Hello and Welcome to the Lion's Roar

Hello and welcome to the Lion's Roar. We have a record number of articles this week ranging across all sports. Read Gae Guarducci's about soccer as well as Phil Calimani's on the NFL. Also be sure to read Michael Silverstone's article on NBA memes and Daniel Martin's tribute to Jorge Posada.

Thanks for Reading!

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)

Mr. Weissman (Advisor)

Michael Silverstone (Senior Writer)

Ben Acton (Senior Writer)

Reed Weber

Gae Guarducci

Max Kalikow

Max Silverstone

Philip Callimanis

Daniel Martin

Eric Smith

Shawn Bassett

Greg Williams’ Bounty Hunters

By Shawn Bassett

The Hot Topic in the NFL this week is the Saints’ bounty program. Gregg Williams is the mastermind behind this awful plan. He has been a coach in the NFL since 1990 and is currently the defensive coordinator for the Rams. His time as the Redskins and the Saints’ Defensive Coordinator is under investigation.

Former and current players have acknowledged that they (the Saints Players) were given $1000 to a cause an opposing player to be carted off the field and $1500 to knock a player out of the game. Yes, football is a contact sport. Yes, big hits can be very fun to watch. And yes, Football is competitive. However, players shouldn’t be paid extra to inflict pain and injury on another. They should be paid extra for interceptions and touchdowns. This is an outrage and a disgrace to football. Every game should be played fair, where the better team of that game comes out on top. Players should want the challenge of beating teams having other famous players. But there are limits, and that’s why there is a rulebook.

Sports should be competitive but there is no room for purposefully harming players. Players get tackled viscously on almost every play. The Defense wants to send a message to the offense that they are a tough force to be reckoned with and this game will be very physical. The Defense isn’t looking to take a cheap shot at the guy’s knees, but just make a good play.

At the moment, Roger Goodell has been trying to make the league safer with all of these new rules about hitting above the shoulder pads. Bounty Programs are just sending us backwards. Also, after the news broke on Friday, tackle Joe Staley of the San Francisco 49ers tweeted: "Just seeing all the reports about the Saints D. I knew there was something fishy about getting punched in the face during our playoff game." Do we want Professional Football being turned into MMA?

These players should wonder, what would have happened if the other teams also implemented bounty programs, and other players were paid to injure him?

NFL Mock Draft

by Phil Callimanis

Colts- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Peyton Manning is likely to be cut and not be paid the 28 million dollars he would be due on March 8. Luck is the best QB prospect since…Peyton Manning himself in 1998.

Browns (Trade)- RG3, QB, Baylor

The Heisman Winner will highly be sought after this upcoming draft. At the combine, he displayed his great speed (4.41). I say the Browns trade up for RG3 because they have a desperate need at QB and they have the recourses in terms of picks to do so.

Vikings- Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Protecting Christian Ponder should be the #1 priority for the Vikings. The Vikings offensive line is getting old and fragile; coincidentally the best player on the board, Kalil is one of the best offensive lineman in recent years.

Rams (Trade)- Justin Blackmon, WR, LSU

Bucannears- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU

Redskins- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

This is a reach, but the one thing stopping the Redskins from making a name for themselves in their division, is a QB. On draft day QB's usually go higher than expected (e.g. Jake Locker and Christian Ponder)

Jaguars- Quinton Coples, DE, UNC

Dolphins- Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, South Carolina

Panthers- Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Bills- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Chiefs- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Seahawks- Michael Brockers, DT, LSU

Bengals (Trade)- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama

Cowboys- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama

Eagles- Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Jets- Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama

Cardinals (Trade)- David DeCastro, OG, Stanford

Chargers- Nick Perry, DE, USC

Bears- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame

Titans- Whitney Mercillus, DE, Illinois

Bengals- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama

Browns- Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

Lions- Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State

Steelers- Devon Still, DT, Penn State

Broncos- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi

Texans- Cordy Glenn, OF, Georgia

Patriots- Mark Barron, S, Alabama

Packers- Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Ravens- Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

49ers- Stephen Hill, WR, Virginia Tech

Patriots- Andre Branch, DE, Clemson

Giants- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

NBA Memes

by Michael Silverstone

The Internet is a continually growing phenomenon in the sports world. Players vent their feelings and emotions through Twitter and Facebook, and often, sports experts will release trade rumors on social networking websites hours before they hit the T.V. and the newspaper.

With the growth of sports in the viral world comes the emergence of something great: NBA Memes. In Internet lingo, a meme is “a short

phrase, picture, or combination of the two” and is generally made to spark humor among fans.

Here’s an example of an NBA meme:

Notice how the picture feature
s Dirk Nowitzki’s head photo-shopped onto the Most Interesting Man in the World’s body. Also, notice the caption, and how it is a direct reference to “choking” in sports.

On the topic of “choking,” many NBA memes are made in regard to LeBron James’ notoriety of playing poorly in the clutch, and they nev

er seem to get old. Here’s an example of a LBJ meme:

Clever, huh?

Many memes also reference Kobe Bryant, and his presumed inability to pass the ball (even if he has averaged a commendable 5 assists per game over his storied career). Here’s an example of a Black Mamba meme:

NBA memes have found a home right on the world’s favorite social networking site, Facebook. The page “NBA Memes” has generated over 50,000 fans, more than half of those coming in the past few weeks. On this page, fans post hundreds of self-made memes that relate to the NBA, daily. The admins of the page choose a select few to feature, and those can generate thousands of likes.

Saints Controversy

by Max Silverstone

Part of an NFL game is to be merciless and rough with your enemies. On defense, you want to get hard hits that knock down the other team. This can sometimes lead to injuries, eliminating single opponents from the game. However, when is too much when it comes to hitting an offense?

This offseason, it was just revealed that the New Orleans Saints held a bounty program for defensive players eliminating offensive threats from a game. They were told that if they knocked out specific players from a game by performing hard and illegal hits on them, then they would get a cash prize. This included their postseason run in 2010, part of the 09-10 season. They knocked out two valuable quarterbacks, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, to help fuel themselves to wins. They won* the Super Bowl that year. This has been going on for many seasons, between 22-27 defensive players, some coaches, and even some felons. The Saints owner told their general manager Tom Benson to stop the program, but he never did anything to stop it. Where does that sound familiar? Oh yeah, Penn State and Joe Paterno. Even coach Sean Payton knew about what was going on, but took no steps to stop it. Karma tore his ACL this season. This controversy will definitely cost the Saints a lot of money. On top of that, many players and coaches may be facing suspension. The Saints also have some draft picks on the verge of being taken away. Hopefully, the NFL will deal with this better than how I feel like they dealed with the New England Patriots Spygate. The Saints need justice, and they should pay heavy fines and face suspensions. Although I feel bad for their oblivious fans, the team still deserves to suffer. Even if it was my home team, the Giants, a team still deserves justice. Thinking about, these programs could exist throughout the NFL. The Giants have taken down a lot of quality quarterbacks throughout the past few years. Uh-oh!

A Yankee Fan’s Tribute To A True Yankee: Jorge Posada

by Daniel Martin

I have been alive for 15 years now, and have lived in New York for all 15 years of my life. In my lifetime certain things about New York were always true. “The Phantom Of The Opera” has always been on Broadway, Times Square has always been party central on new years eve, Central Park has never let people on the great lawn during springtime when the grass is growing, and the New York Yankees have always been led by Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Mariano Rivera. However, not all of those things are still true. (sadly its not the grass in central park)

On Tuesday, the 40 year-old Jorge Posada tearfully announced that he would be retiring after an incredible 17 season career, all of which with the Yankees. I have always felt a personal connection to Posada. All my life, whenever asked who my favorite Yankee was I would respond with “Jorge Posada.”

I don’t remember the exact reason I took a liking to Posada back when I was a Yankee loving toddler. It might have been the fact that, in addition to being a tremendous and consistent player, he was also very down to earth. It was clear that he was, and still is, a loving father and husband to his kids, Jorge Luis and Paulina, and wife, Laura. He could often be seen on the field before games with his kids smiling, running and gently tossing a ball with them. His son was diagnosed with craniosynostosis a mere 10 days after his birth. He wrote also wrote a book with his wife called The Beauty of Love: A Memoir of Miracles, Hope, and Healing, which told the story of his son and how he and his family dealt with his son’s condition in and their effort to beat it for good. He also created the Jorge Posada Foundation which has worked to find a cure to craniosynostosis. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the 74^th MLB All-Star Game was when Posada was announced and he game out with his son, who excitedly ran down the base path giving high fives to his dad’s fellow AL All-Stars. In June of 2011, Jorge Luis underwent, what his parents hoped, would be the last surgery for the condition.

But you don’t have a successful 17-year, MLB career just by being a nice guy. Posada boasts Hall Of Fame credentials. He has won 4 World Series’ rings, has played in 125 postseason games, been to the all-star game 5 times, and won the silver slugger award 5 times. He has a career average of .273, has 275 career (11 postseason) HR’s, and 379 career doubles. In 2003 he came in 3^rd in the AL MVP race and in 2007 he came in 6^th. Posada’s last game, the Yankee’s game 5, 3-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers, was very fitting as he went 2 for 4.

The other reason Jorge Posada was such a special player though, was that he was a home-grown, hard working Yankee. He was drafted by the Yankee’s and remained a Yankee for his entire. He became a symbol of the Yankees, a part of the “core four”. He has became very close with all of his teammates, especially Jeter and Rivera. The three of them were all Yankee prospects and have spent their entire careers as Yankees. Jeter was even the best man at Posada’s wedding.

Much like Posada’s career, his tearful retirement announcement will never be forgotten. Posada made the announcement, fittingly, at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday, with his two closest friends on the team, Jeter and Rivera, in the audience as well as many of his other teammates. Posada opened his speech by saying “Every time I stepped through the Yankee Stadium doors… I quoted Joe Dimaggio and ‘I said I wanna thank the good lord for making me a Yankee.’”

He then continued saying “Today is a very emotional day for me. I will officially announce that I am retiring from playing the game of baseball.” He talked about how it was his dream to play baseball professionally ever since he was a little kid saying “I was able to live my dream: to play baseball for the best franchise in the world, the New York Yankee’s.”

He than thanked the Yankee organization as a whole, calling it his “home away from home. He then choked up when thanking his family in Spanish. saying “In order to get [to the MLB], I was blessed to have my parents. A mi madre Tamara, a mi padre Jorge, y mi hermana Michelle.” He then stopped, staring at the table in front of him over come with emotion. He took a deep breath and went on. Saying “Gracias por apoyo (thanks for the support)” and then something else that my Spanish was not good enough to catch.

His entire speech was filled with emotion not only on Posada’s part, but also on the part of the audience. Everyone in the room knew that they were loosing someone who had given everything he had and more for this team for the past 17 years. After words, Jeter and Rivera both praised Posada. Jeter claimed that he would always eat with Posada on the road and that without Posada, he wasn’t sure what he was going to do.

Jorge Posada has had an incredible career. He is the definition of a tough competitor, a good teammate, and a true Yankee for life. It is hard to believe, that Yankee stadium will never erupt again in chants of “Hip Hip Jorge!”On behalf of all Yankee fans, I would like to thank Jorge, for everything he has given to us over the last 17 years. Thank you Jorge Posada, All Star, Silver Slugger, World Series Champion, Yankee. Hip Hip Jorge!

Villas Boas Fired Once and for All

by Gaetano Guarducci

At the end of the 2010-2011 season, Roman Abramovich, who bough Chelsea FC in 2003, fired coach Carlo Ancelotti after his club finished 2^nd in the league. Carlo Ancelotti was appointed Chelsea’s coach in 2008, ending his first season as boss winning the league, and making it to the finals of the Champions League. Chelsea also won the year after making Carlo Ancelotti the first Chelsea coach to win the league two years in a row.

In 2010, Chelsea started off really hot winning the first four games without conceding a single goal. Unfortunately, towards the middle of the season, they were on a winless streak of eight games. Abramovich was not please and warned Ancelotti that if Chelsea didn’t recuperate from this, he would not come back next year. Some say that Roman Abramovich was too harsh on Ancelotti, others were excited to have a new manager. Chelsea finished the season in 2^nd place right behind Manchester United, their rivals.

After terminating Ancelotti, Abramovich appointed FC Porto’s coach Andres Villas-Boas as Chelsea’s new coach. Villas-Boas received a very warm welcoming from the Chelsea fans. After winning the Europa League with his former club, the fans were sure that he was going to win trophies for their side.

The team started off the season 6-1-1, putting them in 2^nd place on the table. After that, it went only downhill. They lost the next three games against teams such as Queens Park City and Aston Villa. Villas-Boas ended his Chelsea spell with a record of 13-7-7, which isn’t up to standards for Chelsea.

On March 4^th, Abramovich fired Villas-Boas after only winning one game in the last eleven. Roberto Di Matteo, former assistant coach rose up to be the new manager until the end of the season.

FIGHT NIGHT- 7 Rounds

Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III

by Max Kalikow

The top two quarterbacks in this draft have been rumored to be picked number 1 and number 2, but who is the better quarterback? Lets take an in depth look.

Accuracy- Andrew Luck is one of the most accurate passers in the football world. He simply puts the ball where it is supposed to go.

Robert Griffin is very accurate but he can definitely improve on his pure accuracy.

Both are accurate but this round goes to Luck.

Luck- 1

RGIII- 0

Long Passes- This category is a pretty big blowout. Andrew Luck is a great passer and can get the ball downfield, but RGIII has the biggest arm in all of college football. He can gun the ball down field on the run and can get it far. A little reminiscent of Michael Vick?

Luck- 1

RGIII- 1

Intangibles- Both QB’s has very good intangibles. Andrew Luck is an extremely smart player who is a great leader and RGIII is a friendly guy who everyone in the locker room likes. This category has to go to Luck though. The Stanford graduate is such a smart player; he can read defenses better than anyone in college football. This round goes to Luck.

Luck- 2

Griffin- 1

The Safer Pick- This round is probably a bit of a blowout. RGIII is a running quarterback who is not as big as Luck. Running QB’s take more hits, thus for injury reasons Luck is safer. Luck has barely faced injury during his college career and is not a run first QB, though he can run. This round goes to Luck.

Luck- 3

Griffin- 1

Athleticism- Andrew Luck is very big and very athletic. He ran the 40-yard dash in a 4.6 time. However he is going against someone who is known for his athleticism in RGIII. With a 4.38 40-yard dash and his size being bigger than Vick’s, many think he is more athletic than Vick.

Luck- 3

Griffin- 2

College Career- This is a pretty close one. One thing that tends to be underrated is the general college football career. If they are good in college there is a pretty good chance the person will be good in the pros. Andrew Luck had two great seasons that came with being the second in the Heisman race, however last year he was second more because his name is Andrew Luck. RGIII dominated with a pretty weak talented Baylor team and brought home the Heisman. Put it in the books to Griffin.

Luck- 3

Griffin- 3

Upside- Andrew Luck has been compared to Peyton Manning by many experts, saying that he is the best QB in the draft in years. RGIII has been compared to Michael Vick, but a better passing version. RGIII also has the better long ball, and long balls are harder to teach than accuracy. He can gain the accuracy Luck has. Andrew Luck could maybe be like Peyton Manning but there is no ceiling for RGIII. He could very well be a much faster Aaron Rodgers. The sky is the limit.

Luck-3

Griffin- 4

If I was a general manager I would pick Robert Griffin III in the draft with my pick over Andrew Luck, however you really can’t go wrong with either.

Manimal

by Reed Weber

Coming out of little-known Morehead State, Kenneth Faried was disregarded by 21 teams until being selected 22^nd overall by the Denver Nuggets. The modern-era career rebounding leader for the NCAA, Faried surpassed Tim Duncan’s previous record of 1,570 with a whopping 1,643 boards himself. In every stage of his career though he has been overlooked for what he isn’t, rather then the great strengths of his game. Scouts have criticized him for his lack of playing against superior talent at a smaller school and for his smaller stature to play PF in the NBA. What Faried is though is a monster on the boards with relentless energy. He has a great combination of length, athleticism combined with a relentless work ethic. He runs the floor exceptionally well for a big men and can dunk over anyone in his way with ease. Although only 6’8, he plays much bigger due to his ridiculous vertical and grabs every rebound with authority to ensure that no one can rip it out of his hands. His great motor has labeled him deservingly with the term “banger” and he consistently out-works every other player on the court regardless the opponent. Another positive sign is that Faried showed growth in each season of college. He upped his point totals each year along with his rebounds, steals and blocks. As a rookie,Faried has only brought good things for the Nuggets. He boasts the top PER of all rookies in the league and his rebound rate is also tops in the league, above that of prospects drafted higher like Enes Kanter, Tristan Thompson and Bismack Biyombo out of the Congo. Deservingly so, Faried has earned the nickname of Manimal to represent he is half man, half animal. As the second half the of the season progresses, look for Faried to earn more time in the Nuggets rotation as he supplants himself as the steal of the 2012 draft . You can only overlook him so much until he earns your respect. Then, sit back and watch the greatness of a player willing to do all the little things that makes good teams great.

The Rise of the Knicks

By Aakash Bhatia

For the past two months, the New York Knicks have been one of the hottest teams in basketball, winning ten of their last fourteen games. The interesting storyline is how they have gotten their. If someone were to hear that stat beginning of the year, they would assume it was because of Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. However, the real cause of the team’s success has actually come from some unexpected players. Through trades and unexpected circumstances, the Knicks have put together a great and deep team.

Of course there is Jeremy Lin, whose emergence out of no where has given the Knicks a solid point guard. There is also Baron Davis who has been a solid presence off the bench, replacing Toney Douglass as backup point guard. JR Smith has been a present surprise from China while Iman Shumpert and Jared Jeffries have provided great defense. Also don’t forget Josh Harrelson, the 2^nd round pick out of Kentucky who plays hard and can hit the three.

It’s different than what the Knicks would have expected, but through all the chaos and confusion they’ve finally emerged with a deep and talented team. The question now is just whether that talent will translate into wins.

Steve Nash: Stay or Go?

By Tough Acton

With one year left on his contract, the Phoenix Suns have a tough decision whether or not to trade star point guard, Steve Nash. It is a tough decision to make for the Suns, considering he is a two time MVP in Phoenix, but is he more valuable to stay with the team or trade him for parts.

Scenario 1: Suns trade Steve Nash and Grant Hill to Orlando for Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick and a 1^st round pick. The benefits for this trade are as follows: Nash and Hill get to play for a contender, Howard maybe convinced to stay, and the Suns can start rebuilding with a solid point guard and an extra 1^st round pick to build the team.

Scenario 2: Suns trade Nash and Robin Lopez to Boston for Rajon Rondo and Chris Wilcox. Benefits: The Suns have a young all-star caliber player for the future while Nash goes to a contender and the Celtics finally end the trade rumors and send Rondo to where he was initially drafted. Nash still has some years left and adding another veteran to the Celts will put them back in the hunt.

Scenario 3: Suns trade Nash and Michael Redd to Dallas for Jason Kidd and Rodrigue Beaubois. Benefits: Suns add a great up and comer in Beaubois and the expiring contract of Kidd also the Mavs reunite 2/3^rd of the trinity. Cons: The Mavericks will not do this cause the benefit for one season. Also the Suns don’t need a Beaubois type player.

Scenario 4: Suns trade Nash and Josh Childress to the Lakers for Pau Gasol and Troy Murphy. Benefits: The Lakers add the PG the desperately need and Nash is no slouch and the sends have a great piece in Gasol and the expiring contract of Murphy. Cons: Suns are loaded with expensive big men and adding Gasol does bring talent but at the wrong position, Suns don’t make a smart move by trading within their division, and Nash makes the Lakers even older and isn’t a long term fix.

Scenario 5: Suns keep Nash. Nash doesn’t want to go and the Suns want to accommodate Nash’s wish. Even if he leaves, the Suns have $11m off the books they can use for the future. Nash is the reason fans still come to games and if they trade him, the franchise is destined for failure. As a Suns fan, I’m hoping Nash stays and ultimately retires as the greatest Sun of Phoenix.

Is the Baseball New Postseason System Good or Bad?

by Eric Smith

The new postseason will enable an additional team to be added into each conference. The second wildcard team will face the other wildcard team in a one game playoff. This will certainly bring a new sense of excitement for the league.

This will make winning the division much more important. This will happen because no one will want to play in that one game playoff. Over the past couple of years, the Yankees sometimes give their starters time off at the end of year because they knew that if they didn’t win the division, they’d still make the playoffs. Now though, the Yankees can’t do this because the last thing they’d want is to play in a one game playoff.

The only issue with this system is that some teams might make the playoffs that didn’t deserve it. In the original system, a 90 win team in all likelihood made it to the playoffs. Now it is possible that a team with 80 teams can make it to the playoffs because they could beat the 90-win team in the one game playoff? This could also cause an 80-win team to win a world series. Would this be a great thing for the league? I don’t think so.

Also, last year maybe had one of the best endings to a season in baseball history. The Rays beat the Yankees in extra innings to go to the playoffs because Boston lost in the bottom of the 9^th inning. Also, the Cardinals made the playoffs by winning their respective game, while the Braves lost their game. Both of these comebacks were within at least 8 games in the last month of the year. Would these interesting playoff scenarios taken place? No because the Cardinals and Rays would have already qualified for that one game playoff. Although the interest in following the wildcard race will be diminished, it will make people interested in watching the race for the second wildcard spot.

Although there are certainly some flaws in the system, I generally like the new system. It will enhance the importance of winning the division, and it will make the following of the 2^nd wildcard spot very interesting.

Thank You for Reading!

On behalf of all of our writers, thank you for reading this week's issue of the CGPS Lion's Roar. We encourage you to read any of our past articles, and, of course, our future ones which are posted on a weekly basis. Feel free to approach any of our writers with your questions or send them to:

thelionsroar@cgps.org

Until next time, thank you.

Sincerely,

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)

Welcome to the Lion's Roar 14th Edition

Welcome to this week's edition of the Lion's Roar. With our full staff on board, we have some great articles covering sports from all around the league. Read Gae Guarducci's article about soccer as well as Daniel Martin's on football. Also, be sure to read Phil Callimani's and Max Silverstone's articles on the future of Peyton Manning.

Thanks for Reading!

Aakash Bhatia (Editor and President)

Mr. Weissman (Advisor)

Michael Silverstone (Senior Writer)

Ben Acton (Senior Writer)

Reed Weber

Gae Guarducci

Max Kalikow

Max Silverstone

Philip Callimanis

Daniel Martin

Sweepstakes

by Phil Callimanis

Peyton Manning has been the subject to many rumors pertaining to which team he will play for in 2012. Due to the neck injury of Peyton Manning, he was sidelined for all of the 2011-2012 season. Manning was the “glue” that held the Colts together; without him they were a 2-14 team, claiming the #1 pick in the upcoming draft. That pick is going to be Andrew Luck barring some life threatening condition to Luck. Luck is the most highly anticipated college quarterback since…Peyton Manning. Should Luck be drafted 1^st overall by the Colts, which he will be, he will start from day one. Manning will have no spot and would be relegated to the bench.

The three teams most interested in Peyton Manning include the: Redskins, Dolphins, and the Cardinals.

The Dolphins seem like a very likely destination due to the warm weather of Miami along with their desperate need for good quarterback play. Miami has a star wide receiver in Brandon Marshall and a very good offensive led by perennial pro bowl left tackle Jake Long.

The Redskins are also in dire need of a quarterback, though I see them as the most unlikely option due to the cold weather during the long winter. The Redskins also don’t have good enough offensive options to help Manning.

The Cardinals thought they solved their issues at quarterback with the Kevin Kolb acquisition last offseason, he spent have the season on the sidelines with a concussion and turf toe. Arizona is an attractive option because of the warm weather and their retractable roof (Manning had one in Indy). It also doesn’t hurt that they have Larry Fitzgerald.

To me, Miami is the best destination because of their need and their weapons to offer Manning. I believe that Kolb will be sufficient for the Cardinals, and will therefore take them out of the Manning sweepstakes.

5 NFL Quarterbacks for the Future

by Max Silverstone

This NFL season, there was the rise of new legends, and the fall of old. Peyton Manning missed the whole season on injured reserve, while Tim Tebow completely turned around the Denver Broncos. I am going to write about some quarterbacks in the NFL and what I think their futures will be.

1. Peyton Manning:

This quarterback has one less ring than his younger brother, Eli. However, he was better career stats than Eli. He is getting old though, and no one is quite sure of his future yet. Manning will not stay in Indy, because he does not like his new coaching staff and the environment that they make. How about the Jets? If he goes to the Jets, he will be like Brett Favre: A short-term solution that will excite Jets fans over nothing. He would only last one or two season in New York, before the Jets draft a new quarterback as their solution for the future. Washington Redskins? That would be a great quarterback solution for them for two season. The Redskins still need a franchise quarterback, and Manning is a good short term solution. Although they’re not in the pipeline of rumors, I could still see that working.

2. Eli Manning:

Yes he has two rings. But remember, the Super Bowl isn’t about the best team. It’s about the hottest team. Also, defense wins championships. Eli Manning has had some good years and some bad ones. He is inconsistent just like the Giants team that he is on, and could continue doing well, or just go all downhill from here. I personally think that Manning will continue doing well for 3 years, then become mediocre until retirement. Also, Manningham is a free-agent, and Cruz’s contract expires at the end of the next season. Cruz needs to be resigned (which he probably will be) in order for Manning to stay on top of the list of ELIte quarterbacks. Peytons pro-bowl seasons are numbered, and it’s time for his little bro to be known as the current Manning of the NFL.

3. Tim Tebow:

Although he won many games, and conducted many quarterbacks, this kid’s future is not bright. I already wrote a full article on just this one guy, and proved why he is not good. He will be mediocre throughout his whole career, and will conduct seasons ranging from 5-11 to 9-7. Every comeback by him was just a fluke, and no one on that team has any promise to make them move forward. The broncos are stuck in limbo, with mediocre everything. Tebow never displayed great stats, besides with running the ball. But a quarterbacks job is to throw the ball. Running it is only a small part. That is why running backs exist. Tebow will never be good, and sorry, will never make a Super Bowl.

4. Mark Sanchez:

Uh-oh. This kid sucks. There. I said it. He’s not very good, and doesn’t show much for the future. He’s going to end up like Alex Smith. He’s drafted with a lot of promise, but won’t find a good rhythm until late in his career. The Jets are still finding themselves under Rex Ryan. Peyton Manning may be a good idea to come and replace Sanchez, while Sanchez could go to the Seahawks. He is okay, but he’s not good with the Jets, and doesn’t work well with their system.

5. Alex Smith:

1st season: “He’s gonna be great” He’s not

2nd season: “He’s gonna be great” He’s not

3rd season: “He’s gonna be great” He’s not

4th season: Didn’t play

5th season: “He’s gonna be great” He’s not

6th season: “He’s gonna be great” He’s not

7^th season: Finally found a rhythm!!!

Alex Smith has had potential, but had his breakout season in his 7^th year. That’s a bit late. Actually, it’s really late. Smith finally flows with the 49ers system. His future looks like he will stay with San Francisco. He will be pretty good, but only win one Super Bowl. It’s not just the quarterback who decides a teams fate. It’s the team as a whole.

Braunly Accused

by Daniel Martin

Sports are filled with unexpected twists, good and bad, and Milwaukee Brewer fans can testify to that. Brewer fans had to deal with heart breaking news last December: that star Ryan Braun, who had been named the NL MVP just 18 days earlier, had tested positive for “an elevated level of testosterone” caused by performance enhancing drugs. Braun faced a 50 game suspension and an irreversible dent in his reputation. Braun, as expected appealed the ruling, like various other players who have tested positive have. However, almost no one expected the MLB to over-turn the ruling, seeing as they had never overturned a drug related ruling.

Braun insisted that there had been a mistake and that he would be cleared. While many people stood by him including Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins and the host of Countdown Keith Olbermann, the general consensus was that Braun guilty. The MLB did not strip him of his MVP award while they were considering his case and Braun had to awkwardly give an acceptance speech. Things didn’t look good for Braun and the Brewers. And then.

On Wednesday it was announced that the Braun decision would be overturned. Brewers fans breathed easily again.

Personally, I’m quite glad Braun got cleared. I have always liked him because he is Jewish, he has always seemed grounded, and he has an impressive work ethic that I admire. So when the news broke that Braun was cleared I was thrilled. I understand why not everyone is so convinced but an investigation was conducted and Braun was found clean. Bottom line.

Is Mark Sanchez a Sanchise or a Sandtrap?

by Eric Smith

Mark Sanchez is the quarterback that is holding the Jets back. Over the last few years, they have been competitive, but Mark Sanchez has only averaged a little more than 1 TD a game over the last 3 years. He has also averaged an interception per game. The fact that he hasn’t even cracked 3,500 yards for a season is a joke. 14 QB’s had more yards than him. He also ranked 28^th in completion percentage with 56.7 percent. Therefore, with a great defense run by Rex Ryan and solid running game led by a great offensive line led by Nick Mangold. They have the pieces in place to win a championship, but it is clearly Mark Sanchez.

As a result of Sanchez’s performance, the Jets need to start looking for a replacement. There are several free agents who could replace him. Honestly, Alex Smith might be the quarterback the Jets need. Alex Smith only had 4 interceptions the entire year and he had a completion percentage over 60. He came very close to winning the NFC championship game. The 49ers probably could have one that game if Kenny Williams, their punt return man, didn’t have that ball hit his knee.

Kyle Orton might be another interesting option. Unlike Sanchez, he has gotten over the 3,500 yard mark, and he prospered under Josh McDaniels. I think if people appreciated Orton, he could have succeeded. You have to feel sorry for him. I mean the fans wanted to see Tim Tebow while he was playing. He started while the league leader in jersey sales was on the bench. Also, Vince Young had a similar situation. His coach Jeff Fischer didn’t want him, and he didn’t get the respect he deserved. All he did was win. Young’s record as a starter before he signed with the Eagles was 30-17.

Finally, maybe the most intriguing option is Matt Flynn. Against the Lions in the last game, he had 480 years. Now granted he did play in the terrific Packers offense, but could Mark Sanchez honestly do that if he started for the Packers? I mean Sanchez only got over 300 yards in a game 3 times this season.

Finally, everyone will mention Peyton Manning. Obviously if he can come back healthy this would certainly bring the Jets over the hump regardless of the cost. Yet, lets just be realistic. He has been battling this neck injury for over a year and he has surgery on his neck 3 or 4 times. It would be nice if Peyton Manning could come back healthy, but fans don’t honestly think he is coming back, they just hope he will come back because everyone loves to the watch one of if not the greatest QB of his era or of all time.

Beautiful Night in Naples

by Gae Guarducci

On Tuesday February 21^st, new comers Napoli faced English Premier League giants FC Chelsea in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. Napoli, a team from Naples, Italy, although doing just fine in the Serie A, standing in sixth place behind Roma, they are one of those teams that does in the international leagues such as this one. They were put in the same group as German champions FC Bayern Munich, English powerhouse Manchester City, and Spanish third placed Villareal. Out of the six games they played (one home and one away) Napoli won 3, tied 2 and lost 1, finishing in second place behind FC Bayern Munich. They greatest win since the times when Maradona played for them was against Manchester City, winning 2-1 at home.

Chelsea, is also a team that is doing better in Europe than in the domestic league standing in fifth place, which for them is very below expectation, but coming out first in their group (even though they were the best team in it by far).

The match took place in Naples on a rainy evening. The fans were going crazy even before the game. When the match began, the Napoli fans would cheer on every occasion they had possession of the ball, and “boo” every time Chelsea did.

Napoli maintained very good possession in the starting 20 minutes, creating several opportunities to score while Chelsea still didn’t have one shot. After twenty-eight minutes, Juan Mata for Chelsea picked up a loose ball in the Napoli box and finished it neatly into the bottom left corner. The stadium went quite. Chelsea celebrated nonetheless. It was 1-0 for the visitors until the 35^th minute, when Lavezzi played a neat 1-2 pass with teammate Cavani, and took a low accurate shot into the bottom right corner. Chelsea’s goalkeeper Cech had no chance of reaching it. The fans went crazy. Although it was only the goal to tie the game up, it was a very big deal for Napoli. A couple of minutes before half time, Napoli center mid, Inler put in a cross towards the center of the box and Cavani headed it beautifully into the upper side of the net to make it 2-1 and put Napoli in the lead.

The two sides went into half time, one ecstatic about the outcome of the last eight minutes of play, and the other in deep thought of what had just happened.

Chelsea came onto the field with one objective, score another away goal and defend for the rest of the game. Unfortunately for them and their coach Andre Villas-Boas, who already is at risk of getting sacked, Napoli’s Lavezzi curled in another shot to make it 3-1 in the 65^th minute, and the game ended shortly after. It was a beautiful night in Naples.

Napoli will be flying to London in a couple of weeks to face them at their home defending a 3-1 lead on aggregate, while Chelsea will be going back the following day, thinking about what they will do for these next couple of weeks.

Should the Rangers trade for Rick Nash

by Max Kalilow

Rick Nash is one of the top scorers in the entire NHL. He could certainly change the impact of any game with his extremely skillful play. The Rangers are currently one of the top teams in the NHL and THE top team in the Eastern Conference. This leads to the big question, should the Rangers trade for Rick Nash.

One thing that makes people nervous about Nash is thinking back to last years NBA season. The New York Knicks traded their entire team (except for Amar’e and Fields) for Carmelo Anthony. Now, this is a different situation. The Knicks were the 8^th seed when they made the trade and this was supposed to make them the 5^th seed or around there. The Rangers are the 1^st seed so would you change the roster of a team that is doing so well. The answer is yes.

The reason is moderately simple, to get Rick Nash would involve giving up a good NHL player, prospects and picks. If the Rangers were to part with Brandon Dubinsky, a 1^st round pick, and a top prospect that could get the trade done. The only change to the current team would be Brandon Dubinsky and Rick Nash is a much better player. This trade could make the Rangers the team to beat in the Playoffs.

The Peyton Manning Saga: Why He Will be Traded and Where to

By Aakash Bhatia

The most interesting storyline this offseason is the contract situation with Peyton Manning. With the Colts going to draft Andrew Luck in April and Peyton having huge health concerns, questions have risen about Manning’s future with the franchise. The question is now whether he will leave Indianapolis and if he does, where will he go.

Here are my thoughts on both:

Whether he will leave:

Peyton Manning has played his last down with the Colts. The biggest reason being his contract. If the Colts were to draft Andrew Luck and keep Manning, they should have 40 million dollars tied up to QBs, way too much for a team with many holes. Manning’s health is also a huge concern.

Where he will go:

The Jets, Dolphins, and Cardinals are all teams interested in Manning. I think that Manning will ultimately go to the Cardinals. Unlike the Jets, the Cardinals have a much more stable coaching staff and organization. Furthermore, they play in a weak division and in an indoor stadium. Unlike the Dolphins, the Cardinals have a much better supporting group and enough cap space to sign a player like Reggie Wayne to help Manning out.

King George

by Reed Weber

Paul George of the Indiana Pacers is a physical freak. In his second season in the league he has shown growth in just about every statistical category. Oh and he grew two inches over the past summer. As if being a 6’8 shooting guard wasn’t big enough, he now stands 6’10 yet has the skills of a slasher, similar to Kevin Durant-a bonafide superstar. This year he has upped his point total to 12 from 8 in his rookie year, rebounds bumped to 5.5 from 3.7 and a combined 2 steals/blocks per game.

The kid is a game breaker. He has improved his three-point stroke and worked on free throws over the summer. A legitimate threat from anywhere on the court, he oozes franchise player potential and the Pacers are well aware of his very bright future. Coming out of Fresno State, George “slipped” to 10^th in the draft behind Ekpe Udoh, Gordon Hayward, Evan Turner and Wesley Johnson. I’m sure if given a chance for a redraft each respective team would surely try to move into the Top 5 to snag this guy. Overlooked no more, George is taking the league by storm and All-Star weekend will only magnify his recognition. He is sure to pull some cray dunk out of his sleeves and soar above the rest of the competitors (literally.) With a developing, young nucleus of George, Collison, Hibbert, George Hill and plenty of cap space—look for the Pacers not only to remain near the top of the standings in the Central now but for years to come as they establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with King George leading the way. Tell Lebron there’s a new king in town.

The Greatest Defense You Never Saw

by Michael Silverstone

When one thinks “defense” in football at the collegiate and professional levels, some notably common squads come to mind: 1961 Alabama Crimson Tide and 1971 Nebraska Cornhuskers in the NCAA, and 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers and 1985 Chicago Bears in the NFL. Lawrence Taylor, Ray Lewis, and Dick Butkus, among others, are common household names for sports nuts.

What is a great defense known for? It carries a team by holding opponents to minimal yardage; it forces turnovers whenever possible after bringing relentless pressure; it becomes iconic in the world of sports, breeding Hall of Fame athletes; it brings championship trophies home. So, if I told you that the 1919 Texas A&M Aggies had the greatest defense of all time, would you be surprised?

The 1919 Aggies played one year before the establishment of the NFL’s first two teams, the Bears and Cardinals, both centered in Chicago, Illinois. They played in the NCAA’s Southwest Conference (SWC), which dissolved in 1996, sending most of its teams to today’s Big 12. Nine of the team’s 10 games were played against in-state opponents, including powerhouse Texas. Its only out-of-state opponent was Oklahoma A&M. Eight of the team’s ten games were played on the home field in College Station, Texas.

The 1919 Texas A&M Aggies scored a combined 275 points through the 10 games, averaging just under four touchdowns per contest. On the other side of the ball, it got even better. All ten of the Aggies’ games had one thing in common – the number “0.” In spectacular fashion, the Aggies pulled off a feat that, to this day, no other football program has done at the collegiate or professional level: shut out every single opponent.

That’s right. While scoring 27.5 points per game, the Aggies did not give up a single touchdown, field goal, safety, or any point of the sort, all on their way to a 10-0 record and a conference championship. Scores ranged all the way from 7-0 (in the team’s last two regular season games), up to 77-0 (in the team’s season opener against Sam Houston State).

The team was unanimously voted as the NCAA National Champion.

So why is it that a team that did not give up a single point during the entire season get no recognition? Not only is this team not placed in the conversation for best defensive unit ever, but it is seldom mentioned in general sports conversation. Unfortunately for the 1919 Aggies, they played one year before the establishment of the NFL, meaning that the sport of football had not yet grown through the United States like it has in the Super Bowl era. In fact, not a single one of the team’s 17 players made it to an NFL team. It is likely impossible to find box scores of any of the ten games, as only the evidence of the shut-out score remains for each matchup.

The only semi-recognizable name associated with the 1919 Aggies is Dana X. Bible, the team’s head coach. Besides having coached A&M, Bible coached L.S.U., Nebraska, and Texas. In his 33 years as a coach, 30 resulted in winning records. He is most notable for having helped revolutionize the T-formation. Bible was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1951.

Perhaps no team will ever be capable of pulling off what the 1919 Aggies were able to do. It is a shame that nobody will ever realize how dominant this team’s defense was, and how no team will ever be able to come close to accomplishing the greatest of feats.