Green Demon

Z has been extremely healthy in the past 3 seasons and has not had problems with his feet other then the obvious slow down get down the floor. The only games he has missed have been due to suspesion so as of now I dont think he has any durability problems down the road that may be different but now I think he will be ok. I think it is a good move he is one of the top offensive centers in the east and hopefully will help Lebron and company by sucking guys in so that they can hit mid-long range shots.

Some news from Espn.com about the World Cup of Baseball DEARBORN, Mich. -- The United States will be grouped with Mexico, Canada and South Africa next year in the first round of baseball's first World Cup-style tournament. The 16-nation, 18-day event, called the World Baseball Classic, opens March 3 in Tokyo or Taiwan, where Group A will include Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China. The United States will be in Group B, which starts play March 8 along with the other groups and will be based in the United States. Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama and the Netherlands are in Group C, which will be in Latin America, and the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Australia and Italy are in Group D, which will be based in Florida. Major League Baseball has spent more than a decade discussing the tournament and hopes the event will gain in prestige, such as soccer's World Cup. The International Olympic Committee voted Friday to kick baseball out of the Olympics following the 2008 Beijing Games. IOC president Jacques Rogge cited baseball's refusal to allow players on 40-man major league rosters to participate and the sport's drug-testing rules, which do not meet the World Anti-Doping Agency's standards. "I don't know if frankly I consider it a blow," baseball commissioner Bud Selig said. "I'm sorry they made the decision, but we're moving on in a very dramatic way to internationalize this sport." While Nippon Professional Baseball has agreed to participate, the Japanese players' association has not yet given its approval and has objected to having the tournament during spring training. It also is unclear whether Cuba, which might fear defections, will accept its invitation. Gene Orza, the chief operating officer of the players' association, said the obstacles could be overcome. "Cubans play international events with Americans and against Americans all the time," he said. Several players who agreed to participate attended a news conference on the day before the All-Star Game: Miguel Tejada (Dominican Republic), Carlos Beltran (Puerto Rico) Andruw Jones (Netherlands), Dontrelle Willis (United States), Jason Bay (Canada), Carlos Lee (Panama), Hee Seop Choi (South Korea) and Justin Huber (Australia). "I just hope I make the team," Willis said. Tejada said fans back home would look forward to the event, which baseball hopes will be played a second time in 2009. "They're going to be really excited to see all the players on one team," he said. Each team plays three first-round games, with the top two teams in each group advancing to the second round, where each team plays three more games starting March 13. Four teams advance to the single-elimination semifinals on March 18, and the semifinal winners go on to a one-game championship on March 20. The second round will be split between the United States and Latin America, and the semifinals and final will be played in the United States. No specific sites were announced, but the list of possibilities include Houston, Seattle and sites in Florida, Arizona and California. Each team will have 27 players, including at least 12 pitchers, and there will be pitch-count limits. Players must be citizens of the nation they play for. "We're aware of the issue of country jumping," said Paul Archey, an executive vice president in the commissioner's office, "but we haven't adopted a hard-and-fast rule." Teams agreed not to block players from participating, but Orza acknowledged some clubs would try to sway players against playing. "You can't stop people from talking," he said. Forty-seven percent on the net proceeds of the 39-game tournament will go to prize money, with the remaining 53 percent split among Major League Baseball, the players' association, the International Baseball Federation and the organizations of the participating teams. While soccer's World Cup is run by FIFA, the sport's international governing body, this event is pretty much controlled by MLB and the players' association, which has drawn complaints from Japanese baseball officials. "Some already have accused us of being too dominant in the conduct of this event and we're sensitive to that," Orza said. Insurance will be the largest single item in terms of cost, said Paul Archey, a baseball senior vice president. I can probaly name the winners of each group right now but it will still be fun to see an international tournement between all the nations.

Espn.com Former Clippers swingman Bobby Simmons agreed to a five year, $47 million deal with the Bucks on Friday, his agent Mark Bartelstein said. "Bobby intends to sign with the Bucks when the moratorium ends," Bartelstein told ESPN.com. "He was very appreciative of the opportunity that the Clippers gave him but felt like this was the best opportunity for him." The move is the clearest signal yet that the Bucks are serious about competiting for a championship this year. In the past week, they signed the No. 1 pick in the draft, Andrew Bogut, agreed to a six-year, $90 million dollar deal with Michael Redd and began the on the court rehab for point guard T.J. Ford. The Bucks have two more significant free agents, Dan Gadzuric and Zaza Pachulia, that they are also trying to re-sign. Simmons will join Desmond Mason, Jiri Welsch and Redd to form a pretty potent combination at the shooting guard and small forward positions. Mo Williams and hopefully Ford will take care of the point. Their only area of weakness now is at the four where Joe Smith is the only big guy holding down the fort. The loss of Simmons, coming on the heels of the rejection by free agent Ray Allen, is yet another blow to the Clippers. Simmons had a breakout year for them and was a key to their success this season. However, head coach Mike Dunleavy was uncomfortable paying Simmons, who has played well for just one season, that type of money. The Clippers could also lose free agent Marko Jaric this summer, putting into serious question their hopes of making the playoffs next season. This is kinds surprising since I didnt know they had enough/were going after Simmions since they got Redd but I guess they got him. To me it doesnt seems like the best move for them since they already have two pretty high paid guys at those postions anyways. I am just wondering if he is coming off the bench or what? I also think that they had bigger problems at the PF postions then the SG.

I wasnt postitve if the reports were true about Hughes since it was being reported by a NBA Draft site but now I am guessing this is going to happen since Espn is reporting it. Hughes may not be the shooter that we needed but he he is pretty good all around compared to Redd at least. He is a good defender and that should help our terrible D from last year. We could still go after a PG shooter such as Jones from the Heat or a guy to come of the bench like Korver if we could pry him away from Phili.

Espn.com is reporting that Redd is going back to the Bucks so that shoots down the Cavs #1 option but they still have a few guys that they can turn to. Johnson who is unlikely since the Suns said they would match any offer, Hughes a little better possibilty since he is unrestricted and his talks with the Wiz havent gone that great yet and the last guy that is being talked about is the Clippers Simmions who is probaly the best possibilty right now but the Cavs willl try and go after the other two first I am guessing. If they somehow dont get any of these three, I would hope they dont throw money at lower tier FA and rather just save some of the money to spend next summer.

Yeah I am pretty surprised that Mcmillan went to Portland, one he been there his whole carrer player/coach and also he would have just got back his star player in Allen. I do understand though he really didnt want to work for an owner like the one they had in Seattle that sometimes may not be willing to spend the kinda of money he would want so he would have a good team to coach. And what happens to Allen is up in the air cause he did agree to terms but it is all verbal so he can still back out saying he was hoping to be on a team coached my McMillan.

Well Michael Redd is in town today and the Cavs are going to make their pitch to him. Whomever he choses I hope he choses soon so that if the Cavs dont pick him up they have enough time to look at one of teh other guys on the SG market. Also the summer league in Las Vegas starts today and runs through July 15, nothing big just may get to see how some of the guys play.

It is doubtful that NY will get it mostly cause some of the IOC members want to have it in other places then just in the US and also of any of the cities NY had the least amount of support for the games in the city. I would have to say that Paris is the mostly likely place to get them as of now.

Well Allen signed back with the Sonics which isnt a total surprise since they were offering him more money and a extra year. Nothing else is really happening yet on the market. Redd is expected to come to Cleveland within the week and as early as tommorrow to talk with the team. The fact that he didnt sign with the Bucks right away does give some hope although it just may be false hope right now. If they arent able to get one of the upper tier SG's(Redd, Johnson, Hughes) they should just get some cheaper guys and save money till next year although I am not sure who will be avalibale next year.

Free Agent Period has officially started there are obvousily lots of good SG on the market along with some big men. I am looking forward to seeing what happens to some of the bigger name guys like Ray Allen. The Cavs have alot of money and space to work with and I hope that they actually use some of it to get some help for LJ. I am on the fence about signing back Z he is one of the better offensive centers in the East but doesnt play defense 90% of the time. Also I dont think the Bucks will make it this year, I think they will need a year to develop and next year they could compete.

Well I just found out that the Cavs traded the away the pick and cash they got yesterday for Orlando's 2nd rounder. I know his name and stuff but it is incredibly long and I dont remeber the spelling so I am not going to post it. The player though was supposed to be a mid to late first rounder that dropped like many other players. He comes from the same country as Z and also was trained by Sabonis too. He has got Z height and everything, altough he likely wont play alot if any the first few years he could be a good replacement for Z if he can improve like they say he can.

I dont think that was all his fault Francona should take some of the blame he put Foulke in there with jus one out in the 8th. That just wears down a closer since he had close to 40 pitches. He probaly wont be able to be used in todays game now so that might make you guys happy. Hafner has really been turing in on lately atleast against the Red Sox in the past two games he has had 4 doubles and 2 HR in like 8 atbats.

I like this idea too since it seems pointless to have a new thread every few days. Anyways I was wondering if anybody want to suggest me some Classic Rock, I have been getting in to some lately I was just looking for some more to listen to. Dont really have a big playlist so any band/songs would be apprciated. Thanks

I know that the chances of Redd going back to the Bucks are pretty good but there are a few factors that could make him want to go to Cleveland. One the obviuous one is that he grew up/lived in Cleveland so he has got alot of family in the area and that always helps not that it is really basketball related. The other reason is that even with Bogut, the Bucks dont have enough right now to really compete in a few years they will but right now they dont, so if Redd wants to compete sooner then he may go to the Cavs. Also one other reason he may come is the Cavs can offer him alot of money since they got so much cap room. On the other side of things if they were to get Larry Hughes that wouldnt that bad at all. Like I said before it will be intresting to see where some of the FA's end up.

Well I thought the Cavs already had alot of money to spend on free agents but now that they traded Jiri Welsh who was sucking while here anyways for a secound rounder next year, they now have close to 30 million to spend on free agents since they have no rookies to sign. I just hope they are able to get one of the many shooters out there and now they may have enough to do that and get Ilguakuas along with an ok PG. I am looking forward to seeing what comes out of this Free Agent period, atleast for the Cavs it will show what kind of team they are going to be next year.

From Espn.com The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers traded picks Tuesday. Portland traded the rights to the No. 3 pick to Utah for the rights to the No. 6 and No. 27 picks and the rights to a 2006 first-round pick that the Jazz got from the Detroit Pistons, a league source said. All trades had to be in by 2 p.m. ET. A source said the Jazz would look to draft a point guard at No. 3, deciding between Illinois junior Deron Williams and Wake Forest sophomore Chris Paul. The Blazers would then possibly draft one of two high school players -- Gerald Green or Martell Webster -- at No. 6. Kinda surprised that they would give up three picks just to move up 3 spots even if the pick they are giving next year isnt thier pick.

Wow I was laughing when I saw the play in which Grady Sizemore hit a homerun but it wouldnt have been a homerun if the right fielder(his name for some reason slips my mind) hadnt almost caught the ball and knocked it over the fence.

Being at .500 doesnt really mean much if you have three teams that are in front of you, I know it is better then losing alot but being above .500 is basically competing and unless something big happens they wont be competing at the end of the year.

Do you guys think that Larry Brown has coached his last game as a Pistons coach? Wheather he goes to another team to coach or takes the Cavs job do you think he is going to be around next year with the Pistons?

The fact that they came back and won 20-11 makes it even more golden. I heard they scored a ton in the last couple innings.

I thought that the movie didnt come out till June 24th? How did you see it then. Anyways it is good to hear that there is lots of gore I am looking forward to seeing this movie.

Well they were able to to win again. And again they gave Westbrook little run support but it was just enough, they won 3-2. Wickman now has 20 saves to lead the AL too. I hope they get atleast 1 guy if not 2 guys from the bullpen to go to the All star game even though I doubt 2 bullpen guys will go. Arthur Rhodes has under a 1.00 ERA so he is doing real well too. Next up is probaly the toughest test they have had recently in the Red Sox, see how it goes though.

Westbrook aint pitching that badly he is getting next to no run support though so he hasnt been able to win. He has been giving up like 3 runs a game but he is getting just 2 runs per game till the past few games.

Wow the Indians are really tearing it up in interleague play and just in general right now. They are 11-2 in interleague play and have now won 8 in a row and looking for the sweep tommorrow against the Diamondbacks. Grady Sizemore has really turned it on lately he is batting atleast over .400 for June and has had alot of big hits. The Bullpen has been unstoppable leading the league in ERA and the Pitching Staff as a whole is 2nd. I wouldnt have believe that the Pitching staff would be doing better then the lineup at the beginning of the year. Now that they are starting to hit things are starting to turn around.