Cavs vs Celts Game 6 Has Big Implications

I have definitely caught playoff fever, NHL Playoff Fever that is. After the Olympic break, I fully climbed aboard the San Jose Sharks Bandwagon and have thoroughly enjoyed the ebb and flow from the first two rounds. However, I have probably watched less than an hour combined of NBA Playoff basketball this year. That being said, I do know that tonight's game between the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics has huge ramifications throughout the world of basketball.

Let's try and connect the dots from Beantown to Cleveland, through Lexington and all the way to the Pacific Northwest and figure out what the game means to us on the West Coast. If "The King", Lebron James, fails to capture an NBA title after once again leading his team to the NBA's best record, he will be blamed almost single handedly. Mike Brown has shown himself to be nothing more than a glorified water boy in this series, getting obviously out coached by Doc Rivers. If LBJ elects to stay in Cleveland, it will almost undoubtedly be with a new coach (of his choosing) on the sidelines. Kentucky coach John Calipari, has been telling most in NBA circles that he can deliver "The King," to whichever city will hire him. Previously, Chicago was speculated, but now that the Cav's are having their issues, it seems like Cleveland could be the landing spot for Calipari.

If Calipari leaves, it will be a free-for-all at Kentucky. His current class of recruits will go elsewhere and thrive while Ashley Judd could be sitting on her hands this year. They may seriously have 5 scholarship players for next year. When you make a deal with the devil, be prepared to get burnt.

Now what does this have to do with the Pac-10, the much maligned league from this years 2009-2010 basketball season? Well, it could push us left coasters into the forefront of the spotlight. The West Coasts #1 player this year, 6'9 Terrance Jones of Portland, has still not signed his letter of intent yet.



He has been verbally committed to the University of Washington for over a week, but is still torn between UW and UK. If "Coach Cal" were to head to Cleveland, expect Terrance Jones in Seattle. With T Jones in Seattle, the Huskies would lose only one starter from last years Sweet 16 team, and add a Top 10 national recruit and likely one and done NBA prospect. UW would vault into many pre-season Top 10 lists, while Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford all return the meat of their line-ups. The Cal Bears would have to rebuild, but would do so with a fantastic coach and even USC looks like they are finally on the right path.

After a year of constant bashing by ESPN, the Pac-10 could be back to their rightful spot on the college basketball pecking order. While the ACC and Big East have the pedigree and will forever get the headlines, there may not be a better top to bottom league than the "versus conference."

Tremendous Broadcaster Tirade

With the Cleveland Indians (10-17) mired in last place in the American League Central, fans are starting to get fed up, which is expected. However, Indians post game host Bruce Drennan had a true remarkable meltdown on-air yesterday. The pained expressions, screaming, and best of all, his imitation of Russell Branyan's swing at the 1:00 mark is classic.

West Coast Quarterback Dominoes Begin to Fall

The NFL draft certainly received the majority of the pigskin related headlines over the weekend. As has been the case in recent years, most of the chatter centered on the quarterback position. With Sam Bradford being selected #1, it only reinforces the consensus that unless you have a solid quarterback, your team is going to struggle. What slipped up the headlines, unless you are a college football or recruiting junkie (which I am) the next generation of quarterbacks are beginning to pick their school. Quarterback recruiting is unlike any other position in college football. Schools traditionally sign only one QB, once one player commits, teams usually offer the next in line that day. This creates a domino effect that goes from the top to the bottom rung of the conference. Much like the New York Yankees pluck the choice free agents. The upper echelon of the college football world hand picks their quarterbacks. For the 3rd time in a decade, the USC Trojans have garnered a commitment from a Mater Dei (Anaheim) signal caller. Class of 2011 quarterback, Max Wittek will follow in the footsteps of Matt Leinhart and Matt Barkley and has pledged to be the next leader for the Men of Troy. Recruiting rankings don’t come out in full until after summer camps and combines, but USC traditionally takes the top QB in So Cal and then the rest of the Pac-10 takes their place at the table. What will be very interesting to watch this year, who gets to eat 2nd behind USC? Oregon and Chip Kelly, UCLA and Rick Neuheisel, or Jeff Tedford and Cal? Coaching staffs and offensive systems matter big time to top prep quarterbacks. Wittek has surged to the front of the list of So Cal signal callers, however the big time recruits this recruiting cycle are geographically spread. The next rung of QB’s on the West Coast includes three players. A dual threat stud from here in San Jose, Archbishop Mitty’s Kyle Boehm, as well as big time players from Bakersfield, Cody Kessler and Phoenix area pheonom Brett Hundley, the #5 rated QB in the country.



The wild card in all of this will be the “Armenian Assassin”, Steve Sarkisian (not his actual nickname, however I think it is pretty cool). In sports, “scoreboard” is the ultimate taunt and comeback. Sark has coached two Heisman trophy winners, beat out Nick Saban to land Joe Montana’s son, and is in the process of molding Jake Locker into the #1 pick in the 2011 draft. The top QB on the West Coast, Brett Hundley and his coach, have already visited Seattle for a spring practice and Cody Kessler will be in the Northwest next weekend.

Who will step up and stop Sark? Jeff Tedford was once thought of as “the top qb coach” in the nation, as Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, and Aaron Rodgers were all drafted in the 1^st round. What has happened since has been surprising. Nate Longshore and Kevin Reily have both failed to live up to expectations, keeping Cal in Poinsettia Bowl territory. With Reily entering his senior year, Tedford needs to hit a home run with his next Quarterback recruit. Chip Kelly and the Oregon Ducks now recruit nationally, and even though it is reported that Kyle Boehm favors the Ducks, no one knows if he will get offered. Rick Neuheisel and Norm Chow were highly thought of…..two years ago and have been largely a disappointment during their tenure. With Kevin Prince entrenched in the starting spot for the next 2-3 years, it will take a lot of skill and a little luck for the Bruins to nab a big time recruit.

The next month should tell us a lot about the next 5 years of Pac-10 football. IOne player will not make or break a football program. However, the pecking order for recruits on the West Coast has never been more competitive. Oregon State, Arizona, Stanford, Utah and even Boise State are flexing their muscle like never before. Thirty days from now we will know who truly has the “juice” in the Pac-10 and on the Left Coast.

Tim Tebow Wears Joe Pavelski Pajamas

What an epic game the San Jose Sharks played and won last night in Denver, 2-1 in OT. Joe Pavelski is quickly turning into my favorite player. The gritty, gutty, and feisty player from Wisconsin has willed his way to the upper echelon of NHL talent. He will never make an "all airport team," standing just 5'11 and registering 194 pounds. That did not stop him from making big plays in the Olympics and so far against Colorado he has notched 4 points, including two clutch goals. Pavelski has dramatically improved his game when it counts the most.



In a contest that previous Sharks teams would have crumbled and the weight of expectations, San Jose “survived and advanced.” While the series is tied 2-2, the Avalanche are getting a standing 8 count. The Sharks have worn them down, and 4 games of diving in front of pucks is starting to take it's toal. If the Sharks can come out early in game 5, take control, and let the emotion from the home crowd take over this series will be in the bag.

It was also great to see Dan Boyle, with the ultimate redemption goal. Boyle was able to quickly erase the stigma from his OT blunder, and move on. It could not have been a more fitting way for the Sharks to exorcise their playoff demons.

Speaking of playoff demons, critics and fans need to lay off Joe Thorton. While “jumbo” will never be the alpha dog scoring machine like Kobe, Jordan, or Gretzky, he is an amazing team player. Thorton is more of the point-forward, deft passing star that needs to be surrounded by other great players. One question, why have they not matched him up with a big, physical, (park himself in front of the net and cause mayhem), forward? Patrick Marleau is not that player and now that it is April, he has once again enter the witness protection program. I would love to see a line of Thorton, Heatley, and Pavelski. Jumbo would be like a point guard passing to two fearless slashers.

Greatest Post Game Interview Ever...

Yankees pitcher Chan Ho Park explains to the New York media why he struggled on opening night versus the Red Sox.



I have two questions after view this: 1.) Who is the one laughing in the background? 2.) Is Chan Ho Park still pitching in the majors?

Is Pablo Sandoval Working For KFC Now?

With opening day for the SF Giants up the road at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, Fred Couples killing it at the Masters, and the Sharks bid for the top seed in the west, there are plenty of sports related items that I could discuss. However, those will be put on the back-burner so that I can speak about my current man-crush.

The topic dujour for this beautiful TGIF......The new KFC Double Down. Somewhere the creator of the Atkins diet is weeping in a meat locker. I don't know where to start with this, except to say, "Really?" Part of me wants to hate this idea, but the other part of me wants to indulge in a Double Down after a few pitchers of beer at Rookies Sports Bar.

Hey I love fried chicken, and I LOVE bacon. Plus, cheese and I go way back, but just when did this become necessary. When will Krispy Kreme create a sandwich, with a cookie between two

freshly made glazed doughnuts.

With all of that being said, when will my local KFC start serving these little slices of heaven? While I am sure that many in the Bay Area are appalled by this creation, I am equally as sure that in the deep fried loving South, there are currently 20 person lines at the KFC inside Wal-Marts.

In researching this topic, I came across a fantastic quote from a KFC spokesperson.... “The product is going to appeal to people who are looking for an indulgent sandwich like some of the other sandwiches served at fast-food restaurants,” said KFC spokesman Rick Maynard.

I wish company spokespersons would just be honest, "We are capitalizing on the the fact that America is the most obese country in the world. We believe the key demographic for the Double Down will be 18-24 year old males, under the influence of something, especially between the hours of 10PM and 2AM."

First name Greatest....Last name Ever....

While he is not quite to Drake's standards.... nor has he yet been dubbed "Lil Loggy", Cal Bears wide receiver, Alex Lagemann (from nearby Saratoga High School) is a talented rapper. With dynamic lyrics, cool beats, and a laid back Cali style he calls "chill-hop", I must say I enjoyed nearly every song off his album.

While looking through college football news stories, I came across a link to "Loggys" mix-tape. Admittedly I was skeptical. The list of athletes who have made rap albums is long and illustrious (if you are a Top Gun fan, finish this quote). However, the list of decent records by athletes can probably counted up on one hand. The best part in my opinion, he did all this with his Mac book and an old computer microphone. With today's technology, talent can not be stopped by the need for studio time, or a big break.
What started off as a dare, has now flourished into a possible post-football career. While Lagemann did have 12 catches for 150 yards last year, he is not exactly what Todd McShay would call a blue-chipper. The reviews by fellow MC's and music lovers are far more flattering. Give his mix-tape a listen and let me know what you think.