"I Said It's Great To Be A Florida Gator!"



Gator Nation is everywhere! This time it's not in the football field or in the basketball court. It's in the pool. That's right. Ryan Lochte, the American swimmer is dominating at the FINA Worlds. In three events so far, he has come out with 2 golds and 1 bronze, and is looking to earn a few more golds.

Probably the most laid back guy anyone can ever meet. (come on, who has grills on every time they reach the podium) Lochte went to UF ( his father is a coach there) and now lives and trains in Gainseville. He broke about 7 records while he was a Gator and was one of the top swimmers in the nation in all of his four years in Florida. When he graduated, he was sponsored by Speedo and this is where the world found out who Ryan Lochte is.

Lochte made his Olympic debut in Athens 04 and won a gold medal in the 4x200 race in which they upset the favorite team from Australia. Then in the individual 200m medley, he won a silver medal just behind Michael Phelps. 4 years later he made the USA team and headed to Beijing. In four events that he competed, Lochte was able to go 4 for 4 in getting a medal. He won 2 gold medals and 2 bronze. One of them, he came behind Michael Phelps again.

In total, Ryan Lochte has won about 25 medals in world competition(in his professional career) and by the looks of it he is bound to win 25 more. A poll taken the other day in the FINA Worlds, 94% of the people voted Lochte as the 2nd best swimmer in all of the world. Behind of course, Michael Phelps. Many people say if Michael Phelps didn't swim, Lochte will be number one in the world, but Lochte says he is not intimidated by his rival and close friend Phelps. Lets see when London comes in 3 years, Lochte can shock the world and finally beat Michael Phelps in the greatest stage of all.

Traditional Powerhouses Not So Powerful?


UCLA, Michigan, Notre Dame and Miami. What do they all have in common? All of them have a rich tradition of being the best winning programs in all of the college football, but what has happened to them in the last few years?

UCLA: Won their last national championship in 1954. It is hard trying to have a perfect record with the conference in which the Bruins are in. USC seems unbeatable in this decade. The Bruins haven't been in a BCS bowl game since 1998, in which they lost and that was the last time a UCLA team was ranked in the top 10 in an AP and coaches top 25 poll in the end of the season. UCLA managed to sign former Bruin alum, Rick Neuheisel, but only started out his first season with a 4-8 record. Being a successful QB in his playing days in Pasadena, can he motivate and recruit the right players so a team can finally challenge the Trojans and win the Pac-10? He sure has to fix his QB situation. Bruin QB's only threw for 9 touchdowns the whole season with 20+ interceptions.

Michigan: Who could come out with a victory after playing at "The Big House"? A lot of teams in the past two seasons. The Wolverines have the most all-time wins and highest winning percentage in NCAA history. Anyone could say they are the best program in college football history, but anyone can question that now with the slump they recently entered. Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is one of the best in all of sports, the Wolverines lead the all time series, 57-42-6, but since 2000, the Wolverines have only won twice versus the Buckeyes. They haven't won a BCS bowl game since the 2000 Orange Bowl and under new head coach Rich Rodriguez went a 3-9, the worst in school history. Maybe it will take time for the Wolverines to get use to the spread offense. They will have to be successful with it if they want to beat Ohio State, Penn State and even their cross-town rival Michigan State.

Notre Dame: 11 national championship and 7 Heisman trophy winner. Not to mention they have the most All-Americans of any school. Can anyone top that? But it seems that every time The Fighting Irish go into a BCS bowl game, they get crushed. They've lost their last 6 BCS bowl games and before this seasons bowl win against Hawaii, they had a 9 bowl-game losing streak going for them. Head coach Charlie Weis is always in the hot seat after a season due to the failed expectations the team had. Current QB Jimmy Clausen had all this hype and many thought he was the next big star in South Bend, but has struggled. In the 2007 season, they had a 3-6 record, they lost 38-0 to both Ohio State and Michigan, and lost to Navy, which they haven't won vs. Notre Dame since 1963. The good sign is they started the following season 4-1, but ended with a 6-6 record. How much time will they give Charlie Weis to bring back the glory days?

Miami: "The U" has won more national championship in the past 30 years than any other team in the nation. Two hurricanes have won the Heisman and six have been inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame. They also hold the record for the longest home winning streak with 58 wins. Also, their success in the NFL Draft and the players playing in the NFL. For some strange reason, after switching conference to the ACC, Miami hasn't been that dominate team as the ones in the past. While in the Big East, the Hurricanes won the conference 4 years in a row and zero championships in the ACC. Even though they still have amazing recruitment done by head coach Randy Shannon, the defense isn't the same like the years of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Sean Taylor etc. All of them are/were amazing players in the NFL. Some experts say that 2000-2001 Miami Defense was the best in NCAA history. Ever since coach Larry Coker left, the Hurricanes "swag" left. With the recruiting done the last couple of seasons, many say the "The U" will be back soon and with the talent they have, the Hurricanes can be a dangerous team for years to come.

France vs. USA


We all remember that amazing comeback that Jason Lezak did to help the US men's 4x100m team to win the gold and keep Michael Phelps goal alive. Before that amazing relay race, the national team from France were doing a little trash talking about the US team. The announcer for the race even said he thought France will be the ones who would receive the gold medal. And it sure did, but the US team prevailed and stunned the whole world.

Now a summer later, the 2009 FINA world championship in Rome is taking place and the France team is looking for revenge. On Sunday the men's 4x100m took place and both France and the US were next to each other in the lanes. Could the French get the gold this time?

In the USA team, the only veteran was of course, Michael Phelps. He was the only one that was part of the team in the Olympics. The Americans added gold medalist Ryan Lochte, Matthew Grevers and 21 year old Nathan Adrian. No Jones, Lezak or Weber-Gale. Can the US hold on to the gold?

The day came and the US didn't disappoint with their rookie team. Coming in first place while the team from France came in third. I guess they can't get over that heart-breaking lost Beijing. Watch out for the young swimmers in the US for years to come. The team in locked and loaded with future stars.

Will Brett Favre Ever Retire?


Brett Favre, the ultimate warrior in the football. Has the most consecutive starts by a quarterback (including, playing right after his father's death and playing with a banged up thumb) and about 11 other records. Impressive right? Most of those records were made when he was a member of the Green Bay Packers, and most of America thought he was going to end his career with the Packer green in his blood. So when we saw that emotional press conference, we thought it was the end of the road.

One thing happened. Favre is a flip flopper! There was a huge drama show in Green Bay weather he was coming back or it was time for Aaron Rogers to fill some big shoes. The Packers decided they wanted to move on and how he phrased it in the press conference "all good things come to an end". Next stop: 'The big apple'.

Favre went to the east coast and New York welcomed him with open arms there. Many predicted they would win a tough AFC East conference and move on deep to the playoffs with him under center. And they had to a chance to reach the playoffs until very last game of the season when he threw 4 interceptions that cost the game. After the season was over he decided to retire.

Now another off season and another show. This time with the Packers rival Minnesota Vikings. I can just imagine how the quarterbacks feel in that locker room. Having a chance to compete for the starting job and some 40 year-old hall of famer comes in and snaps it away for them. I'm just saying every off season is the same thing with Brett Favre and brings a distraction to a team.

The only reason I would undertand Favre is that it is a hard thing to let go of something you really love doing.

Sports Icon or Drama Queen?

Terrel Owens. Chasing Jerry Rice or trying to become Paris Hilton? Tonight on VH1 the new show called "The T.O Show" premiers. It's based on football wide-out T.O and his life off the football field.

We all know he is the famous player who doesn't shut up, is always in drama and the player who breaks up a good team. He had Jeff Garcia in San Francisco, Donovan McNabb in Phili, and Tony Romo is Dallas. All 3 quarterbacks are above average QB's but their is always one problem when T.O becomes part of the team. Team chemistry dies.

Now he landed with the Buffulo Bills and they are a very young team with a young QB with Trent Edwards. Will T.O help them or break them? Only he knows. But with this TV show coming out it sort of seems that we wasn't really focus in chasing milestones but wanted to achieve becoming a new reality TV star.

Is this a brilliant move for Terrel Owens? Is he really the so called "boy next door" as he called him self in the commercial? So now we have the Terrel Owens, the team killer and Terrel Ownes, the reality TV star. Shouldn't it really be Terrel Owens, the best Wide Reciever in the NFL?

WHY ISN'T KARATE AN OLYMPIC SPORT?

Why didn't the sport of Karate make the vote for the 2012 games in London? I mean Taekwondo is a Martial Art in the Olympics but it's just fighting and mainly with the use of your legs. Karate is probably practiced all over the world. The US has its own Karate Federation (USANKF, yes it is part of the USOC) and they compete in the Pan American Games, have world, National, State and Local Competitions. It is a fast growing sport with all the young kids in it and has many competitors. They take it very seriously and train hard enough with the goal and dream of being a World Champion. It is a very complex sport with 'Kata' and fast and exciting with 'Kumite'. Just imagine competitors from two different countries fighting against each other and the fans chanting the name of their respective country. It will be exciting for the fans that aren't really familiar with the competitive side of Karate and for the ones competing. I mean, who wouldn't like to represent their country and doing it with the sport they love and enjoy doing.

WHO HAS THE EDGE?


My attempt to show who has the better players in the Red Sox vs Yankees. Will millionaire Yankees come on top? Or does the Nations players have the edge? Lets see!

First Base: Mark Teixeira vs. Kevin Youkilis
Winner: Mark Teixeira

Reason: We all know Youk can be a clutch player in do-or-die situations and even though he does have a higher OPS and SLG% than Tex, I would have a power hitter and a run producer any given day in my team.

Fielding Fact: Both of them have only 1 error this whole season.



Second Base: Robinson Cano vs. Dustin Pedroia
Winner: Robinson Cano

Reason: I'm shocked myself! Tell you the truth I had written down Pedroia until I saw Canos stats. Cano has the better AVG, SLG, OPS, more H, HR, RBI and a better FPCT. One of the most underrated players in the bigs. Still in wow.

Fielding Fact: Cano is currently 8th in all of MLB (Based on FPCT)



Shortstop: Derek Jeter vs. Who knows (Julio Lugo?)
Winner: Derek Jeter

Reason: It's Derek Jeter. "The Captain". It might sound unfair, but the Red Sox don't have no true shortstop.

Fielding Fact: 3 errors on the season. He never gets old.



Third Base: Alex Rodirguez vs. Mike Lowell
Winner: Mike Lowell


Reason: Well both have been dealing with injuries. And both are amazing players, but I would have to go with Mike Lowell in this one. Yes A-Rod in probably the next home run king, but Mike Lowell has been a player to count on when the post-season comes unlike Rodriguez, that is known to choke in the playoffs.

Fielding Fact: 2005 Gold Glove winner



Catcher: Jorge Posada vs. Jason Varitek
Winner: Jorge Posada

Reason: Both are amazing catchers behind the plate and both are gifted switch hitters, but I would give this one to Posada because he will give a team more RBIs than Varitek. ( 13 years: Posada 921 RBI, Varitek 690)

Fielding Fact: Has 306 PO



Left Field: Johnny Damon vs. Jason Bay
Winner: Jason Bay

Reason: Jason Bay has done a terrific job filling the big shoes of Manny Ramirez in front of the Green Monster and has 72 RBIs this season. Damon has been dealing with injuries that prevent him from being a great player like in his Boston days, but he still can hit the long balls.

Fielding Fact: 9 A this season.



Center Field: Melky Cabrera vs. Jacoby Ellsbury
Winner: Jacoby Ellsbury

Reason: Ellsbury has the better speed and covers a ton of ground in center field. With his speed, Ellsbury has managed to steal 37 bases, while Cabrera has only 5.

Fielding Fact: Ellsbury with 178 PO this season.



Left Field: Nick Swisher vs. J.D Drew
Winner: Nick Swisher

Reason: Nick Swisher can play any outfield position and first base. J.D always has a set back because of injuries, but still is helpful in the team.

Fielding Fact: 971 FPCT



DH: Hideki Matsui vs. David Ortiz
Winner: David Ortiz

Reason: Big Papi has been struggling this season and it seems the departure of Manny Ramirez took a negative impact on Ortiz, but he has been showing signs of gettting better lately.


Pitching Staff:
Winner: Red Sox

Reason: The Yankees go big name pitchers like A.J Burnett and C.C Sabathia this off-season and they have done pretty well this, but with all the money they could be better. So the Red Sox pitching staff doesn't get paid all the big money but does put up very excellent numbers. World Series MVP Josh Beckett and Knuckle-Baller Tim Wakefield are two of the top pitchers in all of baseball. Also Jon Lester and Brad Penny are also wonderful help for the team. It seems like the Boston rotation gets better and better every year.

Closer: Mariano Rivera vs. Jonathan Papelbon
Winner: Jonathan Papelbon

Reason: Mariano Rivera, the best closer of our time? Many will say so and he still has the nasty stuff to close out important games, but right now Jonathan Papelbon has the whole world in his hands right now. I'm every time Papelbon comes into the 9th and ready to close out the game, All three batters due are intimidated by that stare that Papelbon gives when he ready to throw the heat. Plus, Papelbon has the lower ERA than Rivera this season.


Conclusion: The Yankees might have the big bat but like they always say, "Good pitching beats good hitting". And it has shown when these two have met this season.

WHAT IS GOING ON IN DENVER!



This NFL off-season has been a quiet "bizarre" for the Denver Broncos. Long time head coach and well respected coach, Mike Shanahan, was fired. Then the rumors came in. Bill Cowhers name was thrown in the talk and so we thought they would go after a veteran coach that was been with a winning team and will come in and change the team.

Well it was close to it in what the Broncos got. Josh McDaniels, a 33 year-old, former offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the New England Patriots, was given the job. Yes he did coach Randy Moss, Tom Brady, and Matt Cassel and coming into Denver, he also had great weapons. Jay Cutler has a cannon, and Brandon Marshall can take anyone on a one on one coverage with his size for a receiver. But for some reason McDaniels try trading away Cutler for Cassel? And from there, the Mile High team slowly fell down apart.

Pro Bowl QB Cutler heard about the trade talk and felt like if it was slap to the face. Well who wouldn't feel that. Cutler is an above-average QB and has the skills to make it to the top. (Say anything about how many picks we would throw, just look at Brett Farve, all time leader in INT and still an elite QB of all time) So I have no idea why he would try to trade away Cutler. That ended not so well in Denver. Cutler got traded to the Bears and now Kyle Orton or Chris Simms have big shoes to fill in.

Draft day: With the first round pick the Bronocos selected Georgia HB Knowshon Moreno. Moreno is a great player and sure we would contend for the NFL ROY, but Denver had just signed 2 other running backs. And knowing the Broncos had one of the worst or the worst defensive in the NFL, head coach McDaniel didn't go to the defensive side. The four teams behind the Broncos all selected players on the defensive side. Brian Orakpo, Malcom Jenkins, Brian Cushing and Larry English were all available for the Broncos 12th pick. I guess the coach thinks a team can just score 60 points with no defensive and win.

Now Brandon Marshall; Another pro bowler in the Broncos offensive, and another player that wants to get traded. Now his problem isn't another trade rumor, it's the contract. But is the new coach that bad? Who will go next? Champ Bailey? Soon the whole team will be gone! We can give him a break though, 33 years-old and already a head coach. Lets just hope he knows what he is doing and will make the team win and bring back memories of the glory days with John Elway, Terrell Davis, and Rod Smith.


Dont Ever Ever Give Up.



I say; you're a hero to many people around the world.

Oh Fans.


Sorry I wasn't writing lately. I was caught up with some stuff. So I felt the urge of writing a blog about the upcoming Mid-Summer Classic.

As we know, we the fans have the duty to select the starters for both teams in the game. Year after year after year, the fans always seem to select atleast one player that makes you do the head scratcher and say "What the hell is wrong with the fans!"

This years player that got snubbed; Texas Rangers 2nd baseman Ian Kinsler. Who's starting at 2nd for the American League? Boston Red Sox little man Dustin Pedroia. Nothing against Pedroia, he is one hell of a dangerous player , no doubt, but really? Popularity over numbers? But it seems that Kinsler has been overlooked most of his baseball career because of Pedroia.

The two were teammates at Arizona State; Kinsler was a starter until eight games into the season. Who took over? Dustin Pedroia. He ended up trasfering to Missouri due to the takeover at the middle infield. This time, the 2009 All Star Game. Kinsler was left out on the roster because Pedroia was selected by the fans and reserve Blue Jay Aaron Hill, who actually has the best 1st half of any 2nd basemen. But on a one on one stat comparison vs Pedroia this season: Kinsler has more 3B, HR, RBI, SB, a higher SLG and OPS %. Did the fans know that? I guess we can never find out.

Now Ian Kinsler is a candidate of the ALs Final Vote but has to go up vs. Ray Carlos Pena, Tiger Brandon Inge, Blue Jay Adam Lind and Angel Chone Figgins. Do we say he has bad luck? It's a tough call.