Russell Westbrook is the real MVP

This year's NBA season has been filled with numerous players performing at an MVP level, more than any in recent memory. LeBron James has been...well...LeBron James. San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard has put together another quiet, yet masterful season.

Boston's Isiah Thomas and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo threw their respective names in the hat with breakout seasons worthy of consideration.

And James Harden's resume would earn him the coveted award in any season....except this one.

This year, OKC's Russell Westbrook is the league's unquestioned Most Valuable Player.

With eight assists last night in Phoenix, Westbrook became the first player in 55 years to average a triple double for the entire season.

While this is a remarkable feat in any era, Westbrook's triple double average is not mere semantics. We're not talking about 10 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists...he is currently leading the league in scoring with just over 31 points a game.

In addition, Westbrook's season averages were not the result of stat-stuffing in meaningless games. The Thunder are 32-9 when Russ notches a triple double, and 13-25 when he doesn't.

To put this in perspective, the Denver Nuggets are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in with 38 wins...9th place in the Western Conference. Without Westbrook's heroics the Thunder could realistically be lottery-bound instead of the sixth seed.

Talk about value...

And speaking of the Thunder...quickly...name the other four players in their starting lineup....

Don't worry...I'll wait while you Google it....

OK...I digress...

Yes, even with the historic season put up by Westbrook this year James Harden can still feel slighted if he doesn't win the award after transforming himself from a shoot first...no defense playing Prima Donna into a well rounded all around player that shares the ball while still getting his.

Harden leads the league in assists (no...you did not misread that), and as a result his Rockets are legitimate threats to knock off the reigning two time Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors.

But as it relates to a mano y mano comparison with Westbrook I want to dispel a notion regarding the two...

Kevin Durant's departure from OKC last season put a spotlight on Westbrook as being an inefficient and selfish player, while Harden is widely considered one of the most efficient and deadliest shooters from behind the three point line.

Well...the numbers don't lie, and their shooting percentages to date are just about equal. Field goal percentage (Harden 44%, Westbrook 42%). Three point percentage (Harden 34%, Westbrook 34%).

All things being equal, Westbrook has amassed those numbers with inferior talent around him as it relates to Houston's roster, and when you add on the triple double season average it's a no-brainer.

With two games to play Westbrook is one triple double shy of breaking Oscar Robinson's record of 41 in a season, and given his tenacity and durability you should expect him to go for the all-time record....even with a playoff berth already secured.

Even if he doesn't eclipse the Big O, Russell Westbrook's overall body of work has earned him the right to be the league's Most Valuable Player this season.

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Dallas Cowboys: Honeymoon over for Dak Prescott

Now that the dust has settled on the year-long drama between the Dallas Cowboys and their former star quarterback Tony Romo, we can now see a clearer picture for both parties going forward.

Romo is heading to CBS, and the Cowboys are heading into this season with their championship aspirations still in tact...thanks to their new star quarterback Dak Prescott.

By all accounts Romo has handled his demotion and the fallout from it with class, but one has to wonder if he offered some words of wisdom to Prescott on his way out of the door.

Because the truth of the matter is...the honeymoon phase is officially over for Prescott now.

The most popular player in all of sports among fan bases is the backup quarterback, and no backup qb was more popular than Dak Prescott...last season's NFL Offense Rookie of the Year.

The fourth round pick out of Mississippi State engineered a magical season for America's team last year, and he earned the right to supplant his predecessor with his poise and play.

But with Romo now out of the picture, Prescott will be held to the highest of standards that comes with being the signal caller for one of the most polarizing franchises in all of sports.

Something Romo knows all too well, and something he learned the hard way. In fact, I'm sure that he sees himself in Prescott as their ascension to prominence is eerily similar.

Like Prescott, Romo entered the league with little to no fanfare. He was signed by the Cowboys to back up veteran qb Drew Bledsoe, who had numerous victories and a Super Bowl appearance under his belt.

As time went on and as Bledsoe's play continued to decline, Cowboys fans clamored for Romo to see more action. And when he ultimately got his chance midway through the 2006 season, he took the reigns and never looked back.

As for Bledsoe, he had no choice but to quietly ride off into the sunset.

Lifelong Cowboys fans remember the fanfare and excitement around a young gun-slinging Romo, much like Prescott experienced last season. Fans were patient, and dare I say, protective of Romo throughout his playoff growing pains and failures.

After all, he was not Drew Bledsoe. He was fresh and new. He was confident and charismatic.

But after a while that all changed. Romo's approval rating started to slip and he could never quite get it back as the Super Bowl glory years faded further from the fan's memory.

When Prescott got his chance last season it felt like Bledsoe-Romo all over again. There were no calls for Prescott's head when Green Bay squeaked out a narrow victory in last year's playoffs. There were no calls for Romo to resume his old job.

Ah...the bliss of the honeymoon phase.

But Prescott has something that Romo didn't have heading into his second full season as the starter...the weight of being prohibitive favorites to win it all.

So how much leash will Cowboys fans give the former Mississippi State Bulldog before the scrutiny tightens? This season? Next season?

One thing is for sure, Prescott will not be given the luxury of ten plus years with no trips to the Conference Championship game. The NFL is a win-now league more than it has ever been.

I'm not suggesting by any means that Romo's departure now puts Prescott on the proverbial hot seat, but I am suggesting that he is kidding himself if he thinks that fans won't turn up the heat on him if he doesn't lead the Cowboys back to the promise land.

I hope Dak enjoyed the pass that comes with being the shiny new toy under the tree last season, because those days are over.

Now it's time for him to win...and by win I mean the Super Bowl while the window is still open.

This is the Dallas Cowboys we're talking about, after all.

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North Carolina: Facing Gonzaga and sports gods

After a gut-wrenching loss at the buzzer in last year's National Championship game the North Carolina Tar Heels are now just 40 minutes away from redemption.

Gonzaga, their opponent on Monday night, are appearing in their first title game in school history. But the Tar Heels are facing another unseen opponent that night as well....

The sports gods.

For some strange reason the last twelve months has been the year of the underdog when it comes to winning it all in both the collegiate and professional ranks. And if the underdog had endured a long championship drought then it spelled double trouble for the prohibitive favorites in those contests.

It all started with, coincidentally enough, North Carolina who were favored to capture their sixth National Championship over Villanova.

The last time the underdog Wildcats won it all, Back to the Future and The Color Purple were still playing in theatres (1985).

The Wildcats' upset victory over North Carolina set off a chain of similar events that sent shock waves throughout all of sports.

A few months later LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers captured their first title by knocking off the heavily favored defending champion Golden State Warriors, who had just completed the best regular season record in NBA history (73-9).

Not only did LeBron and Company become the first NBA team to win it all after trailing 3-1 in the Finals, but they also ended a 52 year title drought for the city of Cleveland.

Not to be outdone, the Chicago Cubs also rallied from a 3-1 deficit to the Cleveland Indians in last year's World Series a few months later to capture their first title in over 100 years.

A century? Think about that for a second...

That alone, in theory, should have made the sports gods proud. But they were just getting started.

Ten weeks later the Clemson Tigers faced the juggernaut Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 College Football National Championship game.

Nick Saban's Tide were heavy favorites after knocking off the Tigers in the previous championship game, and the talk leading up to the match up was Saban's legacy after capturing yet another title.

Clemson (and the sports gods) had other plans as the Tigers staged a furious comeback to capture their first tile in 36 years.

A month later the sports gods essentially gift wrapped a Super Bowl victory to the underdog Atlanta Falcons, which would have been their first in franchise history. But an epic collapse that even divine intervention couldn't prevent led to the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history for the New England Patriots.

Unfazed by the Falcons' lack of gratitude, the sports gods then set their sights on Geno Auriemma and the UConn women's basketball program. A program seeking their sixth straight championship and 112th straight victory overall.

The Lady Huskies were stunned last Friday night by Mississippi State, a team they defeated in last year's tournament by 60 points. The two point overtime loss is the biggest upset in women's NCAA history, and arguably one of the biggest upsets in all of sports...regardless of gender.

So what does this mean to North Carolina on Monday night?

It means they have to play a near-perfect game, and it wouldn't hurt to have Tom Brady in the stands rocking a Tar Heels jersey.

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Memphis Grizzlies: Jekyll and Hyde ride continues

The Memphis Grizzlies have quietly been one of the most consistent teams in the league the last several years after bringing their core four of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen together.

The Grizzlies are one of just three teams to reach the playoffs in each of the last six seasons (San Antonio, Atlanta). The Spurs have locked up another playoff berth this season and the Hawks seem poised to join them in extending the streak.

As for the Grizzlies? It depends on which team you're talking about....Jekyll Memphis or Hyde Memphis.

The NBA's bipolar franchise from the Bluff City is currently amidst a roller coaster ride of streaks...and it's driving their fans nuts.

It all started around the All Star Break. Memphis lost their last game before the break to New Orleans, and followed that up with a dud on the road against the Indiana Pacers in their first game back in action.

Then the Grizzlies seemed to turn it around with back to back wins over Denver and Phoenix.

From there the bottom seemed to fall out starting with a four point loss at Dallas that turned into a season-long five game losing streak. The low point being a home loss to the dreadful Brooklyn Nets.

Grizzlies analyst Brevin Knight coined this phrase during that television broadcast..."Partner...we have officially hit rock bottom".

Or did they?

Jekyll Memphis emerged from that five-game fiasco to rattle off four straight wins against teams in or battling for a playoff position. They even knocked off a fully loaded San Antonio Spurs team during that stretch.

But then, Mr. Hyde Memphis reared it's ugly head again and the Grizzlies are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The last loss, a 91-90 defeat to the lowly Sacrament Kings last night, was unacceptable given the tightness of the Western Conference playoff race....even without All Star center Marc Gasol.

So what now?

Well...the Grizzlies take on the Pacers at home on Wednesday night, followed by a home tilt vs the Mavs on Friday night and an early afternoon tip off with the Lakers Sunday afternoon.

A week-long sweep should not be too much to ask...but then again....

With less than 10 games to play and clinging to a four game lead over the suddenly surging Nuggets and Trailblazers, the 7th seed Grizzlies desperately need their winning alter ego to re-take control of the wheel....and the streak.

If it doesn't...then the playoff streak could end at six for Memphis.

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Michigan's top 5 tournament games

The Michigan Wolverines' magical tournament ride continues Thursday when they take on the Oregon Ducks in this year's Sweet 16, and it took a couple of memorable performances last weekend to get to Kansas City.

Michigan is certainly no stranger to memorable March Madness moments, and today we'll count down the top 5 tournament games in the program's history.

5. The Rematch - March 18, 2017

The last time Michigan faced Rick Petino's Louisville Cardinals they walked off the court in defeat in the 2013 National Title Game. Last Sunday's rematch was supposed to be no different due to the plethora of physical and athletic big men at Petino's disposal.

Michigan's strength all year has been their perimeter game and ability to neutralize opponents with the three point shot, and was widely considered their only shot to pull the upset.

But this game was memorable because the Wolverines did the exact opposite.

After hitting a team-record 16 3's in a wild 92-91 shootout in their first round game against Oklahoma State, the Wolverines stepped outside of themselves to erase a nine point second half deficit and beat the Cardinals at their own game with a gritty post-dominate performance.

A memorable maize and blue-collar tournament win over a physically imposing opponent.

4. Introducing...The Fab Five - March 29, 1992

A young, brash, and ultra-talented group of Michigan freshmen entered the 1992 NCAA tournament with much fanfare and little expectation. The 6 seed Wolverines caught a couple of breaks and found themselves a game away from the Final Four.

Their opponent? The number 1 seed and hated rival Ohio State Buckeyes led by Big Ten Player of the Year Jim Jackson. The team that swept the Wolverines that year during conference play.

Michigan's Fab Five (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, Ray Jackson) battled tooth-and nail with the heavily favored Buckeyes to squeak out a 75-71 overtime victory. Images of Howard hitting the "cabbage patch" dance at the final buzzer remains etched in the memory of Michigan fans worldwide.

It was the signature moment in the rise of the cultural phenomenon...and was the first time that an all-freshmen starting five made it to the Final Four.

3. The Comeback - March 22, 1993

The Fab Five were no longer freshmen and no longer flying under the radar when they entered the 1993 NCAA Tournament. The Wolverines were now a number 1 seed and heavy favorite to return to the Final Four.

UCLA, their second round opponent, had other plans.

The Bruins were essentially playing a home game in Arizona that day, and jumped out to a lead that ballooned to as much as 19 points.

The Wolverines clawed their way back (no pun intended) to force overtime behind Chris Webber's 27 point, 14 rebound performance, but often-overshadowed Ray Jackson made this one memorable.

With the game tied in the final seconds of overtime Jackson tipped-in a Jalen Rose miss at the buzzer to stun the crowd and eventually advance to their second straight title game.

2. The Comeback II - March 30, 2013

This game holds a special place in my heart because I was in the stands to witness this with my own two eyes. The heavily favored number 1 seed Kansas Jayhawks dominated the game for 38 minutes against Michigan in their 2013 Sweet 16 match up.

Then...point guard and National Player of the Year Trey Burke made himself a Michigan legend.

The Wolverines, who were down by five with 21 seconds left to play, inexplicably stormed back behind a nifty drive to the basket by Burke, a missed free throw by Kansas on the front end of a 1 and 1, and a 30 foot three point heave by Burke to force overtime.

Michigan held on in the extra period for an improbable come from behind victory. The most thrilling basketball game I've ever attended on any level.

1. Cutting down the nets - April 3, 1989

After firing their head coach heading into the big dance, Michigan entered the 1989 NCAA Tournament with assistant coach Steve Fisher at the helm. The Wolverines rattled off five straight victories behind one of the best tournament performances in NCAA history from Glenn Rice to face Seton Hall in the title game.

A nip and tuck affair ended with Michigan guard Rumeal Robinson hitting two clutch free throws to seal the victory and give the Wolverines their first and only National title.

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Michigan: Redefining March Madness

March Madness, one of the most celebrated times of the year for die hard and casual fans alike. Watching the Selection Show to see where and who your team plays...filling out brackets...watch parties...

And of course...gambling.

The month-long extravaganza remains one of the country's most exciting sports events because of it's unpredictability. You're more likely to get struck by lightning than to pick every game correctly.

It's the teams that no one saw coming that puts the Madness in March, and to prove that point look no further than the Michigan Wolverines.

Six weeks ago the Wolverines were hovering around the cellar of the Big Ten and had a losing record in the conference. Not only were they in danger of missing the big dance, they were in danger of missing the second-fiddle NIT as well.

Today Michigan is the Big Ten Tournament Champion, capping off a week that gives March Madness a whole new meaning.

For starters, a power outage on campus prevented Michigan from practicing with lights prior to leaving for Washington DC.

The next day a horrifying plane malfunction not only cost the Wolverines a day of travel, but it could have cost them their lives.

Talk about madness...

So much madness that the team held a vote on if they would even travel at all after head coach John Beilein gave his kids the option of forfeiting the game.

The team voted to play, but the madness was just beginning.

Michigan literally arrived in DC just before tipoff of their noon opener against Illinois, and had to play in practice jerseys because their luggage was still on the plane that failed to lift off.

When was the last time you saw that?

After steamrolling through their first opponent the Wolverines faced Purdue, the regular season conference champion and number one seed in the tournament.

Michigan overcame a nine point deficit to upset the Boilermakers in a thrilling overtime victory.

Anyone would have given the Wolverines a pass for bowing out gracefully in Saturday's semifinal matchup against a tough and physical Minnesota team that was playing as good as anyone in the country the last month of the season.

After all, those Michigan kids had to be physically and emotionally drained, right?

Not on senior point guard Derrick Walton's watch.

Led by his career-high 29 points the Wolverines survived a game comeback attempt by Minnesota to advance to the title game.

And today the Wisconsin Badgers simply ran into a buzz saw as Michigan, with destiny seemingly on their side, pulled away late to earn their first official Big Ten Tournament Championship.

It was the fist time in Big Ten history that a seed as low as Michigan (8) won it all. And they did so by knocking off the 4th, 2nd, and number one overall seed.

Ironically enough it was Walton who voted to not re-board the plane and forfeit earlier this week. Today he is the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Hollywood would reject this script for not being believable.

Michigan will now head into the big dance winners of ten of their last twelve games. They are also riding a five game win streak after posting four of them in the last four days.

The 7 seed Wolverines will play Oklahoma State (10) on Friday in Indianapolis, and regardless of the outcome they have already redefined the meaning of March Madness.

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The hypocrisy of calling Kaepernick a hypocrite

NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick can't win for losing, and I'm not talking about the San Francisco 49ers 2-14 record last season.

As we all know, Kaepernick felt the wrath of millions of people when he chose not to stand for the playing of the National Anthem last year. It was a move that dominated the headlines in and out of sports, and everyone weighed in with passionate views on both sides of the argument.

He became public enemy number one...and number two was nowhere in sight.

Today Kaepernick announced that he would do an about-face and stand for the National Anthem this season, and somehow the news was met with even more criticism.

Kaepernick detractors cried foul because he is set to hit free agency after opting out of the final year of his contract with the 49ers. They speak to the hypocrisy of the move...alleging that he is only doing it to help his chances of landing on a new team.

To that I ask "What's wrong with that?"

Anyone who calls this move hypocritical is a hypocrite themselves. I mean...let's face it...we ALL tone things down when applying for new jobs.

We go conservative with our haircuts and hairdos. We cover up our tattoos. We lose whatever slang we are comfortable with and put on attire that displays the most conservative sides of ourselves.

We re-word our resumes to give the impression that we were the most loyal and hardworking employees at each and every job...whether that was actually true or not.

We refrain from bad-mouthing ex-bosses...and we refrain from suggesting that we are really in need of stability and a weekly paycheck.

We've all done it...All of us.

So why knock Kaepernick for doing this in his chosen profession? If, in fact that is the motive behind the move.

But detractors weren't the only ones crying foul today across social media, Kaepernick's most staunch supporters during the Anthem protest are mad too. The word sellout came up time and time again from now-angry supporters.

Wait...what? Let's put that notion to bed as well while we're at it.

Kaepernick started the protest, so it is well within his right to end it if and when he so chooses. He did it before it became popular, and did it with no leverage from a professional standpoint (he was the backup qb at the time with no assurance of an extension).

And most of all, he backed up his protest with action. He put his money where his mouth was. He gave to his community, he donated his time.

He used his fame and fortune to do the unpopular thing, he started a sensitive conversation that needed to be started. He opened some eyes and some progress was made.

To the angry supporters I ask...."So what are you going to do with the movement now? How much have you given? How much of your time have you donated? What stand did you take that could jeopardize the livelihood of your family?"

Again...the hypocrisy of calling someone a hypocrite.

Whether you agree with Kaepernick's views and tactics or not, don't cry foul from the sidelines. If you're passionate about what he started...do something to keep it going instead of bashing him for doing what he feels is best for his family.

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