My teams in 2011:
- Spurs: Ran to the best record in the Western Conference, only to run into the Grizzlies (best 8th seed I can ever remember) and see another year in the Duncan era roll by without a title. In a brash, and in my opinion smart, move, the Spurs saw an opportunity to get the best SF in the draft and traded George Hill to the Pacers for the rights to Kawhi Leonard, Erazem Lorbek and Davis Bertans. The latter two will hopefully develop into useful future pieces, but the key was Kawhi. Finally, the season got underway yesterday and the Spurs laid the smackdown on the Grizz to move to 1-0 and make a statement that they are still legit in the West. GO SPURS GO!
- Cowboys: Drafted Tyron Smith (who at 21, is their best o-lineman...ugh) and DeMarco Murray, the only difference makers. They proceeded to enter the 2011 season and set a new record for amount of games causing me to lose my mind and then get sucked back in. This team now enters next Sunday's game with the Giants needing just a win to win the NFC East and get into the playoffs and a most likely first round rematch with the Lions. At this point, if you told me 100 different scores between Cowboys win 52-0 and Giants win 52-0, I would believe you every time. This team will find a way to make this game unbearable in some fashion.
- Tigers: This team used 2011 as both a foray into the playoffs and a stepping stone towards future successes. They are now the cream of the AL Central as the Twins and White Sox retool and the Indians and Royals continue to mature. Never have I been more excited for a Tigers team as I am at the end of 2011. With the bulk of the 2011 AL Central Champs and ALCS participants returning, this Tigers team looks to move forward with a better bullpen and same strong offense and rotation that carried them last year. I look forward to what 2012 brings for the Motor City Kitties.
- Red Wings: Another year, another playoff loss to the San Jose Sharks. It was tough, and made even more so by the retirement of Brian Rafalski (WYANDOTTE NATIVE!). But the greatest defenseman of our generation (if you dare say Satan Spawn, we will have problems) returned to the Wings for one more year, and just like that, title contenders once more. Jimmy Howard seems to have taken that next step towards being a franchise goalie, Pavel and Hank seem to have more help this season in the forms of Mule and Flip, and the 4th line is the strongest it's been post-lockout. If the rest of the blue line can strengthen and the Wings can figure out their road struggles, the Winged Wheel looks to be as good a Stanley Cup contender as any in the NHL.
- University of Michigan: What a year. The basketball team was a buzzer beater away from knocking Duke out of the NCAA tourney and look to be ahead of where they expected to be this year with the strong play of freshman point Trey Burke. I expect another first or second round loss in the NCAA tourney before the arrival of Tre Robinson, Nik Stauskas, and Mitch McGary turn Michigan into a legit contender. The hockey team lost in the National Championship game in excruciating fashion, then saw most of that team graduate. The result: a terrible first half of the season and a second Michigan team in three years threatening to miss the tournament. Finally, the football team started the year with the worst bowl performance I've ever seen, which led to the firing of RR and the hiring of Brady Hoke (and even better, Greg Mattison!). This season's team put 10 wins on the board, including wins over ND and OSU, and are playing Jan 3 in the Sugar Bowl against VT. With a top 5 recruiting class coming in, this team has a bright future moving forward.
- AC Milan: Last but certainly not least, the rossoneri lost in the first knockout round of the CL AGAIN, to an EPL squad AGAIN. Yet, that really wasn't anything too bad to deal with as Milan played their way to their first Scudetto since 2004, moving two league titles away from that second star. They've carried that strong play into the first half of this season, sitting atop the Serie A table at the holiday break. With a second half battle with Juve for the Scudetto looming, as well as another CL knockout first round matchup with an EPL squad on the horizon, the first half of 2012 promises to be full of great soccer. The rumor mill is also in full gear, with rumors of Tevez, Keita, and others heading to the San Siro to play in the red and black. Honestly, the future is bright with or without those names, as Nocerino, Thiago Silva, and my personal fave, KPB, look to carry our boys to another Scudetto and CL title! FORZA MILAN!
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