Quick Hits

A few quick thoughts:

Shaq to Cleveland:
- On first glance, I don't think Shaq's arrival changes much for the Cavs. Shaq had a good season last year, but you can't ignore that he's 37 years old. Shaq will provide a presence in the offense, but LeBron is a slasher. He is much better going toward the basket than he is as a shooter. There will be times where he could draw the defense and dish to Shaq, but I think there will be more instances where LeBron won't drive to the basket because Shaq is clogging the middle, and will take a less productive jump shot instead. Mo Williams and Delonte West will get open looks because smaller teams will double Shaq, but that won't matter in the long run because the Cavs got Shaq to be more competitive in the playoffs, and the biggest contenders in the Eastern Conference, Boston and Orlando, are big teams who won't need to double Shaq. (sorry, crazy run-on sentence)

US def. Spain:
- Obviously the Confed Cup isn't anywhere near the World Cup in prestige, but it's a good win. It will be something US Soccer can build on. The US team needs to play Brazil in the Final. They need to play Brazil and play them well. They don't need to win, but playing them close will cement the confidence gained by this victory over Spain.
- Sergio Ramos is still the coolest soccer player around:

Only the best would have his entire name on his jersey.

NBA Draft:
- It should be pretty interesting. It seems like Ricky Rubio is going to go top-5, which he should. The kid is dazzling. A few players I'm going to keep my eye on to see where they go are Pitt Forward DeJuan Blair, high-school-star-who-skipped-college-to-play-for-a-pro-team-in-Italy-instead Brandon Jennings, UNC Forward Tyler Hansbrough, and Davidson Guard Stephen Curry.

- If DeJuan Blair falls below the 15th pick, it's going to be a steal for whoever gets him. He's a little short, but he's a beefman, straight up.

- Brandon Jennings could go anywhere in the first round. I haven't seen him play, but playing in Italy, learning the european style of game certainly couldn't have hurt the future point guard. I want him to do well so that more high school players will consider playing professionally abroad in lieu of college.

- I'm convinced Utah will take Tyler Hansbrough with the 20th pick. Do a player and a team fit each other better than Hansbrough and the Utah Jazz? I think not. I may cry if Hansbrough gets passed on by the Jazz.

- Stephen Curry is projected to go top-5. I think that's a reach. He's a great shooter, above average passer, and that's about it. A top-5 pick to a one-trick-pony? A short one-trick-pony, at that.

LSU def. Texas in the Collge World Series:
- It's interesting to see how college baseball is getting more popular, with more game coverage, and the draft being more publicized than ever before.

- I know how players can be filled with emotion and jump all over each other in the dogpile, but JEEZ that looks dangerous for the pitcher and catcher at the bottom. I'm honestly surprised nobody has gotten seriously injured at the bottom.