Wild Hogs NFL Wins Pool (Week 5)

	Draft Order	Teams	Wins	Losses	Total
1	Nic	Patriots, (Panthers, Browns)	4	1	8
2	Mike A	Broncos, (Rams, Titans)	5	0	10
3	Mike Lo	Seahawks, (Ravens, Jets)	4	1	10
4	Vlad	Packers, (Bucs, Bills)	2	2	4
5	Joey	Falcons, (Redskins, Cardinals)	1	4	5
6	Super	49ers, (Steelers, Eagles)	3	2	5
7	Silli	Saints, (Colts, Chargers)	5	0	11
8	Ryan	Bengals, (Vikings, Lions)	3	2	7
9	Kyle	Bears, (Cowboys, Chiefs)	3	2	10
10	Roby	Texans, (Giants, Dolphins)	2	3	5
11	Silli	Colts	4	1
12	Roby	Giants	0	5
13	Mike Lo	Ravens	3	2
14	Kyle	Cowboys	2	3
15	Joey	Redskins	1	3
16	Mike A	Rams	2	3
17	Ryan	Vikings	1	3
18	Vlad	Bucs	0	4
19	Super	Steelers	0	4
20	Nic	Panthers	1	3
21	Ryan	Lions	3	2
22	Super	Eagles	2	3
23	Kyle	Chiefs	5	0
24	Roby	Dolphins	3	2
25	Vlad	Bills	2	3
26	Nic	Browns	3	2
27	Joey	Cardinals	3	2
28	Silli	Chargers	2	2
29	Mike A	Titans	3	2
30	Mike Lo	Jets	3	2

2010 NBA Free Agency Post

2010 NBA free agency has officially begun, and since 12:01 am GMs have been calling players non-stop in order to try to build the next dynasty, or at the very least, save their jobs. When I think about it, I keep seeing images from "Rat Race" with Mr. Bean (Donnie Walsh) running around, cluelessly proclaiming "I am weeening, I am weeening." The whole situation has become so funny. There has been nonstop coverage of it with breaking news reports every day. We interrupt this program with a breaking news bulletin: Dwyane Wade would prefer to stay in Miami but is, and I quote, 'considering all options.' And now back to our regularly scheduled program in progress The Real World/Road Rules Challange: Bankrupt v. Rehab.

The funny thing about it is that some teams are in an all or nothing situation and are set up for colossal failure if they don't sign their main targets (see: New York Knickerbockers). But the teams that get their man (or men) will be poised to be perennial Eastern Conference favorites. 

The Players:

Lebron James- The "prize" of this class. Loyal to Cleveland, but wants to win...or so he says.

Dwyane Wade- The only one of these guys with a Ring. Wants to stay in Miami, and has been recruiting heavily.

Chris Bosh- Needs more money than Wade and James, as he doesn't get the endorsement paychecks they do.  

Dirk Nowitzki- Wants to win, but might be too loyal to Mark Cuban (who has always had his back) to leave.

Amar'e Stoudemire- Doesn't play defense. Microfracture surgery a concern to some. Monster finisher at the rim.

Carlos Boozer- Injuries the biggest concern. Wants out of Utah. 

Paul Pierce- I can't see him leaving now that Doc Rivers is coming back.

Joe Johnson- Not the max money guy that people think he is. Someone is going to get desperate and pay him like he is though.

David Lee- Interior scoring and rebounding are essential to winning championships. He WILL be a big contributor to a contenter.

Ray Allen- Top-tier players need shooters to help give them space. Ray Allen has been around and will find himself on a 4th team next year.

The Teams:

New York- If they end up with Amar'e and Joe Johnson, they are fucked. 

Miami- Probably sitting the prettiest, as the top free agents (Wade) clear first choice.

Chicago- Right with Miami because of the nucleus of young talent the already have on board.

Dallas- Need to keep Nowitzki...or get LeBron, but that isn't happening.

New Jersey- Dark horse. Wild card. Who knows what Jay-Z has up his sleeve?

Atlanta- Likely to offer Joe Johnson the max and will pay for it heavily. 

Boston- Trying to keep their core intact. With Rondo, Perkins, 

Since I really only care about Miami winning this battle (and New York losing badly), I am not going to get into every possible scenario. The Heat have 2 players under contract, Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley. They have the means to acquire 3 top-tier free agents and fill the roster with role players. With that, plus the mid-level exception, Miami is in the best position of any team in the conversation. You can sharpie Wade in, as he is expected to re-sign a max deal. If he doesn't, I am going to kill Pat Riley, then myself, rendering this whole conversation moot to everyone who reads this blog (me).

Best Case Realistic Scenario for Miami:

I have been a huge proponent of Amar'e Stoudemire teaming up with Dwyane Wade. He is only 27, and played out of his mind down the stretch. He needs to work on his defense, but I think he will get it up to a functional level at least. Offensively, I think he fits well with Wade. He doesn't need to dominate the ball to be effective. He just needs to throw down those alley-oops that Wade will provide. My only reservation is his health. Kinda dicey. Sign David Lee to give an extra presence down low. That will leave more money to fill the rest of the empty roster than they would have if they signed two max players. Then if they can get a veteran shooter like Ray Allen (or John Salmons, or JJ Reddick) to sign for the mid-level exception, then they will have a well-oiled offensive machine. Re-sign Haslem, and fill the roster with role-players, and we are set. 

Amar'e Stoudemire C

David Lee PF

Michael Beasley SF

Ray Allen SG

Dwyane Wade PG

Udonis Haslem PF

Mario Chalmers PG

Quentin Richardson- SG

Carlos Arroyo-PG

Dexter Pittman C

Javaris Varnardo PF

Da'Sean Butler SF 

--Insert quality defensive stopper here--
--Insert cheap nobody #1 C--

--Insert cheap nobody #2 SF/SG--

If it were only that easy. I think somebody is going to overpay for David Lee, so that would make him unavailable to us. We might be smart to make an offer to Rudy Gay and see if Memphis will match it.

Best Case Dream Scenario for Miami:
Sign Lebron and Bosh. Win 4 Titles...OK, back to reality...

Welcome to Miami. (Bienvenidos a Miami)

I know it has been a while since I blogged. I don't really have much of an excuse, really. I could make up some bullshit about it getting really busy at work, but what is the point. Irregardless, I am back. A funny thing happened during my 2 month hiatus: LeBron James decided to join up with Dwyane Wade on The Miami Heat. I realize that Chris Bosh also signed with The Heat, and his play might be even more vital to the overall success of The Heat, but LeBron's "Decision" seems to be the story (understandably so).

Ok. I know it has been done, and done some more, but I am going to write my piece anyway. However, the difference between me and every other asshole with an internet connection is that I'm not a complete fucking retard projecting from his high horse.

It seems that prevailing sentiment on the whole LeBron James "Decision" was: "I don't blame him for leaving, but it is the way he left." Fair enough, I guess. That is the easiest viewpoint to defend, thus the easiest position to take. I imagine that 80% of people who say that are not particularly invested in the NBA or the Cavaliers. They probably just feel that they need to have an opinion on the situation, as it has been the biggest news story of the past few weeks. (That in itself is quite noteworthy. For one player's free-agency tour to dominate the national news is unheard of.).

Let's examine the criticisms of the whole LeBron James saga:

1. "ESPN's 'The Decision' reeked of arrogance and self-serving narcissim"- Everyone wants to pile on LeBron for orchestrating this PR nightmare, but the truth of the matter is that we caused it. 9.95 million people tuned in to watch the hour-long special. That is good enough to rank as the third most-watched cable program this year (behind the Pro Bowl, and an episode of Nickelodeon's iCarly, of all shows). We, the people, have created the monster that is the LeBron James business empire. We scouted him as a freshman, televised his varsity games, and made documentaries about his life in high school. You can't blame ESPN or Nike for all this. They wouldn't have sold it if we weren't buying it.

2. "LeBron is a pussy. Jordan would have never teamed up with Magic and Bird. He wanted to beat them."- While Jordan managed to stick it out in Chicago until they became champions, I have not resigned to crucifying James for signing with another team, or for teaming up with the third-best player in the NBA. They are different players from different eras. Free agency, which began in 1988, was not what it is today. It wasn't till the mid nineties that it really went into full swing. The first year Jordan would have possibly been eligible for free agency would have been 1991...right in the midst of his first three-peat. Also, it wasn't until after 1992 when the NBA became one giant group of friends playing on different teams. There were no Dream Teams where the NBA's elite could spend summers becoming friends. Without free agency and with the absence of elite NBA players in the Olympics, teams maintain bitter rivalries with each other. Aside from Magic and Isaiah kissing before games, opponents were't friends. That was a development of the mid/late nineties. Players don't hate each other anymore. LeBron was in Carmelo Anthony's wedding last week (as was Chris Paul). The social landscape of the NBA has changed that way. This whole "MJ would have never asked for help" myth is a load of crap. Don't think for one minute that he would have refused to play with the Bulls had they traded for Charles Barkley in 1993. Someone please tell me what is the difference between the Cavaliers signing Wade and Bosh at the behest of James, and James signing on with Miami to play with them.

3. "LeBron took the easy way out. He chose to play with stars so he could win titles without having to shoulder the load himself"- Hello?! Isn't that what we have all been imploring players to do for years. "I can't believe Free Agent X signed with the Grizzlies. They suck, he just went for the money." Finally, a trio of players sign with a team for less money that they could have earned any other place so the team would have cap space to sign other players, yet they are villified for it. You can't have it both ways, guys. I understand that signing for $14 million instead of $16 million wasn't exactly altruistic, but they still lowered their asking price from what they were worth in the free market. He made a decision that showed that money was not his first priority when choosing teams. We all asked for it and then we got it. It is hypocritical for us to bash him for it.

My Second Favorite Draft (After Beer)

Now that the 2010 NFL Draft is officially in the books, it is time to second-guess my favorite team: The Miami Dolphins. Second-guessing your team's picks is the God-given right of all football fans, so get over it. That said, I must say that although I question some of The Big Tuna's picks, I don't presume to know more about football than he does, so in the end, I trust that he is taking this team in the right direction. In fact, my trust in Parcells was strengthened when he pulled the trigger on the Brandon Marshall trade. I was beginning to think that his philosophy on football was dated, and that he refused to respect the position of WR in an increasingly pass-heavy league. He surprised me by going after the big-time wideout; especially since there were questions about his character.

Aside: I really think that Brandon Marshall's locker room antics are a thing of the past. He is among five best players at his position, and has had over 100 receptions each of the last 3 seasons, yet 42 other WRs made more money than he did last year, including his teammate Jabar Gaffney. The new coach traded away his Pro-Bowl QB in the off-season. I would be upset if I was him too. And although he asked to be traded, he never dogged it on the field. He has a new contract, and is on a team that respects him (ask any player how a team shows you respect, and they will tell you it's by paying them.) and gets to play with a strong-armed QB and a very good running game. I think we are going to see a happy, productive Brandon Marshall from here on out.

Back to the topic at hand, based on the Marshall trade, and the fact that Miami stockpiled 7 players on the defensive side of the ball, addressing needs at LB, S, and D-line, my initial reaction is that Miami earned a solid B on their draft. But, the reality is that whether I'm a bullshit blogger with a fan-base of three readers and a girlfriend, or I'm Mel Kiper Jr, my next-day draft grade means nothing. We won't really know anything until a year or two down the road. The only way you can really immediately judge a draft as successful or not is if the team addressed their positions of need.

Miami's Picks:

RD

1 (28th) Jared Odrick,  DT  Penn State

2 (40th) Kao Misi,  DE  Utah

3 (73rd) John Jerry,  G  Mississippi

4 (119th) AJ Edds,  OLB  Iowa

5 (145th) Nolan Carroll,  CB  Maryland

5 (163rd) Reshad Jones,  S  Georgia

7 (212nd) Chris McCoy,  OLB Middle Tennessee

7 (252nd) Austin Spitler,  ILB  Ohio State

I hope every single one of these players pans out. That would be great. But let's be real, it is often times a crapshoot. I have heard good things about Odrick, but I am not completely sold that he can play in the middle of a 3-4 line. He seems a bit small. Misi is slated to play outside linebacker, but he hasn't shown himself to be even a moderately productive pass rusher. We went into this draft needing a dominant pass rusher, and got nothing that even resembles one. Parcells and co. must have a lot of faith in the development of Cameron Wake to have left all their egg in his basket. I am excited to see him in a more featured role next season. AJ Edds, by all counts, seems to be solid, but I don't trust players from Iowa. Spitler could end up being the better pick. We will see.  

For the sake of future I-told-you-so's, here is a list of guys I wish Miami had drafted. We realistically could have had almost all of them. Remember this list, because I will refer to it when these guys make the Pro Bowl.  Especially George Selvie. 

14th- Earl Thomas,  S  Texas

43rd- Sergio Kindle,  OLB  Texas

57th- Terrence Cody,  DT  Alabama

113th- Aaron Hernandez,  TE  Florida

124th- Eric Norwood,  OLB  South Carolina

207th- Myron Rolle,  S  Florida State

226th- George Selvie,  DE  South Florida

Undrafted- Colin Peek  TE  Alabama

Check out this video of Cameron Wake. What a freak.