“Weekly Nickel”

Come Wednesday, College Basketball fans are in for a treat as they get to watch Jim Boeheim (left) and Jim Calhoun (right) lead their squads into another epic Big East battle. It should be a great one.

It is another Monday, and you all know what that means.  Lets get the week started with a look at the top events coming up in the sporting world throughout the next 7 days.

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“Strange Days in Australia”

Great Britain is placing a lot of faith in tennis star Andy Murray's right arm Sunday in Melbourne. Can Murray end Great Britain's over 70 year drought in Grand Slam tennis?

So I wrote about the “Major Down Under” losing some of its thunder last week.  And I am not going against this statement.  But what a weird tournament it has been.  On the women’s side, the finals, semifinals, and quarterfinals were “Williams-Less.”  On the Men’s side, we will miss out on watching Mr. Federer or Mr. Nadal in the finals.  Are we witnessing a change of the guard or are things just strange down under this year?

“Player of the Year Thus Far?”

Kemba Walker is my favorite for the National Player of the Year at this point. But Jimmer Fredette and Jared Sullinger are not far behind.

College Basketball has already delved into the wonderland that is conference play. Teams are beginning to gel. There are no more excuses for working out the kinks. Now is the time where you ride or die when building up that resume for the NCAA Tournament Committee. This is the point in the year where the boys get separated from the men. Over the next month and a half, bubbles will be formed and bubbles will burst.

So the question I pose to you all today. If the season ended today, who would be your National Player of the Year?

In my eyes, it is a 3 man race…

“The Hype is Real: How Derrick Rose Can Win MVP”

 

Can Chicago Bull's star point guard Derrick Rose (pictured above) bring home the MVP? Our very own Wesley Kaminsky thinks so.

Wesley is a sports expert and journalist out of Philadelphia that writes for Bleacher Report.  You can check out all of his work at  http://bleacherreport.com/users/88810-wesley-kaminsky or follow his twitter @Wesley_Kaminsky

When Derrick Rose posed the question “Why can’t I be MVP?” on day one of Chicago Bulls media day, not many people took him seriously. Rose, the young, humble superstar doesn’t talk much in the press, and when he says something you should believe him.

“Food for Thought 1-25-11”

Could any of you see the Yankee Captain Derek Jeter (pictured above) playing anywhere but shortstop? Yankee General Manager Brian Cashman does.

It is another Momentous Tuesday in the wide world of sports and you all know what that means.  It is time for my weekly “Food for Thought.”  So lets jump right into some of the major headlines.

“Weekly Nickel”

The Under Armour Senior Bowl is set for Saturday. Derrick Locke (pictured above) is one of many players looking to wow the NFL scouts before the combine.

After the weekend “that was,” we are now heading full steam into another amazing week in the wide world of sports that “will be.”  Saturday was arguably the best day of College Basketball we have had since last March and Sunday was just an outstanding day of NFL Football.

So whats in store for this week?  Here is a closer look.

“NFL Conference Championship Outlook”

Packer's Cornerback, #38 Tramon Williams (pictured above) has been outstanding all year long, and especially in the playoffs. With 3 interceptions in the postseason already, look for him to add to that total on Sunday.

We are getting closer to Dallas people.  To be exact, we are just over 2 weeks away from the big game.  The NFL is America’s most popular professional sport.  And the Super Bowl is the culminating event.  It has been another phenomenal year full of stellar on the field play, injuries, on/off the field issues, #4 shenanigans, and upsets galore.  Plus there is the looming issue with the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement).

Well now we are down to the NFL’s version of the Final Four.  We have already heard our very own Wesley Kaminsky’s outlook for the two Conference Championship Games.  Now it is my turn.

“Has Down Under Lost It’s Thunder?”

Rafael Nadal is poised to win his 4th consecutive Grand Slam Tourney Down Under. The real question is will anybody notice?

For those of you who did not know, professional tennis has its first Grand Slam Tournament of the year going on.  The tournament has been going on since Monday.  Hard to believe I know.  Sure there has been some solid coverage by ESPN.  But I feel like this has been the quietest Aussie Open in recent memory.  The major upsets have been lacking.  The drama has not been there.  And people’s interest has not been there.

“NFL Conference Championship Preview”

Our very own Wesley Kaminsky thinks that Steeler's Safety, Troy Polamalu (pictured above), will play a huge part in helping Pittsburgh get back to the Super Bowl.

Wesley is a sports expert and journalist out of Philadelphia that writes for Bleacher Report.  You can check out all of his work at  http://bleacherreport.com/users/88810-wesley-kaminsky or follow his twitter @Wesley_Kaminsky

Football fans, brace yourself, because the end of the NFL season is near. It’s conference championship weekend, and we will see rematches from earlier this season. Everybody expected the Patriots to be here, but the trash-talking Jets had different plans and backed it up. Now they must go on the road again and win in Pittsburgh. On the other side, the Packers and Bears will meet in a division clash where the season series was split at one games apiece.

Now, I leave just one question to you. Are you ready for some football?

“Food for Thought 1-18-11”

Reigning National League MVP Joey Votto just signed a 3 year extension with the Cincinnati Reds. Can he help bring Cincinnati their first World Series since 1990?

It’s another Tuesday, and you know what that means.  Another edition of “Food for Thought.”  There is just so much going on in the sporting world, that this gives me the opportunity to hit on multiple topics of interests and let you know how I feel regarding them.

Here are some of the main headlines today.