It's Good to be the King!

So how high does Lebron's Gm 2 winner rank in terms of all-time shots? Certainly it ranks near the top, and will be replayed for years to come. And how lucky is the NBA with both conference finals off to an incredible start? Though everyone's been waiting for Kobe vs. LeBron, we here at the Preachers called Nuggets-Cavs about three months ago when the playoffs got underway. And though the NHL can't match the star power of the NBA, they could certianly do worse than a Pittsburgh-Detroit Stanley Cup rematch. Should be a fun few weeks!

The Quartermark

So the 2009 baseball season has begun to take shape. The BoSox started slow, caught fire, and have now levelled off a bit. The Yanks looked decidedly mediocre until winning 9 in a row after A-rod's return. The Jays have been vying to be this year's Rays, but how long will they hold? The Phils and Mets seem to be sparring early on, though Johann has been lights out. The Twins look good after Mauer's return while LaLaland is Mannyless for now, yet still on top out West. Will the Sox, Yanks, & Rays be a three horse race in the end? Will the Mets supplant the Phils? Will Manny be welcomed back with open arms? And how many more cream pies are in Johnny's future?

Baseball Prediction Time

Once again it's time for preseason prognostication. So who's winning it all this year? Can the Phillies repeat? Will the Mets or Yanks christen their new ballparks in style? Can the Rays do it again? Or are we in for a new surprise? Let us know your division, wild-card, pennant, and World Series predictions. And, if you're feeling adventurous, give us some MVP, Cy Young, and ROY conjectures as well.

American League Preview

This week the Preachers will wrap up the WBC and preview the AL - all in a tidy 90 minutes! So will the Rays defend the penant? Will they even make the playoffs in the seemingly loaded AL East? Can the Yanks spare A-Rod for a month or so? How many wins for C.C.? Will Ortiz rebound sans Manny? How about the Angels without K-Rod? Are the A's poised for a run? And what of that AL Central? Will the Twins emerge from the pack or will the Tigers - and their Venezuelan duo of Magglio and Miguel - make up for a disappointing '08? (By the way, though we don't think that's Hugo Chavez crossing the plate, we can't be certain.)

Let the Madness Begin!

Oh yes, it's that time off year again.  Buzzer beaters, 5-12 upsets, Bill Rafftery's irish flu, Digger's matching ties and highlighters . . . you gotta love it.  So who do you have in your office pool.  Any first round upsets?  What about your final four?  And who's gonna cut down the nets in Detroit?  Could be a big year for the Big East, especially if Johnny Flynn has anything to do with it.  Should be a fun couple of weeks.  Onions! 

Mount Rushmore of Sports

So ESPN has been doing a state-by-state (and now I think sport-by-sport) sports version of Mount Rushmore. Basically you vote on the four greatest athletes from that state to be carved into hypothetical stone as a tribute to their legacies. Though this is rather silly in a way, it does make for good conversation. Leave it to ESPN to once again fill in a slow sports time of the year with a gimmick and leave it to us to copy it! Anyhow, let's cut to the chase: if we take the nation as a whole, who should be on our national sports Mount Rushmore? And if you want to get really crazy, who would be on an all-time althletes Mount Rushmore, any time from anywhere?

Oscar Time

As the NBA emerges from its All-Star weekend and Spring Training gets underway, it can only mean one thing . . . it's Academy Award time! So let us know who you think should win and who do you think will win, as we here at the Preachers feel that the two rarely coincide. Though we'll reveal our picks on the air this week, I for one will say I'm going with Mickey Rourke for best actor. And what's up with The Wrestler getting the shaft for best picture, not to mention best song?!?!

Here We Go Again. . .

Just when you thought there'd be nothing much to talk about in sports the next few weeks, Sports Illustrated decides to drop this A-Rod nugget on us right before Spring Training begins. So now that A-Rod seems to be admitting to steroid use (with the Rangers, that is), what do we make of all this? A-Rod's transgressions aside, what's with the leaking of confidential information? Further, aren't we overeacting a bit at this point? Really, how surprised can we really pretend to be given what's gone on the last ten years? Ahhhhhh, baseball sure has a knack of starting the season on the wrong foot.

Super Bowl XLIII

As the 2008 NFL season came to dramatic end on Sunday, the Steelers were the last team standing. So where do we rank this game in Super Bowl history? Can the Steelers now lay claim to the title of "America's Team" with their 6th Lombardi trophy? How great was that James Harrison INT return? Should Big Ben have won MVP? How awesome was The Boss at halftime? (That last question was rhetorical.) Is Kurt Warner now a shoe-in Hall of Famer? Join us Tuesday at 5 PM as we wrap up the season that was.

The NFL Playoffs

While many thought the Steelers might emerge from the AFC, few if any picked the Cards, who are looking to end a 60 - yes 60 - year title drought. (And you Jet fans thought you had it bad.) So what do we make of this Super Bowl and what do we make of the playoffs leading up to it? Was it fair that the Colts had to play at 8-8 San Diego? Could Jake Delhomme have played any worse? Should Titan or Giants fans be more disappointed with their teams' one-and-done efforts? Are Eagle fans ready to turn once more on Donovan McNabb? Is Troy Polamalu the best safety in the game? And what receiver is better right now than Larry Fitzgerald? Super Bowl XLIII: not quite what we at Bleacher Preachers expected it to be.

Baseball's Hot Stove

Much has gone down since our last show, including some big baseball signings in the Big Apple. While the Mets made an early splash with K-Rod, the seemingly recession-proof Yanks landed C.C., A.J., and - oh yeah - a first baseman by the name of Teixeira. Was it money well-spent? What's up with Andy Pettitte? Is the Met bullpen good to go? Will the Phillies miss Pat the Bat? Does Smoltz have anything left? And just where will Manny end up after all? As the tempature keeps dropping, let's keep the stove burning!