THIS GUY'S SPORTS BLOG

In the next few days specifically on Thursday, teams from around the league will draft the future of their franchises. Unlike in fantasy football if you draft a player and they don’t pan out you always have next year, in this case if these players don’t pan out then its 10-15 years of bad football. As a football fan, I am one of those that sits for 3 days and watches his team (the patriots) make good move after good move but for other teams that is not always the case (see Ryan Leaf). 

This week we have two teams who are on the down, this being the Colts and the weary Redskins who haven’t had a legitimate superstar or any positive thing to cheer about for many years now. Both these teams have a decision to make between the very talented RG3 and the NFL superstar lock that is Andrew Luck. I believe that there will be no contest that luck is picked 1st but I can honestly say that I wish it was RG3. The guy has talent that I have never seen before and has the personality that is needed to become the face of the NFL. His rocket arm and his ability to move in the pocket is what I believe sets him apart from luck, and should cement him as number 1 but I am not the one choosing.

This is the first year that I have seen the draft and thought “wow either team is getting a no bust player” and I am honestly excited to see how these two guys pan out. Who knows in 10 years we could say that these two were the best 1,2 pick in NFL Draft history. For now, both teams can only hope and pray that I am right and that the money they spend pans out to super bowls and huge ticket sales. The NFL more than any league is a ” better hope you guess right” business because one bad decision can affect you for years ( Raiders Jamarcus Russel). In some cases its the opposite and the draft can be the set up for a phenomenal story like Tom Brady who had 6 Qbs taken before him and is now one of the best QBs in the league with 3 super bowls to his name. It’s that unpredictability and excitement of the future that make draft day what it is, the most important day of the year for teams and fans alike. I know I will be watching what about you?

GO PATS!!

Its funny because I have been wanting to write a post like this since I opened this blog but I could not really find anyone who really epitomizes the modern athlete that connects to the average joe. That statement was true until this last sunday at the masters, Bubba Watson proved me wrong in all aspects as he did for his critics too. I honestly can tell you that I knew of Bubba before his masters fame but just of his antics and that he was a potential golf superstar and the future of golf, in the post tiger era. Then he won the masters and I realized that wow he might live up to his potential. Thats neither here or there, what I was looking forward to was how he would handle all the media attention that comes with winning a master tournament and I have to say this week has been a magical one that probably wont be repeated. I say that because he has handled it like any of us would. He hit twitter and answered almost everyone who thanked him, Tweeted celebrities asking them to play golf, mention his car he bought (the General Lee), Diss piers morgan on twitter, and hit the talk show circuit. As all these things were happening I could not help but think man he’s handling it like I would and I feel like Bubba is one of the guys. Then it it hit me he’s the modern athlete that can relate to the average joe, and that ability to do that is one that will not only build him a huge fan base but make people respect him more. He gives the vibe that fame doesn’t count but its cool to have it, he never forgets where he came from and he’s just being himself. To see that gap between athlete and average joe being bridged is an exciting time because we have a guy who is like one of us but yet doing extraordinary things. I wish I was a kid because I would want Bubba as my role model and I can honestly say that Bubba is the future of the modern day athlete. Golf is in an exciting time of change right now and I cant wait to see the next tournament Bubba is in…. I know I will be watching, how about you?

OK so I am a bit late on this one but we are only like 4 games in so technically it can still be a preview. I just want to give you guys predictions and insight on this season starting with divisional winners and wild card winners I will hold my post season predictions until the time comes. Lets start with my favorite division: AL EAST: With the Rays and now the Toronto Blue Jays turning into the Rays of the last few years this division is as crazy as it will ever get. Along with powerhouses like Boston and New york I cant help but go with the Red Sox and the new manager valentine. With what happened last september no matter how painful it is for me to recall I feel like this team has something to prove. With a stacked line up with Gonzalez , Ellsbury and Pedrioa and a great top 3 in the rotation with Lester, Beckett and Bucholtz its hard to go against these Red Sox. RIght now they are in a funk but when they get it together which they always do they could be the best team in baseball period up and down the line up. The return of Crawford is key though if he stumbles out the blocks again its going to be hard to fill that left field spot with Cody Ross as a everyday player. The only thing that scared the hell out of me is the bullpen with Bailey out right now and Aceves as the closer with bard in the rotation now. These sox if they can put it together will do damage with that rotation in the play offs. On the flip side New York is New York and they will always be in the division and with the Blue Jays having the best hitter in baseball right now (Bautista) its hard to go against them with all there farm talent developing in front of our eyes. They will be a force this season mark my words but not quite ready for post season play. Which leads me to my other team the Rays, ever the spoiler of the Red Sox and Yankees, the Rays come back with a stacked rotation and a mediocre at best line up, but when you have Price and Hellickson and the ace of the bunch James Shields, its going to be hard for any team to score runs on them which means they wont have to score much. This division is not only the best in baseball but the best in sports and yes everyone might think I am being biased because of my fandom for the Red Sox but I honestly do believe that the Sox can pull it. If you saw what I saw last year from July to September, they were unbeatable and if they can hit that stride with a new manager with a quirky baseball mind and not crumble they could ride it to the world series. Like I said this division is tough and everyone has a up hill climb to get to the division title and wild card spots.