Monthly Archives: February 2013

Shamarko Shines in Indy

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The Syracuse Orange are not usually known for their great football players, but just one year after the Patriots drafted Chandler Jones in the first round another Orange player is set to go in the first round after a strong showing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Shamarko Thomas showed of his speed, strength, and athletecism was on display as the safety showed why he should be considered a first round pick. Thomas turned in the fastest 40 yard dash among safeties turning in a 4.42 official time, edged out the larger Oregon DB John Boyett with 28 bench press reps, and tied LSU Tiger Eric Reid with a 40.5 vertical jump. He was a true star at the combine with his only blunder being when he fell at the end of the 40 yard dash. The under sized safety will likely be a late round pick as pre combine he was ranked 7th among safeties, but after his strong showing the fiery young man may be on his way up draft boards.

Doug Day (@YankeeBaller415)  http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2013/02/ex-syracuse_safety_shamarko_th.html#incart_m-rpt-2

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots Extend His Contract!

I am very pleased with some news I came across today!

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have agreed to a 3-year extension on his contract through 2017! Surprisingly, it’s only for $27 million (yes, it does feel weird to say “ONLY $27 million”) which is much less than I would’ve expected. I mean, according to Mike Klis of The Denver Post, even Peyton Manning is due to make $40 million over the next two years.

Being that he is such an amazing quarterback and major asset to the team, I’m sure that Tom could have negotiated for more money. However, I love and respect that he’s more concerned about being a Patriot for what could likely be the rest of his NFL career than with the money aspect.

This drop in Tom Brady’s salary also gives New England extra money to spend on re-signing other current players and picking up new ones.

I can definitely deal with Tom Brady as the Patriots quarterback for an extra 3 years! I wish he could just keep playing with the same talent, focus, heart and determination for many, many years after that! But even Tom Brady deserves to retire eventually, I suppose. 🙂

– Nikole Davidson (@SportsWithNikki)

Bruins Rookie Dougie Hamilton is Impressive!

It looks like rookie Dougie Hamilton is impressing the right people! The general manager of the Boston Bruins, Peter Chiarelli, is realistic in that he knows that some struggle is part of having a talented, young rookie on his team but he is also impressed by him.

Hamilton is only 19 years old and playing in the NHL so he definitely has time to prove and improve himself even more than he already has. It seems to me that with continued support from those in the Bruins organization, Dougie Hamilton is only going to keep progressing!

I know I look forward to seeing what he can do. Personally, rookies are among my favorites to watch in any sport. Fresh, young talent ready to make their mark! As a sports fan, you’ve got to love and appreciate that.

– Nikole Davidson (@SportsWithNikki)

5 Predictions for the Yankees Upcoming Season

82946283_crop_650x440Today is the day that the greatest sport’s franchise will start another journey to the ultimate goal of a 28th World Series Championship. With more questions that need to be answered for the Yankees at the beginning of a season in more than 20 years. What are the 5 key things that will happen this year to help the Yankees reach baseball nirvana.

1. The Yankees will win less than 95 games this year. Last year they won 95 games and the place where they will likely lose these 2 or three games is within the division. Last year in the AL East the Yankees went 41-31. The team I see them dropping a few games to or the revamped Toronto Blue Jays, with their rebuilt rotation and potent lineup. Look for the Yankees to go 8-10 against the Blue Jays and finish the year with 92 wins.

2. The everyday outfield for the Yankees will not look the same at all. Ichiro Suzuki after signing a two year deal in the offseason will play a huge majority of the games in right field. That move does not comes as much of a surprise after the loss of Nick Swisher to the Indians. Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner will likely switch fields after Gardner has proven to be the best centerfielder in baseball playing left field. This is not a slight on Granderson’s defense at all but with this move the Yankees are assembling one of the fastest and most proficient outfields in all of baseball.

3. Derek Jeter will have a very similar season to last year. After struggling in 2011 Jeter proved all critics wrong by coming out and leading the American League in hits and reinventing his career along the way. Now after coming off a broken ankle it is just another chance for Jeter to prove everyone wrong. Jeter will bat over .315 and pick up over 180 hits.

4. Alex Rodriguez will have litte to no impact on the season at large. ARod the scapegoat for Yankee playoff woes will have the worst offensive season of his career. Woth Youkilis coming off a decent stint with the White Sox hitting 15 HR and driving 46 in 80 games Youk will be the everyday third baseman all year. ARod will not be back until the at least the All Star Break and by then Youk will be solid at the hot corner.

5. Yankees will win the World Series over the Nationals in 6 games.

It should be a great season and the Yankees should come out on top. If they don’t the door may close on an era of greatness for Jeter, Rivera, and Pettitte.

Johnny Football a Little too Famous?

Since winning the Heisman Trophy back in December, Johnny Manziel’s life has changed for both good and maybe even some bad. With appearances at Okahoma City Thunder basketball games, on the town with his model girlfriend Sarah Savage and most recently with the cast of Duck Dynasty at the Super Bowl, Johnny is truly living the dream of winning the most prestigous honor in sports.

On the other side of things according to an article by the AP, Johnny is still finding time to be an almost normal college student. Due to his recent streak of fame, Manziel finds it tough to go to campus sometimes and is now currently enrolled in 4 online classes that he takes from his off campus home. He was at one point enrolled in an English but then switched out of it to avoid such extreme distractions and scrutiny that comes along with being a newly found public figure.

The other part of his fame that has been questioned is how is he paying to go to all of these professional sports events. Manziel though has submitted all information about where he was going and how he payed for both the Thunder games and the Super Bowl to the school and NCAA before attending. When asked what he thought of all the scrutiny he has been under Manziel said, “People are gonna say what they want regardless.”

Manziel will be back on the field hoping to lead the Aggies their first national championship since 1939 when spring practice opens on March 2nd.

(http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/8962707/johnny-manziel-texas-aggies-adjusting-post-heisman-fame)

Doug Day @YankeeBaller415