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Congratulations to Josh Hamilton on winning the AL MVP. In recognition of his accomplishment, here’s a look back at an interview I conducted with Josh for Horizon and Direction Magazines (Fall 2009).

Outside the Box Score

In 1999, Josh Hamilton was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. As an elite prospect, Hamilton was christened “the next Mickey Mantle” even before taking his first major league at-bat. However, as chronicled in his book Beyond Belief, after suffering through a car accident, an injury, and the realization of being on his own for the first time in his life, Hamilton began to turn to tattoo parlors, alcohol, and drugs to escape the realities of life. After multiple battles with alcohol and drug abuse, God got a hold of Hamilton’s heart in his grandmother’s North Carolina home. After years of running, he decided to put his past behind him and surrender everything to God.

We spent a few minutes talking to Josh Hamilton to discuss his story, his advice for teenagers, and the upcoming season.

David: You spent several years battling drugs and alcohol, which led to problems within your family and multiple suspensions from baseball. What was the turning point when you decided things had to change in your life?

Josh: There were many times I felt like I needed to change. When I got into the drugs and alcohol I wanted to change, but I obviously didn’t want it bad enough. The circumstances weren’t there for me to feel like I needed to change. The night in October 2005 when I showed up to my grandmother’s house was definitely the night it all came together. The Lord allowed my heart to open up and see the pain on her face. She said a lot of things I had been told so many times, but it stuck at that moment.

David: Since you surrendered your life to Christ, you haven’t shied away from talking about it. Why have you been so outspoken about your faith?

Josh: I don’t want to be a hypocrite. The reason I’m here is because of the relationship I have with Christ. It’s because of Him being beside me through all of the dark times, even when I didn’t realize He was there. He never turned from me; it was me that turned from Him. I want people to know whatever they go through in life and no matter how much trouble they have, there is a way to get through it, and that comes with a relationship with Christ.

David: With all of the attention you’ve received, do you ever get tired of sharing your story?

Josh: I feel like it’s a privilege to talk about it, rather than an obligation, so I don’t get tired of talking about it. As my career goes on, I expect the attention I receive to move from my past and more to baseball and our team moving forward and trying to win some games, but I still want to be able to have the opportunity to tell my story to youth groups, churches, halfway houses, and different things like that.

David: When you speak to youth groups and churches, what’s the one thing you want them to come away with?

Josh: The choices teenagers make in high school are in some way going to determine what they do with the rest of their lives, whether it’s going to college, getting a job, playing sports in college, or whatever. They need to realize the choices they make in high school are very important. Don’t take them for granted.

David: What advice would you give to a teen that may be struggling with an addiction, whether it is drugs, pornography, etc?

Josh: It’s okay to ask for help. I was always good at everything I did. I really never needed help doing anything. However, when it came down to alcohol and drugs, I couldn’t overcome it on my own. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t figure it out. It’s okay to ask for help. Trust your parents. It’s a little different when you’re hanging around with other people who don’t know how to help or are doing the same things you’re doing. They’re not true friends, they’re just acquaintances. But you have those true friends you have a good relationship with that can help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it.

David: Do you have a specific Bible verse you lean on for support?

Josh: It started off with James 4:7, which says to humble yourself before God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. That was the first verse I read when I rededicated my life to Christ. Since then, one of my favorites is 2 Peter 3:18, which says, “But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” That really sums up what I need to do in my walk. Every time I sign hats, baseballs, jerseys, and other things, people ask if I’ll put my favorite Bible verse on there. Even if they don’t ask I put it on there anyway.

David: Do you get mixed responses from people when they see that on there?

Josh: I’ve had a few people say “Please don’t put any Bible Scripture on there. You can believe what you want to believe, but I don’t believe that.” [Laughs] When they say that, usually I put two or three different verses on there.

David: What advice would you give to a teenager who wants to be a professional athlete?

Josh: There are so many things to focus on that should come before that, such as schoolwork. The thing that needs to be focused on the most is your relationship with Christ and the direction and the focus of your life. You need to realize what’s really important and what your priorities need to be. For so long I was prioritizing baseball as my life, and that shouldn’t be the case. A relationship with the Lord is first and foremost, family comes after that, and everything else comes after that. If you have your priorities straight, and you can learn it at a young age, it helps things go a lot smoother.

David: Can you tell us about Triple Play Ministries?

Josh: Sure! I was riding down the road with my wife and it hit me that I’d like to start a ministry one day to help people in different ways. Within the next 15 minutes, we had a name for it. That was kind of a sign from God saying, “Yes, you’re going to start a ministry and this is what it’s going to be.” The ultimate goal of it is to share Christ and the Word of God with people through sports, community outreach, and mission projects. We kicked it off in November with a baseball camp at NC State University and had Phillips Craig & Dean come in and do a concert, and Katie and I spoke for the services. One of the things we’re doing right now is supporting a ministry called “Arise Africa,” where we’re teaming up with our church back in North Carolina and building an orphanage in Uganda. We’re excited about where the ministry is and where it’s going.

David: What’s on your iPod?

Josh: I’m a big Casting Crowns fan. I love Phillips Craig & Dean, MercyMe, and Aaron Shust. I really like Hillsong. All kinds of stuff.

David: When you were in high school, you were also a pitcher and could throw 96 miles per hour. If there were a blowout in Texas, do you think you could come out of centerfield and throw a few innings?

Josh: [Laughs] I miss pitching; I do miss pitching. I’ve always wanted to come in and close the game out, but I don’t think that will happen.

David: Do you ever get the urge to come in during a blowout?

Josh: Absolutely! But I’m afraid that’s exactly what would happen—I might blow something out.

David: Do you have any goals for the season?

Josh: Of course! If you don’t have goals, you’re not trying. It would be nice to hit over .300 again. Last year I set my goal at 30 home runs. I’m hoping to have at least that many home runs this year and hoping to have 100 RBIs again. I always set my goals a little higher than everyone else does.

David: In 2008, you were elected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and became a household name when you hit a record-breaking 28 home runs during the first round of the Home Run Derby. Along with the incredible feat, you also fulfilled a promise you made in high school by asking Clay Council, one of your childhood mentors, to throw to you in the Home Run Derby. Can you tell us about that experience?

Josh: It’s really a funny story. For my first round I went up to Clay and said, “C’mon, Clay, we’re going to go pray about this thing.” We went underneath Yankee Stadium in the hall and prayed. In the second round I went out and swung a little bit and got loose. In the third round, before they announced me to go up, I was hanging out behind the plate and walking around, and I prayed, “Lord, if you want me to win this thing, allow me to. But if not, accomplish what You want to accomplish.” Obviously I didn’t win it, but shortly after it was over, it sort of hit my heart that God is not worried about accolades or trophies or awards. He’s worried about how we glorify Him in everything we do. I got to share Christ with 55,000 in Yankee Stadium that night and to people in their homes on TV.

I’m tired of hearing about Brett Favre.

I was tired of hearing about him when he retired. I was tired of hearing him when he came out of retirement. I was tired of hearing about him when he retired again. I was tired of hearing about him when he came out of retirement again. I was tired of hearing about him when he contemplated retirement again.

If having ESPN dominated by “Will he or won’t he?” stories was not enough, several weeks ago a scandal broke with Favre at the center.

(If you are not familiar with the story, I am purposely withholding certain details because of their graphic nature.)

The scandal that broke alleged that Brett Favre had sexually harassed Jenn Sterger, a reporter who worked for the New York Jets when Favre was their quarterback.

Within hours of the allegations, the Internet was flooded with suspicion of a possible suspension for Favre. Favre’s wife, who recently wrote a book, became a commodity for morning talk shows and magazine interviews. Sterger, the one who was allegedly harassed, became the victim in the incident.

Before I continue, please let me say that if the allegations have any truth to them at all, then Favre is in the wrong, both as a person and as a husband. Harassment is never right in any situation and cannot be justified nor can excuses be made.

Please keep those previous statements in mind when you read what I am about to say next. While people had no problem pointing the finger at Favre and condemning him for his (alleged) behavior, I was surprised that very little was said about Sterger. From all reports, it appears that Sterger did not accept the (alleged) advances and even tried to shut them down, which is what a person should do. She also is not the one to come forth with the allegations. That credit belongs to a trash sports tabloid site. However, Sterger’s background may provide a learning opportunity and teachable moment even more than Favre’s.

While Sterger is often referred to as a reporter and TV show host, she also has less credible things on her resume. Sterger has appeared in publications that are considered “pornography” and “soft-core pornography.” She also received plastic surgery to try to help her with her career. In addition, Sterger is known for wearing revealing clothing on camera, including during her days with the Jets.

Before you start thinking I’m running to the defense of Brett Favre, let me be quick to say that’s not happening. Harassment in any shape or form is wrong. Regardless of dress, talk, and action, no one should ever be harassed. This includes verbal, physical, and sexual harassment. Harassment is wrong. End of story.

Here is the point I am finally getting at and why this post is labeled “Sending Mixed Signals to the Opposite Sex.” When Jenn Sterger posed for pornographic magazines and underwent surgery to try to help her career, what message was she sending to guys? What kind of guys did she think she would attract? When a girl poses in a pornographic magazine, she’s not sending the message of “I’m a professional. I’m an intellectual. I respect myself.” Instead, she’s sending the message of, “I’m an object. I adore the attention of men. I’m using my body to gain attention. I am making money off of the lust of others.”

This absolutely boggles my mind. No woman wants to be harassed, used, or taken advantage of. Yet why do women present themselves in a way that screams, “I’m an object. Desire me for what’s on the outside, not the inside.” It seems that some women crave attention to such an extent that they’re willing to sacrifice their values and integrity just to be noticed. It’s sad. It’s sickening. It’s a double standard.

Now this does NOT excuse men for lustful thoughts, harassment, or improper conduct. Men, if we lust after a woman or harass a woman, it is a sin and a very severe sin. No matter how a woman dresses or acts, we are to remain pure in thought and action. If we cross the line, it is OUR sin.

But women, when you present yourselves in a way that is immodest, indecent, and even pornographic, what are you expecting to happen? In an extreme sense, you’re inviting harassment to take place. Put in a milder way, you’re being a stumbling block to men everywhere. And for what? To get noticed? To get a better job? To gain the eye of a man who only sees you for your body? It makes no sense.

Many times we think we have two lives: we have a professional life, and then we have our personal life. In many ways, we don’t want the two to overlap. We want to be like an actor in a movie, stepping on the set, playing a part, and then walking away from all of it hours later and becoming someone else. The truth is, we can’t have it both ways. We don’t get to live a compartmentalized life.

There are too many mixed signals in the world. Guys send them to women. Women send them to guys. Sometimes we think we know what we want, but we don’t always like the consequences of our decisions. That’s why it’s so important to decide now what you want to be later. If you want to be a person of integrity who is respected, start acting that way now. Don’t waste your life today and expect everything to fall into place tomorrow.

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At best, I’m a casual soccer fan. I played soccer for in 4th grade and ended my career with an amazing stat line of 0 goals. And no, I wasn’t the goalie.

I can name about 5 players on the US team. I can pronounce about half of the last names of guys on the US team. I know who Henry (France), Messi (Argentina), Rooney (England), Kaka (Brazil), and Ronaldo (Portugal) are, and I know that the vuvuzela is annoying! However, that’s about the extent of my soccer knowledge. I can’t tell you a thing about the MLS and I still know David Beckham as the husband of one of the Spice Girls (okay…maybe that’s an exaggeration).

However, when the World Cup comes around, I really get into it. It doesn’t matter who’s playing, I love sitting down and watching the games. In a way, it’s similar to the Olympics for me. While I care nothing about men’s figure skating, mix in the Olympics and Evan Lysacek and I’m hooked.

Am I a “once every 4 years” bandwagon fan? Yeah probably. But I still enjoy it.

What about you? Do you care about the World Cup?

(Btw, in case you missed the USA vs England game, you can watch a recap above…with Legos!)

Today is a very underrated day in sports. It probably doesn’t seem so because Twitter and every sports site is going crazy with coverage of the NFL Draft. Experts are speculating picks, and some writers are even making up rumors just to get their name out there. In some ways, journalistic integrity is dead.

While I am extremely excited about the 3-day NFL draft that kicks off tonight, there’s also some other great sports stories out there. What has been overshadowed by the draft is the news that the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will only expand to 68 teams, and not 96 teams. For people who love the tournament more than sponsorships and money, this is great news. What I’ve heard is that teams 61-65 will play teams 65-68 for a chance to get into the tournament. Personally, I’d like to see this a bit different. I’d prefer if the tournament would take 8 bubble teams and make them play for a spot at a 12 seed in the tournament. Let the Arkansas Pine Bluff’s have their opportunity to play on Thursday or Friday if they win their conference tournament. Make teams like Illinois, Wake Forest, etc fight it out for the 12 seed. Anyway…it’s still great that the tournament did not go to 96 teams.

To add to this news, a release was also issued that CBS and Turner Sports have won the TV rights to the tournament. By Turner getting into the mix, we have been guaranteed that every game will be shown live for the first time in tournament history. Instead of live look-ins, March Madness On Demand, and Mobile TV, we can now catch the games on CBS, TNT, TBS, and truTV. Great news!

On top of this, there are 3 NBA playoff games tonight, featuring LeBron, Kobe, Kevin Durant, and Steve Nash. The NHL also has 4 playoff games tonight involving Sidney Crosby…and a lot of foreign guys.

Sidenote: Cardinals are in first place in the NL Central. Carlos Zambrano just got moved to the bullpen for the Cubs. HA HA!

Oh, and for all my fellow Cardinals fans out there…Ray Lankford is now on Twitter (@raylankford1). I’m nothing special, but you can also find me @iPopEditor

Apparently Tiger Woods made his return to professional golf today by teeing off at the Masters. If you didn’t know this, you’re either from another planet or somehow managed to evade all forms of media for the last 2 months (If you didn’t know, please contact me and tell me how to do that sort of thing).

From ESPN to USA Today, every news outlet has been covering this story nonstop like the whole world revolves around it. In fact, ESPN.com used the headline “The Wait of the World” to describe this occasion.

I’ve been trying to find out if people really care about this as much as the media makes it seem like we should care. Does the average Joe really care about all of this…or is all this hype relegated for the TMZ crowd?

Let me ask this 2 questions and hopefully I’ll get some feedback:

1) Do you care that Tiger Woods is returning to golf today?

2) Has the media overhyped this entire story, or are they on par with what the average sports fan is thinking/feeling?

Jay Bilas. Seth Davis. Digger Phelps. Dick Vitale. They all have their opinions and predictions about March Madness…and a lot of the time they’re wrong. Instead of boring you with 63 different picks, we thought we’d add a little edge to March Madness by giving you the first ever  “Musings on March Madness by 4 Morons.” Agree. Disagree. Hate us. Love us. It doesn’t matter. But when you hear the words to “One Shining Moment” on a Monday in April…you may find out we weren’t so far off…

Final Four Picks

Ryan Akers:

(1) Kansas, (1) Kentucky, (2) Kansas St., (3) Baylor

David Jones:

(1) Kansas, (1) Kentucky, (1) Syracuse, (2) Villanova

Only 1 time in history have all 4 #1 seeds made it to the Final Four (2008). It won’t be happening this year. Despite being handed a cakewalk to Indianapolis, I don’t see Duke making an appearance. Villanova was too much for them last year, and they’ll be too much for them this year too. It really wouldn’t surprise me to see Duke struggle or even lose against a Louisville team that beat Syracuse twice or a hot Texas A&M squad. Look for Kansas to dominate much like UNC did last year. Kentucky will have a tough road with possible matchups against Texas, Temple, and West Virginia. If Kentucky can stop Butler of WVU, they’ll be in Indy. Syracuse’s potential 2^nd round matchup with Gonzaga scares me, especially if Onuaku is out. But the game is in Buffalo so the Orange should survive. Other than the Zags, Syracuse shouldn’t have another difficult game until Kansas State.

Ryan Lewis:

(1) Kansas, (1) Kentucky, (1) Duke, (1) Syracuse
With 3 of the 4 tournament #1 seeds being ranked #1 nationally at some point during the season, not much will change in the tournament.

Ben Wheeler:

(1) Kansas, (2) Kansas St, (1) Duke, (1) Kentucky

I think probably pretty much everyone has Kansas and Kentucky advancing, and I see a great chance for Kansas State in the West (lots of potential upsets to clear out the higher seeds); and Duke by far has the easiest path of any one seed. They have been playing great as of late, with their only loss coming against a hot Maryland team playing on senior night in college park. Greg Zoubek and the Plumlee brothers have really stepped up their games, at least in the games I’ve been able to watch; so I can see them definitely advancing from their region.

National Championship Game

Ryan Akers:

(1) Kansas vs. (1) Kentucky

David Jones:

(1) Kansas vs. (1) Kentucky

Talent, talent, talent. John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Sherron Collins. Cole Aldrich. These are the two most-talented teams in the country. You’ll be seeing them on Monday night.

Ryan Lewis:

(1) Kansas vs. (1) Kentucky
Both teams have the same record, both teams with similar talent. John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins have been phenomenal freshmen throughout the year, but they’ve yet to be on a stage this big. Kansas, although going through the season with very little recognition, has been in this situation before. They’ve got the coach, the talent, and the experience. They breezed through the Big 12 tournament with little trouble, and that momentum will carry them to their 6th National title.

Ben Wheeler:

(1)Kansas vs. (1)Kentucky

By far the two best teams in the country.

National Champion

Ryan Akers:

Kentucky

I’m a homer….I think their youth will hurt them, but I can’t say Kansas…

David Jones:

Kansas

As much as I hate Kansas, they are the best and most dominant team in college basketball this year. Barring a crazy injury, I expect them to hoist the trophy as we hear “One Shining Moment.”

Ryan Lewis:

UConn Huskies
They’re unbeatable. They come into the tournament with a 72-game winning streak, and they haven’t beaten anyone by less than double digits this season. What? Oh. Sorry. Ahem. For the men’s tournament, Kansas comes out on top. It was written up that way. They’ve been there before. They have the talent, the coach, and the experience. The bright lights cause too big of a glare for Calipari’s freshmen and Sherron Collins goes out a champion.

Ben Wheeler:

Kansas

They will be just too good against a young Kentucky (maybe Calipari will at least have his team ready to shoot free throws against Kansas this time around)

Biggest 1st Round Upset

Ryan Akers:

I have two – either (13) Houston over (4) Maryland – yes, I know all year long we’ve heard about Vasquez, but I don’t have much respect for the ACC this year. Good players but not great teams and I think we’ll see this possibility.

Or (11) Washington over (6) Marquette. I watched Washington play back in November and was very impressed by their speed and skill. Face it, everyone loves the Big East, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marquette get rocked if Washington is aggressive and on.

David Jones:

(12) UTEP over (5) Butler

3-point shooting verses the big guys. Which one will prevail? Teams like Butler have the potential to get hot and win a few guys. However, all it takes is one bad shooting night and you’re gone. Even if Butler is hitting, I expect UTEP to make a strong physical presence known in this game and upset the Bulldogs. UTEP ended the regular season as a Top 25 team. A loss to Houston the C-USA Finals knocked them down to an underseeded 12 seed. This game has upset written all over it!

Ryan Lewis:

(13)  Murray State over (4) Vanderbilt
Sorry Nashvillians: I like Vandy too. However, they finished the season with some inconsistent play by their bigs, and that could prove devastating against a quick Racers squad. Murray State is outsized, but their consistent defense has kept them in close games this year, holding opponents to 60 points per game. They’ve also got 5 players averaging double digits, and their balanced scoring attack averaged 77 points per game. Brad Tinsley (Vandy) finally found his stroke against Mississippi State in the SEC tournament, but Jermaine Beal and Jeffrey Taylor better have it going against the guards of Murray State. The variable will be A.J. Ogilvy. He’ll be matched up against Tony Easley, who is a bruiser down low. Ogilvy has tended to play weak against tough opponents, which may prove to be the Commodores’ downfall

Ben Wheeler:

(14) Oakland over (3) Pittsburgh

Yes I know it’s a long shot but I have not been impressed at all with Pittsburgh this year and I could really see this one happening

(12) New Mexico St over (5) Michigan St

Not saying 100% this will happen but MSU just hasn’t been the same team over last month. Even if they win in the first round I dont see them advancing after that.

(12) Cornell over (5) Temple

This one’s for Andy Bernard.

Cinderella Team Most Likely to Make it to the Sweet 16

Ryan Akers:

Honestly, anything out of the South (Duke) bracket. I could rant about Duke getting everything going their way, but the fact is, Duke is an overrated team this year (1-3 vs. top 25 teams). In the South there is Sienna, Richmond, St. Mary’s, Louisville, and Robert Morris (just making sure you’re paying attention…) Any of those first four teams mentioned could pull some big upsets and make a run against some very overrated higher seeds.

David Jones:

(11) Washington

The Washington Huskies are hot! They’ve won their last 7 games. Even though they’re coming out of an unusually weak Pac-10, they have the firepower to break some hearts and wear a glass slipper through the first weekend. Don’t be surprised if they upset a very athletic Marquette team and take down New Mexico in the 2^nd round.

Ryan Lewis:

None
I don’t see any Cinderellas in this year’s field of 64. Cornell (12 in the East) may make a run, but they’ll have to get past a tough Wisconsin team with a now-healthy Jon Leuer, Trevon Hughes, and Jason Bohannon. Not likely. Doesn’t look to me like we’ll have a George Mason or Davidson this year. My apologies to Lehigh. (Isn’t that a grape soda?)

Ben Wheeler:

If Old Dominion had any other 1st round match up they would definitely be my pick but I don’t see them getting past a hot Notre Dame team. I would have to say (13) Siena has the best chance of advancing past Purdue and then Texas A&M or Utah St. Another low seed with a good shot of advancing is (11) Washington in the East. Sure they play in the maybe the worst big conference in basketball, but I could really see them making some noise in this tournament by beating Washington and New Mexico.

I can see Georgia Tech, who is finally starting to look like the team everyone thought they would be, taking out Ohio St in the second round to make it to the sweet 16.

Trendy 1st Round Upset Pick that WON’T Happen

Ryan Akers:

(11) San Diego St. over (6) Tennessee

Face it, I hate UT but this isn’t going to happen. UT can pull it together whenever they need to win. They won’t go far, but I don’t see this one going down.

And as a side note to Jay Bilas – get off the Cornell bandwagon – Temple will DESTROY Cornell in the first round and Cornell will not go on to beat Wisconsin and Kentucky. Analyst? I think not.

David Jones:

(12) Cornell over (5) Temple

Is Cornell underseeded? Absolutely! Do they have the potential to win this game? Yes. Will they? No! While Cornell is underseeded, so is Temple. The Owls probably deserve to be a 3 or 4 seed in the tournament. They have one of the best, if not the best, defenses in the entire country. At the end of the day, that defense will be too much for the Ivy League school. Sorry Andy Bernard…and Jay Bilas. Not happening! Also, don’t expect San Diego St. to beat Tennessee.

Ryan Lewis:

(13) Siena over (4) Purdue
Yes, Robbie Hummel’s injury will affect Purdue. Yes, they got embarrassed by Minnesota in the Big Ten semifinals. They’ve also got E’Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, one of the best inside-out combinations in the game. They’ve also got Chris Kramer who is a major spark plug on both ends. Siena has their own scoring threats, boasting four guys averaging over 13 points a game. However, the up-tempo style that has surprised teams all season plays right into the Boilermakers’ hands, who boast a fast-paced offense of their own. Don’t place your bets on #13 in the South.

Ben Wheeler:

(11) Old Dominion over (6) Notre Dame- I mentioned this above and I just don’t see it happening, Notre Dame has been playing too good as of late to lose this one.

(11) San Diego St over (6) Tennessee- Sorry I just don’t see this one. UT is way too talented and well-coached to lose in the first round, plus I believe they were a little upset about their seed, so that could light a fire under them.

Best 1st Round Match Up

Ryan Akers:

(13) Siena over (4) Purdue. Yeah, everyone is calling this. The only reason I think this will be a good first round match up is because Siena will have a huge chance to win this game, so we’ll be able to see their top-notch playing.

For a more “good game” type of match up, there’s not a lot out there. Possibly the Maryland/Houston game. I also think the Mizzou vs. Clemson game could be a good game.

David Jones:

(6) Marquette vs (11) Washington

I mentioned Washington earlier, but Marquette is also a team that has great potential. They might be the most athletic team pound for pound in the tournament. Problem is, those pounds are limited. It’s a shame both these teams have to play each other in the first round because they both have the capabilities to make some noise in this tournament.

Ryan Lewis:

(5) Butler vs. (12) UTEP
This is exactly why the 12 seed over 5 seed upset has happened seven times in the last 5 years: it’s a game of two evenly-matched teams. Butler comes in on a 20-game win streak, breezing through their conference and finishing with a 6 game lead. UTEP lost once in the last 2 months of the season. Both teams excel on the defensive end, and each team features a premiere big man: Matt Howard for Butler and Derrick Caracter for UTEP. Butler has a balanced scoring attack while UTEP looks to Gordon Heyward’s inside and outside game for their points. While UTEP was still biting their nails on Selection Sunday due to a conference title upset by Houston, don’t look for them to bow out quietly. People continue to look at Butler as a possible Cinderella every year, but their carriage seems to always turn back into a pumpkin a little too early.

Ben Wheeler:

(7) Oklahoma St vs (10) Georgia Tech

Great frontcourt (GT) vs great backcourt (Ok St) . I see the Yellow Jackets taking this one

Also (7) Richmond vs (10) St Marys should be a great game.

Star Player You Need to Know

Ryan Akers:

John Wall (Kentucky)

Everyone has the love fest going on with him this year. Why? Because he’s stinkin’ good. Yes, you can be critical that he turns the ball over a bit too much or whatnot, but when Kentucky is behind, Wall takes over. That’s a star-caliber player. Yes, I’m a huge Kentucky fan, but that just means I have watched him play all year long. He takes over games, makes big shots, shares the ball better than any guard I’ve seen in a long time. If Kentucky is going to return back to the Final Four, it’s going to be on the shoulders of John Wall.

I feel like I have to add that DeMarcus Cousins is going to have to stay emotionally sound during the tournament for Kentucky to go anywhere, too. Cuz gets out of sync, then the whole ball club suffers (see Kentucky vs. Tennessee).

David Jones:

Da’Sean Butler (West Virginia)

As a 6’7 senior, Butler averaged 17.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg. He’s a dynamic player who has the ability to take over a game. He can also hit the outside shot. He’s fun to watch, and should be fun to watch all the way until the Elite 8. Also, don’t miss Wesley Johnson of Syracuse.

Ryan Lewis:

Evan Turner (Ohio State)
Have you seen this guy? The Big Ten player of the year could step on an NBA floor today and be a difference-maker for any team. He was a star among standouts in the Big Ten, and he raised eyebrows in nearly every statistical category. When he went down for 6 games in December with an injury, his team went 3-3, the 3 wins coming against D-1 nobodies. He averaged nearly a double-double per game as a guard, with 20.3 points and 9.2 rebounds, shooting 54% from the field and dishing  nearly 6 assists. There was no one better in clutch situations, and his 37% shooting from the 3-point line only complemented his slashing skills. After hitting a 37-foot buzzer beater in the Big Ten quarterfinals against Michigan, Turner hit a shot to force overtime against Illinois in the semis. He went on to score 12 of his 31 points after regulation to lead the Buckeyes to a double overtime win. He finished up the tournament with a 31 point, 11 rebound, 6 assist performance in a rout of Minnesota for the Big Ten title, all the while being named most outstanding player of the tournament and setting the record for most points in a championship game. He’s been on the big stage, and he’s proven that the bright lights can’t cast a shadow on his talent.

Ben Wheeler:

Greivis Vasquez (Maryland)

He may be my least favorite player from the last ten years not named Hansbrough but I respect his game and he brings it every night. He is the key to Maryland going anywhere in this tournament and I believe he will lead Maryland to at least the sweet 16

Unknown Player You Need to Know

Ryan Akers:

Quincy Pondexter (Washington)

Pondexter is going to make a lot of noise against Marquette. If Washington gets rolling, watch out. The guy is averaging 20 points a game, mostly from inside the arc…but he can pop outside and drain the three. Teamed with Isaiah Thomas who is averaging 17 points a game at guard, I’m just saying, I could easily see this team creating a buzz.

David Jones:

James Anderson (Oklahoma St.)

If Anderson played at a school like Kansas, Kentucky, or Duke, you would know his name right now. Much like Evan Turner at Ohio St., Anderson has the ability to win a game on his own. This 6’6 Guard averaged 22.6 ppg and 5.8 rpg this year. You can’t matchup with him. Don’t be surprised to see him drop 30 in the first game against a very talented Georgia Tech team. If Oklahoma St. can survive against Tech, we could see something special when Ohio State and Oklahoma State play in the second round. Also, keep Darington Hobson from New Mexico on your radar. Steve Alford has done a tremendous job with that program. It will be great to see how far they can actually go!

Ryan Lewis:

Darington Hobson (New Mexico)
Although they do have a #3 seed, New Mexico may end up as a surprise team to some people. They haven’t had much tournament success in the past, but they’re coming off a season capped by a Mountain West regular season title. Leading their surge is a guy in his third year of eligibility playing his first year in Division 1 basketball (played 2 years in junior college). He proved he was ready for the big show. He lead his team in scoring (16.2), rebounds (9.2), and assists (4.6).  He was held to single digits in scoring only 5 times in 33 games and he averaged nearly 34 minutes on the floor. In a 2 point victory over San Diego State (Mountain West tournament champs) in February, he had 29 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists. Look for Hobson to make a splash in his first year in the dance. His team may not meet the criteria of a Cinderella, but I wouldn’t qualify Darington Hobson as Sleeping Beauty either

Ben Wheeler:

Edwin Ubiles (Siena)

The star of the Saints should wreck some havoc agianst Purdue and the rest of the South Region

Sidenotes:

Ryan Akers:

Top Overrated Teams:

Duke – yes, they’re good. And who else fills the number one? But, they haven’t played a high caliber competition in the ACC. I look for the Blue Devils to drop out, possibly in the second round vs. Louisville.

West Virginia – Big East lovers are questioning me. Yes, West Virginia has the one little offense they run called “Give Butler The Ball” but for all year, they’ve played from behind. Most of their games were victories of less than about 6 points. I’m just not impressed.

Nova – Failed at the end of the year. 2nd round upset by Richmond or St. Mary’s? You saw it here!

Ben Wheeler:

Worst Matchup: (8) Texas vs (9) Wake Forest, Texas has just collapsed towards the end of the season and I’m still not sure how Wake made it in the Big Dance

I know it’s not March yet. I know conference tournaments haven’t started. I know the word “bubble” is just now coming into play. However, I’m ready for the NCAA Tourney! It’s by far my favorite time of the year. Since we’re about a month away from Selection Sunday, I thought I’d make a few predictions on what I see happening. Yeah, I’ll probably be wrong and you can let me know when I am. But here’s a few things I forsee when March and April come around:

Kansas and Kentucky will play in the National Championship
If you asked me to make a list of my most hated basketball teams, Kansas and Kentucky would come in at 2 and 3 (behind Duke). Even though I can’t stand either team, they’re good. Really good. I don’t see how any team in the tournament can match up with their dominant guard play and inside play. Some teams may be able to match up with one element, but not both. With Kansas, Collins and Aldrich are incredible. At Kentucky, Wall and Cousins are only getting better. These are the 2 best teams in college basketball. Kansas is a lock for the Final Four. Don’t be surprised if Kentucky is there too…and in the Championship game.

North Carolina will miss the tournament
That prediction is like saying the Saints will win the 2010 Super Bowl. It’s already determined. Barring a miracle run in the ACC Tournament, my heart will be a bit broken come March 14.

Connecticut will make a strong run at getting into the tournament
Their road record and record against Top 50 teams (1-5) is awful. However, they played Syracuse tough at Syracuse. And now, Jim Calhoun is coming back. This team has talent…they just haven’t put it together yet. Don’t be surprised if Dyson, Robinson, and Walker start rolling and the Huskies get on a hot streak. It would be tough for them to get an at-large bid, but don’t be surprised if they make a run at the Big East title. The Big East isn’t as strong as last year.

The A-10 will surprise people
If you get in the tourney, you do NOT want to get matched up against an A-10 team. Whether it’s Charlotte, Dayton, Rhode Island, Richmond, or Xavier, all of these teams are tough. They haven’t been given much respect or TV coverage this year, which could make them even more dangerous!

The Big 10 will collapse in the tournament
Sorry if you’re a Big 10 fan, but I just find the conference a bit overrated. I’m impressed by Evan Turner and Ohio State, but I just don’t have much faith in Wisconsin or Purdue. Michigan State could show up, or get knocked out in the 2nd round. I just can’t figure them out. The Illini could make some noise, but I could easily see them getting knocked out in the 1st round.

Texas will be a force in the tournament
They’re sliding right now. Don’t expect that to continue for long. Kick them while they’re down because come March, this could be a different team. James and Pittman have the power to lift this team far in the brackets.

Be ready to say “Who?”
This could be a big year for the “smaller” basketball schools. Schools like BYU, Butler, Old Dominion, Northern Iowa, Cornell, and Siena could possibly make Cinderella runs in the tournament. However, if you take a look at the Top 25, some of these teams aren’t even Cinderellas. They’re actually college basketball’s best kept secrets. Don’t be surprised to see one of two of the listed teams in the Sweet 16.

The 1 Seeds will be Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse, and ???
The first 2 are givens. Syracuse is hot right now. Even when faced with close games lately, they’ve overcome and won. This is a really really good team. Even though Jonny Flynn left, this team is better than last year. Wesley Johnson is a great player. If Rautins is hitting the 3, they can’t be stopped. As for the 4th team, this is a toss up right now. Villanova could take it; however if they sputter in the Big East tourney, they may get a 2 seed. If Duke finishes strong and wins the ACC tourney, they could also take it. I would also say Purdue, West Virginia, Georgetown, and Michigan St could make late runs.

Mizzou will make the tournament, and no one will want to play them
Yes, a personal prediction, but Mike Anderson and the Tigers will make the field. Because of their aggressive style of defense (40 minute of…) no team will want to play them.  When you have to play 2 games in 3 days, the last thing you want to see is an overaggressive full court pressing team that is relentless.

A 16 will finally defeat a 1
Just kidding.

Names you need to know come tournament time
John Wall- Kentucky
Wesley Johnson- Syracuse
Evan Turner- Ohio State
Jon Scheyer- Duke
Scottie Reynolds- Villanova
DeMarcus Cousins- Kentucky
Dominique Jones- South Florida
Damion James- Texas
De’Sean Butler- West Virginia
Cole Aldrich- Kansas

Kansas wins the National Championship
Yuck.

Last night I was pulling for the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, they got taken down by the New Orleans Saints. In all honesty, I’m very happy for the Saints and city of New Orleans. It’s a great win for them. I’m especially happy for Drew Brees. Yesterday afternoon, I heard Brees talking on the radio about how he’s a strong Christian and he feels God placed him in New Orleans for a reason. As I did a little more research about Brees today, I came across this video. It’s extremely uplifting and there’s a calm and joyful attitude within Brees that really seems to make itself known in this interview:

This post might offend some people. If it does, just try to hear me out before you get angry and vow to never read my blog again. I have this theory that there are a lot of things that are popular in this culture simply because we think we’re supposed to like those things. For instance, when I was in high school, some friends and I made up a fake band and started raving about them to some of our other friends. Within a short time, some of our oblivious friends were raving about how awesome that band was. They even claimed to have all their albums and songs. Unfortunately, that band was made up. They simply liked them because some of their friends did.

Just because something makes this list does not mean that you’re a poser and only like it because your friends do. In fact, most things in life are “liked” because of a chain reaction. I truly believe that there are genuine fans of these shows, movies, products, etc. The following list (in no particular order) contains things that I think our society has overrated, simply because people think they’re supposed to like those things.

1. Coldplay
And here come the hateful comments. I do think a lot of people like Coldplay for their music. However, I think a lot of people buy into Coldplay because “everyone” thinks Coldplay is “cool” and let’s face it, we all want to be cool.

2. Dane Cook
He’s not funny! But somewhere along the way, someone really popular said he liked Dane Cook. And the snowball effect has taken place.

3. Lost
Too soon? I will admit that I’m a fan of Lost. However, sometimes I think Lost gets overhyped because people think they are supposed to be obsessed with it. It’s a great show…but some go just a little bit overboard with it.

4. The New York Yankees
You either love them or hate them…and a lot of people that love them came to love them by jumping on the bandwagon. They’ve almost become more of a fashion accessory than a baseball team. If you see someone wearing a flat-billed cap turned sideways, chances are it’s a Yankees hat.

5. Avatar
It was in 3D. It featured blue people. But is it really a “great” movie? Is it Golden Globe worthy? Academy Award worthy? I think the media made a lot of us buy into this one.

6. Lady Gaga
People call her a freak, yet her music sells. Someone must be buying it. I guess she could be the very opposite of this last and everyone buying her music is a closet fan afraid to admit it.

7. The North Carolina Tar Heels
This one is tough to put on here because I’d like to think of myself as one of the biggest Tar Heel fans on the planet. (I even came home from the hospital wrapped in a Tar Heel blanket when I was born.) However, much like the Yankees, the Heels have become a bandwagon-ridden team. This is mostly in part to Michael Jordan. Nonetheless, there’s a lot of Heels fans out there who are Heels fans simply because they want to fit in with their peers and culture.

8. Kim Kardashian
I’m pretty sure she’s only popular for being popular. Yet Kim, as well as any other “reality-TV” celeb on the E! channel have become overnight sensations. Their shows and stories are pitiful, materialistic, and vain, yet their popular keeps growing. Do we really like this people, or do we simply like them because our friends like them?

9. Hot Wings
This probably applies to guys more than anyone. Wings are a “guy’s” food. And to be honest, they’re good. But there’s a level of pride in guys that says they have to eat the hottest wings possible to keep their standing as “one of the guys.” Anything mild makes them a wuss. So even though they’re mouth is on fire, they’ll swallow their pride (literally) and pretend like everything is fine.

10. Rap music
A lot of people truly enjoy rap music. But a lot of people only listen to it because their friends are listening to it. You know who I’m talking about too. They’re very easy to spot.

11. Alcohol
If none of your friends drank alcohol, would you? Even more, if all of your friends thought alcohol was disgusting and detestable, would you touch it? Probably not. You’d have no need to.

12. The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is much more than a game these days. It’s 2 weeks of media coverage, and a 3 hour social gathering for most people. There’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s fun for people to get together for the game, even if they care nothing about the game. But since a lot of people show interest in it just to blend in with the crowd, it makes this list.

13. MMA
UFC has a huge following, as well as the rest of MMA. It’s a sport that’s on the rise. But in a sport that’s becoming so popular, you know there has to be a large chunk of the audience that only watch because it’s the “cool” and “manly” thing to do. Also, wearing Tapout and Affliction t-shirts fits in here too.

14. Abercrombie & Fitch
Why do people buy overpriced clothing? Because they’re friends are buying overpriced clothing and because the media says that is what we need to wear to be cool.

15. Dave Matthews Band
See Coldplay

16. American Idol
For many of us, we watch because our friends and co-workers watch. After all, we don’t want to be left without a word during the talk around the water cooler.

17. Political Activism
Whether it’s a fight for social justice or politics, a lot of people take a side they know nothing about and march, protest, complain, etc because that’s what everyone else is doing. This really seems to spring up around election time. If you really want to see it in action, wait until October 2012. Whether people love Obama or hate Obama, they will be out in full force…with absolute ignorance as their guide. Any guesses on how many of those people actually read the newspaper or watch Fox News and/or CNN regularly?

18. President Barack Obama
I’m not bashing or endorsing the president here. However, in many circles, it’s fairly obvious that people make up their opinions about the president based on the opinions of their friends or others in their “social group.” Very few people actually know how to think politically for themselves. Instead, they either hate or love the president based on what they think they are supposed to do to be accepted in certain circles.

19. Twilight
Need I say more?

20. Michael Jackson
It’s sad that Michael Jackson died at an early age. It’s amazing how many people became fans after he died. Some people just couldn’t stand to fall behind a trend.

Thanks for those that contributed. I want to give you credit, but I don’t want to put your name down if you wished to remain anonymous. So, feel free to claim your submission. If there’s anything to add, feel free. If you disagree, I would love to hear about it.

As I write this, Kurt Warner is speaking in Arizona and announcing his retirement. For football fans, especially fans of the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals, this is a bittersweet day. It’s sad to see Warner retiring, but it’s great to see him leave the game healthy and on his own time.

On the football side of things, Warner has had an incredible story. He wasn’t highly recruited out of high school. He didn’t immediately break into the NFL. In fact, after college, he found himself stocking shelves at a grocery store to make money. When he couldn’t make it in the NFL, Warner started with the Arena League. He then became the backup in St. Louis. After a season-ending injury to Trent Green, Warner was given the role of starter in 1999 for the St. Louis Rams. While no one expected greatness out of him, Warner went on to win the MVP that year and lead the Rams to a Super Bowl victory. In his career, Warner won 2 NFL MVPs, a Super Bowl, a Super Bowl MVP, and has the 3 highest passing games in Super Bowl history.

Unless you’ve lived in St. Louis or Phoenix, it’s difficult to understand exactly what Warner has meant to those teams and towns. Even though he hasn’t played for St. Louis since 2003, he is still beloved and followed. In fact today’s press conference is being shown on TV in St. Louis and heard on all St. Louis sports radio stations. Maybe this sounds obsessive, but as a fan, I have 2 Kurt Warner plaques in my living room, 2 Kurt Warner Christmas ornaments, 1 Kurt Warner Rams jersey, and 1 Kurt Warner Cardinals jersey. That’s how much of an impact he’s made.

Perhaps the reason he is so beloved is because of what he has done off the field. He has created the “First Things First” Foundation, a charity dedicated to impacting lives by promoting Christian values. He has started the “Winter Warm-Up” which collects coats for the homeless. Kurt and his wife give scholarships to teenagers and young adults looking to go on service-based mission trips. He has also helped flood victims in Iowa, as well as many other things involving charities. And when Warner left a town, he didn’t forget about the charities. He continues to go back to St. Louis and Iowa to do charity work for the community.

Maybe the thing that stands out about Warner the most is how outspoken he has been about his faith. While this may bother some, those who have been around him (both Christians and non-Christians) have said he is the finest man they have ever met. After winning the Super Bowl, before Warner would even talk about the game, he made sure he gave all the glory to God. Being lucky enough to hear Warner speak/preach, I can tell you he believes what he says. In his interviews and press conferences, he makes sure to give glory where glory is due. In fact, in most press conferences, Warner can be seen carrying his Bible to the podium. Today is no exception. He’s always been confident in his abilities, but he’s always made sure to tell where that confidence and those abilities come from.

Warner opened today’s press conference by saying, “The Bible is filled with a bunch of stories about average, ordinary people, where God came in and did something extraordinary in their lives.” He then remarked that God took an ordinary person like him and did something incredible in his life.

Thank you Kurt for letting tag along on your incredible ride!