NBA needs another Minor League debate...

Spammer04: If you can no longer have high schoolers play in the NBA, which I disagreed ever since Kobe Bryant entered the draft
Spammer04: then start taking a look more closely at all divisions in College
Spammer04: if you can have a player by the name of Jeff Noorgaard at Wisconsin-Green Bay get to the NBA, why can't any so called no name players be there either?
MakinMovesMitch: They do
Spammer04: That guard from Barton, at D3, that made the GW layup against Winona State in the Final, he was killin that whole game, he was killin all season too
MakinMovesMitch: Most dudes aren't good enough
Spammer04: Will he be looked at?
Spammer04: I disagree, outside the NBA, they have a TON of talented players
Spammer04: a TON
MakinMovesMitch: He's like 5'6 and skinny as heck
Spammer04: The talent is so widespread now these days in america, it'd be nice to have a farm system, other than the NBDL
MakinMovesMitch: Wow
Spammer04: Major Leagues have a 25 man roster, yet like 5 Minor League teams that they are associated with
Spammer04: What I'm getting at, is with these players that fail, they end up being nothing
Spammer04: where's Leon Smith? Mental institution?
Spammer04: Where's Korleone Young? 4 kids, working at a Safeway?
MakinMovesMitch: Cause they aren't good enough to play in the NBA
MakinMovesMitch: Wtf is Safeway
MakinMovesMitch: Lmao
Spammer04: Safeway is a supermarket
Spammer04: Either way, Basketball is a huge sport in america
MakinMovesMitch: Fuck Arizona
Spammer04: almost as big as baseball
MakinMovesMitch: That's why they have the ABA
Spammer04: No black players want to play baseball anymore, they want to play basketball or football
MakinMovesMitch: And shit like that
Spammer04: 2 leagues, ABA and NBDL
Spammer04: NBDL is NBA's only Minor League system
MakinMovesMitch: Duh
Spammer04: David Stern is a great Commissioner by the way
MakinMovesMitch: But you are just talking about "talented players" who should play in a league
Spammer04: But I think they still need at least another minor league
MakinMovesMitch: Well there are other leagues-like the ABA, USBL, etc etc
MakinMovesMitch: But they aren't good enough to play in the NBADL
MakinMovesMitch: That dude from Barton could play in the NBA?
MakinMovesMitch: HELL NO
Spammer04: I understand that, but I'm thinking about what Branch Rickey did with the Minor League System for baseball, it allowed not only for players to develop, but also for players who even though they may not develop, but be able to do something they love PROFESSIONALLY
Spammer04: And thats the same thing that should be done now for the NBA, a minor league system, working the same way as MLB
Spammer04: or NHL for that matter
Spammer04: Basketball is such a huge sport, HUUUUGE sport in America now
MakinMovesMitch: That's what they do overseas
Spammer04: Like if I had a person argue that, and come up with an argument like "Oh but what about the NFL?" Well the NFL, had 53 players, as well as a practice squad, as well as anybody that came out of college a tryout, as well as undrafted FA's, as well as the CFL, the NBA still needs help
Spammer04: I understand that, but there are players overseas, that have the talent that would love to play in america, that would love for just to have a chance, but don't
Spammer04: they need a minor league system
MakinMovesMitch: They've been expanding the NBADL a lot
Spammer04: The CBA needs to come back, and if someone wakes up in the management of NBA basketball it will, CBA should have 30 teams, and the NBDL should be where their at
MakinMovesMitch: But u gotta remember they gotta keep these teams afloat financially
MakinMovesMitch: And not many people wanna go to b-ball games for minor leaguers
MakinMovesMitch: Shits boring
Spammer04: Don't you recall about 20 years ago, they had a 8-9 round draft?
Spammer04: Okay, well do what they do with Baseball
Spammer04: You don't think people would show up at a game in Brooklyn?
Spammer04: a game in Inglewood?
MakinMovesMitch: People just go to minor league baseball games because of the nostalgia of the game
MakinMovesMitch: The open air stadium
MakinMovesMitch: Fresh cut grass
MakinMovesMitch: Just the game of baseball
Spammer04: Yeah say that, but look at baseball now my friend
Spammer04: No one wants to see a game now after the Mitchell Report
MakinMovesMitch: Also they just play in smaller stadiums
Spammer04: Baseball has fucked themselves
MakinMovesMitch: U can't really find many arenas where u can play ball at
Spammer04: this is where NBA can be the fore front of pro sports in America
MakinMovesMitch: FUCK ROGER CLEMENS
MakinMovesMitch: And no people wouldn't go to those games
Spammer04: Fuck all those players taking drugs, but they fucked it themselves, Branch Rickey would be spinning in his grave if he heard what was going on now
MakinMovesMitch: Cheating has always been in baseball
MakinMovesMitch: Spitballs, corked bats, pine tar, etc.
Spammer04: either way, a 2 league farm system would be good for the NBA
MakinMovesMitch: Steroids is just a different form
MakinMovesMitch: Oh and there's no way the NBA will be more popular than the ...
Spammer04: either way, I believe the NBA should be a 2 league system for the minor leagues, each team in the NBA is affiliated with one team in both leagues
MakinMovesMitch: N
MakinMovesMitch: F
MakinMovesMitch: L
Spammer04: where you are able to call up players without having to sign 10 day contracts to players that haven't played
Spammer04: all season
MakinMovesMitch: The NBA could be #2
MakinMovesMitch: But the NFL will always be #1 in the USA
Spammer04: If the NBA wants to be #2 then they need to adopt the system that I've been talking about
Spammer04: Cause look, you have College Basketball, EVERYBODY LOVES College Basketball, NCAA Tournament, all of that
Spammer04: What happens with all those unsung heroes, that no one has ever heard about? Sure they go on and graduate doing their profession, however, I will say half have that passion to keep playing, they get drafted, placed in the minors, they'd be a minimum of 100,000 dollars, people wouldn't watch them play?
Spammer04: Especially if they are placed in college type towns
Spammer04: like yes Brooklyn, Inglewood, is obvious
Spammer04: but Indianapolis? Where they love basketball?
Spammer04: Shit Minneapolis, they would too
Spammer04: Kansas City?
Spammer04: Shit give Des Moines, or any place in Iowa a chance?
MakinMovesMitch: nobody would pay them 100K minimum
MakinMovesMitch: Brooklyn or Inglewood?
Spammer04: Not in a farm system?
MakinMovesMitch: Lmao
MakinMovesMitch: Fuck no
MakinMovesMitch: Where would the money come from
Spammer04: I say Brooklyn because its like the minors, you cant pay 7 dollars to see a game?
Spammer04: From the NBA Franchises thats where, the owners that make billions of dollars
MakinMovesMitch: People probably wouldnt
Spammer04: I disagree
MakinMovesMitch: NBADL players don't even make 100 K
Spammer04: because its the same exact thing as when Branch Rickey introduced the minor league system for baseball
MakinMovesMitch: Have u ever sat down and watched an NBADL game?
Spammer04: Haven't been able to
Spammer04: But same question for you, have you ever sat down at a Minor League game? And you can say yeah, and you would bite me there
Spammer04: But the NBA can be like what the MLB is
Spammer04: Where Minor Leagues is EXCITING
Spammer04: seeing your young producing players, seeing what they will become two years from now
MakinMovesMitch: I haven't watched either
Spammer04: like Igor Racovicek or whatever the PG for the Wolves was would become
Spammer04: like Louis Bullock after killing at Michigan
Spammer04: like Marcus Taylor after winning a National Title at Michigan State
Spammer04: like Dirk Nowitzki, who turned out to be an amazing player with the Mavs
Spammer04: Overseas, is like JAPAN for baseball to me, when it comes to the NBA
Spammer04: like Travis Brown, sidelined by jaw surgery, and other illnesses, stop being so aggressive, I believe in him being in a minor league like that
MakinMovesMitch: Not everyone wants to
Spammer04: Well not everyone wants to see players develop, I know, America is about seeing NOW NOW NOW
Spammer04: But it also takes everyone single one of us to develop into something, so what are you saying?
Spammer04: Like yes, you're talking sports, but it relates to how it is in america as well
Spammer04: Give it a chance, see what happens, NBDL is great right now, but they need one more league, and they need to affiliate with an NBA team
MakinMovesMitch: Not everyone wants to play basketball after college
MakinMovesMitch: Travis is kinda sick of it I think
Spammer04: Right, but is a player like Ray?
Spammer04: where its his life
Spammer04: because he has nothing after
Spammer04: You could say that for HUNDREDS of players like Ray
Spammer04: and that probably was a vision that Branch Rickey had
Spammer04: 1920's, no sport dominated anything, but probably felt the same way
Spammer04: after Minor Leagues were developed in Baseball, they developed Minor Leagues in the NFL
Spammer04: Canada developed the CFL, NFL developed the practice squad, also developed the World Football League
Spammer04: as well as developing the USFL, as well as the new league that Mark Cuban is making
Spammer04: Do you understand what I'm trying to say though?
MakinMovesMitch: Not really
MakinMovesMitch: Sort of
MakinMovesMitch: They are different sports tho
MakinMovesMitch: Baseball u can have a lot of players
MakinMovesMitch: Basketball its only 12
Spammer04: I understand that, but there's 25 players on a major league roster
Spammer04: yet they have like 6 minor leagues
Spammer04: actually basketball isn't 12, it's 15
Spammer04: Because they place guys on Injured Reserve
Spammer04: NBA is the only league in Pro Sports, that really doesn't have a minor league in which they should
MakinMovesMitch: ???
MakinMovesMitch: Yeah they do
MakinMovesMitch: The NFL doesn't have one
Spammer04: NBDL
MakinMovesMitch: NBADL has a team assigned to every NBA team
Spammer04: NFL has 52 players, a practice squad
Spammer04: I know that
MakinMovesMitch: Every sports has a practice squad
MakinMovesMitch: And if u have 15 guys on your minor leage roster
MakinMovesMitch: And you are paying them 100K each
Spammer04: but where you say the NBADL has a team assigned to every NBA team, the NBADL has a DRAFT
MakinMovesMitch: You are gonna pay 1.5 million DOLLARS per TEAM?!
Spammer04: What's wrong with that?
MakinMovesMitch: JUST FOR THE PLAYERS?!
MakinMovesMitch: Plus coaches
Spammer04: If you're smart and place them in places like Oklahoma City as well\
MakinMovesMitch: Promoting
MakinMovesMitch: Tickets
MakinMovesMitch: Arenas to host the games
MakinMovesMitch: Jerseys
MakinMovesMitch: Gear
MakinMovesMitch: Etc.
Spammer04: Okay...all right, I understand where you're coming from, but then you look at baseball, at the state's IT'S fucking in
MakinMovesMitch: Where would the money come from?
MakinMovesMitch: These dudes would be making more than like professional accountants and shit
Spammer04: You make up a good point, but then again, why are players who are absolutely dog shit at baseball making as much as Pro accountants?
MakinMovesMitch: Those dudes are professional accountants
MakinMovesMitch: But those basketball players are just in the minor leagues
MakinMovesMitch: And making that much
MakinMovesMitch: They aren't even at the top of the top in their profession (basketball), which is the NBA
MakinMovesMitch: Plus if they made 100K, a lot of dudes would be satisfied
MakinMovesMitch: And u know it too
MakinMovesMitch: Obviously a lot of the dudes have the hunger
MakinMovesMitch: But a lot of dudes would be content with 100K a year and just in the DL for 10 years
Spammer04: Okay, but then you can just say the same as Major League baseball and their minor league system
MakinMovesMitch: If u have the talent and the desire, u will eventually breakthrough
MakinMovesMitch: Look at Bruce Bowen, Steven Jackson, Jamario Moon
Spammer04: BJ Garbe? Know him? Does anybody? He signed like a 3 year deal after being drafted 1st round in the MLB draft, worth I believe 4.3 million dollars
Spammer04: this was back in 2000 I believe
MakinMovesMitch: Those dudes all plyed every where overseas b4 finally breaking thru in the League
MakinMovesMitch: Yeah but that is their draft
Spammer04: So a player being undrafted, and is signed 100,000 dollars, thats a problem to you?
Spammer04: for an NBA Minor League System I'm talking about
MakinMovesMitch: I'm not saying its wrong
MakinMovesMitch: Just saying it wouldn't happen
MakinMovesMitch: Cuz where would they get the money to pay em
Spammer04: Either way, being overseas, they make hundreds of thousands of dollars, they don't make millions, its rare for them to make millions
MakinMovesMitch: Yeah but Garbe was drafted in the MLB Draft
MakinMovesMitch: LeBron James was drafted in the NBA Draft
Spammer04: Get real, where? Owners, its similar to MLB there, big market small market
MakinMovesMitch: And he signed a nice deal too
MakinMovesMitch: He produced, Garbe didn't
Spammer04: Marbury left Minnesota because it was a cold climate and wanted to be dealt, you find a player in your system who you've been developing would take his place
MakinMovesMitch: Plus the NBADL as a Minor League System is in its infant stages
Spammer04: LeBron James was a PHENOM, BJ Garbe wasn't
MakinMovesMitch: Now you have first round draft picks playing and starting out in the NBADL
MakinMovesMitch: Shit Kwame Brown, JJ Redick, etc etc etc
Spammer04: JJ Redick, surprisingly is doing all right this season
MakinMovesMitch: They are doing that now tho
MakinMovesMitch: Like Morris Almond of Utah
Spammer04: But you're naming now more players, that should have started in the "NBDL"
MakinMovesMitch: First round pick
Spammer04: Or shit, what about Randolph Morris?
MakinMovesMitch: Great scorer and is gonna be a good player
Spammer04: From Maryland?
MakinMovesMitch: He's in the NBADL
Spammer04: Right, but its not just those guys
MakinMovesMitch: Yeah Redick shouldve
Spammer04: There's A TON OF TALENT in Basketball
MakinMovesMitch: But someone like Dwight Howard
MakinMovesMitch: LeBron
Spammer04: You're getting back to my point, there's a TON of talent for basketball players
MakinMovesMitch: Melo
Spammer04: That's why they need another Minor League system
MakinMovesMitch: U can't put them in the DL cuz they are too good
MakinMovesMitch: But the MLB Draft, those guys aren't ready for shit
Spammer04: the whole 19 year old deal to enter the draft is bullshit, if you have the talent, you have the talent
MakinMovesMitch: Never do they play in the MLB the first year after being drafted
Spammer04: And thats why another minor league system would be good
MakinMovesMitch: Shit rarely even 2-3 years
MakinMovesMitch: Yeah the age requirement is ruining the college game
MakinMovesMitch: One and done players
Spammer04: "Never do they play in the MLB the first year after being drafted" Huston Street for the Oakland Athletics did, so never say never buddy
MakinMovesMitch: Like Oden, Conley, Mayo, Beasley
MakinMovesMitch: Shut the hell up, yeah RARE cases, like 98% don't
MakinMovesMitch: And they aren't All-Stars in their first year
Spammer04: Yeah, so? the age requirement is ruining the college baseball game...or so they say, thats why the College World Series is on ESPN every single year
MakinMovesMitch: Who cares about that shit
Spammer04: The real problem is, High School sports being televised on ESPN
MakinMovesMitch: Not on the same level of college basketball
MakinMovesMitch: That's why a team like the Florida Gators is refreshing
MakinMovesMitch: Them dudes stayed 3 years
MakinMovesMitch: Won back to back titles in an era where that's UNHEARD OF
Spammer04: Yeah? They could've opted out if they wanted to
MakinMovesMitch: And would've won BACK to BACK to BACK titles had they stayed another year
MakinMovesMitch: And that's 100% true
MakinMovesMitch: No team in college basketball could've beat them this year
Spammer04: Everybody is chasing for that paper, and thats why I believe the NBA should inherit one more minor league
MakinMovesMitch: They are one of the greatest teams of all time
MakinMovesMitch: Imagine if they had come back this year
Spammer04: so were the Minnesota Gophers
MakinMovesMitch: Shit
MakinMovesMitch: 3 Peat
Spammer04: then Courtney James was arrested for "rape"
MakinMovesMitch: Put Florida against those repeat Dukes teams of the 90's
MakinMovesMitch: Florida would win
MakinMovesMitch: Laetner would get locked up by Noah
MakinMovesMitch: Horford would abuse their post
Spammer04: he did his time, now where is he, no where, probably doing nothing with his life, with the talent he had, he would definitely do fine in another Minor League for the NBA
MakinMovesMitch: And Brewer and Grant Hill would go at it
MakinMovesMitch: Taurean Green vs Bobby Hurley would be an even match
Spammer04: now I'm not saying place those Minor Leagues in NBA cities, I would put them in places where they are HUNGRY for having the NBA there
Spammer04: I disagree, Hurley was a pass first guard, Taurean, wasn't really a pass first guard, he was more apart of the system
Spammer04: Duke didn't really have a system, they just played
Spammer04: Bobby Hurley, Brian Davis, Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Cherokee Parks
Spammer04: Duke would have beaten Florida I believe

BCS Argument Paper

Picture this; you’re the coach of a #1 ranked in the preseason polls of a Division 1 college football program. You lose the first game of the season, and win 10 consecutive games and are able to play in the national title game. While another team wins all of their regular season games but lose their conference championship game and lose their chance at a national title. Better yet, teams like Auburn in 2004 or Boise State last year finished unbeaten but were still unable to play for the National Title. Controversy like this has loomed in the Bowl Championship Series ever since its inauguration in 1998. The Bowl Championship Series is a computer generated ranking system that is supposed to decide who will play in the national title game in college football. The BCS is combined with the Associated Press, Coaches, Harris, and computer generated ranking polls. The Southeastern Conference, Pacific 10 Conference, Big 10 Conference, Big 12 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, and Big East Conference champions are guaranteed a spot in a BCS Bowl. These Bowl Championship Series Games are the Fiesta Bowl, Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Orange Bowl and the newly instated Bowl Championship Series National Title Game. A team such as Boise State last year had to be in the Top 12 of the BCS rankings and unheedingly finish undefeated if they wanted any shot at a BCS game. In recent years the Bowl Championship Series has only solidified why there needs to be playoffs in Division 1 college football. Division 1-AA, Division 2, and Division III all have tournament formats and are thriving off it. It’s time for Division 1 to follow suit. They need a more fair and balanced system, a computerized ranking system to determine a national title game is not the solution.

Times have changed over the course of the last 20 years in college football. The competitiveness is increasing as well as the openness in talent across the nation. Recruiting has provided a better chance for many college football teams to contend in the NCAA. With football being one of the more popular sports in the United States, the more athletes are being found and are able to play Division 1 football anywhere they go. Take a team like Boise State for example; a small team out of Idaho went undefeated last year including defeating #11 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Had Oklahoma not lost to Oregon early in the season (On a controversial call), the Sooners would have been playing for the National Championship. However, Boise State was still left out of the picture all because they play in a Non-BCS league. Boise State’s weakness of schedule resulted in them not competing in the Title Game. Instead, Florida, having lost a game went to the BCS Championship Game. Sally Jenkins from the Washington Post brings up a great point:

One of the more fascinating collisions is that between traditional football schools and the come latelys. You can wander through the past with Notre Dame, or celebrate the arrival of South Florida on the scene. Since 1992, 14 new schools have swelled the ranks of the NCAA's division I-A. Among them are some of the teams responsible for this season's thrills: Marshall, Boise State, South Florida, UAB and Central Florida.

More and more teams are becoming more competitive. This season is only solidifying its reasoning for a playoff. Teams like Appalachian State and South Florida have been knocking off national powers. Given South Florida was ranked as high as #2 they would have needed to finish undefeated if they wanted to be in the BCS Title Game. Hawaii, who is undefeated as this paper is being written, is not even being considered for the national title game let alone a BCS Game berth.

Computers shouldn’t decide a national championship game. A thought out playoff system should. A playoff system should be enforced because it allows more teams to vouch for their national title contender claim. If you have an eight-team playoff system you can use the Bowl Championship Ranking System to generate who will play in the playoffs. The teams that do not make this top eight are placed in a “Bowl Pool”, where 30-32 teams play in Bowl Games, like the system they still have in place today. This bowl pool will accommodate the college programs that can still have National TV time and pursue more recruits during the end of the season, as well as postseason practices. There are just too many flaws in the BCS Ranking system. Computers cannot determine a champion, two teams on the field do. In the Dallas Morning Newspaper, Tim Cowlishaw who is on ESPN’s “Around the Horn” wrote an article “All BCS needs is some adjustments.” He states that he wants to bring back the traditional formats of the major bowl games. For example, the old format used to be where the “Pac 10 champion would play the Big 10 champion in the Rose Bowl. The Fiesta Bowl would have the Big 12 champion against the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, and so on.” I disagree with this, because this would then bring everything back to square one. If the Big 10 champion is undefeated and plays the Pac 10 champion who is not undefeated, what’s the purpose? Cowlishaw believes in a plus one format but only when all the bowl games are finished. An adjustment like his would definitely not be the answer.

If a playoff is enforced the format would either a plus-1 format or a format consisting of eight teams. A plus one format would be in place for one of the four major bowls, the Rose, Orange, Fiesta, or Sugar Bowl. Two of those games would decide who would play in the BCS National Title Game. These games would also be decided from the regular season BCS rankings. For example, the #1 BCS team against the #4 BCS team would play in the Fiesta Bowl, and the #2 BCS team would play the #3 BCS team in the Sugar Bowl. The winners of those two games would advance to the Bowl Championship Series National Title Game. This format seems to be more logical since I believe it would be just too difficult for the time being to have an eight team format, however, with an eight team system it would be spread over a month beginning sometime in mid-December to early January. The selections would also be based off the Bowl Championship Series rankings. The number one team in the BCS Poll would play the number eight team in the BCS. Followed by number two playing number seven, number three playing number six, and number four playing number five. If number one beat number eight, they would play the winner of number four and number five. However, if number eight beats number one they would play number two if number two beat seven. The reasoning for this format creates a tougher road for the top five to top 8 teams, if they are going to make a case on being the best team in college football, they’re going to have to knock off their top opponents as they go.

It seems as if the BCS is more worried about making money that it is of focusing on a competitively balanced system. Bowls such as the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and as well as the new BCS Championship Game ring in millions of dollars giving the BCS committee reason to not have a playoff system. However, teams who don’t make these top five college bowls lose out on the opportunity on a championship, and they lose out on a lot of money. Take the Oregon Ducks in 2005 for example. They finished #5 in the nation but Notre Dame passed them because they have exclusive rights to if they finish in the top six of the BCS rankings they automatically go to a BCS bowl game. Notre Dame was then allowed to play Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl while Oregon dropped out of the BCS Bowls and ended up playing in the Holiday Bowl a second tier bowl. This resulted in the University of Oregon losing 10 million dollars on Major Bowl money as well as their pride since they were a Top Five team unable to make a legitimate case in playing for a national title. Better yet, in 2004 the Auburn Tigers who play in arguably one of the toughest conferences in football (Southeastern Conference) went undefeated (13-0) and still didn’t get a shot at the National Championship. Oklahoma ended up playing Southern California in the National Title Game leaving Auburn to dry. The argument that claimed to decide Auburn’s fate was decided by Auburn had playing a weaker regular season schedule during the course of the season compared to Oklahoma’s regular season schedule. Coincidentally, Oklahoma ended up being destroyed to Southern California 55-19 in the Rose Bowl while Auburn beat a solid Virginia Tech 16-13 in the Sugar Bowl. The total payouts for these games are between 14 million and 17 million dollars. Not having a playoff system not only hurts college programs mentally, but some teams are missing out on a lot of money coming from revenue in these games.

In Skip Rozin’s Wall Street Journal article “National College Football Playoffs?” from last December illustrates on why there shouldn’t be College Football playoffs, for example:

A playoff pushes universities farther from the collegiate model of athletics and closer to the professional model, and in the process more de-emphasizes academics," coalition co-chair Virginia Shepherd told The Wall Street Journal. "And it will continue to spiral. As the stakes get higher, there will be more postseason games and more revenues, and there will be more and more pressure on the schools to move to the top and reach for that championship.

I believe this is far from the truth, College Football in the past 15 years have been nothing but unfair for many collegiate programs. The major bowls have stirred in more money but more great college football teams have been left out because of the current format. College Football can look at the NCAA Tournament in basketball, there seems to be absolutely no flaws in their 65-team tournament. The NCAA Basketball Tournament uses a Rating Percentage Index (RPI) to pick out “at-large” teams that deserve to go to the Tournament. An at-large bid is granted by an invitation and not by a right. Hence the RPI plays a big role in determining an “at-large” bid. It is something very similar to the Bowl Championship Series rankings. It’s the most perfected tournament in sports. No controversy whatsoever and is potentially one of the greatest three week spectacles in all of sports. What Virginia Shepherd said is a contradiction, Division 1-AA, Division 2, and Division III all have playoff formats. How can it de-emphasize academics? It hasn’t for those three divisions in college football so why would it now? In fact their playoff formats are similar to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Where are the flaws? I don’t believe there are any. Also, collegiate sports lost their “innocence” years ago. Money has played a major role in collegiate sports for quite some time now.

In college football a change definitely needs to be made. Too many teams are being left out from national title contention. There are more than two teams at the end of the season that can make a claim of who is the best team in the nation. The current format isn’t working and needs to be changed. The playoffs are the best way to do it. Besides, a tournament or a plus one format would make NCAA Division 1 Football more exciting to watch at the end of the season. The current format already provides excitement right now, but it blends in with too much controversy with the BCS. Every year has only solidified why there needs to be playoffs in college football. The only thing missing in the BCS is a playoff system. Every single sport in the NCAA has a playoff system, and it’s time for Division 1 college football to step up to the plate and join the crowd.

NCAA Hockey Tournament

For many people that live in the Midwest or New England area NCAA Hockey is a big time thing. It's too bad the other 35 or so states can't enjoy NCAA Hockey as much as we do. The pairings were announced and five Hockey East Conference teams made it to the tournament, FIVE. Now I don't exactly understand it because the Hockey East is not the superior conference in NCAA Hockey, it's the WCHA, which has courted the past 5 National Champions in the past 5 years: Minnesota (2), Denver (2), and last year Wisconsin. Now, I respect the Hockey East, they play that low-scoring, grind em out type of hockey, packed in with great goaltending. However, the WCHA is the power in NCAA Hockey. The fast action, and high-scoring is enjoyable, as well as the stellar goaltending. If NCAA Hockey was to ever get big, it would turn to what the WCHA is right now, exciting.

Friday marks the beginning of the NCAA Hockey Tournament. The West Region is stacked, with the Gophers as the #1 seed (Who was arguably the best team in the Nation) pairing up against #4 seed Air Force. Then, you have another WCHA powerhouse North Dakota who is the 2 seed squaring off against the CCHA's Michigan Wolverines. One question to me is, why is the West Region so stacked when the Gophers are supposedly labeled as the #1 team in the Tournament?

In the Northeast region it's #1 seed from the Hockey East New Hampshire against #4 seed Miami, Ohio from the CCHA. #2 seed Boston College also from the Hockey East takes on #3 seed St.Lawrence from the ECAC.

On the other end, in the East region, St.Cloud State from the WCHA has a so-called easy road, but I disagree, how come they have to play out East? Why isn't there an Hockey East team in the Gophers bracket or at least the Midwest Bracket? Preferrably Maine...who St.Cloud State coincidentally has to take on in the 1st round. St.Cloud State has never won an NCAA Tournament game, and I don't see it happening this year, either. Anyway the #1 seed of the bracket is Clarkson as they battle #4 seed from the ECAC Massachussetts.

In the Midwest Bracket Notre Dame was honored after an outstanding CCHA Tournament, winning it for the first time take on #4 seed Chargers from Alabama-Huntsville. Most see this game as a possible Minnesota-Holy Cross replay. The 1st round game of the Tournament is honored to these two #2 Boston University from the Hockey East against #3 seed Michigan State from the CCHA.

My predictions go as followed:

Minnesota manhandles Air Force 7-1 as they don't have a hangover from last year's letdown against #4 seed Holy Cross.
North Dakota holds off Michigan 4-2
In the West Region Final Minnesota has to take care of I believe is the 2nd best team in the nation North Dakota 5-4 in OT. I still don't understand this bracket and the Eastern bias saga continues. Anyway, Minnesota advances to the Frozen Four once again.

In the Northeast
New Hampshire rolls over Miami, Ohio 5-2
Boston College staggers to beat St.Lawrence 2-1 in Overtime
In the Northeast Region Final two Hockey East powers battle each other, Boston College defeats New Hampshire in what will be a nitty-gritty kind of game. BC wins 1-0.

In the East
Massachussetts "shocks" Clarkson 3-2, it'll be a yawn-fest either way and I wouldn't even consider this being an upset. Clarkson? A #1? What?! St.Lawrence finished better than them in the regular season. Nice non-conference schedule too, way to get swept by the 3rd best team in the WCHA.East bias conspiracy continues.
Anyway Maine beats St.Cloud State 4-3 in overtime. Please prove me wrong SCSU for if they win they'll walk into the Frozen Four.
In the East Region Final Maine defeats UMass 3-1 to head off to the Frozen Four

In the Midwest
Notre Dame narrowly defeats Alabama-Huntsville 6-5 in a wild one.
Boston University skate past Michigan 4-1
In the Midwest Region Final Boston University graciously knocks off Notre Dame 3-1 to advance to the Frozen Four

Frozen Four at the Saavis Center in St.Louis, MO
Minnesota sleepwalks through New Hampshire 5-2 in a rematch of the 2002-2003 NCAA Title Game
Boston University defeats Maine 3-2

National Championship
Minnesota, for all the punishment they took from Boston U. in the 90's they gain revenge on the Boston Terriers as Kellen Briggs is solid in net and posts a shutout, Minnesota wins 5-0.

Texas is not Syracuse of 03'

Well the first weekend of the NCAA Tournament is now complete. My bracket is in the waste basket. The first two rounds there weren't any real upsets. Winthrop over Notre Dame is not something I would call an upset. Winthrop played great basketball all year challenging teams like North Carolina on their home floor and Texas A&M. Those two teams right now could potentially be in the Final Four. Today Winthrop was throttled by a very athletic Oregon Ducks team. Oregon I think has the tools to win a National Championship. They have a senior point guard Aaron Brooks who's probably one of the most underrated guards in the nation. Then you have the young diaper dandy Tayjuan Porter, at 5 foot 6 he's tough to guard and a pest on defense. My favorite player on that team however is Maarty Leunen, a 6 foot 8 forward. He has great post moves and can rebound like the best of them. Also, the Ducks have another tremendous guard in Bryce Taylor. He was absolutely lights out in the Pac-10 Title Game against UCLA and he hasn't stopped tearing the ball through the nets since. It should be interesting on how they do against Lon Kruger's UNLV Runnin' Rebels. They are a team that squeaked out a win against Georgia Tech but defeated one of the best teams in the Nation Wisconsin Badgers. However, I thought Wisconsin was extremely overrated. They relied too much on Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor, Wisconsin was very vulnerable coming into this tournament and it showed. Not having Forward Brian Butch in the lineup didn't help either.

Now lets go back to my topic. The Texas Longhorns. They had such a wild and exciting regular season that I didn't see them letting down in the NCAA Tournament. They had the best freshman in the nation Kevin Durant. The kid does it all, scores, rebounds, runs the floor, and is a leader. They had freshman DJ Augustin, who is regarded as one of the best point guards in the nation as well. They were also followed with Damion James who is a grinder and also provides scoring help. The dark horse on that squad was AJ Abrams, although small he could penetrate and shoot the three ball. However something seemed to be missing today in the game against the University of Southern California. Texas met their match today and never got in a rhythm at all. The difference between Texas and 03' Syracuse is simple. Jim Boeheim is one of the best coaches in the nation, they had Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara but Syracuse also had a senior leader in Kueth Duany. Duany was a fan-favorite for the Orange and provided an inspirational boost for them. They also had a big man freshman in Craig Forth. Forth provided an inside presence, something Texas lacked. Conor Atchley is a solid center for the Longhorns but his body isn't as physical as what Forth's was. The Orange also had freshman Hakim Warrick, a lanky 6 foot 10 forward that could block shots and score. I thought Texas had the tools, but the more I think about the 2003 Syracuse squad...I was wrong.