ESPN

Today on "SportsNation," we begin voting on the best posterization dunks of all time.

The SportsNation crew has been debating for months around the halls of ESPN: Which is the greatest NBA posterization dunk of all time? Then, it dawned on us: Let's have the people decide the best in a bracket-style tournament. (It's what we do best.)

Click through the first-round matchups now and relive some of the best dunks ever. Cast your vote all week and watch "SportsNation" on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2, when we crown the posterization champion.

Note: Broadcast voting results are as of this afternoon (ET).

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  Which quarterback will win a second Super Bowl first?

  Super Bowl XLIV did not exactly go according to script. Drew Brees and the underdog Saints won their first title at the expense of Peyton Manning's Colts.

• 

  Which was the better halftime performance: The Who or the light show?

  OK, we'll admit it, The Who's performance was pretty good last night. Of course they were greatly helped by one of the coolest light displays we've ever seen.

• 

  Was the Saints' onside kick the biggest play of Super Bowl XLIV?

  Coach Sean Payton's decision to open the second half with an onside kick may be the gutsiest call in Super Bowl history. But was it the game's biggest play?




What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.

We ask, and you deliver. Each day on "SportsNation" (4 p.m. ET and midnight ET, ESPN2), hosts Michelle Beadle and Colin Cowherd run down the weirdest Web stories submitted by viewers.

Monday's Web stories include the pen spinning world championship, the quadruple bubble girl and a kayaker that gets a suprise visit from a goose.

• Submit your favorite Web clips and tune in to see whether they make the cut.

• Vote: Which teams will win in Villanova at West Virginia and Kansas at Texas?
• Rank 'Em: Where are tonight's teams in your Power 16? | Chat: Joe Lunardi, 3 ET

What does college basketball need to do to get your attention? Hit you in the head with something? West Virginia's fans can take care of that (although as the Charleston (W.V) Daily Mail explains, they'll have to go to great lengths to get around the added security measures the school is implementing for Monday's showdown against Villanova).

But with a mere 56 days until some men's college basketball team celebrates like the Saints did Sunday night, it's most definitely time to throw yourself into the hoops scene. And despite Texas' best efforts to ruin a good thing, Monday's doubleheader on ESPN is a good place to start. Ranked No. 1 as recently as Jan. 18, Texas has lost four of six entering tonight's game at home against top-ranked Kansas. The opening act comes with Villanova traveling to meet West Virginia and its fans, just days after being routed at Georgetown.

Bret (Syracuse)

Jay, you really think Kansas is better than Syracuse? They may look good on paper, but I think direct comparison (they have played three of the sames programs) has SU performing better against the same teams.

Jay Bilas

By a hair, yes. But, there is not a team out there that Syracuse cannot beat. And, I think that teams would have a big problem against the Syracuse zone. Kansas is the most efficient team at both ends. Remember, though, you are talking about my No. 1 and No. 2 teams, and I have said that no team is great. So, either of those teams can win this thing. It is a pretty close call, and reasonable minds can differ. Full transcript

“

A little tidbit for folks to chew on. WVU finished the St. John's game on a 47-15 run in the final 15:44. If that continues, the rest of the nation better beware. The Mountaineers have a lot of good shooters on the team. But they haven't been shooting well much this season. If this team's shooters follow Butler's lead and suddenly get hot, this could end up being a great year to be a WVU fan...

” -- Bit_Cruncher

“

For any 'Nova fans making the trip, I hope you are treated well and can enjoy the atmosphere without fear of injury. Its sad that it has come to this, and WVU fans/students need to clean up their act regardless. The attention deserves to be on the court when these 2 great teams battle it out, not in the stands where people are acting like fools. I expect a close one and I think WVU/'Nova will split games this year with the home teams winning.

” -- WVUeersfan09

“

Aldrich isn't going to be able to push Pittman around but we'll have to see how he handles himself tonight. He hasn't played as well during BigXII competiton. I think he'll get some good looks though because I could see KU doubling up on James while Marcus Morris on him and Cole sliding in to help.

” -- RockChalk0001

“

Probably the matchup of the year down low.. Aldrich vs. Pittman.. Will get really physical.. Hate to say it but the only way Texas wins this is if Pittman destroys Aldrich on the glass (which won't happen) or Damien James erupts

” -- Cubs0810O

• Rank 'Em: Super Bowl top performers? | Vote: Brees or Manning for next season?
• Chat: Wrap up the Super Bowl and season with Gary Horton, 4 ET

The Saints make just about everyone outside of the Hoosier State feel good. Drew Brees seems like a nice guy, Sean Payton is a bold coach and the city of New Orleans needed the win. But did Super Bowl XLIV also show that the BCS isn't as flawed as we think?

Roughly 70 percent of SportsNation is confident the best team was crowned champion in both college and pro football this season (perhaps we should have polled on the Las Vegas Locomotives' UFL title). But look what happens when it comes to exactly how confident.

So if we're more certain that Alabama was the best team in college football than we are that the Saints were the best team in the NFL, which system is really closest to fair?

Sometimes we all need a little extra space to vent. ESPN profiles give fans space to post their own blog entries and go toe-to-toe with commenters.

• jmt02191990: The NBA All-Star Game is right around the corner, and someone still can't get over the fact that fans included Allen Iverson in the festivities.
• 3rdStoneFromTheSun: Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are hard to argue, but the rest of the Hall of Fame class has one blogger irate at the selectors. And he'll remain that way until Ray Guy and Don Coryell get to Canton.
• Goldbrick4: The offseason is officially upon us, which means it's time for 31 teams to try and catch up with the Saints. A Panthers fan lays out what that team needs to do. Tim Biakabutuka is not mentioned.
• ricodade: Did Super Bowl XLIV prove Peyton Manning isn't the best of all time? Not if you felt he already held that title before Carrie Underwood sang the national anthem Sunday.



Read more fan posts. Or respond by signing in or creating a profile, and start blogging.

• Vote: How do you replace football? | Know your Winter Olympians?
• Power Rankings: Lakers or Cavs in NBA? | Caps or Sharks in NHL?
• Still need a football fix? Heather Dinich, 12 ET | Jeremy Green, 1 ET | Chris Low, 1 ET

The guacamole stains have set in the carpet. The Kim Kardashian prop bet has gone by the wayside. Drew Brees is off to visit the Magic Kingdom. Unless you live in New Orleans, where we expect the party in the French Quarter to wrap up sometime around minicamp, the end of the Super Bowl means the NFL season has come and gone.

So staring at a world without football for the first time since August, what do we do now?

The weekend did offer some possible options. The Capitals are three wins away from tying the NHL record for longest winning streak. Danica Patrick's first taste of Daytona was good enough to bring her back next weekend. People are warming up stones heftier than Sean Payton's in advance of curling at the Winter Olympics. And basketball rolls on toward the postseason, both college and pro. Or maybe you're the type who knows pitchers and catchers report a week from Wednesday.

While we're sure the literal variety is bothering a few of you this morning, how will you go about curing your football hangover?

Clay D (NY)

Do you think that Kobe should take some time off and get healthy? If he's not 100% in the playoffs, what team in the playoffs would be most likely to defeat the Lakers?

J.A. Adande

He should take some time off. He needs to heal and the Lakers are good enough to win a playoff series without homecourt advantage. With or without Kobe, I think the only teams that could beat the Lakers in the playoffs are Cleveland and Denver Full transcript

Jake (Portland, OR)

is syracuse really the best team in the country?

Fran Fraschilla

If they aren't the best, they are one of the top two in my opinion. Their team numbers are good enough to win a championship. They top the Big Eat in FG offense and FG defense. In addition, they guard the three point line the best in the league and they lead the Big East in assist. In my opinion, the Orangemen have eight starters. Full transcript

Welcome to SportsNation! On Monday, Ice Cube stops by to chat about Black History Month and his ESPN 30 for 30 "Straight Outta L.A."

Ice Cube has directed, written, or produced over 15 films including "Friday", "All About The Benjamins", "Are We There Yet?" and "The Longshots."

His ESPN 30 for 30 "Straight Outta L.A." looks back on the Raiders' era in Los Angeles during the '80s and early '90s, and details the team's connection with the rise of Gangsta Rap and the West Coast Hip-Hop scene. "Straight Outta L.A." premieres Tuesday May 11 at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Send your questions now and join Ice Cube Monday at 4 p.m. ET!

More Special Guests: Previous chats | SportsNation

• Vote: What were your favorite Super Bowl commercials?
• ESPN: Page 2 breaks down this year's commercials.
• Hulu: Refresh your memory on the commercials.
• Spinner: Assessing the music in this year's commercials.

Nice to see the economy isn't hurting Bud Light or Doritos. Throwing out commercials the same way their products are usually consumed -- quickly, in bulk and with the vague sense afterward that maybe that wasn't such a good idea -- the two nutritional staples saturated Super Bowl XLIV.

A healthy minority of SportsNation actually prefers the commercials to the game when it comes to the Super Bowl experience (led this year by more than 30 percent of voters in Nebraska and Minnesota). And while yet another entertaining game makes it hard to endorse that view, there is something about violin-playing beavers, waffling Hall of Fame quarterbacks and anything involving Betty White and Ave Vigoda that amuses us.

So take a break from onside kicks, interceptions and fourth-down calls and sound off on the best and worst of this year's Super Bowl commercials.

“

"Punxsutawney" Polamalu was the class of the field: It was surprising- you didn't know where it was going to go. When the mayor announced, "Six more weeks of football!" I actually cheered too!

” -- vweaver69

• Vote: What grade would you give Super Bowl XLIV?
• Rank: Which team is the best Super Bowl squad of the past 10 years?
• Rank: Is Drew Brees the top one-ring quarterback?

Put those Aints paper bags in the recycling bin because the Saints have won the Super Bowl. And they did it despite SportsNation saying the Colts had the better QB, the superior offense, the stronger defense, the more reliable kicker and just the overall better team.

Which play was the most vital in the Saints' win over the Colts? Was it the Saints' onside kick surprise that they served to (and recovered from) the Colts at the start of the second half? Or was it Tracy Porter's pick six off Peyton Manning? Vote and discuss below!

“

Those bashing Manning need to keep in mind that he went up against a team of destiny tonight.

” -- illinidave68

“

I guess anything is possible, 20 years ago who would of thought the Saints would win the Super Bowl??? Guess its the Lions vs Browns in Super Bowl 2013.

” -- STOMPEM 205

“

In the movies, Manning woulda led the Colts to victory. It's nice this game gave us a surprise ending rather than a Hollywood one. Didn't quite get that last year. This is what you got to like about the NFL. If there's no salary cap next year, we probably lose this.

” -- jndrfl1

Today on "SportsNation," we got up early to talk about the Super Bowl just for you!

Super Bowl Special: Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon ET on ESPN2! Re-air: noon-2 p.m. ET!

Argue the hot topics of the day and vote on the biggest stories in sports. The show airs at 4 p.m. ET.

Note: Broadcast voting results are as of this morning (ET).

• 

  What will Peyton's jersey look like on Sunday: clean or dirty?

  The Saints' Gregg Williams made no secret of his intention to get after Peyton Manning. Will the Saints get to Manning, or will he stand strong in the pocket?

• 

  Do players with Super Bowl experience have a big edge?

  The Colts head into Sunday's game with 16 players who have previous Super Bowl experience. The Saints have only four players with Super Bowl experience.

• 

  What do you think of McDonald's remaking its H-O-R-S-E commercial?

  LeBron James and Dwight Howard have remade the famous McDonald's H-O-R-S-E commercial for this year's Super Bowl. Are you pumped to see it?

• 

  How much of an impact with Dwight Freeney have on the game?

  There was no bigger topic this week than Dwight Freeney's injured ankle and whether he would play. Well, now it looks as though he's going to start.

• 

  Can Drew Brees become a marketing star?

  According to marketing studies, only 42 percent of Americans recognize Drew Brees. If he wins a title, those studies say he could double his marketability.

• 

  Who is more likely to end up with more points: LeBron or Super Bowl?

  On Saturday night, LeBron James scored 47 points against the New York Knicks. On Sunday, two high-powered offenses go head-to-head in Super Bowl XLIV.



CLICK HERE TO VOTE!



What is "SportsNation" TV, and how do you make your voice heard? Read about the new ESPN show that features fan opinions with calls, tweets, polls, rankers and more.