Can the Denver Broncos go all the way this year?

   After a heartbreaking defeat on a broken play touchdown at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, the Denver Broncos are in position to have home field advantage throughout the postseason and a great chance to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. Led by future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and their high powered, efficient offense, the Broncos have proved to be nearly impossible to stop so far this year. Can they finish the job this year and win a Super Bowl? At 37, Manning knows he does not have many chances at the title left, especially with an offense that is capable of scoring 30 points every night.

   In the NFC, a defense has been dominating every offense they face. The Seattle Seahawks have the best defense in the NFL and have locked up home field advantage in the playoffs. Enjoying the best home field advantage in the league, the Seahawks are determined not to let Peyton Manning win his second title and instead want to bring the first-ever Super Bowl Championship to Seattle. Having just a single NFC title in their history, and an embarrassing Super Bowl performance, Seattle has a great opportunity for their first Super Bowl championship.

Patriots Hall of Fame: Review

   When Mr. Kraft purchased the Boston Patriots, they were a struggling franchise with only a handful of important wins in their history. Through hard work and upstanding morals, Mr Kraft turned the team into a perennial winner with a huge fan base spanning all of 'New England', hence the name change.
  This is the message of the Patriots Hall of Fame at Gillete Stadium. Mr. Robert Kraft is a savior in the eyes of every patriotic New Englander, and also there were some great players and coaches on the team along the way. Paying tribute to these players and coaches who helped lead the team to three Super Bowl championships in four years and a 16-0 perfect regular season three years later.

   Also, Steve Beauharnis was available to be interviewed by our Sports Reading and Writing class, which was a great experience. Our class was allowed to ask questions relating to his profession and even nonrelated questions. Learning about a professional linebacker for all of our favorite team was an awesome experience and one that I will not forget.

2014 NBA Draft Class Ripe With Future Stars

The 2014 draft class is shaping up to be one of the deepest and most talented draft classes in years. General Managers as well as fans of struggling teams across the NBA see a glimmer of hope in college basketball this year. Filled with stars such as Andrew Wiggins of Kansas and Jabari Parker of Duke, NBA teams with losing records are in line to turn their fortunes around with one draft choice.

Marcus Smart, the 6'4" point guard at 7th ranked Oklahoma State, currently the #5 ranked prospect in next years'  draft, just scored a career-high 39 points in a rout of 11th ranked Memphis with Oklahoma City resident Kevin Durant in attendance. Durant stated, "[Smart] could play in the NBA right now." Smart is just one of several college stars climbing up the draft board of GMs across the league. Right now, the consensus #1 overall pick is Andrew Wiggins of Kansas, but hot on his heels are Julius Randle of Kentucky, Smart, and Parker. Randle is averaging 22.5 points per game for Kentucky along with an outstanding 12.5  rebounds. With a double-double in points and rebounds every game this season, Randle is making a case to be the #1 pick himself. Teams looking for a point guard are chomping at the bit to get their hands on Smart, a big, athletic point guard who showed great poise as well as a long-range shot, sinking five three-pointers in the win over Memphis.

With plenty of basketball left to be played, Wiggins, Parker, Randle, and Smart join one of the deepest and most exciting draft classes in recent memory. Not since 2003, when LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwayne Wade were all drafted in the top 10 has a draft class had to potential to have this kind of impact on the NBA.

College Basketball is BACK!

2 weeks into another season of the most exciting, entertaining sport that the United States has to offer, college basketball is already off to a great start. Overflowing with thrilling games that regularly go down to the wire, boasting a very balanced field with plenty of championship contenders, college basketball is shaping up to be the most exciting sport in an incredible year for sports in Amercia.
For the first time since 1980, four teams ranked in the top 5 played head-to-head in the same night. The first game of the doubleheader pitted #1 Kentucky against #2 Michigan State. Michigan State prevailed 76-72 in a hard-fought close game. Kentucky's terrific freshman Julius Randle led all scorers with 27 points and added 16 rebounds in his third impressive performance in as many games for the Wildcats. Randle is quickly staking his claim for the top first-year player in the nation, an honor believed by most to be undoubtedly set for Kansas' star freshman Andrew Wiggins. Wiggins is widely considered to be the favorite to be selected #1 overall in next year's NBA draft. In the second game of the night, Wiggins' #5 ranked Kansas knocked off #4 Duke, 94-83. Andrew Wiggins had 22 points in a solid outing, but Duke's star freshman Jabari Parker, the #2 ranked recruit in the country behind Wiggins, led all scorers with 27 points and added 15 rebounds.
The only top 5 team not to play was defending champion Louisville, who are dealing with the losses of key players from last year, the suspension of top returning forward Wayne Blackshear, and the integration of a stellar recruiting class. It is already shaping up to be another extremely competitive, intense year in college basketball, the best sport in America

Vikings earn 2nd win

In Minneapolis, The Minnesota Vikings pulled out a 34-24 upset win over the visiting Washington Redskins, who drop to a disappointing 3-6 on the season. Led by the best running back of our generation, Adrian Peterson ran for 2 more touchdown en route to victory Thursday night, adding to his league-leading total of 9 rushing touchdowns for the year. Quarterback Cristian Ponder dislocated his left shoulder, leaving the game in which he had played very well, completing 17 of 21 passes. Ex-Patriot Matt Cassell filled in exceptionally as the Vikings defense sacked Robert Griffin III three times in the second half holding on for a hard-earned 34-24 win. Still buried at the bottom of their division, the 2-7 Vikings held on to stars Adrian Peterson and Jared Allen at the trade deadline and it paid off with the home victory.
Kicking off an exciting week of football that features the high flying Demver Broncos offense visiting the San Diego Chargers, who score plenty of points themselves.. The undefeated Chiefs have a bye, but there will be plenty of action involving teams with winning records in both leagues this week.

Undefeated Chiefs

  
 Although the Kansas City Chiefs remain the sole undefeated team in an NFL that includes Peyton Manning leading a powerful Denver Broncos offense, Tom Brady on a Patriots team with a stellar defense, no one seems to notice as the Kansas City Chiefs jump out to a 8-0 first half record. At 8-0, the Chiefs, under new head coach Andy Reid, fresh off of an ugly firing from the Philadelphia Eagles, sit atop the NFL thanks to a great defense and smart, efficient offense. The Chiefs boast the NFL's #1 ranked scoring defense, allowing their offense to run the ball and control the clock without committing turnovers. Led by outstanding young running back, Jamaal Charles, and a new quarterback, Alex Smith, the Chiefs offense is doing exactly what they need to do to win football games. Smith, a former #1 overall draft pick, is himself fresh off an ugly exit after being released by the San Francisco 49ers, runs an efficient offense that does not turn the ball over and allows the Chiefs stifling defense to win games.
   
  While the Chiefs are 8-0 and sit high atop the NFL standings, they have not yet played a team with a winning record. Critics are quick to point out that the Chiefs have faced the NFL's easiest schedule over the first 8 games of the season, despite being the sole NFL team without a loss. Amidst claims of the Chiefs being the worst undefeated team in recent memory, “I hadn’t heard that,” receiver Dwayne Bowe says, “But I heard we’re the only 9-0 team.” With two showdowns in the next month against division rival and NFL powerhouse Denver Broncos, the country will be left to watch closely how the upstart Chiefs fare throughout the rest of the season, as well as the playoffs.

Jacksonville in Jeopardy of Losing Jaguars

   The Jacksonville Jaguars are on pace to break the NFL's all-time record for single-season futility. Through the first 7 games of the 2013-14 campaign, the Jaguars are a pathetic 0-7 with a point differential of minus-146. That means that the Jaguars are on pace to absolutely shatter the all-time record for worst point differential in a single season, a mark set by the 1976 expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs finished with a record of 0-14 with a points differential of -287. The 2008 Lions are the only team to ever go 0-16, and they finished with a -249 mark for point differnetial. None of this matters to the JAcksonville Jaguars, who seem well on their way to shattering both of these records. The Jags are on pace for a -334 scoring difference as well as, of course, a dreadful 0-16 record.

   Not suprisingly, the Jacksonville fans are fed up with the team's horrific performance. The team has not made the playoffs since 2007, when they lost in the first round. In the past two years alone the team is 2-21. There are whispers about moving the Jaguars franchise to a more enticing location than Jacksonville, Florida, where the team has been based since 1995. The most interesting option is moving the Jags to become the NFL's first international team, based in London. However, the owner of the Jaguars has a lease on the stadium in Jacksonville that would cost 100$ million to settle if the team moved before 2030. So, a move does not seem possible, at least in the near future. Fans in Jacksonville and across the country would like to start seeing competitive football games instead of 20 point margins of victory over the Jaguars every week. It is not like the team has never won before, making the playoffs in 4 straight years in the late 1990s and posting .500 or better records for 4 years straight from 2004-07, making the playoffs twice.

   As of now, though, the Jaguars rank dead last in the NFL in (brace yourself) team record, total offense, scoring offense, scoring defense, point differential, yardage differential, margin of victory, turnovers, turnovers forced, and turnover differential. Safe to say, if the Jags don't start showing that they are a legitimate NFL franchise, they might be on the move long before 2030 rolls around and the stadium lease is up.

Adrian Peterson's Son Dies

Adrian Peterson's son passed away this Friday, and a man was arrested and charged for the crime. Police arrested Joseph Robert Patterson, 27, who was initially charged with aggravated assault and aggravated assault on an infant. Police said additional charges are being considered. Sioux Falls Police responded to 6201 South Connie Avenue, Apt. No. 118 for a medical emergency at 5:46 p.m. on Wednesday. The child was found unresponsive and rushed to an area hospital for treatment. Joseph Patterson was home alone with the child, and injuries were deemed "not accidental and consistent with abuse" by police. Patterson who has a lengthy rccord for violence against women, is the boyfriend of Adrian Peterson's son's mother. Patterson was alone with the child when the crime was committed; the boy was severely injured and was being held in critical condition before he eventually passed away.
As tragic as this is, Peterson maintains that he will play in the Vikings home game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Leading the league in rushing last year coming off of a season-ending ACL tear, Peterson came within 9 yards of the all-time single-season rushing record. One of the hardest working players in the NFL, Peterson welcomes critics who claim that the running back uses PEDs . To his accusers he confidently says, "Wow. They think I’m on HGH? I’m doing that good? Well, hoo! Thank you, Jesus!’ It’s a compliment." A great leader in the NFL like Peterson, known as AD "All Day" by his teammates, is the last player to deserve such a horrible tragedy. We can only hope that Joseph Patterson is punished to the fullest extent of the law and that this heinous crime does not hinder the Hall of Fame career of Adrian Peterson. My heart goes out to a great person and a great player; my thoughts and best wishes are with Peterson and his family.

Clowney Clowning Injury?

Clowney Clowning Injury?

    Does Jadeveon Clowney care about the rest of his amateur career at South Carolina? Should he? In light of recent criticism of Clowney's decision to sit out of Carolina's 35-28 victory over Kentucky this weekend, doubters have arisen and spoken out against the superstar defensive end "saving himself for the NFL". Clowney, a potential #1 overall draft pick next year and preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, has, in all reality, eliminated his already slim chance of becoming the first defensive player to win a Heisman with lackluster play in the season's first few weeks, especially against rival North Carolina. If a Heisman Trophy is not within reach for Clowney, and acknowledging that South Carolina does not have the talent to make a run at the National Championship game, many wonder what there is for Clowney to play for, and risk injury during, at South Carolina.

    Is Clowney wrong in sitting out of regular season games this year at South Carolina preparing for a lengthy run of success in the NFL? Absolutely not. Many believe Clowney is not nearly as hurt as he claims. Even head coach, and former Heisman winner himself, Steve Spurrier, criticized the star end for sitting out the entirety of the Kentucky game. Spurrier was quoted when asked about the status of the injured star, "I would welcome Clowney to play for the team if he wants. But if he doesn't want to play, he doesn't have to play. Simple as that." With his draft stock not in question, for now, Clowney is smart for going against conventional thinking in football by saving himself while hurting the team by not playing. But millions of dollars await the 6'6" end in the NFL, and if it means Steve Spurrier has to go without Clowney for parts of this season, so be it.

Anybody's Game

ANYBODY'S GAME

    This year's Major League Baseball playoffs promises to be one of the most competitive and entertaining in years. Lacking a true favorite in either the American League or the National League, the race for the title seems wide open. With riveting ALDS matchup pitting perrenial powerhouses such as the Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves against superb teams such as the Tampa Bay Rays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, who ripped off 42 wins in 50 games earlier this year,  the eventual champion will have to  earn it to say the least.

    In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers, even though they are on the road against the Braves, are my choice to win and go to the World Series. If not, Atlanta looks to be the favorite over Pittsburgh or St. Louis. Although both teams have had great runs to this point, Los Angeles and Atlanta have the pitching to win the World Series if they can get there. In the American League, if the Boston Red Sox are not the favorites, I don't know who is. Detroit has a very tough series in Oakland, but if they can get past the Atheletics, they would be considered the toughest competition to stop the Red Sox in the hunt for a championship.  I believe that because of superior pitching as well as an incredibly potent lineup, the Boston Red Sox will defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in 6 games in the  World Series.

Can anyone stop Kansas?

    It is never too early to start the conversation about the 2013-14 college basketball season. The preseason favorite, the Kansas Jayhawks, look to have all the pieces of a championship team for the upcoming season. Signing #1 overall recruit, Canadian forward Andrew Wiggins leads a Jayhawks squad with superb balance an leadership to complement hit superb talent. Among the contenders to knock off Kansas are familiar faces: Kentucky and Duke. Kentucky is back with yet another #1 recruiting class in the nation and will be led by rising stars Andrew and Aaron Harrison as well as Julius Randle. With 5 of the top 10 recruits in the nation coming to Lexington, the Wildcats will be a young contender for the title. Duke is back under Coach K led by #2 overall recruit Jabari Parker, as well as a veteran Duke squad that will be a brutal matchup for any team in the country. One team that could end Kansas' unbelievable streak of 9 straight Big 12 titles is Oklahoma State. Returning guards Marcus Smart and Le'Bryan Nash form the best and most experienced backcourt in the country.  In April, however, we will be watching Mike Kryzyzewski and the Duke Blue Devils cut down the nets in Arlington.

Oklahoma St. Football: Busted

Oklahoma St. Football: Busted

   This past week revealed much about dastardly goings on inside the rising college football program at Oklahoma State University. The Cowboys have been on the rise for the recent few years after having spent many years as a basement-dwelling laughingstock of a program as its in-state archrival, Oklahoma, never faltered from the top of the college football rankings. Alas, Oklahoma State's rise to the top was not what it seemed. Simply, they were cheating.

   

   Under Coaches Les Miles and then later Mike Gundy, it has been reported that players were given illegal benefits in just about every possible way you could dream of. Money was awarded to players who performed well during games, sometimes in excess of $1,000 for any particular game's performance. Even less important players who were not headed to the NFL and were not directly responsible for the team's success or failure were rewarded with hundreds of dollars handed to them for performances on or off the field. All of money given to these so-called student-atheletes is incomprehensibly illegal. In addition to these players being paid against the rules, they were given academic handicaps that were only available to successful football stars at the college. Even worse was the alleged rampant drug use by the football team. Says ex-star linebacker Donnell Williams, "Drugs were everywhere." Coach Les Miles even went as far as to hire a staff of females to show recruits around the school; the women had sex with many of the recruits allegedly. The school will investigate itself and will figure out the next course of action for their troubled football program.