Welcome back to Starting 5 – a weekly column by Operation Sports!
Each week, Columnist Shawn Drotar will tackle the world of sports and sports gaming in a rapid-fire discussion with a member of the Operation Sports staff.
This week’s guest: John Griffin!

Is there a question on your mind? Find out below how to submit your question for next week’s column!

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Starting 5 – Five hot-button topics in the world of Sports and Sports Gaming

1) Is new coach Larry Brown the answer to the Pistons’ prayers? Can he take them to the top of the East?

Shawn: It’s possible. I think that the Pistons would have had a much better chance this year had they drafted Carmelo Anthony. Brown is an outstanding coach, but he’s nomadic for a reason. Moreover, I’m not sure how much the Pistons really improved. Wallace, Hamilton and Billups have essentially reached their potential, and Milicic won’t become a star this season. The Pistons are a good team, and could easily reach the NBA Finals – where they’d get hammered by whomever comes out of the West.

John: I say: why not? Brown is one of the best, if not the best, at getting the most out of his players. He also has a very mature group that will take what he is saying to heart and give their all every night. Instead of talk about his relationship with Iverson every night, Brown will actually get to talk more about the action on the hardwood and about Ben Wallace’s play, instead of his rap album. As tight as the East is every season, it very well might come down to coaching. In that case, give me Brown every single time.

2) Were the Boston Red Sox overreacting when they fired manager Grady Little?

John: I wish someone would tell me what they were thinking. He’s employed at Fenway for two seasons and he gets over 90 wins both times. He gets along with his players and they respect him. Then, he gets them five outs away from the World Series, and he decides to stick with his ace. Now, that one move is supposed to cancel out all that he has done?? I think Epstein has shown his youth on this one. Do you see the Cubs firing Dusty Baker over staying with ace Kerry Wood just a little too long in Game 7 of the NLCS?? I don’t think you do. Some team will get a great deal in landing Little, and I hope that team comes back and keep the curse going for the BoSox.

Shawn: I’m not sure. Boston’s a pretty unforgiving place for managers, and it would have hard for Little to come back next year. He was consistently out-managed during the entire playoffs, but he was lucky, and got away with it until the very last game. Those are good reasons for letting him go. However, John has a point. Little got a lot (no pun intended) out of scrappers like Todd Walker, Bill Mueller and Kevin Millar, and traditional underachievers like David Ortiz and Jason Varitek. It’s not as easy to do as it looks. Boston had an outstanding season – something that’s been overlooked here – and no one on the Red Sox has anything to be ashamed of. I think this split is regrettable, but necessary – for both parties.

3) Is “Top Spin” this year’s most addictive game?

John: Yes! The perfect formula for a “video addiction” is here. The ability to play with your own character online makes everyone spend those countless late night hours doing the different challenges in the hope that they can give their player the edge in those online games. There is nothing more humbling to go into an online game, win the first point and then watch as your opponent is faster and better than your character. That just leads the user back into the single player mode in the attempt to make their guy better. On top of that, the games are action packed and fun to play. There’s nothing like having a long rally and then watching your opponent hit it wide; giving you that hard-fought point. How can you not love a game like that?

Shawn: I’m a huge tennis fan. I played on the team in high school, and follow the sport closely. I’m delighted to see that real tennis strategy and shot selection matters in “Top Spin”. It’s an awfully good depiction of the sport and one of the best sports games of the year. It’s simplicity of play makes it fun and exciting for tennis fans and gamers of all persuasions alike. The fact that it’s online is icing on the cake. This has been a great year for sports games – and “Top Spin” ranks among the elite.

4) XSN: Is it a bust this year?

John: Well, it certainly isn’t helping itself. It is a great concept and I was looking forward to it. However, it launched with Fever, which was an unfinished game, and certainly not a pleasurable one. Then they don’t give the commissioners that much control over their leagues or tournaments. I hate it when someone would rather take a chance on a coin flip than to play me, knowing that he has a better chance with a coin toss. It would be much better if the commissioner could forfeit that game to the person who is trying to get the game played. I was also hoping to use it for Top Spin, but that has been delayed until Nov. 18, another set back for this program. Sega Sports also gave it a hit with the unveiling of its online leagues for the PS2 edition of ESPN NFL Football. The detailed box scores and stats made XSN look rudimentary and rushed. Hopefully, XSN will improve on these things, but as of right now, its starting to look like an over-hyped feature.

Shawn: I think it’s a bit too early too tell. As of this moment, XSN is still in its “pre-season”. Has it raised expectations beyond what it’s delivered? Unquestionably. I’m not sure if this year’s games can salvage that, but I’m not willing to give up on it just yet. What matters most is still the games themselves – if the XSN titles aren’t outstanding, the whole initiative is shot. There is an alternative, however – next year, open up the XSN service for third-party developers. Let them leverage the system for their own titles. I personally don’t know a single person who would have played the PS2 version of “ESPN NFL Football” if Xbox Live would have supported Sega’s online leagues. Give gamers more choices, more flexibility, and more power along with the already-excellent XBL performance, and sit back and watch the Xbox and it’s sports titles fly off the shelves.

5) What team will come out of the blue this college basketball season?

Shawn: As I little in the D-1 college basketball wasteland that is Colorado, I haven’t seen quality hoops…well, ever. So, my idea of “coming out of the blue” may be stilted. However, in Boulder, one of the up-and-coming coaches in the league is quietly building a decent program. With David Harrison, a potential NBA lottery pick, at center, the Buffaloes could sneak into the “Big Dance” this year. Championship contender? Of course not. But when you’ve only won one NCAA tournament game since 1969, you can’t be too choosy…

John: I will go with Cincinnati on this one. Yes, I know it looks funny because I’m a fan of C-USA, but in many publications they are being picked to go roughly 5-7 in C-USA. I just don’t think that is the case. People will know the name Kareem Johnson by the end of this year. From what I’ve seen of him, he will probably destroy C-USA and help Cincy win the C-USA and go deep into the tourney. Also, look for Wichita State to make some noise this season and in the postseason. Yes, the school that has a bigger following for its baseball team might just bring some of those fans in to sit in their basketball arena. They will win the Paradise Jam in November to start bringing the noise. The team is composed of college transfers and junior college players that I think will give this team the edge in close games and on the road.

6th Man – A little help off the bench

6) If TCU finishes in the top 12 of the BCS, do they throw them a bone and invite them to a BCS bowl?

John: First, the only way this can happen is if the Top 6 teams in the BCS standings are also the conference champions, thus freeing up 2 at-large bids. That would mean that the BCS bowls would pick 2 at-large teams from those that are 7-12 in the BCS standings. It would not surprise me if the BCS invited the Horned Frogs just to shut up the non-BCS schools. What better way for the BCS people to say, “See, the system works” than to let TCU get an at-large bid. Now many things would have to happen for this to come true. But, with the talks of lawsuits and getting Congress involved - it would not surprise me.

Shawn: No way. Won’t happen. The way the BCS is comprised, if you’re not a big-time (read ticket-selling) school – you don’t get in – period. That’s why Congress is looking at it. There are about 80-90 schools in the NCAA that have no chance of ever winning the national championship under the current system – no matter what they do. It’s despicable.

24 Second Clock – Get one more off in 24 words or less

John: TCU has won every game, something that is hard at any level. BCS, please give them a shot at one of your bowls!