Battle Royale

[HTML_REMOVED]Are the Sonics packing up down at Key Arena, or is Clay Bennett just panning for some kind of sweet deal?[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]Allen Wagne[HTML_REMOVED]r [HTML_REMOVED] Clay Bennett is in the business of making more money, and he'll likely do whatever he can to collect "benjamins" and "ulysseses." So far, he hasn't shown that he cares about where the team plays or whether the team wins. He's just pursuing his own personal interests. All that aside, it still makes more sense to keep the team in Seattle than to move it to O.K. City.

[HTML_REMOVED]Sheena Nguyen[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Seattle and the SuperSonics are as inseparable as peanut butter and jelly in a jar of Goobers. Some might prefer one without the other, but the truth of the matter is that it just wouldn't be right. This is why the Sonics aren't going any place else anytime soon. Not only is the team's lease not over until 2010, Bennett has said in multiple statements that the focus is to remain in Seattle. It's pretty clear that his focus is to see how much money he can get out of Seattle. Plus, the Oklahoma City SuperSonics really doesn't have much of a ring to it.

[HTML_REMOVED]Christian Caple[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] To be honest, I don't really care. Besides, if they move, it's just another thing that Blazers fans can hold over Seattle fans' heads. So what if Portland's No. 1 draft pick has the knees (and face) of a 45-year-old? At least they're not ditching town.

[HTML_REMOVED]Erica Metzler[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Clay Bennett has already admitted and been fined $250,000 by the NBA for publicly stating that he has planned to move the Sonics to Oklahoma City. I don't think there's much hope that the Sonics will stay at Key Arena. The lawsuit filed by Seattle officials is not going to be much help.

[HTML_REMOVED]With the American League playoff teams already set, where do you place your bets for National League playoff teams?[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]Allen Wagner[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] The Mets will edge the Phillies in the NL East. The Cubs will do the same with the Brewers in the Central and the Diamondbacks will ride the youth into the postseason in the West. The wild card gets a little more complicated with the Phillies, Padres and Rockies still in it. The logical bet would be for the Pads, but after injuries to Milton Bradley and Mike "Crooked Cap" Cameron I think the Phillies will break on through to play in October.

[HTML_REMOVED]Sheena Nguyen[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] The Colorado Rockies are frickin' unstoppable. They just won their ninth-straight, beating the L.A. Dodgers 9-7. After such a streak, the Rockies have only come to expect the best [HTML_REMOVED] and they're prepared for it. Meanwhile, even though the Padres have a one-game lead, they only barely achieved this with a miraculous three-run homer in the ninth. The Braves are three games behind, the Phillies were just beat by the Braves and the Mets well, let's face it [HTML_REMOVED] when push comes to shove and you consider their recent loss to the Washington Nationals, they just can't seal the deal.

[HTML_REMOVED]Christian Caple[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] San Diego just lost Milton Bradley, so they're probably not going to make much noise. The Rockies are charging hard, but how much damage can Colorado really do? Arizona might win the West, but I like the Cubs at this point. Yeah, I'll go with that. Chicago is going to have the prestigious honor of losing to whomever comes out of the American League.

[HTML_REMOVED]Erica Metzler[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] The NL is a tough league to figure out. It is anyone's game. I would like to see the Cubs and Piniella reach the postseason. But it's a close race with the Brew Crew. You can't forget about Prince Fielder, the youngest player to hit 50 homeruns. He is my vote for MVP. I can say for sure that Arizona is going to the playoffs. They have been solid. I'm also placing my bets on Philadelphia and the Rockies. The Mets seem to be blowing their lead and the Phillies are inching closer to win the NL East. Colorado won 10 straight, a franchise record, to put them back in the race. Matt Holliday is on fire, with a .338 batting average, 36 homeruns and 132 RBIs.

Is Michael Vick being unfairly punished for

dog-fighting and most recently breaking his release agreement by smoking marijuana?[HTML_REMOVED]

[HTML_REMOVED]Allen Wagner[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] This is an issue that many people see as overblown, but since dogfighting is illegal it shouldn't come as a surprise that there are punishments to be handed down. If you break the law, you must pay. Roger Goodell, NFL Commish, did the right thing in suspending Michael Vick indefinitely. He's supposed to be a role model for young people to follow, and when a young NFL superstar who kids look up to starts misbehaving, action must be taken. As a sort of bonus punishment, the Falcons are off to a 0-3 start without Vick.

[HTML_REMOVED]Sheena Nguyen[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] Vick tested positive only 17 days after he pleaded guilty for dog-fighting charges. Simply put, he's acting like a teenage boy. And how do teenage boys get punished by their parents? They set a curfew [HTML_REMOVED] possibly one just like Vick's [HTML_REMOVED] to be home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The only thing unfair about his punishment is that it's too lenient.

[HTML_REMOVED]Christian Caple[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] You bet he is. First the NFL bans endzone celebrations, and now you're not even allowed to torture dogs anymore? I guess it really is the No Fun League. Next you're going to tell me that Roger Goodell has banned rape, too. Until Pacman Jones is reinstated and Tank Johnson is given a gun license, I'm not watching this sport anymore.

[HTML_REMOVED]Erica Metzler[HTML_REMOVED] [HTML_REMOVED] It's about time a celebrity/professional athlete is punished for breaking the law. Michael Vick is not smart for smoking "hippie lettuce" as Jim Rome called it. This is just another thing that adds to his lists of problems, and the judge will most likely take the violation into consideration. However, we should have seen it coming. In January, he surrendered a water bottle that smelled like weed at Miami International Airport, but was not arrested. That should have been the clue.