Sports Page Network - The Fan's Sports Blog Network

Is Eli Manning an Elite Quarterback?

Eli Manning will be playing in his second Super Bowl on Sunday evening. Now there is already media talk about whether he deserves to be in an elite status as an NFL quarterback. For a guy who started his NFL career by demanding to be traded and refusing to ever play for the San Diego [...]

Just relax about the ACC’s future schedule. It’s going to be ok.

The ACC’s new schedule was released Friday. I would say it was met with mixed reviews. Boston College fans seemed to be the most pleased about the new schedules, and why not with the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh, BC finally has true regional partners. Others though lamented the loss of traditional home and home …

Gut feelings and The Best Draft Strategy Ever

By Andrea LaMont

February 3, 2012

We may as well start the fantasy baseball season with some gut feelings...

Free Agents Worth Watching:

After Pujols, Fielder and the worst-best pitcher have signed, MLBtraderumors.com becomes way less active, but do not forget, there are moves to be made and they WILL be fantasy relevant.

DH Types-

Johnny Damon, Magglio, Matsui, Ibanez and Vladdy are still available so it cracks me up that..

MLB hot stove would have us believe that “The Yankees have engaged in discussions with free agent Bill Hall about a possible utility role, the New York Daily News reported…Hall, 32, batted a combined .211 last season with the Astros and Giants. The Yankees currently have Eduardo Nunez and Ramiro Pena in line as bench candidates who can play multiple infield positions and some outfield.”

Or this one is good…

Yahoo Sports “Fox Sports reports today, The teams that have the most interest in signing the 39-year-old Manny Ramirez, are the Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics.” Go Yahoo Sports!! Just quote Fox Sports, who just quotes ESPN, who really just quotes CBS…See how this works? Media 101… (That junk about Manny probably came straight from Jon Heyman..)

When I hear some writer or fantasy baseball ‘expert’ quote one of the ridiculous tidbits above… I will giggle. It will happen today, trust me.

Potential Transactions in My world:

1. The Miami Marlins trade Hanley. Yep, I said it. Ozzy and Hanley are not a match made in heaven, Miami is looking to sign at least one more bat (most likely Cespedes) and need another pitcher.

2. The Red Sox aquire Hanley. Look, I have no idea which player they will trade to get him but I will assume that the Cubbies will help with this. There is NO WAY the Red Sox traded away their only SS in order to free up payroll. If you believe that, go back to Yahoo.. By the way, there are no more starting pitchers on the market to base this ridiculous theory on….

3. The Nationals will trade a pitcher for power, even though it is my opinion they need a lead-off batter worse than Homers…must get runners on base in order to hit them in. (An idea Detroit may have overlooked).

Fantasy Steals

1. Emilio Bonifacio- Please do not tell your friends about this. He is multi-position eligible, he steals bases, he hits for average…fantasy gold. I AM NOT KIDDING around about this guy.

The guy is eligible at the two most shallow positions in fantasy, shortstop and third.

I laugh at the idea that he might not get full time at bats.

His manager is OZZIE, come on now people. This guy wins leagues, bottom line.

2. Ike Davis or Yonder Alonso- While many of you are blowing your wad on Fielder and Cabrera..I will be investing in Ellsbury, Kemp, Tulowitzki, Kinsler, McCutchen, Cargo, and/or Granderson.

See the pattern here? Power and Steals people, power and steals.

3. No Kershaw, Lincecum or Halladay on my team. Cheaper strikeouts are there, trust me.

Jamie Garcia, Jonathan Sanchez, David Price, Anibal Sanchez, and Jordan Zimmerman are just the ones off the top of my head…

4. If I were in charge of a team, which I am obviously not, I would pretty much sell the farm for Jonny Venters. Atlanta may not want to trade him, but they would.

Atlanta may be a bit concerned that they overworked him anyway last season, and could they justify keeping Venters in their bullpen with Kimbrell as their closer, if a team offered them a good enough bat? I would trade the farm to make Venters my closer if I were Arizona…or Cincinatti…Maybe Tampa..or Toronto..

Cubbies… etc…

5. The best draft strategy advice I can offer comes from my buddy Steve Gardner, called ‘Core-Four Strategy’ , which he first publicized in 2010.

This works and the best part is that Steve lays it all out there so that ANYONE can understand and implement it. Trust Me..

Sept 2011- Interview with Tout Wars NL Champ Steve Gardner

Three in a Row Won’t Happen

BYU’s head coach Dave Rose has not lost three games in a row in the Marriot Center during his entire tenure. That streak was not broken on Thursday when the Cougars were able to get by Gonzaga 83-73. BYU was able to overcome their 5th consecutive sub-30% shooting night. After the Cougars started the game [...]

Double G Sports Girls Make Their Super Bowl Predictions

Yes, yes, yes…we know you’ve read just about everything their is to read about the upcoming Super Bowl between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. There is nothing like a good old New York, Boston rivalry. It was once just a baseball thing, but of late it’s becoming all sports. This Sunday’s game [...]

Johnny Jones reaches milestone

University of North Texas head basketball coach Johnny Jones just recently won his 200th game as a head coach. He has been at UNT for 11 years and has been a driving force behind a culture change in Denton. Jones has taken the school from a fall back option, to a destination for some quality [...]

Hopkins Wants Dawson On The Boardwalk

By Rich Mancuso The first fight with Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson was shifted from the Prudential Center in Newark New Jersey. Territorial venue issues with Main Events, the New Jersey based promotion caused the fight venue shift to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. At the time, it did matter to Hopkins. His supporters [...]

Josh Hamilton Should Adopt Son of Firefighter Who Fell to His Death at Rangers Ballpark Last Season

Could there ever be a better story than Josh Hamilton taking care of this boy?

The truth is Hamilton needs the boy more than the boy needs Hamilton.

As a father figure, Hamilton has something bigger than himself to look after and more meaning in his life.

Hamilton already has one of the greatest 21^st century American sports stories of redemption. Not many can come back from the depths he has seen.

He has brought himself from the edge of darkness and the crack pipe to Major League stardom and almost a World Series ring. The public is on his side.

After the boy’s father fell from an outfield balcony and died chasing Hamilton’s lobbed ball to him, all sports fans gasped at the horror. This was probably the single worst moment in sports in the U.S. since a young girl was killed by aricocheted puck as a spectator at a pro hockey NHL game in 2002.

The boy’s mother is beautiful and courageous. She accompanied her son to throw out the first pitch at last year’s ALDS. Hamilton knows her well.

What if they could meet again under different circumstances and get to know each other better?

Could there ever be a more down to earth American wedding? Star slugger marries babe and adopts little boy of firefighter accidentally killed at ballpark.

Fans hope and pray for Hamilton’s best interests. They want him to succeed at what he does best, driving in runs, not downing beers and alcohol.

The boy needs a father and the woman needs a husband. Ask her out Josh, for them and all of the fans who only want the best for everyone. A happiest of happy endings could be in the works.

FIBA Impact on NBA Goes Beyond Martin Decision

When was the last time FIBA had anything to do with NBA matters? Practically never.

The NBA does everything it wants with no input from FIBA publicly until now, apparently. FIBA, the International Basketball Federation has determined that Kenyon Martin is a free agent, owing nothing to any team from China. He does not have any contract obligations at all.

The International Federation of Basketball took the decision on Martin’s playing prospects because it has the ultimate responsibility for basketball’s international affairs, similar to FIFA, the International Federation of Soccer or Football as it is known in most parts around the world.

Up till now, FIBA has had a limited role in negotiating player transfers from leagues around the world to the NBA, but their role is enhanced now with the emergence of so many other leagues paying top salaries and higher level skilled NBA players going to those markets.

Mostly, FIBA is recognized for supplying the rules for the Olympics and for other international tournaments between countries.

FIBA plays with a different set of rules and different markings on the court. The courts have a key (from the free throw line in towards the baseline) that is trapezoid in shape.

Unlike the MLS, the NBA chooses to play by its own American rules. These rules have worked fine for the NBA as it has reached more popularity with each passing year.

But, would the NBA adopt its rules to the FIBA rules if FIBA asked them to?

For FIFA, a player is ineligible to play in international soccer tournaments if they play in a club league that does not follow FIFA rules.

FIBA doesn’t have the same power in basketball that FIFA has in soccer. But, the Martin case shows that FIBA is flexing its muscle and will make other power plays in the near future.

The organization wants to have more influence on the American game because its power internationally would grow substantially if the NBA was willing to follow more often what it dictates.

FIBA’s role is changing and it may not be anymore just about player transfers or tournaments between countries.

FIBA is probably itching to get the NBA on board for a big-time international team/club tournament in which team champions from the different countries play each other like what FIFA organizes for Soccer.

This kind of high-profile international team/club tournament would make the organization rich beyond its wildest dreams and bring it the power it so desperately craves.

ACC Headlines for the week with a shameless plug…

Just a short entry for tonight, but one that has me feeling pretty good. If you read the blog you know a few months ago I mentioned I had been working towards getting more involved with official site of the ACC. Some of the links on the facebook page of the ACC, and ACC Twitter …

Thoughts on the Mack Brown Extension

You can officially put to rest all of the rumors and speculation about where Mack Brown will be for the next 8 years. He will be on the 40 Acres because the Texas board of regents has extended his contract by 4 more years to 2020. While it is unlikely he will finish out this [...]

Ortiz Has To Overcome Mayweather Loss To Be Considered The Best

By Rich Mancuso Victor Ortiz still believes he did not lose to Floyd Mayweather Jr. The mental approach says that, yet his debut as a pay-per-view fighter was not classified as one that will be remembered. Those lasting images, Ortiz getting hit by a Mayweather punch in a ring, on HBO Pay-Per-View, have led to [...]

A look at the 2012 Rutgers football recruiting class, the best in school history.

When head coach Greg Schiano decided to leave his position at Rutgers University for an NFL job just a week before National Signing Day, many around Rutgers, including it’s fans feared the worst. They feared losing what was rumored to be a tremendous recruiting class. Luckily, Rutgers had a guy in the background that everyone [...]

D&D #58 – JimmerMania In ESA & Superbowl XLVI Preview

In the most controversial episode we have ever done, Dog and Deuce take aim at the turncoat Jazz fans who packed ESA to see Jimmer return to Utah to play the Jazz. Plus we preview Superbowl XLVI.

ACC Recruiting Winners and Losers and what it means for the future.

Wednesday was National Signing Day… Some ACC teams really helped themselves while others merely just kept treading water. As we all know winning in February doesn’t mean squat come the fall, but like said before I’ll take my top-notch class against your poor one anyday. Winners Florida State, Clemson, Miami, Duke? The first three schools …

Why You Should Expect A Giant Upset

The Giants 4 keys to how they'll win the SuperBowl

Ortiz Has To Overcome Mayweather Loss To Be Considered The Best

What is a Jet fan to do? Giants and Patriots to Battle in Super Bowl XLVI

As we all know, unless you live in a cave, but even now days I think cave dwellers have a clue, there is a Super Bowl among us. For a Jets fan, I am well aware of this and very perplexed by the situation. I truly have a strong disliking for both the Giants and [...]

Latest injury hurts Nets as much as it does MarShon Brooks

It doesn’t really matter who is on a team’s roster if those players can’t stay healthy. The injury bug has infested the Nets just as the team was hitting its groove. Before Sunday night’s loss to Toronto, Jersey had won four of its last six games and was on its best offensive streak of the [...]

Vote for Defending the Blueline! It’s a great charity.

This summer, I took part in a charity ice hockey tournament called Checking For Charity. Although it was a painful way to learn just how badly my skills have deteriorated since the last time I played regularly, it was one of the most fulfilling weekend experiences of my life. I discovered the event around the [...]

Articles from around the ACC Blogosphere January 31, 2012

Wednesday is nation signing day, so football will take center stage. What do our ACC Bloggers see happening on the big day? Florida State has a NSD preview provided by TomahawkNation. Should be a great class for the Noles. Some folks around the Virginia Tech camp think this could be one of the best classes …

Red Bulls: Wilman Conde Acquired, Lindpere signs new deal

After a drawn out war of attrition with Bolton to sell Tim Ream, the Red Bulls have begun the rebuilding process for their central defense. Along with the new Swede Markus Holgersson, RBNY have now acquired the 2009 MLS best XI defender Wilman Conde from the Chicago Fire. Conde was most recently with the Mexican [...]

The RAW Deal – Episode 1.30.12

Really? What can I say about last night’s episode of WWE RAW? Really…what can I saw? Better yet, maybe I should ask, what did they do? What was the point? There’s barely anything to talk about because nothing made sense and it was all just thrown together. It was 2 hours of mindless, senseless, effortless [...]

The Return of “JuanMa”

By Rich Mancuso Showtime got the fight, the rematch with Orlando Salido and Juan Manuel Lopez set for March 10th at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in Puerto Rico. Last April, Salido knocked out Lopez and took the featherweight title for a second time. Since then Lopez has been on the comeback, also getting over some [...]

Is 66 Game Schedule Better for the NBA than 82?

With the NBA schedule in fult tilt since Christmas, the season has never seemed this action-packed. The reason is because the games are coming closer together and delivered faster to consumers.

There is more back-to-back scheduling for teams than other years, meaning they play two nights in a row and some back-to-back-to-back, meaning they play three nights in a row at times throughout the season, as well.

Frankly, this year is awesome. It's nice to be able to see a favorite team more often each week. It makes the week go by faster. It seems more enjoyable and more challenging for teams.

Every game counts in the West; there can be no nights off. The standings in the West are so close from top to bottom, with the exception of Oklahoma City, just about every team can be outside the playoff picture with one or two losses in a row.

Eleven of the 16 teams in the West look to battle for the eight playoff seeds all season.

The East is different because there's less parity than the West. More teams are sure to make the playoffs and the real race could be for the last seed. Still, with the season going by at a faster pace, movement in the standings can happen quicker and the chance for redemption is right there either the next night or the night after.

Now, second team players matter more than ever. A solid bench is counted on all the way down to the 12th man. And, these players are able to develop and display their skills more often for fans.

Of course, the owners will never go for this kind of shortened season. They are missing revenue for eight home games.

So, maybe the NBA should shorten their season, but not the amount of games. Typically, the regular season starts late October-beginning November and it goes through the end of April. What if the season started on Christmas every year?

A more compact, dense schedule puts it all out there. If necessary, schedule like baseball, and bring a team in to visit for two nights in a row, when possible (in conference).

One other idea is to make the first round of playoffs go best-of-three, second round could be best-of-five and Conference Finals and NBA Finals can be best-of-seven games.

There are more than 125 days from Christmas to late April. If necessary, add some dates to late April and/or early May and start the playoffs a week or so later. It can be done.

Starting at Christmas time worked. It was a great holiday gift and rallied the fanbase from coast to coast.

Ending in late June for the finals is still a more than 6-month season.

Tradition restored on the Hilltop

If you have paid any attention to SMU over the last few seasons, then you have noticed a big change. Back in the days of the old Southwest Conference the Mustangs could hang with the best of them. SMU had a winning tradition in the 70′s and 80′s. But, all of the success and fanfare [...]

More proof of just how much recruiting matters or is it?

A couple of days ago I wrote, that the 6 winningest ACC programs over the last 3 years were also 6 best recruiting teams, with one exception NC State. The Wolfpack were 9th in recruiting and 6th in total wins. Here we take it a step further. We’ll look at things nationally. Thankfully yahoo.com already …

WPS Suspends Play for 2012 Season

Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that it will suspend operations for the 2012 season to deal with litigation and finance issues stemming from that litigation. The league has said it will return in 2013, but who knows if this is the death blow to professional women’s soccer in the United States or a chance [...]

Tarver’s Challenge To B-Hop Gets Attention

By Rich Mancuso This is a slow time for the boxing season with no major fights on the agenda for a few more weeks. So, that leaves room for continued speculation and Antonio Tarver, the Showtime analyst, and former champion made some noise on Tuesday. Tarver, apparently with some free time before Showtime gets busy [...]

Cotto-Pacquiao Is NOT Set

By Rich Mancuso The way Bob arum sees it a second fight with Miguel Cotto and Manny Pacquiao has not been made. The fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is another story, and according to Arum, Mayweather can keep his May 5 date but it won’t be with Pacquiao. Tuesday was another day of this and [...]