Another NFL Arrest: Jimmy Smith

Another NFL player got arrested, and just a few days after Titus Young. Though Jimmy has done something much worse, at least i my opinion. Former Jacksonville Jaguars receiver Jimmy Smith has been sentenced to six years in prison in Mississippi for drug possession and weapons charges. (Insert Brett Favre sister joke here.)

The Mississippi Department of Corrections’ website says the 44-year-old Smith entered the prison system in late March and was recently moved to a facility in Yazoo City. Online records show he was sentenced by a Madison County court to two years for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and four years for possession of cocaine.

Smith, was a standout Wide Reciever at Jackson State drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1992, played 13 seasons in the NFL, including 11 for the Jaguars. He became the franchise’s all-time leading receiver before his retirement in 2005.

Where Ryan Was Right and Where Ryan Was Wong! Spring Cleaning Edition

Where Ryan Was Right: The Grizzlies Bullying the Thunder

The lights came on and the whistle blew for overtime to start. The Thunder had looked fatigued the entire game. Then it came down to the last few minutes and the Grizzlies showed that they intended to defend the home court and take a 3-1 lead over the Thunder. The Grizzles held off the Thunder 103-97 Monday night to push the defending Western Conference champions to the edge of elimination.

”It’s not over yet, and we understand that,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. ”It’s the first to four. They’re in a good position, but our challenge is not impossible. It’s something that we can do. We just have to focus one possession, one game at a time. Hopefully, we can do that and come back here Friday night. There’s a barbeque festival right?”

The Thunder are missing something, is it Westbrook? Is it no James Harden? They just don’t appear to be a complete team. Kevin Durant is taking on the role of Kobe Bryant and the Thunder are playing just like the disfunctional Lakers team. They may be bounced out in game 5 at home.

Kevin Durant scored 27 points but missed all five of his shots in the extra period, including a layup in the final seconds. Durant went 2 of 13 in the fourth quarter and overtime and had only five points. He did score on a driving layup that forced overtime. But the All Star played 48 minutes and was just short on his shots as the game wore on.

Where Ryan Was Wrong: The Spurs Winning in 5

The big three for the Spurs, at leat to me, looked good to go. Though now it’s not quite looking that way. Golden State’s rising stars are coming out and just dominating the floor. The Spurs often looked dazzed as the Warriors continued to rack up leads forcing the Spurs to play catch-up. I knew I was picking with my heart and not my head when I made this pick, I won’t be doing that again.

Where Ryan was Perfect: Heatwave too Hot for the Bulls

My motto for this series will always be “Heart won game one, but talent won the next four.” I don’t know how the Bulls won game one, but they did and sadly that was the only thing they had going for them as the Heat continue to play physical with the Bulls.

Say what you want, bad officiating, flops, Stern interfering, whatever. The Heat are playing beautiful basketball and the Bulls are looking like the dirty team with the lack of skill. Nate Robinson and Joakim Noah have been the story for the Bulls.

”We worked for it,” said Heat forward Chris Bosh. ”I never like to say that things are easy.”

The Heat sure made it look that way, though. The Heat have also been pretty even, despite James and Wade not looking like their regular season selves. Cole has stepped up his game though and has been racking up the points.

After watching this series I’ve been wondering if the Bulls even deserved to be in Round 2. That said, this all came from a big Bulls supporter. I’m still cheering for them in Game 5, lets make it happen Bulls.

Where Ryan was Way Wrong: Brew Crew Sweep the Reds, Ha!

Well I had predicited the Milwaukee Brewers to win all their games against the Reds, but that didn’t quite happen. They lost all their games, and the last two games were just embarrassing to watch. The Brewers have lost 8 of their last 10 games, what happened to the 8 game win streak from last month? Hopefully the series against the Pirates will be the turning point.

Some Quick Rights and Wrongs

I was right about the tall Pacers causing trouble for the Knicks, but I still think the Knicks will win, it’ll just take all 7 games to do it.

I was right about Ubaldo Jiménez being able to hold his own against the Tigers, and he did just that.

Lastly I was wrong about the new Manager choice for Manchester United. I really wanted José Mourinho, but I suppose David Moyes is alright.

Big Things are Happening in Manchester

So it was just a few days ago that game changer and dynasty leader Ferguson left the managing position at Manchester United. Not too long before that Man U paraded down the street of Manchesterwith the Premier League trophy in hand. Rooney wants out of Man U, to most likely go somewhere outside of the Premier League. Last but not least Roberto Mancini was let go.

Manchester City fired manager Roberto Mancini on Monday exactly a year after he delivered the club’s first English league title in 44 years. Mancini had four years left on his contract, but the whole thing seemed like an inside job. Sure Mancini brought Man City a title, but I don’t think that ever really wanted Mancini no matter how well he did.

City said its end-of-season review was brought forward ”out of respect for
Roberto” after it was reported that Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini had been
lined up to replace him. Mancini’s final days in charge were marked by his
attacks on City for failing to deny those reports. It doesn’t help Mancini’s case that Pellegrini is only denying that a deal is in place, leaving open the possibility that he could be headed to the Premier League.

Mancini has paid the price for City’s failure to build on its position of strength, the club is set to end the season without a trophy and exiting the group stage of the Champions League for the second straight season.

”Despite everyone’s best efforts, the club has failed to achieve any of its stated targets this year, with the exception of qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League,” City said in a statement.

”This, combined with an identified need to develop a holistic approach to all aspects of football at the club, has meant that the decision has been taken to find a new manager for the 2013/14 season and beyond.”

”Roberto’s record speaks for itself and he has the respect and gratitude of Sheikh Mansour, myself and the board for all of his hard work and commitment over the last three and a half years,” chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said. ”He has clearly also secured the love and respect of our fans. He has done as he promised and delivered silverware and success, breaking the club’s 35-year trophy drought and securing the title in 2012.

”I would like to personally and publicly thank him for his dedication to the progress that he has overseen and for his support and continued friendship.”

It sounds to me like they’re just trying to keep Mancini quiet, but he will not be silenced. It appears that Man City was only planning for his demise. What is a manager supposed to do when the front office won’t help you out?

City’s poor recruitment in the last offseason laid the seeds for the eventual demise of the former Inter Milan coach.

The club failed to sign its top target, with Robin van Persie opting to join United from Arsenal, and was forced to settle for low-profile recruits in Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclair and Matija Nastasic for about 35 million pounds (now $53 million) in total.

Mancini was not afraid to let the board know about his unhappiness about the club’s dealings, regularly complaining about it with reporters.

So long Mancini and welcome whoever replaces him in this mess of a club. Manchester City will soon no longer be a power house in Manchester as united starts to take the glory. You may not hear much about Manchester City for a while, as they lay low and build up, I hope.

Casey Hayward graduates from Vanderbilt

Great post about possibly my new favorite CB Casey Hayward. Orginally Posted at Packer.com

Andrew Wiggins College Announcement Tuesday 5/14 12:15 PM EST

As reported in my previous post, Andrew Wiggins is ready to make his college decision.  Andrew Wiggins, considered the best high school basketball player since LeBron James, could shift the NCAA basketball landscape when he announces his college decision Tuesday, choosing between four programs with little TV-centered theatrics.

“This kid is even better than advertised when you see him in person,” college basketball analyst Dick Vitale said by phone Monday of Wiggins, the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year. “He fits into the category of LeBron James as a high school player we’ve never seen before because of his explosiveness.”

Florida State, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina are candidates to land the 6-8 Canadian forward from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep.

I personally feel the decision is between FSU and UK in that order with Kansas as the dark horse.  However, Andrew did say he doesn’t want to go to summer classes, so that might give UNC the advantage since their guys don’t always go to classes right?  In all honesty, I like everyone else have NO clue.  I am a documented UK fan and I am trying to help UK fans brace for bad news.  Most UK experts have been very quiet and have never felt optimistic about him with him coming to UK.  He does not like media attention, he’s a low-key guy, but he wants to WIN.  He could join the greatest recruiting class in college basketball history if he chooses UK.  UK is an NBA team if Wiggins comes to UK.  Now the argument for FSU:  His parents both attended Florida State and this is where they want him to be.  His high school teammate is committed to FSU, he could be the Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony of FSU.  I will say this BBN if he does not come to UK, we want him at FSU because their upside would be Sweet 16, if they get in the tourney.  If he goes to Kansas or UNC they are title contenders.  Tomorrow while your eating lunch be sure to check out where the next big thing is going…..

WWE: A Traveling Circus

Dolph Ziggler won’t be involved in this Sunday’s Extreme Rules PPV due to a concussion.  A concussion he suffered at a house show.  John Cena was also hurt at a house show.  Last summer Dolph Ziggler was given an opportunity to face Sheamus because Alberto Del Rio was hurt at a house show.

The WWE has five shows on television a week (Raw, Smackdown, Main Event, Superstars, Saturday Morning Slam).  With all of these shows on every week, injuries are bound to happen.  The issue however is that some of these injuries occur when they are least expected to happen.

The WWE has always held house shows.  The problem as of late is that the roster lacks depth, so stars like Cena, Orton, Ryback, Ziggler, Big Show, Sheamus, Del Rio, and The Shield perform very often, and with them performing so often injuries are bound to add up.

What the WWE needs to do is either cut back on the house shows or use other talent more often.  The main event caliber stars should rarely make appearances.  Fandango was tested at the house shows, it would be best to try out repackaged stars or NXT stars at the house shows.

If the WWE wants to continue the circus mentality, at least stop using the cream of the crop so often.

Tribe Scores 1 – Splits Double Header

Masterson, Cabrera, and Kipnis, the three names that sum up game 1.

118 pitches, 9 innings, 9 strike outs, 4 hits, 3 walks, 0 runs. From a strike out to start the game to a strike out to end the game Justin Masterson (6-2) went the distance in this one showing great comand and shutting out the yankees 1-0 for his second 1-0 shut out this season. The last time a pitcher has done that for the tribe was back in 1989.

In the first Jason Kipnis on a 2 2 count hit a homer to right. It would’ve been a 2 run but Bourn, who had walked, was thrown out trying to steal 2nd.

The one time Masterson did get into trouble was in the 2nd with 2 on and 2 out Asdrubal Cabrera, diving, stopped a single from getting out of the infield and a run from scoring. The bases were loaded but Masterson then struck out the next batter to end the inning and get out of the jam!

So there you have it for game one Masterson pitched awesome, Cabrera stopped the tying run (game changer) from scoring and Kipnis scored the only run!

In game 2 it was the yankees scoring 1 in the first. That 1-0 score held and mirrored game one until the 7th inning when the yankees were able to blow it open. The real damage came when starter Trevor Bauer started losing his comand and they pulled him after 6 1/3 innings with 4 strike outs 2 walks 6 hits and at that point only 2 runs. With reliever Nick Hagadone out the yankees were able to score 5 more runs, 1 charged to Bauer, bringing the score what it would end at 7-0.

Nuno starting for the yankees went 5 innings with 3 strike outs, hits, and walks getting his first career win. Reliever Warren pitched the rest with 2 strike outs and hits getting his first career save.

With both teams at the top of their divisions I figured it’d be a good double header so i’ll take the split, Though i’d of rather seen the tribe take both,and score more than 1 point in 17 innings, of course. We did brake the yankees 5 game win streak, though they did break our 3 game win streak but we’re 13 for our last 16 and i am just fine with that! Now it’s on to Philadelphia for a 2 game series with the Phillies!