Mayer: NBA First Look

Let's get this out of the way. The 2012/2013 NBA season will end with the Larry O'Brien trophy on a beach. Whether it basks in the sun on South Beach or in Malibu remains to be seen. The Heat and Lakers have put together mini all star teams.

Courtesy jbcstyle.com

Courtesy soflanights.com

Arguments can be made that a number of squads will have a chance at winning the NBA Title this season and all have merit, but I can't see anyone making it over the LA/MIA mountain.

The Thunder would have been grouped with the two heavyweights if not for their recent trade of James Harden. Kevin Durant will play out of his mind and the negatives of Russel Westbrook are nowhere near the positives he brings to the court. Whatever your opinion of the deal, Oklahoma City is not as good this year without Harden. He may have struggled in the Finals, but the sixth man of the year was an integral piece to the Oklahoma City puzzle.

Courtesy celticslife.com

The Boston Celtics have gone back to a Big 3 and are still extremely dangerous. Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett still have some years and talent left and Rajan Rondo will officially be the best player and number one option in Boston. They bring in Jason Terry who will play a crucial role supplementing the loss of Ray Allen.






Tim Duncan comes back alongside Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker to give it another go round with the Spurs. If there's one lesson we have learned, never underestimate Greg Popovich and his core guys. However, they have shown us that something will need to change in order to reach the pinnacle despite regular season success.

Chicago also would have been high on the list of championship contenders, but the heart of the Bulls, Derrik Rose, won't be back into halfway through the season and who knows how long it will take for him to be back at full strength.

Courtesy nbacircle.com

The Indiana Pacers have one of the more interesting and complete teams in the league. They are deep and play a sound brand of basketball, but you need to be almost perfect to win in the NBA without a star player (if not three). Indiana has a couple of great players and a bunch of good players, but it's just not enough to go all the way.

The Los Angeles Clippers have really turned the franchise around. Blake Griffin is the centerpiece and I hope Chris Paul sticks around. The high flyers are immensely talented and should only be better after the acquisition of veterans Lamar Odom (who I expect to get back to form)  and Grant Hill. Once again, good team, but I can't honestly say they are close to good enough to get past the Lakers or Heat.

These are the only teams I can see posing a true threat to the MIA and LAL. .

Miami is coming off a championship and a year in which Lebron James finally seemed to get over the hatred that spawned from "The Decision". They come back a year older and wiser, not to mention finally understanding their uptempo form of basketball will work without a true center. The Heat play suffocating defense and push the ball in transition like no other squad due to their other worldly athleticism. Now they bring in Ray Allen, who spaces the floor for James and Wade and will have a field day running around the perimeter, while defenses are focused on guarding the middle against drives. Don't forget about Rashard Lewis, it was not so long ago he was considered one of the better complimentary players around and could find his groove again on a team where he has much less responsibility.

The Lakers went crazy this off season. They came out of nowhere to snag Steve Nash, something most Western Conference fans thought they would never ever see. Nash is exactly what Los Angeles needs out of a point guard. Nash may be old, but he still has some of the best vision and instincts in the game. Kobe will not have to worry about setting plays up as much and Nash will not have to worry about scoring which should help both of them. Then there is the whole Dwight Howard thing. How LA got Howard without giving up Pau Gasol is beyond me. The Lakers have supreme talent all over the place that allows each player to focus on what they do best.

Courtesy LA Lakers

 I hate to say it because surprisingly, despite being an LA native, I am no Lakers fan. In fact, I have a strong dislike for the team. I'll still go with LA to win the whole thing. A starting five of Nash, Kobe, Artest, Pau, and Howard is hard to fathom. The bench is strong as well, hello Antawn Jamison. I'll say Lakers over Heat in 6 games. 

Pensky: ISU Men's Basketball First Glance

At first glance, the 7th place finish that's predicted for Greg Lansing's Sycamores seems a bit insulting, since the Coach and top player are still around from ISU's 2011 Missouri Valley Conference title team. Upon further review, I think the Sycamores are in a perfect position. There's no denying they have some extremely talented newcomers that will be added into the mix. The top two newcomers, Khristian Smith and Manny Arop, each had to sit out last season, so expecting them to be at their best, right off the bat is probably too much to ask. 

More importantly, expecting a team that will be forming a new identity to be properly gelled early on, is also too much to ask. Hence patience is needed from Sycamore fans early, while it is easy to see how someone outside of Terre Haute, might look at the roster, and wonder what this group will be like without regulars Lathan, Richard and Printy.

The good news is the brief track record of head coach Greg Lansing. When he took over it was not an overnight process for him to instill the toughness, mindset, and practice habits he wanted for this program. He also inherited a team that had a brutal early season schedule. The result might have been a 3-5 start, but once this team forged an identity, they went on to become a respectable 3rd place team in the regular season, and eventually a conference tournament champion.

This season's schedule is not easy (at UCLA, New Mexico), but it also isn't as harsh as the 2010-11 slate. It will take some time for Lansing to figure out roles, and rotations, and for Smith and Arop to get their bearings as they return to competitive basketball. The optimistic, glass-half full side of me, knows that they have more talent than most people realize. I know Jake Odum is healthier than he was last year, and I know they don't have a senior on the roster. This is a process with this group, one that will be worth watching unfold, and one that should have many good times ahead, over the next couple of seasons and beyond.

Mayer: A Giant Success

The San Francisco Giants are really good. As a Dodgers fan, I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. There aren't many things in this World I despise more then those orange and black #HalloweenIdiots, who played follow the leader many years ago traveling westward behind the Dodgers. Sorry, but if I'm going to write a positive blog post about the Giants some insults need to be thrown in.

Courtesy USA Today

I tweeted before game one of the World Series that Detroit had a better team on paper. San Francisco has the superior defense and bullpen, other then that it's Tigers all the way. Before the season began you would put a check mark next to the Giants starting pitching, but not coming into the World Series. Detroit's rotation has been stellar through these playoffs while the Giants have relegated Tim Lincecum to the bullpen and pulled Madison Bumgarner out of the rotation.

Obviously Bumgarner got back into rhythm last night, but that doesn't change my opinion. The Giants are simply executing better. In fact, San Fran may be playing the best baseball of any team all season. I mean, it's almost comical how fundamentally sound the Giants are. They make every play. Every. Single. Play.

Some have pointed to multiple breaks going San Francisco's way, which is true. In baseball, when a team is playing so flawlessly, this tends to happen. No one, including the baseball Gods, are handing out a championship. The orange and black are playing immaculate defense, hitting every cutoff man, stealing every crucial base, making every pitch, moving every runner over, hitting every sacrifice fly just far enough...you get the point.

High school coaches are giddy watching these guys play baseball. When you pay attention to details and hustle on every play, good things happen. Beyond their on field performance, what a great group of players. The Giants have fun and just won't go away. They truly work until the last out and seem to have a Charlie Hustle at every position.

Courtesy TIME

They have already written themselves into the history books coming back from the brinks of elimination in the NLDS and NLCS along with Pablo Sandoval's three homer performance in Game 1. Simply put, San Fran does it the right way. The coaches coach it the right way and the front office builds the roster in the right way. Heck, even the fans do it the right way, setting an example for every other club on what building a beautiful ballpark that is well maintained can do for attendance and enthusiasm.

By no means is this series over. The Giants and Tigers both know that. Detroit still has Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and  Prince Fielder returning home for three games. However, the Tigers will have to overpower the Giants. Meaning, the pitchers will have to dominate and the hitters will have to knock some out of the park because San Francisco won't be out executed on the smaller stuff.

Courtesy SB Nation

I hope the Tigers stars turn it around and I expect the series to get back to the West Coast. Although, at this point, I'm preparing to see another parade in San Fran. It's disgusting and makes me envious in so many ways, but as a baseball fan, it's nice to know a deserving franchise is having success.

Hysterical Hoosiers

NBC 2 Videographer AJ Schub, who covered IU Basketball for four years, gives insight on Hoosier Hysteria and asks if this team has more hype then the 91' Hoosiers.

Hoosier Hysteria Video

There were plenty of things showcased during last weekend’s Hoosier Hysteria.  It was the first practice open to the public--unless you count the nationally televised hour-long opening practice that spotlighted the Hoosiers—where Indiana fans were able to spill into the cream colored mecca of Hoosier Nation, Assembly Hall, and watch the pre-season #1 team ball so hard.  

Cody Zeller impressed the full house with a trip to the finals in the long shot contest, where he defeated Johnny “Cash” Marlin.  Zeller’s win was even more impressive because he only put up half court shots against Austin Etherington in the round leading up to the finals.  Let’s not kid ourselves; the “long shot” contest was not about Zeller’s ability to shoot a three pointer, and more about lucking into a few half-court shots that were worth ten points each.  It was nice however, seeing Zeller hit enough shots from a distance to propel himself into the finals.   

Senior Jordan Hulls also looked sharp despite being knocked out of the long shot contest early on.  He had a great scrimmage scoring a Cream squad high twelve points, and keeping his team within striking distance of the Zeller led Crimson group.  It is also clear early on that Hulls is playing a crucial role in the development of highly regarded freshman Kevin “Yogi” Ferrell.  Earlier this week Ferrell credited Hulls on impacting his defensive skill set by forcing him to guard closer on screens, in effect helping him stay with the player he is guarding.  Look for Hulls to mentor Yogi throughout the year especially in the thick of Big Ten play when the spotlight is sure to be on the Hoosiers.

There was plenty of glitz and glamour, hoopla and horseplay throughout the evening.  The player soaking in the spotlight the most?  You guessed right, Victor Oladipo.  Vic, a starting guard for the #1 team in the country is also the clown, the crowd pleaser, the energizer, whatever you want to call him.  He is a big part of the personality of this team.  When he was supposed to be on the sidelines he was center stage with ESPN personality, and former Indiana undergrad, Sage Steele to the point where I was confused who the emcee of the event really was.  Vic was pumping up the crowd, interviewing players, and even getting Coach Crean involved on the microphone.  Look for Victor to bring the same energy as he brought last year regardless if he’s on the court or the bench.  When this team needs a spark, or a big defensive stop he’ll be the guy the Hoosiers look to make a play.  

All of that being said, this “practice” was not for the players, not for the coaching staff, and not even for the media.  Hoosier Hysteria was put together for Indiana’s hysterical fan base, a fan base that has been waiting a long time for a team as promising as the 2012-2013 group.  They have been waiting longer than Tom Crean’s four full years, longer than Kelvin Sampson’s tainted tenure, even longer than the half decade of Mike Davis.  You would need to go back 20 years to a Bobby Knight coached team to find a preseason surrounded with as much hype as this one.  

The year was 1991, and Bob Knight’s number two seeded Indiana Hoosiers were coming off of an 83-65 loss to the third seeded Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16, who would eventually lose to Duke in the championship game.  The bitter loss left fans hungry for more.  The 1991-1992 Hoosiers started the season as the second ranked team in the nation ready to take down any team that stood in their path.  The group was led by the Big Ten’s all-time leading scorer Calbert Cheaney, future All-American Damon Bailey, and freshman phenom Alan Henderson.   The team came back from the tournament loss to go 27-7 on the year and earned a spot in the 1992 final four where they were edged out by Duke 81-78.

It’s been 20 long years since die-hard Indiana basketball fans had a team with as much promise as the 2012-2013 version of the Hoosiers, and the fan base sure did show their support at the first chance they got.  Students lined up as early as Thursday morning to get a chance at the best seats inside Assembly Hall for Hoosier Hysteria. Two and a half days before the doors would open to let them in!  By 8 a.m. on the Saturday of Hoosier Hysteria the line to get in wrapped around Assembly Hall, and the doors did not even open until 4 p.m.!  Did you try to get into Assembly Hall at 5:30 p.m., an hour and a half before the practice began?  You were turned away because the Hall was full by five o’clock.  These fans deserve this group; they stuck around watching teams that won a total of 28 games over three years.  They helped Tom Crean and his coaching staff build this program.  Crean was quoted in a video that kicked off the Hoosier Hysteria festivities, “They say it takes a village to raise a family.  Well, it took a nation to rebuild this program.  THANK YOU HOOSIER NATION.”

The similarities between the 91-92 group and this year’s group are well deserved.  Both teams are coming off of a Sweet 16 loss to a team that would eventually play for a national title, both teams retuned the majority of their starting line up from the previous season, and both teams added a dominant freshman to their rotation (Henderson in 91, Ferrell in 12).  This brings up two questions: Are the expectations for the 2012-2013 Hoosiers higher than those of the 1991-1992 team, and if so, would this season be considered a disappointment if the current Hoosiers suffered a loss in the Final Four like their predecessors of two decades ago? Hysterical Hoosier fans, let’s hear your answers!

Mayer: Rivalry Games in the Playoffs Are Special

 Rivalry games are consistently some of the most epic and memorable contests in any sport. The passion from fans and players are raised to another level, often with more then a victory on the line. There's always bragging rights, but the pride factor is consistently elevated in match ups against a chief rival.

The list of best rivalries will change depending on who you talk to. I always start with Dodgers vs. Giants and Packers vs. Bears because of my favorite team biases. If I jog my memory, The Yankees and Red Sox have had a few memorable games over the years. Flyers vs. Penguins, Michigan vs. Ohio State, Nadal vs. Federer, Ali vs. Frazier, Lakers vs. Celtics, Duke vs. North Carolina,  you get the point.

Rivalry games often ignite that extra sense of urgency and passion that can only be brought out by higher stakes. Higher stakes...like the playoffs perhaps. The atmosphere is charged, the venue is packed, and everyone feels like the game is life or death. That description could be used for both a rivalry game and a playoff game. So, what happens when serious rivals get the rare opportunity to face off in the playoffs? Often, fireworks and moments we never forget.

This thought obviously stems from the sectionals match-up the Wabash Valley will be tuned into this upcoming Friday. Through a random draw, the Terre Haute North Patriots and Terre Haute South Braves were aligned and high school football fans across Terre Haute squealed like little girls receiving a pony as a birthday present. Really? We get the Victory Bell battle 2.0? YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!! Ok, I had to get that out of my system.

I've been working at NBC 2 for just over two months now. You would think that with my limited exposure to high school football in The Valley that a rematch wouldn't get me so excited. You would be wrong. The lead up to the first game was too much fun. The passion from both sides is contagious. This football season has been filled with all kinds of story lines, drama, and great games. In fact, one of the biggest plot lines going is the Terre Haute North Patriots. What a season North has put together compiling a winning record in the MIC alongside the monster schools of Indianapolis.

I'll never forget the build up in week two for the Victory Bell Battle won by the Patriots in front of a huge crowd at Memorial Stadium. So here we are, just a couple of days away from two fierce rivals facing off to extend their seasons. Winner goes on loser goes home. This is do or die. It's gut check time. *Other cliche sports saying to get my point across*. Throw the week two contest out the window now, whoever wins this game will not only have bragging rights, but a place on top of the rivalry record books as well. Any playoff game would be critical for both teams, but the emotions will be on another level before the first ball is kicked. The Braves and Patriots will have a moment to stare each other in the face and understand what they're playing for. #HEREWEGO

Mayer: Colts vs. Packers, A Game to Remember

I had the chance to cover the Colts vs Packers game on Sunday in Indianapolis. It was a truly special experience for me. As I've mentioned before, I'm a pretty die hard Packers fan. I've seen Green Bay play twice before: Once during the Favre era in San Diego (a blowout of the lowly Chargers) and a couple years back in Green Bay (a bad loss to the Texans on a last second field goal). So, this was only the third time seeing my favorite team and this time I was covering them professionally. Talk about a dream come true.

Indianapolis was playing for more then a win. Earlier in the week it was learned coach Chuck Pagano had been diagnosed with a treatable form of  leukemia. The first year head coach had already created a strong bond with the team. He sent players an e-mail urging them to play on and focus on the football field. That is always easier said then done. There were players on both teams wearing shirts supporting the coach as well as signs in each endzone.

 
 The Colts came into the game big underdogs. Although Indianapolis was by no means playing like a bad team, they were still playing with a rookie quarterback and facing the Packers who were needing a win and considered one of the better teams in the league. Andrew Luck has impressed everyone so far this season with his poise and decision making. He may still have a ways to go, but after leading a brilliant comeback, this was undoubtedly a monumental game in his career.

The Colts were excited to get one of the greatest defenders in their history back. Dwight Freeney had yet to take the field in the regular season due to a nagging ankle injury. Fans were excited to see a familiar number on defense and hoped he would wreak havoc for Aaron Rodgers.

I won't go into a long recap because I have to think everyone either watched this game, saw highlights, or heard about what happened. The Packers played with ease in the first half behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers on offense leading to 21 points and on defense the pressure was put on by Clay Matthews and company. Charles Woodson had the tough task of covering Reggie Wayne, who would put on an other worldly performance accumulating over 200 yards and wearing orange gloves in support of his coach. Despite their effort, Indianapolis found themselves with a 18 point deficit going into the third quarter.

Indianapolis absolutely dominated the second half. There are times in sports that emotion makes the difference. While Indianapolis made great adjustments and out played the Packers physically and mentally, the emotion was special to see. Call it cliche, but the Colts pushed it to the next level playing for their coach.

The Colts fought back, not allowing a point while continually putting drives together and converting key third downs. Reggie Wayne played like a man possessed, I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. The Packers doubled, bumped at the line, played man, played zone; it didn't matter. Andrew Luck showed incredible poise and some serious guts. Specifically, on one play when he was being tackled for a sack by Matthews, who grabbed his arm, and shook off the defender eventually completing a HUGE third down (to Wayne of course). The other play was his run near the goal line after the play broke down, diving forward to get the first. The Packers missed a 50 yard tying attempt to tie the game and Indianapolis stormed onto the field in one of the most inspirational and emotional victories you'll ever see.

As a Packer fan I was disappointed for two reasons. First, this game put Green Bay under .500 and in official Worry-Mode for a season that had sky high expectations. Secondly, it's never fun to see your team lose in person. However, talking to the Colts in the locker room after the game, feeling the joy and sense of accomplishment was special. These men came together for their coach. They were not afraid to make it known how much he meant to them and how they were able to take those feelings and channel them into positive energy during the second half. I feel lucky to have been at a game that went way beyond a W. This is a victory that everyone who was there and watched will remember.
 

NBC 2 Sports: MLB Playoff Outlook

Jason Pensky:
For the second year in a row I look at the MLB playoffs and can legitimately talk myself out of thinking each individual team has a shot to win the title. Last year I believe Chris Carpenter is the only reason the Cards won the World Series. He's the most underrated player in the history of baseball, and if he played for New York or Boston, he would already be in Cooperstown, even though he's still playing. With no Chris Carpenter in this year's playoffs (the real Carp isn't healthy), I will offer a thought on each team:

Nats....No Strasburg, no title.

Reds...stud-filled staff.

Braves....Hollywood is hoping for Chipper to Hoist.

Cards...Their baaaack, but the magic isn't.

Giants...this isn't 2010.

Yankees....these aren't your father's Yanks.

Tigers....2 v 2 they'd win it all with Verlander/Cabrera.

Rangers.....something just doesn't seem right.

A's....their surge has been historic.

O's.....my favorite team. Not objective!

World Series Picks:

Yankees over the Reds 

                                    

Reds over the A's (plan B)  

Grant Pugh

October baseball: The "Land of Hopes and Dreams."  That also happens to be the name of this year's theme song by Bruce Springsteen. Just like "The Boss,"' playoff baseball stands for everything that's right in America. Watching teams go toe-to-toe for our national pastime brings hope, fear, cheers, and tears. 

Major League Baseball and Bud Selig have implemented a new system this year, and it has a taste for the theatrical. The additional wild card playoff game is fun, but add in the fact that the lower seeds will get to start the division series at home in a 2-3 format, this could get crazy dramatic. 

It's only fitting that the Cardinals and Braves square off for the NL Wild Card after what happened last year. The game takes place in Atlanta, and the Braves always seem to win when Kris Medlen starts, but the Cardinals have the experience. Prediction: Redbirds walk out of Atlanta with a win. 

In the AL, my oh my how the Rangers have fallen. They went from leading the AL West to fighting for their playoff lives. One good thing, at least they get the Orioles at home. What Buck Showalter has done with this team is nothing short of incredible, but what Showalter hasn't done is win in the postseason. Prediction: Rangers take care of business at home. 

Now on to the 2 Division League Series in the National League. The Nationals are the #1 seed, and congratulations, you get to travel to St. Louis and face one of the toughest teams in baseball. The Cardinals lineup is the strongest in the NL, and no Stephen Strasburg will come back to haunt Washington. Prediction: Cardinals move on to the LCS. 

The Cincinnati Reds and Dusty Baker are back in the playoffs as National League Central Champion. However, the Reds will have to travel to San Fran for the first 2 games against Matt Cain and company. The Giants are an overlooked team heading into the postseason which makes them very dangerous. Prediction: Giants get it done and move on to the LCS. 

Over in the American League, The Oakland Athletics are the best story in baseball. Bob Melvin and crew come out of nowhere to not only make the playoffs, but knock the Rangers out of the division on the final day of the season. If the A's are the best story, Miguel Cabrera is the best chapter of the baseball season. He's the first triple crown winner since 1967, and leads a Tigers lineup full of power. The Tigers and A's met in the 2006 LCS, and I expect a lot of theatrics in this one, too. Prediction: It's hard to go against these A's, they are red hot and may end up knocking Jim Leyland into retirement. A's move to on to the LCS. 

The New York Yankees needed some late magic to clinch the AL East over Baltimore. If Texas beats Baltimore, a Texas-New York matchup is something the networks will drool over. These two teams have some playoff history in recent years, and I expect this one to be another exciting chapter. Prediction: Yankess move on to the LCS. 

How good would a Cardinals vs Giants LCS be? These are the past 2 World Champions with some of the best pitching in baseball. The format goes back to normal for the LCS, which gives the Giants the home field, but I like the road warriors under the Arch. Prediction: St. Louis moves on to the Fall Classic. 

Everyone remembers the Jeter flip vs the A's several years ago. No flipping part two this time, but I like the Yankees over the A's based on experience. Prediction: Yankees go back to the Fall Classic. 

So let's go to the World Series (because this post is getting long). The last time there was a Triple Crown winner (1967), the Cardinals won the World Series. On the other side, the last 6 times Kentucky has won the National Championship in Basketball, the Yankees won the World Series. We've had a chalk year in sports with Kentucky and the Miami Heat, and I think the trend continues. Prediction: Yankees over Cardinals in 6.

Lucas Mayer

Since the Wild Card era began after the strike season, Bud Selig and company have been on a constant mission to create parity. It makes sense, the more teams that have a chance at winning, the more fans keep watching. The only issue was the wild card teams' only disadvantage was lack of a home field advantage in the playoffs. This isn't the NFL and that proved to not be a big deal at all. Wild Cards teams have had no issue finding their way to and winning the World Series ( Marlins 97' Angles 02' Cardinals 11' to name a few). So the baseball minds decided to create a second wild card. Now the two wild card teams will play a sudden death game to enter "the real playoffs". I love this idea. It puts the wild cards teams at a severe disadvantage, which is appropriate and gives a bunch of clubs a chance as the season winds down. The move also creates the need to win the division as opposed to the past when teams coasted by not caring how they made it into the second season. So here we are, about to embark on this MLB post-season experiment. The start has been tremendous (how about those A's!) and I expect the roller coaster ride to continue.

Wild Card

Cardinals vs. Braves

A tough match-up, but I'll side with Atlanta. The Cardinals have offensive depth. Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday can get hot and carry the team at any moment and Kyle Lohse is no slouch, but Kris Medlen hasn't lost since 1900, or so it seems. The Braves are playing to send Chipper Jones out on a high note and the back end of their bullpen is absolutely filthy. Shortening the game to six innings could be the key to a deep run for Atlanta. 

Orioles vs. Rangers

In the American League the Texas Rangers will face off against the Baltimore Orioles, who have had a magical season, reaching the playoffs for the first time since the infamous Jeffrey Maier incident. The Orioles have been astounding in one run games and extra inning affairs and came close to taking the AL East away from the Yankees. The Rangers on the other hand, just went through one of the worst collapses in history giving up the division to Oakland on the last day of the season. I still have to go with Texas. They are the better team, but mainly I can't pick Joe Saunders over Yu Darvish in the Texas heat, I just don't see it.

Division Series

Giants vs. Reds

My gut tells me whoever wins this series will represent the senior circuit in the World Series. It's really hard to choose mainly because the teams are similar. Both have strong starting pitching with Matt Cain and Johnny Cueto being two of the best starters going. Will the real Tim Lincecum show up? What Bronson Arroyo do we see? Mat Latos or Madison Bumgarner, that may hold the key to who wins. Buster Posey has been the best player of the second half and Marco Scutaro single handedly eliminated the Dodgers. The Reds will look for Brandon Phillips to ignite the top of the order for Joey Votto and Jay Bruce. Both bullpens can be overwhelming. I flip my coin and it comes up Cincinnati's way (I'm sure my Dodgers bias doesn't help).

Nationals vs. Braves

Here is where you miss Stepehen Strasburg. The rotations match-up pretty closely and the fire-baller probably would have put Washington over the top for me. However, without him, I like Atlanta's solid bullpen advantage with the struggling Tyler Clippard in the back end. Does Drew Storen close? Offense could go either way. I can see Michael Bourne heating up, causing chaos on the base paths and Jayson Werth getting some big hits. It will be fun to see what Bryce Harper does and I expect fireworks from Chipper Jones. All in all, the Nationals go into the off season wondering if Strasburg could have pushed them over the top.

Tigers vs.Athletics

This should be the Tigers series. They have the best pitcher in baseball with Justin Verlander and the Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera. Those are only two of a slew of weapons for a team that underachieved. The A's have an all rookie rotation, Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick. With respect to those guys, Cespedes has never experienced anything like October and the rest of the Athletics lineup is not exactly house hold names (this is a team with another stellar bullpen). So of course, I am going with Oakland. Sometimes there are special teams and the A's are exactly that. They play together and are riding a special wave that may take them all the way. 

Yankees vs. Rangers

The Bronx Bombers may be more dangerous then ever. They are healthy and CC Sabathia and Robinson Cano are firing on all cylinders. The New York offense is plain scary in the playoffs especially in the House That A Lot of Money Built. They will miss the best closer of all time in a big way. If we talked in the beginning of the year, I would have picked the Rangers in this match-up. Texas can equal the offensive firepower of the Yanks, but have better starting pitching depth. However, with the way these teams are playing I don't see New York having much of an issue, they advance.

Championship Series

Braves vs. Reds.

The parity in the NL is pretty outrageous, it gets harder as the match-ups advance. I'll go with the Reds hitting some key home runs at Great American and getting some lights out performances from Cueto and Latos along with Chapman blowing away the Braves lefties late in the game. 

A's vs. Yankees.

Is this deja vu all over again? I feel like I'm in the early 2000's and Derek Jeter is running across the field on the famous flip play nailing Jason Giambi at the plate (How can you not slide there? HOW?!?). Not this time, The A's magic continues. That's right I'm taking the rookie starters Jarrod Parker, Tommy Milone and A.J Griffen going into the hostile Bronx and coming away alive. This one goes seven games. 

World Series

A's vs Reds

I think I stepped into the time machine once more and got sent back to the late 80's/early 90's. Wheres Barry Larkin and Dennis Eckersley when you need them. Anyway, I'm going with the Athletics. Yep that's right, I'm picking Oakland to go all the way and shock the Sports World. Maybe I just want it to happen because it would be one of the best stories EVER....EVERRRRRR, but look at what they have done. They came back from 13 games down to the two time AL Champions. They are easily the hottest team in the MLB and that makes a difference going into the playoffs. The pitching is young and dominant, maybe too young to comprehend the pressure they should feel. The bullpen is lights out and while the Athletics offense is nothing to get very excited about, they have been hitting for power (clutch home runs have become commonplace). I sense something special. In 2012 the A's will become the sports story of the year.   

 

Mayer: The 2012 West Vigo Boys Soccer Team

(This blog post corresponds with a feature story that aired on Monday, October 1st. Here is the link to the video: West Vigo Delivers Surprising Season

The soccer players walked in and out of the gym trying to stay warm and for that matter awake. They arrived at West Vigo High School around 7:45 AM on Saturday and were still trying to figure out the location of the bus that was scheduled to take them on the two and half hour ride to Browne County.

This kind of thing happens all the time in high school sports. Bus schedules get mixed up and kids that would want nothing more then to sleep in on a Saturday are left envisioning their upcoming game and waiting for a ride. Of course, many of these soccer players that had given up their Saturday and countless other weekends and hours of practicing never anticpated having to do so. That's because as recently as this summer, they weren't soccer players.

Anyone who has played sports on a serious level understands the commitment it takes. Time is just one aspect. So, when the Vikings boys soccer team found themselves without enough players two weeks before the 2012 season, they knew it would be a difficult task to convince others to join the squad. That didn't stop captains Brady Cole, Nathan Augustus, and Justin Kump from attempting to save their team. They wandered the halls of their school and pitched the idea to countless athletes. Cross Country players already had the conditioning aspect down, basketball and baseball players could get great practice for their upcoming seasons, and tennis players would have the much needed hand eye coordination.

Coach Culley DeGroote also tried to sell the soccer team to students, but he was also busy making sure he knew enough about the sport to teach it. DeGroote had experience as a coach, but had never played or taught the beautiful game. The middle school gym teacher surrounded himself with assisstants Cody Jones and Travis Lewzader, who would help relay the basics.

Sports teams often have to overcome obstacles that bring them together and help form a bond that eventually leads to great success. They must climb a metaphorical mountain to reach the summit of athletic success. However, the Vikings were not only climbing a mountain, they were doing it without harnesses and hopping on one leg.

West Vigo lost nine starting seniors from the 2011 squad. Three of those players were the all time leading scorers for the program. The coaching staff was gone as well. The players that remained had to switch positions for the most part and play a greatly increased role. Once players from other sports were recruited (over half the team) the Vikings had two weeks to impart 15 years of soccer knowledge. The players who actually knew soccer had to spend much of their time normally preserved for improving, teaching the novices basics of the game such as how to properly execute a throw in and when there would be a corner or goalie kick. Furthermore, a great number of the new soccer players did not know their teammates previously and had never met Coach DeGroote, so chemistry would have to be built from ground zero in a very short amount of time.

The bus ride was quite at first. Most of the boys used the long journey to catch up on sleep and dream of a Saturday watching college football, going to the lake, or spending the day with friends and family. After a while, everyone started to gain some energy and begin preparations for the game. They acted like a group that had been together for years as opposed to a couple months. There was laughing, razzing, and everything you would expect from a group of high school boys on a road trip.

The pre-game was rushed because we made it to Browne County a bit late. It was cool, but not cold and the grass was still moist with the son yet to break through. Players went through their routines and for the Vikings this includes countless tips and advice for the less experienced boys. As the game started and progressed the inexperience shows. Defenders are out of position, maybe only a second late, but that can make all the difference in soccer.

A Browne County player, who is obviously experienced and talented, continually uses jukes and fakes to get around the Vikings. West Vigo has opportunities on offense, but they just can't seem to get enough players down the field to create continuinty and any kind of established attack.

The final score is 5-1, the one West Vigo goal coming on a beautiful shot from Justin Kump, an experienced sophomore. The Vikings don't hang their heads. They hustle off the field, stand in line and shake hands. Coach DeGroote directs them to gather everything and make sure all the trash is thrown away. Some of the players spent a few minutes talking with parents then head back to the bus.

The silence of a defeated team is not found on the ride back. The players understand that the odds are stacked against them. They are still learning with each game although this was the season finale and playoffs await. There are smiles and laughter along with music and talk of plans for the rest of the weekend. The players are not ok with losing. They are a determined group, but simply, refuse to let a loss bring them down. The team is constantly looking forward, trying to figure out ways to get better and build a sustainable program.

Athleticism is the basis for the majority of sports, but knowledge and fundamentals play just as important of a role. When building a team, it takes time for the players to bond and build a trust that can translate into success. The West Vigo soccer team has packed in years of knowledge and practice into a small set of time and still found a way to wins games. They have morphed into a true team instead of individuals playing with like uniforms. No matter the outcome, the season has been a mighty success. 

After finishing conference play at 2-3-1, West Vigo won its sectional game 2-0 over South Vermillion. They play Covington for the championship on Saturday.