The Sports Brief with Besse and Keefe: March 2014

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Keefestradamas Picks

First Keefestradamas picks of 2014...

Florida (-10) vs. Dayton

Arizona (-3) vs. Wisconsin

Grady Sizemore WILL GET A HIT on Opening Day for the Red Sox vs. Orioles*

Bruins UNDER 2.5 points combined vs. Capitals and Flyers this weekend.

*Lock of the Week

Thursday, March 27, 2014

I've been awful at teasers this year, just awful. But I got a good feeling about this one... (no I don't.)

Classic 2-team, 4-point teaser for the two late games tonight

UCLA +9.5 vs. Florida
Arizona -3.5 vs. San Diego State

Wish me luck, please.

Vince Wilfork Talking (tweeting?) Like He'll Be Back

My thoughts pic.twitter.com/MUW3I3ml4Y
— Vince Wilfork (@wilfork75) March 27, 2014

Followed by this...

Patriots and DT Vince Wilfork restructured his contract. It's a new 3-year, $22.5M deal, per source. Wilfork stays a Patriot.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 27, 2014

Mark Your Calendar

I will be hosting The Adam Jones Show the next two nights and will be doing color commentary for the Celtics again next week.

Thursday (3-27): Hosting 6-11pm on 98.5 (Pre and post Bruins vs. Blackhawks)

Friday (3-28): Hosting 6-11pm on 98.5 (Pre, halftime, and post Celtics vs. Raptors)

Monday (3-31): Color Commentary for Celtics vs. Bulls, 7:30pm on 98.5

Wednesday (4-2): Color Commentary for Celtics vs. Wizards, 6:30pm on 100.7 WZLX

Monday, March 24, 2014

16 Best Pro Prospects in the Sweet 16

Julius Randle, Kentucky, PF, freshmen
Aaron Gordon, Arizona, PF, freshmen
Gary Harris, Michigan State, SG, sophomore
Kyle Anderson, UCLA, SF, sophomore
James Young, Kentucky, SF, freshmen
Nik Stauskas, Michigan, SG, sophomore
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville, PF, sophomore
Adriean Payne, Michigan State, PF, senior
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky, C, sophomore
Zach LaVine, UCLA, PG, freshmen
Shabazz Napier, UConn, PG, senior
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky, PG, freshmen
Glenn Robinson III, Michigan, SF, sophomore
Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee, PF, junior
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky, SG, freshmen
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona, SF, freshmen

Two guys who won't get drafted in the 1st Round but who I love:

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State, PG, super senior

Melvin Ejim, Iowa State, SF, senior

Other Players to Watch:

Chris Walker, Florida, PF, freshmen

Jordan Adams, UCLA, SG, sophomore

Nick Johnson, Arizona, SG, junior

Russ Smith, Louisville, PG, senior

Patric Young, Florida, PF, senior

Alex Poythress, Kentucky, SF, sophomore

Cory Jefferson, Baylor, PF, senior

Sweet 16 Teams by Conference

3 = Big 10, SEC, PAC-12

2 = American, Big 12

1 = ACC, Mountain West, Atlantic 10

Updated "VIP" Leaderboard

I see you B. Robb.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

"VIP" Leaderboard

Here's what it looks like after 3 days. Figured I'd take a picture before I sink like a stone.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

1st Round Results

26-6

Winners I did NOT have: HARVARD, NORTH CAROLINA, MERCER, GONZAGA, STANFORD, ST. LOUIS

Thursday, March 20, 2014

My Tournament Picks

Sweet 16

Florida

UCLA

Dayton

Kansas

Virginia

Michigan State

Iowa State

UConn

Arizona

San Diego State

Creighton

Wisconsin

Kentucky

Louisville

Duke

Michigan

Elite 8

Florida

Kansas

Michigan State

Iowa State

Arizona

Creighton

Louisville

Duke

Final 4

Florida

Iowa State

Arizona

Lousiville

Finals

Lousiville over Florida

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

The 68 Best Pro Prospects in the NCAA Tournament

Sorted by region and where teams sit in the bracket top to bottom.

South Region:

Patric Young, Florida

Chris Walker, Florida

Spencer Dinwiddie, Colorado (hurt)

Lamar Patterson, Pittsburgh

Juvonte Reddic, VCU

Kyle Anderson, UCLA

Zach LaVine, UCLA

Jordan Adams, UCLA

Aaron Craft, Ohio State

LaQuinton Ross, Ohio State

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse

Jerami Grant, Syracuse

C.J. Fair, Syracuse

Cameron Bairstow, New Mexico

Kendall Williams, New Mexico

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas

Joel Embiid, Kansas

Wayne Selden, Kansas

East Region:

Joe Harris, Virginia

Shaq Goodwin, Memphis

Sean Kilpatrick, Cincinnati

Gary Harris, Michigan State

Adriean Payne, Michigan State

Keith Appling, Michigan State

Marcus Paige, North Carolina

James Michael McAdoo, North Carolina

Brice Johnson, North Carolina

Melvin Ejim, Iowa State

DeAndre Kane, Iowa State

Shabazz Napier, UConn

West Region:

Aaron Gordon, Arizona

Nick Johnson, Arizona

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona

Kaleb Tarczewski, Arizona

Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State

Markel Brown, Oklahoma State

LeBryan Nash, Oklahoma State

Xavier Thames, San Diego State

Sim Bhullar, New Mexico State

Cory Jefferson, Baylor

Isaiah Austin, Baylor

Terran Petteway, Nebraska

Doug McDermott, Creighton

Elfrid Payton, Louisiana Lafayette

Joseph Young, Oregon

Sam Dekker, Wisconsin

Midwest Region:

Cleanthony Early, Wichita State

Fred VanVleet, Wichita State

Ron Baker, Wichita State

Julius Randle, Kentucky

James Young, Kentucky

Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky

Andrew Harrison, Kentucky

Aaron Harrison, Kentucky

Alex Poythress, Kentucky

T.J. Warren, North Carolina State

Semaj Christon, Xavier

Montrezl Harrell, Louisville

Russ Smith, Louisville

Devyn Marble, Iowa

Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee

Jordan McRae, Tennessee

Jabari Parker, Duke

Rodney Hood, Duke

Andre Hawkins, Duke

Jahii Carson, Arizona State

Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State

Nik Stauskas, Michigan

Glenn Robinson III, Michigan

All Closers Fantasy League

We are introducing an "ALL CLOSERS FANTASY LEAGUE" this year. A "Leakage League" if you will. You can only use relief pitchers, 7 a night with 8-man rosters, 1 DL spot.

Rotisserie scoring with 4 categories: SAVES, SAVE%, K's, WHIP

Here are the Draft Results...

Keefe = Urbina's Revenge

Round: 1
(1) RIP Rod Beck - Craig Kimbrel RP
(2) Rollie Fingered - Aroldis Chapman RP
(3) Benitez Boys - Kenley Jansen RP
** (4) Urbina's Revenge - Trevor Rosenthal RP

Round: 2
** (5) Urbina's Revenge - Greg Holland RP
(6) Benitez Boys - Koji Uehara RP
(7) Rollie Fingered - Sergio Romo RP
(8) RIP Rod Beck - David Robertson RP

Round: 3
(9) RIP Rod Beck - Addison Reed RP
(10) Rollie Fingered - Joe Nathan RP
(11) Benitez Boys - Glen Perkins RP
** (12) Urbina's Revenge - Casey Janssen RP

Round: 4
** (13) Urbina's Revenge - Ernesto Frieri RP
(14) Benitez Boys - Grant Balfour RP
(15) Rollie Fingered - Jim Johnson RP
(16) RIP Rod Beck - Jason Grilli RP

Round: 5
(17) RIP Rod Beck - Steve Cishek RP
(18) Rollie Fingered - Jonathan Papelbon RP
(19) Benitez Boys - Bobby Parnell RP
** (20) Urbina's Revenge - Rafael Soriano RP

Round: 6
** (21) Urbina's Revenge - LaTroy Hawkins RP
(22) Benitez Boys - Huston Street RP
(23) Rollie Fingered - John Axford RP
(24) RIP Rod Beck - Jim Henderson RP

Round: 7
(25) RIP Rod Beck - Jose Veras RP
(26) Rollie Fingered - Fernando Rodney RP
(27) Benitez Boys - Nate Jones RP
** (28) Urbina's Revenge - Neftali Feliz RP

Round: 8
** (29) Urbina's Revenge - Tommy Hunter RP
(30) Benitez Boys - Chad Qualls RP
(31) Rollie Fingered - Cody Allen RP
(32) RIP Rod Beck - Rex Brothers RP

Monday, March 17, 2014

The Bracket

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Role Call

New England Patriots

CB Darrelle Revis

CB Brandon Browner

WR Julien Edelman

WR Brandon LaFell

Denver Broncos

CB Aqib Talib

DE DeMarcus Ware

S T.J. Ward

WR Emmanuel Sanders

Business is picking up!

Friday, March 14, 2014

Keefe Doing Color Commentary for Celtics

Very excited to say that I will be filling in for Cedric Maxwell and doing the color on the upcoming Celtics road trip. Sean Grande will be on the play-by-play.

When?

SUNDAY at New Orleans Pelicans

5:30pm pre game show

6:00pm game

98.5 The Sports Hub / Celtics Radio Network

MONDAY at Dallas Mavericks

8:00pm pre game show

8:30pm game

100.7 WZLX / Celtics Radio Network

You'll want to listen instead of watch anyway since they'll be wearing their St. Paddy's Day uniforms...

Gross. And not the good gross.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Brandon Browner to the Patriots

Source: Ex-#Seahawks CB Brandon Browner has reached a two-year agreement with the #Patriots. Must serve 4-game suspension to start 2014
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2014

Love this one. Revis, Browner... Business is picking up. Watch for Browner to play some safety, either way works for me. More "Legion of Boom" guys the better for me.

UPDATE: No one knows anything. Deal not official. NFL Network says Yes, ESPN says No. Flip a coin Harvey Dent.

UPDATE TO THE UPDATE: BRANDON BROWNER TO THE PATS, 3 YEARS $17 MILLION.

YES!

Schools in the NCAA Tournament as of now

Harvard, Ivy League
Mercer, Atlantic Sun
Coastal Carolina, Big South
Wichita State, Missouri Valley
Eastern Kentucky, Ohio Valley
Delaware, CAA
Manhattan, MAAC
Wofford, Southern
Mount Saint Mary’s, Northeast
Milwaukee, Horizon
North Dakota State, Summit
Gonzaga, West Coast
American, Patriot

Only 55 more to go.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Darrelle Revis to the Patriots

CB Darrelle Revis and the New England Patriots have reached agreement on a one-year, $12 million deal, league sources told ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2014

1 year??? Never saw this coming. Unreal signing by the Pats. Best corner in the league on his way to New England.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Game of Thrones: Season 4 Trailer

Between Two Ferns: Barack Obama

Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: President Barack Obama from President Barack Obama

Monday, March 10, 2014

2014 Holy Shirts & Pants

Had my first fantasy baseball draft of the year last night. It's a 12-team, 8-player keeper for a league that's been going on for 7 years. I opted to only keep 7.

Keepers are marked with *

C: A.J. Pierzynski

1B: Paul Goldschmidt*

2B: Aaron Hill

3B: David Wright*

SS: Everth Cabrera

OF: Yoenis Cespedes*

OF: Alex Gordon

OF: Dominic Brown

UTIL: Freddie Freeman*

UTIL: Jose Abreu

BENCH

Xander Bogaerts*

Marlon Byrd

Oscar Tavares

Christian Yelich

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

STAFF

SP: Madison Bumgarner*

SP: Jered Weaver*

RP: Casey Janssen

RP: LaTroy Hawkins

P: Jose Veras

P: Francisco Rodriguez

P: Tanner Scheppers

C.J. Wilson

Hiroki Kuroda

A.J. Burnett

Travis Wood

Championship.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

I (Finally) Bought the WWE Network

I decided to purchase the WWE Network this weekend after an internal debate that lasted for a couple weeks. I don't love what is going on right now in the WWE (see my thoughts on CM Punk's non-return), and I'm leery of how Wrestlemania will play out. But should that really matter?

Yes, I'm giving money directly to the people responsible for the questionable product right now, but what about the years of awesome stuff? That's what I'm paying for.

WWE Network = $9.99 a month (minimum 6 MONTH commitment)

So, 60 bucks gets you what exactly?

Every PPV past and current. Meaning you have access to every WWF/WWE, WCW, and ECW pay-per-view (this is the best part). You want to watch the 1991 Royal Rumble, go for it. And the quality is solid.

You also get the current PPV events. Next month's Wrestlemania? You got it. That's really the selling point. I mean I love the old stuff, but the fact that I'd spend $50-60 on Wresltemania and probably the Royal Rumble, why not just pay for the Network over a 6 month span that encompasses those sweet events. Sold.

I can watch all this on my TV (thru my XBOX 360), my computer, or even my iPhone. Not bad.

I am a little concerned over how the stream will be the night of Wresltemania when everyone and their brother will be logged on and watching. We'll see. But for now, it's sweet.

One of the negatives is the recent episode of RAW is not available the next day and isn't for sometime. (They have a deal with Hulu I guess). That's really the only significant drawback I have found so far. As long as the streaming holds up it looks like a great investment.

In addition to the old and new PPVs, there is NXT stuff, other Network only shows, Pre and Post Raw Show, and cool stuff like "Best Entrances" and what not.

It's all good. Now only if they could get CM Punk back...

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Saturday Special (Teaser)

4 team - 5 point teaser at +200...

UConn (+9) (+14) vs Louisville

BU (-7.5) (-2.5) vs Army

OK State (+3.5) (+8.5) vs Iowa St.

Georgetown (+9.5) (+14.5) vs Villanova

I'm a sucker for these stupid teasers.

UPDATE: Awful.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

NHL Trade Deadline Essentials

Here is all you need to know about NHL trades over the last week. A simple guide for the hockey fan courtesy of The Sports Brief.

PLAYER - NEW TEAM

Martin St. Louis - New York Rangers

Ryan Callahan - Tampa Bay Lightning

Ryan Miller - St. Louis Blues

Jaroslav Halak - Washington Capitals

Matt Moulson - Minnesota Wild

Tomas Vanek - Montreal Canadiens

Marian Gaborik - Los Angeles Kings

Tim Thomas - Dallas Stars

Roberto Luongo - Florida Panthers

Andrew MacDonald - Philadelphia Flyers

Dustin Penner - Washington Capitals

Ales Hemsky - Ottawa Senators

Andrej Meszaros - BOSTON BRUINS

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

New Batman Video Game For XBox 1 and PS4 Trailer

CM Punk Does NOT Return At Monday Night Raw In Chicago

The show opened on Monday with CM Punk's music, but it was his former manager Paul Heyman who made his way out to the ring in front of Punk's hometown. Well played WWE. Heyman did his thing. He mentioned CM Punk, the first time the name has been uttered on a WWE broadcast since he left the company. Heyman said Punk was NOT in the building. He blamed the fans for why Punk wasn't there and referenced his loss last Wrestlemania to the Undertaker, which allowed him to introduce his current guy Brock Lesnar.

Solid start to the show. I was still thinking Punk would arrive and blow the roof off the place.

First match was for the Tag belts where The Usos beat The New Age Outlaws to become the NEEWWWW WWE TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! Good for them.

Big E and Cesaro have a match. Fine.

The Wyatts vs. The Shield is next. Once again it's terrific. Without these two factions, I'd be out on the WWE right now. Bray Wyatt is the best on the mic (since Punk is gone, remember) and Dean Ambrose isn't bad himself. All 6 can wrestle and put on great matches. Crowd chanted "This Is Awesome" a few times for this one, even before it started.

First hour of the show was great. No CM Punk, but his name was mentioned and the crowd chanted it a few times.

Then a bunch of crap matches follow including Sheamus vs. Christian. No thanks.

Jesse (Aaron Paul) from Breaking Bad comes out with Dolph Ziggler for his match with Alberto Del Rio. Gotta promote that movie.

John Cena comes out, says he won't be wrestling and then talks about the Wyatts. Least the WWE realizes Bray Wyatt is legit, as he is in TWO rivalries/ storylines right now.

Main Event time: Batista vs. Daniel Bryan. And of course Randy Orton is out too. He's the champ.

Looks like Bryan will win and then shockingly Orton comes in and it's a DQ. Next thing you know Triple H, Stephanie, and Kane are all in the ring beating up Bryan. This would be a pretty good time for CM Punk's music to hit again... but it does not. The WWE knew it was the perfect time and once again ended the night with Triple H and Steph reigning victorious. Weak sauce.

Remember when the WCW had too many of their wrestlers (Hogan, Nash, NWO, etc.) in charge of creative and the whole operation went in the trash? Well Triple H is doing a hell of a job trying to recreate that mess.

Daniel Bryan not being good enough is getting tired.

Triple H and Steph as the lead villains is getting tired.

Randy Orton sucks.

Batista sucks.

Sheamus sucks.

I'll probably still watch through Wrestlemania, but they are making it tough. If I had the feeling that they were setting us up for something awesome it would be one thing, but the storytelling/ writing is so bad there is almost no hope. Do they write this stuff day of? How much of a long-scope do they have? Remember when Kane was kidnapped by the Wyatt Family? What about Daniel Bryan? Do they remember?

I'll end with a quick Pros vs. Cons list of the current state of the WWE.

PRO:
Daniel Bryan
The Wyatt Family
The Shield
~~CM Punk~~
Paul Heyman

CON:
Randy Orton
Batista
Triple H/ Steph as the main heels
Writing
Sheamus
Christian
Kane
Lack of CM Punk
IC Belt
Divas Division

And John Cena probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Tampa Bay Buccaneers New Uniforms

Yuck. Sweet Arena League uniforms Bucs. Why mess with a good thing? These are gross. What are those numbers? Terrible. Why is the flag on the helmet magnified?

Grade: F