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(11/09/12 4:34am)
1. Notre Dame just beat a very good No. 8-ranked Oklahoma team and is now 8-0 (Update: now 9-0). Are the Irish on their way to their first national championship since 1988?
AG: The Fighting Irish may be having their best season in years, but it is silly to think that they are going to win the national championship. Why? The three teams ranked ahead of them (Alabama, Oregon and Kansas State) are overall much better. The Ducks have the top-rated offense, the Crimson Tide have the top-rated defense, and the Wildcats are ranked in the top 20 in both categories. This is not to mention that Notre Dame needed three overtimes to beat a 4-5 Pittsburgh Panthers. With their final game away at USC, the Fighting Irish will be lucky to complete an undefeated season. Now I am not saying that Notre Dame is a bad team, but to be national champions, they still haven’t proven themselves. Unlike the other three teams, they have not consistently been in the championship race over the past years. This lack of experience could be their downfall. Fans and all sports analysts who think otherwise have simply watched the inspiring film Rudy too many times.
JC: Now sitting at 9-0 after an amazing 3OT comeback win against Pitt, Notre Dame has only one more tough game — USC in their last game of the season. While it has been fun to watch redshirt freshman QB Everett Golson mature throughout the year, I believe Notre Dame’s championship hopes died the other night when LSU failed to knock off No.1-ranked Alabama. An Alabama loss would have guaranteed that the Irish would stay up in the top 3, but now all signs point to them slipping down to No. 4 with Oregon most likely leap-frogging them into the third spot. While there is still a couple of weeks left for some upsets to happen, as well as Notre Dame having the opportunity to make a big statement against USC (who continues to fall further down the rankings), I do not see Notre Dame winning the national championship this year. It’s kind of a shame, because I’d love to see their defense take on an offense like Alabama, Kansas State or Oregon.
GO: I do not feel that Notre Dame will be able to win the National Title and that the championship will either go to Alabama or Oregon. Even though Notre Dame has beaten several good teams, their offense is not skilled enough to move the ball against an Alabama D or keep up with the fast paced Oregon Ducks. The Fighting Irish are 90th ranked in passing yards per game and 30th in rushing yards per game due to the inconsistency at the QB position. Yes, Everett Golson played well the last two games, but if the Pitt kicker didn’t miss a reasonable kick, we wouldn’t even have this discussion. This team could have lost games to Purdue, BYU and Pitt, due to the fact that they couldn’t put many points on the board against these mediocre defenses. Notre Dame relies too heavily on their defensive unit, who will be exploited once they play USC. The combination of a young QB going in to a hostile environment plus a star QB playing his last home game means a tough loss for the Irish at the worst part of the season, taking them out of the title hunt.
Greg gets 3 for touching on their poor offensive rankings as well as their final game this season. Andrew scores 2 for noting the advantages of the other teams on both sides of the ball. Jim nets 1 for bringing up the importance of the Alabama-LSU game.
2. The Cowboys managed to come back from a huge deficit against the Giants last Sunday, only to hand the lead back in the end. Why is this team so bad at winning?
AG: The problem with most football teams starts with the quarterback. They are the captains and lead by example. As for Dallas, although Tony Romo has been far too inconsistent thus far, he is not deserving of all the blame. The problem begins with the offensive line that is simply horrible at run-blocking. With the 28th-ranked ground game, Jason Garrett is being forced to overuse Romo, which has led to 13 interceptions so far. What makes matters worse for Dallas is that Romo’s top two targets, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, have combined for 12 dropped passes, the most in the NFL. Fundamentally the Cowboys need to get on track. If they could control the game clock and limit turnovers, they would be able to finidh games. With a great defense and a number of star players, it is these small mistakes which end up costing them.
JC: If the Cowboys could play four continuous quarters of smart, disciplined football, they would be a force in the NFL. This has obviously been a tough task for them all season. While I wouldn’t say they are “bad at winning”, they are just better at beating themselves. Using last week’s match-up against the Giants as an example, the offense was plagued by multiple turnovers in the first half. On several occasions Tony Romo and his receivers just seemed to be on completely different pages, as his guys were running the wrong routes. After halftime, the team that came out of the tunnel was completely different. Romo looked sharp on several drives despite the fact that they abandoned the rushing attack. The defense looked even better, shutting down Eli Manning and the dangerous Giants’ offense. In the end, the Cowboys were just a fingertip short, literally. However, with as bad as they played in the beginning, they can’t even complain. If you want to be successful in the NFL, it takes four solid quarters of football. If they play the rest of the season like they did in the second half against the Giants, this team will find a lot of success from here on out.
GO: It’s easy to blame all of the Cowboys’ woes on Tony Romo, but I honestly believe that head coach Jason Garrett is to blame. Jerry Jones has assembled a team that is talented on both sides of the ball, which won barely half of their games over Jason Garrett’s tenure as head coach. The team consistently makes mistakes on offense, especially early in the game, showing that they are not ready to play once the lights come on in the stadium. This is a sign that in the locker room, the head coach does not motivate his team to play. But when the team does play well early and builds a lead, they seem to halt in the 4th quarter. Over the last two seasons, the Cowboys have blown more double-digit leads in the 4th quarter than any other team. Why? Not because of Romo. It’s because Jason Garrett is getting out-coached. Teams adjust to the Cowboys, the Cowboys don’t adjust to anyone else. They think they can win on pure talent, but that doesn’t work in the NFL. After this year Garrett will be replaced, and with a new head coach, we’ll see the Cowboys contend again.
Greg earns 3 points for his analysis of Garret. Jim scores 2 for his argument and use of the phrase “better at beating themselves.” Andrew notches 1 point for placing the emphasis on the O-line.
3. The blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Rockets had a lot more to it than that. Who makes out best in this deal in the long run?
AG: Although James Harden has had an unbelievable start so far with the Rockets, it was the Thunder who made out the best with this blockbuster deal. They may have taken a temporary hit by losing Harden’s presence, but in the long run, OKC will definitely benefit. In the past, Scott Brooks and the rest of his front office have been very successful with the likes of Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant as draft picks. If this trend continues, then the two first-round picks and one second-round pick received from the Rockets will be very useful. As for Houston, despite Harden’s recent success, I am still not convinced because one player is not good enough to win a championship — just ask Lebron James. By getting rid of all the draft picks, they will lose the ability to add a number of skilled players. Although it may take a year or two to show it, the Thunder definitely made the best deal.
JC: In the long-term, both teams did well. The Rockets have been stockpiling draft picks for a long while to make a trade such as this, and we all know that the Thunder are usually able to grab great players through the draft. I think it is more important to look at the short-term, because that is how both front offices have seen it. Kevin Martin was a big scorer for the Rockets last season, but James Harden is a tremendous upgrade to a Houston team that is trying to compete right now. After striking out on Dwight Howard and settling for Lin, it was obvious that Houston needed something more. Throughout the first three games, Harden is already proving that he is not just a 6th-man, but actually a budding superstar. Given the youth of the Rockets, this team will be able to compete for many years to come. On the other hand, the Thunder will feel negative effects of this trade this season, as Harden was a big part of their team last year and really helped them in the playoffs (although he did disappear during the finals). Therefore, I feel that the Rockets make out best for the time being.
GO: The blockbuster James Harden deal benefited both teams, but I think OKC got the better deal. First, if Harden wasn’t going to re-sign after the season, they might as well get the most they can for him and build early in the season, rather than wait until the trade deadline. Kevin Martin is a great shooter who will fit well in the offense with Durant and Westbrook. Also, Jeremy Lamb was arguably the best wingman in the draft this year. Now having him practice with Durant and Westbrook everyday will help him progress tremendously, turning him into a solid shooting guard for years to come. The next factor is that OKC got two first-round picks. Over the past five years, there is no doubt in my mind that OKC management has drafted better than any other team. Durant, Westbrook, Ibaka, Perry Jones (rookie) and even Harden were all drafted by the Thunder. If they are able to draft this well with these future picks, they make out much better in the long haul.
Greg scores 3 for addressing the impact of just about every factor in this deal. for Andrew brings in 1.5 points for pointing out that Houston is hurting their future. Jim gets 1.5 for a strong argument that Houston needed to add someone big.
Greg wins Around the Dorm 9-4.5-4.5
(10/29/12 9:47pm)
In preparation for Hurricane Sandy, expected to hit the East Coast on Monday, the College closed all of its offices for Monday, Oct. 29 and Tuesday, Oct. 30, according to an alert from College Relations sent on Sunday, Oct. 28 via email and text message.
As of 12 p.m. on Monday, students who are currently on campus are advised to stay indoors, another campus alert stated.
"If you are in a residence hall and have not done so already, please register with Residence Education Staff in your building's office by 4 p.m.," the email said. "Students who are staying at the Courtyard or Element hotels should notify the front desk that they are TCNJ students and are staying in the hotel."
Because of fall break, students did not have classes scheduled on Monday and Tuesday. Now classes are expected to resume at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the campus-wide alert.
Students who are currently on campus were encouraged to visit Eickhoff Hall between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. to pick up pre-packaged meals. The dining hall is expected to re-open Wednesday morning, the alert said.
These pre-packaged meals are expected to feed the students for Monday night and all day Tuesday.
Each bag contained deli sandwiches (most were turkey, but vegetarian options were available), apples, Poptarts, water bottles, cookies, granola bars and supplies to prepare a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. They also contained plastic utensils and condiments. Students were given a thermos to fill with a beverage of their choice from Eickhoff as well.
College Relations concluded its email by saying, "We will share more information and/or instructions as the storm progresses."
(10/23/12 11:05pm)
On Friday, Oct. 19, students in Wolfe Hall were evacuated at 10:45 p.m. because of smoke coming from the Wolfe 5 laundry room. A belt in a washer burned because the machine was overloaded and a pair of pants jammed in the spin cycle, according to Matthew Golden, associate vice president for Communications and College Relations. Campus Police were notified of the smoke and pulled the fire alarm to evacuate residents, Golden said.
(10/17/12 2:03am)
A male student reported being robbed by four black males in hoodies on the corner of Browning Avenue and Somerset Street on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 16, according to an emergency alert sent out to the College community.
The alleged perpetrators then fled in the direction of campus, the alert said.
“No injuries were sustained by the victim and no weapons were used or displayed, but the victim believed the perpetrators may have been armed,” according to the text message and email sent around 9:40 p.m.
Anyone with information or who has witnessed suspicious behavior is encouraged to contact Campus Police or call 9-1-1.
The text message concluded by saying, “If there are further disruptions, we will notify campus.”
(10/16/12 10:34pm)
In this week's edition of Around the Dorm, the "Ref," Brandon Gould, challenges staff writers Chrissy Onorato, Kevin Lee and Mike Pietroforte to answer questions on who should be the MLS MVP, Al Alburquerque's kissing of a baseball, and whether or not Derrick Rose should play this season.
1. With soccer season winding down, who is the MLS MVP?
CO: I would have to say Chris Wondolowski should be the pick for MVP. A crucial member of the San Jose Earthquakes, he has led the team to the number one position this year and to the tops of the leaderboards. Wondolowski was the team MVP in 2011 and has continued to lead his team this year, scoring a league-leading 25 goals. He also leads shots on goal this year, with a total of 51. The Earthquakes are now leading the league with 69 goals, 493 shots and 182 shots on goal. There is no doubt they would be nowhere close to that if not for Wondolowski. Last year, he won the MLS Castrol Index Player of the Year and was named to the MLS Best XI. Ever since he came back to San Jose in 2009 from Houston, he has upped his play and led the team to the top spot.
KL: Is there really a debate for this award? There’s no argument for anyone else, but San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski. To this point, Wondolowski, has scored 25 goals which is eight more than any other player. Wondolowski also has the chance to make history by breaking Roy Lassiter’s MLS record of 27 regular season goals set in 1996. Scoring 27 goals nowadays is much more impressive than it was back then, considering how much better the MLS is now than before. Aside from individual stats, Wondowloski has been the MVP in the truest sense by making his teammates better. His mere presence on the field has improved his teammates’ play, resulting in San Jose being the best team (standings-wise) in the MLS. “Wonder Wondo” is the clear choice here.
MP: My pick for MLS MVP would have to be Chris Wondolowski. He has, far and away, the most goals in the league, and is chasing the single-season record for goals (27). He’s also the top threat on the top team in the league, the San Jose Earthquakes. Wondolowski has been a difference maker for the Earthquakes, netting 10 game-winning goals and leading the way to a Western Conference title. They’ve also tied a club record by recording 64 points in a season. In a sport where scoring is not always a guarantee, Chris Wondolowski has erupted for 26 goals in 32 games. In their last contest he posted a hat trick. He leads the league in game-winning goals by nine, and if he isn’t handed a most valuable player award at the end of the season, then I don’t know who should be.
Kevin gets 3 for saying “Wonder Wondo” is the clear choice. Mike gets 2 for pointing out game-winning goals. Chrissy gets 1 for saying the Earthquakes wouldn’t be the same team without him.
2. Tigers pitcher Al Alburquerque kissed the ball after fielding a comebacker on the mound before throwing to first base in the Tigers win on Sunday, Oct. 7. The A’s said it was “unprofessional.” What do you think, did Alburquerque cross a line?
CO: As to the incident with Al Alburquerque kissing the baseball before making the last play during the Tigers/A’s game, I would have to side with him and say that I don’t believe it was disrespectful. When these guys are out on the field and waiting, play by play, to see the outcome, you can only imagine the kind of emotions running through them. This was a divisional series game, so emotions were extremely high. When he saw that it was going to be an easy out for him, with two men on base, he got caught up in the moment and took a second to appreciate what had been handed to him. His teammates have told him not to do it again, but still stood up for him and said if the A’s knew what kind of guy he was, they wouldn’t have seen it as a sign of disrespect. I believe there are many other things that players have done that were so much worse than a simple kiss of a baseball.
KL: I could see why the A’s would be ticked off. It really doesn’t have a place in the game of baseball and could elevate to a bean-ball war. However, In Alburquerque’s defense, he has never had a history of disrespecting his opponents. I’m sure that it was more Alburquerque’s emotions getting the best of him in an adrenaline-filled situation. Alburquerque got a huge out against a tough batter in Cespedes to end the inning, so I’d be pretty pumped too. This probably got his teammates pretty amped up as well since it was one of the most swagful things that’s happened in baseball. Either way, this seems to be an isolated incident, so I don’t think it’s a big deal as long as it doesn’t happen again.
MP: I could understand their displeasure, if this had happened against my team I’d probably say some things about him that I couldn’t print in this paper. However, from an unbiased point of view, I wouldn’t say it was “unprofessional.” Was it necessary? No. The way I look at it, this wasn’t some premeditated action. Alburquerque snagged a ball back to the pitcher, instinctively thought to kiss this baseball, and then had the time to throw the guy out at first base. If you feel the need to complain about some small detail like that then maybe you should be running a little harder toward first base and spend a little less time watching the pitcher make the play.
Kevin gets 3 for discussing the emotion involved in a “swagful thing.” Mine gets 2 for saying the A’s should have been more worried about themselves and the game than the Tigers. Chrissy gets 1 for noting that he isn’t a disrespectful person.
3. Some have suggested that Bulls’ guard Derrick Rose should sit out the entire 2012-13 season to recover from a torn ACL. Should Rose try to come back and play or take a year off?
CO: Hearing about Derrick Rose’s torn ACL has been heartbreaking for any fan of the NBA, but as much as people want to see him come back, I truly think he should take as much time off as he needs. As soon as an athlete gets hurt these days, the first question is always “When will they be back?” but people should realize that if an athlete plays injured, that injury could turn into one that is career-ending. This has happened way too often. Especially with basketball players, a torn ACL is scary — if that doesn’t have enough time to heal, you are going to be faced with worse problems down the road. The Bulls can afford to let him take the time to recover. Rose has only been playing pro for four years and therefore doesn’t want to do anything stupid that would end his career early. There is worry that Rose will come back a different player. This is possible, but this injury won’t change the good person he is. He’s still going to play 110 percent and give everything to his team, but he has to be in the best health possible for this.
KL: The earliest Rose is slated to return is the All-Star break. Even if (and that’s a huge if) Rose returns, he’s not expected to be close to 100 percent. With that said, I say sit Rose for the season. The knee is incredibly fragile in basketball, having to make quick movements and jump constantly, making the potential risk for re-aggravation high. Furthermore, Rose is just 24 years old and has four more years left on his contract so why risk the potential of losing him even longer? Rose is too good and too valuable to this franchise. In the grand scheme of things, one year is not a long time compared to the duration of a player’s career. Plus, the Heat are too good and the Bulls, even with a wobbly Rose, won’t be good enough. The Bulls should make a run at Stephen Curry or Blake Griffin for the 2013-2014 season, have a healthy Rose, and beat the damn Heat.
MP: I think it’s too early to make a concrete decision for the rest of the season. It’s too much of a commitment to say, no, our star player will not see the court this year. It’s also too early to guarantee that he’ll play. If it were my decision, I’d guage the way the season, as well as his rehabilitation, before I made a decision. If my team is a serious contender near the end of the season and D. Rose is even 90 percent, than I would not hesitate to play him. If we aren’t contending, and he’s not ready to play, then I won’t play him. I will take a wait-and-see approach, and won’t make my decision until it absolutely needs to be done.
Mike gets 3 for his wait-and-see suggestion. Kevin gets 2 for suggesting that the Bulls should sit Rose and set themselves up for 2013-14. Chrissy gets 1 for describing Rose’s knack for giving 110 percent.
Kevin wins Around the Dorm 8-7-3
(10/09/12 8:49pm)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Peter Fiorilla, challenges staff writer Mike Herold, correspondent Jim Cortiglia and news editor Brandon Gould to answer questions about the Arizona Cardinals’ hot start, what will happen as a result of all of the Jets’ injuries, and who is worthy of being named AL and NL MVP.
1. The Kevin Kolb-inspired Cardinals are 4-1 and have a couple of impressive wins, including one over the reigning AFC Champs. Are the Cardinals contenders?
MH: Not after that loss to the Rams, they’re not. Anytime the opposing QB goes seven for 21 and you don’t win, that’s a bad sign for the whole “contender” thing. Especially once you consider that Kevin Kolb was sacked more times in that game than, I can’t even think of a proper analogy. Nine times? Seriously? Anyway, the impressive 4-0 start is reminding me of the Bills last year — they look really good, beat some tough opponents to make themselves seem like legitimate threats, then, just like those Bills did, start fading away. The Bills finished 6-10 after a 3-0 start that included a win over the Patriots, and I’m seeing a similar result for the Cardinals this year. Especially if Kolb keeps getting hit like that. Seriously, I’m still trying to think of a funny enough comparison to make, all I have so far is something with Princess Peach not being sacked so many times in a week, you know, the kidnapping angle. The Cardinals offensive line was so bad that only lame jokes remain! Once that happens, any contender talk has to fly right out the window. Like a sack of potatoes. OK, I’ll stop now.
JC: While most signs point to the Arizona Cardinals as a young team on the rise, I am going to have to go against the grain and say no, they are not contenders. Dating back to last season, the Cardinals are 9-1, which is the best in the NFL. However, this 4-0 start shares a similar likeness to the Buffalo Bills of last year, a lot of luck, and luck can’t carry you all the way through the season. As we saw with the Bills, they eventually imploded when their defense gave out and Fitzpatrick started turning the ball over. Taking a look at the four teams they have beaten so far: both the Seahawks and Dolphins were starting rookie QBs in Arizona, an awful kicking day for the Patriots, and the turnover-happy Eagles. While I must admit that their defense is legit, I’m not ready to hop on the Kevin Kolb bandwagon. The schedule for the rest of the season is rough, as well. Two games against the 49ers, at Minnesota, at Green Bay, at Atlanta and home versus Detroit and Chicago. This team will be lucky to finish 8-8.
BG: I do not believe that the Cardinals will be able to sustain this run much longer, which was evident in their loss Thursday night to the St. Louis Rams. In the Cardinals first four wins, two came against rookie quarterbacks and one only happened because of a missed field goal by the Patriots, hardly impressive overall. The Cardinals offense is bad. Against the Rams, the offensive line let up nine sacks and the run game recorded 45 yards, total. What has been impressive though is the defense. In five games they have 17 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and 38 quarterback hurries. They’ve also forced 11 turnovers from their most notable performance of four against the Philadelphia Eagles. They can attack from all levels of the defense and that’s what has kept them in games. However, that type of defense won’t make up for 63.4 rushing yards per game much longer.
Brandon brings home the bacon for arguing that the Cardinals’ force-of-nature defense can’t hide a poor offense forever. Jim earns 2 points for detailing how much Bills-like luck the Cardinals have had so far this year. Mike gets 1 point for pointing out Kolb’s sack rate is unsustainable.
2. It’s not looking good for the J-E-T-S: Revis is out with an ACL, the team’s young players are underperforming, Sanchez is regressing, and the Jets only have one more game against the Bills this season. Will the Jets get their act together and make the playoffs, and if not, should Rex Ryan get canned?
MH: I’ll agree that things are not looking good for N.Y.’s lesser yet somehow more talked about team, but I don’t think things are quite as bad as the question makes them seem. The rest of their schedule has only four games I count as losses — the Texans this past game, the Chargers Week 16, and two out of their three games with New England and Miami. Every other game seems winnable, especially if/when Rex Ryan realizes that his backup QB has mystical powers/is a divine entity and gives him the reins. It’s the story we’ve all been waiting for, “Tebow Time Takes Times Square”. I say it happens starting Week 6. As for Ryan’s job security, even if the Jets miss the playoffs, there’s the always reliable “My best guy was injured” excuse to give him one extra year. Unless Tebow says he goes, in which case who knows what will happen.
JC: At the beginning of the preseason I predicted Rex Ryan as the top coach on the hot seat. After watching the team struggle to actually score any points, I knew that it would be a rough year for Gang Green. The Week 1 game was a testament to how inconsistent Mark Sanchez actually is. Since that great performance, Sanchez has boasted completion percentages of 37, 46.7 and 44.8. And I thought Tim Tebow couldn’t complete a pass. To be fair, the Jets have faced some tough defenses in Pittsburgh, Miami and San Fran, but at this stage in his career, Sanchez should be able to compete with the tougher teams. As for the rest of the team, the offensive line cannot block and there is absolutely no help from the running game. With Revis out, their defense will be completely exposed as they can only generate pressure on the opposing QB by blitzing and relying on their man-to-man coverage. Worst of all, the fans have completely given up on the team. I was at the Jets-49ers game last weekend and by the third quarter it felt like a game in Candlestick Park, with the few remaining Jets fans chanting for Tebow to start. With all due respect to the Jets fans, not even Tebow can save you at this point, and I believe this is Rex Ryan’s last year in N.Y.
BG: As a Jets fan, it is disheartening to admit that the forecast does not look good. They’ve lost Revis and now Santonio Holmes — injuries that kill a team with a lack of depth. This is not Rex Ryan’s fault though. If you want to point a finger at someone, it needs to be GM Mike Tannenbaum. Tannenbaum is way too aggressive in the draft and does not draft well in the later rounds. He has traded up to get Revis, David Harris, Dustin Keller, Mark Sanchez, Shonn Greene and Stephen Hill. All of these trade ups produced solid talent — Greene has started to look like a bust though — but it has killed the Jets depth. Late-round picks are what load up the back ends of teams. The Jets cut four out of five picks they made after the third round in 2012. The process works only when your starters stay healthy.
Brandon gets 3 points for a thought-provoking indictment of Tannenbaum and his disastrous draft techniques. Jim gets 2 points for pointing out how Sanchez, who’s not getting any better, has no help from his offensive line or running game. Mike gets 1 point for implying Tim Tebow might be the answer.
3. The MLB playoffs have begun, but the end-of-season hardware has yet to be rewarded. Who are your AL and NL MVPs?
MH: The question in the American League comes down to two players — the one who won the Triple Crown and the one who everybody has been picking to win it for the past two to three months. OK, so Trout has great hitting numbers just like Miggy, plus leads the league in steals and runs, and also plays really good defense, while Cabrera, oh forget it, Trout has this thing locked up. To me, the interesting part is that both players were not seen as the best on their own teams heading into the season — not with Pujols signing with the Angels and Fielder and Verlander with the Tigers. In the National League, it’s more of a toss-up for the hardware — Buster Posey for the majors-leading batting average/defense, Ryan Braun for the power numbers, or Andrew McCutchen for the we-feel-bad-for-Pittsburgh angle? I think Posey will win it, because his team is in the playoffs, which matters in MVP voting, unless there’s a rookie phenom who everyone’s been picking for months involved — that could beat, like, a Triple Crown winner.
JC: I think we can all agree on who the AL MVP is. Miguel Cabrera not only had the best season on the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers, but he also captured the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski did it for Boston in 1967. Thanks to his .330 BA, 44 HRs and 139 RBI’s, Cabrera joins some prestigious company by being only the 15th player to achieve the Triple Crown. Given the phenomenal year for the slugger, I don’t think there is any way that the AL MVP award does not return to Detroit for the second straight season. As for the NL, there is a lot more discrepancy. While my three top players are Buster Posey, Ryan Braun and Andrew McCutchen, I would have to give the edge to Posey. While he has less home runs than the other two candidates, he boasts the highest batting average and is right up there in RBIs. This is more impressive given the fact that he is playing day in and day out as a catcher. Furthermore, Posey and the Giants are playing post-season baseball while the Pirates and Brewers are watching from home. This plays a big role in MVP voting, as Braun was given the edge over Kemp last season due to the Dodgers not making the postseason.
BG: The NL MVP can only go to one man and that is Buster Posey. Posey batted .336 and got on base 40 percent of the time, while hitting 24 home runs and driving in 103 runs. All of this on top of managing one of baseball’s best staffs, which explains why he leads the NL with a WAR of 7.2. The real debate is in the AL, where the vote seems to be split between two players and two schools of thought. Mike Trout is a sabermetric dream, while Miguel Cabrera is your old-school slugger. Cabrera seems to be the favorite because he hit for the Triple Crown — the first one to do it in 45 years — and led the Tigers to the playoffs. Meanwhile, Trout posted a 10.4 WAR and supplied great production from the leadoff spot. It’s not an easy choice, but my vote goes to Trout. He brings so much more to the table than Cabrera does on the bases and on defense. Ultimately though, my main train of thought is that if Josh Hamilton had hit two homers in game 162, would this even be a discussion?
(10/02/12 9:33pm)
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Joe Caputo, challenges Sports Editor Chris Molicki, correspondent Greg Oriolo and Sports Assistant Peter Fiorilla to answer questions about who’s underrated and overrated through four weeks of the NFL, whether or not the new wild card format is a good thing, and which teams are the favorites to make it to the World Series.
1. With the NFL season nearly a quarter of the way through, who are the two most overvalued and the two most undervalued teams in the league based on record?
CM: I’d have to say the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings are the two most overrated teams in the NFL. The Cardinals have started off 4-0 thanks to their stingy defense, but a Kevin Kolb led offense is a recipe for disaster. Aside from Larry Fitzgerald, they really have no offensive weapons, and the NFL is clearly an offensive league. The Vikings have gotten great play out of Christian Ponder so far, but he hasn’t been the kind of guy who can carry a team in stretches and he doesn’t have a ton of weapons. Plus, the secondary is god-awful and that is something that can ruin a team all by itself. As for the underrated teams, I would pick the Detroit Lions and the Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams are 1-3, but still have serious potential. For the Lions, injuries have killed their defense and their offense has stalled very often. It’s only a matter of time before Stafford and Megatron go off like they did last year. The Chiefs don’t have the best quarterback in Matt Cassel, but they have one of the best running backs in Jamaal Charles. Combine that with a defense full of playmakers (Brandon Flowers, Tamba Halli, Javier Arenas), and I think they still have a good shot to contend in the AFC West.
GO: Through four weeks, the two most overvalued teams in my opinion are the Eagles and the Bengals. First, the Eagles have barely won against the Rams, Ravens and Giants. Each one of their wins has been by one point! The team could easily be 0-4 if it weren’t for a few good bounces and a missed kick. Also, their turnover ratio is five. If they keep this up against tougher opponents their record will fall. The Bengals on the other hand have had a very favorable schedule, beating the Browns, Redskins and Jags in consecutive weeks. After their bye, they play the Broncos, Chargers, Cowboys, Giants, Eagles, Steelers and Ravens, which in my mind they may only get one or two wins, showing they aren’t complete yet. The two most undervalued teams are the Vikings and the Chargers. These are two teams that no one is talking about. Right now, the Vikings D has been stellar. They shut down the Lions and 49ers offenses, and their offense has not made mistakes. If they beat the Bears or Packers, then people will pay attention. The Chargers are finally under the radar, which is helping them perform this season.
PF: It’s easy to look past the winless New Orleans Saints (0-4) and struggling Detroit Lions (1-3), who have both fallen prey to moderately difficult schedules — New Orleans is already out of the running to host a playoff game and the Lions have little room for error — but make no mistake, these are dangerous teams. Anytime Drew Brees is on the field his team has a chance to win, and the Saints and Lions have only lost their games by an average of 5 and 4.6 points, respectively. Meanwhile, the San Diego Chargers (3-1) and Minnesota Vikings (3-1) are above .500, but it’s hard to see them as even minor contenders at this point. The Chargers have taken advantage of a weak, AFC West-dominated schedule that includes wins against the Chiefs and Raiders, and since Norv Turner is still at the helm in San Diego, they stand no chance at winning a Super Bowl. The Minnesota Vikings have had to do more for their record, but considering how stacked that division — and especially the Packers — will be this year, I can’t see them keeping this pace up for long.
Greg gets 3 points for pointing out the Eagles’ turnover differential and the Bengals’ weak schedule. Peter gets 2 points for pointing out that the Saints and Lions both have lost many close games. Chris gets 1 point for pointing out that the Cardinals offense is not good enough to last.
2. Now that the new MLB wild card rules are finally coming into play, are you a fan of the new format? Additionally, do you think the winner of the wild card round will be put at a major disadvantage as they advance through the playoffs?
CM: I think the new wild card format is great for baseball. First off, out of all of the major sports, baseball has the least amount of teams that make the playoffs. More than half of the NBA makes the postseason. Football has two wild cards as well. Adding another team gives an extra spot for a deserving squad and makes the sport even more exciting. The wild card races have been fun to watch so far, and I feel like they have the potential to be even more insane. I do think the teams that win the one-game playoff are at a disadvantage based on two main reasons: pitching and travel. If you’re in a one-game playoff, you have to send out your ace, making him unable to pitch in the opening game of the next series if you advance. That puts teams at a huge disadvantage going into a series, which is even more crucial in a five- game series. The travel also hurts. Teams are expected to travel to their opponents right away if they win, while the opposition gets home cooking and relaxation for an extra day.
GO: I am a fan of the new format of the MLB wild card. I am a firm believer that the more teams that have a chance to make the playoffs, the more exciting the end of the year becomes. Last season, the final day of the regular season was arguably the most memorable ever. Now imagine that happening every season. I was never more excited while watching regular season baseball and this new format enhances the probability of that situation occurring every season. I feel that saying that the winner of the wild card is put at a major disadvantage is tough to say. Honestly, it all depends on how the team is built. If the winner has a weak offense and is reliant on pitching (preferably three solid starters), then going forward they still have quality starters. On the other hand, if a team has only one solid starter, then going forward they will be in trouble (like if the Mets made the playoffs, maybe next year).
PF: I think the new format is awful. No, it’s beyond awful. The new wild card rules are what awful would be if awful spent years studying old Detroit Lions’ film. This is an unnecessary change more about getting stadiums a little extra revenue and artificially increasing excitement for the MLB than actually improving the product. A one-game playoff between the Yankees and A’s might be exciting, sure, but so would a 15-minute playoff between the Eagles and Saints or a one-period playoff between the Devils and Penguins. It is just not the way the game is meant to be played. Teams are built for a full series, not individual games, like what will be played this week. And since the winners of the wild card round will be without their aces in the second round, they will not go very far in the postseason anyway, making this a pointless change to a postseason that was fine as it was.
Peter gets 3 points for comparing the new first round format to a 15-minute football play-in game. Chris gets 2 points for pointing out that the MLB does not have as many playoff teams as any of the other sports. Greg gets 1 point for pointing out the last day of 2011, but he also brought the Mets into a playoff conversation.
3. Who is your favorite from each league to make the World Series?
CM: My favorite out of the National League to make the World Series is the Cincinnati Reds. They’ve got all the ingredients. Joey Votto is a monster and former NL MVP. When he was injured for an extended period of time, the Reds never lost a step, showing that their team is more than just him. They have an ace in Johnny Cueto and a very respectable staff behind him. Finally, they have arguably the best closer in the league in Aroldis Chapman. There are too many questions marks for the other NL teams, especially the Strasburg-less Nationals, to expect a pennant from them. As for the AL, I’m going to shock everyone by picking the Oakland Athletics. No one expected this out of them, and even after starting the season slow, they’ve been very consistent and winning a ton. They can thank their pitching staff for that, with four starters with an ERA of under 4.00, and the emergence of Josh Reddick. However, the reason why I like them the most is that they epitomize the way championships have been won in recent years. They’re a group of overachievers who have been hot all year long, and that’s how the St. Louis Cardinals did it last year.
GO: My favorite teams to make it to the World Series are the Cincinnati Reds and the Texas Rangers. Both of these teams have the combo of star power, quality players, solid pitching and experienced managers that are needed for a team to be successful in the playoffs. The Reds have the fourth lowest team ERA in all of baseball, which is a very important thing in the playoffs. The saying is that team is only as good as its starting pitcher that day, and the Reds have plenty of them to survive the grueling October playoffs. The Rangers on the other hand have the best hitting team in baseball. They have the highest team batting average in the majors, the fourth most team homeruns, and the highest slugging percentage. This shows that the offense is not only the most consistent, but also one of the most powerful. The key to all of the stats that I mentioned above is consistency. The pitchers of the Reds and the hitters of the Rangers consistently do what they have to do, and I expect them to do the same in the playoffs.
PF: The Texas Rangers will win the World Series, while the Washington Nationals will come out of the NL. Texas has been the most consistent team in baseball over the past few years as a result of smart personnel moves and leadership from the likes of Ron Washington, and despite recent success, this is a team that has avoided complacency. Moves to acquire starter Yu Darvish, starter Ryan Dempster and catcher Geovany Soto this year show the Rangers are still improving for another shot at the World Series, and there is no reason to think they won’t finally get one after last year’s fluky heart break. In the NL, the Nationals are the clear pick, and while their pitching (third in the MLB) isn’t noticeably better than Cincinnati’s (fourth), Washington has a noticeable advantage in hitting (10th to 17th in the league).
Chris gets 3 points for taking a risk and pointing out that the playoffs are all about who’s hot. Peter gets 2 points for pointing out the clear hitting advantage and similar pitching of Washington vs. Cincinnati. Greg gets 1 point for pointing out the consistency of Cincinnati and Texas.
Peter wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(09/26/12 5:26pm)
1. As the New York Giants knelt their way to a victory last weekend, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers proceeded to run over the Giants’ line and knock Eli Manning to the ground. Giants’ coach Tom Coughlin was outraged but Bucs’ coach Greg Schiano stood firmly by his decision. Did Schiano break an unwritten rule of football? Or was his team simply playing the game to the final bell?
AG: Football is a tough, hard-fought sport for 60 minutes. NOT 59. I was always taught to play until the final whistle. Pertaining to the issue between Schiano and Coughlin, I personally don’t care about “proper etiquette.” Tampa Bay is paying Schiano $3 million annually to win football games, not to be liked by his opponents. Coughlin’s main problem with the Buccaneers’ decision was that one of his players could have been hurt. But how is that different than any other play in football? Once the game begins, the players are on their own and risk getting injured. This aggressiveness almost paid off, as it caught the Giants off guard and nearly forced a fumble. If Eli Manning had turned the ball over and Tampa Bay ended up winning the game, the story today would be totally different and perhaps more NFL teams would adopt this strategy.
JC: I compare this situation somewhat to a blowout in baseball. If a manager is leading a game by double digits, he tells his team to stop stealing bases. Now take that situation and add in the chance that players can get hurt as a result. As much as I would love to sit here and applaud Schiano for making his players play hard for all 60 minutes, I just simply cannot do so. Schiano did indeed break an unwritten football rule in this instance, primarily because what he did not only caught the Giants off guard, but could have resulted in an injury as well. There comes a point in a football game where you have lost, and this could occur even before the 60 minutes is up. It has been an unwritten rule ever since the kneel down began — when the losing team can no longer get the ball back, the game is over.
BM: I don’t mind a team playing the entire game out, within reason if a coach didn’t want to just accept defeat, as long as he and his players don’t do anything dirty in trying to prevent the loss. I’m sorry that Coughlin was startled by Schiano’s move, but how do you get enraged at anything that’s within the rules of the game and is not intended to hurt someone? Schiano presumably thought there was at least a small chance of recovering the ball and evening the score. And if he did, he has every right to go for it on that play. I’m not a big fan of this play, but don’t tell me Schiano violated some sacred ground of football. The football gods should be far more concerned about the overprotection of the quarterback, than about Eli Manning getting knocked on his ass.
Brendan gets 3 points for noting that the game was still winnable. Andrew gets 2 for mentioning that Schiano isn’t looking to make friends here. Joe gets 1 for considering the possibility of injury.
2. After seeing the mistakes by the infamous “replacement refs” in Week 2, can the NFL stand to not pay the union referees for another week or so?
AG: The NFL could truly care less about whether they pay the union referees or not. Unfortunately for the fans, the NFL is a business, and they are all about making money. So think about it, we may be frustrated with the replacement refs, but it does not change the fact that we still watch football. No matter what decision the NFL makes, it will not make a difference with their fan revenue. This is because we will still continue to buy tickets, jerseys and other memorabilia. In fact, the substitute officials are actually much more cost effective for the NFL, because they are making much less per game than the union referees. That being said, these new refs are ruining the integrity of the game and something must be done. Whether the NFL decides to do anything about it, however, could mean we may just have to let nature take its course. Just don’t hold your breath though, because we may be waiting awhile.
JC: The problem with the replacement officials is not necessarily that they are terrible. The problem is that they are the replacement officials. Anything they do can and will be magnified, dissected and in most cases unfairly judged because people simply don’t want them there. With that being said, I think it would be in the NFL’s best interest to work harder to bring back the original officials. Even putting aside the fact that I miss Ed Hochuli’s gun show every Sunday, the decision has to be made with the fans in mind. Every decision the NFL ever makes is for the fans. Just this year, they moved the 4:05 games back 20 minutes to 4:25. Why? So the fans can catch as much action as possible. We now have a Thursday night game every week. Why? So the fans can now watch the NFL three days a week instead of two. So, regardless of how good or bad the replacement officials are performing, if the fans want them out, it is the NFL’s responsibility to get them out. Sure, they can stand not bringing the originals back, but it should always be in their best interest to continue pleasing the best fan base in all of sports.
BM: I honestly don’t think it makes that big of a difference in the game. I’ve never finished a game saying, “Wow, the referees were just excellent today.” It is impossible to get every call right and they have a pretty difficult job. Plus, if they do well, you just don’t notice them at all. So all of this talk about the replacement refs is overblown, because they actually aren’t much different than the union refs they’re replacing and much of the difference that exists is probably a result of the intense pressure that is on them. If you don’t remember the atrocious calls that have been made by refs in the past, you need to think harder. About a quarter of the games I’ve watched in life have had at least one major “are you kidding me?” moment. I mean, on pass interference and roughing the passer calls alone I have gone out of my mind. It sucks when refs cause your team to lose, but it happens all the time. The league won’t fall apart if the replacements stick around.
Joe gets 3 for mentioning that the replacements are getting flack mostly because they are replacements. Andrew gets 2 for pointing out the fault of the NFL. Brendan gets 1 for saying that having the replacement refs doesn’t affect the game very much.
3. With the NBA season right around the corner and a number of big moves happening in the Eastern Conference, give me your top five teams in the East entering this season.
AG: I am not jumping on the bandwagon yet, but the Miami Heat are clearly the favorites in the East for a reason. As the defending champions, their big three look to be nearly unstoppable once again this season. Not too far behind them are the Chicago Bulls. Former NBA MVP Derrick Rose back make an immediate impact. Add in Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah and this team is solid. Remember, that Chicago came into the season as the top team in the East, but couldn’t keep it up when Rose got injured. As for the third seed, the Celtics are experienced, not old. The loss of Ray Allen will not affect Boston as much as some think. During the postseason, if it were not for injuries, he would not have taken the court. And let’s not forget about Rondo, Garnett and their captain Pierce. Talk about a triple threat. The Pacers may not have a star player, but they are a very complete and deep team. With a lot of young players on their roster, they will definitely improve. My surprise pick, taking the fifth spot, is the Brooklyn Nets. The addition of Joe Johnson will significantly help out Deron Williams, who is arguably one of the best point guards in the league.
JC: This is a near impossible question to me due to many of the changes and injuries that’ll ultimately affect the outcome of the East, but here goes nothing. The only lock to me in this top five is clearly the Miami Heat. They are the only team in the conference that can afford losing their best player and probably still comfortably finish in the top two. They’re the defending champs, and LeBron has finally proven he can do it all. Here’s where it gets hairy. In no particular order, my remaining four teams are Brooklyn, Indiana, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Here’s why: Brooklyn is the most improved team in the NBA, and they sure need to be to go from 22 under to a top-five seed in the East, but they are much deeper than just Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. Indiana is probably the closest thing to the second “lock” of the top five. After finishing third last year, they return their starting five and add capable backups in DJ Augustin and Gerald Green. Atlanta loses Joe Johnson, but brings in Devin Harris to solidify the backcourt. Don’t forget, Devin was a 16-point, seven-assist per game all-star a mere three seasons ago. And finally Philly. They were a major facilitator in the biggest trade of the offseason, but I’d say they made out pretty nicely themselves. Not only did they bring in Bynum in the trade, but also made a splash in free agency signing Dorrell Wright and Nick Young to help out the bench — not to mention Evan Turner is a rising star in the NBA.
BM: Heat, Nets, Bulls, Pacers and Celtics. In that order. The Heat are the obvious choice in the East and it seems that they’re likely in a three-team race for the championship right now. I don’t think there is any arguing their supremacy as they have just gotten better over the past year. The Nets are obviously a better team this year, but how much better? A lot. Sure they didn’t get Howard, but they have Joe Johnson, as well a full season of both Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace. Their starting five is going to light it up, plus they’ve got a decent bench. The Nets will take advantage of all of the non-elite teams in the league and land among the best in the East. The Bulls will surprise people with their play, and if Rose comes back healthy before the playoffs, they could beat anyone outside of Miami. The Pacers are a solid team and they should be in the top half of the conference this year after retaining Hibbert. It’s time for them to pass the Celtics, who are done being at the top of the East after a solid five-year run.
Joe gets 3 points for considering all the variables after this offseason. Brendan gets 2 for taking D. Rose’s injury into account, and giving the Pacers the leg up on the Celtics. Andrew gets 1 for mentioning Ray Allen’s departure.
Joe wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.
(09/18/12 9:58pm)
In this week’s issue, The Signal staff decided to revisit the story of John Fiocco Jr.
While it has been over six years since his disappearance, it remains relevant to our campus today.
Throughout our time at the College, we have heard plenty of guesses about the cause of Fiocco’s untimely death when he was a freshman in 2006.
A common rumor is that Fiocco fell down the garbage chute in Wolfe Hall. Others speculate murder. The fact that he had been drinking has also caused assumptions to arise.
In writing this article, our intention was not to fuel further speculation about Fiocco’s cause of death. Instead, we wanted to provide an overview of the facts we do know and pay tribute to this freshman whose life was taken far too soon.
By poring over old issues of our newspaper and reading through legal documents, we tried our best to include the most necessary information to make the story whole. We don’t have all the answers and it was impossible for the story to encompass every detail that we know — but that’s not the point.
Moving past rumors and legal jargon, Fiocco was a person. He was a 19-year-old graphic design student and it wasn’t until delving deeper into this story and talking to his former floormate that we learned about Fiocco’s personality and interests. Getting caught up in the speculation and litigation, it can be easy to forget that he may not have been much different than ourselves as freshmen.
Fiocco’s story became timely once again when earlier this year the civil lawsuit filed by Fiocco’s family reached a settlement of $425,000. After four years of litigation, the case is finally over.
Now with some sense of conclusion, we wish to share this story that has taken up many of our headlines over the past six years with our readers for what may be the final time.
(09/18/12 9:19pm)
1. With Roger Clemens pitching well in the Atlantic League, what are the odds he pitches for a Major League team again? If so, which team? What type of success do you think he would have?
MH: As much as we fans hate to admit it, a professional sports team is at its very core a business. Businesses exist to make money. Roger Clemens, formerly a Cy Young-winning machine, and more recently the defendant in a trial which received a level of news coverage somewhere between that of the Dwightmare and Tim Tebow’s shirtless jogs, would be big news if he returned to the majors. Big stories equal big money in sports. So will Roger Clemens pitch in the majors again? Of course. He might pitch this year for the Astros (who have expressed interest, and could certainly use a little publicity that doesn’t mention the whole “Worst Team in Baseball” thing until at least the third paragraph), or next year for any team with bad ticket sales and nothing to lose. As for what success he’d have — if any — he’s 50 years old, has been out of the game for a while, and we all know that he’d never rely on any extra help (too soon?). So I wouldn’t expect much in terms of pitching, but from a business standpoint? Oh yeah, he’ll be successful.
PF: Roger Clemens probably has the ability to pitch for a Major League Baseball team as awful and desperate for attention as the Astros, whose primary reason to sign Clemens is to appear slightly less irrelevant to the baseball world. Whether Clemens wants to indulge them is another story. A couple weeks ago, Clemens essentially said he did not want to this year, saying “I just don’t think I’m close to pitching in a Major League game.” Throw in his age, questionable history and the dubious quality of the Atlantic League, and I can’t see a positive return for Clemens if he ever does try to pitch in the majors again. Think pitching well in the Atlantic League is any indicator of quality? Joe Thurston, who the Astros cut in spring training earlier this year and played poorly in a couple of brief stints with AAA teams, has become a star in the Atlantic League with a line of .311/.391/.503. I don’t see Clemens pitching until next season, when he will rack up a high ERA and retire again soon after.
MP: The Astros are already flirting with the idea of adding the 50-year-old vet and appear to be the only team doing so. Clemens likes the idea. It seems unlikely that he would see any major league action this season, but he has alluded to the fact that he feels nearly prepared to play at that level and should be able to train in that direction this off-season. In his initial start with the Sugarland Skeeters, Clemens hit 88 mph on the radar gun, and even said that some added work could get his fastball up to 90. 90-mph gas is plenty enough to work with at the major league level. Although it’s a little lower than the standard, I believe that with a standard fastball at his disposal, a crafty veteran with the field experience of Roger Clemens should be more than apt to challenge a Major League lineup. Do I think he will dominate? No. Do I think he will be able to compete? Yes.
Peter gets 3 for comparing how different the MLB is from the Atlantic league, and for pointing out that it’s also Clemens’ decision. Mike P. gets 2 because Clemens’ success and mentality relies heavily on the fact that he’s a power pitcher, and not a crafty veteran. Mike H. gets 1 because Clemens may not be concerned with the Astros as a business.
2. Last week we discussed the AL/NL Cy Young. This week let’s talk AL/NL MVP. Who are your picks?
MH: I guess I’ll be boring and just go with Mike Trout to win the AL MVP. Not that he’s a boring pick per se, but with everyone else saying he’ll win, it isn’t exactly an original choice. But that’s the way MVP races tend to go these days — everyone picks a player who is among those who deserve to be in the MVP discussion, hype that player up until most people are sick of hearing his name, and then make that guy the MVP anyway. Trout’s been the media darling for the last couple of months, his stats are all there and he’s a very interesting story (which is also a huge factor in MVP determination — no one wants an MVP they can’t talk about for hours on end), so he’s getting the hardware. As for the NL, the award was basically Andrew McCutchen’s to lose a month ago … only the Pirates have fallen out of the playoffs and are hovering awfully close to another losing season (that would be 20 in a row, not exactly the type of streak you want). I’m still picking him though, if only because no other candidate really stands out, and I feel bad for Pirates fans.
PF: Whether the Angels make the playoffs or not, the AL MVP should go to their 19-year-old monster, Mike Trout. Not only is he leading the league in WAR, but there has not been as significant a difference between the player with the best WAR and the player with the second best WAR since he was born in 1991, when Cal Ripken Jr. won the award despite his team going 67-95. And consider this: When the Angels called up Trout, they were 6-14, and are now well above .500 while fighting for a playoff berth. I do not believe the race for NL MVP is as clear-cut, but my vote would go to Buster Posey, the leader for the Giants in the locker room, on defense and on offense. Posey plays well behind the plate, has a fantastic arm and has an impressive stat line for a team that needs offense: 22 HR, .333 BA and 92 RBI.
MP: The AL MVP race comes down to three guys — Josh Hamilton, Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera. All three have good numbers, but one stands alone. Trout is currently hitting .331 with 27 HRs, 117 runs and 45 stolen bases. He’s also arguably the best defensive outfielder in baseball right now. What sets him apart from the other two guys, aside from the fact that he’s the total package, is that he’s been a sparkplug for his team. The Angels without Trout are 8-16 and while they are 70-50 with him. In terms of WAR, a statistic that puts into consideration a player’s entire game, offense, defense and base running, the competition is laughable. Trout towers by a large margin, with a 10.3. The NL MVP is a two-horse race. You have Buster Posey, an offensive threat who also plays the game’s most demanding defensive position, and you have Ryan Braun, the last guy I think a pitcher would want to see step up to the plate right now. Both players are the cornerstones of their respective teams’ offenses, but Posey’s batting .339 while Ryan Braun is hitting .310. Braun tops Posey in HRs and RBIs, but I give the edge to Posey because of his defensive value as a catcher.
Since you all picked Trout for similar reasons (rightfully so), I’m judging this by the NL MVP. 3 points for Mike P. for discussing Braun, making his argument stronger that Posey deserves the award. 2 Points for Peter for telling me Posey’s value both offensively and defensively. 1 Point for Mike H. for not diving into why McCutchen deserves the award.
3. Peyton Manning had a fantastic debut Week 1. What’s his projection for the remainder of the season and where will he rank amongst the league’s quarterbacks?
MH: Before I predict how the rest of Peyton’s season will go, I just want to take a quick look at his debut. While it was certainly impressive, he was facing an aging and anemic Steelers’ D (literally anemic — free safety Ryan Clark could not play last week due to the conditions in Denver being incompatible with his sickle cell trait. Talk about the ultimate home field advantage). Not exactly the stuff legends are made of. Anyway, I think Peyton will have a fine year, although I do think he’ll drop off a bit in a few weeks, once the constant pounding takes more of a toll on his still-not-100 percent body. As for where he’ll rank amongst quarterbacks, I don’t think he’ll crack the top four — Rodgers, Brees, Brady and Little Brother Eli — but he’ll certainly be in the discussion for the next group under them, alongside Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers and maybe Cam Newton. No matter what he does though, it’ll sure be interesting, especially once the “Which Manning is better right now?” debates really start. (Call me crazy, but I think Cooper’s got something up his sleeve.)
PF: Partly because of the relative weakness of the AFC West, partly because of the Broncos’ complementary assets on offense and partly because Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, he will put up great numbers — phenomenal for a man his age — this season. The NFL is a young man’s league, sure, but the Broncos’ above-average offensive line will protect Manning and allow him to dissect defenses as he always has. His perfect timing and precise throwing will give Romeo Crennel recurring nightmares, and solid receivers like Demaryius Thomas (an excellent possession target) and Eric Decker (varied skill set) will enable that. There are questions about the Broncos’ ability to run the ball, but overall Manning should be expected to win a lot of regular season games this year for Denver before the inevitable postseason crash and burn.
MP: Peyton completed 19 of 26 for 253 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, one of the toughest defenses in the league. The talent is without a doubt still there, and the rust appears to be minimal. He also has some serious weapons in that offense. Demaryius Thomas is freakishly talented, has a very high ceiling and I don’t think we’ve seen his best football yet. Eric Decker is a great complimentary receiver who reminds me a little of Wes Welker, and Jacob Tamme is a solid pass-catching tight end. What worries me is the neck injury he’s returning from. It seems like such a freak injury, so who knows when a random hit could land him back in a similar situation to last season? Barring an injury of some kind, I would project Peyton to put up top-five QB kind of numbers. As long as he stays healthy I believe he will remain elite.
3 points for Mike P. discussing how the Broncos team will help Manning be successful, while also saying that Manning’s success relies on his health. 2 points for Mike H. for believing that Manning isn’t a top four quarterback and for discussing a slight drop off. 1 point goes to Peter for not discussing any type of drop off that is expected.
Mike P. wins Around the Dorm 8-6-4
(09/11/12 9:33pm)
1. With only one month left in the regular season, who do you feel deserves the Cy Young in both the American League and National League?
AG: Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners is my pick for the American League Cy Young Award. Not only did he throw the first perfect game in franchise history, but he has also been one of the most consistent and relentless forces on the mound this season. What makes his case even stronger is that he pitches for a team that is last in the league in runs scored and batting average. As for the other candidates, Jered Weaver and David Price have also had great seasons, but still have less strikeouts, a lower WAR and a higher ERA. For the National League, R.A. Dickey is my guy. Right now, it’s a two-man race between him and Johnny Cueto of the Reds. Although both are nearly identical in ERA and wins, there is one key stat which really caught my attention. Dickey has thrown more shutouts this season than Cueto has complete games. What makes this remarkable feat even more incredible is his upbringing. He was able to shake off a rough childhood and still made it to the Major Leagues, making him an inspiration to all.
KL: My AL Cy Young ballot is between Verlander and Felix. They both have nearly identical xFIP, a stat assessing a pitcher’s talent level by looking at results a pitcher can control. That is, ballpark factors, fielding, the good luck dragon, etc. are all normalized. Furthermore their WAR’s are identical (leading the AL), suggesting that they have been able to perform similarly over long durations. With their stats so similar, I’d give the award to Felix because he was able to perform in a much tougher division than Verlander. Price isn’t in the consideration for me because, while he has a glossy ERA and high win total, who the hell really cares about those archaic stats. In the NL, I would have gone with Strasburg had he not been shut down early. However, like the AL, Kershaw’s and Dickey’s superficial and sabermetric statistics are very similar, and there is no clear runaway. Again the deal breaker for me is strength of schedule. Pitching in the NL West, Kershaw has had the luxury of facing the Padres and Giants a combined seven times, boosting his stats. Once we make this distinction, the Cy Young for me is Dickey.
CO: After comparing the stand out pitchers from this past year, I would have to say the National League Cy Young award winner should definitely be the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. With a solid record of 12-8 and a current season ERA of 2.71, Kershaw has put up impressive numbers for the second year in a row. He is no doubt one of the many players on the Dodgers that will make this team a force to be reckoned with next year. Exploding onto the scene last year after grabbing his first Cy Young award (with a record of 21-5 and an ERA of 2.28), he is on track to finish with another spectacular run. For the American League, the Cy Young award should go to the Tampa Bay Rays’ David Price. He is 17-5 right now and has greatly improved his stats from last year’s record of 12-13. Price has been an integral part of the Rays these past few years and is looking to help his team make a run for the playoffs, being only 2.5 games back as of this week.
3 points go to Kevin on this one. He uses WAR and xFIP to bolster his argument, which is great to prove how good a pitcher really is. 2 points for Andrew because he talked about how bad Seattle is and that King Felix is still producing. 1 Point for Chrissy for showing David Price’s improvement in relation to last year.
2. With the NFL season kicking off this week, give your predictions for who will be in the Super Bowl and who will end up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
AG: Super Bowl XLVII will be a matchup between the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. After a crushing defeat last year against the Giants, the Patriots have made improvements in both their offense and defense. By picking up Pro Bowler Brandon Lloyd, the Patriots finally have the deep threat that they have so dearly missed since Randy Moss. On the other side of the ball, they spent six of their seven draft picks on the defense. After having the 31st ranked defense last year, they can only get better. This makes it scary for the other teams considering they were only four points shy of claiming the championship last year. As for the Packers, I also like their chances in making it to the title game. Reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers can lead his team back to the Super Bowl just like two years ago. With more offensive power and a much-improved defense, they have enough talent to dethrone the Giants to win the NFC. My Super Bowl prediction: Patriots win 27-24 by a last-minute field goal.
KL: I’m going to once again go with my picks I made last year, the Houston Texans and the Atlanta Falcons. Last year, I believe the Texans could have made it to the Super Bowl had Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson both been healthy. I also think that the AFC South is extremely weak, making the division theirs to lose. If the defense takes the next step, which it certainly can, the Texans will be dominant on both ends of the ball. Health is the key. The Falcons have always had a great all around team, but have never been spectacular. This year, I think Matt Ryan takes the next step into top-five QB status. With their new offensive coordinator Dick Koetter, Ryan will flourish. On the defensive end, the Falcons acquired Asante Samuel who should be a huge boost for their defense. The new defensive coordinator, Mike Nolan, will also implement an aggressive pass rush defense. Expect some career years on the defensive end. The Falcons will make the leap from a great team to an elite team. This will be the year, I tell you!
CO: After watching the opening game last Wednesday night, we can already tell it’s going to be one heck of an NFL season. Despite the N. Y. Giants’ first loss to the Dallas Cowboys this past week, I still choose them to be the NFC team to make it to the Super Bowl. Under the coaching of Tom Coughlin, these boys have been unbeatable. Eli Manning is looking as good as ever and Victor Cruz seems to be one of the best new players around. For the AFC, I would have to pick the Pittsburgh Steelers to be in the big game at the end. Ben Roethlisberger, Troy Polamalu and the rest of the team are going to be looking for a better year than last year, after not making it to the Super Bowl. Out of these two teams, I am going to have to pick the Giants to take home the Lombardi Trophy for the second year in a row. Coming off of their fantastic run in 2011, they are going to definitely be a serious threat.
3 points for Kevin again. Houston and Atlanta each have something to prove this year, and he mentioned the new OC for the Falcons who may have a huge impact. 2 points for Chrissy because she took a huge risk by picking the Giants. 1 for Andrew because he picked the two favorites.
3. Of all the teams starting a rookie quarterback Week 1 in the NFL (Indianapolis, Washington, Miami, Cleveland, Seattle), which team will finish with the best record?
AG: Although he may not be the best starting rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson of the Seahawks will be the most successful. The main reason for this pick is because Seattle plays in the NFC West, one of the weakest divisions. The 49ers aside, the other two teams went 10-22 last season. Along with a having weaker schedule, Wilson just needs to protect the ball. With 7th-ranked running back Marshawn Lynch and 9th best defense from last year to complement him, he just can’t make careless mistakes. Wilson has proved that he is capable of playing this way. Not only did he have 33 TDs and just four INTs in college, but he had the second highest passer rating, 110.3, during the preseason. This great performance helped him to beat out expected starter Matt Flynn. Although I believe that Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III will have bigger years, because of their weaker supporting cast and tougher division, Wilson will lead his team to a better season.
KL: With Russell Wilson leading the Seahawks, Seattle will have the best record out of the group. The Seahawks had a 7-9 record last year, which was better than any of the teams listed. Therefore, with an improved quarterback this year, I’d expect the Seahawks to be no worse than they were last year. Wilson is very talented, and is a dark horse rookie of the year candidate. As a team, the Seahawks have the least amount of work to do. They are also in a favorable division where they can take advantage of the Rams twice. Wilson may not be better than RGIII or Luck, but he is on the better team for next year. Unless you believe that any of these teams are one quarterback away from significantly improving for next year, the Seahawks have to be the pick.
CO: After quite a bit of switching around of quarterbacks in the offseason, it is going to be very interesting to see how everyone copes with their new teams, but it’s also going to be cool seeing the rookie quarterbacks make an appearance as well. In my opinion, I think the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck will finish with the best record out of all the rookies. A first overall draft pick, Luck had played for Stanford University and won the Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award while he was there. He was also the runner up for the Heisman Trophy in both 2010 and 2011. He has been called the Bryce Harper of the 2012 NFL season and has extremely high expectations. The Colts, coming off of a dismal season last year, will be itching to get back to the place they were at a few years ago and Luck hopes he can step up and help them back into the spotlight.
3 points for Andrew. He is correct in terms of Russell Wilson having to control the ball, and that his college career proves he can. 2 points for Chrissy because Andrew Luck is Andrew Luck. The Guy can seriously be a star in the NFL very quickly. Kevin gets 1 here, but I do agree Luck and RG3 should have better statistical years.
(09/05/12 7:03am)
1. Last week, we had a question about the Philadelphia Eagles, but let’s talk about the Super Bowl champion New York Giants. Where do you have them finishing: champs again, NFC East winners, wild card team or missing the playoffs, and why?
JCo: While I’m not very high on the NFC East and think it’s weak, I have to respect the Giants and congratulate them on their championship. With a record of just 9-7 last year, they were able to overcome a lot of short comings (2 losses to the Redskins!) and get hot when it mattered most. With the offensive losses of Manningham and Jacobs, it would appear that their offense might take a step back. However, their defensive line is one of the most fearsome in the NFL. With Tuck, Osi, JPP and a cast of others rotating in and out, the Giants’ front four will put a lot of pressure on the opposing quarterback which will lead to many turnovers to set up points for the offense. The Redskins are still a few years out from contending. The Eagles are lethal on offense, but can’t stay healthy, with Vick being injured twice in two preseason games. Tony Romo has proven that he is a very good QB over the past few years, but his Cowboy teammates have consistently let him down. With a revamped defensive backfield, the Cowboys may be able to push the Giants this season, but I believe they will fall short and the Giants will once again win the NFC East.
GO: I believe that the Giants will win the NFC East this season. First, no team in the division has a more consistent offense than the G-Men. Eli Manning has the longest active streak of consecutive games started at QB, their receiving core is as dynamic as any other in the conference and David Wilson may emerge as one of the steals of this year’s draft. Yes, the Eagles might be more explosive, but the likeliness of Vick playing every game is slim, which takes them out of the race. The Cowboys are also very talented, but Miles Austin can’t stay healthy, Demarco Murray is unproven and Tony Romo has yet to win a big game. Lastly, if you have to pick one team’s defense out of the division, there is no doubt in my mind that the Giants’ D is the most dominant. Their front seven is one of the best in the NFL, their safeties make one of the most skilled duos in the NFL and they may have the best defensive player in the league right now in Jason Pierre-Paul. I’ll take this team any day.
JCa: Judging by the past few seasons, the NFC East has been one of the most difficult divisions to predict. That being said, it’s easier to base the prediction off of past experience. Following their last Super Bowl win, the Giants came out firing on all cylinders in 2008, marching to a 12-4 record and a first-round bye. I see a similar result this year. They have retained their deadly pass rush, which I believe is the number one way to stop a good pass game in the NFL, and they’ve even improved their offense with the additions of Rueben Randle and David Wilson in the draft. Though they play in one of the toughest divisions in the league, their opponents have been nothing but inconsistent. No one ever knows what to expect out of Dallas, and who knows how Michael Vick’s health will play out. Not to mention the Redskins have now built their team around a rookie quarterback. Things are shaping up for the Giants to take back their title as NFC East champs.
Joe gets 3 points for pointing out how the Giants won the NFC East after their last Super Bowl run. Jim gets 2 points for saying how the Giants’ defense will be their strength. Greg gets 1 point for saying that injuries are hurting the other NFC East teams.
2. Baseball’s wild card race is going to be nothing short of wild, especially with the extra spot this year. In the AL, things are so tight that the Baltimore Orioles, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels are all still alive. Who are your favorites and why?
JCo: While I am a huge fan of the Angels and Mike Trout’s amazing rookie year, I believe that their poor start in August will really cripple their chance of making it to the postseason. I think that the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays will be the final two. Detroit has arguably the best pitcher in the world in Justin Verlander, last year’s AL MVP and Cy Young winner, and they potentially have another MVP player in Miguel Cabrera. If Detroit can pull it together in these next few weeks, they could be the most dangerous team out there. As for the Rays, nobody has forgotten their unbelievable walk-off win in the final game of the season that pushed them ahead of the Red Sox and into the postseason last year. The Rays have a deep rotation featuring David Price, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson and Matt Moore and a solid bullpen as well. They also have a solid lineup that really knows how to step up when the game is on the line. Tampa Bay has been on fire recently and I don’t believe that any team would want to face them in the one-game playoff.
GO: Tampa Bay and Detroit both have quality pitching and explosive offensive players, as well as smart managers who will get their teams into postseason play. Also, both of the teams have been there before, so any pressure down the stretch in September shouldn’t phase them. Baltimore and Oakland are at the top of the Wild Card now, but Oakland is inexperienced and may falter in September, and Baltimore has a run differential of -46. Since the Wild Card began 17 years ago, only 3 teams have made it into the playoffs with a negative run differential. Another reason why I feel that Tampa and Detroit will get in is because of their respective aces, David Price and Justin Verlander. In late September, when each of these teams have a must win game, these pitchers will be on the mound, and I am confident that both teams will get that win.
JCa: The Detroit Tigers are my first wild card team. This team always tends to come alive late in the season, and their pitching staff will be the difference. Even looking past Verlander, Doug Fister and Max Scherzer have really been coming into their own, which was their recipe for success a season ago. Taking away his last start, Fister was 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA in his previous seven, while Scherzer went 6-1 over that same span. MVP candidate Miguel Cabrera is automatic with RISP (.351 BA overall, .462 with two outs) and will provide sufficient run support. My second wild card spot will be filled by a team lead by not an MVP candidate, but the MVP himself, Mike Trout. There is nothing this guy can’t do, and the Angels finally seem to be getting their pitching going (Greinke: 2-0, 1.84 ERA in last 2 starts). Their pen is the only slightly scary part of the team, but who knows, I’m sure Trout can step up and throw an inning or two if need be. But seriously, he can. Tigers and Angels in the one-game playoff.
Greg gets 3 points for saying that Baltimore’s run differential may ultimately be their downfall. Jim and Joe each get 2 points for citing the depth of both the Tigers’ and Rays’ rotations.
3. Blake Griffin claims he is healthy and “ready to go” after arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. Even if he is, are the Clippers serious contenders in the West along with the likes of the Thunder, Lakers and Spurs?
JCo: While Griffin and the “Lob City” Clippers are definitely one of the most entertaining teams in the NBA, it has become obvious over the last few seasons that the contenders in the NBA are the star-filled teams. We saw how Western Conference teams like the Lakers, Thunder and Spurs dominated last year with the help of their deep lineups and superstar power. While the addition of Chris Paul to the Clippers last season was certainly a good one, I do not think this simple 1-2 punch of Paul and Griffin will be enough to keep up with the rest of the pack. This knee surgery should be more of a concern than anything, as it will be the second so far in Griffin’s short NBA career. Teams such as the Lakers and Thunder have also vastly improved. The Lakers stole the offseason spotlight with the blockbuster trade to bring Dwight Howard to Hollywood, and the Thunder continue to mature and improve with superstars such as Durant, Westbrook and Harden. The Clippers will compete, but I would not call them serious contenders.
GO: To me, a serious contender in the NBA is a team that is “likely” to win their conference in the playoffs. In the West, I personally believe the only two teams that have a shot, barring injury, are OKC and the Lakers, so no, I do not feel as if the Clippers are a serious threat. They have a talented team, but I just don’t feel that Blake Griffin is as good as advertised. He survives on athleticism, and the fact that he just had knee surgery for the second time in the last four years is not good. Also, their best player, Chris Paul, is coming off of a summer injury which may affect his play early in the year. Combine that with an aging Caron Butler and an overpaid center (DeAnre Jordan) who does the exact same things as Blake Griffin, and that equals a team that will get the five seed and lose in the first or second round of the playoffs.
JCa: If it were up to me, I would answer this question with one simple word — no. But since this is a competition, I guess I’m required to provide an explanation. In my eyes, the Thunder are still the best team in the Western Conference. Although the Lakers drastically improved this offseason, 2/3 of their “Big 3” are definitely past their prime and Dwight Howard is still somewhat of a question mark coming off his recent back issues. The average age of the Thunder’s “Big 3?” — 23, yes, 23 years old. With Durant and Westbrook not going anywhere anytime soon, and Harden’s recent indication that he would like to stay in OKC, this is a team that has arrived as the favorite in the West, and will remain there for years to come. Though the Clippers do have some very nice pieces, their ceiling is not as high as the Thunder, and they still lack the small forward that can put up 30-plus on any given night. In my eyes, the only way they will ever be able to break through the ceiling is if they can find someone even slightly comparable to a Kevin Durant. If not, it will be a long upcoming 5-10 years on the Clipper side of Los Angeles. Hey, at least they’re used to it.
Greg gets 3 points for saying how Griffin isn’t the kind of star to carry a team. Jim gets 2 points for saying that the West has too many deep and star-filled teams for the Clippers to contend. Joe gets 1 point for saying that the Thunder will be nearly impossible to beat for the foreseeable future.
Greg wins Around the Dorm 7-6-6
(08/28/12 5:12pm)
1. The last time an issue of The Signal came out, Jeremy Lin was a Knick, Andre Iguodala was a 76er, Andrew Bynum was a Laker and Dwight Howard was almost everyone’s least favorite basketball player. Only one of these things is still true, as it’s been an extremely eventful few months in basketball. Which NBA team comes out on top as the biggest winner of the offseason?
CM: I know it’s the cliché answer, but I’d have to say the Los Angeles Lakers made out the best this offseason. They picked up what will probably be the NBA’s most potent pick and roll combination in Steve Nash and Dwight Howard. While Nash is old, he’s still an amazing point guard. If he could bring the Suns to the brink of the playoffs, imagine what he could do with the Lakers. Howard is an upgrade at center and the best in the league, and will be the kind of compliment to Kobe that Shaq was. By playing next to Pau Gasol, they will clean up all of the boards. The best part about all of this is that the Lakers were able to bring in star players without compromising the fact that this is Kobe’s team. He’s still the best player and primary scorer. Nash will run the point and Howard will play down low, but these guys can do a lot without scoring. By adding them and keeping Kobe happy, the Lakers were huge winners.
BG: There have been a bunch of moves this offseason in the NBA, but I think the biggest winners coming out of the summer are the Miami Heat. The Lakers made some power moves, no question about it. But when the best team in the league adds one of the best shooters of all time, that’s a winning formula. Allen has dealt with injuries and his age has shown, but he’s just a piece of the puzzle in Miami. The Heat also added Rashard Lewis, which will only help make things easier by giving the team a deeper bench. The Lakers can add all the Dwight Howards and Steve Nashs that they want, but in the end, they’re still chasing the Heat.
BM: The Lakers are, hands down, the biggest winner. They will risk losing him at the end of this season, sure, but they need to win now. The team is ancient. Kobe is 34, Gasol is 32 and Nash is 38. Adding Howard makes them (sorry LeBron), the favorite to win the title next year. If the key players stay healthy, there will only be two teams that even stand a chance of beating them, Oklahoma City and Miami, and even they will have to get very lucky. Plus, after this season, L.A. will be in a great position to re-sign him. With Brooklyn’s payroll tied up and the long-term Dallas situation looking bleaker than what’s happening in L.A., there’s a good chance Howard will sign with L.A. despite the aging team that will be surrounding him.
PF:Brandon gets 3 points for going on the road less traveled and reminding everyone the best team in basketball last year added Ray Allen, Brendan gets 2 for pointing out the odds are good the Lakers will be able to re-sign Howard to a long-term deal and Chris gets 1 for saying Howard and Nash will complement each other as well as Kobe.
2. It’s been (another) season to forget for the injury-riddled Red Sox, who have failed to contend for a playoff wild card berth, let alone the AL East title. It’s being reported that many Red Sox players have no faith in manager Bobby Valentine, and Valentine himself has publicly taken the blame for Boston’s record. Should the Red Sox fire Valentine or give him more time to get his clubhouse in order?
CM: It’s unfortunate that head coaches are always the scapegoats for failure, and this is the case here. While injuries aren’t an excuse, the Red Sox have had a grand total of 32 (!) injuries to players on their roster this season. Asking Valentine to make success with nothing is ridiculous. Their play on the field should not be completely blamed on him. The other issue is the fact that he hasn’t gotten along with many players or coaches. The problem is, during the Terry Francona regime, Boston players were essentially allowed to do whatever they wanted. It’s hard to expect these same players to transition so quickly into Valentine’s no nonsense style of managing. In fact, I think that eventually, that style will work. The Red Sox front office has to make some moves and get rid of players who think they have free reign to do anything. However, the move they should not make is to fire Valentine. He’s shown in the past he can manage (2000 Mets), and he certainly deserves at the very least one more year.
BG: Bobby Valentine and the Red Sox never really seemed like a good couple to me. It’s like watching a hot chick walk down the street on the arm of someone like Kevin Smith — it just doesn’t make sense. The Red Sox had a pretty good team last year before their collapse, but that team is being imploded. Kevin Youkilis was traded for basically nothing and now Adrian Gonzalez has been shipped out in order to get rid of Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett. I’ve heard that things may get worse before they get better, but it’s hard to see big picture here with so much negativity surrounding this team. With all these trades in the bag though, I say it’s only fair to let the man who started this mess try and clean it up.
BM: This isn’t Valentine’s fault. There is a cancer going around that clubhouse. Valentine has been successful at managing players’ attitudes in the past, but he was brought into a situation that is beyond control. Don’t forget that Terry Francona, whatever ever opinion you may have of him, won two World Series with the Sox and by last season seemed to have lost all control of the team. The Red Sox were right to hire Valentine, and if they’re serious about trying to fix this thing they need to take a step that is rarely seen in this era of high salaries — “fire” some players. The team knows better than anyone on the outside, but there are surely some players in the clubhouse who are not allowing for a cooperative atmosphere. Find the top perpetrators and get the best deal you can to send them away. Then make the rest fall in line. Players went to ownership regarding Valentine. Are you kidding me? Tell them to do their job. If Valentine’s authority is being undermined by those above him, he shouldn’t get shafted as a result.
PF: Chris gets 3 points for noting the Red Sox have suffered through 32 (32!) injuries this season, Brendan gets 2 points for saying the players and general manager are more at fault than Valentine for the disorderly atmosphere around Fenway and Brandon gets 1 point for saying the Red Sox should give “the man who started this mess” some more time to mend the situation.
3. What to make of the Philadelphia Eagles? They are a perennial hype machine, but haven’t won a playoff game since 2008. In 2011 the “Dream Team” failed to keep five fourth-quarter leads, could not keep fragile QB Michael Vick on the field, and ultimately missed the playoffs after a 4-8 start. The NFC East title is there for the taking, but can the Eagles take advantage?
CM: This is a tough prediction to make because there are two other very talented teams in the NFC East (New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys). Being a Cowboys fan, I find it hard to expect them to come out on top with the way the team has been in recent years. They certainly have the talent, but I’m not buying that pick until I see results. The Giants will certainly be a threat because they are the defending champs, but I expect the Eagles to take home the title. Philly won its last four games of the season and started looking like a dream team. If Michael Vick can stay healthy, he’s the most dynamic quarterback in the league and has lightning fast options to bomb it to in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. They have one of the best running backs in the NFL in LeSean McCoy. Their defense is filled with playmakers like Jason Babin and Nnamdi Asomugha. But the biggest factor is their offseason. As if the steal of DeMeco Ryans for essentially nothing wasn’t enough, they drafted perfectly by adding Fletcher Cox, Mychal Kendricks and Vinny Curry to their defense. Now with a nice blend of coverage and pass rushing to go with their explosive offense, the Eagles look to be the real deal. Again. Although this time, I have a feeling they’ll live up to the hype.
BG: Vince Young doomed the Eagles last year when he called them the “Dream Team” and that is why backup quarterbacks should just keep their mouths shut. This year, the Eagles have been able to fly somewhat under the radar with the New York Giants returning as defending Super Bowl Champions. The Eagles came on strong at the end of last season and that should be able to carry over to this year. With a healthy Michael — fingers crossed — Shaddy McCoy doing his thing and DeSean Jackson focused, the offense should be able to deliver. The defense looks to be improved, especially after the Eagles addressed their linebacker situation in the offseason (DeMeco Ryans, Mychal Kendircks), and they’ll still be able to get after the QB. If the things click, the Eagles could be starring an 11-5 season in the face.
BM: The Eagles have a fair shot — that is if Vick remains healthy for at least 12-14 games. Being that the Redskins only really have a shot if RGIII tears apart the league (I love him, but I don’t see this happening yet), let’s call this a three-team race. Now as much as I would like to see everyone on the Giant’s fall flat (except Cruz, who is on my fantasy team), I think you should expect a 10 or 11 win season out of them. At least. The Cowboys on the other hand are a wild card. Maybe they’ll be able to get their act together and make a push for the division, but they just seem so good at not ever getting their act together. So, the Eagles have a shot. If Vick stays healthy and their defense stops making penalties in critical situations, then I could see them living up to the “dream team” expectations, or at least come much closer to those expectations then they were able to last year.
PF: Chris gets 3 points for noting an already-explosive offense will be getting more help from a previously shaky defense, Brendan gets 2 points for saying “(the Cowboys are) so good at not ever getting their act together” and Brandon gets 1 point for predicting an 11-5 season from the Eagles.
(04/25/12 2:52am)
Keith and Kenny Lucas, who both graduated from the College in 2007 with degrees in philosophy, will be performing stand up comedy in their TV debut on ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.’ The episode will air Thursday, April 26. The Lucas Brothers were previously featured on Comedy Central’s ‘Tosh.O.’
Check out the article that appeared in The Signal in while the brothers were undergraduates!
(04/25/12 2:51am)
Last Saturday, April 21, The Rat hosted ink’s The Goods, a collection of artists, poets and singer-songwriters throughout the day.
(04/24/12 9:44pm)
In the Around the Dorm championship, the “Ref,” Brendan McGrath, challenges Sports Editor Alex Wolfe, Sports Assistant Chris Molicki and Staff Writer Brandon Gould to answer questions about which underdog has the best chance in the NHL Playoffs, whether Matt Kemp has what it takes to become the first triple crown winner in over 40 years and who would win the NBA Finals if the top four teams weren’t in the playoffs.
1. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway and there have been a few surprises so far. Who will be the underdog that gets furthest in these playoffs, and who will take home the cup?
AW: This is a toughie, but to answer the first part of the question I think that the underdog that can go the furthest is the L.A. Kings. There are a number of matchups where the lower seed actually had more points than the higher seed in the regular season, so underdogs are pretty tough to identify. That said, I thought the Kings were one of the only true “underdogs” in this year’s playoffs, and their play has backed up my opinion that they can go the furthest. The main thing that sells me on them: their scorching .952 save percentage. That’s just dirty, and defense truly does win championships in the NHL. Not only that, they’re also tied for first in goals against with 1.75. It’s pretty hard to beat a team that you can’t score on, and for that reason I think the Kings can pose a threat to get to the Conference Finals. Unfortunately, they’ll probably fall to the Blues in the second round, who I think can make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. I’m thinking Blues-Rangers in the Final, with the Rangers (sorry, Devils fans) taking their first Cup since ’94.
CM: The underdog that will make it the farthest will be the Los Angeles Kings. By the time this is published, they may already have beaten the Canucks and advanced. The Kings have been able to do this by balancing scoring with defense and goaltending. They have averaged three goals a game while allowing less than two on their wins, an impressive margin. I can see them knocking out the Blues next, and an eight seed making the conference finals is a pretty impressive underdog run. However, the team that will take home the cup is the Nashville Predators. They have been extremely physically against an always-tough Red Wings team and have outmatched them. Once again, their goaltending, by Pekka Rinne, has been their strong point and has balanced out their scoring. They should get the Coyotes in the next round and make quick work of them. Momentum has proven over recent years to be the biggest factor in the playoffs in sports, and it will carry Nashville to the Cup.
BG: I think the Los Angeles Kings are the biggest surprise so far in this year’s playoffs, but my underdog to watch has to be the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers were a No. 5 seed compared to No. 4 seed Pittsburgh, but the Penguins finished the season five points ahead of the Flyers and just got megastar Sidney Crosby back. However, the Flyers have their state rival on the ropes up 3-2. If they get past the Penguins, and New York gets past Ottawa, the Flyers have the “bully” mentality to outdo the Eastern Conference’s top seed. A New York-Philly matchup also brings intensity to it, but I think this year that a series between these two, whether in the second round or in the Conference Finals, will also produce the team that ultimately wins it all. I just don’t see the Western Conference supplying a formidable matchup this year (LA, St. Louis, Nashville and Phoneix? Puh-lease) and unless Alexander Ovechkin plays like a demigod these are the top two contenders in the East. Flyers win the Cup in five games.
BM: Chris scores 3 for pointing out how the Predators were more physical than the Red Wings and noting their goal differential. Brandon gets 2 for the argument that the Flyers can out-do the Eastern Conference with their bully mentality. Alex is awarded 1 point for claiming that the Rangers will win the Cup, despite an eloquent argument for the Kings.
2. Matt Kemp led the National League in homers and RBIs last season and was 13 points shy of winning the batting title — this would have made him the first triple crown hitter since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. As he is tearing up the league right now and leading or close to leading all three categories, what are his chances of bringing home the crown this year?
AW: I think Matt Kemp is a pretty cool dude and I’d love to see him win the triple crown, but I just can’t see it happening. Here’s the way I look at it: I’d rather be surprised by someone taking the triple crown than place a bunch of hope in some guy around midseason and get disappointed. In this day and age where players are so balanced, it’s really hard for someone to take the crown. That said, I think that if there is any young guy worth placing that hope in, it is Kemp. The BA is generally the hardest thing to get for the prospective crown winners, but Kemp is hitting .481 to begin the season, leading the MLB. You’d have to be batshit to think a player could keep that up (although fingers crossed that players can, maybe David Wright could keep hitting .439), but if he can avoid letting cold streaks get to him he could realistically hit near .350. If he can do that, then I think he could get the crown. But if I was going to put a percentage chance on it, I’d say maybe 15 percent chance he gets it. There’s a reason there hasn’t been a winner since Yaz.
CM: As much as I would love to see Kemp pull off this remarkable feat, I just cannot see it happening. Kemp’s 2011 campaign was godly and it’s very difficult to duplicate something like that. Yes, Kemp is above and beyond the best hitter in the NL, but there’s a reason that this hasn’t been done in 45 years. Right now, Kemp is batting at .481, which is impossible to keep up. The hardest part about winning the triple crown is that it calls for three different styles of hitting: hitting for average, hitting for power, and hitting to win. When Kemp hits for average, it decreases his chance of getting a home run. Likewise, when he hits for power, it hurts his average. Finally, I’m sure that Kemp’s main concern is getting the Dodgers to the playoffs, not winning the triple crown. It’s extremely difficult to keep up a pace like that over 162 games, which is why I feel like he won’t be able to pull it off.
BG: Zero. The question says it already, no one has done this since 1967. Leading the league in one category, let alone three, is hard enough. Kemp is a beast, and should have been the National League MVP last season (suck on it Ryan Braun), but pitchers can easily throw around him. The Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have much surrounding Kemp. Sure, Andre Either can be a force when he’s on his game, but who else in that lineup should pitchers fear? James Loney is playing absolutely terrible baseball right now and their next best hitter is Juan Rivera. Kemp can drive the ball better than anyone in the game right now, but he won’t get much to hit later on in the season with the lineup assembled around him. If I had to put money on a triple-crown threat this year, I would go with the Texas Rangers’ Josh Hamilton. The dude isn’t hitting as well as Kemp right now, but he still leads the American League in all three categories and his lineup is full of offensive weapons — Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre to name a few.
BM: Brandon notches 3 for his argument that there is not enough protection in Kemp’s lineup, while also providing an alternative choice in Hamilton. Alex receives 2 for his philosophy on being surprised over being let down. Chris gets 1 for noting the problem of balancing hitting for power with hitting for average.
3. As we approach the NBA playoffs, imagine that San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Chicago and Miami (so the top four teams in the league) don’t exist. What team from each conference will make it to the finals?
AW: I like this question. Here’s what I think — the Knicks would come out of the East. Yes, I’m a huge Knicks fan, but no, this isn’t just a blind fanhood pick. At this point it looks like the Knicks have a date with the Bulls or the Heat in the first round, and honestly I think those two teams are the only ones that pose a real threat to the ’Bockers in this year’s playoffs. Since Mike Woodson took over as coach, the Knicks have a 15-6 record. That’s really impressive. On top of that, Carmelo Anthony has been lighting it up recently, and he has proved before that he can take a team on his back in the postseason. With a Dwight-less Magic and a hot but vulnerable Pacers team, I think the Knicks could work their way to the Finals. As far as the West, I think the Lakers could do it. Honestly, I think the Lakers have a chance to get out of the West as-is, but without OKC and San Antonio in the way I definitely think they could take it. Metta World Peace has found new life, and in the time that Kobe was out of action Andrew Bynum played out of his mind. With a dominant SG and center and solid contributors at the other three spots, give me L.A. In the Finals, I would go Knicks mostly because of matchups. Tyson Chandler would give Bynum fits and Shumpert could contain Kobe, and I think that would leave Melo and Amar’e to run wild. Knicks in six over the Lakers (man, I hope that happens in real life).
CM: Like I said before, momentum is the biggest factor in the playoffs, especially in a lockout season. An eight seed made it to the finals during the last lockout season: the New York Knicks. They would be my pick to make it there this year as well. Come playoff time, the Knicks will be incredibly hot. They are currently 15-5 under Mike Woodson and have played great offensively and defensively. The team should be fully healthy by the time they would play the Celts (even Jeremy Lin), which means that the star power (Amare and Carmelo), depth (J. R. Smith, Baron Davis, Steve Novak), and defense (Chandler and Shump) would bring the Knicks to the Finals. Looking to the West, the Memphis Grizzlies would be the favorite. They are by far the deepest and the most talented team outside of OKC. With Zach Randolph coming off the bench and O. J. Mayo and Gilbert Arenas actually providing positive contributions, it boosts a starting lineup that already has a ton of size and scoring. The Lakers are a mess and the Clippers will be done in by their coaching, so I see the Grizzlies maximizing their talent and being finals bound.
BG: The sexy pick for the Eastern Conference seems to be the New York Knicks, but I will take the Boston Celtics. The Celtics’ Big Three are old, I mean let’s be real they’re fossils, but they know how to win a championship. The X-factor though, in my book, is their bench, so in order to pull it off, they would need some solid production out of guys like Mickael Pietrus. On the other side, West side, my pick would have to lay with the Los Angeles Clippers. That’s right, I’m throwing my chips behind Lob City. I put a lot of trust in point guard play and Chris Paul is one of the league’s best. Not only does he bring it on the offensive side (19.3 points and 9.0 assist per game), but he is also a very capable defender (A league-leading 2.4 steals per game). Add on players like DeAndre Jordan (2.05 blocks per game) and Blake Griffin (7.6 defensive rebounds per game) and you can see why the Clippers rank second out of the teams currently qualified for the playoffs in the West in points against per game. Simply said, good defense wins championships.
BM: Alex scores 3 for actually convincing me that the Knicks have a chance when they don’t. Brandon nets 2 for having the right answer in the East and siding with Chris Paul in the West. Chris brings home 1 for breaking the Knicks down into star power, depth and defense.
Brandon wins 7-6-5
(04/18/12 12:35am)
Junior sociology major Paul Traina, 23, passed away at the College on April 10. Students were informed the same day by an email from President R. Barbara Gitenstein sent at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Campus Police responded to an emergency call regarding an unresponsive student Tuesday morning in Townhouses West at 9:40 a.m. and arrived at 9:42 a.m., according to the executive director of College Relations, Stacy Schuster.
An ambulance was called and medical personnel pronounced Traina died prior to their arrival, Schuster said. Traina was from Ramsey, N.J.
According to Casey DeBlasio, a spokeswoman for the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, Traina passed away from a “brain aneurysm.”
DeBlasio said medical examiners released the cause of death following the autopsy last week.
“Please know that while there is no indication of foul play, we are working with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death,” Schuster said in a statement on behalf of the College.
Schuster added that College personnel have been in contact with Traina’s family and friends and are providing support.
“The College community is profoundly saddened by Paul’s death, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones,” Schuster said.
Traina is survived by his parents, Paul and Teri, and his siblings Susan, Frank and Jack.
Counseling and Psychological Services are available to members of the community via telephone or in 107 Eickhoff Hall.
Editor's note: This article's headline has been revised. Our original headline placed the words "brain aneurysm" in quotation marks to indicate reference to a quote from the prosecutor's office. Our intention was not to call into question the cause of Traina's death. We apologize for any misunderstanding.
(04/17/12 8:13pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm playoff semifinal, the “Ref,” Peter Fiorilla, challenges Sports Assistant Chris Molicki, Features Editor Brendan McGrath and Correspondent Bryan Bellanca to answer questions about the expectations for the Miami Heat and what another non-championship season would do to the Big Three, who the favorite is to take the MLS Cup this year and whether the NBA should vote in favor of placing ads on team jerseys.
1. The Miami Heat were quietly spectacular to start the season, but has been in the headlines lately for faltering after the All-Star Break and getting smacked around by Boston last week. What does the immediate future look like for the Heat, and if it doesn’t involve taking home the Larry O’Brien Trophy, what will the consequences be like in Miami?
CM: No one should be worried about the Heat right now. It was the same thing last year when they struggled down the stretch and looked lost at times, but they turned it on in the playoffs. That’s just something they have the ability to do. Yes, they didn’t win the Finals last season, but they were as close as you can get. As far as this year’s Heat go, there are a few things you must consider. First, they have been nearly flawless at home. They’ve only lost twice in Miami, and two of those games were the second of a back-to-back, something they won’t encounter in the playoffs. Second, they are the only team in the top-four in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They’re obviously loaded on offense, especially in the transition game, and defensively, LeBron James is one of the best in the game. And finally, both James and Dwyane Wade have learned to play well without each other this year. If one gets hurt or in foul trouble, the team won’t miss a beat. I understand some have had a problem with splitting their past 10 games, but every time they lost, it was to a good team. They also managed to beat the Thunder, Mavericks and 76ers in that stretch. However, if the Heat doesn’t win it all, there will be panic. They are by far the best team on paper so they have no excuses. Last year was the transition year, and this year was supposed to be their time. Teams like the Thunder, Knicks and Clippers are only going to get better, so Miami needs to win it this year, or else there will be problems.
BM: First off, despite recent struggles the Heat have the fourth best record in the NBA, and going into the playoffs it seems unlikely that anyone other than the Bulls really stand in their way of making it to the finals. The Heat will glide through the first — and probably second — round and land in the conference finals where they will face a real challenge. The question to me is whether or not they’ll be able to push through to the finals, and if they do, whether or not they’ll be respectable against the western conference champion. If they don’t give a good enough push for the championship once they reach the conference finals, or if they make it to the NBA finals and don’t show up, then I think that there will be a lot of talk about consequences. But in the end, I’d say two seasons of this dream team not bringing home a championship is not enough to cause a big stir. It’ll be another year before Spoelstra loses his job or anything else big happens.
BB: The Miami Heat won’t win the NBA championship this year or next year or ever, and when looking back on the summer of 2010 it will go down as one of the biggest fails in the NBA. The Heat can’t beat a good team on the road this year as their record has shown, since their only road win against a team with a legitimate shot at winning the championship came on opening day. LeBron still can’t hit the clutch shot, and even when he does they still lose just like they did to the Bulls this past week. The problem with the Heat is while they tried to buy a championship, there are teams like the Thunder who are drafting well and building a championship-caliber team. LeBron is learning that there are no short cuts in winning a championship. After not winning this year the Heat will face heavy criticism, but after not winning it next year there will be consequences and most likely the dismantlement of the Big Three.
PF: Chris gets 3 points for pointing out the Heat are highly ranked in efficiency on both sides of the ball. Brendan gets 2 points for noting that another deep playoff run for the Heat that ends without a championship will not necessarily lead to a shake-up. Bryan gets 1 point for saying the Heat have a poor road record, which will be a factor if they have to travel to Chicago in the playoffs.
2. Around the Dorm needs more soccer questions. Since I know you all have been glued to your TV sets watching MLS for the past month, give me your early favorites for the 2012 MLS Cup. (Maximum number of Google searches: five.)
CM: While there have only been about five games so far this season, it’s clear that the early favorite is Sporting Kansas City. Keep in mind that this can very easily change because it is a long season, but right now, they’re playing the best. First off, they’re the only team that has yet to lose, currently sitting at 5-0. Second, in all five of their games, they have outshot their opponents by at least a +10 margin. That shows that they are getting so many more shots than their opponents, which leads to more goals. Finally, the most impressive stat is that Sporting Kansas City has only given up one goal so far this season. The goaltending and defense has been lights out. When a team is playing this well in every aspect of the game, they are the clear favorites so far.
BM: Sporting Kansas City is essentially guaranteed the title as they have run away with the league already this year. With 15 points (an astounding six more than the next best team) Sporting is not that far away from mathematically clinching the regular season top spot and from there it’s just a few playoff games until the MLS Cup comes home to Kansas City. With current rate of about 1.5 goals per game, Sporting is set to blow out their competition for the rest of the year (as we all know 1.5 goals is about two more than most soccer teams score in an average game). But seriously, the team is undefeated, and that says a lot. This sport may not be as interesting as hockey, but it should be interesting to see how the season shakes out.
BB: While, yes, AtD needs more soccer questions, they need relevant soccer questions, and the MLS never has been nor ever will be relevant. With that said I think I’ll pick Toronto FC as my favorite to win the MLS Cup this year. Even though they are the worst team in the MLS with a 0-5 record, there’s nothing like picking the underdog in a league where Euro league old timers come to collect one last paycheck before their careers officially burn out. Maybe Toronto management will discover some money somewhere or, hey, who knows, if the dollar keeps going the way it has been then the Canadian dollar will be worth even more than the American dollar and they’ll be able to afford some old burn outs from some of the European leagues.
PF: Chris gets the 3 points for putting together a convincing argument for league-leading Kansas City. Brendan gets 2 points because he picks a good team, but gets the stats mixed up (Kansas City is only running away with the Eastern conference, not the regular season title). Bryan gets 1 point for the pointless MLS bashing.
3. Let’s go back to the NBA, which is considering adding ads to players’ jerseys (like in soccer). The NBA Board of Governors will be voting on it next month, and ads could cover NBA jerseys as early as next season, potentially starting a new trend in American sports. What do you think the Board should decide?
CM: Personally, I think the board should decide against this. For all my jersey lovers out there, how would you like to wear a Kobe Bryant jersey that has an add on the back for Wal-Mart? It’s just stupid and looks foolish. I think it looks dumb on soccer jerseys and dumb when NASCAR drivers have it all over their cars and suits. The biggest problem with this is that it ruins the traditional look of the jersey. The way it is now, with name, number, NBA logo, and maybe another patch, is the way it should stay because it’s the way it has always been. Unfortunately, because the NBA is a business and money trumps everything, I would not be surprised if the Board of Governors decides to start putting ads on the jerseys. However, they should be prepared for backlash, as that would hurt the image of players, teams and jersey sales.
BM: I would implore the Board to vote this down; it’s a gimmicky way for the teams to pocket more money right now, while undermining the league’s brand in the long run. From a purely financial perspective, I would say that this is a risky move. It will most likely bring in a nice stream of cash now, but it will also create an environment full of advertising that will eventually erode the total amount that teams could charge for ads. In the end, we might find that 10 years from now there would just be more clutter on the television screen, without any real overall gain. As a fan, I must say that I would be disgusted to see any sizeable ad take its place on a jersey in the NBA (or the NFL, NHL or MLB for that matter). The jerseys tie fans emotionally to their teams. They’re constant even when the players on your favorite team aren’t. To take this crucial part of fandom and slap a Home Depot logo on it would take a part of the integrity away from the history of the sport. I have no issue with soccer teams or NASCAR drivers using ads, but can you imagine a Celtics jersey or, if this spread to other sports, a Yankees jersey with some large corporation tattooed on it? That would take something away from these sports, and I don’t know that it would ever come back.
BB: I think it would be a terrible idea for the NBA to put ads on player’s jerseys. I mean, does the NBA really need the money that much, and if so then they’re in more trouble than the lockout made it seem. I mean, imagine watching the classic Lakers-Celtics match-up, one with the classic purple and gold, the other with the classic green and white, but instead of those you get two teams with advertisements all over their jerseys, and that classic experience is ruined. Soccer uses the advertisements as a source of revenue because soccer clubs are forced to spend upwards of 20, 40 and or even more than 70 million euros (which is one-and-a-half times stronger than the American dollar) just to acquire a player from a team, and that doesn’t even take into account what they have to pay the player. The NBA doesn’t have to worry about those absurd fees for players and therefore shouldn’t ruin their jerseys with ads.
PF: Brendan gets 3 points for noting that short-term financial gain is not worth destroying the value of other ad spots and the long-held tradition of the sport. Chris gets 2 point for noting that this move could weaken the brands of players, teams and the NBA as a whole. Bryan gets 1 point for noting that the “classic experience” could be ruined with ads on jerseys.
Chris wins Week 2 of the AtD Playoffs, 8-7-3
“I’m going to the ’ship!” — Chris
(04/10/12 8:01pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Staff Writer Peter Fiorilla, Staff Writer Mark Barroso and Correspondent Bryan Bellanca to answer questions about who the best NBA prospect is after Anthony Davis, whether the NBA should institute a new draft eligibility rule and who will come out on top of this year’s NHL playoffs.
1. Now that the NCAA tourney is over, all of the college players are either declaring for the draft or staying put. We’ve already seen Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, Austin Rivers and others declare. It seems a foregone conclusion that Anthony Davis is the top prospect, so who is the second-best prospect in this year’s class?
PF: The No. 2 prospect in this year’s draft is small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Davis’ teammate and a real star at the University of Kentucky, who I think is a can’t-miss prospect for his ability on and off the ball. Gilchrist is willing to hustle on defense but has the talent to create plays on offense, is a vocal leader who leads by example and has shown time and time again he can impress under pressure — he was clutch in Kentucky’s Final Four win versus Louisville this year. For example, he scored two big baskets to give Kentucky a late lead and looked far more composed than a lot of 18 year olds would in his position. In short, he’s fundamentally sound and is a potential star in the NBA. If Gilchrist develops a jump shot or a way to become a threat from distance, he will be an invaluable asset for years to come. (Honorary mention: Thomas Robinson of Kansas.)
MB: The second-best prospect in this year’s NBA Draft class is freshman forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (also known as MKG) of the 2012 National Champion Kentucky Wildcats. The 18 year old will be drafted into the NBA at No. 2 in his native state of N.J. on June 28. During the 2011-2012 regular season, Gilchrist, 6’ 7” 232 pounds, averaged 11.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, two assists per game and shot 49 percent from the field. “MKG” is the one and done total package — he can shoot, pass, rebound, drive to the paint and lead a team. He is versatile and athletic enough to play shooting guard in the NBA, yet physical enough to play small forward by swimming past defenders and making tough layups. In addition to raw basketball talent, MKG possesses the highly valued intangibles of passion, intensity and hustles on both ends of the court. MKG’s large frame takes up space on the wing, and the Wizards or Hornets can use him effectively at the two or three position. MKG is a star devoted to both his spirituality and basketball skills who will not be one to let fame and fortune ruin his NBA career.
BB: While I know a lot of draft analysts have Kidd-Gilchrist as the second-rated prospect after how he performed through the NCAA Tournament, I’m going to go with someone I’ve seen in watching some of his games through the season — Andre Drummond. Anyone who has seen this kid play knows that he is an absolute beast on the defensive side of the ball, and that’s why I think he’s the second-best prospect after Davis. All these kids are going to go through transitions at the next level and from time to time their offensive game is going to struggle, but, much like Davis showed in the Championship game, even if you’re struggling on offense you can still affect the game with your defense. Center is the most sought after position in the NBA because there are so few dominant centers in the league, and Drummond has the chance to be one of those dominant centers. Even though he’ll go through some growing pains in his offensive game, his defensive game will be there from day one.
AW: I like going for the big man with good D, even if his offense isn’t polished yet (à la a young Tyson Chandler). For that reason I give Bryan the 3. Peter gets 2 for saying how Kidd-Gilchrist has the “clutch gene.” Mark gets 1 for stating MKG’s versatility.
2. While we’re on the topic, there’s been rumblings from David Stern and a request from Mark Cuban about possibly instituting an NFL-esque draft rule stating that players must stay through their junior seasons to be eligible for the NBA draft. Would this be a positive thing for the NBA? The NCAA?
PF: Requiring players to spend more time in college would be beneficial for both the NCAA and NBA. It would obviously improve the quality of college hoops teams dramatically, since players would improve over the years and build oft-underappreciated chemistry, and they would have more time and less pressure to develop before entering the NBA draft. In other words, the NBA would be getting more complete products to advertise. But I think the largest beneficiaries of this rule would end up being fans of NCAA basketball. As it is now, it isn’t easy to develop an emotional connection with college teams because of the fast rate of personnel turnover. Favorite players and gripping storylines often cruelly disappear within a year or two of being created. But if the Anthony Davises of the world were forced to stay with their teams until their junior years, college teams would be better, the NBA would get more developed athletes, and fans would be better rewarded for their devotion, ultimately perpetuating growth in college basketball — everybody wins.
MB: I support David Stern’s and Mark Cuban’s proposals for the “three and free” rule because it both prepares student athletes for the real world and gives them a chance enter the NBA early. The three-year rule would be positive for both the NBA and NCAA because the NBA would have more mature, quality players enter the draft and the NCAA would have higher graduation rates and television ratings. The NBA would become a competition between teams with players that are used to mainstream media exposure, paying bills, and the nightlife of being a household name in athletics. College student athletes who experience only their freshman year are missing out on the time during their sophomore and junior years that can be spent evaluating the good, bad and ugly of their freshman years and learning from their mistakes. Since many majors can be completed in three years, the NCAA would benefit from the three year rule because more student athletes would graduate. The lure of the NCAA would be to see if star players want to repeat as National Champions, avenge a Final Four loss by trying to win the championship as a senior, and see just how good players are before they enter the NBA.
BB: I’ve been hoping for a new NBA draft rule for the past couple of years. Now, I don’t think it’s necessary to require players to be juniors like football, because in football the majority of players get redshirted their freshman year, so most of the players getting drafted have only played for two years. College basketball doesn’t really use redshirting, and if it is used it’s on a player who’s not going to make it to the NBA anyway. So that’s why I believe requiring players to stay two years would be perfect for both the NBA and NCAA. For the NBA — a league that’s already filled with a ton of star power — waiting another year for these superstars wouldn’t hurt them. For NCAA the level of competition would be awesome and March Madness would be even crazier because teams are that much deeper, which would result in more upsets since everyone would be better.
AW: Bryan gets 3 because I like the point about redshirts and how that should affect the NBA rule vs. the NFL’s. Peter gets 2 for stating how the fans lose when players leave so soon. Mark gets 1 for saying how players would be more mature and used to the media.
3. The NHL playoffs are getting started and it seems like a pretty deep playoff field this year. Who do you think will come out of each conference, and who wins the cup this year?
PF: I’ve said in Around the Dorm before that the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers’ to lose. I just like something about New York’s blue-collar, defense-first squad which boasts the best defense in the East (the only team to allow under 200 goals), one of the best goaltenders in the game (a hot King Henrik force his way to a Cup) and high-priced offensive players who are finally producing at an intimidating level (Marion Gaborik, Brad Richards). Keep in mind, all of this has been achieved despite playing in the hypercompetitive Atlantic Division. So the Rangers should be able to give their long-suffering fans a trophy after taking the Stanley Cup finals, where I predict they will face the Vancouver Canucks. I’ll admit it’s lame to pick two No. 1’s, but with the best goal difference (+48) and second-stingiest defense (198 GA) in the West, Stanley Cup experience from last season and Swedish wizard Henrik Sedin (67 assists), I think they’ll be able to force their way back to the Finals this year — just not past the Rangers.
MB: The Pittsburgh Penguins will come out of the Eastern Conference and win the 2012 Stanley Cup. The fourth-seeded Penguins will knock off the rival Flyers in the first round, keep winning, and defeat the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals. The Canucks will be the runner-up for the second straight year after beating the Sharks in the first round and advancing to the Finals with their talented goaltending duo. Canucks goalie Cory Schneider is fourth in the league in save percentage with .937 and second in goals against average with 1.96. Roberto Luongo will build his reputation as an elite goaltender by stepping up his game in the postseason. Penguins center Evgeni Malkin won the Art Ross Trophy by capping the season with a league-leading 109 points and is a formidable candidate for MVP. Malkin scored the second most goals in the league with 50 and is second in the league in points per game with 1.45 in 75 games. Sidney Crosby closed the season with 1.67 goals in the 21 games he played. The Penguins end the season with the most goals per game with 3.32 and if Crosby stays healthy they will hold up the Cup in June.
BB: This year playoff hockey should be just as great as always, as the difference between the teams at the top of each conference and the bottom is not that much. Unfortunately I’m going to pick the Shitsburgh Penguins to win the Eastern Conference. As much as it pains me to pick them, they’re just too hot right now and are getting healthy at just the right time. Plus, Fleury has been playing amazing over the last month and the playoffs are all about goaltending. That’s why in the West I’m going to pick the Vancouver Canucks. They’re also entering the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in the NHL, and the emergence of young goaltender Cory Schneider gives them an amazing backup for when Luongo chokes in the first round like he always does. Alas, Crosby willed be forced to cry again as he comes up short due to the power of the Sedin twins.
AW: Peter gets 3 for sticking to his guns and making a nice case for the Rangers. Bryan gets 2 for bringing up that goaltending wins championships. Mark gets 1 for bringing up the dominance of Crosby and Malkin.
Bryan wins Week 1 of the AtD Playoffs, 8 - 7 - 3.
“Let’s go Rangers!!! We want the Cup!” — Bryan
(04/10/12 4:49pm)
Students were informed by an email from President R. Barbara Gitenstein at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10 that junior sociology major Paul Traina passed away at the College.
Campus Police responded to an emergency call regarding an unresponsive student Tuesday morning in Townhouses West, according to executive director of College Relations Stacy Schuster.
An ambulance was called and medical personnel pronounced Traina died prior to their arrival, Schuster said. Traina was from Ramsey, N.J.
"Please know that while there is no indication of foul play, we are working with the Mercer County Prosecutor's office to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death," Schuster said in an email.
Schuster added that College personnel have been in contact with Traina's family and friends and are providing support.
"The College community is profoundly saddened by Paul's death, and we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones," Schuster said.
Counseling and Psychological Services are available to members of the community at x2247 or in 107 Eickhoff Hall.