By Tim St. Sauver, The Love of Sports.com

The Intro
That’s right. Over 100 years. Thousands of players. Four sports.
We’re talking serious research here, my friends.
I’ve come up with the Top 10 draft classes in sports history.

The Excerpt

10. MLB – 1985
It’s very difficult to qualify a draft as being good when the majority of players selected will never reach the bigs. However, the ’85 class is responsible for 18.2% of the MVP awards handed out since their draft and 13.6% of the Cy Young Awards over the same amount of time.

The 1985 Rule 4 Draft had 832 players selected. It had star power, depth and stands out among other MLB drafts due to the speed at which its top players made it on to MLB rosters.

Best of the Draft:
–Barry Bonds (6th overall) – Seven-time MVP, 762 HR, career .298 BA, 1 huge asterisk
–B.J. Surhoff (1st overall) – 1999 All-Star, 2,326 hits, 1,153 RBI
–Will Clark (2nd overall) – Six-time All-Star, 2,176 hits, 1,205 RBI, career .303 BA
–Barry Larkin (4th overall) – 1 World Series ring, 1 MVP, 12-time All-Star
–Rafael Palmeiro (22nd overall) – Four-time All Star, 3,020 hits, 1,835 RBI
–Randy Johnson (2nd round, 36th overall) – 10-time All-Star, 5 Cy Young awards, 284 wins, 4,629 Ks
–Mark Grace (24th round, 622nd overall) – 1 World Series ring, Three-time All Star, 2,445 hits, career .303 BA

Other Notable Selections:
[More …]

“This Old Cub’s” candid take on the 2008 baseball season

By Paul M. Banks
WGN radio broadcaster Ron Santo is a legendary figure within the Chicago Cubs organization. His number #10 was the third number retired by the Cubs, honoring a stellar Cubs career that included nine All-Star appearances and five Gold Gloves. The current Chicago Cubs color analyst held a press conference right before the Cubs’ official opening of  Little Cubs Field, a little league park built to replicate Wrigley Field in Freeport, IL. In “Pretzel City,” about 30 miles west of Rockford, Santo was the guest of honor on June 14th. The current Cubs color analyst is known for many things outside of his playing career, including his unabashed on-air cheerleading and the success he has had in his personal struggle with diabetes during his life.  When he was diagnosed at age 18, doctors gave him a life expectancy of 25 years. The current 68 year old Santo was named the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation “Person of the Year” in 2002. Two years ago, Santo, the subject of “This Old Cub,” a theatre released documentary film created by his son Jeff, came within five votes of the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He is eligible again in 2009.

 

When given the chance to speak with a man whose blood is figuratively Cubbie blue, I got straight to the point and asked him who poses the biggest threat to the Cubs in the [More …]

Paul M. Banks vs. Sarah Spain
 
 
Given what happened at Wrigley this past weekend…I’m ready to start discussing this weekend. The Sox have the second most home wins in the AL and the Cubs are a less than awe-inspiring 16-20 away from Wrigley. That said, are you worried about heading into The Cell?

What about the fact that your Cubs now have to deal with a U.S. Cellular Field crowd filled with thousands of my SICA people from places like “The Wood” (Crestwood) and “The Port” (Lockport). The wrath of the SICA crowd this weekend frightens you, doesn’t it?
————————

You may be more than ready to forget about the complete and utter thumping your Sox received last weekend, but let me take a moment to mention how wonderful it was to watch the Cubs give the Wrigley faithful—and Northsiders nationwide—such an entertaining, awe-inspiring, belief-reinforcing series. Ozzie Guillen proved himself to be less-than informed about his opponent: “He just had a good day.” Guillen said of Jim Edmonds 2 HR performance in the Sox loss on Saturday. “I’m not going to promote [the] guy who’s hitting .218.” Jim Edmonds was, in fact, batting .238…And, more importantly, OVER .300 as a Cub. Even better, Guillen had to eat his words on Sunday. “Jim is Jim. Jim is not going to scare me,” Guillen said Saturday. “I will pitch to him another time.” But he didn’t. He intentionally walked him.

When it comes to outspoken, [More …]

By David K.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

It’s already been an eventful pre-draft with trades.  Toronto rolled the dice by acquiring Jermaine O’Neal from Indiana in exchange for T.J. Ford, Rasho Neterovic, and the Raptors’ 1st round pick (#17).  Charlotte acquired Denver’s first rounder (#20) for a protected future 1st round pick.  Portland pretty much bought New Orleans’ first rounder (#27).

Here’s my final mock draft (which will likely be useless once a major trade among the top ten picks happens.)  So many wild cards this year… I hate it…
1. Chicago- Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
I am now of the mind-set where I would genuinely be shocked if the Bulls take Beasley.  Chicago will draft a franchise changing guard in Rose and then look to trade Kirk Hinrich for an offensive-minded big.

2. Miami- Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
The O.J. Mayo to the Heat rumors continue to gain more and more steam.  I still maintain that Beasley will be the pick, but it will be by whichever team offers enough to move into this spot.

3. Minnesota- O.J. Mayo, G, USC
The T-Wolves could swap picks with Miami.  If another team moves into the two spot, Mayo will be the choice.  If the Heat do grab Mayo, the T-Wolves are ecstatic to land Beasley.  Love or Lopez could be a safe Kevin McHale-type pick.

4. Seattle- Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
If the Sonics stay at this spot, a point guard should be the pick since current [More …]

By David K.

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills when trying to figure out this mock draft as of late.  This will be my second to last (hence the term “penultimate”) mock with the final version coming out Thursday morning.  For more of my thoughts on the draft, click on the link below:

http://www.thesportsbank.net/2008/06/24/what-to-expect-from-the-2008-draft/

Early Wednesday, the first of what should be many trades was made when the Blazers acquired the Hornets 1st round pick (27th overall) for cash.  Portland now joins Seattle as having six total picks in the draft.
 

1. Chicago- Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
I am now of the mind-set where I would genuinely be shocked if the Bulls take Beasley.  Chicago will draft a franchise changing guard in Rose and then look to trade Kirk Hinrich for an offensive-minded big.

2. Miami- Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
The O.J. Mayo to the Heat rumors continue to gain more and more steam.  I still maintain that Beasley will be the pick, but it will be by whichever team offers enough to move into this spot.

3. Minnesota- O.J. Mayo, G, USC
The T-Wolves could swap picks with Miami.  If another team moves into the two spot, Mayo will be the choice.  If the Heat do grab Mayo, the T-Wolves are ecstatic to land Beasley.

4. Seattle- Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
If the Sonics stay at this spot, a point guard should be the pick since current Sonic PG’s Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson [More …]

Reading it feels like winning the lottery…every Tuesday!

By Paul M. Banks

-Last week Trenni was swinging the big stick in the TSB lineup; this week the hot bat belongs to the site’s Executive Vice President and my “media industry BFF,” David K. His 27th birthday is Wednesday, and his national holiday the NBA Draft is Thursday.

His draft lottery analysis and mock drafts are putting up BIG numbers in page views, hits, page visits etc. His stuff is doing Deadspin like numbers. No, check that; some of Deadspin’s postings are miniscule compared to the numbers you’re putting up. Check out his NBA Mock draft and draft related material here all week, and compare his mock against the one on the official NBA site http://www.nba.com/draft2008/

-For anyone that runs a business selling Boston Celtics diapers, Red Sox sippy cups or New England Patriots bibs, lets do a business power lunch and soon. Take a look at the site’s myspace page. http://www.myspace.com/paulmbanks Scroll through the comment wall. I want you businessmen to know that 90% of the people who post on my myspace page are either 1.) really hot single mothers. 2.) female New England sports fans. Some intersect both demographics; so let’s make a deal and we can both make Mad Money like Jim Cramer.

-Soxman had a busy week appearing in Monday’s edition of the most erudite and extremely high-brow of high-brow publications, the Chicago Tribune Red Eye. (I’m not motivated to find the link [More …]

By David K.
 

-I finally put Derrick Rose at the #1 spot to Chicago.  I guess I’m drinking the whole “how often can you draft a franchise point guard” Kool-Aid that everyone seems to be pouring.  I’m still holding my ground on my theory that whoever Chicago takes…expect a semi-major trade to follow in the coming weeks, if it doesn’t happen on draft day itself.

-There are so many wild cards in this year’s draft.  For example:

Stanford’s Brook Lopez and UCLA’s Kevin Love could go as high as #3 to Minnesota or fall all the way to New Jersey at #10. 

UCLA’s Russell Westbrook could sneak up to Seattle at #4 or fall all the way to Sacramento at #12. 

If Eric Gordon doesn’t go #6 to the Knicks or #7 to the Clippers, he could very likely fall into the late lottery. 

LSU’s Anthony Randolph is rumored to be in the mix of going #5 to Memphis, yet at the same time could fall out of the lottery.  (a.k.a. This makes piecing together a mock draft a difficult chore…yet somehow I manage)

There will be one major trade in the top seven picks that will royally screw up my final mock draft.

-Every year there is an established collegiate player who falls in the draft and Dickie V. cries foul when teams keep passing on him.  Expect a minute rant on how stupid these teams are for passing on Georgetown’s Roy Hibbert should he [More …]

By David K.

1. Chicago- Derrick Rose, PG, Memphis
I still maintain Beasley fills a bigger need for the Bulls, but it seems like drafting a franchise point guard will be the way they go.

2. Miami- Michael Beasley, PF, Kansas State
The Heat are rumored to be hot on Mayo which means this pick could be had for the right price if Miami can somehow land Mayo.

 

3. Minnesota- O.J. Mayo, G, USC
Mayo seems to be the consensus pick here even if the T-Wolves trade the pick.  Lopez and Love will be looked at also.

4. Seattle- Jerryd Bayless, PG, Arizona
Current Sonic PG’s Luke Ridnour and Earl Watson are not the answer.  Russell Westbrook could be a sleeper pick.

5. Memphis- Kevin Love, PF, UCLA
Grizzlies are loaded with young guards and wing players, so they need a low post player with this pick.  Lopez or Randolph are options as well.

6. New York- Russell Westbrook, PG, UCLA
Mike D’Antoni wants a point guard to lead his up-tempo style of coaching making Westbrook the pick over Eric Gordon.

7. L.A. Clippers- Danillo Gallinari, SF, Italy
Clips need backcourt help or a small forward with Corey Maggette likely opting out his deal.  Gallinari is the pick over Gordon.

8. Milwaukee- Joe Alexander, F, West Virginia
New head coach Scott Skiles seems to covet Alexander’s toughness making him the pick over Gallinari or Randolph.

9. Charlotte- Brook Lopez, C, Stanford
Lopez would provide some immediate help up-front [More …]

All-city 1st Place War of Words between Soxman and Seymour Pennants
 

What happens when the 100-year old crotchety Cub fan Seymour Pennants meets Southside Super Hero Soxman? White socks get dirty, Depends undergarments need changing and curses fly as the city braces for an intercity series between two first place teams…for the first time in the history of inter-league play!
 
(Seymour) Yo Soxman!  How can you watch baseball in that penitentiary on the south side?  Of course, it’s called The CELL, the food tastes like jail food, and the women look like prison guards.  Thank goodness the inmates are playing decent ball, because it’s such a god awful boring stadium.  When are they going to start classic first edition book night, where they give away used copies of War & Peace?
 

 (SM) Seymour, it is Wrigley Field that needs to give away used copies of War and Peace for fanny padding sitting on those uncomfortable steel bleacher seats.  Is the Cell a penitentiary?  Heck no!  It is an insane asylum because it is a home to the craziest, most dedicated fans in Chicago! Our stadium is boring?  The most exciting thing about Wrigley beyond the surgically enhanced eye-candy is re-enacting the 80’s Atari hit game “Pitfall,” by dodging falling pieces of the stadium and jumping over urine puddles in the leaky horse troughs they call restrooms.
 
The Cell has an awesome viewing deck, an exploding scoreboard that shows video [More …]

By Sarah Spain
 
Couple thoughts on the Celtics Championship and Kobe Bryant
 

1) Congratulations to my boyfriend, KG. You deserved to win it all and you’re smokin’ hot–even when giving nonsensical, incomprehensible, slightly ghetto post-game speeches.
 

2) Thank you, Kobe, for your piss poor play throughout the series and for further proving my lifelong argument that you are not and will never be better than Michael Jordan…
 

So Kobe, here are a few things to stick in your pipe and smoke while you’re suffering through a long, embarrassing off-season….
 

…MJ never would have allowed his team to suffer the greatest single game collapse in NBA Finals history. (game 4)
 

…MJ never would have allowed his team lose by 39 points–a new record for the greatest margin of victory in a Championship-clinching game. (game 6) (FYI-The most one-sided game in Finals history still remans the 42-point victory by the MJ-led Chicago Bulls over the Utah Jazz (96-54) in 1998.)
 
…MJ never would have called out his teammates and demanded a trade via a parking lot home video.

…MJ’s LOWEST NBA Finals PPG Average–27.3 PPG (1996 Finals) is still better than Kobe Bryant’s HIGHEST PPG NBA Finals Average–26.8 PPG (2002 Finals)
 
…MVPs – Jordan = 5; Kobe = 1
…Finals MVPs – Jordan = 6; Kobe = 0
…Scoring Titles – Jordan = 10; Kobe = 2
…Career Playoff [More …]