In this edition of THE Ultimate Sports Blog, Dustin James, Steve Cook, Samer Kadi, and myself discuss whether Patrick Kane or Derrick Rose is a bigger loss for their Chicago teams, if Robert Griffin III will still be in Washington in a couple of months, and give our college football upset of the week.
Bigger potential loss for their team: Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) or Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls).
Steve Cook: At first you want to say Derrick Rose because basketball teams are smaller. Hockey teams have more bodies at their disposal and it's not like the Blackhawks are lacking for talent. They constantly win titles because more than 1 person carries that team. The Bulls live & die with Rose.
But I'm going with Patrick Kane as my answer. Why? Simple, the Bulls are used to life without Derrick Rose at this point. He's off the court more often than he's on it. It's business as usual for the Bulls to claw their way to a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference without Derrick Rose. The Blackhawks were not the same team without Kane for a good part of last season, it was his return that got them on their run through the playoffs. If he's gone even longer than he was last season, Chicago's going to have a tough time getting out of that loaded Central Division. The Predators, Blues & Wild aren't going anywhere, the Avalanche should be better, and the Jets have some good young talent. The Blackhawks have a tougher road than the Bulls, so they need their best player more.
Samer Kadi: Patrick Kane. By now, the Bulls have gotten used to life without Derrick Rose. He's played a minimal amount for the past three seasons, and even last year,where he did feature enough, he still had his fair share of injuries and missed a significant amount of games. In his absence (and presence), Jimmy Butler has emerged as the best and most consistent performer on the team. While Rose is undoubtedly the most talented player on the Bulls roster, and when close to his best, he is the best player on the team, he's been a shell of his former self. In a weak Eastern Conference, the Bulls will make the playoffs with or without Rose, as they have in the past. Granted, to actually contend for the title, they need a healthy and in form Derrick Rose to lead the way, something he's given us glimpses of these past playoffs. However, with a new coach, the team will at least go through less turmoil this season, as all the uncertainty surrounding Tom Thibodeau last year cast a serious doubt on the Bulls' chances, and in the end, proved costly.
Dustin James: I'm going with Patrick Kane. Why? Because by now, the Chicago Bulls should be used to not playing with Derrick Rose. I know I'm beating a dead horse when I talk about much action Rose has missed, but right now is as good a time as any to mention that Rose has only played about an NBA season's worth of games over the past 3 seasons. That's not good for a player who once looked like he was ready to be the best point guard in the NBA for the next decade or so. Still, I have a feeling that Rose will beat these rape allegations and will be ready to play come the season opener. Unless he gets injured in training camp, but c'mon now....that's just being mean.
Jeremy Lambert: The consensus is Patrick Kane because the Bulls already know life without Derrick Rose. It's a sentiment I agree with, but let me tell you why it's Patrick Kane because he's actually more important to his team than Derrick Rose. The Blackhawks are a modern day dynasty and Kane is a huge part of that. He's arguably the most important player on the team as he posses elite offensive talent and game breaking ability. With or without Rose, the Bulls aren't winning a championship. With Kane, the Blackhawks have won three championships in six years. That never would've happened without him.
Fact or Fiction: Robert Griffin III will not be a member of the Washington Redskins in two months.
Steve Cook: Can I answer "don't care"? Washington is a sorry excuse for an organization and only generates conversation by being completely incompetent and out of touch.
(You know, I could be describing the Washington football team or the lawmakers there.)
I'm going with Fiction though, because this ridiculousness is bound to continue throughout the season. Kirk Cousins won't lead them to the promised land, and as long as he doesn't, it behooves Washington to keep RG3 around. Griffin isn't a top guy at this point, he's too fragile to rely on for a serious amount of time, but he might help for a game or two. If he can stay out of his own head.
Samer Kadi: Fact. Reportedly, many within the Redskins' offensive linemen do not like RG III due to his off the field behavior and his dismal on field performances. Moreover, coaches and high ranking officials want him gone, and he seems to have lost his place as a starting quarter back in the league. The main obstacle stopping the Redskins from getting rid of him is the fact that ownership is intent on keeping him, and no team seems to be interested in trading for him at the moment. Nevertheless, I find it hard to believe no team will take a gamble and roll the dice on Robbert Griffin III.
Dustin James: Fiction. Man, I don't know what to think right now regarding this whole RG III situation. All I know is, the Washington Redskins royally screwed the whole situation up. First of all, they traded away WAY too much to acquire the less-than-average QB. Second of all, they have done absolutely nothing to put him in a position to succeed. They hired a head coach who has had a tumultuous relationship with the QB from the beginning and can't seem to get him out of the door quick enough. And last of all, they have made RG III's value drop so incredibly low that there's no way they can recover what they lost trading for the guy in the first place. That would put the Redskins in a position to have to cut the guy and I just don't know if they'll do that. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder reportedly remains pretty adamant about keeping RG III on the roster and as everyone knows, what the owner wants....the owner gets. Plus, wouldn't it be a bitch for Redskins fans to see the Eagles and Chip Kelly pick a recently released RG III up and turn him into a Pro Bowler in that scheme? Yikes.
Jeremy Lambert: Fact. He shouldn't be a member of the roster now as they should've tried to trade him last offseason when he still had a little bit of value. But now his value is shot and his contract makes him nearly impossible to move, which means that the Redskins will have no choice but to release him if they want to get rid of him. And I think they will. Right now he's an unnecessary distraction. He's a $16 million back-up. If Kirk Cousins has one bad series, the RG3 believers will be calling for his job so their boy gets another chance. The problem is, he has no more chances under Jay Gruden. Gruden is going with Cousins no matter what, leaving RG3 to do nothing but sit there and count his money while the Rams laugh before eventually signing him for pennies when he is released.
Give me one potential upset in college football this weekend.
Steve Cook: The Auburn Tigers are receiving a ton of hype heading into this season. They're a sexy pick to contend in the SEC, beat Bama, go to the playoff, win the national title, and all the things SEC teams usually do. And they can still do those things if they lose this week. But if they overlook the unranked & unheralded Louisville Cardinals in the Georgia Dome this week, things will get a little more interesting. Bobby Petrino's teams are always tough, he knows Auburn well, the Louisville defense is packed and stacked, and if the Tigers think this is going to be an easy start to the season, they could be mistaken.
Come on. Did you think I'd pick something else?
Samer Kadi: Broncos over Spartans.
Dustin James: I'm going Washington over Boise State. While I don't personally believe the Huskies are going to beat the Broncos, I have a few reasons why I think the upset could happen. First, Washington's head coach Chris Petersen. Petersen built this Boise State team. If anyone knows the strengths and weaknesses and the insides and outs of the Broncos, it's Petersen. Petersen coached at Boise for eight seasons before coming to Washington and he knows a thing or two about upsets as he upset a few PAC-12 teams during his tenure at BSU. Second, while the Huskies don't have the best talent in the PAC-12, they are still a talented team that could make a bowl this season. The Huskies had 3 players drafted in the first-round of the NFL Draft this year, so even though the team has been very underwhelming in recent memory, there are tons of NFL-quality players up in Seattle. Third, no one would really be surprised because it's a PAC-12 team beating a Mountain West team and as well all know, the Mountain West sucks and the PAC-12 is the best. Debate over.
Jeremy Lambert: Let's go big right off the bat. Virginia Tech over Ohio St. Never underestimate the power of tragedy.
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