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! :)