NFC East: 1) Cowboys 2) Redskins 3) Giants 4) Eagles
NFC North: 1) Vikings 2) Packers 3) Bears, 4) Lions
NFC South: 1) Saints 2) Falcons 3) Panthers 4) Bucs
NFC West: 1) 49ers 2) Cardinals 3) Seahawks 4) Rams

AFC East: 1) Jets 2) Patriots 3) Dolphins 4) Bills
AFC North: 1) Ravens 2) Steelers 3) Bengals 4) Browns
AFC South: 1) Colts 2) Titans 3) Texans 4) Jaguars
AFC West: 1) Chargers 2) Broncos 3) Raiders 4) Chiefs

NFC Championship: Vikings over Cowboys

AFC Championship: Jets over Colts

Super Bowl XLV: Jets over Vikings

Michael Beasley went to Miami at No. 2. I think Michael Beasley will be a good player, but maybe not as good as everyone thinks. Although he’s listed at 6-10, he’s more like 6-8, according to the pre-draft workout records. I think he will be more like Carlos Boozer than a Tim Duncan. It made sense for Miami to choose Beasley since they’re desperate for rebounding and scoring, especially down low. Had the Heat chose O.J. Mayo, they would’ve had two combo guards in Dwyane Wade and O.J. Mayo. The overlap in talent, size, and skillsets would not benefit the Heat all that much, and the Heat’s number one priority is to win enough ballgames next season to keep Dwyane Wade from bolting to another team. So it was pretty clear from the get-go that Miami would take either Rose or Beasley, depending on who was still on board when it was their turn.

One team to be on the lookout in the next 2-3 years is the New Jersey Nets. They’re starting to put some good, young pieces in place (Devin Harris, Yi Jianlian, etc)and are primed to make more moves this offseason. With Jay-Z as a part-owner, and New Jersey/New York being a large media market, the Nets have the potential to attract either Lebron James or Dwyane Wade when these players become free agents.

Westbrook at No.4 surprised me a bit. Yeah, he has potential to be pretty good, but you’re going strictly on potential, I think. I hope he doesn’t turn into a Darius Miles or Jonathan Bender. Even though Westbrook did go to school.

2. Yi JianLian going to Milwaukee at No. 6? The Chinese population is near non-existent in Milwaukee. Not sure how he’s going to survive there. From what I’ve seen on YouTube, the dude can ball though! I would’ve liked to see him go to Golden State in a trade. That would’ve been perfect.

3. Ray Allen going to the Celtics will help the Celtics win more games next year, but there’s no shot of them winning a championship anytime soon. Hence, a losing proposition.

4. The Knicks did very well in this draft as they got Zach Randolph. As long as Isiah can tame him, they’ll do fine. Not sure why everyone’s wondering whether Randolph can coexist with Curry. Randolph can play the 4 while Curry can play center (his natural position).

5. The Hawks are a complete mess. For like the fourth year in a row, they selected a forward. They would’ve been better off putting ‘Nique back in a Hawks uni! They need to trade Josh Childress and maybe Josh Smith for a decent center or point guard.

6. Joakim Noah is a ‘tweener and doesn’t seem like an NBA player. At best, he will be a decent defensive player and maybe give you 8-10 points a night. I can’t see him scoring against the likes of Tim Duncan, KG, Amare, etc.

7. Corey Brewer will be a pretty good player. I like his overall game. Pretty versatile.

8. Al Horford shouldn’t have gone that high at Number 3. I just don’t see what these pundits see in him. He’s good, but not exceptional at anything or that athletic. I don’t think he can be ever be as good as Elton Brand, who has a similar game.

9. Trading for Jason Richardson for Brandon Wright was a good move on the Bobcats’ part. It would’ve taken at least 2-3 years to develop Wright. The Bobcats were in desperate need of veteran leadership. He and Okafor would make a good tandem.

10. Mike Conley Jr should’ve gone #6-10 instead of at #4. He’s quick, but can’t shoot the ball to save his life. But he can work on that.

Bears over Seahawks: 24-14
Eagles over Saints: 24 – 14

Chargers over Patriots: 34-24

1.  Dwight Howard, only 20 years of age, has improved his offensive game considerably.  He actually has some post-up moves to go with his rebounds/blocks.  Did you see how he made Ben Wallace a non-factor last night? 

2.  Grant Hill looks healthy (and quick).  Still one of the better all-around players in the NBA.

3.  The supporting cast is not too shabby.  No glaring weaknesses. 

Prediction: If they stay healthy, they will at least make the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Most improved teams: Orlando Magic in East (50-32); Houston Rockets (54-28) in West.

MVP:  LeBron James  

NFC Champ: Carolina Panthers

Super Bowl Champ: Indianapolis Colts

What I don’t get is how someone in this year’s Tour de France is so dumb as to take steroids despite last year’s allegations that Lance Armstrong probably had used steroids in the past (has not been confirmed).  And the worst part is how Landis vehemently denies having used steroids.  “My body naturally produces higher levels of testosterone…I drank a lot of Jack Daniel’s…I was dehydrated, etc”. 

I can’t wait to hear his new explanation…wouldn’t surprise me if his defense went like this:

LANDIS:  ”Well, they must’ve mixed up my samples with Barry Bonds’ and Mark McGwire’s.” 

PERSON OF AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE:  “Mr. Landis, we’ve conclusively determined that the urine in the samples belongs to you, through DNA testing.”

LANDIS:  “I swear I didn’t take no DNA!”

I sometimes kick myself for not getting the STI (additional 13k) back in 2003, but looking back, it would have been the incorrect move since I made a career switch a year earlier from science to corporate life (the transition phase was buying used textbooks for really cheap at libraries and book fairs across Florida and Georgia and selling them online for a profit).  I had only been in the company for 4 months then and was on the bottom of the pay scale.  The money I saved that day eventually went to pay for my sister’s college tuition–a much better investment.  So in the end, I’m happy with the decision not to go with the STI. 

I’ve got my eyes on possibly another Subaru, a VW GTI (sport), Audi A4/S4, Saab 9-3 Sport, Lexus IS 250/350 (manual transmission only in the 250…).  A car with personality that’s also not on everyone’s wish list (BMW, Mercedes, etc). 

I’ll need to replace my stock brake pads (front and rear) with some aftermarket (Axxis Ultimates) ones for better braking.  After that, get my stereo fixed (hasn’t worked since late 2003). 

I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I do like wearing soccer apparrel (preferrably without team logos).  Usually very lightweight and breathable for outdoors stuff and not too thuggish-looking (unlike basketball apparrel) for casual wear.  But I sense that Italy will win on Sunday. 

While the officiating during the Finals wasn’t all that great (though not nearly as bad as that of the SuperBowl), what did the Mavs in was their passive play in the second half of Games 3,4, and 6, where they just settled for the jump shot.  The fact that they didn’t drive to the basket all that much also meant that they missed out on some opportunities to get some calls, since the odds of a player driving to the basket getting a call is greater than someone taking a jump shot (the article on 82games misses this point).  The ‘touch’ foul in Game 5 was questionable, although I thought the call in Game 6 where they called a foul on Nowitzki when it seemed like Wade initiated the contact was more dubious.      

Maybe it started with poor rebounding which meant less fast breaks (the Mavs’ offense is built on medium-fast tempo).  It was ripe for the Mavs’ taking, considering how ineffective Shaq was in the series.  If Dirk had been a tad more aggressive on the offensive end down the stretch (not sure why he was seen guarding Wade towards the end of ballgames…a clear mismatch), perhaps the Mavs probably would’ve won the series.  

I personally wasn’t a big fan of the J.J. Redick selection (especially coming off a DWI).  DeShawn Stevenson (who they’re trying to re-sign) is a pretty good defender though, so maybe that’s a good balancing act?