USMNT Friendlies against Belgium and Germany

Major European Opponents Provide Major Opportunities

Two friendlies this week against Belgium and Germany will prove to be very tough tests for the United States ahead of their World Cup qualifiers in June.  Belgium is an up and coming power in Europe that has loads of talent in their squad, most of which is very young.  Eden Hazard, Vincent Kompany, and Marouane Fellaini are just a few of the big names you will see on the field for the Belgians tonight.  Then on Sunday, traditional powerhouse Germany awaits.  Even though the Germans will be without many of their best players when they go up against the Americans on Sunday night, their squad will still be filled with quality.  You need to look no further than their 4-2 drubbing of Ecuador earlier today, where Germany lead 4-0 after just twenty-four minutes.  While the U.S. will be underdogs in both matches, Klinsmann's players have played their best when the lights have shined brightest.  No one can forget the win in Italy last year, or the Yankees being undefeated in their last two matches against Mexico in Azteca.  Winning these games would be great for boosting the team's confidence level before qualifiers resume, but the important thing is figuring out which eleven will be the ones to take the field when World Cup qualification is on the line.  That being said, here's what I'm looking to see in these two matches.

1. The return of Stu Holden.
   
   This is what I'm most excited to see happen in these two matches.  Holden was having the best year of his career in the 2010-11 season, and was running the show for Bolton before suffering a horrific leg injury against Manchester United.  He faced a long road of recovery, and is now finally healthy and back with the national squad.  Since he only made four appearances for Bolton in the Championship this season, these two friendlies will be crucial to gauge what type of player Holden is right now.  If he can show the form he exhibited in the 2010-11 season, there is no doubt that he will be playing serious minutes in the upcoming qualifiers, as his fitness will only get better with more training.  Holden can be a big difference-maker when he's at his best, it's just a matter of seeing whether he's regained that form.
2. Can Gonzales and Besler repeat their strong performance from Azteca?
   
   After keeping a clean sheet at Azteca in March, you have to think that this is who Klinsmann will go with as his two central defenders.  Allowing no goals on the road in Mexico City is incredible feat, but these two will be put to the test by both the Belgian and German attackers.  Solid performances from these two would go a long way to solidifying their spots for the upcoming qualifiers, but for Brazil as well.  The last thing the Yanks want are more questions about the back line heading into the next round of qualifiers.  
3. Will someone step up and claim the open spot at left back for the USMNT?
   
   Damarcus Beasley filled the void well at the position in the game at Azteca.  However, Beasley is really a left winger, so Klinsmann would probably like to see a defender step up and claim the spot.  The most likely to do that is Fabian Johnson, but he will be arriving late to camp due to club requirements in the Bundesliga. Beasley will probably get the start tonight against Belgium with Johnson absent, and if he can have another strong performance, the spot may be his to lose even when Johnson does come back.
4. Can Altidore find the net for the Yanks?
   
   Jozy had a career year for his club AZ Alkmaar, becoming the first American player to score 30 goals in a European league.  The man was an absolute beast in the Eredivisie.  Yet Altidore hasn't found found the back of the net for his country since 2011, and the U.S. has only managed two goals in three qualifiers so far.  If Jozy can replicate his club form for the national team, the Yanks shouldn't have any problem in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup.  All he needs is just one to get him going, so the distributors in the midfield should be looking to get Altidore as many chances as possible in these two friendlies. 
5. The absence of the greatest American player to ever lace them up.
   
   Landon Donovan has come back from his soccer sabbatical, and has been performing fairly well for the Los Angeles Galaxy.  Despite his return to the game, Klinsmann did not include him in his roster for this round of friendlies of qualifiers.  If the U.S. doesn't perform well this week, fans and the media will be clamoring for the return of Donovan, which could be possible in the form of an injury replacement.  There is no doubt that Donovan can be moody at times, as evidenced by his sabbatical which included a trip to Cambodia.  At the same time though, you can't deny that Donovan makes an impact for the team any time he puts on the national kit.  Defenses have to be aware of where he is on the pitch at all times, and our offense is more likely to put the ball in the back of the net when he is on the field.  I know that I will be wondering what kind of difference he could make over these next 180 minutes.

Predictions: I think we'll see a scoring draw tonight, with each team finding the back of the net once.  Germany will be too much for the Yanks, and will get a win despite not having their biggest names here.  I do expect Altidore to get a goal in one of the games though. 

  

100 Days Away From The First NFL Game

The 10 Things I'm Looking Forward To Most This Season

1. How do Peyton Manning and the Broncos bounce back from the upset playoff loss at home last year?  The Broncos were huge favorites last year when they faced the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Divisional round, and we all know how that ended up.  Despite losing Elvis Dumervil as a result of some technical difficulties, the Broncos picked up the best slot receiver in the league in Wes Welker, making the offense more potent than it was last year.  Welker, Decker, and Thomas form one of the best wide receiver units in the league, and should be a nightmare for defenses to handle when you consider who will be slinging the ball to them.  Combine that with a very favorable schedule, and you're looking at a club that should finish first in the conference with potentially 14 or more wins.  Projecting that many wins is always a gutsy call, but when you consider Peyton notched 13 in year one and now has more reps under his belt with a new weapon in his arsenal, it's not that difficult to foresee.  Bonus Nugget: Peyton shot a 77 at Augusta National this offseason.  Seriously, what can't this guy do?
2. Will we see a "Sophomore Slump" from the quarterback class of the 2012 NFL Draft?  
   
   Cam Newton had a record-setting season as a rookie in 2011, and then took a few steps backward in his second season with the Panthers.  The "sophomore slump" is by no means a rare occurrence, and when you look at how many quarterbacks from the 2012 class were starters last season, the question becomes how many will regress in year two.  This may seem like a shock to some, but I think we'll see the biggest drop-off from Colin Kaepernick.  Leading a team to a Super Bowl in your rookie season is only going to create heightened expectations and pressure, and teams will be better prepared for the pistol after seeing it last year.  San Francisco should still make the playoffs with a great running attack and stout defensive unit, but don't be surprised to see Kaepernick struggle when throwing the ball in 2013.  On the other hand, I think Tannehill will make the biggest improvement of the group in year two, as another year with Mike Sherman can only bode well for his development.  He will be more adjusted to the speed of the professional game this year, and will be even more familiar with the concepts of his old college coach's playbook. 
3. Who comes out victorious in the NFC West?  The toughest division in the land will provide probably the most exciting race in the league.  Excluding the Arizona Cardinals, you could make an argument that any of the other three teams could win the division.  San Francisco nearly came back to win the Super Bowl after the blackout in New Orleans.  The Seahawks nearly made it to the NFC Conference Championship, and have the best home field advantage in the NFL.  Finally, the St. Louis Rams had the best record against divisional opponents, and picked up offensive threats for Bradford in Tavon Austin and Jared Cook.  A good case could be made for any of those three teams, but I think Seattle will snag the divisional title by a single win.
   
4. Does the return of Sean Payton mean the Saints reclaim the throne of the NFC South?
   
   While the NFC West may be the best division in the league, I think it's only better than the South this year by a hair.  The Atlanta Falcons should probably be the preseason favorites to win the division again, but you have to think the Saints, Panthers, and Bucs will provide a stiffer test this year than their 7-9 performances did last season.  Cam Newton will almost certainly put up better numbers than the 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions he threw in 2012.  Tampa Bay will also be known as Revis Island now, and Josh Freeman should have a greater grasp of second-year coach Greg Schiano's offense.  Then you have the return of Sean Payton, one of the best coaches in the league.  There is no doubt that the Saints were not the same team without Payton, which was especially true at the beginning of last season when the Saints were abysmal.  With Payton and Brees working together again, and Rob Ryan now in control of the defense, I think the Saints will reclaim the crown of the NFC, but it will be by the slimmest of margins.
5. Is this the year the Texans make it past the Divisional round? 
   
   The Texans were rolling last year, and seemed destined for a trip to New Orleans to play for it all.  After the injury to Brian "Get Sacks Get Stacks" Cushing though, the defense began to unravel bit by bit, and gave up big numbers at the end of the season.  Houston lost four of their last six games, and gave up 26.8 points per game over their final seven games of the regular season.  Cushing's return can only mean good things for the Bulls on Parade, and if the team can remain healthy, all signs point to an AFC Conference Championship appearance against the Denver Broncos.  
6. How much will losing Wes Welker affect Tom Brady and the Patriots?
   
   Yes, the Patriots replaced Brady's B.F.F. with Danny Amendola, a great slot receiver when he's healthy.  Yet there are so many issues still lingering that it's hard to see the Patriots returning to the AFC Conference Championship game.  Gronkowski can't get off the operating table, and the Patriots lost Deion Branch, Danny Woodhead, and Brandon Lloyd in the offseason.  To say that there will be some unfamiliarity in the Patriots offense would be an understatement.  If anyone can handle it though, its Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and the Pats should still win the AFC East.  I just can't see a return trip to the Conference Championship game though.
7. What in the world will happen in Dallas this season?   
   
   I've seen just about everything in terms of predictions about how the Cowboys will finish this season.  Some think the NFC is ripe for the taking, and that Dallas could win the division and get into the playoffs.  This isn't too irrational, as the Redskins did win the division with a 10-6 record and a victory on the final night of the regular season. On the other hand, some think the Cowboys will miss the playoffs again, as many of the problems still remain from last season.  Tony Romo still throws the worst passes at the worst times, the offensive line is sketchy until proven otherwise, and a new defensive coordinator is in town plugging in a 4-3 Tampa 2 system with players fit for a 3-4.  When it comes down to it, this year could be very similar to past seasons: the Cowboys blow some games they shouldn't, hang in the playoff chase until the very end, only for Romo to make a throw that shouldn't have been made.  Anything better than 8-8 will be a success in my book.  
8. How strong will the reactions be to the rules change regarding tackling?  We've already heard some players voice strong opinions against the rules change regarding leading with the crown of the helmet outside the tackle box.  Emmitt Smith went so far as to say that the rule "sounds like it was made up by people who have never played the game of football."  Fans across the country are always debating controversial calls every Sunday, especially those involving defenseless receivers.  I can't wait to see what happens after the first few Sundays this year.  Depending on some of the calls that are made, this could be a major backfire for the NFL.  Only time will tell, but boy will it be fun to watch what unfolds.  
   
     
9. Will Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez turn the Jets around?
   
   It can't get much worse for Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez than it did last season.  Not only did the Jets have a horrible year, but Sanchez still owns the "Worst of The Worst" play on ESPN for the infamous "butt fumble."  Rex Ryan still doesn't have many weapons on offense, but the man should be able to turn his defense around given his pedigree on that side of the ball.  Many have already written the Jets off completely, but I think the Jets will exceed expectations and surprise a lot of people despite the pressure that both are under.
10. The Rematch in Denver.  Due to the Baltimore Orioles not rescheduling their September 5th home game against the Chicago White Sox, the Baltimore Ravens will be forced to open their season playing at Denver.  This has bucked the trend of recent years, where the reigning Super Bowl champions have kicked off the season at home in the first game of the year.  The Mile High City will be rocking for this one, and Peyton Manning might be as blood-thirsty for revenge as Nick Saban.  Denver has opened up as an 8.5 point favorite, and I'd strongly recommend laying the points in this one.  Baltimore is rebuilding, and Manning should be able to take advantage of the Ravens defense all night.  Don't be surprised when this line hits double digits the closer to the start of the season. 

Eastern Conference Game 2 Preview

The Three Things To Look For Tonight

1. Can Miami get off to a fast start and take a decent lead into halftime?  Miami needs to ditch this bad habit of starting off games slowly and letting teams hang around until the fourth quarter.  Getting a lead early would be big for giving Wade and the rest of the old legs some minutes to rest on the bench, and would put them in a good position for Games 3 and 4 in Indianapolis.  We have yet to see the best of this squad in the playoffs, and the last thing this team needs is a loss or another overtime game before hitting the road.  If Miami can get out to an early lead, odds are that they aren't letting go of it.  If they let Indiana hang around, we very might well see a tied series heading into Game 3. 
2. Will George Hill and Lance Stephenson bounce back from horrible Game 1 offensive performances?  The two starting guards for Indiana were both awful on Wednesday night, and yet the Pacers nearly stole Game 1.  Combined, the two were 4-19 from the field, and 0-7 from three-point land.  That simply isn't going to cut it.  Hill and Stephenson need to shoot the ball better tonight to take some of the load off the backs of West, Hibbert, and George.  If Indiana wants to have any chance of taking this series back to Indiana tied at 1-1, they need their two starting guards to step up tonight.
3. How big of a performance will we see from Roy Hibbert tonight, given his absence from the final play in Game 1?  The only thing that I see as a certainty tonight is that Roy Hibbert will put up big numbers.  Hibbert was no slouch on Wednesday night, as the big fella put up 19 points and 9 boards in 41 minutes.  Expect him to come out fired up tonight after his omission from the final play of Game 1, and don't be surprised when you check the box score after the game and see a double-double with 20+ points.  

Bonus Tidbit: I think Miami realizes the importance of taking a 2-0 lead to Indiana, and starts the game off strong.  This might be a good time to make a 1H play on the Heat, given the circumstances. 

100 Days Away From The First Saturday Of College Football

The 10 Things I'm Looking Forward To

1. Can Jadeveon Clowney become the first defensive player to win the Heisman since Charles Woodson?  The guy is an athletic freak.  Anyone who has watched a hint of college football or ESPN  knows this guy will be the first pick in next year's draft, and he probably would have been taken first this year if he had been draft eligible.  He finished last season with 13 sacks, setting the single season record at South Carolina in a campaign that saw him receive the AT&T All America Player of The Year award.  Offenses are going to do their best to limit Clowney via scheme and double teams, but odds are that he will still have a monster season.  The only question is whether he can unseat the guy that comes in at #2 on this last.      
2. What does Johnny Football do for an encore after becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy?
   
   Yes, the kid is cocky.  Yes, the kid posts some stuff on the internet that he should probably just keep to himself.  But facts are facts, and Manziel is a winner.  Johnny Football is a flat-out gamer, and as much as it pains me to say it, the Aggies will probably have another good season down in College Station.  That being said, the odds are against him becoming only the second player to win two Heisman trophies.  Remember, not even Tim Tebow could accomplish that with the ESPN hype machine behind him.  Manziel lost a key member of his offensive line to the draft in Luke Joeckel, and the A&M defense will have some problems in getting off the field this season.  He's also going to face stiff competition from Jadeveon Clowney, De'Anthony Thomas, and other great players around the country.  I just can't see a repeat happening this year, but if anyone can do it after Tebow missed out, it's Johnny Football.   
3. Alabama at Texas A&M, September 14, 2013 at 2:30 PM on CBS.
   
   Prepare yourselves, Aggies.  Nick Saban is coming for you.  You can bet every penny in your bank account that Nick Saban has this date circled in blood on his calendar.  The best ball coach in the land will be out for revenge on September 14th, and the people in College Station have every right to be terrified of what might happen on that afternoon in mid-September.  The last time Nick Saban coached a revenge game, LSU couldn't cross the fifty yard line when they played for the 2012 BCS National Championship.  Now he's got an experienced quarterback with two national titles under his belt going up against a very suspect defense.  This has "recipe for disaster" written all over it for the Aggies.  Alabama will probably open up as a 3.5 or 4 point favorite in this one, and I'd highly recommend you lay the points.  Sorry Aggies, but the Death Star is pointed right at you, and Luke Skywalker is nowhere in sight. 
4. What will Oregon look like without Chip Kelly at the helm?
   
   Chip did his best Pete Carroll impression and got the heck out of Eugene when the time was right, taking his craft to the NFL.  It's hard to see the Ducks regressing though because of the pieces still there.  They return eight starters on offense, including quarterback Marcus Mariota and running back De'Anthony Thomas, who just might be the fastest man in college football.  The Ducks will still keep the fast-paced offense in place, and should still produce a solid unit on a defense.  I don't know if playing for the national title is in the cards, but I could definitely see the Ducks taking a conference championship back to Eugene this season.
5. How will the LSU Defense perform after having eight players selected in the 2013 NFL Draft?
   
   The fact that LSU had eight defensive players drafted is a testament to the talent that the coaches in Baton Rouge develop and produce on a yearly basis.  Maybe the Cajun cooking has something to do with it, but whatever it is, The Mad Hatter and S&C Coach Tommy Moffitt churn out defensive talent no matter the circumstances.  Yet you have to think that losing so many players to the draft in one year is going to have an impact.  They'll still be a pretty good unit, but a there will be a lot of young players out there that are bound to make some errors and get exposed from time to time.  Bonus Nugget: LSU will once again have the best name in college football, this time with Ego Ferguson.
6. Can Mack Brown finally get back over the hump and beat Oklahoma?
   
   Mack is feeling the pressure, and it will only keep increasing until the Oklahoma game in October.  The recipe for success is incredibly simple.  Since 2000, Texas has gone to a BCS game every time it has beaten Oklahoma except for Colt McCoy's freshman season in 2006.  You beat Oklahoma, and everything else takes care of itself.  With Landry Jones gone, it's now or never for Mack Brown and company.  The Longhorns return tons of talent on both sides of the ball, including the most experienced quarterback in the Big XII in David Ash.  Win the Red River Rivalry game, and both the conference championship and BCS games are well within reach.  If Mack fails to get the best of Bob Stoops, he'll be cleaning out his office at the end of the season.
7. Will Lane Kiffin save his job at USC?  
   
   Probably the only coach feeling the same amount of pressure, if not more, is Lane Kiffin at USC.  The Trojans were nowhere near meeting expectations in Los Angeles last season, and the pressure is on for Kiffin to right the ship.  A favorable schedule should give Kiffin more time though, as the USC's only two tough road games are at Notre Dame and across town at UCLA.  The Trojans get Stanford at home, and don't have to face the Oregon Ducks in the regular season.  Although Matt Barkley is gone, Marqise Lee is still on campus to take some of the pressure off Max Wittek's shoulders or whoever else Kiffin puts under center.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Kiffin let go after this year, but I think he'll still be in Los Angeles for the 2014 season.  Bonus Nugget: Lane Kiffin may not be doing well on the field, but boy did he do well off the field.  Well done, Lane.
   
8. How much will Kansas State regress without Optimus Klein?  
   
   Colin Klein has left Manhattan, so you can expect the Wildcats to be down a bit this year.  Don't expect a disaster though, as Bill Snyder is one of the best in the business at getting the most out of his talent.  What that guy has done at Kansas State is remarkable.  I shudder to think what he could do if he had the talent that Texas and Oklahoma get every year.  It might be a an eight-win season for K-State this year, but don't be surprised if Snyder and the Wildcats pull off an upset at home against TCU or Oklahoma in November.  Lord knows they want give someone the treatment that Baylor gave them last season.  Side Note:  If you are on Twitter, you need to follow @kellyinvegas.  Beautiful gal that knows her stuff about college football and sports betting.  Be careful what you tweet though, as she will rip your throat out if you go in there talking like an idiot. She'll probably give me hell just because I projected eight wins for K-State.  Link: https://twitter.com/kellyinvegas
9. How will Kliff Kingsbury and Brett Bielema do in their first seasons at Texas Tech and Arkansas?  
   
   These were two my two favorite hires of the offseason by a mile, but for different reasons.  On one hand, you have Kingsbury returning home to Lubbock and reinstalling Mike Leach's offense.  Tech went with the exciting, flashy, young coach to replace Tommy T.  Though he is young, there is not a person out there who knows Leach's offense better than Kingsbury, and you can bet your bottom dollar that Tech will be producing an exciting brand of football this season.  For all of you doubters, just look at what Kingsbury did with Manziel last year at Texas A&M.  They may not come anywhere near winning the Big XII championship, but they will be a fun team to watch with Kliff running the show.  Over in Arkansas, the Razorbacks went with the safe play and hired Brett Bielema away from Wisconsin.  The man may not have won a national title up in cheesehead land, but he took Wisconsin to three consecutive Rose Bowl games with an offense that relied on running the ball relentlessly behind massive, talented offensive lineman.  Let's see here....running the ball and offensive line talent...sounds a bit like SEC football doesn't it?  If he can produce an SEC defense, Bielema might be giving Saban and Miles a run for the SEC West down the road.  Bonus Nugget:  While there is no need to discuss what Kliff Kingsbury will do for himself in Lubbock, Brett Bielema needs to be applauded for outkicking his coverage by a mile.  Seriously, he kicked it into the parking lot. 
   
10. In case you had forgotten who Jadeveon Clowney is...

    

Hope you enjoyed the piece, and let me know what has you most excited about the 2013 season.

Tiger & Sergio: Fried Chickengate

Do You Realize What You've Done?

By this point you've probably already heard what Sergio Garcia said about Tiger Woods the other night.  Hell, it's not even the first time someone has made a "fried chicken" comment about Tiger, as Fuzzy Zoeller did so back when Woods won the 1997 Masters in record fashion.  We all know that what Sergio did is inexcusable, and just about every writer has mentioned that since the comment was made.  What I want to know is why Sergio has yet to learn to just keep his mouth shut and focus on golf?  I get the whole idea of "he just speaks his mind" or "he wears his heart on his sleeve", but at some point you have to take a step back and look at the effect of your words.  With one comment Sergio's popularity sunk even further than it had before, brought claims of racism into play, and gave even more ammunition to the greatest player to ever tee it up.  I won't buy one word of Tiger mentioning that this doesn't bother him.  Those of you that have followed Tiger's career know that the man lives for stepping on the throats of his competitors, and all Sergio's comment will do is light an even bigger fire for Tiger to get that elusive 15th major at Merion in June.    When you combine Sergio's comments before and after The Players Championships with Tiger's on-the-course performance at Sawgrass,  you can only think that the 113th U.S. Open will play out similarly to a starved lion coming across a pack of gazelles.  Congrats Sergio, you've only made the lion, I mean Tiger, hungrier. 

Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 Recap

The King Has Spoken

With only 2.2 seconds left on the clock, and the Miami Heat facing another Game 1 loss at home, only one thing could happen.  The Pacers knew what was coming, the fans in the building knew what was coming, and every coach on the couch at home knew what was coming...And the Pacers still couldn't stop it.  LeBron got to the rim and proved once again why he is the best player in the league by a mile.  That being said, this was one hell of a game providing so much material to digest that it might as well have been the NBA equivalent of a lunch at Fogo de Chao: slow at the beginning, with a giant main course, and then going for seconds and thirds because it's just too good to pass up even though you're about to fall asleep at the table.  Consider this my attempt at covering it all before the coma hits.

The King Won't Stop Until He's Crowned Again

LeBron James has been a man on a mission ever since the 2011 Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks.  Since then, the man has been on an absolute tear, despite playing basketball essentially non-stop since the beginning of the 2011-2012 season.  Think about it for a second.  He played in the lockout season, won the NBA finals, then went into training for the Olympics, brought home the gold in August, prepared for the 2012-2013 season, and then went on to dominate the regular season in a performance that included a 27 game win streak and another MVP award.  When you consider it altogether, this quite possibly could be the greatest two year stretch of basketball anyone has had in the history of the game.  To do what he is doing at such a high level considering the amount of games played is flat out astounding.  Tonight proved that even though he's played a ridiculous amount of basketball over the past two years, he isn't stopping until he's got another ring on his finger. 

Miami's Sluggish First Halves Continue

I don't know what it is, but Miami has had a bad habit of starting off games slowly in the playoffs this year.  For a team that has only had one playoff loss so far, they've only had two double-digit leads at halftime, as every other game has been very close early on.  Though they were able to get away with that in their first two series, it's not going to bode well in the future against the Pacers or either team in the Western Conference Finals.  Close games early on only mean more minutes for Miami's starters, which isn't good for Dwayne Wade's ailing knee.  Maybe the trainer is putting something in the Gatorade at halftime, or Battier and Spolestra are channeling Jimmy V in their half time speeches.  All we can be certain of is that this is a different ball club when they come out of the tunnel for the second half.

The Birdman Is Flapping

Serious kudos need to be given to Chris Andersen for how he has played throughout the playoffs, and especially tonight.  Although he was -3 in the +/- category, he provided an undeniable spark and contribution off the bench in his 18 minutes of playing time.  7-7 from the field, 2-2 from the line.  You read that correctly, Birdman was perfect from the field tonight.  As someone who couldn't stand him when he was with the Nuggets, he's become pretty fun to watch during his stint in Miami. 

Paul George Played An Exceptional Game, But Won't Be Remembered For It

George was huge for the Pacers tonight, and had ice in his veins when the game was on the line.  First was the shot from way deep to force overtime, and then came the three clutch freebies to give the Pacers the lead  in overtime.  Yet all George will be remembered for is overplaying James on the final play. allowing the King and Miami to get the "W" in Game 1.  It will be very interesting to see how George comes back from that in Game 2. 

Hey Vogel...That Guy Hibbert...He Can Play Some Defense

Yes, the real culprit for giving up a layup at the buzzer is Paul George for overplaying James.  If George doesn't overplay and forces LeBron into an outside shot, we may not be having this discussion.  However, if Hibbert is in there, the play may not have gone down the same way.  You have to think that Vogel could have drawn up some defense that allowed Hibbert to stay close to the paint.  With Hibbert in the game and anywhere near the paint, the odds of LeBron getting such an easy bucket are not as good, and you're increasing the odds of Miami taking a jumper.  Either way, tonight's ending will certainly effect Vogel's decision making down the road in this series if the Pacers find themselves in a close one at the end of the game.  

David West Was Huge For The Pacers

Aside from his performance at the foul line, West had himself quite a game.  11-17 from the field, 26 points, and 4 offensive rebounds.  If he can put up these numbers every night, Indiana will have a fighting chance to win this series. 

Norris Cole And David West's Family Jewels

This is all that really needs to be said.

What To Expect In Game 2

A lesser team would probably fold to the Heat in Game 2 after a loss like tonight.  The Pacers are a very tough unit though, and Miami has a bad habit of starting off slow in the first half.  If the Pacers can win the battle on the boards again, and get some quality production from Hill and Stephenson, they will have a great shot at stealing a game in Miami.  Expect to see another close game on Friday night, with the Heat pulling away late in the fourth quarter and heading to Indianapolis with a 2-0 lead. 

UEFA Champions League Final Preview

Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund

May 25^th, 2:45 PM EST

The world’s premier soccer tournament comes to a close this weekend, with two Bundesliga squads squaring off for the cup at the famed Wembley Stadium in London.  While the World Cup is more recognizable among the general public, the UEFA Champions League has long been known as the superior tournament to followers of the game because it consists solely of the top professional teams from each country in Europe that empty their coffers to fill their squads with superstars.  Though this year’s final does not produce the juicy Real Madrid vs. Barcelona matchup that everyone had hoped for, it will no doubt be an exciting match pitting the two best teams of the tournament against one another. Notably, this is only the fourth occasion that clubs from the same country have squared off in the final, the last time coming in 2008 when Manchester United and Chelsea went to penalties in Russia. 

How We Got Here:

In the semifinals of the tournament, Dortmund faced off against Real Madrid while Bayern was matched against Barcelona.  Both were heavy underdogs before the two-legged semifinals began, and soccer fans around the world dreamed of seeing an all-Spanish final that would include the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, and the antics of Jose Mourinho.  Dortmund and Bayern had other ideas though, as both were able to overcome the Spanish giants over the two legs.  On aggregate, Dortmund narrowly triumphed over Madrid 4-3, while Bayern wiped the floor with Barcelona in a commanding 7-0 showing over the two legs.

What to Expect:

Both being from the Bundesliga, Dortmund and Bayern have already played four matches against one another this year.  The two league matches ended in 1-1 stalemates, while the two cup matches the squads played saw Bayern come away the victor by a goal in both.  Additionally, Bayern won the Bundesliga by an astounding margin this year, beating out runner-up Dortmund by a whopping 25 points.  All of this has led bookmakers to make Bayern a heavy favorite to lift the trophy in London.

Outside of the previous matches played this season, Bayern has some other off-the-pitch factors working in its favor.  Just this week, Dortmund player Mario Gotze (who will become a Bayern player this summer) was ruled out of the final with a hamstring injury.  The attacking midfielder scored 19 goals this season, and his talents will surely be missed by his teammates in this massive final.  Furthermore, Bayern are not in uncharted territory as this is the second year in a row they will be playing in the final, and the club will have extra motivation to avoid losing the cup for a second straight year. 

On the field, expect to see some differences in how these two teams approach the game. Bayern's quality throughout the squad should allow it to win the possession battle and dictate the pace at which the game is played.  When your starting XI is filled with the likes of Ribery, Robben, and Schweinsteiger, you can impose your will upon just about any team.  To anyone who thinks otherwise, all you need to do is look at that aggregate score against Barcelona, the best possession team in the world.  7-0.  I repeat, 7-0 against the best possession team in the world.  Bayern is on top of the soccer world right now, and should be able to dictate how this final is played.  On the other hand, Dortmund has made its way to the final by playing what their coach calls "Full Throttle Football", an aggressive counter-attacking style marked by constant pressure on the ball, one-touch passing, and getting up and down the field rapidly.  The teamwork with which they play is exceptional and makes you wonder if they have all been playing together since kindergarten.  Moreover, they have quite possibly the hottest striker in the game in Robert Lewandowski, who has scored 10 goals in 11 Champions League matches this season. Don't be surprised if he gets another in the final, as he is Dortmund's most lethal threat up top, and will be their target man throughout the game.

Prediction:

This should be another close match between the German teams, but in the end I think Bayern's quality will be too much for Dortmund to handle.  I must admit, Dortmund has seemed like the team of destiny after going unbeaten in the group stages and narrowly getting by Malaga and Madrid in the knockout rounds.  However, I was convinced after the Barcelona matches that Bayern is the best team in the world right now, and is on a mission to avenge their loss to Chelsea in last year's final.  Bayern has not lost to Dortmund this year, and the talent of Ribery, Schweinsteiger, and Robben in the midfield should be the difference with Gotze out.  I expect Dortmund to get a goal, and may even score first, but after ninety minutes Bayern will walk away the winner, sending their manager Jupp Heynckes off to retirement in the best manner possible.

Bayern Munich 2-1

Extra Time:

The Champions League final is soccer's version of the Super Bowl.  As such, bookmakers offer a number of prop bets for the game, though they are not anywhere near as ridiculous as some Super Bowl props.  I have gone through the list a few times and have found a few intriguing props that might be worth a small wager.  Remember, this is only for fun, and no one should be out there wagering pink slips or mortgages.

Dortmund Score 1st (+160):  The first fifteen minutes of any final are nervy, and that is the last thing you want when you are facing a team that applies constant pressure on the ball.  There is great value in this play, and don't be surprised if it's Lewandowski who opens the account.

Bayern To Win By 1 Goal (+250):  All four games these two teams played this year were decided by one goal or less.  Don't expect anything different in a cup final.  

Lewandowski To Score 1st Goal (+550):  The man put four goals past Madrid, and has scored 10 in 11 Champions League matches.  There isn't a hotter striker at the end of the season.

Robben To Score 1st Goal (+700): The Dutch winger is one of the best in the world, and will be looking to atone for his penalty miss in last year's final.  Expect to see shots early and often from Robben on Saturday.  

Welcome!

Thank you for dropping by Rushing The Field!  I'm a twenty-four year old law student whose love for all things sports related traces back to watching Dallas Cowboys games with my father when Jimmy Johnson was roaming the sidelines.  Throughout the coming months, I hope to provide you with my insights into any and all sports-related topics, while also creating a dialogue for other sports fans to engage in.  Though we are entering the dog days of summer, I will try to provide as much content as possible relating to current sporting events, while also looking ahead to the upcoming football season.  Please feel free to share this content and leave comments! 

-Garrett