BASEBALL: N.Y. Mets at N.Y. Yankees

Today's one to watch is the renewal of the famed "subway series" in New York City. The 1st place Mets make the the 10 mile trip to the Bronx to take on the rival Yankees for a 3 game series. While the Yanks just took 2 of 3 from the lowly Braves, the Mets are coming off their first 3 game losing streak of the season after being swept in Boston. Game 1 will feature the Yanks co-ace Mike Mussina matched up against past Yankee playoff-hero Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez.

This series will be an interesting test of both teams. The Mets still have a big lead in the NL East and have already punched their ticket to the playoffs. However, Mets fans expect more than a mere division title from this magical season where everything has come together. Are the Mets a complete team that is capable of winning the pennant? Of winning it all? Only time will tell. However, this series will show how they deal with some early adversity. On the other hand, the Yankees know they're going to have a stiff fight to keep pace with the Red Sox. Boston has now won 12 games in a row and has given notice that they intend finally to capture the AL East title.

My pick: N.Y. Yankees. The Mets have hit a mild bump in the road. As such, I expect Joe Torre's boys to win 2 of 3 at home. But this could be a blessing in disguise, Met fans. Your team is solid but does have a few holes which could hurt in the playoffs (such as the back end of the rotation and 2B). This is the time for Omar Minaya to see the needs he has to fill, as good GM's like Theo Epstein and Walt Jocketty do every year. I still have a hunch that one of the NY teams will land Alfonso Soriano.



So that's what I'll be watching. Who will you be watching? Yankees star player Derek Jeter? Or Yankees star fan Sarah Jessica Parker?

That's So Fucking Cool!!!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was interested in the 2006 NBA Draft for many reasons. One reason that I didn't anticipate until actually watching the draft was realizing that I would be seeing one of my former students get drafted into the NBA! He barely made it. But with the 58th pick, the Dallas Mavericks drafted McDonough, GA's own Danilo (J.R.) Pinnock out of George Washington University.





I taught at Eagle's Landing High School in McDonough, GA for seven months in the 2000-2001 academic year. One of the classes for which I was a last-minute replacement was Computer Applications. It was pretty easy for the students and for me too. We mostly worked on Power Point presentations. I gave everybody the opportunity to make such a presentation for their own fake business. It was a bullshit class, but you need some of those in high school.

I don't remember what J.R.'s particular topic was, but I'll never forget him to be the tall, mild-mannered, slightly afroed, high school stud from my 4th period Computer App class whom I always asked to playfully remove the pick from his hair (I'll also never forget, nor regret, bumping his grade up from a 78 to an 80 before submitting it to the AP either). I believe he played on the football team as well, but it was his dominance on the court for which J.R. really stood out.

J.R. Pinnock starred for a bad Eagle's Landing basketball team in that his junior year. He could shoot, pass, dribble, dunk....he did it all. As I left the school to enter law school, he also transferred that summer to Coastal Christian Academy in Virginia Beach. It's one of those prep school basketball powerhouses where talented kids go to attract the attention of prominent college coaches. I remember talking with J.R. and him telling me his goal was to go to Syracuse and play for Jim Boeheim. He had recently even made a visit to the Carrier Dome with his family.

That didn't work out, but J.R. did go on to play for George Washington University. He had a solid 3 year college career, including averaging 14.5 points during the Colonials' surprising 26 win 2005-2006 season. Pinnock scorred 11 points in GW's win over UNC-Wilmington in the 1st round of the NCAA tournament, but only netted 8 on 4-15 shooting in their loss to Duke.

I thought it was pretty cool that one of my former students was having a nice college basketball career. I didn't know he was turning pro. And I certainly had no idea that he would be drafted by Mark Cuban!

I know it's a longshot for someone drafted 58th to contribute to an NBA team. But it does happen. And I sure hope it happens for J.R. Pinnock. Back then he was a good guy who deserved a chance. I'm sure the same is still true today.

I remember shooting around with him a few times in the gym while I was trying to be one of those cool teachers who mixes with the kids (actually, at 24 years old & 6'4, 210 lbs, back then I was also a pretty decent basketball player). J.R. was amazing. I've played with some decent Atlantic 10 players in games in the old gym while I attended Fordham University. I've also played with some even better players on courts in urban East Point, Jonesboro, and College Park while I lived in Georgia. And none of these ballers compared to J.R. Pinnock. - not even "Hotsauce" the little guy from And 1 whom I also played with a few times!

And that's something we often forget when we watch pro athletes. J.R. Pinnock might never be an NBA All-Star. But he could still run circles around me and 99.9% of decent pick-up baseketball players, no less 100% of your average fans.

Congratulations to Danilo "J.R." Pinnock. I am so happy for you. But I am even happier for me that now I have another "brush with greatness" story to tell for the rest of my life! :)

Danilo "J.R." Pinnock's player card from CBS Sportsline

ESPN's 2nd Round 2006 NBA Draft List

TENNIS: Maria Sharapova vs. Ashley Harkleroad

This is an easy one. Although I'm interested in the Schilling-Glavine duel and seeing if the Red Sox can sweep, today's one to watch is the tennis match between Maria Sharapova and Ashley Harkleroad. Yes, TennisTitan, I know Agassi is playing today at Wimbledon too. Nobody has been a bigger Andre fan over the years than me and I'll be rooting for him to win one for the road. But after seeing all those short-skirt Canon camera commercials recently, I'd much rather recommend that my readers follow Maria's highlights for the next 2 weeks.

Now I'm going to warn you, especially if you're not a tennis fan, you may want to turn down the volume on your tv when watching Sharapova in action. With each stroke of the ball, she lets out a loud grunt as if in pain from the sudden thrusting of her body. On second thought, if I'm going to put it that way, one might actually enjoy listening to such sounds. Perhaps it only adds to Maria's surplus of charms.

Unlike her Russian tennis-sex-goddess predecessor, Anna Kournikova, Sharapova is actually a very good tennis player. She's ranked 4th in the world and already won Wimbledon in 2004. Maria is 19 years old and at the very top of her game. Her opponent today is a player I've heard of but never really seen. Ashley Harkleroad is American, 21 years old, blonde, from the state of Georgia, and ranked 76th in the world. These are generally good qualities but they just can't compare with the form I'm seeing in those Canon commercials.

My pick: Maria Sharapova. In all seriousness, Sharapova has a power game that only a select few players can match when she's playing well. And she's got a body that only one player-turned-model can match (even if Kournikova plays like shit in doing so).



So that's what I'll be watching today. Who will you be watching? Maria Sharapova? Or Maria Sharapova?

BASKETBALL: 2006 NBA Draft

The 2006 NBA Draft is today's one to watch. I've always been a big draft guy. The NFL Draft gets a lot more attention and I enjoy it tremendously, but in many ways it's a little harder to watch. The NFL Draft drags on for two days and fans have to wait a long 15 minutes between early picks. While that may leave more time for highlights, interviews, and Mel Kiper, the NBA draft consists of only 2 rounds and moves at a much quicker pace. In the past the NBA Draft has sometimes gotten a bit too "hip hop" for my tastes (no more shout-outs to your boys back home, ok?), but recent years have seen a rising number of likeable, well-spoken young stars make their happy entry into the Association on draft day.

This year's NBA draft is different than most in that there's no consensus #1 pick. Toronto holds the top selection and is thought still to be deciding between unknown 7' Italian star Andrea Bargnani , UConn sophomore forward Rudy Gay, and Washington's PAC 10 player-of-the-year guard Brandon Roy. I'm also interested to see where 2005-2006 top NCAA scorers Adam Morrison and J.J. Redick land. Redick's recent DUI and back injury will probably see his stock fall, but Adam Morrison has too strong of a game to slip past the 5th pick. Portland appears to covet him with the 4th pick and keeping the "Man with the Stache" in the Northwest might work well.

My #1 pick: Tyrus Thomas. The freshman big man literally jumped to national attention when he surprisingly led LSU to the Final Four. He's somewhat lanky but should put on muscle as he develops a pro game. And I think his shot blocking alone won a few critical games for LSU in the tournament. Thomas can run the floor, rebound, and score too. He reminds me of Amare Stoudamire.



So that's what I'll be watching. What will you be watching? Italian basketball star Andrea Bargnani? Or Italian chef and Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis?

SOCCER: France vs. Spain

I considered recommending some tennis today. But it's raining at Wimbledon and I don't even know who's playing. Maybe later in the fortnight. Instead we turn again to the World Cup. The round of 16 has already seen some great play. Both England and Argentina won their games by amazing goals, Portugal advanced in a game setting a record for fouls, Italy triumphed with only 10 seconds left in its match, and Ukraine yesterday eliminated the Swiss after 120+ minutes of scoreless play in a thrilling shootout. In hopes of another exciting game, today's one to watch is the matchup of France and Spain.

I'm sure each of these counties doesn't like the idea of being eliminated by its neighbor across the Pyrennes. France won the World Cup in 1998 led by Zinedine Zidane but hasn't done much since. A loss today would likely be the aging star's last game in international play. France looked less than impressive in advancing to the 2nd round this year with a 1-0-2 record and only scoring 3 goals. On the other hand, Spain has been dominant so far. They have a perfect 3-0 record and have outscored their opponents 8-1. I don't know much about soccer, but Spain seems to be the clear favorite here.

My pick: Spain. Eric Wynalda (one of the best jocks-turned-analysts I've recently seen) described Spain as the Boston Red Sox of the World Cup. That means they should win this game but are also very capable of finding a way to lose.



So that's what I'll be watching. What will you be watching? Spain vs. France? Or would you still rather watch the Brazil game?

BASEBALL: Oregon State vs. North Carolina

I've been waiting for a really good matchup from the College World Series to recommend one here. Being that this is the final game, tonight's meeting of the Oregon State Beavers and the North Carolina Tar Heels must be the one to watch. This year's College World Series has been a lot of fun. You can really tell just how much ESPN's pro announcers enjoy being around these student athletes. Even though it gets far less publicity than the NCAA's football or basketball post-seasons, the CWS in Omaha always seems to be a good show. And I don't think I've ever seen any form of playoffs with so many comebacks, including several of the 9th inning variety.

Oregon State has been the Cinderella of the tourney. They lost their first game against the always strong Miami Hurricanes 11-1. The Beavers then promptly won 4 games in a row to avoid double elimination and reach the final series. On the other hand, North Carolina has been the dominator of this year's competition. They have solid pitching that includes a very strong bullpen. UNC hadn't even lost a game until falling to the Beavers yesterday. In fact, North Carolina probably thought they had it wrapped up until OSU came back from an 4th inning 5-0 deficit to win 11-7 and force a deciding game 3.

My pick: North Carolina. The state is on a roll with the Hurricane's recent Stanley Cup win. The Tar Heels would surprisingly be the first ACC team to win the College World Series since Wake Forest won in 1955.



So that's what I'll be watching. What will you be watching? The college game where you hear those cool ping sounds with each crack of the bat? Or will you tune over to VH1 to check out "Paris' Most Shocking" about hotel heiress Paris Hilton? Looks like even she's confused about how to top that little video of hers.

A FAN'S BLOG: Devil Rays 3, Braves 2

The Braves winning streak ends at 1; all good things must come to an end. Running a little late, we arrived at the ballpark for yesterday's game at 7:15pm. I could tell the crowd was bigger than usual. I soon discovered it was "Turn Back the Clock to 1975 Night" and almost 27,000 others showed up for the fun. That may not sound like much, but it's a great crowd by Rays' standards. In fairness, the Braves traveled well. Since they don't come to Tampa often, a good number of Braves' fans were on hand who likely made the easy drive from South Georgia or Northern Florida for the game. In order to properly turn back the clock, stadium employees wore curly afro wigs, the teams wore retro 1975 jerseys, Tommy John, Dave Kingman, and George Foster were on hand for autographs, and we were all treated to a lot of ABBA between innings.


As we approached the stadium lot, we noticed a policeman directing traffic away. After all the bragging I did about free parking there wasn't enough space for my Corolla! Apparently the policy, and indeed the ballpark, were designed with typical crowds of 10,000-20,000 in mind. Once attendance reaches 25,000 the Trop's meager parking lots are swelling. This is because there is absolutely ZERO public transportation to the game and everyone must take a car. The setup makes the Braves' own Marta access look as good as the NYC subway by comparison. So we paid $10 and had to make the 15 minute walk. At least we soon discovered our Upper Deck tickets would be only $5 each on this special night.


There's not much to say about the game. The Rays won 3-2 and looked sharp in their red Tampa Tarpons minor-league uniforms. There were no HR's, but we saw some great defense by the home team. The Braves lineup looked anemic and made an unknown kid look named Tim Corcoron look dominating in his first start. On the other hand, I think the D-Rays could finish .500 and the organization seems to have very good things on the horizon.





So we had a fun time and did pretty well with our budget too. Anna and Jimmy appreciate the buzz of the crowd and the many alternate forms of entertainment (such as the drunks) as much as I enjoy the game. And Dana comes along merely to keep me happy like the good wife she is. Next stop for us will probably be a minor league game in the Florida State League. Maybe later in the summer we'll head over to Miami for a Marlins game too.

AUTO RACING: Nextel Cup Dodge/Save Mart 350

These days I often prefer a good open wheel race on a lazy Sunday afternoon such as Champ Car or Formula One. I find NASCAR's Nextel Cup series has strayed from its original formula for success. Perhaps I'm just bitter that some of my favorite drivers are finally calling it quits as they reach their 50s. However, today is a perfect day for both old fans and new to watch America's ever-growing national pasttime. NASCAR will run at scenic Infineon Raceway located amidst the rolling hills of Northern California's Napa Valley.

If beer-swilling rednecks at places like Talladega turn you off, rest assured today you'll be more likely to see fans sipping merlot. This race is also one of only two road course races on the schedule. Road races are my favorite form of competition. They're the ones where drivers make both left AND right turns (no riding around in a big circle for 500 miles today). Drivers today must navigate the 2 mile course with 10 turns for a grueling 350 miles.

Expect plenty of fun wrecks as drivers look to gain track position. It's difficult to pass on a road course and one must constantly look to move up through the field. Kurt Busch, known for the occasional middle finger and voted one of America's "Most Hated Athletes," starts from the pole. Sadly this race will be FOX's last of the 2006 season. I find their coverage far superior to NBC. So this will be the last chance to hear goofy announcer Darryl Waltrip's starting command, "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity!"

I too better BOOGITY before I lose half my readership!

My pick: Boris Said. The road course specialist (who sports one of the best white man's afros) will be driving a car with owner Jack Roush's dominant Ford horsepower.






So that's what I'll be watching. Who will you be watching? Old Mark Martin and Sterling Marlin? Or do you prefer the more glamorous stars of the Indy Racing League like Danica Patrick?

BASEBALL: Atlanta at Tampa Bay

This is my most-questionable one yet. I know there are a few readers who've already moved the cursor over their browser's back button. But WAIT! This won't be a diatribe of why I love Georgia or Florida baseball. And I'm not going to argue that Tampa Bay is a sports hotbed either. I'll save that one for the next time we're having a few beers together cause we'll need some suds at that point. No, today's one to watch is only the Braves and Devil Rays because I'm taking the family to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg to see the big game in person.

This will be our first game since spring training. D-Rays ownership has gotten very fan-friendly in an attempt to win back fans frustrated after nearly a decade of crap baseball. The dome isn't anything special on the eyes, but it is air conditioned. You see, in South Florida that fact alone lets fans gladly sacrifice more aesthetic ambiances seen in the much nicer ballparks up north. However, at least you can still get upper deck tickets for a mere $6, parking is free right at the stadium, and you can (legally) bring outside food and drinks into the game.

Brief analysis. It took 11 innings, but the Braves ended their 10 game losing streak last night. Salvaging a .500 record and nurturing young players like Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann are now the season's lone goals. On the other hand, Devil Ray fans hope they're watching a team on the rise. New ownership has committed to making the team a winner through the development of homegrown talent such as Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli. And the Rays also have soon-to-be 20 game winner Scott Kazmir anchoring the staff. However, relief pitching remains the most glaring weakness for both teams. If nothing else, I'm sure the late innings of tonight's game will prove to be exciting. And what more can you really ask?

My pick: Tampa Bay. The pitching matchup is Lance Cormier versus someone named Tim Corcoron for the Devil Rays. How can you possibly pick one of those guys? Maybe there will be a few good HR's.

So that's what I'll be watching today - will the Braves put together a smoking hot 2 game winning streak or will Corcoron be too tough?



Who will you be watching? Evan Longoria, the star infielder from Long Beach State University who was selected by the Tampa Bay with the 3rd overall pick of the 2006 MLB Draft? Or do you prefer Desperate Housewife Eva Longoria?

BASEBALL: Washington at Baltimore

Today's one to watch is the newest interleague rivalry on baseball's schedule. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos fought to keep the Montreal Expos from being moved to Washington by MLB. Rather than focusing on the potential for a great metro-area rivalry and future sellouts full of rabid fans (see Yankees-Mets, White Sox-Cubs, Angels-Dodgers), Angelos bitched how having a neighbor would diminish attendance in his ballpark. Being that fans from DC and Virginia no longer need make the arduous Beltway commute to watch baseball, he was probably correct to a very limited extent. But why should a pro sports owner actually focus on what's best for the overall state of the game or its fans, right? Bud Selig set that precedent himself. On second thought, Peter, I think your lackluster product since Cal Ripken said goodbye just might be why ticket sales have fallen in once popular Camden Yards.

I don't know if this rivalry will develop much spark anytime soon. I'll defer to DC or Baltimore residents on that one. Both teams are sub-par. The Orioles are a product of poor personnel decisions and not spending money wisely. The Nationals are a product of not having any money to spend. But I don't think I've ever witnessed a better job of managing a baseball team (translation: leadership) than what classy Frank Robinson has done with the Expos/Nats since he took the helm in 2002. Robinson's club-without-a-home has amazingly achieved a .500 or better record in 3 out of his 4 seasons. Now with new ownership by his side, Washington's fortunes should improve. Look for them to unload stud OF/2B Alfonso Soriano to acquire more prospects. I think Lastings Millege or Aaron Heilman would look great in Nationals' red. Be afraid, Mets fans, be very afraid!

Tonight's game matches John Patterson against Orioles' hurler Rodrigo Lopez. Patterson is coming off a 2 month stint on the DL due to a forearm injury. But he's got great stuff and I'm anxious to see if he can turn his disappointing season around. He'll have to do it away from pitcher-friendly RFK Stadium, however. Camden Yards and its 365' power alleys have been known destroy ERA's. Just ask Lopez and his 6.85 ERA or his famed pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

My pick: Baltimore. Camden Yards is no place to make your return from a 2 month injury to facing big league hitters on a hot summer night.

So that's what I'll be watching today - will Washington show their unfriendly neighbors who's top dog in town or will the O's zap the Nats?



Who will you be watching? Baseball? Or will you be looking to see if Anna Benson is at the game? By request, she proves worthy of 2 appearances here in 3 days.

UPDATE: The game is a 2-1 win for Baltimore and features dominant pitching by both Lopez and Patterson. Wow! And the best part is that the game was also a sellout for the O's. Maybe there will be something to the DC interleague rivalry afterall. Good for baseball - maybe it balances out some of the horrible Kansas City/Pittsburgh matchups.

SOCCER: United States vs. Ghana

This is a day that tests my commitment to the title of this blog. It is called 'The One To Watch', right? Shit. Cause there's a very interesting baseball game tonight on ESPN. 43 year-old Roger Clemens comes out of mini-retirement to make his first start of the season. The Rocket breezed through 3 minor league games and now looks to lead another late season Astros playoff push. Yet as compelling as Clemens' 2006 debut may prove to be, it cannot be today's one to watch. Much more is at stake half way across the sports world.

Today's one to watch is the United States' third match in the World Cup. Once again it's win-or-go-home time for the Americans. They looked much improved in their last outing that resulted in a 1-1 tie against powerful Italy. Now our boys must defeat Ghana and then root for the Italians to beat the Czechs if the US is to reach the 2nd round.

Don't expect Ghana to just roll over. Their win over the Czech Republic has been the biggest surprise of the World Cup. And we know American players always will wear something of a target across their chests - it's the price of our collective might, even if such dominance has never extended to international soccer. The US team must quickly find a way to score. Their lone goal of the tournament was knocked in by an opposing player. Even more discouraging, they've only recorded 1 shot-on-goal so far and it was stopped by the crossbar, not even the opposing goalie.

In conclusion: we can't win if we don't score and we can't score if we don't shoot. A lot of flakes on TV are paid millions to utter such cliches. I wanted my turn here as well. Minus the millions, of course.

My pick: United States. After initial success in 2002, US soccer has (hopefully) come too far to leave this time without posting a win. Or at least scoring a few of goals.

So that's what I'll be watching today - will the USA advance in the World Cup or will we retreat from Germany in defeat for the first time in recorded history?





What will you be watching? Our boys on the field? Or their girls in the stands? Viva la futbol!

Florida Pride

I don't intend to leave topic often, but I wanted to post briefly in the wake of the Miami Heat capturing the 2006 NBA title. Those who know me are well-aware of how much I enjoy supporting teams who play in the state that I call home. When I moved from New York, I quickly adopted the Georgia teams and supported them rabidly as I lived in the peach state for the next 7 years. I've now been living in Florida full-time for a year and am finding myself rooting more and more for our local teams. I look at it as an extension of civic pride - a fun way of blending into a community as it becomes your home too. Some prefer to cling to childhood memories of rooting for one particular team. Not me. I show about as much loyalty to them as your typical baseball player always in search of his next big free-agent contract shows us.

That said, I wanted to appalud the success that teams who make their home in Florida have enjoyed recently. Have you thought about this? In the past 4 years, the state of Florida has seen one of its teams win each of the four major American pro sports championships: a World Series (2003 Florida Marlins), a Super Bowl (2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers), a Stanley Cup (2004 Tampa Bay Lightning), and now an NBA Championship (2006 Miami Heat). And if we take the point a little further, Florida also has witnessed recent success in major college athletics with the winning of a NCAA Football Championship (2001 Miami Hurricanes), a NCAA Basketball Championship (2006 Florida Gators) and a NCAA College World Series (2001 Miami Hurricanes).

Off the top of my head, I can only think of 5 other states whose sports teams have approached such cumulative success: Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan. But none of those states saw all the forms of pro championships within a mere 4 year span (actually some ended up accomplishing it over the course of nearly 100 years!). And none has done it so recently. It's hard to believe that only 30 years ago the Dolphins were Florida's only pro sports team. Things sure have changed. So congratulations to the Sunshine State! People tease us enough for our weather and our old folks....let's be proud of our sports!

BASEBALL: Cincinnati Reds at New York Mets

Today's a great day to remember the world does not revolve around sports. Watch a rerun of CSI, visit with family, or (if you don't have little kids) go out on a date and really make me jealous! While there's some great stuff tomorrow like USA Soccer and some dude named Roger Clemens, not much interests me today. I haven't gotten too psyched on the College World Series yet. And while the World Cup features 4 quality games, my only rooting interest is to see that Iran loses and goes home to face Ahmadinajad's wrath. Go Angola!

So today's one to watch will be the Mets and Reds in ESPN's Wednesday Night Game of the Week. Much to the delight of two particular friends and readers, the 2006 Mets are stacked. They're finally on their way to dethrowning the 11 time NL East Champion Atlanta Braves. GM Omar Minaya has assembled a team of free agent stars such as Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran, alongside homegrown talent like David Wright and Jose Reyes. In all aspects of the game, everything has clicked for the Mets. They sit 44-26 with a 9.5 game lead over the second place Phills.

Only the back end of their starting rotation should give Mets fans any cause for concern. While Martinez and Tom Glavine are aging, both have enjoyed renaissances. However, beyond those former Cy Young winners, spots 3-5 of New York's rotation are shaky. This provides added interest in tonight's game. The Mets start Cuban stud Alay Soler whom I've yet to see pitch. The righty is 2-1 with a nice 3.00 ERA since taking over the 4th spot following a rash of early season injuries.

On the other hand, the Reds are off to a solid 38-33 start considering their tiny payroll. I didn't see it coming when I scouted them back in spring training. Yet Ken Griffey has stayed reasonably healthy and the Reds hope to finish above .500 for the first time since 2000. But apart from surprise star Bronson Arroyo, their pitching is very weak. Tonight's game will see newly-signed Royals reject Joe Mays take the hill with an 0-4 record and eye-popping 8.22 ERA. Hey, Cincy, can me and my 75 mph throws get a tryout too?

My pick: The Mets. The Reds are fading and this is the type of game that good teams routinely win over the course of a long season. Maybe Adam Dunn can go yard and hit the big apple in right field to keep it interesting.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Are the Mets indeed a championship caliber team or will my initial test of the jinx of TOTW prove to be successful? (I'm kidding, of course!)






Who will you be watching? Alay Soler as the Mets new 4th starter? Or do you miss Kris and Anna Benson? Or should we just leave it at Anna Benson?

BASKETBALL: Miami at Dallas

We'll have plenty of slow days over the summer to examine regular season baseball. So this is another easy one: Game 6 of the NBA Finals is today's one to watch.

Game 5 was a dramatic 1 point OT win for Miami that again came down to the final shot. The Mavs squandered another 4th quarter lead and D-Wade seemingly couldn't miss a shot down the stretch. The Heat now leads 3-2 and has two chances to steal a win and the title on Dallas' homecourt.

The Mavs have done a lot of complaining since Game 5 ended. After Dirk Nowitzki booted a ball into the Miami crowd in frustration, I've heard how Josh Howard's critical timeout shouldn't have been granted, how Dwyane Wade wasn't fouled on his game winning drive, how Jerry Stackhouse shouldn't have been suspended, and even how David Stern and his zebras simply won't allow a Mark Cuban owned team win the NBA championship.

And it's a real shame. Because this series and these playoffs have been way better than all that. Afterall, I was hoping we'd seen the last of the hall-of-fame type whining with Phil Jackson's team losing in the 1st round. Dallas is too good for that crap, even though it is highly entertaining when coming in the animated high-pitched tones of coach Avery Johnson. The refs didn't beat the Mavs. The Heat and D-Wade did. Dallas outplayed Miami and should have won both Games 3 and 5. But instead they missed critical foul shots and gave up too many open 4th quarter looks. And the Heat gladly took advantage. Game 6 should be intense. The Mavs are mad and they'll have fired-up fans led by Cuban himself wanting to help turn that anger into baskets. Meanwhile, Miami and coach Pat Riley know they are 48 good minutes away from history.

My pick: Dallas. These playoffs have been too good to end now. Dallas toiled all season to earn a chance for a Game 7 at home. Now is the time to make sure they get it. And I'm looking forward to making a Game 7 the one to watch in the near future.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Will Miami give Shaq his 4th ring or will Big D prove too tough for the Big Diesel?






Who will you be wacthing? The Mavericks of Dallas or the Ewings of Dallas?

UPDATE: Miami wins....yeah, Florida! First the Gators and now the Heat. I live in basketball heaven! And how about those Mavs? They did play like J.R., Bobby, and Lucy Ewing afterall. Seriously, what a great playoffs. The first of the NBA's new stars has claimed the title. Dwyane Wade indeed took it to another level these past 4 games, as his coach Pat Riley said after the game. Look for others in the great class of 2003 like LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh to go after titles of their own in the future. The NBA is once again FANtastic. Congrats to David Stern, the real winner.

HOCKEY: Edmonton at Carolina

I'm doing this against my better judgment. I'm doing this because I pledge not to mention the words "NHL hockey" here for the next 4 months.

Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals is today's One To Watch.

I haven't really followed the NHL playoffs this year. I don't think it was the strike that lost me. There are broader problems that prevent me from getting enthused about hockey. Many of them are similar to why I feel soccer in America isn't cool. But hockey also has 2 bigger issues.

Firstly, most players aren't even from the US. Don't get me wrong: I enjoy the contributions of foreign athletes to our national sports. I love rooting for a Dirk Nowitzki or Ichiro Suzuki. However, when American boys are comprising only 25% of a roster of an American team, I'm going to tire of pronouncing names like Edmonton goalie Jussi Markkanen before too long. Secondly, the older I get, the more I realize that I can't even see the damn puck most of the time. Ice hockey simply moves too quickly for television. I don't think there's a remedy for this either. And that's why hockey will continue to pack local areans with rabid fans, but lag behind eating contests in Nielson ratings.

Back to the game at hand. Edmonton is trying to become only the 2nd team to win a Cup after trailing 3-1 in the finals. That would be impressive by any standard. Since I'm not properly informed to analyze the talent, let's focus on who to root for: the USA or Canada? Need I really say more? The state of North Carolina has never won a major pro championship. It didn't even have a top-level pro team until the 1990s. Meanwhile Edmonton has won many titles with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Therefore I say go Hurricanes. Just stay away from Florida later this summer, ok?

My pick: Carolina. Lord Stanley can sample some BBQ and take in a NASCAR race while visiting Carolina.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Will Edmonton complete the comeback and win another Stanley Cup or will the American South again prove to be the home of ice hockey in June?






What will you be wacthing? The NHL? Or do you prefer something a little lighter on ice, such as Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen?

UPDATE: Carolina wins. And Big Daddy hits 2 daily picks in a row. The curse of TOTW is over before it even began! And the Stanley Cup stays in Dixie....Tampa, Carolina....hmmm, do I see a championship in the city of Atlanta's future???

BASKETBALL: Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat

This is an easy one. There's some other good stuff going on, but nothing will compare to Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

If you haven't been watching the NBA playoffs this year, shame on you. These have easily been the best playoffs since the days of Jordan and his Bulls' dynasties. Thuggery and rap music have given way to hustle and big smiles. Not coincidentally, Allen Iverson hasn't been seen since skipping out on the 76ers' last game back in April. New stars like Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, and Gilbert Arenas have instead left their marks on a great post-season.

And the Finals have not disappointed either. The series matches the uptempo Mavs led by do-it-all 7 footer Nowitzki against the more physical Heat that relies on superstar Wade even more than Big Daddy Shaq O'Neal. Dallas has been reeling ever since losing a 15 point lead in the 4th quarter of game 3. And now the Mavs will be without swingman Jerry Stackhouse who was suspended for a flagrant foul committed against Shaq.

My pick: Miami. No team has surrendered home court yet. I don't think coach Pat Riley will let the Heat forego the chance for 2 much-needed chances to close it out in Dallas.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Will the Heat stay on fire or will the Mavs steal a win?



Who will you be watching? The Heat? Or Miami's Number 1 hottie, Anna Kournikova, cheering on her boys?

SOCCER: United States v. Italy

Every 4 years the World Cup rolls around and guys like me try to act like fans of the sport we call soccer. I actually enjoy watching the game, especially when even a novice can see it's being played at a high level. And while I didn't play the sport as a kid, I also didn't drive open wheel racecars back then either. So that's not enough to prevent me from being a fan. Similarly, even though I tend to prefer higher scoring affairs than those frequently ending in "nil-nil" ties, I am also able to enjoy stock cars making one big left turn for 500 miles. So I'm capable of dealing with the lack of goals scored as well.

I think the biggest problem with soccer in America is simply that it's not cool. You can't tune in to ESPN and watch highlights at any given moment. There are no commericals, so that means no built-in breaks for beer runs to the fridge. You can't talk smack with your friends about whose team is going to win it all without sounding like a total wuss. And although you are able to watch the game on a professional level in certain American cities with the creation of the MLS, our overall access to the pro game is still very limited. Afterall, top players typically venture overseas for their best opportunities to earn a living playing the game they love. Apart from all that, soccer rocks!

Let's get back to the match at hand. The US squad flat-out sucked in its World Cup opener against the Czech Republic. While we weren't expected to win, the US was expected to play worthy of its 5th in the world ranking. Instead, they lost 3-0 and never came close to scoring a goal, no less winning the game. Now the US faces a do-or-die match against Italy. While a tie might keep alive a slim hope of advancing into the 2nd round, a loss to Italy would assure the US of an early exit. We've heard big things over the years about guys like Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, and Kasey Keller. But since most of us don't watch the English Premier League or German Bundesliga, now is the time for us to see something big from them as well. Expect coach Bruce Arena to shuffle his lineup after being especially critical of his squad follwing Monday's loss. Let's hope even an amateur can notice more spring in the Americans' steps as they run around the pitch for 90 minutes today.

Here's some extra motivation. From ESPN.com: "Of three Italian players asked what they knew about the American team, only Andrea Pirlo was able to name a single member of the US squad. 'I don't known much about the players who don't play in Europe but we will watch some videos,' added the Italian midfielder."

My pick: United States. Yes, a total homer pick. There's no legitimate reason to think America can compete with a powerhouse like Italy on the World Cup stage with so much at stake. But Bruce Arena's team should be desperate and maybe we're due as a nation for another Miracle on Ice type moment.

So that's what I'll be watching today - Will this be the first US win over a European team in World Cup play since 1934 or will it eliminate the Yanks from a World Cup tournament yet again?



Who will you be watching? The United States attempting to do the improbable? Or are you like this girl and just want to tell Italy to kiss this?

BASEBALL - Arizona Diamondbacks at Texas Rangers

The 2006 MLB season begins its second round of interleague play with a full slate of 14 games. Unfortunately, this isn't one of those fun weekends of subway series type matchups that Bud Selig personally designed in his capacity as savior of baseball. No Yankees-Mets, White Sox-Cubs, or any other intriguing intracity rivalries. Instead we have lots of Royals-Astros and Devil Rays-Phillies matchups. This is exactly why I'm still only luke warm on interleague play. Sadly, the NBA Finals aren't scheduled tonight and even the NHL has held back Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals for that huge primetime audience tomorrow night. So I'll have to pick from this mediocre batch to recommend one to watch.

I like the matchup tonight of the Diamondbacks and Rangers. The game features teams who have topped their respective Western Divisions for much of the season. That being said, neither team looks overly impressive. But I'll be watching to see how D-Backs ace pitcher Brandon Webb looks coming off his first loss of the year. You see, in that flawed outing against the Mets last Saturday, Webb lasted a mere 8 innings, scattering 8 hits, walking none, and surrendering 1 whole run. It was just good enough for a loss and dropped his record to an imperfect 8-1. Webb did lower his major league low ERA to 2.06 and racked up 9 K's to bring his season total to an impressive 74.

The 27 year-old righty from Kentucky is on the cusp of stardom. This is Webb's 4th season in the bigs. In 2004 his 3.59 ERA over 35 starts somehow translated into 16 losses. But the 2006 D-Backs are an improved team with a lineup of young prospects like Conor Jackson, Orlando Hudson, and Chad Tracy alongisde gritty veterans like Luis Gonzalez, Craig Counsell, and Eric Byrnes. Following the Jason Grimsley HGH/steroid scandal, they have been in a freefall. But look for the Diamondbacks to turn things around tonight against Texas hurler Kevin Millwood and remain a contender in the NL Worst.

My pick: Arizona. Webb will start the All-Star game for the NL and may even pick up some additional hardware at season's end. He's a fantasy baseball sleeper no more.

So that's what I'll be watching for today - can Brandon Webb continue his Cy Young season in hitter-friendly Arlington Ballpark?



Who will you be watching? Brandon Webb? Or softball goddess Jenny Finch married to D-Backs reliever Casey Daigle? Now there's a real Cy Young Award.

GOLF - The U.S. Open Men's Championship

It's major time in the world of men's golf. That means it's also time for Big Daddy Jeff to again turn my attention to the sport where even fat guys with beer bellies can be champions. I'll be rooting for afore-described Phil Mickelson to win the Open. He's a likeable guy with a hot wife and cute kids who seems to carry on a fairly normal life in spite of earning millions, flying a private jet to work every other weekend, and playing freaking golf for a damned-good living. Plus, he's not named Tiger Woods. I respect Tiger's game immensely but got equally tired of him dominating the sport. Mickelson has won 2 majors in a row and has proved to be a worthy adversary to the leader of the pack.

That said, it would make for a moving moment come this Sunday to see Tiger dedicating a win to his recently deceased dad, Earl, on Father's Day of all dates. But only 7 weeks removed from his death, it's also a very heavy load to carry as Woods walks the brutal 72 holes of the tournament. No greens are tougher to navigate than those of a US Open. Winged Foot in Mamaroneck, NY will feauture typically killer rough if your tee shot is not accurate. Woods hasn't played competitive golf since he finished third to Mickelson in the Masters back in April. Will his 300+ yard tee shots avoid that rough and find the greens? Or will the emotional load on his shoulders keep driving his shots wide and his score down the leaderboard?

My pick: Vijay Singh. Vij is coming off a win at nearby Westchester CC last weekend and is always in the mix at majors. His patience will be rewarded in a tournament that tends to punish aggressive play.

So that's what I'll be watching today - will Tiger begin the march to another US Open championship or can Phil make it 3 in a row? Coverage starts at 10:00am on ESPN.



Who will you be watching? Phil and Tiger? Or Amy Mickelson and Elin Woods?