NFL: 55 Days and Counting

It is finally getting close to the best time of the year: 

Football Season. 

It's time to dust off your jerseys, find your face paint, make sure you have wings in the freezer, and stock up on beer because we are less than two months away from watching the best sport in America. There is one thing for certain: Aaron Hernandez will be catching pass from Paul Crewe for a long time, maybe forever. (Paul Krewe highlights.)

Tom Brady is wondering were all his targets went, four of New England's top five receivers are gone. Rob Gronkowski is the only one returning and who knows if he will be ready for the season opener at Buffalo on September 8. Bill Belichick is depending heavily on Danny Amendola to bring out his inner Wes Welker and praying he never has to depend on Tim Tebow. I mean I had to talk about Tebow at least once in here, it's the law. Don't worry about New England contending, they do every year, especially with their super model quaterback.

The Baltimore Ravens have a brand new team after winning the Super Bowl five months ago. They lost eight starters from last years team. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Anquan Boldin combined for 22 Pro-Bowl appearances during their careers in Baltimore. According to the Elias Sports Bureau no Super Bowl winning team has ever lost more than five starters. Luckily, they have their 28-year old gun-slinging quarterback locked up for a long time. Joe Flacco is one of the best in the game and finally earned the respect he deserves after an impressive postseason. No quarterback has won more games than Flacco through his first 80 career starts. He's the only QB to win a playoff game in five straight years to start a career. He made Joe Montana and Kurt Warner make reservations for three, becoming the third QB to throw 11 touchdowns in one postseason. What's even more impressive is he did it without one interception (thanks to Rahim Moore) joining Montana as the only two in NFL history. He was the first to ever have a passer rating over 100 in all four postseason games and his 117.2 rating tied him with Steve Young for third all-time in one postseason. Now it's all on his shoulders to lead the Ravens to their sixth straight playoff appearance. Baltimore is the only active team to make the postseason five straight years and only three other teams have made it at least three straight years (Green Bay, New England, and Atlanta). Baltimore opens up the regular season against Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos in the season debut on NBC's "Thursday Night Football".

I still can't believe that game in the AFC Divisional playoffs. How did Rahim Moore let that pass get over his head. That was one of the best football games I have ever seen. Just to show how good Flacco is he beat two legends and two of the next great quarterbacks in route to winning the Super Bowl MVP: Andrew Luck, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Colin Kaepernick. Pretty damn impressive, I think it's safe to say he deserved every penny of his new 120.6 million dollar contract. 

Wait. Wes Welker goes from Tom Brady to Peyton Manning? That's like trading Kate Upton for Julianne Hough. The Broncos enter the 2013 season as the runner-up to win the Super Bowl (6.5 : 1) because of No. 18. Manning has more toys than Jenna Jameson (sorry Tito Ortiz). Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, and Welker combined for 297 receptions, 3,852 yards, and 29 touchdowns last season. They also have three very talented young running backs after selecting Montee Ball in the second round in this years draft. The rookie out of Wisconsin rushed for more touchdowns (77) than anyone in Division 1 history. He joins Knowshon Moreno and Ronnie Hillman in the backfield and it will be interesting to see who wins the job during the preseason. Von Miller is the quarterback on the other side of the ball and is one of the best players in the NFL. Lets just say it's not easy for quarterbacks to sleep on Saturday night when they are playing Denver on Sunday. The third-year pro from Texas A&M has 30 sacks and eight forced fumbles in his first two seasons and his 18.5 sacks last year were third most in the NFL. On a side note, Peyton Manning purchased 21 Papa John franchises right when marijuana was legalized in Colorado, just to show how smart this dude is. Smartest athlete in the world, easily. The Broncos are the clear favorite to win the AFC West for the third straight year, and I think it's a shoe in they run away with the division. Manning has a really good chance to make his third career Super Bowl this season.

Remember when the NFC West was a joke? I'm sure glad those days are long gone. The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks have developed the best rivalry in the NFL since Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll returned to the NFL. 

San Francisco opens as the overall favorite in Vegas to win the Super Bowl this year (6 : 1), thanks to Aaron Hernandez. I love the way the Niners play football. They are going to smack you in the mouth and run the ball down your throat. Now Harbaugh finally has his quarterback who can open up the entire field. Colin Kaepernick was the Yasiel Puig of the NFL last year. He came out of nowhere and took the league by storm. In his first career playoff game he set an NFL single-game record for most rushing yards by a quarterback (181 yards) against the Green Bay Packers. Erik Walden is still looking for Kaepernick. The 25-year old quarterback out of Nevada is the real deal. He enters his third season with his first full training camp knowing he is the starting quarterback and I could see him becoming the first Niner to win the regular season MVP since Steve Young did in 1994. San Francisco is going to be even hungrier this year after falling five yards short of winning their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history. They have one of the best defenses in the NFL, if not the best, led by Patrick Willis. The seven-year linebacker from Ole Miss has had at least 120 tackles in five of his first six seasons. (Missed three games in 2011, finished the season with 97 tackles.) His linebacker in crime, NaVorro Bowman, has been one of the best in the NFL over the last two seasons. He has a knack for finding the rock, Bowman has 291 tackles over the last two years. Justin Smith is the most underrated player in the NFL, and we saw how important he was to the defense after he tore his bicep tendon against Seattle in Week 16 last year. The defense was never the same, even though Smith returned for the playoffs. He is the engine that gets the truck started and a healthy Justin Smith is important for the success on defense. Aldon Smith is one of the best pass rushers in the league and his 33.5 sacks in his first two seasons are the most in NFL history. They lost one of the best safeties in the game in Dashon Goldson after he signed a five-year deal with Tampa Bay, but they are hopeful their first round pick from LSU can fill his shoes. Eric Reid was one of the best safeties in college and was a consensus first-team All-American during his junior season last year. San Francisco will be without Michael Crabtree for a large part of the season but I don't see that affecting them that much. They acquired a three-time Pro Bowler from the Baltimore Ravens. Anquan Boldin has been one of the top receivers in the NFL during his 10-year career and is the complete package. He will fit Jim Harbaugh's system very well, just ask how it went for Jim's older brother, John Harbaugh. I would be shocked if the Niners don't make it to the NFC Championship at worst. 

From one great young quarterback to another. Russell "The Magician" Wilson was an absolute stud last year. He threw for over 3,000 yards and rushed for nearly 500 more. The kid improved game by game last season and was one of the most exciting players to watch in the league. He was the steal of the 2012 NFL draft, falling all the way to third round because he is only 5'11". The guy was a proven winner during his four-year college career and the most impressive attribute that Wilson brings to the table is the way he presents himself. He's the type of guy you'd want your daughter to marry. It is going to be amazing watching Wilson vs. Kaepernick for the next decade in the NFC West. Seattle knew they needed to add another weapon on offense. Hello Percy Harvin. He is one of the best playmakers in the NFL and is a matchup nightmare for any defensive coordinator. Before he got hurt in Week 9 he was leading the league in total yards from scrimmage and if he can stay healthy this season expect him to become Wilson's new best friend. Marshawn "Skittles" Lynch is an absolute beast. I love the way this dude runs the rock. Adrian Peterson is the only running back with more rushing yards than Lynch over the last two seasons. Seattle is loaded with talent all across the board on offense, especially the big boys on the offensive line. The defense is loaded with a ton of great athletes too. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas are arguably the best corner/safety combo in the NFL. They Added Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril in the offseason to help solidify the defensive line. The NFC West went from being the laughing stock of the NFL to one of the best divisions in the league.

 Since we already brought up Kaep and Wilson, let's stay on the same page and talk about two of the best young quarterbacks in the game: Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.

Luck shocked the world last season when he led the Indianapolis Colts to the postseason. He broke all kinds of rookie records: most passing yards in a game (433), most passing yards in a season (4,374), most 300+ yards passing games (6), most game-winning drives (7), and his 11 wins were the most ever by the first overall pick. Luck is the only quarterback to be selected No. 1 overall and lead his team to the playoffs. He did it all replacing a legend and without his head coach for most of the season. Chuck Pagano missed 12 games after being diagnosed with leukemia. If you were going to build the perfect quarterback, Andrew Luck would be your guy. He's 6'4", 240 pounds, has a cannon for an arm, mobile, and is one of the smartest quarterbacks in the NFL. He threw for 23 touchdowns and ran for five more last year. If you asked all 32 general managers in the NFL who they would select first overall, Andrew Luck would be the most popular pick. The Colts are hoping he will be the same franchise quarterback Peyton Manning was for 13 seasons, and judging by his rookie campaign, I don't think fans in Indianapolis have to worry.

 From the first overall pick to the second overall selection: RGIII. There isn't a more exciting quarterback in the NFL. Griffin added an "Offensive Rookie of the Year" award on his mantle, right next to his Heisman Trophy. After watching RG III last season you would think he's been an NFL quarterback for the last decade. His calm demeanor and leadership qualities are as good as any other quarterback.  His five interceptions were the fewest among all quarterbacks that started at least 10 games. Only 1.3% of his passes were intercepted last season, a new rookie record. Only Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning had a better passer rating than RG III, and his 102.4 rating, new rookie record. His 8.1 yards/completion were tops in the NFL. Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers were the only three quarterbacks that had a higher completion percentage. His 815 yards rushing were easily tops among quarterbacks, and he finished 20th in the entire NFL. A lot of people are worried with the way he plays the game. He is a running quarterback and that's not going to change. That is what makes him one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He tore his ACL against Seattle in the NFC Wild Card playoffs and all signs point he will be ready to roll for their season debut against the Philadelphia Eagles, on Monday Night Football. The Eagles are praying they face Kirk Cousins, no offense Kirk, but facts are facts. I would be shocked if Griffin isn't behind center on September 9. If Griffin stays healthy this season I would put my money down on the Skins to repeat as NFC East champs, but the New York "football" Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles all improved heading into the 2013 season. Eli Manning might have two Super Bowl MVP's, but RG III is the best player in the NFC East.

Just to look back at what the 2012 quarterback rookie class did. It was the best season ever by any class, sorry 1983. John Elway, Dan Marino, and Jim Kelly went on to have Hall of Fame careers but they didn't come out of the gates like this. Of course Kelly didn't play in the NFL until he was 26 after starting his career in the USFL. The 1983 draft class combined to throw for 4,689 yards, Andrew Luck threw for 4,374 yards by himself. Obviously the class of 12' has a lot of work to do down the road to be considered the best ever, but they are in good hands with Luck, RG III, and Wilson. Throw in Nick Foles, Ryan Tannehill, and Brandon Weeden who all played well at times during their rookie campaigns. Wilson, Griffin, Tannehill, and Weeden all threw for at least 3,000 yards, 790 more yards than Marino did during his rookie season. The 2012 class has a chance to go down in the history books as the best to ever live, I know it is just one year, but the scary thing is Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, and Russell Wilson aren't close to reaching their potential.

While Andrew Luck and company are on the right path to have great NFL careers, lets talk about the best quarterback in the NFL: Aaron "Discount Double Check" Rodgers.

The Green Bay Packers' quarterback finished last season with the highest passer rating in the NFL, for the second straight season. Since being named the starting quarterback after the Brett Favre drama queen saga in 2008, he has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in four of five seasons. He's never had a season with less than 28 touchdowns through the air and has thrown 84 touchdowns over the last two seasons. Throw in a regular season MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and a discount double check belt, he's living the life. His 122.5 passer rating during his MVP season in 2011 is an NFL record. If he retired today he'd have the highest passer rating of all-time (104.9). He's the only quarterback with at least 1,500 pass attempts to have a rating above 100. His 171/46 touchdown to interception ratio is the best in NFL history. Rodgers' is the only QB to throw for at least 4,000 yards in his first two full seasons and the only player to throw 45+ touchdowns and less than six interceptions in a season. He has the lowest interception percentage (1.7) in NFL history. The guy has all the credentials on his resume and expect another great season for the Packers. Anytime you have No. 12 behind center you have a chance to win the Lombardi Trophy. The one weakness Green Bay had last year was the running game, that is not the case anymore. They drafted two studs in Eddie Lacy (Alabama) and Johnathan Franklin (UCLA). Lacy will be the steal of the 2013 NFL draft. Called it last year with Russell Wilson and I think the rookie running back from Alabama will have a breakout season. If the Packers' defense plays better than average this season they have a good chance to win their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history.

Before the Major League Baseball season started, I said the Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox would be the two surprise teams of 2013, so far so good. Let's see if I can keep the luck going in the NFL.

Drum roll please.

The team in the AFC that is going to surprise everyone has a new head coach and a new quarterback. The Kansas City Chiefs will make the postseason this year. Andy Reid and Alex Smith both didn't deserve to lose their jobs. Smith was 19-5-1 and 2-1 in the postseason over the last two seasons with San Francisco. He lost his job after suffering a concussion in Week 10 against St. Louis last year and never started again in the Bay. Reid was the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles for 14 seasons and led them to six NFC East titles, nine playoff appearances, four NFC Championship games, and one Super Bowl. He was 130-93-1 during his career in Philly. Kansas City was atrocious in 2012, and that landed them the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft. They selected the 6'8", 305 pound tackle from Central Michigan, Eric Fisher. He has a really good chance to become one of the best tackles in the NFL and could be blocking for Alex Smith's blindside soon. He'll most likely start his career at right tackle while Branden Albert holds down the fort on the left side. Expect Fisher to move over to the left side within the next few years. Kansas City made Alex Smith a happy quarterback because they signed Dwayne Bowe to a five-year deal worth $56 million. Bowe is one of the most talented receivers in the game and he's happy to finally have a reliable quarterback under center. Sorry Matt Cassel, but you played like all the other USC quarterbacks in the NFL. Jamaal Charles is one of the best running backs in the NFL, during his five-year career he's averaging a ridiculous 5.8 yards/carry. On the other side of the ball they have one of the best young safeties in the NFL. Eric Berry has been named to the Pro Bowl in both seasons he avoided injuries. In 2011 he tore his ACL in the first game of the season. They added a ton of help to their secondary, adding Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson in the offseason. Smith is one of the most underrated corners in the NFL. Expect Alex Smith and Andy Reid to form a nice duo in Kansas City and mark your calenders on September 19 when Kansas City goes into Philadelphia. It will be Reid's first time going back to the place he called home for 14 seasons, and to make it even better, it is a primetime Thursday night game on NFL Network.

Drum roll again!

This team had one of the most underrated offseasons. They finished in the top ten in total offense in 2012 but defense was the major reason they lost five of their last six games. They were 29th in total defense and dead last in passing defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fixed that problem. Hello Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson. Revis is the best cornerback in the NFL, easily. Richard Sherman is an outstanding corner, but he has to do it for more than one year. He is coming off a torn ACL, but all signs point he will be the same Revis we saw in New York for the last six seasons. Just to show how good Revis was before he tore his ACL. In 2011 he allowed only 41.2 % of all targets to be completed, recorded 20 total pass breakups, and had four interceptions. Keep in mind he is lining up against the top wide receivers every week and is the premier shut down corner in the NFL. Not only did Tampa Bay add the best corner in the league, they arguably added the best safety in the NFL in Dashon Goldson. The Hawk has made back-to-back Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro safety last season. This guy fits Greg Schiano's coaching style perfect: lay the wood! Goldson is easily a top-five safety in the NFL. Over the last two years Goldson has 136 tackles, 20 pass breakups, and nine interceptions. The Buccaneer's made all the right moves during the offseason fixing their horrendous secondary. Mark Barron had a decent rookie year, and now with the addition of Goldson, Barron will be able to play closer to the line of scrimmage were he is most comfortable. Of course a lot rides on the right shoulder of Josh Freeman. He gets a lot of flack for his season last year, but he shouldn't. He threw for more than 4,000 yards and had 10 more touchdowns than interceptions (27:17). He enters his fifth year on a contract season, so if he wants to make the big bucks, it's time to have another season like he did in 2010. He threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 25 touchdowns to only six interceptions three years ago. With Doug Martin in the backfield, Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams on the outside, and one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, everything is lining up for Freeman to have his best season behind center. Tampa Bay added a ton of help on the defensive side of the ball and put it all in the hands of their quarterback, Josh Freeman. Expect the fifth year pro to have his best season and lead Tampa Bay to the postseason for the first time since 2007.

That almost wraps up what to expect for the 2013 NFL season, time for some  rapid fire to end the show.

RAPID FIRE - Five Other Teams To Pay Attention To


Atlanta Falcons: They added Steven Jackson in the backfield. Julio Jones and Roddy White are arguably the best receiving tandem in the NFL, and expect Julio Jones to be one of the best in the game this season. They were close to reaching the Super Bowl last season, until San Francisco ended their hopes. The Falcons will be right back in the thick of things, and another NFC South crown has a good chance to happen again in 2013. They lost John Abraham, but added Osi Umenyiora to sure up the defensive line. 

Houston Texans: Hello Ed Reed. The best safety over the last decade. The nine-time Pro Bowler is one of the best defensive playmakers in the NFL, if not the best. Add him to a defense that has the reigning "Defensive Player of the Year" in J.J. Watt and this makes for one of the best defenses in the NFL. Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, and Matt Schaub make for one of the best QB/RB/WR combos in the league. The Texans will be right in the thick of things contending for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.


Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are the best young QB/WR duo in the NFL. Outside of Calvin Johnson you could make a legitimate argument that Green is the best wide receiver in the NFL. The two-year wide out has 162 receptions for 2,407 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first two seasons. The "Red Rifle" has thrown for over 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in both of his first two seasons behind center and is one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL. Marvin Lewis is one of the most underrated coaches in the NFL, and expect the Bengals to make the postseason for the third consecutive season.


New York Giants: The Giants have won two Super Bowls since trading for Eli Manning in the 2004 NFL draft. The NFC East is up for grabs once again this season, and with Robert Griffin III coming off a torn ACL, this is anyone's division. Manning still doesn't get the credit he deserves, with two Super Bowl MVP's on his resume, he is a top-ten quarterback in the NFL. Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks make up one of the best duo's at wide receiver. It will be important for the second year running back from Virginia Tech, David Wilson, to have a big-time year if the Giants want to be serious contenders in 2013. The Giants defense was banged up all year in 2012. If they stay healthy in 2013 this team has all the talent to be one of the better teams in the NFC this season. 



New Orleans Saints: They finally have their head coach back. Sean Payton is one of the best game-callers in the NFL. The Saints have one of the best offenses in the game, thanks in large part to their quarterback: Drew Brees. Brees has led the NFL in touchdown passes in four of the last five seasons. You could make the argument that he is the best quarterback in the NFL, I would still rank Rodgers, Brady, and Peyton Manning ahead of him, but he has the credentials to make a legitimate argument. The major issue with New Orleans last year was on the other side of the ball, but having their head coach back, they will be way better on defense. Imagine any team in the NFL not having their head coach for an entire season. No way the Ravens or Forty-Niners are in the Super Bowl without their Harbaugh. 



Rapid Fire - Five Rookie Sleepers in 2013

Keenan Allen 

San Diego Chargers (3rd Rd. - 76th overall)

Wide Receiver - California




Tyrann Mathieu

Arizona Cardinals (3rd Rd. - 69th overall)

Safety - LSU

Jarvis Jones 

Pittsburgh Steelers (1st Rd. - 17th overall)

Linebacker - Georgia






Montee Ball 

 Denver Broncos (2nd Rd. - 58th overall)

Running Back - Wisconsin




Matt Elam 

 Baltimore Ravens (1st Rd. - 32nd overall)

Safety - Florida





LAST BUT NOT LEAST : 

                   2013 SUPER BOWL PREDICTION

 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS over DENVER BRONCOS

UFC 162: In-Depth Preview & Predictions

By Zack Poff

Once Saturday night gets here it will end a three week dry spell of UFC events and what better way to start the second half of 2013 than with Anderson "The Spider" Silva (33-4, 16-0). When he enters the octagon for the 17th time at the MGM Grand, he is arguably facing his toughest opponent to date. Chris Weidman (9-0, 5-0) has dominated all five of his opponents in the UFC and landed one of the best knockouts of 2012 in his last appearance. (Weidman KO). This is a classic young breed vs. old breed type of fight, but Anderson Silva is a different type of animal. He's not your average 38 year old athlete. The big question is Weidman ready for Silva? Everyone seems to think he is, especially MMA experts and fighters. Silva comes in as a (2:1) favorite, the lowest he's been favored since he fought Dan Henderson five years ago. Anderson Silva has more middleweight title defenses (10) than Weidman has fights (9). "The All-American" has the perfect style to dethrone the king of the 185 lb. division but it's an entire different ball game when you are fighting a legend for his belt in the Main Event.

UFC matchmaker Joe Silva was on point once again and picked some very entertaining matchups that are set to deliver the best fireworks of the weekend. Frankie Edgar (15-4-1, 9-4-1) returns for the first time since his loss to the featherweight champ, Jose Aldo, and looks to get his first win in 21 months against Charles Oliveira (16-3, 4-3). Tim Kennedy (15-4, 0-0) and Roger Gracie (6-1, 0-0) make their octagon debuts after both having good runs in Strikeforce. Mark Munoz (12-3, 7-3) and Tim Boetsch (16-5, 7-4) look to rebound after they both had four-fight win streaks snapped in their last octagon appearances. Cub Swanson (19-5, 4-1) has reeled off four in a row and three by knockout and if he puts on another good performance against Dennis Siver (21-8, 10-5) he'll be one inch closer to a rematch with Jose Aldo.

The preliminary fights have some intriguing matchups as Chris Leben (22-9, 12-8), loser of two in a row, and three of four, needs an impressive performance against Andrew Craig (8-1, 2-1) if he wants to avoid a pink slip. Dave Herman (21-5, 1-3) faces Gabriel Gonzaga (14-7, 9-6) and both need a win badly to stay relevant in the heavyweight division. Also, Edson Barboza (11-1, 5-1) wants to prove his loss to Jamie Varner 14 months ago was a fluke when he tries to get his second straight win against Rafaello Oliveira (16-5, 2-4) to start off the FX's prelims.

UFC 162: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
Saturday July 6, 2013

Facebook Prelims: 7 p.m. ET

FX Prelims: 8 p.m. ET

Main Card (Pay-Per-View): 10 p.m. ET


         MAIN EVENT: Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman
   Anderson Silva is the best mixed martial artist to ever live. He has dominated the UFC middleweight division for seven years and once Saturday gets here it will be 3,109 days since his last loss. Okay, 2,724 days if you count his DQ loss against Yushin Okami at "Rumble on the Rock 8" in 2006. Anderson Silva has more knockdowns and knockouts than anyone that's ever stepped inside the octagon. "The Spider" has the highest striking accuracy, most finishes, and most fight bonuses in UFC history. Silva has finished 26 of 38 opponents during his MMA career and has 20 knockouts on his resume. He has finished all five of his last fights and four by knockout. He has finished 14 of 16 fights in the UFC and 11 by knockout. The Ultimate Fighting Championship is by far the most competitive MMA organization and he is a perfect 16-0. The most remarkable thing about Silva is how dominant he has been. There has only been one time when he was in danger of losing and thanks to Chael Sonnen's horrible submission defense, Silva locked in a triangle in the fifth round to keep his record perfect in the UFC. A lot of people tend to forget Silva was nursing a serious rib injury and we saw how the rematch went. Silva has beaten the likes of Sonnen (2X), Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (2X), Stephan Bonnar, Yushin Okami, Demian Maia, Forrest Griffin, Thales Leites, Patrick Cote, James Irvin, Travis Lutter, Nate Marquardt, and Chris Leben during his UFC career. The best attribute Silva has is his patience. Any Silva fight you watch he is always in control and never gets out of his comfort zone. He is the most technical fighter in MMA history and he truly is the Muhammed Ali of mixed martial arts.

Chris Weidman presents some serious problems for Silva. He is a former two-time All-American wrestler and finished third in the NCAA tournament during his senior year at Hofstra. The best way to beat Silva is to neutralize his stand up and put him on his back. Sonnen did it constantly in their first fight. He put the middleweight champ on his back for nearly 20 minutes, double the amount of time Silva has spent on his back during his entire UFC career. Sonnen showed the blueprint how to beat the "King" of the middleweight division. Sonnen had the experience and had been in big-time fights before stepping into the cage with Silva, the same can't be said for Weidman. However, Weidman is by far a better athlete than Sonnen and has an outstanding submission game. Everyone remembers when Matt Serra shocked the world at UFC 69 when he pulled off one of the biggest upsets in UFC history (Matt Serra does the impossible against GSP.) Weidman has been with Matt Serra's camp (Serra-Longa Fight Team) for five years and they are one of the most respected camps in the world. Chris Weidman will be ready to roll this Saturday night even though Serra won't be in his corner because of health reasons. Weidman will enter the cage with a ton of confidence against Anderson Silva, which is usually not the case. This is huge because a lot of fighters step into the cage against Silva already defeated. While Silva has 28 more MMA fights than Weidman, "The All-American" has plenty of experience. Weidman competed in grappling tournaments and the ADCC Submission Wrestling Championships before turning pro in 2009. He won the East Coast Grappler's Quest ending all 13 matches by submission. He is a very well-rounded fighter and has finished six of his nine fights, three by submission and three by knockout. Everyone was in awe of Urijah Hall during last season's Ultimate Fighter, Chris Weidman wasn't. He ran through Hall back in 2010 at "Ring of Combat 31" finishing him in the first round. You knew Weidman was the real deal because he has never been given an easy fight during his UFC career. Alessio Sakara, Jesse Bongfeldt, Tom Lawler, Demian Maia, and Mark Munoz all had one thing in common when facing Weidman: dominated.

I am so excited for this fight because it's rare when Silva actually has a chance to lose. Everyone knows what Weidman wants to do in this fight, put Silva on his back. Silva showed way better takedown defense against Sonnen in the rematch. He is going to need to display that again on Saturday night. Weidman needs to land on the feet so he can shoot in for takedowns. This fight could very well come down to who does a better job in these two areas: Silva's takedown defense and Weidman's standup. The most impressive statistic about Chris Weidman is he has only been controlled for three seconds during his five fights in the UFC (28 minutes and 38 seconds inside the octagon). That is remarkable. His 4.5 takedowns per 15 minutes rank him first among active fighters in the middleweight division and second all-time. His takedown accuracy is off the charts too (72.2%). It cracks me up when I hear people say Anderson Silva's weakness is his takedown defense all because they saw the first Sonnen fight. That is far from the truth. Silva ranks in the top five in the middleweight division stuffing 70% of attempted takedowns. This fight is going to come down to who controls where the fight goes. If it stays on the feet, Silva will walk out of the octagon victorious for the 17th straight time. If Weidman puts Silva on his back consistently, he has a good chance to bring the middleweight belt back to New York. I just don't think Weidman is ready for a guy like Silva yet. Every fight "The All-American" has been in he has controlled the pace and he has never had to deal with adversity. This will be a great lesson for Weidman but I think Silva's takedown defense will frustrate the challenger and he will get picked apart as each minute goes by. Expect a Superfight if Silva leaves the MGM Grand with his belt for the 12th consecutive time or an immediate rematch if Weidman pulls off the upset.










PREDICTION: Anderson Silva by TKO - Rd. 2



       CO-MAIN EVENT: Frankie Edgar vs. Charles Oliveira

Wait. Frankie Edgar is fighting and it's not a title fight!!! The last time Edgar fought in a non-title fight was December 5, 2009. Once Saturday is here it will be 1,309 days since "The Anwser" fought in a three round fight. I love watching Edgar fight because he is the type of guy you'd see at a bar and think you could take him, which would not end well. You could crack him over the head with a bottle and he'd keep coming. If you look up the definition of heart, determination, or endurance you would find the same answer: Frankie Edgar. If you don't believe me just watch the first round of his last two fights against Gray Maynard. Edgar comes in on a three fight skid but those losses came to the featherweight (Jose Aldo) and lightweight champ (Ben Henderson). All three fights were extremely close. I think we are going to see a different Edgar this time around. He has come out slow recently, but a lot of that has to do with five round title fights. He will be rejuvenated and come out of the gates quick knowing this is a three round fight.

Charles Oliveira had a lot of hype behind him after starting his MMA career 14-0 and a lot of experts were considering him the next best thing in the lightweight division. He started his UFC career 2-0 submitting Darren Elkins and Efrain Escudero but then went winless during his next three (0-2 and 1 NC). He dropped down to 145 lbs. after his three fight skid and has gone 2-1 in the featherweight division. He needs a good performance on Saturday night in the Co-Main Event against his toughest opponent to date. Cub Swanson knocked him out in his last octagon appearance and he's looking for his biggest win in his young UFC career. Oliveira has a very good ground game and is one of the best submission artists in the featherweight division. Nine of his 16 wins have come by submission and three of his four wins in the UFC have ended via submission. He pulled off one of the best submissions in UFC history when he locked in a calf slicer (only fighter in UFC history to pull this submission off) against Eric Wisely at UFC on Fox 2 in his featherweight debut. (Watch with caution: This will hurt your calf.)

Oliveira has a ton of potential but it will have to wait. Edgar has been one of the best fighters in the UFC for the last four years and wants a rematch with Jose Aldo. He knows an impressive performance against Oliveira will get him closer to what he's best at: rematches. Edgar has never been finished in his MMA career and I don't see that coming to an end this Saturday. He is one of the hardest guys to hit, during his UFC career he has avoided nearly 72% of all strikes thrown at him. His submission defense is off the charts and he should be able to control the pace of the fight. I see Edgar controlling this fight from the opening bell until the final second runs off the clock. If Edgar dominates against Oliveira he has a good chance to have another date with Jose Aldo.

PREDICTION: Frankie Edgar via Unanimous Decision

           MAIN CARD: Roger Gracie vs. Tim Kennedy

I can't wait for this matchup. The fighters who have come over from Strikeforce have done a remarkable job so far. They have done better than a lot of MMA experts thought. Enter two more legitimate contenders in the middleweight division: Tim Kennedy and Roger Gracie.

Kennedy was one of the best middleweights in Strikeforce. He went 4-2 and his two losses came against Ronald "Jacare" Souza and Luke Rockhold for the middleweight belt. Both fights were close but Kennedy got Frankie Edgar'd. Tim Kennedy is Chael Sonnen's long lost brother. He just goes out and competes, he doesn't care who he fights. You know he is a badass because he doesn't need a nickname. Kennedy is a very well-rounded fighter with good wrestling and has an excellent submission game. 13 of his 15 career wins have been by stoppage and eight by submission. Kennedy trains with Greg Jackson's camp, arguably the best camp in the world. The U.S. Army sergeant is ready to roll this Saturday and an impressive UFC debut could land him a big-time opponent next time around.

It's always nice to see a Gracie compete in the UFC. The UFC wouldn't be where it is at today if it wasn't for the Gracie family. Royce Gracie helped globalize the UFC and put the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and more importantly, Brazilian jiu-jitsu on the map. Roger Gracie has not dissapointed the family name. From 2003-10 he competed in the World Jiu-Jitsu Championships and won 10 gold medals and five silvers. It is by far the most gold medals won by anyone competing in the Mundials. After winning gold in the Super Heavyweight division and the Absolute division at the 2010 Mundials, he decided to focus solely on mixed martial arts. Gracie has transitioned well in MMA and has gone 6-1. His only loss was to the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion, Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal. Five of his six career wins have come by, yes you guessed it, submission. He enters the cage on Saturday night riding a two-fight win streak.

This is a tough matchup to pick. Both fighters aren't the best on the feet. Kennedy has the edge standing up, by default. Gracie is trying to do one thing, get his opponent on the ground, even if he has to pull guard. His submission game is arguably the best in the world. Kennedy has a very good ground game but he will try and keep this fight on the feet. Expect a lot of leg kicks and jabs to keep Gracie off balanced. The former U.S. Army sergeant has a very good wrestling pedigree and it will be important to stuff any takedowns to keep this fight on the feet. Gracie is a wizard from any position on the ground, if it gets to the canvas it could be a quick night for Kennedy. I think Kennedy's wrestling will be huge in this fight, not to get takedowns, but to keep this fight on the feet.

PREDICTION: Tim Kennedy via Unanimous Decision

            MAIN CARD: Mark Munoz vs. Tim Boetsch

Mark Munoz was on his way to a shot at Anderson Silva until he ran into the Weidman train. He reeled off four wins in a row against Chris Leben, Demian Maia, C.B. Dollaway, Aaron Simpson and had won seven of his last eight before Weidman knocked him out cold. This is a huge fight for Munoz because a second consecutive loss would send him far back in the pecking order in the middleweight division. "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" has had an impressive run inside the octagon going 7-3 with three knockout wins and one submission victory. (It really should be four knockouts, Ryan Jensen submitted to strikes.) The Vallejo native is one of the best wrestlers in the middleweight division and has lethal ground and pound. At Vallejo High he was a two-time California state champion. At Oklahoma State University he won two Big 12 titles and earned back-to-back All-American honors. He became the first Filipino American to win a National Championship in division one. Munoz has transitioned into a well-rounded mixed martial artist and needs an impressive performance to get close to the top of the middleweight division.

Tim Boetsch is the definition of a blue collar fighter. He isn't the most talented but he will outwork you any day of the week. Dropping down a weight class was the smartest move "The Barbarian" made. He was a perfect 4-0 inside the octagon at middleweight before Costas Phillipou ruined his impressive run. He had one of the best comebacks in UFC history when he knocked out Yushin Okami at UFC 144 in the third and final round. He welcomed Hector Lombard to the UFC and ended his 20-fight win streak. Boetsch trains with Matt Hume's camp, AMC Pankration, one of the most underrated camps in the world. This is going to be a very interesting matchup because both have wrestling backgrounds and have a better than average striking arsenal.

This fight is 50-50 in my eyes. Mark Munoz is coming off a devastating loss and surgery to repair bone spurs in his elbow. He is eager to get back in the octagon, but sometimes that is not always good. It will be important for him to patient and not try and force anything. Last time he tried that was during his UFC debut when Matt Hamill landed a brutal head-kick KO. I don't see that happening this time around. Expect a very impressive Munoz on Saturday night. Boetsch is going to try and make this fight ugly and drag it out. He wants Munoz to get frustrated but I don't see "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" abandoning his gameplan. The former Oklahoma State alum will find a way to squeak out a very close decision thanks to his very strong wrestling game.

PREDICTION: Mark Munoz via Split-Decision

             MAIN CARD: Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Siver

A lot of people thought Cub Swanson was past his prime after Jose Aldo ended his night with a flying knee eight seconds into their matchup at WEC 41 just over four years ago. He went 2-2 after that knockout and a lot of MMA experts didn't think he'd last long in the UFC. Funny how things change. He has won four in a row since then and three have come by knockout. Expect Swanson to look for another knockout win because he feels disrespected that he's not fighting in the Co-Main Event. Charles Oliveira is getting a crack at Edgar, and he is one of the knockout victims during Swanson's four-fight win streak. (Swanson KO of Oliveira). Since his loss to Chad Mendes at WEC 50, back in August 2010, he made the best decision of his life. He moved from Palm Springs to Albuquerque and started training full time with Greg Jackson's camp. He's gone 5-1 and has quickly become the best Cub Swanson we have seen. He is on the cusp of a title shot at 145 lbs., and more importantly, another shot at Jose Aldo.

Dennis Siver continues to go under the radar. Since dropping down to featherweight he has gone 2-0. He has won six of his last seven and 10 of 12. The 34-year old German is one of the best kickboxers in the UFC and has a very underrated submission game. Of his 20 career MMA wins he has finished two-thirds of his opponents (five by knockout and nine via submission). He is still looking for his first finish in the 145 lb. division after winning his first two by decision against Diego Nunes and Nam Phan. Siver thinks he deserves to be in the title picture too and an impressive performance against Swanson will skyrocket him among the top contenders in the featherweight division.

As Bart Scott says, "I can't wait" for this one. This is the perfect fight to start off the night on Pay-Per-View. It's the Fourth of July weekend and expect a lot of fireworks in this one. Both of these guys are very good on the feet. If this fight goes the distance, or at least makes it to the second round, it has a great chance to steal "Fight of the Night" honors. They have combined for 28 finishes in their MMA careers but it'll be hard for either fighter to walk away with a knockout. Siver has only been knocked out once in his 29 career MMA fights, against Melvin Guillard, one of the best knockout artists in the UFC. The only time Swanson was finished by strikes was against Jose Aldo, enough said. I see this fight staying on the feet and both chins will be tested. Swanson is second all-time in the featherweight division (WEC/UFC) landing 48% of his strikes. Swanson will be too quick for Siver on Saturday night and has a good chance to land first against the German.

PREDICTION: Cub Swanson by TKO - Rd. 1

FX PRELIM PREDICTIONS

Chris Leben over Andrew Craig - TKO (Rd. 2)

Norman Parke over Kazuki Tokudome - Split Decision

Gabriel Gonzaga over Dave Herman - Submission (Rd. 1)

Edson Barboza over Rafaello Oliveira - TKO (Rd. 1)


FACEBOOK PRELIM PREDICTIONS

Seth Baczynski over Brian Melancon - Submission (Rd. 2)

Mike Pierce over David Mitchell - Unanimous Decision

NBA: Let The Freenzy Begin

By: Zack Poff

This years NBA Finals was one of the best ever and definitely the most entertaining in a very long time. It was only the fifth NBA Finals series to reach a Game 7 since 1988. LeBron James shut his haters up for the second consecutive season and did so emphatically averaging 34.5 PPG, 11 RPG, and 7.5 APG with his team facing elimination in the final two games of the series. 

As the guys from Comedy Central's Workaholics say "Get Weird" because that is exactly what happened after the 2012-13 season officially ended.

Coaches were getting canned more than freshman on the first Friday of the school year. Five coaches made the playoffs and received pink slips or weren't re-signed, including the "Coach of the Year" George Karl. Doc Rivers was traded to the Clippers, okay I'm sorry David Stern, he was "let go" by the Celtics for a 2015 first round draft pick. The Celtics weren't done there. They shipped Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Jason Terry to Brooklyn for 99 problems. That's right, Jay-Z got out of Brooklyn so he could take over the agency game, and Hova is. Philadelphia shipped out their lone All-Star from last year in Jrue Holiday for the rights to Nerlens Noel. I feel sorry for Holiday, now he has to wear a jersey that says Pelicans across his chest. Poor dude. The 2013 NBA Draft was really one of the most bizarre of all-time. Nobody had Anthony Bennett going first overall and everyone thought Noel and Ben McLemore would go first and second overall but instead went sixth and seventh respectively. 

I can almost guarantee things will continue to get even crazier as the clock ticks down and we are getting closer to finding out who will have a one-hour show making the best decision of their life. 

Okay, nobody better do that again. 

Don't get any ideas Mr. Howard. 

The NBA free agency period is hours from starting and there are some marquee names on the market. The two biggest names are Dwight Howard and Chris Paul but we won't even mention CP3 because he's staying put in Hollywood. The same can't be said for Howard but we will get to that later. 

Some other big time names include: Josh Smith, Andre Iguodala, Andrew Bynum, David West, Brandon Jennings (R), Paul Millsap, J.R. Smith, Jeff Teague (R), Tyreke Evans (R), Al Jefferson, Manu Ginobili, Monta Ellis, Nikola Pekovic (R) and Tony Allen.

(R) = Restricted Free Agent 

If your team is searching for that certain role player there are a ton of cheaper assets on the market that include: Tiago Splitter, Andre Kirilenko, Kevin Martin, Kyle Korver, Devin Harris, Nate Robinson, Gerald Henderson (R), Marco Belinelli, Marreese Speights, Darren Collison (R), O.J. Mayo, Corey Brewer, Jose Calderon, Jarrett Jack, Carl Landry, Francisco Garcia, Matt Barnes, Earl Clark, J.J. Redick, Mike Dunleavy, Al-Farouq Aminu, Nick Young, J.J. Hickson, Randy Foye and Mo Williams.

Once 12:01 ET gets here on July 1st teams can officially contact players and let the flirting begin. Better take a few shots and ease up because it is time to dish out the dollar dollar bills ya'll and sway players to come ball out for your squad. Lets have some fun and predict where these superstars and role players are heading this summer.

DWIGHT HOWARD

I think there are two teams that have a realistic chance to sign Dwight Howard: Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. Howard is set to meet with these five teams: Rockets, Warriors, Mavericks, Hawks and the Lakers. It will be near impossible for the Warriors to sign Howard because of cap space. The Rockets, Mavericks and Hawks all have enough cap space and won't have to work out a sign and trade. 

I would throw out Atlanta because for some odd reason Howard is not intrigued to play in front of his hometown. The Mavericks are the dark horse in this race but I don't see Seabiscuit coming out of the gates so don't bet on the horse from Dallas. Golden State has a very good young team and will continue to get better. They played the Western Conference Champions better than anyone in the Western Conference and if they didn't blow a 16-point lead with four minutes left in Game 1 who knows how that series would have played out. The problem is the Warriors will have to trade at least one of their young pieces in a sign and trade with the Lakers because of salary cap issues. Golden State is wishing they didn't waste their amnesty on Charlie Bell last season and saved it for Andris Biedrins $9 million he is due next season. The Warriors could throw in David Lee or Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes or Klay Thompson to L.A. but I don't see a trade happening between L.A. and Golden State. 

This leaves us with two teams: Houston and Los Angeles. The Lakers asked Howard to save the best for last and they get the final meeting. However, I don't think it matters. Him and the Lakers 115th coach over the last two years, Mike D'Antoni don't see eye to eye. (Isn't it time they take the D out of his last name because he is allergic to it.) You could sense last season Howard did not enjoy playing with Kobe Bryant. No offense to Howard but he is a very sensitive guy and sensitivity and Kobe Bryant go together like Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian. The one thing the Lakers have that no other team has is an extra year and $30 million extra dollars in Howard's bank account and being able to live in Hollywood. Just please stay away from Kazaam II if you stay in Los Angeles.  

The Houston Rockets only have four players who are due to make over $3 million next season. They are sitting $19 million under the projected $58.5 million dollar salary cap for the 2013-14 season so signing Howard would not be a problem at all for Houston. They are up first to set the bar high. The Rockets have their version of the A-Team waiting in Hollywood to wine and dine Howard. They are hoping he is ready to commit to a long relationship and put out (get your mind out of the gutter) on the court. Kevin McHale, Hakeem Olajuwon, James Harden, Chandler Parsons, Daryl Morey (GM), and Les Alexander (owner) are hoping they can convince Howard to join them in Houston. The Rockets have a really good chance to sign Howard to a maximum 4-year deal worth $88 million because they have a boatload of young talent and he would get to be Superman again. Kind of hard to be Superman when you are playing with the Black Mamba. James Harden won't have a problem being Robin, the eye mask will fit perfectly with his beard. 

PREDICTION: Houston we have a problem, but signing Dwight Howard won't be one. Howard spurns the Lakers and signs a four-year maximum contract with the Rockets. 

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

This leads us right into what will the Lakers do if Howard bounces. The Lakers are already over the salary cap even without Dwight Howard. Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are on the books for next season right under $50 million. The Lakers are one of 15 teams who haven't used their amnesty clause and they could chose to use it on Metta World Peace or Gasol and free up some cap space. Gasol is due to make $19.3 million and MWP is owed nearly $8 million. I would amnesty Gasol but I don't see the Lakers doing that because Kobe Bryant is a huge Gasol fan. 

The Lakers look at the salary cap like women do when it comes to shopping: There is no spending limit. Sorry ladies, but facts are facts. 

I am buying into the hype and Dwight Howard is gone so here is plan B for the Lakeshow: Monta Ellis and three role players. Ellis really wants to come back to California and Hollywood would be a perfect match for him. Both parties have shown mutual interest but the same thing could happen to the Lakers that happened to the Cavaliers in the summer of 2010. Sit and wait then miss out on the other big name free agents.

The Lakers need another big man if Howard bounces and perimeter shooters. Tiago Splitter or J.J. Hickson would be a nice pickup for Los Angeles to go along with Nick Young and Kyle Korver. Young is a poor man's Jamal Crawford and could be the scoring the Lakers need off the bench. He played really well in his hometown for the Clippers two years ago in the postseason and going back to Hollywood would be a perfect home for Young. Korver would be perfect for D'Antoni's system to stretch the floor. The Lakers might not sign a center and try and go after Carl Landry to help on the defensive side of the floor. 

PREDICTION: Monta Ellis, Kyle Korver, Nick Young and J.J. Hickson call Los Angeles home. 

JOSH SMITH

While everyone is focusing in on Howard and Paul, Josh Smith is arguably the most underrated superstar in the NBA. He is one of the most athletic players in the game and is a very underrated defender. Over the last four seasons Smith is averaging 17.1 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 BPG and 1.4 SPG. The guy does it all and his game continues to get overlooked. Outside of LeBron James he is one of the few players who can really guard any position in the league. There are plenty of suitors who are ready to dish out some big-time doe to bring in J-Smoove.

The Boston Celtics want to make a deal for Smith. They will have to work out a sign and trade with Atlanta and after shipping Pierce and Garnett this has a chance of happening. Smith has shown a lot of interest to play in Boston and ball with his former Oak Hill Academy HS teammate, Rajon Rondo. Rondo and Smith hope they get the chance to do this in Boston Green. Josh Smith could help Boston get over one of the worst sports weeks in Boston history, don't worry Buckner you are still holding down the top spot. The Boston Bruins gave up two goals in 17 seconds in Game 6 on their home ice, blowing a 2-1 lead, and losing the Cup in six. Doc Rivers was sent packing to the West Coast. Aaron Hernandez had one too many pieces of bubble gum and the "Big Three Era" is officially over in Boston. So grab some tea and hope it's time to party with Josh Smith in Boston.

The Detroit Pistons are another strong suitor for Smith. They can give him a four-year max contract to build around Greg Monroe, Andre Drummond and Brandon Knight. The question is does Smith want to win now or does he care more about getting a max contract at the age of 27. He is in his prime and this could very well be the last time he gets a chance to get a max deal. 

The Bucks, Mavericks, Rockets and Spurs have all shown interest in Smith.

PREDICTION: The Celtics and Hawks work out a sign and trade deal. Smith and Rondo reunite and help Boston fans get over the "Big Three Era." 

*Dallas has a really good chance to land Smith too, it's just a matter if they want to give him a max contract or wait until the 2014 free agency period.

Rapid Fire: The Best of the Top Tier Free Agents

ANDREW BYNUM: Re-signs with Philadelphia 

DAVID WEST: Re-signs with Indiana

J.R. SMITH: Signs with Chicago

BRANDON JENNINGS: Re-signs with Milwaukee

PAUL MILLSAP: Signs with Dallas

AL JEFFERSON: Signs with San Antonio

ANDRE IGUODALA: Signs with Dallas

TYREKE EVANS: Signs with New Orleans

TONY ALLEN: Signs with Detroit

JEFF TEAGUE: Re-signs with Atlanta

MANU GINOBILI: Signs with Atlanta

NIKOLA PEKOVIC: Re-signs with Minnesota

The Best of the Rest

KEVIN MARTIN: Signs with Milwaukee

DEVIN HARRIS: Signs with Cleveland

ANDRE KIRILENKO: Signs with Dallas

DARREN COLLISON: Signs with Minnesota

O.J. MAYO: Signs with Philadelphia

MATT BARNES: Re-signs with L.A. Clippers

TIAGO SPLITTER: Signs with Portland

NATE ROBINSON: Signs with Detroit

GERALD HENDERSON: Re-signs with Charlotte

J.J. REDICK: Signs with New York

MO WILLIAMS: Signs with Indiana

RANDY FOYE: Signs with L.A. Lakers



EARL CLARK: Re-signs with L.A. Lakers


JARRETT JACK: Signs with Dallas

CARL LANDRY: Signs with Portland

JOSE CALDERON: Signs with L.A. Clippers


As my boy Nicholas Xay always says, "Grab your popcorn" because this is going to be a very interesting free agency period. The Miami Heat are looking to be the first team to three-peat since the 2000-02 Los Angeles Lakers. We will have to wait and see if your team adds that last piece to the puzzle to make sure James and company don't become the sixth team in NBA history to three-peat. This is the deepest pool of free agents since James, Wade, and Bosh announced they were taking their talents to South Beach so just sit back and enjoy reading the bottom line on ESPN for the next couple of weeks. Teams can't officially sign players until July 10th but once 12:01 gets here in a matter of hours teams can officially start fishing for the biggest prizes in the game.

Yasiel Puig Has Taken Baseball By Storm

By: Zack Poff 

After one week everyone said it wouldn't last.

Two weeks went by and people started to wonder if they were believing what they were seeing.

25 days have passed and he still hasn't taken his foot off the gas pedal.

If anything, Yasiel Puig has gone way past the speed limit recklessly, for the second time this year, except this time he's doing it in a good way: on the diamond.

The 22-year old Cuban sensation was everything the Dodgers organization needed. Los Angeles was dishing out money left and right trying to build a winning franchise, surpassing the New York Yankees with the highest payroll in baseball. The Dodgers 215+ million dollar payroll is the highest in Major League Baseball history and it is the first time since 1998 the Yankees weren't the top spenders in the game. 

However, having the No. 1 payroll doesn't guarantee anything. Baseball is a very unique sport and it takes a lot more than dollar bills to have success. It's not about having the best player in the world like basketball or having the best quarterback to lead your team to destiny. Baseball is truly the hardest sport to predict and hockey is the only other sport among the major four that you could make an argument. Baseball and hockey haven't had a repeat champion in this millennium. 

Before Puig was called up on June 3rd, the Dodgers were sitting in last place in the NL West, eight and a half games out of first place. The Miami Marlins and the Milwaukee Brewers were the only teams in the National League with a worse record than Los Angeles. Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford were on the disabled list and the Dodgers were desperate for a spark. 

They reached in their "Puiggy" bank and hit the jackpot. Puig has reached base safely in all but two of the 25 games he has played in and has 13 multi-hit games. Puig has been just as entertaining to watch in the outfield as he has been in the batters box. The guy has a cannon and goes after every ball like it is the 27th out. He plays with a relentless passion for the game, something the Dodgers were lacking during the first 54 games of the season. He is built like Patrick Willis, runs like Chris Johnson and has a Brett Favre cannon for an arm. 

He did something no other baseball player has done in the live-ball era (since 1920): 32 hits and seven HR's through his first 20 career games. 

Through his first 25 games he is batting .424 with seven long-balls and 16 RBI's. He has a 1.115 OPS and most importantly the Dodgers are 13-11 in the 24 games he has started this year. 

However, the most important aspect Puig has attributed to the Dodgers doesn't show up on the stat sheet: excitement. Los Angeles has been a totally different ball club since they called him up from the minors. They weren't playing like a team, there was no excitement in the clubhouse or the stands, and they were simply not playing good baseball.

A lot has changed since the month of June begun. The Dodgers went 10-17 in May, the worst they have done in May since they moved to Los Angeles in 1958.

Enter Yasiel Puig. He made playing baseball fun again for a team that was desperate for momentum. The Dodgers were pressing way too much and forgot how to play the game like it's supposed to be played: go out and have fun. Don Mattingly was on the outside looking in with a ton of pressure managing the highest payroll the game has ever seen. I really don't think his job was on the line but Puig took a lot of pressure off the shoulders of the third year skipper. 

Since Puig joined the Dodgers no one has more hits or a higher batting average than the 22-year old outfielder. He has taken baseball by storm and has been the talk of the game this month. I am still on the fence on if he should be an All-Star because he has only started 24 games and appeared in 25. I think the National League would love to have Puig on their roster. It's a win-win situation. The main purpose of the game is to please the fans and there hasn't been a more trending player in the game than Mr. Puig. Forget about "Tebowmania" it's now "Puigomania" time. 

Bruce Bochy, manager of the San Francisco Giants, said it would be extremely difficult to select Puig to the All-Star team because he hasn't played in enough games. Puig answered going 6-12 with a HR and 2 RBI in a three-game sweep against the Giants earlier this week to try and change Bochy's opinion.

Furthermore, there is a lot on the line winning the All-Star game with the winner awarded home-field advantage in the World Series. Yasiel Puig would definitely help out the National League roster tremendously. It is hard to argue there are 34 other players who are more deserving than Puig. He has been one of the best players in June and you could make the argument he has had the best individual month among anyone this season. 

The phrase "five-tool player" gets overused way too much in the game of baseball. That is not the case with Yasiel Puig. Vin Scully said it best, "I have never seen anyone do what he has done in a such a short period of time." He continued to say, "I've never seen a a player who is a five-tool player show all five tools in his first three career games." Scully has only been around the game of baseball since 1950. 

Whether or not the Dodgers rookie phenom continues his rapid pace it is amazing to just sit back and watch what he has done to start his young career. 

Exactly a year ago today the Dodgers inked Puig to a seven-year deal worth $42 million. 365 days later he has a good chance to win "National League Player of the Month." You can believe in the Puig hype or continue to say it won't last but you have to tip your cap to the remarkable start the Cuban phenom has had. 

Immaturity was a big question mark with Puig but that has been far from the truth. No one said he could continue his hot start but his 39 hits are most in the Majors in the month of June. We live in a society where it's about the now and Yasiel Puig has taken over the game of baseball and is trending more than North West. Even the 85-year old Vin Scully took over twitter for the Dodgers and was tweeting about Yasiel Puig. If Scully gets on twitter because of Puig this young Cuban phenom has truly become a major hit not just in baseball, but nationwide. 

Yasiel Puig highlights