Seau death officially ruled a suicide, Mo go for the season?

With Wednesday came the devastating news of Junior Seau’s death. The death has been officially ruled as a suicide by the medical examiner.

Big hits are a part of football. You take away big hits, I guarantee people will stop watching it (with good reason). People watch for the big hits and the scampering running back, dashing across the field like a men among boys. We not only lost a great player in Seau’s death, but an amazing person as well.

It’s sad to think that football may have ultimately caused this death. We’ve never had these concussion problems before (pre 1990s), but now everyone’s anxious to tell their story of battered brains and hurt souls.

Thankfully, the Seau family will allow an examination of Junior’s brain. This will greatly help the NFL determine exactly how football affects the brain.

Thank you, Seau family. RIP Junior.

On to baseball:

Sad news comin’ out of New York: Mariano Rivera tore his ACL in pre-game on Thursday. He is ruled out for the rest of the young 2012 season. The question is: Have we seen him pitch his last innings in the majors? As a baseball fan, you’ve gotta feel bad for Mo.

Kung Fu Panda (Pablo Sandoval) has a hand injury that puts him back four to six weeks. This is a crushing blow to the Giants, who can’t possibly replace the production of big boy Panda. At least they’ll get him back by the middle of June.

Albert Pujols is still homer-less this season (yay).

Basketball time:

The Knicks are down 0-3 in their 1^st Round series to the Miami Heat. This season has been one of highs and lows for the Knicks, and right now they can’t find the groove. Let me tell you, they were leading at halftime last night 40-36 and I was confident they could come at least withink 10. But no, LeFlop has to score eight straight points in the fourth quarter for the Miami Heat.

Go Knicks!

Great time to be a sports fan

Without a doubt, this is one of my favorite months of sports. You’ve got the NBA Playoffs finally underway after a drama-filled regular season. The Stanley Cup Playoffs are always exciting, since the dynamic of a game can change in a flash. Between one moment and the next is a period of “What’s gonna happen next?” In basketball, you know after every score it takes about 10 seconds to bring the ball to half-court, which creates less drama then a 2-1 hockey game.

Plus, baseball is finding it’s groove around this time (too bad Albert Pujols hasn’t). By the way, Matt Kemp is a monster. If he even remotely produces like this for the rest of the season, he’ll be a frontrunner for the MVP race.

On to basketball:

The Knicks play Game 3 tomorrow night at the Garden against the Miami Heat. It would be an understatement to say this has been disappointing playoffs so far for the Knicks. First, they embarrass themselves by losing “Bobcats style” in Game 1. Next, they lose Game 2 by a frustrating 10 points.

This season’s had more drama then a bad soap opera for the Knicks! I’m not going to recap that (it would take thousands of words), but we did here an interesting story break yesterday morning. Amar’eStoudemire committed an act of violence against himself. Out of frustration, he punched the class casing surrounding a fire extinguisher. He’s “out for [tonight’s] game and is doubtful for Game 4” (wsj.com).  If I were the Knicks, at the beginning of the season next year I would cut (pun) Amar’e. This is a disgusting act and does not help the team at all.

Or does it?

It’s been true all year: the Knicks actually play BETTER with Amar’e out of the lineup. So, will this help them out in Game’s 3 and 4? We’ll see.

When the Celtics lost Game 1, analysts were already taking them for granted and saying “Oh, they can’t win without Rondo in the lineup.” Of course, Rondo was suspended on Monday for Game 2. They said “A team without Rondo and Allen cannot beat the Hawks.” I thought the Hawks would see no Rondo or Allen and go, “We got this.” Of course, Pierce went off for 36 points. They ended up winning the game, evening up the series 1-1.

Baseball:

As we all know, Albert Pujols is in a major slump. He hasn’t hit a home run, and is hitting sub-.250. He’s got 4 RBI’s…Nobody knows what’s wrong with him so far this season. To be honest, I’m glad he’s in this slump. I’m happy because he left, no, abandoned the Cardinals with such a money-first attitude. He wasn’t concerned with winning more rings and staying loyal to his team. Nope, everyone says it’s a business. Follow the money…

Football:

BREAKING NEWS: Junior Seau is dead

Four New Orleans Saints players were suspended today for their involvement in the bounty scandal. Most significantly, Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the entire 2012 season, effective immediately.

For more on the story, visit ESPN: http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7881761/nfl-bans-four-players-new-orleans-saints-bounty-roles

Third time’s the charm, right?

Why do I keep doing this? Every time I try to get back into sports blogging, schoolwork gets in the way and I completely forget about writing. Well, this time I decided that if I want to become a sports journalist in the future, I’ll need to improve my writing by….duh, WRITING. The writing we do in school is sooo boring. Plus, sports writing allows me to convey my thoughts about my favorite topic using the most widely-used medium in the world: the Internet. \

Enough of that, let’s get back to work!

Watching the Knicks/ Heat game, cannot believe they’re still in this 55-52 10 minutes to go in the 3rd. Game 1 was an embarrassment for Knicks fans everywhere. They got KILLED by 30 points. On a side note, Shumpert tore his ACL and is out for the rest of the season and half of next season.

Derrick Rose also tore his ACL in yesterday’s Game 1 win agains the Sixers. Everyone knows he. was in the game up 12 with a minute left. As a result, fans everywhere are blaming Tom Thibodeau and the compressed schedule for the injury. Come on dude, you’re gonna blame a coach for leaving his star in, who’s played half the season this year for various injuries??

Game 6, Dirk looks for Revenge and a Ring

The NBA season is the longest season in professional sports. You could say golf or tennis, but they don’t have seasons (correct me if I’m wrong). It’s from the end of October to the middle of June, about 8 months. In order to win the championship in June, you need to be better than 14 teams (to make playoffs), then win 3 series, which will then take you to the Finals. The Mavs have worked hard to get to the Finals. The Heat? Well, their Big 3 have worked hard… The series has gone back and forth, first it was Miami, then Dallas, etc.. The series has certainly been exciting, particularly because of the storyline surrounding it. LeBron, Wade and Bosh teaming up on one team to win some rings, paired up against the vet Dirk and his supporting cast of Kidd, Terry, Marion, Chandler and the like. This storyline has certainly created friction between these two teams, possibly motivating them a bit more than any other series in the Playoffs.

Dirk will be on Top of his Game, I promise you that

During Game 5, Dirk came down with a sickness. He was coughing and sneezing for most of the game. Even thought the Heat lost, D-Wade and LeBron still had the nerve to mock the Almighty Dirk. During the post-game press conference, Nowitzki called this act “Childish, a little ignorant” (Courtesy to Yahoo.com). Many people say this act of childishness by D-Wade and LeBron will result in a more focused Dirk Nowitzki, which will lead to him shooting lights out, playing great D and getting some assists and rebounds along the way.

10 Bucks says LeBron's gonna choke in the 4th Quarter of Game 6

Here are my thoughts on the Heat: I have some respect for Wade. He’s been there for about 5 or 6 years, and even in tough times he stayed with the Heat. I hate LeBron’s guts. I can’t stand the man; he has no class! If he loses, he’ll cry like a baby and blame it on D-Wade, Bosh and the Heat bench. Possibly Erik Spolestra too. I don’t like Bosh either, but I am impressed that he didn’t mock Dirk;s illness. For that, I gained some respect for Boshosaurus Rex. I’m looking forward to the most exciting game of the year (so far). What’s your take on Game 6?

Late Surge Helps Mavs Topple Thunder in OT

Last night, we witnessed one of the most exciting games in this year’s NBA Playoffs. Many thought it was necessary for the Thunder to tie up the series going back to Big D. On the other hand, the Mavs thought they needed to win and go up 3-1 in the series.

As I went upstairs to watch the game, I wondered if the Thunder could tie up the series. They definitely could if Durant and Westbrook play their usual way and if the team played good defense. Just as I turned on ESPN, I saw Russell

Westbrook Helped the Thunder Get a 16-8 Lead over the Mavs Early in Game 4

Westbrook intercept a pass from Nowitzki, take it down the court and finish with a dunk. The bottom of the screen read: Mavericks 2, Thunder 10. It was only the first 3 minutes of the game! At that rate, the Thunder would have scored 160 points by the end of the game! Obviously, they did not score 160 points; that would be ridiculous. A few minutes after that, the score was 16-8 in favor of the Thunder. They hit their first 9 shots from the field. During that span, Kevin Durant hit 5 of his first 5.

Dirk Sent his Team into OT with his Clutch Free Throws with 0:06 Left in the Game

During the 1st half, it seemed like the Mavs had a hard time getting their offense going. Their passing was hideous and their shots were simply not falling. Additionally, they weren’t able to stop the Thunder on defense. They basically got whatever they wanted on that side of the court. The score at the end of the 1st half: Thunder on top 59-54. Considering they were once up 10-2, I thought they’d have at least a 10 point lead going into the half.

In the 3rd quarter, the lead stayed pretty stable and by the end, the Thunder were winning by 4. Then, the real magic happened. The Thunder took control of the game, extending their lead to 15 points with 5:07 left in regulation. The Mavs aren’t coming back from that, right? WRONG. The Mavs started a rally, which took them to a score of 101-99 with 0:06 left to play. Dirk was at the free throw line. Can he make both shots to put them in overtime, potentially giving them a second chance? Of course. Being the clutch player he is, Dirk hit both shots, sending them to OT. The Mavs only needed one OT to win the game. Final score: 112-105 Mavericks on top. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday in Dallas.

Recap of stats:

(Mavericks)

Dirk Nowitzki: 40 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists.

Jason Terry: 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals.

Jason Kidd: 17 points, 7 assists, 4 steals.

(Thunder)

Kevin Durant: 29 points, 15 rebounds, 9 turnovers.

Russell Westbrook: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists.

Serge Ibaka: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks.

(Credit goes to ESPN for the stats.)

Mavs/Thunder Game 4 Preview

Durant and the Thunder Look to Tie Up the Series 2-2 Tonight

By now, everyone has heard the headline regarding this series: “The experienced Dallas Mavericks go up against the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder.” That’s basically the main headline of this whole series; who can come up on top? Will it be the old-fart Mavs, with Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki leading the way? Or will it be the youthful and energetic Thunder, who’s 3 out of 5 starters are 22 years of age or less? So far, the Mavericks have been in control of the series, using a combo of Dirk’s shooting, Kidd’s passing, and Tyson Chandler’s rebounding prowess to take a 2-1 series lead. However, the Thunder are not down and out. Although they are an inexperienced team, at times they can play like they are an experienced team, passing the ball effectively, getting easy fast break points (big point), and rebounding.

In Game 1, fans who watched the game saw a breath-taking performance by Nowitzki, dropping 48 points on only 12 made field goals (out of 15). He basically scored half his teams points, so his team really didn’t do much.

Harden Came Up Big for the Thunder in Game 2, Scoring 23 Points

In Game 2, we saw James Harden score 23 points of the bench, leading to a 106-100 victory for the Thunder. The reason the Mavs lost Game 2: they couldn’t find a way to get to the rim and pick up fouls. As a result, they needed to take difficult jumpers to score. Shawn Marion was the surprise in Game 3, scoring 18 points and blocking 4 shots, leading to a Mavs win.

So far, the series lead is held by the Mavs, 2-1. Will that change tonight? Will the series be tied after tonight’s game? Or will the Mavs take a commanding 3-1 lead and become 1 win away from a spot in the NBA Finals? I will guarantee this: tonight’s game will be the most exciting of the series (so far, of course). Drop a comment and tell me who will win.

NBA Western Conference Finals: Game 2

In Game 1 of the Conference Finals, Dirk Nowitzki had an amazing game with 48 points on just 15 shot attempt. Obviously, nobody expects him to repeat that performance

Harden Dropped 23 Leading to a Thunder Win Thursday

anytime soon. Only His Airness can do that. Game 2 was played in Dallas last night. James Harden had a big night off the bench with 23 points, and all Kevin Durant needed was 24 points. It’s much better if your superstar can kick back a bit and not have to worry about scoring 35 points, because his “supporting cast” scored lots of points. D-Rose had an off night; he couldn’t finish at the rim. He always finds a way to finish, but he was off in this game. And it seemed like the Mavs defensive intensity decreased in this game. They weren’t as aggressive as they normally are, and they weren’t getting the blocks and steals. Most people expected the Mavs to be much better in Game 2. However, they were sloppy and their shots weren’t falling. All this led to a 106-100 victory for the Thunder. Game 3 is scheduled for Saturday night at the Oklahoma City Arena.

NBA Western Conference Finals, Game 1

In the Western Conference Semis. against the Grizzlies, the Oklahoma City Thunder had a hard time keeping up with the Grizzlies’ combo of Z-Bo and Marc Gasol. After 3 games, the Thunder were down 2-1. It was an exciting series that included lots of back and forth

Dirk turned in a spectacular performance Tuesday

action. However, in the end, it came down to one game: Game 7. All their hard work was put into one game; will they go on to face the Mavs, or will they go home to OKC? The Thunder defeated the Grizzlies in Game 7 105-90, with Kevin Durant dropping 39 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. In Game 7, Z-Bo had 17 points with 10 rebounds. Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals was set: May 17, 2011 9:00 pm (Eastern Time), pitting the OKC Thunder against the Dallas Mavericks. That game did not disappoint. There were many lead changes and exciting shots. The Thunder had no answer for Dirk Nowitzki, who dropped 48 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and collected 4 dimes. Durant also turned in a great performance, scoring 40 points, grabbing 8 rebounds, and dishing 5 assists. Final score: Mavs on top, 121-112. Game 2 is scheduled for Thursday night, 9 pm (Eastern Time).

Eastern Conference Finals, NBA Playoffs

Tonight’s Game 1 match-up pitted MVP Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls against LeBron/Wade/Bosh and the Miami Heat. In the regular season series, the Bulls swept the Heat 3-0. However, most people believe that the regular season games have no effect on the post season. I am not one of those people. If you don’t agree, fine, drop a comment. But

D-Rose scores 28 points in the Bulls' Game 1 victory

anyway, the Bulls showed they were a much more consistent team then the Heat during the post-season. Tonight, Derrick Rose scored 28 and Luol Deng added 21 en route to a 103-82 win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Chris Bosh had a big night, dropping 30 points on 12-18 shooting (66%), leading the Heat in scoring. LeBron was held to 15 points on 5-14 from the field, while D-Wade was held to just 18 points. Tonight’s game showed that the Bulls are a much more consistent team then the Heat. Personally, I’m hoping the Bulls can pull this one out and finish off the Heat in six games. Do you think the Heat will pull it together?

The First Game 7 in 2011 NBA Playoffs

In my very first post on this blog, I talked a bit about the drama and excitement of Game 7’s. If you only watch one game in an entire playoff series, it has to be a Game 7. Game 7’s are even better in the championship series, because they force the title to come down to one final deciding game.  This year, there’s only been one Game 7 in the NBA Playoffs. That Game 7 was played today, pitting the 8th seed Memphis Grizzlies against the 4th seed Oklahoma City Thunder. The Grizzlies, led by Zack Randolph, defeated the San

Kevin Durant

Antonio Spurs in the 1st Round 4-2. By doing so, they made people realize that the Grizzlies can compete against the best teams in the league. The Thunder, led by the two-time NBA scoring champ Kevin Durant, defeated the new-look Denver Nuggets during the 1st Round in 5 games. During Game 6 of this series, Durant was hit by a cold spell, only 1-9 from 3pt range and only scoring 11 points. He said that he “lost sleep while visions of cold shooting danced in his head after the Thunder failed to eliminate the Grizzlies in Game 6” (Courtesy ESPN.com). It looks like Durant’s nightmares motivated him to shoot 13-25 from the field, hit 4 out of 9 3’s, shoot 9-9 from the charity stripe, and score 39 points overall as the Thunder prevailed over the Grizzlies 105-90. Zack Randolph scored 178 points, whitch was obiously not enough to put the Grizzlies on top. Now, its the Thunder vs. the Mavericks in the Conference Finals. Who will win? I just hope the series will be as good as the Grizzlies/Thunder series. Who knows, maybe we might get lucky and see a Game 7.