LeBron James Needs to “Win Something that Matters”?

Trevor R. Jefferson — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:59:01 +0000

Yahoo sports writer Adrian Wojnawroski says that Lebron needs to win something that matters. Win something that matters? He’s won back-to-back MVP’s at the age of 25, something neither Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, etc, has ever done. He won an Eastern Conference title at 22 years of age (on a terribly overmatched team), something Jordan couldn’t even imagine.

Not to sound crazy (as I know the status quo is to think a “team championship” is the most important “individual accomplishment” a player can win) but those MVP’s are a whole lot more important and validating than an NBA Title.

Was John “Spider” Salley better than Barkley? Was Samaki Walker better than Karl Malone? For goodness sakes, was Bob Cousy better than John Stockton? No on all counts!

Now, I agree that Lebron will have to win a title to be considered one of the five greatest players of all time and will have to win at least 6 to be considered the GOAT but to say he has never won anything that mattered is ludicrous.

At 25 years of age, Michael Jordan had still not accomplished anything of merit for the most part and couldn’t even sniff a conference championship. Kobe was different but Kobe had a prime Shaq so there is no real comparison.

Another thing that needs to be noted is that the media, Dan Gilbert and the entire city of Cleveland as a whole is being extremely self-righteous and silly to even expect Lebron to lead this Cavs team to a title. They simply are not that strong of a team!

The second best player on the Cavs team is an over-the-hill Shaq, the third is a streaky, defensively challenged Antawn Jamison, the fourth is a streaky, defensively challenged Mo Williams and the fifth is an offensvely challenged, hustle role player in Varejo.

Compare this to the Lakers, Magic and Celtics (the real “Big 3″).

The Lakers’ second best player is all-world power forward Pau Gasol, their third best player is do-everything swiss army knife Lamar Odom, their fourth is dominant when healthy and imposing when not true center Andrew Bysnum and their fifth is defensive monster and their best percentage 3-point shooter, Ron Artest.

The Magic’s second best player is all-star scoring machine Vince Carter, their third is matchup nightmare Rashard Lewis, their fourth is point guard dynamo Jameer Nelson and their 5th, or should I say fifth through seventh is a gang of great role players.

The Celtics’ second, third and fourth best players are all sure-fire first ballot HOF’ers in Garnett, Pierce and Allen while their 5th best player is a tough, defensive true center in Kendrick Perkins.

The cavaliers simply are not that good of a basketball team. Sure they are a great regular season team (thanks to Lebron) but they are not built to hang with the true big boy teams of the NBA … and lebron knows this. For the cavs to win the title Lebron would have to average a near triple double every series with at least 30 points per game. Dwight Howard just has to rebound, swat some shots and make a couple of baskets a game. Kobe just needs to inspire his teammates and make at leas 40% of his shots. Rondo just needs to control the tempo and get his team mates involved. These are not at all the samr thing that lebron is called on to do.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are not constructed to win a championship as-is … and Lebron knows it, which is why I fully expect him to sign with the New Jersey Nets (if they land the #1 pick), New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls this off-season.

PLAYOFFS – CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:19:35 +0000

VIKINGS over SAINTS

Why: The Vikings defense that’s why. I still believe the Saints defense is little more than smoke and mirrors and if Brett Favre can avoid a multi-interception game, the Vikings should have this game in the bag. If this game were played in Sota, I’d say Vikes by 13. If it were being played on a neutral field, I’d say Vikes by 10. However, even in the Superdome, I’ll say Vikings over the Saints by a score of 30-27.

COLTS over JETS

Why: The Jets are the real deal with a dominating defense and overpowering running game, however Sanchez is still a rookie and after two solid playoff games he is do for a stinker. The real reason the Colts will win however is once again “Peyton Manning”. The greatest QB of all-time will advance to his second Super Bowl; book it! Colts over Jets by a score of 23-9.

Divisional Playoff Record: 2-2 (The Jets victory was a shocker but perhaps shouldn’t have been. The Chargers have a one dimensional offense while the Jets feature a dominating defense. Defense won that game and I expect it to to be the reason why both the Colts and Vikings advance to the Super Bowl this weekend.)

Record to Date: 185-79

PLAYOFFS – DIVISIONAL ROUND (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 04:16:48 +0000

VIKINGS over COWBOYS

Why: This should be a tough game and it would not surprise me at all if the Cowboys win and win big. However, the Vikings haven’t lost a game all year in the Metrodome and the Cowboys may be in store for a bad game after a great December and opening round playoff win. Give me the Vikings over the Cowboys by a score of 24-20.

CARDINALS over SAINTS

Why: The Saints are an overrated finesse team that is about to be exposed by a under-rated smash in you the mouth, high scoring, defending NFC Champion Cardinals team. Cards over Saints by a score of 34-26.

COLTS over RAVENS

Why: Four time MVP Peyton Manning, that’s why. Colts over Ravens 20-16.

CHARGERS over JETS

Why: The Chargers are the hottest team in football and the Jets are riding a high from upsetting the Bengals. Translation … the Jets are about to get smacked. Colts over Jets by a score of 30-13.

Wild Card Playoff Record: 3-1 (I actually picked the Cards to beat the Packers but switched my pick at the last second when I heard Anquan Boldin wasn’t going to be able to play … perhaps the greatest playoff game in NFL history ensued and my beloeved cardinals got the victory in OT. I may have lost the pick, but I am thrilled Warner and the boys pulled out the win!

Record to Date: 183-77 (A 70% regular season and now a 75% start to the playoffs … nice.)

PLAYOFFS – WILD CARD (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 08:43:14 +0000

COWBOYS over EAGLES

PACKERS over CARDINALS

JETS over BENGALS

PATRIOTS over RAVENS

Week Seventeen Record: 12-4 (Great record in a tough to predict week!)

Record to Date: 180-76 (Beating all the yahoo experts by between 6 and 11 games is a nice feat. Now the playoffs begin

WEEK 17 (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:04:18 +0000

BILLS over COLTS (Upset of the week!)

PANTHERS over SAINTS

JAGUARS over BROWNS

BEARS over LIONS

PATRIOTS over TEXANS

STEELERS over DOLPHINS (AFC Game of the week!)

VIKINGS over GIANTS

49’ERS over RAMS

FALCONS over BUCCANEERS

COWBOYS over EAGLES (NFC Game of the week!)

CARDINALS over PACKERS

BRONCOS over CHIEFS (Lock of the week!)

RAVENS over RAIDERS

CHARGERS over REDSKINS

TITANS over SEAHAWKS

JETS over BENGALS

Week Sixteen Record: 10-6 (Decent record in a tough to predict week. This week should be even more difficult as depending on what happens in early games, certain teams may rest their starters, etc. For example, the Chargers have literally nothing to play for and could field a team of practice players and ball boys against the Redskins for all I know.)

Record to Date: 168-72 (A 6 game lead over the next best yahoo expert with 1 regular season weeks to go … sounds good to me, especially since this could be one wild week to close the regular season.)

WEEK 16 (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:37:09 +0000

TITANS over CHARGERS

PATRIOTS over JAGUARS

SAINTS over BUCCANEERS (Lock of the week!)

DOLPHINS over TEXANS

STEELERS over RAVENS (AFC Game of the week!)

BENGALS over CHIEFS

FALCONS over BILLS

BROWNS over RAIDERS

GIANTS over PANTHERS

PACKERS over SEAHAWKS

49’ERS over LIONS

CARDINALS over RAMS

EAGLES over BRONCOS

COLTS over JETS

COWBOYS over REDSKINS

VIKINGS over BEARS

Week Fifteen Record: 10-6 (This is a great record for a tough week to predict. As proof of this, I offer the fact that none of the yahoo experts went better than 10-6.)

Record to Date: 158-66 (A 6 game lead over the next best yahoo expert with 2 weeks to go … nice

(A 6 game lead over the next best yahoo expert with 2 weeks to go … nice

Record to Date: 158-66 (A 6 game lead over the next best yahoo expert with 2 weeks to go … nice

WEEK 15 (2009 NFL Season Predictions)

Trevor R. Jefferson — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:46:45 +0000

COLTS over JAGUARS

SAINTS over COWBOYS (NFC Game of the week)

PATRIOTS over BILLS

EAGLES over 49’ERS

TITANS over DOLPHINS

TEXANS over RAMS

JETS over FALCONS

RAVENS over BEARS

CHIEFS over BROWNS

CARDINALS over LIONS (Lock of the week!)

CHARGERS over BENGALS (AFC Game of the week!)

BRONCOS over RAIDERS

SEAHAWKS over BUCCANEERS

STEELERS over PACKERS

VIKINGS over PANTHERS

GIANTS over REDSKINS

Week Fourteen Record: 11-5 (This is a great record for a tough week to predict. As proof of this, I offer the fact that none of the yahoo experts went better than 10-6.)

Record to Date: 148-60 (A 3 game lead over the next best yahoo expert with 3 weeks to go … sounds good to me

New Jersey Nets … 2010-11 NBA Champions?

Trevor R. Jefferson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:50:55 +0000

The New Jersey Nets could become the biggest losers in NBA history this year and become next year’s NBA Champs and the next great NBA dynasty!

There is a great possibility that the Nets, due to having the worst record in the NBA this year, will win the “John Wall Lottery” and be able to draft the best PG prospect since Jason Kidd in next year’s NBA Draft.

There is also a very strong possibility that if they do land John Wall, Lebron James will want to come join him, Brook Lopez, Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts and friend Jay-Z in Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn).

The key to making this happen is to make some ingenious trades before the deadline this year.

What trades you ask? Allow me

The aforementioned Brook Lopez, Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee and Chris Douglas Roberts are keepers and players that would fit well with King James.

Bobby Simmons, Tony Battie, Rafer Alston, Trenton Hassle and Jarvis Hayes all have expiring contracts and awill simply not be re-signed next year.

Josh Boone and Sean Williams are young players with expiring contracts that could be dealt if need be, re-signed in the offseason to inexpensive deals or simply not re-signed come next year to reduce the team’s payroll.

Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera and Yi Jianlin are three players with non-expiring deals that the Nets need to get rid of before the offseason in order to make a legitimate run at Lebron James and a host of running mates.

That leaves one wildcard and his name is Devin Harris. Devin Harris is the key to the Nets rebuilding plans as he is the one player that if traded could alow the likes of Dooling and Najera to be traded as well.

All of the above said, below is what the Nets should do to lure King James to Jersey and start the process to becoming the next great dynasty in the NBA:

Nets Trade: Devin Harris, Keyon Dooling, Eduardo Najera, Tony Battie and 2nd round draft pick

Rockets Trade: Tracy McGrady, Kyle Lowery, Joey Dorsey and 1st round draft pick

McGrady would simply not be re-signed in the offseason as he has an expiring contract, while Lowery would be re-signed inexpensively and Dorsey is on the books for just under a million dollars in 2010-11.

Nets Trade: Yi Jianlin and Jarvis Hayes

Warriors Trade: Raja Bell and a 1st round draft pick (Top 10 protected this year)

The above trades will leave the Nets with a roster for next season as follows:

PG: Kyle Lowery

SG: Courtney Lee / Terrence Williams

SF: Chris Douglas-Roberts

PF: Joey Dorsey

C: Brook Lopez / Josh Boone / Sean Williams

Projected Draft Picks: #1 and #20 in the first round

Cap Room: Appriximately $39 miilion

Needs: Starting Point Guard, Small forward and Power forward, various role players and a new coach

With $33 million in cap space the Nets could easily land both Lebron James and Chris Bosh and with the two draft first round draft picks they could easily draft a PG/PF combo of Wildcat running mates John Wall and Demarcus Cousins! On top of this amazing haul, they could add a solid veteran combo guard such as current Net Rafer Alston with their Vet Minimum contract option.

This brings us to the 2010-11 NBA Champion New Jersey Nets Roster:

PG: John Wall / Kyle Lowery / Rafer Alston

SG: Courtney Lee / Terrence Williams

SF: Lebron James /Chris Douglas-Roberts

PF: Chris Bosh / Demarcus Cousins / Joey Dorsey

C: Brook Lopez / Josh Boone / Sean Williams

The above is a lineup fit for the NBA’S next great dynasty, though they’ll have to knock of the Lakers first!

The Florida Gators got Jobbed due to Gutless Voters!

Trevor R. Jefferson — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:33:52 +0000

The Florida Gators should be playing the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS Championship Game!

There, I said it.

Now, please allow me to explain.

Should the Florida gators team that played the Crimson Tide last weekend be playing for the BCS Championship? No. However, even that team I am quite sure would destroy the Texas Longhorns, Cincinnatti Bearcats, Texas Christian Horned Frogs and Boise State Smurfs! However, the current Florida Gators team is not the same team that played Alabama in the SEC Championship game, they are a more motivated, hungry and angry team that has its star defensive end Carlos Dunlap back in the lineup!

The one loss, Carlos Dunlap lead Florida Gators team is easily the second best team in the country, if not the best (I honestly think they would beat the Tide in a rematch)!

The sad thing is, I think all the voters and coaches and media know this. I think if you were to poll all the voters out there who ranked Texas #2 behind Alabama and told them that if they had to pick who would win between the once beaten Gators team with Carlos Dunlap that now is getting ready to play the Bearcats rather than the Tide, and the Texas Longhorns, with their house on the line, 99% of those voters would put their money, or house as it were, on the Gators!

Simply put, the voters chickened out and blew this one. Instead of voting for who they really believed to be the second best team in the country they took the safe way out and voted for the Longhorns. What a shame.

I’m now getting ready to watch the Tide demolish the overrated Longhorns by 20+ points in the BCS Championship game, the Gators embarass the Bearcats by 20+ points and TCU win a forgettable game against Boise State in a rematch of one of last year’s bowl games. What a shame.

I should be getting ready to see a furious and highly motivated Carlos Dunlap lead Gators team pull off a 27-23 upset in a great BCS Championship game against the Crimson Tide, a “win one for the gipper” inspired Cincinnatti Bearcats team win a thrilling 48-45 shootout against Boise State and Kellen “I deserved to win the Heisman .. at least more than anyone not named Tebow” Moore and a fantastic, inspiring battle of the long star states two best teams in Texas and Texas Christian University, a game which I would be won by David (TCU) and not Goliath (Texas) 26-24.

What a shame!

TIM TEBOW STILL DESERVES THE HEISMAN

Trevor R. Jefferson — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:47:29 +0000

I am just as disgusted today as I was last week. The sports talking heads are now predicting Colt McCoy, Mark Ingram and Toby Gearhart will all finish higher than Tim Tebow in the Hesiman voting. What nonsense is this? What is the world coming to?

Colt McCoy had a far inferior season to Tebow against far inferior competition, period.

Toby Gearhart had a great individual season but is no more deserving of the Heisman than is Case Keenum or Freddy Barnes!

Mark Ingram had a worse season than Gearhart but played against superior competition and on a far superior team. However, Ingram is no more deserving than Gearhart and honestly is less deserving than the likes of Kellen Moore of Boise State!

The talking heads have jumped off the Tebow bandwagon due to the Gators losing last week’s SEC Championship game to Alabama. However, look at what Tebow did in that game! Tebow was basically the entire offense for the Gators and as I said before, once again starred at both QB and RB. Had he played the way Colt McCoy did in his conference championship game the Gators would have been destroyed 63-0 by the Tide!

Tim Tebow had a far superior conference championship performance than Colt McCoy and should still win the Hesiman trophy, hands down!