2010: The Year of Rooney

Charlie Klein


Wayne Rooney is the best football player on the planet. There. I said it. You read it. Hopefully you did not read it with raised eyebrows or guffaws. Anyone who has watched the 24 year-old forward play this season would say the same thing. An unbelievable 28 goals in all competitions with Manchester United still in the hunt for all of the post-season honours leads one to believe that 2010 may yet be the Year of Rooney.

Many have noticed a marked change in the always fiery Evertonian during the 2009-2010 campaign. Rooney is now able to head the ball much better, having scored his last five goals via perfect headers. Yesterday's Carling Cup-winning goal is a perfect example of Rooney's newfound mastery in the air. Wayne has also matured off the pitch by becoming a father to a son named Kai.

Rooney has also been in electric form with the England National Team, one of the favourites to win the World Cup this summer in South Africa. Wazza scored four goals during England's World Cup qualifying run and is recognized by the football community as being the key to ending England's 44 year drought in the competition.

For these international awards, the winner usually exercises domination over his entire domain. Last season it was Lionel Messi's year, as his club Barcelona won six major trophies including the UEFA Champions League. The year prior to that when Cristiano Ronaldo won the award he led Manchester Untied to domestic and European glory as United were champions of Europe and England. And Kaka won the award during the season in which AC Milan won the Champions League. The formula for winning the award is clear. If Rooney can lead United to their fourth consecutive Premier League title and their third straight Champions League final, I would put a decent amount of money down for him claiming the Ballon d'Or.

In an era of me-first players, Wayne Rooney deserves special praise for being a club man through and through. Willing to play absolutely any position on the pitch without a second's hesitation, this man loves the game of football. And he is a player the world of football ought to love right back. This year Rooney ought to be honoured with the Ballon d'Or. Move over Messi, there's a new sheriff in town. As Clive Tyldesley once screamed, "Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!" I don't anyone's going to forget it anytime soon.

The NBA Adds Straws To Its Banned Substances List

Charlie Klein 

The National Basketball Association took a page out of the No Fun League's book (the NFL) and banned all players from chewing straws during NBA games. The figurehead of the straw chewing movement is none other than new Dallas Maverick Caron Butler, who unnoticed by David Stern chewed straws in Washington, D.C. for three years without sanction.

Maybe it's just me, but this seems to be pretty silly. Having watched a fair amount of NBA games, I've never really noticed all that many players chewing straws during a game. It's not an epidemic Mr. Stern. Maybe the NBA should just go ahead and ban EVERYTHING from the sidelines like gum, skittles, starburst, lollipops, or nail-biting.

Come on David, let Caron chew his straws in peace.

2010 MLB Season Preview: Baltimore Orioles

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Kevin Millwood (SP)
Garrett Atkins (1B/3B)
Miguel Tejada (3B/SS)

Key Departures:

Gregg Zaun (C)
Adam Eaton (SP)
Melvin Mora (OF/INF)

If one has ever watched an Orioles game on MASN in the Baltimore/Washington area, one would think that the Orioles had all of the young talent to take over Major League Baseball for the next decade. And yet this is, obviously, not the case. I used to think that Buck Martinez was decent until I heard him say that Adam Jones would be the next Frank Robinson. Nothing against Jones but he is no Frank Robinson.

The O's do have some interesting young talent on offer. I am excited to see what former Seattle Mariners prospect Chris Tillman can do in his first full Major League season and Nolan Reimold impressed as a rookie last season. Brad Bergesen also pitched beyond his age last season with a 3.43 ERA in 123.1 IP. The major test for their young pitching staff is whether or not they can maintain their numbers through 200 innings. And that is where my doubts about this team in 2010 creep in.

The Orioles did make some interesting additions to their club over the offseason by adding Garrett Atkins from the Colorado Rockies, Kevin Millwood from the Texas Rangers, and bringing back Miguel Tejada from the Houston Astros. These moves clearly reflect the Orioles GM Andy MacPhail's desire to balance out the youth on his squad with some experienced players. In any one season one does not know what he's going to get from any single player, but it would be fair to say that all of those players with the exception of Millwood are "educated" bets made by the Orioles brass.

I do expect Adam Jones to continue to develop into the player the Orioles traded for in 2007, but his play will not be enough to turn the tide for the boys in orange and black, especially considering how competitive the AL East will be this season. The Orioles will be cellar dwellers once more.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Brian Roberts (2B)
2. Adam Jones (CF)
3. Nick Markakis (RF)
4. Luke Scott (DH)
5. Miguel Tejada (3B)
6. Garrett Atkins (1B)
7. Nolan Reimold (LF)
8. Matt Wieters (C)
9. Cesar Izturis (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Kevin Millwood
2. Jeremy Guthrie
3. Brad Bergesen
4. Chris Tillman
5. Brian Matusz

Predicted Finish: 5th in the AL East

Career Death After 30: Fact or Fiction

Charlie Klein

One of the great chicken or the egg arguments in sports is whether or not a running back makes an offensive line look good or if it's the offensive line that makes the running back get his thousand yards. The verdict that the NFL seems to have reached is that its all about the running back, and once he is over the age of 30, you cut him faster than a convicted felon.

And yet I refuse to believe that this so-called universal law in football is absolutely true. LaDanian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook were both released on the same day earlier this week primarily for being over the hill running backs that were not worth what it would have cost to keep on the roster. Both of these players played major roles in the successes of their franchises and when you said "San Diego Chargers" the first thing most people thought of was LaDanian Tomlinson.

I would argue that both LT and Westbrook were more victims to inadequate offensive lines than to their age. Only two offensive lineman from the Chargers and Eagles made the Pro Bowl.  Neither were making headlines for having the best lines in the league and their running games suffered.

I understand cutting Westbrook more than LT. Westbrook has been more off and on with his health than Brangelina. And from the Eagles perspective they already have a replacement waiting in the wings with LeSean McCoy. The Chargers do not have an heir apparent that they believe can take over the full load from LT. John Clayton of ESPN said yesterday that the Chargers hope to use Sproles in a limited capacity within the offense and keep him as a kick/punt returner.

For all of the statheads out there who point out that the trend that all running backs over 30 experience an immediate downturn in production, I give you Thomas Jones. At 32 years old, Jones ran for 1,401 yards for the New York Jets in 2009. HE IS OVER 30 AND RUSHED FOR OVER A THOUSAND YARDS! And he also had an incredible offensive line with three pro bowlers to block for him. I rest my case. It's more about the offensive line than the individual back in almost every case.

Daily Fail: Mike Milbury & His Eurotrash

Charlie Klein

I absolutely and unequivocally despise Mike Milbury. I've never been a big fan of his comments that come between periods during NBC's game of the week and his vain attempts to be Don Cherry just do not impress me. I am no fan of Cherry's either, but at least the latter can plead senility with some of the hair brained comments he makes.

Last night, for those of you who do not watch Olympic Hockey as religiously as I do, Mike Milbury said that Russia "brought their Eurotrash game" last night in their 7-3 loss to Team Canada (it should be noted that he also likes to give himself a fake Canadian accent). It is safe to say that Russia did not play very well last night, but to use an epithet like Eurotrash is incredibly out of line.

According to Encarta, Eurotrash is defined as "an offensive term for wealthy or fashionable European people." 


I'm just waiting for the suspension to come. 

2010 MLB Season Preview: Arizona Diamondbacks

Charlie Klein


Key Arrivals:

Edwin Jackson (SP)
Aaron Heilman (RP)
Ian Kennedy (SP)
Bob Howry (RP)
Kelly Johnson (2B)
Adam LaRoche (1B)

Key Departures:

Max Scherzer (SP)
Daniel Schlereth (RP)
Felipe Lopez (2B)
Jon Garland (SP)
Doug Davis (SP)
Eric Byrnes (OF)

The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be one of the success stories of 2010. And I don't think that is too bold of a prediction to make. The D-backs were subject to managerial instability last season after Bob Melvin was fired after 29 games of the season. Melvin's dismissal was not popular within the clubhouse and new manager A.J. Hinch did not experience immediate success with his team. Many still question his age (35) and how he can be an authority figure for players that are older than him, but I think that in his second season in charge he will be more adept at handling the challenges of management.

I have big expectations for the Diamondbacks this season. A healthy Brandon Webb will be a major boost to their starting rotation. Prior to his injury, Webb was amongst the best  pitchers in baseball and with free agency waiting for him at the end of the season, he will be eager to prove to the rest of the league that he is the Cy Young caliber pitcher he used to be. Add Webb to a rotation that also includes Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, two all-stars last season, and you have one of the best 1-2-3's in the league.

Combine that rotation with the development of some of the better young talent in the National League, and one has a contender. Justin Upton will make it abundantly clear to the rest of baseball that he is better than his brother B.J. Upton is poised for a breakout season. Justin hit .300 last season with 26 homeruns and 86 RBIs. Upton is also a fantastic fielder. Mark Reynolds is probably the only 40+ homerun hitter that no one knows. Reynolds is also ready to take over the league in 2010 with his skills in the batter's box and on the hot corner at third base. Free agent signings Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche are decent upgrades over Felipe Lopez and Tony Clark.

I expect them to be big players in the NL Wild Card with a strong chance at winning it. Let's face it, this lineup is pretty damn good and the rotation is one of the best in the NL. Considering how far the NL East as a division has dropped off in the past few years, don't be surprised if the NL Wild Card comes out of the NL West.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Chris Young (CF)
2. Stephen Drew (SS)
3. Justin Upton (RF)
4. Mark Reynolds (3B)
5. Adam LaRoche (1B)
6. Connor Jackson (LF)
7. Miguel Montero (C)
8. Kelly Johnson (2B)
9. Brandon Webb (P)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Brandon Webb
2. Dan Haren
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Ian Kennedy
5. Billy Buckner

Best Reliever: Bob Howry

Closer: Chad Qualls

Predicted Finish: 2nd in the NL West.

Daily Fail: Errant Wieners

Charlie Klein

I'm just going to type this next sentence, in spite of my incredulity that I can even characterize it as a true statement. A Jackson County man is suing the Kansas City Royals mascot Sluggerrr $25,000 for negligence and battery when Sluggerrr hit the man below the eye with a hot dog. This actually is true.

Apparently according to the plaintiff, Sluggerrr grew tired of using the air gun to distribute soggy hot dogs to the disappointed masses within Kauffman Stadium and decided to take matters into his own hands by chucking them with his very own arm. The errant wiener connected with the man directly in the left eye, causing a detached retina and the development of cataracts.

It is perhaps not a surprise then that the Royals were advertising for a new Sluggerrr for the 2010 season. The plaintiff, Mr. Coomer, claims that the Royals "failed to adequately train its agents ... in the proper method in which to throw hotdogs into the stands at Kauffman Stadium." 


Whatever happens next, hopefully the new Sluggerrr will be the beneficiary of some pitching lessons from Cy Young pitcher-in-residence Zack Greinke so that this time, the Royals can avoid hurting their fan base in more direct ways than signing Jason Kendall to be their every day catcher. Just a thought.

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: Kansas City Royals

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Chris Getz (2B)
Rick Ankiel (OF)
Scott Podsednik (OF)
Brian Andreson (OF)
Jason Kendall (C)
Aaron Crow (SP)

Key Departures:

Mark Teahen (IF/OF)
Coco Crisp (OF)
Miguel Olivo (C)
John Buck (C)

The Kansas City Royals are not going to win the World Series this year. There. I said it. It's out of the way. But we do not just write team previews on this blog just because we think those teams have a shot at a World Series, we also like to write about the little guy. And the Royals have been the quintessence of 'Little Guy' ever since the mid 80s when, believe it or not, they actually won a World Series. And that's a little known fact about this downtrodden franchise.

There is, however, hope that this team can eventually return to those great heights once again in the next five years. From experience, I know plenty of Royals fans who have grown tired of five year plan after five year plan after their best player gets dealt at the deadline because they have no one else on the roster around whom to build. The 2010 edition of the Royals has a few interesting pieces built in this season, and any discussion of the Royals has to begin and end with Zack Greinke. The 2009 AL Cy Young Award Winner with a lion share of the voting dominated the American League last season and was undoubtedly the best pitcher on the circuit. On a team that generally speaking does not win, Greinke won 16 games with a 2.16 ERA with 242 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.07 in 229.1 innings-pitched. Those numbers are simply unheard of in the DH era.

Aside from Super Zack there really is not much else on this roster to be excited about in 2010. The Royals are waiting on prospects Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, and Luke Hochevar to turn into the players they thought they'd be when they drafted them. Hochevar was the number one overall pick in the same draft that produced Tim Lincecum and Clayton Kershaw. Royals brass would prefer that he validated their evaluation rather soon to avoid looking like bigger prats by the day. Gordon had an injury plagued 2009 and is looking forward to getting regular at bats now that Mark Teahen was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He has produced decent numbers in his two 400+ at bat seasons, but the Royals will be counting on him to hit better than his career best .262 this season. Billy Butler is probably one of the best kept secrets in baseball. He quietly hit .301 with 21 homeruns and 93 RBIs in 603 at bats. I expect him to grab the full attention of Major League Baseball this season at Kauffman Stadium.

There are many questions about the Royals going into 2010. Will Rick Ankiel be able to A) produce and B) remain healthy? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then one may expect the Royals to be one of the more improved teams around baseball. I am unconvinced on whether or not Jason Kendall can handle the wear and tear of a 162 game season behind the plate at the tender age of 35. It will be interesting to see how the Royals handle the second base controversy between Alberto Callaspo and Chris Getz. Callaspo was one of the few fantasy ownable players on the Royals last season hitting 41 doubles with a .300 average and 73 RBIs. And the Royals would not have insisted upon getting Getz in the deal with the White Sox if they did not envision using the young second baseman somewhere. I'd say Callaspo is the better player, but the Royals have been known to make mistakes when it comes to talent evaluation. Podsednik should give them speed at the top of the order and great defense. And don't sleep on David DeJesus either. The Royals probably will not win the Central this year, but they just might be one of the more interesting teams to watch with all of the young players they have on the team. It might not be this year, and it might not be the next, but Royals fans, your team will be decent someday.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Scott Podsednik (LF)
2. Alberto Callaspo (2B)
3. Billy Butler (1B)
4. Rick Ankiel (CF)
5. Alex Gordon (3B)
6. Jose Guillen (DH)
7. David DeJesus (RF)
8. Jason Kendall (C)
9. Yuniesky Betancourt (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Zack Grienke
2. Gil Meche
3. Luke Hochevar
4. Brian Bannister
5. Kyle Davies

Best Reliever: Kyle Farnsworth

Closer: Joakim Soria

Predicted Finish: 5th in the AL Central.

An Early Verdict on the NBA Trade Deadline

Jossif Ezekilov


Now that all players involved have settled into their new teams, a look at which teams and players benefited from the trades in the NBA before the deadline:
Mavericks-Wizards

Mavericks got:  
Caron Butler 
Brendan Haywood  
DeShawn Stevenson
Cash Considerations 

Wizards got: 
Josh Howard 
Drew Gooden (traded to LA Clippers) 
James Singleton 
Quinton Ross

With the turmoil that followed the Arenas gun scandal, this trade unfortunately needed to be done. As a Wizards fan, I am sad to see Caron Butler, a player who has given his all during his stint in D.C. (and who supposedly wanted to retire there) leave because of the mistakes this franchise has made over the years. It is also frustrating to see Haywood, finally a legitimate NBA center, leave for Dallas. Despite struggling with the concept of simple post moves (culminating in those God-awful left handed hooks) for his six or seven seasons, Haywood was Washington's center; he anchored the middle for the Wizards through thick and thin (and there was a lot of thin). I can't say I will miss Deshawn’s horrid shooting and Abe Lincoln neck tattoo.

But like I said, it needed to be done, and I don't think the Wizards could have gotten a better deal. It certainly served its primary purpose: creating cap space. Josh Howard is an able wing (this season is NO indication) and while he can't do a lot of the things Butler does, he can thrive away from the conflicts he had in Dallas. Quinton Ross essentially replaces Stevenson on the roster, and will probably be more efficient. An unexpected benefit may come from Singleton. He has played well in Dallas, he rebounds well and can be a valuable role player, and, if he makes more plays like this one, an exciting one as well.

While this trade doesn't make the Mavericks a shoe-in for the Western Conference finals, it makes them a lot more competitive. Butler will spread the floor well for Dirk Nowitzki, and if he attacks the basket more than he has been this season, he can be really dangerous down the stretch. Haywood gives the Mavs the post presence they have been wanting on for years, and if Jason Kidd likes dishing lobs to Eric Dampier, I'd love to see what he'll do with a younger, more athletic big man.

Blazers-Clippers

Blazers got:  Marcus Camby

Clippers got: Steve Blake  Travis Outlaw
Cash Considerations

Portland needed this one. They lost two big men already, and they really did not have any other sustainable alternatives (Juwan Howard, while he put in a valiant effort, is 153 years old and not anyone’s first choice at center). There are several issues Nate McMillan needs to work out. First, is the issue that Camby did not want to be traded. The Blazers coach will want to make Camby happy for the sake of team chemistry, but this shouldn’t be too hard. Camby is a professional on and off the court, and I doubt we'll see any Ron Artest/Stephon Marbury-like tantrums. The second, and more important, aspect is fitting Camby into the offense. They could use him like they did Joel Przybilla, as a rebounder who was fed the occasional dunk. But Camby's offense is better than that, even at his age. He can still score from the block, his mid-range is better than Przybilla's, and he can see the floor better than most centers in the league. If they put his talents to good use, the Blazers can be the sleeper team in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Clippers got what they wanted: they dumped a big contract and absorbed two expiring ones and even got some extra cash on the side. Steve Blake is the best point guard the Clippers have now besidesBaron Davis, but I doubt they will be able to use him in a beneficial way once BD is healthy and takes up all the minutes at that spot. Outlaw can jump the gym, but he's injured, and will probably not be playing for them next year.

Knicks-Timberwolves

Knicks got:
Brian Cardinal

T’Wolves got:
Darko Milicic

This trade is rife with irony, as it deals with two players who have very limited/questionable talent, yet have been horrendously overpaid, and two teams who have a history of horrendously overpaying for limited/questionable talent. The Knicks win out on this one because they save $1 million, but it's highly unlikely either player will get any substantial playing time.


Wizards-Cavaliers (part of 3-way deal)

Wizards got: Zydrunas Ilgauskas
2010 first-round pick
Draft rights to Emir Preldzic
Cavs got: Antawn Jamison

Another inevitable trade for the Wizards. They dumped Jamison’s $28 million contract in a bid to become key players in the 2010 summer free agent bonanza. In the process, they traded away another piece of the former Big Three, whose heyday now seems so long ago. Jamison was the true leader of the Wizards from the first moment he stepped foot in Washington. He made Wizards fans proud, whether the team was winning 45 games or 19 games in a season. After so many years of mediocrity, he deserves to be on a title contender. What the Wizards will do with this extra cap space (and with the cap space from a potential voiding of Arenas' contract) will be crucial, as they're not getting much else in this trade. Big Z will get bought out. The Cavs' pick will be very late in the first, so it won't bring in anyone of value, if at all. Of course, the real prize here is Emir Preldzic's draft rights. He's from Bosnia. Woo-hoo.

Some people thought the Cavs should have gone for Amare Stoudamire. While the potential for a James-Stoudamire alliance is tantalizing, it's not necessarily the safest way to go. The Cavaliers needed to become more competitive in their drive to win this year, and convince Lebron James to stay in Cleveland. They will do so more effectively by bringing in Jamison. Jamison will complement James much better than Stoudamire. He spreads the floor, gets rebounds, works well in the post and will get open for a dish from King James. Amare is effective in the paint, but the Cavs can't risk the type of fallout the Suns had when trying to put Shaq and Amare in the same lineup.

Wizards-Clippers (part of a three-player deal)

Wizards got:  Al Thornton

Clippers got:  Drew Gooden

While people may not agree with me, I think the Wizards got the better deal. Al Thornton has received the reputation (and deservedly so) of hogging the ball and tossing up really bad shots en route to a bunch of points and not much else for the Clippers. That last preposition is so important I will write it again in italics: for the Clippers. I don't know any player who had his best season(s) as a Clipper, except maybe Steve Novak. But there have been several players that have gotten better when they moved away from the horrid franchise (e.g. Lamar Odom). Thornton could definitely benefit from leaving the turmoil in L.A., the problem is he's moving to a whole different type of turmoil in D.C. He has a couple of things going for him though: 1. ample playing time (He'll be coming off the bench at both forward spots) and 2. a better coach in Flip Saunders. It will, be interesting to see how Thornton develops in the nation's capital.

Meanwhile, the Clippers got a big man to replace Marcus Camby, but I don't know how long Drew Gooden will be happy with leaving a title contender for a (perennial) lottery contender.

Clippers-Cavaliers (part of three-player deal)

Cavaliers got:  Sebastian Telfair

Clippers got:
extra cap space

Barring another Delonte West debacle, Telfair shouldn't be getting much playing time for the Cavs. However, I think watching Lebron dominate every night from the front row beats watching Baron Davis jack 6+ threes a game for the rest of the season, so Telfair definitely got the better deal.

Bobcats-Bulls

Bobcats got:  Tyrus Thomas

Bulls got: Acie Law Flip Murray
Future 1st round pick

The Bulls needed to do two things: get rid of Thomas, who was becoming a big hassle, and get someone who could spark a inconsistent at sometimes stagnant offense. They certainly achieved the first goal, but didn’t really do much for the second. Murray can put up points, sometimes, and is a very streaky shooter. Acie Law isn’t worth mensitioning.

Tyrus Thomas is essentially getting a second chance to prove he is a respectable NBA player and not another of Chicago's lottery busts. However, he is not getting a sweet deal: Thomas will be playing for Larry Brown, who has no patience for pampering young players (if Thomas doesn't believe that, he can talk to D.J. Augustin, who should be somewhere near the end of the Charlotte bench). In order to thrive (or get playing time for that matter), Thomas needs to prove he can be consistent on both ends of the floor. If he can play to his potential, Charlotte could build one of the best defenses in the league.
Bulls-Bucks

Bulls got: Joe Alexander Hakim Warrick
Bucks got: John Salmons
Flip 2010 1^st round picks
2011, ’12 second round picks 
The Bucks have one goal in mind: get into the playoffs. Salmons can certainly help them do that, replacing Michael Redd as the two-guard. But is it worth it? Will getting a couple million dollars in extra ticket revenue so Milwaukee fans can see their team get downed by either Cleveland or Orlando be worth the trouble of Salmons in the ensuing year? Is he in Milwaukee’s long-term future? The guy has not contributed to a winning franchise since his early days in Philadelphia, but is a versatile guard who can pass and shoot (sometimes) so this endeavor has its risks and rewards.
Meanwhile, the Bulls get Hakim Warrick, who I feel sorry for. The guy can play (at least offensively), and deserves to contribute on a good team. But alas, such is not his fate this season. Joe Alexander needs to get back on the court before any assessment can be made of his potencial.
Bucks-Sixers
Bucks got: Royal Ivey Primoz Brezec
2010 second round pick

Sixers got: Jodie Meeks Francisco Elson

I don’t know how the salaries play out in this one, but looking at it from Milwaukee’s standpoint, this trade sucks. Jodie Meeks is a rookie who was a good shooter in college. Lots of times, good shooters in college become good shooters in the NBA; us-NBA nerds have a fancy word for it, it’s called potential. And who did the Bucks trade this potential for? Royal Ivey, someone who has had the “potential” to be a third-string point guard for mediocre teams. Nice one Milwaukee, hope you at least saved some dough from this one.
Rockets-Kings (part of three team deal)

Rockets got: Hilton Armstrong Kevin Martin
Kings got: Carl Landry Joey Dorsey

I think each team feels like they suckered the other one on this deal. I think they mutually suckered each other. The Rockets wanted to get rid of Mcgrady, the oft-injured shooting guard, and got Martin, who is a great scorer, but is, uh-oh, an oft-injured shooting guard. While Martin may not necessarily keep his injury-prone reputation (and the Rockets are praying to the injury gods that he doesn’t) this trade may not work for a different reason. Yes Martin can score, but he doesn’t fit in with the overall style of play the Rockets have built upon this season: the scrappy, defensive, hustle play they have needed to eke out wins without their two main stars. Kevin Martin has never been known to be scrappy or defensive. You know who was? Carl Landry, the potential Sixth-Man of the Year.
The same Landry is now being shipped off to Sacramento. Why? Why does Sacramento need Landry? Why did they give up on the Tyreke Evans-Kevin Martin backcourt experiment so quickly? The Kings aren’t going anywhere this season, so it would have made sense for them to see how things go with Martin and Evans. Evans is a talented point guard with a world of potential; does he really not need a player of Martin’s caliber? Will it have been so difficult for Martin to learn to play off the ball more? And what about Landry? The thing is, the Kings already have a hybrid forward in Jason Thompson, and so now Kings coach Reggie Theus has to juggle rotations to get the best out all his frontcourt players. With so many young players involved, this could be a recipe for disaster for the Kings.
   
Kings-Knicks (part of a three-player deal)
Kings got:  Larry Hughes
Knicks got: Sergio Rodriguez
This Knicks got something else besides yet another removal of an overpaid player from its ranks. Rodriguez is a quick point guard who can score given the chance and dish out assists too. Given the fact that the Knicks’ present point guard does the first never and the second only sometimes, it would behoove D’Antoni to give Rodriguez a chance. Hughes will probably get bought out.
Knicks-Rockets
Knicks got: Tracy McGrady

Rockets got: Jordan Hill Jared Jeffries 
Flip 2011 1^st round picks
Protected 2012 1^st round pick

Knicks general manager Donnie Walsh is stuck between the proverbial rock and hard place right now. Not all of it is his fault. He inherited the post-Isaiah Thomas cesspool, after all. But he didn’t do much to change it, instead looking toward this year’s free agency to bring in a messiah to the Garden, one in the form of King James, D-Wade, or Chris Bosh, or any combination of two such players. In this trade deadline, he needed to give the Knicks a lot of cap space while at the same time making this dreadful team look like a place a superstar (or two) will want to play for. Behold, the Walsh bailout plan.
Walsh succeeded in dumping Jeffries, the butt of jokes involving paying for something and not getting anything close to the return for your money, and Jordan Hill, i.e. the guy the Knicks picked instead ofBrandon Jennings. In return, he got McGrady, a guy who is supposedly recovered from multiple knee suregeries, who can put fans back in the seats at the Garden, and make it a respectable basketball venue again. Sounds good right? Sure, until you figure in those picks the Knicks gave away like juju beads. Those picks matter, because in order to build a powerful franchise, you need to cultivate talent, not throw money around for it. The Knicks have never gotten that, and no matter what happens this summer, they won’t ever have a strong franchise until they do. Kudos to the Rockets for giving themselves a chance to build a good team the right way.
Knicks-Celtics
Knicks got: Eddie House Bill Walker J.R. Giddens
2^nd round pick

Celtics got: Nate Robinson Marcus Landry

The Celtics made the right move. They needed a spark off the bench because their offense, even when the team is healthy, looks a little tired sometimes. And that’s something Boston can’t afford heading into the playoffs. It was a tough call giving up Eddie House, who has been a great role player for them, but that’s the way of this league. Robinson is a bit of a head case,  but who can blame him, playing for the Knicks. His antics won’t be tolerated by Doc Rivers or Celtics’ Big Three

The Knicks again stumbled onto a valuable player in House, whom they should keep past the summer, if they can.
Jazz-Grizzlies
Jazz got:
2011 1^st round pick

Grizzlies got: Ronnie Bewer

Great move by Memphis. They will benefit from Brewer’s length and athleticism on the wing. This move benefits the Jazz too. While they lose a valuable player, the Jazz need all the cap flexibility they can get. Boozer will most likely be out of Utah in the summer, and while the Jazz have their insurance policy in Paul Milsap, they will still need to add some pieces down the road to remain competitive.
Wizards-Kings
Wizards got:
Conditional second-round pick
Kings got: Dominic McGuire

Another salary-dumping move for the Wizards. The Kings get a bench warmer and hustle player.

Spurs-Bobcats

Spurs got:
Conditional second-round pick

Bobcats got: Theo Ratliff
The Spurs have had a frustrating season and are looking for cap flexibility for the summer. The Bobcats continue to build on defense.

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: San Francisco Giants

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Bengie Molina (C)
Mark DeRosa (IF/LF)
Aubrey Huff (1B/3B)
Todd Wellemeyer (SP)
Guillermo Mota (RP)

Key Departures

Ryan Garko (1B)

I am a big fan of the way the San Francisco Giants have built their organization. Stocked with young arms in the system along with a decent lineup could lead to big success this year in the most competitive division in baseball. While the arbitration talks the Giants had with their two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum were less than amicable, I don't expect them to have much of an affect on Lincecum going into 2010. The big criticism of last year's Giants was that they did not have the hitting necessary to make the postseason; which ended up true as the Giants finished third in the NL West.

General Manager Brian Sabean recognized this offensive deficiency and sought to rectify it by signing Mark DeRosa and Aubrey Huff. DeRosa hit 23 homeruns last season while knocking in 78. The former Indian also provides great versatility for manager Bruce Bochy as DeRosa can play almost any position in the field. Meanwhile, Huff is no slouch either. Huff hit 15 homeruns last season with 85 RBIs, and is only one season removed from a 30+ homerun season.

 Re-signing Bengie Molina was also a major boon for Sabean. At the plate Molina hit for a .260 average with 20 homeruns and 80 RBIs. Behind it he caught one of the best rotations in baseball and his experience will be important for the development of Madison Bumgarner, the diamond in the Giants crown of pitching prospects. Bumgarner's fastball peaks at 95 mph and his career numbers in the minors are astounding. Bumgarner is a career 27-5 with a 1.65 ERA, .97 WHIP in 273 innings-pitched.

The talent the Giants already have on the roster is enough of a reason to expect great things from them this season. The emergence of the Kung-Fu Panda, pictured below, otherwise known as Pablo Sandoval was key in the Giants scoring any runs at all last season. Sandoval hit for a .330 average with 25 homeruns and 90 RBIs. His stats will only improve this season with better protection around him.

I am going to make my first bold prediction of these previews and claim at this point in time, I believe the Giants are going to win the NL West. No team has a true lock on the division this year with the Dodgers taking a step down this offseason, and a team that has this much good pitching is irresistible to me. If Madison Bumgarner turns into even half the player the Giants expect him to be, they will have one of the best 1-2-3's in the NL, if not in MLB.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Freddy Sanchez (2B)
2. Edgar Renteria (SS)
3. Pablo Sandoval (3B)
4. Aubrey Huff (1B)
5. Aaron Rowand (CF)
6. Mark DeRosa (LF)
7. Bengie Molina (C)
8. Nick Schierholtz (RF)
9. Tim Lincecum (SP)

Projected Starting Rotation:

1. Tim Lincecum
2. Matt Cain
3. Barry Zito
4. Jonathan Sanchez
5. Madison Bumgarner

Best Reliever: Jeremy Affeldt

Closer: Brian Wilson

Predicted Finish: 1st in the NL West

Vancouver 2010: Images of the Day

Chris Drury celebrates his goal which put USA up 3-2

Team USA celebrates their 5-3 win over Canada

Alexander Ovechkin pancakes Jaromir Jagr in Russia's 4-2 win over the Czech Republic

Bode Miller celebrates his gold medal performance in the Super G.

Evgeni Malkin dives forward after being hit by Filip Kuba

American skiier Daron Rahlves completes a trial run at Cypress Mountain

Team Russia

And beautiful British Columbia.

Vancouver 2010: America, the Scrappy.

Charlie Klein

Team USA defeated Team Canada 5-3 thanks to an incredible game from Ryan Miller last night in Vancouver. The Americans proved that their rag-tag band of scrappy players could hang with the big boys at Canada Hockey Place, re-seizing the initiative time after time following what seemed to be an unstoppable barrage from Team Canada. 

Brian Rafalski opened the scoring for the Americans 41 seconds into the first period smashing a shot past an average Martin Brodeur. The early goal set the tone for what was to come. Team Canada never led and was forced to try and make a comeback against the hottest goalie on the planet in Ryan Miller. 

The turning point in this hockey game came when right after the Canadians had tied the scoring at one, the United States re-took the lead following another lightning shot from Rafalski. The goal came right when it seemed as though the Canadians would march on to a win. 

Special praise has to be given to the triumvirate of New York based players Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, and Ryan Miller. When Team Canada had two powerplays at the end of the third period Drury and Callahan were sacrificing their bodies to prevent Canada from leveling the scoring. Miller though has to win the first star of the night making 42 saves on an absolutely loaded Canada roster.

While for me it does not match the 1980 Lake Placid USA vs. USSR game, this game was the most fun I've had watching the Olympics for a very long time. Tonight we learned that Team USA has a great shot at winning gold in Vancouver this year. What a few people, including myself, thought before the tournament is now clear for all to see. Team USA are in it to win it people, hop on that hockey bandwagon my friends and let's ride it to gold!

Somewhere I can hear Denny Green muttering the words "They are who we thought they were, and we let 'em off the hook!"

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: Boston Red Sox

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

John Lackey (SP)
Adrian Beltre (3B)
Mike Cameron (OF)
Boof Bonser (SP)
Bill Hall (OF/IF)
Marco Scutaro (SS)

Key Departures:

Jason Bay (OF)
Casey Kotchman (1B)
Billy Wagner (RP)

As I have opined on a fairly regular basis on this blog, I am no fan of the Boston Red Sox. I love Fenway Park and think it's the best stadium on the east coast, but my admiration does not extend to the players on the field. That being said, the Red Sox look poised once again to make a run at the postseason this year.

The 1-2-3 of Beckett, Lester, and Lackey is probably the best top of the rotation in baseball. With all due respect to the 1-2-3 of Sabathia, Burnett, and Vazquez, I'd prefer Lester and Lackey to Burnett and Vazquez if I was building a team. When All-Star Tim Wakefield and former 18 game winner Daisuke Matsuzaka are your fourth and fifth starters, you've got something good going on. The Red Sox have also changed the emphasis of their team from being offense first, defense later, to being a team that wants and could be able to catch almost every ball put into the field of play. GM Theo Epstein's signings prove as much. Scutaro and Beltre are massive defensive upgrades on Jed Lowrie and Mike Lowell, and Mike Cameron can play a better left field than Jason Bay. The big key for the Sawx this year is whether or not they will be able to hang with the Yankees when it comes to scoring enough runs to win games. Beltre will be helped by the move to Fenway as Safeco Field is not great for right-handed hitters.

One of the biggest questions going into the 2010 season is David Ortiz (pun definitely intended). Big Papi's (or alternately known as Big Pop Up) slump at the start of 2009 was all people talked about throughout the first half of the season. He ended up with 28 homeruns and 99 RBIs, but for the first time made people wonder whether or not he was reaching the end of the road in Boston. The second question is whether or not this new defensive emphasis will yield higher win totals and success in October. I just don't think that it will lead to more wins against the hated Yankees, but it ought to put them in second in the division and make them almost a lock for the AL Wild Card.

Projected Starting Nine

1. Jacoby Ellsbury (LF)
2. Dustin Pedroia (2B)
3. Kevin Youkilis (1B)
4. Victor Martinez (C)
5.David Ortiz (DH)
6. Adrian Beltre (3B)
7. J.D. Drew (RF)
8. Mike Cameron (CF)
9. Marco Scutaro (SS)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Josh Beckett
2. Jon Lester
3. John Lackey
4. Tim Wakefield
5. Daisuke Matsuzaka

Best Reliever: Hideki Okajima

Closer: Jonathan Papelbon

Predicted Finish: Second in the AL East.

Vancouver 2010: Marry Me, Lindsey Vonn

Charlie Klein

Lads, we finally have our own Michael Phelps. For the past eight years, I have had to listen to women rave about how cute Michael Phelps was and what a great swimmer he is. While he is a great swimmer, this conversation I'd have with my sisters got boring when I couldn't really name a single female athlete that was even the rough equivalent of Phelps. Until now. 

Enter Lindsey Vonn. More of a legitimate athlete than Danica Patrick will ever be, Vonn has become the name in her sport. She is the first American woman to win back-to-back overall World Championships in 2008 and 2009. Her perfomance in Torino in 2006 established her as one of the most spirited Olympians on Team USA as she still raced after having to be evacuated to a hospital after she crashed in a training run for the '06 games. 

In the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver Vonn has one gold already for the Americans. She became the first American woman to win in the downhill competition. She also won bronze in the Women's Super G. Vonn still has two more races before the flame is extinguished on the games this year. If she medals in both it will be a monumental accomplishment for USA Skiing and the USA in the Winter Games. 

I am not trying to say that Vonn is beautiful enough or talented enough to make the general public intrigued in skiing when it is not the Olympics, but her accomplishments and what they have meant for female athletes in the USA cannot be denied. 

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: New York Mets

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Jason Bay (OF)
Kelvim Escobar (SP)
Chris Coste (C)
Gary Mathews Jr. (OF)

Key Departures:

Brian Schneider (C)
Brian Stokes (RP)
J.J. Putz

The best thing I can say about this team right now is that no one has gotten hurt. Yet. The past three seasons in Flushing have definitely been ones to forget. 2007 and 2008 both featured late season meltdowns that Mets fans have become all to accustomed to in their history. 2009 spared Mets fans of having to pay much attention to their team in the month of September as the team was mired in fourth place following an unnatural and unlucky series of injuries to key players. Omar Minaya had a few... shall we say interesting incidents in front of the press following the embarrassing dismissal of Vice President of Player Development Tony Bernazard.

Entering 2010 the Mets have added only one big piece to the 40-man roster going into Spring Training. Minaya signed outfielder Jason Bay to a four year, $66 million dollar contract in order to bolster a Mets team that was last in the National League in home runs as a team last season. Minaya did nothing to improve a very questionable starting rotation passing on the top free agent pitchers on the free agent market in John Lackey and Joel Pineiro. The genius that is Omar also decided not to upgrade on Omir Santos behind the plate. According to Buster Olney et. al. they say he should be in the minor leagues. Bengie Molina did not want to sign with the Mets and returned to San Francisco and Yorvit Torrealba signed with the San Diego Padres. If I were to give the Mets an offseason grade I would give them a C. Signing Bay is the only thing that keeps them from a D.

So my expectations for the 2010 Mets are not that high. And perhaps after the past three seasons I should have learned for them not to be. Hopefully for them Carlos Beltran returns healthy from his surgery and all of their injured stars are able to produce. I am putting them at a third place finish in the NL East going into Spring Training under the assumption that they will be able to hit, but their starting pitching will hold them back. It'll be interesting to see what Kelvim Escobar can offer the Mets following a two-year long absence from the game due to injury. In 2007 Escobar was 18-7 with a 3.40 ERA in 195.2 innings pitched. I do not think the Mets are expecting that level of form, but perhaps something close to that.

Projected Starting Nine

1. Jose Reyes (SS)
2. Luis Castillo (2B)
3. David Wright (3B)
4. Jason Bay (LF)
5. Carlos Beltran (CF)
6. Jeff Francouer (RF)
7. Daniel Murphy (1B)
8. Omir Santos (C)
9. Johan Santana (P)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. John Maine
4. Oliver Perez
5. Kelvim Escobar

Best Reliever: Bobby Parnell

Closer: Francisco Rodriguez

Predicted Finish: 3rd in the NL East

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: Los Angeles Dodgers

Charlie Klein

Key Additions:

Reed Johnson (OF)
Eric Gagne (RP)

Key Departures:

Randy Wolf (SP)
Juan Pierre (CF)
Orlando Hudson (2B)

Oh how close we really were to an I-5 Series instead of an I-95 World Series last season. The Los Angeles Dodgers, however, were not long for the Championship Series only winning one game of five versus the Philadelphia Phillies. The two teams of southern California are only separated by 25 miles of asphalt and yet one faces far more questions than the other. The Dodgers, unlike the Angels, have more than just on the field issues, chief among these the messy divorce of owner Frank McCourt. This has rendered the Dodgers incapable of making big splashes in free agency this offseason. Excusing the McCourt issues, the boys in blue have to replace their number two starter and do not know what to expect from their mega-money savior Manny Ramirez this season.

In case everyone forgot in their irrational love for Manny, the guy tanked last year coming off the 50-game suspension for using PEDs. Ramirez hit .229 in the month of September and disappointed 'Mannywood' in October. The Dodgers also have questions in their starting rotation. Is Clayton Kershaw ready to take over the top spot? Our Puneet Singh raved about him last summer (http://thetruthhurtssobelievethelies.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-leap-for-clayton-kid.html) and it wouldn't surprise me to see him continue to progress into the pitcher that the Dodgers thought he was when they drafted him. Kershaw and Billingsley are both good pitchers but it is who follows them that I question. Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla have had issues with consistency their whole careers and I doubt that will change much this season.

I am a big fan of Matt Kemp and really like watching him play center field. I'm just not sure how the rest of this team will do. NL West is going to be a mad house this season, with almost every team having a shot of winning it, save for probably the Padres.

Projected Starting Nine:

1. Rafael Furcal (SS)
2. Andre Ethier (RF)
3. Russell Martin (C)
4. Manny Ramirez (LF)
5. Matt Kemp (CF)
6. James Loney (1B)
7. Casey Blake (3B)
8. Ronnie Belliard (2B)
9. Clayton Kershaw (P)

Projected Starting Rotation

1. Clayton Kershaw
2. Chad Billingsley
3. Hiroki Kuroda
4. Vicente Padilla

Best Reliever: George Sherrill

Closer: Jonathan Broxton

Predicted Finish: 3rd in the NL West.

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: Anaheim Angels

Charlie Klein 

The Anaheim Angels, yet another one of my favourite baseball teams! I guess I am just trying to get my least favorite teams out of the way first. I refuse to call them "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" because I've been to their stadium and it's not even close to Los Angeles.

Key Additions:

Joel Pineiro (SP)
Hideki Matsui (DH)

Key Departures:

John Lackey (SP)
Chone Figgins (3B)
Vladimir Guerrero (DH)

For the past few seasons, the organizational depth of the Angels has been touted by just about everyone who knows anything about baseball. Each year the Angels lose one of their players they are able to replace him either with a player from their system or to sign a free agent. After Mark Teixeira bolted for the money and prestige of Yankee Stadium, the Angels simply gave first base to a guy named Kendry Morales. In his first Major League season Morales hit 34 homeruns, drove in 108 runs, with a .306 batting average. Considering the emergence of Morales following his first full season, I am curious to see what Brandon Wood, who will be the Angels opening day third baseman, can do with his. It will be interesting to see what the Angels rotation can do this season. I am not as convinced as everyone else is on Joe Saunders being a "great" pitcher. Of his five seasons in the bigs, he has posted an ERA under four once in his career. Yes, he did win 16 games last season, but his ERA of 4.60 and his opponents batting average of .279 indicate that he was the beneficiary of good run support last season. Ervin Santana posted an ERA over 5 last season in 139.2 innings pitched. The ace of the staff this year will be Jered Weaver, who had a decent year with a 3.75 ERA and 16 wins last season. But he's never been the ace of a staff and the transition from a number two to a number one is more difficult than pundits would have you believe. I have fundamental concerns with the composition of this team and until I see it I refuse to buy the idea that they will run away with the West.

Projected 2010 Starting Nine

1. Erick Aybar (SS)
2. Howie Kendrick (2B)
3. Kendry Morales (1B)
4. Torii Hunter (CF)
5. Bobby Abreu (RF)
6. Juan Rivera (LF)
7. Hideki Matsui (DH)
8. Mike Napoli (C)
9. Brandon Wood (3B)

Projected 2010 Rotation

1. Jered Weaver
2. Ervin Santana
3. Joe Saunders
4. Joel Pineiro
5. Scott Kazmir

Top Reliever: Scot Shields

Closer: Brian Fuentes

Predicted Finish: Second in the AL West.

Daily Fail: Potholes at Daytona

Charlie Klein

We have never, ever written anything about NASCAR on the 4-1-1 On Sports. But I think what happened yesterday deserves a bit of our attention, if for no other reason than its sheer lunacy.

One would think that in a "sport" that relies as heavily on its playing surface as NASCAR does, that they would rigourously check the track before having 30 or so racers drive at speeds topping out around 200 mph on it. And yet the organizers of the Daytona 500 appear to be as dumb as most of the people who hitch their trailers out to watch people drive around in circles.

Yesterday Jimmie Johnson had to pit early because he feared that he had run over a pothole in the Daytona track. This led to two lengthy delays in the race as Daytona track keepers (I'll call them that for want of a better term) attempted to fill the pothole. As one can imagine, this didn't really work that well.

Having a pothole in the Daytona 500 is like if an NHL arena had one spot on the ice that was just cement. Just so fail-tastic.

2010 Major League Baseball Season Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

Charlie Klein

Just like the team I previewed yesterday, I am one of the biggest Phillies haters around. My dislike for the team pushed me to rooting for the Yankees in the World Series, a feat that I hope never to have to repeat in my life. But, I will say that most of the articles I have written about the Phillies have been objective and fair.

Key Additions:

Roy Halladay (SP)

Jose Contreras (SP)

Danys Baez (RP)

Brian Schneider (C)

Placido Polanco (3B)

Ross Gload (OF)

Tyson Gillies (OF)

J.C. Ramirez (SP)

Phillippe Aumont (RP)

Key Departures:

Cliff Lee (SP)

Pedro Feliz (3B)

The Phillies were major players in the 2010 MLB offseason. General Manager Ruben Amaro swapped aces by trading for Roy Halladay and dealing Cliff Lee to the Seattle Mariners. While I definitely question the decision to unload Lee, the addition of Halladay is a coup for the Phils. Undeniably one of the best pitchers in the game for the past decade, Halladay will dominate the DH-free lineups of the National League this season. The Phillies also improved offensively, if that was even possible, by signing Placido Polanco to play third base this season. Polanco, a career .303 hitter, adds good defense to a lineup that already excels in the field and in the batter's box.

The biggest questions surrounding this Phillies squad for me are Brad Lidge and Cole Hamels. Lidge went from being 'Lights Out Lidge' to being 'Motel 6 Lidge' blowing 11 saves. Following the 2008 Postseason, everyone in baseball expected nothing but great things from Cole Hamels. And when he mouthed off about the Mets, he too proved to be a little anti-clutch for the Phils last season. Hamels was 1o-11, with a 4.32 ERA last season and got lit up in the one World Series start he made.

All of that being said, I expect the Phillies to win this division again with relative ease. I have not seen enough from Florida, Atlanta, or New York that would make me think otherwise. However, I remain unconvinced by their rotation depth and bullpen. It will be interesting to see how the Phillies young prospects develop over the course of the season.

Projected 2010 Starting Nine

1. Jimmy Rollins (SS)

2. Placido Polanco (3B)

3. Chase Utley (2B)

4. Ryan Howard (1B)

5. Jayson Werth (RF)

6. Raul Ibanez (LF)

7. Shane Victorino (CF)

8. Carlos Ruiz (C)

9. Roy Halladay (SP)

Projected 2010 Rotation

1. Roy Halladay

2. J.A. Happ

3. Cole Hamels

4. Joe Blanton

5. Jamie Moyer

Top Reliever: Ryan Madson

Closer: Brad Lidge

Predicted Finish: First in the NL East.

Daily Fail: TNT Announcers Playing Up Attendance at 2010 NBA All-Star Game

Charlie Klein

Okay Marv, we get it, you can get a lot of people inside of JerryWorld (tm). Of the cumulative ten minutes I have spent watching the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, Marv & Co. have commented on the attendance at least twice a minute. While it is extraordinary to have 108,000 plus watching a basketball game, the fact that this is the most talked about thing by commentators really speaks to how little excitement there is on the court.

2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics: Five Reasons Canada Will Not Win Gold

Charlie Klein

1. Canada is too nice of a host to be as selfish as to take a competition for their own. Canadians are known around the world as some of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. Everyone also knows that a good host sacrifices his happiness for the sake of his guest when it comes to a party, and what bigger party has there been in Canada other than the Winter Olympics?

2. Barry Melrose is picking them to win it all. I love Barry, but his predictions rarely ever come to fruition.

3. The Olympics are in Canada. Canada has only won one gold medal when it has hosted the Olympics. And they just won it tonight.

4. Team Canada has been historically anti-clutch. Aside from winning gold at Salt Lake City in 2002, the maple syrup loving toothless crew from Canada had not won gold since 1952.

5. I picked them to win. As my friend Mark Stangler loves to tell me every time I talk with him, every team I pick to win usually does poorly.