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Excellence in an expansion can be measured by its innovation, attention to player requests and implementation. It’s almost universally true that expansions incorporate new systems or new content of some sort apart from just adding new playfields. Whether the new content comes with a new playable class, a new achievements system, new forms of PvP, or the ability to create your own customizable soldier to lead, there’s always something players can look forward to. An expansion that adds new systems and new ideas that both work well and are cutting edge is a real sign of inventive genius. Several games suffer from lackluster expansions, so when a good one is launched, it can be appreciated by all–fans and casual observers alike. This year saw a few good expansions, but there was one in particular that rose above the rest. The Ten Ton Hammer Best Expansion of 2009 Award goes to. . .

Siege of Mirkwoodoffers players the usual gambit of content one can expect of an expansion. It includes new quests and new zones and dungeons, a level cap increase, and new raids. However, what makes this expansion the top on our list of 2009 is the upgrade to the combat system and the Skirmishes. We always felt a little disconnected with the combat in LotRo, and the new system just feels right. Combat is responsive and exciting. The Skirmish system is one of the most fun ideas we’ve seen in the industry this year. Players can create and lead their own soldier in randomized instances. The soldier can be trained and skill up. Joining a skirmish is easy and provides quick, raw enterment. As an added incentive, purchasing Siege of Mirkwoodalso includes all previous expansions and content updates. Turbine continues to deliver on their commitment to their games. LotRO is no exception as its story-telling is among the best. The Siege of Mirkwoodstory concludes the events that began in the previous expansion and every step draws you deeper into the world.

The Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose was selected on Wednesday as the NBA rookie of the year. He became the third Bulls’ player to receive this award, besides Michael Jordan and Elton Brand. In the general voting, he received 111 first-place votes and 574 points from a voting panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

The other players in the top five were O. J. Mayo of the Memphis Grizzlies, Brook Lopez of the New Jersey Nets, Russell Westbrook of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Eric Gordon of the Los Angeles Clippers, but only the first three of them received first-place votes. The news was not a surprise to Bulls fans and players since Rose has been an amazing player that has brought many opportunities to the team; he helped the franchise to be on this year’s playoffs by having great performances on each of the games he had played.

Rose has been also a breath of fresh air for the team that has not been able to glow after Michael Jordan left. Before Wednesday, Rose didn’t want to say anything about the award; he actually said that he didn’t care about it, but the truth was that he did care and a lot, he wanted to win it more than anything this year. But he did not say it until he learned he was indeed the NBA rookie of the year. He also said that he knew that there were a lot of talented players out there to go against, but he always hoped he could earn it. Since the start of the season Rose has created a great impression with his talent and passion for the game. He was named rookie of the month in November, December and March.

He helped the Bulls to reach their fourth playoffs of the last five years and started it with a great contribution of 36 points and 11 assists in his team’s victory at the Game 1 of the first round against the defending champion Boston Celtics on the road; a praiseworthy accomplishment for the first playoffs game of his career. He has even been compared to LeBron James for his way of playing. “I think there are very few people in the NBA who could do what he did this year,” teammate Joakim Noah said. “You tell me another No. 1 pick who got to the playoffs in their hometown, especially in a big city with so many distractions and so many things going on.

I mean, he’s all about one thing and that’s winning basketball games, and that’s what I respect about himaE. Derrick Rose only played one year in the NCAA, recruited by Head Coach John Calipari with a scholarship at the University of Memphis.

He had some offers from the University of Illinois and the Indiana University as well, but he decided to stay at Memphis. As freshmen he helped the team to have a 33-1 record and led them to the National Championship game against Kansas, where they lost 75-68 in overtime.

He scored 17 points on 7aE”17 shooting, grabbed six rebounds and had seven assists in that game. Memphis finished the season 2007-08 with a 38-2 record and he declared for the 2008 NBA draft where he was the No. 1 pick overall selected by the Chicago Bulls.

Rose is enjoying a great moment on his professional career that is just beginning and the Chicago Bulls have all their hopes set over him. We will have to keep an eye on him to see what else he will do for his hometown team.