Five Good Questions with . . Sean Clancy of ST Publishing about the Preakness

Today’s Five Good Questions is with Sean Clancy.....Sean is the editor and publisher of ST Publishing, producers of The Saratoga Special, Steeplechase Times, Keeneland Special and other equine projects....he also freelances for The Blood-Horse and Mid Atlantic Thoroughbred....he is also the author of Barbaro: The Horse Who Captured America’s Heart.....today, Sean talks about Saturday’s 132nd Preakness Stakes....

Q1. Were you surprised that jockey Calvin Borel (photo) was able to stay along the rail and work his way to a Kentucky Derby victory?
I wasn’t completely surprised that Borel could make up so much ground on the rail, when you’re riding a horse who's traveling well, its amazing how easy it is to make decisions, like driving a Ferrari as opposed to a Pinto. Holes open and you get to them quickly. He had so much horse the whole way, that he if the rail wasn’t open, I'm sure he could have gone around horses and still won.

Q2. Borel is known to keep his horses along the rail. Do you think he must change that strategy in order to win this Saturday?
Staying on the rail isn't the only strategy for Borel, he's been around long enough to know that he's got to adjust and call audibles during a race. Like any jockey, the first choice is to stay on the rail, but if it's not there, you go to plan B. In a short field like the Preakness, its even less important to stay on the rail, like they say, never go up in the inside of one horse and never go around two. In the Preakness, because of the short field, jockeys will be able to watch their inside better than in the Derby so Borel won't be thinking the rail is the only the way to win the Preakness.

Q3. Do you think Street Sense (photo) has what it takes to win the Triple Crown?
Sure, Street Sense has what it takes to win the Triple Crown - he's got the Derby, that's the most important thing. He’s sound, steady, not over-raced, classy and shown he's the best of the group. Only having two preps leading to the Derby can only help him during the rigors of the Triple Crown. As we know, though, the water gets deeper from here.

Q4. Are there any Kentucky Derby horses that you think just had a bad day who can come back and win the Preakness and Belmont like Afleet Alex did a few years ago?
Curlin ran well in the Derby, I'm not crazy about him coming back in two weeks for the Preakness, but he’s a big, sound horse who should benefit from a smaller field and having more experience under his belt. Tiago ran a decent race in the Derby, Circular Quay didn't run badly and might run better in the Belmont, if they choose that route. (Note - Circular Quay is running in the Preakness)

Q5. Finally, which horses do you have to place in this week's Preakness and who is your darkhorse?
Street Sense stands out, obviously, Hard Spun has proven his mettle all spring and it might be daft to ignore him again, speed is always dangerous but not sure Xchanger or King Of The Roxy could pull it off with so much heat amongst them. I'll wait until I see them and make a decision on their appearance....

I want to thank Sean for taking the time to respond.....it is much appreciated....there will be no column on Friday because I will be at a work related conference....I will have Preakness predictions on Saturday

Five Good Questions with . . . Railbird Roberts about The Preakness

Today’s Five Good Questions is with our resident horse racing expert, Railbird Roberts.....the Railbird gives us his thoughts about Saturday’s Preakness Stakes - the second leg of the Triple Crown....

Q1. What do you think of Street Sense's victory in the Kentucky Derby? Is he a good horse, or was he just fortunate that everything broke the right way in order for him to come back from 19th?
Street Sense's victory was very impressive. Only one other horse in the history of the race has closed from 19th place, that being Gato del Sol. Yes, he was fortunate to get through traffic on the rail, but luck is a part of racing.

Q2. Do you think Street Sense is capable of pulling off the Triple Crown?
Yes, he is very capable of winning the Triple Crown. It was a long way back to most of the horses behind him in Louisville.

Q3. The Preakness is a shorter race than The Derby. So what is a jockey's strategy going into this race in order to beat Street Sense?
The strategy in the Preakness isn't much different than in Louisville. By the way, the turns are not tighter at Pimlico than they are at Churchill Downs. If anything, the turns are tighter in Louisville.

Q4. Are there any Kentucky Derby horses that you think just had a bad day who can come back and win the Preakness and Belmont like Afleet Alex did a few years ago?
The Derby was clean. Nobody had a bad trip.

Q5. Do you think trainer Todd Pletcher will ever win a Kentucky Derby race?
Pletcher will eventually win a Derby. He has too many owners with good horses not to get a Derby victory.

I want to thank Railbird for his time.....we will have his Preakness predictions on Saturday....

Part 2 - An Interview with USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan

Today is the second of a two part interview with USA Today sports columnist and author Christine Brennan.....

Q6: After reading your book, it is clear that you love sports. However, being a professional journalist, has there ever been a sporting event that you were covering that you got caught up in the moment and found yourself pulling for a certain team or player?
CB: Sure, at times you may be pulling for someone. We are human beings. A lot of Olympic events where you are sitting watching someone compete and you’re thinking of all the hard work and years and years that has gone into this, you find your heart beating a little faster. It’s not that you are cheering for them but you are aware of the moment. You know how important it is to them. I’m not cheering or hollering or standing up giving an ovation. Of course there is no cheering in the pressbox. But inside, sure you are aware of what it means to someone who is competing.

For instance at the Albertville Olympics in 1992, Kristi Yamaguchi, who I barely knew, I was watching her skate the long program and I remember thinking this is a big deal for her. And, you want to see the athlete capture the moment. You don’t want to see these athletes fall or miss a jump. Even her competitor Midori Ito from Japan, I was thinking the same thing. They are athletes out there and you want to see them have a great battle. You don’t cheer, but you know the importance of it.

Q7: Sports fans always hear the negatives about sports, from Barry Bonds to Pacman Jones to Chris Henry. What are some good things about professional sports?
CB: Most people in pro sports are doing the right thing. Peyton Manning seems to do most things the right way. At this year’s Super Bowl, I watched him out on the field two hours before the game practicing with some of his receivers just in grey sweats. He’s the hardest working man is show business. That was neat to see that. He seems to have his head together. There are so many of these athletes like Andre Agassi and Mia Hamm with all of their foundations and good work in helping others. I think we often don’t hear about the good partially because bad things are newsworthy. Off the top of my head, those are a few athletes who are doing good, but there are many many more who are doing positive things.

I just heard from a friend of mine about Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs about his literacy program in San Antonio. He’s going to all sorts of schools and providing books to read. That is just an example of someone who I never met, but heard about his efforts through a publicist who works with him. I wish there was more opportunity to hear about things like that but the reality is that we only have so much space and news is news.

Q8: You have interviewed so many people. But who would be your dream interview?
CB: To really get inside Tiger Woods head would be great. I’ve been at many many press conferences with him but it would be great to really know what he thinks. Tiger is just such an interesting person and he is a big part of our world and culture today. If I could go back in time, it would be so fascinating to get a chance to talk to Jesse Owens and Adolph Hitler about the 1936 Berlin Olympics. I mean Hitler was an awful awful man. But to know what they were thinking after Owens won would be fascinating.

I think the era of steroids is such a prevalent thing in our society and I do believe strongly it would be valuable to get a chance to talk to Barry Bonds in which he would be totally honest. I’m guessing he would never speak to me because I have been so critical of him – and that’s fine, I don’t care at all about that. If he would be honest, I would love to know the whole story about performance enhancing drugs. I think this is awful, this march to the homerun record is embarrassing. This is the most important number in sports.

Q9: Talking about Bonds, I always tell my friend who is a Pirate fan that Pittsburgh should honor him by retiring his number because when he played for the Pirates he allegedly was never under suspicion of performance enhancing drugs. What do you think?
CB: It’s too bad because the Pittsburgh era was clearly the era when he was not allegedly cheating. But no, I would say based on what we saw with Mark McGwire that he (Bonds) should not be honored even though he may not have cheated in Pittsburgh - he is an alleged cheater now. He is such a terrible influence on our children. That is the part I always look at with athletes. Three to four percent of high school seniors take steroids and that is extraordinary because the Olympics is less than one percent. So we are talking about an incredible number of high school students. I don’t think we should honor him (Bonds). I don’t think Pittsburgh should honor him. I think he is awful.

Personally I hope he never makes it to the Hall of Fame or any type of honor. That’s just my feeling. That also comes from covering the Olympics with Ben Johnson. They kicked him out of the sport.

Q10: Finally, before I let you go, I have to ask you about the 1969 Michigan-Ohio State game. I read in your book how your dad took you and your brother and sister to that game. As a Michigan fan, what was it like that day?
CB: It was fantastic. I was just 11-years-old and it was just incredible to me. At the time, I don’t think I realized the magnitude of the game until after the fact. It was my first Michigan-Ohio State game and my first Big Ten game. To think it was one of the greatest games ever played; how lucky was I to be there for it. Now looking back on it, I have much more of a sense of what it was. To see that great upset. To see Michigan beat the great Ohio State Buckeyes – a team that was defending national champions, a team that had not lost in 1968 or 69. And a little upstart Michigan team beat them was just fantastic. I have to say that was one of those moments that encouraged me to continue to love sports. When I look back, I had so many positive influences that I was lucky to have. Mostly my father, and my mom too, and their encouragement of sports at a time when girls were not encouraged to play sports. I was fortunate to go to those Michigan and Toledo games and have that positive experience.

Once again I want to thank Christine...she was a great interview and I appreciate the time she provided to conduct the interview....

Part 1 - An Interview with USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan

On Thursday, May 10th I had the opportunity to conduct a phone interview with USA Today sports columnist and author Christine Brennan....her column appears every Thursday in the sports section of USA Today and her most recent book is called Best Seat in the House: A Father, A Daughter, A Journey Through Sports....

Brennan was more than gracious with her time as we talked about various aspects of her job and sports in general.....I found her to be a down-to-earth person who was very humble.....today is the first of a two part series from the interview....because of spacing, I used snippets of our interview....also, today is Christine's birthday and I would like to wish her a Happy Birthday.....

Q1: have to ask, why do you do interviews like this? You cover national sports figures but you are taking time to answer questions from someone from the general public.
CB: Well, because you asked and it's fun to talk to different people. My career is based on talking with people. I hear from hundreds of college and high school students every year ranging from questions about term papers to just wanting career advice. I try to talk to every single one of them. I don't think there's anything more important that I could do than to encourage and help others. I'm a big believer in this kind of thing.

Q2: I noticed on the USA Today website, they have a comments section so readers can write in about your columns. Do you read the comments that people write?
CB: I read one or two comments on my Rutgers/(Don) Imus column, but other than that, no. In fact, I didn't know for quite a while that there were comments there (on the webpage). And not to be disrespectful at all, but I just don't have the time to look through all of that.

Q3. What is your views about blogging?
CB: I don't do a blog. But for me, I'm very busy and I don't see a need to do a blog. I feel people know my opinions from my column and I think that is enough. I don't have any over-riding sense that people want to hear what I have to say. I figure once a week is probably enough of me.

Q4: Do you realize that you are a powerful figure in sports because you are a national columnist?
CB: (Laughs) Thanks for the inference there, but I'm just a kid from Toledo who has followed her dreams and just feels very fortunate to be doing what I am doing. I am aware that USA Today goes all over the nation everyday. I am aware of that and I am in awe of that. I worked at the Washington Post for 12 years and I loved that. It was like walking into the pages of a journalism textbook with Ben Bradlee, Katherine Graham, Bob Woodward – it was just the greatest.

But the reach and the scope of USA Today is much greater than The Post and that's the thing that really hit me. I know when I write a column in USA Today that whoever it is I am writing about, whether it be Tiger Woods or Mia Hamm or whomever, I know they will more than likely read that column. I don't know if there is any other publication in the country that you can say that about. So yes, I am aware of the reach and power of my position, and I take that extremely seriously. (Talking about Thursday's column) After I wrote it, I must have checked it at least six, seven, eight times double checking quotes and names. That's how serious I am about this. It's a great gift I have been given and I never want to lose that privilege.

Q5: I was doing my homework for this interview and came across a speech you gave to a class at Northwestern. You mentioned that you did not like covering actual games as much as writing about issues. Why is that?
CB: I still do cover a lot of games. I covered the Super Bowl, the World Series. I'll be at Wimbledon. I'll be at the British Open. The point though is that I have evolved to do other things that I can sink my teeth into like issues of the day, such as steroids in baseball or Title IX or misbehavior of athletes. Those are important things and I don't shy away from those, in fact I gravitate to those things. To me, and I could be wrong, that is just a natural progression of a journalist. I think that I am getting a little older, and hopefully a little wiser. I've covered hundreds and hundreds of games.

I feel very lucky and fortunate to do what I do. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy going to events. And I think that columnists need to go to events – you need to be out there, you need to see people, you need people to see you. If I am critical of someone, I better show up. I'm a big believer if I write something about someone that might be critical, they have my phone number, they have my email, and they have every right to contact me.

Check back tomorrow for the second part of the interview.

Rick Reilly needs to get a life!!!

Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly needs to get a life....I guess we are all not as talented and sophisticated as R2....in the May 7th edition, Reilly wrote that his editor asked him to watch the entire first day of the NFL Draft....he acted as if his boss told him to shove bamboo shoots under his toe nails....

Reilly smugly wrote that there are "some things I don’t get.".....one of those things are "People who sit for 10 hours watching the NFL draft when they can read about the whole shebang in five minutes on the Internet as soon as it’s over."....he also called the fans who attend the draft in New York as ". . . yahoos in jerseys and face pain. But for the love of humanity, why?".....

Personally, I love watching the draft because I love football just as any other sports fan is passionate about their sport.....so what is the difference between a football fan watching 10 hours of the draft and someone who, every weekend, spends hours on end watching cars make endless left turns in NASCAR or heaven forbid, some "yahoo" hitting a little white ball on a hot humid day....Reilly loves golfing, but I don’t rip on people who waste 2-5 hours of their day on a golf course......

Reilly often takes shots at sports stars, such as Tiger Woods about his attitude.....next time he wants to write about a pompous arrogant asshole, he needs to just look in the mirror....

It looks like Dirk Nowitzki is going to win the NBA MVP this year....surprisingly, these players never won a league MVP: Jerry West, Isiah Thomas, Kobe Bryant, Elvin Hayes, Elgin Baylor, and Patrick Ewing.....

At the end of last season it looked like pitcher Jeff Weaver finally started to utilize his talent as he helped St. Louis win the World Series.....that was just an aberration as Weaver has slumped into his old ways again....pitching for Seattle this year, Weaver is 0-6 with a 14.32 ERA.....

Through Friday, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano has only 4 homeruns and stolen bases so far.....Soriano’s slugger teammate Derek Lee has only 2 homers....

If Rudy Giuliani is pro-choice, he needs to have the grapefruits and just say it instead of waffling....that is what killed John Kerry 3 years ago....

Hopefully NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will boot Ricky Williams from the league for life....it was reported that Williams once again tested positive for marijuana....these knuckleheads are wrong when they preach that marijuana is not harmful.....here is a man who has so much football talent, but instead he wasted it because he would rather smoke a doobie.....

Finally, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there....

Clemens - For the Love of the Game ---- NOT!!!

Roger Clemens took the Yankees to the cleaners....as a Yankees fan, I have some serious reservations about the signing....

It has always been about the money for Clemens....the guy is 44-years old and he is trying to fool the public that he is playing for the love of the game - that is crap...he's playing for the $$$$.....

The Yankees are fools for paying $4.5 million a MONTH to a 44-year-old pitcher who can only give you 6 good innings.....and to top it off, the bum doesn’t have to travel with the team if he is not scheduled to start on the road.....

The Yankees do need starting pitching, but general manager Brian Cashman should not have bowed down and kissed Clemens’ ass.....at his age, Clemens should have signed a $4.5 million contract for the season, not per month.....Clemens and his family are financially set for life....he should be grateful that he is still able to pitch and contribute to a possible World Series caliber team.....instead, it was about the money.....don’t let Clemens fool you.....

Coming Monday
"I'm just a kid from Toledo who followed her dreams"
Exclusive interview with national sports columnist Christine Brennan of USA Today....Christine talks about some of the good things in sports.....what it's like covering sporting events....and how she got started in journalism.....

Five Good Questions with . . . Rob Bradford & Ed Price about the Red Sox & Yankees

Today we have a classic doubleheader - Red Sox - Yankees.....today’s "Five Good Questions" is with Rob Bradford of The Boston Herald and Ed Price of The Newark Star-Ledger.....Rob covers the Boston Red Sox while Ed covers the New York Yankees.....first up is Rob about the Sox....

Q1. Just over a month into the season, how would rate the Red Sox performance so far?
There are few things which you can pinpoint as disappointments for this team thus far (other than the loss of Roger Clemens). The biggest concern through spring training, the bullpen, has been both protected by the starters' workload, but has come through when counted upon. The bottom the order is starting to hit thanks to the recent hot stretch by Coco Crisp, and most recently, Dustin Pedroia. Perhaps Daisuke Matsuzaka's struggles have come somewhat of a surprise, but he has also shown enough to believe that production isn't far away. It is one month, but you can only go by what you see so far.

Q2. With a lot of the leaders, such as Trot Nixon, Kevin Millar, Johnny Damon, etc, from the 2004 team gone, who is now the clubhouse leader?
Obviously you have Jason Varitek serving the role as the captain, but I think a couple of steady influences have been Mike Lowell and Alex Cora. Both are very professional and seem to set somewhat of a tone. David Ortiz also supplies a pretty big presence in the clubhouse.

Q3. Dice-K has not looked that spectacular so far. Is he just another over-priced pitcher?
Again, I don't think after what he has shown in spring training and early in the season that you can classify Matsuzaka as a bust. Put it this way, if the season ended today and he became a free agent how much money do you think he would command? The answer is a lot ... top of the rotation kind of coin. He just needs to figure out a few things in terms of pitching from the stretch, which is where his problems have popped up. But it certainly seems like a fixable problem.

Q4. What areas do the Sox have to improve upon?
Julio Lugo has to show a bit more offensively at the top of the order, and Hideki Okajima has to prove he can be an 8th inning guy over an extended period of time. I think that the emergence of Alex Cora has really allowed the Red Sox some flexibility with Pedroia's progression and Lugo's effectiveness.

Q5. Last question, the Sox have taken 5 of 6 from the Yankees. Are the Sox that much better than New York or did Boston just catch the Yanks in a slump?
The true test against the Yankees won't come until both rotations are at full strength and matched up against one another. That moment may come in early June at Fenway Park. When healthy, you have two pretty evenly matched teams. The problem for New York is that while it was riding out this rash of injuries to its starters the bullpen has been drastically over-used. The return of Clemens makes it a lot more fun, doesn't it?

Now Ed Price about the Yankees....

Q1. First off, with the sweep of Texas and wins on Saturday and Sunday, has the pressure cooled a bit on Joe Torre about losing his job?
I think the Clemens announcement and the team's recent play has everyone on the Yankees optimistic, so Torre seems to be safe.

Q2. What do you expect from Roger Clemens this season?
He is in his mid-40s? He is 45. But he shows few signs of slowing. I expect him to be able to give 6 innings of 3-run ball most of the time -- good enough to win with the Yankees lineup.

Q3. Have the New York fans finally relented and accepted A-Rod?
A-Rod will be accepted wholeheartedly if he helps the Yankees win a World Series, like Scott Brosius or Tino Martinez.

Q4. What is the status of Mariano Rivera?
I think Rivera will be OK, but one of these years he has to drop off -- I think.

Q5. After a terrible April, have the Yankees begun to steady the ship and get back on course for the rest of the season?
I think there are still pitching questions, so it will be an uphill battle.....

I want to thank Rob and Ed for their time....

Five Good Questions with . . . Rick Braun of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the Brewers

Today's "Five Good Questions" is with Rick Braun of The Milwakee Journal-Sentinel....Rick covers the Milwaukee Brewers and was gracious enough to take a few minutes to respond about the Brewers stellar season so far....

Q1. Are you surprised the Brewers have one of the best records in baseball so far?
I would say I'm not surprised they're good, but the best record in baseball has to be a surprise. Still, it's no fluke. They have top-notch starting pitching and a top-notch bullpen.

Q2. Before last season, the Brewers were many publications "surprise" team. However, that did not happen last year. Why are the Brewers a better team than they were last season?
Well, the easy answer is they aren't having the injuries they had last year. Hardy is playing like he's Robin Yount in his prime, and he missed all but the first six weeks last year. Fielder is the real deal. At this point last year, almost to the date, they lost Sheets and Tomo Ohka for extended periods. This year they may very well have the best five-man rotation in baseball. And they have the depth to withstand injuries this year.

Q3. Many people across the country do not know much about manager Ned Yost. Briefly tell us about him and his baseball philosophy.
Simply put, he's just a baseball guy. Lives it, breathes it. And he's not afraid to go against the grain every now and then.

Q4. What are the strengths of the Milwaukee team?
Probably the best pitching in baseball from a 1-12 standpoint. They have five starters and a good starter in the bullpen and another good, young starter at Triple-A in Yovani Gallardo, who is a future No. 1 starter.

Q5. What areas must the Brewers improve upon in order to stay in the race?
Just stay healthy and maybe add a left-hander for the bullpen. Other than that, just keep doing what they're doing.

I want to thank Rick for taking the time to respond.....

Coming next week!!! -- an interview with USA Today sports columnist Christine Brennan....

Five Good Questions with . . . Bruce Jenkins of The S.F. Chronicle about the Golden State Warriors

Today's "Five Good Questions" is with Bruce Jenkins of The San Francisco Chronicle....Bruce covers the Golden State Warriors and was gracious enough to take a few minutes to respond after the Warriors' stunning upset of Dallas last week.....

Q1. How significant was this series win for the Golden State franchise?
It was its most significant in 32 years, since the night they beat Washington for the 1975 NBA title. Their last playoff appearance was 1994, their last first-round victory 1991. But this ranks so high because it is, literally, the biggest playoff upset in NBA history.

Q2. Why did the Warriors have Dallas' "number" this year? Why were they able to beat this team?
Because they found a way to defense Dirk Nowitzki and because Don Nelson, who basically groomed Dallas coach Avery Johnson for his job, is a superior basketball mind.

Q3. How far do you think the Warriors can go in the playoffs?
I think they will win the next round, against either Utah or Houston, but lose to either San Antonio or Phoenix.

Q4. In your opinion, was it good for the NBA as a whole to see its best team, Dallas, lose in the first round?
If it were a truly compelling team like Phoenix, it would have been a disaster. After watching this hopeless-looking Dallas team at work, I don't think anybody's going to miss them.

Q5. Could you talk about the play and leadership of Baron Davis?
Only injuries have slowed his play, which has been on a world-class level since his days at UCLA. His toughness is remarkable, especially as he plays through knee and hamstring injuries. He leads the team by playing through pain, telling the guys there is no such thing as pressure, and by taking the important shots.

I want to thank Bruce for taking the time to respond......

Note - There will be no blog entry tomorrow because I will be at an all-day work-related conference....."Five Good Questions" will be back on Wednesday with a report from Rick Braun of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the red-hot Brewers.....

Kentucky Derby Predictions

It’s the first Saturday in May and that means one thing – It’s DERBY DAY!!!.....

Let’s talk horses....there are 20 horses and we need to eliminate some in order to make our selections....The Wall Street Journal’s Allen St. John helped us out with that....in yesterday’s edition, he wrote that the last 15 Derby winners finished at least fourth or better in its final prep race...

He went on to write that a strong performance does not mean a victory though....the Wood Memorial is considered the premier prep race....however, since 1982, only one Wood winner – Fusaichi Pegasus (2000) went on to win the Derby....he continued that the last winner of the Santa Anita Derby to win in Kentucky was Sunday Silence in 1989....the last horse to win the Blue Grass Stakes and follow-up with a Derby win was Strike the Gold in 1991....

Therefore, that means Nobiz Like Sobiz (winner of the Wood Memorial), Tiago (Santa Anita), and Dominican (Blue Grass) will not win the Derby....

Curlin may be the favorite, but I think come post time, the "hot" horse will be Street Sense.....according to Andy Beyer, in yesterday’s Washington Post, he wrote, ". . . no 3-year-old has been pointed toward tomorrow’s race more thoughtfully than Street Sense."....

Railbird Roberts also picked Street Sense as did my dad....even my track friend Lenny is going with Street Sense......the Street Sense delegation looks solid, but Rick Snider and myself like Scat Daddy....Snider wrote, in his column yesterday, that he wanted a horse who is a ". . . stalker who can jump up at the top of the stretch . . . "....to him, Scat Daddy is that horse....I went with Scat Daddy because trainer Todd Pletcher has never had a Derby winner....he has two good shots today with Scat Daddy and Circular Quay....one of them will hit it big for Pletcher....

So here are some picks:
Railbird Roberts - Thistledown Race Track
Win - Street Sense
Place - Great Hunter
Show - Circular Quay
Darkhorse - Sam P.

Rick Snider - Examiner Newspapers
Win - Scat Daddy
Place - Zanjero
Show - Curlin

Ignatius - my dad
Win - Street Sense
Place - Curlin
Show - Nobiz Like Shobiz

My picks
Win - Scat Daddy
Place - Circular Quay
Show - Stormello
Darkhorse - Storm in May

Who knows what will happen once I get down the track today....I remember in 2002 I went down there all hot for Harlan's Holiday....but as the horses came out of the paddock something hit me when I saw War Emblem...I don't know if it was love at first sight, but I said to my dad, that horse is going to win...he just had this confident walk - it's hard to explain...I went up and place $10 on War Emblem...the rest is history....Good luck to all.....

Kentucky Derby Facts

Today ‘s blog is dedicated to facts about The Kentucky Derby.....I had the privilege to visit and take a tour of Churchill Downs in February 2006.....it was one of the most exciting times because I was walking on “the holy ground” of horse racing....it was magical walking in the paddock area then out in the grandstand....even before the tour, I always enjoyed this race....

One of the greatest moments in sports occurs when the horses come onto the track and the Louisville Marching Band serenades them with “My Old Kentucky Home”....every year, I get chills and tears form in my eyes....there is something about that song and that moment that just strikes a cord within....it is the most moving moment in sports...”My Old Kentucky Home” is without a doubt, one of the five greatest songs ever....it elicits raw emotion....here is a link to The University of Louisville band playing it....when you get on the page, click on "Hear the Song" at the top of the page....

My Old Kentucky Home

Q. When was “My Old Kentucky Home” first played at the Derby?
A. Although there is no definitive history on the playing of the Stephen Foster ballad as a Derby Day tradition it is believed to have had its origin in 1921 for the 47th running of the classic. The Courier-Journal in their May 8, 1921 edition reported, "To the strains of "My Old Kentucky Home" Kentuckians gave vent their delight. For Kentucky triumphed in the Derby." The story refers to the popular victory of the Kentucky-owned and bred Behave Yourself. The actual year the song was played as the horses were led onto the track is also unclear. A 1929 news account written by the legendary Damon Runyon reported that the song was played periodically throughout Derby Day.

A report by the former Philadelphia Public Ledger provides evidence that 1930 may have been the first year the song was played as the horses were led to the post parade - "When the horses began to leave the paddock and the song 'My Old Kentucky Home' was coming from the radio, the cheering started."

Q. Who was the first horse to win the Kentucky Derby?
A. Aristides won the first Kentucky Derby in 1875. A statue of Aristides is located in the paddock area.

Q. Who has trained the most Derby winners?
A. Ben A. Jones trained six winners: Lawrin (1938), Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952)

Q. How many fillies ever won the Derby?
A. There have been 36 fillies to start the Derby, but only 3 have ever won: Regret (1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988). A filly has not run in the Derby since 1999 when Excellent Meeting finished 5th and Three Ring 19th.

Q. How long is the Kentucky Derby?
A. The Derby is one mile and a quarter. None of theses horses have ever run that far in a race.

Q. How many horses have been disqualified in the Kentucky Derby?
A. This has occurred twice. In the 1968 Kentucky Derby, Dancer's Image finished first and Forward Pass finished second, followed by Francie's Hat, T.V. Commercial and Kentucky Sherry. The Kentucky State Racing Commission ordered redistribution of the purse with first money to Forward Pass, second money to Francie's Hat, third money to T.V. Commercial and fourth money to Kentucky Sherry, because of its finding of prohibited medication in Dancer's Image.
After extensive litigation, the Commission's order was upheld in April, 1972, by Kentucky's highest court in Kentucky State Racing Commission et al v Peter Fuller, 481 S. W. 298. In a subsequent proceeding, the Commission also ordered that Forward Pass be considered the winner of the 1968 Kentucky Derby, except for pari-mutuel pay-offs, and that the 1968 gold cup Kentucky Derby trophy be awarded to its owner, Calumet Farm. An appeal from this order was dismissed and it is final.
In the only other disqualification, Gate Dancer, the fourth-place finisher in 1984, was disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed fifth.

Q. Who ran the fastest Derby?
A. Only two horses ever completed the Derby in less than 2 minutes. In 1973 Secretariat set the record that still stands when he completed the course in 1:59 2/5. In 2001 Monarchos completed the race in 1:59.97.

Q. What color of horse has won the most Derbies?
A. 47 bay-colored horses have won the Derby followed by 43 chestnut-colored horses.

Q. What is the worst type of track condition?
A. A sloppy track is considered the worst type of track condition. That has happened only four times in the Derby with the last time occurring in 2004 when Smarty Jones won the race.

Q. What post position has produced the most winning horses?
A. Of the 20 post positions, 12 times each the winning horse came from either the 1st or 5th position. The 4th and 10th positions produced the next most winning horses with 10 each. A winning horse has never come out of the 17th or 19th post position.

Q. How many women trainers or jockeys have ever participated in the Derby?
A. There have been 12 women trainers who trained a horse for the Derby. The last coming in 2004 with Kristin Mulhall and Jennifer Pederson. There have only been five women jockeys to ever ride a horse in the Derby: Diane Crump, Patti Cooksey, Andrea Seefeldt, Julie Krone, and Rosemary Homeister....

Below is a link to when former Kentucky governor and baseball commissioner the late - A.B. "Happy" Chandler sang "My Old Kentucky Home" on Senior Day at a Kentucky basketball game....he does not have the voice of a pure singer, however, his creaky and crackily version fits this song perfectly....watch the emotions pour from each person.....

Happy Chandler

My Old Kentucky Home
The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
'Tis summer, the people are gay;
The corn-top's ripe and the meadow's in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.

The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By 'n' by Hard Times comes a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight.

CHORUS
Weep no more my lady
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the Old Kentucky Home far away.

Five Good Questions with . . . Rick Snider of The Examiner newspapers about The Derby

Today's "Five Good Questions" is with sports columnist Rick Snider.....Rick works for the Examiner newspapers in Washington and Baltimore (dcexaminer.com).... he has covered horse racing for over 25 years and knows our friend Railbird Roberts well....the two have been trackside for many great races....

Q1. What is a jockey's best strategy in trying to win the Kentucky Derby?
There is no one way to win the Derby so knowing your horse's capabilities is everything. If he's a speedster, get to the early lead and hope for the best. If he's not, don't fight for that early lead on the first turn. The opening turn can really make or break through bad traffic problems so staying clean is a big deal. The second key is not letting the adrenalin kick in too early on the final turn. If you have some horse left, wait until the top of the stretch before moving.

Q2. Curlin is trying to be the first horse in over 100 years to win the Derby without ever racing as a 2-year old. What do you know about Curlin and is it possible for this horse win?
You'd like to dismiss Derby trends and take each horse as they come, but those trends tend to be right. Dosage, no starts as a two-year-old, mares . . . betting against them is often futile. I'll toss Curlin for that reason -- lack of seasoning. In a race with 150,000 people at the track, green horses can become unnerved. Throw in a tough race of 20 horses and Curlin could be undone by elements that aren't there in any other race. He is fast, though.

Q3. In your opinion, why hasn't there been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed did it in 1978?
Mostly, bad luck. Silver Charm lost a photo. Several others have been equally robbed. And who knows the real story on Spectacular Bid and the safety pin he supposedly stepped on the morning of the Belmont. I don't think it's an indictment against the modern horse. It's just one of those things. We'll see another one day and he'll be worthy of it.

Q4. How does Barbaro rate when compared against other elite horses in the last 30 years?
Very hard to say. Barbaro basically won two big races. That doesn't make him great. If he wasn't hurt, maybe Barbaro would have been a super horse, but maybe doesn't make him immortal. In the end, we'll remember him as a potentially great horse who suffered the grand misfortune. Personally, I think Barbaro wouldn't have won the Preakness after breaking through the gate beforehand. That usually costs horses their momentum.

Q5. Who should I put my money on in this year's Kentucky Derby?
If you want to double your money, fold it in half and put it back in your pocket. Sorry, old racetrack joke. My Derby record consisted of two wins in 20 tries with six seconds, but I did have War Emblem paying $42 so in the end I finished $8 ahead over the long run on $2 bets. Seriously, I won't decide until Friday because my tuition at the University of the Twin Spires taught me to toss any horse that has anything strange happen to him during the week. I'm talking anything minor that trainers dismiss only to admit after the race it was more of a big deal than they admitted. Happens all the time. Hard Spun gets tossed by that fast workout on Monday. But, if you're reading this beforehand, my early money will be on Nobiz Like Showbiz over Tiago. Throw in Bwana Bull at 50-1 in your triples. But for my final decision, read my column on Friday in dcexaminer.com. Good luck.

I want to thank Rick for his time.....he has agreed to provide analysis for the Preakness and Belmont...also if you are looking for some real estate, visit Rick’s site at fatboysrealestate.com....

Today's Derby moment is Spectacular Bid's 1979 win....

Spectacular Bid

Kentucky Derby News

Here are a few stories about the Kentucky Derby.....

In the Louisville Courier-Journal....
The post positions for this year's Kentucky Derby will be selected at 5:00 p.m. today on ESPN 2.....

Post Positions

A feature on trainer Barclay Tagg.....

Barclay Tagg

In the Lexington Herald-Leader, there is a feature on trainer Todd Pletcher....learn about his non-serious side....

Todd Pletcher

Today's Derby moment is from the 1973 Derby when Secretariat smashed the field.......

1973 Secretariat

...

Five Good Questions with . . . Railbird Roberts on The Kentucky Derby

Today’s "Five Good Questions" is with legendary horse racing reporter Railbird Bob Roberts.....Railbird wrote for many years with The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer.....since retiring, he now works for Thisteldown Race Track just outside Cleveland.....I just want to say that when I called Railbird and asked him if he could provide feedback for the Triple Crown races, he was more than gracious to help out....after reading his work for all those years, it is an honor to have him write something for this blog......

Q1. What are some tips for someone who only bets on horse racing during the Triple Crown season? What should they look for when betting a horse for the Kentucky Derby?
An old-timer once told me that if you want to bet the classiest horse, divide a horse's earnings by the number of starts that he's made. The horse with the highest average earnings per start is the class of the field. It probably is a good way to approach the Derby. This year, it would have you deciding between Curlin and Street Sense.

Q2. Back in February the talk was that Nobiz Like Shobiz was almost a guarantee to win The Derby. It seems like he will be one of the favorites going into The Derby. Is he the real deal?
His victory in the April 7 Wood Memorial was impressive. He was anxious in the early running but settled down and won as a professional. Nobiz Like Shobiz has to be one of the favorites.

Q3. Circular Quay does not get a lot of publicity, but he has the pedigree in former Kentucky Derby champ Thunder Gulch. What are your thoughts about Circular Quay?
He has certainly done nothing wrong. A jockey fell in his path in the Feb. 10 Risen Star Stakes at the Fair Grounds and his rider had to snatch him up to avoid a disaster. He then came back to win the March 10 Louisiana Derby. I guess Circular Quay is one of those "out of sight, out of mind" horses. Still, he is difficult to discount, especially for those playing trifectas and superfectas.

Q4. What type of horse is best suited to win The Kentucky Derby?
There is no "best suited" horses. Winners come from just off the pace (Barbaro) and from the back of the pack (Giacomo), so running styles are not a factor. It is hard to go wire-to-wire, but that also has been done. I try to find a horse who is peaking on the first Saturday in May, which means I watcha lot of video replays.

Q5. Who do you think will win the Derby and who are your sleepers?
I'm still studying workouts, but I kind of like Street Sense, Chelokee, Tiago, and Nobiz Like Shobiz. I'll watch the final round of morning drills and then the post position draw before making up my mine. There is really no hurry . . . until late afternoon on May 5.

Once again, I want to thank Railbird.....and we will hear from him again.....

In honor of Derby week - everyday I will put a link to a classic Derby Race...today is the 1978 Kentucky Derby when Affirmed beat out Alydar

1978 Kentucky Derby

Five Good Questions with . . . Kevin Iole of The Las Vegas Review-Journal about the De La Hoya-Mayweather Fight

Today’s "Five Good Questions" is with Kevin Iole of The Las Vegas Review-Journal....Kevin covers boxing for the paper and will soon be the boxing columnist at Yahoo! Sports.....Kevin gives his views about Saturday’s big fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather, Jr.....

Q1. This fight is being billed as one of the biggest fights in quite awhile. What are your views -- is this one of the biggest fights or just another good fight that is being over-hyped?
It is a legitimately big fight. You're matching the most popular fighter in the game (De La Hoya) against the universally recognized best (Mayweather). That's always a recipe for a big fight.

Q2. What is the impact now that Mayweather Sr. left the De La Hoya camp and returned to his son's corner?
Big Floyd is now not working for Junior. He's upset at comments made by Roger in the second episode of De La Hoya-Mayeather 24/7. I think his impact would have been minimal in any event.

Q3. In a recent column, you wrote that Mayweather should "take the fight to De La Hoya" and try to knock him out. What is your reasoning for that analysis?
I don't think Floyd should try to attack De La Hoya. My column was making the point that if Mayweather wants to call himself the best ever, he needs to add more offense. He's great defensively, but he's not a feared guy offensively. And so I was saying that if I'm going to accept his argument of being the best ever (or even in the conversation), I need to see more offense. Hence, under that scenario, he needs to attack and get the KO.

Q4. Is this going to be De La Hoya's last fight? Do you think he still has "something left in the tank" to beat quality opponents?
I don't think it will be Oscar's last fight. If he wins, defintely not. If he loses, I think he'll want to have at least a farewell fight so he goes out on a better note. I still think he could beat most guys at his weight.

Q5. Last question - who should I put my money on and why?
I like Mayweather to win unanimous decision. Mayweather is about 2-1 now in Las Vegas. I expect most people to bet De La Hoya on the night of the fight, so that number will come down and I think Floyd will provide even more value.

I would like to thank Kevin for his time and wish him Good Luck at his new job with Yahoo! Sports....

Quick thoughts on Day 1 of the NFL Draft

Here are some quick thoughts on the first day of the NFL Draft....

What I liked
Cleveland - the Browns chose to go with Joe Thomas with the 3rd pick....however, when Brady Quinn slipped by Miami, general manager Phil Savage aggressively got on the phone and made the effort to secure Quinn.....the Browns also were aggressive in trading back into the 2nd round to get cb Eric Wright....

New York Jets - the Jets needed a big-time cb especially with the speed receivers in their division (Ginn, Stallworth, Evans).....they made a good choice of Darrelle Revis over Leon Hall being that Hall was toasted by Ginn back in November....Jets also got themselves a solid ilb in David Harris....

San Francisco - the Niners solidified their defense with ilb Patrick Willis then got protection for Alex Smith with Joe Staley....in the 3rd they got a wr in Jason Hill and a de in Ray McDonald.....none of those picks are flashy, but solid....

Baltimore - the Ravens sured up their o-line with Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda....this helps open holes for Willis McGahee and provide protection for Steve McNair.....

Buffalo - Marv Levy had 2 glaring holes - rb and ilb.....they filled those holes with Marshawn Lynch and Paul Posluszny......then they added qb Trent Edwards as a bonus....

Jacksonville - I like the first round trade with Denver.....the Jags moved down 4 spots, picked up some extra draft picks and still got their man in safety Reggie Nelson....

What I questioned
Miami - Ted Ginn at number 9???....this has nothing to do with not taking Brady Quinn....to me, Ginn is not a number 1 receiver.....head coach Cam Cameron was justifying the pick by telling the fans they now have a quality punt returner, blah, blah, blah.....that may be true....so basically the Dolphins drafted a punt returner 9th overall....this coming from a team that has an aging defense and no quality qb (they did address the qb position in round 2).....by the way, what was up with Cameron's comment that "We drafted the Ginn family. Ted Ginn and his family will give us everything they have."....when did the Ginn's become the "first family" of football?....

New York Giants - the G-Men addressed their problem at cb by taking Aaron Ross in the 1st round.....but I question taking wr Steve Smith in round 2 especially with the Giants having some o-line problems and losing Luke Pettigout.....

Other thoughts
-- Back in November after Ohio State beat Michigan - again, ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was the driver of the Troy Smith bandwagon.....Herbie was adamant the Browns must take the hometown kid with their first round pick because he is a winner and the Browns need someone with his ability to win the big games and change the losing mentality.....uhhh Herbie, so far 99 picks have been made and six quarterbacks selected....but still no Troy.....next time, leave your bias in your Columbus home....
-- I liked ESPN’s coverage this year.....last year they did not have as much on-site debate and I thought they actually underutilized Mel Kiper....there were periods where he was just sitting there not saying a word....I liked the spirited talk this year, especially between Mort and Steve Young about Green Bay’s selections....
-- According to ESPN’s Michael Smith, Andy Reid and the Eagles brass rattled Donovan McNabb’s cage by selecting Kevin Kolb 36th overall.....
-- I can’t believe running back Michael Bush from Louisville is still available....if I were the Browns, Seahawks, Falcons, or Packers, I would be on the horn trying to move up and get him....
-- Other solid players still out there: rb Antonio Pittman; ilb Brandon Siler; ilb H.B. Blades; wr Dallas Baker; ot Mike Otto; og Josh Beekman; olb Dallas Sartz; olb Prescott Burgess; olb Zak DeOssie; cb Tanard Jackson; s Josh Gattis
-- Of all the draft publications - I have to give a "Tip of the Cap" to The Sporting News...they predicted, back in February that Quinn would go 23rd to Kansas City...they were on the money about Quinn sliding...
-- Ever wonder how good Mel Kiper is with his predictions....check out Smittblog...he reviews Mel's predictions over the years and what the NFL teams would look like if they listened to Mel...very intersting and also a very good blog....

Smittblog

Five Good Questions with . . . David Neal of The Miami Herald about the Dolphins

Today's "Five Good Questions" is with David Neal of The Miami Hearald....Dan covers the Miami Dolphnins....

Q1. Are the Dolphins serious in trying to acquire Trent Green from Kansas City or is this just a smokescreen?
Yes, they're trying to get Green. To our knowledge.

Q2. Any chance of the Dolphins trading up to the second overall pick to try and draft Brady Quinn? Are the Dolphins even interested in Quinn?
Probably not much of a shot at jumping all the way to No. 2.

Q3. Any chance the Dolphins may trade down and acquire additional draft picks? If so, which team do you think they can work a deal with?
Don't think so. They already have a fistful of picks.

Q4. If they stay with the ninth pick and decide to go with a defensive player, which of these players do you think they will select and why - Patrick Willis (lb), Alan Branch (dt), Adam Carriker (de), or Jamaal Anderson (de)? Branch -- they need young help inside immediately

Q5. What is Ronnie Brown's reaction now that Ricky Williams is back in the picture at running back?
Ronnie puts a good face on it, pointing to the success of two-back lineups in the playoffs last year and he got along well with Ricky in 2005. I know, however, that Ronnie wished last season that he got more touches per game.

I want to thank David for taking the time to respond.....

Guest Columnist - The Maverick finishes off the first round

Today The Maverick finishes out the first round with his call on picks 17-32.....

17. Jacksonville Jaguars - FS Reggie Nelson, Florida - Greg Sensabaugh is the Jaguars starting FS, ever heard of him?

18 Cincinnati Bengals - DE Jarvis Moss, Florida - The Bengals front seven is in disarray after the loss of David Pollack and problems with Odell Thurman. With only Justin Smith and Ahmad Brooks as viable starters (see Jacksonville) Cincinnati must address this issue if they plan on contending in a tough AFC North. Moss brings versatility and Kearselike quickness to a front seven in sore need of, well anything and everything.

19. Tennessee Titans - WR Robert Meachem, Tennessee - Needs: see Houston. They need a lot of help, why not start by helping Vince Young? Next to CJ, Meachem is my favorite WR of the draft. He is a purebred playmaker, plain and simple. He has some minor technical flaws and coverage recognition problems but nothing Norm Chow and his crew cant iron out in preseason.

20. New York Giants - CB Darelle Revis, Pittsburgh - If Revis drops to 20 the Giants should declare a national holiday. Its not that Revis is that good, its that the GMen secondary is that bad. The Pitt CB has an incredible quickness, is a solid tackler, but needs polished in his coverage technique. Bottom line, Darelle is a darn good corner.

21. Denver Broncos - DE Adam Carriker, Nebraska - Maybe the ex-Cleveland DL experiment is over. Carriker is an excellent allaround DE, but he could work on his technique to become a more feared pass rusher. He has the burst and the strength, but lacks the moves needed to penetrate and disrupt. His only apparent weakness is something that can be taught. Thats a good thing.

22. Dallas Cowboys - WR Dwayne Bowe, LSU- TO is a ticking time bomb and Glenn has a long history of injury, enough said.

23. Kansas City Chiefs - OG Ben Grubbs, Auburn - The once great offensive line looked shaky last year, and then OG Will Sheilds retired. Ouch! Enter Ben Grubbs. Grubbs is explosive as a run blocker and has quick feet in pass protection, he just needs more experience to polish his technique. He could be a probowler. The Chiefs can address their WR need in the 2nd taking advantage on the plentiful crop pass catchers this year.

24. New England Patriots - SS Michael Griffin, Texas - Talent always seems to drop to the Patriots. Rodney Harrison has been solid for the Pats, but will be entering his 14th season and his durability has become a question. Michael Griffin is a coaches dream with heart, speed, acceleration, agility, awareness, blah, blah, blah, blah. The Patriots to do it again on draft day.

25. New York Jets - CB Aaron Ross, Texas - With Hank Poteat starting at RCB the Jets have a nobrainer in the firsttake the best CB on the board. Ross brings along amazing speed and quickness and is a dynamic return man. He has the ball skills and big play ability to break a game wide open.

26. Philadelphia Eagles - LB Lawrence Timmons, Florida State - The Eagles gave up 136ypg in 06. I think it is time for a front seven makeover. Timmons is a great scraping LB with a nose for the ball and a penchant for the backfield. Jeremiah Trotter will welcome the help after playing between Omar Gaither and Dhani Jones.

27. New Orleans Saints - LB David Harris, Michigan - The Saints, like the Eagles were less than stellar against the run on 06 ranking 23rd. Harris is a solid run stuffing LB with a knack for forcing fumbles. He is tough, instinctive, has good field speed, and will rattle some teeth. I just dont see that out of the Saints current LBs.

28. New England Patriots - CB Marcus McCauley, Fresno State - McCauley is stellar vs. the run and has all the coverage skills to be a shut down corner on Sundays. However, he is a bit of a risk because of a concussion early in 2006.

29. Baltimore Ravens - OT Joe Staley, Central Michigan - HOF Bound OT Jonathan Ogden is on the decline, McNair is no spring chicken, and the Ravens just acquired stud RB Willis McGahee. I would say selecting and offensive lineman is more than logical. Staley is a bit raw with his technique, but is a gifted athlete (ran a 4.78 at the combine, with good size (66" 306lbs), and oh yeah he also scored a solid 32/39 onthe wonderlic.

30. San Diego Chargers - WR Dwayne Jarrett, USC - Its scary the Chargers were as good as they were without a bonafide #1 WR. Jarrett is a big physical target who will fight for the ball and uses his body well to boxout defenders. San Diego is the perfect environment for Jarrett. With many playmakers around him it will be much easier for him to separate from defenders, much like his days at USC. Rivers will welcome another big target who knows how to fight for the ball.

31. Chicago Bears - ILB Jon Beason, Miami - With imminent departure of Lance Briggs the Bears need to find a replacement. Here are some of Beasons qualities: great shortarea quickness, good speed, fierce tackler, amazing shortarea power, neverending motor, good in coverage, a solid pass rusher, great instincts. With a comparable frame to Briggs Beason sound like perfect fit.

32. Indianapolis Colts - DT Justin Harrell, Tennessee - The Colts gave up 173 ypg and won the Superbowl, I wouldnt expect that to happen again. I would love to see the addition of Ted Ginn Jr. to this offense, but they have issues at DT and LB. Harrell is proven leader who will no doubt toughenup this soft defense.

The Most Over-rated Prospects
1. Ted Ginn Jr.
2. JaMarcus Russell
3. Brady Quinn
4. Lawrence Timmons
5. Gaines Adams
6. Chris Houston
7. Dwayne Jarrett

The Most Under-rated Prospects
1. Robert Meachem
2. Patrick Willis
3. David Harris
4. Paul Posluszny
5. Tony Hunt
6. Sabby Piscitelli
7. Craig Davis
8. Drew Stanton

Guest Columnist - The Maverick gives his take on the first 16 picks

Today we have another guest columnist....he is not a blogger but a long time friend and fantasy football opponent for the last 11 years......I give you - The Maverick.....The Maverick is from Cortland, Ohio, but now lives in Warren, Ohio.....in late March, his wife gave birth to a baby girl - Meliah....today he will discuss the first 16 picks of the draft with the remaining first round picks as part of tomorrow’s column....

The 2007 Draft ushers in a new wave of talent, and an element of hope for struggling franchises and wounded fans alike. This year’s draft seems to be strong and deep at the defensive end and wide receiver positions, but is lacking at quarterback. Trade rumors are rampant as some teams look to gain value and others simply quantity. However, taking away the trade variable, these are the optimal first round selections for each franchise.

1. Oakland Raiders - QB JaMarcus Russell, LSU - This is a risk-reward pick for the Raiders, but Russell’s upside is off-the-charts and answers Al Davis’ dream of a vertical passing game. Russell is big, strong, and smooth with an 80-yard hose, but still needs some polishing. Poor JaMarcus, the Raiders gave up 72 sacks last season, they better add a few more linemen later on in the draft.

2. Detroit Lions - QB Brady Quinn, Notre Dame - Brady Quinn is the perfect candidate to run a Mike Martz offense. He carried an over-rated Irish team on his shoulders and is still knocked for not winning the big game. People used to say that about Peyton Manning & Bill Cowher. Quinn has "it" like ebay. The Lions offensive line yielded 63 sacks in 06, see Raiders. I think the top qb prospects of 2007 are over-rated, however Oakland and Detroit are that desperate for a franchise qb and their respective skills are the perfect match for their prospective teams.

3. Cleveland Browns - OT Joe Thomas, Wisconsin - The Browns are in a good position and can let the draft come to them with options at qb, rb, wr, and ot. The Browns have a solid receiving corps and have taken measures to bolster the o-line. Savage & Crennel will still be looking for instant offense to protect their jobs. Since 1999 the Browns have passed on rbs James, Williams, Tomlinson, McGahee, L. Johnson, and S. Jackson. The responsible thing to do here is pass on Peterson as well and select freak ot Joe Thomas. You can’t build a house until you have laid the foundation.

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR Calvin Johnson, Georgia Tech - Johnson is a physical freak in terms of size and ability. He is also a rare wr with a Jerry Rice-like work ethic and no character issues. He is just what the doctor ordered for a pathetic offense which ranked 29th overall averaging a paltry 175ypg.

5. Arizona Cardinals - FS LaRon Landry, LSU - The Cardinals defense showed some signs of life last season, but still lack playmakers to disrupt an offense. The Cardinals front seven was average producing 38 sacks and yielding 118ypg on the ground, but the secondary had a forgettable campaign in 06 finishing 30th in the NFL. Adding Landry will help with some of their coverage issues and add another dimension to run support with two solid and versatile safeties. Whisenhunt learned the value of having a versatile strong tackling safety in Polamalu and should have no problem making this selection.

6. Washington Redskins - DE Gaines Adams, Clemson - The Redskins have proved that you can’t build teams through free agency, Adams will be a nice defensive cornerstone to wreak havoc in opposing backfields. There is no doubting Adams’ athletic ability, but his lack of stats leave me reluctant to declare him a Pro Bowler. In any case, there is plenty of room for him on the right side in a defense that registered only 19 sacks last season. No misprint, they only had 19! Don’t be surprised to see the Skins trade down from this spot and try to grab a few extra picks since they won’t pick again until the 5th round.

7. Minnesota Vikings - RB Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma - At a glance, Chester Taylor’s1200 yards in 06 seems formidable, but Minnesota has one of the elite offensive lines in the NFL. Taylor recorded only 4 100-yard games last season, and should be viewed as a run-of-the-mill rb. Plug in a dynamic inside runner who can get the tough yards, move the chains, and score from anywhere on the field, and the Vikings may not have to worry so much about their wr short-comings. That being said, Tavarious Jackson has no business starting in the NFL. Childress better find another option.

8. Atlanta Falcons - OT Levi Brown, Penn State - Enter Bobby Petrino, a talented throwback coach who prefers a power run game. Drafting a solid ot like Brown is the first sign of things to come. I wonder what is in store for Vick?

9. Miami Dolphins - DT Amobi Okoye, Louisville - The Dolphins are franticly trying to sign a qb to replace the oft-injured has-been Culpepper. Look for them to trade-up with Washington if Quinn drops to #6. However, this19 year-old phenom tore up The Combine showing off his speed, strength, and agility. He will also be a timely replacement for Keith Traylor who turns 38 in September.

10. Houston Texans - CB Leon Hall, Michigan - You would think that draft day would be easier on a team with so many needs, but that was not the case last year. The huge hole at right cb will be upgraded by Michigan star Leon Hall.

11. San Francisco 49ers - LB Patrick Willis, Mississippi - The Niners front seven is arguably the weakest in football. Their biggest need is at dt but Willis is the better choice with Branch’s wavering character and work ethic. Must take Willis here.

12. Buffalo Bills - RB Marshawn Lynch, California - Lingering back injuries and character issues are a concern with Lynch but talent is not. Perhaps the most complete back in the draft, he is a great inside runner with breakaway speed and a threat as a receiver. A perfect fit for a cold weather team whose #1 back is Anthony Thomas.

13. St. Louis Rams - DE Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas - Anderson is a sack artist with long arms and a powerful burst to penetrate into the backfield. If he lacks anywhere it is strength, but he makes up for it with excellent technique. Anderson will join the likes of Leonard Little, Jimmy Kennedy, and LaRoi Glover rounding out a solid d-line.

14.Carolina Panthers - TE Greg Olsen, Miami - Here we go again, another Miami te moving up in the draft. Olsen wooed all at The Combine posting a blazing 4.51 for his 6'6" 254lbs frame. He will take the heat off of Steve Smith by adding an intermediate dynamic to the Panther offensive attack. By adding this weapon to the Panthers, this could be a make or break year for Delhomme.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers - OLB Paul Posluszny, Penn State - This just seems too obvious. A blue collar lb from the the Keystone State who will ring in PSU folklore for years to come (remember Jack Ham) and a big hole developing at olb for the Steelers with the loss of firecracker Joey Porter. Hmmmm, maybe Kevin Colbert saw this opportunity on the horizon.

16. Green Bay Packers - DT Alan Branch, Michigan - Needs: see Houston. Questions about Branch’s work ethic has hurt his draft position. He can take over a game, but he will also disappear as he did vs. Ohio State. There is no doubt he is a force up the middle at 6'6" 324lbs and recording 33 reps on the bench. If Branch matures and lives up to his ability, he will make an already sack happy d-line a dominating force.

Five Good Questions with . . . Jim Carty of The Ann Arbor News about Michigan and the NFL Draft

Today is our last installment of "Five Good Questions" that deals with the NFL Draft....after taking a skiing vacation in Colorado, Jim Carty of The Ann Arbor News was nice enough to still respond.....Jim covers Michigan football and provides some insight on the Wolverine players who are getting ready for Saturday's draft...

Q1. Some of the updated draft sites have Alan Branch sliding out of the top 10. He has all the physical talent to dominate at his position. However, the knock on him is that he does not fully utilize his talent. Seeing Branch play and practice over the last few years, what is your assessment?
Well, first it should be noted that since Michigan only allows the media to watch practice once or twice a year, my analysis of Branch and other players is based mostly on game performances with some feedback from folks who regularly see practice. Branch has tremendous physical gifts. He's 6-6, 335 pounds and moves like a player 50 to 75 pounds lighter, which allowed him to actually play multiple skill positions and basketball in high school. He recovers quickly from mistakes and relentlessly pursues when the play moves to the other side or gets by him. Physical analysis aside, he's also highly intelligent, extremely engaging and a positive locker room influence. His ceiling as a person appears as high, or higher, than his ceiling as an athlete.

So, what's not to like? Well, at Michigan, I think there's a certain value put on an almost blind belief in the program and coaches, a belief that I don't think Alan had. He wasn't a "Go Blue!" rah-rah sort of guy. It's almost like you have to blindly surrender to the program here - remember, Braylon Edwards, one of the most well-liked players in recent Michigan history, was in the dog house as late as his junior year -- and I never got the feeling Branch was fully on board. There have obviously been rumors he doesn't always practice as hard as he plays, and that he wasn't a big fan of the academic side of college football (although the second one is a bit puzzling to me, since he seemed like a much better intellectual fit for Michigan than many other athletes I've met).

I think once he decided to come out, he got caught up in the moment a little bit, let his conditioning go, and has been playing catch-up ever since. He's got character, smarts and all-pro raw ability. I think that combination keeps him in the top 10 or pretty close to it. Does he put it all together in the NFL? I'm betting he probably does.

Q2. Leon Hall is rated as the top cornerback in the draft. However, he was beaten in both the Ohio State and Rose Bowl games. How good of a pro do you see him becoming and what does he need to work on?
If work ethic and character could guarantee you'd be an All-Pro, you could pencil Hall in for a trip to Hawaii for the next ten years or so, but I think there's a fundamental issue with his speed. A lot of times you see a guy who has better football speed than track speed, i.e. he can make plays even though he doesn't run a 4.4. Hall is the opposite. His times in the 40 are very respectable, yet he struggles when matched up with an elite speed receiver such as Ohio State's Ted Ginn. I don't think Leon ever becomes an elite 1-on-1 cover corner, but will be a very effective player for a team that runs zone coverage.

Q3. Michigan has two linebacker prospects in David Harris (photo) and Prescott Burgess. Describe each player and which of the two will have a better pro career?
I don't really think you can compare the two players. Harris plays faster, hits harder, has more drive and dedication, and a much more accomplished track record of success. Few defensive players in America, and none in the Big Ten, had a better senior season than Harris. Something just clicked for him. I'd be very surprised if Harris doesn't become a stalwart inside linebacker for some team. Probably not a star, but a guy who could play 10 years and make a ton of plays if he stays healthy. Think Victor Hobson with the Jets, maybe with a little more upside. Burgess? It's hard to tell. He has tools and makes plays - sometimes big plays - but also seems to disappear for long stretches. Clearly a better pass-rusher than Harris. I wouldn't be surprised if he had a nice little NFL career and I wouldn't be surprised if he was cut in training camp and never heard from again.

Q4. Lamar Woodley is often described as a “hybrid” defensive player who can play either DE or OLB. In college, he played DE. Does Woodley have the ability to play both positions in the NFL?
This is a tough one. Part of me wants to compare him to Dwight Freeney. Freeney faced a ton of questions about his size and speed coming out of Syracuse, but his ability to make plays simply out-weighed his measureables. There's some of that about Woodley. Yet is there enough of it? I'm just not sure. He has a relentless motor, a dedication to the game and unquestioned toughness, but he's obviously a little bit small for an NFL end and a little bit slow for an outside linebacker. At the least, I'd expect him to be an effective situational pass rusher, and there's a chance he'll be more than that. There are a lot of safer picks in the first and second rounds of the draft, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him fall to the third round or below.

Q5. Is there a place in the NFL for Steve Breaston?
I don't think so. Breaston simply isn't an NFL-level receiving talent -- not fast enough, not big enough, questionable hands. That leaves him as a return specialist and, even there, I'm just not sure he's special enough to dedicate a roster spot to. Maybe he gets drafted, but I can't see him having much of a career.

I want to thank Jim for taking the time to respond....it is much appreciated......on Thursday we have another guest columnist who is going to breakdown the NFL Draft -- The Maverick rides into town....

Also, check out Zach at The Big Picture...he has an interesting question going on about sports movies

The Big Picture

Also check out Marcos at Just Call Me Juice...he is doing a survey of the worst jerseys you own

Just Call Me Juice

The NFL Draft - Picks 17-32 and the Second Round

Just to recap, yesterday I broke down the first 16 picks of the draft.....today, I will finish off the remainder of the first round and give my picks for round 2....

17. Jaguars - Jax lost safety Deon Grant to free agency and Donovan Darius is coming off another major injury.....the safety position needs help - Reggie Nelson, s, Florida

18. Bengals - Cincinnati needs a player with no character issues.....with David Pollack's career in jeopardy, they need someone who could play both d-line or lb....they turn to Husker Nation - Adam Carriker, de/olb, Nebraska

19. Titans - because of the Pacman Jones incident, I would be tempted to look at cb, especially with Darrelle Revis still there.....but, Vince Young needs a prime receiver - Robert Meacham, wr, Tennessee

20. Giants - the G-men have to fill voids at corner and o-line.....the corner needs are more important as they were toasted regularly last year - Darrelle Revis, cb, Pitt

21. Broncos - doesn't it seem that every year Denver is looking to improve its defense.....the most need is at linebacker - Lawrence Timmons, lb, Florida State

22. Cowboys - if Reggie Nelson was here, I would take him....otherwise, I still have to stay in the secondary and improve the corner position.....Anthony Henry was toast last season - Aaron Ross, cb, Texas

23. Chiefs - it looks like Damon Huard is the quarterback now, but he has only Eddie Kennison to throw to....Kennison has been in the league for like 15 years....he needs more help - Dwayne Bowe, wr, LSU

24. Patriots - Coach Bill needs to start a youth movement at the linebacker position and grab another corner in case Asante Samuel bolts after next season.....Coach Bill also knows that you can never have too many o-linemen....Big Joe is too good to pass up - Joe Staley, ot, C. Michigan

25. Jets - secondary help is big in this first round....and the Jets are following in line - Cedric Houston, cb, Arkansas

26. Eagles - Jerimiah Trotter needs some help at linebacker - Jon Beason, lb, The U

27. Saints - New Awlins has other areas to address, but I would take Ted Ginn here....imagine the match-up problems they would cause defenses with Ginn, Bush, Colston, Henderson, and McAlister all on the field - Ted Ginn, wr, Ohio State

28. Patriots - Coach Bill will address the ILB here....he makes a bit of a reach, but gets a solid player - David Harris, ilb, Michigan

29. Ravens - do you go offensive line or cornerback.....the cbs are going fast...Eric Wright has some off-the-field issues, but is a solid corner the Ravens cannot pass-up - Eric Wright, cb, UNLV

30. Chargers - my, my, my, look who is still here.....this is a steal at this spot in the draft - Dwayne Jarrett, wr, Southern Cal

31. Bears - Tank Johnson will be going in the tank with a league suspension....Tommie Harris is coming off an injury and free agency stole another d-lineman.....if not for an injury last season, Justin Harrell would have been a top 10 pick - Justin Harrell, dt, Tennessee

32. Colts - the Champs need to hit on this pick because they don't select again until the 95th pick....Indy has some holes to fill on defense and running back.....they will start in the secondary - Michael Griffin, s, Texas

Round Two
33. Raiders - Tony Ugoh, ot, Arkansas
34. Lions - Tim Crowder, de, Texas
35. Buccaneers - Anthony Spencer, de, Purdue
36. Browns - Ben Grubbs, g, Auburn
37. Bears - Greg Olsen, te, Miami
38. Cardinals - Tank Tyler, dt, N.C. State
39. Falcons - Ryan Kalil, c, Southern Cal
40. Dolphins - Aaron Sears, ol, Tennessee
41. Vikings - Steve Smith, wr, Southern Cal
42. 49ers - Sidney Rice, wr, South Carolina
43. Bills - Antonio Pittman, rb, Ohio State
44. Falcons - Brandon Meriweather, s, The U
45. Panthers - Justin Blalock, ol, Texas
46. Steelers - Tanard Jackson, cb, Syracuse
47. Packers - Zach Miller, te, Arizona State
48. Jaguars - Lamar Woodley, de, Michigan
49. Bengals - Josh Wilson, cb, Maryland
50. Titans - Marcus McCauley, cb, Fresno State
51. Giants - Josh Beekman, ol, Boston College
52. Rams - Anthony Gonzalez, wr, Ohio State
53. Cowboys - Charles Johnson, de, Georgia
54. Chiefs - Jonathan Wade, cb, Tennessee
55. Seahawks - Marshal Yanda, ot, Iowa
56. Broncos - Kenny Irons, rb, Auburn
57. Eagles - Tony Hunt, rb, Penn State
58. Saints - Turk McBride, dl, Tennessee
59. Jets - Brian Leonard, fb, Rutgers
60. Dolphins - Craig Davis, wr, LSU
61. Ravens - Brandon Siler, ilb, Florida
62. Chargers - Aaron Rouse, s, Va. Tech
63. Jets - Eric Weddle, s, Utah
64. Buccaneers - Dan Bazuin, de, C. Michigan

The first 16 picks of round 1 - NFL Draft

Here is my breakdown of the first round of the NFL Draft which will be held on Saturday, April 28th at noon and Sunday, April 29th.....these are not my prediction of who each team will take....instead, I acted as the G.M. of each team and decided who I would take if I were selecting for that team.....today I am breaking down the first half of the draft with picks 17-32 coming on Tuesday.....

1. Raiders - personally I think the Raiders should trade down a few spots and pick-up an additional pick or 2....Tampa has 2 second round picks, but I don't see Jon Gruden and Al Davis working a deal....everyone knows Davis covets Calvin Johnson but the fact is, you need someone to throw the ball to Johnson...if they stay at #1, you have to a qb - JaMarcus Russell, qb, LSU

2. Lions - here is another team that could trade down....the Dolphins have 2 second round picks and they would love to move up to take Quinn.....the popular pick by other scribes is Gaines Adams.....I don't think they will go that route...if the Lions stay at #2, they should go for a possible franchise quarterback...Matt Millen needs to make a splash....Millen should look at it this way - even if Quinn is a bust, it can't be as bad as taking wide receivers 3 years in a row - Brady Quinn, qb, Notre Dame

3. Browns - if Quinn is here, I would take him....if not, they need a big time running back who is in his prime, not like all the rumdums they had and now have - Adrian Peterson, rb, Oklahoma

4. Buccaneers - Tampa has other needs, but there is no way I would pass up Calvin Johnson here - Calvin Johnson, wr, Georgia Tech

5. Cardinals - Arizona has all the goods on offense - Leinart, James, Fitzgerald, Boldin....now they need someone to anchor the line - Joe Thomas, ot, Wisconsin

6. Redskins - Washington needs to hit this pick because they don't have any 2nd or 3rd round selections.....they need players on the d-line and this guy is the best out there - Gaines Adams, de, Clemson

7. Vikings - somehow, if Quinn should drop here, I would take him....Brooks Bollinger and Tarvaris Jackson are not going to quarterback you to the Super Bowl.....but with Quinn gone, the Vikes need to sure up the aging safety positions - LaRon Landry, s, LSU

8. Falcons - Bobby Petrino has a few holes to fill here....they need another o-lineman and someone to replace Patrick Kearney....it comes down between Amobi Okoye and Levi Brown....the Falcons have 2 second round picks....I'll address the offensive line later -- Amobi Okoye, dt, Louisville

9. Dolphins - Miami has to address an aging defense....Alan Branch would fit nicely here....Patrick Willis could be groomed to take Zach Thomas' place.....but I would address the corner position - Leon Hall, cb, Michigan

10. Texans - Houston just made a trade for Matt Schaub....as was seen last season, David Carr had no protection....easy pick - Levi Brown, ot, Penn State

11. 49ers - two months ago, who would have thought Alan Branch would still be here at #11...this is one of those boom or bust picks - Alan Branch, dt, Michigan

12. Bills - Buffalo has two glaring needs - running back and middle linebacker.....its either Marshawn Lynch or Patrick Willis.....I would go with the better player on and off the field - Patrick Willis, lb, Ole Miss

13. Rams - St. Louis needs more help on the d-line with LaRoi Glover getting older - Jamaal Anderson, de, Arkansas

14. Panthers - its either offensive line or linebacker....Dan Morgan's health is not the best....why not get his replacement who can play either inside or outside - Paul Poslusny, lb, Penn State

15. Steelers - the Steelers have to look on the defensive side of the ball....let's face facts, eventually the team will be changing its defensive scheme with new coach Mike Tomlin in charge.....they get themselves a versatile player who can play olb or de - Jarvis Moss, de, Florida

16. Packers - Green Bay needs a running back as bad as I need a woman.....Marshawn Lynch is the best back available at this spot, however, there are some off-the-field issues that have come up over the last month or so.....Green Bay has to take him and just hope he doesn't get in trouble - Marshawn Lynch, rb, Cal

NBA Round 1 Predictions

The NBA season is finally over and it is time to get into the real action....here are my calls for the first round of the NBA playoffs....

Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit vs. (8) Orlando - Dwight Howard is my favorite young player in the game....he is going to be an MVP one day....the Magic lost the season series 4-0 to Detroit....look for Orlando to win 1 game.....when looking at the playoff matchups, it would have been better for Detroit to be the #2 seed instead of the top seed....as the #1 seed their next round opponent will be either Chicago or the defending champs, Miami......while the #2 seed’s next round match-up will be against Toronto or New Jersey.....anyway, Detroit in five games

(4) Miami vs. (5) Chicago - the Bulls have to be sick....a win on the last day of the season would have set them up with the 2 seed and a lot easier route to the conference title game....now they get Shaq Diesel in round one... Dwayne Wade is not 100% and that hurts the Heat....I think Pat Riley knows his team is not going to go far in the playoffs, that is why he already announced he is coming back next season....the Bulls won the season series 3-1....this is the best opening round series....its time the Baby Bulls grow up....players like Deng and Hinrich need to step up their game -- and I think they will.....Chicago in six games

(3) Toronto vs. (6) New Jersey - these teams split the season series....in fact, most Americans cannot name you 2 players on the Toronto team who are not named Bosh....the Raptors are a 3 seed because of winning the weak Atlantic Division.....Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson are all veterans.....New Jersey in six games

(2) Cleveland vs. (7) Washington - this is a rematch of last year’s great first round matchup.....I would have taken the Wizards if Butler and Arenas were not out....Arenas would have made the Cavs pay from last year.....this will be an easy time for the Cavs.....Lebron will have fun in this series....Cleveland in five games

Western Conference
(1) Dallas vs. (8) Golden State - this looks like a cakewalk for the Mavs....but not so fast my friend.....Golden State took the season series 3-0 as they were the only team the Mavs did not beat this year.....I will tell you this, the Mavs will win at least game in this series....in fact, they will win four games.....Dallas in five games

(4) Utah vs. (5) Houston - the Rockets are my surprise team in the playoffs....Yao is dominating the inside and T.Mac can do it from outside.....right now, Yao is the best center in the NBA....Houston in five games

(3) San Antonio vs. (6) Denver - okay people, this is why Denver traded for "the Answer".....Iverson was brought in to win not playoff games, but playoff serieses.....yes, that is plural - I think....the Nugs will give San Antone a battle and in fact may jump to a 2-1 lead....but Spurs win....San Antonio in seven games

(2) Phoenix vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe will win at least 1 game all by himself in this series.....but Phoenix is a team on a mission.....Steve Nash will not let the Suns lose to the Lakers.....Phoenix in six games

Playoff predictions - the series I want to watch comes in round 2 out West with Dallas taking on Houston....something tells me Houston is going to dump the Mavs.....no one is paying attention to the Rockets....plus they have a veteran coach in Jeff Van Gundy....in the East, the Cavs will make it to the conference finals - and you know what - even The Finals......Detroit is beatable.....my prediction for the NBA Finals is Phoenix over Cleveland in 6 games....but once again, my surprise team is Houston.....watch Yao Ming....if it wasn’t for the broken leg earlier this year, Yao would have been the league MVP....