MLB Preview, Final Four notes with some Tigger, D-Mac and Big Ben

Hold on to your seats kids, I'm rooting for Puke U. this Saturday against West Virginia.
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Yup, go Puke.

With the Heels in the NIT and my brackets ruined on the tourney's third day, I'm reduced to cheering for the best story (see Bulldogs, Butler U.).
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Oh the irony....big, bad Puke against the little guy for the title. Remember, the gym at Butler was the one used in the iconic "Hoosiers" film, scene of the greatest upset ever on the big screen and the same court with the foul line that is the same distance as our court back in Hickory.

Still, I'm destined for aggravation this year, Puke over Michigan State in the final.
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Donovan McNabb to the Raiders? I'm all over that one. JaMarcus Russell is one of the biggest busts of all time and, quite frankly, blows. I don't care about his roster bonus due in May, I don't have to write the check. Mr. Davis does.
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San Diego is done and rebuilding behind a QB still in puberty, Denver sucks and Kansas City will need to drop down to the Arena Football League to have a chance at a playoff berth.
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Heard Tigger has another presser coming on Monday.
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Here's a question for him..........Who cares?
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While you owe me nothing, either spill your guts and play some golf OR keep your pie-hole shut and play some golf.
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I'm not interested in another press conference where you say nothing, so I won't waste my time and, lets be very clear - my opinion is the only one that matters here. HA!
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BREAKING NEWS - Ben Roethlisberger has thrown his hat in the ring in the D-Bag of the Year voting, along with Gilbert Arenas and Lane Kiffin.
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Dude, heed this free advice......there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a love machine - yep, hehe - but do it right way. Seriously.
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Opening day in Major League Baseball is just a scant few hours away. After drafting the best team in fantasy baseball history, I'm all over the season this year---post season picks at bottom.
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AL East - The only thing I hate more than the Yankee TV announcers are the Yankee radio announcers so I won't pick them.....Still haven't forgiven the Red Sox for beating my A's in the 1975 playoffs when I was 10 so I hope they suck...Last I checked, Toronto is in another country and I'm still pissed that the skirt-wearing, purse-carrying Sidney Crosby scored the OT winner in the Olympics so they are out of the pool...Balitmore is building a nice, young team but they have no chance.
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I'll take Tampa Bay to win the East. Boston takes the Wild Card as the Yankees get old, fast.
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AL Central - Don't really care enough to waste time ripping these teams....Getting Jake Peavy will turn out to be the best move of the season. As long as he stays healthy, Peavy will be the difference in the Central for the ChiSox as they outlast Minnesota and Detroit.
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AL West - Los Angeles "Don't call me Anaheim" lost a ton of talent and replaced it with nothing....Seattle added Milton Bradley so you know they have no clue and Texas has never found a balance of offense and pitching.

No bias here.....the A's surprise the West with their pitching staff and win the West.
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NL East - Have to like Florida's chances now that the MLB brass and player's union have leaned of them to part with some of their revenue-sharing cabbage....Washington is building but are still far away...Atlanta will go full bore for Bobby Cox in his last year and the New York Mess are awful.
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With Roy Halladay in tow, the Phitin' Phils win another division title, Atlanta qualifies for another playoff berth before another playoff failure.
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NL Central - They need more teams in this division.....Pittsburgh? No....Houston? No...Milwaukee? Not bad, but not enough pitching to win the division....Would root hard for the Cubbies to break the 358-year hex but don't see it happening...Cincinnati might be the sleeper team in baseball but this isn't the year.
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St. Louis has the best player in baseball in Albert Pujols and Matt Holliday will recover from the fly ball to the cookies in the playoffs and have a huge season in helping the Cards - and my fantasy team.
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NL West - One Dodger owner wants $1 million a MONTH alimony from the other owner. That isn't even funny. Get a job like the rest of us....San Diego has no cash flow and even less talent....San Fran hung in there last year with little talent. They won't do it again....Can't figure out the D-Backs, they should be better but aren't.
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The thinking here is the Rockies will put it all together this year and claim the West.
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Playoff Predictions
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AL First Round - Tampa Bay over Oakland and Chicago over Boston.
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NL First Round - Philadelphia over Colorado, St. Louis over Atlanta.
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AL Champion - Tampa Bay Rays
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NL Champion - St. Louis Cardinals
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World Series Champion - Tampa Bay Rays in six over St. Louis.
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AL MVP - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
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NL MVP - Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado
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AL Cy Young - Jake Peavy
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NL Cy Young - Roy Halladay
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Most importantly.............Tri State Baseball Champ - Team Pugsley 2010

Open Letter To Our Good Neighbors Up North

Before delving into my Olympic (jingoistic) spirit, let me get a few things out of the way:

Disclaimer #1 - The next time I get labeled an "Ugly American", won't be the first time. And, no, I don't mean my appearance.

I give thanks every day that I was born an American and to a country that allows me to live my life as I see it and where I can spew my opinions in a forum such as this.
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I do, however, and always have, have a soft spot in my heart for our good friends to the north, the Canadian people.

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Disclaimer #2 - I don't mean the French Canadians in the note above, my feud with them will never cease. Ever.

Anyway, the Canucks are very good natured, caring, and giving people. The beer is top notch and "Oh Canada" is one of the best national anthems going.

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The story of Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette, who skated to a bronze medal days after her mother's untimely death at the Games, is the feel-good story of these Olympics for me.
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Even the panhandlers in Toronto apologized for bothering me as I nudged by them with my shoulder in the summer of 1994. Sorry 'bout that, I didn't have any spare Monopoly money to spare during my weekend jaunt.

You see, I'm not mean spirited when it comes to Canada. Our neighbors from the north are kinda like the kid in the neighborhood who would do anything to hang with pack.

Need a dollar with no intent on repayment? No problem. Need a beer and don't feel like getting up? Just ask the kid who is just glad to be in the room.

.Real quiet, never causes a stir.........reminds me of Canada. Eh?

Tomorrow at 3 p.m. (EST), my goodwill and diplomacy will take a back seat to good 'ole American pride baby.........Big Brother U.S.A, Stars & Stripes, Apple Pie, you get where I'm going.

We'll be hoping the Canadian hockey players gag under the intense pressure of their country.

Yup..............Big Brother vs. Little Brother.

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Don Cherry? Luv ya dude but I'm hoping Grapes is a bit sour around 6 p.m. Sunday evening and for millions of Little Brothers to be drowning their sorrows in their Molson Canadiens while Big Brother celebrates all night long.

.We'll cheer for Sidney Crosby to become Bill Buckner, for Roberto Luongo to cave under the pressure of his homestanding fans.

For Ryan Miller, I'll go back to disliking you once you are back in Buffalo, but give me one more all-time effort and I'll boo you slightly less when you are playing my Bruins.

You can do it, you are an American. We're better than everyone, just ask me.

Eh?

A Few Random Thoughts During My Day Of Leisure

The day's work is done, the feet are up and my cup is filled with a nice cold beverage. Life is good---but could be better if the Bruins could find some offense 'cuz I don't like what I'm seeing on the tube right now. (More on that later).

A few days ago, I expertly predicted the running attack and top notch defense of the J-E-T-S Jets! Jets! Jets! would carry Coach Ryan's to their first Super Bowl bid since 1969. Uh, I'm waffling on that now with kickoff a mere 25 hours away.

As hot as the Jets have been, I can't pick a rookie QB over Peyton Manning. Colts 24-19 in a thriller.

Down in 'Nawlins...........this should be a great game as the good folks get an early start to the Mardi Gras celebration.

The Minny D-line is the best in football and they'll have to be as the secondary could be in for a long day against Drew Brees.
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The crowd will be off-the-charts insane as the 'Aints clinch a Super Bowl berth, 38-27.

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Early candidate for D-Bag of the Year: see Arenas, Gilbert.

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Reason #8,678 that I haven't followed the NBA in a decade.
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To quote George Costanza........Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorence on this thing, because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing is frowned upon... you know, cause I've worked in a lot of offices, and I tell you, people do that all the time."

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Back to the Bruins......yes, Phil Kessel wasn't big on playing defense and his dedication to the team game sucked, but he could light the lamp. The B's got two top draft choices for him from Toronto and I am patiently waiting for the Bruin brass to deal those picks for a sniper (Ilya Kovalchuck???) or the postseason run will be brief, if they qualify.
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Almost time for pitchers and catchers.....NASCAR is getting ready to rev up the engines for another 82-week season. I like the NBA more than NASCAR, soccer too....I know, I've written that in the past. I thought I'd do it again in case anyone forgot (Mike P., Jim).

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Tom Cable is still the coach of the Raiders, for now. I'm checking the internet thrice hourly to see if the madman-who-used-to-be-a-genius has made a move. When you are on the receiving end of a joke by the Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix, you know you are in trouble....I'm loyal to a fault, but the last 7 years have been hell as a Raider fan. ...Any chances JaMarcus Russell and Darius Heyward-Bey are practicing their overthrows and drops right now? Hmmm............

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I say we keep the Cable guy but hire an offensive coordinator. Let someone else call the plays. Sad thing is, I don't get a vote, although I deserve one.....Ray Guy got snubbed in the Hall of Famve vote showing the complete stupidity of those involved in the selection process.
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Guy was the best punter in the history of the league. For the naysayers, ever heard of the importance of field position? This guy wasn't an afterthought on the roster, he was a weapon.
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Runner Up for Early Candidate for D-Bag of the Year: see Kiffin, Lane.
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Yeah, that tool will help SC ward off the NCAA vultures with his understanding of rules compliance. Hey, Rocky Top......TOLD YA SO!!!!!!!!!!!