Derby Preview: Lookin At Lucky Looks for Derby Roses

(Courtesy of Benoit Photo)

The 136th edition of the Kentucky Derby will commence this Saturday and Lookin At Lucky got rather unlucky by drawing the rail for the race for the roses. Another potential problem for the Derby favorite might be the recent history of the race. Since 2000, only four horses who were considered favorites in the Derby have actually won the event and two of those went on to win the Preakness as well (Smarty Jones 2004 and Big Brown 2008).

But perhaps this year will be different. Lookin At Lucky is a 3-1 favorite and with early favorite Eskendereya out with a leg injury, the chances only get better for the 3-year-old colt.

Other contenders for this weekend include Sidney's Candy who draws 5-1 odds and Devil May Care who is looking at 10-1 odds.

(Drew Hallowell/Getty)
Will Desormeaux win his fourth Kentucky Derby?

Overall the Derby favorite has won the race for the roses 52 times and interestingly the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, was not the Derby favorite.

Mearablog Money Pick: Something about this Derby tells me none of the top three have a good chance. The top two contenders drew rails and Devil May Care just doesn't seem a real strong third choice. So who am I picking? Paddy O'Prado. That's right, 20-1 odd Paddy O'Prado. Now you may be thinking, "Paul you are crazy." But I say no one is crazy who bets on Kent Desormeaux. Don't forget, Desormeaux is coming off his first Belmont win when he rode Summer Bird to victory and while Paddy O'Prado is not quite the horse Summer Bird is, I think this time is as good as any for Desormeaux to win the Derby, something he has already done three times.

So whether you have big money on the line this weekend or you are just a casual observer looking to watch "The most exciting two minutes in sports," make sure you tune into what should be a wide open race and one that will not lack excitement.

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NFL Draft 2010 First Round Mock

With the draft under a week away and teams getting ready to get a makeover, I have prepared my annual first round mock draft. This is not your average mock draft this is a MEARABLOG mock draft. Take note of your team, this is the official, GM approved, inside scoop, first round mock so check it out!

1. St. Louis Rams: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

Oklahoma QB, Sam Bradford
(Tim Heitman/US Presswire)

This is a no-brainer. The Rams need a quarterback, Bradford is the best QB in the draft. The Rams will not choose any other player besides Bradford. However, they may trade down if they don't feel he is their guy.

2. Detroit Lions: Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska
This guy is the best player in the draft this year. One of the most versatile DTs coming out of college in a long time. This guy is a gamer and Detroit needs a DT so...

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma
A level below Suh but still a very good quality DT. We will see if McCoy will be the start of a new great defense for Tampa Bay like Warren Sapp was years ago.

4. Washington Redskins: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma St.
This pick is a little less of a consensus for the Redskins. I think Okung is a good pick because with newly acquired QB Donovan McNabb, Okung would be a great help to protect McNabb or any QB on Washington for years to come.

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma
Three picks in the first 5 of the NFL Draft, Oklahoma is unloading a lot of very talented players like Williams. The Chiefs need a lot of players, why not start at tackle, a position rich with talent in this year's draft.

6. Seattle Seahawks: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee
I don't know why many other draft boards have Berry going to the Seahawks. He is, in my mind, the second best player in this draft, definitely the best at this point. The Seahawks need a safety. Why not choose Berry? He is also one of the safest picks any team could make in this year's draft.

7. Cleveland Browns: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa
Now if this were the Cleveland Browns of old I would say they would have picked Notre Dame QB, Jimmy Clausen, with this pick. Clausen would have been thrown to the wolves with no supporting cast and then booed out of Cleveland, keeping them terrible for another 100 years but this is different. Mike Holmgren is the new man in charge and he knows better than anyone that protection for your QB is key. I can see Cleveland making this pick and then getting a guy like Colt McCoy in the second round.

8. Oakland Raiders: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland
The Raiders will once again waste a first round pick on an athletic freak. Campbell is very physically gifted but is thought to need major coaching to develop his skills and could really be the definition of an UNsafe pick with the 8th overall. But what does Al Davis care? See: Campbell's former teammate Darrius Heyward-Bey.

9. Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame
Clausen is thought by many to be the second best QB in this draft. Buffalo needs a quarterback but will they pull the trigger here? If not, Clausen could make a Brady Quinn type slide through the first round.

Florida CB, Joe Haden (Getty Images)

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Joe Haden, CB, Florida
This guy is a great football player. Probably the best overall corner in this draft. Jacksonville loves to have a tough and fast defense and Haden fits that role perfectly.

11. Denver Broncos: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma St
This is almost a forgone conclusion for the Broncos. After trading Brandon Marshall to Miami, Denver will need another #1 receiver and Bryant fits the bill very well. Actually Bryant reminds me of Marshall a lot. He is a big target with good speed and great hands.

12. Miami Dolphins: Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
Williams is a good fit here. While Williams is not the best player available for the D-line at this point, he is their biggest need on defense.

13. San Francisco 49ers: Earl Thomas, CB, Texas
The 49ers have a ton of picks in the first and second rounds. Thomas is a good player and can really help the 49ers defense out a lot.

14. Seattle Seahawks: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
Please Seattle pick Spiller! Don't be fooled by the Clausen hype! Spiller is a perfect fit for Seattle. The Seahawks need another RB and while a bigger one would probably be best for the Seahawks, Spiller is the best RB in the draft, TAKE HIM!

15. New York Giants: Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech
This kid is the best player at this pick in the draft and if he falls to the Giants at pick 15, this is an easy pick for New York.

16. Tennessee Titans: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
Yes the Titans have Kevin Mawae at center but he is getting up there in age and Pouncey can play guard for Tennessee until Mawae retires.

17. San Francisco 49ers: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida
The DE from South Florida is the best player available and would be a great addition to a 49ers team that needs help on defense especially up front.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers: Rolando McClain, MLB, Alabama
Probably the best LB in the draft, McClain produced well in college and is a great football player. However, with a 4.71 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, McClain fell down many people's draft boards. If he can play at a high level, like he did in college, he is a steal for Pittsburgh at this pick.

Michigan DE, Brandon Graham
(Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

19. Atlanta Falcons: Brandon Graham, DE, Michigan
Graham is a good defensive-end, however he really needs to improve his physical attributes in terms of speed and quickness. Atlanta really needs a defensive end. Graham can be a great pick for them here.

20. Houston Texans: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers
Davis was once considered one of the top 3 OTs in this draft but has fallen down many draft boards. Houston could use an OT to sure up that offensive line and Davis is a perfect fit.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: Taylor Mays, S, USC
Cincinnati loves USC guys and Mays is a USC guy. But looking at this with some rationality they do need a safety. Mays will have to improve his coverage skills, however, if he wants to be an effective safety at the next level.

22. New England Patriots: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma
This draft is loaded with great TEs and Gresham leads the list. With Chris Baker gone, the Pats need to replace him and what better way then taking the best TE in the draft.

23. Green Bay Packers: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State
The Packers really need help defending the pass and Wilson can help. Against Arizona, the Packers got torn apart and there is no excuse for Green Bay to at least try to improve it with the draft.

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Charles Brown, OT, USC
With Kevin Kolb at QB, the Eagles need protection for this first time starter. Brown is a safe pick to keep Kolb safe for Philadelphia at 24.

25. Baltimore Ravens: Jared Odrick, DE, Penn State
Odrick is a perfect fit for Baltimore here who just needs a little more help on the defensive line. Odrick can play either DE or DT so no matter what this versatile defensive lineman will fit into Baltimore's system.

Sean Witherspoon, MLB Missouri
(Brad Schloss/Icon SMI)

26. Arizona Cardinals: Sean Weatherspoon, MLB, Missouri
Weatherspoon is just a huge safety that would work well in a 3-4 scheme as a middle linebacker. With the loss of Karlos Dansby, Weatherspoon fits very well here for Arizona.

27. Dallas Cowboys: Mike Iupati, G, Idaho
The Cowboys need a guard. Iupati is a great physical specimen but needs work to develop not only his skills in pass coverage but he needs to adjust to a much higher level of play; Something he did not see at Idaho.

28. San Diego Chargers: Ryan Mathews, RB, Fresno State
Mathews is a PERFECT fit for San Diego, not only is Mathews a great physical back, but the Chargers REALLY need a RB to replace LT and I don't see Darren Sproles having any success in the backfield alone.

29. New York Jets: Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina
The Jets can afford to take a risk here after a great offseason. They need some help in the middle of the defensive line and if he can develop, Joseph will end up being a great pick here.

30. Minnesota Vikings: Brian Price, DT, UCLA
Price is a very good player and Minnesota knows how effective a defense can be with quality defensive tackles. Pat Williams is getting old and Minnesota could really use a replacement for him. Plus Price could also learn from the best.

31. Indianapolis Colts: Sergio Kindle, DE, Texas
Kindle can also play outside linebacker; Either he can be a great opposite to Dwight Freeney, or fill a need at OLB. This is a win-win situation for the Colts if they choose Kindle.

32. New Orleans Saints: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida
The Saints need someone opposite Will Smith at defensive end that can stop the run and get a good pass rush on the QB. Dunlap can do both and play both.

Other Possibilities that could be first round picks:
1. Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers
2. Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana
3. Jerry Hughes, DE, TCU
4. Jahvid Best, RB, California
5. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
6. Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois
7. Everson Griffen, DE, USC
8. Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame
9. Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
10. Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama

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NBA Playoff Predictions You Can Take to the Bank: Round 1

Bracket Picture Courtesy of NBA.com

It all comes down to this. The NBA Playoffs. While it isn't nearly as entertaining as March Madness, it is still important. The theme to this year's playoffs is unanswered questions. Will the Cavs finally win an NBA title and will LeBron win a championship (not that it is important, haha). Will Kevin Durant and the Thunder make a good showing in their first appearance in the playoffs, what about Charlotte? Will Kobe and the Lakers repeat as NBA Champions? The Mearablog has the answers to the questions. Here are the official Mearablog Money Picks for the first round of the NBA Playoffs:

Eastern Conference

1 Cleveland vs. 8 Chicago

This is an easy pick for a lot of people. Cleveland should win this series however, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, Cleveland is going to have to incorporate Shaq back into the lineup successfully and doing that against a bloodthirsty Chicago Bulls team is going to be tough. Even though the Cavs have played well without Shaq this season, incorporating him back into the lineup will be necessary if the Cavs want to win an NBA title this season. They will need someone big to go up against Dwight Howard, Al Horford, and/or Kevin Garnett if and when they face them.

Second, Cleveland is limping into the playoffs. While it is a controlled limping, they haven't played a game as a full team for a while. Chicago defeated Cleveland a week ago and they feel like they have a legitimate shot of winning this series. Message to Cleveland: Don't take Chicago lightly or they will make you sweat a lot.

Money Pick: Cleveland in 5: The Cavs are just too much to handle for Chicago. LeBron and company should be able to score well but must keep up the defense if they want to look good going into the second round.

2 Orlando vs. 7 Charlotte
This is THE premier example of a trap game. Charlotte has some ball players and if the shots don't fall for the Magic, you could see an upset here. Gerald Wallace is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and what better way to put his name on the map then upsetting the defending Eastern Conference Champs. Look for the Magic to try to pound it down inside and take advantage of Dwight Howard's size and strength.

For Charlotte, the key to victory will be the role players. The Bobcats lack leadership especially at the PG position. Players like Steven Jackson, Nazr Mohammed, and Tyrus Thomas are going to have to step up if Charlotte wants to pull off the upset.

Money Pick: Orlando in 7: Orlando gets shocked early when Charlotte wins game 1 however the Magic pull off the last 3 after they go 1-3 in the first 4 of the series.

3 Atlanta vs. 6 Milwaukee
This series will be more definitive for me to choose. While Milwaukee has had a great season and Scott Skiles has done a phenomenal coaching job, I believe Atlanta is the most overlooked team in the NBA this season and you will see why. The team has few weaknesses. They have a strong inside game with All-Star Center Al Horford; Great guard play with an experienced PG in Mike Bibby and an All-Star SG in Joe Johnson; Great athleticism in forwards Maurice Evans and Josh Smith and perhaps the best sixth-man in the NBA in Jamal Crawford.

The Bucks have a great backcourt but lack big guys up front to challenge Smith and Horford. Another thing working against Milwaukee is the absence of Andrew Bogut due to his season ending knee injury.

Money Pick: Atlanta in 5: Milwaukee gets one at home but the front-court size is ultimately what puts away the weary Bucks.

4 Boston vs. 5 Miami
Wow what a series this will be, perhaps the best. Miami is coming into the playoffs red hot. The Celtics, well, they are coming like they always do, old, limping, and looking for a fight. The Celtics can just straight up win this series quick if they take and use their talent well. Most noticeable to me, in this series, is the talent disparity. Miami has Dwayne Wade of course but besides him, there are not many players that can really threaten the Boston starters. Another problem for the Heat is that they lack considerable depth and Boston's bench will have an opportunity to give the starters plenty of rest.

If the Heat are able to catch the Celtics off-guard and really push the floor against them, they can make this series very interesting. Being hot coming into the playoffs also helps the Heat as their confidence is way up. Boston must take Miami seriously or this one could be a nail-bitter, SERIOUSLY!

Money Pick: Boston in 5: The Celtics will win this series because of their guard play. Rajon Rondo will be the key for them and his management of the team will put them over the top.

Western Conference

1 Los Angeles vs. 8 Oklahoma City
What a matchup this is. This is probably the most excited I have been about a 1 vs. 8 matchup in quite a long time. Los Angles comes into the playoffs reeling and the Thunder come in playing alright. This series presents the best player matchup of the first round, Durant vs. Bryant. And while everyone is so quick to give Durant all the credit (even though the NBA scoring leader deserves all the credit he can get) the Thunder have a nice little team that has no doubtfully put Durant and the themselves into the Playoffs. Players like Russell Westbrook and James Harden have really stepped up their play from last season and have taken the NBA's worst team in 2008/09 to the playoffs in 2010.

For the Lakers, the key will be can they turn around the poor play of late and will they be able to guard Kevin Durant. As the matchup stands now, it looks like Durant will be guarded by Lamar Odom or Pau Gasol which scares me if I am a Laker fan. If the Lakers can keep Durant in check and that is a big if, they can win this thing easily. If not, flashes of the '07 Golden State Warriors will be seen towards the end of it all and you might see the Thunder pull it off.

Money Pick: Los Angeles in 7: Yeah I said it, 7! I am not a Laker hater, I really am not. Actually I think the Lakers win in 5 against the Spurs or Trail Blazers, but the Thunder, I believe, present too many threats to the Lakers to be just a sweep. However, Kobe and company will be too much for the Thunder to handle but this one should be a good one.

2 Dallas vs. 7 San Antonio
Wow I am calling it now. This will be the most boring matchup of the first round. Dallas in my mind is a lousy 2-seed while San Antonio is a lousy 7-seed. The key for both teams will be to keep the fans awake. Dallas is a good team but really crept into that 2-seed and it will be interesting to see if they can live up to that reputation.

For San Antonio, they are too old, they aren't good anymore and please stop giving this team hype! They are no good, they are not a factor like many said they would be (and you know who you are) and if they want to pull out two wins in this series, they will need to take their playoff experience and put it to good use.

Money Pick: Dallas in 6: Yes the Spurs get two out of this one, but Dallas is too good and will move onto the second round.

3 Phoenix vs. 6 Portland
It seems like no one is talking about this matchup. Phoenix is coming into the playoffs playing very well and Portland is coming in with their best player hurt. For Phoenix they are going to have to play defense just a little bit. They have to play enough to stop the Blazers offense from scoring as many points as they do. Also the Suns' Amare Stoudemire comes into the playoffs playing as well as anyone in the NBA currently.

For Portland, if Brandon Roy can play in this series, we could have a good one on our hands. The key for the Blazers with or without Roy will be their defense. They will have to shut down the Suns' high powered offense if they want to stand any chance of winning this series.

Money Pick: Phoenix in 6 or 7: Without Roy 6, with Roy 7, it is as simple as that.

4 Denver vs. 5 Utah
This is probably the most intriguing matchup of the first round in the West. Denver is probably the second most talented team in the West but a second-half slide has put the Nuggets all the way down to the 4th seed. Utah will provide problems for the Nuggets inside with Boozer, AK-47, and Millsap. The key for the Nuggets will be can they score consistently like they are capable of doing.

Another aspect that makes this series intriguing has been really under played and that is the point guard matchup. Perhaps the best one of the first round, the two fine PGs in Williams and Billups will be key to their teams chances of winning the series and which ever one can have the better series, can put their team over the top and win it.

Money Pick: Utah in 6: This one could go seven but Utah has improved their record in away games and are money at home. Deron Williams is the better PG and Carlos Boozer is the better center. Carmelo Anthony will play a factor in Denver's success, but whether he scores or not isn't the issue. The issue for Denver will be Williams and Boozer and I think guys like Millsap and Kirilenko will provide the defense and guys like Korver and Okur will provide the offense and the series victory.

Even though we haven't even started the first round yet, I believe the Cleveland Cavaliers will come out of the Eastern Conference winners. For the West, the Los Angeles Lakers will win it even with the first round scare against the Thunder. NBA Champions? The Mearablog chooses... The Cleveland Cavaliers as NBA Champions. They will win the city's first championship since 1964.

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NBA Hardware: 2009/10 Edition

(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With the NBA season winding down, it is time to hand out some hardware to the most deserving candidates. Here are the Mearablog 2009/10 NBA awards:

Most Valuable Player: LeBron James (SF-CLE)

Duh I am not going to even waste my time writing something about this, oops I just did...

Rookie of the Year: Tyreke Evans (G-SAC)

A little closer of a race. Evans out does Curry due to the stats and the pure fact that he is just a better player right now.

(Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty Images)

Most Improved Player of the Year: George Hill (PG-SAS)

Really tough decision. The reason Hill takes home my award is due to the fact that this guy came from no where and is really playing well especially late in the season.

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford (G-ATL)

This is another easy one. Crawford has been lights out. And while 18 PPG and 3 APG is impressive for a sixth man, it has been his value to the team which has put the Hawks in a good position for the playoffs.

Coach of the Year: Scott Skiles (Head Coach-MIL)

Another really tough choice. While Scott Brooks is getting a lot of love, I think his team is better then Skiles' is. However there are a lot of deserving candidates for this award.

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard (C-ORL)

The man is a beast and will not ever stop being a beast. He has not changed from being a beast last year so I will put the same analysis I did last year when I said he should win the Defensive POY. "Dwight Howard (ORL)- Nuff Said."

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The Final Game: Butler v. Duke

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

This is it! The final. Butler vs. Duke. A great story vs. not a great story. Championship inexperience vs. been there too many times. This is a great matchup! I will however, refuse to call this game "David vs. Goliath." While they don't have that household name, Butler is a team who was ranked in the top 10 in the ESPN/USA Today Preseason Poll and played in a good mid-major conference. This story has been great with the team's proximity to the championship game and no one believing they would make it to this point.

For Duke, what else do we have to say. They are a good team with a very rich basketball tradition and a coach who has been there done that more times than Ohio State has been there and not done that. (Sorry that was a bit harsh but true). But this is college basketball and especially this season, with everyone's bracket gone to hell, I don't see why one more upset can't happen.

Keys to victory

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Butler
The Bulldogs are a solid team especially on the defensive end. They will need to give Duke a hard time on the perimeter because Duke can knock down perimeter shots. The good thing for Butler is, they can do that! Opponents have averaged under 60 points per game against the Bulldogs in the tournament and if they can guard the perimeter, it will make the Blue Devils have to go inside. To me Duke's toughness is overrated. They have the ability to get the ball inside but only after they are lighting it up from outside.

Another key for Butler is they have to get their stars to play well. Gordon Hayward played very well against Michigan State with 19 points and 9 rebounds but their other players are going to step up. With Matt Howard as a game-time decision, the other role players on Butler are going to have to play extremely well in order to pull out the win. Shelvin Mack has to move the ball around more and get players like Willie Veasley and Ronald Noren more involved. I guarantee Duke will have their eye on Hayward and Mack and will bring the pressure and double-teams to them. It will be up to the rest of Butler to take away some of the workload from those two.

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Duke
Duke's keys are pretty much the opposite of Butler's keys. Duke will have to shoot well from the perimeter in order to get down inside for Brian Zoubek to get point points in the paint. If Duke does not shoot well, Butler will start to clamp down under the basket and make Duke continue to shoot from outside. If Duke can do one they can do both.

Also for Duke, the Blue Devils must stay focused on the prize. No matter how much they might say it in the press conferences, I know they don't believe that Butler is the team they expected to see. But if Duke wants to win this game, they better believe that Butler wants this game more than they do.

In the end this game will be close. I believe if Duke wins, the game will be higher scoring and if Butler wins, the game will be low scoring.

The Money Pick
Close game, lots of excitement. All the indicators are pointing at the Dukies. Tradition, coaching, star-studded line-up every thing is in place for Duke to take the title. Butler however has fate on its side. It only seems fitting that a mid-major team returns home and pulls off the upset against the big, bad Blue Devils. Therefore I am calling the upset. Butler beats Duke 64-61 in a thriller. Whoever you are rooting for, enjoy the game, it should be a good one.

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