The Boston Celtics; has superman finally met his kryptonite?

Yesterday, April 1, 2011 the Boston Celtics battled against the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena in Atlanta. This game would prove to be crucial for the lately offensively challenged Celtics to get back into their rhythm before playoff season.

At the half, the Celtics were looking good, with guard Rajon Rondo connecting on 9 points, 4-6 from the field. Power forward Kevin Garnett had 5 assists at the half, and forward Paul Pierce comes up with 14 points and three rebounds. Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Jermaine O'Neal doing what they can in the low post. Jermaine O'Neal plays his second game for the Celtics since January after having undergone arthroscopic knee surgery. Speaking of O'Neals, where is Shaq!? The original "Superman," Boston Celtics center Shaquille O'Neal, is on day-to-day status and is expected to return Tuesday April 4, 2011, just in time for the Celtics to get their swagger back before the playoffs which kick off Saturday April 16, 2011. O'Neal has not played a game since February 1, 2011.

In Atlanta, the Celtics 52-44 lead at the half would be challenged by the now eyebrow-raising and post-season hopefuls the Atlanta Hawks. Early on in the game, Pierce gets a technical, and so does Jermaine O'Neal for Boston. This would be the beginning of the second half woes that would ultimately lead to the Celtics defeat.

During the second half, "Big Baby" brings the Celtics to an early 58-48 lead with a lay-up with 7:00 left in the 3rd. Then, Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen with the stuff at 2:00! Celtics still leading 66-55.

Then, Hawks guard-forward Joe Johnson hits two free throws after Atlanta runs amuck in the paint to tie the score at 69 with 10:00 left in the fourth quarter. Suddenly, the Hawks come out of nowhere to outhustle the obviously tired Celtics and come back to win it 88-83.

The Celtics fall to 52-23 and fall to 3rd in Eastern Conference standings, just below the Miami Heat (#2) and the Chicago Bulls (#1). Superman,, wherever you are, we need you!

Trade rumours surrounding Melo culminate in a happy homecoming to the New York Knicks

On February 21, 2011, trade rumors surrounding NBA superstar and former Syracuse University standout Carmelo Anthony culminated in a blockbuster trade to the New York Knicks. Melo, previously of the Denver Nuggets, originally hails from New York City. Melo seems pleased with the trade. The Knicks, who also pick up Denver native Chauncey Billups, have worked hard this year to create a name for themselves. In the trade deal the Knicks will lose starters Danilo Gallinari, Raymond Felton, Will "the thrill" Chandler, as well as rookie 7'0" center Timofey Mozgov. To many Knicks fans, this trade is bittersweet, and does not come without sacrifice. These four individuals have given their all to make the self titled "New" New York Knicks the playoff contenders that they are today.

However, with the recent acquisition of Carmelo Anthony, along with Billups, the starting lineup of the Knicks looks much different from before. It will consist of SF Anthony, SG Billups, SF Stoudemire, C Ronny Turiaf, and phenom rookie guard Landry Fields.

The Denver Nuggets also get the Knicks 2014 first round draft pick out of the deal, as well as a cool 3 million dollars.

I'm sure superstar forward and current leader of the "New" New York Knicks Amar'e Stoudemire has no problem sharing the spotlight with Melo. Stoudemire, an MPV contender as well as one of the best forwards in the league, has laid the groundwork for the Knicks this year and has lit a fire under them that doesn't seem to be going out anytime soon. Add Melo and Billups to the mix and that's like pouring gasoline on the fire.

The "New..New" New York Knicks play the Milwaukee Bucks on February 23, 2011 at Madison Square Garden, and Anthony posts a double double of 27 points, 10 rebounds, leading the Knicks in scoring to a 114-108 victory. Melo was welcomed with open arms by thousands of local fans who have dreamt of Melo returning to New York ever since his time at Syracuse University, when Melo brought his team to a 2003 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The New York Knicks play the Miami Heat tonight at 8:00, and will mark Melo's national television debut with the Knicks. Melo and Stoudemire have nothing to worry about, as the Heat's "big three" of Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James are definitely going to be thinking twice tonight as the Knicks press on in one of the most exciting seasons for New York since former NBA superstar point guard Walt "Clyde" Frazier lead the Knicks in scoring and brought them to a '70 and '73 NBA World Championships. The Knicks are electrified once again.

-C.T. Minardi

Everything is coming up oranges

On Saturday January 15, 2010, the # 4 seed in the Big East Syracuse Orange take on unranked Cincinnati Bearcats in the Dome at Syracuse University.

With Syracuse on a 9-0 run after the first few minutes of play, Syracuse freshman center Fab Melo already in foul trouble with two. Cincinnati gets on the board with 15:42 left in the first half, Gates with a foul and one for the Bearcats. The score is 11-3, Syracuse.

What happens next is could be described as the best performance yet by the 2010-11 S.U, and visual confirmation that this team is ready for the Big East.

As of 12:13 on the clock, it's guard Scoop Jardine with back-to-back threes for the Orange, whom until recently has had fans worried that the Orange lacked crucial outside shooting ability. The score is 18-6 Orange, the usual double-digit lead proud S.U. fans have come to expect this year from the undefeated Orange. Now 17-0, thanks to the teams leading scorer, junior forward Kris Joseph, averaging 15 points per game.

Then, Joeseph goes down and hits his head hard. Thankfully, moments later gets up and walks off of the court on his own two feet. Freshman C.J. Fair takes over for Joseph in the 3 spot while Joseph recovers. Joseph would not return in the game.

With the Syracuse orange on a 9-0 fast break point advantage, as well as looking good defensively as we've come to expect from Head Coach Jim Boeheim's patented 2-3 zone, the Orange take a break at the half leading 35 to 31. While this may seem like too close for comfort, S.U. fans know they have nothing to worry about as Fair hits a lay-up to end the half, and the Orange looking better from all angles. Rick Jackson emerges as the leading rebounder in the league, as well as leading the league in double-doubles with 15, eight of them this season. A Syracuse Orange team that was looking ghastly from three point range has corrected this problem with help from Triche, Joseph, and Southerland. In The January 15th game, even Syracuse center Fab Melo connects on a 15 foot jumper.

As the second half begins, the Orange, with the help of a big slam by Melo, are up 41-31. By the time there is 14:00 minutes left in the game, S.U.'s lead balloons to 51-31. The 20 point lead goes to show what excellent outside shooting had done for this team, and it appears that 7'0" Fab Melo is gaining confidence and will prove to complete S.U.'s unstoppable offense as well as compliment their noteworthy defense. The now 18-0 S.U. is set to play #5 Pittsburgh and on Saturday, # 7 Villanova.

# 51 Fab Melo

2010 SU basketball: 3-Ball not there?

On December 18, 2010 at the Dome in Syracuse, New York, a promising SU men's basketball team works on the Iona Gaels. With 7:10 left in the first quarter, the score is 24-18 Syracuse.

Jackson puts up a three..... No.

Brandon Triche tries one out, hmmm, not there. Undefeated SU has been spinning, winning, and pulverizing their opponents in the paint, however they can't seem to sink an outside shot.

Starting point guard Scoop Jardine cannot convert on the "conventional" three point play after a foul going up to the hoop with 6:40 left in the first, however, it is becoming clear that Jardine, Triche , may be the teams only two go-to guys who can convert on the "un" conventional three point play, the 3-ball.

The team moves on as we see Dion Waiters with the tasteful stuff in transition. SU still has the razzle dazzle, but will it be enough?

As the score progresses to 31-20 , SU starts to pull away with their largest lead of the night.

Airball from 15 feet out by Jackson. Humhph.

Then Iona answers with a three by Jenkins. The Iona Gaels continue to trail persistently by no more than 5 or 10 points behind the Orange and enjoy a better 3 point range shooting percentage than SU at close to 35% (http://statsheet.com/mcb/beyondthearc/teams/iona).

Collectively, SU's shooting from behind the arc is set at 29.0%, putting the Orange at 293rd in the nation in this category. What's more startling is that statistics show that teams who can go to the hoop but struggle from three point range, don't win NCAA championships, in fact, they don't even make it to the NCAA tournament (http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/tag/_/name/scoop-jardine).

This all can change. Jardine and Triche have no choice but to step it up.

By the half, SU is out-rebounded by Iona by one rebound, so Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim checks in freshman phenom Fab Melo to help grab some rebounds. However, Boeheim retracts this decision and pulls the ailing Melo out 30 seconds later, as the center is limping on his right leg, showing he is still not 100%, still bothered by a knee injury.

"The Big Three" then for SU, Scoop Jardine, Rick Jackson, and Brandon Triche are forced to turn the heat on Iona, and extend the SU lead to 10 early in the 2nd half.

Dion Waiters gives a helping hand to the trio by continuing to pound the paint.

However, Iona continues to exploit the Orange's signature zone defense's one weakness, the outside shot, and the three point shot. SU's lead wavers around 5 with about 15 minutes left in the game. Jackson does what he can to power SU to a 12 point lead. It begins to look a lot like Christmas as SU holds onto the lead.

Then, Mike Glover for Iona hits the rim one to many times from the baseline for Boeheim, and he calls a time-out to talk it over.

Southerland then comes in for SU and hits a big three from way downtown, a much needed spark for the Orange's outside shooting confidence.

Then "The Canadien" Kris Joseph ( #32 shown right) slams one down off of an assist by Triche to extend SU's lead to 15, their biggest lead of the night.

Iona will not go quietly though, as Kyle Smyth hits a few threes for the Gaels, in vain as the Orange continue to percolate in the paint. However, SU continues to look nervous and reluctant to shoot from even 15 feet out.

Almost a nail biter, undefeated SU comes up with the win over unranked Iona 83-77.

Big shoes to fill: Favre's temporary replacement Jackson has phenomenal first day

As Favre comes out early in the game on the third play in an unusual Minnesota Vikings vs. Buffalo Bills on December 5, 2010 in Minnesota. Favre took a hit that left him wincing in pain and holding his shoulder. Favre lingered on the sidelines for a few moments, then went into the locker room for medical attention. His return to the game was questionable.

Tavaris Jackson, QB for the Minnesota Vikings stepped up to the plate an delivered a show stopping performance to propel the Vikings to a 38-14 win over the Bills.

Tavaris Jackson threw two touchdown passes to Sidney Rice of Minnesota, the first one culminating in a phenomenal tug of war in the end zone as Rice came down locked in a struggle for the ball with a Bills defender. After further review, the play was ruled a touchdown and was just an excellent play by Rice by not giving up on the play and wrestling the ball away form his defender in mid-air.

Then, Jackson to RB Adrian Peterson for a short 2 yard drive for the touchdown, the first of three rushing TD's scored by this powerful key player for the Vikings running game.

Replacement QB Jackson made a few turnovers including a "pick 6" ran back for a defensive touchdown for the Bills. However, Jackson make a few key plays including a 15 yard run for the first down with 11:40 left in the second half. That is a play that Favre himself may have been to bashful to attempt. While it could be argued that this was just another play that was indicative of Jackson's inexperience, it shows that Jackson is willing to do what it takes to advance the ball down the field, and several complete passes later, the second TD rush by Peterson.

Jackson is looking tough for the Vikings, and there is no question Jackson is in contention for Favre's replacement when the time comes for Favre to finally hang it up.

Another TD pass to Rice for the Vikings with 8:00 left in the 2nd brings the Vikings to a 28-7 lead.

At the half, 31 unanswered points by the Vikings have been scored. As the Bills start to look like they did in the beginning of the season, struggling all across the board, the Bills continue to play very poor defense as Adrian Peterson rushes for his third touchdown of the night, through a hole in the Bills defensive line the size of Texas.

Favre or no Favre, it was no surprise that this was going to be an impressive offensive display by the Vikings, but one almost has to feel sorry for the Bill's defense (or lack thereof) for their inability to contain Peterson.

The Buffalo Bills show they still have some fight left as they score a late touchdown with 4:00 left in the fourth, making the final score a not-so-embarrassing 38-14 Vikings.

-C.T. Minardi

Triple Overtime in Newark!

In one word, it was electric. On December 1, 2010 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, the New Jersey Nets took on the Oklahoma City Thunder in what some are calling "one of the best NBA games, ever." Kevin Durant, the NBA's defending leading scorer, sat out of this epic game between Durant's team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the New Jersey Nets.

With Durant sitting helplessly on the sidelines, it was necessary for someone else on the Thunder to step up his game. That man's name is Russell Westbrook (0) of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who dazzled the crowd with a show-stopping performance of 38 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 assists in the game. In the third overtime, Westbrook scored all 13 of the Thunder's points, bringing his team to an Oklahoma City 123, New Jersey 120 win.

The win marked the first triple overtime win in the Thunder's franchise history.

The last time the Nets went into triple overtime was at Orlando, in 1995.
The Thunder came out at halftime trailing by five, and went on to an 11-2 run four minutes into the third quarter. Then Oklahoma City point guard Jeff Green scored 7 of his 10 third quarter points in the final 2:25 of the third to give the Thunder a 71-62 lead.
Then New Jersey came back with an 11-3 run as time ticked away in the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma City connected on four free throws to regain the lead, then a step-into three by Anthony Morrow of the Nets tied the score and sent this one into OT.

Without Durant, Green stepped up his game as well. Green scored a career high 37 points, and connecting on three free throws as the clock wound down during the second overtime, with the score Thunder 107, Nets 110 that made me bite my nails until they bled, sending the game into triple overtime.

Lopez and Morrow of the Nets fought valiantly to even the score as the multiple overtime game developed into a spectacular offensive display on both sides of the board.

Serge Ibaka for the Oklahoma City Thunder fouled out, leaving the spotlight to shift to Westbrook, who put on an amazing one-man display of 13 straight points in the third overtime, leaving the Net's heads spinning.

A game that could have easily went into four of five overtimes ended with a final score of 123-120, Oklahoma City.

-C.T. Minardi

Syracuse Orange football bowl bound for the first time since '04

It's time to turn the page in Syracuse football history.

It is officially the Doug Marrone Era.

With a 13-10 win over Rutgers, November 13, 2010 in Piscataway, NJ, the Syracuse Orange become bowl eligible for the first time since 2004, back when Syracuse Athletics first dropped the "Men" in "Orangemen" to be known simply as the Syracuse Orange.

With 1:07 on the clock, Syracuse freshman Ross Krautman nailed a 24 yard field goal to seal the win. It was the Orange's fourth Big East victory, also for the first time since '04, when the Orange team was run by a man by the name of Paul Pasqualoni. Second year head coach for the Orange Doug Marrone is the former offensive coordinator for last year's NFL Super Bowl champs the New Orleans Saints.

A straight shooter with no time for nonsense, Marrone was determined to bring back to Syracuse the winning football organization that was developed under Pasqualoni. And boy did he deliver! Proving that football is truly a "game of inches" and that it is of utmost importance to master the realm of "small ball" such as special teams and basic offensive and defensive football fundamentals, Marrone has lit a fire under this Syracuse Orange team that doesn't appear to be going out anytime soon. It has even been rumored that Marrone demanded the players show up early to practice, make it to every class on time when able, (excluding time taken off for games) and to be clean-cut and ready to play football each and every day.

And what a difference the coaching style of Doug Marrone has brought to this team! Not sure of what bowl they may be headed to, QB Ryan Nassib is quoted as saying, "We're very excited! We're not concerned about what bowl we go to, we're just happy to be able to make it to one."

Along with the 24 yard winning field goal, Syracuse kicker Krautman also booted a career-long 48 yard field goal in the game for the Orange, who go into bowl eligibility 7-3 on the season and 4-2 in Big East Conference standings. Nassib has been the face of the Orange's newly aggressive offense, but let's not forget it's the little things that win games and send teams to higher places, in this case a field goal clinched the win.

Ryan Nassib threw for 214 total yards including a short four yard touchdown pass to Antwon Bailey. RB Delone Carter as well as Bailey rushed for decent field position to set up Krautman for the winning field goal.

Head coach Doug Marrone has brought his team to 7-3 overall, with four wins on the road in the Big East Conference. Marrone has achieved five true road wins on the season for the Orange (one in Akron) last achieved in 1992 under Pasqualoni.

Marrone now has more wins with (11) in less than two seasons than previous Syracuse Orange coach Greg Robinson had in four years with (10) wins (ESPN Stats and Information).

Rutgers, with a touchdown and a field goal in the match up, tried to employ a wildcat offense towards the end of the game out of sheer desperation. Unfortunately for Rutgers, a 12 yard run by Mohamed Sanu and a six yard run by Jeremy Deering to put Rutgers within field goal range proved to be too little too late for this year's outstanding Syracuse Orange defense.

The Orange, Marrone, and Nassib wait with baited breath to assume their rightful bowl position in this exciting 2010 Syracuse football season.

-C.T. Minardi