My Head...

Wow...did anyone get the name of that Party Bussssssss that ran me over?

Anyway a lot has happened since I posted last, but I'm going to give it the old college try in touching most of it. Anything that slips my mind...I blame it on my 4 day, seemingly 20 night trip to NYC.

A week ago, an NFL icon hung up the shoulder pads for good. Clearly one of the best ever at his position, he retires with one Super Bowl ring, and countless accolades. A mortal lock as a 1st Ballot Hall of Famer, some have argued that his skills had diminished over the years, but everyone agreed, he went out with a bang.

Number 99. Warren Sapp

(Look, everyone and their mom has been eulogizing Favre for a week. Let me say some things about a rival of his, and someone who retired the same day.)

2nd most sacks for a defensive tackle ever. 6 straight All-Pro selections. 8 Pro Bowl selections. 1 Super Bowl ring.

One of the most entertaining and engaging figures in a sport where the players are mostly faceless, his presence was felt from the moment he entered the league. From the attention he commanded from opposing linemen, and the fear he earned from opposing quarterbacks, his on the field career speaks for itself. Off the field, he always did things his way and spoke his mind.

Skipping through opposing teams while they stretched, laying out Chad Clifton after an interception in Green Bay, calling the NFL a slave system, the touchdown catch and subsequent Beyonce dance in Atlanta, Sapp was - and is - one of a kind. Just think about how he went out: on the day when the figure head of the NFL for the last 15 years hangs up the cleats, Sapp merely puts this message on his site...and note the url.

Mr. Sapp, see you in Canton.

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Those of you who hate the NBA (and I know you're out there), I pray that you have caught the recent run of games, which have been the most competitive in recent memory. The image of Shaquille O'Neal flying through the air this past Sunday against the Spurs defines what is emerging as an especially intense push for the playoffs.

In the West, a mere 7.5 games seperate the first place Lakers and the ninth place Nuggets. In the East, there isn't as close a gap from top to bottom, but there are 5 teams within 3 games of the eighth playoff spot. This is less an NBA update as it is a pleading for everyone to start watching games.

The NBA. Where fans beging others to watch happens.

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Finally, I figured since I made predictions for the NBA and NFL, I should do the same for the MLB. Without the fanfare of either of the previous leagues, here you go:

NATIONAL LEAGUE

East
1. Braves
2. Phillies
3. Mets
4. Washington
5. Florida

Central
1. Cubs
2. Milwaukee
3. St. Louis
4. Cincy
5. Houston
6. Pittsburgh

West
1. Dodgers
2. Arizona
3. Colorado
4. San Diego
5. San Francisco

AMERICAN LEAGUE

East
1. Sox
2. Toronto
3. Yankees
4. Tampa
5. Baltimore

Central
1. Detroit
2. Cleveland
3. Sox
4. Minnesota
5. Kansas City

West
1. Angels
2. Seattle
3. Oakland
4. Texas

Wild Cards: NL: Phillies, AL: Cleveland