The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/31)

The official logo of the AFC North

AFC North preview edition.


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2012 NFL Preview: NFC North

He may not have won the Super Bowl, but he easily won
Mustache Madness.

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

In case you missed them, here are the divisions we’ve already previewed:

AFC West
NFC West
AFC South
NFC South
AFC North

We stay up north today to examine what very well may be the best division in football. 

NFC North

Seriously, if I said the NFC North was the best division in football, would you argue? The Packers nearly went undefeated in the regular season, the Lions turned into an offensive juggernaut, and the Bears were arguably one of the top teams in the conference before Cutler and Forte went down. If they can avoid beating each other up – as opposed to just ganging up and beating the mess out of the Vikings – the division could theoretically put three teams in the playoffs.

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/30)

Sorry, Tony, I can't play anymore today. Uncle Jerry says I
have to go home and take my afternoon nap.

NFC South preview show, plus Dez Bryant is assigned babysitters, Ryan Tannehill struggles with geography, and more in this extra long "makeup" show.


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2012 NFL Preview: AFC North

A familiar sight for Steelers fans...likely to stay familiar
for another year.

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

In case you missed them, here are the divisions we’ve already previewed:

AFC West
NFC West
AFC South
NFC South

We head north today to catch up with a strong group of football teams…also, I’ll briefly mention the Browns.

AFC North

The division once again came down to Steelers vs. Ravens, as it pretty much always does. The Bengals, though, tried to get themselves in on that action, and are popular picks to accomplish that this year. The Browns? Well, they’re the Browns…and their “rookie” QB is the second oldest starter in the division.

2012 NFL Preview: NFC South

Which is bigger: Jacquizz Rodgers or one of
Michael Turner's massive legs? 

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

In case you missed them, here are the divisions we’ve already previewed:

AFC West
NFC West
AFC South

We’ll be staying in the South today, NFC style, where all the teams actually do reside in the South:

NFC South

Let’s make a pact right now, shall we? When talking about the NFC South, we will only use the word “bounty” one time (not counting that one). One time and one time only, that’s our limit. This story has dominated the headlines for far too long and, quite frankly, I’m sick and tired of hearing about it. Not only is the story tiresome, but it also draws attention away from what is, in my opinion, one of the most compelling divisions in the NFL. There will be a legitimate battle for division supremacy this year between the Saints and Falcons, an intriguing push by the up-and-coming Panthers, and a potential attempt to allow the most points in NFL history by the Buccaneers. Should be fun!

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/28)

I couldn't find the picture Nate was referring
to, so I just picked the most appropriate
Curtis Painter picture I could find.

Bleacher Report's AFC South Lead Writer Nate Dunlevy joins the show to help preview the AFC South.


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2012 NFL Preview: AFC South

The talented Tebow!

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

In case you missed them, here are the divisions we’ve already previewed:

AFC West
NFC West

Today, we’ll head south…except for when we head to Indianapolis, which isn’t even remotely in the South:

AFC South

I’m not sure what was weirder, the fact that Peyton Manning and the Colts did not win the division, or the fact that Gary Kubiak did win the division. Both shattered my worldview, to be honest. But just because Peyton Manning is gone and the Gary Kubiak has started his improbable reign as division dictator doesn’t mean things aren’t interesting in the South. Quite the opposite, in fact. With Andrew Luck in Indy, Jake Locker taking over in Tennessee, and Maurice Jones-Drew holding the line in Jacksonville, there’s plenty to talk about.

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/27)

Drunk...already

Bernie Kosar goes crazy, Griffin "outduels" Luck, Russell Wilson wins the job, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/24)

Enjoy, 'Niners fans.

NFC West preview show, plus more Kolb vs. Skelton "drama."


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2012 NFL Preview: NFC West

Beanie Wells...in his usual position

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

In case you missed them, here are the divisions we’ve already previewed:

AFC West

Today, we’ll look at their NFC counterparts:

NFC West

In one short season, the 49ers managed to go from “the team with the coach who pulls his pants down” to a 13 win wrecking ball. Assisting them in that transformation was the rest of the division, which threw wave after wave of Tarvaris/Kolb/Skelton/Injured Bradford/Bradford’s backup/Bradford’s third stringer – well, you get the idea. It wasn’t pretty. This year, though, there is cause for legitimate optimism out West. San Francisco worked hard to improve their receivers, Seattle brought in TWO guys better than Tarvaris, and St. Louis finally hired a real coach. So I get to say this for the first time in a long, long while; NFC West, I’m intrigued.

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/23)

Well, that certainly explains a lot...

AFC West preview show, plus Bartolo Colon *shockingly* gets caught juicing.


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2012 NFL Preview: AFC West

Norv is back, and even he can't explain why

With just a couple short weeks until the opening kickoff of the 2012 NFL season, it’s finally time to make my official predictions, knowing full well they will be shot to pieces faster than Carson Palmer can throw 10 INT’s. Still, gotta fill the time somehow, right?

Last year, I took a huge risk and predicted a Patriots-Packers Super Bowl. (Having something whispered in my ear). Huh? You mean, everyone predicted a Patriots-Packers Super Bowl? OK, so I didn’t go out on a limb and make some idiot prediction like, oh say, the Giants winning the Super Bowl. I mean, who would be dumb enough to do that, right? Still, I dominated in predicting the rest of the league, with gems like:

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/22)

If Prince sported one of those dumb-looking phone holders on his hip, this is exactly what it would look like...Ghost Phone!!!

Mike Wallace nears his return, Ghost Phone attacks the podcast, Russell Wilson gets his shot, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/21)

Brilliant...

Melky Cabrera has a dumb idea, two QB battles are decided, the Jags take their show on the road, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/20)

You mean, she sat on THAT?! What an idiot!

An idiot fan sues the Cowboys, Russell Wilson continues to impress, Jake Locker blows a big chance, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/17)

"MELKY" Cabrera - Juicing
"MIGUEL" Cabrera - Not juicing...just fat

The replacement refs continue to struggle, Jake Locker gets his shot, Victor Conte drops a bomb on baseball, and more.


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Olympic Basketball Age Limit: What Would the 2012 Team Have Looked Like?

Imagine these three playing in a tournament full of rookie year Darko Milicic's...

Yesterday, I wrote at length about what the 2016 U.S. Olympic basketball team could look like. With many of our top players still on the young side of 30, the next version of USA basketball should once again shape up as the dominant figure in international hoops. Lebron, Durant, Chris Paul…yeah, that’s a third straight gold medal right there. 

There is one small fly in the ointment, however. Those players may not be allowed to participate in the Olympics four years from now.

For varying reasons (publicity, less international competition for NBA stars, etc.), FIBA is pushing for a ‘World Cup of basketball’ type of event every four years. Ostensibly, this would be the FIBA World Championships on crack. That’s good and all that they want to have a huge, headline grabbing event – the problem is that they already have one. The Olympics. Therefore, for their plan to work, Olympic basketball must go the route of soccer. Pushed in large part by David Stern and a few vocal NBA owners, Olympic basketball may soon have a 23 and under age limit. This would separate the two events and force the main spotlight on the newly created ‘World Cup of Basketball.’ 

To be quite honest, I hate the idea. Hate it, hate it, hate it. The idea that playing internationally over the summer is somehow bad for these guys is ludicrous. As Kobe Bryant accurately pointed out prior to the Olympics, all these guys are going to be playing a ton of ball anyways. What could be better than playing in a controlled, organized setting against top competition and with plenty of medical staff around? 

Nevertheless, this age limit looks to be a fait accompli. Fortunately, it appears as if the 2016 Games will be safe, allowing us one last opportunity to watch a true U.S. Olympic team in action.

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/16)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Jason Witten injures his spleen, Melky Cabrera gets caught cheating, the guys try to figure out who will be on the 2016 U.S. Olympic basketball team, and more.


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Projecting the 2016 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team

A sight we'll mercifully never have to see again!

In Athens, just two Olympic Games ago, the U.S. was the major story in international basketball, not because of their continued dominance in the sport, but because of their shocking downfall. The same country that had run roughshod over the world in 1992, 1996, and 2000 had dropped off to bronze medal status, mostly due to massive roster turnover and our country’s lackadaisical approach to international hoops.

Now, eight years later, all that has changed. Gone is the apathy from our countries best and brightest. Gone is the damaging roster turnover that sapped the team of any and all chemistry. In its place stands a true international program, with solid leadership entrenched at the top and committed players on the floor. Over the last two Olympics, the U.S. has once again taken its place as basketball’s head, winning the last two gold medals in dominating fashion. As an American, I can say that I am extremely proud of the men who represented us in 2012. Congratulations, guys. 

Going forward, though, there will be changes. Major changes, potentially, starting with Coach K. The Olympics was his last go-round with Team USA, and the program will now have to deal with its first leadership vacuum since coming together post-2004. If that weren’t enough, the team could potentially see its first significant roster turnover as well. Age will obviously keep some out, as can only be expected, but long tenured members like Lebron James might also choose to bow out, feeling they’ve done enough on the international stage. 

That having been said, it would be shocking if Team USA fell into their pre-Redeem Team malaise. There is far too much young talent available to them, and far too much infrastructure to not mold them into a cohesive unit by 2016. And even though 2016 is a full four years away, it’s never too early to speculate on what that future gold medal winning team will look like:

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/15)

You'll just have to listen...

Brian Urlacher has a knee problem, Mike Wallace is set to return, Mickey Loomis is innocent, and more.


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Management, not market, responsible for the NBA's woes

Want to know who to blame for the Dwight Howard fiasco? Look no further...

Without a doubt, there isn’t a more complicated relationship in my life right now than the one I have with the NBA. It’s like dating a supermodel, except she has one of those horrendous arm-sleeve tattoos that makes you want to hurl every time you start to get intimate.

Like the supermodel, the NBA is absolutely gorgeous on the surface. For basketball fanatics like myself, watching the game played at the NBA level is a sight to behold. The talent is undeniable, the athleticism breathtaking, the personalities larger than life. In what other sport can you observe a transcendent athlete impose his will on a game to the extent that Lebron James did in the playoffs? Even if you despise Lebron, as I do, there’s something special about taking in that level of dominance. It’s just pure fun to watch basketball played like that.

But man is that arm-sleeve tattoo hideous. Every time I think I can get intimate with the NBA, there’s that stupid tattoo staring me right in the face. Last Friday night was another one of those “arm-sleeve tattoo” moments, when the league kicked me right in the teeth just as I was getting cozy with it. All the fun of an interesting offseason, all the excitement of the U.S. Olympic team…all shot to pieces now that the Lakers have stolen Dwight Howard in what can only be described as one of the most lopsided, objectionable trades in NBA history.

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/14)

Is this the last memory Chad will leave us?

Rookie QB's impress early, Chad Johnson leaves a receipt in his car, the Lakers look to contend in the West, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/13)

You are now free to resume your normal hatred of Lebron James.

The Olympics come to a close, the U.S. wins the gold, the Orlando Magic commit suicide, Andrew Luck makes his debut, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/10)

Not two hours after doing this podcast, the Howard trade becomes official. Yet another reason to hate him!

Robert Griffin makes his debut, Mike Vick hurts his thumb, Dwight Howard is close to being traded (again), and more.


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Dear IOC: Please consider these new "sports" for 2016

Look, even if you don't like my ideas for new sports, at least design a logo that doesn't look like something my 3 year old would draw.

The 2012 London Olympics is quickly drawing to a close, and I must admit…I’m bored. You heard right! Bored! As in, “oh my gosh, my eardrums are going to burst if I have to hear Tim Daggett explain point deductions one more time” bored. 

It’s not that I hate the Olympics or anything; it’s just that, apart from men’s basketball and Usain Bolt’s uncanny Roadrunner impersonation, there isn’t much out there for me. But even for those who happen to like swimming, gymnastics, and various other obscure sports you’ll only see once every four years, any sports fan in or around my demographic can admit that the Olympics could use a little spicing up.

Coincidentally, that’s exactly what I’m here to do today. Let’s take the Olympics we love and make them a bit more engaging for immature, childish men like myself. Below is a list of potential new “sports” I’d like to propose to the IOC. They are most definitely out of the box, but I have no doubt they’d quickly find their way to your DVR. So, while your wife is busy watching 12 year old Chinese girls fall off the balance beam, you can take part in the most sophomoric Olympic events in the history of mankind. Please, hold the applause!

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/9)

It would be a French guy that does this!

Team USA pulls away from Australia, Nic Batum punches a guy in the crotch, Trent Richardson visits Dr. James Andrews, and more.


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2012 NFL Preview: Coaches on the Hot Seat

The seat is on fire...get it? 

Last week, I wrote about “make-or-break” time in regards to the many training camp positional battles. That “make-or-break” urgency isn’t isolated to just the players, though. The NFL is more and more becoming a revolving door of head coaches. “Win now” is in, patience is out, and with it a large number of coaches that fail to immediately produce results.

Today’s Topic: Coaches on the Hot Seat

In 2011, five different NFL teams made coaching changes prior to the regular season, and one additional team made a mid-season coaching change. This year, six teams will start the season with new head coaches. That’s over a third of the league’s head coaching jobs that have turned over in the past two years. With plenty of other guys nearing the proverbial chopping block, there’s no reason to think that trend will slow down this year. 

Counting down from 32 to 1, we’ll look at each and every coach in the NFL and rank them, starting with the most secure (#32) down to the hottest of hot seats (#1):

The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/8)

Do all those medals make him the greatest?

Casey rails on the Olympics, the Jets fight in practice, Locker battles Hasselbeck, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (8/7)

You guys like brownies?

Team USA trounces Argentina, a judo fighter eats an odd meal, Kevin Kolb gets hurt, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (Aug 6)

The best player in the NBA, apparently.

The USA squeaks by Lithuania, a "breakthrough" in the Montee Ball case, the Vikings lose another player, and some really expensive baseball cards are found.


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2012 NFL Preview: NFC Training Camp Battles

STOP! FIGHTING! MOM! 

Hard to believe, but with training camps having begun and August already here, the 2012 NFL season is mercifully at our doorstep. That means fewer ‘Stephen Strasburg is going to get shut down’ stories and more ‘HOLY CRAP, TIM TEBOW IS SHIRTLESS IN THE RAIN!!!’ stories. Thank. God.

Even better, the 2012 NFL pre-season arrives with no lockout-related distractions this year. Instead of cramming the whole thing into a tiny time frame, we get a whole month of completely irrelevant football! That’s right, an entire month of injuries, intrigue, coach-speak, daily Tebow updates, Rex Ryan Super Bowl guarantees, and various other training camp staples. Seriously, if you aren’t excited, then you probably aren’t human. Either that or you have a real life…either way, something’s wrong with you.

Since we here at Boris Diaw Time indeed have no real life, we’ll be doing an elongated 2012 NFL preview. Over the next month, we’ll be writing about and talking about as much NFL as possible in an attempt to get you ready for the upcoming season. And by ‘get you ready’ we really mean ‘provide you with as much erroneous information as possible.’ 


Earlier in the week, I wrote about some intriguing position battles in the AFC. Today, we'll tackle the other half of the league.

The Boris Diaw Tim Show (Aug 3)

Couldn't save that one for Spain, Melo?

USA hammers Nigeria, Drew Brees rips Roger Goodell, the commish backs replacement refs, and more.


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The Boris Diaw Time Show (Aug 2)

'Cause sometimes you just wanna assault an All-American running back for kicks and giggles...

Montee Ball gets beat up, Silas Redd transfers to USC, the Browns get sold, and more.


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