NBA Champion MVP
Los Angeles Lakers
It was a tough year for Kobe Bryant with multiple injuries during the season, but he just helped the LA Lakers overcome a 13-point third quarter deficit in Game 7 to beat the Boston Celtics, earning his fifth championship and second consecutive NBA Finals MVP award. Kobe Bryant also earns the MavTV award for Athlete of the Month.
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It's a time of transition as basketball and the World Cup (Congrats Spain!) come to an end. The starting lineups for the 81st All-Star Game has been announced and we're getting preseason polls on college football.
The National League starting lineup will be Hanley Ramirez, Martin Prado, Albert Pujois, Ryan Howard, David Wright, Ryan Braun, Andre Ethier, Corey Hart, Yadler Molina, and Ubaldo Jimenez. The American League lineup will be Ichiro Suzuki, Derek Jeter, Miguel Cabrera, Josh Hamilton, Vladimir Guerrero, Evan Longoria, Joe Mauer, Robinson Cano, Carl Crawford, and David Price. The All-Star managers are Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees and the National League All-Star manager is Charlie Manuel of the Philadelphia Phillies.
Shifting to fall football, Alabama is favored to repeat as national champion in four preseason college football polls from Phil Steele, Athlon's, Sporting News and Lindy's. Ohio State was the No. 2 pick in 3 of the 4 magazines, narrowly trailing the Crimson Tide and coming in at No. 2. It should be noted that none of the last four preseason compilations has correctly picked the eventual national champion. Last year, Florida was the preseason No. 1, but we all remember Tim Tebow crying like a little girl on the sidelines when that didn't happen.
Texas, which lost to Alabama in the national championship game this year, is still expected to give a top 10 performance this fall despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Colt McCoy to the NFL.
The AP still releases a preseason poll and regular weekly rankings, and could determine a number one team independent of the BCS.
Lindy's projects the top 10 preseason college football teams are: Alabama, Boise State, Ohio State, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, TCU, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Iowa. Phil Steele predicts the final pecking order will be: Oklahoma, Ohio State, Alabama, TCU, Nebraska, Boise State, Florida, USC, Miami, Fla., and Oregon. The Sporting News has Alabama at No. 1 followed by Ohio State, Boise State, Miami, Florida, TCU, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Texas, and Oklahoma. Athlon's has it as: Alabama, Ohio State, USC, Boise State, Oklahoma, Florida, Nebraska, Texas, Oregon, and Virginia Tech.
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