Back when the Thunder were 3-29 last season, the notion of the playoffs coming to Oklahoma City any time soon was unimaginable.

But it was that same miserable stretch that made general manager Sam Presti confident that coach Scott Brooks was the right man to lead his team into the future.

While Oklahoma City struggled to the worst start in the NBA, Presti was impressed by the way Brooks stayed the course and never tried to force immediate changes in hopes of making the Thunder better. He now has taken the youngest roster in the league and turned the team into a 50-game winner and a playoff team just one season after the horrendous start.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

The Detroit Lions have the 2nd pick in Thursday’s NFL draft, and they face a difficult decision. Believe it or not, the Lions 2-14 record was actually a major improvent on their historical 2008 mark of 0-16. The Lions were actually competitive in a number of games and have something to build on with Matthew Stafford, who at times looked like a star and other times looked like a rookie, and Calvin Johnson who is an absoulte stud. The question for the Lions is who do they take with the #2 pick in the draft. I think you have to narrow it down to two guys, the best offensive lineman in the draft, Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung, and prehaps the best player in this years draft, Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Like nearly every unit on a 2-14 team, the offensive and defensive lines need upgrades, but with Jeff Backus and 2008 first round pick Gosder Cherilus, the Lions are pretty solid at the offensive tackles. The defensive line however, is another story. The Lions ranked 26th in rush defense and 29th in sacks, so their defensive line neither plugged holes nor rushed the passer effectively. For those reasons, Ndamuknog Suh should be the selection. Suh was the most dominant player in college football last season, as he was often double and triple teamed, but was still very productive in one of the top two conferences in college football. Many believe that Suh has the ability to step into the NFL right away and help a team improve, which is something that the Lion’s defense sorely needs. If the Lions take Suh, it will be a big step forward for their defense, as he will be able to anchor that side of the ball for the next decade.

by Josh Weiner at the Sports Fan Blog Network

From the day that the Rams secured the #1 overall pick in Thursday’s NFL draft, there was debate as to who the Rams should take to jumpstart the rebuild of the franchise. Well the answer to this debate should be clear, the Rams must start with a quarterback, and more specifically, Sam Bradford. Look at the teams who have been consistent winners over the past 5 years: the Steelers, Colts, Eagles, Giants, Chargers, Patriots. What do they all have in common? A pro bowl level quarterback. When you have the ability to get a franchise quarterback, you have to take it, especially when you look around the league at the teams that have not been able to have sustained success and it is largely due to subpar quarterback play. The Rams in particular, have been hampered for several years with the likes of an injury plagued Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller, Keith Null, and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Sam Bradford has been given a clean bill of health and if he had declared last year, would have been selected ahead of both Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez. A minor shoulder injury should not scare the Rams away from taking a potential franchise changing player. The NFL is now a pass happy, quarterback driven league, so when Roger Goodell reads the first name from the podium on Thursday night, he better read: Sam Bradford, quarterback, Oklahoma.

It would be nice if they could have closed out the final night of the regular season in finer style.

It would be nice if the Oklahoma City Thunder offered a little more of the way they were playing before and after the All-Star break than they managed down the regular season’s final stretch.

On the other hand, who thought they’d get here so fast? Who thought the Ford Center would be the site of meaningful April basketball?

Wednesday night it was Memphis visiting.

Click here to read the full article – By Clay Horning of The Norman Transcript

About the time the Milwaukee Bucks began making their move toward the playoffs, I saw Herb Kohl at an east-side diner. He was sitting at the counter with a stack of papers.

It being a weekend, I halfway wondered if the senator might be using his free time on the country’s business. When I went over to say hello, I noticed he had been studying box scores.

Never let it be said that Kohl and the team are ever really separated.

That’s always been the good thing and the bad thing about the senator during his 25-year ownership of the Bucks.

When things are going poorly, as they often have, he’s too involved, too meddlesome, even if it is his team, his money and he’s free to do with both as he pleases.

But when things are going as they are at the moment, the low-profile owner never gets credit.

Click here to read the full article – By MICHAEL HUNT of http://www.gazettextra.com

Mark McGwire drew a standing ovation before the Cardinals’ home opener Monday, a clear sign many St. Louis fans have forgiven the former home run king for using steroids.

There was an immediate burst of applause even before the official introduction prior to the game against the Houston Astros. McGwire is the Cardinals’ new hitting coach.
“It’s always exciting here for opening day,” McGwire said before the game. “I’m sure it’s going to be awesome. I’m sure my stomach is going to be turning.”
McGwire was riding in the back of a dark blue flat bed truck around the warning track in the team’s annual procession. He showed up on the jumbo scoreboard just behind manager Tony La Russa and third base coach Jose Oquendo.
Cheers for McGwire dwarfed the response both La Russa and Oquendo received. After bounding out of the truck, he shook hands with Cardinals Hall of Fame Stan Musial.

Click here to read the full article – By R.B. FALLSTROM of The Oakland Tribune

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Randy Wolf’s debut for the Brewers was a success, Casey McGehee and Rickie Weeks homered and Milwaukee beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5 on Tuesday night.

Wolf (1-0) struck out eight in 6 2-3 innings in his first start since signing a $29.75 million, three-year contract in the offseason to bolster Milwaukee’s starting staff.
McGehee and Weeks did their part to help. McGehee hit a three-run homer in the first and Weeks added a solo shot off Rockies starter Greg Smith (0-1) in the fifth.

Trevor Hoffman gave up a run in a rocky ninth for his 592nd career save.
Milwaukee snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Rockies. Colorado’s Ian Stewart hit his second homer in as many days and doubled and tripled.


Click here to read the full article – By COLIN FLY of Associated Press

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Before you even ask, yes — Luke Hochevar’s bruised left ankle is fine.


At least that’s what Hochevar, who starts for the Royals tonight against Detroit, has been saying since he was hit by a line drive in his last outing, an exhibition loss to Texas on Friday.

“It’s not even an issue,” Hochevar said after Monday’s 8-4 loss to Detroit at Kauffman Stadium. “I haven’t felt it since I got hit. There’s no swelling, no bruising.”

It’s a good thing the ankle is the least of his concerns right now. This is clearly a big year for Hochevar, and the last thing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft needs is a distraction. He’s trying to get off to a strong start and put a disappointing 2009 season behind him.

Click here to read the full article – By TEREZ A. PAYLOR of The Kansas City Star

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