As expected, former L.A. Times sports columnist J.A. Adande has landed at the Mothership: The "Around the Horn" regular has joined ESPN as an NBA columnist for ESPN.com.

Adande, who took the recent buyout from Tribune, writes in today's column that, "I write about sports because they somehow manage to incorporate every aspect of our world: life, death, hope, disappointment, victories, losses, politics, rules, crimes, fair play, cheating, health, drugs, love, hate. I write about sports because you never know how the story will end (unless Tiger Woods holds the lead on Sunday). I write about sports because, for better or worse, that's where most of the country gets its look at African-Americans and I want to do my part to keep the lens clear."

As for his predictions: "The Patriots will win the Super Bowl. The Tigers will get things together, get their full complement of pitchers back in the bullpen and win the World Series. USC won't stay at the top of the rankings the entire season, but will be No. 1 in the final college football poll. The San Antonio Spurs will repeat as NBA champions.