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| Bryce Harper |
1. The baseball season is officially upon us!
It's extremely early but what team impressed you the most on opening day?
Spencer-
I guess this isn't really
that big of a surprise since a number of people have picked them to win it all
come October, but the Nationals. Seeing where they have come from over
the last few years after being moved into D.C. and having to build it. In
the words of Drake they are the definition of "started from the bottom now
we here!" Bryce Harper is 20 years old and isn't fazed by
anything. People asked him about a sophomore slump and he answers with 2
home runs on his first 2 at bats. Strasburg won't have an innings limit
this year and looked dominant in his first start, and then the supporting cast
there in general is solid. There is a lot to be said for a team that has
come up so fast and I think we all expected that but seeing it in action on
opening day was cool. I'm slowly becoming a closet Nationals fan. Shhh...
Ty-
I'm going to have to go with the Dodgers. I know that Bryce Harpers 2 home runs wowed most people but besides Strasburg's performance the Nationals didn't have much offensive production besides Harper. It is baseball so games can be won that way but not all the time. The Dodgers impressed me because they went against the defending champs and shut them out. Clayton Kershaw threw for a complete game, 4 hitter and hit his first career home run. That is a fairly impressive outing for a team that Magic Johnson, the new part owner of the Dodgers, hopes contends for a world series in the fall. But obviously it is extremely early both the Dodgers and Nationals can lose today or the tomorrow and it wouldn't change they were going to the playoffs or not.
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| Clayton Kershaw with the fist pump |
Zach-
Well because it's opening day, I find it hard to pick one team that impressed me. Baseball is a marathon and it is difficult to judge anyone on the first day. A team that got blown out one day can come back and win out the series the next day.That being said, the team that impressed me was the LA Dodgers. And not even really the team. One man in particular. Clayton Kershaw made a statement when he shutout the World Series Champs with seven strikeouts and no walks. Oh, and he hit the winning home run. By the end of the game, the rest of the team added their contributions and they also looked solid in the field. IF Kershaw can keep up this kind of play, expect the Dodgers to win that division.
2. What is the more shocking thing to happen
this weekend? Wichita State making the Final Four or Baylor's women's
basketball team losing to 5 seed Louisville in the tournament or Louisville's
basketball player Kevin Ware's gruesome leg injury?
Spencer-
More shocking...probably Baylor's woman's team
losing. Everyone who knows who Brittney Griner is knows that that team is
potentially unbeatable. Seeing them fall was a shock to me
honestly. It's just assumed they are going to win. Wichita although
shocking isn't that far
fetched. They are a good team and everyone knows
in men's college hoops especially anything can happen. As far as Kevin
Ware's injury I prefer not to talk about it considering it made me jump out of
seat, choke and yell in pain but that wasn't so much shocking to me as it was
absolutely terrifying. Call me a baby if you want but if that happened to
me I probably wouldn't make it to the hospital.
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| Baylor's Brittany Griner and team mate stunned |
Ty-
Baylor losing hands down. Although the Shockers of Wichita State shocked everyone and Kevin Ware's gruesome injury put him into shock. It wasn't even close in my opinion. I would have bet all my money and my future kids college funds that Baylor would at least made it to the finals of the tournament. Brittany Griner has been dominate her whole career and it was hard to imagine them losing. Especially when that loss came to a number 5 seed that lost more this year than Baylor has the last 3 years combined. Louisville's 27-8 record isn't bad but Baylor has been that good. In a one game tournament format anything can happen but I doubt anybody expected this. Injuries happen all the time and low seed make the Final Four every once in a while so sorry Wichita State, Louisville's women's team are the real shockers.
Zach-
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| Teammate consoling Kevin Ware |
Well if we are talking strictly game results, the Wichita State team making the Final Four was the more shocking game. They were a team that I had written off very early so seeing them get this far is impressive. But pure shock value goes to Kevin Ware. When I saw the replay in slow motion, I almost threw up. I've never seen a leg give out like that before and the picture of his bone sticking out of his skin was disgusting. It was really a horrific injury and not something anyone should have to deal with. I am amazed that he came out of the hospital today just 2 days after surgery. That is a testament to how much of a fighter Mr. Ware is and I wish him a quick recovery and his team all the best.
3. We are down to the Final Four for men's
basketball. Between Louisville, Wichita State, Michigan, and Syracuse who do
you think is the favorite to take home the championship at this point?
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| Syracuse holding the South Region trophy |
Spencer-
The favorite? Louisville. Even
without Ware they are the number one overall seed and the majority of people
have them winning it all and they have certainly lived up to the hype.
For me though it's time to put faith in my team to win it especially since they
gave themselves a chance. I think I doubted them too much at the start of
the tourney and I feel guilty about it. For that I am sorry, but I'm
keeping he faith in Cuse! Don't be surprised if they pull it off
either. LET'S GO ORANGE!
Ty-
I think that the favorite right now is slightly Louisville although all 4 teams have obviously been playing fantastic to this point. I think the way Louisville man handled Duke has a lot to do with it. I think that Michigan is not so far behind because of their offense. Syracuse's outstanding defense of late puts them in position for success as well. But Michigan's lack of defense is a question mark for them and Syracuse has to play better on offense. I think many people are forgetting about Wichita State because they are a ninth seed but they handled a very good Ohio State team so they will give Louisville a tough game but I expect the Cardinals to move on. Louisville has been playing the best defense in the tournament forcing a crazy amount of turnovers. They also have been playing well on offense, Russ Smith has had 20 plus points in every game in the tournament and they have outscored their opponents by an average of 22 points. As of today they are the most balanced team and should be the favorite.
Zach-
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| Louisville holding the Midwest Region trophy |
Louisville without a doubt. I think they are the strongest team when matched up against any one of those other three teams. And as if a national championship wasn't enough motivation, they now want to make sure that Ware's injury wasn't for nothing. As good as Wichita's story is, I think it ends here against the number 1 overall seed who have had no trouble blowing through better opponents this tournament. I can't see Michigan beating them at all, the Cards are just too strong. The Orange could possibly take out their Big East rival but when it comes to championship situations, I'm taking Louisville (Sorry Spencer).
4. Yesterday the Heat sat Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Mario Chalmers for a win against the Spurs. It seemed to look like payback for earlier in the season when the Spurs sat their 4 best players in a game against the Heat in which the Spurs were fined $250,000 for doing this. Reports say that the Heat won't get fined, do you think they should or shouldn't get fined?
Spencer-
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| LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the Bench |
Ty-
Although I didn't agree with the fines earlier in the year in the first place, I did think that Stern set a precedent that would require a fine if it were a similar situation. The Heat have sat those guys again for tonights game. So now I think that even if they wanted to they can't fine them. Mainly because now the injuries don't look as fishy so there is plausible deniability for the Heat. Also I don't think the league was thinking about fining them because it is later in the year and it makes a lot more sense for players to be banged up and need rest before the playoffs. But if this wasn't the case Stern would have to fine them too because if he didn't it would look hypocritical after the Spurs fining earlier in the year.
Zach-
I say they should get fined, but only because I don't like this double standard that the NBA seems to have. When the Spurs sat their players, David Stern was livid and wasted no time punishing the team. Suddenly Miami pulls the same stunt and nothing happens? That makes no sense at all. You could argue that the Heat are just coming off a long stretch of wins and decided to give their players needed a mental break, or that they are getting close to the playoffs. But does anyone really buy that? I didn't agree with the Spurs getting fined when they pulled this stunt. It is sports after all, sometimes stars just need a night off. But if you are going to punish teams that do this, then fine. But you must fine ALL of the teams, not just when you feel like it. How many days until Stern retires again?
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