November Reign

By Sports Enthusiast and Guru Ryan Mitchell, Contributing Blogger

The 2014-2015 College basketball season has officially arrived after its long 7-month hiatus, following UCONN’s surprise run through the tournament last spring. Yesterday marked the start of a new season with ESPN hosting its annual 24-hour marathon of games. This year, the marathon was culminated in a pair of ranked showdowns as part of the annual Champions Classic Event in Indianapolis. The event featured #4 Duke running away from #22 Michigan State and #1 Kentucky throttling #5 Kansas.

Much like last year, the hype floodgates following this event are wide open amongst the media and fans alike. One only has to look back to the results of the same event last season in Chicago, in which #2 Michigan State knocked off #1 Kentucky and #5 Kansas took care of #4 Duke, to realize the overall impact, or lack thereof, on determining the outcome of each participant’s season. Following the event last year, the aforementioned outlets would have had you believing that Michigan State and Kansas were destined for a collision in the Final Four in Dallas because of their showings on that chilly November evening.

As it played out, Duke was knocked out in their first game of the NCAA tournament, and neither of those schools reached those lofty expectations or Dallas. In fact, it was event that sent Kentucky into a regular season nosedive in which they were only an 8 seed headed into the tournament. In fairness, the Wildcats then went on a semi-miraculous run of buzzer beaters and close game victories that spared the group of entirely being labeled failures. Unfortunately for them, their luck ran out to a more disciplined and mature UCONN team in the National Championship game. This begs the question, that for all of that hype and all of the talking heads supposed “expertise,” where was UCONN in that conversation that night in November where we all fawned over the supposed pre-Final Four?

Thus, as media and fans, let’s hold ourselves to the higher standard that we will keep things in perspective this season and not buy into sensationalism or incomplete early season rankings and results! It’s a simple request and one that will make your viewing this season far more enjoyable. Look outside of the rankings and look outside of the “Big 5 conferences” when viewing. Keep looking outside of network affiliated conference promotions that will cloud your ability to think of any other game that night. The best part of college basketball is that there is always a game being played and the significance of that game remains to be determined. No matter how small it may seem because of the names on the jersey, it’s of the same importance because one of those teams can and will ruin your school or your bracket come tournament time.

 Enjoy the “November Reign”  

College Basketball is Back

As college basketball kicks off tonight, I can't help but think of the crazy moments, as well as the head-scratching moments, of the past. Like, how did Kentucky not win it all with John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins and Eric Bledsoe on the same team? And, the same goes for that UCLA squad with Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Darren Collision.

The truth is, college basketball is so unpredictable that anything can truly happen in March. Isn't that why we watch? It's the unimaginable madness, those diaper dandies and that "One Shining Moment" song sung by Jennifer Hudson (Okay, maybe not that) that keeps us glued to our seats.

But, forget March for now. The college hoops regular season is upon us, and the long journey begins. Despite a 2014 NBA Draft regarded by some experts as one that will go down as one of the best in history, there are plenty of returning star athletes and story lines to keep us interested. Can Sean Miller finally reach a Final Four with Arizona? Will Kentucky, loaded with recruits and the return of the Harrison brothers, win it all? Can Wisconsin break through with most of their team returning, and will they have to go through Arizona in another epic game to do so? Will other traditional powerhouses like Kansas, Duke or North Carolina make another run?

All these questions and more will be answered in the ensuing 5 months. In case you want to jump the gun and relive the best March moments, I suggest clicking on this website, one of the best and little known ones on the planet. Otherwise, sit back and enjoy the ride. It should be another insane roller coaster.

NBA: Quick Takeaways and Season Predictions

Except for that irresistible chocolate you've been dying to have, there's nothing sweeter than a buzzer beater. That was on full display Wednesday night, when Gordon Hayward nailed a step back jumper at the buzzer, sending the Utah crowd into a frenzy, and Lebron and company packing with another loss.

Buoyed up by that epic finish, I thought there was no better time to get into my quick takeaways and predictions for this season.

High Ceiling Out West

San Antonio is definitely the favorite, but the rest is up for grabs! With Durant out for up to two months and Westbrook out at least a month, who knows about Oklahoma City? The next six teams feature a lot of exciting potential, but time will tell on who emerges out of the pack of Golden State, the Los Angeles Clippers, Portland, Houston, Memphis and Dallas.

My initial thoughts are that Golden State looks great under Kerr, but much of their success will depend on a healthy David Lee and Andrew Bogut. As for Houston, they are an exciting team to watch and off to a huge start, but their bench leaves much to be desired, Harden can't guard a chair and Howard isn't a winner. Despite getting thumped by Golden State, I believe the Clippers will wind up a top 4 seed, but they are a team that has underachieved for years. Portland has a very bright, young team, but they must have home court to do anything special. On the other hand, Memphis plays maybe the best defense in basketball, but they have lacked offensive firepower and battled injuries for years. And for my Dallas Mavericks, they have a much more talented team this year under a great coach, but they must learn to gel together and play good defense if they want to go anywhere in the playoffs.

The East Garbage

It's only been two weeks, but how bad is the Eastern Conference? You only have 4 teams with winning records, and if you're scoring at home, that's 11 with losing ones. Out West, you not only have 8 teams with winning records, but 3 of them are also undefeated.

Despite how poorly Cleveland has looked, I still expect the East to be a two-team race between them and Chicago. But, I will say that Miami, Washington and Toronto have the talent to make for an interesting playoffs, especially if a guy like Derrick Rose or Kevin Love were to go down. As much as some people hate the New York teams, it's far less interesting when they are both lousy. If the Bulls and Cavs can develop a fun rivalry, or those younger teams can rise up and challenge them, it could make for an exciting playoffs.

The Flames: Will They Burn Out?

The two initial surprises to this point have to be Houston and Sacramento. As crazy as it sounds, Sacramento is 4-1. It seems that Demarcus "Boogie" Cousins has finally tempered his inner demons and become a leader behind his immense talent. I still think they just don't have the talent to make the playoffs, and see them winning 35 games at the most. As for Houston, they're sitting pretty at 6-0, but I think their lack of depth will catch up with them. Trevor Ariza has been a wonderful addition, adding the defense they badly needed. But, I think losing two starters in Lin and Asik will catch up with them. Look for them to get a top six seed, and fizzle out in the playoffs.

The Predictions

It's lame and predictable, but I see the Spurs beating the Cavs in the finals. If Rose is healthy, the Bulls have a better overall team than Cleveland, but I can't bank on his health. As for a bold prediction, I think you will see Golden State in the finals in the next four years. Stephen Curry is already a dark horse MVP candidate, Klay Thompson got paid and is thriving early, and Steve Kerr seems like the perfect man for the job. I believe they will be the most fun team to watch this year and a tough out for anyone because of their hunger and talent.

Steve Nash: The Ultimate Underdog, Road Warrior and Consummate Professional

Many people remember Steve Nash for many things: a Canadian hero, a redefining player and a great passer. For me, he was simply my favorite Dallas Mavericks player in history.

I remember watching this scrawny-looking point guard in 1998 from Reunion Arena, as a chorus of boos rained down from the rafters. The young buck leading the inept Dallas team was Mr. Nash, who went on to shoot only 36% that season.

Nash had so many reasons not to be an NBA starter, much less a superstar. In high school, he nearly averaged a triple double, but that was at a private boarding school in Canada. In college, he had a fine career but not jaw-dropping statistics, and he went to Santa Clara, whose basketball team hadn't been relevant since the late '60s. After his junior season at Santa Clara, he decided against going pro, as a first round draft spot seemed minute. He proved that to be a wise decision, having a solid senior campaign and getting drafted in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, albeit to a slew of boos by Suns fans on draft day.

Very few knew who he was, and even fewer could predict what was about to ensue. Just five years into his pro career, the affectionately nicknamed "Hair Canada" player became an NBA all-star and a first-team All-NBA selection for the first time. Then, the summer of 2004 struck, one of the darker off-seasons of my sports life. I can't blame Nash for heading back to the Valley of the Sun, though, as it seems apparent that Mark Cuban and Donnie Nelson took his suspected return for granted.

In the next two years, Nash would win back-to-back MVPs and lead the Suns to the Western Conference Finals. He nearly won a 3rd straight MVP, but his best buddy and former running mate in Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, claimed the title. The two would go on to have an exciting rivalry, but it was one that Mavericks fans like myself just couldn't embrace.

Flash forward to Dallas winning it all in 2011. There is no doubt I was feeling ecstatic and beside myself. However, as the excitement began to waver, ever so slightly, in the coming weeks, something felt off. It was that Nash was not a part of the championship.

People ask me what I loved so much about Nash, a player who was with the Mavs for only about 1/3 of his NBA career. If I could put it into four words, it would be work ethic, will and wisdom. Nash didn't have the innate talent of most NBA players. He couldn't jump out of the gym, or get an easy bucket like most stars. The truth is, he battled through back injuries his whole career, and did so against many bigger, stronger players. But, the wisdom that emerged through his vision, the work ethic to outperform those with more innate talent and the will to play through any injury or setback makes him truly my favorite Maverick.

As the news recently broke that he will miss this season and possibly enter retirement, I found myself feeling bad for Nash, not being able to end on his own terms. But, then I remembered who Nash is as a player and a person, and that should be his legacy. To me, he was the Derek Jeter of basketball, without the rings. The way he conducted himself on and off the court, keeping his private life private and being so consistent, were eerily reminiscent of Jeter. There's a reason he was named by Time as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. His passion for the game, his vision, his skills and his charisma were infectious for fans, and will never be forgotten.

Whether or not he comes back for one more run, it's okay that he never won a title. He will always be remembered for his warrior spirit, underdog mentality and professionalism. Thank you for giving us everything you had on every night, and for leaving the game a better place.

It’s Always Sunny in Arizona

By Sports Enthusiast and Guru Ryan Mitchell, Contributing Blogger

At first glance, one would say that the 2014 season has been kind, to say the least, to the Arizona Cardinals. This year’s Super Bowl host has thus far overcome quite a bit to be sitting pretty at 5-1, and is on pace to potentially buck the long-term host city jinx. No team since the 1984 San Francisco 49ers has reached the Super Bowl in a year in which they were host to the big game. In addition, since 1984, only four host city teams have even made the playoffs in the same year, a stunningly low percentage over a 30-year span in a league in which such parity exists. Call it chance, collusion, or a little bit of both, but that is what these Cardinals are up against this season. It’s a start only fitting after QB Carson Palmer went down with a shoulder injury in Week 1 and missed three weeks in a row.

Fortunately for the birds of the desert, he is back now and as sharp as ever. Their 5^th ranked defense has been the strength of the team, stopping the run and forcing turnovers. In the hotly contested NFC West division, the Cardinals have been the mark of consistency and now have an inconceivable comfortable early season lead. The schedule continues to provide challenges with upcoming contests against the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, which should give us a much clearer picture of this team. Should they be able to split, or dare I say even sweep, the next two games, it would impossible to deny them of being the class of the entire NFC. The question then becomes, for a team sitting at 5-1, how many wins will it take to make the postseason and threaten the long-standing jinx? Last year, these very Cardinals won an impressive 10 games and missed the playoffs. History couldn’t possibly repeat itself, could it? These are some of the things to keep in mind as you begin to shift your Sunday late afternoon game viewing towards the team from the valley of the sun. Keep on shining Cardinals. Keep on shining.

     

      

Man Alive: Royals World Series Bound

It's around mid-October, and the Kansas City Royals are playing baseball. I never thought I'd say that in my lifetime.

What looked like a nice story for the city just to make the wild card game has turned into one of the most Cinderella stories in baseball history. In a sport dominated by lopsided payroll teams like the Yankees and Red Sox, it's so refreshing to see the ultimate underdog make the biggest stage in the sport.

Perhaps, the person most indicative of just how unpredictable and chaotic this run has been is Brandon Finnegan. Before September 6, he had never pitched an MLB game. A month later, he was pitching crucial innings for the Royals in the playoffs!

But, leaving the heroics aside, let's give these Royals the credit they deserve. It's not like they had an easy path. In fact, it was arguably one of the toughest paths of any team in recent memory. First, you have Oakland, who was once 28 games over .500 and seemed to be a lock for a top two seed. They disposed of the A's in wild, walk-off fashion. Then, you had the Anaheim Angels, who sported the best record in baseball. Sweep. Then, you had the Baltimore Orioles, who were tied for the 2nd best record in baseball, winning 96 games in the highly touted AL East. Sweep.

And now, you have the San Francisco Giants. They may not seem intimidating on paper, but their success is undeniable. Going for three championships in five years, it will definitely be a David and Goliath matchup. And, Kansas City fans wouldn't have it any other way!

What will unfold? Will KC go 12-0? Can they finish off the biggest underdog story in MLB history? We will have to see. One thing I do know is that no one will remember this if they don't. No one remembers the 2007 Rockies. So, you better just win the damn thing!

From Spooky to Haunting: The Scary Good Sports Month of October

By Sports Enthusiast and Guru Ryan Mitchell, Contributing Blogger

Good Morning sports fans,

This nice fall day marks the 10^th day of the 10^th month of the year 2014, which means that it’s time for us all to be grateful for what is the start of the pinnacle stretch of the sports calendar. For the next 21 days, we will be treated to a plethora of games across every major sport, from champagne popping in baseball to midnight madness in college basketball. So much action that even the NHL die-hards won’t know what to do with themselves. Trick or Treat? I say treat.

It all starts with the MLB Postseason, in which either the long-suffering Royals or Orioles will be a participant of epic underdog proportions. Not to mention the possibility of a Black and Orange jersey showdown between the Orioles and Giants. How October-fitting would that be leading up to Halloween?

From there, we have College Football with conference play finally settling in across the country, leading to upsets, shootouts and whacky rankings each weekend. Enough excitement and intrigue in the first year of the playoff system to make it necessary to have a case of the pumpkin beer of your choice handy each Saturday.

NFL Sundays are becoming increasingly meaningful as contenders are taking form and fantasy league unpredictability is at a new height. Each week, owners should fear the breakout explosion from a little known third string running back on the other side of their matchup.

The seemingly never-ending NHL season is underway, with the defending champion L.A. Kings already pinned with a loss to their name. That may be the only headline, as it’s simply just too early to think about ice or hockey. Then again, winter is right around the corner. In the meantime, expect numerous Chicago Blackhawk overtime victories and brief capsulated highlights, while you impatiently wait for the next big football highlight. For the sadists out there, though, this is something to enjoy and be thankful for.

The NBA preseason has begun, which begs the question why they don’t just start the season well before Halloween and cut out these snoozer exhibition games. That said, one only has to wait until the end of the month for the 2014-2015 regular season to begin. After an annual October ritual of remembering who went where in the offseason, it didn’t take long to remember the unfortunate nightmarish realization that the Spurs are still the Spurs.

Finally, the start of the madness that is the College Basketball season is nearly upon us. With practices firing up across campuses everywhere, we can only count the days until the formulation of March’s love baby takes place. Fight songs, dunks, Bill Raftery and much more.

Get your candy corn ready and sit back and enjoy everyone. Bliss has finally made its way to your flat screens, IPhones and laptops. Happy October!