1) Allen Iverson has tweeted that he will join the Memphis Grizzlies, signing a 1-year, $3.5 million deal. Is this the right fit for AI?
Ben: Yes it is. Memphis has a couple things AI likes. First, there is no main direction. Obviously Memphis wants to win, but they haven't made a decision how to do it, and they haven't adopted one main style of play. They've hired and fired coaches and GM's and haven't stuck with any one thing. That suits AI because he can freelance and speak out and not be opposed by the organization.
The other thing Memphis has (or lacks) is a main playmaker. Yes OJ Mayo, Mike Conley, and Rudy Gay are the future, but none of the current players on the roster are stars that constantly take the last shot. That will becomes AI's job the moment he steps onto the court, and he loves the attention that brings.
AI will love Memphis, but I doubt Memphis will love him back by game 82.
Boz: No. He's going to have to come off the bench behind Mike Conley and O.J. Mayo and Iverson has repeatedly stated publicly that he does not want to come off the bench, going as far as to say that he would rather retire than to come off the bench. Iverson also complains when he doesn't get enough shots and with the Grizzlies he is going to have to share shots with Mayo, Rudy Gay, and inside with Zach Randolph. If the AI experiment works out then this is the most talent Memphis as ever had on one team at a time. Adding Hasheem Thabeet, Marc Gasol and Sam Young to the names already listed.
I think that the better fit for AI would have been in either Charlotte where he could have played with former coach Larry Brown, or in New York where he would have had plenty of shots in Mike D'Antoni's run and gun system. Both places Iverson would have most likely been a starter.
2) Defending NL Cy Young winner and this year's candidate Tim Lincecum was scratched from his last night's start due to back spasms. Is this something the Giants, who are in a Wild Card race, should be worried about?
Ben: Whenever your star player goes down you should be worried. When it is someone the caliber of Tim Lincecum you should be spending sleepless nights trying to find a miracle cure for back problems. The Giants are still trailing the Rockies in the Wild Card and need Lincecum's presence in the dugout and on the mound. The Giants should very nervous about this situation, and pray for the best news possible so Timmy can come back.
Boz: I might be wrong on this but I think Zambrano was scratched from a start for back spasms and then eventually landed on the 15-day DL. I know that there are different levels of severity for back spasms and right now Zambrano is not Tim Lincecum but it can't be something that the Giants staff shouldn't be taking lightly. Lincecum has that HUGE delivery which I am assuming can be very stressful on his back. He throws a lot of innings which could be taking a toll on his body. He is expected to make his next start but I would be a little worried about this situation and be keeping a very close eye on his health as the season rolls on.
3) Steve Stricker took the lead in the FedEx Cup standings after winning the Deutsche Bank Championship, passing Tiger Woods in the process. Does Woods need to win the Tour Championship next weekend in order to salvage the season without any majors?
Ben: Tiger needs to win, because Tiger thrives on winning. The reason he is so great is because he has the Ricky Bobby mindset ("If you aren't first, you're last"). Tiger's season this year would be a solid season for almost anyone else on tour and he should be somewhat satisfied with his performance, but in my opinion, if he comes out and says "Yes, I had a good year" I will know the dominance Tiger once held over the PGA, is gone, and he's on the decline.
I hope Tiger comes out with a vengence and dominates the Tour Championship, and still says this year was disappointing. That's the Tiger I expect.
Boz: I say no. There have been plenty of seasons where Tiger Woods hasn't won any of the four Grand Slam events. He's won five tournaments this year and finished in the top 10 of 3 of the 4 majors. Even if he doesn't win the Tour championship, he'll still most likely finish as the top ranked player in the world, what's so bad about that? Putting has killed him lately but he isn't putting poorly. He's rolling balls right by the hole and just isn't getting them to drop. I think he'll probably win the Tour championship anyways and bounce back next season with 2 majors.
4) After being traded by the Patriots to the Raiders this past weekend, Richard Seymour has yet to report to Oakland. What do you make of this situation?
Ben: I think it's a spoiled player trying to make a bad situation for him, bad for everyone. Man-up and report. Seymour is no longer the force he was 4-5 years ago, and I don't think the Patroits were wrong in trading him. If he still wants to play for several more years, show up in Oakland and play. If he wants to call it quits, hurry up and retire and stop dragging this out.
He's spoiled, and doesn't realize, not every athlete gets to win. Just ask the 53 players on the Detroit Lions roster last year.
Boz: You can't blame Richard Seymour for not being thrilled to go from the New England Patriots to the Oakland Raiders. It'd be like the Red Sox sending David Ortiz to go play for the Pirates. Despite that issue, Seymour needs to be a professional and report to Oakland. He's only got one year left on his deal so all he has to do if play well and he can get a big deal when the season is over. Apparently he doesn't want to uproot his family from Boston and move them to Oakland so quickly. If that's the case, then don't move them quickly. Seymour can report to Oakland and have his family moved when they find a house and get packed. It wouldn't be a good idea to sit to the season out. You won't get much free agent value after sitting a season out.
TOSS-UP
1) Browns head coach Eric Mangini has stated that he made a decision on his starting quarterback but won't announce it to the public. Who do you have as the Browns starting QB? Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson?
Ben: I pick Brady Quinn, but only because he's a 1st round pick. Neither is a great QB and neither is head and shoulders better then the other. Both will probably play this year because of injury or inconsistent play. What I'm disappointed with in Mangini, just announce the QB! Neither QB plays that much of a different style then the other, so your opponent doesn't have to gameplan THAT much differently. This is childish, just say Quinn and get it over with.
Boz: I'm picking Brady Quinn because I drafted for my back-up QB on my fantasy team thinking that he would be the starter. Quinn has had the better preseason and is a former first-round pick. Despite Anderson leading the team to 10 wins two seasons ago, he hasn't done enough last season and this preseason to steal the job away from Quinn.
2) Who has the better chance of making it to the final of the U.S. Open? Melanie Oudin or Serena Williams?
Ben: Williams. Seriously Oudin is a great story and could get to the final of the Open, but Serena Williams has been there before and has been flat-out amazing in majors the last year and a half. Williams makes it for sure, Oudin a longer shot.
Boz: OUDIN. I know that Serena Williams is the much better player and if both of them make the final, Serena will probably beat Oudin in straight sets. But Serena has to play to comeback story of the year in Kim Clijsters, who won this tournament in 2005 and never had the chance to defend the title due to retiring to start a family. She's back and playing very well, already taking out one Williams so far. Oudin lacks the experience, but has the easier half of the bracket. Wozniacki is the No. 9 seed but also lacks the experience of playing a big night match at a Grand Slam, and Oudin has already beaten tougher players. If she gets into the semis she'll face an unranked player. I like her chances.
3) Chad Ochocinco stated that he has read the NFL's restrictions on players tweeting and said that he found a loophole and will have a surprise during the Bengals' season opener against the Broncos. Are you impressed or annoyed?
Ben: A-N-N-O-Y-E-D. Shut up already. You've been fined for celebrations, worn a H-O-F jacket, upset your teammates, and legally changed your name. Give it up already, you don't need to CONSTANTLY be in the news. It starts to sound like white noise at some point.
Boz: ANNOYED. Maybe if Ochocinco would put as much time into his on-the-field performance as he does to his antics, then he might be able to resurrect his career in Cincinnati. Someone who is on the internet during a Bengals game rather have him put up big numbers for his fantasy team (if you drafted him like me) than what you have to say on twitter. Just play football Chad.
HAPPY HOUR
Ben: Happy 45th Birthday to Skip Kendall. One of those PGA tour lifers who randomly shows up in contention at majors and big events. Always had game, just hasn't been able to always stay at the top.
Honorable mention goes to Mike Hampton, who turns 37 today, great potential, but constantly injuried turned a promising career into a very disappointing last 6 years.
Boz: Happy 42nd Birthday to B.J. Armstrong. One of my favorite all-time Bulls players not named Jordan or Pippen. The Iowa alumni played with the Bulls from 1989-95 and again during the 1999-2000 season. He was a three-time NBA Champion and was the last Bulls player to wear No. 10 since the team retired the number for Bob Love after Armstrong left the Bulls in 1995.
Honorable mention Happy 42nd Birthday to Primetime Neon Deion Sanders and 44th Birthday to Thunder Dan Majerle.
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