Wednesday Feb 24th Daily Thoughts and Picks.....

Hey there guys,
Yesterday was an "eh" kind of day for me as far as my picks went. Florida defeated Tennessee behind a 27-6 run in the 2nd half. Woof. And why is it that the Vegas favorite covers the spread against a ranked team and the headline says that they"stunned" or "pulled off the upset"???? Florida was the 3 point FAVORITE!! I don't understand. Anyway in the NBA I went 4-4 as Kobe Bryant, in his first game back, knocked down 32 points including another game winner as they defeated Memphis by 1, the Suns upset the Thunder in the OKC despite Durantula's 36 points, and Cleveland finally won a game after their big trade, defeating the Hornets by 10 even though one New Orleans bench player, Marcus Thornton, outscored Cleveland's entire bench, as he dropped 37 points, 23 in the 3rd quarter alone. Well today I have some thoughts on the discussion about LaDanian Tomlinson as well some more thoughts on Olympic Hockey. As far as the games go we have got some solid SEC West Games as Arkansas travels to LSU, a dangerous game, Auburn heads over to Ole Miss, the coldest team in the SEC, and in a game I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE, Alabama heads to Starkville to play Mississippi State in a match up of the two best defenses in the SEC. Should be fun. In the NBA there are some great games with Memphis traveling to play at Washington as they try to fight to hold on to their playoff life, Portland hops across the border to play Toronto in a match up of playoff teams from separate conferences, the Magic play the Rockets in Houston, Durantula takes the Thunder down to Texas to play the Spurs in a great match up, the Lakers play the Mavericks on the road in a potential playoff preview, and in what should be a fun game the healthy Pistons play the Clippers in LA, while Kobe is away. Hope you guys enjoy.

My Thoughts.....

-NFL, LT comparisons
So, as I am sure many of you have heard, the Chargers and LaDanian Tomlinson have officially parted ways. Over the last couple of days I have heard countless comparisons between Tomlinson and other players. Some of them are just downright ridiculous. Listening to the radio I heard someone begin to compare Tomlinson and Allen Iverson of the NBA saying that both of them were great players that couldn't lead their respective teams to championships. What? Now football and basketball are my favorite sports, in that order, but in Basketball one great player can turn a team around much quicker than in football, just take a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder with Kevin Durant. Allen Iverson lead the 76ers to one final, and lost 1-4 to the Lakers. But he couldn't get it done. It takes an entire team in football to win a championship and while there were great "players" in San Diego they were never a great team. Tomlinson is by far the better player in this comparison. I can see the comparison in that both players have been great, never won a championship with their team, and than as they got older were let go and had to find their way with a different team, though Iverson took "personal leave" from the Grizzlies, retired, and then "poof" wound back up with the 76ers. Back to the comparisons another player I have heard LT compared to is the original LT. Lawrence Taylor. No comparison. Taylor changed the game. Left Tackles are the second highest paid players on their teams because of Lawrence Taylor. LaDanian is good. Easily one of the top ten best running backs in NFL history but there is no comparison between him and Taylor. How bout the other star the Chargers drafted back in 2001 with Tomlinson? Drew Brees. Now you can call me biased but I'll put it in a pretty simple way. Brees has a super bowl ring. Tomlinson does not. I have to say Brees here. Even though they have both been playing the same amount of time, one is leading the most productive offense in the NFL and the other is looking for a job. Brees > Tomlinson. There are two more comparisons left and each is fairly relevant to his future. The first is where he compares in the top 5 backs of all time. Tomlinson currently ranks 8th all time with 12,490 yards. I am willing to concede that Tomlinson is one of the top 5 backs of all time. But people are comparing him with the top 5, and asking is he a Hall of Famer? The NFL Hall of Fame is THE MOST exclusive group of players in sports. Let's look at 4 other great backs. Now in my opinion Jim Brown is the greatest running back of all time. Brown averaged 1,368 yards per season, 12 TDs per season, a career ypc of 5.2, and made the Pro Bowl in all 9 of his seasons. Barry Sanders was an elusive back that was one of the faces of the NFL when I was younger. Sanders averaged 1,562 yards per season, 10 TDs per season, a career ypc of 5.0, and was an All Pro in all 10 of his seasons. Walter Payton, you don't see a look back on the history of the NFL without a highlight of Walter Payton breaking a long run, or juking some poor soul out of their jock strap. Payton averaged 1,286 yards per season, 8 TDs per season, a career ypc of 4.4, and was a Pro Bowler in 9 of his 13 seasons. The most recent name on this list of Hall of Famers is Dalls Cowboy, and former Florida Gator, Emmitt Smith. Smith averaged 1,224 yards per season, 11TDs per season, a career ypc of 4.2, and in 15 seasons Smith made it to 8 Pro Bowls. Now onto LaDanian Tomlinson. LT has averaged 1,388 yards per season, 15 TDs per season, a career ypc of 4.3, and in his 9 seasons he has made 5 Pro Bowls. Yes he is a Hall of Famer, and I rank him 4th all time on my list of backs. And I'm sorry to Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, and Junior Seau but Tomlinson was one of the top 5 ever at his position. He will be known as the greatest Charger of All Time unless Antonio Gates keeps his numbers up for 5-6 more seasons, or Phillip Rivers leads them to a Super Bowl.

But what about his immediate future? While I have heard just about every rumor with every team looking at him there a 4 that I have heard the most. I will rank them in order of probability. 4th - New Orleans Saints. I don't see it. I don't even know why I keep hearing them come up. Everyone wants to reason that the Saints are going to deal away Reggie Bush and bring in LT. Hold on a second while I laugh. I realize that Reggie is going to be pulling about 13 million in the near future, and as a role player he really isn't worth that much, but unless LaDanian Tomlinson reverts back to his old self I don't see the why the Saints would get rid of a home run threat, that is beginning to learn how to play in the NFL, for a declining old back. 3 - New England Patriots. I mean if there is any team in recent years that is willing to take a chance on older, veteran players, it is the New England Patriots, who have signed Corey Dillon, Rodney Harrison, Adalius Thomas, Randy Moss, and Derrick Burgess, all 30+ players who either retired within the next few seasons or are rapidly approaching that area. I still don't see it. 2 - Philadelphia Eagles. The first in the realm of possibilities here. I could really see LaDanian Tomlinson winding up here. More than likely the Eagles are going to make LeSean McCoy the everyday back and McCoy's style is very similar to that of Tomlinson. Who better to provide a back up and mentor role to the younger McCoy? I'm just saying.. 1 - Washington Redskins. Mike Shannahan has always been a big fan of LT. He played him regularly when he coached the Broncos. This is where I see LT winding up as Shannahan has never had a shortage of Running Backs.

-Olympics, Crosby vs Ovechkin, US women Gold?, and some more on Ice/Lawn Hockey
Man hockey fans have to be drooling right now. Sidney Crosby vs. Alexander Ovechkin. In the Olympics. Granted everyone was looking for a Gold Medal match up, and this is only a Quarterfinal match up, but STILL. CROSBY vs. OVECHKIN. The two best players in hockey going at it. Does anyone remember last years NHL Playoffs? The Eastern Conference Semifinals? Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) vs. Ovechkin (Washington Capitals). This went the full 7 games with the Capitals getting out to a 2 game lead but the Penguins came back to win 6-2 in game 7 before eventually winning the Stanley Cup. Crosby finished with 13 points and Ovechkin with 14 points, the most in a series since 1955. I mean I am growing Hockey fan and the NHL playoffs are great, but this is for their country. Russia vs. Canada. The two favorites to win the Gold. This is going to be HUGE I cannot wait to watch this game tonight. You are going to see the absolute best from these guys. This is no 7 game series, this is a game match up. Man I cannot wait to see it. And you know what? I still think Canada is going to eventually win the Gold. Simply because they are the best team there right now. What the US Men's Hockey team did was amazing but they did it in GROUP play. Canada is going to want to play for the rest of the tournament. Man wouldn't the ratings be great if Canada beat Ovechkin and Russia in Overtime and than faced a rematch with the United States for the Gold? Wow. I hope that happends. Great hockey. Speaking of great hockey what about the Women's Hockey team? The United States Women's Hockey team has yet to lose so far: 12-1 win against China, 13-0 win over Russia, and 6-0 win over Finalnd in the Preliminaries. In the Semi Finals they defeated Sweden 9-1. Now they face off with Canada, also undefeated and have outscored opponents 46-2. This is the best Olympic show down you haven't heard of. I mean why has NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, or USA not said anything about this? These two teams have just destroyed everything in their path and now they are finally going head to head for the Gold Medal. And If my dad hadn't asked me the other night how the women's hockey was doing I would have never known, simply because you don't ever hear about the women's hockey team. Shame. They play tomorrow.

Ok so I have continued to watch curling and I am pretty confident that this is not a sport. Part of a sport being A SPORT is having to be in elite athletic condition, and what about sweeping or sliding on ice is athletic? By no means am I making fun of the beer belly that one of the men curler's sports, or how one of the Swiss women is rather large. But I don't see very many curlers in peak physical condition. In fact I would be willing to bet that most people, given enough free time to practice, could be Olympics Curlers. They talk about this GAME being one of the fastest growing sports in the United States. Well I think if those people want this to continue to be a part of the Olympics than they will hope that this doesn't become popular. The faster this grows the quicker you will see someone find a shortcut and a bunch unathletic guys/girls find a way to be really good at this game. I am sorry but if Baseball is not an Olympic sport than Curling won't continue to be one if this game grows in national recognition.

My Picks.....

SEC Men's Basketball

Arkansas 14-13 (7-5) @ LSU 9-17 (0-12)
7:00pm
ESPN 360
Line: Ark -2

Players to Watch: Ark G Rotnei Clarke 16.0ppg 1.3apg 1.1spg, Ark F Marshawn Powell 15.5ppg 6.7rpg 1.3bpg, LSU F Tasmin Mitchell 17.6ppg 9.6rpg 0.5bpg, LSU F Storm Warren 12.1ppg 7.3bpg 1.3rpg

Preview: I really think that LSU can pull this off. I mean the Bayou Bengals have been on a tear recently ALMOST winning games. Sounds bad but the way this team has played this year almost upsetting teams coming off tough games is a big deal. If anything Arkansas has taken care of weaker opponents this season. I think LSU gives them hell until the end but the Hawgs pull it off in the end.

Arkansas by 12

Auburn 13-14 (4-8) @ Ole Miss 17-9 (5-7)
7:00pm
ESPN 360
Line: Miss -9

Players to Watch: Aub G DeWayne Reed 16.0ppg 4.4apg 1.4spg, Aub F Lucas Hargrove 13.5ppg 7.3rpg 0.5bpg, Miss G Chris Warren 16.4ppg 3.3apg 1.2spg, Miss G Eniel Polynice 10.5ppg 4.3apg 1.3spg

Preview: Auburn, while playing tough all season, has just not had what it takes to pull it off all season. Their main problem has been lack of real talent down low. If they are going to pull off an upset before the season this is the game to do it. Ole Miss is without confidence right now as they have collapsed in crunch time and it has cost them an invite to the NCAA Tournament. I do think that Ole Miss edge on talent in the post gives them an advantage here.

Ole Miss by 15

Alabama 14-12 (4-8) @ Mississippi State 19-8 (7-5)
8:00pm
ESPN 360
Line: MSU -7

Players to Watch: Bama G Mikhail Torrance 15.0ppg 5.3apg 0.8spg, Bama F JaMychal Green 14.9ppg 7.3rpg 1.8bpg, MSU G Dee Bost 12.2ppg 5.3apg 1.2spg, MSU F Jarvis Varnado 13.2ppg 10.9rpg 5.0bpg

Preview: This looks like a great match up. The two best defenses in the SEC. JaMychal Green and Jarvis Varnado. Mikhail Torrance and Dee Bost. Great match ups that should make for a great game under normal circumstances. But. One of these teams is fighting for an NCAA Invite. And is at home. Mississippi State should come out ready to play and take this one pretty easily in the end.

Mississippi State by 16

NBA

*Game of the Day*
LAKERS by 1 @ mavericks (-2) <----- UPSET

The Rest:
timberwolves @ HAWKS (-12) by 15

grizzlies (-1) @ WIZARDS by 1 <----- UPSET

trail blazers @ RAPTORS (-2.5) by 4

pacers @ BULLS (-8.5) by 8

hornets @ BUCKS (-6.5) by 6

MAGIC (-4) by 5 @ rockets

thunder @ SPURS (-3) by 1

76ers @ SUNS (-8) by 9

bobcats @ JAZZ (-8) by 10

pistons @ CLIPPERS (-4) by 2

Alright guys hope you enjoy and if you have any ideas, comments, or would like me to go into further detail about a thought or pick just let me know.