Jock Strap? Check. Other Support? Missing.

Could someone please put out an APB on Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and Kyle Korver … quickly! Derrick Rose and the Bulls were spanked on Sunday night in Atlanta, as the Hawks evened their best-of-seven series at 2-games apiece. Rose, whose only support came from his athletic gear, was forced – and I don't use that word lightly – forced to take 30+ shots on a night when he didn't have his jumper.

Rose may be the meat in the Bulls sandwich (forgive the analogy, but it's lunchtime and I'm hungry!), but Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are the bread that keeps this team going – the intensity, the energy the Bulls so desperately need if they're going to revive their playoff lives and make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Deng and Noah have to provide the spark - Deng by slashing to the bucket and creating space, and Noah by banging the boards and being a general nuisance.

And don't get me started on Korver! If you're a "shooter" - but you're missing your shots – and you don't play much defense – what's the point? Exactly! It's the lack of points that’s killing this team.

Atlanta has new confidence after a beat-down on Friday night. Josh Smith has discovered that if you don't heave-up bad shot after bad shot, and instead attack the rim, you will have success – and he did against the Bulls on Sunday. The Bulls are a couple of Jamal Crawford hot-streaks from going home and wondering how the hell they blew a shot at the Conference Finals to the Atlanta Hawks!

DOJ Asks: Why No Playoffs in College Football? I'd Like An Answer Too!

Every so often the sports consciousness reverts back to the topic of a playoff system for college football. This time it was spurred by the United States Department of Justice, who has asked the NCAA to answer some questions about why it doesn't have a playoff system and to determine whether the BCS complies with Federal Antitrust Laws.

The old Bowl System was brutal. The BCS is better, but not great. A playoff system, pitting the top 16 teams in the country would be ideal in my mind. Don't give me that BS about the impact these games would have on the Student-Athlete. It comes down to money - and the BCS is making a lot of it. But since you and I don't have a financial stake in the BCS, we don't care how much they make or don't make - we care about who the National Champion is - and whether they won the title - or were given it by the BCS.


Read more on the US DOJ's questioning here ... 

Youngest MVP in the history of the NBA: Derrick Rose

As has been the assumption for over a month now, Derrick Rose is the 2011 NBA Most Valuable Player. Rose collected 113 votes for 1st place, compiling 1,182 total points.

Dwight Howard was a distant 2nd-place with 643 points. LeBron James had 522 points, good for 3rd place. Kobe Bryant came in 4th place with 428 votes.

"I think it's great. I think he's very well deserving. I think it's a situation where everybody knows it's his. It's not like somebody else deserves it," said Joakim Noah. "It's for him and I'm happy for him, but there's really no time to celebrate it right now. We're in a dogfight against Atlanta!"

Rose will get the Maurice Prodoloff MVP Trophy at a presentation during Wednesday's playoff game against the Hawks.

He is the first Bull to win Most Valuable Player since none other than Michael Jordan in 1998 - the last of his 5 MVP's.

Did #1 deserve the MVP? Were you surprised the vote wasn't even close?

Melissa Isaacson has more on ESPN-Chicago.

Post your thoughts in the "comments" section below.

She can see Russia from her porch, but can't see credit for Obama

Yesterday I wrote about how President Obama seems to be getting less credit for the capture and death of Osama Bin Laden than former President George W. Bush. If you doubted me, just look here at one of the premier names in the Republican party - Sarah Palin

Did she once mention the CURRENT Commander in Chief / President ????

Even after Bin Laden's Death, Obama Gets No Credit

Barack Obama is quickly becoming the Rodney Dangerfield of Commanders in Chief. It seems no matter what happens on this man's shift, Obama will NEVER get credit from some - for anything.

Blame is in no shortage when it comes to an economy that he inherited. In case you didn't know, Obama was leading the country when the economy collapsed, when housing prices tanked, when bailouts were "all the rage" and when wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were launched. Those things are all his fault.

But now, when something positive happens - the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden, the fingers are pointing towards George W. Bush? Are you shitting me? G-Dub? The man who started wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, built Guantanamo Bay and oversaw the demolition of US housing - is now getting credit for something he couldn't do during 6 years in the White House - capture Bin Laden.

General Stanley McChrystal praised the "decision makers" for having great courage. "Think of what would have happened if the mission had not been successful, and all of the second-guessing that would have happened," McChrystal told a meeting of the American Iron and Steel Institute in Colorado Springs.

"This mission sends a message about our will to stand up for what is right."

Read the rest of MacChrystal's comments The Huffington Post.

Eight years after "Mission Accomplished" signs adorned a Naval carrier behind Bush, Obama is the guy who's troops took out the mastermind of 9/11. By not giving credit to the Commander in Chief, you're putting yourself in a bucket with Sarah Palin, Donald Trump and the "Birthers."

Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent, Tea Party, Libertarian or other - we are all Americans today and should be proud that what took almost 10 years to accomplish - is now done. Osama Bin Laden is dead. Stop crediting Bush and give Obama credit on this one. After all, the Mission is now accomplished.

Is this the final picture of Osama Bin Laden? Apparently Not.

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UPDATE: It appears that as wonderful as social media is at connecting the world, no matter our locations, it also represents an easy way to spread misinformation. In this case ... the picture of Bin Laden's bloodied face appears not to be genuine ...

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REUTERS - Read the article on how they determine illegitimacy of Bin Laden's death photo HERE.

Original Text:
Not sure if this is legit, or just a creation of the social media madness, but here goes ... allegedly a photo of Osama Bin Laden after being killed by American Troops in Pakistan ...

BEFORE

AFTER

As we near the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the dead can finally rest in peace!

Grade Your Team's Draft

Now that you've had some time to digest your favorite NFL team's draft, let us know what you think. Did they fill a need? Did they draft a stud or a dud?

I'll start out with two comments ...

1) I'm glad the Bears took Gabe Carimi, the OT from Wisconsin. The Badgers are an Offensive Line Factory and the Bears desperately needed protection for Jay Cutler and running lanes for Matt Forte.

2) Staying in the NFC North ... the Lions are going to be sickeningly good on the defensive front with 1st round draft pick Nick Fairley joining Ndamukong Suh - DAMN!

Post your comments below ...