Odds on where A-Rod Lands

Its been a long time, shouldn'tve left ya without a strong rhyme to step to-Rakim

Ok so its only been a couple days, the novel is in the copy edit stage. I've been working on making sure that my "great work" doesn't have too many misspells and grammatical errors.

The A-Rod sweepstakes has begun, the spec is on which media wonk will be right on his "inside sources" I have heard the following teams, New York Mets, Detroit, Boston, Chicago Cubs, Seattle, San Francisco, LA Dodgers and LA Angels. Im posting odds (for fun purposes only folks) to speculate on where A-Rod might go to.

Mets: The Metropolitans are rumored to have interest and David Wright claimed he's be happy to move to 2nd to accomodate A-Rod. Uh, A-Rod is a natural shortstop and I'm thinkin that he won't want to stay at third. And I also think that A-Rod is tired of being in the fishbowl that NYC is.
Odds:100-1

Detroit: Buster Olney seems to think that A-Rod might go here, and that Mike Illitch aint afraid to shell out the duckets. But the Tigers just traded for Edgar Renteria, another case that A-Rod won't want to stay at third.
Odds: 25-1

Boston: Do the Sox want A-Rod? Listen to their fans and you might think that they don't Given the Sox recent culture of winning they might think of A-Rod as poison, but dont you think the Sox would love to get A-Rod, win and further turn the screws on their hated rivals?
Odds: 15-1

Chicago Cubs: Another team not afraid to throw the loot. A-Rod has a strong tie to his first manager in Lou Pinella and the friendly confines of Wrigley would be good for A-Rod's bat. Also the fans would be a lot more forgiving.
Odds 10-1

Seattle: Can you go home again? Better yet can the Mariners afford him? This is a real wild card.
Odds 50-1

San Francisco: Peter McGowan has stated that he likes the idea of building the franchise around another big name player. It weas done 15 years ago with a cat named Bonds. And it got him a stadium built and filled. Interesting thought here
Odds 12-1

Los Angeles Dodgers: A-Rod would be following Joe Torre whom he has said frequently that he likes and admires, but Chavez Ravine is far from a home run park and A-Rod would look to be somewhere that he can pass Bonds.
Odds 10-1

Los Angeles Angels: I think this is the best fit. A-Rod would be protected by the heavy hitting Vladmir Guerrero and there are still some rumors that the halos would be interested in Bonds as a part time DH, if Guerrero and Bonds are there to protect A-Rod...Yikes
Odds 8-1

I read something today that blew me away. For all of those that claim that the Pats ran up the score against the Skins, I submit this 72 points...
In the first quarter!
Smith Center High in Kansas scored 72 points in the first quarter against Plainville, scoring on 6 turnovers. Breaking a national record that was held for over 70 years. Smith Center won 83-0, how tough is this team? They are the defending state champs, forget about beating them. When a team scores on them this year, it'll be news. They have outscored their opponents 640-0 this year and they had already beaten Plainville 72-0 this year. I read this and had to reasearch it before I put it up, but its no joke. Wow.

Phat Dap
You knew I was gonna give one to Genarlow Wilson for staying strong and perservering in the face of a long prison sentence which was overturned. But I'll go with the easier one to the Red Sox and their once long suffering fans. Best thing was that their fans act like they've been there, oh there was joy and a little rowdiness, but they have more ammo to shoot at the Yankees. Hank Steinbrenner is definitely George's son. He can make the dumb quotes like his father did, saying "the Red Sox can have their nation, we have the universe." Not when you lose your last two World Series and haven't been to the Fall Classic in four years while The Sox have been and haven't lost a game.

Head Slap
I could give one to Scott Boras, who's look at me tactics to announce A-Rod's declining of the his option and making himself a free agent couldn't have been more ill-timed.
The one I have to give one to is to Dolphins Channing Crowder who when asked about going to London for their matchup against the Giants went on an idiotic diatribe about not knowing where London was and saying that he knew London Fletcher. To quote comedian Steve Harvey "I know as black folks we shouldn't talk about one another like this but..." Channing, you allegedly graduated college please act like you have the intelligence.

Quitcherbellyachin!

You know whats wrong with sports today???

Whiners.

Folks cant lose without someone carping and whining. Example is the New England Patriots who after beating the Redskins 52-7 took flak from the whining wonks and honks that the Pats ran up the score. Heres a tall flash for you and all the whiners out there. If you dont want the Pats to score 52 points, play some freaking defense. I'm not a Pats fan or apologist, but I'm sick and tired of listening now to these media types carp about the Pats "running up the score." I wasn't fond of Tom Brady playing into the 4th quarter because I just dont want to see a key cog in the Pats offense get hurt well after the game has been decided. The writers and sportsheads that have a problem with the Pats offense are the same ones that lamented years ago that there was no offense in the game and the same ones that carped about there being no one to root against. The Pats cant win either way, when they let up on the Dolphins last week they got hammered for letting the woeful Fins back into an obvious blowout, When they stayed on the gas yesterday they were accused of running up the score.
I guess when the Vikings were scoring bushels of points in 1998, a season now a distant memory to most Vikes fans, they should have been stopped too? Funny thing is that the common element in both of these high scoring teams was one Randy Moss, who in his first year with the respective teams was part of a supercharged offense. But the main crux of my post today is to those that have suddenly decided that the Pats scoring is too much, Shaddap!

Did you hear the blast that respected baseball sage Peter Gammons had after the conclusion of the World Series. He waylaid A-Rod's "look at me." announcement that he was opting out of his Yankee contract. He did this in Gammons opinion when the Sox were nearing the pinnacle of their season to try to garner pub for himself. I cant say that I disagree with Gammons and the backlash at A-Rod has been strong and swift. Though I have mad beef with Hank Steinbrenner who is fast morphing into the mouth that roared for the Yankees like his daddy was a generation ago. Calling being a Yankee "a privlege" The younger Steinbrenner ripped A-Rod for deciding to opt out of his contract and flatly stating that they would not bid on A-Rod's services. You're gonna wish that you had that bat in the lineup when your team falls fast off the pace. Good luck with filling that big hole in the lineup there Mr. Girardi.

While I'm on the subject of craziness, did you see that multi-lateral ending of the Division III game between Trinity and Millsaps? Check it out and count each of the laterals, blind flips, desperation back passes and scrambling including the last one, that one bouncer that was something straight out of the old sandlot football game Killaman. All the laterals were legal unlike a couple suspect ones from the more storied "The Play" between Cal adn Stanford 25 years ago. Take a look and you'll be out of breath. And like my old football coach used to say, you play to the whistle. To do anything less is cheating yourself, your team and the game.

Finally, my phat dap/head slap is on Wednesday and usually I don't get in SEC politics but I have to give some dap to Mark Richt, the head coach of Georgia who told his players to celebrate after their first score and the whole team stormed the field to act a fool in the end zone. Yeah they got multiple penalties and yes Richt penned a sincere apology to the SEC, but UF is reaping what the old ball coach Spurrier long ago sowed when he used to drop "halfa hunnert (sic) on Jaw-Ja" I like Urban Meyer but he got caught up. So he and the UF fans need to quit whining too.

Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Sox Win it All and A-Rod opts out

The exodus from the Bronx has begun.
Joe Torre started it with his bold refusal to take an incentive based deal and now A-Rod has decided to opt out of his contract. The Yankees have stated that they will not pursue A-Rod and thus ends a four year run in Gotham for A-Rod that yielded zero world series appearances much less rings. Meanwhile the hated Sox wins its second World Series title in those four years that A-Rod played in the Bronx.
Listen Yankee fan, carp all you want about the number of rings that you have, but its all about the here and now. The Sox have been to and won the last two Series that they have been in. The Yankees have lost the last two series that they have been in and haven't even been in the Fall Classic since Josh Beckett (where have we heard that name before) led the Marlins to a stunning six-game upset.
For A-Rod the soon to be MVP, can command his price and destination. I told you that I think he's headed back west. I'm seeing him in LA with Vlad and possibly Bonds to make a fearsome lineup and challenge the Indians and Sox for AL supremacy. A-Rod will not have to look to the fans and beg them for love. He will get it and the Yanks will continue to throw money at every crop of free agents that come down the pike every year and return to that stage of fearsome in name only. The Yanks went 15 years between World Series appearances between 81-96 and might have another similar drought facing them.
The Pats are looking nothing short of scary. They rolled up the points on the Skins who came in with a respectable defense. They dropped 52 points on the Skins in a frightening 52-7 destruction. The Pats just scored and scored and scored. Now comes the real test. The overhyped matchup with an overrated Pokes a couple weeks previous was not the test. The Colts are kinda sittin back like "Hey, aren't we the defending Super Bowl Champs??? Where's our love?" The Colts aren't winning in that CrazySexyCool way the Pats are, but they are winning and you have to respect that. Don't you think that NBC wishes that they could do the schedule flip for this game and steal this one from CBS for a primetime date? Instead of a ho-hum Pokes-Eagles matchup? But Madden still loves the Cowboys and this will be the 3rd time this season that the Pokes will be on primetime. No bias there...
The BCS was relatively quiet. I detest the Bucks but they put on a very efficent show on in dismantling Penn State. When you go 12-16 on 3rd down the four times the Bucks failed to convert the Bucks kicked two field goals and the other 4th downs were curtailed by the half and the end of the game. The Bucks didn't punt all night. Wow
BC and LSU maintained its 2-3 slot behind the Bucks and though there were a fair share of upsets again, there is relative peace and quiet for once in college football.
Ok, so I was wrong that the Series would go six. The Sox were just too too much for the Rockies winning two tight ones and two blowouts to win their second title in four years. How many Sox fans dared to dream that they would be celebrating not one but two titles in four years. I'm pretty sure that the construction of a statue of Terry Francona is being contemplated by Bostonians having done what John McNamara, Darrell Johnson, Dick Williams and Joe Cronin couldn't do once, much less twice.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Justice for Genarlow...at long last!!!!

If you go back to a post I made in January, I made reference to the curious and draconian case of one Genarlow Wilson, a young man that was jailed in Georgia on an antiquated law regarding sex between minors. Wilson at the time was 17 and the girl was 15. Without getting too graphic, the bare bones was that Wilson was with a few friends at a hotel party in 2001, he had sex with a classmate, she initially claimed that she was raped. The activity was videotaped and a jury acquitted Wilson of that charge, but he also received oral sex from another classmate…note the word…received. The law, which has since been changed, made it a felony for minors less than three years apart in age to have oral sex. Now here's the thing that will make you scratch your head, had the two had intercourse it would have been at the time, been a misdemeanor!

The classmate said that the action was consensual. A statement that her mother attests to as well. But the prosecutors after seeing an intial rape charge get an acquittal, because the jury saw a video tape and decided that the sex was consensual. The prosecutors tried to offer him a plea deal ont he oral sex issue, saying that his friends that were involved took the deal. Wilson refused, saying that while he acknowledged and never denied that the action took place, it was consensual. Something that the female involved agreed with. The Georgia prosecutors didn’t care they grilled him hard to take the deal that they were laying out, telling him it was either that or face 10 years in prison. But Wilson wouldn’t take a deal because it would have to register as a sex offender and he would not be able to be in the same house with his baby sister. He wanted a jury trial.

Now before I continue lets lay out some info. Wilson was no thug. He played football, but he was also a top student with a 3.2, never once in trouble. He was elected homecoming king of his high school. This by all accounts was and still is a good kid. Wilson got convicted of child molestation, even though The prosecutors and judge even said that Wilson was the antithesis of a criminal or thug. The forewoman on the jury cried when she read the guilty verdict, they had to follow the letter of the law.

The jury saw the tape and under the instructions that they were given found Wilson guilty of violating this law. This was a law by all accounts one meant to ensnare pedophiles. Keep in mind that the “victim” and her mother testified that the action was consensual and both parties were under 18, (just so we’re clear there was no age questions here) Like I said being found guilty Wilson was sentenced to 10 years mandatory…
10 freakin’ years for oral sex???

Wilson has a lot of people that were in his corner campaigning for his release Jimmy Carter and Mark Cuban among others and ESPN did a lengthy piece on it. Websites were made and articles were written in the New York Times. The district attorney in the case, shrugged and said had he took the deal. In essence throw himself on the mercy of the court, he might not have gotten such a harsh sentence. Lets keep in mind a teacher in the same state had sex with a student: female teacher and male student and got 90 days. This was the case of child molestation. Not to play the race card here, but Wilson was a black male. The prosecutor wanted him to bow down, Wilson maintained (and still maintains to this day) his innocence and the prosecutor threw the book at him for daring to defend himself on this charge.

Wilson went to jail and for the next 28 months sat as his lawyer put up appeals. Back in June a judge decreed that the sentence was cruel and unusual. The law had since been changed, but it was not done so retroactively, so Wilson was still in the slammer. But the state attorney general appealed and Wilson remained behind bars. Finally Friday morning. The Georgia State Supreme Court after receiving the appeal ruled that Wilson must be released. Wilson reportedly tried not get excited upon hearing the rumors. I saw the news item this afternoon and kept my fingers crossed.

Wilson was released to his mother this afternoon.

I read about it a couple hours ago and literally yelled out "Hell Yeah!" at the top of my lungs. This was a case of a person who did not need to be in jail.
He studied for his SAT’s in the pen and looks to go to college after all.

Now lets keep things straight, Wilson should have know better to get into what he did. But he did not, repeat did not deserve ten years for what happened.
Justice finally came for Genarlow and for that I’m glad.

Week 8 Picks

Another so-so week at 8-6, but its not a losing one. I was about to get real happy when the Texans rallied from 32-7 down to take the lead. But the game slipped away (sigh) I was looking pretty prescient when the Vikes were up 14-7, then it all fell apart (dang!) We already know about how the Lions keep jacking me up and the Eagles have no excuse for blowing that game against the Eagles. Well now that I’ve made excuses for almost all of my losses, its time to just time to move on to this week. There are a couple of trap games on the docket this week. Submitted for your inspection review and approval are this weeks picks, with the odds provided courtesy of USA Today Sports Weekly. Those odds are for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I add that caveat so you don’t mistake me for a bookie or odds maker and want to hit me up when you bet your kids college fund on that Redskins-Pats line and lose.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 8
Schedule Notes: Arizona (3-4); Atlanta (1-6); Baltimore (4-3); Dallas (6-1); Kansas City (4-3); Seattle (4-3). Are on a bye this week.
The Texans-Chargers game may be played at a different locale due to the wildfires in Southern California.
The Dolphins are the designated home team in their matchup against the Giants in London.
There is no Sunday night game this week as the NFL defers to game 4 of the World Series

Sunday, October 28

Browns (3-3) @ Rams (0-7)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Browns by 3
Fast Fact-The Rams have been outscored 114-19 in their last four road games, scoring only 1 touchdown total.
Breakdown- The Rams are offensive, no not the offensive type like they used to be from 99-03. They are offensively putrid. Getting Marc Bulger back may be some sort of help, but not much. The Browns feeling frisky with a 3-3 record, why do I want to say the Rams pull the stunning upset? Though the Browns have been alternating wins and losses, I think they break that pattern this week.
Pick-Cleveland

Lions (4-2) @ Bears (3-4)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Bears by 5
Fast Fact- The Lions have been outscored 80-24 in their last two road games
The Lions are a tough team to figure, scoring like mad one week and then needing a map to the end zone the next. The Bears have been just as maddening and they are still smarting over giving up 34 4th quarter points in a fall from ahead loss to these same Lions 4 weeks ago. The Bears need to control the game with an smart concise running game. While the Lions want to get offensively bonkers. I’ve been hating on the Lions all year and I don’t think I’ll stop now.
Pick-Chicago

Colts (6-0) @ Panthers (4-2)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Colts by 6.5
Fast Fact- The Colts are the first team since 2004 to follow a road Monday night game with another road game (Minnesota was the last team to have to do that in 2004)
This looks like a game that could be a trap for the Colts, looking past the Panthers at the second game of the century against the Pats. For the Panthers, will it be Carr or Testaverde at QB? The Panthers are ready and rested coming off of their bye. Testaverde proved a lot of folks wrong with his efficient performance against the Cards in week 6, but the Colts ain’t the Cards and their defense is much faster and sharper. Peyton Manning has been his usual pinpoint self, and if he gets rolling it won’t matter who is under center for the Panthers, as they will not survive a high scoring affair.
Pick-Indianapolis

NY Giants (5-2) vs. Dolphins (0-7)
Wembley Stadium; London, England 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Giants by 4
Fast Fact-This is the first NFL regular season game played in England and the second game to be played internationally (Cardinals beat Niners 31-14 in Mexico City in 2005)
The G-Men have put their horrid 0-2 start far behind them and have been winning with a nasty defense and a solid if unspectacular running game. I’ve officially decided to stop being so critical of Eli Manning; he won’t duplicate his more heralded older brother, but he has settled nicely into a good game manager. The Dolphins had better enjoy their international spotlight as the British will see how bad a football team can be.
Pick-New York Giants (Lock of the Week)

Raiders (2-4) @ Titans (4-2)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Titans by 7
Fast Fact The Titans Rob Bironas kicked 8 FG at Houston last week breaking the NFL record of 7 held by 4 different kickers.
Aside from a beat down of the hapless Dolphins, the Raiders are horrid on the road losing 13 of their last 14. The Titans nearly gave away their win last week and needed Bironas’ accuracy to bail them out. Vince Young looks to be back under center but he won’t need to scramble as much. If the Titans can establish their run game, which should be easy to do against the Swiss-cheese like Raiders run defense, they should be able to grind out a win
Pick-Tennessee

Eagles (2-4) @ Vikings (2-4)
H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Eagles by 1.5
Fast Fact- The Eagles have not won in Minnesota since 1985
The Eagles are coming off a heartbreaking last second loss to the Bears and suddenly Andy Reid’s seat has gotten a tad warm. The Vikes got hosed by the Cowboys hindered by puzzling non-use of Adrian Peterson who was held to a career low 63 yards a week after his club record 224 yard performance. The Eagles will load the box up and dare struggling Tavaris Jackson to beat them. Something tells me that while he might not have a breakout game, he’ll do just enough to loosen up the Eagles defense for AP to break off a run or two and win a close one.
Pick-Minnesota

Steelers (4-2) @ Bengals (2-4)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Steelers by 3.5
Fast Fact-Neither Carson Palmer (0-4) or Marvin Lewis (0-5) has led the Bengals to a home victory against the Steelers
Kill all the madness the media wants you to believe, The Steelers do not hold the Bengals in a rivalry regard, they instead consider them more like the annoying little brother that will never be more than a pest. Angered over a bad loss in Denver, the Steelers will take it out on the Bengals who are teetering on the brink of a collapse. Willie Parker has always feasted on the Bengals soft run defense and its highly doubtful that Kenny Watson will duplicate his 31 carry 130 yard effort. As much I loath to do so, I can’t see the Bengals getting the win here.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Bills (2-4) @ NY Jets (1-6)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Jets by 3
Fast Fact The Bills have only played two road game and have scored a total of ten points
The Jets are fading fast but Eric Mangini is sticking with embattled QB Chad Pennington who looked decent in the loss to the Bengals last week throwing for 3 scores. The Bills have a struggling offense and have been showing themselves incapable of scoring much on the road. The Jets cant really use this as any kind of measuring stick, but will get a needed win
Pick-New York Jets

Titans (3-4) vs. Chargers (3-3)
Game Time and location still TBD due to southern California wildfire status (CBS)
Favorite-Game has been taken off of most odds boards
Fast Fact-The Texans have only been to San Diego once in their brief history and lost 24-3 in their first season.
The Texans saw a furious 29 point 4th quarter all go for naught as they let the Titans off the hook in a painful loss. They get a Chargers team that despite having a bye week to recharge (no pun intended) are on the run due to the wildfires in the San Diego area, but the Chargers are still the better team and LT will get his and then some against the Texans soft defense.
Pick-San Diego

Jaguars (4-2) @ Buccaneers (4-3)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite-Jaguars by 3.5
Fast Fact-This is the Jags first trip to Raymond James Stadium
The Jags are coming off a nasty beat down against the Colts on Monday Night, and have lost David Garrard to an ankle injury, not the best time to face a tough Tampa Bay defense. If the Bucs offense can duplicate the bushel of yards that they racked up against the Lions and turn them into points they could roll. The Jags continued questions at QB make them a risky pick on the road. I call this an upset since the odds makers have the Jags as a questionable road favorite.
Pick-Tampa Bay (Upset of the Week)

Saints (2-4) @ Niners (2-4)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact The Saints have won the last three meetings.
The Niners looked a mess in Gotham last week while the Saints won an ugly one against the Falcons. Both teams have the same record but are going in opposite directions. The Saints have rebounded from their horrid 0-4 start while the Niners are fading fast after winning their first two. Alex Smith returns to the starting lineup for the Niners but the feeling is here that he will have to shake off rust and with a withering Saints pass rush led by Charles Grant, Smith will have to be wary especially since Grant will be facing rookie LT Joe Staley. The prospects don’t look good for the Niners.
Pick-New Orleans

Redskins (4-2) @ Patriots (7-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite- Patriots by 17 (That’s not a misprint)
Fast Fact: The Patriots have not beaten the Redskins since 1972 losing the last six meetings.
I looked twice at that point spread, and why do I keep thinking that this game should and could be closer than expected. The Patriots are looking more and more offensively scary every week, while the Redskins are the first tough team that the Pats have had to face. Could the Pats be caught looking past the ‘Skins to the super matchup with the Colts? I cant do it, it’ll be close but the Pats still are too much to handle
Pick-New England

Monday, October 29

Packers (5-1) @ Broncos (3-3)
Invesco Field @ Mile High 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite-Broncos by 3
Fast Fact-These teams have not lost at home in their series The Pack are 4-0-1 in Wisconsin, The Broncos are 4-0 in Denver
Breakdown On paper the Pack should roll easy, Brett Favre and the Pack are rested and ready, but going into Denver is never a fun prospect for teams that don’t do it every year. The Pack’s lack of a running game will bite them since they have to lean more on Favre. The Broncos have a much better defense than one thinks, aside from embarrassing losses to the Colts and Chargers the Broncos defense doesn’t give up much. I’m not making this pick because I dislike the Pack, I just don’t think they are as good as their 5-1 record and I don’t think the Broncos are as bad as their 3-3 record
Pick-Denver

Last Week 8-6 (Lock correct, upset incorrect)
Overall 65-38 (6-1 Locks, 3-4 Upsets)

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

2007 World Series Preview

I guess since I don’t listen to anyone’s arguments but mine, its high time I got off the college football thought process (Which according to some, I know nothing about) and as promised preview the 103rd World Series. This is a series matchup that no one could have even forecasted in late March/Early April. A series pitting the youthful exuberance of the Colorado Rockies who in are in their first World Series in their brief 15 year history and the experience of the Boston Red Sox who are making their 11th series appearance and second in four years. As per my custom I’ll preview each team individually then breakdown the matchup

2007 World Series
Colorado Rockies vs. Boston Red Sox
All Times EDT and shown on FOX

Game 1 @ Boston Wed 8 p
Game 2 @ Boston Thu 8 p
Game 3 @ Colorado Sat 8 p
Game 4 @ Colorado Sun 8 p
If Needed
Game 5 @ Colorado Mon TBD
Game 6 @ Boston Wed 10/31 TBD
Game 7 @ Boston Thu 11/1 TBD


Colorado Rockies (National League Champions)
Manager-Clint Hurdle (5th Year 441-509; 7-0 Postseason)

How The Rockies Got to the World Series
Finished 2nd in NL West 90-73 record .5 game behind Arizona
NL Wild Card Winner by 1 game (163rd game 8-7 win over San Diego in 13 innings)
Won NLDS in 3 Game Sweep over NL East Champion Philadelphia (4-2, 10-5, 3-1)
Won NLCS in 4 game sweep over NL West Champion Arizona (6-1, 3-2 (11), 4-1, 6-4)

Key Players Matt Holiday hit .333 in the NLCS and Kaz Matsui had 6 RBI to key the Rockies sweep. The Rockies pitching staff had a ERA of 1.89 in the NLCS.

Fast Fact: The Rockies have had only four other winning seasons before this year (1995-97 & 2000)

Team Breakdown
The Rockies come into the Fall Classic nuclear hot, winners of 21 of the last 22. One has to wonder if the extended layoff will hurt them. The Rockies have the kind of fearless mentality of a team with nothing to lose and playing with the kind of lop-eared dog style of someone that is used to facing long odds. The pluck and grit of this team is a direct reflection of their gritty manager. The Rockies have long been knocked for their woeful pitching, but it has actually carried them to and through this postseason. Troy Tulowitzki is a bone-fide young superstar in the making, Matt Holiday give them a feared bat and Todd Helton is the grizzled and respected clubhouse leader. This team might be called a fluke but they are playing solid fundamental baseball and it has gotten them to the Series. You can’t knock that

Boston Red Sox (American League Champions)
Manager Terry Francona (4th Year 375-273, 18-6 Postseason; 8th overall 659-636)

How The Red Sox Got to the World Series
AL East Champions 96-66 record 2 games ahead of New York
Won ALDS in 3 game sweep over AL West Champion Los Angeles (4-0, 6-3, 9-4)
Won ALCS in 7 games oves AL Central Champion Cleveland (10-3, 6-13, 2-4, 3-7, 7-1, 12-2, 11-2)

Key Players Manny Ramirez hit .409 with 10 RBI’s in the ALCS David Ortiz has hit safely in each of the Red Sox postseason games

Fast Fact: Francona is the only the 2nd manager in Red Sox History to take his team to more than one World Series (Bill Carrigan took the Sox to the Series in 1915-16 winning both times)

Team Breakdown
The Red Sox are the heavy hitting veteran laden squad who just seem to keep coming at you from all directions. Yes, ManRam is a certified space cadet, but he delivers in the most crucial of situations. His relaxed and easygoing style belies his razor sharp focus at the plate. David “Big Papi” Ortiz is the soul of the team, he also may have the one bat in the lineup that is more feared than Ramirez’s. The Sox however have pop up and down their lineup and their pitching staff is playoff tested to the nth degree. Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling have both won World Series games and MVPs. Jonathan Papelbon is the heat throwing closer, the Sox have a solid team

Overall Analysis
On paper it could be labeled a mismatch,. The Sox have the clear edge in postseason experience. A good deal of the Rockies are making their first postseason appearance. But the Rockies have the “ain’t skeered” mentality and a team that gets on a roll like that is so hard to slow down. The Sox are the better team, but the Rocks won’t go away quietly. The Sox hold serve at home, the Rocks take the first in the mile high atmosphere, the Sox get their altitude legs and win game 4. The Rocks stave off elimination in an emotional game 5 and the Sox win it at home.
Pick-Red Sox in 6

You thought I forgot it, but of course here is the part that everyone will be talking about the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week.

Phat Dap
To former Yankees manager Joe Torre who could have used the press confernence last week to blast the Yankees and the way they shabbily treated him. Including an ungrateful Steinbrenner boys who asked the rhetorical question “who was Joe Torre when we hired him in ‘95?” It seems that Torre was the classy addition that the Yanks needed to win a World Series. Torre has solidified his resume for the baseball hall of fame.

Head Slap
I’ve been a humongous critic of Skip Bayless, who whines on a daily basis on the ESPN2 morning show First Take and more often than not his wonking is more the stuff of headshakes. But his criticisms of kickers, in the wake of Rob Bironas’ NFL record 8 field goals was just plain stupid, even for him. His statement that teams should “be made to just go for it on 4th down and go for 2 every time after touchdowns” was the most inane I’ve ever seen. I didn’t see him lamabaste kickers when Nick Folk of the Pokes made a 55 yarder (twice) to win a game over the Bills. Bayless carps that kickers are not athletes. Hey Skippy, have you ever tried to kick a football? I’ll give you the entire contents of mine and my daughters bank account if you could kick a field goal of 30 yards. Hacks like this who criticize and carp about players but have never played the game are the most insipid of the bunch. You’ve never had to do but you criticize the ones that do.
I'll go back to reading the rants of those that so hated my college football playoff plan. It was an idea is all. Like I've said before the college presidents will never release control of the one thing that they have an iron lock on... Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans

A Pipe Dream but an idea for a college football playoff

The college football season is poetry, madness and a whirlwind. I am the type that wants to see things settled on the field. Keep winning and you will vie for a championship. Ask the Rockies, they started winning in September and haven't stop to quote Casey Stengel "They way they're playing they might keep going till Christmas." But in college football this is not so. Boise State finished the 2006 season unbeaten and to the chagrin of some larger conferences, earned a berth in a major BCS bowl. They acquitted themselves nicely with a thrilling come from behind win in the Fiesta Bowl against Oklahoma.
Now before I outline my plan for a college football playoff. Let me explain why it will never ever happen. Division I football, or the Bowl Subdivision as it is now known is not, repeat NOT controlled by the NCAA. Oh the rules and the administration of the schools are governed by the NCAA but they do not control its gameplay. That is the reason that all the other sports in the NCAA have Division 1, 2 or 3 trophies. The NCAA hands out a trophy to the football winners in Division 1-AA (now called the inane Championship Subdivision) 2 and 3 and they have playoffs. But Division 1-A is controlled by the presidents of the schools who commonly vote in their blocs that their respective leagues are in (eg SEC, Big 10, et al) These leagues have lucrative tie ins to bowl games which pay out tens of millions of dollars to the schools that qualify for these games. These presidents, bowl committees and broadcast network conspire to keep a playoff from happening. The presidents deign to be the bad guy saying that "the kids would miss too much time in school." Nevermind that all of the conference championship and bowl games are played when a majority of these schools are out of school for winter break. Now that I've given you the reason why it will never happen. Let me set up my scenario for a workable NCAA football tourney.

The Setup
We take 16 teams...Winners of the 11 major conferences. The conferences that have championship games still have them. You take the 11 conferences winners and 5 wild cards. That way you have room for that team that finishes second in the Big or Pac 10 and yes Notre Dame can still carp for a spot but only if they finish in the top 5 of rankings. This top 5 is determined by a BCS like poll, so it would behoove teams to play a quality non-conference schedule as well. Keep the polls, and the figuring that goes into the BCS but use it for determining the "final five."

The tourney
The teams are seeded 1-16. Higher seeded teams play at home in the first round. The first three rounds are played on the middle 3 Saturdays in December, The final to be played on the bye week between the NFL's conference championships and the Super Bowl. Where do you play the bowls? You rotate the BCS title game now, why not rotate the games between the four major bowls, with the final being played at a rotating site as well. Dont tell me that people wont travel for it, people travel three weekends following their basketball teams. The quarterfinals can be played at neutral sites close to the venues of both teams. So the little confernences get their champions in the playoff and the big boys cant avoid top teams.

The other bowls.
Keep 'em if teams dont make the tourney, the bowl game is always a nice consolation You have 32 bowls, take the majors ones out and you still have 27 others that teams that just miss can still vie for. So simple yet so much a dream... I will have the World Series preview tomorrow as well as the awards that everyone in the TSN community is talking about...The Phat Dap/Head Slap. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Weekend In Review....some quick takes

Well I sit here out of breath, the little woman has long since went to bed exasperated by my dual interest in Game 7 of the ALCS and a sunday night game that had the markings of a great one when I saw the schedule. Lets break the weekend down, or at least the things I think are notable.

Sox bring it all the way back

It was over long before fellow Bearcat Kevin Youklis drilled one of the coke bottle above the Green Monster in Fenway. I know Mo and Sully are doing their happy dance, and you got to give the Red Sox all the dap in the world. They are the definition of resiliance and the never say die quality that all coaches and fans want. Down 3-1 and facing elimination on the road, the Sox outscored the Indians 30-5 over the last three game to earn their second World Series berth in the last four years. Terry Francona is getting damn near close to sainthood in the New England area. They'll a rested and ready Rockies squad that fears no one. I'll preview that series on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Brady, Patriots make it look too easy

Speaking of sainthood, Tom Brady is on another level. The media wonks always said he was a decent QB, but given the kind of time and receiving corps he has. Brady is getting illegal. You almost could hear the strains of Funkadelic in the background going "We want the funk!" and "We gonna turn...this mutha out!" Brady and the Pats are on the stank funk level. Where all you do is nod your head to the beat and watch them roll it up on folks. It was almost like you could hear in the 1st half the Fins screaming "Papa don't hit me no more!" The Pats looked alomst bored in the 2nd half against a badly overmatched Dolphins squad. Belichick wasn't having Matt Cassel throw a pick 6 to the Fins so he put Brady back. This fool was so dialed he ran the Pats right back down the field to another score. How full of that old school Cameo, Parliment, Lakeside type funk are the Patriots? Check these obscene stats The Pats have scored 279 points in 7 games, that projects over a 16 game season to 638 points. They would surpass the record of 556 points set by my beloved 1998 Vikings and at their current pace would pass the record in 14 games. The Vikes broke the old record of 541 in the 3rd quarter of the last regular season game in Nashville against the Titans. The Pats have yet to be held under 30 points and have only been shut out of a quarter twice all season (3rd Quarter of the Cleveland and Miami games) Tom Brady had a perfect passer rating...158.3 from 21-25 passing for 354 and six TD's He has 11 in two games...and 27 in 7. He's on pace for 61 touchdowns. He would pass Manning's record of 49 in week 12 Forget Moss as the MVP, Brady would be the superduh choice.

Other quick hits

The BCS is getting more chaotic. Boston College is now the #2 team and the one with the bullseye on their back. We won't discuss the Jokeeyes...err the Buckeyes here.
The Bearcats let me down...again. Losing to Pitt was inexcusable. I have a colleague (Hes no friend of mine) who called me and as a Pittsburgh native is a big Steelers and a Pitt grad. He made sure that I knew that Pitt rallied to beat my Bearcats. I saw the game and I was angry but this guy made sure to let me know that in his loudmouthed opinion that Pittsburgh owns Cincy in sports. I cant say too much about that.
But who I can rag on is Notre Dame...Hey Matt Hayes...how does that feeling about Notre Dame scaring USC??? Oh yeah, USC was scared 38-0 was the final Notre Dame was never in it. This college season is getting crazier by the minute. USF took it on the chin Thursday, Cal and UK got it this week.

The Bengals got off the mat for a badly needed win over the Jets, but I'm not ready to say that they're back or the Chad Pennington should lose his starting gig just yet.

The Texans nearly pulled it off spotting the Titans a 32-7 lead and then rallying to take the lead, but they left the Titans too much time and Rob Bironas hit his 8th! field goal to give the Titans the win. I said that the Titans offense was pedestrian but geez!

And I still dont care what you Poke apologists think...the Cowboys are a fraud. The Vikings let them off the hook with a bad field goal try and AP's fumble (dont hang your head young fella!) The Pokes will get exposed for what they are. Don't let the honks and wonks like Skippy Bayless and Tony Cornholio fool you, the Pokes are not...repeat NOT as an elite team as they would have you believe. 3 of their wins were over the Bills, Dolphins and Rams, who have two wins between them...wait. The Bills have the wins. Smells like a fake to me!!!

I'll layout my argument tomorrow for why despite needing a playoff (I'll even lay out a scenario for it) College Football will never have one. Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Sox hang On, Joe Says No, & Week 7 NFL Picks

Here I was thinking that all I was going to do was send out my condolences to the Red Sox Nation and again lambast the press for harping on the Joe Torre situation when Bang! Pow! Zap! all sorts of things happen. The soon to be world famous NFL Picks are in this post, so if baseball and college football aren't your things, you're excused go ahead and scroll down. But for those who stay:

Sox: We's ain't dead just yet!
Josh Beckett is rapidly turning into a big money pitcher and the Sox needed every bit of his ace pitching. Beckett fanned 11 in eight innings and the Sox send the ALCS back to Fenway with a 7-1 win. ManRam might be space cadet of the decade but boy he can come through in the clutch. He is batting a robust .471 in the series and is a prime reason why the Sox are even still in it. What can you say about Beckett he pitched as if he had freshly chilled H20 in his veins. So what if the Indians tried to psych him out (they swear it was a coincidence) by having Beckett's ex-girlfriend country singer Danielle Peck sing the national anthem and God Bless America, so what if he and Kenny Lofton exchanged pleasantries after Lofton flied out in the 5th. The Indians blew the chance and quiet is kept may have messed with their own karma with their failed psych jobs. The Sox are handing the ball to playoff vet Curt Shilling on Saturday for game 6 and it'll be an interesting turn of events to be sure.

Torre tells the Boss where to stick it
I'm on my way to work yesterday when I get a phone call from my baseball bud Jaime. He is excited and when he is, he speaks really fast and the Spanish will drop in a lot more easier. But I'll break down sort of what he said.

Jaime: Pepe, you hear Torre told Sty-brenner to stick it up his (expletive)!
Bandit: Pepe, Torre didn't tell Steinbrenner to stick it...
Jaime, Si, Si. He no manage Jan-kee no more. He turn sty-brenner down!
Bandit: (Incredulous) He resigned?
Jaime: No, Pepe. They offer contract to him, he tell Sty-brenner to stick it in his (expletive) Bandit: Wow Jaime, (Laughing hysterically) Si, Wow! Sty-brenner learn dinero cant buy tegrity and class! Bravo, Torre!
I had to search around for a minute to see if what Jaime said was true and then heard the news. Joe Torre flew to Tampa to do what few managers have ever done to George Sterinbrenner. Turn him down. According to Randy Levine and Brian Cashman, Torre was offered a contract for 2008 with a club option for 2009. But it would have a pay cut, he'd still be the highest paid manager but the contract would be laden with incentives. Torre felt that his 1100+ wins should be good enough to not merit an insulting deal like the one he was presented and he turned the contract offer down. In effect walking away from the Yanks. Like my buddy Jaime said Bravo! I said that Torre deserved better treatment and I think in the end did the classiest thing he could do. Walk away.

Madness continues in College Football

South Florida (or USF as they prefer to be called) didn't last long as the hunted. They go into Rutgers and get upset by the Scarlet Knights, who again prove that winning in Piscataway is a tough proposition. The whining wonks who carped that USF was undeserving of such lofty heights can breathe easier today, you don't have to put USF in the title game. But they still may get a BCS bowl bid as the Big East is still wide open.

Now whether you scrolled down, or made it this far (I think this is my longest post...) here is my soon to be world famous NFL Week 7 Preview and Picks
Oh well, 7-6 is better than 6-7. But I need another breakout week, these games are starting to get tougher to call, but I was happy to call out the fraud Cowboys. There are way too many puzzling teams out there. The Bengals are way way better than 1-4, The Saints are better than 1-5, and there is no real reason why the Rams should be winless. But on the flip side, the Cards are a bit of a shock at 3-3, the Giants at 4-2 are talking playoffs again. But that’s what makes this game so much fun, its unpredictability. So as usual, submitted for your review and approval are the weeks picks for the week 7. The lines are courtesy of USA Today Sports Weekly and are for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I add that caveat since I keep getting e-mails about folks taking my so-called analysis with the odds and getting hosed. Take the odds at your own risk.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 7
All Times EDT Note: Carolina (4-2); Cleveland (3-3); Green Bay (5-1); San Diego (3-3) all have a bye this week.

Sunday, October 21

Cardinals (3-3) @ Redskins (3-2)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Redskins by 6
Fast Fact- The Cardnials have not beat a team with a winning record on the road since 2002. The Redskins are the most puzzling team in the NFL, they could be 1-4 or 5-0 the games have been that close, they should have no problem against an embattled Cardinals squad who cant seem to keep a quarterback healthy. If the Cards are depending on Tim Rattay to win a number of games, they are in deep trouble
Pick Washington

Falcons (1-5) @ Saints (1-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 5.5
Fast Fact-The Saints scored a season high 28 points en route to earning their first win of the season.
The Saints finally put it all together and got a badly needed win in a tough road venue. Their schedule is lined with a host of winnable games with this matchup with the sad-sack Falcons being one. Byron Leftwich gets the starting nod for the Falcons and one would hope that his throws would be better than his laughable relief effort he had against the Titans a couple weeks ago.
Pick-New Orleans

Ravens (4-2) @ Bills (1-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Ravens by 3
Fast Fact- This is the Ravens first trip to Buffalo
The Bills are still smarting from their fall from ahead loss to the Cowboys on the 8th, and they cant catch a break in the schedule as the potential for wins are few and far between save a rematch with the one team they beat. The Ravens are winning ugly, but it beats pretty losses. Look for Willis McGahee to want to have a big day against the Bills, his former squad that traded him away after acquiring MarShawn Lynch who is coming along slowly. The Ravens should force the Bills into enough errors to win fairly easily
Pick-Baltimore

Patriots (6-0) @ Dolphins (0-6)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 16.5
Fast Fact- The Pats are double digit favorites for the third time this season, but for the first time as the visitor.
On paper this looks like a trap game, the Pats coming in after a top flight performance over the Cowboys face the Dolphins a team that cant get out of its own way. But lets be real, the Pats won’t need to play their best to beat the Fins who despite showing an ability to score wont get the type of scoring opportunities that they did in Cleveland. Add to the fact that the Pats are getting Richard Seymour back and the prospects for the Fins look extra grim. Tom Brady has been looking like he might challenge Peyton Manning for TD passes in a season and has the Pats offense looking nothing short of unreal. I have a word of advice for those that are thinking that the Fins mammoth upset will happen. Don’t.
Pick-New England (Bandits Lock of the Week)

49ers (2-3) @ Giants (4-2)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Giants by 7
Fast Fact-Frank Gore is averaging nearly 2 fewer yards a carry than he did last year (3.6 in 2007 vs. 5.4 in 2006)
The Niners started the season off with high hopes but a three game slide has tempered those hopes. The G-Men started off with successive routs and looked to be in loads of trouble, but have rebounded nicely to win 4 in a row. Obviuosly these teams are going in opposite direction, Eli Manning has found his touch and is making the Giants offense work nicely. The same cant be said for Niners who look to Trent Dilfer to get the out of their doldrums. If Frank Gore continues his struggles, a real possibility against a rugged Giants defense, the Niners will be in for a long afternoon
Pick-New York Giants

Buccaneers (4-2) @ Lions (3-2)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Lions by 2
Fast Fact: The Lions are giving up 263 yards passing a game
The Motor City Kitties have had a week to stew over their beat down in DC, the Bucs keep doing it with mirrors and will try to incorporate newly acquired Michael Bennett into a badly undermanned running game. Jeff Garcia doesn’t make the kind of mistakes that result in scores, matter of fact he has yet to throw an interception. The Lions defense is the bend but don’t break variety not a good thing against an offense that rarely gives away the ball. It will be interesting on the flip side to the chess match between Lions offensive coordinator Mike “The Genius” Martz and Bucs defensive guru Monte Kiffin. I cant bank on the Lions in this one even if they are at home.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Titans (3-2) @ Texans (3-3)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Texans by 1
Fast Fact The Titans have won the last four meetings.
Despite a horrid performance in Jacksonville, I like the Texans in this matchup. The Titans Vince Young comes in hobbled and with Chris Brown out with an ankle injury which makes their pedestrian offense even more lackluster. The Texans are coming together offensively and have uncovered yet another receiving threat in Kevin Walter. I think the Texans continue to win game that they shouldn’t here is a great example.
Pick-Houston

Chiefs (3-3) @ Raiders (2-3)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Raiders by 3
Fast Fact- The Raiders have lost 16 in a row to AFC west teams
The Chiefs pounded the Bengals with a solid running game while the Raiders got battered by a stellar performance by LT. The once redoubtable Raider defense looked awfully suspect and I have a feeling that Larry Johnson is finding his stride. The Raiders have improved but they aren’t ready to win this one.
Pick-Kansas City

Jets (1-5) @ Bengals (1-4)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Bengals by 6
Fast Fact- The Jets have won the past five meetings
Both teams are reeling. The Bengals are infighting and the Jets have more offensive problems that you can imagine. The Bengals have an offense and that and being at home should be enough. The Bengals desperately need something to build on with the hated Steelers on the docket next.
Pick-Cincinnati

Bears (2-4) @ Eagles (2-3)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 4.5
Fast Fact The Bears have only started 2-4 one other time and made the playoffs
The Eagles won a really ugly game in New York, while the Bears got run over literally by Adrian Peterson and the Vikes. The Eagles need to get the ball to Brian Westbrook early and often, the higher the score the better the prospect for the Eagles. The Bears cant possibly think that Brian Griese will put up the high numbers to get a win.
Pick-Philadelphia

Minnesota (2-3) @ Dallas (5-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite-Cowboys by 9.5
Fast Fact-The Cowboys lead the NFC with 203 points but have yet to score a first quarter TD. Adrian Peterson had a record day against a decent Bears squad, but now face the danger of looking one dimensional. The Pokes got flat out blasted against the Pats. As much as I should know better, I think that the Vikes play ball control with AP and they steal a mammoth upset. Pick-Minnesota (Upset Special of The Week)

Rams (0-6) @ Seahawks (3-3)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 10
Fast Fact-The Seahawks have won the last four meetings
The image of the Rams once high powered offense is a distant memory as Gus Frerotte looked inept and lost against the Ravens. The Seahawks stung after losing to the formerly winless Saints on national TV won't let the same thing happen. Look for Shaun Alexander who has had a pair of horrid games to have a breakout game against the Rams soft defense.
Pick-Seattle

Steelers (4-1) @ Broncos (2-3)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Steelers by 2.5
Fast Fact-The Steelers have given up only 47 points this season
The Steelers don’t have to worry that their offense is so-so, their defense is frightening and despite Troy Polamalu and Casey Hampton. Don’t you think that Broncos fan wish that Jake Plummer was still under center? Jay Cutler will be without the services of Javon Walker against a Steelers defense that has yet to give up a completion longer than 38 yards. Travis Henry needs to have a good game as well to keep the Steelers grinding offense that averages better than 35 minutes in time of possession off the field. I can’t see the Broncos pulling this off even at home
Pick-Pittsburgh

Monday, October 22

Colts (5-0) @ Jags (4-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Colts by 3
Fast Fact-The Colts have started 5-0 for the third straight year
The stakes are plenty high for this matchup, as this is the Jags biggest game since playing in the AFC championship in 1999. The Colts are rolling along quietly and have scored points in bunches. The Jags win about as unglamorous as one could get. The Jags know how to beat the Colts as they dropped a 44-17 rout on them last December. David Garrard needs to keep his interception free run going for the Jags to have a real shot. But I think the Colts hardly missed a beat without Marvin Harrison in beating the Bucs, they get him back and I think he gives the Colts too many weapons for the Jags to counter.
Pick-Indianapolis

Last Week 7-6 (lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall 57-32 (5-1 Locks, 3-3 Upsets)

Panic! In The Red Sox Nation

I couldn’t help that one, it was a little too easy. But as the Red Sox face a 3-1 hole to make their first World Series berth since winning it all in 2004 I think that a good majority of the members of Red Sox nation are putting up a brave face and saying all the brave front things, but the reality is this. The Indians are about as close as one could be to winning it. Yeah, I know the Sox came back from down 0-3 to win the ALCS in '04 against the Yanks but the look of this team as opposed to the legendary 2004 team is very different than this years team. Other than Ortiz and Ramirez, the Sox hitting has went into hiding and that is not a good thing against a Indians pitching staff that looked better on the back end and has been heavy hitting. You think that the Sox will get a second free pass against C.C. Sabathia??? The Red Sox need to win three in a row and beat the Indians’ aces two of those pitchers and Jake Westbrook who just seems to be getting better at the right time. ManRam says if they don't win its not the end of the world, but Red Sox nation might disagree. But no one can blame ManRam for the Sox recent struggles hes batting .462 in the ALCS. He's at least doing his part, but he really needs to chill with the poses after hitting one out. It was extra clean when he belted the game winner in game 2 of the LDS against the Angels, doing it when your squad is still four runs down is not as clean...

Torre continues to twist in the wind
Ice Cube called it a full-time jack move, and thats what the Yankees are doing to Joe Torre. You've read my opinion on what I think, but this is starting to get out of hand. Its like the Yankees are a faded old star trying to grasp on to any pub that they cna get to stay relevant. No news from Tampa where the Yanks brass is still meeting. If Steinbrenner was going to fire Torre he should have done right after the Yanks were eliminated. if losing to the Indians was so bad as Steinbrenner made it out to be then they should have canned Torre the day after, not went through meetings and considerations. I think that there were few managers that could have done what Torre did given the circumstances. And in a related note, A-Rod wrapped up meetings with his uber agent Scott Boras. Not like anyone should really care. Will A-Rod jumps ship and go elsewhere. I have heard the Cubs, Dodgers, and Angels are interested if he should opt out of his contract which he has to decide within 10 days after the conclusion of the World Series. Boras, who just seems a little too much like a wanna be kingmaker, says that he wants to tie Rodriguez's value to a regional sports network. Oh I get it now contracts are being based on televsion revenue??? This madness has got to stop. ARod is a great player to be sure, but his value isn't that much. Especially for someone that brings not an iota of postseason glory. I know thats a cheap shot, but unlike Reggie Jackson who "brought his star to New York." after having already possessing three world series rings. ARod can make no such claim. Arod will get a big payday to be sure, but he is not the money player the Boras claims him to be.

Kobe: Will He Stay or Will He Go???
Speaking of moving, Kob-ah is making noise about being traded. Who would gut their roster to get this talented but selfish player. I think Kobe is a great player, but I don’t like his attitude. He thinks he’s the heir to the superstar throne that Michael Jordan vacated. I think LeBron James is but that’s another argument for another post. Kobe has suddenly looked like someone who knew he was leaving town on the first thing smoking’ But where? Speculation has Chicago and Washington where the spectre of MJ will loom. Other spec has him going to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and possibly Amare Stoudamire. If that trade comes off, I won’t be a Suns fan. Sorry Dking97, I cant root for that team if Kobe is there. This whole drama is one more indication of how selfish and self centered Kobe is, he wants the focus on him and its never been more apparent than now. Its pretty obvious that he and coach Phil Jackson don’t get along and that he has fell out of favor with team owner Dr. Jerry Buss who has been openly shopping Kobe, but there will be a myriad of headaches trying to get Kobe traded and what complicates manners is that Kobe can opt out of his contract and has trade approval status. This mess will make the Lake Show that much more of a circus. Somewhere is South Florida, Shaq is smiling.

Koren gets back in and Odell stays out: What's Up With That?
Can someone explain to me why Koren Robinson was reinstated by the NFL? The Packers WR was suspended by the NFL after being arrested after being pleading guilty to a charge of fleeing police and he also had a probation violation sentence to deal with in relation to a separate drunk driving case. Now Robinson gets reinstated but Odell Thurman who was suspended for a year last September cannot??? True Thurman did run afoul of the law during his suspension but charges he was under later dropped. I cannot fathom why there is such inequities in the NFL justice system. It seems that Goddell has his pet teams and the Bengals are not one of them. I still think that the league doesn’t like to see the Bengals even respectable. They have grown way too used to the old Bungles and want to keep things status quo.

Tomorrow the NFL Picks for week 7 and I hope to rise above the mediocrity that I have settled into. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Thoughts on the madness that is College Football

I watch college football, not to with religous fervor that some do. That said, I have to pull out my hanky and wipe my brow before I give you my thoughts on the current season as this has been one of the most tumultous, unpredictable, insane college football seasons in recent memory. If you had of said to anyone following college game. "Hey South Florida, Kansas, Cincinnati and Kentucky will all be ranked ahead of Michigan, Florida State, Wisconsin, Alabama and Penn State you might have been subject to a random drug test or a breathalyzer. There is the requisite weeping and gnashing of teeth by the so-called experts and pundits that the big boys like Miami, Notre Dame, Florida State, UCLA and Nebraska are nowhere to be found in this championship equasion. The big media whines about the "watering down" or the "parity" in the ranks and wonder aloud is it wise and good to have such madness in the college game. I say YES, YES, YES!!!
With no apologies to these whining wonks who can't get a handle on the situation. I have something more to say GET OVER IT!!! I for one am enjoying the unpredictablity of this season. Unlike last year where until the Ohio State-Michigan clash and the madness in the rankings afterwards there seemed to be an inevitiablity to matters, this season is all over the place. After just 7 weeks of the season: The #1 team has been beaten twice, USC took a galling loss to Stanford in Los Angeles Michigan took a shocking loss to Applachian State, the source of my first posting Teams like the aforementioned South Florida, Boston College and Kentucky have barged to the front of the line in the rankings. The latter having upset the previous #1 team LSU in a thrilling triple overtime game. Elite teams like Florida State, Notre Dame and Nebraska are regarded as so much also-rans. Especially galling to their fans they are nowhere close to even being in the same time zone of a national championship discussion. Given the seasons of the latter two its laughable to even mention in the teams in the same context of a national championship. The wonks try to explain it away and say that the coaches of these teams need to prove themselves at bigger schools, and I say why? Coaches like Greg Schiano of Rutgers, BC's Jeff Jagodzinski, Kansas' Mark Mangino and Cincy's Brian Kelly are good right where they are. The media wonks dont want to have to do the research on the lesser known teams and want to have their dominant football played at the well known big boy schools. So where do we go from here? If you're like me, you sit back and enjoy it. Though I have a feeling that sitting back won't last long as the competition keeps you on the edge of your seat.
Ok, now that I'm off my soapbox and will debut another weekly feature. Its called Phat Dap/Head Slap. In my neighborhood if someone does something worth shouting about, you give them phat dap. On the flip side, when I was little and did something dumb or mouthed off when I should have kept my mouth shut and minded. My grandma (who still watches over me) would slap me upside my head. She did that even when I was grown. So I've decided to give out these awards to those that do right and those that do wrong or do things that make you wanna ask what were you thinkin'???
To quote DJ Jazzy Jeff from the 1991 hit Summertime "DRUMS Please!"

Phat Dap
I have to give the first phat dap to former Bills TE Kevin Everett, who you remmeber suffered a career ending spinal cord injury a few weeks ago. Reports out of Houston have Everett is moving his legs and can take a few steps with the help of a specialized walker. Here's hoping that he can make a full recovery. I'm confident that he will and I know I speak for a lot of people who have him in their thoughts and prayers. I'll be the first to give him dap on that.

Head Slap
Maybe I shouldn't kick a team when they are down (No I'm not picking on Notre Dame for once) But I have to give the weeks head slap to Nebraska. The week that they brought a host of players back from their alleged 1997 national championship team. I say alleged because they claim that they were the national champs after going unbeaten on a cake schedule, while Michigan ran the table in 1997 with a much tougher schedule. But anyway, Nebraska brought the players back to honor the 10th anniversary of the unbeaten season. How does the 2007 team play that day??? They got taken back of the woodshed and were beaten 45-14 by Oklahoma State. Nebraska has literally fallen off the map in football talent and competitveness. I won't go so far as a comment I read that said that Notre Dame could now go to Lincoln and lay a beatdown on Big Red. But lets just say that Huskers Coach Bill Callahan will be looking for work at season's end. I'll take a look at the state of affairs in Red Sox Nation and Friday will feature the suddenly world famous NFL picks. Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Rocktober Continues

I have to give dap to the Colorado Rockies who's mind bending play has catapulted them from on the fringe of the playoff hunt to the World Series. I know of some baseball purists who are gnashing their teeth about the fall classic in Denver, but to them I say "Get Over it!!!" The Rockies are playing boffo baseball, they are sound fundementally (Leading MLB in fielding) and have timely hitting and enough of a power punch to be dangerous. Many people see the baseball season as a marathon, but it does help to get hot at the right time and the Rox have done just that. 21-1 in their last 22. They are only the fifth team in the last 70 years to put a streak together like that at any point in the season. Nice to have it have it happen in September-October. But to fully appreciate how far they have come, consider this: The Rockies were 9 games under .500 at one time. And in last place in the NL West, the Yankees with all their pub were never that far down, they may have been further back but their record wasn't as bad. The Rockies were 4.5 games out of the wild card spot with 9 to play The Rockies needed to win a 163rd game to earn that wild card berth and to even win that rallied from two runs down in the 13th against one of MLB's all-time best closers. If your head is spinning, don't feel bad many a sports writer is still trying to figure where these guys came from. I feel good for Todd Helton, the long suffering first baseman and captain of the Rockies. He's making sure that his first foray into the playoffs is a long and memorable one. The problem that Helton and his Rockies face is an extra long layoff. I will always have a soft spot for the Rockies, I followed them for a while when they were first created and when they would come to Cincinnati would go down to old Riverfront and watch the Reds kick the crap out of them. I do have fond memories of Dante Bichette hitting a mammoth shot into the upper deck of Riverfront, those seats were the only Red ones in the stadium at the time and fairly unreachable except by the biggest of hitters. I also remember meeting the Rockies first manager Don Baylor. It was in 1996 I was working at a bank and the bank was in a building that was connected to a hotel, the same one the Rockies were staying in. On this particular day it was raining and I was heading to lunch. I saw Baylor standing in front of a window watching it rain. It had been raining in the area for a couple of days and the Reds and Rockies had been rained out the day previous. I approached him and told him that I was a Rockies fan and a big fan of his when he played. We chatted about baseball and the book he wrote. I found him to be very engaging. He then asked me "Don't it ever stop raining here?" They never did play that day. Ironically I went to the game they ended up making up in August as a doubleheader, The Rockies as were their wont lost both games. The first game of the World Series isn't until next Wednesday. Now the way the ALCS is shaping up they could go 7 games. Are the Sox in trouble??? Suddenly the Sox have forgotten how to hit and Indians look like a team that wont be scared off by the rep of Papi and ManRam. I wont sound a general alarm just yet,

AP's Great Day Puts Me in a better mood

Before we start, check this out
yes that is me and yes that is the Heisman Trophy, the one that they will give to the most outstanding college player. If a Kentucky or Louisville player gets it (Perish the thought!) I hope I put Bandit cooties on it and they have a so-so bowl game. The trophy was on tour at selected venues and was on campus at the University of Cincinnati this past Saturday. I just wanted to be able to see it up close, I jumped at the chance to actually touch it and get a pic taken with it. If you think it looks big on TV, its even bigger up close. I was in awe. I have seen (and touched) The Stanley Cup, The World Series Trophy and the Lombardi Trophy, just a bit miffed that I never got pics taken. Getting a pic with the Heisman is something I will treasure.
Anyhoo, it had been duly noted that your humble scribe was in a sour mood after the my beloved Bearcats lost Saturday to Louisville. I went to my favorite sports bar not named Morrisey's Tavern and watched what I expected (and predicted here) would be Bears rout of the Vikes. I didn't expect Adrian Peterson (The Vikes running back) to have a monster day. A Vikings record 224 yards, 359 all purpose yards and three scores. Feats that helped two of my fantasy teams. Ryan Longwell's personal best 55 yard field goal at the gun propelled the Vikes to a 34-31 stunner. Needless to say your humble scribe was feeling good, and getting a host of dirty looks from the sullen Bengals fans who were watching their team drop a puzzling 27-20 decision to Kansas City. The mood in this city is not good and it may get worse before it gets any better.

Also the Reds are set to announce the hiring of Dusty Baker as their new manager, he would replace interim manager Pete McKannin who did a decent job replacing Jerry Narron who got axed after starting a horrible 31-51. The locals are whining, however saying McKannin should have gotten a chance to manage a full year. I ask why? When you have a big name like a Dusty Baker who has won in both stop he was at in San Francisco and in Chicago. I think that he is a good hire and can take the Reds to contention. Many of the locals wanted to get Joe Girardi, Tony LaRussa or Joe Torre, but all those would have been pipe dreams. I think that Giradi is overrated, so he won 77 games with a barebones payroll, he clashed with ownership and got himself fired. Tony LaRussa's is too much of an egotist for this town and I think is eyeing the Yankees job that may be vacated by Torre who I think should retire if he is run from the Bronx. Torre wouldn't come back to the NL where he had managed the Mets, Braves and Cards.

One quick thought on football, the Patriots made it look easy against the Pokes, one of the few picks I called right. I told the noisy Cowboy fans that the Pokes were overrated in spite of their 5-0 record. I drew some ire when I stated that their steady diet of cupcakes and ho-hos made them a slow fat easy target for a real team like the Pats. I even said that if the Pokes weren't real careful that the Pats would hang 50 on them. I about got hooted out of the area of the bar I was sitting at. When Kyle Eckel blasted in from a yard out to make it 48-27, the Poke fans that were left gave me some hateful glares. I simply shrugged, quaffed the last of my soda and as I got up to leave said "The Bandit only speaks the truth, it may hurt but its only the truth."

The BCS is its usually messy self. Buckeye Nation is feeling smug as they are perched on top of the first posting of BCS standings. I got a message for you, don't get comfortable. Only one time in the history of the BCS has a team started at the #1 slot and gotten to the BCS title game Ohio States steady diet of cupcakes will comeback to haunt them as there are a host of no-joke teams that are still on the docket. Michigan State being their first real test and they still have trips to Penn State and a roadie at the end of the season to a rival that needs no introduction. Ohio State will be well deserved of the #1 BCS ranking IF they run the table. The BCS standings are about as jumbled as one could ever expect. Cincinnati aheasd of Michigan??? Kansas ahead of Tennessee, Texas, Florida AND USC??? Yup. Now keep in mind that this is the first BCS standings ledger of the year and there will be some shakeups but this is why college football is so great. Gone are the days of a small band of schools controlling the football world. Gone are the days where a Notre Dame could stockpile players just to keep them away from other schools. Gone are the days where you were sure of the pecking order of conferences. (Well you know Northwestern will be at the bottom of the Big Ten every year) But this new order in college football is exciting and fun to watch and debate about. Changing gears, the Colorado Rockies are beyond nuclear hot, we're starting to approach sun surface hot now. The Rockies are but one win away from their first World Series berth in franchise history. They have been doing it with timely hitting impeccable fielding and lights out pitching... Hold up, wait a minute. Did the Bandito say the Rockies have lights out pitching? Has he been sipping on that stuff?? Yes I said the Rockies and lights out pitching. But I already hear the historians yowling. Isn't this the same venue that saw a 24-12 loss? Isn't this the same place where pitchers dreaded going for a series and Rockies pitchers expected to have an inflated ERA? The Rockies did at one time, but their ERA for the postseason is an obsecnely microscopic 1.77 I saw that figure and couldn't believe it. I'm glad there were no children in the room, as that figure was truly obscene. The only teams in history with a postseason ERA lower than that have all made the World Series. It could really be a Rocktober to remember in Colorado. Also Id be greatly remiss if I did not extend my humble apologies to Vinny Testaverde. Yes, folks he still is in this league and the wily ageless vet, 30 days from his 44th birthday led the Carolina Panthers to an improbable win over Arizona. Testaverde may not have a a bunch of great games, but he has shown that he still can play and make scribes like me and William C. Rhoden from the ESPN show the Sports Reporters look foolish. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Bearcats lose and I'm in a sour mood

As my girlfriend will readily tell you, I am an insufferable grump when one of my beloved squads lose. The Vikings cause me heartache every fall. Last basketball season was the longest in my memory (Cincy went 2-14 in the conference) The Red Wings lose very rarely but when they fall in the playoffs I'm not someone to be around. UC lost to Louisville last night 28-24 Which explains my sour dour mood today on an otherwise sunny happy Sunday.
Last night, I had in my possession one the hottest tickets in town, A UC football ticket. They were playing their hated rivals from just 100 miles to the southwest, the Louisville Cardinals. Add the fact that it was homecoming and UC on their best start in a half century and there was a real buzz in the city. I talked to Big Rick who is a ticket broker (Scalping is legal in Cincinnati, if you have a vendors license.) He was telling me that tickets that go for $10-$25 normally, were being bought and sold for $100. That is heady stuff in this area, go to Columbus and its commonplace. In Cincinnati you get that price only for the Bengals.
Anyway, I went to the game and watched a thriller. Cincy is more a pro football than college football town, so the fans are still learning what it means to bring a true atomsphere to a stadium. Keep in mind, I have been to Michigan and Tennessee and Ohio State where they put 100K in the stadium and get plenty loud for the duration of the game. In Cincy, they got loud occasionally. I'm not knocking the 35,096 other people that were there (The two to three thousand Louisville fans excepted) but they still are learning what it is like to cheer and be noisy and create a real intimidating venue. With Shoemaker Center (I refuse to call it Fifth Third Arena) only a couple hundred yards to the east being one of the tougher venues for basketball, fans are still learning how to make Nippert Stadium the same way.
But like I said in the beginning, I'm a grump. UC lost to Louisville and as I exited Nippert Stadium with the other dejected Bearcat fans. I heard Louisville fans heckling from their upper deck seats as they cheered their squad raising the Keg of Nails rivalry trophy at the 50 yard line.
"Ya'll aint ready for the big time."
"Same old sorry-(expletive) Bearcats."
"Just an extra home game for Cardinal Nation."
I was angry and hurt that my team lost. My girl says I should take losses so hard, but I cant help it. The two teams I want UC to beat every year in football is Miami of Ohio and Louisville. Just to shut their mouthy fans up. What makes UC's loss doubly painful is that UK pulled a stunner on LSU winning in 3OT. That and Ohio State walked through another ho-hum win against Kent State and with Cal's loss to Oregon State will likely be the Number 1 team.
I live and work in an area that is saturated with UK and Ohio State fans and to have to hear them yak and crow about their teams is enough to make me nauseous. I know I'm whining. If UC was going to prove they belonged they should do so on a weekly basis. I'm going to dking 97's buffet to go eat and brood, I apologize for my rant but this is very catharic and hopefully UC will stay in the top 25.
Oh and by the way Pitt is next and they are gonna get it...

Week 6 NFL Picks

I’m just happy to see… you and me…Back In Stride Again!- Frankie Beverly & Maze

I got cut from the choir in the fourth grade and again in college, but allow me a little latitude to if not sing to quote a line from a classic R&B tune here. After a disappointing week 4, I got back to the 10 win level again. I won’t trifle with the football gods by being too braggadocios though. With only 13 games this week, getting to 10 wins will be a challenge. Submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks with the odds provided by USA Today Sports Weekly except where noted and are solely for entertainment and comparison.
So don’t mention my name if you bet a bundle on a line, lose and have Vinnie No-Neck and Mumbles McGrew knocking at your door to collect.


NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 6
Note: Buffalo (1-4); Denver (2-3); Detroit (3-2); Indianapolis (5-0); Pittsburgh (4-1) and San Francisco (2-3) have a bye this week

Sunday, October 14

Bengals (1-3) @ Chiefs (2-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Bengals have passed on 64% of their plays
The Bengals are in panic mode but seem to have caught a break with playing a Chiefs team that is nowhere as good as their record. The Bengals need to jump on the Chiefs fast and take their rowdy crowd out of the equasion. The Bengals have had too many things fall the wrong way for them so far this season. They are way due for a breakout game and the Chiefs weak offense should be just the tonic.
Pick-Cincinnati

Texans (3-2) @ Jaguars (3-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Jaguars by 7.5
Fast Fact The Jags are the second consecutive team that the Texans lead in their all meetings. (6-4)
The Texans have gotten to like this being the favorite and winning stuff, though they needed a 57 yard field goal at the gun to help them escape being the sorry Dolphins first victim. They face a Jags team that lives on its defense and an offense that scores just enough to get a lead and hold on. Matt Schaub is rapidly growing into a solid QB, I’m still not sold on David Garrard.
Pick-Houston (Upset Special of the Week)

Dolphins (0-5) @ Browns (2-3)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Browns by 4.5
Fast Fact: The teams last meeting was the last time the Browns shutout a team, a 22-0 win in 2005.
The Fins can’t catch a break and after losing a heartbreaker in Houston go to Cleveland who gets the rare role of favorite. They might have caught a small break with the Browns Jamal Lewis slowed by injury and not able to hammer at the Dolphins rapidly aging defensive front. If the Browns get any semblance of a running game this game is very much theirs for the taking This looks to be one of the ugliest games since my ex decided to play change from a blonde to a brunette and then back…
Pick-Cleveland

Vikings (1-3) @ Bears (2-3)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bears by 6
Fast Fact Vikings lead the series 48-42-2 but Bears have won the last 4 of the last 5
The Bears may have saved their season with a stunner in Green Bay, while Brian Griese isn’t the long term answer, he is good enough to get some wins. The Vikes are a mess, their offense is punchless and the defense cant keep bailing them out when they are put in compromising situations so often. It pains me to keep picking against my favorite team, but I have to keep it real and honest.
Pick-Chicago

Eagles (1-3) @ Jets (1-4)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite: Eagles by 3
Fast Fact: The Eagles during Andy Reid’s tenure are 8-0 after a bye, best in the NFL since the bye weeks were instituted in 1990
Both these teams thought themselves to be a lot better off at this meeting that their record shows. The Jets are coming off a humiliating loss to their Gotham rivals and look like they are fading fast. The Eagles are trying to hold on to some respectability. The inconsistent play of Donovan McNabb has to be a concern but Chad Pennington is the very definition of inconsistent. The Eagles defense has enough to make things hard on Pennington while their offense should be able to get the job done.
Pick-Philadelphia

Rams (0-5) @ Ravens (3-2)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Ravens by 11
Fast Fact: The Ravens are second in the NFL in Time of Possession having the ball better than 34 minutes a game.
I should have known better than to “trust in Gus.” last week, and I wont get fooled again. The Rams got steamrolled last week by the Cards and face a much better squad in the Ravens who aren’t world beaters on offense. To be honest, their offense sucks. But the Rams are a flat out disaster and with that kind of offense facing the fearsome Ravens defense on the road. Its gonna be a long day at Black Rock for the Rams
Pick-Baltimore (Lock Pick of The Week)

Titans (3-1) @ Buccaneers (3-2)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite: Bucs by 3
Fast Fact; Jeff Garcia has started all 5 games for the Bucs this season and has yet to thrown an interception.
One of the more intriguing games of the week. The Bucs got exposed without the stellar running of Cadillac Williams, while the Titans, fresh off their bye week are looking to continue to make their case as an elite team in the NFL, and the way you do that is to win in tough road venues. Vince Young has the tools and the talent to do just that. The Bucs may have problems moving against a Titans defense that is fast gaining a reputation for being stingy and hitting hard.
Pick-Tennessee

Redskins (3-1) @ Packers (4-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 FOX
Favorite: Packers by 3
Fast Fact Brett Favre passed Dan Marino for most all-time TD passes two weeks ago, he tied George Blanda with all-time interceptions (277) last week.
The Skins have been winning with mirrors, in my humble opinion and they picked the absolute wrong time to catch the Pack. Stung by a fall from ahead loss to a beatable Bears team, on a national stage no less, the Pack will look to take it out on someone. Though the lack of a quality running game will continue to haunt the Pack in future games, I’m not sold on the Skins at all.
Pick-Green Bay

Panthers (3-2) @ Cardinals (3-2)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite: Cardinals by 1
Fast Fact: Panthers have won the past three meetings
Battle of the old grizzled QB’s in this game. The Cards will have to bank on Kurt Warner for the rest of the season, while the QB desperate Panthers dug up Vinny Testaverde (Is he still in this league???) who will get the starting nod. The Cards are fast proving that they can win these close matchups and their offense can put the points up. The Panthers can’t just rely on their running game and defense and Vinny won’t win this one for the geriatric set.
Pick-Arizona

Patriots (5-0) @ Cowboys (5-0)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite: Patriots by 3
Fast Fact: In each of his first five games, Tom Brady has thrown at least 3 touchdown passes.
Easily the weeks biggest and most hyped matchup, the Pats look to continue their high scoring spree in Dallas where the Pokes are still pinching themselves after their improbable win in Buffalo on Monday. Though I have picked the Pokes to win all their games so far this is another team I am not sold on. The Pokes only win that was impressive was a Sunday Night shootout over the Giants on opening weekend. You can bet money with Vinnie No-Neck on this fact. If Tony Romo throws 5 picks to the Patriots, they won’t get let back into the game. I still think the Pats are the team to beat in the NFL…period. The Pokes will get shown how far they have to go to be on their level and I’ll be interested to see how TO reacts after the sheen of invulnerability gets stripped rather nastily this week.
Pick-New England

Raiders (2-2) @ Chargers (2-3)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite- Chargers by 10.5
Fast Fact-The Raiders have lost their last 7 against the Chargers, four of those losees came at the expense of their current coach Norv Turner when he was coach of the Raiders
The Chargers bounced back from their bad start by hammering the Broncos and return home to battle for the division lead with…the Raid-uhs? Yup, fresh off a bye and riding a rejuvenated Daunte Culpepper to a surprise 2-2 start, but the good times end here. The Chargers will not let another winnable home game get by them. LaDainian Tomlinson loves to see the Raiders on the other side of the line and will have his first big day.
Pick-San Diego

Saints (0-4) @ Seahawks (3-2)
Qwest Field, Seattle 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Seahawks by 7.5
Fast Fact-Shaun Alexander has scored five times in his last two games against the Saints.
I feel bad for the Saints; they try so hard, but cant catch a break. Drew Brees is the same gun slinging QB he was last year, but the passes aren’t being caught. The defense just seems to play just good enough to hang around, but the offense keeps getting them put in compromising positions. Playing at a tough venue like Seattle that isn’t a good combo.
Pick-Seattle


Monday, October 15

Giants (3-2) @ Falcons (1-4)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:30 ESPN
Favorite Giants by 3.5
Fast Fact The Falcons have won their last four times playing on Monday Night at home
Joey Harrington looks lost…that’s a surprise to no one, but Byron Leftwich looked even worse last week against the Titans. They face the rugged pass rush of the G-Men who are fast putting their bad 0-2 start behind them. Brandon Jacobs makes Eli Manning’s job a heckuva lot easier. Hot seat? Coughlin’s not on a hot seat and after this week. He will have the G-Men hot on the Cowboys tail for first place in the NFC East.
Pick-New York Giants


Last Week: 10-4 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 50-26 (4-1 Lock Picks, 3-2 Upset Specials)

LCS Preview and a History Lesson Too

Before we take a look at the respective league championship series, Professor KJ will offer a history lesson.
Major League Baseball was undergoing its second case of expansion, from ten to twelve teams in each league. Adding Kansas City (recently abandoned by the A’s), Seattle (now the Milwaukee Brewers) in the American League. The National league adding San Diego, and going into Canada for the first time in Montreal (now the Washington Nationals) The American League floated the idea of splitting their league into two six team divisions. And surprisingly the National League flat out rejected the idea. Then NL president Warren Giles stated “The public will not stand to see a team with the third or fourth best record in its league in the World Series.”
American League President Joe Cronin was a little more direct in his argument. “You can’t sell a 12th place team.” The NL finally came around and after going through fits aligning its teams (The Mets wanted to be in the same division as the Giants and Dodgers!) split its league into two six team divisions as well. MLB made sure that the press and the public knew that this was NOT a playoff...it was the League Championship Series...dont you forget it either. The initial fears of a “qualified team” making the World Series never came to pass. When the 82-79 Mets beat the 99-63 Reds in 1973, the LCS concept had been firmly entrenched so no one said boo.
Other than expanding the format to a best of seven affair in 1985 and establishing a home field advantage to the team with the best record, little has changed and the LCS has had its share of exciting moments that serve to whet the appetite for the fall classic. That’s the end of the lesson, no pop quizzes and your only homework is to study the following matchups and read the blog postings of my fellow writers to the right.

National League Championship Series

Rockies (90-73 NL Wild Card Winner) vs. Diamondbacks (90-72 NL West Champs)
Series Schedule All Games Shown on TBS and times EDT

Game 1 @ Arizona Thursday 8:30p
Game 2 @ Arizona Friday 10p
Game 3 @ Colorado Sunday 8:30p
Game 4 @ Colorado Monday 10p
If Needed
Game 5 @ Colorado 10/17 8:30p
Game 6 @ Arizona 10/ 19 8:30p
Game 7 @Arizona 10/ 20 TBD

2007 Season Series
Colorado won season series 10-8

1st Postseason Series Meeting
How They Got Here: Diamondbacks Swept Cubs in 3 games; Rockies swept Phillies in 3 games.

Key Players
Rockies: Matt Holliday hit two homers and had five RBI’s in the LDS, Kaz Matsui had a grand slam in game 1.
Diamondbacks: Stephen Drew was 3-5 in the series clincher at Chicago

Fast Facts: The Diamondbacks won 90 games despite being outscored by 20 runs in the regular seasons
The Rockies outscored their opponents by an NL best 102 runs.
This is the first LCS since 2003 to not feature the Cardinals and the first since 2001 not to have any NL Central team

Breakdown You’re a stone cold lie if you said that you picked these two teams to be here back in April, Both teams come in a serious roll and both are diametric opposites of one another. The scrappy D-backs will find a different guy to beat you every night. The Rockies at least have name stars in Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, and Matt Holiday. The D-Backs have the clear pitching edge, Brandon Webb is the staff ace and better than what the Rockies have to offer. Don’t get it twisted by the big media calling it the “second series” or the JV playoffs, this is an interesting matchup. For the sheer feel good nature. The Rockies are a sentimental edge. But good pitching will more often than not beat good hitting which should give the Diamondbacks the edge. But this time I’m going against the grain and back the Rockies who I think will steal at least one game in Phoenix and get off the short list of teams that have never made the fall classic.
Pick-Rockies in 6

American League Championship Series

Indians (96-66 AL Central Champions) vs. Red Sox (96-66 AL East Champs)

Series Schedule ALL Times EDT and shown on Fox
Gm 1 @ Boston Fri 7p
Gm 2 @ Boston Sat 8p
Gm 3 @ Cleveland Mon 7p
Gm 4 @ Cleveland Tue 8p
If Needed
Gm 5 @ Cleveland 10/18 8p
Gm 6 @ Boston 10/20 TBD
Gm 7 @ Boston 10/ 21 TBD

Season Series
Red Sox Won Season Series 5-2, this head to head advantage earns them the home field advantage for the ALCS

Playoff History
Red Sox Beat Indians 3 games to 2 in the 1999 ALDS
Indians Beat Red Sox 3 games to 1 in the1998 ALDS
Indians Swept Red Sox in 3 games in the 1995 ALDS
Indians beat Red Sox 8-3 in a one game 1948 AL Playoff

How They Got Here
Red Sox swept the Angels in 3 games, and Indians beat the Yankees in 4 games

Key Players
Red Sox: Manny Ramirez hit two home runs in the ALDS, including a walk-off to win game 2. David Oritz hit 2 homers himself and batted .714 (That’s not a misprint) with 6 walks.
Indians: Jhonny Peralta hit .579 in the ALDS while Kenny Lofton knocked in 4 runs and Travis Hafner scored 4 runs in the series

Breakdown-The Indians youth and exuberance versus the Red Sox cool and veteran experience. Sabathia and Carmona are the Indians 1-2 punch, but they are parried by the Sox ability to throw playoff tested Josh Beckett and Curt Schilling. You add Tim Wakefield who has historically pitched well against the Tribe and the wild card that is Dice-K Matsusaka. The edge would seemingly go heavy to the Sox. But hold on there Mr. Sulu. The Indians come into this series with a serious fearless streak they believe that they can beat anyone and after slapping the Yankees around in the LDS, don’t seem to be intimidated by anyone. The Tribe have to hope that Paul Byrd or Jake Westbrook can throw a solid game to keep the series balanced. I’m seeing a do or die Game 7 in the Fens with each team emptying out their bullpen to gain an edge. The Sox experience will make the difference here.
Pick- Sox in 7