http://www.sports-central.org/ en-us 2012-05-16T13:30:51-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/16/baseball_the_college_years.php During high school graduation season, it's all hopes and dreams for the fresh-faced graduates. But if there's one universal fact, it's that very few of them will actually achieve those goals. Baseball is no different, says SC's Joshua Duffy.]]> MLB Joshua Duffy 2012-05-16T13:30:51-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/16/nascar_top_10_power_rankings_week_11.php Jimmie Johnson won at Darlington, snapping a 16-race winless streak and giving Hendrick Motorsports its 200th win. Denny Hamlin finished second, while Kurt Busch finished 21st, but is still "running."]]> Other Jeffrey Boswell 2012-05-16T10:43:53-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/15/best_running_back_seasons_by_age.php Running backs burn out faster than any other major professional athletes. SC's Brad Oremland ranks the greatest RBs according to age. Who was the best 21-year-old ever? The best in his 30s?]]> NFL Brad Oremland 2012-05-15T12:38:21-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/15/hard_road_ahead_for_top_seeds_at_french.php With Novak Djokovic and Rafael not being as dominant as they were at this time in 2011, SC's Mert Ertunga explains why this year's French Open men's draw could be primed for a surprise outcome.]]> Tennis Mert Ertunga 2012-05-15T11:58:47-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/14/material_differences.php What do you prefer? Ready-made or built brick-by-brick? NBA teams can't agree on that answer, either. And, as SC's Jonathan Lowe points out, the conference semifinals offer both sides of a two-way street.]]> NBA Jonathan Lowe 2012-05-14T18:23:36-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/14/grow_up_bryce_harper.php Bryce Harper has gotten a lot of attention lately. Laser throws from the outfield, getting thrown at by Cole Hamels, stealing home, and now hitting himself in the face. SC's Andrew Jones has a few words of wisdom for the rookie phenom/idiot.]]> MLB Andrew Jones 2012-05-14T10:13:20-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/11/sports_qa_the_truth_wont_set_you_free.php Lying runs rampant in the world of sports. Ask anybody in the business, and they'll likely tell you otherwise. So it's refreshing to see someone like Cole Hamels tell the truth. But alas, he's punished for it! SC's Jeffrey Boswell discusses the issue. ]]> Jeffrey Boswell 2012-05-11T11:41:13-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/10/pace_yourself.php The Miami Heat are just warming up for an inevitable showdown with the Oklahoma City Thunder, right? SC's Paul Foeller says it's not that simple, as he examines four reasons the Heat may want to hold off on their Finals plans, starting with Indiana.]]> NBA Paul Foeller 2012-05-10T13:53:33-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/09/nascar_top_10_power_rankings_week_10.php Brad Keselowski roared to the win at Talladega, then Tweeted all about it. Kyle Busch finished second, while Greg Biffle finished fifth and still holds the Sprint Cup points lead. Check out SC's Jeffrey Boswell's NASCAR rankings!]]> Other Jeffrey Boswell 2012-05-09T12:40:41-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/08/junior_seau_and_cte.php NFL great Junior Seau died last week, apparently a suicide. SC's Brad Oremland remembers one of the finest linebackers in history and reflects on the significance of head injuries in modern sports.]]> NFL Brad Oremland 2012-05-08T16:07:13-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/07/why_the_spurs_could_capture_the_title.php While much of the NBA playoff discussion centers around the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, and even Oklahoma City Thunder, SC's Stephen Kerr gives five reasons why the San Antonio Spurs should be in the championship conversation.]]> NBA Stephen Kerr 2012-05-07T11:10:21-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/04/foul_territory_athletes_behaving_normally.php It's athletes gone wild, as Amare Stoudemire breaks glass and Delmon Young channels his inner John Rocker. Also, Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd gets rocked, and Andy Petitte throws his best curveball ever. Check out Foul Territory!]]> Foul Territory Jeffrey Boswell 2012-05-04T12:09:19-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/03/xceptional.php Every championship team has an "x-factor" who comes out of the woodwork in the playoffs to help their team get over the hump and take home the hardware. SC's Gary Flick takes a look at each playoff team and reveals their potential x-factors.]]> NBA Gary Flick 2012-05-03T14:13:22-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/03/grading_sec_helmets_past_and_present.php In this week's Slant Pattern, SC's Kevin Beane returns to college football helmets, this time setting his sights on the SEC. He has more bad (and ridiculing) to say than good, as usual, but he spares some nice words for Vanderbilt and Missouri.]]> Slant Pattern Kevin Beane 2012-05-03T10:42:37-05:00 http://www.sports-central.org/sports/2012/05/02/the_conference_of_quarterbacks.php The Pac-12 has been dubbed as the "conference of quarterbacks" following three 2012 NFL draft picks. SC's Adam Russell looks at each school's QB situation following spring scrimmages.]]> College Football Adam Russell 2012-05-02T13:01:13-05:00