Best Sport Rebuttle

Best is an ambiguous term so i think it would be hard to say which is best. However I thought I'd take a minute and answer each of Jeff's reasons and as to why it doesn't have to make basketball the best. Then I'll try my best to give a "most" category to each of our major sports. (Jeff's original in italics)

I know more about it than any other sport (not that I don't know a lot about other sports)
Totally subjective, it works for Jeff but cannot be projected out.
- I believe that there are more spectacular and amazing feats of athleticism than any other sport. I could have a top ten on espn everyday of all dunks and crazy plays.
Athleticism is tricky, OED.com defines Athleticism thus: The practice of, or devotion to, athletic exercises; training as an athlete. I think we'd agree that every major-sport athlete trains in a year-round series of strength and conditioning, and sport-specific activities. If, by athleticism, Jeff meant being bigger, faster, stronger or enduring than one's opponent then the argument could be difficult. Certainly it would be hard to find a sport that has bigger people than basketball, but they certainly aren't the fastest, strongest or most enduring athletes.
- It requires a greater balance of strength, agility, control, speed, and mental acuity from everyone on the court.
I will partially cede this point with two exceptions, soccer and hockey. Basketball athletes seem much more balanced than their football, and definitely their baseball counterparts. But the balance of skills and athletic ability is never more apparent than in soccer. Every player has to have fantastic touch and ability, and there are more players in soccer which make the effect amplified. In hockey, even a defenseman needs to be able to pass the puck into a tiny hole and take a shot on goal from the outside. Every player in hockey has to be able to skate with speed and precision. The balance of player skills is perhaps more apparent in soccer and hockey than in basketball. In basketball, there are players and positions that obviously have better ball-handling, shooting or rebounding ability than others. These discrepancies don't seem as large in soccer or hockey. As far as most Americans are concerned soccer and hockey aren't major sports. So from that perspective Jeff is right from a team-balance view. I will also cede that basketball players are generally the most well-rounded or balanced athletes. I see more players from basketball that could succeed at the highest levels of another sport in basketball than in any other sport. Most baseball players would struggle on the court or football field. Most football players would struggle on the diamond or the court, but basketball players seem to throw and catch and run instinctively. Further, my is that if LeBron James went to the NFL he'd be the best tight end/receiver within a year or so.
- There is typically more scoring than other sports Which leads to more exciting games and more exciting finishes.
Scoring doesn't necessarily translate into exciting games or finishes. I've seen hockey, baseball and soccer games as exciting as anything I've seen that were tied one to one or nil-nil going into the last minute/inning of the game. Of course fans of those sports would argue that low scoring means that anyone can win at anytime even on a last second shot or a walk-off home run.
- You can be down big and still have a chance of coming back in the fourth quarter.
One example: Colts vs. Texans this year.
- The arenas are smaller and the fans are practically right on the court leading to a greater influence on the players and the game.
Smaller arenas=less fans, less fans=equals less noise. While the generalization may be true, a big football game in a dome would be louder than even the loudest NBA or college basketball arena.
- March Madness is the best sporting event in the entire world!
That'd be hard to argue for me having never been to a single game in March Madness. I think world wide, you might have a hard time with the Summer Olympics when the best athletes in the world compete for their teams in a variety of sports including basketball and soccer. The World Cup comes to mind, also the Super Bowl. I'm not sure what I'd watch if the finals were on in all those events, i think it would depend which teams were playing in each.

As far as which bear is best: I think baseball or hockey is the most precise sport, soccer takes the most endurance, football is the most complicated, hockey is the most physically brutal and fastest, and basketball requires the most balanced athlete.

Best Football Conference

This has been a very interesting year in college football. We have had some really huge games and very fun games to watch too. This year has seen some flip-flopping of some of the leagues. Last year I would say that the SEC and Pac-10 were the best conferences last year. We had so much parity last year with the #2 team in the country losing in multiple consecutive weeks. But I think this year is even more compelling. So I decided it might be fun to debate the best conferences in the nation this year. With out further ado, here are my top 5 conferences this year...

1. Big XII
I don't know how you can't pick them. I have been down on this conference for the last few years, but this year they are so good. Oklahoma, Ok St., Texas, Texas Tech, and Missouri are all in the top 15. That's 1/3 of the top 15 teams. I'm impressed. And they have had some of the most amazing games.

2. SEC
This conference is so good every year. They just beat up on each other. But they still have 4 teams in the top 16. What else can I say.

3. MWC
This is a big surprise to me. The MWC is really strong this year. They have some bad teams like SDSU, but they have 3 teams in the top 15. I know it is hard to put them this high, but I really think they are that good.

4. Big 10
I always have a hard time ranking the Big 10 high because I feel like they are overrated. Whenever they come up against the other big conferences in big games they lose. Penn St. does look really good this year though. I don't know that they are better than many of the top Big XII or SEC teams.

5. ACC
I really can't believe I am putting this. The ACC doesn't really look that strong but they have 4 teams ranked between 16 and 25. I guess they end up here because the rest of the conferences just are not good. The Pac-10 has one really good team and a couple decent teams and a lot of bad teams. The Big East is just laughable. What other conferences could be here?

So what would you change? Let the battle begin.

Basketball Season again

I love all sports (well most anyway). And as happy as I am about being able to watch football, I am really excited that basketball is starting again. Why do I like basketball more than any other sport? Let me list some of the reasons.

- I know more about it than any other sport (not that I don't know a lot about other sports)
- I believe that there are more spectacular and amazing feats of athleticism than any other sport. I could have a top ten on espn everyday of all dunks and crazy plays.
- It requires a greater balance of strength, agility, control, speed, and mental acuity from everyone on the court.
- There is typically more scoring than other sports Which leads to more exciting games and more exciting finishes.
- You can be down big and still have a chance of coming back in the fourth quarter.
- The arenas are smaller and the fans are practically right on the court leading to a greater influence on the players and the game.
- March Madness is the best sporting event in the entire world!

There probably more reasons I could think of and list, but I will keep it brief for now. I also realize that most of these are my opinion and could be used as arguments for other sports as well. But what I really want is a discussion/list of what sport you think is best and why.

BYU vs TCU

Ummm...crap!!!

USC vs. Ohio St

First of all, USC ranks up on my hate monitor along with the yankees and lakers...don't like any of them!!!
While I'm excited for the upcoming game, I mean normally #1 vs #5 is awesome, I'm not sure its as exciting as it could be. I mean, its still so early in the season, and a lose now could easily be made up, and the loser could very well end up in the BSC championshi game anyway. These kinds of games between such highly ranked teams are so much more exciting when they are SEC championships or such types of games, because they are detrimental to the loser...often losing a shot at a HUGE BCS game. My point is, I don't understand all the hype, especially the hype by some that this is "the best game of the year." Might might be the best game so far...but NO WAY its the best game of the year! Due to the fluidity of the rankings, three weeks from now could very well bring us another dynamic match-up, and then they'll call that the greatest game of the year. GO BUCKEYES!!!

Why the Mariners suck

Its simple really. Team Chemistry. That's the only explaination. They've got something like the 5th highest payroll in baseball, yet they under produce like nobody's buisiness. Sexson...bust, Vidro...horrible, Wilkerson...what a joke. Ned I go on? Not only are these and others playing poorly this year, but there are too many nationalities on the team. Meaning, the Japanese hang out with the Japanese, the Venezualians with the Venezualians etc. Nobody talks. Winning isn't nessecarily about talent either, otherwise the Mariners would be in fiorst place! Look at the Tampa Bay Rays. I bet few people can name theri starting line-up or even know anyone on the team! Yet, ther're in first place, because they play together and band together to win.
Of course maybe its the curse of Seattle...Adam Jones and Geroge Sherrill leave and are super-stars in Baltimore. Ken Griffey Jr. leaves and hits 600 home runs. Alex Rodriguez leaves, well he's just good. Randy Johnson (who supposedly had a bad back) left and wone 3 Cy Youngs and a couple World Series Championships. Now the reverse: Eric Bedard comes and stinks. Heathcliff Slocum (who the M's traded Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe for-both perenial All-Stars) terrible! Its honestly something in the water...when they leave they're good, when they come they stink.

Definition of Sports

Spencer brings up a good point...how do we define a sport? Something including a ball doesn't cut it since hockey and swimming are out. Something athletic doesn't work, cause curling is an "olympic sport" (C'mon on! How much effort could that take!!!) Is it something with competition? Then that would include things like poker and competitive hot dog eatting, both of which are hardly sports, yet they're on ESPN??? Basically what is a sport?

The Masters

I'd be hard pressed to pick anyone else to win The Masters other than Tiger Woods. The guy is on fire right now. He's won something like 8 of the 15 tournements he's entered in the last year and finished 2nd in 2 of them. That 1st or 2nd in 67% of the tournements in the last year!!! Is this guy even human? Plus on top of that, he's won something like $11.5 million over that stretch...man I wish I could have 1/10 0f 1% of that! Anyway, my point is, I don't think he is so heavily the favorite, The Masters will be exciting, but I'm not sure if it'll be much of a tournement, especially if Tiger keeps putting like he has been...its already over, give him his 5th green jacket! Has there been anyone to dominate their sport like Tiger dominates golf? I think he's probably the best athlete in his sport ever. I mean geez Gatorade just made his own sports drink! Who else has their own product? I guess there's Flutie Flakes, and I remember as a kid the Ken Griffey Jr. candy bar, but can't think of many others. Let's face it the guy is a specimen!

Baseball the Greatest?

Is baseball really the greatest? While I can't deny that baseball has the longest history among the top sports, what does that history mean when the growing generations don't watch and thus don't know about that history? Gone are the days when the family would sit around the radio in the summer listening to the game and keeping the score book for their favorite team. I will admit that when I was young baseball was my favorite sport. My favorite team was the Oakland A's when they had the bash brothers, Rickey Henderson, Dennis Eckersley, and the rest. I collected baseball cards and watched all the baseball I could. But that eventually faded away. Maybe because I developed more talent in other sports or maybe because I wasn't good enough to play anymore.

Now I can tell you how two maybe three baseball teams are doing. The Mariners (because they are my favorite), the Yankees (because I hate them), and the Red Sox (because I hate the Yankees). On the other hand, I can tell you how just about every NFL team is doing, can definitely tell you how every NBA team is doing, and tell you about how many of the college football and basketball teams are doing. I can also tell you about how Tiger is doing if he is playing that weekend. However, I think that much of this is determined by a person's personal preferences. If we went by what is the most watched then it would go NFL, Nascar, NBA, MLB, NHL (the first two are 100% right and the last three I am 90% sure).

Final Four

Well, I guess this is a bit late, but I think that UNC, Kansas, Memphis, and UCLA will be in the final four. Just kidding. But I am really excited for this Final Four. I think that these four teams have proved over the season that they are the best in the country. I am boiling with anticipation for these matchups. Can UNC score at will against Kansas or will the Jayhawks stifling defense be too much for the Tarheels? Will UCLA's terrific defense and ability to win the close games stop the Tigers' dribble penetration or will aggressive offense spell the end for the Bruins? These games are going to be great. I am also sticking with my earlier preditions of a Kansas vs. UCLA final with the Bruins cutting down the nets!

Is it?

This is a great topic! Is baseball the greatest game ever? Is it even "America's Pastime" as so many afficcionados tend to claim? I want to do a little research, my original thought is that it is no longer on top of the big three (four if you're Canadian) sports. I would guess it may even be third of three. I like baseball, but not like Football or Basketball, and i'll make an arguement that America agrees............ This is a great topic for everyone to weigh in on. I'll post my rationale once i have something to back up my gut reaction.

I've got to be honest...

Baseball is the GREATEST game ever! I'm usually excited for the start of the season, but nothing compares to this year. Nothing compares to walking into a stadium smelling the fresh cut grass, hearing "programs get your programs," and seeing your childhood heroes warming up in the outfield. Baseball is a game which will be played in heaven...its my passion. Most people that grow up do so wanting to be their favorite baseball player. As such, baseball is everyone's past-time, not just America's! It is by far the GREATEST sport ever! While I recognize the final four is fast approaching, baseball still takes the cake!

new topic

Now that the first two rounds are over and we've seen everyone play for a couple games. Who takes it home? Only sixteen to choose from: UNC, Wazzu, Louisville, Tenn, Kansas, 'Nova, Wisc, Davidson, Memphis, Mich St. Stanford, Texas, UCLA, W. Kent, Xavier, WVU.... So there you have it. I think my pick would have to be Kansas or UNC right now based on the first two rounds, but Wazzu is inching up and they played higher seeded teams so they are battle tested. Convince me. My preliminary vote is UNC (partially b/c they toasted my piggies.)

Food for thought this weekend...

I can't claim this idea as original to me, it was actually proposed by the announcers of the Coppin State vs. Mt. St. Mary's game, bu t I've thought about it quite a bit since then, and have expanded on it and what to get some input.
In my opinion, 1 seed vs. 16 seed games in the current system are boring to watch. I mean lets be honest, is there ever really going to be an upset? Secondly, the NIT is a joke, especially since its on at the same time as the NCAA games, so people further don't care about it, plus there is too much winning going on about how this team should have made it over that team etc (oh by the way, my proposal doesn't fix this problem either) So here's what I've been thinking...Since they tourney is already set up for a "play in" game why not have 4 "play on" games. Here's how it may work, and granted there are many different ways to work out the details, but here's a starter.
Conference Champs are in, just like before but maybe not as a 16 seed (again detail to be worked out later). There are now 4 play on games between teams like Ohio State, Virginia Tech etc and the winner of those games moves on to the tourney as ____ seed (another detail). I think this would shake things up, especially if the winner of these games becomes the 16 seed. Imagine what a better game NC vs. Ohio State would be than NC vs. Mt. St. Mary's! Even if these winners aren't 16 seeds, maybe 8 seeds or something...I think this way, the whole tournement is a tournement and teams actually have to work to win the title rather than a couple boring first round byes (cause thats pretty much what they are).
So here are my 2 questions: 1) Do you like this idea, or some other version of it, or should it be left the way it is? 2) Would/could this idea ever actually work?

Mid-Majors!?!

just a few things....first off before we get too far into the subject at hand i'd like for us to take care of some chores. We need to decide if the the blog is going to be open or closed, if we want it to show up on search engines or not, etc..... As far as these things go i don't care if it's open or closed, i just didn't want to open it unless everyone was cool with that. I don't see us weighing in on too many social issues. I'm not afraid of people knowing my opinion anyway. Some people might be running for office or something though and i don't want them to feel afraid.

Now for the mid-majors, i think they're getting more respect of late (mostly since George Mason). The seeding thing doesn't bother me at all. If they're seeded high and lose they ruin it for all the other mid-majors. Seeding them lower gives them inspirational material for the locker room, and makes the Cinderella Theme better. The real place where i agree with Jeff is the 1st round matchups, i know they have fancy formulas for all that but those playing other mid-majors really got screwed. It screws the others also, because now much fewer mid-majors get through to the 2nd round and so on. This makes the overall representation less and gets them less in the future. Other than the 14-16 seeds you can pretty much play your way out of the seeding problem, but the first round matchup, that's a problem. I think conspiracy is a little strong, but i do think they got messed over.

Also, i made every author an admin so do what you need/want to do, but be responsible about it; don't go kicking people off unless we have a vote or whatever. Don't edit others' posts just if you need something different or want to change the layout/background/overall look just do it and we can always change it back if everyone hates it. Be sure to weigh in on the open/closed and whatever other settings you care about.

Mid-Majors

So I thought I would bring up a topic to talk about. I think that the mid-majors were screwed with their seedings and pairings. Xavier is really good and have the best seed among the schools, but they didn't even win their conference tournament. Drake is a 5 seed and then Butler and Gonzaga are 7 seeds? BYU is an 8 seed? These are teams that have been ranked in the top 25 late in the season.

An even bigger beef I have is the first round match-ups. They have paired mid-major against mid-major. Butler vs. South Alabama, Drake vs. Western Kentucky, Gonzaga vs. Davidson, UNLV vs. Kent State. Think how many of these teams could beat teams from the power conferences in the first two rounds. No longer do you get these great mid-major programs beating the major conferences. You get less of these good teams further in the tournament because they have to beat each other. Schools and conferences get money for every game they win in the tournament. Is this some way of keeping money out of the smaller schools and conferences? (A conspiracy theory)

Tell me what you think.

Bracket

You might as well just give me the bragging rights, since I won the Elder's Quorum tourney last year...of course I think somebody's wife beat me, so I'm still not sure on how to handle that yet!

Bracket Names

I know there are only 3 brackets so far in our group but could we get some better names on those brackets? Your last name and the number of brackets you have submitted is not a good name. Also, Are we limiting this to one entry in this group per person or are we going for as many as you want to put in. I am in favor of only one per person. You pick the bracket you think will do the best. That will make the bragging rights better.

1st item of business

Everyone should have received an invitation to be an author, as soon as you accept i can make you an admin. Also, i made a group on ESPN for the tournament challenge. you should've received an email about that to. It only takes a few minutes and should be done by Wednesday night b/c the brackets lock when the first game starts on thursday. This should be a great first step. And automatic bragging rights....... Just sayin'.