Happy anniversary

Today is the second anniversary of the blog, which proves that time really does fly when your having fun. Before I get into the 2008 baseball preview, here’s my thinking on the best of the last two years:


Best basketball game: Cleveland-Detroit----May 31, 2007
The 2006 playoffs was by far the best post-season since Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in ’98, but no single game can match the LeBron game of the ’07 Eastern Conference Finals. LeBron James scored 29 of the Cavs’ final 30 points, completely taking over the game down the stretch. Of course they wound up getting swept by San Antonio in the most boring Finals of all-time, but for one night, LBJ and the Cavs were the best there was.

Best baseball game: Colorado-San Diego---October 1, 2007
In a one game playoff to make the real post-season, the Rockies and Padres had to play 13 innings to determine a winner. After being tied at 6 for four innings, the visitor Padres scored two in the top of the 13th to take the lead. With future Hall-of-Famer Trevor Hoffman on the hill, it looked like SD had sealed it up. But the Rocks had other plans. They scored three in the bottom of the inning, though I still say that the final run- the game winner- was an out. The safe/out debate only adds to the intensity of this classic game.

Best football game: Boise State-Oklahoma---January 1, 2007
Hook-and-latter followed by a tight end pass followed by a statue of liberty handoff to win a BCS bowl game against one of the well known football schools of all time. Yeah, I would say that Boise State’s finish to the ’07 Fiesta Bowl will be remembered for a long time.

Best overall athlete: Devin Hester, Bears
Call it a homer pick if you want, but the stats speak for themselves. In two seasons, the Windy City Flyer has 12 regular season return touchdowns and another one on the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI. #23 also had two receiving scores this past season and became the first player to ever get an 100 speed rating in Madden.

Best movie: “Trapped in the Closet”
OK, so its not a real cinematic movie. And yes, it came out in 2005. But chapters 13-22 came out last summer and the new, extended movie is even better than the original. And if you don’t think so, you’re crazier than a fish with titties.

Best song: “Black Republican” by Nas and Jay-Z
Five years ago, nobody would have ever guessed Esco and Hova would appear on the same track. But thankfully, these two got past whatever problems they had with each other and made one hell of a song.

Best album: “Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor” by Lupe Fiasco
A lot of contenders for this title, but I thought I’d give the nod to one of Chi-Town’s finest. The lyrics are so deep, I’m sure that there are some deep subliminal messages in some of the songs that I do not even understand. Verses don’t get much better than Lupe’s opening one in “Pressure”.


Best YouTube video:



Now that we got out of the way, here’s how I see the 2008 baseball season unfolding.

AL East- Boston Red Sox
AL Central- Cleveland Indians
AL West- Anaheim Angels (I still refuse to call them by their official name)
AL Wild Card- New York Yankees
AL MVP- Manny Ramirez, Boston
AL Cy Young- Felix Hernandez, Seattle
AL Champ- Indians

NL East- Atlanta Braves
NL Central- Cubs
NL West- Colorado Rockies
NL Wild Card- New York Mets
NL MVP- Alfonso Soriano, Cubs
NL Cy Young- Johan Santana, Mets
NL Champ- Rockies*

WS Champ- Indians**


• Obviously I want to pick a different team for this spot, a team that I think improved themselves from last season, a team that- if healthy- could contend for the best record in the National League. But for obvious jinx purposes, I will not be selecting this team.

** If the team from * actually wins the NL, I will pick them to beat Cleveland in what would be the most watched World Series of all time. (Actually any Series featuring team * would be)