text:
A unified computational model for revealing and predicting subtle subtypes of cancers
Transcriptome analysis
Gene expression profiling technologies have gradually become a community standard tool for clinical applications. For example, gene expression data has been analyzed to reveal novel disease subtypes (class discovery) and assign particular samples to well-defined classes (class prediction). In the past decade, many effective methods have been proposed for individual applications. However, there is still a pressing need for a unified framework that can reveal the complicated relationships between samples.
We propose a novel convex optimization model to perform class discovery and class prediction in a unified framework. An efficient algorithm is designed and software named OTCC (Optimization Tool for Clustering and Classification) is developed. Comparison in a simulated dataset shows that our method outperforms the existing methods. We then applied OTCC to acute leukemia and breast cancer datasets. The results demonstrate that our method not only can reveal the subtle structures underlying those cancer gene expression data but also can accurately predict the class labels of unknown cancer samples. Therefore, our method holds the promise to identify novel cancer subtypes and improve diagnosis.
We propose a unified computational framework for class discovery and class prediction to facilitate the discovery and prediction of subtle subtypes of cancers. Our method can be generally applied to multiple types of measurements, e.g., gene expression profiling, proteomic measuring, and recent next-generation sequencing, since it only requires the similarities among samples as input.
Accurate diagnosis is a great challenge for clinical therapies. In particular, the current diagnosis based on only a few genes, proteins or metabolites are very limited when it comes to tackling the intrinsic complexity of many diseases, e.g., cancers. Fortunately with the rapid development of high-throughput technologies, gene expression profiling techniques have been widely applied in clinical research. The big advantage is to simultaneously measure the expressions of thousands of genes
In the machine learning framework, class discovery is an unsupervised task. Many methods related to clustering have been proposed and applied to identify new disease subtypes. Several well-known methods, e.g., hierarchical clustering (HC), self-organizing maps (SOM), and non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) have been successfully used
In this paper, we propose a semi-supervised solution to formulate class discovery and class prediction into a unified framework. We term it OTCC (Optimization Tool for Clustering and Classification). The underlying principle is to seek an optimal sample labeling scheme to ensure that similar samples can be assigned with similar labels. This assumption is straightforward and can be easily understood by clinicians. OTCC has several prominent features: 1) The global optimal solution is guaranteed because it is based on convex quadratic programming; 2) It implements class discovery and class prediction in one computational framework; 3) It does not require many samples; 4) It can be applied to both small and large datasets due to a customized iterative algorithm. Experiments on acute leukemia and breast cancer datasets suggest the validity and advantages of OTCC in mining the clinical significance of patient gene expression data.
Overview of the optimization model
For simplicity, we consider two classes to illustrate the optimization model. We note that both class discovery and class prediction for the two classes can be transformed into a sample labeling problem. In this section, the optimization model is formulated to find the best way to assign labels to the samples. The labeling problem for multi-class cases for class discovery and class prediction will be discussed in the next sections.
For two-class cases, we denote one class by zero and the other class by one. Assume all the sample labels are continuous variables between zero and one. The objective of the optimization model is to assign similar labels to similar samples as much as possible. The formulations are given as follows:
Subject to
The objective function (1) can be rewritten in vector form as
Due to the form of the objective function, our optimization model is tightly related to spectral clustering and semi-supervised learning
The sample similarity matrix
Usually the gene expression profile for
Setting for class discovery
Given the similarity matrix
Setting for class prediction
Class prediction tries to assign a set of particular samples to known classes. In this setting, gold-standard data are generally available and some gene expression profiles for samples are labeled with known classes. That is,
A fast algorithm for large-scale problems
Model (1–2) can be considered convex quadratic programming if all values of
The Lagrange function of optimization model (1–2) is:
Then the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions are:
These conditions can be reduced as:
We design the following algorithm to quickly find the solution:
Algorithm 1.
· Step 1: Let
· Step 2: Calculate
· Step 3: Let
Next, we prove the above algorithm is correct and convergent.
Theroem 1: Suppose Algorithm 1 gives rise to the sequence,
Firstly, we prove that Algorithm 1 is convergent. The Lagrangian function of our optimization model (1–2) is as follows,
Then an auxiliary function
Recalling the KKT condition and our iterative Step 2 can be reformulated as,
By the property of the auxiliary function, we have
Secondly we show Algorithm 1 is correct. At convergence, the solution is
One advantage of our algorithm is that the computational complexity is low and it requires only a small amount of computer memory. So our algorithm can be applied to very large data sets.
Post-processing the solutions
Each sample gets a continuous label between zero and one after the optimization model (1)-(2) is solved. We can easily obtain the binary labels by applying a pre-defined threshold. If a training data set is available, this threshold can be learned from the training data by cross-validation. Otherwise, the median of zero and one, 0.5, is a natural cutoff to convert the continuous labels into binary labels. If label
Multiple-class cases
In practice, the samples may belong to more than two classes. For class discovery cases, the class labels can be obtained by recursively applying our model to classify samples into two groups on each step until some stopping criterion is satisfied. Here we propose an intuitive criterion and name it as the minimum similarity score criterion. Formally, the procedure for class discovery with multiple classes is described as follows:
· Step 1: Classify samples into two classes by OTCC.
· Step 2: Calculate the inner minimum similarity score for each class. If the minimum similarity score of some class is less than a predefined threshold, then repeat Step 1 to classify the samples of this class into two sub-classes.
· Step 3: repeat Step 2 until all the inner minimum similarity scores of the classes are above the threshold.
The procedure does not require the number of clusters but instead relies on the least tolerant similarity score within classes. Compared to the number of clusters which is generally required by many existing class discovery methods, our similarity score is tightly related to the expert's knowledge and is expected to be defined by clinicians and biologists based on their knowledge. Alternatively, without pre-defining a stopping criterion, OTCC can be applied recursively until each sample is a single class. This outputs a binary tree in which all samples are leaves and the relationships among them are fully depicted. This property allows OTCC to reveal the fine structure of patient samples.
For class prediction cases, the relationship between multiple classes can be organized as a binary tree and then the model can be applied recursively according to the binary tree to obtain the labels of all samples. The binary tree should reflect the relationship of the classes. Otherwise wrong prior information will be introduced and mislead the class prediction results. When the class relationships are not available or all the classes are independent of each other, an arbitrary binary tree can be used. One-vs-one or one-vs-all strategies can also be adopted to extend OTCC to multi-class cases.
Results and discussion
Performance of OTCC on simulated data sets
We first evaluated OTCC on a simulated dataset and compared the results with those that can be obtained using the existing method. Two types of datasets were simulated. The first dataset consisted of two classes. One class had five samples and the other had n-fold samples relative to the first class. We directly simulated the similarity matrix of the samples. The similarity scores of the two samples from the same class were set to be one and the similarity scores of two samples from different classes were set to be zero. Then noise subjected to a normal distribution with mean zero and standard variation "Sigma" was added. Each setting (noise and ratio of class sizes) was repeated 1000 times. With various levels of noise and ratio of class sizes, the performance of OTCC was noted, and is shown in Figure
Figure 1
Clustering accuracy of OTCC (A) and Affinity Propagation (B) on simulated data sets with various levels of noise and ratios of class sizes.
Clustering accuracy of OTCC (A) and Affinity Propagation (B) on simulated data sets with various levels of noise and ratios of class sizes. "Sigma" is the standard variation of noise distribution.
The second simulation dataset consisted of multiple classes and was generated using a similar procedure. For multiple classes, we applied OTCC recursively to construct a binary tree to reveal the multiple classes. If the real relationship among multiple classes is indeed a binary tree, it is reasonable to expect OTCC to succeed. Here we consider an extreme example to show that OTCC can also successfully deal with cases in which the relationship among multiple classes is inherently not a binary tree.
In Figure
Figure 2
A, a simple simulated data set with three classes; B, performance of OTCC on multiple classes with unbalanced classes and various levels of noise.
A, a simple simulated data set with three classes; B, performance of OTCC on multiple classes with unbalanced classes and various levels of noise.
The success of OTCC for resolving the above multi-cluster structure lies in its ability to form pseudo-clusters when clustering. There are two globally optimum solutions in this case (Nodes 11 to 15 have the same labels as Nodes 1 to 5 or Nodes 6 to 10). OTCC assigns Nodes 11 to 15 to the same labels as Nodes 1 to 5, generating a degenerative pseudo-cluster whereas Nodes 6 to 10 are classified correctly first. We recursively applying OTCC to pseudo-clusters until the consistence criterion applies to each cluster. In this way it resolves the multi-cluster structure irrespective of whether the relationship among the multiple classes is inherently a binary tree or not.
In Figure
Experiments on cancer gene expression data sets
Next we use two real data sets to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of our models in both class discovery and class prediction settings. One data set is the gene expression profiling of seventy-two acute leukemia patients
Leukemia data
The raw microarray data contain much noise, so we perform data preprocessing before we construct the similarity matrix and do class discovery and class prediction. We first set a ceiling (16,000) and a floor (100) for the intensities and then filter those genes with
We first applied
Figure 3
Clustering accuracy of 1000
Clustering accuracy of 1000
To highlight the pattern underlying the AML and ALL samples, we construct a similarity matrix by first calculating the Pearson correlation coefficients of the gene expression profiles and then calculating the Pearson correlation coefficients of the similarity vectors of each sample. That is, the similarity vectors of each sample (the similarity relationships to other samples) are treated as new features. Then we apply our model (1)-(2) recursively to explore the groups underlying the samples. The result is shown as a rooted tree (Figure
Figure 4
The classes underlying the seventy-two AML and ALL samples in the leukemia data set revealed by OTCC with the class discovery setting.
The classes underlying the seventy-two AML and ALL samples in the leukemia data set revealed by OTCC with the class discovery setting. Samples 1, · · ·, 25 are AMLs. Samples 26, · · ·, 62 are B cell ALLs. Samples 63, · · ·, 72 are T cell ALLs.
Applying the spectral clustering to the same similarity matrix (implemented in jClust
We also evaluated the affinity propagation algorithm
Agglomerative hierarchical clustering is another popular tool for analyzing the subtle structure underlying the gene expression profiles of cancer samples. Applying agglomerative hierarchical clustering with Euclidean distance to the AMLs and ALLs dataset, it can identify AMLs from ALLs except sample 25. But it failed to discriminate B cell ALLs from T cell ALLs (accuracy: 31/47 = 66%). The T cell ALLs and a set of sixteen B cell ALLs form one cluster whereas other B cell ALLs form the other cluster. The failure of the agglomerative hierarchical clustering for discriminating T cell ALLs from B cell ALLs can be attributed to the fact that the bottom-up cluster merge strategy is a greedy one and cannot find global optimum.
Given the known labels of some samples, our model can also carry out the class prediction task. Using the same data set, we evaluate the performance of our model under different conditions in which a fraction of sample labels are known. Given the numbers of each type of samples whose labels are known, we randomly select the same numbers of samples as the prior knowledge and then apply our model to predict the labels of the remaining samples. Repeating one thousand times, we calculate the mean accuracy. The result is shown in Figure
Figure 5
Mean accuracy heatmap by applying our model to predict the labels of samples in the leukemia data set given labels of certain samples. Each condition was repeated one thousand times.
Mean accuracy heatmap by applying our model to predict the labels of samples in the leukemia data set given labels of certain samples. Each condition was repeated one thousand times.
Breast cancer data
The leukemia data set is assumed to be easy because there are many informative genes which indicate the underlying cluster structure. We repeat the evaluation on another breast cancer dataset to illustrate the advantages of our model on noisier data sets. Since the data set is generated by profiling the gene expressions of stromal and epithelial cells of five normal and twenty-eight breast cancer patients, the samples belong to four classes: normal stromal cells (ns), normal epithelial cells (ne), cancer stromal cells (cs), and cancer epithelial cells (ce)
Figure 6
The three major classes underlying the fifty-six breast cancer samples and ten normal samples.
The three major classes underlying the fifty-six breast cancer samples and ten normal samples.
Given some prior information about the labels of the samples, we applied our model to this data set in the class prediction setting. We obtained similar observations to the leukemia dataset (Figure
Figure 7
Mean accuracy heatmap by applying our model to predict the labels of samples in the breast cancer data set given labels of certain samples. Each condition was repeated one thousand times.
Mean accuracy heatmap by applying our model to predict the labels of samples in the breast cancer data set given labels of certain samples. Each condition was repeated one thousand times.
Property summary of OTCC compared to other methods
Gene expression profiling technologies, e.g. microarrays and deep sequencing, have become more and more important for clinical practices, such as diagnosis and prognosis. Class discovery and class prediction are two typical tasks to utilize gene expression profiling technologies to leverage the quality and efficiency of diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we propose a novel optimization model and integrate two tasks in one framework by treating class discovery and class prediction as a process of labeling. By seeking an optimal labeling scheme that fits best to the gene expression profiling of samples, a convex quadratic programming model is established. It can be solved efficiently and the global optimum solution is guaranteed. It does not need manual intervention to set a cutoff and can detect outliers to improve the statistical signal in the data. It does not use directly the clinical measurement but rather uses a similarity matrix as its input. The biomarker identification process is thus separated from class discovery and class prediction, facilitating clinicians to integrate prior knowledge with the measurements. It can also be applied to multiple types of measurements, e.g. gene expression profiling, proteomic analysis, and next-generation sequencing. Because the similarity matrix is the only input, the output is sensitive to biomarker selection and similarity measures choices. Proper biomarkers and similarity measures will generate reasonable accuracy and greatly accelerate understanding of the nature of diseases. Numerical experiments on leukemia and breast cancer data sets suggest that it is very effective for revealing and predicting the subtle subtypes of cancers based on the gene expression data of patients.
Because the objective function of our model is a quadratic form of the Laplacian matrix, it is closely related to spectral clustering and semi-supervised learning methods. Spectral clustering can be generally solved by seeking the Fiedler vector of the Laplacian matrix
Class discovery and class prediction are two tasks linked to each other inherently in clinical research. Previous studies proposed methods for these two tasks separately. And thus ignored the linkage between these two tasks. In this study, we model class discovery and class prediction in one framework and facilitate the discovery and prediction of subtle subtypes of cancers. Because of its flexibility, our method can be applied to multiple types of measurements, e.g. gene expression profiling, proteomic analysis, and next-generation sequencing and allows the integration of extensive prior information.
HC, hierarchical clustering; SOM, self-organizing maps; NMF, non-negative matrix factorization; OTCC, an Optimization Tool for Clustering and Classification; SMO, sequential minimal optimization algorithm; AML, acute myeloid leukemia; ALL, acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
XR proposed the model. YW proposed the fast algorithm. XSZ checked the theoretical properties of the model and the algorithm. XR and JW completed the computation on the datasets. XR, YW, JW and XSZ wrote and approved the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
The authors thank the members of the ZHANGroup of Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, Chinese Academy of Science for their valuable discussion and comments. This work is partially supported by the Grant No. 61171007 and No. 11131009 from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Identification of disease genes by expression profiling
DNA microarray gene expression analysis technology and its application to neurological disorders
Application of gene expression profiling to cardiovascular disease
Current Clinical and Pharmaceutical Applications of Microarrays: From Disease Biomarkers Discovery to Automated Diagnostics
Molecular Classification of Cancer: Class Discovery and Class Prediction by Gene Expression Monitoring
Metagenes and molecular pattern discovery using matrix factorization
Improving molecular cancer class discovery through sparse non-negative matrix factorization
An unsupervised hierarchical dynamic self-organizing approach to cancer class discovery and marker gene identification in microarray data
Sparse non-negative matrix factorizations via alternating non-negativity-constrained least squares for microarray data analysis
SamCluster: an integrated scheme for automatic discovery of sample classes using gene expression profile
Clinically driven semi-supervised class discovery in gene expression data
Iterative class discovery and feature selection using Minimal Spanning Trees
Identifying splits with clear separation: a new class discovery method for gene expression data
Graph-based consensus clustering for class discovery from gene expression data
Knowledge-based analysis of microarray gene expression data by using support vector machines
Support vector machine classification and validation of cancer tissue samples using microarray expression data
A novel means of using gene clusters in a two-step empirical Bayes method for predicting classes of samples
Classification of multiple cancer types by multicategory support vector machines using gene expression data
Simple decision rules for classifying human cancers from gene expression profiles
Class discovery and classification of tumor samples using mixture modeling of gene expression data}a unified approach
Asurvey of kernel and spectral methods for clustering
A Tutorial on Spectral Clustering
Robust and efficient identification of biomarkers by classifying features on graphs
Clustering by Passing Messages Between Data Points
Molecular signatures suggest a major role for stromal cells in development of invasive breast cancer
A simple and exact Laplacian clustering of complex networking phenomena: Application to gene expression profiles
Least squares quantization in PCM
jClust: A clustering and visualization toolbox
Self-Tuning Semi-Supervised Spectral Clustering
Semi Supervised Spectral Clustering for Regulatory Module Discovery


text:
Jan 9-13,2009 Casa Velas Room 108 Puerto Vallarta Mexico
Today we moved from Club Velas Vallarta to Casa Velas. We entered the resort with the beautiful iron scrolled gates and long driveway with lush plants along it and a Koi pond at entrance. Quite early for check in, but they were waiting for us as Club Velas had called them and told them we were on our way. We pulled our car up to the front and proceeded to enter the lobby which was full of couches, huge candles, fountains, open air etc. We sat at lovely carved wood chairs at reception area, with a Jamaica drink, non-alcoholic and the most lovely senorita. We smiled and asked her for a real nice room, I am sure everyone does that LOL. She told us she would let us look at 3 rooms and then pick one, since we had previously stayed and might like a different perspective. Great ! The bell boy took us to the rooms…I let hubby choose and he chose room 108, ground floor with a Jacuzzi, no plunge pool, but a huge closet. The Senorita checked us in and applied our AI bracelets which we had prepaid for ( the resort is mandatory AI for everyone), was kind of nice not to have to pay anything upon check-in. The bracelet remains, not the plastic usual type but a lovely hemp, braided bracelet with a small silver medallion, quite the change and attractive at that. I have saved them as momentos. We had no other difficulties with check in and found it most pleasant.
Our room 108, upon entering there was the sitting area with a small couch and table for 2 in front of sliding glass doors to outside. There was on one wall a huge closet with tons of hangers, an ironing board, iron, and a large safe which could and did easily accommodate a laptop and many other things. The entrance door had the cutest little bag on it with needlework, one side do not disturb and the other please clean my room, what a sweet touch. The floors were tile or marble with nice throw rugs. There was one step up to the bedroom area, which was open concept to living area. It had a king size bed, set into wall a bit, with many adornments as a headboard. The mattress and down comforter, and pillows were very comfortable and there was plenty of lighting throughout the room. There were 2 side tables, each with a lamp and also a bench at end of bed for sitting. There was also an alarm clock with CD player and telephone in the room. Robes ( to use for stay or buy to the tune of $100. each ) and slippers ( that were to keep) were provided for use. We left the robes LOL.
The Plasma Tv was on opposite wall from bed with an armoire underneath. In the armoire were some empty draws and also an ice bucket, glasses, wine glasses, coasters, coffee packets, a coffee maker, coffee cups, a basket of snack items, and a small refrigerator which was stocked with beer, soda, bottled water and such daily. There are no other kitchen facilities, but with this AI, you really have no need anyway. The only downfall is the refrig. Has no freezer for ice and there are no ice machines, but you can call room service 24 hours per day for ice.
The bathroom was off of the bedroom and was huge. It had a Jacuzzi tub, with a shower, all surrounded by marble, with a glass door and two shower heads and a seat in the shower of marble. The toilet was also behind a frosted glass door beside shower. There was one sink with a marble vanity , glasses, and stocked daily with soap, shampoo, mouthwash, shower cap, hair conditioner, body lotion, shoe shine, vanity kit and other such items. The facecloths were tied with cute ribbons each day with the logo of Casa Velas. There was a hairdryer and magnifying mirror on the wall. There was always sufficient hot water and the unit was well maintained and was well stocked with towels daily. The bed was turned down at night and if you had do not disturb sign on the door a note was put on your door they had been there and if you wanted them to return to call front desk.
We also had free wireless internet service in our room and in many areas of resort. We had to get a password upon check in for this. The maid service was very good, efficient , & quick. We were very comfortable in this room and felt very pampered.
The grounds throughout the resort are meticulously maintained and are landscaped to perfection with bouganvilla, palm trees, plants, Koi ponds, levels, grass, walkways etc. Our car was parked in a secure area under a shade tree and valet parking was included in the AI, we did tip of course though.
They have a wonderful spa, which I meant to take advantage of, but again time passed too quickly. They also have a nice gym with treadmills, weights, supplied water and towels and a trainer, etc. There were hot tubs by the gym. There was a small boutique store on site, and of course a golf course on site ( we do not golf though).
The whole resort is set on the golf course not on the beach. It is a very quiet, relaxing and de-stressing environment. Off of the lobby is an open air lobby bar, with tables, sofas, and chairs and a bartender, this area overlooks the pool and grounds. The pool is heated, ( but in Jan. a bit too chilly for me, but hubby swam and enjoyed as did many others). It is tiled in a dark blue, and has built in loungers with different water depths. It is a large pool with a swim up Palapa Bar. Surrounding the pool are lounge chairs with terry cloth covers, rolled towels in place and teak tables. There are also some cabanas for those who like shade, as well as many palm trees. When you go to the pool area and find your place, of which there is no problem, a waiter comes over with a small ice bucket and two bottles of water and asks if you would like something to eat or drink or anything else. You can order drinks or snacks off a menu in the pool area. There are no activities done by the pool as it is very upscale and quiet, with lots of people sunning or reading. Most times there was no music playing by pool either but if it was, it was played very softly. There is no need for towel cards here as the towels are on the chairs, rolled up, and if you need more, there is a person there to provide them to you. There is a bathroom, down a flight of stairs under the Palapa Bar.
The one Restaurant on site is called Emialiano's. You need to make reservations. Men are required to wear pants and this was strictly enforced. There is indoor seating in levels with a lovely chandelier and a piano player at night. There is also outdoor seating overlooking the pool and yet another Koi pond. The food was top notch, gourmet, lots of choices, expensive. When you are seated they offer you the wine list and also a stand for your pocketbook or sweater. There are even place cards with your name on the table. They refer to you throughout your stay by name and your table is assigned a multitude of waiters. Your glass is never empty and your plate is cleared away quickly. ( We actually have to tell the waiters to make our meal on Mexican time…which means slow and relaxing, as we make a night of our dining). You can order many courses and each is delivered timely and with exquisite presentation. There is a nightly special menu as well. We tried just about everything on the menu from salmon to rack of lamb, lobster, filet mignon, etc. etc. Most of our dinners came to well over 2000 pesos. The desserts were to die for. ( Be sure to try the Paris Delight, yummy and the Crème Brule was also very good ). When finished you had to sign a bill ( assume this is for accounting purposes), and along with the bill comes a special dessert treat from the chef., such as chocolate covered strawberries, fancy cookies etc…each night different. We dined each evening outside by candlelight and feel each dinner was a pampering, gourmet experience. Definitely worth the AI price. The service, the atmosphere, the quality of food, the presentation, were all VIP for sure! After dinner many times we sat and talked in lobby bar and just relaxed. This bar did close early I think 11:30-12am ish. ( For this trip we actually kept a tab of our costs and we were well over the AI fee each and every day, so we now know the AI is definitely worth the price).
You can also have lunch in this restaurant by menu and breakfast by buffet, but there is a man making fresh eggs to order as well. Lunch and breakfast were also very good. The condiments like ketchup, mustard etc, are in small jars like jam would come in, nice touch! There is also 24 hour room service and we did partake of it for all of our breakfasts this trip. Again it was timely service, and great food and presentation. We also ordered a bottle of wine or champagne and ice to our room nightly, and they even asked if we would like some chocolate covered strawberries to go along with our champagne…sure what the heck, more calories, but more romance and fun. We did try to get a bottle of Don Julio tequila to room one night but they told us they could not bring bottle, but would bring as many shots as we wished.
In addition to this restaurant you can go over to Club Velas, the sister resort, via shuttle and utilize their activities like nightly shows, entertainment, pool, and their bars and restaurants, of which there are now 2, one by the ocean La Ribera, ( no reservations needed, casual attire, even shorts for guys and sit down menu or buffet or both LOL). The other Andrea ( reservations required) indoor or outdoor dining, suggested long pants for men but they did allow men in shorts, dressy ones with nice shirts ( no t-shirts).
You can also be taken via shuttle to the Private Beach Club. Here there is an infinity pool, much smaller than the pool at Casa Velas but a different atmosphere and design. Lovely chairs with covers, the beach and cabanas on the beach, and also a restaurant which specializes in Asian food such as Sushi or Tempura etc. There is also a night time restaurant here, which requires reservations as well and specializes in Asian food. We loved the Shrimp Tempura for lunch and we tried the nighttime restaurant one night for sunset…WOW! Our own little cabana, table covered in white tablecloth, overlooking beach, with almost total privacy and candlelight. Was very romantic and the food again delicious. We did find it a tad chilly that night as there was quite an ocean breeze, but we dressed accordingly. As we dined, and darkness set in…the hotel next door was celebrating their anniversary and they put on an incredible firework presentation. We almost felt like it was done just for us….again wow!
We did not do any activities or tours but we did make all our reservations for dinner every morning. Club Velas if you should wish to walk is only about a 3-5 minute walk in a nice area and the beach club is about another 5 minutes beyond that. After our Beach Club Dinner we did walk to Club Velas (in the dark and felt comfortable with that) and met up with friends from previous week and danced, socialized and had a few drinks. We did ask what time last shuttle back to Casa Velas was and they said 12 ish but one of bellboys said he would be going there later so whatever time we wanted he would be at entrance, so we stayed very late and had no problem getting shuttle back. We would have walked if no shuttle even at that hour, but with caution as it is a quiet neighborhood with no one around.
Oh did I mention Casa Velas is adults only. We spent most of our days by the pool, lounging, eating and drinking and just relaxing, and our nights we had long slow romantic dinners, some socializing and romance.
We had no difficulties whatsoever with check out, they did not even cut off our AI bracelets, which I was glad as they serve as a nice memory item.
We loved our time at Casa Velas and will return again and again. It is a special, pampering, VIP vacation place. Everything from the grounds, the units, the staff was perfect. It would be wonderful for a honeymoon, anniversary, or special occasion. I would not recommend it for those looking for a party environment, or night life, or for those with small children as it is an adults only resort. I would recommend it for couples or singles who want to be pampered and treated like royalty and just want to relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet.
Just a note next up we are going to give Grand Velas in Nuevo Vallarta a try, I hear it too is quite grand. They have also opened the Grand Velas in Riviera Maya, but that may be some time before we try that.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Imagine the perfect resort retreat in the Mexican Pacific Riviera, where luxury and romanticism combine in perfect harmony. Resembling a private estate, Casa Velas offers Condé Nast and AAA award-winning service in a casually elegant and intimate boutique atmosphere in Puerto Vallarta. This boutique hotel enjoys a garden setting surrounded by the Marina Vallarta Golf Course. A beachside experience waits just three minutes away at your private Ocean Club, with stunning sunsets and memorable dining. Unlimited transport is available day and night to whisk you to the golden shores of the Mexican Pacific. The Ocean Club is a place of supreme peace and tranquility for enjoying an infinity pool, jacuzzi and terrace with impressive ocean views. Our luxurious getaway invites you to enjoy the comforting sounds and vibrant colors of the tropics as you discover the true meaning of relaxation and luxury at an all-inclusive Puerto Vallarta resort paradise. Recently chosen as one of the Top 10 hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean in three categories - Luxury, Relaxation/Spa and Hotel for Romance - by TripAdvisor®, Casa Velas is an enchanting destination where simple pleasures rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with BookIt.com, Hotels.com, Booking.com, TripOnline SA, Hotwire, HotelQuickly, Cancelon, getaroom.com and Evoline ltd so you can book your Casa Velas reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Casa Velas Boutique Resort
- Hotel Casa Velas Boutique

subset: commoncrawl


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Phytophilia = Love of PlantsBRIT's mission is to conserve our natural heritage by deepening our knowledge of the plant world and achieving public understanding of the value plants bring to life. Phytophilia!
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When we look at something from a different perspective, we usually see something new—something we might have not seen before or something familiar seen in a new context. Discovery of the new is precisely why we've recently started to explore … Continue reading
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Team notes
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Five starts into his comeback from reconstructive elbow
surgery, John Smoltz lasted only three innings and 71 pitches Saturday
against the Yankees and allowed four runs. The problem was a sore back, but
he left New York to return to Atlanta for what was described as a prearranged
checkup with orthopedist Joe Chandler.
He had backed away from comments he made earlier in the
week that his comeback had become an ordeal and that he would not return in
2002 if it remained so physically challenging.
He said June 8 that he would not discuss his elbow anymore.
He backed that up Saturday by leaving the Bronx before addressing the media.
The back discomfort came while he was warming up.
Smoltz has resumed throwing occasionally with a three-quarters
delivery, which he adopted in 1999 when his elbow was too painful for his customary
over-the-top motion. Smoltz had allowed seven runs in his past 20 innings (3.15
Lockhart went 0-for-5 on June 6 in his first start in 3
1/2 weeks. A career .263 hitter as a Brave,
he was then batting .228, including a .176 average in 10 games as a starter.
He had driven in only one run, after getting 32 RBI last year in just 275 at-bats.
"We haven't had a chance to play him," manager Bobby
Cox said. "(Veras) has been too hot."
Florida Marlins
A.J. Burnett is proving that his May 12 no-hitter
at San Diego was no fluke.
He threw a two-hitter with one walk Saturday at Toronto
to improve to 4-2 with a 1.59 ERA in seven starts since coming off the DL, where
he began the season recovering from a foot stress fracture. His ERA and .177
batting average allowed would rank as tops in the majors if Burnett, 24, had
enough innings to qualify. He was nine innings short after the 6-1 victory against
the Blue Jays.
"This kid is something," manager Tony Perez said.
"His fastball explodes."
Throw out a messy four-inning loss at Shea Stadium, when
Burnett allowed six earned runs, and his ERA is 0.57 in his six other starts.
Against Toronto, he retired 20 of the last 21 batters,
allowing only a walk after the third inning.
Perez said it reflected how hot Floyd was and how cold
Preston Wilson is. Wilson bats fourth behind Floyd and had eight home
runs and a .494 slugging percentage. Floyd had 17 homers and a .646 slugging
The position likely would be special assistant to Dombrowski.
Montreal Expos
Jeff Torborg has a new appreciation for what Felipe
Alou had to deal with.
Torborg, who replaced Alou as manager on May 31, wasn't
able to get much more out of the squad that went 21-32 under Alou. He posted
a 3-7 mark through Sunday.
The Expos were shut out twice as they lost four in a row
last week before stopping the skid with a 4-2 win Saturday in Baltimore.
After getting 30 hits and 22 runs in winning their last
two games against Philadelphia to split their first series under Torborg, the
lineup went back into hibernation against Atlanta.
The Expos scored just four runs as they were swept in three
at home by the Braves, before losing 5-0 to the Orioles on June 8.
Guerrero, who leads the Expos with 23 multihit games, was
moved from cleanup to third in the order by Torborg on June 2.
He was hitting .500 (18-for-36) over the course of the
streak, including six doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI.
Guillen played under Torborg on the White Sox from 1989-91.
Tatis had returned from the DL on May 25 after missing
13 games with a strained right shoulder.
Third baseman Ryan Minor was recalled from Triple-A
Ottawa for the second time.
New York Mets
Despite taking the loss in his first appearance since returning
to the roster, Steve Trachsel showed he might be able to help the Mets
this year. He threw well June 8, despite being charged with four runs in six
innings in a 7-5 loss to the Devil Rays.
"He looked more aggressive," pitching coach Charlie
Hough said. "Unfortunately, we didn't do anything to help him."
Traschel fired first-pitch strikes to nine of the first
10 batters he faced.
In seven starts, Gonzalez was 2-2 with a 6.52 ERA. He's
made one relief appearance and threw 2 2/3 scoreless
With Donne Wall eligible to come off the DL in the
next week, the Mets haven't determined what they eventually will do with Gonzalez.
Wall could go on a rehab assignment.
"Dicky looks like he can pitch in the major leagues," manager
Bobby Valentine said.
Paul Byrd, who had arthroscopic surgery last August,
was traded to Kansas City on June 5 for reliever Jose Santiago.
The Phillies had to decide between keeping Byrd or left-hander
Bruce Chen in the rotation.
"I loved playing here," Byrd said. "It's just that, under
the circumstances, it's better to be somewhere else."
The trade gave the Phillies a reliever to help patch the
hole in the bullpen that was left when Wayne Gomes went on the DL.
Valent was batting .298 with 11 homers and was among the
International League leaders with 45 RBI.
The DH created an opportunity for Valent. The Phillies
have established players at the three position he plays: right field (Bobby
Abreu), left field (Pat Burrell) and first (Travis Lee).
It's likely Valent will return to the minors after those
six games.
In what was described as a fiery address that didn't delete
the expletives, Bowa lectured the team on focus and concentration.
The Phillies then lost to the Red Sox, going 0-for-11 with
runners in scoring position.
He threw the first complete game of his career, beating
the Mets and halting the team's three-game losing streak. "The team needed to
win," Telemaco said. "When you lose three in a row, you need to get back on
the winning track."
Bowa had gone to his bullpen 12 times as the Phillies were
blown out in the previous three games.


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The Senate stands in recess until 3pm to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.
United States Senate Democrats, Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer. Government-produced materials appearing on this site are not copyright protected.Photos where noted © Associated Press 2012. All rights reserved. AP material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed. RSS feed.


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This page concentrates on Gaelic baby girl or female names and their meanings. Of course they are mainly first names or Christian names as they are known in some countries, but there are some Scotland family or Scottish surnames also, but all can be used as baby names. In addition I have also started to add Celtic baby names and these are clearly marked along with their meaning and pronunciation (where possible). Elsewhere on the site you will also find Celtic boy baby names along with their meaning
The female (girl) baby names listed here are from Gaelic Origin/Language/Culture. Scottish Gaelic or Gaelic is the traditional language of the Gaels. Gaelic is an Indo-European language spoken in Scotland (but declining in popularity and mainly in the remote Highlands) and Southern Ireland (EIRE). The Gaelic alphabet only has 18 letters with each traditionally being named after trees.
The Celtic baby names are slightly different in that they were popular in Breton, Cornish (Cornwall an area in Southern England),Irish (Ireland),Manx (Isle of Mann), Scottish, Welsh (Wales).


text: Artesian Resources Corporation has announced that it has raised another $25,000 to support the Boys & Girls Club of Elkton. Adding in the amount raised in 2011, Artesian has raised $45,000 in donations supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Elkton. At the official opening of the new Boys & Girls Club on September 20, 2012, Cecil County officials and community supporters came out to celebrate with Boys & Girls Club Executive Director Mary Jo Jablonski. "This has been a dream for more than six years," Jablonski said. She thanked Artesian and the many other supporters who donated furniture, appliances, equipment, landscaping and funds. "Artesian was pleased to once again help the Boys & Girls Club achieve their dream by sponsoring the Second Annual Golf Outing to benefit their organization. The enthusiasm of our employees and corporate sponsors helped make the day a tremendous success for the children of Cecil County," said Dian C. Taylor, Artesian Resources Chair, President and CEO. The Boys & Girls Club provides area children with after-school care and activities. It offers programs in education and career development, the arts, health and life skills, sports, fitness and leadership. Children can also get help from staff members with their homework. County officials praised the efforts of all sponsors and their commitment to helping the children of Cecil County. About Artesian Artesian Resources Corporation operates as the holding company of eight wholly-owned subsidiaries offering water, wastewater and other services on the Delmarva Peninsula. Artesian Water Company, the principal subsidiary, is the oldest and largest investor-owned public water utility on the Delmarva Peninsula and has been providing superior water service since 1905. Artesian Water Maryland, Inc. began operations in August 2007 and now has water service franchise areas stretching from the Susquehanna River to the Delaware state line along Cecil County, Maryland's designated I-95/Route 40 growth corridor.


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Auto enthusiasts appreciate the a reliable name built into each Land Rover, and understand that only top quality repair LR2 parts will suffice when repairs are needed. Anyone who operates a Land Rover knows that when it comes to maintaining their vehicle only the highest quality replacement parts will do. The vehicle in your driveway is head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to all the vehicles in today's marketplace. When your Land Rover LR2 rolled off the assembly line, it was destined for a person with discerning taste who prioritizes British engineering in their automobile.
Ever since the 1950s, cars and trucks have been built with either standard or optional climate control systems. On your Land Rover LR2, the A/C compressor is at the heart of this system. The lifeblood of the air conditioning system is a refrigerant called R134a. The refrigerant emits cold air after a simple thermal reaction, and the Land Rover LR2 A/C compressor, as the name would suggest, gets this reaction started by compressing the refrigerant into a hot fluid. After that it goes to an expansion valve that turns it into a gas so it can flow through the evaporator. That cools it so it can emit cold air. Without the A/C compressor, your vents would only blow air that was the same as the ambient temperature of the environment.
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Let us know when your receive great advice so we can thank our lawyers and point others with similar questions in the right direction.Got it!
I own 2 homes. One of my homes is being rented to inlaws. The other is 4yrs old and the one I live in. I have a 15yrs mortgage on my home I am in now, and the other is an adjustable rate. If I can't make the payment on the 2nd home, the older one, and the bank forcloses, am I in danger of losing my existing home? Do I have to give up my new home that I am living in?
Note that I am not licensed to practice in your state.
If the bank forecloses on one home, the other home is not at risk. The bank only has collateral on the home they lend to and foreclose on. You might still owe the bank the difference between what they can get at foreclosure and the outstanding balance of your mortgage.Ask a similar question
Unless both homes are collateral for the mortgage being foreclosed on, the other non-foreclosed home is not at risk with the following exception. Should you owe a deficiency to the lender after the foreclosure, the lender becomes a creditor and your house would be an asset to go after. Perhaps you could negotiate a deed in lieu, or short sale to protect your new home. I suggest you consult with an attorney in your area to discuss your options.Ask a similar question
In Illinois your home is available for a homestead exemption - 735 ILCS 5/12-901. That amount is $15,000 of equity in a home ($30,000 if you are married and you both claim the exemption). You alos have other exemptions such as an exemption in miscellaneous household property $4,000 and exemptions in vehicles $2,400. (All of which are doubled if you are married).
The bank could get a deficiency judgement against you if the second home does not sell for what is owed on it. That is a judgement against you which they can collect -- by levying against your other assets (if they are not exempt) or by attempting to garnish your wages.
The short answer is that no you should not be in danger of losing the home you are living in -- the real danger is that this may be a snowball rolling down the side of a mountain. The creditor might agree to a short sale -- a sale for less than what is owed on the home, in which case they won't be able to seek a deficiency judgement against you. Unfortunately the creditor has to agree to a short sale -- a judge or you cannot force them to accept a short sale.Ask a similar question
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The Crap We Missed – Wednesday 3.27.13
Do I hear a bit of the old Ludwig Van? Is that Cyprus sleeping in the subway?
Yes, O my brother…
So bored with her and her pert Fraulein tits.
Oh, a retro pic. Back when her boobs were close to being that high.
Retro modeling pics – probably taken with vintage camera equipment. Time for Seal to freak the fuck out and break some shit in a loony fit of rage.
this gal has kids – doesn't she have more important things to do than act like a 'ho 24×7 ???
Yes, tits.
I see boobs, but I smell DESPERATION.
Sexy as hell!
desperate, old.
We'll be looking at disgusting bikini pics of her in 30 years on this site, when she'll make Donatella Versace look good.
When did Sandra Bullock buy a set like that?


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"Sourav is doing a marvellous job.... no reason why...I feel when the team is heading in the right direction...nobody should disturb that," Tendulkar said on the sidelines of a fitness camp for Asia Cup probables in Bangalore when asked if he wants to become captain again.
"It's all collective performance (under Ganguly's captaincy) that has helped the team," he said pointing out that it was team performance against Australia that did the team good.
On fast bowlers' performance in recent months, Tendulkar said they have shown tremendous discipline and fitness, and were able to bowl long spells and whenever needed bent their back and pushed very hard. "All credit to them".


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In conjunction with a recent Yahoo! Sports Fantasy NBA experts draft, I derived three specific questions for each of the other 11 members in the league relating to their drafted teams. I also had a couple members in the league tailor three questions directed at my team. Here are those questions, along with each league member's answers (owners are listed in the order of their first-round pick):
RotoWire.com – Jeff Erickson
Question: There is talk that Phoenix will try to limit Steve Nash's minutes to around 30 a game in an attempt to keep him from breaking down and to give Leandro Barbosa an opportunity to continue his development. That said, did that factor into your mind when you chose Nash at No. 24, ahead of other tops PG's like Stephon Marbury and Sam Cassell?
Answer:I'm not too concerned about Nash's minutes – a lot of teams state plans to limit a player or play a certain reserve during training camp and the preseason, but when push comes to shove, the starter ends up logging his full minutes anyhow. With the amount invested in Nash, the Suns will certainly be looking to protect their investment, but I suspect they'll only rest him like that in blowout games. They have too much of a chance to contend this year to not play him his full minutes. Part of the reason why I drafted him so high, ahead of Cassell and Marbury, is that Nash helps you so much in the percentage categories (Cassell helps out there as well, but less so in FG%).
Question: Corey Maggette is coming off a breakout season. But in traditional eight-category fantasy leagues, Maggette only stood out points and free throw percentage. Taking him at No. 25, is that an indication you think that his game is going to round itself out even more this season, or would you be satisfied with more of the same from Maggette?
Answer: Maggette may not necessarily stand out in other categories, but he does help out in seven of the eight traditional roto categories (blocks being the notable exception), all while qualifying at both guard and forward. With Quentin Richardson gone, I look for Maggette to play an even larger role in the Clippers' offense. I don't view Kerry Kittles as the same sort of threat to his production that Richardson was. I would be satisfied if Maggette produced more of the same, but I look for a little more in terms of scoring and rebounding.
Question: You took Samuel Dalembert among the top 50 picks (No. 49). Besides being center-eligible and a proficient shot blocker, he also averaged 12 points, 12 boards and shot .560 from the field last April in his first shot at being a regular starter. What numbers are you looking for from Dalembert to justify his selection here?
Answer: Your question cuts to the heart of my reasoning. His shot-blocking in particular stands out, but Dalembert made tremendous strides over the second half of the season, and he has the all-important center eligibility. In a league where Brad Miller, Rasheed Wallace and Theo Ratliff (!) all went in the second round, due to their center-eligibility, and Jamaal Magloire went in the third, I'm actually pretty pleased to get Dalembert where I did. We're projecting him to average about 10 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks per game. If he does that, I'll be happy with my selection.
Dan Rosenbaum – Asst. Professor (economics) at UNC-Greensboro
Background info (in the words of Dan): Dan Rosenbaum is often cited for his expertise on the NBA luxury tax and for his "DanVal" method of determining player value from plus/minus statistics. But he is a rookie fantasy league player, so don't make too much fun of his picks.
Question: You selected Carlos Boozer, coming off a big season in Cleveland, at No. 50 overall. Any fear that he won't be able to sustain his high points, rebound and FG percentage totals moving into the West, where he'll matchup against the likes of Kevin Garnett, Kenyon Martin, Zach Randolph, Elton Brand and company on a more regular basis?
Answer: After the draft I was able to put together a simulation system to evaluate fantasy league players and based strictly upon last year's per game stats, Boozer is ranked #34. So needing a big guy with my fifth pick, I felt comfortable with Boozer even if he is a bit less productive than last season. True, defense will be tougher out West (but not due to Randolph), but I think it is possible he may be more of a go-to option in Utah than he was in Cleveland.
Question: Nene has teased fantasy owners with his potential in his first couple years in the league. But now he'll back up Kenyon Martin. This fact wasn't enough to dissuade you from taking Nene inside the top 100 (No.98). Coming off the bench, what kind of numbers are you looking from Nene to justify this selection?
Answer: Nene shows my bias towards players who help their teams win, since he is fabulous at doing all of the little things. For that reason I think Denver will have to find a way to keep him on the court. My fantasy league system rates him at #86 playing just 32.5 minutes per game. As a very young player who is likely to improve, I figure him to be a good center pick at #98 even if his minutes decline slightly. He is a solid 6-category player (weak in free throw percentage and three pointers), which is rare for someone at the center spot picked late in the draft.
Question: As a current resident of North Carolina you, perhaps, have a better idea of what to expect out of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats than most. That said, what do you make of your Round 11 selection, Gerald Wallace? He's very likely to lead this team in scoring, but have you seen enough to indicate that he is more than just a scorer?
Answer:The Bobcats signed Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec to extensions right before the preseason began, which suggests big roles for both players this season. Someone has to fill out the box score for the Bobcats and Wallace (and Brezec who I don't have) seem to be the most likely candidates. Wallace grabbed 12 rebounds in the first preseason game and has been piling up assists and steals. So I think he will be helpful in a number of categories despite likely being a low percentage shooter. Since the draft, I have picked up two Chicago Bulls in Andres Nocioni and Luol Deng, both of whom look to play major minutes with the Bulls and fill the stat sheet like Wallace.
RotoWire.com – Peter Schoenke
Question: You selected Dirk Nowitzki ahead of Kobe Bryant. Is this a product of the fact that Yahoo! awards him center eligibility and Y! default leagues (and this league) mandate that you must start two centers? Or would you have taken Nowitzki ahead of Kobe regardless of his eligibility and roster requirements?
Answer:I took Dirk mostly because he qualifies at center. It's a scarce position. If Dirk wasn't eligible there, I would have had a tough choice between Kobe and Yao Ming. I probably would have gone with Yao because my strategy was definitely to get one good center early since there are 24 starting centers in this league.
Question: You went big early (Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Ben Wallace, Carmelo Anthony) at the expense of your point guard position. You ended up with Jason Terry, Jamal Crawford, Rafer Alston, Damon Stoudamire, Kenny Anderson. Was this strategy by design – meaning that you feel good with what you ended up with at the PG spot? Or, would you have done things differently given a second chance?
Answer: I saw a run on guards and decided not to jump in because I thought I had a few sleepers in the end I liked. I think it worked out well because I got great value at forward during the run and because Stoudamire, Alston and Crawford could all get decent playing time. Anderson at least has a starting job and could surprise early on. Terry is definitely the Achilles' heal on my team since I waited so late to fill the starting position.
Question: You are a Minnesota native, which may explain why you opted for Latrell Sprewell and Wally Szczerbiak in the final few rounds. Were these picks from the heart, or did you perceive them as good values at where you were able to land them? How does a healthy Wally fit into the T-Wolves rotation this year?
Answer: Sprewell was decent value in the 9th round. I'm not too high on him as I see him getting less minutes as he gets older, but he's a solid last forward because he'll get his shots. Szczerbiak may have been more of a homer pick, but it was only two years ago he averaged more than 17 points per game. He'll start the year sharing time with Trenton Hassell based on matchups if the T-Wolves need offense or defense. If there is an injury – especially to the big three of Garnett, Sprewell and Cassell – he could put up big numbers. He's the kind of reserve pick you want – someone with a lot of upside if they luck into playing time.
Yahoo! Sports – Joe Lago
Question: You were able to land Kobe Bryant at the No. 4 pick? What numbers do you expect from Bryant now that he's no longer saddled with Shaq?
Answer: Well, I'm hoping Unselfish Kobe suits up each night and tries to prove he can make his Lakers teammates better. I'd be happy with numbers similar to Kobe's 2002-03 season (30, 7 and 6) when he kept the Shaq-less Lakers afloat by himself. Kobe will contend for the scoring title, but unfortunately, that means Ball Hog Kobe will surface from time to time, particularly late in games when he forces shots against double teams. Even though Rudy Tomjanovich wants the Lakers to run more, Kobe's shooting percentage should take a dip for the third straight season.
Question: You took Rasheed Wallace at No. 21 overall. Certainly the fact that he has Y! center-eligibility factored into your decision, but are you at all worried about the decline in 'Sheed's numbers upon moving to Detroit last season. Also, that Pistons' frontcourt also features Antonio McDyess, Derrick Coleman and a (must-be-developed) Darko Milicic on the bench. Any worries about reduced playing time for R. Wallace, as well?
Answer: Having to draft two centers – and with centers going quicker than I expected – I had to grab a big man. I wanted at least one of my centers to have some shooting range, and 'Sheed, with his 3-point capability, was the best option. I'm not concerned about the new backup bigs stealing PT from 'Sheed. Larry Brown says McDyess will play starter's minutes, but let's see if McDyess' left knee can take that kind of pounding.
Question: Drew Gooden, it is safe to say, has been a bust in his first two seasons. Now he moves to his third team (Cleveland) in as many years. By taking him at No. 93 overall, is that an indication that Gooden is ready to finally tap into his vast talents?
Answer:In the end, I think Gooden will be a steal at 93. He's finally in a situation to succeed with the Cavaliers and has already showed he can replace Carlos Boozer. In his first four preseason games, he averaged 9.8 points and 12.8 rebounds. I'll take those numbers for 70-plus games.
Yahoo! Sports – Jeremy Stone
Question: We saw what Jeff Van Gundy's half-court offense did to mute Steve Francis' numbers. He was traded in the offseason for Tracy McGrady, your top pick (No. 5 overall). Any concerns that McGrady might fall victim to Van Gundy's slow-it-down attack, too?
Answer: It's absolutely a gamble. You could argue too many of my guys are with new systems, and it's hard to say what they'll do. But McGrady will shoot better without three guys hanging on him all the time, and I think he'll be a more willing passer than Francis. The Rockets remain unsettled at the point and he should get his share of assists feeding to Yao.
Question: In a league that places such a high premium on centers, you wound up with Erick Dampier and Chris Bosh? What do you expect from these two this season, and do you feel you sufficiently filled your post needs?
Answer:I'm banking on Dampier (and that's scary). If last year was a breakthrough season – and not simply a turn it on to make cash on the market season – then Dampier should be fine. If he can get 12 boards per game in Golden State, well, there are more shots hoisted up in Dallas. I've got to think he'll be given every chance to be the skill and bulk in the middle the Mavericks desperately have needed. And when you look at Toronto's bigs, I've got to think Bosh cleans up. He should continue to get better.
I'd be lying to say I'm not a little concerned, though.
Question: Doug Christie has long been an underappreciated fantasy performer, and you gave him some respect by taking him at No. 77 overall. But were there any concerns about his plantar fasciitis in the back of your mind and do you think it will be a factor for him come the regular season? And do you know what sign he uses to let his wife know that his foot hurts?
Answer: I needed the steals! When you've got a 34-year-old guard that relies on quickness – and he's got a foot problem – it's a concern. But he has played 80-plus games every year with the Kings, and he will play through pain. Maybe Chris Webber "calls him out" if he doesn't. Maybe his wife makes him. I think if he had the old-school pumps, he could just pump them up to let his wife know the foot is a problem, but I'm guessing the Mrs. tells him not to waste their time with foot signals – she just wants to know he loves her (and only her).
Yahoo! Sports – Jeff Murison
Question: Jason Kidd is an X-factor this season. Coming off micro-fracture surgery on his knee, he is out indefinitely. Some say he'll come back just after the New Year. Others say he'll come back in February in time to showcase his skills for a trade. You took him at No. 54 overall. When do you think he needs to return by to justify your selection? And do you think he'll ultimately be traded?
Answer: When drafting Kidd you need to ask yourself two questions. When do I think he will come back and play? Have I already drafted another decent point guard option? I believe Kidd needs to return to the Nets by January 1 to justify my 5th round selection. I drafted Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury in rounds 2 and 3 respectively so I am set at the Guard position until Kidd returns. If he returns by Jan. 1 and is healthy, I have a first-round caliber type player who can help me make a fantasy championship run. On the other hand, if he is out later than Jan. 1, I might be hard pressed to remain near the league leaders.
I do not believe Jason Kidd will be traded this season. Kidd is set to earn 90 million over the next 5 years of his contract. That huge contract and his injured knee will make it too difficult for the Nets to grant him his trade request.
Question: Shareef Abdur-Rahim is expected to start at small forward for Portland. Yet you took Darius Miles, backup to Rahim, just nine picks after Rahim came off the board. Is this an indication that you feel Miles will perform at the same level as Rahim coming off the bench. Or do you feel one of the two will be traded?
Answer:Darius Miles has always been an intriguing fantasy option for managers. He has the physical skills to be a fantasy stud but up to this point has been more of a fantasy dud. Like most players drafted out of high school, Miles's game has come along slowly thus far while adapting to the NBA. I believe this is the year Miles will finally break out and the Blazers are a perfect fit for his style of play. Miles is a much better fit for the Blazers than Rahim, who needs to receive the ball in the low block with his back to the basket to be effective. The Blazers already have a player who commands the low block, Zach Randolph. The Blazers believe Miles is their answer at the small forward position and signed him to a multi-year contract extension in the offseason. This being the case, I do believe the Blazers will look to deal Rahim before the trade deadline this season. Rahim owners better hope he does get dealt because Miles will be playing more minutes as the season progresses.
Question: Allen Iverson (No. 19 overall) moves to the point guard spot this season. Did that factor into your decision to select him? How do you see that switch affecting his numbers this season, if at all?
Answer: I did not factor in the move from shooting guard to point guard when selecting Allen Iverson 19th overall. After selecting Kirilenko in the first round I was looking to add a quality scorer to my roster. A.I. fits that bill perfectly. Iverson has always been a shoot first, pass second player dating back to his days at Georgetown, where he played point guard. Iverson will continue to be the number one scoring option for the Sixers this season. If Glenn Robinson can rebound from an injury-plagued 2003 season, Iverson's assist numbers should improve from 2003. Look for all of his other numbers to remain about the same.
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy – Brandon Funston
Question: With the signing of Kenyon Martin it looks like Marcus Camby and Nene will be fighting for minutes at center for the Nuggets. Camby was your fifth-round pick. Do you really see Camby relegating Nene to the bench and logging a lot of minutes for Denver this season?
Answer: Camby signed a long-term contract with Denver in the offseason. They aren't paying him to sit, especially when he's healthy enough to play. Nene will get looks backing up both Martin and Camby. But I expect Camby to get his 30 minutes, which is enough time for him to grab his 10 boards and swat his 2-3 shots. With centers at a premium, that's all I was hoping to get from him here. Oh, and another 72 games played would be the cherry on top.
Question: On paper, your team is sorely lacking in perimeter threats. While most owners drafted 3-4 players who made 100-plus three-pointers a year ago, your top sharpshooter is Joe Johnson, who made barely one per game. Are you expecting any of your draft picks to elevate their game from beyond the arc, or is this a need you'll address through waiver-wire work?
Answer: Well, I do expect Steve Francis (freed of Houston's half-court game) and Gary Payton (freed of L.A.'s triangle offense)to both elevate to more than one trey per game. And, Luke Ridnour is capable of putting one in from behind the arc each night. But I'll admit that I left myself light in three pointers. If one of my late gambles doesn't pan out, I'll be quickly looking for trey help on the waiver wire. Namely Voshon Lenard.
Question: Since he's logging a lot of minutes in the preseason, Grant Hill is on everyone's radar. However, basketball's version of Ken Griffey, Jr. is falling beyond the seventh round in most drafts. Since you took him there – how many games are you expecting from Hill this season. On the off chance he stays healthy, what type of numbers do you expect from him in Orlando now that Tracy McGrady and his 23-plus shots per game have left town?
Answer: Kind of scary considering that I was always the one willing to risk drafting Griffey after each of his injuries. Apparently I have a blind spot for optimistic comeback talk. If I get 50-plus games from Hill, I'll be happy. Supposedly his ankle is completely healed to the point that the only way he breaks it again is if he sustains a blow that would break a normal man's ankle. I drafted Hill with the hopes for 13-15 points, 4 assists, 7 rebounds and solid shooting percentages. Anything more would be gravy.
82games.com – Roland Beech
Question: It's very hard to win a fantasy league when you finish last in a category. You set yourself up for that scenario by taking Shaq (who shoots more free throws than anyone in the league and did it at a sub-.500 clip last season. You also have fellow line clankers in Antoine Walker and Theo Ratliff. Do you feel you are set-up strongly across the other categories to makeup for your free throw deficiencies?
Answer: It's funny how things go. It wasn't my intention to go after Shaquille in part for the point you make that he kills you on free throws, but there I was with the eighth pick and he was available and I did take him. Once you've got the big guy on your team there are two avenues to consider – pad the rest of the lineup with good free throw shooters to try and get to at least average standing, or alternatively throw the category away and grab some players who can help you and will be downgraded by other teams for their own FT deficiencies. I opted for the latter course. Now in a league that's not very competitive, having a dud category can be fatal, but if all the teams are playing hard then it's not such a damaging thing if you can muster high placements in most other stats.
Question: OK, let's talk about Ratliff. We know that he blocks shots like no other. And the center position is at a premium here. But to take him No. 17 overall meant passing on Steve Francis, or another attractive center like Jamaal Magloire. Given that Ratliff only factors strongly in blocks, are you worried that you reached a bit for him?
Answer:Um, do-over anyone? Mulligan? Actually I was looking to draft Ben Wallace in this spot, and wasted my time on the clock trying to figure out why he wasn't in the Yahoo Draft list of centers. It turns out he is not eligible at center in this Yahoo league setup, strange given he was an all-star Center for the Eastern Conference last season! Befuddled, I then went ahead and took Ratliff which is obviously a mistake this high. This illustrates the importance of preparing not only for the NBA fantasy season in general, but the particulars of your actual league settings. Still, while everyone gets so focused on the picks in the first few rounds, it's often the mid-to-late round selections that can make the difference. Not to mention the "Bob Sura goes crazy at the end of the season" factor.
Question: Antoine Walker, your No. 41 overall pick, has a license to shoot in Atlanta. Last time that was the case (in Boston) he was producing a heavily-weighted sub-.400 field goal percentage. There is little doubt that he'll put up big numbers in the non-percentage categories, but given your already worrisome FT% category, are you concerned that you could have two players inhibiting success in two categories among your first three picks?
Answer: I'm not worried about my FG% in that if Shaq stays healthy and has the kind of high-scoring/dominating season many expect in Miami I'll be in good shape there. With Walker, you have a case where I don't believe he's a good fit for most NBA teams trying to maximize their wins on the season, but in fantasy terms this season he should be fantastic, given he's out there playing for the next fat contract and wanting to prove himself. He should post big numbers in scoring, threes, rebounds, assists, and add decent steals and blocks.
Yahoo! Sports – Matt Buser
Question: LeBron James averaged 20 points as an NBA rookie straight out of high school. You took him with the No. 9 overall selection, ahead of established stars like Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Shawn Marion, to name a few. What are your lofty expectations for King James this season, and did you have any hesitation in pulling the trigger on James?
Answer: My expectation for LeBron is improvement in every area of his game outside of assists. Carlos Boozer's departure and LeBron's move to SF should expand his role in scoring and on the defensive end. Playing closer to the basket will help his FG% and get him more trips to the free-throw line, as well. With Jeff McInnis and Eric Snow manning the guard spots, his assist numbers will dip, but the ball will still be in his hands an enormous amount. I did consider Marion in the same spot, but I had to take James for his nearly limitless potential. I think James' upside is so great that 25 points, 7-plus rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block and 45% shooting aren't just wishful thinking, but a distinct possibility.
Question: Donyell Marshall is one of the most underappreciated fantasy players in the game. Please explain to fantasy owners why Marshall, your Round 4 selection, is a better pick than guys you passed on like Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson, Ron Artest and Zach Randolph.
Answer:Marshall joined Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion as the only players to finish in the top 50 in points, rebounds, steals, blocks, and treys last season. He finished with more points than Boozer, more rebounds than Yao Ming, more steals than Eddie Jones, more blocks than Kenyon Martin, and more treys than Michael Redd. No other player that was available at that point contributes everywhere on the stat sheet like Donyell. He absolutely blew up when he got to Toronto and was given a guaranteed starting spot and nearly 40 minutes per game last season. While perhaps I don't expect quite the same production, in default Yahoo! scoring he finished 8th overall in end-of-season rankings. That's crazy good for a fourth-round pick, and well above where big name players like Melo, K-Mart, Richard Jefferson and Zach Randolph finished
Question: In Round 7, No. 81 overall, you played it safe with P.J. Brown. By safe, I mean, you know what you are going to get from the 35-year old Brown: roughly 10 points, 8 boards, good percentages, but not much else. Were you looking to go with a safer, lower-ceiling player at this point in the draft as opposed to gambling on a higher-ceiling power forward with a little more risk like Troy Murphy, Dwight Howard, Drew Gooden, Mike Sweetney and even Shareef Abdur-Rahim?
Answer: At this point in the draft, I needed a PF and I felt that my team was lacking rebounds more than any other one statistic. I may have pigeon-holed myself with that philosophy, because, while I spent every second of my allotted time deciding who to draft, I couldn't get past the fact that P.J. simply gets rebounds. I rationalized the pick with the fact that he gets a steal and a block every night, so he's not entirely one dimensional. I could have rolled the dice on someone like Gooden, Murphy, or Howard, but I did take the 'safe' route to fill what I felt was a specific need. I'm not necessarily regretting the pick, but, needless to say, any changes to my team via trades will need to include an upgrade at PF.
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy – Mike Harmon
Question: We saw Peja Stojakovic post monster numbers without Chris Webber (your pick at No. 39 overall) in the lineup. His production declined a bit upon C-Webb's return. You took Peja at No. 10 overall, which indicates you expect another monster season out of him. Do you think Webber will negatively affect his numbers again, or do you feel like Crystal Chris will find his way to the injury list yet again? Also, how much of a concern is it to you that Peja is calling for a trade. Certainly, there aren't many more ideal spots for a shooter like Peja than Sacto.
Answer:First, I can't worry about guys crying for trades. At the end of the day, his job is to shoot the J, whether he's in a Kings uniform or not. A scorer will be a scorer no matter where he plays. His stats have improved each year that he's been in the Association, and I believe that he'll equal his 2003-04 efforts.
Chris Webber's return from injury last season changed the game, as the Kings worked tirelessly to get him involved. With that said, Peja only lost an average of two shots per game. If anything, his legs were tired from carrying the squad. I think there will be a better flow to the offense and with the number of offseason changes in the Western Conference, Sacto's run-and-gun style will delight fans and fantasy owners alike.
Question: Your centers are Michael Olowokandi and promising project Chris Kaman. Certainly these guys have potential, but potential doesn't fill a fantasy stat sheet. Taking these guys as your center starters is a gamble that may or may not payoff. Do you see the stars aligning for these guys to make a roto impact this season?
Answer: I would be lying if I didn't say that Olowokandi's continuing injury problems didn't scare me somewhat. However, he is a game-changing center on the defensive end (read: blocked shots and boards) when sound. Just look back to his 2002-03 season, where he averaged 2.2 blocks per game and more than nine rebounds. I'm counting on him for 65 games.
Chris Kaman is truly a pick based on potential and expectations of better things for the Clippers. The former star of the Central Michigan Chippewas will likely see his minutes boosted this season. I'm looking for double-digit scoring, seven or eight rebounds per game and a little more than one blocked shot per game.
Question: With Peja, Paul Pierce, Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, you appear to have scoring in the bag. But other than Webber, you don't have a player on the roster who averaged more than 8.0 boards per game. Also, other than a banged up Jason Williams, you don't have a player on your team that topped 6.0 assists last season. Are you comfortable with what you are sitting with, or do you have an action plan for improving in these categories?
Answer: Around the league, only 30 players averaged 8.0 rebounds per game last season, with players such as Matt Harpring and Lamar Odom achieving that total for the first time. Erick Dampier reached that level for the first time since 1997. I guess I'm saying that past performance is not indicative of future success.
Likewise, only 14 players topped six assists per game in 2003. Rookies Kirk Hinrich and T.J. Ford stepped in to do solid jobs for the Bulls and Bucks, respectively.
I'm hopeful to see my young centers step up their games and for players like Vince Carter and company to pad the rebounding totals, even if they come off of their own misses. In short, leagues aren't won on draft day, so I'll be scouring the box scores to review the rotations and PT afforded to back-ups around the league. And of course, it's a long, long season, so the injury bug will most certainly make a hero or two from the waiver wire.
Yahoo! Sports Fantasy – Matt Romig
Question: You didn't take a true point guard until the No. 134 overall pick (Chucky Atkins). You appear to be trying to piece-meal assists by grabbing shooting guards and swingmen who distribute (Ray Allen, Brent Barry, Manu Ginobili). Is this a correct assumption, or was missing out on a top pure point guard one of the laments of your draft?
Answer: I'm still reeling from what transpired between my third and fourth round picks – and that's not an exaggeration. I was thinking point guard with the No. 35 selection, but since I was torn between Dwayne Wade and Kirk Hinrich and I didn't want to risk losing out on a guy I had targeted, I took Michael Redd. I figured Liss (RotoWire) would draft either Wade or Hinrich with one of their next two picks, but I was fine with Redd and whichever point guard fell to me at No. 38. In little more than the time it took me to scratch Redd's name off my draft sheet, both PGs were gone. It was the fantasy equivalent of losing a game on a three-quarter court shot. I still don't believe it happened. The drop-off from there was substantial enough that I decided to address the point guard position later. So while it wasn't my plan going in, I did adjust and began to target the likes of Barry, Ginobili, Marco Jaric (who I didn't get), etc.
Question: Eddy Curry has apparently lost weight and is looking great. You drafted him as one of your starting centers, nabbing him at No. 83 overall. Of course, we hear optimistic reports on Curry every October only to watch him wallow in inconsistency. What are your realistic expectations from Curry?
Answer:Pain. Heartbreak. Disappointment. Whenever you have to say stuff like, "Look what this guy did on Thursdays in the second game of back-to-backs," you know you've inherited a huge question mark. But I'll say it– look at his splits after the All-Star break. He averaged more than 16 points, nearly seven boards and 1.6 blocks per game. Add in a touch of conditioning and a contract year and why not take him in the seventh round – particularly in a draft that saw Theo Ratliff selected in the second round? As concerned as I may be about my point guard situation – I'm equally excited to break camp with Curry and Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center with Danny Fortson as insurance.
Question: You took teammates Brent Barry and Manu Ginobili at No.'s 59 and 62 overall, respectively. Any arguments going on in your head trying to determine which one to take first. Also, do you see these players elevating their games because Barry moves to a better team with a need for his shooting touch and Manu gets some outside pressure relief in the way of Barry?
Answer: I wasn't thrilled about owning teammates, particularly with one coming off the bench. Barry will play more meaningful minutes in San Antonio, but I don't see the departure from Seattle helping his fantasy production. I liked him because he does a lot of things and the departure of Hedo Turkoglu created a perimeter void that he's sure to fill. To be perfectly honest, I think I reached a little early for Ginobili – a great clutch/character player but not yet a true fantasy factor. If I had to do it over again, I'd take a guy more capable of filling up the score sheet like Eddie Jones or Mike Dunleavy, but that's why they time each pick. If anything, I'm covered if one or the other gets hurt.
RotoWire.com – Chris Liss
Question: From preseason indications, Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec could be the most valuable fantasy Charlotte Bobcats. But Emeka Okafor could also figure into that mix. You selected Okafor as the top Bobcat when you took him No. 60 overall. There are concerns about his offensive game and the fact that Melvin Ely also can man the power forward spot for Charlotte. That said, what are your projections for Okafor and how many minutes a night do you expect he'll log?
Answer: Okafor is 10 times the athlete Ely is, and though he might lack offensive polish, his rebounding, shot-blocking and post defense should keep him on the floor. I see Okafor as a 14 ppg, 9-10 rpg 2 bpg guy with a good FG% (most of his shots will be put-backs from very close range). Since he qualifies at C, I was happy to get him where I did.
Question: With the No. 84 pick you took new Phoenix signee Quentin Richardson, who happens to play the same position as last year's breakout Sun Joe Johnson. Do you expect Q to be able to reach the numbers he put up last season (17 pts, 6 boards, nearly 2 treys and 1 steal) competing with Johnson for PT? Also, do you expect the Suns to follow through with plans of running that smaller offense (Amare Stoudemire at center, Shawn Marion at power forward and Q at small forward) more often than not?
Answer:Richardson, if he plays good minutes, is a great rebounding guard, who can score and knock down the three. While it's true that he and Joe Johnson play the same position, I do expect the Suns to move Stoudemire to center a good deal and put their best five on the floor whenever they can. I think the fact that Shaq is now back East is making a lot of the Western Conference teams consider moving smaller quicker guys to C (Memphis is using Gasol and the T-Wolves may use KG there more often), so it makes a lot of sense to match Stoudemire up with those guys as well.
Question: You got a potential steal with Al Harrington at No. 61 overall. He goes from the bench of a loaded Indiana squad to the empty cupboards of Atlanta where we saw Stephen Jackson and even Chris Crawford and Bob Sura tear it up last year. With Harrington and Antoine Walker running a two-man show for the Hawks, what are your expectations of Harrington?
Answer: I actually don't love Harrington's game – he's a bit one dimensional, but he could easily average 18 ppg, and he'll likely log big minutes which means he'll stumble into rebounds, and an occasional steal or assist.


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SNES - Kirby Super Star (1996)


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