The Big East is a basketball conference. With powers such as Syracuse, Georgetown, Pitt, and many others, they will always be one of the best in the sport. However, things are about to change. With colleges changing conference affiliation quicker than ever before, the Big East is in a perfect position to strike.

Unlike many conferences, there are eight members fully committed to this conference. Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia, USF, Cincinnati, Louisville, Rutgers, and Syracuse, meaning the conference is in no danger of getting eaten alive if they move quickly. Pittsburg and West Virginia have repeatly declined invites from other conferences including the Big 12 to stay in the Big East not only because of the basketball prestige but its football.

Big East football is better then most people give it credit for. Since 2006 the league has a 17-6 bowl record which is better than the all powerful SEC and every other conference. Dating back to the creation of the BCS in 1998 makes the picture even clearer. From 1998 to 2009, they were 36-23 with a winning percentage of over 61 percent. The SEC was 56-39 during that stretch with a winning percentage almost five points lower than the Big East.

John Marinattio has the opportunity to turn this conference from the laughingstock of college football to a powerhouse if he moves quickly. Yes, they have lost team after team and coach after coach to bigger conferences and colleges with higher prestige but times are changing.

With the leagues television deal ending next September, they are in a great position to succeed. The Pac 12 just received a 12 year 2.7 billion deal from ESPN earning each college almost 19 million per season. Television giants CBS, NBC, and ESPN have shown that they are willing to pay top dollar for the best in college football. Marinatto has said "It's the most important television negotiation in our history,". And he is poised to make it the most profitable.

The conference currently resides in ten of the nations top 35 television markets including national brands such as New York, Philadelphia and Chicago along with Washington, D.C., Tampa, Dallas/Fort Worth Pittsburgh, Hartford, Cincinnati and Milwaukee. With the addition of TCU, the Big East markets will contain more than 30 percent of all television households in America. ESPN, NBC, and CBS know the best way to earn money is through viewership, the Big East provides it.

Nows the time to strike.Already a basketball powerhouse the Big East can become a football equal if they move quickly. Texas A&M will be leaving a weakened Big 12, following the path set by Nebraska and Colorado last offseason. Word on the street is that Oklahoma is prepared to move West, heading to the Pac 12, taking Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma State with them, ending the Big 12 as we know it.

Baylor, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa State will be on the outside looking in, trying to find a BCS conference to continue there athletic and academic endeavors.

Missouri might find a place in the SEC or Big 10 but do they really want to play against such high competition? The Tigers have stated that they want to continue there rivalry with Kansas and could potentially be convinced to move Eastward with the new television deal in fold.

If Marinatto could add that six (Baylor, Kansas State, Kansas, Missouri and Iowa State) to the nine members he already has he would truly elevate the value of his conference. Throw in either East Carolina or UCF and you have the making of a super conference.

Even if Missouri decided not to come, adding the 19th, 31st, 71st, and 94th largest markets along with eight solid football teams could bring the Big East the financial stability its been lacking.

Heres how it would look

Eastern Division

Syracuse

Rutgers

Connecticut

Pittsburg

West Virginia

South Florida

Central Florida

*Possibly East Carolina if Missouri decides to come or the Big East decides to add Houston

Western Division

Cincinnati

Louisville

Baylor

Kansas State

Kansas

Iowa State

Texas Christian

The Big East is on the rise. With a setup featuring 12 of the largest 35 television markets, Marinatto would be able to change the direction of the conference and assure its future as a college conference power. The Future is Now For The Big East Conference.

******I know the Big East could do better but its not a bad start. What teams would you like to be added or subtracted to this potential model? Do we really have a shot at the teams of the Big 12 or are they really going to go to the MWC over the Big East like many sports writers are projecting? A conference championship every year in the Medowlands or at Yankee Stadium would be sick. Am I dreaming because this alignement looks legit.

The Baltimore Orioles have shown over the past months, that they are a few pieces away from being competitive in the American League East. With a young core of position players and starters coming along including players such as Adam Jones, Matt Wieters, and Brian Matsuz. Along with an underrated manager, Buck Showalter. The people of Baltimore could see well played baseball for the first time in years. The days of Ryan Freel maning the outfield, and Garrett Atkins playing first are gone, while young, eletric players are taking their place . Adding Francisco Rodriquez to the mix could only help.

Before you slam me on how this would never happen and potentially be a huge mistake for the Baby Birds, lets look at the positive. Currently, Baltimore does not have any pitcher worthy of closing. Their is Alfredo Simon, who has impressed many this year with his ability to throw strikes when the Orioles needed him to, but would be better suited as a middle reliever or seventh inning standout. Koji Uehara has also pitched well, but is not the dominant ninth inning guy teams need to stay in contenion. Ill admit that his numbers are superb (1-0, 1.93 era, 1.14 whip as of 8/28) but Uehara is another middle reliever/setup man, who was never meant to be a closer. Jim Johnson has pitched horribly this season, and Michael González has done nothing to prove he's worthy of the money Baltimore gave him last offseason.This is a problem that must be adressed during the winter if the Orioles expect to become serious contenders, or even .500 canidates.

If they decide to go the free agency route once again, there is little to be desired. Brian Fuentes has a team option which might be picked up, but other than him, the market is bare. Jon Rauch, Pedro Feliciano, Chad Qualls, Mike Lincoln, come on, I saw more impressive names on my sons little league baseball team. 

This is where K-Rod, might fit it. The Mets are not to found of Rodriguez after season long incidents which culmenated in Francisco getting put on the disqualifed list. It started in late May, when the New York Times reported that he and bullpen coach Ryan Niemann tangled during a game. A few months later, K-Rod was at it again, recently being charged with third degree assault after an altercation with his father-in-law after a Mets game in the Citi Field player lounge, in the process, breaking a finger on his pitching hand. That being said, Rodriguez has not always been a bad person. One should not be judged on a few mistakes, and his on field production makes up for that mishap.

Say what you want about Francisco's off the field problems, but he is a great closer. Back in 2008 he was able to save 62 games for the Angels, and has continued his success with the Mets. Before the incident, Rodriquez had a 2.20 era and 25 saves in 53 innings with the Mets. He would be able to anchor the Orioles bullpen, providing the closer they have lacked since trading away George Sherrill at last years deadline. Omar Minaya, the Mets current general manager has been quoted saying "I can tell you today we want him back, With that being said, let's see how the process goes." That does not sound like a man to confident does it?

There are rumors around the league saying the Mets are going to have to reduce payroll, and getting the 15 million left on K-Rods contract off the books would be a big help. That being said, they are not going to give him away for free. This is where the Orioles come in. If they were able to give Garrett Atkins a 6.5 million dollar deal, they should be able to take care of Francisco's. They could give the Mets Michael González and a pair of low level prospects such as Matt Angle and Richard Zigone, or Lou Montanez and Jim Hoey, who have little to offer the Orioles in the future to get this deal done. The Mets would receive a potential third/fourth outfielder in Angle or Montanez, and a closer in Gonzalez, who could revive his career back in the National League East along with the throw in reliever. This would give the Mets a solid replacement for Rodriguez, save them money, and get rid of a player who has caused nothing but trouble since hes got to New York, along with adding more talent to a talentless farm system. For the Orioles, they receive a top notch closer, who could help them out during the 2011 season, with the option of retaining him if he does well, or letting him walk if fails in the toughest division in baseball for an former closer, and average prospects. A true win-win for both sides.

Whether you think this is insane, a great idea, or simply don't give a damn about the Orioles closer situation, comment away.

While nows your chance. I have recently started up a new fantasy basketball league on proboards and your favorite team is still available! Its as realistic as a fantasy league can get. Full player contracts, free agency, the draft contract extensions you name it, we got it. There are still plenty of other teams available so come now and make sure you get your team. 

http://slamdunkdynasty.proboards.com/

If you have any questions, their is a chatbox on the league page. League Managers will be online and will answer all of your questions

While nows your chance. I have recently started up a new fantasy basketball league on proboards and your favorite team is still available! Its as realistic as a fantasy league can get. Full player contracts, free agency, the draft contract extensions you name it, we got it. There are still plenty of other teams available so come now and make sure you get your team. 

http://slamdunkdynasty.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=chicagobulls&action=display&thread=11

If you have any questions, their is a chatbox on the league page. League Managers will be online and will answer all of your questions

While nows your chance. I have recently started up a new fantasy basketball league on proboards and your favorite team is still available! Its as realistic as a fantasy league can get. Full player contracts, free agency, the draft contract extensions you name it, we got it. There are still plenty of other teams available so come now and make sure you get your team. 

http://slamdunkdynasty.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=chicagobulls&action=display&thread=11

If you have any questions, their is a chatbox on the league page. League Managers will be online and will answer all of your questions

    All it takes is one. One move, for one player, which changes a franchise forever. It can turn them from the laughing stock of the NBA, to one of the most respected teams in a matter of seconds. All it takes is one.

    After years of suffering through inadequate trades, failed signings, and draft mishap’s, the Charlotte Bobcats finally got the one. It took over five years of suffering, watching guys like Matt Carroll, Adam Morrison, and Brevin Knight take the floor every night with little chance winning, knowing that they were going to lose night-in, night-out. It was not a fun time to be one of their fans, supporters, or anyone else associated with the franchise. Rumors were flying all around about how the city was going to lose their second franchise in little more than a decade. However, it was not meant to be.

    Today, Charlotte fans around the country rejoice, for there one has come. The one guy who could put Charlotte back on the map, has come. No more will people ask you why you’re a Bobcats fan, but rather when did you become one. You will command respect when you wear your Bobcats jerseys, rather than being spit upon with jokes about last place and Adam Morrison. When we look back on this day, it will be known as the true start of our franchise. They day we came out of the closet and showed our true colors. Our day has come

    But lets not forget about what we’ve been through and who’s come through our doors. Never forget the names of Carroll, Morrison, Knight, and how bad it felt to be a last pace team. Remember those names, and the others, for they will make winningthat much sweeter.

    The joy of knowing that your team is one to be reckoned with, and has true playoff potential is something us young ones have never experienced before, and may never again. 

    All it takes is one. One move, for one player, which changes a franchise forever. It can turn them from the laughing stock of the NBA, to one of the most respected teams in a matter of seconds. Our one has come, his name is Allen Iverson.

    There comes a time for every organization, when they have to start over and change there ways. It comes after years of injuries, inadequate trades, second rate signings, terrible draft selections, and blind faith. The franchise, nor there players want to admit it, but it must be done. After years of misfortune, Mets fans are in despair. Their moment has past, the players that once lead them a strike away from a World Series birth are getting old and past there primes. Amazin Avenue needs to be repaved. It's time for change

    Growing up in a household of Met fans, I know all about the hero’s of Mets history. Guys like Mookie Wilson, Sid Fernandez, Garry Carter, and Keith Hernandez are talked about with the highest praise. Those were the good ole days my father says often. Back then it wasn't about getting the biggest contract or hitting the most homeruns, it was about winning. They didn’t care if they were making twenty thousand, or twenty million, the guys were always going to hustle and play the right way.

    The team was stacked from top to bottom, there farm wasn't the laughing stock of baseball. The GM knew how to spend his money wisely, instead of wasting it all on 30 plus players past there primes and players who have no talent. There comes a time for every organization, when they have to start over and change there ways, the time is now for the Mets. 

    I know you don’t want to hear this, but the team stinks, no one is coming to the games, the franchise’s is losing money, and the economy is in the tank. Its time to rebuild. People aren’t going to spend a hundred dollars to buy the newest Mets jerseys, and companies surely aren’t going to buy up luxury boxes to see the team lose. The time has come for a new GM, one with a plan, who will rebuild the franchise from top to bottom. One which takes the Mets out of the free agent market for a few years, and saves them money. While also finding good young talent which will produce in the future.

    Whatever Minaya has been doing the past few years surely hasent worked, and I doubt the plan his Assistant GM who has been advising him since he became the Mets head honcho will be any different. Its about time they bring someone with a winning tradition who can both draft, spend, and develop talent.

    John Abbamondi (Cardinals Assistant Gm), or Gerry Hunsicker (Rays Assistant Vp) would do just that. All it takes is one trade, one trade of stars like Beltran or Santana who could net a big return. If the Orioles could land an all-star center fielder, front of the line rotation starter, and the teams closer for Erik Bedard, theres's little doubt in my mind the Mets could do better with either of the two.

    Just imagine a roster full of homegrown Mets. Players your organization groomed into stars, taking full flight as they lead your team to glory. It may take a few years, but the fruits of one rebuilding project could be worth more than anyone imagined. Just think if you had Pujols and Carpenter, or Longoria and Upton, a few years of sub .500 seasons is worth it right?

    There comes a time for every organization, when they have to start over and change there ways. It comes after years of injuries, inadequate trades, second rate signings, terrible selections, and blind faith to a losing club. Amazin' Avenue is getting old. The time for change is Now

I'm in a 20 man, head to head, 8 hitting, 6 pithing cat , 5 keeper league

So far, ive managed to find myself at 7-4-1, and am in the thick of the playoff hunt

Heres my roster as of now

However, I'm still looking for ways to improve my team, and a few deals have recently been proposed to m

Ryan Braun and Matt Wieters for Hanley Ramirez

and

Adrian Gonzalez and Aubrey Huff for Hanley

As of this moment here are my five keepers

Hanley

Longoria

Upton

C.C.

Gallardo

Should I mess with that and make one of those deals listed above?

Thanks For The Help

---Civardi

    Its draft night. The most important night of the NBA offseason. The night, which makes or breaks coaches, general managers, owners, and team executive careers. The night which can make your team a championship contender. The night which can crumble their dreams. Coming into the 2009 NBA Draft, the Bobcats don’t know what’s in site. This draft is different. There’s no set order of how the picks will go down. Teams are keeping a tighter lip, not letting many people know which direction there going. But what they do know, is that a future star will be available.

    All along in this process, Larry Brown and company have said that they will take the best available player. No matter what the position, Larry Brown will take the highest player on his board. Remember last year. How we all thought it was a given that Brook Lopez would be walking up to the podium when David Stern announced the Bobcats selection. How could the Bobcats not select the second coming of Chris Kaman? He would be the perfect low post compliment to Emeka Okafor, and form one of the best Power Forward/Center combo’s in the NBA. But Lopez and the Bobcats weren’t meant to be. Larry knew better. Remember the silence that ensued after Stern announced DJ Augustin as the Bobcats selection. Bars in Charlotte went silent. The thought “Who the ___ is DJ Augustin” went through everyone’s mind. Most didn’t even think Augustin was the best point guard on the board. Add in the fact that Charlotte had former top five pick Raymond Felton already on its roster, and to most people, this pick made no sense. Yet look at how well its turned out. Augustin outplayed number one pick Derrick Rose numerous times, and a bunch of other point guards when he saw the floor. The guys a beast. Hes the type of playmaker you can build your franchise around. The guy who from day one is the first one in, and last one out to everything he does.

    What makes you think this years pick will be any different? At this point in time, all the Executives, all the media, all the mocks, have the Bobcats selecting Gerald Henderson. You know the guy. Star of the Duke team who has the hearts of many Bobcat fans. The guy who is combines NBA ready defense, along with excellent shot selection, and a knack for making the big play into one complete package. The guy who would be our shooting guard of the future. The guy who would make a difference now and on our playoff teams of the future. It makes perfect sense. A match made in heaven. A North Carolina guy playing on North Carolinas team. But don’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen.

    Recently, Brown said “I hope the best player does fill a need, but I’ve always felt you get in trouble when you go by position, Go with the (greater) talent and figure it out.”

    The best player on the board could be Brandon Jennings. The 19 year old point guard who shows glimpses of a younger Allen Iverson. Terrence Williams, the type of player in that Andre Iguodala mold who has more talent than most players in this draft will ever have, or B.J. Mullins, who reminds many of a younger Chris Kaman. But no matter how little sense the pick may seem at the time, one things for certain. Charlotte will make the right choice

As a Jets fan, there are many things that go through my head. From stupid signings to wishful trades, there’s always something worth noting from my daydreams during science class.

Now we all know the Jets are very, very thin at QB heading into the Draft. They have shown no interest in signing guys like Leftwich, Grossman, or Losman through free agency, and seem poised to begin training camp with a battle between Clemens and Ratliff for the right to be the head signal caller on opening weekend. Now I'm not one who believes in taking quarterbacks early in the Draft. With the QB’s entering the Draft this year, it makes little sense for the Jets to trade up and try to get Alex Smith or Aaron Rodgers. I'm sorry. I meant Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez. However, they should be looking out for a sleeper with their third or fourth round pick, and his name is Nate Davis.

What a difference a year makes. Davis came into the year as a nobody. If you weren’t a fan of Ball State or true follower of MAC football, you probably didn’t even know who he was. However, midway through the season with Ball State climbing the polls and his stock rising every down he played, Davis seemed a first round lock. Experts were comparing him to Donavan McNabb. Kids all around the country were signing his praises. If he would have continued playing as well as he did and led Ball State to a MAC title, we may be talking about Davis as a possibility at 17, but things haven’t turned out that way. Nate really struggled toward the end of the season. He looked more like Andy Dalton and Richard Stanzi than Nate Davis. He just wasn't himself out there. When drives were going well and he seemed to be leading his teammates toward a touchdown, he fumbled. When he used to scramble out of the pocket and find the open man, he threw a pick, and so on for a three game stretch that lost him millions.

Now, there are concerns about his height, his learning disability, his awareness, his mechanics, his ball security, and countless other weaknesses scouts have been pinpointing ever since he played his last down of football in January. If you’ve read this far in the article, which I know most of you haven’t, you must be asking yourself, what is Civardi getting at here? Why is he telling us about a guy who has nothing to do with the Jets? Did I just waste two minutes of my life reading about a guy who who was a one year wonder in college? What I’m getting at is the Jets need to draft Nate Davis. In three years as the Ball State starter he posted 74 touchdowns and completed over 60 percent of his passes, which went for over 9,000 yards. His stats are very similar to Big Ben's. Though he may not be as big at him, his deep ball is just as good, and Davis has the same knack for making the big play.

If I was the Jets, theres no way I would let this guy pass me by. At worst, you get another Alex Smith, at best, you get a combination of McNabb and Ben Roethlisberger who could start from day one. Now who doesn’t want that?

QB Nate Davis Highlights Ball State vs Tulsa 2009 (via DraftParty)

Introducing our newest contributor...

Hey, Gang Green Nation, this is Rob Civardi, your newest weekly contributor. Along with John, I will be bringing you up to the minute New York Jets action from the latest signings to crazy trade thoughts. Here's a little background information about myself

I'm a 14 year old teen kickin' it in Northern Jersey. I've lived in the great state for my entire life and it's a great place to live. My sports teams are the New York Jets, Charlotte Bobcats, and Baltimore Orioles, all for different reasons. I come from a family full of football fanatics and Jets fans. However, when I first started watching this great game, I was a New York Giant fan. I know, I know, I consider myself a sinner to this day for rooting for them as a two year old, but it was for all the right reasons. My uncle was signed by them after coming out of the small college of Montclair State. Even though he never started in his three year tenure with the club, he got us season tickets, so I kinda became one of them. You would have too if you saw your uncle on the field in blue; it's human nature. But after a few years of rockin' a Giants jersey, I began to hate them. At the time, I thought they cut my uncle. As a little kid, I was livid. Why would anyone cut my uncle? It didn't seem to make sense for me so as a way to get back, I became a Jets fan and have been since.

Enough about me, let's get to the good stuff:

As a Jets fan, there's many things that go through my head. From stupid signings, to wishful trades, there's always something worth noting from my daydreams during science class.

First off, why aren't the Jets making a move on Julius Peppers? In case you haven't been watching the NFL for the past five years, this former first round pick has been nothing short of spectacular. He has been to a Super Bowl, has over 70 sacks in 106 games, and hasn't even hit 30.

Things between him and Carolina have become strained over the years. The Panthers are reluctant to move to a 3-4, where Peppers feels his abilities would be better suited. He has wanted to leave for the past few years but didn't feel it was right demanding a trade. So, like most players, he just waited for his contract year to come. This was his year, until Carolina slapped the franchise tag on him. That really upset him, so as it is now, he has said multiple times he will not play for Carolina this season, putting them in a rough spot. Afraid of not getting compensation, the Panthers are looking for a partner, and that's been the Jets come in.

The Jets need a young defensive end. Both Ellis and Coleman are getting up and age, and even in their prime, they were nothing special. Not the type of guys offenses plan around, not the guys we talk about except for all of their missed tackles, not the type of guys on weekly highlight shows, just the average, everyday starting ends. Lets face facts. Even in his heyday, Shaun Ellis could only get you around eight sacks which is good, but nothing that gets you into the Hall of Fame. Coleman didn't even start early in his career causing him to only have 8.5 sacks and 208 career tackles. Last year the Jets tried to add an explosive edge rusher by drafting Vernon Gholston, and that hasn't turned out to well, has it?

With the Cutler sweepstakes over, the Jets need to focus on other areas other than quarterback. Rex needs more talent on the defensive side of the ball, and he has said before, the Jets could use another edge rusher. Now theirs Peppers, all 6'7, 283 pounds of him, sitting in our laps for a second round pick along with a role player like Coleman. Is that too much to ask? The Jets are one of the few teams with a 3-4 defense, the cap room for Peppers 16.5 million-dollar salary, and the picks Carolina wants. It makes all the sense in the world, adding a superstar who had 14.5 sacks last year. I'm not saying a deal will get done, but this is one guy the Jets cannot afford to not look into.

It was the bottom of the eighth in an empty Memorial Stadium. Most of the 40,000 fans that came to see the Orioles that day had already left. The place looked like an Independent League game, with perhaps a quarter of the original crowd scattered throughout the stadium, watching their Baltimore club lose like it had all season.

But this time, actually, was different.

The Baby Birds had their backs against the wall and a rough road ahead of them if they were to come back. Down by five against the Yankees, most teams would have given up, but they didn’t.

Rising to the challenge, the Orioles rallied. With one out and the bases loaded, Brooks Robinson stepped up the plate. With the small crowd behind him, he knew he had to do something special.

And he did.

On the first pitch of the at-bat, he rocketed the ball right back at the Yankees pitcher and into center field, scoring two runners and cutting the lead to three.

Later that inning, Willie Kirkland drove in two to pull the Orioles close for the first time all day. Jerry Adiars then singled another run in, tying the ball game at 7-7.

Up came Charlie Lau (for only the second time that day). After beginning the inning with a pinch-hit single, he clobbered a fastball into left-center, doubling and scoring Aidars, giving Baltimore a lead they would never surrender.

With every fan in the stands on their feet, the Orioles took the field in the top of the ninth. Roger Maris homered for the Yankees, but it didn’t matter, as Stu Miller closed the door and ended the game 9-8.

No one expected the Orioles to win that day against the all-powerful Yankees, but they did. They showed respect for the game by never giving up, even when the chances of winning seemed slim; the Birds still gave it 100 percent the whole way.

Most players would have lost all hope, but they didn’t. Though at the time they didn’t know, it was a pivotal moment in Orioles history. I like to think it was the start of the "Oriole Way."