Bulldogs Can Win NCAA National TItle Game This Time

Butler was just a shot away from the NCAA Men's Basketball title last year. This year, the Bulldogs are back with their unforgiving defense once again bringing them back to the national title game in Houston, Texas. Standing in their way are the UConn Huskies.

Connecticut may have the talent in prolific scorer Kemba Walker. Walker has averaged over 23 points per game. He has also shown maturity in his shot selection and leadership by involving more team play. His average of almost eight assists per game shows that Walker trusts his rookie teammates Shabazz Napier, Roscoe Smith and Jeremy Lamb. On April 4, 2011 at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Walker would need more of his leadership skills against the Bulldogs defense.

UConn head coach Jim Calhoun may have the edge over the 34-year old Brad Stevens. Calhoun has two NCAA titles to his belt while Stevens has yet to earn one. However, Stevens has shown in the past that his calm demeanor has worked wonders for Butler. 

Expect Matt Howard and Shelvin Mack to step up on the offensive end against Connecticut. Howard is also expected to hit the glass for every rebound play as each possession matters in a crucial game like this. Ronald Nored will have his hands full hounding Walker on defense.

Butler has a shot at winning the title if they can limit Walker and UConn's highly touted freshmen. They have been in the same situation before and this time they may not need a last-second shot to earn their title.

Los Angeles Lakers Do Not Need Carmelo Anthony

Recent news about a potential trade between the Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers and Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets have surfaced. Following the failed trade talks between Denver and the New Jersey Nets, the Nuggets were left with the New York Knicks. However, the Knicks were no longer willing to give up too much for 'Melo. The Nuggets were caught in a bind and could not easily get rid of Anthony.

Here comes the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets can take Bynum but recent reports say that Jim Buss who has been essentially head of basketball operation being the son of owner Jerry Buss would not let go of his prized big man. The younger Buss has been responsible for drafting Bynum and he still sees the young player as part of the Lakers' future.

The Lakers do not need another prolific scorer in 'Melo. They already have enough scoring sock with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and company. What they need is a defensive threat in like Bynum. While the Lakers belong to the top offensive teams in the NBA, they have struggled on the defensive end.

Anthony may prove to be an asset in scoring but he is not known to be a great defender. He may even struggle adjusting to the Lakers' triangle offense and rotating the Lakers frontline would be a problem for coach Phil Jackson with Anthony, Artest and Odom possibly contesting for one position.

For the short-term, it would not be beneficial for the Lakers. For the long-term, they may stand to gain when Kobe's game has dramatically declined and the Lakers need a younger guy to take over the game. For now, the 'Melo trade talks with the Lakers only seem to be a ploy to gain more leverage in a trade with the Knicks.

The Knicks were willing to let go of Wilson Chandler and Eddy Curry who has an expiring contract. This will surely not fly with the Nuggets who want something more valuable to the team in the short and long term. Danilo Gallinari, Landry Fields and a few draft picks may do it for the Knicks... or perhaps they already know what Denver is trying to gain from reportedly exploring a trade with the LA Lakers.

Chael Sonnen Suspended For Drug Use

Chael Sonnen could have been the UFC Middleweight Champion had he finished off Anderson Silva at UFC 117. He was so close... two minutes away from the UFC middleweight title but Silva spoiled it with a late triangle choke to force Sonnen to a tapout. All of the four and a half rounds of Sonnen domination ended with a quick submission move by the Brazilian champion.

Most fans believed that after walking the talk, Sonnen deserved another shot at the title. Dana White, who is not a huge fan of rematches, set a rematch between Sonnen and Silva in early 2011. This should have brought in more pay-per-view buys and more money to the table.

Unfortunately, Sonnen admitted to drug use during testing after his title match. He was found to have high levels of testosterone brought about by the intake of performance-enhancement drugs.

Sonnen has been suspended for at least one year and fined $2,500 by the CSAC. If we are to consider all other losses such as the opportunity to fight Silva next year and his loss of potential endorsement deals, Sonnen stands to lose probably more that can reach $1 million.

Too bad... Now either Vitor Belfort or Yushin Okami would have a shot at the title after their eliminator at UFC 122.

Bobby Lashley Loses At Strikeforce: Houston

Bobby Lashley lost a second round knockout to unheralded Chad Griggs at Strikeforce: Houston on Saturday. So what was the big deal?

Lashley, just like UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar, is a former WWE professional wrestler and both have legitimate amateur wrestling credentials as well. Lesnar is now the UFC champion and considered one of the best in the world. Lashley after five straight wins appeared dominating Griggs on Saturday but he got caught with an uppercut that cut and hurt him.

Griggs was obviously dominated by Lashley as he spent most of the fight on the mount. Lashley used his ground and pound but his punches did not seem to do a lot of damage. He did not have any submission moves either.

With a predictable offense, Griggs telegraphed takedowns by countering with uppercuts. Lashley was cut open in the first round, bleeding from under the corner of his left eye. By end of the second, Lashley was beat up and bleeding badly.

A single defeat may not necessarily end a career. Fedor Emelianenko lost to former UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum but it does not fully tarnish his 10-year undefeated run. We all know Fedor can come back from this loss.

How about Lashley? He lost a fight to a little-known fighter. His offense is predictable and he is clearly several notches below Brock Lesnar in terms of skills and potential. Yes, Lashley can become a better fighter as he evolves but being an elite fighter may not be where he is headed to.

For pro wrestling haters, he may be better off with freak shows or going back to WWE.

One lesson learned is that not all pro-wrestlers can make that successful transition to mixed martial arts.

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Cro Cop Steps Up To The Plate For Injured Minotauro At UFC 119

A rematch between Frank Mir and Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira was set for UFC 119 on September 25 at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. This could have been a great matchup since Mir won their previous meeting with a second-round knockout. It was only later after the fight that we found out about Noqgueira's staph infection and knee injury. Seeing a healthy Minotauro fight Mir would have been interesting. However, things were not meant to be.

Nogueira had to pull out due to a reported recurring hip injury. In his place comes Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic on short notice. Cro Cop accepted the challenge feeling he owes it to the fans, to the Fertittas and Dana White who have taken him to where he is right now.

I would say that this may not be a good match right now. Cro Cop may have enough time to prepare for Mir who has, despite losing to Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin recently, has shown improvements in his conditioning and striking. Cro Cop still has superior striking skills compared to Mir but the fight will most likely take place on the ground with Mir using his superior ground and submission skills.

Cro Cop has a shot with his head kicks but it may take more than that to beat a tough Frank Mir. Mir should submit Cro Cop once they get to the ground. Cro Cop still gets credit for taking on this fight on short notice.

UFC 117: Silva vs Sonnen

Tonight on UFC 117 at the Oracle Arena in Oakland CA, we finally get to see how trash talking Chael Sonnen walks the walk against UFC middleweight champion Anderson "the Spider" Silva. Weeks and days leading to the fight, Sonnen has talked more trash than Rampage Jackson and Rahsad Evans have combined. Ordinarily, I wouldn't be as interested in seeing Sonnen fight Silva.

For one, Silva has been far from exciting in his last few fights, even his boss Dana White was so embarrassed at his showing against Demian Maia in Dubai. Fans are also upset they feel they are not getting the entertainment they deserve. There is some truth in it as Silva has made some mockery of the game seeing that challengers are way below his skillset. On the other hand, Silva cannot engage with another fighter who is not willing to engage himself. How can a counter puncher like Silva counter punch when his opponents are just lying on their back waiting for Silva? Oh well, this could go on and on and we can still conclude that Silva bores us to death.

Now in comes Sonnen, an NCAA Division I wrestler with far less impressive MMA credentials. What he lacks in MMA skills and credentials, he compensates with his trash talk. In fact Sonnen has made things far more entertaining even before they step into the Octagon. No one would have cared about him and Silva before. Now people are curious with how Silva has taken all the trash talk and how Sonnen can back up all his blabber.

Depending on how it has affected Silva, I still see him winning in dominating fashion. I would prefer that he use his knees using his Muay Thai fighting style. He can choose to knock Sonnen out early or he can make it agonizingly painful like waht he did to Maia. What remains to be seen is if Sonnen can pull of an upset. He just might get lucky with a takedown or two and grind out a close decision. It is a long shot though. It's like throwing a basketball from backcourt for a three-point shot... in front of Kobe Bryant's outstretched arms.

Get to read more sports news from Omar Mercado at http://www.sportsnewcaster.com/.

Marquez vs Diaz II: Predictions

We are expecting another boxing match that offers some consolation after another failed attempt to stage Pacquiao versus Mayweather in November.

On Saturday night in Las Vegas, Juan Manuel Marquez and Juan Diaz face off for the second time for the WBA and WBO lightweight titles. In their first meeting, Diaz was ahead in the earlier rounds until Marquez set him up for a stoppage in the ninth round.

In the areas of skill and defense, Marquez still has the edge as he is considered one of the best in the pound for pound list. Conditioning is pretty much even as Marquez has stayed in shape at age 36. Marquez may have the stronger chin as he has not been knocked out before. Marquez should also be favored in terms of experience but the wear and tear of his past fights may also take on toll on him.

What we may not know is how Marquez has taken his beating from Floyd Mayweather Jr. earlier this year. Some fighters are never the same after a bad loss although Marquez has never been knocked out.

My prediction... Juan Manuel Marquez by a close decision.

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