Weekly Blogger Debate

Thanks to John, Howard and Rob for joining the sports debate this week!  Now give your answers!

1.  Who represents the Western Conference in the NBA Finals this year?

JOHN MANUEL:

How much I love OKC I have to say San Antonio is going to win in 7.  This should be the finals with Bosh out indefinitely.  Both teams have looked great but it has the feel of the other Spurs title teams of the past.  The Thunder’s window is going to be many years so it isn’t devastating for them.

HOWARD TICKER:

The Thunder will win the series.

ROB YUNICH:

San Antonio… they’re undefeated in the playoffs and playing as well as they did in their championship years… While I think it’ll take them five or six games to eliminate the Thunder, the Spurs are winning the title this year!

2. Quarter way thru the MLB season, which team is the biggest surprise?  Biggest disappointment?

JOHN MANUEL:

Baltimore is the easy surprise.  Most had them not topping 60 wins and they are still at the top of the AL.  Question everyone is asking, can they keep it up?  I think they can since Buck is in the dugout.  Biggest disappointment-  would say the Red Sox or Yankees but going to go with the Angels and their 20-25 record.  Already firing coaches is a bad sign for a team that added Pujols and Wilson.

HOWARD TICKER:

Orioles are the biggest surprise. Angels are the biggest disappointment.

ROB YUNICH:

Surprises are the local teams: Nats and O’s… the Nats were expected to be better this year but I don’t think they were picked to win the NL East. The O’s are surpassing everybody’s expectations, considering their last winning season was in 1997. If their pitching can hold on, they might have a shot to end that streak. Disappointments have to be the AL East’s traditional powers: Yankees and Red Sox, although they both have battled injuries and Boston has looked much better lately.

3.  Which star Running back will get a new contract first — Ray Rice or Matt Forte?

JOHN MANUEL:

Neither anytime soon is my guess but I think Rice will.  Forte has been hanging out there for ever so don’t see anything happening with him.  Baltimore likes to franchise players but do eventually lock the up long term.  Running backs get a raw deal these days.

HOWARD TICKER:

Ray Rice

ROB YUNICH:

Rice — he’s got the brighter future and probably the better overall situation.

4. What team currently playing well, will need to become a SELLER by the MLB Trade Deadline this summer?

JOHN MANUEL:

Boston or Philadelphia were the speculation a week ago but then they got going and will probably be contenders by July.  I would say teams like Milwaukee or Colorado which had recent success and have dug themselves in holes already.  They have talent to move and do a quicker rebuild process.  As always, KC, Pittsburgh and San Diego will be usual sellers come July.

HOWARD TICKER:

The Cleveland Indians

ROB YUNICH:

San Francisco… with the Dodgers running away with that division, they’ll have some really appealing players to the contenders.

5.  With the emergence of Thursday Night Football this season, what is your favorite NIGHT to watch NFL — Thursday, Sunday or Monday?

JOHN MANUEL:

Thursday has some other good TV so I don’t like that.  Sunday I am usually in weekend recovery mode so makes it tough.  Monday is the best still.  But I would switch Tirico and Gruden for Michaels and Collinsworth.  Maybe they could add Mayock also to that booth somehow.

HOWARD TICKER:

Thursday, it will be the perfect start to the weekend. Even though I love Monday Night Football.

ROB YUNICH:

Sunday night — Al Michaels is still the best play-by-play man in football and NBC does a super job with its NFL broadcasts.