Neanderthal Hockey League

"It is not the strongest of the species that survives...It is the one that is the most adaptable to change." - Charles Darwin.

This is some advice that the NHL needs to take immediately or they're in serious trouble of becoming extinct. Over the weekend, the Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins showed the pure brutality that surrounds the NHL. A brutality that is accepted and promoted by the league. The league that has people like Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly who says he's "completely satisfied" with how player safety has been handled in situations dealing with concussions. Add to it the mass of clowns, such as, Digital Journal's Rocco Pendola, who blames Orpik for the incident. Claiming "if Orpik fought Thornton the first time he "asked" him to, the ugly incident...never would have happened."

Are you kidding me?!? 

Is that the type of rationale that should be utilized in the NHL? Welcome to the "Let's Blame the Victim" Hockey League. I know that Rocco Pendola isn't directly linked to the NHL, at least that I know of, but I'm positive he isn't the only one who possesses that view. How does that reasoning work in other situations? 

Yes, I understand your car was stolen, sir. Did you ever think that if you wouldn't have left it that it might not have been stolen? 

Here's another one:

So he robbed your purse from you, Ma'am? I see. Were you carrying a weapon? No? Well there's nothing we're going to do about it. You should have been carrying a gun and taken action yourself.

I'm all for personal responsibility. You shouldn't blame someone else for opportunities that you missed out on. But, let's get serious. If someone doesn't have enough self-control of their own to restrain themselves from going American History X on you, then I don't think the problem is on your end. Brooks Orpik is a very intelligent player. He knows how to rough guys up during the action of the game. There is no reason for him to be forced to fight, a.k.a hold another man's jersey and throw hay-makers to their head for 45 seconds until the refs step in. The goon culture of hockey is repulsive and outdated. In a period of evolution in sports pertaining to head and spinal injuries, how can a professional league continue to allow it's players to take fists to the temple to follow some meat-headed "code". 

Hybrid Icing - Yeah they're making a stance.

Falling perfectly in line with the issue the NHL has, is it's acknowledgement of not wanting players to crash viciously into the boards racing to beat an icing call. But apparently, there is no major issue with guys crashing into another player's fists in a fight, that can be just as damaging, if not worse. The vote to change how icing is called is a minor step in the right direction. My next request of the NHL is that they step up in the face of their die-hard fans and evolve. It's time to take this gladiator style out of sports. There needs to be a strict change to hockey, or it's going to die off like boxing has. 

Fighting is an integral part of the game that is a momentum changer to games and fuels rivalries, etc, etc.

I don't care. Fighting isn't tolerated in Olympic hockey and that never hurts the quality of the game. We don't need these goons dropping their gloves at the opening drop of the puck to "change momentum" and "make a statement". The NHL has to start an outlaw of fighting. If you get in a fight it's an automatic suspension. Also, the refs should break all fights up, immediately. Don't tell me that it gives anything positive to the game by watching two clowns skate around for 25 seconds looking at each other and holding jerseys. As soon as the gloves drop, the whistle should blow and the refs step in. This mindset that fighting is a core component of the NHL is ludicrous. It's time for the NHL to stop acting like they care about players with hybrid icing and start actually caring by taking away fighting and the behavior of these goons in hockey.

I love hockey as much as the next guy, maybe even more, but I hope all of the goons lose their jobs and the NHL makes the sport more focused on excellent play during game action. It's time to change the rules to protect players and evolve beyond a gladiator sport.

NFL Future Rankings: Week 11

Here is the 3rd installment of the NFL Future Rankings. A full analysis, including final record and playoff picture is included with this post. Enjoy!

32. Atlanta Falcons 2-8 (-1) 
This team has completely collapsed. If they're able to win another game then I'd be shocked. They got throttled by the Tampa Bay Bucs who until last week didn't know if they'd win a game all season. They have a ton of injuries, but as I said last week, so does New England. This is a year that has been completely shocking to Atlanta because they had so much promise and everyone expected them to contend with New Orleans for the NFC South. Final Record Prediction: 2-14

31. Houston Texans 2-8 (-3)
I tried to stay positive for Houston. I tried to hold off on saying that they completely collapsed and have no hope. I'm done trying. If Andre Johnson stops trying, then there is no reason for me to believe in Houston. When you give 10 years to a start-up franchise and it looked like it was finally going to pay off, then it didn't, Johnson has to feel like you put everything into a relationship and then found out you were dating a habitual liar. From what I saw on Sunday, Johnson thinks he and Houston should see other people. Final Record Prediction: 3-13

30. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-9 (No Change)
The Jaguars are kinda getting something figured out and hung around with a solid Arizona team for 3 quarters. I don't see anything amazing happening the rest of the season for Jacksonville and don't have much to say about them. My expectations were that they'd get the top pick in the draft but they have some easy games remaining and could get as low as a 4th pick in the draft. Final Record Prediction: 3-13

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-8 (No Change)
I see a bit of light shining for the Buccaneers but they don't have many easy games coming up like dysfunctional Miami or hopeless Atlanta. They could steal one against St. Louis, Buffalo, or even Detroit but that'd be a stretch for the Bucs. I think they've found something in a QB with Glennon and it's apparent that their O-line is solid because they can put in whoever from wherever and he can put up a career day. I like what Tampa has done the past two weeks but don't see any more W's in the win-loss column. Final Record Prediction: 2-14

28. Minnesota Vikings 2-8 (-1)
It's now clear that Adrian Peterson might be out for some time and is clearly banged up. AP is the only bright light from a skill position for Minnesota. If he decides to call it a year because we're already out of the playoff picture and I don't want to risk a more serious injury, then Minnesota is done. They become just as hopeless as Tampa, Houston and Atlanta. Even if AP plays again this year, they're done. Final Record Prediction: 2-14

27. Washington Redskins 3-7 (-1)
The past two weeks were opportunities for Washington to get back on track and control their fate in the NFC East. That time has passed. RGIII has appeared to regress once again and made an arid heave to the endzone on a 3rd & 1 that was intercepted. It seemed like Griffin thought it was 4th down by how he tossed it to the endzone. The Redskins are done this season and change is coming. Final Record Prediction: 4-12

26. Tennessee Titans 4-6 (-1)
For two weeks in a row, Tennessee has had a great chance to take control of the AFC Wild Card race and failed to do so. They had Indianapolis dead to rights and then in a span of about 1 minute, they lost the lead and the game was over. With Jake Locker out for the season, Ryan Fitzpatrick is doing a decent job keeping Tennessee in the games but they're still losing. They have an opportunity to win about 3 more games this season and go 7-9, they'll fall short of that though. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

25. San Diego Chargers 4-6 (-6)
Once again we look at a San Diego team that has had many opportunities to be contenders and failed. With Denver once and Kansas City twice on the remaining schedule, San Diego will be lucky to get to 6-10. It might be time to start a full rebuilding process. There should be a franchise potential QB for the future sitting there if San Diego can get a Top 10 pick. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

24. Buffalo Bills 4-7 (No Change)
I like the rest of the season for Buffalo. They have their star rookie QB back who has the potential to play well and bring Buffalo back to a playoff opportunity. Their remaining schedule includes no good teams other than New England week 17. I'm very confident that Buffalo can beat Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, and Miami. Final Record Prediction: 8-8

23. Oakland Raiders 4-6 (No Change)
I think Oakland has one more win left in them. Matt McGloin looked very good against Houston and while Terrelle Pryor has the athleticism, I think Oakland needs to look for a stable QB like a McGloin. The kid walked on in Penn State, then pretty much walked on to the Raiders. He's a hard worker. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

22. Miami Dolphins 5-5 (+10)
I took matters in to my own hands and punished Miami for their absolute lack of leadership, pure dysfunction, and complete idiocy. They beat San Diego and are still in playoff contention. They don't have an easy road the rest of the way as they face Carolina, Pittsburgh and New England, which should all be losses. I still think Miami is completely dysfunctional and won't win another game, but they got moved up 10 spots because they're slightly better than the mediocrity below them. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

21. Cleveland Browns 4-6 (-3)
I'll say it now. I was wrong. Cleveland couldn't hold on to the ball or get their offense going. They gave up 31 straight to Cincinnati and dropped themselves out of the playoff race. The road doesn't get easier for Cleveland and as I said before, they're still a year away. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

20. St. Louis Rams 4-6 (+1)
The Rams have a fantastic D-Line that make them capable of contending. The issue is that their schedule gets very hard in the coming weeks with San Francisco, New Orleans, Seattle, and Chicago this week. They have a chance to steal a game against one of these teams and should beat Tampa Bay. If St. Louis could get a franchise QB or possibly just a healthy Sam Bradford, then they could win some games next year. But, they'll have to wait until next year to get those wins. Final Record Prediction: 5-11

19. Baltimore Ravens 4-6 (-3)
The champs have struggled mightily this season and I think this is who they are this year. Flacco doesn't have the receivers that he needs to have big games, his offensive line has struggled, giving him no time to throw and having an inept running game. The defense is a glimpse of what they were last year. I think Baltimore  has a handful of games they'll win the rest of the way out. Final Record Prediction: 7-9

18. Pittsburgh Steelers 4-6 (+4)
Other than a blowout loss to New England, Pittsburgh has looked good the past few weeks. It helped that they faced Buffalo the week E.J. Manuel came back and then took on the Lions who never live up to expectations, but they are improved from their initial start. The Steelers have 4 division games remaining and then face Miami and Green Bay. The Steelers will have to win all 6 of those to make the playoffs. They'll fall a little short, though. Final Record Prediction: 8-8

17. New York Giants 4-6 (+3)
Is this a team of destiny? No. They don't do anything well. They're extremely shaky in every aspect of the game and because of a cupcake schedule the past 4 weeks they pulled back into contention. Eli stopped throwing 3 INTs a game and the defense found a way to stop someone. Also, the running game is getting more than 14 yards per game. People think this team will win 6 more and make the playoffs. I'm not going nearly that far. They'll win a few more and miss the playoffs. Final Record Prediction: 7-9

16. Dallas Cowboys 5-5 (+1)
Coming off of a bye week Dallas plays their most important game of the year. If they lose to the Giants they'll be tied with them for second in the NFC East. I couldn't be disappointed since the Cowboys didn't play this week but if they lose to the Giants I might have to put them No. 32 in the rankings. Three weeks ago, the Cowboys had the NFC East locked up but after losing two of three, the Eagles control the East. The Cowboys have been extremely average over the past 10+ years so I don't see that changing. Final Record Prediction: 8-8

15. Green Bay Packers 5-5 (-1)
Can they win a game with Scott Tolzien? So far the answer is no. They get Minnesota before a Thanksgiving match-up against Detroit and Tolzien is starting again. Aaron Rodgers should be back the week after that but the Packers may be too far out of the playoff race to have a chance. Once Rodgers comes back, I think they make a valiant effort but it won't be enough to make the playoffs. Final Record Prediction: 10-6

14. New York Jets 5-5 (-4)
This will be the only other time you hear me say I'm wrong in this ranking. I said Geno Smith wouldn't have another 3+ turnover game, well he surpassed my expectations and had 4. I thought maybe he had something figured out and was heading in the right direction but the inconsistency continues. One thing I stand by is that the Jets will eclipse .500 this season and make the playoffs as the No. 6 seed. Final Record Prediction: 9-7, AFC WILD CARD

13. Arizona Cardinals 6-4 (+2)
I pointed out last week that Arizona has quietly won 4 of 6. After beating the Jags by 13 they've now won 3 straight and are tied with San Francisco for 2nd in the NFC West. They get an Indianapolis team that hasn't looked great since beating Denver. If Arizona could win this week they'll have a chance of making the playoffs. They'll get close to sneaking in this year but fall short. Final Record Prediction: 9-7

12. Cincinnati Bengals 7-4 (+1)
I went bold and said Cincinnati would collapse and miss the playoffs. While the Steelers are coming on, they're too far back and I don't see it happening. Cincinnati got nothing from Andy Dalton this week and found 2 defensive TDs to accelerate a 31-0 run to beat Cleveland. The Bengals head into a bye week and come back with 5 games they could easily win. Bengals will get things figured out enough to make the playoffs. Final Record Prediction: 11-5, AFC NORTH CHAMPIONS

11. Chicago Bears 6-4 (+2)
Wind, rain and tornadoes couldn't stop the Bears on Sunday. Neither could the Baltimore Ravens. Josh McCown has been a great fill-in with Jay Cutler still injured and the Bears look like they're a formidable team. The sad part is that the NFC is better than the AFC and the Bears are going to finish on the outside looking in again. It won't be because they falter mightily down the stretch, they just don't have enough to get in. Final Record Prediction: 10-6

10. Detroit Lions 6-4 (-4)
They let me down but I keep the faith in the Lions. They should be able to win every game the rest of the way with their biggest test on Thanksgiving against the Packers where the Lions usually win. I'm going bold with these Lions and saying that they get the message about what happened in Pittsburgh and don't let it happen again. They have the best WR in the league and a huge weapon in Reggie Bush who can make big plays. Only two of their remaining games are on the road and they're at Philadelphia and Minnesota. This is probably the worst decision I've made in a while but, I'm fully supporting the Lions. Final Record Prediction: 12-4, NFC NORTH CHAMPIONS

9. Philadelphia Eagles 6-5 (+2)
This offense heads into a bye week on fire. Hopefully resting for a week doesn't extinguish it. Nick Foles looks great running that offense. He's got Riley Cooper and DeSean Jackson rolling and the best running game in the league thanks to LeSean McCoy. This team has figured it out and they'll get the job done down the stretch and make the playoffs. Final Record Prediction: 10-6, NFC EAST CHAMPIONS

8. Kansas City Chiefs 9-1 (No Change)
How about the great defensive line? I guess not. They got zero pressure on Peyton Manning and once they fell behind, the receivers couldn't catch the ball from Alex Smith. Don't fret though Chiefs fans. I think they'll beat Denver in two weeks and finish 14-2 and have home-field advantage in the playoffs. Final Record Prediction: 14-2, AFC WEST CHAMPIONS

7. San Francisco 49ers 6-4 (No Change)
What's going on with Colin Kaepernick? He seems to be struggling more and more each week. Since his 412 yard performance week 1 against Green Bay, Kaepernick has thrown for 154 yards per game. He's also thrown 8 TDs to 7 INTs during the stretch. These aren't the expected numbers of someone who people said would revolutionize QB position. It seems like the tape on him has allowed people to find his weaknesses and stop him. Also, the team around him and coaches deserve some blame because they've struggled the past few weeks. The 49ers need to get the running game going with Frank Gore, too. That week 1 win over Green Bay is what's going to give them the tie-breaker to be the 6th seed. Final Record Prediction: 10-6, NFC WILD CARD

6. Indianapolis Colts 7-3 (+3)
For a team that's been outscored by 60 points in the first half the past 3 games, they keep finding a way to win. The Colts have a few tough ones down the stretch but they always seem to come through strong when it matters and play to the potential of their opponents. They face the Chiefs in week 16 and that game will tell us how Indy matches up against the tops of the AFC without Reggie Wayne. A weak division will put the Colts at the No. 3 seed in the AFC. Final Record Prediction: 12-4, AFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS

5. New England Patriots 7-3 (-2)
Was it a penalty? Should they have played an un-timed down from the 1-yd line? I heard explanations that make the ruling acceptable and as Tom Brady said "that play isn't where we lost the game." With a tough loss to Carolina and Denver on the horizon, New England's defense needs to get healthier. The positive for New England is that Peyton always struggles when he has to go to Foxboro. I think New England once again finds a way to get a win at home against Denver and helps Kansas City become the No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots are fine to make the playoffs and go in as the No. 2 seed. Final Record Prediction: 13-3, AFC EAST CHAMPIONS

4. Carolina Panthers 7-3 (+1)
Amongst all of this debate over the call at the end of the game is the fact that Cam Newton led a comeback game-winning drive against New England in the final minutes. I'm not sure what Carolina will have to do next to prove their legitimate but taking one of two against New Orleans will surely help. The Panthers can't have a hangover effect heading into two very easy games against Miami and Tampa Bay, though. If they get to 9-3 heading into their first battle against New Orleans, they should essentially have the No. 5 seed locked up. They'll take one of two against New Orleans and be the No. 5 seed. Final Record Prediction: 12-4, NFC WILD CARD

3. New Orleans Saints 8-2 (No Change)
They squeezed one out against the 49ers and control their own destiny heading into 3 games that will show where they truly stack up against the NFC. They travel to Seattle and then have two games against Carolina. They're a legitimate Super Bowl contender but they'll go 1-2 in those three games by beating Carolina once. Due to conference record, the Saints will beat out the Panthers for the NFC South. Final Record Prediction: 12-4, NFC SOUTH CHAMPIONS

2. Denver Broncos 9-1 (No Change)
The offensive line looked like the Berlin Wall in the early 1980s and let nothing through. For now they've proven they're the top team in the AFC but Kansas City showed me that the gap isn't very large. A few plays would have Denver sitting at 8-2. A rematch against Kansas City in two weeks after a tough game against New England will result in two losses for the Broncos and make them the best No. 5 seed in a long time. Final Record Prediction: 13-3, AFC WILD CARD

1. Seattle Seahawks 10-1 (No Change)
Nobody is close to the Seahawks. They destroy teams with their defense and have an offense that is only getting stronger with Percy Harvin back. I don't see anyone touching the Seahawks and they'll run straight to the Super Bowl with the No. 1 seed. Final Record Prediction: 15-1, NFC WEST CHAMPIONS

NFL PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

NFC

1. Seattle Seahawks - Bye Week

2. New Orleans Saints - Bye Week

6. San Francisco 49ers @ 3. Detroit Lions

5. Carolina Panthers @ 4. Philadelphia Eagles

AFC

1. Kansas City Chiefs - Bye Week

2. New England Patriots - Bye Week

6. New York Jets @ 3. Indianapolis Colts

5. Denver Broncos @ 4. Cincinnati Bengals

Next week I'll make my selections for who will win the NFL Wild Card Weekend and set up for the NFC Divisional Round. This will be the last Future Ranking. Next week will be analysis if my playoff selections are still holding up or if things have changed. 

Feel free to comment! 

NFL Future Rankings: Week 10

For the second week in a row, here are the NFL rankings for all 32 teams. There are some movers and shakers and I'll show the ups and downs for each team next to their record! I would love to hear some comments and insight into your thoughts.

32. Miami Dolphins 4-5 (No Change) 
I hate to play the "I told you so" card but if you didn't see Miami struggling against Tampa then you weren't paying attention to all the nonsense that has surrounded this team over the past week and a half. I don't see things getting better for Miami because it seems like the organization is unable to admit their issues and clean this up quickly. When it came out that Aaron Hernandez was involved in a murder case, the Patriots cut all ties with him. This issue with Incognito isn't as serious, but if you keep him on your team and he's just suspended then you have to keep talking about him. If you cut him then your response is "he no longer plays for us, next question." Bold Prediction: Miami doesn't win more than 6 games.

31. Atlanta Falcons 2-7 (-7)
This team has completely flat-lined. They're done for the season and I can't keep blaming it on injuries. Matt Ryan has under-performed all season but we've tried to say he hasn't. Their top 2 receivers are injured was the excuse but New England managed through their top 5 receivers out of the lineup for 6 weeks and they survived it. Honestly, I don't think Atlanta was as good last year as we thought they were, they just fooled us with close wins. Now, I'm not sure they'll beat Tampa Bay this coming week. Bold Prediction: Atlanta finishes last in the NFC South at 3-13.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars 1-8 (+1)
If the game would have ended at halftime I would have moved Jacksonville up above 30 but they barely held on to get their first win of the season. I don't see them getting much more than 3 wins on the season and they'll probably be right there in contention for the No. 1 draft pick. Let's just hope they make a smart decision with that selection. Bold Prediction: Jacksonville moves to London or L.A. in the next 5 years. 

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1-8 (+1)
Congratulations to the 2008 Detroit Lions, you're still the only team to make it through a 16 game season without a win. Also, Congratulations to the Bucs for getting a win against the most dysfunctional team in the league. Too bad you couldn't play Miami every week. On the good side, you get a terrible Atlanta team who seems to have given up on the season. If you can beat the Falcons, you'll have a great chance to not be the worst team in the NFC South. Bold Prediction: Mike Glennon is the QB of the future and plays Tampa out of a Top 2 draft choice. 

28. Houston Texans 2-7 (-5)
I had faith that the Texans could get things going in the right direction and beat the Arizona Cardinals. They came close but once again fell short. This team and Atlanta are mirror images to me. Both had great aspirations for this season. Some people had the two facing each other for a Super Bowl. Well, now they're facing off for the best draft choice. In all of this, I'm pretty sure that Case Keenum has kicked Matt Schaub out of town. Anyone remember when Schaub was backing up Vick in Atlanta? Hey, we made it full circle! Ed Reed also thinks the Texans have been getting out coached. I agree. Bold Prediction: The Texans salvage something this season and win 7 games. 

27. Minnesota Vikings 2-7 (+1)
While they got their second win against the Redskins this weekend, I don't see brighter days ahead of the Vikings. With Christian Ponder getting banged up again, it looks like Matt Cassel could get another go at QB, either way it doesn't matter. They need to give Adrian Peterson 30+ touches a game but their schedule doesn't get any easier from here. Bold Prediction: While I moved them up, I don't see them getting more than 3 total wins this season. 

26. Washington Redskins 3-6 (-11)
I held the Redskins in high regard last week and saw them getting to 4-5, but they failed to beat the lowly Vikings. They probably should have dropped lower but if they reel off two or three wins they'll be right there in the NFC East. I don't see that happening, though. Bold Prediction: Redskins see some changes, not to the name, but to the coaching staff. Mike Shanahan will be fired. 

25. Tennessee Titans 4-5 (-8)
They had an opportunity to be handed an AFC Wild Card spot and control their own destiny the rest of the way with a win over the worst team in the league. Instead, Jake Locker got a season ending injury, and with one-loss, Tennessee has collapsed out of the playoff picture. Bold Prediction: Jacksonville beats Tennessee again in Week 16. The Titans falter and finish below .500. 

24. Buffalo Bills 3-7 (-2)
While the offense punted about 50 times against the Steelers, I think Buffalo has a very easy road after their Week 12 bye week. If they could find a way to beat the Jets this week, they'll be 4-7 and have a real possibility to get to 8-7 against Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tampa Bay and Miami. Bold Prediction: E.J. Manuel gets his timing back and the Bills get to 8-8 and contend for a playoff spot.

23. Oakland Raiders 3-6 (+2)
A 4-point loss improved them two spots. No credit goes to the Raiders for improving in my power rankings, it goes to the Redskins and Titans for being so perplexingly bad. As I said last week, the road for the Raiders gets very difficult in the final weeks. Bold Prediction: The Raiders will get 5 wins this season and Terrelle Pryor's guarantee will come true. 

22. Pittsburgh Steelers 3-6 (+7)
The defense looked fantastic against a rookie who hasn't play in several weeks. I can't give too much credit to the Steelers but in a very shaky AFC North, they have a chance to upset some playoff chances for their rivals. With 4 of their final 6 against division opponents, the Steelers will decide who makes the playoffs in the AFC North. Bold Prediction: The Steelers will play a part in eliminating the Bengals from the playoffs.

21. St. Louis Rams 4-6 (+6)
This is a legitimate defense in St. Louis. If they could only find a QB who could make plays for them then they'd be a serious contender. What they did to the Colts was impressive. They have some tough NFC West games down the stretch with one game against each division opponent. Bold Prediction: Just like the Steelers, the Rams will decide the NFC West and keep San Francisco out of the playoffs.

20. New York Giants 3-6 (+6)
They didn't destroy the Raiders but they've won 3 straight. They still have a litany issues but they're in the NFC East, they're not out of a playoff spot by any means. They could win 6 of their final 7 games and be right there week 17 to get into the playoffs. The Giants really stretched their "start slow, get hot late" M.O. this season. Bold Prediction: The Giants will finish 9-7 but miss the playoffs. 

19. San Diego Chargers 4-5 (No Change)
They kept it close with the Broncos and may have helped their rival Kansas City out by aggravating Peyton Manning's ankle injury late in the game. The Chargers are the Cowboys of the AFC to me. They have a ton of talent, win games they shouldn't, then lose games they should win. They'll finish somewhere around .500 and if they can get their act together they might vie for a playoff spot. Bold Prediction: I don't have one for this team. They just anger me. 

18. Cleveland Browns 4-5 (No Change)
The Browns have Bengals, Steelers and Jaguars coming up next. If they beat the Bengals then they could be 7-5 and in control of the AFC North in 3 weeks. They'll need help from the Steelers and Ravens but their defense is legit. Bold Prediction: The Cleveland Browns make the playoffs.

17. Dallas Cowboys 5-5 (-5)
I said that I learned to never rank them too high last week but apparently I still ranked them too high. I didn't think they'd lose like that to New Orleans. They gave up the most first downs in league history and looked atrocious on defense. Also, Sean Lee might be out for the rest of the season. If that's the case then the Cowboys are done. They have a bye week coming up, then the Giants. Bold Prediction: The Cowboys once again finish .500 and miss the playoffs. 

16. Baltimore Ravens 4-5 (+5)
They fought off an improbable Hail Mary that forced overtime against Cincinnati and have the opportunity to get hot and make a run for the AFC North. Their schedule leaves the possibility to get to 9-7 but it could come down to a week 17 rematch against Cincinnati for the AFC North. Bold Prediction: The Ravens beat the Bengals week 17, which gives the Cleveland Browns a playoff berth. 

15. Arizona Cardinals 5-4 (+5)
Arizona might be the worst team in the NFC West but that still makes them a pretty good team. They've hung close with Seattle and San Francisco this season and they'll face them week 16 and 17, respectively. Arizona has quietly won 4 of 6 and have some favorable matchups against Jacksonville, Indy and Philadelphia. Watch out for the Cardinals to be contenders for the 6th playoff spot in the NFC. Bold Prediction: Arizona helps to knock the 49ers out of the playoffs, and potentially take a spot themselves.

14. Green Bay Packers 5-4 (-1)
They take a small drop with their loss to the Eagles and with Scott Tolzien as QB for at least two more weeks, it looks like the Packers are going to fall out of the playoff picture. They have a chance to control their own destiny with Chicago and Detroit still on the schedule but both games are on the road and we don't know what form Aaron Rodgers will return in. Bold Prediction: The Packers miss the playoffs this season.

13. Cincinnati Bengals 6-4 (-2)
Oh, Andy Dalton. We thought you might finally be stepping into an elite level of play. We were wrong. The Bengals have looked terrible over the past two weeks and barely salvaged an OT loss with a miracle tip drill catch by A.J. Green. They face Cleveland before a bye week and if they go into the bye at 6-5, they're in serious trouble of missing the playoffs and losing the AFC North to the Ravens or Browns. Bold Prediction: I hinted at it earlier, the Bengals will miss the playoffs and complete a total collapse that started with an OT safety loss to the Dolphins.

12. Chicago Bears 5-4 (-4)
A loss after a failed 2-point conversation attempt puts them a game back of the Lions for the NFC North. Jay Cutler may miss several weeks with a high ankle sprain and while Josh McCown is a great backup, he's still a backup. The Bears will hang around in the NFC North and Wild Card playoff discussion but we might see another strong start go to waste if they miss the playoffs again. Bold Prediction: Jay Cutler doesn't play another game the rest of the season.

11. Philadelphia Eagles 5-5 (+5)
Chip Kelly has the NFC East sitting in his lap and he has a great chance to look like a genius and have a successful first year as coach and make the playoffs. They could get in with 4 more wins if the Giants, Cowboys, and Redskins all knock each other off. Bold Prediction: The Eagles make the playoffs and win the NFC East with Nick Foles as QB the rest of the season.

10. New York Jets 5-4 (+4)
A bye week was just what the Jets needed. This was Geno Smith's week to have a bad game so if they skip a bad week, the back and forth rotation of bad and good from Geno Smith will give the Jets a 9-7 finish. That great defense gives them a chance to win every game. They gain four spots because the AFC Wild Card contenders around them have all been shaky as of late. Bold Prediction: Geno Smith won't throw 3 interceptions in another game this season.

9. Indianapolis Colts 6-3 (-5)
Even Reggie Wayne wouldn't have helped the Colts to beat St. Louis. The Rams dominated Indy and pointed out some major flaws for the Colts. Their offensive line isn't very good, and they have had some serious injuries hurt them this season. Kansas City is the only real tough test left on their schedule and nobody in the AFC South will catch them. Bold Prediction: There isn't much bold to say. The Colts will make the playoffs, and will lose to either Denver or New England in playoffs.

8. Kansas City Chiefs 9-0 (-1)
This week is the ultimate test for the Chiefs. If they can beat the Broncos then I will respect them and put them in the top 5. If not, then they are who I think they are. A fantastic defense that isn't doing enough on offense to be elite. Bold Prediction: The Chiefs beat the Broncos because Peyton Manning goes out of the game with an injury.

7. San Francisco 49ers 6-3 (-2)
Where'd you go, Colin Kaepernick? People were talking that you were the hardest QB to defend in the league. Carolina made it look pretty easy, holding you to 91 passing yards and keeping the Niners out of the endzone. If Kaep doesn't start performing better then the 49ers are in serious trouble. Even if he does play well they have four tough games coming up. Bold Prediction: The 49ers miss the playoffs and Jim Harbaugh is wondering why he sent Alex Smith away.

6. Detroit Lions 6-3 (+4)
Detroit's offense is explosive and their defense is capable of stopping opponents enough times to get wins. This looks like it could easily be the year that the Lions win the NFC North and make the playoffs. The Lions final 7 are all games where they could put check marks in the win column. Bold Predictions: Detroit wins the NFC North and finally live up to their expectations of the past years.

5. Carolina Panthers 6-3 (+4)
A cross-country trip to San Francisco resulted in a strong defensive performance and a 10-9 win. There is no rest for Carolina in their pursuit to be considered legitimate as they'll face New England on Monday Night Football. Cam Newton needs to continue to play well and get the offense about 21 points per game and let that defense go to work. Bold Prediction: The Panthers will make the playoffs as a Wild Card. 

4. New Orleans Saints 7-2 (+2)
At home this offense is deadly. The New Orleans Saints dominated the Cowboys and continue to dominate at home. The Saints still have 4 road games remaining on their schedule including a trip to Seattle. They'll have a home and road game against Carolina which will likely decide the NFC South, and this week face San Francisco. Bold Prediction: The Saints will finish 11-5 but still take the NFC South.

3. New England Patriots 7-2 (No Change)
They have two tough tests in the next two weeks then face cupcakes the rest of the season. If they can beat Carolina and Denver then they have a likely chance of going 14-2 and being the top seed in the AFC once again. Bold Prediction: The Patriots will make their way back to the Super Bowl again. 

2. Denver Broncos 8-1 (-1)
Peyton's ankle is what dropped the Broncos from the top spot. I know he has one of the most fierce work ethics in the league, but his age can restrict him and the Chiefs defense could leave him watching from the sidelines. Bold Prediction: Peyton Manning really messes up his ankle and misses more than just the rest of the game against the Chiefs.

1. Seattle Seahawks 9-1 (+1)
After two shaky games, it looks like the Seahawks got things back on track. With 4 of the final 6 games at home, Seattle has a great shot at getting the top spot in the NFC with a 14-2 or 13-3 record. The Seahawks face Minnesota then head into a bye week which comes at a perfect time. They'll come back and face New Orleans and San Francisco, wins in those games will secure the NFC for the Seahawks. Bold Prediction: The Seahawks secure home-field advantage and make it to the Super Bowl.

I'm going to hold off on a playoff standings this week because so much is up in the air right now. Next week, I will analyze the remainder of the schedule and give an in-depth analysis of the playoff picture.

Biggest Gain: Pittsburgh Steelers +7
Biggest Loser: Washington Redskins -11

NFL Future Rankings

A True Ranking of all 32 Teams in the NFL

In this power ranking, I am not focused on records and how each team has played to this point in the season. I am looking forward at what will be accomplished by the teams in the remainder of the NFL season and who are the top teams heading into the playoffs. I am ranking based off of who I think would win the majority of games against every other team in the NFL week by week. My top team will be a team that I feel could beat the other 31 teams 8 or 9 times out of 10. So, here is the official ranking from 32-1. Enjoy and feel free to comment.

32. Miami Dolphins 4-4

Yes, I know that they have a .500 record and are in playoff contention in the AFC right now, but a bomb just exploded in that locker room that I don't think they will be able to recover from. When you have two of your offensive lineman now off the team and a clearly disrupted and separated locker room, then you are in a terrible place to achieve anything throughout the rest of the season. Add into that the complete lack of leadership and you have the worst team in the NFL.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars 0-8

 I know that the obvious choice for worst team is the Jacksonville Jaguars but I had to go with Miami after my dissatisfaction of how much leadership they lack. Miami would probably beat Jacksonville by 10 points but I would rather be on the Jacksonville Jaguars than the Miami Dolphins.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-8

One of two winless teams in the NFL and after such a heartbreaking defeat with a 21 point lead against Seattle makes it hard to believe that the Buccaneers will have anything left the rest of the season. If this team goes better than 1-15, I'd be very surprised. The only statement they have is that we held close with the top team in the NFC and maybe we can pull off a couple wins. At least they're my top Florida team. 

29. Pittsburgh Steelers 2-6

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The Pittsburgh Steelers were once noted for having the most dominant defense. The Steel Curtain, and the great defenses under Bill Cowher. We never give up a 100-yd rusher, etc. Well, times have changed. These days teams run wherever they want against the Steelers and on Sunday they gave up 55 points, the most in team history. The Steelers spent too much money in past years to keep aging players, their drafting has been horrible and I don't think the next few years bold well for them to be successful. 

28. Minnesota Vikings 1-7

They have one win this season and it was against the No. 29 Steelers. That isn't why I put them in front of Pittsburgh, though. I think that they realized that they have no leadership at QB so Adrian Peterson should see a ton of carries the rest of the season which gives them better chances to get a couple wins through the remainder of the season. It seems obvious now that the Josh Freeman experiment failed, so let Christian Ponder manage the rest of this season and head into the off-season hoping AP sticks around through a shaky rebuilding process.

27. St. Louis Rams 3-6

I don't really know where to put St. Louis and their almost successful play over the past two weeks. I know that they're better than the teams below them but I think Houston, the Giants, and the next teams right in this 6 or more loss category would beat them. Well that's about all I  have to say about the Rams...

26. New York Giants 2-6

Two straight wins before their bye week made the Giants look a little above mediocre and their future schedule could give them two more wins against a shaky Raiders team and an Aaron Rodgers-less Packers team. 

25. Oakland Raiders 3-5

The Raiders have shown glimmers of hope this season and Terrelle Pryor guaranteed they'd win more than 4 games this season. In order to do that they're going to have to win in the next few weeks before getting Kansas City, San Diego and Denver to end the season. I think they have a chance to show up and beat the Giants this week. 

24. Atlanta Falcons 2-6

A tough loss to the Carolina Panthers who have been on a roll as of late leaves Atlanta wondering where the magic went. With so many injuries and just an overall shaky performance week to week, it doesn't look good for the Falcons heading into the future. If they get Roddy White back healthy and Steven Jackson shows something from his days with the Rams then they could salvage something of this season. 

23. Houston Texans 2-6

I hope that Gary Kubiak makes a complete recovery and the Texans rally behind him and Case Keenum slinging it everywhere to comeback and get some victories this season. They've had a ton of close losses and I think Keenum is only going to continue to improve. I want to rate them higher but I just couldn't find another team to put below them.

22. Buffalo Bills 3-6

With E.J. Manuel back at starting QB and the solid running back play of Fred Jackon and C.J. Spiller (when healthy), I think the Bills have some opportunity to win games down the stretch. With Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa remaining on their schedule, I see an 8-8 possibility in Buffalo. 

21. Baltimore Ravens 4-4

The defending Super Bowl champs have been anything but superb this season. I don't know if I can blame the loss of leadership on defense on the struggles or Anquan Boldin leaving, but something is wrong with the Ravens. I really don't have any hope for the rest of their season and think Cincinnati is pretty much secured of the AFC North, even if the Bengals only go 10-6. 

20. Arizona Cardinals 4-4

Here is another head scratching team. In their wins it seems like their opponents have beaten themselves. I think Larry Fitzgerald's injuries and Carson Palmer playing like Matt Leinart has really hurt a team with a solid defense and play making potential. I don't see them doing anything above average for the remainder. So, i'm predicting 7-9 or 6-10 type finish for the struggling and confusing Cardinals.

19. San Diego Chargers 4-4

This team has to be crushed after a defeating loss against the Washington Redskins. This team has been on the verge of something special since Week 1 but they haven't been able to do it. With 5 tough opponents remaining, I see the Chargers having another mediocre season and a 7-9 finish. They're so close to being a 6-2 team, but since they aren't, I can't expect them to start closing games now. 

18. Cleveland Browns 4-5

It seems like the Browns are once again a year or so away from making a real playoff run. They have such a strong defense that they always seem to be in contention and with Jason Campbell they seem to be more capable on offense. They have a handful of games they could win throughout the remainder of the season but they fall in the same category as Arizona and San Diego...not quite there.

17. Tennessee Titans 4-4

I like their remaining schedule and I think Jake Locker is becoming a quality QB. If they can get CJ2K going then they have a great chance to make a run for the 6th spot in the AFC. I'm not predicting they get it but they have a chance to be in the running in Week 16 or 17. 

16. Philadelphia Eagles 4-5

I'm not overreacting to the Nick Foles 7 TD performance but I am reacting to the Eagles very easy next 5 games. I have them winning 4 of 5 and getting to 8-7 before a toss up game against Dallas in Week 17 that might be for the NFC East. 

15. Washington Redskins 3-5

After squeaking out a win against the Chargers I think the Redskins may finally be getting things in order and with only two tough games remaining on the schedule, I think 9-7 and competition for another playoff spot is back in the Redskins grasp. 

14. New York Jets 5-4

At the beginning of the season I would have probably marked the Jets as the worst team in the league, at least bottom 3. But, they have found magic...every other week that is. If they can keep Geno Smith from multiple interception games then they have a chance to run off 10 or more wins. With Buffalo, Baltimore, Miami 2x, and Oakland remaining, things look good for the Jets behind their fantastic front 7. 

13. Green Bay Packers 5-3

I was tempted to put them even lower because they've been so injury riddled but without knowing the severity of the Aaron Rodgers injury, i'll have to hold off on a firm ranking for them. Either way I don't see them making the playoffs.

12. Dallas Cowboys 5-4

I learned to never rank the Cowboys too high. They always find a way to falter. I think they have a chance to win the NFC East but that's what we've been saying for the past 3 years. They've steadily been a .500 team the past 6-10 years. I don't know what to say about their future. They'll probably be 8-8.

11. Cincinnati Bengals 6-3

What to do as a Bengals fan? I guess hope for Andy Dalton to be successful and steady. Just when he's on fire, he goes cold as ice. Giovani Bernard had the play of the year in my opinion Thursday night, though. I think this team has the AFC North completely wrapped up but that doesn't mean too much going forward. They'll probably go 10-6.

10. Detroit Lions 5-3

An easy remaining schedule and troubles amongst the Packers means this might finally be the year that the Detroit Lions make it back to the playoffs and are able to host a playoff game! It's a joyous day for Detroit, okay maybe i'm building up too much hope for this frustrating franchise. If they go below 10-6 then something tragic had to happen because they are in a perfect spot with some easy opponents. Bets of luck, Lions!

9. Carolina Panthers 5-3

Their first of back to back tests is this week as they face the San Francisco 49ers and then the New England Patriots. If they could find a way to get to 7-3 I think they have a great chance to compete for the NFC South and make the playoffs. A 6-4 record would keep them in contention. Either way, I think they have the best defense in the NFC and an offense with explosive potential. If Cam stays solid and the run game keeps going, they're legit.

8. Chicago Bears 5-3

With Jay Cutler set to return in the next week or two they have a great chance to take control of the NFC North. I think they'll beat the Lions this week but I wouldn't bet money on it. Whoever wins that game is my choice for the NFC North. Right now i'm betting the Bears.

7. Kansas City Chiefs 9-0

Yep, the 9-0 Chiefs are the No. 7 team on my list. I know they're undefeated but let's look at the wins that they have. They beat Houston by 1, Cleveland by 6, and the Bills by 10 because of two defensive TDs. Getting 2 defensive TDs isn't something you're going to have every week and anyone other than Jeff Tuel would've made a better play than that straight to the defender pick-6. If they get to 12-0 then I'll say they're the best team in the NFL because they will have beaten Denver twice and got past a stingy San Diego team that was sandwiched in the middle. I would have a lot more faith in the Chiefs if they started to spread the field a little more and could do more than get into the redzone and kick field goals every time. We'll learn a lot about this team in the next few weeks. 

6. New Orleans Saints 6-2

If this team only played at home then I would rank them No. 1. They have been dominant at home and bipolar on the road. Darren Sproles, Marques Colston and Jimmy Graham were all out or injured against the Jets which played a factor into the loss against the Jets but the Saints have to do all they can to win road games and make sure they're the No. 1 or 2 seed heading into the playoffs because I don't see them going to Seattle or San Francisco and winning a NFC Championship Game. I still think the Saints are a dominant team moving forward but their two games against the Panthers will be a telling tale for how the two teams match-up.

5. San Francisco 49ers 6-2

The 49ers have been hot as of late but with wins against 5 struggling teams (St. Louis, Houston, Tennessee, Arizona and Jacksonville) none of which have a winning record, how confident can we be that they're for real. This week against Carolina will be the first true test for San Fran and then New Orleans the next week will really inform us of how strong the 49ers really are. 

4. Indianapolis Colts 6-2

They had a huge comeback after the Texans were stunned by the on-field collapse of their head coach. If that doesn't happen, I don't think Indy pulls off the comeback. But, I can't judge on what-ifs. The Colts would probably be the No. 2 team if Reggie Wayne wasn't injured but with him out for the season, I don't see the Colts winning another shootout with the Broncos, or against the Patriots, or even the Bengals in the playoffs. With Andrew Luck's ability to always find a way to win, I wouldn't be surprised if they somehow do beat everyone and make it to the Super Bowl.

3. New England Patriots 7-2

They continue to amaze me every week. It looks like they are fragile and on the verge of falling apart, people are asking if Tom Brady is losing it, and then they come and drop 55 on the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tom Brady looks like...well, Tom Brady. If there is any team that others should strive to be like, it's the New England Patriots. If you want to manage a company properly then look at the Patriots. They lose their top players, get to 5-1, get a couple guys back and are 7-2 and waiting right there in the wings to swoop in and take over the top seed in the AFC. 

2. Seattle Seahawks 8-1

This team has been shaky over the last two weeks but they've pulled off two wins and stay in control of the NFC. I badly wanted to put them as the top team but the injuries to their offensive line and the struggles the defense has had the past two weeks worry me about how great they really are. They should easily get to 12 wins with only two opponents with winning records (San Francisco, New Orleans) the rest of the way. If they can hang on to win the NFC West and take the No. 1 seed into the playoffs, they'll be a force to reckon with in the playoffs.

1. Denver Broncos 7-1

With John Fox requiring aortic heart valve surgery and now out for at least a month or more, none of the top teams in the NFL really stand out as being dominant. But, if there's a team that can get through without their head coach it is the Broncos. As much as I despise Peyton Manning, (don't ask why, I have never liked him, but I respect his talent.) he is a coach on the field and takes care of the offense. Jack Del Rio will fill in as head coach and still control defense. If the Chiefs find a way to stifle their offense then they'll fall from this top spot, but until that time, the Broncos have the best outlook because I think they are the strongest team in the NFL and that they'll beat the Chiefs, at least once, possibly twice.

Playoff Predictions

NFC                                       AFC

1. Seattle Seahawks 13-3                                                                 1. Indianapolis Colts 13-3

2. New Orleans Saints 12-4                                                             2. Denver Broncos 13-3 

3. Chicago Bears 12-4                                                                       3. New England Patriots 12-4

4. Philadelphia Eagles 9-7                                                                4. Cincinnati Bengals 11-5

5. Detroit Lions 11-5                                                                          5. Kansas City Chiefs 12-4

6. Carolina Panthers 11-5                                                                6. New York Jets 10-6

I'll update these if something drastically changes in the playoff race but as of now this is how I see it all ending, heading into the playoffs. 

The Fantasy Defensive

Reward Defense for Defense

In my fantasy league, Defense and Special Teams are categorized into a single group. I understand that and I am fine with that. The one issue I have is that a kick returner can run the ball back for a score and get 16 points if he takes it endzone to endzone. That is more than Peyton Manning gets if he throws the ball 99 yards for a touchdown. He'd only get 7 points for that feat. A quarterback is rewarded 1 point for every 50 passing yards and 6 points for a touchdown. The D/ST is rewarded 1 point for every 10 yards and the same 6 points for a touchdown. 

I'm fine with the D/ST getting points for an explosive play made by a special teamer. My issue is that the defense isn't rewarded for being a good defense. The top 5 defenses in the NFL allow an average of 15.6 points per game. In my league, being one of the top 5 defenses in the league rewards you 1 point. 

That is where my issue lies. Defense isn't rewarded for serving its main purpose in the game. It's given points for behaving like an offense. As my friend Kyle and fellow league member put it, "I want defense to be rewarded for being the best defensive unit, not for being the best offensive defense." 

I agree that a defense should be rewarded points for takeaways and turnovers but some stats like 4th down stops don't really mean anything, but you still get 1 point for it. Here is my revision to make defense more meaningful. Our system currently rewards a team that records a shutout 10 points. I think that number is extremely low for the amount of work that is required to make that happen. I'm proposing a new scoring system that makes defensive defense much more important and takes away some of the special teams dominance.

What the Old Looks Like, What the New Should Be

Listed below is how my fantasy league currently rates defensive points, next to it are the adjustments that I think should be made and a reasoning why. If there is no adjustment then I am fine with it being the same.

Sack = 1

INT = 2

Fumble Recovery = 2

Touchdown = 6

Safety = 2

Block Kick = 2, 3 points (If a kick is made then you gain 3 points, so if you stop one you get 3)

Return Yards = 1 point per 10 yards, 1 point per 50 yards (You shouldn't be able to double up what a QB can do if he makes a play for the same yardage that has the same result)

Points Allowed 0 pts = 10, 30 points (It's almost impossible to hold a team scoreless in the offensive NFL. There should be a bigger reward for a defense doing that.)

Points Allowed 1-6 pts = 7, 20 points (Holding a team under a TD is almost just as hard. It isn't quite a shutout but it should surely receive more than 7 points) 

Points Allowed 7-13 pts = 4, 15 points (This is still better than the top 5 teams in the league give up per game. Therefore it should be rewarded properly.) 

Points Allowed 14-20 pts = 1, 10 points (Holding a team under 3 TDs will usually result in a win if you have a good offense. Therefore you should get some points for doing that. Only 8 NFL defenses average less than 20 points per game.) 

Points Allowed 21-27 pts = 0, 22-27 points = 0 (I agree with this one but I want to raise the number to 22 points. If you give up over 3 TDs in a game then you are about average and shouldn't receive anything. If you hold a team to exactly 3 TDs, I propose 5 points for your team.)

Points Allowed 28-34 pts = -1, -3 points (If we're paying a defense for being good, we should make a team pay if the defense is bad. If you give up more than 4 TDs per game then you're one of the 8 to 10 worst in the league.) 

Points Allowed 35+ pts = -4, -10 points (Yes, you lose 10 points if you give up 5 TDs or more. There should be bigger rewards and penalties for good and bad defense. According to the system now, a terrible defensive game can be wiped out by 40 return yards.) 

4th Down Stops = 1 (I'm going to restructure this stat completely. Instead of 4th Down Stops, I'm going to make it 4th Quarter Stops. Every time you stop a team in the 4th Quarter from scoring you get 1 point. That gives a team a bonus for playing well on defense at the end of a game when it matters most.)

There is my restructuring of the fantasy defensive points. Now let's take an example of two teams this season and see what their points would be now. 

In week 4, the San Francisco 49ers only gave up 11 points and their fantasy point total was 13. With my new adjustments they would get 15 points to start with the great defensive performance. They had 0 return yards so that doesn't change anything and then we add in their 9 points for 7 sacks and 1 interception they had to give them 24 points. 

Let's take a team that gave up some big points in a game but still had a high scoring day because of other reasons. Last week New England gave up 30 points in a loss to the Jets but our scoring system gave them 27 points. Is a bad defense really worthy of that? 

In the new system we start them off with -3 because of what they gave up. Not a big change but it lowers them a little bit. Next we add 6 points for 4 sacks and an INT. Now they have 3 points. They had 154 return yards. Is that worth 15 points? No! They get 3 points for that. Now they have 6 points. They returned the 1 INT for 79 yards and a TD. I give them return yards for INTs so they get 7 more points for this play. Now that we've done this adjustment, the New England Patriots in a 30-27 loss get 13 points instead of 27 points. 

In my eyes this new system makes all the sense in the world and is a brilliant idea. If you think the same then you should propose these changes to your fantasy leagues. Leave any comments for adjustments that you think would be helpful and fair. 

The Selig Fault: The Many Issues of Baseball

A Quick Note

It has been an extremely long time since I have posted anything to this blog and I have good reason for that. I was in a very serious car accident about 3 1/2 months ago and have been focused on rehab from that. I am focused on getting this blog back running. Enjoy! 

A Pastime, That's All It Is

If you read my stuff before my accident, you know I love bashing baseball. If you didn't, today you'll learn that I love bashing it. 

Over the past several weeks and months, I've had some free time on my hands when not in rehab. In that time, I've tuned into way too much baseball. It did it's job. It passed the time for me. That's what baseball does. In my neck of the woods, the Pirates had their first positive season since I was 2 years old. That was nice for people who remember the 1970 Pirates who were successful. I've said for years that Pittsburgh shouldn't have a baseball team so I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat hoping the Buccos would win but I did tune into a lot of baseball this season. 

In my time of watching baseball I have seen many things that absolutely perplex me. Baseball is the only sport where a fan can interfere with the game and get away with it. It just happened the other night. J.J. Reddick, Josh Reddick (sorry nobody knows the names of the Oakland players) tried to rob a home run in game 4 of the ALDS against Detroit and some goofball reached over the fence and tried to grab the ball. Now the evidence was inconclusive if Reddick would have actually been able to rob the ball, but it really looked like he had a chance to bring it back. 

On top of that MLB has an antiquated officiating system, extremely slow play and a plethora of other problems. Today I want to look at some of these issues and how silly they would be if they were in a different sport.

Slow Play, But It's Okay

Baseball is the only sport that doesn't have a game clock or set pace of play to it. You constantly see these batters put their hand up and step back after walking into the batter's box. Once you step into the batter's box you should have to stay there and bat. You shouldn't be allowed to walk around after every pitch, readjust your batting gloves, send a text message, etc. It's ridiculous. The pitcher does the same thing too, though. It adds so much time to the game. If baseball truly wanted to make their games quicker and more excited then this would be a rule. Once you're in the box you have to stay there the whole at-bat. Also, pitcher's can only toss the ball to a base twice without throwing a pitch to the plate. 

But Tim...that gives an unfair advantage to guys trying to steal.

No it doesn't. You don't need to throw the ball over to first base to stop a guy from stealing. Do it once if the guy is really lagging off the bag and you think you can get him. If not, throw to the batter and rely on your catcher to make a good throw. If you're that worried a guy is going to steal, pitch out to the catcher and have him toss it to the bag. You shouldn't get free roam of tossing it to your first baseman over and over. You should have to throw a ball to the batter and if the base runner presents that much of a threat. 

If you got the next batter up to the plate quicker, kept the pitches coming quicker and didn't have all of these extracurriculars going on after every pitch you could cut 30 minutes off a game. 

Other Sports Keep it Moving

NFL: Imagine if there wasn't a play clock in football. They could just mosey up to the line and a defensive player could just call infinite timeouts to adjust his cleats before Peyton Manning snapped the ball. 

NBA: How about we get rid of the five second inbound clock. Maybe we should allow players to hold the ball in the back court as long as they want. Shot clock? We don't need one of those. I want to see Miami beat Oklahoma City 21-15 and watch Russell Westbrook dribble for 22 minutes. Then we can start keeping pointless statistics like dribbles per half (DPH) time spent with the ball in your own backcourt (BCTPH) and a bunch of other great acronyms that the people in the stands sit there and keep track of with their kids. 

Let The Fans be More Involved

This is my favorite part of the MLB experience. If you are an outfielder chasing down a ball near the fence at most stadiums, you'll probably have some yahoo reaching over the fence to try to interfere with you. It should be interference but the rule is so ambiguous that even when we think it was broken, the umps don't know how to actually call it. I don't think I need to go on and on ranting about why Joe Schmo in the first row down the third baseline shouldn't be able to interfere with a player trying to catch a foul ball. Or do you not see a problem with that? Do I need to go on?

It's part of the game, Tim. The fans pay for those seats and they can't actually interfere with the athlete, they can just stand in his way and try to snatch the ball.

Oh yeah, there's nothing wrong with the fans interfering with games. Let's see what it would be like if they could interfere with other sports. 

NFL: I propose we start to allow fans to bring in kites, remote controlled helicopters and any other flying objects that could block a pass or kick. Yes, that sounds preposterous because the NFL doesn't give many opportunities for the fans to interfere with the game play.

NBA: Same thing goes for the projectiles in the stadiums. You want some pressure on that free throw. How about 150 fans are allowed to toss a football at the hoop at the same time you're shooting the FT? I'm fine with it. Maybe we promote the sideline fans to play defense occasionally. If you can intercept a pass with at least one foot out of bounds and you don't touch a player while you're defending it, it's a fair play. 

Soccer: Doesn't it make you laugh when that random streaker runs through a game over in Spain? I say we promote that. If you streak during a soccer game and can get the ball within 5 minutes of running onto the pitch, you get a penalty kick for whichever team you'd like. (Yes, I said pitch. I know soccer terminology.) 

Do I need to continue? I think you understand the point i'm making about these issues with baseball. The game is antiquated. It takes too long for a 9 inning game to be played. Several ALDS games went over 4 hours. None of which were extra inning games. They were 9 innings and over 4 hours. That's a half hour or more per inning. 

Along with this extremely long and boring process we call a baseball game is the fact that the audience can reach over the fence and touch a ball and get away with it. Add to that the fact that baseball doesn't know how to promote their stars. 

I enjoy baseball in small doses. I have to have something else to watch on another channel to flip back and forth because I don't want to see someone standing there for 8 minutes adjusting their gloves after every pitch. 

So, the reason I called this the Selig Fault is because he is old and out of touch. But, there is hope baseball. Selig announced that he is retiring after the 2014 season. To all of the people who are in control of choosing his replacement, please find someone hip and connected. Take someone who works under Roger Goodell or David Stern. Find a guy who will use technology like instant replay properly, someone who will take measures to speed up the game and make it more exciting, and someone who knows how to promote Yasiel Puig properly. That's what is needed baseball. That's what you must do. I wish you the best of luck!

Rule Breakers, not Chain Breakers

Intro

The first part of this blog post focused on people who chase their dreams and work hard to achieve everything they have ever wanted. They know what situations to put themselves in and what situations to stay out of. The opposite of those people are the rule breakers of sports. The people who have the possibility to break the chains of where they come from and what they were raised in but who fail to do so. 

They are Aaron Hernandez. 

They are the people who don't know how to get out of the lifestyle they were raised in and make a better life, even after they are handed the keys to the better life. 

The Better Life

This morning, Aaron Hernandez was in his "better life" home in Attleboro when his inabilities to get away from the life of gangs and guns he was raised in caught up to him. Police appeared at his house this morning and escorted him in a white t-shirt and red gym shorts to a police cruiser where he was taken to the local district court and charged with 1st-degree murder and five gun related counts. 

I don't want to jump to conclusions and say that he is guilty because there is no validation of that yet. There is a ton of circumstantial evidence that surrounds Aaron Hernandez and either way, I don't see his NFL career ever being around again. We love giving people second chances and someone like Ray Lewis is a great example of it, but something in my gut tells me that Hernandez wouldn't change if he did get another chance.

I don't know what it is about some people but they can't seem to get away from trouble. It's almost like they don't want to. I know people who were in a bad situation, moved to a better one and still found ways to get into trouble. You can sit down with them, tell them how stupid and moronic their behavior was, they completely agree with you and then the cycle continues a few weeks later. 

When you look at the track record of Aaron Hernandez, he has always been a troubled individual. From his childhood, to college years, to now being charged with 1st-degree murder, it keeps increasing. 

He may not be given another chance to screw up if found guilty of murder. He'll be in jail for many years and his life will essentially be over. The echoes of this crime just show you how important it is of who you surround yourself with. 

Break the Chain

I've never been involved in any gang activity. I don't know what the lives of many people in urban America are like. I can only imagine what I see and hear from music, television, movies, and people who have been through it. 

One common thing that I hear from the people who break out of it, is how they must break the chain. How they don't want their children to go through the same things they went through. This doesn't seem to be the mindset of many people who make it in sports from these places.

I credit the pressure of your peers from the ghetto trying to ride your coattails to the top as one thing that causes people who make it out to fall back in. I also credit the sense of community built in these areas through gangs or association of being from the same 'hood. When you make it out, you're told that you owe it to these people to give back. You're told that you're changing if you try to live a straight life and distance yourself from it all.

This is how so many people fail to stay successful when they make it out of these environments. They get brought back down by their peers. You must break the chain when you come from any place where you had to overcome extreme odds to succeed. You will always have someone who knew you before you were at that peak and that will say you changed or you owe them something. Don't listen to them. 

They are just jealous of the success you're about to have and want some of it for themselves. You must be intelligent and distance yourself from idiots. I understand that kids make mistakes and most things people do under the age of 21, I have some will to forgive them. Once you get into your mid-20s or have the opportunity to get away from it at a younger age, then you have no excuses. 

All Behind Bars NFL Team

One striking statistic that I came across today was that near 30 NFL players have been arrested since the Super Bowl. That's enough to field an entire NFL team. Business Insider published a list of the active players and their crimes, and it is quite disturbing how many players are in trouble.

Yes, the NFL has around 2,000 players but that means about 2% of the league has been arrested since the Super Bowl. How many other businesses have 2% of its employees behind bars? 

This is a serious problem within the NFL. It isn't like all of these charges are for simple things. There are a slew of DUIs, disorderly conducts, bar fights, marijuana possession, and on and on. 

The NFL needs to fix this problem. I haven't heard of issues like this in any other league since Gilbert Arenas was flashing guns in the locker room years ago in the NBA. I haven't heard of any players in the NBA getting arrested. Other than the steroid problem in baseball, they don't have any criminals. NASCAR, the NHL, soccer, they don't have it happening. 

The NFL had two murder related arrests just today! You can't have enough people in trouble that you could field a team of criminals.

Since the Super Bowl there has been one player arrested in the NBA. You know, the league that people stereotype as being a bunch of blacks from the ghetto running around with a ball on the court. The NBA has its act together. The NBA is the league your kids should be watching. Look at the top stars of the NBA. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, Kyrie Irving. None of them have any criminal records. You've never heard of any of them getting in any type of trouble. The NBA arrest was Terrence Williams for an assault charge. 

Sports Arrest Leaders Since the Super Bowl

The New York Jets have had more arrested in May (3) than the other major sports in America have had since the Super Bowl. If you add in Chad Johnson and Titus Young, then the NFL number is up to 29. 

NFL:           29 (27 active) 

NBA:            1

NASCAR:     1

NHL:             0

Soccer:         2

This is a bigger issue than one kid not being able to get away from the people who he knew before he became a star. This is about a league wide epidemic of people getting in trouble.

If you're ever given a chance to live out your dreams or take a risk that pays off huge, don't be a rule breaker who throws everything away, be a chain breaker who exceeds to new heights. 

P.S. - Have you seen Mark Sanchez being an idiot on film? 

Thanks for reading!

- Tim

Dream Chasers and Risk Takers

Intro

This will be the first part of a two part blog post today. This first part will focus on that moment when you need to make the tough decision in your life. When you have a comfortable situation you're living in but you put it on the line for something better. As a recent college graduate, I am in that situation. Should I take the easy route with a job that utilizes my degree but isn't quite what I want to do, or should I chase my dreams, put it out on the line and fight to get to my ultimate goals? After some thought the past few weeks, i'm going to go with the latter. 

While this topic has been on my mind lately for personal reasons, there are current sports stories that deal with this in a very relevant way. Specifically, Doc Rivers choosing to move from Boston to LA to coach the Clippers. 

Doctor's Orders

Each of the past two or three seasons there have been some grumblings of Doc Rivers making an exit from coaching altogether or moving to a different team, and nine days after the story surfaced, the deal is complete and the Clippers are paying Doc around $7 million a year to coach and lead the Los Angeles Clippers for the next three years. 

Was this a move of Doc Rivers chasing his dreams? I'd say yes. I think he had a realization over the past couple weeks or so that he didn't want to spend the rest of his career working on rebuilding the Celtics to be contenders in a young and talented Eastern Conference. 

Not that the Western Conference in the NBA is any easier, but Doc is already starting with a leg up talent wise. The current Celtics roster at one time several years ago was much more talented. Now, the stars are getting old. Ray Allen left after last season. Garnett and Pierce could be gone this year and Rivers has his issues with the youngest and most talented of the Celtic's stars, Rajon Rondo. 

Doc wants a couple more solid shots at winning an NBA title and thinks the young talent of the Clippers has a great opportunity in an ever-changing league. Chris Paul is one of the 10 best players in the league and the young nucleus that surrounds him is a few pieces away from being the favorite in the West. 

Doc is a risk taker and a dream chaser because he decided that he wanted to make a move to take a shot at another NBA championship. He didn't want to rebuild with the Celtics for three years, get them on the verge of a title, be physically worn out from coaching, retire, and give someone else his team with a chance to win. 

He could have stayed cozy in Boston. He was adored by the fans, respected by the players, and admired by the organization. He didn't want to coast off into the sunset with a couple more 46-36 seasons with an exit in the second or third round of the playoffs each year and go down as a great coach with one title. 

I wish Doc the best of luck in Los Angeles. If they add the right pieces then I think they will be a favorite in the West and have a great chance to compete with Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Golden State, and Denver at the top of the conference.

The Decision

You all hated LeBron for making "The Decision" to go to Miami with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Isn't that what life is all about? Take whatever field you're in and put together the hypothetical to work with some of the best in your profession, for one of the best CEOs or bosses, and tell me you wouldn't take it? 

If you didn't take it, i'm guessing you're the type of person who has lived within 10 miles of your hometown your entire life. That's okay. You can choose a life like that if you want. I'm not here to tell you how to live, but put yourself in the shoes of people who are risk takers and dream chasers. When the opportunity is there, they must take it. They don't plan years in advance on how to make their next move. They simply see an opportunity, sit down and think about it, and make a decision. When people are in certain businesses, they must take all of the opportunities they can get because they hold positions that people highly value. 

If you're in the media, the head of a company, a coach, etc. then you have a highly regarded job. There are hundreds of people out there just waiting for an opportunity to take your job. You also have a shorter time to achieve greatness. If you're in the media and get the opportunity to host your own show on a small local network and then NBC comes along and wants to pick up your show and broadcast it nationally, you better jump on it. The same thing goes for coaches and players in the NBA. There are only a small amount of elite positions available and the market of potential competitors is endless. So, when the moment comes where you can make the jump to the top, take it. 

Personality Test

There is a lot of talk about Type 'A' and Type  'B' personalities. This is a theory of two contrasting theories of personality that most people fall under. 

People who are Type 'A' personalities are the people who are risk takers and dream chasers. They are the people who go and get things done. They don't wait around for things to happen. They are focused and dedicated to being successful. They fill their plate and go for it all. They don't wait around and hope for the situation to come to them. 

The Type 'B' personalities are the people who tend to be more relaxed. They take an "if it gets done, it gets done" approach to many things. They look for a simpler life and usually end up staying in the same type of place from which they were raised and are completely satisfied with it. 

I think I fall somewhere in between the two. I have many Type 'A' qualities but can also take a step back and enjoy the moment. I think everyone should look for some type of balance in their life and not lean too far toward one type or the other. If you have it in you, and are a Type 'A' personality, your level for success is going to be much higher because you are going to work like crazy to get there. 

Working like crazy is exactly what the LeBrons and Doc Rivers of the world did, so don't berate them or hate them for leaving a situation they were in for a better one. They did the work to be in that position. They aren't disloyal for leaving Cleveland and Boston, they spent plenty of time in those places and gave a lot to both cities. A better opportunity for them came along and they took it. Don't hate, understand.

On the Flip Side

Tune back in later today for a second blog post that is focused on people who are given a chance to be successful and can't seem to get away from the evils that haunt them to stay successful, "Rule Breakers, not Chain Breakers" 

Thanks!

- Tim

The Future of Sports

Social Media and Statistics

When thinking about the future of sports, I don't want to think about robots and outlandish possibilities.  I want to look at the trends that are starting today and where they will head in the future. One of the biggest things to happen in society over the past several years has been the prominence of social media. We are such a connected society with the ability to communicate with everyone around us. We can now directly contact athletes with a chance that they'll reply to us. 

Where is this going to go in the future? I think eventually a league will incorporate this into games. All of the networks already have it integrated where they will show tweets or trending topics during games. Soon a league that has some struggles will decide it's time to have social media utilized within the game. I'm not sure exactly how they'll do it, but I see a day where a player scores a touchdown and his celebration is tweeting 140 characters at a computer set up in the back of the end zone. I don't think football will be the first one to do it, but I could see that happening one day. 

Along with the technological advancements of communication through social media is the advancement of statistical analysis collected. 

We now have graphs and stats that focus on every single possession in a baseball game. Sabre Metrics in baseball have completely changed how many teams operate. New ratings for QBs in the NFL are being created. This trend is only going to continue. Eventually I see the leagues embracing this even more than they do right now. I see some type of micro-processor being placed inside a football to calculate the speeds more accurately that a QB throws, and calculate how soft a receivers hands are. 

Technology allows a wealth of knowledge and data to be collected through many means. In a couple years we're going to be able to look at individual statistics for players in every environment possible. There are already projections that can be done to predict the tendencies of athletes in certain situations. The advancement of technology is only going to further this along.

Safety First

Over the past several months, a few football players have spoken up and said that football won't exist in 20 or 30 years. First it was the Baltimore Ravens Bernard Pollard, and last week it was Detroit Lions Hall of Famer Lem Barney. 

The reasoning is that football is too violent of a sport and eventually nobody will want to play it because of the possibility of head injuries that linger after your career has ended. Well, since I just spent several paragraphs talking about technology, i'll once again offer it up as the solution.

I was raised watching NASCAR. I don't follow it as closely as I used to, but when I was about 10 years old in 2001 and Dale Earnhardt died, the sport changed forever. Along with the death of Earnhardt were several other serious injuries and deaths in racing that called for a change.

This caused NASCAR to make a complete revamp of its safety precautions and changed the way the sport operated. Every component on the car was improved and made safer. The walls around the tracks were changed from extremely hard concrete barriers to safer walls that had some flexibility and give to absorb blows. Restraints were required by NASCAR to ensure higher safety for all drivers, and the sport has survived because of this.

If the money is there, and the money was there for NASCAR, so it's surely there for the NFL, then changes can be made to make the game safer. I don't think we'll see a day where all of the players are in giant robotic suits playing, but I do see safer helmets, pads, and neck supports being created. 

I can see the number of transcendent talents in the NFL dropping over the next few years while these changes are made but I don't see the sport in any real danger. If the NFL wants to be serious about protecting its players, then it will make the necessary changes to get the league to a place where safety is secured. 

It might take a couple years to get the NFL to that place, but it can be done. That doesn't mean there will never be another concussion in the sport, but there will be less. We won't have the days of Junior Seau killing himself because of the head injuries he sustained playing the sport. Hopefully we will see the day where science comes through with a solution for the NFL to prevent those type of injuries from happening again. 

I'll See You in the Future

I wanted to touch on those two important points. Now, I want to give a broader view of where I see sports in 20, 30 and even 50 years. I think it only gets better for the sports fan. There will be more ways to interact with your favorite athlete, team, or league. We will have more access to sports. There will be more data available, and more opportunity to be a part of the sport.

Some sports won't be as popular as they are today. Some sports will be even more popular. If I had to make some bets, I would say that soccer will have a bigger place in America and MLS will be bigger than MLB. 

Football will have gone through a transcendent period where safety changes have made the game better. We just have to hope that we don't see a talent strike because of the people pointing out the issues with safety in football today. If I had a young son that wanted to play football, i'd probably steer him toward another sport.

I think hockey will also have some major changes to improve safety and attempt to give us a better game. I think there will be other sports that grow in popularity because of the ease of access to spread a message to the world. Remember when the World Series of Poker was big? I could see a few smaller sports take a center stage for a few years in the future like poker did.

Either way, I know I will be tuned in to see what changes come to the world of sports over the next 20 years and beyond. I hope you will keep the same love of sports you have today in the future and embrace change. 

Thanks for reading today! I'll be back next week with four new blog posts. Now that the NBA is over, it's time to start focusing on football, baseball playoffs and more. 

- Tim

Special Edition: LeBron's Legacy

Back to Back MVP

I don't know how much of my fan base listens to rap music, but I do. When I think of LeBron the T.I. line about "the king back now..." comes into my mind. It's rather fitting after he is a back to back champion.  LeBron received his status of "King James" from his play and his stature over everyone around him. What makes him a king in my book is how he acts. He is a true champion. He exemplifies everything I want to idolize. He can enjoy the moment. Think about the coaches and players who always try to keep it cool and wouldn't have been on stage with a huge smile doing a little bounce back and forth with the Larry O'Brien and Bill Russell trophies in their hands. LeBron knows what the moment is and seizes it. If it's being straight faced and focused late in a must win game or celebrating when it's over, he knows what to do.

Beyond seizing the moment, LeBron is a perfect example to any kid who has ever been picked on. He allows his actions to speak louder than his words. He doesn't need to make some strong statement about proving the media and his naysayers wrong in a press conference. He delivers a fantastic game 6, scores 37 points, 12 rebounds, a bunch of assists, several late jumpers that sealed the deal, and two clutch free throws to win his second NBA title and MVP of the finals. 

He realizes that he was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be in the NBA and isn't taking it for granted. LeBron is an athlete that most people don't see anymore. He is under constant scrutiny and still comes out unblemished with another ring on his finger. He is a true champion and stand up guy in every sense of those terms. 

That's why i'm giving you guys a late night special edition about LeBron's legacy. He inspired me tonight with his performance and I want to take a look at why he is so great.  

"I Ain't Got No Worries" 

I'm not sure if he was quoting the Lil Wayne song or not, but LeBron James has absolutely nothing to worry about right now. If this performance wasn't enough to douse the flame of hate against him for leaving Cleveland and struggling in the 2011 finals, then nothing ever will. 

As he said, he couldn't care less. He is a true champion. He is the most talented player I have ever seen play the game of basketball, he is a class act with amazing character, and he has proven the masses wrong over and over the past two years.

Everyone thought Indiana had a chance to beat the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, LeBron drops 32/8/4 in a dominating win. Game 6 against the Spurs, LeBron makes two bad plays but hits a big 3-pointer late and then gets help from Chris Bosh and Ray Allen. Last year against the Celtics in an elimination game 6, he scored 45 points and had 15 rebounds to stay alive in Boston. They said he wasn't clutch two years ago. Since that time, he's been clutch every time he was called on.

There was a switch that clicked with LeBron after losing to the Mavericks in 2011. He realized he didn't need to listen to what other people said about him. He didn't need to be hypersensitive to the media. He just needed to play his game. After that loss is when the switch flipped. We got to see it for the first time in the series against the Bulls last year when LeBron closed them out with great performances. Then, he followed it up in Boston and willed his team to the title after a game 1 loss to Oklahoma City. 

This year it was more of the same from LeBron. When the moment was the most dire, he had the games he needed to and won. LeBron ain't got no worries, but he does have two rings.

Legacy Solidified

I know you don't agree with this if you're almost anyone between the ages of 17 and 100 but LeBron James is better than Michael Jordan. I've been saying this since he beat Boston in game 6 of the playoffs last year, and I've been saying that he would be the best ever when it's all said and done for several years now. 

I want to write and ask you all to put away your nostalgia of M.J. for a minute but I can't do that to you. I know where you're coming from. M.J. was great. He was the best ever until 370 some days ago. When LeBron scored 45 points and 15 rebounds against the Celtics, I knew it was over. The legacy started to build and come to fruition and with his second title tonight, it was solidified.

Here's why I pick LeBron over M.J. 

1.) It's about every facet of the game to me. It's about scoring, rebounding, assisting, blocking, defense, etc. Both of these players had/have immense talent at those skills, but LeBron has to use all of those skills every single night. He led the Heat in 9 categories last night. His all-around game is more complete to me than Michael's was. Look at the stats, LeBron's big games have him with a packed box score and Michael's games had 45 points, 1 rebound and 1 assist. LeBron has 37 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 blocks, 4 steals, 9 of 11 free throws, and dominant defense. 

2.) Following my first point, LeBron is the better teammate. He makes everyone around him better. He sets them up for open looks. He gets into the right position so they can make a good decision of passing or shooting. He cares deeply about the guys he plays with. They are his brothers. They are a family. I was young for most of Jordan's dominance but I always got  this vibe that Jordan knew he was on a level above everyone and acted accordingly.

3.) LeBron is a better person. Now you say that we should only judge them by what they do on the court. Why? If you're the greatest at something, everything you do is put under a microscope. If i'm picking out an idol or role model for someone, i'm picking LeBron first and Jordan will probably be an undrafted free agent. I like the drive and ferocity of Jordan. He was an assassin. That's one way to operate. I like how LeBron does it better. He would rather go down with the crew over abandoning ship to save himself. I want my kids to learn the qualities that LeBron has over Michael. Too many people say you need to be heartless and vicious to be successful. LeBron shows that isn't true. You have to be dedicated, work hard and put everything you have into something to be successful, but you can do it without being arrogant. 

LeBron has the qualities as a player and a person that make me so positively sure that he is the best player I have ever seen. 

Feel free to call me crazy and defend Michael until you're blue in the face. I've heard a handful of stories from people about M.J. being a jerk. I don't care how great you are. You have to earn my respect. I respect what M.J. did on a basketball court but that's as far as that goes. I respect everything LeBron has done, not just basketball.

Maybe that doesn't mean anything to you but when I hear LeBron talk about seeing his name on the back of his jersey and knowing that he wasn't even supposed to be here, it makes me happy. It makes me appreciate him that much more because he appreciates those moments. 

Closing Remarks

I want to pay a moment of respect to the San Antonio Spurs. They were one of the first teams I watched when I got into basketball because they were successful and on TV when I started watching. I always enjoyed watching Tim Duncan and Co. play so efficiently. It was beautiful. The Spurs were one of the first teams I rooted for because I was 7 or 8 when they started this dominating era. Now i'm 22. I have always had a place for the Spurs in my heart but since LeBron entered into the league I have been a fan of him. I was a bit torn when the two faced off the first time. This time I was all in for LeBron. That doesn't take away my respect for Popovich, Duncan, Ginobli, Parker and the great system that San Antonio has in place. Tim Duncan might decide to retire after this year. I don't think Ginobli or Parker will ever be as good as they have been in the past and Popovich will probably leave coaching in a few years. This could be the closing of an era and I just want to say, congratulations to everything that San Antonio has accomplished in the past 15 years. Their organization is a model one that does things the right way. 

Thanks for reading. I'll bring my regularly scheduled blog post sometime in the early afternoon hours. We're talking about where sports will be in 50 years.

Congratulations to the Miami Heat!! 2013 NBA Champions!! Congratulations to LeBron James!! 2013 NBA Finals MVP!!

- Tim