I gotta go with Detroit for all my teams.
The Pistons have been to five consecutive Eastern Conference Finals. If you look up perennial playoff contender in the dictionary, the Pistons are there. Chauncey Billups is as solid as any point guard in the league. He is routinely at the top of the league in assists per turnover and is a proven leader and decision maker. His clutch shooting has earned him the moniker "Mr. Big Shot" and he always delivers when the Pistons need him most. Rip Hamilton has speed, quickness, and endurance which many players only dream about. Add in a accurate midrange jump shot and you have a player that tears defenses apart by moving without the ball and shooting off of screens. Tayshaun Prince is versatile, long, and energetic. He is a very consistent defender and runs the floor well. He has a high basketball IQ and a rapidly developing post game. He is a little skinny for a NBA player, but has adapted extremely well to playing against larger guys. He is one of the most underrated players in the league. Rasheed Wallace. What more can I say? Sheed is the greatest player I have ever seen and I have nothing but absolute respect for the way he conducts himself on and off the court. His passion for the game is on another level than the average NBA player. He probably won't make the Hall of Fame, but he deserves it.
The Lions have struggled recently, I admit that. But they are pulling it together. Maybe not this year, maybe not the next, but one year they are finally going to pull themselves together and start making things happen. The pieces of a great team are coming together. Once the Lions show they can hold their offensive line together, it is just a matter of time before Kitna starts to make plays. The recievers are good, Furrey and Williams are actually pretty outstanding. Tatum Bell is a good running back who seems to be waiting for his moment to shine. The acquisition of Calvin Johnson adds a lot of upside to an already dangerous passing attack. Kitna can do well, and I think he can here. It's going to happen, the Lions are going to find themselves and tear up the NFC north.
The Shock have a ton of talent. Deanna Nolan is one of the greatest players out there. No one is faster than her on transition from end to end. She can will the team to victory all by herself, I have seen her do it. It just seems like she doesn't quite yet realize how good she is and what role she needs to play. Katie Smith is a women's basketball legend and a potent offensive force. after joining the team late last season she has become a leader this season. Her outside shot is a constant threat and her defense is impeccable. Cheryl Ford got the WNBA record for rebounding this season. She is a major contributer to the number of second chance points that allow Detroit to score even when closely defended. She is one of few players to average a double-double. Swin Cash was injured last season and was never really at the full power that she had in earlier seasons. This year, she is being aggressive at the basket and setting up her teamates well. Let me sum this up. This season is the year of the Shock. I think they are favorites to take the championship.
Last season, the Red Wings had the best regular season record in the NHL and then lost in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Wings are a perennial post season presence and I believe they will return this year again.
The Tigers have good young pitching and some decent hitters. They added some nice veteran depth with Gary Sheffield. I worry that injuries have hit kinda hard this season, but they have a good shot at the postseason this year anyway.
Pete Sampras had a truly amazing skill. I remember watching him in awe. His game was full of glory and I will never forget it, but he is retired now. Andre Agassi is a living legend. He is 35 and still plays with the best tennis players in the world. He has a resolve and a love for the sport that is both obvious and endearing. He is an aggressive baseliner who refuses to back up and allow his opponents to make angles. He likes to control the center of the court and move his opponents around. His is the best returner of serve in the game's history and it allows him to always put pressure on his opponents. Despite his age, Agassi is fitter than most players and has tremendous endurance. His recent back problems are calling his career into question, but his continued devotion to tennis long after the rest of his generation has faded is the mark of a true champion and a hero among tennis players. Max "the beast" Mirnyi is a giant man from Belarus who volleys like a master and is one of the best doubles players in the world. He has a big serve and a deadly net game, but is vulnerable from the baseline. What I like about him is that he refuses to give up and is constantly moving into net even when he is in danger of getting passed. He wrote a book called "Be Easy and Stay Tough." That phrase has inspired a lot of my math career, believe it or not. Kim Clijsters has become my favorite women's player. She is from Belgium and hits a powerful ball. Her defensive ability is impeccable and she can hit forehand winners until the cows come home. She has been getting to the finals of grand slams but only won her first this year. She was always classified as a choker and it is good to see her rise to the big occasion and win. I hope that her career continues for many years. Finally, Martina Navratilova is more than a living legend. She defies words and explanations. Let me tell you some numbers. She holds the record for most titles (167), most won matches (1440), and is second in number of slams won (58, 18 singles, 31 doubles, 7 mixed). She has the record for longest winning streak (74) as well as the third longest (58) and the sixth longest (54). She is now 49 years old and still winning doubles tournaments. Still Winning. That is an extraordinary feat in a sport where most players retire before 30. Martina Navratilova is, in my mind, the greatest female tennis player in history and if it wasn't for the fact that I love Sampras and Agassi so much, she would be the best tennis player period.