2008 NFL Draft Live Coverage

3:01pm: Here we are at another NFL Draft, it has been known since Tuesday that Jake Long (OL - Michigan) is going to the Dolphins as the top pick, but now it seems that the top four picks are now fairly set with Chris Long (DE - Virginia) set to go second, Matt Ryan (QB - BC), and Darren McFadden (RB - Arkansas) set to go fourth.

3:03pm: And here we go, quickest pick I've ever seen in an NFL Draft. Jake Long has been announced as the pick.

3:04pm: Another NFL Draft record here with exactly one minute being allowed to elapse prior to a commercial break. Fascinating coverage thus far.

3:07pm: The first real intrigue of the Draft is going to come at pick number five when the Chiefs pick. It seems to be in their best interests to trade down and let someone overpay for LSU DT Glenn Dorsey, but will they have any takers? They already have six picks in the first three rounds and if they can get another two that would give them the chance to have an amazing draft.

3:11pm - Here we go with the second pick, things moving right along here. Rams keep it simple and go with Chris Long, so no surprises here. Hard not to love this new draft format, things have been moving briskly which is refreshing coming off of last year's marathon draft.

3:14pm - We're now waiting for the Falcons to put a new face on this franchise. It is going to be tough for Matty Ice to follow in the footsteps of Michael Vick, who despite leaving on an undoubtedly poor note, was a fan favorite for years in Atlanta prior to his legal troubles.

3:17pm - Steve Young has convinced himself that there won't be a franchise quarterback in next year's draft. I'm wondering why he doesn't use his time machine for more important tasks than football, because last I checked a lot changes in player evaluations in the course of a college football season. Looks like Ryan got the phone call and is going to Atlanta.

3:27pm - Usually we can count on the Raiders for some excitement but it seems to be pretty obvious what they're going to do. Maybe the only time in Al Davis' life that he's been boring. Here comes the commish tot make it official...and...There it is, McFadden is the choice.

3:31pm - So here is the first real intriguing pick. If the Chiefs stay put they can fill their biggest need which is at offensive tackle, take the best player which is Dorsey, or they could trade down which one would think would be ideal. ESPN reported earlier that they might make a deal before they were on the clock but not surprisingly things have had to wait until now with this deal.

3:34pm - Looks like Dorsey is getting the call from KC, will he stay with them or is this a temporary stop? On a side note, I'm really disappointed that they don't have Todd McShay as part of the ESPN live coverage. There's nothing more entertaining than watching McShay and Kiper go fist to cuffs on live national television like they do during Sportscenter. And there it is, Dorsey to the Chiefs for now.

3:44pm - It is coming up on that time of the year were some poor college kid gets booed at the draft by the raucous Jets fans. Seems to be a lot of talk about Gholston, not much is positive though, the ESPN crew seems to be trashing him ruthlessly. Gholston it is, Kiper is talking him up now, apparently this kid greatly improved over the last 10 seconds. Gholston should sell self-help books, because with his apparent ability to improve in a matter of seconds he could become an instant millionaire--oh wait, he just did become an instant millionaire. Hmmmm.

3:49pm - The NFL's version of the Yankees--the Patriots--are now on the clock. Only the Patriots could lose their first round pick and still wind up picking 7th after going 18-1. Have to think Ellis is going to be the pick here, just like the Chiefs' pick, however, they could easily trade down and offer the best player to a team in need of a DL. No sooner do I say that than Michael Smith reports they're either going LB or DB which would mean Rodgers-Cromartie or Rivers most likely.

3:51pm - Take that Michael Smith! Patriots make the first trade to the Saints who will undoubtedly take Ellis. The Saints are looking to be the real mover in this draft, they were also reportedly trying to land Jeremy Shockey with their 2nd round pick. Ellis it is, still no word on the details of the trade yet.

3:55pm - Another trade here, Baltimore has managed to trade down to Jacksonville from 26th. As Boomer said, this is a big move and they must have given up a lot to get their guy. Mortenson seems to think it is Derrick Harvey of Florida to the Jags. Looks to be a great move for the Ravens who will take one of the second tier QBs at 26th.

3;57pm - Details of the Patriots trade. Patriots give up a 1st and a 5th and get a 1st and a 3rd from the Saints. Great trade for the Pats and doesn't seem to hurt the Saints at all either.

4:00pm - First hour of the NFL Draft is in the books and we've flown through the picks. Seven done and an eighth about to happen. Have I mentioned yet how much better this new format is? I have? Oh, well forgive me then while I bask in its glory.

4:02pm - The Jags take Derrick Harvey from Florida. Kiper doesn't like the pick but someone in Jacksonville sure does, seems like they gave up more than they needed to though.

4:07pm - Bengals on the clock now, appears that Keith Rivers is going to be the pick out of USC. A good linebacker who seems to have moved up the boards lately but was amazing at USC the last few years.

4:09pm - Here are the details of the Ravens trade 1st round, 3rd round, 5 and 6th round picks. I hope Harvey was worth it.

4:15pm - The Pats back on the clock. With Rivers gone one would think the pick is going to be one of the corners or Mayo from Tennessee. Mayo it is, no real shocker here. This draft is shaping up very well for teams that need offensive line or defensive back help. All the top guys are still on the board. Between those two positions and the RBs the next 6-7 teams are going to get great value with their picks.

4:20pm - Bills go with Leodis McKelvin from Troy for some DB help. The ESPN guys like the pick. Hard to believe OLs Albert and Clady are still on the board. A couple teams are about to get a steal. The Broncos almost never take offensive linemen in the first round, so I wouldn't expect that to change here. They also rarely take offensive linemen up high, so that would indicate they are also going with a defensive back. Has the Maurice Clarret fiasco scared them off of questionable character guys? If not Aqib Talib from Kansas could be the pick.

4:24pm - Scratch that, Ryan Clady (OT - Boise St) is the pick for the Broncos, so much for trends.

4:29pm - Here comes the Carolina pick, Jonathan Stewart is the pick. Big surprise here, people had worried about Stewart and most of what I'd seen had him as the 3rd or 4th best RB in the draft.

4:35pm - Makes a lot of sense for the Bears to take Medenhall here, they certainly need help on offense and they don't have a back on their roster that inspires confidence. Here comes the commish, and the Bears take Chris Williams (OT - Vandy).

4:40pm - Branden Albert seems like a tremendous value here for the Lions, as does Jeff Otah. Detroit is also in a good place to trade down a few spots and take the best available player at one of their many needs a few spots from now.

4:45pm - What is Matt Millen going to come up with this year? Trade the pick to Kansas City, good move for the Lions. Either Albert, Otah, or Mendenhall will still be there when they pick at 17. As for the Chiefs, they use the 15th pick to take Albert from Virginia.

4:52pm - Trade details on the KC/Detroit deal are as follows: The Lions get a 3rd and a 5th and the Chiefs get the 1st and a 3rd. So the Lions move up in the 3rd and an extra 5th round pick. The Cardinals take Rodgers-Cromartie with the pick. Obviously, Rolle or Williams is in trouble out in the desert.

5:00pm - Second hour of the draft is up and we're well past the half way mark of this draft. The Lions pick is in and they have been summarily dissed by ESPN as they made no effort to get back in time for the pick. Despite this, the Lions take Gosder Cherilus (OT - BC). Should fill one of the Lions biggest needs at right tackle.

5:04pm - Baltimore trades up into the 18th pick. Could this be the QB pick? Looks like it is, Joe Flacco from Delaware.

5:10pm - The Eagles now on the clock, they have many options here. Mendenhall is slipping farther at this point than most expected but receiver seems to be the logical choice here. They've traded the pick to the Panthers, however, so let's see who the Panthers have in mind. ESPN guys think Jeff Otah is the pick out of Pittsburgh. And that is the pick indeed.

5:20pm - Still good value at receiver on the board, which is great news for the Cowboys and Redskins who are soon to draft. Of course, the Cowboys have been rumored to be very interested in Felix Jones but it would be hard to take him over Mendenhall if he was still on the board. Details of the Eagles Panthers trade. Eagles get a 2nd, 4th, and a 1st next year for Jeff Otah from the Panthers. Looks like Devin Thomas from Michigan State is the pick for Tampa. It looks like they want to replace Brian Kelley in the defense backfield instead with Aqib Talib.

5:28pm - Atlanta has moved up into the 21st spot via a trade. Mel Kiper Jr. seems very skeptical about Atlanta's actions here. They take Sam Baker (OT - USC) with the pick.

5:33pm - On an NBA note, it looks like the Magic are going to take a 3-1 lead in their series with the Raptors.

5:38pm - Cowboys take Felix Jones here, seems like Jerry Jones put his foot down on this one. Seems like a good fit for the Cowboys but most scenarios had Mendenhall off the board. If the Steelers don't take Mendenhall here I'll be very surprised.

5:45pm - And it looks like Mendenhall is the choice. Great value and a great need pick at the same time for the Steelers. Mendenhall has to feel like he won the lottery as well. He could have easily wound up on a bad team but instead will form half of what could easily be the best run game in football.

5:51pm - Big surprise here, everyone was convinced Devin Thomas was the pick but in fact it is Chris Johnson, the RB out of East Carolina. They got Vince Young some help but not in the way that was most anticipated.

6:00pm - Three hours of the draft in the books and we have a trade to commemorate the occasion. Dallas moving up, let's see who they're coveting now. Mike Jenkins the DB is the pick, they've now completely covered the needs Adam Jones fulfilled. They got a returner in Jones and a corner in Jenkins. Really covering their bases here.

6:05pm - The Texans have made their selection, maybe it's just me but it seems as though there are more quality first round guys this year than usual. Looking at who is left it is not hard to make a case for many of them to land in the first round. QB looks like an attractive option here but the Texans have many needs. Duane Brown from VT is the pick here.

6:10pm - The Chargers have made their pick. Antoine Cason the DB from Arizona is the pick. They want to bookend Cromartie at the other corner with another they hope can solidify their pass defense.

6:16pm - The Seahawks go for the USC product, Lawrence Jackson. As Kiper is saying, it's surprising they'd pick him over Merling from Clemson.

6:19pm - Niners bolstering the D-line with Balmer out of UNC. Seems like a good fit for the 49ers but it'll be interesting to see how much he can contribute.

6:25pm - Coming to the end of the first round, and therefore, my first round blog. Looks like we'll easily come in under 4 hours, which is a huge improvement over last year's fiasco. Looks like we're sneaking one more trade into the first round with the Packers trading down from the 31st pick, allowing the Jets to get into the first round once more. Packers get a 2nd and 4th round pick from the Jets.

6:28pm - Jets trying to surround Kellen Clemens with some weapons, this was roughly were the top two TEs were thought to be coming off the board. Dustin Keller from Purdue is the choice here for the Jets, playing it safe that the Giants wouldn't take Shockey's replacement before the Jets had another selection.

6:35pm - Polishing off the first round in a brisk 3 hours and 35 minutes are the New York Giants. This is the last chance for a WR to be drafted in the first round, I don't know the last time no WRs were drafted in the first round but I can't imagine it happens often. Kenny Phillips is the choice, no surprise there. Good choice for the champions.

Alright everyone, thanks for reading and following along with me during the draft. Enjoy the last six rounds.

Round 1:
1: Dolphins - Jake Long - OT - Michigan
2: Rams - Chris Long - DE - Virginia
3: Falcons - Matt Ryan - QB - BC
4: Raiders - Darren McFadden - RB - Arkansas
5: Chiefs - Glenn Dorsey - DT - LSU
6: Jets - Vernon Gholston - DE - Ohio State
7: Saints - Sedrick Ellis - DT - USC
8: Jaguars - Derrick Harvey - DE - Florida
9: Bengals - Keith Rivers - LB - USC
10: Patriots - Jerod Mayo - LB - Tennessee
11: Bills - Leodis McKelvin - DB - Troy
12: Broncos - Ryan Clady - OT - Boise State
13: Panthers - Jonathan Stewart - RB - Oregon
14: Bears - Chris Williams - OT - Vandy
15: Chiefs - Branden Albert - OG - Virginia
16: Cardinals - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - DB - Tenn State
17: Lions - Gosder Cherilus - OT - BC
18: Texans - Joe Flacco - QB - Delaware
19: Panthers - Jeff Otah - OT - Pittsburgh
20: Bucs - Aqib Talib - CB - Kansas
21: Redskins - Sam Baker - OT - USC
22: Cowboys - Felix Jones - RB - Arkansas
23: Steelers - Rashard Mendenhall - RB - Illinois
24: Titans - Chris Johnson - RB - E Carolina
25: Cowboys - Mike Jenkins - DB - S Florida
26: Ravens - Duane Brown - OT - Virginia Tech
27: Chargers - Atoine Cason - DB - Arizona
28: Seahawks - Lawrence Jackson - DE - USC
29: 49ers - Kentwan Balmer - DT - North Carolina
30: Jets - Dustin Keller - TE - Purdue
31: Giants - Kenny Phillips - S - Miami
32: Patriots - Foreited

2008 NBA Playoffs: Watch it Happen

What do you get when a mix of veteran players and rising young stars follow up the greatest regular season in eons with a first round for the ages? Well that would be the 2008 NBA playoffs. If you're anything like me, you figured there was no way the playoffs could live up to the hype of the regular season. I mean com'on, eight 50 win teams in the west, the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons battling for the East, Chris Paul and Deron Williams vying to be the NBA's next great point guard. How could the post-season live up to these kind of expectations?

Yet, here we are, only a week into the playoffs and Kobe has already joined Sir Charles and others in the 40/10 club, Dwight Howard has joined Wilt and Nate in the back-to-back 20/20 club, and Chris Paul is keeping company with a short list of legends as well in the back-to-back 30/10 club--including a ridiculous 35 point 17 assist performance in game two. Oh, and how can we forget game 1 of the western conference finals, er, I mean the first round match-up between the Suns and Spurs. That game had more endings than Steven Spielberg's AI, but this time it was a good thing. How many game "winners" can one game have?

So after a first week so exciting it makes one wish the playoffs would never end, what can we possibly expect from week two? Well here are five things that you can count on in the next week.

5 - Get Out the Brooms
As exciting as the playoffs have been so far it doesn't look like the Hawks have any chance against the Celtics (no surprise there). What is unique about the Celtics/Hawks series, however, is that it appears to be the only series that will likely produce a sweep. There are a few series that could potentially lead to a sweep, but in all likelihood the lower seeded team will find a way to get a game or two while at home, just as the Raptors did against the Magic on Thursday.

4 - Doubt Your MVP Choice
It's a good thing that CP3 and Kobe don't play on the same day, because if they did our heads would explode trying to choose an MVP. Seemingly every time either one of these guys takes the court they convince you that they should've been the choice for MVP. Hopefully they'll find a way to meet in the Western Conference Finals and provide some closure to the argument. So for now just listen to Terrell Owens and get your popcorn ready, because you're going to change your mind at least four more times this week.

3 - Tracy McGrady Will Take the Blame
Seems like each year we have this conversation, of course we used to say the same things about Kevin Garnett. Why can't T-Mac get out of the first round? Why does T-Mac fade in the fourth quarter? What is keeping the Rockets from getting over the hump? Somehow one of the league's true good guys--the sleepy eyed McGrady--takes the blame for not carrying his teams LeBron style through the playoffs. Well let's try to pardon T-Mac for only getting the Yao-less rag-tag Rockets homecourt in the brutal Western Conference. McGrady can only get them there and give them a chance to win late before he's totally tapped out. So maybe he's not LeBron, but T-Mac is still great, so even though everyone will blame him for the loss, we really shouldn't.

2 - Cry us a River
There is no doubt that some superstar in the Western Conference is going to get eliminated and give us a teary display of emotion at the post-game press conference. Who is it going to be? My leading candidates are the aforementioned Tracy McGrady,--who may cry at the press conference even if they win--Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, and my dark horse candidate for the weepy award, Chris Webber, who may finally realize he's retired. So grab a box of tissues and cry along with them, because the closer we get to the end of this NBA season the sadder we should all be.

1. Your Jaw will Drop
If there is one certainty in the next week, it is that something amazing is about to happen. How could it not? Records are being challenged everyday already and we're not even half way through with the first round. So sit back and enjoy what you're about to see, because we may not see anything this good again in a long long time.

PS. Hopefully it is just the TNT guys who don't realize that Kobe didn't jump a car and there wasn't any computer tricks either. How complicated is the concept that the car drove next to Kobe while he jumped simultaneously? I find it amusing that they talk about this video so much and they still haven't figured out how they did it... I mean com'on, I bet your average 4th grader would know after watching it once.

PPS. The potential of the Hornets v Spurs should have you drooling. Tony Parker and CP3 going head-to-head, Duncan and David West, the grumpy champs and the upstart Hornets--oh man it's going to be good.

Enjoy the next week everyone! I know I will.

Bill Self Soon to be a Former Kansas Jayhawk?

While the people of Lawrence, Kansas celebrate, and the newspaper headlines in every city from Memphis, Tennessee to the campus of KU scream, "Kansas' Best Ever" (Lawrence Journal World), quietly a controversy brews. Only a few years removed from the defection of Roy Williams--who attended last night's game in a Kansas shirt--the Kansas Jayhawks are in danger of losing another coach to his Alma matter.

Bill Self remains stalwart in his stance that he isn't going anywhere right now, but with the backing of billionaire oil mogul T Boone Pickens, Oklahoma State is putting together a very formidable compensation package that could potentially bring Bill Self back home to Oklahoma State.

Only one night removed from the biggest shot of Mario Chalmers' career it is hard to imagine anything could be wrong with KU basketball. Things, however, could be one blank check away from disaster in Lawrence. With the support of Pickens--a proven supporter of Oklahoma State, donating a record 165 million dollars a few years ago to help fund renovations intended to raise the status of his Alma matter--Oklahoma State suddenly has infinitely deep pockets with which to offer Self an offer they hope he cannot refuse.

So will Self leave? Of course no one knows, but one thing we do know is that he'll be given the choice to come back to his Alma matter and collect a King's ransom in the process. Hopefully if he does choose to leave it won't be for a few weeks. Leaving now will not only rob the Kansas community of their unbridled celebration, but more importantly it will dampen the spirits of the KU players at a moment that shouldn't be tainted by money and sports politics.

So here's a plea to Bill Self, leave if you must, not many people could turn down the offer you're going to get. Don't do it now though, let your players and fans enjoy the success of this season. If an elite program like KU can only manage one title in the last 20 years, that should remind you how hard it is to reach this point. Enjoy it as much as you can, or at least let everyone else enjoy it.

10 Ways to Stop Your Favorite Athlete

Ever watch your favorite athlete and think there's no way they could possibly be stopped? Well think again, here are some sure fire ways to stop your favorite jersey sporting members of society.

Kobe Bryant
Zone defenses and triple coverage don't stand a chance versus Kobe, but he'll stop dead in his tracks for 19 year-old hotel workers from out of town. Could this open up additional roster opportunities for spry youngsters in the NBA?

LeBron James
Think LeBron is dominant in the NBA? You should have seen him in high school where he was literally a man among boys. Despite his apparent dominance he was totally shut down for several of his final high school games. Apparently he hasn't figured out how to penetrate the double team that came from Gale Sayers and Wes Unseld.

Randy Moss
We've seen him be slowed down by injuries and his own Raider teammates but there is one thing that can't slow him down. He blows through parking officers in front of his car as easily as safeties in a cover two. Heck, he didn't even miss a start!

Michael Jordan
The legendary MJ wasn't slowed down by much during his career. What Sir Charles, Hakeem, and many others could not do, however, was--allegedly--accomplished by a drug dealer and several big stakes golfers, forcing Jordan to the bench for two controversial years. Who needs the Jordan rules when you've got a sick short game?

Allen Iverson
No one can keep up with AI's crossover, even as a rookie Iverson set scoring records in place since Wilt roamed the Earth. What no defender has, however, is a warrant and a pair of handcuffs. If you want proof that AI was stymied just look at this mug shot (left). Obviously juking defenders out of their shoes is a more heralded skill than kicking your wife out naked, but AI has mastered both moves.

Barry Bonds
There's no curveball he can't belt and no fastball he can't punish, but after instilling fear in pitchers in both leagues for over twenty seasons he was finally sat down when prosecutors threw the book at him. Maybe teams should be calling players out of law school instead of the minors to stare Bonds down at the plate?

Milton Bradley
Usually professional baseball players count on coaches and umpires to keep the players at the top of their games. In Bradley's case, however, beating out a single became the least of his worries when the first base coach and umpire tag-teamed him. Bradley may need to reinvigorate his game now that opponents know how to trip up his game.

Reggie Bush
Defenders had a hard enough time tackling Bush while he was in front of them, let alone while trying to catch him from behind. NFL defenders haven't been much more successful, but that didn't stop the NCAA and a sports agent from tracking him down and claiming he broke the rules. Will Bush outrun these allegations? Or will his NCAA career be stiff-armed out of the record books?

The Fab Five
It always seemed like the Fab Five was too good to be true. How could such an elite group of basketball players all assemble at one place at one time? Turns out that there were a few things that could stop them, mostly it was themselves. In their final foray of futility all their accomplishments were wiped away from the books when the NCAA uncovered multiple violations. Webber and crew may need an extra timeout to figure out how to recover from this one.

Nancy Kerrigan
In the ultimate display of win at all costs, Olympic favorite Nancy Kerrigan was knee-capped in plain sight by thugs hired by competitor Tonya Harding. Is there any greater example of going the extra mile to stop your opponent? Perhaps next time Nancy should just triple toe loop sow cow out of there? Meanwhile, Harding should probably just learn how to triple toe loop and she won't need to hire thugs to make the team.

So there you have it. Ten ways to slow down some of the highest paid and most talented athletes in the country. So next time the announcer yells, "He's unstoppable!" You'll know better, because trouble may be just around the corner.

5 Reasons Why MMA is in and Boxing is Out

Has any sport lost more luster than boxing over the last few years? Despite not suffering a lockout or strike like other major American sports boxing has been on a steady decline, especially in the heavyweight division, over the last several years. Let's take a look at the top five reasons that mixed martial arts (MMA) are succeeding and how those same five reasons are turning professional boxing into one of the least interesting sports to follow.

#5 - TV

MMA
The new Elite Xtreme Combat league will act as the network television debut of MMA fights on CBS in the next two years. Previously restricted to Pay-per-view (PPV) MMA will now hit the big time with its third most popular circuit. The headliner of the league is Internet sensation Kimbo Slice and if you haven't seen him just YouTube him and you'll know why people are going to watch.

Boxing
While MMA is expanding its viewership boxing continues to charge huge PPV premiums to see fighters who lack the skill and charisma that we have come to love from the sport. The heavyweight division has been a yawner since the retirement of Lennox Lewis, and even before that it was on the way down. With no fighters worth shelling out $50 PPV price tags for it is no surprise that interest in waning.

#4 - Dana White

MMA
UFC President Dana White has elevated the status of his MMA league to the pinnacle of his industry. When he took over a dying league in the late 90s it looked barely salvageable. Now that he has raised the profile of UFC higher than ever thought possible and purchased his biggest rival (Pride) it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down anytime soon. This kind of unified and effective leadership is something that boxing just can't claim to have.

Boxing
Meanwhile boxing has no single person who is elevating the sport back to the position in the public's mind that it used to hold. Individual promoters are struggling for position in a me first grab bag of promotions, leaving the good of the sport in the rear view mirror as greed takes over the sport.

#3 - Champion of What Now?

MMA
With only two major bodies under unified leadership MMA has a clear goal to sell to the public for its fighters. Whether you are fighting for the UFC or Pride belt, fighters are really fighting for both at all times. Like the NFC and AFC in the NFL, these two divisions are more together than separate. This gives exciting objectives to present to the public and motivates us to watch as fighters progress towards belt unification.

Boxing
Do you know how many belts there are in boxing? If you do you're probably the only one because currently there are 74 belts you can win in boxing throughout the weight classes. Boxing is a sport in serious need of consolidation, both of weight classes and governing bodies. The sport could be seriously improved with the elimination of half of their divisions in order to combine talent into smaller, less diluted groups. This would produce more meaningful and exciting fights.

#2 - Fixed Fights

MMA
This seems obvious but that is what makes it so important. Who wants to watch a fight with a predetermined outcome? MMA fights don't fake anything, these are real fights with both fighters trying to win every second of the match. There are still controversial decisions but for the most part each fight has a winner that can be easily justified. MMA leagues haven't done a particularly innovative thing to keep fixing out of the equation but compared to boxing their sport is as pure as the Virgin Mary.

Boxing
One of the single biggest factors that has held the sport of boxing back is the tremendous amount of fight fixing that occurs at various levels. It is really a three tiered attack on the sport's credibility that has sucked much of the public interest out of the sport. Fighters taking a dive in the ring is the least of the problems in boxing, where most of the problems occur is with the judges and the artificial inflation of records. It seems like half of the major decisions in boxing are awarded to the wrong fighter thanks to under the table payoffs to crooked judges. The fighters that they are judging, however, probably shouldn't have been in the spotlight in the first place. In an attempt to cultivate marketable fighters the powers that be in boxing take fighters with above average talent and throw cream puff after cream puff at them to boost their records. Two 23-0 fighters looks great on paper, often times, however, the young and marketable fighters are derailed by experienced journeymen or an uninspired fight if they make it that far.

#1 - Brandable Personalities

MMA
From nicknames like, "The Axe Murderer" to legends of the game like Tito Ortiz, MMA has fighters and personalities that compel viewers to stay tuned in. Boxing has been trying to make some headway and catch up in this respect but to no avail. When it comes to charisma there is no comparison, Rocky fights in the UFC now.

Boxing
In stark contrast to the UFC, Pride, and EXC, boxing has no marque fighters in the heavyweight division and barely any in any division. Floyd Mayweather is currently the sport's biggest draw and a very entertaining fighter, but outside of him there are hardly any fighters worth watching to the casual fan. The real problem is at the heavyweight division where there hasn't been a compelling personality like George Foreman or Mike Tyson in years to keep people watching the sport's marque event, the heavyweight championship.

Who/What is the 2008 NBA MVP?

With the NBA season drawing to a close it's time for the inevitable question we ask this time each year, "Who is this year's MVP?" and more importantly, what the heck makes someone the MVP? The NBA MVP award is a bit of an enigma, for some reason people have a hard time agreeing what exactly the MVP should accomplish during the season. Is it the best player on the best team? As was the case the last three years with Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki? Is it the single most dominant player? Such as Shaq, Kobe and Lebron over the last few seasons? Or is it some combination of these factors along with additional intangibles? Whatever makes a player your MVP there is probably only a small pool of players left that satisfy any traditional criteria, so let's take a look and see what case each can make to win this year's award.

Kobe Bryant
The best player on a team that will probably finish in one of the top three seeds in the ultra competitive Western Conference, Kobe is widely regarded as, "the best" player in the NBA this year. He is a fan favorite and a clutch performer but with late season struggles and no one dominant statistical category it may be tough to make a case for Kobe. Despite this he'd probably win the award if it was given today.

Chris Paul
A dynamic young point guard, Paul has carried--along with David West--the Hornets to the top of the Western Conference and could very well secure home court throughout the Western Conference playoffs. Few other players have done so much with so little around them and if he wins no one will question the decision as long as the Hornets make noise in the playoffs.

LeBron James
If there is anyone who has elevated his team more than LeBron they don't play in the NBA. The Cavs are a terrible team without LeBron and a four seed with him so his impact is undeniable. He is the only player capable of challenging Kobe for the best player in the NBA title as well so he makes a strong case to be this year's MVP. The only pitfall is that he is only a four seed in the weak Eastern Conference and would be nothing more than an also ran in the West.

Kevin Garnett
The best player on the best team in the NBA, Garnett has turned the Celtics completely around in only one season with some help from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. The Celtics success is Garnett's greatest asset in the race because his individual numbers are not fantastic. He is a long shot in the race but he has to be considered the strongest candidate outside of the previous three players.

The Field
Several other players have no chance of winning the award but have merited some mention in the discussion. Amare Stoudemire has been spectacular for most of the season for the Suns this year, helping turn the Shaq-periment into a success for the time being. Tracy McGrady has displayed his impact on the Rockets by helping them to 22 straight wins earlier this year. His early season struggles and late season fade, however, will keep him from hoisting the trophy. Kevin Garnett's Celtic teammate Paul Pierce has drawn praise for his pivotal contribution to the team's success but again he'll lose out because he's not even the best player on his own team.

However you define the MVP award, there are plenty of people who are voting on the award that disagree with you. This makes the NBA one of the most interesting, and yet, meaningless regular season awards in all of pro sports. Despite this, they are still going to give the award to someone in a few weeks so we might as well sit back and enjoy the show as the top contenders try to make their final pushes.

Boston Red Sox vs Oakland A's

Opening Day in Japan?

Many MLB fans probably never thought they would see the day that baseball opened the season outside of Cincinnati, let alone outside North America. Well, believe it or not that day is here as the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics kicked off the MLB season in Japan this week. The decision to have opening day in Japan has drawn the ire of many baseball fans, especially in Oakland where the opening pitch of the season was thrown at 3 a.m. Pacific time.

It is understandable that baseball would want to expand its borders beyond North America and bring the MLB to the rest of the World. After all, ratings and attendance has been sagging in recent years as football has blown by baseball as the real national pastime. Perhaps this was not the way to do it, though? Forget about American fans not being able to attend the opening ceremony or Oakland fans not being able to watch the game unless they are up for an all-nighter. The real head scratcher is why is Boston playing in two other countries before they get back to Boston, a trip which includes three more exhibition games!

The idea of putting major league game outside of North America is not a novel one, the NFL placed a game in England recently and the USA Basketball team has had a prominent international reputation for some time now. Major League Baseball dropped the ball, however, with this venture. The next time they try to expand their borders it shouldn't be on opening day at a time that fans can't stay up for. Hopefully Bud Selig will learn his lesson and the next time he tries something like this it will be before the All-Star break and feature two East Coast teams to better accommodate everyone involved.

Adam Pacman Jones

When will we learn? Adam "Pacman" Jones looks on the verge of getting another chance in the NFL in the upcoming months and nobody can really say they are surprised. Despite the best efforts of Roger Goodell to be the hardest nosed commissioner in pro sports there is really no reason to believe that Jones would have been banned for life.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with giving Pacman another chance, everyone needs a second--or in his case a 18th--chance. I also don't blame sports shows for continuing to make his future some of the hottest sports news on television. It is hard not to wonder what might happen if the apparently reformed and happy Pacman might do next if he doesn't get his wish of playing for the Dallas Cowboys.

At the moment Jones seems like he is going to tow the company line for the NFL and be a stand-up guy for the near future. What is going to happen, however, when something goes wrong for him? Have we seen the last of his off field antics? Will it even matter whether or not he winds up in Dallas? Perhaps he's just a powder keg whose fuse has been lengthened for the time being. Only time will tell but one thing is for sure, we will find out the answer to these questions.