Top 10 Party Songs Of All Time

Every wonder what the greatest party songs of all time are? Me too. During my college years, I conducted extensive research as a semi-professional DJ. I am here today to share with you my findings. These songs evoke the most enthusiastic reactions and create the best atmosphere when played at parties. Do not listen to these songs when not at a party, they are to be reserved and used sparingly.

10. Centerfold

The hit song by The J. Geils Band is one of my personal favorites and probably a bit of a shocker to make this list. It has a catchy rift, sing-a-long lyrics and even some chanting. What more could you want? As much as I love rap and new millennium dance music, every party needs some songs from the 70s, 80s and 90s (my list reflects that).

9. Hot Hot Hot

Harry Belafonte made this list? Yes he did; all thanks to the Congo line. Next time you are at this party, throw this song on and start a Congo line. You won't stop smiling for at least four minutes and it will make you feel like you are on a tropical island. I promise.

8. Get Down On It

Kool and The Gang always does it right. This song epitomizes disco music where it is all about dancing. Go to any live oldies cover band and this song will undoubtedly be played because it is a timeless beat. Other songs similar to this one that could have made the list: "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire and "Shout" by the Isley Brothers. I also recommend Pandora station "Funk" if you are in to this genre.

7. Flo Rida

As much as it pains me to put Flo Rida on this list, my research found that his songs are very big hits at parties. They all have great beats, simple lyrics and annoyingly-catchy hooks. Select from the following: "Low", "Club Can't Handle Me", "Right Round", "Wild Ones", "Good Feeling", "Whistle". I gave Flo Rida his own number because not one of his songs deserves to stand alone on this list, but his top hits in culmination deserve to make the cut.

6. Bump N' Grind

My mind told me not to put this song on the list....but my body, MY BODY, was telling me yes. This song is a personal favorite and one that must be played at each and every party from now until the end of time. R. Kelly, you are immortal. Honorable mention: Ignition(remix).

5. Hot in Herre

Remember when Nelly was good? Country Grammar was the only subject I liked in school. This song embodies turn of the century rap - loud bass, party music with very suggestive lyrics. My top five are all classics and are songs that I will show my kids once they come of age. Classic rock is timeless music that people will listen to forever; 2000s hip-hop is music that people will party to forever. Country Grammar 101: Herre = here.

4. Get Low

I was going to say something about this song, but there isn't much to say. It speaks for itself.

3. Shake Ya Tailfeather

Nelly, P. Diddy and Murphy Lee straight from the soundtrack of Bad Boys II, how much better can you get? This song is a high-energy, thought provoking masterpiece. It's also from the album "Murphy's Law". It's fun to think about Murphy Lee sitting around in the studio trying to think of names for his new album. He settles on the old adage that means "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong". Nice play on words, Murph.

2. In Da Club

O, how I love 50 cent from ten years ago. He came out with hit after hit and "In Da Club" was the biggest of them all. Contagious beat and a song that will always bring me back. 50 cent also started the "shawty" phenomenon with this song and it has been a staple pronoun in the rap game since. Thanks Fiddy.

1. Yeah!

Was there any doubt what song was going to be number one? I knew it would be even before I sat down and gave it some thought. Usher brings the heat and Ludacris kills it at the end. The song is called "Yeah!" not "Yeah" and that sums up how I feel when I hear this song at a party. "Yeah!" is the Michael Jordan of party songs with "In Da Club" being the Lebron James. Did I just find a way to say Jordan is better than Lebron in an article about the top ten party songs? Yep, and that is what's wrong with our culture.

My Email To Bill Simmons - Ease Up On The Bobcats

My email to Bill Simmons concerning his constant belittling of the Charlotte Bobcats is below. As a fan of the team, I am used to it at this point; I just wanted him to be aware that the team is headed in the right direction and the front office is much more competent that the national media portrays it to be (at least recently).

Is it just too much fun to bash Charlotte? I know they have sucked on an all-time sucky level the last two years, but that was the plan, wasn't it? You are very aware and knowledgeable of big-market teams, but lack a strong understanding of teams like Charlotte. All of Grantland's writers come off this way, with the exception being Zach Lowe.

REMINDER: Charlotte wasn't even the worst team in the league last year, except everyone forgets that. They are a team that got worse in order to get better. Charlotte cannot attract free agents the way larger teams can so they have chosen to collect assets and build through the draft.

 Lets take a look at the moves the Bobcats have made since 2011:

1. Traded Gerald Wallace for 1st-round pick from Portland (top-12 protected until 2016) - we all know how you feel about Wallace. Very solid trade, collected an asset.
2. Dumped Stephen Jackson, Shaun Livingston and the 19th pick on Milwaulkee for Corey Maggette and the 7th pick - Swapped a relatively equal player/salary in Jackson and Maggette to move up 12 spots in the draft to select Bismack. The jury is still out on Biyombo; very limited offensively but still has huge upside at only 20 years old. Good trade
3. Drafted Kemba Walker 9th overall - only player I would take over Walker at this point is Kawhi (but who knows how he would do in Charlotte). Kemba improved greatly last year and looks to be a quality starting guard. Very solid pick.
4. Traded Corey Maggette to Pistons for Ben Gordon and 1st round pick (top-8 protected 2014, top-1 protected 2014) - acquired a 1st round pick in a salary dump move by the Pistons. Very solid move picking up an asset.
5. Drafted MKG second overall in the 2012 NBA Draft - took the consensus second best player in the draft. MKG is still only 19 and needs to develop a better jump shot but has the ability to be an elite defender and rebounder at his position. Good pick that needs more time.
6. Drafted Cody Zeller 4th overall in the 2013 NBA draft - I really liked what I saw from him in Summer League. He has all the skills to be a really good stretch-4 and really underrated athletically. Love the pick, but a wait-and-see approach is needed.
7. Signed Al Jefferson in 2013 off season - I know they overpaid for Jefferson. But Charlotte had to start  signing free agents at some point. Now, they have at least a little credibility as a free agent destination because they won't be all-time bad (should be somewhat competitive) and they showed the ability to sign a big-name guy. Hey, you have to start somewhere. They also didn't get good enough to escape another high pick in the loaded 2014 draft.
8. Changed name from "Bobcats" to "Hornets" - the city will finally rally behind this team. It's all in a name with Charlotte fans. Sad, but true.
9. Resigned Gerald Henderson - got him for a very fair price, but didn't lock him down long-term. Good for both the Bobcats and Gerald. Solid signing.

In my opinion, Charlotte has done everything right in the last 3 years, except for getting lucky in the lottery of course. Moving forward, they have a really talented, extremely young core with assets to boot (multiple 1st-round draft picks and plenty of cap space). The future is finally bright for the Bobcats. With a little lottery luck and a more competitive squad on the floor next season, things could turn around quickly for the Charlotte Bobcats.

It's time for the Bobcats to stop being the laughing stock of the NBA. Have they been awful the past two seasons? Sure, but no one acknowledges that was the plan and no one cares to notice they have done all the right things. It is lining up perfectly for them to completely change their image in the 2014 season when they once again become the Charlotte Hornets.

Appreciate Dwyane Wade

The 2013 NBA Playoffs concluded with the Miami Heat hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy for a second consecutive year. The overwhelming sentiment during those playoffs was that Dwyane Wade was no longer the player he used to be and he was on the rapid decline. Today's sports fans lack an understanding of scope; people only look at what is right in front of their face. I would argue that Wade is not declining. He has simply been slowed by knee problems in the last two playoffs, yet has still managed to come out with 2 rings and has produced in those playoffs when needed the most. Lets take a look at Dwyane Wade and why you need to stop the hate and appreciate.

Dwyane Wade: "The Clinic"

Does anyone have a better highlight reel than D Wade? You would be hard pressed to find one. His arsenal of moves includes: the spin-around to his left mid-range fader, the pump fake and-1 mid-range jump shot, the euro-step in transition, the behind the back/through the legs split of a double team, the "look the complete opposite way of the basket while falling down" layup, the rip over from the right of the defender to the left in full stride, the block on a player that is much taller than him, the steal to him hitting a buzzer beater, and the spin move to dunk along the left baseline. 

How many people boast that kind of repertoire? Most NBA players have one of those moves, at best. I have watched Dwyane Wade since he came into the league and he has become criminally underrated. Why? Because the average NBA fan only watches the playoffs, where D Wade has "struggled" because of injuries. Yes, he has disappeared at times during the playoffs, but he has still produced 3 rings. He averaged 21, 5, and 5 during the 2012-2013 regular season on 52% shooting, incredibly efficient for a shooting guard. D Wade is not declining; he is merely viewed that way because of the "group think" phenomenon taking place with sports fans. Sports Center rules the sports world and without many other reliable sports media outlets, fans are highly impacted/influenced by Sports Center's agendas. One of those agendas during the 2013 playoffs was that Dwyane Wade was no longer an elite player.

Wade did have a horrible start to the 2013 Playoffs by his standards, that much is true. In the last 4 games of those same playoffs, the games that mattered the most, D Wade averaged 24, 6, and 5. Wade has been slowed by knee injuries in the last two playoffs, but he has still managed 2 rings and produced in clutch time.

Now, lets take a look at the snapshot of Dwyane Wade's career
Looking at his stats, the decline in ppg jumps off the page. That can be directly attributed to Lebron's arrival in Miami. The decline in ppg corresponds with less shot attempts, but he has done more with those shot attempts, given the higher fg%. Examining this table, realizing that D Wade is presently playing with one of the greatest basketball players ever, it is evident that he is not declining; he is simply being asked to be a highly efficient second option that doesn't get the looks he did pre-Lebron.

Dwyane Wade is a top-20 player of all-time (see 2008-2009 season and his 3 rings), so don't trivialize what he has done by a couple of bad playoff games. Appreciate what he and The Heat are doing because we are all witnessing history. And remember, look at the big picture when discussing sports.

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The Summer of Dwight - It Ain't All About The Benjamins

Yesterday marked the start of NBA free agency. This year's biggest prize comes in the form of a 7' giant with a 13 year-old girl's mentality, Dwight Howard. The Houston Rockets were the first team to court Dwight, and they applied the full court press. The other players in the Dwight Howard Sweepstakes are the Lakers, Hawks, Warriors, and Mavericks. At this point in time and for the purpose of this article, I consider Houston and L.A. to be the front runners in the sweepstakes.

Naturally, the biggest question in all this is who can offer more money? It is commonly perceived that the Lakers can offer Howard $30 million more, based on stipulations in the new CBA. The Lakers can offer Dwight 5 years $119 mil while any other team (Houston in this case) can offer 4 years $88 mil. Those are max deals for players that have been in the league as long as Dwight (he will certainly receive max compensation). However, the extra $30 million comes in the form of that 5th year. The statement "the Lakers can offer $30 million more than the Rockets" is true, but it is foolish to assume because Dwight Howard will not be making $0 after his hypothetical contract with Houston expires. In 4 years, Dwight will be 31 years old and will most likely receive another max deal because of his immense talent and the lack of big men in today's NBA. L.A. can factually offer $30 mil more than Houston, but in reality it does not play out that literally.

Another money issue is taxes. The state of Texas has no income tax while the state of California has  a 10.3% tax on each dollar for individuals who make in excess of $1 mil per year. The table below summarizes the tax implications for Dwight's contract:

Team	Years	Total Contract	Salary/year	Income Tax/year	Salary/year After Taxes
Houston	4	$ 88,000,000	$ 22,000,000	0	$ 22,000,000
Los Angeles	5	$ 119,000,000	$ 23,800,000	$ 2,451,400	$ 21,348,600

As you can see, the government just destroys the top 1%. Dwight would be paying the state roughly $2.5 mil/year to live in L.A.,just in income taxes. On a per year basis after income tax, Howard actually makes more playing for the Rockets. In my mind, the money issue is a wash. Yes, L.A. can offer him one more guaranteed year at the max level, but Dwight will make about $2.6 mil more after tax playing 4 years in Houston compared to 4 years in Los Angeles. And even after the 4th year, I believe Dwight will still be a max level player and this sweepstakes will start all over again. Dwight Howard has got to annoy you if you are a sports fan.

After reviewing the monetary issues in the Dwight Howard Sweepstakes, I think Houston has the edge over L.A  because the Rockets offer young talent, a big-man coach that had every move in the book to mentor him, and a team where he will be the focal point. Dwight's persona makes it hard for him to mesh with Kobe and he needs to be the center of attention. Houston would provide this diva just that.

Final note: Kevin McHale was really damn good at basketball. Dwight has two post moves; McHale had at least 50.

A Tribute to One of the Greatest

With the Larry O'Brien Trophy and Lord Stanley's Cup finding their home for the next 12 months in Miami and Chicago, respectively, in the past week, we have hit the summer doldrums of exciting sports action. Even as a baseball enthusiast, I can admit that the period between the end of the playoffs of hockey and basketball and the beginning of football season provides a dreary outlook for the common sports fan. Nobody really enjoys the 1 p.m. game between the White Sox and Tigers, even when Miguel Cabrera goes 4-4 with multiple home runs (which he has done three times this season, and that is amazing). But not to fear, casual sports fans, the NFL season is only 2 months away and there are lots of interesting story lines forming. One that has not gained as much press as say, Aaron Hernandez's apparent secret life as a homicidal gang banger, is a new award which will be handed out at the end of the season. The first Deacon Jones Trophy, created in honor of the late Deacon Jones, will be awarded to the NFL player who records the most sacks on the season. If you read this blog, you probably do not know about Deacon Jones because you were not alive when David "Deacon" Jones was playing, but you should.

There are a handful of players in the history of any sport whom, through their physical ability, mental acumen, grandoise personality, or some combination of all three, change the way the game is played. Bill Russel changed the NBA forever with his ability to block shots. Jackie Robinson changed baseball forever by proving that an African American could play in the MLB. And Deacon Jones changed football forever by the way he terrorized opponents quarterbacks.

David Jones was born in Eatonville, Florida in December of 1938. As a young man his life was heavily impacted by the racism that oppressed African Americans as much as the offensive summer heat. Recounting his formative days Jones once said," Unlike many black people then, I was determined not be what society said I was". He played football, baseball, and basketball, but football,"Thank God I had the ability to play a violent game like football, it gave me an outlet for all the anger in my heart." Channeling the anger onto the gridiron, Jones earned a scholarship to South Carolina State University. However following his first year Jones' scholarship was revoked because he was involved in the civil rights movement. Jones transferred to Mississippi Vocational College and played one more year before declaring for the NFL draft.

Jones was drafted in the 14th round of the 1961 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and became partners on the left side of the defensive line with Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen. The nickname "Deacon" was coined at this time because Jones felt that the religious implications of the name provided some contrast to the violent way in which he played. Playing at defensive end, Deacon placed heavy emphasis on rushing the quarterback, a tactic that up until that point was not a part of defensive line strategy. Revolutionizing the defensive end position was probably not his intention at the time, just merely the way he played football, but from such humble beginnings, that is exactly what he would do.

In 1961, his rookie season, he tackled the quarterback eight times in the backfield, and maybe more importantly added a term to football lingo that is now known the world over, the "sack". Jones would later say that he came up with the name "sack" because he felt that the devastation he created in the backfield was similar to the devastation wrought on cities that were being sacked by invaders. The NFL did not begin recording sacks until 1961, Jones' inaugural season, and did not assign sacks to specific defenders until the 1982 season, so all of Jones' numbers are technically unofficial, but following his rookie season, Deacon would go on to put up the most impressive string of seasons a defensive end has ever recorded.

From 1962 to 1970, Deacon recorded the following sack totals: 12, 20, 22, 19, 18, 26, 24,15, and 12. Reflect on that for a moment.

The current NFL record for sacks is 22.5, in 16 games, held by Michael Strahan.

Deacon Jones recorded his two most impressive totals, 26 and 24 (which would be one and two in the single season record book obviously) in 14 games.

Obviously there are differences in the modern game. More complex pass protections, bigger offensive linemen, schemes designed to limit the effectiveness of pass rushers, all of these things have altered the ability of defensive ends and outside linebackers to get to the quarterback. So one could say that it is unfair or unreasonable to compare Deacon's numbers versus the current crop of sack masters, but that would be asinine. Although the advanced statistical coverage that is available today is not available for seasons decades ago, I think it is a fair assumption that the percentage of plays in which a team passes the ball is significantly higher today than it was in the 1960's, thereby giving defensive players more chances to record sacks. In addition, offensive formations at the time often called for seven men on the line, providing both a tackle and a tight end, who were used almost exclusively for blocking, to shield the quarterback from Deacon and his ferocious onslaught. One cannot overlook his left side (strong side) partner Merlin Olsen, himself a 14 time pro-bowler (tied for the NFL record), but Jones did not play his entire career alongside Olsen.

Jones' impact on football continued long after his retirement, and will continue long after his passing this summer. Coaches, commentators, and opponents credit him with modernizing defensive football. Historic players such as Lawrence Thomas have said they idolized Deacon and attempted to model their games after him. Even current players like Demarcus Ware, the fastest player ever to 100 sacks, look up to Jones. After his death, Ware said, "I think he is the greatest ever."

However his impact is not, and was not, limited to the football field and football players. He established, and chaired, the Deacon Jones Foundation in 1997, which provides scholarships to inner city students in exchange for volunteer work. He also made several trips to the Middle East to visit with soldiers, even though he was in his late 60's.

So at the end of this season, when the inaugural Deacon Jones trophy is handed to the player with the most sacks it will be a bittersweet moment. On one hand it will be a tribute to the man who invented the term and changed the way football is played, but it will also be a reminder that the man who was so gifted in many aspects of life is no longer with us.

Beyond all his gifts as a player and a humanitarian, Jones was a gifted mind, with an acute understanding of self, and success. Coming from virtually nothing, battling the stereotypes of society as well as opposing offensive linemen, Deacon was well aware of the hard work it took to be great, and that is a lesson we can all learn from. I think that sentiment is summed up greatly by a quote from Jones that is relevant to everybody, "all men are created equal, from there it is up to you."

RIP David "Deacon" Jones.

Greg Hardy - The Kraken

Background
Greg Hardy was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2010 draft after playing his college ball at Ole Miss. In college, Greg was a dominant pass rusher until he was sidelined by injuries, which is why he was drafted in the sixth round. Hardy has always had the talent of an early-round draft choice and he proved that much last season, tallying 11 sacks. After struggling to put it all together his first two years, Hardy blossomed in his third season as a pro. His vast improvement can be attributed to his hard work and his new-found counter-ego, "The Kraken".

"The Kraken is a giant monster that just demolishes everything that moves," Hardy told the Charlotte  Observer last year. "On Wednesday or Thursday, I go down in my subconscious. I find him, and I unlock the cage. About Saturday he usually comes out. Then he's always out on Sunday. I don't control him then. What he does when I'm not there, I don't know."

So during the vast majority of the NFL season, Greg Hardy is not Greg Hardy; he is a slightly-crazed, 290 lb. monster living in the real world(as well as Matt Ryan's worst nightmares) just waiting to be unleashed on Sundays. And when game days arrive, the Kraken paints his face, wears colored contacts, and tapes the words "The Kraken" over where his name usually appears on the back of his jersey (this is removed before kickoff but how cool is that?).

Hardy has gradually become one of my favorite NFL players. I am an avid Panthers fan so I have watched him since he first came into the league. I remember watching the first game of his rookie season.The Panthers are punting and I glance to the outside of the punt coverage team and there is Greg Hardy, all 6'4 290 lbs, playing gunner. That's the moment I became enthralled with the Kraken. And then there is this past season's hit on Carson Palmer that knocked Carson out of the game with broken ribs.

Why He Has Become A Fan Favorite

But what has really made me love the guy is his-field personality. He is a quote machine because he always says exactly what he is thinking, a rare feat in today's PC world. He also has made a huge effort to connect with fans this offseason by engaging them on Twitter, Reddit, CatScratchReader, and his own video blog (the links take you to the Kraken's interactions w/ fans). Many fans have taken notice and Hardy is quickly becoming a fan favorite among the Panthers faithful. Lets take a look at some of the Kraken's best moments over the years.

I chalLange @WHOISJPP or Julius peppers to a game of 1 on 1 loser declines their probowl invite since I don't have one #don'tbescared
— GQ (@ItsGHardy) January 2, 2013

Haha who wouldn't love to see this? Hardy straight calls Peppers out. What makes it even better is Peppers is an ex-Panther whom Hardy is helping to replace (if you are a Panthers fan you understand the awesomeness of this tweet). Also, both are great athletes; Peppers played some ball at UNC and the Kraken has a series of dunks on YouTube (take notice of his clothes and where this takes place)

I love this app lmao so bored http://t.co/XvgAzhStHq pic.twitter.com/1fs7M0HmeX
— GQ (@ItsGHardy) April 3, 2013

This is a great example of Hardy's humor and all-around awesomeness as a person. I also implore the Panthers to put this picture, this picture, this picture and this picture into their game day media guides. This would definitely be a big hit.

And lastly, I leave you with my favorite Kraken moment: "Get the F*** off our field". In week 4 of last year's NFL season, the Falcons made a miraculous comeback to beat the Panthers thanks to a 50-yard pass from their own goal line in the final minute of the game (special thanks to Haruki Nakamura aka you are the worst). After the game was over, Matt Ryan yelled "Get the F*** off our field!" to the opposing Panthers team. Well, the Kraken took notice. Fast forward to week 15 and the Falcons are playing the Panthers at home. After coming away with a victory, Hardy kindly returns Ryan's favor by yelling "Get the f*** off our field". And luckily, we have video documentation:

Priceless. The small white guy you see respond at the end of the clip is Atlanta's FG kicker, Matt Bryant. When asked about his post-game interaction with Bryant, the Kraken had this to say:

“I told him politely to remove himself from our facility because it was time to go, and he invited me to come watch him in January,” Hardy said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “It was a nice conversation. I really didn't know who he was. He was so small and weird-shaped, I was trying to figure out what he did,” Hardy said. “I found out when I looked online that he was a kicker. I was a little shocked.”

There is so much I could say in response to this, but it really speaks for itself. These are just a few examples why The Kraken has become one of my favorite players. I encourage you to check out the links I have posted and follow him on twitter; he is always entertaining and has a ton of respect for his fans.

Lollapalooza, Michael Kiwanuka, and M83

Lollapalooza was my first music festival. To call it just a music festival does it injustice; it is a cultural experience. Last summer, I made the voyage to Chicago, IL with a fellow contributor to this blog, Matthew Houchins. After seeing the Red Hot Chili Peppers live in Charlotte that Spring, we decided to see them again at one of the biggest musical events of the year. After all, the Chili Peppers were aging and we thought it would be one of our last opportunities to see them perform while they still resembled the band that rose to fame in the 90s.

We left straight from work on a Thursday in order to arrive in Chicago Friday morning. The all-night drive was exhausting, but something well worth it. We drove through North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. Note: not only does the US have a great public school system and giant water parks, it also has a great highway system. Road tripping is easy in America and something I wish I did more of; road trips are fun 95% of the time every time.

The two headliners we saw were the Black Keys and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Both were fantastic shows that lived up to the hype. The Black Keys sound just as good in person as they do on vinyl and the drummer, Patrick Carney, is really impressive. The Chili Peppers were everything they were billed to be, a high-energy show filled with plenty of Flea base-lines and a lead singer, Anthony Kiedis, that bounces around more than a basketball in Chris Paul's hands.

The two acts, besides the ones I mentioned above, that I enjoyed the most were Michael Kiwanuka and M83. Each had a totally different vibe that really struck me. Some music is great because it makes you feel a certain way; it affects your emotions and plays with your feelings. Each of these acts had a different effect on me that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Michael Kiwanuka is one-of-a-kind. He is a British soul musician that compares favorably to Otis Redding. His sound is soothing, slow-paced, and focuses on his amazing voice. Kiwanuka is someone I listen to when I want to chill out and let my day waste away from mind. He allows the listener a certain release and comfort in his music and his voice. Below is an example of Kiwanuka at his best; all he needs is a microphone and a guitar:

M83, an electronic band from France, is a different animal.Upbeat and intense, M83 put on a show full of movement and emotion.  They have a dreamy quality to their music where it sounds like you are listening to a wonderful alternate universe (does that even make sense?). After i typed this, I did a Google search on M83. It turns out that the band is named after the spiral galaxy Messier 83, so their other-worldly sound meshes nicely with their other-worldly name. M83 uses loud instrumentals over reverbed vocals to create a real energy in their sound. The music makes you feel alive, hence why it is featured in The Art of Flight, a documentary about snowboarding (if you haven't seen it you're missing out), and several Red Bull commercials focused on extreme sports. In a nutshell, M83's sound is explosive and capturing. Here is one of my favorite songs from their album "Hurry Up, We're Dreaming" (title points back to the dreamy quality of their music). The song is called "Steve McQueen":

Is that Jimmy Chitwood Coming in to Pitch?

Today marks the outset of the culmination of the college baseball season, the College World Series. This year, unlike some in the recent past, the eight team field is dominated by the traditionally elite (LSU, UCLA, UNC, Oregon State) and those who have performed well all season (NC State, Louisville). Mississippi State is a strong team from the SEC, so we know they are battle tested and capable. And then there is Indiana.

Indiana represents the first team from the Big Ten to make it to the College World Series since...wait for it...1984. Thats almost 30 years. 30 years since a team from one the biggest and baddest conferences in the country has even sent a team to Omaha. To do so, the Hoosiers went down to Tallahassee, FL and beat national seed Florida State on their home field two times in a row. They knocked the ball all over the park en route to eliminating the most underperforming postseason team in college baseball (a winning percentage of .730 during the regular season and .600 in the postseason. They have been to the CWS 21 times, 11 times under current coach Mike Martin, and never won). Despite the laser show they put on last weekend, the Hoosiers are going to need to channel, well, their inner Hoosier.

Indiana's first matchup is with the Cardinals of Louisville, who come in somewhat on fire, having won 21 of their last 23, and sporting some of the freshest uniforms around.

Don't assume that just because they play in the conference of Legends and Leaders that they are lacking  in baseball skill. Indiana is led by Dustin Demuth, a doubles machine hitting nearly .400, and Kyle Schwarber, he of 18 home runs (that is really good in college baseball these days). The real strength of the Indiana team however is their pitching staff. As a group they have an ERA of 2.67, and WHIP (Walks + Hits/Innings Pitched) of 1.25. They are going to need to continue to pitch this well and get some timely hitting from their best hitters if they want to hang around longer than a couple of days in Omaha. If there is anything we have learned over the past decade of college sports though, its not to count out the team who seems like they might not belong. And if you do, do so at your own peril.

However improbable it is that Indiana might navigate the brackets all the way to the championship, the underdog roll, combined with momentum, seems to carry disproportionate weight in the performance of a team. Just look at the LA Kings last year in the Stanley Cup playoffs (the topic of an upcoming post). When a team starts to irrationally believe in their own abilities theres no telling where or when the train stops. So heres to you, Indiana, the bases are still 90 feet apart, and the mound is still 60 feet 6 inches from home plate, lets see where this goes.

NFL Roster Comprised of Current NBA Players

My friend and I are obsessed with NBA All-Star weekend. It has lost some of its luster recently, but it is still a phenomenal showcase of athleticism. NBA players are some of the greatest athletes on our planet and the all-star weekend really showcases this. One of my friends commented that Derrick Rose looked like a cheetah playing in last year's all-star game. NBA players can accelerate to full speed in seconds, stop on dimes, soar through the air, and spin quicker than a dreidel during Hanukkah. See Tony Parker Below:

And yes, I really just wanted an excuse to post this gif (back to the point at hand). Watching the All-star festivities got us to thinking...what would happen if you put NBA players on a football field? The possibilities are endless, and the potential of some of the players on a football field is downright scary; just think about Lebron James catching passes. Naturally, we then decided to compose a NFL roster using current NBA players. Note: we included one player currently in the D-league and one player currently playing in Turkey, simply because the player in Turkey could not be left off the team, period. Here is what we came up with:

Offense                               Defense                               Special Teams                                                             

WR Lebron James               DE Dwight Howard                  KR Ty Lawson          
 LT Zach Randolph              DT Glen Davis                        PR John Wall                  

 LG Luke Harangody            DT DeJuan Blair                      K Steve Nash               

   C Kevin Love                    DE Kendrick Perkins                P Matt Bonner      
RG JJ Hickson                  SLB Thomas Robinson                                              

RT Demarcus Cousins      MLB Joey Dorsey

TE Blake Griffin                WLB Kenneth Faried
Slot J.R. Smith                   CB Rajon Rondo
WR Shannon Brown            CB Derrick Rose

QB Kyrie Irving                    FS Dwyane Wade

RB Eric Bledsoe                  SS Russell Westbrook
              

Analysis:

We definitely have the nicknames needed to assemble a successful NFL roster. Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph and Demarcus "Boogie" Cousins anchor our offensive line. Side note: ever wonder how Cousins got his nickname "Boogie"? I sure did. Well, it turns out the story is not as good as I thought it was going to be. Demarcus was asked how he got the nickname on ESPN First Take and his response was:

Coach Rod Strickland at Kentucky gave me the name. I would be playing ball and I would do moves that guards would do and coach Strickland said, "Man, you got a lot of Boogie." Every time I walked into the gym he would say, "What's up Boogie!" and it just stuck.

Well he basically made it stick himself. His twitter handle is @boogiecousins and his middle name on Facebook is "Boogie"....no wonder it caught on! But let's be honest, if someone called me "Boogie Grantham", I would be doing all the above as well as naming my first child "Boogie Grantham".

On defense, we have Gen "Big Baby" Davis holding down the interior of the line. The crowd would definitely chant "Waaaahhhhhhh" every time he made a play because he's just a big baby...bad joke? And we also have Kenneth "The Mannimal" Faried playing linebacker, enough said. Last, but certainly not least, we have Matt "The Red Rocket" Bonner at punter. I mean, I couldn't think of a better nickname for a punter myself. As we all know, having a great nickname makes you much better at sports so our roster is looking really solid already.

Some of you might question the selection of Eric Bledsoe at RB. This was a hotly debated position that was eventually solved by performing a Google image search of Eric Bledsoe, which yielded this picture:

Reminder: this is a picture of him from college. The dude is 6 ft 1, 200 pounds and extremely explosive. If you need further proof, YouTube Eric Bledsoe dunks and keep in mind his height.

As far as how we are going to put up points, we have built our offense around Kyrie Irving, more affectionately known as "Uncle Drew".  Uncle Drew is built in the mold of RG3; he has dynamic vision, elite speed, and could flick the ball with ease down a football field. He would have fans yelling "that's a pocket pass"! all game long. The team would mainly function out of the spread, with Kevin Love delivering pin point shotgun snaps. At WR, we have three elite jumpers with blazing speed. Throw in Blake Griffin at TE and this group of pass-catchers could out-jump any secondary in the NFL. NFL RedZone would have to add a screen box specifically designed for this team.

Our defense is anchored by Joey Dorsey, a power forward most notably known for playing on Derrick Roses' Memphis squad. I fondly remember his fast-break windmills and his strip downs to wife beaters once he fouled out of games; this was a site because the guy was a mammoth. According to Wikipedia, during the 2007 NCAA Tournament, Dorsey famously called Ohio State center Greg Oden "overrated as a big man", said that Oden "might be as good as Joey Dorsey", and labeled himself "Goliath" and Oden "the little man". That is the kind of attitude needed to lead a NFL defense.

Our pass rushers, Dwight and Perkins, wouldn't be that effective at getting to the quarterback. However, how are you going to throw a pass over these guys let alone attempt a field goal? They would block more kicks than a Euro Leaguer's shin guards. Also, if Perkins ever got a quarterback, he would leave him looking like this:

In my opinion, the secondary is the best part of our team. Rajon Rondo and Derrick Rose would be shutdown corners on the edges. Rondo's hands would allow him to manhandle receivers at the LOS, pick off passes with ease, and give Brett Favre-esque butt slaps. D Rose has all-world quickness/agility that would allow him to blanket any receiver in the game. At free safety, Dwyane "Flash" Wade is allowed to roam the field, much like he does as a defender for the Heat. One of the best fits on the team is Russell Westbrook at strong safety. Can you imagine him running downhill at a ball-carrier in the same fashion he attacks the hole on fast breaks? Sheeshhh. Rusell would also set the fashion tone for our team.

On special teams,we have two of the fastest players in the NBA: Ty Lawson and John Wall. Ty has the straight-line speed to be devastating on kick returns and John Wall has the elusiveness and spin-moves to decimate coverage units on punt returns. Wall could also lead our team in pregame dances:

I talked about the Red Rocket earlier as our punter; couldn't you see him being able to just boom the football?. Steve Nash rounds out our roster at kicker. He is white, Canadian, and an accomplished soccer player, a great fit for the position.

Our roster is filled with exceptional athletes that would wreak havoc in space, but the team just doesn't have the size up front necessary to compete in the National Football League. The linemen are too tall and not thick enough; they would be abused in the leverage battle. However, getting this team in the open field would provide some very entertaining stuff. That's it, folks. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think of the roster in the comments. Special thanks to Camp Arnett for helping me assemble the team.