“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.

Okay, so our 30 teams before the start of the season timeline was a little aggressive. So was our 500 word limit that regularly ran over for each post.

In hopes of simply completing my 10 required teams and in the way a desk calendar attempts to give you a brief chuckle in the morning, I now give to you my incredibly inadequate PostView of the 2010 Seattle Mariners.

Cliff Lee. Chone Figgins. They are new. Add them to Felix Hernandez, Ichiro and … Well that’s really the question isn’t it? Subscribing to the stars and scrubs strategy of the fantasy world, the Mariners have a few players of supreme talent and some other guys that are very enthusiastic clappers on the bench.

However, the Angels have lost some players, Texas still plays in Arlington and Oakland‘s everyday lineup includes only one guy I could potentially pick out of a crowd, so anything is possible in the AL West this year.

And hey, if it doesnt work out, we’ll always re-swap those prospects for Cliff Lee in Philly.

Predictions:

Team MVP – Ichiro…he’ll have to score 120 runs for them to have a chance

X Factor – Anyone claiming to be the cleanup hitter. Ichiro and Figgins will get on base for Seattle, but who will drive them in? Jose Lopez can’t do it all by himself from the six hole. Milton Bradley…just ask fans in Cleveland, San Diego, Chicago and I’m guessing most of the other spots Milton has spent a year–and only one year–in lately.

Standings – 2nd in AL West

The Nationals are a baseball team. They are not the national team however, that would have to be the Yankees…some might say the Cubs…but it is definitely not the Nationals who lost more games than anyone in baseball last year. My favorite team plays the Washington Nationals 19 times a year. Out of those 19 games I expect to win 16 or so. These are all indirect ways of saying the Washington Nationals are a franchise with some problems.

The Nationals were the Expos. Wait let me backup…Before that, I’m told the Nationals played in Washington D.C. and then moved to Minnesota to become the Twins. A new team was founded in Washington and called themselves…the Nationals. They stayed for awhile and then moved to Texas to become the Rangers. The Expos were their own team, and decided to move to Washington to become…that’s right…the Nationals. It’s all very confusing, but if you’re a National’s fan…well maybe you should prepare yourself for an eventual move because this marriage of team and town seems to be a fleeting one at best.

But there is promise in the Nationals organization. They have been relatively bad for some time, and have been able to parlay that badness into high draft picks. This past year, the Nationals selected Stephen Strasburg (Cy Young reincarnated) with the first pick of the first round. Stephen Strasburg throws the ball 214 miles per hour. Or 100 miles per hour. One of those two. He has some pretty terrifying secondary pitches. He likes to smile.3

Stephen Strasburg, as well as the first pick of this coming year’s draft, are supposed to be the twin pillars of the Nationals franchise in the coming decade.

But that’s tomorrows news. Let’s look at what’s happening today in the nation’s capitol.

C – Ivan Rodriquez
1B – Adam Dunn
2B – Adam Kennedy
3B – Ryan Zimmerman
SS – Cristian Guzman
LF – Josh Willingham
CF – Nyjer Morgan
RF – Elijah Dukes

UTL – Willie Harris, Ian Desmond, Jesus Flores

Rotation – Jason Marquis, John Lannan, Scott Olsen, Craig Stammen, J.D. Martin

Closer – Matt Capps

The reality is that the Nationals will be able to field a really respectable everyday lineup. Morgan is a fine leadoff hitter and has the ability to swipe maybe 40 bases. Adam Dunn is a lock to hit 40 home runs with 100 RBI. Cristian Guzman usually has about 175 singles at the end of every year. Pudge, Willingham, and Kennedy are all solid veterans that can help a locker room cope with losing 95+ games.

Ryan Zimmerman is the star of the team and after a 2009 that saw him compile a .292/30/106 line…as well as a 30 game hitting streak, Nationals fans have to be excited that the team has an All Star locked up for the foreseeable future.

But back to that losing 95+ games bit…The Nat’s pitching staff—while I’m sure are a bunch of nice guys—is going to really struggle in that division this year. The Phillies, Mets, Braves and Marlins all boast fastball killer lineups. And that’s what the Nationals have. A bunch of pitchers that throw fastballs that don’t move so fast.

Marquis is a great third or fourth starter on a playoff bound team, but he’s no ace. Lannan is really aided by their huge stadium, but he quietly posted nice numbers last year. Scott Olsen looks to regain some of the promise he showed in Florida while Craig Stammen and J.D. Martin are two gentlemen I couldn’t pick out of a lineup…and I watch this team 10 or 15 times a year. Washington’s other young Zimmerman, Jordan, will miss the 2010 season following surgery to his pitching arm. If you’re a home run ball collector, you could have a worse business plan than buying season tickets in the left field seats this summer.

Matt Capps had varying levels of success as Pittsburgh’s closer over the last few years, but he’s probably not going to surprise anyone this year. If he notches 30 saves…it’s a good year.

The real story in Washington is when will Strasburg arrive, and how will he do against major league hitters? If you haven’t seen his stuff, take a look at this. Those college kids look like they’re swinging blindfolded up there, but who knows what major league hitters will do against him…

Predictions:

Team MVP – Zimmerman…he’s simply their best player on offense or defense and he should improve upon last year’s legitimate breakout campaign

X-Factor – Again it’s Strasburg…if he comes up in the early summer months and dominates, fans in Washington will give the team a free pass for another season or two

Standings – 5th in the NL East

Well, our projected speed for churning these previews out has slowed to a Bengie Molina on the basepaths like pace. But we’ll see if a preview of the Diamondbacks cant get us back on…track. Lots of “acks” in there.

The Arizona Diamonbacks originated in 1998. They promptly came out of the gate and were World Series Champions by their 3rd year. Seems fitting. The Diamondbacks and Marlins have both won World Series titles while pitiable franchises like the Cubs haven’t so much as sniffed a World Series appearance in decades. Even the Rays and Rockies have been to the Series in the last few years. Doesn’t seem right.

On a side note, why do these expansion teams always pick the worst names? The Nashville Predators? The Toronto Raptors? I guess fans of Arnold and/or Jurrasic Park were clamoring for sports franchises to cross over to? At least the Diamondbacks took the normal route of selecting a local animal to represent themselves with, but a poisonous snake?

Hey Kids! Come on out to the ballpark and win a chance to pet Diamondback mascot Freddy the Rattlesnake! Don’t worry Mom and Dad, he’s been de-fanged!

(In a brilliant marketing move, the Diamondbacks have selected this to be their actual mascot)

Anyways, terrible name. Snakes are dangerous and children should fear them at all costs.
These Diamondbacks though, let’s see how much fear they’ll inspire in the rest of the National League in 2010.

C – Miguel Montero
1B – Adam LaRoche
2B – Kelly Johnson
3B – Mark Reynolds
SS – Stephen Drew
LF – Conor Jackson
CF – Chris Young
RF – Justin Upton

UTL – Gerrardo Parra, Chris Snyder

Rotation – Dan Haren, Brandon Webb, Edwin Jackson, Ian Kennedy, Kenny DeNunez

Closer – Chad Qualls

Honestly, I really want to dislike this team. I don’t know why. Call it latent snake hatred if you want, but just from their lineup and first three starters, they’ve got a good chance to compete in the NL West. Picking up LaRoche and Johnson in the offseason on reasonable deals (4.5M and 2.3M respectively) were quiet but smart value moves as both should see improvemed hitting in Arizona.

Mark Reynolds was a player that won a lot of league titles for fantasy owners last season. The only player in the league to hit 40 HR, 100 RBI and 20 SB, Reynolds came out of Jack Cust like depths of the waiver pool and produced at an elite level. Justin Upton, on the other hand, had all the pedigree you could hope for, and actually delivered by hitting 26 HR to go with 20 SB. Upton is 20 years old or 17 or some ridiculous age that makes everyone salivate over his eventual ceiling. This isn’t the year he reaches it, but expecting him to increase 2009’s totals is a fairly easy thing to do.

The pitching staff might boast the best 3 pitchers on any team in the NL. Dan Haren is a perennial stud, posting back to back 200+ strikeout seasons, with an ERA in the low 3’s and a whip in the low 1’s. He’s good. Brandon Webb is coming back from shoulder problems last season, but was the NL Cy Young in 2006 and runner up in 2007 and 2008. If he’s healthy again, there is no reason to expect different from him. Edwin Jackson was picked up in the Max Scherzer trade, and Arizona can expect the young hurler to see improved numbers in an inferior league.

Chad Qualls is their closer. His last name begins with the letter “Q” which is unusual, I think.

The Diamondbacks will be overlooked in the NL this year due to their poor showing last season and because all people fear and hate snakes. But if healthy, they’re a team that you probably wouldn’t want to face in the playoffs simply because of the top of their pitching rotation and a couple of big power hitters. People may scoff at “playoffs” and “Diamondbacks” in the same sentence, but that’s a difficult division out there and the winner could come out with 88 wins or so.

Predictions:

Team MVP – Webb…if he’s healthy this team has a shot at the playoffs

X- Factor – Snakes across the great State of Arizona will gather and prepare for a massive first strike campaign against the people of that state. Act accordingly.

Standings – 2nd Place NL West (potential Wild Card winner)