Does LeBron James have to be in the finals for them not to be completely unwatchable?

Metzler Yes. I definitely feel like LeBron and the Cavaliers need to make the finals in order for them not to be the lowest-rated finals in history but also the most boring. Ever since the Suns lost to the Spurs, my faith in the NBA and David Stern has decreased significantly. Who wants to watch the Pistons and Spurs in the finals? I certainly don't and I refuse to watch it if that happens. And to add to that, the Spurs-Jazz game four had the same ratings as the Indy 500 rain delay. Not the Indy 500, but the rain delay!

Cameron An emphatic hell no! I think he and his team getting kicked around by the Spurs would be a super-bore. I want to see Rasheed Wallace and Bruce Bowen get into it. Show me Chauncey Billups choking out Manu Ginobili. The Pistons vs. San Antonio would be a showdown of the old bad boys vs. the new, and violence is the only thing that gets me turning on the NBA!

Chartrey Without question, the answer is yes. LeBron James is the new face of the NBA. Anytime he is in the mix and on TV, its like the NBA ratings are getting a Botox injection. That does kind of suck, though, because I think the way the Spurs play ball is the closest thing to heaven on earth (at least in basketball), and I just wish other people could see it.

Mayers If the Cavs don't win, the NBA Finals will be like a JV high school soccer game, where the only people watching are the players' parents and girlfriends. LeBron is one of the few players in pro basketball that I enjoy watching. If he wins it all, he should be considered the best in the game.

What is more surprising? The Milwaukee Brewers in first place, or the Yankees in fourth?

Metzler Neither really. But I feel like the Yankees deserve to be in fourth place. When the Toronto Blue Jays steal home off one of your best pitchers (Andy Pettitte) and a supposed stellar defense, you know you have problems. The Yankee pitching is horrible, and their premier hitters aren't hitting. They deserve nothing better than to be in fourth in the A.L. East.

Cameron The Brew Crew is a shocker. I'm an NL Central guy. I expect to have my Reds battle the Cubbies and the Astros but Milwaukee? Does Paul Molitor still play there? Greg Vaughn? Who the hell plays there then? The Yankees aren't a surprise, just a treat.

Chartrey I have to say that both are sweet, sweet surprises. I have been waiting for years for the fall of the "Evil Empire," and now it is at hand. At the same time, this Brewers team is really fun to watch, with lots of up-and-coming talent. Is there anything more awe-inspiring then watching Prince Fielder crush a ball 450 feet? I submit that there is not.

Mayers The Yankees by far. The Brewers have already started to slip, and no one really expects them to compete for a title. If they're in contention in August, I'd be very surprised. New York, on the other hand, is a disaster. A slow start is one thing, but this is getting comical.

What was the biggest sports story of the last year?

Metzler The biggest sports story this school year was the Northwest getting the first and second picks in the NBA draft for the upcoming season. This could be the answer to all of the Sonics' problems and could help save the franchise.

Cameron The biggest sports story of the past 365 days would have to be the Dawgs getting snubbed in both postseason tournaments in NCAA hoops. I don't know if it was just disappointment because they failed their expectations, but when I heard they didn't get in either, I was taken aback. There aren't many sports stories that do that — most are just wins, losses and stats, all of which we forget.

Chartrey The biggest story of the year has to be Barry Bonds chasing down the home run record. Hate him or love him (or loathe entirely in my case), Bonds is making the biggest waves with every baseball he parks deep into McCovey Cove. The only thing that comes close — to me — is the smack down laid on by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. NFL players may actually have to become good role models. That means you, Michael Vick.

Mayers The biggest story is probably Bonds' fraudulent attack on one of the greatest sports records. The way the Giants slugger is approaching it, he could make the record untouchable, which is horrible for the game. Hopefully Hank Aaron's legacy goes unchanged.

What was your most memorable sports moment over the last year?

Metzler The dunk that Baron Davis had over Andrei Kirilenko was one of my most memorable sports moments. The Warriors deserve to be playing in the Western Conference Finals, and not for the Jazz. I think that Davis and the Warriors definitely proved themselves during the NBA playoffs this season and pushed them one step further in the right direction.

Cameron No contest — it was the 3A high school softball championship I covered last weekend in Tacoma. After Kennedy won, there were tears, an ice bath, they dug up home plate and girls were hyperventilating, they were so excited. It really was electric. There was more excitement and energy on the field after that game than any other games I've seen this year, including any Huskies women's basketball game, any Mariners or Seahawks game, and any other high school game, including all of the state tournaments.

Chartrey Far and away, it was Dan Howell picking off UCLA quarterback Ben Olson and returning it for a touchdown. Not only did it seal the Huskies' first win over UCLA in five years, but it also came just a week and a half after the death of Howell's father. Standing just yards away as he celebrated is one of my top five moments ever. Whether or not you believe in God, there was something supernatural about that play.

Mayers My most memorable sports moment was David Beckham signing with the Los Angeles Galaxy. As a diehard soccer fan, I hope bringing over one of the world's best will make the sport meaningful in this country. Hopefully other worldwide stars will follow, because there is definitely an audience here.