Hunter21

It is amazing what Billy Donovan and the Florida Gators have been able to accomplish in the last 2 years, but that dynasty run has finally come to end. It was a good ride for Donovan who lost his starters from their back-to-back championship to the NBA. Although they had a decent record this year at 21-11, but the main reason for that was because their strength of schedule was weak. When they play teams like North Dakota State and North Florida, its pretty much a guaranteed win. Although with this current team, its hard to figure out which team will show up on the court. They ended their season on a 4 game losing streak and in yesterday's match-up agaisnt Alabama they were down as much 28points at one point in the game. The game was won within the first 10minutes!

Unfortunately, the future of the Gators does not look too bright, their current players have no clue on playing defense and believe that the only way that they are going to win games is by outshooting their opponents. Even the coaching staff has questioned the players motivation and lack of confidence. Not only do they show no cohesiveness on the court, but their lackluster performance last night is an indication of what Gator fans should expect next year, which are players that don't like to hustle or play defense. The only one to blame is Donovan for recruiting players that are more complimentary role bench players than starters.

Look for Donovan to jump ship and head to the NBA just like Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, Al Horford and Taurean Green did. He would be a perfict fit for the Miami Heat in where he would have an elite guard in Dwyane Wade and could possibly have the overall number 1 selection in the 2008 draft in which could be used to draft foward Michael Beasley. I really don't blame coach Billy Donovan for leaving, because all good things must always come to an end!  

Spring training will be over in a few weeks and many teams are still trying to figure out who will bat leadoff, or cleanup as well as who will be thier 5th starter. But many have forgotten that the biggest hitter in the game has not yet signed with anyone and any American League team who is in desperate need of a designated hitter should really utilize his services.

The guy is a 7-time NL MVP player as well as the current all-time HR leader (*) and his bat speed is still among the best in baseball and teams that don't have the luxury of signing marque players because they lack the fan base or they can't really persuade superstar players to play for their team should turn to Barry Bonds. It is a win-win situation for teams like the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays, or even the Oakland A's. 

    In addition, a team could sign Barry to a one-year deal which would be a pro-rated contract in which he gets certain bonuses for plate appearances, all-star appearance, MVP votes, etc. Not only would they sell more tickets at their home venue, but any publicity whether good or bad can't really hurt a team like the Royals. And even if the Bonds experiment should fail, they only invested a year in the guy and would the financial flexibility to cut their ties with him without leaving them with a hole in their pockets. Any GM with common sense, should have Barry on speed dial because he is the type of player that can single handedly change the game.

How many players are intentionally walked with the bases loaded so that they don't have to subject their pitchers in trying to get him out? Obviously the guy has regressed in his abilities, but he is still considered an elite player when it comes down to hitting. As for fielding, he is a liability and that was the main reason why the San Francisco Giants had to let him go was because he no longer has that gold glove capability and his arm is well below average. Thus, any team in the National League should only sign him to be a pinch hitter, because his outfielding days are pretty much over. 

There will always be fans out there who feel that Barry tainted baseball forever and that the game will never be the same because of the steroid allegations and the George Mitchell report indicating that there were several other players who have admitted in taking HGH or steroids, but baseball has survived the Black Sox scandal as well as the 94'strike. Although some argue that he can be a cancer in the clubhouse, but if he can win you games then sometimes you just have to pick your poison.

Are the Los Angeles Clippers cursed into being one of the leagues worst franchises ever? How does a team that has had so many top 10 selections in the NBA draft throughout the years be unable to improve itself via the draft? Although many fans in the Clipper Nation can easily point out the draft bust selections of center Lorenzen Wright (#7 pick in 1996) or Michael Olowokandi (#1 1998) and Russian small foward Yaroslav Korolev (#12 2005) in which they never lived up to their expectations.

However, owner Donald Sterling and GM Elgin Baylor have been able to draft quailty players such as Lamar Odom, Darius Miles, Quentin Richardson, Marko Jaric, Chris Kaman, Shaun Livingston, Chris Wilcox and Al Thornton. But why are the Clippers still the laughing stock of the league? One of the reasons is that it is widely known that the Clipper management pinches their pennies and would rather trade away a player in return for young talent than on re-signing a player to a long-term contract.

Letting PG Sam Cassell leave to the Boston Celtics reiterated to its fans that they would rather save money and let a player who can still run the floor and post up most guards and was clearly their 3rd best player on the team just walk away from this sinking Clipper ship. How many other players will they simply let walk away from this bad situation?

This summer, the Clippers will have two quality fowards that will be free-agents, PF Elton Brand and SF Corey Maggette. Although GM Baylor has already expressed his desire to sign Brand to a deal in that he is the leagues most underrated power fowards in the NBA. In addition, SF Corey Maggette has been the sole reason why they have won at least 21 gms this year. However, I really don't see Corey staying in LA due to the fact that head coach Mike Dunleavy and Maggette don't see eye-to-eye and every year his name is always tossed in various trade rumors. Unfortunately, it looks like both Livingston and Brand will not be able to play until next season and the new just goes from bad to worse.

I really believe that the Clippers have the players to make a good run for the next 3-4 seasons if they can keep these players. Injuries has really devastated this team and clearly have not been the same since Livingston's freak accident against the Memphis Grizzlies last season. On the other hand, if he can make a successful comeback and with the development of Al Thornton emerging as a slashing foward similar to Josh Howard of the Dallas Mavericks, then the Clippers will have young and atheletic players to compete on a nightly basis.

It is crucial that Sterling and Baylor re-sign both these players this summer and start a new chapter in their history in where they are no longer known as just developing young talent so that they can simply sign elsewhere. This misery must be put to an end, once and for all.  

The UCLA Bruins won a record 28 games this year as well as their 3rd straight Pac-10 title. Coach Ben Howland has taken the Bruins to a Final Four appearance in the last 2 seasons and even guided them to the National Championship game in 2006. Although they lost to the Florida Gators, the Bruins since then have recruited the top in coming freshmen in the nation with Center Kevin Love and SG Chase Stanback coming out of Fairfax High.

The Bruins have one of the best backcourt duo in the country with PG Darren Collison running the show and Josh Shipp who hit the amazing shot down the baseline to beat the California Golden Bears on Saturday. In addition, Russell Westbrook has become one of the quickest guards and has left many NBA scouts drooling over the fact that he is only a sophmore and is still in the learning process.

Although the Bruins have really improved in the middle of the paint with Love and PF Luc Richard Mbah a Moute enforcing inside the key. Kevin had an outstanding freshman year in which he led his team in double-doubles and leads the team in scoring. Moreover, Lorenzo Mata-Real has provided excellent depth at the center position and PF James Keefe was believed to be lost for the season, but has returned and provided Howland an excellent bench. Alfred Aboya is a tough defender and likes to do all the dirty work.

Thus, the Bruins have what it takes to get to the Final Four in that they are more experienced and more balanced in that they don't n