Stanley Cup Finals Preview

Here we are, the Stanley Cup Finals are upon us with two of the most recognizable franchises in the NHL, the Blackhawks and Flyers. Can Chicago break one of the longest championship droughts in sports? Can the Flyers ring in a new era of the Broad Street Bullies? No matter who wins, the NHL will be the big winner if another classic series follows up last year's Stanley Cup Finals. Find out who has the edge in every matchup, here at RSS!

Blackhawks Offense vs. Flyers Defense

-While the young guns like Kane, Toews, Sharp have been consistently good throughout the playoffs, the real emerging star for the 'Hawks has been Dustin Byfuglein. After going scoreless in the 1st Round against Nashville, Big Buff has lit the world on fire scoring 8 goals, many of them game-winners.

Side Note: At the Blackhawks/Blue Jackets game we attended earlier this year, both Y1 and my lovely fiancee had to ask me who this Bye-foog-lin guy was.

Matching up with Big Buff will likely be all-world Flyers D Chris Pronger; their battles in front of the net will certainly be influential in this series. The rest of the Flyers defense is not exactly deep and the Blackhawks top 3 lines are all very dangerous in attack. If the Hawks can fight through the physicality the Flyers will try to enforce and raise the tempo, especially crossing through the neutral zone (I know, it almost sounds like real hockey analysis?!) they can control the series. Edge-Blackhawks

Flyers Offense vs. Blackhawks Defense

-Since their dramatic comeback against the Bruins, the Flyers have shown just as much depth offensively as the Blackhawks. Danny Briere, Claude Giroux, Simon Gagne, and captain Mike Richards all have at least 6 goals in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Blackhawks have perhaps the best defensive pairing in the NHL in Brent Seabrook and Norris Trophy finalist (and now hero to all dentists) Duncan Keith. But, the Blackhawks defense doesn't stop there. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been fantastic throughout the playoffs, as well as forwards Dave Bolland and Marian Hossa, who shut down Joe Thornton in the Sharks series. While the Flyers have some weapons, it seems the Blackhawks have the capability to match them. Edge-Push

Goaltending

-If you had asked even the most hardcore NHL expert, they'd had thought you were crazy if you'd told them the goalies in the Stanley Cup Finals would be Antti Niemi and Michael Leighton. But, both have answered the call to carry their teams into the final round. As a rookie, Niemi was given the nod from the beginning of the playoffs and, after a shaky start, has really found his groove (1.67 GAA against San Jose). Meanwhile Leighton was forced into action after an injury to starter Brian Boucher against the Bruins. He certainly rose to the occasion with a 6-1 record in the playoffs, including 3 shutouts against Montreal. The key will be how both of these young goalies respond to the first bit of adversity. Based on Niemi facing much tougher offenses on his team's trip to the finals, he gets the slight edge. Edge-Blackhawks

Playoff Beards

-One of the great traditions that makes the Stanley Cup Playoffs so unique...the playoff beard! As a bearded man myself, I recognize the power full facial hair provides. The young Hawks were always going to struggle in this department...I'm not sure some players are even old enough to own razors. And, based on the "beard" grown by Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews...Chicago might be in trouble.

X-Factor

-There are so many weird X-factors in this series it almost boggles the mind! The Flyers do the impossible and come back from 3-0 down in the Conference Semis against the Bruins. The Blackhawks haven't won a Stanley Cup since 1961, but have won 7 straight road games! But, above them all is the curse of Marian Hossa. Hossa is the 1st player to reach 3 straight Stanley Cup with 3 different teams...of course, the only bad part is that he lost in his two previous appearances. That's definitely a bad sign for the Blackhawks and their fans. Edge-Flyers

The Pick

-So, with all of this in mind...who's the pick? While the Flyers have had a great run, it has to end here. They're a #7 seed for a reason, and the Blackhawks clearly represent the most talented team Philly will have faced in the playoffs. The Blackhawks will be able to pressure Michael Leighton unlike Boston or Montreal while relying on their composed defense and the hot hand of Antti Niemi. Look for Niemi to say NO! enough for the 'Hawks to close out the Flyers on the road in Game 6. Pick-Blackhawks in 6

RSS Top 10: World Cup Moments

With the World Cup around the corner, we thought it would be the perfect time to look at the Top 10 Moments in World Cup history. Some of these moments are known by even the most casual of sports fans, while others might be mostly lost to the history books yet incredible stories nonetheless. The greatest games, goals, and gaffes from the world's biggest sporting event - and as always we rank them 10 to 1 with video accompaniment, and at least a couple of the videos are in English!

10) First Penalty Shootout - 1982 Semis France v W. Germany

-Penalties were somewhat of a novelty when the 1982 World Cup rolled around. It had been used a few times in international competitions, but never in a WC. In the Semis, Germany and France were tied 1-1 after the 90 minutes. They then each scored 2 goals in extra time to end the 120 minutes 3-3. In the penalty shootout, France had the early advantage until Harald Schumacher (who knocked Patrick Battiston unconscious earlier in the game) stopped Didier Six. Horst Hrubesch ended up with the winner for Germany as they took the shootout 5-4.

9) The Home Country Wins At Home - 1966 Final England v W. Germany

-The home of soccer finally hosted the World Cup in 1966. England made a run all the way to the final where they met West Germany. With some of the greatest names in the history of English soccer like Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton in the side, it was forward Geoff Hurst's hat-trick that led England to an extra-time 4-2 win and their first title. English folks cling to that day like Cubs fans do to 1908! Here's the classic video from 1966 with a sweet orange ball!

8) Miracle on Grass - 1950 USA v England

-If you think soccer is still struggling to become a mainstream sport now, think back to 1950 when 1 vacationing reporter was the only American media member on hand to witness perhaps the greatest upset in WC history. The Miracle on Grass saw an American side that had lost their last 7 games in major tournaments 45-2 take on an England team that was one of the world's best. The US won a shocking 1-0 victory. They wouldn't win another game in 1950, not qualify for another WC until 1990, and not win another WC game until 1994! Let's hope this result repeats itself on June 12th.

7) Baggio's Boo Boo - 1994 Final Brazil v Italy

-The 1994 Brazilian side won't go down as one of its greatest title teams, and the '94 Final won't go down as one of the classic finals ever, in fact it ended 0-0 after 120 minutes. But, the game and the tournament will be remembered for one thing - Roberto Baggio's missed PK. Baggio, Italy's best player (hideous ponytail and all) and the previous year's World Player of the Year, stepped up to the spot needing to connect on his PK to extend the shootout. He probably would like it back...

6) Samba Sensation - 1970 Final Brazil v Italy

-Many soccer aficionados agree that the 1970 Brazil team was the greatest of all time. They swept through the World Cup in 1970 to win their 3rd title by scoring 19 goals in 6 games. With stars like Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, and Carlos Alberto, this Brazil team is considered one of the greatest offensive forces known to man. Their 4-1 thrashing of Italy in the final is symbolic of everything that is beautiful about the beautiful game - especially Carlos Alberto's goal, considered to be the best team goal ever...

5) Zidane Loses His Head - 2006 Final France v Italy

-Another countdown and another headbutt of the century sighting! Of course, we're all familiar with Zizou's headbutt in extra time of the 2006 Final against Italy. Here's what we said from our Top 10 D'Oh Moments of the Decade, where Zidane finished 2nd:

French legend Zinedine Zidane decides that he wants to go out in style by being tossed in his final game (ala Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in Forget Paris, highly underrated movie). The image of him walking past the World Cup trophy is one of the lasting images of this or any decade...

4) The Greatest Game Ever - 1970 Semis Germany v Italy

-When you have a monument outside a stadium in another country dedicated to your game, you know something special happened. This matchup in the Azteca Stadium is considered to be the best WC game ever, and maybe even the best soccer game period. While 1970's World Cup was dominated by Brazil, Italy and Germany played the Game of the Century. Italy led for most of the 90 minutes 1-0, but Germany equalized in injury time. What followed was an incredible half hour of soccer - 5 goals, 3 lead changes, and Franz Beckenbauer's arm in a sling. Italy emerged 4-3 winners, here's the highlights...

3) Germany Beats The Golden Team - 1954 Final Germany v Hungary

-This is perhaps one of the most underrated moments and upsets in sports history. In the 1950's, Hungary of all countries was the world soccer power. Led by Real Madrid's Ferenc Puskas, the Hungarians were known as the Golden Team. They were unbeaten in a record 32 straight games, achieved the highest ever World Ranking (still standing), and became the first non-British team to win at Wembley with a remarkable 6-3 victory. This is truly one of the great teams of all time, have a look at the highlights from the Wembley showdown dubbed the Match of the Century in the pregame hype...

This was Total Football before Total Football existed. So, in the '54 Final, everyone expected Hungary to pulverize West Germany (especially since they had beaten the Germans 8-3 in the group stages!) But, Germany shocked the world with a 3-2 win. The scope of the win though is not grasped by us today. Keep in mind that this happened less than 10 years after the end of World War II and this was the first thing that Germans had to cheer about since that time. It's truly a monumental moment...

2) The Maracanazo - 1950 Final Uruguay v Brazil

-In thinking of the World Cup, upsets don't usually come to mind. But, this one may be the greatest of them all. In 1950, Brazil hosted the World Cup and was in the infancy of their time as the elite soccer nation. Oddly enough, this was the only tournament not to feature a traditional final, but a final 4 team group stage. As it turned out, Brazil won their first 2 group games by a 13-2 combined score and only needed a draw to win in their last game vs Uruguay. Uruguay had 1 win and 1 draw and needed to win outright vs Brazil to lift the trophy. It was so obvious that Brazil was going to win that celebrations were ongoing in Rio leading up to the final and an insane crowd of over 200,000 people jammed into the new Maracana to watch the game.

Imagine for one second... traveling on the road with the World Cup on the line, playing an unbeatable team, and having to face almost a quarter of a million people rooting against you. Oh, and Brazil opened up with a 1-0 lead! But, somehow Uruguay snatched a goal back in the 66th minute to make it 1-1 and still needed one more. They got it through Alcides Ghiggia with 11 minutes left. Just like that, 200,000 people were silenced, and Uruguay would hold on to win the World Cup and complete one of the most unbelievable upsets in sports history. This great video tells the story of that game...

1B) The Hand of God - 1986 Diego Maradona v England

-The Top 2 Moments in World Cup history came from the same player, in the same game, and they happened 3 minutes apart. In the '86 Quarterfinals, Argentina met England, and Diego Maradona put Argentina in front with the legendary Hand of God goal. It is the most infamous goal ever...

1A) The Greatest Goal Ever - 1986 Diego Maradona v England

-The mercurial Maradona decided to follow up the Hand of God goal with a goal that only a player of divine ability could score. Maradona's second goal is widely considered the single greatest of all time. He beats numerous defenders on a dazzling run and finishes expertly. Argentina went on to win the game and the World Cup...

That's our list. What are your thoughts? Do you agree with the rankings or have we missed a great World Cup moment? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below and check back for all of our 2010 World Cup coverage where we'll hopefully see something worthy of being an all time great World Cup moment.

US World Cup Roster Breakdown & Rankings

Yesterday, USA Soccer coach Bob Bradley announced the 23 man squad to go to South Africa. Here's the list of players going, a breakdown of the roster including rankings from 1 to 23, and what the strategy might be as the Yanks go to South Africa. Here's the roster, with the names most likely to start or play a big role in bold and roster rankings to follow.

GK: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Marcus Hahnemann

LB: Jonathan Bornstein, Carlos Bocanegra

CB: Oguchi Onyewu, Clarence Goodson, Jay DeMerit

RB: Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo

LM: DaMarcus Beasley

CM: Ricardo Clark, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber, Jose Torres

RM: Stuart Holden, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan

ST: Jozy Altidore, Robbie Findley, Herculez Gomez, Edson Buddle

Just for fun, let's rank the US Roster from 1 to 23:

1. Donovan

2. Dempsey

3. Howard

4. Onyewu (hoping he's healthy)

5. Bradley

6. Altidore

7. Demerit

8. Bocanegra

9. Holden

10. Spector

11. Clark

12. Edu

13. Cherundolo

14. Gomez

15. Feilhaber

16. Beasley

17. Torres

18. Bornstein

19. Buddle

20. Findley

21. Goodson

22. Guzan

23. Hahnemann

The biggest roster surprise was Robbie Findley of Real Salt Lake ahead of the more accomplished and experienced Brian Ching. But, as SI's Grant Wahl astutely points out, Findley's inclusion is to replace Charlie Davies as a speedy striker (which Ching most certainly is not). Sadly for us, hometown guys Robbie Rogers and Chad Marshall of the Columbus Crew didn't make it either... but that means good news for the Crew in MLS!

One of the strengths of this team is its flexibility. Dempsey and Donvan can go forward, players like Holden, Feilhaber, and Torres can play anywhere in midfield, and veterans like Cherundolo and Bocanegra can play across the backline. The team appears to be a squad built on athleticism up front, a mix of craft and steel in the midfield, and veteran leadership in the back.

But there are clear weaknesses - at left back and second striker. The Czechs destroyed Heath Pearce and Bornstein in the exhibition earlier this week and it is clearly the US's weakest position. Therefore, I would expect either Bocanegra, Cherundolo, or Spector to fill the void... and maybe even, gasp, DaMarcus Beasley. Beasley's National Team renaissance has been a surprise, and while he doesn't have the danger going forward, he can help out in defense, which is why he's likely to start at LM on June 12 against England instead of Stuart Holden.

Bradley faces a more complex dilemma at the second striker position that was Charlie Davies'. He has three options: 1) Play a newbie like Gomez or Findley, 2) Move Donovan or Dempsey up from the midfield (very successful in SA at the Confed Cup w/ Dempsey) or 3) Change the formation to a 4-5-1/4-2-3-1 and play Altidore as a lone striker with Donovan and Dempsey in supporting roles.

The fact that Bradley chose 3 inexperienced forwards to go along with Altidore leads me to believe that he'll go with either option 2 or 3. Moving Dempsey alongside Altidore in the traditional 4-4-2 worked well in South Africa last year. Here's how they might line up in that formation...

Howard

Spector-Onyewu-DeMerit-Bocanegra

Donovan-Clark-Bradley-Beasley

Dempsey-Altidore

If they go with a 4-5-1, here's how it would differ slightly...

Howard

Spector-Onyewu-DeMerit-Bocanegra

Clark-Bradley

Dempsey-Donovan-Beasley

Altidore

This formation differs slightly because it places Donovan in more of a central role (ala Steven Gerrard at Liverpool) and places Dempsey back on the wing with Clark and Bradley slightly further back in front of the back 4. It also puts more pressure on Jozy Altidore as the "lone striker." But, that phrase is becoming more and more of a misplaced stereotype for a negative style of play. As one of the best soccer writers in the world, Jonathan Wilson points out, this formation is becoming more valuable with the majority of the teams at Euro 2008 going the lone ranger route.

Also, the lone striker method takes advantage of the flexibility and attacking prowess of Dempsey and Donovan in more natural withdrawn roles. It also puts another man in midfield to help out in defense, which might be a necessity in watching Tuesday's game against the Czechs. It might be advantageous for Bradley if he springs a surprise on England and the rest of Group C by tweaking his formation and going with the lone striker. Either way, I would expect the US to sit back a little bit, hope their defense/midfield get straightened out, and use their speed on the counterattack to strike.

Whatever the formation or the players on the field may be, this team definitely has the ability to beat England and advance as far as any US team has in recent World Cup memory. If they get a few breaks and a few breakout performances like last year in South Africa, it could be a great month of June for American soccer. Get juiced America!

Can The Magic Really Beat The Celtics?

Yesterday, we asked whether or not the Suns could really beat the Lakers. Now, we ask the same question to the Eastern Conference Finals where the Magic looked out of tricks and quit on the season by getting blown out in Game 3 and looking likely to get swept. Now, the Magic have won Game 4 in OT and Game 5 at home to draw the series to 3-2 going back to Boston. The Magic have all the momentum, but can they really beat the Celtics?

Yes.

In fact, the Magic are much more likely to beat the Celtics than the Suns are the Lakers - even though the Magic must win 2 of 2 and Phoenix must win 2 of 3. This is largely because the Magic have the experience of winning in Boston before. Not only in Game 4, where they were arguably lucky to escape with victory, but last year as well. The Magic have won 3 games in Boston in the last two years in the playoffs including a Game 7 last season in the East semifinals. With this history of winning in Boston, the Magic will have all the confidence in the world that they can be the first ever NBA team to come back from 3-0 down to win a series.

Orlando is only the 10th team out of 93 down 3-0 to force a Game 6. But, their sudden ability to turn it on has to have C's fans worried they can be the first to win the series. Now, I'm not going to sit here and praise Orlando for suddenly trying like a lot of others have had on ESPN and elsewhere. Their performance in the first 3 games was embarrassing... but now the real Magic have woken up, they have every chance to complete a historic comeback.

But why?

Besides their history of winning in Boston, Dwight Howard has become enough of a threat offensively to open up 3 point shooting chances. And, Orlando is taking advantage of those opportunities. They've shot 23/55 (42%) in 2 wins and 20/70 (28%) in 3 losses from downtown. Superman is averaging 26.5 pts and 13 reb in wins compared to 16.7 pts and 9 reb in losses. And, although I hate to give this guy credit, JJ Reddick has scored 13 ppg in the last 2 and has a combined +/- of +32 in Magic wins. With Reddick and Jameer Nelson stepping up in the backcourt (and Vince Carter seeing less important action), the Magic become a more complete and dangerous team.

Combine that with a Boston team that has seen Rajon Rondo ineffective, Kevin Garnett slumping, Kendrick Perkins getting tossed, and Big Baby getting knocked out... and there are much larger problems for the Celtics than the Lakers. Unlike the Lakers/Suns series out west, the Celtics know that this Magic team can beat them, and their combustible behavior in Game 5 is evidence of that. Of course, they could find their rhythm in Game 6, be boosted by the home crowd, and sense the urgency of the moment to close out the series... but I wouldn't bet any savings on that happening.

You can read between the lines and see Boston's worry. Paul Pierce said before last night's game that the C's were treating it as a Game 7. Luckily for him and Boston, they have 2 more Game 7's to go... but that might suit Orlando just fine.

5 Reasons Why A New York Super Bowl Is A Great Idea

The biggest news that has come out of the NFL's owners meetings is the awarding of the 2014 Super Bowl to the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey... or New York, depending on who you listen to. The biggest game in the world in the biggest city in the world. It seems to make sense, but why are so many people against it?

Good Lord... it... it... might snow! There might be... bad weather! NOOOOO!!! It might... gasp... be slightly uncomfortable!! While we're at it, let's ban Florida from hosting the game for fear of monsoon or hurricane or California for fear of earthquake. While the vote was close, and it seems like most pundits and analysts are against moving the Super Bowl to a Winter Wonderland - in truth, it is a great idea. Here's 5 reasons why...

1) A Winter Weather Super Bowl Will Be Unique

-Being the first time that a Super Bowl will take place outdoors in the cold, it will automatically be a unique and memorable game. It will be a Super Bowl that we will remember 10-15 years after it takes place, regardless of how the actual game turns out. Too many Super Bowls are cookie-cutter blowouts in warm weather venues. What's to differentiate Super Bowl XXXV from XXXVII a decade later? Now, we'll ensure that everyone remembers Super Bowl XLVIII as the NFL's Winter Classic.

2) The Greatest Games Ever Took Place In The Elements

-Finally, one of the major pro sports does something to find the spirit of its tradition. Some of the greatest NFL games in history have taken place in the elements: The Ice Bowl, The '58 Title Game, The Tuck Rule Game and countless others have taken place in the snow and in the cold. What about all the memorable games in the pre-SB era that were out in the cold weather? If the snow/cold/whatever is such a worry then why not ban all influential playoff games from cold weather cities? If it's such a problem why not just move every team to the South or West or a domed northeastern stadium? You know why recent classics such as Giants-Pats, Steelers-Cards, and even Saints-Colts aren't as memorable? Because they all take place in such nice comfortable stadiums! Too bad David Tyree's catch can't be remembered as a part of the Sunny Arizona Retractable Roof Game!

3) Football + Snow = Fun

-What kid doesn't grow up and want to play football in the snow? OK, I guess certain parts of the country won't appreciate this as much as others... but snow days mean getting the football and going outside and having some fun. There is something special about seeing a football spiral through the snowflakes. This isn't baseball that is meant to be played on a nice summer day... football is meant to be played in the snow and the rain and the mud. It's just how it's supposed to be.

4) New York State Of Mind

-A New York Super Bowl, especially after 9/11 and the economic recession, will mean a lot to the city of New York. Maybe after New Orleans and Super Bowl 47, Super Bowl 48 in New York will mean the most to the host city... at least a lot more than another Tampa Super Bowl would. Think about it - what other city/metropolitan area is better equipped to host the Super Bowl? The stars of the NFL will be all over Manhattan and it will be like New Year's Eve in Times Square and a Yankees World Series all wrapped up into one.

5) Panzies In The Media

-This is perhaps the best reason. All of the media folks whining and crying about the cold weather are doing so selfishly because they don't want to be in the cold weather for a week. The poor babies might be shivering on radio row, media day, and the countless Super Bowl parties. Awwww. Oh, and there are all the corporate fans that fly in for the big game, well, they don't want to sit in the cold! There might be a CEO from California that isn't used to the cold weather and could forget his or her mittens!

I say good. Let them come and freeze their @$$es off! Let the players fight through the wind and the snow and the cold. Let the game be a slugfest instead of a pass happy spectacle. Let us see the breath of the linemen along the line of scrimmage as they prepare to do battle. Let Mother Nature unleash a wintry scene that the sporting world will never forget in February 2014 in New York that brings back the ghosts of Unitas and Lombardi and Vinatieri. I for one can't wait. Let's just hope global warming doesn't kick in by then...

Can The Suns Really Beat The Lakers?

A week ago, the Western Conference Finals were 2-0. The Lakers had averaged 126 points in their home games. Everyone was proclaiming that we were in for the 9,000th Lakers-Celtics Finals in history. Kobe Bryant was the real MVP. And, the Phoenix Suns were defending about as well as the border patrol.

(Rimshot!)

Fast forward to today and the Suns have now tied the series at 2, Steve Nash has endeared himself to millions again by getting his nose broken, the Lakers haven't figured out the zone defense, and the Suns bench has come alive (scoring 54 points in Game 4), and now there is a chance that we might not get that Lakers-Celtics Finals.

So... can the Suns really beat the Lakers?

The Suns might just be wacky enough to beat the Lakers. Think about their bench unit that starred last night: Goran Dragic, Leandro Barbosa, Jared Dudley, Lou Amundson, and Channing Frye. These 5 guys that look more like a variety show cast beat the reigning world champs and Kobe Bryant?? Seriously? This hustling bunch of 3 point shooters, when they're on their game, are a dangerous unit because they are so unorthodox. 4 of them are legit threats from downtown, each one works hard defensively, and they share the ball and run effectively. There is one problem though... can they do it in LA? Oh, and they also badly need a nickname.

For the Suns to beat the Lakers, their bench has to play well in Staples Center. The Suns bench only averaged 30.5 pts in Games 1 and 2. They averaged 34.5 pts in Games 3 and 4. The bench shot 21/55 in Games 1 and 2 and 23/53 in Games 3 and 4. While those aren't huge statistical differences between the home and road performances, this is: -56 combined point differential in Games 1 and 2, but a +37 diff in Games 3 and 4. The bench started the 4th quarter last night with a 1 point lead and started the period with a 14-5 run to win the game.

The Suns have found a formula to beat the Lakers... but so did Oklahoma City. OKC played LA even after 4 games, lost Game 5 and then blew it down the stretch in 6. Phoenix needs to carry their energy and shotmaking ability (bench and starters) on the road, which will be much harder than in Arizona. For whatever reason, role/bench players play much better at home - it's a universal basketball fact.

The Lakers are unbeaten this postseason at home and that's why homecourt means so much in the NBA. The Lakers will have Games 5 & 7 at home where they have seemed nearly invincible. They play better defense at home, they move the ball better at home, and the role players step up in Staples. I'll be rooting for the Suns and their unique team, but I don't think their success can carry over and win either Game 5 or 7 on the road. It will be fun to watch, but even though the basketball world appears to be changing, the Suns will still set in the West.

Champions League Final Preview: Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich

For the first time in a long time, the Champions League Final features no English teams. Instead, Germany's champions Bayern Munich will square off with Italy's best Inter Milan. There are World Cup stars all over the field and it should be a great game in Madrid's Santiago Bernebeau. Both teams are looking for a historic league, cup, and European treble so there is a lot to play for in this game. So let's take a look at the matchups and see who has the edge!

Bayern Strikers v Inter Defense

-The Bayern strikeforce of Ivica Olic and Thomas Muller have relegated the more fancied Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose to mostly bench duty in the latter parts of the season. Olic has shined in the CL scoring 7 goals in 7 games including a remarkable hat trick in Lyon scoring all of Bayern's goals to get them to the final. However, I can't see them breaking through such a strong Inter defense. With Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel, Lucio, and Maicon across the back, Inter might have the best defense in the world with the 2 Brazilians and 2 Argentines. While Zanetti has been such a great leader for Inter, Lucio (against his former team) will make the difference with his strength in the middle and be very hard to get past. Julio Cesar in goal can also step up in big spots for Inter.

EDGE: Inter

Bayern Midfield v Inter Midfield

-Both clubs will be missing key players in the midfield. Bayern will be without French dynamo Franck Ribery and Inter will be missing their CDM Thiago Motta. Motta isn't a scoring threat like Ribery, but helps to control the game in the midfield. The key to this battle will be each team's Dutch stars: Inter's Wesley Sneijder and Bayern's Arjen Robben. The other players in the midfield: Chivu, Cambiasso, and Pandev for Inter and Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger, and Altintop for Bayern cancel each other out. Robben was one of the Bundesliga's best players while Sneijder was a key man in Inter dispatching Chelsea and Barcelona. Robben has been in such scintillating form with his goals and assists that he gives the Bayern midfield the slight edge, even without Ribery.

EDGE: Bayern

Inter Strikers v Bayern Defense

-Inter newcomer Diego Milito was Serie A's leading scorer, and Cameroon' Samuel Eto'o is as dangerous as ever. These two strikers supported by Wes Sneijder form a powerful offensive attack. Bayern's defense doesn't feature many big names and is a mix of youth and experience with Philip Lahm and Daniel Van Buyten pairing with Holger Badstuber and Diego Contento. There seem to be some holes in this defense that Inter can exploit, especially with the improving but inexperienced Hans-Jorg Butt in goal. Bayern will need their captain, CDM Mark Van Bommel to help out on defense quite a bit. I think Inter has a decisive edge here.

EDGE: Inter

Coaching

-Everybody knows the Special One, Jose Mourinho. He was brought to Inter to win the Champions League trophy that he failed to win at Chelsea. He faces off against a man he worked under at Barcelona, Louis Van Gaal. Both men have already won a CL trophy (Mourinho at Porto and Van Gaal at Ajax) and both men are looking to win their third trophy this season. Van Gaal has provided the needed discipline to a Bayern team that fell off the wagon last year, while Mourinho might dream of himself coaching Real Madrid next year in the Bernebeau. Whereas the attention for Mourinho's Inter is on himself, Van Gaal puts the team in the spotlight first as it should be. There's simply too many distractions surrounding Mourinho to give him the edge here.

EDGE: Bayern

X-Factors

-The benches might come up key for each team: Bayern can go to established stars like Klose and Gomez if they are behind while Inter can turn to talented subs like Mario Balotelli or Sulley Muntari. Inter has taken out Chelsea and Barcelona in the QF and SF to get to Madrid while Bayern has had a little bit easier of a road in dealing with Man Utd and Lyon. The bookies and pundits seem to favor Inter, and with so much pressure on Mourinho to deliver the CL trophy, Bayern Munich might come in a little looser, and with an underdog mentality. Giving that mental edge to such a talented team might be the factor that swings the pendulum in their favor.

EDGE: Bayern

Final Verdict

-This game is really very close to call. Both teams are so talented and have such offensive firepower that it could be a very memorable Champions League Final. While Inter might have the slightly better team, the intangibles point firmly in the direction of Bayern Munich. It might take extra time or penalties, but I see Bayern sneaking this one out... very quietly of course.

PICK: Bayern

After Saturday, it will be full speed ahead towards the World Cup and we'll be with you for our thoughts every step of the way, bye for now!

Quick Hits: Floyd Landis Is A Dope

Today, Floyd Landis admitted to years of performance enhancing drug abuse after several years denying it since he tested positive during the 2006 Tour de France and had his title stripped away. However, not only did Floyd come out today and finally admit to his own PED use in a mea culpa, but implicated basically every other major cyclist in the world in steroid abuse... most notably Lance Armstrong.

Landis tested positive for a testosterone level that was 11 times above normal in 2006 and subsequently went on an endless crusade to clear his name. Everywhere you looked after that tour, you saw Floyd Landis going on a Rose-esque mission to clear his name of the doping verdict. Even after appeals failed, Landis maintained his innocence against all odds. And now, he's just another Pete Rose - a guy who lied for years and now suddenly wants us to believe that he's the beacon of truth that's trying to clean up his sport. Remember when we all thought that all it would take was Pete Rose to come clean to get into Cooperstown, then we realized how mad we were at lying for so many years? Landis will find a similar lack of sympathy.

And, this is the problem with Landis. He spent millions of dollars and several years trying to clear his name when he knew all along that it wasn't true. Oh, well, it's kinda true... Landis still disputes the elevated testosterone result but admits to using HGH that year. Whatever.

And in truth, this is the real shame of Floyd Landis' case. Even if all of his intentions are suddenly noble, and even if all of the Canseco-like allegations are true, nobody is going to take his word for it. Lance Armstrong will rely on his credibility, public persona, and lack of a positive test to defend himself against these accusations. Floyd Landis just looks like another guy out of a ride either looking to take the sport down with him, or gain vengeance on other cyclists. Let's be honest, even Jose Canseco has more credibility than Landis at this point.

So, we'll most likely brush aside these wild accusations unless some real proof shows up regarding the extent of PED use in cycling. The sport of cycling desperately needs cleaned up... but Floyd Landis ain't the guy to do it. Meanwhile, the American sporting public will sit through another drawn out steroid scandal and wonder if the end is somewhere in sight, or if this is just one more tough climb through the Alps.

Euro Soccer Recap

In our continuing coverage leading up to the World Cup, it's time to move from England and our EPL recap to the continent and what happened this season and the Big 4 Leagues in Spain, Italy, Germany, and France. Then, coming later this week we will look ahead to the Champions League Final between German champs Bayern Munich and Italian champs Inter Milan. Away we go!

Spain

Champions - Barcelona

Champions League Qualifiers -

2nd - Real Madrid

3rd - Valencia

4th - Sevilla

Best Player - Lionel Messi

-A ridiculously easy choice. Messi equaled Ronaldo's modern era total of 47 goals in all competitions. Here's the required Youtube tribute video. Enjoy!

Biggest Surprise - Mallorca

-Mallorca continued a strong run from the last two seasons that saw them finish in the top half of the table. This year, they narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification. It's a team with few stars that finished only a point behind Sevilla in 4th. With the Top 4's power broken in England and Italy, maybe next year it will happen in Spain.

Biggest Disappointment - Kaka

-Kaka and Ronaldo were supposed to change the face of La Liga and world soccer with their hundreds of millions of dollars. Ronaldo produced 33 goals compared to only 9 by Kaka in La Liga/CL games. It was a largely disappointing campaign from the man once considered the world's best.

Biggest Story - The Galacticos 2.0 Still Can't Beat Barca

-The defining moment of the season came on April 10, with the league lead on the line and Barcelona playing at Real Madrid. Barca won at the Bernebeau for the 2nd straight season and shut out Madrid's potent lineup. Until Real can beat Barca head to head, they won't be able to reclaim the La Liga title. With Barcelona already signing David Villa from Valencia and eyeing Cesc Fabregas, one has to wonder how Real will respond. Barcelona only lost one game and totaled a record 99 points this year and appear unstoppable in Spain, no matter how much $$$ Madrid spend.

Italy

Champions - Inter Milan

Champions League Qualifiers -

2nd - Roma

3rd - AC Milan

4th - Sampdoria

Best Player - Javier Zanetti

-The Inter defender, at 36 years old, has remained a bedrock in the defense of the Italian champions since 1995. And, like fine Italian wine, he only gets better with age. He's been with Inter for 5 straight Serie A titles and will look to lift the Champions League trophy Saturday. This season, the Inter captain started 49 games in Serie A and the Champions League out of a possible 50. Somehow, Diego Maradona has left him out of the Argentine squad for the World Cup, and he's not the only one out in the cold (more in a sec).

Biggest Surprise - Sampdoria

-This was the season for the Cinderella Champions League story. From out of nowhere (actually 13th last season), Sampdoria passed more fancied teams like Juventus and Fiorentina to finish 4th in Serie A. Giampaolo Pazzini (expected to be a summer transfer target) and Antonio Cassano form one of the best strike partnerships in Italy. Unfortunately, manager Gigi Del Neri preferred to take Juventus from the ashes instead of coach Sampdoria in next year's Champions League, speaking of...

Biggest Disappointment - Juventus

-Juventus spent money this summer on what appeared to be wise signings - Diego and Felipe Melo. But, they only managed to score 55 goals while allowing 56 and finishing an incredibly disappointing 7th. Much like Liverpool, this is a big club that suffered through a very poor season, marked by their shocking 4-1 loss at Fulham in the Europa League. They will need much more from Trezeguet, Amauri, and Iaquinta up front next season.

Biggest Story - Inter Goes After European Glory

-Inter held off a spirited challenge from Roma to win their 5th straight Serie A title, but with Jose Mourinho on board we all know that the Champions League is the true prized possession. On Saturday, Inter will try and become the first Italian team to win the league, cup, and European treble as they chase the Champions League trophy. Their era atop Italian soccer may reach its climax this weekend.

Germany

Champions - Bayern Munich

Champions League Qualifiers -

2nd - Schalke 04

3rd - Werder Bremen

Best Player - Arjen Robben

-The mercurial Dutchman has always had a wealth of talent, but he finally seems to be putting it together at Bayern Munich. In his time at Chelsea and Real Madrid, he always had moments of brilliance and woeful periods of inconsistency. This year, he was 1 of 2 Bundesliga players to finish in the Top 5 in goals and Top 10 in assists (Kevin Kuranyi the other). What puts Robben over the top is his performances lifting Bayern to the Champions League Final including one of the goals of the season at Man United...

Biggest Surprise - Werder Bremen

-Bremen is a successful club and has a history of success, but after finishing 10th last year and selling Diego, getting back to Champions League play was a major surprise. This is especially true considering the depth at the top of the Bundesliga where there are 8-10 teams that can beat each other on any given day. They scored 71 goals on the season, and may challenge Bayern next year.

Biggest Disappointment - Hertha Berlin

-What a fall. Hertha finished last this season in the Bundesliga after challenging for the title and finishing 4th last season. They only scored 34 goals in 34 games, wow, they couldn't have missed Andiry Voronin that much could they? Nahhh. Imagine Tottenham next season plummeting to the bottom of the EPL, it was stunning.

Biggest Story - The Most Entertaining League In Europe

-Unfortunately, the Bundesliga doesn't get a lot of press with the focus on the EPL, Spain, and Serie A. But, the German league provides the most attractive brand of soccer, the most competitive games, and the highest number of quality teams. Take this year for instance where defending champ Wolfsburg finished 8th and last year's title contender finished in dead last. Did you know that the Bundesliga has now led the major European leagues in goals per game for 20 consecutive seasons? So next year, go grab some brats and beer and watch the Bundesliga!

France

Champions - Marseille

Champions League Qualifiers -

2nd - Lyon

3rd - Auxerre

Best Player - Lisandro Lopez

-The Lyon striker bought from FC Porto was one of the top scorers in Ligue 1 this season and also starred in the Champions League. His fellow ex-Porto mate Lucho Gonzalez was also a key player in Marseille's rise back to the top of Ligue 1. But, it's Lisandro that gets the edge here as he was able to help carry Lyon back to respectability after a poor campaign last season and was named player of the year by his peers. So... it makes you scratch your head that Lisandro was not even selected by Diego Maradona for Argentina's World Cup squad! Seriously... what is Maradona thinking? At least he doesn't look like this anymore...

Biggest Surprise - Raymond Domenech Is Still Coaching The National Team?

-France's national team appears to be the the major European power in the most trouble approaching this year's World Cup. With news coming that Bordeaux's Laurent Blanc will take over after South Africa, one has to wonder... what took so long? Under Domenech, the French have gone from the 2006 WC Final to finishing last in their Euro 2008 group and limping towards WC Qualification while playing ugly soccer. Don't be surprised to see them get bounced early in June.

Biggest Disappointment - Bordeaux

-The defending champs slumped out of Champions League or Europa League play and all the way to 6th on the table. When you combine that with a loss to Lyon in this year's CL quarterfinals, it was not a good year for Bordeaux. With Marouane Chamakh looking to join Arsenal and Laurent Blanc in line to coach the national side, it looks like Bordeaux's stay at the top may have been brief.

Biggest Story - Henry's Handball

-The apparent next star of MLS carried France to the World Cup with the most infamous handball since the aforementioned Maradona. France beat Ireland in a playoff to advance. With France going to the WC and all of the talk of injustice and replays behind us, let's take a walk down memory lane. Hide your eyes if you're Irish!

Playing Pepper With The Reds, Red Sox, & Hanley

As the great game of baseball is nearing its first two months it is time to hit on some of the important goings on in the game currently; from the highs, to the lows. So like a 3-0 count for Albert Pujols, we got the green light so let us swing away. Let's play pepper.

- The Sizzlin' Cincinnati Redlegs: I never thought that I would be writing something with the words "first place" and "Reds" in the same entry but alas, I am. Are they the class of the NL? I don't want to go too far with this but at 23-16 they are atop the Central with a .5 game lead over the Cardinals. To watch them play ball, it is easy to appreciate and love after watching the mediocrity and insolence they displayed the past decade. Gone are the lineups of Alex Ochoa, David Ross, Todd Walker, Brandon Larsen, Edwin Encarnacion, Austin Kearns, Corey Patterson and Darnell McDonald. They have been supplanted by Gomes, Bruce, Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Cabrera and Hernandez.

The pitching? 3 CG's in one week, 8-1 their last 11 starts and a bullpen that has been rested and is able to come out and put people away. Mike Leake has taken the pitching staff by the horns and is the unsung leader of the staff with his outstanding outings this year after not pitching 1 inning of pro ball before this season. Utterly amazing. Can they keep it up? Ask me in August. Their depth in the minor leagues has me a little concerned if anyone should get hurt, but I am enjoying this now while I can. With Cincinnati sports, you never know when the rug will get pulled out from under you.

- On the opposite end of the spectrum sit the Red Sox, who are 8.5 games back of the Rays in the AL East. Big Papi is wearing out his welcome with his horrific plate appearances and what happened to Josh Beckett? The darling of Bristol is enduring some tough times and their last loss with Papelbon giving it up really had to hurt. Somewhere in Boston, the fans have to realize they won't be going to the postseason this year, with the Rays off to a hot start, coupled with the Yankees steady play and the surprising Blue Jays. Boston will be sitting at home come the postseason.

- Want a microcosim of what is wrong in the sporting world today? Look no close than Hanley Ramirez and his display of "athleticism" Monday night in Florida. Yes, I know that he got hit by a foul ball in the ankle earlier in the game but that was no excuse for his defensive display that would have made Manny Ramirez look like Ozzie Smith. He took a pathetic swipe to get the ball, then did his best Olindo Mare impression with a boot of the ball towards the outfield. However, he doesn't run; he merely jaunts to the ball like he is admiring the patterns cut into the grass, gets the ball and throws it in. Did it matter in the long run of the game; no. Florida was out of it by that point, but it shows a troubling trend in sports. A majority of the younger players show little if any heart and determination and seem to just be playing for the Sportscenter highlights and and millions of dollars.

I have felt the same type of frustration watching Brandon Phillips, albeit he is far superior on the defensive side of the field. Phillips won't run out or hustle out grounders and Dusty has spoken to him about it, yet there is no real difference. The worst part of it all was Hanley's response to his benching, basically saying manager Fredi Gonzalez has no idea what it is like to play the game since he never played before in the majors. Wow, nice response and good way to show respect to your manager, pal.

Gonzalez had the best comeback, saying how Hanley is right that he never played in the majors, but he does know HOW to play the game. That is great quotation right there. Way to get him, Fredi. Hanley probably won't take anything from this (even though he was forced/guilted/whatever into apologizing today) but it is great to see a manager putting his star in his place. It illustrates the sheer immaturity and diva complex inhibited by many young major leaguers today. Gone are the players with the mentality of Pete Rose, Barry Larkin, Cal Ripken Jr. and Derek Jeter. I guess the stadium isn't the only empty thing around when the Marlins play games; Hanley's passion bucket is as well.

NBA & NHL Playoff Pulse - Beginning The Conference Finals

As the Conference Finals begin in the NBA and NHL, the attention turns away from LeBron James and to the actual action on the court and the ice... at least we hope for a little while. With each series in the Conference Finals underway, it's time to check the Playoff Pulse!

1) Biggest Winner - Philadelphia Flyers

-The Flyers have emerged as the big winners thus far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Coming back from 3-0 down against the Bruins to force Game 7, and then coming back from 3-0 down in Game 7 to win the series is something never seen before. Now, they have homeice advantage in the East Finals as a 7 seed and chased Jaroslav Halak in Game 1 winning 6-0. While many point to the Chicago/San Jose winner as the clear favorite, or Montreal as the team of destiny, don't discount the Flyers as perhaps both. Their run has been one of the most under-the-radar surprise playoff performances in recent memory. They will have to be weary that the Canadiens lost Game 1 against Pittsburgh and won in 7 games... but at this point, what can stop the Broad Street Bullies?

2) Biggest Loser - Dwight Howard

-Dwight Howard thinks he's one of the star players in the NBA. Dwight Howard thinks he's Superman. He's the reigning back to back defensive player of the year. But, in Game 1 he was exposed as a one trick offensive pony, who blocks shots and rebounds. Against the C's, he looked like an athletic version of Dikembe Mutombo and not the next Shaq. Howard had 13 and 12, but 7 TOs and shot only 3-10 from the field after going 27-32 against the Hawks. After several years in the league, he still has no low post game and strong defenders that can push him out from underneath the basket greatly limits his offense. Howard must step up his game tonight to find the magic again.

3) Best Performance - Antti Niemi

-Yes, Kobe had 40 points last night... but Niemi made 44 saves on Sunday against the Sharks (tied for the most in the last 13 years by a CHI goalie)! Down 1-0, he made several saves that kept Chicago in the game and allowed them to take a 2-1 lead into the final minutes. Niemi then fought off several shots in the last 2 minutes withstanding a 6 on 4 advantage from San Jose. Niemi was the major question mark for the Hawks coming into the playoffs, but has grown in stature and confidence throughout the playoffs. If Niemi plays this well, the Hawks could be playing for the Cup very soon.

4) Best Game - Game 1: Blackhawks 2 Sharks 1

-While the Magic's comeback was exciting, you never really felt like it would come off. The Suns/Lakers was high scoring but not close, and the Flyers blew out the Habs. So, the Hawks/Sharks Game 1 duel wins our honors for best game. It was tight and hard-fought and saw Chicago fight off a furious finish to claim homeice advantage.

5) Biggest Surprise - The Celts Keep Rolling

-It's amazing that this team was left dead in the water coming into the playoffs. Many folks said this team was finished, the Heat would beat them, and the Big 3 Ubuntu Era was over. Now? They are suddenly favorites to go back to the NBA Finals after dispatching LeBron and taking Game 1 in Orlando. The key to the C's resurgence has been the emergence of Rajon Rondo as the team's best player and a healthy Kevin Garnett. Suddenly this team has the chemistry, shotmaking, and defense of the '08 title crew. Is a Lakers rematch in the near future?

6) Biggest Question - Do The Suns Have A Chance?

-All throughout last night, I wanted to talk myself into thinking that Phoenix has a chance to upset the Lakers. With Steve Nash still at an All-NBA level, JR shooting lights out, and role players that the Suns have not had before... it makes you want to think that this is their year to reach the Finals. Then, they go out and allow 128 pts and 58% shooting to the Lakers in Game 1. I still hold out hope that the Suns have a chance, but after watching them get run off the floor last night, it is a faint glimmer at best. The Suns need Amare Stoudemire to step up and find some way to slow down the Laker attack, and quickly.

7) Game 2 Picks

NHL

Chicago @ San Jose

-The Blackhawks are now an incredible 6-1 on the road in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. With Antti Niemi hot, it seems like the Hawks have all the momentum in their favor. While talented, the Sharks have never had that closing ability. In a must-win game for San Jose, it's easy to picture them coming out tight and afraid to make a mistake. Also take into account the 5-0 edge SJ had in power plays evening out tonight, and Chicago might take a 2-0 lead back home.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Blackhawks

Montreal @ Philadelphia

-The thing with Montreal is that they have an incredibly short memory. We've seen them bounce back in these Stanley Cup Playoffs time and time again. Game 2 is by no means a must-win for the Habs with the way they have played late in their previous 2 series... but, things are going so well for the Flyers that it is tough to pick against them. Y2 goes with the Canadiens to bounce back, but I see Philly flying.

PICKS: Y1: Flyers Y2: Canadiens

NBA

Boston @ Orlando

-The Celtics took Game 1 in Orlando and now they're playing with house money in Game 2. The Magic may not have what it takes to win this series, but they will win Game 2 whether it's due to a relaxation from Boston, resurgence from Dwight Howard, or a little help from the officials and the home crowd to take the series back to Boston 1-1. The Magic will continue their strong finish Sunday in Game 2, but Boston should still win the series.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Magic

Phoenix @ LA Lakers

-The Lakers have had the best home advantage of any team in the playoffs thus far. They're unbeaten and have hardly even been challenged at Staples. With LBJ out of the spotlight, Kobe has all of the attention on himself to prove to the world that he's the league's best. The Suns' best chance to steal a game was last night... and it's unlikely that they find a defense to stop LA before tomorrow night.

PICKS: Y1/Y2: Lakers

What Are the Odds? - Where Will LeBron James Sign?

Of course, the biggest story in sports right now is the future of Cavs star LeBron James. Will he stay in Cleveland? Will he leave for "greener pastures" of the bigger tv markets? While there'll be more time to discuss the ridiculousness of this circus and LeBron's legacy in Cleveland after another disappointment, it's time to get an initial lay of the free agent land. So, here's our first crack at predicting where the King will rest his throne next season.

Cleveland: 2-1

-Everyone on either coast has already written the latest sad chapter of Cleveland sports with LeBron's departure. In fact, I myself made the case last summer that LeBron should leave the Cavs for the benefit of both himself and the city. Here's an excerpt from Part I and Part II:

Why as a franchise invest your livelihood into someone with one foot in Cleveland and one foot in the open market? If you are a teammate, why would you give your all to a team leader who isn't committed to the franchise after the current season; a leader who thus far, has been unable to lead his team to a title and has shown questionable judgment in the face of adversity. Why as a fan rest your hopes and dreams on someone who is not 100% tied to staying until the job is done; who, even if he signs an extension, will always be tempted by the brighter lights of a bigger stage?

To put it bluntly, the Cavs and the fans of Cleveland are hostages of the King, with no choice but to submit to his will, or risk losing him. If that's the case, would losing him really be the worst thing to happen to Cleveland?

But, after the emotion of another early playoff exit settles, LeBron and his "team" (which by the way really would make me mad as a Cavs fan that LeBron seemed more in tune with his team of cronies than his basketaball team) might realize they have it pretty good in Cleveland. Remember, before their postseason collapse, all the talk was about the Cavs depth and versatility and how this was the most talent ever around LBJ. Just because Mike Brown was exposed again as a terrible coach and his star player quit doesn't mean the talent around LeBron has gotten worse. If the Cavs allow LeBron to appoint his next coach and also have even more input on other decisions, the smart money is on his staying in Cleveland, even though it might be the wrong decision for both the King and the Cavs.

Chicago: 6-1

-The Bulls have clearly emerged as the favorite to steal LeBron away from the Cavs because of their talented youngsters, namely Derrick Rose. But, look closer. Is a supporting cast of Rose, Noah, Luol Deng, and Taj Gibson really that much better than what's in Cleveland now? Why would another team help the Bulls sign LeBron and another free-agent by taking on Kirk Hinrich? It seems to me the more you think about the Bulls, the less attractive an option it becomes for LBJ, especially trying to follow in the footsteps of that Jordan guy. Still, going to Chicago with the ability to possibly recruit a hand-picked coach, another high-profile free-agent, and a young All-Star PG might be too good to pass up.

L.A. Clippers: 15-2

-The real dark horse in the entire LeBron sweepstakes has to be the Clippers. They're currently without a coach, which frees them to take on sudden LeBron lackey Coach Cal. Heck, maybe World Wide Wes can be the new GM, too. But, in all seriousness, this is a team that has just as much talent in a potential supporting cast as any other suitor with the likes of Eric Gordon, Baron Davis, and, don't laugh, Chris Kaman. Also, the appeal of making a winner out of one of the worst franchises in sports might be tempting for the King. Also, he'll get the chance to upstage Kobe Bryant in the same town on a nightly basis. Remember how Kobe and LeBron took it personally to upstage each other when playing in MSG the last two seasons? Imagine that competition 41 times a year! And of course, being in L.A. might be a smarter choice for someone who is interested as much in being a celebrity as being a champion.

New Jersey/Newark/Brooklyn Nets: 15-1

-If we're talking two or three years from now, the Nets might be considered the clear favorite. With the unlimited capital of their crazy Russian Billionaire Owner and his boy Jay-Z as a part-owner, the world would be at King James's feet. However, even if the Nets get John Wall in the lottery, the talent on the team is still a few years away. Although they have some nice pieces (Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Brook Lopez) they're still a very young team devoid of talent. Does anyone remember the Nets were flirting with all-time futility this year? There's no way LeBron would be close to a title next year with the Nets. But, don't be surprised that LeBron's deal somewhere else has an opt-out after 3 or 4 years so he can hook up with the Brooklyn Nets.

Miami Heat: 19-1

-While South Beach and D-Wade are enticing, again, this seems to be a square peg into a round hole. First, Miami, while great for partying, is one of the worst sports cities in the country. Not even LeBron could help fill the seats in South Florida. Second, because LeBron and D-Wade are both so great, they would be a terrible combination together. Both are best dominating the ball, taking it to the hoop. Neither would be comfortable taking wide-open jumpers set-up by the other. The Heat aren't a serious contender for a long-term relationship, they're just an attractive girl worth flirting with at the bar.

New York Knicks: 40-1

-The saddest of all suitors, your New York Knicks! A team that has practically ruined its last several seasons all for a shot at LeBron James. As my bro pointed out last week, the allure of the New York market is completely irrelevant in every place outside New York. LeBron doesn't need New York to become a global brand, he needs championships. And even a combination of LeBron and Free Agent X wouldn't be enough to help the Knicks back to the playoffs, let alone a title. That's right, they're that bad. If LeBron does end up with the Knicks, he should reconsider who's running his other team.

Kentucky Wildcats: 200-1

-So I hear LeBron wants to play for John Calipari, so why not go to Coach Cal instead of bringing Coach Cal to fail once again in the NBA. LeBron might find it easier to win a Final Four title than an NBA Championship. I'm sure World Wide Wes can grease the appropriate wheels with the NCAA to take care of that pesky college eligibility issue, too. Hey, stranger things have happened, right?

That's our first guess on the odds for LeBron's ultimate destination, what are your predictions for his long, strange trip? Also, stay tuned for our extensive World Cup Preview Series and our continuing playoff coverage. And, oh yes, we'll make sure to keep tabs on the likes of LeBron and Tiger, too. Until next time, it's bye for now!

EPL Season Recap

With the world soccer season coming to a close, and the World Cup coming up, we're going to dramatically increase our soccer coverage here at Randall Simon's Sausages. Every day during the World Cup, we'll provide thoughts and analysis of the day's games. We'll also have a monumental preview of the world's greatest sporting event at the end of the month. But, first, let's look back on the season that was in the beautiful game. First up, an EPL season recap.

Let's take a look at our predictions for the 2009-2010 season and how we fared. Our picks are first in black, and the real standings in green.

20. Burnley Portsmouth 19 pts

19. Portsmouth Hull 30

18. Birmingham Burnley 30

17. Wigan West Ham 35

16. Bolton Wigan 36

15. Hull City Wolves 38

14. Blackburn Bolton 39

13. West Ham Sunderland 44

12. Stoke City Fulham 46

11. Wolves Stoke 47

10. Sunderland Blackburn 50

9. Fulham Birmingham 50

8. Everton Everton 61

7. Arsenal Liverpool 63

6. Aston Villa Villa 64

5. Tottenham Man City 67

4. Man City Spurs 70

3. Man Utd Arsenal 75

2. Liverpool Man Utd 85

1. Chelsea Chelsea 86

We nailed the title winner and 2 of the 3 relegation spots, as well as Villa/Spurs/City beginning to crack the Top 4 stronghold. Of course, we had some glorious misses as well - like Liverpool being the fallen giant instead of Arsenal and Birmingham finishing in the Top 10 when we had them back in the Championship. But, as for our incredibly low standards of predicting goes... it deserves an A! So what were the moments and stories that defined the EPL season? Let's hand out some Yoder Awards!

Best Transfer - Arsenal gets Thomas Vermaelen for 12 Million Euros

-Arsenal shored up a big hole in the center of defense after selling Kolo Toure to Man City and found one of the best EPL defenders this season. Vermaelen was solid at the back and dangerous at set pieces. He was one of the main cogs in an Arsenal team that a lot of folks (including us) thought was going to take a step back this season.

Worst Transfer - Liverpool sells their soul... and Xabi Alonso

-When Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid before the season started, they sold the most important player on the team not named Gerrard or Torres. Alonso's presence as a passing holding midfielder allowed Gerrard and Torres to do their magic up front last season. Nevertheless, Rafa relented and let him go to Madrid. What followed was a gaping hole in the middle of the team for Liverpool that was never fixed. Lucas, Aquilani, and any number of players tried to fill the role but failed. In the end, this move led to the domino effect that was Liverpool's disastrous season.

Best Loan Move - Landon Donovan & Everton

-It wasn't so much that Donovan put up gaudy numbers in Everton, but he was able to break the stigma that elite American players couldn't play at an elite level in Europe. Yes, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard and Michael Bradley play important parts for their teams - but many in Europe don't believe the USA's best can be Europe's best. Donovan had failed at Bayern Munich and needed to perform well at Everton for his legacy and the legacy of the American soccer star. He did just that. By the end of his 10 week loan spell, fans were singing his name in tribute, and Everton was back in the top 10 of the EPL.

Biggest Surprise - Fulham's Europa Run

-Fulham's march through Europe, including an amazing 4-1 win at Craven Cottage to get past Juventus, was the surprise of the season. They beat much more storied and talented teams in reaching the final, before putting up a valiant effort and losing to Atletico Madrid. It showed the world that England is more than a 4-7 team league.

Biggest Disappointment - Any and every thing Liverpool

-A year after they lost only 2 games and finished in 2nd... Liverpool lost 11 games and finished way back in 7th. It was a shockingly poor season from the Reds. In truth, nothing worked the way it was supposed to: more injuries to Torres, injuries and a lack of form from Gerrard, Riera falling off the planet, Lucas still sucking, Carragher aging (good luck in South Africa), Aquilani sitting, boardroom melodrama, and a defiant manager who has lost the plot. Maybe falling out of the Champions League is the wake-up call Liverpool needs to blow it up and start over. It can't get much worse than this season.

Best Player - Didier Drogba

-Wayne Rooney earned most of the plaudits all season long, but it was a return to the elite level by Didier Drogba that returned Chelsea to the top of the table. He led the league with 29 goals and even slotted in the game-winner in the FA Cup.

Best Team - Tottenham Hotspur

-Spurs were perhaps the less fancied of the Villa/Man City/Spurs triumvirate to break into the Top 4. But, Harry Redknapp put together quite the team and made all of the right moves (even offloading an ineffective Robbie Keane) in getting into position to get 4th. It all came together in the penultimate game of the season when they went to Eastlands and beat Man City on a Peter Crouch header. The way this team is built, they could be playing CL football for a long time to come.

Best Rumor - Chelsea Wants Torres, Really Reallly Reallllly Bad

-In news just coming today, Chelsea may be willing to give Liverpool 40 million, plus 3 players in exchange for Fernando Torres. Now, don't get me wrong, I love Torres and Liverpool... but some offers are just too good to pass up. Imagine getting Anelka, Kalou, and perhaps John Obi Mikel PLUS more money to spend for an awesome player who is injury-prone. This would be the equivalent of the Herschel Walker trade many years ago. Yes, it helped the Vikings in the short term, but gave the Cowboys the tools to build a consistent champion. Maybe it could do the same for Liverpool. As they say overseas, watch this space.

Best Scandal - The Terry-Bridge Affair

-This one is pretty much a no-brainer. John Terry became the worldwide villain of many and Wayne Bridge was willing to turn down a place in South Africa because JT got busy w/ Bridge's babymama. Only in England. At least Terry had Tiger Woods to thank for removing him from the adulterous athlete spotlight.

Best Peaceful Non-Violent Resistance - The Green & Gold Campaign

-The campaign of the Red Knights, bringing green and gold (old Man U colors) gear to Old Trafford and rounding up support to oust the Glazers, shows what a united group of supporters are capable of doing. Their protests showed the world that they were unhappy with the club being saddled with debt and want to do something about it... too bad it probably won't make the impact that they want.

Best Game - Man Utd 4 Man City 3

-All the way back in September, these two Manchester rivals played one of the great games in EPL history. They went back and forth throughout the day until Michael Owen's winner in stoppage time. The game showed both teams would be contenders throughout the season. Here's the highlights...

Defining Moment - Chelsea Scores 8 With The Title On The Line

-Going into the final game of the season, Chelsea needed to beat Wigan to ensure the title. Not only did they beat Wigan, they demolished them. They won 8-0 winning the EPL Championship and setting a new mark for goals scored in a season.

We'll be back later this week with a look at the continental season in European soccer, and a preview of the Champions League Final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan. Bye for now!