Baseball’s Opening Day sort of snuck up on me. I’ll admit that I am, at best, only a casual baseball fan. Like most Americans, football is still my favorite sport. Amid all the recent negative publicity surrounding MLB, the actual start of the 2006 season had pretty much slipped my mind.

As I was channel-surfing the other day, I noticed that baseball players were no longer playing their games in Florida. The regular season had finally begun.

I found myself asking if I really cared about baseball’s return, and after pondering the issue for a moment, I realized that I didn’t have an answer. Baseball didn’t seem relevant to me anymore, and I couldn’t immediately figure out why.

Baseball’s our national pastime. It’s an American institution with a rich tradition, a yearly staple that spans across generations. Baseball is like a loveable old uncle who comes around once a year and sleeps on your couch for six months. I used to welcome this old pal into my living room, but this year, I felt different. Or more appropriately, I felt indifferent.

What was behind this uninterested sensation? Was it the whole steroid thing or something else? Did other fans feel the same way as I did?

The numbers indicate that I hold a minority view. Fans still love the game. Baseball’s attendance records have never been higher. In 2005, a record 74,915,268 people attended MLB games in the US and Canada. The sales figures for baseball merchandise have also hit record highs. As Darren Rovell from ESPN.com recently reported:

Gross retail sales of licensed products are up by almost 100 percent in the first part of the year compared to the same period last season, according to Tim Brosnan, executive vice president of business for Major League Baseball… Gross sales of Major League Baseball licensed apparel are expected to pass the $3 billion mark this season.

In addition to rising attendance records and merchandise sales, the new World Baseball Classic was well received. Baseball’s global popularity was confirmed by the WBC’s high international ratings. Any way you look at it, the business side of baseball is booming. Fans have been unaffected by the bad press.

So what’s my problem then? Why am I the lone dissenter beating against the wind? Why can’t I bring myself to care about baseball this year?

For starters, I still harbor ill-feelings about the 1994 strike. The strike turned a lot of people away from the sport, my 13 year-old self included. The strike went on for 232 days, from August 1994 to April 1995. A total of 920 games were cancelled, and for the first time in 90 years, there was no World Series. The owners wanted a salary cap, and the players didn’t. Replacement players were used. Congress got involved. When the two sides finally reached a compromise, the damage was already done. Many fans were bitter, and a lot of people couldn’t understand why millionaire owners and millionaire players couldn’t get together, agree to a new collective bargaining agreement, and just play the game.

Baseball eventually recovered from the damage of the strike. In 1998, as Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa tried to chase down Roger Maris’ single-season home run record, public interest in the sport was rejuvenated. McGwire finished the 1998 season with 70 home runs, nine more than Maris hit. A few years later, McGwire’s record was broken by Barry Bonds.

The feats of Sosa, McGwire and Bonds were applauded by fans and baseball commentators alike. These players became media darlings, and they brought a sense of relevancy back to the game. Home-runs made baseball more exciting, and throughout the late-90s, there were more home runs than ever before. But the batting frenzy brewed a scandal of its own.

It quickly became apparent that the real power behind the bats was due at least in part to performance enhancing drugs like steroids. Bloated stats, coupled with lax restrictions on performance enhancing drugs, haven’t made enough headlines over the past ten years. With more allegations of steroid use already hitting the papers this year, Commissioner Bud Selig went so far as to open up an official investigation into the problem of steroids in baseball.

The strike and steroids did a lot to undermine baseball’s status as a respected national pastime. In fact, some people have referred to the last ten years of baseball as a “tainted era.” Old timers say that Barry Bonds should be kicked out of the game. Sports writers throughout the country act as if the action of Barry Bonds sticking himself with a needle is tantamount to Barry Bonds sleeping with their wives.

Still, my disinterest didn’t stem from the allegations of steroids. I realized my aphetic attitude stemmed from the righteous indignation these baseball purists take.

Many die-hard baseball fans are taking a holier-than-thou attitude, bemoaning how Barry Bonds and company forever tainted the national pastime. They feel that baseball’s legacy has been irrevocably spoiled by the recent exploits of chemically-enhanced players. Some former players have even gone as far as to say that baseball stats over the last ten years should be placed in a special, tainted category.

I am outraged by their outrage. Their naïve piety makes be dislike the game. If you really thought that McGwire’s run at Maris was natural, or if you feel personally injured by the success of Barry Bonds, you are what’s wrong with baseball. These people feel that baseball has wronged them somehow, and they feel as if they are owed something in return.

This is the 21st century. There’s a global war raging against terrorism, and anti-American sentiments have never been greater in the international community. It’s time to wake up from a black and white worldview.

Baseball isn’t perfect. It never was. It’s time to retire the timeless, virtuous, candy-coated position that baseball “purists” have clung to for so long. Baseball is an imperfect game played by imperfect players. It should not represent all that is good and just and American.

Baseball is just a game. It’s not an indication of America’s immaculate exceptionalism. It’s not an indication of what’s right (or even what’s wrong) in America. It’s not manifest destiny. It’s not a source of truth and meaning for this and every generation.

Baseball is just a game, and it’s lost its allure.

Italy
Italy’s record in the final tournament is nothing to sneer at. They won it all in 1934, 1938, and 1982. In 1994, the Italians finished as runner-ups after a scoreless final match against Brazil ended in a penalty shootout. Roberto Baggio hooked the final penalty kick, and the Brazilians took home the cup. Italy reached the quarterfinals in 1998, but was again sent home after a failed penalty kick shootout against France. In 2002, Italy did not make it past the second round (where they lost a controversial match to South Korea), a clear disappointment given the national team’s previous successes.

Striker Luca Toni has distinguished himself as a solid goal scorer for the Serie A Italian club team Fiorentina and the Italian national team. He recently scored his 31st goal of the 2005-2006 Serie A season. It’s the first time since the 1957-1958 season that an Italian Serie A club player has scored more than 30 goals in a year. Toni earned the Capocannonieri award for being the top goal scorer in Italy’s Serie A championship.

Francesco Totti is a flexible attacker from midfield. He can set up Italy’s primary strikers, or find the net all by himself. In March of 2004, Pele named Totti to his list of the top 125 greatest living footballers. Totti will likely retire after the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, and his presence on the national squad will be difficult to replace.

Italy is a team that has high World Cup aspirations every single tournament. With a pretty tough draw, Italy will have to play extremely well to advance past the group stage.

Ghana
Ghana is making it’s first ever World Cup appearance this summer in Germany. The veterans on the squad lack experience on the international level, but the younger players have tasted international success, especially in the Under-17 world championships.

Ghana’s national squad features midfielder Michael Essien, the highest paid African soccer player in the world. On August 19, 2005, Essien was transferred from Lyon to Chelsea for a record fee of 24.4 million Pounds. The young midfielder will be a standout for the national squad this summer.

Ghana’s squad is led by Captain Stephen Appiah, a defensive midfielder who plays his club ball with Fenerbahce, the defending Turkish champions. Having played in over 200 international matches, Ghana will need Appiah’s experience if they are to win a single match in this very tough group.

USA
The Americans are coming off their best World Cup finish since 1930. The US national team lost a tough match to Germany in the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup, but they were still considered one of the surprise success stories of the last tournament. Anything short of a semifinal appearance will be seen as a disappointment for this now-formidable national team.

LA Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan leads the US squad. He scored six goals and registered six assists during the national team’s qualifying matches. The US roster is full of depth and experience. The squad will need the veteran leadership of Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride, if the team is to build upon its recent successes.

Goalkeeping is also a major strength for the US squad. Brad Friedel and Tim Howard have each won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for being the highest rated goalies in the English Premier League.

The Czech Republic
After Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the national squad was reorganized. The former Czechoslovakia had its best World Cup finish in 1990, when they reached the quarterfinals. In 1994, the newly formed Czech Republic national team made its international debut in a match against Turkey. The new Czech team did not enter the World Cup that year, and they failed to qualify in 1998 and 2002. The squad finished in second place during the 1996 Euro Cup, and reached the semifinals of the 2004 Euro Cup. This year’s World Cup tournament brings high expectations for a Czech team that’s currently ranked second overall in the entire world.

The Czech’s possess an extremely well-rounded squad. Forwards Milan Baros and Jan Koller racked up 35 goals during the Czech Republic’s qualifying matches. Petr Cech is a quality goalkeeper who plays for Chelsea. Thomas Rosicky is a promising young attacking midfielder who plays for the German club Borussia Dortmund, and is currently being courted by Arsenal. Midfielder Pavel Nedved, the 2003 European Footballer of the Year, came out of retirement in 2005 to help the national team during its qualifying matches. This elder statesman of the squad is known for his ability to launch powerful, long-distance shots.

The Czechs are the favorite to win Group E. Although the squad is technically making its first World Cup appearance, they are not a team that anyone will be taking lightly this summer in Germany.

Group E is highly competitive, and the pressure is on for each team to take first place in the group. Whoever has the unfortunate privilege of finishing second in the group, will likely play the number one team in the world, Brazil, who are a lock to finish on top of Group F. Avoiding that second round meeting with Brazil will be a top priority for every single team in the group.

Christopher Stout

The Suns have played two long, grueling contests against tough LA opponents. When it came down to eliminating the Lakers and the Clippers in critical game sevens, the Suns were able to shine.

In game seven of the Western Conference Semis, the Clippers never had a chance. Steve Nash had 29 points, 11 assists, and shot 4-for-5 from three point land. The Clips couldn’t keep up with the Suns high octane offense and their aerial bombardment from the perimeter. Phoenix set a game seven record by putting up 15 threes against the Clippers. The Clips didn’t make a single 3-point shot, and a 45 point differential from the perimeter is not easily overcome. After falling behind at the end of the first quarter, the Clippers never had a chance the rest of the game. The Lakers lost their game seven battle in Phoenix 121-90. That game was also over by halftime. The Suns just know how to close it out at home.

Dallas has been playing like a team possessed, and Dirk Nowtizki has just been unstoppable. He drives the lane, shoots long jumpers, grabs boards and effortlessly sinks pressure free throws. He’s scored 20 or more points in 16 straight playoff games. His performance in game seven against San Antonio was amazing. Dirk put up 37 points, snagged 15 rebounds and made 15 of 16 free throw attempts.

The Mavs were pushed to the brink in their game seven match-up against the defending world champs. Dallas was up by 20 at one point, but San Antonio clawed their way back. With 32 seconds left in regulation, Manu Ginobili drained a 3-point shot to put the Spurs up by three. The disappointed look on Marc Cuban’s face after the play seemed to indicate that all was lost for Dallas. But with the Mavs needing three points, Avery Johnson drew up a play that sent Dirk driving toward the basket. He scored the bucket and drew the foul. Dirk was then able to sink the free throw, block a last desperate shot by Tim Duncan, and force overtime. Power-sub Desagana Diop blanketed Tim Duncan during the extra period, and the Mavs went on to win game seven on the road in overtime.

The Suns and Mavs split their four regular season match ups. Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash are best friends, and they are the leaders of their respective squads. The superstar that has the better series will take their team to the NBA finals. Expect this series to be long, fast-paced, and high-scoring. Both of these teams play small-ball, and both squads rely on a high tempo attack. Don’t be surprised if the total score for some of the games in the Western Conference finals will be double the total score of some games played in the Eastern Conference finals.

Eastern Conference Finals
(1) Detroit Pistons vs. (2) Miami Heat

The Pistons had a little scare when LeBron and the Cavs got hot, but after being down 3-2, the defending Eastern Conference champs rallied back to take the series. After a tight game six, the Pistons defense took over in game seven. The Cavs managed to score only 61 points all game. Cleveland was held to a measly 23 points after halftime. LeBron James scored 21 points in the first two quarters, but was only able to put up six points in the second half. Detroit shared the ball on offense, made a run in the third quarter, and Cleveland’s season was done.

There have been many tightly-contested games in this year’s NBA playoffs. In the Conference semifinals, every series went to seven games except for the Heat-Nets series. Miami had an easy time eliminating New Jersey. The Heat needed only five games to send the Nets packing. Now Miami is well-rested and ready for a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference finals.

Miami and Detroit met four times this season, and the Pistons won three of those contests. The Pistons have to focus on shutting down Dwayne Wade, who’s averaging 26 points and 6.9 assists in the playoffs. Miami has to get Shaq to play big, and Pat Riley’s role players have to step up and prove that they’re better replacements than the role players that Miami brought with them last year to the Eastern Conference finals.

The Pistons are making their fourth straight Eastern Conference finals appearance. After the Cleveland scare, the Pistons have shown that they can have lapses in defense. Game seven, however, proved that they can turn their defense on when they have to. Pat Riley’s personnel changes will be put to the test in this series. In the end, these are two pretty evenly matched teams. This series will go to seven games, and the team that can best sustain the intensity will end up on top.

By Christopher Stout

Angola
Angola wasn’t supposed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. After a 1-0 victory over Rwanda during African qualifications, Angola finished tied with Nigeria for the top spot in Group Four. Nigeria, a powerhouse in African soccer, lost to Angola in1-0 during qualifications. A rematch in Nigeria ended a draw. Because of the head-to-head rule, Angola finished ahead of Nigeria, and qualified for their first ever World Cup finals.

The team is led by veteran striker Fabrice “Akwa” Maieco. Akwa is known for his clutch scores and steadfast leadership. Brazilian coach Luis Oliveira Gonclaves led the Angola Under-20 team to an African Youth title in 2003. There are many young players from that squad that are currently playing for the national team. The familiar relationship that exists between these players and their coach can only help Angola’s performance in the World Cup. A first round victory would be seen as an amazing feat for the Angolans.

Iran
Iran will make its third World Cup appearance this summer. In 1998, Iran won its first World Cup final tournament game, a stunning 2-1 upset against the United States. The national team failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals, so this year’s squad is highly motivated to perform this time around.

Iran has the highest international goal scorer of all time, Ali Daei. At 37 years old, look for Daei to score a couple more goals before he calls it quits. His veteran presence helps solidify the cohesiveness of this relatively young squad.

Ali Karami also knows how to score goals, especially in Germany. The 2004 Asian Player of the Year scored the winning goal in the final match of the 1998 Asian Games. Known as “The Wizard of Tehran” for his acrobatic shots and “The Asian Maradona” for his ability to control the ball, Karimi currently plays for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga.

Karami’s not alone in his familiarity with the German territory. Forward Vahid Hashemian also plays in the German Bundesliga. So do Midfielders Mehdi Mahdavikia Moharram Navidkia, and Fereydoon Zandi. For almost half the squad, the World Cup will be like playing the familiar club circuit.

Mexico
Mexico has made 12 previous World Cup appearances. They finished second behind the US in the CONCACAF qualifying group. The team is seen as a lock to advance past the group stage. Having been ranked among the top ten in the world for several years, expectations are high for the national team. Anything short of another quarterfinals appearance might be seen as a disappointment.

During qualifications, Mexico scored more goals (67) than any other team in the world. Striker Jared Borgetti was the top goal scorer during the qualifying rounds. Forward Francisco Fonseca scored four goals against Guatemala in a 2005 qualifying match. A potent offense is this team’s primary assest.

Mexico has solid goalkeepers in Oswaldo Snachez and young Francisco Guillermo Ochoa. It remains to be seen whether Mexico can continue to score so many goals against the stiffer competition they’ll see in the tournament. If the team’s scorers can stay hot, and if the defense can tighten up, then Mexico will go far in the tournament.

Portugal
Portugal obliterated the competition in their qualifying group. Slovakia and Russia were among the victims. The Portuguese scored more goals during qualifications than any other European team. Many fans of Portuguese soccer were shocked to see their team’s quick exit after the first round of the last World Cup finals. Portugal will be making their fourth World Cup appearance this summer, and the team is ready to bounce back from its sorry exit in 2002.

Portugal has a well-rounded squad. Luis Figo is a member of the old guard. He always finds a way to get the ball to his teammates when they’re in a position to score. Pauleta is a capable striker who was Europe’s top goal scorer during the qualifying stages. Pauleta is also Portugal’s all-time leading scorer. Ricardo Caravalho is a great defender who plays for Chelsea. Cristiano Ronaldo is leading the new school youth movement in Portugal. This superstar-in-the-making is only 21 years old, but he’s already making headlines with his flashy style of play. He was selected by Manchester United to fill the void at winger, after David Beckham split to Barcelona.

Portugal is definitely going to advance past the group stage. If Portugal’s younger stars can gel with the older players, the sky’s the limit for this squad.

Angola is a team with speed and defensive skills, but they are likely overmatched in this group and probably won’t advance. Iran has its best squad in years, and with so many players that can find the net, the Iranian national team might be able to score enough goals to win critical games. Mexico also has its share of scorers, and will be a tough opponent for anyone. Portugal is sure to advance past the group stage, and will likely go far into the tournament.

The second round will be tough for whoever makes it out of this group. The teams that advance will likely face either Argentina or the Netherlands. Those games won’t be easy.

By Christopher Stout

QB Jay Cutler (Vanderbilt) – Broncos
Jay Cutler was viewed by some as the third best quarterback in the draft. He arguably has a more powerful arm than either Vince Young or Matt Leinart, but he lacks the flair and athleticism of the former, and the winning reputation of the latter. The Broncos saw something they liked in Cutler, and they traded up to the 11th pick in order to secure his services. Many draft experts viewed wide receiver as the most glaring positional need for Denver. Because the Broncos were able to trade their second round pick to Green Bay for disgruntled receiver Javon Walker, they could afford to make the move for Cutler. Jake Plummer beware, you’re successor is now your understudy.

WR Santonio Holmes (Ohio State) – Steelers
In the past two seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost receivers Plaxico Burress and Antwan Randle El to free agency. In WR Santonio Holmes, the Steelers feel that they’ve found a suitable replacement. The Steelers valued Holmes so highly, that they swithched picks in the third and fourth rounds to the Giants in order to move up to spot number 25. Holmes will provide a deep threat that the Steelers have lacked recently, and he’ll also help out on special teams as a kick returner.

RB Laurence Maroney (Minnesota) and WR Chad Jackson (Florida) – Patriots
With the 21st overall pick, the Pats selected running back Laurence Maroney. Maroney will be the heir apparent to Corey Dillon. Dillon’s career is quickly waning, and with Maroney, the Pats have secured a running back insurance policy for this year and the future. After David Givens split to Tennessee, the Pats needed another receiver. They traded up to get Chad Jackson, a prospect that many analysts thought would be taken in the first round. With cap room to spare and solid draft selections, the Patriots have shown that they will be a premier team in the NFL for years to come.

RB LenDale White (USC) – Titans
Titans Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow was able to get one of his former Trojan stars in the second round, when the Titans drafted running back LenDale White with the 45th overall pick. Because of a lingering hamstring injury, White did not run the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. This lack of a proper 40 time, coupled with insinuations of a poor work ethic, caused White’s draft stock to drop all the way to the second round. Coach Chow ended White’s slide, and the Titans now have a bruising running back that’s entering the league with a chip on his shoulder. White was arguably the best steal in the draft.

QB Michael Robinson (Penn State) – 49ers
The mobile quarterback was not a full time starter for Penn State until his senior year. As a senior, he put his team on his back and won the Orange Bowl. He was chosen by San Francisco as the third pick in the fourth round (100th pick overall). The 49ers have plans to use Robinson as a running back.

WR Jeremy Bloom (Colorado) – Eagles
Jeremy Bloom competed as a freestyle skier in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He earned a football scholarship in 2002 form the University of Colorado, and was a solid kick returner and receiver. After playing only two seasons in Colorado, Bloom lost his NCAA eligibility in the fall 2004. Bloom had accepted endorsement money to fund his ski training, and was no longer eligible to play college football. After returning from the Winter games, Bloom performed well at the combine. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. Bloom was selected by Philadelphia with the 147th overall pick. Although he’s undersized (5-foot-9), Bloom has the speed and athleticism to make a difference for the Eagles.

QB Marcus Vick (Virginia Tech) – Undrafted
A couple years ago, the younger brother of Marcus Vick had a bright future in front of him. Like is brother, Vick has extraordinary athletic ability, but because of character concerns, no team was willing to select him in the 2006 NFL draft. Vick has had trouble with the law. He’s flipped off opposing crowds. He purposely dug his cleats into a lineman during a highly publicized bowl game. He was even kicked off his college team. If the kid just played decently throughout his college career, his last name alone would have made him a highly sought after draft commodity. Now, he’s viewed as damaged goods. Vick can still make an impact as an NFL player, if he can find a team willing to take a chance on his ability to mature and develop. It’ll be a tough road for Marcus Vick from here on out, but he has the natural abilities to be a quality player in the NFL. If he can control his off the field issues, he’ll earn a roster spot somewhere.

By Christopher Stout

Group C wins the “group of death” moniker for the 2006 World Cup. With two teams ranked in the top five in the world, the competition in the group is fierce. The team from the Netherlands is ranked third in the world, and Argentina is right behind them at number four. These two teams are the favorites to win the group. The Ivory Coast is making it’s World Cup debut this summer, and the team hopes to build on the previous success of African nations like Cameroon, Nigeria, and Senegal. Serbia and Montenegro currently ranks 46th in the world, but they have the defense to keep games from getting out of reach.

Argentina finished second (behind Brazil) in the South American qualification group. The Argentinean national team currently ranks fourth in the world. Argentina won the World Cup twice (in 1978 and 1986), but the team has not made it past the quarterfinals since 1990. In 2002, Argentina did not make it past the “group of death” that included England and Sweden. This year’s tournaments draw is just as difficult, as Group C has already earned the “group of death” moniker.

Argentina has a couple of strong young players up front in Lionel Messi and Sergio Agüero. Forward Carolos Tevez is considered won of the best young prospects in the world. Tevez scored eight goals in six matches to help his squad win the gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The pressure is on for this young squad to take Argentina back to the top tier of the soccer world.

The Argentinean national team is a team that can easily win it all. They’ll be looking to avenge their 1998 first round loss to the Netherlands on June 21 in Frankfurt. Argentina can easily advance past the group stage, but anything short of an appearance in the final might be considered a disappointment.

Ivory Coast
A missed penalty kick by Cameroon during the late stages of qualifying, earned Ivory Coast a trip to their first ever World Cup. The squad has the skills to cause an upset in the group stage.

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba was the 2003-2004 French Player of the Year while playing for Marseille. $45 million was the price for him to transfer to Chelsea. In February 2005, Drogba was named runner-up to Samuel Eto’o in the voting for the African Football Player of the Year award. Aruna Dindane is a young forward with a lot of promise, and
Kolo Toure from Aresnal is a unyielding defender.

The World Cup has seen plenty of upsets from African nations in recent years. Ivory Coast will look to continue that trend in Germany. Powerhouse African nations Senegal, Nigeria, and Cameroon failed to qualify this year’s World Cup. Ivory Coast, although not an experienced World Cup team, is still poised to continue the tradition of African nation upsets. An upset victory or two against any team in the group of death would be especially satisfying.

Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro finished on top of Group D during European qualifications. The national team was undefeated during group qualifying with six wins, four draws, and zero losses. It was quite an accomplishment for Serbia and Montenegro, a country that currently ranks 46th in the world, to finish ahead of Spain, a team that currently ranks 6th in the world.

Serbia and Montenegro’s main strength is its impenetrable defense. The national team allowed only one score in ten qualifying matches. Goalkeeper Dragoslav Jevric reputation precedes him. Machester United defender Nemanja Vidic is only 24-years-old, but his strong tackles and aggressive playing style have already earned him a reputation for being fiercely tough and passionate about the game. Mladen Krstajic is another quality defender, and he has Bundesliga experience. Mateja Kezman, Zvonimir Vukic, and Nikola Zigic are all capable scorers

Serbia and Montenegro isn’t likely to make it past the group of death, but the national team’s tight defense will keep many games within reach. If the guys up front can find the net, Serbia and Montenegro might make things interesting in Group C.

The Netherlands
The Netherlands made it to the second round in 1990, the quarterfinals in 1994, and they finished in fourth place in 1998. Then in 2002, the Dutch failed to qualify for the Cup entirely. The national squad will look to make up for that disappointment this year in Germany. The Dutch national team currently ranks 3rd in the world, just ahead of Argentina. These two teams will square off in Frankfurt on June 21.

Captain and Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar allowed only 3 goals in 12 qualifying games.
Young Chelsea winger Arjen Robben can pass, shoot, dribble, and blow past defenders with his blazing speed. Manchester’s Ruud Van Nistelrooy is an exceptional striker. The Dutch squad has a nice balance of exciting young players and capable veteran leaders.

The Dutch national team is the favorite to win Group C, this tourney’s group of death. If the squad from the Netherlands can beat Argentina on June 21, they are a lock to advance past the group stage. If the Dutch do get to the second round, they will be formidable competition for whoever they face.

It’s going to be very difficult for the Ivory Coast and Serbia and Montenegro to get past the Dutch and the Argentineans. Should the Netherlands go on to win the group, they will face the second place finishers of Group D. If Argentina finishes second in the Group C, they will go on to play the first place winners of Group D.

The teams that survive the group of death will have a good shot at advancing well into the tournament.

Christopher Stout

Western Conference
(4) Dallas Mavericks vs. (1) San Antonio Spurs
The Mavs rolled past the Grizzlies with ease, and after a long break they were off to San Antonio to start a new series against the defending world champs. The Spurs took out the Kings in the first round, and after winning that series in six games, the Spurs were playing on less than two days of rest when they battled the Mavs in game one. The opening match of this interstate series went to the Spurs, who were able to take advantage of Tim Duncan’s dominating low-post presence. Dirk Nowitzki was limited to only 20 points, more than ten points lower than his playoff average. If Bruce Bowen can continue to bottle up Dirk, and if Tim Duncan can continue to take the pressure off his teammates by scoring 30 points a game, then the Mavs are going to have a difficult time gaining the edge in this series.

(6) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (2) Phoenix Suns
Sadly, the Battle for LA will not be taking place this year. The Suns embarrassed the Lakers in game seven, and they earned the right to play the Clippers in the second round. Steve Nash just won his second consecutive MVP award. He’s averaging 22.1 points and 9.6 assists in the playoffs. Nash is on top of his game, and he’ll have to continue to play at a high level if Phoenix is to make it past the Clippers.

With the exception of Sam Cassell, the Clippers lack playoff experience, but they’ve been playing smart basketball. The Lakers were a team that lacked depth, and they took the Suns to game seven. The Clippers have players at every position, and they can bring in shooters off the bench. The Suns are coming off a long series, but momentum is on their side. Game one starts on Monday. The Clippers have the talent and to make this another long series for the Suns, but home court advantage favors Phoenix. This series should be another physical contest.

Eastern Conference
(4) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (1) Detroit Pistons
The Cavs are in the midst of a magical playoff run. In his first postseason, LeBron James is averaging 33.7 points per game. LeBron and Co. took the Wizards down in dramatic fashion. After sitting on the bench for all of game six, Damon Jones came in with 4.8 seconds left in overtime, and sealed the series victory with a lethal three-point shot. Cleveland, it appeared, was for real…

Then the Cavs played their first game in Detroit. The Pistons own home court advantage in the series, and they owned Cleveland in game one.

A 27 point beat-down is not the way you way you want to begin a conference semifinal match-up. Perhaps the dose of Eastern Conference reality that the Pistons served the Cavs will jolt Cleveland into playing a whole lot better. In all likelihood though, Detroit will end Cleveland’s hope of advancing.

In game one, the Pistons had nine blocks, and were 15-of-22 from three point land. Ten of those threes came in the first half. Facing a lockdown defense, LeBron managed 22 points before halftime. He did not score at all in the second half. If the Pistons keep draining threes and playing stifling D, then LeBron will have to work miracles to keep his team in this series.

(3) New Jersey Nets vs. (2) Miami Heat
As the Pacers fluttered, the Nets took control of their first round series. The Heat looked vulnerable at times against the Bulls, but they closed that series out with conviction. The key to the Nets-Heat series is the battle between Dwayne Wade and Vince Carter. Wade’s been averaging 24.7 points per game in the playoffs, while Vince has scored 29.2 points per game this postseason. The guard that wins this match-up will likely lead his team to victory in the series.

The Nets center, Nenad Krstic, is a solid perimeter player. If he can hit some outside shots, the Nets can bait Shaq out of the lane, and that’ll open things up for Kidd, Carter and Jefferson. If Shaq can put up some points and stay out of foul trouble, and if the Heat’s role players continue to have success shooting the long ball, then Miami should be able to outlast the Nets. Home court advantage in this series goes to the Heat.

By Christopher Stout

Group B has two teams that are ranked in the top 15 in the world. England currently ranks ninth, and they are the team favored to win the group. Sweden is currently ranked 14th in the world, and most experts think that they will advance past the group stage with England. Paraguay is currently ranked 33rd in the world, and the team should not be underestimated. The squad from Trinidad and Tobago is making it’s first World Cup appearance. The team is ranked 49th in the world, and is expected to finish at the bottom of Group B.

England
The Brits haven’t won a World Cup since 1966, and fans are hoping that the long drought will end this year in Germany. In 2002, England lost to in the quarterfinals to Brazil, the team that won the Cup that year. In the 2004 Euro Cup, after David Beckham’s missed penalty kicks, England was knocked out in the quarterfinals by Portugal. During the qualifications for the 2006 World Cup, England finished in first place in Europe’s Group 6. The national squad had eight wins, one draw, and one loss. As of March 2006, England was ranked the ninth-best team in the world by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). As always, expectations are high for the English national team.

Swedish head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, the first foreigner to ever manage the England’s national squad, assembled a very talented team. Wayne Rooney is the best player to come out of England in years. He’s the ultimate striker (with a bit of a temper), and will look to score goals in bunches in Germany. Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard will be looking to score with the long ball. Michael Owen has always been a bit overrated, but he still has some serious speed. In August 2005, midfielder Steven Gerrard was named UEFA’s Most Valuable Player for the 2004/05 Champions’ League season. Fan favorite David Beckham will look to set up England’s talented strikers with his patented swinging crosses.

England is heavily favored to win Group B, and they’re also one of the favorites to win the whole tournament. If England can play solid defense, and if the team can be creative in the midfield, the Brits can expect to go far in Germany.

Paraguay
Paraguay will be making its third consecutive World Cup finals appearance. The squad lost in the second round of the past two World Cup tournaments. The national team finished fourth in their South American qualifying group, and won’t be a push-over in this highly competitive Group B.

Paraguay’s squad is getting pretty old, so the team’s pretty much in now-or-never mode. Jose Cardozo, Paraguay’s all-time leading scorer, can still find the net, but at 35 years his golden days may be waning. Defenders Francisco Arce and Celso Ayala will likely call it quits after the 2006 campaign. Nelson Haedo Valdez is a bright young spot on the team; he will likely lead the offensive attack along with Cardozo and Roque Santa Cruz.

Paraguay isn’t out of the game yet, but in all likelihood, England and Sweden will be advancing from this Group, and Paraguay will have to develop a youth movement to compete in 2010.

Sweden
Sweden is the team that most analysts agree will join England to advance to the second round. Sweden made it to the second round of the tournament in 2002, where they were out ran by the speedy Senegalese squad.

The Swedes have a formidable frontal attack with veteran leader Henrik Larsson, attacking midfielder Freddie Ljungberg from Arsenal, and young striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading the charge. Captain Olaf Mellburg anchors the defense.

Sweden can definitely advance past the group stage. With the team’s ability to rack up scores, Sweden has a real chance to advance past the second round for the first time since 1958.

Trinidad and Tobago
When Trinidad and Tobago beat Bahrain 2-1 in a CONCAF-Asia playoff, the team earned its first ever World Cup final qualification. This improbable achievement from a two-island nation in the Southern Caribbean prompted national celebrations and dancing in the streets.

Although this is the team’s first time making it to the World Cup finals, the squad still has some experienced, professional players. Dwight Yorke, the former Manchester United striker, will likely be playing in his final World Cup this summer. Russel Latapy leads the defense, and the 37-year-old can still compete with the best players in the world. Forward John Stern is another player to watch—he scored 12 goals during the qualifying stage.

If Trinidad and Tobago can earn one victory in the group stage, it will be viewed as a major accomplishment. The team currently ranks 49th in the world.

England and Sweden are going to advance past the group stage. When these two team meet in Cologne on June 20, it will have big ramifications for the rest of the group. The winner of Group B will face the second place finisher in Group A. The team that finished in second place in Group B will face the winner of Group A.

With Germany likely to win Group A, England would like to finish a top of Group B in order to avoid a second round match against the hometown favorites.

By Christpoher Stout

(8) Milwaukee Bucks vs. (1) Detroit Pistons
The Pistons rolled over the Bucks in Detroit, winning games one and two by a combined total of 29 points. In game three, the Pistons were rudely awakened by a 20 point loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee. In that game, T.J. Ford had 15 assists, Michael Redd put up 40 points, and the Bucks shot 60 percent for the field. There’s no cause for alarm in Detroit, however, as the Pistons still have home-court advantage. But one source of concern for the Pistons has to be the gimpy ankle of Rip Hamilton. Hamilton is shooting only 36 percent from the field in this series, and his scoring output has steadily declined throughout the series. If the Pistons want to stay atop of the East, they’re going to need a Hamilton to be healthy. If the Bucks can win at home in Game four, the series will be all tied up.

(7) Chicago Bulls vs. (2) Miami Heat
In the first two games, Dwayne Wade and Shaq combined for a total of 100 points. The Heat looked solid at home. After Miami took a 2-0 lead in the series, things weren’t looking all that bright for the Bulls. But in Chicago, the Bulls turned it around. They game out and played with intensity, winning game three by 19 points. During that game, Shaq was held to eight points and four rebounds. He also accumulated five fouls and seven turnovers. It was one of the worst playoff performances in Shaq’s career. The Bulls focused in on Shaq, and got the big man in foul trouble early. Miami’s frustration became apparent by the end of the game when James Posey tackled Kirk Hinrich in the open court. The flagrant foul got Posey kicked out of the game. He also received a one game suspension.

In game four, the Heat’s frustrations continued. Dwanye Wade and Gary Payton were bickering the entire game. The Bulls again targeted Shaq, and the result was a huge disparity in free throw attempts: Chicago hit 24 out of 31 foul shots, while Miami hit 4-for-5 from the free throw line. If the Bulls can continue to drive in the lane and get Shaq in foul trouble, they could make this series very interesting. There is one sad note for Chicago though. While evening the series at two games a piece in game four, the Bulls saw their starting center Tyson Chandler carried off the court with a sprained ankle. Chicago will need their big guy healthy if they are to take control of the series.

(6) Indiana Pacers vs. (3) New Jersey Nets
The Pacers stole game one in New Jersey with a pair of game winning free throws from Anthony Johnson. Indiana had five players that scored double digits. New Jersey’s Vince Carter scored 31 points in game one, but he was criticized by the media for his shot selection. Coach Lawrence Frank made it known that he thought his star player performed exceptionally well in the first game of the series. The Nets bounced back in game two, winning by 15 points at home. Vince led all scorers with 33 points.

In Indiana, the Pacers won game three by 12 points. Anthony Johnson, the hero of game one, had an amazing game. He scored 25 points and had eight assists, with 13 points coming in the fourth quarter. Jermaine O’Neal finished the game with 37 points. In game four, the Nets broke open a 19 point lead on the Pacers, a lead that was cut to only five points in the final two minutes of game. The Nets, led by Vince Carter’s 28 points, held Indiana at bay, and won game four 97-88. The series is all tied up at 2-2. It ‘s now a best of three series, with the home court advantage favoring New Jersey.

(5) Washington Wizards vs. (4) Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron has been a scoring machine in this series (34.3 ppg), and he’s displaying the type of playoff savvy that one would only expect from a seasoned veteran. Game one was LeBron’s playoff debut. He finished the game with 32 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists. The last player to post a triple-double in his playoff debut was Magic Johnson. Not bad for a 21 year old kid who entered the NBA straight out of high school.

In game two, the Wizards decided to take a more physical approach to containing James. Lebron finished the game shooting 7-of-25, but he still put up 26 points. Gilbert Arenas had 30 points, Antwan Jamison had 21, and the Wizards won by five. Game three was in Washington, and LeBron scored the game winning shot. The Wizards were flabbergasted after the game, because it appeared as if LeBron had traveled when he scored the winning basket. The officials did not make the call, and the game went to Cleveland. In game four, Lebron was hot early, and Gilbert Arenas struggled in the first half. In the second half, the roles were reversed—LeBron was quieted while Arenas got in a groove. Arenas’ 20 points in the fourth quarter put the Wizards on top, and evened the series at two games apiece. Should the series go to a game seven, the Cavs have home court advantage.

(8) Sacramento Kings vs. (1) San Antonio Spurs
In the first game of the series, the defending world champions took it to the Kings, and won by 34 points. The Spurs also won game two, but that game was decided in overtime. With San Antonio’s 2-0 lead in the series, it looked as if the Kings were all but finished.

Games three and four were in Sacramento, and it was must-win time for the Kings. The Kings stepped it up, took both games, and evened the series at 2-2. If Ron Artest can continue to frustrate Manu Ginobili, and if Bonzi Wells can continue playing like he did in game four (26 points and 17 rebounds), then the Kings might be able to make run at the world champs.

(7) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (2) Phoenix Suns
Kobe’s last minute heroics in game four allowed the Lakers to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Kobe’s reinvented himself during the playoffs. He’s distributing the ball constantly and getting everyone involved. Lamar Odom is averaging 20.5 points in the series, and Kwame Brown has suddenly become dominate in the paint. Phoenix will need to get more out of Steve Nash, if the Suns are going to turn this series around. After game four’s crushing overtime loss, the Suns might not be able to recover.

(6) Los Angeles Clippers vs. (3) Denver Nuggets
The Clippers have simply dominated this series. Elton Brand is at the top of his game, and the entire team is playing as if they’re an experienced playoff squad. After the Clippers won the first two games in LA, the Nuggets showed up and took game three. Denver suspended the distraction that is Kenyon Martin. Carmelo played well in game three, and it looked as if the Nuggets were ready to bounce back. Game four was in Denver, and the Nuggets looked flustered. Five technical fouls were called against Denver, as the Clippers rolled to an easy victory. They now lead the series 3-1. With the Nuggets sufficiently frustrated, the Clippers won game five and won their first playoff series in 30 years.

(5) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (4) Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are too much for the Grizzlies to handle. After winning the first two games in Dallas by a combined total of 25 points, the Mavs made their way to Memphis for game three. The Grizzlies played tough at home, and were one Chucky Atkins shot away from winning their first playoff game in franchise history. His missed layup led to overtime, and the Mavs took control in the extra period. But even with home court advantage, the Grizzlies were unable to avoid elimination.

Christopher Stout