NBA Mock Draft

Tigers thought it would be best not to show up last night against the Mets, and USA had a great goal in stoppage time to win the game, and the group. Even though they had one goal called back, and many many chances, they finally scored, and won, it was sweet. Anyway, lets get to the NBA draft tomorrow, with a quick mock draft for the lottery only.


1) Wiz- John Wall- this basically has already happened

2) 76ers- Evan Turner- 6'7 long, can do it all, I think he will be a very good player

3) Nets- DeMarcus Cousins - A possible head case, but I think they could use the muscle up front, and Cousins is bigger and stronger then Favors

4) T-Wolves- Wes Johnson- Basically the big east version of Turner. A Nice 3 for the Wolves to add to Jefferson, Love and Flynn.

5) Kings- Derrick Favors- A lot of talent that should go higher, but I think some red flags lands him at 5, instead of 3.

6) Golden State- Greg Monroe- A more mobile big for their system, I don't see him falling past this, but if he does, the Pistons pick next.

7) Pistons- Patrick Patterson I can't believe I am here with my Pistons picking 7th, how fast they have fallen. I have seen Ed Davis in a lot of mock draft and I am hoping and praying that that doesn't happen, since I don't think he will be a good pro at all. I am not crazy about Patterson either, but I think he would be the best fit at this point.

8) Clippers- Xavier Henry- I think the clippers will take a chance here, and have davis, gordon, henry, blake and kaman.. hello 8th seed.. if B diddy wants to play hard that is.

9) Jazz- Cole Aldrich- Boozer will be gone, they need a big, and I am sorry but Cole is too prefect for the Jazz, I mean, come on, it doesn't get any better then that.

10) Pacers- Gordon Hayward- Maybe a little high, but he can play, and he is a local guy, puts butts in the seats, just a great fit. From a marketing stand point this is a can't miss... on the court, well we shall see, actually I bet we will not, cause they will go with the best big left.

11) Hornets- Ekpe Udoh- too long and athletic to pass on, a younger, better defender Tyson Chandler.

12) Griz-Al-Farouq Aminu- If this happened and he was here the Griz would be really really happy, and jump at the chance. I don't think he will be at all, but in my mock he was, so he has to be taking here.

13) Raptors- Ed Davis- Can you tell I don't like Ed Davis.. But if he is here the Raptors can take him as the Bosh replacement. Though if this does happen, replacing Bosh with Davis is like dumping Jessica Alba for Rosie O'Donnell.

14) Rockets- Luke Babbitt- Again, this will not happen, but if Babbitt is still there they would have to take him. I see them taking a big, but in this mock, he is here, so the Rockets will take him.

I'm right, you're wrong.

If only we could play the Nats, D-Backs and Pirates all year

The Tigers just finished a 9 game home stand 8-1, thanks to playing those three teams I mentioned in the title. In saying that, you still need to go out there and beat them, and that is what they did. Now they go on the road to play the Mets, and they need to keep it going. Being just a game and a half back from the Twins they need to keep winning because the Twins are not going anywhere, and I still think the White Sox have one or two good runs left in them this year. The Tigers just need to keep winning series, keep the pressure on and hope they can get in this time, and not lose game 163 like last year to the Twins. I still think they are going to be there all year, but not win the division and miss out on the playoffs, but I hope I am wrong.

NHL schedule was announced, Wings home opener Oct 8. It will be here before we know it. But that is getting way ahead of myself. The NBA draft is Thursday night, and the Pistons have the 7th pick. Which should be that pick where you can still get a good player, but it is a pick or two high to get a great player, again, I hope I am wrong. My NBA mock draft will be up tomorrow. Also tomorrow the USA soccer team has to win, 10am start, hopefully my daughter will not make too much of a fuss and I will be able to watch it in peace. I'm right, you're wrong

RIP Manute Bol

A little after 9am this morning I got a text that ex NBA player Manute Bol has passed away at the age of 47. I found this out before it was reported by everyone else because I was lucky enough to meet him several times and know him pretty well. One of my best friends parents adopted two Sudan children who happened to be related to Manute, and he came to their house a few times, and even was at my friends rehearsal dinner for his wedding. We talked a few times about me going to Africa and doing a basketball camp for the Sudan people, and that is still something I hope I can do, maybe now I can do it in his honor and memory.

He was a great man who did so much for his home land donating so much of his time and money. It is sad that he had health problems which started with a bad car accident a few years ago, that made him walk with a cane, and also deform his hand, and then kidney problems and poor medical attention in Africa making it worse. My thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family today, especially James and Myum, his two cousins who were adopted by my second family, and basically are part of mine. We should all try to treat people as well as Manute did. RIP Manute.

Didn't expect that

The Lakers did win the NBA title last night, which I expected, Kobe did win the MVP, which I expected, what I didn't expect was how that game would be played. I really didn't think there was that good of defense played. Some good defense, sure, but mostly guys just missed shots. Kobe missed a lot of shots, but he is a scorer, Ray Allen is a pure shooter, and he missed a lot of shots too. The good thing about Kobe he found ways to help his team win the game even though his shot was falling. Artest stepped up big time and Gasol, though he missed a lot of shots too, he got a lot of rebounds and played well. Perkins would have helped no question, but I think the best team won. It will be interesting to see what the Celtics do in the off season, and of course if Phil Jackson comes back to coach the Lakers. Next up the NBA draft in 6 days, and then of course July 1st I hear the free agent period starts, though I haven't heard much about who will be free agents.

USA got robed today in their game, and should have won 3-2. But then they got some help as England had another draw too. So basically they need to win, and they are in. Which is good. They had a great second half, they just need to come out and play like that from the start, this is the World Cup! It's once every four years, this is not time to leave anything on the field.

Tiger play the D Backs tonight, and go against D train, and Ed Jackson in this series. Hopefully they can keep playing well, and playing the Pirates and Nats doesn't hurt either, but back to back sweeps is still good. Galaragga goes tonight, well in about 30 minutes, so lets keep it going. I'm right, you're wrong.

Game 7 it is.. and Izzo is back to stay

The Lakers dominated the Celtics last night winning by 22 to force a game 7 tomorrow. I would stick with what I said that the Lakers will win the game, and series, but I actually think getting blown out will help the Celtics. You saw the starters sitting there talking during the 4th quarter and they looked focused, knowing that their goal is still in tact. Meanwhile most of the Lakers bench was laughing, smiling and having fun, besides Kobe who watched closely with a still ready look on his face. Not having Perkins will hurt the Celtics because that means Sheldon Williams will have to play more, never good, but I think the Lakers would have won anyway, because Kobe will not let them lose a game 7 at home, and as we saw, everyone else on their team plays better at home. I just hope for a good game, and I think it will be. Pick: Lakers 101 Celtics 93. MVP: Kobe.. of course.


Izzo is staying at MSU for life. I thought he would stay, and he made if official last night that he is. I think he made the right choice, MSU is going to have a great team next year, they have all but Morgan coming back and a great class coming in. If they don't make the final four next year it will be a disappointment. Though Purdue and OSU will also be very good in the big ten, plus Wisconsin, Ill, and Minn will all be good and are always tough places to win. I will not pretend to know him well or anything but I have been lucky enough to meet and talk to coach Izzo a good number of times and he really is a good guy, and a great coach, so I am glad he is staying. I love CMU, but I like MSU basketball, and coach Izzo is someone you have to respect. It was a great day for MSU, the state of Michigan, and the entire big ten, and college basketball.

Busy day tomorrow, you have game 7 of the NBA finals, first round of the US Open, plus the World Cup and baseball games. I'm right, you're wrong.

The game starting at 8pm boys

Someone forget to tell all the Lakers that the game started at 8pm, and not 9pm, and it was game 5, the most important game of the season so far. I really thought the Lakers would win, and they still could, but it will not be in 6, like I predicted. The Celtics will win in 6, or the Lakers will win in 7. The way the Celtics are playing right now they believe, and that is a scary thing. Kobe blew up in the 3rd and scored 38 for the game, but has ZERO help last night. Gasol, Artest, Fisher, Andrew B, Odom, and even Sasha, Farmer and Luke did nothing. The Lakers need to give touches to their big men early on, and get them going. Gasol needs a big game for them to have a chance. Kobe, or anyone else, ask Lebron, can't do it by themselves, especially when Boston has about 5 or 6 guys who any one of them could go for 20+ on a given night, and they play defense. The bottom line, if you don't get stops, and turn the ball over, and miss 8 or 9 free throws you will not win many games. The Celtics have been the better team through out this series, and now they just need one more win to get that ring. Game 6 should be a fight on Tuesday, for the first time the Lakers are down a game, and they need to respond, that is what champions do, do they have it in them? I know Kobe does, I don't know about the rest of them. I wonder how many times people are going to bring up Phil Jackson, Kobe and D fish have never lost a series when they won game 1... well if they lose one more, that will change.

Tigers did what they had to do and swept the Pirates, though it took a walk off by Carols and a 3 run homer by Cabera with two outs in the 8th down 2-1, to win the last two, but I will take any win. Got to keep this going, have to win series, and stay in the race, give yourself a chance.

USA had a great tie against England in the world cup, I would be shocked now if those are not the two teams that advance from the group. The World Cup is a great event, soccer haters will never understand, so don't waste your time trying to get them to. I'm right, you're wrong.

Big Baby and Nate the great

The Celtics tied the NBA finals at 2 last night, which I did think would happen, what I didn't think would happen was the reason why they won was their bench, and mainly Big baby and Nate Robinson. That's right the same Nate Robinson who the Knicks didn't want, the Knicks! Just helped a team in the a must win game in the NBA finals. Man I can't wait for the Clippers or someone like that to over pay him. I feel good about my predictions that the Lakers will bounce back and win the series in 6. However, they need to either have someone else step up besides Kobe and Pau, or both of those guys just need to go nuts. For a few minutes there, when Kobe hit back to back 3s, and then a turn around, I thought maybe he was about to, but he couldn't do it. He also had a terrible pass on the Rondo steal that iced the game. So if you want to be positive if you are a Laker fan you think this: hey their bench is not going to outscore our bench by 20 every game, and even with that we still were one turnover away from making it a 4 point game with a minute to go... that of course was after Gasol's turnover, after a rebound with a 1:30 or so to go.. that was a back breaker too. Or you can be negative: oh my god, we just let big baby and Nate Robinson beat us, we are in trouble. If you are a Celtic fan you can think: Hey we didn't get a great game from our starters and still won... or: dear god there is no way our bench can do that again, we need our starters to step up. Either way, it has been 4 great games, and I look forward to two or three more.

Tigers got shut out yesterday 3-0 to the Sox. They have lost 4 of 6 against KC and the White Sox.. not what playoff teams do. This time is so frustrating. They start a series at home against the Pirates tonight, basically if they don't win this series I will lose my mind.

Izzo watch continues, he says he still doesn't know, I think he is still staying, and I think he is trying to hold off as long as he can, because he wants to know for sure if Lebron is coming back or not, but if no one tells him, he is staying at MSU, they should be very very good next year, and he wants to win another national title

What team will be the next to jump to the PAC 10 or Big 10?... Texas is the key. I'm right, you're wrong.

conference shake up and USC

First the black hawks won the cup last night, their first since 1961, so congrats to them and their long surfing fans, as much as I don't like that team.


It is all but 100% that Nebraska will join the big 10 and Colorado will join the pac 10. The big question is are either conference done. I could see the big 10 just adding one to get to 12 and have a conference title game, having two divisions, one with Nebraska, ILl, northwestern, Minn, Wis, and Iowa, and then another with msu, Michigan, IU, OSU, PSU and Purdue. The pac 10 would have to add at least one more you would think, and not keep 11, but then of course there is the whole, Mizzu, ND, cuse and Rutgers joining the big 10 to make 16, and Texas, ok, a&m, tech, and Baylor all joining the pac 10 to make 16. The SEC then takes da U, free shoe and va tech from the ACC, the ACC takes what ever is left of the big east, and the big east then takes the best from conference usa, and so on and so forth... should be a fun couple of days and weeks. I will wait until it is all played out to get too much more in to it.


USC will have a postseason ban for two years as well as lose scholarships. Still wanted to leave Tenn Lane? They may also have their national title taking away from 2004, we shall see. The larger problem is that coaches are allowed to jump ship at the right time, and go to a new school and get more money, while their old school and old players have to deal with the problems that were caused by them. We call this the Calaperi rule.

Tigers play the white sox this afternoon in the rubber game of their 3 game series, it would be big to come away with a series win, since playing well in Chicago is not something that they normally do.

Game 4 of the NBA finals tonight, I see the Celtics bouncing back and winning tonight 86-75. The Lakers will then win games 5 and 6 to end the series.

It was reported by a "source" that Tom Izzo is close to taking the Cavs job. I still don't see it happening and think it would be a very bad move. I'm right, you're wrong.

Not time to panic

(this is the second of as many as I feel like story's about my keep fantasy baseball league as if it is real)


The season is 8 weeks old and even though their ace Zack Greinke is 1-7 with a 3.60 ERA Pumps me up is still confident that he will turn it around.
"now isn't the time to go crazy, it's a long season, and Zack will be fine." Pumps me up Manager Steve Schwanda said. "he has 60 strike outs to 17 walks and we feel the wins will come, and the ERA will drop." Greinke isn't the only guy struggling on a team with high expecations for the year as Josh Beckett also had a very bad start to his year befor going to the DL. "Beckett is another guy that we feel will get right and help us make the playoffs" Schwanda said. "We think by mid-July he will be ready to go, that is our time table right now." Batting has also been a problem for the team as they are off to a 3-5 start. Aramis Ramirez has been one of the low points for Schwanda is sticking with him as well. "I am not going to drop him at this time, I have faith in him that he will start to see the ball better." One thing that has helped Schwanda keep Aramis on the bench has been the play of Jose Bautista and his league leading 18 home runs and his RBI total of 45, two behind the leader. "that is going to keep him in the lineup every day as of now," Schwanda said, but he added "I would love for that BA to go up a bit, but I will take the HR and RBIs and lose out on average." The team has also picked up another struggling Cub last week in Derrek Lee. "Derrek is a guy we had last year and wanted to keep, once he was released he jumped at the chance to get him." Schwanda added, "even though he is off to a rough start we feel the change of teams will help him and he can have a nice rest of the year for us."

In other team news, despite winning 3 weeks in a row to get to 5th place Lil Rumor according to a source close to the GM will be looking to shake some things up in the league and make some big trades. Their GM Rob Potter could not be reached at this time, but this is something to keep track of.

The Legends are sitting alone in first place at 6-2, a half game up on off in the words and fishsticks. Off in the words just had a big 12-2 win over The Legends last week so they are the hottest team in the league right now. Toph has his team playing a great brand of baseball. Also don't forget the defending champs fishsticks, only a half of game out, they are looking to go back to back.

I'm right, you're wrong.

Getting back to it

After last night, one of the worst sports nights of the year, tonight we once again have a NHL and NBA finals game on. I think Kobe will have a nice comeback game and the Lakers will win 98-89, Kobe's stat line 35 5 and 5. I also think the Flyers will win 3-1 and force a game 7.

I know he just had a triple double, but really, watch the games, no one guards Rondo he is not a elite player. He is a good pg, but he isn't the best in the NBA, or even in the top 3.. relax people.


Izzo to the Cavs? no chance, if you ask me. I just don't see it. Even if they give him a 3 year 30 mil contract, which would be hard to turn down, but he has enough money, and he is in a great spot, he owns that city, and really most of the state, chooses the players he brings in and I think he knows he is a college coach, the war rebounding drills, taking away the locker room stuff doesn't work with NBA guys, and I think Coach Izzo is smart enough to know that. He wants to win another national title and has a great shot this coming year, why leave now? Even if you know Lebron is staying, who cares, he already has shown he can't win it by himself anyway, you need the right guys around him, and how much say he Izzo going to have in that, if he went. Even if he got total control, I still don't see why you would want to. He is a college guy IMO, and will stay. I'm right, you're wrong.

RIP Coach Wooden

well I was going to talk about the Tigers loosing to KC after taking two of out three from the tribe, but that will have to wait.


For tonight we lost in my mind the best coach of all time. Coach Wooden passed away at the age of 99 tonight, and will be missed by so many, including, a son, a daughter, 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with all of his friends and family, and I just wish I would have been lucky enough to meet him, but I am very blessed that I have been able to read a few of his books and I have learned a lot about basketball and life, and I try to teach as many of those things as I can when I am coaching at any level. I will now write just a few of his favorite lines.


Earn the right to be proud and confident

The best way to improve the team is to improve our self

Happiness begins where selfishness ends

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there

If you do not have the time to do it right, when will you find time to do it over

Don't let yesterday take up too much of today

Time spent getting even would be better spent trying to get ahead

What is right is more important then who is right

You handle things. You work with people

Tell the truth. That way you don't have to remember a story

Don't let making a living prevent you from making a life

The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother

Never make excuses. Your friends don't need them and your foes won't believe them

Be quick, but don't hurry

Do not mistake activity for achievement

Make each day your masterpiece


RIP Coach Wooden.. thank you. I'm right, you're wrong.

28 up and 28 down

Last night a perfect game was taking away from the Tigers Armando Galarraga with two outs in the 9th when in covering 1st the ball was in his glove and the his foot on the bag long before the Tribe's runner made it to first, A perfect game, except it wasn't. McDonald was ruled safe, and the game continued for one more batter, until he too was out, and the game officially ended in a one hit shutout. There are many ways to go with this:

A great pitching performance was ruined by a umps bad call, that ump needs to be fired and there needs to be instant replay on the bases

It's part of the game, it's human nature, he made a mistake, and admitted it, lets move on

There are calls missed in every game, if it was on the first out instead of the what would have been 27th it wouldn't have been as much as a big deal

What does it say about Jim Joyce that he still went with what he thought at the time was the right call when he could have just called him out to be the guy who made the last call in a perfect game. If it was a bang bang play, and it turned out he was safe, and he called them out, would people be on Joyce, he didn't get caught up in the moment he made the call he thought was right, looked at the replay, saw it was wong, and said he was sorry... for extra fun he is behind the plate for the day game today between the two teams, which I need to finish typing this fast, so I can watch.


There is talk of MLB stepping in and changing the call to make it a perfect game, even as a Tigers fan I think that is a very very bad idea. You are just asking for trouble.

Funniest thing about it, a buddy of mine was at the game, and on the way to the ball park he texted me how he was excited about going to the game but isn't crazy about Galarraga. I texted back he is fine, to which he texted back I don't want fine, I want exciting... well he got his exciting. It also ruined his night.

I do think there should be instant replays on the bases however. If you can get it right, don't you want to. They are human they are going to make mistakes, but why allow there to be mistakes made when you can easily not. That call would have taking 5 seconds if they have one replay official, like football, who looks at every base call, he beeps down, and lets the ump know it was the wrong call, and it is changed. It would take way less time then having the manager and other players run out and start yelling with the ump. There is no reason why this shouldn't happen. This was history but the Tigers won the game anyway, what if, they were still up 1-0, and he got on base and the next batter hit a home run to win the game, when the game should have been over and it should have been a perfect game, what if that one game coast a team a playoff spot. There needs to be instant replay on the bases, and I would love for anyone to try to talk me out of it. I'm right, you're wrong.

Falling fast

The Tigers were doing good, in fact they were tied a top the AL Central standings. They took 5 out of 7 games against the Red Sox and Yanks and then went out west to start a trip and took two games from the A's, now leading the AL West. Since they it has been a free fall. Starting with loosing two out of three to the Dodgers, then loosing two games to Seattle, before coming back home to face the A's and lose 3 out of 4. The one win makes the series look better then it was in turns of numbers. Since they won that game 10-2, but in the other games they lost a tough one 5-4, and then got outscored 10-1 in the other two games. The problems continued with the lowly tribe coming to town and losing the first game of the series last night 3-2. They must win the next two games in this series starting tonight, it has to happen, they are now 4.5 games back of the Twins and you can't let too much space come between you and them, especially when you have the tribe now, then KC and the White Sox on the road, all divisional games, before coming home for Pit, Wash, and Arizona, before going to the Mets and Braves, and then to the Twins to end the month of June. That series at the Twins could be very big, or it could be the end of the Tigers season, depending on how the next 24 games go. You can't be 2-8 your last ten when you are trying to win a division. I am worried that what I have been saying about this team is true. They are just good enough to be there all year, but not good enough to win the division and make the playoffs. Which is ok, because it gives you meaningful games to watch all summer while you wait for football, but it is bad because it just gets you more upset when it doesn't happen, like last year when they were in first almost all year, only to lose in game 163 and be out.

The D-train run was also ended this weekend as he was traded to Arizona for Billy Buckner, a pitcher we sent to triple-A, and is 0-3 on the year with a era over 11 in the quad-A, the NL. Basically it was just getting ride of D-train, it's too bad, cause he had some much talent, maybe it will turn around for him going back over to the NL.

Tonight is a must win for the Tigers, at least as big of a must win that you can have on June 2. I'm right, you're wrong.