The King of the French Open Rafael Nadal looks to defend his title. (PHOTO: The Telegraph)

The menacing clay courts of Roland-Garros awaits the world’s best tennis players as the French Open is slated to begin this week. All eyes will be on this Grand Slam Tournament as the cream of the crop comes out to do battle.

We don’t blame you if you think you know what is going to happen. After all, on the men’s side, the French Open has grown to be somewhat predictable. Still, things might not be as they seem for the 2013 installment. Thus, here are a few things to watch for during this year’s French Open.

Will Rafa’s dominance continue?

Seven of the last eight French Opens have belonged to Rafael Nadal, hence, the predictability in this Grand Slam tournament. There is a small glimmer of hope for fans that wish to experience a little variety this year, but you might not want to get your hopes up.

Nadal was hampered by injury throughout the 2012 season. Some players do not ever fully bounce back from these nagging injuries, and it certainly was enough to keep Nadal off the court for a prolonged period of time. He even missed this year’s Australian Open. One might argue that if there were any year Nadal was vulnerable to an upset, it would be this year.

We hate to break it to you, but since returning to the court, Nadal has won five of just eight tournaments that he participated in, indicating that he is indeed back to full strength and ready to take his rightful throne as French Open champion.

Can anyone outside of “the big four” rise up?

When it comes to Grand Slam tournaments, there just does not seem to be a lot of parity on the men’s side. You have Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray (he won’t be participating in the French Open this year) and Novak Djokovic. No one has really had much luck getting anything accomplished on the big stage like these four have.

Could this year be the one where someone else actually gives the big (three) a run for its money? There are certainly some capable players in the field. Guys like No. 5-ranked David Ferrer or clay aficionado John Isner have the tools, but need to put it together. Considering the Grand Slam results as of late, that is certainly easier said than done.

Serena or Maria?

Serene Williams comes to Roland-Garros as the top-rated female tennis player in the world. She is off to another hot start this season, which might suggest that she is a shoo-in for a French Open title.

Actually, she is anything but, especially considering that since her only French Open championship in 2002, she has been brutal on these clay courts. You might expect her to continue to find her footing and, hopefully for her, finally get the monkey off her back.

Meanwhile, No. 2-ranked Maria Sharapova has built a reputation as of late for her strong play on clay. She walked away from last year’s French Open as the champion, too. However, the women’s side has many more wild cards, illustrated by the fact that there have been six different champions in the last six years.

Tiger Woods nabbed a victory at The Players Championship last week, continuing a dominant start to the year. (PHOTO: The Guardian)

It seems like professional athletes have such a short shelf life these days. In most sports, once an athlete creeps into their 30s, many fans assume he or she is on their last leg.

For Tiger Woods, it was more than just a case of getting old. He also had to deal with the distractions that came with nagging injuries and the extramarital affair debacle that captured tabloid headlines for months, if not years.

Now, at the ripe old age of 37, some might have assumed that Woods was winding down his career, getting ready to fade into history as the sport’s second best player (only to Jack Nicklaus).

Then, just over a week ago, Woods captured The Players Championship, by shooting a 13-under. Sure, you could chalk this up to a fluke victory — not much of a surprise, especially considering Woods’ past brilliance. However, this win marked a far greater accomplishment.

Tiger’s Hottest Start Ever

The Tigers Woods of yesteryear has stormed back early in the season. Woods’ victory at The Players Championship marked his fourth stroke victory in his first six attempts of the season. Believe it or not, this is an unprecedented feat for Woods, which begs the question: “If he has mounted the best start of his career, will it amount to his best season?”

Yes, Woods has been dominant so far this season, but his victories just seem to lack the brilliance that came with his previous dominating seasons. Maybe it’s the bad PR, maybe he’s just not doing it in prolific enough fashion. But when you shed the biasness surrounding this now-controversial golfer, you can tell he’s certainly on par for his best year yet.

Chasing 2000

While Woods pieced together a number of brilliant seasons, nothing matches his 2000 campaign when he piled up nine PGA tournament victories. These included:

• U.S. Open
• British Open
• PGA Championship
• Mercedes Championship
• Bay Hill Invitational
• Memorial Invitational
• Bell Canadian Open
• AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-AM
• World Golf Championships – NEC Invitational

While this might seem like a magical season (and it is) that Woods simply does not have the energy to trump, the numbers would suggest otherwise. Woods is off to a better start this year than he was in 2000 in terms of victories.

Playing Less

What many fans fail to account for when looking at Woods’ body of work now is that he does not compete as much as he did when he was a young buck. When you do not compete as much, your chances of winning go down (right, match majors?). So, this suggests that not only is Woods winning, but he is also being incredibly efficient in the process.

You can negatively spin Tiger’s success all you want (if you’re not a fan), but at the end of the day, the numbers don’t lie — he is the best in the business.

Where Is The Major Win?

The one piece of ammunition detractors do have over Woods is the fact that he is in desperate need of a Major win. In 2008, Tiger won the U.S. Open. Ever since then…crickets. Does Woods melt down on the big stage, or is this simply the law of averages in effect?

If this year’s hot start isn’t enough to shut up Tiger Woods critics, then snagging a Major this season certainly would.

Derrick Rose opted for the bench rather than the hardwood during the playoffs this year. (PHOTO: notsportscenter.com)

Ask any Chicago Bulls fan, and they likely will not have many positive things to say about their team’s superstar right now. In fact, in an effort to keep this blog post rated PG, we won’t even repeat some of the sentiments being thrown around about injured/but-not-really-injured point guard Derrick Rose.

On Monday night, the Bulls fell in another one-sided affair to the Miami Heat, dropping Chicago into a 3-1 hole in the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals. This was after the Bulls squeaked out a victory on the road in game one.

It’s all but official that Rose will not return to the floor from a knee injury to try to salvage the series. Team doctors and his personal doctor, though, have cleared Rose. The decision has been completely his, thus the frustration among Bulls fans.

Still, the dilemma is not completely cut-and-dry. Here are some reasons Derrick Rose is royally failing Chicago’s fan base, but also why those same fans are being too hard on the guy.

Earn your keep 

Fans have little sympathy for athletes that get paid millions of dollars to play a game. Not only does Rose haul in a bloated salary, but he also has millions upon millions wrapped up in endorsements. Eventually, you have to earn all that money.

The franchise has been good to Rose, and all it expects is for him to deliver when it matters most. The playoffs are the epitome of crunch time and despite being cleared to play, Rose is opting to play it safe at the expense of the Chicago Bulls.

Everyone else is digging deep

Injuries and illnesses have been a theme for the Bulls during the playoffs, but they overcame them in the first round. Kirk Hinrich and Luol Deng have been sidelined. Joakim Noah has battled through a foot injury to play and Nate Robinson spent a game puking in a bucket on the sidelines while playing a ton of minutes and carrying his team.

Rose’s teammates are doing everything they can to stay out on the floor. He seems to be doing the minimum.

Could he have changed the complexion of the series? 

If there was any time that it made sense for Rose to return, it was after his team’s stunning Game 1 road victory over the Miami Heat. The door was left cracked open for the Bulls, who are overwhelming underdogs in the series. Why Rose did not try to ride the momentum and make his return is a true mystery.

Not mentally ready 

Essentially every Derrick Rose apologist points out that a player can only return from a devastating injury once they are ready mentally. One can only assume this is what is holding Rose up. And, as a Bulls fan, do you really want him out there running the show if his mind isn’t right?

Fact: Rose wouldn’t change the series

Others argue that Rose’s return would do little to increase Chicago’s odds of defeating the defending champion Heat. Miami’s one-sided victories in the series have indicated the Heat are on a crash court with NBA Finals, and probably another NBA championship.

Jose Reyes has battled an ankle injury for the Blue Jays as Toronto attempts to use its offseason acquisitions to climb out of the cellar (PHOTO: The Globe and Mail)

This season is a make-or-break year for the Toronto Blue Jays — and just a couple months into the year, it’s looking like a royal bust.

The Blue Jays generated a huge buzz during the offseason by finally forking over significant money and mortgaging their future by dealing away much of the franchise’s most promising youth to acquire proven talent.

The transactions (the Blue Jays traded away 13 players) were likely met with resounding cheers from Blue Jays fans, who have constantly watched their team flounder in the ultra-competitive American League East with the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. While nothing is guaranteed in what many consider to be the toughest division in baseball, there was still a glimmer of hope after an incredibly active offseason.

That optimism has been squashed as Toronto started off at 13-22, easily dead last in the division.

Here is a rundown of the acquisitions made by general manager Alex Anthopoulos during the offseason.

Starting rotation

The Blue Jays’ starting rotation suddenly transformed into one of the more formidable ones in all of baseball. The Jays picked up aging, yet still-crafty knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who has proven it doesn’t matter how old you are as long as you can master the one mythical pitch. He was an all-star last year, but is carrying a bloated 5.36 ERA this season.

Toronto also added Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson into the mix of the starting rotation. Both high-profile additions to the team have ERAs north of 6.00.

The lack of production is somewhat of a head scratcher. All these pitchers are more than productive just one year ago with their respective former teams. Some might argue that thus is life in the American League East, but none of them are coming close to fulfilling their apparent potential.

The field/batting order

The biggest get for the Blue Jays during the offseason came in the form of Jose Reyes. After finishing fifth in hits last year with the Miami Marlins, the former batting champ was brought in to lead off a lineup that features power in Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.

As seems to be the theme with these offseason moves, Reyes is almost 30 and some of his signature speed might soon be going out the door. Reyes has shown flashes of brilliance, but has only gotten to the plate 38 times due to an ankle injury. He sports a batting average of .395. Everyone else is south of .300.

Also in the field, the Blue Jays acquired Emilio Bonifacio for a utility position and Josh Thole for catching duties.

Toronto also supplemented their power with the addition of former San Francisco Giants slugger Melky Cabrera. Edwin Encarnacion is the only stud that has lived up to his billing at the plate. He has swatted 10 home runs this year. But, when he isn’t parking the ball, he isn’t getting on base with a .227 batting average.

What did the Blue Jays get for a return on their investment? The third-worst ERA in all of baseball and the fifth-worst batting average.

What moves do they make now?

Floyd Mayweather Jr. continues his undefeated streak by defeating Robert Guerrero on Saturday in Las Vegas (PHOTO: Sports Illustrated)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. detractors no doubt cringed last night as the WBC welterweight champion easily handled Robert Guerrero at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. While Mayweather’s cocky attitude and non-stop yammering does tend to rub people the wrong way, he still stands as pound-for-pound the greatest active fighter in the sport.

Mayweather cruised to a unanimous decision against Guerrero to remain undefeated in his 44 career fights. The uneventful bout resulted in Guerrero’s only second career loss as a pro, thus further proving Mayweather’s dominance.

The key to Mayweather’s success was a stealthy defense. Most boxing pundits would agree that Mayweather has lasted so long in the sport because he knows how to not get hit. That was on display Saturday night when Guerrero was desperate to rough up the outspoken veteran, but simply failed to.

Coming off of a lackluster performance last year against Miguel Cotto, some fans might have assumed Mayweather was on the final leg of his career, especially at the age of 36. Last night showed that Mayweather still is in top form — how often he chooses to step in the ring remains to be seen.

Mayweather has already told the media that he is planning to fight again but the opponent has not been determined. Many have accused the star of selecting opponents that he is confident he can beat. These allegations were only furthered when he could not come to an agreement with Manny Pacquiao, a match-up that the entire boxing world would like to see.

If Mayweather continues to line up a schedule with cupcakes (relatively speaking) his million-dollar appeal just might lose its luster.

Few would argue, though, that Mayweather is indeed the best fighter in the sport right now, if not among the best of all time. When compiling a list of the top fighters in the world currently, you would have to throw in these names, as well:

• Manny Pacquiao: Even though he is coming off of two straight losses, Pacquiao simply must be in the conversation as a top fighter in the sport. His losses were to well-respected fighters. He still carries a 54-5-2 record and has been revered by essentially every member of the boxing and sports media.
• Timothy Bradley: Meet one of the men behind Pacquiao’s two recent losses. Bradley remains undefeated at 30-0-0 (and one no contest). He is currently the WBO Welterweight champion.
• Juan Manuel Marquez: At the age of 39, Marquez is still going strong. Since 2006, his only losses were to Pacquiao and Mayweather. With a record of 55-6-1, he has a huge bout coming up in September with Timothy Bradley. That will be a primetime fight.
• Andre Ward: Moving to super middleweight, Ward is 26-0-0 and is regarded by some as the top fighter in the sport. He claimed a Gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games.
• Canelo Alvarez: Many want to see Mayweather get in the ring with Alvarez, who is also undefeated at 31-0-1 and may be the plucky upstart (22 years old) to take Mayweather’s spot on the throne. He has 31 wins by knockout, proving he is more physical than Mayweather.

Brad Keselowski is off to a hot start this season after winning the Sprint Cup Series last year (PHOTO: Sports Illustrated)

Not long ago, we laid out some key storylines for readers to watch for heading into this year’s NASCAR season. Fast forward nine races in and here we are. Some of those questions have been answered while the majority of them continue to loom larger.

As the drivers prepare to converge on Talladega Superspeedway this Sunday for the Aaron’s 499, here is a quick glimpse on which drivers are often to a hot start and which ones are just spinning their wheels.

HOT

Brad Keselowski

It turns out Keselowski was not a one-hit wonder, following up on his Sprint Cup Series Championship-winning performance with a white hot start this year. He has accumulated the most top 10 finishes (seven) and landed in the top five four different times. He is still waiting for a checkered flag, though. Nevertheless, it looks like he will be in the mix again this year. This time, he won’t sneak up on anyone as the underdog.

Jimmie Johnson

Simply put: If you’re sitting at the top of the standings, you’re off to a pretty good start. Johnson has two wins and started on one pole this year. He has four top five finishes and finished in the top 10 six times. He has a commanding lead over the field at this point.

Carl Edwards

Edwards is hot on Johnson’s heels (well, as hot as you can be). He has a Nationwide Series win under his belt to go with his five top 10 finishes. He might be doing it a little on the quieter side, but his push for a Sprint Cup Series Championship is already well underway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Everyone will agree, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has gotten off to a hot start. What will come of that start is what is being debated. He has had his share of hot starts in the past, but he is still searching for his first Sprint Cup title. With three top five finishes, Junior certainly has started on the right foot, but now comes the hard part.

NOT

Tony Stewart

Simply put, Tony Stewart has seen better days — much better. In the last 15 seasons that Stewart has raced in the Sprint Cup Series, he had not gone a seven-race stretch where he was held without a top 10 finish. Unfortunately for this veteran, that has happened this year and he is desperately looking for a way to recover. While the season certainly is not yet a wash for Stewart, he is going to have to turn it around quickly and drastically.

Danica Patrick

Her eighth-place finish at Daytona got her fan base all fired up and ready for the “Year of Danica”. That excitement has calmed down as Patrick followed up with noticeable struggles, especially on the shorter tracks. Patrick has sank to No. 26 in the points and has yet to follow up Daytona with a top 10 finish.

Jeff Gordon

Slow starts have seemed to plague Gordon in the last few years, and this season is no exception. Hit with some hard luck paired with lackluster driving, and Gordon finds himself No. 14 in points with two top 10 finishes.

The St. Louis Blues take on the defending champion Los Angeles Kings in the first round. This is just one big hurdle in their road to the Stanley Cup. (PHOTO: Yahoo! Sports)

The National Hockey League is full of parity this year (as it generally is), which makes playoff time a ton of fun. While there are certainly some clearly defined upper echelon teams heading into the playoffs, even the pundits do not agree on which team will be hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup above their heads at the end of the year.

Let’s take a look at this year’s playoffs and define which teams are clearly in the running and why. For kicks, we’ll throw in a team that you might not have on your radar, but should.

ST. LOUIS BLUES

Talk about a trial by fire, the Blues jump into the playoffs and faceoff against the reigning champion Los Angeles Kings. Even though the Blues are a No. 4 and the Kings a No. 5, most experts are handing the series to Los Angles.

But, not so fast.

After winning the Cup last year as a No. 8 seed, the Kings came into the playoffs with a whimper and do not seem to have that consistency they did during last year’s run. Consistency isn’t exactly St. Louis’ strong point, either, but they are a deep team. In fact, 10 players on the Blues roster have scored 20 points this season with two more adding 19. You can have a strong line, but it’s tough to mimic this overwhelming depth.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Heavy is the head that wears the grown. The No. 1-seeded Penguins can just ask Vancouver, which fell in the first round last year to Los Angeles after garnering the top seed. Do not expect Pittsburgh to suffer a similar fate to Vancouver, though, as they look to handle the New York Islanders in the first round and surge ahead.

The Pens are undoubtedly the best team in hockey right now with the ability to pile up goals, led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin. They have one stout defensive line after another to match. If there is a favorite in the playoffs it is (or should be) the Penguins.

BOSTON BRUINS

Sticking in the Eastern Conference, No. 4-seeded Boston has a real shot, as many pundits are expecting them to overwhelm the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round. This is a physical team that puts up around 2.6 goals per game. With forwards like newly acquired Jaromir Jagr and Tyle Seguin, the Bruins have talented goal scorers and move the puck around well.

Their nitty-gritty style suits the playoffs well, but the Bruins are going to have to learn to keep the energy up during the third period instead of fading like they have been known to.

DARK HORSE:

DETROIT RED WINGS

The Red Wings just snuck into the playoffs, making it 22 straight appearances. However, they are seeded a lowly No. 7 and are a game down on the Anaheim Ducks already.

Still, you cannot discount postseason experience, which is about the one big thing Detroit has going for it. They also have a strong goalie in Jimmy Howard who will keep these underdogs in just about every game during the postseason.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers made arguably the biggest trade of the offseason when they acquired Darrelle Revis.

While fans are no doubt knee-deep in the 2013 NFL Draft, the results are not going to have a huge impact on the upcoming season. Sure, last year, we saw a bunch of rookies step up and make their presence known, but what NFL fans should be more concerned with are offseason transactions.

This offseason has certainly not been void of some pretty major moves that will make a big difference for a handful of teams. While the rest of the NFL media pores over incoming rookies, here are the moves that will really change the complexion of the upcoming season.

Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs’ secondary got manhandled throughout last season, so they did something about it — in a big way. Forking over $96 million for the six-year contract, Tampa Bay nabbed arguably the best corner back in the league. The blockbuster move was still met with some skepticism now that Revis is getting up there in age and recently suffered a significant knee injury. Still, the move stands as arguably the biggest trade of the offseason

Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers

What a steal by the 49ers! They pick up this veteran wide receiver in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. San Francisco was not shabby at wide receiver with youthful Michael Crabtree, veteran Randy Moss and freak athlete Vernon Davis, but Boldin certainly gives Colin Kaepernick yet another reliable target to aim for. It won’t be a surprise to see the 49ers in the Super Bowl once again after this major acquisition.

Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks

Harvin, a former Minnesota Viking, was yet another high-profile wide receiver to go to a team that desperately needed one. Russell Wilson stepped in at quarterback as a rookie and really did well. Unfortunately, he had mediocre targets like Sidney Rice and Golden Tate to throw to. Adding Harvin into the mix will let Wilson really use his potential as a mobile quarterback that can sling it down field. This isn’t a huge loss for the Vikings, either, as they picked up Greg Jennings as a free agent.

Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs desperately needed a quarterback, but you have to wonder if Alex Smith was the right guy for the job. The Chiefs picked up Smith’s $16 million contract for the next two years. While Smith is certainly an efficient passer, he has not blown anyone away in his seven years in the league. This might be why Colin Kaepernick stole the starting position from Smith this season in San Francisco and led the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance. The jury is out on whether this helps the Chiefs improve at all.

Arrelious Benn to the Philadelphia Eagles

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were deep enough at wide receiver where they were able to spare this 6-2, 225-pound wide out. To boot, Benn has not been overly healthy or productive during his NFL tenure so far, making this appear to be somewhat of an irrelevant move. However, this adds some nice size to Philadelphia’s receiving core. Plus, the Eagles are a run-heavy team, and having a menacing presence like Benn on the edge to provide blocking can’t hurt.

If Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors keep sinking their shots, they might be this year’s upset special (PHOTO: NY Daily News)

Let’s just acknowledge what everyone else is thinking — this year’s NBA championship is for the Miami Heat’s taking. Nothing significant has changed from last year, when they rolled to an easy victory over Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals. If anything, the Heat have gotten better, as referenced by their jaw-dropping winning streak down the final stretch of the year.

Could someone else steal the title this year? Crazier things have happened. If that does happen, these are the teams that are going to do it.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

If the postseason plays out like most pundits are expecting it to, we will see a rematch in the NBA Finals between the Thunder and Heat. The Heat squashed the Thunder in last year’s series 4-1, but that was a younger, greener, Oklahoma City team. While it certainly did not help that the Thunder lost top-notch sixth man James Harden, they still have arguably the most effective player in the NBA in Kevin Durant. This is in addition to shifty point guard Russell Westbrook and solid inside guys. They match up the best with Heat, and if they reach the Finals, will definitely give Lebron James and his crew a better run for their money.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

You can’t discount experience when it comes to the postseason. And, when it comes to experience, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli have pretty much made their living in the postseason. The Spurs do not play for the regular season — they place all the emphasis on the postseason, even if it means giving their studs prolonged periods of rest much to the dismay of the NBA. San Antonio has taken a 2-0 lead on the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers but will have their hands full with younger, quicker teams like Golden State and Oklahoma City.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Speaking of the Warriors, Golden State gets our nod for the upset special. Generally, it is not wise to trust teams that live and die by the 3-point shot. However, when you shoot it as well as Steph Curry and the Warriors, you can start believing. The Warriors put on a shooting clinic when they split 1-1 at Denver. The probability that this team has what it takes to reach the finals is rather far-fetched, but anything is possible if they keep pouring it in the way that they are.

NEW YORK KNICKS

A lot of NBA enthusiasts have labeled the New York Knicks as a one-trick pony, led by Carmelo Anthony. While Anthony is certainly the key cog for the Knicks, he is surrounded by an athletic, talented, and most importantly, an underrated supporting cast. New York has taken a 2-0 lead on an aging Boston team, and if they survive the Celtics, should not have a problem taking care of the winner between Indiana and Atlanta. That would set up a match with New York and Miami in the semifinals. We’ve seen this story before, and know how it plays out…but if New York can get hot, they could steal the series.

Can Michigan’s Denard Robinson translate his collegiate success to the NFL? (Photo from AnnArbor.com)

At this point in the offseason, it is tough to read any NFL news without being hit with mock draft predictions from the pundits. Set to begin on April 25, the 2013 NFL Draft is almost here.

The consensus is that offensive linemen like Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) and Luke Joeckel (Texas A&M) will be at the top of the draft board along with guys like defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (BYU), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Florida) and linebacker Dion Jordon (Oregon).

Readers likely know full well the top prospects of the draft already. As a change of pace, here are a few players that are flying dangerously low under the radar and could be a potential steal for whatever NFL roster they land on.

Le’Veon Bell (Michigan State)

For a Michigan State team that lacked offensive firepower — especially through the air — Bell carried the Spartans on his shoulders at tailback through a mediocre season. Some games, Bell took over 40 carries, cementing his status as a true workhorse.

In a sport where players are beat down come the end of the season, Bell would be a great asset. On top of his grind-it-out style of running game, Bell is surprisingly versatile for a bigger back. He is also capable of punching the ball in the end zone using his intimidating frame.

Denard Robinson (Michigan)

Ranking as one of college football’s most athletic players last year, many thought this quarterback would be a classic case of a collegiate star flopping in the NFL. While Robinson is transitioning to wide receiver — a position he has never played — it is tough to discount speed and raw athleticism.

Robinson did see some action last year at running back when an arm injury stopped him from going under center. He was relatively effective, framing the fact that he might still find success in the pros and perhaps be the next Devin Hester.

Tyrann Mathieu (LSU)

The big question surrounding “Honey Badger” is whether or not teams will be able to look past his behavior off the field. Mathieu didn’t play college ball last season after being booted off LSU’s roster. Now, he’s ranked as the No. 23 cornerback in the draft. A lot of this can be attributed to the fact that he is a loose cannon. His athleticism and ability on the field certainly would suggest he could be drafted earlier. There is no doubt, drafting Mathieu is a gamble, but it’s one that could be worth it.

Collin Klein (Kansas State)

When you’re talking major quarterback prospects, Geno Smith comes up well before Collin Klein. Many have likened Klein to Tim Tebow, which isn’t exactly a flattering comparison. Klein has an odd throwing motion, but outside of that, he could be a brilliant NFL quarterback. For starters, he has great size (6-5, 226 lbs.) but has also proven to be very mobile. Klein has the intangibles — great character and leadership qualities. This helped Klein and Kansas State amass a 11-2 record last year and a Big 12 title.

Zac Dysert (Miami of Ohio)

Speaking of underrated quarterbacks, the Mid-American Conference is home to a posterchild for the category — a few of them, actually. Dysert is a perfect example, with a really strong arm and long, slender build. It is always tough to see what these mid-major quarterbacks are truly capable of because the resources around them are limited. Dysert could be a strong pick for an NFL team.

Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel has entered the NBA draft even while recovering from a knee injury. (PHOTO: SI.com)

Michigan’s Tim Hardaway Jr. recently grabbed national headlines by becoming the latest non-senior to forego the rest of his college basketball career and declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. Every year, college basketball fans read the newspaper with unease, hoping that their school’s superstar doesn’t jump ship early at the prospect of getting a nice payday in the pros.

However, now that players are required to log at least one season in the college ranks, more and more underclassmen are jumping into the draft. Let’s take a look at some of those players and decide if they are truly NBA-ready.

Nerlens Noel (Kentucky)

The big freshman missed the last portion of the season due to an ACL tear. Some wondered if he would return to Kentucky for another year to get his knee back in working order. Instead, he is going to the NBA. Noel is projected by some to be the top pick, but it’s tough to say how he will survive in the pros until he proves the knee is all better.

Trey Burke (Michigan)

The Naismith College Player of the Year honoree has seemingly accomplished almost everything he would want in college — all before his junior year. Burke showed during the tournament that he can create his own shot and is outstanding on the dribble drive. He should have no problem contributing in the NBA.

Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA)

This is not a shock. The freshman never showed that he cared much for his team or teammates at UCLA and he’s moving on to the land of bloated paychecks. Muhammad (6-6, 225 lbs.) is certainly built for the NBA, he just didn’t show a lot of work ethic during his college tenure.

Michael Carter-Williams (Syracuse)

Outside of Burke, this sophomore is arguably the best guard in the draft. He carried Syracuse to a Final Four appearance and has the raw skill to thrive in the NBA.

Cody Zellar (Indiana)

Analysts have long raved about the sophomore’s draft stock and project him as a lottery pick. The 7-footer certainly has an NBA frame, but I am just not convinced at his skill after seeing him go against fellow big men of the Big Ten (i.e. Mitch McGary, Adreian Payne, etc.) Teams were too easily able to shut him down. A big man that finds success in the NBA has to be dominant at the college level.

Otto Porter (Georgetown)

Another member of an all-star cast of sophomores in the NCAA this year, Porter recently announced his intentions to move on to the NBA and is expected to go as a top 5 pick. His solid, albeit brief, body of work in college hoops certainly merits that, especially because of the lack of talented wing players in this year’s draft.

Ben McLemore (Kansas)

The long, 6-5 freshman simply has NBA skills — an ability to handle the ball and shoot it. This year, McLemore was the Big 12’s top 3-point shooter. There was little doubt on whether McLemore was going to declare for the draft this year and that he will be a top five pick.

Marcus Smart (Oklahoma State)

The freshman shocked the world when he announced he was staying at Oklahoma State instead of becoming a potential top 5 draft pick. Not only does this show Smart’s devotion to his school, but he certainly plans on getting better. Smart will be arguably the best player on the floor next year, boosting his draft stock even further (if that’s possible).

Justin Verlander is among the league’s top pitchers this season. (Photo from Stack.com)

With the Major League Baseball season still in its infancy, it is impossible to determine what young talent will emerge on the mound. However, based on last year’s performances, we do have a good idea of which of the usual suspects have a shot at dominating every time they toe the slab.

We already discussed the most dangerous players at the plate, now, here the kings of the hill.

JUSTIN VERLANDER (DETROIT TIGERS)

Fantasy owners probably love Justin Verlander just as much as his Detroit Tigers do. Not only is Verlander a shutdown slinger, but he has also been very steady over the last few years. In fact, he averages 19.5 wins over the last four seasons. With a stacked batting lineup producing solid run support behind him, there is no reason to doubt that Verlander will chalk up yet another 20-win season.

STEPHEN STRASBURG (WASHINGTON NATIONALS)

One of the biggest baseball stories late last season came when the Nationals shut down Strasburg after 28 starts in order to preserve his still-young arm. He finished with 15 wins and a 3.16 ERA. That left a lot of fans wondering just exactly what he could accomplish with a full season. Well, they might not have to wonder any longer as this could be that year.

DAVID PRICE (TAMPA BAY RAYS)

If you think Justin Verlander is an elite pitcher, meet the guy that edged him out for the American League’s Cy Young Award last season. Price had a phenomenal season last year with 20 wins and 205 strikeouts. He has not produced the same consistency as Verlander, but if he manages a similar campaign this season, he will certainly back up his Cy Young Award credibility.

CLAYTON KERSHAW (LOS ANGELES DODGERS)

Many regard Kershaw as the National League’s top gun. It might not have always showed last year, when he went 14-9. Still, he had an ERA of 2.53, indicating that the Dodgers simply failed to provide him with proper run support throughout the season. That will likely change, but Kershaw’s raw skill on the mound will not.

R.A. DICKEY (NEW YORK METS)

Dickey could be considered a late bloomer, especially considering the fact that the 38-year-old recorded his best season last year, which included winning the National League’s Cy Young Award. Die-hard baseball fans are always skeptical of a knuckleballer, dismissing them as somewhat of a novelty. But, the proof is in the numbers for Dickey (20 wins, 230 strikeouts and 2.73 ERA last year) and he is primed to bring the same finesse into this season.

JOHNNY CUETO (CINCINNATI REDS)

Cueto was a key cog in his team’s National League Central championship last year. He recorded a standout year last season with 19 wins, 170 strikeouts and a 2.78 ERA. Cueto could not go during the playoffs due to an injury, which was a familiar theme from the 2011 season. Once he can shake the nagging injuries, he will be among the league’s top pitchers.

Don’t forget:

• Gio Gonzalez (Washington Nationals)
• Jered Weaver (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim)
• Cole Hamels (Philadelphia Phillies)

What were you doing when you were 14 years old? Tianlang Guan is playing in The Masters. (Photo courtesy of PGA.com)

With the first tee shot at Augusta National this morning, what many golf fans consider to be the official start of the season is now underway. Golf’s most revered tournament — The Masters — presents fans with a bevy of compelling storylines. At the end of the day, the only real story is which golfer slides their arms through the sleeves of the green jacket and is crowned champion.

As the action continues throughout the week and weekend, here are some golfers to watch in this always-competitive field.

TIGER WOODS

Let’s get this one out of the way right now. After all, in what tournament is Tiger Woods NOT a golfer to watch? This year, though, that attention is merited as he has returned to vintage form and is out for vengeance after falling to 40th place in last year’s Masters. Woods is looking to add to the three other Masters titles he already has, and continues to chase down Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major victories. Woods is currently stuck on 14.

DUSTIN JOHNSON

The Vegas betting odds aren’t exactly in Johnson’s favor, but he certainly has the tools to make a good run at Augusta National. Few golfers possess the raw power that Johnson does, however, you need more than just power to find success on this mammoth stage. Johnson’s three previous appearances at The Masters have been forgettable, never finishing above the 30th spot on the leaderboard. Will that change this year?

BUBBA WATSON

Bubba, what have you done for me lately? Unfortunately, that is a familiar refrain from Watson’s detractors. Golfers cannot rest on their laurels. Watson made a fierce comeback at Augusta National last year and ended up capturing the victory. Some peg Watson as a one-hit wonder because of it. Others see the potential in Watson, especially when he can harness his often-volatile emotional side. Could it be back-to-back victories for Bubba?

TIANLANG GUAN

He’s not exactly a favorite, but he certainly makes for an interesting storyline. The native of China has made history as the youngest golfer to compete at The Masters at the very ripe age of 14. Many of the golfers in the field have been playing the game longer than Guan has been alive. It will be interesting to see if he can really turn some heads and manage to make the cut.

RORY McILROY

Is it time for this 23-year-old to dominate like the No. 2 golfer in the world should? Make no mistake, McIlroy has done plenty to cement his high standing in the worldwide golf scene, but to be considered a bonafide superstar, he needs to come to play on these big stages. He’s been to The Masters four times and finished in 15th place last year. He’s looking to add to his three major titles, a critical task if he ever wants to surpass the golfer sitting in front of him (Woods).

JUSTIN ROSE

An Englishman has not secured a Masters title since 1996 when Nick Faldo did it. Rose might just be the next to do it. He’s certainly in position, ranked No. 3 in the world. He has shown the capability of performing well at this course, finishing in fifth place during The Masters in 2007.

Last year’s Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera comes into the new season as one of the league’s most feared hitters. (PHOTO COURTESY OF YAHOO! SPORTS)

Nothing is more disheartening for baseball fans than to see their team’s top slugger step up to the plate … to be intentionally walked. Unfortunately, if you are fans of some of these guys, this is a sight you are just going to have to get used to this season.

Here are some of the most feared hitters in Major League Baseball heading into the new season.

MIGUEL CABRERA (DETROIT TIGERS)

There is no doubt that Cabrera is the most dangerous hitter in baseball right now. Anyone that requires proof of that simply needs to look back to last year when he earned the Triple Crown — the first time a player has done so in the last 45 years. Cabrera is still relatively young, so he will not be slowing any time soon. This year, he looks to build on the 44 home runs and 139 RBIs he accumulated last year.

JOSH HAMILTON (LOS ANGELES ANGELS OF ANAHEIM)

In terms of power hitters, Hamilton has the market cornered. He finished up last season with 43 home runs — that’s even in a season that saw its share of rough patches.

The former Texas Ranger will be suiting up for the Angels this season. However, just because the jersey is different does not mean his raw strength at the plate will be any different.

PRINCE FIELDER (DETROIT TIGERS)

The Tigers are stacked with power at the plate. Two years ago, picturing Prince Fielder as second fiddle in a line-up would have been ridiculous. But, with Cabrera anchoring the Tigers, Fielder is a formidable complement.

Make no mistake — Fielder can still do some damage. He capped last year with 30 home runs and 108 RBIs. He will continue to be effective because it is impossible to pitch around him. He shares the line-up with such firepower as Cabrera, Torii Hunter and Austin Jackson.

EDWIN ENCARNACION (TORONTO BLUE JAYS)

Here is a guy that may have flown under the radar last year, mainly because his team was less-than-stellar. Still, Encarnacion earned himself a nice contract extension by belting 42 home runs and driving in 110 runs. With a healthy Jose Bautista back in the line-up, opposing pitchers will not have to pick their poison.

RYAN BRAUN (MILWAUKEE BREWERS)

After being dogged with allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs early in the year last season, Braun bounced back to blast a National League-leading 41 home runs in addition to 112 RBIs. Braun is a power hitter trapped in a contact hitter’s body, as he recorded 30 stolen bases to boot.

Braun has cleared his name and cemented his reputation at the plate. Pitchers most likely have taken notice.

BRYCE HARPER (WASHINGTON NATIONALS)

While last year’s stats (22 home runs, 59 RBIs) might not be particularly jaw dropping for Bryce Harper, they come into context when you look at the fact he was still a teenager at the time. He is only going to get better. Just look at Washington’s season-opening game against the Miami Marlins — Harper parked two homeruns, which were his team’s only runs of the game.

Russ Smith and the Louisville Cardinals look to cut down the nets in Atlanta (Photo courtesy of BusinessInsider.com)

The brackets have long been crumpled up. It has dawned on most of you that you will not be winning the office pool this year. Don’t feel bad, we were even off the mark on a few of our upset predictions this year.

Alas, the Final Four has arrived and it’s time to reexamine the teams that are still alive and break down who has the greatest chance of cutting down the nets in Atlanta this weekend.

Let’s take a look at the match-ups.

LOUISVILLE VS. WICHITA STATE

Some might suggest that Louisville got off the hook by facing a mid-major team in the Final Four. After all, Wichita State did not even have what it takes this season to win the Missouri Valley Conference. Still, the Shockers did earn their trip to the Final Four, their marquee victory coming against No. 1 Gonzaga. They also ousted No. 2 Ohio State.

Unfortunately for the Shockers, their dream journey to the Final Four will likely come to an end against a white hot Louisville team. In terms of high-octane offenses, Wichita State simply cannot match the Cardinals. Louisville is a perfectly balanced team with precision guard play from Peyton Siva and Russ Smith in addition to a strong inside game from players like Gorgui Dieng and Chane Behanan.

Add to that the fact the Cardinals are playing with a new motivation — trying to win a national championship for teammate Kevin Ware, who suffered an absolutely gruesome leg injury during Louisville’s Elite Eight victory over Duke — and the Cardinals are an unstoppable force.

SYRACUSE VS. MICHIGAN

This is arguably the better match-up of the Final Four. Michigan, who finished fifth in the Big Ten during the regular season, has seemingly hit its stride at the right time. The Wolverines downed Florida by 20 points in their Elite Eight match-up.

However, Syracuse has been on a similar tear, and they present some real problems for Michigan. For starters, Syracuse’s zone defense has proven impenetrable as of late. Even with the savvy play of point guard Trey Burke, the Wolverines do not always respond well to overwhelming defense.

Plus, Syracuse has just as much talent at the guard position with Michael Carter-Williams, so the game will ultimately be won in the paint.

Michigan’s freshman center Mitch McGary has had a standout tournament performance this year, but the Orange feature bigs that are simply quicker and more athletic. Syracuse gets the slight edge in this one.

NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Many analysts thought the Big Ten was the top conference in the land, yet, we’re facing the real possibility that the National Championship could be a rematch of this year’s Big East tournament championship.

Syracuse stubbed its toe throughout the conference schedule this season, while Louisville cruised to a championship both in the regular season and the conference tournament. After a year that really did not see a consistent or dominant No. 1 team in the land, one has finally emerged. Of the four teams left in play, none of them have the weapons to aptly match up against Louisville.

Throw in a coach as savvy as Rick Pitino and this could be the year of the Cardinal.