Archive for March, 2009

Barry Bonds Hopes Albert Pujols Shatters Home Run Record

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

It is no surprise that everyone in MLB knows who Barry Bonds is, between the smashed balls and records to the Balco investigation, the name is now synonymous with baseball. If you asked Barry Bonds to name a few players in the league however, you may be waiting a while. There is one name that stands out in Bonds mind when he thinks about Baseball, and that name is Albert Pujols.

This young player is setting records all on his own, and is on pace this season to crank 80 out of the park. This is too much glee of the Giant Barry Bonds, with all of the controversy surrounding this major league slugger, he is very happy to shed some of the spotlight on someone that deserves it.

Not only did Pojols reach the 19 home runs in the shortest time span, he seems to not be slowing down anytime soon. This has definitely grabbed the attention of the power slugger Barry Bonds. When most of the controversy lays is that Bonds is accused of taking supplements for his power, or in other words steroids.

This has actually outraged the young Pujols, as he feels that the man that he actually admires is not and has not been enhanced with steroids. He states that it could not be steroids, that help Bonds reach such hit run markers as you still need to see the ball to hit it. At any rate Pujols is the one person at this point Barry Bonds believes will shatter his along with many other records.

Bonds has gone public in stating that he hopes that the kid actually does shatter records, and he is proud of him. It is great for the sport, as well as taking some tension off him regarding the steroid allegations, as Pujols has never been tested positive for the said drug.

Mark Barnes - EzineArticles Expert Author

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Baseballs Knot Hole Gang

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

In the early years of baseball many of the playing fields were enclosed by wooden fences. Some of the youngsters who did not have the fare to purchase a ticket to the game were satisfied to just watch the game and their baseball heroes thru “open knotholes” in the fence. I can visualize one youngster crouched down “sneaking a peek” of the game and reporting what he is seeing to a couple of youngsters anxiously awaiting their turn at the knothole. One can only imagine what a thrill these children received just to get a glimpse at their “Heroes of the Diamond” in action.

I would imagine that many of these “knothole peeping” youngsters probably came from homes where money was not available for them to buy a ticket to the game. Otherwise, these baseball loving youngsters would have been in the stands rooting for their favorite teams and baseball heroes.

After watching the game and feeling all “pepped up” I can visualize the youngsters going back to their neighborhood sandlot field. In joining a game with other players at the sandlot field one youngster at the plate yells “I’m Babe Ruth”. A response comes from another youngster doing the pitching saying “Well, I’m Lefty Grove and I’m going to strike you out”.

Ironically, we will never know how many and who were the youngsters who were “knothole fans” that made it inside the ball park and suited up to play in “New York Yankee Pinstripes” , “Cincinnati Redlegs (Stockings) uniforms or for some other major league team and had the opportunity to play out “The Dream Of Their Life”.

Major Wiley B. Channell USMC (retired) at http://www.baseballfarming.com with baseball peeping thru the knot hole.
Demographics may be one thing but the love of the game is the driving force which made it our National pastime.

5 Surefire Ways To Find The Right Dentures

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

While dentures aren’t the best substitute for your own teeth, they are certainly helping some people keep their smile. With these tips on finding the right dentures for you, you don’t have to stop grinning.

Talk with your dentist

Though it might seem that your dentist might be the one to talk to you about dentures, you also may want to broach the subject before it becomes an immediate issue. Perhaps you have to take certain medications that can affect your dental health–epilepsy drugs, calcium channel blockers, or transplant drugs.

Or perhaps you have troubles taking care of your teeth due to some other illness or memory problem. The best way to get the dentures that you need is to have an honest and open discussion with your dentist to discuss your options.

Find out the types of dentures

Information is your best weapon in the fight to choose the right dentures. Realize that there are partial, complete and overdentures available for each individual situation.

Like the names imply, partial and complete dentures are those that may take up only portions of the mouth (partial) while the complete dentures are taking the place of removed teeth. Overdentures are those that can fit over the teeth that remain.

With your dentist, you can determine what option will work best for your mouth’s situation as well as for your overall comfort.

Have your dentures immediately

One of the newer ways to have your dentures fitted is to look into immediate dentures. These are dentures that are created before you have your teeth removed so that you don’t have to go through any embarrassment of having gaps in your smile.

While these will need to be adjusted as the jaw bone heals, these can be the right dentures for those that may have gaps in their front visible teeth.

Go the conventional route

While conventional dentures require that you be without teeth for a few months as the dentures are being made, these dentures tend to fit a lot better than the immediate dentures.

You will have your teeth extracted and your gums will have time to heal as your new set of teeth is being made. There may be times of discomfort and self-consciousness, but overall, this is the better way to get dentures.

Take into consideration what you want

When it comes to choosing the right dentures for you, you want to take your time with your decision. This might mean consulting several dentists in order to see what each can do for you. Look at pictures of the dental work that they have previously done to see if you like the results that they have achieved.

If you have troubles after receiving your dentures and find that you are using adhesive on a continuous basis, your dentures may need to be refitted.

Dentures can be a fresh start to a great smile, but only if you take the time to find the best dentist and the best dentures for you.

Pastimes of Luck Betting Aficionados Contest: Learning about Gambling House Games

Sunday, March 8th, 2009

In the name of clarity, a gambling saloon is an edifice that focuses on betting. Here, customers can test their luck at coin-operated machines or another games of chance. Betting house games generally have methodically derived probabilities constituting them which ensure the gambling company grasps on to the upper hand versus the gamesters. casino slot


A lot of betting establishment games may cause you to get habituated very swiftly. Consider the the classic 1-armed bandit, a coin operated appliance with three, occasionally more gears which gyrate when a bar on its side is pushed. The gadget in the main recompenses correlating with a string of emblems discernible on the information screen of the gadget. Regretfully, betting hall pastimes suggest a delusion of being in control, thereby tricking the gambling fan — the victim is ceded choice, but they cannot truly compensate for the patron’s handicap. This is induced by the gambling saloongambling house never refunding the full amount as expected. This method is repeatedly seen at work in popular casino games like poker, dice games, roulette or blackjack.


Seven card stud is indeed an incredibly fashionable casino pastime. The betting devotees, religiously guarding their either fully or partially concealed hands, bet in the pot which is paid out to the prevailing participant owning the highest set of cards. (Of course, the best bluff may actually win as well!) Not far removed from stud poker, blackjack is also a very trendy casino game. A sizeable chunk of its reputation is a result of its particular mix of luck and smarts and choice making, as well as a procedure called “counting”. It is an approach in which gambling buffs are in a position to skew the odds of the game to render them an advantage both by wagering & procedural actions established on the cards dealt.


“Craps” is a well known casino game utilizing the roll of dice. Clients wager on the score of one roll, or on a succession of spins on 2 dice. Contrary to blackjack, there isn’t any reliable long term winner betting system punters could profit by to improve the chances.


Roulette is another prominent casino game. A croupier turns a roulette wheel that contains a set of thirty seven (French roulette) or thirty eight (American or Vegas roulette) uniquely marked cells in which the rolling pellet must settle, marking the winning number Now if the gamester happens to set their stake on a specific number and actually makes it so it’s their lucky day, the guaranteed return is thirty-five to one, the original wager itself is returned. Ergo in total it’s increased by a factor of 36.


It’s strongly recommended that you try to be vigilant for these betting house betting games are deemed pretty obsessive. There’s a whole lot of lives that may well have been ruined through inordinate gambling + despite the fact that it undeniably can be fun, endeavour to not get carried away.

Used Hockey Equipment

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Hockey equipmenteven the stuff that’s been battered around for a couple of seasonsstill has resale value and may be sold through sporting goods stores or online.

Regular hockey players change their gear nearly every year to keep up-to-date with changing trends and modifications and they sell their old equipment to players looking for a bargain. Online stores buy used gear from seasoned players at low rates and then, with a little repair and touch up, are able to sell the equipment for a profit.

Sticks, goal nets, helmets, shoes, shafts and skates are easy to sell, however, custom pieces, such as chest protectors, leg pads and gloves are not made in universal sizes, and may be a tougher sale. To make these and other used pieces more attractive to customers, stores will generally treat the equipment for odor and bacteria before sale. Make sure whatever body gear you get is treated this way, since other people’s germs are not something you would want being absorbed into your skin!

Because used hockey equipment is cheaper than the equipment sold in discount stores, a player can buy an entire set of equipment for as little as $300. Goalie gear will inevitably be more expensive, as goalies require much more body protection than the other players, since pucks rocket towards them often at speeds of over a hundred miles an hour.

When purchasing used equipment, it is wise to examine the goods for safety and functionality. Check the padding for tears and examine the skate blades for sharpness, since these generally wear out after a few uses. Players don’t have to spend a fortune to enjoy their favorite sport.

Hockey Equipment provides detailed information on Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Equipment, Ice Hockey Goalie Equipment, Field Hockey Equipment and more. Hockey Equipment is affiliated with Hockey Tickets.

Can The England Team Retain The Ashes In Australia?

Friday, March 6th, 2009

I am from England and love the sport of cricket. In my opinion the ashes series of 2005 was one of the most exciting sporting events that I have ever witnessed. The Australian team which is without question the best side in the world were out battled, out thought and out played by a determined England side. The question is whether the English team can retain the ashes in Australia in 2006.

Since that historic home victory against the Aussies, the English cricket team have not exactly set the cricket world alight. There are a number of reasons for this of course, including a large number of injuries. Players such as the captain Micheal Vaughan have been unable to play which has had an obvious negative impact on the team as a whole.

A message for you Aussies, our boys will be back to inflict even more misery on your team!

A tour to countries like Pakistan and India are not exactly the most tempting of trips. Not so much about the the teams they are facing of course but more the conditions and all round differences in the way of life. This of course should be no excuse and the Aussies themselves always seem to be successful in these countries.

On their return to the UK the English team soon took out their anger on a poor Sri Lankan team.

So can this English team retain the ashes in Australia? The answer is without doubt a big yes. Some would say the first test is so important. Maybe, if England win it I think it is all over, no way back for the Australians I mean. Maybe not, if the Aussies win the first test I am sure the English team can come back.

There are two players that will make the difference if they of course can keep fit. Andrew Flintoff is not only a class player of all round ability but is also a proud Englishman, who will be more determined than most to retain these ashes.

Kevin Pieterson is in my opinion the best batsman in the world at the moment. Fair enough he dropped a few catches in the last ashes series but his batting was like nothing I have ever seen before. He is pure class and should be encouraged to play in his own natural way.

There are a number of other players I could mention but these two are extra special and will hopefully help England to retain the ashes in Australia.

The Australians will be very eager to seek revenge. They were superb in defeat and only just lost the series in England. They will without doubt fear and respect the above two players, and if they do not command control early on in this series, will be under more and more pressure. They are as a team the class act. The English however have possibly the best two players in the world who love to perform on the highest stage. This is why I believe England will retain the ashes in Australia.

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NFL Week 6 Power Rankings

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

New England at Denver (-3)
Both of these teams are coming off last-second wins. Denver earned a push against the Falcons in Atlanta (31-28) and the Broncos didn’t cover at home against Washington (21-19). In a bit of a scheduling quirk, this is Denver’s third straight home game. They’ve won the first two.

The Pats injury report has 18 listings on it – by far the most in the league. But, as we’ve learned over the last four years, you can’t count the Patriots out. They’re an absolutely amazing 22-1 (96 percent) when facing teams with a record over .500.

This is the fourth consecutive year Denver has started 4-1, but they were a combined 17-16 after that point from 2002-2004. Under Mike Shanahan the Broncos are an outstanding 65-18 at home. Jake the Snake is making his first ever start against New England, and is 14-3 with a 93.3 rating in his 17 home starts since 2003. Since 1995, the club has allowed a meager 87 rushing yards per game in Mile High Stadium.

Miami at Tampa Bay (-4.5)
Two teams, four running backs, one winner. Ricky’s return, the squaring off of college teammates, and a battle for home state bragging rights will be on the line in Tampa.

Ricky Williams will suit up for the first time since fleeing to Southeast Asia to rip tubes. He’s served his four-game suspension for substance abuse, and a very interested public will be waiting to see what he has in the tank. However, that means the NFL’s former leading rusher is taking carries away from rookie Ronnie Brown.

Tampa Bay is coming off its first loss of the season, but will be benefited by the home crowd and the return of Cadillac Williams. Even without their Caddy, Michael Pittman is a strong runner and one of the best backups in the league. The Bucs defense is allowing only 20.25 yards per drive so far this season – tops in the NFL.

New York Giants at Dallas (-3.5)
The Giants are just 2-5 ATS in their last five trips to Big D, and are 2-4 in their last six road games. The Cowboys, on the other hand, are 5-2 ATS in their last seven home contests. Dallas is 2-4 ATS in both their last six overall and their last six against the G-men.

The Giants are coming off a bye week, which is the only thing that has been able to stop their offense. New York swept this series in 2004, winning by double-digits in each game. The totals in those games were 52 and 36, respectively. Hopefully the Giants worked to shore up a defenses that’s ceded 425 yards per game and only forcing punts on 30 percent of opponents’ drives.

The Dallas offense has been nearly as potent as New York’s. They’re averaging 370 yards to New York’s 353. The difference is that the Cowboys D gives up just 297 yards per game. Another part of the Cowboys’ success has been their 44 percent third-down conversion rate, which is fifth best in the league. Drew Bledsoe is now 9-3 in his last 12 starts. Dat Nguyen will be out this week for Dallas with a chronic stinger.

Carolina at Detroit (-1)
Carolina is an astounding 11-2-1 ATS in its last 14 away games. They barely covered last week, using a late rally to top Arizona 24-20. Detroit is 4-1 ATS in its last five home games, and 6-3 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Lions have won three straight at home.

The Panthers converted 12 of their 15 red-zone attempts into TD’s, the top rate in the league. Their secondary is still banged up (Chris Gamble is questionable), but they’re squaring off against a decimated Detroit receiving corps.

Dre Bly getting into Joey Harrington’s face in the Lions’ game against the Ravens last week showed everyone just how much respect the QB has among his teammates. Harrington fired back, but the defense has been pulling its weight. Detroit’s defense has allowed only a 40 percent TD conversion rate in the red zone (4th best in the league), and have ended opponents possessions with an INT 5 percent of the time (4th best).

Here are my Week 5 Power Rankings:

1) Indianapolis (5-0) – Edgerrin James has rushed for over 100 yards in exactly half of his 86 career games. The Colts are 37-6 when he hits the century mark.
2) Pittsburgh (3-1) – It would be ignorant to play Big Ben against the Jags and jeopardize their season. The offense is averaging 38 yards per drive this season, tops in the league.
3) Denver (4-1) - Only 32 percent of the Broncos offensive drives have ended in punts, the best ratio in the NFL. That proves that Plummer isn’t turning it over.
4) New England (3-2) - Pats have a minus 6 turnover differential thus far. If they don’t value the rock in Denver it could be over quickly.
5) Atlanta (3-2) - Mora is 9-1 when the Falcons rush for over 200 yards, and they face a New Orleans team that yields 122 on the ground.
6) Cincinnati (4-1) - Chad Johnson is whining about not getting the ball enough, but he’s first in the AFC with 31 catches (for 426 yards).
7) Philadelphia (3-2) – The week off came at a good time for the Eagles, who need to regroup and realize their divisional foes are no longer their valets.
8) Carolina (3-2) - The Panthers are above .500 for the first time since the 2003 Super Bowl run.
9) Jacksonville (3-2) - Keep an eye on Ernest Wilford. He’s only made 26 catches in his brief career, but three of them were game-winning TDs. The Jags are 4-0 when he scores.
10) Tampa Bay (4-1) - The Tampa Bay defense has faced 44 drives this season and only yielded three TDs.
11) Washington (3-1) - The offense is converting on 47 percent of their third downs, second in the NFL. They’ve had six straight games decided by less than three points – an NFL record.
12) Seattle (3-2) - Look for a big game out of Shaun Alexander. In five prime-time contests he averages 110.4 yards and a 5.6 per carry and tallied seven touchdowns.
13) Kansas City (2-2) - Since 1990, Kansas City is 90-32 (.738) at home, and are 10-6 following the bye week.
14) New York Giants (3-1) - Alex Rodriquez has a new nickname – The Cooler. That’s why New York fans are the best.
15) Dallas (3-2) - Julius Jones is questionable against the Giants this week. That’s too bad since the Boys rushed for over 150 yards a game against NY last season.
16) San Diego (2-3) - Their three losses are by an average of three points. They took a lead into the fourth quarter each of the losses.
17) Detroit (2-2) - Ironic that with their vaunted receiver depth, rookie Mike Williams and castoff Kevin Johnson will be the go-to guys this weekend.
18) Miami (2-2) - Miami averaged 59.8 yards rushing after four games last year. This year they’re gaining 118.5 yards a week on the ground.
19) Tennessee (2-3) - They’ve won nine of their last 10 against Cincinnati, and McNair has 20 TD’s and 3 INT’s against them in his career.
20) Oakland (1-3) - Incredibly, the Raiders aren’t turning the ball over on offense (3). But their defense isn’t forcing any turnovers (4) either.
21) Buffalo (2-3) - I’m calling it right now – Kelly Holcomb will be injured within four games. The Bills have scored a mere six fourth-quarter points, and only 7 percent of their drives have ended in touchdowns.
22) New York Jets (2-3) - 59 percent of Jet drives have ended in a punt in 2005.
23) Cleveland (2-2) – The Browns defense is surrendering 41 yards per possession, worst in the NFL.
24) Chicago (1-3) - Thomas Jones endured a Grad 1+ sprain of the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. He may not play on Sunday, but it shouldn’t hamper him past that.
25) Baltimore (1-3) – The Ravens are yielding an average of 22 points per game. However, they’re forcing punts on 68 percent of opponents drives.
26) St. Louis (2-3) – This week the Indy defense finally gets tested, facing a Rams team that averages 384 yards per game.
27) New Orleans (2-3) - The Saints have won three of their last four against the Falcons.
28) Minnesota (1-3) - So, what does a team that’s 1-3 and has been a phenomenal disappointment do with its week off? How about a wild orgy on a Bang Barge!
29) Green Bay (1-4) - They started 1-4 last season and ended up winning the division.
30) Arizona (1-4) - Kurt Warner will be ready to go soon, but I think Denny would be foolish to go away from McCown’s hot hand.
31) Houston (0-4) – I can’t even tell how big a bust David Carr and Andre Johnson are because they’re not even getting a chance. Carr has a 99.1 passer rating in his four starts against NFC teams.
32) San Francisco (1-4) – Starting Alex Smith is a foolish, prideful move by Mike Nolan. Behind that offensive line the kid is going to get killed.

Questions or comments for Robert? E-mail robert@docsports.com

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Acquiring Lingerie for a Woman Is without Doubt the Most Intricate Mission to Achieved. Here Is My Knickers Purchasing Guidebook for Male

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

Getting Pants for young women can be the most romantic things guys could do – as well as one of the most traumatic and unsafe donation to acquire.

Remember it’s not yours, but it’s hers. Forget leather, PVC, or any extra sexy outfit, take something silken or lacey and should be OK.

Avoid to attempt to deduce your lady’s body size, preferred variety Unluckily, ladies don’t use small, M, large, and extra large sizes similar to male. Do your investigation to begin with. Hang around until she go off and then break into her pants drawer.

Search and locate things with the tag in it and make a note of the colours and styles she loves. Remember that flourishes like cord and tassels can be discerning and sexy if you recognize what your companion loves. I established that my spouse likes Lingerie lingerie. I didn’t know Lingerie were only for the seaside.

Bikini two-pieces instead can be effectively any sort of body-hugging skimpy, or tiny underwear that provides less coverage to the midsection than conventional undergarment, panties or knickers. In effect Bikini Bikinis simulates what you observe on the coastline. Find designer bikini lingerie and swimwear brands from around the world at Becheeky.

The bikini has been converted into a US$811 million business per annum and it’s conceivably the most admired woman bathing suit round the earth as a result of the amalgamation of the power of women and fashion.

It is a 3000 years old innovation. Two-piece clothes worn by lady for spectator sport reason are on Greek jugs and images dating back to the XV C. BC.

An old artwork called “Bikini Girls” dating back to the Diocletian period (286-305 AD) in the island of Sicily in Italy describe 10 girls in mosaics on the flooring.

Near Naples there are also several images of the Roman divinity Venus in a bikini.

The contemporary beachwear set off to come into view again at the beginning of last century, when Annette Kellerman was put in prison on a Boston seaside for wearing a form-fitting bathing suit which turn out to be conventional swimsuit for ladies by a few years later.

The present swimsuit was invented by French engineer Louis Réard just after WW2 and was a shock when it became visible on French shorelines a few years after. He named it after Bikini Atoll in the Pacific ocean, the location of the operation atomic outburst experiment on 37073 in 1946. The logic was that the burst of excitement produced by it was supposed to be like a nuclear detonation.

On the subject of acquiring bikini for presents, consider that most structures will efficiently gift wrap your purchase for you if you require for a tiny payment and this is well worth paying a little extra for. Along with I counsel to store the receipt – you never know.

Save Your Totally Free Children Trust Fund Voucher with Scottish Friendly, so Your Child Can Have a Huge Lump Sum of Money when They Get Older

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Heard about the Child Trust Fund? Not many UK parents markedly

modest number of parents seem to know about the fact that all newly born babies are given a free £250 voucher from the government to place in a Child Trust Fund. Your son or daughter’s vouchercan be invested in any one of threetypes of CTF account, Stakeholder – a shares-based account that changesinto cash, a savings account or a shares account. It is a great opportunity to invest life of a infant

Scottish Friendly is an accredited provider of the Child Trust Fund Voucher. The State is eager for the public at large to have access to Stakeholder accounts and this is the type of account that we offer. This means that:

Investments are deposited into our Managed Growth Fund, which seeks to provide strong growth potential
An investment is made in part in shares to take advantage of potentially higher returns over 18 years,compared to a cash deposit account (although the value of shares candecrease as well as rise whereas capital would be protected in a deposit account)
It is available with a low ‘Stakeholder’ funds charge of just 1.5% per year
When reaching 18 the young person will receive a lump sum, wholly free of Capital Gains and Income Tax under present law
It is very affordable – extra payments can be put in the account from as little as £10

One of the great attractions of the Child Trust Fund is that anyone – parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends – may add to the Fund to a top limit of £1,200 per year to help increase the child’s Fund (once added, this money cannot be withdrawn).

In a nutshell our Stakeholder account provides a good balance between potentially high returns and a lower level of risk. There’s also the additional assurance that our account complies with the Government’s stakeholder criteria. However this does not mean that returns are assured or that Stakeholder accounts are suitable for everyone. Bear in mind that the value of shares in the Managed Growth Fund (where your Child Trust Fund money is placed) can fall as well as go up and isn’t guaranteed.

Only children who were born on or after 1st September 2002 are allowed to open a Child Trust Fund. If you have children born before the {1st of September 2002 who are not allowed you could consider saving for them with a Child Bond – it’s a tax-free savings plan aiming for long-term growth. It is undoubtedly the case that investing for your children is a rewarding means of preparing for tomorrow.

NBA Basketball Games: Dec. 21 – 24, 2005

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Wednesday (12/21)


Best:
Wizards @ Nuggets: Denver has been disappointing this year, with losses to several bad teams. They have continued to be a great Home team, which is keeping them in contention. If they’re going to be as good as they were at the end of last year, they need to annihilate teams like Washington. So far, they haven’t done so.


Runner-up:
Clippers @ Pacers: Indiana lost enormously at home to the Clippers early last year, when Ron Artest was still on the roster. With him gone, the Pacers are worse talent wise. But now the team can go on the momentum that propelled them to the postseason last year. It’s the Clippers game to win (which I’m not used to saying), so can they deliver?


Blowout:
Raptors @ Rockets: T-Mac and company are leading Houston back into contention. Despite all their injuries, a win here against Toronto won’t be denied. McGrady has to realize that he shouldn’t take stupid fade-aways when he can just drive it to the hoop. Against Toronto, he should have a highlight montage of dunks when it’s all over.

Thursday (12/22)
[As usual, only two games are on TV this Thursday]


Best:
Mavericks @ Kings: Dallas has continued to be a semi-contender in the West, while Sacramento has fallen out of it. Already they have nearly as much home losses as they did last year. They aren’t going in any real direction positively. Still, they can score. Defense is problem, as it is for Dallas as well. But they’ll need a little more than offense to get anywhere in the West.


Runner-up:
Cavaliers @ Bulls: Cleveland is struggling. After a 9-2 start, they haven’t gotten much help from anyone but LeBron. When you lose at home to Atlanta, something is seriously wrong. Chicago is inconsistent. The have lost at home to Miami and San Antonio (both were tight losses) but are the only NBA team to win in Detroit. Both teams have shown a capability to be better than they are now. Larry Hughes needs to get 20 points, or he could be fish food for a Ron Artest trade.

Friday (12/23)


Best:
Lakers @ Magic: These two teams always produce an entertaining game when it’s played in Orlando, so why miss out on this one? Last year, Mobley was injured when they played, so the Magic will face LA with nearly the same team. Smush Parker now guards Steve Francis instead of Chucky Atkins. Otherwise, it’s the same team for LA as well.


Runner-up:
Mavericks @ Sonics: Two teams, no defense, good offense. Blah, blah, blah you know the drill. The final score should 100-something to 100-something. What’s interesting is ESPN pushing this game to ESPN2. What sports game pushed basketball to ESPN2? Why none other than the Fort Worth Bowl. Who the hell watches the Fort Worth Bowl? Houston vs. Kansas? -please. If we’re going to boycott the BCS, lets start with this pile.


Blowout:
Nets @ Heat: New Jersey’s greatest weakness is Center, where Jason Collins is filling the position. Miami’s greatest strength is their Center Shaq, so this game should be a blowout. After all, Miami did beat the Nets in a sweep last year. The Payton-Kidd confrontation was always good to watch, but is now impossible just to track, with Payton leaving teams every year. The Nets need to find their place in the East; they’ll get a better understanding with this loss.

Saturday (12/24)
[There are no games on Christmas Eve] Most of the NFL games move to Saturday though, so you can live without basketball for one day. Kobe-Shaq deux on Christmas.

Articles on Basketball Betting has more expert articles on sports.