gument is one derived completely from silence. It must be noted that only a minute fraction of Tel Hazor has been excavated, and thus the possibility

Hazor, and to find them in the site’s scant few excavated areas, is presuppositionally flawed. Zuckerman also fails to explain why the lower class(es) would initiate an internal revolt that would lead to the irreparable devastation of their native city, which would have to be the case since Hazor was left uninhabited until the 11th century BC, forcing the revolters to evacuate and resettle in other cities throughout the Hula Valley such as Tel-Dan, as Zuckerman suggests. What motive could be strong enough to incite such a peasants’ revolt that would lead to complete, personal disenfranchisement?17. Hoffmeier, “What Is the Biblical Date?,” 245.18. Wood, “Rise and Fall,” 477.19. Hoffmeier, “What Is the Biblical Date?,” 244.20. In Amarna Letter (EA) 227, the ruler of Hazor, while writing to the Egyptian pharaoh, refers to himself as the “king of the city of Hazor,” a case unparalleled in all of the correspondence of the Canaanite cities mentioned in the el-Amarna archive. Furthermore, in EA 148, he is referred to the same way by the ruler of Tyre. Unfortunately, EA 227 is rather fragmentary, but in it the king of Hazor reassures pharaoh that he is safeguarding the cities of pharaoh until the Egyptian king’s arrival (The Amarna Letters, ed. William L. Moran [Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992], 289, 235). As Yadin writes, “This indicates no doubt that the King of Hazor’s rule embraced more than the city itself,” which “is further corroborated by the letters of the rulers of Tyre and Ashtaroth” (Yadin, The Head, 8). It should be no surprise that in Judges 4, Jabin is referred to four times as the “king of Canaan,” while only once is he called the “king of Hazor.” In fact, he is called the “king of Canaan, who ruled in Hazor” (Judg 4:2).21. Keil and Delitzsch seem to agree, writing that the purpose of Joshua is to show how the faithful covenant-God of Israel fulfilled the promise that he made to the patriarchs, and how the Canaanites were destroyed and their land was given to the tribes of Israel for a hereditary possession through the medium of Joshua (C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, “Joshua,” in Commentary of the Old Testament, vol. 2 [Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1989], 15).22. Wood, “The Biblical Date: 1446,” 256.23. Yigael Yadin, Hazor: The Rediscovery of a Great Citadel of the Bible (New York: Random House, 1975), 255. Elsewhere, the former chief excavator at Hazor notes that the destruction of the final Canaanite city undoubtedly is the one “related in the Book of Joshua” (Yadin, “Hazor,” in New Encyclopedia, 603).24. Zuckerman, “Anatomy of a Destruction,” 25.25. Rodger C. Young, “When Did Solomon Die? ” JETS 46:4 (Dec 2003), 601, 602. For a development of the argument that the jubilee cycles support a date of 1446 BC for the exodus, see idem, “The Talmud’s Two Jubilees and their Relevance to the Date of the Exodus,” WTJ 68 (2006) 71–83; idem, “Ezekiel 40:1 As a Corrective for Seven



Wrong Ideas in Biblical Interpretation
Three Verifications of Thiele’s Date for the Beginning of the Divided Kingdom,” AUSS 45 (2007) 173–179.26. Petrovich, “Amenhotep II”, 84, footnote 15. This article evaluates the candidacy of Amenhotep II as the exodus-pharaoh by examining this pharaoh’s biography against what must be true of the exodus-pharaoh historically. The conclusion drawn is that Amenhotep II is the only pharaoh of either the 18th or 19th Dynasty who sufficiently meets the necessary biographical requirements. To date, no late-exodus advocate has attempted to challenge the evidence that was presented, or the conclusion that was drawn.27. The commencement of the conquest can be dated exactly. With the exodus datable to 1446 BC, the conquest automatically is dated to 1406 BC, because for “40 years the sons of Israel walked in the wilderness” before entering Canaan (Josh 5:6). Since the crossing of the Jordan River transpired on the 10th day of the first month, a date of 28 April 1406 BC is fixed as the day in which the Israelites crossed into Canaan (Josh 4:19). The new moon that began Nisan of 1406 BC occurred at 05:10 UT (universal time) on 17 April (as listed on the webpage http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/phase/phases-1499.html). Since the time at Shittim in the Plains of Moab, where the Israelites seemingly stayed (Num 25:1; Josh 2:1; 3:1) when the new moon was observed, is 2.4 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), the new moon was observable at 05:10 + 2.383 hours = 07.55 hours, or 7:33 am. When factoring-in the one full day of variance in the earth’s rotational velocity that takes into account the delay in the retrograde motion of the earth during Joshua’s long day (Josh 10:12–13) and Hezekiah’s ten steps on the sun dial (2 Kgs 20:8–11), the new moon actually occurred on 18 April, a date that does not need to be altered since the new moon occurred in the morning, and not after dusk, unlike the new moon for the month of the exodus (Petrovich, “Amenhotep II,” 84, footnote 15). Thus the new moon for the month of the conquest was observed by the Israelite priests on the evening of 18 April 1406 BC. Extrapolating forward, the 10th day of the month of Nisan/Abib would have been 28 April. As for the date of the completion of the conquest, Caleb notes that at the time of the division of the land, and thus immediately after the conquest formally concluded, he was 85 years old (Josh 14:10). He further provides a chronological harmonization for this event by noting that he was 40 years of age when Moses sent the 12 spies from Kadesh-barnea to spy out Canaan (Josh 14:7). Since this spying mission transpired in early summer of the second year after the exodus, and thus in 1445 BC, the 45 years of time (Josh 14:10) between these events effectively date the division of Canaan among the Israelite tribes to 1400 BC. Therefore, the conquest began in 1406 BC and concluded in 1400 BC, a span of six years. The northern campaign was far shorter in length because the operation hinged on one massive battle fought against the powerful king of Hazor and his allies (Josh 11:1–8).28. Although the exact date of Joshua’s death is impossible to determine, a close approximation can be made. While Israel was at Mt. Sinai in ca. 1446 BC, Joshua was said to be “a young man” (Exod 33:11), probably meaning that he was 30–50 years old, in contrast to the aged Moses. Moses was nearly 80 years old during his previous trip to Mt. Sinai (Exod 3:1), since he “was fulfilling 40 years of age” when he departed from Egypt (Acts 7:23), and the angel spoke to him at the burning bush “after 40 years had passed” (Acts 7:30). Leon Wood perceptively notes that “Joshua had been entrusted with more leadership than Caleb and also is said to have been ‘old and well advanced in years’ (Josh. 13:1) when Caleb speaks of himself as being yet strong and vigorous [Josh. 14:11]. Joshua was probably more than ninety at this time” (LeoRosetta Stone Spanish

argue strongly in favor of a connection between A2 and Egypt’s losses after the exodus. This circumstantial evidence obviously will not satisfy

Rosetta Stone German

that the Apiru be characterized as ethnically diverse,

leaving Beitzel’s claim curious and unfounded. Hoffmeier even underscores the certainty of the Apiru’s ethnic homogeneity: “It is clear from the occurrence in the [Memphis] stele of Amenhotep II that they were identified as a specific group like the other ethnic groups taken as prisoners by the king.”153 This claim of homogeneity is correct for two reasons. (1) The ethnic homogeneity of the Apiru is certain since they were listed among the ethnic groups on the booty list of A2. “Listing the habiru alongside of other ethnic groups from Hurru, Retenu, and the Shasu suggests that the Egyptians may have viewed the habiru as a distinguishable ethnic group.”154 The Apiru appear third on the list, preceded by princes and brothers of the princes, and followed by three names with geographic connotation: the Shasu, who were Bedouin to the south of Palestine; the Kharu, who were “Horites,” residents of Syro-Palestine; and the Nagasuites/Neges, who dwelled in Upper Retenu, near Aleppo.155 Grimal compares the ethnic distinctiveness of both the Apiru and the Shasu Bedouin: “Among the prisoners of war were said to be 3,600 Apiru, an ethnic group clearly distinct from the Shosu Bedouin, who are enumerated separately.”156 The Annals of Thutmose III confirm the Kharu’s ethnicity: That feeble enemy of Kadesh has entered Megiddo, and he is [there] at this moment, having rallied to himself the chieftains of [every] foreign land [who had been] allies of Egypt, as well as (those) from as far away as Naharin in/being [. . .], Kharu, and Kedy, their horses, their armies, and [their people].157 Since the Kharu are listed among peoples with armies and horses, along with Mitanni (Naharin), their distinct ethnicity—and thus that of the Apiru, as well—cannot be doubted.(2) The ethnic homogeneity of the Apiru is certain due to their prominent position among the ethnic groups on the booty list of A2. The 3,600 Apiru are notably more numerous than the princes and brothers of the princes who appear before them, and notably fewer than the three people-groups listed after them.158 The scribe of the Memphis Stele attributes the initial position to royalty, and only afterward does he name distinct ethnic groups, among which the Apiru appear first, despite their number being far fewer than that of the subsequent ethnic groups. This initial, prominent position among non-royal captives is easily explainable if these were Hebrews, and the exodus had occurred half of a year before A2. Amenhotep II obviously would desire to accentuate his enslavement of loathsome Israelites, whom he held responsible for humbling Egypt’s pantheon and depleting her mighty army, even if their number paled in comparison to the 2,000,000+ whom he had lost. d. Accounting for the Bible’s Silence about the 3,600 Captured Israelites. How does the Bible account for the Egyptians’ capture of 3,600 Hebrews when the main body of Israelites was wandering in the wilderness in the distant Sinai Peninsula under Moses’ leadership (Num 14:33)? The date for A2 in November of the exodus-year coincides with a silent period in Biblical history. Exodus concludes with Israel near Mount Sinai, though Moses parenthetically adds a retrospective summary of how the Lord guided them during their subsequent journeys (Exod 40:36–38). Meanwhile, Numbers begins in the 14th month after the exodus (Num 1:1), about five months after A2 concluded. Therefore, A2 fits into this silent period, with no inherent conflict between the capture of the 3,600 Israelites—who probably left the Israelite camp and journeyed toward southern Palestine, near the travel route of A2—and the Biblical events that transpired after the exodus.159IX. AMENHOTEP II AND THE DESECRATION OF HATSHEPSUT’S IMAGEEgyptian history itself may confirm that Amenhotep II was the exodus-pharaoh. The Thutmosid succession entered into an extraordinary phase at the death of Thutmose II, as the throne was given first to his son, Thutmose III, and later assumed as well by his widow, Hatshepsut. Her rise to power resulted from her position as the child-king’s regent; given his youthfulness, her self-appointment to the rank of coregent probably met little or no opposition within the royal court.160 Sometime between Year 2 and Year 4 of Thutmose III, Hatshepsut assumed full royal titulary, making herself a female pharaoh of equal rank.1611. Identifying Moses’ Adoptive Mother.Moses evidently was born during the reign of Thutmose I, whose daughter, Hatshepsut, qualifies as a legitimate candidate for the pharaoh’s daughter who drew Moses from the Nile River (Exod 2:5).162 Was she old enough during her father’s second regnal year, most likely the time in which Moses was born (ca. 1527 BC), to qualify as his Egyptian stepmother?a. Hatshepsut’s Age Viewed as Being Insufficient. One scenario may preclude Hatshepsut from being the princess who drew Moses from the Nile. The chief wife of Thutmose I, Queen Ahmose, was called “the King’s Sister,” but never “the King’s Daughter,” a title given only to a princess. Egyptians generally were not reserved about recording ranks and titles, so this reticence may indicate that Ahmose was not a pharaoh’s daughter, and thus was neither the daughter nor the sister of Amenhotep I. Instead, she may have been the sister or half-sister of Thutmose I. If this were true, a brother-sister marriage almost certainly would have occurred after Thutmose I was promoted to heir apparent, as incestuous marriages are extremely rare outside of the immediate royal family, and such political matches that consolidated a would-be successor’s claim to the throne were standard procedure in ancient Egypt.163 Perhaps, then, Hatshepsut was born after Thutmose I was coronated (ca. 1529 BC), and thus was barely over twelve years old when she married her (half-)brother (ca. 1516 BC). This means that Hatshepsut would have been less than three years of age at the time of Moses’ birth, at which age she hardly could have ventured down to the Nile, let alone draw out an infant-bearing reed basket from the river.b. Hatshepsut’s Age Viewed as Being Sufficient. Yet there is no proof that Hatshepsut was born after her father’s accession, and the current lack of attestation to Queen Ahmose being a “King’s Daughter” does not preclude her from being the daughter of Amenhotep I. In addition, the uncertainty about when Thutmose II’s reign began means that he may have served as co-regent with his father, Thutmose I, for several years before he ruled alone. Hatshepsut thus would have been of sufficient age to draw Moses out of the Nile during her father’s second regnal year, so she remains a legitimate candidate for Moses’ Egyptian adoptive-mother, especially since her father was already over 35 years old when he assumed the throne.c. Hatshepsut’s Sister Akhbetneferu as a Candidate. Is Hatshepsut the only candidate for Moses’ royal adoptive-mother? Confusion exists over the number of children actually born to Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose. Only two daughters, Hatshepsut and her sister, Princess Akhbetneferu, are known to have been born to the royal couple. However, Princess Akhbetneferu died in infancy, so she cannot qualify as a candidate for the princess who found Moses, leaving Hatshepsut as the only known daughter of Thutmose I who does qualify.164d. Hatshepsut’s Potential Step-Sister as a Candidate. One other option exists for Moses’ adoptive-mother, but not through Queen Ahmose. Thutmose I had a secondary wife named Queen Mutnofret, the mother of Thutmose II. Little is known of her but that she was a person of rank, probably even royal blood, as an inscription at Karnak calls her “the King’s Daughter.” Mutnofret, and not Ahmose, actually appears in the king’s mortuary chapel alongside the royal princes Ramose and Wadjmose, both of whom probably died before their father.165 Therefore, perhaps even numerous princes were born before their father married Ahmose.



Rosetta Stone

r and Votow 1984: frontispiece). Arther Ferrill chastises his colleagues and corroborates my analysis of this problem when he states that although mos

n archaeological fact. After some analysis and consultation with "scholars," he arrives at his conclusion that the conquest of Canaan as a unified military campaign led by a single, divinely directed leader, while undoubtedly a powerful narrative, may have little basis in historical fact (1992: 2). Even the existence of the Bible's greatest king, David, and his military exploits have not been accepted by mainline scholars in major universities, as was reported after the recent discovery of a fragment of stone, widely believed by many to be the first known reference outside the Bible to King David. Although the stone does refer to the "House of David," even this evidence is not enough for Dr. Jack Sasson, professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, who states that the reference to the House of David did not necessarily prove the man existed (Wilford 1993: A1, B2) [emphasis mine!]. Such intellectual arrogance and unwillingness to accept the Bible's accounts of history by those who are closest to the study of the era has led military scholars to overlook a valuable source of information about the origins of the elusive principles of military science. It should be clear to any reader of the Old Testament that its pages detail many military activities. The Bible's accounts are considerably more ancient than those most military analysts use. Archaeologists categorize the Old Testament periods as the Late Bronze Age to Iron Age II (1550-586 BC), times that pre-date the Greco-Roman period by centuries. Therefore, it seems to me that the books of the Old Testament are a primary source, written over 3,000 years ago by many authors. Thus, they should be used by military theorists.I have often wondered why Bible scholars have not pointed out the Bible's historical cohesiveness and accuracy to military historians and theorists. I suspect one reason is that Bible commentators are not trained in military affairs. As a result, they study the Bible to learn moral or spiritual lessons, not principles of war. In the same way, military scholars overlook



The Bible because they perceive it as a book of moral and spiritual lessons,
Not a book of military history or theory.The tendency for military scholars to ignore the importance of the Bible is unfortunate, for, as Abraham Malamat has pointed out, many Biblical sources, when stripped of their theological varnish, do present a candid record of military lessons... (1979: 38).1 Recently, a military affairs analyst has written several books that do take pre-Classical history into account. Richard Gabriel argues that except for a handful of scholars, the field of ancient military history has been only rudimentarily explored, no doubt due somewhat to the lack of an attentive audience. He points to the fact that ancient Near Eastern armies deployed forces of modern size and conducted sophisticated military operations approaching the complexity of the United States' recent Persian Gulf campaign (Gabriel and Getz 1991: xiv)! I would argue that there is an "attentive audience" of many Bible scholars and interested lay people who would welcome cogent and accurate analyses and insights of military operations and activities in the Old Testament if they were written by scholars of military affairs.Importance of GeographyAt this point the reader may be asking, "What kinds of lessons and insights could be learned if military scholars and historians would examine the pages of the Old Testament with a view toward accepting its accuracy and reliability?" A complete discussion of the subject is not within the scope of this short article, but a few examples should serve to illustrate the point.Military operations are fought over terrain, and therefore one of the most important determinants of military operations has to do with geography. In ancient times, as well as modern, terrain dictates the tactics and strategies of military leaders. From Joshua's conquering of the backbone of the "Promised Land" to General Schwartzkopf's use of the vastness of the Arabian desert to conceal preparations for one of the greatest tank battles in history, successful military tacticians have taken advantage of landforms to accomplish their objectives. Military leaders who do not, will probably fail. In Israel, the mountainous backbone has been an obstacle to invading armies for millennia and a place of refuge for its inhabitants. In spite of the ruggedness of the high hills, God directed Joshua to occupy that precise piece of real estate as recorded in the early chapters of the Book of Joshua. In so doing, Joshua secured the Israelites' presence in Canaan. History confirms that no sovereign state has been able to exist in Palestine without occupying the central ridge, and countless ruins of fortifications on its heights and approaches silently attest to the highland's importance. Invaders have avoided the mountains. Napoleon, when asked if he was going to occupy Palestine's mountains, is supposed to have said: I should not wish to share the fate of Cestius; I will not be bogged down in the mountains (Gichon 1985: 182). Instead, conquerors have occupied the coastal plains and the impoEnglish Rosetta Stone

Unfortunately they were closed

but we could get a clear feel for the terrain around the excavations. Near the enclosure for the excavations was the Church of Tas-Silg, a very prominent building in the region. On Friday, January 14, we walked around the point where St. Thomas Tower is located and then along the edge of the low cliffs to St. Thomas Bay. There was no wind so the sea was flat and no waves were breaking on the Munxar Reef. On Sunday, January 16, however, a very strong windstorm hit Malta. I returned to St. Thomas Bay and walked out to the point overlooking the Munxar Reef. The waves clearly indicated the line of the Munxar Reef. After watching the waves, I turned around to observe the terrain behind me. Up the slopes of the hill the Church of Tas-Silg and the enclosure wall of the Tas-Silg excavations were clearly visible. Just to confirm the visibility from Tas-Silg, I walked along dirt paths and through fields up to the enclosure wall. As I stood on the outside of the wall, just opposite the Roman temple, I looked down and could see the waves breaking on the Munxar Reef. There was eye contact between the outer Munxar Reef and this important shrine with no apparent obstruction in the line of view. If I could see the Munxar Reef then someone at the Munxar Reef could have seen me and the elevated terrain landmarks around me such as the prominent Temple of Juno.If the Apostle Paul’s ship was anchored near the Munxar Reef, when it was morning, the sea captain and the sailors immediately would have recognized where they were. Luke, who was on board the ship, testifies that they did not recognize where they were (Acts 27:39). Thus the Munxar Reef does not meet the Biblical criteria for the shipwreck of Paul.Is the "Meeting of two seas" at the Munxar Reef? (Acts 27:41)When the sea captain gave the orders for the ropes of the four anchors to be cut, Luke says they struck "a place where two seas meet" (Acts 27:41). The Greek words for "two seas meet" is transliterated, "topon dithalasson." The meaning of these two Greek words, "two seas meet," has been translated in the book as "place of two seas" (2003: 71), "a place where two seas meet" (2003: 217), "two seas meet" (2003: 29, 73, 194), and "a place between waters" (2003: 29).Mr. Cornuke gives three possible meanings for this Greek phrase on page 82 of his book and footnotes it as his #16. Footnote 16 is page 148 of Joseph Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (1893). When one examines Thayer’s definition of topon dithalasson, he gives more definitions than Mr. Cornuke gives in his book. Thayer starts off by saying it means, "resembling [or forming] two seas." Also "lying between two seas, i.e. washed by the sea on both sides... an isthmus." If we take these omitted meanings into consideration, it opens up other possibilities on the island for the location of the shipwreck.There have been other studies done on the Greek phrase topon dithalasson which appears only once in the Greek New Testament (Gilchrist 1996: 42-46). Professor Mario Buhagiar, of the University of Malta, cautions that this term "does not offer any real help because it can have several meanings and the way it is used in Acts 27:41, does not facilitate an interpretation. A place where two seas meet (Authorised and Revised versions) and a cross sea (Knox Version) are the normally accepted translations but any beach off a headland (Liddell and Scott) or an isthmus whose extremity is covered by the waves (Grimms and Thayer), as indeed most water channels, can qualify as the place where the boat grounded. The truth is that the Acts do not give us sufficient clues to help in the identification of the site" (Buhagiar 1997: 200).There are other locations on the island that fit the description of the lying between two seas and an isthmus.Is the "bay with a beach" at St. Thomas Bay? (Acts 27:39)In introducing this passage, Mr. Cornuke remarks, "The Bible states that sailors aboard Paul’s ship, having anchored off the coast of Malta in a near hurricane, peered out at the horizon at midnight on the fourteenth night, and ... observed a bay with a beach" (2003: 27). Actually, verse 39 states, "Now when it was day..." (NKJV), "And when day came..." (NASB), "And when it was day..." (KJV). It was not midnight as stated in the book. If it were at midnight, and especially during a gragale, it would be pitch black and they would not have been able to see anything.There is a second problem with Mr. Cornuke’s identification. According to Map 3, the ship was anchored on the south side of the Munxar Reef before the ropes were cut. More than likely in the First Century AD, the sea captain would not have been able to see the low-level beach of St. Thomas Bay from where he was anchored though the elevated landmarks would have been visible and recognizable.Geographers who study land forms are well aware that coastlines change over time. This could be a result of silting, as in the case of Marsa and the Marsascala Bay. Erosion by the sea is always going on. Seismic activity could change coastlines as well. Malta has many fault lines on or around it that could move land mass up, down or sideways. A certain depth in the sea, or elevation on land, today might not necessarily be what it was 1,000 or 2,000 years ago. Tsunamis are known in the Mediterranean Sea, and several have been recorded in the history of Malta. In 1693 a tsunami hit the island of Gozo. The water receded a mile and then returned with a vengeance (Azzopardi 2002: 60). Shifting sand moved by a tsunami could have changed the contour of the seabed.A careful look at Map 2 with a magnifying glass reveals that the Munxar Reef is above the waterline and has what appeared to be three small islands. Unfortunately this map is not identified; nor is there a date given for when or by whom it was produced.The D’Aleccio map of the siege of Malta in 1565 was produced and published in 1582. On that map, the Munxar Reef appears as a series of small islands or a peninsula (Ganado 1984: Plate 18).An Internet search revealed the Boisgelin Map of Malta produced in 1805, but I have not examined this map first hand. The Munxar Reef looked like the horn of a unicorn. Geographically, it could be a peninsula or a series of small islands.The earliest known map of Malta was produced in 1536 (Vella 1980). Map 2 must be later than this one, as are the D’Aleccio and Boisgelin maps. They tell us that at least in the 16th century there were three small islands, or a peninsula, above the Munxar Reef. The question is, what was the reef like in the First Century AD? According to the "Geological Map of the Maltese Islands" (Map 1, 1993) the cliff overlooking the Munxar Reef is made of Middle Globigerina Limestone. It is described as "a planktonic foraminifera-rich sequence of massive, white, soft carbonate mudstones locally passing into pale-grey marly mudstone." Assuming the small islands and/or peninsula were made of the same material, over 2,000 years this soft limestone would have eroded away by the constant wave action and occasional tsunamis. If this is the case, it raises some interesting questions: Were the small islands bigger, or was it a peninsula in the First Century AD? If so, how high was the land and how far out did it go? If it were higher than the grain ship, then it would lead to serious questions as to whether the captain could see the beach at all. It might have even been impossible to cross over it by sea in order to reach the beach.The Six Anchors (Acts 27: 28-30, 40)Mr. Cornuke interviewed people, primarily old divers and spear fishermen, who claimed to have located four anchors on the south side of the Munxar Reef at 15 fathoms, or 90 feet of water. These interviews are the author’s prime evidence for Paul’s shipwreck. To be more precise, Mr. Cornuke located four anchor stocks, a stock being one part of a whole anchor.Before discussing the six anchor stocks that allegedly were discovered, a description of a wooden Roman anchor is necessary.

English Rosetta Stone

10 Mar 11 Five Average Movies That Are Worth a Look, But Only Once

Five Average Movies That Are Worth a Look, But Only OnceBy: Ed Bagley .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet ? 2006 Ed BagleyThe Bourne Supremacy – 2 Stars (Average)In a CIA sting in Berlin two agents get murdered and a former agent, Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), is framed for the hit. Bourne was in India with his girlfriend at the time, having dropped out of the CIA after suffering amnesia.The sting gone wrong was an inside job, which was one of CIA's own, just not Bourne. In the meantime, the CIA wants Bourne dead, and so does the ruthless cartel that was paid to frame him.This is an action adventure, and not a bad start to a movie, but the presentation suffers because it is too hard to follow the story line, the sound is terrible (you just cannot hear much of the movie without turning up the volume very high), and the main auto chase scene in the movie is beyond ridiculous.Yes, there are cars crashing everywhere, but what happens during the chase is just stupid. Why is it that in the movies, always, always, always, there are 5,000 cops and police cars chasing the wronged victim, and the police officers chasing the "bad guy" are cast as idiots?The police in The Bourne Supremacy are presented as dumber than a rock when, in real life, just the opposite is true, as the criminal is more often than not captured because he is dumb.This flaw in movie making hurts the reality of the presentation in a suspenseful drama, and makes it tougher to swallow. Please, leave the dumb, bungling cop routine for edies (I believe we call this associating appropriately).Catch Me If You Can – 2 Stars (Average)This movie is based on the true story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. who successfully conned millions of dollars by impersonating a pilot, physician and legal prosecutor, and he did this all before his 19th birthday. Abagnale was nothing if not very bright, and even more clever than bright considering his age.Catch Me If You Can stars Leonardo DiCaprio (the pursued) and Tom Hanks (the pursuer), both former Academy Award winners. Catch Me If You Can has a great story line, but it is not a great film. In a word, it was disappointing.This great chase has its moments, just too few of them. Both DiCaprio and Hanks are miscast in this film; the casting director should be demoted. The script is suspect too because it is disjointed and lacks believable depth.The Breakfast Club – 2 Stars (Average)This film focuses on five teens who spend all day Saturday in detention at a high school. They arrive not knowing each other and leave as new friends, having experienced some personal growth as their self-defense mechanisms crumble under the stress and proximity of the situation.They are Andrew the Jock (Emilio Estevez), Brian the Brain (Anthony Michael Hall), John the Criminal (Judd Nelson), Claire the Princess (Molly Ringwald) and Allison the Kook (Ally Sheedy).The Breakfast Club was written and directed by John Hughes. The number of awards this film received was zero, zip, nada (or, you might say, average).This is a film about the interpersonal relationships among the teenagers, all of whom suffer from difficult relationships with their parents.The impact of the parents' treatment and expectations is more than evident, and underscores how impressionable teenagers are at this point in their understanding and maturity about life.The Christmas Child – 2 Stars (Average)A Chicago journalist goes to a small Texas town on an assignment with another motive in mind, to find out about his past. He was adopted and wants to find his roots.His marriage is on the rocks when he arrives, and by struggling to find his past, and confronting the truth, he finds himself and saves his marriage. This film could be on the Hallmark channel, as there is no filth, no violence and no sex to mess up a good story line with some surprise happenings.Arsenic and Old Lace – 2 Stars (Average)A drama critic discovers that his two elderly aunts are helping their male callers by poisoning them with arsenic and burying them in the basement. Their nephew who is mentally ill and apparently harmless, digs the graves in the basement and believes that he is President Teddy Roosevelt.This film, made in 1944 (the year I was born), is in black and white; color films had not yet been perfected. Arsenic and Old Lace stars Cary Grant in what must have been his first film, or one his first films, as his performance is not star quality.The film is funny and gives a real snapshot of how the movie business has changed in a half century.Article Source: abcarticledirectoryEd Bagley is the author of Ed Bagley's Blog, which he publishes daily with fresh, original articles on Internet Marketing, Jobs and Careers, Movie Reviews and Lessons in Life intended to delight, inform, educate and motivate readers. Visit Ed at . . .edbagleyblogNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, Ed BagleyRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Movies Film via RSS!Additional Articles From - Home Arts Movies FilmWhy Calibrate your High Definition TV?- By : Robert ShefferSweet Phone - By : Tim Webb.Find out Home Theater Methods! What You have Been Missing in Your TV and Movie Encounter.- By : Joesph MellbergPreparing and Setting up a Home Theater system is Easier Than you Think!- By : Zachariah DivensGrown Ups 2010 Movie In Review- By : Elenor CherryCamera Crew Hire- By : Mark A. WilsonReview of Drive Angry Movie- By : Gursel BatmazReturn Of The Horror Legend: Scream 4- By : Gursel BatmazMovie Review: Clash Of The Titans Leaves Audiences Wanting- By : Elenor CherryRed Riding Hood The Movie- By : Gursel Batmaz Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

5 Mar 11 How Many Affiliate Checks Do You Want To Receive?

How Many Affiliate Checks Do You Want To Receive?By: karl glantschnig .... Click author's name to view profile and articles!!!Retargeting by ChangoTweet Affiliate Marketing is by far, one of the easiest ways to make money online. It is a revenue sharing business relationship between the affiliate who agrees to promote the products or services, and the merchant who offers them.The affiliate advertises the merchant's products and services and gets a commission for every successful referral. Every time a customer is referred to the merchant's site, throughNHL Shop
the affiliate's efforts, and makes a purchase, the affiliate gets a share of the profit. No payment is due to the affiliate until successful results are realized. Compensation is based on either number of visits (Pay-per-click), registrant (Pay-per-lead), or commission for each sale (Pay-per-sale).Affiliate Marketers can earn a few bucks to thousands of dollars with affiliate programs. The opportunity to earn in affiliate marketing can only be limited by the affiliate's determination, creativity and strategy. It is a brilliant way to earn online, and you do not have to produce your own product or service to make a buck. By advertising your merchant's products passionately, you get more in return. Profits in affiliate marketing usually start small but can get larger as the campaign starts to build up steam. There are many ways that an affiliate marketer can do to maximize their profits. If you ask any affiliate marketer how many affiliate checks they would want to receive, they will most likely want to get as many as possible. Some affiliate checks are small, amounting to nothing more than $25. While others are large and can easily reach the thousands and even more. Over time, these affiliate checks may build up to a really impressive amount. However, making a fortune in affiliate marketing is not instant. You should put in enough work and effort as well. You have to use your imagination to find more ways to attract more web traffic that can convert to sales for the merchant and profit for you as well.How many affiliate checks do you want to receive? Most affiliate marketers will enthusiastically reply that they want to receive as many affiliate checks as possible. However, is it as easy as it sounds? Does joining many affiliate marketers guarantee more affiliate checks that really amount to something? The answer is No. Most affiliate marketers assume that joining multiple affiliate programs is a wise option. Because, it is very easy to join affiliate programs and there is really nothing to lose, affiliate marketers are tempted to join as many programs they can get their hands on. Thus, they fail to give their affiliate programs enough attention and work that they ought to receive. The maximum potential of the affiliate programs are not realized and the resulting income from these programs will almost certainly be disappointing.The best way to achieve multiple streams of income is to concentrate on one affiliate program first. Choose a product or service that you can promote passionately. Pick a product in which you have complete trust. The best products and services to promote are those that you use personally. Your prospects will be able to sense your sincerity whenever you promote a product that you have experienced. This will greatly enhance your credibility as well as your product's marketability and will Montreal Canadiens jersey
really encourage your prospect to purchase or avail of the product or service.As soon as your first affiliate program is making a reasonable profit then you can proceed to joining another affiliate program and repeat the process. "Too much, too soon" is a common pitfall in affiliate marketing. Joining too many affiliate programs simultaneously in the hopes of having multiple streams of income simply does not work.Focus first on one affiliate program and work on it so that it makes a good profit. Then, go find another promising program and give it your best effort. The question should not be how many affiliate checks you want to receive, but how many "high-paying" affiliate checks can you receive. The answer lies in your determination to succeed and determination to maximize your earning potential. With the right tools, the right actions, and perseverance you can definitely make a good profit out of affiliate marketing.Article Source: http://www.shop-on-sale.com A Million Dollar Work At Home Expert Shows You How To find the best home based business ideas and oportunities so you can work at home!www.work-at-home-finder.comInternet Home Business Ideas and Opportunities Newsletter!www.work-at-home-finder.com/optin.htmlNote: The content of this article solely conveys the opinion of its author, karl glantschnigRetargeting by ChangoDid You Like This Article? Share It With YourFriends!Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 Not yet Rated Click the XML Icon to Receive Free Articles About Affiliate Programs What Cloth Diaper Provides The Top Match For Newborns?- By : mirtagaylWhat is Affiliate Marketing and Why You Should Do It?- By : James A AndersonEarning Money Quickly WithCanadiens jersey
Email Marketing - True or False?- By : chad buistMoney Creating Tips For Individuals Involved In An Online Affiliate Marketing Home Business- By : Johnny BarrellGlobal Success Club And How To Make Money Online- By : Don SeanMake Cash Over The Internet With Affiliate Marketing- By : Leroy WheelerWhich Affiliate Networks To Look Out For When Promoting ?- By : Elsa Braxton Still Searching? Last Chance to find what you're looking for. Try using Bing Search!

24 Jan 11 South Carolina Gamecocks' Defense: Schemes and Alignments

Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesA number of opposition fans, and even USC fans, often seem pretty confused about what kind of base defense Ellis Johnson runs at South Carolina. I was talking to one 'Cocks fan at the UGA game who kept referring to our three linebackers, Reebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
when we normally only play two linebackers at a time. Another UGA fan kept referring to Eric Norwood as a defensive end. However, this confusion is understandable, because Ellis Johnson's defense is built around versatile players who can align themselves in a number of different ways to create confusion. The goal here is to give a basic overview of how the defense is supposed to work and the roles various players play in it. Finally, I will evaluate what has gone right and wrong for the defense thus far and what will be needed for it to function as an elite unit this year. The Base The base formation can mostly simply be called a 4-2-5 defense. That is, four down linemen, 2 linebackers, and 5 defensive backs. Normally this would be called a nickel formation, but for reasons we will see, this isn't really a nickel defense. The primary difference is that the fifth defensive back is more of a linebacker/strong safety hybrid than a typical nickel back. In a typical nickel scheme, the extra defensive back either plays a deep zone or covers the slot receiver one-on-one. In Ellis Johnson's scheme, the "spur" plays much more of a run-support/blitzing/underneath-coverage role than a nickel back. So, in many ways you could call this defense a 4-2-1-4 defense: four down linemen, two linebackers, one spur, and four true defensive backs. The most common defensive play-call in this formation has the four down linemen attacking the line of scrimmage and the two linebackers playing primarily run-support roles and covering backs out of the backfield. The "spur" covers the short/intermediate middle of the field in a zone defense, the two corners play zone schemes on the outside, and the two safeties play a two-deep zone. The Subtle Tweaks As mentioned earlier, the true hallmark of this defense is having several players that can play multiple roles. As mentioned earlier, the spur should have the ability to play everything from essentially a weakside linebacker's role to a free safety role. In addition, the weakside linebacker oftentimes will play more of a pass-rush/defensive end type role. Last year this was Eric Norwood's specialty, which often led to some actually considering him a defensive end. Depending on the down and distance, the weakside linebacker will often sub for one of the defensive ends with a quicker linebacker taking the weakside linebacker's position. However, this has happened much less this year, with the true defensive ends, Devin Taylor and Cliff Matthews, playing almost every down. What is the key to this being a dominant unit?What is the key to this being a dominant unit?Antonio Allen and/or Damario Jeffrey stepping their play up23.7%Shaq Wilson getting back18.6%The secondary playing to their potential39.0%Better defensive playcalling18.6%Total votes: 59In another tweak on the alignment, one of the defensive ends is often called to drop into short zone coverage after initially lining up at the line of scrimmage. This can give the defense the look of a 3-3-5 or 3-4 defense. Adding all of this up, with the same personnel the defense can play: A base 4-2-1-4 defense, as outlined above A more traditional 4-3 defense, with the spur essentially becoming a third linebacker A 5-2-4 defense, with the weakside linebacker essentially lining up as a fifth defensive lineman and the spur essentially playing a linebacker position A traditional 4-2-5 nickel defense, with the spur essentially playing the role of a traditional nickel back A 5-1-5 defense, with the weakside linebacker playing a pass-rush role and the spur playing a traditional nickel back role. A 3-3-5 defense, with one of the defensive ends dropping into short zone coverage (or being subbed outright) and the spur playing the role of a traditional nickel back A traditional 3-4 defense, with one of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
the defensive ends playing a short zone (or being subbed outright) and the spur coming up to play a linebacker role This is why, when running properly, this defense can create headaches for opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks. South Carolina's defense can run a variety of schemes without tipping their hand by subbing personnel. The key positions of the defense Two positions in the defense stand out as the biggest keys: weakside linebacker and spur. Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesThe spur is important because his reads and calls either put South Carolina at a numbers advantage or disadvantage. If he reads a handoff and the QB keeps it, then South Carolina will have a hard time stopping a mobile quarterback (see Cam Newton's performance). If he reads run and it's play action, the pass defense is a little undermanned in their zones. A smart, athletic spur can make this a dominant unit. With a subpar spur, the defense will find itself out of position and unable to defend against even average attacks. Weakside linebacker is important for many of the same reasons, though the weakside linebacker doesn't typically have to make many reads. The weakside linebacker is sort of the "moving piece" of this defense that, with the right player, can wreak havoc on an offensive coordinator's plans and cause the QB to have nightmares. With a subpar weakside linebacker, this defense can get very vanilla and easy to predict. How this year's defense works What I've described above is Ellis Johnson's overall defensive philosophy. However, one thing he has shown over the years is that he varies and/or limits what he calls based on the current personnel he has. South Carolina really misses this guyFor instance, last year Eric Norwood was clearly the most talented player he had, so he tended to call defenses designed to move Norwood around, so that the opposition couldn't "scheme him out of the play" very often. Norwood was not only a physically gifted player, but he was also a very mentally sound player and could play a lot of positions on defense, allowing Ellis Johnson to do this. This year, there doesn't seem to be an Eric Norwood-type player amongst the linebackers or ends, which has led to what may appear to be more conservative play-calling. Very rarely this year have you seen anything other than the four down linemen rushing the passer and the two linebackers trying to stop the run. This may be for two reasons: First, Johnson seems to have two great pure defensive ends in Cliff Matthews and Devin Taylor. As Reebok Baltimore Ravens #27 Ray Rice Realtree camo Jersey
great as Norwood was, the reason he rushed the passer so often and had so many sacks was that sometimes South Carolina had a hard time getting to the quarterback with their pure defensive ends last year. Secondly, thus far they've mostly been missing Shaq Wilson, who is the only linebacker that's really versatile enough to play the Norwood role. Johnson seems reluctant to play his backups in anything other than base schemes when Shaq Wilson is not in there. And even when Shaq Wilson is in there, he's not Eric Norwood. If South Carolina wants a shot to play here this year, the defense has to step upKevin C. Cox/Getty Images The good things thus far The four down linemen have played exceptionally well. South Carolina has gotten decent pressure, despite blitzing less than I can ever remember this team blitzing. They've mostly stuffed traditional up-the-gut running attacks. The linebackers have played decently in run support. The bad things thus far Devonte Holloman at strong safety and Antonio Allen and Damario Jeffery at spur have made a lot of bad reads, especially against Cam Newton. The spur is essentially the quarterback of this defense on the field, and against a deception-based attack, such as Auburn's, his reads are critical. I could count on one hand the number of times that the spur made the right read on a quarterback spread-option run against Auburn. If Cam Newton kept the ball, the spur was following the running back; if the spur stayed on Cam Newton, he had actually handed it off. Despite NFL talent at both corners, they haven't really made plays. Culliver's transition to CB hasn't been as smooth as hoped. While he's played solidly, Stephon Gillmore's play hasn't really been at the All-SEC level South Carolina had expected. Akeem Auguste hasn't played poorly, but he hasn't been a factor either. Will the defense put it together and become a top shelf SEC defense?Will the defense put it together and become a top shelf SEC defense?Yes83.3%No16.7%Total votes: 6The linebackers make the plays they should, but that's about it. Again, this is somewhat understandable and will hopefully improve now that Shaq Wilson is back. What to look for going forward Shaq Wilson being reintegrated into the schemes. Shaq has been away, and his position is critical in making this defense hard for an offense to read. With him out, it's mostly been a talented but predictable unit that can be exploited by talented players. If Shaq Wilson can come in and allow Ellis Johnson to again use the kind of Reebok Baltimore Ravens #52 Ray Lewis Realtree camo Jersey
diversity of calls that this defense is capable of, then this could be one of the top, if not the top, defenses in the SEC. If it's more of the same, this is a slightly above-average defense in the SEC, which isn't bad, but won't get you to Atlanta. The bye week could not come at a better time for this defense. Hopefully they are angry about their performance, or lack thereof, against Auburn, and the bye week allows Ellis Johnson to really get Shaq back into the game plan. Shaq Wilson needs to become that player that the opposition has to worry about and game-plan against. This allows all the other pieces to more easily click into place. The ends will become even more dominant, taking some pressure off the spur to make the big plays and forcing the offense to react to the defense, and not the reverse. The safeties can just sit back and pick off pressured deep balls. In Sum This may very well be the most talented defense Spurrier has had; however, it has thus far lacked major playmakers at the two play-making positions, weakside linebacker and spur. If South Carolina can adequately address these two issues during the bye week, they could have a shot against Alabama and could definitely find themselves as the favorites to win the East. If these issues linger for the rest of the season, South Carolina may find themselves repeating the same sort of disappointing finish they've had the last few years.

22 Jan 11 Power Ranking The SEC Teams Week 3: Conference Still Seems Shaky

Though the top players stayed the same, the SEC power is still unclearLarry Burton (Syndicated Writer) Week three was not kind to many SEC teams struggling to stay near the top of the league and demonstrated why many feel this is a down year overall for the SEC.Every league has it proverbial cellar dweller, but when that team starts beating up on other teams in the league, does it make the league as whole look stronger or weaker? That is what happened this week when Houston Nutt's Ole Miss Rebels were shocked by Vanderbilt.As a whole, the Detroit Lions
SEC is very strong at the top with Alabama, very solid in the middle but the upper tier is very cloudy and no one is really coming into view there so far and with 25 per cent of the season over, now is the time to start showing what you can do.SEC Eastern DivisionSouth Carolina -Yes, their numbers are better than Florida's, but have they convinced that they have what it takes to finish the season strong? With Florida showing improvement and with the talent on board, the conventional wisdom is that Florida will soon retake top billing in this division.South Carolina has shown they can pound the rock between the tackles and Garcia is really showing his form in passing this year. Combine that with the always tough Ellis Johnson defense and you have a pretty solid team.Next weeks game on the road at Auburn should tell whether or not the season so far this season has been all smoke and mirrors so far.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 194.08 4th Overall RUSHING YARDS 198.3 33rd OverallPOINTS FOR 32.0 42nd Overall POINTS AGAINST 12.7 9th OverallFlorida -They seem to be winning the division more by default than by actions on the field. You have a team here struggling to find an identity and a moment that can turn the season from ho hum to humming like they usually do.Until Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks show that they can string more than a few wins together, you have to put Florida ahead of South Carolina.Florida has so much potential, one has to believe that at some point this season, they can finally tune the engine and stop sputtering past opponents in the second half on just depth and talent.Florida's put up or shut up time is quickly approaching with the next games against Kentucky, Alabama and LSU.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 150.7 103rd Overall RUSHING YARDS 166.7 52nd OverallPOINTS FOR 34.3 32nd Overall POINTS AGAINST 14.3 16th OverallKentucky -Don't let the football strength rankings fool you. Kentucky has some good numbers, but against very average to bad opponents. This week's contest with Florida at the the swamp will tell us once and for all just how good the Cats are this year.If the offense can keep up the pace they have so far this year, they could actually give the Gators a fight, especially if Florida keeps stumbling around looking for an identity.Derrick Locke ran for a whopping 165 yards and Mike Hartline passed for another 250 which will certainly give Florida something to think about in planning for this week's game.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 255.3 32nd Overall RUSHING YARDS 242.0 15th OverallPOINTS FOR 44.3 11th Overall POINTS AGAINST 18.03 4th OverallTennessee - Tennessee fights well for a half, but depth problems become apparent in the second as Tennessee fades pretty quickly. They once again looked good in the fist half of the game with Florida before the second half melt down did them in.Still, there's reason to be optimistic. Sims is quicklyGreen Bay Packers jersey
gaining confidence and piling up yardage and if the defense can just get things together, they may win a few SEC games this year.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 205.0 73rd Overall RUSHING YARDS 181.0 42nd OverallPOINTS FOR 26.7 70th Overall POINTS AGAINST 26.3 80th OverallVanderbilt -Yes folks there's a new cellar dweller in the SEC Eastern Division. Georgia has rocketed to the bottom while Vanderbilt rises now rises above two SEC teams, Georgia and Ole Miss.With the season Houston Nutt is having, I hate to call the Vanderbilt win an upset, but that's just what it was. Not so much much that they won, but that they won by so much.Vandy fans can take comfort in knowing they won't be shut out now in the SEC this season.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 127.7 110th Overall RUSHING YARDS 161.3 54th OverallPOINTS FOR 17.3 107th Overall POINTS AGAINST 21.3 58th OverallRicht encouraging Murray Saturday got the dogs close, but no cigarMike Zarrilli/Getty ImagesGeorgia -Following up an 8-5 season by rocketing your team to last place in your division with a 0-2 conference record is not a great way to stop the hot seat talk surrounding Mark Richt.Though Georgia played a valiant game against a team considered one of the better ones in the SEC, Arkansas, a loss is still a loss. And a loss at home is even worse.And with other big games from better SEC teams still down the road, that 8-5 season last year that got so many so hot might seem like a good thing before the season is over.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 212.7 63rd Overall RUSHING YARDS 128.0 85th OverallPOINTS FOR 28.3 64th Overall POINTS AGAINST 18.3 39th OverallSEC WestAlabama -For anyone looking for chinks in the armor of the defending national champions, it was hard to find any Saturday as they just completely pummeled Duke 62-13 before calling off the dogs. They could have scored 90 points based on the first half performance, but that's not Nick Saban's style.Ingram answered the questions, is he OK and who's number one now?Brian A. Westerholt/Getty ImagesNext week will answer a lot of questions about the Tide defense. Facing Ryan Mallet, the world will find out in the Tide is rebuilding or simply re-loading on defense.Any questions about Ingram were settled with a big exclamation mark. His 151 yards on just nine carries may finally shut everyone up on who's number one on this team. By contract, Richardson struggled with just 61 yards on seven carries and Eddie Lacy's seven carries netted 52.Newcomer Jalston Fowler got 48 yards on just six carries. Look at the yards per carry average on these four runners and you'll see what some teams may just throw their hands up in Houston Texans jersey
he air when trying to find a way to stop them.Ingram - 16.8 yds per carry, Richardson 8.7, Lacy 7.4 and Fowler 8.0.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 291.3 17th Overall RUSHING YARDS 250.7 13th OverallPOINTS FOR 44.7 9th Overall POINTS AGAINST 6.3 2nd OverallArkansas -A game winning drive in the closing minutes of a big SEC game will give the Hogs a lot of confidence in the upcoming game with Alabama this weekend. Ryan Mallet proved that coming back for his senior year was the right move, and that final drive against Georgia has planted itself on the minds of many NFL scouts.Ryan Mallet had a quarterback's dream leading the team to a last minute winAl Messerschmidt/Getty ImagesWith the running game still sputtering, the Hogs seemed unable to run the clock and seal the deal after building up a big lead. That could cost them later in the year, but for now, the Razorbacks seem to be the second best team in the West.After playing Alabama and Texas AM, the Hogs play Auburn to decide second place once and for all.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 367.7 3rd Overall RUSHING YARDS 116.0 98th OverallPOINTS FOR 35.3 26th Overall POINTS AGAINST 11.3 5th OverallAuburn -Call it lucky, but call it a win. A call from an official took three points off the board and a second attempt to tie the game by a spirited Clemson team went wide left and Auburn escaped a tough out of conference game.Next week we will see if Auburn is for real as they face a really good SEC team, South Carolina.Cam Newton hasn't been passing like many had hoped but his running is more than making up for it so far. South Carolina may force him to beat them throwing as they look able to shut down the running lanes.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 200.7 78th Overall RUSHING YARDS 259.3 12th OverallPOINTS FOR 32.0 42nd Overall POINTS AGAINST 21.3 58th OverallLSU, causing even the most faithful to be a little nervous so farKevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesLSU -They may not be winning pretty but they are winning. Even if the wins have been against struggling teams and depleted teams, they are wins.As the Tigers head to the meat of their schedule, they are still a mystery. Jordan Jefferson doesn't look any more settled than last year. LSU is one of the worst teams in the country in passing.But the defense looks to be tougher than previous years. John Chavis is a first class coordinator and it's obvious his influence is becoming ingrained on this unit.With two more easy games before meeting Florida, look for the Tigers to stay in hunt, but only on paper for a few more weeks.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 120.0 115th Overall RUSHING YARDS 203.0 32nd OverallPOINTS FOR 28.7 61st Overall POINTS AGAINST 11.35th OverallMississippi State -The Dogs looked flat against LSU as John Chavis, LSU's defensive coordinator seemed to have all the answers to Dan Mullen's offense in Indianapolis Colts jersey
that 29-7 loss.Dan Mullen is still looking for the right players to plug into his schemesRick Dole/Getty ImagesYou get the feeling that if Mullen can get the recruiting going down in Starkville that he can put a team out there than fight with any of the big boys in the SEC.Next week's game with Georgia will be an interesting one. It will show if Georgia really belongs in the bottom of the SEC or whether they can hope to be just another mid tier SEC team. For State, it will show if they can rebound from a rough loss.2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 205.7 72nd Overall RUSHING YARDS 155.3 63rd OverallPOINTS FOR 23.3 86th Overall POINTS AGAINST 17.7 33rd OverallOle Miss -Stick a fork in Ole Miss for this season, they're done. Yes, many expected it it to be a down year, but not a dig a hole and jump in kind of year.The sad thing for for a team that should be now known as "Ole Mess" is that they look this pitiful after playing the easy games on their schedule. Can you imagine how they'll stink up the hard ones?If they stink so bad with Masoli, can you image how bad they'd smell without him?2010 OVERALL FBS RANKINGSPASSING YARDS 238.0 40th Overall RUSHING YARDS 174.7 47th OverallPOINTS FOR 29.7 56th Overall POINTS AGAINST 30.0 91st Overall

18 Jan 11 College Football Predictions Week 4: Picks For Every Big Game

Brian A. Westerholt/Getty ImagesCollege football's week 4 gets underway Thursday night, and from start to finish, this weekend promises to be full of excellent games. From the SEC to the Pac-10 to the midwestern schools of the Big 10 and 12, we've got all the predictions for the big games that you could possibly want. Some teams are riding high from big wins last week (like Arizona); others are trying to recoup from a crushing defeat (That would be you, Notre Dame). Whose early season form will hold true? Who will break through that sluggish start with a big win? Washington Redskins jersey
Let's get to the games. 01:08 PM ETCollege Football Week 4 Picks: UCLA v. Texas PreviewA feisty matchup here, as the Longhorns hope to pay back the Bruins for the 66-7 beatdown laid on them in Austin in 1997. UCLA has been a disappointment thus far, opening 1-2. The running game behind John Franklin has been strong, as the spo...Read more 01:07 PM ETCollege Football Week 4 Picks: North Carolina v. RutgersTwo teams heading in decidedly different directions square off in this one. North Carolina’s season has come off the rails with suspensions and poor play. The Tar Heels have struggled to find rhythm across the board, and have paid for ...Read more 01:04 PM ETCollege Football Week 4 Picks: TCU v. SMU PrevewThis one could be more interesting than people think. SMU has hope for the first time since the Death Sentence was levied by the NCAA, while TCU is a top 5 team. The Mustangs are led by head coach June Jones’ ultra-spread offense, which give...Read more 12:16 PM ETCollege Football Week 4 Picks: Fresno State v. Ole Miss PredictionAn intriguing matchup, to say the least. Fresno's looking for respect, while Ole Miss is looking to keep their season on the rails.The Bulldogs of Fresno State looked pretty solid waxing Cincinnati and Utah State, but Ole Miss is a decidedly...Read more 11:57 AM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Georgia v. Mississippi State PredictionA clash between a pair of 1-2 teams who have looked better than their records would suggest.Georgia's offense has looked excellent with freshman quarterback Aaron Murray at the helm, and sophomore running back Washaun Ealey making plays. So ...Read more 03:24 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Virginia Tech vs. Boston College PredictionThe Hokies managed to get their season back on track against East Carolina last week, while BC sits undefeated after their bye week.Virginia Tech can run the ball down your throat all game long. Junior quarterback Tyrod Taylor and runn...Read more 03:19 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: North Carolina State vs. Georgia Tech PredictionBoth the Wolf Pack and the Yellow Jackets are looking to break into the top 25, although they're doing it in two very different ways.Paul Johnson's Georgia Tech team is all about the triple option. Who needs to throw the ball, when you...Read more 03:12 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Wake Forest vs. Florida State PredictionAn intriguing matchup between a pair of unranked teams.The Seminoles saw their preseason hype de-railed by a dismantling at the hands of Oklahoma. Senior quarterback Christian Ponder is always an excellent dual-threat, with fast legs and a s...Read more 03:03 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Oklahoma vs. Cincinnati PredictionOne team looking for respect, the other trying to getReebok Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald Realtree camo Jersey
their season on track.The Oklahoma Sooners are a tough team to figure out. Against Florida State, they looked like world beaters, knocking the Seminoles around like ragdolls. But ag...Read more 02:53 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Temple vs. Penn State PredictionA sneaky good game. Temple is 3-0, which is shocking because this is football we're talking about, not basketball. Penn State has looked solid with freshman quarterback Robert Bolden, but not unbeatable.The Nittany Lions' uniforms may ...Read more 02:48 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Miami vs. Pittsburgh PredictionThis matchup pits a pair of teams whose seasons haven't gotten off on the right foot.The Hurricanes looked unstoppable in Week 1, but against Ohio State the following week, Miami crapped the proverbial bed. Four interceptions from junior qua...Read more 02:39 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Kentucky vs. Florida PredictionThis one is a perplexing game to pick. Florida hasn't looked bad, but they haven't looked like top-10 material this season. Kentucky has been efficient, but haven't beaten Florida since 1986.The Gators' new quarterback, junior John Brantley,...Read more 02:31 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Oregon vs. Arizona State PredictionAnother test game for the Ducks. The Sun Devils failed their first test, losing on the road at Wisconsin.Oregon has looked unstoppable thus far this season. Running backs LaMichael James and Remene Alston Jr. have been tearing up opposing de...Read more 02:22 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Cal vs. Arizona PredictionA sneaky good game, because Cal is better than people think, while Arizona is still riding high after last week's huge win over Iowa.Jeff Tedford's Golden Bears are currently off the radar completely after their blowout loss to Nevada ...Read more 02:14 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Stanford vs. Notre Dame PredictionThis one has the makings of a classic. The Cardinal are 3-0, and ranked 16th in the nation, but are looking for some respect. Notre Dame are 1-2 after a pair of heartbreaking losses, and are looking to prove they can beat a good opponent.Jim...Read more 02:00 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Oregon State vs. Boise State PredictionSo Boise State's early season win over the Virginia Tech Hokies has been cheapened by Tech's swoon. The Broncos get another chance to show what they can do against a BCS foe when the Beavers come to the Smurf Turf.Junior quarterback Kellen M...Read more 01:51 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: West Virginia vs. LSU PredictionBoth of these teams could use a win to help in the respect department, although the Mountaineers need it a bit more than the Bayou Bengals.West Virginia appears to have found a quarterback in sophomore GenoReebok Baltimore Ravens #5 Joe Flacco Realtree camo Jersey
Smith, who chucks the ball w...Read more 01:43 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: South Carolina vs. Auburn PredictionGames between teams ranked in the teens are almost always guaranteed to be exciting, and this one is no exception.The Tigers of Auburn feature one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country in junior quarterback Cameron Newton. Newt...Read more 01:33 PM ETCollege Football Picks Week 4: Alabama vs. Arkansas PredictionThis is the big one this week. The Crimson Tide passed their first test of the season, beating Penn State handily in Tuscaloosa, but the Razorbacks are a much stronger team.Senior quarterback Ryan Mallett has one of the biggest arms in...Read more

15 Jan 11 St. Louis Rams Clock Management Scott Linehan Marc Bulger

Well, it didn't take long for Scott Linehan to get his first important coaching lesson.In last Sunday's game against the 49ers, the Rams trailed 20-13 with a little over five minutes left, and got the ball back after a Joe Nedney field goal. Time to go into the hurry-up, right?After dropping the ball, literally, on the last possession, Marc Bulger and the Rams offense did it again on what proved to be their final possession. No, it wasn't the fact that they didn't move the ball in that final possession. It was the fact that, in doing so, they took far, far too much time off of tReebok Green Bay Packers #52 Clay Matthews Realtree camo Jersey
he clock, as shown directly below.5:14 - Bulger completes a pass to Steven Jackson for two yards.4:36 - Bulger goes down at the line of scrimmage. 3:53 - Bulger throws incomplete. 3:45 - Matt Turk punts. True enough, there were still over three minutes left, and the Rams had two timeouts left. The defense had played a decent game, minus a four-minute period at the beginning of the third quarter that was about as telling as that final drive. But it was a little risky to put the game in the hands of a defense that is still very much a work in progress. And, as it turned out, with the 'bullish' running of Frank Gore, the 49ers were able to run the clock out. That approach had worked in the first half, when the Rams controlled the ball for over 12 minutes in the second quarter and built a 10-3 halftime lead. And they stuck with that approach in the second half, even after falling behind 17-10. After the 49ers had scored two touchdowns within a span of four minutes, the Rams went on a six-minute drive down the field. That was a good example of when to work the clock. When you've been ambushed like that, slowing the game down can give your defense a breather and allow it to regain their composure, and it'll give the offense a chance to take over the game and at least stifle some of the momentum gained by the opposition. It'd have worked perfectly had Jeff Wilkins not missed a 46-yard field goal after the drive had stalled. Sticking to that gameplan with five minutes left, down seven? Not a good idea. There are just some points where you should try to maximize your possessions, not just maximize what you do with them. If you're tied, at that point, then it's OK to use that approach, if you want to leave the game in the hands of your defense, in case the offense doesn't move the ball. But, if you're behind, you should want to ensure that your offense gets at least two cracks at getting the ball down the field. If you're a believer in the 'quality, not quantity' philosophy, then you might be on the Rams' side. But if you're not moving the ball with consistency and regularity, then that philosophy gets blown out of the water. The Rams had two drives that totaled nearly 14 minutes, where they came out with only three points. In comparison, San Francisco's four scoring Reebok Indianapolis Colts 18 Peyton Manning Realtree camo Jersey
drives took only a little over eight minutes. Time of possession can be a particularly deceiving statistic when you average only four yards per play, while the other team averaged 6.5 (in 13 less plays). Looks like the 'quality, not quantity' philosophy worked for the wrong coach, eh?However, it's only a couple of weeks into the season, and Linehan's new offensive system is still just as much a work in progress as the defense. Getting it done in camp, the preseason or in practice is one thing, and getting it done when it counts is an entirely different matter. Seeing only one touchdown in the first two weeks, considering the pedigree of both Linehan and the talent he's working with, is, to say the least, a strange sight to behold, but with the offensive struggles of the Chiefs, there must just be a statewide drought in Missouri. But, with what we've come to expect from the Rams in recent years, you'd think that it's only a matter of time before they show what they're capable of. The Rams have a chance to do just that, but also face a stiff test when they visit Kurt Warner and high-powered Arizona. The veteran QB will be making his third appearance in a Cardinals uniform against the team with which he rose from unknown to superstar and won a Super Bowl and two MVP awards.With the Cardinals' ability to put a lot of points on the board in short order, the offense will need to at least produce more than it has in the first couple of weeks, in case the game is a shootout. Also, it would take some pressure off the defense, which showed it still has some weaknesses that could definitely be exposed by Warner's strong arm. St. Louis may not need to score often, but, for the sake of not getting into a hole, the team will need to produce early. Why? Because if the Cardinals get their offense going, then Reebok Minnesota Vikings 28 Adrian Peterson Realtree camo Jersey
Bulger will be forced to go to the hurry-up far earlier than he might like. But as it happens, that ball-control philosophy could actually work to St. Louis' favor, because it'd limit the amount of opportunities the Cardinals have to do some damage. Either way, however, the Rams offense is going to have to pick up the pace.Get more St. Louis Rams coverage (1)

14 Jan 11 Seattle Seahawks "Seahawks need to avoid that rundown feeling"

The Seattle Seahawks got run over last year. Gored. Gashed. Gutted.Everyone from Frank Gore to Chester Taylor to Larry Johnson to Tatum Bell to LaDainian Tomlinson to Julius Jones left the Seahawks with that rundown feeling.After ranking fifth in the league in run defense (94 yards per game) when they made their run to the Super Bowl in 2005, the Seahawks fell to 22nd at 127 yards per game in 2006. The big difference? The absence of 320-pound run stuffer Marcus Tubbs. A knee injury ended Tubbs' season in October, and the Seahawks suddenly Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
couldn't stop any running backs. In the five games Tubbs played, Seattle surrendered just 82 rushing yards per game. But in the 13 games he missed, including playoffs, opponents averaged almost 138 yards. Tubbs' absence was basically worth 56 rushing yards per game to enemy teams.The Seahawks will need Tubbs to rebound well from microfracture surgery on his knee if they are going to do a better job against the run in 2007. If Tubbs can't get back to his 2005 form, the Hawks will need a standout performance from third-round pick Brandon Mebane, a smaller (6-foot-1, 305) but very effective run stopper.The Seahawks face only three rushing teams in 2007 that ranked in the top 10 in 2006: Atlanta (first), San Francisco (sixth) and Pittsburgh (10th). But they also will see a lot of other accomplished running backs.Last year, Gore was the guy who gashed and gutted the Seahawks more than anyone. In two games, he rushed for 356 yards -- 212 on 24 carries in November and 144 on 29 attempts in December -- as the 49ers swept the NFC West champs. The Seahawks certainly will focus on stopping the league's best breakout player from 2006.They'll also have to be concerned about guys like Pittsburgh's Willie Parker, Cincinnati's Rudi Johnson, Philadelphia's Brian Westbrook, New Orleans' duo of Deuce McAllister and ReggieReebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
Bush as well as division runners Edgerrin James (Arizona) and Steven Jackson (St. Louis).The Seahawks saw Parker in Super Bowl XL, where he busted off a record 75-yard touchdown run in the Steelers' 21-10 victory. On that huge play, Parker and the Steelers took advantage of the Seahawks' inexperienced No. 4 safety. Seattle has much better safeties heading into this season than it had then, but "Fast Willie" is still dangerous.Johnson surpassed 1,300 yards for the third straight year last season, but he averaged only 3.8 yards per carry. The Bengals lost star guard Eric Steinbach to Cleveland and center Rich Braham to retirement in the offseason, so the running game might fall off a bit more this season.Westbrook finally surpassed 1,000 yards last season, gaining 1,217 on 240 carries while also catching 77 passes for 699 yards. The soon-to-be 28-year-old is one of the best all-around backs in the NFL, and the Seahawks will have their hands full against him.The Saints ranked just 19th in rushing last season (110 yards per game), but McAllister and Bush are one of the best two-headed attacks in league, and Bush became a better runner as the '06 campaign progressed. The Cardinals were one of the worst rushing teams in the league last season, ranking 30th at about 84 yards per game. But they improved late in the season, while new coach Ken Whisenhunt and line guru Russ Grimm are committed to running the ball. James tallied just 64 yards on 18 carries in the first game against Seattle in 2006, but he gained 115 yards on 26 attempts in December. After a horrible start, James finished with three 100-yard games in the final five. And that's reason to believe the Cardinals will be a challenge to stop this year.Jackson didn't burn the Seahawks like others did last year, but he rushed for 1,528 yards and will Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
be a threat, especially with franchise left tackle Orlando Pace coming back from a triceps injury suffered in the second Seattle game last season.The Seahawks will face other big-name runners in 2007 as well -- Cadillac Williams, Jamal Lewis, Cedric Benson, Willis McGahee, Warrick Dunn and the Carolina DeBacks (DeAngelo Williams and DeShaun Foster). If Tubbs, Mebane and the rest of the defense aren't up to the task, the Seahawks will get run over again. Gored. Gashed. Gutted.Get more on the Seattle Seahawks

13 Jan 11 Houston: Kobe Has a Problem

Harry How/Getty ImagesI thought all this time Kobe was being Kobe... But this time, he's done it with a broken right index finger. Since his reported injury on December 12, 2009, he's been nothing but stellar.With that injury, all I could conclude about his statistics was that it was doing nothing but helping him. San Diego Chargers jersey
He's been averaging 29 points per game. "So, what's so different about Kobe's game?" He's hurt, that's what.An avulsion fracture - a fragment of bone torn away by a tendon or ligament - in his index finger, the most important digit for controlling his shot. He wears protective padding around his finger that has almost enhanced his amazing shooting abilities, but now mortality is getting to him."Injuries don't affect me," Kobe said. "I'm not going to sit here and say I've got a (bad) knee, I've got a (bad) finger. I'm fine. I'm more than fine. I always keep playing."Well, now that we're in the middle of January 2010, he's showing pain not physically necessarily, but statistically. And on top of that, his little splint that's been curing his injured masterpieces has gone cold... BRRR!It has been announced throughout sports websites, blogs, etc. that the shooting legend will go back to wearing a metal splint, something that may control his shooting, instead of him controlling his shot.I remember back a few years ago when I broke my right ring finger. I thought it was the end of the world. The ability to hold, control, and shoot the ball is changed completely. It should be understood that Kobe is mortal and can't play as well as always due to an injury that would put a wide receiver in the NFL out for the season. San Francisco 49ers jersey
The verdict of this topic: Kobe Bryant is hurt. Kobe Bryant is mortal.He can hide the pain all he wants, but we know it's there; he knows. We shall let him be, for he shall be back to the Kobe Show within a couple weeks. This is his game, so let him direct it.

12 Jan 11 Dwight Howard Should Be a Key Factor in an Important Week for Orlando Magic

Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesThe Orlando Magic enter a two game home stand this weekend that could provide a huge momentum shift for the team and the Eastern Conference.A national TV battle with Boston on Thursday and a Saturday night, Southeast Division showdown with Atlanta will offer a Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
chance for the Magic to move closer to the top of the standings in the Eastern Conference.Right now, the Magic find themselves in unfamiliar territory when it comes to the past couple years. They sit in second place in the Southeast Division, looking up at the first-place Atlanta Hawks.A horrid road trip dropped the Magic down the standings, but the last week or so has offered a slight bit of promise.A key ingredient to the team's moderately improved play in the past week has been the eruption of Dwight Howard as a scoring force, while continuing to dominate on the boards and on defense. Dwight has been averaging nearly 24 points and 16 rebounds a game for the past five games.As the team approaches two of its most important games in recent memory, certainly Howard will need to assert himself and stay out of foul trouble.Of course, Howard's ability to assert himself is always dependent on the other starters to feed him the ball, which they've had problems with in the past.In Dwight's two games against Boston this season, he has put up just nine and five points, respectively. His rebounding against the Celtics has been impressive, however, averaging nearly 18 off the glass in his two games against Boston.The key against the Celts' could be getting the ball inside to Howard early and trying to get Reebok Minnesota Vikings #84 Randy Moss Realtree camo Jersey
Kendrick Perkins into early foul trouble.Perkins showed himself to be an admirable defender against Howard throughout the two teams' playoff series last year. While Perkins is a good defender of Howard, Dwight is certainly due for a solid game against the Celtics.While getting the ball inside and forcing their hand against Boston's big men could be key, the Magic may just decide to live and die by the three-point shot again, which is the very mindset that put the terrible stretch a few weeks back into motion.Against the Hawks, bench play coupled with a strong game from Howard could be an easy route to success. Al Horford is an undersized center who could be taken advantage of inside by Dwight.Whether Dwight erupts this week will remain to be seen. However, it's certain that the Magic are in search of some standout wins this year. They have already dropped one game each against LA, Cleveland, and Boston.One good sign for the Magic is that their nationally televised game against Boston is on TNT and not on ESPN. The team has struggled Reebok Pittsburg Steelers #83 Heath Miller Realtree camo Jersey
for the most part on ESPN/ABC every game this season, getting blown out by Denver and Portland, plus dropping a Christmas Day game with the Celtics.Perhaps with the help of a solid playing Dwight Howard and an improved offensive mindset, Orlando can grab two key victories this weekend.

10 Jan 11 The Kobe/LeBron/MJ Debate: I Pick Kobe and Here Is Why

Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesKobe Bryant passed Jerry West as the Lakers all-time leading scorer and the debate began about where to rank Kobe among the greats. Magic Johnson could play all five positions if he wanted to and could play them all at a high level. He has five rings. He had great rivals in the West, but his rivalry with Larry Bird still resonates to this day. Michael Jordan was the best player the NBA has ever seen. Six rings. Jordan also kept Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, and John Stockton from winningany rings. Jordan also changed the game New York Jets jersey
from a tall man's game to a slasher's game, and the league still has not changed back. JT the Brick was projecting Kobe's career stats on his interactive radio show and wondered what would it take forKobe Bryantto be known as the best Laker and player ever. With a ring this year, he would have five like Magic, plus he has more points than Magic. Kobe also has a chance to score over 40,000 points. He might not pass MJ in rings but he will have more points if he keeps his pace up. Kobe and MJ are similar players, so there is a discussion here. Projecting stats is risky because of what might happen in regard to injuries, lawsuits, free agent moves, and early retirements. Kobe is the best player of his era and it is not even close. LeBron James is distracted by off the court things and has not even won a title. Kobe chose to not opt out of his contract and stay a Laker because he is all about winning.LeBron is not all about winning, he is all about LeBron. He does the "look at me" dance. He is in a great situation in Cleveland, but wants to keep his options open. Kobe is going to do it all for one team, whereas LeBronmight chase global iconism and playoff frustration in New York next year. As a Cleveland fan, I hope LeBron stays, but hope and Cleveland have never been very good together. We hoped Jose Mesa could save Game Seven in 1997 and hoped that Ernest Byner could hold onto the ball in 1987, and hoped the Dawgs could make a stop in 1986 and then hoped for Brian Sipe to not throw a pick in 1980.Projecting stats, as I said earlier,is a risky proposition. We could project Kevin Durant to be the best player in the NBA as of right now but it really doesn't mean anything. I always think about how dynamic Grant Hill was when he came out of Duke and how injuries robbed him of what could have Oakland Raiders jersey
been an epic career. Kobe is strong in body and mind.It is what makes him the best. He would not quit the game to go after a baseball career. He would not opt out of his contract to become a global icon.This might be the best era of basketball we have ever seen when you think about the caliber of athletethat now plays the game, and Kobe Bryant is the best player of this era. He has as many rings as Shaquille O'Neal and Tim Duncan.He will end up with more points than both of them and has a better all-around game than both of them. LeBron James might end up with betterstats than Kobe Bryant, so this is a fluid debate. Kobe will have done it with one team, though, and we still don't know what LeBron will do with his immense talent and bright future.Projecting stats is risky, but if LeBron does stay in Cleveland, that franchise has shown a willingness to do what it takes to build a great team around him.As of this moment, with his body of work, Kobe Bryant is the best player I have ever seen play the game. Michael Jordan might have won eight-straight rings, but he quit Philadelphia Eagles jersey
in his prime. LeBron James might be on the verge of a dynasty but, he is leaving his options open.Kobe would not quit in is prime and he has not left the great situation he has in LA.So there is my argument for Kobe Bryant. I take into account what he has already done and I also project where he is headed. What he has already done is better than LeBron James and where he is headed might take him past Michael Jordan.

9 Jan 11 Minnesota Timberwolves' Edge In Offseason Signings

After the trade deadline is done, people are beginning to put a whole lot of focus on the Free Agent class of 2010. Maybe you've heard of it? It has LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Rudy Gay, Ray Allen, Carlos Boozer, Josh Howard, and a few other big names.Well, it's got a lot of Reebok Oakland Raiders #21 Nnamdi Asomugha Realtree camo Jersey
hype. A lot of it is centered around a few select teams too. Teams with a lot of money to spend.New York KnicksNew Jersey NetsWashington WizardsMiami HeatChicago BullsBut Minnesota is consistently thrown into that list for good measure. Why?It's simple. If you are a free agent that signs with Minnesota, you get what the other teams don't have. A team.Next year, under contract, Minnesota has Al Jefferson, Kevin Love, Jonny Flynn, Corey Brewer, Ryan Gomes, Ryan Hollins, Wayne Ellington, and Ramon Sessions. That's an all right bunch of guys to have a team built on, but it's not perfect.But there are nine players that will but under contract next season. Compare that to some other places.New York: 4New Jersey: 6Washington: 5Miami: 3Chicago: 6LA Clippers: 5Even though some teams do come close to having the Wolves' high numbered core, here's who some of those players consist of:Bobby BrownKeyon DoolingToney DouglasBill WalkerJames JohnsonGilbert Arenas (not exactly a negotiation bonus...)Then look at who the Timberwolves are dumping.Nathan Jawai, Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers #86 Hines Ward Realtree camo Jersey
Mark Blount, Darko Millicic, Sasha Pavlovic, Oleksiy Pecherov, Alando Tucker, and Damien Wilkins. The Wolves aren't exactly releasing the players that are playing this season. Some teams are getting rid of some pretty core players though, such as:Al HarringtonDavid LeeJosh HowardRandy FoyeMike MillerBrad MillerUdonis HaslemDwayne Wade?!Jermaine O'NealRafer AlstonDrew GoodenNot all of whom are the biggest names in basketball, but the point gets made. Players that really help these teams get their wins will be dropped, and the contributions that they make to the team go right with them.There is one kind of exception to what I've been saying.The New Jersey Nets do have a lot of cap room, they do loose all but 6 players, they don't loose a whole lot of key players, and they do keep Harris, Lopez, Jianlian, Williams, Dooling, and Lee. However, the Nets also have just completed their 6th win of the year. Minnesota at least hit double digits months ago...So when Minnesota seems like it's the bottom place to go in what is looking to be one of the most historic periods in NBA history, don't count out that Minnesota has a strong base for players to come into.Plus, look at the draft pick we're going to get!Side Note: Here's my little prediction for the whole off season. Amare Stoudemire is going to make the first move because he's the one that wants out of his current team the most. Then Bosh/James/Wade/Johnson are going to follow him to that team. Whichever two or three are left are either going to team up, or go back to their old team. This may happen in the Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers James Harrison Realtree camo Jersey
same order with Stoudemire and Bosh switching places, because Bosh seems like he'd want to get out of Toronto as well. Wade, James, and Joe Johnson all have reasons to want to stay in their current cities, and are much more likely to hold back and see exactly what's available for them.

8 Jan 11 Boston Celtics: If Only Larry Bird Was Walking Through That Door

After another defeat to an elite team followed by a blow-out victory at home over the Pistons, I have decided to take a break from this back and forth struggle of trying to figure out the 2009-10 Boston Celtics. Rather, I want to take a look back.You see, this week is 8 Jan 11 Boston Celtics: If Only Larry Bird Was Walking Through That Door
my birthday. Usually, I am not one to make a big deal out of my birthday, but this year is different. I am turning 33. And besides my 21st for obvious reasons, I have looked forward to turning 33 more so than any other birthday, for no other reason than it gives me an excuse to write about Larry Bird.I Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
figure if a man can request a longer prison sentence of 33 years due to his love for Larry (read here), then I can use my 33rd birthday to think back on my favorite Larry Bird moments.Just in case anyone is doing some quick math at home, you will also realize that I was not very old during Bird prime years. It didn matter. Between watching games live, repeatedly watching games that my older brother had taped on our VCR, or watching over and over the Larry Bird: A Basketball Legend video, I feel as if I didn miss a thing.I will admit that this first memory is one that I did not see when it actually happened. But, like many others, I have watched the replay so many times, I might as well have been there. It is a perfect example of the blend of confidence and swagger that Bird had.There was a timeout with 13 seconds left in a tie game against the Seattle Supersonics (remember them?). Bird told head coach KC Jones to just give him the ball and tell everyone else to get out of the way.Bird then walked onto the court and told Xavier McDaniel, who was guarding him, Im going to get [the ball] right here and I am going to shoot it in your face. As McDaniel remembers it, he responded by saying, I know, Ill be waiting.Then in about that exact same spot, Bird gets the ball and buries a shot right in McDaniel face, turns to Xavier and says, I didn mean to leave two seconds on the clock. McDaniel said of that play, He wanted to shoot it with zero seconds on the clock. I just walked back to the sidelines, like damn.I also remember a game against Dallas when the Celtics trailed by two in the closing seconds. Bird dribbled up court and pulled up a few feet behind the three-point line, knocking down the go-ahead three. This prompted the Dallas announcer to say admiringly of Bird, Imagine the arrogance, the wonderful arrogance of a man who needs two to tie or three to win. Has the time to do either one, and says, let roll the dice.Every Celtic fan who remembers Bird has a special place in their memory for the duel he had against Dominique Wilkins in Game Seven of the 1988 Playoffs. Tommy Heinsohn, who was doing color commentary for the national broadcast, exclaimed after Wilkins answered another Bird basket, It a duel! Put down your saber!(On a side note, how was Tommy Heinsohn, maybe the biggest Celtics-homer in history, ever allowed to do color commentary on national broadcasts where he had to at least appear to be a neutral observer?).Wilkins would shoot an amazing 19-23 from the floor and finish with 47 points. Bird went for 34 points, 20 of which came in the fourth quarter, as Boston got the win and advanced. My favorite moments from the game were a pair of lefty shots Bird made in the lane, and then later, a crucial three pointer with about a minute to go with Wilkins all over him.After the game, I celebrated in my living room and then raced out to the hoop in my driveway, trying to reproduce all of those shots that Bird made.The Hawks actually led the series three games to two, with a chance to end the series in Game Six on their home court. But Boston came away with the victory that set up the showdown in Game Seven.After Game Six, Bird guaranteed a Game Seven victory, saying, They had their chance, they had a big chance to beat us. I think now we are going to Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
come out and play like we did tonight, but we are going to be at home and our shots are going to be dropping a little bit better, and we are going to be running a little faster. So Id say [Game Seven] is going to be a big win for the Celtics.How can you not love that?Another time Bird guaranteed victory and delivered was before Game Six of the 1986 NBA Finals, a game Bird has called the best game he ever played.The 1986 season, when I was nine, was really the first year I can remember clearly watching the games, and Game Six produced perhaps my favorite Larry Bird moment.The fourth quarter began with the Celtics in command. In fact, Bird already had a triple-double. All that was left was for Boston to deliver the absolute knock-out punch. Leave it to Larry.After trading a few baskets early in the quarter with Houston, Boston led 84-61 and had the ball. Bird ran across the lane and took a pass underneath the hoop. Instead of putting up a shot from in close, he ran to the corner, dribbling around Bill Walton.As the shot clock ticked down to two seconds, Bird made it to the corner, turned around, and buried a three pointer. The Garden crowd exploded. Game over, series over, and the Celtics had won title number 16.Remember when Larry went for a Celtics record 60 points against the Hawks in 1985? As Quinn Buckner said, Larry was so good that night, the Hawks were giving each other high fives. And they were.The story goes that Bird was on such a hot streak, he was calling his shots. And not just from spots on the floor, but on one play, he called, three-pointer, trainer lap. And he did it, hitting a three, while falling out of bounds, and landing in the Hawks trainer lap.In addition to the Hawks falling off their bench at Larry exploits, what stands out to me is that only a few days earlier, Kevin McHale had set the Boston scoring record with 56 points. Afterwards, Bird told McHale he should have gone for 60. Nine days later, Bird did just that, which at least to me, raises the questioncould Bird have scored like that any night he wanted when he was in his prime?Possibly.We know Bird liked to use little motivational tools to push him along during the regular season. Most notably was a game in 1986 where he told his teammates he was going to shoot left handed against Portland. Bird did not score all his points with his left hand, only 22 of his 47 were made shooting lefty. Lefty. Would that ever happen today?That to me is what made Bird great. He may have been limited by slow feet and lack of jumping ability, but it didn matter. He believed he could do anything he wanted on the basketball court, and when he was healthy, he basically did.Bird likely did not need any extra motivation before the deciding Game Five against the Indiana Pacers in the opening round of the 1991 playoffs. We always hear about Willis Reed, and while it did not occur in the Finals, Bird return in the second half after smacking his face on the court was just as heroic.The second half of that game began without Larry on the court. Then, as Bird emerged from the tunnel at half court, Marv Albert announced, And here comes Larry Bird. I can still see Bird running over to the bench, and Dee Brown, who was a rookie at the time, not being sure if he should stand up and give up his seat to Larry.Bird led the Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
Celtics to victory that afternoon, with 32 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Afterward, Indiana LaSalle Thompson said of Bird, The way [Bird] played today is the stuff you tell your kids about.I imagine I have rambled on long enough about Larry even though I feel like I have not even scraped the tip of the iceberg with all my favorite memories. What about his 49-point triple-double effort against Portland in his final season? I could clearly go on and on.Ill end with one last Larry story.A few weeks ago I went to a friend house who had just bought a new sports game for the Nintendo Wii. One of the games was a three-point shooting contest that I had to play. Not because I was any good, but because it gave me another opportunity to think back on my childhood, where I spent hundreds of hours in my driveway, pretending to be Larry Bird, taking (although usually not making) all sorts of shots I had watched Larry make over the years.And of course the three-point contest was Larry game. He famously said to the other participants before the 1986 contest, I want all of you to know I am winning this thing. Who playing for second? The image of Larry that may be most ingrained in my head is him, with his warm-up jacket still on, in the three-point contest.In the final round of the 88 contest, Bird made eight of his last 10 shots. With two shots to go, he trailed by one point. Hits the first, then, throws up the money ball. With the red, white, and blue ball still spinning through the air, Bird sticks his crooked right index finger straight into the air and walks off the court. He knew it was in before it even got there.Larry career has long since ended, but thanks to my memories, and my DVD player, he can walk through that door anytime I want. On my 33rd, thank you to number 33.**********(This article was originally posted on 4SportBoston.com)You can read more articles like this one athttp://4SportBoston.comFollow Stew Winkel on Twitter:http://twitter.com/stew_winkel**********The Larry Bird: A Basketball Legend DVD is a must have for any Celtics fan. It is filled not only with great highlights, but some memorable quotes. Here are just a fewLarry would make a bounce pass behind the back on the break and you would say to yourself, 'Where is that ball going.' M.L. CarrHed do things out there that would just leave you shaking your head and smiling. Chris FordHe's so intelligent, he's got eyes all around his head. Johnny MostBird, strips it, tips it, yeah. Mike GormanLarry always said I want it, besides everyone in the building knew who it was going to anyway. Robert ParishWell, there is a two-point difference and they are down, and Bird will come up with a three pointer. And you are waiting for it with bated breath. - Johnny MostSomewhere, someone went into a cave in French Lick, Indiana. And there was a block of ice. And they chipped away and out popped this prehistoric basketball player Larry Bird. - Tommy HeinsohnAnd I have been very blessed, having coached some of the greatest that have ever played the game. But if I had to start a team today, the greatest player and the one guy I would take would be Larry Bird. Red AuerbachThey forgot, they forgot about Larry Bird that all. - Danny Ainge, on Bird steals the ball against the Detroit Pistons in Game Five of the 1987 Eastern Conference FinalsAfter the loss to the Lakers by 33 points in Game Three of the 1984 NBA FinalsWe just played like a bunch of women tonight. Until we get our hearts where they belong, Reebok Green Bay Packers 21 Charles Woodson Realtree camo Jersey
we are in trouble. Larry BirdLarry was frustrated. He was disappointed, as we all were at getting blown out on national TV. But when he said guys played with no heart, I knew what would happen in the next game. Guys would do anything. M.L. Carr(The Celtics would win Game Four in overtime, and the series in seven games. Game Four is remembered for Kevin McHale clothesline of Kurt Rambis).On the 1986 Celtics...We just went out there with a job in mind. And we all knew what our jobs were. And when we went to work, it was like punching the clock. If Im on the assembly line, and my job is to put the knob on the radio, Im putting the knob on the radio. And the other guy is putting on the buttons and putting on the antenna, and Larry was the antenna man and we were the button men. Kevin McHaleI think what made that team so special was its ability to play any kind of style . . . . And if nothing was working, just give it to Larry and he'd step back and shoot a three. Bill Walton