the tournament starts—Just because Digger Phelps and Dick Vitale tell you that Purdue will beat Oklahoma and the game hasn't started yet doesn't mean that you can change it.
No taking bribes to make stupid picks—If your buddy says he'll give you five bucks to pick two 15 seeds in the National Championship, don't accept. If you do this, the title of "fan" will be stripped from you.
Don't copy another bracket—Yes, another bracket out there may look just like yours and a few winners can be taken from an expert's bracket, but if yours is the exact same as Barack Obama's or Jay Bilas's, that is 100 percent cheating. That should result in an automatic disqualification.
Be able to back up your picks—If your co-worker or buddy asks you why you have a 13 seed over a 4 seed, you better have an explanation. Saying that you had a hunch won't cut it.
Only show your bracket to five people—This is pretty self-explanatory. Your bracket may be shown to any person who submitted their picks already.
Only take advice from five people—This, too, is pretty self-explanatory. Up to three pieces of advice may be applied to your bracket from each person or you can use 15 total.
Have fun!—Don't stress out over your bracket. If stuck on one, just pick one.

Now that you have your guidelines for filling out your bracket, buckle up, and get set for the NCAA tournament.

Selection Sunday, here we come!

There Is No "I" in "Team"- Where Has the Team Emphasis Gone?

Jake Livinston — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:33:28 -0500

We've all heard the saying: There is no "I" in "Team". That is such a true statement. It's not about the name on the back of the jersey, but about the name on the front.

I can't quite fathom why, but it seems that nowadays, the name on the back gets more attention.

This isn't true in all cases, but the players are trying to promote what's on the back instead of the front. This problem, let's call it the "all-about-me-virus" is starting to seep through from the pros all the way down to high school, and worse, junior high sports.

Society tends to focus on how one player in particular did, sometimes even more focus is drawn to that one player than to the entire team. If a team is focused on one player, there is no way they can be successful.

This past year in basketball, even though only playing at the freshman level, we opposed teams that sported first-class uniforms with-what else- names on the back of their jerseys. Our team was so jealous of them, but my coach calmed us down by saying what I have previously mentioned- that we play for the name on the front.

After he spoke those words, all thirteen of us players were pumped up. It had taken us a while to realize why we were playing.

We weren't playing for how many points each person in particular could score, not for stats or style points, not for popularity at our school. We were representing our entire school.

That game was by far the best game we played all year. The ball was distributed very well and our defense was phenomenal. Nobody on the team was looking to make plays for themselves, but looking for a way to free a teammate. We won by about 20, the largest margin of victory on the season.

The best teams are those that are team-centered, not me-centered. Every great team needs that 100 percent team player. And it doesn't hurt to have a few, if not all players, like that.

But the amount of teams like that are dwindling. This is because, as previously written, emphasis is put on one or two players. If those players don't get what they feel to be their time to shine, chaos erupts on the team. As in the case of the Dallas Cowboys, the locker room split.

The Cowboys are a prime example of this. They had a whole team of Pro-Bowlers in Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, Marion Barber, Jason Witten, Flozell Adams, DeMarcus Ware, and Adam "Pacman" Jones. But to many players hurt the team because of things they did or said because not enough attention was given to them. (I'm talking to you, Terrell Owens)

Kids and teens are starting to get the "all-about-me virus". They are starting to the idea that they can be the one who fires up 20 shots a game, hits clean-up, and should have ten to fifteen passes thrown to them.

This virus is spreading quickly and it starts with the pro game. If the pros get the virus, then kids will follow their "so-called role models" and catch the disease, too.

All the respect and admiration in the world should go out to the high school coaches who teach their student/athletes (notice how student comes first) the fundamentals of the game and how to play as a team.

We can turn sports back into the team-centered game they once were. Next time you have a teammate who is catching the virus, just tell them that it's not all about them, but the team.

After all, there is no "I" in "Team". And that should never change.