The last several months has shown that the United States (and the world) economy is not quite as strong as once originally thought. This blog is not to make any light of what is going on with job layoffs, nor to make light of people struggling with the failing economy. The intent is to show which of the major 4 U.S. professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, and NHL) are struggling or maintaining a good image to the average viewer of the sports.
National Football League: Stock Up.
Just coming off of another exciting playoff season and very entertaining Super Bowl XLIII, the NFL is looking strong and very alive. The season started off with a down moment, when Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady went down with a season ending injury. Plus the Indianapolis Colts started off the 2008 season with a 3-4 record. As well as the recurring role of the outspoken Terrell Owens, and the so-called "love triangle" that went on between Owens, Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo, and Tight End Jason Witten. Nevertheless, the league saw the rise of the Tennessee Titans and NFC South (Carolina, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay). Along with the return of powerhouses like Pittsburgh and New York Giants. The NFL also saw the rise of three rookies to prominence, Chris Johnson (Titans Running back), Joe Flacco (Ravens Quarterback), and Rookie-of-the-Year winner Matt Ryan (Falcons Quarterback). All of whom played in this year's postseason. In the playoffs, the "Cinderella" team Arizona Cardinals shocked the entire sports world and advanced to their 1st ever Super Bowl, defeating the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles. Also, Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals Wide Receiver) led his team and broke Jerry Rice's record for most receiving yards in a single postseason (30 receptions, 546 yards, and 7 Touchdowns). The other Super Bowl team was the Pittsburgh Steelers. They made it to their 7th Super Bowl in franchise history. They would win their 6th Super Bowl over the Cardinals, in a game that saw an outstanding finish.
Major League Baseball: Stock Down.
Spring Training is about to start up, and players probably couldn't be anymore ready to get to the batting cages and to the practice mounds. Last October saw a less than stellar playoff and World Series, which didn't involve any teams from a major market like Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, or New York. Sure, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays had a very nice run and a great season, winning the AL East from the Red Sox and Yankees, but in terms of star power, the World Series lacked it. Congratulations to the Phillies, but a large dark cloud still hangs over the sport, and it involves the use of anabolic steroids and HGH among many players. The last 2-3 years has seen icons like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Mark McGwire at the forefront of the allegations they "cheated" in obtaining records and playing the game. As of late, more names have popped up, most notably Alex Rodriguez. "A-Rod" was the face of baseball to help fans make it to the end of the "Steroid Era". He was supposed to be the "shining star" and break all the records of Bonds the correct way. On February 7, 2009, it was reported that Rodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003. He was only one of 104 players reported to be on a sealed list of players whom tested positive in the same 2003 survey. If more prominent names come out on this list, then Major League Baseball may not be able to recover most of its fan base for a long time.
National Basketball Association: Stock Up.
The NBA just might surpass the MLB in the next couple of years. The upside to the NBA is incredible. The rivalry between the two most storied franchises (Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers) is back alive. Plus the emergence of the Cleveland Cavaliers, New Orleans Hornets, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks. The ususal suspects (San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, and Phoenix Suns) are still at the top battling to remain with the rest. The NBA also has a bountiful amount of talent and skill in the league. It has always had star power, but never before has it been as deep and talented as it is in 2009. Kobe Bryant and Lebron James are the two staples and headliners of the league. But "The Big 3" in Boston (Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce), Chris Paul (Hornets), Dwayne Wade & Michael Beasley (Miami Heat), Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder), Dwight Howard (Orlando Magic), and Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) are among the stars that are making the NBA into a likable league again. It is no longer just up to 4-6 teams to make the league. Each division is deep in the talent and makes for very interesting matchups year in and year out. The NBA's desire to clean up the league has apparently paid off, and if it's kept up, could become the 2nd best on this list.
National Hockey League: Stock Down.
Perhaps a bit harsh, but I am trying to enjoy the sport for what it is. Most likely, the United States as a whole will probably never accept hockey on a regular basis. For the sport to be successful, it needs star power, and the lack of recognizable stars to the majority of sports fans is very noticeable. The biggest star in the sport, Sidney Crosby, has been plagued by an injury that kept him from playing in the All-Star game, but it has dropped his team to 4th in their division. Perhaps the NHL will stick around for a while, but may not ever take off any places other than Canada, Detroit, Boston, and Pittsburgh. The last few years have seen teams from North Carolina, California, and Florida win the coveted Stanley Cup, which has been the subject of more punchlines than interests. Perhaps the best scenario for the NHL is to build on the Detroit Red Wings long success, match that with young teams like Washington and Pittsburgh, and maybe that could rejuvenate the sport. Hockey is much to exciting to see it get thrown by the wayside. As much as Americans love to see physical, violent sports, hockey just hasn't taken off for some reason. The NHL isn't tainted like the MLB is, so I genuinely hope that they can right the ship and keep it steady heading into the future.
I chose to not include NASCAR because I recently did a full story on the 2009 season, but I would list their stock as steady, sort of unchanging. The economy struggles have set the sport back financially, but the fresh crop of new talent mixed with the staples of the sport have NASCAR holding steady.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
2009 NASCAR Preview
On February 15, 2009, the green flag will drop and another season of NASCAR will begin and run through the middle of November. This season is not any different than any other season. The cars have been tweaked, the drivers have changed, and sponsors have changed. The economy has plagued NASCAR during the offseason. Forcing some operations to shut down, merge, or even shut down. But here are the four biggest storylines that are worth following in the 2009 edition of the Sprint Cup. Here they are in order.
4) The next generation. NASCAR is changing in 2009. Some of it isn't quite planned. But refreshing, is seeing the number of rookies and potential superstars coming into the sport. The headliner of this group of four is Joey Logano. Logano has been dubbed "The Next Big Thing" by some of NASCAR's elite. In 2008, he started his career in the Nationwide Series by becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series, at the Kentucky Motor Speedway. He would also rack up 4 poles, 5 Top-5's, and 14 Top-10's in only 19 races. He will be driving the #20 Home Depot car, now that Tony Stewart has created his own team. The two guys that will no doubt be chasing Logano are Scott Speed and Brad Keselowski. Speed made a name for himself in the Camping World Truck Series. The Formula One transplant made a splash in 16 races by winning at Dover and recording 1 pole, 4 Top-5's, and 9 Top-10's. Keselowski has been groomed for the Sprint Cup series by superstar Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He has spent the last two season racing in the Nationwide Series under J.R. Racing. In 69 races, Keselowski has 1 Pole, 2 wins (in 2008 at Nashville and Bristol), 11 Top-5's, and 25 Top-10's. The last rookie this year is Max Papis. The Italian road-course racer is looking to make noise in 2009 and win the Rookie-of-the-Year from this stacked field.
3) The rivalry continues. For the last 3 years, two racing organizations have dominated the Sprint Cup series. They would be Hendrick Motorsports and Roush-Fenway Racing. In 2007 and 2008, the 5 Roush cars (6, 16, 17, 26, and 99) combined for 18 wins, 84 Top-5's, and 149 Top-10s. On the flipside, Hendrick racers (5, 24, 48, and 25/88) combined to get 26 wins, 96 Top-5's, 147 Top-10's. Yes, Hendrick has won the last 3 Sprint Cup Championships with Jimmie Johnson, but in 2006 and 2008 Roush-Fenway cars finished 2nd to Johnson in the points chase. In fact, in 2006, Roush and Hendrick cars made up half of the 12 car field in the Chase for the Championship. In 2007, 3 Hendrick and 2 Roush cars made it into the Chase. Yet again, in 2008, half of the Chase were made up of the two mega-powers of racing. 2009 figures to be no different. Casey Mears has exited the duties of the 5 car, and NASCAR legend Mark Martin (who ironically made his entire career with Roush) will pilot the car in '09.
2) Time for the "Golden Boy" to step up. 2009 just might be Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s last chance to prove himself to NASCAR fans. Sure, the loyal fans of the 88 (plus those fans of his father) will always stick behind him, but this year is the chance to prove if he belongs among the elite. Junior made the transition in 2008 from frontman of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to being the third best driver in the Hendrick Motorsports organization. Hendrick, in 2009, has brought Mark Martin on board to man his fourth car, giving more reason for Junior to step his "game" up and start competing for championships. If Junior cannot do it in 2009, or at least compete at the end, he may never have a better shot at it.
1) Can the 48 4-peat? The last 3 years have belong to Jimmie Johnson. The 34 year old racer from California has already accumulated 3 straight championships and aiming for number 4 this year. He hasn't always been the most dominant guy, but he does just enough to make the Chase on a yearly basis, and then makes a big run towards the end to win the Chase in seemingly a dominating effort. 4-in-a-row has never been accomplished in NASCAR, and very rarely in any professional sport. Johnson has never been known to make big splashes in the spring and summer, but come august, better look out for #48 to make a big run towards the championship.
Chase Predictions (in no order):
Jimmie Johnson (#48, Lowe's, Hendrick)
Jeff Gordon (#24, DuPont, Hendrick)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88, AMP/National Guard, Hendrick)
Carl Edwards (#99, Aflac, Roush)
Matt Kenseth (#17, DeWalt, Roush)
Kevin Harvick (#29. Penzoil, Childress)
Jeff Burton (#31, Cingular, Childress)
Kyle Busch (#18, M&M's, Gibbs)
Kurt Busch (#2, Miller Lite, Penske)
Denny Hamlin (#11, FedEx, Gibbs)
Tony Stewart (#14, Office Depot, Stewart/Haas)
Kasey Kahne (#9, Budweiser, Petty)
Rookie-of-the-Year Prediction:
Joey Logano (#20, Home Depot, Gibbs)
Breakout Racer of the Year Prediction:
Jamie McMurray (#26, Crown Royal, Roush)
Daytona 500 Prediction:
Denny Hamlin
2009 Sprint Cup Champion prediction:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
4) The next generation. NASCAR is changing in 2009. Some of it isn't quite planned. But refreshing, is seeing the number of rookies and potential superstars coming into the sport. The headliner of this group of four is Joey Logano. Logano has been dubbed "The Next Big Thing" by some of NASCAR's elite. In 2008, he started his career in the Nationwide Series by becoming the youngest driver to win a race in the series, at the Kentucky Motor Speedway. He would also rack up 4 poles, 5 Top-5's, and 14 Top-10's in only 19 races. He will be driving the #20 Home Depot car, now that Tony Stewart has created his own team. The two guys that will no doubt be chasing Logano are Scott Speed and Brad Keselowski. Speed made a name for himself in the Camping World Truck Series. The Formula One transplant made a splash in 16 races by winning at Dover and recording 1 pole, 4 Top-5's, and 9 Top-10's. Keselowski has been groomed for the Sprint Cup series by superstar Dale Earnhardt, Jr. He has spent the last two season racing in the Nationwide Series under J.R. Racing. In 69 races, Keselowski has 1 Pole, 2 wins (in 2008 at Nashville and Bristol), 11 Top-5's, and 25 Top-10's. The last rookie this year is Max Papis. The Italian road-course racer is looking to make noise in 2009 and win the Rookie-of-the-Year from this stacked field.
3) The rivalry continues. For the last 3 years, two racing organizations have dominated the Sprint Cup series. They would be Hendrick Motorsports and Roush-Fenway Racing. In 2007 and 2008, the 5 Roush cars (6, 16, 17, 26, and 99) combined for 18 wins, 84 Top-5's, and 149 Top-10s. On the flipside, Hendrick racers (5, 24, 48, and 25/88) combined to get 26 wins, 96 Top-5's, 147 Top-10's. Yes, Hendrick has won the last 3 Sprint Cup Championships with Jimmie Johnson, but in 2006 and 2008 Roush-Fenway cars finished 2nd to Johnson in the points chase. In fact, in 2006, Roush and Hendrick cars made up half of the 12 car field in the Chase for the Championship. In 2007, 3 Hendrick and 2 Roush cars made it into the Chase. Yet again, in 2008, half of the Chase were made up of the two mega-powers of racing. 2009 figures to be no different. Casey Mears has exited the duties of the 5 car, and NASCAR legend Mark Martin (who ironically made his entire career with Roush) will pilot the car in '09.
2) Time for the "Golden Boy" to step up. 2009 just might be Dale Earnhardt, Jr.'s last chance to prove himself to NASCAR fans. Sure, the loyal fans of the 88 (plus those fans of his father) will always stick behind him, but this year is the chance to prove if he belongs among the elite. Junior made the transition in 2008 from frontman of Dale Earnhardt, Inc. to being the third best driver in the Hendrick Motorsports organization. Hendrick, in 2009, has brought Mark Martin on board to man his fourth car, giving more reason for Junior to step his "game" up and start competing for championships. If Junior cannot do it in 2009, or at least compete at the end, he may never have a better shot at it.
1) Can the 48 4-peat? The last 3 years have belong to Jimmie Johnson. The 34 year old racer from California has already accumulated 3 straight championships and aiming for number 4 this year. He hasn't always been the most dominant guy, but he does just enough to make the Chase on a yearly basis, and then makes a big run towards the end to win the Chase in seemingly a dominating effort. 4-in-a-row has never been accomplished in NASCAR, and very rarely in any professional sport. Johnson has never been known to make big splashes in the spring and summer, but come august, better look out for #48 to make a big run towards the championship.
Chase Predictions (in no order):
Jimmie Johnson (#48, Lowe's, Hendrick)
Jeff Gordon (#24, DuPont, Hendrick)
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88, AMP/National Guard, Hendrick)
Carl Edwards (#99, Aflac, Roush)
Matt Kenseth (#17, DeWalt, Roush)
Kevin Harvick (#29. Penzoil, Childress)
Jeff Burton (#31, Cingular, Childress)
Kyle Busch (#18, M&M's, Gibbs)
Kurt Busch (#2, Miller Lite, Penske)
Denny Hamlin (#11, FedEx, Gibbs)
Tony Stewart (#14, Office Depot, Stewart/Haas)
Kasey Kahne (#9, Budweiser, Petty)
Rookie-of-the-Year Prediction:
Joey Logano (#20, Home Depot, Gibbs)
Breakout Racer of the Year Prediction:
Jamie McMurray (#26, Crown Royal, Roush)
Daytona 500 Prediction:
Denny Hamlin
2009 Sprint Cup Champion prediction:
Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
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