Day 1: Rubio, Pacman and much more.

HEADLINES:

1) After drafting Ricky Rubio 5th in the 2009 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves have failed to lure Rubio away from European basketball, with the Spaniard has decided to remain in Barcelona for the next two years. How bad is this scenario for the Timberwolves and what should they do with it?

Ben: Personally, I think it was a poor decision how the T-Wolves decided to handle this. If Johnny Flynn is a good enough prospect to take in the top-10, Ricky Rubio is not worth the hassle. Your team is in shambles, hasn't been good for several years, and needs talent. Why waste a top pick on a player you aren't 100% sure is going to play for you in the near future. It just doesn't make sense to me.

Also, here's what I think about Rubio's decision: if you don't want to play in the NBA, don't enter the draft. I hate it when international players enter the NBA draft, show up at The Garden, then hold out because the team that picked them isn't a "premiere market". Get over yourself, and play ball.

Boz: I think that it's a really good idea that the Timberwolves also took Johnny Flynn with the following pick. However, the Wolves could have then used that pick to draft another big guy like Jordan Hill from Arizona or maybe an off-guard like Stephen Curry, who I think is going to be in a fight with Blake Griffin for the best player in the draft class.

So the question now is what do you do with Rubio? Teams that usually draft a player and keep them over seas to develop are the teams like the Spurs and Lakers who can afford to wait because they have good talent on their roster already. That being said, I don't think that Rubio was going to make them a playoff contender in the first two years because I thought he would take some time to develop anyways. He's too small and doesn't have a good enough jump shot right now. So in my opinion, I would let him develop over in Barcelona. If the Wolves want to win right now, then they should trade him to a team like the Spurs or Lakers who can wait on him and get some talent right now in return. By my vote is to wait two years and hope that Johnny Flynn is really good.

2) Former Dallas Cowboys' cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones has agreed to a Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL. Good career move for Jones?

Ben: Great decision by Jones, although I don't think it leads to a quick return to the NFL. The reputation and image he has in NFL circles is going to take time to restore. He is seen as a punk, and a criminal, and I don't think a lot of owners are going to want him around. But, I do think the CFL is an under-utilized option for former NFL players. He's going to get paid, and he's going to stay in football shape. If he does get back into the NFL, he won't be as far behind because of this career decision.

Boz: This is a good career move for Jones because it allows him to play football, which wasn't happening with the NFL. This is what Maurice Clarett should have done when the NFL wasn't letting him play instead of committing robbery. I think that Pacman still has the talent that lead him to be the 6th overall pick in 2005. The problem is that he just couldn't stay out of trouble while in the NFL. The CFL gives him the opportunity to show teams in the NFL that he can still play and can stay out of trouble. This is the route that Michael Vick would have had to taken had no NFL team wanted to take a chance on him. My prediction is that you'll see Adam Jones in an NFL uniform in the 2010 season.

3) Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that there could be up to 12 NFL teams that could face blackouts on their home televised games this season. Should the NFL get rid of its blackout rule?

Ben:Why is the NFL so money oriented. Your fans are suffering, why stick it to them in an area of relaxation. Watching the NFL is a release for many blue-collar Americans, why should they be required to attend games?

I understand that the product doesn't come free, but c'mon, people in those cities have help do so many things for the teams they should be allowed unrestricted access to the games. I mean, using tax dollars to put up stadiums, supporting training camp, buying merchandise, and the list goes on. Is the NFL really losing money, hand-over-fist, because fans aren't going to the game?

Boz: I'm going to take the Michael Wilbon stand on this issue and say that they shouldn't completely abandon the blackout rule because you just don't want to give your product away for free. With that being said, I think that they should definitely suspend the blackout rule for this season and maybe the next due to the way the economy is right now. Fans want to buy tickets to games but they can't afford it, which results in watching the game on television, which results in teams not selling out home games. I think it would be a good move for the NFL to suspend the blackout rule and show fans that they still care about them even in this economic downturn. It'll help the NFL strengthen its already strong fan base in the long run and the most successfully run league can afford to do this.

4) The University of Michigan has launched an investigation into alleged allegations that the football program has violated NCAA rules on how much time an athlete can spend training and practicing. Head coach Rich Rodriguez had denied any wrongdoings. What do you make of the situation?

Ben: Boz, you and I have both been apart of college athletics, and you know, as well as I do, that some of the workouts are "voluntary" when they obviously aren't. But, at the same time, I know plenty of athletes that have spent more then the 20 hour limit, simply because they want to. They want to perfect their craft, which is admirable.

I don't think it is ridiculous to think that many schools similar to Michigan have situations like this occuring. I do feel bad for Coach Rod because it does seem like his players and the media are trying to break him in the public's opinion. By the same token, he has brought some of this on himself by being a hard-nosed S.O.B. at times.

Boz: From my understanding, it seems that almost every Division I football program is doing this and finding ways to get around this. Having current players start these allegations shows that not everyone in that locker room is on the same page on their feelings and attitude towards Rich Rodriguez. I'm not saying I'm for breaking NCAA rules but if anyone needs to the extra practice its Michigan after putting up a 3-9 record last year. Rodriguez probably knows that if he has another losing season this year, he'll probably be out of a job. I think you'll probably see Michigan forfeit some scholarships from a result of this and you'll see other Division I coaches start being a little more cautious.

TOSS-UP:

1) Which quarterback is going to have the better rookie season? Mark Sanchez or Matthew Stafford?

Ben: I'm going to go homer-city on everyone and take Stafford. I do think Sanchez's team will perform better, but I believe Stafford will put up some solid numbers. And, I believe that anyone who can help make the Lions respectable during a few games with stellar play, will get more praise. I think it'll be an uphill battle for Stafford this season to beat out Sanchez strictly because of the New York market he has behind him. But, like I said, homer-city all the way, and Stafford's my boy.

Boz: I'm taking Mark Sanchez here instead of Ben's boy Matthew Stafford. The reason behind that being that I don't think Stafford should start to begin the season. I don't think any rookie quarterback wants to be thrown to the lions (pun intended) in their first season by playing with the Lions. I think Stafford is very talented and could have a good NFL career but this season is not the right time. Maybe is Culpepper goes 2-6 to start the season then give Stafford a try. So I'll take Sanchez here almost by default because he is in a better situation with the Jets, who has a defense and a running game.

2) What's better about this time in the sports world? Playoff baseball or the beginning of the NFL season?

Ben: I love both. But, my final decision is going to be playoff baseball simply because of the importance on each game. Every play means life and death, and pressure is slammed into every late inning game. 1 pitch, 1 error, 1 base-hit, 1 steal means the difference between playoffs and going home, or the difference between advancing or being beaten before the World Series. I love the intesity each game brings and the one-of-a-kind nature of those October matchups.

Boz: I'm taking the beginning of the NFL season by a SLIGHT edge. I love playoff baseball but I'm not quite sure everyone loves it more than the beginning of the NFL season. Baseball is such a long season and with only four teams making the playoffs, most people's teams are already out of it. I think that everyone has their fantasy football team or are in some football pool where they start to really look forward to the beginning of the NFL season.

3) Better chance for a guy named Andy to win the U.S. Open? Murray or Roddick?

Ben: Roddick all the way. I just feel bad for the guy. He has come into the tennis world during a time when there are so many talented players. He continues to work hard on his game, but just can't beat the best, which is why I'm pulling for him here. I mean, who doesn't want to see an American win the U.S. Open, and I think we all can count out James Blake to help us there.

Boz: As much as I hate to say this...I'm taking Andy Murray, even though I root for anything American when it comes to tennis. The reason behind taking Murray is that he has actually beaten Roger Federer before multiple times in his career. Murray is actually 6-2 against Federer, who is the man to beat in the U.S. Open. Roddick is 2-19 against Federer and despite playing a really good match against him at Wimbledon, I'll take the guy with a winning record against the #1 player in the world anytime.

HAPPY HOUR:

Ben: Tough call here, but I'll go with two anniversary updates a little early, but since football season is around the corner, appropriate nonetheless. Both from 1995 when the Carolina Panthers lost their 1st NFL game to Atlanta 23-20 in OT and the Jacksonville Jaguars lost their 1st NFL game Houston 10-3. I'd say the NFL has to be happy with how those franchises' have done, despite that start.

Boz: Tough Happy Hour today for birthdays on the first day that we are doing this but I am going with Happy 57th Birthday to Jimmy Connors to keep with the U.S. Open theme who won 5 U.S. Opens and 109 ATP titles altogether.

Honorable mention Happy Birthday to Terry Bradshaw who turns 61 and Lennox Lewis who turns 44.