In a horrific turn of events Thursday afternoon, while finishing a pregame routine he had been doing since he entered the Majors, the career of the best closer to ever play the game may have come to an end. While shagging balls at the end of batting practice like he does before every game, Mariano Rivera tore his ACL running down one particular fly ball. His cleat stuck in the dirt and his knee popped.

Its crazy to think the Hall of Fame pitchers career may very well be over. At age 42 Mariano Rivera is regarded as the best closer to ever pitch. He compiled 608 saves throughout his illustrious career. After finding his cutter, the pitched that defined and saved his career went on a mythological career, which included 5 World Series championships and 12 All Star appearances. When Rivera entered the game in the 9th, the game was deemed to be all but over. As Rivera made quick work of his opponent, another tally was added to his save total.

He will be the last player to don the number 42 on his jersey, after being retired to honor the legendary Jackie Robinson. 42 also made other appearances such as it being his age currently. As well as being the total number of post-season saves he has amassed.

Rivera should have gone out getting a last magical save in Yankee stadium, being carried off by teammates and not a medical cart. Even if you are not a Yankee fan you have to appreciate Rivera for all he did within the diamond. A 12 month intense rehabilitation is in front of Rivera and at the age of 42 and his Hall of Fame bust all but cast in Cooperstown there is no reason to believe he will ever pitch in the Major Leagues again.

Winners

 Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins

They did what they were reportedly doing for the past two months. Both teams added a potential superstar quarterback to build their team around. Based upon history one of the quarterbacks will be a stud and the other will bust. I think Andrew Luck will become a star and lead the Colts to the upper echelon of the NFL. I love Robert Griffin 3 as a person and as a player. He will be athletic and give the Redskins a spark but will not be a winner at the next level. He will be a .550 quarterback that will be fun to watch but will come up short in big games.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys did a great job in round one. They had to make a move on the defensive side of the ball. They got my pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Morris Claiborne was a top 5 talent and arguably the best defensive player on the board.

New England Patriots

The Patriots did the opposite of what they usually do and moved up in the draft to get players they coveted. They selected two players who can start week 1. They improved a defense that hurt them late in the season and cost them a Super Bowl. They added Don’t’a Hightower with the 25^th over all pick. He will fit in nicely next to Jerod Mayo. They also added defensive end Chandler Jones, brother of UFC fighter Jon “Bones” Jones. He will fit in with the defensive line whether he starts or is just part of the rotation.

St Louis Rams

They Rams selected Michael Brockers 14^th overall. The Rams front office made great deals to move back a couple times, collect more picks and still get a week 1 starter to help on the defensive side of the ball. The Rams will be able to give Sam Bradford help throughout the rest of the draft.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Moving up to get Justin Blackmon was a great move by the Jaguars. Offensively the Jaguars were a mess last season and they gave Blaine Gabbert a legit receiver. The Jaguars can add depth with the rest of the draft and improve their team moving forward.

Losers

Buffalo Bills

Stephon Gilmore is a talented corner that should be productive, however as a top 10 pick it’s a big reach. Dre Kirkpatrick and Janoris Jenkins were still on the board when the bills picked and will be more productive at the next level. When you draft in the top 10 you need to get a player that will make an instant impact.

Seattle Seahawks

Bruce Irvin was selected at 15^th overall by the Seattle Seahawks. He is a very athletic and talented defensive end but has a very interesting past and off the field issues. Even if you ignore his off the field issues, he is not an every down player and going top 15 is a huge reach.

San Francisco 49ers

While AJ Jenkins is a little reach for the 49ers, the reason this was a bad pick for the 49ers is less about Jenkins and more about what players were still on the board. With Cordy Glenn, Jonathan Martin and Peter Konz all available the 49ers could have solidified their offensive line and got a receiver later in the draft. If the 49ers were focused on receiver Stephen Hill or Alshon Jeffery seem like higher upside and better potential at receiver.

Cleveland Browns

While I like the selection of Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson is a highly touted player that would have been a beast in many situations but in a division where you play Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice a season this pick will not end well. The Browns should have gone Justin Blackmon and have a pass first offense. If you look at the last Super Bowl champions, offensively they have had dynamic quarterbacks with high octane passing offenses.

The National League is going to be a close race overall and should provide tight battles especially with a second wild card added for 2012.

NL East:

The Phillies will win this division. I think the Marlins, Braves and Nationals will challenge the Phillies and make the race a very competitive one late. The Phillies pitching staff is too strong and deep. Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee are all Cy Young caliber pitchers that will carry the Phillies all season. Offensively they are a shell of what they once were. Ryan Howard will be back at June at the earliest and probably wont be back until after the All Star Break. Chase Utley is back but has a knee that must be managed all season.

NL Central:

This is the year the Cincinnati Reds win the division for the first time since 1990. A line up anchored by Joey Votto will be helped by Jay Bruce and veterans like Scott Rolen and Jay Bruce. The Reds bolstered their Staff by adding Mat Latos who should provide stability replacing Edison Volquez.

I wanted to pick the defending World Series champions St Louis Cardinals, but the health of Chris Carpenter is a big question mark for St Louis especially with the departure of Albert Pujols. The Cardinals are relying on the emergence of David Freese to carry a line up along with veterans like Lance Berkman and Carlos Beltran who are on the backside of their careers and injury prone is synonymous with these two guys the past couple seasons.

NL West:

The Arizona Diamondbacks will win this division. Pitching will be a key for Arizona. They will rely on another fantastic season from Ian Kennedy, along with consistent improvement from Daniel Hudson. They also bolstered a much-improved rotation by adding Trevor Cahill from Oakland. Offensively MVP candidate Justin Upton leads them. The will look for Paul Goldschmidt to take the next step as well as Ryan Roberts and newly acquired Jason Kubel to help Justin Upton provide offense.

NL Wildcard:

The San Francisco Giants will get one of the Wild Cards. They have a deep pitching staff with two Cy Young caliber pitchers and Madison Bumgarner ready to make the leap to the elite level. The return of Buster Posey should help an anemic offense. They are also counting on Angel Pagan and Melky Cabrera to make strides to help score enough runs to win games.

The Other wild card will go to the Atlanta Braves. Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman will make strides this season and Chipper Jones will be able to stay healthier. Combine that with a strong pitching staff and stability at the back end of the bullpen they will finish strong and avoid another collapse like last season.

AL East:

The Tampa Bay Rays will win this division. They can go 6 starters deep, Evan Longoria will bounce back to anchor a strong line up and will be helped by the return of Carlos Pena. The Yankees and Red Sox will still be really good and push but between injuries, lack of pitching and need to rest older players they will fall just short of the division.

AL Central:

The Detroit Tigers will run away with the division and fight for the best record in baseball. They have a deep lineup that can hit. Anchored by Justin Verlander the pitching staff will be solid and a stable bullpen will make the Tigers a force all season.

AL West:

Anaheim Angels will win the division. Adding Albert Pujols and CJ Wilson will make the Angels to strong to not win the division. The Angels have an amazing pitching staff that will be among the leagues best and a line up that will not issues scoring runs all season.

AL Wildcards:

The Texas Rangers will get one of the wild card slots. They have a strong pitching staff and a lineup filled with stud hitters. They have made the World Series each of the past two seasons.

The AL East will occupy the other playoff slot. I think the Yankees will grab the last spot. They will need to stay healthy offensively but should be able to pitch well enough to fend off the Red Sox.

Playoff Predictions:

AL crown:

The Tigers will beat the Angels to win the American League

NL crown:

The San Francisco Giants will beat the Philadelphia Phillies to win the National League

World Series:

The Tigers will beat the Giants to win the World series.

MVP:

AL- Evan Longoria

NL- Justin Upton

CY Young:

AL- Jered Weaver

NL-Cole Hamels

With March quickly approaching and the NCAA Tournament right around the corner, I wanted to take a look at the contenders to be cutting down the nets in New Orleans. They are talented teams with great coaching who have made deep tournament runs before.

Kentucky

Kentucky is the odds on favorite to be cutting the nets down in New Orleans. They feature the favorite for National Player of the Year Anthony Davis who is likely going number one over all in July’s NBA draft. They also feature 5 NBA draft prospects with 4 of them being probable top 15 picks. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has been exceptional this season and provides a lot to this Kentucky team. They are strong defensively and apply pressure to opposing teams. They have been beating teams by a significant margin all season and are the team all others must measure themselves by.

The one thing that can hurt Kentucky is their rotation is basically 6 guys and if foul trouble or injuries hit plague them in the tourney they can be beat. Their top 6 is the best in the country and has given Coach Calipari no reason for concern.

Syracuse

Syracuse is the closest team to Kentucky talent wise. They don’t feature the NBA prospects Kentucky has but they are 8 guys deep. Their best player and only high level NBA prospect, Dion Waiters comes off the bench.

They play a style that could give Kentucky trouble and an ideal matchup in New Orleans. In Fab Melo, Syracuse has a 7’4” shot blocker that changes shots and causes problems at the rim. He doesn’t have the defensive presence of Davis or the defensive stats but he allows Syracuse to extend their zone defense and get in the face of their opposition. Kentucky likes to drive and kick to shooters. If Syracuse can extend their zone and get in the face of Kentucky’s guards they will cause issues with the drive and kicks. Melo should also be able to deny Davis at the rim and avoid easy dunks.

Syracuse must be able to shoot the ball effectively to beat Kentucky. Kris Joesph, Dione Waiters, and Brandon Triche must hit from long distance and force Kentucky to extend its defense out. That will allow CJ Fair and Melo to provide scoring closer to the basket and lead to offensive rebounds.

Kansas

Kansas features a leading contender for National Player of the Year like Kentucky and could provide a tough out for Kentucky. Thomas Robinson is a 6’10” Forward who has played exceptional this season. He makes big plays when it matters most. Look no further than the 3-point play he made against Missouri, capping off a 19-point comeback. Combine Robinson with Tyshawn Taylor who has made significant strides this season. Taylor and Robinson provide a dynamic inside/outside game for Kansas. Bill Self surrounds these two with shooters, who find openings when opponents double Taylor and Robinson. Jeff Withey provides additional low post scoring for Kansas and takes some of the pressure off of Robinson.

I wonder how effective Robinson can be if Kentucky puts Davis on him. Robison has to use his strength to be effective. Taylor, Connor Teahan, Elijah Johnson must make shots from outside to keep the Kentucky defense honest and not allow the Kentucky defense to sag into the paint and double Robinson.

Duke/North Carolina

These two teams have been inconsistent this season and just as you start to think they are viable contenders they have a let down game and remind you why you question them.

UNC has high level NBA talent and when they play like they can, look like the best team in the country. Harrison Barnes is a dynamic guard who can make big shots. John Henson and Tyler Zeller are athletic bigs that will play at the next level. Kendall Marshall is the key to this team. He has to run the show for UNC, get them into their sets and keep feeding their scorers.

Duke on the other hand isn’t as stacked and has looked stellar at times. Seth Curry and Andre Dawkins must take and make shots for this team to win. The Plumlees are effective in the post but are not proficient enough scores to win games for Duke. Austin Rivers is the key to this squad. He has grown up a lot in his freshman season. He is learning to pick his spots and avoid the do it all guy he was in high school. He has shown he has the onions to take the shot with the game on the line. The three he made in Chapel Hill against UNC proved he has no fear. He needs to carry Duke and let his shooters make shots for Duke to make a run in the tournament.

The thing Duke and UNC have is coaches that know how to win and have done it before. Coach K and Roy Williams are smart coaches that know how to get the most out of their team. I wouldn’t be shocked to see either of these teams in New Orleans but I can’t see either cutting down the nets when it’s all said and done.

Michigan State

This iteration of the Spartans feels much like a traditional Tom Izzo team. They feature no top-level recruits or high level NBA talent but are deep and gutty. Lead by Draymond Green, the Spartans are winning huge games, playing hard and are fighting to get the last number one seed in the tournament. A strong performance in the Big 10 tournament should make that a reality. The Big 10 is deep this year and they will face strong opposition from Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio State. This team will be a tough out in the NCAA tournament. If they face Kentucky, I don’t think they will come out on the right side but they have been counted out all season and continue to win.

Worst-case scenario, if Manny becomes a cancer in the locker room, can’t hit or is doing nothing positive for the team they can simply cut him and will not be affected in the big picture. However, if Manny starts the season on a tear the A’s will have two great options for him moving forward. They can either keep him in the middle of the order, riding out his hot hitting in a tough, but winnable division if things go right offensively. Or Manny’s hot hitting will garner him trade value and allow Oakland to move Manny to a contender for prospects.  The Oakland A’s have used their farm system to build up their big league club and moving Manny will only help something that is already a strength.

The A’s are franchise built on a well-stocked farm system and on potential. A marquee hitter will never go to Oakland through free agency. The lack of financial mobility and a big ballpark that favors pitchers are factors that turn away power hitters. They will never have the ability to make up for a bad signing like Boston and New York can do. So as a franchise, the Athletics must take risks on guys with upside potential. Manny fits in perfectly in this scenario. Manny is one of the greatest right handed hitters of all time and if he finds his groove in Oakland and even if he returns to a slightly diminished version of himself the A’s have a middle of the line up guy that will DH every day. They also just signed Yoenis Cespedes, who is reportedly a fan of Manny. Ramirez will provide a comfort factor for the Cuban making a drastic transition into the MLB. Any time you can help smooth the transition of a guy you want to become an important part of your team and be a middle of the line up guy you need to explore that.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are a young and dynamic team loaded with talent. They have made tremendous strides the past three seasons. They made a huge leap last season when they not only made the playoffs as they did in 2009 but also made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals where they would lose to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Kevin Durant is playing like an MVP candidate and showing up in clutch moments for the Thunder. Russell Westbrook has been playing with more patience this season, which dramatically improves his game. If Westbrook can slow his pace and pick his spots to be a scorer more effectively, the Thunder’s chance of winning the NBA Title will be dramatically improved. More importantly James Harden has stepped up in a major way. He is providing a major lift off of the bench. He is the leader in the clubhouse for sixth man of the year and in a lot of analysts mind as well as mine, Harden should have been invited to Orlando this season. Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka provide a strong front line on the defensive end and make up for what they may lack on the defensive end. If Thabo Sefolosha, Daequan Cook, and Nick Collison can provide stability off the bench the Thunder should be waiting for whoever emerges out of the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. The Loss of Eric Maynor is a bigger one than most might think.

While they have a dynamic point guard in Russell Westbrook, Maynor provided a true point guard that could play in spots and settle a Thunder offense that can become erratic at times. Russell will need to prove in the playoffs that he can control his pace and not make bad decisions with the game on the line. The road to the NBA finals will not be an easy one. They will have to go through savvy veteran laden teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs who are full of not only experience but have Hall of Famers and ring holders.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat were in the NBA Finals last season in the first year of the new “Big Three.” They improved the roster that they took to the NBA Finals last season. A fully healthy Udonis Haslem provides low post depth and a more traditional low post scorer. They also selected Norris Cole with the 28^th overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft, who has shown flashes of being a reliable point guard who can score the basketball and is a huge improvement on the Mike Bibby/Eddie House spot in the rotation. They also have the ability to bring Mike Miller or the newley acquired Shane Battier off the bench late in games and let either Dwyane or Lebron bring the ball up. Battier is a lock down defender and will prove very useful against teams with dynamic wing players in the playoffs. The Heats ability to spread the floor and add length, especially late in games is a huge plus.

My two biggest questions with the Heat revolve around their closer and consistent production from the low post. The Heat need to establish a hierarchy for late game situations. The power struggle between Lebron and Wade in late games must be solved before the playoffs start or all close games will a crapshoot. The Heat should allow Dwyane Wade to control the ball late in games. Letting Chris Bosh spot up on either side of the free throw line with Lebron running the baseline should give the Heat an open shot somewhere. Opponents will double someone and as Wade drives Lebron or more likely Bosh’s defender will rotate to double. If Wade can hit Bosh and Lebron is baseline on the same side, ideally Lebron will be able to get a lay up or Bosh will be open for a 15 foot jumper that he will hit more times than not.

Much like Oklahoma City, the Heat are not looking for huge offensive numbers from their low post, but rebounding and especially offensive rebounding is crucial. They must create extra possessions and start fast breaks to help this team to be productive.  While Joel Anthony and Udonis Haslem are not defensive stars by any means they must be able to change shots and provide a defensive presence down low.

Chicago Bulls

Where Derrick Rose goes, the Bulls will go. He is the catalyst that drives this team and must play exceptional to make a title run. He is more than capable of doing this. The Bulls do not have that second option like Oklahoma City or Miami but have a stronger starting 5 and a bench that can provide a punch. Joakim Noah provides a defensive and rebounding force down low and does not require the ball to be effective. Carlos Boozer has evolved into more of a jump shooter as his career has advanced but has the ability to get you a bucket when you need one. Loul Deng has made a tremendous stride this season and was recognized by his peers with an All Star nod. Adding Rip Hamilton is a tremendous upgrade that is more than just on the court production. Not only does he provide scoring with his ability to move without the ball, but also his championship experience is very important for a team led by so many young players. He can keep the Bulls emotions in check and avoid peaks and valleys, which is pivotal in high-pressure playoff situations.

The Bulls have been battling injuries all season. While they have been finding new pieces that fit into their puzzle through the turmoil, when the playoffs they will need to remain healthy in order to remain a legitimate title contender. Richard Hamilton and Carlos Boozer must provide consistent scoring. The bench must also be productive on both ends of the court. Kyle Korver, Taj Gibson and CJ Watson must provide stability and scoring off the bench. Derrick Rose must be the MVP for this team, stay healthy and put this team on his back. This is a huge ask by the Bulls of Derrick Rose, but they don’t have much of a choice at this point.

Of the three contenders the Bulls are the most flawed. They rely on Derrick Rose for everything and if he has an off night they don’t have another guy they can go to that is at an elite level in the likes of Russell Westbrook or Dwyane Wade. The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder will play for the Larry O’Brien trophy this season assuming they don’t have any catastrophic injuries.

I can’t talk about the NBA title contenders without mentioning the Los Angeles and Boston Celtics. Even though I don’t see it for either team. The Lakers had made three straight Finals appearances until last season, winning two of them. The Boston Celtics played the Lakers in two of those Finals appearances, winning one and losing the other in 7 games. They have veteran laden teams with guys who know how to win when it matters most. The versions of these teams will not hot a candle to the teams that appear when the playoffs start. They are just trying to get into the playoffs in the sprint and once the playoffs start they will turn it on. They are old flawed teams that are a shell of what they were in previous years but they know what it takes to make a title run and I cant say I would be shocked to see Kobe or Paul Pierce hoisting the trophy come seasons end.

As hard as fan takes a loss like The New England Patriots took on Sunday, players must have the ability to move on. If you live and die with each game, a player will be mentally drained unable to focus when it matters most. If you ask Rob Gronkowski, this loss hurts and will provide motivation to work hard all off-season. Rodney Harrison said on NBC’s Super Bowl 46 Pregame coverage, that he is still affected by the loss in Super Bowl 42 four years ago. A two-week build up to the biggest game of your life has to put stress on any person. While not everyone will agree, Gronkowki felt the need to let loose after a long and tiring season.

New England Patriots tight end, Rob Gronkowski might get crushed for a post Super Bowl celebration, especially in the Boston Area. I will give Gronkowski a pass. I will not judge peoples way of releasing tension after a season of hard work and dedication. He spent it much the way any person in their early twenties would.

I came away from this story with two questions. Rob Gronkowski has a high ankle sprain that clearly limited him in Super Bowl 46, yet it was clearly feeling good enough to be out on the dance floor? I guess alcohol really does a lot for pain.

My other question is how would people react if you replace Rob Gronkowski with other athletes in a similar situation? Perception plays a huge role in fan and media reaction. Lebron James would get killed if a video surfaced like this of him. They would use the video as another sign of why he will never win. However it was Kevin Durant, people would point to the fact that KD is young, has time to win titles and use it as another reason to love Durant.