MLB Post Season Update: League Championship Series

The MLB Division Championship Series have come to an end and the NLCS and ALCS series are about to begin. This post will examine those match ups and unveil the Groundskeeper MLB League Championship series predictions.

ALCS

New York Yankees (95-67) vs. Texas Rangers (90-72)

This series will pit the defending World Series Champion New York Yankees against the American League West Champion Texas Rangers. The Yankees are coming off a series sweep of the Minnesota Twins, while the Rangers are riding the excitement surrounding their 3-2 series win over the AL East Champion Tampa Bay Rays; which culminated in their first ever ALDS series crown.

New York is heading into the series with fresh legs after receiving plenty of rest while waiting for the Rangers and Rays to battle it out. Their series against the Twins appeared as though it was a rejuvenation session conveniently planned for the post season. All of the question marks that they had going into the match up seem to have been erased. The Groundskeeper Series MVP award goes to Yankees Center Fielder Curtis Granderson who batted right around .455 with two 2 runs on 5 hits and 3 RBIs. Granderson also put himself in scoring position by recording both a double and a triple. The Groundskeeper Series CY Young award goes to New York Starting Pitcher Phil Hughes who pitched 7 scoreless innings with 6 strike outs and 1 walked batter in game 3 of the Yankees sweep over the Twins. If the Yankees can keep up the type of play they produced against Minnesota they will be in prime position to take the next series as well.

The Texas Rangers had never won a playoff series going into their match up against Tampa Bay. Incidentally their Ace Pitcher Cliff Lee had never lost a post season game. By the time the 5th game rolled around it became a certainty that one of those streaks was about to come to an end. Fortunately for Lee and the Rangers it was the streak that they were both playing to break. The Rangers left the series with some serious holes to fill, but they also proved that they are a dangerous team when firing on all cylinders. The Groundskeeper Series MVP goes to Rangers Second Baseman Ian Kinsler who produced an impressive stat sheet with 5 runs, 8 hits, 3HRs, and 6 RBIs. The Groundskeeper Series CY Young award goes to Texas Starting Pitcher Cliff Lee who posted an impressive 1.13 ERA with 21 strike outs and 2 walked batters over the course of 16 innings. If the Rangers can keep their bats alive and rally behind their bullpen, they should be in fantastic shape in their upcoming series against the Yanks.

The deciding factor in this series should be depth. While New York has struggled on the road against Texas, the struggle has not been what it appears to be at face value. In all of the games with the exception of their final meeting (with Lee at the helm) the Rangers have had to rally late and rely on relief pitching to win games. In their post season series that starts Friday, Cliff Lee will likely not be available to start until game 3 due to the series against the Rays going all 5 games. Look to the Yankees and their hot bats to take advantage of the Rangers lack of depth at the Starting Pitcher spot. While the regular season meetings between these two teams got split at 4 games a piece, the Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: New York over Texas 4-2.

NLCS

Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) vs. San Francisco Giants (92-70)

This series will feature the defending National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies against the National League West Champion San Francisco Giants. The Phillies are arriving in the NLCS after a 3 game sweep of the insurgent Cincinnati Reds, while the Giants are charging in after a dominating 3-1 series win over the Atlanta Braves.

The Phillies pitching absolutely dominated the Reds giving up only 4 runs the entire series; and did I mention that all of those came in one game? In game 1 of the series Phillies Pitcher Roy Halladay threw only the second no hitter in the history of post season baseball; and for the Reds it was all down hill from there. The Phillies bats however, were not particularly potent during the series. Only two players were batting above .300 and one of those players was Roy Halladay (.333). The Groundskeeper Series MVP award goes to Phillies Second Baseman Chase Utley who scored 3 runs on 3 hits with 1 HR and 4 RBI's. The Groundskeeper CY Young award goes to (no surprise here) Philadelphia Starting Pitcher Roy Halladay who pitched a complete game giving up zero hits, zero earned runs, 1 walked batter and 8 strike outs. If the Phillies can get more out of their bats, their pitching should easily be able to do the rest.

San Francisco's starting pitching was also quite spectacular in their meeting against the Atlanta Braves. Led by the arm of their 12 year old phenom... only kidding; led behind the fire ball hurling arm of the young Tim Lincecum the Giants easily moved past the Braves and into the ALCS. Much like the Phillies however, if not even more so, the Giants batting is suspect (to say the least). The Giants averaged under 3 runs a game against Atlanta with no one batter standing out from the rest. The Groundskeeper Series MVP award goes to San Francisco Catcher Buster Posey who in spite of not producing a single RBI was able to hit for a .375 average as well as score 3 runs on 6 at bats. The Groundskeeper Series CY Young was a gimmie; Giants Pitcher Tim Lincecum made the Braves look silly with just 2 hits given up, and 14 strike outs on top of a 0.00 ERA. If the Giants can do more at the plate they should have the pitching to match up well against the Phillies.

The deciding factor in this game should be the utter lack of batting. The pitching in this game from both clubs should be sensational. The key to winning will belong to which ever team can spur their team into production at bat first. This conundrum really benefits the Phillies more than it does the Giants in that their (Philadelphia) lineup is stockpiled with postseason vets and a good record of production at the plate. The Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: Philadelphia over San Francisco 4-1.

MLB Post Season Preview

The MLB post season gets underway today at 1:37 ET time with the Texas Rangers facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays. The crackerjacks have been popped, the fields have been groomed, and Derek Jeter has studied all the necessary film (the stylings of various Hollywood A listers).

So without further ado I present: The Groundskeeper MLB Post Season Preview

NLDS


Philadelphia Phillies (97-65) vs. Cincinnati Reds (91-71)

The 2009 NLCS Champions Phillies feature this year what could quite possibly be considered the most potent starting rotation in the MLB. They lead the MLB in innings pitched and their ERA was in the top 5. The Phils starting rotation also sports one of the lowest walk rates in the league. The team's bats are not to be over looked either. Howard, Utley and Rollins have not posted the same numbers this season as in years past, but there should be no doubt that the Reds fielders will need to be on their toes.

The Reds have not seen the post season in 15 years. They are certainly the dark horse team coming into the series and should not be underrated. Joey Votto is their main man. The guy was so unknown that he didn't even make the all-star team during the first round of voting in spite of his stellar numbers. If there were concerns about his ability to stay consistent, he put them to rest and is now the odds on favorite to win the NL MVP. The Reds can also lay claim to a potent Pitching rotation of their own. Led by Edinson Volquez on the mound the Reds are hungry and ready to make a statement.

The deciding factor in this game should be the Reds bats getting swing happy against the lethally accurate Phils pitching. The Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: Philadelphia over Cincinnati 3-2.


San Francisco Giants (92-70) vs. Atlanta Braves (91-71)

The San Francisco Giants are your prototypical National League team. They rely on pitching and small ball to capture wins. Their pitching rotation is consistent and deep; both the starting rotation and the bullpen bear pitchers with grade A stats and large repertoires. They rank in the top 5 in almost every major stat category. This is a much different team than the Giants of last decade and it seems to be working for them.

The Atlanta Braves seem to keep winning when it counts. When you look at the statistical panorama the Braves struggle to break into the top 10 in any category. The have a string of players with a lot of upside to their potential. But they lack consistent production from both their bats and their arms. If the Braves can get their players in sync the Giants are in for a nasty surprise.

The deciding factor in this game should be power hitting. The Braves lack it; and are also especially susceptible to giving up the long ball this year. The Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: San Francisco over Atlanta 3-1.


ALDS

Minnesota Twins (94-68) vs. New York Yankees (95-67)

The Minnesota Twins began to open up their NL Central lead over the White Sox in mid September and did not look back. Behind the heavy bat of Joe Mauer the Twins look to move deep into the post season in familiar style. Minnesota's offense ranks high enough to be in the top ten in every major stat category; including coming in second in On Base Percentage and third in Batting Average. If the Twins can fill the hole left by Justin Morneau look to them to swing those big bats with no regard for the fans sitting behind center.

The Yankees seemingly limped into the post season at the hand of inconsistent pitching and lackluster performances in big games. Yankee fans have got to hope that this is all just a big Jeter like charade. The stat line however, provides hope for the Yankees who ranked first in Runs and On Base Percentage at seasons end. Batting has gotten the Yankees through the postseason before but against teams like the Rays, Twins and Reds the Bronx Bombers had better hope that their pitching staff can pull it together. If C.C Sabathia and Andy Pettitte show up to take pressure off the Yankees bats, look to the bats to come alive in a reciprocal fashion.

The deciding factor in this game should be injuries. Both the Yankees and the Twins have suffered their fair share of hurt coming into the post season, but in what looks to be a high scoring season the Twins loss of Morneau will really hurt. The Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: New York over Minnesota 3-2.


Tampa Bay Rays (96-66) vs. Texas Rangers (90-72)

The Tampa Bay Rays looked to be the team to beat for a good portion of the season. They started out strong, relinquished their lead to the Yankees for a few months and then stormed back to a strong finish. The Rays arguably have the most balanced lineup in all of baseball. While they are not feared as power hitters they can certainly jack one up. Their speed is phenomenal and their pitching overpowering. They have been strong contenders for the past few years and have no doubts about it, the Rays have their eyes focused on the World Series.

Arlington, Texas has for a long time now seen its fair share of ups and
downs. They have been consistent at one thing- compiling great teams and then tearing them apart. This year needs to be the year that they actually do something with their star studded team. Hamilton, Guerrero and Young will lead the charge on offense; while Cliff Lee and the pitching staff look to dominate the Rays lineup. The Rangers have been silently lurking in the shadows all year and now that the post season is here, it is time to pounce.

The deciding factor in this game should be speed. The Rangers have a great team but lack the speed that the Rays have out in the open field. I look to this series to favor the Rays defensively. The Groundskeeper prediction for this series is: Tampa Bay over Texas 3-1.

The Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 3

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever continued...

8. Make it rain (3's)!

The 1979-1980 NBA season sported many new and significant changes. The New Orleans Jazz had just made their move to Utah, the Indiana Pacers joined the league, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird both entered into their Rookie seasons, and the NBA contracted its first Cable television venture. The most significant change of all however, was the incorporation of the three point line into the professional game.

The three point line was not exactly new or unique to the game of basketball before the NBA adopted it. Both the short lived American Basketball League and the ABA had been using it for around a decade up to that point. The ABA in particular had been utilizing the shot as a marketing tool to compete with the league.

On October 12, 1979 Boston Celtics Guard Chris Ford made the first 3 point field goal in NBA history. Since then throwing the rock up from behind the arch has become a staple of the game. From spectacular clutch shots to last minute buzzer beaters the 3 point shot has provided a brilliant plot twist for each and every game played.


9. Leaping over the Great Wall.

The game of basketball and the popularity of the NBA has known no greater cross border success than within the walls of China. The NBA, per Shanghai native Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, has known its most significant short term growth through the 30 million viewers each week and an estimated 500 million active fans all across China.

China has produced many fantastic NBA stars. When the Dallas Mavericks 7'1 Wang made his debut in the NBA he became the first Chinese born player to step foot on the court. The popularity of Chinese stars such as Wang (Mavericks), Ming (Rockets), Jianlian (Wizards), and Bateer (Nuggets) cannot easily be realized through the scope of American viewership. When Bateer and Wang faced off in Bateer's second game in the league 400 million Chinese viewers tuned in to watch.

The popularity of the NBA and the sport of basketball should only continue to grow in China. The Dream Team may have introduced the high octane NBA game to the world. But it is players like Ming and Jianlian that are going to keep it relevant.

10. Supposed Indecision 2010

The summer of 2010 was a media circus to say the least. At no other time in NBA history had the league showcased so many high profile free agents. On the block were big names such as Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki along with Joe Johnson (G Atlanta Hawks), Carlos Boozer (F Utah Jazz), Paul Pierce (G Boston Celtics), Amar'e Stoudemire (F Phoenix Suns), Chris Bosh (F Toronto Raptors), Dwayne Wade (G Miami Heat) and of course the biggest name of them all- LeBron James (F Cleveland Cavaliers).

Speculation ran rampant over the course of the off-season; with many of the player's projected destinations changing by the hour. When the dust finally settled most teams were able to retain their superstars. Nowitzki, Johnson, Pierce and Wade all stayed with their respective franchises. However, Boozer, Stoudemire, Bosh and James had all decided to move on.

If 2010's free agency class were likened unto a lottery, LeBron James would qualify as the jackpot ticket. Practically every team with the available cap space took it upon themselves to lobby hard for LBJ; anything less would be considered a consolation prize. The Miami Heat won the day when they were able to obtain LeBron. Their spoils were in large part due to the efforts of Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to lure their Olympic teammate to the roster.

The media coverage of LeBron's free agency has become a topic of much discussion and will undoubtedly remain so for some time to come. For many the coverage leading up to and including the 1 Hour ESPN special titled "The Decision" was completely over the top. In the wake of the 24 hour news fiasco LeBron endured accusations of self aggrandizement, as well as being branded as a narcissist. The once beloved King James was courted with so much enthusiasm one could have easily mistaken him for Disney's Princess Jasmine. But as is the story with the Princess (sorta), LeBron hopped on his magic carpet and took his talents to South Beach, leaving Agrabah behind.

For others, LeBron was the victim of an aggressive multi-party marketing strategy to fill the void left by Jordan. Will LeBron ever be Michael Jordan? The easy answer is no. Just like their will never be another Babe Ruth or Wayne Gretzky. But truth be told, he does not have to be. LeBron is still easily the most physically talented player in the game today. In spite of what your feelings may be about the man; the machine LeBron James is
now coupled with two other perennial all-stars and an
organization that features basketball wizard Pat Riley at the helm. I constantly hear the naysayers casting aspersions about the Heat and their ability to match up with the other top Franchises in the league. I simply submit the question: Who matches up well with the King and the Heat? I am looking forward to the 2010-2011 NBA season with much anticipation.

Happy trails and thanks for reading. Please remember to tune in for my MLB postseason preview as well as my soon to come NBA preseason power rankings and predictions.

-The Groundskeeper

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 2

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever continued...

4. Sam Bowie say what?!

"There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us." - Magic Johnson

If Bill Russell could have been a Hawk, it is safe to say that the infamous #23 could have easily been a Portland Trail Blazer. The 1984 NBA Draft is widely regarded as one of the deepest in NBA history. It sported future big names and Hall of Fame members such as: Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and of course Michael Jordan.

The Houston Rockets had the first pick in the NBA draft. Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon was at the top of almost everybody's draft card. Teams were doing all they could to wheel and deal their way into that top spot and the coveted draft rights to 7ft, 250lbs shot blocking machine. At the top of the list of those wheeler and dealers were the Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers were in dire need of a Center to immediately step up and fill in for the ailing Bill Walton. The Rockets however, also needed to fill that spot and the Blazers, despite their efforts, ultimately ended up with the number 2 pick.

Hakeem Olajuwon would not have been a pick for anyone to scoff at. He had produced a spectacular college career and was widely regarded as a future league MVP. Sam Bowie on the other hand was in many minds not even the best Center left in the draft after Hakeem had been picked. The Blazers decision to take Bowie has in retrospect been dubbed as the biggest draft bust in professional sports history. Although, it should be pointed out that as un-coveted as Bowie was, Jordan was not exactly the Bulls first choice either. In fact Rob Thorn, then general manager of the Chicago Bulls, was quoted by the Chicago Tribune after selecting Jordan as saying:

"We wish Jordan were 7-feet, but he isn't. There just wasn't a center available. What can you do? Jordan isn't going to turn this franchise around. I wouldn't ask him to. He's a very good offensive player, but not an overpowering offensive player."

Much to the pleasant bewilderment of Thorn, the Bulls and Michael Jordan turned out to be the perfect consortium. Chicago was able to cultivate Jordan's talents through the unorthodox coaching styles of the great Phil Jackson as well as surround him with the requisite supporting cast. The ingredients could not have been more proper and even more so, down right genius. The NBA was the stage; and in the Bulls, Jordan had found a production; and in Jordan, the Bulls had found a star.

Michael "Air" Jordan and his high flying- gravity defying, rim rattling, performance in the clutch antics went on to change the game forever. From his best selling shoe brand to his cinematic feats of the decade, M.J was more than just a basketball player; #23 transcended the game. When even the most casual observer looks back on Jordan and the 90's they will undoubtedly find themselves compelled to bear witness to the fact that no player has ever brought more attention and esteem to the NBA and the game of basketball. Simply put, there is not a word in existence that could more adequately describe Michael Jordan than "iconic".

"By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." —Introductory line of Jordan's NBA Encyclopedia biography


5. The Malice at the Palace

The spectacle between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons at the Pistons home arena 'The Palace of Auburn Hills' could hardly have been billed as the "Thrilla in Manila" (the famous final boxing match between greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier). This observation is not solely predicated upon the fact that it was capriciously unplanned, but rather that it was also an appalling manifestation of the NBA at its worst.

With less than a minute left in the game Piston's Center Ben Wallace responded to then Pacer Forward Ron Artest's hard foul, which was committed while he (Wallace) was going up for a dunk. Wallace reacted by shoving Artest hard to the chest. From there the altercation transformed into an all out violent affair. Players from both teams engaged in pushing, shoving and even the exchange of punches.

As the incident started to seemingly calm down Artest lied upon the scorers table in what can only be described as a taunt (although Artest claims to have been trying to disengage). That is when a fan hurled a beverage at the young Forward and things once again escalated. Artest sprang up from the scores table and vaulted into the stands after a man whom he had mistakenly identified as the assailant. As he did, other players ventured into the stands as well. Now the fight that was once between players, incorporated fans. Once Artest had made it out of the stands he was aggressively approached by two fans on the court. He responded by punching one of them in the face. Teammate Jermain O'Neal intervened by gaining a running start and punching the other fan in the face.

As the Pacer's exited the floor towards the tunnel leading to the locker room they were met with a barrage of food, debris and a folding chair from the fans still in the stands. This led Pacer Guard Stephen Jackson to return from the locker room with what appeared to be a dust pan in an attempt to battle off fans. He was restrained however, and the atrocious catastrophe was left to the overwhelmed stadium security to sort out.

In the wake of the debacle the legal repercussions of the event were as follows: 5 players were charged with assault and all 5 were convicted; each of them receiving a year of probation and community service. Five fans were also charged with assault.

The NBA also levied out some consequences of their own. The 5 fans that were charged with assault also received a lifetime ban from Piston's home games. The NBA also took measures to limit the sale of alcohol at NBA games in congruence with increasing their stadium security presence. As far as the players were concerned the NBA initially suspended Artest, Jackson, O'Neal and Wallace indefinitely. Once the league finished sorting through the events of that night the more notable punishments handed out were as follows: Pacer's Forward Ron Artest was fined $4,995,000 along with receiving a suspension that lasted the remainder of the season (73 regular season games and incidentally 13 playoff games). Pacer's Guard Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and fined $1,700,000. Pacer's Center Jermain O'Neal was suspended for 15 games and fined $4,111,000. Detroit Piston's Center Ben Wallace was suspended 6 games and fined 400,000 dollars. Piston's Guard Chauncey Billups and Pacer's Guard Reggie Miller also received fines and suspensions.

The Malice at the Palace will always remain as black spot on the legacy of the NBA and a constant reminder to officials and coaches to get involved before things become unmanageable. Since the brawl there has been a noticeable uptick in the assessment of technical fouls and increasingly stringent guidelines for officials with respect to what constitutes the big T.

Enjoy ESPN's coverage of the event:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-169695640295285298#


6. Bargaining with a Lockout

The 1998-1999 NBA season did not see its first tip-off until February 5th after a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the NBA and the Players Association. The Players Association had been threatening a players lockout for years leading up to the 98-99 season and were eventually led to stage one due to not being able to meet a timely agreement with the league.

The shortened season led to an absence of the NBA All-Star game as well as many of the non-conference games that usually take place during a season. A total of 50 games per team were played in place of the regular 82 game schedule, with the addition of a full playoff schedule. The San Antonio Spurs led by David Robinson and Tim Duncan were crowned champions.

The NBA struggled for a few years following the lockout to match their pre-lockout revenues, but was eventually able to recover. The players however, were very content with the terms of the agreement and were able to have much more negotiating power within many different facets of their contracts. Players, money, and the NBA collectively have been markedly different since.

7. Grounded

James Jordan (Michael Jordan's father) was murdered on July 23, 1993 at a highway rest stop in North Carolina by two asinine teenagers. They were later caught and convicted to a life in prison. The sudden loss of his father rocked Michael's world. This sobering incident only served to exacerbate Jordan's purported thoughts of an early retirement.

On October 6, 1993 Michael Jordan stepped away from the NBA and the game of basketball. The face of the Bulls was now gone and the impact of Jordan's retirement was felt league wide. National and world wide interest in the NBA saw a definite decline. For fans of teams that, in spite of their respect of Jordan, loathed him and the Bulls, this was the opening they had been looking for. Parity had finally struck its chord in the NBA and the title was up for grabs.

While M.J was testing his skills on the baseball diamond, Hakeem Olajuwon and his Houston Rockets were winning championships; 2 to be exact. However, in March of 1995 the Chicago Bulls (who were at that point in mid season sitting on a 31-31 record) got their leader back. M.J scored 19 points in his much anticipated return to the Bulls, and also provided the NBA with their most viewed game on television since 1975. Although Jordan had been removed from the game for over a year the "Sultan of the Hardwood" soon regained his basketball mojo and led the Bulls into the postseason. Jordan and the Bulls were ultimately eliminated by the Orlando Magic in a 6 game Eastern Conference series. However, the following season the Chicago Bulls were right back in the NBA Finals; and as history now dictates, Michael Jordan led them to another astonishing 3 Championships in a row.


This concludes part 2 of my 3 part series the Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever. Tomorrow I will post Moments 8-10. Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed it.

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 1

This is post two of the Groundskeeper NBA preview. Last post we explored some of the aesthetic changes that have taken place over time. In this post we will take a look at Moments 1-3 of our Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever. It is hard to put this list in any specific order. Although due to my obsessive compulsive nature I was forced to try. So here it is, the Groundskeeper Ten:

1. Bill Russell and the Celtics Wed

The list of NBA laureates is short. It is a class that contains the likes of Jordan, Chamberlain, Johnson and Bird. It is a short list of the most complete and accomplished games to ever set foot on the hardwood. And there at the top sits the iconic 11 ring winner Bill Russell. The Celtics may be the most storied franchise in basketball, but they would have never gotten there without Russell.

And Russell, might have been an Atlanta Hawk.

In April of 1956 the Boston Celtics orchestrated a trade that went on to change the game of basketball forever. Bill Russell is remembered for many things; although, perhaps his most significant contribution to the game is the least heralded: The 24 second shot clock.

The NBA had been mulling over the idea of a shot clock for quite a few years previous to Russell. However, the advent of the Celtics fast break offense, fueled largely by Russell's insatiable hunger for the board and his tenacious shot blocking, put them over the edge.

The shot clock is the cause for many a heartache and many a celebration in today's modern game. Pacers great and NBA analyst Reggie Miller once stated that his most potent offensive weapon was "the shot clock". Because of it the game will never be the same. Forever live the buzzer beater, and when you witness it, be sure to pay homage to William "Bill" Russell.

2.The Magical 1980 NBA Finals (Game 6)

The Lakers led the series at three games to the 76ers two. The Dr. of Dunk Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers and the sky hooking phenom 7'2 Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers had been headlining the series. By even contemporary standards the NBA could hardly have asked for a more star studded program. However, enthusiasm for the league was in decline. The stars of the 60's and 70's were at the twilight of their careers and fresh talent had yet to emerge.

In Game 5 Abdul-Jabbar suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the brunt of the game. In the 4th quarter of the game he limped back onto the floor and helped lead the Lakers to the win that put them a game away from wearing the NBA crown. As it turns out though, the ankle injury proved to be too severe, and Jabbar would have to sit for game 6.

The Johnson and Bird era had been building its foundation on the courts of the NCAA. When Magic Johnson stepped on the floor to fill in for the injured Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the era emerged beyond the college game and into the pro arena. Johnson's 42 point, 15 rebound, and seven assist "Magical" performance captured America's attention. The NBA was back.

3. Dare to Dream: The Greatest Team Ever Assembled

College players were tasked with carrying the mantle for the United States in Olympic and World basketball tournaments, up until 1992 that is. In the 1988 Summer Olympics the United States and their team of undergrads finished third. The following year FIBA announced that it would open up Olympic competition to professional players. The USA Basketball team enthusiastically seized the opportunity and the 1992 Dream Team was born.

10 year old kids could not have dreamed this up. Led by his Airness Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls at shooting guard; the team also featured his teammate SF Scottie Pippen, as well as SF Larry Bird (Boston Celtics), PG Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers), PF Karl Malone (Utah Jazz), PG John Stockton (Utah Jazz), PF Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns), C Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks), SG Clyde Drexler (Portland Trailblazers), C David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs), SF Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors), and a lone collegiate athlete PF Christian Laettner (Duke).

With the exceptions of Mullin and Laettner all of the aforementioned players are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary 50 greatest players of all time list.

The 1992 Dream Team went on to win Gold in the Summer Olympics. They defeated their opponents by a margin of 43.8 points a game, led by Charles Barkley with 18 points a game. The positive impressions created by the Dream Team were not limited to the American spectator. International perception of basketball and the NBA specifically was transformed. The style and swagger of the NBA game permeated world round. The 1992 Dream Team helped the NBA transcend American borders, and catapulted it up into the stars for all the world to see.


Tomorrow we will examine Moments 4-7 of our Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever.

NBA Preview: Part One

Training camp is underway and the NBA season is right around the corner. With all of the off-season moves that took place, this season promises to be memorable. Over the course of this week I will be rolling out various posts that will preview the upcoming season.

We start today with a look at the NBA's odds and ends. According to my well entrenched NBA sources roster changes are not the only changes that took place this off-season. Many big names moved on from their respective teams, and with them so did the franchise logos and color schemes. All of these changes prompted me to compile a list of the Top Ten and Bottom Ten NBA Franchise Logos of all time.

Top Ten

1. Seattle Supersonics 1996- 2001





2. Chicago Bulls 1966- Present





3. Orlando Magic 1989- 2000




4. Boston Celtics 1995- Present





5. Houston Rockets 1995- 2003





6. Charlotte Hornets 1989- 2002





7. New York Knicks 1995- Present





8. Los Angeles Lakers 2001- Present





9. Detroit Pistons 1996- 2001





10. Golden State Warriors 2010- Present





Bottom Ten

1. Washington Wizards 2007- Present





2. Houston Rockets 2003- Present




3. Charlotte Bobcats 2007-Present




4. Milwaukee Bucks 1993- 2006





5. Utah Jazz 1996- 2004





6. San Antonio Spurs 1989- 2002




7. Cleveland Cavaliers 1994- 2003





8. Vancouver Grizzlies 1995- 2001





9. Dallas Mavericks 1980- 2001




10. Denver Nuggets 1981- 1993





Part two of the Groundskeeper NBA preview will focus on the ten moments that changed basketball forever.

Cheers,
Andrew

First Post: Overview and Predictions

There is a smörgåsbord of topics that I want to address all at once. That reality is probably what drove me to create this blog in the first place. The weekend has been pretty jam packed with happenings all across the sporting landscape. Alabama and Boise State avoided upsets as Texas plummeted in the rankings. The Saints fell on their home turf to the Falcons and Brett Farve navigated the Vikings to a less than graceful win. In the MLB the Phillies and the Rangers clinched playoff berth while the Yanks and the Reds put themselves on the brink. And tons and tons more.

So what does all of this mean? Well as the Groundskeeper I have a unique (fictional and delusional) insiders look at what is going on in the sporting world. Lets start with NCAA Football. The new AP Top 25 was released over the weekend- http://espn.go.com/college-football/rankings?poll=1.

In spite of my unrelenting efforts to sway them to my point of view, the AP once again got it wrong. So I have taken it upon myself to create and release the Groundskeeper Top 25:

1. Alabama
2. TCU
3. Nebraska
4. Boise State
5. Ohio State
6. Florida
7. Oregon
8. Stanford
9. Oklahoma
10. LSU
11. Auburn
12. Utah
13. Arkansas
14. Wisconsin
15. USC
16. Michigan
17. South Carolina
18. Arizona
19. Michigan State
20. Miami
21. Oklahoma State
22. Florida State
23. Iowa
24. North Carolina State
25. Nevada

Yes I left Texas out. They got embarrassed by UCLA, who in turn got beat by a fellow Big Twelve team Kansas State. Now, I fully expect Texas to go on and have a strong season, but as of right now they are looking pretty awful. In my mind Ohio State and Oregon do not deserve their high AP rankings because those seem to be predicated solely on name recognition and the huge point totals they are putting up. They are both clearly top 10 teams... but not clearly top 5 teams. (Ohio State barely made it due to their win over Miami). I am really looking forward to the Oregon v. Stanford game this coming weekend.

Speaking of upcoming games... here are my picks for this weekends big games:

Alabama v. Florida: 24-17
Florida is led by a great Coach in Urban Meyer. He will undoubtedly have his players prepared for the Crimson Tide. However, as we saw the Hogs QB Ryan Mallett falter against Alabama's front line pressure, we can only expect the same or less from Florida QB John Brantley. Florida is a very talented team, next year look out.

Oklahoma v. Texas: 35-21
The Red River Rivalry has lost much of its luster this year in the wake of Texas's humiliating loss against UCLA. This game still might live up to its billing though. I fully expect DeMarco Murray to have a big game as the Sooners go on to live another day in the decrepit Big 12.

Stanford v. Oregon: 42-37
This one should be a very high scoring game. Two of the Nation's top scoring offenses will be lining up toe to toe. If Andrew Luck can avoid turnovers the Cardinals should go on to win this one.

Wisconsin v. Michigan State: 24-14
Penn State v. Iowa: 14-10

NFL
The NFL season is underway and we are starting to get a better idea of what to expect from certain teams. In this post I am going to simply make my predictions on how teams will rank when the dust settles at playoff time.

NFC East
Dallas
Philadelphia
Washington
New York

NFC North
Green Bay
Minnesota
Chicago
Detroit

NFC South
New Orleans
Atlanta
Tampa Bay
Carolina

NFC West
Seattle
San Francisco
Arizona
St. Louis

AFC East
New England
New York
Miami
Buffalo

AFC North
Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland

AFC South
Indianapolis
Tennessee
Houston
Jacksonville

AFC West
Denver
Kansas City
San Diego
Oakland

MLB
The regular season is coming to an end and in the ensuing days I will be writing more on my awards for regular season performances as well as my post season predictions. Stay tuned.

NBA
Training day is here alas! NBA players are priming their games and teams are making their final preparations for what promises to be a jam packed NBA season. The Groundskeeper NBA Season Preview is just around the corner!

Miscellaneous
I have for a long time been interested in rankings and statistics with respect to various sports. With that said I am going to from time to time be compiling and releasing lists of rankings in an array of various categories ranging from NBA's Top 50 to MLB's Greatest Pitchers to NFL's Greatest Logos to Funkiest Athlete Haircuts. I really look forward to your comments on what I have complied and your suggestions for future compilations.

Best,
Andrew