Is Anyone Surprised Here?

Alex Rodriguez, aka A-Fraud, joined the Admitted Steroids Use Club today!

Just a few days ago, Sports Illustrated confirmed that Rodriguez' and 104 others' names appear on a list of players who tested positive for substance use in 2003. Watch the video below.

"I wanted to prove to everyone that I was worth being one of the greatest players of all time."

Yea, well.. you know all those guys from years ago who hold the records you're trying to break? They had a choice, too. They became the greatest of all time with honest skill and ability.

And if there's a question regarding whether or not the substances Rodriguez took actually altered his game, he averaged 13 more homeruns/season during 2001-2003 than the other ten seasons he's played.

The truth always comes out.

The truth: MLB = WWE

I Saw This (Not) Happen

Remember that triple-double (52 pts, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) they gave to Lebron the other night against the Knicks? While I'll admit it was something serious, I was sayin to myself, "Pleaaaase don't get the trip, here come all the comparisons again, yadda yadda."

Yea, well.. despite being credited for ten rebounds, I swore he was one short.

Anyway, the NBA has since reviewed the game and no more triple-double. Late in the fourth, they credited Lebron for a rebound that should have been teammate Ben Wallace's. 

Either way, I don't think he's gonna lose sleep over putting up 52 in MSG. I've grown to love Lebron, just wish they'd show some more D. Wade in the county of Daaade, na' mean?! 
--
PS...yea the Knicks are finally winning some games this year, but did anyone really think the defense would improve when D'Antoni got into town? Sheesh. They let Kobe (61 pts) and Lebron absolutely shred them at home in the same week. Good luck with the Celtics tonight.     

National Signing Day Results

LSU had a tight grip on the #1 spot all throughout the day until 5-star running back Trent Richardson made a late decision to go with the Tide.

1 Alabama
2 LSU
3 USC
4 Ohio State
5 Texas
6 Florida State
7 Michigan
8 North Carolina
9 Georgia
10 Florida

As much as I dislike Saban, congratulations are in order for his second straight recruiting title.

More importantly, I'd like to rep the SEC who placed 10 teams in the Top 25!

*Top College Football Recruiting Classes of 2009 (According to Rivals.com)

Ray Allen Snipes Again

The Celtics (41-9) increased their win streak to 12 in Philly last night with a buzzer beater against the 76ers (24-25). On a night where six Celtics were shooting at least 50% from the field, they went to the sharpest shooter in all the land, Mr. Ray Allen. 

Is there anyone in the league more reliable than Allen? You tell him what needs to be done, and he goes out and does it. Need a last second three-pointer? Set him a beautiful screen and get him open like Big Baby Davis did last night, and consider it done.

Celtics' coach Doc Rivers had this to say about Allen's consistency:

He's doing it more efficiently than he's done it earlier in his career. If you don't need the ball in your hands for 15-20 seconds, if you can have it in your hands for five seconds of a possession and you're still really good -- that means you're a really good basketball player. And that's what Ray has become with us.

Pop's Got Jokes

You gotta appreciate Spurs' coach Gregg Popovich' sense of humor. When asked why he decided to sit the Big 3 for tonight's game against the Nuggets (32-16), he said:

Parker makes the All-Star team, becomes hard to deal with, so we're going to sit him and teach him a lesson... Duncan says he wants to renegotiate his contract, so I said, "Sit, I'm not talking to you."

In actuality, the Spurs (33-15) are in the midst of an 8-game road trip and the San Antonio stars are "legitimately banged up." Manu Ginobili appears to be suffering from a hip contusion while Tony Parker and Tim Duncan simply need to reenergize.    

In the 6 seasons the three have been teammates, this is only the third time they have missed the same game. The last time, in April '07, was also against the Nuggets.

Watch the clip below of Popovich playing a hilarious prank on The Big Cactus during the very first play of the 2008-2009 season.

NBA All-Star Game Rendered Totally Irrelevant

Regardless of the event, it is always interesting to see so much talent interact with each other under one roof, BUT, this particular event has earned the reputation of being a sloppy display of athletes running around, not quite sure how to entertain the crowd. Unfortunately, this game hasn't meant much since it was infested by The Dream Team in the early '90s. Save for a few guys who know how to inject some entertainment into their games (Kobe, Lebron, D. Wade, CP3 and Dwight Howard), this game is usually overhyped and undervalued by those playing.

If they'd just understand that all they have to do is to play the way they do during the regular season, we'd have something worth watching!

Maybe I'm just annoyed that Shaq made the cut after looking like a straight up marshmallow man on my Heat last year. Or maybe I don't understand a system that welcomes Yi Jianlian (10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg) into the game based solely on his popularity in China.  Either way, my curiosity usually gets the best of me.  I'm just hoping I make it until half-time this year.

The game airs live from Phoenix (February 15th, 8pm ET) on TNT and ESPN Radio.

Give the people somethin to watch, Wilbon

Who:  Andy Roddick (7) v. Roger Federer (2)

What: Australian Open Semifinals 

When: Tonight at 3:30 AM (Also being shown at 3 PM Thursday)

Where: ESPN2

Reasons to watch: 

1.  There's a lot of mutual appreciation goin' on between these guys. All things considered, including the extreme lopsidedness of their history (Federer 15-2), they respect the hell out of each other's games and always provide interesting matches.  

2.  Roddick hasn't won a grand slam since 2003. He's fallen short the past 5 years for one reason or another but, and he's got me convinced that, we're looking at a brand new, reenergized, inspired Andy Roddick! He's got a new coach. He's lost weight. He's quicker, and perhaps most importantly, he's playing like he's got something to prove. 

3.  Since MJ called it quits a decade ago, there have only been two guys to challenge the way he dominated a sport: Federer and Tiger. If you're ranked #1 for 237 consecutive weeks in an individuals sport (like Federer was up until Aug. '08), you've earned my nod to be featured here anytime you play. Watch those ratings shoot through the roof now! Bottom line:  Whenever this guy is on, I'm watching.  

4.  I loved Pete Sampras. That being said, Federer needs one more grand slam victory to tie him for most grand slam victories ever (14). Who likes ties anyway? I realize that its a surer thing than most that Roger will eventually take the lead, but can someone (other than Nadal) please make him work for that lead? Roddick, lets do this!

Prediction: You ready for this? OK, here we go. Roddick in 5 sets.  

(Post-match edit:  What was I thinking??  Never bet against Federer! Never!)