As I See It: Bold Statements I, II

Bold
adj. bold·er, bold·est

1. Fearless and daring; courageous.

2. Requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery.

3. Unduly forward and brazen; impudent

4. Clear and distinct to the eye; conspicuous

This blog will be a combination of all 4 definitions. The imagination can run wild sometimes, but combined with research and evaluation you get Bold Statements. 

1. The Chicago Bulls will win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship, beating Atlanta, Orlando, Boston, and eventually the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 of the NBA Finals. Derrick Rose will of course, be the Finals MVP averaging over 30 points per game, 10 assists and a hair under 6 rebounds. Carlos Boozer will struggle to find his way through first couple rounds and Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson and Kurt Thomas, with his veteran leadership pick up the slack on both ends of the floor. Ronnie Brewer replaces Keith Bogans as starter for the first round of the playoffs and starts from thereafter. The Miami Heat take the Orlando Magic to seven games but fall. No front court presence...

     The Chicago Bulls will coast past the Atlanta Hawks and rest up, while the Orlando Magic are physically and emotionally drained. The Bulls beat the Magic in six. Boston beats New York easily in 5 games. With both teams at full strength, its business as usual between the greatest rivals match in NBA history. 

       Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose battle wills exchanging great play after great play, at times they appear to jaw and fight amongst each other. Rajon Rondo finally gets under Derrick Rose's skin and Rose gets a rare technical foul in the playoffs. That only fuels Rose's fire as he tears into the Boston Celtics defense leading all scorers in scoring in every game of the NBA Finals. Rondo also establishes himself as one of the leagues elite point guards, as he matches Rose with remarkable numbers averaging a double/double in both points and assists. 

       Joakim Noah and Kevin Garnett both get technical fouls; due to a shoving match in game 5 that threatens suspension, when they each get ejected after getting into another shoving match shortly after during the same game. Paul Pierce tries to play in Game 6 but cannot go the full length due to knee problems. People start asking 'Cutler'-like questions about his sincerity when it is obvious that the Bulls team defense proves to be too overwhelming for the older, more experienced Celtic team. 

       The Bulls hold Boston to its lowest scoring game in Game 5 going up 3-2, inspiring a memorable Game 6 in the United Center as the Chicago Bulls advance to the NBA Finals and beat the Los Angeles Lakers in six games to win the NBA Championship... Bold indeed. Possible...quite!

    2.     The Chicago Cubs will play the Chicago White Sox in the World Series ( Also see, "Break In Case of Cubs World Series .) Both teams made significant moves in the off-season to shore up in positions that showed need for improvement. This could potentially be the catalyst to another great spotlight for the city to shine. Chicago can't lose either way in this one!

      The Chicago Cubs/White Sox are both hoping that the acquisitions this off-season will help push them into the playoffs. The White Sox successfully kept ahold of Paul Konerko, while adding legitimate power with 1B Adam Dunn. Kenny Williams also pushed the button on extending Alexei Ramirez in recent weeks. The pitching rotation is still in identity crisis mode, with no significant additions and the departure of Freddy Garcia (12-6, 4.64 ERA). 

     Jake Peavy needs to be the ace that the front office expected him to be when they signed him last season. Barring that injuries wouldn't keep him from another 19-6. 2.54 ERA season that he compiled with the San Diego Padres before signing with the Sox. A healthy Peavy will undoubtedly give the White Sox the rotation necessary to compete with Minnesota and Detroit next season in the reloaded AL Central. Comparatively, the White Sox have a better total roster top to bottom than their crosstown counterparts. But stacked teams do not always equal championships ( See: San Francisco Giants, 2004 L.A. Lakers ).

     

     The Cubs however, have a better nucleus of elite talent. Alphonso Soriano, Matt Garza, and Carlos Pena all bring significant playoff experience to the team, but that does not scratch the surface of All-Star caliber talent. Playing to expected potential has been the crux of the Cubs woes during recent seasons. Remarkable seasons followed by blockbuster signings were consistent practice. 

     

     Unfortunately, those signing were immediately followed by lackluster performance and underachievement. Alphonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Marlon Byrd, Kosuke Fukudome, and Rookie of the Year Geovanny Soto all have been touted as an undoubted World Series group. Both teams scrap through tough divisions to come out victorious and meet in a classic battle for Chicago!
     This will go down in the history books as the best World Series in recent years. The Chicago Cubs win their first World Series in over a century and the city of Chicago turns inside out. Safely...  This my friends, is the season all this manifests. Just know you heard it here first!!!


More Bold Statements to come as the year goes on.....