Fantasy Preview: AFC East

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Today marks the first of eight division previews in a series of my fantasy sleeper series. Beginning with the AFC East, we’ll examine possibly breakout candidates that you could target in the earlier, middle and later rounds of your fantasy football draft.

Tom Brady and Ochocinco should be a dynamic duo in 2011 for fantasy owners.

The AFC East is not exactly an offensive powerhouse. The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins will have trouble scoring again in 2011, after finishing 28^th and 30^th, respectively, a season ago.

The New York Jets, the 13^th-highest scoring offense in 2010, have regressed on the offensive side of the ball after losing Braylon Edwards, the team’s leading receiver, and Jericho Cotchery, a safety valve for Mark Sanchez.

Perhaps the team who led the National Football League in scoring last season will repeat, especially adding Chad Ochocinco to the receiving core. The New England Patriots’ rookie tight ends have a year in the system under their belt, and added two more weapons in the backfield in Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen in the 2011 draft.

Here’s a list of possible sleepers in the division:

Buffalo Bills

Though he’s not a top-tier quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick put together a 3,000-yard campaign last season, despite a lack of talent surrounding him. Fitzpatrick started 13 games, the most in a season of his career, likely projecting for more than 3,500 if given a full 16-game season.

Fitzpatrick lost Lee Evans, who for many years led the Bills in receiving yardage. Instead, he found Speedy Stevie Johnson, who compiled 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns with Fitzpatrick behind center. Johnson is the clear-cut starting wideout in Buffalo, with a WR2 ceiling as long as Fitzpatrick stays health. It’s not like Tyler Thigpen is pushing him for his job.

There’s also been talk of Donald Jones replacing Evans’ production as the starting flanker opposite Johnson. It appears as if David Nelson, though, is a superior option out of the slot, considering there’s no true receiving threat from the tight end position. Nelson, according to Pro Football Focus, led all wide receivers with 94.35 percent of his snaps from the slot last year. Jones caught more than 58 percent of his passes over the middle and on plays short of 10 yards, giving him more value in PPR leagues.

In the backfield, Fred Jackson is once again going to be the team’s leading rusher, as C.J. Spiller will prove yet again he did not warrant the No. 9 overall pick in the 2010 draft. Spiller didn’t surpass 300 yards rushing in his rookie season, nor did he impress much as a receiver out of the backfield. He scored two touchdowns, one on a kickoff return. Head coach Chan Gailey has stated he wants to use Spiller in a Reggie Bush/Darren Sproles type of role; but it’s yet to be seen whether Spiller has the talent of those two third-down backs.

Miami Dolphins

The fan don’t want Chad Henne to play quarterback; but head coach Tony Sparano doesn’t seem to really care…even if second-stringer Matt Moore outplayed him thus far in the preseason. Henne, considered a steal in the second round of the NFL Draft a few years back, has failed to impress in his first two seasons as the Fins’ starter.

Henne has improved each year – slightly – increasing his completion percentage, yardage total, touchdowns, as well as interceptions. He finished in the bottom third of fantasy quarterback rankings in 2010, despite the addition of Brandon Marshall to his receiving corps.

Understandably, Moore doesn’t even match up to Kyle Orton, who was nearly traded from the Denver Broncosearlier in the offseason. However, he hasn’t really received the credit he’s due as an NFL quarterback.

Dealing with inferior talent in Carolina, Moore, in five games started before missing the season due to injury, threw for 857 yards and five touchdowns while completing 55 percent of his passes. It doesn’t sound like much, but consider this: he played against the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints – four teams whose defense ranked in the top half of the league’s best against the pass.

Overall, in 14 more career starts, Henne has a 27-33 TD-INT ratio. Moore: 16-17. Tell me why Henne is that much better.

Among the Dolphins’ skill players, the team traded in the tandem of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams for Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas, the second-round bruiser out of Kansas State. Currently Bush is penciled in as the starter, but we’ve seen in New Orleans that Bush doesn’t have the capabilities to be an every-down back. It’s just a matter of time before Thomas starts stealing Bush’s carries, and Bush assumes third-down responsibilities.

Despite an offseason stabbing, Marshall is above and beyond the best receiving threat on the Dolphins. Brian Hartline and Davone Bess are No. 2 and 3, respectively, with Bess’ sure hands out of the slot a sure option to finish second on the team in receptions, a solid performer in PPR leagues. Aside from the top three, it’s a crop of unproven receivers, none of which seem to have fantasy value. Anthony Fasano, who is tied with Bess for the most touchdown receptions with Henne quarterbacking, barely warrants a TE3 ranking.

New York Jets

Losing Edwards and Cotchery and signing Derrick Mason and Plaxico Burress is definitely a gamble for the Jets, and Sanchez. Edwards, always chastised for dropped passes, only let one ball slip through his fingers last season and proved to be a clutch performer in the postseason. Cotcher, never a fantasy superstar, has faltered to fifth on the depth chart for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mason provides Sanchez with a reliable, veteran presence. With Burress sidelined with injuries and an overwhelming question mark hovering over his effectiveness, Mason will likely start opposite Santonio Holmes, the deep threat and most talented and productive receiver on the team. Mason, though, despite his age, caught 60 balls for over 900 yards and seven scores with the Baltimore Ravens last year, and will likely average between 11 and 20 yards per catch. In the red zone, an area where the Jets are looking to improve their offense, Mason had six touchdowns a year ago.

Also helping their red-zone offense is jump-and-catch specialist Burress, who, if healthy, will be a candidate for six-to-eight scores in 2011. The cornerbacks in the AFC East alone will not be able to defend Burress’ height and hands. Burress has a high ceiling in TD-heavy leagues, but shouldn’t be drafted as a solid WR3 until it’s known he’s healthy.

It’s finally Shonn Greene in New York, as the former Iowa Hawkeye has been given the keys to the backfield overLaDainian Tomlinson. Greene was overdrafted in leagues far too often last year, primarily because of his impressive playoff performances the season prior. With LT version 3.0 relegated to a candidate for third-down duties – along with second-year back Joe McKnight – Greene will headline the Jets’ run-heavy ground-and-pound attack.

When it’s all said and done, Greene will finish among the top 10 to 12 fantasy running backs this season. On his last legs, Tomlinson finished in the top 20. Greene, receiving 39 less touches, only finished 148 yards behind him. Switch that around, Greene should finish the season with over 900 yards. Greene will also assume goal-line carries, which should help increase his touchdown total to about eight.

New England Patriots

The top-scoring offense in 2010, with the most touchdown passes (37) and eighth-most yards overall (5,820) added more to their arsenal this season. And yes, they still have Tom Brady.

The 2011 NFL MVP, Brady and Michael Vick vied for No. 1 fantasy quarterbacks honors last season, with Brady throwing for 3,900 yards and 36 touchdowns to a cast of unknown characters. In year two of the new-look Patriots, is Brady being – dare I say, underrated?

Brady is ranked behind Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Vick in most draft guides this year, despite Vick’s propensity for being injured and Manning coming off a missed training camp due to neck surgery. And still, Brady outproduced Rodgers head-to-head.

Added to his receiving core is Ochocinco, with an incentive to disprove the doubters who consider his career on the downside. The leading receiver last year was of course PPR specialist Wes Welker (848 yards), ahead of a revitalized Deion Branch and the tandem of tight ends, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

Ochocinco is a breakout candidate because he’s not receiving the credit he ought to. In Cincinnati, playing underMarvin Lewis and owner Mike Brown, Ochocinco was disgruntled and had no motivation to put forth his best effort because he has no desire to stay with the organization. With a chance to make a deep playoff run and work with arguably the greatest passer of this generation, Ochocinco could emulate what Randy Moss did in 2007, emerging from the dark to be a top receiver, with WR1 potential.

The bigger question marks on the offense pertain to the tight end position, where both Hernandez and Gronkowki wowed in their rookie campaigns. Gronkowski is penciled in as the starter for now, but let’s be honest – that doesn’t carry too much meaning as long as Bill Belichick is still the head coach.

Hernandez began the season as the hot receiver, catching 32 balls between Weeks 1 and 8 for the Pats. He then caught four touchdowns in Weeks 10 to 14, finishing with six for the season.

On the other hand, Gronkowki was more an end zone producer. He caught 10 touchdowns, the most on the team, and surpassed the 100-yard mark in Week 16 against the Dolphins.

Hernandez’s athleticism and Gronkowski’s size make it difficult to decide which tight end will have the better 2011 season. Based upon the current depth chart and end-of-season production, Gronkowski is a better option in touchdown leagues, with Hernandez perhaps in store for more receptions and yards.

The other question mark comes in the backfield, where The Law Firm – BenJarvus Green-Ellis – the team’s leading rusher, has company in the form of a pesky Danny Woodhead and rookies Vereen and Ridley. Oh, and third-down specialist Kevin Faulk is healthy again.

While Vergeen has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, Ridley, the LSU product has thrived, running for 64 yards and two touchdowns, and catching seven passes for 47 yards and a score in the first preseason contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ridley may have the most talent in the backfield, coming off a 1,100 yard, 15-touchdown season as the featured back for the Tigers in 2010. However, the depth in the Pats’ backfield hurts his value, as the Hoodie will rotate the Law Firm, Woodhead and Faulk, as well as Ridley. The carousel hurts all their values.

Reaction: ESPN The Magazine 2011 Ultimate Team Rankings

This week ESPN The Magazine released their annual ultimate team rankings for 2011. The list, featuring 122 franchises from the four major professional sports -- NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL -- takes into consideration the following attributes:

• Bang for the buck: How many wins the franchise has accumulated during the past three years, including the postseason.
• Fan relations: How the franchise -- players, coaches, management -- treats their fans.
• Ownership: The loyalty and honestly displayed towards the players and area.
• Affordability: The costs associated with game attendance (ticket prices, parking fees and concessions).
• Stadium experience: The environment of the stadium, including game-day promotions and general atmosphere.
• Players: How the franchise players perform both on and off the field.
• Coaches: How well the coach leads the team.
• Title track: The number of championships won or expected to win in the future.

Without further ado, here's analysis of the franchise rankings by the tiers they were broken down into. 


Tier 1: Top 15

Of course the Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers, the champions of America's most popular sport, boast the top overall spot. In 2010 Titletown held the No. 9 overall spot, so clearly the Lombardi Trophy was the difference-maker.

The Packers are renowned for their first-class organization, so it is really not a shock to see them earn the top spot. However, a hockey franchise No. 2 overall?

The Tampa Bay Lightning made a strong playoff run this postseason, but let me be perfectly redundant -- it's an NHL team -- in where? Tampa.

The fans in Tampa Bay -- actually, Florida, in general -- really fail to demonstrate their affection for their teams. Think about it ... the Tampa Bay Rays and Florida Marlins rank last in their respective leagues; the Rays are less than three years removed from a World Series appearance, while the Marlins won a championship in the past decade. 

The Heat have arguably two of the top three stars in all of The Association and fell just two games shy of bringing home the Larry O'Brien Trophy last week. With LeBron James and Dwyane Wade and perennial super power in the NBA in the coming years, fans continue to leave games early.

Florida has had their fair share of successful franchises, but in no way does that mean they earn the No. 2 spot, especially for their hockey team. This could be different tune if Barry Melrose and his impeccable mullet was still the head coach, though.

Tier 2: 16-30

I really like the respect the Orlando Magic get, earning the No. 16 spot. Although they're a small-market team with a one-man team, GM Otis Smith is constantly trying to make trades to bring in talent to put a competitive product on the court. While they are not always the most logical trades -- bringing in Vince Carter after a trip to the NBA Finals, trading back for Hedu Turkgulu after a pathetic season up north with the Toronto Raptors -- he gets an "A" for effort.

I'm also glad the Detroit Red Wings are recognized in the second tier, although I believe they probably deserve to get the top ranking for NHL teams, or at least should be in that discussion along with the Washington Capitals (No. 27). 

My biggest beef here is the Philadelphia Phillies at No. 24. Four other MLB teams, including the Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds, are ranked above the Phils -- the same team that won it all in 2008 and made an appearance a year later.

The Phillies, year-in and year-out, are a playoff team. They are a National League All-Star team and have made the right trades and free agent signings each year to compete. Come on -- Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt compromise four spots in the starting rotation -- that's two of the elite pitchers in all of baseball and four of the best starters in the past five years.

Tier 3: 31-45

Just to show you where baseball falls in these rankings, the World Series champions don't make an appearance until No. 32. 

The most shocking part of the third tier is the New England Patriots at No. 38.

The Patriots have three Super Bowl championships in the last decade and were one game short of the first undefeated season since Mercury Morris and his Miami Dolphins. Unfortunately for fans everywhere, the Pats got onto Morris' block but were unable to pull into his driveway.

But if the Patriots are to get ranked No. 38, the Minnesota Twins right behind them is quite deserving. Though a small-market team, the Twins are a threat to crack the postseason each year with their fundamental style of play on the field and their always-successful farm team.

Consider the homegrown stars on the team: Joe Mauer Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan, Denard Span, Francisco Liriano. They can't afford to go out and sign Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia; they usually don't even have the ability to always hang on to their homegrown talents like Johan Santana. They are quite deserving to be recognized in the third tier.

Tier 4: 46-60

The Los Angeles Lakers at No. 56, really? Just four spots above the Kansas City Royals, and a spot below their neighboring Kings?

This is the upset of the rankings thus far, as the Lakers are the first NBA team to nearly three-peat since ... the Lakers. 

With All-Star and the best player over the past decade Kobe Bryant on the roster, and a competitive group of players each season, it is shocking to see that the Indiana Pacers and San Diego Padres are considered better franchises than the Lakers.

Like my argument with Floridians, fans in L.A. often attend games in a nonchalant manner, showing up and wearing shades. But come playoff time -- every year -- they are always their to cheer on their teams, evident by the five NBA Championships they have since in the past decade.

Tier 5: 61-75

Considering that these ranking take into account the past three seasons, I understand that the Cleveland Cavaliers received the No. 65 ranking -- obviously they took the 2010-2011 NBA season into effect, though, as they ranked No. 10 last year.

Still, putting the Cavs, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Seahawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Florida Marlins and the Pittsburgh Pirates -- stop, I know they're above .500 for the first since like 1960 right now but give me a break -- above the New York Yankees ... unthinkable.

You can call me a homer, but since I currently reside in Maryland and have been to my share of Orioles games in the last three years, this is utter non-sense.

The O's practically beg fans to attend "Birdland" for most of their regular season contests, and really can only bank on a high volume of ticket sales when the Yankees and Red Sox come to town, and most of the time it's New Yorker and Bostonians travelling down to the Charm City for a weekend getaway.

Other franchises -- the Seahawks, Blue Jays, Bobcats, etc. -- are rarely competitive in their respective leagues. This past season the Hawks made the NFL playoffs by default, shear luck that they beat their division foe, the St. Louis Rams, to become one of the only teams to win the vision while boasting a record below .500.

The Blue Jays, although stuck in the AL East with the Yanks, Sox and Rays, are often an afterthought. The fact that the team gets excused because of their division should be proof alone that they cannot be a better franchise than the Yankees.

Although the Yankees spent money a few years ago to bring in Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and they still own the highest payroll in MLB, it just goes to show you they have a pressing need to be competitive year in and year out. The fans expect it. The owners expect it. And a World Series title in 2009, the 27th in franchise history, should be enough to earn the Bronx Bombers a top 10 ranking.

Tier 6: 76-90

Title me with the homer label once again, but the New York Jets just a notch below the under-appreciated Yankees on the list is pathetic.

In the sixth tier, the Jets rank a few slots above the Washington Nationals -- a team that has failed to reach the playoffs in their existence, as well as consistent non-competitive teams like the Oakland Athletics, Denver Broncos, Houston Astros, Golden State Warriors and San Francisco 49ers.

The Jets share the sixth tier with their neighbors, the New York Giants. The G-Men shocked the world in 2007 when they beat the then-undefeated Patriots in one of the greatest Super Bowls ever to be played. And despite playing in arguably the toughest division in all of the sports, let alone the NFL, the Giants are usually postseason contenders.

Gang Green hasn't hoisted a Super Bowl trophy since 1969, but in the past three seasons have reshaped the franchise. In addition to most of the most devoted fan bases in all of sports, the team has drafted well (Mark Sanchez, David Harris, Darrelle Revis, Shonn Greene), made significant trades (Braylon Edwards, Kris Jenkins, Santonio Holmes) and free agent signings (LaDainian Tomlinson, Brett Favre). 

Their consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game under a quarterback in his rookie and sophomore seasons should speak for itself.

Tier 7: 76-90

Not too surprising to see the collection of franchises falling in the seventh tier. The Detroit Lions, although a team certainly on the rise under third-year head coach Jim Schwartz that has made significant improvements in terms of drafting and signing players, still is just a few seasons removed from a zero-win season and has not made the playoffs since Barry Sanders donned a No. 20 uniform.

Joining the list of teams you would expect to be ranked this low, the New Jersey Nets, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles Clippers.

It is a little eye-opening, however, to see the San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys falter this low. Under the Marty Schottenheimer and Norv Turner eras in San Diego, the Chargers are consistently playoff-caliber teams, although it is indisputable they are teams that succeed during the regular season and disappoint when the stakes increase.

In the most popular league, the most popular franchise is the Cowboys -- hello, America's team? Like the Chargers, the Boys have had their fair share of playoff failures. But the spotlight is always on Big D, so it is questionable to see how they fell this low.

One more note on the seventh tier -- the Atlanta Hawks at No. 103. You would think this is extremely low for a team that has been a playoff team the last couple of seasons, but aside from those postseason failures, it is simply a community that does not care enough about the team on the court, which is sad considering the talent they have.

Tier 8: The Bottom-Feeders

Perhaps my one real objection to the eighth tier -- the bottom of the pack -- is the Minnesota Vikings. 

Put 2011 aside, the Vikings were arguably the best team in the NFC under Brett Favre, and flaunted Pro Bowl talents Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Jared Allen. A few Favre-esque interceptions less in the NFC Championship Game and the Vikings may have faced the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl in 2010. 

I was close to ripping the list for putting the New York Knicks at No. 109. Aside from their first finish above .500 in years and their first playoff appearance since Isiah Thomas was head coach, the Knicks -- in all honesty (and it breaks my heart to admit it) -- deserve to be a bottom-feeder.

With that being said, the additions of Carmelo Anthony via trade and signing Amare Stoudemire to a max contract last summer to make the Knicks a playoff team actually might not improve their chances of rising in the coming years either, surprisingly. Those two players, which correspond to max contracts, subject the Knicks to salary cap restrictions which hinder their chances to put a capable roster around them. GM and President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh has been ousted by owner James Dolan, so unless the upper management can peruse the current salary cap difficulties the team is facing over the course of the next few seasons, signing a top-tier free agent in 2012 to form their own "big three" remains a long shot. 

To wrap up, let's just look to the No. 121 and 122-ranked teams on the list. The Washington Redskins, a team loved in the Washington, D.C. area like none other, takes the second-to-last spot. It is a fall from prominence for the Skins, who in the past decade have become notorious for the awful free agent signings on behalf of owner Daniel Snyder and the most recent fallout from the Donovan McNabb trade. The team has lacked true star power and the future does not appear too bright, even with Mike Shanahan (or should I say son Kyle) at the helm.

Last and most certainly least, is the Cincinnati Bengals. This is a team that had a chance to be a championship-winning team for a number of years if Steelers defensive end Kimo von Oelhoffen did not destroy Carson Palmer's knee in the team's opening snap in the 2005 playoff game. Since then Palmer has failed to perform as he did that season, and the team has followed that same formula. 

Chad Johnson became Chad Ochocinco, T.J. Houshmanzadeh fled town and the team signed Terrell Owens. Although a glimmer of hope reappeared in 2009 when the team won the AFC North, it was more of a fluke considering they were blown out by the Jets in back-to-back weeks. 

Today even Palmer wants out of town, Ochocinco is more of a reality star than a wide receiver and Marvin Lewis seems to be a lame duck coach. More than any other NFL franchise, the Bengals organization is constantly being criticized for poor management and below-standard training facilities -- not to mention they are just a few years removed from a season in which half the roster seemed to have gotten in trouble with the law.

The Bengals may have locked up the bottom spot of franchise for 2011 and beyond, pending what management does following the current NFL lockout. No Palmer, no Ochocinco could be a positive move depending on the success of recently drafted A.J. Green and Andy Dalton. However, that remains moot considering the franchise's M.O.

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LeBron James: The Most Scrutinized Athlete ... Ever

Move over Dwayne Johnson, no longer are you the most electrifying man in sports entertainment.



Well, that has been the case for over a decade. But nonetheless, the most recent NBA Finals has helped to prove Miami Heat forward LeBron James is the center of attention. Despite how well or how poorly he is playing, it is obvious the camera and the pressure is on LeBron.

After all, we have seen nothing like this in sports before. LeBron is, without argument, the most scrutinized athlete ... ever.

As LeBron made the leap from high school directly to the Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA fans were in his pocket. Anointed The King at the ripe age of 18, the expectations were set for LeBron, as he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders to prove he could be the second-coming of the great Michael Jordan.

His first game he dropped 25 points. We were sold.

And you know the rest of the awards and accolades. LeBron earned Rookie of the Year honors his first season after averaging more than 20 points per game. Those numbers only escalated. LeBron surpassed superstar Kobe Bryant to become the league's leading scorer in 2009, then took home the MVP trophy in 2009 and 2010. Add in LeBron is a three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team and a seven-time All-Star.

Like with every sport, though, great athletes distinguish themselves with not only exception statistics, but championship trophies. Jordan was the MVP of six NBA Finals, while Bryant added two more championship rings during LeBron's time in the league to bring his total to five.

But for LeBron, disappointment was a common theme during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

LeBron carried his Cavs to the playoffs every season from 2006 to 2010, his final year with the team. Averaging 29 points per game in his playoffs career, there was not much else LeBron could do with the cast of characters around him.

With the pressure to succeed, to surpass Jordan as the greatest of all time, blaming the poor makeup of the Cavaliers roster was a common excuse for LeBron's post-season failures. The best players to surround him include an unproven shooter in rookie Daniel "Booby" Gibson in 2006, and out-of-their-prime stars like Shaquille O'Neal and Antawn Jamison.

Still LeBron willed his team to an NBA Finals appearance, although the Cavs were swept cleanly by the San Antonio Spurs. He experienced similar failures each year after, losing to the Boston Celtics (the eventual NBA champions) in the second round in 2007, the Orlando Magic in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2008 and the Celtics in the semis in 2009, despite owning the best record in the league during the regular season.

LeBron regressed.

Standout regular seasons were meaningless without post-season success, especially with the bar set so high. What other athletes have had to deal with this pressure?

Unlike LeBron -- Mr. Basketball during his high school basketball days -- Jordan failed to make the cut for his high school team.

When the New York Yankees called up a skinny shortstop in 2005, no one singled him out and suggested he would be the captain and World Series hero a decade later.

Tom Brady was a fifth-round flier in the NFL Draft. If not for an injury to Drew Bledsoe the New England Patriots would likely be short of three Lombardi Trophies.

Other superstars did not beg the attention that LeBron did, therefore they did not inherit the pressure he did. And while some may argue that this is unfair, a national television appearance to announce his new team may have changed their minds.

This past summer, "The Decision" took place live on ESPN, where LeBron announced he would take his talents to South Beach, joining fellow superstar Dwyane Wade and perennial All-Star Chris Bosh on the Heat.

But pairing up with other star players -- for LeBron that was unprecedented. After all, he was supposed to deliver the Cavs a championship, a quest he began the moment he put on his No. 23 jersey.

"The Decision" was golden material for LeBron critics, like Skip Bayless, because it put LeBron in a different light. Instead of the league's most popular player, he became the most hated.

Surrounded by other All-Stars, LeBron essentially asked for help to win a title. Forget that Shaq and Kobe were a dynamic tandem, or Jordan and Scottie Pippen, or Kareem and Magic. 

If that was not enough to enrage NBA enthusiasts who hoped LeBron would help Cleveland to earn their first-ever championship and salvage a city who is accustomed to post-season disappointment, an ensuing after-party did.

Along with his new teammates, LeBron promised not one, not two, not three, not four ... you get the deal ... championships for the Heat.



Not only were Cavs fans pissed off; the entire country was.

More antagonizing, though, was seeing LeBron succeed on his new team. LeBron and Co. -- The Big Three -- cruised through the first round of the NBA playoffs past the Philadelphia 76ers, easily put away the defending Eastern Conference champion Celtics and defeated the No. 1-seeded Chicago Bulls.

And did I mention LeBron was outstanding during those three rounds?

During the series against the Celtics and Bulls, LeBron looked like a different species than we had seen in years past. Clutch shot after clutch shot, LeBron appeared unguardable. And on the defensive side of the ball, he became the go-to stopper against the opposing team's best player.

This was absolute chaos for the critics. And following a strong start to the NBA Finals, LeBron claimed he was "unguardable."

Perhaps that comment incited the Dallas Mavericks, as now the series has moved to 3-2 in favor of the underdog, and the most-hated team in the history of NBA -- and perhaps professional sports -- is on the brink of elimination.

And LeBron, who used to have NBA fans across the globe in his corner, rooting for him to succeed and capture a championship ring, has become the reason for his team's failures.

Most notable is the lack of "clutchness" LeBron has displayed in the fourth quarter of these NBA Finals. It has been the knock on LeBron for most of his career. Just like his regular season success, the first three quarters of the game are often meaningless unless he can come through when it means the most -- the fourth quarter.

Jordan and Kobe made their reputations on late-game heroics. On their championship teams it was not a question of who was going to handle the ball with the game in the balance. That is clearly not the case with the Heat.

When you are paired with other superstars, or stars for that matter, there must be that closer -- the alpha male -- to close out games. Pippen was a Hall of Famer and one of the best to play the game, but it was Jordan who was going to have the last shot.

With the Heat, there is plenty of question marks surrounding whether LeBron or Wade should handle those responsibilities. During the regular season this was the knock on this team, and more often than not they made the wrong decision at the end of the games and they paid for it.

But with all of the scrutiny, all of the pressure mounted on LeBron these Finals to be the MVP, it is without question Wade has been the Heat's best player. And in the fourth quarter LeBron is trying to be that closer -- like Jordan, like Kobe -- and he cannot seem to do it.

LeBron has totaled just 11 fourth quarter points through five Finals games. And let's be honest, the easy layup in Game 5 -- his "biggest game ever" -- came when the Mavericks had a lead and chose not to foul him.

In the fourth quarter, according to SB Nation, LeBron has taken 16 shots on average, seven less than he averaged in first and third quarters during the series.

LeBron is averaging just 2.2 points in the final quarter versus the Mavericks, according to ESPN Stats & Info, compared to the 7.6 points in the three prior series. The cherry on top? He is scoreless in the final five minutes of games when the score is within five points, shooting a porous 0-7.

Even after a sub-par eight-point effort in Game 4 was followed up with a triple-double, perhaps the most meaningless trouble-double of all time.

As the series shifts back to Miami, the focus remains on LeBron.

Will he bounce back? Will his fourth quarter numbers improve? Is he going to be a Jordan or Kobe, or ring-less like Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley and Karl Malone?

usatoday.com

The anticipation is building up for Game 6 and how LeBron will respond to the enormous attention on him. His legacy depends on it, because since he was 18 he was burdened with this challenge.

How many other athletes have garnered this much attention? What other teams have a specific beat on ESPN to examine their every move? Which other players have their legacy debated on a near-daily basis?

So much depends on Game 6, and possibly Game 7 of the NBA Finals, including LeBron's future in Miami.

Will he respond to his critics or crack under pressure? Our answer comes Sunday night.

MLB Drawing Parallels to NBA

Let the favorites be the favorites. The post-season hardware will speak for itself. The only thing that goes hand in hand with exorbitant expectations is failure and disappointment. 

A handful of superstars uniting on one team with one goal -- draw the attention of the entire league and fans everywhere. Oh, and win a couple of championships in the process.

Sound familiar? More than likely, you would expect I was going to go on a rant about The Big Three 2.0, you know, the Miami Heat?

Actually, I was referring to the Philadelphia Phillies, the automatic favorite to represent the National League in the World Series come October once they emerged from the shadows to sign the the most clamored free agent pitcher on the market this off-season, Cliff Lee.

bleepingidiots.com

It is ironic how a year ago at this time, Lee was ousted from Philadelphia so the team could sign on then-newest acquisition, Roy Halladay. A year, a mid-season trade and a premature defeat in the playoffs later, the Phillies now boast the most intimidating starting rotation in all of Major League Baseball, including the aforementioned Lee.

The combination of Lee, Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels is rivaled by few rotations in the league. One group that hopes to have their say, however, is that of the San Francisco Giants. You know, the World Series champs?

Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathon Sanchez and Madison Bumgarner make up the Giants rotation, one that defeated the Phillies in the playoffs en route to their title this past fall.

Yet being champions seemingly means zip when it comes to picking pre-season favorites. Like the Phillies were suddenly granted the right to play for the championship this past winter, as were the Heat when LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined forces with Dwyane Wade in South Beach.

The Heat trio promised fans multiple championships; I could have sworn I heard King James suggest not five, not six, not even seven. Pretty bold of a prediction if you asked me, as the team never played a pick-up game before Halloween, not to mention a playoff series.

Sure, basketball poses a bit more of a chemistry problem than does baseball. I mean, let the pitchers throw the ball down the pipe and let the batters knock in runs, right? There's no offensive plays to practice or comfort level to develop like on the hardwood.

Yet there are stories of catchers and pitchers not on the same page -- one calling for the curve ball and the other demanding that the fastball is the correct choice to get an out. Quite a dilemma, especially if chemistry is not part of the equation.

There is also that one thing that seems to not really matter come post-season: the regular season. Whether you had 80 wins or 105 wins in the regular season, as long as you're in the big dance your record is essentially meaningless. The Phillies could set a N.L. record for wins between April to August, but all is fair when it comes to the first round of the playoffs.

rbimagazine.com

The bill is not out yet on the Miami Heat, who will likely seize one of the top three seeds in the Eastern Conference and challenge for the conference crown. But their road will not be any more or less easy in their playoff series, as they play seasoned teams like the Boston Celtics and the Orlando Magic on their road to try and get a match-up with the NBA champions. Because of all the hype their off-season transactions the team created, lofty expectations were tagged on the franchise, and anything short of a championship will be considered ultimately a failure.

So sure, the Phillies will look invincible when they play clubs like the Mets and Nationals (or "Natinals"). Anoint them champions of the baseball world then.
All I want to do is caution you to think twice come October. They are probably the most talented team in all of baseball, just like the Heat sport three of the top 10 players in all the NBA. Still, the Heat cannot conquer the veteran Celtics, and at times they are challenged by the all-mighty warriors, the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers.

In the pre-season, the New York Jets proclaimed that they were "the Miami Heat of the N.F.L.," as brilliantly stated by the often outspoken cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Well, their Week 1 opponents, the Baltimore Ravens, shellacked them. Poetically, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis answered back if Gang Green were supposedly the Heat then his team had to be the Lakers.

Warning: it is may not be a good idea to try and be like Miami.

Far and away, the Phillies are the proverbial favorites to bypass the shortage of competition in the N.L. and make their way to the Fall Classic. For every contender, a gaping weakness. And to be both honest and realistic, it would be idiotic not to put my money on the Phillies in 2011.

yazmar.com

But if you were to take a chance, make a leap of faith, stand out from the majority and believe that the World Series champion Giants will once again take the N.L. crown, or that Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies can score runs with anyone, or that the St. Louis Cardinals one-two punch of Chris Carpenter and Adam Wainwright can't go pitch-for-pitch with any Lee and Halladay -- think again.


If you don't believe me, ask LeBron how it feels in May.

Recap: Joe Cip and The Bull

http://www.wmucradio.com/media/joesippintheball.mp3

New York Yankees Doing It Old School

It's become a trend in sports -- adding veterans to the roster, hoping their experience and hunger for one last championship will be enough to lead your team to The Promised Land.


The Celtics did it. The Patriots did it. Even the Detroit Red Wings did it. All have created a dynasty, or at least a year in, year out reputation from being at the top in their respective sports. I guess that is why the Yankees are taking a page out of their book. 

Here are some of the monumental signings on behalf of the Yanks in the past month:

• Mark Prior
• Andruw Jones
• Bartolo Colon
• Freddy Garcia

There is also confidence within the organization that if there is enough money on the table, they can persuade Andy Pettitte to put on the pinstripes for one more year. And if their efforts fall short, they are holding out hope that they can pull David Cone and Paul O'Neill out of the Y.E.S. broadcast booth.

thesportshernia.typepad.com

My objection is that although I do understand what the Yankees are attempting to do, they are going about it in the wrong way. Essentially, it's trying to fight a fire with baking powder instead of baking soda. Sure it sounds similar but does produce the same results, Jeremy Giambi.


New York obviously swung and missed on prized free agent starting pitcher Cliff Lee, and rightfully kept their distance with former Yank Carl Pavano. Jorge De La Rosa opting to remain with the Colorado Rockies, meaning the top three free agent starters were off the markets. With Pettitte seeking to hang up the pinstripes and Javier Vazquez exiled to Florida, the Yanks were left to three in the rotation.


This is the Yankees though; can't they just go out and trade for The Freak? Maybe they can pry Albert Pujols away from St. Louis and hold him hostage for Adam Wainwright. Trust me, the movement is already underway. 


Maybe the more conventional move would to someone a veteran, someone who could come at a cheap rate, under the radar. One candidate: Kevin Millwood. Sure he played like a scrub in Baltimore. Can you blame him? Still, I would consider his season with the O's a one-year blip on the radar. The dude pitched well down in Texas for a long time; the same can't be said about Prior. 


Or why wasn't a trade made for Armando Galarraga, you know, that guy who really did throw a perfect game last year? Nah, getting old chubsters seemed like the better option, right?


Along with Prior, as I mentioned earlier, the Yankees went out and signed 2005 Cy Young Award winner Colon, who hasn't thrown a pitch in the Majors since 2009, and Garcia, who once helped the Chicago White Sox to a World Series title before injuries hampered in his career. Last season Garcia threw 157 innings, the most since 2006 in the South Side of Chi-Town.


While the Garcia signing is somewhat qualified, Prior and Colon have combined to toss just over 300 innings since in the past five seasons. Compare that to Yankees workhouse CC Sabathia, who has accounted for over 237 last year and more than 1400 in that same span of time.


I hope you don't have high expectations.


It's hard to argue against the signing of Jones, who will replace Marcus Thames as a designated hitter and right-handed pinch hitter off the bench. Jones hit seven more out of the park than Thames did last season, although Thames seemed pretty clutch, especially his two-run homer against Brian Duensing in the A.L.D.S. Oh well.

So the swapping of role players, invitations of elders to Spring Training is what the Yankees are all about in 2011 -- rolling the dice and hoping for the best.


Once Lee resided in Philly, once the rival Red Sox added Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez to their arsenal, all expectations for a new beginning in the Bronx faltered. Why bother, asked Brian Cashman or the Steinbrenner brothers. Now that is why the G.M. did not want to waste his money on that relief pitcher. 


Instead, N.Y. spent their money on overpaying Derek Jeter to be the first Gold Glove winner at shortstop while splitting time in left field and a catcher with a bad knee that drove in all of 26 runs in 2010. Simply brilliant.


This year, it looks as if the Bronx Bombers are yielding the American League to the new-look Sawks. They spend the money, they deserve it. Well, Pujols may be on the market next month anyway.

cbc.ca

Well, at least they let Man-Ram and Johnny Damon settle for Tampa. Dodged a bullet there.




samspiegs@aol.com
Twitter: @samspiegs