The Fab Five (2011 MLB Model)

If I tried "The Fantastic Four," "Reign of Terror," or even "Aces Wild," I still would have failed to capture a more cliche and unoriginal title than what I put at the top of this post. In actuality, "The Fantastic Four" or "Aces Wild" hardly suffices for the 2011 Philadelphia Phillies, who are not only receiving solid outings from their cast of aces, but from average Joe Blanton, the "five man" at the bottom of their legendary rotation. As of now, the facts of the matter are that the Phils' offense is already sputtering and Chase Utley's return is still far out of reach. Despite the injuries and evident offensive slumps that the club has already faced in the 2011 season, the starting pitching has been unwavering, lifting the Phils to an MLB-best .714 winning percentage through the first three weeks of the season. As the marathon professional baseball season rolls on for the Phils tonight in Arizona, I just wanted to give four cheers to the League's best starting pitching; sorry Joe Blanton, let's make that five.

JD

To Beat The Heat

The Sixers have started the 2011 NBA post season in a very deep hole; not only standing two games away from elimination but staring down three of the finest players the league has to offer. To beat the Heat, the Sixers need to accept that Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, and Lebron James are simply going to "get theirs." These stars operate in a way that no matter how their game goes they will be posting double doubles, twenty plus, or even a mere double digits in the box score at the end of the night. To beat them, you have to almost let them. On defense, the Sixers have aggressively double teamed James, Wade, or Bosh at almost ever opportunity, most regularly late in the shot clock. This has opened up the gates for Mario Chalmers, James Jones, and Mike Bibby, to hoist threes without a Sixer in their way for miles. On many occasions Miami's snipers have failed to make the Sixers pay for their impulsive double team defense, and if that trend continues, you win Doug Collins. But if they start to shoot like we all know they can, you will have to start trusting your one on one defenders, remembering that Miami's big three will get theirs. On the offensive end, there are two things that will get the train moving. Whoever Mike Bibby is defending whether it be Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, or Jodi Meeks, needs to create in space, and make Miami help. To open up the middle for the team's slashers, constantly use Spencer Hawes or Thaddeus Young to force Miami's shot blockers (Ilgausaks and Joel Anthony) to defend the perimeter. Miami is hot, and if they hit the stride the NBA has been waiting for all season, things are not promising for Philadelphia. But they are young, and youth brings heart and resilience. If anyone can climb out of a 2-0 hole against the star-studded Heat, it's the Sixers.

JD

An Ode to Jimmer: I'm Sorry

This March, the NCAA's Butler (University) did not cater to their Major Conference opponents, but simply showed them to the door one by one. Monday Night, UCONN weathered the Mid-Major storm when they defeated the Bulldogs for Jim Calhoun's third title since 1999. In one of the worst Championship games in NCAA history, the Huskies took down Butler who shot less than 20 percent from the field and posted a miniscule two points in the paint. Those facts alone will tell you why this year's Championship game is hardly the topic of this article. As the College Basketball season concludes it would make sense to congratulate the winning team and commemorate this year's cinderella story for their hard fight; but sense is not something I am trying to make. Jimmer Fredette was announced the Associated Press Player of the Year earlier last week, and in all his greatness took the award right out of Kemba Walker's hands. I will not only take this annual opportunity to pay #32 the respect he deserves, but also contemplate on what could have been. A run in with the "BYU Law" changed the complexity of Jimmer's supporting cast, a whole tournament region, and the overall outcome of the NCAA season.

After violating the school's "no sex" policy, forward Brandon Davies was kicked off the BYU basketball team for the remainder of the 2010-11 season, just prior to the Mountain West Tournament. With Davies gone, it would not be his average 11 points 6 rebounds that the Cougars would miss, but rather his big body on defense, and his role as the the team's "number 2" on offense. Aside from Davies, BYU was composed of almost all shooters, with their pair of 6'8'' forwards Noah Hartsock and Stephen Rogers being no exception. Jimmer and the boys lost to San Diego State in their Conference final and the affects of Davies' departure were evident. They had stripped Jimmer of his wing man and instantly made him the lone Cougar boarding the March Madness train; while the rest of his running mates took to the highway.

Let's get straight to the point and address I highly feasible hypothetical situation. Had Brandon Davies remained on the BYU roster for the entirety of the Mountain West and NCAA Tournaments, the Cougars would have been Conference and National Champions; no questions asked, and here is where a big apology is due. Jimmer Fredette you were robbed, robbed of a fair chance to achieve what every College Basketball player dreams of, and the saddest part is, you greatly deserved it. You were one of the most prolific scorers in the history of College Basketball, and had you had that one golden chance you would have delivered and put the icing on one of the most decorated Senior seasons of all time. Whether it was BYU's radical strictness, or Brandon Davies' selfish carelessness, nothing can overshadow what you accomplished in your collegiate years, and even without a Championship your legacy shines. Had you the chance to say one thing as you depart from the College Basketball world, I know just what you'd say, and since you are too classy to do so Ill say it for you: You were lucky Kemba, oh you were so so lucky.

JD