I'm Pretty Good at Fantasy Football

Sadly, the NFL season is nearing the end so that means that fantasy football it down to the wire as well. In this post, I just want to talk about my keeper league fantasy team and how I've rebuilt it into a championship contender. Last year was my first year joining a competitive fantasy football keeper league. Every year, each team would select 5 players from their squad and keep them for the next year. The champion of course, would be awarded an extra keeper! Rookies that are selected in the rookie draft would have 3 years of free keeper status. For example, if you guys chose a guy like AJ Green in a rookie draft this year, he'd be a free keeper for the next 3 fantasy seasons unless he's dropped anytime before that! After that, he'd be like every other player and count towards your original 5. That would mean Adrian Peterson, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Calvin Johnson, and all the other superstars will probably end up being kept. That means they will not be thrown into our Free Agent draft. Rookies are really crucial in leagues like this because it gives you a potential fantasy star keeper for upcoming years. The team I took over ended up stacking up QBs and finished last in the previous year. Fortunately, he did end up leaving me Ben Roethlisberger and drafted Josh Freeman. AND Luckily, I was able to get the 1st overall pick in the Rookie and Free Agent draft. The manager I took over decided to tank it all for some reason and left me with little to work with!
These guys were the keepers I ended up keeping:

• Ben Roethlisberger (PIT-QB)
• Matt Leinart(ARI-QB)
• Vince Young (TEN-QB)
• Matt Cassell (KC-QB)
• Donald Driver (GB-WR)

and my rookie that I was able to keep was Josh Freeman!

Not a good team right? I hated it too at first but those were the cards that were dealt to me. I quickly took this team and did a massive rebuilding process. In the rookie draft, it was a no-brainer to select RB, Ryan Mathews. His lightning speed and elusiveness was like a young LT. He was already rated a top 10 RB by many scouts before the season even started. After that, I made a couple of trades that gave me a little leeway. I traded Matt Cassell for Ryan Grant and a 2nd round rookie pick that ended up being Brandon LaFell. Then, I traded away Matt Leinart,5th round FA pick for Mike Sims-Walker and a 3rd round FA pick. MSW was coming off of a breakout year and I thought that he would've built on that. I was definitely wrong. A few more trades and free agent draft picks netted me some good players like Chad Ochocinco, Cedric Benson and Ahmad Bradshaw. My team was looking good on paper before the season started. Ben Roethlisberger, Josh Freeman, Vince Young, Bradshaw, Mathews, Benson Ocho, LaFell, Driver, Mike Sims Walker were my key guys that I thought would give me a solid team. I WAS SO WRONG. I started off on a bad note and lost my first few weeks. BUT, it was a blessing in disguise! I ended up having 1st waiver priorities and picked up Michael Vick. He turned out to be a fantasy phenomenon! Along the way, as my team kept losing, I just started to stack up on players with value. I picked up people like LaGarette Blount, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Earl Bennett. I also did a lot of major trades to give me a good team for next year:

• I traded Vince Young for Mohammed Massaquoi who still had rookie keeper rights. It was a great trade because VY ended up getting benched a few weeks later and Massaquoi still had potential for a breakout year.
• I also traded Ryan Fitzpatrick and Donald Driver for Sidney Rice and a future 3rd round pick.
• I also traded Big Ben and a future 3rd round pick to a team that was in contention for a title! He gave me a hefty price of Tony Romo and a 1st round pick. Remember, Romo was out for the season with a collarbone injury. He was in desperate need for a QB

AND then.... Sadly... my team finished with a miserable 4-9 record.

AND NOW.

 THIS YEAR!!!!!

My 5 keepers coming into this season were:

• Michael Vick (PHI-QB)
• Tony Romo (DAL-QB)
• Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG-RB)
• LeGarrette Blount (TB-RB)
• Sidney Rice (SEA-WR)

WITH my rookies : 3rd Year(Josh Freeman, Mohammed Massaquoi). 2nd Year(Ryan Mathews, Brandon Lafell)

Honestly, this team was looking good. And with the extra free agent picks, I was in line for a great season! I got back to work and traded Blount, 3rd round FA pick for Vincent Jackson! With that trade, I added an elite WR to my team. I had the second worst record in the league so I was awarded the 2nd overall pick in the rookie and free agent drafts.  In the rookie draft, I drafted AJ Green 2nd overall. I couldn't pass on a talented guy like him. I know I left people like Cam Newton and Julio Jones but AJ Green is someone I couldn't let go. In the second round, I found a gem. Can anyone guess who this was???? It was DEMARCO MURRAY! Yes, the Dallas phenom! I didn't expect him to blow up either but he was probably the steal of this draft.

Take a look!
                   Round 1

1. King Brodeur (via Deckie) - Daniel Thomas
2. Jabatchi - AJ Green
3. Alphabits - Mark Ingram
4. Falcons - Ryan Williams
5. Axsalinger - Julio Jones
6. Raiders - Cam Newton
7. Habspatrol - Roy Helu
8. Elicit - Jake Locker
9. Axsalinger (via Evil Empire) - Blaine Gabbert
10. Deckie (via King Brodeur) - Andy Dalton
11. Broncos - Jonathan Baldwin
12. EE (via Axsalinger via Cheetos) - Mikel LeShoure

Round 2

1. Elicit (via Deckie) - Greg Little
2. Jabatchi - DeMarco Murray
3. Falcons - Christian Ponder
4. Alphabits - Colin Kaepernick
5. Axsalinger - Titus Young
6. Cheetos (via Raiders) - Leonard Hankerson
7. Habspatrol - Denarius Moore
8. Habspatrol - (via King Brodeur via Elicit) - Kendall Hunter
9. Deckie (via King Brodeur (via Evil Empire) - Delone Carter
10. EE (Deckie via King Brodeur) - Alex Henery
11. Broncos - Torrey Smith
12. Cheetos - Lance Kendricks 

In the FA Draft, I ended up selecting Brandon Lloyd, Marshawn Lynch, Jimmy Graham, and others.

My team looked solid!!!

This is what it looked like before the season started:

QB:
Tony Romo (DAL)
Michael Vick (PHI)
Josh Freeman (TB)*
RB:
Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG)
Marshawn Lynch (SEA)
Ryan Mathews (SD)**
DeMarco Murray (DAL)***
WR:
Vincent Jackson (SD)
Brandon Lloyd (DEN)
Sidney Rice (SEA)
Bernard Berrian (MIN)
AJ Green (CIN) ***
Brandon LaFell (CAR) **
Mohammed Massoquoi (CLE)*
TE:
Jimmy Graham (NO)
K:
Stephen Gostkowski (NE)
DEF:
Green Bay
IDPS:
Tyvon Branch (OAK)
Trent Cole (PHI)
Derrick Johnson(KC)



And of course, Lloyd got traded to STL. I dropped Berrian, Massaquoi and they turned into Brad Smith and Thomas Jones. My IDP's changed too. I have Jason Babin, DQwell Jackson instead of Cole and Johnson. I also seemed to pick up Philadelphia's DEF after everyone gave up on them!

To many of the managers in the league, they looked at it as a team pushing for a playoff spot. They were soooo wrong! Even though Vick is having an awful year, he still manages to give me 20 points because of his legs. Despite all the hatred for Tony Romo, he's still one of the best QB's in the league. He's been doing really well but no one ever acknowledges that because of his 4th quarter meltdowns. Josh Freeman was a little disappointing but he was a good injury filler. Murray, Mathews, Lynch, and Bradshaw all have helped me! They all had breakout years! DeMarco Murray came out of no where and landed a 253 yard rushing performance one week against the Rams. After that, he took off! Sadly, his season ended last week with an ankle injury. Bradshaw was having an outstanding year before he got hurt but now he's getting back to form in time for my championship! As for Mathews, he's become one of the most complete backs in the game! AND, Marshawn Lynch has scored a touchdown in 9 straight games! He's definitely the hottest RB right now. And my WRs are amazing. AJ Green was a pleasant surprise. I didn't think he would do really well this year because of a young Bengal offense but that certainly turned some heads. VJ has been up and down but he's still an explosive guy. He could be giving off only 9 points in one game but have a 30 point explosion in the next! And the mid-season acquisition of Brandon Lloyd for the Rams really upped his fantasy value. He was going nowhere in Denver but the trade made him a viable option for weeks! He had pretty good weeks for me. But my MVP might have to be Jimmy Graham. He has played well every week! I swear he averages at least 20 points a week. If he's not scoring, he's getting 7,8 receptions with 100 yards receiving.  The man is a beast; a total superstar! He has to be the best tight end in the NFL right now. No one can stop him! Overall, my team ended up being the first seed in the league! We went on to finish with a record of 11-2 in the regular season! I also had an eight game winning streak to end the year! This is a great rebuild on my part and probably the best season of fantasy football i've ever managed!

And now, my team is in the finals. Unfortunately, the other team has a scary team. He has a Ray Rice and LeSean Mccoy RB duo goin' on. AHHHH, I'm so ready to win this league. I hope i'll be Tebowing by the end of next week! In just 2 years of managing this roster, I must say, i'm pretty good at fantasy football.

The Chris Paul Relay

As we all know by now, the lockout has ended and the transactions started to roll! Almost every team made under the radar acquisitions but a handful of teams made a big splash! One of the biggest moves that happened was of course, the Chris Paul trade. It finally happened! After weeks of speculation and some offers that were negated by David Stern, the NBA has agreed to let Paul move. LA was the team that one the Paul sweepstakes. For all you Laker fans out there,  he'll be wearing purple and yellow!We're on the road to another championship! Just kidding.

 He actually joined forces with Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clipper gang. The Knicks, Nets, and Lakers were the other top runners in this marathon but they came up short. To be honest, I felt like the Clippers gave up WAY too much. I felt the same way when the Knicks got Carmelo Anthony last year. There was so much solid talent that were going Denver's way. This trade is the same. Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and Minnesota's UNPROTECTED 2012 first round draft pick were sent to New Orleans in exchange for Paul and a couple of second rounders in 2015. Yeah, I know Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA today but it does take more than one guy to win. Especially in a season like this, extra bodies are needed to fill the void a LOT this year.

Lets take a look at the Hornets side:

Eric Gordon is one of the upcoming young guards in this league! Did anyone even notice he averaged 22.3 points per game last year? I don't think so. Everyone was so focused on Blake Griffin's stellar "rookie" year but Eric Gordon quietly had one of the better seasons for any guard. He has been exceeding everyone's expectations and slowly progressing into the upper echelon of players. I thought the Clippers would have had a better team if they didn't give him up. He'll definitely be the key to the Hornets offense this upcoming season. As for Al-Farouq Aminu, the Hornets netted themselves another young, athletic player. He was drafted 8th overall in last year's draft. He didn't have a stellar rookie campaign but he showed flashes of what he could develop into. He's long, can stretch the floor, and play defense. Chris Kaman was the other guy in this trade. Even though he had an injury plagued year, I know he still has a LOT to offer. He's tough, can play amongst the best of 'em and has a soft touch around the rim. He's one of the best offensive big men in the NBA. Look's like they have a perfect replacement for Aaron Gray!Go Raptors! :D

AND. AND. AND. The Hornets also get the T-Wolves unprotected first round draft pick! WOW. With the Wolves roster right now, I don't see them making it far this season. This pick will give the Hornets a high end lottery pick for this upcoming draft! The can potentially snag someone like Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, or some other top prospects. Crazy trade for New Orleans.

Trade Grade: A. We all knew Chris Paul was leaving. It was just all the matter of where and what the Hornets will get in return. This trade will make them better now and in the future.

And for the Clippers:

Chris Paul was the most prized guy in all the available guys other than Dwight Howard. The Clippers will be a better team but I just think they gave up too much of a price. But then again, Chris Paul is a superstar and opportunities to get a player of his caliber are rare. Chris Paul will make everybody on this squad better. His play-making and ball-handling skills are impeccable. It'll be "lob city" for the Clippers. The only thing that the Clippers need to do now is get overall depth. They have 4 point guards that are all worthy of being starters! Chris Paul is obviously the man there but everyone else is in a bubble. Newly signed Chauncey Billups will probably see time at the 2 but I don't see him doing all that well there. Mo Williams should be the next person moved on this Clippers team. They should trade him for depth. They need a legit SG and a backup big man. Ryan Gomes, Brian Cook, and Randy Foye won't fill the best needs at their respective positions. Mo will definitely bring in someone with value. And Eric Bledsoe is the 4th point guard here. He'll be a good backup and reliever for this team. His young legs will give a good spark off of the bench.

Trade Grade: A. Chris Paul is someone that could change a franchise in a blink of an eye. The price was steep but it is a definite upgrade. They need to work on getting rid of the logjam at the PG position for other positions. Other than that, this team will be exciting to watch this year.

What If..

Sadly, the NBA hasn't resolved its lockout issues just as yet and we have to wait even longer. But today, 'Off the Record' relived the past. It was about the '99, '00 Toronto Raptors. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Charles Oakley all appeared on the show talking about the their tenure with the Raptors. McGrady was drafted 9th overall in the 1997 NBA draft. He was the young, high-flying, defensive phenom for the young raptors back in the day. Despite the season being awfully disappointing, T-Mac showed flashes of what his game could develop into.

As the next draft approached, the Raptors made the biggest deal in their history. They decided to select Antawn Jamison with the 4th overall selection and then ship him to the Golden State Warriors for his UNC teammate, Vince Carter. Vince Carter would soon be the franchise's biggest star. He would turn into the face of the Raptors and what many believe is the equivalent to what Lebron is today for the NBA; a world known superstar at the top of his game bringing excitement to everywhere he went.
 
The Raptors management saw the potential that these cousins had. The management team knew the two would excel in this league so they built a team with veterans that could show them the ropes. Charles Oakley was the main man they brought in. He was their big brother. If you were going to try and knock VC or T-Mac on their asses, Oak would be the first one at your doorstep ready to smack some sense into you. He was the glue to the Raptors team. In the interview today, Vince and Tracy both acknowledged him as the guy who made it all happen. Without the presence of Charles, Vince and Tracy wouldn't have been able to accomplish everything they did.

But, the biggest question that was asked today was "What If". That question for Raptor fans still lingers in our minds today. It makes me so sad thing about this. It actually breaks my heart. The 1999-2000 Raptors were special. They achieved the first playoff berth for the Raptors and they made some noise. Although they were swept by the more experienced Knicks, they showed that they were a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, McGrady decided to leave the up and coming Raptors for his own spotlight on the Orlando Magic. Some see it as selfish, but others see it as an opportunity to develop. People say that McGrady wouldn't have been as good as he was had he not left the Raptors but you can definitely argue that McGrady was the missing piece on the road to the championship. Carter did flourish as the only Raptor superstar but his cousin would have greatly helped. The second round was the furthest they went but Iverson scored in bunches. Although Vince Carter was killing the 76ers, his last shot was the start of the Raptors fall. The shot in game 7 still gives me nightmares. Why did that ball have to miss? WHY?! Tracy even said today that if he was playing in that game 7, the Raptors would have went to the NBA finals. Do you know how heartbreaking that sounds?! When Tracy said that, I was literally crying. Man, T-Mac should have stayed. He didn't even pass the first round of the playoffs in his career until he was injured with the Rockets a few years back and contributed nothing in the playoffs. But damn... I can't stress enough how sad I really am. This team could have been special. And I agree with Kobe with his statement that if that Raptor team stayed together, they'd be battling the Lakers multiple times for championships. Its unfortunate that things ended the way they did. Personally, I still love Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. They were my idols growing up and even though they left, I still supported them. That's how much I loved these guys. I don't care about the way they left, I care about what they did with the team. They created a buzz in the air and expanded the basketball culture throughout Canada. Two of the biggest superstars in the basketball world. They gave us hope and something to look forward to. They even did a lot for the organization and for the city. *sigh*

 At least the Raptors look like they're going in the right direction with their young pieces like Derozan and Ed Davis. They look like a team that could make some noise, right?! But no matter how good this Raptor team will be in the future, we will always end up asking this question to ourselves. What if?

NBA 2k12

As we're still waiting for this dreaded NBA lockout to finally end, we can at least look forward to the releasing of the new NBA 2k12 right? I'm usually super amped to buy NBA 2k every year but this year is a different story. 2k did add some neat features with all the different legends branching off the idea from last year's MJ challenge. I do play those time to time but I'm more of an association and online mode player. And that being said, I do care about the ratings of the different players around the league. It's actually such a disappointment. I don't know what they base these ratings on but its horrible. Most players are either really overrated or extremely underrated.

Some notable overrated players
- Corey Maggette(CHA - SF) (74) : I don't think he deserves a 74 personally. He didn't have a great season and it was filled with nagging injuries. An average of 12.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg is not 74 worthy. I'll say 71. It is only a few more digits below but hey, it makes a difference.
- Delonte West(BOS - G)(69) : Really? This man is rated as good as Derozan? An average of 5.6 points and 2.7 assists is a person who should be in the low 60's. He even had a bad year before this year. How is he rated this high? Yeah, a 69 isn't high....but it is for a guy like West.
- Marcus Thornton(SAC-SG)(74) : I do like Marcus Thornton in both the game and in reality but a 74 may be a little too high for this young guard. Yeah, he's a dynamic scorer who has unlimited range but other than that, he can't do much else. If 2k puts a higher emphasis on scoring and shooting then I wouldn't argue about this one.
- Shannon Brown(LAL-SG)(72) : He's a great boost off the bench but a 72 for an energy guy seems like too much right? Every other energy guy seems to be in the 60s... Why does he get it different? I don't know. He's exciting I guess.
- Matt Barnes(LAL-SF)(71) : A little too high for him. He didn't even have that great of a season but he can play defense so I guess this is why he's at this rating.
- Quentin Richardson (ORL)(71) - A shooter. He averaged 4.4 points this past year and he's still rated this high. 71.....for QRich. He's done.
- Paul George(IND-SF,SG)(74) - As much as I like George, I can't rate him this high after just one mediocre season. He did have an ok rookie year and he did show flashes of greatness but it wasn't enough to earn him a 74. He only showed up in the second half of the season. I'd say a 70 at best.
There are WAY more but yeah....

Some underrated players include Derozan, Bargnani, and Nowitzki. These are just some that I think are horribly underrated. Demar Derozan is a 69....that's so harsh. He can't even believe it. I remember him tweeting @2k about it. It's an insult. He averaged 17.2 points and has developed nicely in every aspect of his game. His only clear flaw is his three point shooting. He has opened a lot of people's eyes this past season and he should have been recognized. Even by a game. Bargnani at 68 is just heartbreaking. He averaged 22 points, over 5 boards and a block per game. You might say,"Ew, a big man only grabbing 5 rebounds?" But, he's scoring over 20 points a game. That has to at least give him a nod on some more rating points! How can the likes of Humphries, and more other random players be better than him? It might just be a hate on Toronto as a whole team. No one is rated higher than a 69 other than Barbosa. It disgusts me. Dirk is another player that got robbed. A 85? Really? For the Finals MVP? That's just wrong. He needs a 90 AT LEAST. Like, how can you give this guy anything less? He plays his heart out everyday and just about does everything for his team. Without him, the Mavericks wouldn't have even gotten past the Lakers with ease. 2k needs to wake up! Their ratings are horrible. AND, they didn't include the rookies because of the lockout. Such a disappointment for me. I've probably left out a lot of players and you may think that I'm overreacting but hey, its just my opinion. Feel free to bash, comment, agree, disagree.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Week 1

As we all know, the football season has launched! Last night, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints battled it out all the way til the dying seconds. Mark Ingram had a chance to score a touchdown to put the game into a deciding 2 point conversion but the Packers D showed up. I swear like five different players did a superman jump at Ingram! It was actually crazy! Speaking of superman jumps, did anyone see AJ Hawk attempting it?! It actually looked really cool. Too bad it was called for a pass interference. Here's a bad, but passable link for Aj Hawk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_Jv63msfw

Ok, anyways, about week 1, there are a lot of great matchups to look forward to.
Atlanta@Chicago: I have a great feeling that Chicago has this game. I think it will be an all offense game with these two teams with nonstop scoring drives. I just have that gut feeling that Mike Martz' offense with newly acquired Roy Williams and a rising player in Knox will be able to pull through despite facing a powerful Falcon offense. This one is up in the air.
Cincinnati@Cleveland: Okay, this will be a good game as well but Cleveland is the better team, at least on paper. Cover boy Peyton Hillis will absolutely dominate this game. With an young QB at the helm in Cincy, I doubt the Bengal offense will score much. I do like the AJ Green, Joe Haden matchup. That will be a fun one to watch throughout the game. I'll take Cleveland in this game.
Buffalo@KansasCity: As much as I do consider Buffalo as my home team, I do know they are bad. Kansas City have a strong offensive punch with Jamal Charles leading the charge at RB. Newly acquired recievers Steve Breaston and Jon Baldwin should fit in to Haley's offense perfectly. KC's D is pretty good also. I got KC winning by 20+ points in this one. I hope i'm wrong though.
Philadelphia@St.Louis: DREAM TEAM! I've been an Eagles fan since the McNabb-Owens era and I'm not a bandwagon jumper! Michael Vick has bounced back to claim a seat with the elite QBs in the league; Desean Jackson is definitely one of the most explosive players in the league but contract issues have been lingering; and most of all, the D. Three proven corner backs in Asomugha, Samuel, and DRC. This team should be able to battle it out with the best of them. Sam Bradford, as good as he is, will not have his best game on Sunday. I really do like the Rams this year, but this week, they're on the Eagles dinner menu. Eagles will win this and go to the SUPER BOWL. Book it. I know its week 1 but I know it'll happen.
Detroit@TampaBay: Josh Freeman should be able to have a decent game against the Lions but who knows? The Lions D has improved drastically but I have that feeling that Freeman will be able to get passed them. Mike Williams should be able to get 8 or more receptions with a touchdown on Sunday. I do expect an entertaining game on both sides. Stafford and the CJ connection is amazing and will probably be one of the best this season BUT, it won't be enough this week. I got TB.
Tennessee@Jacksonville: Both teams are mediocre in my opinion but I'll give the edge to the Titans. Chris Johnson is a game changer and will always keep his team in ball games. David Garrard will have a great day throwing! Oh wait..he was cut...GO LUKE MCCOWN! He got this! I'm going to say he'll throw a touchdown on Sunday....but also two interceptions. We'll see. I got the Titans in a kinda exciting affair.
Pittsburgh@Baltimore: DEFENSE! DEFENSE! DEFENSE! A low scoring affair is what I'm expecting but it will be a great game to watch, like always. Both teams are evenly matched but the edge on offense goes to the Steelers only because I'd rather have Big Ben than Flacco. BUT, I'll take Baltimore in this game only because of the home field advantage. A toss up though.
Indianapolis@Houston: Okay, I'm reaching far on this prediction but I think the Texans will finally win their division and also take a trip to the Super Bowl. I think they are a complete team all around with great additions to their defense and a growing chemistry in their offense. Andre Johnson is arguably the best WR in the league right now and Arian Foster only started to heat it up last year. The Colts don't have Peyton. They'll be competitive but won't win this game. Put your money on the Texans.
Carolina@Arizona: Kevin Kolb and Fitz versus Cam Newton and Steve Smith...I'd take Arizona. Despite losing a little fire power in their defense, I think the Cards made the right move to get Kolb. He has been throwing well and has developed a good chemistry with Larry. I see big things from them. As for Carolina, they are still a work in progress but they are heading in the right direction. Expect a ton of headaches in the Panther nation this year. I'll take the Cards in this matchup.
Minnesota@SanDiego: Its hard to say no to McNabb and AD but I just don't see them beating the Chargers on Sunday. Why? One, they don't have home field advantage and two, they are facing notably the most under appreciated QB in the league in Rivers. Rivers will throw lights out and I expect VJ to have a field day! It'll be close but SD will pull out the win.
Seattle@SanFrancisco: The Seahawks made a splash signing Sidney Rice this offseason but the Niners also got better. Braylon Edwards will surely be an upgrade at their WR position. The nod goes to the San Fran D which I think are one of the more better defenses in the league. I take San Fran in this one.
NewYorkGiants@Washington: New York is a consistent team and I think they will have a nice day defending Rex Grossman. I won't be surprised if the Redskins will lose this game by a landslide. Go Giants!
Dallas@NewYorkJets: I do like what the Cowboys have done this offseason and the development of Dez Bryant is great but the Jets are tough to beat especially on their home turf. I think Revis Island will take over. I got the Jets winning in a close one.
NewEngland@Miami: Tom Brady or Chad Henne? Eh......Ocho? Go Pats? Yeah, I'll take the Pats on this one.
Oakland@Denver: I got a big upset on this one! I'm taking the unproven, bad, inconsistent Raiders on this one! Why? I don't know...BUT I do believe that this team will be decent. Run DMC should be able to run around the Broncos on Sunday. Gut feelings really cost people money...

Hope everyone agrees but if not, comment with your own opinion!

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in you're Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Better or Worse?

The Jays pulled off a trade today with the Diamondbacks that included a pair of infielders. John McDonald and Aaron Hill were sent to Arizona for fellow second baseman, Kelly Johnson. Honestly, this might just be the worst trade Alex Anthopoulos has ever made. Yeah, I know Aaron Hill hasn't been doing anything lately and McDonald is just a filler on random days but Kelly Johnson hasn't been showing any signs of life either! Johnson does have a good burst with his bat as he has 18 home runs but he has a .209 average. You could also throw in the argument that Aaron Hill is only hitting .225 this year but to me, I just can't see the upgrade in acquiring  Johnson. Aaron Hill has the potential to hit as much, if not more, home runs than Kelly but I guess potential can only take a player so far. And to Johnny Mac, i'm actually sad that he got traded. He is a reliable player and was a phenomenal defender. His services will be missed dearly. I might be kind of biased to this trade because Hill and McDonald have been on the roster for so long. I don't really know. Did the Jays get better or worse? I know the Diamondbacks did. Hopefully Johnson creates some magic and help this Blue Jay team reach the top.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Jays Future is Bright

Today was another great day for Toronto blue jay fans across the world because we got to witness another young prospect making a major league debut this season. This season has been a good one so far for the Jays in every aspect of baseball. Their record is among the middle tier teams in the league sitting at 57-55 but remember, they sit in a tough A.L East division where the behemoths of baseball lurk. If the Jays were in another division, I would have no doubt in my mind that they will be sitting in 1st or 2nd in it. Now, back to the main topic....A new prospect call up! This time it's Brett Lawrie. We should've seen his debut months ago but it was unfortunately postponed due to a hand injury. But now it's time!

We've seen the likes of David Cooper, Eric Thames and Luis Perez called up for the first time in their careers but Brett Lawrie seems to have that "thing". I can't explain it but you know what I mean right? Actually, I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. I probably sound stupid by using "thing" to describe Lawrie. BUT anyways, Lawrie has that thing. He has that vibe about him that shows people that he can be a very special player. He has a swagger and an aggressive personality which makes him all that more great! He is also one of the most confident or some might say, cocky people on the roster which is a pretty good trait to have if he uses that in a positive way. Earlier today, the Jays entered play against the Baltimore Orioles and they set up Brett to hit 9th. The first thing I noticed about him was that he was HUGE. I'm not trying to sound sexual but he is a big dude! The man has muscles and I swear he had veins all over his arms. The dude is built. I just had this feeling that he was going to hit a home run at his first at bat by just looking the part. Isn't it sad that the most i've described so far was his body? Weird. Anywho, he quickly learned how hard it was to be an infielder in the MLB. In one of his first defensive plays, a grounder was hit to third base while Lawrie was set up so far. As the ball was speeding through the ground, Lawrie somehow caught up to it and threw an inaccurate, but strong ball. That play alone showcased that athleticism that everyone was talking about. BUT, on the next ball sent his way, he got a little excited or something and he messed up an easy grounder. The ball was bouncing happily towards Brett and then it hit right off of his glove. ERROR! But, at least he balanced his infield error with an RBI Single as his first ever major league hit. It was belted into shallow centre field. He even seemed like he was a good runner! He also included another hit to his resumé today and helped the Jays win 5-4. All he needs to work on is his defense but that'll come along when he gets more comfortable.

This Jays squad is as young as ever. This team of youngsters are probably the best crop of young men grown by the Jays organization in a very long time. The outfielders are all young guys with Snider, Rasmus, and Thames. I guess you can say Bautista is young because it's really only his second year as a reliable player meaning he still has a lot of juice left in him as the ball club grows. The infield does show promise also. Lawrie is aligned to a young-ish Escobar and two savvy veterans in Hill and Lind. Sadly, Hill is declining and we need a new 2nd baseman! Please, someone take him off our hands! I used to love this guy but its awful watching him now! Arencibia, the catcher, is also pretty young as this is his first major league campaign also! Oh golly gee, and we have Kyle Drabek, David Cooper, and Travis D'Arnaud in the minors?! This is getting me excited for the future. We got ourselves a nice looking team in 2-3 years. I have big hopes for this kid and the rest of the blue jays.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Not Again.

STLToday is reporting that former NBA player, Darius Miles, is in trouble with the law again. He was arrested while trying to get a loaded gun through security. What were you thinking Darius? I guess as the saying goes, once a jailblazer always a jailblazer. What I'll never understand is why some athletes/celebs find the need to carry a weapon. Now don't get me started on the fact that he was dumb enough to try and get the thing through the airport. Really? The airport Darius? But why do you really need a gun to begin with? With all that unearned income you've made in the past decade you think you'd have better things to do than carry around a weapon. Come on Darius smarten up.

Only One of a Kind

 What kind of bird has ever showcased remarkable instincts, amazing leadership , and flew swiftly wherever it went? The answer is a Blue Jay. But, it isn't any normal Blue Jay, its the rarest one of its kind. Its the enlightened type of figure in the band of  jays, a leader that the whole squad looks up to in the toughest situations. It's a jay that has taken the whole world by surprise and showcased the hard work put in to succeed. This blue jay was special and is being finally recognized for it.

 This blue jay's name is Roberto Alomar. Alomar, for those who don't know, is a Puerto Rican born baseball player who played in the MLB for 15+ years. He played for several teams but his most notable team was the Toronto Blue Jays. He had his best years in a blue and white uniform leading them to not one, but two World Series championships. Robbie Alomar really defined how a 2nd baseman should play. His flashy catches in the infield, his amazing double play turns, and his determination to improving everyday really set the tone. Not only was he a golden glover consistently throughtout his career, he was also an amazing switch hitter. He was consistent at the plate and did not crack under pressure. When the Jays needed a hit, Robbie was the one who did that. When the Jays needed runs, he wanted to be the go ahead runner. And most of all, when the Jays needed a miracle, he didn't fail to find one. His clutch home run against closer Dennis Eckersly of the Oakland A's was the most defining moment in Blue Jays history. Every Torontonian knows the reaction that Alomar had as soon as he swung that bat.He raised his arms and pointed up at the sky with joy. That hit alone created a buzz in the baseball world and everyone knew this man was going to be one of the best. Now, he is enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He is arguably the best second baseman to ever play this game and is no doubt the best player to wear a blue jay uniform.

 I witnessed history today and I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. The Rogers Centre exploded in cheers for the Hall of Famer and the most important people to Roberto which included former jays players. I was really starstruck to see many Blue Jay greats on the field at the same time. The likes of Cito Gaston, Devon White, Paul Beeston,etc. all enlightened the blue jays crowd. It brought back memories of the glory days in '92 and '93. We relived the greatest moments all over again for a split second. From Alomar's speech, I could really tell how much Toronto means to him. He always said that Toronto was his home away from home and that he never ever regretted anything he did in  his time spent here. Everything happens for a reason right? He was destined to be the greatest blue jay ever and he accomplished that goal.

 Also, I found a little  Alomar story interesting about how an announcer back in the 90s saw how much potential Alomar possessed. When the trade was pulled off by the Jays and the Padres, that announcer said  "the Padres just traded a future hall of famer." (Sorry, that announcer's name escapes me). That is a really big thing to say about a player and what a prediction that was! Anyways, back to Robbie's life.. No matter how popular he was and how much accolades he received, he still stayed humble. Being humble was a lesson taught by his parents and he lived his life and worked through his career using this lesson as his biggest moral.

 Even though I wasn't born to see Alomar and the Jays win the series, I do know how much he means to Toronto and the Jays organization. Now, his number 12 is hung above the rafters and will be forever remembered. I was glad to be a part of such a historical event. Moments like this do not come along often and an accolade of this magnitude are only given to extraordinary people. We are all witnesses. Sorry Lebron, that line doesn't suit you at all!

Roberto Alomar...... the greatest 2nd baseman and the best blue jay ever is now a Hall of Famer. How great is it for the city of Toronto? How great is it for blue jay fans? Only one word can sum up a day like this: Special.  

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Reptiles Love Basketball Too

Today, I decided it was a good day to shoot some hoops with a couple of my cousins on the net in front of my house. It was a little humid today but Toronto's weather doesn't ever seem to be a perfect type of weather anyways. Sadly, the handle to adjusting the height of the basketball net mysteriously broke(thanks Ian) and we were left with a rope to hold the net up. Even more sad, I don't even know how to tie the rope to make sure the net stays up....So, I was playing on the shortest height the net could possibly be but still found a way to have fun. I felt like a young Vince Carter dunking left and right. I almost pulled off a windmill 360! No, just kidding..but a boy can dream right?! My jumper also felt so good today that I was knocking down shots from everywhere much like how Dirk Nowitzki was againsnt the Miami Heat! Haha, YES, I pulled out the Anti-Heat comment. I really dislike them. Except Joel Anthony. He seems like a nice dude.
Anywho, getting off topic here.... Oh yes, so as I was resting after a long day of shooting on a 7 and a 1/2 foot net, one of my cousins spotted a strange looking worm beside the sewer. We decided to investigate and then realized that it was a snake! Honestly, it was a bit terrifying. I was pretty scared because I just had that gut feeling that it was going to jump and bite my nose off or something but luckily, it just stayed put. I didn't see a snake around my  neighbourhood my whole life. It was actually pretty strange. Did it come from the sewer? I have no idea. Can snakes even climb up the sewer? Again, I have no idea. It baffles me though. We then continued onward with our game and then we decided to look at the snake one last time before going inside for the Blue Jays game. Mysteriously, the snake vanished! My reaction was that I was scared because I did not want to find that snake anywhere the next time I go outside. Could it have went into the sewer? Is it lurking in the grass? I'm pretty clueless when it comes to snakes aren't I?

This is the critter that interrupted my wannabe Vince Carter and Dirk moments. It looks pretty big doesn't it? Well, I zoomed in! Yup. I guess reptiles love basketball too! I think everyone does!

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha is the biggest free agent in the NFL this season and after long awaited days of speculation, he has finally found a new home. The Pro Bowl corner who has been the most sought out player since the end of the lockout made a very surprising decision. His whole career has been with the Oakland Raiders and he felt that its time to move on and seek a championship. Adam Schefter reported that he has signed a 5 year/60 million dollar contract with yes, wait for it.... THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES! I am a HUGE fan of  both the Philadelphia Eagles and of Nnamdi Asomugha's. This is such an exciting time for Eagles fans as they have picked up arguably one of, if not the best, cornerbacks in the whole entire league! This is a big shock to me as an Eagle fanatic only because they already have two proven cornerbacks in Asante Samuel and newly aquired Dominique Rodgers Cromartie. I really hope that these three can put on their cleats and play in the same dark green jersey together but sadly, its very unlikely. The Eagles will probably keep Asomugha and Cromartie which will lead to the exit of Asante Samuel. Its strange to see a guy like Asante Samuel, who is a proven pro bowl corner, being the odd man out on any team but this is a different scenario. The Eagles have a good problem on their hands and I do expect Samuel to be moved soon. Sadly. Maybe the Jets and the Cowboys could seek a guy like Samuel since they were the expected front runners in the Nnamdi sweepstakes and lost out. The Eagles definitely may have just pulled off the biggest move of the offseason so far and it doesn't appear that the Eagles are done just yet.  Just imagine these three playing on D together..... no team would dare pass the ball to those guys!  And oh yeah, what happens to the Oakland Raiders? They will suck for another consecutive season...Once again, they are in a pickle. They lose their best player to free agency and they have yet to make a big splash in the offseason. It is quite depressing in Oakland right now.


Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)

Kukoc in prostitution scandal?

In an article posted by The Croatian Times Toni Kukoc was suspected as being the "beneficiary" of a high profile prostitution ring. He apparently just shrugged off the allegations.

From the Croatian Times:
"I was in worse situations in life. What should I do? Return home to Split? Of course I will stay in Osijek," Kukoc told the media after his name emerged in connection with the elite prostitution ring headed by Nebojsa Perunovic Pance who was arrested last week.

Interesting...

NFL Transaction Frenzy

Isn't everyone finally relieved that the NFL lockout has ended? It took forever for the lockout to finally end. Now, all of us NFL fans can go to bed happy again. Ever since the lockout has ended, transactions have been flying through the roof! There were a lot of trades and free agent signings that were made today that included a lot of well known and big named players.Let's go more in depth of some of the major transactions that were made today.

What Happened: Chad Ochocinco(above) has been involved in a major transaction today that landed him in New England. He was sent to the Patriots for two future draft picks and then reportedly agreed to a three year contract. He has spent his whole career with the Bengals but has seemed to fallen out of their future plans. He, along with newly "retired" quarterback Carson Palmer both suffered their worst professional season last year.
In My Opinion: I think the Patriots made a great deal. They acquired a veteran receiver that can fill the gap that Randy Moss left when he was traded last year. It is a big risk to take in a personality that Ochocinco possesses but it is also a big reward because he is a very talented player. Coach Belichick will definitely have to work his magic again. He will have a bounce back year with Tom Brady throwing him passes every game. If the Patriots could win ball games with Wes Welker and Deion Branch as their top receivers, they will certainly do much better with Chad. And for the Bengals....at least they have upcoming rookie A.J Green to fill the void.
Fantasy Outlook: I'd say Chad Ochocinco and Tom Brady values rise for the Patriots while Deion Branch is a nobody again. The stock certainly rises for rookie A.J Green of the Bengals. Jerome Simpson's stock also rises a bit because he will get more touches. The only question there is: Who will be their quarterback?

 What Happened: Reggie Bush was traded from the New Orleans Saints to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a few draft picks and safety Jonathon Amaya . He has also agreed to terms on a new contract worth 10 million for 2 years. After drafting running back Mark Ingram, it seemed to have closed the door to a Reggie Bush return.
In My Opinion: I believe that this trade is good for the Dolphins. They acquired a very athletic, young running back who still has yet to reach his fullest potential. I think he will have a career season this year much like how Michael Turner did when he signed with the Falcons a few years back. The Miami offense will be much improved now that they have a running back like Bush. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are a nice 1-2 punch but a new change might be the best bet for the Fins. And as for the Saints, they signed Darren Sproles to fill the role that Reggie had last year. So, I guess it works out in the end.
Fantasy Outlook: Reggie Bush's value will increase because he won't be sharing the load with Pierre Thomas. The Fins did draft a rookie running back in Daniel Thomas, but we'll see what will happen come preaseason. I see a big leap in value for Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and whomever their QB will be as well because Reggie will definitely take some of the pressure off. As for the Saints, Pierre Thomas' value is increased a bit. 

What Happened: Kevin Kolb was finally traded to the Arizona Cardinals after  numerous rumours dating back to when last season ended. He was sent to the Cards in exchange for young corner, Dominique-Rodgers Cromartie and a future second round pick. Kolb was set to become the franchise player when McNabb was traded last summer but an injury in the early minutes of the opening game opened up an opportunity for Michael Vick. As time passed on, Kolb's role as the future starting quarterback started to diminish as Vick flourished on the big stage.
In My Opinion: This trade benefits both teams. The Eagles get another corner that will compliment Asante Samuel perfectly. Those two together are arguably the best cornerback duos in the league. That future second round pick can turn into another quarterback just like Kevin Kolb, who was a former second round pick himself. But doesn't it suck to know that you were waiting a few years, being groomed into becoming the franchise quarterback and then an injury derails you from that path. But its whatever now, Kevin Kolb gets a fresh start in an Arizona Cardinal uniform. The best part for Kolb is that he can't really lose his job. Does anyone really think that Derek Anderson or Max Hall will take over? I don't think so. Having Larry Fitzgerald campaign to the organization to grab you isn't a bad thing either. It'll be a good relationship in Arizona. The only thing he lacks is experience. He hasn't shown enough in the NFL but all signs seem green when it comes to Kolb.
Fantasy Outlook: Kevin Kolb, Larry Fitzgerald, and all the Arizona Cardinal running backs will benefit from this trade. The stock of David Anderson and Max Hall go down to nothing but who really wanted to draft them anways? For the Eagles, Michael Vick's value will not be shattered because he is the clear cut starter.

In the Free Agent Frenzy, a couple of big names were tossed around.

• Pro Bowl Reciever Sidney Rice agreed to a 5 year/41 million deal. To me, Sidney Rice was the best receiver in this free agent class and the Seahawks won that race. He and Mike Williams could make for a big deadly nightmare for defensive coordinators every week but the only thing that the Seahawks lack is a good offensive line and a true starting quarterback. So overall, Sidney Rice might have just put himself in a hole. As talented as he is, he can't show it if no one is throwing him the ball. Charlie Whitehurst and Tarvaris Jackson battling for that quarterback spot is just as bad as David Anderson and Max Hall in Arizona. Uh oh.
• Jonathan Joseph will be wearing a Texan uniform this upcoming season. The young corner signed a 5 year/48.7 million contract. He will probably become their number one lockdown defender. Does this mean the end of the Asomugha pursuit? Only time will tell. And I really hope the Texans finally make the playoffs this year! It's hard seeing an exciting team lose every single year. They have enough talent to make it into the post-season but it seems as if they choke in the second half ALL the time. 

Other Notable Transactions:

• Donovan McNabb was traded to the Vikings for draft picks. I really like McNabb and I hope he straightens everything out in Minnesota. Hey, can you guys believe that the Vikings got younger by acquiring the 34 year old McNabb?! Hopefully they do better this year. Its a shame that a team quite talented as this can never make a big splash.
• Albert Haynesworth(above), the 100 million dollar man, has found his way out of Washington and into a winning organization. He was traded to the New England Patriots. After a few years of disappointment in red,yellow and white, he is trying to change his colours and finally be the player that everyone thought he was going to be. Haynesworth can finally be happy again and shine! Why does every team keep making the Patriots better? I don't know. It baffles me. 
• Matt Hasselbeck joined the Tennesee Titans. He will likely be given the starting gig to start the season but he was signed to give more of a mentoring role to rookie Jake Locker. I won't be surprised to see Locker starting a few weeks into the season because Hasselbeck's best days are behind him.

So, there it is, a big news report about some of the more major transactions the NFL has brought to us today. I can't wait to see how everything else unfolds and where more of the well known faces of the league end up. It's an exciting time of the year! Football has finally come back into our lives. We will say the same about the NBA in a few days....hopefully.....probably not. Ah crap,  I do NOT want to be stuck watching NBL teams go at it. It will be a horrible, horrible time of the year.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for Caring! :)