Reflections About 2011

In 2011, it's all about making history. History, in the fact that I've closed the book on my academic life, and opened the doors to a new world of independence and freedom. This is how I summed it all up in five words.

1.  Waiting

February and June saw my friends graduate ahead of me. But before they left, they gave me common advice: "You'll be there someday, as long as you work hard, wait patiently and reach to your dreams. Don't worry, your time will come. We'll still be here for you."

2. Inspiring

On my last term, the last thing I talked to my younger friends is to 'reach out, always keep your head high, and never lose focus.' While I've only been friends with them since their arrival   one or two years ago, they've made a lasting impression in my college life, in that I'll never be always left out. The last thing I told to them is to 'keep inspiring, and keep striving to reach higher goals, because it will help you in the long run.'

3. Finishing

Thesis was the hardest part of college, but I somehow managed to finish them with heart, conviction and inspiration. Though I never envisioned myself to be a screenwriter (after all I'm more into journalism), I took that challenge and it paid off. Somehow I finished my thesis with a little help from my friends. When I finished the thesis, I felt so proud, that without all the hard work, I may have not been able to join them to the graduation march in October. Which leads me to the next word.

4. Accomplishing

In October, I graduated from college, capping off an amazing journey that began three years and several months ago. The greatest thing about it was that I graduated with the best friends in the world: my blockmates and my fellow majors friends. There were tears shed on that day, but there were plenty of laughs to share as well. Even as we moved on, our friendships will last forever.

5. Celebrating

Towards the end of 2011 I celebrated my newest feather in the cap the only way I wanted to: party. Parties were conspicuously absent during my college life, but after graduating, I decided to take advantage. I twice celebrated at Fiamma right after graduation, and before I turned 22. Those experiences capped off an amazing year of making history.

Now what is your greatest moment in 2011? Go share with me.

Pop Culture Bests of 2011

This is the last day of 2011. Before we wrap things up and shift our focus to 2012, here are some of pop culture's best references of 2011.

1. Internet meme

It was planking, then Tebowing. Planking is where people lie face down in an unusual location, mimicking a wooden plank. The pose garnered international attention online, reaching its peak in the summer of 2011. In the autumn and winter, Tebowing, named after Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, also garnered international attention and was featured in news outlets not only in Denver, but globally. The pose, which means to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different, has its own website. You can check it out on tebowing.com. 

2. The King's Speech Ruled the Oscars

The King's Speech won the 2011 Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Tom Hooper), Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Writing - Original Screenplay (David Seidler), in total winning four awards. It was nominated for eight more. Inception also won four while being nominated for another four. Inception won the Oscars for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.

3. Lady Antebellum Ruled the Grammys, But Adele is the Artist of the Year

In the music industry, Lady Antebellum won the most Grammys, with five. The country group won Best Country Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Country Song. This of course honors the best of 2010 when the awards were held on February 13, 2011. British singer Adele was named the top artist of 2011 by Billboard Magazine. Her album '21' was also named the album of the year, while topping the year-end Billboard 200 album charts. The single 'Rolling in the Deep' topped the year-end Billboard Hot 100 singles charts. 

4. The Emmys go to.......

In the Primetime Emmys, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart won the Emmy for outstanding variety, musical or comedy series. Survivor and the Amazing Race split the honors in the reality category, with Survivor host Jeff Probst winning outstanding reality or reality-competition program host, while The Amazing Race won outstanding reality-competition program honors. The Futurama episode 'The Late Philip J. Fry' won outstanding animated program for less than an hour honors, while Deadliest Catch won the Emmy for outstanding reality program. Modern Family won the most awards with five, winning outstanding comedy series, outstanding directing for a comedy series for the episode 'Halloween', outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series for Ty Burrell in 'Good Cop, Bad Dog', outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series for Julie Bowen in 'Strangers on a Treadmill', and outstanding writing in a comedy series for the episode 'Caught in the Act'.

5. The Golden Globe goes to....

The King's Speech was nominated for seven globies in the film category, while Glee was nominated for five in the TV category. But The Social Network walked away with four globies in the film category, winning Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Director for David Fincher, Best Screenplay for Aaron Sorkin, and Best Original Score for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. In the TV category, Glee won three globies. It won Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Jane Lynch, and Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Chris Colfer. 

6. Top-Rated of 2011

The highest grossing film in 2011 is Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows, Part II. There are 28 sequels released in 2011, more than any other film. American Idol once again topped the television category for most-watched TV program, topping the list for the eighth year in a row. 

7. Reality Winners

Survivor: South Pacific saw Sophie Clarke win the title of ultimate survivor. Speaking of Survivor, Ethan Zohn and Jenna Morasca competed in the 19th season of The Amazing Race, won by Ernie Halvorsen and Cindy Chiang. Scotty McCreary won American Idol's 10th season, while Melanie Amaro won The X-Factor's first season. John Rhode won the 12th season of The Biggest Loser. 

8. TV's Winds of Change

A lot of TV program cancellations occurred in 2011. The programs that didn't even last a season include: Bleep My Dad Says, Life Unexpected, Sarah Palin's Alaska, The Cape, The Paul Reiser Show, No Ordinary Family, America's Next Great Restaurant, The Chicago Code, The Playboy Club, and Charlie's Angels. Others, such as Hannah Montana, Smallville, The Oprah Winfrey Show, All My Children, among others, ended successful runs. Beavis and Butt-head, WWE Tough Enough, and Fear Factor were among the notable programs reviving in 2011. New programs worth watching in 2011 include: Bob's Burgers, Kourtney and Kim Take New York, The Glee Project, Falling Skies, Anderson, Rock Center with Brian Williams, and The X-Factor.

9. We'll Miss You

Pop culture lost icons such as Steve Jobs, Amy Winehouse, Jack LaLanne, Andy Rooney, Harry Morgan, Heavy D, Frances Bay, Peter Falk, Randy Savage, Nate Dogg, Elizabeth Taylor, John Barry, among others. For a more comprehensive look at the deaths in 2011, check out wikipedia.org.

10. Final Thoughts

In 2011, we thought Britney Spears' career was on the rocks. Then her 2011 release Femme Fatale topped the Billboard 200 and 'Hold It Against Me' topped the Billboard Hot 100. But in the music business, the universe continues to revolve around Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga among others, with Adele thrown in for good measure. Sadly the world saw bands like REM, Silverchair and The White Stripes disband. The film industry saw the Harry Potter franchise come to an end, while Transformers, Pirates of the Carribean, Twilight and Kung Fu Panda sequels continue to rack up millions for their franchise. The TV industry saw Smallville and Oprah finish successful runs, while new ones such as The Glee Project and The X-Factor fill the void for our TV viewing pleasure. While Steve Jobs is gone, the Apple lives on. 3D television is in its experimental stages and is expected to turn commercial in three years. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Blogspot changed the way we communicate. Expect a lot more of the same this coming 2012. 

2011's Hall of Famers

We honor the legends who were officially enshrined into the Hall of Fame of their respective sports in 2011.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Deion Sanders

Les Richter

Shannon Sharpe

Chris Hanburger

Ed Sabol

Marshall Faulk

Richard Dent

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Dennis Rodman

Chris Mullin

Tom 'Satch' Sanders

Artis Gilmore

Herb Magee

Teresa Edwards

Tex Winter

Tara VanDerveer

Arvydas Sabonis

Goose Tatum

Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2011

Ed Belfour

Doug Gilmour

Mark Howe

John Nieuwendyk

National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Class of 2011

Roberto Alomar

Bert Blyleven

Pat Gillick

Winners of 2011, Other Major Sports

We continue with the winners of the individual sports in 2011.


Golf
Masters Tournament: Charl Schwartzel, South Africa
US Open: Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland
The Open Championship: Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland
PGA Championship: Keegan Bradley, United States
FedEx Cup: Bill Haas, United States
Players Championship: K.J. Choi, South Korea
Presidents Cup: United States
Money Leaders:
PGA Tour: Luke Donald, England
European Tour: Luke Donald, England
LPGA Tour: Yani Tseng, Taiwan
Champions Tour: Tom Lehman, United States
Player of the Year
PGA Tour: Luke Donald, England
European Tour: Luke Donald, England
LPGA Tour: Yani Tseng, Taiwan
Champions Tour: Tom Lehman, United States
Rookie of the Year
PGA Tour: Keegan Bradley, United States
European Tour: Tom Lewis, England
LPGA Tour: Hee Kyung Seo, South Korea
Champions Tour: Kenny Perry, United States


Tennis
Australian Open
Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Women's Singles: Kim Clijsters, Belgium
French Open
Men's Singles: Rafael Nadal, Spain
Women's Singles: Lin Na, China
Wimbledon
Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Women's Singles: Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic
US Open
Men's Singles: Novak Djokovic, Serbia
Women's Singles: Samantha Stosur, Australia
Davis Cup: Spain
FED Cup: Czech Republic
WTA Tour Champion: Petra Kvitova, Czech Republic
ATP Tour Champion: Roger Federer, Switzerland


Formula 1
Drivers Championship: Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull
Constructors Championship: Red Bull

Winners of 2011, Major Pro Team Sports

As we continue to look back at 2011, here are the year's winners:


*Note: Only the major awards will be emphasized. Any minor awards will be omitted.


Sports


NFL
Super Bowl Champion: Green Bay Packers, NFC
Super Bowl Runner-Up: Pittsburgh Steelers, AFC
Regular Season MVP: Tom Brady, Patriots
Off. Player of the Year: Tom Brady, Patriots
Def. Player of the Year: Troy Polamalu, Steelers
Off. Rookie of the Year: Sam Bradford, Rams
Def. Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Lions
Rookie of the Year: Ndamukong Suh, Lions
Comeback Player of the Year: Michael Vick, Eagles
Coach of the Year: Bill Belichick, Patriots
Super Bowl MVP: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Pro Bowl MVP: DeAngelo Hall, Redskins


NBA
NBA Champion: Dallas Mavericks, West
NBA Runner-Up: Miami Heat, East
Regular Season MVP: Derrick Rose, Bulls
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Magic
Rookie of the Year: Blake Griffin, Clippers
Most Improved Player: Kevin Love, Timberwolves
Coach of the Year: Tom Thibodeau, Bulls
Executive of the Year: Gar Forman, Bulls; Pat Riley, Heat
Sixth Man of the Year: Lamar Odom, Lakers
Sportsmanship Award: Stephen Curry, Warriors
Citizenship Award: Ron Artest (now Metta World Peace), Lakers
Finals MVP: Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks
All-Star Game MVP: Kobe Bryant, Lakers


NHL
Stanley Cup Champion: Boston Bruins, East
Stanley Cup Finals Runner-Up: Vancouver Canucks, West
Presidents' Trophy: Vancouver Canucks, West
Hart Trophy: Corey Perry, Ducks
Vezina Trophy: Tim Thomas, Bruins
Calder Trophy: Jeff Skinner, Hurricanes
Adams Award: Dan Bylsma, Penguins
Ross Trophy: Daniel Sedin, Canucks
Masterton Trophy: Ian Laperriere, Flyers
King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Doug Weight, Islanders
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Martin St. Louis, Lightning
Executive of the Year: Mike Gillis, Canucks
Norris Trophy: Nicklas Lidstrom, Red Wings
Lindsay Award: Daniel Sedin, Canucks
Selke Trophy: Ryan Kesler, Canucks
Jennings Trophy: Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider, Canucks
Plus-Minus Award: Zdeno Chara, Bruins
Richard Trophy: Corey Perry, Ducks
Messier Award: Zdeno Chara, Bruins
Roger Crozier Saving Grace Award: Tim Thomas, Bruins
Conn Smythe Trophy: Tim Thomas, Bruins
All-Star Game MVP: Patrick Sharp, Blackhawks


MLB
World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals, NL
World Series Runner-up: Texas Rangers, AL
Regular Season MVP
AL: Justin Verlander, Tigers
NL: Ryan Braun, Brewers
Cy Young Award
AL: Justin Verlander, Tigers
NL: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Rookie of the Year
AL: Jeremy Hellickson, Rays
NL: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
Manager of the Year
AL: Joe Maddon, Rays
NL: Kirk Gibson, Diamondbacks
Championship Series MVP
AL: Nelson Cruz, Rangers
NL: David Freese, Cardinals
World Series MVP: David Freese, Cardinals
All-Star Game MVP: Prince Fielder, Brewers


Soccer


Europe
UEFA Champions League Champions: FC Barcelona, Spain
UEFA Europa League Champions: FC Porto, Portugal


England
Premier League Champions: Manchester United FC
FA Cup Champions: Manchester City FC


Germany Bundesliga Champions: FC Borussia Dortmund


Spain La Liga Champions: FC Barcelona


France Ligue 1: FC Lille


Italy Serie A: AC Milan


Other Leagues
MLS: Los Angeles Galaxy
WNBA: Minnesota Lynx
Euroleague: Panathinaikos

Significant Events of 2011

As we close out 2011, we look back at significant events and happenings that occurred in 2011.

1. Demise of Two Totalitarians and a Terrorist

2011 saw the passing of Osama bin Laden, Moammar Gaddafi and Kim Jong-il. While Kim died of natural causes, Gaddafi and bin Laden were killed by, you guessed it, gunfire. Gaddafi even had his corpse displayed in public. But let's not celebrate, folks. There's still work to do before reclaiming peace that had been tainted for a decade after the 9/11 attacks.

2. End of an Era in Egypt and Libya; South Sudan independence

As mentioned earlier, Gaddafi's demise signaled the beginning of a slow transition in Libya. But several months earlier, Egypt saw the end of the Mubarak era, as president Hosni Mubarak was deposed by a popular people's revolution rallying around the streets of Cairo. The Armed Forces of Egypt is currently in charge of the Egyptian government. In Sudan, the southern part of it broke away and gained independence on July 9. It was immediately recognized by 25 countries.

3. Tsunami in Japan

A 9.1 magnitude earthquake and tsunami hit Eastern Japan, with nearly 16,000 killed and around 4,000 missing. Nuclear power plants were also affected. Special mention: the Christchurch, New Zealand earthquake.

4. Pedring and Sendong Destruction

Typhoons Nesat and Washi, known locally as Pedring and Sendong, respectively, hit the Philippines hard in 2011. While Pedring did not make landfall in Manila, its strong winds carried by the southeast monsoon (habagat) poured heavy rains, knocking down electricity, causing floods and even penetrated the walls near Roxas Boulevard at Manila Bay as a result of a storm surge. The September storm saw 95 people killed while the damage costs around $1.2 billion. Pedring's destruction was furthered by Quiel (int. name Nalgae) several days later. In December, Sendong hit Mindanao hard as flash floods and landslides battered the Cagayan de Oro and Iligan areas. It was the hardest-hit storm in 12 years, as over 1,200 were killed while around 4,000 are still missing. 

5. Final Flight

After 30 years, the space shuttle ceases to exist. The shuttle Discovery flew for the last time from February 24-March 9, while Endeavor's last flight occurred from May 16-June 1, and Atlantis capped off the shuttle era from July 8-21. A new space module is currently under testing.

6. Giffords Survives

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona survived a shooting attempt in Tucson. She was shot in the head but managed to recover soon. In July, she made her first appearance back in Washington's Capitol building.

7. William and Catherine

Prince William and the then-Kate Middleton (now Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) were married at Westminister Abbey on April 29. The marriage was widely aired on television, rivaling only William's father Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana's wedding thirty years before.

8. Arroyo Arrested

Former president and Pampanga congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was arrested on November 18 for electoral fraud. In addition, COMELEC chairman Ben Abalos, Sr. was also arrested for the similar case, while chief justice Renato Corona is being impeached for his loyalty to Arroyo.

9. Camping's Failed Prophecies

Family Radio's Harold Camping predicted the end of the world will come on May 21, as a result of mathematical and prophetical study. It failed to materialize, though, and he tried to revise his belief by declaring October 21 as the world's end, which unfortunately failed to occur. As a result, Camping gave up his role as minister of Family Radio.

10. Saying Goodbye to:

Elizabeth Taylor, 79

Amy Winehouse, 27

Steve Jobs, 56

The Oprah Winfrey Show, 25

Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries' marriage, 72 days

All My Children, 41

Andy Rooney, 92

Joe Frazier, 67

Jack LaLanne, 96

Geraldine Ferraro, 75

Betty Ford, 93

Jack Kevorkian, 83

Peter Falk, 83

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver's marriage, 25

AJ Perez, 19

Paquito Diaz, 73

Lito Calzado, 65

11. Joe Paterno fired

Joe Paterno was fired as Penn State's football coach after 46 years and record 409 wins, as a result of a sex scandal haunting him.

We'll have the winners of 2011 on our next post.

The Madison Square Garden Redevelopment

The 'World's Most Famous Arena' undergoes a facelift. Madison Square Garden underwent a major renovation project during the 2011 offseason, and will continue so in the 2012 and 2013 offseasons. The first part of the renovation occurred on the lower bowl. 

The renovated lower bowl will include upgraded locker rooms for the Knicks and Rangers, event level suites, the Delta Sky360 Club, and the Madison Concourse at the sixth floor. 

Rangers game at the newly renovated Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2011

The second phase of the renovation will commence in the 2012 offseason, and will occur on the upper bowl, the Garden concourse at the eighth floor, the Madison Suites, and the Madison Club. The final phase will occur in the 2013 offseason, which involves the Chase Square, the Chase Bridges, the Budweiser Fan Deck, and the Garden Suites. 

The Garden's ongoing renovation is a part of keeping the facility profitable and at par with the more modern arenas in the United States, a majority of which contain luxury boxes and club suites. Now with the construction of the MOA Arena near the SM mall in the Bay Area, is it time for Metro Manila to have a similar arena building approach? Maybe the renovation of the Smart Araneta Coliseum to include such amenities should start sooner than later. 

The (Other) Championship Teams of 2011

On the flip side, there were teams that underachieved the most in 2011. We look back at the 'other' champions in 2011.

Carolina Panthers

2-14 (.125)

Before drafting Cam Newton in the spring, the Panthers won only twice in the 2010 season (ended Jan. 2, 2011, thus part of our 2011 in review). Bad offense, as well as an equally mediocre defense, were trouble spots in the Panthers' season. Their most impressive win was a 19-12 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Week 15, but their most depressing defeat was a 34-3 loss to the then-defending champion Saints on Week 9. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

17-65 (.207)

For all of Kevin Love's double-double streaks and All-Star appearances, the Timberwolves looked atrocious in 2011. Kurt Rambis's modified triangle proved to be a bad fit from the start. The defense was atrocious, even if their offense was decently good. Their most  impressive win was a 129-95 shellacking of the equally mediocre Cavaliers post-LeBron James, while their most depressing defeat was a 128-86 thumping by the Magic, which set the franchise's worst defeat. The Wolves need to put this season behind them after hiring Rick Adelman as their coach and convincing Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio to come to Minnesota. 

Edmonton Oilers

25-45-12 (62 pts., .378)

They hope that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and the return to the Gretzky-era blue and orange will bring the Oilers back to respectability and eventually glory. But before that, the Oilers had the least points of any NHL team that season. They are 28th in both goals scored and goals allowed, as well as the fourth-worst power-play and second-worst penalty kill unit in 2011. Their most impressive win was a 5-0 shutout of the Maple Leafs, while their most depressing defeats were a 2-8 loss to the Rangers and a 1-7 loss to the Hurricanes. 

Houston Astros

56-106 (.346)

Houston, we have a problem! The Astros' 2011 season saw them lose 100 games for the first time in their 49-year history. They traded the bat of Hunter Pence to the league-leading Phillies and the speedy cleats of Michael Bourn to the Braves in midseason, obviously looking to rebuild the team. An ownership situation that wasn't solved until after the end of the season as well as the rumors of moving to the American League were distraction points for the disgruntled fan base. Offensively they had the fifth-fewest runs, the fifth-lowest runs per game, and the second-fewest home runs, while defensively they had the third-highest ERA, the third-highest runs allowed per game, the third-highest runs allowed, and the second-highest home runs allowed. The only positive was that they're 10th in batting average, with Minute Maid Park being a 'hitter's park'. Their most impressive wins were a pair of 11-2 wins over the Cubs and Rockies, while their most depressing loss was a 3-19 defeat to the Rockies. After the season it was announced that Jim Crane purchased the Astros from Drayton McLane, and agreed to move the team from the National League Central to the American League West in 2013. Hope the transition to a DH game where pitchers don't need to bat will be helpful for the Astros in 2013. 

What these teams need to do is to improve in 2012. Hope the lucky ball will bounce your way. 

The Championship Teams of 2011

It's hard to imagine but 2011 is about to wrap up. But before it ends, we look back at the ultimate championship teams of 2011. 

Green Bay Packers

Super Bowl Champions - February 2011

Yes, a team solely owned by the people of Green Bay, Wisconsin won it all in 2011. The NFL's ultimate prize, the Super Bowl, was won for the fourth time by the Packers, previous winners in 1967, 1968 and 1997. They went 10-6 in the 2010 regular season, then defeated the Eagles, the Falcons, and the Bears in the NFC playoffs before beating the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. Aaron Rodgers was superb in winning the game's MVP, while Mike McCarthy joined Vince Lombardi and Mike Holmgren as the only Packers coaches to win the Super Bowl. The season that followed saw the Packers win 13 in a row before losing to the Chiefs in Week 15. They have a huge chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs by virtue of earning the top seed in the NFC playoffs at the beginning of 2012. 

Dallas Mavericks

NBA Champions - June 2011

Before the drama that was the NBA lockout, the Dallas Mavericks celebrated the team's first championship in its 31-year history by defeating the Miami Heat in six games of the NBA Finals. The Mavericks were seeded third in the West, then defeated the Trail Blazers, the Lakers and the Thunder before engaging the powerful Miami Heat in a rematch of the 2006 Finals. The Heat brought title-hungry stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join Dwyane Wade but their combination wasn't enough as equally-starved all-stars Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd delivered key plays to finally put Dallas on top. Nowitzki earned the NBA Finals MVP as Mark Cuban finally earned the championship he envision upon purchasing the Mavericks in 2000.

Boston Bruins

Stanley Cup Champions - June 2011

The Boston Bruins were under the radar as their fellow football, baseball and even basketball counterparts from Boston won championships in the 2000s. Worse, they haven't even won it all since 1972. But in 2011, the Bruins finally joined the party as they defeated the Canucks in seven games of the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins were Northeast Division champions and the third seed, and with the exception of a sweep against the Flyers, the team whom they were defeated after leading 3-0 the previous year, they were pushed to a Game 7 against the Canadiens, the Lightning and the Canucks, before pulling through. Goaltender Tim Thomas was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVP, and also winning the Vezina Trophy as the best netminder. Thomas's .938 SV% is an NHL record. After a slow start in October to start the 2011-12 season, the Bruins would lose only once in a shootout and twice in regulation through December 26 as they sat atop the Eastern Conference.

St. Louis Cardinals

World Series Champions - October 2011

The Cardinals were considered the underdogs heading into the NL postseason, having finished as the Wild-Card. But they managed to beat the NL East champion and 102-win Phillies in the Division Series, then defeated the NL Central champion Brewers in the Championship Series. In the World Series, they managed to earn the home field advantage by virtue of the NL's win in the All-Star game. After trailing 3-2 to the Rangers, the Cardinals won a 11-inning thriller in Game 6, then followed up with an equally entertaining Game 7 to win their 11th World Series. David Freese won both the NLCS and World Series MVPs, while Tony La Russa retired a champion. 

Congratulations to the champions of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB in 2011. Good luck on next year's voyage. 

The Return of the NBA (Southwest Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We finally preview the Western Conference Southwest Division.

Dallas Mavericks

57-25 (3rd in West, NBA Champions)

The Mavericks climbed the NBA mountain in 2011. But now the pressure to repeat is even higher, having lost Caron Butler, Tyson Chandler and J.J. Barea. They were fortunate to add Lamar Odom and Vince Carter, but losing their best defensive center will be a big blow to the team. Brendan Haywood is too slow defensively, so let's hope Sean Williams provide the D off the bench. The keys to the Dallas repeat will be on Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Shawn Marion, and if Roddy Beaubois rediscovers his 2010 form, he'll provide a terrific backup to Kidd and Terry. Delonte West is a slower upgrade from Barea, but is a terrific offensive player. For this Dallas team, they need to mesh fast if they were to repeat as champions. 

Houston Rockets

43-39 (9th in West, missed playoffs)

The Rockets were the only Southwest team to miss the playoffs, yet still finished with a winning record. With Yao Ming retired, the Rockets now have to rely on Jordan Hill, Hasheem Thabeet and newly-acquired Samuel Dalembert to fill Yao's shoes. Luis Scola is an All-Star in the making, while Kyle Lowry broke out after Aaron Brooks was traded. Lowry will be backed up by Goran Dragic and Jonny Flynn, who need to be more assertive in passing the ball. Kevin Martin remains the leading scorer, and should continue so. Chase Budinger and Courtney Lee provide the outside touch, and Patrick Patterson an able backup to Scola. For Kevin McHale, this will be a tough job for him sustaining Houston's momentum, so good luck. 

Memphis Grizzlies

46-36 (8th in West, lost to Thunder in 2nd round 4-3)

The Grizzlies surprised the NBA by upsetting the top-seeded Spurs in Round 1, then pushed the Thunder to the limit before folding, an impressive playoff run for this group. Zach Randolph should remain consistent, while Marc Gasol needs to translate a contract renegotiation to an improved All-Star type of performance. Darrell Arthur, however, is lost for the season, so a lot will be expected on Randolph and Gasol, unless Dante Cunningham proves himself. A healthy Rudy Gay is needed to put the Grizzlies to a better position to contend. OJ Mayo is better suited as a sixth man, while Sam Young would work well as a starter. Tony Allen changed the defensive intensity of the Grizzlies, and he should continue providing the same this season. This should be a breakout year for Memphis, or else. 

New Orleans Hornets

46-36 (7th in West, lost to Lakers in 1st round 4-2)

Label this as a rebuilding season. Losing Chris Paul would hurt the Hornets, but now they look to start over. Chris Kaman, Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Gordon have to adjust quickly to the Big Easy. Emeka Okafor will remain the starting center, but now has to move on from receiving most of Paul's passes, which will now be done by Jarrett Jack, Gordon and Quincy Pondexter. Marco Bellinelli and Trevor Ariza need to get open outside, and Carl Landry to assert himself inside. The Hornets will start over, no matter what.

San Antonio Spurs

61-21 (1st in West, lost to Grizzlies in 1st round 4-2)

The Spurs are too old, and it showed in the first-round upset by the Grizzlies. Unless RC Buford is willing to rebuild the team, the Spurs will not be in the conversation for an NBA championship. Tim Duncan is 35, and no longer possessing the instinct to play inside. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili is showing wear and tear at season's end, and they need help. They lost George Hill, and they need Gary Neal to be pass-first and shoot-second. If your name is T.J. Ford, he may not be a terrific passer; Corey Joseph should learn more about passing. Richard Jefferson loaded up for one more year, but he needs help from Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard and James Anderson. As for Duncan, better use Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair and Matt Bonner even more, the latter needs to crash the boards more often, to give Duncan rest. Either a short playoff stint or nothing at all will be the Spurs' fate at season's end. 

The NBA season gets underway on Christmas Day, with a five-game slate to begin the season:

12 nn ET: Boston @ New York

2:30 ET: Miami @ Dallas

5:00 ET: Chicago @ L.A. Lakers

8:00 ET: Orlando @ Oklahoma City

10:30 ET: L.A. Clippers @ Golden State

So good luck to the 30 NBA teams in the 2011-12 NBA season. 

The Return of the NBA (Pacific Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We now preview the Western Conference Pacific Division.

Golden State Warriors

36-46 (12th in West, missed playoffs)

Mark Jackson, an untested coach, begins his first season on the bench. The Warriors still have the exciting players that translate to sellout crowds. The question is, will it translate to a playoff berth? Is Mark Jackson a well-deserved hiring? We'll see. For now, though, the Warriors' fortunes will rely on David Lee, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry; if healthy and together, they're exciting to watch. Rookies Klay Thompson and Jeremy Tyler will be keeper for the season. Dorell Wright broke out big after spending six years in the Miami doghouse, and is expected to provide outside scoring once more. The center position will be a problem for the Warriors, as Kwame Brown and Andris Biedrins are inconsistent and injury-prone. For Mark Jackson, it will be a challenging season to prove his coaching mettle. 

Los Angeles Clippers

32-50 (13th in West, missed playoffs)

Chris Paul to the Clippers should raise the expectations for this laughingstock franchise on the other side of the Staples Center. Blake Griffin was a box office hit, earning an All-Star nod, a Slam Dunk title, and Rookie of the Year. Now on Year 2, the Blake Show needs to shoot more and dunk less, if he were to succeed in the NBA. Paul, Chauncey Billups and Mo Williams play the same position, but Paul has a great chance of taking the starting job and Billups a backup role, with Williams taking the shooting guard duties instead. While DeAndre Jordan played well as a starting center, he needs to be more assertive in the paint to be effective, as well as boxing out more often. Caron Butler will start slow after a severe knee injury ended his season early, but when healthy, he's a dangerous scorer in the wings. The time is now for the Clippers. Missing the playoffs will be a failure for this year's crew. 

Los Angeles Lakers

57-25 (2nd in West, lost to Mavericks in 2nd round 4-0)

The Lakers enter the new season with so many questions. Are they too old? Are they fragile? Are they too dysfunctional? They lost to the eventual champions Mavericks in a sweep, then Lamar Odom bolted to those same Mavericks. Phil Jackson retired, and Mike Brown takes over in a new Lakers era. Kobe Bryant will begin the season in pain, and may remain so until the season ends. Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum underachieved in the playoffs, so how will they redeem themselves? As for Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest), will his name change translate to a better performance? Derek Fisher needs more rest now that he's 37, so Steve Blake needs to play more and be efficient. Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy act as two different versions of Odom, the perimeter dude and the paint dude. This group, however, will take time to mesh, so a short playoff run is a mere achievement for this year's Lakers.

Phoenix Suns

40-42 (10th in West, missed playoffs)

Like the Lakers, the Suns are facing questions of age. Steve Nash is 37, so he needs more rest than ever. Ditto 38-year old Grant Hill, though he had been playing consistently since coming to Phoenix. Ronnie Price played well as Deron Williams' backup in Utah, but now he needs to play more minutes while Nash is on the bench. Hakim Warrick didn't exactly replaced Amar'e Stoudemire, yet he played well off the bench. Robin Lopez, however, needs to get back to his 2010 playing level, or else Marcin Gortat will overtake him as a starting center. So is Channing Frye, who needs to rediscover his shooting touch from 2010. While Jared Dudley will continue pouring threes and Shannon Brown leaping on bigger opponents, the Suns will be on the bubble between making and missing the playoffs. A 33 or 34-win season is a realistic goal. 

Sacramento Kings

24-58 (14th in West, missed playoffs)

Simply put, the Kings regressed from 2010. Hopes of a better season crashed because of Tyreke Evans' injuries, DeMarcus Cousins' outbursts, and rumors of relocation to Anaheim. For now, the Kings remain in Sacramento, but for how long? If Jimmer Fredette becomes a box office sensation at Power Balance Pavilion, it may help, but this Kings team is too young and playoff contention is still a long shot. Evans needs to rediscover 2010, while Cousins should start playing right inside. Chuck Hayes needs to take care of his heart, period. There's not much to discuss about this Kings team, so the playoffs is out of the question. 

We'll preview the Southwest Division on our next post.

The Return of the NBA (Northwest Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We now preview the Western Conference Northwest Division.

Denver Nuggets

50-32 (5th in West, lost to Thunder in 1st round 4-1)

First full year of post-'Melo era, and the Nuggets are in a troubled spot. Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler are in China and couldn't get out. Even though the Nuggets played better following the Anthony trade last season, George Karl knew he'll have his hands full with a decimated roster. And while they added Andre Miller to provide stability at the point, expect Ty Lawson to blossom even further at the one. They need to have big games from Danilo Gallinari, Chris Andersen, Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington and late additions Rudy Fernandez and Corey Brewer to keep in pace with Dallas, Oklahoma City, the Lakers and now the Clippers. Bringing back Nene is a huge plus, but translating it to an improved performance remains the question. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

17-65 (15th in West, missed playoffs)

Kevin Love became an NBA All-Star by virtue of 53 straight double-doubles. But he found no support and the Timberwolves frequently stumbled that led to Kurt Rambis's dismissal and Rick Adelman's arrival. The Wolves now had to leave that behind and start over. Spanish phenom Ricky Rubio was exceptional in Spain. But is he as good as advertised in Minnesota? Rubio's arrival sparks a lot of hype and hope for a struggling franchise, and teaming up with an up-and-comer like Love, the Wolves seem to head in the right direction. New addition J.J. Barea and incumbent starting guard Luke Ridnour will provide Rubio with a lot of guidance at the one. Rookie Derrick Williams needs to mature fast, while Michael Beasley, Anthony Tolliver and Anthony Randolph need to step up to lessen Love's burden. Brad Miller will be a great insurance policy for Darko Milicic. The Timberwolves' playoff chances will be a long shot, but they have a bright future ahead of them.

Oklahoma City Thunder

55-27 (4th in West, lost to Mavericks in West Finals 4-1)

Now a member of the NBA elite, the Thunder need to take advantage of their aging foes if they want to take it a step further. As always, Kevin Durant is exceptional, while Russell Westbrook is steadily maturing. Kendrick Perkins did not necessarily provided the defensive edge when he arrived, but after a lengthy offseason losing weight, it looks as if the now-260 pounder is ready to crash the boards with authority and provide defensive intimidation to foes. James Harden is poised for a breakout year, while Serge Ibaka will continue to help Perkins crash the boards. While Sam Presti didn't make headlines in the preseason, this Thunder team seem to be learning fast and growing together, and if they reach the NBA Finals, it will be a great accomplishment to this maturing team.

Portland Trail Blazers

48-34 (6th in West, lost to Mavericks in 1st round 4-2)

Injuries did not stop the Trail Blazers from reaching their third straight postseason, but they enter the new season minus their leader Brandon Roy, who retired due to bad knees. The status of Greg Oden remains uncertain; his career now jeopardized with the possibility of retiring as well. This Blazers team played well when adversity was at an all-time high, but without Roy, a playoff berth seem like a long road to take. Jamal Crawford is not Brandon Roy, he's more of a perimeter scorer. Wesley Matthews definitely broke out and he's a lock at the two. Nicolas Batum had a career season as well and needs to be more productive this year. While LaMarcus Aldridge assumes to leadership role, the question is, is he ready? And the age of Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby is a problem spot at center, which means they need more from Chris Johnson and Craig Smith to add muscle down low. Raymond Felton needs to have steady averages if he's going to stay long in Portland.

Utah Jazz

39-43 (11th in West, missed playoffs)

This is the first full season of the post-Jerry Sloan era, and the Jazz once again enter the rebuilding phase. They had a great shot of making the playoffs in February, before Sloan's resignation and the Deron Williams trade sent the Jazz down. The recipients of the Williams deal in Devin Harris and Derrick Favors played well, but not well enough. Al Jefferson did have a decent season in Utah, while Paul Millsap and C.J. Miles had breakout seasons. But the team needed youngsters such as Gordon Hayward, Jeremy Evans, Alec Burks and Enes Kanter to grow fast in order to provide some depth. Tyrone Corbin will now employ a new system, but the question is, will this team accept the new philosophy? This Jazz team will be a 25-27 win team this season, a long shot for the playoffs.

We'll preview the Pacific Division on our next post.

The Return of the NBA (Central Division Preview)

What will Dallas do for an encore? How will the young Miami trio finally play right to win it all? Will Derrick Rose repeat as MVP? Are the Celtics and the Lakers too old to contend? Does the Thunder have what it takes to win it all? Is Melo and Amar'e enough for a Knick renaissance? And is the Clippers the newest big thing in Hollywood? We look forward to the 2011-12 NBA season.

We now preview the Eastern Conference Central Division.

Chicago Bulls

62-20 (1st in East, lost to Heat in East Finals 4-1)

Derrick Rose is the MVP, and he proved it. The Bulls won 62 games thanks to him, but he got bottled up by Miami's three-headed monster in the playoffs. If the Bulls were to sustain that momentum, Rose needed help. Luol Deng is a terrific player, but his star remains in the blooming mode. Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah were inside threats, but they hardly played together. Omer Asik was a terrific backup to Noah, but once he fell injured in the Miami series, it affected the Bulls' rotation at center. With Kurt Thomas now in Portland, Taj Gibson needs to play a bigger role as Boozer's backup. Richard Hamilton is a great replacement for the defensively liable Keith Bogans, but Ronnie Brewer needs to spread his wings more. And C.J. Watson and Kyle Korver, better supply that offense more off the bench. This Bulls team may not finish 66-0, but Tom Thibodeau has the wit to put the Bulls back on top of the East.

Cleveland Cavaliers

19-63 (15th in East, missed playoffs)

A 26-game losing streak rekindled thoughts of the Cavaliers surpassing the 1973 76ers as the worst NBA team, ever. They did avoid becoming the worst team in NBA history, but 19 wins remain worse by any standard. There's hope for the future, though. Dan Gilbert's son provided the lucky charm that gave them the top pick of the draft and selected Kyrie Irving.  Irving may not be LeBron, but he's still a highly-touted prospect, though his only season in Duke was riddled with injuries. The Cavs still have Anderson Varejao, but he needs to bounce back quickly from an injury-riddled 2011 season. The rest of the roster, however, is still a questioned bunch of castoffs, unproven youngsters and fading veterans. For now, this is a rebuilding season for the Cavaliers, but Irving and 4th pick Tristan Thompson will provide hope for the future. 

Detroit Pistons

30-52 (11th in East, missed playoffs)

John Kuester is finally gone. Good news. The bad news is that this is still a rebuilding season for the Pistons. Tom Gores has taken the ownership reins from the Davidsons, and fans are hopeful for the fresh start. Richard Hamilton, who provided more of the negative publicity last season, is now gone, leaving the returning Tayshaun Prince as the longest-tenured Piston since front office boss Joe Dumars. Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon need to prove their worth as the big-money signees of 2009. Rookie Brandon Knight and youngsters Jonas Jerebko, Greg Monroe and Austin Daye have to grow up fast. While Ben Wallace and Jason Maxiell continue to provide veteran muscle, this Pistons team is still a long shot from the playoffs, but the future is there. Lawrence Frank, good luck on the rebuilding year.

Indiana Pacers

37-45 (8th in East, lost to Bulls in 1st round 4-1)

The Pacers may have lost in five games to the Bulls, but they gave them a hard time winning. Frank Vogel led a turnaround that resulted in a new contract. Danny Granger remains the cornerstone, but the Pacers were given a boost with the addition of David West. The question is, how will his surgically repaired knee hold up in a 66-game season? Tyler Hansbrough broke loose when Vogel took over, and will be expected to back up West. Darren Collison and A.J. Price have yet to prove they're capable point guards, and even though they added George Hill, the guard corps remain a question. Paul George was last year's rookie revelation, and they need him to mature fast as the season goes on. Roy Hibbert, you need to assert even more in the paint. This Pacers team remains on the bubble between making and missing the playoffs, so at least 33 wins may be a possibility for this bunch.

Milwaukee Bucks

35-47 (9th in East, missed playoffs)

The Bucks lost 11 more games than the season prior, due to a slew of injuries and inconsistent offensive production. Andrew Bogut wasn't 100%, while Brandon Jennings' production slumped due to injuries. Now adding Stephen Jackson to the mix, the Bucks hope their offensive deficiencies were a thing of the past. Still, adding a player with a history of inconsistent play would provide more problems than solutions. Just hope Carlos Delfino will play consistently outside, Luc Mbah a Moute crash the boards frequently, and Beno Udrih to get more involved offensively. And Jon Brockman and Drew Gooden, be more assertive off the boards and turn garbage into gold. Like the Pacers, the Bucks remain on the bubble between making and missing the playoffs, so a possible 30-32 wins will be a possibility for this bunch.

We'll preview the Northwest Division on our next post.