JC Sports Nation

College Football Debate

2009-11-14T20:02:00.003-06:00

College football is coming to a close. Florida is still #1 and hasn't lost. . . yet. The University of Florida can't win ANOTHER title with Tim Tebow. Some team needs to kick gator butt and win the BCS Championship game. Alabama or Texas has a good chance. But the more you think about it, nobody can.

Remember when President Barack Obama thought it would be best to have a playoff system for college football instead of bowl games? I think a playoff system is a great idea.

Someone could upset #1 Florida!

I think college football is a lot more fun to watch than NFL. I mean everybody loves the Super Bowl, but players in the NFL make the game look so easy it's somewhat boring. I'll admit the playoffs are exciting to watch, but other than that, I'll pass on watching NFL football on a Sunday afternoon.

Some teams in college football, don't get much attention. For example, Boise State, Utah, TCU, and Texas A&M.

Boise State always have a great winning season, but because they're in the WAC they won't EVER be in the championship game.

Utah was undefeated last year and got SOME credit for beating Alabama.

TCU has been a terrific football program for awhile, but hasn't played a tough team in a bowl game.

Texas A&M has had their ups and downs, but overall has kept a steady football. They made a good choice firing their old coach a couple years ago and ever since, has been pretty good.

I can't wait for the bowl games to start! So, fasten your seatbelt because Florida, Texas, and Alabama are winning!

USC Brotherhood

2009-10-16T17:57:00.001-05:00

The University of Southern California have always had a talented football program. It's because of Coach Pete Carroll. Believe it or not, he plays pranks on the players. One time, he made sure every player got tested for a disease that was very contagious. The USC football team were very nervous. Later, Carrol told everybody he was kidding and all the players were relieved. This is why USC football has brotherhood. Almost every college football season, the team excels. I'm not a big fan of the trojans, but I admire how everybody works together as one unit. Other football programs such as: Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, and LSU.

Pete Carroll will most likely be a long remebered coach. He knows the game of football so well it's second nature to him.

2008 Season: 12-1 (8-1 Conference Record)
2007 Season: 11-2 (7-2 Conference Record)
2006 Season: 11-2 (7-2 Conference Record)

If you make the USC football team, that's quite an accomplishment. If you make the team, it's great to playing Division-I College Football, but it's great that you can be a part of USC brotherhood.

Photo Source

NBA Basketball Tip-Off!

2009-10-02T13:13:00.001-05:00

The NBA Season is about to start. We're all excited. Except for the Grizzlies.

Lebron James is the top story right now. Is he going to get traded or not? Does he want to stay with the Cavs or not? It's quite confusing, but I think he'll get traded. He's been with Cleveland for awhile and its time to go. And after reading the news, I saw this article about underpaid athletes and King James is one of them. If you want to read more, click here.

Now the Lakers. People don't want to mention the Lakers because. . . they win! It's really embarrasing to see my favorite team (Utah Jazz) get beat by those Kobe Followers. The Lakers lineup is all about giving Kobe the ball. Yes Kobe Bryant is the Princess of the NBA. But this year, it's going to be a whole new ball game because Phil Jackson decided to sign Ron Artest. Artest is. . .well you know what I mean. You should take a look back to the 1997-1998 Lakers. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant were on the same team. Not to mention Derek Fisher. The LA Lakers played well during that season and finished #1 in the Division. But what the heck happened to them in the playoffs? I'll tell you: The Utah Jazz swept the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1997-1998 Western Conference Finals. That is quite an accomplishment for the Jazz and Jerry Sloan.

The most exciting player to watch in NBA Basketball would have to be Lebron James. Now I'm not just saying this because I think he's an ace at shooting, but James is a team player. Is Kobe? I think not. Just to see Lebron drive to the hoop, or make a buzzer beater, is an amazing sight. And this NBA season is going to be fun to watch.

Photo Source: NBC Sports

Red Sox, Yankees, or Cardinals?

2009-09-12T21:26:00.002-05:00

Major League Baseball is all about winning. It's about the players, the coaches, the fans, and maybe even the mascots. But, every team has a manager and every team wants to win, but which pro baseball team is the best right now?

1. Boston Red Sox
Terry Francona is the reason why this ball club excels. I know that they got rid of some good players in '04, but the Bosox still have a decent team. Although, they can't seem to beat the Yankees, but I'll tell you this: the Yankees will not get far in the playoffs.

David Ortiz did not take steroids. I know he didn't. At his press conference, we could all tell he was telling the truth.

Overall, The Red Sox will always have a great team.

2. New York Yankees
Even though, I'm a die hard red sox fan, I still continue to think that the Yanks aren't as good as they used to be. Once they got rid of Andy Petite, Roger Clemens, and many more, this team couldn't find a chance to win. Don't get me wrong that Derek Jeter is a fantastic hitter, but Joe Giradi has that ugly stare you never want to see. The Yankees have been good at times, but I really don't think they'll achieve in the '09-'10 season.

3. St. Louis Cardinals

Albert Pujols is a superb batter. I say that a lot, but it's true. Mark McGuire was also a terrific hitter, but he took steroids and everybody knows about it. I think the Cards have a good chance of winning another world series only if they keep it together.

So, these are the MLB teams I thought were the best right now. What do you think? Feel free to send me a comment at jaxon.pointguard@gmail.com

Photo Source: Mass Live, News Day, and Baseball Evolution.

Ryan Howard vs Albert Pujols

2009-08-29T14:10:00.002-05:00

Ryan Howard was born to play baseball. He stands 6'4'' 240 lbs and hits upper deck home runs. He was the fastest person ever to reach 100 HR. He was the MVP of the 2008 World Series. He is a leader for the Philadelphia Philles. The list goes on. Ever look at his stats? Pretty amazing, right?

Howard stays focused when batting and hits the baseball with great power. Ryan Howard has excelled over the years. But when he was a rookie, Howard played like a veteran. I know he might strike out alot, but you just watch and find out.

Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters in the league. He has a superb swing and can field like Dustin Pedroia. Pujols career batting average is over .330 and doesn't strike out as much as Ryan Howard.

Let's look back, when Mark McGuire played for St. Louis. The fans loved him. He hit homers like any other athlete would, but Mark knew deep inside that he was cheating. So my question is, "Has Pujols taken steriods?" I say no.

Who's better? Albert Pujols is better because he has a better swing and doesn't strike out as much as Ryan Howard.

Photo Sources: SI and ESPN

'09 College Football Breakdown

2009-08-19T13:06:00.001-05:00

The 2009-2010 college football season is ready to start. The coaches are excited and the players are psyched. But the fans. . .Oh that's another story. Some teams may struggle, but there's only one champion!

JC Sports Nation Top 10 Preseason Rankings

1. Florida

2. Oklahoma

3. Texas

4. Ohio State

5. USC

6. LSU

7. Penn State

8. Alabama

9. California
10. Oregon

The University of Florida is a team I really enjoy watching. Tim Tebow has proved to be a phenomenal

quarterback and Urban Meyer is a great coach. I think Florida has a really good chance of winning

another title. They've already one 2 championships and Tim Tebow has won the Heisman. So

can Florida repeat? I say yes.

In Division-I College Football, which division is the strongest?

Now when people ask you this question, you need to say the Big 12. It's obvious. Texas. Oklahoma. Oklahoma State. Texas Tech. And we won't forget Texas A&M. Remember, the aggies have beaten

the Texas Longhorns two years in a row. And when they did that, Texas was ranked in the Top 25. I've seen many sports reporters say the SEC is a much stronger conference, but Georgia and LSU didn't play well last year. Texas finished with a solid record and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford threw 50 touchdowns and won the Heisman. I know Florida is in the SEC, but overall, the Big 12 has the strongest conference.

Photo Sources: Orbitcast and NY Times

One on One Interview with Michael McCullough

2009-08-11T13:43:00.000-05:00

Michael McCullough is currently the executive vice-president for the Miami Heat. We met at the Reebok Summer Championships and there I asked him some questions.

How did you become the vice-president of the Miami Heat?
Michael: I've been in the NBA for about 22 years. I started in Sacramento and then went to New York for 2 years to work for the NBA. After that, I returned to Sacramento for 6 years and came back to Miami in 1997 and stayed ever since.

Do you think the NBA will have a team overseas? If so, when?

Michael: Probably. But it will push for traveling. The commissioner David Stern, wants to. Europe's a really good place for the NBA so yes.

Is sports management a good career?

Michael: To me it's the next best thing to playing. I love being around the game. The excitement is great.

Who do you think is the best player on your team?
Michael: Dwayne Wade totally. He’s one of the best players on our team and one of the best players in the league. He can also shoot the ball when you're down. Everyone knows Dwayne Wade is gonna take the shot. So he takes it and makes it.

Next season (2009-2010), do you think the Heat will make the playoffs? Why?
Michael: Yes. But it'll be tough. The East is getting stronger, but have Wade, Chalmers, Beasly, Jermaine O'Neal, and James Jones. Their all good shooters. You need to have good shooters when you have Dwayne Wade because once he penetrates, our shooters need to make their outside shot.

JCSN: Do you have a stronger lineup than years before?
Michael: We are better then we were last year and clearly better two years ago. But the '06 NBA Champs had a very strong lineup because then we had veterans and everything clicked in 2006. We had a lot of leadership. That's what helped. And now, we have a young dynamic team.

Do you think Erik Spoelstra is doing a good job at coaching?
Michael: Yes. Very much so. Just a rookie last year. He relates to the players very well. Just a student of the game of basketball. Erik studies the game and is just a great coach.

What is the best thing to do for trying out for a basketball team?
Michael: Figure out your best skill. If you're point guard, make sure you can handle the ball terrifically. Also make sure you can bring the ball up the press and give the ball to your teammate to score.

In the 2008-2009 season, did you think Dwayne Wade should've won the MVP Award?
Michael: I would've loved him to win. But Lebron had a phenomenal season and his team had a better record. If you have a better record, that can help you win it. What Wade did for us, was more important than Lebron.

Is Pat Riley a good president for the Miami Heat?
Michael: Great. He's great because he's Pat Riley. Everyone knows who he is. Everyone wants to come to Miami. People want to play for him. You can always respect of what he's done and
accomplished.

Michael has a son named Mackenzie McCullough. I watched him play at the Reebok Summer Championships and managed to ask him one question.

What college do you want to attend?

Mackenzie: Pennsylvania. Because they have good academics.

Jaxon: Thank you for your time.

Michael: Thank you.

Photo Source: NBA

Lance Armstrong- A Legend in Professional Cycling

2009-07-29T15:39:00.001-05:00

There's Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Michael Phelps, Andre Agassi, and many more spectacular athletes we know about. But we're forgetting one important person: Lance Armstrong. He's the world's best professional biker by winning the Tour De France seven times consecutively. Even though he battled with cancer, it didn't stop him from biking. He didn't just go about winning, he spent long, tough hours practicing. This might seem obvious, but it's true. When you want to play a sport, go for it. Don't think you're not good enough because it takes a lot of time to get better. When Michael Phelps won the eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he didn't swim every other day, he swam every day to improve his swimming strokes. That way, your body can handle it. Practice might seem simple, but it's not. Athletes spend most of their time practicing, not playing video games and watching television.

Lets go back to Armstrong. After winning the Tour, many people accused him of using steroids. Lance took a test and the results were negative. What does this show? Lance simply isn't a cheater like other athletes.

Recently, I saw him run the 2008 Boston Marathon. He was covered by cameras, but I could still barely see him.

It's not set in stone, but I've heard Lance Armstrong may return and bike in the 2010 Tour De France. The question is, "Will Lance win?" It's a tough decision. People this year said he would, but he fell short and finished in 3rd. So, it's a matter of opinion.

I'll just say this: Lance Armstrong has a really good chance of winning the 2010 Tour De France.

Photo Source: Go Game Face

JC Sports Nation Interviews Chris Ricci

2009-07-07T11:00:00.001-05:00

It was very convenient to interview Chris Ricci. He and Mike Folkestad, stayed with me for some time and were nice enough to let me interview both of them. Here, JC Sports Nation interviews co-angler Chris Ricci.

You've been one of the top co-anglers in the west, what do you attribute to achieving this?

Chris Ricci: We call it tow. It stands for time on the water. I'm very fortunate to have a practice partner (Mike Folkestad) who is a legend in the sport of bass fishing. We spend over 300 days in the water between practicing and tournament fishing.

What are your major accomplishments in pro bass fishing?

Chris: In 2007, I won Angler of the Year in the WON Bass Wandering Division. In May of 2008, I won the FLW National Guard Lake Mead tournament. I'm also a 5-time FLW Stren Championship qualifier and this year I qualified in the FLW World Championship for the Forest Wood Cup. It will start in the beginning of August in Pittsburgh.

What's the total amount of money you've won in your career?

Chris: $50,000.00 and $45,000.00 of that, is from the FLW circuits. And that's from the back of the boat! [laugh]

What are your other interests besides bass fishing?

Chris: Bass fishing is my passion. It consumes 99.99% of the time. Half the time I don't even know what's going on in the world. I'm on the water at daybreak and off by dusk. By the time I eat and shower it's time for bed at 9 o'clock pm. It leaves little time for anything else including the news.

What's your favorite style of fishing?

Chris: My favorite style, technique I would have to say Finesse fishing. It's a light line and requires small plastics.

What are your sponsors?

Chris: Thank you for giving me the opportunity to thank my sponsors. My heart felt thanks goes out to Canyon Plastics, Big Bite, Bayou Tackle, Solar Bats and AL-E-Baby Swim Baits.

Jaxon: Thanks for the time, Chris.

Chris: It's been a pleasure, thank you.

Mike Folkestad Interview

2009-07-03T10:26:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate to sit down with legendary pro bass angler Mike Folkestad and asked him some questions. I thought it was a good choice to have him be our first guest. He gave me some insights to the sport of bass fishing.

How many years have you been a pro bass fishermen?
Mike Folkestad: 35 years.

The public perceives fishing as someone sitting on the bank, casting a line and drinking a soda. What are your thoughts?
Mike: It's totally the opposite. We have weight training, a good diet, resting, focusing, reading, and we have to study maps of the lakes. Instead of them having one rod, we have ten fishing poles with a variety of fishing lures. We aren't allowed to use live bait. We have fishing boats that go 75 mph, we're standing up all day, and we have to run the Trolling Motor with one foot while fishing. I fish about 20-50 areas a day.

Why do a pro bass anglers have fast boats?
Mike: You need to take advantage of the time consumed moving from spot to spot. If your line isn't in the water, we can't catch any bass.

How did you get into professional bass fishing?
Mike: I grew with the sport in the west when it started in 1974. I also watched it grow from a $600.00 pay day, to $125,000.00 pay day in the Western U.S. And today, the largest pay day is 1 million dollars for winning the FLW World Championship.

What is the biggest tournament you have ever won?
Mike: The US Open.

What's the biggest fish you have ever caught?
Mike: 17 lbs 4 oz. I caught the fish in Clear Lake, California.

What are your sponsors?
Mike: Ranger boats, Mercury Motors, Motor Guide, Daiwa, Rods and Reels, Angler Marine, RoboWorm, and Open Water.

What was the biggest amount of money you won in a tournament?
Mike: $125,000.00

Do you have any favorite fishing lakes?
Mike: The Delta in California because it has constant water levels, good spawn survival, and great forage base due to the amount of grass in the Delta. And 40 pound limits are not uncommon. Another lake I like is Lake Falcon in Texas. The lake has high water levels and has a lot of brush so, the fish can hide.

Why do you like bass fishing?
Mike: I always just loved to fish. My dad fished and taught me a few things. When I was old enough, he would leave me on the dock to fish with a pail of worms. I would catch blue gill.

What's your favorite fishing method?
Mike: Structure and Finesse.

What's your favorite fishing rod?
Mike: Daiwa Steez. It feels like a feather in your hands. It's light and sensitive and has plenty of power.

What's your favorite reel?
Mike: Daiwa Steez also because it's the lightest reel on the market. It has great casting ability and smooth drag.

How do you obtain sponsorships?
Mike: It would be through your visibility in the bass fishing world. And through your tournament success, articles about you, photos, magazines, t.v. interviews, and radio. I'm glad you asked this question because I have an article coming out soon on my website. (MikeFolkestad.net)

Jaxon: Thank you for your time.

Mike Folkstad: Thank you, Jaxon.

Remembering Baseball's Greatest Athlete

2009-06-23T16:17:00.000-05:00

The nation knows Jackie Robinson as an African-American sports player. He and his family were often mistreated because they were an African-American family. They lived in a white community that hated black people. When the town opened a public swimming pool, blacks weren't allowed to swim.

When Jackie was a teenager, he and his friends formed the Pepper Street Gang. They didn't particapate in anything violent, they were all just trouble.

Jackie had talent in many different sports. In high school, Jack played football as the starting quarterback and also played basketball, baseball, tennis, and track. Robinson attended a junior college in Pasadena,California, but then transferred to UCLA. He left after two years and in 1942, Jack was drafted into the army.

To the left, is Jackie Robinson as a Kansas City Monarch

In 1945, Robinson liked baseball the best so, he tried out for the Kansas City Monarchs. The Monarchs were impressed, and decided to sign him. Jack was pleased with the fact that he was playing baseball, but their was great discrimination to black people. Whenever, he walked into a hotel or restaurant, he was told to leave. Jackie was also sent threatening letters that didn't help. After playing in the minors, he was moved up to play with the Brooklyn Dodgers. There, he lead his team to win 6 National League Championships and the 1955 World Series. Later in 1962, Jackie Robinson was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Robinson inspired the whole nation with his good attitude and his tremendous amount of courage. JC Sports Nation thinks he's one of the best ever to play professional baseball. When it comes to being a great role model, think of Jackie Robinson, a man that was discriminated, but still stood up for his rights.

My Experience at Fenway Park

2009-06-18T15:10:00.001-05:00

On June 17th, I visited Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. I was sitting in the 37th section of the bleachers. It was an incredible experience due to the unbelievable players that played well. The Boston Red Sox pulled off a 6-1 victory over the Florida Marlins that night. It was Fenway Park's 500th consecutive sellout game. I was extremely lucky to attend a historic sports event.

Fenway Park is America's most beloved ballpark. It's home to many hopeful fans. When a sports player hits a home run, there's complete pandemonium. When Kevin Youkilis steps up to the plate, fans scream, "Yooooouuuuuk!"

I would like to see the Red Sox play the New York Yankees in Boston because it's one of the biggest rivalry in sports history.

When you get a chance to see Boston, buy Bosox tickets. Their not your average baseball team.

Photo Taken by Jaxon Curtis

Which NBA Team has the Best Franchise?

2009-06-13T18:46:00.000-05:00

Larry Bird. Magic Johnson. Michael Jordan. Surely you've heard of these sports players. Well, which NBA team has the best franchise? JC Sports Nation ranks the top 3 best
franchises below.

Please feel free to comment and tell JC Sports Nation your opinion.

1. Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtic s are arguably the best franchise in sports. They have the most NBA championships (17) and have had 31 Hall-of-Famers. The Celtics had multiple winning seasons due to basketball phenomenons like Bill Russel, Larry Bird, John Havlicek, and Danny Ainge. The Celtics went on to win three titles in a row during the 1980's with sharpshooter Larry Bird. This ball club had Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen to lead them to their 17th Championship in 2008. Overall, this team has proven to be the best.

2. Los Angeles Lakers

People think the Los Angeles Lakers should be the #1 franchise in the NBA. Well, I think differently. The Lakers are a fantastic basketball team, but shouldn't be #1. The Lakers don't have terrific shooters like Larry Bird and John Havlicek, but they did have the all-time leading scorer Kareem-Abdul Jabbar. He had a hook shot that was impossible to block, but that doesn't prove much, except for the fact it went in most of the time. Magic Johnson had a decent jump shot, but can't match Larry Bird's. LA has the 2nd most NBA titles (15) and has the most wins (2,905). The Lakers are a terrific team, but can't match the talent of the Boston Celtics.

3. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are a team that people enjoy watching. When NBA fans think of the Bulls, Michael Jordan comes to their mind. Michael was a fan-favorite to almost everybody. He was a good role-model and finished with mind-blowing dunks. After his retirement, Chicago wasn't as good and had multiple losing seasons. Luckily, they got the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. They selected young Derrick Rose. He won the Rookie of the Year and helped his team accomplish by making the 2009 NBA Playoffs. It was disappointing because they lost to the Boston Celtics. I think the Chicago Bulls will continue to win because of their young talented players.

Who's better: Deron Williams or Chris Paul?

2009-05-18T16:41:00.000-05:00

There has been many disagreements between Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Some people think Paul is a much better athlete because of his speed. Other fans, think Williams is more talented due to his shooting ability. Here, JC Sports Nation gives their opinion on who is better.

Deron Williams

Deron Williams has developed into a terrific point guard. He has a killer crossover and a superior jump shot. His versatility to pass the ball is incredible. Other point guards such as: Tony Parker and Devin Harris could have a difficult time guarding Deron because of his size. Deron is larger and more powerful than the average pointguard in the NBA. Deron Williams excels in ball handling, but isn't fast enough to beat Chris Paul. Williams is not only good at shooting, but is an excellent defender. He probably doesn't grab steals like Paul, but is becoming a superb defensive player. Overall, Deron is turning into a great leader for the Utah Jazz.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul, is the fan-favorite to most NBA fans. Without a doubt, his quickness on the court is superior to Williams. This superstar, was born to play professional basketball. Chris makes the game look easy. He puts up stellar numbers in games, but could improve his jump shot. CP3 provides great leadership for the Hornets, but can tend to have a flashy attitude. Brandon Roy would be an excellent match up for Chris Paul. Both have blazing speed and either one can handle the ball like nobodies business. In my perspective, Chris won't improve his game enough to be more of a value to the Hornets as Williams is to the Jazz.

Bottom Line

Deron Williams is the better point guard because of his size and strength.

Please feel free to comment and tell JC Sports Nation your opinion.

What do USA basketball Players do besides basketball?

2009-05-02T15:10:00.000-05:00

I never would have thought they'd eat fast food!

For more Chris Bosh videos, his Youtube Channel is: cboshtv

Isiah Thomas Has a New Coaching Job

2009-04-16T18:27:00.000-05:00

Isiah Thomas has a excellent resume. With three winning seasons as the Pacers head coach and two losing seasons with the New York Knicks, he has really helped both franchises. He played point guard for the Detroit Pistons (1981-1994), so that's where he gets his experience.

Florida International decided to sign Thomas because he has a unique coaching style. Although he did struggle a lot with the Knicks, he's learned from his mistakes and still win.

Sportscenter interviewed Thomas and he the former Knicks coach replied, "I truly love the game of basketball." When he signed a 5 year contract with FIU, he decided to donate his salary to the university! He simply said he made a lot of money in the NBA so, he doesn't want to get paid. Isiah is very unselfish because he's willing to not get paid for the work he does. JC Sports Nation, knows for a fact he'll will take FIU to the NCAA Tournament twice and in four years, then he'll will be fired. This will be interesting, due to his NBA coaching experience. Another thing Isiah said was, "It is going to be a great opportunity because the football program is progressing and the baseball program is progressing and the basketball team has great potential."

Florida International has reached the NCAA Tournament once in 1995 and have had NBA exports like: Raja Bell and Carlos Arroyo. Is this the right choice for Isiah Thomas? Should he have stayed coaching in the NBA? Will he lead FIU to the NCAA Tournament?

Quote Source: SportsCenter

JC Sports Nation: Dustin Pedroia Profile

2009-04-11T09:25:00.000-05:00

Name: Dustin Pedroia

Born: 08/17/1983

Height: 5'9''

Weight: 180 lb

College: Arizona State

Throws: Right

Bats: Right

Team: Red Sox

Awards: 2008 AL MVP,

2007 Rookie of the year,

Silver Slugger Award, Gold

Glove Award

Sources: www.mlb.com

Recruiting Seventh Graders

2009-04-10T20:47:00.000-05:00

For all you seventh graders, if you get a call on your cell phone from a college basketball coach offering you a PS3, don't be surprised. Yes, it's true, college recruiters are bribing middle school students with expensive gadgets just to play for the university's team. NCAA recruiters watch these young basketball stars during basketball camps at ages as young as twelve. They scout middle school students for one reason: winning. In every sport it's all about winning, no matter what happens. If they get 7th graders to commit to their university at an early age, they won't be able to apply to a different college.

Now remember, once you decide on what college you're going to play for, there's no backing out of the offer. You can't apply to a different college because you already committed to play there when you were young. Recruiters obviously want you to be on their basketball team. They could really care less about your grades. If you have all D's in your academics, they would still allow you to play for their team. Therefore, once they accomplish this, you help them win and that goes to winning an NCAA Championship.

Lets say for example that Billy Wright was a distinguished shooting guard. He grew up in California and had college recruiters following him. He got a call from a recruiter one day and he bribed Billy. The next day, there was a brand new ''Birdhouse'' skateboard on his doorstep. He then committed to playing at USC. When Billy turned 22, he decided he didn't want to play for USC instead, he decided to apply to Arizona. Billy couldn't do this so he had to attend USC. So, my point is don't make promises on where you're going to college, because you never know when you might change your mind. Now this example isn't true, but it does have a point.

Has the NCAA pushed its limits and gone too far? What do you think of recruiting 7th graders? How would your parents react if you got a call from a college recruiter? Would this help the coaches have a stronger lineup?

Sources: ''How Low Can Coaches Go?'' By Phil Taylor.

JC Sports Nation: The Utah Jazz

2009-04-08T16:41:00.000-05:00

The Utah Jazz always have a hard time playing the LA Lakers. Obviously, they just can't stop Kobe, but they haven't been to the NBA Finals since the 1998 season. Will the Jazz ever get to the Finals? Jerry Sloan (coach) has led Utah to the playoffs 18 out of the 21 seasons he has coached. The Jazz have also been .500 or better in 25 of the last 26 seasons. People think the Jazz are underrated. Is this true? No. The Jazz had NBA Greats on their team such as: Karl Malone the "Mailman" and John Stockton. Stockton has the most steals and assists in NBA History and Karl Malone is the 4th on the all-time list for scoring.

There has been trade rumors on Carlos Boozer being traded. I don't think Boozer will get traded because the Jazz depend on him in the playoffs. With Deron Williams averaging 19 points a game along with a dazzling 10 assists per game, this team is capable of winning.

JC Sports Nation: Red Sox Nation

2009-04-01T14:34:00.002-05:00

People often refer Boston to Red Sox Nation. That is correct. The team has broken the 86 year old ''curse'' in 2004 and have won it again in 2007. If you ever go to Red Sox game in FENWAY PARK, make sure their playing the Yankees so you can you can witness the biggest rivalry in MLB history! Red Sox ace Daisuke Matsusaka, (6'0 and 180 lbs), can strike out almost anyone in the league. Bosox pitcher, Jon Lester, has also thrown 1 no-hitter after cancer. These two pitchers, have done quite an accomplishment for Red Sox Nation. Clay Buchholz, is likely headed to Triple-A so, don't count on him pitching any time soon. The fan-favorite for the Red Sox is Dustin Pedroia. The slugger won the 2007 AL MVP and helped the Sox win 95 games in the 2008 season. The Red Sox have won 2 World Series in 4 years. Overall, this organization has turned into a superior team.