AP Player of the Year Announced . . . What a Joke!

First off, I have no problem with Tyler Hansbrough being named player of the year by the AP. He's the best player on one of the top 4 teams in the country. He consistently brings his best night in and night out. He scores, rebounds, defends, and hustles. I don't care who the best NBA prospect is, I care about who is the best college basketball player this season. With that as the primary criteria, I don't see how anyone can have too much of issue with Hansbrough's selection.

Ok, now on to my gripe. Only 3 players received votes for the award . . . that's right, only THREE! Psycho T received 56, Michael Beasley brought in 15 votes, and Memphis' Chris Douglas-Roberts got one vote.

The lopsided favoritism showed towards Hansbrough and Beasley is just another example of how little credibility the AP has when it comes to handing out awards and top 25 polling.

CDR with 1 vote? No votes for Kevin Love? No votes for Stephen Curry? No votes for Brook Lopez or DJ Augustin? Call me a cynic, but something tells me these voters got a little caught up in the hype.

Memphis Suspends Allen

5'10 PG, Andre Allen has been suspended for the Final Four due to a failed drug test. Allen plays about 14 minutes per game for the Tigers and is averaging 3 points and 2 assists per game.


First off, what a disappointing way for a senior to end his career. Memphis is on the brink of a national championship, with Allen playing an important role in their run to the Final 4. I wonder if the "high" was worth it?

Second, will this affect Memphis' chances in San Antonio? With Allen out, the Tigers rotation will be altered. If Derrick Rose gets into foul trouble, difficulties could arise. But . . .

Memphis has incredible athleticism, and plays a style of offense that doesn't require a traditional point guard. It's these two issues that lead me to believe Allen's absence will not be a determining factor in San Antonio.

I Hate Baseball: The Marlins Made Me Do It

This is not a rare sight at a Florida Marlins game. A lone fan finding an entire section all to himself. Why does no one care? And, more importantly, why do I hate baseball?

It's supposed to be America's past time, and plenty of people seem to enjoy the game, so how in the world did I come to dislike it so strongly? Here's my theory . . .

First, the Marlins inaugural season came in 1993, when I was 8 years old. I was playing little league, and was having some fun with it. All of the ingredients were there to welcome me into baseball fandom. There was excitement surrounding the team (sure they sucked, but no one cared), enthusiasm in the stands, and an overall positive feeling at the ballpark.

Then, in 1994 came the strike. Florida was getting better, on pace to finish 72-90 (an 8 game improvement over their 1993 campaign), and the fans allegiance to their team was growing. All of a sudden, the season is over, there's no MLB post season, and things would never be the same again.

The Fish drew an average of 37,330 fans in their first two years, a number that would never be duplicated. In their two World Series winning seasons, the Marlins averaged only 22,600 per game. Baseball was new to the South Florida fans in 1993, and we all jumped on the bandwagon. The strike put a stop to the wagon, and we all jumped off, leaving our passion for baseball behind.

Through 15 years of existence, the Marlins have won 2 World Series Championships and followed each with a major sell off of all the team's talent. Florida's had the lowest payroll for the past two years, trying to scrape by on a minimalist's budget while waiting on a new stadium (that may never come). Losing is one thing, but not even trying to win is another. Fans have been left out to dry by the franchise for the past 2 years, and have lost nearly all emotional attachment they once held for their hometown team.

Will a new stadium save the Marlins, bring South Floridians back to the ballpark, and more importantly make me love this game one more time? There will be excitement in the air again, mixed with the smell of stadium hot dogs and green grass, the stadium will be full, and management will be motivated to put a competitive product on the field. Plus, it won't hurt that a retractable roof will protect those in attendance from the 95 degree heat and future chemotherapy appointments.

Can the Marlins bring my heart back to baseball? . . . Only time will tell, but I have my doubts.

The Lure of the Ring

The undefeated welterweight champ, Floyd Mayweather joined the long list of pro athletes to step into the wrestling ring on Sunday night. What is it that draws pro athletes to the spectacle of pro wrestling?

First, there's money. While the WWE hyped up a 20 Million pay day for Floyd, the reality is he made about 2 Million. While it's nowhere near his payday for a blockbuster fight, this was a quick payout and offered exposure to a new fan base. Mayweather didn't have to train for months, cut weight, or face the pressure of defending his undefeated record. Plus, he's increased his potential buy rate for his next PPV fight. The bottom line . . . he got paid to have FUN! and increased his future earnings potential.

Sure, wrestling is fake, and filled with bizarre story lines. But, it's an escape for pro athletes. A place where they can use their strength and speed to put on a show.

So, while many sports writers criticize those who align themselves with the wild world of "Sports Entertainment", I'm jealous. Offer me two million to have fun, and see if I take it.

Some athletes that seem to agree with my logic include; Muhammed Ali, Karl Malone, "The Fridge", Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Dennis Rodman, "Pac Man" Jones, Mike Tyson, and plenty more . . . OK, OK the last three names and "logic" don't belong in the same paragraph, but you get my point.

Curry Will Return For Junior Season

LINK TO ESPN STORY