Top 5 Yays and Nays of 2011

As a new year approaches us, lets take a look at some of the most miraculous and embarrassing plays of 2011.

Is there anything that can really top this electrifying acrobatic flip into the endzone. On a scale on 1-10, this clearly deserves a 14.



2. Derek Jeter gets his 3,000 hit on a homerun.
3. Dallas Mavericks capture their first title in franchise history.
4. Kemba Walker's game winner against Pitt.
5. Marshawn Lynch runs over, through and around the New Orleans Saint's defense for a 67-yard touchdown.

Ranking in at No.1 on SZG's Nay list was the CFL luncheon brawl between two retired football players. You would think that because of their age that this would never take place. Wrong, think again. Joe Kapp (one to the left) attempted to give Angelo Mosca a flower, but was rejected harshly. Mosca's refusal and swinging of his cane led to Kapp doing his best Rocky Marciano impression. Down goes Frazierrrr.



2. Chargers' kicker Nick Novak pissing on the sideline.
3. Miami Heat's Chris Bosh flopping against the Carlos Boozer.
4. Marion Barber's failed  backflip.
5. NY Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez flinching against the Buffalo Bills.

NBA Forever

On the topic of NBA intro videos, how about TNT's stunning opener for the 2011-12 season before the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics' game. Personally, my favorite is  Patrick Ewing chest bumping Amar'e Stoudemire, but there are a myriad of captivating moments in this compilation video mashup of past and present NBA greats.

Heat control their destiny

From the looks of this intro, the Miami Heat must be the most fashionable and coolest team in the NBA.  The only thing missing from this music video is record label owner Uncle Luke and the Miami Hurricanes.
Granted the Heat currently stand at 2-0 with two victories over the Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics, but the three-headed monster and supporting cast in South Beach have yet to receive a glimpse of acceptance from anyone.
Miami understands their ultimate mission is to win the championship. Despite the team’s early success in the early half of this shortened season, the only play that matters is post-April. Playoffs as former Indianapolis Colts coach, Jim Mora would say. With the new acquisitions of Norris Cole who exploded for 20 points last night (14 in the fourth quarter (Lebron James was taking notes)) against Beantown and one of the best perimeter defenders in Shane Battier, Miami may have found the missing pieces to their aspiring dynasty. In addition, a healthy Udonis Haslem or who I would like to call Mr. Intangibles makes this squad look very scary.   
Last season is over with no matter how much the media may cast the shadow of them collapsing to the Mavericks in the NBA Finals. The main priority in the 2011-12 season is for the Heat to build chemistry and use these regular season games as building blocks. More than half of last year’s team has returned and their continuity has shown with their gigantic leads in the first two games against top playoff contenders. These  opening games weren’t a fluke either; there will be many more routs from this unit to come against the top-tier teams in the league as long as the Heat stay honest on the defensive end (and don't blow commanding leads like they did against Boston).
Who knows why this team has an extra bounce in their step? Whether it is because the NBA lockout is finally over or this new idea of a spread offense originating from the Oregon Ducks head coach, Chip Kelly, the Heat seem to be flowing on all cylinders under the helm of Erik Spoelstra. How long the Heat keep this up, lies in their hands, but one thing is for sure is that it is lucid that Miami has all the necessary parts to one day be named ‘champions’.

FF: Why Mozgov?

Facial Friday's winner is....(drum-roll please) : ............... Blake Griffin! I think it's about time we come up with a nickname for this young man. Any suggestions?

Blue v. Green

In the past decade, let alone 40 years of the 11 meetings between the Giants and Jets, this is arguably the biggest game between both New York juggernauts. And it only adds fuel to the fire that the Jets are under the helm of Coach Rex Ryan.
In typical Ryan fashion, the head coach for the ‘Green Machine’ voiced his opinion about Saturday’s Big Apple showdown.
“To say a team's better than you that never made the playoffs is ridiculous. Clearly, we were the better team my first two years. We get to prove it Saturday; who the best team is this year,” Ryan said.
To say that any journalist didn’t see this coming would be flabbergasting.
Since hired by the Jets in 2009, Coach Ryan has had the reputation to be quite braggadocios. Though he’s led the Jets to the AFC championship in his first two years, he’s not content with his alleged early success. He wants to make it to the Promise Land and win. Period.

 

“I didn't come here to be anybody's little brother. I came here to win, to be looked at that way and to take over not just this city, even though it's the city to take over, but also this league.”
Playing second fiddle is something that Ryan obviously despises of. In attempts to change the Jet culture with his egotistical and cool coaching style, Ryan will have to make sure his players can execute his game plan. Pre-game talk is irrelevant; the final score is the only thing that matters.
Both teams are coming off embarrassing losses and this thrash talk off-field frenzy is making the contest a lot more electrifying. The magnitude of the playoff implications in addition to being a cross town rival is the icing on the cake in this Christmas weekend matchup.
Did I forget to mention that media seems to forget that Plaxico Burress will be making his first appearance against his former unit?
Oh boy…this is going to be a good one. Bring your popcorn and sit back and relax as we’ll find out at 1 p.m. if Ryan bite more than he can swallow.
Green or Blue? What do you bleed?

Video of the Week: How to Love (Lebron)

Check out this Lil Wayne "How to Love" spoof on LeBron James. My NABJ (National Association of Black Journalists) friend passed it along to me and I thought I should share it with you guys, seeing as how comical it is.

Endurance is key

SZG thought for the day:

Don't be blind to player's endurance during this shortened NBA Season. Due to the NBA Labor disputes, some athlete's fatigue will be exposed more there others. Championships are won in the off-season through the growth of chemistry and the extra practices held during training camp; there wasn't too much of that this year. This is to remind you that there is a reason why Derek Fisher, the president of the Players Association, wasn't in the lineup last night.

P.S. Sources say that the New Jersey Nets are close to acquiring Dwight Howard.

NBA tip-off is 4 Days away

 

Not sure if any you got a chance to tune into last night's battle in the Staples Center, but it reassured how pumped I am that the NBA is BACK.
Despite the meaningless outcome of last night's contest, it seems as if there was a lot more adrenaline in the arena just for an exhibition game. Whether it be the fan's excitement that the city of Los Angeles has two NBA playoff contenders or the thrill and hopes for 'Lob City'(similar to the video above), I have a feeling that this abridged season is going to be something special to say the least.

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