Friday, March 12, 2010

Round 2 Picks



Well round 1 is now behind us. And what classic games we had to get to this point. SDSU v CSU will forever live as a classic to everyone. New Mexico got a real fight out of the Academy from Air Force, but were able to hold on. BYU got a much tigher game then I had perdicted. And the Utes fell badly to the home UNLV Rebels Now for round 2 action.




The first game of the day is the New Mexico Lobos going up against the San Diego State Aztecs. Both teams had to play a very hard game to make it to round two. But I'm sure both are ready for today's game. San Diego State would love to beat the Lobos and lock up a spot in the big dance. But New Mexico is out to get a 2 seed in the tourney. I think when its all said and done. The Aztecs will not be able to keep up with the Lobos. Look for a close game though.

My Pick: New Mexico



The final game of the mens day is the BYU Cougars going up against the home UNLV Runnin' Rebels. BYU hit a groove yesterday. With there star Jimmer Ferdette scoring 45 points. UNLV took care of Utah with ease. So look for these two great rivals to clash head to head. I don't see there being a strong favorite here. BYU has struggled with UNLV on there own floor. And UNLV is generally hits a wall after a 5 game win streak. Which they currently have. Both teams will come to play, but BYU is out for the title this year. Not to mention if New Mexico does win the Cougs will want to have another shot at taking down the Lobos, where they were unable to do during the regular season. I see a classic game, ending with a Jimmer Miracle.

My Pick: BYU

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The first round analysis

Well the first round is over. And how crazy it was. Everyone came to play in vegas. The most notable teams weren't hard to find out. But I'll get to them in just a bit.

The first game was the top ranked New Mexico Lobos going up against the Air Force Falcons. This was a very tight game. Both teams were neck to neck all the way to the end. But the Lobos star Darington Hobson carried his team past the pesky Falcons. Leading to the Lobos first round win 75-69.

The next game was probably in my opinion the best game played today. By far if I might add. The San Diego State Aztecs went up against the Colorado State Rams. Both teams were here to play. Both teams wanted to find a way to play the Lobos. But sadly, only one team could win. I have to let the ESPN.com writer explain how the craziness went down. "D.J. Gay sank two free throws with 23 seconds left and Travis Busch missed a desperation runner at the buzzer as San Diego State edged Colorado State 72-71

Gay was fouled by Travis Franklin with 23 seconds left and sank both to put San Diego State on top 72-71. The Rams, called a timeout with 18 seconds remaining to set up their final play. However, Dorian Green threw the ball away under the basket with 6.7 seconds left.

After San Diego State guard Chase Tapley missed the front end of a 1-and-1 with 5 seconds left, Franklin rebounded and got the ball to Busch, whose off-balance shot misfired as the buzzer sounded."

The Aztecs will play the Lobos at 7pm.

The third game was the TCU Horned Frogs going up against the BYU Cougars. The game was very tight during the first half. It went back and forth and back and forth. But when the pushing came to shove, Jimmer Ferdette stepped up to the plate. Jimmer didn't play his best B-ball today, but that didn't keep him from scoring 45 points today. It was very, very close. But when the buzzer sounded, BYU was on top with a 95-85 win. BYU also set a broke the 60 year old record for wins in a single season.

The final game of the day was The UNLV Rebels going up against the Utah Utes. This was the hardest game for me to call. And I was wrong. I had predicted the Utes pulling out a very strong win to face BYU. But UNLV had other plans, letting the U shoot 30% in the entire game. Leading to a UNLV blow out. I don't even need to tell you the final score. The real issue here isn't that I picked wrong, but that UNLV has a very unfair advantage and I'd like to see someone put a stop to it. UNLV gets the special gift of playing on there home floor every, single, year. Why can't the games be played at a different site? Like the previous years tourney champs, or regular season champs? Or even better, a neutral location. UNLV having there home fans and being in there own building is a advantage that I don't agree with, and I really am hoping for the change to come sooner than later.

The UNLV Rebels will face BYU at 930 tomorrow. I will have my picks up tomorrow/later today

The MWC Tourney Picks



Hello, and I kind of am late starting this since the main tourney starts in a few hours. But none the less, I am here with my picks for the first round of action of the Mountain West Tournament.





First game of the day is the #1 seed New Mexico Lobos playing the Air Force Falcons. Air Force is coming off a solid win over Wyoming yesterday and has to be feeling good about themselves. The only issue is exactly that. They played there hearts out yesterday to get to today, and New Mexico (whos very hard to beat when tired) is fully rested and ready. Look for Air Force to use there interesting style of Substituting to keep them in the game for the first part, but when the second half comes around it will be all Lobos.

My Pick: Lobos












Next is going to be the San Diego State Aztecs battling the Colorado State Rams. Both teams are coming in ready to play, both are looking for a huge win. But when push comes to shove I see the team who wants it more to prevail. San Diego State is sitting right on the bubble to be the 4th MWC team to make the tourney. If they can get past CSU and play a strong game vs New Mexico they can seal there fate in the big dance. Colorado State had a pretty good year but there still looking NIT bound at the best even with a win here.

My Pick: Aztecs







This is for obvious reasons the game I'm very excited to watch. My BYU Cougars going up against the sneaky TCU Horned Frogs.
BYU has already sealed its spot in the tourney, where TCU would have to win the whole tournament to get into the dance. BYU swept TCU in the regular season; beating them by 20 at home in Provo, and just 5 days ago beating them in Fort Worth by 30. BYU has more talent, and has more to play for with the chance of a higher seed in the dance if they win the tourney. I see the high flying Cougars rolling past the Horned Frogs by atleast 20. But look for Dave Rose to pull his starters early if this game looks like a blow out to save some energy.

My Pick: BYU





And of coarse the night will end with the Utah Utes facing the home UNLV Rebels. I give Utah all the credit in the world, they had a good year. They shocked the nation beating Illinois earlier this year. And they came into Vegas and beat the Rebels on there own floor in January. Not to mention that Utah has beaten UNLV in the SLC in February. The bias problem in this game is that UNLV is home. And they always have been, so they always have a home crowd advantage. This is by far the hardest game to call. Utah has done pretty well against UNLV, but UNLV is fighting to stay in the big dance. UNLV is on a 4 game win streak, whereas Utah has lost there last 2 (home vs BYU, At CSU) This will be a fun game to watch. But even with my BYU pride at risk, and 4 teams in the big dance, I see Utah pulling the home upset

My Pick: Utah

Well those are my picks, check back tomorrow for my next round picks and my analysis of todays games.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

A Saint and A Sinner

This is my english paper on compare and contrast. I don't have the final on this computer so I will submit the rough draft which isn't all that bad. I did it on the worlds view on a person thats a "saint" and does the right things. And there opposite "sinners" who we as society look down at. But as your read you'll see what I'm talking about.

A Sinner and A Saint

The world we live in is a very interesting place. We have set a moral standard on what is right, and what is wrong. We believe that the path to choose is the path laid before us. The path that our superiors, and our own personal religions, have stated is the “correct” path. But I am here to open everyones eyes that there are many things about sinners and saints that are not considered. My questions are who is really the sinner? And who is really the saint? And what differences exist between them? But most of all, what similarities exist that we may tend to overlook?

The sinner is generally known to society as the person who has chosen the “wrong” path. Who has made choices in his or her life that has led them to commit a sin. By repeating such actions, or doing other sins, the person gains the title of a sinner. Whereas a saint is known as the perfect person; who does everything correct to societies norm. They are in general looked up upon in society, for living such a close to perfection life.

The most commonly thought of difference is, that a sinner goes to a hell, or a outer darkness because the incorrect choices they have made. This is because we as a society, and in our own personal religions, have decided what is considered wrong and right. The consequence for committing a sin, or a wrong choice, is that we end up in state of unhappiness. That we could call a never ending case of terror, and bad karma. Where a saint goes to a heaven, or a kingdom of happiness from making all of the correct choices. This is also led by the consequence we as a society have made for doing what we consider to be the correct behavior. The choice of doing what is right is rewarded with eternal happiness. Depending on your own personal beliefs you will look at what your happiness details. But in general terms, it is a state of never ending enjoyment.

Another common difference between the two is, a saint is considered to be selfless,where he/she thinks of other peoples needs, wants, and desires before they think of there own. Where a sinner is considered to be all about his/herself. There desires are all about what they want, they don't see the needs of others of there own concern, but of someone else.

When a person is caught committing a sin, the people around them start a mental process of degrading the individual. By degrading them, the individual is then looked, and treated differently. But when the saint is found doing a good deed for someone, they are treated with great honor and respect. Everyone will want to become more like the select individual. Because its the example we're given to be more like.

In more general terms, the sinner is known as the type of person who has no reason, with low morals. When the idea of something bad happening, the select individual is the person most generally thought of. A great example of this is not very hard to find. When you here the word terrorists, you will tend to think of Iraq, or Afghanistan terrorists. But the reality is, there are terrorists everywhere, even in the United States. The saint is known for the person who won't participate in any activity that they have chosen to be against there own morals or beliefs.

Although there are many differences between a sinner and a saint. They also have some similar qualities in them. The most notable being, that both being a sinner and a saint is a choice. Whether you make the declared correct or incorrect choice is irrelevant. The fact that becoming one, or another could be made by either one, makes them closer to one another. The most important thing to note is that being a sinner, and a saint, is all a independently made choice. Choice is a key aspect to being one or another, due to the fact that we make choices every day.

Both a sinner and a saint are doing what they feel is right for them. The title is applied because of how we as a society look at the actions. But in reality, both a sinner and a saint are going down there own paths that they chose for themselves. The idea here is, a sinner is making the choice to commit actions that is looked down upon. Because they feel it's what they want to do with there lives. The same is true for a saint. They are choosing to do what we look upward upon. Because it's what they feel is the way they want to live there lives.

When the thought of a sinner and a saint comes to mind; we tend to forget the main reason why they chose to be a sinner, or a saint. The reason is through the power of temptation. The sinner receives the temptation to go against society and commit a negative action. A very common example is, drinking alcohol at a party, or premarital sex. Where the saint receives the temptation to stay away from the sins of the world. For example staying home, or going somewhere else when there is a party. Or going to help someone they see that is in need. So by the end, both the sinner, and saint receive there own version of temptation.

Through being so different, both a sinner and a saint are alike. Whether they are a sinner, or a saint, they are the extreme. They're are not a fence sitter where they are trying to be both, they've become the extreme of either choice. They have become the most they can be. Without this similarity the difference wouldn't exist. Because if the extremes didn't exist, everyone would be a fence sitter. Which gets no one anywhere.

But in the end, the fact is that we are all sinners, and we are all saints. We all make mistakes that cause others to look at us in a negative way. But we also make correct decisions that lead to people looking up at us. We all receive both negative, and positive temptation every single day. No one is even close to being a perfect person. No one lives the perfect life, we all have are own problems that lead to our own sin. We also however, try to be as perfect as we possibly can. Although the task is impossible, we all try to be the perfect son or daughter to our parents. We all try to be the best we can around our friends and family. The reason for such actions is of a different topic. But by the end we all need to realize we are all the sinner, and we are all the saint.