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(01/26/12 9:34pm)
UPDATE: The College community received an email on Jan. 28, 2012 that Bratton has been found, and he has been reunited with his family.
A former student of the College was reported missing by the Princeton Boro Police Department, according to a Campus Alert sent out on Thursday, Jan. 26 by Campus Police.
Matthew L. Bratton, a 21-year-old Ewing resident, was last enrolled at the College during the most recent fall semester, the email said.
The alert described Bratton as approximately 6-feet-tall and 190 pounds with dark brown skin, and noted that he frequently wears eye glasses and drives a light green Toyota Camry.
According to the email, the last known contact with Bratton was on Jan. 23, and he was last seen in jeans and a T-shirt. His cellphone was last used on Jan. 24, within a one mile radius of 100 Lexington Ave. in Trenton, the alert said.
A security camera also caught Bratton at a Wachovia Bank on Pennington Road on Jan. 24, according to an article in The Times.
Campus Police is currently working closely with Ewing Police and Princeton Boro Police to locate Bratton, "who may be in an emotional state," the email said.
Both of Bratton's parents were hospitalized due to ongoing health problems prior to his disappearance, according to the article. Bratton's mother last heard from him on Jan. 24, according to Detective Bill Wolverton, who is handling the case.
According to an additional email sent out by Campus Police, Bratton was a student at the College until Jan. 24 and has been living in a dorm. Bratton suffers from depression and police can not say if he may be intending to harm himself.
Anyone who has seen him or has any information regarding his whereabouts, call the Princeton Boro Police at 609-924-4141, the Ewing Police at 609-882-1313 or Campus Police at 609-771-2345.
(01/24/12 8:56am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Brandon Gould, challenges Staff Writer Kevin Lee, Correspondent Bryan Bellanca and Correspondent Johnny Sisto to answer questions about what the Colts should do with Peyton Manning, whether this year’s freshman class at Kentucky is the best in John Calipari’s tenure and whether alleged steroid user Ryan Braun should give the NL MVP award back.
1. The Colts fired head coach Jim Caldwell just a couple of weeks after Bill and Chris Polian were shown the door. If Peyton Manning is the next to go, would the Indianapolis Colts be making a mistake?
KL: Long-term, I can’t see how this would be a mistake. The Colts have the opportunity to draft the best quarterback prospect in the last 25 years in Andrew Luck. Luck has the chance to be the face of the franchise, and the Colts need to give Luck every opportunity to start next season. All teams have to go through this at some point, and the Colts will have to let go of Manning eventually, so why not do it now when there’s at least a justifiable reason — that being Andrew Luck? The better question is does Peyton Manning even want to be part of the Colts next season? There are going to be new coaches and the roster is essentially a rebuilding project. It may be best for both parties to cut ties with Manning and this would be the perfect time to do so.
BB: Considering the fact that the Colts went from perennial Super Bowl contender every year to the worst football team in the NFL, I believe it would be a huge mistake to let Peyton Manning go. Even though the Colts plan to draft quarterback-of-the-future Andrew Luck, there is no guarantee that he will become an elite quarterback, especially to the level that Peyton Manning is. Drafting a quarterback with the first pick in the draft is a crapshoot. For every successful quarterback drafted first overall (Eli Manning), there are twice as many unsuccessful (JaMarcus Russell and David Carr). The best thing the Colts could do is draft Luck and let him sit for a few years — the Aaron Rodgers route — and let Manning continue to be your quarterback. It certainly worked out pretty well for the Packers.
JS: Absolutely yes! There are several reasons why the Colts would be making a mistake to let Peyton Manning go. Manning has arguably the best on-field awareness of any quarterback in the NFL. The Colts need a quarterback like Peyton to run their complicated offense. Also, from a business standpoint, when the Colts acquire rookie sensation Andrew Luck from the draft, having Peyton Manning on the team to coach him will create a lot of media buzz and ultimately put more asses in the seats.
BG: Bryan gets the 3 for pointing out how bad the Colts were without Manning and how Andrew Luck could benefit from sitting behind him. Kevin gets 2 for saying there’s no better time than now to make a quarterback change. Johnny gets 1 for going with the economic angle.
2. Freshman center Anthony Davis already has set the University of Kentucky’s single-season record for blocked shots, forward Michael Gilchrist is averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds and guard Marquis Teague is averaging double-digit points on top of dishing out nearly five assists a game. Is this class of one-and-dones, I mean freshmen, head coach John Calapari’s best since coming to the Wildcats?
KL: I’m going to say the John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins’ class was better. Both classes are extremely high profile, where Wall and Cousins were the number one and number two recruits, while Davis, Gilchrist and Teague were all top-10 recruits. With that said, the only reason why I think that the Wall and Cousins’ class was better is because Wall and Cousins were the two that were the leaders of that squad. At such a young age, the two freshmen were able to lead the Wildcats to an impressive 35-3 record and an Elite Eight appearance, which is very impressive. With the current squad, it’s tough to single out who the star player is. In fact, sophomore Doron Lamb is leading the Wildcats in scoring. This team might be more balanced and have more depth, and for that reason Wall and Cousins’ class was better since they didn’t have as much help.
BB: While this class of freshmen is pretty solid, I do not believe this is the best class Calapari has had in his three years at Kentucky. I believe his best recruiting class is the one he had in his first year at Kentucky, which featured the likes of John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton. That class produced four first round picks, including the No. 1 and 5 pick in their draft year. Both of these classes had high end talent, but Calapari’s first recruiting class I believe had a little bit more depth than his current class, even though both classes are outstanding. I give the edge to his first class because Wall and Cousins have already shown they are good NBA players and it’s hard to predict how players will transition into the NBA.
JS: Yes. Once again the University of Kentucky basketball team is made up of some amazing freshman talent. The 2009-2010 Wildcats freshmen were also a very impressive bunch and included John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. However, with Kentucky still undefeated in their conference and suffering only one loss in their overall schedule so far this season, this young team is a force to be reckoned with, and, in my opinion, the best group of freshmen that the team has seen under head coach John Calapari.
BG: Kevin gets 3 for stating that Wall and Cousins led the team their freshman year, whereas this year’s freshmen have a couple of sophomores to lean on. Bryan gets 2 for referencing the fact that Calapari’s first class included four first-round draft picks. Johnny gets 1 for supplying us with Kentucky’s impressive record so far this season.
3. Ryan Braun officially received the NL MVP Award this past weekend. Since tests have shown elevated levels of testosterone in Braun’s system, which led to a suspension for next season, should the outfielder give the award back and let the voters select another candidate?
KL: Braun should absolutely not give the MVP award back. Yes, steroids are bad, and as an athlete you are supposed to be a good influence on younger kids, but the effect of steroids as performance enhancing drugs is still relatively vague. Who’s to say that steroids really give you an advantage in the first place? There haven’t been any scientific studies to suggest that you hit the ball infinitely farther or increase hand-eye coordination by taking them. With the exception of stolen bases, Braun’s power numbers this season fall right in line with his career stats. There’s absolutely no clear correlation as to how much steroids affect performance on the field. We also don’t know when he first started using them or when he stopped. There’s just so much gray area in this matter that it’s completely unfair to strip Braun of the title. Previous high-profile steroid users have tested positive, yet not a single one has had to return an award. Braun should be no exception.
BB: If Braun’s appeal of his failed PED test does not prove that he is innocent, then I believe he should return his NL MVP award. Baseball was finally starting to take a turn for the positive after the dark years of the steroid era, and Braun was supposed to be one of the bright young faces that were helping lead baseball in the right direction of young talented players who did not use PEDs. Unfortunately, that appeared to not be the case when it was announced last year that Braun had failed a PED test. Baseball was plagued with previous MVP award winners who had taken steroids with the likes of Bonds, Sosa and Giambi, but the past few winners have all supposedly been clean, and I do not think baseball can afford to have another black mark on the MVP award.
JS: Since Braun in maintaining his innocence in the allegation against him, I feel that if would not be in his best interest if he returns the NL MVP Award. Braun is in the process of appealing the results of the drug test with Major League Baseball. Braun is innocent until proven guilty, and since he is so firmly standing for his innocence, he believes that his MVP award is rightfully his. However, if the MLB deems that he was in fact on steroids, they may take it away from him whether he likes it or not.
BG: Bryan gets 3 for his argument that if Braun is guilty, then this new era of baseball needs him to give the award back. Kevin gets 2 for saying that performance-enhancing drugs don’t necessarily make a player great. Johnny gets 1 for going with the trademark “innocent until proven guilty” argument.
Bryan wins this week's AtD, 8-7-3.
“Cundiff, why do you have to suck?” — Bryan
(01/19/12 3:38am)
A recurring theme in some of the stories from this week’s issue is the topic of New Year’s resolutions, or beginning the semester with a fresh start. For this reason, The Signal’s editorial staff came up with some goals of its own. Feel free to follow in our footsteps!
…
Although I’ve never made a New Year’s resolution, I have decided to make a new semester’s resolution. This semester I plan to procrastinate less, cut myself some slack and schedule in some time to relax. I hope to eliminate as much stress from my life as possible and not sweat the small stuff.
– Kelly Johnson, News Editor
My New Year’s resolution is to somehow get ready for the “real world” before I graduate in May. It’s a pretty scary world out there, and I’ve got to get myself ready to leave the cozy comfort of the College and get into the whole adulthood thing.
– Alex Wolfe, Sports Editor
Here are my New Year resolutions: to read a book every two weeks, to do community service and to have no resolutions next year.
– Andrew Miller, Nation & World Editor
My New Year’s resolution is to not succumb to peer pressure and engage, reluctantly, in eating contests courtesy of our Managing Editor. I also plan to preserve my points and not blow through 150 in the first month back. On a more serious note, I want to achieve all of the goals I have set out for myself this semester. It’s going to take a lot of work and effort, but well worth it in the end.
– Julia Corbett, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Since I’m graduating this May, I made a resolution to figure out what I want to do with the next phase of my life. I have yet to accomplish this.
– Brianna Gunter, Editor-in-Chief
I’d like to stay focused this semester by creating goals for myself and pursuing them. At the same time, I want to make time for things I enjoy and get the most out of college while I still can. How am I already a junior?!
– Jamie Primeau, Managing Editor
My New Year’s resolution is to quit smoking cigarettes. I also want to exercise more and start hiking again. I would also like to go to a Yankees baseball game with my dad.
– Tom Ciccone, News Editor
I say buck the trend. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions; I take time to seriously consider who I am and who I want to be. Don’t randomly go to the gym or eat only salads for two weeks, that’s cliché. Instead, figure out what you want and take realistic steps to get there, that’s what I’m going to do.
– Brendan McGrath, Features Editor
(01/17/12 5:40am)
We are in the midst of award season, so what better way to celebrate than to highlight the best movies of 2011? Even if these films don’t get nominated for an Academy Award, The Signal staff is giving them the recognition they deserve.
Always the bridesmaid…
By Kelly Johnson
News Editor
Although going to the theater has become a rare treat because of the prices, one movie this past year was one of the funniest movies I have seen in a while, and it was worth every penny — “Bridesmaids.”
Kristen Wiig, also known for her performances on “Saturday Night Live” and her cameos in movies like “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” plays the maid of honor and is hilarious throughout the film with her awkward demeanor and crazy antics as she fights for the attention of the bride.
The scenarios and situations are refreshingly different, and there is an appropriate balance of seriousness and humor, but the funny parts will have you in tears and continue throughout the film.
And never the bride
By Jamie Primeau
Managing Editor
Finally: a female-centric movie that wasn’t automatically dismissed as just another chick flick.
In fact, “Bridesmaids” redefines the phrase “chick flick” — where instead of being sappy, tears fall from your eyes out of laughter.
The women characters were gross and imperfect, and audiences applauded instead of being appalled. Its storyline focusing on friendship adds heart to the humor.
Not only was Kristen Wiig hilarious, but she also was one of the writers — further proving this movie’s girl power. And as usual, producer Judd Apatow didn’t disappoint.
A “first class” finish
By Alex Wolfe
Sports Editor
I want to say “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” was my favorite, but I have to put that in second. “X-Men: First Class” takes first place.
“HP” was great, and definitely a fitting end to the series, but “X-Men” was phenomenal. Just when you think a movie series might be washed up, it tosses you a gem like that with an intriguing story that really ties up the loose ends from the rest of the movies.
Contagiously good
By Brendan McGrath
Features Editor
In “Contagion,” a highly contagious virus begins to wipe out large chunk of the world’s population.
This movie passed the tragedy of individual deaths and focuses on the crippling effect that an epidemic would have on our highly interdependent and fragile society.
“Contagion” is definitely worth seeing, as it gets its message across in a gripping and fast-paced manner.
A drive to “help”
By Julia Corbett
Arts & Entertainment Editor
As far as my “go-see-list” is concerned, “The Help” was at the bottom. Only now do I realize it really shouldn’t have been.
“The Help” was easily one of the best movies I saw all year. The movie takes place in 1960s Mississippi, depicting segregation and the treatment of maids working for upper-crust families.
You get wrapped up in aspiring journalist/novelist Skeeter’s (Emma Stone) life as if it were your own, and you feel like you personally know Aibileen and Minny — Skeeter’s main maid interviewees. The movie is honest, touching and at times a bit gritty.
Going along with this gritty theme, “Drive” was also an exceptional 2011 film. Ryan Gosling gives nothing short of a phenomenal performance as his character’s love for a girl changes the course, quite literally, of his life.
(01/16/12 7:06pm)
In the first Around the Dorm of the spring semester, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Sports Assistant Chris Molicki, Staff Writer Brandon Gould and Staff Writer Mike Pietroforte to answer questions about whether Tim Tebow has a future in Denver, if the 49ers are a legit Super Bowl contender, and whether the New York Knicks can get their acts together this season.
1. Tim Tebow just got his ass handed to him by the Patriots, and he didn’t look good at all during it. How many more seasons do you give him as the Broncos starter?
CM: Tebow should be the Denver starting QB for at least the next few seasons. It really annoys me how in the world we live in, people’s entire perspective of a player can change completely in a week. Tebow just shredded the Steelers last week, and now people are calling for his head after a loss to the Patriots that really wasn’t his fault. The game plan didn’t let him throw enough and called for too many option plays which weren’t working. The offensive line didn’t give him any time. And Brady was Brady, not letting the Broncos in the game. Many people forget how Tebow transformed this team and the success he had. It’s a shame that this is still even a question. He really isn’t that bad of a quarterback, and a full offseason, especially with John Elway, will do him wonders. The organization owes him a few more years at the very least.
BG: The Broncos really looked like a sad bunch in the beginning of this season and then Tebowmania erupted. He didn’t look great doing it, but Tebow was winning games. The defense and the Broncos’ kicker — I pray to you Matt Prater — deserve credit as well, but you can’t help but be impressed at how Tebow rallied the troops. He needs to continue to develop, there’s no doubt about that, but at the same time he didn’t have much to work with on offense. John Elway, who seems to be coming around on Tebow, needs to transfer his Hall of Fame ability on the field into the front office and get the man some serviceable weapons — (cough) tight end (cough). All in all, I think Tebow’s bought himself at least the next two seasons to prove what he can do.
MP: I wouldn’t give Tim Tebow another full season as the Broncos starter. As you can tell from the Broncos’ quarterback shuffling this season, a lot of change can happen in only a few weeks. The Broncos doubted Tebow from the beginning, starting the season with him as their third-string QB. After five weeks, they made him their starter over Kyle Orton. Although Tebow had success early on, teams seemed to figure him out near the end of the season. In his last five games, Tebow threw only three TDs, compared to four INTs, and posted a dismal 63.5 quarterback rating. An argument most people make for Tebow is that he keeps the Broncos in games because he doesn’t turn the ball over, but this is far from true. In addition to his four INTs, Tebow fumbled the ball six times in his last five games. Tebow just doesn’t fit the mold of QBs that lead successful teams. Out of all the quarterbacks with postseason statistics, Tebow is the only one to have a completion percentage under 50 percent, with 40.4 percent. Unless Tim Tebow makes some serious adjustments to his passing game, the Broncos would benefit from starting a real QB.
AW: Brandon gets 3, because Tebow really did seem to bring a winning mindset to the Broncos, which can’t be overlooked. Chris gets 2, because that Pats game was called terribly by the Bronco coaches. Mike gets 1, because I think Tebow deserves a little bit more time.
2. The 49ers pulled a surprising and dramatic upset against the Saints. Will they be able to work their magic straight to the Super Bowl?
CM: The 49ers really surprised me. I didn’t expect them to be able to pull off the upset, but their defense looked absolutely dominant and their physical play had me fearing for Darren Sproles’ life. They proved my notion wrong, that this is a passing league and a dominant quarterback will beat a dominant defense (even though Alex Smith looked pretty good). With what I saw, they can absolutely do that to get to the Super Bowl. If they can harass Drew Brees and the Saints’ all-pro offensive line, they can certainly do that to Eli Manning and the Giants. The 49ers are playing a scary style of football that is based on brutalizing the opponent. The Giants’ pass rush should make it a close game, but I think it would be hard to bet against the Niners with the way they’re playing. If they make it to the Super Bowl, I think they have a good shot to win it all. Jim Harbaugh would be gunning for revenge against his brother John, and we all know how Brady does against intense pressure like the Niners bring. It looks like the magic is alive and well by the bay.
BG: I wouldn’t call it magical more than I think I’d refer it as fortunate. The 49ers were impressive as they worked their way down the field to beat the Saints, but it never should have come down to that. The Niners jumped out to a 17-0 lead, while the Saints continued to find new ways to turn the ball over. The Niners’ offense just couldn’t find a way to put the Saints away. Some credit there does go to the Saints for shutting down everything the Niners had on offense, except for tight end Vernon Davis — I’m still at a loss to explain why Gregg Williams didn’t double cover him down the stretch. The win was a quality win nonetheless, but does anyone really expect the Niners to force the New York Giants to turn the ball over five times? Exactly.
MP: What surprised me the most in the 49ers’ victory was that their offense actually showed up to play. Alex Smith showed that he can man the helm, throwing the ball 42 times and completing almost 60 percent of those passes. With their already dominant defense, if the Niners can accompany that with a simply competent offense, they become a very scary team. While the defense didn’t exactly shut down Drew Brees and the Saints, they dominated the turnover margin, by recovering three fumbles and snagging two interceptions. In the playoffs, the teams that win the turnover battle usually win the game. The 49ers have already shown that they can beat good teams. During the regular season they posted victories against the Eagles, Lions, Steelers, and Giants. While I wouldn’t call them favorites against the Patriots or the Ravens, the 49ers have shown that they are not a team to be overlooked and that they can compete with explosive offenses like that of the New Orleans Saints. Look for the Niners as a serious upset pick.
AW: Mike gets 3, because the offense is the real X-factor for the Niners. Chris gets 2 because the defense proved they can hang with good offenses. Brandon gets 1 because the team IS a number 2 seed and shouldn’t be that overlooked.
3. My Knicks are in trouble, experiencing some early season issues. Obviously I think (hope) they can rebound, but what do you set their ceiling at?
CM: The Knicks are an interesting case. They seem to have been playing worse with Carmello Anthony, even though he has clearly been their best player. The Knicks have two huge problems: defense and shot selection. They really don’t play defense, and the only way to completely change that is if they fire Mike D’Antoni. And how many times have you seen Toney Douglas or Iman Shumpert jack up a stupid three without even passing the ball? Better shot selection and guard play is something they need to work on and I think it will get better. Once Baron Davis gets healthy and Shumpert gets more experience, the team will receive a huge boost. With how weak the Eastern Conference is, the Knicks shouldn’t be in danger of missing the playoffs. However, because of their defensive woes, I can’t see them finishing any higher than third in the conference. They are in a different class than the Heat and the Bulls. There need to be some changes in the coaching and philosophy of the team if they truly want to be thinking championship.
BG: The Knicks have the pieces there to make some noise. The combination of forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire would make any team relevant. Center Tyson Chandler will provide some serious value if he continues to go along his near double-double pace and play adequate defense. However, the X-factor and the thing that will determine the Knicks’ ceiling will be the play of their guards. Rookie shooting guard Iman Shumpert has been pretty good to this point in the season, but the Knicks are going to need someone to step up and play the point. Someone between Toney Douglas, Baron Davis or Mike Bibby has to step up and take hold of this job. With that said, even at their current record, the Knicks are in line to make the playoffs. I don’t think the Knicks can hang with the Chicage Bulls or the Miami Heat, but they’re 5-2 against teams in the Eastern Conference right now and that’s a good sign heading forward.
MP: Although they have had their share of stumbles so far this season (losing to the Raptors and the Bobcats on consecutive nights?!), I think the Knicks still have a very high ceiling. By adding a defensive centerpiece like Tyson Chandler to a Mike D’Antoni team that will consistently put up significant scoring, the Knicks have built a competitor. In the weak Eastern Conference, led by young and unproven teams like the 76ers and the Pacers, the Knicks should not be thrown into panic mode this early in the season. Without a doubt the Knicks are a playoff team, and when you have two dominant scorers like Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, as well as a strong defensive presence in the paint, which Chandler brings, it’s difficult to count them out of any series. Give the Knicks some time to gel as a unit, and you’ll find that when the games become a little more important, the veteran stars will show up to play.
AW: Brandon gets 3 for bringing up the guard play and its importance on the Knicks’ success. Mike gets 2 for pointing out the general weakness of the East. Chris gets 1, because I love the argument on shot selection, but the Knicks are actually doing pretty well defensively this year, in the top half of the league in scoring defense and turnovers while playing their fast tempo.
Brandon wins the first AtD of 2012, 7 - 6 - 5.
“And that’s how it’s done. #winning.” — Brandon
(12/14/11 10:56pm)
Trenton Police recently arrested a man that was found driving a Honda Civic that had previously been reported missing by a student at the College, according to an email sent out around 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 by Campus Police Services.
Tommy Lee Walker, Jr. was arrested on Saturday, Dec. 10 when operating a white 1999 Honda Civic that a student reported missing on Dec. 5, the email said.
When arrested, Walker was in possession of several "dealer master keys" and it was discovered that he has a history of arrests related to stolen vehicles. He was charged with receiving stolen property and motor vehicle master keys, police said in their email.
Campus Police believe there is "likely a connection between the theft of this vehicle and others that have been stolen from campus," according to the email.
While they do not anticipate him being released in the near future, Campus Police issued a letter barring Walker from campus and have instructed their officers that he will be arrested immediately upon returning to campus, police said.
A photo of Walker was included in the email, which was sent out to the TCNJ community. Campus Police ask that if anyone sees him on campus in the future, they contact Campus Police Services at 771-2345 or 911.
(12/10/11 7:14pm)
Campus Police were advised earlier today of two reported armed robberies taking place in different areas off campus. An armed robbery allegedly involving a knife is reported to have taken place late last night near Susan Drive and Bakun Way in Ewing (to the northeast of the College campus), according to an alert sent out via phone and email to the campus community. The alert described the suspect as a 5'10" tall 20-year-old white male, wearing a gray pullover sweatshirt with a black bandana over his face. A second armed robbery has been reported in Lawrenceville last night, and is currently being investigated by Lawrence police, the alert said. Students have been advised to exercise caution.
If anyone has information related to these incidents, they should notify Campus Police by calling 609-771-2345. Lawrence police can be reached at 609-896-1111.
(12/06/11 10:50am)
¡No moleste, calle y pague, señora! (Shut Up, Don’t Bother Me, and Pay on Your Way Out, Lady!), sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Center for Global Engagement, took place in the Library Auditorium on Wednesday, Nov. 30. A Spanish class performed the play, which deals with sexism during General Francisco Franco’s rule.
(12/06/11 10:16am)
Sororities and fraternities alike took to the Library Auditorium stage on Tuesday, Nov. 29, showing off their best styles for the first annual ‘Greek Seasons Fashion Show.’ Mu Sigma Upsilon hosted this event, asking that the participants use their organizations’ official colors to create stylish outfits that suit each season.
(11/29/11 5:28am)
The Brower Student Center food court may lack the exotic qualities of the Philippines, but on Nov. 19 it was the closest thing College students could get. TCNJ Barkada’s Filipino Variety show, co-sponsored by the Asian American Association and Phi Sigma Sigma, featured performances and food that showcased Filipino culture and exposed students to a different way of life, one dance move and mouthful at a time.
(11/29/11 5:27am)
In the second round of the Around the Dorm playoffs, the “Ref,” Johnny Sisto, challenges Staff Writer Chris Molicki, Correspondent Bryan Bellanca and Correspondent Kevin Black to answer questions about the next MVP-worthy pitcher in the MLB, the chances the College will be taking home another field hockey National Championship next year, and the likelihood that Allen Iverson plays in the NBA this year.
1. Justin Verlander just won the AL MVP, the first time a pitcher has done so in almost 20 years. Out of all of the pitchers in the majors (other than Verlander), who do you think stands the best chance to win MVP?
CM: Winning the MVP award for a pitcher is incredibly difficult, and you need to be as dominant as Verlander was to even be considered. There are not many pitchers who have the potential to win it, but I would say that Clayton Kershaw stands the best chance. Kershaw led the majors in ERA at 2.28 and had 21 wins, despite the fact that the Dodgers were just over .500 and not a playoff team. His lineup didn’t help him that much, scoring four runs or less in more than half of his starts. With 248 strikeouts and only 54 walks, it shows he was a monster. Kershaw is still very young, and the best may be yet to come. He is oozing with potential and would probably have had identical numbers to Verlander had he been with the Tigers. With Matt Kemp on that team, Los Angeles may be due for the playoffs very soon, so don’t be surprised if we wind up discussing this for Kershaw in a few years.
BB: The pitcher with the best chance to win MVP other than Justin Verlander is Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw won the NL Cy Young award this year even though his team was not near the playoffs. Kershaw had numbers almost identical to Verlander’s this year with the only big difference being the amount of wins. The Dodgers went through a lot with its owners’ divorce and lack of money. But under new ownership, the Dodgers will be able to go out and get a big-time bat to put in the middle of the lineup, which will only help Kershaw win more games, something that a pitcher needs to do to make himself stand out in the MVP race. Kershaw is only 23 years old and is already one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. He had the lowest ERA in the league this past season. As a pitcher, you are often not considered to be in your prime until around 28 or 29, so it is safe to say that Kershaw still has a lot of room to grow — which will be very scary for all major-league batters.
KB: I would have to say it could be Ian Kennedy. He was the driving force in the Diamondbacks’ winning the division and making the playoffs in the same way that Verlander was for the Tigers. Only suffering four losses all season, Kennedy was second in the entire league with 21 wins and 11th in ERA with 2.88 in only his fourth season. He was in a division that had the previous World Series champions, and I believe that pitching has become a huge emphasis in the National League among some pretty good pitchers. Kennedy is on an up-and-coming team in Arizona that doesn’t have many standout names, and if he becomes a solid 20-plus game winner and keeps the same ERA next season, it will be hard to keep him out of the race for a NL MVP Award, which I believe he will one day win.
JS: Three points for everybody. All three answers are valid and the reasons are very similar. Chris and Bryan picked the same pitcher and reasoning and all of the responses involved the pitchers’ young ages and high potential along with the pitcher’s role on an average team. Consider this an early Christmas present.
2. Give me the chances the College’s field hockey team repeats as national champions, on a 0-100 percent scale.
CM: Many people may think that it would be incredibly difficult to repeat, like it is in pro sports. However, there have been six times that a Division III field hockey team has won the championship after winning it the previous year. Twice that has been the College, in 1990 and 1991 and in 1995 and 1996. Another factor that will help the Lions is that the majority of their top players will be returning. Only four of the 26 members of the field hockey team are seniors. The rest will be back to make another National Championship run, especially freshman Erin Waller and junior Kathleen Notos, the goal scorers for the Lions in the National Championship game. That being said, it is still never easy or a sure thing to repeat, but the Lions have all the pieces and are set up nicely to win the title again. Taking all of that into account, I would say there is a 75 percent chance that the field hockey team repeats.
BB: Repeating as champions in any sport is one of the most difficult things to do, but with that said, I do give the College a 40 percent chance of repeating as national champions. Looking at the past Division III field hockey champions since it first became a collegiate sport back in 1981, there have been a few repeats as champions, with the College doing it twice back in the ’90s under the coaching of Sharon Pfluger. So, she is no stranger to coaching a team back to the championship. The College is only graduating four seniors from this year’s championship team, and only one of those seniors finished in the top five on the team in scoring. Granted, the team is losing its starting goaltender from this year, but the most important thing that next year’s team will have is experience. Experience is priceless when trying to win a championship, and since almost the entire team will know the pressures of trying to win, they will know how to handle it. Plus, it doesn’t hurt when your head coach has the highest winning percentage of all Division III coaches.
KB: Sixty percent. Granted, winning anything back-to-back in college is difficult to begin with, but I feel this team could find a way to repeat. Most of the core will remain intact since they will be only losing four seniors to graduation. That leaves a ton of the team with championship experience. While they may be a bit younger, they will go into the new season knowing they had one of the top defenses in the country, which gave up only 17 goals the entire season. That averages out to less than a goal a game. It also helps that the team’s top two goal-scorers will be returning. Camille Passucci and Caitlyn Jenkins combined for a total of 31 of the team’s 88 goals, so firepower will be back. They may be young and competition may get better, but you have to like their odds to repeat as national champions.
JS: Bryan gets 3 points for his emphasis on the importance of experienced players. Chris gets 2 points for mentioning that the College has been able to repeat in the past, but to say they have a 75 percent chance of doing it again is a little too optimistic. Kevin gets 1 point because he put too much emphasis on statistics from this season.
3. Allen Iverson is planning a return to the NBA, but what are the chances that anybody actually signs him?
CM: I think there is a good chance Iverson gets signed by an NBA team. His final stint in Memphis got ugly as he was forced to come off the bench, and it left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. But this is still Allen Iverson we’re talking about. The man is a scoring machine, averaging 26.7 points in his career. He has also been to the playoffs many times and could use that experience to help a team win a championship. However, the biggest reason why Iverson may get signed is the lockout. Many teams are not going to have a lot of time to prepare for this shortened season and will need to get all hands on deck right away. I think Iverson can provide a spark for a team and help it not lose a step because of the lockout. He can return to a young Philadelphia team and make the Sixers an elite Eastern conference team because of his veteran leadership.
BB: I don’t think anyone will sign Allen Iverson nor do I think anyone should. The guy had to go to Turkey back in 2010 because no one wanted him then, and now, it’s a year and a half later and Iverson hasn’t gotten any younger. His last stint in the NBA was not good at all with Memphis, and he had to go back to Philadelphia, where he still was bad. He blames his poor play on his divorce and his daughter being sick, but the reason for his poor play is his poor attitude and his age. Normally teams bring in veterans as leadership and to mentor the younger players, but bringing in Iverson would do the complete opposite of that, and for that reason I do not believe any team will offer him a contract.
KB: Twenty-five percent chance. The advantages of having a 66-game season (assuming the vote goes through) will give Iverson 16 less games to worry about staying healthy for. That said, I don’t think there is much of a chance of any team signing him, but there is a chance. This is one veteran the Miami Heat will pass on signing. There’s a slim chance someone like Sacramento or Toronto could do it, but it would be mostly for publicity for them, as they will not be in contention for much more than lottery picks and will use it to garner publicity. He is also 36, and going up against younger point guards like Derrick Rose, Deron Williams, Kyrie Irving and others will challenge his body. Most importantly, you have to worry about him practicing. Not the game that he loves and goes out there and dies for. We’re talking about practice.
JS: Bryan gets 3 points for pointing out that no coach would want Iverson to be a role model for his young players. Chris gets 2 points for mentioning how the scramble after the lockout could help his chances of getting signed. Kevin gets 1 point because he felt the need to mention practice.
Bryan wins the second round of the AtD playoffs, 9 - 7 - 5.
(11/15/11 5:03am)
Wishes came true for students hoping to see some synthpop in the Rathskeller on 11/11/11. The Brooklyn-based band The Bloodsugars visited the College for the second time in two years on Friday night. The band should have felt right at home in the Garden State: Its music was featured on an episode of “Jersey Shore.” Mad Feather Group, a band based in Jackson, N.J., opened the show with its folk-funk style at this CUB-sponsored event.
(11/15/11 3:45am)
In the first round of the Around the Dorm playoffs, the “Ref,” Kevin Black, challenges Sports Assistant Kevin Lee, Staff Writer Chris Molicki and Correspondent Johnny Sisto to answer questions about who will come out on top in the tough division races in the AFC, who will win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and the ramifications of the recent scandal at Penn State.
1. We are past the halfway point in the NFL season, and in the AFC, three out of the four divisions have at least three teams in the hunt for the lead. Give me your AFC East, West and North winners and which two teams get the wild card berths.
KL: My teams are the New England Patriots, the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens. I love the Patriots’ combination of experience and leadership brought by Tom Brady. I’m not really sold on Mark Sanchez’s breakout, because he’s beaten up on bad teams. The Ravens can take this division because of how talented their roster is. Defensively, they have allowed the fewest points in the AFC. Offensively, they can attack you in a multitude of ways with all of the weapons they have. The Chargers will take the West, because I don’t think the Raiders or Chiefs are any good. The Chargers have been underachieving, and I expect them to start playing better with all the talent they have. Finally, my two wild card teams are the New York Jets and the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m picking these teams because not only do I think they have a ton of talent, but both teams are also full of experience.
CM: I think the Chargers will win the AFC West. They are too talented and have a 17-2 record in December and January under Norv Turner. The Raiders have an awful defense, and the Chiefs are not nearly good enough. In AFC North, expect the Ravens to finally win the division this year. The fact that they have already beaten the Steelers twice shows that they are superior to them. Pittsburgh has an aging defense and has struggled in the running game. Through week nine, the Bengals have six wins. The combined record of the teams they beat is 16-33. The AFC East is loaded with top teams, but the Jets seem to be hitting their stride, and I think they will win the division. Their defense is one of the toughest in the league, and the offense is starting to get hot. Teams are finally learning how to beat Brady, and the rest of the team isn’t good enough. Buffalo has been a nice story, but their offense has stalled at times and their defense gives up a lot of big plays. The Steelers and the Patriots should get the wild cards as they continue to be constants in the playoffs.
JS: The AFC East winner is going to be the New York Jets. I don’t think the Bills have what it takes to keep up their excellent performance throughout the season, and their performances are already beginning to diminish week after week. The Patriots’ defense is going to keep them from staying on pace with the Jets. In the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens will take first. Cincinnati will fall off in the second half of the year as their rookie QB slows down, and Pittsburgh has been too unpredictable to compete with Baltimore. For the West, the Oakland Raiders will take it all. The Chiefs are even more unpredictable than the Steelers are, and Philip Rivers has been a bust this season. For the wild card places, I’m choosing the Patriots and the Steelers. Although I didn’t have enough confidence in these teams to pick them for their divisions, they have proven in past seasons that they are always competitors.
KB: Johnny gets 3 points for pointing out that although everyone expects the Chargers to turn it up, they simply haven’t. Chris gets 2 for pointing out the Chargers’ December-January record. Kevin gets 1 because the Chargers are great on paper, but that’s been it so far.
2. The debate for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is heating up between Cam Newton and Andy Dalton. Who comes out on top at the end of the season (or who beats these two out)?
KL: I’m going to take Cam Newton. Andy Dalton has had a fantastic season and may deserve the award if he’s able to lead the Bengals to the playoffs. However, Newton has gotten so much hype as the next big thing and deservedly so. I think the voters really give a significant edge based off of marketability. These rookies are supposed to pave the way and become the face of the NFL in the future. Winning the award will only make the recipient’s name all the more notable. With that argument, who’s the more marketable athlete — Newton or Dalton? In my eyes, it has to be Newton. Newton is one of the most exciting and dynamic players in the NFL right now. With the popularity of Michael Vick (pre-dog fighting issues), Newton has been compared to Vick talent-wise. Newton can potentially fill Vick’s shoes as that rock star-like athlete.
CM: It should come as no surprise that the winner of the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award will be Cam Newton. Newton has been astounding this year, passing for 2,393 yards and 11 touchdowns. His rushing stats only add to that, as he has run for 319 yards and seven touchdowns. That is more touchdowns than the Panthers scored all last year. Newton is a once-in-a-generation quarterback that will be giving defenses headaches for years to come. Dalton has thrown for one more touchdown but significantly fewer yards and not much on the ground. While he should be a good signal caller in his career, he is not as good as Newton and probably never will be. People may argue that since Dalton has a 6-2 record, he should be chosen over Newton, but this is an offensive award, not a MVP award. Besides, I think Dalton is only the second-best rookie on his team, behind A.J. Green.
JS: Without a doubt, the rookie of the year award this season is going to go to Cam Newton. The quarterback position is arguably one of the hardest positions for a rookie to start. Newton has performed amazingly so far this season. As a rookie, Cam is the most valuable player in the Carolina Panthers franchise. He’s embraced a leadership role and has thrown for 900 more yards than Dalton so far this season. Despite his performance on the field, Cam Newton has much more media attention than Dalton does. Although some people do not like to admit this, the media’s attention to Newton will have an effect on the Rookie of the Year voting at the end of the season.
KB: Chris gets 3 for pointing out Cam’s astounding rookie numbers this season. Johnny gets 2 for mentioning the intangibles. Kevin gets 1 because this is not about marketability.
3. We all know about the gruesome details of what happened at Penn State. Given what we do know, how will the football program fair for the rest of the season and for the next few years without the iconic Joe Paterno?
KL: This season, I think the football team will really suffer. There’s been so much turmoil over the past few days that it’s hard for not only the players but also the coaches to really focus on the game of football. In addition, the new coaching staff will have a tough time transitioning the players to its particular style. For the next few years, I think the football program will definitely suffer a bit. USC has lost its prestige (and subsequently top recruits) due to the Reggie Bush scandal. I don’t think recruits will want to deal with Penn State’s negative publicity. Furthermore, the new coaching staff will probably turn some recruits away. Joe Paterno was the heart and soul of Penn State. I don’t think there was a better recruiter than Paterno, and the new coaching staff will not be able to fill his void, not initially at least.
CM: The horrendous acts that occurred at Penn State will surely trickle down and affect the program. The fact that the whole incident was covered up makes it look worse than it already was, and the proper action has been taken to fire the personnel who kept it all a secret. I think Penn State will be fine the rest of this year. They still have a good team and will certainly be playing with motivation. Don’t be surprised if they win the Big Ten title this year and get a BCS game. But for the future, the university will suffer. Penn State, once a brand-name football program, will lose so many prospective students, both athletes and non-athletes. Parents will not want to be sending their children to play for a university that let all of this happen. The success of Penn State will be no more, at least until this whole scandal blows over, which may be quite some time.
JS: The firing of head coach Joe Paterno has got to be the most distracting thing that could have possibly happened to the players on Penn State’s football team. Not only was Paterno the face of Penn State football for over 40 years, but his dismissal caused protest and even rioting by the student body at PSU. As if this wasn’t distracting enough, many of the players have told the media that they are extremely emotional about losing their head coach. There is no way that these factors won’t affect the players on the field. Expect to see some subpar performances by Penn State for the rest of the college football season.
KB: Kevin gets 3 for pointing out how the recruits will stay away. Chris gets 2 for pointing out the same, though not everyone has been fired from the coaching staff that should have been. Johnny gets 1 for not mentioning the future of the university.
Chris wins the first round of the AtD playoffs, 7 - 6 - 5.
(11/07/11 5:36pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Staff Writer Peter Fiorilla, Opinions Editor Danny Pazos and Correspondent Kevin Black to answer questions about the fate of the NBA in the heated lockout and labor negotiations, where college football is headed with the constant conference realignments and who Kim Kardashian should shoot for next.
1. The NBA labor talks have stalled again, and the league may end up missing more than just November (which has already been canceled). What are the chances that the NBA has a season, and what would be the ramifications if the season is canceled?
PF: The chances that the NBA has a season are small but alive, because some of the players can’t afford to lose too much money and know that the league’s offers will only get worse from here on out. The chances are still low, though, as the union will do everything it can to oppose the NBA’s unfriendly terms. The ramifications of a lost season could be hugely negative for both parties. People will lose interest and start spending their money on other sports leagues, which grow while the NBA becomes weaker. For proof, just look at Major League Soccer’s (MLS) average attendance in 2011, which grew 6.6 percent to make MLS the third-best attended league among pro sports with 17,870 fans per game (ahead of the NBA’s 17,319). This stat is flawed in a few ways, but the point is that there are a lot of alternatives to basketball. The NBA loses casual fans to those alternatives each day people don’t get their daily dose of Big Three drama or Blake Griffin play.
DP: The NBA season has to happen this year. It is too popular of a sport in the U.S. and generates too much revenue to not have a season. Obviously the NBA doesn’t generate as much money as the NFL does, but you can’t deny the fact that in a situation where there is no season, everyone loses out. You can’t ignore how this hurts the fans as well; they have to go an entire year without basketball. It’s just not right. Also, when playing in foreign leagues, players don’t get the experience they need playing at the highest level. They won’t progress properly when not playing with their teams in the best league in the world. Finally, it has players possibly doing ridiculous things, like LeBron thinking about playing football. He is a basketball player. Get him and his colleagues on the court somehow.
KB: There’s a 15 percent chance, because you would think that once players start losing paychecks on a regular basis, they will come to the table and be more willing to make a deal. What I feel may put a hold on things is if the players are taking a look at decertifying if things do not improve after this past weekend (and I don’t expect them to). Things look very bleak with the talk of dissension on both sides. The big-market owners versus small-market, players versus Derek Fisher (player representative in the Players’ Union) and players versus Billy Hunter (the president of the Players’ Union). If there is no season played, the NBA will lose a lot of the fans it may have gained just in the past year. Last year was one of the best seasons in a long time, and to follow that up with having no season would just kill the league’s momentum. Fans are already starting to turn away and look toward other sports, like hockey, so the process is already beginning. The process of gaining the fans back if the season is lost would be a long struggle. Ask the NHL how long it took for them to win people back.
AW: Kevin gets 3 for pointing out the ugly situations on both sides of the lockout. Peter gets 2 for stating that niche sports like soccer could take over in lieu of the NBA. Danny gets 1 for stating that the players don’t have much competition overseas.
2. The major conferences in college football seem to be in constant flux lately, with teams perpetually jumping ship. What is going to be the end game for this game of conference musical chairs?
PF: Regardless of which teams are in which conferences when the dust settles, one thing is crystal clear about conference realignment: Fans will ultimately suffer because of it. The fans of smaller schools, which the NCAA is trying to make obsolete, obviously have the most to lose. They will feel left out after the rise of a handful of “superconferences,” which will essentially keep small schools from winning the BCS. And fans of big schools will not like the changes that come from conference realignment, either. Historic and regional conference rivalries will die, and new conference rivalries will feel manufactured and contrived. The fans of Texas A&M, for example, are going to have a tough time finding reasons to hate their new SEC foes, none of whom are located in Texas. In the end, conference realignment just sucks for the fans.
DP: The college football conference system is already difficult to understand for someone who doesn’t follow it closely. The BCS bowl system and the way these college teams are sorted is under constant review and generates countless arguments about how teams should be organized and ranked. For someone following most other sports, it is easy to see why each team lands in a particular division or conference. Most people don’t understand how or why a team lands in the national championship or a seemingly meaningless bowl game. Money and exposure are the real driving forces behind appearing in bowl game. I can’t see many fans being happy that their team won the Little Caesar’s pizza bowl. No matter how these teams are organized within conferences and eventually ranked for a playoff system, the general public will still shake their heads at the confusion that is college football. Luckily, the games are still somewhat entertaining.
KB: I feel like this is only the beginning, because it looks like some conferences may be set for now while others are scrambling to keep things together. The best example would be the Big East. They are sending out offers to Boise State, Houston and SMU. Geographically, those places make no sense (neither did TCU before they backed out), but it’s all about money in the end. Some of the other big conferences, like the Pac-12, Big-10 and ACC, are set in their ways and want to stand pat for now, but they realize the money that is at stake. This is more about football than anything, which the Big East realized by not picking places like Temple or Memphis, which would have made more sense. At the end of the day, there is more money out there to be had by these major conferences, and getting an automatic BCS bid is the end goal for these conferences. This is what the schools want, and if moving to a bigger conference or the merger of conferences here and there help, we are well on our way to having maybe 4-6 complete superconferences.
AW: Peter gets 3 for pointing out that rivalries of the past stand to suffer. Kevin gets 2 for pointing out the absurdity of how some of these conferences are aligning. Danny gets 1 for pointing out that the realignment could confuse casual fans.
3. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are splitsville, and the whole world is weeping (at least the tabloids would have you think so). Kardashian has already been involved with Reggie Bush as well, so who do you think her next marginally successful athletic beau will be?
PF: Kim will want to ruin a new athlete in a new media market, and why not Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots? A Kim-Gronk relationship might make Bill Belichick’s blood boil, but that’s just one of the many positives which make this a good match. The young Gronkowski proved how desperate he is for attention (and women) a few weeks ago when he released photos of himself and porn star BiBi Jones together in an apparent publicity stunt. A relationship with Kim would get him a lot more of the publicity that he craves, and it would get Kim a golden opportunity to permanently connect herself with the Golden Boy’s (Tom Brady’s) wildly successful team, the Patriots. And unlike Kim’s past boyfriends/husbands/etc., Gronkowski is actually good at what he does. He is considered by many to be a premier tight end in NFL, a reputation that would be great for the Kardashian brand. This is a win-win scenario for both parties, and ultimately, Kim-Gronkowski would be a (media) match made in heaven.
DP: Kim has a plethora of options in this situation. There are many bench players in the NBA, MLB and NFL who would gladly spend some of their off-season time on her reality show and jet-setting around the world. Speaking of Jets, I actually think that Ms. Kardashian might decide to ditch her second-string tendencies and sack up with Jets QB Mark Sanchez. Now he isn’t the best quarterback in the league when it comes to putting up stats, but he knows how to win (everything except AFC Championships). They can spend plenty of time in New York together when Kim and her sister tape yet another fantastic season of television with “Kourtney and Kim Take New York.” Maybe with a little encouragement, she can help get Mark Sanchez to a Super Bowl.
KB: Everyone knew that this marriage wouldn’t last, but 72 days was a bit of a shock. Knowing the Kardashians, Kim will be in the news very soon dating another athlete. The question is, who? She has gone from the super famous (Reggie Bush) to the unknown (Kris Humphries). My guess is the next guy will be kind of something in between. Enter Mark Sanchez. Why? He plays football and she is used to football players. Every guy has been younger, so that shows she likes younger men. The Jets are never out of the spotlight, so wherever the Jets are, be sure that she won’t be too far away from it at all. Plus, the Jets fans could have someone to blame if things go wrong for Sanchez at any point during the season. He also has money and is in the city of New York, which is another market for her to conquer.
AW: Kevin gets 3, because with Sanchize, Kim could broaden her media-whore horizons. Danny gets 2, because what makes for better TV than Kim on the sidelines cheering on Sanchez during a game? Peter gets 1 because Kim wouldn’t like getting a porn star’s sloppy seconds. Great answers all around, though.
Kevin wins this week's AtD, 8-6-4.
(11/01/11 5:00pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Brandon Gould, challenges Sports Editor Alex Wolfe, Staff Writer Chris Molicki and Correspondent Johnny Sisto to answer questions about whether T.O. will be playing exclusively indoors this year, the most surprising moment of the NHL season and the MVP of the College’s playmaking defense.
1. Terrell Owens recently held a workout in hopes of getting an offer to play professional football. He got an offer, but it was from the Arena Football League’s Chicago Rush. Should T.O. take the offer if no NFL teams show an interest?
AW: T.O. should hold out for a little longer for a better offer than the AFL. I realize that he tore his ACL last year and he is almost 38 years old (ancient by wide receiver standards), but the man still has something to offer to an NFL team. When everyone thought that he was washed up and useless last year, he took over the Bengals’ wide receiving corps and put up one of his best seasons in the last few years (983 yards and nine TDs). Not to mention that T.O.’s work ethic is well documented, and he definitely showed during his workout that even if his running stamina isn’t quite there yet, he has absolutely kept himself in shape. I would think that a team short on receivers that has a shot at competing this year might take a flyer on him, especially the Raiders, where Owens could be reunited with his QB from last year, Carson Palmer. However, if it gets past week 10 or so in the NFL, I say he should take the AFL contract, but work in a clause that if an NFL team offers him a roster spot, he is allowed to leave (à la the NBA players’ overseas contracts).
CM: I don’t see why not. Although he has been a headache for many teams, T.O. has always been a competitor. He always wants to win and the fact that he held a workout shows that he just wants to play football. If he truly loves the game, he will play it wherever he can, and the arena football fans will surely love him. While I think that there are many NFL teams that he can definitely help (Chicago, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Tennessee among others), if no one decides to take him up on the offer, he should take what he can get. They say it’s all about the love of the game, and if T. O. truly lives by that, it may be time for the Chicago Rush fans to get their popcorn ready.
JS: Absolutely not. Terrell Owens has had an amazing NFL career consisting of almost 16,000 receiving yards and over 150 touchdowns. He is now 37 years old, which makes him overdue to retire from football. If Owens joins the Arena Football League, he’ll be ending his extremely successful career at rock bottom. I believe the best thing for T.O. to do right now is to continue to wait for an NFL team to offer him a deal. There are several teams who could be interested in him in the near future, such as the Oakland Raiders or the Tennessee Titans. Overall, Owens should be thinking NFL or bust for the ending years of his successful career.
BG: Johnny gets 3 for stating that T.O. shouldn’t disgrace himself by playing in an inferior league (à la Ricky Henderson playing for the Newark Bears). Alex gets 2 for citing Owens’ work ethic. Chris gets 1 for saying T.O. should play for love of the game.
2. We’re about a month into the NHL season. What’s been the biggest surprise up to this point?
AW: The fact that Sidney Crosby still hasn’t suited up yet. I understand that the Penguins want to be careful and that concussions are kind of a hot-button issue in sports now, but the man hasn’t played since January. Yes, January. I’m all about keeping athletes safe and everything, but keeping a player out for nine-plus months for a concussion is just absurd. Worse yet, Crosby isn’t just any player, but one of the faces of the NHL. This doesn’t do him any favors in the image department (considering he’s fought a label of being “soft” for most of his career), it doesn’t help his team, and it certainly doesn’t help the NHL. He’s expected to finally suit up by Nov. 11, but to this point I’ve been extremely surprised that he hasn’t returned, especially after an entire offseason in rehab.
CM: Surprises usually come from up-and-coming teams that you don’t expect to do well, but I think the biggest surprise is the dominance of the Pittsburgh Penguins without Sidney Crosby. Sure, they were expected to be a good team, but the Penguins are 8-2-2 and are seven points ahead of the Flyers. James Neal and Jordan Staal have done an excellent job so far with nine points each. Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has a 1.87 goals against average. They have a plus-12 goal differential, better than everyone in the NHL except for the Capitals. And Pittsburgh has just been playing overall great hockey. I give them a lot of credit and their hot start doesn’t look like it’s going to stop any time soon.
JS: The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently 7-2-1 and lead the north in the Eastern Conference. Leading the Leafs’ quick start to the season is the right winger Phil Kessel. The third-year Leaf is currently leading the league in both goals and points with 10 and 18, respectively, in each category. Although it is unlikely that Kessel will be able to keep this pace for the entire NHL season, his amazing start and the Leafs’ success has been the most surprising thing in the NHL so far this season.
BG: Chris gets 3 for pointing out that the Penguins are getting things done without the face of the franchise, Sidney Crosby. Alex gets 2 for addressing the fact that it’s insane that Crosby still hasn’t been cleared to play yet. Johnny gets 1 for listing the Leafs’ success.
3. The College’s football team is having quite a season with the help of a very productive defense. Who is the MVP of the Lions’ defense so far?
AW: A case can be made for sophomore linebacker Nick Bricker (who won NJAC defensive player of the week this past week), but I have to go with senior safety Shawn Brown. Brown has impressed all year with his crazy playmaking abilities, securing key interceptions and always getting the College the ball when it needs it. He has four interceptions on the year, has won defensive player of the week in the NJAC, and has forced two fumbles and recovered three. In addition to that, he is also third on the team in tackles, which is not normally becoming of a safety. Arguably more important than that, though, is his leadership. He is one of the team’s captains and has helped lead the team both on the field and off. Without Shawn Brown, the College’s defense would not be nearly the same game-changing unit that it is.
CM: The stingy Lions defense is a product of all the players working well together. They have a great pass rush and are tough in the secondary. If I had to pick one player who has had the biggest impact, it would definitely be senior defensive back Shawn Brown. Brown leads the team in interceptions this year with four, but he also comes up with big plays in big moments. In the Homecoming game against Montclair State University, Brown got a huge stop on a third down against the NJAC’s leading rusher, Chris D’Andrea. After that, the Lions regained the lead, that time for good. I was covering the game and got to go on the field afterward and talk to Brown. He was so ecstatic and emotionally excited after the win, and you can tell he puts his heart and soul into the game. He is a leader on and off the field and the biggest cog in the College’s defense.
JS: Sophomore linebacker Nick Bricker is the most valuable player for the Lion’s defense so far this season. He has 92 tackles and currently leads the conference in forced fumbles, with five. What makes him so valuable is his ability to stop potentially game-changing plays. In the Lions’ big Homecoming win against Montclair, Bricker played a huge role in stopping Montclair State’s dangerous running game with six solo tackles.
BG: Alex gets 3 for showing Brown’s versatility as well as revealing that it is his leadership that truly makes him great. Chris gets 2 for supplying first-hand experience of Brown’s intensity. Johnny gets 1 for giving Bricker’s stats.
Alex wins this week's AtD, 7-6-5.
(11/01/11 3:49am)
WTSR’s most recent installment of its Decaf series took refuge from the cooler weather in T-Dubbs on Thursday, Oct. 27. Four scheduled student musicians played as planned, but the coffeehouse found itself missing its last performer. However, the show must always go on, and thankfully two talented audience members were ready and willing to take the stage and continue the show. The next installment of the Decaf series will take place later this month.
(10/25/11 7:26am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Kevin Lee, challenges Staff Writer Brandon Gould, Correspondent Josh Fidler and Correspondent Kyle Knight to answer questions about what the Yankees would do without C.C. Sabathia, which of the last three No. 1 overall NFL draft picks has the brightest future and how good of a player LeBron could be in the NFL if the NBA lockout isn’t resolved.
1. C.C. Sabathia will most likely be opting out of his contract and possibly signing with another team. If Sabathia was to sign with another team (the Rangers are said to want to offer him a “boatload” of money), what do you do if you are the Yankees?
BG: The New York Yankees barely got by even with C.C. Sabathia. Without him around, the Yankees are in quite a situation. Ivan Nova had a productive rookie season and Phil Hughes will be valuable if he comes back healthy, but the Yankees will need to add some new arms if they want to make it back to the postseason next year. The easy answer here would be to suggest that the Yankees go out and sign C.J. Wilson or go big and splurge for Yu Darvish, but I don’t think that is the right way to go. I think the Yankees’ best course of action would be to call up some homegrown talent and sign a crafty veteran. Adam Warren, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances are all viable options in the farm system, while Jon Garland could be a nice pickup in free agency. There’s also a chance of the return of Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia.
JF: If the Yankees were to lose C.C., which is doubtful because very few teams can pay as much as the Yankees, then there are a few things that the Yankees can and should do. First, they need to sign C.J. Wilson: He’s no C.C., but the Yankees could easily afford him. Next, if the Cardinals decline Adam Wainwright’s option, which is likely because of the Tommy John surgery he had this season, he is a pitcher who they could get — all they need would be an incentive-laden contract. If he is healthy, he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the game, and if not, well, they did not lose a lot of money from him. Finally, I would suggest that the Yankees take Carlos Beltran for right field. Nick Swisher is not very good, but Beltran showed that he can still play, and play at a high level.
KK: The Yankees need to top the offer given by any team. The Yankees are a well-rounded team and can easily make the playoffs next season. The biggest problem is that the Yankees do not have a well-rounded starting pitching roster. If the Yankees want to go deep in the playoffs, they will re-sign C.C. and must sign more pitchers to sit in their bullpen.
KL: Brandon gets 3 for stating the Yankees’ strong pitching prospects that can fill the middle to back of the rotation, for now. Josh gets 2 because there’s actually a really good chance Wainwright resigns with the Cardinals, but if he doesn’t, the Yankees need a certainty with the loss of Sabathia, not a question mark. Kyle gets 1 for not answering the possibility of the Yankees losing Sabathia.
2. It seems as if the past three No. 1 overall picks in the NFL draft (all quarterbacks) don’t appear to be the next Jamarcus Russell in the making. With that said, who would you take to build a franchise around: Matthew Stafford, Sam Bradford, or Cam Newton?
BG: All three of those quarterbacks look like they are going to be valuable to their franchises, but if I had to pick one, it would be Cam Newton. Matt Stafford is the real deal right now, but Newton’s ability has me drooling. Last year at Auburn University, Newton had the country in awe, courtesy of his legs. This year in the NFL, Newton has been impressive when he throws as well as when he runs. Now, his stats haven’t translated into wins, but that will come in time. Michael Vick is deemed as valuable because he can stretch out plays and Ben Roethlisberger is special because it takes more than one guy to bring him down. Well, Newton seems to be a blend of both of those guys. Once a stable team is inserted around Newton, the sky is the limit for this guy.
JF: I think this question is a little unfair based on the fact that these quarterbacks have had different wide receivers, running backs and offensive lines. So while Stafford looks like he is amazing, you have to ask, how would Bradford or Newton do throwing to Calvin Johnson? That being said, I would have to go with Bradford. Bradford has a mix of accuracy and arm strength. If Bradford had some receivers, he would be putting up astronomical numbers right now, which we should see with the addition of Brandon Lloyd. Newton is not ready yet — he is not fundamentally sound. There are many bad throws he’ll make off his back foot or in a poor throwing position. I think Stafford is good, but some of his weaknesses are hidden by Calvin Johnson, who is double covered, opens up other receivers but also will catch any ball thrown to him.
KK: I would build a franchise around Cam Newton. The ONLY reason the Panthers are staying in close games with winning teams (including the undefeated Packers) is because of Cam. Newton has put up over 1,800 yards in his first six starts. Sam Bradford isn’t even relevant in this question. Stafford is a close second behind Newton because he does not have the injury possibilities that Newton has and he has the ability to come back in games and win. Newton will be known not only for his arm but for his ability to score in the red zone with his feet. NFL defenses can not stop a strong arm in the pocket and a pair of fast legs outside the pocket.
KL: Brandon gets 3 for stating the tools that Newton has and for measuring which QB will have the best long-term success, rather than who’s been performing the best right now. Josh gets 2 for pointing out that Stafford has a ton of weaknesses, which are masked by Calvin Johnson. Kyle gets 1 because Bradford is pretty relevant in this discussion, since he has the tools to become great. It’s not his fault he’s on a weaker team.
3. The NBA is in the midst of a heated lockout, and LeBron James has voiced his thoughts (albeit jokingly) about playing in the NFL. LeBron was All-State in football in high school, so what team would be the best fit, what position would he play and how+ much success would LeBron have if he were to play in the NFL?
BG: It’s important to know that LeBron James was a legitimate college football prospect and that he’s just not spinning his tires in the mud on this one. James is a physical specimen at 6’8, 250 pounds, and he would be a dominant force in almost any sport. With that said, there have been several players that have given up basketball and ended up on an NFL roster — Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and Julius Peppers to name a few. Looking at those precedents, I would say LeBron would be extremely productive as a tight end. His strength would probably not translate to the defensive side of the ball, but with his soft hands, speed and height, James would be able to beat any linebacker in the league one-on-one. Remember, Graham played only one season of football at the University of Miami before becoming a force in the New Orleans Saints, and he’s not as fast or as tall as James.
JF: LeBron played wide receiver in high school, but at his size, he is probably more of a tight end now. He is a very raw talent, so he would have to go to a team that has a good tight end coach. In my opinion, the best tight end coach is Mike Pope of the New York Giants. This year he has turned Jake Ballard into an emerging star, and he has coached Mark Bavaro, Howard Cross and Kevin Boss. He was also able to turn Jeremy Shockey into a serviceable blocking tight end. LeBron is big but is also fast. Eli Manning has always had a good passing relationship with his tight end. Ballard is big, but he’s not very fast, so LeBron could easily replace him and become a star. Also, to the NBA, please stop being stupid and greedy and end the lockout.
KK: LeBron is not built like a NFL player. He’s built like a running back but is too tall. His best bet may be a linebacker or tight end. As a tight end he would have quickness and hopefully good hands. He would probably be more of a distraction if anything to whatever team he would go to. Although, he probably has more of a chance of getting a ring in the NFL than in the NBA.
KL: Josh gets 3 for talking about how good of a fit LeBron would be for the New York Giants, at least on-field-wise. Brandon gets 2 for stating the success of former basketball players who have made the transition to tight end, and his athletic ability. Kyle gets 1 for not giving enough reasoning.
Brandon wins this week's AtD, 8-7-3.
(10/25/11 5:13am)
Before spending the day immersed in Homecoming festivities, former Rathskeller stars returned to their old stomping grounds to perform in Alumni Student Band Night on Friday, Oct. 21.
The night catered to an older crowd, enforcing a 21+ age restriction at the entrance. This gave students, both past and present, a chance to sit back, grab a Rat beer and listen to those alumni who haven’t abandoned their Lion pride.
(10/11/11 3:57pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Chris Molicki, challenges Sports Assistant Kevin Lee, Correspondent Bryan Bellanca and Staff Writer Mike Pietroforte to answer questions about which team will come out on top in the NFC East, which of the surprising Lions and 49ers has a better chance to stay successful, and who will advance to the World Series in an upset-riddled MLB playoffs.
1. With the preseason favorite Eagles starting off slow, the Cowboys mediocre and the Giants and surprise Redskins up top, the NFC East seems completely wide open. Who will win the division and why?
KL: I still think the Philadelphia Eagles will take this division come season’s end. The Eagles had lofty expectations and many new additions to their roster. In many respects, the Eagles are like the Miami Heat. The Heat had huge expectations and even struggled to begin their season, similar to the Eagles. It takes time for teams with major roster overhauls to develop chemistry, especially for the Eagles due to the lockout that cancelled much of training camp. In addition, it’s always tough to live up to the immense hype and pressure that fans place on teams — at least initially. The Eagles will go on a huge winning streak very soon and will come out as one of the best teams in their conference, similar to the Heat. They are too talented not to.
BB: I believe the New York Giants will win the NFC East this year. In a division that has been known as one of the best over the last decade, this year is no different. The Giants are currently tied for first place with the Redskins and they are the most injury-riddled team in the NFL. Their two best players on defense, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, have been injured for most of the first quarter of the season, but both are close to returning, which will only make their defense better. The Giants are also without their first-round pick, Prince Amukamara, who should be ready to go in a few weeks and will instantly improve their secondary. So far, the Giants have found ways to win despite all their injuries, and I see no reason why they won’t keep it up as they continue to get healthy.
MP: The Eagles simply have too much talent to continue playing at this pace. I expect the Eagles’ offense to explode, but more importantly, I expect the defense to begin playing as they should. Expect the tandem of Asante Samuel and Nnamdi Asomugha to step up and make turnovers happen. My prediction is that the Eagles will win the division simply because their ceiling for success is drastically higher than those of the Cowboys, Giants and Redskins. The most crucial position in the NFL, especially in the last few years, has been the quarterback. I feel like the Eagles have such a superior quarterback in Michael Vick that Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Rex Grossman can’t be expected to lead their teams to victory.
CM: I’ll give Bryan 3 points because he points out all the Giants injuries, as well as Prince Amukamara’s eventual return. Mike gets 2 for saying that a team’s most crucial position is the quarterback. Kevin gets 1 because making a dream team for an NBA team is a lot different than making one for an NFL team.
2. Both the Lions and the 49ers have had surprisingly good starts this season, effectively reshaping the NFL landscape. Which team do you see continuing their winning ways?
KL: Although I think the Lions are a vastly superior team, I think the 49ers will continue their winning ways. The 49ers have an absolute cupcake schedule by playing in the NFC West. On the other hand, the Lions have yet to play the Packers and are scheduled to play them twice later in the season. Roster-wise, the 49ers have a good team as well. Alex Smith is playing very efficiently this season, and Frank Gore and Vernon Davis are legitimate offensive threats. However, the 49ers’ real strength is on the defensive side of things — the team currently ranks seventh in points allowed. They have an amazing rush defense, fourth in the league, led by beast middle linebacker Patrick Willis. The 49ers may not have the flashiest names on their roster, but they are a solid team with a favorable schedule.
BB: While I believe the Lions are a much better team than the 49ers, I believe the 49ers have a better chance of continuing their winning ways, and that is all because of the division they play in. The NFC West has been the biggest joke of a division over the past few years, when being a mediocre team got you into the playoffs. The Lions are going to have a hard time beating the Packers to win their division, and the Bears might even push them for second place in the division. The 49ers, on the other hand, don’t have the same challenge the Lions have since there is no competition in the NFC West. The one team that was thought to compete for the division, the Rams, has gotten off to a terrible start. Niners QB Alex Smith has finally shown that he can manage a football game and allow Frank Gore and his defense to win games for him.
MP: I can definitely see the success of the Detroit Lions continuing. They have legitimate offensive weapons in Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson. From years of losing and high draft picks, the Lions have grown from a team with a handful of promising newcomers to a team with a handful of playmakers. Thus far they’ve beaten only average teams — the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Vikings and Cowboys — but faced a true test Monday against the Bears. The 49ers on the other hand, depend on the shaky arm of Alex Smith and the seldom-healthy legs of Frank Gore. Although they play in a significantly less competitive division than the Lions, the 49ers will not be able to succeed with the mediocre-at-best Alex Smith at the helm.
CM: Kevin gets 3 for his mentioning that the 49ers having one of the best-ranked defenses in the league. Bryan gets 2 for saying that Alex Smith has finally shown he can win football games. Mike gets 1 for pointing out that the Lions have gotten a lot of playmakers through the draft.
3. With the Rangers and the Tigers meeting in the ALCS and the Cardinals and Brewers squaring off in the NLCS, who do you think will make it to the World Series?
KL: The Brewers will represent the National League. The Brewers already have the upper hand by being at home. They also have a favorable matchup by being able to start Zack Greinke vs. Jamie Garcia in game one. The Brewers’ rotation is absolutely filthy, led by Greinke, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum. It’s a bit right-handed heavy, but that plays to their advantage considering the Cardinals don’t have a real left-handed bat. In addition, Matt Holliday is banged up, putting the Cardinals at even more of a disadvantage. In the American League, the Rangers will beat the Tigers. The Rangers are a very tough team to beat at home and have home-field advantage, boasting the second-best record at home during the season. I’ve also said this before, but I’m still not a believer in the Tigers’ rotation, especially against a good hitting team like the Rangers. The only reason why the Tigers were able to advance was because they played the Yankees in a short series, and the Yankees’ pitching was equally as bad. The Tigers had a –11 run differential in the ALDS. During the season, the Tigers were 20-16 against the AL East, 18-18 against the AL West and 50-22 against the AL Central. I just don’t think the Tigers are a very good team, and they are only in the playoffs because they were able to beat up teams in the terrible AL Central.
BB: I believe the Rangers and Brewers will play each other in the World Series. The Rangers have battled a lot of injuries throughout the season, but the entire team is finally healthy, and when healthy, they have one of the best lineups top-to-bottom in baseball. The Tigers’ pitching staff is not deep after Verlander, and I believe the Rangers’ bats will get to the rest of the staff. On top of their lineup, the Rangers are also very deep in the bullpen, especially since they put rookie pitcher Alexi Ogando in there. The Brewers were the best home team in baseball this past season and now have home field for the rest of the playoffs. On top of that, their game-one starter, Zach Greinke, has not lost a game at home all season long. The Brewers also have one of the best one-two punches in the middle with NL MVP front-runner Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder. Combine all of that with the Brewers’ deep bullpen and pitching staff and the Brewers will be a hard team to beat.
MP: After seeing the Phillies and Yankees lose this week, the rest of the playoffs seem completely up for grabs. The matchup that seems most intriguing to me is the Cardinals vs. the Brewers. They’re division rivals who really don’t like each other very much and have seen the benches empty this season. I think what will sway the series is the Brewers’ core of Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun. Both are game-changing hitters. I also like the top of the Brewers’ rotation much better than the Cardinals’. Yovani Gallardo is a big-game pitcher who racks up the strikeouts, Zack Greinke is a former ace who can still pitch like it, and Shaun Marcum has been very dependable this year. The Brewers also bring an intensity to their games that I think the Cardinals lack. After seeing the Tigers drop the opening game with stud pitcher Justin Verlander on the hill, I think the Rangers’ bats will be too much for the Tigers. World Series matchup: Rangers vs. Brewers.
CM: Kevin gets 3 for saying that Holliday is hurt and the Brewers have a pitching advantage. Mike gets 2 for pointing out that the Braun/Fielder combination is one of the best in the league. Bryan gets 1 for showing how deep the Rangers’ bullpen is.
Kevin wins this week's AtD, 7 - 6 - 5
(10/05/11 4:28am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Correspondent Kevin Black, Correspondent Chris Molicki and Correspondent Peter Fiorilla to answer questions about which MLB collapse was the most significant, whether the Rays or the Cardinals have the best chance of making something of their wild card appearances and which NFL team is the best fit for Stanford QB Andrew Luck.
1. The Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves just managed to complete two of the biggest late-season collapses in MLB history, with both missing the playoffs after losing on the last game of the season. Which team’s collapse is a bigger deal?
KB: With all due respect to the Atlanta Braves, who had an amazing summer with their pitching, the Red Sox were the bigger deal. While their “choking” happened during September, it all really started in March/April. Before the season started, there was a ridiculous amount of hype placed around the team. All 45 baseball analysts on ESPN predicted them to win the division. Forty-two of them had the Sox in the World Series, and of the 42, 33 had them winning it all. So what happened? They opened the season 2-12. The winter signing of outfielder Carl Crawford was supposed to bring the team to the next level, along with the signing of Adrian Gonzalez. While Crawford’s batting average of .255 was OK, he occasionally looked lost and couldn’t really deliver when they needed him to (that came from Jacoby Ellsbury). Also, the pitching was at times a joke to watch and wasn’t playoff-worthy. Josh Beckett was the best starter with a 2.89 ERA, but that was second to relief pitcher Alfredo Aceves. The ERAs of other starting pitchers with 10 or more starts includes 3.47, 3.48, 5.12, 5.54 and Jon Lester’s laughable 6.41. That alone is not playoff-worthy. The pressure that was there all season took its toll.
CM: It’s clear that the Red Sox’s collapse is the bigger deal because of two main reasons. First, Boston’s schedule in the homestretch was not difficult at all. They had seven of their last 10 games come against the cellar-dwelling Orioles and only managed to win two of them, while their adversary, the Rays, had to face the Yankees, Blue Jays and the Sox themselves. The Braves, meanwhile, had to end their season with a series against the underrated Nationals and then the Phillies. The Cardinals caught them because they had the luxury of finishing with the Mets, Cubs and Astros. The second reason is that this is the team that everyone pegged to be the favorites to win the AL East. Their free-agent signings of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford were expected to push an already potent lineup to be the best in the game. The preseason pitching staff of Beckett, Lester, Clay Bucholz, John Lackey and Daisuke Matsuzaka was expected to be one of the best in the majors. And Josh Bard and Jon Papelbon were supposed to consistently shut down the eighth and ninth innings. But they completely stopped playing in September and were huge underachievers, making theirs the worst collapse.
PF: The Boston Red Sox’s late-season collapse is a much bigger deal than the Atlanta Braves’. It shows that the gap between big-budget and tiny-budget teams in the MLB is smaller than is often perceived. This year’s Boston team had a payroll of $161 million — nearly twice as much as the Braves’ and almost four times as large as the Rays’ — and featured household names like Adrian Gonzalez and David “Big Papi” Ortiz. Its failure to hold off this Rays team, depleted in the offseason due to salary-related problems, is not just embarrassing to the Red Sox. More importantly, it is inspiring to fans of small-market teams like the Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals — fans that might lose interest in the MLB without feel-good stories like the Rays’. Plus, a confidence deflator like Boston’s 7-27 September could have playoff ramifications for years to come if it causes turmoil in the front office (Terry Francona, the manager who led the Sox to their only two World Series, has been fired). Not much about the playoff picture will change if the Braves, who only have two postseason appearances in seven years, become worse.
AW: Kevin gets 3 for that great stat about all of the ESPN analyists picking the Sox and the fact that the pressure got to them. Chris and Peter both get 2, because I thought Chris’ point about the schedule was just as good as Peter’s about the salaries.
2. On the other side of things, the Tampa Bay Rays and the St. Louis Cardinals knocked the Sox and the Braves out of the playoffs, earning themselves wild card spots. Which of those two teams has the best chance of actually making something of their playoff appearance?
KB: This is a tough one, because they are both coming in on an emotional high. While the Cardinals do enough to win, I feel that the Rays will probably make more noise in the playoffs. They have the advantage of facing the Rangers, who knocked them out of the playoffs last year after pushing the series to the limit. The Rangers won that series solely on Cliff Lee’s arm (which in turn led them to the World Series). Cliff Lee is no longer there, but the Rangers still have the same talented hitters in Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton and pitchers C.J. Wilson and Neftali Feliz. Tampa hasn’t changed much either, except with the loss of Crawford, but their pitching has become a little bit stronger with new sensation Matt Moore joining their mainstays Jake Shields and David Price. Canceling out Lee and Crawford makes this a toss-up kind of series, which is what the Rays want and need after their miracle comeback. I like their chances more than the Cardinals’ chances versus the Phillies, who are perennial favorites to win it all. On paper, the Rangers should be included among the title contenders, but they are not.
CM: Both the Rays and the Cardinals are very good teams, but because of their playoff matchups, the Rays have the best chance of making some noise in the playoffs. Their top three starters — David Price, James Shields and Jeremy Hellickson — all have ERAs under four, which is better than the staff of their first-round opponent, the Texas Rangers, as well as the Yankees and Tigers. They also have a solid offense with Longoria, Upton, Zobrist and Joyce, who may not have the best averages but certainly know how to drive in a lot of runs. But their biggest weapon will be their momentum. In the final day of the season, they pulled off an improbable win by coming back from seven down in the eighth inning to win in extra innings. They’re riding high on this miracle victory and should be able to carry over their winning ways to the playoffs. The reason I don’t think the Cardinals can win a series is because they have to face the Phillies first. I find it hard to believe that the Cardinals’ pitching can match that of the Phillies, and the postseason is all about pitching.
PF: The Tampa Bay Rays have a better chance of doing some damage in the playoffs. Coming off of a historic comeback, the team certainly has momentum, and its young pitching staff is capable of outdoing the Texas Rangers’. Matt Moore, who is only 22, is proving to be a spectacular surprise for Tampa Bay. The Rays also proved their mettle in the AL’s toughest division and have a smart, keen manager in Joe Maddon. They came close to beating their first-round opponent, the Rangers, in last year’s ALDS, and I think they have a good chance of actually winning the series this year. The St. Louis Cardinals, on the other hand, are toast. Led by postseason veteran and MLB superstar Albert Pujols, St. Louis might actually be as good as or better than the Rays, but they won’t have a chance to show it against the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia was the only team in baseball with more than 100 wins this season, and with good reason — their pitching staff is among the best in MLB history. The Rays are set for a postseason surge, but the Cardinals face a tough road ahead if they want to accomplish anything.
AW: I give Chris the 3, because pitching wins championships. Kevin gets 2 for pointing out that the free agent losses match up with Texas and the Rays. Peter gets 1 because Moore is good but also untested in the playoffs.
3. QB Andrew Luck of Stanford is looking like he’s going to be the undisputed No. 1 overall pick when the NFL Draft rolls around next year, and, of course, talk of tanking (throwing) the season has begun for some of the bad teams around the league. Which team presents the best fit for Luck, and is tanking to get the top pick ever a good strategy?
KB: Tanking only a month into a season is not the way to go. You have pretty much told your fans to give up and find a way to sell off their season tickets while the chances of landing Andrew Luck increase. We live in a world where we expect immediate results, and when a team is knowingly throwing it, it is a disrespect to the league and that team’s fans. Having said that, I feel that Andrew Luck’s best “fit” is in Miami. He will be walking into a system with a target receiver right there waiting in Brandon Marshall and a running back, in Reggie Bush, who is trying to prove he can be a every-down back. The defense is good but can be improved, and they have a core offensive line that is solid. Yes, the learning-under-Peyton-Manning-in-Indy scenario sounds awesome, but this is a question of fit, and Miami fits because he goes into that situation not having to live under Peyton comparisons if he takes over. In Miami, he only has to perform and win.
CM: I think the best fit for Luck and where he ultimately winds up going is the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are a talented team, but have had some bad games so far, and it won’t get much better with a schedule that still includes the Jets, Bills, Giants, Patriots, Cowboys and Eagles. Miami won’t even have to tank to get Luck. The reason why Luck would thrive in Miami is because he would have a good amount of talent already surrounding him. Daniel Thomas is a bruising running back that will have a good career. Luck would be able to throw to the talented Brandon Marshall and have a safety blanket in Davone Bess. And with Mike Pouncey and Jake Long anchoring the line, he should be well protected. He could revive their fan base and make them competitive in the tough AFC East for years to come. However, I don’t think tanking is a good strategy. Players want to play to win, and the fans want them to as well, so you could hurt your relationships with players and fans. Also, there is no guarantee that tanking would get a top pick, especially if other teams do it too.
PF: Andrew Luck would do well in Kansas City, where QB Matt Cassel has dragged down an otherwise decent Chiefs team. Kansas City’s run game will be good next year with the return of Jamaal Charles, who will take a lot of pressure off Luck and the team’s passing game (last year, Charles came close to beating Jim Brown’s all-time yards per carry record). Kansas City also has a couple of decent targets for Luck to aim at, including Dwayne Bowe, who caught 15 TDs last year to set a new Chiefs franchise record. With a solid QB and a good draft next year, the Chiefs could be a playoff team in the AFC West, which would be great for both Luck and Kansas City. And Kansas City knows it, which is why they should throw the rest of their games to get 2012’s No. 1 draft pick. Fans paying money to see the team at Arrowhead Stadium might be upset to see losses, but in the long term, securing Luck is the best path back to the playoffs for the offensively deficient Chiefs.
AW: Chris gets 3 for bringing up Daniel Thomas as well as Davone Bess. Kevin gets 2 because Reggie Bush isn’t much of an asset anymore. Peter gets 1 because with all the money the Chiefs recently threw at Cassell, I can’t see them canning that project just yet.
Chris wins this week's AtD, 8 - 7 - 4.