“If you will it, it is no dream.”

Written in 1902 by Theodor Herzl, these eight words served as a rallying cry for an entire people seeking its own homeland.

For men like Herzl – the “father of modern-day Zionism – it was the dream of a new nation-state he could call “home.” But for me, it’s the dream of rooting for an NBA champion. Check that – multiple NBA champion.

Thanks to recent NBA playoff events, my dream of a new Chicago Bulls dynasty isn’t far from reality. It is in “will-ing” distance.

And it’s very simple. Sign LeBron James.

An acquisition of that magnitude could change the landscape of basketball – for years. It would re-energize an entire city. James’ summer signing would even make Chicagoans forget about the Cubs’ latest struggles.

We were present for the greatest “23” ever. Now, we may bear witness to the next best “23,” – err, “6.”

So listen up Jerry Reinsdorf, John Paxson and Gar Forman. And listen good:

You’ve had your chance before. First, it was Tim Duncan and Tracy McGrady. Then Kobe Bryant admitted to shopping for Chicago homes. They came and went. And hoisted multiple trophies.

But here it is. Here’s your chance. You’ve cleared the cap space. You even have some talent. Derrick Rose is one of the best young guards in the league. Joakim Noah is a top-flight rebounder, and certainly one of the peskiest players in the NBA. You fired your head coach Vinny Del Negro, claiming he couldn’t take this team to “the next level.”

How do you get there? Try adding the most dominating player in the NBA.

The Bulls could not have asked for a better sequence of events. The Cavaliers, once a heavy post-season favorite, are suddenly out of the playoffs. James’s supporting staff looked shockingly suspect. And so did LeBron – leading some to wonder if he quit on his team.

Does that bother me? Sure. Do I think he’ll learn from this experience? I hope so.

Will securing the two-time MVP be easy? Of course not.

You’ll have to compete with the bright lights of New York and Los Angeles. You’ll have to keep LeBron’s buddy, Jay-Z, from luring him to Brooklyn. But the most difficult task will be dissuading a loyal man from remaining in the place he’s called home for 25 years.

But you can do it. Splice together a Rose highlight package. Hire Phil Jackson. Hell…bring back public address announcer Ray Clay. Whatever it takes.

Then take him outside the United Center’s front doors. Stop in front of a certain statue. Remind him about what greatness meant to the city of Chicago and what it could mean again.

I will it. The city wills it. Now it’s time for team management.

If you will it, Chicago Bulls, this dream could become one thrilling reality.

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Agonizing. That’s how I’d describe the New York Mets 2009 season.

They didn’t excel in many areas last season. One category the Mets dominated? Injuries.

Down goes Reyes. Down goes Beltran. Down goes Delgado. 7…8…9… The Metropolitans dropped harder, and more repeatedly, than someone on the receiving end of Muhammed Ali’s right hand.

Fans had great expectations for a team celebrating its inaugural season in Citi Field. Unfortunately, the on-field product had as much success in 2009 as the company for which its field is named.

At least their two biggest rivals didn’t square off in the World Series or anything…

Enough about the past. The year is 2010. Time for a fresh start. A new beginning. A….no…it can’t be…more injuries?

Carlos Beltran is out until at least May following “minor” knee surgery (against team doctor’s orders – no less).

And, just days ago, doctors diagnosed Jose Reyes with an overactive thyroid. Healing instructions include refraining from athletic activity for two to eight weeks - is swinging a bat considered an athletic activity? Reyes will surely begin the season alongside Beltran – on the disabled list.

What about players on the field? Everyday Lineup…eventually:

C – Rod Barajas
1B – Daniel Murphy
2B – Luis Castillo
3B – David Wright
SS – Jose Reyes
LF – Jason Bay
CF – Carlos Beltran
RF – Jeff Francoeur
SP – Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Fernando Nieve
RP – Kelvim Escobar, Ryota Igarashi, Pedro Feliciano, Sean Green, Tobi Stoner
CL – Francisco Rodriguez

The Mets entered the offseason with one significant hole, starting pitching. Free agent possibilities included John Lackey, Rich Harden, Randy Wolf and Joel Piniero. So who did the Mets sign? You guessed it, Josh Fogg.

But let’s talk about what they’ve done right.

The Mets made one major free agent splash, signing OF Jason Bay to a high-priced contract. They will lean on his power bat to make up for other lineup shortcomings (Murphy’s lack of power, Francoeur’s lack of contact, etc).

Speaking of shortcomings, the Mets front office heeded their player’s advice and lowered the outfield fences. Sorry pitchers.

Since we’re on the subject of pitching…

Everyone knows about Johan Santana (and if you don’t, read below). The jury is still out on the likes of John Maine, Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez. Do they have talent? Sure. Are they consistent? No. All three recorded double-digit victories in 2008. Last season? 20 wins - combined. Time for a renaissance.

Enough with the jokes. No one can argue this team is devoid of talent. Add David Wright, Luis Castillo, a (rejuvenated?) Gary Matthews Jr. and K-Rod to the aforementioned list – and you have the makings of a winning team.

And they’ll have to prove it – immediately. The Mets face one of the toughest opening months in baseball. Four of their first eight series are against 2009 National League playoff participants – three of which are on the road. In a division with the back-to-back World Series participant Philadelphia Phillies, a young and improving Florida Marlins and an always steady Atlanta Braves, the Mets will have their work cut out for them.

Can they win the division? No. But at least they’ll have a chance to get off the mat.

Team MVP: Johan Santana…because if he’s not…this team is in BIG TROUBLE. The staff ace must live up to his billing to hide other rotational deficiencies. The 2-time Cy Young Award winner recorded only 13 wins last season. He’ll need a lot more than that for this team to contend.

X-Factor: Can I pick health? Fine…I’ll take David Wright. Why choose a 2-time Silver Slugger and Gold Glove winner? Wright hit only 10 home runs last season. A baffling number for someone who hadn’t hit less than 26 in his previous four full seasons. He blamed his spacious home park. Was it the truth or is he the boy who cried Citi Field?

Standings: 4th in the NL East…76-86

Our FansEdge 30 Team MLB Preview continues with the San Francisco Giants. Look for another preview on Friday when James makes his first contribution.

Baseball by the Bay

The San Francisco Giants bask in the glow of Willie Mays and loom in the shadows of Barry Bonds and it stirs an odd feeling to see the two of them arm in arm. Mays is an iconic face, name, and the star of one of the most iconic highlights in baseball history. Bonds swept the gullible world up in a torrent of power and dominance at the plate that baseball had never seen. Then came the steroids investigations, scandals, hearings, reports, rumors, accusations, denials, etc, etc, etc and since his involuntary retirement from the game, he has been one of the most prominent faces to represent the steroid era. And so the two best players to wear a Giants uniform will go down in history with measurably different legacies.

Turning the Leaf Over

It has been two seasons since Barry Bonds last played baseball in the bay. In the last three seasons that Bonds played, the Giants were 222-273. They twice finished 3rd in the division and in his last year they finished dead last, losing 91 games.

In the two years since he left, the Giants have given themselves a face lift and emerged as a younger, more balanced, and better baseball team, finishing 88-74 in 2009, the fifth best record in the NL.

In 2007, the youngest starting position player was 32 years old. They did not have a single player under the age of 30 have more than 300 plate appearances. The top nine players with the most plate appearances had an average age of 35.67 years.

On the flip side, their pitching was young. Tim Lincecum (23) and Matt Cain (22) were locking down starting rotation spots. Noah Lowry and Barry Zito were both also under 30 and in the rotation.

After the 2007 season the Giants began a plan that they continued after the 2008 season and after last season. They let aging veteran players move on via free agency or trade and only replaced them with temporary fixes while they waited for their minor league prospects to become major league ready.

Pedro Feliz moved to the Phillies after 2007 and they replaced him with Jose Castillo who kept the seat warm for Pablo Sandoval, who had a monster breakthrough season as a 22 year old third baseman in 2009.

In 2009 they got younger at every infield position. They’ll get younger in the starting rotation in 2010. They featured three starters age 26 or under (Cain, Lincecum, and Jonathan Sanchez), Zito (31) and the now retired Randy Johnson last year in the rotation.

The Big Unit’s exit from the game possibly makes way for stud prospect Madison Bumgarner to step into the rotation. Bumgarner is 25 years or so younger then The Unit and probably about 7 years younger than Johnson’s mustache.

A Plan

In the past the Giants have been known for inking some huge contracts to players who have not delivered, most notably Barry Zito and his nine digit deal, but at least Zito pitched respectably last year.

They gave Aaron Rowand a large contract. He made $9.6 million dollars last season and hit just .261 with 15 HR and 61 RBI.

But this off season they have signed players to far less risky contracts. They signed Aubrey Huff to a one year deal for $3 million dollars. They signed Mark DeRosa to two years for $12 million. And they brought back Bengie Molina on a one year, $4.5 million deal to keep the catcher’s position warm for Buster Posey.

Key Departures for the Giants: Rich Aurilia, Randy Johnson, and Randy Winn – all 35 years old or older.

Key Arrivals for the Giants: Aubrey Huff, Mark De Rosa

What they’ll look like:
C – Bengie Molina
1B – Aubrey Huff
2B – Freddy Sanchez
SS – Edgar Renteria
3B – Pablo Sandoval
LF – Mark DeRosa
CF – Aaron Rowand
RF – Nate Schierholtz

Util – Juan Uribe
IF – Emmanuel Burriss
OF – Fred Lewis

Rotation: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Barry Zito, Jonathan Sanchez, and Madison Bumgarner
Closer: Brian Wilson

This line-up isn’t going to score you 6-7 runs per game. But it doesn’t need to because they should get a ton of quality starts out of this rotation and late leads are in good hands with Brian Wilson in the 9th.

Predictions:

Team MVP: Pablo Sandoval. Sandoval hit .330 with 25 HR and 90 RBI in his first full season in the major as a 22 year old in 2009. Look for a .300+ average with increased power numbers this year.

X-Factor: X-Factor is a weird term. It could mean a lot of things. Here it means this: the thing you aren’t counting on to happen, but it could happen and if it does, really good things will follow. Jonathan Sanchez could be awesome. He could be 16-17 wins, 200+ K’s and be a third scary pitcher to face in this rotation. He needs to improve his consistency but he doesn’t walk a ton of guys and he strikes out more than one per inning so that’s a great place to start.

The Giants had the fifth best record in the NL last year and I expect them to improve on it this year. They are operating like an organization with a plan and that’s a good thing.

Prediction: 2nd place in the NL West and NL Wild Card winner.