Sam Fuld: The man, the legend
19 Apr 2011It’s not so often that a local boy from Durham, NH gains national attention. If you haven’t been following Sam Fuld this season, now is the time to start. The starting left outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays is having a season to remember, and the Rays are only 16 games into the young Major League Baseball season. Currently, Fuld leads the American League in batting average at .396 after going 4-for-4 last night against the Chicago White Sox. The kid who played Post 8 Legion baseball in Dover, NH is now tearing up the big leagues. He’s turning into a start right before our eyes. Let’s just hope his fast start continues for the whole season. Keep up the good work, Sam. We’re all pulling for you!
Yahoo! Contributor Network
15 Apr 2011If you’ve never heard of it, and you love to write, but have never been published, now is your chance. I’m not saying it’s easy – because it’s not. You have to be a quality writer, and the editing process is long, but the Yahoo! Contributor Network is a great way to get your name out there, and you can write about anything you want!
I recently signed up for it – and unlike this site where I talk about sports and music and Premiership Talk where I write soccer articles – and I plan on using it as a means to talk about local topics/stories/news/etc. I just got my first article published on April 13th, and I’ve had that article already read a ton!
If you don’t know what to write about specifically, feel free to “claim” one of the many topics that are released daily. That’s what I did for my first article. I claim article topics that are interesting to me, and it makes writing the articles really enjoyable. So go and check it out, get writing, and get your name out there! It’s a great way to better your writing and get readers from all over the world with the help of Yahoo! Your articles can even be published on Associated Content, Yahoo! Sports, and all of the other Yahoo! sites!
Check it out today! You’ll be glad you did.
Bring Em Home – D.veloped
6 Apr 2011I heard this while rocking out on FratMusic.com and just found it to be really catchy. Enjoy!
159-3? I’ll take it.
5 Apr 2011Everybody, start panicking! The Red Sox are 0-3. What are we going to do? How about we all just chill out and realize that there are still 159 games left in the season instead of freaking out and writing off our World Series hopes? Sounds like a good plan to me. Yes, our starting pitching was horrible against the Rangers. Yes, we gave up 11 homeruns. If people didn’t notice though, there were some positives that can be taken away from those games.
1. Adrian Gonzalez is the real deal. If there was any question as to whether or not he’ll be worth every last penny, those questions have been answered. In his first three games Gonzalez went 5 for 13 (.385) with two runs, a double, and three RBIs. Good signs of things to come.
2. Papi is hitting. A notoriously slow starter – especially the last few seasons – David Ortiz is trying to silence his critics early. Ortiz went 4 for 12 (.333), with two runs, two homers (ALREADY!), and four RBIs. Let’s keep it going.
3. We play horrible against Texas. Over the last two seasons we are a combined 6-13 against them. Horrible.
With a ton or roster changes there needs to be a gel period for everybody. Some people start hot. Others take awhile to warm up. Relax. We’ll be fine. Book your tickets to the playoffs because like the NESN commercial says, “We’re All In!”
Butler comes up short
5 Apr 2011Final Record: 44-23 (.657)
In one of the most bizarre NCAA Tournaments ever, the feel good Butler Bulldogs came up just short – again. For the second straight year Butler fell in the NCAA Championship game. Last year, Duke was cutting down the nets. This year, UConn got the better of them. It’s safe to say that UConn went on one of the most improbable runs in college basketball ever. The Huskies on the Big East tournament by winning five games in five days at Madison Square Garden then went on to win the NCAA Tournament by winning another six games in a 19 day span. For those of you keeping track at home, UConn won a total of 11 games in a 27 day span. Their last lost came exactly one month ago today. To begin the season, the Huskies weren’t even name in the preseason Top-25. They finished with a mediocre 9-9 record in the Big East. Yet somehow they hoisted the Big East and NCAA Tournament crowns. Oh ya, and that guy Kemba isn’t too shabby either.
After last year’s heartbreak, there was a large bandwagon Butler contingent pulling for the underdog (pun totally intended). It can be argued though, that Butler was anything but a Cinderella team. They had far more NCAA Tournament experience than almost all the teams in the field this year. However, the fairy tale ending was not in the cards for Butler. Coach Brad Stevens, who’s been building an amazing reputation at only 34 years old, will hope to pick Butler back up, dust them off, and return to the championship game for the third consecutive year when the Final Four heads to New Orleans next March. Third time’s the charm, right?
NCAA Championship Game pick
4 Apr 2011Record: 44-22
I let my extreme hatred of UConn get in the way of a perfect 2 for 2 night with my Final Four picks. I hope that doesn’t mess up my pick for the championship game. Let’s see…
(8) Butler vs. (3) UConn (9:23pm EST CBS)
Do you go with the favorite or the feel good story? UConn started off the season playing horrible in the Big East. Butler is just a year removed from a championship game run that ended in heartbreak. They’re taking this year as a do-over of sorts. UConn is looking to win another title for coach Jim Calhoun and make up for their women’s upset loss to Notre Dame last night in their Final Four. Kemba Walker has fulfilled his duties as big man on campus this season, and everybody back in Storrs is hoping that he will help the Huskies to return lifting the championship trophy. As I said before, I hate UConn. Everything about UConn disgusts me. Everybody in New England claims to be a UConn fan. I, for one, am one of the few non-Huskies. I thought my negative bias toward them would not affect my Final Four pick. I genuinely thought Kentucky would be them, and they came oh so close to doing so. Tonight I’m thinking the same thing. UConn is good, but they’ve been on a grind the last few weeks and it’s bound to catch up to them sometime. Kemba can’t keep winning all their games for them can he? I say their run ends tonight. Here’s to the Bulldogs! Butler makes up for last season and brings the trophy back to Indianapolis!
Final Four picks
2 Apr 2011Record: 43-21
That was a rough Elite Eight. I was like an out of shape baseball player trying to make the 40-man roster after an ugly 0-4 Spring Training performance – all strikeouts. Hopefully I can recover and finish strong by going 3/3 in the remaining games.
(11) VCU vs. (8) Butler (6:09pm CBS)
Does VCU’s Shaka Smart have what it takes to out coach Butler’s Brad Stevens? He’ll definitely be using the “us against the world” mentality in the pregame speech to his players, and that’s really the only way he can go about it. It’s gotten them this far in the tournament so why change? Both teams go all out for their coaches. Smart and Stevens are two of the really good guys in college basketball. Unfortunately one of them will be sent packing. I think it’ll be VCU. Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack are out for redemption after a half-court heave by Gordon Hayward missed by mere centimeters of crowing the Bulldogs as NCAA champions. This time, they’re ready for another championship game, and VCU won’t be stopping them. Butler wins this one in a very close game.
(4) Kentucky vs. (3) UConn (8:49pm CBS)
In the other half of the Final Four we have two of the best coaches – and most frequently sanctioned by the NCAA – in college basketball. Kentucky’s John Calipari has surprisingly never won a title even with the likes of Tyreke Evans, Derrick Rose, and John Wall on some of his teams. He’s mastered the art of the “one-and-done” player, which means he always has to find the next best thing. This time around he has a core of underclassmen ready to win a title. UConn has Kemba Walker. The junior has been unbelievable this year and just finished second in the AP Player of the Year voting to BYU’s Jimmer Fredette. If the trend continues he’ll be finishing second yet again. I see Kentucky winning this one. If I had my pick neither team would be in the championship game, so I’m going with the less of two evils and because I think it will be a pretty even game. Kentucky wins in a nail-bitter.
Elite 8 picks
26 Mar 2011Record (through Sweet 16): 43-17
Picked seven of the eight Sweet 16 games right, so let’s keep this run of form going for the four Elite 8 games!
Saturday, March 26th
(8) Butler vs. (2) Florida (4:30pm CBS)
Butler continues to amaze, and I’m pretty sure that I’ll be regretting this pick by Saturday night, but I’m going to pick Florida to advance. Not confident about the pick, especially with Butler playing so well, but for some reason I’m picking the Gators in this one.
(5) Arizona vs. (3) Connecticut (7:05pm CBS)
I completely wrote Arizona off at the beginning of the tournament, but Derrick Williams has completely changed by perspective on the Wildcats. Kemba has been pretty amazing for UConn as well, but I think the Huskies have finally met their match. Zona advances.
Sunday, March 27th
(11) VCU vs. (1) Kansas (2:20pm CBS)
VCU has had a an amazing tourney run. They’ve won the most games out of anybody so far by virtue of being in the newly dubbed “First Four,” but I think the magic is done. Kansas is poised for a title run, and they proved it in their absolute drubbing of Richmond. VCU might fare slightly better by not losing by as much, but I still see Kansas moving onto the Final Four.
(4) Kentucky vs. (2) North Carolina (5:05pm CBS)
I wrote my Tar Heels off as not having what it takes to win a championship, but that has since changed. After making Marquette look absolutely foolish on Friday, UNC looks capable of at least making the championship game especially if they play like they did in the first half against the Golden Eagles. Kentucky is obviously playing well since they just knocked off the #1 overall seed in Ohio State. I think it’s not very smart of me to be picking my Tar Heels in this one, but I’m going to anyway. UNC moves onto the Final Four!
Sweet 16: March 25th
24 Mar 2011Who’s moving on to the Elite 8 after Friday’s games? Here’s my picks. Let’s see how they match up with yours.
(11) Marquette vs. (2) North Carolina (7:15pm CBS)
In my bracket I had Syracuse beating my Tar Heels in this Sweet 16 match-up, but now that Marquette is their opponent I’m feeling much more confident. I figured the swarming Cuse defense was going to eat UNC alive. Marquette plays solid defense too, but nothing like the Jim Boeheim Zone. North Carolina advances to the Elite 8.
(12) Richmond vs. (1) Kansas (7:27pm TBS)
Richmond is a good team. This much we know from watching their nationally televised run of upsets this past week. Can they beat one of the best teams in the nation? I say, no. Kansas wins this one easy.
(4) Kentucky vs. (1) Ohio State (9:45pm CBS)
People will call me crazy, but I don’t care. Coach Cal is ready to coach his young team to a huge upset of Ohio State. Not many people will back me up with this pick, but it’s going to happen. Be ready. You heard it here first. Kentucky is on to the Elite 8!
(11) VCU vs. (10) Florida State (9:57pm TBS)
My guess is there were zero people who had an #11 vs. #10 in the Sweet 16. I know I sure didn’t. Both teams were not expected to go far and both have already far exceeded expectations. I say VCU records their fourth win of the tournament. The Rams advance!
Sweet 16 picks: March 24th
23 Mar 2011Record (through Round of 32): 36-16
Still on a good run. Let’s keep it going. Here are my picks for the first four Sweet 16 games on Thursday.
(3) Connecticut vs. (2) San Diego State (7:15pm CBS)
Is it possible for UConn to beat SDSU and not consider it an upset? Because I sure don’t think it is one. Kemba won’t stop scoring, so I’m pretty confident that Steve Fisher’s fairy tale season with the Aztecs has come to a close. UConn advances.
(3) BYU vs. (2) Florida (7:27pm TBS)
Can Jimmer single-handedly knock off a Florida team that has been playing unbelievably for the entire season? I don’t think so. Jimmer would have to score 50+ to make that dream come true. Chandler Parsons is arguably one of the most well-rounded players in the nation. Jimmer’s just a shooter – a darn good one – but just a shooter. The Gators take this one, but move over Kobe, the Mormon Mamba is off to prove himself in the NBA.
(5) Arizona vs. (1) Duke (9:45pm CBS)
I’ve been writing off Arizona the entire tournament, and they continue to screw up my bracket and prove me wrong. The good times have to send sometime though, and Duke is playing even better with the return of freshman sensation Kyrie Irving. Coach K said the other day that Irving will receive “significant playing time” against ‘Zona, which spells trouble. Duke advances to the Elite 8.
(8) Butler vs. (4) Wisconsin (9:57pm TBS)
Butler continues to play amazing basketball. Power forward Matt Howard is playing out of his mind right now, and it looks like that trend is set to continue. These are two teams that I wrote off early in the tournament and both continue to play extremely well. Bo Ryan is ready for a tough match-up. I think Butler matches up really well with the Badgers, and I think that Butler wants it more after last year’s championship game heartbreak. Sorry Bo, Butler continues on to the next round.
