San Francisco 49ers Punt Returner Kyle Williams Receives Death Threats

January 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Picture of WIlliams's fumble in overtime.

Over the past the past eight seasons for the San Francisco 49ers franchise they experienced all sorts of ways of losing; some big losses, some close ones, an occasional win, and well you know the rest.

However this season for the San Francisco 49ers has been much different, much different in the fact that not only did they go 13-3, but they made the playoffs. Then to make it even better they made it out of the first round defeating the New Orleans Saints 36-32 and made it to the NFC Championship game with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Then those chances would be even more alive as in overtime they would stop the New York Giants, giving them the ball back. Except, things went back to their old ways as punt returner, Kyle Williams would fumble the punt giving the ball back to the Giants and a  ticket to the Super Bowl XLVI to New York as well.

“Everyone in here told me to keep my head up and told me it’s not on me,” Williams said. “It’s just one of those things. You hate to be the last guy that had the ball, to give it up that way and to lose a game of this magnitude.”

Hate was definitely something that 49ers fans would take from Williams’s response after the game as fans, spectators, and to whom ever they may concern sent tweets, letters, and even death threats to Kyle Williams due to both of his costly fumbles in both overtime as well as the one earlier in the fourth quarter.

One of the hateful remarks read, “I hope you, you’re wife, kids, and family die, you deserve it.”

Williams’s dad would tell ESPN that his son Kyle was playing in the game with an injured shoulder as well as telling them, “I’m used to the years of criticism and threats on my life from time to time, but I have to hear about threats on your son’s life while you’re watching TV and it certainly makes you question our culture of sports as it stands,” Kenny Williams said Monday. “I told his mother on the way out exactly what was coming. That’s the nature of the beast.”

Even though it may be natural as Williams’s father, Kenny implied the question still comes up and that’s, is it right? Is it right, to threaten a man or woman’s life due to the fact that they made a wrong play or two. Now I understand that it was the NFC Championship game and that without those two fumbles the 49ers may have went to the Super Bowl, but threatening to kill Williams because of it? That’s just not right.

Not right, that teammate David Akers intervened as he tweeted on “ppl need to get a grip! Leave Kyle alone!”

“I’m irritated with the way people are treating him, absolutely,” Akers said. “I think it’s ridiculous. You know, get a grip on what life’s about. He went out and he put his soul out there. That’s what he does. He was not trying to do anything other than make an incredible play for this team. He had a great kickoff return. Mistakes happen. We all make mistakes. But when you’re out there truly battling to do the best you can, my hat goes off to him, to anybody that does that.”

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Michael Jordan Speaks Out About Kobe Bryant

January 18, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Michael Jordan vs. Kobe Bryant the debate that will never end.

Since the NBA Lockout ended, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant has always been a top the news of the NBA. Rather it being his surgery that he had during the off-season, the question of if he’ll win another ring, the comparison to Miami Heat forward LeBron James or the ESPN pre-season rankings that put him as the seventh best player currently in the NBA.

Looking back at those rankings now Bryant who’s averaging 30.8 points per game and is the NBA’s leading scorer is anything but seventh in the NBA as he’s proving yet again this season that he’s clearly the best.

As it stands right now Bryant has four of the five top single game points in one game for a player this 2011-12 season, as it goes his 48 point game against Phoenix, Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard with 45, then Bryant’s 42 against Cleveland, his 42 against the Clippers, and his 40 against Utah.

However seventh is where ESPN felt he stood.

As for Michael Jordan who many claim was the best to ever touch a basketball didn’t feel that Bryant was the seventh best player in the NBA as he not only felt that Bryant was the best, but the only player that deserved to be compared to him.

“Kobe’s ultimate competition is MJ. That’s why MJ watches him. MJ made people think what he was doing wasn’t human,” said Roland Kobester a well respected writer who’s currently writing on a Jordan book “.I never said Kobe was better than MJ. MJ just told me Kobe’s the only one to have done the work, to deserve comparison.”

What more do you need than the approval from the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time) Michael Jordan than to say that he’s the best in the NBA? Apparently ESPN didn’t think so as they put LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant all ahead of Bryant.

Taking all of what Jordan said and what Bryant has done thus far this NBA season, I wonder what ESPN would say now? Would they still keep him at seventh? Or would they move him up to where he should be, at number one? All questions that may never be answered, but it doesn’t matter as they don’t need to be answered, as Michael Jordan and Bryant’s performance this season have already answered those questions.

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Will Kobe Bryant Win The 2011-12 NBA Scoring Title? Or Will The Wrist Injury Hurt Him?

January 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Bryant drops 48 points aganist the Suns.

Kobe Bryant came into 2011-12 season with high hopes after under going an experimental surgery on his knees that he said restored him to new as many people close to Bryant have said that he looks young again. However in a pre-season game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Bryant would take a hard fall to the ground falling on his wrist, though he wouldn’t come out.

That wrist injury would later be diagnosed as a torn ligament in his right wrist which is Bryant’s shooting hand. According to Web MD, wrist injuries of this severity require either surgery or a cast/splint and sometimes even both. As far as the timetable of how long the recovery would take, could sometimes be a year. However in most cases it takes about usually six weeks.

As soon as news broke of the injury, many began speculating on how much time Bryant would miss and if he would play in the season opener. Though come Christmas day, Bryant would play in the season opener and would play well scoring 28 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and two steals in a one point, 78-77 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

“You just go out there and play your game,” Bryant told ESPN. “Not think about it as much. … I try to block it out.”

Picture of the fall Bryant's wrist took.

On January 6th against the Golden State Warriors last Friday Bryant would score 39 points in a 97-90 win over the Warriors and would score the most points in a single game for any player in the NBA for the 2011-12 NBA season.

Then just four days later, Bryant would score 48 points against the Phoenix Suns in a 99-83 win breaking in his former record of 39 points for the 2011-12 NBA season. The next closest player to Bryant’s 2011-12 single game season record is Warriors guard Monta Ellis who scored 38 points against the San Antonio Spurs on January 4th.

The Lakers have played 11 games this season so far and Bryant has played in every single one of them. As far as his play, it’s been great as he’s averaging 29.4 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists a game.

Bryant is currently second in the NBA in scoring behind Miami Heat forward LeBron James who’s averaging 29.6 points per game in just nine games. However James doesn’t have a severe wrist injury nor is James 33 like Bryant is. Though age aside, once Bryant’s wrist heals in say a couple more weeks Kobe Bryant will win the scoring title this 2011-12 NBA season. Heck, he could probably win it with his wrist injury.

“I think he’s a player that has remarkable will to fight through anything. And he proved it today by being out there. By not even questioning the fact that he might not play. He’s a fighter. He’s a warrior. He’s out there and he’s the leader of this team, so it’s important for him to do that,” teammate Pau Gasol told ESPN after the Lakers season opener against Chicago.

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Will Tebow Time Happen In Pittsburgh?

January 8, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Tebow time, will it happen?

Today at 4:30 Eastern Time the Denver Broncos will play in the first playoff game under quarterback Tim Tebow. Since the Broncos made the switch from quarterback Kyle Orton to Tebow the Broncos have been pretty good as they have won seven games and lost four under Tebow this season.

Now despite losing to the Kansas City Chiefs and former quarterback Kyle Orton who was claimed off of waivers 7-3 last week, the Broncos due to an Oakland Raiders loss clinched the AFC West and would go onto the playoffs. As for who they would face, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Now everyone would most likely think that “Tebow Time” will come to an end today as the Steelers, ranked first in yards allowed in the NFL with 4,348 yards against opposing offenses would really shake Tebow. Then you calculate that in Tebow’s last three games he has been completely awful, turning the ball over seven times, three of those turnovers coming from fumbles.

However, if you look, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the least most takeaways in the NFL with 15 and they have given the ball away 28 times. As for the Broncos they have been on fire as in their last three games they have forced opposing offenses to turn the ball over nine times.

Taking that in, you then add in the factor that Steelers leading rusher, Rashard Mendenhall will be out of this game due to a torn ACL. Then, Ben Roethlisberger is still nursing an ankle injury. So adding those two factors in and then looking at a Broncos defense who has came up clutch before by forcing a turnover or two to help out Tebow and the offense may do it again.

Now you can call me crazy, but Tim Tebow out of Florida University will beat the Pittsburgh Steelers today on January 8th, 2012 and here’s why. Week 15, he played the New England Patriots, one of the best if not the best team in the AFC so we don’t count that in.

Week 16, the Buffalo Bills it was a cold game that Tebow wasn’t always used too as playing in Florida the weather was much different. However Tebow didn’t do that bad until the end when he was faced at such a deficit that he was put in by his defense, which resulted in multiple interceptions. All it was was that he panicked.

Week 17, they just looked out of sync on offense. As for the defense they looked great allowing only one touchdown and despite the 7-3 loss to the Chiefs, I think that it was good that it happened. It was good because it put the Broncos backs against the wall and as the underdogs again, a place that they have seemed to strive at as last time they were in that similar position they won seven straight.

So now the Broncos will host a team that has sometimes struggled to put a team away as 7 of their 12 wins have been very close as have two of their losses. For any other team this may not be a problem for the Steelers, but facing the Broncos it should be as this season they have had six fourth quarter comebacks all lead by Tim Tebow.

Another factor that will be added in is there won’t be as many Steelers fans as not only is it a home game for the Broncos, but because Broncos fans were blocking Steelers fans from purchasing tickets at the stadium by forming human walls, blocking fans from purchasing online or through the phone by looking at area codes and zip codes, and any other way to prevent Steelers fans from coming.

So get on your knee and bow your head boys and girls, because it’s Tebow Time and it’s about to take place yet again in Denver.

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Lebron James Gets His Very First Ring; An Engagment Ring

January 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Lebron James and his new wife (well not yet...just engaged)

Since entering the NBA in 2003, Miami Heat Forward, Lebron James has always been chasing the goal of winning an NBA Championship in strive of winning a ring; a championship ring.

Now while each year over and over again James failed and then failed again in Cleveland as he couldn’t win a ring he did however get very close in 2006-07 when the Cavilers made it to the NBA Finals until eventually being swept by the San Antonio Spurs. After getting swept James would play three more seasons with the Cavilers before making his famous “decision” on ESPN to take his talents to “South Beach” aka Miami.

James would join superstars, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh where they would automatically be favored as the 2010-11 NBA Champions. However despite making it to the NBA Finals yet again James would lose, except he wouldn’t be swept as they lost 4-2 to the Dallas Mavericks, but he wouldn’t reach his goal and silence the critics by getting a ring.

After losing to the Dallas Mavericks with the team that everyone thought would for sure win it, James would take a lot of criticism as some said he would never win a ring or that he would never get any sort or ring, a wedding ring, engagement ring, class ring, etc. Well just five games into the 2011-12 NBA season James has proved them all wrong as he now has his first ring…an engagement ring.

James who has been with Savannah Brinson since High School, finally popped the question to start the New Year off and didn’t choke as she said yes. “My girl, she’s very excited,” James said Sunday night after he and the Miami Heat beat Charlotte 129-90. “She would love to answer more questions about it than me. But she’s happy, my family’s happy and that’s what it’s about.”

This engagement means that James will soon be getting another ring as come the Wedding time the ring bear will bring Lebron ring number two shying the great Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant of just a couple. However he can’t get too excited yet as no wedding date as been planned yet.

Now all jokes aside, imagine if Brinson said no? I guess it would just be fate right there that Lebron would never have a ring. I mean, several chances in Cleveland, two All-Stars in Miami, but the key to his success to getting a ring had been there all along; it was his longtime girlfriend, Savannah Brinson that would get him that very first ring.

Congratulations to you Lebron and to your family, however to bad Brinson won’t be able to help you get your first NBA Championship ring… or help you prevent another fourth quarter meltdown…or close out a game…actually she probably could if she was able to play for you.

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Will Tim Tebow Be A Pro Bowler?

December 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Tim Tebow a Pro Bowler?

Each year the NFL has its famous Pro Bowl game from Hawaii where it showcases the best football players in the world from both the AFC and the NFC. The two conferences compete to see which one is the best. However not every great player is selected as usually only three players from each position are selected from each conference to play in the game.

Now as the NFL is leading up to the decision of choosing their pro bowl rosters, there have been questions of if Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be selected? The answer, yes.

7-2 as a starter and his Broncos are in first place in the AFC West. He has six fourth quarter comebacks this season and he’s brought so much attention for one player since…ever. Tebow has performed so well this season that people have made a thing called “tebowing” which is when you get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.

He has the sixth best passer rating in the AFC and the best passer rating in the NFL in the fourth quarter. Now while he’s not one of the top passers in the NFL, he is one of the top runners in the NFL as he leads all quarterbacks in rushing with 610 yards.

Now don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of great quarterbacks in the NFL and there’s a lot of great quarterbacks in the AFC but this season putting Tebow’s great accomplishments aside, making the AFC Pro Bowl team as a quarterback is pretty easy. Indianapolis Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning has been injured all season, Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub is out for the season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel who was a Pro Bowler last year has been awful this season, New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has been awful, and there were two rookie starting quarterbacks (Cincinnati’s Andy Dalton and Jacksonville’s Blaine Gabbert).

Though don’t get me wrong as I’m not saying Tebow is the best or am I saying that he’s a lock for the Pro Bowl just yet as something needs to happen first, and here’s what it is. Putting all injuries aside, the three AFC quarterbacks should be New England’s Tom Brady, San Diego’s Phillip Rivers, and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger as the third selection.

However, Roethlisberger has been banged up as of late and will most likely sit for the rest of the season which means if the Steelers go far in the playoffs then he most likely won’t play in the Pro Bowl which would mean they would need a sub who would be Tim Tebow.

Now I know, that there’s a lot of “tebow mania” out there and people like ESPN’s Skip Bayless aka Baseless would say that Tim Tebow is a lock for the Pro Bowl, but in all reality if you look at he’s not. Now don’t get me wrong Tebow’s a great player but he’s not Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, or Ben Roethlisberger.

Saying that, Tebow did finish third among AFC quarterbacks in voting from the fans, but that’s not the final decision as coaches and players still have to cast their votes as well. This is also another reason why fan’s votes shouldn’t count in selecting players in All-Star games as this voting for Tebow is turning into the NBA’s Yao Ming dilemma.

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What The Los Angeles Lakers Should’ve Done With Lamar Odom And Why General Manager Mitch Kupchak Should Be Fired

December 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

You even gave him the award...what were you thinking?

After not getting guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets, forward Lamar Odom would demand a trade. Odom would demand a trade as he felt that he was disrespected as he felt that he should’ve never have been traded. So as a result Odom would be dealt to the Dallas Mavericks for $8.9 million in trade exception, as well as a protected first-round pick.

This would cause some controversy as fans would respond with shocked remarks like, “why would they do that,” “what were they thinking,” etc. However they weren’t the only to respond as captain guard Kobe Bryant did as well saying, “I don’t understand the criticism of [the] reality shows…he had his best season last year. It clearly wasn’t a distraction,” Kobe Bryant told NBA reporters.

Bryant would go onto add, “He played his a** off. I don’t get where that [criticism] comes from.”

“You’re talking about Sixth Man of the Year last year,” said Bryant. “I don’t like it… I’ve known Lamar for a long time, and for the team itself, he’s meant a lot in terms of his versatility, his personality. He’s a big presence for us in the locker room, just from a team chemistry standpoint.”

Though it wouldn’t end there as General Manager, Mitch Kupchak would respond as well saying, “Lamar was sent to Dallas because he requested to be traded,” said Kupchak to the LA Times. “In this case, he couldn’t get over the fact that something like that could took place. I was hoping that things would change in a day or two but his representative called me on Saturday and said that’s not going to change.”

Now this decision to send Lamar Odom to Dallas drew up a lot of controversy as sending a player of his talent to the defending champions just seemed foolish as Odom’s addition makes the Mavericks a favorite yet again this season. As for Kupchak he felt differently saying, “I wouldn’t lump Kobe and Lamar into the same category when talking about those same two situations,” Kupchak said to the LA Times. “Yeah, we could have said, ‘Lamar, we’re not going to trade you,’ and waited to see what was going to happen in the next week or two, but we chose not to do that.”

Kupchak would go onto add, “The window to make a deal in this environment where you really can get back flexibility, it goes away in the snap of the fingers. So to have waited two or three weeks would have just prolonged an environment with Lamar when he’s not at practice and would have sucked energy away from the team. We might not have had a better opportunity.”

They might not have had a better opportunity? Mr. Kupchak, do you really feel that trading your fourth leading scorer, third leading rebounder, and sixth man of the year to the defending Champions as well as the team that swept you in the playoffs for $8.9 Million in trade exception and first round pick, the best opportunity? You’re crazy and personally I don’t think that you as the Lakers General manager give the Lakers organization the best opportunity to win. You trade Shaquille O’Neal, you traded Caron Butler for Kwame Brown, then you didn’t re-sign Trevor Ariza, and now you trade Lamar Odom, what’s next Mitch Kupchak? Kobe Bryant?

Now this all could’ve been prevented and I’m not talking about Shaquille O’Neal, Caron Butler, and Trevor Ariza (though they could’ve been prevented too) but I’m talking about Lamar Odom; you could’ve done better.

What you could’ve done was first; try to convince him to stay. You could’ve told him that it’s a business and that anyone can get traded at anytime, however your sorry that you made the mistake and you feel bad and then you throw him extra money pat him on the back and say see you on the court. Now if that didn’t work you could’ve gone to the stage of trading him; except not to the Dallas Mavericks.

What you should’ve done was have waited and tried to trade him to the Orlando Magic to get center Dwight Howard, wouldn’t that have been smart? Instead, you trade Odom to the Dallas Mavericks and get pretty much some money and a first round pick and you take no talent from their team, all you did was make them better…a lot better. As a result now your Los Angeles Lakers are not the best team in the West as the Dallas Mavericks are, but your Los Angeles Lakers now might not even be the best in Los Angeles as the Clippers made some moves that might put them at the top dog status.

So my question to you Mr. Kupchak is what are you doing? Why would trade Odom? And why would you trade Odom, to the Dallas Mavericks? Why wouldn’t you just wait and trade him to the Magic for Howard? Wouldn’t that have made a lot more sense?

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Battle of Los Angeles: Lakers vs. Clippers Part Two

December 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Lakers vs. Clippers pt. 2

Chris Paul vs. Derek Fisher: Old school versus new school, except in this case the new school is going to win. 37 versus 26 just really isn’t fair and over the last couple of years it’s been clear that Derek Fisher has lost a step. We saw it especially in the Oklahoma City playoff matchups when Kobe Bryant would have to guard point guard Russell Westbrook instead of Fisher because Westbrook would just blow by him. Yes Fisher is the more experienced, wiser, and more glorified, with his five rings but Paul is on the up and up and is one of the top point guards in the game.

Winner: Chris Paul

Chauncey Billups vs. Kobe Bryant: Rather it will be Billups, Mo Williams, Randy Foye or whom ever at the shooting guard position for the Los Angeles Clippers this is year it won’t really matter as Kobe Bryant will win the match-up every time. He’s a five time champion, multiple time All Star as well as many other achievements and even though at age 33 Bryant still doesn’t seem like he’s even lost a step. Continuing with that, Bryant also underwent an experimental procedure on his chronic, albeit mostly minor knee injury this off-season and it appears that it has worked has people close to Bryant have said that he has his hops back.

Winner: Kobe Bryant

Caron Butler vs. Metta World Peace: Now while there have been talks that new head Coach Mike Brown has said that Artest will come off the bench as the sixth man in the replacement of the absence of Lamar Odom this season. The thought would be that Matt Barnes would get the start; which really does make a difference. However if Artest is the starter, than Artest wins the match up as his lockdown defense and crazy new name is just too much for Caron Butler. Now if it’s Barnes then it’s going to slide in the favor of Butler.

Winner: Caron Butler

Blake Griffin vs. Pau Gasol: People have said that Gasol is no longer the Laker that he once was, as he’s gotten worse, as last season was awful for him and that he should just be traded. Well what those people don’t know is that, statistically Gasol had his best season ever as a Laker, scoring 1,541 points and grabbing a career high 836 rebounds in a full 82 games. That’s why it just doesn’t make sense as he’s a very talented all-around player which despite Griffin’s unique athleticism, I like Gasol. Now unless it’s a contest of who can jump over a car, than it goes to Griffin but if it’s playing basketball then it goes to Gasol, because he can shoot the jump shot, grab rebounds, score, pass, and pretty much do whatever. Also too the Lakers size advantage is just too much as in most cases Andrew Bynum would be helping out in the paint on Griffin too.

Winner: Pau Gasol

DeAndre Jordan vs. Andrew Bynum: Now whether they get Dwight Howard or not, center Andrew Bynum healthy is just a force to be reckoned with as he’s the second best center in the NBA, when healthy. Now don’t get me wrong Jordan is a very nice young talent but he’s no Andrew Bynum, as Bynum not only has the size advantage but he also has the coaching advantage with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. So just as long as Bynum stays healthy like he did in 2006 when he didn’t miss a game, then this Los Lakers team will be at elite status.

Winner: Andrew Bynum

Clippers Bench vs. Lakers Bench: Now while there are some names that jump out to you on the Clippers bench as it could possibly be Mo Williams, Randy Foye, and Eric Bledsoe but the problem is, is that, that’s really it as you look at the rest of their bench, Brian Cook, Ryan Gomes, Travis Lesile, Adam Koch, Trey Thompkins, and Willie Warren there isn’t much. And to top it off too, there really isn’t much at their power forward and center positions as it’s just a four man rotation with Griffin, Jordan, Thompkins, and Cook.

You then look to the Lakers bench and you see Artest or Barnes, Steve Blake, Jason Kapono, Josh McRoberts, Troy Murphy, Derrick Caracter, and the young Devin Ebanks as well as some others. But it’s very balanced as they have a three pointer shooter in Kapono, a great sixth man in Artest, a couple talented big men in McRoberts, Murphy, and Caracter, and an up-coming player in Ebanks. While yes the Clippers may have a couple two stars on their bench who are hands down better than any other Laker bench player, but that doesn’t matter as they still lack a lot of depth at the power forward and center positions, which will hurt them.

Winner: Lakers Bench

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Battle of Los Angeles: Lakers vs. Clippers Part One

December 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Lakers vs. Clippers

Since moving to Los Angeles in 1985, the Los Angeles Clippers have only had a better record than the Los Angeles Lakers just three times. In 1992-93, 41-41 compared to the Lakers 39-43, in 2004-05, 37-45 compared to the Lakers 34-48, and in 2005-06, 47-35 compared to the Lakers 45-37. Other than that the Lakers have just out played the Clippers proving that Los Angeles was and is their city. Since moving to Los Angeles the Lakers have won eight championships, 12 conference titles, and 13 division titles and on Thursday December 8thit looked like they were going to do all three of those once again.

News broke in the evening time over all different media outlets that the Lakers had acquired guard Chris Paul from the New Orleans Hornets in a three team trade. The deal was the Lakers were receiving Chris Paul, the Houston Rockets were receiving Lakers forward Pau Gasol, and the Hornets were receiving Rockets guard Kevin Martin, Rockets forward Luis Scola, Lakers forward Lamar Odom, and a Houston Rockets first round draft pick.

Predictions started saying that the Lakers were going to win the west, that the Lakers were going to repeat, and that the Lakers were once again the best. However these predictions, new faces in new places, and new look teams would come to an end as news would later break that commissioner David Stern would veto the trade.

Analysts, reporters, fans, and even players were livid about Stern’s decision to veto the trade so much that Chris Paul threatened to sue the NBA. Though after reality set in and hours passed of Chris Paul not going to the Lakers and this trade no longer going through, teams and owners started talking again. However this time it wasn’t the Lakers as they decided to pull out after forward Lamar Odom demanded a trade and because the league was asking too much for Paul.

So as a result to the veto Odom would get his demand and would be sent to the Dallas Mavericks for $8.9 million in trade exception, as well as a protected first-round pick. The reason for the trade was that Odom felt “disgusted” that Lakers were trading him to begin in the first place.

Then about a week later after trading for Chris Paul appeared to be dead due to Stern’s high asking cost, the Los Angeles Clippers and the New Orleans Hornets would agree to terms to send Paul to the Clippers. The deal would send Paul and two future second round picks to the Clippers in exchange to guard Eric Gordon forward Al-Farouq Aminu, center Chris Kaman, and Minnesota’s unprotected first round pick.

With the acquisition of Paul this seemed like the final step to the recipe of success to beating the Lakers and being the kings of Los Angeles. It all started right after the lockout ended when the Clippers signed forward Caron Butler to a three year deal, then matched the Golden State Warriors offer to re-sign forward DeAndre Jordan, and then of course traded Gordon, Aminu, Kaman and Minnesota’s unprotected first round pick to the Hornets for Paul.

Those transactions put the Clippers back on the map as far as one of the NBA’s top competitors but it especially put them in an unfamiliar place, a place that they have only been three times; a chance to be better than the Los Angeles Lakers.

Come back on Saturday to see the breakdown between the Clippers and the Lakers of the Battle of Los Angeles Part Two. 

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Fred Jackson To Miss The Rest Of The 2011-12 NFL Season

November 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Fred Jackson has been ruled out this week and most likely out for remainder of the 2011-12 NFL season.

Fred Jackson has been a dominate force at the running back position this year as he lead the league coming into week 11 with 917 yards rushing and it didn’t seem like he was slowing down. That was until the Buffalo Bills traveled to Miami. It was the 5-4 Bills vs. the 2-7 Dolphins. Jackson was coming off of a big game in Dallas of 114 yards off of 13 carries. Despite losing to the Cowboys 44-7 the Bills were ready to snap their two game losing streak and redeem their season.

Though there was knowing bouncing back for Buffalo as the Dolphins did what the Cowboys did the previous week to the Bills; they put on a clinic as they would defeat the Bills 35-8. However that wasn’t the big news as Jackson only rushed for 17 yards off of only seven carries. But it wasn’t because the Dolphins shut him down but it was because an injury did.

Fred Jackson would injure his calf muscle on a four yard pass in the second quarter with roughly five minutes to go. The Bills were trailing 21 to 3 at that point. Luckily for Jackson the X-Rays came out negative.

After the game Jackson would tell reporters “I’ll be all right. It’s just a bruise right now,” Jackson said. “I’ll get some treatment on it this week and see what happens.” Though fast forward to today (Wednesday) Jackson has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

It’s never good news to hear that a player has been ruled out so early in the week, like it is in Jackson’s case. This calf injury, despite no X-Ray damage is clearly just as bad of an injury even if there was structural damage.

After hearing the devastating news reporters asked coach Chain Gailey if Jackson would return this season. His response; he doesn’t know.

Now while not knowing could mean a lot of things, in this case where Jackson has already been shut down for this week’s game on Sunday without even being tagged as questionable or doubtful isn’t good at all.

So my advice for Bills fans, fantasy owners, and to whom it may concern; Jackson is most likely going to miss the remainder of the season and if you have him in a fantasy league; trade him. If you’re a fan; get used to hearing C.J. Spiller’s name. While I hate to deliver the bad news, unfortunately it is, what it is, Fred Jackson at the time before his injury the leading rusher in the NFL will miss the remainder of the 2011-12 NFL season.

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