Lockout Returns

Roger Goodell claims he and the owners want football, but it sure doesn't seem like it. While the lockout was temporarily lifted, he was hesitant in resuming normal football operations. Last night, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the NFL's request for a stay of Judge Susan Richard Nelson's ruling that had lifted the lockout.

The league's announcement came directly after the 3rd round of the draft had been completed, much to the dismay of everyone involved or interested in football except for the owners. Yesterday had been the first day players were allowed to return to team facilities.

Players did meet with coaches for the first time yesterday as well, and at least were able to receive their playbooks to look over in this second part of the lockout.

Next week the appeals court is expected to rule on a more permanent stay that would keep the lockout resumed throughout the appeal of the injunction ruling, which is about six to eight weeks.

The head attorney for the players, Jim Quinn, said this ruling of the stay was "totally expected,"which should be a sign of reassurance.

While it is still likely there will be a football season, uncertainty remains. The last four rounds of the draft will still take place today, but these players will not have an opportunity to meet or speak with their coaches for the first time, not even a congratulations.

Why Play Seven?

The Bulls and Heat are already up 3-0 in their playoff series. The Celtics have a chance to go up 3-0 over the Knicks tonight. There is seemingly no chance for a team down three games to none to come back and win the series by taking four straight games. In fact, no team has ever come back from being down three games to none. Yet we still have to wait the three days in between games to see a game four, and maybe if the underdog finally pulls out a win see a game five, until the favorite finishes them off a week later. History suggests a 3-0 series has already been decided (as does watching the unevenly matched Heat and Sixers). But because of the 7-7-7-7 playoff format, more basketball, almost as meaningless as the last month of the regular season to some teams, has to be played.

The NBA would never consider shortening at least the first round, simply because of revenue. More games equals more cash. But from a competition standpoint, following baseball and making the first round a best-of-five would be an improvement (or even best-of-three, but that would be a little far-fetched).

In the first round of the NBA Playoffs, there are really only two evenly-matched series: the four versus the five seed. As a result there are not many upsets, and many of the series are decided before they begin. Do not try and think the Heat weren't already thinking about the Celtics in Round 2 when they stepped on their home floor for the opener against Philly. But, nonetheless, LeBron, Wade, and crew have to knock off the under-matched Sixers four times to move past them. Miami would have won a best of one, three, or five game series. If the first round changed to five games, the victor would still, in most cases, be the same.

By the time the NBA Finals roll around in mid-June, the playoffs seem to have lost much of their momentum.  Much of people's interest has shifted to baseball, now in full swing, or just lost interest the same way they did at the conclusion of the regular season. The excitement just isn't always there anymore, because of the lengthiness. By the Finals the games obviously have significant meaning, but it's the middle of June and it just does not seem like basketball season. Which is why shortening the postseason makes sense. In the first round, there would not be as many game fours and fives feeling like the regular season. There would be more sense of urgency and teams playing with their backs against a wall, like in the NCAA Tournament.

Of course, another solution could just be to cut the number of playoff teams...

Playoffs Upon Us...Finally (Day 1 Preview)

The seemingly endless NBA season has finally come to a close. Now it's playoff time, which takes more than half as long as an entire NFL regular season. There's three days between games of each seven-game series, and about a week between rounds. Upsets are at a minimum. However, in the NBA Playoffs defense is actually played, and the excitement that lacks for much of the regular season finally appears.

Today's games are Indiana at Chicago (Game 1 is currently being played as this is written), Philly at Miami, Atlanta at Orlando, and Portland at Dallas.

The Pacers have a four-point edge at the half, up 55-51. But the Bulls and the expected MVP Derrick Rose are the heavy favorite, having earned the one seed in the east following a 62-20 record. Danny Granger claimed that if his team can stop Rose, they can stop the Bulls. But the supporting cast of Chicago is not shabby, featuring Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Carlos Boozer. Through a half though, led by Darren Collison, the Pacers have slightly outplayed the Bulls, though many expect a Bulls recovery. Prediction: Bulls in seven six.

Before any basketball was played, LeBron James declared the new-look Heat would win "seven or eight" championships. Their quest for number one begins against my Philadelphia 76ers later this afternoon, where Miami is expected to breeze through a young Philly team. Doug Collins' group will try to prove they should not be taken lightly, as the Heat are probably already thinking past them. Andre Iguodala still is not fully recovered from a knee injury, and while he is regarded as one of the NBA's best defensive players, he will have a tougher time limiting Dwyane Wade or LeBron like he's done in the past. Iguodala can only guard one of them though, so Evan Turner will have to step up on D if the Sixers want any shot at the series. Expect the Heat to run screens with wily vet Mike Bibby to get Iguodala off one of the stars. Prediction (sadly): Heat in six.

Orlando seemingly traded away half of their team earlier in the year, but of course Dwight Howard remains, and is hungry for a championship. Not expected by many to go all the way, however, the Magic start off against the Atlanta Hawks. Jameer Nelson's postgame comments to Derrick Rose drew some scrutiny from the Hawks players, when he told Rose he will see him in round two. The well-rounded Hawks, led by Joe Johnson, want to prove Nelson wrong, and certainly not repeat last postseason, when the Magic swept them. Prediction: Magic in six.

Dirk Nowitzki has already won an MVP and been to the NBA Finals. He just has not won it all. Calling this "another disappointing season" if his Mavs group does not go all the way, Dirk's road starts against the potent Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers have a great mix of talent including the newly-acquired Gerald Wallace, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Marcus Camby, and Andre Miller. Roy was once regarded as an NBA star, but has been hindered by injuries and only averaged a dozen points a game. He's now behind Gerald Wallace on the depth-chart, as Wallace's acquisition has skyrocketed Portland to new heights. Expect LaMarcus Aldridge to be almost unguardable for the Mavs. Portland creates far too many matchup problems in the series for the aging Mavs. Prediction: Blazers in seven.

Better Than The Cycle?

Is the cycle a big deal? Not to Rays outfielder Sam Fuld, who passed on one by hustling for a second double. Batting in the 9th inning yesterday at Fenway Park in his hometown of Boston, Fuld already had a homer, a triple and a double. He lined the ball into the left-field corner, and rather than stopping at first to complete the cycle, as his teammates wanted, he ran hard to second base for the two-bagger.

Fuld actually, in fact, had a better game as a result of this. Sure, many thought it would have been better if he had stopped at first, like his teammates, who were jokingly covering the faces and throwing their hands in the air when he did not. Manager Joe Maddon sure appreciated the play, though, tweeting, "Speaks to Sam's integrity that he didn't stop at 1st to get the cycle in the 9th. Its what he's all about." We'll see if a simple, fun play like this can help rejuvenate the struggling Rays.

Manny Calls it Quits

It is really quite a shame. "Manny being Manny" is now a thing of the past. Caught for the second time taking performance-enhancing drugs, Ramirez chose to retire rather than fight the 100-game suspension he would have received as a result of being a second-time offender. Not only does this discovery further taint his legacy, but it also puts his future Hall of Fame status up in the air.

Us fans all know Manny as the guy who took a cell phone call in the Green Monster during a game at Fenway, or the jokester who ran on the field with an American flag when he became an American citizen. He dreads became iconic in the baseball world, as did his indifferent defensive approach and happy-go-lucky attitude. And boy, could he tear the cover off of a baseball.

One of the greatest right-handed hitters the game has ever seen, Manny's stats rival baseball's all-time greats. Registering 2,574 hits, 555 homers, a .585 career slugging percentage, and a .996 OPS, Manny would have been regarded as a legend, had it not been for the PEDs. After all, the above stat line was only also accomplished by the one and only Babe Ruth, and the also tainted Barry Bonds. Sure, Manny's stats are real, they happened, but they will be forever marked with an asterisk in the eyes of the fans and Hall of Fame voters. Just like, courtesy of Marc Ecko, Barry Bonds' 756th home run ball has one branded into it.

All of Manny's escapades always seem to have a bitter end: the fallout in Boston, the one-pitch ejection in his final game as a Dodger, and now this. Manny will be missed in baseball by many for sure, and rightfully so. One can only wonder, however, if Manny would have been such a stat machine if not for the PEDs.

UConn Alone on Top

It was about as ugly as it gets. But someone had to come out on top in last night's 2011 NCAA Men's College Basketball National Championship, and the UConn Huskies rose to the occasion, knocking off the Butler Bulldogs.  It was the third championship for coach Jim Calhoun, just the fifth coach to do so. He joined the elite company of John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, Mike Krzyzewski, and Bob Knight.  At 68, Calhoun is the oldest coach to ever win a national championship.

Butler certainly had the heart, hustle and defense required to win the final game, but they simply could not make shots. Brad Stevens' team shot a championship record-low 18.8% from the field in the 53-41 loss. They made only three, yes, three two-point field goals in the whole entire game. For the night they shot a miserable 12-64, including 9-33 from beyond the arc. Some of Butler's shooting woes should certainly be credited to the stifling defense from the Huskies, but it was also just an off night. Butler center Andrew Smith repeatedly missed easy layups, as well as star and future pro guard Shelvin Mack. Matt Howard could not find his stroke either, shooting just 1-13, the only make coming from beyond.

Coming in, Butler supposedly had the edge on the bench. However, the reserve unit had all of two points on the night, courtesy of two made free throws from former starter Ronald Nored. Aside from the shooting, though, Butler really did not play that awfully. They only turned the ball over six times and forced eleven. However, a key point in the game would be the rebounding battle, which was won by UConn, 51-40. Butler played exceptional defense until the end neared, when they switched into the zone for one of the first ever times. This was them basically holding up the white flag, and was an attempt to speed up the game as a desperation attempt.

Kemba Walker by no means played his best game on the biggest stage, but what he did was enough. He went without an assist on the night, but scored sixteen and pulled down nine boards. Jeremy Lamb was the X-factor for UConn, being able to shoot over the shorter Butler D using his long frame, and frequently contest Butler shot attempts. The freshman finished with twelve points. Big man Alex Oriakhi outplayed Matt Howard, recording the only double-double for either side, with eleven points and eleven boards.

Going into halftime Butler appeared to have most of the momentum after a tough three at the buzzer for Shelvin Mack. Though they led just 22-19, they looked in great shape heading into the second half. Supposedly the six field goals they had scored was just a fluke, and in the second half both teams would come out more sure-handed. But it was not to be. Butler would have a streak of 13:26 with only one made field goal, and again have just six for the second half as well. Their woeful shooting doomed them in their chance at redemption, coming oh-so-close (a bounce on a Gordon Hayward time-expiring shot, in fact) just a year ago. While Connecticut rejoices, Brad Stevens and Butler ponder what could have been, while aspiring for yet another opportunity to pull down the net this coming season.