Masters Picks - The Year of the Repeat?

Last year I picked 5 players that I thought would win the Masters and one of them was Phil Mickelson. We all know how that turned out, one of the best Masters tournaments of all-time. So how does the sequel go? Are we thinking Back to the Future II type sequel (Mickelson repeats)? Or are we thinking Step Up 2 - The Streets Sequel (Phil fires his first tee shot off the concession tent and then his caddy Bones knocks a 3 wood on from 260 ala Tin Cup style)? One thing is for certain is that Phil has a great chance of repeating this week, almost as certain as Lindsay Lohan dialing up another felony. What about the other guys? The Tommy Gunn's of the world, the guys that are overlooked that want their respect. So let's take a look at the top 5 guys I think have the greatest chance to win the Masters.

1. Phil Mickelson - He's the odds on favorite to win it. And why shouldn't he be? The man just won last week, shot ridiculous low rounds the final two days, and he does crazy things like carry two drivers in his bag. He's peaking at the right time. Even though it's tough to repeat, Phil is one of the guys that can do it. Besides, he's won the Masters 3 times in the last 7 years. He loves Augusta.

2. Steve Stricker - You are right, Steve Stricker isn't the flashiest golfer in the world and he's not very outspoken. I just keep thinking one of these days he will put together a great weekend and shock us all, only it won't be a shock because everyone knows how good he is. I really do think he'll be in contention this week and if he wins, it'll be one for the good guys.

3. Dustin Johnson - Think about this, Dustin Johnson could have very well won two majors last year. If he doesn't go out and Snooki the final round at the US Open last year or "ground" his club in a so called bunker at the PGA Championship, we could very well be looking at the #1 player in the world. He's got crazy distance, I mean we are talking ManBearPig distance, meaning unreal deep. The only thing with Johnson is how long before he pulls a Jalen Rose and veers off the road only to then refuse a breathalyser? Ok, we know Johnson isn't drinking and driving but he always has those head scratching shots in the final round. If he figures out how to put 4 rounds together, no one can keep up with him length wise and at Augusta that's a huge advantage.

4. Luke Donald - Although I don't condone any European winning an American tournament, I think Donald has a great chance. Just kidding, I'm actually a fan of Donald, just not around Ryder Cup time, that's the time I find myself shouting expletives at the entire continent of Europe. Luke is probably the best iron player in the world, I don't think I've ever seen him hit a bad iron shot. Kind of like I've never seen "The Situation" with his shirt on. By the way, did you guys see his roast on Comedy Central for Donal Trump? I can't think of a more awkward time watching television, he was that bad. Anyways, Donald vaulted up to #4 in the world rankings by basically dismantling everyone at the Accenture Matchplay Championships in February and has played well ever since. If he keeps the ball the fairway, he'll be lights out from any distance with his iron game.

5. Sergio Garcia - Just playing with you, put down the flask.

5. Bubba Watson - Either he's having a seizure or that's his golf swing, one thing I do know is that Bubba has a chance to win this weekend. He's one that's at the bottom of my list though. He's won this year and has actually been in contention at a few tournaments this year. Like Johnson, I question his mental game though. Nothing makes me happier than watching him snap at photographers. I'll be honest, if I was on tour, I'd be one of those guys that just rips a camera guy if he snaps a shot in my back swing. "Hey Jackass, go pound sand and take it to another hole!" Then I'd toss my ball to a little kid walking to the next hole. If Bubba can keep his emotions in check, he's got a good chance, but he's one of my shot in the dark picks.

Do the Jazz get Jimmered? Pros and Cons to drafting Jimmer

Now that BYU's basketball season is now over and Provo has officially set the record for Prozac prescribed in a weekend, the speculation can begin. Where does Jimmer Fredette stand as an NBA prospect? Honestly, the biggest question is whether the Jazz draft yet another white guy, someone that can't play defense, and can score at will but can he in the NBA? Let's go through the pros and cons of drafting Fredette.

PROS :

1. We know Jimmer can score the ball from anywhere on the court. I mean the guy pulls up 2 steps past the half court line and hits. The shot he hit against Florida from downtown made me pee down my leg. Let's be realistic though - Adam Morrison and J.J. Reddick were the same way. Last I heard Adam Morrison was starring in a porn called the Dirty Sanchez but J.J. Reddick has had somewhat of a successful career in Orlando but it took him time to adapt. I think Jimmer is a much better ball handler than Reddick but not as good a shooter. If Jimmer can develop, maintain being a good ball handler but develop as a spot up sharp shooter, then I think he can find a spot not only for the Jazz but in the NBA. The Jazz need outside shooting desperately, almost as desperate as Lindsay Lohan trying to stay relative in Hollywood.

2. Jimmer will sell seats and merchandise. We all know every BYU fan will buy a Jimmer jersey, a Jimmer curly haired wig, and every BYU fans daughter will have a shirt that says "Marry me Jimmer." Would it be bad for the Jazz? Absolutely not. Jimmer has surpassed David Archuleta as being Utah's son. How pathetic is that? That's like saying you went on a date with DJ Tanner instead of Stephanie (Note: Full House still ranks in my top 5 of sitcoms of all-time.) Jimmer could still continue to take Utah by storm, so basically the nightmare would live on.

CONS

1. I don't know how I can put this nicely. Screw it, there is no easy way to say this. Jimmer couldn't guard John Candy (RIP John). He is seriously that bad, and when I'm criticizing your defense, you know you have issues. Let's be honest - I've been known to take a few plays off defensively but I always come up with a stop when I want to. I don't know what's worse, watching Jimmer play defense or watching Kirstie Alley eat a whole cheesecake. I really noticed it in the Florida game with the OLE defense. Was he tired? Probably, but there is still no excuse for letting people by you that easily.

2. There's two things I've learned in this life - 1. The Jazz go through draft picks like The Situation goes through grenades on Jersey Shore. 2. You don't mess with Ice-T from Law and Order Special Victims Unit. Can the Jazz really afford to take Jimmer in the mid-first round? I don't know if they can. I just know that if they use their top 6 pick to draft Jimmer-I will remove my records from my Jazz fan club and join the San Antonio Spurs full-time. The sad thing is that the Jazz will probably do it, mostly because they know people will buy tickets to come see Jimmer. One thing on Jimmer's side is that he does work extremely hard - just not on the defensive end.

I still maintain a firm stance on the Jazz trading both their first round draft picks to try and get into the top 4 and take Derrick Williams from Arizona. He gives us an athletic wing that we desperately need. And no, CJ Miles is not an athletic 3, he's not an athletic anything. CJ is the type of guy on your church ball squad that comes to every game, tapes his ankles, gets there an hour before game time to warm up, and shoots the ball every time he touches it. Geeze, Ike Tingey is the white CJ Miles.

If the Jazz can't get into the top 4 than I think they should target Kemba Walker with their mid-round pick. He reminds me a lot of Ben Gordon before he got lost in the nightmare we know as the Detroit Pistons. Walker can score - gives us more athleticism - and his game will translate better at the next level. I would rather see Kemba Walker over Jimmer Fredette. Please BYU fans, before you come cut the brakes on my car, let it be known that I wouldn't hate the Jimmer draft pick. As long as it's not their early draft pick. Please let out a deep breath now, it's ok, I know it's hard to hear people criticize the great Jimmer Fredette.