2009 United States Open

The 2009 United States Open at Bethpage Black has been a mess so far. The two players currently in first and second, Ricky Barnes and Lucas Glover, have alot of potential but no experience leading a Major Championship. Masters Champion Mike Weir is in third place. Johnny Miller has been browbeating NBC Weatherman Al Roker on the air. There is still a chance a top "name" player like Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk, or Tiger Woods could win the Championship.

Ricky Barnes is from Stockton California and he played golf at the University of Arizona. Barnes won the National Amateur Golf Championship in 2001. He is ranked 197th on the PGA Tour Money List for 2009. In 2008 he was ranked 25th on the Nationwide Tour Money List. Barnes is a powerful and agressive player who comes from a solid athletic family. His father was a Punter for the New England Patriots and his brother played golf at the University of Arizona in the late 1990's. His brother is his caddie this week. As a former caddie(U.S Public Links National Amateur in 1996. My player made it to the sweet 16) the importance of having a good caddie cannot be over-stated. Barnes has the pedigree, the potential, and the support to continue his success. As the pressure grows Barnes may need alot of support from his brother to remain in contention.

Lucas Glover graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a degree in Communications Studies. He turned professional in 2001. Glover is 32nd on the PGA Tour Money List for 2009. He had made 11 out of 14 cuts on the PGA Tour this year. Earlier this year Glover came in 2nd at the Quail Hollow Championship at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte North Carolina. Avid fans of the PGA Tour know who Glover is but he was not named as a potential winner(the pundits had given this Championship to Tiger Woods)before the tournament started. Glover has the talent to stay in contention throughout the weekend but his experience leading a Major Championship on the weekend is minimal.

NBC Golf Analyst Johnny Miller is probably the best in the business. The problem is that he knows that he is the best. At one point during the broadcast on Saturday Al Roker who was working on his day off(he explained to Johnny on the air)explained that he thought Thunderstorms would halt play in the afternoon on Saturday. Johnny said that he had a "hunch" that there would be no Thunderstorms. Roker replied in a jovial manner that he was working on his day off and that he was explaining what he was seeing on the radar. Well Johnny replied that he did not agree. Guess What . . . there were no Thunderstorms. Miller is a freak and he knows it. That is why he is so condescending to everyone on the air. He doesn't mess with Dan Hicks anymore because Hicks won Emmy's for his work doing Men's Swimming for NBA during the 2008 Olympics.

Mike Weir(-6),Phil Mickelson is (-1), Jim Furyk is (E), Geoff Ogilvy is (E), and Tiger Woods is (+3). There are several well known and exerienced players still in contention given the weather and the current leaders. Thus, there are several players who can win this championship. I do not have any inkling as to who will because everything is a mess. None-the-less the Third and Four Rounds of the 2009 United States Open will be interesting. Stay tuned or Johnny Miller may call you out. Just ask Al Roker.

National Basketball Association Finals Preview

NBA Finals Preview
I. Starters Comparison:
The statistics below are for the 2008 and 2009 regular and post season. Check them out and then see Major Sports Reviews Analysis below . . . .

Orlando Magic 2008-09 Game Statistics
NAME GP GS MIN PTS OFF DEF TOT AST STL BLK TO A/TO
Dwight Howard 79 78 35.7 20.6 4.3 9.6 13 1.4 0.97 2.92 3.0 0.47
Rashard Lewis 79 79 36.2 17.7 1.2 4.6 5.7 2.6 1.03 0.65 2.0 1.30
Hedo Turkoglu 77 77 36.6 16.8 0.6 4.7 5.3 4.9 0.83 0.25 2.6 1.84
Mickael Pietrus 54 24 24.6 9.4 0.8 2.4 3.3 1.2 0.57 0.44 1.0 1.16
Rafer Alston† 29 27 29.5 12.0 0.3 2.6 2.9 5.1 1.76 0.10 1.8 2.85


Los Angeles Lakers 2008-09 Game Statistics
NAME GP GS MIN PTS OFF DEF TOT AST STL BLK TO A/TO
Kobe Bryant 82 81 36.1 26.8 1.1 4.1 5.2 4.9 1.46 0.45 2.6 1.90
Pau Gasol 81 80 37.0 18.9 3.2 6.4 9.6 3.5 0.64 1.00 1.9 1.81
Andrew Bynum 50 49 28.9 14.3 2.7 5.2 8.0 1.4 0.36 1.80 1.7 0.84
Lamar Odom 78 32 29.7 11.3 2.3 5.9 8.2 2.6 0.99 1.26 1.8 1.48
Derek Fisher 82 81 29.8 9.9 0.3 2.0 2.3 3.2 1.16 0.07 0.9 3.63


This analysis is not meant to be a prediction for the outcome of the series. I will make my prediction after watching Game One tonight. This will be a head to head analysis based on what I think the match ups will be.

A. Dwight Howard v. Andrew Bynum
Dwight Howard has better overall statistics. He is physically superior even when both are equally healthy. Bynum may put up good numbers since Howard will have to cover Bynum and Gasol. Matchup Winner: Dwight Howard

B. Hedo Turkoglu v. Kobe Bryant
Hedo can cover Bryant physically. Hedo can hit a clutch shot. Kobe is better offensively and defensively. Kobe wants to win more. Matchup Winner: Kobe

C. Rashard Lewis v. Pau Gasol
Both have the potential to dominate offensively and play good defense. Who ever plays with more emotion will win this matchup. Matchup Winner: Toss Up

D. Mickael Pietrus v. Lamar Odom
Lamar Snickers Bar Odom has good offensive and defensive skills. Pietrus has been wide open all playoffs and has taken advantage of it by hitting his shots. Odom is a passive player. Pietrus has played with contained emotion. If Odom doesn't cover Pietrus then Pietrus will be the one Snickering when this series is over. Matchup Winner: Odom, I guess.

E. Rafer Alston v. Derek Fisher
Rafer Alston looks like the guy from the movie "Friday" who gets his bike stolen by Zeus. Alston is underrated offensively and defensively. If he is open he will hit his shots. He can cover Fisher but Farmar is another issue. Fisher seems to find openings on offense and has a history of hitting his shots in the playoffs. He cannot cover Alston speedwise and if Anothny comes in he will expose Fisher's lack of size in the post. Matchup Winner: Rafer Alston.


F. Bench
No stats for the Benches just names and thoughts.

Orlando:
Courtney Lee, can cover Kobe and light it up from the outside.
Anthony Johnson, size could come into play against smaller Laker point guards
JJ Redick, jumpshooter with range and ability to shoot off of screens. Careful of this guy in late games where three's are needed.

Los Angeles:
Luke Walton, good passer and will not make mistakes. Can be a liability from three point range.
Jordan Farmar, quicker than Orlando guards. Always takes the ball to the basket and rareky passes.
Trevor Ariza, rounding out his game at the right time. Good on defense and from three.
Shannon Brown, quick and can take the ball to the basket.

Bench Matchup Winner: Lakers


G. Coaching Matchup
Stan Van Gundy: Is aloof and doesn't look the part of a great NBA coach. Is statistically oriented and a disciple of Pat Riley which no one is talking about. Stan may be getting some good info from Coach Riley about the Lakers. Stan's brother is also broadcasting the games for ABC. Basically, there is a large braintrust around Orlando.

Phil Jackson: Has won alot of Championships. Is the Zen master. Hates Red Auerbach. Will have the most Championships in NBA history if he wins this series. Cannnot pronounce Leon Powe.

Matchup Winner: Stan Van Gundy and the Orlando Magic.