NBA highlights from March 3

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, March 3rd!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! Andre Iguodala throws it down!

Randy Moss Signs Three Year Deal With Patriots

Randy Moss is returning to the New England Patriots.

The defending AFC champions re-signed the record-breaking receiver on Monday to a three-year deal worth $27 million, his agent said. The signing was confirmed by the team shortly after Moss posted a message to fans on his Web site.

"I want to take time out to thank all of the fans for their support and for wishing me well in my return to New England," therealrandymoss.com quotes him as saying. "I'm ready to get back. We have some unfinished business to take care of."

Moss' agent, Tim DiPiero, said the deal included guarantees of $15 million, including a $12 million signing bonus to the receiver who set an NFL record with 23 touchdown catches and helped the Patriots reach the Super Bowl in his first season with the team.

"Randy was serious about wanting to stay," DiPiero wrote in an e-mail. "Because of Randy's record-breaking year, the interest in him was very high. Randy took less than he could have to rejoin his teammates."

Pairing Moss with NFL MVP Tom Brady, who broke the league record with 50 touchdown passes, the Patriots breezed through the regular season with a perfect 16-0 record. They improved to an unprecedented 18-0 before blowing a chance at the league's longest unbeaten season with a 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

"What Randy did for our team last year was outstanding," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "He is one of our most consistent, competitive and team-oriented players and it is undoubtedly a relationship we are excited to continue."

Moss, 31, has caught 774 passes for 12,193 yards in a 10-year career, and his 124 career receiving touchdowns are fourth in NFL history.

A four-time All-Pro, Moss took a pay cut to get out of Oakland and come to New England last April in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick. In addition to his 23 touchdowns, he caught 98 passes for 1,493 yards and largely avoided the type of turmoil that characterized his previous NFL stops.

During seven years with Minnesota, where he made five Pro Bowls, he was fined $10,000 for pretending to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay crowd during a Vikings playoff win, and drew criticism for leaving the field with 2 seconds left in a loss to Washington.

He also bumped a traffic control officer with his car in 2002, verbally abused corporate sponsors on a team bus in 2001 and squirted an official with a water bottle in 1999.

In Oakland, he openly campaigned to be traded to a winning team. With the Patriots, he avoided controversy until the playoffs, when a woman sought a restraining order against him, claiming that he committed "battery causing serious injury."

Moss denied the allegation and said the woman was trying to get money from him.

Also Monday, the Patriots signed free agent receiver Sam Aiken.

The 27-year-old has played five seasons with the Buffalo Bills with 19 career receptions for 250 yards and 61 career special teams tackles.

NBA highlights from March 2

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, March 2nd!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! LeBron James takes flight for a monster hammer-slam!


Check Out Kobe Bryant Scoring 52 Points against the Mavs Last Night, with 30 coming in 4th and Overtime!

MLB Preview: NL Central

The Cubs hope that Kosuke Fukudome lives up to his Japanese Billing.

The National League Central was up in the air for almost the whole season. The Cubs ended up winning the division, but did squat in the playoffs, getting swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLDS. The Cubs will have a tough road if they want to repeat. The Race for the NL Central will be even tougher for the Cubs than Last Season. They start the season and end the season against Milwaukee. That final weekend of the regular season may be when we find out who will win the NL Central.

CHICAGO CUBS
The Cubs went on a $300 Million Shopping Spree in 2007 to improve what was the worst team in Major League Baseball Last Season. The team signed Alfonso Soriano to the richest contract in Cubs history, and he produced by hitting 33 homeruns, without hitting a single homerun in April. Expect Soriano to not get the "Big Contract Jitters" he may have had his first month.

Lou Piniella got to know his players in 2007, and once he knew what he had, he made changes. Out was Catcher Michael Barrett and Shortstop Caesar Izturis. In was Geovanny Soto and Ryan Theriot. The Cubs turned it on that final month, before becoming Ice Cold in the playoffs.

Expect Lou Piniella to figure out this team again. Ryan Dempster is competing with Jon Lieber (the Last Cubs Pitcher to win 20 games, Sean Marshall (Rumored to be heading to Baltimore, those rumors were later false) and Jason Marquis (The tale of Two Jasons. Good First Half. Bad Second Half.) If Marquis doesn't win the final rotation spot, he will get his wish to go elsewhere.

There is another battle for Ryan Dempster's old Job as Closer. Competing for the closers job is Bob Howry (he was the closer when Ryan Dempster was injured last season), Kerry Wood (He Struck out 20 Batters on April 12, 1998, holding the Astros to one hit) and Carlos Marmol (the best pure stuff in baseball, a Shut down reliever).

There is another battle for Center Field as Felix Pie is competing with Sam Fuld for that job. Cubs Hitting Coach Gerald Perry has spent time with Pie to try and make sure he isn't "Corey Patterson Version 2.0."

Alfonso Soriano is comfortable in Left Field and the Center Field Battle will work itself out, but out in Right Field is the Japanese Outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Fukudome is a blend of the two most famous Japanese Outfielders, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui. How will adjust to the Bleacher Bums out in Right Field mangling his last name for drunken humor effect? He will just ignore it.

Fukudome will get an instant chance to make an impact this season, as he will bat third in the lineup, moving Derrek Lee to the cleanup spot and Aramis Ramirez in the five spot.

Starting Wise, Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill are set at 1,2, and 3. The Final Two Spots will be won in the spring. Zambrano can be on his A-Game, but when he isn't you know from the get-go. Expect him to work on being more consistent this season.

Ted Lilly won 15 games for the Cubs in 2008, losing only eight. Lilly has great stuff. He has a nice Slider and an even better breaking ball.

Rich Hill is a solid number three. If he learns to mix more pitches in with his curveball, Watch out.

Who will win the final two spots? How will Felix Pie and Kosuke Fukudome do in the outfield? Will the new closer be able to keep the lead? Can Carlos Zambrano learn how to control his emotions on the mound? If so, expect these Cubs to do something not done since 1908, return to the postseason for two straight seasons.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
The Milwaukee Brewers had a 8.5 Game lead by midseason before they let Chicago come roaring back to win the National Leagie Central. Prince Fielder joined Alex Rodriguez as the only players to hit 50+ homeruns in 2007. I don't think he'll hit as many homeruns, but he will still be a major force at the plate. Ryan Braun was a Callup in May and the "Hebrew Hammer" Hammered 34 homeruns in 2007, winning the National League Rookie Of the Year Award. Ryan Braun manned Third Base in 2007 before all of a sudden being switched to play Left Field. Bill Hall will play Third Base this season. Mike Cameron takes over in Center Field, but will serve a 25 game suspensions for Performance Enhnacing Drugs.

Ben Sheets was 12-5 in 2007 with a 3.82 ERA. If he didn't go down with an injury late in the season, Milwaukee may have won the NL Central and made their first Playoff Appearance since 1982, when they were in the American League.

Jeff Suppan proved his wasn't worth his big time contract, as he was 12-12 with a 4.62 ERA.

The Biggest loss to the Brewers Staff will be the loss of Francisco Cordero. Cordero went to division rival Cincinnatti.

Milwaukee and Chicago will battle for the NL Central Crown.

ST LOUIS CARDINALS
The Cardinals had much of the 2007 season without their workhorses of Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter, and this will be the same for the early part of the 2007 season.

Albert Pujols hit 32 homeruns in 2007. Expect him to hit more homeruns this season.

The Cardinals traded a Third Baseman for a Third Baseman, as Troy Glaus was traded to the Cardinals for Scott Rolen. La Russa and Rolen were never BFF in St Louis, so Rolen is on the way out. Rolen gets to reunite with David Eckstein North Of The Border.

The Cardinals released another Third Baseman, as Scott Spiezio was released after recieving a warrant for his arrest. Hopefully he gets to work his life out.

Caesar Isturis will replace David Eckstein at Shortstop.

Colby Rasmus is aiming to replace Jim Edmonds in Center Field, and will get every opprutunity to win the job in camp.

St. Louis won't compete for the central this season, but there's hope for the future with this bunch.

CINCINNATTI REDS
The Reds in 2008 have new management, as Dusty Baker is out of the "Baseball Tonight" Studios and managing again. Reds fans are hoping he doesen't ruin young prosepect Homer Bailey, as many Cubs fans have blamed him for ruining the promising careers of both Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.

This may be the final season for both Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr with the Reds.

We may finally get to see how good Joey Votto and Jay Bruce are.

Dusty Baker mismanagement has cost The Giants and Cubs a chance at a World Series. Expect the same from Cincinnatti, if they are ever able to compete in the Central.

HOUSTON ASTROS
The Houston Astros don't have Craig Biggio, the longtime face of their franchise anymore. The Astros signed Kazuo Matsui away from Colorado to take over second base.

The Astros traded away Brad Lidge to the Philladelphia, and the Phillies were daft enough to trade away Michael Bourn to get him.

The Astros also acquired Miguel Tejada, but he may face the same punishment as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens for using performance enhancing deuga and then lying about it.

Pitching wise, This team will be looking to fill the rotation as Jason Jennings and Matt Albers are no longer with the team.

Watch out for Hunter Pence this season. He was lucky enough to be learning from Craig Biggio and he may be in the outfield this season.

Houston won't win the division this season, but Cecil Cooper has the tools to build a winning Astros team in the future.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
The Pirates team of the future is built around Jason Bay and Zach Duke. Ronny Paulino will get better behind the plate, and Xavier Nady will continue to play well in right field.

John Russell will find out the best thing about the Pirates is the ballpark they play in.

That concludes this year's MLB Team Previews. In the final MLB Preview, we will do our best to determine who the Paper World Series Champions of 2008 will be. Will Detroit live up to their high expectations? Who will be Their League's MVP? Find out all this and more in the next MLB Preview.

NBA highlights from March 1

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night,March 1st!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! Rudy Gay with a dynamic double-clutch slam!

MLB Preview: AL Central

Can Acquisitions Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis help Detroit clinch their first World Series Title since 1984?

Detroit Tigers fans still can't believe their incredibly good luck. Minnesota Twins fans can't believe how far they're team has fallen off the map with the loss of Johan Santana. White Sox fans hope the improved bullpen can help them win more games, and Royals fans are hoping Alex Gordon and Gil Meche can help lead Kansas City out of the cellar.

And then there's Cleveland, the winner of the AL Central last season. All forgotten. Indians fans like it this way. They hope this quiet team can surprise again.

DETROIT TIGERS
The Tigers in 2007 hoped to repeat their success from 2006 when they marched to the World Series. They may have failed to do that, but this team still made history last season. Comerica Park was abuzz on June 12th as Justin Verlander threw a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers, winning the game 4-0. This was the first no-hitter by a Tiger since Jack Morris did it in 1984 and the first ever thrown at Comerica Park.
Curtis Granderson became only the second player in franchise history to have at least 30 doubles, 15 triples, 15 home runs, and 10 stolen bases in a single season. The other Tiger to accomplish this feat was Charlie Gehringer in 1930. Magglio Ordonez .363 batting average was the highest in Major League Baseball. He finished the season as the AL batting champion, and is the first Tiger player to accomplish the feat since Norm Cash in 1961.This Tigers team will get much better in 2008, primarily due to the addition of the final two members of the 2003 Florida Marlins that were with the team last season.

Pitching Wise, Justin Verlander is the ace of the rotation, but filling in at the number two spot will be former Marlins Ace Dontrelle Willis. Nate Robertson and Kenny Rogers will follow him, leaving the final spot to be won in Spring Training. This team has been improved tremenendously in all areas with Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers would be smart to sign both Cabrera and Willis long term. Curtis Granderson will continue to score runs from the lead off spot in any way imaginable. There will be a lot of homeruns for this team. On Paper, they're the World Series Champions right now. But we all know that games aren't won on paper. They're won on the field.

The expectations for Detroit are high. Let's see if they can be met.



CLEVELAND INDIANS
The most important thing for the Indians' future is to re-sign C.C. Sabathia. He collected his 1000th career strikeout on May 21st, on Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners. He was also named to the American League All-Star team for the third time. On September 28, he became the youngest pitcher to record 100 career wins since Greg Maddux in 1993. On October 23, Sabathia won the Players Choice Award for Outstanding AL Pitcher.[2] His pitching performance led the Cleveland Indians to their first American League Central Division Championship since 2001, his rookie season. For his performance, he was awarded the 2007 American League Cy Young Award joining Gaylord Perry as the only two Cleveland Indians pitchers to ever win the award.

If Sabathia can't be resigned this season, expect both the Yankees and the Mets to lure big money to try to lure him to their side of New York.

Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner will continue to slug balls out of Jacobs Field.

Fausto Carmona and Joe Borowski headlined a magnificent Indians bullpen in 2007, and the bullpen has added former Japanese Closer Masahide Kobayashi to the bullpen.

Cleveland will fight for the Wild Card Spot in 2008.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
The 2007 White Sox started off the year in unbeleievable fashion, as Mark Buehrle threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on April 18th. The Sox got a bad case of the injury bug down the stretch, but during that time, we got to see how well Chicago develops it's talent. Josh Fields played so well playing for the injured Joe Crede that the Sox are considering trading Crede. Mark Sweeney played well in the outfield and will be replaced with Nick Swisher, who would have gone to the North Side of Chicago if the Cubs weren't able to lure Kosuke Fukudome away from Japan. The White Sox made moves to improve their bullpen, which was not very good last season. Scott Linebrink and Octavio Dotel have been signed to help hold down the fort for Bobby Jenks in the ninth. Jenks was dynamite in 2007, retiring 41 straight batters in 2007.

The Sox have also improved in the infield. Danny Richar leads at the battle to man second base and the Sox acquired Gold Glove winner Orlando Cabrera by trading away Jon Garland. Let's not forget about Powerful Paul Konerko at First Base and Jim Thome at Designated Hitter.

Can Chicago contend in a crowded AL Central? The key will be their bullpen and defense keeping leads the starting pitching pitching and offense gives them.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
The Royals are hoping to surprise in 2008. They lured Trey Hillman away from Japan to try and get this ballclub back on the right foot. They signed outfielder Jose Guillen to a three year contract, despite the fact that he will serve a 15 game suspension for perfromance-enhancing drugs.

Alex Gordon will only get better at third base, as will Ryan Shealy. Gold Glove Winner Mark Grudzielanek will be in betweeen both, manning second base. Gil Meche is the Royals Ace, and had a suprisingly good first season. Will be able to repeat it? I don't think so, simply because of how good the whole AL Central is.

In The Bullpen, watch out for Yasuhiko Yabuta.

MINNESOTA TWINS
The Twins had an unfair Free Agency Period. First, they lost Torii Hunter to Free Agency, then they lost Johan Santana in a trade. To "replace" Hunter, the Twins traded Matt Garza away for Delmon Young. To "replace" Santana, the Twins signed former Diamondback Orlando Hernandez. The Twins are also hoping Francisco Liriano can be healthy all season and catch that "lightning in a bottle" of a season in 2006 after missing the 2007 Season to recover from Tommy John Surgery.

MY PROJECTED ORDER:
DETROIT
CLEVELAND
CHICAGO
KANSAS CITY
MINNESOTA

That Concludes this MLB Preview. In our Final MLB Preview, we will take a look at the National League Central. Can Chicago Repeat as Division Champs? Will Milwaukee Step Up and contend again? Can St. Louis make noise? Can Miguel Tejada avoid the talk of the Mitchell Report? Can Pittsburgh avoid last place? Find out all this and more in our next and final MLB Preview.

NBA highlights from February 29th

Here Are Your NBA highlights from Last Night, February 29th! Click on the video to see the results of the twelve games around the NBA!


Here Are Your Top Ten Plays!


And Your Top Play! Andres Nocioni throws down the monster jam!


MLB Fans, Your AL Central Preview Is Coming Up Later Today!