UFC 111 News: GSP, Frank Mir, and Nate Diaz Have Starring Roles

by Stoker MacIntosh… The Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., will be rockin’ on March 27, as the big boys of the Ultimate Fighting Championship roll into town for an interim title match to settle once and for all who could be the next heir to the UFC heavyweight throne.

Depending on a much anticipated announcement from current title holder Brock Lesnar and his camp, Frank Mir or Shane Carwin could be destined for a title shot at the mammoth former wrestler sometime later this year.

The other match on the card—also a great one, and one that could be seen as Canada versus the UK—unfortunately seems more like a no-brainer,…at least on paper.

The current UFC welterweight champion and elite French-Canadian pound-for-pound fighter Georges St-Pierre will be looking to get past a man who, with a win here, could become the future pride of the UK.

That man is UFC 170-pound No. 1 contender Dan Hardy.

The surprise announcement today doesn’t come from those stories, but from AHN Sports reporter Matthew Harvey, found here.

The article states that recent bad boy/sore loser Nate Diaz will be moving upward to welterweight in order to challenge Rory Markham in a fight that will reportedly also take place in Jersey, at UFC 111.

Diaz, who recently lost a decision to top ‘55 contender Gray Maynard, has gone on record to adamantly complain about the unfortunate loss.

A loss which he feels was a corrupt decision by the ringside UFC judges and the PPV on-air commentators.

Diaz firmly stated (on a recent YouTube.com video which has since been removed) that he feels he had the majority decision in his pocket, if the fight had been ruled fairly.

In any case, the mean-looking younger of the two fighting Diaz brothers has now decided to pack on some much-needed beef and will be moving from 155 pounds to 170.

In the well-written AHN Sports article, Mr. Harvey suggests the reasoning behind the Diaz voyage into the shark-infested waters of 170 are simple.

At 155 pounds, the young Diaz resembles the proverbial human laboratory skeleton, and he’s grown tired of literally “starving himself to death” to remain at that weight.

Also, Harvey says, the move upward in weight would be accompanied by more strength—and some much-needed knockout power.

I tend to agree.

The undefeated Rock earn $17,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Haiti

by Laura Bridgman… The Toronto Rock (3-0) beat the Rochester Knighthawks (2-1)at the Air Canada Centre in front of 10,104 fans to remain undefeated.

Rock owner Jamie Dawick announced at the beginning of the game that for every goal Toronto scored, the Rock would donate $1,000 to World Vision for the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. The domination of Rochester totaled a Toronto donation of $17,000.

Toronto goal tender Bob Watson earned game MVP for stopping 45 of Rochester’s 48 shots. Garrett Billings led the Rock with eight points from five goals and three assists.

In goal Pat O’Toole and Aaron Bold combined for 39 saves for the Knighthawks and were led by Shawn Evans with a goal and an assist.

In his first game of the 2010 season Cam Woods scored the first goal of the game followed by defensive teammate Jeff Gilbert. Rookie Garrett Billings struck next to give Toronto the 3-0 lead 5:21 into the game. Mike Hobbins continued to extend the Rock lead scoring the game’s fourth. Billings drained his second and third past Rochester netminder Pat O’Toole for the hat trick even before the first quarter finished, causing the Knighthawks to changed goal keepers in favour of Aaron Bold.

Rochester got on the board to start the second quarter from a Scott Evans goal past Bob Watson. After nine minutes of scoreless play, dominated by defence, Billings scored his tenth goal of the season and fourth of the night. Kasey Beirnes posted Toronto’s eighth and Mike Hominuck the ninth to end the first half with the Rock leading 9-1.

Captain Colin Doyle opened scoring in the second half, bringing Toronto’s donation to the Haiti relief efforts up to $10,000. Shawn Evans scored the Knighthawks’ second goal of the game, but Billings answered back with Toronto’s eleventh goal, his fifth of the night tying his personal professional career best set in Boston on January 9. Pat McCready, in his first full game in a Rock uniform, dropped a shorthanded goal past O’Toole who was back in Rochester’s net. John Grant Jr. finally got past Watson, a wall in Toronto’s net, but Blaine Manning struck with 2:04 on the clock in the third to bring the score to 13-3.

Hominuck scored his second of the night to start the fourth quarter, followed by Beirnes’ second and third to bring Toronto’s tally to 16. #17 Stephan Leblanc was next scoring number 17 for the Rock. The clock would run out leaving the final score 17-3.

The Rock travel to Rochester next weekend to finish their home-and-home series with the Knighthawks. Game time is 8:05 at Blue Cross Arena. The Rock return home to the Air Canada Centre on February 5 when they host the Philadelphia Wings.

Patrice Cormier, The Hit, Hockey, and The Law

by Conor Hogan… What is the world coming to when the law is coming into every aspect of our professional sports. I am referring to the Patrice Cormier hit on defenceman Mikael Tam. It has been released that Police are looking into whether they should press chargers.

First off you may say that well this was junior hockey not professional and secondly these are kids, and in no way should they be acting this way on or off the ice.

Ok let’s take a step back though and forget that this is junior hockey and forget that it was a young kid who was hurt severely.

Now just think this is a sport in which emotions and adrenaline run high. There is no question that when you put a bunch of young teenaged boys together and give them a contact sport that there will be injuries. Hockey, for anyone, is a sport filled with emotions.

No matter what way you look at it, the emotions will spill over in some way. You see it in every playoff series that’s ever been played. No matter how little the intensity of the rivalry between the two teams are, you are going to see a fight in at least one of the games.

So why do we draw the line here?

Why do we say that this hit is worth saying the word ‘assault’?

This isn’t the first time that there will be a police investigation into whether or not charges should be pressed in an incident that happens on the ice, nor will it be the last. We’ve already seen McSorley and Bertuzzi with National Hockey League result in charges.

But now we are seeing this coming into the junior hockey level as well.

Two years ago there was also an incident that was brought to court justice and that was none other that the Jonathan Roy fight.

If you forget that was the fight in which a certain young goaltender playing for (you guessed it) the Quebec Remparts was charged with assault in Saguenay courts when he hit repeatedly the opposing goaltender in on ice brawl who wanted nothing to do with it.

Until now, all the incidents that I have mentioned were or could be looked at in some way as being pre-meditated.

McSorley’s could be nothing but at least semi-pre-meditated. Due to the fact that he swung at the guys head.

Bertuzzi was also pre-meditated, but that one has been well documented so that you or even the casual hockey fan has already formed their opinion upon it.

Jonathan Roy’s was definitely a fight, and is something that is rather odd to describe as an assault.Sure he definitely went in there looking to beat the guy up. I seriously doubt though that he expected the other goaltender to go turtle on him as well.

So why is that considered to be assault and so many other fights in the NHL and juniors just goes down as that. A Fight!

How many times have we seen in hockey or heard of things in the past of guys being nudged by their coach to go out and fight their next shift. (i.e. Clarke on Varlamov)

What’s the diference? Especially since assault is definitely intentionally to inflict harm on the other person by using force.

I’d say that stepping out unto the ice and brandishing your two fists is just that.

So now let’s bring it full circle. What about Cormier?

Was it truly genuinely assault on his part?

I don’t think so.

Cormier had just stepped onto the ice and was just looking for a big hit to get things going. What was the problem for him. Was that he was going to miss his chance for the hit so trying to make some contact he stuck his elbow out.

Was it his smartest move? No.

Has he done it before? Yes.

Does that mean he’s a dirty player? No.

What it means is that he’s a young player who wasn’t taught properly by his coaches how to hit. He’s a young man that did a bad hit at a bad time.

At the rate we’re going fighting will be a lost part of the game that will never come back.

Is it rough? Yes.

Is it fun to watch and be in? Definitely.

Will people ever understand how much fighting is an integral part of the game? Probably never.

Are the courts forever going to come and haunt the actions of players? Are hits from behind next?

Should the Raptors Consider Acquiring the Kings’ Andres Nocioni?

by Stephen Brotherston… Real GM has published yet another story that the Sacramento Kings‘ Andres Nocioni is available. The Kings have a glut of small forwards and are focusing on the future. The 30-year old veteran is only getting in the way of their younger players.

The rumour that the Kings would like to move Nocioni and are looking for a serviceable a big man is nothing new.

But this year, one of the Raptors “holes” is a decent backup small forward. With no disrespect to Antoine Wright, his skill set is limited.

Nocioni is overpaid at $7.5 million, but he has been a very serviceable SF who can still put up 10 PTS and 4 REB in less than 24 minutes, play decent defense, and start if needed.

Raptors fans may remember Nocioni from his five seasons in Chicago where he was always a steady performer. He is a tough guy who this Raptors squad would benefit from having on the floor.

Nocioni’s contract runs three years, declining each season to $6.6 million in 2011-12 with a team option for a fourth year.

A Reggie Evans or Marcus Banks plus Wright for Nocioni trade works (with minor luxury tax concerns that should be able to be overcome).

The Kings are not going to be expecting much for him. He is no longer needed and there is that November DUI issue hanging out there.  Plus Reggie Evans may just fit their future needs.

Or an Evans plus Banks for Nocioni plus Sergio Rodriguez deal also works.

A deal for Nocioni represents the kind of minor in-season roster tweaking Bryan Colangelo likes to do.

Something that will not upset player rotations but provides a upgrade at a key position with a team-oriented guy.

Nothing in the wind about this potential trade as of yet, but Raptors fans should be paying attention.

Meet Team Canada: Martin Brodeur (Goaltender)

By Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter… With the Olympics just a few weeks away, every Canadian citizen with a pulse awaits the drop of the first puck and with it, the renewed opportunity for Canada to bring home a Gold Medal, a feat Canada has not accomplished since 2002.

Heading into the Olympic hockey tournament, the Canadians are the consensus pick to win Gold. That said, don’t expect the Gold medal to be uncontested. Russia, Sweden, Finland, and the United States are expected to give Canada all they can handle, with the greatest challenge expected to come from Alex Ovechkin and the rest of the offensively deep Russian squad.

With all the stiff competition coming Canada’s way, it’s a good thing that the Canucks are deep at every position. The legendary Martin Brodeur is expected to get the nod as Canada’s No. 1 goaltender. Brodeur will be joined by Roberto Luongo and Marc-Andre Fleury, two goalies that are capable of rising their game should Brodeur falter.

All three of Canada’s goaltenders have impressive resumes. Martin Brodeur—arguably the best goaltender in NHL history—has won three Stanley Cups (1995, 200, 2003), four Vezina Trophies (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008), has played in 10 NHL All-Star Games (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008) and boasts two Silver Medal efforts at the World Championships (1996, 2005) and, most importantly, one Gold Medal at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The Hockey News recently voted Brodeur as the decades greatest NHL goaltender, and with good reason.

Brodeur owns several NHL records—including, most regular season wins, most shutouts—regular season and playoffs combined, most overtime wins, most consecutive 30-win seasons, most consecutive 35-win seasons, most 40-win seasons (of which he has seven!), most games played by a goaltender, most shut outs in a playoff and most shutouts in a Stanley Cup final, amongst others.

Brodeur’s ability to remain calm, cool, and collected is legendary as is the confidence he gives those in front of him. Known as the games best puck-handler, Brodeur prides himself in forever progressing his craft. Brodeur is a winner, a pioneer, a visionary and one of the finest NHL citizens of all-time.

Perhaps the best positional goaltender in NHL history, Brodeur plays a hybrid style (a mix of both standup and butterfly). At age 37, Brodeur’s reflexes are still second to none and his glove hand is as good as it gets.

In nine career starts at the Olympics, Brodeur has a record of 6-2-1, with a goals against average under 2.00. In 26 combined games Internationally, Brodeur has amassed a record of 16-6-2 with a 2.19 GAA and one shut out. Impressive, to say the least.

With all of Brodeur’s accomplishments, records and experience there really is just one choice for Canada’s starting goaltender. You can bet that, barring injury, Brodeur will be between the pipes for Canada, and a big reason for their success.

Until next time,

Peace!

Will Maple Leafs See White Out at Trade Deadline?

By Bryan Thiel… This season, the most important date for the Toronto Maple Leafs is March 3, 2010—in other words: this season’s trade deadline.

If it wasn’t for the swap of this year’s first round draft pick (along with this year’s second and next year’s first) in exchange for Phil Kessel, most would say that the day of the draft—June 25 and 26—would surpass that in importance.

But however you feel about Toronto’s situation—whether you’re happier with Kessel or you’d rather see the Blue and White with a chance to draft the game-changing Taylor Hall, forward Tyler Seguin, or the premier blueliner Cam Fowler—the day that situation will change, if it does, is most likely the Trade Deadline.

That’s when, if Brian Burke chooses, he can try to sell the farm for the second straight year in hopes of clearing the cap and preparing for free agency and stockpiling draft picks and getting the Leafs back into the first round.

Sidenote: While many go on and on about the opportunity the Leafs’ would have had to acquire a talent such as Taylor Hall, I think that Cam Fowler would be just as big an acquisition, especially with the potential of him lining up alongside Luke Schenn, although you couldn’t go wrong with either Windsor star.

But to put this in perspective, let’s give a little bit of draft history. Since 1990, teammates have been drafted in the top ten picks twelve times. The most recent example is last year when John Tavares went number one to the New York Islanders and Nazem Kadri went number seven to the Leafs, both of them London Knights.

Brandon Wheat Kings’ teammates Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie went at number five and eight last year, marking just the second time since 1990 that two sets of teammates were chosen in the top ten.

In that time frame, no teammates have been chosen at number one and number three. We’ve had first and sixth (2007), first and fifth (2006), and first and ninth (1990), but never first and third.

For argument’s sake, we’ve also had teammates taken two and three in 1999—the Sedin Twins—as selected by then-Canucks GM Brian Burke. This really had nothing to do with the article….it’s just interesting.

But like last year, you have to look at what exactly the Maple Leafs have to sell.

The most marketable pieces that the Leafs have—defenseman Tomas Kaberle and Kessel—are unmovable. Burke has said that Kaberle earned his no-movement clause an earth-shattering deal may not even be enough to convince Burke to approach the 11-year Leaf.

And Kessel? Unless Burke can get three first rounders in return, the Leafs’ have a better chance of coaxing Patrick Roy out of retirement than seeing Kessel leave.

Jason Blake still has two years on his contract, and even though his salary is only $3 million, his cap hit is $4-mil—a number that’s tough to swallow for any team when you don’t know whether the cap is going up or down in the future.

Meanwhile Nik Hagman, a holdover from the Cliff Fletcher era, has been one of the leading goal scorers for the Leafs over the past two years, ranking second in that category with 40. While he’s movable (and affordable/attractive at $3-million a year), it’s hard to tell the direction Burke will take with the Finnish winger.

The man who leads Hagman in goals over the past two years by one (41) though, may be an attractive pickup for a playoff-bound team. Alex Ponikarovsky has developed into a solid winger, as he’s four goals away from his fourth 20-goal season in the last five years.

Poni will also get his first taste of unrestricted free agency following this season, and it’s hard to see Burke letting anyone skip town for free if he’s got no interested in keeping him around.

The same can be said for Matt Stajan. Stajan is on pace for his first 20-goal season and a career-high 59 points, but it hasn’t stopped him from being a consistent target for trade rumors and hot and cold reactions from Leaf fans, while Lee Stempniak (on pace for his first 20-goal season since 2006/07) could be gone as well thanks to his impending unrestrictedness.

But the name that intrigues me the most is Ian White’s.

For a player who was told a 5-foot-10 defenseman weighing 190 pounds wearing lead shoes would have trouble making it, White has flourished. For a guy who had to battle his way to get into Ron Wilson’s defensive rotation (even spending a few games on the wing last season and scoring a few goals), he’s earned his time.

But that three-year deal that White signed in 2007 is reaching it’s end after this season, and his rights can still be controlled as a restricted free agent.

Compounding all of that is the fact that, at just $950,000, he’s probably the most affordable defenseman with 40-point potential this season.

Sidenote: Here’s the list of cheap, potential 40-point defensemen this year: Drew Doughty, 35 points, $875,000; Tyler Myers, 27 points, $875,000; Marc-Andre Bergeron, 25 points, $750,000; Michael Del Zotto, 24 points, $875,000; Anton Stralman, 24 points, $665,000.

You want to know how many of those guys are available? Assuming White is, there MAY be two. And that’s assuming Montreal slips further than two points out of the race for eighth in the East and starts selling.

The troubling thing is that while the Leafs’ have some defensive depth on the farm (Phil Orsekovic, Jonas Frogren, and Carl Gunnarsson—who’s still up with the parent club), there’s really no dynamite offensive option that’s on the rise in Toronto other than Juraj Mikus with 16 points in 38 AHL games.

At 25 (26 in June), White is the youngest offensive defenseman the Leafs have that’s NHL-calibre, or even NHL-ready.

Kaberle, despite his offensive genius, will be eyeing an expiring contract after 2010/11, and he’ll be 32 at the start of March. Francois Beauchemin is 29, but he’s never had more than 36 points in a season (2005/06) and has never posted back-to-back 30-point campaigns.

Then again, White doesn’t have a 30-point campaign either, but he does have a 10-goal season to his credit, and he may have two of them in a row—neither being a stat Beauchemin can flaunt.

So what do you do? One of the easiest to move and most valuable players you have on your roster if you go the trade route is also one you can control for one more contract, and the one who’s given you some of the most consistent efforts offensively from the blueline in his 20+ minutes the past two years.

Then again, White will be due a big raise this year. The days of him making six digit pay checks will be over and that may play in to his future with the Buds as well.

Despite all of his perceived shortcomings, Ian White has become an NHL-level defensemen, proving (for this year at least) the critics wrong that said he couldn’t replicate his success.

The choice Brian Burke has, is whether White continues to replicate that success in Toronto or a new market come March.

UFC Welterweight Champ Georges St-Pierre: “I’ve Never Taken Steroids in My Life”

by Stoker MacIntosh… Ariel Helwani is a video reporter and mixed martial arts writer for fanhouse.com, and in his latest video interview—which can be found at the end of this article—he talks to the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s 170-pound champion and elite pound-for-pound cagefighter Georges St-Pierre.

St-Pierre, in the new video interview, dispels many rumors, including the recent allegations by UFC 155-pound champion BJ Penn that he had been using steroids.

At the time of these allegations, which was just before the holidays, it almost sounded as if Penn and his trainer Rudy Valentino may have had one too many sips from the Christmas egg-nog bowl.

The controversy erupted during an on-air interview with Sports Illustrated journalist Josh Gross of SI.com’s Gross Pointe Blank, when—with the smell of egg-nog still on his breath—Penn’s trainer (Valentino) openly claimed St-Pierre had undoubtedly been using PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) on a regular basis.

Wait, that’s not all, Valentino also claimed that GSP would stop “cycling” the drugs just long enough to “test cleanly” for his title defenses.

The allegations, he said, originated from St-Pierre’s past opponents; no doubt the same ones who—after losing—said GSP may have felt a little “greasy” to the touch.

Rumors which now, to say the least, seem ludicrous and extremely asinine.

GSP, in the Helwani Fanhouse video, says he is now contemplating a move upward into the uncharted waters of the UFC’s 185-pound middleweight division.

However, he firmly stated that it’s a one-way ticket up there, and that “once he goes to 185, there is no returning to 170.”

He also said his walking-around weight, which is now at 193, would have to be increased to well over the 200-pound mark.

The elite French-Canadian fighter also stated that he has friends and training partners who fight at the UFC middleweight division, so he has to also consider the circumstances involving that.

Saying adamantly that he would “never fight a friend,” the admirable cagefighting champion then explained why.

GSP stated that if he found himself needing to perform the “coup de grâce,” which he says may include a (skull-splitting, laceration-causing, and possible skull-fracturing) elbow from the top, he would refuse to do it.

Who could blame him?

Here’s the video; please enjoy.

Toronto Raptors Player Updates After 40 Games

Front and Center: As Lights Dim in Toronto, Bozak Gets a Chance to Shine

by Jon Neely… It’s about that time of year in Leaf land. The losses are less and less painful to watch as the numbness sets in on yet another disappointing season.

What makes it worse this season is that the Leafs in fact have a worse record than they did at this point last year. Frankly it’s depressing, but as another night ends with a loss in Toronto, we the fans get more and more used to it.

So let’s do our best to try and get over the fact that the Leafs don’t have a first round pick after this year, or that the team looks about as effective as a beached whale, and look at something positive about the team. Anything.

And that anything could come in the form of Tyler Bozak.

Much has been made about the “center for Kessel” campaign, and though Tuesday night against the Hurricanes was Bozak’s first game playing along side the Leafs prized sniper, he sure looked like he fit rather nicely.

He pitched in with one assist in his 15 minutes of ice time and was able to showcase a bit of that passing talent he has. Ron Wilson had him playing on a line with for the duration of the night in a losing effort.

That assist means that Bozak now has two points in his two career games; both coming this season.

He even had some time on the power play and looked as if he could be effective in that role in the future. The 23-year-old also won five of seven face offs, an area the Leafs need to improve in with Mikhail Grabovski and Wayne Primeau out with injury for the next few weeks.

Overall it was an excellent second game in the career of Bozak, who is most likely up with the big club (if you can even call them that anymore) for a while now. He has a shot to cement his spot on the team for future endeavors if he can prove to be the guy (at least for now) who can center Kessel effectively.

Because God knows it ain’t working out with anyone else on the team.

No word yet on whether Wilson plans on using the same Kessel-Bozak-Kulemin combination in the upcoming game against Philadelphia on Thursday night, but the three did combine for a plus one, three points, and seven shots in the 4-2 loss.

This isn’t your usual Toronto-style hype-job of the “savior” finally getting his chance to take the Leafs back to Stanley Cup glory, because we all know how that’s gone in the past decade or so; come out, come out where ever you are, Justin Pogge. This is a chance for a guy to show that he could be the missing link in the Kessel can’t score saga.

Most likely Bozak is not the future number one center for the Leafs, but as far as this season goes; he’s got as good a chance as anyone to be the interim number one and help this team finish out the final 35 games strong.

And if his first two games are any indication, it could be a successful second half of the season for Bozak

Whether or not that holds true for the Leafs, well, there’s still a glimmer of hope when it comes to the playoffs. Unfortunately hope might just be all we have at this point.

Men’s Tennis Preseason Power Rankings: Supremacy Down Under

by JA Allen… Parity has found its way into men’s tennis.  In terms of pure talent and potential, the field at the Australian Open seems wide open.

Oddsmakers, of course, factor in experience and past performance—but in Australia, in the land of sunnies and amber fluid anything is possible.

As we unveil our preseason power rankings consider the ramifications of the next two weeks upon the state of men’s tennis as the first grand slam of 2010 gets underway.

The Top 10

1. Nikolay Davydenko (Last Power Ranking: 1;  ATP Ranking: 6)

Last Four Tournaments: Qatar [Winner], London [Winner], Paris [R16], Valencia [Semifinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 316

Everyone is curious.  Has the wiry Russian changed his diet, his training regimen, or his racket?  All of a sudden he has become, if not everybody’s choice to win the Australian Open—at least everybody’s dark horse.  At age 28, Davydenko appears to be playing his very best tennis.

As the Australian Open gets underway, many expect Russia’s “Invisible Man” to become “Mr. Invincibility,” taking this title to win his first major.  His quickness makes Davydenko dangerous on the hard courts.  He is in Federer’s quarter so there may be a potential matchup.

If so, can Davydenko win three in a row over the man he had never defeated until the ATP World Tour Finals when the Russian took out Federer in the semis? He followed that in Doha with a semifinal victory again over Federer and a win over Nadal in the finals. Davydenko is hot, hot, hot!!

2. Novak Djokovic (Last Power Ranking: 2; ATP Ranking: 3)

Last Four Tournaments: London [RR (2-1)], Paris [Winner], Basel [Winner], Shanghai [Finalist]

Power Ranking Points: 239

The Serb is ranked No. 2 in the Preseason Power Rankings based on fumes from the tail-end of 2009 with back-to-back wins in Paris and Basel.  The 2008 Australian Open champion hopes to reclaim the title in 2010 as the No. 3 seed.  But he has some challenges to get there, potentially meeting Gasquet and later Soderling or Tsonga in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic needs to get by these intimidating challengers before he can even consider facing Federer in the semifinals.  For once, he is the man under the radar as the media points to others like Federer, Nadal, del Potro, and even Davydenko.  Djokovic knows what it takes to win this title.

The question remains, can he find the “right stuff” to pull off another coronation down under?

3. Marin Cilic (Last Power Ranking: NR;  ATP Ranking: 14)

Last Four Tournaments: Chennai [Winner], Paris [Quarterfinalist], Basel [Quarterfinalist], Vienna [Finalist]

Power Ranking Points: 168

Cilic makes his first appearance in the Power Rankings with plenty of good reasons for inclusion at the No. 3 spot. The Croat has climbed steadily, improving his game and his results, making it into the ATP top 20 for the first time—currently sitting at No. 14.

Cilic is fresh off a victory in Chennai and is seeded No. 14 at the Australian Open where he meets Fabrice Santoro in the opening round.  The enigmatic Frenchman can be a tough opponent on any occasion.  Should Cilic advance as seeded, he would meet the No. 4 seed Juan Martin del Potro in the 4th round.

That could prove to be an enticing matchup of the young guns.  Cilic joins the pack of dark horse contenders who may wreak havoc with the establishment in Melbourne.

4. Rafael Nadal (Last Power Ranking: 8; ATP Ranking: 2)

Last Four Tournaments: Qatar [Finalist], London [RR (0-3)], Paris [Semifinalist], Shanghai [Finalist].

Power Ranking Points: 161

It seemed astonishing to see Nikolay Davydenko upset the No. 2 seed Nadal in the final at Doha.  In reality, however, the Russian leads in their head to head 5-4.  As is more and more the case these days, players have confidence in their ability to defeat Nadal.  The aura has evaporated.

But Nadal is returning to Melbourne to defend his only hard court slam championship which the Spaniard won by defeating Federer in five sets last year—another seismic final between the two titans of tennis.

Nadal has some challenges again before he reaches the final.  None more so than a potential quarterfinal matchup with the No. 5 seed, Andy Murray.

Along the way, Nadal may face Philipp Kohlschreiber, the German whose run at the 2008 Aussie Open sent Andy Roddick packing. He might also face the giant Ivo Karlovic who is capable of serving anybody off the court or dangerous Radek Stepanek.

Then if he gets past all of these dangerous opponents he could face del Potro in the semifinals. There are no gimmes in this tournament.  Is Nadal back?  His progress down under should provide a very compelling clue.

5. Radek Stepanek (Last Power Ranking: 9; ATP Ranking: 13)

Last Four Tournaments: Brisbane [Finalist], Paris [Semifinalist], Basel [Semifinalist], Vienna [Quarterfinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 137

For a tour “senior” Stepanek had a great 2009, ending the season in strong fashion with semifinal appearances in both Paris and Basel.  Recently, he reached the final in Brisbane where he lost to winner Andy Roddick 6-7, 6-7 in a very tightly contested match.

Unluckily for Stepanek, seeded No. 13 at the Australian Open, he meets Croat Ivo Karlovic in the first match.  That is not a favorable draw!  Should he survive, he could meet Nadal in the 4th round.

Stepanek has been around a long time and his experience should serve him well getting out of the gates and sustain him as he progresses.  He just has to pray that Karlovic has a poor serving day when they meet.

6. Andy Roddick (Last Power Ranking: NR; ATP Ranking: 7)

Last Four Tournaments: Brisbane [Winner], Shanghai [R32], Beijing [R32], US Open [R32].

Power Ranking Points: 131

Roddick has been pretty much “missing in action” since 2009 Wimbledon with hip and knee injuries.  But he rocketed back into action by winning the tournament in Brisbane where he met and defeated Radek Stepanek in the final 7-6, 7-6.  This should have tested all his extremities and revealed any lingering injuries that might have slowed him down.

Seeded No. 7 at the Australian Open, Roddick’s first true test may come against fellow countryman Sam Querry in the 3rd round.  Roddick might then conceivably face Tomas Berdych or Fernando Gonzalez.  The quarterfinals then would find him face to face with Juan Martin del Potro—assuming both make it that far.

Roddick demonstrated his belief and his desire to win another slam.  He is off to a good start down under.  It is time for a bit of good luck to be gifted to the perennial top 10 Roddick.

7. Roger Federer (Last Power Ranking: 5; ATP Ranking: 1)

Last Four Tournaments: Qatar [Semifinalist], London [Semifinalist], Paris [R64], Basel [Finalist].

Power Ranking Points: 126

Federer was disappointed in Abu Dhabi losing to Soderling and in Doha where he lost once again to Davydenko.  But he remains optimistic of his chances in Australia where he has not won since 2007.  Is it time for another title in Melbourne?  This is what everybody wants to know.

Federer comes into the Australian Open seeded No. 1.  His draw is filled with potential hazards.  His first round match is with Igor Andreev, who played Federer extremely tight in their last match at the 2008 U. S. Open with Federer finally prevailing in five.

The Swiss could potentially meet Lleyton Hewitt or Marcos Baghdatis in the 4th round and then either Fernando Verdasco or Nikolay Davydenko in the quarters.   That potentially leads to Djokovic in the semifinals.  No cake walk for Federer.

2009 was a stellar season for Federer.  Anything more is gravy.  The great thing for all tennis lovers is that the Swiss is ready to compete and would love to do it all over again.

8. Andy Murray (Last Power Ranking: 4; ATP Ranking: 4)

Last Four Tournaments: London[RR (2-1)], Paris [R16], Valencia [Winner], US Open [R16]

Power Ranking Points: 121

In 2009 Murray seized an ATP World Tour-best six titles and reached a career-high No. 2 ranking in August before finishing the year at No. 4.  He enters the Australian Open seeded No. 5, surpassed by del Potro for the No. 4 seed.   As of  January 18, Murray has recaptured the No. 4 ranking but his seeding will remain.

Murray is in Nadal’s quarter of the draw at the Australian Open and has potential matchups with either John Isner, fresh off his first ATP victory in Auckland or with the dangerous Gael Monfils who can produce a first-rate performance at any time.

Murray would meet Nadal in the quarters if both survive into the second week. After so many years of bad luck in Melbourne, will this finally prove to be the year the Scot finds his first major at the Australian Open?  His fans are tired of waiting and hoping for Murray to fulfill his potential

9. Juan Martin del Potro (Last Power Ranking: 3; ATP Ranking: 5)

Last Four Tournaments: London [Finalist], Paris [Quarterfinalist], Shanghai [R64], Tokyo [R32]

Power Ranking Points: 121

As one of the few to win a major in the last five years, much is expected of the lanky Argentine.  Del Potro won on the much faster hard courts at Flushing Meadows; so if he can withstand the heat and the pressure, why shouldn’t he take another slam in Melbourne?

Seeded No. 4, del Potro could conceivably meet Marin Cilic in the 3rd round.  Then perhaps either Fernando Gonzalez or Andy Roddick await.  His semifinal match might find him across the net from either Murray or Nadal.  It doesn’t get any easier as the tournament progresses.

With his only scheduled warm-up in Kooyong where the Argentine pulled out with a wrist problem, del Potro may be nursing an injury and his match strength could be in question.  His first round match with Michael Russell should provide some clues as to any potential wrist problems.

10. Gael Monfils (Last Power Ranking: 7; ATP Ranking: 12)

Last Four Tournaments: Brisbane [Semifinalist], Paris [Finalist], Valencia [R16], Vienna [Quarterfinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 120

In 2009 Monfils worked his way into the ATP top 10 for the first time in his career. Although he was not able to stay there, he is currently ranked and seeded at No. 12 going into the Australian Open.

This multi-talented but frustrating Frenchman has all the potential to be a champion—but apparently not the discipline or the confidence to go all the way.  He seems to find a way to self-destruct, beating himself.

Monfils is in Nadal’s quarter of the draw and could very early on meet American John Isner who is seeded with the withdrawal of Frenchman Gilles Simon due to injury.  Isner could be a real challenge for Monfils.  If the Frenchman survives it may send him directly to face Murray in the 4th round.

Monfils has the game and the talent to win.  Perhaps, this will be his finest season in the sun—down under.

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