2017 NFL Draft Preview

By the end of this week, every NFL team will have multiple new players, some of whom could potentially become the face of a franchise, and some of whom will be cut before Week 1. For fans of many teams (including Cleveland Browns fans like myself), it's arguably the most important part of the year. It's an opportunity for a team to turn itself into a playoff contender, a Super Bowl contender, or at least a decent team (as opposed to a bad team). From round one through round seven, there can be contributors found. Players like Andrew Luck and Cam Newton can change the fate of a franchise. A combination of picks can help turn a team around, like Khalil Mack and Derek Carr have for the Oakland Raiders. Even picks in later rounds, like Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson, and... what's that  other guy's name... I want to say it's, like, Dom Prady or something... anyway, you get the point.

On the other hand, teams can badly miss on players early, and that can really set a team back. For all the Andrew Lucks and Cam Newtons, Zeke Elliotts and Adrian Petersons, or Dak Prescotts and Russell Wilsons, there are also JaMarcus Russells and Ryan Leafs, Justin Blackmons and Justin Gilberts, Trent Richardsons and... basically most of Cleveland's first round draft picks the last five years. The draft is all about taking risks and putting faith into a selection of players. Sometimes those risks pay off, and other times, a team is looking for a new general manager and head coach the next year.

With that in mind, I'm going to take a look at what I see as the major storylines leading up to Thursday night at 8:00 PM, give my 10-pick mock draft, and list a few of my favorite players in this draft.

QB Conundrum

Deshaun Watson, Mitch(ell) Trubisky, Pat Mahomes, and DeShone Kizer.

Quarterback is the riskiest position in the draft, especially this year. There doesn't seem to be an Andrew Luck in this draft. There doesn't even seem to be a consensus on who the top quarterback is. However, scouts and analysts have largely agreed on the top four: Clemson's Deshaun Watson, fresh off a National Championship; North Carolina's Mitch Trubisky (or Mitchell Trubisky, or Mitchy Trubisky, or whatever you want to call him), who only has one season of experience, but really impressed in that one season; Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes II, who has seemingly defied the stereotype of the "Air Raid" quarterback; and Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, who showed flashes and a lot of pro potential despite a losing season. What nobody really knows is where these quarterbacks will go.

Last week, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Cleveland, which holds the first overall pick, is torn between Trubisky and defensive end Myles Garrett, the consensus top prospect in the draft. The Browns also have the 12th overall pick, but rumor has it Trubisky might be snatched up before then. Of course, in the week leading up to the draft, people need to be wary of rumors, since smokescreens abound.

If the rumor is true, the Browns could take a big risk and pick Trubisky first overall, or they could use some of the many draft picks they've acquired to trade up with the Jets, 49ers, or another team, to make sure they get Trubisky, while also getting Garrett (in fact, NFL Network's Mike Silver reported that a few teams have gotten calls from the Browns about trading up into the top eight). Garrett is viewed by many as a future All-Pro, and he's an athletic freak who could be a franchise cornerstone for years to come. But Cleveland, of course, is still yearning for a franchise quarterback, having failed at several previous tries.

As a Browns fan, I would love more than anything for them to finally land a franchise quarterback. However, I don't believe they should even consider a signal-caller with the first overall pick. The main reason I believe that is a 6'4", 272-pound dinosaur lover.

In my opinion, Myles Garrett should be the first overall pick.

Myles Garrett is considered by most as the clear number one prospect, a physical specimen who can terrorize offensive linemen and run like a skill player (he ran a 4.64-second 40-yard dash at the Combine). He's drawn comparisons to greats such as Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse, and DeMarcus Ware. He's also very intelligent, and doesn't seem to have any character problems. All the signs point to him being an impact player for many years, and I just don't think you can pass that up for a high-risk player with a small sample size of experience. At least not with the first pick.

I am by no means a scout, but here are my brief evaluations of the top quarterbacks in this draft (garnered from watching them in college and/or reading scouting reports on them):

• Mitch Trubisky: He seems to have the physical traits (he's 6'2", 220 pounds) and accuracy (he completed 68 percent of his passes, and had 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions) to translate to the pro level, but he only started one season, and his Tar Heels lost to Duke and NC State late in the season. I think he has the intangibles to be a great NFL quarterback, but he doesn't have a large enough sample size to inspire complete confidence that he can be one.
• Deshaun Watson: Based on college production and leadership, Watson is the clear number one quarterback in the draft. He took the Clemson Tigers to the National Championship as a sophomore and won it as a junior. He was also a Heisman Trophy finalist both seasons. The biggest question concerning Watson is probably his accuracy, as he threw 17 interceptions last season and showed some shakiness throwing into coverage. However, he still completed 67 percent of his passes and threw 41 touchdowns, and I think he has the leadership and poise to succeed in the NFL.
• Patrick Mahomes II: The Texas-Tech product has good size (6'2", 225) and a big arm. His stats look great, of course, since he played in Tech's Air Raid offense, but he also has great physical skills. He was somewhat inconsistent, and he could be boom-or-bust at times, which also seems to be the best way to describe him as a draft prospect. He has potential, but it may take time.
• DeShone Kizer: Kizer's Fighting Irish had a rough season (they finished 4-8), but I pin that more on head coach Brian Kelly than Kizer. The 6'4", 233-pound Kizer has great physical traits and skills, and he showed flashes during the season, but he was inconsistent, and was benched for Malik Zaire on more than one occasion. He has shown the ability, he just has to put it all together.

There is a common theme with these quarterbacks. None are slam dunk prospects, and I honestly don't know which will be stars and which will fade away. Time will really tell with all of these guys. Beyond them are guys like Nathan Peterman of Pitt, Brad Kayya of Miami, and Davis Webb of Cal, as well as Tennessee's Joshua Dobbs, whom I think might be the closest thing to a Russell Wilson or Dak Prescott in this draft. He's highly intelligent (he's a freakin' rocket scientist) and seems to posses good leadership qualities.

Josh Dobbs could be a sleeper in this draft.

Nobody can be absolutely sure how the quarterback class will shake out in the draft until it actually happens. At this point, it's all just speculation. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.

A Bevy of Backs

Jamal Adams could go as high as second overall.

While the quarterback class isn't perceived as a strong point in this draft, there is a plethora of potential playmakers in the secondary. At least two or three defensive backs could go in the top ten, and several more could be gone by the end of Thursday night.

Ohio State's Marshon Lattimore heads most big boards at cornerback, followed by "DBU" teammate Gareon Conley (who is currently being investigated for an alleged sexual assault, which he vehemently denies), along with LSU's Tre'Davious White, Alabama's Marlon Humphrey, Colorado's Chidobe Awuzie, and Washington's Kevin King and Sidney Jones, among others. All of these players could be off the board by the weekend, as well as others, like Michigan's Jourdan Lewis (the less-heralded Wolverine DB prospect), USC's Adoree' Jackson (a weapon in the return game), and the Florida tandem of Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor (what a name).

But cornerback might not have as much high-end talent as safety. LSU's Jamal Adams and Ohio State's Malik Hooker sit at the top, and they could both go in the top five. Beyond that are the versatile Jabrill Peppers (out of Michigan) and the athletic Budda Baker (out of Washington), followed by guys like N.C. State's Josh Jones and Florida's Marcus Maye.

If you're a team that needs help in the secondary, this draft has a lot to choose from, but they could go pretty quickly.

Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, and Christian McCaffrey head the running back class.

There are also some talented running backs to choose from, but not without risk. Leading the backfield prospects is LSU's Leonard Fournette, a beastly ball carrier who looked like a man among boys as a sophomore before getting slowed down by injuries last season. If he can stay healthy, he has all the physical tools to succeed, and he could make it too straight years that a running back goes in the top five (Zeke Elliott went fourth to Dallas in 2016).

After him are Florida State's Dalvin Cook, Stanford's Christian McCaffrey, and Oklahoma's Joe Mixon. Both Cook and Mixon have had off-field transgressions, but both are also supremely talented. The versatile McCaffrey was highly productive in college, but durability could be a concern. Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara is also in the conversation early.

Do I know much about Alvin Kamara? No, but he could end up being the best back in the draft.

Running backs generally have a short shelf life, but they can also make quite an impact right away. I think at least two or three backs in this class could end up being very productive for several years.

Mock Draft (First 10 Picks)

I told myself I wasn't going to do a mock draft, yet here I am, doing a mock draft. This mock will undoubtedly be wrong, as most mocks are, but it's who I think will go in the top 10 (not necessarily who I would pick if I were in charge of the teams in the top 10).

1. Cleveland Browns: DE Myles Garrett, Texas A&M

There have been whispers that the Browns might take Mitch Trubisky first overall, but I think they'll make the smarter and safer move by selecting the dominant end from Texas A&M (although, with Cleveland, you never really know). Adding him to a defense that includes Danny Shelton, Jamie Collins, and promising 2016 draft pick Emmanuel Ogbah could make Gregg Williams' unit a scary one next season.

2. San Francisco 49ers: DE Solomon Thomas, Stanford

The number two pick is a bit of a mystery. The Niners could trade down with a QB-needy team. They could also pick a safety (Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker), a cornerback (Marshon Lattimore), or even a running back (Leonard Fournette) or quarterback. Instead, I have them picking the athletic and talented 2016 PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

3. Chicago Bears: CB Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State

I've seen Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen pegged here, but I think Chicago will focus more on the secondary. The Bears are in real need of a corner, which makes the skilled Ohio State product a good fit. In his first season as a starter last year, Lattimore was an All-Big Ten first-team selection.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars: RB Leonard Fournette, LSU

Most mock drafts have the Jags selecting the talented SEC running back here, and I'm an agreeable person, so I'll slot him here as well. A trade down or a quarterback are also possibilities here, but signs point to a strong interest in the 2015 All-American.

5. Tennessee Titans: WR Mike Williams, Clemson

The Titans could trade down, and they're reportedly already in talks to. Marshon Lattimore has also been a popular pick here, and I think Tennessee will take him if he's still available. But since he's not in this mock, I have the Titans addressing another dire need by selecting the big playmaker from the National Champion Clemson Tigers.

6. New York Jets: S Jamal Adams, LSU

The Jets are another trade-down candidate, and they could even stay put and pick a quarterback. However, I don't think they'll pass on a playmaker in the secondary like Adams if he's still available here. Adams was an AP first-team All-American last season as a junior.

7. Los Angeles Chargers: S Malik Hooker, Ohio State

I started typing San Diego, then I remembered they're in L.A. now. That's going to take some getting used to. Many draft analysts have connected Hooker to the Chargers, and I have to agree. San Diego Los Angeles could use help on defense, and the athletic Hooker has tremendous ball skills in the defensive backfield.

8. Carolina Panthers: DE Jonathan Allen, Alabama

Everybody and their brother (or sister) has connected Stanford running back to the Panthers, but I just can't see the Panthers passing up Allen (who probably won't fall this far Thursday night, but did in my mock draft). The 2016 Chuck Bednarik and Bronco Nagurski Award winner (nation's top defender) could go as high as number two.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: LB Reuben Foster, Alabama

Before I get into this pick, let's have a discussion on a more important matter: spelling. For some reason, I always want to spell it "Cincinatti". Anyway, back to the pick. The Bengals will probably go defense here, and they've been connected to Foster, who won the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) last season.

10. Buffalo Bills: QB Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina

You thought I wasn't going to put a quarterback in the top 10, didn't you? The Bills could trade down (really, anybody in the top 10 could conceivably trade down), or select a playmaker like Alabama tight end O.J. Howard, but apparently (at least according to Bleacher Report's Matt Miller, who cited a scout with the team), Buffalo's interest in a quarterback is real.

Favorites

There are often players I just like. I just feel like these players will succeed, even without scouting them extensively. Here are some of my favorites:

• Myles Garrett (he seems like a cool guy, and he's got elite physical tools)
• Malik Hooker (He's supremely athletic and is a great center fielder in the secondary)
• Deshaun Watson (He showed great poise on the biggest stage in college football)
• Western Michigan WR Corey Davis (I think he's the best receiver in this draft)
• Joshua Dobbs (I'm just feeling Russell Wilson/Dak Prescott vibes from him)

Stats and information via NFL.com, ESPN.com, and BleacherReport.com

Why Not Russ?

With the start of the NBA playoffs, one question remains from the regular season: who is this year's Most Valuable Player? It is obvious at this point that Houston Rockets point guard James Harden and Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook are the top two candidates to win the award. Both are qualified to win the award, but Russell Westbrook has been outstanding this year and deserves the MVP.

I must start off by describing the evolution of the MVP award and what it has become to me. Everyone has their own versions of how the MVP should be determined, but, to its definition, it's supposed to be given to the most valuable player to his team throughout the entire year. For example, during the 1962 season Wilt Chamberlin averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds and Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double and set an NBA record with 41 triple doubles, and neither of those two won the MVP because Bill Russell was the leader and best player on the championship winning Boston Celtics. By definition, that is how the MVP should be given out, and now a days, LeBron James not winning the award every year is the biggest show of this change. Stephen Curry won the MVP last year after having a historic season, but in the Finals LeBron showed exactly why he could win the award every year as he brought his Cavs team back from a 3-1 Finals deficit to take home Cleveland’s first championship. In my own words, the MVP is given to the player with the best regular season stats.

With that being said, Russell Westbrook is the most valuable player in the National Basketball Association for the 2016-2017 regular season. Westbrook finished the season averaging a triple double with 31.6 points, 10.4 assists, and 10.7 rebounds a game, all while taking a not very good Oklahoma City Thunder team to the playoffs as a six seed. In a season plagued with star players resting, Westbrook only missed one game and played his heart out for every single one. Some games brought a little more competitive fire than others, as we saw when Westbrook faced his former teammate, Kevin Durant, and the Golden State Warriors. Westbrook gave the fans an absolute show all season long, which ended in him setting the record for most triple doubles in a season, 42, which was set 55 years ago by Oscar Robertson. The game Westbrook broke the record, he solidified, in my eyes, why he is the MVP. After already clinching the sixth seed and already breaking the triple double record earlier in the game, Westbrook hit a deep three at the buzzer to beat the Denver Nuggets, which got some high praise from players all over the league. Dozens of players tweeted out that Westbrook should win the MVP and his play has been by far the best in the league this year, numbers wise. The argument could be made that James Harden has taken his team to a three seed in the West and that the MVP is about winning. I could not agree with that more, but let’s look at the team Westbrook is winning with. Steven Adams, Victor Oladipo, and Enes Kanter round out the other ‘stars’ on the team, and while they are all decent players, the team just is not good enough to be a sixth seed. The key factor: Russell’s play. If he was not playing out of his mind, the Thunder would probably have a top 10 pick in this year's draft. After losing superstar Kevin Durant to free agency, the Thunder could have easily just let this season go and tried again with some draft picks next year, but Westbrook had other plans in mind. He carried the Thunder team with his heart, his abilities, and his leadership to a better regular season than anyone would have expected and a record year for himself.

I also should mention that we cannot let this playoff series dictate what happens with the MVP race. There is a good chance the Thunder will lose the series in five games and Russ may struggle while James Harden plays very well, as we saw in Game 1. The playoffs are a different animal and the game planning is a lot more intense and more thought out than that of the regular season, which means the Rockets will have a strong plan for how to stop Westbrook every single game. The Rockets are just a better team than the Thunder, and this playoff series should not dictate the regular season MVP.

With my final thought, I will leave you with this: Russell Westbrook is the Most Valuable Player in the National Basketball Association for the 2016-2017 regular season.

MLS Crossbar Week 6: Tri-Soccer Cup

In 2026 I think we should rename the World Cup the Tri-Soccer Cup, make the trophy into the Goblet of Fire, and have owls deliver the game ball.

Now that I got my nerdy opening done (don't worry you'll probably get that joke soon enough), it's time to start this week's MLS Crossbar. Let's go ahead and take a look at the CONCACAF Champions League, World Cup 2026, and the Premier League possibly playing in America.

CONCACAF Champions League

Another year, another disappointment for the MLS. Last night marked the conclusion of the Semi-Final round of the CONCACAF Champions League, where both MLS clubs fell short. FC Dallas lost on aggregate to Pachuca 3-4 and the Vancouver Whitecaps lost to Tigres 1-4.

An MLS club has never won the league in its current format, and only two have even made the finals (Real Salt Lake in 2011 and Montreal Impact in 2015). The Whitecaps were never truly in this series against Tigres. On the other hand, FC Dallas had a real shot at advancing to the finals. Dallas was up on aggregate through 86 minutes until Pachuca scored, forcing extra time to determine a winner, where Pachuca delivered, ending FC Dallas's run. 

World Cup 2026

According to CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, the US, Canada, and Mexico are finalizing to have joint bid to host the 2026 World Cup. All three countries have been heavily rumored to make bids to host the World Cup with different pairings of those countries to host jointly. The only other time the World Cup has been hosted by multiple countries was in 2002 when Japan and South Korea hosted together. 

This proposal has a good chance of being selected for different reasons. First is that the region has long been the favorite to host the World Cup after the past few World Cups being hosted in other regions instead of the CONCACAF. Secondly is the scale of the 2026 World Cup. This will be the first time that the World Cup expands to 48 countries competing. With this, there is more infrastructure needed to host, something that could be more easily accomplished when it is hosted by three separate nations that are also easily connected to each other.

The Premier League's 39th Game

Recently Charlie Stillitano, chairman of the International Champions Cup, was on ESPN FC's Max and Herc Podcast, where he mentioned that he does not think that the Premier League hosting a 39th game for each club in the United States is that crazy or far off. The world's most prominent clubs already come over to the US every year for the ICC, so many clubs are no strangers to America.

The reason why doing so would require adding the extra game is that it would prevent taking away a home game from any team. This differs from what the NFL has been doing for years, where they take away a home game and replace it with a game in London. International series have worked well for other of the world's top leagues, such as the NFL and MLB. The ICC always draws large crowds, so adding an America game to the Premier League season could be a home run.

Screen Time

NYCFC @ DC United (4:00 on 4/8 on Facebook Live) - DC United is looking to overcome a slow start to the season against a strong NYCFC club.

New York Red Bulls @ Orlando City SC (4:00 on 4/9 on ESPN) - A matchup of two teams that are currently in the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff seeding and are looking to stay there.

Colorado Rapids @ Sporting Kansas City (7:00 on 4/9 on FS1) - Both clubs are looking to gain some early season momentum to go strong into the summer.

Wrap-Up

Thank you for reading and we'll see you next week on MLS Crossbar.

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MLS Crossbar Week 5: World Cup Champion Chicago Fire

After a two-week hiatus due to the overabundance of college basketball, MLS Crossbar is back. Last weekend saw only a handful of games due to World Cup Qualifiers, but week five we're back with a full slate of games and a good amount of stuff to talk about.

In this edition of MLS Crossbar, we'll talk about press conference ridiculousness, the World Cup Qualifiers, and some expansion news, as well as a new segment called Screen Time, where we'll highlight the national broadcast games.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

The Chicago Fire's newest designated player, German national Bastian Schweinsteiger, arrived in the city earlier this week and received some not so soccer-literate questions. During his introductory press conference, Schweinsteiger was asked if a World Cup goal was a realistic goal for the club. In case you're wondering, the answer is no, since the World Cup is played by countries and not clubs.

The 32-year-old last played for Manchester United and will probably not be the answer to the Fire's problems. Not only does Schweinsteiger not make the team that much better, he's also not the sort of name that will bring a lot more players to Fire games. The move would make more sense five years ago, but in today's MLS game this does not make much sense. The momentum has swung toward having your designated players being young, up-and-coming players instead of aging, former European stars. This move is a head scratcher, and it would be somewhat surprising if the move actually improves Chicago's playoff chances. 

World Cup Qualifiers

Now onto the teams that will actually be playing in the World Cup. Over the last week, many World Cup qualifiers took place, so here we'll be highlighting how the US did and what it means. On Friday the 24th, the US took on Honduras in San Jose, and the results were beautiful. The end result was 6-0 to the Americans, with a hat trick by Clint Dempsey and a goal plus two assists by the 18-year-old Christian Pulisic. Overall this performance was impressive, and gave the United States a lot of energy after a difficult start to World Cup qualifiers, where they didn't pick up a single point. 

On Tuesday the 28th, USMNT flew down to Panama City and picked up a point by tying with Panama. While a win would have been great, getting the point on the road is an excellent result for the team. The team currently sits fourth in the CONCACAF table and is a point behind third place Panama. The top three CONCACAF teams automatically make the World Cup, and the fourth team takes part in an inter-confederation playoff to secure a World Cup birth. Making their way into the top three should ultimately be the goal, since that is the ideal path to Russia in 2018.

Expansion News

This week MLS commissioner Don Garber was in St. Louis to talk about the city's bid to land an expansion club. The city is getting ready to vote on whether or not to give public money to fund the proposed soccer-specific stadium downtown. The commissioner also stated that he is confident that the city should receive an expansion team if they vote for funding the stadium. This is not new news, since St. Louis has often been seen as a favorite to land a team.

Jetting over to southern California, the group trying to bring an expansion team to San Diego held a public poll to see what the people want to name the possible club, and it did not disappoint. The winning name, with nearly 60% of the vote, was Footy McFooty Face. One suggestion to the fine folks of San Diego is that you need to class up your name selection. You can't name your team Footy McFooty Face. You have to name it Footy McFooty Face FC; that's how you name a soccer team. 

Screen Time

Sporting Kansas City @ Toronto FC (7:30 on 3/31 on FS1) - Both teams are trying to get momentum going before they get too far into the season. 

Atlanta United FC @ Seattle Sounders FC (10:00 on 3/31 on FS1) - The league's newest, possibly most exciting team visits the defending MLS Cup champs for the first time.

Orlando City SC @ Columbus Crew SC (4:00 on 4/1 on Facebook Live) - Recently the league came to an agreement with Univision to broadcast 22 regular season game in English on the platform's Facebook page. This move is great for the league, so make sure to check on this week's game on the page. 

New England Revolution @ Portland Timbers (9:00 on 4/2 on ESPN2) - The Revs are coming off of a 5-2 win over Minnesota and are now taking on one of the league's top scoring teams. 

Wrap-Up

It's been an interesting few weeks of some kind of strange news, but now the league's getting back to normalicy with a full slate of games this weekend to check out.

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March Madness Preview 2017

The regular season is over and conference tournaments are done, which means the NCAA tournament is just about to begin. Here at Head In The Game (follow us on Twitter @headingameblog) we have you covered with our March Madness Preview. Stay right here to find out which region is the toughest, which lower seed could make a run, who has the best name and more.

Preview Category Run-Down

First Four Team to Fear - The First Four refers to the first four games played in the tournament, with two games featuring 11 seeds and two games featuring 16 seeds. Every year since 2011 (when the First Four was introduced), at least one team has advanced to the Round of 32, most notably in the first year, when VCU made a run to the Final Four. In this preview category, we will give which of the four 11 seeds in the First Four (Providence, USC, Kansas State, and Wake Forest) would be the most likely to keep that streak alive. 

Upset Alert - The NCAA tournament is famous for its upsets, so the question is not if they will happen, but who will be upset. In this category, we will highlight a first round matchup where we think an 11 or lower seed will beat the upper seed. 

Cinderella Story - Everybody loves a good Cinderella story, so we will present a team seeded fourth or lower that could make the Final Four, or even win it all.

Early Exit - On the other side of things, there are often high seeds that get knocked out early. We will each predict what team seeded third or higher we think will go home on the first weekend.

Best Team Name - Mascots are either every child's favorite thing about sporting events, or a reoccurring part of their nightmares. Here we will tell our favorite mascot or team nickname.

Toughest Region - The selection committee tries their hardest to select fairly even regions, but every year there is one region that seems tougher than the others, which is what we are previewing here. 

Final Four Matchups and Champion - In our final category, each of us will give what we believe will be the Final Four matchups and the eventual champions. 

First Four Team to Fear

Troy - Of the four teams that are playing in the first four, the two that I believe are the best are USC and Wake Forest. I think either team could be dangerous, so it comes down more to who they would be playing in the first round. USC would be playing SMU and Wake Forest would be playing Cincinnati. I believe that Cinci is a much more beatable team, which is why I'm picking Wake Forest for this category.

Grant - I'm not overly excited about any of the 11 seeds in the First Four, but I am sticking with the trend and picking the winner of Wake Forest and Kansas State to beat Cincinnati. The Bearcats are a good team, but they are more beatable than SMU. I'll go with John Collins and Wake Forest to make it to the Round of 32.

Langston - While I do not think any of the first four teams will be able to make any runs, if a team were to be feared, I would say Wake Forest. They would be playing Cincinnati in the round of 64, which is a very beatable team, and would be the favorite from the first four to make it as far as the Round of 32.

Upset Alert

Troy - There are a lot of matchups where I could see the lower seed winning. Middle Tennessee and Florida Gulf Coast are very dangerous teams, but I am picking the Rhode Island Rams to take down Creighton, as long as they can get off to a hot start in the game.

Grant - I have several lower seeds winning, including Rhode Island and Xavier (which are better teams than their seeds suggest), Middle Tennessee (which faces Minnesota a year after upsetting fellow Big Ten team Michigan State), and Princeton (the Ivy League has a history of upsets). But my biggest upset pick is probably UNC-Wilmington over Virginia. The Seahawks shoot the three well and don't turn the ball over, two traits of a potential upset team.

Langston - As a 12 seed in this year’s tournament, I have Middle Tennessee upsetting 5 seed Minnesota in the Round of 64. Middle Tennessee shocked the world last year with an upset over a Michigan State team most people thought was going to the Final Four. Middle Tennessee comes back this year even better offensively, and I am not sure how well Minnesota will be able to handle this explosive offense.

Cinderella Story

Troy - We've seen this before, where if you get hot at the right time, you can go far in the tournament. Right now there are no two teams hotter than Iowa State and Michigan. Both teams are playing in the Midwest Region, but I believe that Iowa State is the better team overall, and it won't have to face as difficult of a schedule to make a run.

Grant - I could see five seed Iowa State coming out of what looks like a pretty wide open Midwest Region, but I'll go with six seed SMU as my "Cinderella". Although they're not very deep, the Mustangs are one of the most efficient and skilled teams in the nation. I think they have a relatively easy path to the Sweet Sixteen, and, once there, have the talent to pull off some upsets.

Langston - Watch out for Rhode Island in this year’s tournament as an 11 seed. The Rams are a very good defensive team and can score in many ways. They don’t have the toughest path to the Sweet Sixteen in my opinion. They play a banged-up Creighton team in the first round, and if they win, will probably play an Oregon team that is missing its best player, Chris Boucher, to a season-ending ACL injury. I like the Rams as my Cinderella story.

Early Exit

Troy - I believe that Baylor will be the team that goes home early. In the second round, the Bears will most likely have to face off against SMU, which is a very talented team. Baylor has often times not gone as far as it would like, and I don't think this year will be any different. 

Grant - I could see a few high seeds not making it past the first weekend, including the Kansas Jayhawks. They were shocked early in the Big 12 Tournament by TCU, and I could see them getting bounced in the Round of 32 by a Miami team that has beaten North Carolina, Duke and Virginia this season. Plus, they're no strangers to early exits (see 2010, 2014, and 2015).

Langston - As great of a team as Villanova is this year, I believe the Wildcats are the early exit team in this year’s tournament. They will make it out of game one against one of the first four teams, but I do not like the probable matchup against Wisconsin. The Badgers will be on a mission after receiving an 8 seed, and will have a point to prove. Villanova is a three-point heavy team, and if it has an off night against a very good defensive team in Wisconsin, I think that spells trouble for Villanova in the Round of 32.

Best Team Name

Troy - I love a good, nonsensical team name. I almost want to select the Vermont Catamounts just for the fact that they decided to not just call themselves a wildcat or cougar. That being said, there's no way I can go against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits.

Grant - Sure, "Jackrabbits" is a great name, as are "Catamounts" (Vermont's nickname) and "Norse" (Northern Kentucky's nickname). But I think the most unique name in the tournament belongs to the New Orleans Privateers. According to the Internet, a privateer is a private ship authorized to attack other ships. So basically, privateers are legal pirates (at least, that's the conclusion I've come to).

Langston - The South Dakota State Jackrabbits win my award for best team name. The soft and fuzzy jackrabbits sound like something straight out of a fairytale. Maybe these jackrabbits will start terrorizing some teams in this tournament, because I don’t think being soft and fuzzy will help.

Toughest Region

Troy - Looking over the bracket, there's no region that stands out as being easy. Being in the East or West provides plenty of challenges. Imagine being the number one overall seed Villanova and having to play a team as good as Wisconsin in the Round of 32. The South could have some must-see games come the Sweet Sixteen, where you could have North Carolina, Kentucky, and UCLA all possibly battling it out in Memphis. My pick, though, is the Midwest. Some first round matchups include Michigan vs Oklahoma State, Miami vs Michigan State, and Iowa State vs Nevada. I also believe that seeds 1-5 are the deepest of all the regions. 

Grant - A person could probably make an argument for any of the regions being the toughest. Out east, there is the number one overall seed (Villanova), and a team many thought would be a number one seed (Duke). On the other side of the country, there are Gonzaga and Arizona, as well as some lower seeds that could make some noise. And North Carolina, Kentucky, and UCLA all reside in the South. But the Midwest is my pick for toughest region. There are dangerous teams at the top (Kansas, Louisville, Oregon), in the middle (Purdue, Iowa State, Michigan), and even farther down (Oklahoma State, Rhode Island).

Langston - The South is the toughest region in this year’s tournament. North Carolina, UCLA, and Kentucky are all extremely capable of making the Final Four. Butler has already beaten Villanova twice this season, Wichita State is not getting the respect it deserves and is a very good team, and I would really watch out for Middle Tennessee in the first round in their game vs Minnesota. The South is the toughest region in this year’s tournament, and I have North Carolina coming out of that region to the Final Four.

Final Four Matchups and Champion

Troy - I see the Final Four being Villanova vs Arizona and Kansas vs UCLA. I think there are many teams you could replace these teams with, but at the end of the day, I believe these four have what it takes. As for the National Champion, I believe whoever makes it out of the Villanova/Arizona game will take home the crown and the team that I believe will do that is the Arizona Wildcats. I really like how they are playing right now, and I think this year will be the year Sean Miller finally gets over the hump.

Grant - I will probably end up being way off on this, but I have Villanova vs. Gonzaga and Louisville vs. UCLA in the Final Four. Any of these teams could get tripped up along the way, but they all look like Final Four-caliber teams. As for my champ, I'm going with Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Many people still aren't sold on them, but analytics love them, and they have the makings of a championship team. It's time for Few and company to silence the doubters.

Langston - The final four I have for this year is Duke vs Arizona from East/West region and Louisville vs North Carolina from the Midwest/South region. There are plenty of teams that can make it to the Final Four, but I think these teams will make it to the final weekend. I have the Arizona Wildcats as my National Champions this year. I believe they are playing as well as anyone right now and will represent the Pac-12 as the NCAA Tournament champions.

MLS Crossbar Week One: New New New

The Major League Soccer season is upon us this weekend, and with it comes new excitement for supporters about their team and the league. 2017 is the league's 22nd season and one of its most anticipated yet. With two new teams, a brand new stadium, and a crop of new talent coming in the league, there is plenty to be excited about.

This is the very first edition of MLS Crossbar, the mostly weekly segment where the big games and storylines of the league will be discussed. This week's installment (New New New) will include predictions of who wins the Supporters' Shield, both conference's playoff teams, and the matchup and winner of MLS Cup 2017, plus a look ahead at the matchups for week one of the season.

Supports' Shield

For those of you who aren't familiar with this award, the Supports' Shield is given every year to the club that has the highest point total at the end of the regular season. Traditionally the winners of the Supports' Shield haven't faired super well come playoff time (last year's winners, FC Dallas, lost in the Western Conference semi-finals). In fact, only 6 out of the 21 winners have gone on to win the MLS Cup, a success rate of about 28.5 percent. The last winner to go on to also win the MLS Cup was the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2011. This year's winner, though, I believe has a great chance at winning it all. My pick, based on the fact that the team has an astonishing attack and plays in the weaker of the two conferences, is Toronto FC, last year's MLS Cup runner-up. 

TFC would become the first Canadian team to win the Supporters' Shield

Playoff Predictions: Western Conference

1. Seattle Sounders - Last year's MLS Cup champions return to make another hopeful run at the title. There was little lost from last year's squad, and they can only get better with the return of a healthy Clint Dempsey and the possible addition of Japanese international Keisuke Honda.
2. FC Dallas - The team that won last year's Supporters' Shield looks like another strong contender this year, especially after a 4-0 victory in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League last week.
3. Portland Timbers - Always a contender out west, the Timbers look to get back to the MLS Cup, which they won in 2015.
4. Vancouver Whitecaps - The Canadian club looks to keep pace with its Cascadia rivals and add its first MLS Cup with the addition of a proven goal-scorer in Mauro Rosales.
5. LA Galaxy - The Galaxy have lost a lot since last season, but they are still talented enough to compete for a playoff spot. 
6. Sporting Kansas City - Sporting KC always seems to find a way to make the playoffs, and this season doesn't look like it'll be the exception to that. 

Playoff Predictions: Eastern Conference

1. Toronto FC - The 2016 MLS Cup runner-up looks like it'll be just as strong, and is an early favorite to be the team to beat. 
2. New York City FC - NYCFC seems like 2017 will be its most talented squad yet and should give a lot of teams problems.
3. Montreal Impact - While Drogba is gone, this team made the conference finals last year and should be just as good.
4. New York Red Bulls - The Red Bulls have become a staple of the playoffs, and it seems like this year that will continue. 
5. D.C. United - The team from the nation's capital had a lot of early success in the league and is looking to restore the team back to its old glory.
6. Chicago Fire - The team may have been the worst in the league in 2016, but in 2017 it should be a brand new team that will be in a dogfight for the sixth spot against Philly and Atlanta. 

MLS Cup Final

2017 looks like it will have one of the toughest playoffs yet, but it looks like there are two teams that will be making the finals: Toronto FC and FC Dallas. Toronto just looks like too good of a team for anyone in the East to compete with. The Western Conference will be highly competitive, but FC Dallas seems built to make a run this year. Since I previously predicted that Toronto will win the Supporter's Shield, they will have the better record, so they will host the finals. While I believe that this will be a hotly contested battle, I have little doubt that Toronto will come out on top. 

This would be TFC's second appearance and FC Dallas's first.

This Week's Top Games

Loons vs Loonies (Minnesota United @ Portland Timbers) - Minnesota will be playing its first game ever and it will be in one of the craziest atmospheres in the league. 

New Galaxy vs Fresh Form (FC Dallas @ LA Galaxy) - FC Dallas is fresh off a huge victory in the CONCACAF Champions League and will have a new look LA Galaxy.

Canada vs Deseret (Toronto FC @ Real Salt Lake) - One of the league's top contenders in TFC will face off against a competitive team in RSL.

New Home vs New York (NYCFC @ Orlando City) - Orlando fans will be excited to witness the team's first game in its new stadium.

Hotlanta vs Red Hot (New York Red @ Atlanta United) - Atlanta will be making its league debut in front of its home crowd.

Wrap-Up

This will hopefully be just the start of some ongoing coverage of MLS action. Since this was both a season preview and the first of these posts, it was a bit longer than it will normally be. Please join us next week as we go over more of the league's biggest storyline's and the games of the week. 

Putting Trust in the Process

The Philadelphia 76ers have found some hope in a year that has them sitting at 21-34, which is the team's best record in four years. The 76ers have had a recent history of being by far the worst team in the NBA. Failed draft picks, injuries, and bad coaching are just some of the things that have plagued the Sixers. After finishing last year almost exact opposites of the Golden State Warriors at 10-72, the 76ers have looked to continue building and using the same motto the entire time: Trust the Process.

The 76ers have turned blessings into curses in the NBA draft the last 3 years. They've landed college gems like Nerlens Noel from Kentucky University, Michael Carter-Williams from Syracuse University, Joel Embiid from the University of Kansas, Jahlil Okafor from Duke University, and last year’s number one pick, Ben Simmons from Louisiana State University. They have drafted lots of talent, but why is their record so bad? Mainly injuries and things just not working out. Noel and Carter-Williams were both drafted in the 2013 draft, but neither panned out like expected. Carter-Williams had an excellent first year with the team and was named Rookie of the Year in 2013. The following year, a shoulder injury sidelined him for the start of the season, and inevitably, he was traded to Milwaukee (he is now with the Chicago Bulls). Noel, still with the Sixers, missed all of his rookie season with a knee injury and has yet to fully shine as a top talent in the league. While he is starting to gain some confidence this year, Noel has made headlines by voicing his opinion about his lack of playing time, and also has been the subject of trade rumors. Simmons, the number one pick in the 2016 draft, and Joel Embiid, the number one pick in the 2014 draft, were the biggest draft picks the Sixers have had in recent years, but were hit with the injury bug. Embiid was forced to sit out his first two seasons after suffering a foot injury before playing a single game, and Simmons has yet to play a game after also suffering a foot injury before the season started. Okafor, the number three pick from the 2015 draft, has been the only lottery pick who has gone without suffering any injuries, and even had a good rookie season for the 76ers. But he could only do so much as they finished 10-72 last season, and as the NBA trade deadline is approaching, his name is top on the list to go.

Since going 41-41 in the 2010-2011 season, the 76ers have been on a massive slide. They won 35 games the 2011-12 season, 34 games the next year, 19 games the 13-14 season, 18 the 14-15 season, and just 10 games last year. Before the All-Star break this season, they already have doubled their wins from last season and have seen a little bit of light in all the darkness. Okafor is averaging just over 11.5 points a game and 4.8 rebounds a game. Second year guy TJ McConnell, who’s averaging 6 points and 6.1 assists per game, has three game winning shots this season, which has made this team just a little more fun to watch. There seems to be a little hope brewing in Philly. Just yesterday, Charlotte Hornets player Nicolas Batum guaranteed a victory over the 76ers. The 76ers ended up winning the game, and McConnell told a reporter that teams cannot just overlook them. Watching this season, they seem to have some swagger in their game that has not been there for a while. The fans are becoming more excited and people around the NBA are starting to take a little notice. That is something that has not been with this franchise in a long time.

Simmons will provide a real spark once he gets healthy. After one spectacular season at LSU, Simmons declared for the draft and was the first overall pick. He averaged 19.2 points, 4.8 assists, and 11.8 rebounds a game in college, and is very exciting to watch. Simmons once recorded a 46-point game without making one three-point shot. That is practically unheard of nowadays.  Before the season, he compared his play style to that of LeBron James. I would not give him that level of praise yet, but Simmons is going to be a very special player in this league, and will be very fun to watch. During the summer league, Simmons was on Sportscenter's Top 10 Plays daily, with his magnificent passing skills and his amazing court vision. Standing at 6’10", Simmons is going to join Milwaukee Bucks point guard Giannis Antetokounmpo as the new breed of tall point guards in the league.

Embiid is the man that everyone in Philly is extremely excited about, and his play this year has cemented the hype. Embiid has taken the phrase “trust the process” and absolutely run with it. If you mention the 76ers, you cannot help but mention the catchphrase that NBA fans love. Even though Embiid was drafted in 2014, this year is his rookie season because of the broken foot that has not allowed him to play a game prior to this season. Joel has been on an absolute tear this year, and even though he is on a minutes restriction, only getting around 26 minutes a game, he is averaging 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, and just barely missed the All-Star game. He has been a do-it-all guy, pushing the fast break at times, being the hype man for his team, passing the ball, blocking shots, and even shooting the three. His personality is the best part about Embiid. He is very active on Twitter and always has some goofy things to say. As the All-Star game approached, he encouraged fans to vote for him because celebrity singer Rihanna agreed to go on a date with him if he made the game. His outgoing and good personality has won over the Philly fans, and they have really attached themselves to him as their superstar. When he is on the floor, there seems to be a little more excitement than the Sixers have had in a long time.

The 76ers have found a core of young talent that, if healthy, could be special for this team. I personally want to see them do well, and am excited to watch them once Embiid and Simmons are on the floor at the same time. The excitement in Philly is rising, and even though the team has the third-worst record in the league, the future seems to be extremely bright for this young Sixer franchise.

Early MLB Favorites

As we inch closer and closer towards spring, escaping the icy clutches of winter, we also near the start of the new Major League Baseball season. Pitchers and catchers begin reporting Sunday (starting with Cleveland), and then spring training kicks into gear. So, now seems like as good a time as any to go through my early favorites to bring home the Commissioner's Trophy in the fall. After all, it's never too early to take a look ahead to the end of the season (even if it is, I'm doing this anyway).

Cleveland Indians (2016 Record: 94-67, 1st AL Central)

The young Tribe fell agonizingly close to winning their first world series since 1948, which would have wonderfully capped a banner year in sports for the city of Cleveland (the Browns notwithstanding). They did the opposite of their NBA counterparts, blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Chicago Cubs, which culminated in a Game 7 extra-inning home loss. On the bright side, Terry Francona's team looks like a good bet to return to the World Series.

The reigning runner-up remains largely the same team. The only impact players Cleveland lost from last year's World Series team were DH Mike Napoli and outfielder Rajai Davis. Napoli was promptly replaced by former Toronto Blue Jay Edwin Encarnacion, whom the Indians signed last month. The imaginary-parrot-carrying 34-year-old is an elite hitter who could bolster Cleveland's already-dangerous offense (fifth in MLB in runs last season). To help replace Davis, the Tribe signed centerfielder Austin Jackson (who played in 54 games for the White Sox in 2016) and power-hitting outfielder Wily Mo Pena (who last played in the Majors in 2011, before going to Japan and playing well) to minor league deals. I mainly mentioned Wily Mo so could talk about him, because if their is ever a chance to talk about the home run-bashing legend that is Wily Mo, we must pounce on the opportunity.

Those moves add some role players to a young, talented lineup that includes electric shortstop Francisco Lindor, cornerstone second baseman Jason Kipnis, switch-hitting DH/first baseman Carlos Santana, and breakout third baseman/outfielder Jose Ramirez. Catcher, center field, and left field aren't quite as settled, with Yan Gomes, who was ineffective and injured last season, trying to win the catcher spot back from the solid Roberto Perez, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer sharing right, and Tyler Naquin (a pleasant surprise as a rookie) leading the way in center. The Indians also bring back a stellar rotation (Corey Kluber, Carlos Corrasco, Danny Salazar, Josh Tomlin, and Trevor Bauer, who, along with Mike Clevinger and a few others, combined to finish seventh in MLB in ERA), and a strong bullpen fronted by relief ace/robot Andrew Miller. And they could get some in-house upgrades if all of their pitchers, plus former all-star outfielder Michael Brantley, can stay healthy. Health will be a factor, but the Indians look like favorites.

Chicago Cubs (2016 Record: 103-58, 1st NL Central)

Ah, yes, the World Champion Chicago Cubs. They're okay, I guess. Many believed the years and years of futility would end in the near future when Joe Maddon was named manager, and that near future arrived in 2016. Now, the Cubs have the look of a juggernaut, with bright young superstars, seasoned veterans, and the charismatic Maddon at the helm.

After finally ending the longest championship drought in all of professional sports, the Cubbies don't look like they'll be going away anytime soon. Chicago's north side is home to some of the best young players in the game, led by first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman/NL MVP Kris Bryant, two young bashers with eerily similar numbers (both finished with a .292 batting average and .385 on-base percentage last season, and while Bryant had seven more home runs, Rizzo had seven more runs batted in). Along with them, there's infielder Javier Baez and shortstop Addison Russell, two young players who provided key moments in the World Series, as well as World Series MVP Ben Zobrist, who provides versatility and leadership. They will be hoping that catcher Willson Contreras, who impressed in 76 games last season, and outfielder Albert Almora, who had some moments in the postseason and will now help replace the departed Dexter Fowler in center, take steps forward this season, and that defensive whiz Jason Heyward hits enough to stay in right field every day. The Cubs will also hopefully get a full season from left fielder Kyle Schwarber, who provides a lot of offense, and will receive the services of outfielder Jon Jay (who played in 90 games with the Padres last year), whom they signed in December.

On the pitching side, Chicago returns Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey, and Kyle Hendricks, who combined for 64 wins and a 2.80 ERA last season (Chicago's team ERA of 3.15 was tops in the league). Gone are 15-game winner Jason Hammel and flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman but the Cubs signed reliever Koji Uehara and starter Brett Anderson, and shipped outfielder Jorge Soler to Kansas City for star reliever Wade Davis. Behind charismatic manager Joe Maddon, the Cubs have a real good shot at a repeat.

Boston Red Sox (2016 Record: 93-69, 1st AL East)

The Red Sox looked headed for a storybook ending to DH David Ortiz's magnificent career, seeming to possess the talent to take the title. Alas, some of their stars struggled in the playoffs, and they didn't get past the first round, running into the Cleveland buzz saw in a three-game sweep. Sans Ortiz, they still possess the talent to win it all.

Boston's offseason was marked by the departure of an old star and the arrival of a new star (oh, and the Patriots' comeback victory in the Super Bowl). Ortiz bid farewell, going out with a bang (.315 batting average, .401 on-base percentage, and 38 home runs in his final season). Then, Boston made a bang by trading top prospect Yoan Moncada, along with pitching prospects Michael Kopech and Victor Diaz, and center field prospect Luis Alexander Basabe, to Chicago for ace pitcher (and apparently-skilled crafter) Chris Sale, adding him to a rotation that already features former Cy Young winner David Price, 2016 AL Cy Young winner Rick Porcello, knuckleballer Steven Wright, Trade Deadline acquisition Drew Pomeranz (who struggled a bit after coming over from San Diego), and young gun Eduardo Rodriguez. Fireball closer Craig Kimbrel still resides in the bullpen, joined by a host of former starters, including Tyler Thornburg, Joe Kelly, Matt Barnes, and Robbie Ross Jr.

Offensively, the Red Sox, who were the best offensive team in baseball last season, will miss Ortiz's production, but they did sign former Ranger first baseman Mitch Moreland, and they still have dangerous hitter Hanley Ramirez (who will probably move from first base to DH), veteran second baseman Dustin Pedroia, All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts, All-Star center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., late-season lightning bolt Andrew Benintendi, and superstar right fielder Mookie Betts. The two biggest question marks are probably at third base, where Pablo Sandoval comes back after missing almost all of 2016 with an injured shoulder, and catcher, where Sandy Leon, who played really well in 78 games last year, looks to have the upper hand on Christian Vazquez and Blake Swihart. The Sox have enough talent in the rotation and in the field to win it all this year.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2016 Record: 91-71, 1st NL West)

The Dodgers are a routine personified, it seems. Every year, they go out and make some moves, receive high expectations, and never exceed those expectations. Sure, they usually make the playoffs, but they just can't seem to get very far once they are there. It looks like this year will be no different in terms of expectations, as they look primed to be one of the elite teams in baseball once again.

Let's start with one of the best players in baseball, 2016 NL Rookie of the Year Corey Seager. The young shortstop leads a mix of productive veterans and young athletes. This team lost Chase Utley and Howie Kendrick, but it still has first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, third baseman Justin Turner, catcher Yasmani Grandal, and center fielder Joc Pederson, as well as the plethora of part-time outfielders that includes Andre Ethier, Andrew Toles, Trayce Thompson, and Scott Van Slyke. Enigmatic outfielder Yasiel Puig is also still in the fold, despite a midseason demotion and trade talks last year. Without Utley and Kendrick, the Dodgers traded for Rays second baseman Logan Forsythe to shore up the infield.

The pitching rotation continues to be captained by arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, who will hopefully stay healthy all season after making just 21 starts in 2016. Behind him are trade-deadline acquisition Rich Hill, second-year Japanese import Kenta Maeda,  electrifying 20-year-old Julio Urias, and solid veteran Scott Kazmir, along with Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Alex Wood, Ross Stipling, and Blake Stewart. The Dodgers were able to retain lockdown closer Kenley Jansen, who anchors a bullpen that led the league in ERA last season (3.35). Some of those starters who don't make the rotation will probably join him in the pen, as well as guys like Pedro Baez, who takes about as much time between pitches as I did writing this, and lefty Adam Liberatore. Los Angeles has some questions (namely in the outfield), but the pitching makes this an elite team.

Washington Nationals (2016 Record: 95-67, 1st NL East)

Like the Dodgers, the Nationals have come into the past few seasons as favorites, and while they  have played well during the regular season, they can't seem to get over that postseason hill. Maybe 2017 is the year they do it, because they are loaded with young and old talent.

Any conversation about the Nationals starts with superstar right fielder Bryce Harper. After hitting .330 with 42 home runs in 2015, Harper had a down year last season, hitting .243 with 24 home runs. Although he did have a .373 on-base percentage and 21 stolen bases (15 more than in 2015),  the Nats expect more from the young face of their franchise. While Harper disappointed, second baseman Daniel Murphy and rookie shortstop/center fielder Trea Turner played outstanding. Murphy followed up an excellent 2015 postseason (when he was with the Mets) by hitting .347 with a .390 on-base percentage and 25 home runs. The speedy Turner played in 73 games for the Nats, hitting .342 with 13 home runs and 33 stolen bases. In December, Washington traded top prospect Lucas Giolito, along with fellow pitching prospects Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, to the White Sox for outfielder Adam Eaton, who brings great defense and production at the plate, and allows Turner to move from center field back to his more natural shortstop position. They also traded for former Padres catcher Derek Norris after losing Wilson Ramos via free agency. Everywhere else remains the same, with declining first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, third baseman and 2016 NL Comeback Player of the Year Anthony Rendon, and 37-year-old left fielder Jayson Werth.

Washington has a lot of talent in its rotation. It starts with 2016 NL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, followed by injury-prone star Stephen Strasburg, veteran southpaw Gio Gonzalez, team ERA leader Tanner Roark, and solid youngster Joe Ross. The bullpen lost Mark Melancon and Jonathan Papelbon, along with a few other contributors, leaving Washington without a closer. Shawn Kelly, who had a 2.64 ERA last season, may fill that roll. He'll be joined by the likes of Blake Treinen and Sammy Solis, among others. The Nats head into the season with the reigning Cy Young winner and multiple MVP candidates, as well as high expectations once again.




I'm not guaranteeing that one of these five teams will be atop Major League Baseball come fall, but these are the teams I believe are most likely to win it all going into Spring Training. Things change (they always do), but these are my favorites as we turn the corner towards baseball season.

Does LeBron Need Extra Help?

The NBA season has been an exciting one up to this point. The Golden State Warriors have proven they would not have any problems getting things figured out, as they have the best record in the NBA. Joel Embiid has put faith into “the process” as the 76ers seem to be putting some of their talent together, and have been winning some games this year, all without their number one pick, Ben Simmons, who fractured his foot before the season even started. Karl-Anthony Towns is having an incredible sophomore year after winning Rookie of the Year last year, and Giannis Antetokounmpo is showing a 6’11 point guard can dominate, as he was voted an All-Star starter for this year’s game in New Orleans.

One of the main headlines, as of late, has been the best player in the league: LeBron James. In January, the Cleveland Cavaliers dropped five of seven games, and after a loss to the Miami Heat, LeBron had something to say about it. “We need a f---ing playmaker!” LeBron James, yes, the best player in the world, told a reporter that the defending champions needed another playmaker. This is the same Cavs team that also has Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, both of whom are All-Stars. The remark was talked about for weeks, and is still talked about. This is the best player in the league basically saying he needs some more help. LeBron gets compared to Michael Jordan as the greatest to ever play the game, and I have never heard a report about Michael Jordan saying he needed help. I would bet that almost every player in the league would love to be in the same situation that LeBron is in, playing with two all-stars and basically bringing back the same roster from the championship team from the year before. Kyrie Iriving, in my opinion, is the 2nd best point guard in the league right now behind Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love is a stretch man that put up 34 in ONE QUARTER against the Blazers earlier in the season. They just added a deadly three point shooter in Kyle Korver, and have a very solid big man in Tristian Thompson. His comments really surprised me because, well, they don't need any more help. If I was a general manager in the NBA, I wouldn't try to trade with them at all. It would only make them more dominant than they already are. 

The Cavs are sitting atop the Eastern Conference right now with a 35-15 record, 2.5 games ahead of the second-place Boston Celtics, and are 3rd in the NBA in wins behind the Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs. The Golden State Warriors, who, after blowing a 3-1 Finals series lead to the Cavs, brought Kevin Durant, a former MVP, to their roster, are sitting atop the NBA in wins at 43-8 so far this season. Is LeBron looking at the Warriors success this season and thinking they need another piece if they have a third meeting with the Warriors in the Finals? I am not sure what it is, but being atop of the East in wins and having a very good supporting cast, with two other All Stars, it doesn't seem like any need for extra help to me.