Rambling Away

By Ian Sirota
The Phanatic Magazine

We are down to the Final Four in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, and for the first time since the Tournament went to a field of 64, all four #1 seeds won their regionals, though Kansas was really pushed to the limit by underdog Davidson yesterday. Watching Stephen Curry shoot for Davidson was simply a joy -- he reminds me of a young Reggie Miller, and I can see him in the NBA someday. I went way out on a limb and picked North Carolina to win it all before the tournament began, and I see no reason to change that selection now. The Tar Heels are too deep to be beaten by anyone other than themselves. Maybe Memphis or UCLA could give UNC a game, but I doubt it...

I was up in Newark for the Flyers-Devils game on Friday night. First of all, that new arena is absolutely gorgeous. That team and both of its fans don't deserve it. As far as the game was concerned, Martin Biron plus shootouts equals disaster. He let in all three shots he faced, leaving the Flyers (who were the better team on the night), with an undeserved loss. That was particularly difficult to swallow because his opposite number, Martin Brodeur, was porous to say the least. At least three of the four goals the Flyers scored were stoppable shots, and when you have a shaky Martin Brodeur in between the pipes, that's a game the Flyers HAVE to win. It's on Biron that they didn't...

Opening Day is here, weather permitting. Normally, I would do a full blown preview, with projected records and the whole shebang, but there's no time for that. In short, I like the Mets (boo, hiss) to win the NL East. Acquiring Johan Santana for nothing of consequence gives them the best pitcher in Baseball and a decided edge over the Phillies. The Braves and Phillies should battle for second place, and be in the wild card hunt the whole season, but after Cole Hamels and Brett Myers, who I think will transition nicely back into a starter's role, the pitching staff is at best a series of question marks. In the NL Central, the pieces are there for the Cubs, but....they're still the Cubs. They'll find some way to screw it up. If they do, watch out for the Milwaukee Brewers. There's a lot of young talent on that team, and if it gels quickly, look out! In the AL West, all four teams could win the division. There really is no clear cut favorite. I would give Arizona a slight nod, because of that great 1-2 pitching combination of Dan Haren and Brandon Webb, but if Randy Johnson is finally able to come back and be somewhat effective, that edge will be even more pronounced. Over in the AL East, and much as it pains me to write this, it will be the New York Yankees reclaiming the division they have owned since the mid-1990s. Their young fireballers, Philip Hughes, Ian Kennedy and Joba Chamberlain, give them a decided advantage over a Boston Red Sox team that is simply not as deep. In the AL Central, I don't see how Detroit can lose, unless its pitching staff completely disintegrates. That lineup is completely stacked. Cleveland will battle it out with Boston for the wild card. In the AL West, Anaheim should repeat, but for the Angels it will all be a matter of keeping that pitching staff healthy. If you like dark horses, watch out for the Seattle Mariners, who acquired the best pitcher in Baseball not named Johan Santana when they picked up Erik Bedard from the Baltimore Orioles during the off-season...

The NFL draft is coming up in a few weeks. I just wonder which obscure player the Eagles will take in the first round this year, and how they will tell us that we're all stupid for not realizing that that player will be a perennial All-Pro. Sure, just like Mike Mamula, Freddie Mitchell, Jon Harris, Michael Patterson, Tra Thomas, Jermaine Mayberry, etc., etc.