Introducing a new weekly column from Juiced Sports.  We’re calling it FTW, which in awesome speak translates out to For the Win. We’re going to count down 5 topics that either peaked our interest or intrigue us as we begin a new week, and close an old one.  So like Spring Break across college campuses everywhere, Here we Go!

SCOTT JACOBS

05.

The NCAA Tournament is wide open.  I’m talking bigger than Michael Strahan’s gap tooth, open.  How many #1 teams have fell this year? Answer: a lot.  There are few true star players, and the guys that will be heading out to the NBA come April all have something to prove.  Which means that this tournament should be one hell of a fight.  We still have championship week to go, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that a team as low as a 6 seed could win it all this year. Yeah, 6.

04.

Hey LeBron, tweet responsibly.  After typing away this number, “20+ games left in phase 2. I’m ReFOCUSED! No prisoners, I have no friends when at WAR besides my Soldiers,” the Heat have fell into an embarrassing swoon, their worst since their 9-8 start.  But I’d argue that to blow a 24 point lead in the 3rd quarter against Orlando and then follow that up with a 30 point loss in San Antonio is far, far worse.  Why?  Because this whole, they need time to gel thing just doesn’t fly no more.  It’s put up or shut up for the Heat right now, and their play isn’t shutting anyone up right now.

03.

And for Godsakes, as much as I despise the Spurs, they’re clearly the best team in the NBA right now.  Just give them credit for that, whether you think they’re going to win the NBA title or not.  Plus, Tony Parker coming back after a week was a little Willis Reed-esque. On a night where they led the Heat by 24 after 1, it probably wasn’t the difference, but make no mistake about it, the Spurs are a totally different team without their French point guard.

02.

The Knicks are better than what they were, but man o man, what is with this curse against the Cavs?  New York lost their third straight game this year to Cleveland, giving the atrocious Cavs 25% of their win total for the year.  That’s really astonishing when you think about it.  Those 3 games are looking to be huge, as the Knicks lead the resurgent 76ers (yeah the same team that was once 3-13) by just a 1/2 game for 6th in the top heavy East.

01.

Hockey!  The Coyotes finally ended their losing streak yesterday in a shootout win over Detroit leaving the Western Conference playoff race in one of the all time great jams.  Seeds 3-10 right now in the NHL’s Western Conference are separated by a measly 7 points.

3. San Jose 82 pts
4. Chicago  80 pts
5. Phoenix  78 pts
6. Dallas      77 pts
7. Calgary   77 pts
8. L.A.          76 pts
9. Anaheim 75 pts
10. Nashville 75 pts

That’s crazy tight kids.  The NHL has roughly 15-17 games left for each team, so this race should be something to really look out for.  Unless of course you’re ESPN (They’re anti-hockey, Pro-Barry Melrose).

Just missed the Cut:

The Lockout
Nothing new to report here.  just millionaires arguing with billionaires.  But hey, that little extension should get them to at least agree on what color the podium should be for the 2014 Draft!

Cam Newton
His draft status has risen and fallen like no other prospect.  From 3-10, to 10-3, o wait a minute, the guy will be an instant multi-millionaire either way. Next!

Comedies!
Finally a plethora of funny movies out for the masses.  Haven’t seen any yet, but Hall Pass, Cedar Rapids, Take Me Home Tonight, and Just Go With it are clogging the box office list, and laughter is the greatest medicine.  Even if the critics aren’t laughing with them.

Charlie Sheen
1.8 million twitter followers in a week.  5 exclusive interviews in like 35 hours.  Now he’s on USteam.  The guy is trending so fast he may destroy Twitter.  Who killed Twitter?  The drug that is, Charlie Sheen!

Photo: Reuters

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