NBA PREVIEW AND PREDICTIONS

With a shortened NBA season to begin on Christmas day, it's time to give my opinion on what lies ahead.

Headlines
Where will Dwight Howard be traded? We saw the same situation last year with Carmelo Anthony quietly requesting a trade and finally getting dealt to the New York Knicks. This year it's Superman requesting the trade, the only difference is Howard has asked to be traded to one of three teams...LA Lakers, New Jersey Nets, or the Dallas Mavericks. Considering that Dallas has already made an off season move to get Lamar Odom, they don't look like the destination. The Nets were looking like the team for Howard until Brook Lopez was injured in a pre season game and has to undergo surgery on his ankle. Brook Lopez was the one guy the Nets could have used in a proposed trade to the Magic. That leaves the Lakers, and I'm sure at some point they will make an effort to get Howard, only time will tell.

Are the LA Clippers the new team in Los Angeles? With the signing of Chris Paul, Caron Butler, and Chauncey Billups, the Clippers went from a one man show in Blake Griffin, to a playoff contender. That being said, I still believe the Lakers will be the team in LA. Did people all of sudden forget about Kobe Bryant? Sure he is in his 16th NBA season, but the guy accepts any challenge that comes his way and he remains an elite player in the league. That is Kobe's city, and he isn't ready to give up that title to the Clippers yet. His supporting cast is still way better than average with Paul Gosol, Andrew Bynum, and Metta World Peace (what was Ron Artest thinking with that name?).

Will the Miami Heat win an NBA Championship? aka will Lebron step up if they make it to the NBA finals?
The big 3 are determined to get back to the NBA finals, but the key still remains with Lebron. If you are the "best player in the NBA" than how do you not show up in the series that matters most? The east looks like they have three teams competing for the eastern conference crown...the Heat, the Bulls, and the Knicks. The Heat remain my favorite to win the East and Lebron seems to have a new perspective going into the season. Look for the Heat to win the most games in the NBA and reach the NBA finals again. However, I'm not ready to pick them as the NBA champs, it depends on who comes out of the west, which looks wide open to me.

here are my 8 playoff teams in both conferences.
West-1. Dallas Mavericks 2. OK City Thunder 3. LA Lakers 4. LA Clippers 5. Memphis Grizzlies 6. Denver Nuggets 7. San Antonio Spurs 8. Portland Trail Blazers

East- 1. Miami Heat 2. Chicago Bulls 3. New York Nicks 4. Atlanta Hawks 5. Boston Celtics 6. Philadelphia 76ers 7. Indiana Pacers 8. Orlando Magic

League MVP
Kevin Durant

Rookie of the year
Kyrie Irving or Ricky Rubio

6th Man
(the usual) Lamar Odom or Jamal Crawford (though one of these guys could be starters for their new teams)

NBA FINALS-I wasn't going to make a prediction but I lied
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Miami Heat
Miami Heat in 6 games are the 2012 NBA Champs

Final JRM322 Post: what I learned in Feature Writing

My feature writing class was everything I expected and more. From frequently updating our blogs to writing a profile story, I was able to experience the many different aspects and benefits of feature writing. I would have to say my favorite blogs were usually the free style ones, but one of my favorite pieces we had to write a blog post about was the personal essay written by the sister of Steve Jobs. Not only did I enjoy learning more about Jobs himself, but the personal interaction in the personal essay was a great example on how to write a good personal essay.
I learned that with the constant changes in media and journalism today, there are multiple ways to get your work out there for others to read. There are blogs out there on just about anything. Twitter continues to grow and be a primary source of breaking news and Facebook still leads the charge of social media.
Feature writing has shown me the many aspects that go into writing good stories that people will be interested in reading. Reviews, profiles, personal essays, and even blogging are all ways to practice and make your writing better.

Big Ten emerging as Basketball powerhouse?

In years past, we have seen the dominating basketball conference be the ACC, led by Duke and North Carolina. Recently it has been the Big East, and their physical play and depth in the conference with teams like Georgetown, Louisville, UCONN, and Syracuse. Now we find ourselves in a situation this year. Though the depth is still relevant in the Big East, the talent has seemed to dwindle a little. The ACC seems to only be a two team conference with a big gap after North Carolina and Duke. Is this the year the Big Ten is able win the Big Ten/ACC challenge? The answer to the question is yes, and not only will they win, but they will win the challenge easily.
Lets begin by looking at the powerhouse teams in the Big Ten, which include Ohio State, Wisconsin and Michigan, who are all in the top 25 currently. Lets also not forget about Purdue, Northwestern, Illinois, Michigan State, and Indiana, who seems to have finally turned their program around. The second tier of teams I listed are solid programs with a lot of young talent and good coaching. They all have the opportunity to make the NCAA Tourney in March. Michigan St. will eventually find their way back into the top 25. Same goes with Purdue, Illinois and Indiana who will find themselves battling day in and day out with any team in the country. Now we move to the big dogs of the conference. Sure Michigan suffered a tough, unexpected loss to Virginia earlier this week, but they are are also a team who beat a top ten ranked Memphis team at the beginning of the season, and took Duke down to the wire in a tough loss. Michigan is a team that will continue to grow, and with one of the best players in the country in Tim Hardaway Jr, Michigan is built to make a run late in the season. Wisconsin, is
another team that seems to get better and better each year. Led by Jordan Taylor, who ranks with the top point guards in the NCAA, has suffered just one loss which was to North Carolina. The game was thriller as UNC pulled out the 3 point win late in the final minute of the game. Wisconsin can run with the best of them including Big Ten rival Ohio State. Ohio St. in my opinion should have been ranked the #1 team in the nation to begin the year. They arguably have the best player in the nation with big man Jared Sullinger, along with a great supporting cast led by William Buford and Aaron Craft. Ohio State has begun the year undefeated with wins over two top ten teams. They beat the Florida Gators who were ranked #8 and beat Duke by 22 points who was ranked #4 at the time.
With the depth and talent that has emerged in the Big Ten, is there a new power conference in town? The ACC is headlined by two schools, so they are out of the question. The Big East seems to have kept a little depth, but this year they seem to go about 6 deep before there is a drop off in the rest of the conference. One could argue that the Big Ten could end up with 8 to 9 tournament teams this year (Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan St, and maybe Minnesota, or Penn St.)

Not saying this is the case, but the Big Ten is for real this year, so hold your horses before naming the Big East the best basketball conference in the nation.

NBA is back?, #1 team goes down, more BCS drama

In a week where we gave thanks, we must also give thanks for the world of sports. The NFL games on Thanksgiving Day was just the beginning of week filled with sporting news.

We found out on Saturday that the NBA has finally reached a tentative agreement between the players and owners.
If the contract goes through, the NBA will begin a 66 game season beginning on Christmas day. The NBA has been in a lockout for 149 days, but their return is coming at the right time. Fans finally get what they want, and the NBA players and owners finally came to their senses and quit the bickering and selfishness. Now NBA fans get a Christmas present they weren't sure they were going to receive this year. Basketball is back, and on the brink of there being no NBA season at all, teams will begin practicing, and fans will start purchasing tickets. Despite the hype surrounding this great news, lets not forget about College basketball.

The season has just begun, and we have already seen the #1 North Carolina Tar Heels go down to unranked UNLV. On a weekend filled with season tournaments around the country, we saw Duke win in Maui, Syracuse clean house in New York City, and the unranked UNLV rebels beat #1 overall North Carolina?? UNC came into the season ranked #1, and their first few games showed that they were with a doubt the best team in the nation. Then came the Las Vegas invitational. UNC was picked to roll through their games and eventually win the the title, but UNLV had other plans for the Tar Heels. The Rebels kept UNC's stars in check, while they themselves shot 13 of 32 from the three point line, and dominated the glass on both the offensive and defensive end of the floor. UNLV exposed UNC's perimeter defense, and has officially laid out the formula on how to beat the Tar Heels. The new rankings AP rankings show UNC dropping to #5, then followed by 4 Syracuse, 3 Duke, 2 Ohio State, and 1 Kentucky.

And lastly, we were all able to see the BCS system and their problems. Lord knows if #3 Arkansas actually had beaten #LSU on friday that the BCS would be in a whole other world of hurt. Lucky for us, we won't have to go through that grueling process, however we still have the issue of who is going to play in the BCS National Title game. As of right now, LSU and Alabama are the likely candidates for the game, the problem we face is that both of these teams play in the SEC west and only one can go the SEC title game to face Georgia. LSU will play Georgia for the SEC title, and though LSU seems like they will win the game, what if Georgia upsets the Tigers, then we have an issue. Alabama would most like move up to #1, even though they lost to LSU in the regular season and didn't play in the SEC title game, but off of BCS rankings they would automatically go to the Championship. We say it every year, college football needs a playoff bracket for exactly these reasons. Two many questions and flaws come with the BCS, and I think its evident that there needs to be a change.

In other news, Tim Tebow is 5-1 as the Broncos starter this year. Maybe I was wrong.

Personal Essay on Steve Jobs

When reading the personal essay done by Steve Job's sister, Mona Simpson, and her interactions with her brother, one can't help but come to know who Steve Jobs really was. Her use of detail and experiences with her brother take you inside their lives. To me, Jobs seemed to be her hero. From the day she met him, he instantly became the person in her life for her to lean on and trust. That's what every big brother should be for his younger siblings. From his success and failures when working for Apple, to the way he treated his family with such love and care. You slowly sink into her story and lose yourself in her loving relationship with him. To Simpson, her brother wasn't just the man who created the World Wide Web, or a multi millionaire. He was a protective brother, who was infatuated with love, almost like a "hopeless romantic." Dedicated and never settling for less than perfect, Jobs wanted to work hard in every aspect life. Simpson shows us through real quotes and descriptions. When writing a personal essay, especially on someone other than yourself, one must have in depth information about that person, in order for it to be a good essay. Mona Simpson accomplished while also paying tribute to a great man, and her brother.



http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2011/10/steve-jobs-apple-logo-re-imagined-to-pay-tribute/

A World Series to remember, and Tebow performance to forget

Over the weekend, a new team was crowned World Series Champions. People will continue the debate of whether or not the St. Louis Cardinals were the best team in baseball, but to be honest there should be no debate at all. The Cardinals earned the right to be called the best team in baseball, their record during the regular season may say otherwise, but when it came down to it, they were the best and hottest team at the right time. Not only did the Cardinals fend off a loaded Texas Rangers team, but don't forget that they also took down the Philadelphia Phillies(everyone's favorite to win it all) in the first round of the playoffs and the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round. The Cardinals took advantage of their opportunity. A team that during mid August was 13 games out of the wild card race, fought back into the playoffs, over came two favorites in the National league, and took down the best team of the American league to finish out one of the most improbable runs in Major League baseball history. From their win streak to make the playoffs, to their come from behind, 11th inning game 6 thriller, no other team deserved to be crowned World Series champs than the St. Louis Cardinals.
And now an abrupt transition to one of the most talked about topics in sports, Tim Tebow. Those of you who had the unfortunate privilege of watching one of the worst performances in the NFL this year would agree with me when I say Tebow has more to work on than just mechanical issues. The Denver Broncos lost to the Detroit Lions 45 to 10. I have said this since day one, Tebow is a great story. Proved all the naysayers wrong in college as he won a heisman trophy and 2 national titles and became one of the best college football players of all time. Despite all of his accomplishments, the guy has way to much to work on to be an NFL quarterback, and I finally got my proof this past sunday. Granted his coaches didn't give him many chances to have success on sunday by not calling plays to help his style, but under throwing his wide outs by 5 yards, the slow release and lack of accuracy was enough for me to say, this guy isn't the solution. Not to mention he had a quarterback rating of 27 at the end of the 3rd quarter. I will end my rant with this, I know a lot of you out there love Tim Tebow, and what isn't there to love about the guy, but you have be truthful to yourselves, you are all in love with this idea of him. The idea that this guy can bring a franchise back because he knows how to win. I'm sorry folks, this is the NFL, no longer is he playing college ball. Tebow is not the answer.

Notre Dame vs. USC

the rivalry continues, as So Cal travels to South Bend this weekend to take on the Fighting Irish. This is a game highlighted every year by both of these programs, but this year the game seems to be more special than years past. This saturday when the teams face off, it will be in the first night game at Notre Dame Stadium since 1990. This means a few things: first of all the stadium will be more electrifying than usual, secondly the tailgating will still begin at the same time, therefore the celebrating will reach a new level, and lastly it adds a new chapter to one of the oldest and greatest college football rivalries of all time. This isn't your typical blood bash rivalry, though these teams obviously don't like one another, this game has a sense of honor to it. Sure fans are going to exchange words as both have the right to do so, but on the field, those players and coaches don't get caught up in all that BS. Both of these teams have suffered heart break and moments of glory in the rivalry. The "Reggie Bush Push" in 2005 was not only one of the best games between these two teams, but one of the best games ever played in college football. History is in the making every time these schools face each other. Can Notre Dame finally prove all the critics wrong and show that they belong with the elite of college football? Will USC be able avenge their loss from last year against Notre Dame? Can Lane Kiffin's defensive mind stop Brian Kelly's spread offense? Also, will Notre Dame bring out the "Green Jerseys"? (i sure hope so)

These are all questions surrounding the biggest game of the weekend. Now to the part where I show off the Notre Dame fan inside of me. This year has been a roller coaster ride. High expectations, lots of talent, turnovers, big wins, terrible losses. This season has had it all, but I will say this...Notre Dame hasn't been beat by another team yet...they have only beat themselves. USF played well, but it was the Irish turnovers that killed them. The Michigan game is the same story, only in that game, they gave up a 3 score lead to lose in the final minute. I know I know, many of you probably think I'm biased and wrong with that statement, but look at what Notre Dame has accomplished in their 4 wins. We are finally starting to see this team click and find their groove. This is a scary team going ahead, and if they win saturday against USC, they will have all the confidence in the world going forward. Prediction is ND 31 USC 17. USC has yet to face a defense as good as Notre Dame's and their defense hasn't seen a no huddle spread offense like the Irish have. Michael Flloyd, Cierre Wood, and Tommy Reese will be able to put up enough points against an inexperienced defense. Again it's just a prediction...but hey, who am I kidding. Going to South Bend for the game!!! Go Irish!!!

-Sink

DJ's Dugout, the Prime Time Spot

Now for my final sports bar, I chose DJ's Dugout. This sports bar has the total package but what I enjoyed most was the college football environment and atmosphere. For all you Nebraska Huskers fans out there, this is the place for you to watch your team. Each saturday, the place fills with red and white, and whether its an afternoon game or night game, the fans remain there to show their team spirit. They pass out raffle tickets while the game is going on and hand out free Nebraska gear during commercial breaks. This was the first thing that caught my eye in the bar. Being a Notre Dame fan, my friends and I went up into the upper loft part of the restaurant to watch the Irish game. Since DJ's is so big and has so many tvs, college football fans have the opportunity to watch a variety of different games. Now to the important part, the food. Like the Moon, the food at DJ's is like most bar food...greasy, fried, and perfect with a cold beer while watching your team play. As you guys know from my other two posts, I love wings and DJ's wings hit the spot for me. With the option to pick from 13 different flavors, one has the opportunity to try a few different sauces. I went with the Jamaican Jerk, and Buffalo Style hot, and both had just the right kick and flavor to satisfy my taste buds. Their wings are a little pricy compared to other places, but to me it was worth it. Did I mention, that you also have to choice to get either regular or boneless wings? For me its all about the classic wing, but for others who don't like trying to eat around the chicken bone, boneless wings are the perfect solution. The menu has a lot of variety to it, but for the most part, its like most classic sports bars. You got your burgers, chicken sandwiches, appetizers, and drink specials. One recommendation I suggest is to go with a group of your friends, probably sometime during the weekend when you have time to sit down and watch a game on the big screen, and instead of making all separate orders, choose a 3 or 4 appetizers to share as a group. I would go with the nachos, chicken strips, quesadillas, and of course the hot wings. A great combination that should make everyone happy in your group. DJ's Dugout is located in Downtown Omaha at 10th and Capitol. A few specials to keep in mind are mondays where it's burger-mania, buy one burger get one free. Also 40 cent wing Wednesdays and specials on Rib Tip meals and 5 dollar bloody marys on saturdays.

-Sink

#2 at the Moon

My second favorite sports bar, is a little more low key than Buffalo Wild Wings, and to be quite honest, it's not really a sports bar, but they do have their fair share of tv's and what really gets you is their food, especially their amazing wings. Number 2 on my list is the Crescent Moon Ale House. The Moon is located at the Northeast corner of 36 and Farnam, just west of Midtown Crossing. Many people tend to forget about this little hole in wall, but the locals here in Omaha love this place. Known for its German beer, the Moon to my surprise has some of the best bar food I have had in Omaha. They have a full menu that includes appetizers like homemade onion rings and Wisconsin Cheese curds, all the way to soups and salads like the Buffalo Chicken salad (which is my favorite), as well as delicious 1/2 pound burgers that are to die for. The burger I recommend, that is if you like spicy things, is the South of the boarder burger which has fresh sliced jalapenos, peperjack cheese, and a spicy ranch dressing. All their sandwiches are pretty big so don't worry about not getting enough food, plus they include a pretty hefty order of fries along with burgers and other sandwiches. But for me, the wings are to die for. They have inferno, thai peanut, garlic parmesan, honey bbq, and chipotle sauces to choose from. My favorite is the chipotle, but I usually switch back and forth between that and the inferno. The best time to experience the amazing wings at the Moon is on Thursdays which they have what they call their Wing Fling. With this deal, one can order as many of their famous wings that they want for just 40 cents a piece, as long as you purchase a drink. They also have $3 Boulevard pint beer specials. This is quite deal, but friday is also a great day to go to Omaha's Original Ale House, as they roll out their Free Food Happy Hour from 4-7pm plus happy hour prices on drafts, wine, and premium well drinks. Good Service, great food, friendly environment, and that's how The Crescent Moon, Omaha's Original Ale House makes it into my top three.

-Sink

My top three sports bars for food and watching the big game

For these next three blog posts, I will be sharing with you my absolute favorite sports bars in the Omaha area to get great food and have a great time while watching the big game.


So you are at home, its a Saturday afternoon, college football games are on TV and all you want to do go sit down with your buddies, have a cold one, and share some delicious chicken wings. This is usually the dilemma I face, and where do my buddies and I go?
#3 on my list goes to Buffalo Wild Wings. A great place to relax and watch some football while also enjoying a great atmosphere, that welcomes people old and young. The Omaha location is off of 76th and Dodge. I assume many of you out there have either been to or at least heard of Buffalo Wild Wings, or BWWs as I like to call it. If you are a person who loves the idea of having tons of sauce options for your wings, then this is place for you. They have 16 different sauces to choose from, and 4 seasonings as well. Wings are the primary choice when you are at BWWs but they also have a full menu that includes other appetizers, combo meals, sandwiches, and even ribs. I usually split an appetizer with my friends when we are there. I recommend either the potato wedges, the buffalo chips or a the sampler platter. The food is decent, to be honest I have had a lot better wings for half the price but what this place has that other sports bars don't is the fun environment. TVs are everywhere, so chances are they will have have your team on TV. They also have game controllers where you have the option to play texas hold-em and trivia games against other people in the bar. It makes for an awesome place to catch the game with your buddies, or even on a week night to kick back and relax after a hard day at work. Again, food is average, but when you go to BWWs you get lots of choices, a friendly environment, and plenty of TVs. Also keep in mind if you are a UFC (mix martial arts fan) Buffalo Wild Wings has all the big name fights because of their subscription to Direct TV.

-Sink

As detailed as it gets

#jrm322 blog post on a feature story that won the Pulitzer Prize in 1979. Story is titled "Mrs. Kelly's Monster."

When I first began reading this feature story, I thought I was reading a short story. Jon Franklin does a wonderful job of bringing the reader into the story. The use of present tense and the exceptional detail Franklin gives, makes the reader feel as though you are in the emergency room with the doctors, nurses, and Mrs. Kelly. To be honest though, I felt the story goes into to much detail where Franklin could also lose the reader. I know the procedure that the doctor performed was very extreme and difficult, but the description he relays during points of the surgery is not needed in my opinion. Parts of the story could be left out, and Franklin could still achieve what he is trying to do, and that is taking the reader inside of that emergency room to show the difficulty of the procedure.

I do have to say that Franklin does give us a great idea of the emotions going on in the room. Dr. Drucker and the other nurses, and the anxiety and concentration they had during the story makes the reader more inclined to the read the article, but like I said, Franklin lost my attention to the feature story, but including too much. There is no need to go into extreme detail of the tools the doctor uses. Half the readers aren't going to understand what these tools are, as well as where all of her aneurysms are in Mrs. Kelly. But on the other hand, this piece did win the Pulitzer Prize in 1979, so who I am to say there is too much detail. This makes me think of the bigger picture. Feature stories these days focus on different things, and take different angles then what stories were meant to do back in 1979. Maybe my criticism is not needed, and though I thought the story was too much like a short story and had too much detail, the story accomplishes what the author wanted, and that is to take the reader into the story, and into that emergency room for an inside exclusive look.

take some time away from your busy life

Being a college student, I know what it is like running around all hours of the day, doing various things like studying in the library, making sure to get a workout in, going to class, getting in some work hours, grabbing lunch before the dining hall closes, and even playing in some intramural sport games. Lucky for me, this is what schedule is like and though its hectic, it's not nearly as bad as what other people have to go through on a day to day basis. In many cases, people get so consumed with all their tasks, that it leads to lots of stress and no free time. Some of you may be thinking, well what else I'm supposed to do? It's college and I have to get myself ready for what lies ahead in life. Not to say that that isn't a true statement, because it is very true, but something else to think about is, "I'm I enjoying life and having fun?" You don't ever want to look back on your college experience and think, "wow...I missed out on so much because I was so consumed with other things."
For me, its quite simple. Too many times we live life in the fast lane, and thats not going to change. But in order to benefit ourselves and make ourselves happier, you have to separate yourself from your hectic schedule and take time for yourself.

Back in high school I had opportunities to go on a number of different retreats. These retreats were centered around a spiritual basis, but what I enjoyed most about those retreats was "getting away." No worries in the world. I could relax, have time to myself and also spend time with those around me. Even just taking a night off and spending time with those people in your life who really care can help make you a happier individual.

Obviously I'm a sports guy, and for me, escaping my busy schedule means watching the Notre Dame Football game with a few of my closest friends. Just me, my boys, and Notre Dame football. No studying for tests, no filling out job applications, no working and no going to the gym. Being a sports fan is my temporary vacation away from my high speed life. Even as I am writing this blog, I feel happy, and stress free. It's just little moments here and there. For some people, maybe its going to see a new a movie in theaters, or maybe going to the park to have a picnic with a friend or two. Maybe its just you, sitting at home getting lost in a book or even taking a nap with relaxing music in background.

The point is, make time for you. I always say, "I love me some me." So this weekend try to create some time yourself, and escape the world. If you have a busy week ahead you maybe only able to take an hour or so to do what you want, but at least you get away and reflect. I know what I'll be doing, and thats finding that perfect spot on the couch while I cheer for my Irish, as well as spending time with those I Love.

Now after giving a lecture on how to escape life, lets get back to talking about sports.
here are a few college football match-ups I think you should keep your eye on.
11FSU vs. 21CLEMSON
7OKST vs 8TexasA&M
14ARKANSAS vs. 3ALABAMA

other than that, I believe LSU will handle their business against West Virginia, and Oklahoma has nothing to worry about with Mizzou. Look for Notre Dame to reach 2-2 after the weekend and look for a high scoring game with Oregon vs Arizona, which the Ducks should win as well.

-Sink

Vick's Controversial Return

In a weekend of sports that was filled with baseball teams clinching playoff spots, Flloyd Mayweather won by a "never before seen" knockout in the 4th round to keep his undefeated record, and Notre Dame got there first win of the 2011 season. But in the midst of all these sporting highlights, came the well anticipated return of NFL superstar, Michael Vick, to the city and team where he began his roller coaster career. This was Vick's first time playing against his old team since he was let go by the Falcons a few years ago when he faced jail time for his dog fighting charges.

Now lets rewind for a sec...when Vick was released from prison, many believed the guy was done and had no chance to play in the NFL again. I mean come on, the guy had been out of the league for 2 full seasons, plus who would take a chance and sign a man that so many fans around the nation had grown to hate. Well Andy Reid, coach of the Philadelphia Eagles decided to be that guy and take a chance on the so called "washed up" quarterback. Vick would be the backup to Donavan McNabb his first season back in the league which looked to be a frustrating one. He had to serve a suspension at the beginning of the season and once he was able to play, he didn't see the field very often. Fans understandably were growing impatient and began to think signing Vick was a big mistake. Last season proved to all the non believers that he still had what it took to be an NFL starter and more, a franchise quarterback once again. He had his best season ever and lead the Eagles to playoffs.

This year lies big expectations for Vick, and in the second game of the season, he had to return to his original spot of success, where he would face boos and cheers from the fans, and an Atlanta Falcons team that many believe is a Super Bowl Contender.
The night would end up being disappointing for Vick and his Eagles as Falcons won 35 to 31 and Vick suffered a concussion in the third quarter. the game lived up to the hype and brought an even bigger story to front. Vick, one of the most controversial players in the NFL and his miraculous comeback to not only MVP type performances, but winning back all those fans that grew to hate him when he went to prison. Fans still don't like Vick but he continues gain more and more respect from not only fans but other figures around the NFL. Though his "welcome home" wasn't he planned, I'm sure it brought a sense of closure to all he has had to go through these last few years of his life. Check out the link below to see how ATL quarterback Matt Ryan did compared to Michael Vick sunday night.



-Sink

Mr. Rogers, "its for the kids"

After reading a sad, yet inspiring story about the ten members of the Oklahoma State Basketball team who died ten years ago in a plane crash, this story titled "Can You Say...Hero" by Tom Junod brought more of a smile while I read over the article.

When reading Junod's article, at first I had to take a step back and look at the structure, then I realized exactly what he was doing. The way he sets up his article is be relaying stories, personal stories of Fred Rogers and his interactions with other people, most of the time with children. He conveys and tells these stories as if he were telling them to a child by always beginning them with, "once upon a time." He retells a lot of stories of Rogers' past, ultimately showing us who this man that we call "Mr. Rogers from his TV show, truly is. When reading these captivating stories, you can't help but think, wow Mr. Rogers is actually a pretty cool guy. I personally would describe him as a "man for others." Look at that Jesuit slogan that I plugged into my blog post. Score!! After telling a few stories here and there, Junod also puts in his own piece and personal experience of when he first met and interacted with Mr. Rogers. In Journalism, I always felt that the best way to get your audience into a piece is show and relate to them by using personal experiences in their stories. Thats what I enjoyed most about Junod's piece. He incorporates these heart felt stories, whether its the simple story about the bunny, or the story about the kid with cerebral palsy whom he asks to pray for him. All these stories have formed Rogers in some way or shape and they help the audience understand him that much more.

As for Junod's personal piece in the story, I don't really have a problem with it, in fact I think it helps us see a connection between the writer and the subject (Mr. Rogers). It adds yet another personal account that again, relays Junod's overall meaning of the story.

here is something funny, a Mister Rogers prank call http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26hGQF8wkvI

-Sink

this was written for my #jrm322 feature writing course

How the NFL honored 9/11

It has been ten years since the attacks of 9/11. When looking back on this historic day in our history, so much in our daily lives and culture changed. 9/11 whether we like it or not will always be a crucial day in our lives for many many years to come.
Yesterday the NFL introduced some very heartfelt and emotional tributes to 9/11. I do believe at times that the NFL can over do some stuff but the NFL hit the bulls eye this past weekend. Each game introduction wasn't about the players but rather paying tribute to our country and those who died 10 years ago, as well as those serving in our armed forces. Numerous players ran out of the tunnels holding American flags. Fields were then covered by American Flags the size of the entire field. There were also 4 games that all tuned into a Marine playing the trumpet from Washinton D.C. As fans and players remained silent, the music proved to be the perfect introduction to all the games that were being played. Players were also given the chance to honor their country on the field by wearing red, white, and blue football equipment during the games. Cleats, arm bands, patches, and even hairstyles were sported to show just how important this day in history means.
So many people have that day 10 years ago fresh in their minds, and the feeling after it all happened was the feeling of "we will get through this all together." Yesterday, while watching the NFL games, it wasn't about who you thought was going to win the game but rather that same feeling we all felt ten years ago.

Aside from the 9/11 tributes, the first week of the NFL proved to be an exciting one at that, and if you missed any games check out http://www.nfl.com/ to get caught up on all that you missed.

-Sink

Fantasy Football 101

I always told myself that I would never become "that guy." The guy who had multiple fantasy football teams and did endless research on players at each position, looked over the difficulty of each teams schedule and even who would be the upcoming year's breakout stars. But it has happened. Call me the #fantasy guru, because now I am in 5 leagues and also in a NFL "pick em" league where each week I try to pick the winners of all the NFL games. Now that I have reached this point of no return, I might as well share some of my fantasy knowledge to those who are interested in fantasy football, trying it out for the first time, or even if you are also a fantasy guru like myself. Here a few pointers that have led me to have success in past years.

Lesson number one, running backs are key. In the first round, one almost always takes a running back with their first pick, unless you have the 5th, 6th or 7th pick and Michael Vick, or Aaron Rodgers are there for the taking, the first round should be full of running back selections. A few sleepers at the RB position are James Starks of the Greenbay Packers who in my opinion will win the starting job over Ryan Grant this year. also keep your eye out for knowshon moreno of the Denver Broncos. Though he has under produced in his first two years in the NFL, he is now playing under John Fox who is notorious for implementing a good running game. My third sleeper, who really isn't a sleeper at all but I believe will a huge year in fantasy is Lagarrette Blount of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The guy came onto the scene last year and though he doesn't have the flashy speed or agility that other backs do, he was able to produce and was a touchdown hog in Tampa.

Lesson number two, when drafting try to get an elite tight end. This may mean you are the guy in the 4th or 5th round who selects a tight end but this position is greatly under appreciated in fantasy. Making it a priority to grab one of the 5 elite tight ends gives you the opportunity to have another guy who puts up numbers like a running back or wide receiver. These are the five elite. Antonio Gates, San Diego, Jermichael Finley, Green Bay, Jason Witten, Dallas, Vernon Davis, San Francisco, and finally Dallas Clark, Indianapolis. (keep in mind that Clark's production could be slow at first if Peyton Manning isn't healthy at the beginning of the season)

My third and final lesson is grab a top 3 defense. Similar to the tight end situation, you want to be a guy who doesn't have to keep picking up and dropping defenses each week because you were the guy who didn't get a defense til late in the draft. Look at defenses that not only create turnovers but allowed the fewest points. Though turnovers are flashy and cool, that doesn't always guarantee a lot of defensive fantasy points if they allow 24 points a game. Try to grab Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or New York Jets. I believe these teams will have the best defensive fantasy seasons.

These are just three easy pointers to help you while drafting and guide you towards a #fantasy #football championship.

-Sink

"Lil Nate", a crowd favorite and loved son

After reading and watching the "Dear Nate" special on #ESPN, it made me realize how important the story topic has to be when writing a feature story. The layout and angle this story Tom Friend took was good, but the actual context made the story. Its a sad story, but with a "feel good" feeling to it. Nate was a kid with courage who was able to walk on to the Oklahoma State basketball team, a program that was on the rise with a hall of fame coach in Eddy Sutton. The feel good part is that Nate played with no fear. He didn't get in many games, but when he did, he left it all out on the court, and the fans as well as his teammates grew to love him because of what he brought to the program.
The reporting Friend had to do was personal, talking to both Nate's parents and his uncle who was the one who switched spots with Nate on the flight. He made it a profile story, even though there were 9 others from Oklahoma State that died in the crash. He found a compelling and touching story that signal in on while also talking about the crash as a whole and its effects on the community. What impressed me most was how he incorporated the Dear Nate letters into the story. The connection Nate had with his dad was amazing and the letters topped it off to fully show the audience how close they were.
Both the written story and video touched me, but the video left out the letters. When reading the story with the letters in it, it just made me like the written article that much more.

#jrm322

-Jonathan Sinkiewicz

This one is for you Husker Fans

Being that I go to a school in #Nebraska, #Huskers football has gradually become apart of my life whether I want it to be or not. I am writing this giving all my honest opinions and thoughts, many people may disagree but just know I'm not trying to dog on the Huskers. So here you go Husker fans, here is what I think the 2011 college football season has in store for you.

The Huskers are entering their first year as a school in the big ten conference, and it most definitely won't be an easy one, considering they have played in the Big 12 North. I hate to break it to you, but you aren't going to have teams in this conference that you can just walk all over. That being said, you will still be at the top of the conference, winning it however won't be easy.
You do start the season off with a "free be" against Tennessee at Chattanooga and then play Fresno State at Memorial stadium as well. My only problem with this is that how will the team come out in week three against Washington? Sure you guys are pissed that they beat you in your bowl game last year, but Nebraska is a team known to come out not ready to play against teams they should beat. That being said, I do believe the Huskers begin the season 4-0. Then it gets a little shaky for me, as you guys enter into Big Ten play starting off against Wisconsin, who in my opinion is the team to beat in the Big Ten. The Badgers play well at home, they are well coached, and play old fashioned football consisting of hard hits, and running the ball with double tight end sets that wear down defenses. Plus it's a nationally televised game which the Huskers seem to struggle with that extra hype. Wisconsin will hand the Huskers their first loss of the season.
Your next game is against Ohio State at Memorial, which a lot people believe Ohio State will win, I on the other hand think you guys get the job done especially if you guys lose to Wisconsin. That extra fuel from losing to the Badgers will help the Huskers pull out a close one.
The following week at Minnesota should be no problem for Nebraska as they move to a 6-1 record. The following week Michigan St comes into Lincoln for yet another hard hitting Big Ten grudge match. The Spartans are coming off a very impressive 2010 football season and are currently preseason ranked 17th in the AP poll. I think Nebraska may have trouble putting up points against a fast Mich St. defense which eventually lead to the Huskers second loss of the season.
Upset alert!! Naaa NorthWestern won't be able to beat Nebraska in Lincoln, not enough talent to win on the road. The Huskers now sit at 7-2 going into University Park to play Penn State, which is arguably the hardest and loudest place to play in the nation. Can the Huskers handle it? I believe the Lions pull off an upset at home and hand the Huskers there third loss of the season.
As for the remaining two games against Michigan and Iowa, I think Nebraska wins both putting their overall record at 9-3 which isn't bad at all. Michigan is rebuilding with a new head coach and their defense will still be terrible this year and I'm sorry Iowa fans but you guys over achieved all last season and now you lost a great number of key players.

So there you have it, Nebraska has a great shot to make an instant impact on the Big Ten, and though I'm not a fan, I am anxious to see how everything turns out for the "Skers".

-Sink

writing...for my enjoyment as well as yours

This blog post is for my Feature Writing class at #CreightonUniversity but don't worry, I will still be keeping up with my sports blogs as well.

Since I was in middle school, I always took more of an interest in writing than math or science. English and writing just came easier to me. In high school it was the same deal. I even joined the yearbook and wrote for our school paper because I enjoyed writing stories that others were going to read. Finding this passion to write and want my ideas to be heard, eventually directed me towards what I wanted to major in at Creighton.
To be honest my writing experience has been like a roller coaster ride. Up and down, back and forth. I always feel like I reach a point where my writing is at an all time high, and then I'm brought back to earth and something makes me realize that there is always room for improvement. Whether it be creativity, spelling, punctuation, or the structure of the story, I have found that it is good to fail sometimes, because in the end, you will become a better writer.
I love to write and read anything that has to do with sports. I'm that guy who grabs the morning paper and takes out the sports section only. I'll sit down to eat breakfast in front of the tv and turn on #sportscenter. When bringing reading material on a plane or long drive, I always either read a #SportsIllustrated or #ESPN magazine. I love sports and with out them, I probably wouldn't have this drive to write sports articles and voice my opinions on certain topics in the sporting world.
The most important thing is to always improve as a writer, and that is my intention for this class. I know I have lots of room for improvement and feature writing could definitely help me become the best writer I can be. This also leads me to the bigger picture of why I want to write in the first place. Writing helps me get away from the world. I calm down and let my thoughts flow. I write for myself because I enjoy putting my thoughts into words. But I also want to write for other people. I love having conversations with others on topics of interest and a big part of why I want to write is to share my thoughts with others. Sparking conversation, debating topics, or even just reflecting with others about my writing means a lot to me, thats why I also write, for the enjoyment of others.

-Jonathan Sinkiewicz

Which player would I build and NFL team around?

The other day I came across an article on ESPN.com talking about starting a new NFL franchise and which player to build around. Now the writer went into detail about which owner he would want, which General Manager, and even head coach before picking his player. I'm however skipping right to picking which player I would build an NFL team with.

First off, I know the saying "defense wins championships" holds a lot of truth to it, but I will not be choosing an a defensive player to start my team with. First off, currently there is no defensive player in the NFL that can dominate on a daily basis, they have their weak spots. Second off it is an offensive and pass happy league, therefore not only will I not be choosing a defensive player but I also won't choose a receiver, tight end, offensive lineman, or running back. I don't care how good Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson are, if they don't have a good QB, their stats won't lead their teams to wins. Same thing with a running back. If your team leads the league in rushing yards but you QB can't convert on a 3rd and long play to extend your drive then you also won't be getting many W's. That leaves us with the quarterback position.

In order to have success in the NFL, your team must have solid play from its QB. Now I'm going name my top quarterbacks currently in the league and explain why I would start a team with them or why I wouldn't take the chance.

Lets start with Michael Vick. Vick is possibly the most versatile and athletic player in the NFL today. He is a home run waiting to happen. One play he is throwing a 60 yard bomb for a TD, and the next he is ripping off a 45 yard run and converting a 3rd and long. This guy is dynamic in so many ways, but I would not start my NFL team with Vick. Here is why. Vick comes with a beware sticker on him. Because he is a running quarterback, you risk him getting injured meaning he can miss a few games each year or possibly be out for a season. I love his upside, but I wouldn't take the chance.

Next is Tom Brady, who is arguably the best player in the NFL today. The guy has three super bowl rings and rarely makes a mistake on the field. He is a natural leader on the field, and his teammates respect him and build around him. Again a good player to start your team with but Brady is getting older and he has been injured a few times of late. He is a solid QB to start a team with but he isn't my number one choice.

This is where it gets a little tricky for me. My heart tells me to pick THE Peyton Manning. The guy picks a part defenses as if he were playing against a bunch of high school zone packages. He is without a doubt one of the best QB's to ever play the game and could go down as the best ever if he wins another title or two. Manning is a proven winner and he has done with a sub par running game and defense during his career. Like Brady, Manning is a great leader on and off the field and one of the most respected players in the league today. But again Manning isn't my choice. I don't have a legit reason as to why I wouldn't choose Manning. The only reason I can think of is because the next QB I'm going to talk about is on the rise and has the potential to be great.

That leads me to my decision. Wow, I feel like Lebron James and how he dragged everyone along this bumpy road before announcing his decision to "take his talents south beach (Miami)". The player I would choose is Aaron Rodgers, the QB for the super bowl champion Green Bay Packers. The guy has it all. He is smart, can make any throw on the field, and has the ability to to take off and scramble for big yards. Not to mention he just added a super bowl ring to his resume, and has the coolest TD celebration in the league (the championship belt). Rodgers is young and dynamic, and has all the skills sets of the previous guys I mentioned. I am someone who loves to win and I want to win right away. That is why I didn't take choose Sam Bradford of the St. Louis Rams. Rodgers gives me everything I want. A young agile QB, who knows how to win in this league and still has a long successful career ahead of him. Not to mention he helped my fantasy football team reach the semis last season. The guy can flat out play the position and knows how to lead a team. In the face of adversity, he rises to the occasion and plays out of his mind.

So, when having a friendly conversation with your buds about who the best player in the NFl is, you don't have say "Aaron Rodgers", but you can say, "boy I would love to start an NFL team with him leading the way".

College Football Preview and the Fighting Irish

When fans and the media believed the NFL players and owners couldn't settle their differences, the fact was that the focus would have to turn to College Football. Now with the NFL back and ready, College football seems to have lost some attention. Today the coaches poll came out with their rankings for the 2011 College football season. The #1 spot was given to the Oklahoma Sooners who know what it's like to be the #1 team in the nation. The Sooners are presented with the challenge of playing Florida State in their second game of the season, a team that was given the #5 ranking in the coaches poll. Other notable tough games for Oklahoma are Oklahoma State and Texas A&M who are also in the AP top 10. Rounding out the top five is Alabama, who won the Championship two years ago, the Oregon ducks who lost in the national title game last season, along with LSU and Florida at #5. Teams like TCU, Auburn, and Wisconsin are also ranked in the top 20 along with the return of Notre Dame, who last season wasn't ranked in the preseason AP Poll. Again just like I mentioned in my NFL post, there lies a lot of questions surrounding the 2011 College season. Will the Big Ten finally earn respect by adding powerhouse Nebraska to their conference? Can Stanford continue their hot streak even with coach Jim Harbough leaving for the NFL? Can the SEC produce yet another BCS Championship winner and Heisman Trophy winner? And finally can coach Brian Kelly return Notre Dame to glory and college football powerhouse? For me this is a big question. For those of you who know me, I am a die hard Irish fan and have been my entire life. The Kelly era to me brings great hope that the Irish are well on their way to being a BCS contender. Led by senior wide receiver Michael Floyd, the Irish are poised to make a run at a big time bowl game. The city of South Bend believes again and Kelly has his players believing its time to win now. When a new head coach is hired, most of the time it is a sign of rebuilding. For Notre Dame and second year coach Kelly, its the exact opposite. Once Kelly arrived in South Bend, he said he wasn't going to install a five year plan, but rather a five minute plan. The time is now and look for the Irish to make huge strides during the 2011 college season.

Football is back and tiger making a come back

So after the lockout ended what was the first thing that came to your mind? Your favorite team's first preseason game? Training camp? Will Farve make another comeback? Well, the first thing that came to my mind was where will all these big name free agents land? Big names such as Reggie Bush, Sidney Rice, Chad Ochocinco, and even Plaxico Burress found new places to play in the 2011 NFL season. With so many teams having to spend so much money this offseason, this seems to present a new and fresh start to the already successful NFL. Fans are more anxious than ever and its only the beginning of August. If anything, the NFL lockout helped the NFL and its fan base. People are excited about football again, and yes fantasy football freaks can begin doing endless research to regain their throne at the top of their fantasy leagues. So many switches in the league have me thinking, is there really a front runner? Essentially I have to put the "Pack" (Greenbay) as the favorite but after that its a toss up for who the other top teams in both the NFC and AFC are going to be. But I do have to pick a few front runners in both the AFC and NFC. The Jets, Patriots, Colts, Ravens, and Steelers are my top five in the AFC and the Packers, Eagles, Falcons, Saints, and Giants in the NFC. Again at this point in time, we really can't make accurate predictions for this upcoming NFL season. All I can say is, are you ready for some football!!!??

And for another top story in sports, Tiger Woods tees off at Firestone where he has won 7 times in his career, but is he on his way to winning his first tournament in 2 years? In my opinion, I think thats exactly why he picked this tourney to make his return. Sure he had health issues with his knee and achilles, but this is a place where Tiger is used to winning and winning big. Mentally this is exactly what Tiger needs, a place of comfort, a course that he has dominated time and time again. His focus seems to be back, along with his health, the third and final piece to this puzzle is Tiger remembering what its like to win. I don't care what anyone says, the guy is still the scariest man on a golf course, and if Firestone turns out to be his comeback party, then golfers better look out. Once Tiger gets going, he is like a freight train, there is no stopping him.

Its been awhile since I last posted on my blog but I hope to become more active this fall with voicing my opinions on sports news on my blog.