World Cup 2014: Who Has What It Takes?

When Brazil and Croatia face off on Thursday, June 12th, in Sao Paulo, all of the world will be watching. For the following month, 30 other nations will join these two in competing for the greatest prize in the sporting universe: the World Cup. What's so great about the World Cup? well, unlike most other sporting events, lot's of teams enter believing they have what it takes. So, instead of predicting a winner, I figure i'll list some nations that, I believe, have a good chance. Here it goes.

Brazil:
Of all the teams competing in this summers World Cup, none are more heavily favorited than the host country. Brazil's entire starting line-up is filled with world class players like Real Madrid LB Marcelo Vieira, PSG Center Back Thiago Silva, Zenit Forward 'Hulk", and last but not least 22-year-old FC Barcelona Striker Neymar. Give the five-time world champions, and defending South American champions, home-field advantage, and you've got a match made in heaven.

Spain:
It's no surprise that Spain is ranked #1 in the world headed to Brazil. Spain won the World Cup 4-years ago in South Africa and won the Euro Cup in Ukraine 2-years ago. Although the squad has changed drastically since 2010, their goal is still the same. Even after being placed in a tough group with Holland and Chile, this years spanish squad, led by GK Iker Casillas, Defender Sergio Ramos, Midfielder Andres Iniesta and Striker Diego Costa, could easily win their second straight World Cup.

Spain's Iker Casillas hoists the World Cup around his team
after winning the tournament in 2010. (Reuters)

Germany:
It's safe to say Germany has gotten the short end of the stick in recent World Cup history. In 2002, Germany lost the World Cup final to Brazil, and in both 2006 and 2010, Germany placed 3rd. This time around, the German team is looking to overcome their past and win their first World Cup since 1990. With Midfielders like Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and legendary Striker Miroslav Klose, this years German team is one of their best ever.

Argentina:
With two World Cup victories in 1974 and 1986, Argentina truly haven't had their share of success in recent history. After losing in the quarterfinals to Germany in both 2006 and 2010, many changes were made on the squad and coaching staff. This time around Argentina have one of the best attacks in the world led by Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero, and they have home-continent advantage.

Striker Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal for
Argentina in 2012. (The Independent)

Italy:
The Italian National Team won the World Cup 8-years ago in Germany ranked 13th in the world. This years Italian squad may not be as good as their 2006 counter-part, but coming to Brazil "Gli Azzurri" are ranked 9th internationally. Italy has a good mix of young and old talent like Midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Forward Mario Balotelli and last but not least, Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. This years Italian squad may not be a favorite, but they sure look promising.

England:
England's international soccer history has had their fair share of ups and downs. The same team that won the World Cup in 1966 didn't even qualify for the 1994 tournament. This years England team, like most, is pretty decent. Their roster, headlined by world class Goalkeeper Joe Hart, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, and Midfielder Captain Steven Gerrard, can help bring soccer's most beloved prize back to the Queen.

England Captain Steven Gerrard bosses out orders to
team mates during a match in 2013. (Football 365)

Chile:
Considering that this years World Cup is taking place on South American soil, it's only right to include another South American team on the list. After losing in the "Round of 16" to rival Brazil in the 2010 World Cup Chile are back and ready for vengeance. Midfielders like Juventus' Arturo Vidal and FC Barcelona's Alexis Sanchez, and star Juventus defender Mauricio Isla lead this years young Chile squad as they compete for their first World Cup title.

Belgium:
The last nation on this list is one you don't hear much about. Belgium are entering this years World Cup ranked 11th in the world, and their cast of superstars have flown under the radar. Atletico Madrid GK Thibaut Courtois, CB Vincent Kompany and LB Thomas Vermaelen lead their world class defense while Chelsea Midfielder Eden Hazard leads their young young attack. Even though it's never been done, many people believe Belgium will win this years World Cup.

Even though it is impossible to predict who is going to win this summers World Cup, one thing is for certain, this summers tournament in Brazil will be unforgettable and amazing.


For More Information See:
http://www.fifa.com/worldranking/rankingtable/

Trout vs. Harper: The Future of Baseball

Yesterday's matchup between the Los Angeles Angels and the Washington Nationals at National's Park in Washington D.C. wasn't your typical Monday night, April baseball game. Instead, it was one of the most important nights in recent baseball history.

Mike Trout was taken 25th overall in the 2009 MLB Draft by the Angels straight out of high school while Bryce Harper was taken 1st overall in the 2010 MLB Draft by the National also directly out of high school. It's safe to say both men have made their respective splash's on the league so far.

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper talk during practice at
the 2012 MLB All-Star Game in Kansas City (US Presswire)

In 2012, at the age of 21-22, in his first full season in the league, Mike Trout won AL Rookie of the Year with a .326 batting average, 30 HR and 83 RBI. He also led the league with 49 SB. Trout then answered those stats in his sophomore season of 2013 with a .323 AVG, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 33 SB and his second straight Silver Slugger Award. The outfielder was selected as an All-Star game starter his first two seasons in the league.

Bryce Harper, on the other hand, has produced his own eye opening numbers in his first couple of years in the NL. In the young outfielders first season in 2012, at the age of 19, he posted a batting average of .270 with 59 RBI, 22 HR and 26 doubles on his way to winning the NL Rookie of the Year award. Even though he missed part of the 2013 season due to a knee injury, Harper still posted a .274 batting average and was selected as a starter in the All-Star Game.

Trout went 2-5 while Harper went 0-3 as both men faced each other for the first time in their young careers. Although this seemed like an unimportant regular season game, many baseball reporters, writers, and fans tuned in to witness what many consider the future of the game itself.

For more information see:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/harpebr03.shtml
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/troutmi01.shtml

The Luck of The Masters

Every year thousands of golf fans take to Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia to witness the Mecca of golf... The Masters Tournament. A collection of the best golfers from around the globe tee off (no pun intended) in a race to win the world's most beloved article of clothing.

The Green Jacket has been worn by legends from Jack Nicklaus to Arnold Palmer and even to modern legends like Tiger Woods. It can only be compared to The World Cup, and the Olympic Gold Medal for it's level of prestigiousness in the sporting community.

So what does it take to actually win The Masters? No one really knows the answer to that question. Many believe the tournament is won by the man with the best composure, many think it is based purely on skill. The truth is, no matter how much skill, experience, poise, and stamina you have on your side, It will always take that little bit of luck.

Now I know what you're saying, "Trevor? All the men you just listed are amazing golfers anyway, so why don't you credit them for their skill?" I'm not saying these men won based on pure luck because that's simply not true.

Every golfer that wins The Masters deserve full credit for their victory, there's no questions asked about that. Most years, although, the winner gets a lucky break at some point or another in the tournament.

Don't believe me? Well I'm sure you've seen Jack Nicklaus' fast rolling 40-foot putt on the 16th hole in 1975, Tiger Woods' gravity defying 20-foot chip on the 16th hole in 2005, and even most recently Bubba Watson's 160-yard magical hook shot on the second hole of the playoff in 2012.

Tiger Woods being crowned The Masters champion in
2005 by longtime rival, and good friend Phil Mickelson.
(Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images)

The "Luck of The Masters" has also been proven to work against golfers in the same manner that it helps them. It's been nearly 25 years since Scott Hoch infamously missed his 2-foot putt to beat Nick Faldo on the first hole of the playoff in 1989. Faldo would go on to make his putt and win the tournament.

No matter what you think it takes to win golf's greatest prize, The Masters will always be fun to watch. Whether it's from a no-name young golfer earning his first Green Jacket on path to promising career, or a legend winning his final Green Jacket on the way out at the end of his career, The Masters never fails to excite and awe fans from around the world.

For more information see:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2599611/Masters-moments-top-10-shots.html

http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/24519929/things-i-love-about-the-masters

Baseball's Back!

Ahhhhh... It's that time of year again, the sun is beating, the earth is thawing, and the hotdogs are grilling, this can only mean one thing, baseball season is upon us.

After an incredible world series last year between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox finished off the season at Fenway Park on October 30th, baseball fans were left to die in the cold winter ahead. But if last years Fall Classic means anything, it's that this is going to be one hell of a season.

Although it's hard to do, I'm going to attempt to predict how this season will play out, so here it goes:

Red Sox Closer Koji Uehara celebrates after striking out 
Matt Carpenter to win the 2013 world series at Fenway Park.

AL East
1. Tampa Bay Rays (97-65)
2. Boston Red Sox (94-68) *wildcard
3. Baltimore Orioles (80-72)
4. New York Yankees (80-72)
5. Toronto Blue Jays (76-86)

Just like last year, the AL East could easily be the tightest division in baseball. With teams like the 2012 AL wildcard winning Baltimore Orioles who are coming off of a season of disappointment, the 2012 AL East champion New York Yankees who have made some bold moves this offseason to push the team forward, and the defending world series champion Boston Red Sox who have arguably the best roster depth in baseball, we are in for a close race. But no team looks more promising than the defending AL wildcard champion Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, led by baseball's best manager in Joe Maddon, have a prefect offensive and defensive balance. With roster pieces including matured versions of both Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist, and a pitching staff led by former Cy Young winner David Price, this Rays' team could be the best one yet. Although I feel the Red Sox win the wildcard, I firmly believe the Rays win this division. Watch out for Tampa Bay come october.

AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers (95-67)
2. Kansas City Royals (93-69)
3. Cleveland Indians (89-73)
4. Chicago White Sox (69-93)
5. Minnesota Twins (63-99)

The AL Central, just like last year, should also be a very tight division race. Last season the division boasted both having a wildcard winner in the young Cleveland Indians. The Indians, led by future HOF manager Terry Francona are on track for another season of coming up close but not finishing out. My sleeper from this division is the Kansas City Royals who have a very powerful and young offense led by DH Billy Butler, LF Alex Gordon, and the young powerful 3B Mike Moustakas. Although the Royals are great, this division still belongs to the Tigers. After trading away their power hitting 1B Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers, the Tigers in exchange got shortstop Ian Kinsler. With a new manager in Brad Ausmus (who has big shoes to fill from Jim Leyland), the best pitcher in baseball with Justin Verlander, and the defending MVP and former triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera, the Tigers are as ready as they have ever been to make a deep postseason run.

AL West
1. Texas Rangers (97-65)
2. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (95-67) *wildcard
3. Oakland Athletics (84-78)
4. Seattle Mariners (80-82)
5. Houston Astros (0-162)?

The AL West may end up looking way different than it did last season. The defending division champion Oakland Athletics are no longer going to have the hold they have recently had on the division as they begin to fall off. The Seattle Mariners have made several offseason moves to put themselves in contention, but it may still take a season or two for those plans to fall into place. After two years of disappointment after being projected as a playoff team, I believe the high spending of the Angels will finally pay off. As a team with a good combination of old and young, led by 22-year-old phenom outfielder Mike Trout (my prediction for this seasons MVP) playing alongside pitchers like Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson, and hitters including future HOF Albert Pujols and home-run hitting outfielder Josh Hamilton the Angels will win the wildcard. Ron Washington's Rangers are the team to beat from the AL West though. Led by baseball's future pitching legend Yu Darvish, the Rangers roster is too deep to lose games down the stretch. With the addition of both 1B Prince Fielder and OF Shin Soo-Choo to fill that much needed power hitting position, the Rangers have pieced together an almost unstoppable offense.

Mike Trout watches a ball he hit soar toward right field.

NL East
1. Washington Nationals (95-67)
2. Atlanta Braves (90-72) *wildcard
3. Philadelphia Phillies (74-88)
4. New York Mets (73-89)
5. Miami Marlins (65-97)

The NL East has been for the past two years, and will be again this season, a battle between only two teams. The Marlins have a young squad, they still need time to mature though. The Mets are getting older, the only problem is they aren't getting any better. Their pitching staff is solid, but they have no depth in their offense. The Phillies will be better than they were last year, but still not great. With a solid starting pitching core behind Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee the Phillies could make some moves, but their young and immature offense mixed with washed up veterans will bring them down. The Atlanta Braves will win the wildcard simply because their pitching staff is not capable of keeping up with the Nationals. Even though their offense, led by the Upton brothers, Jason Heyward, Dan Uggla, and Freddie Freeman, is way better than Washington's, the Nationals pitching rotation is too good to be beaten. The Nationals, forwarded by young OF Bryce Harper and veteran OF Jason Werth are too good to lose the division. Washington also boasts the bet bullpen in baseball, which will help them in october.

NL Central
1. Pittsburgh Pirates (101-61)
2. St. Louis Cardinals (98-64) *wildcard
3. Cincinnati Reds (82-80)
4. Chicago Cubs (79-83)
5. Milwaukee Brewers (70-92)

If there is any division race to watch this year, it would have to be the NL Central. The defending wildcard champion Cincinnati Reds' reign of the NL Central will come an end this year due to the loss of too many key components. With the Chicago Cubs in the works of rebuilding the franchise, and the Milwaukee Brewers on the decline after their loss of Corey Hart, the division is only left to two teams. The defending NL champion St. Louis Cardinals are in for another year of success. Although they lost both Carlos Beltran and David Frees, their offense is still armed and dangerous. The Cardinals also boast an outstanding pitching rotation led by veterans like Chris Carpenter and he young ace out of Texas A&M, Michael Wacha. Although the Cardinals are stacked, they will only win the wildcard, all because their rival/counterpart, the Pittsburgh Pirates, are better than ever before. After an awesome finish last year to win the wildcard and reach the NLDS, Clint Hurdle's Pirates only built a better roster, led by the defending NL MVP, Andrew McCutchen, and young utility 2B Neil Walker, the Pirates have the most consistent hitting lineup in baseball. Match all this with one of the greatest and most loyal fan bases in the Major Leagues and you've got all the makings of a winner.

NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (102-60)
2. San Francisco Giants (90-72)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (90-72)
4. Colorado Rockies (80-82)
5. San Diego Padres (65-97)

The NL West is the one division where you can truly predict a team capable of dominating. The Rockies and Padres are both going through some major changes as organizations, the Diamondbacks and Giants are both recovering from sub-par seasons and each have yet to find that missing piece to put them over the top. The clear ruler of the NL West is Don Mattingly's Dodgers. The Dodgers debatably have both the best pitching staff and offense in baseball. With a starting pitching rotation that goes Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-jin Ryu, Zack Greinke, and Ricky Nolasco, (No, that is not a joke, this is actually an MLB teams rotation!) a bullpen led by former Giants' closer Brian Wilson, and an offense stacked to the top with talent, including the young prodigy Yasiel Puig, it's hard to imagine the Dodgers even lose the world series.

Yasiel Puig squares up to hit a ball one summer afternoon
at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles, California.

For more information see:
http://www.baseball-reference.com

Why Wisconsin is a Legitimate Threat

One of the most overlooked teams of this years tournament is the Wisconsin Badgers.

After starting off the season with a 16 game win streak, the Badgers went on to lose three straight in conference play, and ultimately finish with an overall record of 26-7.

The Badger’s season came to an abrupt holt last week after their depressing loss to #1 Michigan State in the BIG10 conference tournament semifinals. Although they certainly weren’t predicted to win the match-up, many fans and believers knew they needed this victory to make a name for themselves.

Wisconsin averaged 73.5 points-per-game this season, which ranked them 92nd in the country. The Badgers also averaged 12.1 assists-per-game placing them 216th nationally. These stats are eye-opening considering Wisconsin is a team that prides itself on it’s classic style, high scoring offense.

Wisconsin's Frank Kaminsky goes in for a lay-up against rival
Michigan in a BIG10 matchup. (Sports Illustrated)

Led by key players like forwards Junior Frank Kaminsky (13.6 ppg), and Sophomore Sam Dekker (16.2 reb) the Badgers have one of the most powerful rosters, with bragging rights to arguably the most roster depth of any team in this years tournament.

Wisconsin’s path to the final four already looks very challenging. They open the tournament against the Patriot Conference champion American University Eagles (20-12). In order to win the west region, the Badgers will have to most likely have to play the #7 Oregon Ducks, and would also possibly have to take on both the powerful #3 Creighton Bluejays and even the #1 Arizona Wildcats.

The Wisconsin Badgers are arguably the best #2 seed in the entire tournament, and the only way for them to prove their value would be to endure their tough tournament schedule and provide the fans, and the pundits, with proof of how good they actually are.

For more information see:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/_/id/275/wisconsin-badgers
http://college-basketball.si.com/2014/03/18/ncaa-tournament-team-previews-wisconsin-badgers/