MLB: Yankees vs. Redosx

by Steve Cernak

Can someone please explain to me why Boston and New York fans are cool with one another now? And am I alone wishing that the bitterness returns?

When "NYY vs. BOS" shows up on the schedule, the game is now a rivalry. Before the Sox won a couple chips, the game technically wasn't a rivalry, but meant more.

The All-Star Break unofficially started with Terry Francona riding the Yankees' brass and Mariano Rivera's jocks. And the Yankees' brass rode Francona's unit, and Hal Steinbrenner said something about the two empires having similar interests in and outside of baseball.

What the hell happened?

I once had this girlfriend that was a huge Sox fan. I felt dirty every time I thought about it, like I had violated the sanctity of the team, sport, and region. Now, Francona says Derek Jeter deserves the two hole, and gives priority to Alex Rodriguez over and above Manny Ramirez?

What the hell happened?

And crazier yet, Sox fans acknowledge how very special this All-Star game is, with the game likely being the last major baseball performance on this most historic of stages.

Yet even crazier, as a Yankees fan, I'm happy to get accolades of that magnitude from the new Kings of Major League Baseball. I need an effing shower.

NFL: Picking Playoff Winners

The NFL Playoffs are officially here, and so far our first set of picks for this weekend's Wildcard round. As was expected, there are two nice matchups in the AFC side and two dismal coin flips on the NFC side. All season long, the NFL has been a virtual crapshoot and the first round of the playoffs should be no different. With that said, here are our rolls of the dice.

Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts

Dustin Hockensmith: The Colts win by putting points on the board and making opposing offenses impatient and more prone to abandon the run. If Larry Johnson and the Chiefs don't get out of the gates early, Trent Green can't possibly lead a comeback through the air. The Colts are 8-0 at home this season and stay perfect on Saturday. Colts 24, Chiefs 13.

Steve Cernak: I'm skeptical picking the Chiefs because they are 3-5 on the road and the Colts are 8-0 at home. However, the Jaguars and Bengals both showed the league how to pick apart Indy's pathetic run defense. Larry Johnson will run wild and KC's great corner tandem of Patrick Surtain and Ty Law slows Peyton Manning. Chiefs 30, Colts 17.

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks

DH: Both teams enter the playoffs with losses in three of their last four games, which makes it hard to gauge what they will do with clean slates. The matchup between an 'overconfident' Tony Romo and the Seahawks depleted secondary plays too big a part in this game, and I think the Cowboys win it ugly on the road. Cowboys 21, Seahawks 20.

SC: I don't like either team. So Bill Parcells is a better coach than Mike Holmgren, but that's the only advantage I'll give the 'Boys. Shaun Alexander I heard is pretty good. Seattle's receivers are good, but Matt Hasselback will be throwing to playoff proven Deion Branch.

What interests me more than the game is whether or not Parcells chokes the life from Terrell Owens. Seahawks 27, Cowboys 20.

New York Jets at New England Patriots

DH: This is the must-see game of the weekend. These two teams play the same brand of football under two coaches from the same school of thought. The Jets are a nice story under Bill Belichick disciple Eric Mangini, but I just don't see them winning in Foxboro. Tom Brady leads a touchdown drive in the final five minutes, and the Pats come back to win. Patriots 20, Jets 16.

SC: Who picks against the Patriots, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in January? Me. I never claimed to be smart. Belichick versus Eric Mangini pervaded the headlines, with Belichicks allegedly despising his former protégé. Could this be a distraction of epic proportions?

The Jets are a good team and Chad Pennington was the feel-good story of 2006. No one believed the weak-throwing quarterback would bounce back after his throwing shoulder exploded. He fought through can't after can't and this would make for one hell of an icing. The Jets' superior receivers put Pennington on the NY tabloid backpages and makes Mangini look genius. Jets 24, New England 21 (with the Pats missing Adam Vinatieri)

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
DH: So much turmoil for the Giants, and here they are in the playoffs. They play the Eagles in Philadelphia for the second time this season with a new sense of hope and a second chance for their season. Tiki Barber and Brandon Jacobs run wild, and Jeff Garcia's emotions get the best of him. Giants 28, Eagles 21.

SC: The Giants are my team. I follow them closely. They looked like Super Bowl contenders the first half of the season but the second half… Tom Coughlin is a joke. Peyton Manning did a great job teaching his younger brother Eli how to completely miss expectations. Trust me, I could go on forever. Even though the Eagles stink too: Eagles 107, Giants -3.

MLB: The Ups and Downs of Barry Zito's Monster Deal

By Dustin Hockensmith

The San Francisco Giants signed left-hander Barry Zito to a 7-year, $126 million deal – the largest ever for a pitcher – late last week and came under immediate scrutiny. Long-term contracts for pitchers have not historically been wise investments, just ask Kevin Brown and Mike Hampton, but I think this one will turn out differently. Zito has not been dominant in the four seasons since his 2002 Cy Young award, but the 28-year old has also never missed a start – the key to this deal.

With so much uncertainty about the future of a pitcher, Zito has offered the closest thing to a crystal ball with his impeccable health history. He should also grow as a pitcher in the National League, where his curveball will be used less and his command will improve. His tendency to put a lot of runners on base will still be there, but the combination of weaker hitting teams, no designated hitter, a pitcher-friendly park and fewer walks should call for a significant improvement in his 2006 numbers.

Specifics aside, this deal makes sense in pretty simple terms. The Giants wanted Barry Zito, and Zito wanted to be a Giant. Is he cornerstone type player? Probably not right now, but he can be and is more-than-ready to be the leader of San Francisco's balanced staff. His stay in the Bay Area eliminates one personal transition for him to make, and he could really break out as a Giant.

Frankly, Zito needs to break out to make this deal really worth San Francisco's while. It's great to be a reliable innings eater, but that's more of a saving grace for a No. 3 starter than a No. 1. Zito needs to be a stopper, a leader and an annual 15-plus game winner. If he takes those steps and continues to log the 200-plus inning seasons that have been guarantees thus far, Giants GM Brian Sabean will need a big pat on the back for his vision.

Other Notes
Zito's Impact on the Giants Staff
Zito's professionalism sets a great example for a staff that vaguely resembles the old Zito-Tim Hudson-Mark Mulder threesome in Oakland. Some added chemistry from Zito provides added value to Matt Cain, who can flourish with less pressure, and Noah Lowry, as he tries to bounce back from injury and inconsistency in 2006.

The Big Picture
The 28-year old neither helps nor hurts the Giants, in terms of their quest to get younger (or older) in 2007. It is obviously Sabean's intent to put together a veteran team year-in and year-out, and I would say that it has worked out pretty well so far. In a mediocre National League West, why blow the organization up now when it's just as easy to go the other way and remain a competitor for the NL West crown?

For the Fans
Contention for a playoff berth is really icing on the cake when it comes to luring Giants fans to the ballpark. What you get with Zito is a whole lot of buzz and optimism in San Francisco and yet another reason for fans to come to the ballpark every fifth day. They will immediately love the quirky Zito, who might just be too goofy or spiritual to understand the pressure $126 million should put on him.

Zito vs. Vernon Wells
Position players justifiably get more money and longer contracts, and the same 7-year, $126 million deal that both Zito and Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells signed is a better daily value for Toronto. The thing that can make both of these players franchise guys worthy of such sums is that they are unassuming blenders who contribute to team chemistry, not compromise it.

NBA: OT Knack for New York Knicks

By Steve Cernak

Only New York surviving Detroit in triple overtime could shake me from my holiday vacation. I currently live right outside Georgetown in Washington, DC now, so my opportunities to see the Knicks at Madison Square Garden are infrequent, when compared to growing up near the World's Most Famous Arena. I flew into New York in time for the second half of NY's domineering victory over Chicago. Obviously, however, nothing compares to witnessing your favorite team win in 3OT and watching a player take The Next Step.

Fans took pictures of themselves with their significant others towards the end of the fourth quarter. I suppose those pictures are awesome now due to the game's outcome. BUT THIS IS A DECEMBER GAME. Any true Knicks fan understands December games, while fun, are meaningless. True Knicks fans endure a season of excellence, only to lose in May (aka the playoffs) by virtue of Michael Jordan. Just goes to show you how far the Knicks fell, how irrelevant they became. Anyone can get a ticket now, unlike a decade ago. Which is a nice way to say some morons sat in my sections.

Nick, a season ticket holder, yelled "TAKE YOUR JACKETS OFF" to everyone attempting to to beat traffic. If not for his public service announcement, many more would have left. All die-hards expect the Knicks to give up leads and, sure enough, Carlos Delfino hits a game-tying trey at the end of regulation. After Rasheed Wallace fouled out, Flip Saunders eventually settled on a four guard line-up (he played Tayshuan Prince on the perimeter). I knew--hell, everyone knew--Delfino would send the game to OT after watching Isiah Thomas send PF David Lee to guard the sharp-shooting Delfino. Well, everyone except the morons who considered leaving.

The Knicks nearly threw away Marbury's first half gem, the best player of the first 24 minutes. Nothing special the second half, but played an extraordinary game nonetheless. After booing the hell out of the refs for a phantom foul call, the crowd cheered Marbs for the second time in as many home games after fouling out. Instead, Detroit wasted Rip Hamilton's career 51 point performance. Hamilton is a joy to watch. He runs and cuts more than any player I've ever seen live, more so than even Reggie Miller. Hamilton is better than Miller and last night he bolstered his Hall of Fame résumé.

During the first overtime, the referees topped off a horrendously officiated game in grand fashion. While chasing a loose ball, Hamilton knocked it into a referee who had plenty of time to avoid making contact with the ball. Instead, the referee made contact with the ball keeping it inbounds and ran the game clock down close to 30 seconds. The fans booed the refs louder than Jordan and Commissioner David Stern readied pink slips, while my dad noticed the referees' conference at mid court. He claimed "they're discussing the make-up call, there will be one."

Sure enough, the next possession the refs called Billups for a shooting foul on Marbury's three-point attempt. He converted on all three attempts to send the game to 2OT, where he fouled out. Channing Frye forced 3OT, allowing Jamal Crawford to dominate. Man, what a performance. I've been to many Knicks games, but I'm 23-years-old. I didn't see Earl "the Pearl" Monroe or Walt "Clyde" Frazier play and I don't remember Michael Ray Richardson. Crawford is, without a doubt, the most talented of any Knicks guard I've ever seen play.

To me, this wasn't a triple overtime game. This game signaled Crawford knocking on the door of greatness. We'll see. But for the first time in a long-time, I'm full of legitimate hope. Maybe I'll see some June basketball again... in the World's Most Famous Arena.

SPORTS: Allen Iverson's Nuggets Debut, Ohio State-Florida and NFL Match-ups

NBA
Allen Iverson is expected to play Friday night, however, this is contingent on all players in the deal passing physicals. While it appears likely that will happen, a massive snowstorm in Denver, which held up many flights, has left thousands stranded. Airport officials are planning to open two of six runways.

NFL
Perhaps the most intriguing weekend match-up is Cincinnati at Denver. Both clubs are 8-6 and with Denver and the New York Jets also at 8-6, but on the outside looking in. Another intriguing match-up is Tennessee at Buffalo. With Vince Young, simply put, winning and the Bills streaking, only one of these two 7-7 teams will remain alive in the AFC playoff hunt. ... the New York Giants need to win against New Orleans, as does Pittsburgh versus Baltimore and Jacksonville at New England for their playoff aspirations to remain intact.

NCAA
No. 3 Ohio State visits No. 4 Florida in one of the best regular season games this year. C Greg Oden blends perfectly into this lineup, as Ohio State's backcourt carries the load. SG Daequan Cook scores and rebounds at an impressive clip (16.1 and 6.0) and PG Mike Conley Jr. always passes to the open man (6.5 APG). When G Jamar Butler comes off the bench, OSU doesn't miss a beat. Unfortunately for Florida, the team's best player, C Al Horford is out with a sprained ankle.

While it seems certain Ohio State wins the game, the reason to watch this game is last year's best player, Joakim Noah, matching up against instant sensation Oden. Horford's absence surprisingly adds appeal to this game.

FANTASY NBA: Scouring the Box Scores

The best way to keep up with the free agency market in your league is to scan box scores as often as you can. With Allen Iverson being traded from Philadelphia to Denver as well as rotation issues on the rosters of inactive trade teams, there are some things to sort out. And when there are things to sort out in terms of who gets minutes, there are opportunities to find value before anyone else.

Beginning with the 76ers, the biggest winners appear to be Andre Iguodala and Willie Green. Both are taking far more shots now that Iverson's 20-plus attempts per night have gone west. Iguodala is not available in your league, but Green might be. His field goal shooting has been far from stellar, but if you can absorb that, you'll get a nice boost in his scoring, rebounding and assist numbers.

In Boston, guard Tony Allen continues to put up big numbers in Wally Szczerbiak's absence. He went for 17 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 blocks against the Warriors last night and has now scored in double figures in four straight games. Teammate Al Jefferson has played big and grabbed at least 10 rebounds in six straight games. If either is available on your waiver wire, go get them now.

Charlie Villanueva is working his way back from an elbow injury and scored an efficient 16 points on 5-of-8 field goals, 2-of-2 3-pointers and 4-of-4 free throws. He recently missed a game against Minnesota with shoulder tendonitis, so monitor his healthy closely before making any roster moves involving him. When he's 100%, he's got the game of a Top 50 fantasy player.

My guy, Memphis PF Alexander Johnson, scored nine points in just 13 minutes, but the problem was, he also picked up six fouls. Portland's Travis Outlaw continued a nice scoring streak, but more importantly, he continued a very nice shot blocking streak. Outlaw blocked four shots against the Rockets last night, giving him 14 over the last six games (2.3/game).

Shaun Livingston is officially a fantasy stud, no matter whether Sam Cassell is playing or not. He is playing big minutes and putting up progressively bigger numbers. His value is going to snowball, so if you have any thoughts of picking him up or trading for him, my suggestion would be to do it ASAP. Same goes for Toronto PF Andrea Bargnani, who is scoring in different ways, blocking shots and putting up better rebounding numbers.

SPORTS: Pittsburgh Penguins Doomed;Tony Romo, Michelle Wie and Steve Nash Aren't

NHL - Penguins Plight... Leads to Flight?
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board unanimously awarded Pittsburgh's lone slot machine gambling license to a group that promised to build a casino, rather than the Penguins ownership group. This group, led by Mario Lemieux, promised to build a new $290 million arena if it won the license. Now, it appears increasingly likely the Penguins will move, rather than continue to play at the 45-year-old Mellon Arena.

NFL - Romo Rules Roost, Bangs Celebrity
San Diego will send nine players to the Pro Bowl, Chicago seven. Despite both teams individual dominance, the biggest selection was Dallas QB Tony Romo--the first Cowboy QB to be selected since Troy Aikman in 1996. With rumors of involvement with Jessica Simpson false, Romo admitted he is dating former American Idol hotty Carrie Underwood.
Talk about a huge year for Romo.

LPGA - Wie Brings Winless Streak to Stanford
Michelle Wie announced she will continue her education at Stanford University, following in her family footsteps. Her grandfather, aunt and uncle attended Stanford. She is leaning towards majoring in business, economics or marketing. Considering she made almost $20 million last year in golf and endorsement related endeavors, I'd recommend finance. The smart business move would be to wait for college, as she lost her amateur status.

NBA - Nash (& Co.) Dominates Despite Pre-Season Haircut
Phoenix won their 15th straight game Tuesday, a franchise record. "What does it really mean?" Two-time league MVP Steve Nash asked. "Not Much, but I think it's fun and I think it's an accomplishment, nonetheless. We should probably be proud of ourselves. But at the same time, we realize it doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot, either." Nash is among the great team leaders in professional sports, which shows in comments like this.

NBA: Nuggets and 76ers Both Do Well in Iverson Trade

By Dustin Hockensmith

The Philadelphia 76ers have shipped disgruntled star Allen Iverson to the Denver Nuggets for Andre Miller, Joe Smith and two first round draft picks in 2007, NBA sources told the Associated Press. The Nuggets have quickly filled the scoring void left by leading scorer Carmelo Anthony's right fist, and the Sixers have gotten far closer to fair value than anyone expected. All in all, not a bad deal for either team.

Denver's situation obviously gets more interesting as Anthony and J.R. Smith return from 15 and 6 game suspensions, but that might be an easier problem to solve than people think. Everyone criticizes Iverson on the style of basketball he plays, but when has anyone made a serious request for him to change? Make him a point guard in George Karl's high tempo offense, and he can still handle the ball and create havoc on the fastbreak.

The 76ers have a chance to drastically overhaul their franchise in a relatively short amount of time. Any pick in the top five of next year's draft is going to land a virtually guaranteed impact player. Then, you add quality college players (preferably winners) with Denver's two picks and you've got a pretty fresh start. That's not even mentioning a proven distributor in Miller and the expiring contract of Smith.

Given the two organization's circumstances, I'd call Philly the winner if I had to pick one. Fewer things need to happen for them to achieve their main goal: redefine their franchise. Denver's clear goal is to win a championship, preferably this season, and the coexistence of Iverson and Anthony in that cause is far from a sure thing.

NBA: Philadelphia Fleecing

By Steve Cernak

Admittedly, I am completely biased with regards to Allen Iverson. The man is an absolute basketball stud and a first ballot Hall Of Famer. Without even knowing what Denver gave up, I'd say the Nuggets won the trade. But how well did Philly do in the deal?

If reports are true, the 76ers received PG Andre Miller, PF Joe Smith, two 2007 first round draft picks and possibly some low salary players. That deal that sounds pretty good at the surface and a deal the team can sell their fans.

Well let me tell you something, this deal stinks for Philly.

Miller, the 2002 assist leader, is a great pass-first point and Smith is, well, okay--but they're essentially expiring contracts (Smith expires after this season, Miller after next). The picks are a nice commodity to have in what's being billed as the deepest draft in years.

Seems great, but like I said--it stinks.

Chris Webber is still on the hook for the 2007-08 season at a whopping $22.3 million. The cap fluctuates each year, but is approximately $45-50 million. In short, the Sixers will be approximately $5 million over the cap next season.

AI's contract runs until the 2008-09 season , so the Sixers essentially traded for cap space not this season, not next season, but the season after. The two draft picks are nice, but one is Denver's, who will start AI, JR Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Eduardo Najera and Marcus Camby for the majority of the season.

The other pick? Well, that originally belonged to Dallas (traded to Golden State in the Erick Dampier trade, then traded to Denver in the Najera trade).

Philadelphia traded away an all-time great and a ticket-selling-machine for two draft picks that will be close to early second rounders and cap space in 2008-09.

My apologies to Philadelphia sports fans not only getting little in return, but for losing one of the greatest players of all-time.

FANTASY NBA: A Surprise Contributor in Memphis

By Dustin Hockensmith

There seems to be a piece of the pie for everyone on the Memphis Grizzlies roster, even since the team's star, Pau Gasol, has returned to the lineup. Chucky Atkins, Hakim Warrick, Dahntay Jones, Mike Miller and Rudy Gay are all getting chances to put up numbers, and a new face has emerged in forward Alexander Johnson. Some good points and rebounds numbers from Johnson have been nice for fantasy teams, but his ability to blend and contribute in different ways should encourage consistent real life playing time.

The return of Gasol has actually helped Johnson's value. With the wiry Gasol inside, head coach Mike Fratello has elected to go with more width at the power forward. Johnson has replaced one of his chief competitors for playing time, Hakim Warrick, in the starting lineup, which is a great sign. Lawrence Roberts and Jake Tsakalidis represent the Grizzlies' only other real size, and neither complement Gasol as well as Johnson.

Whether he continues to start should not matter, Johnson should log steady minutes as long he keeps hustling and making plays. A second round pick in this past year's draft, Johnson has averaged 10.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks in his last four games. He has shown the ability to shoot a high percentage from the field (59 pct.) and from the free throw line (72 pct., decent for a big man), so he might be worth a fantasy manager's while.

Have some optimism with Johnson; take him on if you can spare a roster spot. There might be a small window to get production out of him, but he has earned some time on the floor in the next few games with good play. Play him until he stops getting the minutes and hope for that to never happen.

SPORTS: Isiah Thomas Has Gotta Go

NBA
Monday is usually reserved for the weekend sports recap, but the Madison Square Garden Brawl between the Knicks and Nuggets is the only topic I can think about at the moment.

Isiah Thomas has been on my **** list for years, following one horrible basketball decision with another. This weekend, he took his ineptitude to the next level. Chris Sheridan reported Saturday that Thomas warned Carmelo Anthony not to play in the paint at the end of the game, and video evidence backed up Sheridan's story.

At first, this loyal Knicks fan blamed JR Smith for starting the fight after he tried to tackle Nate Robinson. (Mardy Collins delivered a hard foul, it happens.) But after listening to the post game interview and reading about Isiah's warnings, it became clear that Thomas started this whole scenario. The fans were getting ready to rain the Garden with boos for yet another blow out loss at home, so why not take the focus away from Isiah's horrible team?

Everyone gets on Carmelo Anthony for his part--the most vicious part--in the brawl. I don't see it that way. I likely would have popped a gasket if the other team's coach warned me not to be in the paint, where Collins hard foul initiated a brawl.

Wouldn't you stick up for your teammate? So, sure, Melo sucker punched and ran, but I'm sure he saw Collins' foul as the same thing.

So I apologize for the quick sports rundown, but all I can think about is how much damage Isiah Thomas has dealt my favorite team since 2003. I can't even say the end is near either, as the worst owner in all of professional sports, James Dolan, gave Isiah the rest of the season to turn things around. Ugh.

NFL
Terrell Owens was, well, himself.
The Giants are done and Tom Coughlin lambasted Eli Manning.
The Bears clinched home field advantage.
The Chargers won despite getting nothing from Philip Rivers.
The Jets and Bills both stayed alive.

NCAA Basketball
No. 7 Wisconsin's Alando Tucker buried Aaron Gray and No. 2 Pittsburgh. (I watched this game and Wisconsin looked to be a vastly superior team).
Greg Oden (the player the Knicks should be drafting but won't because of friggin Isiah Thomas) is the most efficient college basketball player I have ever seen.

MLB
The Red Sox are having second thoughts about JD Drew.
The Yankees, Braves and Pirates discussed a three way trade.

NHL
The Atlantic Division-leading Rangers were blown out on back-to-back nights, at a combined 15-3.

NCAA: An Apology to Wisconsin's Alando Tucker

By Dustin Hockensmith

Dearest Alando,

Congratulations on your win over second-ranked Pittsburgh. We, the national media, were watching and, quite frankly, felt a little guilty. We have been gallivanting around town with Tyler Hansbrough, Greg Oden and others and did not notice that you too wanted to be considered for national Player of the Year. We still don't truly believe that you can win it, but your 32 points in a nationally televised win over No. 2 Pitt have definitely caught our attention.

The game even appeared on ESPN, the network handcrafted by angels to broadcast divine inspiration and unadulterated joy. Dick Vitale yelled about Tucker on more than a handful of occasions, so that had to mean something, too.

First, you showed your post game, which we all knew that you had. You're only 6-6, but you had the presence of mind and footwork to be good down low. But where did you get that jump shot? You looked to be nearly impossible to guard because you punished bigger, smaller, slower and faster defenders in different ways.

You scored 20 points in the first half, which played a big part in igniting that capacity crowd. Brian Butch started hitting everything, so your scoring dipped in the start of the second, but you found it in time to deliver the final blows to a Pitt team that admirably hung around.

If you can keep shooting the 3 like that AND scoring points inside, you and the Badgers won't be easy to beat. Hey, we might even see you guys in the Final Four this year. If you dominate your home court and Ohio State slips up, you could win the Big Ten and be one of the top four seeds in the NCAA Tournament.

Good luck the rest of the season. We'll be watching, and judging, you.

Sincerely,

National Media

FANTASY NFL: Entering the Playoffs with a Team of Hacks

By Dustin Hockensmith

Owning an undefeated record and pursuing a perfect season isn't what it's cracked up to be. Ask Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts or me and Gandhi's Good Guys what a late first loss can do to team morale. Only in that situation can a 12-1 team feel like it has failed, and only in that situation can a team lose all of its built-up momentum. Playoff failure is such an expected result that it requires a language of its own to describe.

Indianapolize – v. (to indianapolize) – to lose one's swagger and only look like a playoff team in the regular season standings; to follow the lead of a star who says "Aw shucks" under pressure; to fade; to crumble; to collapse; to get torched on defense; to have an inconsistent running game. My fantasy football team has been indianapolized by injuries and poor play.

Gandhi's Good Guys started the regular season 12-0 and finished 13-1, but are in bad shape at the wrong time of the year. The top three running backs on the depth chart – Ronnie Brown, Clinton Portis and Laurence Maroney – have gone down and given way to the Hack Unit of Sammy Morris, Ron Dayne and Cedric Benson. Quarterback Tom Brady is coming off the worst start of his career, and Santana Moss is playing more like his cousin Tito Santana.

This team has been covering up its weaknesses in large part because its manager was the only person in the draft who knew that kick return yards earned points. So, finding gems like Dante Hall, Bobby Wade, Chris Carr and Justin Miller have kept the team afloat. In a complete representation of how flawed the scoring system is, Carr, the second-best defender in our league (to Miller), has a total of 11 tackles this season.

Throw in free agent pickups Dayne, Morris, Vince Young, Vernon Davis and linebacker Bart Scott, and virtually the entire team is comprised of non-union scabs and replacement players. The way I see it, the pressure is now on everyone else to not get completely outmanaged and lose to a second-rate team. We'll see on Sunday when the league's regular season champion enters the fantasy playoffs with something to prove.

SPORTS: Weekend Preview

NCAA Basketball
Friday is a light day, and so is Saturday, despite a huge schedule of games. A couple of games peak my interest, but there aren't many nail biters to watch. All eyes should be on Madison where No. 11 Wisconsin WILL beat No. 2 Pittsburgh, whether the Panthers are with or without center Aaron Gray's services. Kentucky-Louisville matchups always have a ton of meaning in their home state, but at this stage of the season it's not vital to watch. These teams both could make noise later in the year, though, and UK forward/center Randolph Morris and Louisville forward Juan Palacios are names you should know. Southern Miss enters Saturday's meeting with No. 4 Alabama a perfect 7-0, but the Crimson Tide should cruise at home.

NBA
The Allen Iverson sweepstakes will be the biggest news of the weekend with mediocre matchups throughout. The Suns play both the Warriors (Friday) and Kings (Saturday), so we could see a preposterous amount of points scored in either or both of those games. On Saturday, the Cavaliers travel to Orlando for a potential Eastern Conference Finals preview, and Sunday's Rockets-Clippers game is intriguing, especially if the Clips would swing a deal for Iverson beforehand. A Lakers-Wizards game later in the night will complete a Staples Center doubleheader and feature two of the league's most gifted scorers – Gilbert Arenas and Kobe Bryant.

NFL
The NFC East will again be in the spotlight as the Eagles and Giants play at The Meadowlands play on Sunday with the knowledge of a Cowboys win or loss against the walking wounded Falcons (Saturday, 8 p.m.). With the potential for four 8-6 teams, things could get messy in the NFC with a Dallas loss. The Vince Young watch continues in Nashville against the Jaguars, where the rookie's only setback came to the 10-3 Ravens by a 27-26 score. The bigger question in San Diego isn't if the Chargers beat the Chiefs, but how far LaDainian Tomlinson raises the bar on his new single-season touchdowns record. Indianapolis attempts to overcome the same "undefeated hangover" it had last season, but probably fails against the peaking Bengals.

This Could Be the Start of Something

FANTASY NBA: Matt Barnes, Fantasy Stud?

MATT BARNES
With Jason Richardson and Troy Murphy injured, Matt Barnes is making the most of his minutes. As a starting SF, check out his line: 14.8 PPG on 54.9%, 2.4 3PM, 6.2 REB, 3.0 AST, 1.6 STL, 1.2 BLK, 85.7 FT% and 1.2TO.

Right now, Matt Barnes is essentially a top five fantasy NBA player. Who knows how long it will last or what will happen when Richardson and Murphy come back. But to get even one game like last night's 32 point, 11 rebound, three assist and three steal effort seems worth the chance.

SEAN MAY
In the off chance Sean May is still available in your league, pick him up. He slipped in the 2005 NBA draft because of concerns over his body, a la Carlos Boozer. While Bobcat teammate Raymond Felton and Hawk Marvin Williams got all the draft day love, May was the reason the Tar Heels beat Deron William's squad in the 2005 NCAA Championship Game.

Point is, I expect Boozer-like things from May.

May's averages seem rather pedestrian, but he's rattled off five 10+ rebound games, seven 15+ point games and three 5+ assist games this season.

ANTHONY PARKER
Anthony Parker is terribly inconsistent and I would proceed with caution when considering him on your team. Every single one of his statistical categories, however, has improved in December. He's getting over 32 MPG as a starter, up from just under 30.

If you're going to take a flyer on a guy, why not have it be on the starter who is getting more minutes?

BRENDAN HAYWOOD
Etan Thomas sprained his left ankle and Brendan Haywood started in his place last night, good for 12 points and 13 rebounds. He's already averaging 2.3 blocks a game. If you need a center, he's you're guy--for now.

JARED JEFFRIES?
Keep your eyes on Jared Jeffries, although I wouldn't pick him up now. Knicks head coach Isiah Thomas knew Jeffries for most of his life and both share the Indiana connection. He quite possibly could fill a prominent role on the team, despite previously doing little to validate his 2002 lottery selection.

He started last night at PF--possible eligibility at SG, SF and PF--and scored 15 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and had three steals.

NBA: AI to Minnesota?

On the Milwaukee Bucks broadcast versus the Nets, several viewers reported hearing:

John, John, Iverson was traded to Minnesota for...

(John refers to Bucks color commentator John McGlocklin.)

Take this for what it's worth and by no means does this confirm an Allen Iverson to the Wolves trade.

SPORTS: Midweek Roundup

NCAA Basketball
Nevada senior Nick Fazekas became the first player in school history to top the 2,000 point mark as the No. 20 Wolfpack won handily, 76-58, over St. Mary's on Tuesday … No. 18 Texas A&M thumped Fordham, 84-61, in Tuesday's only other Top 25 action.

NCAA Football
Troy Smith made the trip from New York to Columbus without the Heisman Trophy he won on Saturday, electing to ship the trophy home and fly solo. When Ohio State's Eddie George won the award in 1995, a finger was bent on the Heisman as it passed through airport security. "Eddie's finger got bent," Smith said. "I don't want that to happen to mine." … to the surprise of no one, Smith was also an AP All-American … he was joined by two teammates and other Big Ten players on the first team.

NBA
The 76ers still have not found a home for disgruntled star Allen Iverson and continue to lose leverage in a potential deal. It was rumored that Iverson shot down a potential deal that would send him to Charlotte, but both sides were quick to deny the rumor … Matt Barnes had 32 points and 11 rebounds to help lead the Warriors to a 126-113 home win over Sacramento, but it doesn't get much better than Andris Biedrins' fantasy line: 7-of-7 field goals, 6-of-6 free throws, 20 points, 14 rebounds, three assists and three blocks … Luther Head, starting in place of the injured Tracy McGrady, scored 21 points and nearly led a fourth quarter comeback for Houston against the Lakers, but the Rockets fell at home, 102-94 … the Lakers lost forward Lamar Odom early in the contest when he sprained his right knee.

This Will Never Get Old


NFL
Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods was charged with two counts of drunk driving on Tuesday. It was reported that Woods was driving his Yacht style party boat at reckless speeds. The prostitutes on board could not be reached for comment … Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper was placed on the IR on Tuesday, effectively ending his first season in Miami … the NFL Network will be available to fans with Cablevision and TimeWarner Cable providers for free from Dec. 24-30, with the hope of landing more subscribers. The funny thing is, no NFL games will be seen over that stretch, only the Texas Bowl and Insight Bowl games.

MLB
The Astros and Rockies completed a five-player deal on Tuesday, with Colorado sending RHPs Jason Jennings and Miguel Asencio to Houston for RHPs Taylor Buchholz and Jason Hirsh and OF Wily Taveras. This doesn't strike me as a lopsided deal for either side, but if Houston fails to resign Jennings and Hirsh realizes his upside in Colorado, it has the potential to be … the Texas Rangers signed RHP Eric Gagne to a one-year deal worth $6 million, which is a very worthwhile risk to take in this market. If Gagne can return to health, Texas can really shorten games with the combination of Akinori Otsuka and Gagne in the bullpen … in more Rangers news, Texas continues its pursuit of LHP Barry Zito and, along with the Mets, is a favorite to sign the former Cy Young winner … Texas also signed RHP Paul Byrd and OF Kenny Lofton and scheduled a visit by Zito's former teammate LHP Mark Mulder.

NBA: Stern's Relenting Autonomy

by Steve Cernak

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced Monday the league will revert to the old leather basketball January, the first time in pro sports a mid season equipment change occurred.

"Our players' response to this particular composite ball has been consistently negative and we are acting accordingly," Stern issued in a statement. "Although testing performed by Spalding and the NBA demonstrated that the new composite basketball was more consistent than leather, and statistically there has been an improvement in shooting, scoring, and ball-related turnovers, the most important statistic is the view of our players.”

The commissioner acknowledged a mistake and acted accordingly. When Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd—three of the league’s most marketable players—sustained cuts from the league ball, most players hoped the ball would change in the off-season.

Yes, Stern committed an egregious error by not seeking player input prior to the ball swap, but he should be applauded for protecting the integrity of the game sooner rather than later.

Contrast Stern's proactivity with the other commissioners reactivity. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig issued an in-season steroids policy only when prompted by Congress. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to even comment on this year’s ridiculous rules interpretation of roughing the passer, perpetuating preposterous penalties and defensive tepidity. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman required league failure before addressing two-line passes, goalie equipment size, adding a shootout and what drove the league from network television: the trap.

Here’s to the typically autonomous David Stern bringing in 2007 by admitting and undoing his error, rather than inviting a season defining controversy by maintaining status quo until the off season.

SPORTS: Recapping the Weekend

NCAA Football
Troy Smith did not win the Maxwell Award as college football's Player of the Year, but he did win the Heisman Trophy in a landslide. Maxwell winner Brady Quinn finished third behind Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, which makes his winning the award on Friday an even bigger surprise … the coaching carousel also took a bizarre turn when West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez stayed in Morgantown to the surprise and disgust of Alabama administration … Tom O'Brien left Boston College for North Carolina State, and Dennis Erickson left Oregon State for Arizona State.

NCAA Basketball
The youthful Texas Longhorns beat No. 9 LSU in overtime on Sunday, getting 25 points from stud freshman point guard D.J. Augustin and 10 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks from Kevin Durant in the surprising win. "We made some good things happen tonight," head coach Rick Barnes said … No. 23 Maryland fell to Boston College, 73-62 on the road, and No. 1 UCLA took down No. 6 Texas A&M in a Top 10 clash on Saturday … many assumed Ohio State's super freshman Greg Oden would be more of a defensive factor early in his college career, but with an 8-of-8 performance from the field in his first start, many could be wrong. (Weekend scores)

NBA
It has become known that Allen Iverson WILL be traded, but the picture on WHERE he goes or HOW a deal gets done has not gotten any clearer … the Suns moved their win streak to 10 games and had six players score in double figures against Charlotte in doing so … with 4.5 games separating the No. 1 Lakers from the No. 5 Kings in the Pacific Division, the race for the division crown should be interesting all season … Memphis PF Pau Gasol has been cleared for full contact practices, but there is no definite timetable for his return to the lineup. (Weekend scores)

NFL
Is there any doubt that the Chargers are going to the Super Bowl? LaDainian Tomlinson is the ultimate offensive weapon, Phillip Rivers is finding Antonio Gates more frequently and Shawne Merriman has an even bigger chip on his shoulder … LT scored three touchdowns (again) on Sunday to break Shaun Alexander's single-season TD record of 28 ... the Saints went to Dallas on Sunday night and steamrolled the Cowboys behind five touchdown passes from Drew Brees … no opposing quarterback had ever thrown for five TD's in Dallas … with a 39-yard touchdown run in overtime, Vince Young again led the Tennessee Titans to a victory – their fourth straight … at 6-7, could we possibly consider the Titans in the playoff race? Stranger things have happened … the Jaguars ran for the second-most yards in NFL history (375) and dominated the Colts, 44-17, in Jacksonville … Peyton Manning didn't have a great day, but that Indy defense is way beyond repair. (Sunday scores)

LT's Record 29th Touchdown


MLB
The Yankees and LHP Andy Pettitte agreed on a two-year deal (player option for 2008) that brings the left-hander back to the Bronx … in the same time frame that Vicente Padilla got $33.75 million over three years, a veteran left-hander who can pitch in New York (and in the postseason) looks like a real bargain … Barry Bonds agreed to terms with the Giants on a one-year, $16 million deal … did we actually think Bonds would sign somewhere else? … the Cubs are close to finalizing a deal with RHP Jason Marquis and filling out the back end of their rotation … this should be a solid sign for the Cubs, who have been by far the most active club in the offseason.

SPORTS: Great Weekend Ahead... NOT!

NFL
Eli Manning will derail New York's season versus Carolina, while his brother Peyton Manning will beat Jacksonville setting up spectacular playoff failure (again).

Houston's DE Mario Williams will have a monster game and silences his critics who said RB Reggie Bush should have been drafted #1 overall, especially off his 4 TD performance. QB Vince Young will break his arm, his shoulder tears completely off his body and his spleen spontaneously combusts... obvious punishment from Shiva the Destroyer for Dustin's article.

Denver QB Jay Cutler will play like a rookie against Philip Rivers and San Diego, forcing Denver's running game to step up. I don't care how they're statistically ranked, that rushing offense is what the Spanish call el horrible.

NBA
Allen Iverson reportedly asked to be traded. Might not happen this weekend or ever, but keep an eye out. This article came from Peter Vecsey, who made a career of pulling things from his butt.

My preseason pick to be Eastern Conference Champions will be labeled "surprise of the season" by the morons running ESPN after Orlando's Dwight Howard punishes Detroit down low. How's Darko Milicic (and Carlos Arroyo) looking now?

MLB
Kansas City team officials will announce they're sorry for not holding onto Carlos Beltran, Johnny Damon or Jermaine Dye in years past, but more than made up for it by signing Gil Meche to a five year $55 million contract.

NASCAR
I don't even have a joke. Well, not one that's better than the Meche joke.

WHAT I'LL BE WATCHING THIS WEEKEND
NCAA Men's Hoops:
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 6. Texas A&M, 2:30 EST Saturday on CBS.