1. Bobby Valentine Is Doomed as Boston Red Sox Skipper

    *update 4/18/12: It has come to my attention that I am using the story of Brian Clough as told by ONLY the writer and filmmakers of The Damned Utd and not based on historical fact...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 1 year ago 1,058 reads 5 comments

  2. Diggin' Deep: A Fantasy Look Inside the Arizona Diamondbacks Roster

    One of my greatest problems with fantasy baseball is that I tend to pick based on my heart and not my mind. As an avid Tampa Bay Rays fan, I usually ignore the consensus No. 1 overall choice from ESPN, Yahoo, etc...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about over 1 year ago 379 reads 1 comments

  3. Fantasy Baseball: The Final Word on Tampa Bay Rays OF BJ Upton

    This article premiered on the Fantasy Athletic Association for Cubicle Dwellers on October 31st, 2011. It is the premiere article of that new, non-profit website dedicated to fantasy baseball...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about over 1 year ago 250 reads 0 comments

  4. For Better or Worse: Real Sports Franchises in Movies and TV

    There are plenty of fictional sports teams that appear in movies and/or TV and, unsurprisingly, most of their designs suck. To me, a sports movie has to have real teams in it to add a true authentic feel...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about over 1 year ago 2,928 reads 0 comments

  5. Evan Longoria and 13 Other Keys to the Three-Headed AL East Title Race

    With all due respect to Toronto and Baltimore , the AL East is mostly considered a three-horse race between the defending champion Tampa Bay Rays , who have won two of the last ...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 269 reads 0 comments

  6. MLB Trade Speculation: B.J. Upton and the AL East's Other 8 Biggest Trade Chips

    The trade market is pretty hard to predict. As a Rays fan currently living in Arizona , if you told me last year's trade deadline acquisition was going to be Chad Qualls and that's it...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 862 reads 7 comments

  7. MLB Realignment: 7 Cities the Tampa Bay Rays Could Relocate to If Needed

    Relocation and contraction are words no fan wants to hear, especially if it involves their beloved team. But it happens, even to the best of teams, the best of fans and even the most successful of franchises...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 9,583 reads 17 comments

  8. MLB Trade Speculation: 6 Struggling Teams in the BJ Upton Sweepstakes

    *All stats are as of 6/15/11 before the day's games. Trade speculation, whether grounded in realism or thought up from the ether of a sleeper's dreamscape, is always fun to talk about...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 58 reads 4 comments

  9. James Shields and 7 of the Biggest AL East Pitching Surprises of 2011

    James Shields' ability to pitch deep into games (if not the whole game) and to make hitters whiff at an impressive rate (90 Ks thus far this season) while maintaining a 2.85 ERA has surprised many, even Tampa natives who have his back...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 1,554 reads 5 comments

  10. Land of the Dead: 22 of the Greatest Logos of Defunct/Departed Franchises

    I'm a sucker for logos and an even bigger sucker for defunct franchises. The two together equal geek heaven for me. The title is pretty self explanatory...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 6,173 reads 31 comments

  11. Fantasy Baseball: No Love for These 10 Hitters Could Be Your (Minor) Loss

    Every fantasy league has them: that jewel buried in the muck of mediocrity just waiting to be pounced on and used to the detriment of whoever you happen to be playing, be it friend or enemy...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 1,461 reads 0 comments

  12. My MLB Nightmares: 7 2011 Fantasy Picks That Make Me Wish I Autopicked

    I am really terrible at fantasy sports. REALLY terrible. I did finish second once in basketball one year. But, other then that (and for that I say 'even blind squirrels find a nut every now and then'), I am pretty much the office cellar dweller...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 2,217 reads 12 comments

  13. NBA Playoffs 2011: Dirk Nowitzki and 15 Other Dominant Playoff Games Since 1990

    To say Dirk Nowitzki has been perfect in the 2011 Western Conference finals might be a slanderous understatement...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 1,057 reads 0 comments

  14. Ringless Wonders: Kidd, Dirk, LeBron and Seven Other Players Looking for a Title

    While many purists, perhaps, lament the loss of the Lakers and the Celtics in this year's playoffs, and many previous contenders, such as Orlando, Cleveland, Phoenix, San Antonio, ...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about almost 2 years ago 3,486 reads 13 comments

  15. LeBron James Finally Proves His Worth to Me: Requiem for a Pessimist

    Ah, I remember January and February. There was a lot of strife here on the Bleacher Report. Words were said, opinions were given, and wars were fought; not with fists but with words...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,460 reads 109 comments

  16. Orlando Magic: 5 Bold, Irrational, and Wishfully-Thought Predictions for 2012

    I recently told my dad, 'mark my words, Dwight Howard is staying in Orlando' (oops, I blew the surprise of the first slide! D'oh!). He shook his head and, sarcastically said, 'okay, I'll mark your words...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 5,131 reads 19 comments

  17. NBA Power Rankings: The Greatest Team Logos in Each Team's History

    All teams are known for their superstar players (if they have any), their legacy of winning or losing and their city's fans, both raucous and lovable. But another identifier is the team logo...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 7,757 reads 8 comments

  18. NBA Trade Rumors: The Latest Trade Rumors and Speculation for Every NBA Team

    Every NBA team has it's goal of success, both fantastical and realistic, and 29 teams know, every year, that, essentially, they will fail. Only one can be champion...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 17,629 reads 39 comments

  19. NBA Playoffs 2011: Power Ranking All Four Second-Round Matchups

    It's down to eight teams. We spend 82 regular season games and anywhere from four to seven first-round playoff matches to get to this point. The competition is tougher, the defense is tighter and the talent more even...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,324 reads 2 comments

  20. 2011 Is Nuthin': The 9 Worst Moments in Orlando Magic Playoff History

    I've been thinking about the Magic 's 1-3 hole in the first round of the playoffs, and I'm finding myself surprisingly calm. If the Magic turn it around and win, it's a great comeback...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 7,543 reads 9 comments

  21. NBA Playoffs 2011: Four Things the Magic Need to Change to Beat the Hawks

    Sure, it's happened before. Not often, but it's happened. And while many Magic fans, including myself, admit that defeat is certainly around the corner, we can still believe that the rare, but possible, 3-1 comeback is possible...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 198 reads 1 comments

  22. NBA Playoffs 2011: San Antonio Spurs vs. Memphis Grizzlies Game 3 Live Blog

    In the Eastern Conference, we have very little intrigue. Two series stand at 3-0 (and they aren't even close) while a feisty 8th seed in Indiana has only been able to finish one ...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,602 reads 6 comments

  23. NBA Playoffs 2011: Kobe Bryant and Each Playoff Team's Most Dangerous Weapon

    We all know the assassins when we see them. In the basketball world we always see them coming; we always "feel" something when they're around...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,951 reads 8 comments

  24. 2011 NBA Playoffs: 8 Playoff Records Waiting to Be Broken

    The NBA is full of rich history. And in that history are statistics. Now, while many of us argue the true value of statistics over a career and in the playoffs as a whole, there ...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,046 reads 5 comments

  25. 2011 NBA Playoff Predictions: 6 Teams That Deserve to Make the Second Round

    Sixteen teams start the NBA Playoffs at 0-0, with possibilities just around the corner. Only eight advance to the next round, as the other eight will have to wait until next year to try again...

    William Johnson Written by William Johnson about 2 years ago 1,099 reads 2 comments