Weekly Nickel 7-16-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. The “Dwight Howard (pictured above) Soap Opera” continues. Most people just want it to be over with at this point.

By Josh Kramer

Baseball’s second half has begun with a bang.  NBA free agency continues at a rapid pace.  The “Freeh Report” has turned a legend into a monster officially.  And guess what?  Things are only going to get better.  Last week was one that will be remembered for a long time, but this week will fun its own right.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

5.  All eyes will remain focused on the no longer “Happy” Valley.  The Freeh Report has shaken up the entire college football stratosphere.  Paterno’s legacy has been forever tarnished and his role in the horrific incidents are no longer in question.  The real question now is what will be the punishment doled out to Penn State’s football program?  Are we on the verge of witnessing college football’s first death penalty in over 25 years?

4.  Start your engines, and take a deep breath.  For the first and only time until mid-November, the NASCAR Sprint Cup series takes a break this weekend.  After Kasey Kahne stole the show in New Hampshire, everyone is looking to thrust themselves into the top ten of the standings during the course of the next seven races.  Either you are in or you or out for the CHASE.  As of now, Kahne and Carl Edwards are fighting to move up just a couple of spots by the end of the day on September 8th.

3.  The NBA free agency frenzy, has been just that, an absolute frenzy.  Nobody has any clue what is going to happen next in the “Dwight Howard Soap Opera.”  I for one do not really care at this point.

Cincinnati’s Greatest

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Joey Votto (pictured above) is having a year for the ages. Is it the greatest Cincinnati has ever seen?

By Victor Kamesar

Victor Kamesar is a die-hard Cincinnatian who currently finds himself across the country.  Despite being out in Cowboy Country (Norman, Oklahoma), Victor still finds time to follow his hometown Reds, Bengals, and Bearcats.

It didn’t hit me until a few weeks ago when I read a Jayson Stark headline proclaiming “Joey Votto hitting like the Bambino.” Cincinnati’s very own gold glove first baseman is having the best season in baseball since the Babe in some categories. Votto is on pace for 197 hits and a ridiculous 127 walks.  As Stark pointed out, the only player ever to put up those types of walk numbers in a season in which they amassed 200 hits was “Babe Ruth, The Greaaat Bambino.” As a lifelong Cincinnati sports fanatic, I began to wonder, is Votto having the best season any athlete wearing Cincinnati threads has had since I’ve been alive (FYI I was born in 1990)?

A Ringless King No More: LeBron James is a Champion

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. The King (pictured above) finally has his ring.

By Wesley Kaminsky

You didn’t want to admit it, but you knew LeBron James would be holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy one day. In fact, you had to know it was coming pretty soon.

It took him nine seasons, two NBA finals losses, two eastern conference finals losses, and three MVP’s, but James has finally reached his goal. A long, overdue goal. A weight off the chest of the guy who guaranteed he would bring multiple titles to Miami.

We all know the story of LeBron, and why there is now this cult as to why it is appropriate to root for him to fail. Believe me, I’m one of those guys. I could write all day about how I feel about the infamous “Decision,” in which LeBron became the most hated athlete in pro sports. I’m not getting into that today.

It’s time to appreciate his greatness. Did I just say that out loud?

After falling just short of winning a championship his first year in Miami, all the pressure was on James in the upcoming season. The Heat had just fallen to the Mavericks, dropping three straight games after leading 2-1, and the blame was all on LeBron. Rightfully so. It was LeBron who shied away from the spotlight in the fourth quarter of many of the games. It was LeBron who didn’t look like he wanted to be there. His poor finals performance fueled his haters and it validated all the criticism that he had been receiving throughout his career. Stuff like, “LeBron doesn’t have that killer attitude.”

Blah, blah, blah.

What you didn’t realize was that it fueled LeBron, and a monster was created.

To do it all

Photo courtesy of inflexwetrust.com. Larry Bird (pictured above) added an NBA Executive of the Year Award to his already impressive resume yesterday. What can’t this legend do when it comes to basketball?

By Josh Kramer

Some people can just do it all.  Larry Bird is one of those people.  Yesterday, Bird added to his already amazingly long list of basketball achievements in taking home the NBA’s Executive of the Year Award.  Bird not only excelled as a player, but he saw  great success as a coach, and now is thriving as Indiana’s President of Basketball Operations.  Bird is the only person in NBA history to be named MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.  I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Bird would trade the latter two awards for the 1979 NCAA Basketball Championship though.  But I digress.

What Bird has accomplished is absolutely mind-boggling.  Just ask Michael Jordan how difficult it is to transition from a player to an executive.  Jordan’s Charlotte Bobcats set an NBA record for the lowest winning percentage of all time this season.  Sure plenty of former players have turned into great coaches.  Phil Jackson, the “Zen Master,” is one of those guys.  But was Jackson half the player that Bird was?

Throwback Saturday Part XIV

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Last year at this time, it appeared Troy Tulowitzki (pictured above) was in for a monster season. It didn't happen. This year, he is off to an awful start. What will be the result?

By Josh Kramer

Welcome to the 14th edition of “Throwback Saturdays.”  This is a day to look back and reflect.  A day to see just how wrong or how right I was with my analysis and projections.  What was happening on April 21, 2011?  How about April 21, 2010?  Let’s find out.

One year ago..

Don’t Be Blinded by the Hype

Here is a snippet..

Many guys look to be on their way to career seasons.  There are two in particular that really stand out to me that are worth being noted.

1.  Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies:

Troy Tulowitzki, the fifth year shortstop for the Colorado Rockies appears to be on his way to an MVP caliber season.  Granted there are still over five months to play, but it is safe to say that this guy has begun to really realize his potential.  Currently Tulo, as many call the Colorado shortstop, is batting .343, has 7 HRs, and 14 RBIs.  This places him at 12th in the NL in batting average, 1st in HRs, and 4th in RBIs.  Not to mention the guy has been throwing some serious leather at shortstop.  Many have felt this guy was destined to be a perennial All Star that could bring home an MVP Award at some point.  Well that time appears to be now.  Keep an eye on the Rockie’s star, who currently has led his squad to the best record in all of baseball up to this point.

2.  Howie Kendrick, 2B, Angels

Kendrick is another fifth year player like Tulowitzki who has had a lot of hype up until this point in his career.  Many have expected big things, and the guy has yet to really consistently deliver over the course of an entire season.  Well this year, the inconsistency and growing pains appear to have come to a close.  Currently, the Angel’s 2B is batting .288, has 5 HRs, and 8 RBIs.  Kendrick has never hit more than 10 HRS or drove in more than 75 RBIs during a season up to this point in his career.  He is on pace to end up with 45 HRs this year.  Keep a close eye on Kendrick, who looks to be on his way to the first monster season of his career (To finish reading this post, click this link).

Weekly Nickel 3-26-2012

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Led by Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Anthony Davis (pictured above), there is little doubt that UK will be cutting down the nets next Monday night.

By Josh Kramer

A Final Four finally emerged.  Tiger Woods did his best Mariano Rivera impression.  Tim Tebow took his talents to Broadway. And South Beach brought the heat in terms of tennis.  Last week was a great one that will not soon be forgotten, but this one is poised to be pretty epic in its own right.  Here are the events to keep an eye on.

5.  Canada’s favorite pastime is still going strong as the regular season nears a close.  There are eight or fewer games remaining for every team in the NHL.  And we all remember last year’s insanely unpredictable playoffs that made Game 7’s seem like a given.  Both Boston and Vancouver are once again heavy contenders to hoist Lord Stanley come June, but New York and St. Louis appear to be in pretty good shape in their own right.  My eyes will be focused on a colossal showdown in the nation’s capital on Tuesday.

Let the Peyton Manning sweepstakes begin

Photo courtesy of zimbio.com. Peyton Manning (pictured above) will not be playing football for the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. The question is who will be the lucky winner and nab Manning's services for 2012?

By Josh Kramer

April 18, 1998 and March 7, 2012. Both are dates that will forever be remembered in Indianapolis.  The city of Indianapolis and the whole state of Indiana was once-upon-a-time only known for basketball.  Now they are known for both football and basketball (and yes I put football first).  An era has ended in the Hoosier State though.  With the departure of Peyton Manning, not only does Indiana lose a great football player, but they lose their savior.

I by no means have ever been the biggest fan of Peyton Manning.  But I have always respected the guy.  Not only is the four-time MVP Award winner and future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer obviously a great player, but he seems to be a good all-around person.  And Manning is by no means the type of in your face “Great Guy” like Tim Tebow, but more of a subtle good guy.  Peyton has always in essence been a player/coach.  A leader in the locker room.  Someone who keeps his nose clean on and off the field.  And a leader in the community.  Not to mention his commercials have always been hysterical and vastly entertaining.

In five years, when Jim Irsay revisits the vaunted March 7^th, 2012 day that he let Peyton go, he may not look back on it so fondly.  Now this day is just a blimp on the radar in comparison to the real “Decision” that took place on July 8, 2010.  But it is still a very big deal.