The One Hitter Quitter Blog

Almost 48 hours ago, Manny Pacquiao got put to sleep by Juan Manuel Marquez in the fourth installment of their epic rivalry. It was the most devastating punch we have seen since the Cleveland Bus Driver went Mortal Kombat on that young lady. People were lauding it one of the nastiest one punch knockouts ever. For the casual  boxing fan who was certainly tuned in to the fight, I am sure that was the case. As a die hard fan, I agree, but off the top of the head can think of quite a few more. I will share a few of my favorites with you in this blog. Starting with...

Ladies First- This is the nastiest knockout that I have watched live. Why I was watching this live, I have no clue, but it was on a Saturday afternoon, and when it happened I immediately jumped on the phone and called everyone I knew would appreciate it. The chick was laid on the mat for 10 minutes, and they took her out on a stretcher with her neck stabilized. I really could stop here, but the next one is...

"There's Only One"- Punch needed to make you go night night. Following his custom of fighting a guy that Floyd Mayweather was panned, and didn't get much credit for beating up, Manny Pacquiao took on Ricky Hatton. This was a very devastating knockout, and the end of what was a decent career up until this point.

"It's A Lot of Holding Going on...Yeah, a whole lot of holding"- Those were the last words that Paul Williams heard before Sergio Martinez dropped the boom on him. This one hurt me because Paul Williams was my guy. I did however love how Martinez walked away with his fist in the air as Williams was falling. That was live.

I'm Roy. He hit me so hard I forgot- This is another one of those sports moments that I'll never forget where I was when it happened. This was Roy Jones' first loss, and no one saw it coming or expected it. The room went silent like we witnessed a family member pass. Roy Jones was NEVER the same after this.

I Harlem Shake, and Scold The Ref At the Same D Time- This one is straight comedy. No description necessary. Just watch.

(High-Pitched Girly Voice) "He hit me in my leeever"- This is not the most devastating knockout, but any opportunity to see Oscar De La Hoya roll around, squirming and crying is good with me. I wish I could find the interview where he said quote in the caption.

He Knocked Down Your Girl, THEN Knocked You Out- This is not boxing, but it is from an episode of "Cheaters". This guy caught his woman cheating with the help of the show. He went to confront them, and ended up on his back with a concussion. When it comes to one hitter quitters, this is one of the best ever. The part that made it bad(and is not shown on the video) was his woman saying "Babe, why did you let him knock you out"? I hope they broke up soon as his concussion symptoms were gone, because he would never live this down.

Well, there you have a few of my favorite one hit knockouts. I am sure there are quite a few more that have happened in the boxing world. These are just the ones that came to me off the top of my head. Please add anymore boxing ones you can think of in the comment box. The last one was added because I thought it was hilarious. Please do not add any youtube or worldstar fights. I am not trying to give an outlet for ignorant ratchet behavior.

Thanks for watching, and shout out to Juan Manuel Marquez for knocking all of Pac-Man's power pellets loose the other night.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

The Guide To Delusional UofM Fans

For years, I have been battling, debating, and disrespecting Michigan fans. A lot of my friends and family from around the country ask me, "what's wrong with the Michigan fans on your Facebook page?" Usually, I just say, they are passionate about their team, and it makes them delusional. However, there are different types of delusional Michigan fans. According to studies by the JLW Institute of Sports Fans, 99.6 percent of them are delusional. With the Michigan State-Michigan game being played tomorrow, and Michigan fans continually asking me for attention, I'll gladly shed some light on them. Enjoy this glimpse into the different types of delusional Michigan Wolverine fans.

1. The Historian- This one is pretty much universal when it comes to this group of people. Ask a Michigan fan about what is happening present day, and you will get a ton of remarks about the past. During the last few Michigan State-Michigan games, we will be having conversations in person and on social networking. As soon as mention is made to Michigan State winning the game we are watching, they will quote the overall record in the rivalry. This is part of their delusion. They want you to think that anything that is happening in the present does not matter. This is the reason that coming into the State game they have been saying "State will not win again because they can't beat us this year. History proves that." They have been wrong the last three years saying that, and the thought here is that they will be again. Do not let this delusional Michigan fan get in your head and make you believe history is all that matters. He definitely will try to do so. 

2. The Quote Machine- This guy right here is absolutely hilarious. He wakes up every morning, and right after reading the book of whatever religion he is a part of, he reads from the Book of Bo Schembechler. Then, he gets on Facebook or Twitter, and puts the quote of the day from that book. Should the quote of the day from there not be profound enough, he will get on the "Support Brady Hoke As Coach" page on Facebook, and take a quote or picture from there. Again, absolutely funny stuff to me. How about you come up with an original idea, and stop spewing quotes from other people. That junk is corny, and makes it look like you can not think on your own. Do not let this delusional Michigan fan get in your head, and make you think the quotes are all that matter. He will definitely try to do so. 

3. Social Network Stalker- This dude is not now, nor has he ever, been a Michigan student. Yet, he is Facebook friends with current players from all sports. Now, I can understand loyalty to a school that you did not go to. Can not knock you for that, because I have not gone to Michigan State(yet). However, to be almost thirty years old, and friends on Facebook with guys who play for your favorite college is slightly creepy. Not only are you their friends, but you like the pictures and statuses they post? That makes you almost certifiable. There will not be a caution to other people to not let this Michigan fan get into your head. Most people reading this are not crazy enough to send out these types of friend requests. However, if you are a Michigan fan, and find yourself in this predicament, please either unfriend the players, or seek professional help. 

4. MSU Is Irrelevant Guy- This guy is well represented in the 99.6 percent. He will spend all football off-season talking about how irrelevant Michigan State is. He will tell you that MSU is their third rival behind Ohio State and Notre Dame. Yet, as soon as the season starts, he is watching MSU games like a hawk and commenting on how they are looking. All the games that MSU plays against common opponents will be seen as a barometer for how UofM will play against that team. This guy will actually cheer openly for whatever team MSU is playing against. This happens before the MSU-UofM game, and after. Yet, scroll down their timeline, and you do not see any references to OSU or ND. That makes it hard for me to believe that MSU is as irrelevant as you claim. They may be seen in the eyes of some, as your third rival, but constantly mentioning them and they are irrelevant to you is delusional. Do not let this guy get into your head. He will definitely try to do so. 

5. Blame It ALL on Rich Rod Guy- This guy is my absolute favorite. Not only does he blame every loss, or bad play made during a game on Rich Rodriguez, he blames all his personal issues on him. Wife or girlfriend leaves him, it is Rich Rod's fault. Late for work, it is Rich Rod's fault. Kids get a bad grade, it is Rich Rod's fault. This dude really needs to get a grip honestly. The same players that they blame Rich Rod for getting when they lose, are the same players that win games for them. So, are the wins Rich Rod's fault too? Now, I will acknowledge, his coming there was a hit to the program. However, he has been gone two years. Time to stop blaming every loss, Denard Robinson interception, and your breakfast being nasty on him. It is corny, and shows your delusion. Do not let this guy get into your head. He will definitely do so. 

Well, there are about five more different delusional guys in relation to Michigan fans, but I believe, I have highlighted the most prevalent. By the time the Michigan State-Michigan game is over, you will see how delusional they are. They are high on the hog right now, and expecting a Wolverine blowout. That is absolutely absurd, and personally I can not wait to tell them about themselves after the game. Until then, I hope this has shed some light on the different types of delusion that I deal with in regards to UofM fans. Next time you see a conversation between myself, and one of them it should make a little more sense. 

Hope this was enough attention for you guys. Have a great day, and Go Green. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Follow me on Twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr

To My Fellow State Fans

Michigan State-Michigan week is finally here. Right behind opening week of March Madness, and the first week of the NFL season, this is my favorite week of the year. Michigan fans have taken my subtle jabs through the year as disrespect. They really have not seen anything yet. However, before I get to them, I would like to address my Spartan fans.

As we head into this game, the Spartans are clearly reeling. For the whole season, they have looked sub-par. They have yet to play close to the expectations that were set for them by the media, and the fanbase. The offense has been pedestrian, the defense has been solid, but not as dominating as expected. This has caused all types of disdain, anger, and potential for a fan mutiny. There have even been some Spartan fans claiming that this game against UofM is automatically a loss, I urge you to please relax with all of that.

You see, for the last three years we were spoiled. The Spartans played above their heads for a few years, and had some great seasons. This lead the fanbase to get confident, outspoken, and even have a few bandwagon people jump on. What can not happen is Spartan fans running for the hills because the team is struggling right now. That is what people expect from this fanbase. To be a front-running group of people, who are loud and supportive when the good times are there, and quiet, when the chips are down. That can not be the case right now. Especially during this week.

Fact of the matter is, State does not have to play a perfect game to be Michigan. Denard Robinson has looked great the last couple of weeks. The Wolverine defense has been impressive. However, some perspective is needed. Purdue, and Illinois are not exactly world beaters. Denard Robinson has not been pressured at all the last couple of weeks. He has been able to run all over those two defenses. There is a part of me that believes the Spartans in a rivalry game will find a way defensively to contain Robinson and force a few mistakes.

Part of me also believes that the Wolverine defense can be had too. The Spartans offensive playcalling has left a ton to be desired. This is the week to let it all hang out. You are going on the road, playing a team that will be favored, and they are your rival. There is no excuse for the Spartans to come out with the three yards, and a cloud of dust offense. The same aggressive attack that was played against Ohio State needs to be seen this Saturday. Get these dudes on the ropes, and watch Denard give the game away. Do not play conservative, and hope for the defense to keep you in it. Come out aggressive, and let the chips fall where they may.

As a Spartan fan, there have been plenty of years where I knew that UofM was the superior team. There have been plenty of years where I conceded victory the week before the game. This year is not one of them. This team can be beat by the Spartans. The Spartans have looked bad all season. UofM has looked pretty good(against inferior competition), but anyone who thinks they have arrived, or are a great team is sadly mistaken.

So, I implore all my fellow State fans, do not give these people what they want. Do not say "oh yeah, you guys are going to kill us". Do not concede victory to them before the game is even played. Should you choose to do that, please stay off the bandwagon entirely. Do not get on Facebook or Twitter during the week acting like State is going to lose, then after they win, get on talking about you knew it was going to happen. Those types of fans are not needed. So, if you are rocking with State rock with them, if you are not, please head to the nearest Wal-Mart, get you one of those ugly shirts, and cheer for Michigan.

Now that I have addressed my fellow Spartan fans, with the hopes that they will listen, and wear their Green and White proud this week. It is time for me to get my Loaded Lux on, and let the Michigan fans know "y'all going to get this work". Stay tuned, and Go Green, Go White, Go State.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Follow me on Twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr

Brett Favre-SB Ring-Media Pass=Tony Romo

Tony Romo channeled his inner Paul Wall Monday night, and had the "internet going nuts" with his five interception(two of which were returned for touchdowns) performance in the Bears-Cowboys game Monday night. Cowboy fans were lamenting his play. Non-Cowboy fans were being dismissive with their comments. This writer even got on the fun, because he was the sole reason I lost my fantasy matchup last week. However, my final thought on Facebook was Brett Favre minus the Super Bowl ring and media pass equals Tony Romo.


Watching Tony Romo can be painful at times. Myself, and many others are on record as saying the Cowboys can never win a Super Bowl ring with him at quarterback. However, they Cowboys do not have a lot of options behind him, and can not make a move in another direction. Winning a Super Bowl may not even change the feelings that people have for Romo. However, that is something that he needs to do, and maybe it will buy him a pass to make mistakes. Just ask Brett Favre.

Favre and the Green Bay Packers won a Super Bowl on January 26, 1997. From that day on, every mistake, throw forced into coverage, and off-field issue was forever forgiven. He would throw the ball off the wrong foot, with four guys from the other team around his receiver, get it intercepted, and the commentators would say "That's just Brett being Brett". Any other questionable pass he threw would be attributed to him being "The Gunslinger".  They would comment on his excitement after a good play as "child-like enthusiasm".  It was really annoying, and cheesy for people who were not fans of Favre.

In the years after he won his Super Bowl, Favre was still the media darling regardless of his actions. He waited until he was good and ready to decide if he was going to play, thus holding the Vikings hostage regarding their quarterback position. He was involved in a scandal while playing with the New York Jets, that was swept under the rug. He broke the record for the most interceptions in the history of the NFL, but that fact is glossed over because he also has thrown the most touchdowns. For every game winning drive he orchestrated, he threw a game-changing interception(including in his final game against the Saints in 2008). Yet, all you hear about is how great he was. This is due to his Super Bowl ring, media pass.

Some of the same people that are on TV, and social media destroying Tony Romo, have never said a cross word about Favre. While Favre may be a better quarterback than Romo, a lot of the same traits that Favre is lauded for, are the same ones they destroy Romo for. Throws that were "fearless" by Favre, are considered poor by Romo. Interceptions that were attributed to "Brett being Brett" with a chuckle are considered another reason that Romo is not really a good quarterback. Brett Favre sending naked pics, choosing when he comes to training camp, and alcohol/prescription pill addictions were moved to the back page. Meanwhile Romo's dating choices, and bye week vacations are considered a distraction, and another reason he can not improve. That Super Bowl ring, and media pass is a mean deterrent for criticism isn't it?

This is a blog that will probably be considered "hate" against Brett Favre. Along with his media pass, he has firmly been entrenched in the club of athletes that you can not say anything bad about without being a "hater". However, the goal of this blog is to show my opinion that while Tony Romo is a flawed, mistake-filled quarterback, he is not too much different from Favre. It is also to show, that we as fans need to not fall for the media pump-fake, and accept all the passes that they give. A Super Bowl ring buys players(quarterbacks especially) a pass for the rest of their career, and it is ridiculous. Yet, Favre has lived off of his forever, and probably will.

So, next time you sit down to watch a Cowboys game, and get upset about plays Romo is making, remember, your hero Favre used to make those same throws. It is cheesy to act like we have not seen this before from a top quarterback just because you are a fan of his. I am not a fan of Romo or the Cowboys, but part of me hopes he one day wins big just to see how the media, and fans will treat him after. That probably will not happen, but I definitely would be fun to see if people would agree that Tony Romo plus a Super Bowl ring and media pass equals Brett Favre.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

NFL Week 3 Picks

Last week I went 9-7 with my picks. That has me after two weeks with an overall record of 21-11. This week due to trying to handle some other articles, and blogs, I won't be able to give a breakdown of the three games that intrigue me the most. Here though are my picks for all of the games this week. Feel free to comment, and let me know which, if any you disagree with.

Giants@Panthers- Panthers
Rams@Bears- Bears
Bills@Browns- Bills
Buccaneers@Cowboys- Cowboys
Lions@Titans- Lions
Jaguars@Colts- Colts
Jets@Dolphins- Jets
49ers@Vikings- 49ers
Chiefs@Saints- Saints
Bengals@Redskins- Redskins
Texans@Broncos- Texans
Eagles@Cardinals- Eagles
Falcons@Chargers- Chargers
Steelers@Raiders- Steelers
Patriots@Ravens- Ravens
Packers@Seahawks- Packers

NFL Week Two Picks

Last week the NFL began its 16 week grind towards the playoffs. Last week also marked the start of my weekly picks for the games. After a 12-4 week one, I'm off to a solid start. Let's see if we can keep this up for week two. Here are the three games that intrigue me most, and my picks for the rest of week two.

1. Lions @ 49ers- This game is a rematch of a great game between these two teams last season. It also pits my favorite team against the team that represents the state I am from. So, there is a ton of excitement for this matchup for me. 

Last week the Niners went into Green Bay and knocked the Packers 30-22, in a game that I was ridiculed for picking the Niners to win. The defense was able to harass Aaron Rodgers all day, and keep the Packers offense from looking as great as it did last season. The offense showed a great balance, that is lost on most people with the NFL currently a pass-happy league. The Niners are being talked about as a Super Bowl contender by many, and did nothing to disprove that week one. 

The Lions pulled out an ugly 27-23 home win over the Rams in week one. Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, but made up for it with an impressive two-minute drive to win the game. This was hardly the debut for a team that is on their way back up the NFL ladder. The defense did a great job of negating the picks thrown by Stafford and keeping the Lions close enough to pull out the late win. 

These teams are coached by two of the most intense coaches in the league. Their teams exhibit that same intensity, and play a very physical brand of football. Unfortunately for the Lions, the Niners are just a touch more intense, and physical than they are, which will result in a home win for the Niners. 

2. Bears @ Packers- As noted earlier, the Packers lost at home to San Francisco last week. They come back on a short week, for a Thursday home game against the Bears. This one is huge for them, because going to 0-2 in the NFC North will be a tough hole to climb out of. Aaron Rodgers, and the offense should be able to move the ball, and get points against the Bears. The defense, which was picked apart by the Niners, will have to step up and make plays. The front office made a lot of moves to improve the D, but they have to start paying dividends soon so the Packers can stay afloat in the NFC North. 

The Bears ruined the debut of Andrew Luck with at 41-21 home win against the Colts. Jay Cutler took advantage of his reunion with Brandon Marshall, and put up very good numbers. The Bears displayed a potentially explosive offense that could be fun to watch as the season goes on. The defense bothered Luck all day. He was sacked three times, lost a fumble, and threw three interceptions. They will need to be that aggressive with Aaron Rodgers to get a win against the Packers. 

This game is really a toss-up, but I'm going with the Packers at home. They need this game in a bad way, and I believe they will score enough points to keep themselves out of the NFC North basement this week. 

3. Ravens @ Eagles- The Eagles escaped what would have been the ugliest loss of week one against the Browns with a 17-16 win in Cleveland. Michael Vick threw four interceptions, and opened the door for his detractors to claim he is a horrible quarterback he is. Their playcalling left a lot to be desired. Why throw the ball fifty-six times in a close game, and you have LeSean McCoy on your team? The Eagles are a team that placed high expectations on themselves. They must have better performances from their players and coaches to reach those. Playing how they did in Cleveland will leave them on the outside looking in come playoff time. 

The Ravens put on a totally different display on the Monday Night Football stage. They dismantled the Bengals 44-13 in their home opener. Joe Flacco looked like he is ready to take the next step as a quarterback. Ray Rice scored two touchdowns and only had ten carries. The defense showed the dominance that has been typical for years. Ed Reed got a pick six, and broke the record for most interception return yards. Ray Lewis had fourteen tackles, including eleven solo, and looked like he drank from the fountain of youth in the offseason. As always, come the playoffs, the Ravens will be a huge factor. 

The Ravens offense played at a high level in the preseason, and that carried over to the first game. There is no reason to expect that to slow down. The defense will pressure Vick and the Eagles defense into mistakes, and that will be enough or a Ravens road win. 

Those are the three games that I'm looking forward to. A lot of teams are hoping to get wins, and stay away from the dreaded 0-2 start. Only thirteen percent of NFL teams have made the playoffs after going 0-2. That stat alone makes this week very important. Enjoy rooting for your teams this weekend(real and fantasy), and I'll check back in next week with my picks for week three. 

Rest of Week Two Games: 

Chiefs@ Bills-Bills

Browns@ Bengals-Bengals

Vikings@Colts-Vikings

Raiders@Dolphins-Raiders

Cardinals@Patriots-Patriots

Buccaners@Giants-Giants

Saints@Panthers-Saints

Texans@Jaguars-Texans

Redskins@Rams-Redskins

Cowboys@Seahawks-Cowboys

Jets@Steelers-Steelers

Titans@Chargers-Chargers

Broncos@Falcons-Falcons

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Follow me on twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr

Random Sports Thoughts: MSU Football Edition

The Michigan State Spartans opened up their 2012-13 campaign with two wins. The first was a tough, ugly 17-13 win over Boise State. The followed that with a rare road trip to Mount Pleasant, and beat Central Michigan 41-7. Here are a few thoughts from those games, as well as things on my mind for Sparty going forward. 

Maxwell's House- After the Spartans win against Boise State, my Facebook timeline was full comments about Andrew Maxwell. Spartan fans were nervous and wishing for a Kirk Cousins sighting. Wolverine fans were calling him a worse passer than Denard Robinson(pure comedy). The knee jerk reaction was amazing and mostly off-base. While his week one performance was less than impressive, some perspective is needed. The Spartans defense, and running game will be enough to win most games. They simply need Maxwell to make plays necessary to keep teams honest, and not make any costly mistakes. He does not have to be a superstar for the Spartans to win. There will come a time that he has to win a game, and I believe he is capable of that. For now though, please relax, and let's see how Maxwell matures. The book here says the kid will be alright. 

Just Nasty: Michigan State's defense is nastier than Cullen Bohannon and Elam Ferguson defending Durant, Nebraska(word to AMC's "Hell On Wheels"). Through two games they have allowed a total of six points, and no touchdowns. Running the ball against them has been pretty much futile, and they get pressure on the quarterback at an aggressive rate. The knock on them has always been the secondary, but they are improved as well. There are not any holes in what is the best defense not named Alabama, or LSU in the country. With the horrible offense being played by most B1G teams, this defense should dominate for the entire season. 

Bellwether- One definition for bellwether is a person or thing that assumes leadership or forefront. That is a great way to describe Le'Veon Bell's new role as the featured back for the Spartans. He shown glimpses of a being special back since his Freshman year. So far this season, he has shown how special he can be. He literally carried  MSU in the win over Boise State. With 210 yards on 44 carries, and 6 catches for 55 yards, he outgained Boise by himself. It was an epic performance, yet alarming. Backups Larry Caper, and Nick Hill must step up. The B1G is going to be a long grind, and while the Spartans have found their "Bellwether", they can not overuse him. 

Room For Improvement: The Spartans face a test this weekend with Notre Dame coming in. The Spartans will need a solid effort from their receiving corps and back-up running backs in this one. Against Boise State, the receivers had drops that led to interceptions. This can not happen in the game this weekend against Notre Dame and going forward in the B1G season. They need to contribute to the offense, in order to keep other teams from loading up against Le'Veon Bell. 

Backup running backs Larry Caper and Nick Hill must show they can be productive when they get on the field. They are not being asked to be world beaters, but take at least fifteen carries, and make something positive happen. Fifty touches in one game is entirely too much, and if the Spartans need that from Le'Veon Bell to win, this season may end in another trip to a bowl not named Rose. 

Pasadena or Bust: Prior to the season, I expressed to a few people that I expected the Spartans to be in the Rose Bowl this year. With the defense and running game as good as it is, and steady development from Maxwell, this was not too lofty of an expectation. After three weeks of seeing other B1G teams, anything less will be a true disappointment. The Spartans are far from a perfect team, but they along with Ohio State are the class of the B1G this year. That will be a great game when they come to East Lansing on September 29. Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Michigan will provide tough tests, but the Spartans should be able to get past them all. So, I stand even firmer in my preseason thoughts. This year is Rose Bowl or bust for the Spartans. 

There you have a few of my thoughts after two Michigan State football games. This has the potential to be a special season for the Spartans. I look forward to watching, and sharing my thoughts on it with you all as the season goes. Thank you, and be on the lookout for the next blog. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.  

Follow me on twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr

NFL Week One Picks

Week One of the NFL season kicks off about nine hours from now. With that, I'd like to introduce what will be a weekly(that's the plan) feature on my blog. I will highlight the three games that intrigue me the most. Give picks on those, as well as the rest of the games for the week. Here are the picks for week one. 

1. 49ers @ Packers: This game may be a NFC conference championship game preview. The Niners return most of their defense that was dominant all of last season. They lost linebacker Parys Haralson to injury in the preseason. That loss will hurt, but this defense should still be great. The offense has to score touchdowns and not field goals in the redzone this season. Hopefully that will improve with the additions they gave Alex Smith. 

The Packers return a team that went 15-1 last season. While that record should not be expected again, the drop off will not be too far. Aaron Rodgers will continue his ascent to best quarterback in the game status. He and his bevy of receivers should have another great season. They will need a little more from the running game, and Cedric Benson may be the back to provide that. 

This will be a tight, hotly-contested game. It should come down to the wire, and the Niners defense will make a play to give them the win in Green Bay. This game will whet our appetites, and leave us looking forward to a possible rematch in January. 

2. Steelers @ Broncos- Peyton Manning makes his regular season debut in Denver in this game. The NFL did not do him any favors by having him open up against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Peyton looked great in his final preseason, and it will be interesting to see if he can pull that type of performance off against the Steelers in week one. 

When we last saw the Steelers, they were chasing Demaryius Thomas into the end zone in an overtime loss to Denver in the playoffs. That was a huge upset, and the Steelers will be looking to avenge that loss in week one. 

This will be another good game, however this time, the Steelers will prevail over the Broncos. This is another game we may see again in January. 

3. Redskins @ Saints- Robert Griffin III makes his regular season debut in this game. He is one of five rookies starting at quarterback in the NFL. He has shown a ton of promise, and this road game will be a good test for him to start with. New Orleans fans are always into the game, so it will be good to see how he handles it. 

The Saints finally get to open the season, and begin to turn the page on "Bountygate". This will be the first game without head coach Sean Payton. That fact alone makes this game intriguing to me. We get to find out how important a head coach really is to their team. It will be interesting to see how Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham and Co. handle this season. 

The Saints should pull out a game that will be closer than expected. RGIII and the Redskins will put up points, but it will not be enough to beat the Saints in the Superdome. 

Rest of the Week One Games:

Cowboys@Giants- Giants

Colts@Bears- Bears

Eagles@Browns- Eagles

Rams@Lions- Lions

Dolphins@Texans- Texans

Falcons@Chiefs- Falcons

Jaguars@Vikings- Vikings

Bills@Jets- Jets

Patriots@Titans- Patriots

Seahawks@Cardinals- Seahawks

Panthers@Bucs- Panthers

Bengals@Ravens- Ravens

Chargers@Raiders- Chargers

There you have my pics for Week One. Feel free to post yours in the comments, and we can see who has the better week. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the games this weekend. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

  

Tips for A Successful Season: Parents Edition

With the school year starting, I feel it is necessary to give a few tips on how to have a successful athletic season. These tips will work for any sport in which your child participates. Sports can be a great learning tool, however, it will take effort from parents, coaches, and student-athletes for that to happen. So, in the first of a three part series I will address the parents.

1. Support Your Child- Unless you have to work, there is an emergency, or you are sick, there is no excuse for missing a sporting event your child is participating in. When I played, it always brought a sense of comfort to see my parents before the game started. As a coach, I noticed that my players always played harder when they knew their dad or mom was in the crowd. This support is something that is valuable and will never be forgotten by your child. Please, make sure to put anything you have going on aside for the two to three hours your child will be playing their game. They may not thank you in the moment, but they notice and appreciate you for it.  

2. Support the Coach- The job of a coach is not an easy one. They have to manage the attitudes and/or egos of their players.  At the same time, they need to make sure they have a proper gameplan in place for each game. Most importantly, they have to make sure that the players are successful where it matter most; in the classroom. That is plenty to deal with. As parents, you should do your job to make that easy as possible. You will disagree with some decisions the coach makes during games. You may not like the amount of playing time that your child is getting. However, you should never voice these gripes in front of your child. Your child will not show their coach respect unless you do.   Therefore, I recommend discussing issues and/or concerns you may have with the coach in private.  Public confrontations with the coach can be damaging to your reputation among other coaches, and correspondingly hinder your child in their future endeavors


3. Be Realistic- On every team there is a pecking order. Some players are more talented than others and playing time is given based on that. You need to be realistic about the skill level of your child relative to that of other players on the team. Unless he/she is in a league that requires everyone to play, they may not get the playing time you expect.  Instead of pacifying their complaints, or voicing yours, try talking to them about why they are not getting playing time. Are they playing hard in practice? Are they attentive? What are they doing to improve their game? Those three things alone can help a player get time where they normally would not. Acting like they are entitled to playing time simply because they are on the team will not.


4. Learn From Losing- Handling adversity and failure is one of the biggest learning tools that come from sports. Dealing with these things in sports, will help your child as they progress through school, and even adulthood. However, they can not learn from hardship by having excuses made whenever these situations come about. That can have the same effect on them in life and they will become excuse makers. Last year, my team at the Boys and Girls Club won a tournament game against a team that beat us by thirty points in the regular season. Walking out of the gym, I overheard a mother from the other team tell her son, "They did not beat you guys, the refs gave them the game." We won by thirteen points, and there was not much doubt about who was going to win throughout the game. It was extremely hurtful to hear because it simply contributes to the notion that we are not in control of our own destiny.  Children do not have to correct mistakes or work to be better, just blame someone else for your failure. We may not realize it, but those types of lessons can come back to haunt the child as he/she gets older. Instead, ask him/her what they could do differently or improve upon? Do not give them excuses as a cop out, because they will be thirty year-olds, and still doing that.


5. Encourage The Child- Any athlete is his/her own worst critic. Between the coach, and their own personal thoughts, a player gets beat up enough, so there is no need for you to do that. Instead, be a sounding board for the player. Let them vent, and express their feelings to you. When they have a bad game, the last thing they need is to come home and get brow beat by their parents. Should they choose to talk about it, just listen, offer some encouragement (not excuses), and move on. They will appreciate you for that more than you might realize.


These are just a few tips for a parent to have a successful season. You all play a very vital part in the success of your child, be it positive or negative. Hopefully with these few tips, you will be a positive force as the sports seasons start. In the next edition I will have tips for the coaches. Talk to you then.



I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.

Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. is a writer that enjoys watching, playing, and talking about sports. He coaches basketball at the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing. You can visit his blog at mrwilson42.blogspot.com for thoughts on current sports events. Follow him on twitter @JimmyLWilsonJr, and feel free to email any feedback to him at jimmyl.wilsonjr@gmail.com.

Boxing Should Own August

The month of August is the bane of my exsistence as a sports fan. The NBA free-agency period has ended. Tim Tebow is being debated for no apparent reason. Preseason football is providing a tease of what is to come. Baseball, golf, and auto-racing are the main sports being played. Those are sports that I can do without. All of that leaves me stuck looking towards September and the start of actual football. My question is, why wouldn't boxing take this month to spotlight itself?

Boxing has been an afterthought in the sports world for years. Between the price of pay-per-views, bad decisions, crooked politics, the heavyweight division dying, and MMA growing, people do not tune in like they used to. Casual fans come out in mass to watch Floyd Mayweather, and Manny Pacquaio fight. That is cool, but how are you going to keep those people coming back when Floyd and Manny retire? You have to introduce up and coming fighters with the hope that casual fans latch on to them. The month of August would be the perfect time to do that. 

On September 8th and 15th there are two fights that have me excited as a die-hard boxing fan . On the 8th, Andre Ward will take on Chad Dawson for a super-middleweight belt. On the 15th, Sergio Martinez will take on Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr for a middleweight belt. Both of these fights will be great battles, and are toss-ups as to who will win. These fights in August would have been perfect to introduce these fighters to the casual fan. Instead, the genius promoters chose to have these fights at the beginning of college football season. Yet another bad move by the boxing establishment. 

Dawson, Ward, and Chavez, Jr. are three fighters that could carry boxing on in the future. Martinez is on the downside of his career, but still a compelling guy nonetheless. These type of fighters, along with others like Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner, Nonito Donaire can carry the next generation of boxing. They are entertaining fighters, with personalities that will make you love or hate them. Garcia and Broner had fights in July. Donaire has a fight coming up in October. Why not have them fight in August so they can showcase their skills and personalities? Probably because that would make too much sense. 

So, boxing, let me introduce you to August. This month could help get you a little more time in the limelight, instead of on the backpages. You can present yourself to a sports starved audience during this month. You can showcase up and coming fighters, so that the casual fan won't declare you dead when Floyd and Manny retire. There are many things you need to do to repair your image. Setting up big time fights during this month can help start that process. Hopefully, next year you take advantage of what this month can do for you, and give me something to enjoy leading up to football season. Thank you for listening.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Tips for Fans

As summer turns into fall, we are quickly approaching football season. People will be gathering at stadiums, sports bars, and houses each weekend to watch the games. We will be venting our frustrations on Facebook, Twitter, and sports talk radio. As a courtesy, I would like to offer a few tips to make sure you do not embarrass yourself as a fan. It is very easy to do so, and not even know that you are. So, please take this advice, and govern yourselves accordingly.

1. Be Respectful- Football games bring out a different side for a lot of fans. The most mild mannered person you know will yell, jump around, and get really aggressive while watching their favorite team. All of this is cool, and expected. The problem comes in when that aggression leads them to string together more cuss words than an episode of The Wire. I understand and am happy that we live in a country that embraces Freedom of Speech. However, I should be able to take a child to a game without having them cover their ears to not hear all the cussing around us. Buying a ticket, or a beer does not give you a license to be rude and disrespectful. So, please sir, please ma'am, come up with something better than a sentence full of cuss words when you're upset about the game you are watching. 

2. Know What You Are Talking About- Imagine you are a person that is heavy into politics. You have a watch party for the Presidential election, and invite some friends over. Most of your friends are heavy into politics, and there are some insightful conversations going on. There is one friend who is a casual observer of politics, he is trying to chime into the conversations, but what he says makes no sense. After a while, it begins to get annoying, and you politely ignore him. Well that is the same feeling we get as sports fans during sporting events. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Why express fake outrage when you do not really know what is going on? Let the people who know what is happening argue about plays, and events in the game. That will keep you from looking like Akeem yelling "Yes, in the face!!!", when it was actually halftime on Coming to America. 

3. Cut The Refs Some Slack-  In a football game, there are between 120-140 plays ran by each team. That means the players have 120-140 chances to influence the game and keep it out of the referees hands. Yet, as fans we tend to blame any close loss on the refs. A painful example of this is the 2011 Big Ten Conference Championship game. Michigan State had a few opportunites to put Wisconsin away. Instead, MSU let them stay close, had a close call go against them, and lost by one point. As much as I wanted to blame the refs, I had to accept, that MSU did not finish Wisconsin off when they should have. It is a tough pill to swallow, but once you do, you will not look like a person crying over spilled milk whenever your team loses a close game. 

4. Pick A Team and Stick With Them- Most of us have teams that we grew up rooting for. As a sports fan, we should realize that our team will not be great every season. In the years that they are not great, you can not jump on the bandwagon of a team that is. This is not a new practice, but with the advent of Facebook and Twitter it has been shown to be very common. They will start the season cheering for one team, then once that team falls off, they will be cheering for whoever is hot. That is a little corny. Pick a team, and if they are down stick with them. It will make the payoff that much sweeter when they begin to win again. Take my word for it as a Michigan State Spartans and San Francisco 49ers fan. 

5. Do Not Talk Until It Is Over- Every fan, myself included, has fallen victim to this. The team you are cheering for is winning early in the game. So, you get on Facebook, or start making phone calls to gloat. Next thing you know, your team falls apart, and eventually loses. Now, you have egg on your face because of all the trash you were talking earlier. Your best bet is to watch the game, enjoy the fact that your team is leading, and save all calls and Facebook statuses until the game is complete. That way you will not have to ignore phone calls and comments on your Facebook page after the game. 

Well there you have it. Just a few tips for my fellow fans to make the upcoming football season go a little smoother. Take heed to these, and you should have a good time from September to January. Thank you for your time, and enjoy the games this fall. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Light Rain On Your Parade

First and foremost, I would like to personally thank Mitch Kupchak, and everyone else involved in bringing the "Dwightmare" to an end. This has gone on entirely too long. From his season of flip-flopping, to all the unfruitful off-season trade rumors during the summer, this has been like a bad reality show. So, thank you for getting Orlando to pimp out the next decade of their organization to get rid of the NBA's new public enemy #1. Now, onto my thoughts on the trade. 

Most Laker fans making plans for June and an anticipated Finals match-up with LeBron James and the Miami Heat. On paper and 2K13, it definitely seems like a foregone conclusion. The Lakers have not only added Dwight Howard, they also acquired Steve Nash, Antwan Jamison, and Jodie Meeks. All of this, and they didn't get rid of Pau Gasol. Those moves give them their strongest roster in years. However, the actual NBA season isn't played on paper or 2K13. Here are a few reasons why I think we should slow down on making our parade floats. 

1. Dwight's Back- Dwight Howard suffered a herniated disk that required surgery. He is optimistically saying that he will be ready for the start of the regular season, but that may not be the case. How do we know that coming back from such a serious injury, he will be the Dwight Howard that we remember on the court? Will the explosion and quickness still be there? That is how he has made his bacon in the league. He is far from a skillful player, which means he depends on his athleticism. Modern medicine has been able to fix a lot, but until Howard returns, assuming he will return the same as he did before his surgery is dangerous. 

2. Chemistry Project- It has been proven in the past that Kobe doesn't play well with other "alpha dogs". See the Shaquille O'Neal years if you need a reminder. Dwight Howard has said himself he doesn't want to play with another superstar. That he wants to be a go-to guy, and the one a team leans on offensively. You're telling me after the season of immaturity he has shown that his mind has changed on that? That line of thinking is naive and irrational. Kobe told him that if he came to L.A., he'll be the third option. Kobe doesn't play games, or deal well with goofy behavior. Those things describe Dwight Howard. Those are just the off the court chemistry problems. On the court, it will be interesting to see how the team's chemistry works. Everyone keeps screaming, pick and roll between Nash and Howard, but where does that leave Pau Gasol? What are they going to do when Metta World Peace decides he's not getting enough shots and starts jacking? We know Kobe is going to get his shots, but trying to figure out how to keep all the other dogs happy is going to be a tough task for Steve Nash. He plays point guard like a chemist, but there may be too many combustible elements for even him to deal with on this project. 

3. OKC's Not Going Away- To make it to the NBA Finals, the Lakers will have to knock off the Oklahoma City Thunder. I'm sorry, but this isn't going to be an automatic win for the Lake Show. Dwight Howard has said himself, the center that gives him the most trouble is Kendrick Perkins. The last time I checked, Perkins is still on the Thunder's roster. Steve Nash couldn't guard Russell Westbrook in his prime. Why do we think he'll be able to even contain him when he's in the twilight of his career? James Harden is still a threat coming off the bench, despite the fact that he played like a buster in the Finals against Miami. Serge Ibaka is great on the defensive end, and serviceable on offense. This is without mentioning arguably the best scorer in the world, Kevin Durant. This is the same team that put the Lakers out last season. They will be just as hungry as the Lakers are after their loss in the Finals. So, before we pencil the Lakers into the Finals, let's remember they will have a classic battle on their hands with OKC. 

I'm sure that this will be seen as "hate", as any dissenting opinion about what the masses think to be true is. The Lakers have made significant upgrades to their roster, and are a definite title contender. However, it is not wise to think a Championship is a guarantee. There is plenty of basketball to be played before a championship parade in the end of June. Consider this blog the voice of reason in case the Lakers do not perform how you expect next season.  For that my friends, you're welcome. 

Moments Social Networking Missed: Olympic Edition

The Olympics have been broadcast in tape-delay form for as long as they have been going on. There is no way to show everything that is happening live. This has not been a problem until this year's Olympiad. With  Facebook and Twitter being bigger factor in life than it was four years ago, it has been hard to avoid results of events to be shown later that night. This has led me to my second installment of "Moments Social Networking Missed". These are moments that would have shut down the internet if social networking was available when they happened. Come with me on this trip down memory lane.

The Dream Team- As we all know, this year marks the 20th anniversary of the greatest team ever assembled. The Dream Team had 11 Hall-Of-Fame players on it. They absolutely destroyed every team that was in their way. While the games weren't competitive, social networking would have had a field day talking about the exploits, and dominance of this team.

Highway Robbery- Before Roy Jones, Jr. became one of the best boxers of our generation, before he told us "Y'all musta Forgot", before he dropped gems as a commentator on HBO, he was part of the worst decision in Olympic boxing history. He absolutely destroyed his opponent, a Korean fighting on his home turf, who was in the final based on a couple of dubious decisions. This article talks about the corruption surrounding the fight and that still exists in Olympic boxing. Roy gives his take, and explains why he still doesn't watch it. Imagine the uproar once this story broke during the Olympics if social networking was around in 88.

Vince Over Weis- No need for a fancy title. Simply put, this is the best in-game dunk in basketball history. Vince Carter was at the height of his "Half-Man Half-Amazing" abilities during the 2000 Olympics. This play typifies that. Twitter explodes when Blake Griffin does his thing, but I think the server would have been shot for hours after this piece of destruction by V.C. Enjoy.

Golden Shoes- Michael Johnson came into the 1996 Olympics looking to make history. He wanted to be the first man to ever win the 200 and 400 meter races in the same year. Not only did he do that, he did it in spectacular fashion. He won the 400 by a full second ahead of the Silver medalist. Three days later, he won the 200 in World Record time, and dominated the field in that as well. He did this all while wearing golden shoes. Usain Bolt always has social networking talking during his events, and Michael Johnson would have too.

So, there you have it. A few moments that weren't destroyed hours in advance by Facebook and Twitter. My best advice, and a familiar refrain from these games is to stay off those sites if you don't want to know what happened. I know it may be tough for some to do, but from here on out, that is the only way that great Olympic moments shown in tape-delay, will seem fresh and new to you when you watch them. Thanks for your time, and be on the look out for the next edition of Moments Social Networking Missed.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message.   

You Know It's Fake Right??

This past Monday the WWE celebrated their 1000th episode of Raw. As someone who watched many of those shows through my years as a fan, I was excited for the show. They were planning of bringing back a lot of the wrestlers that had me watching every Monday night when I was younger. So, I had to tune in. Usually when I'm excited about something that's coming on, I post something about it on Facebook. Yet with this, I found myself hesitating for the first time. Somewhere in my mind I thought, they might clown me for being hyped to watch Raw. After about two seconds of that I posted this status: Jimmy Wilson Jr. will be watching the 1000th Raw tonight. Judge me if you want, but if you're geeked to watch Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta you're no better than me. I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I'll expound on this message later... Let me expound on that now.


For as long as I can remember I've had this conversation when it comes to wrestling: 
Person: "You know wrestling is fake right?" 
Me: "Yep". 
Person: "Then why do you watch it?" 
Me: "Because it is entertaining, and I like to watch it". 
I think I would be well within my rights to ask that same question to someone who watches what is called Reality TV nowadays. There is absolutely no difference between that and what I watch on the WWE. They are both scripted by writers who pit "good vs. bad" and have them meet in places to settle their differences. They both have actors and actresses who are over the top in their behavior. They both have backstabbing and double-crosses. They are the same exact thing. I'm sure some of y'all aren't feeling me, so let me give an example. 


One day I was sitting with my lady, and we found ourselves watching Love And Hip-Hop Atlanta(an exercise that stopped that day). Joseline had an issue with one of the other women on the show and wanted to confront her. So, Joseline showed up to the workout facility that the woman was at and confronted her. My question is, how in the world did she know that her enemy would be at the workout facility at that time? They hardly knew each other, so I'm certain that she doesn't know her schedule to know she was there. Yet, she was able to show up there, find her nemesis, and have a screaming match. Tell me that's not something that was set up by writers and producers. Tell me that's not like something that would happen in wrestling.

That same practice happens on pretty much every Reality TV show that is on. Whether they are sending sworn enemies on vacation together, having them meet at parties, or going shopping, the writers are pulling the strings, and have their desired end in mind. That is to have those enemies have some sort of altercation be it physical or verbal. Sounds a lot like wrestling to me.

So, to all my Reality TV watchers out there, I have to ask you the same question you ask me, you know Reality TV is fake right? For those who don't, I hope that I've shed some light, and helped you understand that it is. Next time you turn your nose, or laugh at someone who watches wrestling, remember that episode of "The Real Housewives of NJ/ATL", "Mob Wives", "Jersey Shore", or any other Reality TV show that you just watched. The creator of those shows are Vince McMahon, the cast are the wrestlers, and you are me, watching because it is entertaining and you like to watch it. Fake or not.

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

My Three Girls

For as long as I can remember I have been juggling three different relationships. These relationships started when I was a child, and the love has grown as I've gotten older. I love them all, but one is my "main girl", one is my "side piece", and the other is the "one I need to leave alone, but can't". When I was little, they were tough to manage, but as I've matured, and learned the game, I've figured out how to balance the three. So, let me tell you a little about my three girls.

"The Main Girl"- This relationship started when I was a baby in a walker. There are pictures of me sleeping with this girl when I was one year old. It was pretty much love at first sight honestly. As I got older, I began spending all types of time with her. Watching her on TV as much as I could. Taking trips all over the city, state, and country to spend time with her. Her and I going in the backyard or park to spend time together whenever I was down, or needed to think. She has always been there for me. There were definitely a lot of ups and downs, wins and losses, and I almost left her for good during college. Through it all, my love for her hasn't changed. I am even coaching youngsters about her ways now. Hopefully, they'll learn to love her as much as I do.

"The Side Piece"- This relationship started pretty young too. However, the attraction wasn't as strong as it was for the main girl. You see, I enjoyed watching her on TV. Playing with her for fun with my boys in the street. However, I never fully pursued her. This is one slight regret I have about my childhood. Part of me feels her and I would have been pretty good together, but my love for her wasn't strong enough to find out. I didn't want to lose my main girl for her, so I stayed away. She is still a dear friend though. I spend a lot of time with her during weekends in the Fall. Matter of fact, I'm counting down the weeks until she comes back to visit. She'll be here real soon. 

"The One I Need to Leave Alone, But Can't"- This girl right here has been a trip to deal with. You see, she is the one that has almost phased herself out of my life on her own. She has been very frustrating to watch. Yet, whenever I claim I'm done with her, she gives me a reason to come back. She has the most personality of the three, yet she doesn't come around as often as I like. A lot of people I know dis her and ask, why I still deal with her? What they don't know is, I don't just spend time with her on the important times, I spend time with her on random Tuesday's, and Friday's. I have done this since I was a child. So, as much as her and the decisions she makes annoy me at times, I just can't leave her alone. 

So, that's the story of me and my three girls. As most of you know, we as men talk about inanimate objects like they are women. Songs like "Me and My Girlfriend", "Brown Sugar", and "I Used To Love H.E.R." are prime examples of that. Looking at the titles, one would think it they were about a woman. However, they were used to describe different objects. That is the approach I chose to use when telling you all about how I feel about basketball, football, and boxing. Those are the "Main Chick, the "Side Piece", and "The One I Need To Leave Alone, But Can't". These are relationships that I don't see going anywhere, anytime soon. People who know me, know I love talking about them. My goal is to make them entertaining, and give you all some insight into why I feel how I feel about them.  I hope you all enjoy as I share my thoughts and feelings on them in these pages. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

NBA's New Public Enemy # 1

On July 8, 2010 at approximately 9:30 p.m., LeBron James uttered the words "I'll be taking my talents to South Beach" on his ESPN special called "The Decision". Those eight words took LeBron from media darling, and fan favorite into NBA Public Enemy # 1. People treated him like they did Hulk Hogan when he leg dropped Macho Man, and joined the NWO . They burned his jersey in the street, cursed his name, and even the Cavs owner dropped an open letter to LeBron where he sounded like a jilted sophomore in high school who's boyfriend left her.This was all for a man who simply played out his contract, and decided to leave in free agency for another team. Granted, the TV special was over the top, but other than that, he did nothing wrong. My question is, if "The Decision" merited that, what does Dwight Howard's indecision earn him?

Dwight Howard has had the world at his fingertips since entering the NBA in 2004. He has been on multiple All-Star, All-NBA First, and All-NBA Defensive teams. He won the dunk contest in 2008, and NBA Defensive Player of the year in 2009-2011. He is widely regarded at the best center and one of the top 10 players in the world. While he still has improvements to his game to make, there isn't much disputing that fact. The problem now is his behavior off the court, and in the locker room. That has been beyond questionable.

During this last season, he has went back and forth about whether or not he wanted to stay in Orlando. He spent the first portion of the season letting it be known that didn't want to re-sign with the Magic, and would go join the (then)New Jersey Nets as a free agent. That wouldn't have been bad at all, except on the day of the trading deadline, he waived his right to opt out of his contract and signed to stay with Orlando for one more season. This move was baffling because of all the dust he kicked up about leaving earlier in the season. Still, Orlando's organization seemed to be willing to do whatever it took to keep him. Part of that was firing Stan Van Gundy.

Howard and Van Gundy always had a contentious relationship. It was more obvious than ever last season. Between rumors of Howard going to Magic mangagement with an ultimatium of Van Gundy or him. To the absolutely awkward interview where Van Gundy informed the media that he was told Howard wanted him gone, and Howard came over like everything was cool, it was a cluster of immaturity and weak power moves by both guys. Finally, the Magic in an effort to appease Dwight Howard fired both Van Gundy, and general manager Otis Smith. That should have been good enough to keep Dwight Howard happy right?


Well it was not, because not long after the Free Agency period started, Howard let the Magic know that he wanted to be traded to the now Brooklyn Nets. He accused the Magic of "blackmailing" him into opting into his contract for one more year. He has since denied that statement, but with his history of flip flopping statements, I tend to believe he made it. He wants out of Orlando, but teams are afraid to pull the trigger on a trade because he has made it known that he will only sign with the Brooklyn Nets. Personally, I say the teams who are hesitant, are better off for it. 


As great as Dwight Howard has been on the court, he is a huge headache off of it now. On top of that, he is coming off of a back surgery that may keep him out of action for a portion of the season. There is no telling what the injury will do to his athleticism, and how he plays the game. So, is he really worth the potiential headache that could come if things go wrong? I'm not sure of that at all. 


As I take my seat, Dwight Howard's behavior has been far worse that LeBron's. He has held an organization hostage with his childish behavior. Orlando pulled the trigger on moves that they shouldn't if they were going to lose Howard anyway. They have pacified, and babied him for far too long. He has proven to be a waffler, flip-flopper, and done it all while the season was going on. As bad as LeBron's show was for his look, it wasn't anything that took away from, or distracted his team in season. 


With LeBron winning a Championship, and the tide turning back to people beginning to like him again, it's time for Dwight Howard to take his seat on the throne as NBA Public Enemy #1. He can recover, but it will take a lot of work, and some serious winning for him to do so. For now though, he's Hulk Hogan leg dropping an entire organization, and keeping many teams and players in limbo. Good luck making things right big fella. We'll be watching. 


I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Random Thoughts: NBA Offseason Edition Vol.1

We are in the midst of what I like to call the dog days of summer. Basketball season is over. Football season is so close, yet so far. The Olympics are coming, but I only watch a few sports in that. Being one that isn't a big fan of baseball, I usually don't watch much ESPN during this time of the year. Thankfully, the NBA free agent season has been very active and entertaining. Big names like Steve Nash, Ray Allen, and Jason Terry have made moves that will impact the league. Here are my thoughts on those moves.

Fools (Purple and) Gold: Steve Nash being sent to the Lakers in a sign and trade by the Suns was one of the first big dominoes to fall. To say this move is an upgrade to the point guard position for the Lakers is offensive to the word upgrade. He instantly makes Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol better on offense. He also will give them a deadly shooter on the perimeter if teams try to double Kobe or the aforementioned players. What it didn't cover though is the defensive liability that has been the Lakers point guard position. The Western Conference is home to some of the best point guards in the league. Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, and Chris Paul all reside in that conference. Those are players that Nash will have to guard, and try to contain in order for the Lakers to cash in on this move. Before he was saddled with back injuries, this was a tall task. With all of these guys in their prime, and him dealing with chronic back pain, coupled with his lack of defensive prowess, I don't think this move will get the Lakeshow past OKC or the Spurs. He will create a lot more highlights, and add to the buzz that is the Lakers, but I don't think it will be enough to get them out of the Western conference and into the Finals. 

Heat Stroke: Ray Allen set off a storm with his decision to join the Miami Heat. There were a lot of people who were upset with him "not being loyal" to the Celtics. That is something I don't agree with. He played his contract out with the C's, and as a free agent had the ability to go where he wanted. They are saying he and Rondo didn't get along, and the Celtics were actively shopping him around during the season. Where is the loyalty in that? He did nothing wrong, and I think the people that are salty about that are just nervous that the Heat will win another championship. Personally, I don't think that is a foregone conclusion yet. Just like Nash, he is a huge upgrade to the team he is going to. Yet, he alone doesn't get rid of some of the flaws that still plague the Heat. We don't know how effective Dwyane Wade will be coming off of injury. There is a need to add better inside players. Also, how much can we truly count on "the others" to play the way they did in the Finals? Adding Jesus Shuttlesworth was a monster move, and I look forward to seeing how he's integrated into what the Heat do, and if he will help them repeat as NBA Champions. 

Jetting to Boston: The Boston Celtics are a team that has been quietly making moves to set themselves up as the chief rivals to the Heat again. They have added some good youth in Jared Sullinger, and Fab Melo. They re-signed Jeff Green(here's hoping he can recover from his heart ailment that sidelined him last year). They also brought in noted Miami Heat killer Jason Terry. Bringing Terry in will soften the blow that was caused by Ray Allen jumping ship to the Heat. While Terry is a lot more of a streak shooter than the ever consistent Allen, he will provide a scoring spark that the Celtics haven't had off the bench in years. He also is a fearless player who won't shy away from big games or moments. The popular thought is that Miami is a shoo-in to win the Eastern Conference. Please let me caution you that they are probably in for another seven game battle with the Celtics, and I would not be surprised if it goes to the C's this time around. 

So there you have a few of my thoughts on the offseason so far. There are more to come, including a blog devoted to the only player that can be accused of being disloyal, one Dwight Howard. Anyone that has a problem with Ray Allen, or Steve Nash, or had one with LeBron, but doesn't have one with Dwight Howard should take a moment to smack themselves. I will get to him soon. Feel free to leave any feedback, comments, or thoughts on this one. Thank you for your time, and I'll talk to y'all soon. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message. 

Fear In The Beard

Countless times during the playoffs we have seen shirts in Oklahoma City that say "Fear the Beard". These shirts of course are in reference to the afro that sits on the face of Thunder guard James Harden. After his performance in three of the first four Finals games, I think they need to change that to "Fear In The Beard". 

Harden has looked like a timid Freshman that is playing with the Varsity team for the first time. He has zero confidence in his shot, he is driving to the basket with no plan on what to do when he gets there, and hasn't show much energy or emotion in these games. His role is to come off the bench and provide an immediate spark. This is a guy who has averaged 16.2 points per game in the NBA Playoffs. During the finals, he has scored 5,21, 9, and 8. In games where the Thunder have loss by 6 points or less, a regular contribution from him would have the Thunder ahead 3-1 in the series.

Watching him during these Finals has confused me beyond belief. This is a guy who has played supremely confident throughout his short career. He's going to be a free agent after this year, and people were talking about him getting a massive contract. If I were the GM of a team, his Finals performance thus far would give me pause. There is an old cliche that big time players step up in big time games. He has been the complete opposite of that. 

In game 4, he had a couple of opportunites in the fourth quarter to make plays to either tie or give the Thunder the lead. There was a play with the Thunder down by three, he drove to the basket and pretty much handed the ball to the Heat. Then, he made a steal with the Heat leading by one. He pushed the ball up the floor, got to the rim, and completely blew the layup. Could a foul have been called? Yes, but as an NBA player, you have to finish that regardless of the contact. Especially as the Sixth Man of the Year, and a player that has scored with more contact than that in the past. Finally, he got a pass kicked to him, wide open behind the three-point line, and wanted to do anything but shoot the ball. When he released the shot, the only question was how bad would he miss it. It was really sad to see. 

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant have done all that they could to keep the Thunder in games. What was expected to be the Thunder's big advantage in the series, has let them down. Anyone who knows basketball, expected Harden and the others to perform well enough to push OKC past Miami. Yet, he has been outplayed, and badly by guys like Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers, and even Norris "Big Daddy Kane" Cole. Thus the Heat sit on the verge of winning the ring.

So, for all the talk of bad officiating(it has been very questionable), David Stern wanting the Heat to win, and any other conspiracy theory you can conjure up. Please remember that these games have all come down to the waning seconds. Had James Harden played anywhere close to the level he had during the regular season, and early in the Playoffs, the Thunder would be a game away from hoisting the trophy. 

I don't want to declare the series over, because I picked OKC to win, and I'm not ready for the NBA season to end. Yet, if Harden can't pull some magic out of his beard for Game 5, we will be watching the end of the 2011-12 season, and wondering what's next for OKC. Hopefully, we'll see "Fear the Beard" Harden, and not "Fear In The Beard" Harden tomorrow and see what that will do for the Thunder. 

I'm Jimmy L. Wilson, Jr. and I approve this message 

Father's Day Salute

Title: Father's Day Salute

One of the strongest bonds between a Father and Son is sports. From the Father teaching the son how to play a sport, to just spending time to watching games together, sports are a big dynamic in this relationship. With Father's Day approaching, I decided to reach out to a few friends of mine who played high school sports in the Lansing area and give them the opportunity to salute their Father. Here are their words:

Mark Watts, Everett Basketball, Class of 84: "If I have one word to describe my father it would be INCREDIBLE. He taught me to pray, to respect women and others and to be HUMBLE. This is from a five-time Golden Glove champion and Boxing Legend who ALWAYS praised the Lord. He raised 4 children and stayed married to his Wife (our mother) 50 years till the Lord called him home. I'd ALWAYS tell my father "Dad I wanna be JUST like you when I grow up and he'd say, NO, be BETTER than ME!" He's my SUPERHERO!!!!! and DAD, I could NEVER be better than you for you are Truly THE GREATEST!!! Love u 4ever, your son Marky.

Nathan Duncan-Waverly Basketball, Class of 2004: My dad influenced me through sports early on in the driveway, watching the NBA's best in the 90's and taking me to my first Michigan State Men's Basketball game. Being a coaches kid was a big influence as well, as my brothers and I would go to practices when he was an assistant at Everett. He always allowed and made us work on our games. He made me pay attention to how players got themselves open, played defense, and even talked on the court which made my love for the game stronger.

Eventually becoming one of his players for 2 or 3 years as a member of the Lansing Warriors, was probably the biggest influence through the game of basketball for me. I went home with my head coach after every practice and every game; so he constantly stayed in my ear. Whether it was things I did wrong and needed to improve on, he was continuosly telling me to work harder. He also pointed out things I was doing right and should keep doing. That was probably the best influence I as a player could have because I continously got coached even after practices and games. I couldn't see it then but looking back on it, it was great, appreciated and needed.

In regards to influencing me as a Young man through basketball, he taught me about accountability, hard work, paying attention to detail, being passionate about what I do. He taught me that hard work pays off, to never give up and have fun while doing it all. He has influenced me to pursue coaching down the road. I love my dad for teaching me and showing me all these values through the game we both love! Because my dad exposed me to the game in the way that he did, I am who I am today!

Paul Van Dyke, Everett Basketball, Class of 99 : Growing up my dad wanted me and my brother to play different sports to encourage teamwork, toughness, and discipline. I always remember my dad being there after each game telling me good job no matter if i played terrible or if i did a great job. My dads encouragement in sports has been a essential foundation to my adult life.

Jimmy Wilson, Jr. Everett Basketball Class of 2000: My Dad was my biggest influence when it came to sports. His favorite sport was basketball, so naturally, that became mine. We spent countless hours shooting around, playing horse, and one on one. We even took something simple as throwing paper towel in the trash and turned that into a shooting contest. No matter how tired he was after work, he'd come to the backyard with me while I shot around. As a youngster I just thought it was part of him being Dad, but now having worked at GM like he did, and knowing the toll that can take physically, I have a true appreciation for it.

He also is the main reason you're reading my thoughts on sports right now. When he worked nights, he would ask me about who won the games while he was at work. I would run it down play by play, until he fell asleep on me. When we watched games together, I would be giving my thoughts, he would give his, and it would turn into a "Pardon The Interruption" type debate. When the debate was done he would say, "you should be a commentator or sports writer". He planted a seed that is continuing to grow, and I truly love, thank, and appreciate him for it.

Those are just the thoughts of a few. There are many Father's in the Lansing Area past and present, that should be saluted for coaching, supporting, and influencing their children through sports. I would name you one by one, but I don't want to forget any. Just know that it was truly appreciated, and never to be forgotten. Thank you for all that you have done. Happy Father's Day!!!