Barclays Premier League: Improbably, It's Chelsea's to Lose

Charlie Klein

Only two weeks ago on this blog I speculated that Chelsea were possibly on the brink of total destruction following their shocking performance at the Bridge against Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan. My my what a difference two weeks makes.

Chelsea re-staked their claim to the trophy that has been held just out of their reach by Manchester United each of the past three seasons by firing seven goals past Brad Friedel and Aston Villa at the weekend. Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda were rampant against an Aston Villa team that looked a far cry from the team that defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier this season.

And then Chelsea witnessed the past two days of Champions League football. I scarce imagine that the performances of Manchester United yesterday and Arsenal today did much to dishearten John Terry & Co. in London.

Manchester United did not come to Munich with any sense of urgency or winning spirit. More importantly, they appear to have left Munich with an injured Wayne Rooney. While I personally do not feel like United are a one man team, Rooney is the most important player at Old Trafford by a long stretch.

He appears to be out for the next 2-4 weeks. This injury is huge for United as Rooney has been the lone striker in Sir Alex Ferguson's starting XI for most of the year. Dimitar Berbatov has scored 12 league goals this season, but there are doubts surrounding Manchester as to whether or not he can adequately fill in for the 34 goal man.

Arsenal, the other team involved in this title race, today lost their talismanic central midfielder Cesc Fabregas to a broken leg following their Champions League first leg with Barcelona. If Fabregas is to be believed, and if the scans bear him out, then Arsenal's title chances have suffered a major blow. Add injuries to William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin, and it looks as though Arsenal's slim shot at the title appears to be even slimmer.

While I am sure that Chelsea would much rather be in the Champions League than out of it, their absence from the competition could be the key that unlocks the door to the promised land. As much as it pains me to say it, the Premier League trophy just might have blue and white ribbons on it at the end of the season. As sickening as it is for me to imagine, the adulterer and all-around bad guy John Terry might lift the trophy over his undeserving head. If Chelsea do win it this year, it will all be down to the injuries suffered to both Manchester United and Arsenal in the past two days.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Minnesota Twins

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Orlando Hudson (2B)
J.J. Hardy (SS)
Jim Thome (DH)

Key Departures:

Orlando Cabrera (SS)
Carlos Gomez (CF)
Joe Crede (3B)
R.A. Dickey

I decided to take the Chicago White Sox in this division for a very simple reason. Pitching wins pennants. The one through four at U.S. Cellular eclipses by far what the Twins are going to throw out in their inaugural season at Target Field. And while everyone continues to laud the Twins lineup (and there is nothing wrong with doing that) people just sort of assume that the Twins will have the pitching to get it done.

Before I slip into hater mode, I will cover what I believe to be the Twins' strongest asset, their hitting. This has not always been the case in the Twin Cities and Minnesotans can thank the rise of Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, and Michael Cuddyer for adding punch to the Twins lineup.

Not very many people are aware of this fact, but Michael Cuddyer it 32 homeruns last season. The performance of Kubel and Cuddyer this season will be the true key to whether or not the Twins are able to produce runs. Everyone knows about Mauer and Morneau's (the new M&M boys) abilities to swing the bat, but the supplementary power that is required for a team that is lacking in rotation depth is absolutely essential to win a division.

As previously stated, I am no fan of the Twins rotation. There is no number one starter on this staff. Scott Baker, the ace according to the Twins website, was a 15 game winner last season, albeit with a 4.37 ERA and an opponent batting average of .247. Kevin Slowey, the number two on the staff, is no oil painting either. Slowey was 10-3 with a 4.86 ERA and an opponent batting average of .309. Most hitters would love to hit for that average.

And on down the line it goes. The one wild card in the Twins rotation is Francisco Liriano. The year 2009 was not so kind to Liriano, as he went 5-13 with an ERA of 5.80 in 136.2 IP. If Liriano can come anywhere close to his 2006 production (12-3, 2.16 ERA, 144 K's in 121.0 IP) I might have to take back everything I've said about the Twins in this preview. He has that kind of potential. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has a difficult decision to make about Liriano. There have been discussions that Liriano could fill in for closer Joe Nathan, who will be out for the duration of 2010 following Tommy John surgery. If the Twins need Liriano to close, that will damage their rotation and if he cannot close, could ultimately ruin Liriano.

I guess I am the only one not drinking the Twins Kool-Aid this offseason. Perhaps I am way off here, but from everything I have seen, I cannot justify picking them in this division, as much as I may want to.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Denard Span (CF)
2. Orlando Hudson (2B)
3. Joe Mauer (C)
4. Justin Morneau (1B)
5. Michael Cuddyer (RF)
6. Jason Kubel (DH)
7. J.J. Hardy (SS)
8. Delmon Young (LF)
9. Nick Punto (3B)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Scott Baker
2. Kevin Slowey
3. Carl Pavano
4. Nick Blackburn
5. Francisco Liriano

Best Reliever: Matt  Guerrier

Closer: Jon Rausch

Predicted Finish: Second in the AL Central

Daily Fail: You Gotta Fight, For Your Right, To Party...

Charlie Klein

As a sports fan, I have no issues with my favorite players going out and celebrating after a game. I would prefer that they do not follow in the footsteps of Pacman Jones or Ben Roethlisberger, but a night out on the town is not a bad thing. That is, unless you are Hedo Turkoglu.

After missing Friday night's confrontation with the Denver Nuggets due to a stomach illness, Turkoglu was spotted in Toronto's trendy Yorkville district by a few Raptors fans. These fans e-mailed pictures to the team and a few media outlets in Toronto.

This perhaps would not be such a big deal were it not for the fact that Turkoglu has been a major disappointment in Toronto after signing a five year, $53 million contract last offseason. The Turkish forward is averaging 11.8 points per game, 4.5 rebounds per game, and 4.1 assists per game. Not really numbers one would expect from a player making $10.6 million a year.

What was Hedo's reaction to the controversy, you may ask?

"It's all good, man. I've ben dealing with this [stuff] the whole year. They've been on me on this [going out] the whole year long. If I wasn't out, sick or healthy, they [the fans] would still say something. I don't say anything. Ten games left of the season, all I try [to do is] finish strong."

Man you are so right Hedo. How dare the fans give you a hard time for under performing and spending all of that nice Canadian cash you got from their ticket, food, and merchandise purchases on drinks at clubs. It's a great way to prove you are still trying to make an effort this season.

Party people everywhere, gather 'round. We have to support our fellow man here, and demand that the Raptors give Hedo Turkoglu his right to party. Party foul Raptors, party foul.

Donovan McNabb to Oakland: A Load of Non-sense

Charlie Klein

Think about this for a second. Let's say you are a team that has relatively little talent on it's roster, but is owned by a man who is so egotistical and ignorant that he thinks his team is one over the hill veteran away from competing. He trades for this player, and it has very little impact on the team.

This is the exact scenario that played out last season when the Oakland Raiders traded for Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots. The Raiders still ended up finishing with five wins on the season. They wasted their seventh overall pick in the first round on a track star that cannot catch a football in Darious Heyward-Bey, who has more names than career NFL touchdowns.

So the answer to all of these issues is to trade for a 33 year-old quarterback? I do not think so.

But the Raiders are pretty much the one team that does not care about having to pay McNabb the $11 million that he is due for this season. The Raiders are the team that is dumb enough to not care about losing McNabb in the offseason.

The reports surrounding this rumor have been cause for mirth and derision for me. Adam Schefter's weak logic when it comes to attempting to make sense of this has made him drop a little in my eyes as far as the legitimate NFL reporter for ESPN. The link between the Raiders is that both Al Davis and McNabb are Syracuse grads and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson is a distant cousin of McNabb's.

Donovan McNabb likes Chunky Soup. I like Chunky soup. Does that mean that my Seahawks should be connected in a trade for him? No.

But in the crazy mind of Al Davis and whoever the Oakland Raiders General Manager is, it all makes way too much sense.

If Donovan McNabb becomes an Oakland Raider, I will have lost whatever respect I had for the Philadelphia Eagles. Of all places to send a good soldier, a player that has done so much for the city and the team, the Black Hole/Bermuda Triangle that is the Oakland Raiders is not one of them.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Houston Astros

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Matt Lindstrom (RP)
Brandon Lyon (RP)
Brett Myers (SP/RP)
Pedro Feliz (3B)

Key Departures:

Jose Valverde (RP)
Ivan Rodriguez (C)
Aaron Boone (1B/3B)
LaTroy Hawkins (RP)

If only winning a lot of baseball games was down to having the greatest amount of fantastic nicknames on one roster. If this were the case, the Astros would be the unanimous pick for the National League pennant. Such nicknames include Dixie (Roy Oswalt), The Magic Wand (Wandy Rodriguez), El Caballo (Carlos Lee), Big Puma (Lance Berkman), The Redneck Express (Brett Myers) and The Bourn Supremacy (Michael Bourn). I mean this is the team that brought us The Killer B's of Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Lance Berkman.

Unfortunately for the Astros, neither Jeff Bagwell nor Craig Biggio will feature in their starting nine in 2010. That is not to say that their lineup is lacking in terms of power or speed, but merely to state that these are not your uncle's Astros. As such, they really cannot be taken seriously as contenders this season.

There are too many question marks in the starting lineup and in the rotation to legitimately argue that the 'stros will be able to challenge the Cardinals, Cubs, or Brewers for the division title this season. I'll start with the position players. The Astros are planning on entering 2010 with Tommy Manzella as their starting shortstop. While Manzella has had a decent spring (hitting .300 in only 30 at-bats), he has no significant Major League experience of which to speak.

The Astros also begin the 2010 campaign with J.R. Towles behind the dish. Towles has 84 at-bats to his name in three Major League seasons. Like Manzella, Towles is having a good spring, hitting .333 in 36 at-bats. That being said, whether he will be able to produce both behind the plate and in the batter's box remains to be seen.

There are also doubts as to whether or not Lance Berkman can still produce at the levels to which we have all become accustomed to over his lengthy career in Houston. Berkman is coming off a 2009 in which he recorded near career lows in homeruns, runs batted in, and batting average. Carlos Lee remained as much of a horse as ever last season, but his numbers also appear to be in decline.

Not to beat a dead horse, cough, caballo, cough, but it appears that Roy Oswalt's status as a number one starter in MLB appears to be waning. Last season Oswalt was limited by yet another injury and only threw 181.1 innings with a 4.12 ERA. Hardly what one would expect from a number one starter.

Now The Magic Wand was a completely different story last season. He threw for probably the quietest 3.02 ERA in baseball in 2009. Combine that with 14 wins and 193 strikeouts and one has the real ace of the staff.

The rest of the rotation does not do much for me, as we do not know what Brett Myers, a.k.a. the Redneck Express, has to offer as a starter. Bud Norris was decent, although an ERA in the mid four's does not look that great, and Felipe Paulino had an ERA over six last season.

Sorry to be a regular Buzz Killington Astros fans, but the lack of depth throughout the roster makes me leery to say anything involving the words contender and playoffs when I talk about the Astros in 2010.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Michael Bourn (CF)
2. Kazou Matsui (2B)
3. Lance Berkman (1B)
4. Carlos Lee (LF)
5. Hunter Pence (RF)
6. Pedro Feliz (3B)
7. J.R. Towles (C)
8. Tommy Manzella (SS)
9. Roy Oswalt (SP)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Roy Oswalt
2. Wandy Rodriguez
3. Brett Myers
4. Bud Norris
5. Felipe Paulino

Best Reliever: Brandon Lyon

Closer: Matt Lindstrom

Predicted Finish: Fourth in the NL Central.

Top Three Ovechkin Goals of All-Time

Charlie Klein

3. Alexander Ovechkin versus the Montreal Canadiens

2. Alexander Ovechkin versus the New York Rangers

and another against the Rangers for good measure.

1. Alexander Ovechkin versus the Phoenix Coyotes

Alexander Ovechkin: The Adulation Continues

Charlie Klein

The brightest star in the NHL's constellation got even brighter on Sunday. Alexander Ovechkin became the fifth player in NHL history to record four 100 point seasons in his first five years in the league. You might have heard of the other four: Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Peter Stasny and Dale Hawerchuk, all of whom are in the Hall of Fame.

Ovechkin could also join yet another elite group should he win the Hart Trophy, the award given at the end of each season for the most valuable player in the league. Only Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr have won the award three times consecutively.

With seven games remaining on the Capitals schedule, the team Ovechkin captains has pretty much locked up the number one spot in the Eastern Conference and appear poised to claim the President's Trophy, the award for the most overall points in the NHL at the end of a season,  for the first time in franchise history.

In addition to the heights his team has reached this season, Ovechkin is one goal behind Sidney Crosby for the league lead and one point behind Vancouver's Henrik Sedin for the points lead in the NHL. This is particularly impressive when one considers that Ovechkin has amassed these statistics in only 65 games.

The true test of Ovechkin will come in the playoffs, where the Capitals appear to have their best chance at a Stanley Cup in franchise history. Whatever happens, I am sure we will all be dazzled by what the Great 8 does next.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Colorado Rockies

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Miguel Olivo (C)
Melvin Mora (UTIL)

Key Departures:

Joe Beimel (RP)
Yorvit Torrealba (C)
Adam Eaton (SP)
Jason Marquis (SP)
Josh Fogg (SP)
Garrett Atkins (1B/3B)

One of the more puzzling things to me is just how sure people are about this Colorado Rockies team repeating as division champions. I guess in one of baseballs most competitive (cough worst cough) division, your guess is as good as mine as far as who wins it.

I already want to take back the Diamondbacks pick since no one seems to know when Brandon Webb is going to start throwing from a mound again, but that's what next weekend's for (when I will make my division predictions official).

Right, so I'm supposed to be writing about the Colorado Rockies. Their lineup is pretty great. Todd Helton, one of the most consistently good hitters in the league does not get the credit he deserves for the career he's had in Denver.  A career .328 hitter, and at 36 years of age, he is coming off a season in which he hit .325.

Along with Helton, the Rockies have one of the top shortstops in the game in Troy Tulowitzki, who also has one of the best chants.

Tulo witnessed a return to form last season, hitting 32 homeruns, driving in 92 runs, and hitting for a .297 average. Pretty good for a shortstop eh? And then there is Brad Hawpe, who did pretty well himself last season hitting 23 homeruns, driving in 86 runs, and hitting for a .285 average.

The Rockies also have some great young talent in Dexter Fowler, Ian Stewart, and Carlos Gonzalez. In his rookie season for the Rockies Fowler impressed Coors Field crowds with his blazing speed on the base paths and some impressive glove work. I expect the 24 year-old Atlanta native to only improve this season. 

Ian Stewart was given the next Chase Utley tag, which I think is slightly unfair to him. I certaintly think that the Rockies are expecting Stewart to produce similar numbers to Utley, and they are banking on him raising his average from .228 in 2009. Stewart's power numbers were not bad, 25 homeruns and 70 runs batted in, but they must improve if the 24 year-old wants to stick around in Denver.

Carlos Gonzalez burst onto the scene last season hitting bomb after bomb and getting the attention of fantasy owners starved of power. In only 278 at bats Gonzalez hit 13 homeruns, drove in 29 runs and hit for a .284 average. I expect those numbers only to increase over the course of a full season. 

My issues with the Rockies primarily lie with their rotation. There is not one single outstanding starter within it. I guess there is an argument for consistently average pitching here, but their 1-2-3 does not compare with the Giants or the Diamondbacks (should Brandon Webb ever return from injury...) and that is my reason for slotting them in the fourth spot. 

This division is horribly difficult to predict, so I feel really hesitant in definitively saying this team is clearly better than the other. Fourth place in this division could mean four games out of first for all I know. The Rockies have a decent team, but at the moment anyway, I'm not buying them as the division winners.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Dexter Fowler (CF)
2. Clint Barmes (2B)
3. Todd Helton (1B)
4. Brad Hawpe (RF)
5. Troy Tulowitzki (SS)
6. Carlos Gonzalez (LF)
7. Ian Stewart (3B)
8. Chris Iannetta (C)
9. Ubaldo Jimenez (P)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Ubaldo Jimenez
2. Aaron Cooke
3. Jorge De La Rosa
4. Jason Hammel
5. Jeff Francis

Best Reliever: Franklin Morales

Closer: Huston Street

Predicted Finish: Fourth in the NL West

Daily Fail: Gilbert Arenas and the Washington Wizards

Charlie Klein

There are certain things that I do not understand in this country. How one man can break a law and receive the maximum sentence and another man can break the very same law and avoid jail time altogether. Before a D.C. Superior Court yesterday, Gilbert Arenas was sentenced to three months in a halfway house with two years of probation.

It is not necessarily the sentence that bothers me. Yes, it was a stupid act and Arenas probably should have known better. It's the fact that the Washington Wizards, for whatever reason, want Agent Zero back. How pathetic do you have to be as a franchise to want a player like that back?

If I was Ernie Grunfeld, Wizards GM, I would be trying my hardest to void the remaining $80 million on Arenas' contract. I know that the NBA Players Association vowed to fight that if such action was taken, but I have a hard time seeing how the Wizards would not be justified in their desire to cut Arenas.

The Wizards need to completely clean house. The locker room atmosphere, created in part by Arenas, led to the gun toting and law breaking. And trading away Antwan Jamison, Brendan Haywood, and Caron Butler clearly sent the message that the Wizards were trying to liquidate their assets.

Considering the balance in terms of lack of intelligence, the Wizards and Gilbert Arenas are a match made in heaven.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Texas Rangers

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Rich Harden (SP)
Darren Oliver (RP)
Vladimir Guerrero

Key Departures:

Jason Jennings (SP)
Kris Benson (SP)
Kevin Millwood (SP)
Omar Vizquel (SS)
Andruw Jones (OF)
Ivan Rodriguez (C)

When I look at the 2010 Texas Rangers roster I feel more conflicted than Carlos Silva does when staring down a Big Mac and Whopper. I love the Rangers lineup. I hate the Rangers rotation. How Nolan Ryan expects his team to win 90 plus games this season (unless he plans on slotting in as the number five starter) is beyond me.

The Rangers have one of the few lineups in baseball that can match the Yankees in terms of power. If, and this is a major if, Josh Hamilton can stay healthy the Rangers just might be able to compensate for their lack of pitching depth by simply putting up seven runs a game. This lineup has that kind of potential.

Nelson Cruz, Ian Kinsler, Chris Davis, Julio Borbon, this lineup is littered with fantastic young hitting talent. Only problem is, the same cannot be said of the rotation. There is not one single dependable starter in the Rangers 2010 rotation.

Scott Feldman is entering his second full season in the Majors, and does not have the track record to back his status as an ace of the staff.

Rich Harden has not gone a whole season without a stint on the DL in quite some time. And reports have surfaced that Harden is having difficulty maintaining velocity on his fastball. When I first saw that my Mariners had missed out on Harden, I was disappointed. Now, after these reports, I do not feel bad at all.

Haven't heard of any of the Rangers' 3-5? I don't blame you. They are too young and I do not expect them to start throwing like Nolan Ryan anytime soon.


Projected Starting Nine:

1. Julio Borbon (CF)
2. Ian Kinsler (2B)
3. Michael Young (3B)
4. Josh Hamilton (LF)
5. Nelson Cruz (RF)
6. Chris Davis (1B)
7. Vladimir Guerrero (DH)
8. Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C)
9. Elvis Andrus (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Scott Feldman
2. Rich Harden
3. Colby Lewis
4. Tommy Hunter
5. Matt Harrison

Best Reliever: C.J. Wilson

Closer: Frank Francisco

Predicted Finish: Third in the AL West.

Why The Eagles Are Asking Too Much For Donovan

Charlie Klein

When I heard that Andy Reid wanted a pick in the top 42 of the draft for Donovan McNabb, I spat out the water I was drinking all over my kitchen table. I was shocked. I mean Philadelphia sports fans constantly overhype certain players like Reggie Brown, L.J. Smith, Todd Pinkston, Hank Baskett etc.

But a 33 year-old McNabb with only one year left on his contract? Are you kidding me? Yes, Donovan McNabb has been a great quarterback in the NFL. Key words there, has been. And yes, when healthy he played well for the Eagles. That being said, going into the 2010 season, the Eagles appear to value Kevin Kolb, a quarterback with far less experience, more than McNabb.

The Eagles are in a great position considering the fact that they have three quarterbacks that could start in the NFL. And they could feasibly trade at least one of them if not two. If they were to trade Kolb, imagine what kind of ridiculous package Andy Reid would want from a prospective team!?! I would venture to guess a top 30 pick this year and next year's second round pick, at the very least.

Aside from the ridiculousness of what the Eagles want for McNabb, what team would be willing to part with that sort of draft pick for only one year of McNabb? Obviously, that team would attempt to get McNabb to sign an extension. But imagine, for a second, that you are Donovan McNabb. Why would you want to sign an extension with the St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, etc.

Moreover, most teams that could use a quarterback like McNabb are not just a quarterback away from making the playoffs. The only team that I've heard mentioned thus far that would match this has to be the Minnesota Vikings. But I am convinced that Brett Favre will return for yet another season, so Donovan's straight out of luck.

Teams that are as bad as those mentioned above have more holes than just at quarterback that need to be filled, and the best and most cost effective way to do that is through the draft, and not by trading for a 33 year-old quarterback and hoping for the best.

The Silent Assassin: Steven Stamkos

Charlie Klein

If you are a casual observer of the National Hockey League, you probably don't recognize the name Steven Stamkos. And I don't really blame you. The media hypes up Ovechkin and Crosby, and leaves out Stamkos in most discussions over who is the best player in the NHL.

And yet what he is doing at the age of 20 puts him right up there with Ovechkin and Crosby. Stamkos has 45 goals this season, tied with Ovie and Sid the Kid.

Perhaps it is because he plays for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who have been out of contention for some time, and maybe it is because he is overshadowed in his own division by Ovechkin. But really, when you watch this kid play in person or on television, his skill is undeniable.

Stamkos in his rookie season in 2008-2009 scored 23 goals. Not too bad for a rookie, and a 19 year-old at that. Stamkos also has 41 assists to go with his 45 goals.

It is only a matter of time before this lad is challenging Sidney Crosby's golden boy status north of the border.

I just hope for his sake that the Lightning can develop into a team that can challenge Sidney's Penguins and Alex's Capitals. Until then, he will just continue to silently and without much hype, hit up the red light district.

Joe Mauer Becomes Richest Man To Ever Sit Behind a Plastic Plate and Catch a Baseball

Charlie Klein

In my week long school induced leave of absence from blogging, the Twins did the unthinkable and gave Joe Mauer a contract that would even make Jesus Christ blush. The Twins pledged $184 million over the next eight years to the idea that Mauer could hit .365 every season.

I have mixed feelings about this contract. Sure, I love Joe Mauer just as much as the next guy. In fact, I take every opportunity to say the phrase "Mauer Power" (Mauer Power!) whenever remotely possible. But I still do not understand why it required the Twins to guarantee Mauer $184 million over the next eight years.

Player A:

Career Batting Average: .293
Average Homeruns Per Season: 18
Average RBIs Per Season: 78

Player B:

Career Batting Average: .327
Average Homeruns Per Season: 12
Average RBIs Per Season: 66

Which player would you argue deserves to make the most money? If you exclude the clear advantage in terms of batting average, the clear choice is player A. And player A is none other than Atlanta Braves catcher Brian McCann.

McCann is in the third year of a six year, $27.8 million contract. He will make under five million dollars in 2010, compared with Mauer's $23 million. Now it does seem a little more ridiculous that the Twins gave Mauer that kind of money, doesn't it? McCann is 26 years of age while Mauer will turn 27 in April.

As a fan of the Seattle Mariners, and public defender of small market baseball teams on this blog, I am supposed to celebrate a contract like this when it's made by a fellow little boy in the game. And yet I have a hard time doing that. The Twins allowed a fake market to drive up the costs of what Mauer brings to the club, imagining what bids from the Yankees and Red Sox would have been and attempted to top both.

Little teams like the Twins cannot afford for contracts like this to fail. While I think Mauer will produce, I just doubt he will produce to the tune of .365 every season. And the going rate for a player that averages .330, 20, and 70 is not $23 million per, even at a position where it is rare for a player to hit as well as Mauer does.

Disagree all you want with my arguments about the Twins overpaying for a player at a premium position, but mark my words, Twins fans may resent this deal when they have not won a World Series by the year 2018 and have a player at the age of 35 who will be making $23 million.

A team having to pay this much to keep a player in town is not a good for baseball story.

It is one that is indicative of how much this game has become more about money than anything else.

The NCAA Tournament Has Become Upset Central!

Jossif Ezekilov


So, seeing a lot of red on your tournament bracket? I have, as only 9 of my projected sweet 16 have made it (only 1 of the 4 regional semifinalists in the Midwest region jeez). Both of my finalists, Kansas and Villanova (yea, yea I know), are out of the tournament.


Indeed, this has been a tournament college hoops fans will remember for a long time. There have been some great, and very close, games in this March Madness. Out of the past 49 matches, 12 have been decided by 3 points or less. But what has been even more notable has been the upsets. Top seeds have got upset by lower teams in every tournament (one of the things that make the tournament so interesting). But this year has been ridiculous. 


Three of the 16 remaining teams are double digit seeds (No. 10 Saint Mary’s, No.11 Washington, and No. 12 Cornell), after 8 of them went to the second round. There have been a number of teams who were thought to be sure locks for the sweet 16 (and further) and yet have been upset, including No. 3 Georgetown (beaten by a hot shooting No. 14 Ohio), and No. 2 Villanova (outhustled by No. 10 Saint Mary’s, much to my chagrin). Of course, nothing compares to No. 9 Northern Iowa beating the number one team overall Kansas, a team many people thought unstoppable and likely to win it all (like my bro Charlie Klein, sorry mate). Honestly, if there are still people out there with perfect brackets, they deserve some type of monetary compensation.


So what’s going on this year; why are so many big teams falling short? The answer is quite simple: a series of complacencies and miscues on the part of the high seeded teams, combined with underdogs who made them pay for their mistakes with incredible performances. Take Villanova for example. Many saw Nova, a Final Four team last year, as a team that had the sweet 16 as a certainty and further progression likelihood. Yet they came into the tournament executing poorly on offense and barely survived number 15 seed Robert Morris, beating them by one possession in overtime. The poor execution continued into the second round, yet this time Saint Mary’s and their big man Omar Samhan did not let them live it down. 32 points and 7 rebounds on 13 of 16 for Samhan helped down the Wildcats, while Scottie Reynolds’ poor shooting (2 for 11) didn’t help.


Villanova should consider themselves lucky; Georgetown didn’t even get to stay in the tournament past its opening day. Their Achilles heel was poor perimeter defense combined with hot shooting (57% from the 3-point line, ridiculous) from a relatively unknown Ohio squad (that had a losing record in conference play and had not won a tournament game in 27 years).


And then there’s Kansas, best team in the country, losing to Northern Iowa, a team I had trouble picking to win their first round matchup. After a routine blowout of Lehigh, they simply did not play the level of ball we expect of Kansas against UNI. 44% FG, 26% from long range, and 9 assists are not numbers that deserve a Dick Vitale-style “O yea baby!” And then there was Ali Farokhmanesh. Don’t blame you if you didn’t know his name before, but you should know it now. After downing UNLV with a late three pointer, he did the same to deny the Jayhawks of their title dreams, drilling a trey that will surely go down in NCAA history.


There are several powerhouse teams that are still alive, including the other No. 1 seeds (Kentucky, Duke, and Syracuse). These teams have enjoyed a fairly easy trip to the Sweet 16, especially Kentucky, which beat its opponents by an average of 29.5 points. However, they should learn a lesson from teams like Kansas and Villanova: there is no room for complacency or letting up in March Madness, at least not until you cut the nets.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Detroit Tigers

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Max Scherzer (SP)
Austin Jackson (OF)
Phil Coke (RP)
Daniel Schlereth (RP)
Jose Valverde (RP)
Johnny Damon (OF)

Key Departures:

Edwin Jackson (SP)
Curtis Granderson (CF)
Placido Polanco (UTIL)

While looking at the Detroit Tigers 2010 roster, I have a hard time diagnosing just how good this team will be. It certainly has the potential to win the division this season, but I ultimately have my doubts at a few positions. There are too many players on this team who have something to prove this season. Now, you may be wondering, what's so bad about that? Aside from that being a motivational tool, it does not do a team all the much good, because it shows what little reliable production they really have. And the Tigers are no exception.

The Tigers are going to start with two rookies in their starting nine on Opening Day. Granted, Austin Jackson is supposed to be a fantastic prospect and Scott Sizemore has the same last name as perennial All-Star Grady Sizemore. But, unlike Jason Heyward, neither of those two have been lighting up spring training.

And then there are the veterans that have to prove they can still play quality baseball in the Major Leagues. Carlos Guillen is three seasons removed from hitting above .300 and Magglio Ordonez, while hitting .310 last season, saw his power numbers drop considerably. Combine the uncertainty in the lineup with whether the Tigers have enough pitching depth beyond Verlander and Porcello and one has the recipe for third place.

Projected Starting Nine

1. Austin Jackson (CF)
2. Johnny Damon (LF)
3. Miguel Cabrera (1B)
4. Magglio Ordonez (RF)
5. Brandon Inge (3B)
6. Carlos Guillen (DH)
7. Gerald Laird (C)
8. Scott Sizemore (2B)
9. Adam Everett (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Justin Verlander
2. Rick Porcello
3. Max Scherzer
4. Jeremy Bonderman
5. Nate Robertson

Best Reliever: Joel Zumaya

Closer: Jose Valverde

Predicted Finish: Third in the AL Central

Can Tambellini Strike Oil in Edmonton With This Upcoming Draft?

Puneet Singh


Face it: If you've followed the Edmonton Oilers over the past few years you'll know that they aren't quite the Oilers of the Messier or Gretzky era. Even that Stanley Cup run from 2006 seems eons ago.


Given the high expectations Edmonton had for this year they've fallen flat on their faces. While the Oilers were suppose to challenge for a playoff spot, they now are fighting for the #1 overall pick, and winning that battle with ease. Injuries along with poor play have crippled the team and ultimately put them out of contention since December. We can pin this to the Khabibulin signing not working out, Ales Hemsky getting injured for the year or Pat Quinn not working out but bottom line is they just flat out suck. 
Oh, and Shawn Horcoff has been playing like a pond hockey player.


Okay that last one wasn't needed but if anyone knows me, they know that I despise  Horcoff.


For all the bad things about Edmonton there are many good spots. They have an absolute plethora of young talent and their older players are progressing nicely as well. Dustin Penner made the jump to the upper echelon category of forwards with his performance this year especially given that he's had no help around him. Hemsky has been consistent over the past three years as an 80 point forward a year up until tearing his labrum in the shoulder this year. Couple those veterans progression with the youngsters in Gilbert Brule, Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano who have had sporadic success in the NHL thus far and other youngsters waiting to jump up to the NHL in Jordan Eberle, Alex Plante and Riley Nash and suddenly have a good young nucleus.


That nucleus could be that much better for the long haul if Tambellini can pull the strings of the NHL Draft. With the upcoming draft being raved about the Top 3 players (Tyler Seguin, Taylor Hall and Cam Fowler) Edmonton is in the works to make a play for two of them.


Reports have come out from Edmonton that Tambellini intends on shopping Hemsky and the 31st pick from this upcoming draft in hopes of landing either the #2 or #3 overall choice. This ultimately means they'll be talking with either the Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightening, Carolina Hurricanes or New York Islanders for these discussions.


Seeing that it's more than likely Boston that they'll be having discussions with about #2 and given Boston's need for a scoring winger, this deal certainly has legs. Edmonton already have discussed taking salary back in return so right there is a discussion for the disappointing Michael Ryder for Hemsky swap. Given Edmonton's depth at center as well, they will more than likely have to give up one of  Brule, Gagner or Cogliano in that package to help sweeten the pot for Boston given A.) it is the number two overall pick that Boston are giving up and B.) no one knows the severity of Marc Savard's concussion/head injury.


So lets give this a scenario: Sam Gagner, Ales Hemsky and the 31st overall pick in the upcoming NHL draft to the Boston Bruins for the #2 overall choice in the upcoming draft and Michael Ryder.


Let's break this down from both angles.


Boston wins short term and possibly long term. Gagner is at worst a second line center while Hemsky is amongst the elite wingers when healthy. Gagner is under control for one more year while Hemsky has two years left on his deal. Gagner is still emerging while Hemsky should return to form after recovering from injury. Given how anemic the Bruin's offense is, this is an instant shot to the arm to wake them up.


Edmonton will take this deal in a heartbeat. Tambellini wants both Hall and Seguin. He envisions the Seguin-Eberle-Hall line to emulate the Richards-Lecavalier-St. Louis line from '05 Lightening or the Heatley-Thornton-Marleau line from San Jose. With the drafting of those two wingers and coupling them with Eberle, Tambellini would not only have a promising future on his hands but three potential faces of the franchise. While the Oilers might not go anywhere next year, they could make an astronomical leap come 2012 with Seguin-Eberle-Hall being the ones to start the revolution.


Given all the failures of Tabellini over the years, this could instantly right every wrong he has committed: from the Horcoff extension, to the Khabibulin signing to letting Mike Comrie get engaged to Hilary Duff. The 2010 NHL Entry Draft could potentially be the polish to a bright future for the Edmonton Oilers. Right now Edmonton is looking at either Tyler Seguin or Taylor Hall. But come June 25th, 2010 Edmonton could potentially have both.

Ruminations about my Jayhawks

Charlie Klein

My favourite college basketball team lost today. These things happen. Anyone who knows me at all, or is friends with me on facebook, knows exactly which teams I like. And everyone remembers come March how much I love my Kansas Jayhawks. I let everyone know.

This season I really felt it was going to be their year. Everything was going according to plan. Sherron and Cole came back to win the Championship this time around. They were ranked number one in the nation for most of the season. Everyone rushed to anoint them as the best team in the nation. And for whatever reason, I believed them.

Today was the perfect expression of Murphy's Law. Right down to the final product. Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. All of the pundits and most of America picked Kansas to win the National Championship. I thought it was in the bag. Ali Farokmanesh and Northern Iowa had other plans.

I honestly think that my boys thought they could win by just walking on the court and going through the motions, that the clouds would part and the light of the Gods of basketball would smile upon them and grant them their every wish. They took far too long to get involved in the game. And they got burned.

Unfortunately, by the divine providence of the NCAA selection committee they put my beloved Jayhawks in the toughest region in the field of 64. What a way to reward the number one overall seed. Instead of playing the winner of the play-in game, we played arguably the best 16 seed. And then we played the best nine seed in the field in Northern Iowa.

I had a bad feeling about this game going in, but if you asked me if I thought Kansas had a chance in hell of ultimately losing this game, I would have said something to the effect of "get outta heah!" I did not prioritize this game at all. I figured, "Hey, I can afford to miss one of the six games we are going to play this month and next."

This tournament has been so crazy that many, particularly the fans of Kansas, Villanova, and Georgetown, might prefer the BCS to the tournament. Nine times out of ten Kansas beats a team like Northern Iowa by a double digit margin. The beauty (and the bane) of the NCAA tournament is that the one time out of ten can happen, and often does, in March.

I don't want to sit here and make excuses for my team. Honestly we should have crushed Northern Iowa. We ought to have played defense with greater energy, get out to the three point line and put a hand in Farokmanesh's face. Play that Jayhawk D we played all season. But, we played a terrible game and deserved our fate.

I am sure this is not the way that senior guard Sherron Collins imagined his Kansas basketball career would end. I'm sure he thought it would end with him cutting down the nets in Indianapolis. I thought it would finish that way too. Luther Vandross would come on and I could smile with the rest of Jayhawk nation as our boy finished his Kansas career in style. Instead we had to watch another group of cornfed midwestern boys pump their fists and pull on their jerseys in celebration. It was not our day.

I just hope to the NCAA College Basketball Gods that the Morris twins, Xavier Henry, and Cole Aldrich are back next season to take back what ought to have been ours. Maybe as Kansas fans we are not allowed to fall into the rut of arrogance that comes with winning national title after national title like North Carolina and Duke. Once every twenty or so years just makes it that much more special, and maybe, just maybe, allows the rest of the nation to forget that we always win and ralk chalk and wave that wheat right along with us.

So for you, Sherron, I just want to say thank you for a wonderful career and for leading our team to 125 wins. You truly are a legend and will never be forgotten in Jayhawk nation.

p.s. I really hope that all of the number one seeds are out by the Elite 8. Then we'll have a real tournament on our hands.

p.p.s. Now I must focus all of my energy on cheering BYU to an improbable win over K-State. Hey, stranger things have happened. And I know that better than most people.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Cleveland Indians

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Russell Branyan (1B/DH)
Lou Marson (C)
Jason Donald (SS)
Anderson Hernandez (2B)
Justin Masterson (SP)

Key Departures:

Cliff Lee (SP)
Josh Barfield (2B)
Ryan Garko (1B)
Mark DeRosa (UTIL)
Rafael Betancourt (RP)

Earlier on in this series of team previews, I made a comment about how if Anderson Hernandez is on your team and has a realistic shot of starting at some point down the line, your team is not contending. The same statement is true of the Cleveland Indians. This team on paper looks so bad that it probably cannot even spell the word contender.

Now I might be wishing I could have this all back in a few years, but in 2010 the Indians will have very little to offer the rest of Major League Baseball. Having shipped all of their in their prime talent away in the past two years in C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez, it should not come as much of a surprise that the Indians are not going to win the Central this season.

I am, however, excited to see how their young talent develops. Matt LaPorta, part of the Sabathia trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008, is tearing it up once again in spring training. When he got the call-up last season he did pretty well, hitting seven homeruns and driving in 21 runs at a .254 batting average in 181 at-bats. One can expect those numbers to improve this year with more at-bats considering this lad's immense talent.

Lou Marson, part of the Cliff Lee trade with the Philadelphia Phillies last season, is expected to start behind the plate on Opening Day at the Jake. Marson did not get a whole lot of opportunities last season to impress, but this will be his year to prove himself.

And in the starting rotation the Indians have a part of the Victor Martinez trade with the Boston Red Sox in Justin Masterson. He will be their third starter in 2010. Last season with the Indians Masterson was 1-7 with a 4.55 ERA in 57.1 IP. The Indians will expect those numbers to improve as Masterson gets used to being a big league starter. And its not like they have many other options at that spot in the rotation either.

On paper the Indians starting lineup does not look that bad. IF, and it is a major if, Russell Branyan and Travis Hafner can stay healthy for a whole season, the Indians have a chance to drive in a lot of runs. I've always liked Grady Sizemore and appreciated how he gives a lot of effort to a team that does not win very much. All the same, I doubt the Indians can stay healthy for a whole season and even if they were able to, I doubt very much their ability to challenge the Tigers, Twins and White Sox for the division.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Asdrubal Cabrera (SS)
2. Jhonny Peralta (3B)
3. Grady Sizemore (CF)
4. Travis Hafner (DH)
5. Shin-Soo Choo (RF)
6. Russell Branyan (1B)
7. Matt LaPorta (LF)
8. Lou Marson (C)
9. Luis Valbuena (2B)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Jake Westbrook
2. Fausto Carmona
3. Justin Masterson
4. David Huff
5. Aaron Laffey

Best Reliever: Joe Smith

Closer: Kerry Wood

Predicted Finish: Fourth in the AL Central

Comment: Is Chelsea On The Precipice of Total Meltdown?

Charlie Klein

Just one loss is all it takes. The high flying Chelsea Football Club, the sexy pick in this year's Barclays Premier League title race, dropped out of the Champions League on Tuesday to Inter Milan 3-1 on aggregate.

Chelsea are two points behind leader Manchester United with a game in hand, but find themselves out of the premier club football tournament in the world. This is their earliest loss in the tournament in some time. Impatient ownership and expectant fans are not likely to tolerate such 'mediocrity' from one of the most expensive sides in world football. And why should they?

The loss at home to Inter Milan is particularly injurious for Chelsea fans. Watching their golden boy Jose Mourinho return to the Bridge for the first time since his controversial dismissal in 2007 and defeat them in tidy fashion had to make them wonder why Mourinho was ever fired in the first place.

It is not, for once, the manager who has the Russian oil tycoon to fear. Abramovich's aides commented to the Times of London that Ancelotti  has the owner's support for a comprehensive re-tool of the current Chelsea squad.

And such a re-tool is necessary at the Bridge. Of Ancelotti's usual starting XI,  only Branislav Ivanovic is in his late twenties, with almost every other player in his thirties. The youth movement at Chelsea has been an expensive one, but also one that has yet to reap any benefits.

Who should we expect to see exit Stamford Bridge this summer? I expect Deco, Hilario, Paulo Ferreira, and Ricardo Carvalho find new teams for next season. I would even offer that Chelsea ought to look to move John Terry, Nicolas Anelka, Ashley Cole, Michael Ballack and Joe Cole. They could probably fetch a lot for those players and have the ability to buy Franck Ribery and Sergio Aguero among others.

They have to change the culture around this team. It is one in which a cheater and overall immoral player is allowed to remain as captain, and one in which the players have too much autonomy. Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho can feel pleased as punch that he has loyal players like Samuel Eto'o and Wesley Sneijder to make it work on the pitch. And he can even sit back and eat custard cremes in front of the London media as he watches his former side slide further and further back into what they used to be pre-2003.

Clearly the current roster is more in awe of their former manager than their current one.

Jimmy Fallon Makes His Pick

Charlie Klein

During the Leno v. O'Brien wars on the social networking sites, I decided to stay relatively out of it. I liked Leno and I liked Conan. I have to say though, my favorite late night comic is Jimmy Fallon. So I'm going to give him a bump he may or may not deserve and share with you his pick for this year's tournament.

Whose Running These Leagues These Days!?!

Charlie Klein 

This past week has borne witness to some major acts of hypocrisy on the part of those in charge of policing league rules in three major sports around the world. From Major League Baseball to the English Premier League, there has been a fair amount of inconsistency when it comes to the equal application of the law.

Our first incident comes from the English Premier League, where Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard elbowed Portsmouth bad boy Michael Brown clearly in the face during their match on Monday. Yesterday it came out that the English FA decided against punishing Gerrard. This would be "acceptable" if that is the way they had interpreted similar events previously this season. The FA suspended Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand in a similar incident with Hull City forward Craig Fagan.

Here is a brilliantly produced video by Republik of Mancunia:

This week in Major League Baseball, two of my beloved Mariners have been subject to wrongful ejections and in one case, an absolutely ridiculous suspension. Whoever is running the show over at MLB, clearly has been doing a horrible job. Mariners ace Cliff Lee has been suspended for five regular season games for throwing upstairs to Chris Snyder in a Cactus League outing. 

This is ridiculous for three reasons. First, since the transgression occurred in a spring training game, Lee ought to be suspended for five spring training games instead of regular season games. Second, Snyder practices mixed marshal arts as a hobby, so it wouldn't be wise to hit him. Third, Barry Zito hit Prince Fielder with clear intent during the first week of spring training and was not suspended. Mixed message? I think so. 

Cliff Lee is appealing the suspension.

And in their Cactus League game last night against the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners DH/LF Milton Bradley was ejected last night for taking off his gloves and dropping his bat when there were only two outs. Perhaps this is a bad sign for the Mariners this season, but it still is spring training. The umpire explained that Bradley "couldn't do that." Seems like Bradley's ejection was reputation over reality. MLB officiating has a lot of work to do before they are ready for the regular season. And a bit of apologizing to do to the Seattle Mariners.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Chicago White Sox

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Mark Teahen (OF/3B)
J.J. Putz (RP)
Jake Peavy (SP)
Omar Vizquel (SS)
Andruw Jones (OF)
Juan Pierre (OF)

Key Departures:

Chris Getz (2B)
Scott Podsednik (OF)
Jim Thome (DH)
Jermaine Dye (OF)
Dewayne Wise (OF)

I have avoided the AL Central like the plague these past two months because of all the divisions in Major League Baseball, this is the one in which three different teams have a legitimate shot at winning it. Today I will start with the Chicago White Sox. I really like their lineup and rotation. But I am not sure that I should.

Their season is highly dependent upon three players performing at peak capacity.

1. Gordon Beckham. This man was everyone's favorite rookie player, especially those lucky fantasy owners who were able to pick him up last season. In 2009 Beckham hit .270 with 14 homeruns and 63 RBIs in only 378 at-bats. If projections are to be believed, Beckham is projected to hit .270 with 24 homeruns and 87 RBIs. If he does produce at that level (or above it) expect the Sox to reap the benefits.

2. Alex Rios. This was the one puzzler move of last season's waiver wire. The White Sox took Rios and his ridiculous contract off the Blue Jays hands, believing that Rios could find his form at U.S. Cellular Field. This turned out to be as poor of a decision for GM Ken Williams as jaywalking on a Seattle street. Rios hit .199 in 146 at-bats for the southsiders.

3. Jake Peavy. The one guy that if he stays healthy for a whole season is almost guaranteed to give your team 17 wins, 200 strikeouts, and a sub three ERA. Jake Peavy is that good. Problem is, he has not stayed healthy lately. His last full season was in 2007, when he threw 223.1 innings with a 2.54 ERA with a 19-6 record and 240 strikeouts. IF Peavy is healthy, and that is a big if, he can carry this team to a division title.

There is solid depth all around this team. The White Sox have the best rotation in the division 1-4. I have my doubts about Freddy Garcia as a fifth starter, but most fifth starters around baseball have their fair share of questions around their pitching abilities. Sox first baseman Paul Konerko never gets the credit that he deserves and Carlos Quentin has been great for the White Sox the past two seasons. Their lineup top to bottom is better than the Tigers and the Twins and that is why I feel more than comfortable in picking them to win the Central this season.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Juan Pierre (LF)
2. Gordon Beckham (2B)
3. Carlos Quentin (RF)
4. Paul Konerko (1B)
5. Alexei Ramirez (SS)
6. Mark Teahen (3B)
7. Alex Rios (CF)
8. A.J. Pierzynski (C)
9. Mark Kotsay (DH)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Jake Peavy
2. Mark Buehrle
3. Gavin Floyd
4. John Danks
5. Freddy Garcia

Best Reliever: Matt Thornton

Closer: Bobby Jenks

Predicted Finish: First in the AL Central

Daily Fail: Skip Bayless & Dwight Howard

Charlie Klein

Every morning when I wake up, I usually turn on ESPN2 and watch First Take to see what the crazy Skip Bayless is on about that day. And it's better than watching the same highlights on Sportscenter for the fifth or sixth time.

Today was no exception. And what maniacal statement did I wake up to this morning? That Marcin Gortat is a better all-around player than Dwight Howard. This whole conversation was a result of comments that Howard made about Bayless after the game last night.

“Well Skip Bayless can call me out a million times. I don’t think he’s ever put on a jock strap, stepped on the floor and played any type of basketball. That’s his job. That’s their job to criticize players. Only people that we have to listen to are our coaches. Those are the guys that get paid to make us better players. Skip, he’s called everybody out. He’s called LeBron “Prince James.” LeBron’s one of the best players in the world, and he doesn’t think LeBron is good. It’s somebody just talking.”

 Now there's nothing particularly personal in those comments, but this morning Skip acted as if Howard had attacked his mother. As a journalist, I do not have a problem with athletes calling out analysts who call them out on a regular basis.

Moreover, Bayless' constant hate of LeBron James is completely unjustified. A player that has been revolutionizing the game for the past four or five seasons deserves all the praise we can give him. The fact that LeBron has not won a championship does not matter much when one is talking about his individual talent.

If championships were the paradigm, Robert Horry would be considered a better player than LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant, and Dwight Howard, when he clearly is not.

So Skip please, for the love of all things beautiful in this world, just shut up. For once.

NCAA Tournament: Final Four & National Champion

Charlie Klein

Final Four

2. Kansas State
1. Kansas


3. Baylor
1. Kentucky


National Championship Game

1. Kentucky
1. Kansas


National Champion


Kansas University

NCAA Tournament: South Region

Charlie Klein


South Region Winner: Baylor

1. Duke
16. Arkansas Pine-Bluff

8. California
9. Louisville


5. Texas A&M
12. Utah State


4. Purdue
13. Siena


6. Notre Dame
11. Old Dominion

3. Baylor
14. Sam Houston St.

7. Richmond
10. St. Mary's

2. Villanova
15. Robert Morris

Second Round

1. Duke
9. Louisville

12. Utah State
13. Siena

6. Notre Dame
3. Baylor


7. Richmond
2. Villanova


Regional Semifinal

1. Duke
12. Utah State

3. Baylor
2. Villanova

Regional Final 


1. Duke
3. Baylor

NCAA Tournament: East Region

Charlie Klein


East Regional Winner: Kentucky


First Round


1. Kentucky 
16. East Tennessee St.

8. Texas
9. Wake Forest

5. Temple
12. Cornell


4. Wisconsin
13. Wofford

6. Marquette
11. Washington


3. New Mexico
14. Montana


7. Clemson
10. Missouri


2. West Virginia
15. Morgan St.

Second Round

1. Kentucky
8. Texas

12. Cornell
4. Wisconsin

11. Washington
3. New Mexico


10. Missouri
2. West Virginia


Regional Semifinal


1. Kentucky
12. Cornell

3. New Mexico
2. West Virginia


Regional Final


1. Kentucky
2. West Virginia

NCAA Tournament: West Region

Charlie Klein


West Regional Winner: Kansas State


First Round


1. Syracuse
16. Vermont

8. Gonzaga
9. Florida St.

5. Butler
12. UTEP


4. Vanderbilt
13. Murray St.


6. Xavier
11. Minnesota

3. Pittsburgh
14. Oakland

7. BYU
10. Florida


2. Kansas St.
15. North Texas

Second Round


1. Syracuse
8. Gonzaga

12. UTEP
13. Murray St.

6. Xavier
3. Pittsburgh


10. Florida
2. Kansas St.


Regional Semifinal


1. Syracuse
12. UTEP

3. Pittsburgh
2. Kansas St. 


Regional Final


1. Syracuse
2. Kansas St.

Bracketology Baybay! Midwest Region

Charlie Klein

SO with one of the best sporting events tipping off tomorrow, it is about time that I posted my brackets for this year's big dance. The winners for each game are bolded. I will start with the Midwest Region.

Midwest Winner: Kansas

1. Kansas
16. Lehigh

8. UNLV
9. Northern Iowa

5. Michigan St.
12. New Mexico St.

6. Tennessee
11. San Diego St.

4. Maryland
13. Houston

3. Georgetown
14. Ohio

7. Oklahoma St.
10. Georgia Tech

2. Ohio St.
15. UC Santa Barbara

Second Round

1. Kansas
9. Northern Iowa

5. Michigan St
4. Maryland


11. San Diego St.
3. Georgetown


7. Oklahoma St.
2. Ohio St.


Regional Semifinal

1. Kansas
4. Maryland

3. Georgetown
2. Ohio State


Regional Final

1. Kansas 
2. Ohio State

Daily Fail: Add Wreckless Driving To JT's Laundry List of Wrongs

Charlie Klein

I understand that losing is painful. I get that it is difficult to see your former boss prosper without you. And I understand that dropping out of the Champions League is painful. But there are just some acts that are unjustifiable even in the wake of a loss.

Last night following Chelsea's piss poor performance versus Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan, captain John Terry injured a security guard at Stamford Bridge whilst trying to flee the stadium in his Land Rover. According to an eyewitness, Terry hit the man after stepping on the gas as his car was mobbed by curious fans.

Area police have commented that they plan on investigating the event fully.

This is not Terry's first public act of infamy. Only a few weeks ago it came to light that he had sexual relations with England teammate Wayne Bridge's girlfriend Vanessa Perroncel. Just google image her and you will understand why Terry might have been tempted... All of that aside, after winning father of the year, Mr. Terry had a lot of explaining to do.

While watching the Inter Chelsea game, I noticed that there is a banner hanging in one of the ends at Stamford Bridge that says "Terry: Leader, Captain, Legend." I wonder how much more of this the fans can take before they wish they had sold Terry to Manchester City last summer.

And our Land Rover drive of the game goes to.... JOHN TERRY!

2010 MLB Season Preview: San Diego Padres

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Jon Garland (SP)
Yorvit Torrealba (C)
Jerry Hairston Jr. (3B)

Key Departures:

Kevin Kouzmanoff (1B/3B)
Jake Peavy (SP)
Cla Meredith (RP)
Brian Giles (OF)
Cliff Floyd (OF)
Josh Wilson (SS)
Eliezer Alfonzo (C)
Chad Gaudin (SP)

Since it is spring break here at GW and it was especially nice here in the D.C., I decided to pick where I wish I was instead and write a season preview of the San Diego Padres. The Fathers were pretty abysmal last season, finishing 20 games back of first. And following the trade of their best pitcher last season I cannot honestly expect much better this season; especially considering how little they did this offseason in the way of improving the squad.

The one player of interest in this Padres team is first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. And the biggest story is when A-Gon will be A-Gone in San Diego. In the 2009 season, Gonzalez hit 40 homeruns, 99 RBIs, for a .277 average in 552 at-bats. Now that's what I call production. Everyone fully expects Gonzalez to be traded by the deadline to the Boston Red Sox, but there are other teams out there that could just as easily nab the Padres' slugger.

Aside from Gonzalez, there really is not much to talk about. I like Tony Gwynn Jr., the Padres young centerfielder, but there is not much else on the roster in the way of exciting young talent. It will be interesting to see how Chris Young does on his return from injury last season. In his last full season in 2007, Young had a 3.12 ERA with 167 strikeouts in 173 innings pitched. Kevin Correia will be asked to do more this season as the Padres' number two starter. Last season Correia was 12-11 with a 3.91 ERA in 198 innings pitched.

All in all, the 2010 season ought to be one to forget for baseball fans in San Diego.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Tony Gwynn Jr. (CF)
2. David Eckstein (2B)
3. Scott Hairston (LF)
4. Adrian Gonzalez (1B)
5. Chase Headley (3B)
6. Will Venable (RF)
7. Nick Hundley (C)
8. Everth Cabrera (SS)
9. Chris Young (SP)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Chris Young
2. Kevin Correia
3. Jon Garland
4. Clayton Richard
5. Mat Latos

Best Reliever: Edward Mujica

Closer: Heath Bell

Predicted Finish: Fifth in the NL West.

The Double Standard in the NHL

Charlie Klein


The National Hockey League has suspended Alexander Ovechkin for two games following his hit on Brian Campbell last night in Chicago. NHL Senior Executive Vice President Colin Campbell has also fined the Capitals star $232,000. And to me, this is utter garbage.


I watched the game yesterday and saw the hit Ovechkin placed on Campbell. And I tweeted yesterday, "what a horse sh*t call by the referees giving Ovechkin a game misconduct from a hit from the side." And my opinion on it has not changed. Sure, it was a hard hit. Yes, it definitely injured Campbell. Of course I wish that Ovechkin would not have hit him like that. But, it is completely ludicrous that of all hits to be punished by the NHL this season, this is the one that Campbell decides to lay down any discipline. 


I would offer that these two hits are much worse than Ovechkin's. 


The first of which is the Mike Richards hit on David Booth:

The second of which is the Matt Cooke hit on Marc Savard:

And here's the Ovechkin hit:

The first two hits received no sanction from the genius that is Colin Campbell. And yet the third one does. Such logic clearly indicates that the NHL is specifically targeting Alex Ovechkin and attempting to make him the poster boy for vicious hits in the game. What is obvious from the video footage is that Ovechkin hit Campbell from the side, which does not call for a boarding major penalty and a game misconduct, it is a two minute minor penalty. 

Even if you do not agree with me that Ovechkin does not deserve a suspension for his hit, the fact remains that the NHL has indubitably failed when it comes to disciplinary measures regarding hits. If the first two had resulted in suspensions and fines, I would have no issue at all with what has happened to Ovechkin. But it clearly has not. All of you Ovechkin haters can gloat about this, but you must know you do not have the high ground when it comes to rational thinking. 

Sunday's Best in the NHL

Charlie Klein 

Here are my three top plays from yesterday's action.

First Star: Niklas Backstrom leads the Washington Capitals to victory in OT versus the Chicago Blackhawks

Second Star: Grabovski Crushed!

Third Star: Dubie and Richards Drop The Gloves