Kevin Garnett Leaving For Boston?

Although the trade of Kevin Garnett to the Celtics hasn't been officially announced, numerous sources were reporting a deal was in place Monday. Here is the ransom the best player in Timberwolves history will reportedly bring, Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair and Theo Ratliff and two first-round draft choices. According to reports, those picks include Boston's first-round pick in 2009 and the first-rounder the Wolves still owe the Celtics from the 2005-06 season.

When the draft day deal fell through it was mainly because of only one thing, KG didn't want to go to Boston. His stance has changed however because of some Paul Pierce lobbying and the Celtics trade for Ray Allen. That means that the Celtics would be sporting a starting lineup htat includes Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett, in the weak Eastern Conference.

Reportedly the only potential hiccup left standing for this deal to work is the renegotiating of Garnett's contract. His current contract calls for him to be paid $22 million this season and has a player option worth $23 million next season. The contract also includes a trade kicker worth about $6.75 million. All signs point to some kind of agreement being made however between Garnett and Danny Ainge. So does this make the Boston Celtics, the NBA's greatest franchise, relevant again? Yes, and frankly, it couldn't have come at a better time. See Tim Donaghy.

East Coast Bias - July 30, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Ripken and Gwynn in the Hall

- The A-Rod 500

- KG to Celtics?

Countdown to Kickoff:

- NFC South


We have a big July 30th podcast where we begin with the inductions of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. We stick with baseball for topic #2 and talk A-Rod and discuss the possibility of him becoming the all-time home run champ. Then we talk some NBA, with the rumors of KG going to the Celtics. And finally, we continue our Countdown to Kickoff segment with the previewing of the NFC South.

New Hall Monitors

Every year, the Sunday were the greats of the diamond receive their "pass" into the Hall of Fame, is special. This year was no different with the inducting of Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Both were great ball players and arguably better men. Cal is best known for his dethroning of the timeless "Iron Man" streak. In 1993, America watched as Cal passed Lou Gehrig for the all-time consecutive games played streak of 2,130. The streak ended at a ridiculous 2,632 games and was only one of the many accomplishments Cal accrued during his career. The 19-time All-Star, twice AL MVP, will also go down as one the best at his positions: ranking only behind Mr. Cub Ernie Banks for most home runs hit by a shortstop (431).

Just like Cal, Tony Gwynn played his entire career for one team. The lifelong Padre also racked up the stats. Gwynn will be considered one of the best pure hitters, not a power guy, but a contact hitter that could go to all fields with any pitch. In 20 seasons, Tony had only one year under a .300 BA, and that was his rookie year and it was a not so shabby .289. He won the NL batting title eight times and was a member of the prestigious 3,000 hit club.

Cooperstown gets two very worthy new hall monitors.

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out

The Royals are so bored with losing they've started shooting their own sports reporters. Outfielder Emil Brown hit KMBC sports reporter Karen Kornacki near her left eye while she was interviewing Tony Pena Jr. A team trainer got her an ice pack and she left to go see an eye doctor. Emil Brown insists that it was an accident and apologized immediately there after. KMBC’s assistant news director, Gary Roberts, has said that the injury isn't serious.

Michael Strahan Mulling Retirement

If things weren't bad enough for the New York Football Giants after Tiki Barber decided to retire, their 7-time pro bowl defensive end is considering it.

After failing to report to training camp today, it was learned through Michael Strahan's agent that he is mulling retirement. Strahan missed half of the Giants games last year because of a foot injury and would be entering his 15th season. The single season sack leader (22.5) could not be reached by Giants head coach Tom Coughlin who expressed his disappointment with Strahan not reporting for the first day of camp.

After am extremely mediocre 8-8 season last year, many were expecting Tom Coughlin to be fired but sure enough he is still the head coach. Chances that he won't be back after this season certainly are increasing however. With their best offensive player in Tiki Barber retiring and now their best defensive player considering it, Coughlin's pink slip could be coming sooner than later.

East Coast Bias - July 27, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Vick Goes to Court

- Goodell, Selig, or Stern, who would you rather be?

- MLB Trade Deadline Talk

The Weekly Phil

- Chase Utley's Injury


On today's show, we start with the ongoing Mike Vick drama and his first appearance in court. We then talk about the issues Commissioners' Goodell, Selig, and Stern are facing, and we pick which commissioner we would rather be right now. Then we discuss the upcoming MLB Trade Deadline and some possible buyers and sellers. Finally, we end with The Weekly Phil where we talk about the devastating injury to Chase Utley.

Chase Utley Suffers Broken Hand

In the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, Chase Utley suffered a broken hand after being hit by a pitch. Utley was hit in the 5th inning by Nationals pitcher John Lannan. The iron man actually finished the game, going 2-4, but received the bad news after getting an x-ray. Chase Utley has been a rock for the Phillies this season, batting .336 with 17 homers and 82 RBIs. It is likely Utley could miss up to a month but was quoted saying, "I think it will be sooner than that." Let's hope...

See Yah Simeon

In a meeting between Tampa Bay Buccaneers management and Simeon Rice, the 32 year old Rice was asked to take a pay cut. Apparently that didn't go over too well with the sack specialist and he refused, prompting the Bucs to release him. Even after a season in which he only recorded 2 sacks in 8 games due to injury, he still is a valuable commodity at DE who prior to last year averaged 13.5 sacks for the Bucs between 2001 and 2005.

And in a not so shocking move the Buccaneers signed Simeon Rice's replacement at DE, rookie Gaines Adams, to a 6 year deal. The deal maxes out at $46 million, with $18.56 million guaranteed and promises that Adams will be there at the start of training camp.

Countdown To Kickoff: NFC South

East Coast Bias' 8 week segment Countdown to Kickoff continues this week as we take a look at the NFC South. Last year we saw the New Orleans Saints, led by 1st year coach Sean Payton, make an improbable run to the NFC Championship game. Will they make it two consecutive trips to the playoffs? The Carolina Panthers were marred by injuries on the defensive and offensive lines last year, thus finishing with an exceptionally mediocre record of 8-8. The Falcons underwent sweeping changes after bringing in Bobby Petrino to coach the team after yet another disappointing season. There are bigger fish to fry now that Mike Vick is being investigated by the Feds, making Joey Harrington the start QB. And finally there is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who are coming off their first defensive draft in years. Will the aging veterans (Ronde Barber / Derrick Brooks) help the new kid on the block (Gaines Adams) get adjusted and again make this a defense to truly fear? And more importantly, will this team score any points? That and more in our NFC South preview.


1. Carolina Panthers - Last Season 8-8

In what is a running theme after an 11-5 season, the Panthers once again decreased their win total and missed the playoffs. You can't really blame them for their mediocrity as they were decimated on the O-line last season which made running the ball hell for DeShaun Foster (897 yds rushing) and DeAngelo Williams (501 yds rushing). Also, Panthers training camp isn't without its own distraction either as often injured DT Kris Jenkins (3 sacks) is barking for a new contract. Let's however get into the now. Jake Delhomme (2,805 yds passing) is coming off a sub par season in which he only registered an 82.6 QB rating and only threw 17 touchdowns which was a career low for him. Delhomme will have the ultimate weapon to throw to at WR as Steve Smith (1,166 yds receiving) comes back healthy this year but with the departure of Keyshawn Johnson, Keary Colbert (only 5 receptions last year)and rookie wide out Dwayne Jarrett will have to step up big time. The running game should definitely improve this year. DeAngelo Williams will be fighting DeShaun Foster for the start position but regardless of the outcome, the Panthers will have a good problem in the backfield. Injuries last year to the offensive line really ruined the chemistry of the running game but with left tackle Travelle Wharton (6'4" 212lbs.)healthy once again and Jordan Gross (6'4" 300lbs.) able to go back to his natural position of RT the line could be this year's surprise. On the other side of the ball the Panthers have a really athletic line backing corps that include an oft-injured but extremely talented Dan Morgan (59 solo tackles in 2006), rookie OLB Jon Beason, and former safety in college Thomas Davis (90 tackles). Julius Peppers (5.5 TFL) recorded a career high in sacks last season with 13.0 and barring any injuries he could record a new career high in 2007. The rest of the starter on the defensive line include pro bowl DE Mike Rucker (5.0 sacks), DT Kris Jenkins (41 tackles), and DT Maake Kemoeatu (26 total tackles). In the secondary, the Panthers have impressive 2nd year RCB Richard Marshall (5 TFL) who accumulated 83 tackles and 3 Int's last season. Look for him to have more than 3 this year and become a top 10 CB. Chris Gamble (3 Int's) returns as the starting LCB and between him and Marshall the Panthers plan to be set at the corner position for years to come. The weakness the Panthers have would be at the safety position. Mike Minter (83 tackles) is an excellent field general but the general isn't getting younger. the 33 year old has lost a step and his size doesn't provide a lot help when he lines up inside the box against the run. 1st year starter Nate Salley is a wild card for the Panthers. He has ideal size for the FS position and under the tutelage of Mike Minter he could become something special for them.

Bottom Line: The Panthers just need to stay healthy which goes without saying really. I expect Jake Delhomme to bounce back from his sub par season and the running game with Foster and Williams should be dangerous behind a solid O-line. The defense is going to be scary good and if history is any indication of the Panthers success after an off year, sorry Saints fans, the Panthers take the South. Prediction 11-5 (5-1 vs. division)


2. New Orleans Saints - Last Season 10-6

Last year the New Orleans Saints were the toast of the town. After being nothing better than average for the last 20 years, now 2nd year head coach Sean Payton was able to turn it around. Led by Drew Brees (4,418 Passing yds), the Saints offense was on fire the entire season. A rejuvenated Deuce McAllister (4.3 ypc) rushed for 1,057 yds and scored 10 rushing touchdowns while AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Reggie Bush did everything. He caught passes out of the backfield (742 receiving yds), rushed the ball (6 rushing TD's), and returned punts (1 return TD. First year WR Marques Colston (70 Rec) was the biggest surprise however on the team. The 7th round pick was called too big to play WR, too slow to play WR, and was said to have an attitude problem. Colston went on to collect 1038 yds receiving and scored 8 touchdowns in 2007. It's a good thing Colston broke out as veteran receiver Joe Horn jumped ship and went to NFC South rival Atlanta. With a solid offensive line being anchored by Bloomsburg grad Jahri Evans (6'4" 318lbs.) and former 13th overall pick Jammal Brown (6'6" 313lbs.), "Deuceeeeee" and Bush should have no problem finding a hole to run through. The big question for the Saints this year will be the evolution of their defense. Last year the Saints ranked 13th in rushing defense, giving up almost 5 ypc in the NFC but did place 1st in pass defense. In a move to bolster their line backing corps the Saints agreed to terms with free agent MLB Brian Simmons (61 tackles). Roaming around with Simmons will be breakout OLB Scott Fujita (3.5 sacks) and team leader in tackles Scott Shanle (98 tackles). Charles Grant (6.0 sacks) and Will Smith (10.5 sacks) will again be rushing the QB this year and should again help the secondary. The defensive tackles include two veterans, Hollis Thomas (3.5 sacks)and Brian Young (5.5 sacks) . Young did however break his foot in a workout so it will be interesting to see what transpires with him at the team's training camp. The secondary, while playing excellent last year, probably more or less overachieved due in part to an excellent pass rush. New starting RCB Jason David (2 Int's)is undersized at 5'8" but many see a wealth of potential in him, plus he's a big upgrade over 34 year old Fred Thomas. Thirty one year old Mike McKenzie (2 Int's) isn't getting any younger however so I expect to see teams throw at him. The Saints however do have two young safeties who should be productive this year. 2nd year starter Ron Harper (25 solo tackles) could have a breakout year if his ACL has fully healed after he tore it during a game with the Buccaneers in week 5. Similar in size and weight, Josh Bullocks (72 tackles) should again be a solid SS and provide solid run support when asked to do so.

Bottom Line: The Saints go marching into the playoffs as long as Drew Brees is marching the offense down the field. The defense again will be the question mark this year but was certainly upgraded through free agency. Their defensive depth chart isn't impressive so Saints fans need to start praying their defense stays healthy. Prediction 10-6 (4-2 vs. Division)


3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Last Season 4-12

One of the coaches on the hot seat includes Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden. After winning the Super Bowl in 2003 Gruden has only managed 1 winning season and no playoff wins. Tampa Bay's biggest offseason acquisition was arguably QB Jeff Garcia (1o passing TD's). Garcia is coming off a one season stint in Philadelphia in which he led the Eagles to the playoffs after Donovan McNabb went down with yet another injury. Jeff threw for 1,309 yds and registered a 95.8 QB rating. That type of buzz caused teams to take notice when he hit the free agent market and Jon Gruden, who loves veteran QB's, snatched him up. Gruden has already publicly stated that Garcia would indeed be the starting quarterback, not that Bruce Gradkowski (1,661 passing yds) or Tim Rattay (88.2 QB rating) were really going to challenge Garcia for the starting position. A more interesting question however is what happens with Chris Simms? He is now healthy and was labeled as the franchise QB. Before being injured Simms had 2 consecutive games of 3 Int's and didn't look anything like the developing QB we saw in 2005. With training camp starting in the next few days I guess we'll see what happens. Continuing on, the Bucs have a talented RB in Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (798 yds rushing) who struggled last year because of a non-existent passing game and inconsistent offensive line play. Teams kept stacking the box and all Williams could do was take the beating. More holes should open for Williams now that the Bucs acquired veteran Luke Petitgout (6'6" and 308 lbs.) to solidify the left side while Jeremy Trueblood (6'8" and 315 lbs.) continues to develop as their RT. The passing attack should see improvement with Jeff Garcia. He should help provide some relief for "Cadillac", especially with Joey Galloway at WR. The 35 year old speedster with provide the Bucs with a reliable deep threat. If Michael Clayton (356 receiving yds) ever returns to his rookie year form (80 catches / 1,193 receiving yds / 7 TD's) the Buccaneers could have a solid 1-2 punch at WR, but I wouldn't count on it. Defensively the Buccaneers are still a solid group. Their linebacking corps include perennial pro bowler Derrick Brooks (121 tackles), free agent signee Cato June (142 tackles), and 1st year starter Barrett Rudd (37 solo tackles). The defensive is made up of aging veterans. Simeon Rice is coming off an injury and many people are waiting to see how much he has left in the tank come training camp. Thirty three year old veteran Kevin Carter will start opposite Rice and should be productive. They did get younger at the position however as they drafted highly regarded DE Gaines Adams from Clemson. The interior includes the solid Chris Hovan (6.5 TFL) and Ellis Wyms (5.0 sacks). The Bucs also picked up former Kansas City first round bust Ryan Sims. It will be hard to run on these guys but with the exception of Wyms, Sims and Hovan don't provide any interior pass rush. Finally, the Bucs secondary is led by pro bowl caliber CB Ronde Barber. Along with fellow corner Brian Kelly, who is coming off toe surgery, the Bucs have two quality corners that will make life hard for opposing receivers. Will Allen (77 tackles) and Jermaine Phillips (109 tackles) are both physical safties who are strong against the run but just average in coverage.

Bottom Line: This team lives and dies with Jeff Garcia. If he is any bit as effective as he was last year with the Eagles, the Buccaneers offense will obviously be better. For once the Bucs defense is not really all that frightening. The defense will show it's age but with field generals like Brooks and Barber it will be consistent. However, Jon Gruden may have to walk the plank at the end of the year. Prediction 6-10 (2-4)


4. Atlanta Falcons - Last Season 7-9 (This preview based on Mike Vick not starting at QB)

Mike Vick has made the news for all the wrong reasons and it appears that he won't be seeing this field this year. The Falcons, now assuming they will be without Vick at QB, have named Joey Harrington (2,236 yds passing) the starter by default. That's right folks, Harrington again will be starting for another team, his 3rd to be exact. Coming off yet another disappointing season the Falcons decided to cut ties with Jim Mora Jr. and bring in former Louisville head coach, Bobby Petrino. Petrino was considered an offensive genius while at Louisville but instead of being able to mold the ultimate athlete, Mike Vick, he will have to do with perennial underachiever Joey Harrington. And to make matters worse, it was revealed today that RB Warrick Dunn (1,140 yds rushing) will undergo back surgery and miss 3-4 weeks of training camp. There is good news to report though! Jerious Norwood (633 yds rushing), based on his performance last year, looks ready to take over at RB. For the season he averaged a staggering 6.4 ypc and looks to having blazing speed. You fantasy nuts look out, we could have a sleeper here. And if you thought that the Falcons QB situation was troubling, let me get into the WR. Brian Finneran who sat out the 2006 season, will also be sitting out the 2007 season after getting re-constructive knee surgery done for the 2nd time in his 8 year career. Roddy White (506 receiving yds) and Michael Jenkins (7 receiving TD's) both underachieved last year while catching for Vick but with the addition of veteran WR Joe Horn (679 yds receiving), it could be huge for both of these young receivers development. Of course Algae Crumpler (8 receiving TD's) will still be around catching balls and more than likely will be the offense's most consistent performer. Rookie OG Justin Blalock could see immediate playing time for an offensive line that gave up 47 sacks last year, with Vick at QB. With two aging tackles in Wayne Gandy and Todd Weiner, Joey Harrington could be seeing the ground a lot come this season. The story of the Falcons gets better however when looking at their defense. John Abraham (4.0 sacks) was injured for half of the 2006 season thus crippling the Falcons pass rushing ability but it is a new season. If Abraham stays healthy and rookie DE Jamaal Anderson (6'6" 279 lbs.) lives up to his billing, the opposing teams QB's could be in for a world of hurt. The DT's for the Falcons include interior pas rusher Rod Coleman (6.0 sacks) and veteran big man Grady Jackson (13 TFL). Both balance each other out by making up for each one's weakness and should provide the Falcons with good run defense. The Falcons, who seem to be marred by injuries at this point, will be without LB Demorrio Williams (92 tackles) probably for the beginning of the season. Starting at his position will be rookie and former USF standout Stephen Nicholas. Keith Brooking (95 solo tackles), the spark plug for this defense is returning for his 10th season with the Falcons and looks to continue his 6 season streak with 100+ tackles. Rounding out the Falcons linebackers will be solid 3rd year starter Michael Boley (87 tackles). DeAngelo Hall (4 Int's) will lead the secondary into the 2007 season, but he doesn't have much help. Everything hinges on how 2006 second round draft pick FS Jimmy Williams (24 tackles) improves and how 2007 second round pick CB Chris Houston performs. Williams at 6'2" 210lbs is a man at FS and could have a breakout year. Twelve year veteran Lawyer Milloy (98 tackles) may be able to still help in run defense but at 33 he has lost a couple steps and could prove to a huge liability in deep coverage.

Bottom Line: With current QB Joey Harrington at the helm I can't see too much improvement for the offense. Defensively the front 7 is a solid group full of veterans who can play consistently week in and week out, however, the secondary is a HUGE question mark. It will certainly be interesting to see what Bobby Petrino does and whether he can inject some life into this team. Vick carried this team on his shoulders last year though and without him the Falcons end up in the cellar. Prediction 5-11 (1-5 vs. division)


Thanks for reading and keep a look out next week when East Coast Bias previews the NFC West!

The Big 5: Here Lives College Basketball Nostalgia

On November 23rd, 1954, University of Pennsylvania president Dr. Gaylord Harnwell announced at Penn's Houston Hall, the formation of the Big 5. The Big 5 consists of Temple University, University of Pennsylvania, Saint Joseph's University, Villanova University, and LaSalle University, all within a 17 mile radius of each other.

The Big 5 began it's round robin series of games in 1955, thus ushering in the modern era of basketball into the city. The Big 5 is a tradition that I feel honored being a part of. The corner of 33rd and Walnut has more significance to me than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will ever have. Nothing to me was more exciting for me than cramming into the best place to see a basketball game ever, The Palestra. No luxury boxes, no special seating, and no matter where you sat you could see the game. The guy or girl next to you was your best friend, not because you knew them, but because they rooted for your team. Last year the Big 5 celebrated its 50th anniversary and in those 50 years there have been some great players, great coaches, and great games.

With names like Guy Rodgers, Jameer Nelson, Randy Foye, Larry Cannon, Mark Macon, Lionel Simmons, Corky Calhoun, Doug Overton, and Randy Woods, the Big 5 has never lacked star power. Some coaches that have walked on to Big 5 hardwood include Jack Ramsay, Rollie Massimino (who I'll mention later), Jack McCloskey, Chuck Daly, John Chaney, Speedy Morris, and Jack Kraft. As for some of the greatest games there is the triple overtime game that took place in 1958 between eventual winner La Salle and Villanova. The 111-105 contest is still the highest scoring output in any Big 5 game. In 1966 St. Joe's guard Steve Donches hit a 29 foot jump shot to beat Villanova 71-69 in what many consider one of the greatest Big 5 game of all time.

Even in this era of basketball we live in you still overhear basketball enthusiasts saying, "That guy plays like a Philadelphia guard." I mean, who wouldn't want to be labeled as a Philadelphia guard. Temple guards, Guy Rodgers and Hal Lear, were the prototypes and still to this day are considered the greatest back court the Big 5 has ever seen. Rodgers was unselfish and strived to make everyone around him better, and nobody was more thankful for that than Hal Lear who went on to win the NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1956 after both players led Temple to the Final Four. Big 5 guard play was evident even in today's era as Villanova's starting lineup this past season included FOUR guards.

Earlier I mentioned I would talk about Rollie Massimino once again. It's not because of any great accomplishment but in fact I bring him up because he almost destroyed the Big 5. If you were to ask hoops fans in Philadelphia why the Big 5 round-robin went on hiatus in the early 1990's, almost all of them will reply with one word, "Villanova". Former Villanova coach, Rollie Massimino, was nailed to the proverbial cross for taking 'Nova out of the Big 5. The Wildcats were labeled as snobbish Main Liners who didn't appreciate what really mattered to true Philadelphians. In Philadelphia there are two things you don't dare do, you don't say "with Whiz" when ordering a cheese steak and you don't mess with the Big 5. Suffice it to say Rollie hit a nerve and woke up the "horror" that is pissed off Philadelphia sports fans.

Until Villanova hired head coach Jay Wright, Big 5 fans still had a sour taste in their mouth whenever brought up the Wildcats, but with the hiring of the Berks County native that all thankfully changed. Wright has worked his tail off to erase all of that. He has been one of the biggest supporters of the Big 5 and sees it as a part of Philly history, part of the city's fabric. He remembers seeing games at The Palestra and Convention Hall. He remembered the camaraderie, the double headers, and the fan fare that is the Big 5.

The Big 5 has always meant something to me. My father teaches at Temple University and my grandfather attended Penn. I've never gone a trip after seeing one of them without hearing a Big 5 story or us debating who the greatest Big 5 player of all time was ( it's Guy Rodgers). Hopefully in the future when I have kids I can teach them the value of what the Big 5 means to the city of Philadelphia and to me. The spirit of the Big 5 lives on in me and I will always bleed Cherry and White.

Jon Lester Takes The Mound

11 months after being diagnosed with cancer, Jon Lester took the hill and pitched 6 innings to get his first victory of the season. Lester, whose rookie season ended suddenly when he was diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma, pitched well enough to get the win but in all honesty, that wasn't the big story. Lester had to undergo numerous chemotherapy operations and extensive rehabilitation. His return to the mound is nothing short of remarkable. He was declared cancer-free by doctors but must still have periodic checkups to make sure the disease hasn't returned. I can't say I'm a big Curt Schilling fan but I don't think I could have said it any better, "This isn't even about baseball," he said. "It just doesn't get any better the way a guy like that comes back to us. It's about family. The big thing is he's a great human being and that makes it an even better story. That wasn't your run-of-the-mill DL stint."

East Coast Bias - July 23, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Dramatic British Open Final Round

- NBA "Referee Watergate"

Countdown to Kickoff

- NFC North Division

Weekly Phil

- Phillies Take Padres Series

- "The Executioner" Retains Light Heavyweight Title


On the podcast for July 23rd, we start with the dramatic ending to the British Open and whether Garcia lost or Harrington won the Championship. Then we talk about the scandal in the NBA with referee Tim Donaghy's alleged involvement in betting on games. We continue our Countdown to Kickoff segment with a preview of the NFC North. And finally, we end the show with The Weekly Phil, were we discuss the Phils and the Hopkins fight.

I'm An Atheist, But Not When It Comes to Sports

People in the world of sports happen to be some of the most susceptible when it comes to believing in the supernatural. Particularly, sport fans, are engrossed in curses. Whether it was Red Sox fans and the "Curse of the Bambino" or Philadelphia sports fans blame (including me) their lack of a major sports championship since the Sixers swept the Lakers in 1983 on the fact that the downtown skyline grew taller than William Penn in 1987 when One Liberty Place skyscraper went up. Coincidentally that curse is called "The Curse of William Penn". It doesn't necessarily end there however. Fans may even go so far as to have a shrine, like the one that Eagles fan had to Terrell Owens in those ESPN commercials. And let's be honest too Eagles fans, we had something similar to that.

Sport curses range from the absurd to just plain silly. In 1945, William "Billy Goat" Sianis tried to bring his pet goat, Murphy, with him into Wrigley Field for Game 4 of the World Series. Wrigley ushers at the game said the goat was too smelly and told Sianis he had to leave the stadium. Sianis then promptly cast a "goat curse" on the Chicago Cubs by saying, "Cubs, they not gonna win anymore". The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers and haven't made it to a World Series since. Cubs fans now refer to curse as the "The Billy Goat Curse".

One of the most well known curses is the "Madden Curse". The "Madden Curse" has allegedly claimed 10 victims since the video game started putting athletes on the cover instead of John Madden. That list of athletes includes the likes of Barry Sanders (abruptly retired in 1999 a week before training camp), Eddie George (never averaged more than 3.4 yards per carry after 2000), and Mike Vick (fractured right fibula during preseason game, only played in 5 games).

What is it about sports that make people who may not necessarily be religious suddenly start believing in a high power that is affecting their sports team? For me there always has to be a reason for something. I mean, Billy King can't really suck that bad at being a GM. There's just no way, someone or something has to be causing the man to throw money at over the hill veterans and unproven rookies. That's just one example of many in which I have blamed something involving Philadelphia sports on a higher power.

Maybe in essence sports is my religion. I mean, I can't be the only one who has some inane rituals in order to increase my team's chances of winning. For example, when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl, all the playoff games leading up to the game I ordered the same thing every time at the bar, tipped the waitress the same every time, and wore the same jersey/shorts/underwear. It's those little things that we tell ourselves will make a difference when our team, in this case the Eagles, take the field. And as always, in this case especially, we find some excuse whenever these rituals fail, as though it were not the will of the sports gods.

Much like how different regions of the world have their own religions, people from different cities of course have their favorite team based on where they live. And in cases, regardless of where they live, they attribute their love to a sports franchise because their family follows them and they grew up watching them. I suppose that if we must have a religion, sports is not the worst choice. There have been no crusades, inquisitions, witch hunts, or terrorist attacks associated with sports. And while I don't condone it, it is still acceptable to marry someone who is the fan of another team and no one will burn in hell for supporting the New York Mets or the New York Giants even though they should.......just kidding. Go ahead and share your rituals and the like.

Bernard Hopkins Defends His Light Heavyweight Title

The judges saw the fight 117-111, 117-111 and 116-112 respectively in favor of the 42 year old Bernard " The Executioner" Hopkins (48-4-1, 32 KOs) who defeated Ronald "Winky" Wright (51-4-1, 25 KOs) to retain his light heavyweight title at Mandalay Bay in the "City of Lights", Las Vegas. This defeat ends Wright's 7-year unbeaten streak. He hadn't lost since his highly controversial bout with Fernando Vargas back in 1999. Many thought the fight was going to be boring considering that both fighters are primarily defensive fighters who rely on counter punching. It was however a very entertaining bout in which both fighters attacked with much more consistency than any of their previous fights. Hopkins, the long reigning middleweight champion, moved up to light heavyweight for his last bout when easily dominated Antonio Tarver to win the title. Before the Tarver fight took place Hopkins had stated that he would retire regardless of the decision, but he just couldn't stay away. Hopkins decided to come back to fight Wright, the former undisputed middleweight champ and top middleweight contender.

Even though it was apparent that Hopkins could no longer fight for a full 3 minute round, his combination punching was solid. According to the Compubox stats Hopkins landed 152 of 640 punches (24 percent) while Wright landed 167 of 618 blows (21 percent). There was however some controversy (isn't there always?) because Hopkins, who had been billed a dirty fighter by Winky in the days leading up to the bout, used his head a lot. He was never docked a point though by referee Robert Byrd but that didn't stop Winky from complaining about it after the fight. "I won the fight," said Wright, "It was a dirty fight. He was head butting all day. I went up to fight the best. I still want to fight the best. I thought I won the fight, but it was a close fight." When interviewed after the fight Hopkins said both fighters respected each other and added this, "I want Joe Calzaghe (current Super Middleweight Champion) next," Hopkins said. "Tell him to come on over here (the man is from Wales) and we'll fight. I'll beat him, too, and then he won't be undefeated." It looks like Bernard still can't pry himself away from the sport that has given him so much when he started with so little.

A Black Cloud Over The NBA

In what can be called nothing less than shocking, it was revealed today that the FBI is investigating allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games. These basketball games apparently were during the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons, including ones in which he officiated. And we all thought Bud Selig had it rough. I'm sure he is jumping up and down with joy now that this story broke. What does David Stern do at this point? Even if Tim Donaghy is cleared of any wrong doing just the fact that he was being investigated for point shaving and manipulating professional basketball games will always be a black eye for the NBA. And let's be honest with one another though, much like the Mike Vick incident, the fact that the Federal Government has seen fit to release this to the media proves to me beyond a reasonable doubt that their is enough evidence to hurt this guy. Also there is the notion of what will NBA conspiracy theorists come up with after all is said and done with this incident. I mean it's inevitable that people will start watching what the referees do a lot more closely in games. These guys are going to be picked apart like grilled chicken. Greg Anthony said it best on ESPN.com, "So when we see Joey Crawford situations come up in the future, it's going come under far more scrutiny and speculation." It will be inetersting what kind of damage control David Stern tries to use but I have a feeling it's not going to do much at all to sway the minds of basketball enthusiasts.

East Coast Bias - July 20, 2007

We're Backkkkkk!


Today's Headlines

- Bonds Approaches The 755 Milestone

- Vick Indicted By Federal Government

- 2007 British Open - Tiger Or The Field?

The ECB Mailbag

- Answering Questions on Beckham, Bonds, Yi, Culpepper, and the Yankees


On the Friday, July 20th episode of ECB, we start with Barry Bonds and his inevitable breaking of Hank Aaron's 755. We then talk about the Mike Vick situation and discuss the impact of the indictment. The British Open is our last piece of news and we ponder the Tiger vs. the field question. We end the show with the debut of The ECB Mailbag, where we respond to your emails and give you our hard hitting answers to your questions.

Brendan "Bear" Canney Is Back!

After a successful and way too fun vacation to Philadelphia I am back in what most people call, America's Wang, Florida. I am happy to say that our visit to 610 WIP was a great success and both me and Jason learned a lot from the experience. For example, we found out that Al Morganti in fact orders T-Shirts and checks his stocks while doing the live radio show. Did I mention he gets paid an obscene amount of money? Suffice to say, that his job rules and I want it. We will have a VERY SPECIAL podcast tomorrow that will include talk of strippers, Yeungling, and sports. Thanks again for all you guys who motivate us to do this, you all know who you are. Again, thank you all and we will be speaking to you folks tomorrow.

Countdown to Kickoff: NFC North

The NFC North was vastly different from top to bottom last year. From Super Bowl runners-up to the annual losers that are best known for their “FIRE MILLEN” signs, the North should have many interesting storylines in 2007. Can the Bears get back to the Super Bowl? How successful can Favre be? Can Kitna back up his guarantee?

1. Chicago Bears – Last Season: 13-3, Prediction: 11-5
This is a no-brainer. Let alone they are the reigning NFC Champs but the rest of the division isn’t close. However with a tumultuous offseason, defending their NFC crown might have become more difficult. Here are three events to keep in mind:

1) Tommie Harris’s comments about “G Rex”. Kind of. Tommie repeated the fact only about 10 times that he would love Donovan McNabb as his quarterback. As if Rex’s confidence isn’t low enough. Brian Griese is warming up as we speak.
2) Lance Briggs holdout. Sometimes overshadowed by Urlaucher, Briggs wants to cash in big as the Robin to Batman. Both sides seem to be unrelenting, so the juries still out on Briggs being in a Bears uni next season.
3) Releasing Tank. Everyone knows the story behind the two most talked about NFL offseason topics: Tank and Pacman. And in a case of zero tolerance, Tank Johnson was released by the Bears after a suspected DUI in Arizona. Though he was under the legal limit, the Bears pulled the plug on the DT leaving a hole in the interior of the defensive line.

With all that being said the Bears still are the class of the North. Underproductive and facing issues with teammates in the past, Cedric Benson should successfully fill the role of Thomas Jones, who was traded to the Jets. Much of the important pieces stay the same on offense and the addition of Univ. of Miami TE Greg Olsen should improve Rex’s QB efficiency. Former Pro Bowler Mike Brown will once again anchor the secondary after missing most of the year due to injury.

Bottom line: The biggest question the 2007 Bears will face is the same as last year: Can they win with Rex at QB?

2. Detroit Lions – Last Season: 3-13, Prediction: 9-7
In the 70’s, Alan Alda and George Plimpton starred in a movie called “Paper Lion”, a movie following a player trying to make the Lions roster. The term “paper lion” is a good analogy for the 2007 Detroit team. The Lions on paper look to have a bright future and possible success, but that has yet to materialize into anything. And if their abysmal play wasn’t enough, now they will try to live up to a 10-win guarantee made by their quarterback Jon Kitna.

Maybe there luck is going to change. Perhaps their best pick from a slew of Top 10 picks (Harrington, Jones, M. Williams, Rogers) landed them Calvin Johnson. I don’t think anyone doubts the future of the Georgia Tech star, and the combination of Roy Williams and him could be deadly in a pass-first system under Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz. Though they traded away their best defensive player in Dre Bly, the return is Tatum Bell, who can help take some of the pressure off of the underachieving Kevin Jones. The Lions biggest weakness on offense last season was the offensive line. Giving up 63 sacks, second only to Oakland (72), the Lions looked to give Kitna more protection by obtaining OT George Foster and OG Edwin Mulitalo. With the offense looking improved (remember at least on paper), the defense could be the Achilles’ heel. Shaun Rogers is the staple on the interior and Cory Redding DE, who is moving to DT, led the team in sacks (8). The linebacker corp is young but the emergence of rookie Ernie Sims last season with 124 tackles could anchor them. The secondary will try to rebound from the Bly loss with so-so replacements Fernando Bryant and Travis Fisher, who combined had zero INT’s in 06’.

Bottom line: The aforementioned defensive players will have to improve Detroit’s 28th total defense ranking from a year ago to balance out what should be (yes, again will say on paper) a formidable offense that will put points on the board. And if the losing continues, the Millen Man March will get a lot bigger.

3. Green Bay Packers - Last Season: 8-8, Prediction: 8-8
Coming off an 8-8 season, the Green Bay Packers look to use the momentum of their four game winning streak to end the season as fuel for 2007. The Packers ended the season 9th in total offense and 12th in total defense, stats that are usually accrued by playoff teams. However their problems consisted of a lack of consistency in the running game and the inability to stop the run. Possibly a surprise to some, Brett Favre bounced back from a 20TD, 29INT season in 05', to a 3880YD, 18TD, 18INT respectable of 06' campaign. Favre has viable targets in Donald Driver (1290 YDS), Bubba Franks, and the 2nd year player Greg Jennings, who had a very solid 45 catch, 630YD, 3TD rookie year. Their backfield may be what there success hinges on with the loss of Ahman Green. To fill the void will be Vernand Morency and their second round pick Nebraska RB Brandon Jackson.

The M.O. of recent Packers' teams has been being porous on defense. However, with 06' first rounder A.J. Hawk (leader in tackles) and the free agent pickup of Charles Woodson last offseason (team-high 8 INTS), the defense finally has impact players on that side of the ball. The D-Line will be the question mark with only Aaron Kampman (15.5 sacks) making a name for himself. The rush defense is going to have to be respectable next year. This need was addressed on draft day with the drafting of Tennessee DT Justin Harrell, who should see immediate playing time alongside Ryan Pickett.

Bottom Line: With Favre's career accomplishments in his back pocket and an improving defense, never count out the Packers with #4 under center. But the inability of running and stopping the run are so critical to success in the NFC North, these shortcomings will probably keep the Packers in mediocrity.

4. Minnesota Vikings - Last Season: 6-10, Prediction: 5-11
Changing of the guard will take place this year in Minnesota. Out with the old (Brad Johnson) and in with the new (Tavaris Jackson) will be the philosophy with Head Coach Brad Childress. In his first season after coming over from Philadelphia, he led the Viks to a disappointing 6-10 season. The 6 wins can mainly be attributed to a non-existent passing game that lead to their opponents stacking the box to stop Chester Taylor. Brad Johnson, whose best quality is having the ability to control and manage a game, struggled for most of the season due to a lack of quality targets. Brad threw only 9TDS and 15INTS, numbers that will probably be similar to Jackson this season. The Viks are hopeful that former first round pick Troy Williamson can live up to the billing to aid the passing game.

Tavaris Jackson should have no problems staying on his feet at least. The Vikings have arguably the best C, LG, LT combo in the NFL with Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, and Bryant McKinnie. This surely will continue to help Chester Taylor in the ground game, as he amassed 1500 total yards behind these "bigs" a year ago. And with the drafting of Adrian Peterson, it is safe to say that Minnesota will be relying heavily on their running game to control the clock and pound defenses. The addition of "A Pete" should create a great 1-2 punch in the backfield for the Viks. The weakness at receiver was addressed in the draft with the drafting of Sydney Rice. Rice is young but shows a lot of potential and his game compares to a former Vikings receiver, Randy Moss. At least Viks fans hope so.

Bottom Line: This team will be as good or bad as Tavaris Jackson is this season. Opponents will try to stop Taylor and Peterson and put the pressure on Jackson to beat them. The defense should be a strength again, but until Jackson can prove he can be a starter in this league, the losses could pile up.

Memo To Our Listeners

Due to Brendan's trip to PA, we were unable to do the podcast today. We will try to resume our schedule on Monday and if we do not, we will again let you guys know. Thanks to everyone for listening to us and sorry for inconvience.

Regardless of the Monday podcast or not, we will continue our Countdown to Kickoff: Division by Division NFL preview with the NFC North.

Dwight Freeney Signs Six-Year, $72 million Deal

For the first time in a long time the Indianapolis Colts spend money on the defensive side of the ball. Dwight Freeney, who was a 2002 1st round pick of the Colts, will become the highest paid defensive player of all-time. In addition to his $72 million dollar deal, Freeney will also recieve a $30 million dollar signing bonus. Had Freeney and his agent not signed the long term deal, the Colts would have been forced to settle for the one-year tender at $9.4 million. If that were the case, Freeney would have had to decide whether or not he was going to hold out.

Until last season Freeney had registered double-digit sacks in every season he played. His highest total came in 2004 when he sacked the quarterback 16 times. Last year's 5.5 sack total was the lowest of his 5 year career but many such as myself expect that total to grow to double digits again with him entering his prime. Experts are also saying that Freeney has been working on more inside moves as opposing O-lineman found out last year that pushing him to the outside of the pocket frustrated him and made him lose focus. If he improves his technique and his inside moves, we could be talking about him putting up Reggie White type numbers. And at 27, the man has plenty of time to learn.

Made It Safely To The City Of Brotherly Love

I safely arrived in Pennsylvania at around 10pm last evening and couldn't be happier to be back in my home state. It worked out pretty well that on the day I couldn't really access a computer it was the slowest sports newsday of the year. Hopefully I will be able to record Friday's and Monday's podcast since I did bring my equipment with me. Keep it here of course for all the latest sports news and I look forward to producing another quality podcast for you folks.

Trip To Philadelphia

I will be leaving Florida today at approximately 6:20pm to take a long overdue vacation to Philadelphia to see friends and family. I am planning on still updating the blog while I am up there and hopefully myself and Jason can get together in order to record for the Friday podcast.

American League Takes All-Star Game...Again

In a surprisingly exciting All-Star game the American League once again asserted their dominance in the mid summer classic in a 5-4 win. In the 9th inning Seattle reliever JJ Putz had a 5-2 lead until he gave up a 2 run home run to Alfonso Soriano. After Putz then walked JJ Hardy, Jim Leyland immediately went to the bullpen and brought in Francisco Rodriguez. Rodriguez then walked Derrek Lee and Orlando Hudson to load the bases. Aaron Rowand then came up to the plate and flied out to end the game.

Ichiro Suzuki was chosen as All-Star game MVP and provided the first inside the park home run in All-Star game history. This is just the 3rd time in this millenium that a player born outside the US won the All-Star MVP. Ichiro is having a pretty good week with not only winning MVP but also looks to be signing a 5 year, $100 million dollar extension with the Seattle Mariners. The American League has won 10 straight All-Star games played to a decision, with the Bud Selig 2002 tie at Milwaukee interrupting the run. The only longer streak was when the NL took 11 in a row from 1972-82.

There was some controversy however at the end of the game as Albert Pujols was extremely upset that he didn't get the chance to play in the All-Star game. Here is what Pujols had to say regarding Tony La Russa not playing him. "It's the All-Star Game. He can do what he wants," Pujols said. "He does whatever he wants. If I wasn't expecting to play, I wouldn't have come up here." I think it's safe to assume that La Russa had Pujols best interests in mind but how can you not play the 2005 NL MVP in the All-Star game? Maybe if Pujols had been able to bat in the game and helped the National League win it would have been exactly what he needed to break out of his 22 game homerless drought.

Vlad Takes Derby Crown

Angels Rightfielder Vladimir Guerrero beat Alex Rios in the Final Round of the Home Run Derby last night in San Francisco. As a usual fan favorite, the Derby was a disappointment. After getting tired from swinging for the fences, literally, the Final Round only produced five homers in total (Vlad won with three). And the lefty sluggers of Fielder, Morneau, and Howard didn't even make it out of the first round. More importantly those lefties left the fans in their kayaks in McCovey Cove still waiting for a splash as not one ball reached the cove which is the draw and calling card of AT&T Park. Vlad's victory does end a dynasty of Championships from Philadelphia. Ryan Howard and Bobby Abreu the last two years and for some reason I think Philly fans aren't happy with those Championships.

Bill Maas Has 99 Problems But A B***ch Ain't One

Former Fox broadcaster Bill Maas, a former All-Pro lineman, was released from jail on Sunday along with passenger Sarah Murphy. Police officers searched Maas' vehicle and uncovered a .22-caliber revolver, 5 grams of suspected marijuana, 6 grams of suspected cocaine and 28 pills of Ecstasy on Friday, July 6th. The 45-year-old Maas was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon.

Maas was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 1984 and went on to become a two-time pro at defensive tackle. After the 1992 season Maas finished his career with the Green Bay Packers after playing for them for one year. In 1996 he joined the Fox Sports NFL broadcast team. He worked as a reporter, announcer, and analyst for the network. According to Fox executive Dan Bell, in an interview with USA Today, Bill Maas wasn't expected to come back to Fox Sports and certainly won't be used in any capacity anymore after his arrest.

Why couldn't it have been Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Chris Berman, or John Madden? Not only would have it made the story that much more interesting, it would have gotten rid of one of my 4 "Take Away Their Microphone" announcers.

East Coast Bias - July 9, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Wimbledon Wrap Up

- Midseason MLB Awards

Countdown to Kickoff: Division by Division

- NFC East Preview

The Weekly Phil

- 10,000 Loses for the Phillies


East Coast Bias's July 9th episode begins with our wrap up of Wimbledon. We move to the diamond were we hand out our Midseason Awards for the Big Leagues. Then we debut our newest segment called Countdown to Kickoff: Division by Division. We will be previewing all of the NFL Divisions one by one, and this week we start with the NFC East. Finally, we do The Weekly Phil and discuss the eminent 10,000th loss by the Phillies.

East Coast Bias NFC East Preview

In what will be an 8 week segment, the boys at East Coast Bias will run down every division in the NFL starting this week with the NFC East. With the likes of Eli Manning, Terrell Owens, and Donovan McNabb, the NFC East is full of drama and intrigue. Last year the Eagles made an improbable run to the playoffs and captured another NFC East division crown without Donovan McNabb or Jevon Kearse. The Giants struggled down the stretch and the great Tiki Barber retired leaving Brandon Jacobs to carry the running game. Dallas was on fire in Tony Romo 's first 7 starts but the 'Boys ended the season losing 4 of their last 5, including a heart breaker to Seattle in the playoffs. Finally their was the lowly Washington Redskins who only won 1 and 5 in the NFC East and were without Clinton Portis for their final 7 games. However, teams have retooled, gotten healthy, and it's a brand new year so here is what I think will be the end result in the NFC East.

NFC East 2007/08 Season

1. Philadelpha Eagles - I swear I'm not being a homer here. The Eagles, if healthy, are the most dangerous team in the NFC East, possibly in all of the NFC. Donovan McNabb (18 TDs 6 INTs) was having an MVP last year, Brian Westbrook (5.1 ypc) showed everyone he could carry the rushing load, and Jevon Kearse (3.5 sacks in 2 games) was tearing it up on the defensive line before himself and McNabb went down with injuries. McNabb and Westbrook could both have great seasons this year, especially if Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg go to the balanced offense they began using when Jeff Garcia took over. I really believe Reggie Brown (816 yds receiving) is poised to become a legit #1 wide reciever but am extremely worried should something happen to him because I don't like the depth at WR the Eagles have right now. Tight end LJ Smith (611 yds receiving) also has to be huge this year and really open up the middle of the field. It will also be interesting to see how the defense plays this year with the arrival of Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes (70 tackles) who should help alleviate the pressure Jeremiah Trotter (113 tackles) felt being the only pure run stopping force the Eagles had. The Eagles also added defensive line depth with the signing of Ian Scott (6"2' 302 lbs.) who should help with their Eagles porous run defense. The emergence of Trent Cole (8.0 sacks), Sean Considine (86 tackles), and Omar Gaither (64 tackles) as consistent performers should also help the Eagles become much better on the defensive side of the ball. The Eagles also drafted linebacker Stewart Bradley who will immediately start at OLB. And one final thing, I would love to see Ryan Moats return punts and kickoffs. I had the sweats every time Reno Mahe was going to return on special teams. 2007 Record 11-5 (5-1 vs NFC East)

2. Dallas Cowboys - The 'Boys are really scary on offense with the likes of Terry Glenn (1,047 yds receiving), Terrell Owens (1,180 yds receiving), Julius Jones (1,084 yds rushing), Jason Witten (754 yds rushing), and Tony Romo (95.1 QB rating). They have the potential to light up the scoreboard every week with their balanced attack. Barring the Cowboys moving Julius Jones, who is coming off his first 1000+ yard season, they could have a two headed monster in the backfield with Jones and Marion Barber (654 yds rushing). Barber had a team leading 14 rushing touchdown last year leading many to believe that the Cowboys may indeed move Jones in order to make Barber the starting RB but that move has yet to take place. Both Terry Glenn and Terrell Owens had 1000+ receiving yards last year and Owens led all NFL receivers in touchdown last year with 13. Both Glenn and Owens are getting older however so it will be interesting to see if both lose a step this year. On defense the Cowboys are strong inside the box with the likes of DeMarcus Ware (11.5 sacks) and Bradie James (103 tackles), but many are questioning their secondary, seeing as how Cowboys corners picked off a total of 4 passes this past season. Star corner Terence Newman didn't live up to his "shutdown" corner label, picking off only 1 pass. There is hope on the horizon though as Pat Watkins (3 interceptions) emerged as a solid safety and looks to build off of that success in order to help Roy Williams do what he likes to do best, hit people. The 'Boys also added depth at DE by drafting Anthony Spencer in the 1st round. 2007 Record 10-6 (4-2 vs NFC East)

3. New Yorks Giants - With the retirement of Tiki Barber (1,662 yds rushing) this off-season, the Giants will not only be hurting on offense but in leadership. Eli Manning (3,244 yds passing) will have a lot more on his shoulders this year and it will be interesting to see how he handles the pressure of being the man now for the New York Football Giants. The man replacing Tiki is 25 year old Brandon Jacobs (9 rushing TDs). Jacobs has a nice combination of speed and size but lacks that 2nd motor when he gets to the second level. Eli still has targets in Jeremy Shockey (623 yds receiving) and Plaxico Burress (10 receiving TDs) to throw to, including the newly drafted WR Steve Smith. The question will be though, will Eli have enough time to throw to them with Tiki not there to provide critical blitz pickups? It will also be interesting to see if the Giants locker room will be unified or torn apart by all the egos. The defensive line is going to be frightening again with a now healthy Michael Strahan (3.0 sacks in 9 games) and Osi Umenyiora (6.0 sacks). Their linebacking corps is solid with Antonio Pierce (140 tackles) anchoring the middle while Mathias Kiwanuka (4.0 sacks) will move to the OLB role where he should be much more effective. The Giants big question mark is in the secondary. Andrew Walter and the Raiders could have taken advantage them, that's how bad it was. With the exception of Will Demps (7 passes defended) there isn't an above average DB on the team and that's why their first choice in this year's draft was DB Aaron Ross. 2007 Record 7-9 (3-3 vs NFC East)

4. Washington Redskins - The second era of Joe Gibbs hasn't exactly gone according to plan. With the exception of 2005, Gibbs coached the Redskins to records of 5-11 and 6-10. That trend of losing seasons won't stop this year unfortunately. Mark Brunell (86.5 QB rating) was replaced in week 11 by Jason Campbell (10 TDs 6 INTs) who looks to be a lock to start the 'Skins first game. The Redskins 25th overall pick, Jason Campbell, looks to take over the reigns of an offense that only averaged 19.2 points. Their is light at the end of the tunnel though because Ladell Betts (1,154 yds rushing) is bonafide. This was the first time Betts rushed for over 1,000 yards in his career and was the 3rd leading receiver on the team while Clinton Portis (7 rushing TDs) was injured. Talk about a two headed monster in the backfield, it will be very interesting to see what Gibbs does with these two highly skilled running backs this season. Tight end Chris Cooley (734 yds receiving) and WR Santana Moss (790 yds receiving) will both have to come up big this year to help Campbell adjust and to become more comfortable with the offense. With the drafting of safety LaRon Landry to roam with Sean Taylor (114 tackles), the Redskins have arguably the best safety tandem in the NFL. A healthy Shawn Springs (9 passes defended) should give the 'Skins a boost while the maturity of Carlos Rogers (80 tackles) will be huge for the secondary. The front seven is a bit of a concern however as the Redskins only had 19 sacks last season. Andre Carter led all Redskin players with 6 sacks. 'Skins management didn't address that during the draft or through free agency however so that secondary will be exposed with no pass rush. At least it will give Landry plenty of practice. 2007 Record 6-10 (2-4 vs NFC East)

Five in a Row for Federer, Brendan Loses

On Centre Court on Sunday, Roger Federer won the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Championship with a thrilling five-set victory over his nemesis Rafael Nadal. Nadal, who bet Federer less than a month prior in the finals of the French Open, had Federer return the favor in the next Grand Slam. Federer netted his fifth consecutive Wimbledon title, tying the record held by the great Swed Bjorn Borg. With the victory, Roger now has 11 Grand Slam Championships placing him only behind tennis icons Roy Emerson (12) and Pete Sampras (14). There is some sad news associated with this story. Brendan, who on Friday predicted Nadal would win, now must eat "crow" as they would say due to my prophetic prediction of Federer and his lackluster pick of Nadal. Sorry B.

Venus Williams Wins, Jason Loses

With the amount of free time Jason has I'm sure he'll read this article eventually. Just like I predicted on Friday's show, Venus Williams not only won the Wimbledon Championship but cruised to her 4th Wimbledon championship and 6th Grand Slam title. Williams is the lowest ranked women's winner in Wimbledon history at #31. Venus beat 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova on Wednesday, 2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova on Thursday and French Open runner-up Ana Ivanovic on Friday to advance to the final against Marion Bartoli who shocked everyone by beating Justine Henin. Venus Williams beat Bartoli in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

East Coast Bias - July 6, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Grant Hill to Suns, Good or Bad?

- All Star Game Voting/ Fans Picks for 32nd All-Star

- Sonics hiring P.J. Carlesimo

Weekly Segment

Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks

- Wimbledon predictions

- N.L. Central picks


On the July 6, 2007 episode of East Coast Bias we discuss the Phoenix Suns signing of Grant Hill, and whether it was good or bad. Next we talk about the MLB All-Star Game and fan voting, plus the fans' picks of Chris Young and Hideki Okajima for the final All-Star spots. We then discuss the hiring of P.J. Carlesimo by the Sonics and end the show with our Prognostications, Predictions, and Picks of Wimbledon and the N.L Central Division winner.

The Overhyped, Overrated, and Overpaid Barry Zito

Barry Zito, the man whom the San Francisco Giants signed for 7 years and $126 million dollars, is currently sporting a 4.65 ERA and a record of 6-8. Not exactly the kind of performance you want from a player who is collecting that much money from your organization. But, unlike some people, I can't say I didn't see this coming. Let's look back on what Zito accomplished prior to his free agent singing with the Giants. As a rookie in 2000 Zito started 14 games for the Athletics and compiled a record of 7-4 to go along with a 2.72 ERA. Many saw a bright future for the 22 year old lefty and he didn't disappoint the following year. In 2001 Zito won 17 games while losing 8 and held a 3.49 ERA. But the following year was going to be a breakout season for him. During his 2002 season, Zito went on to win the American League Cy Young award after going 23 and 5 while having a 2.75 ERA. After that season experts and fans alike thought he was going to be the next big thing. The quirky kid with the NASTY 12-6 curve ball was going to win a couple more of those Cy Young awards and become the ace of the Oakland Athletics. The perfect ending however was never written as the wheels on the Zito hype bus fell off and were never replaced. Barry Zito, after his Cy Young season, never lost less than 10 games, never had more than 16 wins, never held an ERA under 3, never had his K/9 spike above 7, and has yet to record a shutout or a complete game since 2003. What happened? Was the pressure of becoming the staff ace with the departure of Hudson to Atlanta and Mulder to St. Louis after the 2004 season to much for the young lefty to take? Since the breakup of the Big 3 in Oakland after 2004, Zito has struggled mightily with his control. His K/9 ratio has decreased each season from 6.89 in 2004 to a staggering 5.63 this 2007 season and not only that, his K/BB ratio has dropped each season from 2.01 in 2004 to a paltry 1.31 this 2007 season. Maybe he relished in the role as a #2 or #3 starter and enjoyed being mentored by guys like Hudson and Mulder who had leadership qualities. So what did the Giants see in Zito that made them decide to pay such an exorbitant amount of money to get him? His Cy Young season had been 4 years prior and he never showed that he could duplicate that kind of season again. His statistics and even his demeanor on the mound exuded a lack of confidence in his abilities. Not only that, it just looks like he doesn't have fun anymore playing baseball. This used to be the same guy who admitted being a Halo nut and loved having fun with his teammates. It looks like that playfulness and happiness has been sucked out of him along with his pitching talents. Just 2 days ago against the Cincinnati Reds, Zito was pitching a masterful game. Going into the bottom of the 4th inning, Zito had a no-hitter going and was cruising. But he then lost confidence in his ability and walked 5 of the next 8 batters, and consequently walked in 2 runs. As soon as he walked Brandon Phillips he began to try locating instead of just pitching to contact. Zito then went on to give up 1 more in the bottom of the 5th before being relieved the following inning. He finished the game with the line 5IP 2H 3R 3ER 6BB and 5SO. The curve ball kid who was once heralded as one of the most extraordinary young pitchers in the Majors became one of the most extraordinarily mediocre pitchers in the Majors very quickly.

An American Takes Down Kobayashi

With a new world record for hot dogs eaten, native Californian Joey Chestnut knocked off 6 time winner Takeru Kobayashi to claim hot dog eating glory at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Joey Chestnut downed 66 hot dogs and buns in 12 minutes to bring back the title to the United States for the first time since 1996 when New Jersey native Steve Keiner won in 1999. Chestnut had this to say after the competition was over, "This title's been held by Kobayashi for six years, so it's about time it came home. I knew going into this contest that Kobayashi was going to give 100 percent.''