Mallett getting tips from John Daly

When it comes to fashion in sport, World Football truly delivers, with kits that range from the beautiful, to the plain ridiculous. But with away jerseys, its a whole different story.

Away jerseys provide the opportunity for designers to throw off the shackles of the traditional club strip and go wild, to delight some and disappoint others. 

Today, I bring you the Top Five Liverpool FC Away Shirts and Euro Kits Of All Time: 

And please take note, I'm no fashion guru, so don't expect a stunning in-depth description of each shirt!

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By Troy Sparks

Both Kobe Bryant and Shane Mosley better have their game faces on this weekend.  This first week in May will tell who will come out on top.

The L.A. Lakers are down two games to none to the Dallas Mavericks.  Can you believe that the two-time defending champions were beaten at the Staples Center—twice?

That isn't the kind of basketball fans are used to seeing from the Lakers.  The Mavericks can either close it out on their court with a 4-0 sweep, or the purple and gold will rise from the dead and go back to L.A. with the series tied at 2-2.

So is it time for Bryant to step up to the plate and take control?  Maybe Father Time is about to pass him by.  You have to remember that he came into the league out of high school at 18 years old.

I certainly think that Father Time has passed Mosley by.  If his fight against Manny Pacquiao goes more than six rounds, then he may have a chance to pull off the upset.  However, if Manny gets to him earlier in a slugfest, then it's lights out for Mosley.

Mosley was good for two rounds in his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May.  After that, Mayweather picked him apart.  If Mosley listens to his trainer, Nazir Richardson, then I can see him getting the advantage.  But if Pacquiao loses, I can see his camp demanding a rematch because the pound-for-pound champ can't go out like a sucker.

As for Bryant, crunch time is now.  If the Lakers set aside their egos and show some guts, they can overcome their deficit and win the series.  Maybe some of their players were looking past the Mavericks.  Dallas is showing that they're not a bunch of punks.

Either way, Bryant or Mosley could have good weekends.  One of them may have a bad weekend or both may go down in defeat.

Pop quiz... Who was the last defensive power house to win a Super Bowl?

Chances are you had to think about that question and you still aren't even sure of the answer. 

You might be thinking of the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers or the 2007 New York Giants. Or, depending on your definition, you might be thinking of the 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers or the 2000 Ravens. 

But if the question was "Who was the last elite quarterback to win the Super Bowl?," then your brain would have to think back to no further than last January, when Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers won the Packers their first Super Bowl since 1996.

Who are some elite quarterbacks, who are currently active, that have not won a Super Bowl yet?

The most obvious answer is Phillip River in San Diego. Atlanta's Matt Ryan is another answer, but does he really count? He's only been truly lighting it up since last season.

Carson Palmer is another, but his injury stricken career has kept him from entering an elite level.

What about Michael Vick and Donovan McNabb? They are star quarterbacks, but they are not elite passers. They have above average passing stats, but they depend on their legs just as much as their arms.

Here are some of the supreme passers in this league that have won Super Bowls: Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady; also Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger (unless you want to be picky).

Here's another tidbit of info relating to my point. This is a list of the past 15 Super Bowl champions and the quarterbacks that led them.

2010 Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers

2009 New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees

2008 Pittsburgh Steelers- Ben Roethlisberger

2007 New York Giants- Eli Manning

2006 Indianapolis Colts- Peyton Manning

2005 Pittsburgh Steelers- Ben Roethlisberger

2004 New England Patriots- Tom Brady

2003 New England Patriots- Tom Brady

*2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Brad Johnson

2001 New England Patriots- Tom Brady

*2000 Baltimore Ravens- Trent Dilfer

1999 St. Louis Rams- Kurt Warner

1998 Denver Broncos- John Elway

1997 Denver Broncos- John Elway

1996 Green Bay Packers- Brett Favre

* Indicates a team that won the Super Bowl without a suitable quarterback, mainly due to having one of the best defensive units in the history of the game.

The key point of that list? If you don't have an awesome quarterback, then you better have one of the best defenses that the league has seen in years, or else you're not winning a Super Bowl.

"Defense Wins Championships" is an overused cliché. This is a quarterback driven era and you're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

Don't get me wrong. Defense is very important and it's vital towards winning a Championship. All 15 teams on that list had solid defensive units. But it's just not realistic to expect a Super Bowl victory out of a team that does not have a franchise passer.   

So, considering that Sam Bradford had the best pro day since Troy Aikman, according to NFL.com's Gil Brandt, and was considered by many to be the best quarterback prospect since Carson Palmer, what does that mean for St. Louis fans?

What does it mean to St. Louis fans that Bradford threw for over 3,000 yards as a rookie? He was only the third quarterback to ever accomplish that; Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan are the other two.

It means that Bradford has an extremely high ceiling. He has the physical tools, as well as intangibles that are out of this world. Barring injury, or a total implosion within the organization (not likely, considering the direction the team has taken), it is very likely he will become an elite passer in this league, and that is what it takes to win a Super Bowl in the NFL. 

The NFL is not a world of guarantees, so excuse the title. But if the "sure thing" does not exist in football, then Sam Bradford is certainly the next best thing.  

AC Milan has not celebrated winning the Italian Serie A since 2004.

Since then, their hated rivals, Inter Milan, have won five Scudettos—all coming in the last five seasons. As a diehard Milanista, its getting really annoying watching the only team I hate as much as the Montreal Canadiens celebrating all the time.

Inter's reign of terror at the top is set to end in the coming weeks, or hours.

The Scudetto is prepared to cross the Stadio Guiseppe Meazza back to the Curva Sud from the evil Curva Nord part of the stadium. Milan lead their city and stadium rivals by eight points with only three matches to play.

When Milan travel to the capital to play AS Roma on Saturday, a draw will do. Two chances remain after Saturday with a home match against Cagliari followed by a challenging away fixture at Udinese.

Its been an exciting season for the Diavoli. It started in the summer when in the span of four days, Milan welcomed to the club two of the world's premier goal scorers in Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho.

After dropping five points from their first three matches, Milan turned on the style, currently boasting 23 wins, eight draws, and four losses in the league. They have only lost once since the winter recess, that loss coming in April against Palermo.

Most notable for Milan is the domination over their city rivals. In November, Milan got their hardest fought victory. In the first Milan Derby of the season, the Rossoneri led 1-0 from an Ibrahimovic spot kick in the fourth minute, but were reduced to 10 men in the 60th when Abate got into a heated row with Goran Pandev, picking up a second yellow.

Milan threw the entire team behind the ball and defended valiantly for a 1-0 victory, the first over Inter since 2008. In the second match in April, the Rossoneri dominated from the start, scoring through Pato 45 seconds in and ending Inter's pain at 3-0.

Milan have rarely faltered in the league this year. They find goals at the opportune moment through all of their elite goal scorers.

Most important has been Milan's defense. Led by standout defenders Thiago Silva and Ignazio Abate, as well as the incredible goalkeeping of Christian Abbiati, Milan have allowed only 23 goals in 35 matches, a mark that is 10 goals better than fourth place Lazio who have given up second fewest. Combined with the attack's second-best 61 goals (one behind Inter), Milan have a +38 goal difference, which is most closely rivaled by Inter at +23.

Few had faith that Milan could win under new manager Massimiliano Allegri, who joined after being let go from his post at Cagliari. In just his third season as a manager in Serie A, the 43-year old manager has certainly earned himself a nice bonus for the work he has done.

Many critics worried how Allegri would not only implement each of his star strikers, but how he would deal with the many egos of the club. Its well known that Milan have many characters on their team, but Allegri has handled the likes of Pato, Ibrahimovic, Robinho, Antonio Cassano and Gennaro Gattuso among others brilliantly.

While all the talk now is around Milan's imminent title victory, they also remain in Coppa Italia. They are in the Semifinals, deadlocked at 2-2 with Palermo for a spot in the Final. Palermo hold the edge with their two away goals, but Milan will be hungry in the return leg on Tuesday. Excitingly, there is a potential Derby Final awaiting. Inter lead Roma 1-0 after one leg with the second on Wednesday.

The only negative is the early (by Milan standards) exit from the Champions League, where Milan were knocked out by Tottenham 1-0 on aggregate in the Last 16. It was the third time in four years (the only three years Milan have been in the UCL in that time) that Milan were knocked out in the Last 16 by an English side, losing to Arsenal in 08, Manchester United last season, and now Spurs.

Milan fans are anticipating next season, as CEO Adriano Galliani has promised to build a Champions League winning squad in the summer. Milan are looking to win the famed tournament for the first time since 2007 and a second-best eighth time overall.

Win, lose, or draw on Saturday, it appears imminent that Milan will lift the Scudetto this season. Time to put that champagne on ice Milanista!

When college football’s various preseason polls come out this summer, you would have to expect that most will feature teams such as Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU and Stanford near the top of the rankings.

As we’ve seen in recent years though, preseason polls are about as useful as Derek Jeter, batting with men in scoring position.

Sure, we all know that Oklahoma is stacked this year but we’ve also learned that having to carry the weight of being the country’s top target week in and week out can take a tremendous toll on a team.

Alabama couldn’t handle it last year, Florida wasn’t equipped to do the job in 2009 and many other so-called preseason favorites have stumbled in recently.

In 2010, we watched both Auburn and Oregon, two teams that were ranked outside the top ten to begin the year, work their way up the ladder, all the way to the national game.

It has to make you wonder if there is an off-the-radar kind of team that is capable of making a similar unforeseen move this season.

One team that looks like it could fit the mold is North Carolina.

The Tar Heels have been forced to deal with plenty of stressful drama this past year with suspensions, firings and numerous allegations running though the program like a wildfire since last September.

The team appeared to be ready to challenge for the ACC crown last season but devastating suspensions to key players such as DE Robert Quinn and DT Marvin Austin weakened their resolve and they ended up finishing with a modest 8-5 overall record.

Last year’s trials and tribulations very well could have strengthened North Carolina for the future, as many role players were given the chance to develop in the wake of all the suspensions to key starters.

Considering three out of four of North Carolina’s top 2011 draft picks didn’t even play a down last season, it doesn’t seem like their loss will be all that impactful.

When looking at this Tar Heel team, it’s easy to spot some of the emerging stars such as DE Quinton Coples, a future first round draft pick, WR Dwight Jones, who made his presence felt in place of Greg Little, and LB Kevin Reddick, who led the team in tackles.  

The real story, however, is at the quarterback position where Bryn Renner, a highly talented former four star recruit, takes over for the departed T.J. Yates.

Renner may not have much game experience under his belt but he’s got the tools and the skills to develop into an elite starting signal caller this season.

The 6’3’’ 195 lb. redshirt sophomore created a lot of buzz with his performance this spring and he could be a player that will be ready break out once September rolls around.

Renner will have plenty of weapons at his disposal, as he’ll have one of the best receiving corps in the country to throw to.

Arkansas is the only other team in America that has a receiving trio that could match what North Carolina is going to put out on the field this year.

Dwight Jones, Erik Highsmith and Jheranie Boyd, who combined for over 100 catches least season, look like an unstoppable combination that will put some massive pressure on opposing secondaries this year.

After the departures of Johnny White and Shaun Draughn,  the running back situation will need to be figured out. But whoever ends up lining up in the backfield should have some nice holes to run through courtesy of All-ACC caliber linemen, Jonathan Cooper and James Hurst.

The offense should produce enough points but it’s the defense that’s really going to be the story of this team.

There’s NFL talent sprinkled all over the unit and North Carolina is set to have one of the strongest defensive front sevens in the country.

Defensive Linemen Quinton Coples, Tydreke Powell and Donte Paige-Moss are all future high round draft picks and linebackers Zach Brown and Kevin Reddick will be pros one day as well.

With so much premier talent throughout the depth chart, you have to believe that North Carolina is going to be a factor in the ACC championship race.  And you can’t count them out of the national title hunt, regardless of where they’re ranked when the season begins.

Coach Butch Davis has done a great job of bringing in top talent these past few years and if Davis can keep his team focused, the Tar Heels have a shot to really make some noise on the national scene.

With only five road games on the docket, the schedule isn’t exactly overbearing,

The key to the team’s success will be Renner, who is absolutely oozing with potential.

We know the Tar Heel defense is going to be lights out but it’s going to be up to Renner to find his talented targets on a consistent basis.

If the offense can put up the points, North Carolina is going to be one of the most dangerous teams in America this season and they have a chance to make a big run up the rankings. 

Hello, fellow Bleachers. I've decided to devote a weekly column to what stood out for me as the five best moments and three worst moments coming from WWE programming over this past week.

From seeing a decent PPV out of Extreme Rules to a shocking and somewhat controversial World Heavyweight Title change on Smackdown, I present to you my first look into the highs and lows of the WWE for the week of May 1, 2011.

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It was the bottom of the eighth inning.  

Xavier Paul drew a four pitch walk to lead off the inning, bringing up Andrew McCutchen who represented the go ahead run.  McCutchen digs in, awaits the first pitch of the at bat, then.......attempts to sacrifice Paul over to second.  

What?

Surely it had to be a missed sign. Why would Pirates manager Clint Hurdle use his best offensive player to give up an out just to move a runner over?  McCutchen would no doubt be swinging away from this point on.  

Right?  Nope.

In a bizarre move, Hurdle decided it was in the Pirates best interest to let their best offensive player give up his at bat for a sacrifice bunt.

The Pirates have improved, but they still can't be compared to the 1979 World Series championship team. The Pirates best chance to tie or win the game may have very well rested on the shoulders of their best player, McCutchen.  Clint Hurdle obviously felt the better bet was to give up McCutchen's at bat and hope a one or two out single would tie the game.  

The strategy failed.  After a ground out that moved Paul to third, Garrett Jones was left to face a left-hander.  Jones is batting a dismal .130 against left-handed pitching this year.  Hurdle's gamble failed miserably as Jones struck out looking.  The Pirates went down 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the next inning.

Final score: Astros 3 Pirates 2.

If Pirates fans are to believe this talented group of players are for real, you can not be using their best player in a sacrifice bunt role.  If you are promoting Andrew McCutchen as your best player, you MUST give him the chance to win the game or at least let him have a say in the outcome.  

When McCutchen put down the bunt, in essence, Hurdle short changed the fans and his team as well.  The Pirates need to let players who they have anointed as the future, prove that they deserve that label.  A sacrifice bunt doesn't cut it.

All in all, Hurdle has done a great job.  The Pirates have been an entertaining watch thus far under the manager's guidance.  It just leaves you with a bad feeling, especially after the team was just six outs away from .500.  The good news....it's only May.  

Hopefully Hurdle won't make the same decision if and when the same situation occurs.

It only took four minutes for the expansion team from Women's Professional Soccer's smallest market to score on the defensively strong former league champions Sky Blue FC from New Jersey.

Swedish international Caroline Seger tallied her second goal of the season, fed by rookie sensation, Alex Morgan. Later in the half, it was Morgan who would score on a pass by Brazilian superstar, Marta. Late in the second half, the same combination would reverse roles and Morgan got the goal, taking the Western New York Flash into half time with a 2-0 lead.

In fact, the Marta Morgan combination has become very effective in the past two-and-a-half games they've played together. On Sunday, at the Flash home opener, Morgan scored her first WPS goal assisted by Marta.

The two make an interesting tandem in that 25-year-old Marta is well established as the world’s best woman ever to play the game, while Morgan is just beginning to look like she could be the next Marta, or at least the next Mia Hamm, as the best U.S. player to come along since Hamm dominated the world and the women’s game.

The visitors made the game interesting for a few minutes by closing to within one goal after substitute Adriana scored on a spectacular high arching shot within a minute of entering the pitch. But it wasn't long before the M & M attack returned the game to a safe lead for the home team. 

So after two and a half games, Marta stands with three goals and four assists. Caroline Seger has scored twice, Morgan twice, Gemma Davison once and WPS Player of the Week (last week) Christine Sinclair has two.

Speaking of Sinclair, the 3-1 drubbing of defensive Sky Blue is even more impressive when Sinclair's absence is factored in. The most prolific scorer in Canadian national team history was in Montreal with her national side and thus unable to join the Flash for this match. 

Attendance was noticeably less than the home opener on Sunday. This might be a concern to the Flash front office since several of their home games are Friday evening contests. Fortunately, team owner Joe  Sahlen doesn't need the team to pay for itself. He has costed it out as part of the marketing budget for his company, Sahlen Packing Company.

Still, it seems to be a well-kept secret in Western and Central New York that the world's best women's soccer Still, it seems to be a well-kept secret in Western and Central New York that the world's best women's soccer team is within a 90 minute drive or less of any place in the region it claims to represent.

They put on an impressive and entertaining show, not only in terms of individual soccer skills on display, but also a well-coached team effort that seems to do what many coaches in all major sports fail to do more often than not: get their numerous stars to coordinate their efforts and play unselfishly.

Hundreds of thousands of fans descend upon Louisville, Kentucky for the Derby at Churchill Downs each May. A unique subset of the annual visitors are given the opportunity to mingle with the insiders; the fortunate few who watch the festivities from Millionaire’s Row.

Overlooking the grandstand, far removed from the hedonistic infield, Millionaire’s Row acts as a refuge to the craziness of Derby weekend. Thanks to the generous people at Ram, I was invited into the exclusive circle on the fourth floor to experience The Kentucky Oaks, the historic race day and festivities before the Derby.

Think Gone With the Wind meets The Real Housewives.

The dress code is immaculate. Magnificent sundresses have been sewn from every pattern and colored fabric imaginable. The outlandish Derby hats somehow work—they’re like nothing you’ve seen on television; they radiate. Four-inch heels are the norm and a large handbag is preferred (easy enough to sneak in a pair of flats for the painful strut back to the limo). 

The men are confident. Pink shirts, bright bow ties, and seersucker suits are everywhere—it’s like going to a frat party only everyone is polite, the food is outstanding, and frosty Mint Juleps have replaced the cheep beer. There’s an unspoken camaraderie on Millionaire’s Row, which often results in a casual head nod and nothing more.

Millionaire’s Row has a long-standing tradition of hosting "the rich and famous" come Derby time. Recent celebrity appearances have included The Queen of England and Prince Phillip, Michael Jordan, Kim Kardashian, Terrell Owens, supermodel Marisa Miller, Eli Manning, and many more.

Some come to people-watch, but most come for the real action. To truly hang on Millionaire’s Row, you need to bet on the ponies. It can get confusing at times but the key is coolness. Always remember this simple horse-betting protocol and you’ll be in the clear:

1. Start by announcing the race you’ll be betting on.

2. Tell the cashier how much money you wish to wager, on which horse, and what place they will finish.

3. Win is to win, to place is to finish first or second, and to show is to finish in the top three.

When the races are a few minutes from start time, there’s a mad rush to place last-minute wagers. The bigwigs toss out trifectas, superfectas, and exactas, but the simple way to curb inexperience is a Julep. If you lose, take it in stride and do like the millionaires… “It’s just another contribution to the Race Gods.”

 

My unforgettable experience was only possible thanks to the generous people at Ram and their ongoing involvement with the Kentucky Derby.

After a two game sweep of their division rivals and in the midst of a three game win streak,  Twins fans can start cautiously emerging from the woodwork.  Bandwagoners..maybe hang out a little longer.

Things are starting to come together for this baseball club, minor league players are pitching in and the bats are starting to connect as the Twins begin to pull up out of their annual early season bugs.  Three main things need to fall into place if the team wants to continue a successful May.

Pitchers need to keep improving.  All five members of the starting rotation are tied with a whopping two wins apiece.  Brian Duensing has the prettiest ERA at 2.91 and Liriano pulls in last with a 6.61.  However, the pitching staff has begun to prove why there was competition between them in spring training. 

For the purposes of a positive outlook, the last three games have been strong starts.  In Chicago the Twins were able to hold onto one run leads, which is something this writer would have laughed at two weeks ago.  If the starters can continue to improve the only problem area becomes the bullpen, which will soon be bolstered by a healthy Kevin Slowey and a more confident Joe Nathan.

Bats need to keep going.  Before tonight's 9-2 shellacking of the Red Sox there was yet to be an offensive masterpiece this season.  With big bats like Delmon Young, Jim Thome and Joe Mauer getting healthy off the field, this isn't a major surprise. 

Look for more games like tonight's when they return to form.  Players need to step up and the lone soul this season has been Jason Kubel.  Unfortunately for minor league callups, some of this lies on them, but is also an opportunity to gain notice.

Players need to get healthy and (fingers crossed) stay that way.  While it is clear there's no specific timetable for Delmon Young, Joe Mauer or Tsuyoshi Nishioka's return, it may be a small blessing in disguise. 

If the team can get their bats rolling and then slowly integrate these key players back into the lineup with little pressure, the Twins offense will slip into its regular form and no one needs to get overworked.

May sees the team facing many AL West opponents, dabbled with interleague play.  The Twins usually bode well in these match-ups, so hopefully Twins Territory is in for a turnaround.

When the New England Patriots entered the 2011 NFL Draft the team held six picks in the first three rounds.

They've been trying to fire the guy for several years, and now at the 11th hour he resigns? I like Kool-Aid, but I'm not drinking this batch.  I've lived in the Washington D.C. area long enough to know that the last place Maryland Basketball Coach Gary Williams wants to be is off the sidelines.  Dude is part of the fabric of college basketball. 

Who else is gonna upset Duke and North Carolina in the ACC?

Williams has won way too many games to simply walk away.  He says his health is fine.  He says he still loves the game.  He says it was his decision.  But I have one question: Why now? If you were truly secure in the position and had a good recruiting class why would you abandon all of that?  Williams had some great young players on the team last season.  Were they the best in the ACC? Nope.  Did they have potential? Absolutely.  He had too much going for himself to roll out the way he did.

Is there more to the story? 

Are local media types in the Washington D.C. area drinking the Kool-Aid? Perhaps.  I know a lot of these reporters play golf with Williams.  A lot of journalists  in D.C. are good friends with Williams.  There's nothing wrong with that.  He's a great guy from what I'm told.  Very friendly. Smart. Reflective. Kind.  He's the kind of guy who you'd want to be your best friend—very loyal.  But are the right questions being asked about William's so called retirement?

I doubt it.

I'm not throwing my fellow journalism brothers and sisters under the bus, but you've got to admit:  It doesn't sound right.  It doesn't look right. Why?  Because the entire ordeal isn't right.  Something is missing here folks.  There's an underlying issue somewhere, some place. A guy with this much talent, experience, and skill simply doesn't turn in his coaches playbook while Coach K is gearing up for another national championship run.

It's well documented that former Maryland Athletic Director Debbie Yow wanted Williams out a couple of years ago.  It was a nasty experience that was never fully explained or resolved.  Yow wanted more from Williams.  She wanted another national championship.  She wanted CBS Sports crews roaming the campus in College Park reporting news about the Terps being back in the Final Four or the championship game.  But it wasn't to be.  Williams and his Terps had hit mediocrity.  They were no longer a factor in the chase for March Madness. They were no longer a a serious contender in the ACC. 

To put it bluntly, Williams' program was slipping.

Fortunately for Williams, Yow took another AD job in the Carolinas.  But the feud was well documented.  It got so bad that an assistant Athletic director under Yow also criticized Williams before Yow split. Williams defiantly asked Yow's deputy:  How many national championships have you won?  Good one Williams.  Score one for Gary.  Was she Yow's mouthpiece?  Perhaps. Good Cop, Bad Cop routine? Maybe. Yow never publicly trashed Williams.  She was smarter than that.

Heck, Williams is a basketball icon in the D.C. region.  He won a national championship in 2002 with current Lakers guard Steve Blake running the offense.  He resurrected the Terps Basketball program.  It was left in shambles following the death of Len Bias, the legendary Maryland basketball superstar who died of cocaine use shortly after being drafted number one by the Boston Celtics.

The line in the sand had been drawn, and even though Yow was history, the critics were already circling Comcast Center.  The doubters were present.  The vultures had set up shop in College Park, and they weren't leaving without some fresh or dead meat.  Williams didn't help his cause by not making the NCAA tournament field this past season.  He didn't help himself by refusing the recruit the talented "one and dones" who play one year of college basketball and then bolt for the NBA. 

He didn't play the game and that may have been another nail in his coffin.

More nails were soon to follow.  Namely, the announcement of Kevin Anderson as the new Athletic Director at Maryland.  Anyone with a little sense could see the handwriting on the wall in College Park.  Shortly arriving on campus, changes began happening quickly under Anderson.  Long time football coach Ralph Friedgen was replaced.  It didn't sound like he wanted to go, but he was out.  Questions began swirling about whether Anderson approved of the Fridges' coaching staff.  Should he hire this guy or that guy to bolster the staff? 

Next, Maryland took the unusual step of announcing Freidgen's replacement before he left.  You've heard it before: The coach in waiting.  I've always thought "the coach in waiting" must produce a lot of sleepless nights for the current coach.  But what's done was done. Unfortunately for the Terps the "coach in waiting" took another job, and Maryland was left hanging.  Lucky for Anderson, he found former Connecticut Football Coach Bobby Edsall waiting in the wings to accept the job.

Anderson never gave Williams a vote of confidence.  Call him Yow-light if you will.  Did he push Williams out?  Williams says no.  He says it was time to go. Too many years in one coaching job.  His tear-filled resignation speech carried "live" nationally was hard to watch.  Something didn't seem right.  Something seemed off.  I just didn't get the sense Williams was happy or in my humble opinion, happy about the way it ended on the Maryland Campus.  From where I sat, those joining him on the stage were simply going through the motions. 

Look, I don't know much about Anderson. But I respect the fact that he has to bring some national championships back to the basketball program.  I respect the fact that he has to make the Terps football team a national contender.  The Washington D.C area is too large not have a collegiate national contender in basketball and football. His plate is full.  The pressure is on.  He's made the changes. Now let's see if they were the right changes.

Despite what everyone is saying, including Williams, it feels like the Terps now former basketball coach was pushed.  Shown the door. Nudged out. 22 years at Maryland. 668 career victories at Maryland, American, Boston College, and Ohio State.  I'll tell you folks, 668 wins is a lot of wins.  If you're Maryland do you not lean on Williams for basketball advice after 33 years of roaming the sidelines?  Do you "find a place" for him?  Just askin'.  Or, do you simply hold the plastic news conference, read a few citations, trot out some former players, and say thank you?

Gary Williams had fallen on hard times in College Park.  The landscape of college basketball was changing.  It's a slippery landscape.  Loaded with influential AAU coaches directing high school superstars to a handul of college powerhouses around the country.  But did Williams deserve better treatment at the end? I beleive so.  Was he ready to retire? I doubt it.  At 66 years old, it's not like he uses a walker to enter the arena.  Physically he looks good. He sounds good.

I have two words for you: Bobby Cremins.  Cremins shocked the basketball world when he abruptly resigned from Georgia Tech in 2000 after 22 years and more than 450 wins.  Six years later he resurfaced at the College of Charleston.  Still gettin' it done.  Still one of the best.

Have we truly seen the last of  Gary Williams?

In a little more than two years since making his UFC debut, Stefan Struve has steadily risen through the ranks of the organization’s heaviest division. Although Struve insists that he isn’t feeling the pressure, the fact of the matter is “The Skyscraper” is on the brink of becoming a bonafide contender in the UFC's heavyweight division.

An established star on the European mixed martial arts circuit, before making his UFC debut in February of 2009, Struve has since claimed five wins in seven Octagon appearances—including victories over Paul Buentello, Christian Morecraft and, most recently, Sean McCorkle.

Right now, Struve is preparing for his next bout—a heavyweight tilt on May 28th against Travis Browne at UFC 130.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Stefan Struve about, among other topics, the joys of home-ownership, what he's been able to accomplish in the UFC so far and his upcoming bout against Browne later this month.

How are you doing today?

Good. I just finished training; I had grappling this morning with my training partners and had strength and conditioning in the evening and I just came home from my new house—I bought a new house. So, I’m doing really good.

You’ve got a new house?

Yeah, I just bought a new house a couple days ago—I just got the key yesterday.

How does that feel?

It’s awesome; it’s really nice. I bought my house with the money I’ve made in the UFC so far, so it’s been excellent.

That’s got to feel good.

Yeah, it feels really, really good. That’s another reason why I love my job.

The money?

Well, it’s not only the money that makes you happy, but the things that you can do with it; I bought a home for myself and that’s really nice. I’m really thankful for the way my career has gone so far.

Did you think, in the beginning, that you would be able to buy your own home with your talents as a mixed martial artist?

At first, I didn’t think about that. When I first signed my deal with the UFC, I didn’t think things would go this fast. That’s the truth.

Were you surprised to get that call from the UFC so early in your career?

Well, I was young—I was 20 years old—but to be honest, I was doing really, really good in Europe; I won 14 fights in a row and then I lost one and then I won five straight. For someone that’s 20 years old and fighting in the heavyweight division at 220 pounds, I think that’s pretty good, you know? We heard that Dream was following my fights and we heard that the UFC was following my fights and Affliction was following my fights, but when the offer finally came, of course we were very proud and a little surprised. The UFC is the biggest stage there is.

Was there any hesitation on your behalf to sign the contract?

To be honest, there was. At first we thought, if we signed with the UFC, then we would only be fighting three or four times a year. When I wasn’t fighting in the UFC, I was fighting seven-to-nine times a year. I really liked that rhythm, but to be honest, three or four times a year is good enough for me. With the way that I’m getting paid, it’s better because I can let my injuries heal and I can take more time to work on technical training instead of going back to strength and conditioning right after the fight, you know?

At this point, you prefer the three or four fights a year?

I think I will fight three times this year because this will be my first fight in May. I was supposed to fight in March against [Brendan] Schaub, but it got canceled because I had a small injury that I had to let heal and I needed some more time.

Do you think, looking back, it was a positive thing for your career that you got the opportunity to come to the UFC so early?

Yeah, of course I think it was. I was pretty much done fighting lower-level competition in Europe; there were no more big tests for me, to be honest. I’m getting tested in the UFC and I think Travis is another big test for me.

Did you have a “welcome to the UFC” moment, where it all kind of hit you that you were in the major league?

When it hit me? Yeah; fight-week, with all of the media attention and the attention from the crowd and the fans at the weigh-ins at the stage with all of the people in the audience. When I finally stepped into the Octagon I realized that I had to fight in the UFC for the first time and I thought, “Okay, now we’re here and now it needs to happen.” And it didn’t happen [laughs].

Was that at all overwhelming?

Yeah, everything was a little overwhelming; the media, the audience—everything. And then a guy like Junior Dos Santos is standing in front of you—who didn’t really have a big-name back then, but was coming off a big win over Fabricio Werdum—so he felt really good in there. I think I jammed; I couldn’t move, I didn’t do my thing, but losses happen and it made me stronger.

After a loss, do you ever question why you compete?

No, not really; I love my sport and I couldn’t be more thankful for the way my career has gone so far. Of course, after a loss you’re disappointed, but I never think, “Why am I doing this?” That never happens, no. 

How do you feel about what you’ve been able to accomplish so far in the UFC?

I’m pretty proud of what I’ve accomplished so far; I’ve already got five wins—I’ve won five out of my last six—and my only two losses are against guys that are doing really well right now in the UFC. In the fight with Roy [Nelson], there were some things that were happening fight-week that—and you wish that those things didn’t happen—but they happen. For the future, it will be nice to get a rematch with both guys, but there’s no rush; I’m only 23 and, like I said, I’ve very proud of what I’ve accomplished so far and I plan on winning my sixth fight in the UFC in a couple of weeks.

How much better do you feel you are now than when you first came into the UFC two years ago?

A lot, a lot, a lot better. I’ve worked on everything; my ground-game has improved a lot and especially my stand-up—if you look at my fights, I’ve improved so much. I think I weighed in at 239 pounds, and I’m at 260, 262 right now, so I’ve improved a lot.

You’re at 262, you said?

260, 262 or something like that; around 260.

Do you usually walk around that heavy?

No; I got a little heavier. I had some more time off after the fight, so I did more strength and conditioning to get bigger, you know? That was good. I did a lot of technical training after the fight with [Sean] McCorkle; a lot of BJJ and technical kick-boxing. I’ve improved a lot since my last fight.

Do you feel a lot stronger with that added weight?

Yeah. I’m feeling it a lot—especially when I’m hitting somebody with a punch. In the gym, I’m afraid to hit people with full-force, because I know that if I hit someone it’s good-night—that’s a good feeling. On the ground, as well; I’ve got a lot more strength. It’s really good.

What do you think you will weigh come fight night?

Somewhere around 260—I don’t know. When I started my camp, after my fight with McCorkle, I went to L.A. for two weeks and when I came back I was at 280. It’s pretty big, but I didn’t train a lot and I ate a lot of pizza and shit like that in L. A. Like I said, I think around 260.

What motivated you to put on the extra weight?

Look at who’s running the heavyweight division; Brock [Lesnar], [Shane] Carwin, [Cain] Velasquez and Dos Santos—those are big guys for their frames. I need to put more muscle on my frame. On my frame, I can easily go up to 280 or 290, in my opinion, and cut down, weigh in at 265 and weigh 280, 285 in the cage.

Is that something that you would be interested in doing in the future?

Yeah—in the future. I’m getting bigger every single fight and for my next fight, I may even have to cut a little bit before the fight. That’s for the next fight; I’m under the 265-limit right now.

Did you think, when you started your career, that you would ever be that heavy?

Of course I knew that I would get bigger eventually. Especially with the people in the gym, when I was young, they would say that if I did the right things—if I ate correct and kept on training—it will all come by itself. If I continued to do the right things, they said I’d become a monster. I said that sounded cool, but I was 16 years old when they said that, but they had it right [laughs].

I remember, I think it was in one of your first bouts in the UFC, Joe Rogan said that when you grow into your body and physically mature, then you would be a real force to be reckoned with. Now that that is becoming a reality, how confident are you?

I’m really confident for my next fight. Like I said, I’ve improved a lot. My kick-boxing and my ground-game was already really technical, but because I’m getting bigger and stronger right now, I feel that my technique is really starting to work; when I give someone a push-kick or a jab or something, it has impact and I can feel it. Like I said, when I spar, I’m afraid to hit somebody with all of my power, because I know, if I hit someone on the chin then it will be good-night [laughs]. That’s a really good feeling.

What does that mean to you?

[Laughs] To me, it means that Travis Browne is going to have a bad night at UFC 130, that’s for sure.

What problems does Travis pose to you?

He’s a big test; he’s got solid power in his fists and he’s got some powerful kicks. He’s a tall guy, he’s a good striker, but I feel that my ground-game is far ahead of his. He’s got some good wrestling, but I’m not really afraid of wrestlers because my ground-game is good and my guard is good—they don’t really want to be in my guard, in my opinion. You saw that in my last fight, when McCorkle took me down because he didn’t want to stand up with me, so he decided to take me down and after a couple minutes I reversed him and he didn’t have a chance on the ground against me.

Do you feel Travis has anything to offer that you haven’t already seen?

I’m not underestimating him; he’s a good fighter. He’s four inches smaller than me—that’s a lot—but, he’s still 6’7” and he’s got a lot of power in his hands.  In my opinion, it’s going to be an awesome fight. He always comes to fight and I always come to fight; we both love to throw leather. It’s going to be an awesome fight for the fans, for sure. He puts it all on the line and I put it all on the line...I like to be in a brawl and I just like to fight. It’s been too long; I wish I could just close my eyes and be in there [laughs].

What do you think Travis’ game plan will be going into this fight?

I think he’ll want to put pressure on me and, maybe, take me down to try to ground-and-pound me, but I don’t think he will succeed with that [laughs].

Do you have a prediction for how it’s going to end?

I don’t really do predictions for fights, but I always come to finish my fight—it’s the same thing with this fight at UFC 130; I’ll be coming in to finish the fight and he’ll be coming in to finish the fight. Of course I’m confident and I feel that I’m going to win this fight. Either by submission or knock-out—I don’t care—wherever the fight goes, it’s fine with me. I’m going to be in there to finish.

What would a win at UFC 130 mean to you?

A win at UFC 130 would be my sixth win and my third straight, so that’s a good feeling. I want to put another streak together and maybe go up against the bigger boys—we’ll see. There’s no rush; I’m only 23 years old, so I’m going in there without any sort of pressure—I’m just going to fight my ass off and I’m going to do it with a good feeling, that’s for sure.

Assuming you win, where do you see yourself in the UFC’s heavyweight division?

If I win, I’ll be top 10. I think I’m around top 10 now—maybe in it, but maybe not yet. I think being in the top 10 in the UFC for someone who is only 23 years old and fighting in the heavyweight division isn’t that bad. With the future ahead—like I said, no rush and no pressure—I’m just going to keep on giving awesome fights to the fans. When I get bigger and learn more, I’m going to make a run for the belt, but there’s no rush for that. This fight is the first fight that I’ve had coaches for every single thing, you know? At first, we did almost everything in our own gym, but now I’ve got a BJJ coach, I’ve got a strength and conditioning coach, I’ve got a coach for the stand-up, I’ve got new guys to train with. It’s been an awesome camp and I can’t wait to go show how much I’ve improved.

What inspired you to make that move?

All the guys do it that way, you know? I figured that I should give it a try and see how it works. You need people who are the best in their discipline; for the stand-up, ground-game, wrestling, strength and conditioning, nutrition. You need people who know everything about all of those things and it has been really good. I’ve learned a lot about every aspect. Especially for the mental aspect of the game; I’ve learned so much and I know for myself that that’s good. Like I said, I can’t wait to show all of the technique that I’ve learned.

Do you feel that everything is really coming together at this point?

This is just the start, in my opinion. If I can keep going like this for five or six years, then I see myself being one of the best in the UFC. Also, with the strength and the weight that I added, my wrestling has been going very good, I’ve been throwing people around easier than before. Like you said, it’s coming together a little bit, but for me it’s only the start.

What are your goals in the sport at this point?

At this point? Right now, the only goal is to win my fight at UFC 130. For the future, I still have at least 12 or 13 years of competition in me—and maybe ever more. Of course I want to have the belt around my waist at some time. I’m only 23 and doing really good in the UFC, so I see myself with a belt in a couple years.

Is that what motivates you to train every day?

Every single fight motivates me to work hard. It’s my job—I need money—and I get paid for delivering exciting fights. Another motivation is the appreciation that I get from my fans. I’m not a big contender yet; it’s not like people are talking about me fighting for the belt after my next fight or anything, but I get fan mail. I read things on the Internet and people talk to me on Twitter and Facebook—it’s very motivating. People love my fights and there are a lot of people that really appreciate the way I fight—that motivates me, too.

What do the fans mean to you?

A lot. Of course, without the fans this sport wouldn’t be this big. I always want to deliver a good fight and give the fans what they came to see and what they paid for.

Have you thought about what you might like to do in 12 or 13 years when you’re doing fighting?

Well, I can’t see myself involved in anything but sports, so I think owning a gym or anything related to sports; making people better, making people stronger. Maybe something related to nutrition. I want to learn about everything that has to do with my sport. I want to start studying again so I will learn even more about my body. I want to be the best with everything, you know?

Are you excited to see what the future holds for you as a mixed martial artist?

Like I said, I can’t wait for the future, but right now I love my job, I love my life, I love Holland—things are going very well. The future can wait, and I’ll just do my thing. You never know what will happen—you might get injured—so, I enjoy every second of this and I try my best to improve every day.

Even though Brett Favre has once again crawled into retirement, the media will continue to provide every last ounce of coverage on the legendary quarterback.

The gray-haired gunslinger is not even safe in his quiet hometown of Hattiesburg, Mississippi from those seeking to keep his name relevant in NFL news. I'm sure he doesn't mind the attention, and that's why he's considering a comeback.

No, No. 4 won't step on the football field ever again unless he wants to spend the entirety of his retirement in a hospital. However, nobody ever thought a man who had such love for the game would ever completely walk away, especially after all those tears.

According to ESPN.com, Favre claimed that he may be interested in a coaching job or he might take the path of many professional sports stars and bring his football smarts to television as an analyst.

Either way, I'm sure one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time will find his way back into the national spotlight because anything he does is always big news.

In my opinion, he's more qualified to be a pee-wee football instructor than a NFL head coach, but if he wants back into the league he certainly has the credentials to be a tutor to young quarterbacks.

It would be interesting to see how Packers fans would react if he returned to Green Bay to work as an assistant.

If the coaching doesn't work out, television is always an option. If ESPN is full, I'm sure he'd find a spot a home with TNT because he definitely "knows drama."

Favre has plenty of experience performing on TV and, before too long, he'll be talking football in primetime with Troy Aikman and John Gruden.

He's a Wrangler guy. Always has been. Always will be. Brett Favre's also a football guy. Always has been. Always will be.

That's why you shouldn't be surprised that if he returns to the workforce; his occupation will have something to do with the game he's devoted his life to.

Favorites rarely win the Kentucky Derby but you already knew that because as of tomorrow, everyone in the USA is a horse handicapper.

There have been some favorites over the years, the 1970 produced a slew of them, and no pun intended. Here are few that some of us older handicappers remember.

The following horses were all post time favorites that went on to win the greatest two minutes in sports: Riva Ridge, ’72; Secretariat, ’73; Cannonade, ’74; Foolish Pleasure, ’75; Seattle Slew, ’77; and Spectacular Bid, ’79. Surprisingly, Affirmed, the last Triple Crown winner in ’78, was not favored at Louisville.

Over the past three decades, only four favorites have triumphed, all since 2000, they include Big Brown, ’08; Street Sense, ’07; Smarty Jones, ’04; and Fusaichi Pegasus, ’00.

Did you know that three of the longest shots to ever win the Derby have done so in the past 12 years? Keep in mind, this race is 137 years old tomorrow.

So sit back, click through history, and learn a little about the five longest shots to conquer Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.

 

Begin Slideshow

Delivering a Knockout of the Night crane kick to the jaw of the immortal Randy Couture during their matchup at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida has rebounded from his defeat to both Quinton Jackson and Mauricio Rua and elevated his stature within the UFC light heavyweight division.

Holding notable victories over Rich Franklin, BJ Penn, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, Mauricio Rua and the aforementioned Randy Couture, Machida has competed against some of the sports best fighters.

This Brazilian born mixed martial artist is a former UFC light heavyweight champion and is currently ranked the No. 5 light heavyweight fighter on the planet.

With an overall MMA record of 17-2 with six knockouts, "The Dragon" has re-positioned himself amongst the list of contenders viable to face the current UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon "Bones" Jones.

Defeating Mauricio Rua in March of this year to claim the championship title, Jones' reign at the top will be tested.

Known for his athleticism and unpredictability within his striking, Jones has demolished each opponent he has faced, including notable victories over Brandon Vera, Vladimir Matyushenko, Ryan Bader and most recently, Rua.

With an amazing 84.5" reach, explosiveness, tremendous athleticism and a solid wrestling background, Jones may be the quintessential ultimate fighter created by engineers in a laboratory.

Receiving rightful accolades, I do believe that Machida may be the one light heavyweight contender who could challenge Jones for his championship.

"The Dragon's" fighting style is grounded in karate. He is known for his elusiveness, dynamic strikes from various angles and planes, as well as his cautious, yet precise, counter striking. 

Machida, like Jones, is extremely unpredictable inside the Octagon. Unlike Jones, who is more of an explosive, aggressive, mauling style of fighter, Machida is tactically precise and delivers punches and kicks with perfect execution.

That difference in the ability to deliver a perfect strike may off-set Jones' advantages inside the Octagon. 

Due to the elusiveness of both fighters, and the fact that both Machida and Jones create abnormal striking angles, the winner of this matchup will be determined by a random variable.

I believe the advantage in the variable department lies with Machida, because he is not only athletic, elusive, dynamic and a solid all-around fighter with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he is also extremely precise with his strikes and delivers knockout power with perfect execution. 

If you doubt Machida's stand-up brilliance; just ask Randy Couture.

Fully aware of the level of difficulty that faces Machida if he is honored with a title shot against Jon Jones, I still feel that of the talent pool that resides within the UFC, Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida's fighting style would prepare the former champion with the ability to once again reign supreme within the UFC light heavyweight division.

I welcome your comments.

Todd Seyler

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Follow me on Twitter@magnus06  

Kentucky Derby 2011 Post Position No. 14 Is Tough Spot For Shackleford

Shackleford

Morning Line Odds: 12-1
Jockey: Jesus Castanon
Trainer:  Dale Romans
Post Position: 12

The 14th hole has only produced two winners in the Kentucky Derby's history and becomes a very tough spot for the 3-year-old Shackleford.

His last two races of the year have netted mixed results—finishing in fifth place at the Fountain of Youth and more recently taking second place at the Florida Derby, behind favorite Dialed In.

MUST READ: Kentucky Derby 2011: 10 Bold Predictions for the Race

The most impressive part about his performance in Florida was the fact that he nearly won despite his lowly 68-1 odds. Either that was the best performance he'll ever have in his career or he's got even better showings up ahead in his future.

Shackleford's strong workout and impressive physical appearance makes us believe that it's the latter and he could find himself among the leaders when the Run for the Roses concludes.

2011 Kentucky Derby Predictions put Shackleford in the winners circle

The exciting thing about the 137^th Kentucky Derby is that there are no real front runners. Even Dialed In comes with some doubt. This means that the long shots like Watch Me Go, or the far better shots like Midnight Interlude might find their way into the winners circle and it wouldn’t surprise anyone.

For my prediction I’m taking Shackleford out of the 14^th position and with good reason too.

First is his position. It’s a good slot for a horse like him to run out of. Shackleford likes a wider track. That means he might have been worse off had he got what is supposed to be a better position. He’ll have no trouble coming around the turn on the outside.

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The big knock against Shackleford is that he is not built for this kind of a distance, but his biggest advantage outweighs that. Shackleford is fast. He’s just a fast horse and he’s running on a bit of a hot streak. If he gets out of the gate well and suffers no set back, he’s going to be in contention through most of the Derby.

There could be any number of winners, but Dialed In might be a bit premature, Macho Mucho Man is running at a bad position as well as Archarcharch. This one will belong to the 14^th horse.  

Kentucky Derby 2011 Post Position No. 4 May Be Bring Stay Thirsty Success

Stay Thirsty

Morning Line Odds: 20-1
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
Trainer:  Todd Pletcher
Post Position: 4

At No. 4 in the Kentucky Derby, Stay Thirsty is dealing with some favorable history with the four-hole producing 10 winners in the Derby's history, but just two wins in the last 35 years.

MUST READ: Kentucky Derby 2011: 10 Bold Predictions for the Race

The colt's seventh place finish at the Florida Derby is still reason to worry. However, he should get a pass for that performance because of the hot and humid weather where he was seen sweating profusely before the start of the race.

If we throw out that poor performance, all we have is his tremendous showing at the Gotham Stakes where he defeated Wood Memorial winner Toby's Corner.

That said, he could be a surprise winner this weekend and his inside position definitely helps his cause.

The final episode of Fight Camp 360 airs tonight on Showtime at 10 p.m ET.

Go inside the lives of Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley as they go through last minute preparations for their bout Saturday night. The final episode will be a special hour long feature.

The first, second and third episodes are available on various sites including Showtime so be sure to catch up on all the latest inside looks on the fighters' training camps, expectations of the fight and personal lives.

Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley Ready For May 7 Fight

The big Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley fight starts on Saturday night and many expect this bout to be all about Manny and how he's going to use his speed, skills and powerful punches to keep Mosley off his feet.

MUST READ: Manny Pacquiao's 10 Toughest Opponents

But is this really going to be a one-sided match?  Mosley does have four world-titles under his belt, however his best days are clearly behind him as he inches closer to 40 years old.  And Pacquiao's camp are planning to use his age against him.

Trainer Freddie Roach tells the AFP:

Most older fighters go forward well but they can't go backwards in the ring. They can be aggressive but if you can get them on their heels and they are kind of lost. The legs don't get them out the way like they used to.

With the variety of punches and the immense speed that Pacquiao has to offer, we just may see Mosley's legs buckle and ultimately fall flat on the canvas.

Manny Pacquiao refuses to underestimate Mosley out of respect.  But the harsh reality is, he has not chance against Pac-man.  If Manny stays aggressive the entire time, Mosley will have no time or room to retaliate and this this fight will be over sooner than anyone expected.

That's right, Pacquiao will definitely knock him out.  The only question is what round will he do it?

How did Bill Belichick's Draft Day trades stack up with the rest of the NFL? Since we re-introduced ourselves to the Draft Value Chart before the 2011 NFL Draft , it's come up a ton in conversation.

With the 2011 draft officially in the books, it's time to look to the future (sort of). I say "sort of" because, let's face it, the immediate future is decidedly uncertain.

Rex Ryan says Belichick is AWESOME

Manchester United are reportedly "closing in" on a deal for Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio.

The Sun reports United have already had a bid for £7 million turned down for the 23-year-old by the Portuguese club, who apparently want £12 million.

But United are negotiating hard, as they seek to find a long-term replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar.

Will the Miami Heat Sweep The Boston Celtics in the 2011 NBA Playoffs? 

The Miami Heat are in a great spot to really put the hurt on the Boston Celtics. Up two games to none on the Celtics, LeBron James and Dwayne Wade are getting closer to their ultimate goal, and NBA Championship. 

No team in the history of the NBA has ever comeback from being down 0-3, and only three teams have come back from being down 0-2. The Celtics know the odds are stacked against them, but that doesn't mean they're going to go down easy. 

Miami has done a great job on both sides of the ball in this series. The Heat's "big three" combined for 80 points in Game 2, which is an amazing stat. Can they keep it up, or will the extra day of rest give new life to the Celtics? 

 

MUST READ: Spencer Haywood, the NBA Draft and the Legal Battle That Shaped the League

 

I already predicted that the Celtics would win tomorrow night. However, the Heat cannot let that get to them if the Celtics do win on Saturday. The last thing Miami needs is to get super worked up and out of their rhythm. 

If the Celtics are able to win two in a row at home against Miami then the Heat are in some serious trouble. Boson knows how to win, and after all that has happened in these first two games they are extremely hungry for a victory. Their experience together and great veteran leadership will lift them to a Game 3 win. 

Miami will begin to unravel if they don't win a game at Boston. How can they avoid this and win Game 3 or Game 4? 

Honestly they will need lady luck on their side. The Celtics are 33-8 at home, whereas the Heat are 28-13 on the road. Miami never went to Boston and won in the regular season. Granted, the playoffs are a completely different atmosphere, but the Heat will still need luck on their side this weekend.

The Heat must also wear down the old guys on Boston. LeBron and Wade need to get the game at a high pace and make sure they can keep out running the Celtics. If they achieve this the Celtics will get tired and shoot sloppy shots.

It's not going to be easy at the TD Garden, but the Heat must return to Miami having won at least a game in Boston.   

Covering seven years of his professional boxing career, this video shows the many challenges and achievements of Filipino star Manny Pacquiao. 

Multiple battles with Mexican legends Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez highlight the highs and lows of his career, and they provided the breakthrough performances for him as he moved towards bigger opponents and newer challenges.

Many boxing experts picked Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton to beat the smaller Pacquiao, but he proved them wrong with dominant and decisive wins over both, including his brutal second round KO over "The Hitman."

Wins over Joshua Clottey and Puerto-Rican standout Miguel Cotto followed as well as his latest victory over Antonio Margarito.

Gareth Bale has been the undoubted star of the transfer gossip columns in 2011.

The Tottenham and Wales star has been linked to just about every big club on the planet, after his reputation soared with stellar showings in the Champions League.

The Daily Star reports Manchester City are ready to offer £30 million plus England midfielder James Milner to bring Bale to Eastlands.

They say City boss Roberto Mancini believes Bale could turn his side into Premier League winners next season.

Lamar Odom Expected to Get Starting Nod on Friday Night

Lakers reserve Lamar Odom will be joining the starting lineup for Game 3 after Ron Artest was suspended by the league for clotheslining Mavs reserve J.J. Barea.

MUST READ: The 50 Best Trash-Talking Moments in Sports

It's somewhat of a stunning move for the Lakers after there there initial reports that Shannon Brown would get the start.  However, Odom reportedly told the Los Angeles Times after Friday's shootaround: "As far as I know I am [starting]."

As much as Artest's defense will be missed, the presence of Odom in their starting lineup will give them another long body to matchup against Dirk Nowitzki.  That Lakers plan is to take Nowitzki out of his game similar to the way Los Angeles slowed down Chris Paul in the first round.

In addition, this appears to be the response for the Dallas small lineup that was deployed on Wednesday night, in which the diminutive Brea penetrated at will.  With Odom on the court along with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum the Lakers expect to run their offense through their big men, effectively slowing the ball down and causing mismatches in the low post.

The Lakers have their backs up against the wall and will need their bigs and Lamar Odom to step up for them to come back in the series.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Post Positions work out well for Nehro

No one has Nerho as the favorite to win the 2011 Kentucky Derby, but perhaps that’s all for the better. The reality of the Derby is that even Dialed In, the oddsmakers pick for the $2 million purse, isn’t a shoe-in to win. There are a number of horses who could bring home the prize and Nehro is one of them.

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James Scully of NBC Sports.com believes that Nehro could take home the prize.

Scully writes:

Nehro wasn’t on any Derby radar screens when breaking his maiden on February 21, but he’s rapidly advanced since his lone victory, posting a neck second in both the Louisiana Derby and Arkansas Derby. The latter was extremely impressive, with Nehro blowing right by the winner one jump after the finish line, and his BRIS Speed ratings are increasing (88-96-99). The Steve Asmussen colt fits our criteria — an improving three-year-old who appears ready to put it all together with a career-best in the Derby — and the race will set up well for the late runner.

There is something to be said about putting it all on the hot horse. Racing isn’t that much different from any other sport. In truth momentum means a lot. It’s doubtful Uncle Mo would have won had it gotten into the race, and it’s entirely possible that Nehro wins this one. 

Since many who are picking Shane Mosley over Manny Pacquiao expect him to land a big shot, let's take the time to reflect on Mosley's last one-shot knockout over Ricardo Mayorga in 2008.

It was an ugly fight throughout, and the scorecards through 11 can tell the story of the fight up to that point. Two judges had it scored for Mosley at 107-102 and 105-104. Despite Mayorga only landing half as many punches as Mosley, the other judge had it going his way by one point.

Basically, it was in line to end with a split-decision win for Mosley or a draw.

Mosley didn't take any chances and finally opened up on Mayorga in the last round to drop him with less than 20 seconds to go. Immediately after the ref let them continue, Mosley landed a perfect left hook right to Mayorga's jaw, knocking him out at 2:59 of the 12th round.

WWE News Circles Around One of the Newest Additions to the Company

We've all seen Kharma on WWE television at this point.

I mean, she is pretty hard to miss. Kharma is the wrestler formerly known as Awesome Kong and she has already made her impact in the WWE, attacking Michelle McCool at Extreme Rules this past Sunday and continuing to make an impact after that.

While the company has chosen Kharma for her persona (with the obvious implications that karma is a, well, you know), the WWE was almost forced to go into a different direction with the character because of the naming rights.

Per Rajah.com:

The Heyman Hustle website reports that Kia Stevens (a/k/a Awesome Kong) was almost not named Kharma because it was registered by Jennifer Thomas, a fitness model who was using the name at California based independent wrestling shows. WWE purchased the name from Thomas.

Thomas was under a developmental contract to WWE from 2005 to 2007. She is scheduled for a tryout soon.

Naturally since she's scheduled for a tryout soon the WWE was able to get the rights to the name.

It never hurt to grease the wheels and tell her that if she sold the rights to Kharma, that the company would give her a tryout, especially after she flopped in her previous developmental deal with the WWE. Either way, it's just another example of the company getting what it wants one way or another.

I'll be interested to see what direction the company takes Kharma in, but I hope that they really allow her to establish herself as this fearsome foe and allow her to stay that way, unlike what the company has done in the past in terms of giant heels.

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Normally, the creative team will build them up so much before just pounding them down and having them lose to lesser opponents.

I have a bad feeling that will be Kharma's fate, but then again, I hope I'm wrong.

NBA Playoffs 2011 still has hope for the Lakers

Derek Fisher knows how to put the fear in his teammates.

 Broderick Turner of the L.A Times tells the story of Derek Fishers attempt to rally the troops.  

He writes:

About two weeks ago, Derek Fisher gathered together his teammates and told them to look around the room. He warned all the Lakers that if they don't reach their goal of winning a third consecutive NBA championship, next season the faces on the team could look quite different. Fisher pointed out that the possibility of the Lakers' management making changes was realistic because it happened to him during his first tour with the Lakers.

But no pressure.

For Laker nation in need of a stiff drink or a bag to breathe into, you may have hope. While the Lakers seem doomed at the moment let’s not forget that the Mavericks hadn’t won a playoff series in years till this year.

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While the Lakers have lost the first two games, it did take the heroics of JJ Barea and the collapse of the Lakers to win both games.

Translation: the Lakers could easily be 2-0 in this series.

Clearly the issue has been their defense. Chris Paul exposed them in Game 1 of the first round and now L.A is getting exposed for it again. However, that doesn’t mean the Lakers can’t overcome their deficiencies. Moving Gasol off of Nowitzki would be a good start. Odom is a quick guy and could match up well on Dirk. He can certainly tire him out offensively.

The Mavericks have had their prayers answered in both games. Their luck is bound to run out.

It’s going to run out tonight. 

Master of Hounds Looking to Become First European Horse to Win the Kentucky Derby

The Irish Master of Hounds is a 20-1 favorite in the 2011 Kentucky Derby, however, it hadn't touched the Churchill Downs dirt until Friday morning. 

Master of Hounds is looking to become the first European-bred winner in the Derby's history.

It won't be easy.

The only foreign-bred horse to win was Canonero II of Venezuela was victorious in 1971.

MUST READ: The 30 Hottest Fans of the Kentucky Derby  

Master of Hounds raced last year at Churchill in the Breeders Cup juvenile but disappointed as the favorite.

TJ Comerford, right hand man of head trainer Aidan O'Brien had this to say in a uk.eurosport.yahoo.com report:

I thought he looked good. He was looking well and he had a good shine on him. If he handles the dirt, he will run well. He broke well in Dubai. He was actually first out in that so he's no slouch. There's nothing more that we can do now. We'll see how things turn out. He doesn't mind all that's going on around him. It's all new to him but he's very good.

Master of Hounds will be ridden by American jockey Garrett Gomez. It will come out of the gates in the No. 11 position. 

 

 

 

 

New England Patriots Links 5/06/11 - Patriots Drafted A Leader In TE Lee Smith by Marima on May 6, 2011 11:00 AM EDT in News/General Christopher Price profiles 'throwback' TE Lee Smith , taken in the fifth round of the draft.

Brett Favre says he might become a coach or work as a television analyst in the future, though he has no plans to enter either field anytime soon.

The Champion sports apparel company has ended its endorsement deal with Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall over Twitter remarks the player made criticizing people for celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden.

Gov. Mark Dayton says he met with Minnesota Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf to discuss state funding of a new football stadium and that he hopes two remaining proposed sites are narrowed to one soon.

WWE To Keep Rock and Cena Feud Going via Social Media

With the main event of WrestleMania 28 already being set, there is the problem of keeping people aware of that match for the next 11 months. Fortunately, we live in a world where you can keep anything going with the click of a mouse. And John Cena will keep his feud with The Rock alive throughout the year via Twitter.

From WrestlingObserver.com:

Cena and Rock will be going at it on Twitter for the next 11 months which is cool keeping the thing on the radar before they really have to hit it hard.

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 That’s a really smart idea on WWE’s part because everyone knows that the match is out there, but since it won’t happen for so long you can keep Cena’s feuds going while keeping this one in the back of everyone’s mind.

Plus, WWE has been wanting to do a lot more promotion through Twitter and Facebook, and this is definitely going to help them draw interest in both of those social media venues.

The only concern is that they overdo things. I wouldn’t have them send a tweets back and forth with each other every week. I would do it once, maybe twice a month. WWE has issues in keeping a feud hot before a pay-per-view show actually comes around, which hurts the buy rate.

I think that since Cena and Rock control their own Twitter pages that there is little concern about them going too over the top and alienating any fans that are interested to see them fight.

NBA Playoffs will find Bulls in control for Game 3

The Bulls proved a lot to the NBA doubters in Game 2 of the second-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Now with Game 3 upon them there is a good chance for the Bulls to establish themselves as the dominant team. While Atlanta will continue to throw up risky shot after risky shot, the Bulls must continue to do exactly what they did in Game 2. They must pressure defensively right from the top. Rose must be aggressive and keep the Hawks off balance.

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The Bulls were able to cause chaos and create havoc for the Hawks in Game 2. The increased minutes of Korver allowed the Bulls to space the floor better which allowed Rose to drive more consistently to the basket. Since the Hawks present no real defensive mis-match for Korver, the Bulls need to keep him on the floor more and limit the minutes of Ronnie Brewer. He’s a good defender but he lacks the offensive skill the Bulls need on the floor to handle a hot shooting team like the Hawks.

If the Bulls continue to space the floor and keep letting the Hawks take ill advised shots, they’ll take Game 3 and close the series out in five. 

Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KO) is the greatest fighter of his generation, and there is no doubt about that, but is he ranked up there with the best of the best of any generation, and at what time do we figure out his place in the history of the sport?

It all starts with his next opponent, Shane Mosley (46-6-1, 39 KO), where he will have another chance to prove just how great he really is by defeating the former welterweight champion.

Pacquiao has the perfect opportunity to really take over the position as an all-time great if he can knock out Mosley, a guy who has never been stopped in his entire professional career.

Those are the types of things that define "greatness," and Pacquiao certainly has shown that quality in every one of his fights.

If he wins, it should not be the end for the 32-year-old. Potential fights with Floyd Mayweather Jr. and a third fight with Juan Manuel Marquez could increase his position among the very best if he defeats them both as well.

Only time will tell where he ranks with the all-time greats.

WWE News Is Buzzing After A WWE Hall of Famer Criticized the Company's Drug Policy

Look, we all know that steroids are a part of wrestling, like it or not.

We as fans don't like that they do it, but the reality is that they are a part of the culture in wrestling and even though the company says that it has a testing program in place and that it enforces it, our eyes tell us otherwise.

When Road Warrior Animal was asked about the drug policy, he was quite open with what he thought about the WWE's efforts.

Per Rajah.com:

"Let's be totally honest with people right now. Look at the guys that are in [WWE] now. If anybody thinks that everybody there is 100-percent clean, they've got be smoking something," he replied.

"I know they get drug tested and they do catch people, and people do get suspended, but I really don't believe that everybody gets drug tested on the same level. I know the look of a person who looks like they've been on or off [steroids]."

"When we took them, it was totally legal to carry them on you."

Shots fired.

The reality is that he's telling the truth about the culture in the wrestling business today. Sure they're going to crack down on guys like Chris Masters and the guys who are maybe mid-card or below. But a guy like John Cena, do you think if he ever tested positive they'd suspend him? They couldn't even move him to SmackDown for 24 hours before getting him back to the main show.

The company likes to pretend it's forward-thinking on steroids and employee safety, but the truth is they only care when it's not guys that are making them money. If you're one of the top draws in the company, you can almost do whatever you want as long as you're producing for the WWE.

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Animal is speaking the truth and deep down, you know who is using and who isn't.

It's sad that in 2011, the wrestling industry can't get out of the 80s and 90s.

Kentucky Derby 2011 Can Nehro Make History and Win From the No. 19 Position?

The positions for the Kentucky Derby are drawn each year and the moment the spots are released, they're analyzed a great deal and can often change the odds in the race.

This year, Nehro, who's listed as a 6-1 favorite has drawn the No. 19 position on the outside.

Nehro doesn't have to deal with the rail, and has lots of room to maneuver.

Good spot, right?

Well, history would have to say a resounding no.

No horse has ever won from the No. 19 position in the Derby's 136-year history. but Nehro has the momentum coming in to make history.

It finished in second by a neck at the Arkansas Derby and just missed out on a victory at the Louisiana Derby.

Something else to watch on Saturday.

Uncle Mo Scratched From Kentucky Derby With Stomach Issues, But Will His Absence Open the Door for A Longshot?

Pre-Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo found himself the victim of a pre-race scratch today, after owner Mark Repole pulled the plug on Mo's hopes with intestinal concerns.

Mo suffered an intestinal issue during his lackluster showing at the Wood Memorial pre-Derby tune-up, and with his odd behavior around the barn this week, trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Mike Repole decided to call his Derby off. 

But, while this is an obvious disappointment for Uncle Mo and his camp, does his absence open the door for some less heralded racers to steal a Derby win? 

Must Read: Kentucky Derby Results: Contenders, Odds and Latest Derby Buzz. 

The fact is, even with Uncle Mo in the field, this year's Derby field didn't inspire much confidence. No one is really sure what to expect from any of the horses involved in the race, and losing Uncle Mo simply reaffirms that thought. 

With Mo out of the race, things are suddenly blown wide open for just about every horse who will take to Churchill Downs on Saturday. Favorite Dialed In's camp has to like his chances going forward. On top of that, there are plenty of other horses capable of winning this race, from Archarcharch to Nehro to Twice the Appeal (mostly because of Calvin Borel riding him), and most of them are probably not terribly upset to see Mo back out. 

In the end, all Uncle Mo has managed to do is make Saturday's big race all the more confusing for handicappers, who were already dreading making bets on what was the most unpredictable Derby field in recent memory. While his absence does make the field a bit more up for grabs, the chaos this announcement causes isn't exactly all that much worse than what was already going on.

All Uncle Mo has really done is just add a bit more unpredictability to the race, which should make for a fun time come Saturday (assuming you don't have much money on the race, of course). 

Five keys to Saturday's Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley WBO welterweight title fight for Sugar Shane.

1) You know the boxing phrase "a puncher's chance," right? Well, Mosley needs to hope that Pacquiao continues his aggressive style of always moving forward and pressing the issue. Mosley doesn't do well against fighters who are good defensively. He does do well when there's action, a lot of action.

2) Solve the southpaw. Left-handers are tricky to fight. For starters, they lead with their right foot, and righties lead with the left foot, which can make for tangled situations and a very literal stepping on each other's toes. But Pacquiao also fights from hard-to-figure angles, which Mosley is going to have solve.

3) Turn the crowd. Mosley is the underdog. In fact, he's a huge underdog. He's also coming into this fight having lost to Floyd Mayweather and fought to a lackluster draw against Sergio Mora. But if there's anything a Las Vegas fight crowd loves, it's an underdog about to pull an upset.

4) Stun Pacquiao. One shot. Mosley needs to hit Pacquiao with one shot that stuns and momentarily gives pause to the Filipino fighter, both for Mosley's own psyche and confidence, and to let Pacquiao know he still has it.

5) Work that body. Mosley has been a devastating body puncher in the past. And you know what they say, work the body and the head will follow.

Shane Mosley believes the best way to emerge victorious this Saturday in his bout with Manny Pacquiao is to ''keep his foot on the gas''.

He told boxingscene.com that he wants to summon the energy and pressure sustained throughout his bout with Antonio Margarito,

''I can muster all that energy that I had against Margarito," Mosley said. "This type of fight reminds me of when I was able to do a lot of damage in the lightweight division. It's kind of like going back in time. I think I can do all the things I could do in the ring five years ago."

One hopes that this is mere hyperbole and Shane is selling Pacquiao a dud. A quick glance at Mosley's fight as a lightweight and is bouts in the last three years will show a much declining punch output and noticeable waning as fights draw on.

Brett Favre contemplates life after retirement

With Brett Favre it’s not over until it’s over. No matter what he puts his body through, and how many teary eyed press conferences he gives, his saga will continue until he has gone two full seasons without stepping on to an NFL field.

Call it ego, boredom or anything else you want, but Favre is always a possibility to return to the game he loves…even now.

After a season where Favre saw his consecutive game streak end, he now is telling NBC sports that his future is up in the air.

Favre said:

I don’t know.  I really don’t know.  It could be coaching.  It could be TV.  Both of those are unlikely anytime soon.   I don’t see myself becoming a full-time coach anytime soon at any level.

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While Favre is mulling over the options, don’t discount a return to football. Retirement papers are only valid until Favre gets the itch to play again and the labor dispute may scratch that itch.

The prospect of a shortened training camp would appeal to Favre, who has made a habit of ducking most of training camp the last two seasons. For the Vikings it would give them a player who’s familiar with the personnel, the system and wouldn’t take any time to get acclimated to the pro game.

As for Christian Ponder, who is likely to become the Vikings starter at some point, he would benefit from a year behind Favre rather than be rushed into a shortened season in his rookie year.

No one wants the Favre saga to continue, but as long as there is life left in his body there will always be a chance.  

WWE News Swirls After Lex Luger Returns to the Company

Lex Luger is back.

It's a name you might have forgotten, but if you were a wrestling fan in the 80s and 90s, how could you ever forget the man who made the Torture Rack famous?

Luger disappeared for a while after the collapse of WCW, but now he's back working with the WWE in a rather odd role.

Per Rajah.com:

“I’m very happy with the direction WWE is taking. I actually work behind the scenes with them now again and with their wellness club, I council a lot of their athletes on nutrition, wellness, exercise and taking care of their bodies. Their organization is really moving forward with that. I commend them on that. But also, they changed their ratings to PG content and more family orientated.

That's right, Lex Luger, one of he biggest examples of steroid use in the golden age of wrestling, is working with the WWE's wellness program. Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

Just look at his arms in the photo with this article. Does that look like a man who knows how to take care of his body? Is that someone you'd want linked to a part of your company charged with teaching the workers how to take care of themselves and avoid turning towards steroids?

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It's not a good look for the WWE and honestly, this is one of the most laughable things I've ever heard. If you went back 15 years ago and told me that Lex Luger would be helping the WWE with its wellness program, I'd have laughed in your face.

I'm sure this whole thing will end well.

Christopher Price profiles 'throwback' TE Lee Smith, taken in the fifth round of the draft.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick referred to him as an "outstanding blocker." Phil Ratliff, Smith’s position coach at Marshall, added to that on Thursday, calling him a "throwback" who was "far and away the most respected player on the team because of how hard he practices and how hard he plays."

Ratliff knows something about the sort of player that appeals to the Patriots -- while as a player at Marshall, he was a college teammate of eventual New England football legend Troy Brown. "Lee is the kind of player the Patriots draft -- a quality person who takes to system and does whatever it takes to succeed," Ratliff said. "New England is getting another leader -- he’s a natural-born leader."

 "A lot of people don’t realize he had a good tight end that played in front of him — this past year was the first year he really had a chance to thrive in the passing game," Ratliff said. "At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, so a lot of people don’t realize how good he in the passing game. When you think of Lee Smith, you think of a big, pounding blocker. That’s what he is, but he has capability in the vertical passing game. He’s got soft hands and a knack for getting open -- and he will get better."

"All I can tell you is this -- people can all the negative things they want about him, but Lee, when he came to us, he was a guy who was a leader," Ratliff said. "He was a guy who got it. It was unbelievable. When he got into our system, he got structure, and just took off from there. "What happened in the past is in the past. He’s gone beyond that. He’s the most mature guy I have ever coached. He has a family and kids -- all that stuff is in the past. It’s so irrelevant to what he is now. It really is."

"I will tell you one thing -- they have a very impressive tight end group," Ratliff said of New England. "[But] there’s no challenge for him that’s too big. He won’t back down. Those guys are all really good players, but whatever is asked of Lee, he’ll roll with it. He’ll do whatever he needs to do, and take care of business. That’s just how he is."

Ryan Osborne (TCU Daily Skiff) Patriots 7th-round draft pick Malcolm Williams is packing his bags for the NFL after unlikely football journey.

"I'm living in a dream right now," said Williams, who was drafted by the New England Patriots with the 219th overall pick in the seventh round of the NFL Draft Saturday afternoon. "It's the best thing that can happen to me."

Williams offered a simple, timeless phrase to sum up his journey from airport bag collector to NFL draftee.

"Hard work pays off," Williams said. "That's all you can really say."

TEAM TALK

• The New England Patriots 2011 Draft: Notes, stats and trends from the team.
• PFW in Progress - 5/05/11: This edition continues to recap the 2011 NFL Draft. (2 hour program.)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss helps fans get to know CB Ras-I Dowling, after speaking with Virginia cornerbacks coach Chip West.
• Ian Rapoport notes Ryan Mallett has always dazzled with his strong arm and throwing ability.
• Ian Rapoport reports PGA star John Daly has offered guidance to Pats QB Ryan Mallett about overcoming past and the pitfalls of being a celebrity.
• Ian Rapoport continues his 'The Making of Mallett' series with an explanation of why QB Ryan Mallett left Michigan for Arkansas.
• Jeff Howe opens up his draft column for a string of second-guessing offerings before everyone's vision becomes crystal clear in hindsight.
• Mike Reiss discusses Vic Carucci's article about how the Patriots and Colts each take a different approach when it comes to drafting QBs.
• Jeff Howe points out that Bill Belichick carried out his 2011 draft philosophy with the future in mind.
• Jon Fucile from WickedGoodSports offers some examples of Bill Belichick's trade down lifestyle.
• Mike Reiss offers a list of Pats players who have Twitter accounts, after ESPN's "Outside the Lines" program discussed Twitter's impact on sports.
• Tom E. Curran's Quick Slants with Nate Solder. (2.47 min. video)
• Mike Reiss offers the transcript of his weekly online chat. Terrific insight here as usual.
• Tom E. Curran scouts out how the Jets did in the draft.
• Mike Reiss reports Tedy Bruschi will join former Titans coach Jeff Fisher and others to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa.
• Mike McDermott posts a photo of Tom Brady hugging 77-year old fan Loraine Pitka at a promotional event last week.  In this ESPN Page 2 picture, she's got a solid grip on his arm.
  
• NESN reports Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen were photographed walking the red carpet at the metropolitan Museum of Modern Art Benefit Gala.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Matt Williamson, Scouts Inc.(ESPN) Soon to be stars: Patriots LB Brandon Spikes.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) John Daly, Ryan Mallett forge a friendship.
• Evan Silva (ProFootballTalk) Our discoveries, after tracking pre-draft visits and workouts.  "No team puts in more face time than the Patriots."
• NFL Live (ESPN) Patriots draft-day decision-making discussed after interview with RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis. (4.39 min. video)
• Nathan Jahnke (Pro Football Focus) First thoughts on each of the first round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft.
• Wes Bunting (Nat'l Football Post) Second/third-round breakdowns.
• Gregg Easterbrook (ESPN) The 2011 TMQ draft review.
• Adam Schein (Fox Sports) Explaining the draft's inexplicable.
• John Clayton (ESPN) Running theme developing.
• Khaled Elsayed (Pro Football Focus) The Top 101 players of 2010: No. 101-81 -- No. 80-61 -- No. 60-41 -- No. 40-21 --  Top 20.  This list is whacked.
• Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) Playing the NFL draft name game. Who has the coolest names in the draft?
• Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Rashard Mendenhall loses endorsement deal with Champion.
• AP (The Gainesville Sun) Former Florida WR Reche Caldwell arrested for marijuana possession.

LABOR LUNACY

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Goodell says the league, players need to be talking in order to strike a new deal.
• Adam Teicher (Kansas City Star) Goodell and Hunt paint a dark picture of an NFL without a labor deal.
• Eric Edholm (Pro Football Weekly) Agents:Teams have tampered with undrafted players during lockout.
• Rick Horrow (Fox Sports) Rookie wage scale concern. (1.04 min. video)