Weiber's World Comes Crashing Down in London

Training mentally, physically and emotionally is what an Olympic athlete does for four years in preparation for the biggest moment of their lives. This moment can last just mere seconds, and usually the shorter the better. However sometimes a person who dedicates their life to a skill in hopes of appearing on the biggest stage comes up short. For world champion Jordyn Weiber, this was the sad reality.

No matter how big a favorite an athlete may be for an event, when you're up against the rest of the world that produces phenoms overnight, there are plenty of dark horses. While it was no surprise that the American Women's Gymnastic Team easily outpointed their competition on Sunday, what was a huge surprise was that Jordyn Weiber did not qualify for the women's all around final. Instead it was Gabby Douglas and Aly Raisman who put together terrific performances. The 17 year could not hold back the tears while realizing her dream had been ruined.

As shocking as the results were, the judges were correct in their grading of Weiber as she did have her struggles. On the vault, Weiber was unable to keep her balance and was unable to stay in bounds after a landing. She then struggled greatly on the uneven bars and had trouble holding a consistent handstand. These first two lackluster performances resulted in a tightly contested finish against Douglas and Raisman. After again failing to put forward an impressive performance during the floor exercises, the gold medal favorite was denied the chance to show the world her true potential. These days 3rd place just isn't enough. But should it be?

Until 2004 the top three competitors in women's gymnastics qualified. But gymnastics isn't like swimming anymore. If only the top two qualified in swimming today Michael Phelps would have come up on the short end of the stick. This terrible situation for Wieber raises the question of whether the top three finishers should get the opportunity to compete. Given that the U.S. is one of the top if not the top women's gymnastics teams in the world, there is no doubt that Wieber could beat some of the other countries competitors at her worst. Some people believe the best gymnasts, regardless country, should advance. Unfortunately for Wieber, the rules today do not support that belief.

So as Jordyn Wieber watches others compete on the biggest stage in sports, she will wonder what could have been. The Olympics wouldn't be what they are without surprises. This fact has certainly been on display this past week with Wieber's meltdown as well as Michael Phelps failure to get a medal. But if I could tell Wieber and everyone else for that matter something, its all about how you respond to failure and adversity.


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When you get knocked down you have to get back up,
 Aaron Granoff

Steve Smith Showing the Heart of the NFL

I feel like this NFL offseason we have only heard about the negative side of the NFL.  All I see when I watch the news is which players are holding out or bad mouthing their team until they get more guaranteed money. Not to mention all of the arrests...we're looking at you Detroit.

Lions running back Mikel Leshoure has more arrests than rushing yards this season an Nick Fairley has more arrests than sacks. If you think thats impressive Lions cornerback (or shall I say former cornerback) Aaron Berry was arrested twice in the past month.

But while the Lions are trying to one up the movie "The Longest Yard" a Panthers wide receiver is trying to show that he cares about something other than himself. 

Now I'm not trying to make this a battle of the large cats, but Steve Smith's recent actions are showing that the Panthers have much more class than the Lions. It's been a week since the shooting in a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., that left 12 dead and 58 more injured, and people are still desperate to find ways to help those who found themselves in the middle of that nightmare. Every penny to help these victims helps, but when one man steps up like Steve Smith did it makes quite a difference. Although he has no ties to the tragedy Smith donated $100,000 dollars to the victims. "As a father and husband I cannot imagine the pain and suffering the victims are going through," Smith said on his Twitter page. 

I think this is a tragedy that has grabbed everyone's attention around the world. One of the reasons for that is because so many of us go to the movies every month and realize it could have been one of us. Steve Smith is one of many leading by example and hopefully we can all be a little bit selfless and help the victims of this tragedy. 

While Steve Smith's kind gesture will make his wallet is a little lighter this week, giving 100,000 dollars to the victims in Colorado looks a lot better for the NFL than James Harrison being fined 100,000 for dirty hits on a Quarterback.

Steve Smith I salute you for being a kind individual and making a difference. 

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Little things go a long way,
Aaron Granoff

Don't Underestimate Me!!!

 

Two days ago Mets pitcher Matt Harvey and Pirates Starling Marte got the call they had been waiting for their entire lives. On the other end of the phone was their respected organizations saying that they had been called up to the big show.

Now usually when a minor league player is called up the media and fans expect early struggles from their prized prospects...well, you may want to think again because last night both of these kids proved that the major leagues is where they belong.

From the moment Matt Harvey toed the rubber last night, he was in total control. Half-way through the game they were comparing his debut to the likes of Dwight Gooden and Tom Seaver. It turns out that he was better than both of them. Fans expected Harvey to struggle with a hot Diamonbacks team facing a lowly Mets team going through a terrible losing streak. Harvey completely wowed every Met fans (as well as myself). Common logic would make you believe the kid isn't that great, the mets are tanking and have a glaring need a pitcher, and who gets a promotion after giving up six runs in their last start? And then Harvey, the former first-round Draft pick, went out there and struck out 11 batters, a franchise record for a Major League debut, blanked the D-backs over 5 1/3
innings Thursday and lead the Mets to a much needed 3-1 victory at Chase Field.

The only player who was as equally impressive as Harvey was Pirates center fielder Starling Marte. The ever aggressive Marte told his teammates before the game in the dugout "if he throws a fastball in the middle, I'm going to take a hack at it." Well on the first pitch Marte was a man of his word and swung for the fences. The ball jumped off his bat and landed over the center field wall. It's always impressive for your first hit to be a home run, but to have it occur on the first pitch of your career is almost unheard of. Marte became the 13th player since 2000 to hit the first big league pitch he saw out of the park.

Both of these guys showed last night that although you are a rookie, you are there to produce and be an integral part of the team. I think its safe to say that these guys set the bar pretty high.
  
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Don't underestimate a newcomer, 
Aaron Granoff

MARLINS CLEANING HOUSE

This season things are definitely not going the way the Miami Marlins and owner Jeffrey Loria had hoped. Who would have thought after such a busy offseason, the result would be seven games under 500? You would think the acquisitions of shortstop Jose Reyes and manager Ozzie Guillen (or at least the new uniforms and new stadium) would have began an organizational transformation...but alas, they have not

Its now almost August and clear that none of these improvements have amounted to much. At some point when it is clear that you aren't going to the postseason, you have to shake things up. The Marlins have all but admitted that they are not a winning team and are cleaning house. Lorea has admitted that no player in the organization is off limits. It started with the trade of Omar Infante and Anibal Sanchez for young prospect Jacob Turner. If that trade wasn't serious enough, today they shipped Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate to the Dodgers for a young pitcher in Nate Eovaldi

Its amazing to think how quickly you can go from a vital piece of an organization to expendable. It doesn't seem that long ago that Ramirez was a hot shot kid with incredible talent offensively and defensively, but that is how baseball and sports as a whole works. In a "what have you done for me lately business," Ramirez hasn't done much. 

I do believe in playing for pride, but it appears the Marlins don't have any left. With Giancarlo Stanton on the DL, Ramirez heading to LA and Reyes not producing, you may want to go to the stadium in South Beach and ask if you can tryout.

To say this season in Miami has been a disaster may be an understatement and to make it all worse, their self destruction has been captured by the new HBO show "The Franchise."

Maybe it will be one of those instructional shows on exactly what to do.

You may not have the best team Mr. Loria, but hey you do have a pretty nice stadium.

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Have a Great Day,

Aaron Granoff

Ray Rice Got 40 Million Bucks For Beating Me in Madden

 

Unless you've been hiding under your Dre Beats Headphones for the last 6 months, you many have noticed that Ray Rice finally got paid. And while some may think that he got paid for the incredible performance he has displayed on the field since the 2008 season, I think beating me in the Madden NFL 2013 video game last week was what compelled the Ravens to reward their franchise running back.

I had the pleasure of getting to meet Ray last week at a Dre Beat promotional event. Most of the time when you meet an athlete its a simple handshake and maybe a signature. Ray Rice however definitely took things to the next level and provided an incredible fan/player interaction. After signing everybody's memorabilia and taking countless photos, Ray Rice just wanted to be a normal guy and relax and play Madden. Instead of bringing one of his friends to play with him while fans approached him, Rice said "Hey who wants to play". Being the avid football fan I am, I immediately jumped at the chance and said "I'll play Ray!!!" Even though I'm a Patriots fan, I definitely wanted to make the game a little bit more competitive. So I picked the Steelers because regardless of if its a video game or a dream, Ray Rice isn't going to accept losing to the Steelers. 

What was even more fun than getting the opportunity to play Madden with one of my favorite players, was getting to ask him any question I wanted and listen to how he sees the game. We talked about thing such as college, Billy Cundiff's missed kick, and his touchdown against the Patriots in the playoffs. I have to admit Ray Rice is pretty good at Madden and beat me 21-6. 

And after beating the Steelers and I, Rice received a 5 year 40 million dollar contract the next day.

The big thing I took away from this experience is that pro athletes really are just normal people. Everyone looks up to players they would want on their fantasy team as gods. As great as Ray is, I don't think he would take any offense to being thought of as a normal person with an exquisite talent. Some guys walk around with an attitude that suggests that they are better than everyone else. Rice is certainly not one of those guys. While this offseason has been filled with more arrests, DUI's, assaults, Rice is busy giving fans memories that they will never forget. Although I like to think I was a good luck charm to Rice getting a new contract in my head, I know that nobody deserved a new deal more than him. Besides his amazing play, Ray has been extremely durable and has shown terrific character.

I had an awesome experience meeting Ray and I just want to say - Mr. Rice, we will meet again one day and on that day I will bring my A game and win.

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Have a great day,

Aaron Granoff

Victory For Kris Humphries

It wasn't too long ago when the only team that was interested in offering Kris Humphries a contract was an AHL hockey team. The media swirling around Humphries last year was almost unbearable and turned off all NBA teams. However after putting his head down this season and playing hard, Humphries has been greatly rewarded yesterday as he received a 2 year 24 million dollar deal.

You have to give Kris Humphries a lot of credit for not breaking under the pressure this season. I don't think anybody's life became more public or embarrassing than Humphries. After getting married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian, the couple got divorced after 72 days. What made the situation even worse was that "Keeping up With The Kardashians" captured the breakdown of the relationship. 

Regardless of how many times she denies it, Kim Kardashian completely played Humphries to better her TV ratings. You can't blame a guy for going after a girl like Kardashian, but unfortunately he paid the ultimate price. After getting divorced and falling in love with a girl who didn't love him, Humphries easily could have decided to disappear from the public eye. Who could blame him?

But instead of giving up, Humphries decided to return to the court where he has excelled his whole life. Humphries, 27, averaged 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds for the Nets last season, and averaged a double-double in back-to-back seasons for the first time.

I think that the contract that was given yesterday was extremely well deserved. The players who deserve the largest contracts are players who are not only talented, but also loyal and committed. Humphries was put in a very unusual situation last season and instead of quitting, he persevered through the public embarrassment and put together a great season.

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You get what you deserve,

Aaron Granoff

The Reign of Robert Griffin III Has Officially Begun

Today marks a very important day in Redskins history. This morning, the Redskins announced that they have come to an agreement with the RG3. The Redskins, being a team that hasn't had a legitimate quarterback since Joe Theisman are putting all of their faith in Griffin to be the savior of the team.

Griffin's signing comes just a day after USC quarterback Matt Barkley stated that had he decided to come out this year (he most likely would have been drafted ahead of Griffin). Although Griffin isn't getting the 86 million dollar contract that Sam Bradford got, he is getting a fully guaranteed contract of 21.1 million dollars, ensuring financial stability.

Although its a risky move to give a player like Griffin a fully guaranteed 4 year contract, the fact that they gave up two first round picks and a second round pick may be an even bigger risk. But the Redskins feel that Griffin has the talent and the personality to accomplish things the NFL has never seen. Griffin brings blazing speed, a strong arm, and tremendous character to an organization which has tasted mostly defeat and disappointment in recent years.

Although Griffin has so much talent, he will experience a great deal of growing pains this year. It has now become a luxury in the NFL to have the opportunity to sit on the bench and learn from a seasoned veteran for a season or two. Players such as Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, and Eli Manning all had to sit and watch for a period of time and learn. Griffin will have to learn on the fly and take the good with the bad. The question of whether he will put together a season like Cam Newton or a season like Blaine Gabbert is still uncertain.

Regardless of how RG3 does in year one, this marks a historic day for the Redskins. Fans and coaches will have to remain patient with the humble former Baylor QB. If Griffin is brought along correctly I think he does have the potential to change the game. 

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Have a great day,
Aaron Granoff

A Bad Week For Jason Kidd

This is definitely a week that Jason Kidd wants to forget. At first things were looking up for the future Hall of Famer as he inked a deal with the New York Knicks. He believed that this would give him a fresh start and a great opportunity to serve as a mentor to Jeremy Lin.

Well neither have proven to work out so far. Kidd was arrested yesterday morning for driving while intoxicated. He was involved in a single car accident as he crashed his vehicle into a telephone poll after leaving a charity event. Even though he suffered minor injuries, his reputation is what may suffer the most. Kidd is second on the NBA's career list in assists and steals, but has been in trouble with the law before in 2001, he was arrested on a domestic violence charge, acknowledging that he struck his former wife. This latest incident is another black eye for Kidd who has been experienced so much success on the court, but is proving off the court is a different story.

This wasn't the only bad news Kidd experienced this week. When asked why he chose to come to New York, he stated that the opportunity to mentor young Jeremy Lin excited him. He may not have the opportunity to do this though, as the team has signed Raymond Felton while Lin has signed an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets. It initially appeared that Lin was a lock to come back to New York. But as every hour passes, it seems as though the Knicks have closed the chapter on Linsanity. 

Its definitely not the end of the world for Kidd, who has proven himself in every organization he has been in. But his wishes to start with a clean slate and mentor a phenom certainly has not been answered

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Have a great day,

Aaron Granoff

 Who's Side Are You On Plaxico Burress?

If you weren't already wondering what Plaxico Burress was thinking, his recent comments may have have put you over the edge. Personally, I think the veteran wide receiver is becoming flat-out desperate. It's now July and Burress is without a team or any offers whatsoever. After a mediocre season in New York which experienced a very public meltdown, the Jets feel they no longer have any use for Burress.

At first, Plaxico was quick to take shots at Mark Sanchez for the teams lack of success. His comments led people to believe that he doesn't think Sanchez has what it takes to lead the Jets to a championship. Even though Burress isn't going back to New York, taking shots at your former quarterback isn't going to help your job prospects in the future. This is especially true when you are a wide receiver on the wrong side of 30 who is coming off a 2 year jail sentence and a disappointing season.

It seems as though Burress has gotten the memo as his words about Sanchez have changed extremely since his last interview. Instead of throwing him under the bus yet again, Burress surprisingly came to Sanchez's defense. “He definitely has enough arm,” Burress said to WFAN-AM in New York about Sanchez, “He was battling some injuries last year, shoulder-wise that a lot of people didn’t know about … different things like that. But I think he really turned the corner.” These comments display that Burress is quickly realizing that the window of opportunity is closing.

Since he has parted ways with the Jets, Burress has publicly stated which teams he would play for. At the top of Burress's wish list are the Eagles and Panthers. So far neither team has shown interest, which is bad news for Plaxico.

Without a doubt, there is still hope for the once dominant wide receiver. Hey, if Chad Johnson (Ocho Cinco no more as of July 4th) and Randy Moss can stay in the league with the comments they make on a daily basis, some team will eventually give Burress a shout. Now might be the perfect time for Plaxico to shut his mouth and get in shape for when that team calls.

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Have a great day,

Aaron Granoff

 Randy Moss Turning Heads and Changing Reputation in San Fran

While Randy Moss may look like the hot shot rookie that came out of Marshall back in 1998, the scoop coming out of 49ers camp is that his quickness and hands match the "do".

A couple months ago it was considered a surprise when the 49ers took a chance on a 35 year old Moss who's has always had questions about his character and sat out all of last season. But so far Randy is making Jim Harbaugh look like a genius.

Once Moss was traded away from the New England Patriots, it seemed as if his career was going to end in a tailspin that microcosm-ed his entire career. It doesn't get much better than catching passes from Tom Brady and being coached by Bill Belichick, but after various comments made in a press conference as well as a contract dispute, Moss was shipped back to Minnesota where he was originally drafted. Moss's move back to his old environment did not please him in the slightest, and this lade to shades of his poor attitude which eventually led to his release. He was then given another shot in Tennessee where he was able to keep his mouth shut. It didn't matter though, as Moss was put in an impossible situation to succeed with Rusty Smith (Who?) as his quarterback. After the 2010 season he was not resigned and was out of football all of last year and even announced his retirement. It seemed as though the future Hall of Fame wide receivers career had come to a sad end.

This past February, Moss got the itch to play football again. His adjustments in his life along with his sudden determination was what made Moss decide to give it one more go. But the question remained who would give him a shot? Who would take a chance on a 35 year-old, mal-tempered diva wide receiver who hadn't played in a year, and has a track record of being a locker room poison?

In March the 49ers signed Moss to a 1 year contract with very little financial investment so that if Moss didn't possess the talent or couldn't stay out of trouble, it wouldn't be a problem to hand him his walking papers. Right now, it doesn't seem that moss is going anywhere.

After initially being thought of as long shot to make the roster, Harbaugh has went on record in saying that, not only is Moss the best wide receiver on the team, he is also has the best attitude. It has been reported that Moss is avidly studying the playbook and sits in the first row during team meetings. His attitude has also rubbed off on fellow diva Michael Crabtree and other 49ers receivers including A.J. Jenkins and Mario Manningham

Jim Harbaugh deserves a great deal of credit. His positive outlook as well as his motivating personality has really struck a chord with Moss and allowed him to really buy into the teams plan. Randy looks as fast as ever and his hands have never been questioned. Will Moss get back to the top of his game one more time? And if he does could he be the missing piece in putting together a team that can go past the NFC Championship game and win the Superbowl? Let us know what you think.

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Have a great day,

Aaron Granoff

Yankees Legend Reggie Jackson Benched In The Bronx

Reggie Jackson has officially been benched.
Well, sort of.

Jackson, a long time advisor for the Yankees, hasn't played a game for the Bombers since 1981. Nevertheless, he was recently told to stay clear of the team.
Recently, Mr. October was a little too honest when he stated that Alex Rodriguez doesn't belong in the Hall of Fame because of his positive tests for PED's. He went on to say that if players such as A-Rod were inducted, it would cause players to think that their are no repercussions for steroid use. He also said that if a player like A-Rod was inducted that no current Hall of Famers would attend the induction ceremony.

Obviously Jackson has the fame and credentials to voice his opinion, but the fact remains that the Yankees want as many Hall of Famers as possible (especially those still playing for the franchise). With former Yankees such as Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, and Alex Rodriguez all being debatable Hall of Famers due to their positive tests but impressive careers, this kind of comment by Jackson can definitely hurt their chances.
For now, Mr. October may not be around in

October when the Yankees will be fighting for their 28th World Series. Reports have said that the Yankees do not feel this is the right time for Jackson to be around the organization. At some point, Jackson will be back and hopefully this incident is all forgotten. Reggie has already taken the right steps in order to repair this problem. He has contacted A-Rod as well as Joe Girardi and others and apologized.

But at the end of the day the man voiced his opinion when asked and is now suffering the consequences...

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Everybody makes mistakes,

Aaron Granoff

Anderson Silva & Chael Sonnen Ready To Change The UFC

When two fighters head toward a pay per view, the norm is to put on an act to hype up the fight, but the fact is, most of the fighters do like each other and are just trying to increase ratings. 

You don't have to worry about that situation this Saturday. 

Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the best mixed martial artist ever to fight in the UFC, but Saturday's challenger, Chael Sonnen, would lead you to believe Silva is just another one "hit" wonder. The lack of respect between the two men set to fight tomorrow evening at UFC 148 is literally mind boggling.

Two years after beating Silva's face in for 23 minutes, Sonnen is ready to prove that he can do it for another 25. After dominating and frankly humiliating "The Spider", Silva managed to get Sonnen into a triangle choke which forced him to tap in the final moments of the fight. Since that moment Sonnen has been criticizing and insulting Silva with everything in his arsenal. After not being much of a talker a few years ago, Sonnen is possibly the biggest trash talker in sports. He has not only called out Silva, but also his country and even his family.

The one thing that Anderson Silva can appreciate about Sonnen is that he has single handedly sold this fight without Silva barely having to say a word. At least up until recently.

After another tirade of insults towards the UFC champ, Silva snapped and stated that he is going to make Sonnen swallow all of his teeth and get both of his arms and legs broken. Of course, Sonnen made his usual scoff at Anderson and continued.

Sonnen, undeniably is a very tough man to figure out. While nobody questions that he is one of the hardest working athletes in sports today, his bi polar attitude towards fighters is what keeps people on their toes. After having tremendous respect for war hero Brian Stann, and Michael Bisping, Sonnen sounds like he wants to kill Silva and has displayed an extreme amount of hostility.

There are so many things that make this fight exciting to me. The first is that it takes a lot to get under Anderson Silva's skin. Chael Sonnen has certainly rattled the champ and has him out for blood. On the other side of this is Sonnen, out for revenge and seeming as though he wouldn't tap out again if someone was attempting to amputate his leg.
Secondly, what makes this fight so exciting is that Chael Sonnen showed that Anderson is human. Nobody would deny that "The Spider" got caught in a web of its own for 23 minutes but miraculously escaped for the final two. The third thing is that, although Sonnen is a big underdog in this fight, how can you pick a winner in this fight with any sort of confidence?
Although people enjoy seeing fighters such as Floyd Mayweather, no one wants to see him carry a fighter like Juan Marquez for 12 rounds as a favor. This fight is going to be a battle with no clear cut winner in sight.
What gives this fight the added edge is the fact that these men simply don't like each other. When you know that two men aren't taking jabs at eachother in order to sell a fight, it gives more of a reason to watch.

So who do you think will win the biggest rematch in sports history tomorrow night? Let us know!

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Here we go,

Aaron Granoff

Nash Taking His Talents To Los Angeles

You have to respect an organization that will do whatever it takes to be a playoff contender, and with the recent acquisition of two-time MVP Steve Nash, the Lakers are no exception. Earlier this week, Nash agreed to a three-year, $27 million contract with the Lakers, and in return, the Suns get four draft picks - first rounders in 2013 and 2015 and second rounders in 2013 and 2014.

The Phoenix Suns did their former franchise player a huge favor by trading him to a winner despite having multiple offers on the table for Nash. Although Nash may not be the best fit in the Lakers lineup, the opportunity to add a player of his caliber only occurs once so often. But will Nash wearing the purple and yellow change the identity of Kobe's team?

When two stars of Kobe and Nash's come together the question always becomes "can these stars co-exist"? Whether it's Carmelo and Amare, Wade and Lebron or Kobe and Nash, the very nature of basketball being a one-star, ball-dominant game always brings in doubt of teamwork.

The good news is that it was apparently Bryant who was a big part of recruiting Nash to come to LA; yet, in my opinion, Nash's success will rely on his relationship with Kobe more than anything. If Kobe yells at him and calls him soft (like he did to Pau Gasol) this is not going to work. But, if he embraces Nash and uses him to take some weight off his shoulders, they could become great partners. Nash can even serve as another voice to lend advice to the younger players like Bynum and the new rookies coming in.

In a sport where the "Big 3's" are becoming popular (Bosh, Wade, Lebron), the Lakers are now even more stacked with Nash, Gasol, Bryant, and Bynum. The question now is whether everyone can swallow their pride and win another championship before Kobe and Nash are over the hill.

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Work Together,
Aaron Granoff

Is Linsanity Leaving the Garden?

Last year's basketball season was truly unique. Not because Lebron James was able to finally step up in the clutch and earn a championship, but because of Jeremy Lin. Lin's stellar play along with his uniqueness in comparison to other NBA players captivated the basketball world last year. His rise to fame was a rare occurrence in the world of Basketball and just so happened to take place in the center of the basketball universe. Yet, just months after having every person at MSG on their feet, Lin may be on his way out of the Big Apple. 

After being released by the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets last year, Lin was claimed by the Knicks to serve as the backup point guard. Lin obviously had other plans. After becoming the leader of the Knicks and putting them back into the playoff picture, his year was cut short by a torn meniscus. The good news for Lin is that most people remember the game winners and double doubles (not the injury or the massive amounts of turnovers he committed). 

It doesn't take the Harvard education (Lin's alma mater) to realize that the time for him to cash in is now. The Knicks do not want to give Lin a backloaded deal due to the fact that they are already paying Carmelo Anthony, Amare Stoudamire, and Tyson Chandler. The Knicks do have the opportunity to match any offer sent Lin's way, but Toronto, Dallas and Brooklyn have all expressed serious interest.

There is a great deal of risk in signing a one season wonder like Lin. In many sports, an athlete will have an incredible year where they go way beyond what was expected of them, often resulting in new outrageous contracts or holding out for more money.

The fact is, The Knicks cannot support the contracts of of Lin, Melo, Stoudamire, and Chandler in the upcoming years and are forced with a tough decision. So I ask you, will Jeremy Lin's make the Garden erupt again this season, and is he worth the risk?

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Have a great day,
Aaron Granoff

Injury Bug Bites Again In The Bronx

When I think about the Yankees, I think about championships and all star players. But recently when I think about the Yankees more often than not, the large number of serious injuries they have endured comes to mind. The Yankees are in big trouble due to their latest round of injuries and the question has to be asked, can they overcome the injury bug?


At first the Yankees figured they were in trouble when they lost their biggest offseason acquisition in Michael Pineda. When a team sends away their number one prospect in the organization, expectations are that the player they traded for will produce. However after a torn shoulder, Pineda will have to watch the rest of the year from the dugout. Things didn’t get any easier when the best closer ever-in Mariano Rivera was lost for the year due to a torn ACL and MCL. As the gasp left the stadium, and the dust finally settled, they would have never thought they would endure even more injury struggles.


Although the losses of some players to injuries can be repaired, some can be detrimental to organization. Losses such as CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte cannot be fixed whatsoever. Sabathia was put on the 15 day disabled list with a groin injury, while Pettitte was hit with a comebacker, which broke his fibula. When your workhorse goes on the DL along with a revived Andy Pettitte, you have serious problems. Even though it seems that the Yankees’ only injuries are pitching, you cannot forget about Brett Gardner who has only been able to play only 9 games this entire season.

It’s only the middle of the summer and some players will heal up for the stretch run, but the fact remains that the Yankees need to fight now to keep their playoff, nay championship hopes alive. With players that are healthy such as Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez not getting any younger, the organization needs to play cautiously and should seriously consider making a move at the trade deadline (I’m not talking about adding Jamie Moyer either). Can the Yankees weather the storm, or will the amount of injuries that have struck the team, be too much to be able to see the pinstripes in October? Let us know.


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Stay healthy,
Aaron Granoff

The Worth of a Draft Pick

 The NBA draft is always a thrilling event where organizations get the opportunity to breed new talent which could help them immediately contend for a championship. Tonight will be a life changing event for all players who are fortunate to get drafted and take their talents to the next level. 

 All the players who will be drafted tonight have been studied by organizations and under a microscope for years. at the end of the day though, the draft is basically luck. You can do all the scouting you want on a player from how his jump shot is, to his behavior off the court. Many teams in the past have felt they were getting the perfect kid, only to be disappointed. One good example not to long ago is Greg Oden who was the number one draft selection . For months, the Portland Trailblazers went back and forth between Oden and a guy named Kevin Durant. Even the occasional basketball fan has a pretty good idea who has had the better career. Oden is still in his early 20's and can barely walk, while Durant is arguably the best player in basketball. 

So tonight in the lead up to the draft, owners and GM's are desperately trying to put their organization in the best position to improve their team requiring very difficult decisions. One of the hardest decisions to make for an organization is determining how much a draft pick is worth. One story that has been highly talked about as the draft approaches is the Charlotte Bobcats #2 draft pick. Five teams known to be trying to obtain this pick and are willing to give up star power in order to get it. But you have to ask is it really worth it? The fact is, the players a team is agreeing to trade are established stars who obviously have a great deal of talent if they are being coveted by other teams. Regardless of who the #2 draft pick is, they will have no NBA experience and could easily be the next Greg Oden. 

I personally believe that draft picks are overrated. This is not only in basketball, but in every sport. I remember when the New England Patriots traded away a 4th round draft pick for Randy Moss who happens to be one of the best receivers ever. Do you really think that the 4th round draft pick has any chance to be the next Randy. I seriously doubt is considering John Bowie (the 4th round draft pick) is on the practice squad for the Bengals after having been in three other organizations previously. 

My point is that tonight nothing is a guarantee. When teams are trying to acquire the best rookies who they feel is a future all star, they should proceed with caution. Before you trade away the veterans on your team who have accomplished so much, remember that they have made their mark on the game while the player you draft may completely fizzle out. 

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Good luck to all NBA teams

Aaron Granoff

Former Heisman Smith Running Out Of Options

 

If you were not a football expert but had interest in Troy Smith or the Ohio State Buckeyes back in 2006, you probably expected him to be a future stud in the NFL. After leading his team to a 12-0 record and winning the Heisman trophy Smith seemed destined for greatness. 

It is pretty clear today that the former Buckeye quarterback has not lived up to the expectations many had for him. After being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens and spending time in San Francisco, Pittsburgh and the UFL, Smith may have just gotten his last opportunity to play in the NFL after being released yesterday by the Steelers. 

Although the average football fan may be surprised that Smith didn't "pan out" there are many experts that are not surprised at all. Smith has always been in the conversation of quarterbacks who had a ton of talent that doesn’t necessarily translate to the NFL. If you’re incredible in college, doesn't that mean that you have a great chance to be a great player in the pros? Mostly yes, but in some cases the talent that some players possess may not work in a “pro offense”. This is the case for Smith who did not have the size or arm to lead a NFL offense. There was no doubt that he has the speed and the ability to throw the occasional sneaky pass, but in the NFL league today there are very strict requirements that must be met in order for a team to believe you are part of their system. If you aren't above 6 foot 3 and don't have a rocket arm, you will be overlooked. 

Are the NFL standards correct? Players who have been treated like Troy Smith and haven't been given a true opportunity, present extreme hurdles for future players who fit this mold. You don't have to look far to find a player dealing with a similar situation. Kellen Moore has the most wins for a quarterback in NCAA history and had a terrific career at Boise State. This didn't matter on draft day to NFL teams, as Moore was undrafted and is currently trying to snag a spot with the Lions. Moore is undersized and doesn't have the rocket arm that scouts dream about. 

Unless another team suddenly has a desperate need for quarterback help or a versatile player to run some sort of wildcat formation, this appears to be it for Troy Smith. The signings of Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwhich has made him expendable in Pittsburgh. 6 years ago he was fighting for a National Championship against Florida with millions of people watching his every move. Today Smith is an unemployed 27 year old man who was not given an opportunity to play in the NFL because he doesn't fit the mold of franchise quarterback. Don't we all wish we could have the build without the personality of Ben Roethlisberger? Unfortunately for Smith the skills and size he and so many others possess are not up to par with what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.

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Have a great day,

Aaron Granoff

Youkilis Changing His Sox

 

Its official. After 9 productive and memorable years, Kevin Youkilis is trading in Red for White and heading to Chicago to play for the Sox of a different color. This comes after weeks of speculation that Youkilis could be moved because of his slow return from injury this year and the emergence of rookie Will Middlebrooks.

The deal was reported yesterday almost as soon as Youkilis collected his final hit with the Red Sox to help beat Atlanta. It was a special moment to hear the crowd cheer Y-O-U-K one more time. Chicago desperately needed someone to man the hot corner and parted ways with Zach Stewart and Brent Lillibridge. In my opinion getting a utility player with some speed (Lillibridge) and a low level pitching prospect (Stewart) is not a great deal for the Red Sox considering they will pay all but $2 Million of Youk's contract. However the pressure to give Middlebrooks the opportunity to start on an every day basis, possibly forced the Red Sox to cave in. As sad as it is to see the veteran leave Boston, I think he, as well as the fans, knew it was time.

The departure of Kevin Youkilis is an interesting thing to watch because we get to witness the passing of the torch. It seems that Boston has found its third baseman of the future in Middlebrooks. Although Youkilis was never the best player on the Red Sox, what made him so great and will undeniably help him in the future is the fact that he has always went above and beyond what any team or scout thought he was capable of. After being overlooked by many teams due to his seemingly nonathletic body, Youk was given a chance in Boston. It didn't take long for him to become a staple in the lineup and to soon be known as "The Greek God Of Walks". 

Although Youkilis's time in Boston has reached the end, I think fans should proudly celebrate the man who was one of the last remaining pieces of a team that broke "the Curse of the Bambino" in 2004 and was also crowned champs in 2007. He has handled this whole situation with nothing but class and maturity. If Middlebrooks can have close to the career that Youkilis did in Boston, he will be considered a very successful player.

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Thanks for the memories,

Aaron Granoff

Another One Bites the Dust

 

It has been a month of surprises for the sport of boxing. Weeks after Manny Pacquiao was cheated out of his 16th straight win after clearly outperforming Timothy Bradley, huge betting favorite Victor Ortiz was unable to answer the bell for the 10th Round. 

After coming into the fight looking bigger, faster and stronger, I personally had a lot of confidence that  "Vicious" Victor Ortiz would have no problem handling the largely unknown Josesito Lopez. Although both fighters were coming off of disappointing losses, Ortiz was facing the best fighter in the world in Floyd Mayweather, while Lopez was facing Jessie Vargas.

Nevertheless, time and time again we are reminded that the most important trait any fighter must possess is heart. If you were picking the winner of this fight based on who had the most talent, Ortiz would win in a landslide. But if you were picking the winner of this fight based on heart alone, you would have had to go with Lopez. In this fight, like many others, heart won.
Although Ortiz was gutting out tough rounds that were extremely hard to judge, you could tell that Ortiz was slowly giving up. When Ortiz is fighting someone who doesn’t have the guts to fight back, he breaks down his opponents and picks them apart. However when he endures any type of adversity, he quickly folds. As soon as I heard the crowd cheer for Lopez I became very nervous for Ortiz. It seems like yesterday that Ortiz informed the referee that he wanted to stop the fight after getting knocked down by Marcos Maidana. The most shocking part of that story is that Ortiz had already knocked down Maidana three times. 

All Ortiz had to do Saturday to get his huge payday opportunity against Saul “Canelo” Alvarez , was to win a convincing decision against a fighter who was clearly not on his level. Josesito Lopez had other plans, as he proved yet again that if you can whether the storm against Ortiz, you have a great shot to win. After taking as much punishment as he was giving, Ortiz took a shot that broke his jaw, which resulted in him not being able to close his mouth. At the time, Ortiz was winning close decisions on all three of the judges scorecards. Yet again Ortiz showed that he doesn’t have the heart of a champion. After a very visible argument with his corner men, Ortiz stood up and was able to break free of his trainer to inform the referee that he wanted to stop the fight. 

Although Ortiz is still a young fighter who is a big part of boxing’s future, he has taken a huge step back and damaged his reputation once again. While Ortiz will never have the heart or talent of Muhammad Ali, who once fought an entire fight with a broken jaw, he has shown through his actions that he is a quitter.

At least boxing has parody...

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Have A Great Day,
Aaron Granoff

Sullinger Free Falling Out Of The First Round

Had Jared Sullinger gone into the draft last year, he could have possibly been the number one pick in the NBA draft. He passed on this opportunity however and may soon be regretting that decision. Sullinger recently underwent a series of medical tests in order to prove to organizations that he is indeed healthy enough to play in the NBA. Unfortunately for Jared, he has been red flagged by doctors as a prospect who may not have a long NBA career.

Despite putting up terrific numbers and playing against stiff competition this past year, doctors have reported that Sullinger has a chronic back issue as well as a leg that is much shorter than the other. Almost nothing can shy teams away from a prospect more than health issues.  Although he was believed to be a top 10 pick coming into the draft, Sullinger's unimpressive NBA combine performance on top of this health report may cause him to slide all the way out of the first round. 

Sullinger is an amazing example of how fast your reputation can change. One day you are regarded as a blue chip prospect and the next day you are damaged goods. His story is very similar to San Antonio Spurs forward Dejuan Blair who was being talked about as the number one pick in his draft class. This was until teams learned that Dejuan Blair doesn't have ACL's in either knee and is basically a walking miracle.

So will Sullinger's bad news be an NBA teams benefit. There is no doubt that this man has a ton of talent and a lot to offer an NBA team. On top of his stellar play, he is also a good kid who could be good for an NBA locker room. So I ask you, will Sullinger be the steal of this years draft, or a future health nightmare for an organization to deal with on a daily basis?

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Stay Healthy,

Aaron Granoff

 

The Soft Side Of Brandon Jacobs

Regardless of how fast you can run and how many tackles you can break, at the end of the day, the NFL is a business. If a player feels that they are worth more than they are being paid it is worth looking elsewhere, especially when you are a free agent. Brandon Jacobs is known is the enormous presence in the New York Giants background with an attitude as intimidating as his play. So to see Jacobs show his soft side and go out of his way to compensate a fan who wanted to see his favorite player one more time in a Giants uniform is something really special.

After an unproductive season in which he saw his carries decrease in favor of Ahmad Bradshaw, the only thing that was running fast for Jacobs was his brand new Aston Martin. Yet after the season, he was ready to cash in on a new contract. Jacob's asking price did not sit well with the Giants and decided to release him after refusing to lower his asking price. He ended up signing with the San Francisco 49ers who have a stacked backfield, which could result in Jacobs getting lost in the shuffle. 

Although some Giants fans were sad to see their bruising back head off to the west coast, no fan was as devastated as 6 year old Joseph Armento. Armento was so desperate to see his favorite Giants player stay in town, that he figured he would play his part in helping to keep Jacobs financially satisfied in New York. So Joseph wrote a later to Jacobs with all the money in his piggy bank that amounted to $3.36 in hopes that it would be enough for him to return.

Now, personally if I was Brandon Jacobs and received this letter I would be touched but also feel terrible about myself at the same time. This man is making millions of dollars a year and to see a young fan  give all the money he has ($3.36) must have given him a wake up call on how fortunate he really is. So the often disgruntled running back, Jacobs recently decided to be a gentle giant for the day and reward his biggest fan.  He decided to take Joseph and his brother to a Bounce House, where they played non- stop for hours. Jacobs even brought his own son to bond with the boys. 

Although Joseph is not going to get to see his favorite player in a Giants uniform again, he got to experience a day he will never forget. He also got a signed helmet as well as a $5 bill from Jacobs. Although this was a nice gesture from the now 49ers running back, lets just hope Jacobs doesn't request a raise now that he is $5 dollar poorer

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Do a good deed today,

Aaron Granoff

Pacquiao Will Get His Chance To Make Things Right

Chances are, what you believed happened on June 9th did not match up with the final scorecards in Las Vegas. After a very convincing performance in which he showed that he had gotten over his previous lackluster performance against Marquez,  Michael Buffer did not announce Pacquiao's name as the winner for the first time in seven years. Instead it was young man who calls himself the Desert Storm, Timothy Bradley.

Earlier in the day,  I did tell people who had asked me for predictions leading up to the fight, that Bradley had a legitimate shot. I thought Pacquiao was dealing with legal problems as well as marital problems and wasn't fully prepared for the hungry challenger. However, it was clear from the opening bell that Pacquiao was ready to show he was still the best in the world. The sad part, is that he displayed that and wasn't rewarded. Although Bradley showed immense heart for fighting on a fractured foot, he was outclassed for 12 rounds and should have been sent back to the drawing board. 

Needless to say, I was shocked when I heard the scorecards that the three judges recorded. It wasn't the fact that the announcers of the fight were so pro Pacquiao or the fact that Harold Letterman's scorecard had it scored 11-1 in favor of Pacquiao. It was simply the fact that it was evident that Bradley had come up short despite a respectable performance. Almost as soon as the decision was read, people felt they had been cheated out another stellar Pacquiao victory. You know things are controversial when Promoter Bob Arum (who represents both fighters) said it was the worst decision he had seen in his entire career.

Now, almost two weeks after this disaster, at least there is some effort being put forward to make this right. Yesterday, the WBO reviewed the Bradley-Pacquiao bout and all five judges determined that the Filipino was victorious. Although they do not have the power to reverse the outcome or rule it a no contest, it will guarantee a rematch for Pacquiao. You better believe that this time around, the judges will be different and watched almost as closely as the fight itself. ''My supporters shouldn't worry. We're going to get that title,'' Pacquiao said. I have confidence that all 147 pounds of Pacquiao will be trying to take Bradley's head off next November just to make sure its convincing enough

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When you get knocked down, get back up

Aaron Granoff

How Will Chad Ochocinco Respond in South Beach?

What all of these reporters want to know is not whether Chad Ochocinco got his Starbucks gold card stolen again, but rather if he is going to be on the 53 man roster come week 1. Although Chad can not answer this question with his mouth (which is quite unusual) he may be able to give us a better idea by displaying his play making ability. But can Chad handle the heat in South Beach?

The good news for Chad Ochocinco is that he isn't battling against Wes Welker or Brandon Lloyd for reps in New England anymore. He isn't even competing against former Dolphin Brandon Marshall who was recently traded to Chicago to reunite with Jay Cutler. Instead, Ochocinco is competing against himself mostly. He has to prove to himself after a disappointing year in New England after struggling to learn the playbook, that he still has the burst and football IQ to play in this league. After not missing a Patriots game this year, I personally think that Chad does have the burst and that his release from New England is a blessing in disguise. If his job in New England had been to run straight every passing play and go deep, I am confident that the former Cincinatti Bengals star would still be getting high fives from Bill Belichick. 

Four day's after getting released for the first time in his career, Ochocinco was home in South Beach where he has wanted to play his whole life. "It's been a childhood dream of mine, growing up watching the Marks Brothers (Mark Duper and Mark Clayton), watching Dan Marino, some of those guys," Ochocinco. "It's awesome. Throughout the years, I've always played Madden, I've always used the Dolphins no matter where I was playing and to be able to wear the teal and orange, it's a pretty good feeling."

Chad Ochocinco is such an incredible athlete not only because of his fantastic play he has displayed over his career. But also his character. He is truly unique because he is so vocal and at times is childish and cocky, but yet at the end of the day he is loved by the media and the fans. I'm not saying he is a loveable guy but there is something different about Chad and the other diva receivers in the NFL. 

Although I am sad that Chad Ochocinco will once again become Chad Johnson once again on July 4th, I am also excited because I remember what Chad Johnson meant to the NFL. Chad Johnson was arguably the best in the game and a gift to be able to watch. So I ask you, assuming Chad makes the Miami Dolphins who will he be, The Chad Ochocinco of last year, or Chad Johnson who was one of the best in the game?

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We'll See,

Aaron Granoff