Grizzlies to nab Ja Morant while trying not to tank - basketball gods are happy

To tank, or not to tank? 

That has been the hot-button issue for NBA Commissioner Adam Silver the last two seasons. Last year a sternly written letter was sent to the Dallas Mavericks after reports leaked that owner Mark Cuban advised his team of their tanking intentions.

But all of that is thrown out of the window when generational talents like Zion Williamson and Ja Morant are in the draft pool.

Several teams showed no shame in their hopes of landing Williamson this NBA season, and as Morant's stock continued to rise, so did team's desire to nab him as well. Even if it meant blatantly throwing in the towel without even attempting to compete for a playoff spot.

In an ironic twist of fate, the Memphis Grizzlies defied the odds and secured the second overall pick of this year's draft, thus securing the services of Morant....who has been viewed by most as a can't-miss face of a franchise.

And they did so without tanking. In fact, they tried to do the exact opposite.

The Memphis Grizzlies actually started the season on fire. After the first month they owned the best record in the west with a 12-5 record.

Then an epic free fall ensued shortly after as the Grizzlies lost 28 of their next 36 games. 

Now looking up from the bottom of the western conference, and at a crossroads, the Grizzlies chose to play out the string and win as many games as possible in hopes of fulfilling their final trade obligation and convey their draft pick to the Boston Celtics.

The pick was protected if the Grizzlies chose outside of the top 8.

So while teams were trading assets and sitting healthy players in a desperate attempt to improve their lottery chances, the Grizzlies were desperately trying to jump those teams.

Yes, Memphis traded franchise cornerstone Marc Gasol at the deadline, but held on to their star point guard Mike Conley.

And he didn't just stay in Memphis, he suited up and played...and performed to his All Star caliber level.

The nightmare scenario for Memphis was to fall out of the top 5, but not out of the top 8 in what is considered a draft class of two or three impact players. The last thing on their minds was securing Ja Morant of all people.

So as the cards continued to be flipped, a franchise that has been devoid of lucky breaks the last few seasons sat in anticipation of landing the 6th, 7th, or lord forbid....8th spot and have to keep that pick.

Landing the number two overall pick was not only mathematically improbable, but the timing was perfect. 

Memphis is still looking to move off Conley's massive contract, and Conley is still looking to finish his career on a championship ready team....something he deserves considering how he handled the aftermath of dismantling the Grit and Grind squad that made Memphis a playoff regular for seven straight seasons.

Morant steps right in to fill that role. And he's younger. And he will be paid pennies to Conley's dollars.

And he will be paired with last year's fourth overall pick, forward Jaren Jackson Jr, giving the Grizzlies their Conley/Gasol combo for the future.

As it relates to the lottery being rigged, as people say every year, what would be the league's incentive in this case?

Memphis is the smallest media market in the entire league...in a lottery that featured heavyweight cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Memphis' lottery draw was a gift from the basketball gods that were sick and tired of the tanking. And why not? The city of Memphis has always been known as a basketball town.

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Pressure mounts for Kyle Lowry with Toronto's title hopes and future looking bleak

Much has been made about Toronto Raptors' All Star point guard Kyle Lowry, and his ineffectiveness in this year's playoffs.

After a posting zero points in the first round opener, a home game loss to the underdog Orlando Magic, Lowry's erratic play has been under a microscope....and deservedly so.

The intensity magnified after Toronto's latest loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, a game in which Lowry himself acknowledged that he needs to play better.

Down 2-1 and without home court advantage, Toronto received more bad news. Potential Most Improved Player, Pascal Siakham, is doubtful for game 4 with a calf injury. He is the only consistent offensive contributor besides Kawhi Leonard, a free agent at the end of the season.

With no Siakham, and a potential 3-1 deficit awaiting them tomorrow afternoon, there is more pressure than ever for Lowry to step up and play to his All Star level. 

If not, then the Raptors would not only face the fact that they failed to reach the finals after firing their coach last season (who won Coach of the Year), and traded away a franchise favorite in return for Leonard...who has no obligation to stay beyond this season.

Translation....Toronto could be left with just Lowry this summer, the one who could be potentially responsible for running Leonard back to the US.

The irony, huh?

The time is now for Lowry....no more excuses.

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Tiger's feat was bigger than golf - bigger than sports

Tiger Woods stood before his peers, colleagues, and family today donning one of the most recognized symbols in all of sports....the green jacket awarded for winning the Masters.

Social media sites were flooded with congratulations from some of the biggest names in sports, politics, and entertainment. And for good reason, everyone loves a comeback story.

And while most pointed to the multiple surgeries that seemingly deteriorated Tiger's body over the past several years, I want to address the elephant in the room so that it can be eradicated once and for all....

Yes, Tiger overcame an aging body, but more importantly, he overcame the demons in his mind to once again stand tall as a winner....in life.

This is so much bigger than golf.

For those of us that are old enough to have watched Tiger's last win at the Masters, most if not all of us share a common bond.

We've messed up in life at one point or another.

Or worse yet, having our own bad decisions negatively impact someone else's life. The proverbial stray bullet hitting the innocent bystander.

To those of us that can relate, there is a tremendous amount of shame, guilt, and self-loathing that accompanies a fall from grace.

To those of us that subject ourselves to a higher power, it can be exponentially excruciating. There's no worse feeling than the feeling that we disappointed God, and to think that He wants nothing to do with us anymore.

That in itself can cause competent, confident, intelligent people to shrink into a funk, to believe that we blew our shot and the rest of our life is reserved for the never-ending hard hitting hand of Karma. Especially when those around us refuse to define us by our countless victories, but instead they focus on the few negative traits that make us all inherently human.

The feeling of going into a room of friends and loved ones, wondering if the two in the corner are gossiping about your situation. The empty feeling that know one knows or cares what you're going through.

So we self-medicate....with alcohol, work, drugs, sex, ect. A never-ending spiral into the abyss of what we once were or hoped to be.

Now take your problem and magnify it a million times over. I mean, after all, we're just subjected to the small group of people that know us.

Imagine being Tiger Woods, one of the most recognizable names and faces on the entire planet. Where can he go to find solace and solitude?

Nowhere but inside himself, but when you're broken, that in itself could be solitary confinement.

But even in that, to dust yourself off and try again when the masses say you're finished. Then to endure the jeers and criticisms of people who are rooting for you to lose.

People that once rooted for you.

Then to guard against the realization that your time may be over after numerous failed comeback attempts.

To standing on top of the mountain again as the winner of the biggest golf tournament in the world.

Do you realize how much self-belief and intestinal fortitude it takes to endure and withstand for that long before you reap your harvest again?

Those of us that have fallen and gotten back up do.

So we congratulate you, Tiger. But not for overcoming numerous back and knee surgeries. We tip our caps to you for standing toe to toe with a troublesome pothole in life and maneuvering your way to the finish line.

Something people from all professions can take with them forever.

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NBA: Five point guards facing the most playoff pressure

The NBA playoffs are officially underway. A time when no-names become household ones, stars become superstars, and superstars become legends.

The playoffs can also be a detriment if said star or superstar fails to deliver, so today we highlight five All Star point guards facing the biggest pressure to deliver this year.

5. Damian Lillard - Portland

The perennial All Star has not only been the face of the Portland Trailblazers since being drafted in 2012, but he is also the face of the entire northwestern region of the country.

With Lillard at the helm, the Portland Trailblazers have enjoyed plenty of regular season success, reaching the playoffs in each of the past five seasons. But not only have they failed to reach the Conference Finals, but they have been swept out of the first round the last two seasons.

This season the Trailblazers draw a tough first round match up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a third straight first round exit could spell the end for Portland as we know it. Seeing the window closing with Lillard, and their inability to attract a top-notch free agent during his tenure there, Portland could be forced to rebuild with Lillard being the bargaining chip.

4. Ben Simmons - Philadelphia

Simmons entered the league with as much fanfare as one could hope for, drawing early comparisons to Magic Johnson with his size and ability to distribute the basketball. His propensity for triple doubles has even drawn comparisons to LeBron James.

Last year's Rookie of the Year and current All Star, Simmons has been a key cog in the Sixers' turnaround from process to playoffs.

But in last year's playoffs, Simmons' Achilles Heel, his ineffectiveness shooting from long range, was exposed by the Boston Celtics. Teams are now daring Simmons to shoot from deep, and remarkably enough, he is not making them pay to the tune of zero three point makes in his career.

That's ZERO, y'all.

Even with the addition of sharp shooters Tabias Harris and Jimmy Butler, it will still be imperative for Simmons to make teams play him honest, or the Sixers' quest for a spot in the NBA Finals will come up short, again.

In today's opening round match up against the underdog Brooklyn Nets, Simmons was dreadful. So much so that Philly had to move him to the post, just so Brooklyn would have to guard him. That, in turn, moved big Joel Embiid to the perimiter, where he was 0-for from behind the arc. Butler dropped a playoff career-high 36 points, and the Sixers still lost.

3. Kyrie Irving - Boston

Irving forced his way out of Cleveland last season to be the main guy on a young Celtics team last season, but an injury late in the regular season caused him to miss the entire postseason.

Irving sat idly by and watched his young and inexperienced team reach game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals without him.

Boston was predicted to run through the Eastern Conference this season with Kyrie back in the fold, but the team actually had a better record when he didn't play this season.

Couple that with Irving's icy relationship with his teammates throughout the season, and you have a pressure-packed road ahead for Uncle Drew and Company.

2. James Harden - Houston

The Beard has been the league's most unstoppable offensive force the last three NBA seasons, but the postseason has been a different story.

Last year's MVP and current front runner for this year's coveted award, Harden has dazzled NBA fans with his eye-popping shooting, averaging 36 points per game in this year's regular season.

But after a couple of high-profile meltdown the last few postseasons, none of that matters when his playoff push starts Sunday.

Behind Harden, CP3, and a scrappy group of wing defenders, the Rockets had Golden State on the ropes last season before squandering a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference Finals. Chris Paul's absence in game 7 gave The Beard a mulligan.

But in order to have his name mentioned with the pantheon greats of this game, Harden MUST get to the Finals this season, with or without Chris Paul.

1. Russell Westbrook - OKC

You know you have something to prove when you averaged a triple double the last three seasons, earned league MVP honors, and was still voted the most overrated player by your peers this season.

Such is the life of Russell Westbrook.

While his mannerisms and style of play may be a turnoff to his colleagues and casual fans, there's no denying the elephant in the room....his lack of playoff success post Kevin Durant.

Last season the OKC Thunder were eliminated in the first round by a less-talented Utah Jazz team, leaving many of his detractors with plenty of ammo that you can not win with Westbrook's stat-padding style of play.

And if the Thunder fail to advance past the first round with a favorable match up with the Portland Trailblazers this season, then you can expect more of the same criticism of Russ's game next year....fourth straight triple double season or not.

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NFL Draft: Expect more players to skip bowl games

One of the most divisive topics in college football last season surrounded high profile NFL-bound players skipping their bowl games in order to prepare for the upcoming draft.

Translation...players skipping their bowl games to avoid injury prior to the draft. A move that could potentially save them millions of dollars.

Potential high draft picks like running backs Leonard Fournette (LSU) and Christian McCaffrey (Stanford), as well as Michigan's versatile defensive star and Heisman finalist Jabrill Peppers took a beating from the national media for choosing not to play in their respective bowl games.

Pundits called their actions selfish, and accused the players of "quitting" on their teams. Some went as far as to suggest that their actions would have a negative impact on NFL scouts.

Well...as it turns out...all three were taken in the first round of this year's draft. Fournette (4th) and McCaffrey (8th) were selected in the top ten. Peppers was selected 25th overall.

So much for backlash from the pros...but I digress.

On the other side of the coin, you could point to one player in particular to further cement these player's decision to sit out...Michigan tight end Jake Butt.

The four year starter was a two-time collegiate All American, Ozzie Newsome award winner in 2015, and Kwalick-Clark Tight End of the Year in 2016.

Butt, who is a proficient blocker at the line of scrimmage with excellent hands and rout-running skills, was one of the best prospects at his position as Michigan prepared to face Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Rather than sit out like Peppers, Butt chose to play and was knocked out of the game with a gruesome knee injury. As a result, he was unable to participate at the combine and his team's Pro Day. He was also unable to attend private workouts.

Needless to say...his stock fell faster than a rock out of the sky.

Denver ultimately took a flyer on Butt, selecting him in the fifth round. And while a smart business decision to insure himself recouped some of the money lost by falling, the decision to play in the Orange Bowl still cost the rookie dearly.

Don't think that Butt's story will be lost on next year's draft class...especially the elite prospects.

In fact, if the player isn't participating in the conference title game or College Football Playoffs, then you should expect for his regular season finale to be his collegiate one going forward.

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Grizzlies: Coach Fizdale finds home in Memphis

Few sports franchises embody the city they represent like the Memphis Grizzlies. Their no-nonsense, blue collar grit and grind style of play struck a cord with a fan base that has to roll up their sleeves and work for everything they get.

Like the Grizzlies, the city of Memphis is not flashy. There are no downtown sky scrapers, and aside from Graceland, there are no world renowned tourist attractions.

In a state that has few major cities, Memphis is still overlooked, creating an us against the world mentality among the locals.

And as a result, outsiders are often welcomed with a long-handled spoon.

That was the case for first year head coach David Fizdale, until an epic rant turned the tide in his favor...and turned a potential sweep into a playoff series.

A few days ago the Grizzlies were on the wrong end of yet another blowout playoff loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Down 0-2 and appearing lifeless as the series headed to Memphis, coach Fizdale sat at the post game podium Monday night and went ballistic on the referees.

He called the refs unprofessional as he pointed to the huge disparity in foul calls. He said their actions were unacceptable. He acknowledged that, as a rookie coach of a team with no championships under their belt, he understood that the perennial playoff powerhouse Spurs earned the benefit of the doubt on most occasions.

Then he rebutted with..."But y'all ain't gonna rook us!"

He praised point guard Mike Conley for being mild-mannered and professional for far too long, and applauded his team for showing the grit and fight that Memphians had grown fond of.

Most importantly, he stood up for a team and city that no one stands up for. And the gesture was not lost on the fan base.

As he emerged from the locker room to take the floor last night, coach Fizdale was met with a standing ovation from the sold out crowd, something I have never witnessed in my 30 plus years of watching the NBA.

Fans made t shirts and signs with his "Take that for data" closing remark from Monday's press conference, and they were full throat the entire evening...creating an electric playoff atmosphere for the players.

And speaking of the players, Conley acknowledged sending coach Fiz a text at four in the morning following the press conference, thanking him for having the team's back. As a whole, the Grizzlies' roster pledged to pay the $30,000 fine levied by the NBA for his tirade.

When they finally took the court, the Grizzlies played their most complete game in weeks, let alone in this year's playoffs. The Grind House was rocking, and the team was flying around and making plays.

So much so that Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich waived the white towel early in the second half as the Grizzlies' lead ballooned to as much as 20 points. His starters mostly watched from the bench from that point..

To put things into perspective, former Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger broke down and was reduced to tears at a post game press conference in last year's playoffs.

Tears? There's no crying in Memphis!

He was fired shortly after the Grizzlies were eliminated last season. I guess the We Don't Bluff city don't play that....

But I digress....

Yes, Memphis will and should be underdogs in game 4. And yes, the Spurs are still the prohibitive favorites to win the series, but what happened on Monday night was bigger than the end result.

On Monday night, Grizzlies fans let down their guard in appreciation for being fought for. On Monday night, Fizdale found a home in Memphis.

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Grizzlies vs Spurs: The series that changed both teams

The seventh seed Memphis Grizzlies will take on the second seed San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. It's their fourth time meeting in the post season, and the Spurs hold a 3-1 lead.

And while San Antonio has pretty much had their way with Memphis in the playoffs, it was the one that got away that changed both teams forever.

The Spurs were the number one seed in the Western Conference heading into the 2011 playoffs. The Grizzlies were the eighth seed. Not only was San Antonio prohibitive favorites to win the series, they were favored to sweep a young Memphis team that had not won a playoff game in three prior trips to the post season (0-12 from 2004-2006).

That's right...three appearances...swept all three times. Once by the Spurs in their first playoff appearance in 2004.

The Grizzlies ruffled some feathers in San Antonio heading into that 2011 playoff match up, when it appeared they purposely sat players late in the regular season to drop to the eighth seed.

Spurs swing man Manu Ginobili saw it as a sign of disrespect, saying..."They wanted us...now they got us".

Memphis shocked the sports world when they came away victorious, in San Antonio, in game one of that series. It was their first playoff win in franchise history...

But it wouldn't be their last.

The Grizzlies went on to upset the Spurs in six games in what became the coming out party for newly acquired journeyman power forward Zach Randolph. The Spurs had no answer for Z-Bo and the Grizzlies' aggressive style of play on defense.

The first series win in playoff history not only put Memphis on the national radar, but it also ushered in the "Grit and Grind" era that you see today. The core four of that magical run (Randolph, Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Tony Allen) remained in tact over the years, and as a result the Grizzlies are one of just three teams in the league to reach the playoffs each of the last seven years.

That series also ushered in the "Believe Memphis" mantra, which can still be seen in the Grind House at every Grizzlies home game. Memphis saw their confidence soar through the roof, and while they haven't earned a trip to the Finals, they haven't missed the playoffs since. They have also been a consistent playoff thorn in the sides of Western Conference opponents since then.

Before that series the Grizzlies had zero playoffs wins under their belt. Since then they have 24, and a Western Conference Finals appearance.

As for the Spurs, the natural overreaction was talk of their demise. But the playoff loss was a blessing in disguise for them, too.

A couple of months later San Antonio made a draft day trade with the Indiana Pacers for the rights to Kawhi Leonard. A versatile forward that could get his own shot while shutting down the most potent scorer for the opposition.

This move was important because the lack of a player with his set of skills ultimately cost the Spurs that series. Memphis clamped down on San Antonio bigs Tim Duncan and Antonio McDyess, forcing their perimeter players to beat them off the dribble...something Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker were unable to do.

With Leonard transitioning into the focal point of the team the Spurs rebounded by making back to back Finals appearances in 2013 and 2014, narrowly losing the title in seven games before dominating the LeBron James led Miami Heat to win it all the following year.

Coincidentally enough, Kawhi was the Finals MVP that season.

Today, Leonard is not only the best two-way player in the league, but he is now considered a top five player overall. All Star appearances, first team All NBA, first team All Defense, multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards, and MVP candidate this year. Kawhi does it all.

And here we are again, the Spurs are once again the heavy favorite to knock off the Grizzlies. Can Memphis find lightning in a bottle one more time? We will start to find out Saturday night at 7:00.

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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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NBA: Remember Steph Curry?

You know how the NBA markets their star players by filming them walking into the arena with headphones on before nationally televised games?

Well...if you're Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors then you've probably been listening to Janet Jackson's "What have you done for me lately" while strolling to the locker room this season.

Seriously...if you've been paying attention to the NBA this year then you've noticed that no one notices him anymore.

This time last year Chef Curry was the toast of the league. He was the reigning league MVP, reigning NBA champion, and reigning media darling in all of sports.

And in some circles he was considered the best player in the world. Yes...even better than King James himself.

Curry was on his way to the best regular season record in NBA history, the scoring title, and a second straight MVP award...the first unanimous MVP in league history.

He was everywhere...he was The Face of the NBA.

Fast forward to today and Curry is treated as just another good player on a great team.

How did this happen?

Blowing a 3-1 lead in last year's NBA Finals started his slide to anonymity, especially when you consider the fact that he was routinely targeted and torched on defense by Cleveland's Kyrie Irving during those all-important series clinching games.

And it all went downhill from there.

Curry's Under Armor shoe line was unveiled around that time, and was met with resounding criticism.

A month later Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in a move that dominated the headlines all offseason.

When the 2016-17 season started there was no talk of an MVP Three-Peat for Curry. In fact, that storyline couldn't even get coverage on the back pages of Oakland's local newspaper.

Instead, the NBA front page news has been reserved for LeBron James and his frustration with his critics and this year's roster, and the drama in New York with Phil Jackson, Carmelo Anthony, owner James Dolan, and former Knicks legend Charles Oakley.

In between those ever-evolving scenarios we have the ongoing feud between Durant and his former teammate Russell Westbrook.

And speaking of Russ, this year's MVP race has come down to him and fellow triple-double machine James Hardin of the Houston Rockets. No mention of Curry for the coveted award...

Not even a sniff.

It's gotten so bad that Curry rocked a red headband in last night's All Star game...knowing that it would ignite Twitter tolls worldwide. And for the record, the trolls didn't disappoint.

Even his little brother Seth, who has been relegated to less than second fiddle, chimed in with a troll of his own last night.

I guess if you're Steph, even if they are talking negatively...at least people are talking about you again.

Think about it, when it comes to newsworthy personalities on the Warriors this season Curry is fourth behind Durant, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr with his outspoken views on politics and marijuana.

And if Golden State goes on to recapture the title this season the overwhelming storyline will be Durant's first one...not Curry's second.

My how the mighty have fallen.

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The improbable week that saved Michigan's season

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Seven days ago the University of Michigan men's basketball team was reeling and all but eliminated from NCAA Tournament consideration. A devastating home loss to the lowly Ohio State Buckeyes on February 4th dropped the Wolverines to 4-6 in conference play and 10th place in the Big Ten.

Worse yet, the boys in Maize and Blue were staring down the barrel of an upcoming three game stretch against teams that have owned them the last few years.

Last Thursday the Wolverines hosted their arch nemesis, Michigan State, who they hadn't beaten since 2014. Michigan steamrolled the Spartans 86-57, their largest margin of victory in the series since World War II.

And I am not being sarcastic, the last time the Wolverines beat Michigan State by that many points was 1948.

Three days later the University of Michigan traveled to Bloomington Indiana, a place where they lost 17 of their last 18 games. The last time the Wolverines defeated Indiana in their place, Avatar was the number one movie in theaters.

The Wolverines jumped out to an early lead over the Hoosiers last Sunday afternoon and held on for a 75-63 victory, giving them an equally rare season sweep of the series that dated back to the debut of Tupac's classic album..."All Eyes on Me".

Yep...over 20 years ago. Wow...I'm old...

But I digress.

And tonight the Wolverines faced their toughest challenge to date when they hosted Big Ten leader and 11th ranked Wisconsin, who was 21-4 heading into the game.

After falling behind by eight points early in the second half Michigan turned up the defensive pressure to rally for a 64-58 upset of the Badgers, a team that has beaten them consistently over the last several years.

Michigan's surprising turnaround was led by senior point guard Derrick Walton Jr, who had scored at least 20 points in five straight games heading into tonight's contest.

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Struggling for most of the contest, Walton Jr was helped out by his fellow senior teammate in swing man guard Zak Irvin...who broke out of a horrendous month-long shooting slump with 18 huge points.

At 17-9 (7-6), squarely off the bubble now, and riding a three game win streak, the Wolverines must now hold serve with four of their last five games coming on the road...albeit against competition they have had much better success against.

It looks like March Madness came a couple of weeks early for Michigan, thanks to an improbable seven day run.

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Time for Melo to clap back on Phil Jackson

New York Knicks President of Basketball Operations Phil Jackson is at it again, taking yet another passive-aggressive shot at his star player Carmelo Anthony.

Today the former 11 time championship coach took to twitter and sent this not-so veiled shot at Anthony, who he is desperately trying to unload before this year's NBA trade deadline later this month.

His tweet...

"Bleacher's Ding almost rings the bell, but I learned you don't change the spot on a leopard with Michael Graham in my CBA daze."

For those who don't know, Michael Graham played for Jackson back in his CBA days, and was known to be a ball-hogging shoot-first player. Jackson ultimately got rid of him.

For those who have been following this Melo-drama, which heated up last October, Jackson has made no secret of the fact that Anthony's isolation style of play doesn't fit the principles of his triangle offense.

I wonder how long after he re-signed Melo to a max deal that included a no-trade clause did he come to this epiphany?

But I digress.

Anthony, to his credit, has taken the high road all season. But when is enough...enough?

I say today.

Melo's close friend LeBron James has decided to fire back at his detractors. He recently took analyst and former player Charles Barkley to task for his non-stop criticism of his game and willingness to compete. And last night he called an article (and the writer of the article) trash for saying that he is pushing to force Kevin Love out of Cleveland for Anthony.

Its' time for Melo to take a page out of LeBron's book.

It's painfully obvious that Jackson is using Anthony as the scape goat for his failures as the Knicks' team president. He overpaid for an over the hill Derrick Rose and JoakimNoah. He shelled out 50 million dollars for Courtney Lee, who has done nothing to deserve such a deal prior to his arrival in New York.

And last but certainly not least, the Knicks are further away from playoff contention under Jackson's watch in the watered-down eastern conference than they were before hiring him.

And that's just the stuff that we know on the surface. I am sure that Carmelo has plenty of behind-the-curtain ammunition as well...and it's time to clap back.

Where has taken the high road gotten Anthony thus far? Jackson is not letting up, and neither is the media who constantly corner Melo for responses to the numerous body blows delivered by the guy upstairs.

With an iron clad no-trade clause in effect, it's Melo that has the upper hand...not the other way around.

Time for him to start acting like it before his self respect goes down the same drain as the Knicks' playoff chances this year.

Clap back Melo...you represent New Yorkers for goodness sakes.

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