Basketball

If you’re an optimist and had any thoughts or aspirations of putting away the winter jacket and maybe doing a little spring cleaning in the near future I say to you, “Not so fast my friend.” Punxsutawney Phil has done it again predicting six more weeks of winter after seeing his shadow this morning in front of hundreds of frozen Pennsylvanians. If you’ve already started throwing everything within an arms length away, relax, take a deep breath, and follow along as I reflect on what the world of sports has to offer throughout the next six weeks.

WEEK – 1 – February 2nd – 7th
The granddaddy of all sporting events takes place February 7th, as Super Bowl XLIV kicks off between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts. The game showcases two of the best offenses in footballs with some incredible individual players. Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Reggie Bush, Reggie Wayne, and many more will take the field Sunday night in a battle for world supremacy.
WEEK – 2 – February 8th – 14th
Let’s refer to week two as variety week. February 11th-14th is NBA All-Star Weekend in the new Cowboy Stadium in Dallas. The weekend will feature a number of televised events to include a celebrity game, 3-point contest, and everyone’s favorite the Slam Dunk competition. All-Star weekend wraps up with on February 14th as the Western conference looks to make it two in a row over the East. My prediction, West 132 East 117. The other major sporting event is the arrival of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic games. Opening ceremonies will kick off the Olympics on Friday February 12th. Maybe its just me, but if you ever saw the movie “Cool Running’s” you’re a fan of the winter Olympics.
WEEK – 3 – February 15th – 21st
The 2010 Olympic Winter games continue all week long with coverage taking place on a variety of different channels including NBC. Please check your local listings for coverage in your area.
WEEK – 4 – February 22nd – 28th
The Olympic Games comes to a conclusion this week as each country counts their golds, silvers, and bronze to determine if their country was a success. Let’s hope the American’s can shake off some Winter X Games injuries and come away with a high medal count. Shifting gears from the world best, to some of the nation’s best, February 27th features two of college basketball elite as Villanova heads to the “Loud House” to take on Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse Orange in a battle of top 5 ranked teams. Prediction Syracuse 82 Villanova 79. The inside game of the Orange is going to be to much for the undersized Wildcats to handle.
WEEK 5 – March 1st – 7th
One of the greatest rivalries in all of college athletics takes place during week five as North Carolina will head to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the Blue Devils. Both North Carolina and Duke have had their struggles this year, but you can bet when these two teams get together on March 6th, well see the best each has to offer. Prediction Duke 84 North Carolina 71. You think the young players from UNC turn the ball over way too much, just wait until March 6th.
WEEK 6 – March 8th – 14th
Does your team have what it takes to make it to the big dance? Conference tournaments kick off a week dominated by college basketball. Tune in to watch as teams battle for their conferences automatic bid. The week long college basketball palooza comes to a conclusion with the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 14th. Will your team make the field of 65, or will they have to battle at MSG for the NIT crown.

So if you find yourself depressed just thinking about six more weeks of winter, don’t be. The next six weeks in sports will showcase the world’s best athletes, a historic rivalry, and the biggest sporting event of the year. Selection Sunday, The Winter Olympics, and a Super Bowl all during a six week stretch? If you’re a sports fan in general and are still too busy pouting over six more weeks of winter to realize the enormity of events occurring during the next month and half, then its about time someone questioned your fanhood!.

Follow Cory on Twitter @CSchad44

I will admit I’ve never been a huge proponent of all star games in the past,  but any weekend  activities that are promised to “make the Super Bowl look like a bar mitzvah,” you can bet your children’s unborn children that I’ll be watching.  Although still a few weeks away, the 2010 NBA All-Star game has already began stirring up controversy.  From Lebron’s dunk contest woes, to Allen Iverson’s decision to start, to the most recent comments made by Mark Cuban, All-Star Weekend should not disappoint.

Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star Lebron James told Cheryl Miller at last year’s event that he was a “preliminary contestant” for the 2010 slam dunk contest.  Yea right!  If you actually believed the words of Lebron James on TNT last February I apologize.  Many of Lebron’s harshest critics say that if he ever plans on being the next Michael Jordan, he needs to not only compete, but win the dunk contest.  First of all there will never be another Michael Jordan, and especially not Mr. James.  What upsets me most about King James decision was not the broken promise, or the fact that I won’t get to watch him showboat all over my television some more, but the reaction from the media.  Many of them sound like a bunch of whining children begging their mom and dad for a new toy, “But I really, really want this Lebron”!  He filled your hearts with excitement and anticipation I know, but Lebron James will not dunk in 2010, or 2011, or should I keep going? King James will never participate in a contest like this for the fans until he can simply get over himself.  Lebron James you’re not nor will you ever be the next Michael Jordan.

Another interesting story leading up to this year’s All-Star weekend involves Allen Iverson’s decision to start for the Eastern Conference.  Many sports writers and Iverson critics think he’s taking a spot away from a deserving All-Star, one like Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks, or David Lee of the New York Knicks.  You know what, there probably right.  However don’t blame the man for starting a game in which he was voted into by the fans, the same fans who will be there February 14^th in Dallas.  If you’re going to be pissed off that he doesn’t deserve it, go ahead you have a valid point, but don’t be pissed off at Allen; take your aggression out on the NBA.  The NBA allows fans to vote online or via text message once a day for approximately 3 months.  Does anyone else see something wrong with that?  Do I have the answer on how to fix voting for All-Star games, no, but what I do know is the answer needs to include the fans.  They are the ones buying the season tickets and the numerous amounts of team merchandise to show their loyal support to their favorite franchise.  So to all of you who blame Allen Iverson for starting, back off, take your complaining right to David Stern.  Oh yea one more thing; if you got voted into the NBA All-Star game, would you start?  If you said no, you’re lying to yourself.

Don’t get me wrong, Lebron James is allowed to change his mind and Allen Iverson does not deserve to start in an All-Star game, but who’s really to blame for all the hype of these controversies?  The media again portrays two situations that essentially are irrelevant and turns them on the athlete.  Lebron is labeled as a liar, while Allen Iverson is selfish for starting a game he doesn’t deserve.  All I can say is thank God Allen Iverson doesn’t have to come off the bench in this game, we all know how that worked out it Memphis earlier this season.  “I don’t know no all league player to come off the bench, I don’t know no 2 time NBA scoring champ to come off the bench, I …. “ ok I’ll stop.   Make sure to tune in February 14^th on TNT as 80,000 plus are anticipated to pack Cowboy stadium for the 2010 NBA All-Star game.