Posts Tagged ‘sports’

Breaking It Down With Brooks

Posted: May 5, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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This video was shot earlier in the week.

UPDATE: Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Houston Rockets in 6 games. Series: 4-2

UPDATE: Golden State Warriors defeated Denver Nuggets in 6 games. Series: 4-2

UPDATE: New York Knicks defeated Boston Celtics in 6 games. Series: 4-2

I wanted to give you something informative and enjoyable to watch. As much as I love print, broadcast has also been calling my name. I’ll continue to work at it. I’m becoming more passionate doing on-camera work by the day. Follow me @BrooksWeekly and @DevynAire who also played a vital part in the photography and production. Check him out djonesum.tumblr.com

CONTINUE WATCHING FOR THE BLOOPER BREAKDOWN. You will get a nice laugh from it. Comment and like.

Quick Thoughts On NBA Playoffs Thus Far…

Posted: April 24, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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Curry

Can the sharp shooting Stephen Curry lead his team pass the uptempo Denver Nuggets?

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Miami Heat vs. (8) Milwaukee Bucks: Heat 2 -Bucks 0

The Bucks’ sub .500 regular season record (38-44) alone shows how undeserving they are to even be in the playoffs, let alone on the same court with the defending champs. Outmanned, outmatched and outclassed, this is a warm up series for Miami. Have the “Heatles” even broken a sweat?

(2) New York Knicks vs. (7) Boston Celtics: Knicks 2 – Celtics 0

How cliche would it sound if I said, Melo on a Mission? Determined to advance to the second round, Carmelo Anthony will do all he can, even if he has to give his Knicks a piggyback ride to face Indiana in round two more than likely. The Celtics simply do not matchup well against this high-powered offense. In the words of Kobe Bryant, Boston looks “old and slow.” Paul Piece is a mere shell of himself, this may be Kevin Garnett’s last year and Avery Bradley just isn’t ready. The Celtics are much more dominant when Jeff Green plays more assertive. Doc Rivers has to get him going early.

Even though they lost the first game 85-78, Green scored 26 points in a relatively tight game with his penetration in the lane and adding constant pressure on the Knicks’ sometiming defense. The second outing was a different story. Green hopes to erase a pitiful 10 point showing going 3 of 11 from the field. His second game letdown led to a 16 point loss by the hands of Melo and the Knicks. Coincidence? I think not.

(3) Indiana Pacers vs. (6) Atlanta Hawks: Pacers 2  - Hawks 0 

The Hawks are always in the middle/lower of the pack. They are just, well, there. The Hawks are just not good enough. While I like to improve play of point guard Jeff Teague and an underrated Al Horford, the Hawks never do enough. Nothing about them leaps off the page. Nothing is special about this team. Josh Smith is an all-star, not a superstar.

Indiana’s emerging Paul George is well deserving of the NBA Most Improved Player Award. His opening round triple-double cemented the honors. The Pacers true test will come against the Knicks in round two. Unless Larry Bird comes running through the tunnels of TD Bank Garden arena, Boston won’t see round two.

Deron-Williams-Nets-Playoffs

(4) Brooklyn Nets (5) Chicago Bulls: Nets 1 – Bulls 1

This matchup reels in my interest simply because of Deron Williams. When healthy, Williams is arguably the best point guard in the NBA. Before the playoffs began, he was looking like the Williams of the Salt Lake City days. His 22 pts and 7 ast performance in game one led me to believe the Bulls were in a world of trouble.

But silly me forgetting about Tom Thibodeau and Chicago’s suffocating defense. Williams did dish out 10 assist, but they hacked and corralled Williams to a 1 for 9 night. This series has the making to go the distance.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Houston Rockets: Thunder 2 – Rockets 0

Poor James Harden. Having to play his former team in the opening rounds of the playoffs. He wants nothing more than get back at the team that shipped him coldheartedly out of Oklahoma City. What a great achievement it was to reach the playoffs in his first year in Houston, but they stand no chance against Kevin Durant and the Thunder. The only thing standing in the way of Oklahoma City is one of their own, Russell Westbrook.

(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (7) Los Angeles Lakers: Spurs 1 – Lakers 0 (Now 2-0) 

Call me delusional, but I actually picked the Lakers to win in 7 games largely because of the injuries and deficiencies of the Spurs. I figured the aging Tim Duncan couldn’t continue drinking from the fountain of youth, Tony Parker’s gimpy ankles wouldn’t hold up and Manu Ginobili was essentially done because of his nagging hamstring injuries.

Can I get a mulligan?

Ginobili came out hot and hit 18 points in 19 minutes in game one. Parker looked like his old self totaling 18 pts and 8 ast in game one. And Duncan? The best power forward in NBA history? He took another swig from the mythical fountain compiling 17 pts 10 rebs and 3 stls.

(3) Denver Nuggets vs. (6) Golden State Warriors: Nuggets 1 – Warriors 1

Smooth? Silky? Butter? Feel free to use whatever superlative or adjective at your discretion to describe Stephen Curry’s shooting stroke. I’m a firm believer that superstars prevail and triumph. While Denver has a premier supporting cast and  talented roll players, no one on that team is a superstar. The Warriors have a legit superstar in Curry. The baby faced assassin has lived up to the billing in his first taste of playoff action. Curry easily can lead the league in scoring while arguably becoming the best point guard in the NBA.

This series is far from over, but with Curry and the rest of his poachers taking aim beyond the arch, this 6th seed has what it takes to upset the Nuggets.

(4) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies: Clippers 2 – Grizzlies 0

Dating back to my superstar logic, the Grizzlies do not have any. Yes, they have the league stingiest defense and the Defensive Player of the Year in Marc Gasol, but the Grizzlies can’t overcome Lob City. Last year’s playoff meeting between the two was brutal, but I had gut feeling the Clippers were not having that this year. They’re too talented and athletic for the Memphis. And did I forget to mention Chris Paul?

-Kelton

#BrooksWeekly

The Impact of Kobe Bryant’s Injury on the Lakers

Posted: April 14, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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kobe2

If the Lakers make the playoffs, how will they fair without their fallen star?

They say time waits for no man, not even the competitive, driven warrior that is Kobe Bryant.

How can one fathom the thought of the Los Angeles Lakers without Bryant? In his illustrious 17 seasons of wearing purple and gold,  he has played in 1,239 of 1,346 possible regular season games and 220 of 223 playoff games. Besides his impeccable game winning step-back jumpers, sheer will to win and five NBA titles, his grit and durability belongs in a category of its own.

Due to the sad events that transpired April 12th against the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers  will have to move on without Bryant because of an Achilles tendon tear. Throughout the turmoil of the Lakers season, Bryant “guaranteed” his team will make the playoffs. True, Kobe has been playing in a youthful manner as of late, but how long could his injury riddled body at the age of 34 sustain the grind of the NBA? Many analyst, commentators and experts say his increased minutes of play doesn’t coincide with the injury.

Come again?

In his last 7 games, he has played 48, 47, 43, 47, 41, 48, 45, and headed towards another 48 minutes of play.

And that doesn’t equals to an Achilles tendon tear of the battled, future first ballot Hall-of-Famer who constantly played through a slew of injuries?

According to WebMD, an Achilles tendon injury might be caused by:

  • Overuse
  • Stepping up your level of physical activity too quickly
  • Not stretching enough before exercise
  • Wearing high heels, which increases the stress on the tendon (Doubt Kobe wears heels)
  • Problems with the feet. An Achilles tendon injury can result from flat feet, also known as fallen arches or overpronation. In this condition, the impact of a step causes the arch of your foot to collapse, stretching the muscles and tendons.
  • Muscles or tendons in the leg that are too tight

You’re more likely to tear an Achilles tendon when you start moving suddenly. For instance, a sprinter might get one at the start of a race. The abrupt tensing of the muscle can be too much for the tendon to handle. Men older than age 30 are particularly prone to Achilles tendon injuries.

Bryant aims to return next year, and the timetable for his return is six to nine months. He would most likely miss the start of the 2013-14 season, but he could possibly return during the middle of the season. In the meantime, LA will have to find a way to play without him.

Not only will the Lakers miss his 27.3 points a game, but the Lake Show will be without  32.6% of the its points production, 31.4% of the team’s field-goal attempts, and 34.9% of their free throw attempts. While I understand Bryant’s increased minutes were fueled by the chances to make a playoff push, I’d hate to play the blame game, but how can the Lakers organization not be at fault?

They opted to bring in Steve Nash who is a shell of himself and his coach in Mike D’Antoni who Bryant respects, but I wouldn’t say listens to. Phil Jackson was the only coach who could get in the head of Kobe and force him to rest on the bench. They drove Kobe into the ground. However, I will admit that I’m curious to see the impact of Nash’s return when he has both 7-footers at his disposal in Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol.

The Lakers have put out 41 different lineups this season with 32 of them including Bryant. While LA awaits for the return of Nash, if the playoffs started today, the starting lineup would be Steve Blake, Jodie Meeks, Earl Clark, Gasol and Howard. Not the scenario D’Antoni envisioned.

The obvious key factor for the Lakers survival, and their future, is Howard.

But in my opinion, Dwight cannot lead a team on his own. He’s too nice, not into the game at times, not the demanding, dominating, killer instinctive player like Bryant, but who is? And we can’t forget about the mess that went down in Orlando. While Howard unquestionably has the skill set, I can’t see him as the face of the franchise for the Lakers.

The Lakers will eventually have to part ways with the Black Mamba, but right now, the Lakers need Bryant. Especially going up against the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Can they even make it a series against either team without Bryant if they make the playoffs?

That remains to be seen, but the loss of Kobe and his impact on the team and organization is huge to say the least.

If the NBA Playoffs Started Today…

Posted: April 11, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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MeloVino

More likely to lead his team to a championship in 2013, Carmelo Anthony or Kobe Bryant? 

Only 6 days away until the end of the regular season, teams are now resting players, fine tuning their roster or clinging on to everlasting hope as teams battle it out for the no. 8 seed.

As the playoff picture is quickly revealing itself, let’s take a look at the matchups if the playoffs started today:

EASTERN CONFERENCE 

No. 1 seed: Miami Heat

3598-miami-heat

vs.

No. 8 seed: Milwaukee Bucks

milwaukee-bucks

The Heat are 3-1 against the Bucks this season. At times, the defending champs struggle with the speed and tenacity of the Bucks’ dynamic duo backcourt. Barring an unforeseen, all-time performance by Brandon Jennings and Montae Ellis, I don’t see why LeBron James and the Heat won’t pull out the broom against a sub .500 team.

Series Winner: Miami in 4

No. 2 seed: New York Knicks

knicks_logo

vs.

No. 7 seed: Boston Celtics

1549250-bosceltics_cur

The Knicks have reached 50 victories for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. Carmelo Anthony is playing out of his mind and scoring at will right now. My only concern is what will happen to the Knicks when Amar’e Stoudemire returns to the lineup? When Melo doesn’t have to defer, is when he is at his best. Regardless of the friction between the two stars, New York’s onslaught of 3-pointers and athleticism will prove to be too much of a hassle for Boston.

Series Winner: New York in 6

No. 3 seed: Indiana Pacers

Pacers

vs.

No. 6 seed: Atlanta Hawks

Hawks

After this season, the Hawks are due for a major makeover. For the past couple of seasons, Atlanta is consistently in the middle of the pack. While teams are improving, they have either remained the same or gotten worse. I do enjoy the improved play of point guard Jeff Teague, but neither him nor Josh Smith are ready to endure Indiana’s physical style of play. They tied the season series at two games apiece, so the Hawks won’t go down without a fight.

Series Winner: Indiana in 6

No. 4 seed: Brooklyn Nets

Print

vs.

No. 5 seed: Chicago Bulls

chicagobulls

Unless Derrick Rose comes running out the tunnel of the United Center, the Bulls are destined for a one-and-done in the playoffs. In this league, superstars prevail. The Nets superstar point guard Deron Williams has been picking up steam as of late and looks to carry his performance into the postseason. The Bulls have a 3 games to 1 regular season record against Brooklyn, but I look for the Nets to flip the script in a long, fought series.

Series Winner: Brooklyn in 7

WESTERN CONFERENCE 

No. 1 seed: Oklahoma City Thunder

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vs.

No. 8 seed: Los Angeles Lakers

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Honestly, there is no clear cut favorite to come out the West, but this is a matchup the Lakers are hoping to avoid. The Thunder ran the Lakers off the court beating them in 5 games in the playoffs last year. Oklahoma has too much speed on the court for a team that Kobe Bryant called old and slow. Bryant guaranteed his Lakers will make the playoffs, but playing 40+ minutes a night with his recent rash of injuries? This future Hall-of-Famer may not have what it takes to shock the Thunder. My only concern with OKC is Kevin Durant’s passiveness. Night after night Durant is becoming second fiddle to Russell Westbrook as the charismatic point guard is taking more shots than arguably the best player in the NBA. Message to Kevin Durant: You are the best player on your team, demand the ball and become more assertive.

Series Winner: Thunder in 6

No. 2 seed: San Antonio Spurs

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vs.

No. 7 seed: Houston Rockets

houston-rockets-logo

Nothing like a good ole Texas showdown. The Spurs need to get healthy, and quick. The absence of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have led the Spurs to a 5-5 mark in their last 10 games. Sharp shooting Danny Greene is taking full advantage of his increased time on the court, but the Spurs must lean on their stars for a deep playoff run.  Tim Duncan has taken a dip into the fountain of youth, but at this stage of his career, he can no longer carry a team by himself. James Harden has elevated himself to a top-10 player in the league as she shows he has what it takes as the main attraction. IF the Spurs are healthy, they will win this series, but if not, I’m taking Houston with the upset.

Series Winner: Houston in 7

No. 3 seed: Denver Nuggets

DENVER_NUGGETS_LOGO1

vs.

No. 6 seed: Golden State Warriors

LogoPrimary_300x329

The baby faced assassin will make his first appearance into the postseason and head coach Mark Jackson deserves coach of the year honors. This may be the most entertaining first round matchup we have seen in a while. In there four meetings, 100 points was scored in every game. The loss of Danilo Gallinari is a tough pill to swallow for the Nuggets, but Wilson Chandler is more than capable of picking up the slack.

Series Winner: Denver in 6

No. 4 seed: Los Angeles Clippers

Los_Angeles_Clippers_2010

vs.

No. 5 seed: Memphis Grizzlies

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Another heavyweight bout in the making. Last year’s epic 7 game series proved to be memorable as both teams refused to yield. Lob City is more poised this year to challenge for a legitimate shot at the championship. The Clippers currently lead the regular season series 2-1 with one more game left between the two conference foes. Perhaps a statement game by the Clippers is in order to prove they are worthy to compete for a title.

Series Winner: Clippers in 6

Thanks for reading.

#BrooksWeekly

-Kelton

Shuffling The Deck: 2013 NBA Trade Deadline

Posted: February 21, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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Sacramento Kings ship high first round pick to Rockets (Thomas Robinson)

Sacramento Kings ship high first round pick to Rockets (Thomas Robinson)

As we enter the second half of the NBA season, the NBA trade deadline has come and gone. All the wheeling and dealing has shedded expiring or lofty contracts, shipped role players to a more prominent status and sent headline names to plant their roots in new cities.

Big names were dealt, but not the names we expected. I find it a little puzzling that teams were not making offers to the Boston Celtics for Rajon Rondo. Maybe it’s because of the injury, but a walking triple-double and floor general does not come around often in this day and age. Rondo has been known of a ball-hog with his excessive dribbling and alienating his teammates. Still, Rondo is a top-10 point guard, maybe top five.

And what about Josh Smith? The Brooklyn Nets were aggressively pursuing the versatile big man, as well as Phoenix, and Milwaukee. But I’m guessing the Hawks decided to keep their leading scorer and longest-tenured player for another playoff run and will re-evaluate their stance on Smith at season’s end.

No doubt the biggest prize whose name was swirling in trade speculations also stayed put, Dwight Howard. And he won’t be moved anytime soon as the Lakers view him the most dominant center in the league and their franchise player post-Kobe era. However, the Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak was a little less adamant about trading Pau Gasol in the future. Here is a quote from Kupchak on his appearance  on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” (via ESPN)

We’re not going to trade Pau today or tomorrow, but his name has come up in the past, and it would be misleading to say it won’t come up in the future- Kupchak

To me, the most surprising trade was between the Rockets and Kings (look below for details). These two are the overall winners and losers of the trade deadline. The Rockets received Thomas Robinson, the number five overall pick in the 2012 draft. Why would the Kings give up a lottery pick in his rookie season? Adding the likes of Aldrich, Douglas and Patterson does nothing to address the Kings’ fundamentally dysfunctional makeup. I always thought Sacramento had good, young individual talent, but they never could mesh as a cohesive unit.

Robinson was a dominant and disruptive force at Kansas with a high ceiling, if Houston decides to offer him an extension, he could immediately fill the void left by Patterson. Robinson’s potential easily outweighs Patterson’s realized status as a fringe starter/quality rotation player. This deal makes sense in no form or fashion for the Kings. The duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Robinson could have been the centerpiece for that franchise.

Hurry up and send the Kings to Seattle.

Houston just made themselves more formidable now and in the future. With Robinson’s potential matched with superstar James Harden and combo guard Jeremy Lin, this team can become a legitimate championship contender.

Trade Deadline  Winner: 

houston-rockets-logo

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a recap of the new faces in new places:

             Phoenix SUNS ACQUIRE
Marcus Morris, forward
             Houston ROCKETS ACQUIRE
2013 second-round pick

Houston

 ROCKETS ACQUIRE
Thomas Robinson, power forward
Francisco Garcia, small forward
Tyler Honeycutt, small forward

Sacramento

 KINGS ACQUIRE
Patrick Patterson, power forward
Cole Aldrich, center
Toney Douglas, point guard

Memphis

 GRIZZLIES ACQUIRE
Dexter Pittman, center
Second-round pick

Miami

 HEAT ACQUIRE
Rights to Ricky Sanchez, center

Toronto

 RAPTORS ACQUIRE
Sebastian Telfair, point guard

Phoenix

 SUNS ACQUIRE
Hamed Haddadi, center
Second-round pick

Atlanta

 HAWKS ACQUIRE
Jeremy Tyler, power forward

Golden State

 WARRIORS ACQUIRE
Future draft pick

Philadelphia

 76ERS ACQUIRE
Charles Jenkins, point guard

Golden State

 WARRIORS ACQUIRE
Future draft pick

Dallas

 MAVERICKS ACQUIRE
Anthony Morrow, shooting guard

Atlanta

 HAWKS ACQUIRE
Dahntay Jones, small forward

Charlotte

 BOBCATS ACQUIRE
Josh McRoberts, power forward

Orlando

 MAGIC ACQUIRE
Hakim Warrick, power forward

Boston

 CELTICS ACQUIRE
Jordan Crawford, shooting guard

Washington

 WIZARDS ACQUIRE
Leandro Barbosa, shooting guard
Jason Collins, center

Oklahoma City

 THUNDER ACQUIRE
Ronnie Brewer, small forward

New York

 KNICKS ACQUIRE
Second-round pick

Portland

 BLAZERS ACQUIRE
Eric Maynor, point guard

Oklahoma City

 THUNDER ACQUIRE
$2.2 million trade exception

Milwaukee

 BUCKS ACQUIRE
J.J. Redick, shooting guard
Gustavo Ayon, power forward
Ish Smith, point guard

Orlando

 MAGIC ACQUIRE
Tobias Harris, power forward
Beno Udrih, point guard
Doron Lamb, shooting guard

-Kelton

‘The King’

Posted: February 13, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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LBJ

Can anyone dethrone the King?

Throughout the first couple of weeks of season, you couldn’t mumble MVP without saying “Melo.”

But this is an 82 games season.

The NBA season is filled with stretch runs, hot streaks and flat out dominance, but what LeBron James is doing is absolutely mind-boggling. The reigning 3-time MVP and NBA champion has catapulted himself to a level where he stands alone. James is on a historic six-game run that has transformed into the vocal point of him winning a fourth most valuable player award.

In this six- game stretch, James has become the only player in NBA history to score 30 points while shooting a prolific 60 percent from the field. Let me put this into perspective, King James has made 60 of his last 80 shots. He continues to showcase is uncanny ability to drive to the basket as he has made 42 of his last 50 shots in the paint. James is also scoring at an alarming rate from beyond the arch shooting 59 percent (10-17). Not to mention his efficient scoring has led the Heat to a six game winning streak.

Let that breathe for a second.

Now exhale. James is the ultimate stat-stuffer, I can throw a mass amount of numbers at you all day. Another stat to bring to your attention is that LeBron averages 27 PPG, 8.1 RPG & 6.9 APG this season. Who is the the last player to average 27-8-6 in a single season?

Not surprising that it’s Michael Jordan isn’t it? He did it in the 1988-89 season.

I’m not comparing LeBron to Jordan, but with MJ’s 50th birthday rolling around, these comparison continues to surface. Check out this side-by-side comparison by ESPN:

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With the elevation of his play this past season and throughout his career, the Jordan comparison will always arise, but why is it so hard to view LeBron on his own merit? To put LeBron’s stretch performance is Layman’s terms, he is  playing a game within the game. He is sort of impersonating  Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez by throwing the perfect game. Well, shooting 9-11 against the Clippers on Feb. 8 and 13-14 against the Bobcats is almost perfect.

Now I can’t recall too much about Jordan seeing that I am only 22, but I do remember Jordan having a few lingering labels. In the early stages  of his career, Jordan was “too much of a ball hog to win a championship.” Before he he finally won his first ring in 1991, no one had won a scoring title and a championship in the same year since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1971, so it was apparent that he couldn’t achieve both, right? Well as we know,  MJ captured six rings. The NBA in this day and age is guard driven, but in the Jordan era, you couldn’t win a ring without a dominant force at center.

LeBron has the chance to do both.

He already has abolished the notion that he can’t win the big games. Perhaps LeBron will create a  new standard for a winning a championship. A versatile, dominant player who can bring the ball upcourt, posses an array of  low post moves, score anywhere on the court and guard all five positions. No one has ever done that, right?

see Erving “Magic” Johnson. I’ve always though James was more Magic than Michael, but that is an entirely different discussion. As we continue to marvel at LeBron’s greatness and historical run, it is still evident that he has much more to prove, but he is inching closer.

In a generation where social media is becoming a top news outlet, LeBron summed it up for all his criticizers in an 18 character tweet as they weighed in on the #MJvsLeBron comparison:

I’m not MJ, I’m LJ – LeBron James

NFC Pro Bowl Preview: Familiar And New Faces

Posted: January 26, 2013 in Brooks' Sports
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QuintEvents-NFL-PRO-BOWL_NFL-On-Location-AFC-NFC

BY DELONTE WOOTEN

So, here we are yet again. The 2013 Pro Bowl. For those of you who may not know, the Pro Bowl has been around for quite some time. It all started back in the 1938 season where it was called the “Pro All-Star Game.” Here, the best of the best displayed their skills against, well, the best of the best.

Now, let’s get down to business. The NFC Pro Bowl is stacked with players that we all know and love. Of course, one in particular is Adrian ‘All Day‘ Peterson. Peterson tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament(ACL) on Christmas Eve 2011 against the Washington Redskins. As many of us thought, he was down for the count. Boy, were we wrong. Somehow, Peterson came back the following season. Not only did he play well, but he led the NFL in rushing yards, coming up short of Erick Dickerson’s rushing record of 2,105 yards. It is amazing to know that he did this only a year after tearing his ACL. Look forward to seeing ‘All Day’ in the runnings for MVP. Get it. Runnings?

Moving on *cues soothing Hawaiian music*

The NFC squad is stacked.

For QB’s, the NFC has Aaron Rodgers, Drew ‘Cool’ Brees, Matt ‘Matty Ice’ Ryan and Russell Wilson. These guys alone

In 2012, Drew Brees set an NFL for 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass

In 2012, Drew Brees set an NFL for 54 consecutive games with a touchdown pass

combined for more than 15,000 passing yards and 75 passing touchdowns this season. Talk about aerial dominance. On the other hand, those who pounded the rock did good as well. Toting the ball, we have Peterson from Minnesota. From Seattle, we have one of the best in the west, Marshawn Lynch. Last but not least, hailing from the state of the sunshine, he is in the running for Offensive Rookie of the Year, Doug Martin.

Must I mention who’s at WR? Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Julio Jones, Larry ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald and Victor Cruz.

Now to the other side of the ball. Unfortunately, the NFC squad lost majority of their defense because the San Francisco 49ers aka The Bullies of the Bay Area made to the Super Bowl. On the other hand, there are still plenty of guys who can stuff the run and play the pass. With that being said, let’s take a look at who is on defense:

On the defensive side of the ball, the NFC possesses athleticism all over the field. From the New York Giants, they have the young gunner Jason Pierre-Paul. Also, the veteran Julius Peppers and Jared Allen at DE. For interior lineman we have Ndamukong Suh, Gerald McCoy and Henry Melton. At LB, the NFC has a plethora of tackling machines, particularly, Chad Greenway. Greenway is now a veteran and has a great nose for the ball. For the past few seasons, he has been top-5 in tackles, so he’s a great asset for the Minnesota Vikings defense. On the inside, they possess the upstart Paul Kerrigan who is playing along side teammate and ironman London Fletcher. Fletcher has yet to miss a game in his 15 seasons in the league.

Now last, but not least, we have the secondary. The NFC’s secondary contains of a slew of ballhawks and opportunist.

CT bears-lions44.jpgAt CB, the Chicago Bears’ Tim Jennings and Charles ‘Peanut’ Tillman made their presence known this season. While Tim Jennings led the NFL in interceptions, Tillman stripped and deprived his opponents of the ball causing fumble after fumble. Though, this is an all-star game and everyone will be relaxed, just look forward to seeing a few turnovers. And at safety, Atlanta’s William Moore and Thomas Decoud.

Now, let’s get to the good stuff

Here are a few players to watch:

Russell Wilson – As a rookie, he shook the league. With his great arm and mobility, look forward to him throwing and running for one

Adrian Peterson – Does he know a second gear?

Calvin Johnson – Ok, we all know Larry Fitzgerald for making spectacular catches, but have we forgot about Megatron? He was only 52 yards away from becoming the first WR to post 2,000 yards in a single season.

Tim Jennings – Jennings has established himself as a ballhawk in the league.

As you can see, the NFC squad is stacked with a phenomenal talent. I’m just looking forward to who is gonna do what at tomorrow’s annual Pro Bowl game.

#WordsFromWooten

Week 17 NFL Predictions; Regular Season Recap

Posted: December 29, 2012 in Brooks' Sports
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Already a lock for the Hall of Fame, will Peyton Manning win a second Super Bowl ring?

T’was the season of giving.

A majority of experts expected great things from the prized number one and number two overall draft picks, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Named Andrew ‘Clutch’ by his teammates, 7 out 10 of the Colts’ victories were in comeback fashion. For a team that went 2-14 last season, Luck has led the Colts back to the playoffs. They say a team takes on the personality of their head coach. The Colts did just that. Head coach Chuck Pagano was diagnosed with leukemia Sept. 26. The way he battled and fought through the deadly disease, his persistence  latched on to the Luck led Colts and they haven’t looked back since.

The dazzling and charismatic Griffin III has taken the nation’s capital by storm. He is number 2 in the NFL in QB rating (104.1) and has 20 TD passes to only five interceptions (A stunning low number for a rookie quarterback). Not to mention his 752 yards on the ground with adding six more touchdowns. With a win against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington is in the playoffs.

But, perhaps one of the best gifts offered to the NFL  is draped in action green, college navy and an accent of wolf grey. Standing at 5 feet 11 inches (if that much), Russell Wilson has broken loose of the notion that short quarterbacks can not exceed in the NFL. This third round pick (75th overall) has the NFL’s hottest team in contention to win the NFC West with a win against St. Louis and a loss by San Francisco. With a sound running game spearheaded by Marshawn Lynch and formidable defense, the Seattle Seahawks are poised for a post-season run. Russell Wilson is leading all rookie quarterbacks with 25 touchdown passes with one game remaining. (I selected Russell Wilson to win OROY in my 2012 Season Predictions)

This roller coaster of a season is far from over. Who is going to win MVP? Peyton Manning? Adrian Peterson? Either of the two could win both MVP and Comeback Player of the year. Will Aldon Smith of the 49ers or J.J. Watt of the Texans break the single season sack record? What about the hapless Jets? Nothing at all.

This week holds a ton of playoff implications, and I will get to them. However, I want to take the time to reflect on my 2012 Season Predictions.

In the AFC, I went 4 for 4  in predicting division winners (Ravens, Texans, Patriots and Broncos are all leading their division). The NFC was a different story.

The Chicago Bears, who were once considered the best team in the NFL, now stand at 9-6 after starting the season 7-1 clinging on to their slim playoff chances. The Carolina Panthers, one of the league’s biggest head-scratches was plagued by the sophomore slump of last year’s number one overall pick and OROY, Cam Newton. And the Philadelphia Eagles? Let’s just say there is a lot of lost love in the city of brotherly love.

I’m switching my pick of San Diego’s OLB Melvin Ingram as DROY to Luke Kuechly of the Panthers for DROY. Depending on what happens in Seattle, if the St. Louis Rams can knock off the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL’s most hostile stadium, I will change my Coach of the Year pick Rams’ head coach Jeff Fisher over the Denver Broncos‘ John Fox.

One thing is for sure, I am standing firm in my pick with the Denver Broncos winning the Super Bowl.

In Peyton I trust.

Moving along…

Brooks’ Bits

Baltimore Ravens (10-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (9-6)

As for playoff standings, this game doesn’t hold much implications. Cincinnati is locked in as the 6th seed, but Baltimore is still jockeying for position. The Bengals are looking to sweep the Ravens in divisional play after defeating Pittsburgh last week. This young team has to give the Ravens and Steelers nightmares. In the not so distant future, the AFC North will be dominated by the Bengals. Joe Flacco doesn’t have that it factor to lead Baltimore to the next level.

Green Bay Packers (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

My pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, no one is talking about the Packers. And I bet they have no problem with that at all. With a win over Minnesota, Green Bay will clinch a first-round bye. Adrian Peterson ran through, over and around the Packers in their first match-up as Peterson galloped for 210 yards. On the heels of an ACL and MCL tear, Peterson needs only 102 yards to reach 2,000 and 208 to break the all-time mark of 2,105, set by Eric Dickerson. If Minnesota wins, they’re in. They are going to have to earn this one. I personally think reaching the playoffs is the only way Peterson can solidify the MVP.

Oakland Raiders (4-11) at San Diego Chargers (6-9)

This game has zero, zilch, no type of playoff scenarios. This game is must watch to me because all year long I have been screaming for the Raiders to start Terrelle Pryor at quarterback. Carson Palmer was never worth the contract. He is one of the worst quarterback in the NFL. His time is Cincinnati was highlighted off one, single year when he finally led the Bengals to the playoffs. It was unfortunate that he was injured during that game, but he shouldn’t have been playing quarterback anyway.

Words from Wooten

Well, from the looks of it, we have a week filled with divisional match-ups. Now, this is where it gets interesting. A lot of teams are in a “win and you’re in” situation. About half of the games played this week are meaningful to a lot of the teams because a win this week will result in a playoff berth. On the other hand, a loss this week will result in going home.

Dallas Cowboys (8-7) at Washington Redskins (9-6)

A playoff berth is on the line in the nation’s capital. If the Redskins win, they are in the playoffs. If the Cowboys win, they are in the playoffs. The problem is that a lot of people do not think the Cowboys will win. I am one of those people who think they won’t win. I look forward to this coming down to the nitty gritty. The best part is that this game is being played in my backyard of Washington DC, okay technically Landover, Md. Either way, this one will be a great one.

Chicago Bears (9-6) at Detroit Lions (4-11)

This game may get interesting. Here’s the deal, if Chicago wins they’re in the playoffs. If Chicago loses, well, you know what’s going to happen. Calvin ‘Megatron’ Johnson is 108 yards away from becoming the first wide receiver in NFL history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark. I want Chicago to win(and I am a die hard fan), but I want to see if Megatron can have a mega performance. That will be difficult seeing as though BOTH of the Bears starting CB’s are starting in the 2013 Pro Bowl.

121207.02

Will Calvin Johnson become the first WR in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards?

Houston Texans (12-3) at Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

We have yet another interesting game here. No matter the outcome, both teams are going to the playoffs. The interesting part is that Houston’s defensive end J.J. Watt is 2.5 sacks away from breaking Michael Strahan‘s record of 22.5 set about 10 years ago. He now leads the league in sacks(20.5).

St. Louis Rams (7-7-1) at Seattle Seahawks (10-5)

Now this game does not involve any playoff implications, but everyone is interested to see what Seattle may do to St. Louis. In their past few games, Seattle has averaged 50 points. Behind rookie QB Russell Wilson, the Seahawks are looking to possibly clinch the NFC West with a win and 49ers’ loss this weekend.

Brooks Wooten
Buccaneers vs Falcons Falcons(L) Falcons(L)
Jets vs Bills Bills(W) Bills(W)
Ravens vs Bengals Bengals(W) Ravens(L)
Bears vs Lions Lions(L) Bears(W)
Jaguars vs Titans Jaguars(L) Titans(W)
Texans vs Colts Colts(W) Texans(L)
Panthers vs Saints Panthers(W) Saints(L)
Eagles vs Giants Giants(W) Giants(W)
Browns vs Steelers Steelers(W) Steelers(W)
Chiefs vs Broncos Broncos(W) Broncos(W)
Packers vs Vikings Packers(L) Packers(L)
Dolphins vs Patriots Patriots(W) Patriots(W)
Raiders vs Chargers Chargers(W) Chargers(W)
Cardinals vs 49ers 49ers(W) 49ers(W)
Rams vs Seahawks Rams(L) Seahawks(W)
Cowboys vs Redskins Redskins(W) Redskins(W)

In other news, this season was filled with a lot of surprises. Records coming down, coaches fired in the middle of the season, Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano missing a large portion of the season battlling leukemia, Adrian Peterson having a monster season that no one could have possibly fathom, and to top it all off, Peyton Manning coming back from a year off to play and succeed at it once again. All in all, this has been such a marvelous and illustrious season for fans all over the world. It has been a pleasure partaking in brooksweekly.com.  I look forward to next week when we have playoff predictions, possible award winners and off-season moves. – Delonte Wooten (@_SirWu)

Thanks for reading.

#every7days

-Kelton Brooks

Better Late Than Never

Posted: December 28, 2012 in Brooks' Sports
Tags: , ,
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My apologies to those who made attempts to contact me. My phone has been out of whack lately, but I plan to get a new one some time tomorrow. I wish I could have wished many, many more people a Merry Christmas. So, for everyone that I wasn’t able to reach, MERRY CHRISTMAS! 

kobe-lebron-christmas-nba-300x223
-Kelton Brooks

Quick Hits in the NFL and Week 16 NFL Predictions

Posted: December 21, 2012 in Brooks' Sports
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Will RGIII and the Redskins catch up to the division leading and defending Super Bowl champions New York Giants?

Will RGIII and the Redskins finish the season on a seven game win streak propelling themselves to NFC East champions?

Numbers never lie, but they don’t tell the whole story either.

Adrian Peterson, an MVP favorite, is targeting a record that has stood for nearly 30 years. He is closing in on Eric Dickerson’s 2,105 yards mark set in 1984 when Dickerson played for the L.A. Rams. Peterson already has 1,812 yards with two remaining. In order for Peterson to surpass Dickerson, he will need to average 147 yards over his final two opponents (The Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers).

Even if Peterson finishes just shy of the record, what he has done is absolutely remarkable for a guy that had reconstructive knee surgery less than a year ago. He suffered from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, torn medial collateral ligament and damage to the medial and lateral meniscus.

Another record at stake is Jerry Rice‘s 1,848. Calvin Johnson needs to average 91 yards over the Lions’ final two games of the season. Megatron is already at 1, 667. Johnson has a chance to shatter this long standing record set in 1995 as he aims for 2,000 yards. No receiver in NFL history has ever reached this feat. I believe Johnson is the most unstoppable force in the NFL.  At 6 feet 5 inches tall, weighing 236lbs, Johnson is a nightmare to defensive coordinators and any team’s secondary.

Let’s set aside the numbers. What’s going on with the New York Jets? They brought in Tim Tebow only to use him as media bait. He was seldom used throughout the season. Head coach Rex Ryan was hellbent on proving that Mark Sanchez was a franchise quarterback. Now sources say Sanchez is on the chopping block along with Tebow. This dysfunctional organization needs a complete makeover.

Perhaps the best division in football, the NFC East has three teams who have identical records. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and the surprising Washington Redskins are 8-6. The Cowboys need the most help to reach the playoffs, the Giants and Redskins are in if they win out. Many experts had the Redskins finishing last in the division, and so did I (Check out my 2012 NFL Predictions). I expect the Giants to reach the playoffs, they have been in this position before and know what’s at stake. Although, I can’t help but to think the Redskins will win the division. Robert Griffin III was not happy after he felt he was healthy enough to play in last week’s victory over the Cleveland Browns.

Last but not least, welcome back Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Pagano has been medically cleared to return to the sideline as he was diagnosed with Leukemia in September.

Moving along…

Let’s not waste anytime here. You know the drill BrooksWeekly faithfuls, week 16 NFL Predictions, read ‘em and weep.

  Brooks Wooten
Falcons vs Lions Falcons(w) Falcons(w)
Saints vs Cowboys Saints(w) Cowboys(L)
Titans vs Packers Packers(w) Packers(L)
Colts vs Chiefs Colts(w) Colts(w)
Bills vs Dolphins Bills(L) Dolphins(w)
Chargers vs Jets Chargers(w) Jets(L)
Redskins vs Eagles Redskins(w) Eagles(L)
Bengals vs Steelers Bengals(w) Steelers(L)
Rams vs Buccaneers Buccaneers(L) Rams(w)
Raiders vs Panthers Panthers(w) Panthers(w)
Patriots vs Jaguars Patriots(w) Patriots(w)
Vikings vs Texans Texans(L) Texans(L)
Browns vs Broncos Broncos(w) Broncos(w)
Bears vs Cardinals Bears(w) Bears(w)
Giants vs Ravens Giants(L) Giants(L)
49ers vs Seahawks 49ers(L) 49ers(L)

Brooks’ Bits

New Orleans Saints (6-8) at Dallas Cowboys (8-6)

Constantly climbing out of the jaws of defeat, riddled with injuries on the defense and a tragedy off-the-field, the Cowboys have weathered the storm.  Winning five of their last six, can Big D continue their quest to the playoffs as they face Drew Brees and the Saints? The Saints look to be in spoiler mode as they are coming off an impressive 41-0 drumming against a talented Buccaneers team.

Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) at Pittsburgh Steelers (7-7)

This is a big game for a young team. If the Bengals win they are in, and if the Steelers lose, they are out. Simple as that. A team that was shredded by Tony Romo of all people, how will the Steelers look to stop the dynamic duo of Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Cincinnati may become the gateway to the AFC North in the near future.

Words from Wooten

Another record that looks to be brought down will be by the hands of J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans and Aldon Smith of the San Francisco 49ers are both trying to grasp the NFL record for most sacks in a season. They both lead the NFL in sacks with 19.5. The record is 22.5 sacks, set by Michael Strahan.

Will J.J. Watt break the NFL sack record?

Will J.J. Watt break the NFL sack record?

Minnesota Vikings (8-6) at Houston Texans (12-2)

Here’s a good one right here. With Adrian Peterson being 294 yards short and J.J. Watt in a first place tie in leading the NFL in sacks (19.5 with Aldon Smith), will they get closer to their records? Of course, Minnesota isn’t winning this one.

San Francisco 49ers (10-3-1) at Seattle Seahawks (9-5)

For once, I’m looking forward to seeing Seattle playing. San Francisco made a statement last week at New England. Will Aldon Smith move closer to that sack record? I’m sure of it. Also, I look for to this game to be a defensive battle.

Thanks for reading.

#every7days

-Kelton Brooks; Delonte Wooten

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