Playoff Pandemonium

With a week of MLB post-season action in the books, we only have one series decided and plenty of drama still surrounding the three other divisional series match ups. Following an insane finish to the regular season with the Rays and Cardinals edging into the playoffs, the intensity hasn't even come close to letting up. Let's take a look at what's happened so far, and predict what each series has in store.

Yankees vs. Tigers (series tied at 2-2)
Just when it looked like the pinstripes were dead and buried down 2-1 in the series, they came up with a huge 10-1 road victory in game 4 to set up a showdown in the Bronx for all the marbles. Nobody figured that the much maligned AJ Burnett would be the savior for the bombers, but he shocked the world with one of his best pitching performances when it mattered most. The momentum has clearly shifted in the Yankees favor and it will take a very impressive effort from the Tigers to avoid elimination. Doug Fister will take the hill tomorrow against Yank's rookie Ivan Nova. Fister fell to Nova in game 1 of the series, but there's reason to believe he could redeem himself in game 5. Since getting traded from Seattle to Detroit in July, Fister only allowed more than two runs twice (including the game 1 loss against the Yankees). I'm going to go against the odds and pick Detroit to surprise the baseball universe on Thursday. Prediction: Tigers in 5 games.

Three Up, Three Down

With two weeks of NFL action in the books, it's safe to make some early predictions about the movers and shakers around the league. The reason this sport is so exciting is because each season you never know what's going to happen. Unlike baseball, where the best teams are almost always at the top, football features a ton of shifting of gears from year to year. Especially this season with the insanity of the short free agent period following the lockout. Of course some stalwarts are almost always going to be in the mix, but it's never a guarantee. Heading into Week 3, let's take a look at the top three and bottom three teams in the NFL so far.

Joker Continues to Rule the Court

Nobody can seem to stop Novak Djokovic. Not Rafael Nadal. Not Roger Federer. The World's #1 player proved once again that he is in a league of his own in 2011 topping both Rafa and Fed en route to the U.S. Open Championship.  With his third major title of the year, it's clear that Djokovic is having one of the greatest tennis seasons of all-time.

2011 NFL Season Predictions

It's "Christmas Day" for NFL fans with the first kickoff of the year set for tonight in Green Bay, Wisconsin. A prime time match up between the past two Super Bowl Champions definitely has America salivating. Could one of these teams create a dynasty before our eyes, or will a new winner rise to the top? Before the opening coin toss, I'm going to put on my "Jimmy The Greek" hat and go out on a limb with some predictions for the upcoming season.

Tight End Breakouts and Busts

It's time for the final segment of a four part series on breakouts and busts for the 2011 fantasy football season. Last, but not least, it's Tight Ends.

Breakout: Jimmy Graham- When you hear the term "freak athlete", chances are Jimmy Graham fits the bill. At 6'6" and 260 lbs, he is match up nightmare. The Saints TE has an outstanding opportunity to join the top tier at his position this year. Obviously, the fact that he's a member of the top-ranked New Orleans passing attack doesn't hurt. Drew Brees has a knack for finding his tight ends in the end zone, and he's never had a physical specimen like Graham before (sorry Jeremy Shockey, that doesn't apply to you). Like his predecessor at the position, Graham comes from "The U", a school that's knowing for pumping out star TE's. In his rookie year in 2010, the ex-Hurricane stormed onto the scene with 4 TD's in his final three games. Pace that out to a whole season, and you're looking at broken records.
Prediction: 900 Receiving Yards, 10 TD's

Wide Receiver Breakouts and Busts

We're moving on to part three of a four part series on fantasy football breakouts and busts. Today, I'm breaking down the most under and overhyped wide receivers for the 2011 seasons. Coincidentally, both are connected to Manning brothers. Check out my breakdowns of RB's and QB's while you're at it.

Breakout: Mario Manningham- Last year, Hakeem Nicks was the big breakout candidate for the Giants, but this season it could be his team mate Mario Manningham who steals the show.  Manningham didn't get a ton of pub early in 2010, but down the stretch he was dynamite. In his final three games, the Giants wideout tallied an astonishing 346 yards and 4 TD's. The former Michigan man is about to earn his stripes for Big Blue. Look, we know the Giants offense is going to score plenty of points with Eli Manning tossing the rock on regular basis. With Nicks garnering the top attention from opposing defenses, look for Manningham to exploit a number cornerbacks for monster games. I wouldn't be surprised if both Giants WR's put up top 10 totals at their position this season.
Prediction: 1200 Receiving Yards, 12 TD's

Running Back Breakouts and Busts

Part two of the breakouts and busts feature spotlights the most overrated and underrated running backs heading into the 2011 season. This will focus on the statistical perspective as it relates to fantasy football.

Breakout: Felix Jones- No one has ever denied Jones' talent, but despite occasional flashes of brilliance over his first three years in the league, he has yet to put it together for a full season. That will all change this year. A combination of system, maturation, and opportunity will create a perfect storm for the Cowboys lightning bug. In previous years, Felix the cat has had to share a crowded backfield in Big D with the likes of over-the-hill vets Julius Jones, Marion Barber, and more. With those guys gone, the feature role is now all on the Arkansas alum and he'll have plenty of opportunities to shine in the high-octane Tony Romo-led offense. I foresee a rise to elite level, in the vein of LeSean "Shady" McCoy.
Prediction: 1100 Rushing Yards, 500 Receiving Yards, 8 total TD's.

Quarterback Breakouts and Busts

The summer of chaos is over and in just four days NFL fans will be brought back to stability. This Thursday, all will be forgiven when the first kick off of the season takes place. What better place to start it up than the home of the team that took the last Lombardi Trophy, the Green Bay Packers. It will be a fantasy lover's dream as two of the game's most potent offenses square off. The high flying Pack vs. the 2009 Super Bowl winning New Orleans Saints. Tough to top any matchup that features elite QB's Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees. As excited as I am to see the juggernauts butt heads, I'm here today to talk about the guys that are severely overrated at their position and those that don't get the credit they deserve. Welcome to Breakouts and Busts: Quarterback Edition.

Golf's Identity Crisis

Raise your hand if you knew the name Keegan Bradley before this weekend. Don't worry, you're not alone if couldn't pick the PGA's most recent major winner out of a lineup. With one total tour victory coming in, the rookie became the latest in a long line of obscure players to take home trophys over the past couple years. In fact, Bradley became the seventh straight first-time major winner when he edged fellow unknown Jason Dufner at the PGA Championship on Sunday. The question everyone is now wondering: Is this anonymity the new norm in golf?

The Hall Comes Calling

There's simply no place on earth like Cooperstown. The upstate New York town may be tiny, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in history. It's claim to fame is the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you're a fan of "America's Pastime" it's gotta be on your bucket list. The location is kind of off the beaten path (there are no cities of note within an hour), but those that make the trek, like I did in February, are truly rewarded. This weekend, thousands flocked to Cooperstown to help usher in a new trio to the ranks of the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2011 includes players Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven as well as GM Pat Gillick. It's tough to describe in words what the three did for the game, but after the jump, I'll try to do them justice.

Flipping Fields

It's a marathon, not a sprint. The Major League Baseball season is not for the faint of heart. From March to November, encompassing nearly three-quarters of the calendar year, baseball is all about the long run. So, you can't blame fans if they fall into mid-summer lulls while waiting for the playoffs to heat up. The All-Star game is a nice temporary pick-me-up, but the biggest way to add spice to the season is the trade deadline. At this point, it's clear which teams are going to be buyers and sellers. With the deal D-day just a week away on July 31, it's time to speculate where some of the big names in the game will be moving. Let's countdown the top candidates who could be switching jerseys come August.

1.) Ubaldo Jimenez, Colorado Rockies, SP- One position that every team can never have enough of down the stretch is a starting pitcher. No SP has GM's salivating like Ubaldo Jimenez. With the Rockies looking like playoff long shots, Jimenez has a great shot of swapping cities. Colorado has said that they will definitely be looking at offers for their ace. Although it will likely be extremely costly to acquire last year's breakout pitching star, that won't stop big market teams from offering up the farm for him.

MLB Power Poll

We're in the dog days of summer and the main focus in the world of sports is on baseball. After a huge turnover in the last edition of the MLB Power Poll, week three is much more stable. At the top, it's the same first five lineup. As we roll down the list though, we see some newcomers join the party. Injuries also play a major part this week. Let's see where the shakeups affect the latest Top 10.

Top 10

1.) Boston Red Sox [1] (43-28)- The heat hasn't cooled in Boston. Fresh off a Stanley Cup Championship for the Bruins, the Red Sox have given the "nation" more to cheer for. After taking 2 of 3 from the 4th ranked Brewers, the BoSox have now won five straight series dating all the way back to May. One dark mark is young flamethrower Clay Buchholtz landing on the DL with a back strain.
2.) Philadelphia Phillies [2] (45-28)- Smoothing sailing for the Phillies this month. It's almost become expected for the Phils to go streaking and sure enough Philadelphia has won eight of 10. What makes their consistent winning even more impressive is that they haven't even really started to hit. Philly's ranked 20th in the league in batting average (.247).

Future's So Bright...

Rory McIlroy didn't need shades to show the world that he has the potential to be the next superstar of the PGA.  Rory roared out to a huge early lead in the second major of the year and never looked back. When all was said and done on Sunday at The Congressional Golf Course in our nation's capital, McIlroy had turned in the best score ever posted at the US Open. A brilliant -16 performance gave McIlroy the first major championship of his young career. It also helped erase some of the ugly memories of the 22-year-old's meltdown at the Masters earlier this year.

No Doubting Thomas in Cup Clincher

There's no way the NHL's championship round could live up to the hype of the NBA's title, but it didn't have to. The Stanley Cup Finals were excellent in their own right. In the end, the Boston Bruins went the distance to top the Vancouver Canucks on the road in game 7 to capture their first championship since 1972. The hero of the series, and for the entire playoffs for that matter, was Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas. More so than in any other sport, a hot goalie can almost singlehandedly carry his team to a title, and that's exactly what Thomas did en route to the Conn Smythe trophy.

MLB Power Poll

Welcome to week two of the MLB Power Poll. We've got some major shakeups throughout the top 10 with the emergence of some red hot teams. The previous week's rankings are in brackets followed by the team's ranking in parentheses.

Top 10
1.) Boston Red Sox [6] (39-26)- Is this the same team that started the season with six straight losses and went 2-10 out of the gate. The Sawx can't be stopped now. A season long nine game win streak has them atop the AL East and just a 1/2 game behind the Phils for the best record in the bigs. Adrian Gonzalez has hit an RBI nine games in a row.

Mavs Become Made Men

NBA fans certainly got a treat in this year's finals. The Dallas Mavericks capped off an incredible playoff run by beating the Miami Heat 105-95 in game six to win their first ever championship 4-2. This was definitely one of the more memorable NBA Titles in my lifetime. It's easy to see why this showdown riveted basketball fans for the past two weeks.

Triple Crown Not Fit For Any Kings

It hasn't happened since I was born. It's now been 32 years since the last Triple Crown winner in horse racing. Not since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978 has a horse triumphed in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes in the same year. The streak continued for another year and this time it wasn't even close. All three races had different winners. 24-1 Long shot Ruler on Ice captured today's Belmont, Shackleford won the Preakness at Pimlico, and Animal Kingdom took the Kentucky Derby. So, after more than three decades with no horse racing domination, what's the deal? Maybe the better question is, 'why is it so hard   to win the Triple Crown?'

Big Game in Big D

What a game. What a championship round. It's been a very entertaining see-saw of a series in the NBA finals so far, capped off by a brilliant showing in a pivotal Game 5 contest in Dallas. The Mavericks won a thriller 112-103 to take a crucial 3-2 advantage in the series. If you were to tell me last week that the Mavs would be a win away from taking home the title, I would have called you crazy. Looks like I was the crazy one.

Sen-sational

Never before had the Binghamton Senators won a championship of any kind...that is until tonight. The B-Sens beat the Houston Aeros on the road in game 6 of the American Hockey League Finals to capture their first ever title.  The Sens' story is an incredible one. I covered this team for three seasons from 2007-10 while working at the Fox affiliate in Binghamton, New York. I was able to follow the team like no one else while producing and hosting a 30-minute weekly show called appropriately enough "B-Sens Weekly." With some extra free time last week, I even got to serve as a Media Relations assistant during the Sens' homestand in the finals. Never in the depths of my wildest imagination did I think that this moment would come for a team that had to overcome so many hurdles. There's definitely no squad more deserving.

MLB Power Poll

Here's a new weekly feature that I'm going to try out every week. With the summer heating up, it's finally time to weed out the best and the worst in the MLB. My goal is to rank the current Top 10 teams in baseball with a short description as well as list the Bottom 5 each and every Monday. Let's play ball.




Top 10
1.) NY Yankees (33-24)- Top to bottom, this is the best team in baseball right now. The Yanks have only a one game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the AL East standings heading into a big rivalry series with the BoSox. They'll need to bring their "A" game to keep that lead.  Teammates Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson ranks 2nd and 3rd in HR. Props to the pinstripes pitchers for holding opponents to three runs or less over their last seven games.

A French Final To Remember

French Open Men's Singles Finals: (1) Rafael Nadal vs. (3) Roger Federer
Agassi-Sampras. McEnroe-Borg. Men's tennis has had some incredible rivalries over the years, but almost none stack up to that of the current contestation between Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. The two best players of the last 10 years (and two of the best of all-time) will add yet another chapter to their storied rivalry when they meet up at the French Open Finals in Roland Garros tomorrow. If you're a tennis fan like I am, this is the Championship you'd been hoping for.  And if it's anything like their past match ups, this could be yet another thriller.

The Final Countdown

NBA Finals: (2) Heat vs (3) Mavericks
It all comes down to this. After weeks months of playoff basketball, the NBA Finals mercifully tip-off tonight in the Sunshine State. Miami hosts Dallas in what should be an epic series for the Larry O'Brian trophy. The Heat rolled over the 76ers, Celtics, and Bulls en route to the Finals, while the Mavs knocked off the Trailblazer, Lakers, and Thunder to get there. The stars have really aligned for this one as three of the sport's top 10 stars will be on the court. On paper, you couldn't really ask for a better series. There are story lines galore and the NBA should be ecstatic with the match up. Let's break down the championship chances for the Heat and Mavericks.

Indy 500 Finishes With Fireworks

It will go down as one of the wildest finishes in IndyCar history. In a fitting end to the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500, Dan Wheldon took the checkered flag in dramatic fashion at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It didn't look good for Wheldon heading into the final lap. The British driver trailed American rookie JR Hildebrand by a fairly wide margin with the finish line in sight. What happened next stunned not only the hundreds of thousands of fans in attendance, but the scores of people watching the event at home on TV.

Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Stanley Cup Finals: (1) Canucks vs (3) Bruins
The world's greatest trophy is up for grabs. On Wednesday, the Stanley Cup Finals will get underway with a very intriguing match up taking center stage. Two teams that haven't had a shot at the title (let alone brought home the trophy) in over 15 years. Vancouver will be the site of Game 1, between the Western Conference Champion Canucks and the Eastern Conference's Boston Bruins. While the Bruins haven't tasted a title in 37 years, the Canucks have never experienced the glory of winning it all. If you're the NHL, you couldn't ask for a more compelling series.

Don't Call It A Comeback

In an absolutely stunning sequence of events, the Miami Heat made an incredible turnaround to eliminate the Chicago Bulls tonight. With the win, the Heat have reached their first NBA Title Game since 2005 where they will coincidentally have a rematch with the Dallas Mavericks. Miami looked to be down and out in their Game 5 meeting in Chicago, but thanks to an amazing run late in the 4th quarter, they were able to send the Bulls packing and punch their own ticket in the process. The Heat scored 18 points down the stretch compared to the Bull's three points to shock the United Center crowd. So was this an incredible comeback by Miami or an astounding choke job by Chicago?

Bonds Gives Back

No more boos for Barry Bonds. One of baseball's biggest villains has turned into a hero overnight. Prior to today, Bonds was the poster boy for the steroid era in baseball. Although he has continuously denied using performance enhancing drugs during his career, pictures don't lie. The evidence is clear. Take a look at his slim physique when he was stealing 40 bases for Pittsburgh in the 1990's to his hot air balloon-sized head while setting the single season (and eventually all-time) home run records with the San Francisco Giants in the early 2000's. In addition to the asterisks on his marks, Bonds was known as a prima donna with a vendetta against the media. Still, all of that needs to be put aside after Barry did one of the most unselfish things in his entire life on Wednesday.

Should Nadal Be Nervous?

He's known as the most dominant tennis player on clay courts, not just now, but maybe ever. Rafael Nadal is hard to beat no matter where he plays, but he's basically unstoppable on clay. The world's #1 ranked player rolled to his 5th French Open title last year (on clay of course) which gave him the 2nd most titles at Roland Garros since 1925. Even more impressive, Nadal won his latest Grand Slam event without dropping a set the entire tournament. It would onlly make sense that he would be the heavy favorite to defend his title this year, but after today the "King of Clay" could be in for a quick dethronement.

NBA Western Conference Finals Preview

It's hard to believe that through nearly two rounds of NBA playoff action, there hadn't been a Game 7...that is until Sunday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder overcame the feisty 8th seeded Memphis Grizzlies to advance to their first conference finals appearance since moving to OKC (R.I.P. Seattle Super Sonics). That sets up what is a moderately surprising, but still very intriguing showdown for the Eastern Conference crown.

NBA Eastern Conference Finals Preview

Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Bulls vs (2) Heat
It's the face off everyone wanted to see. This year's MVP Derrick Rose against the 2009 & 2010 MVP Lebron James. The star power (and ratings) will be through the roof. It's a best case scenario for the NBA with two of the two bigger markets and more popular teams matching up. Let's break it down.

NHL Conference Finals Preview

What a thrilling month of playoff hockey we've experienced this season. The NHL is known for ratcheting up the intensity in the post-season and this year is no different. There have been surprises along the way, but with the dust settling in the Conference Finals, I think we're left with the best final four teams. Let's take a peek into the matchups.

Kings of the Comeback

They may have the most championships in NHL history, but the Detroit Red Wings quest for Stanley Cup #12 looked pretty bleak as recently as a week ago. Down 3-0 in their second round series against the San Jose Sharks following an OT loss at Joe Louis Arena last Wednesday, it looked like the Wings were basically finished. Fast forward to today. Three wins later, and Detroit is all square with San Jose at three games a piece after a thrilling 3-1 victory on Tuesday night. Upon first take, you'd think this rally by the Wings would be extremely improbable. Think again. This is the NHL we're talking about. Comebacks are the name of the game.

End Of An Era?

We may have seen a changing of the guards in the NBA playoffs. The past 3 years have featured the same two teams, Los Angeles and Boston. The Celtics won in 2008 followed by back-to-back championships from the Lakers. Not only are they two of the most prolific franchises of the 2000's, but they are also the most successful franchises of all-time (17 rings for Boston and 16 for LA). The only other team that can be put in the argument for team of the last decade are the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs chalked up an incredible four finals victories from 1999-2007. Did you know that only one team besides the Lakers and Spurs have made the finals since 1999 (the Dallas Mavericks in 2005). It looked like the Lakers, Spurs, and Celtics would continue to cruise after all three earned top three seeds in the playoffs this year.However, it looks like none will live up to lofty title expectations. Could we be witnessing the collapse of all three dynasties.

Think Pink

My favorite Mother's Day tradition is MLB's pink revolution. Every Mother's Day, baseball's best wield pink bats, batting gloves, etc. in support of breast cancer awareness. As the son of a breast cancer survivor, I know personally how devastating the disease can be. It seems that in present times, almost every guy knows a woman who has had to deal with breast cancer. Professional athletes are no exception. It's great to see role models and sports stars in visible positions taking a stand and show they care. Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there and just know that we are all thinking of you on your special day.

Why The Heat Can Win It All

Many people think that if you cheer for the Miami Heat, you are rooting for pure evil. Ever since Lebron James made his infamous "announcement" that he was "taking his talents to South Beach", the Heatles have been basketball's new evil empire. Despite the hate, experts still originally predicted that Miami would win as many as 70 games in the regular season and cruise to a championship. Then the actual season began and reality set in. After an 8-9 start, expectations came crashing down. Armchair critics cheerfully cheered the b-word. Busts! As the season went on and the Heat got comfortable, the team started to gel. Although they didn't reach the lofty original expecatations, they finished strong with a respectable 58-24 record. They haven't let up in the playoffs and right now, they're my pick to win it all.

Boxing Needs Pacquiao-Mayweather

In it's heyday, boxing was one of the premier sporting events in the US. Those days are long gone. Not only has boxing been distanced by the main sports, it's now well behind main competitor Mixed Martial Arts in popularity. The problem? There are very few stars, zero quality heavyweights, and no legit rivalries. Way back when, you had Ali-Frazier and Ward-Gotti. Even Mike Tyson had memorable bouts with Evander Holyfield. Right now, the casual sports fan could care less about boxing, because there's no big bouts to hype. A matchup between the two biggest names in the game would change all that. That's why Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather must face off for the good of the sport.

The Next Big HBO Thing

When you want to escape from the same tired cop and courtroom dramas, HBO is the place to go. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of addictive network shows out there that are well worth a watch. You can see my top five active favorites here. Following in a successful long line of fresh programming comes the newest offering from the network that brought us True Blood, Entourage, and The Sopranos. It's called Game of Thrones and it's off to a promising start that completely sets it apart from anything else on TV right now.

Score One For Team USA

I was in high school when it happened. It was 10 years ago, but I'll never forget where I was on September 11th. Like the JFK assassination for my parent's generation, it was one of those "remember where you were when..." moments. I was just coming back from the bathroom during my FST class when I saw our classroom TV tuned to Fox News showing footage of a plane crashing into the World Trade Centers. I couldn't understand the magnitude of that moment at the time. Looking back, it was a defining moment for our country. Party lines converged and our country came together in a moment of unifying patriotism. 10 years later, that patriotism has returned. 

Best MLB Ballparks

In my opinion, there's no better sport to watch live than baseball. The sights and sounds are something that can only be experienced in person. I try to hit up at least one Major League Baseball game a year, especially if it involves my favorite team the Detroit Tigers. On Friday, I got my first chance this season as I made my debut trip to Cleveland to watch the Indians host the Tigers. The  night was a blast, since we upgraded to first row seats near the 1st base dugout. The actual game...well that's another story. After leading most of the evening, Detroit allowed Cleveland to tie it in the 8th and load the bases with no outs in the 9th. Carlos Santana proceeded to smash a walk-off grand slam and the rest was history. Despite the unhappy ending, it got me to thinking about my favorite MLB ballparks. I've seen my fair share over the years, and here's a list of my Top 5 current stadiums.

Detroit Lions Strike Gold In Draft

Die hard fans of the Detroit Lions know that more often than not, draft day is depressing. During the Matt Millen era, the Lions always found a way to use a high pick on a wide receiver which would all inevitably bust (I'm looking at you Charles Rogers and Mike Williams). It wasn't just the WR that dissapointed, remember QB Joey Harrington. These memories make me shudder. So it's with great pleasure that I can say that Detroit finally had a draft to remember. There were other winners over the past three days of drafting, but perhaps none made an impact on the level of the Lions. Hey, it's my blog so I can be biased. Here's a look at their picks and a little bonus analysis on why the pick was so smart.

NHL Ice Capades

You couldn't have asked for a more exciting 1st round of the NHL playoffs. Even though there was chalk for 6 out of the 8 series, there were still plenty of thrillers along the way. We've had at least one overtime game for the past 10 days. An incredible half of the series went the distance to 7 games. If this is a sign of things to come, we're in store for a phenomenal rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let's take a look at the upcoming conference semifinal match ups.

NFL Draft Daze

The NFL has a quest to dominate the sports landscape 365 days a year. Even mid-way through the off-season football is on the front page and at the top of the rundown. The biggest event between the Super Bowl and Week 1 is the NFL draft. Typically it's treated like a national holiday, but this year the fanfare has seemed eerily subdued. So what's the deal?

Baseball Breakouts & Busts

There's a fine line during a new Major League Baseball season. It gets to a certain point where you have to take some players and teams seriously, whether it be those excelling or struggling. Sometimes they are teams that are underachieving, or players coming out of nowhere to become new stars. The question becomes, where is the cutoff point. How do you decide who's a contender or a pretender. With the regular season already a month in, now is as good of a time as any to take a look at the breakouts and busts in the MLB.

Breakout Team: Cleveland Indians- This team used to be a staple atop the AL Central standings, but over the past couple of seasons, you'd be more likely to find them looking up at their divisional foes. Last year, they finished in 4th place and had the 6th worst record in all of baseball. This season has seen new hope for the Tribe. At 13-8, the Indians are alone in 1st and hold the 2nd best mark in the American League. I think this team is in it for the long haul. With a healthy Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner turning back the clock and raking, the offense has been clicking for the first time in years. The pitching staff is no joke either. Young hurlers Josh Tomlin and Justin Masterson have figured it out and have provided consistency at the top of the rotation. With Central foes Chicago and Minnesota both struggling, Cleveland is primed to make a strong run at the divisional title.

What's Wrong With Golf?

The Professional Golf Association is in dire straits. Popularity and ratings have plummeted and the dip shows no sign of slowing. So what's the problem with pro golf? Here are some reasons for the drop and how the PGA can get back on solid ground.

Top Five Active TV Shows

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a TV fanatic. My DVR is constantly over 80% full. I'm always looking for new shows to get hooked on and right now there's plenty of gold across the cable landscape. I've decided to make my first list on Upstate Unmuted on my top five favorite current television shows. The rules? Any program is eligible as long as it's still airing new episodes. That nixes some of my retired fav's like Lost, Arrested Development, and 24. I've also limited this to scripted weekly shows that have been on for at least two seasons. So no reality like Survivor, Top Chef, or The Amazing Race. Alright, let's get to the rankings.

5.) Friday Night Lights (NBC)- Critically acclaimed, but never quite got the audience it deserved. Friday Night Lights is about to end a fantastic five year run when the final season wraps up this year. A football show that mostly takes place off the field, FNL is drama at its finest. At the center of the program is head coach Eric Taylor  and his wife Tami who represent the perfect (yet imperfect) TV family. Despite a huge turnover in the cast through the years, this show always seems to find incredibly interesting characters to surround the Taylors. Sad to see this show go.

NBA Playoffs: Wild, Wild West

I've already shared my thoughts on the NBA Playoffs from the Eastern Conference thus far, so let's move on to the West. Unlike the East, the West has been much more competitive. Three out of the four match ups have seen both teams take at least one game.

Western Conference

(1) Spurs tied with Grizzlies 1-1- The Grizz purposely tanked their last two games so that they wouldn't have to play the Lakers. So far, that's looked relatively smart. Memphis has been on par with San Antonio through two games despite not having their best player in the regular season, Rudy Gay. The big X-factor for the Spurs is the play of Manu Ginobili who missed game one. If he can stay healthy, then the Spurs have a solid shot. As much as I love how the Grizz are playing right now, San Antonio has way too much post-season experience. Prediction: Spurs in 7.

(2) Lakers tied with Hornets 1-1- Few critics foresaw New Orleans having a shot in this series after the Lakers won all four heads-up meetings in the regular season, but the Hornets have looked better than advertised. The most compelling dual in Round 1 has definitely been Kobe Bryan vs. Chris Paul.CP3 has played like a man possessed on both ends of the court and has ultimately outperformed the Black Mamba through two games. Not only is he scoring at an impressive clip, he's also facilitating his teammates better than anyone in the game. Even with Paul playing out of his mind, I just don't think his team mates can hang with the Lakers deep bench. Prediction: Lakers in 6.

NBA Playoffs: Beasts of the East

With unlimited time on my hands, I've had the pleasure of catching at least a part of every NBA playoff game that's been aired so far. The first round isn't even over yet (the marathon post-season lasts until June!) but there are still a number of important things that can be taken away from each series.

Eastern Conference

(1) Bulls lead (8) Pacers 3-0- Indiana has been much more resourceful than anyone could have guessed. Unfortunately for the 8-seed, Chicago has eeked out wins in all three meetings. Captain Obvious here, it's been all about Derek Rose. The future-MVP has been brilliant all series long. Even with an off-day in Game 3, he still managed to come up huge with some clutch late shots. Despite a great fight by the Pacers, this thing is over. Prediction: Bulls in 5.

Broadcasting Myths Busted

During my time on TV, I've found that the public has some perceptions about broadcasters that are removed from reality. They see Stuart Scott on Sportscenter and Katie Couric on the CBS Nightly News and assume that they represent the image of the majority. Here are three of the top myths debunked.

Boston Rob = Best Survivor Ever

I know what you're thinking. Survivor? That show's still on?! Well not only is it still the gold standard in reality TV after a decade, but the 22nd season has re-introduced those that do watch to Rob Mariano for the fourth time. For fans of the show, you have to respect the man they call Boston Rob as not only the best Survivor contestant ever, but as one of the greatest reality stars in the history of television.

9/11 NFL Matchups: Fair or Foul?

The NFL released their full regular season schedule yesterday and (lockout pending) there are a number of very intriguing match ups on the docket. The first Sunday of the season is set for September 11, the 10 year anniversary of the infamous 9/11 attacks. Noticeably absent from the Week 1 schedule is a face off between the two New York teams, the Jets and Giants. The G-Men will play the Washington Redskins while the J-E-T-S start it up with the Dallas Cowboys. The blogosphere is up in arms about the lack of a Big Apple Battle. Here's why I don't fault the NFL's decision.

Behind the Desk

Welcome to Episode 1 of Upstate Unmuted. A little background. My name is Andy Adamson and I'm a five year sportscasting vet. The last three of those years were spent as a television sports anchor in upstate New York in Binghamton and Rochester. I've done it all in the world of sports broadcasting at five different TV stations. Between anchoring, hosting, editing, filming, writing, and producing, I've become pretty well rounded at my craft. I've been lucky enough to interview the likes of Steve Yzerman and Jeff Gordon and cover Nascar races, professional golf events, NFL training camps. Hopefully I'll get the chance to continue living the dream in the future.