Pooh On Sports Episode 9

The man at the center of all the USC controversy, Reggie Bush. I have many thoughts on the investigation, college athletics and more. On this episode of Pooh On Sports I discuss USC, NBA Finals, World Cup, and more…

Welcome back!!

#UFC114 RAMPAGE VS RASHAD

Well the fight that I’ve been anxiously awaiting for since #UFC 96 is less than 24hrs away Rampage Jackson vs Rashad Evans.. These two light heavyweights are both former Champions and the winner of this will receive a Title shot against Shogun Rua at the end of the year. Rampage holds most of the advantages in this fight. (1)Wrestling-Evans has a college wrestling background that he use’s well in the ring he’s a sub par striker and against elite competition he dances a lot(use the octagon to his advantage or as we say running) Rampage is not your tradition wrestler he has a high school background but that’s it, his experience has come in the ring against the best fighters in the world and that’s something Rashad hasn’t faced yet ADVANTAGE—-EVEN

(2)Striking—-Rashad is a Wrestler first he’s now just becoming a better striker where as Rampage has been striking forever all you have to do is go back to his pride days and the wars he’s had will speak for themselves…ADVANTAGE—RAMPAGE

(3)Submission—There is no way that this fight ends with a submission they between each other have 9 subs(Evans 2,Rampage 7) and those were set up with strikes.—EVEN
Prediction—Rampage to me displays true grit and has more experience against elite competition…Look for Rampage to KO RASHAD within the first 2 rounds of this fight, and this will set up a much anticipated rematch with Shogun Rua from the Pride Days.

#UFC114 also features

MICHAEL BISPING VS DAN MILLER

TODD DUFFEE VS MIKE RUSSOW

ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA VS JASON BRILZ

DIEGO SANCHEZ VS JOHN HATHAWAY

AND THE RETURN OF MELVIN GUILLARD

Countdown To The World Cup

With only a month to go to the World Cup. Everyone has their eyes on the squads… who should make the team, who shouldn’t and who will be involved in the latest underage prostitution scandal (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8654857.stm).

Some players to keep your eyes on are youngsters Neymar and Paolo Henrique for Brazil. We’ll see if Bobby Zamora and Ryan Shawcross make the England team. Spain has suddenly been hit with an injury crisis (Torres and Xavi are both hurt) so maybe we’ll see some surprises. Also look out for MLS sensation Edson Buddle to make his return to international football after 7 years…although how much faith can we really put in an “MLS sensation”.

I am also personally pretty excited to see how brands start plugging their crap on unsuspecting football fans. The World Cup seems to bring out the best and worst in advertising – cue cheesy music and the world holding hands. But I will leave you with one of the better spots from past world cups (who can’t love Eric Cantona as underground kingpin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkCyWOR5LTU).

I cant wait for the squads to get announced – that’s when the fun really begins.

Also I will be sure to give you a first hand rant after going to Phila to checkout the USA/Turkey warmup game.

- Itshedley

NFL MOCK DRAFT PICKS #23 THRU #32 (Vstylez)

23 ) Green Bay Packers: If the Packers want to make sure that Rodgers has plenty of time to throw the ball then they need to draft a OT, I have them selecting the best one available on my board, Pick : Charles Brown OT, USC

24) Philadelphia Eagles: With the Eagles getting Ernie Sims in a trade with the Lions they have answered their LB issue, now its time to get Assante Samuel some help on the other side I have them getting a CB who can cover, his name. Pick: Kyle Wilson, CB/PR, Boise State

25)BALTIMORE RAVENS : Well the ravens could use help on there D Line and secondary I think they will go with the D Line, my selection is JARED ODRICK, DT Penn State

26)ARIZONA CARDINALS : The Cardinals need linebacker help in the worst way I have them selecting the best one available, Pick : SERGIO KINDLE OLB TEXAS

27)DALLAS COWBOYS : If the Cowboys intend on making it to the Super Bowl they need to fix there line to help Romo, Pick:RODGER SAFFOLD OT, INDIANA

28)SAN DIEGO CHARGERS : We all know what my Chargers need a replacement for L.T. , Pick: RYAN MATTHEWS RB, FRESNO STATE

29) NEW YORK GIANTS : The Giants need help on there D Line as well, help is coming courtesy of USC, Pick: EVERSON GRIFFEN DE USC

30)MINNESOTA VIKINGS: The Vikings need secondary help so I have them selecting the 2nd best corner in the draft, Pick: DEVIN MCCOURTY CB, RUTGERS

31) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: The Colts also need D Line improving as there line is getting older, my selection can be groomed into his position of the future, Pick: BRIAN PRICE DT, UCLA

32) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS : The defending Super Bowl Champs for the most part have everyone returning, yet they still beef up there D Line with this selection, Pick: CARLOS DUNLAP DE, FLORIDA GATORS

2010 NBA Playoffs, 1st Round Thoughts

Tried posting a video blog..didn’t work. Will try again tomorrow. Until then, back to the typing for me!!!!

NBA Playoffs started over the weekend and for the most everything played out as we expected. All home teams, except for the Suns, won to protect the home court advantage. Injuries have taken away some of the parity that I thought the playoffs would have but all is fair when its post season basketball.

Bulls/Cavs: I know right now they are playing neck and neck but there is no reason why the Cavs should not sweep this series. I’m talking bout break out the muthafuckin’ broomsticks! The Bulls are clearly overmatched after trading away John Salmons and allowing Ben Gordon to leave via free agency over the summer. There is really no one else you have to respect on the Bulls squad offensively except for Derrick Rose unless Heinrich and Deng decide to come play ball.

Hawks/Bucks: This should also be a sweep situation although I doubt it. The Hawks showed us on Saturday that they still don’t know how to kick the competition when they are down by almost allowing Brandon Jennings by himself to come back after being down by 20 something points. I don’t think that is going to hurt the Hawks this round but it will definitely affect them later on in the playoffs.

Jazz/Nuggets: No Okur. No Kirilenko. No advancing for the Jazz. Plain and simple, the Jazz are outmatched now. The Nuggets will give them a game just because they are the Nuggets but they are missing their best defensive presence and the big man who can guard bigs and then pull bigs away from the paint because of his ability to shoot 3′s.

Mavs/Spurs: I don’t know about you but the Spurs looked old as shit yesterday. The Mavs are built to compete with the Lakers for the Western Conference title and I believe thats what they will be doing. Spurs will win a game or 2 but I think their window has closed.

Lakers/Thunder: Not going to be a sweep but Lakers should win in 5 games. They are clearly too big and too experienced for Kevin Durant and the rest of the Thunder.

Suns/Blazers: The Suns should be ashamed of themselves. You are playing at home, against a team that is missing it’s best player, and you come out and lose game one. I’m wondering what happened to the Suns team that was crushing opponents the last week of the season? The Blazers already felt they could play with the Suns and Phoenix just gave them more by coming out and nutting up last night. I do know the Blazers are thanking Jesus, Allah, Buddha, Jehovah and a whole host of other Gods for not trading Andre Miller at the trade deadline. He came through big time yesterday and will continue to do so as the steady veteran who is a matchup nightmare for the Suns.

Celtics/Heat: Heat should be ashamed of themselves for blowing that lead yesterday. Miami better get Wade a point guard he can depend on this summer if they plan on him staying around because when he had to run the team as the primary ball handler yesterday, the lead vanished. I also want to take this moment to talk about the Celtics. Specifically KG and Paul Pierce. KG reminds me of the old man who is mad at the world because he can’t do shit like he used to when he was younger. The older you get, the more your skills diminish and that is just a part of basketball life. Guess no one ever told KG that because now he is just an angry ass shell of the player he used to be. I have watched him substitute supreme skill for just doing unnecessary shit like; throwing elbows. He deserved to get a game suspension and I’m glad the league did it. Paul Pierce needs to cut the acting out. You fooled us once with the dramatic wheelchair/carry off the court scene already Paul. Stop crying and play ball. In the words of Q. Richardson, “KG and Paul Pierce are 2 actresses.”

Magic/Charlotte: I had a back and forth with a few of my twitter friends about this series. Plenty people told me I was crazy for saying that Charlotte could surprise the Magic so I will keep this one short. Vince Carter was 4-19 yesterday. Sounds like the Vince we all know and love during big game time. Dwight Howard was effective on the defensive end for a little while but the 3 centers of the Bobcats kept Howard at the foul line and the rest to the team kept him in foul trouble. Jameer Nelson coming out and having that monster first half coupled with Pietrus going 3-3 after taking his first three 3 point shots then we might be talking about a Magic loss. Larry Brown played it ultra safe with Stephen Jackson and his knee believing that this would be a long series and it may come back to be a very important move later on. After all, the Bobcats have no expectations outside of their locker room. They have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this series. Can’t say the same for the Magic who have championship aspirations.

Don’t forget, “Leftback” drops 2day. Be apart of something special.

Pooh

NFL MOCK DRAFT PICKS #21 AND #22

21 ) Cincinnati Bengals : If you know anything about Coach Marvin Lewis is that he has a thing for players coming out of USC just look at his picks the last couple of years. This particular player stocked dropped when he came back for his senior year and got exposed, thankfully he ran an unofficial time of 4.24 at the Combine, Pick: Taylor Mays, S, USC

22 ) New England Patriots : With the 22nd pick I believe that Coach Belichick will upgrade his TE position, the only player they have now is Alge Crumpler and he’s on the tail end of his career look for them to improve that position, Pick: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma

Cincinnati Bengals: Surprisingly, the Bengal defense was very strong last year. Even though Marvin Lewis came with a defensive pedigree offense has always been the calling card of the Bengals. I see the Bengals making a few more moves this offseason to improve on the down year they had last year moving the ball up and down the field. After picking up a receiver to play opposite of Ocho Cinco, I believe they will draft the best TE in this year’s draft to make life much easier for Carlson Palmer and the Bengal receivers. Pick: Jermaine Gresham TE, Oklahoma

New England Patriots: The Patriots haven’t been themselves the past 2 seasons. Last year the defense looked the worst it has since the Belichick regime started. I believe they will go defense with this pick and grab a versatile player who can they can slide all over the field to create crazy mismatches for the opposing offense. Pick: Sergio Kindle LB/DE, Texas

NFL MOCK DRAFT 2010 #19 AND #20

19 ) Atlanta Falcons : With this selection I have Atlanta adding a pass rusher to there defense, get ready Michigan fans because a Wolverine is going here, Brandon Graham is small, but his motor and pass rush moves make him perhaps too intriguing to pass up here. Pick: Brandon Graham DE, Michigan

20 ) Houston Texans : The Texans secondary as of late has taking a hit this offseason and if they hope to beating the likes of the Colts they better work on making that unit stronger, I have them picking a up someone who could help them, Pick:Earl Thomas, FS, Texas

Atlanta Falcons: I see the Falcons drafting on the defensive side of the ball with the 19th pick. They signed Dunta Robinson at the start of free agency now they will make a pick to help Dunta do his job even more efficiently. Brandon Graham DE, Michigan will be the pick for the Falcons. I thought about going LB here but Brandon Graham has a relentless motor and I pursues the QB like nobodies business.

Houston Texans: After losing Dunta Robinson to free agency I believe the Texans are sitting at pick 20 unsure of which direction to go. They need a RB in the worst way and now they also need more help then before in the defensive backfield. Even though he isn’t a corner, I see the Texans picking Earl Thomas S, Texas with the 20th pick. He will be the best available and he plays a position that they definitely need to upgrade.