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(01/23/18 8:12am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Alberto Gregorio, William Guttman and Michael Battista — three questions: 1. How have the Vegas Golden Knights ascended to the top of the NHL Western Conference? 2. Can Oklahoma freshman guard Trae Young lead his team to success this March? 3. Were the Pittsburgh Steelers unprepared for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
1. How have the Vegas Golden Knights ascended to the top of the NHL Western Conference?
Alberto: The Golden Knights are one of the best teams in the NHL because of their quickness. During the past five seasons, the NHL has been evolving into a speed game. Shorter players are now finding success when they would not have a decade ago when the players focused on heavy hits. During the expansion draft, the Knights modeled their team after small and fast players who can outskate just about anyone in the league. Players like centers William Karlsson and Jonathan Marchessault are having career years. Previously, they were not playing with players as fast as them. Now paired with players who can keep up, the Knights are pushing the pace of play. As a result, they have tremendous success playing rush and transition games. They outskate their opponents on the rush, which naturally opens up holes that the Knights can easily pass through. They skate quickly and move the puck even quicker. Other teams have a hard time playing at the speed the Knights do, and no one can keep up with the Knights’ pace.
William: Las Vegas has become an elite team in the conference with a surprisingly good lineup and impressive goaltending. Goalkeeper Marc-Andre Fleury is still elite, and even with him out for a stretch, backup goalkeepers Oscar Dansk and Malcolm Subban have been stellar. With no big names on the team, it’s a stretch to say that no one expected much from the newest NHL franchise. In new roles as the team’s best trio, Marchessault, Karlsson and right winger Reilly Smith have been able to play to their fullest potentials, taking the league by storm. I don’t think anyone is still skeptical of this team’s ability to be successful in the NHL.
Michael: The Golden Knights are having the most success of any expansion franchise in North American sports history. To be honest, I almost hate trying to dissect this team because I simply enjoy watching them play. When looking at leading players in the NHL, besides goalkeeper Fleury’s leading the league in save percentage, not many Golden Knights are in top spots. This team works more as a unit than as a team with one big star. Every member is playing his part, whether it be as a third string goalie with Subban and Malcolm, or a young defender like Colin Miller. This team could be the first expansion team since the 1967-1968 St. Louis Blues to make the Stanley Cup Final in their first year, but I think they could actually win the entire thing in just four games.
Alberto gets 3 points for emphasizing the importance of speed. William gets 2 points for mentioning Dansk and Subban. Michael gets 1 point for being honest.
2. Can Oklahoma freshman guard Trae Young lead his team to success this March?
Alberto: Trae Young is phenomenally talented, but March Madness is a different kind of monster Young has not experienced before. Since he is only a freshman, he needs more time to grow before he can lead Oklahoma to a deep run come March.
William: The short answer: yes. The long answer: define success. Winning it all? No. Solid tournament run? No doubt. Trae Young is phenomenal. He is putting up Kevin Durant-like numbers and draws comparisons to Steph Curry. What do those two players suggest? Well to start, a few MVPs, not to mention many deep playoff runs and some championships. The numbers alone are enough to bet against even the best of teams and players, but you have to like what Young brings to the table. Expect his eye-popping numbers to get even better as he gains experience and leads his team through the big tournament.
Michael: He can, but I think we should be worrying about him leading his team to conference success first. The team has the eighth-hardest remaining strength of schedule and the Big 12 is stacked this year. The top four teams are all ranked in the top 10, and Oklahoma is in fourth place despite holding the highest national ranking. Young may be leading the team by averaging 30 points per game, but with tough Big 12 competition they may have to receive a bid into March Madness. As a lower seed, Oklahoma may be pitted against teams like No. 1 ranked Villanova or a team like Michigan State. Young and the rest of his team are going to need to show they haven’t peaked and keep pushing deep into the regular season if they want any hope of success come March.
Michael gets 2 points for talking about the Big 12. Alberto and William get 1 point for their ‘phenomenal’ answers.
3. Were the Pittsburgh Steelers unprepared for the Jacksonville Jaguars?
Alberto: The Pittsburgh Steelers definitely underestimated the Jacksonville Jaguars. From the very beginning of the game, the Steelers were not ready. In fact, the Jaguars scored a touchdown on the first drive of the game and took off from there. The Steelers were left surprised and played catch up the entire game. It took about halfway through the second quarter for the Steelers to answer the Jaguars’ hot start. By the time the Steelers scored a touchdown and got their first points, the Jaguars already had three touchdowns of their own. In the second half, the Steelers battled back to make it close, but by then, it was already too late.
William: The Jaguars are a very good team and the Steelers knew it. It’s hard to imagine any team underestimating their opponent in the playoffs, so I have to say no. Given that Jacksonville’s defense was the one thing that was expected to keep this game interesting, Pittsburgh showed that they clearly studied, putting up 42 points. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger picked apart the team for five touchdown passes and put them in their place. The terrible towels didn’t put any fear in Jaguars’ running back Leonard Fournette, however, and he quickly became an factor in this showdown. When two good teams clash, only one can win, but it doesn’t always mean the other wasn’t prepared, right?
Michael: Without a doubt. Every Yinzer in Pittsburgh, not just the players, had been looking toward the Patriots since they got whooped in last year’s conference championship. Steelers’ safety Mike Mitchell came out and said his Steelers could beat the Patriots in any location, from Hell to New England. It doesn’t seem crazy to think a team that nearly beat the defending Super Bowl champs in the regular season would overlook a Jacksonville side that managed 10 points against the Buffalo Bills. If star running back Le’Veon Bell felt like skipping the team walkthrough before the divisional round, I’m betting other players felt the same way. At the end of the game, the Steelers’ plain arrogance and underestimation of quarterback Blake Bortles and his slingshot arm led to their downfall.
William gets 3 points for emphasizing defense. Michael gets 2 points for mentioning Yinzers. Alberto gets 1 point for his play-by-play commentary.
William wins ATD 6-5-5
“It’s better to be lucky than good.”
(12/05/17 8:56am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Malcolm Luck, Ashton Leber and Michael Battista — three questions: 1. What should be considered more in college football — beating ranked teams or winning conference championships? 2. Which group do you consider to be the “group of death” in the World Cup? 3. Is Eli Manning’s time with the Giants coming to an end?
1. What should be considered more in college football — beating ranked teams or winning conference championships?
Malcolm: I think this answer depends entirely on the program. College teams have to be separated into three “tiers” so to speak. Top tier powerhouse programs such as Alabama or Ohio State should be measuring their success based on conference championships. Every year, these teams are ranked consistently and their fanbases expect to see them competing for a national championship, forget about a conference championship. Non-powerhouse but formidable teams in smaller conferences should undoubtedly prioritize winning conference championships over beating ranked teams. In terms of satisfying their fanbases, beating a ranked team might satisfy them for a week, but can’t be considered sustainable success. Weak teams in smaller conferences should measure their success based on beating ranked teams because conference championships aren’t usually feasible.
Ashton: Personally, I feel like beating a ranked team is more important than winning a conference championship. As a transfer from West Virginia University, one of the biggest football schools, I can remember when we beat Baylor University. The town literally went up in flames — couches burning, dumpsters on fire, the whole nine yards (pun intended). When No. 6 Auburn beat No. 1 Alabama last week in the Iron Bowl, the joy and gratification the players and team felt must have been overwhelming, in a positive way of course. For a team that has been set on defeating Alabama for years, this was an achievement finally unlocked. The Crimson Tide has been a top seeded team for years, with almost every college team trying to defeat them along the way. For example, when Clemson beat Alabama last year in the final seconds of the College Football Playoff national championship, I feel that their mission was to defeat the No. 1 team, and not so much on winning the title.
Michael: I honestly don’t know anymore. I said it with Penn State last year and I’ll say it again now, conference championships should be a big factor in the selection committee’s head. Ohio State got robbed this year by Alabama, and USC got robbed of a sixth place spot by Wisconsin. Alabama and Wisconsin had weak schedules and lost crucial games against Auburn and Ohio State respectively. If you have a weak schedule and lose to big teams, then you shouldn’t make it to the College Football Playoffs. If you have a harder schedule, lose a game or two and win your conference, you should matter more. Yes, Ohio State lost to Iowa by more than 30 points, but that was coming off a grueling comeback against Penn State. Alabama’s best win this year was against LSU and they nearly lost to Mississippi State. Winning a conference, no matter what, should make you a favorite to go to the College Football Playoffs.
Ashton gets 3 points for discussing West Virginia’s win over Baylor. Malcolm and Michael get 2 points for valuing conference championships.
2. Which group do you consider to be the “group of death” in the World Cup?
Malcolm: This World Cup is odd because there isn’t any group of death. In 2014, USA happened to be in THE group of death with the world powers of Germany, Portugal and Ghana. In terms of the best group, I would have to go with Group E (Brazil, Switzerland, Costa Rica and Serbia). Brazil is a proven team every year and have the second best odds behind Germany. Switzerland is an underrated, solid team with quality players. The veteran presence of Xherdan Shaqiri and Stephan Lichtsteiner will lead younger, talented players such as Granit Xhaka. They have serious potential. Costa Rica isn’t highly favored but have past success, advancing from their group in 2014 with no losses. Serbia is also a solid team that shouldn’t be slept on.
Ashton: For this World Cup, I don’t necessarily see a “group of death,” but to pick one I’m going to have to say Group B – Portugal, Spain, Morocco and Iran. Usually when you discuss a group of death, there are three dominating teams and one underdog. But I have to say, Group B stands the closest chance to meeting that. Portugal and Spain’s national teams are in the top 10 rankings for the 2017 FIFA World Cup. Portugal is ranked No. 3 and Spain is ranked No. 6. Morocco and Iran will have a tough time as they face two dominating teams, but surprises always come with sports, so who knows what the end result will actually be.
Michael: There are a lot of interesting groups in next year’s World Cup, but Group F is looking like a monster. Let’s go through this from bottom to top. You have South Korea, who are a pretty good team and came in second in their qualification group. Then you have Sweden, whose qualification group included France and the Netherlands. They beat France once and knocked the Netherlands out of qualification. Not only that, but they knocked off four-time world-champions Italy in the playoffs, which I’m still mad about. Now come the real killers that topped their qualification groups. Germany, the reigning champions, was undefeated in qualification matches and Mexico only fell once to Honduras. Germany will advance, but that second spot is going to be a bloodbath between the remaining three teams. It’ll be fun to watch.
Malcolm gets 3 points for mentioning players. Ashton gets 3 points for discussing rankings. Michael gets 2 points for supporting Italy.
3. Is Eli Manning’s time with the Giants coming to an end?
Malcolm: I don’t think Eli is done with the Giants just yet. He will be the starter next year. He’s definitely had a disappointing season but he shouldn’t be blamed for all of his team’s troubles. It’s almost impossible to put up sustainable numbers without your top three receivers and a below average offensive line. He has still managed to put up 14 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. The Giants will have a top five draft pick this year and will most likely take a quarterback like Sam Darnold out of USC or Josh Rosen out of UCLA. They will benefit from having him sit behind Eli for a year or two so he can develop. Eli’s career may be coming to an end because of his age, but not because of underperformance.
Ashton: Tough question. Since 2004, Eli Manning has been a key player for the Giants. I’m sure the news that he was benched must have been devastating for him, but at the same time, an entire organization can’t let emotions get in the way. They have to do what’s best for them, and perhaps that was benching Manning. It’s no secret that the four-time Super Bowl champs have been absolutely horrible this season. But you also have to look from a technical standpoint when evaluating this. What does the future hold for the New York Giants? Since they are so awful this season, why not give other quarterbacks a chance? At some point, Manning is going to retire. I think this is a good opportunity for the team to let other players make names for themselves on the field, and benching Manning is a good first step. I don’t know if this means it’s the end of his career with football, but maybe with the Giants. I don’t think he wants to end his prized football career being benched. So that’s why I don’t necessarily believe it’s the end of his career, but it could be for his current team.
Michael: I almost hope so, not as a sign of hate toward Manning. I think the disrespect was too much for a two-time Super Bowl MVP. Manning did not deserve to be benched the way he was. After their loss to Oakland, in which he didn’t start Manning, made two things clear. He plans to play in 2018 and he doesn’t want head coach Ben McAdoo fired. He even went as far to say that “When a coach gets fired, it’s usually because the team, the players and myself haven’t performed up to our duties.” He’s that much of a professional. He’ll still support McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese. If McAdoo and Reese are fired, I can see Manning staying in New York, but it isn’t a guarantee. Emotions are powerful things, and he may follow his brother’s steps and go to the Broncos or he may reunite with Tom Coughlin in Jacksonville. Either way, you’ll see me wearing a Manning jersey next season because that’s my quarterback.
Michael gets 3 points for mentioning Manning’s perspective. Malcolm and Ashton get 2 points for considering the future of the Giants.
Ashton wins ATD 8-7-7
“This one’s for Calabria!”
(11/28/17 10:43am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Michael Battista asked our panel of three experts — Jennifer Lowenberg, Albert Gregorio and Tyler Law — three questions: 1. During the Oklahoma-Kansas game, who showed less class and sportsmanship? 2. What has been the biggest surprise so far in the NHL season? 3. Should American sports leagues play regular season games in other countries?
1. During the Oklahoma-Kansas game, who showed less class and sportsmanship?
Jennifer: I don’t watch football, but from what I’ve heard Mayfield was making hand gestures? I’m not sure what they were of, but if that was it and they had no meaning behind it, then it’s silly to not shake hands.
Albert: When University of Kansas players refused to shake Baker Mayfield’s hand, they broke a tradition that has been happening for decades. Shaking hands before the coin toss is a sign of good sportsmanship. Yes, by refusing to do this, it made Kansas players look bad, but it’s still not an excuse for Mayfield to act like a child. Mayfield is more at fault. When Kansas players refused to shake his hand, he should have just shut his mouth and played his game. It might be acceptable for Mayfield to act like this during a tight game to give his team an edge, but Kansas has one win. No one expected Oklahoma to lose that game. Mayfield should have just showed Kansas why he is a favorite for the Heisman Trophy with his actions on the field instead of his actions on the sideline.
Tyler: While I don’t think either party was completely in the right, I do think the Kansas football team started it. Sure, Mayfield has a history of being a little rowdy (see his games against Ohio State and Baylor University), but that doesn’t give Kansas’ captains a pass to disrespect the guy. Not shaking his hand and going for cheap blows and late hits throughout the game is almost like begging for him to lose his cool. He was obviously in a hostile environment and Mayfield is definitely not the type of guy to take that sitting down. Mayfield’s antics were inappropriate, but not uncalled for. Maybe Mayfield was going to act that way even if they did shake his hand, but we’ll never know for sure.
Albert gets 3 points for saying tradition isn’t an excuse. Tyler gets 2 points for calling out the environment and Jennifer gets 2 points for honesty.
2. What has been the biggest surprise so far in the NHL season?
Jennifer: For me, I’m surprised at how well my team, the New Jersey Devils, has been playing. We’re first in the metropolitan division and have been for most of the season, if not all of it. There are quite a few new faces on the team, too. So, between the rookies and players trying to put the team together after having a bad few years, I think the Devils are going to have an amazing turnaround. I hope to see them continue to do this well for the rest of the season!
Albert: The biggest surprise so far is the Vegas Golden Knights. Not only have expansion teams historically done poor in their first season, but they had to face adversity early in this season. For an expansion team, the Golden Knights have managed to still do well. After losing their starting goalkeeper, Marc-André Fleury to injury (the most important position in hockey), they continued to keep on winning with backup goalkeeper, Malcolm Subban. He too ended up getting hurt. Still, they persevered with their minor league goalkeeper, Oscar Dansk, at the helm until he got hurt as well. It was not until they got to their fourth and fifth string goalkeepers, who started in a stretch of nine games, that they started to consistently lose games. In the losing stretch, the Knights went 4-4-1. They currently sit at third place in the western conference.
Tyler: I don’t really watch hockey. I went to a few New Jersey Devils games when I was younger. I’m technically a Flyer’s fan according to my dad, but I’ve heard that the Toronto Maple Leafs, a team that I’ve been told do not usually do too well, are actually kind of killing the game. I can really relate to Toronto fans because, being a Philadelphia Eagles fan, I too have lived a long life of disappointment. Maybe 2017-18 season will be our year, Toronto. Fingers crossed.
Albert gets 3 points for discussing Vegas breaking the bank. Jennifer gets 2 points for mentioning rookies and Tyler gets 1 point to continue his life of disappointment.
3. Should American sports leagues play regular season games in other countries?
Jennifer: I don’t really mind. If the players are from the countries that they’re playing for, I don’t see too much of a problem with it. The player may feel like they have an obligation to their home country to play for them, and if that’s the case, it’s no big deal to me.
Albert: I like the idea of trying to spread American sports in other countries but not during the regular season. Professional athletes are creatures of habit. Taking them to an unfamiliar country to play a game takes them out of their routine. At the end of the season, these games could be the difference between making the playoffs or going golfing. They should be played during the preseason when the games do not matter as much. This way, you do not have to worry about these games costing the teams a playoff spot. From a financial point of view, preseason games do not sell well to begin with, so there would be no harm in relocating them into unfamiliar territory anyway. These games would end up making more money than a preseason game would.
Tyler: I love the idea of playing regular season games in foreign countries, especially when it comes to sports that most countries do not have leagues for such as football. As weird as it sounds, I feel like sports are a huge part of American culture. So playing a game or two in England, China or Mexico is not only eye opening for Americans back home, but it must be pretty wild for people in other countries who have never even seen certain sports before. Learning about other cultures is the best way to break down barriers and come together in this world. Who knows? Maybe world peace will begin with us all mutually agreeing that the Dallas Cowboys suck?
Tyler gets 3 points because everyone can hate the Cowboys. Albert gets 2 points for talking about playoffs and Jennifer gets 1 point for thinking about homesickness.
Albert wins ATD 8-6-5
“Do you believe in miracles? YES!”
(11/14/17 6:14am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Maximillian C. Burgos, Michael Battista and Alexandra Parado — three questions: 1. With the college basketball season starting, who do you see having a breakout season? 2. What will Roy Halladay’s legacy be? 3. Which four teams deserve to be in the College Football Playoffs?
1. With the college basketball season starting, who do you see having a breakout season?
Max: Duke will go all the way. The Blue Devils are talented with their starting lineup: Trevon Duval, Grayson Allen, Gary Trent, Jr., Wendell Carter, Jr. and Marvin Bagley III. Coach Mike Krzyzewski is a legend. Duke is always in the mix of things when it comes to men’s basketball. It might not be a breakout season, but it will definitely be interesting to watch. I think Duke will start off slow before exploding onto the scene and bursting through March Madness.
Michael: My pick is coming from the Big East and it’s not Seton Hall. It’s Creighton. Last year the team shocked me by knocking off Xavier in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament and it looks like they can go even farther this season. The Blue Jays have done great in recruiting determined players, including Syracuse University transfer Kaleb Joseph who seems primed to finally start with the team after his redshirt year last season. Plus they have returning starters like Khyri Thomas, last year’s Big East defensive player of the year, and Marcus Foster. The team has one of the hardest schedules this year and kicked it off by defeating Yale, a notoriously tough defensive team, 92-76. I can smell Sweet 16 come March for this group. Besides them, those UCLA players should be breaking out of a Chinese jail soon.
Alex: Duke is definitely the team to watch this season. They have young, talented recruits who don’t play like college freshmen. For most teams, having so many young starters would be nerve-racking but for Duke, it’s nothing new. Mike Krzyzewski has once led Duke to a national title behind three freshmen and I’m sure he can do it again. Grayson Allen is also a senior this year. Last season, he almost wrecked the competition so I really think he’s going turn things around this season and be the leader on the team that Duke needs. People either love or hate Duke. They get hate because they’re so damn good.
Alex gets 3 points for mentioning Grayson Allen. Max gets 2 points for talking about Duke’s starting lineup. Michael gets 1 point because Creighton is overrated.
2. What will Roy Halladay’s legacy be in baseball?
Max: Roy Halladay’s loss will be felt for a long time. He was deeply cared for and was known as a family man. Halladay didn’t have the traditional road to success in the MLB. Halladay knew what it meant to work hard and earn everything that comes to you. His loss was a tragedy for the sports world. Everyone that knew him had nothing but good things to say. I feel bad for his family and hope that no one forgets the kind and inspirational man that Halladay was.
Michael: Roy Halladay was one of the best pitchers of the 2000s and his eight All-Star selections and two Cy Young awards prove that. There’s only been 23 perfect games in MLB history. He pitched one of them in 2010, while also achieving the second ever no-hitter in postseason history the same year. Besides his talent, he was a family man off the field. Halladay helped create “Doc’s Box,” a specially renovated luxury suite, in Toronto for children and their families from the Hospital for Sick Children. The father who, after he retired, spent time with his two kids and helped coach his son’s high school team to a state championship. Almost eerily, I think Halladay’s legacy is similar to famed Yankees’ catcher Thurman Munson who also died in a plane crash. Both were players who gave the game everything, who earned the respect of both their teammates and organizations and who loved nothing more than their families. Munson’s No. 15 has never been worn by a Yankee since, and I see his No. 32 never being worn in Rogers Centre again.
There’s only been 23 perfect games in MLB history (envato elements).
Alex: Roy Halladay was everybody’s hero. He was a huge figure in baseball and his passing is truly heartbreaking news. Roy Halladay is probably your favorite player’s favorite player. He should go into the Hall of Fame as one of the absolute best pitchers in baseball. Not only was he a great baseball player, he was a person a lot of people looked up to. He’s made his mark in Baseball history. He’s two time Cy Young Award winner who pitched a perfect game and had a playoff no-hitter. You can’t tell me that’s normal! But there’s more to being just an athlete, he’ll always be remembered as a great friend, mentor, husband and overall just a great person.
Michael gets 3 points for mentioning Doc’s Box. Max and Alex get 2 points for talking about Halladay’s impact off the field.
3. Which four teams deserve to be in the College Football Playoffs?
Max: After Notre Dame got slaughtered by Miami, I say Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma belong in the top four. Notre Dame had a rough schedule this year, but it is their own fault for being independent. Alabama seems like a dynasty that no one can stop with a straight up frontal assault offense. To beat Alabama you need a miracle. I would not be surprised if they win another national championship this year. But you can’t count out Clemson who has beaten Alabama before. Georgia also looks really good this year, even with the loss to Auburn. Oklahoma may blow it, but they are also really good this year. I think it’ll come down to Clemson and Alabama as the final two.
Michael: The top four in college football, in no particular order, is Alabama, Miami, Clemson and Oklahoma. Alabama may have nearly lost on Saturday, but the fact is the team is undefeated and have monster wins under its belt. The winner of Miami and Notre Dame over the weekend was pretty much going to decide which of these teams deserve a spot. The Hurricanes’ destruction of the fighting Irish speaks for itself. The last two spots are difficult, and honestly these teams may not deserve the spots in the next few weeks. Clemson cannot lose another game because of their loss to an unranked Syracuse. Even if Clemson loses against Miami, Wisconsin will become way more deserving. The Sooners have a record with impressive wins and an easier schedule remaining minus TCU next week. If Auburn didn’t have both Alabama and Georgia in its final few weeks, I could see the team jumping up. I also see Oklahoma heading to the playoffs easily.
Alex: Clemson has been ranked in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings for the past two seasons. Clemson definitely deserves to be there. The Tigers lost a lot of their playmakers last year. A lot of people thought that would be a setback for the team. So far, it’s not a problem for the team. Their offense is incredible and experienced this season. Players who are underutilized were given the opportunity to play with players like Wayne Gallman, Mike Williams and Deshaun Watson. There’s enough leadership and experience on the team to go with the youth’s ambition on the team. Also I might be a little biased because I thought about transferring to Clemson instead of the College, but that’s a story for another time.
Michael gets 3 points for his thorough analysis. Max gets 2 points for mentioning Notre Dame’s reckoning. Alex gets 1 point for considering Clemson over TCNJ.
Michael wins ATD 7-6-6
“Long live the king of ATD!”
(11/07/17 7:45am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Ashton Leber asked our panel of three experts — Miguel Gonzalez, Tom Ballard and Michael Battista — three questions: Did the Miami Dolphins make a good trade with running back Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles? Did the Houston Astros deserve to win the World Series? Does Colin Kaepernick have a good case to file a collusion lawsuit against the NFL?
1. Did the Miami Dolphins make a good trade with running back Jay Ajayi to the Philadelphia Eagles?
Miguel: The Eagles are getting a bigger bargain deal than a purchase on Amazon during Cyber Monday. The Miami Dolphins were obviously higher than their former offensive line coach Chris Foerster after a tough game. The team only got a fourth round pick! The trade was worse than the infamous Herschel Walker trade between the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys. Ajayi is a young and upcoming player who’s only going to improve. He will make the Philadelphia Eagles into a Super Bowl contender. When the Patriots traded quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers, they got a better offer with a second round pick. On top of that, the San Francisco 49ers released quarterback Brian Hoyer, who immediately signed to the Patriots.
Tom: Ultimately, it’s going to come down to how things look on the field. In the meantime, the Miami Dolphins might have made a bit of a slip up with this trade. It’s been well-noted that Dolphins head coach Adam Gase has been discontented with a number of his players in the locker room over not fulfilling their expectations. Ajayi was probably on the top of the list. Ajayi’s knee problems can also be seen as a liability for the team. But in the end, Ajayi’s stats make him a valuable player. Now that he’s with Philly, no one may be able to stop the Eagles rushing offense. Ajayi’s Pro Bowl background as the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher last season will send the Eagles soaring down the field while the Dolphins keep floundering behind. The fourth-round draft pick wasn’t worth it but Gase got his point across that his word is law in the locker room.
Michael: The Dolphins are the losers here and this move signals the team has little hope the remainder of the season. Even when Ajayi was with them, the team was last in the NFL in yards per game with 252.4 and points per game with 14.1. Even in the position he contributes to, Miami was second to last in rush yards per game with 76.4. This may be helpful in the future with a young draft pick, but when you have a 24-year-old stud that’s only in his third year and coming off a 2016 season with 1,272 yards, it makes me question how the Dolphins could use young talented players effectively. Then again this is the team that thought bringing Jay Cutler back from the press box was a good idea, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.
Tom gets 3 points for mentioning Gase’s relationship with players. Miguel gets 2 points for bringing up Walker’s trade. Michael gets 1 point for not reading between the numbers.
2. Did the Houston Astros deserve to win the World Series?
Miguel: Even though the Houston Astros defeated my beloved New York Yankees in the ALCS, there is no doubt that they are the current kings of baseball. The Astros had to overcome much adversity on top of Hurricane Harvey’s devastation on Houston. During this year’s MLB playoffs, they proved that money doesn’t necessarily bring in victories (unless you’re the 2009 Yankees). The Astros had a team payroll of $137 million, which ranked 17th out of the league’s 30 teams, according to Forbes. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox, Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers all ranked within the top three team payrolls in the MLB. In fact, the Dodgers had team payroll of $242 million. With that type of budget, how could you not win the World Series? (An ironic statement coming from a Yankees fan). The Astros can also thank Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish for his clutch performance in game seven.
Tom: I love a good underdog story and Houston proved to be the fairytale dream come true. I think what is most admirable about the Astros’ World Series win is that it was a victory years in the making. The Astros had good team management, juxtaposed with smart strategy, making this win possible. By making moves such as signing relief pitcher Tony Sipp for a three-year contract before the 2016 season and trading for pitcher Mike Fiers back in 2015 were just some of the steps that bolstered the Astros. Let’s not forget that Houston was struggling for a break after many frustrating seasons. I think the team was able to learn from their mistakes and team manager A.J. Hinch has been able to put together a young, energetic team that will shine in the future.
Michael: I mean... they won the 11 games that they needed to win. Doesn’t that mean they deserved it? During the regular season, Houston had the best record in baseball for a large chunk of the season. Even though they lost that honor later on, they still played incredible baseball throughout. The Astros went 8-2 in their last 10 games while other teams limped into the playoffs. There is another reason they deserve the commissioner’s trophy though. With everything that Houston gone through with Hurricane Harvey, the Astros’ first ever Championship win is a nice distraction from what may be a rough living. Like when Japan won the Women’s World Cup in 2011 months after enduring a tsunami and an earthquake, sports can help lift people’s spirits during rough times.
Miguel gets 3 points for discussing payroll. Tom gets 2 points for highlighting the Astros management. Michael gets 1 point for mentioning that sports boost people’s spirits.
3. Does Colin Kaepernick have a good case to file a collusion lawsuit against the NFL?
Miguel: Yo Colin, you got to stop with this nonsense. Kaepernick has done more than enough to spread his message across the NFL. He has to understand that the NFL is a business. It’s not like commissioner Roger Goodell is trying to undermine his reputation. The reason why no team wants to sign Kaepernick is because he has become a liability, not an asset. Wherever Kaepernick goes, a media circus travels around just waiting to see what reaction he’ll get from fans and owners. News organizations like CNN, NBC, FOX News and ESPN love spinning a story of politics and sports with Kaepernick. While I’m glad that Kaepernick has made the NFL more conscious of social and political issues, he isn’t the quarterback that once led the 49ers to Super Bowl XLVII. No team owner wants to deal with such a distraction for a chance to see if Kaepernick is still a good quarterback.
Tom: Given the public attention that Kaepernick has received and the severe backlash he’s faced from a number of NFL owners, I think he has a very solid case going into this collusion lawsuit against the NFL. The deposition and record requests from figures such as Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 49ers owner Jed York and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have shown substantial hostility against Kaepernick for his protests during pre-game ceremonies. This also poses the first real headache for the NFL in the Kaepernick saga. Prior to this, the league was able to pass the tension off as being a team’s concern, but these requests will require the NFL to put together a bulletproof case and put the money and resources to advocate on its behalf. But as it’s looking now, the NFL is going to have to make a Hail Mary in court if they have any chance to leave this untarnished.
Michael: No he doesn’t. This seems like a situation where every person can think something is happening, but there is no smoking gun for Kaepernick to fall back on. Unless he finds a text chain from Roger Goodell to every NFL owner saying “Don’t hire this man,” it’ll be very hard for his team to prove there is collusion. Fans can say, “Oh, but why would Miami take Jay Cutler over him then?” The collusion doesn’t matter unless it’s proven he wasn’t signed. At the end of the day, owners and teams can do what they please and it’s hard to say what their motives are.
Miguel gets 3 points for mentioning cable news. Tom gets 2 points for bringing up other prominent NFL owners. Michael gets 1 point for referencing Roger Goodell.
Miguel wins ATD 8-7-3
“The future ain’t what it used to be.”
(10/31/17 5:39am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Michelle Lampariello, Ashton Leber and Maximillian C. Burgos — three questions: Are the Philadelphia Eagles the best team in the NFL right now? Who will win the MLS Cup playoffs? Was the New York Yankees’ decision to release manager Joe Girardi a good one?
1. Are the Philadelphia Eagles the best team in the NFL right now?
Michelle: As much as it breaks my little North Jersey heart to say this, the Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL right now. The Eagles’ stats for sacks, interceptions and both passing and rushing yards this season are above the NFL average. Their record stands out, and people are taking notice. Even though he didn’t come from a flashy university, Carson Wentz is going to bring the Eagles to the top — not only to the top of the NFC, but to the top of the NFL.
Ashton: They are now 7-1 after beating the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. Without a doubt, the Eagles are the best team in the NFL. Quarterback Carson Wentz has really improved since last season, driving his team to every touchdown. In his second season with the team, he’s already succeeded previous quarterback and legend, Donovan McNabb. They’re the one team that’s consistent. The Eagles have been complete in every aspect with coaching, defense, offense, etc. It’s hard to say any other team is the best in NFL right now when the birds have just been dominating play after play and game after game.
Max: The Eagles may be at the top of the NFL right now in power rankings, but they aren’t the best team in the League just yet. The Rams, Chiefs, Steelers and Patriots are still arguably the best in the league. Who have they beaten so far? NO ONE. The Cardinals are trash this year, the Redskins are hit or miss every week and the 49ers are garbage. The Chiefs beat the Eagles with their defense and explosive offense. Every team the Eagles beat are not that good except for the Panthers, who are the most inconsistent team in the league. The one good team they played, beat them. The Chiefs are the best team overall.
Ashton gets 3 points for mentioning McNabb. Max gets 2 points for writing about strength of schedule. Michelle gets 2 points talking about Wentz.
2. Who will win the MLS Cup playoffs?
Michelle: I think Toronto FC will win the MLS cup playoffs. This season, they have broken records set as far back as 1998. They’ve already captured the Supporters Shield, and with their string of victories lately, I think they’re set to capture the MLS championship.
Ashton: Since I work for the New York Red Bulls and have always been a fan, I’m hoping that they will be the eventual MLS Cup champions. There has been a lot of talent in MLS this past season in both the western and eastern conferences. There’s some tough competition coming up for the Red Bulls. They will face Toronto FC, whose roster is filled with incredible players like Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley. Hopefully, the Red Bulls win. They beat the Chicago Fire on the road and weren’t favored to win, so hopefully they can knock off the first seeded Toronto FC in their series of two games.
Max: The Red Bulls. Red Bull gives you wings, which should understandably gives the team the ability to fly to the top of the League, right? NYCFC? D.C. United? Columbus Crew? Nah, the Red Bulls have my vote because I know nothing about soccer and the Red Bulls seem like a dope team to win it all.
Ashton gets 3 points for pointing out Toronto FC’s best players. Michelle gets 3 points for mentioning records. Max gets 1 point because Red Bull doesn’t give you wings.
3. Was the New York Yankees’ decision to release manager Joe Girardi a good one?
Michelle: Plenty of people are sad to see Girardi being let go after being the Yankees skipper since 2008, including Girardi himself. The decision to replace Girardi was essentially made by Brian Cashman — the same guy who made the decision to hire him. While Cashman is developing a long list of candidates, internally, the likely candidate to take over for Girardi is Joe Espada. For this reason, I think the Yankees have made a good decision in deciding to release Girardi. Espada is about 10 years younger than Girardi, and he has strong relationships with many of the young players, especially players who are Spanish-speaking. If Espada leaves his position as third base coach to become the manager of the Yankees, the team will be better poised for the future. Having a manager who is well-liked among players who will be on the team for a long time is crucial to the team’s success. While Girardi was a great manager for the Yankees, the expiration of his contract this fall marks an opportunity to bring in a manager ready to take the team into the future.
Ashton: I really feel that Joe Girardi was one of the top managers in the league. He really put together a young and upcoming team that’s filled with talent from players like Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez whose undoubtedly on the rise. I know Girardi’s contract was up, and he “mutually” agreed to part ways with the Yankees, mainly because he didn’t see eye to eye with general manager Brian Cashman. Now Cashman must pick someone to fill Girardi’s seat, but choosing that contender is definitely going to be a challenge. On that note, no, I don’t think it was in the Yankees best interest to release Girardi.
Max: Joe Girardi has been an amazing manager with the Yankees, but the Yankees have the potential to be great with their baby bombers like Aaron Judge. Girardi has seen most of his success as a manager with the Yankees, but they haven’t won a World Series since 2009. This year the Yankees could have gone all the way to the World Series, but some questionable decisions may have been part of the reason they didn’t make it. After this season and all the games that Tyler Clippard gave back to the opposing teams because Girardi kept giving him chances, I’d say it’s time for a change. The Yankees need to bring home another Commissioner’s Trophy.
Michelle gets 3 points for giving a suggestion. Ashton gets 3 points for talking about Cashman. Max gets 2 points for criticizing Girardi’s decisions.
Ashton wins ATD 9-8-5
“Girls can be sporty too, boys.”
(10/20/17 5:21am)
By Connor Smith, Ashton Leber, Brielle Bryan and Marcus Allen
Editor-in-Chief, Features Editor, Opinions Editor and Staff Writer
EWING — A local rapper was shot to death outside his home, about a mile from the College, early Thursday morning.
Devon Green, 23, was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at the scene after two unknown men approached him and his friend in Green’s carport area at his home on Lanning Street, the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office said. The suspects remain at large, according to College spokesman Dave Muha.
“As long as I’ve known (Green), he’s never been the person to have any conflicts with anyone,” said his friend, who was sitting next to Green and spoke on the condition of anonymity. “He stays to himself. He’s a cool dude. He just smokes his weed and minds his business. Makes his music and that’s it.”
[embed]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AAxEUnD1LI[/embed]
Green, known as the local rap artist Savy G, had just returned from the gym around 1 a.m. and was outside smoking with his close friend.
“A dude in a mask ran up and was like, ‘where’s the weed at?’ the witness said. “And then (Green) was like ‘what chu doin’ runnin up like that?’ And he just shot him. Plain and simple, just shot him.”
The suspects fled in the direction of the College, according to the witness. While police did not release information on a possible murder weapon, the witness believed it was a .22 hunting rifle.
“It doesn’t make a lot of noise but it packs a punch and it travels,” the witness said. “Pretty much once it hit him, there was no coming back, because he got hit five times. He got shot in the side of his head, his chest and his arm. Two in his chest, two in his arm and one in his head.”
Jackie Vairo, who lives a few houses down from the victim and across the street from her daughter and grandchildren, didn’t know about the shooting until Thursday afternoon, when she saw emergency personnel outside Green’s house.
“When I saw all the engines down there, I thought either one, it’s a fire, or two, one of (Green’s pet) snakes got out,” Vairo said.
Though the College sent out an emergency text message to students, Vairo did not receive any alerts from the township or public schools.
“The area should be notified,” Vairo said. “Something, say, ‘stay indoors’ or ‘be careful where you go,’ or ‘keep your children.’ That’s what my concern is, the kids. That’s what scared me when I found out this afternoon: all these kids.”
Green, a graduate of Ewing High School, was an employee at FD Subs and would occasionally stop at the Dollar General next door.
Raymia Geddes, a part-time employee at Dollar General, said she knew Green from when he came into the store, and spoke with multiple customers about his character.
“He’s a friendly individual,” Geddes said. “He’s pleasant. He smiles. His temperament is a mild temperament. He has a happy spirit. He’s a happy person. From hearing things from all different angles, I never heard of him being involved in any crimes or in the streets, or anything negative.”
Lanning — which is known as a safe and quiet street, according to multiple local residents — is just off Pennington Road, across from the College. This is the first murder in Ewing in 2017, according to Mayor Bert Steinmann in a report from The Trentonian.
“This is not a place where you have to worry about crime,” Geddes said. “People walk around anytime of night, walking dogs, walking with their babies. You never worry about anything.”
In response to the incident, Campus Police will patrol Lanning Street, where some students live off campus, according to Campus Police Chief Tim Grant.
With the suspects at large two days before the annual Homecoming tailgate, Campus Police assured The Signal every officer was already scheduled to be on duty and working on Saturday, to ensure the safety of students, faculty and alumni in attendance, just like last year.
(10/03/17 4:34am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asked our panel of three experts — Grant Playter, Thomas Ballard, and Michael Battista — three questions: Who will be each league’s Rookie of the Year? In light of the recent FBI investigations, is there more corruption occurring in college basketball? After an 0-3 start, can the New York Giants bounce back?
1. Who will be each league’s Rookie of the Year?
Grant: I’m pretty confident that Aaron Judge will be the American League Rookie of the Year award. I’m not just saying that as a ride or die Yankees fan — he’s had an amazing season, not just for a rookie but for any player in the league. He managed to break the record for the most home runs in Yankees home games with 33 thus far this season. The previous holder of this record? Babe fricken Ruth. With 52 home runs in the season, I think Judge has not only earned a spot as Rookie of the Year, he may very well be the reason the Yankees have won 91 games and made it to the postseason. While his .284 batting average isn’t top tier, it’s very solid. Judge makes up for any deficits in efficiency with sheer run volume. Judge’s 128 runs off of 152 hits epitomizes the type of slugger he is, on top of a respectable 114 RBIs. If he isn’t rookie of the year, I’d be shocked.
Tom: The battle over who will be the rookies of the year this season for the National and American Leagues are tight. This year’s class of top grade rookies have shown fans what it means to play baseball. For the National League, I have to give it to the Rockies’ third baseman, Nolan Arenado. Arenado had an amazing season, scoring 37 home runs and 130 RBIs. There’s no surprise that the Rockies had success this season with a 87-73 record, placing third in the National League West. Statistically speaking, Arenado is having similar success this season compared to the Arizona Diamondbacks’ first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Last month, Arenado’s .338 batting average with runners in scoring position has made him the icing on top for the National League race. For the American League, there is no other choice than New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Judge has obliterated his opponents, raking in 52 home-runs and 114 RBIs. Judge had an amazing record-breaking season and left the rest of the pack trying to keep up.
Michael: Aaron Judge is winning the American League rookie of the year in a landslide. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ outfielder Cody Bellinger will take the National League slot. Judge has broken the rookie home run record, won the Home Run Derby and become baseball’s biggest item. The National League race is a bit more tight, but Bellinger has been instrumental in the Dodgers absolute annihilation of the National League West standings. He’s hit more home runs in his debut season than anyone else and played multiple positions when his team has needed him. He’s been adaptable and reliable. It is undeniable that he deserves this honor.
Grant gets 3 points for his Babe Ruth comparison. Tom gets 3 points for suggesting Arenado. Michael gets 2 points for bringing up Bellinger.
2. In light of the recent FBI investigations, is there more corruption occurring in college basketball?
Grant: Of course there’s more corruption going on in college basketball. I can see the argument that the FBI is just being cautious in the wake of the insanity of the latest scandal. When the media gets a hold of these type of investigations, it means the situation has become large enough to pay attention to. You don’t hit the point where universities are setting up fake classes for players to take unless there is widespread systemic corruption in the culture of college basketball. You can pull out a few bad weeds, but unless you get the roots out, more will just pop up. If we really want to address this, we need to impact the culture. We need to stress that as much as helping a player succeed in the NBA helps them, getting them an education is just as paramount. If people don’t believe that, we’ll be seeing this news story frequently for a long time.
Tom: There are always sharks in the water when there is money to be made. I don’t see the sharks leaving anytime soon, even though they have their own blood in the water. According to the NCAA’s website, for the 2011-12 season (the most recent information they have posted), the organization brought in $871.6 million that season. They also had a 14-year agreement with CBS Sports and Turner Broadcasting to air the Division I Men’s Basketball Championship for $10.8 billion. Without a doubt, there is money to be made in college basketball. I don’t think the takedown of figures such as Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, Auburn associate head coach Chuck Person or various Adidas employees are going to stop anything from changing. With coaches, advertisers and the NCAA swallowing large profits on the backs of their players’ skills, perhaps it might be time to look into compensating college athletes for their work to lessen the revenue and the greed.
Michael: Are you telling me that a sport that doesn’t actually pay its players directly is corrupt? The one with a league net worth of millions to billions of dollars and the one that handles the lives of kids who may be over their head with copious amounts of fame and attention? I’m shocked. Of course I think there’s more corruption in college basketball. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s corruption in other Division I sports. I’m not saying that every team is bad, but because the NCAA has rules limiting what athletes can and can’t do means some will look for ways around it. As a result, some coaches will find ways around it in hopes of recruiting them. I’m not saying there’s a better option right now when it comes to players getting what they think they deserve, but it’s a side-effect of the current system. Money can be a blessing and a curse.
Grant gets 3 points for emphasizing the need for education. Tom gets 3 points for using statistics. Michael gets 2 points for having a genuine opinion.
3. After an 0-3 start, can the New York Giants bounce back?
Grant: Historically, an 0-3 start is not something you want. Since 1981, only five teams who began the season this way managed to make it to the playoffs. Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. said if they finish 13-3, these first three losses won’t matter and I agree with that mindset. We need to evaluate where the team is now and I think they’ve improved by leaps and bounds since the first two weeks. The game against the Philadelphia Eagles was as close as it was because the Giants recognized the deficiencies in the offensive-line and changed their approach to compensate for it. If quarterback Eli Manning relies on aggressive short passes and gets the ball off, he won’t be sacked like he was in the first two weeks. He has offensive weapons like wide receivers Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard and Beckham Jr. While the utter lack of any running game is going to hurt them, especially against teams with strong pass defenses, I think the Giants have developed a strategy that can account for their weaknesses and salvage the season. No one is saying it’s going to be easy, but the Giants have never been the type of team to cruise to a dominating victory. They scrape by as perennial underdogs. There are no bigger underdogs in the NFL with a shot to actually make a dent in the landscape other than the New York Giants.
Tom: The Giants are off to a rough start, but I wouldn’t say their chances are as deflated as a Tom Brady’s football just yet. Their 0-3 record at the end of September looks bad, especially considering so few teams with similar records rarely make it to the playoffs. The “Big Blue” just needs to step back and focus on their strengths. Quarterback Eli Manning is going to pass the ball to running back Paul Perkins and let him carve his way up the field. Manning has to be careful with those downfield throws, but he needs to rely on wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard to make sure they end up in the endzone. The Giants also have to pay some attention to their special team plays and make sure that a repeat of kick errors made against the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles doesn’t happen again. I think that as long as head coach Ben McAdoo and Manning rally the team together, they should have respectable season.
Michael: The New York Jets have a better record than the Giants. Let that sink in while I go cry in a corner and realize the 2007-08 miracle season will be 10 years old come February. I don’t know if turning it around will happen but the Giants will be victorious at some point between weeks four and six. They’re playing some weak teams that are either struggling or are just plain awful. The Giants have no offensive line and no running game whatsoever. Quarterback Eli Manning is getting old and besides wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who does he have to pass to? Plus, head coach Ben McAdoo throws Eli under the bus for sloppy quarterback play when it’s his staff and play calling that hurts the team. The NFC East is a three team division now, so I’m going to sit back and hope Beckham Jr. turns it around at least for my fantasy team.
Grant gets 3 points for a thorough analysis. Tom gets 2 points for mentioning special team plays. Michael gets 2 points for reminiscing on the 2007-08 Giants.
Grant wins ATD 9-8-6
“No surprises here, I’m as right as a turn signal.”
(09/26/17 5:52am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Maximillian C. Burgos asked our panel of three experts — Miguel Gonzalez, Skyler Maxwell and Anshel Bright — three questions: Will the Los Angeles Chargers be forced to return to San Diego or another large city? Which MLB team has the best shot at winning the World Series? Which current NBA star is dominating the league?
1. Will the Los Angeles Chargers be forced to return to San Diego or another large city?
Miguel: Given the horrible attendance numbers and television ratings for the Chargers, it’s time for the NFL to put a team north of the border. Like the NBA, NHL and MLB, a NFL team in Toronto, Canada can become lucrative. The 150-year-old city currently is the fourth largest city in North America. The team would fit perfectly in the Rogers Centre, home to popular professional teams like the Blue Jays, Leafs and Raptors. Would an NFL team be detrimental to the ongoing CFL? Not exactly. During the Toronto Argonauts’ home opening match against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, only 13,583 fans attended. The situation doesn’t appear to be awful like the Chargers. A NFL team in Toronto would finally give the Buffalo Bills a cross-town rival much like the New York Yankees and Mets. Plus, Bills fans can finally look forward to the season other than getting beat up by the Patriots. Just envision it. Walking down through 1 Blue Jays Way, eating a hot bowl of Poutine, listening to Drake, watching prime minister Justin Trudeau on the news and repping an NFL jersey. Unlike some areas like Los Angeles and Buffalo, New York, a lot of visiting NFL fans can enjoy riding on top of the CN tower and going to Ripley’s aquarium.
Skyler: With extremely low attendance at the Chargers game, it is obvious that they should talk about moving locations. They are currently playing in a soccer stadium with no clear future plans for a stadium of their own. Perhaps they will consider moving to another state without a football team such as New Jersey or, possibly, North Korea. North Koreans may be nicer if they could cheer for a football team. Maybe Kim Jong-un could play quarterback too. I’m sure they would be happy to have an NFL team. But, seriously New Jersey could use a team. We are sponsoring two teams that aren’t even ours. I’m sure they would be happy to have an NFL team.
Anshel: The Chargers are the unfavored team in Los Angeles. They consistently have poor ticket sales and play on a soccer field. Clearly, they have fell from their once lofty position dating back to when they had running back LaDainian Tomlinson from 2001 to 2011. They desperately need to move to a new city that may actually support them.
Skyler gets 3 points for a realistic and outlandish choice. Miguel gets 2 for offering a solution. Anshel gets 1 point for stating the obvious.
2. Which MLB team has the best shot at winning the World Series?
Miguel: Since when were the Washington Nationals and Dodgers were ever considered contenders? Bryce Harper and the nationals are known for being one-and-done in the playoffs. The Dodgers, no matter how money they throw at their players, can’t get through the dreaded league championship series. Max, you’re seriously overlooking the baby bombers from the Bronx. The New York Yankees now have a fresh offensive force featuring shortstop Didi Gregorius, right fielder Aaron Judge, and catcher Gary Sanchez. Sure, the Yankees may not have the best pitching staff (or bullpen), but this team is capable of defeating anyone. The only question here is whether the rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox will return in the ALCS. There might be no Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling and Manny Ramirez to ignite fights, but the Yankees need to make up for blowing a 3-0 lead (Even worse than the Warriors and Indians) in the 2004 ALCS.
Skyler: The Dodgers are going to win it all. They’re savages. Kershaw is a monster. He’s so clutch and historically, he’s been the man. The pitching staff for the Dodgers is really talented and when it comes to the playoffs, all that matters is the pitching staff. Offense wins games, but defenses win championships. The Dodgers are primed to win.
Anshel: Baseball takes too long to watch.
Miguel gets 3 points for suggesting the Yankees. Skyler gets 2 points for picking one of the choices. Anshel loses 1 point for not watching baseball.
3. Which current NBA star is dominating the league?
Miguel: In a team full of superstars, Kevin Durant is certainly dominant on and off the court. Durant is definitely a snake for ditching the Oklahoma City Thunder, but he’s developed quite a reputation with the Warriors. During the past NBA finals, Durant showed no mercy against the Cleveland Cavaliers as he averaged 35.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists. Moreover, Durant put the final nail in the coffin in Game 5 when he scored 39 points. Durant has certainly mixed in well into the Warriors lineup. Back when I heard about the trade, I had instant memories of the 2011 Los Angeles Lakers debacle. The media assumed the Lakers would go for a 3-peat after getting Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. Instead, the Lakers were swept by the eventual champions, the Dallas Mavericks. I think the Durant and Warriors will win many championships in the future, no matter the rise of “Superteams.” I wonder if the Thunder are trying to build a big three … hey wait a minute … Carmelo Anthony?!
Skyler: The most dominant player in the NBA is power forward Anthony Bennett on the Brooklyn Nets. He’s super underrated and I think he’ll be killing it in no time. He’s bad now, but I have a feeling he’s being slept on. If he gets traded to a better team, he’ll start killing it. Just watch. He’s hustling in the NBA right now. He’ll explode one day.
Anshel: Carmelo Anthony is indisputably one of the greatest talents in the NBA. Carrying the Knicks for several years, his performance has been undermined by the lack of quality from his teammates. I believe his trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder is going to really give a team to compete for the title. Carmelo Anthony, Paul George, and Russell Westbrook are all top talents. The only thing stopping them from succeeding is if they don’t find a way to work together.
Miguel gets 3 points for bringing up stats. Skyler gets 2 points for the hilarity of his choice. Anshel get 1 point for not mentioning Lebron.
Miguel wins ATD 8-7-1
“ATD is 90 percent mental. The other half is physical.”
(09/19/17 5:52am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Bryan Penney-Hadewycz asked our panel of three experts — Michael Battista, Maximillian C. Burgos and Sean Reis — three questions: Should the NBA draft lottery be reformed to prevent teams from tanking? Have the Los Angeles Dodgers lost momentum after going through a 10-game losing streak? Will Deshaun Watson be a good quarterback for the Houston Texans?
1. Should the NBA draft lottery be reformed to prevent teams from tanking?
Michael: Yes, the NBA needs to reform the lottery badly. In no other sport is tanking that bad of an issue. The Philadelphia 76ers have been a mainstay in the top of the draft since 2014. Before that, “trusting the process” hasn’t done them any favors. Teams should not come into a season ready to tank for a top pick. If teams start to do this by excessively resting players, they need to be punished whether it is being fined or reducing their chance of getting into the Top 3 of the draft. Fans and rookies deserve so much better.
Maximillian: If teams play badly because of their rosters, they should be able to have high draft picks. The NFL has a similar drafting system to the NBA and it works for them. The Cleveland Browns burned a season, made some really good offseason moves and with the draft, they will be competitive within the next few years. Just because a team gets high draft picks doesn’t mean they’ll be that much better next year. Teams should be punished for purposely tanking, but I don’t think the system is in need of total reform.
Sean: Although I do believe that the NBA draft lottery needs to be reformed, I do not think that a new system would prevent teams from tanking to get higher draft picks. In any popularized draft system, the teams that do the worst either get the highest draft picks or in the case of the NBA, the teams have the best odds to get the highest draft picks. The NBA system currently enters the bottom 14 teams into the lottery, a number of teams far too high, so I do offer two possible solutions. The NBA should either cut the number of teams entered into the lottery in half or the league should remove the lottery system in its entirety.
Maximillian gets 3 points for comparing drafts between sports. Sean gets 2 points for offering a solution. Michael gets 1 point for poor examples.
2. Have the Los Angeles Dodgers lost momentum after going through a 10-game losing streak?
Michael: And here I thought the Rams would be the biggest dumpster fire in Los Angeles, but for a while it turned out a team with an actual stadium filled that role. The Dodgers definitely have lost momentum and they could not have picked a worse time to do so. This team is lucky that pitchers liked Alex Wood and Rich Hill have clawed their team to wins in the past few outings. Their bats were tired and they have little time to refuel every aspect of their team before October. Their home field advantage could have been in jeopardy with the Bryce Harper-less Nationals on their tail. But they are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the playoffs because they went on a 10-game losing streak and still hold a nine game lead in their division!
Maximillian: The Dodgers have lost big momentum, but they are still a solid team. They have the pitching talent to turn their destiny around in a hurry. Baseball is a game of trends and numbers. Kershaw is still one of the league’s best pitchers and the Dodgers are still firm contenders. They are just in a slump right now. Losing 10 games hurts any team, but they’ll be fine going into the playoffs.
Sean: Ask me the same question one week ago while the Dodgers were currently in the middle of the 10-game losing streak and I would likely answer with a concerned “yes.” However, following a turnaround during the team’s recent road trip, the Dodgers appear to be back on track. The Dodgers still sit atop the National League West with one of the best records in baseball, virtually clinching the team a spot in the playoffs and as long as the team continues to win during these last couple weeks, I see no reason why the Dodgers won’t go on a playoff run.
Maximillian gets 3 points for not doubting a team that has already proven itself. Sean gets 2 points for good analysis. Michael gets 1 point for being confusing.
3. Will Deshaun Watson be a good quarterback for the Houston Texans?
Michael: I don’t think so, but it won’t be through any fault of his own. Watson proved himself during his time in college with Clemson. Against Alabama in the 2016 College Football Playoff Championship, he threw for 405 yards, made four touchdowns and ran for 73 yards in a game where his team lost, 45-40. The next year he lead his team back to the promise land, losing only one game in the regular season to Pittsburgh and beating both Ohio State and Alabama in the playoff on their way to the trophy. He went on to become the 12th pick of this year’s NFL draft. Watson is good, but I’m not sure he’ll excel and dominate in Houston. With the team letting up 10 sacks in week one and barely winning against the Bengals in week two, Watson may be too hammered with Texans and may not shine like he should.
Maximillian: Deshaun Watson will be great for the Texans. When he is on the field, the Texans are a different team. They have a dynamic that opponents are not used to. Just look at his 47-yard run against the Bengals. He was solid. When he stepped in against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he put up points. If his offensive line cleans up their play and the wide receivers catch key balls, the Texans will be scary. Their defense is terrifying already. Deshaun Watson will be successful. He has a championship pedigree that not everyone can boast. He will help lift the Texans to new heights. Just watch.
Sean: Could any quarterback possibly be a successful quarterback for the Houston Texans? No. Just kidding, obviously an elite quarterback could manage to lead the Texans to a successful season. However, could an average quarterback be a successful quarterback for the Houston Texans? Definitely not. Watson is an average quarterback, at best. He’s a rookie with minimal upside, in my opinion, and while he may get the job done at times, it is likely that the Houston Texans will see little success with Watson at quarterback.
Michael gets 3 points for bringing up collegiate success. Maximillian gets 2 points for an easy take on the situation. Sean gets 1 point for no elaboration.
Maximillian wins ATD 8-5-5
“My name is Maximillian, it stands for the greatest. Don’t forget it!”
(09/12/17 5:16am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Thomas Infante asked our panel of three experts — Malcolm Luck, Bryan Penney-Hadewyez and Tom Munnia — three questions: Should the Boston Red Sox be penalized for using Apple smartwatches to steal signs? Who will win the Sept. 16 boxing match, Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez? Is Tom Brady, the 40-year-old New England Patriots quarterback, near his retirement?
1. Should the Boston Red Sox be penalized for using Apple smartwatches to steal signs?
Malcolm: Absolutely. Baseball signs are so complex to protect the team from exposing its strategy. Using technology to steal signs from an opponent puts your team at a huge advantage. Think about it this way, what if every team used technology to steal signs? It would pretty much ruin the point of its secrecy. Coaches might as well yell from the dugouts “Hey, you should bunt here!” It would shatter the integrity and strategic mindset of the game.
Bryan: The Boston Red Sox should definitely be penalized for stealing signs. Given that baseball requires great focus and extraordinary reaction time, stealing signs by unfairly using technology truly takes something away from the sport. The counterpoint would be that many other sports use technology to better understand opponents, which is true. However, using information to prepare prior to a competition and stealing information in real time are two very different things. The latter being incredibly simple and should only be construed as blatant cheating.
Tom: Yes, I believe the Boston Red Sox should be penalized because they blatantly used technology to gain an unfair advantage over their rival. It is one thing to be able to recognize the signs being called. But to record and transmit the signs to the rest of the team, especially in a very pivotal series, that’s unfair.
Bryan gets 3 points for comparing the situation to other sports. Malcolm gets 2 points for mentioning the complexity of baseball signs. Tom gets 1 point for the shortest answer.
2. Who will win the Sept. 16 boxing match, Gennady Golovkin or Canelo Alvarez?
Malcolm: I don’t know much about boxing, but I think Golovkin will win. He has the size advantage and virtually the same amount of knockouts as Canelo in more than a dozen or less matches. Either way, it should be an entertaining match.
Bryan: Gennady Golovkin will win over Canelo Alvarez on Sept. 16. While Canelo is an incredible boxer, he does not possess the experience that GGG has. At age 35, he has seen it all in the middleweight class and has fought opponents all over the map. His power and precision are still supernatural. Even though some believe he has lost his step, it is doubtful that Canelo will be able to figure him out. Canelo has yet to fight a true champion, having recently knocked out Amir Khan who is known for having a ‘glass chin.’ Golovkin will surely throw a lot at Canelo that he has yet to experience in the ring. Experience will beat youth on Sept. 16.
Tom: Canelo in 5 rounds, mark my words.
Bryan gets 3 points for mentioning Golovkin’s previous fights and career history. Tom gets 2 points for confidence. Malcolm gets 1 point for trying his best.
3. Is Tom Brady, the 40-year-old New England Patriots quarterback, near his retirement?
Malcolm: Definitely. The decline of NFL players is a lot more sudden than in any other sport. Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning is a good example. In 2013, he broke the touchdown record in a season with 55. Two years later he threw 9 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 10 games. It’s unfortunate, but the speed of the game eventually catches up to you. However, I can honestly say that no matter what happens to Tom Brady between now and his retirement, he’s still the greatest quarterback of all time.
Bryan: For nearly any other player at 40 years of age, retirement would seem like a given. Tom Brady is not “any other player.” Sportscasters have been speculating for years about the retirement of Brady. Yet each year, he seems to come back stronger — physically and mentally. Having only sustained one truly devastating injury — a torn ACL in 2008 — he is consistently healthy. It is unlikely that he will take a beating in the pocket as a veteran reading defensive lines. He has the consistency of the Patriots offensive line to rely upon. Having just won a super bowl in which he did not have his best game and still threw for 466 yards, it would seem that he could play for another four to five years at least.
Tom: Given that Tom Brady started his career in 2001, I think he is definitely nearing his retirement. He is currently the oldest active QB in the league, and I think he has at most four years left.
Malcolm gets 3 points for drawing a comparison to Manning. Bryan gets 2 points for a well-informed analysis of Brady’s injuries. Tom gets 1 point for an easy prediction.
Bryan wins ATD 8-6-4
“Give me 10 good men and some climbing spikes, and I’ll impregnate the bitch.”
(09/08/17 7:46pm)
In the resurrection edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asks our panel of three experts — Thomas Infante, Benjamin Zander and Maximillian C. Burgos — three questions: Who will win the college football National Championship? Who benefited more from the Irving-Thomas trade, the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers? Who will win the men’s and women’s 2017 U.S. Open?
1. Who will win the College Football Playoff National Championship?
Tom: I would pick USC to win the National Championship this season. Sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold is an absolute beast and a strong candidate for the next Heisman Trophy. After leading the Trojans to victory in the last Rose Bowl (and setting several records in the process), Darnold and his team have become a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA.
Ben: I am telling you that the Lions are going to win the National Championship! Now, I know what many of you are thinking, “Ben, you crazy good looking buffoon, what are you talking about? We are Division III! How can we possibly win the National Championship?” This year we have new students, new talent and a new coach! I believe that we are going to do so well that the NCAA will make the College a Division I school and give us a spot in the National Championship! In the 1987-1988 NCAA Division I Conference Realignment, the Villanova Wildcats went from being a Division III Football team to a Division I-AA team. The same thing happened in 1993 with the Buffalo Bulls and the UAB Blazers. So, while some people are polishing their Ohio State foam fingers, I will be right here with blue and gold face paint cheering on the mighty Lions all the way to national fame.
Max: As it stands now, I think Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, Michigan and Florida State have a good shot of winning it all this year. Alabama under head coach Nick Saban will always be a major contender for the National Championship. He has the best recruits and has already proven that he can win. Ohio State and Clemson have a good shot in contending with Alabama since Florida State has already fallen to them and probably won’t make it to the National Championship.
Tom gets 3 point for talking about Sam Darnold. Max gets 2 points for mentioning Nick Saban. Ben gets 1 point because... TCNJ football?
2. Who benefited more from the Irving-Thomas trade, the Boston Celtics or the Cleveland Cavaliers?
Tom: I think both Kyrie Irving and Isiah Thomas are tremendous basketball players, but from a strategic standpoint, I think the Cleveland Cavaliers got more out of the trade than the Boston Celtics. Irving is a marginally better player than Thomas, but the Cavaliers already have Lebron James to carry the team. They don’t need Irving, who wants a chance to shine on his own. Thomas should easily be able to fill his role as point guard without being a major disruption to the team’s performance. The Celtics may see an improvement with Irving added to the team as well. Overall, the trade was beneficial for both teams and will make the upcoming season even more exciting.
Ben: Ah, yes, the age-old debate about the Irving-Thomas trade. The team that benefited the most from this trade was the Celtics. Compared to Isaiah Thomas, Kyrie Irving is legendary. For starters, Irving has represented the U.S. at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, the 2014 World Championship in Spain and in the 2010 FIBA Americas U18 Championship in San Antonio. However, the strongest argument I have is the fact that Irving grew up in West Orange, New Jersey. The same town my mom grew up in! My mom will always be my champion, so it is safe to say that Irving will always be a champion, too. I know that there are many who disagree with me and believe that the Cavs benefited more by acquiring Thomas. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens on Oct. 17, when the Celts and the Cavs face off in the very first NBA game of the season!
Max: I think the Boston Celtics benefited more in the trade simply because Irving has more of an on court presence and size. He also shoots marginally better than Thomas. At 25 years old, Irving is a skilled veteran in the NBA. He’s ready to become a franchise player. It’s a hard choice either way, but I think the Celtics benefited more.
Tom gets 3 points for discussing how both teams benefitted. Ben gets 2 points because Irving represents New Jersey. Max gets 1 point for mentioning Irving’s size.
3. Who will win the men’s and women’s U.S. Open?
Tom: In the U.S. Open, Rafael Nadal will win the men’s singles tournament and reclaim his title as champion. I originally would have bet on Novak Djokovic, but he sadly withdrew after hurting his elbow. For the women’s singles tournament, I think the Czech player Karolína Plíšková will emerge victorious, but only because Serena Williams took a hiatus from tennis.The men’s doubles team of Henri Kontinen and John Peers seems poised to claim the title in their category, but women’s doubles is a tougher call. Nevertheless, I think the team of Lucie Šafá?ová and Barbora Strýcová will come out on top.
Ben: While I haven’t really been following this year’s U.S. Open enough to give you a detailed response about who I think will win, I can tell you who is definitely not winning. That ball boy who got hit in the crotch by a tennis ball served by Venus Williams on Friday during her match against Greece’s Maria Sakkari. The ball was reportedly traveling at a speed of 99 mph! Hours later, Roger Federer shared a gif of the incident on Twitter and I’m in pain just watching it. Giving credit where credit is due, the ball boy still managed to not let the tennis ball hit the ground, so kudos to him for that one.
Max: I think Rafael Nadal and Karolína Plíšková will win the U.S. Open. According to some sources, Plíšková has a 22.6% chance of winning it all. However she has been dominant up until now and is showing signs of slowing down. Nadal already has a decorated career with 15 Grand Slam wins. He has a 30.9% chance of winning, but he does not seem like he is slowing down at all.
Tom gets 3 points for talking about the doubles competition. Ben gets 2 points because I feel bad for the ball boy. Max get 1 point because percentages don’t matter in tennis.
Thomas wins ATD 9-5-4
“‘You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take’
— Wayne Gretzky”
(12/06/16 4:56am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asks our panel of three experts — Matt Ajaj, Connor Smith and Otto Gomez — three questions: Should the Ohio State Buckeyes be in the College Football Playoffs? Who will win the MLS cup? Do you believe that the Philadelphia 76ers patience and development strategy is working?
1. Should the Ohio State Buckeyes be in the College Football Playoffs despite not competing in their conference championship?
Matt: Yes — not a question in my mind. The Buckeyes have beaten some of the best teams in the country, including Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Michigan. Their only loss was a fluky, 21-24 nail-biter versus Pennsylvania State University, which just won the Big 10 Conference Championship. The “They didn’t even make the conference championship” sentiment for leaving Ohio State out of the College Football Playoff is redundant and flawed logic. Ohio State did not make their conference championship because they had that one fluke loss. A narrow defeat on the home turf of a division rival that is currently ranked fifth in the country should not be the Buckeyes downfall. Leaving the second-best team out of the playoffs for such a reason would lead to nothing short of a college football crisis.
Connor: No. 2 Ohio State’s place in the College Football Playoffs was legitimized with a solid 11-1 record against college football’s toughest schedule compared to Penn State’s 15th. Who cares about some arbitrary title that no one will remember once the real games are played? Penn State had a good season and pulled off a great upset on Ohio State, but that doesn’t erase the fact that Michigan thrashed them 49-10. Ohio State was a better team that beat better opponents, and the rankings validate that. If we’re going to judge one game over an entire season of work, then let’s just put Pittsburgh in the playoffs and call it a day.
Otto: Absolutely, without a doubt. They have been among the top four teams in the country all year and, more importantly, they have been the best team in the Big 10, even though they didn’t win the conference championship. For one, they only have one loss, something Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin cannot say. After that, Ohio State only lost to Penn State by three points on a blocked field goal attempt and Penn State fell to Michigan by a lofty 39-point margin. Ohio State has a more explosive quarterback and offense, leading the Big 10 in points scored. They have been in the top five all year and without a doubt should have been in the conference championship if not for the division rules. Last resort, their point differential in the entire year was a resounding 342 points.
Everyone gets 3 points for their detailed analysis on Penn State and Ohio State.
2. Who will win the MLS cup? The Seattle Sounders or the Toronto FC?
Matt: Toronto FC has the home field advantage with an impressive 11-3-6 home record. I would already cite them as the favorites. Then I looked at the Seattle Sounders road record, 5-10-4. With these two facts in tow, the probability formula heavily favors FC. However, if I’m being brutally honest, I know nothing about MLS. I quite literally cannot name a single player in MLS. I keep hearing that MLS is on the rise amongst American youth, but I fail to see it hitting the mainstream when American soccer lacks the legacy of baseball and the excitement of football, basketball and hockey. The sport — or at least the league — needs something to help it stand out from the crowd. Until then, the average American will continue to draw their attention to whatever dazzles the eye or tickles the nostalgia bone. I hope that MLS can eventually capture some sort of interest across the country, and perhaps I will one day be able to answer the question “Who will win the MLS cup?”
Connor: The Seattle Sounders overcame a lot to make it to the MLS cup finals. They beat top seeds like FC Dallas in the western conference and asserted strong defensive efforts. That said, Jozy Altidore is an absolute monster, and I doubt the Sounders can hold back Toronto FC’s explosive offense. Toronto scored 17 goals in just three playoff matchups. If they can drop five goals on New York FC in one leg, I think they can beat out the Sounders in a high-scoring shoot-out.
Otto: I think Toronto FC will win for a couple of reasons. I always have a hard time thinking the underdog is going to win, but in this case, the Sounders are a resounding underdog. Their goal differential during the regular season was only one compared to 12 by Toronto. I also think soccer can often become a game of superstars, especially in the playoffs. Toronto’s roster includes two former United States National Team heavyweights, Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore as well as last year’s MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco. These guys know the stage and the pressure and will be very successful in the Cup match on Saturday, Dec. 10. While the Sounders house big name players, they have barely squeaked through the playoffs. Aside from their 3-0 victory against FC Dallas in the first leg of the Western Conference semifinals, the rest of their four games have been decided by one goal. I think Toronto will come out on top, 2-0.
Otto gets 3 points for mentioning Bradley and Altidore. Connor gets 2 points because Toronto FC does have an explosive offense. Matthew gets 1 point for writing off-topic.
3. Do you believe that the Philadelphia 76ers patience and development strategy is working?
Matt: The 76ers are 4-16, which is good for last place in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia’s season records of the past three seasons, in chronological order, are 19-63, 18-64 and 10-72. We have been told to “Trust the process,” which requires tanking seasons in order to acquire better draft picks. In many instances, this strategy of suffering in the present in order to create a better future actually works quite well. Take a doctor, for example. Throughout their 20s, the life of an aspiring doctor is miserable. However, upon acquiring a medical degree, they will presumably be set for life. Sounds great, but easier said than done. However, in sports, this mentality does not work. Losing here and there can serve as a reality check and inspiration to improve. But continuous losing while expressing no desire to change or progress is downright cancerous to a team. Once you become numb to losing, you become fine with losing and lose the will to win. That’s exactly what’s happening to the 76ers — no matter how much they stack their roster, the organization has become apathetic to losing. So the desire to win — and thus their likelihood to win — has been quashed.
Connor: The NBA is in a weird position. If you don’t have two or three superstars, you have no chance against the likes of LeBron James or the Golden State Warriors. Given the 76ers position as a loser, the promise Joel Embiid has shown, and the recovery of Ben Simmons, the Sixers are in a position to grow. Compare that to a team that still tries to piece together winning rosters, like the Knicks, and you start to see the process having some merit. The Knicks are bad. They’ve been bad, and they will be bad for the foreseeable future. At least the Sixers have something to look forward to, though. If it falls apart... oh well. They weren’t going to win anything anyway.
Otto: Without a doubt, Joel Embiid is the real thing — no one can deny that. Ben Simmons is going to be incredible. They have already shown great glimpses into what their possible future. Most importantly, they have shown that they are going to have to make roster moves to get more assets, trading Nerlens Noel and possibly even Joel Okafor in the near future. When Simmons comes back, they will have a true floor general and will be able to score in transition as well as being able to feed Embiid in the post. The Process, however, is not over. With this season not panning out well, they will have a top-five lottery pick once again. They will also most likely get the Lakers first round pick because it is only protected for the first three picks as well Sacramento’s 2019 first pick. That latter is incredibly dangerous because if the Kings deal Cousins, they will be in tanking mode for a while.
Otto gets 3 points for his optimistic response. Connor gets 2 points because the Knicks are really bad. Matthew gets 1 point because doctors and basketball are different.
(11/29/16 5:02am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” David Weinberg asks our panel of three experts — Matt Ajaj, EJ Paras and Marc Trotochaud — three questions: Do you believe the Warriors should embrace their “super villain” role? Which team has the best chance to win the Super Bowl? Where will Yoenis Céspedes and Aroldis Chapman end up this offseason?
1. Dwayne Wade said one of his regrets with the Miami Heat was accepting their role as the villain during the first year with the “Big Three.” Should the Warriors accept this role?
Matt: Thanks to mainstream sports media (I’m looking at you, ESPN), the Golden State Warriors have become the villains of the NBA because people are so sick of hearing about them. Steph Curry this, Steph Curry that — it’s like that song you have stuck in your head that you used to like but eventually start to get sick of. The Warriors have been forced to accept this “super villain” role, because to deny it would be a rejection of reality — after the addition of Kevin Durant to form their super squad, they got an even bigger target on their backs. They are the team to beat. Every opposing squad walks into the arena with extreme determination, burning with the desire to take down the top dog. However, in accepting their role as the villains, the Warriors solidify their confidence, which, as any professional athlete will tell you, is one of the essential qualities one should have and build upon. By telling themselves they are the best, the Warriors will play like they are best. Their self-assurance is their victory insurance.
EJ: Dwyane Wade is one of the NBA’s biggest “nice guys,” so naturally he would scoff at the idea of being a villain. If you remember Kevin Durant’s Foot Locker campaign back when he was with the Thunder, you’ll know that “KD is not nice.” If you ask me, I think having a villain not only spices up the league — it’s absolutely necessary to create a compelling storyline for the journey of the NBA season. Back when you had the Spurs dominating in the mid-2000s, the NBA was going through a ratings crisis, with some of the NBA Finals games between the Spurs and the Nets not even selling out. We can credit LeBron “King James” James’s four-year reign in Miami as the catalyst of the rejuvenation of the NBA as must-see TV. With the Warriors signing Kevin Durant after coming off the best regular season of all-time and one win shy of a title, it’s no surprise that they’re seen as villains and that they’re relishing it. Let the people heckle — bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to the Bay Area and that should shut some of the haters up.
Marc: I think that it would be a bad decision for the Warriors to frame themselves as super-villains. The choice of becoming a “super villain” is introspective for the team, and it has to reflect the organization and roster as a whole. It could work and many teams have undergone similar identity changes in the past — the Pistons beat Michael Jordan, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson by becoming the “Bad Boys” — but that was because everyone in the organization from top to bottom bought in. I just can’t see the Warriors sacrificing their fun-loving, care-free flashy basketball to become “villains” and I hope that their “super villain party” was intentionally as corny and ironic as the picture made it looked.
Matt gets 2 points for commenting on ESPN fatigue. EJ gets 3 points for saying its a storyline to drive up ratings. Marc gets 2 points for the introspection.
2. Which NFL team has the best chance to win the Super Bowl?
Matt: This is an odd NFL season to say the least. We’ve seen the Panthers, Packers and Cardinals — all supposed Super Bowl contenders — struggle immensely. The NFC East and AFC West have really turned the corner, each boasting three teams with more than .500 records. However, the former has been faced with extremely an easy schedule and the latter is flawed by inexperience (Oakland) or poor offenses (Kansas City and Denver). I’m gonna stick with the two teams I picked for the Super Bowl in the preseason: the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The perennial powerhouse Pats still have Brady and Belichick, so a Super Bowl appearance is not just a prospect but an expectation. Seattle is riding a three-game win streak, has a healthy Russell Wilson and boasts plenty of playoff experience. We’re gonna see Super Bowl XLIX Part two. Looks like I’ll be spending Super Bowl Weekend scouring through my timeline for that omniscient tweet.
EJ: It’s the Year of Brady. I don’t think there’s any other way it can go. Sure, the Cowboys are the hottest team in the NFL right now, but Brady will prove to people again this year why he is the greatest quarterback of our generation and of all time. If there’s any time for the Pats to take home one more chip with the Brady-Belichick tandem, it’s now. What kind of player can still be in the MVP conversation after being suspended the first four weeks of the NFL season? I don’t know many, personally, but Tom Brady fits the billing. The Patriots have so many weapons to beat their opponents, and I simply can’t see any other team winning the Super Bowl this year. Their victory would literally be poetry in motion, and seeing Goodell give the Patriots another Vince Lombardi Trophy would quell the legacy of Deflategate.
Marc: I waited until after Sunday’s games because I was really torn about who I thought I would pick. To be honest, watching the games gave me some clarity. Two of my top-tier teams — the Patriots and Seahawks — had an unconvincing win and a shocking loss, and the Cowboys journey has been too good to be true, making me weary of their long-term potential. That’s why I am rolling with the Raiders — their offensive line is nasty, they have the best receivers in football, their defense is young and energetic and Derrick Carr is looking like an MVP candidate. Maybe it’s recency bias because I just watched Cam Newton get strip sacked for a loss just like in the Super Bowl, but don’t be too surprised if you see legendary stud owner Mark Davis wearing a fanny pack and holding up the Lombardi Trophy in February.
Matt gets 3 points for faltering Super Bowl contenders. EJ gets 2 points for Brady. Marc gets 2 points for picking a dark horse — the Raiders.
3. Where do you think the top two free agents in baseball — Yoenis Céspedes and Aroldis Chapman land this offseason?
Matt: If I was Céspedes, I would go to the team that can offer me the most money over a long period of time. Since he has entered the league, it seems like “Yo” is on a new team or negotiating a new contract after every season. At this point, he wants stability and certainty with his new contract and a new team. As the top free agent of this year’s class he is going to get pretty much whatever his heart desires. My guess is that the LA Dodgers, who have question marks in the corner outfield positions and have a payroll that would make Scrooge McDuck sweat, will ultimately make an offer that “Yo” can’t throw out. As for Chapman, no team needs bullpen help like San Francisco. In their heartwrenching 2016 season, the Giants had four relievers in the top 29 players on the blown saves leader list, combining for 23 blown saves. They need Chapman like a glove needs a hand. For San Francisco, the time has come to decide whether they want to save money or use money to get saves — expect them to choose the latter.
EJ: I’m going to go out on a limb and say, even amidst all of this speculation, that the Mets will find a way to bring Céspedes back as their top hitter. The pressure is on the Mets to re-sign Céspedes, and I think that they’ll do it. It’ll cost them a pretty penny, but I’m sure they’ll find a way to make it happen. As far as Chapman, I think it’ll be a mini-homecoming for him with the Yankees bringing him the big bucks. Coming off of a World Series win with the Cubs after being traded by the Yankees back in July, I think the Yankees would lure him back since “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone,” as the old adage says.
Marc: Baseball’s beautiful lack of cap leads me to believe that these two players are just going to follow the money. I will be boring and say that Chapman returning to play in pinstripes is the most likely outcome from him. It would be surprising that a club would offer more money than the Yankees, but if someone coughs up the cash maybe he will walk away. As far as Céspedes goes I think he too may end up in New York, but with the NL chasing Mets. The Mets have seen what Céspedes can do and know that he can play a big role for their team. Although there is still a lot of uncertainty it looks like the Big Apple seems like the best destination for both of these guys.
Matt gets 3 points for the Dodgers payroll and the Giants bullpen. EJ and Marc get 1 point each for a lack of insightful analysis.
(11/15/16 5:45am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Miguel Gonzalez asks our panel of three experts — David Weinberg, Sean Reis and Michael Battista — three questions: Who will win the college basketball National Championship in 2017? What is Colón’s legacy for the Mets? Can the Browns win at least one game this season or will they be like the 2008 Detroit Lions?
1. With the college basketball season in full swing, who will win the 2017 National Championship?
David: I think Kentucky should be the ones that cut down the nets come April. College basketball, in my eyes, really comes down to coaching. Unlike the NBA, the players here are often just out of high school and it’s up to a premier coaching staff to help the freshman adjust to the frenetic pace of the next level — and there is no better guy to do that than “freshman guru” John Calipari. Once again, his team is loaded with freshman talent with top recruits Malik Monk, De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo and Wenyen Gabriel. Toss in local product Isaiah Briscoe and big man Derek Willis and Kentucky is oozing with talent. The question is, how will these guys fit? I’m confident their strong backcourt can guide them through the rough patches this season. In terms of their top teams, the loss of Ryan Arcidiacono should end any hope of a Villanova repeat. I think Kansas’s tournament struggles continue — even with the addition of Josh Jackson. I think Kentucky’s swarming defense would overmatch Duke’s backcourt in a hypothetical game. But the tournament takes place in March, and March is madness, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw a huge underdog like Saint Mary’s take home the title this year. After all, the Cubs and Cavaliers came back from 3-1 deficits this year — as Kevin Garnett said, “Anything is possible!”
Sean: Who will win the 2017 National Championship? Damn, Miguel! Back at it again with the impossible to answer questions! OK, this will certainly be a bold prediction, but the Syracuse Orange will go all the way this season. Last year, the entire country was against the Orange, but after making it to the Final Four, the haters were silent. This year, though, will be Syracuse’s year. The Syracuse Orange had a young roster last season, but now these college “kids” have the experience under their belts to win it all. Remember that you heard it here first; the Syracuse Orange will win the 2017 National Championship.
Michael: I’ve failed at my bracket the past few years, and last year’s was even documented in The Signal during “LTV vs. The Signal,” so I am afraid whomever I pick will lose horribly. So I’m going to pick who I think will win and who I want to win because I want to have more than one horse in the race and less chance to be disappointed. My two picks to win March Madness are Duke and Saint Joseph’s universities. Duke, who won back in 2015, is holding 7-2 odds at this time of winning the title in an ESPN story from October and started the season with two crushing wins. As for St. Joseph’s, my brother and sister went there so in my heart I will always be rooting for the A10 to have its champion. Head coach Phil Martelli has been with that team since the mid ’80s and had so much talent play under him. I always hope this year is the year he does it and gets passed the Elite 8.
David gets 3 points for evaluating Kentucky’s roster. Sean gets 1 point because any question is possible! (To answer) Michael gets 2 points for mentioning his past failures.
2. Now that MLB pitcher Bartolo Colón is departing to the Atlanta Braves, what is his legacy for the Mets?
David: As a Mets fan, I never truly joined in on the cult classic that is ultimately Bartolo Colón. “Big Sexy,” as fans call him, was a beloved Met by many and he will ultimately be missed on this team. Fans loved how he swung so hard that his helmet would fly off when he came up to bat. They were enthralled when Colón would hustle down the first baseline — all 285 pounds — and would beat out the throw for a base hit. He was a productive starter and really helped anchor the Mets rotation this year, gathering 15 wins and a 3.43 ERA en route to his fourth career All-Star game appearance. Ultimately, he was a pretty reliable and effective pitcher, and I think that is going to be my view of his legacy as a Met. He pitched well under pressure and was someone the Mets could rely on to pitch a decent outing — especially in a season when the Mets lost Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Steven Matz for the year. For others, however, he will forever be known as “Big Sexy” and his stunning first home run of his career versus San Diego will be in Mets highlight reels for years to come.
Sean: Colón’s legacy for the Mets will be similar to the past clubhouses he has thrown for: a beloved individual — who may not have always been the best pitcher — but the fans loved the guy! And how could they not? A man of his size and age on the mound, he’s like a big teddy bear throwing the ball! Not to mention, the solid hitting he supplied to his team during his time as a Met. Colón will not be remembered as one of the best players, but the fans will surely remember him as one of their favorites.
Michael: Colón’s legacy is comparable to that of former Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher — he wasn’t the absolute best, but he was good when he needed to be and was all around fun. He defied logic, as he seemed to stay at a high level of play despite his age. He was even an All-Star at 43 years old and hit his first home run ever last season... at 43! Mets fans wanted to watch him play because, despite being a good pitcher, he would somehow pull amazing things out of his baseball cap — like the aforementioned home run or that time he made a behind-the-back flip along the first base line to get an out. In the end, the Colón legacy will be that of a fan favorite. He did his job well and made the baseball world — and Met fans — smile.
David gets 3 points for Colón’s stellar performance. Sean gets 1 point because Colón is “Big Sexy,” not a teddy bear. Michael gets 2 points for his Swisher comparison.
3. The Cleveland Browns are now 0-10. Can the Browns win at least one game this season or will they be like the 2008 Detroit Lions?
David: After the magical comeback of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the surprising World Series run of the Cleveland Indians, things are looking up in Cleveland… until you realize they still have the Browns. All jokes aside, I do think Cleveland pulls off a victory this year. Although it would’ve helped if Roger Goodell reinstated embattled wide receiver Josh Gordon, I think the Browns still have enough talent to pluck off a victory by the end of the year. Obviously, they need a lot of help — their offense ranks 28th in production and their defense ranks 31st — but all you need is a productive 60 minutes and you can have yourself a victory. If they can establish the run game with the dual threat of running backs Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, Jr. and their defense can keep it close I’m boldly calling they eke out the win in Buffalo on Sunday Dec. 18, when likely frigid temperatures should help mitigate Cleveland’s paltry passing game and force them to run the ball.
Sean: In a city that has seen success with basketball and baseball franchises this past year, Cleveland is ashamed to be the home of the Browns. At 0-10, the Browns may become another infamous 0-16 team. The Browns will face the division rival Steelers next week and Cleveland will end the season at Pittsburgh, as well, for likely two more losses. Cleveland’s best chances at that one win will be against the never consistent New York Giants (sadly) on Sunday, Nov. 27, and the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve, but I would not be surprised to see the Cleveland Browns fall to a similar fate as the 2008 Detroit Lions.
Michael: No, I don’t think so. The Browns are just so... so damn bad this year. At the beginning of the year the team was losing close games, with weeks two and three being lost by one touchdown and the latter being an overtime lose to Miami. Now ten weeks in and after seeing six, count’em, SIX quarterbacks (QB) try their luck with the team, and the flashes of young talent disappearing, what hope does any fan have? At least one season ticket holder is planning to hold a parade if the team goes 0-16, so everyone can feel like they accomplished something... I swear if the Giants are their only win though I will lose my damn mind.
David gets 3 points for his reasonableness. Sean gets 1 point because Odell Beckham Jr. will wreck the Browns. Michael gets 3 points for the Browns pathetic QB rotation.
(11/08/16 5:41am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Otto Gomez asks our panel of three experts — George Tatoris, Chelsea LoCascio and Miguel Gonzalez — three questions: As the college football season winds down, who is your Heisman favorite? Has any individual sports victory meant more to its city than the Cubs Game 7 win? As the college ultimate season starts, what teams will come out on top?
1. Has any individual sports win meant more to its city than the Cubs Game 7 win?
George: Just a few days after the Cubs won, Ireland ended a 111-year drought against New Zealand’s national rugby team — the All Blacks — winning, 40-29. I don’t know much about rugby, like many Americans, so I’m going to try and contextualize this so even a patriot can understand. Back in the 18th century, England had conquered much of the world. Since New Zealand first played rugby in the 1800s, they toured the world, conquering other nations’ teams in their wake. They’re the only team to have a winning record against every opponent they’ve faced and overall have won 77 percent of their games. Since the Rugby World Cup was started in 1987, they’ve won it the most. Not much could stop England — maybe France, and not much can stop the All Blacks. England, South Africa and Australia come close, but no one even considered Ireland could beat them. Similarly, no one thought any colony would dare rise up against England — that is… until one day in 1776. Ireland participated in the only type of story every American can identify with — an underdog story. The Cubs, on the other hand, were favored to win the World Series even before the season started.
Chelsea: I don’t think there’s any other victory in sports history quite like the Chicago Cubs Game 7 win. The Cubs had to wait 108 years to become World Series Champions, which was made even more memorable since it happened in the iconic Wrigley Field. People considered the Cubs and Cubs supporters losers for that long, which can be tough, but things started looking up when the Cubs were picked to be the preseason favorites. After winning 103 games to clinch the National League (NL) Central, they beat the Giants in the NL Division Series and won against the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series to reach the World Series against the Cleveland Indians. This win was the first time a team came back from 3-1 deficit and win Games 6 and 7 since the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979.
Miguel: The Cubs have endured enough championship drought for the past 108 years. Last June, Lebron James and the Cavaliers brought pride and dignity to Cleveland (and almost the Indians). However, the most significant individual sports victory this year occurred during the Rio Olympics when Monica Puig won a gold medal in Women’s tennis singles and claimed Puerto Rico’s first Olympic gold medal. The 23-year-old Puig, ranked 34th heading to Rio, managed to defeat former grand slam champions Garbiñe Muguruza, Petra Kvitova and Laura Siegemund en route to the gold medal match. In the finals, Monica took down reigning Australian Open champion and Wimbledon finalist Angelique Kerber. Monica’s road to the gold medal is similar to Leicester City winning the Premier League. There was no expectation for Monica to compete, much less win. Prior to the Olympics, Puig’s previous tournament victory was the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France in 2014. More importantly, her victory propelled the argument of Puerto Rico’s legitimacy as a nation rather than a U.S. territory.
George gets 3 points for the extensive history. Miguel gets 2 points for Puig’s underdog victory. Chelsea gets 1 point because they won in Cleveland, not Chicago.
2. As the college football season winds down, who is your Heisman favorite?
George: While he may be an underdog compared to Louisville’s Lamar Jackson, I’m going with Husky quarterback Jake Browning. While experts are lauding Jackson, Browning showed his mettle by leading Washington to a 9-0 record (as I’m writing this) and is on track to beat Russell Wilson’s NCAA passing efficiency record. Compared to the other quarterbacks in the running, Browning has the highest completion percentage. He has 34 touchdown passes and only three interceptions this season. Besides the record, Browning is leading the Huskies through a historic season. This past Saturday, Nov. 5, they beat California 66-27 — the most they’ve scored on the Golden Bears since 1915, and with the most yardage the University of Washington has ever seen against a conference opponent — 704 yards. Browning finished that game 19 for 28 for 378 yards with six touchdowns.
Chelsea: My Heisman favorite is definitely Louisville Cardinals quarterback Jackson. Only a sophomore at the University of Louisville, he already has thrown for 2,753 yards, resulting in 26 touchdowns in the 2016 season. He has also rushed for 1,181 yards, resulting in 19 touchdowns. Just in Week 10 versus Boston College, he had seven total touchdowns. A close runner-up for the Heisman is Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Browning, who has thrown for 2,273 yards, which led to 34 touchdowns this season. However, Browning only got four touchdowns as a result of rushing 77 yards. It’s clear that while Browning is good, Jackson is better. We will see how he fares in his next game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday, Nov. 12, but regardless, I’m confident that he will take the Heisman Trophy.
Miguel: From a high school stud at Paramus Catholic high school, Jabrill Peppers is the most complete Heisman candidate. Jackson seems to be an obvious choice. Nonetheless, Jackson has mainly beat up subpar opponents compared to Michigan. Aside from Clemson and Florida State University, Jackson’s competition can’t be compared to opponents like Pennsylvania State and University of Wisconsin. There is a huge reason why Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines are currently 9-0 and ranked second behind the Alabama Crimson Tide. Peppers is useful in 12 positions, ranging from linebacker to tight end. He does not get too carried away with himself like Jackson did during the Cardinals loss against Clemson. NFL players should be prepared to play different roles. I believe Peppers has a better chance of succeeding in the National Football playoffs where the real college football teams come to compete.
Chelsea gets 3 points because Jackson has been unstoppable. George gets 2 points for naming a really underrated player. Miguel gets 2 points because of Pepper’s versatility.
3. As the college ultimate season starts, what teams will come out on top?
George: Ah, ultimate Frisbee®. Discus combined with football combined with soccer combined with basketball. The sport of champions. Of Kings. Of men. But also of women. And I guess by proxy of Queens. I have always admired the simple Frisbee®, that magnificent flying pie platter and registered trademark of the Wham-O toy company, something so light even my feeble arms can toss it far. I loved the sport so much I would lament the loss of many a Frisbee® as they landed upon rooftops and within tree branches in my youth. I remember once, I had to buy a knock-off brand Frisbee® — a red Phrizzzdauber with a gold star on it — which was made somewhere in Korea — possibly North. After one game of ultimate, it turned my palm red. It was then I thought never again. I would only use the Frisbee® from now on. To answer your question, Minnesota and Harvard will be in the final.
Chelsea: For the men, I would have to go with the University of Massachusetts Zoodiscs. With its power rating of 2,067, the team is ranked No.1. Assistant coach Russell Wallack must be proud of his team, as they had 28 wins and only four losses. Deep Jeffrey Babbit is certainly carrying the team, with 18 points and seven assists. The women’s team I am rooting for is the University of Oregon Fugues, who are far more impressive than the Zoodiscs. With a power rating of 2,254, this team has 42 wins and six losses. The player to look out for is Olivia Bartruff, who has 25 points and four assists.
Miguel: The College of New Jersey Revolution will be competing in the National D-III Championships next spring. This year’s squad is stacked with talent with caliber players, such as senior Steven Powers, junior Phil Treu and sophomores Nick Pellegrino and Eli Smith. Who else can forget sports writer senior Otto Gomez? Not only can Gomez write amazing articles, but he adds extra speed and power for the Lions. He has the intuitive mind and capacity to outwit opponents with a grip more secure than super glue. On the D-I side, I believe in the University of North Carolina and University of Massachusetts. UMass has versatile players such as Benjamin Sadok and Jacob Radack. Coming off of a semifinals appearance last spring, the UNC Darkside looks to win the championship now that there once young roster has grown experienced. Players like Aaron Warshauer, JD Hastings and Dan Neilsen look to lead the Darkside under the direction of head coach Mike DeNardis.
Miguel gets 3 points for Darkside’s chances. Chelsea gets 2 points because Babbit graduated, unfortunately. George gets 1 point for only playing one game.
(11/01/16 3:36am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” and king of tiebreakers Connor Smith asks our panel of three experts — Chris Mellusi, Michael Battista and Otto Gomez — three questions: After the Cavs game, are the Knicks in for a long season or was that just the Cavs being the Cavs? Who is your must-have free agent and where’s he going to go? Which NFL team’s start surprised you the most?
1. The Knicks looked awful in the second half against the Cavaliers. Was that just the Cavs being themselves or is NY in for a long season?
Chris: The Cavs are an elite team with many weapons. LeBron James seems to improve year after year and, with a healthy Kyrie Irving leading the team at point guard, I would not be surprised to see them win a second consecutive championship. The Knicks didn’t stand a chance against the Cavs offense. However, if I am a New York fan, I am not worried at all. It was the first game of the year and the new free agent editions of the team need a couple games together to get comfortable.
Michael: A little bit of both. The Cavaliers are NBA champions for a reason, and that’s because they’re damn good. James earned his 43rd career triple-double and Irving scored 29 points while keeping the Knicks to only 88 points all game. This is the team that came back from down 3-1 in the NBA Finals to beat Golden State — the team with the best regular season record ever. As for the Knicks, I think it will be a long first half. This is a team that needs to work on chemistry because they have all the pieces to be great. Carmelo Anthony and new Knickerbocker Derrick Rose are going to be top players on this team. But unless they can work together as a unit with the rest of the squad, Anthony better get used to only having Olympic Gold on his shelf.
Otto: It’s tough to say. They were awful in the second half, mainly because I think they overperformed in the first half. I think the Cavs figured it out and showed that they’re the favorites to win the NBA title again this year. The Knicks, however, weren’t doing themselves any favors. Fortunately, my Knickerbockers stepped it up in their win against the Grizzlies four days later. I think this year will fall on the type of player Derrick Rose will be. In an interview he said he’s happy that he doesn’t have to be “the guy” like he was in Chicago, so it’s his job now to make sure the ball goes around, especially to Kristaps Porzingis. Their second major key is their bench. Right now, it hasn’t been great but if they find a rhythm, expect the Knicks to contend for that eighth spot. I predict 43 wins for them this year.
Otto gets 3 points for setting a realistic bar. Michael and Chris get 2 points for outlining the Cavs strengths.
2. MLB free-agency is approaching. Who is your must-have free agent, and where do you think he’ll go?
Chris: In my opinion, Yoenis Céspedes is a must-have free agent. I assume that Céspedes will opt out of his Mets contract. I would not be surprised to see him go to the Marlins. It would not be the first time that a former Met ditched the team for a rival within the National League East. Daniel Murphy joined the Nationals in the offseason after not being able to strike a deal with New York. The Marlins are in a good cap situation and could offer Yoenis a $100 million deal.
Michael: Aroldis Chapman is my top free agent right now, though, I think he’ll stay with the Cubs. After his stint with the Yankees, Chapman has been an absolute finishing punch when it comes to ending Cubs games. He can play the eighth and ninth innings — and
seventh inning as we saw in Game 5 of the World Series — while throwing 100 mph pitches that leave the batters utterly confused, and those last few outs of a baseball game always seem the hardest. Even if the Cubs don’t win the World Series, his work in the postseason itself — 2.61 ERA and an average pitch speed of 100.88 — has been valuable. As a disciple of Mariano Rivera, I know how much a good closer means to a team, and once Chapman hits the market, a lot of MLB teams will pine for him.
Otto: Although a couple of weeks ago, the answer was Céspedes, I think right now the response has to be his fellow countryman (and mine) Chapman He has — proven to be an incredible — if not the most important, player on the Cubs team. Just Sunday he saved the game by pitching two and two-third innings, striking out half of those batting against him. That’s insanity. If anything, these playoffs have proved how important relievers and closers are, and Chapman has heightened his stock tremendously. That being said, I think he stays in Chicago because he has a chance of winning for a while and he knows they need him. That’s a win-win for both sides, but don’t rule out a return for the Bombers.
Otto gets 3 points for contrasting Céspedes and Chapman. Michael gets 2 for making the case for Champan. Chris gets 1 because Céspedes can’t handle October baseball.
1. Now that the NFL season has begun, which team surprised you the most?
Chris: The Oakland Raiders have surprised me the most. The team is off to a 6-2 start and quarterback Derek Carr has made his case for why he should be considered for MVP. He has thrown for 1,808 yards with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have not disappointed either, as both have been dominant on the offensive side of the ball. The Raiders are off to their best start since 2002. I predict the team to finish 10-6.
Michael: After reaching the Super Bowl last year and then starting 2-5, the Carolina Panthers start is not only an utter shock, it’s unbelievable. They let Josh Norman leave the team and got nothing for him, and their defense has suffered from it. But does losing one guy make the entire team crumble? Maybe the devil was in the details with all the smaller moves they made all year, but I can’t figure it out. Honestly that defense needs to be reworked, and whatever Rick Flair speech or Cam Newton dab worked before needs to be redone. As for Newton himself, I feel he could be better, but it’s hard to be any good when your getting nailed from the side on so many plays.
Otto: I am definitely most surprised by the Raiders this year. To start, when I saw they were 6-2 after Sunday night. While I wasn’t surprised that the Raiders franchise set the record for most penalties in a game, I was really happy that they were able to overcome that and win the game. Derek Carr looks really good, like a top-five quarterback for a while in the NFL. He has some great receivers and the defense has been stepping up. They have done a great job at rebuilding the franchise slowly through the draft and show no signs of stopping. Next week against the Broncos will be their biggest step, but I think they’re up for the challenge.
Chris gets 3 points for using stats to illustrate his surprise. Michael and Otto get 2 points for equally surprising starts.
(10/26/16 5:31pm)
Last week in Around the Dorm, two contestants tied... but there can be only one. In this week’s exciting tiebreaker hosted by last week's "Ref" Sean Reis, our experts — Marc Trotochaud and Connor Smith — will spew knowledge on N.Y./N.J. hockey, League of Legends in North America and N.Y./N.J. football in a head-to-head, sudden death, winner-takes-all ATD brawl.
1. Hockey’s back! So showing as little bias as possible, which N.J./N.Y. team — Devils, Rangers and Islanders — has the best chance of a successful season?
Marc: This question is a little out of my wheelhouse, but based on what I know I will have to go with the New York Rangers. The Rangers have had the most recent success, and they have the team that looks most built to have a long post-season run. They currently lead the Metropolitan division, but that lead could be up for grabs this early in the season. The Devils and Islanders are hot on their tails, but the way that their rosters are constructed don’t seem to match the Rangers in the long run. I would love to see the Devils piece it all together, and maybe their overtime win from this past weekend could give them some momentum going forward, but for now the Rangers are the safest (and most boring) pick.
Connor: Both Hockey and my opponent return this week... At least people will be happy to see some dudes battle on ice. Local teams like the Rangers, Islanders and Devils are ready to battle their way into the NHL playoff picture. Out of the three, the Rangers were the only team that didn’t make massive changes to its roster. The Devils offense will need time to click, and the Islanders were forced to replace Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin. Meanwhile, the Rangers kept its entire roster intact, so there’s less room for error, given the team’s 46–27–9 record, last season. The Devil’s are the biggest wildcard, given the possible improvements to its offense, so the Rangers are my safe pick.
Though Mark and Connor both safely picked the Rangers, Connor wins Round 1 due to an attention to detail within his answer.
2. Riot Games took League of Legends and the eSports spectacle to Madison Square Garden this past weekend. Unfortunately, no North American (NA) teams competed, but do you think 2017 may finally be the year a NA team wins it all?
Marc: The short answer to this is no. The reality is that North American eSports won’t become a major contender until the culture in other countries shifts. In Korea and China, where the most competitive international teams come from, there are pre-established norms that support eSports. This is why even though League of Legends was introduced in Europe and North America first, they have fallen behind. Team SoloMid (TSM) was the best shot we had at making a deep run this year, but TSM fell short showing just how large the gap is for North American teams to become relevant internationally. The best thing that North American League can do is to increase consistency in their rosters to build team chemistry, and to aim at increasing the brand of eSports in the country where they play. I don’t think that chemistry or branding builds fast, so I am weary of a World Championship coming to a North American any team soon.
Connor: Despite the lack of a North American team, Madison Square Garden was electric, in part due to a historic series between SK Telecom T1 and the ROX Tigers, who disbanded and are seeking offers in North America and China. The belief is that a weakened Korea may become vulnerable. Team SoloMid came close — like this fool who somehow tied me — to talented teams like Samsung Galaxy, so there’s a chance NA can compete with Korea. Still, Samsung Galaxy proved Korea is stacked with talent to fill-in after another exodus, and KT Rolster was good enough to beat SKT. The final nail in NA’s coffin is Faker, the Michael Jordan-esque superstar that earned my amateur opponent the game-tying point. Those close to Faker know, as long as he wants to compete, he will stay in Korea. SKT pay him handsomely, and the chance at an increased prize pool will keep the eSports superstar as gatekeeper to the Summoner’s Cup.
Despite an overpowered answer from Connor, Mark takes Round 2 because the United States lacks the culture behind eSports to develop a team to win the world.
3. The Giants and Jets have had relatively average starts to the season, to say the least. Do you think each team will turn their respective seasons around or continue poor play? Why or why not?
Marc: Before this past week’s games; these two teams were the shame of New York. The Jets were the punching bag of the American Football Conference East division and were in line for the second pick in the NFL draft. Their surprise win against a shaky Ravens (so sad) improved their record, but the team lacks weapons on offense to gain much momentum from that win. The Giants had a different problem. Before they squared off in London on Sunday, they were last in the league in turnover differential. They couldn’t get any possession changes on defense, but of course they “changed” this script when they picked off Case Keenum four times. The G-Men will not face this low level of quarterback every week, suggesting that the turnover total this game may have been a very real anomaly. I don’t think either of these teams have a great chance to turn it around as they sit toward the bottom in two separate divisions with clear front runners.
Connor: Despite poor play from both teams, the Giants have a much better chance than the Jets to turn things around. The Jets must pass the Bills and Dolphins to have a shot at the wild card, meanwhile the Patriots have an angry Tom Brady to guide them to another division title. The Cowboys and Eagles are historically inconsistent, and the Redskins lack the talent — similar to my opponent — needed to win the division, this year. The Jets also need a reliable offense, while Eli Manning and his wideouts can drive on the world’s best defenders. The best case that can be made for the Giants is its strength of schedule, which is tied for second to last in the league, compared to the seventh-ranked Jets schedule. Trust me, I know a few things about strength of schedule: I faced this clown in back-to-back weeks.
Round 3 was a close-fought battle, but Connor wins it all at the last second, like Eli leading the Giants downfield late in the fourth quarter.
(10/04/16 2:44am)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” and all around punny guy Tom Ballard asks our panel of three experts — Sean Reis, George Tatoris and Miguel Gonzalez— three questions: Who deserved to win the Ryder Cup? Who has the most to lose as the Chase for the Sprint Cup reaches its final lap? Do you give applause to the NFL’s 2016 Super Bowl halftime headliner or is it a bad romance?
1. After such a close competition, who deserved to win the 2016 Ryder Cup?
Sean: ‘Merica! Actually... I don’t know. As of early afternoon on Saturday, Oct. 1, Team USA had a slight lead over its comrades from across the pond, but Team Europe has a couple of very strong pairings for the four-ball competition. Rory McIlory and Thomas Pieters will be a tough team to beat up against Dustin Johnson’s duo, as well as our golden boy Jordan Spieth going up against two of Europe’s finest with Justin Rose and Henrik Stenson. These two European pairings each got off to early leads on Saturday, but hopefully Team USA can turn it around after I submit this answer because I pick Team USA to clinch this year’s Ryder Cup. After all, what kind of Patriot would I be if I picked the enemy to beat us?
George: I think Europe for the sole reason they invented the sport of golf and went through a lot to just get the sport accepted by society. Imagine you’re a large Gaelic soldier for a minute, affectionately called Big Mac by your peers. You’re playing a round of golf and your kinsman, McGriddle, says to you, “Oi, Big Mac dinnae dae that!” You respond, “What are you talkin’ aboot, numpty! I’m only playin’ gowf.” “Ain’t you heard?” asks McGriddle. “King James has banned it.” You throw your club to the ground. Even though you are a large Gaelic soldier who has stared death in the face, you start bawling because that’s just how much you love golf. Scotland banned golf twice in its history: in 1471 and 1491, but the sport just kept coming back. At one point, politicians were afraid to play golf at the risk of being torn apart by detractors for playing the sport, which is what happened to Mary, Queen of Scots. Europeans had to fight for their right to golf. Americans cannae appreciate that kind of devotion.
Miguel: Man Tom, you are really challenging me here. The MLB playoffs are approaching. The New York Mets just clinched the wild card. There was a slew of ranked College Football matches this past Saturday (except if you’re Rutgers). The Philadelphia Eagles are on a hot 3-0 start with young quarterback straight outta North Dakota and you want to talk about NASCAR and golf? Now that you mention the Ryder Cup, I should have flown to Chaska, Minn., to place a bet against McIlory and get some money, just like David Johnson did. I think United States should win the cup in honor of Golf Legend Arnold Palmer. The Americans have a three-point lead over Team Europe thanks to great performances by the duos Ryan Moore and J.B. Holmes, Phil Mickelson and Matt Kuchar, and Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth. However, Team Europe is not far behind because of its dominant performances last Friday, Sept. 30. Both teams have an equal chance at claiming the Cup as long as Reed can keep up with McIlroy. Overall, all I’m saying now is USA! USA! USA!
Sean gets 2 points for balancing patriotism and analysis. George gets 1 point for historical inaccuracy. Miguel gets 1 point because who cares about the Mets?
2.With the 2016 NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup Series already underway, who has the most to lose next week going into Charlotte, N.C.?
Sean: NASCAR can be a dangerous game. There’s always a lot to lose as you circle a track and make left turn after left turn at over 200 miles-per-hour speeds. Specifically, with the Chase for the Sprint Cup underway, the driver with the most to lose has to be the man currently on top, Brad Keselowski. He’s first right now, but compared to the two drivers behind him, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, he has led an extremely low number of laps, 451 laps led to Truex Jr.’s 1,407 and Busch’s 1,268. Keselowski has four wins and he’s finished all his races, 26 of 28 being top 20 finishes, but he’s a late-game racer and he doesn’t spend much time leading until when it matters most. Keselowski needs to stay ahead of the pack as the Chase for the Sprint Cup continues or he will find himself outside of victory lane.
George: I’d say youngblood Kyle Larson has the most to lose next week. Larson missed his chance to finish the Chase two years ago and is hanging on by a thread this year. If he doesn’t do well this year, he might follow in the footsteps of many other one-and-done Chase drivers who failed to qualify again later in their career. Elliott Sandler and Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace both finished close to last in the Chase and never qualified for it again. In 2009, Brian Vickers of the now-defunct Red Bull team won the first Cup race, but finished the Chase dead last. Perhaps most ominous, Juan Pablo Montoya, whom Larson replaced as the driver of No. 42, became the first foreign-born driver to qualify for the Chase, but never qualified again in his NASCAR career.
Miguel: Look Tom, I don’t know much about NASCAR, but here’s what I do know. Kyle Busch seems to have a lot pressure on his steering wheel as the reigning Sprint Cup Series champion. He has yet to qualify for the Chase Round of 12, while Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick are preparing for the race in Charlotte. I can also argue that Jimmie Johnson has too much at stake at the twilight of his career. Johnson will need to perform well at Dover if he wants to vie for a seventh championship. Nevertheless, Johnson is already a legend and does not have to win five consecutive championships to tell you that. On the other hand, Joey Logano needs to finish in the top five if he wants to maintain his fifth position standing. Logano may be young, but he has a lot to prove if he wants to be like Johnson and Tony Stewart one day.
Sean gets 3 points for analyzing laps. George gets two points for mentioning one-and-done Chase drivers. Miguel gets 2 points for reflecting on past Chase champs.
3. Do you give applause to the NFL for their 2016 halftime announcement or do you think it’s a bad romance?
Sean: First and foremost, “You and I” were on the same page with these puns. I think Gaga and the NFL will be on “The Edge of Glory” during this year’s halftime show because even though you can “Do What U Want,” no one will be able to control themselves and will “Just Dance.” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell better put on his “Poker Face” for this one because the “Paparazzi” will be all over him after this show. Seriously, the Illuminati’s Gaga will be the “Perfect Illusion” as this year’s performer. All puns aside, I truly have to give the NFL my “Applause” for this decision.
George: I hope the Steelers make it all the way this year because I hear tackle “Alejandro” Villanueva is a big Gaga fan. He may “Just Dance” his way onstage. I’m a “Heavy Metal Lover” myself, but I think Gaga has a great attitude that translates well to a large stage like that of the Super Bowl halftime show. I hope I don’t sound like a “Judas” Iscariot when I say I don’t really like her music that much, but I do think she has amazing showmanship. I hope she brings up guests, too — maybe David Blaine because he could perform the “Perfect Illusion” for the crowd. If that happens, I might just pick up my “Telephone” and call my mom because she loves Blaine. She’d be absolutely “Starstruck.”
Miguel: I can only imagine what’ll happen at Super Bowl LI. Johnny Manziel will be at the bar thinking about the “LoveGame” he used to have with the “Paparazzi.” Goodell will be flaunting how much of a “Beautiful, Dirty, Rich” “G.U.Y.” he is. Tim Tebow will envision himself at his former “Edge of Glory,” while defeating “Judas” and praying for “Bloody Mary.” Josh Gordon will continue his “Highway Unicorn” chase after “Jewels n’ Drugs” under an “Aura” of “Dope.” Yet, the main attraction of the show will be Cam Newton’s “Fashion!” along with Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman’s everlasting “Bad Romance.” Because, you know, they’ll always be “Boys, boys, boys.” Who can also forget that Tom Brady will reveal his inner “Americano” and leave his competition “Starstruck” (except Peyton Manning, who has to worry about his “bad kids”). Honestly, I don’t think Gaga will seizing “The Fame” nor captivate the audience with her “Artpop.” Rather, Gaga will sing her heart out just like her national anthem performance.
(09/29/16 7:17pm)
In this week’s normal edition of Around the Dorm, “Ref” Marc Trotochaud asks of our panel of three experts — Michael Battista, Tom Ballard and Harrison Duhr — three questions: What’s going to happen at the World Series? Did the NFL’s new rules make the death of the kick return inevitable? Do you think Team USA gave it their all at the World Cup of Hockey or could they have made it farther?
1. Considering the teams still in contention for a world series berth, what two teams have the best shot and which will come out on top?
Michael Battista: For me, it’s the Chicago Cubs in the National League (NL), and the Boston Red Sox in the American League (AL). Chicago dominated this season, being the first team to clinch a playoff spot. There were 60-plus home runs on that team between third baseman Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo. With their offense and great pitching leading them to the top of the central, they are my pick to win it all. The Sox are also really good this year, especially fitting with David Ortiz retiring at the end of the season. The AL East has been the most competitive in the league, with each wildcard spot being held by a member right now, and Boston battled Toronto Blue Jays for that top spot. They seem like the best team in the AL right now, and their bats don’t lie. Though I won’t shed a tear when Ortiz loses the big one in his curtain call.
Tom Ballard: It’s World Series time already? It seems like only yesterday that Salvador Pérez and the Kansas City Royals creamed the New York Mets last year. Unfortunately for both teams, a return to professional baseball’s largest stage seems to be slim to none. This year I wouldn’t be surprised to see the NL’s Cubs go after the AL’s Red Sox for the Commissioner’s trophy. The Cubs 98-56 record so far shows that these guys know what winning looks like this season (also they already clinched the NL Central title). The Red Sox are pretty red hot on fire right now. They’ve won their past eleven games against the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox are going to take the AL East division win and they’re going to take that momentum straight to the World Series. I know it’s a pretty safe bet to go with the Cubs and the Sox for this year’s Series, but I don’t see any New York miracles happening this year.
Harrison Duhr: My guess for the 2016 World Series is Chicago Cubs-Cleveland Indians. There’s no denying how hungry the city of Chicago is for a Cubs championship. After making strides last year by advancing to the NL Championship Series, the Cubs are arguably a more complete team with the additions of Ben Zobrist, John Lackey and Jayson Heyward’s defense (certainly not his offense). Joe Maddon, Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer are a lethal trio of player-friendly, moneyball analytic style of management. Meanwhile, Cleveland is the upcoming young squad with the right amount of veterans. A guy like Mike Napoli has a great track record of playing well in October and has the potential to lead this lineup to the fall classic. Plus a pitching staff as complete as Cleveland’s can go a long way. When it is all said and done, I believe Chicago will knock off Cleveland in six games.
Michael gets 1 point for not shedding a tear for Papi. Tom gets 3 points for not deluding himself about New York. Harrison gets 2 points for recognizing the Cubs dominance.
2. Did the NFL’s new rules make the death of the kick return inevitable?
Michael: No, because it’s either backfiring or not really mattering at the moment. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported that during the preseason the percentage of touchbacks decreased compared to the same time frame last year by 1.2 percent. That isn’t a large percentage, and honestly, who can fully trust the preseason? But the fact is coaches and players will probably adapt to this more than anything. Instead of kicking the ball deep into the endzone, maybe shortening the kick itself will give teams less incentive to touchback and give defenses more time to get there and stop runs. Pro Football Reference has data suggesting that punts into the endzone have even gone down 13 percent during weeks one and two compared to last year. Time will tell if this rule matters, but I don’t see kick returns dying yet.
Tom: Perhaps it’s something out of “The Walking Dead,” but it seems to be that the kick return is still alive and well. I know why the NFL is concerned about the kick return — it doesn’t take a physicist to know that the speed and force most of these guys bring packs a punch. While the rule was meant to incentivize taking a knee if a returner catches the ball in the end zone, it also incentivized shorter kicks. According to data from the NFL preseason, 42.2 percent of kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.The figure was slightly higher from the preseason last year, before the rule, at 43.4 percent. I recently saw footage of Penn State’s kicker, Joey Julius, absolutely plowing down a Michigan University kick returner and it hurt me just watching it. The NFL may want to watch the show “How to Get Away with Murder” because they have failed to club the kick return into extinction. Perhaps if more kickers were like Julius, returners might not be willing to run with the ball and instead just take a knee and brace for the impending impact of a stampeding kicker.
Harrison: I believe the NFL’s new rule will lead to the kick return’s death within three to five years. It’s easy to forget how vicious the NFL can be at times in the comfort of our own homes. Some of the worst injuries in the history of football have occurred within kickoff returns. The most notable, in my opinion, was the tragedy of former Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand in October 2010. This was the last day Eric ever walked, let alone played football. The full force of two teams sprinting three-fourths the length of a football field generated enough power to fracture his spine. As exciting as a 100-plus yard kickoff return touchdown can be, it’s not worth having another incident that leaves a man paralyzed.
Michael gets 3 points for citing sources and stats. Tom gets 3 points for the references and the Penn State pancaking. Harrison gets 2 points for mentioning safety.
3. After USA Hockey’s exit from World Cup contention, do you think they gave it their all or could they have made it farther?
Michael: If that was giving it their all, then I am scared for the regular NHL season. Team USA got outclassed not only by Canada, not only by Team Europe (A.K.A. anyone who didn’t make their national team or whose national team didn’t make it), but by the freaking Czech Republic (CR). The CR didn’t win a game all tournament until they faced and beat the U.S. I love Coach John Tortorella because his antics are amazing at times — almost like a continuous car crash — but he still somehow really disappointed me with his team selection. Phil Kessel and Justin Faulk, both quality NHL players with international experience, were snubbed. One of those guys is a veteran talent, and the latter young blood that did amazing things for Team North America. So yes, they gave it their all for what they had, but there was a lot of opportunity to make this team better. Although, I do hope the World Cup of Hockey continues to exist because I loved this tournament.
Tom: I wasn’t expecting another miracle on ice with Team USA this year in the Hockey World Cup, but to be honest, I don’t even think SEAL Team Six could have rescued the team in their final matchup against the CR. The team’s 0-3 record in the contest was
plain terrible. They only scored five points and not a single one of those came from Patrick Kane, right wing for the Chicago Blackhawks and defending NHL scoring champ and MVP. The fact that experienced Olympians, such as David Backes and Erik Johnson, weren’t included in the lineup for the team causes me to think that this whole train wreck could have been avoided — but alas, it was not. In the meantime, it might be helpful if we joined Phil Kessel and try to forget that this whole thing even happened.
Harrison: I think Team USA could have done better but the timing of the World Cup impacted their level of play. Similar to MLB’s World Baseball Classic, having an Olympic like tournament at the beginning of the season isn’t really appealing. Athletes are creatures of habit and ritual, especially going into a season. Plus, coaches aren’t a fan of risking injury of their star players to compete in a tournament they have no control over. If this tournament was maybe at the end of the season or replaced the All-Star break, players would be more inclined to try harder.
Michael gets 3 points for extensive hockey knowledge. Tom gets 2 points for not expecting a miracle. Always believe! Harrison gets 2 points for an interesting perspective.