Rafa Regains his Throne

Spain's Rafael Nadal captured his 10th French Open Men's Singles title with a straight sets demolition over 2015
Champion Stan Wawrinka.

Champ10n. With an incredibly dominant two weeks at his favorite major, Rafael Nadal slaughtered his way through the field to capture his 10th Roland Garros title, 15th overall Grand Slam and climbed back to his highest ranking since 2014 of No. 2 in the world. This was Nadal's first major championship in three years, when he defeated Novak Djokovic in a tough four-set final at Roland Garros. His 15th Grand Slam puts him second All-Time behind Roger Federer (18), as he broke his tie with the best American player of All-Time, Pete Sampras. Nadal was incredibly dominant, arguably more dominant than ever before at the French Open, as he did not surrender a single set and didn't allow any opponent to win more than four games in any set in seven matches. In the semifinals he routinely dismissed young gun Dominic Thiem, who had beaten him just a couple weeks earlier in Rome. He followed that up with an equally punishing display of physical clay court tennis against 2015 Champion Stan Wawrinka, who was slightly fatigued after his marathon semifinal victory against World No. 1 Andy Murray. It is incredible to see the Mallorca native playing at this level after going through a couple of less-than-stellar seasons, by his standards, on tour. He has accomplished everything he set out to do in professional tennis, and he is potentially playing his best tennis right now at age 31. This season, Nadal and Federer are showing why they are the two greatest players of All-Time. After all their success over the years, they are regaining their form as the two best players in the world in 2017, which not many would have predicted a year ago with Djokovic and Murray having seemingly established themselves as the two players to beat on tour. Now, Murray and Djokovic are struggling with their form, and Nadal and Federer have won virtually every big tournament this season. With the clay court season behind us, we now look ahead to the grass where Federer will return to the court and look to capture his 8th Wimbledon crown. It will be interesting to see if Nadal can continue his top notch form as he prepares for the quick surface change. For now, he will surely enjoy and savor this French Open title as he continues to add trophies to his incredible professional career.

A Warrior Revenge

For the third consecutive year, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will tangle for the NBA Championship.

Ah, we meet again. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors will look to settle the score for a third consecutive season when the 2017 NBA Finals begin tomorrow night at 9pm on ABC. The Warriors and Cavaliers have brutally crushed their opponents throughout the postseason, losing a combined one game along the way. The two heavyweights of the NBA will bring their incredible star powered lineups to the hardwood in a tussle of who's creating the current dynasty in the association. The Warriors have been looking forward to this rematch all season, as the sting of their blown 3-1 lead in last season's Finals surely hasn't worn off. They did their part in rushing to this matchup, going 12-0 against the Western Conference in the playoffs. The Cavaliers didn't face much more competition, as they have posted a 12-1 record thus far. The major addition to this compelling rivalry is Warriors' All-Star forward Kevin Durant, who was acquired in free agency in the offseason. His addition to an already loaded roster, may be what gets Golden State over the hump and some revenge on their rivals this time around. The Cavaliers have made some solid mid-season additions, acquiring three-point specialist Kyle Korver in a trade with Atlanta, as well as signing veteran point guard Deron Williams. With all the offensive firepower and shooters in this series, it will surely be entertaining and high scoring. Individual match ups will also take center stage with some of the best players at their respective positions going toe-to-toe. Now, I know the playoffs have been lackluster for fans thus far, but this series will not disappoint. The blowouts and mismatches for the last month and a half will be quickly forgotten when this series tips off. When you essentially have an All-Star game taking place each game for potentially seven games, it will be hard to not be glued to the TV for the duration of the series. Commissioner Adam Silver has said that he doesn't like the fact that the league only has two teams currently running the show without much competition. While that is a valid point, let's all sit back and enjoy these two teams going at it for the championship. This could turn out to be a series for the ages, with so many compelling story lines and talent on the court. I'll take the Warriors to enact revenge on their 3-1 blown series lead last season, and take out the Cavaliers in a thrilling seven game battle that will go down as one of the best NBA Finals in history.

Overtime Overload

The first round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs saw a record-setting 18 overtime games.

The opening round of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs were filled with drama and exciting overtime finishes. Although no series went seven games, there were a record-setting 18 games that needed extra time to decide a winner out of the 42 played in total. Four out of the six games played in the Ottawa Senators-Boston Bruins series and five out of the six games played in the Washington Capitals-Toronto Maple Leafs series needed extra time. That's a ton of closely contested, drama-filled games for just the opening round. This speaks to how close the standings and comparable levels of teams were throughout the regular season. A mere eight points separated the Atlantic Division champion Montreal Canadiens from the second wild card Maple Leafs. Four teams, the Capitals, Penguins, Blue Jackets and Rangers, tallied more than 100 points in the regular season. Only three points separated the Chicago Blackhawks from the Minnesota Wild in the Central Division, and two points differentiated the Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers in the Pacific Division. We had surprising results, such as the upstart Nashville Predators sweeping the ever-dominant Blackhawks. The inexperienced Oilers also took out the more seasoned San Jose Sharks in a tough six-game tussle. The Eastern Conference featured battles of some familiar foes, as the Rangers outlasted the Canadiens in six, hard fought games, the Senators edged the Bruins in similar fashion and the Capitals survived a scare from a young, hungry Maple Leafs bunch led by rookie star Auston Matthews. The second round is sure to see some more rugged, hard fought series. The Penguins and Capitals will battle it out in a duel between arguably the league's two best players in Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. The big, physical Ducks will take on an Edmonton team with nothing to lose, led by young gun Connor McDavid. We may not see as many overtime games as the opening round, but we're sure to get a couple of seven-game series in the next round. As hockey fans, we hope this continues as the best teams fight for the chance to get to the Stanley Cup Final.

Roger's Resurgence

Switzerland's Roger Federer continues to cement his status as the greatest men's tennis player of All-Time.

Roger Federer is putting together an incredible start to his 2017 campaign on the ATP World Tour, collecting his 18th major title down under at the Australian Open, capturing back-to-back Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells and Miami and soaring from No. 17 to No. 4 in the latest Emirates ATP Rankings. The 35-year old recovered from an injury-riddled 2016 where he missed the entire second half of the season, and has utilized a few new wrinkles in his already complete game to turn the tables on his greatest rival, Rafael Nadal. Federer has won the last four meetings against Nadal, three coming this year in Australia, Indian Wells and Miami, improving his overall record against the Spaniard to 14-23. Previously in their rivalry, Nadal has been able to exploit Federer's weaker one-handed backhand by pressuring him with high, heavy topspin forehands. This has been the trademark pattern, especially on clay, that has seen Nadal control the matchup over the years. This season, however, Federer is not giving up his position on the baseline and is taking his backhand early. This is not allowing Nadal, and others, to gain control of the rally and take advantage of Federer's "weaker" wing. He is taking time away from his opponents, and using his backhand as a weapon to complement his already explosive forehand. This key change, combined with his strong serving and aggressive net approaches, has seen Federer dominate the field this season. He has been able to do this with World Numbers' 1 and 2, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic,  struggling with their form and missing time due to injuries. He will surely be tested even more when they return hungry to regain their form at the top of the men's game. The resurgence of the Federer-Nadal rivalry has been the main storyline this season a couple of months into the year, and it is incredible to see that these two All-Time greats are still competing at such a high level on the biggest stages against one another. With the clay court season just around the corner, Nadal will surely look to regain his dominance on the dirt. It will be interesting, and even more impressive, to see if Federer can continue this incredible form on the clay courts, his weakest surface. In addition to the Federer-Nadal rivalry taking center-stage once again, Australian young gun Nick Kyrgios continues to be a polarizing figure in the game. His brash attitude and overly aggressive style of play, while rubbing some people the wrong way, is exactly what men's tennis needs. Kyrgios is the outlaw on tour, and owns it completely. Regardless of his antics, he is a captivating player that will constantly have media attention and storylines surrounding him. If he can mature a little bit more, he could start collecting major championships in the near future. With all the intrigue, rivalries and high level of play going on out on the court, the 2017 season is shaping up to be one to remember.






Marsh Madness

The New York Giants signed WR Brandon Marshall to a 2-year, $12 million dollar deal yesterday.

The New York Giants have vaulted their already impressive receiving corps to new heights with the signing of ex-Jet WR Brandon Marshall. Big Blue signed Marshall to a 2-year, $12 million dollar deal yesterday, that does more than replace diminished slot receiver Victor Cruz. The trio of WR Odell Beckham Jr., Marshall and second-year stud Sterling Shepard, will surely be one of, if not the most explosive unit in the NFL. Giants' QB Eli Manning will have no shortage of options in the passing game, but it will come down to players' execution and second-year Head Coach Ben McAdoo's play calling that will determine the level of success of the Giants' offense. Despite not having a poor statistical season, Manning and the Giants' passing attack was not nearly as explosive as it was in the previous two seasons when McAdoo was the offensive coordinator. Manning was allowed to stretch the field much more, and hit big plays through the air down the field. In 2016, the Giants ran much more of a controlled, short passing game, which in turn did not lead to many big plays or points. Beckham Jr. was 6th in the NFL in Yards After Catch (YAC) with 524, which means the majority of his (and the Giants) big plays through the air were short completions with Beckham's speed and athleticism taking over thereafter. The Giants' offense was not very successful in many facets, but the lack of a running game hurt their ability to take shots down the field. The Giants averaged 88.2 rushing yards per game in 2016 (ranked 29th in the NFL), and substituted short passing combinations for their lack of a running attack. This, in turn, became the norm for their offensive possessions, and were forced into many third and long situations. Adding a receiver of the caliber of Marshall, who has compiled eight 1,000+ yard seasons, along with four 10+ touchdown seasons, should allow McAdoo more freedom in his play calling. Marshall and Beckham Jr. will arguably be the top WR duo in the NFL, but if Big Blue cannot establish some semblance of a running game, it will be very tough for them to greatly improve upon their offensive output in 2016. RB Paul Perkins showed some nice speed and versatility late in the season, but without the presence of a true number one option, the Giants will struggle to find a balanced attack as they did last season. Regardless of the outcome, adding a player of Marshall's caliber to an already impressive WR group will definitely make Big Blue something to keep our eyes on all season.

Crosby vs. Gretzky

With Penguins' forward Sidney Crosby on the verge of his 1,000th career NHL point, it begs the question of where he belongs on the pecking order of All-Time greats.

When the Penguins play host to the visiting Winnipeg Jets tonight, it will be another opportunity for their superstar forward to cement his place among the All-Time NHL greats with his 1,000th career point. Crosby earned his 999th career point Tuesday night with an assist in the Penguins' 4-0 shutout over the Vancouver Canucks. The 29-year old has tallied an impressive 30 goals and 31 assists in 49 games played this season, and will be looking to become the 86th player to record 1,000 points in NHL history. Although it seems 'Sid the Kid' has been around forever, he presumably has a good amount of time left out on the ice at 29 years of age. Despite the fact that he has had a rather injury plagued career and his fare share of concussion issues, Crosby doesn't seem to be slowing down as one of the NHL's elite forwards when he's healthy. Having already lifted the Stanley Cup twice in his career he will surely be looking to build on his already profound success. The Penguins are in the thick of a hotly contested Metropolitan Division race, with the Rangers and Blue Jackets all separated by two points. The Capitals have been on a tear winning six in a row, sitting atop the division with 84 points. Crosby will look to blow past the 1,000 point mark and continue to lead his extremely skilled group towards another possible Stanley Cup berth. 

With Crosby sure to hit this significant milestone tonight or in the near future, I took a look at his career statistics compared to the undoubted greatest player of All-Time, Wayne Gretzky. While Crosby's career stats are impressive, it is truly amazing to see the remarkable numbers Gretzky put up in his career, especially in the mid-1980's with the Edmonton Oilers. Crosby has not played many full NHL seasons, so that is a factor in the comparison as well. Gretzky's best years in Edmonton spanned throughout the early to mid 1980's, and then on with the Los Angeles Kings in the late 80's and early 90's. A few years in the 80's really stand out and are almost unthinkable. In arguably the best regular season ever, Gretzky scored 92 goals and tallied 120 assists in 1981-82 in 80 games played. He followed that up with another three seasons of 200+ point totals in the 1980's. Despite that being maybe the best individual season ever, it is still not his highest point total in his career. In 1985-86, Gretzky scored 52 goals and tallied 163 assists in 80 games played. Gretzky's numbers during these years are something that no man will probably ever come close to repeating. His numbers began to taper off as he got later in his career, but they were still more than respectable. Now, looking at Crosby's seasons in comparison, the Penguins' forward's best season came in 2006-07, where he scored 36 goals and tallied 84 assists for 120 points in 79 games played. Gretzky matched his career high point total in assists alone in the 1981-82 season. Crosby has had five seasons in his career where he's notched over 100 total points, where Gretzky has had four seasons with over 200 points. While Crosby is considered one of the best players in this generation, he still does not even come close to Gretzky's all-time numbers. So, while he is on-track to join an elite club, I think we have to recognize how no one will ever replicate what Wayne Gretzky did. Crosby will be placed among the conversation of the greats, but Gretzky is in a league of his own. 

Stan the Man Stands Tall

Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka fought off World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to claim his first U.S. Open championship.

2016 U.S. Open Champion Stan Wawrinka had to earn every bit of his $3.5 million dollar prize money check in order to capture his 3rd career major title. Having endured almost 22 hours on-court during the two-week championship, saving a match point in the third round against Daniel Evans and overcoming the best player in the world in the final, Wawrinka proved that he is the current iron man of tennis. Since the beginning of 2014, Wawrinka has captured three Grand Slams and has elevated himself from underachiever to potential first ballot Hall of Famer. He has overcome Djokovic in two of the major finals, something few have been able to do in recent years. Even more impressively, he has shown he can physically and mentally outlast the world's best on the biggest stages of the sport. Possessing the world's most dominant one-handed backhand, combined with a much improved forehand and powerful serve, he has the weaponry to unsettle and beat anyone in the world. At 31, you can say it's a little late for a player's prime, but the way tennis has been evolving, 30 has become the new 20. It's not unreasonable to think that Wawrinka can keep up this current level of play for another four to five years. He credits his coach, former player Magnus Norman, with being the main difference in instilling the confidence and belief in himself and his game that he previously lacked. Wawrinka's now signature "point to the head" (pictured above) is a signal to his coach after he wins a big point during a match, which shows how far he's come mentally and the belief he has in the crucial moments. He has emerged from compatriot Roger Federer's shadow late in his career, and is certainly carving out an All-Time great career for himself. With the year's final Grand Slam in the books, it's hard to say who is the clear No. 1 heading into 2017, despite the rankings.