Sports Blog

Some Of The Most Notable Recent Free Agent Acquisitions In The MLB

This has been an interesting two months without baseball ever since the end of the 2009 season. We knew there would be a handful of high profile names entering free agency during the off season.

What a team decides to do in between seasons can largely shape their success during the year to come. A perfect example of this would be the remarkable surge the Yankees made in 2009. A team that missed out on the playoffs the previous year was suddenly the best in all of the sport.

The team looked nothing like its former self after adding Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher to its batting lineup and CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett to its pitching rotation. This gave the Yanks a powerhouse roster that no team could compete with.

Many are wondering if any team will pull off what New York was able to accomplish last year. After looking at some of the major free agent transactions we’ve witnessed thus far, we’ll probably have a better idea.

Acknowledging the need to compete with the Yankees in 2010, the Red Sox knew that they had to make a move. They couldn’t have done much better than signing John Lackey, the biggest pitcher in the free agent pool.  Read more...

The Los Angeles Lakers Look to Repeat

The NBA season has just about arrived, and the Los Angeles Lakers are the definite favorite entering the season. Why, you might ask?

Kobe Bryant proved that the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t need Shaquille O’Neal to win an NBA title. He did have the help of Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom (two big men), but they’re not Shaquille O’Neal in his prime.

He also proved that he would win the next championship before LeBron James would, quieting critics who point out LeBron’s superiority with respect to that rivalry. And what a great rivalry this is!

Much of the Lakers’ success last year should be attributed to a lot more than just Kobe himself. This was a team effort through and through.

Andrew Bynum needs to have a break out year this season because he has contributed little in his career thus far. Bynum has improved his scoring average every year he has been in the league but can’t stay healthy. Bynum is a good talent; he has size and has shown signs of having the potential to be a great big man.  Read more...

Will The Indiana Pacers Improve in ‘09-’10

The Indiana Pacers had a very mediocre season in 08′-09′ season finishing 36-46. The bright spot for the Pacers was their home record, 25 -26. The Pacers were terrible on the road, 11-30.

The Indiana Pacers’ Danny Granger had a breakout season, and put himself on the map as one of the best players in the NBA. Few people realize this, as the Indiana Pacers are a below average team that gets little coverage.

The Pacers defense was one of the worst in the NBA giving up more then 106 points per game for 26th in the NBA.

The Pacers have a young team with a good upside. The defense was their death blow last season giving up more points then they could score. More emphasis needs to be put on defense; we know the team can score.

The Central division should be an improvement overall – the Chicago Bulls are potentially a high 40 win team, the Cleveland Cavs acquired Shaquille O’Neal and will be the front runners.

Granger’s 87.8 free throw percentage was also among the best in the NBA. Had the Pacers been a winning team last season, Granger would have received far more credit. Still, his game should continue to improve, and it’s only a matter of time before Danny Granger becomes a household name.  Read more...

Is Blake Griffin the Answer for the Los Angeles Clippers?

The Los Angeles Clippers lucked out this year. While the team didn’t have the worst record in the NBA last season, they were pretty downright bad. This was pretty surprising considering the fact that the team had signed both Baron Davis and Marcus Camby – two very big names.

Not being able to win 20 games as a professional basketball team is very embarrassing. The Clippers were 27th in scoring and 25th in defense – at least they weren’t dead last in both categories.

Often times, who to select at number one may depend on a team’s needs or preferences. The choice was clear this time around. Blake Griffin had established himself as a dominant player in college basketball, and the overwhelmingly obvious choice at number one.

An extremely versatile player, Griffin’s power and forcefulness are the type that can positively impact any team. He’s a franchise player in the mold of a Tim Duncan.

You may remember that Duncan, alongside David Robinson, led the Spurs to an NBA championship during the very beginning of his career. Can Blake Griffin have a similar type of impact for the Los Angeles Clippers?  Read more...

Will Gordon and Villanueva Save the Detroit Pistons?

Things took an interesting turn for the Detroit Pistons this past year. Gone are the days of the Eastern Conference supremacy, and gone are many of the familiar names we’ve been accustomed to seeing in a Pistons uniform over the years.

Chauncey Billups is now in Denver (and playing great basketball). Allen Iverson, who was acquired in this trade, has also left town to sign with the Bobcats (so much for winning that championship anytime soon). Then there’s Rasheed Wallace, who opted to join the Celtics after the end of this season.

The Allen Iverson trade was a disaster and the Pistons played disinterested at times. The Pistons would go on long scoring droughts which essentially ended their season at the all-star break. They were wishing they had Billups back!

For the Chicago Bulls Ben Gordon averaged 21 points per game and made many important shots against the Boston Celtics in the first round in the 09′ playoffs.

Villanueva comes in with some size. He can score points as well and with his presence on defense, he should help improve both sides of the ball.  Read more...

An Improved Charlotte Bobcats Team

The Charlotte Bobcats have never made the NBA playoffs. They are hoping that might change this season. While the Bobcats have never been a successful team, they quietly had their best season in franchise history last year, finishing with a 35-47 record.

The Bobcats have a very young team – one of the youngest teams in the NBA. The Bobcats played some of their best basketball towards the end of the season; this gave fans of the Bobcats hope that there are just a few steps away from making the playoffs for the first time.

Head Coach Larry Brown is an all-time great coach who has turned around teams before and made them playoff worthy – this could be Brown’s toughest challenge to date.

Brown’s work ethic and discipline seems to have carried into the Bobcats last season, as they suddenly looked like a team that believed they belonged in the post season.

The Bobcats in the 08′- 09′ season were a pretty good team at home, 23-18 – but the road record is what prevented them from making the playoffs, 12-29. If the Bobcats can maintain a good home record like a season ago and improve their road record, they will be close to a .500 team.  Read more...

The Premier NFL Teams in Each Conference

With the football season nearly halfway over, it looks like the contenders and the pretenders are starting to separate themselves. The race is wide open in both conferences, but there are some very obvious front runners at the moment.

It’s time to review the season thus far by proclaiming the best teams in each conference. When all is said and done, I’ll then go ahead in making a Super Bowl prediction.

In the AFC, it would appear that there are a few clear contenders. First of all, the Pittsburgh Steelers have bounced back from a disappointing start, winners of 4 straight and now 5-2. They have Troy Polamalu back and the fact that they beat the Vikings shows that this team is strong.

There are also the surprising Denver Broncos, though no one is fully ready to take them seriously yet. Don’t forget about the Patriots either, playing some strong football.

In addition to these three teams, the Indianapolis Colts are right there as well. In fact, they may be the best in the AFC thus far, as the team has won its first 7 games. Peyton Manning looks as good as he ever has, and they’re the team to beat.  Read more...

A Season Outlook: The ‘09-’10 Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls had a better season then their record would have indicated in 08′ -’09, 41-41. They were eliminated in the first round by the hands of the Boston Celtics but proved they had a never say quit mentality. Each game was seemingly more dramatic then the previous one. The Celtics had all they could ever want from the Bulls in that series without question. The Bulls look to build off their great performance in the 09′ playoffs this season.

The Bulls were a very good home team, 28-13, but a terrible road team,–28. This will have to improve if the Bulls want home court advantage in the playoffs come the spring time.

Vinny Del Negro has since assumed the role, and has slowly brought the team back to a competitive state. Del Negro had some success in the back office for the Suns, but he’s never been a head coach before.

The loss of Ben Gordon will hurt the Bulls offense – during the 09′ season Gordon averaged 21 points per game and had a sensational first round playoff. Where the Bulls will make up for the points lost during the season will be interesting to see.  Read more...

The New Aston Martin Rapide – The Ultimate Driving Experience

When Aston Martin is designing a car, they usually based on its core values. They strive to create models that are powerful and stylish without compromising their character. The market has been introduced to the first ever four door sports car. The Aston Martin Rapide is the ultimate driving experience for up to four adults.

The car is usually associated with the racer horses that are both elegant and strong. The Rapide Aston Martin has been able to capture that essence beautifully. It comes with a low stance that gives it the ability to exude power. It also has muscular haunches in the rear section that gives off a feeling of power on its underbody.

Aston Martin Rapide is a unique sports car because it comes with four ’swan wing’ door and not the normal two doors. The doors can be opened at an angle that makes accessibility easy and also prevents the doors from colliding with each other. This sports car has a fresh couple-like design that is created by the low roof line and others distinct features like the lights. When a Rapide Aston Martin is on the road one cannot help but notice it due to its unique and strong features.  Read more...

The Unveiling Of The McLaren MP4-12C

The 2011 McLaren MP4-12C has features that makes it one of the greatest vehicles on the road; it can make up to 8, 500 revolutions per minute and the exhaust system is well modeled to meet the high standards of its strong engine. This car has a 3.8-litre capacity and a double turbo V8; only 20 per cent of the torque goes above 2,000 revolutions per minute.

McLaren MP4-12 has a modified clutch that was developed to increase efficiency in the company’s formula one program. The Seamless Shift dual clutch transmission (SSG) has seven-speed ability and it can be operated from either positions of the steering wheel.

A press or a pull on the rockers will change the gear from here as the SSG makes this happen very fast; it contains a pre cognition function that makes possible. It is not hard at all as this is an automated car and the hassles that come with manual operation are not in your list of worries when it comes to a 2011 McLaren MP4-12C. The physical look of this car goes beyond fashion and trend appearance. It is designed in a way that it shall remain relevant in the motor industry for years to come. McLaren MP4-12 is about being at the top in the industry by setting the standard and holding on as the leader. Another outstanding factor is the way the radiators are well ventilated; the car has a free in flow of air from either sides.  Read more...