Real Sports Talk With E-$

I typically try to think of a good opening article in order to catch you, the readers eye, but I can't think of anything good this week.

In the NFL world this week, the most talked about thing was the Jim Harbaugh-Jim Schwartz thing got completely blown out of proportion. Harbaugh was excited that the now 5-1 San Francisco 49ers beat the previously unbeaten Detroit Lions and was jumping up and down after the conclusion of the game. Harbaugh acknowledged Schwartz a little too excitedly, and Schwartz didn't appreciate it. Upon confronting each other, cooler heads prevailed, and Harbaugh acknowledged that he screwed up. Both of these teams played in one of the best games this year, but this will unfortunately be the thing that gets remembered the most. Bottom line, Schwartz has to get over it (and I think Schwartz is the coach of the year thus far), and just keep his team and himself focused for the rest of the regular season. The Lions have been a great story so far this season, and if both of these team keep it up, there is a great chance that these teams will make it to the playoffs (and might potentially face each other as well). Besides the 49ers, the Giants and Patriots showed me something last weekend, as both teams' erased deficits to come-back and beat the Bills and Cowboys, respectively. Both teams go into their bye weeks with winning records (Giants 4-2, Pats 5-1) and seem poised to make the playoffs.

The Texas Rangers beat the Detroit Tigers in six games in the ALCS thanks to Nelson Cruz's six home runs and 13 RBIs in the series. The Rangers, who in my opinion have had their offense carry them the whole year, seem to be the favorite against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, who beat the Milwaukee Brewers in six games on Sunday night, have had their offense carry their team in the playoffs by posting three 12 run games in the NLCS. St. Louis' pitching staff isn't really that bad, though, as Chris Carpenter and Edwin Jackson have done great this year. This World Series seems quite ho-hum for me, to be honest with myself, but I am guessing that the Rangers are going to win the series in six games.

Since the NBA is in a lockout, I am going to have a top 7 list on a weekly basis until the season starts

This week: Best NBA dunkers since 2000  (If you disagree with me, shoot me an e-mail at edbrill@plymouth.edu, and I will put you in next week's column).

7. Steve Francis- Participated in two dunk contest. Francis was the first dunker in this decade that was shorter (a modest 6'3) and was explosive with every dunk he ever did.

6. Javeel McGee- McGee was robbed of the championship last year and did some ridiculous dunks (the two-hoop dunk, the three ball dunk), but needs to be in a few more highlights to improve his position.

5. Dwight Howard- Howard would be higher on this list, but he is too tall for his own good. I must say, though, his 12-foot dunk that he did with ease was very impressive.

4. Desmond Mason- Mason, who was in the NBA dunk finals from '01-'03 (and won it in '01), goes down as the most underrated dunker in this decade.

3. LeBron James- Yeah, I know, he was never in a NBA dunk contest, but some of the dunks that he has had in-game are some of the best ever.                                    

2. Vince Carter- Vinsanity had some great dunks, but he was only in one dunk contest. The dunk over Frederic Weis might be the best of all-time (go look it up).                       

1. Jason Richardson- Whether it be the reverse through the legs or 360s in the middle of games, he is the man.

Honorable Mentions- Kobe Bryant, Andre Iguodala, Tracy McGrady, Amare Stoudemire, Rudy Gay

In other irrelevant (though I find interesting) sports news:

- Christian Ponder looked pretty good in his mop-up work against the Bears on Sunday night.

- The whole thing with the Red Sox starting pitchers drinking in the clubhouse during games on their off days the past few years is ridiculous and shouldn't be tolerated. John Lackey deserves to be suspended, indefinitely.

-Brandon Lloyd getting traded for a tentative 6^th round pick isn't as lopsided as thought to be. The Rams get a true #1 receiver, while the Broncos get potential 5^th round pick for a player whose contract runs out at the end of the year.

-Make a cameo down at the HUB on Monday and Tuesday nights in the gym. From 9-11 P.M., dodge-ball is played and it is a lot of fun.

-R.I.P. Dan Wheldon. Anyways whoever doesn't think auto racing is a sport, you are wrong.

-My pick to win the NASCAR race in Talladega is the fans because the race down there is typically of the best, not only in the Chase, but the whole year (my actual pick is Greg Biffle, no reason why, just a feeling).

-Best NFL game of the upcoming week? The Texans traveling to Tennessee to face the Titans. How will the Texans do after losing to Baltimore last week, and will the Titans rebound after their bye?

Non-sports information of the week

-Interesting to see in a recent study that 50% of Americans think that marijuana should be legalized (people that know me know how I feel about the subject).

-The Clock doesn't have an issue next week so stay out of trouble for the next couple of days.

-If you are interested in commentating for the hockey teams this winter, shoot me an e-mail (edbrill@plymouth.edu), and I will give you some more information.

'Till next week (kinda) I'm outta here.........