2011-2012 NBA Preview & Predictions

David Stern is one sly fella. I mean, he really outdid himself with this whole lockout thing. Sure, the delay of the season stung a little bit, but can you remember a more highly anticipated start to an NBA season in recent memory? The shortened free agency period provided a whirlwind of player movement and the shortened season provides a chance for any team to find itself in the playoffs. The lockout was the best thing to ever happen to basketball!

Wait, you mean the lockout wasn't just a ploy to stir up the excitement for the season? Oh. Well, regardless, here are my predictions for the outcome of the 66-game season:

Eastern Conference
Atlantic: Boston
Central: Chicago
Southeast: Miami

Rounding out the playoffs: New York, Orlando, Indiana, Philadelphia, Milwaukee

Eastern Conf. Finals: Miami over Chicago

Western Conference
Northwest: Oklahoma City
Pacific: LA Clippers
Southwest: San Antonio

Rounding out the playoffs: Denver, Dallas, LA Lakers, Memphis, Portland

Western Conf. Finals: Oklahoma City over Denver

NBA Finals: Miami over Oklahoma City

For what it's worth...

• So what, I like a trendy pick. If you can make an argument against it, I'll listen. However, there's almost no way you can convince me LeBron James and Dwyane Wade will not end up with the O'Brien Trophy in their hands at the end of the season.
• LeBron and D-Wade will earn the rings, but Kevin Durant will take home some hardware of his own when he will receive his first NBA MVP Award. LeBron and Derrick Rose will finish second and third, respectively.
• Kyrie Irving will play a big role in Cleveland's performance this season, but Minnesota's Derrick Williams will take home Rookie of the Year honors thanks in part to the publicity he'll receive from his weekly appearances on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays.
• Speaking of the T-Wolves, expect them to compete for the final playoff seed in the West. They are young and (brace yourself) talented. Ricky Rubio now finds himself in Minny along with the NBA's leading rebounder in Kevin Love, and a solid small forward tandem in Williams and Michael Beasley.
• So the LA Clippers are the new hotness. This comes as no surprise, considering they have an NBA Finals-caliber starting five on paper. However, the shortened season will require many teams -- including the Clips -- to play four games in five days and five games in a week. That's a lot of basketball, especially for a group of guys who have had a myriad of knee complications. I foresee a second-round departure in the playoffs.
• What will be important during the shortened season is depth. The Denver Nuggets have a roster that goes 10-12 deep and they'll ride that to the Conference Finals.
• John Wall will be the breakout player of the NBA this year. He showcased his elite speed and handles this summer playing in the Drew-Goodman games and he's poised to do the same in D.C. this season.

NFL Predictions: 2011 Edition

Hello, all. I haven't been able to touch this site much at all lately -- mainly because I've been consumed in other things as of late -- but nevertheless, here I am. As the NFL season is set to start on Thursday, here you'll find my predictions for divisional finishes, playoff picks, and scattered predictions regarding happenings during the season.

Read up and let me know what you think. Agree? Disagree? Did I rank your squad too low? Let's hear it!

NFC East                                  AFC East

1. Philadelphia                           1. New England
2. Dallas                                    2. NY Jets
3. NY Giants                             3. Miami
4. Washington                            4. Buffalo

NFC North                               AFC North
1. Green Bay                             1. Pittsburgh
2. Detroit                                   2. Baltimore
3. Chicago                                 3. Cleveland
4. Minnesota                              4. Cincinnati

NFC South                               AFC South
1. New Orleans                         1. Houston
2. Atlanta                                  2. Indianapolis
3. Tampa Bay                           3. Tennessee
4. Carolina                                4. Jacksonville

NFC West                                AFC West
1. St. Louis                               1. San Diego
2. Arizona                                2. Kansas City
3. San Francisco                       3. Oakland
4. Seattle                                   4. Denver

NFC Wild Cards: Atlanta, Dallas
AFC Wild Cards: NY Jets, Baltimore

NFC Champion: New Orleans
AFC Champion: New England

Super Bowl XLVI Champion: New England

For what it's worth...

• I know, I know. Real ballsy Super Bowl pick there, Andrew. Hey, if I were a betting man, my money would be on Tom Brady and the Pats. He's said that he'll "never get over" last season's postseason loss to the Jets. Add that fiery persona to his new toy Chad Ochocinco and you've got yourself a prime Super Bowl candidate.
• Brady will take home the Lombardi Trophy, but Drew Brees will earn himself his first MVP Award. After throwing a career-high 22 interceptions in 2010, Brees will bounce back and lead the Saints to another Super Bowl berth.
• The Detroit Lions will have a chance to finish 10-6 -- if Matthew Stafford can stay healthy, that is.
• Peyton Manning's consecutive games played streak will end. Whether it's the first game or somewhere else during the season, Brett Favre's streak will breathe a sigh of relief.
• Jake Locker will have the best season of any rookie quarterback after taking over for Matt Hasselbeck early on in the season.
• The Denver Broncos' Von Miller will walk away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award just ahead of Houston's J.J. Watt, while Locker will fall short to Julio Jones for the Offensive honors.
• The Buffalo Bills will find themselves in the thick of 'The Andrew Luck Sweepstakes' along with the Cincinnati Bengals.
• While Julio Jones will have the best year of any rookie wideout, be on the lookout for Cleveland Browns rookie flanker Greg Little. With Colt McCoy at quarterback, I expect Little to have a year similar to Cincinnati's A.J. Green.

MLB Mid-Season Awards

The once blank stat sheets are now filled, the aroma of the fresh-cut grass has since been flushed out by the stomping and tearing of spiked cleats, and the sound of the perforated edges of brand new season tickets tearing is but a distant memory. The 2011 MLB season is halfway through and the lead actors of the show have already emerged. Here are my picks for the "So-Far Awards":

American League

Rookie of the Year: Michael Pineda (SEA, SP)

I was tempted to go with the Angels' Mark Trumbo here because of the way the standings look as of now, but all things considered, I think Pineda has earned it. He has been able to match teammate and reigning Cy Young winner Felix Hernandez pitch-for-pitch and has benefited from the lack of pressure placed upon him. He is 8-6 through 18 starts with an 3.03 ERA and has the lowest H/9IP on the starting rotation (6.5) and leads the AL in K/9 (9.0).

Honorable mention: Mark Trumbo (LAA, 1B)

Cy Young: Justin Verlander (DET, SP)

This was a no-brainer pick for me. I'm sure you could make a case for C.C. Sabathia, the current leader in Wins, or Jered Weaver, the current ERA leader, but Verlander has outshined them both by a considerable amount. He is second in Wins (12) and ERA (2.15) and is first in each of the following categories: IP (151.0), Ks (147), WHIP (0.87). He has also thrown his second no-hitter and has come close to throwing another. I can guarantee you American League hitters have been having nightmares about Verlander.

Honorable mention: Jered Weaver (LAA, SP), C.C. Sabathia (NYY, SP)

MVP: Adrian Gonzalez (BOS, 1B)

This was a tough call for me. Gonzalez and Toronto's Jose Bautista are 1-2 in virtually every offensive statistic, but I've given Gonzo the edge based on the fact that the Red Sox are leading the division and the Blue Jays are 2 games under .500, 11 games back of the Sox, and are currently in 4th place in the AL East. I don't care how good of a season you're having; if your team is in the cellar of your division, you can't win the MVP. Gonzo is batting .354 with 17 HR, 77 RBI, and a 1.006 OPS.

Honorable mention: José Bautista (TOR, OF)

National League

Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman (ATL, 1B)

The 21-year-old phenom is off to a stellar start to his rookie season, for which many fans had set prior expectations. His bat bolsters the high-powered Atlanta offense and is a big reason why the Braves have been able to keep pace with the Philadelphia Phillies (currently sitting 3.5 games back). Freeman is batting .274 with 13 round-trippers, 43 RBI, and has a .347 OBP. Freddie and good pal Jason Heyward (also a 21-year-old) look to be a feared tandem for seasons to come.

Honorable mention: Danny Espinosa (WSH, 2B), Darwin Barney (CHC, 2B)

Cy Young: Jair Jurrjens (ATL, SP)

His name just as difficult to spell as it is to pronounce. And batters have found that he is equally difficult to hit. Jurrjens' microscopic 1.87 ERA (1st in NL), 12 wins (1st), and his consistency (.800 win percentage) have paced the Braves' starting rotation and earned him his first All-Star selection.

Honorable mention: Roy Halladay (PHI, SP)

MVP: Prince Fielder (MIL, 1B)

The Dodger fan in me begs to give the nod to Matt Kemp, but the realist knows that no cellar-dweller can produce the MVP, regardless of how ridiculously good his stats are. I'm giving Prince the edge over the New York Mets' Jose Reyes here, mainly because I don't see Reyes as an MVP-caliber guy. Fielder has knocked in a league-leading 72 runs to add to his 22 bombs and is only adding to his resumé, which will come into play this winter when he becomes a free agent. He has the Brew Crew sitting atop the NL  Central, tied with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Honorable mention: José Reyes (NYM, SS), Matt Kemp (LAD, OF)

Album Review: Finally Famous

After four years and three Finally Famous mixtapes, Big Sean and GOOD Music are able to put Finally Famous: The Album on shelves and into CD players. I've listened to the album all the way through, track-by-track, a total of three times. I've listened to select songs more frequently, but I feel you can only truly judge an album by listening to the entire thing in the order the artist intended. Oftentimes, there is no other way to hear the story of the album.

I've been a fan of Sean's since his second tape, Vol. 2: UKNOWBIGSEAN, dropped a couple years back and have since downloaded the rest of his material. I tried to review Finally Famous while keeping his prior works in mind. If you are a Big Sean fan and you know his style, you won't be let down by his debut. If you listen to the radio and you turn up the volume when "My Last" comes on, I'd just pay for the single song on iTunes and stick with that.

Sean doesn't stray too far from what has brought him success in the past: clever punchlines, timely guest features, and a great selection of beats that seamlessly fit his charismatic flow. He's never going to be much of a story-teller and the content of his songs may be limited, but this is his first album and he is still growing as an artist. 

I will say one thing though. Without the impeccable production from No I.D. (the album's producer), The Neptunes, Xaphoon Jones of Chiddy Bang, and Da Internz, this album is mediocre at best. Luckily, Sean got the beats and was able to do just enough with them to not completely waste them.

Album Awards

Best Verse: Verse 3, "Memories (Part II)" feat. John Legend

One of my favorite songs on the album, "Memories" showcases Sean's introspective side as he looks back on the beginning of his career and the people who supported him early on, including his mother, his grandmother, and Kanye West.

Remember the first time I was rhyming for Kan’

                                    Almost as nervous as the first time I rhymed for my mom
                                       Sold out the theater downtown, she said it was perfect
                                                               But I already dreamed it

                                                              So it felt like I rehearsed it

Roll Down the Windows, Turn Up the Volume: "Dance (A$$)"

The content of the song may be next-to-useless, but the slapping snares, booming bassline, and a catchy sample of MC Hammer's  "U Can't Touch This" make this one a certified banger. Twist the knob to the right and let it shake your speakers.

Best Guest Appearance: Chiddy Bang on "High"

Lupe Fiasco may have had the best verse of the entire album on "Wait for Me", but I enjoyed Chiddy Bang's showcase on "High" much more. The duo consisting of Chiddy and Xaphoon Jones were able to spin their style to mesh with Sean's and it just worked. Chiddy's verse was airtight and Xaphoon's production, although the softest beat on the album, can put you in a trance quite easily. In other news, Wiz Khalifa managed to not completely ruin the song.

Bottom Line: Big Sean's Finally Famous is not a classic in my opinion. Punchlines don't make classics. That being said, I think it's as solid as debut albums get nowadays and will definitely be the album of the summer. "My Last" and "Marvin & Chardonnay" are certified commercial smashes and the rest of the tracks will serve as suitable cruisin' tunes. Given Sean's relative lack of exposure, I think anything over 200,000 units moved in the first week can be viewed as a success. Numbers may not affect this album, but they definitely can affect his future work.

Final Rating (out of a possible 5):  1/2

It Takes Two (or more), Baby

Since LeBron left Cleveland for Miami, there has been a lot of talk about him not being able to "do it on his own" and that he needed to team up with other stars for a shot at a title. I think this argument is valid in the sense that I agree LeBron can not win a championship by himself. My argument is...who has? I picked apart the rosters of the past 30 NBA Championship teams (thanks to Basketball-Reference) and came to the conclusion that 27 out of the past 30 champions had at least two Hall of Famer/All Star/top tier players.

The three teams that won it all without two star players are the 1994 and 1995 Rockets, who rode the back of Hakeem Olajuwon during Michael Jordan's two-year hiatus, and the 2004 Pistons, who relied on one of the most suffocating defenses in NBA history.


1980 Lakers: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson
1981 Celtics: Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale
1982 Lakers: Kareem, Magic, and Bob McAdoo
1983 76ers: Julius Erving and Moses Malone
1984 Celtics: Bird, Parish, McHale, and Dennis Johnson
1985 Lakers: Kareem, Magic, McAdoo, and James Worthy
1986 Celtics: Bird, Parish, McHale, and Bill Walton
1987 Lakers: Kareem, Magic, and Worthy
1988 Lakers: Kareem, Magic, and Worthy
1989 Pistons: Isiah Thomas, Adrian Dantley, Joe Dumars, and Dennis Rodman
1990 Pistons: Thomas, Dumars, and Rodman
1991 Bulls: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
1992 Bulls: Jordan and Pippen
1993 Bulls: Jordan and Pippen
1996 Bulls: Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman
1997 Bulls: Jordan, Pippen, Rodman, and Parish (in his 20th NBA season)
1998 Bulls: Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman
1999 Spurs: Tim Duncan and David Robinson
2000 Lakers: Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant
2001 Lakers: Shaq and Kobe
2002 Lakers: Shaq and Kobe
2003 Spurs: Duncan, Robinson, and Tony Parker
2005 Spurs: Duncan, Parker, and Manu Ginobili
2006 Heat: O'Neal, Dwyane Wade, and Gary Payton
2007 Spurs: Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili
2008 Celtics: Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo
2009 Lakers: Kobe and Pau Gasol
2010 Lakers: Kobe and Gasol

Just a little food for thought for ya.

P.S. How awesome is the Lakers-Celtics dominance? Wow.

Just Spell the Word!

So I wake up today and the first thing I turn on is the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I usually leave it on and watch it with my eyes glued in wonder at the brains on some of these kids. I mean, what 12 year old do you know can spell appoggiatura in front of a hall full of people and many more watching on television? I'm pretty sure I was collecting baseball cards and flicking boogers at that age.

Anyway, as I prepared to be amazed, I quickly grew annoyed.

Uh, can you repeat the word?
Can I have the definition?
What's the country of origin?
Can you use the word in a sentence?
Am I saying the word right?
Can you repeat the definition?
Are there any alternate pronunciations?
You said it was French, right?


Bro just spell the word! Are you kidding me right now? Might as well ask for the spelling of the damn word! If I was in charge of the Spelling Bee, I'd take those questions out of the rule book quicker than you can spell staphylococci.

You want the definition? Should have studied that beforehand, dude. Country of origin? Nope, sorry. Webster's dictionary has all that info for you. Want a sentence? Make one up yourself. Tough luck. What other test have you taken where you can just ask a load of questions to help your cause? Good luck in 8th grade, kid. That type of thing ain't gonna fly there.

Oh, well there's too many words to memorize blah blah blah. Cry me a river, bro. Sometimes winning takes a little luck. If you didn't study the word, you're just shit outta luck. Plain and simple.

Someone needs to take a stand and stick it to these nerds. Might as well be me.

Inside the Cyber Life of an NBA 2K11 Star

Like many gamers out there, I spend much of my gaming time playing NBA 2K11. The game really isn't worth playing if you don't play online so that's really the only aspect of the game I have delved into. Let me make one thing clear before I continue: I am not particularly skilled at this game. That being said, it's not uncommon for me to get absolutely demolished by some nerd that spends 22 hours a day on Xbox Live. However, I can hold my own if I catch rythym. (By the way, my Xbox gamertag is AyeCee16. Add me if you got it.)

I have what I like to call a gamer's conscience, meaning I feel guilty using any of the following teams: Heat, Lakers, Celtics, Bulls. If I had to put a percentage on it, I play against these teams probably around 95% of the time I play. They're just so unstoppable if you really know how to play the game. My team of choice is the Thunder. They have skilled players, but are still bad enough in some areas that I feel somewhat accomplished if I win.

My go-to guy is Kevin Durant and for good reason. He's a lanky, yet smooth, player with a deadly shot. He's rated a 91 in the game, which is right at he bottom of what is considered elite. LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Kobe Bryant are all rated 97, to put it in perspective. A 91-rated player should be able to dominate any game if given the right opportunities to do so, right? That's what I thought too, until just the other night.

So I sign in to Xbox Live, I pick the Thunder, set my roster, and get ready for tip-off. The rest of the 20 minute game can be summed up in three words: Pull. Flick. Clank. Those are the pulling of the right joystick, the flick of its release to shoot the ball, and the clank of the ball hitting the rim and bouncing seemingly further away from the basket with each and every shot.

The right joystick has never been and hopefully never will be as fruitless as it was on that night. Durant was ice cold, shooting 2-18 from the field, scoring only 10 points (he was 6-6 from the line). I was playing the Celtics and they are a fine defensive team in their own right, but I was finding KD some prime looks at the basket. Layups, mid-range jumpers, three pointers all falling by the wayside. The game ended, I lost by a considerable margin, and I immediately began to think about what went wrong.

I mean, how could a player SO good be SO bad in a video game? It's not like he has feelings, right? After a moment of self-blame, it came to me. Is it possible that Kevin Durant actually has a cyber life inside the game itself? I know it seems crazy, but hear me out. I bet his cyber girlfriend sent him a text message breakup right before the game, right? That has to be it. Or I know, him and Russell Westbrook got into a cyber tussle in the locker room before warmups. Yeah, that explains it.

Maybe he had a bad plate of cyber pasta. You know, cyber food poisoning. No way he could play through that. Ah, there were probably cyber trade rumors coming from management. What do I know? I don't deal with the brass of the organization, I'm just the puppeteer. He's probably upset with his cyber contract. I'm rated a freakin' 91! Pay me like a 91! He had to realize he's being underpaid sooner or later.

There's nothing to do in Oklahoma City other than drink and watch college football. He probably went on a bender the night before. Yeah there we go, a cyber hangover. Just went David Wells on 'em. That bastard probably threw the game! Someone made him a cyber offer he couldn't refuse and he was able to put a little extra cash in his pocket after bricking up the joint.

It has to be one of those reasons, right? It just has to. It couldn't be my fault. No way.

LeBron James: Your Favorite Player's Favorite Player

The most hated player in all of sports.


It's a title that may not be glamorous in any sense of the word, but it's a title that defines great players. Only a few other players came to mind when I thought about who would give King James a run for his money: Derek Jeter and A-Rod in MLB, Tom Brady, Big Ben, and Mike Vick in the NFL, Alex Ovechkin in the NHL, and Kobe Bryant in the NBA. All undoubtedly among the best in their respective sports. However, since July of last year, they all fail in comparison to the hate that LeBron has received after leaving his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for South Beach.

I have been a fan of LeBron's since he was in high school. I did a book report on his biography in the 7th grade, I collected all his basketball rookie cards, I bought the jerseys, and I had the shoes. What was not to like? However, like virtually everyone else, I was disappointed in the way he went about signing with Miami. I had NO problem with him leaving however.

Think about it, apply it to your life down the road. You are the top employee in your company year-in and year-out, doing exactly what's asked of you (and more). However, despite your personal success, you are a part of a failing company, in which the executives are unable to surround you with worthy employees. Sure, it feels nice to be the shining star in an otherwise gloomy enterprise, but you want more. You want to be a part of something bigger. Who doesn't?


LeBron spent seven years in Cleveland. They had their chances to build around him and they failed to do so. He booked it for Miami because he couldn't stand having Delonte West and Anderson Varejao as his secondary scoring options. What I don't understand is how so many people can hate him SO much.

LeBron is a once-in-a-generation player. I know, I know. Every Kobe fan is contemplating clicking off the page now. And why do so many Laker fans have it out for him anyway? Because of the non-existent rivalry between Kobe and LBJ? LeBron's teams are 7-1 against Kobe and the Lake Show, if I'm not mistaken. And they've never played each other in a meaningful game, unless you think a Christmas Day game counts as meaningful. I think it stems from the fact that LeBron is the one who took the best-player-in-the-league torch from Mamba a few years back. I love Kobe as much as the next person, but LeBron is a completely different species of player. What other player in the history of the league has his combination of size, strength, speed, power, maturity, and overall basketball IQ? Nobody.

If you've been watching the playoffs this past month, you've seen that he's finally putting it all together when it counts. He's the most complete player in the league. Derrick Rose may have won the MVP, but 'Bron left no question about who runs the NBA. LeBron should have won the MVP simply because of how bad the Cavs were without him. They finished 19-63 this year, after a 61-21 finish last season with LeBron still wearing #23. That's a 42 game swing! When Jordan first retired in 1993, the Bulls went 57-25 in his last season (at the time). Without him in 1994, they finished 55-27 and lost in game 7 of the 2nd round of the playoffs. Think about it, people...

Whether you want to admit it or not, LeBron is going to get his ring(s), this year or the next. Or both. Why hate when you can just sit back and enjoy watching one of the all-time greats succeed? He has his work cut out for him with Dirk and the Mavs, but I'd like to see him hold that Larry O'Brien trophy sooner than later. Or both.

Rapid Reaction: My Thoughts on Osama's Death

Yesterday marked one of the most important events of the 21st century and, undoubtedly, of the War on Terror. My eyes have been glued to virtually everything concerning Osama bin Laden's killing, including the operations made to take him down and the wild reaction across the country. There are a few things I'd like to touch upon. They are just my personal thoughts and also my reactions to things I've read, heard on the news, or have read/heard amongst my peers on Facebook/Twitter or at school.

Obama is straight killing it right now.
First off, he's fresh off a NATO bombing strike that killed the son of corrupt Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi. So Barack was feeling pretty good heading into the weekend of the Correspondent's Dinner in Washington DC. If you haven't seen the video of Barack's speech at the dinner, make YouTube your friend and watch the recap. He just might be the funniest president of all time. His delivery, his timing, and just his overall swagger behind the mic. Just killed it. He absolutely tortured Trump. I was embarrassed for The Donald, actually.

And for the grand finale, Barack finds and kills Public Enemy No. 1?! Everyone go ahead and mail in your 2012 ballots. It's in the bag. Book it. Done.

"This won't be the end of the war."
I'm sick of hearing this. Who said it was? Barack didn't come out and say Well guys, that's it. We won the war and now everyone can come home. Because we didn't. We killed the guy responsible for the most destructive act of terror on American soil in the 235-year history of the country. How could anyone make this out to be anything but a victory?

It's not a victory of the entire war, but it's a small victory within the war.

"It doesn't matter that he's dead. There are more terrorists."
Well no shit. Here's a quick history factoid:

In July of 1944, a man by the name of Claus von Stauffenberg attempted to assassinate one of the world's most dangerous men of all time. He planted a bomb inside a briefcase and then had it placed inside a conference room. The attempted assassination failed and the man went on to torture and kill over 5,000 more people. This man was Adolf Hitler.

Think about it. Had von Stauffenberg succeeded, Hitler doesn't go on to kill thousands more and the world is a much better place much sooner.

You do realize 9/11 wasn't Osama's first involvement in American terrorism, right? What makes you think he was done? His death may have meant the prevention of a future (and possibly much more tragic) attack on American civilization.

So just because he's not the only terrorist, we should have just let him be? So let me get this straight. You think the police should just stop investigating and looking for murderers because there will always be another murderer out there. What kind of idiotic logic is that?

Sure, Osama wasn't the only terrorist. But he was the most dangerous and the most destructive.

Navy SEAL Team 6 is badass.
The men responsible for killing Osama just handled their business and have moved on. Anyone affiliated (or thought to be affiliated) with Team 6 claims "there is no Team 6". These are some of the world's most highly-trained soldiers and their humility is just the cherry on top. They've potentially got a $25 million reward coming their way and it's well deserved.

Osama was in a mansion.
Not much to say about this. Just wow. Like really bro? Way to be subtle.
I guess he figured he had done his time hiding in caves and deserts and hills and that it was just time to flaunt his shit in a mansion with one of his wives. Then she was used as a "human shield", according to CNN. Nice.

Obama has steel balls.
Imagine if this had failed? Not only could we have killed innocent civilian lives in Pakistan, Obama could have responsible for the deaths of the best soldiers in all the military. It took guts to call the shots on this operation and it took even more guts to take action. It could have gone terribly wrong for Barack. Luckily, it didn't.

Strange happenings.
A few eerie coincidences running along the death of bin Laden:

May 1, 1945: Adolf Hitler reported dead. 66 years to the day.

May 1, 1776: Adam Weishaupt founds the Illuminati in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. 235 years to the day.

May 1, 2003: President Bush makes his "Mission Accomplished" speech, announcing the end of American involvement in Iraq. Obviously, he was mistaken. 8 years to the day.

ESPN was broadcasting the Mets-Phillies game on Sunday Night Baseball. At the time the news was announced to the stadium, the game was in the 9th inning and the score was tied 1-1.   9-1-1

Corn Nuts Are Not Classroom Friendly

We all love Corn Nuts. There's a bunch of different flavors, they're super crunchy, and they're just a good snack. But in NO way do they belong in the classroom. There's this girl in my English class that just doesn't get it. She sits two chairs away from me and eats these things ALL the time. It bugged me to a point, but I was okay with it because we were busy doing other things in class. But the she crunched her way through our midterm. Seriously? It was dead silent except for this girl's crunching. Like c'mon, it breaks like every rule regarding classroom food.

1. Food must not be crunchy.

Corn Nuts might literally be the crunchiest food of all time. Like there are seriously times when I thought I broke a tooth on one of these bad boys. Even worse, they're kinda tooth-shaped and -sized. So I'd get even more scared and check it, only to find out it was the Corn Nut.

2. Bag must not be crinkly.

Again, crinkliest bag of all time. It's not like the bag opening is big enough to just slip your hand inside and grab a handful. Either you twiddle your index and middle finger inside and scissor some out of the bag or you just pour 'em out. Either way, major crinklage going on there. Empty the bag into a zip-loc for all I care, just say no to the crinkly bag.

3. Food must not smell.

I love Corn Nuts as much as the next person, but everyone knows that once you start eating them, your breath is shot. Don't plan on having any up-close conversations after busting open a bag. There's no mint-flavored Corn Nuts, guys. Ranch, Barbecue, Nacho Cheese, and Chile Picante. Which one do you want to destroy your breath? The smell also just manages to float around. Like how powerful is that smell that it's able to just overwhelm a room like that?

4. Food must not require finger licking.

This might be a ticky-tack rule, but I think it's earned its spot. Corn Nuts, like Hot Cheetos and other chips, leave that flavored residue on the fingers. First instinct is to lick it off, I understand. But now you've got saliva and Ranch Corn Nut smelling residue on your fingers. Nice. Save the finger sucking for home and bring something else to eat in class. Gross.

Bottom line, don't bring Corn Nuts to class.

10 Games In: What Do We Know?

The Dodgers have played the first ten games of the season, faced three out of four division rivals, and have shown signs of both promise and disaster, starting off 6-4. Although these ten games are merely a drop in the bucket of the Blue Crew's 162-game schedule, we Dodger fans must take what we can get. Here's 5 up and 5 down:

5 Up
Matt Kemp
Talk about living up to potential. The Bison has started off the season firing on all cylinders. At the plate, a scorching split of .441/.537/.647 (BA/OBP/SLG). In the outfield, he dazzled us with his cannon arm, gunning down Orlando Hudson, who was trying to stretch a single to a double. On the base paths, a Major League-leading 7 stolen bases (on 7 attempts). What do we owe this early success to? Don Mattingly's new regime? Davey Lopes's insight on baserunning? Or is simply because Matt isn't Rihanna's Rude Boy anymore? Regardless of why, we're just happy it's happening.

Jamey Carroll
Definitely never expected to see Jamey's name on this list. However, he's earned it and has earned the playing time he has been given thus far. His .393 average and .452 OBP are both second on the team, behind Kemp. He has been solid in the field, playing in all 10 games at either second base or shortstop. At 37, he has provided leadership in the clubhouse and in the dugout. I'm not sure how long he can keep this up, but with Rafael Furcal on the disabled list, let's hope it's for a while.

Clayton Kershaw
What's not to love about the Dodgers' 23-year-old ace? There's his microscopic 1.37 ERA, his 11.0 strikeouts per 9 innings (K/9), and the fact that he owns the Giants. The Minotaur is 3-1 against The Hated Ones in his career, with a 1.07 ERA and 9.6 K/9. The Dodgers will ride his arm as far as it will take them and so far things are looking great.

Andre Ethier
Soon before Opening Day, rumors surfaced about Andre mulling the possibility of the 2011 season being his last in Dodger blue. I was worried that this would serve as a huge distraction and that it would keep Andre from his All-Star form. Ten games in, it seems I was wrong. He is continuing his success at the plate (.368/.442/.447), and has been his usual stalwart self in right field. If he can avoid the injury bug that bit him last year, Andre could be looking at a big 2011.

James Loney's Glove
Over the past five seasons, we have seen the Gold Glove potential in James's mitt, but in this small sample of 2011, he has taken his play to a whole new level. There have already been three or four plays that have caused me to jump out of my seat and talk about how it will be on SportsCenter's Top Plays later on. Of course ESPN is biased so they never put them in the Top 10, but that's another story. James is playing great first base and they need his bat to wake up if they want a shot at the NL West crown.

5 Down
Juan Uribe
His slow start wouldn't bother me as much if he wasn't the Dodgers' top free agent signing and if he hadn't come from the Giants. He is batting an anemic .129/.182/.161 and has only one extra-base hit. I will admit, he has been making solid contact more often than not, but he really has nothing to show for it. Hopefully he can start to catch some breaks and start producing runs like he did last year in San Francisco.

Rafael Furcal
"The Dodgers have placed Rafael Furcal on the disabled list." How many times have Dodgers heard this? I mean, geez. First it was his back, which has given him problems since his trip to the disabled list in 2008. Then there's the problems with his wrist, which was possibly going to send him to the DL this season. However, the Dodgers didn't need to use his wrist as an excuse after Raffy broke his left thumb last night while sliding into third. I know it's not his fault he got hurt and that he probably just has bad luck, but it just happens so often to him and he was batting .192 up to this point. He is the club's highest paid player and needs to play like it.

James Loney's Bat
I mentioned how well James is playing on the field, but his performance at the plate is a polar opposite. He is batting a measly .154/.190/.256 and has only shown power in hitter-friendly Coors Field. First basemen need to possess the ability to drive in runs at any given point in the game. James has never really been known for his power, but a .290/18/105 (BA/HR/RBI) season isn't out of his reach.

Jonathan Broxton
You didn't actually think I'd leave Brox off the list, did you? It's impossible to feel comfortable when he's on the mound with a save opportunity. His fastball has much of its velocity back, after dropping to 92-93 mph during last season, but he's not fooling anybody. His 2.1 K/9 are not supplying the intimidation that batters once had when stepping into the box to face him. Sure, he has 5 saves in 10 games, but thy haven't come easily.

Dodgers' Fans
If you haven't heard about the tragic events that took place after the Dodgers' Opening Day victory over the Giants, turn on your TV or make Google your friend. Those two "fans" that attacked Bryan Stow are what gives Dodger fans (and Los Angeles in general) a bad name. The Dodgers-Giants rivalry is one of the best in all of sports. The atmosphere at the stadium when thy play is unparalleled. But there is fine line between loyalty to your team and drunken stupidity. Do you think Don Mattingly is going to be proud that you threw your peanut shells at a Giants fan? You think Vin Scully will chuckle at the thought of you tossing your beer at someone. Everyone loves their favorite team. We all love the game. Why disrespect it like that?

Projected Roster (with current injuries taken into account)
1. Tony Gwynn LF
2. Jamey Carroll SS
3. Andre Ethier RF
4. Matt Kemp CF
5. James Loney 1B
6. Juan Uribe 3B
7. Rod Barajas C
8. Ivan DeJesus/Aaron Miles 2B
9. Pitcher's Spot

Opening Day! My Quick Preview

The best day of the year is finally here! All baseball fans should agree on that. Today gives every fan the chance to see the new faces on their team, the familiar faces we enjoy watching season after season, and best of all, a clean slate. Every team is 0-0. No chance for heartbreak or frustration yet. Today is a celebration of baseball.

I am an avid Dodger fan and will make my way to Chavez Ravine in a few hours to take in batting practice  and enjoy all the festivities. My dad, my sister, and I are regulars to Opening Day and this year my mom will finally be joining us. She's an accountant and Opening Day always falls during tax season so she usually can't break away from the office. But this year I got her and my dad tickets for their birthdays (greatest son ever) so she has to come :)

I will be documenting our day via my Facebook page and then will post on here later on to sum up our day. Stay tuned for that! But as for today...

The Dodgers take on the Hated Ones. For those non-Dodger fans, that is the San Francisco Giants. The defending World Series Champions. Still hurts to say that. One of the best rivalries in all of sports. If you've been to a Dodgers-Giants game, you know exactly what I'm talking about. The energy at these games is unbelievable.

My predicted starting lineup for today's game vs. Tim Lincecum (SF):

Dodgers vs. The Hated Ones (5:05 pm)
1. Rafael Furcal SS
2. Tony Gwynn Jr. LF
3. Andre Ethier RF
4. Matt "The Bison" Kemp CF
5. Juan Uribe 3B
6. James Loney 1B
7. Jamey Carroll 2B
8. Rod Barajas C
9. Clayton "Public Enemy No. 1" Kershaw P

I'm really looking forward to seeing how this lineup will fare against Lincecum. It's a really tough way to start the season, but the Giants are thinking the same thing. I expect (and hope for) a breakout season from Clayton Kershaw in 2011. If he pitches to his potential, he'll be in the Cy Young consideration by season's end. He needs to start off right today.

For those of you making your way to the game today, be safe! It's going to be wild at the Stadium and people can get out of control. See you at the game and Let's Go Dodgers! Think Blue.

March Sweetness Champion: Reese's

In the first ever March Sweetness Tournament, Reese's Peanut Butter Cup has taken the crown as the best candy bar in the eyes of the people. RPBC was unavailable for comment, but was clearly overjoyed after the big win.

In honor of the big win, here's a cheesy 80's Reese's commercial. Enjoy and thanks for voting!

Championship Game: Reese's vs. Snickers

Yesterday's result: Reese's def. Baby Ruth


Today's Championship matchup:

(5) Reese's Peanut Butter Cup vs. (6) Snickers

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: RPBC finds itself in the big game after steamrolling Milky Way by a score of 19-1 and coasting past Baby Ruth 10-3, but faces its toughest competition to date. Will the chocolate and peanut buttery deliciousness be enough to fend off Snickers?

Snickers: Snickers took no prisoners on its way to the Championship, taking down Butterfinger (another mammoth of the candy bar world) 14-9 and then trouncing Kit-Kat 12-3. Can Snickers live up to the hype and take home the March Sweetness crown?

The stage is set and the final two bars are ready to go head-to-head for all the peanuts. Just like the rest of the games, the outcome of this one depends on your vote! Vote now and crown the champ!

Semi-Finals: Baby Ruth vs. Reese's

Friday's result: Snickers def. Kit-Kat
Snickers coasts into tomorrow's Championship game after effortlessly beating Kit-Kat.

Today's matchup:

(2) Baby Ruth vs. (5) Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Baby Ruth: BR finds itself one game away from a chance at the Crown after slipping past 3 Musketeers in the first round. It faces a much tougher opponent in Reese's.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: RPBC absolutely trounced Milky Way in the first round, taking 19 out of 20 votes. There is no doubt, this bar earned its place in the semi-final game, but Baby Ruth figures to put up more of a fight.

After a day-long delay, the last semi-final matchup is here. Todays winner will go on to face Snickers in the March Sweetness Championship tomorrow. You pick who will advance. Vote now!

Semi-Finals: Snickers vs. Kit-Kat

Yesterday's result: Baby Ruth def. 3 Musketeers

Baby Ruth earns the right to face Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in the other semi-final matchup tomorrow.

Today's Matchup:

(6) Snickers vs (8) Kit-Kat

Snickers: Reaching the Final Four after a tough battle with Butterfinger, Snickers is once again the favorite to reach Sunday's Championship. However, it faces a deserving opponent in Kit-Kat.

Kit-Kat: After taking out the most experienced bar in the tournament, Kit-Kat looks to prove a point versus one of the giants in the game.

It's getting down to the nitty-gritty here in the March Sweetness Tournament. Snickers and Kit-Kat are fighting for a berth in the Championship Game, but only one can move on. It's up to YOU! Vote now!

Today at Rio: Green ponchos are not Irish

As I sat in the cafeteria for 40 minutes before class, playing Angry Birds by myself like I was Stephen Glansberg (if you don't understand the reference, click the link), I was checking out my surroundings to see if the St. Patrick's Day spirit was in the air. Not to my surprise, there wasn't a whole lot of green being worn. The majority of Rio's enrollment is Hispanic so I didn't expect campus to be doused with green. There was a constant commotion at the table to my left and when I finally looked over, this is what I saw:

Nice. A green poncho. Is that corned beef and cabbage in that breakfast burrito? Just to clarify, wearing green does NOT make you Irish. And wearing a green poncho just makes you chuntier.

I wasn't shocked by this. I've seen stranger things at this school. I just felt that I had to document it.

Happy St. Patty's Day everyone!

Round One: Baby Ruth vs. 3 Musketeers

Yesterday's result: Snickers def. Butterfinger
In the most anticipated matchup of the tournament thus far, Snickers edged out Butterfinger for the win and the chance to take on Kit-Kat in the Final Four.

Today's matchup:

(2) Baby Ruth vs (7) 3 Musketeers

Baby Ruth: Classic combo of peanuts, caramel, and nougat covered in chocolate. Despite the sponsorship from Major League Baseball and popular belief, the bar was not named after Yankees slugger Babe Ruth. In fact, it was named after President Grover Cleveland's daughter, Ruth.

3 Musketeers: I always wondered how the 3 Musketeers bar got its name and, because of the March Sweetness Tourney, now I know. Created in 1932, the bar originally consisted of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavored nougat (the 3 Musketeers). However, in 1945, the company dropped vanilla and strawberry to cut costs because of the war, giving us the single musketeer, chocolate nougat.

There you have it. The final game of the first round! Winner goes on to face Reese's Peanut Butter Cup in the Final Four. Vote now!

Round One: Butterfinger vs. Snickers

Yesterday's result: Reese's def. Milky Way
I will admit, it was a rough draw for old Milky Way, but WOW. I mean, that was an epic blowout. If it wasn't for a lone vote (or as Steve said, "someone with a peanut allergy"), Milky Way would have been completely shut out. Today's game figures to be much better than the previous two.

Today's matchup:

(3) Butterfinger vs. (6) Snickers

Butterfinger: This one is really tough to describe. The middle is a flaky, crispy deliciousness that tastes like peanut butter. But is it actually peanut butter? Regardless, BF comes from the streets of Chicago in 1923. It is the favorite candy bar of Bart Simpson.

Snickers: Roasted peanuts, check. Caramel, check. Peanut nougat, check. All covered in milk chocolate, check. The Snickers bar is the early favorite according to numerous sources (Jess), and possibly with good reason. The bar was actually named after the company owner's favorite race horse. This is not a surprise, considering Snickers is a thoroughbred in this competition.

The most anticipated first round matchup is here and I'm sure many of us are torn between these two delicious bars. However, only one can move on to the second round to take on Kit-Kat. Vote now!

Round One: Milky Way vs. Reese's

Yesterday's result: Kit-Kat def. Hershey's Chocolate Bar

Today's Matchup:

(4) Milky Way vs. (5) Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Milky Way: A classic blend of chocolate nougat and caramel covered in milk chocolate. Since its introduction in 1923, it has gone through many changes, but it always comes back to its original recipe. According to the bar's slogan, you can "find comfort in every bar".

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup: A controversial competitor in the tournament, considering the fact that it isn't a bar, Reese's Cups are looking to make a statement. Introduced in 1928, each cup consists of delicious peanut butter covered in milk chocolate, all in a nice wrapper so it doesn't stick to the paper inside. And wait, there's two! So nice, you have to eat it twice.

This shapes up to be a better matchup than yesterday's blowout. Again, the result depends on your vote!

WTF Video of the Week

Okay, when I first watched this video I thought, Wow, this guy does a really good impression of a robot. Then I kept watching and thought, Oh my God, this robot does a really good impression of a guy. How real does this thing look?! The only problem is that it's twice as weird as it is cool. There is just no life in those eyes and the expressions, although somewhat life-like, are clearly mechanical.

More importantly, he has no robot swag. I mean, was "The Bieber" the only hairstyle available? They could have gone so many other ways with the hair, but no. They chose The Biebs. And how about that facial hair. He looks like the guy that hosts Minute to Win It.

Maybe the host from Minute to Win It IS the robot. Think about it. It's not really a difficult show to host. If you complete the task in a minute, you win it. It even rhymes. His hair is spiked, but that's not a hairstyle that's tough to maintain. He's not interesting by any means. I think I may be on to something here.

You would think they would build a robot to look like a better-looking dude (no robo) to kind of draw attention to how good-looking it is. There are plenty of desperate women out there that would pay big bucks to have their own hunk of a robot. They could train him to do all kinds of stuff too.

Anyway, congrats to Sweden for freaking out over a million people on YouTube. 

Round One: Hershey's vs. Kit-Kat

Ladies and gentlemen, the moment we have all been waiting for is finally here.
The first round of the March Sweetness Tournament starts right now and here is the matchup:

(1) Hershey's Chocolate Bar vs. (8) Kit-Kat

Hershey's Chocolate Bar: Invented in 1894, this is the oldest of the eight bars competing in the tournament. It is simple, yet delicious. You can eat it by itself or combine it with more delicious foods. Most commonly, it is combined with graham crackers and marshmallows to create the 8th Wonder of the World: S'mores.

Kit-Kat: Here we have the baby of the group. This delicious combination of three wafers covered in chocolate was introduced in 1935. The traditional bar comes with four "fingers" that can be separated. Four bars in one?! Yeah, you heard me.

What a tough opening round matchup. You have the crafty veteran pitted against the risk-taking young rebel. I wish both could move on, but it wouldn't be a true March Sweetness Tournament without fierce competition. The decision depends on your vote!

The Sweetest Tournament Ever

Starting Tuesday, the sports world will be engulfed in the three-week-long NCAA Basketball Tournament. As much as I love March Madness, I realize that not everybody is so excited about it. In order to keep the spirit of the  tournament, but also spark the interest of the majority, I have created a bracket that will finally solve one of the greatest questions of all time: What is the best American candy bar?

I have chosen the Top 8 candy bars in American history and paired them up to face off in a three-round tournament. I will post one matchup per day and will leave the voting up to everyone on Sliced Bread or on my Facebook page. With one matchup per day, the tournament will take one week to complete. Here are the eight competitors that will be fighting it out for the crown:

(In alphabetical order)

3  Musketeers

Baby Ruth

Butterfinger

Hershey's Chocolate Bar

Kit-Kat

Milky Way

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Snickers

I think most people have tried these at least once in their lives. If you haven't, please go buy a candy bar. Live a little. For this to work out, it needs your participation! If not, it will be an utter failure and I will be a mixture of sad and embarrassed and I will have to eat all the candy bars to drown my sorrows. So do your part and vote!

Check back tomorrow for the opening round matchup!

Top 10 Movies to See in 2011

As some of you may know, I am a HUGE movie buff. I enjoy the process that takes place behind the scenes of movies: the production, the work of the director, the acting performances, and especially, the hype. I have a real respect for the art of it. More often than not, I am more excited about the movie before it is released than after I watch it. For those of you like me, get excited for 2011! It looks to be a great year for movies and, in honor of the great possibilities, I have made a list of the top 10 movies that I am looking forward to see this year. I have trouble ranking anything in order of preference so I have ordered them alphabetically. Let me know which ones you're excited to see (or not excited to see) and which ones should have made the list!

1. Captain America: The First Avenger
Release Date: 07/22/2011
Director: Joe Johnston

I am a total nerd when it comes to superhero movies so I am so stoked to finally see Captain America brought to life. I have only seen this short clip, which was aired during the Super Bowl. I'd still like to see  little more in the trailer, but I'm guessing an extended version of the preview will be realeased in the near future.

2. Cowboys & Aliens

Release Date: 07/29/2011

Director: John Favreau

I know the concept of the movie is kind of strange and maybe corny, but the trailer is epic. First off, it's from the same guy that brought us the Iron Man movies. That and having Daniel Craig as the lead actor only enhance the epic-ness. Add in Harrison Ford's crazy ass and Olivia Wilde's babe-factor and you can sign me up.

3. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark

Release Date: 08/13/2011

Director: Troy Nixey

In addition to my guilty pleasure of superhero movies, I loooove horror movies. Congratulations to you if you got through the entire 1:45 of the trailer. That's good marketing right there! This comes from the protogé of Guillermo Del Toro. Need I say more?

4. The Hangover: Part II

Release Date: 05/26/2011

Director: Todd Phillips

We all know how funny the first Hangover was. The whole cast is back together to join Stu at his wedding in Bankok. What I noticed from the teaser: looks like they lost Doug again. This is going to do huge numbers.

5. Hugo Cabret

Release Date: 11/23/2011

Director: Martin Scorsese

No trailer for this yet, but Martin Scorsese's newest masterpiece is the one I am most anxious to see. Despite it being presented in 3D, I think Scorsese will do just fine without Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role. Based off a best-selling book just like Shutter Island, I can't wait!

6. Moneyball

Release Date: 09/23/2011

Director: Bennett Miller

                                    

Being a huge sports fan, anytime a sports movie comes around I usually see it regardless of how good or bad it looks. In this case, I am very excited. Moneyball is about Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and how he used geeky stats and in-depth player research to effectively manage one of the lowest payrolls in all of baseball. Pitt and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, who plays owner Art Howe, are two great actors who I think (and hope) will do the story justice.

7. The Muppets

Release Date: 09/23/2011

Director: James Bobin

                                    

Aside from the fact that The Muppet Show was one of my favorite shows as a kid, I am excited to see this because 1.) the star-studded cast is ridiculously good and 2.) Jason Segel is the lead writer. The cast includes Emily Blunt, Jack Black, John Krasinski, Amy Adams, Zach Galifianakis, Billy Crystal, Ed Helms, Ricky Gervais, and more. And Jason Segel is going to do an awesome job with this movie. For those of you wondering why, watch Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

8. Super 8

Release Date: 06/10/2011

Director: JJ Abrams

If you didn't watch the above trailer yet, please do so right now. I'll wait...

Okay, give me one reason you don't want to see Super 8. What I love about JJ Abrams's movies are all the viral promotions and the hype that comes along with them. When Cloverfield came out in 2008, the marketing team made fake MySpace accounts for each character in the movie and posted fake conversations on each others' pages. For Super 8, the cast and plot details weren't even leaked until last month! That is unheard of in the current age of movies, in which the cast and plot are usually revealed almost a year in advance. Abrams is one of the best up-and-coming directors and Super 8 is going to be a smash.

9. Thor

Release Date: 05/06/2011

Director: Kenneth Branagh

This was a borderline pick for the list. Sure, Chris Hemsworth looks like a good fit for Thor, but the corny lines in the trailer (ex. You are an old man and a fool!) make me second guess him a bit. However, Thor makes the list because of 3 reasons: 1.) I love superhero movies, 2.) the visuals look like they're going to be crazy, and 3.) Natalie Portman. Giggity.

10. X-Men: First Class

Release Date: 06/03/2011

Director: Matthew Vaughn

Kind of in the same boat as Thor in the sense that it was a borderline pick and made it because of visuals and the fact that it involves comic book characters. Taking place in the 1960s, it follows Professor X and Magneto before they formed the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants, respectively. If you're struggling to follow my nerd language, Google works wonders.

There you have it. Ten movies I'm looking forward to enjoying in 2011.

Which ones are you looking forward to seeing?