Shaq's Legacy

As you all know, Shaq has called it quits from the NBA. But, Shaq being Shaq, has also retired his nicknames such as "The Diesel", "The Big Shaqtus", and "The Big Shamrock." He wants some new ideas on nicknames and wants some help from the fans.
What is your favorite on court memory of him?
What about off court (his specialty)?
What is your nickname for Shaq?
Favorite quote?

Philadelphia Phillies: With Utley Returning, Lineup Should Come Back to Life

Chase Utley is in Philadelphia, and every Phillies fan could not be more relieved. After watching the Phillies win 3-2, 2-0, and lose 2-0 last weekend, I could not be happier too.

But, the million dollar question is how well will he actually play. Can he be the old Chase Utley? Or will he be the Chase Utley of last year, coming off another injury? Recovering from a serious knee injury, it is unknown how effective he will be in his return.

On top of the concern of his effectiveness, he will not be able to appear everyday. Charlie Manuel has already stated he may play Utley for two days, followed by a day off.

Today, with Utley batting second, extra pressure will come off of Ryan Howard and Placido Polanco to produce heavily.

Chase protects the plate well, and with him in the lineup both of these hitters should see better pitches. Also, Jimmy Rollins, Ben Francisco, and Raul Ibanez can finally worry about hitting the ball solidly, instead of hitting home runs to replace Werth and Utley.

Of course, this all depends on how well Utley can produce, to take pressure off other Phillies hitters. The Phillies have been in a drought lately having a record of 4-6 in their last 10 games, along with only surpassing seven hits ONCE in that time period.

With the pathetic hitting of the Phillies and stellar pitching, Chase Utley's return could be the final ingredient that contributes to success.

Regardless, with the lineup slumping the five time all-star will provide a huge emotional and physical boost to the Phillies.

What is next for the Lakers?

Going for the three-peat, the Lakers were recently swept by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2011 playoffs. Rumors say that Phil is done and that Dwight is interested in playing in La-la land. Yet, what do you think about these rumors?
Who will coach the world's team next season?
Who's gone, who's coming, and who's staying?

With the Eagles passing on Jimmy Smith, will Asomugha sign with Philly?

With the 23rd pick of the 2011 NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Danny Watkins, guard out of Baylor University. Along with many other Eagles fans, I myself was pulling my hair out.

Who the hell is this guy? He's 26 years old! What the hell are we doing? Were all questions on my Twitter feed coming out of Eagles fan's mouths.

Clearly, with Jimmy Smith still available, arguably the most talented corner in the draft (minus the off-field issues), Eagles fans all over the country were questioning the decision to take Watkins.

First of all in defense of the Eagles pick, this helps protect the blindside of Michael Vick, which was a huge problem last season.

Between injuries and inconsistency, the right side of the Eagles line was a huge hole in their weapon heavy offense last season.

Also, Watkins can step in right away and start, and despite his age he has only been playing football for four years. With this being said, he has experienced less wear and tear than most offensive lineman coming into this draft.

But, this was not the main reason the Eagles passed on Jimmy Smith. Behind Darrelle Revis arguably the best cornerback in the league, Nnamdi Asomugha will be a free agent barring the end of the lockout (again).


ESPN Insider Adam Schefter tweeted he thinks Asomugha will land in the NFC East, as do many other experts. He also reported that the Eagles are one of six front-runners to land Asomugha.

With cornerback being a huge need for the Eagles, there is no reason they would pass up on Jimmy Smith other than if they knew they can sign Asomugha or another quality cornerback.

The Eagles have a lot of money to spend, and signing Asomugha would make them an instant Super Bowl favorite.

Also on a closing note, I would like to express how mad I am at the NFL. The one year the Eagles have a piece to trade in the draft (Kevin Kolb) to possibly draft a star prospect, they cannot trade because of the labor situation.

Just Philly sports luck, right?

Peyton Hillis: Will the Madden Curse Continue?

Peyton Hillis was the cinderella story in this year's madden bracket. He took down players such as Jamaal Charles, Ray Rice, Aaron Rodgers, and Mike Vick. This raises a few questions:
Was the tourney rigged?
Did he deserve it?
Will he get injured this year?

Some Offseason Predictions for the Nets

So much hype is directed toward the NJ Nets off season this summer. Rumors have leaked that they may get Dwight, and that he's interested in Brooklyn but I want to discuss the minor changes that could possibly occur this summer:

1.  Deron Williams signs an extension: This would be key to the franchise and opens up opportunities to get more players. He is a main attraction for players like Dwight, and without Deron, the Nets are nothing. They failed on 'Melo and they got Deron. They need to keep him, as it is the first step to making the playoffs. Good news because sources say he is interested.
2. Nets sign Andrei Kirilenko: there is definitely some connection here (He's a Russian!) 
3. Travis Outlaw gets traded: He's very expensive and he didn't produce this year. This can open up some cap space. 
4. Dwight. Enough said.



This is definitely a possible scene next year.

With Lineup Slumping, Phillies Rotation Lives Up to Hype

On the eve of a four game sweep of the Padres, the Phillies rotation have shown fans why there has been so much buzz around them.

In this series, they held the Padres to a total of three runs—yes, three runs in four games.

Roy "Doc" Halladay doesn't even amaze me anymore, tying a career high 14 strikeouts in 8.2 innings. Cole Hamels threw eight scoreless innings and also struck out eight batters, and even Big Joe Blanton stepped up only allowing two runs in seven innings.

On the other hand, with the rotation shining, what is going on with the Phillies lineup?

Over the last nine games, the Phillies have scored an average of less than three runs per game. Luckily, the Phillies have won six of those nine games solely because of their pitching. Coming into the season, a point Phillies fans and analysts stressed was production from Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins with Chase Utley injured.

Howard is striking out less than expected, but has only hit three HR and and drove in 13 runs. He is hitting .284, which is better than expected.

However, Jimmy Rollins has underproduced. Charlie Manuel moved Rollins third in the lineup, and he has not performed like a three-hole hitter. He has hit .256 with no HR and two RBI. From a former MVP and three-hole hitter, more RBI are expected.


In order for the Phillies to succeed, these two players need to produce more.

What most people don't realize is that the Phillies are in a tough position. Their star second basemen, Chase Utley, is injured. With bench players like Wilson Valdez, Pete Orr and Michael Martinez platooning at second base, it is hard to get the production they would out of an all-star like Utley. Also, the injury forces Rollins to the three spot in the lineup, where he is not comfortable.

Look to see the Phillies lineup start to produce more when Utley comes back.

All season, the Phillies will have to deal with an inconsistent lineup. They will win games like today's, 3-1, all season long. Pitching duels where one of the "Phantastic Phour" goes eight plus innings.

The bottom line is the rotation will continue to carry this team that lacks offense.

Fab Four Who? Why the Phillies Have Shown Us Not to Doubt Their Lineup

"They can't hit." "They're too old." "They're all inured." These phrases were all uttered toward the Phillies lineup leading up to the 2011 MLB season. Now, eleven games into the season, the Phillies have been proving these critics wrong. The Phillies are 8-3 and they have scored 66 runs. Also, they have hit a remarkable .318 AVG, and have a tremendous .386 OBP which leads the MLB. They are third in the MLB and second in the NL with 64 RBI.

So, what have the Phillies been doing so well to silence these critics? Here are the reasons why the offense has gotten production like this out of a lineup that was expected to be mediocre at best.

1) Stars Producing

With Utley injured, Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins knew they had to step up. They did just that. Howard has hit .333 with three HR and 13 RBI. Howard is striking out less than his usual total, with nine strikeouts through eleven games, and has an unbelievable .643 SLG. Jimmy Rollins does not have an RBI yet this season, but he is seeing the ball great. He has 15 hits, hitting .326. Not to mention, Jimmy has stolen a team high three bases. These two veterans need to continue there great play in order for the Phillies to succeed this season.

2) Ben Francisco

Jayson Werth who? Ben Francisco has been one of the, if not the, best Phillies hitter this season so far. Ben is hitting .279 with 2 HR and 8 RBI. Not to mention he had two potential home run balls pulled back by the wind at Citizens Bank Park. He has also produced four BB, and a .354 OBP. These numbers are coming from a lifetime bench player, who has not had more than 15 HR in his career. Look to see Ben francisco have a huge season for the Phillies.

Which part of the Phillies team is most essential to their success this season?


3) Production in place of Chase Utley

Whether is has been Wilson Valdez or Michael Martinez, the Phillies have gotten great production out of their fill-in second basemen, in the field and at the plate. Valdez is hitting .353 with five RBI, and Martinez even though he only has nine AB had been described as the most upbeat player on the team by Charlie Manuel. Valdez has been great in the field, turning four double pays and not committing one error this season.

4) Bench Production

John Mayberry Jr. and Pete Orr are two names nobody outside the Phillies fan base would even recognize. However, Mayberry leads the MLB in pinch hits with four, and Orr is right behind with three. Mayberry had a walk-off RBI single in the first game of the season, and Pete Orr has appeared in four games this season. Also, Brian Schneider is a very reliable backup catcher. He has one HR and two RBI this season in two games.

What team do you think will make a playoff run (one that someone might not think of)?

Last year, it was the Padres and the Reds. Although the Padres didnt make the playoffs, no one expected them to shine as much as they did. Their pitching, let by Mat Latos, was superb and I think they just got lucky, but one may disagree. Who is this years' team?

What Will you Remember about Manny Ramirez?

Just a couple of days ago, a favorite of many, Manny Ramirez decided his time was up and he retired. Manny being Manny, he was remembered for many things. What was your favorite trait of Ramirez? Was it his off-field issues? His on-field play? His wonderful hair? His personality and character?

Why Ben Francisco will be the Phillies 2011 MVP

With the conclusion of the first weekend, Phillies fans have already learned a lot about the upcoming season. Already the rotation was known to be a sure thing. 19 innings were pitched by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Roy Oswalt with them only allowing 14 hits, six runs, one walk, and struck out an outstanding 23 batters. Also, taken away form this weekend was production needed from fill-in/bench/non-star players on this team. The production of Wilson Valdez, who provided two RBI this weekend, in the absence of Chase Utley will be vital to this team. John Mayberry, who contributed the game winning RBI single in the first game this season will be a very important bench player to this team.

But, the most important player on the Phillies this season is not Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino, or any other star on this team. It is the quiet right fielder who has been a bench player his whole career, Ben Francisco. Francisco is filling some big shoes, of Jayson Werth who was lost to the Nationals in free agency this offseason. In the first three games this season,

Francisco had 13 AB, hitting .462 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. This spring Francisco blew away Charlie Manuel and the rest of the Phillies organization a huge performance. He hit .361 with 5 HR and 14 RBI this spring, and had an astounding .667 SLG. In order for success, the Phillies need to give their star pitchers run support. Francisco can contribute valuable RBI and HR hitting behind Ryan Howard against lefties.

With this being said, Ben Francisco has a very good chance up putting up great numbers this season. Many experts have predicted a 20-25 HR and 75-80 RBI season for Francisco. He has decent speed, good power, and is good in the field. But most importantly Francisco has the right atitude needed for a Philadelphia sports player. The Phantastic phour, Fab Four, or whatever the Phillies starters are called have gotten all the media attention along with Howard, Rollins, and Utley. But it is Ben Francisco who will have the biggest impact on the team this season.

Your Thoughts on this ABSURD NCAAB Tournament

Whether it were upsets or bad calls, everyone's bracket is busted. Virginia Commonwealth wasn't supposed to make it out of the first round; they also weren't supposed to beat USC in the play-in game. However, the Rams just earned a ticket to Houston. Also, lets face it, there were some pretty awful calls in the Texas game; but that is a different story. As the tourney is ending, what do you think about it? Is this a reason to hate or love the NCAA?

Is the NFL Declining?

This new kickoff rule has really set off a lot of Nfl fans and with the lockout situation,  some believe the Nfl is not as great as it was. Some think that the Nfl is taking safety to the next level. With the possibility of no gridiron this season, what sport will you watch/follow?

NAME THE FOLLOWING (MLB 2011)

MVP (AL-NL)?

Batting tile (AL-NL)?

Cy Young (AL-NL)?

Most Improved (AL-NL)?

Rookie of the year (AL-NL)?

Comeback Player of the year (AL-NL)?

Which Cinderella Team will go the Farthest?

#12 Richmond?
#10 Florida State?
#11 Virginia Commonwealth?
#11 Marquette?
#8 Butler?

Whom Do the Phillies Turn to in the Absence of Chase Utley?

With the injury to Chase Utley, a hole is left in the Phillies infield. How the Phillies will fill this hole, is still unknown. In fact, the significance of Utley's injury is not yet known either. Wilson Valdez, who filled in for the injured Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins last season, can be a quick fix for the Phillies. Valdez did a great job filling in for these two key players, and did a great job as a bench player as well, hitting .258 over the entire 2010 season. Valdez is also a great fielder. Last season, he only committed 2 errors and assisted on 35 double plays. However, if Utley's injury is severe, it is likely the Phillies will try to sign an infielder. With the tight budget and lack of prospects, Ruben Amaro has already stated no trade will be made for an infielder.

Who else is available for the Phillies to play second base? Michael Martinez, the rule 5 draft pick from the Nationals, could play some games at second. He is an utility player, who can play both outfield and infield. But, like Valdez if Utley's injury is serious, Martinez is a long term fix. Martinez will be a great bench player, but cannot play everyday.

So who can fill in for Chase Utley everyday? With the Mets releasing Luis Castillo, there may be an answer to that question. Luis Castillo has failed to fulfill expectations with the Mets, but still is a talent the Phillies could use with he absence of Utley. Castillo is a good fielder, only committing 2 errors last season and assisting on 38 double plays. He also still has above average speed, stealing 8 bases and only being caught three times. Most importantly, he'd be seeing good pitches hitting at the bottom of a Phillies lineup with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Shane Victorino all hitting ahead of him. Castillo can be a great asset to the Phillies until Utley returns, and also can be a great bench player later in the season. Look to see the Phillies sign Castillo in the near future.

If it Were up to You to Rename March Madness, What Would Your Name Be?

What are your Thoughts on the NCAAM Seeding in March Madness?

Are there some teams that should have been in?
Should some teams be ranked higher/lower?
What will the Final Four be?
Who will win it all?
Cinderella Stories?
Upset Alerts?

Who are the Top 3 "Characters" in the NBA?

These players/coaches/owners show INSANE personality. Whether it's a funny guy or a "mean" guy; they are known for something and will be remembered for that unique aspect.

With the NFL Going to a Lockout, Will We See the Pigskin in September?