So...did you make your pick in the Rookie of the Team draft?

You choose one player from the Cardinals roster who has impressed you. The catch is you have to pick someone drafted on day three or someone who wasn't drafted at all.

My pick is Stephen Williams. He's a 6' 5" 208 lbs. rookie out of Toledo. Let me give you his high school track numbers to show you his athleticism. He almost jumped his height in high school and had a long jump of almost 23' (official numbers were 6' 4" in the high jump and 22' 11" in the long jump. Is he fast you ask? He ran the 100 in 10.7 seconds. At the combine, he ran a sub 4.5 electronic timed 40. If you watch him against Houston on 8/14, he's wearing number 14.

Just the tangibles are reason enough to love him. He's taller than every CB and he can out-jump most of them. Granted, none of this matters if he can't catch the football. It's easy to say, "There's a reason the UT he went to was Toledo and not Texas," especially since he's from Houston. I'm not worried about that, I actually think it's a positive. He's already dealt with not getting the attention and he excelled at Toledo. He told Wolf and me it leads to extra incentive.

So far his camp hasn't been stellar but it's been solid. He admitted to us that the playbook is the most challenging aspect of his new job. There are times when you can tell he's still thinking during his route instead of reading the secondary naturally. When you're over-thinking, your natural athleticism doesn't come out as well. He is a student of the game, though. Williams is not one of those players where you say, "Don't think," because you're scared what could happen. He's a very intelligent kid with a passion to get it right.

If you're short on time, I had with him after practice.

If you've got a few more minutes, listen to Steve when he came on the show earlier in the first week of camp. His story of swordfights with his head coach at Toledo is priceless.

It's time for you to play the game.

Stick your neck on the line and name your "dog."

Every year there's a couple of us in the media who play scout and after the first weekend of practices you have to declare who your ROOKIE OF THE TEAM is. We pick a player to surprise and have the best season. In year one of the game, I won going away taking Ben Patrick. Last year, none of us could compete with Yoda who walked away with the award when LaRod Stephens-Howling was fantastic.

Here are the rules:

1) It has to be a rookie.

2) It can't be anyone drafted in the first two days of the draft

The first two days of the draft now encompass the first three rounds so your pick has to be a rookie free agent or a 4th-7th round pick. If there's a tie, the lower draft pick wins. Obviously, rookie free agents are ranked lower than the 7th pick so you look better if you stick your neck out that far. The problem is you'll lose your scouting license for one year if your pick doesn't even make the team.

You've got one day to make your selection in the ROOKIE OF THE TEAM draft. Tomorrow I'll reveal my pick and talk to him for a few minutes so you can get to know him.

On your mark, get set, PICK!

I asked one baseball insider what he thought of the trade. He said it was a great deal, "if you're an Angels fan."

I agree with him for now.

I don't care what anyone tells you. The trade of Dan Haren was a salary dump. The players Arizona received do not make the organization better than they were. Unless Haren has serious problems and this season foreshadows the rest of his career (which I don't believe), the D-backs took a step back.

They didn't take one step back to take two steps forward with these three players. These three players will not equal for the D-backs what Dan Haren will be for the Angels.

The fourth player is legit but I don't think he's come to the right place. I'm deeply concerned because the key piece of the deal falls into the place of the D-backs biggest failings. If the PTBNL (that's a cool baseball way of saying player-to-be-named) is Tyler Skaggs, I'm OK with that. He's a top prospect in the Angels lower minors. I'm concerned however about the D-backs track record.

Who's the last impact starting pitcher that came up through the D-backs organization? Since no one's been able to develop through the system since Brandon Webb, I don't trust Skaggs will either. Tyler, if you don't develop into a strong starting pitcher, it's not your fault. No one does in the D-backs minor leagues.

I'm not going to completely blast the deal until I see what happens in the off-season. The term salary dump is a bad phrase that makes people upset. It shouldn't. The D-backs shouldn't be spending the money they are for the team they have. They should dump salary because this team isn't good enough to make what the owners are spending. I want to see what they do with the savings.

Chad Qualls has been a joke. The Valverde trade will be the worst trade in D-backs history until 2025 when Arizona trades Grant Vera to Cleveland for a bag of balls and Vera hits for the triple crown the next year. This team has to get a closer and closers cost money.

If the D-backs get a good closer, with the money they saved and Skaggs develops, this was a good trade. Since I don't think both will happen, I don't like the deal.

Doug answered a few questions and gave his first reactions to the news of Steve Kerr leaving the Phoenix Suns.

Who will/should replace Steve Kerr?

David Griffin doesn't suck up enough so I don't think it will be him.

How will Steve Kerr's tenure in Phoenix be looked at?

He changed a melodrama into a contender.

Did the move have to do with the future of the team - re-signing Amare or other free agents?

No, it had to do with one man not being a winner ... Robert Sarver.

Did the move have to do with Kerr's salary with the team and/or strictly TV/family time?

Yes.

Q: WHAT'S NEXT?

A: Nothing happens until Friday when Mizzou and Nebraska must state their intentions. The Big 12 can still be saved but Texas would have to make concessions. I don't think that will happen because Texas in the "Super 16" is better than Texas in the Big 12 under new revenue distribution rules.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE FRIDAY?

Nothing on the record.

The Big 10 will quietly try to talk Notre Dame into joining the conference. They want to get an answer out of ND because a yes will mean they won't invite Mizzou and Nebraska, forcing Mizzou to walk back to the Big 12 with its tail between its legs.

The Big 10 will swear to ND this is the last time they will invite the Irish. Although it makes the most sense for ND to say yes, they won't because they know the Big 10 is bluffing and will ask again.

Q: HOW DO THEY KNOW THE BIG 10 IS BLUFFING?

In the 90's Notre Dame was offered an invitation from the Big 10. ND quietly said yes and then went public. After their fans went nuts and NBC upped their contract offer, ND stayed independent. The Big 10 said they would never ask again at that point. Since they're asking again, ND knows they can keep the Big 10 on the back burner. Besides, why not watch the other schools jump through hoops and then decide what you're going to do. At any time ND can pick up the phone and invite themselves to any conference.

Q: WHAT ELSE CAN STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING?

If the SEC calls Texas that would really change things. Texas wouldn't be the same big dog in the SEC but they would be able to dictate who comes with them. If they brought the 4 Texas schools, they could join the other West division teams and put the two Alabama schools in the East.

There is one scenario that no one has talked about but would be very tough to pull off. Why not have the Big 12 go on the offensive? TCU? Ark? New Mexico? ASU?

Q: WHAT KIND OF FALL OUT WILL TAKE PLACE?

If ND says no to the Big 10, Rutgers, Pitt, and Syracuse could all be invited with Nebraska and Mizzou. That would make Big East football a conference of five teams. They can't go on the offensive at that point because the basketball schools would tell the football schools to give it up.

At that point the ACC would probably jump into the fray and go for UC, UofL, UConn, and either South Florida or WVU. Hard to decide between the last two. WVU gives you tradition and great ticket revenue while South Florida gives you the Tampa market to sell to advertisers and a third team in Florida where all the athletes are.

Q: WHO STANDS TO LOSE THE MOST?

Iowa State. If the Big 12 falls apart, who wants them?

To a lesser extent, WVU and USF could be losers. If the ACC raids the Big East for the leftovers after the Big 10, I don't think both of them will have a seat when the music stops.

Q: WHO'S THE BIG WINNER?

In the short term it's the Super 16. The Texas schools would force the rest of the conference teams (especially ASU and UofA since they would all be in the same division) to raise their game.

Q: IS THERE A "LONG TERM" WINNER?

If they play their cards right, it could be the Mountain West. There's no word on what happens to KU, K-State if the Big 12 folds. Plus, there's talk that the Texas Legislature might force the Texas schools to bring Baylor with them and force the Pac-10 to rescind an offer to CU. Colorado could be left out in the cold. The Mountain West could become a 14 team conference. The north division would be KU, K-State, CU, CSU, Boise St (yes, I'm putting them in), Wyoming and ISU (Cyclones get lucky because I need the balance of 7 teams per division). TCU, New Mexico, SDSU, UNLV, Utah, BYU, and AFA would make up the SW division.

If the Mtn W expands to this level and picks up 4 former BCS teams, I think they get that BCS bid they've been begging to receive.

KU basketball could be a big winner because they'd come close to Memphis in C-USA dominance and have a clean road to a #1 seed in every tournament.

Q: DOES THIS MOVE US CLOSER TO A PLAYOFF IN FOOTBALL?

No. The only reason I could say yes is because there's less bureaucracy. Fewer conferences mean fewer decision makers and that does streamline the process. However, one of the big hang-ups for a playoff is the Big 10 and Pac 10's love for the Rose Bowl. Now that those conferences would have 32 of the 120 D-1 teams fighting for 2 Rose Bowl spots, it would make a playoff less likely. Giving more power to two anti-playoff conferences doesn't bring a playoff closer. I could see, though, that a "Plus 1" game could be added following the bowls.

Q: WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN?

I think the Super 16 is going to happen.

I don't think ND is going to join a conference on someone else's time table. The Big 12's ultimatum to Mizzou and Nebraska screwed things up for the Big 10 to get ND because Mizzou needs an answer. Once Nebraska and Mizzou depart, I think Texas is in the Super 16. I have no idea who will win the Baylor v CU battle. The Pac 10 will try to play hard ball because they want the Denver market. I think the Pac-10 will force the Texas Legislature to decide between Baylor or some conference championship games in Dallas.

I completely believe in a 16 team Big 10 because ND will say no.

It's hard to see the carnage that will be left between the ACC and the Big East. If I'm the ACC, I move now and don't wait to see what the Big East will try to do to save itself before the Big 10 makes it's move.

What I don't know is how the SEC will act. They've been very quiet. They are the one card that has more power than ND and Texas.

Just some quick notes while I'm sitting here at Gateway Chevrolet feeling like I got punched in the gut.

1) Box out

2) Any human being who plays as a center or power forward and has as many turnovers as rebounds is not a max contract player

3) Play until you hear the horn, then stop and watch

4) Unthinkable...Fisher out-played Richardson

5) FIND ANYONE AND KEEP THEM OFF THE GLASS

6) Ball movement...why did the offense watch Nash instead of get open for him?

7) The pain doesn't affect Game 6

8) Whatever Kerr does with Amare is the right decision because you can't replace 20 points a game and you can't give big money to a guy who shows up twice in a seven game series

9) Never count out Nash

10) No matter how many negatives we see from the Suns in the WCF...it's incredible that we even have the chance to sit here and complain about the WCF

Channing is going to go off tonight.

Yes, I know I'm the only one on the Frye bandwagon tonight.

Yes, I know I was the main one driving straight at the bandwagon with an 18-wheeler after his performance in game 2.

The difference is rhythm, flow and waking-up to the fact you're in the Western Conference Finals. I think Channing is finally there.

In Game 2 he was atrocious. In his first play on the floor he threw a lazy pass and then weakly hustled back on defense to grab the ball out of the net instead of attacking the trailing Odom on a boxout. The ball didn't go through the net and Odom easily had a stick-back. That play is the definition of being mentally unprepared to play.

In Game 3, he was more mentally prepared to play. Don't get me wrong. I'm not complimenting his Game 3 performance. However, there's no reason to attack his professionalism in Game 3 like I did in Game 2. Other than a shot he forced to beat the shot clock (he was hung out to dry by a teammate and deserves nothing negative on that play) all of his shot were sound shots within the offense. He only hesitated on his first one. He woke up a little in Game 3.

I'm not grasping at straws and trying to find small positives. I'm looking for signs that can predict the future. Channing Frye will have a great Game 4. There will be another game in Phoenix. GO SUNS!

For those of you that don't know, I'm in a constant state of recantation. I'm sorry that I started life as a Lakers fan.

In my family, it's either Lakers or Celtics and you had to make your choice around the time you learned to read. Dad's a Celtics fan so I became a Lakers fan. I loved Showtime. I don't say that now to rub it in for the years they beat the Suns but I couldn't get enough of Magic, Kareem and Big Game James.

When the Lakers signed Shaq I was ecstatic. When they drafted Kobe, I was OK with it because I trusted Jerry West. I quickly changed my mind when this kid comes in and thinks he's Michael Jordan and tries to shoot as much. The Lakers weren't starting Dave Corzine like the Bulls were in the beginning of the Jordan era. They didn't need Kobe to take over. Then he shot that airball against Utah in the first playoff series and I was done with him.

I was still a Lakers fan but I was just anti-Kobe. Then came the year of Kobe's free agency when he talked about signing with the Clippers. His goal was one thing: to make the Lakers choose Kobe or Shaq. Winning championships wasn't enough, he wanted to win championships without Shaq. After he ran out Shaq, I stopped being a Lakers fan. I didn't want to be a fan of a team that puts personal squabbles ahead of championships.

I was living in Kansas City at the time when I renounced my Laker fandom. It was shortly thereafter that Kobe had his infamous trip to Vail, Colorado, which furthered my opinion of him. While in KC, I spent a lot of time watching the Suns. I loved the way Nash played the game and the D'Antoni system. I started to like the Suns but I wasn't a fan. Once I moved here, the Suns reached out to me to welcome me to the valley. I already liked the team but when I got to know the people behind the scenes and some of the players, I completely embraced the organization. Although I'll never go through all the pain that most of you have, the "vicinity of the bench" is burned into my head just as strongly as it is yours.

I'm giving you my life story as the only human who's jumped from the Lakers to the Suns because of what I saw today. This ranks up there in the category of why we hate Lakers' fans. This is not abnormal. This is your normal everyday Lakers' fan. Next time you see a Lakers' fan in the office, just play this for him and explain to him that he's no different than this guy.

OK, maybe this interview isn't completely legit but that is a great representation of Lakers fans.

The Arizona Cardinals benefitted greatly from two things.

The ignorance of others and the hard work they put towards draft preperation.

It was amazing. Every time someone pretending to have a clue how to run an NFL franchise made a draft pick, another good player fell to the Arizona Cardinals. Tyson Alualu might have been there on Tuesday for Jacksonville. His selection at 10 pushed players down. San Diego helped out the Cardinals by thinking you should grab Ryan Mathews at number 12. Then the kicker. Despite having Orton and trading for Quinn, Denver shocked the world and went for Tebow.

These three picks gave Arizona so many options. The Cards had Odrick, Wilson, Mays, Kindle, Brown and Hughes still on the board when they selected Williams at 26.

Going into the draft, I wanted the Cards to trade down because there were going to be so many players available for them later in the draft. If I was running the Cards draft, you would have had to give me a ton to get me to trade down with Williams on the board. I'm assuming no one gave them a knock down offer.

I care about value. Williams has it at 26.

I care about not drafting projects in the first round. Williams is NFL ready.

Williams is a fantastic pick.

Wolf and I had a great conversation today about team versus talent. Do you want the Cousins and Walls of the world that are probably one and done, just using college basketball as a minor league to the NBA? Maybe you want a hair less talented player but he's a team guy and committed to the program? Butler and Duke completely fit the latter.

Obviously I'm not saying Butler and Duke aren't talented. I'm also not saying I'd tell Cousins no if he wanted to come to the program I'm coaching. The difference is when the "Wall's" of the world are the most useful. Building programs around a John Wall doesn't work because you're constantly re-teaching your offense to someone new. If you have more of an established team, adding a one-and-done is a great fit.

I bring this up because of what I saw from Matt Howard at the end of Butler's loss to Duke. Imagine having everything you've ever wanted in life in front of and you've only got 4 seconds to get it. Now, don't panic but don't think about yourself either. Don't try to get open because he's not going to have time to get it to you. Don't think about shooting your own three because that's not your game. What is the best thing you can do at that moment to help your team? Howard read the play, and did what he always does, whatever is best for the team. He set the best screen in the history of college basketball to get Hayward an open shot.

Give me team.

• Video: Doug racing at Bondurant

• Photos: Doug racing at Bondurant

I was very blessed as a kid to have a family that believed strongly in adventurous vacations. Whenever a place popped up on TV that my family had been to, my father would always say, "We've been there." Granted he was doing it to be silly but there was a sense of pride that whatever was so beautiful or important to be on TV was something his family had already seen.

I started saying the same thing around friends and family regarding stadiums and arenas. College friends and I went on a road trip and saw Fenway. Then, every time a Red Sox game came on, I said, "I was there." Even though the number of places I've been keeps growing, I've never stopped saying it.

The catch was, I've only been to places, but I've never experienced it on the court or field. I can't say I fielded grounders at Yankee Stadium, just been there. I've never went through lay-up lines at Allen Fieldhouse or MSG. However, with great pride, I can say, I drove PIR.

During the 3rd annual Doug & Wolf Gift Draft, I traded up with Big Mike to the number one pick. I chose Diane's present. I knew it was a bottle of wine but I also knew well-enough that she would never stop at just a bottle of wine. After opening it, I discovered I was right…and wrong.

It was a bottle of champagne but I was right that there was more to it.

There was a note on the bottle that it could only be opened after you went through a course from the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. So last month, I actually drove PIR!

I've hiked the Grand Canyon, seen Pink Floyd in concert, watched my wife sing the national anthem at Fenway Park, and witnessed my one pound daughter fight for survival outside the womb. I can now add driving an open wheel race car to my list of accomplishments.

It was an incredible thrill. We started out by driving around 50 mph behind a Cadillac while circling the track for about 10 minutes. Then we went in for class time and an explanation of how we drive the track and why the Cadillac drove the track the way we did. After a 100 mph van ride (yeah, that was weird) we got back in the cars and drove around the track again.

The second trip was still while following a Cadillac but we were doing around 80. This was amazing how confident I was starting to feel. At 50 mph I thought I was flying and going to lose control. Having my butt three inches off the ground while driving sitting in the middle of the car seemed so radical making the exhilaration unbelievable. What was great, though, was the second trip seemed much easier. Now that I was comfortable, 80 didn't feel as fast. I learned so much more about what the drivers must go through during a race. I always thought there's no way you can look around as you drive the track but I could really see the stands and pick out different features of the hills around the track.

After the second run, the real fun began. The Cadillacs left the track. We weren't allowed to pass other students but we could go as fast as we felt comfortable. It took me awhile but near the end, I was flying. We were told that if other drivers were slowing us up to pull into the pits. That way we could be let out of the pits when there was a gap in the drivers and have more room to drop the hammer. I was the only driver that went into the pits twice because I caught up with slower drivers on two separate occasions.

What's great about it is the control. If you've ever wanted to drive a race car but you don't want to drop the hammer, they're not going to tell you to speed up. It's perfect to get the experience at your own pace. If you're like me and you want to push the boundary of your own confidence, it's a wild ride.

If you've always wanted to do something completely different than your average weekend, this has to go on the top of your list.

It's prediction time!

This is a very difficult year to make predictions in baseball. The Yankees are old and defending World Champions. The Rays are the best team in the East, but they're over budget with Carl Crawford in a contract year. Are the Angels great because of Scioscia, or were they great because of John Lackey? Should I really buy what the Reds are selling? Then there's the National League West.

The Dodgers are the most complete team due to the Rockies pitching injuries. The problem is reading too much into any spring training injury (Jeff Francis and Huston Street) as if it's the end. If you believe the Rockies pitching will be strong, then you have to pick the Rockies. The Giants can really pitch and Pablo Sandoval can really hit. I'm not really sure where they're going to get offense from anywhere else in the line-up. The Padres should win the Pac-10, but ASU will give them a solid run for their money.

Obviously, my opening comments leave out the Arizona Diamondbacks. It's a simple reason why. I'm a fan and I don't think they can win the division. When I go to a D-backs game with my family, I've got the hat and t-shirt on. I'm trying to get fans to stand up. I'm constantly telling my daughters the positives of what the D-backs are doing. If you've listened to the show you know I'm openly rooting for the D-backs. None of that changes one thing: without Brandon Webb they're the fourth best team in the division.

I was proven wrong last year. I've long believed that starting pitching depth determines who wins division championships. The Dodgers didn't have solid depth last year and won anyway because of a good offense and an incredible defense. Even though I was wrong, I can't let one year change my opinion of watching years of baseball. Without Webb, the D-Backs do not have the starting pitching depth to compete for a division title in the National League West.

Do not read into this as if I'm saying the D-Backs are bad. I think the NL West will have four teams above .500. I think the D-backs will be well worth the price of admission. I think their offense will keep them in almost every game. I would advise you to stay till the last out of every game. This is a fun exciting team. I just believe pitching is everything. I think the most optimistic projection has Webb pitching in June and you have to give him a few starts to get right. That means the D-backs can't play their best baseball until after the all-star break. That doesn't leave enough time for me to believe they can win the West. I'm rooting for my own recantation, though.

There are so many waxing nostalgic about Tucson spring training since it's over. The D-backs last game at Tucson Electric Park was Tuesday. Their last game in Tucson was Wednesday.

It's amazing how many articles and news features I keep reading and hearing about the years of spring training in Tucson. There's even an AP article on our Web site that says "D-backs take their balls and bats and leave." This article actually suggests that the D-backs have stuck the fans of Tucson for paying for something that's unfair.

The D-backs had a Tucson day against the Brewers this year to celebrate their years in Tucson. Everybody wants to reminisce about the years of Tucson spring training.

There's one thing that no one seems to have the guts to say: SPRING TRAINING IN TUCSON SUCKS!

If the fans of Tucson wanted the D-backs, let me present a novel idea: GO TO THE GAMES! The D-backs are in second place almost every year of spring training in ROAD attendance but always near the bottom in home attendance. The Tucson Sidewinders rarely finished outside the bottom four in Triple-A baseball attendance.

The contracts were simple. If there are only two teams in Tucson the Rockies can leave. If the D-backs are alone in Tucson, they can leave. If Tucson didn't want to lose the D-backs, why take the $5 million from Chicago to allow the White Sox out of their contract? Once they did that, they started the dominoes.

Holding your spring training in Tucson does two things: puts you at a competitive disadvantage and loses money. Most teams hold work-outs in the morning then go through batting practice. The benefit of the Cactus League is you then get on a bus for a 15-35 minute drive to your game if you're on the road. Maricopa County spring training is the most efficient than anywhere in MLB.

The money loss comes from the lack of stars that come to Tucson. Veteran players can get their work done in Phoenix and play in a "B" game and save four hours on a bus by avoiding Tuscon all together. Diamondback players spend so much time on a bus while other teams are working to get better for the season.

It's not just about the big league clubs. In Tucson, almost every morning the D-backs and Rockies have minor league games. How do you learn anything when you play the same guys every day? The Reds have seven teams within 20 minutes to play minor league games against.

The citizens of Tuscon owe nothing to the D-backs. They have every right to make the decision to do nothing to improve Hi-Corbett Field for the Rockies. They can do anything they want instead of going to D-backs spring games and Sidewinder games. Just don't give me the whining and sob story about Tucson spring training coming to a close.

The era ended because fans and politicians sat around hoping it wouldn't end but did nothing to stop it.

Let's pop some bubbles.

If you are a big ASU fan but you don't have the time or desire (or in my case you actually have a life) to study college basketball, I'm here for you. If you've been wondering what will it take to get ASU in the NCAA tournament, I'll tell you what to do. And, before you ask, yes, I believe you sitting on your couch rooting for and against these teams will make a difference.

First, this is not a blog about whether or not ASU should be in the tourney. If it was, I would say no and the blog would end. There are 34 at-large bids and I don't think ASU is one of the 34 best teams in the country. The catch is this year in college basketball there aren't 34 teams that deserve at-large bids so ASU has just as much of an argument as any other team.

There's three criteria to getting in from this point forward.

1) What ASU must do
2) Who ASU needs to win
3) Who ASU needs to lose

Obviously if ASU wins the Pac-10 tourney, they're in without needing to rely on the committee and anything I say from this point on is irrelevant.

If ASU goes on a four-game winning streak and loses to Cal in the final of the next week's tournament, that's set-up for success. In any other scenario, things wouldn't look good. If ASU losses either game this weekend, it's over. They can't afford any home losses. They also can't afford one-and-done in the Pac-10. The Pac-10 is a joke this year and losing in the first round will only solidify that point in the selection committee's mind. If the Sun Devils lose to Cal, they will up their SOS (cool code for strength of schedule) and pick up four wins along the way.

Here's the teams you want to pay attention to the rest of the way out. Every time you see a score with one of these teams, hope they're in the lead or are already victorious. If you're watching them play, scream your head off in support.

1) TEMPLE: A month ago, the A-10 had a chance at being the 4th best conference in college basketball. That's changed now. Temple is in no questions asked. The benefit for ASU is every time they win, they weaken the other A-10 teams' resume. St. Louis, Dayton, Rhode Island, and Charlotte are all bubble teams (I take UD and URI). The real key is for Temple to win the A-10 tourney. Since they're in, ASU fans want Temple to take one of the 31 automatic bids to leave more at-large for the Devils.

2) MURRAY STATE: I don't think they're in the tourney as an at-large but why leave it up to chance? They've only got four losses (granted one is to Pac-10 leader Cal). Plus, the committee normally rewards conference supremacy. MSU lost only one conference game and it was on the road by five points. For the first time in your life, you should care about the OVC tourney.

3) NC STATE: Is there any irony here? State has no shot. However, there are a ton of bubbles that can be burst in the ACC. Every time NCST wins, they muddy someone else's waters. Even a two-win run in the ACC tourney would be huge for ASU.

4) UTEP: You got to have this one. UTEP is in no matter what happens. Root for them to take an automatic bid instead of an at-large. In the meantime, each win could pop other bubbles. Memphis, UAB, Marshall and Tulsa are all dreaming of the tourney.

5) SDSU: This is a bubble team you should actually pull for because they could bring ASU in with them. Every time SDSU wins, ASU's RPI and SOS go up.

Now, it's time to become a hater. Here's who ASU is rooting against.

1) ANY TEAM FROM OHIO EXCEPT OSU: There are a ton of bubble teams in Ohio. You want them all to lose. The MAC is praying for an at-large bid but if Akron and Kent lose out, they won't get one. Dayton is still hanging around. Any A-10 run for them is bad for ASU. Xavier is in based on their win at Florida but it would be better if they could lose.

2) MINNESOTA: They killed themselves losing to Michigan. Get beat in their first Big 10 tourney game will finish them.

3) ILLINOIS: See number 2…except for the Michigan part.

4) MARSHALL/MEMPHIS/UAB/TULSA: They're all in the same boat. Every time they lose it's good for ASU because they're all strong bubble teams. If they play each other, root for Memphis.

5) THE SEC (minus any school from a commonwealth or Tennessee): The SEC is better than the Pac-10 but it's not in any way a power. UK, Vandy, and UT are in without discussion. Florida's lost to XU and a potential 3-game losing streak to end the regular season should end their hopes. The big one for ASU fans is Mississippi State. MSU leads the SEC West so they're getting a bump. This is a joke. If ASU isn't getting credit for being second in a weak conference, it's hypocrisy to give MSU credit for leading the sad division of a conference. MSU's signature win is versus a bad UCLA team (which makes ASU v UCLA vital).

6) St. MARY'S: ASU fans, here's the one to go off. SMU is 2-1 in the Pac-10 with a win over CAL. That hurts. However, the WCC is weaker than the Pac-10 so let's not allow their conference record to influence decisions. There's only one question to ask of a WCC team. Did you beat Gonzaga? SMU did not.

Do you ever believe in the completely illogical? I'm not talking Wolf's belief in Big Foot. I mean do you ever feel like you know something is right even though you hear a voice that says, "You know better than to buy in."

I am allowing a conversation that was less than 15 minutes affect what I think of the 2010 Arizona Cardinals. Yes, I know. I hear the voice.

Matt Leinart was on the show Wednesday. After listening to what he said, I became very bullish on the Cardinals. In no way am I predicting he's about to embark on a Hall of Fame career.

Leinart's comments grabbed me in a way few radio conversations do. I was amazed by his confidence. It's easy to say a Heisman trophy winner and 1st round pick should have plenty of confidence. It's much harder to keep that confidence after the way his professional career has gone.

I wouldn't be impressed if his confidence was based on his college success. As the saying goes, "that and 50 cents will get you a can of pop." His confidence seemed based on the work he's done as a Cardinal to prepare for this moment. Matt Leinart doesn't believe he's ready to be a winning NFL QB because he was a winning USC QB. Matt Leinart believes he will be a winning NFL QB because he's busted his butt for three years learning this system.

Haven't we all had a moment in our career when we thought we were working hard and we got exposed? It wasn't because we didn't want to work hard. Our desire for success wasn't any lower. It was that mentor or that someone above us or maybe even a rival that showed us how much more needed to be done. It wasn't because we didn't have the heart for it but we just didn't know what it really took to be great.

For three years Matt Leinart has learned what it takes to be a great NFL QB simply by watching the man in the gold jacket. He thought he was working hard. He thought he knew how to prepare. He prepared just like he did to play Cal, ASU or Notre Dame. Now he knows so much more than before.

The cruel world stepped in and showed him the door once. I think he's about ready to kick it open again.

Listen to the entire Matt Leinart interview with Doug & Wolf.

I'm different than most GM's in the NBA. Well, the number one difference is I'm not an NBA GM, but I should say "if" I was an NBA GM I would be different in the way that I rate a top 10 pick. The world is so big that if I'm drafting you as one of the top 10 players in the world, I expect results from you within the first month of your career. I completely understand you're going to make mistakes while you learn. I accept I might only get a few minutes out of you per game in the beginning. However, why draft a project that's so behind they can't crack a top 9 spot in the rotation with a top 10 pick? If they need that much work and you still like the player, trade down. A top 10 draft pick that doesn't play early in their career is not a good value pick.

I love UCONN's Stanley Robinson as a Sun, but my feelings towards him are completely based on one word: value.

You can find mock drafts that have Robinson as a top 10 pick. I think that's too high. My desire to see Robinson as a Sun doesn't start until the lottery picks end. Robinson is going to have a long career in the NBA because he's athletic enough to get by and contribute early, yet has a passion for the game to improve what he brings to the table for longevity sake.

Robinson is a "tweener." The famous word is usually a derogatory description. I see so much growth in Robinson's future, I say that as a compliment. He's amazingly athletic with a great knack for rebounds. He's not a monster on the boards like Cousins, who will rip your head off for a rebound. Robinson is more sly. His athleticism and understanding of rebound angles puts him in perfect position. His athleticism, energy and rebounding is enough to make him a contributor. I just don't think he's going to be ready fast enough to give me what I want with a top 10 pick.

I still say tweener as a compliment, though, because I believe he's going to develop into a wonderful compliment player and have a long career. When I see him play with the passion he shows it tells me he loves the game, so I know he'll work at it. When I see his athleticism I know he's got the tools to improve. His body tells me there's plenty of room for a good strength program. He's got the tools to go from contributor as a young player to major piece in the starting 5 later in his career.

He will improve his jumper and extend his range to the NBA three point line. Right now he falls into the category of more athletic than your average 4. The problem is you can't completely say his strength would dominate a 3. He's a one-way tweener but Robinson will develop into a great niche. He simply does whatever it takes to win. His game will grow as a team asks more of him in order for his team to win.

In my praise to him, I realize I didn't sound very complimentary. I want Robinson as a Sun- I just don't want to build your hopes up. He does so many things good enough that I know he'll add to any organization. I project him to develop into that guy every championship team has. I think "glue" guys are very under-valued in the NBA Draft, but that under-evaluation begins after the lottery.

The number one weakness of Stanley Robinson is only time. He's not going to come in and blow your doors off. I think he'll have some poor workouts and drop in the mock drafts. Don't let it affect what you see on game film. Stanley Robinson's number one attribute is the totality of his game. This will not come through in drills. So often a work-out highlights the individual talent but not the individual's desire to win a game. He'll work hard in his work-outs but he won't stand out in 3-on-3. No one's going to drool over his 1-on-1 moves. He's not that great as an individual basketball player. His game will jump light years each off-season. He will improve more from June-October than he will from November-April. Take what you get from him early in his career and stick with him.

This isn't like trying to grow a garden in the desert. It takes a while to grow a garden so be patient but Robinson is top soil and not Sonoran desert sand.

Next time you watch a UConn basketball game, watch Robinson. After the game, e-mail me doug@ktar.com and tell me what you think.

The NBA draft is only 18 weeks away and the Suns need my help.

Every week leading up to the draft I will explain who I'd like to see the Suns get in the 2010 draft on June 24.

Before we start, let's review last year. As many of you know, I was all about DeJuan Blair. I thought one of the biggest weaknesses of the Suns was a lack of physical toughness and a relentless desire to run someone through a wall to be successful. DeJuan Blair was and still is that person. DeJuan Blair, as a second round pick, is embarrassing the league every time he steps on the floor with his dominance of the glass. He's not the NBA Rookie of the Year this year but he's in the conversation (I would take Tyreke Evans of Sacramento for that honor right now). This year, there is no one that I think is as clear cut the answer for all that ails the Suns like Blair was.

Every week I'll highlight the a few college basketball players that I think epitomizes what the Suns need by the way they played the week before. Some of these players the Suns will have to trade up to get since the Suns gave up their 1st round pick to OKC so Robert Sarver could save money on the luxury tax. This is not a blog ranking the best players in the 2010 draft or college basketball overall. It's the players I want to see play for the Suns and my belief the individual fills a specific need.

Let's get one thing straight from the beginning, I know there are holes. DeMarcus Cousins has a lot to work on and his past work ethic has been questioned. I'm not worried about that because he has taken very well to coaching at the college level. Say what you want about the trail of sanctions left by John Calipari, the guy gets in the face of kids. Cousins has responded. I put DeMarcus Cousins second on my Suns Draft wish list.

Cousins had four rebounds in his first game and he's never had fewer than five since. In the last seven games, he's had a double-double in each one. He never has a problem finding energy. If there's an energy problem it's understanding the difference between intensity and ignorance.

I consider the Suns lack of toughness to be a major problem. Cousins will never be accused of being afraid of a challenge. He brings an unquenchable fire to rebounding that the Suns only have in Dudley and Amundson. However, Cousins is a far superior athlete to those current Suns. UK runs very few plays for him. He scores his points off of the offensive glass and exploiting mis-matches, which is both positive and negative.

When you have a player who earns his offense, it's a perfect match with any team chemistry wise. Cousins can come right in to any organization and fit immediately because he won't demand any touches.

The negative is the obvious. If he had a great offensive game, Calipari would be finding ways to get him the ball. With all due respect to Robin Lopez, when you draft someone in the first round, you'd like to get more offense from the pick than "garbage points" (which is a joke of a term because you work harder physically to get garbage points than any other).

Granted he's 19, but he's showing no signs of figuring out how to play in foul trouble. He can get out of control in his attempts to own the glass. I'd rather have someone I have to pull back and keep under control than someone I need to motivate if I'm a coach, but it doesn't make sense to build up someone who's going to play limited minutes because of foul trouble. Cousins also thinks every elbow is a challenge to his manhood, family history, hometown, home-room teacher, and Adolf Rupp. He doesn't realize he's got a "hot-head" reputation now. With that reputation comes bating. Although he's tough in a lot of areas, this is a lack of mental toughness. I'm willing to gamble that he will get it.

The best for DeMarcus Cousins would be to stay in school. He could increase his basketball IQ and learn when to be aggressive and when to let the action come to him. Since I'm using this blog to advise the Suns and not acting as Cousins' agent, I want the Suns to gamble on him anyway. Cousins brings the exact intensity the Suns need in the paint.

Next time you watch a Kentucky basketball game, watch Cousins. After the game, e-mail me doug@ktar.com and tell me what you think.

Go Suns!

The NBA draft is only 20 weeks away and the Suns need my help.

Every week leading up to the draft I will explain who I'd like to see the Suns get in the 2010 draft on June 24.

Before we start, let's review last year. As many of you know, I was all about DeJuan Blair. I thought one of the biggest weaknesses of the Suns was a lack of physical toughness and a relentless desire to run someone through a wall to be successful. DeJuan Blair was and still is that person. DeJuan Blair, as a second round pick, is embarrassing the league every time he steps on the floor with his dominance of the glass. He's not the NBA Rookie of the Year this year but he's in the conversation (I would take Tyreke Evans of Sacramento for that honor right now). This year, there is no one that I think is as clear cut the answer for all that ails the Suns like Blair was.

Every week I'll highlight the a few college basketball players that I think epitomizes what the Suns need by the way they played the week before. Some of these players the Suns will have to trade up to get since the Suns gave up their 1st round pick to OKC so Robert Sarver could save money on the luxury tax. This is not a blog ranking the best players in the 2010 draft or college basketball overall. It's the players I want to see play for the Suns and my belief the individual fills a specific need.

My favorite player right now doesn't fit the mold of a "Doug Franz kind of guy." I like the DeJuan Blair's of the world because of their intensity. I want to see your desire to win by the way you play. Blair doesn't care how dirty he gets as long as the job gets done.

My favorite player right now for the Suns to draft is Greg Monroe of Georgetown. Monroe is a much smoother athlete than Blair. His athleticism makes the game seem easy to him so he doesn't appear to be as dirty (I don't mean that in the Conrad Dobler sense but in the "get down and dirty" sense).

Every time I watch him, he gets rebounds more by intelligence and athleticism than brute force. Although he wouldn't add to the Suns "toughness quotient" as much as I'd like, he's a good rebounder. He can score almost anywhere on the court. He's 6-11 but runs the floor like a 3. He passes better than most point guards but I'd never have him bring the ball up the floor. He's light years ahead in basketball intellect than most college sophomores. He won't be a pro three-point shooter but he's got a solid jumper up to 18 feet and can stretch it a little. He's not an abomination at the free throw line but I can't explain why he shot better as a freshman from the stripe than he does now.

His defense is excellent at the college level. Blocked shots with his feet and his head without needing to make wild swats at the ball. This is key in the NBA due to the penchant for NBA refs to call every foul in the book on rookies. I don't know this first hand but I can see that he accepts the other teams' offensive concepts, meaning he figures out what the opponent wants to do and counters that. His anticipation skills are excellent but I assume this is backed up by coaching and individual film study of the opponent.

The negatives of Monroe are few but are still major issues. Monroe must get stronger. Monroe and I weigh the same and he has 10 inches on me. Granted, that's an indictment of both of us but he's the one making his living with body (I'm already married so I don't have to market the body). Every flaw might be solved taking care of his power.

Monroe needs to be able to move people out of position and declare his own. In the NBA, there's a much higher ratio of players with his athleticism and intelligence so he'll need to use his improved strength to get some of the rebounds he's used to getting in college.

Monroe is such a good shot blocker he'll get some blocks by leaving his man alone to provide help. Occasionally he'll leave too early. In the NBA, his man would get a few more dunks as Monroe adjusts to staying home a little longer before he gets sucked into a big man with his passing skills who can dish off to Monroe's original responsibility.

Next time you watch a Georgetown basketball game, watch Monroe (he's number #10). After the game, e-mail me doug@ktar.com and tell me what you think.

Go Suns!

I know out of everything he's done on the field, memory's belong on the field. However, for me the man Kurt Warner stands out much more than the quarterback.

My greatest memory of Kurt Warner was the way he answered a question of mine while in Flagstaff.

I set-up a question by bringing up the way the Rams dumped him, the limited chance he really got while in New York, and how quickly Denny Green bailed on him.

So I asked, "Why aren't you a jerk like so many other people would be after being treated like this?"

"Because I know the type of person I want to be."

He continued to talk about the blessings he's received playing the game of football. Even though there has been times he's been upset, he thought it would be hypocritical of him to allow the negatives to change him since everything in his life has been so overwhelmingly positive.

There are very few adults (other than first responders and military members) who are role models to other adults. My favorite Kurt Warner memory is simply every time I've had the chance to talk to Kurt Warner. He just has that affect on you.

The end of the career of Kurt Warner does not mean the Matt Leinart era is beginning. If there's anything we've learned about the Arizona Cardinals under Ken Whisenhunt, he makes everyone earn their job. There is absolutely nothing wrong with immediately looking ahead to what Matt Leinart can do. The Cardinals staff did it well before Warner's announcement today.

I'll let everyone else talk about the future, however, I'd rather talk about Kurt Warner.

I know you know the story but why do so many of us forget it so easily? When's the last time you walked through Fry's and tried to find an NFL quarterback?

Too often fans and media get upset at athletes who fail us morally. It's a joke because infidelity, drug use and selfishness happen everywhere in society. When an athlete is involved in something immoral, every athlete gets trampled. Kurt Warner can go through life avoiding all the temptations that money brings, stay loyal to his wife and religion, and his actions define who he is.

Kurt Warner is going into the Hall of Fame. Only in America can you go from failed QB, to grocery stock boy, to minor league QB, to NFL back-up, to SB champion and MVP, to Super Bowl loser, to fired, to starting QB in NY, to back-up in NY, to back-up in PHX, to QB of the hurry up offense against the Ravens, to starting QB because of injury to the Heisman Trophy winner, to Super Bowl loser, to one of the greatest postseason performances in the history of the NFL, to retired, to Canton, OH.

Kurt Warner is not only a role model to your kids, he's a role model to every American. He came in humble and left humble while achieving greatness in the middle. We should all reflect with frustration at the things we didn't accomplish and could have while immediately realizing we are in the country that gives us the chance to do it.

Thank you Kurt.

Obviously definitions will vary but I'll give you three words: success, failure, greatness.

Failure is completely falling below expectations.

Success is meeting expectations.

Greatness is exceeding expectations.

Now that we've had a couple of days to get over the loss, let's say it: The 2009 Arizona Cardinals were a successful team. Too many people are attacking the Cards for giving up 90 points in two games. I'm with you that it's deplorable. Yes, some changes need to be made on the defensive side of the football—Bill Davis is not one of those changes—to improve this team.

I think Cardinals fans should be upset at the way the team lost to the Saints. I think it's disrespectful to everything accomplished last year to act like the Cardinals were a failure this year. The loss to the Saints doesn't even fall in the "let down" category.

When you come so close to winning a Super Bowl, I understand why anyone would think the next progression is winning it but that's unfair. Don't take away from the 2008 magic by forcing it on this team.

If the Cardinals would have lost to the Falcons in their first post-season game last year and then beat Green Bay in their first post-season game this year, there would have been tangible progress. Progress says that the season's a success. I said while in Flagstaff that my expectations of this team were to win a home playoff game. They were successful at meeting that expectation. If you thought this was a great football team, you're in disbelief from the Cardinals lost. If you thought the Cards were a successful and good team but not elite, you were disappointed in the loss. I think you should have been in the latter category before and after the Saints game.

The Cardinals are one of only two teams to win more games than they did the previous year two consecutive years. Out of 32 teams only two won more games in '08 than they did in '07 and then raised their win total again this year. The Cards won 8, then 9, and now 10 games. That's the definition of success.

If the Cardinals had a long history of making the playoffs and losing, I can understand fan frustration with this year's outcome. This was the first year since the mid-70's that the Cardinals franchise had back-to-back seasons with a home playoff game. I get the feeling there's too much forgetfulness with people upset with the Cardinals performance instead of disappointment in the outcome of a still uncompleted journey.

What a thrill it was to sit in the press box Sunday afternoon at University of Phoenix Stadium!

I picked the game right but I don't take much credit in being right. I thought the Cardinals would control the whole game and the Packers might score a late TD but still lose by 14-17 points.

It's OK to be up in arms about the defense considering what happened. The catch is to be upset and greatful at the same time. Zero home playoff wins before Ken Whisenhunt. Three home playoff wins in three years with him.

The defense has to tackle better. Michael Adams and Bryant McFadden must improve their performance dramatically in six days. Larry Fitzgerald can't fumble and call arbitrary time outs. These are absolute facts. However, there's only two questions that matter in the post-season: 1) Do you have another game? 2) If number one is no, are you world champions?

The most important stat of Sunday's game isn't Rodgers' passing yards or even Warner's QB rating. It's this one: 51-46.

The greatest thing for me Sunday was watching Early Doucet. It seems like two years ago but in July and August of 2009 I was living in an RV in Flagstaff. I was kneeling on the sideline and in front of me lied Early Doucet. He was fighting to make the 2009 Cardinals roster. He went over the middle and completely sold out to make an incredible catch. He came down on his shoulder. I heard two noises: ooh's and aah's from fans and players...moans and grunts of pain from Doucet.

I was an instant Doucet fan and wrote about it at the time.

One simple Flagstaff pattern mattered so much to Doucet that he went airborn over the middle in a morning training camp practice. You truly practice how you play. Maybe that play convinced Ken Whisenhunt the Cardinals are a better team with Early Doucet pushing the starting wide receivers. Maybe that decision to keep him won Ken Whisenhunt his fourth playoff game.

Even better would be if it wins him his fifth.

The final BCS standings are out. If the Doug Franz College Football Playoff were in use there would be no complaining as the top 16 teams in the final BCS standings would be put into a playoff and the rest would be played on the field.

In case you don't know from the things I've said on air, I want a playoff in college football. I don't have a problem with the BCS formula; I just don't want it used to narrow the field from 120 to 2.

I have yet to hear any "pro current system" argument that I can't destroy on logical grounds. Of course there's one argument I can't beat and that is anyone saying they like the current system and they don't want it changed. Other than that, I'm still waiting for someone to convince me to give up my dream for a college football playoff.

Below are the match ups of the semifinals after Round 1 and Round 2 decided by you on who won all the games.

1) Alabama vs. 4) TCU - Vote
2) Texas vs. 6) Boise State - Vote

Here's the ranking of the conferences after the final BCS standings and the average BCS rank of the teams in the conference.

1) SEC 36.25
2) Pac-10 39.4
3) Big East 41.38
4) ACC 49.08
5) Big 12 49.83
6) Big 10 50.09
7) MWC 61.44
8) WAC 71.56
9) C-USA 77.42
10) MAC 88.46
11) Sun Belt 90.22

Here's the process for coming up with the teams.

1) Rank all D-1 (FBS) teams 1-120 (from Alabama-Western Kentucky)

2) Rank all the conferences 1-11 based on the average BCS rank of the teams in the conference.

3) Reward the first place team in the top 8 conferences with an automatic bid.

4) Independents—this means you Notre Dame—get no special treatment. If you're not in a conference, earn a wild card bid or join a conference.

5) Select eight wild-card teams based on BCS rank excluding those already selected with an automatic bid.

6) Rank the 16 teams based on BCS rank with no regard to status as an automatic qualifier or wild-card entry.

7) First two rounds are at the home of the better seed.

8) Final Four and Championship game are played at a rotation among Fiesta, Cotton, Sugar, Rose.

I'm aware that there are three games at neutral sites with four bowl game hosts. This is leverage in case the Rose wants to stick to tradition. If the Rose does want to stay involved, there would be a new bowl game created for the two teams that just missed out on the playoff. This would be Pittsburgh vs. Oregon St.

Feel free to ask me any questions or give me your opinions: doug@ktar.com

In case you don't know from the things I've said on air, I want a playoff in college football. I don't have a problem with the BCS formula; I just don't want it used to narrow the field from 120 to 2.

I have yet to hear any "pro current system" argument that I can't destroy on logical grounds. Of course there's one argument I can't beat and that is anyone saying they like the current system and they don't want it changed. Other than that, I'm still waiting for someone to convince me to give up my dream for a college football playoff.

Below are the match ups of the second round after YOU decided who won all the first round games last week.

9) Georgia Tech @ 1) Alabama - Vote
7) Oregon @ 2) Texas - Vote
6) Boise St. @ 3) Cincinnati - Vote
12) LSU @ 4) TCU - Vote

Here's the ranking of the conferences after the final BCS standings and the average BCS rank of the teams in the conference.

1) SEC 36.25
2) Pac-10 39.4
3) Big East 41.38
4) ACC 49.08
5) Big 12 49.83
6) Big 10 50.09
7) MWC 61.44
8) WAC 71.56
9) C-USA 77.42
10) MAC 88.46
11) Sun Belt 90.22

Here's the process for coming up with the teams.

1) Rank all D-1 (FBS) teams 1-120 (from Alabama-Western Kentucky)

2) Rank all the conferences 1-11 based on the average BCS rank of the teams in the conference.

3) Reward the first place team in the top 8 conferences with an automatic bid.

4) Independents—this means you Notre Dame—get no special treatment. If you're not in a conference, earn a wild card bid or join a conference.

5) Select eight wild-card teams based on BCS rank excluding those already selected with an automatic bid.

6) Rank the 16 teams based on BCS rank with no regard to status as an automatic qualifier or wild-card entry.

7) First two rounds are at the home of the better seed.

8) Final Four and Championship game are played at a rotation among Fiesta, Cotton, Sugar, Rose.

I'm aware that there are three games at neutral sites with four bowl game hosts. This is leverage in case the Rose wants to stick to tradition. If the Rose does want to stay involved, there would be a new bowl game created for the two teams that just missed out on the playoff. This would be Pittsburgh vs. Oregon St.

Feel free to ask me any questions or give me your opinions: doug@ktar.com