Re-Draft: 2003 NBA Top 10

Who doesn't like a "Re-Draft?"  Always fun.  10 years ago was one of the NBA's greatest drafts.  It was one that got the #1 pick just as right as they got the #2 pick wrong.  Here is how it went (Top 10) followed by how it should have...

1. LeBron James - Cleveland Cavaliers
2. Darko Milicic - Detroit Pistons
3. Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets
4. Chris Bosh - Toronto Raptors
5. Dwyane Wade - Miami Heat
6. Chris Kaman - Los Angeles Clippers
7. Kirk Hinrich - Chicago Bulls
8. T.J. Ford - Milwaukee Bucks
9. Michael Sweetney - New York Knicks
10. Jarvis Hayes - Washington Wizards

Really fall off a cliff there at the end.  This great draft, like all drafts, had a bunch of duds.  Troy Bell at 16?  Dude played 6 NBA games. 

HOW IT SHOULD HAVE GONE:

1. LeBron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Carmelo Anthony
4. Chris Bosh
5. David West
6. Chris Kaman
7. Mo Williams
8. Josh Howard
9. Kirk Hinrich
10. Kendrick Perkins

Really not a terrible job by the GMs in 2003.  LeBron, Wade, Melo, Bosh, Kaman, Hinrich all in the Top 7, and all clearly in the Top 10.  This draft has produced 8 All-Stars (the top 8 on my list).  Other decent guys include Nick Collison, Boris Diaw, Jason Kapono, Kyle Korver, Steve Blake, Matt Bonner, but none Top 10 worthy. 

Boom.  Re-drafted. 

Remember When The Home Run Derby Was Cool?

They didn't need to have captains pick their team when I was growing up... Ok, clearly I'm just too old for the Home Run Derby now. And an event I used to look forward to with excitement and all that. It's just not the same. Right?

Here are this year's teams.

Robinson Cano (captain)
Prince Fielder
Chris Davis (how about this guy this year?)
Mystery Hitter (weak sauce, who is it Robbie? Who cares?)

David Wright (captain)
Bryce Harper
Carlos Gonzalez
Michael Cuddyer (We need two Colorado Rockies? We need Mike Cuddyer?)

My all-time derby team (of guys who competed)

Ken Griffey, Jr.
Barry Bonds
Mark McGwire
Frank Thomas

(Honorable Mention: Jose Canseco, Bo Jackson, Gary Sheffield, Albert Belle)

Boom. Two lefties, two righties. No matter the park, you're getting the best show possible. I guess I should just watch the derbies from the 90s.

Sports I'd Rather Watch Than Tennis

• Basketball
• Football
• Baseball
• Hockey
• MMA
• Professional Wrestling
• Golf
• Soccer
• NASCAR
• Water Polo
• Track & Field
• Skiing
• Skateboarding
• Boxing
• Swimming
• Curling
• Badminton 
• Speed Skating
• Horse Racing

Anderson Silva AND UFC Fans Lost

Anderson Silva lost to Chris Weidman by TKO in the 2nd Round at UFC 162.  Congrats to Weidman, who took advantage of Silva spending the majority of the fight taunting him with his hands down by his waist or resting on his hips.  It cost him.  In his 11th title defense, Anderson Silva finally lost in the UFC.

But perhaps the bigger loser?  The fans.  

For years now we have wanted to see the super-fight between Silva and [Welterweight Champ] Georges St. Pierre...(scroll down to hear my interview with GSP on one of the worst phones of all-time) and if that wasn't going to happen (lots of feet dragging here, "after the Shields fight, well after the Diaz fight, Condit, etc, etc), there was another super-fight rumor emerging and that was Silva vs. [Light-Heavyweight Champ] Jon Jones.  And now?

Silva's loss takes a ton of luster out of either potential dream match up.  You wait too long in this sport, and even the unbeatable lose.  It's a shame.  Silva should have fought GSP last year AND set up a fight with Jones.  The Weidmans (and in the case of GSP, Hendricks, will always be there.)

You remember how badly fight fans wanted Wanderlei Silva vs. Chuck Liddell?  They ultimately fought, and it was a solid bout, but what if it was 5 years sooner?  We'll never know.  

We had a chance to see history with either Silva mega fight.  We lost that last night.  

Inside The Cage with Georges St. Pierre

Keefe had a chance to talk with UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre prior to UFC 162. His phone sucked, but there was still some good stuff in there.

Celtics Hire Head Coach Brad Stevens

In a bit of a surprise the Boston Celtics have hired Butler's Brad Stevens to be their 17th head coach in franchise history.  The 36 year old spent 6 seasons as head man at Butler where he made the NCAA Tournament 5 times, including 2 trips to the Title Game (2010, 2011). 

The complete list of NBA players that went thru Butler while Stevens was at the helm:

Gordon Hayward
Shelvin Mack

That is all.  But I like the hire.  Could be great, and the Celtics have the time to figure that out. 

Twins Give Mariano Rivera A Chair Made From Broken Bats

What do you get a guy who has everything?  And that same guy made a career out of throwing cutters and breaking bats?  This.