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Hey, anyone who reads my blog, I will have a few blogs coming out this upcoming week.

Baseball:
I'll have several draft reviews. For Fantasy Baseball players.
Division Previews - I'll be starting my baseball previews this week
Basketball:
Trade Analysis

Stay Tuned

    What business does a congressional committee have in baseball affairs.  'Roids driven or otherwise?  Are they board?  We don't have any wars, tax problems, illegal immigration, nagging lobbyist, etc?  I suppose I could raise a ruckus outside of the capital building.  Would that keep politicians away from the sport that i love?
    As I know, you all are aware, Roger Clemens is testifying that he has never taken steroids and the allegations by Brian McNamee in the "Mitchell Report" are undeniably false.  Brian McNamee, on the other hand, claims to have injected Clemens with steroids, several times.  More over he claims to have blood evidence.  Evidence that was not originally disclosed, when McNamee's accusations first came into the limelight.  Did Roger Clemens take steroids?  I don't know, and in all likelihood, I will never know for certain.  More importantly, I don't care.
    Regardless of how this situation shakes out, it will not make a large impact on the approaching season.  Furthermore, Roger Clemens is a Hall of Famer, either way. Say he took HGH/steroids in 2002 or whenever after.  He still has his years in Boston, with the Blue Jays and a couple of Championships with the Yankees.  Take away 2000-2004 and what is... a Hall of Famer.  No one, not a congressional committee, not Brian McNamee, and in a somewhere down the road, hundreds of sportswriters can take away from him.
   
    A day before the "Mitchell Report" came out Miguel Tejada was traded to the Houston Astros.  Many fans complained it was a mistake to trade for a player who may be named in the report, a day before it came out.  Their fears were confirmed when Tejada's name appeared the following day connected to steroids.  The question asked was, "How long will his suspension be?" But, no, no suspension was announced, a suspension remains to be unannounced.  However, Congress is now investigating into whether or not Tejada lied to them.  When he told a congressional committee a couple of years ago, that he was unaware of steroids in baseball, and he himself had never taken steroids.  Fans are no longer worried about a suspension hindering him from playing.  We are now wondering if Tejada will be in jail for the start of the season.  Jail? For what?  For lying to a committee of politicians, who are meddling in affairs they should not.  Essentially, they are threatening to imprison a man, and I do not believe Tejada's a citizen, for allegedly taking steroids.  This same situation could befall Clemens following his testimony.  Congress is baiting Clemens into testimony, so they can turn around and convict him (or McNamee) of perjury.  That is ridiculous.  Meanwhile, Congress has no intention of charging Rafael Palmeiro with perjury, who famously sternly pointed his finger at congress declaring, "I have never taken steroids."  Congress needs laissez-faire their role in baseball, and go back to what they are good at  -  like  -  increasing the deficit.

   [Sorry for the one month hiatus, Physiology tests, eh? Anyways back to the blog, and the premier segment on my blog... The Bandwagons of course!]

    There were times  earlier this season when I thought Louisville wasn't going to make the NCAA tournament.  They started the season ranked in the top 10, but lost to BYU, Dayton, and Purdue, with no significant wins.  They've gone 8-3 in the Big East, with wins against West Virginia and twice blowing Marquette away.  Then yesterday I witnessed, via the television, Louisville stun Georgetown in the second half. Beating them at their own style of basketball. The second half of that game was nothing, but perfection from Louisville.

    Prior to yesterday, it looked as if Georgetown would run away with the conference.  After a strong start West Virginia has fallen off the map, Syracuse's injuries prove to be detrimental to the teams ability to grasp their potential, and Pittsburgh has their own injury problems.  Marquette has begun to drop since conference play, Connecticut is still a bit young, and inexperienced, despite their promise, and although Notre Dame has been playing well during the Big East season, they still haven't showed that they are good enough to hang with Georgetown, or the elite teams in the country. 
   
    No team can win by the play of a single player, but Louisville's success has been stimulated by a catalyst, David Padgett.  He creates plays on both ends of the floors and despite average numbers (10 points 4 rebounds), he is the heart and soul of this Cardinals team. Following this season's end Padgett is unclear of what his future is.  He claims he's just concentrated on playing out his senior year. But, ifI were a betting man I'd say that he should look forward to next year, as I expect him to be taken in the late second round.  Terrence Williams is still a jack-of-all-trades type of player, and Jerry Smith has established himself as a good scorer.  Juan Palacios has never shown his full potential, but if he is finally healthy he could be a key to this teams success as well.  Louisville is my pick to win the Big East regular season title, and could play deep into March after a disappointing early exit last season.

Tonight at 7:00 the Syracuse Orange[men] take on the #8 Georgetown Hoyas in the Verizon Center. Syracuse is 2-3 away from the Carrier Dome, and 1-2 in true road games. They also have not won a game on the road in the Big East, losing to West Virginia and a mediocre Cincinnati team. I wouldn't go so far as to say this game is a must win for Syracuse, but with a 13-6 overall record, 3-3 in the Big East, I think this is a game that could set the tone for the rest of the season for the Orange[men].

Key Match ups
Georgetown is once again loaded with talent. They are led at the 5 by Roy Hibbert, college basketball's greatest true center. He leads the team in both points and rebounds, and although some don't believe his numbers are overwhelming (13.1 and 6.5), he does however, play great defense and is a terrific passer for a big man. Fortunately for Syracuse they have one of the Big East's greatest surprises in the emergence of Arinze Onuaku who's numbers outshine Hibbert's (scoring 13.4 and averaging 7.8 rebounds).

Donte Greene is the second leading scorer in the Big East and is the most important piece to Syracuse's puzzle. He ranks in the top ten, in the Big East, in scoring, blocks and 3pt shooting. Opposing him is DaJuan Summers a 6-8 sophomore. He ranks second on the team in points and rebounds.

Keys to Victory

For Georgetown to win: They need to play their style of basketball. They have to keep the low, and prevent Syracuse from scoring on the fast break. They need to contain Donte Greene, and assert Hibbert inside. They also have to play around Syracuse's zone and make their 3pt. shots.

For Syracuse to win: Donte Greene must, MUST, stay out of foul trouble. They also need to force turnovers and keep their track shoes on. Syracuse will not be able to win scoring less than 70 points, and they absolutely cannot settle for 3s. Challenge Hibbert inside early and often. The first 3-4 possessions I would go inside to Onuaku, and then allow Greene to get open outside.

Prediction

Georgetown should win this game. But, if Syracuse scores 75+, and I believe this will only happen if Greene plays 35 min+, then they will win.

Georgetown 68 Syracuse 65