To paraphrase a quote I one read in a hip hop magazine... Has New York fallen the (bleep) off or what???
I wanted to ask this question after watching the Knicks get absolutely demolished by the Celtics 104-59 and the thought occured to me, as of late Boston Sports teams have been dominating New York teams. To Wit:
The Red Sox won their first AL East Crown over New York in 12 years and their second World Series in three years.
The Pats have destroyed the Jets their last three meetings
The Celtics aforementioned thrashing of the Knicks
The only kind of superiority that NYC can claim is in hockey where the Rangers have a better record than Bruins, but thats not saying much. I cant remember when the Bruins have been really good, so we'll exclude this one. But on the for real for real, Has NYC really fell that much off in sports?
I read that a number of suspects have been arrested in the Sean Taylor shooting and the way its looking that it was a robbery gone horribly bad. Now to all of those that tried to paint Taylor as a thug or gangsta wannabe, hang you head in shame. What happened to Taylor could have very well happened to anyone of us. Though I pray that it never does. I hope that it all comes to light that the only thing that Taylor did wrong was be sucessful enought to be a target for some real thugs.
While you consider that lets consider the weeks NFL schedule. Sooner or later I'll learn better than to open my mouth. I started off 3-0 for Thursday and then after ignoring the counsel of Reignblood (I was actually thinking of changing it to the Raiders...honest I was) and get burned by the Rams (Thanks for nothing Gus) I was sweating a sloppy rainsoaked slogfest in Pittsburgh to get above .500 So no more talk about layups. Odds are as usual posted for comparison and entertainment purposes. I'm flat broke so, don't come looking to me if you get burned on the points.
Sunday, December 2
Falcons (3-8 ) @ Rams (2-9)
Edward Jones Dome, St Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 3
Fast Fact The Falcons loss last week assured them of their 32nd non winning season in 42 years.
Both teams are a mess, and Gus Frerotte’s ill-timed fumble cost the Rams a shot at upsetting the Seahawks. Joey Harrington is looking his usual confused self and both teams are going nowhere. Toss a coin in this one, give it to the home team.
Pick-St. Louis
Bills (5-6) @ Redskins (5-6)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Redskins by 5½
Fast Fact The Redskins have lost five straight regular season games to Buffalo
The Skins play with heavy hearts following the shooting death of hard hitting safety Sean Taylor. They face a Bills team that has dealt with tragedy themselves. Jason Campbell is fast improving and the Bills will be just the needed tutorial to get a win and keep the Skins in the crowded NFC playoff race.
Pick-Washington
Lions (6-5) @ Vikings (5-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Vikings by 4
Fast Fact The Vikings have won nine straight against the Lions in Minnesota
The Lions picked the worst time to go into a tailspin, and they face the Vikings who get Adrian Peterson back. The Lions stole a tight 20-17 win in Detroit back in September but I don’t see this game being that close again. While Tavaris Jackson won’t scare anyone he will do enough to manage the game and get Peterson and Chester Taylor enough carries to get the Vikings a win.
Pick-Minnesota
Texans (5-6) @ Titans (6-5)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 3½
Fast Fact The Titans LenDale White has only rushed for 81 total yards during the Titans three game losing streak
The Texans are the perfect tonic for the fading Titans, and while the continued absence of Albert Haynesworth will hurt the Titans they can at least claim better than the Texans who after a promising start have stumbled. The key here is to keep Vince Young passing yards down, his three highest passing totals have come during this slide and if the Texans can force the Titans to throw they may steal it. But I cant see that happening, this will be an ugly game but the Titans will win a slugfest.
Pick-Tennessee
Jaguars (8-3) @ Colts (9-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 6
Fast Fact Of the five losses that the Colts have in the AFC South in the past three years three of them have come from the Jags.
I was shocked to see the flex game not be used for this intriguing matchup. The Colts are trying to kickstart their sputtering offense. Peyton Manning usual reliable numbers are way way down. While the Jags lunch bucket style win few style points but are keeping them in the playoff hunt. Fred Taylor has stepped up nicely to compensate for the poor play of Maurice Jones-Drew. The Colts offense has been stagnant with the injuries to Marvin Harrison and Dallas Clark. Though the Colts don’t have these key components, look for them to try to pick on the Jags poor pass defense. Banged up or not, I’m not betting against the Colts at home
Pick-Indianapolis
Jets (2-9) @ Dolphins (0-11)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Dolphins by 1
Fast Fact Only six teams in NFL history have started the season with 12 straight losses.
The Dolphins are an absolute joke, but the Jets are underdogs in this matchup. With no real offense to speak of on either side it might be the first team to get into field goal range will win it. As much as I would love to see the same team that went unbeaten go winless, I can’t see it happening. The Dolphins have lost 6 games by 5 points or less, the breaks go their way this time.
Pick-Miami (Upset of The Week)
Chargers (6-5) @ Chiefs (4-7)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 6
Fast Fact The Chiefs have won 19 of their last 20 December games at home
The Chargers have been winning ugly, but have been winning, five of their last seven have been victories. Meanwhile, the Chiefs are fading and after a humiliating loss to the Raiders, a team that they won ten straight against, are in real danger of dropping into irrelevance in the AFC west. The Chargers are starting to remember that LT is a decent running back and have been using him more often in their offense. The Chargers don’t play well on the road, but the Chiefs are scaring no one.
Pick-San Diego
49ers (3-8 ) @ Panthers (4-7)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Panthers by 3
Fast Fact The Panthers have been outscored 200-70 in their last seven games at home all losses
The Panthers kept telling themselves that this game would be the gimme on their home schedule, but suddenly the Niners have become a problem child and not the type of team that the sad sack Panthers need to see. Vinny Testaverde will more than likely start for the beleaguered Carolina squad, and the Niners shocked themselves by scoring 37 points in their upset win in Arizona. I’ll regret doing this, but I’m gonna say that the Panthers finally get one at home.
Pick-Carolina
Seahawks (7-4) @ Eagles (5-6)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 3
Fast Fact The Seahawks have shut the Eagles out in their last two visits to Philly (38-0 in ‘98 and 42-0 in ‘05)
Instead of falling apart in Shaun Alexander’s absence the Seahawks have come together nicely and have taken a two game lead on Arizona in the NFC West. The Eagles played a solid game in nearly springing the upset on the Pats. I cant see AJ Feeley playing at that level two weeks straight. Look for Maurice Morris to continue his stellar play in Alexanders stead and lead the Seahawks to a needed road win.
Pick-Seattle
Browns (7-4) @ Cardinals (5-6)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Even
Fast Fact The Browns have one win in each of the past four Decembers
The Browns are in unfamiliar territory, playoff contention. They are in position for their first playoff berth since 2001 and face a Cards team coming off a heartbreaking loss against a bad Niners team. This has all the making of a classic trap game for the Browns, but I don’t see the Browns squandering this one.
Pick-Cleveland
Broncos (5-6) @ Raiders (3-8 )
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Broncos by 3
Fast Fact The Broncos have won five straight in Oakland
The Broncos blew a golden chance to stay even with the Chargers when they blew a 14 point 4th quarter lead to lose to the Bears. The look to rebound against the Raiders who are feeling good about themselves after rallying to beat the Chiefs. The Raiders despite looking sharp last week are in no position to challenge the Broncos who despite the uneven play of Jay Cutler should have enough to get the win.
Pick-Denver
NY Giants (7-4) @ Bears (5-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 1½
Fast Fact Devin Hester broke Gale Sayers team record with his ninth and tenth return touchdowns last week
Who’s gonna be the bigger wreck this week Eli Manning or Rex Grossman? Manning’s meltdown against the Vikes was sad to watch. Grossman didn’t fall apart against the Broncos, but he didn’t stand out either. The Giants are pulling their usual late season el foldo and while the Bears are not playoff contenders, I get the feeling that they’ll steal this one
Pick-Chicago
Buccaneers (7-4) @ Saints (5-6)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3½
Fast Fact The Bucs won last week despite being outgained 316-15 and not making a first down after halftime.
Skinny/Winner More often than not the Saints are an enigma, you never know what team is going to show up. Drew Brees has been inconsistent, but shined last week. Meanwhile the Bucs are scrambling to figure out who will be their QB after Jeff Garcia missed almost all of the previous game. The Saints thumped the Panthers but I don’t see them getting the win here.
Pick-Tampa Bay
Bengals (4-7) @ Steelers (8-3)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Steelers by 7
Fast Fact The road team has won each of the last four years
The Bengals dealt out a stunning rout of the Titans while the Steelers won in spite of themselves last Monday. The Bengals offense has never really been a problem but their defense is. If Troy Polamalu does not play, things will be much easier for Carson Palmer. Ben Roethlisberger has been playing decently but the rest of his team has been playing to the level of their opponent. I get the feeling that the Steelers will get caught looking ahead to a meeting with possibly unbeaten New England and get burned in a streak that they were supposed to make hay in.
Pick-Cincinnati
Monday, December 3
Patriots (11-0) @ Ravens (4-7)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Patriots by 20
Fast Fact The Patriots are the first NFL team to be favored by more than 20 in consecutive games.
The Pats dodged a mammoth upset last Sunday, letting an overmatched Eagles squad hang with them nearly all game. The Ravens do not have the capability to do anything remotely close to what the Eagles did and the Pats will make the Ravens an example of the Ravens for the Eagles insolence. The Ravens lack of offense will be their downfall against the Pats tough defense. They may not score in the 30s but they have more than enough to beat the Ravens and continue their unbeaten march.
Pick-New England (Lock of The Week)
Last Week: 9-7 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 107-69 (10-2 Locks, 3-9 Upsets)
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007
KJ's Hot List: Games you Have to See
First off lets get to this evenings game
Packers (10-1) @ Cowboys (10-1)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX 8:15 NFLN
Favorite Cowboys by 7
Fast Fact Brett Favre is 0-8 in Texas Stadium (0-5 Regular Season, 0-3 Playoffs)
Since NFL Network is only seen by about a third of the country, this is one of the best games you more than likely will only catch the highlights of. Ageless Brett Favre may have been doing it with smoke and mirrors but he has been the gutty leader of a resurgent Pack. Meanwhile Tony Romo has done it every which way he can with his scrambling freewheeling style.. TO is about the closest thing to a choir boy and the Pokes have been white-hot. Many people look at this game as a draw, but I cant shake the feeling that the Pack are too young and are not ready for the big time. The spread is way too big, but the Pokes should win easy.
Pick-Dallas
Now onto the College Games...
Army (3-8 ) vs Navy (7-4)
M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore 12:00 CBS
Favorite Navy By 14
Fast Fact Navy leads the series 51-49-7
Navy is headed to a bowl and Army is headed home after this game, which unless you have relatives in the game or used to be in one of the service acadamies the game really doesn't matter much. But for sheer pagentry and awe inspiring style and precision, you have to at least check out the entrance of both service acadamies. And for cheers and chants it will leave you with goose bumps. The Midshipmen run the classic wishbone with Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada leading the team in passing and rushing. The Black Knights are looking to break a five game skid.
ACC Championship
Boston College (10-2) vs Virginia Tech (10-2)
Alltel Stadium; Jacksonville, FL 1:00 ABC
Favorite Virginia Tech by 4 1/2
Fast Fact Winner of this game goes to the Orange Bowl
This is a rematch of the thrilling Oct. 25th game in which the Eagles rallied to beat the Hokies in a rainy Blacksbug. Matt Ryan may have fell off the Heisman radar but he is still a top flight QB. The Hokies have their typical lunch pail type defense led by DE Chris Ellis and LB Xavier Adibi. This will be a good tight game.
SEC Championship
Tennessee (9-2) vs LSU (10-2)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 4:00 CBS
Favorite LSU by 7 1/2
Fast Fact These two teams met in the 2001 SEC Championship game.
LSU is coming off a devastating 3OT loss to Arkansas while Tennessee is coming off a 4OT thriller over Kentucky. Both teams have solid offenses. The Vols have played well as of late under the steady play of Erik Ainge and have found a running game with Arian Foster. The Tigers are the definition of a high wire act having played a number of close games and are trying to play through the rumors of head coach Les Miles and Offensive coordinator Bo Pellini possibly departing. This game should be a tightly played high scoring game
Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma (10-2) vs Missouri (11-1)
Alamodome, San Antonio 8:00 ABC
Favorite Oklahoma by 3
Fast Fact Oklahoma defeated Missouri 41-31 on Oct 13th
Missouri withstood a late rally to get to the Big 12 title game but are decided underdogs. The Tigers are led by Chase Daniel who has thrown for nearly 4000 yards, but have a key element that they did not have in their previous matchup RB Tony Temple. The Tigers were held to 57 yards in the previous matchup in Norman. The Sooners are underrated led by precocious frosh Sam Bradford who has tossed an impressive 32 TD passes. The Tigers are looking to win this game and advance to their first ever BCS title game.
NFL Previews tomorrow, until next post Fellow Sports Fans!
Packers (10-1) @ Cowboys (10-1)
Texas Stadium, Irving, TX 8:15 NFLN
Favorite Cowboys by 7
Fast Fact Brett Favre is 0-8 in Texas Stadium (0-5 Regular Season, 0-3 Playoffs)
Since NFL Network is only seen by about a third of the country, this is one of the best games you more than likely will only catch the highlights of. Ageless Brett Favre may have been doing it with smoke and mirrors but he has been the gutty leader of a resurgent Pack. Meanwhile Tony Romo has done it every which way he can with his scrambling freewheeling style.. TO is about the closest thing to a choir boy and the Pokes have been white-hot. Many people look at this game as a draw, but I cant shake the feeling that the Pack are too young and are not ready for the big time. The spread is way too big, but the Pokes should win easy.
Pick-Dallas
Now onto the College Games...
Army (3-8 ) vs Navy (7-4)
M&T Bank Stadium Baltimore 12:00 CBS
Favorite Navy By 14
Fast Fact Navy leads the series 51-49-7
Navy is headed to a bowl and Army is headed home after this game, which unless you have relatives in the game or used to be in one of the service acadamies the game really doesn't matter much. But for sheer pagentry and awe inspiring style and precision, you have to at least check out the entrance of both service acadamies. And for cheers and chants it will leave you with goose bumps. The Midshipmen run the classic wishbone with Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada leading the team in passing and rushing. The Black Knights are looking to break a five game skid.
ACC Championship
Boston College (10-2) vs Virginia Tech (10-2)
Alltel Stadium; Jacksonville, FL 1:00 ABC
Favorite Virginia Tech by 4 1/2
Fast Fact Winner of this game goes to the Orange Bowl
This is a rematch of the thrilling Oct. 25th game in which the Eagles rallied to beat the Hokies in a rainy Blacksbug. Matt Ryan may have fell off the Heisman radar but he is still a top flight QB. The Hokies have their typical lunch pail type defense led by DE Chris Ellis and LB Xavier Adibi. This will be a good tight game.
SEC Championship
Tennessee (9-2) vs LSU (10-2)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 4:00 CBS
Favorite LSU by 7 1/2
Fast Fact These two teams met in the 2001 SEC Championship game.
LSU is coming off a devastating 3OT loss to Arkansas while Tennessee is coming off a 4OT thriller over Kentucky. Both teams have solid offenses. The Vols have played well as of late under the steady play of Erik Ainge and have found a running game with Arian Foster. The Tigers are the definition of a high wire act having played a number of close games and are trying to play through the rumors of head coach Les Miles and Offensive coordinator Bo Pellini possibly departing. This game should be a tightly played high scoring game
Big 12 Championship
Oklahoma (10-2) vs Missouri (11-1)
Alamodome, San Antonio 8:00 ABC
Favorite Oklahoma by 3
Fast Fact Oklahoma defeated Missouri 41-31 on Oct 13th
Missouri withstood a late rally to get to the Big 12 title game but are decided underdogs. The Tigers are led by Chase Daniel who has thrown for nearly 4000 yards, but have a key element that they did not have in their previous matchup RB Tony Temple. The Tigers were held to 57 yards in the previous matchup in Norman. The Sooners are underrated led by precocious frosh Sam Bradford who has tossed an impressive 32 TD passes. The Tigers are looking to win this game and advance to their first ever BCS title game.
NFL Previews tomorrow, until next post Fellow Sports Fans!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Word of The Day=Annoyance
I'm annoyed by the fact that my beloved Bearcats are "rewarded" for their best season in 46 years with a trip to Birmingham...are you serious? Now with some apologies to folks in Alabama. (I have relatives there) but the PapaJohns.com bowl was not the type of bowl I wanted to see the Bearcats in. I wanted a post Christmas bowl like the Meineke Car Bowl or the Sun Bowl on New Years Eve. The powers that be still see Cincy as an inflated MAC team. Not a squad that won 9 games and beat three ranked teams. Two of these teams UConn and South Florida are going to the respective bowl games that I mentioned. Dave1965 might get a bit upset at me, but I'm sorry how the hell is UConn ranked ahead of UC when 1) UC beat UConn by the very convincing score of 27-3 2)lost to conference champ West Virginia 28-23, while UConn lost to that same team 66-21??? Okay, UConn does have better standing in the Big East (5-2 for UConn vs 4-3 for UC) but both teams getting passed over for the Sun Bowl by South Florida? The Sun Bowl execs whined that they didn't want a possible rematch of UC and Oregon State, whom the Cats stomped on national TV 34-3 in September. Isn't that ironic? UC winning a game coming back to haunt them. So now UC will play Southern Miss, a team that they used to joust with in Conference USA, thats a real step up. In the three years that the Cats have been in the Big East they have made two bowls but they are still being treated like a cinderella mid major. I'm not saying that they need to be playing Big Ten and SEC teams all the time, but the bowl committees are giving the Cats the shaft, with absolutely no respect at all.
Like the old Springsteen song goes "Ohhhhh, I'm on Fire!"
While I'm on this rant, I'm annoyed at the media wonks, that includes a number of alleged pro writers on TSN that are trying to speculate on UC's coach Brian Kelly to be in their opinion "the best man for the job" at various openings. One of the openings being Michigan. Now you may say hold on Bandit, aren't you a Michigan fan? Didn't you make the trip to Ann Arbor to see the Wolverines? I am indeed a Wolverine fan, but I am a Cincinnati grad (B.S. 1996) My loyalties will always be with the school that I grew up in and around. The last line of the alma mater says "thy loyal, loyal children we will be." Fan interest aside, I'm a Bearcat. So the speculation of Big Ten teams raiding my school (again) to decide to pluck our coach and "move him up to the big time" really rubs me the wrong way. I read on one of the comment posts that "Kelly needs to get away from a dinky school like Cincinnati with its small time asperations (sic) and really prove if hes a good coach at a big school"
I'm not knocking Michigan or Nebraska but believe it or not Cincinnati is not a small school. It has 37,000 students in it (source: wikipedia and the University of Cincinnati website) and its the 2nd largest school in the Big East (South Florida is the largest with over 41,000) I have a question for the Matt Hayes' and other pundits that think the Kelly should go elsewhere. Why can't Kelly stay in Cincinnati and bulid a national power there. I have a slightly biased answer. Hayes and their ilk would rather see Cincy stay a lower echelon team in the state like an Akron or Bowling Green rather than grow in stature and seriously compete with an Ohio State.
Now before you Buck fans get your Scarlet and Gray jerseys all in a bunch let me state that I know that any kid in Ohio that State wants they will get, but they logistically can't get them all and some of those can float down I-71 to Cincy which makes the Bearcats that much more viable. I know also that Cincy will never be able to realistically be on a consistent par with OSU and I don't seek that. I just think that Cincy could build a small power here and I hate to see it torn down by speculators that don't want to deal with a good team that they don't know or are not used to. Hayes and their ilk loath to deal with two solid teams in the Buckeye state, so they raise the speculation that UC's coach needs to go somewhere else, somewhere "bigger" to prove themselves. I feel that Cincy could realistically compete for a BCS berth as soon as next year, don't laugh. They had a real shot at it this year. To those that seek to pluck our coach and decimate our squad again, I say go somewheres (sic) else!
I guess I've bored you enough with my annoyance. I fully expect a nice share of thumbs down from those that think my rants are ruffling the feathers of the "established order" but thats what I do. Lets gte to the Phat Dap/Head Slap
Phat Dap
I read a story on ESPN about Texans players Ahman Green and Jason Simmons. Green wanted the number 30 a number that he had since he was in college. Simmons had it and told Green if he wanted it “It would cost him.” Instead of paying money for it, Simmons laid out a plan that he would give Green the number if he donated money to help a deserving single mom get a house. Green kicked in $20K and Simmons added 5K of his own, Texans owner Robert McNair heard about the project and matched the contributions of the players and Regina Foster was selected from a pool of applicants. Foster, a single mother of an autistic child was given the 50K as a down payment on a house. Houston area business contributed items such as furniture and food. You got to give it up to the players who are the antithesis of the stereotypical selfish pro player. All that for a jersey number switch. Bravo!
Head Slap
I'm gonna mention this and let it go after this. I will award the head slap to those who instantly assumed because Redskins DB Sean Taylor was shot that it was because he was living the "thug life" I'm really tired of folks, especially the sensationalitic media who have been jumping to conclusions and overly speculating about Taylor's "lifestyle" These people that assumed that becuase Taylor had been arrested for DUI (Charges dropped) and again arrested on weapons charges (charges sizably reduced) that he was instantly a gangsta wannabe that was asking to be shot. Lets get all the facts out before one tries to paint someone with such a broad brush.
Well now since I have all my ranting out for the day, I'll prepare my report on the best college games to watch as well as the best NFL game of the year that you probably won't see. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Like the old Springsteen song goes "Ohhhhh, I'm on Fire!"
While I'm on this rant, I'm annoyed at the media wonks, that includes a number of alleged pro writers on TSN that are trying to speculate on UC's coach Brian Kelly to be in their opinion "the best man for the job" at various openings. One of the openings being Michigan. Now you may say hold on Bandit, aren't you a Michigan fan? Didn't you make the trip to Ann Arbor to see the Wolverines? I am indeed a Wolverine fan, but I am a Cincinnati grad (B.S. 1996) My loyalties will always be with the school that I grew up in and around. The last line of the alma mater says "thy loyal, loyal children we will be." Fan interest aside, I'm a Bearcat. So the speculation of Big Ten teams raiding my school (again) to decide to pluck our coach and "move him up to the big time" really rubs me the wrong way. I read on one of the comment posts that "Kelly needs to get away from a dinky school like Cincinnati with its small time asperations (sic) and really prove if hes a good coach at a big school"
I'm not knocking Michigan or Nebraska but believe it or not Cincinnati is not a small school. It has 37,000 students in it (source: wikipedia and the University of Cincinnati website) and its the 2nd largest school in the Big East (South Florida is the largest with over 41,000) I have a question for the Matt Hayes' and other pundits that think the Kelly should go elsewhere. Why can't Kelly stay in Cincinnati and bulid a national power there. I have a slightly biased answer. Hayes and their ilk would rather see Cincy stay a lower echelon team in the state like an Akron or Bowling Green rather than grow in stature and seriously compete with an Ohio State.
Now before you Buck fans get your Scarlet and Gray jerseys all in a bunch let me state that I know that any kid in Ohio that State wants they will get, but they logistically can't get them all and some of those can float down I-71 to Cincy which makes the Bearcats that much more viable. I know also that Cincy will never be able to realistically be on a consistent par with OSU and I don't seek that. I just think that Cincy could build a small power here and I hate to see it torn down by speculators that don't want to deal with a good team that they don't know or are not used to. Hayes and their ilk loath to deal with two solid teams in the Buckeye state, so they raise the speculation that UC's coach needs to go somewhere else, somewhere "bigger" to prove themselves. I feel that Cincy could realistically compete for a BCS berth as soon as next year, don't laugh. They had a real shot at it this year. To those that seek to pluck our coach and decimate our squad again, I say go somewheres (sic) else!
I guess I've bored you enough with my annoyance. I fully expect a nice share of thumbs down from those that think my rants are ruffling the feathers of the "established order" but thats what I do. Lets gte to the Phat Dap/Head Slap
Phat Dap
I read a story on ESPN about Texans players Ahman Green and Jason Simmons. Green wanted the number 30 a number that he had since he was in college. Simmons had it and told Green if he wanted it “It would cost him.” Instead of paying money for it, Simmons laid out a plan that he would give Green the number if he donated money to help a deserving single mom get a house. Green kicked in $20K and Simmons added 5K of his own, Texans owner Robert McNair heard about the project and matched the contributions of the players and Regina Foster was selected from a pool of applicants. Foster, a single mother of an autistic child was given the 50K as a down payment on a house. Houston area business contributed items such as furniture and food. You got to give it up to the players who are the antithesis of the stereotypical selfish pro player. All that for a jersey number switch. Bravo!
Head Slap
I'm gonna mention this and let it go after this. I will award the head slap to those who instantly assumed because Redskins DB Sean Taylor was shot that it was because he was living the "thug life" I'm really tired of folks, especially the sensationalitic media who have been jumping to conclusions and overly speculating about Taylor's "lifestyle" These people that assumed that becuase Taylor had been arrested for DUI (Charges dropped) and again arrested on weapons charges (charges sizably reduced) that he was instantly a gangsta wannabe that was asking to be shot. Lets get all the facts out before one tries to paint someone with such a broad brush.
Well now since I have all my ranting out for the day, I'll prepare my report on the best college games to watch as well as the best NFL game of the year that you probably won't see. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
The Death of Sean Taylor: Does Lifestyle=Deathstyle?
I was stunned to hear of the passing today of Redskins DB Sean Taylor after being shot by an intruder in his Miami home. This young man was only 24. He had already made the Pro Bowl and was known throught the NFL as one of its biggest hitters.
That said, I was dismayed at hearing the tone on some talk shows.
"...when you run in the wrong circles bad things happen."
"His high living caught up with him."
"Live that life and you'll pay for it."
"His lifestyle ultimately wrote his deathstyle."
Huh???
I'm not here to portray Taylor as a saint, he did have a criminal record for brandishing a weapon. But to paint this man a "ghetto thug." before all the facts come out is reckless and downright stupid. Regardless of the crowd he was allegedly running with.
To stereotype Taylor as a rich thug who got caught up is very irresponsible. How many athletes are targeted because they have money, many that I know are extremely guarded about who they let into their house and are often the focal points of death threats or extortion attempts. It wouldn't surprise me to know that was the case with Taylor, but in any case. This young man was killed way before his time. To say he "deserved it" sickens me.
The man wasn't in the streets, he was in his home when an intruder broke in and shot him. Let me repeat that salient point. he was in his home. To those that I've read and heard say. Oh, he deserved it. No one short of maybe Tony Montana needs to be shot in their home if at all. This is a sad episode and while I will wait to hear all the facts regarding the shooting. The facts are this, a young man and father of a young girl dead in a senseless shooting.
That in itself is a damn shame.
That said, I was dismayed at hearing the tone on some talk shows.
"...when you run in the wrong circles bad things happen."
"His high living caught up with him."
"Live that life and you'll pay for it."
"His lifestyle ultimately wrote his deathstyle."
Huh???
I'm not here to portray Taylor as a saint, he did have a criminal record for brandishing a weapon. But to paint this man a "ghetto thug." before all the facts come out is reckless and downright stupid. Regardless of the crowd he was allegedly running with.
To stereotype Taylor as a rich thug who got caught up is very irresponsible. How many athletes are targeted because they have money, many that I know are extremely guarded about who they let into their house and are often the focal points of death threats or extortion attempts. It wouldn't surprise me to know that was the case with Taylor, but in any case. This young man was killed way before his time. To say he "deserved it" sickens me.
The man wasn't in the streets, he was in his home when an intruder broke in and shot him. Let me repeat that salient point. he was in his home. To those that I've read and heard say. Oh, he deserved it. No one short of maybe Tony Montana needs to be shot in their home if at all. This is a sad episode and while I will wait to hear all the facts regarding the shooting. The facts are this, a young man and father of a young girl dead in a senseless shooting.
That in itself is a damn shame.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Weekend In Review
Im sitting in the corner with my dunce cap on for as many bad picks as I had this week.
I caught hell from the suddenly vocal Bengals fans, who tried to chastise me for picking the Titans over the Bengals. Yeah right and you really saw the soft Bengals defense totally dominating and shutting down the Titans offense and making Vince Young look inept. No you didn't. You might have seen Chad Johnson have a breakout game and the Bengals offense roll up the points, but if you saw a 35-6 whitewash. I'd like to know how much you'd pay for that oceanfront property just west of Lawrence, Kansas.
The Vikings dropping 41 on the G-Men was just as big a shock. I've been trying hard. I mean really hard to give Eli Manning the benefit of the doubt, but he keeps switching into that foggy eyed clueless lunkhead mode at times that the Giants need him to shine the most. This was a game I was willing to concede to Giants fans, but the Vikings played ballhawk all day and took three...count 'em three picks back for scores. Unbelievable!
Every Pats fan that I know was sweating bullets last night. The Eagles took the fight to the Patriots in front of a shocked and sullen Gillette Stadium. Suddenly the Pats abject ignorance of their running game may sooner or later come back to haunt them. Already you have the spin doctors who are asking is the way the Eagles played is the blueprint to beat the Pats. I'm already hearing Steeler fans squawking that they will get the Pats. BTW a note to Mercury Morris, the Pats have mapquested the neighborhood and are driving that way. They may be on your street soon.
The talk all week will be on who deserves to be the #1 team in the BCS. Mizzou is the top dog (or is it cat since they are Tigers?) for the moment, but the party line is that they will suffer stage fright as #1 and fall hard to Oklahoma. Should that happen who slides into the other BCS slot? West Virginia while not completely out of the woods are getting close enough and theoretically should have no problem with Pitt, but stranger things have happened. The other slot will go to? Ohio State fans are already crying that they are getting the shaft. I've already dodged the brickbats from The Ohio State University fans whom I dared to call Luckeyes, but the soft teams that Ohio State played (Yes they were, they were softer than my new goose down pillow: Youngstown State, Kent, Akron, a sorry Washington squad) and a down year in the big ten suddenly makes your team BCS title worthy? And I've seen some Buck fans rip the SOS of Kansas and Mizzou. Those with no game should not shotcall. It doesn't help matters when you have Kirk Herbstreit an OSU grad, shilling for the Bucks every chance he gets. The carping and whining that the Bucks do dont cover up the fact that they aren't a BCS title worthy team. But it'll happen, OSU and West Virginia in the New Orleans for the title game. Yeah that's just what we need to see, another speedy team running rings around another slow footed Buckeye squad in the national title game. I know I'm inviting more brickbats by taking shots at the Bucks, but I just don't think that they are BCS title game worthy.
I'll award my Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday, until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
I caught hell from the suddenly vocal Bengals fans, who tried to chastise me for picking the Titans over the Bengals. Yeah right and you really saw the soft Bengals defense totally dominating and shutting down the Titans offense and making Vince Young look inept. No you didn't. You might have seen Chad Johnson have a breakout game and the Bengals offense roll up the points, but if you saw a 35-6 whitewash. I'd like to know how much you'd pay for that oceanfront property just west of Lawrence, Kansas.
The Vikings dropping 41 on the G-Men was just as big a shock. I've been trying hard. I mean really hard to give Eli Manning the benefit of the doubt, but he keeps switching into that foggy eyed clueless lunkhead mode at times that the Giants need him to shine the most. This was a game I was willing to concede to Giants fans, but the Vikings played ballhawk all day and took three...count 'em three picks back for scores. Unbelievable!
Every Pats fan that I know was sweating bullets last night. The Eagles took the fight to the Patriots in front of a shocked and sullen Gillette Stadium. Suddenly the Pats abject ignorance of their running game may sooner or later come back to haunt them. Already you have the spin doctors who are asking is the way the Eagles played is the blueprint to beat the Pats. I'm already hearing Steeler fans squawking that they will get the Pats. BTW a note to Mercury Morris, the Pats have mapquested the neighborhood and are driving that way. They may be on your street soon.
The talk all week will be on who deserves to be the #1 team in the BCS. Mizzou is the top dog (or is it cat since they are Tigers?) for the moment, but the party line is that they will suffer stage fright as #1 and fall hard to Oklahoma. Should that happen who slides into the other BCS slot? West Virginia while not completely out of the woods are getting close enough and theoretically should have no problem with Pitt, but stranger things have happened. The other slot will go to? Ohio State fans are already crying that they are getting the shaft. I've already dodged the brickbats from The Ohio State University fans whom I dared to call Luckeyes, but the soft teams that Ohio State played (Yes they were, they were softer than my new goose down pillow: Youngstown State, Kent, Akron, a sorry Washington squad) and a down year in the big ten suddenly makes your team BCS title worthy? And I've seen some Buck fans rip the SOS of Kansas and Mizzou. Those with no game should not shotcall. It doesn't help matters when you have Kirk Herbstreit an OSU grad, shilling for the Bucks every chance he gets. The carping and whining that the Bucks do dont cover up the fact that they aren't a BCS title worthy team. But it'll happen, OSU and West Virginia in the New Orleans for the title game. Yeah that's just what we need to see, another speedy team running rings around another slow footed Buckeye squad in the national title game. I know I'm inviting more brickbats by taking shots at the Bucks, but I just don't think that they are BCS title game worthy.
I'll award my Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday, until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Perfect Storm is Brewing in college football
Its cold where I’m at but I can hear the thunder. The gathering storm clouds are darkening the sky.
Arkansas 50 #1 LSU 48 3OT
The lightning crashing and the thunder booms
Missouri needs a late safety to hold off a hard charging Kansas and Oklahoma waits to thump the Tigers in the San Antonio next Saturday, knocking them out of the BCS title hunt.
The chill winds whip about.
West Virginia takes a shocking upset to Pitt after destroying UConn and sees its title hopes evaporate.
Who do you have left???
Ohio State, into the BCS title game simply because they have been cooling their heels waiting for someone to tell them where to go and who they will play?
But then suppose this perfect storm does come to pass, a bigger dilemma looms…
Who do the Luckeyes (I call them that because they will have lucked into the BCS title game by circumstance, politics and computers rather than on the field.) play in the title game? Flawed single loss teams like Kansas or Mizzou are not worthy to play but Ohio State is? (Now if Mizzou takes a loss in the Big 12 title game but somehow gets through to the BCS title game…I can hear the pundits screaming now.
The Perfect storm is coming and its going to inundate the entire college football world.
The honks and wonks in the BCS are getting more and more nervous. They are praying that West Virginia gets through Pitt (Fairly likely, but an upset is always possible in a rivalry game) and Mizzou beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship (They will be an underdog here) so that you will have the top two teams get through and the BCS can again say "See the system works!" If both teams fall you have a mess and the proponents of a playoff will have their argument further strengthened.
The weekend has been filled with exciting games. The Tennessee-Kentucky game kept me glued to the couch. That game was close to 5 hours long! The Mizzou-Kansas game took some time to get going but was a thrilling game. Chase Daniel and Todd Reesing are two dynamic QB's who are their respective teams heart and soul.
I have to at least give a brief shoutout to my beloved Bearcats who wore down a game Syracuse Orange 52-31 to clinch their first 9 win season in over 30 years. I'm hoping for a New Years Eve berth in the Sun Bowl.
Do you think that Nebraska waited long enough to fire Bill Callahan. I mean for real, your squad gives up 65 points a few weeks after giving of 76, your job security is in serious danger. I heard rumors that "For Sale" signs were being put on Callhan's lawn after the Kansas game. Tom Osborne didn't even let the scoreboard get turned off in Boulder before he dropped the ax on Callahan.
I watched the Sports Reporters this morning and was annoyed but not surprised at John Saunders repeated mantra of "The regular season is the playoffs" His weak comparison of the NFL to the college game further exacerbate the very reason that there should be a playoff in the college game. Saunders made reference to the Pats-Colts matchup two weeks ago as being "A great matcup, but only determining home field advantage." In college these team would have never faced one another in the regular season. How many times do you see, two unbeaten teams from different divisions play one another in a setting outside of a conference championship game? I do like Saunders and think highly of his eloquent style on the Sports Reporters but I think he is flat out wrong. The media wonks need to stop fooling themselves. They have deluded themselves into thinking that the game with a playoff would somehow lessen the value of the regular season game. Yeah, right. tell that to Auburn-Alabama fans or Kansas-Mizzou fans or Michigan-Ohio State fans or any of the conference rivals. A playoff would only clear up the mess about strength of schedule and ensure that the conference champs and a few select at large teams get to the tourney. I'll again reference you to my October 23rd Post for my documented arguments for a playoff.
Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!
Arkansas 50 #1 LSU 48 3OT
The lightning crashing and the thunder booms
Missouri needs a late safety to hold off a hard charging Kansas and Oklahoma waits to thump the Tigers in the San Antonio next Saturday, knocking them out of the BCS title hunt.
The chill winds whip about.
West Virginia takes a shocking upset to Pitt after destroying UConn and sees its title hopes evaporate.
Who do you have left???
Ohio State, into the BCS title game simply because they have been cooling their heels waiting for someone to tell them where to go and who they will play?
But then suppose this perfect storm does come to pass, a bigger dilemma looms…
Who do the Luckeyes (I call them that because they will have lucked into the BCS title game by circumstance, politics and computers rather than on the field.) play in the title game? Flawed single loss teams like Kansas or Mizzou are not worthy to play but Ohio State is? (Now if Mizzou takes a loss in the Big 12 title game but somehow gets through to the BCS title game…I can hear the pundits screaming now.
The Perfect storm is coming and its going to inundate the entire college football world.
The honks and wonks in the BCS are getting more and more nervous. They are praying that West Virginia gets through Pitt (Fairly likely, but an upset is always possible in a rivalry game) and Mizzou beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship (They will be an underdog here) so that you will have the top two teams get through and the BCS can again say "See the system works!" If both teams fall you have a mess and the proponents of a playoff will have their argument further strengthened.
The weekend has been filled with exciting games. The Tennessee-Kentucky game kept me glued to the couch. That game was close to 5 hours long! The Mizzou-Kansas game took some time to get going but was a thrilling game. Chase Daniel and Todd Reesing are two dynamic QB's who are their respective teams heart and soul.
I have to at least give a brief shoutout to my beloved Bearcats who wore down a game Syracuse Orange 52-31 to clinch their first 9 win season in over 30 years. I'm hoping for a New Years Eve berth in the Sun Bowl.
Do you think that Nebraska waited long enough to fire Bill Callahan. I mean for real, your squad gives up 65 points a few weeks after giving of 76, your job security is in serious danger. I heard rumors that "For Sale" signs were being put on Callhan's lawn after the Kansas game. Tom Osborne didn't even let the scoreboard get turned off in Boulder before he dropped the ax on Callahan.
I watched the Sports Reporters this morning and was annoyed but not surprised at John Saunders repeated mantra of "The regular season is the playoffs" His weak comparison of the NFL to the college game further exacerbate the very reason that there should be a playoff in the college game. Saunders made reference to the Pats-Colts matchup two weeks ago as being "A great matcup, but only determining home field advantage." In college these team would have never faced one another in the regular season. How many times do you see, two unbeaten teams from different divisions play one another in a setting outside of a conference championship game? I do like Saunders and think highly of his eloquent style on the Sports Reporters but I think he is flat out wrong. The media wonks need to stop fooling themselves. They have deluded themselves into thinking that the game with a playoff would somehow lessen the value of the regular season game. Yeah, right. tell that to Auburn-Alabama fans or Kansas-Mizzou fans or Michigan-Ohio State fans or any of the conference rivals. A playoff would only clear up the mess about strength of schedule and ensure that the conference champs and a few select at large teams get to the tourney. I'll again reference you to my October 23rd Post for my documented arguments for a playoff.
Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!
Friday, November 23, 2007
USC rolls, The NFL's dilemma and Week 12 NFL picks
Hold up was, USC that good or Arizona State that inept last night? If USC had played that way the entire season, we'd be asking who the Trojans would play in the BCS title gmae. The Trojans looked crisp and efficent in throttling the Sun Devils who looked as if they had a bad case of stage fright last night. USC is out of the BCS title picture, but still is trying to get to the Rose Bowl. I hope that they do, they will make a much better opponent for Ohio State that Oregon would. Sorry Duck fans, but OSU would slaughter the Ducks and do it with the quickness.
I posted the college games that you should watch but I have one more that you should check out. Delaware takes on Delaware State in the first round of the NCAA 1-AA playoffs (I can't remember what the alternate name of it is)but this is the first ever meeting of these two schools. Delware State has long wanted a matchup between the schools that are less than an hour apart. Delaware who has won 1-AA titles has been long reluctant to schedule Delaware a historically black school. Delaware claims that the reasons are purely schedule driven and not racial. Something that Delaware State greets with skepticism. But now the Blue Hens and Hornets will meet for the first time ever with much on the line. This is reminiscent of when Kentuck and Louisville did not play each other for years until being forced to when bracketed together in the NCAA tourney. The two schools then began a very popular series. If you want to check out a really good matchup. Check this one out on ESPN at 1:30 today.
In the pros, the storm clouds are gathering for another week of overblown hype as the 10-1 Pack will face off against the 10-1 Pokes in the game of the Century part 2. Problem is, most of the country outside of the Dallas Metroplex and Wisconsin won't see it. Since NFL Network is not on many basic cable systems and the NFL rules mandate that games that are being shown on cable outlets like ESPN or NFLN are shown simulcast on free tv, but the reason I'm annoyed is the carping of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones, a cat I've never really liked is yowling that people should drop their cable system that doesn't carry NFLN and get satellite or a cable system that does carry it. He specifcally spoke of AT&T's satellite system but quickly added "or go over to another cable system." Jones went from being an owner being frustrated about his team not being seen in one of their biggest games of the year to a shill for a satellite provider and that is flat out wrong. I imagine that many people like myself want to see the Packers-Cowboys game next Thursday, but I don't have NFL network and Time Warner isn't budging on their stance on carrying it. NFLN wants to be on a basic tier, but is charging the cable companies premium fees to carry it. Companies like Comcast and Time Warner don't want to pass the charges on to every subscriber so they want to carry NFLN on a premium tier and make it an extra package. Time Warner is having the same fencing match with the Big Ten Network. So unless you live in Dallas or Wisconsin, you better find out which of your favorite sports bars has NFL Network. That is different from Sunday Ticket. Don't say that you weren't warned in advance.
For the rest of my Week 12 picks, if you heard a sigh of relief coming from this end is me finally seeing more than half of my picks coming through last week. Though I should have known better thatn to trust the Steelers with a lock. No thanks to either Detroit for the faith I was starting to show them either. But when add the layups that I got on Turkey day and things may be shaping up for another good week (knock on wood). Submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks. Odds again provided for entertainment and comparison purposes, so if you blow the christmas shopping money on these lines, its your fault.
Sunday, November 25
Bills (5-5) @ Jaguars (7-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 8
Fast Fact The Bills 56-10 loss to the Pats last Sunday was their worst loss in franchise history.
David Garrard has given the Jags a needed boost, while the Bills are still rubbing their collective rears after getting the woodshed treatment from the Pats. If the Bills RB MarShawn Lynch is still a no-go with a high ankle sprain, things could get rather ugly. The Jags have more weapons and play tough at home.
Pick-Jacksonville
Texans (5-5) @ Browns (6-4)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Texans are 3-0 when Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are both in the starting lineup
A sleeper of a matchup, the Texans are quietly jelling with the return of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Meanwhile, the Browns have the makings of an offensive juggernaut. Not Patriots-like but they can score. The Texans are still not the most fearsome road team and I’m hesitant to pick against the Browns at home now
Pick-Cleveland
Vikings (4-6) @ Giants (7-3)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 7
Fast Fact Giants coach Tom Coughlin achieved his 100th regular season win last week
The G-Men are trying hard to shake their second half slump tendencies and looked solid in a crucial road win in Detroit. The Vikings are in no rush to get Adrian Peterson back, with the solid play of Chester Taylor. I’m not sipping on the stuff, I’m having bad visions of Eli Manning picking on the Vikings suspect pass defense.
Pick-New York Giants
Saints (4-6) @ Panthers (4-6)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact The Panthers are trying to avoid their first four game losing skid in three years.
Both teams are the definition of inconsistent and are awfully hard to figure out. Vinny Testaverde still has the starting job over David Carr for now. The Saints need to get better games out of Reggie Bush. The Panthers have yet to win at home, I think that streak ends here.
Pick-Carolina
Raiders (2-8 ) @ Chiefs (4-6)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Chiefs by 5½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have won six straight against the Raiders in Kansas City
These two longtime rivals face off in a battle to see who’s team is more anemic. The Chiefs haven’t won since they last faced the Raiders. As much as I’m tempted to say the Raiders will spring the upset, especially since the Cheifs offense is getting more and more anemic by the second. I'll stay with the home team and kick myself if the Raiders spring the upset.
Pick-Kansas City
Seahawks (6-4) @ Rams (2-8 )
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 3
Fast Fact The Rams won their 500th game in franchise history last week by beating the 49ers
The Rams have been playing much better and the game edge the Seahawks usually have with Shaun Alexander is gone with him a continued question mark with a sprained knee Add the possibility that Matt Hasselbeck may be unable to go due to badly bruised ribs, the Rams look more like the team that could get an easy win. If the Rams keep the Seahawks tough defense from getting to Marc Bulger, they may steal a win.
Pick-St. Louis (Upset Special of the week)
Titans (6-4) @ Bengals (3-7)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 1½
Fast Fact The Bengals allowed a season low 247 yards last week vs. Arizona, but turned the ball over five times in the 35-27 loss.
The Bengals are sinking into bickering and in-fighting while the Titans are trying to fight off an ill-timed slump. The Titans offense will find the Bengals soft defense a welcome tonic. The Bengals will find the sledding a bit easier offensively if DT Albert Haynes worth is a no-go. But there is the small problem of the Bengals trying to stop the irrepressable Vince Young.…good luck on that one let me know how it turns out.
Pick-Tennessee
Redskins (5-5) @ Buccaneers (6-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3½
Fast Fact This the fifth straight season these teams have played each other. The Bucs winning the last two meetings.
These teams are still contending for playoff spots, the Bucs win and they put a stranglehold on the NFC south, while the Skins are trying to reel the Giants in front of them in the wild card race. Jeff Garcia’s steady play have the Bucs playing well, and RB Earnest Graham’s play have garnered him the starting job to keep. The Skins are still enduring the growing pains of Jason Campbell and playing the ball hawking, big-hitting Bucs defense doesn’t help
Pick-Tampa Bay
49ers (2-8 ) @ Cardinals (5-5)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Cardinals by 10½
Fast Fact The Cards are looking for their first three game win streak in five years.
Remember when the Niners were the dominant team, they have slumped badly and the Cards are itching for a chance to exact revenge for their season opening loss, No matter who the QB is for the Cards, they will be markedly better than whoever gets the starting nod for the Niners. A rare chance for the Cards to be the bully here and they wont get caught looking past the Niners toward bigger matchups with a good Browns team and a showdown with the Seahawks.
Pick-Arizona
Ravens (4-6) @ Chargers (5-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 9
Fast Fact LaDainian Tomlinson needs one more rushing touchdown to extend his NFL record streak of 10 td seasons to seven
The Chargers played a rather ugly game last week in Jacksonville while the Ravens were bedeviled yet again by field goals. The Ravens defense has suddenly aged and their offense is a joke. LT gets his and the seat gets even warmer under Brian Billick
Pick-San Diego
Broncos (5-5) @ Bears (4-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Bears by 1½
Fast Fact 1984 was the last time the Bears beat the Broncos in Chicago
The Broncos are in first in spite of themselves. The Bears are trying to keep Wreck Grossman from self destructing the team again. The loss last week wasn’t his fault to be fair. Both teams pay that kind of muddling game that makes this game hard to call, the consistently inconsistent play of Grossman and Broncos QB Jay Cutler have at times made their teams ride a roller coaster. I’ll bank on the Broncos better running game to carry the day
Pick-Denver
Eagles (5-5) @ Patriots (10-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 22
Fast Fact Win or lose, this will be the first time in NFL history that there are three teams 10-1 or better at the same time
The Eagles may not have the services of Donovan McNabb. Wait…did you hear that? It was what slim chance the Eagles had of upsetting the Patriots evaporating.
Pick-New England (Lock of the Week)
Monday, November 26
Dolphins (0-10) @ Steelers (7-3)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Steelers by 16
Fast Fact Dolphins LB Joey Porter is 4th on the Steelers all-time sack list with 60, but only has 1½ sacks in Miami
Speaking of Porter, do you think he wishes he was still in the Steel City. The Dolphins are an absolute mess, offensively boring and defensively putrid. Bad news having to face a stunned and angry Steelers squad coming off a humiliating loss to the sorry Jets. Roger Goddell may be on standby to act like a ref covering up the battered Fins early in the fight after the beating they’re gonna get.
Pick-Pittsburgh
Thursday: 3-0
Last Week: 11-5 (Lock & Upset incorrect)
Overall: (Thursday games not included) 98-62 (9-2 Locks, 3-8 Upsets)
I'm not going anywhere a mall today, I'm just gonna veg out on the couch and watch the football. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
I posted the college games that you should watch but I have one more that you should check out. Delaware takes on Delaware State in the first round of the NCAA 1-AA playoffs (I can't remember what the alternate name of it is)but this is the first ever meeting of these two schools. Delware State has long wanted a matchup between the schools that are less than an hour apart. Delaware who has won 1-AA titles has been long reluctant to schedule Delaware a historically black school. Delaware claims that the reasons are purely schedule driven and not racial. Something that Delaware State greets with skepticism. But now the Blue Hens and Hornets will meet for the first time ever with much on the line. This is reminiscent of when Kentuck and Louisville did not play each other for years until being forced to when bracketed together in the NCAA tourney. The two schools then began a very popular series. If you want to check out a really good matchup. Check this one out on ESPN at 1:30 today.
In the pros, the storm clouds are gathering for another week of overblown hype as the 10-1 Pack will face off against the 10-1 Pokes in the game of the Century part 2. Problem is, most of the country outside of the Dallas Metroplex and Wisconsin won't see it. Since NFL Network is not on many basic cable systems and the NFL rules mandate that games that are being shown on cable outlets like ESPN or NFLN are shown simulcast on free tv, but the reason I'm annoyed is the carping of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. Jones, a cat I've never really liked is yowling that people should drop their cable system that doesn't carry NFLN and get satellite or a cable system that does carry it. He specifcally spoke of AT&T's satellite system but quickly added "or go over to another cable system." Jones went from being an owner being frustrated about his team not being seen in one of their biggest games of the year to a shill for a satellite provider and that is flat out wrong. I imagine that many people like myself want to see the Packers-Cowboys game next Thursday, but I don't have NFL network and Time Warner isn't budging on their stance on carrying it. NFLN wants to be on a basic tier, but is charging the cable companies premium fees to carry it. Companies like Comcast and Time Warner don't want to pass the charges on to every subscriber so they want to carry NFLN on a premium tier and make it an extra package. Time Warner is having the same fencing match with the Big Ten Network. So unless you live in Dallas or Wisconsin, you better find out which of your favorite sports bars has NFL Network. That is different from Sunday Ticket. Don't say that you weren't warned in advance.
For the rest of my Week 12 picks, if you heard a sigh of relief coming from this end is me finally seeing more than half of my picks coming through last week. Though I should have known better thatn to trust the Steelers with a lock. No thanks to either Detroit for the faith I was starting to show them either. But when add the layups that I got on Turkey day and things may be shaping up for another good week (knock on wood). Submitted for your review and approval are this weeks picks. Odds again provided for entertainment and comparison purposes, so if you blow the christmas shopping money on these lines, its your fault.
Sunday, November 25
Bills (5-5) @ Jaguars (7-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 8
Fast Fact The Bills 56-10 loss to the Pats last Sunday was their worst loss in franchise history.
David Garrard has given the Jags a needed boost, while the Bills are still rubbing their collective rears after getting the woodshed treatment from the Pats. If the Bills RB MarShawn Lynch is still a no-go with a high ankle sprain, things could get rather ugly. The Jags have more weapons and play tough at home.
Pick-Jacksonville
Texans (5-5) @ Browns (6-4)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Texans are 3-0 when Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are both in the starting lineup
A sleeper of a matchup, the Texans are quietly jelling with the return of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. Meanwhile, the Browns have the makings of an offensive juggernaut. Not Patriots-like but they can score. The Texans are still not the most fearsome road team and I’m hesitant to pick against the Browns at home now
Pick-Cleveland
Vikings (4-6) @ Giants (7-3)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 7
Fast Fact Giants coach Tom Coughlin achieved his 100th regular season win last week
The G-Men are trying hard to shake their second half slump tendencies and looked solid in a crucial road win in Detroit. The Vikings are in no rush to get Adrian Peterson back, with the solid play of Chester Taylor. I’m not sipping on the stuff, I’m having bad visions of Eli Manning picking on the Vikings suspect pass defense.
Pick-New York Giants
Saints (4-6) @ Panthers (4-6)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact The Panthers are trying to avoid their first four game losing skid in three years.
Both teams are the definition of inconsistent and are awfully hard to figure out. Vinny Testaverde still has the starting job over David Carr for now. The Saints need to get better games out of Reggie Bush. The Panthers have yet to win at home, I think that streak ends here.
Pick-Carolina
Raiders (2-8 ) @ Chiefs (4-6)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Chiefs by 5½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have won six straight against the Raiders in Kansas City
These two longtime rivals face off in a battle to see who’s team is more anemic. The Chiefs haven’t won since they last faced the Raiders. As much as I’m tempted to say the Raiders will spring the upset, especially since the Cheifs offense is getting more and more anemic by the second. I'll stay with the home team and kick myself if the Raiders spring the upset.
Pick-Kansas City
Seahawks (6-4) @ Rams (2-8 )
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 3
Fast Fact The Rams won their 500th game in franchise history last week by beating the 49ers
The Rams have been playing much better and the game edge the Seahawks usually have with Shaun Alexander is gone with him a continued question mark with a sprained knee Add the possibility that Matt Hasselbeck may be unable to go due to badly bruised ribs, the Rams look more like the team that could get an easy win. If the Rams keep the Seahawks tough defense from getting to Marc Bulger, they may steal a win.
Pick-St. Louis (Upset Special of the week)
Titans (6-4) @ Bengals (3-7)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 1½
Fast Fact The Bengals allowed a season low 247 yards last week vs. Arizona, but turned the ball over five times in the 35-27 loss.
The Bengals are sinking into bickering and in-fighting while the Titans are trying to fight off an ill-timed slump. The Titans offense will find the Bengals soft defense a welcome tonic. The Bengals will find the sledding a bit easier offensively if DT Albert Haynes worth is a no-go. But there is the small problem of the Bengals trying to stop the irrepressable Vince Young.…good luck on that one let me know how it turns out.
Pick-Tennessee
Redskins (5-5) @ Buccaneers (6-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3½
Fast Fact This the fifth straight season these teams have played each other. The Bucs winning the last two meetings.
These teams are still contending for playoff spots, the Bucs win and they put a stranglehold on the NFC south, while the Skins are trying to reel the Giants in front of them in the wild card race. Jeff Garcia’s steady play have the Bucs playing well, and RB Earnest Graham’s play have garnered him the starting job to keep. The Skins are still enduring the growing pains of Jason Campbell and playing the ball hawking, big-hitting Bucs defense doesn’t help
Pick-Tampa Bay
49ers (2-8 ) @ Cardinals (5-5)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Cardinals by 10½
Fast Fact The Cards are looking for their first three game win streak in five years.
Remember when the Niners were the dominant team, they have slumped badly and the Cards are itching for a chance to exact revenge for their season opening loss, No matter who the QB is for the Cards, they will be markedly better than whoever gets the starting nod for the Niners. A rare chance for the Cards to be the bully here and they wont get caught looking past the Niners toward bigger matchups with a good Browns team and a showdown with the Seahawks.
Pick-Arizona
Ravens (4-6) @ Chargers (5-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 9
Fast Fact LaDainian Tomlinson needs one more rushing touchdown to extend his NFL record streak of 10 td seasons to seven
The Chargers played a rather ugly game last week in Jacksonville while the Ravens were bedeviled yet again by field goals. The Ravens defense has suddenly aged and their offense is a joke. LT gets his and the seat gets even warmer under Brian Billick
Pick-San Diego
Broncos (5-5) @ Bears (4-6)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Bears by 1½
Fast Fact 1984 was the last time the Bears beat the Broncos in Chicago
The Broncos are in first in spite of themselves. The Bears are trying to keep Wreck Grossman from self destructing the team again. The loss last week wasn’t his fault to be fair. Both teams pay that kind of muddling game that makes this game hard to call, the consistently inconsistent play of Grossman and Broncos QB Jay Cutler have at times made their teams ride a roller coaster. I’ll bank on the Broncos better running game to carry the day
Pick-Denver
Eagles (5-5) @ Patriots (10-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 22
Fast Fact Win or lose, this will be the first time in NFL history that there are three teams 10-1 or better at the same time
The Eagles may not have the services of Donovan McNabb. Wait…did you hear that? It was what slim chance the Eagles had of upsetting the Patriots evaporating.
Pick-New England (Lock of the Week)
Monday, November 26
Dolphins (0-10) @ Steelers (7-3)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Steelers by 16
Fast Fact Dolphins LB Joey Porter is 4th on the Steelers all-time sack list with 60, but only has 1½ sacks in Miami
Speaking of Porter, do you think he wishes he was still in the Steel City. The Dolphins are an absolute mess, offensively boring and defensively putrid. Bad news having to face a stunned and angry Steelers squad coming off a humiliating loss to the sorry Jets. Roger Goddell may be on standby to act like a ref covering up the battered Fins early in the fight after the beating they’re gonna get.
Pick-Pittsburgh
Thursday: 3-0
Last Week: 11-5 (Lock & Upset incorrect)
Overall: (Thursday games not included) 98-62 (9-2 Locks, 3-8 Upsets)
I'm not going anywhere a mall today, I'm just gonna veg out on the couch and watch the football. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A cornucopia of football for Thanksgiving
I think I irked some folks with my divisional split of the Big Ten (Great Midwest) I did it the way I did for geographic proximity and to keep rivals (at least most of them) together. Like I’ve said, if you have a better split or a better addition than Notre Dame (No I won’t put Cincinnati in the mix) I’d like to hear it.
The Pro game Previews are first up, many people complain that the Lions no matter how bad are always on Thanksgiving. The last time the Lions did not play on Thanksgiving was 1940, the last time the Cowboys didn’t play on Thanksgiving was 1977. The NFL added a third game last year to get more teams involved in the Thanksgiving game. Here are your Thanksgiving picks with the rest of the week 12 picks to be posted on Friday.
NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 12
Thursday November 22
Packers (9-1) @ Lions (6-4)
Ford Field, Detroit 12:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 3½
Fast Fact The Packers sport their best record after ten games since 1962, they came into that game unbeaten and lost to the Lions on Thanksgiving 26-14 for their only loss that year
The Pack are flying high, while the Lions are cooling off fast. This has all the makings if a classic trap game for the Pack. The Lions supposedly play great on Thanksgiving, but that is more myth than reality, they have lost 5 of their last 6 on Turkey day including the last 3 in blowout fashion. It won’t be a blowout, but the Lions won’t win.
Pick-Green Bay
NY Jets (2-8 ) @ Cowboys (9-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving TX 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Cowboys by 14
Fast Fact This is the Jets first Thanksgiving appearance since 1985 when they lost 31-20 in Detroit
The Jets stunned the Steelers in OT, but all they did was raise the Pokes’ radar. Romo and Owens went ballistic on the decent Redskins secondary one may be frightened to see what they might do to the Jets porous defense.
Pick-Dallas
Colts (8-2) @ Falcons (3-7)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Colts by 11½
Fast Fact This is the Falcons first Thanksgiving Day appearance
The Colts are reeling, as they try to limp to another AFC South title. The Falcons scare no one but themselves and Joey Harrington will get the start for the Falcons. This game will be the perfect excuse to let the tryptophan take hold and nap. The Colts are indeed hurting but they have enough to beat the woeful Falcons
Pick- Indianapolis
Like the Thanksgiving spread you’re sure to overindulge on I now present a cornucopia of college games for you to feast on
#11 Southern Cal (8-2) vs. #6 Arizona State (9-1)
Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ 8:00 Thursday ESPN
Fast Fact If the Sun Devils win out they will go to their first Rose Bowl since 1997Why You Should Watch: While not an all or nothing Pac-10 championship, this game may be a better alternative than the snoozer of a pro game on NFLN. Or if you’re like me, the only football game on since NFL Network isn’t on my cable system. SC needs some help to get back to Rose Bowl while Arizona State is in full control of its destiny. USC’s Chauncey Washington ran for 220 yards against Cal, but J.D. Booty needs to have a solid game against a decent Sun Devil Defense
Arkansas (7-4) at #1 LSU (10-1)
Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA 2:30 Friday CBS
Fast Fact LSU Has won the past four meetings in the “Battle for the Boot”
Why You Should Watch If you can stomach all the speculation about Les Miles going to Michigan, this is a good chance to see a fly by the seat of their pants Tiger squad. This is a team that leaves opponents in game way too long and Darren McFadden is the type of ball control sledgehammer back that could make things rough for the Bayou Bengals.
#19 Boise State (10-1) at #15 Hawai’i (10-0)
Aloha Stadium , Honolulu, HI 9:00 Friday ESPN
Fast Fact This is the highest that two WAC teams have been coming into a matchup since Colorado State faced Utah in 1994.
Why You Should Watch This game is for the WAC title and if the Rainbow Warriors win, can continue to make a case for gaining a coveted BCS slot. Boise State’s chances of getting a BCS slot are slim, but this game will be an entertaining shootout. Colt Brennan is more likely to start this critical game, but has never beaten the Broncos in 3 starts. Taylor Tharp and Ian Johnson are the offensive keys for Boise State and as they go so will the Broncos.
#8 Virginia Tech (9-2) at #16 Virginia (9-2)
Scott Stadium; Charlottesville, VA 12:00 Saturday ESPN2
Fast Fact The Hokies have won the Commonwealth Cup each of the last three years
Why You Should Watch The stakes are high in the game as the winner goes to Jacksonville to face Boston College in the ACC title game. The Cavs have won an NCAA record five games by two or fewer points and have yet to lose in Charlottesville. Led by Chris Long, son of NFL great Howie the Cavs have a stout defense and have allowed only 17.5 ppg. The Hokies aren’t the most offensively efficient team, but are their usual robust defensively. This will be the game for the defensive minded.
#18 Tennessee (8-3) at Kentucky (7-4)
Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, KY 1:30 CBS
Fast Fact The Vols have won 12 straight games in Lexington and 22 straight over the Wildcats
Why You Should Watch The Vols have a shot at the SEC title game if they can beat the maddeningly inconsistent Wildcats. Andre Woodson’s Heisman hopes evaporated a while ago but he’s still very capable and the Wildcats would like nothing more than to break their lonnnng losing streak against the Vols.
#20 Connecticut (9-2) at #3 West Virginia (9-1)
Mountaineer Field; Morgantown, WV 3:30 ABC
Fast Fact West Virginia has the Big East’s best scoring offense (39.2) UConn has its best scoring defense (14.2)
Why You Should Watch The Big East title will be decided here as the Mountaineers are still eyeing a BCS title shot. UConn would love to complete a dream season with a BCS bid by winning. Steve Slaton and Pat White were the cogs in the Mountaineers critical win over Cincy last week and will be key factors here. If Tyler Lorenzen can keep the Huskies offense on the field for long stretches, which means the Mountaineers offense isn’t. They have a punchers chance.
Florida State (7-4) at #12 Florida (8-3)
Florida Field, Gainesville FL 5:00 CBS
Fast Fact: Since 1990, the team that has the rushing yardage edge is 16-2-1
Why You Should Watch If only just to catch the dynamic and exciting Tim Tebow who has 26 passing TD’s and 20 rushing TD’s and must be accounted for on every play. Florida State LB Geno Hayes boldly predicted that Tebow is “Goin’ Down”. The Noles defense only gives up a shade under 100 yards rushing a game (99.5) and that in itself will present a heady challenge to Tebow who will have team leading wide out Percy Harvin who missed the past two games with a sinus infection.
#2 Kansas (11-0) vs. #4 Missouri (10-1) Bandits 5 Star Matchup
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO 8:00 ABC
Fast Fact Both teams are gunning for their first conference title in almost 40 years (Kansas 1968, Mizzou 1969)
Why You Should Watch The oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi has two teams that are the nation’s biggest surprises. For the first time in their 116 meetings both have over ten wins and the winner goes to San Antonio to face Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. The winner also keeps their BCS title game hopes alive. Mizzou QB Chase Daniel is the Heisman contender that may be short on height but is a dynamic leader of the Tigers and has the impressive numbers to boot Daniel’s 3590 passing yards and 30 touchdowns pace the sixth ranked Tiger offense. Meanwhile redoubtable Jayhawk soph Todd Reesing has tossed a school record 30 tds himself. This game will be the antithesis of the aforementioned Virginia-Virginia Tech game; The Jayhawks average a remarkable 45.8 points a game; The Tigers an impressive 42.5 Blink and you might miss a score.
And you thought with all the football going on, I'd miss the chance to give Daps and Slaps??? You should know betta!
Phat Dap
This weeks dap goes to Chester Taylor, who is becoming the forgotten man in the Vikings running game. He quietly stepped into the void left by the injury to dynamic rookie and rushed for 146 yards and 2 TD’s to help the Vikes bounce back to down the Raiders. Taylor is making sure that the Vikes weak offense isn’t totally anemic. Also I have to give one to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, both known for their occasional malcontent statues, they have stepped up their games and both caught 4 touchdown passes each in leading the Pokes and Pats to the best records in the NFL Though I do it grudgingly I have to give one to Brett Favre who is making the haters that said he should retire look foolish. He seems to be taking to the grizzled vet leading the kids role pretty nicely. That matchup between the Pack and Pokes a week after Thanksgiving will be the biggest game to ever be shown on NFL Network.
Head Slap
With apologies to my peeps that are devoted Bama fans. I have to give a resounding head slap to Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. His comments comparing Alabama’s loss to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were ill-timed and just plain bad. I can understand that you would want to rally your team after a devastating loss to a supposed weaker school like Louisiana-Monroe, but keep in mind that while football maybe life for some, its never life or death. Saying your team needed to rally it spirit and be more unified is fine, but there should be better ways to compare that a national tragedy.
I’m going to start work on the Bandit’s soon to be world famous Chocolate Graham Cracker Cherry Cheese Pie. If you want the recipe, drop me a line. From my side of the computer to yours, I wish you and your fellow sports fans a sumptuous and festive Thanksgiving!!!
The Pro game Previews are first up, many people complain that the Lions no matter how bad are always on Thanksgiving. The last time the Lions did not play on Thanksgiving was 1940, the last time the Cowboys didn’t play on Thanksgiving was 1977. The NFL added a third game last year to get more teams involved in the Thanksgiving game. Here are your Thanksgiving picks with the rest of the week 12 picks to be posted on Friday.
NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 12
Thursday November 22
Packers (9-1) @ Lions (6-4)
Ford Field, Detroit 12:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 3½
Fast Fact The Packers sport their best record after ten games since 1962, they came into that game unbeaten and lost to the Lions on Thanksgiving 26-14 for their only loss that year
The Pack are flying high, while the Lions are cooling off fast. This has all the makings if a classic trap game for the Pack. The Lions supposedly play great on Thanksgiving, but that is more myth than reality, they have lost 5 of their last 6 on Turkey day including the last 3 in blowout fashion. It won’t be a blowout, but the Lions won’t win.
Pick-Green Bay
NY Jets (2-8 ) @ Cowboys (9-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving TX 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Cowboys by 14
Fast Fact This is the Jets first Thanksgiving appearance since 1985 when they lost 31-20 in Detroit
The Jets stunned the Steelers in OT, but all they did was raise the Pokes’ radar. Romo and Owens went ballistic on the decent Redskins secondary one may be frightened to see what they might do to the Jets porous defense.
Pick-Dallas
Colts (8-2) @ Falcons (3-7)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Colts by 11½
Fast Fact This is the Falcons first Thanksgiving Day appearance
The Colts are reeling, as they try to limp to another AFC South title. The Falcons scare no one but themselves and Joey Harrington will get the start for the Falcons. This game will be the perfect excuse to let the tryptophan take hold and nap. The Colts are indeed hurting but they have enough to beat the woeful Falcons
Pick- Indianapolis
Like the Thanksgiving spread you’re sure to overindulge on I now present a cornucopia of college games for you to feast on
#11 Southern Cal (8-2) vs. #6 Arizona State (9-1)
Sun Devil Stadium Tempe, AZ 8:00 Thursday ESPN
Fast Fact If the Sun Devils win out they will go to their first Rose Bowl since 1997Why You Should Watch: While not an all or nothing Pac-10 championship, this game may be a better alternative than the snoozer of a pro game on NFLN. Or if you’re like me, the only football game on since NFL Network isn’t on my cable system. SC needs some help to get back to Rose Bowl while Arizona State is in full control of its destiny. USC’s Chauncey Washington ran for 220 yards against Cal, but J.D. Booty needs to have a solid game against a decent Sun Devil Defense
Arkansas (7-4) at #1 LSU (10-1)
Tiger Stadium; Baton Rouge, LA 2:30 Friday CBS
Fast Fact LSU Has won the past four meetings in the “Battle for the Boot”
Why You Should Watch If you can stomach all the speculation about Les Miles going to Michigan, this is a good chance to see a fly by the seat of their pants Tiger squad. This is a team that leaves opponents in game way too long and Darren McFadden is the type of ball control sledgehammer back that could make things rough for the Bayou Bengals.
#19 Boise State (10-1) at #15 Hawai’i (10-0)
Aloha Stadium , Honolulu, HI 9:00 Friday ESPN
Fast Fact This is the highest that two WAC teams have been coming into a matchup since Colorado State faced Utah in 1994.
Why You Should Watch This game is for the WAC title and if the Rainbow Warriors win, can continue to make a case for gaining a coveted BCS slot. Boise State’s chances of getting a BCS slot are slim, but this game will be an entertaining shootout. Colt Brennan is more likely to start this critical game, but has never beaten the Broncos in 3 starts. Taylor Tharp and Ian Johnson are the offensive keys for Boise State and as they go so will the Broncos.
#8 Virginia Tech (9-2) at #16 Virginia (9-2)
Scott Stadium; Charlottesville, VA 12:00 Saturday ESPN2
Fast Fact The Hokies have won the Commonwealth Cup each of the last three years
Why You Should Watch The stakes are high in the game as the winner goes to Jacksonville to face Boston College in the ACC title game. The Cavs have won an NCAA record five games by two or fewer points and have yet to lose in Charlottesville. Led by Chris Long, son of NFL great Howie the Cavs have a stout defense and have allowed only 17.5 ppg. The Hokies aren’t the most offensively efficient team, but are their usual robust defensively. This will be the game for the defensive minded.
#18 Tennessee (8-3) at Kentucky (7-4)
Commonwealth Stadium; Lexington, KY 1:30 CBS
Fast Fact The Vols have won 12 straight games in Lexington and 22 straight over the Wildcats
Why You Should Watch The Vols have a shot at the SEC title game if they can beat the maddeningly inconsistent Wildcats. Andre Woodson’s Heisman hopes evaporated a while ago but he’s still very capable and the Wildcats would like nothing more than to break their lonnnng losing streak against the Vols.
#20 Connecticut (9-2) at #3 West Virginia (9-1)
Mountaineer Field; Morgantown, WV 3:30 ABC
Fast Fact West Virginia has the Big East’s best scoring offense (39.2) UConn has its best scoring defense (14.2)
Why You Should Watch The Big East title will be decided here as the Mountaineers are still eyeing a BCS title shot. UConn would love to complete a dream season with a BCS bid by winning. Steve Slaton and Pat White were the cogs in the Mountaineers critical win over Cincy last week and will be key factors here. If Tyler Lorenzen can keep the Huskies offense on the field for long stretches, which means the Mountaineers offense isn’t. They have a punchers chance.
Florida State (7-4) at #12 Florida (8-3)
Florida Field, Gainesville FL 5:00 CBS
Fast Fact: Since 1990, the team that has the rushing yardage edge is 16-2-1
Why You Should Watch If only just to catch the dynamic and exciting Tim Tebow who has 26 passing TD’s and 20 rushing TD’s and must be accounted for on every play. Florida State LB Geno Hayes boldly predicted that Tebow is “Goin’ Down”. The Noles defense only gives up a shade under 100 yards rushing a game (99.5) and that in itself will present a heady challenge to Tebow who will have team leading wide out Percy Harvin who missed the past two games with a sinus infection.
#2 Kansas (11-0) vs. #4 Missouri (10-1) Bandits 5 Star Matchup
Arrowhead Stadium; Kansas City, MO 8:00 ABC
Fast Fact Both teams are gunning for their first conference title in almost 40 years (Kansas 1968, Mizzou 1969)
Why You Should Watch The oldest rivalry west of the Mississippi has two teams that are the nation’s biggest surprises. For the first time in their 116 meetings both have over ten wins and the winner goes to San Antonio to face Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship. The winner also keeps their BCS title game hopes alive. Mizzou QB Chase Daniel is the Heisman contender that may be short on height but is a dynamic leader of the Tigers and has the impressive numbers to boot Daniel’s 3590 passing yards and 30 touchdowns pace the sixth ranked Tiger offense. Meanwhile redoubtable Jayhawk soph Todd Reesing has tossed a school record 30 tds himself. This game will be the antithesis of the aforementioned Virginia-Virginia Tech game; The Jayhawks average a remarkable 45.8 points a game; The Tigers an impressive 42.5 Blink and you might miss a score.
And you thought with all the football going on, I'd miss the chance to give Daps and Slaps??? You should know betta!
Phat Dap
This weeks dap goes to Chester Taylor, who is becoming the forgotten man in the Vikings running game. He quietly stepped into the void left by the injury to dynamic rookie and rushed for 146 yards and 2 TD’s to help the Vikes bounce back to down the Raiders. Taylor is making sure that the Vikes weak offense isn’t totally anemic. Also I have to give one to Terrell Owens and Randy Moss, both known for their occasional malcontent statues, they have stepped up their games and both caught 4 touchdown passes each in leading the Pokes and Pats to the best records in the NFL Though I do it grudgingly I have to give one to Brett Favre who is making the haters that said he should retire look foolish. He seems to be taking to the grizzled vet leading the kids role pretty nicely. That matchup between the Pack and Pokes a week after Thanksgiving will be the biggest game to ever be shown on NFL Network.
Head Slap
With apologies to my peeps that are devoted Bama fans. I have to give a resounding head slap to Crimson Tide football coach Nick Saban. His comments comparing Alabama’s loss to 9/11 and Pearl Harbor were ill-timed and just plain bad. I can understand that you would want to rally your team after a devastating loss to a supposed weaker school like Louisiana-Monroe, but keep in mind that while football maybe life for some, its never life or death. Saying your team needed to rally it spirit and be more unified is fine, but there should be better ways to compare that a national tragedy.
I’m going to start work on the Bandit’s soon to be world famous Chocolate Graham Cracker Cherry Cheese Pie. If you want the recipe, drop me a line. From my side of the computer to yours, I wish you and your fellow sports fans a sumptuous and festive Thanksgiving!!!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Introducing the Great Midwest Football Conference
If you thought I forgot about my plans about the Big Ten, I didn't I was still trying to get info and opinions about it. Anyhoo, this is my plan to radically reshape the Big Ten. I know it wouldn't happen and there is too much politics involved but it would fit into my playoff dream plan. Bear with me as I play the role of college supadude. What I say happens
My first role is to tell Notre Dame that they will join the Big Ten and the name of the conference will become the Great Midwest Conference (I'm borrowing liberally from the old basketball conference that my alma mater UC used to dominate in the mid 90's but I detest misnomered teams and conferences (How many teams are in the Atlantic 10 Why are the teams in Conference USA mainly southern and Gulf Coast states?) Anyway with the GMC now with 12 teams we will split the conference into two 6-team divisions. These divisions will be named Midwest and Heartland conferences (If you have better names, I'm all ears) the divisions will be as follows
Midwest
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Heartland
Illinois
Iowa
Notre Dame
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wisconsin
You have 5 games in your division and you play 3 of the 6 in your other division on a rotating basis, so that every team plays the other at least twice in a four year cycle. Or use the SEC model with a 5-2-1 or 5-1-2 format (5 in your division every year, one/two permanent non-division every year and two/one rotating non-division foes) The winners of their respective division play each other in the GMC championship held at rotating sites. Some of these sites include:
Ford Field, Detroit
Metrodome, Minneapolis
Soldier Field, Chicago (And conference championships have too been played outdoors in cold weather)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis (The Colts new facility that will open in 2009)
Winner gets a BCS berth or a berth in my playoffs system, the loser may still gain entry in the playoffs as a selected wild card. Now if I could find 2 teams to put in the Pac-10 to get them to split into divisions…What a nice dream.
You ask what does Notre Dame benefit from all of this, they can still schedule USC, Navy and Air Force, but they'll have to really earn their chops and the Other 11 teams can sell playing against (and more likely beating) the Irish. The TV networks can fight over broadcasting the teams and the fledgling Big Ten Network has another feather in its cap. Trust and believe NBC would love to get out from under its contract with Notre Dame since they have slid so far so fast.
Speaking of College Football
Oh the BCS gets messier and messier. The disaster scenario looks like it could very well play itself out. Kansas and Mizzou play Saturday Night in the Big 12 North Division championship the winner goes to the Alamodome to face Oklahoma. There is a real possiblilty that the winner of this game could fall to the Sooners who would likely go to the Orange Bowl. West Virginia is still walking a tightrope having to still host a dangerous UConn squad and archrival Pitt. If they lose either of those games, they would still go to a BCS bowl possibly to the Orange Bowl as well to face the aforementioned Sooners.
LSU is far from out of the woods themselves. The traditional Day after Thanksgiving meeting with a very dangerous Arkansas team, then comes the SEC Championship where you can bet the Tigers would rather face Tennessee than Georgia. If Tennessee beat Kentucky they go to the SEC championship since they finish tied in the SEC but beat the Bulldogs head to head (35-14 on 10/6) Should LSU lose either of these two games they would go into the morass of one and two loss teams screaming that they should be in the BCS title game. One of which is Ohio State winners of the Big 10 (Great Midwest?) and possessor of a BCS invite, right now to the Rose Bowl, but that could very well change. The BCS sits back smug saying the chaos and disorder is great for the pub, but its gonna be a nightmare if they have a multitude of teams carping for a title shot. I for one hope it happens so the powers that be have to forumulate a playoff scenario, cause someones gonna get left out in the cold and they will make a whole lot of noise about it.
Stop Hating on the Pats
Since we're on the subject of making noise, lets kill all this whining and whatnot about the Pats wholesale destruction of teams and their supposed "running up the score." I got a tall flash for those teams that whine about it "Stop 'em!" On the for real, for real. I think that kicking field goals is more humiliating, the Pats are trying to keep the clock moving and gee the opposing offense isn't doing jack on their side and the Pats 2nd team scored the last offensive touchdown after a 10 play 75 yard 6 minute possession, you want the Pats to burn clock, they did it but you've got to move the ball to keep possession. The Pats had drives of 10,12,12 and 10 plays and this was after they went up 21-7. What do you want the Pats to do kneel down after going up 21 points? Puh-leese. Stop the opposing offense, score points of your own and quit your bellyachin'!
Tomorrow, I'll do my hot college game list, preview the Thanksgiving day NFL games and have the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. The rest of the NFL games will be previewed on Friday as usual. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
My first role is to tell Notre Dame that they will join the Big Ten and the name of the conference will become the Great Midwest Conference (I'm borrowing liberally from the old basketball conference that my alma mater UC used to dominate in the mid 90's but I detest misnomered teams and conferences (How many teams are in the Atlantic 10 Why are the teams in Conference USA mainly southern and Gulf Coast states?) Anyway with the GMC now with 12 teams we will split the conference into two 6-team divisions. These divisions will be named Midwest and Heartland conferences (If you have better names, I'm all ears) the divisions will be as follows
Midwest
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Heartland
Illinois
Iowa
Notre Dame
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wisconsin
You have 5 games in your division and you play 3 of the 6 in your other division on a rotating basis, so that every team plays the other at least twice in a four year cycle. Or use the SEC model with a 5-2-1 or 5-1-2 format (5 in your division every year, one/two permanent non-division every year and two/one rotating non-division foes) The winners of their respective division play each other in the GMC championship held at rotating sites. Some of these sites include:
Ford Field, Detroit
Metrodome, Minneapolis
Soldier Field, Chicago (And conference championships have too been played outdoors in cold weather)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis (The Colts new facility that will open in 2009)
Winner gets a BCS berth or a berth in my playoffs system, the loser may still gain entry in the playoffs as a selected wild card. Now if I could find 2 teams to put in the Pac-10 to get them to split into divisions…What a nice dream.
You ask what does Notre Dame benefit from all of this, they can still schedule USC, Navy and Air Force, but they'll have to really earn their chops and the Other 11 teams can sell playing against (and more likely beating) the Irish. The TV networks can fight over broadcasting the teams and the fledgling Big Ten Network has another feather in its cap. Trust and believe NBC would love to get out from under its contract with Notre Dame since they have slid so far so fast.
Speaking of College Football
Oh the BCS gets messier and messier. The disaster scenario looks like it could very well play itself out. Kansas and Mizzou play Saturday Night in the Big 12 North Division championship the winner goes to the Alamodome to face Oklahoma. There is a real possiblilty that the winner of this game could fall to the Sooners who would likely go to the Orange Bowl. West Virginia is still walking a tightrope having to still host a dangerous UConn squad and archrival Pitt. If they lose either of those games, they would still go to a BCS bowl possibly to the Orange Bowl as well to face the aforementioned Sooners.
LSU is far from out of the woods themselves. The traditional Day after Thanksgiving meeting with a very dangerous Arkansas team, then comes the SEC Championship where you can bet the Tigers would rather face Tennessee than Georgia. If Tennessee beat Kentucky they go to the SEC championship since they finish tied in the SEC but beat the Bulldogs head to head (35-14 on 10/6) Should LSU lose either of these two games they would go into the morass of one and two loss teams screaming that they should be in the BCS title game. One of which is Ohio State winners of the Big 10 (Great Midwest?) and possessor of a BCS invite, right now to the Rose Bowl, but that could very well change. The BCS sits back smug saying the chaos and disorder is great for the pub, but its gonna be a nightmare if they have a multitude of teams carping for a title shot. I for one hope it happens so the powers that be have to forumulate a playoff scenario, cause someones gonna get left out in the cold and they will make a whole lot of noise about it.
Stop Hating on the Pats
Since we're on the subject of making noise, lets kill all this whining and whatnot about the Pats wholesale destruction of teams and their supposed "running up the score." I got a tall flash for those teams that whine about it "Stop 'em!" On the for real, for real. I think that kicking field goals is more humiliating, the Pats are trying to keep the clock moving and gee the opposing offense isn't doing jack on their side and the Pats 2nd team scored the last offensive touchdown after a 10 play 75 yard 6 minute possession, you want the Pats to burn clock, they did it but you've got to move the ball to keep possession. The Pats had drives of 10,12,12 and 10 plays and this was after they went up 21-7. What do you want the Pats to do kneel down after going up 21 points? Puh-leese. Stop the opposing offense, score points of your own and quit your bellyachin'!
Tomorrow, I'll do my hot college game list, preview the Thanksgiving day NFL games and have the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. The rest of the NFL games will be previewed on Friday as usual. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Carr leaves, A-Rod is MVP and the Pats are unreal
Carr is out at Michigan, no big surprise here
Lloyd Carr took the heat and the withering criticism of his team and his program (Including some from me, but I admit that I was harsh) and remained stony and impassive throughout. Now Carr did what many believe had been building up behind the scenes for a bit. Carr went 121-40 as the Michigan head coach over the past 13 seasons. I can understand now where OSU fan is coming from after running John Cooper out in Columbus. The situation was much in the same, the established coach couldn't beat his rivals new coach. Carr's squad won but once against their hated rivals since the hiring of Jim Tressel in 2001 and like Cooper in Columbus, got ran out of Ann Arbor (or at least the Head Coaches office) for not beating the Buckeyes enough.
So who's gonna fill that seat? Rumor has it that Les Miles is the candidate that UM insiders covet. Miles played for legendary UM coach Bo Schembechler in the 70's and was an assistant coach in Michigan. Miles though is still under contract at LSU with a pricey termination clause that was specifically targeted to keep Miles from jumping to Michigan. This soap opera is just beginning and I think its gonna get messy.
A-Rod won his third AL MVP winning in a landslide over Magglio Ordonez. Im far from someone who can call out bias, but the two first place votes that A-Rod didnt get were from writers in the Detroit area. Thats a bit myopic and short sighted. Not to take a thing away from the very talented Ordonez, but A-Rod was the engine that made the Yanks go and he was the reason why they got that Wild Card. Detractors will point to his usual playoff failing but I say like those that lamented C.C. Sabathia winning the Cy Young, the award is a regular season crown and I doubt that a player is going to hit 54 homers to lead the majors and not win the MVP. Kudos to A-Rod he deserves the award.
Finally, I watched a horror movie last night. Wait...I'm the squeamish type. I'm not fond of blood and gore. But there was something about that Pats-Bills game that reminded me of a horror flick. You knew that it was coming and you were shouting at the screen. Its right there! Its gonna git (sic) yoooou! But the poor sap walks into it and gets dismembered, bludgeoned or otherwise messed up. You know its gonna happen but you watch anyway with some sort of sick glee. Thats the way I felt for the Bills last night, you knew that they were gonna get taken apart systematically and in a way you think that the Bills and their fans knew it too. Still you watched Tom Brady take the Bills apart, you watch Randy Moss shine in primetime as he has his entire career, the Pats are looking nothing short of scary and you might as well get used to seeing them on primetime. They play the Sunday night game next week and wont be flexed out of that one, they play on the following Monday in week 13. Why do I have the feeling that the Pats will be on Sunday night for the rest of the season unless they lose. That week 14 game in which they host the Steelers got protected by CBS in a hurry and moved to 4:15, but look for NBC to whine that they want to show off the league's best and biggest story to try to get the game.
It was delayed a couple days but I will unveil my radical redesign of the Big Ten and how it would fit into a playoff system. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Lloyd Carr took the heat and the withering criticism of his team and his program (Including some from me, but I admit that I was harsh) and remained stony and impassive throughout. Now Carr did what many believe had been building up behind the scenes for a bit. Carr went 121-40 as the Michigan head coach over the past 13 seasons. I can understand now where OSU fan is coming from after running John Cooper out in Columbus. The situation was much in the same, the established coach couldn't beat his rivals new coach. Carr's squad won but once against their hated rivals since the hiring of Jim Tressel in 2001 and like Cooper in Columbus, got ran out of Ann Arbor (or at least the Head Coaches office) for not beating the Buckeyes enough.
So who's gonna fill that seat? Rumor has it that Les Miles is the candidate that UM insiders covet. Miles played for legendary UM coach Bo Schembechler in the 70's and was an assistant coach in Michigan. Miles though is still under contract at LSU with a pricey termination clause that was specifically targeted to keep Miles from jumping to Michigan. This soap opera is just beginning and I think its gonna get messy.
A-Rod won his third AL MVP winning in a landslide over Magglio Ordonez. Im far from someone who can call out bias, but the two first place votes that A-Rod didnt get were from writers in the Detroit area. Thats a bit myopic and short sighted. Not to take a thing away from the very talented Ordonez, but A-Rod was the engine that made the Yanks go and he was the reason why they got that Wild Card. Detractors will point to his usual playoff failing but I say like those that lamented C.C. Sabathia winning the Cy Young, the award is a regular season crown and I doubt that a player is going to hit 54 homers to lead the majors and not win the MVP. Kudos to A-Rod he deserves the award.
Finally, I watched a horror movie last night. Wait...I'm the squeamish type. I'm not fond of blood and gore. But there was something about that Pats-Bills game that reminded me of a horror flick. You knew that it was coming and you were shouting at the screen. Its right there! Its gonna git (sic) yoooou! But the poor sap walks into it and gets dismembered, bludgeoned or otherwise messed up. You know its gonna happen but you watch anyway with some sort of sick glee. Thats the way I felt for the Bills last night, you knew that they were gonna get taken apart systematically and in a way you think that the Bills and their fans knew it too. Still you watched Tom Brady take the Bills apart, you watch Randy Moss shine in primetime as he has his entire career, the Pats are looking nothing short of scary and you might as well get used to seeing them on primetime. They play the Sunday night game next week and wont be flexed out of that one, they play on the following Monday in week 13. Why do I have the feeling that the Pats will be on Sunday night for the rest of the season unless they lose. That week 14 game in which they host the Steelers got protected by CBS in a hurry and moved to 4:15, but look for NBC to whine that they want to show off the league's best and biggest story to try to get the game.
It was delayed a couple days but I will unveil my radical redesign of the Big Ten and how it would fit into a playoff system. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
2 games, 2 States, 2 losses but mighty proud of the Cats
I decided to see them both. I drove to Ann Arbor, shortly after I made my last post and saw the Wolverines. In a cold, rainy and gloomy Michigan Stadium. I saw the Wolverines get dominated by Ohio State 14-3. I give credit where it was due. The Bucks defense totally dominated and shut down the Wolverines offense. Their on again off again offense was off all day. With 10 minutes to play in the fourth I broke my long standing tradition of staying till the end. I bid adieu to my buddy Curtis who lives up there and headed out. I beat the notoriously bad Ann Arbor traffic out and headed back to Cincinnati. I made the 250 mile in 4 hours and got to Nippert Stadium on the campus of UC at 7:05. Traffic was thick but I was able to get to my seat just in time to see the band charging down the steps onto the field. The atmosphere was electric and for the first time I saw offcial with loud tacky blazers at a UC. Representatives from the Fiesta and Orange Bowls were in attendance. To see the Cats! The crowd was loud and proud and for the first time I felt that Cincinnati had become a college football town.
The Mountaineers brought a small but vocal contigent but unlike the arrogant Louisville fans who openly deried UC as not worthy to be on the same field and their fans as mere trash. The Mountaineer fans were proud and vocal, but well aware that they would have a fight on their hands. I heard more than one WVA fan say, this is a great atmosphere, and that this could be a real rivalry. But all was said with respect, there was good natured trash talk, but it wasn't malicious and though the Mountaineers jumped out to a 28-10 lead their fans were not calling the Bearcats "same old sorry Bearcats." I had one fan tell me that this team is markedly different than the team that they had so easily defeated 42-24 and 38-0 the last two years. The Bearcats rallied and closed the score to 28-23, but were unable to recover an onside kick. WVA utilized its strong ground game and closed out the game. The Bearcat fans were disappointed but proud nonetheless. Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daughtery called it a start of a climb. The Cats may have been elimnated from gaining a berth to a BCS bowl, but still have a lot to proud of and there is still more to gain. If they can beat Syracuse and finish as high as second in the Big East they may be able to go the Gator Bowl, play on New Years Day and be able to win ten games for the first time since 1951. (They didn't go to a bowl that year) The Cats didn't take the crown this year, but they have set the foundation for years to come. Get used to seeing big college games in Cincinnati.
The Mountaineers brought a small but vocal contigent but unlike the arrogant Louisville fans who openly deried UC as not worthy to be on the same field and their fans as mere trash. The Mountaineer fans were proud and vocal, but well aware that they would have a fight on their hands. I heard more than one WVA fan say, this is a great atmosphere, and that this could be a real rivalry. But all was said with respect, there was good natured trash talk, but it wasn't malicious and though the Mountaineers jumped out to a 28-10 lead their fans were not calling the Bearcats "same old sorry Bearcats." I had one fan tell me that this team is markedly different than the team that they had so easily defeated 42-24 and 38-0 the last two years. The Bearcats rallied and closed the score to 28-23, but were unable to recover an onside kick. WVA utilized its strong ground game and closed out the game. The Bearcat fans were disappointed but proud nonetheless. Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Paul Daughtery called it a start of a climb. The Cats may have been elimnated from gaining a berth to a BCS bowl, but still have a lot to proud of and there is still more to gain. If they can beat Syracuse and finish as high as second in the Big East they may be able to go the Gator Bowl, play on New Years Day and be able to win ten games for the first time since 1951. (They didn't go to a bowl that year) The Cats didn't take the crown this year, but they have set the foundation for years to come. Get used to seeing big college games in Cincinnati.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Nuxhall, Bonds, ARod & NFL Week 11 Picks
Off the top, before we get into the sordid and greedy. I want to lead off with a bit of sad news. The Reds family and the Cincinnati area is mourning the passing of one of its legends. Joe Nuxhall who was the youngest player to ever play in a game at age 15 in 1944 and played or worked in some capacity for the Reds for 63 years died late yesterday after a short battle with pneumonia. He was 79. The old Lefthander as he was known in Cincy and the surrounding area was a local celebrity and was known for his folksy style and easygoing manner. He and broadcast partner Marty Brennaman called Reds games for over 30 years. The local airwaves have been filled with touching tributes and adages of this good man. He will be missed in the Reds community.
I have been a pretty stolid defender of Barry Bonds. I am the type that will not pronounce a person guilty on innuendo and rumor. That said the federal indictments that were handed down in regards to Bonds is pretty galling. The charges of perjury and obstruction of justice are pretty serious and you can bet will more than likely end Bonds' career. No team will want to have the pr nightmare of its star dealing with federal charges. Bonds had he admitted to taking the steroids would probably not have been exposed, but he lied and said that he didn't knowingly take steroids when it has been proven a number of times that not only did he take these performance enhancing drugs, but that he tested positive for the same, just saddens me. For all intents and purposes Bonds will be in the same class as Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire. Once great stars that have been shunned because of supposed taint of steroids. None of these players have even gotten close to the Hall of Fame, but the speculation will abound if Bonds will get in. The only problem I have is that you have all of these players that may have taken this stuff over the years and MLB knew itr and looked the other way. MLB will ostracize Bonds despite what he has done for the game. Whether you liked Bonds or detested him, you had to respect his game. Bonds will continue to be a lightning rod in this sport for years to come.
ARod is staying in the Bronx and will get about $275 million from the Yanks. ARod cut the despised uber agent Scott Boras out of the negoatiation and made the deal. The problem is that ARod made himself out to be such the victim of the New York press and fans that he made it seem that he could never please. But now that he is going back, he makes it seem that it was just about the money. Whatever abuse he takes in NYC, he needs to not whine about it and just play.
Turning to the NFL Picks I guess I'm in a rut. I can shake this .500 trend I’ve been in. I don’t know if its dumb picks or upset or those damn Lions finally acting normal and screwing me up when I was beginning to show some faith in them. Oh well, I’ll eat my string cheese with my whine and try to break off a run of good picks. No more byes from here on out, so there a full slate of 16 games to pick. NBC deciding that a Wreck led Bears facing a Alexander-less Seahawks was not what they liked. So they swooped in and stole the Pats-Bills game and that is your Sunday primetime matchup. As usual the odds are provided for comparison and entertainment purposes only. If you blow next month’s rent on the line that doesn’t come up, that’s your fault.
NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 11
Sunday, November 18
Cardinals (4-5) @ Bengals (3-6)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Cardinals have never won in Cincinnati (0-5)
The Cards are one of the more puzzling teams in the NFL having had beaten the Lions, Seahawks and Steelers but have lost to the Panthers and Ravens. The Bengals are feeling the heat even after winning in Baltimore. The Cards are horrid on the road and I really cant see them coming 2100 miles east and winning. This pick isn’t so much confidence in the Bengals but lack of confidence in the Cards.
Pick-Cincinnati
Panthers (4-5) @ Packers (8-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 9½
Fast Fact The Pack will play the next two weeks on Thursday
Brett Favre is playing like its 1997, not 2007 and the Pack have been soaring because of it. Ryan Grant’s breakout game against the Vikings may have earned him the job at RB, but the Packers will ride Favre (as usual) as far as they can. The Panthers could only wish for that kind of reliability at QB as ageless Vinny Testaverde tries to keep the Panthers relevant in the NFC South race. Though the Panthers are a surprising 4-1 on the road, I’m not stupid enough to bet against a hot Favre and the Pack on the Frozen Tundra
Pick-Green Bay
Browns (5-4) @ Ravens (4-5)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Ravens have won four straight at home vs. the Browns
The QB carousel is spinning yet again in Baltimore where Kyle Boller will get the starting nod over an injured and ineffective Steve McNair. The Ravens were their own worst enemy against the Bengals turning the ball over six times. The Browns look to rebound after blowing a 21-9 halftime lead in Pittsburgh. The Browns proved that they aren’t afraid of the Ravens anymore by smashing them in Cleveland earlier this year. Look for Jamal Lewis to continue to exact revenge on the team he feels gave up on him too soon.
Pick-Cleveland
Chiefs (4-5) @ Colts (7-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 14½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have never won in Indianapolis (0-3)
The Chiefs are struggling offensively with Larry Johnson continuing to be laid up with a bum ankle. Not a good time to pay a visit to an angry Colts team that got hammered by the Chargers but came a shocking chip shot miss by Adam Vinatieri away from stealing the game. You think that Peyton Manning is looking to take it out having thrown a mind boggling six interceptions on someone? Yup, I do too
Pick-Indianapolis
Dolphins (0-9) @ Eagles (4-5)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Eagles by 10
Fast Fact This is the Dolphins first visit to Lincoln Financial Field.
The Dolphins find ways to lose games, they hung with the Bills into the 4th quarter and nearly spring the upset. The Eagles may have saved their season with a stunning 4th quarter rally to beat the Redskins in DC and have figured out the Brian Westbrook is a pretty decent running back. Philly fan wants to see a blowout and will get on the Iggles early should they fail to put the Dolphins in the can early. Philly fan should breathe easy.
Pick-Philadelphia
Saints (4-5) @ Texans (4-5)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Texans by 1
Fast Fact This the Saints first trip to Houston since 1990, when they beat the then Houston Oilers.
The Saints got flat out embarrassed by the then winless Rams while the Texans are coming off a much needed bye. Both teams are strikingly similar in offensive style and Texan fan will get to see Reggie Bush for the first time and let their team know that they wish that they had him. In a matchup of teams that should be better than their record. The Saints are more ready to win a close, yet high scoring game.
Pick-New Orleans
NY Giants (6-3) @ Lions (6-3)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 3
Fast Fact Jon Kitna has been sacked more times (37) than any other QB this year
Both teams are coming of tough losses, but the G-Men’s loss to the Pokes wasn’t nearly as shocking as the Lions getting flat out decimated by the Cardinals. The Lions ground game were on milk cartons in Arizona and they got bombed by the Cards passing game. If the G-Men can get their solid pass rush in gear they can sack Jon Kitna into interceptions and fumbles. The G-Men just don’t play good in the second half of the season for some reason and the Lions are better than most people think. This smells of an upset though not as huge as one would think as the Lions are quite tough at home.
Pick-Detroit (Upset of the Week)
Raiders (2-7) @ Vikings (3-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Vikings by 5
Fast Fact The Raiders have won in their last two appearances in Minnesota
Daunte Culpepper returns to Minnesota to face the other team that traded him away, though the going may not be as easy as it was against Culpepper’s other former team the Dolphins whom the Raiders beat 35-7. With Adrian Peterson out with a hurt knee, Chester Taylor will get the bulk of the carries for the Vikes which isn’t a bad fallback. The Raiders offense is a joke against any team not named the Dolphins and while having a good run game the Raiders are going against a rather stout Vikings run defense. This is not a game even a diehard Vikings fans like myself would even watch, but I think the home team still takes a low scoring tight affair
Pick-Minnesota
Chargers (5-4) @ Jaguars (6-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 3
Fast Fact Last Week Jags RB Fred Taylor became the 21st player in NFL history to rush for over 10,000 yards.
The Chargers are still wondering how they shocked the Colts on Sunday Night, dodging one bullet after another and picking Peyton Manning off six times to win a game most said they wouldn’t get close in. Meanwhile the Jags are quietly rolling along and having had bounced back from a rout by the Saints to whip the Titans. This will be a slugfest with the much underrated Jags run defense trying to contain LaDainian Tomlinson. The Jags will get QB David Garrard back after having not had his services for the last three weeks. This is a game way too close to call. But the Chargers inconsistent play got them a win they didn’t deserve last week and that will come back on them big time.
Pick-Jacksonville
Buccaneers (5-4) @ Falcons (3-6)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Fact The Bucs surpassed their win total from last year with a win over Arizona two weeks ago.
The Bucs are the surprise leaders of the NFC south while the Falcons have won back to back game with a bend but don’t break defense and decent play by Joey Harrington. What are the chances of Harrington stringing together three straight games where he doesn’t flame spectacularly? I think the odds are pretty long on that, even at home. The Bucs while unspectacular defensively will pressure Harrington into the kind of dumb mistakes that we’re used to seeing.
Pick-Tampa Bay
Steelers (7-2) @ NY Jets (1-8 )
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 9½
Fast Fact-The Steelers lead the series 15-2 but both Jets wins came in New York
You think that the Steelers fresh off a tight win over the Browns and facing three very winnable games in a row before a showdown in New England will look past a sorry Jets squad? Neither do I.
Pick-Pittsburgh (Lock of the Week)
Bears (4-5) @ Seahawks (5-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 5½
Fast Fact This game was originally to be shown in primetime
The Seahawks won a most boring shutout of the Niners last Monday and even if Shawn Alexnader is a no go, have enough to keep the Bears at bay. Wreck Grossman returns and you know he’s gonna have a brain cramp sooner or later. Bombing the Raiders is one thing, the Seahawks defense is a whole lot better.
Pick-Seattle
Rams (1-8 ) @ 49ers (2-7)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 5½
Fast Fact Both teams have endured seven game losing streaks this season
Both these teams are bad, but the Rams have some hope with Steven Jackson looking better and better. The Niners are going through the motions and this won’t be a pretty game. Marc Bulger continues to get the Rams passing game back on track and the Niners are pretty easy picking to do so.
Pick-St. Louis
Redskins (5-4) @ Cowboys (8-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10½
Fast Fact This is the latest date in the season for the first season meeting of these two longtime rivals
Just when I was thinking of touting this game as a matchup of the NFL’s hottest young guns. Jason Campbell remembered who he was an played an atrocious second half against the Eagles. The Pokes have their swagger back and how. Tony Romo is making it look too easy and TO is looking like the ultimate team player. The Redskins had better hope that they can grind out points and possessions behind Clinton Portis or the Pokes will make the scoreboard go off like a pinball wizard’s high game. The Pokes are looking to solidlfy their stranglehold on the NFC East, and I cant see the Skins doing much to prevent it
Pick-Dallas
Patriots (9-0) @ Bills (5-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 16
Fast Fact This game was originally to be a 1:00 ET kickoff but was switched to the primetime slot.
The Patriots traveling offensive road show comes to upstate New York where the Bills are grinding out tough low scoring wins. Since getting hammered 38-7 in Foxboro on September 23rd the Bills are 5-1 But without MarShawn Lynch to help the Bills control the clock but they look to be just another victim to the fired up Pats who just find one perceived slight after another as another excuse to drill another hapless helpless opponent.
Pick-New England
Monday, November 19
Titans (6-3) @ Broncos (4-5)
Invesco Field @ Mile High Stadium, Denver 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Broncos by 3
Fast Fact This is the Titans first visit to Denver, the last time the franchise played in Denver they were the Houston Oilers.
The Broncos continue to play up and down but have found yet another RB stud in Selvin Young. The Titans played horrible against the Jags but get defensive beast Albert Haynesworth back. Look for the Titans to try to pound the ball at the Broncos highly suspect run defense. Don’t be fooled by the 67 rushing yards they gave up against the Chiefs, they did so without having to face Larry Johnson. The Titans have LenDale White and Chris Brown to utilize and theres some guy named Young that the Titans have that can move pretty well himself
Pick-Tennessee
Last Week:7-7(Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall:87-57(9-1 Locks, 3-7 Upsets)
I have been a pretty stolid defender of Barry Bonds. I am the type that will not pronounce a person guilty on innuendo and rumor. That said the federal indictments that were handed down in regards to Bonds is pretty galling. The charges of perjury and obstruction of justice are pretty serious and you can bet will more than likely end Bonds' career. No team will want to have the pr nightmare of its star dealing with federal charges. Bonds had he admitted to taking the steroids would probably not have been exposed, but he lied and said that he didn't knowingly take steroids when it has been proven a number of times that not only did he take these performance enhancing drugs, but that he tested positive for the same, just saddens me. For all intents and purposes Bonds will be in the same class as Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire. Once great stars that have been shunned because of supposed taint of steroids. None of these players have even gotten close to the Hall of Fame, but the speculation will abound if Bonds will get in. The only problem I have is that you have all of these players that may have taken this stuff over the years and MLB knew itr and looked the other way. MLB will ostracize Bonds despite what he has done for the game. Whether you liked Bonds or detested him, you had to respect his game. Bonds will continue to be a lightning rod in this sport for years to come.
ARod is staying in the Bronx and will get about $275 million from the Yanks. ARod cut the despised uber agent Scott Boras out of the negoatiation and made the deal. The problem is that ARod made himself out to be such the victim of the New York press and fans that he made it seem that he could never please. But now that he is going back, he makes it seem that it was just about the money. Whatever abuse he takes in NYC, he needs to not whine about it and just play.
Turning to the NFL Picks I guess I'm in a rut. I can shake this .500 trend I’ve been in. I don’t know if its dumb picks or upset or those damn Lions finally acting normal and screwing me up when I was beginning to show some faith in them. Oh well, I’ll eat my string cheese with my whine and try to break off a run of good picks. No more byes from here on out, so there a full slate of 16 games to pick. NBC deciding that a Wreck led Bears facing a Alexander-less Seahawks was not what they liked. So they swooped in and stole the Pats-Bills game and that is your Sunday primetime matchup. As usual the odds are provided for comparison and entertainment purposes only. If you blow next month’s rent on the line that doesn’t come up, that’s your fault.
NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 11
Sunday, November 18
Cardinals (4-5) @ Bengals (3-6)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Cardinals have never won in Cincinnati (0-5)
The Cards are one of the more puzzling teams in the NFL having had beaten the Lions, Seahawks and Steelers but have lost to the Panthers and Ravens. The Bengals are feeling the heat even after winning in Baltimore. The Cards are horrid on the road and I really cant see them coming 2100 miles east and winning. This pick isn’t so much confidence in the Bengals but lack of confidence in the Cards.
Pick-Cincinnati
Panthers (4-5) @ Packers (8-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 9½
Fast Fact The Pack will play the next two weeks on Thursday
Brett Favre is playing like its 1997, not 2007 and the Pack have been soaring because of it. Ryan Grant’s breakout game against the Vikings may have earned him the job at RB, but the Packers will ride Favre (as usual) as far as they can. The Panthers could only wish for that kind of reliability at QB as ageless Vinny Testaverde tries to keep the Panthers relevant in the NFC South race. Though the Panthers are a surprising 4-1 on the road, I’m not stupid enough to bet against a hot Favre and the Pack on the Frozen Tundra
Pick-Green Bay
Browns (5-4) @ Ravens (4-5)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Ravens have won four straight at home vs. the Browns
The QB carousel is spinning yet again in Baltimore where Kyle Boller will get the starting nod over an injured and ineffective Steve McNair. The Ravens were their own worst enemy against the Bengals turning the ball over six times. The Browns look to rebound after blowing a 21-9 halftime lead in Pittsburgh. The Browns proved that they aren’t afraid of the Ravens anymore by smashing them in Cleveland earlier this year. Look for Jamal Lewis to continue to exact revenge on the team he feels gave up on him too soon.
Pick-Cleveland
Chiefs (4-5) @ Colts (7-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 14½
Fast Fact The Chiefs have never won in Indianapolis (0-3)
The Chiefs are struggling offensively with Larry Johnson continuing to be laid up with a bum ankle. Not a good time to pay a visit to an angry Colts team that got hammered by the Chargers but came a shocking chip shot miss by Adam Vinatieri away from stealing the game. You think that Peyton Manning is looking to take it out having thrown a mind boggling six interceptions on someone? Yup, I do too
Pick-Indianapolis
Dolphins (0-9) @ Eagles (4-5)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Eagles by 10
Fast Fact This is the Dolphins first visit to Lincoln Financial Field.
The Dolphins find ways to lose games, they hung with the Bills into the 4th quarter and nearly spring the upset. The Eagles may have saved their season with a stunning 4th quarter rally to beat the Redskins in DC and have figured out the Brian Westbrook is a pretty decent running back. Philly fan wants to see a blowout and will get on the Iggles early should they fail to put the Dolphins in the can early. Philly fan should breathe easy.
Pick-Philadelphia
Saints (4-5) @ Texans (4-5)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Texans by 1
Fast Fact This the Saints first trip to Houston since 1990, when they beat the then Houston Oilers.
The Saints got flat out embarrassed by the then winless Rams while the Texans are coming off a much needed bye. Both teams are strikingly similar in offensive style and Texan fan will get to see Reggie Bush for the first time and let their team know that they wish that they had him. In a matchup of teams that should be better than their record. The Saints are more ready to win a close, yet high scoring game.
Pick-New Orleans
NY Giants (6-3) @ Lions (6-3)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 3
Fast Fact Jon Kitna has been sacked more times (37) than any other QB this year
Both teams are coming of tough losses, but the G-Men’s loss to the Pokes wasn’t nearly as shocking as the Lions getting flat out decimated by the Cardinals. The Lions ground game were on milk cartons in Arizona and they got bombed by the Cards passing game. If the G-Men can get their solid pass rush in gear they can sack Jon Kitna into interceptions and fumbles. The G-Men just don’t play good in the second half of the season for some reason and the Lions are better than most people think. This smells of an upset though not as huge as one would think as the Lions are quite tough at home.
Pick-Detroit (Upset of the Week)
Raiders (2-7) @ Vikings (3-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Vikings by 5
Fast Fact The Raiders have won in their last two appearances in Minnesota
Daunte Culpepper returns to Minnesota to face the other team that traded him away, though the going may not be as easy as it was against Culpepper’s other former team the Dolphins whom the Raiders beat 35-7. With Adrian Peterson out with a hurt knee, Chester Taylor will get the bulk of the carries for the Vikes which isn’t a bad fallback. The Raiders offense is a joke against any team not named the Dolphins and while having a good run game the Raiders are going against a rather stout Vikings run defense. This is not a game even a diehard Vikings fans like myself would even watch, but I think the home team still takes a low scoring tight affair
Pick-Minnesota
Chargers (5-4) @ Jaguars (6-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 3
Fast Fact Last Week Jags RB Fred Taylor became the 21st player in NFL history to rush for over 10,000 yards.
The Chargers are still wondering how they shocked the Colts on Sunday Night, dodging one bullet after another and picking Peyton Manning off six times to win a game most said they wouldn’t get close in. Meanwhile the Jags are quietly rolling along and having had bounced back from a rout by the Saints to whip the Titans. This will be a slugfest with the much underrated Jags run defense trying to contain LaDainian Tomlinson. The Jags will get QB David Garrard back after having not had his services for the last three weeks. This is a game way too close to call. But the Chargers inconsistent play got them a win they didn’t deserve last week and that will come back on them big time.
Pick-Jacksonville
Buccaneers (5-4) @ Falcons (3-6)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Fact The Bucs surpassed their win total from last year with a win over Arizona two weeks ago.
The Bucs are the surprise leaders of the NFC south while the Falcons have won back to back game with a bend but don’t break defense and decent play by Joey Harrington. What are the chances of Harrington stringing together three straight games where he doesn’t flame spectacularly? I think the odds are pretty long on that, even at home. The Bucs while unspectacular defensively will pressure Harrington into the kind of dumb mistakes that we’re used to seeing.
Pick-Tampa Bay
Steelers (7-2) @ NY Jets (1-8 )
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 9½
Fast Fact-The Steelers lead the series 15-2 but both Jets wins came in New York
You think that the Steelers fresh off a tight win over the Browns and facing three very winnable games in a row before a showdown in New England will look past a sorry Jets squad? Neither do I.
Pick-Pittsburgh (Lock of the Week)
Bears (4-5) @ Seahawks (5-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 5½
Fast Fact This game was originally to be shown in primetime
The Seahawks won a most boring shutout of the Niners last Monday and even if Shawn Alexnader is a no go, have enough to keep the Bears at bay. Wreck Grossman returns and you know he’s gonna have a brain cramp sooner or later. Bombing the Raiders is one thing, the Seahawks defense is a whole lot better.
Pick-Seattle
Rams (1-8 ) @ 49ers (2-7)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 5½
Fast Fact Both teams have endured seven game losing streaks this season
Both these teams are bad, but the Rams have some hope with Steven Jackson looking better and better. The Niners are going through the motions and this won’t be a pretty game. Marc Bulger continues to get the Rams passing game back on track and the Niners are pretty easy picking to do so.
Pick-St. Louis
Redskins (5-4) @ Cowboys (8-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10½
Fast Fact This is the latest date in the season for the first season meeting of these two longtime rivals
Just when I was thinking of touting this game as a matchup of the NFL’s hottest young guns. Jason Campbell remembered who he was an played an atrocious second half against the Eagles. The Pokes have their swagger back and how. Tony Romo is making it look too easy and TO is looking like the ultimate team player. The Redskins had better hope that they can grind out points and possessions behind Clinton Portis or the Pokes will make the scoreboard go off like a pinball wizard’s high game. The Pokes are looking to solidlfy their stranglehold on the NFC East, and I cant see the Skins doing much to prevent it
Pick-Dallas
Patriots (9-0) @ Bills (5-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 16
Fast Fact This game was originally to be a 1:00 ET kickoff but was switched to the primetime slot.
The Patriots traveling offensive road show comes to upstate New York where the Bills are grinding out tough low scoring wins. Since getting hammered 38-7 in Foxboro on September 23rd the Bills are 5-1 But without MarShawn Lynch to help the Bills control the clock but they look to be just another victim to the fired up Pats who just find one perceived slight after another as another excuse to drill another hapless helpless opponent.
Pick-New England
Monday, November 19
Titans (6-3) @ Broncos (4-5)
Invesco Field @ Mile High Stadium, Denver 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Broncos by 3
Fast Fact This is the Titans first visit to Denver, the last time the franchise played in Denver they were the Houston Oilers.
The Broncos continue to play up and down but have found yet another RB stud in Selvin Young. The Titans played horrible against the Jags but get defensive beast Albert Haynesworth back. Look for the Titans to try to pound the ball at the Broncos highly suspect run defense. Don’t be fooled by the 67 rushing yards they gave up against the Chiefs, they did so without having to face Larry Johnson. The Titans have LenDale White and Chris Brown to utilize and theres some guy named Young that the Titans have that can move pretty well himself
Pick-Tennessee
Last Week:7-7(Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall:87-57(9-1 Locks, 3-7 Upsets)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
ARod stays in the Bronx and the latest College Hot Sheet
Oh so now, A-Rod is going back to the Yanks.
I officially am now on the list of folks that detest A-Rod.
I felt sorry for him at first, he jumped into the morass that is NYC and despite doing his best never seemed to get the love in the Big Apple. In New Yorkers eyes, A-Rod could never be as good as the Prince of NYC, Derek Jeter (Who I still like) the team captain who seemed to come through in spades when the Yanks needed him most: Big homers, a selfless dive into the stands, that sick flip in the ALDS against the A's (What was he doing there and how did he make that play?). Jeter was what A-Rod could never be, loved and cherished. It seemed that for the four years that he was constantly wailing to the NYC masses "Will you please love me now?!?" The .302 avg, 173 homers, and 513 RBIS during his 4 years were never enough. A-Rod cut a tragic yet to me a sympathetic figure. When he opted out of his contract at the end of this past season, I thought A-Rod is tired of his best not being enough for the unsparing New York public and press. I figured him to go west and bask in the warmth of a team and city that would rightly lionize him and cherish his accomplishments while becoming a force in MLB with title aspirations.
Aint happening.
Alex Rodriguez looks to be resigning with the Yankees. I do think it funny that the uber agent Scott Boras is being left out of the process and is only an advisor and not a negotitator. Maybe A-Rod might have seen the backlash that he was receiving after the Boras claim that $350 million "might" bring them to the table with the Yankees and decided that this madness needed to stop. But what I think is that A-Rod wants to win in the unwinnable situation of New York. He milked the media speculation for what is was worth and now decides that he might not get the pub and acceptance that he desperately wants and craves. A-Rod is turning himself into a media (expletive) and further making himself the caricture of that greedy self centered athlete that only cares about the dollar and the back page tabloid headline. I know thats harsh, but I would have admired and rooted for A-Rod had he made a clean break from the Yanks and went to another team. Oh well, I guess A-Rod is a masochist and likes being the whipping boy, because the Yanks won't win a World Series while he is there and he will get the blame for it, even as he passes Barry Bonds for the all time home run mark. He will be regarded as one of the best players in the game, but he will be missing something in his cache of honors. A title and that in itself will haunt him and his legacy. "Yeah he did all that, but he never won."
Switching gears lets look at the college football games that I think you should be watching this week.
Unless Noted all games Saturday and times are ET
#16 Hawai'i (9-0) at Nevada (5-5)
Mackay Stadium; Reno, NV Friday 11:00 ESPN2
Fast Fact: The Raibow Warriors are looking to start 10-0 for the first time since 1925
Why You Should Watch: The Rainbow Warriors like to score and they will score often. Colt Brennan is a fun player to watch in that jackrabbit offense and with his next TD pass will become the all time NCAA TD pass leader
#7 Ohio State (10-1) at #21 Michigan (8-3)
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor 12:00 ABC
Fast Fact: for the first time since 1959 both teams are coming into this game off a loss
Why You Should Watch: This game may not have the BCS implication it had this time last week since the Bucks were upset by Illinois, but this classic rivalry is still chock full of intrigue. Could this be Lloyd Carr's final home game? The winner will go to the Rose Bowl and the Wolverines would love to complete a swift fall from grace for their hated rivals. The Bucks have a stout defense and will present a challenge to oft injured Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Just for sheer rivalry status this will be a fun one to watch...I'll be there.
#23 Kentucky (7-3) at #9 Georgia (8-2)
Sanford Stadium, Athens GA 12:30 JP Sports
Fast Fact: The Wildcats have not won in Athens since 1977
Why You Should Watch: The Wildcats are looking to play spoiler to the Dawgs slim SEC East title hopes. To do so they will have to contain fab frosh RB Knowshon Moreno. The Dawgs need to win and get help to get to the SEC title game in Atlanta and must be careful not to overlook a solid UK team.
#17 Boston College at #15 Clemson
Memorial Stadium; Clemson, SC 7:45 ESPN2
Fast Fact: The Tigers are seeking their first conference title since 1991
Why You Should Watch: The winner of this game clinches the ACC's atlantic division and a trip to Jacksonville for the ACC title game. The Eagles have slipped badly, losing to Florida State and Maryland to fall out of any kind national title talk and now have to go to Death Valley to battle a fierce Tiger team who are looking to avenge back to back heartbreaking OT losses to the Eagles. Instead Matt Ryan, Cullen Harper of Clemson has risen to the top as the marquee ACC QB having completed an eye popping 77.1% his passes for 902 yards and 12 TDS during the Tigers four game win streak.
#5 West Virginia (8-1) at #22 Cincinnati (8-2) Bandits 5 Star Matchup
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati 7:45 ESPN
Fast Fact: The Bearcats have won their last four games against ranked opponents, but are 1-13-1 against the Mountaineers
Why You Should Watch: Bearcats coach Brian Kelly calls this the biggest game in school history, and rightly said this game has the more riding on it than any other game that has ever been played in November for UC. For the Cats to win they must contain Pat White and Steve Slaton two players that the Cats have had much trouble with. The Mountaineers also need to be wary of the Cats ability to force turnovers. Ben Mauk while not the most flashy has developed into a a gutty gritty leader and as he goes so will the Bearcats. This will be a fun one to watch...I'll be here for this one too.
NFL Picks tomorrow...Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
I officially am now on the list of folks that detest A-Rod.
I felt sorry for him at first, he jumped into the morass that is NYC and despite doing his best never seemed to get the love in the Big Apple. In New Yorkers eyes, A-Rod could never be as good as the Prince of NYC, Derek Jeter (Who I still like) the team captain who seemed to come through in spades when the Yanks needed him most: Big homers, a selfless dive into the stands, that sick flip in the ALDS against the A's (What was he doing there and how did he make that play?). Jeter was what A-Rod could never be, loved and cherished. It seemed that for the four years that he was constantly wailing to the NYC masses "Will you please love me now?!?" The .302 avg, 173 homers, and 513 RBIS during his 4 years were never enough. A-Rod cut a tragic yet to me a sympathetic figure. When he opted out of his contract at the end of this past season, I thought A-Rod is tired of his best not being enough for the unsparing New York public and press. I figured him to go west and bask in the warmth of a team and city that would rightly lionize him and cherish his accomplishments while becoming a force in MLB with title aspirations.
Aint happening.
Alex Rodriguez looks to be resigning with the Yankees. I do think it funny that the uber agent Scott Boras is being left out of the process and is only an advisor and not a negotitator. Maybe A-Rod might have seen the backlash that he was receiving after the Boras claim that $350 million "might" bring them to the table with the Yankees and decided that this madness needed to stop. But what I think is that A-Rod wants to win in the unwinnable situation of New York. He milked the media speculation for what is was worth and now decides that he might not get the pub and acceptance that he desperately wants and craves. A-Rod is turning himself into a media (expletive) and further making himself the caricture of that greedy self centered athlete that only cares about the dollar and the back page tabloid headline. I know thats harsh, but I would have admired and rooted for A-Rod had he made a clean break from the Yanks and went to another team. Oh well, I guess A-Rod is a masochist and likes being the whipping boy, because the Yanks won't win a World Series while he is there and he will get the blame for it, even as he passes Barry Bonds for the all time home run mark. He will be regarded as one of the best players in the game, but he will be missing something in his cache of honors. A title and that in itself will haunt him and his legacy. "Yeah he did all that, but he never won."
Switching gears lets look at the college football games that I think you should be watching this week.
Unless Noted all games Saturday and times are ET
#16 Hawai'i (9-0) at Nevada (5-5)
Mackay Stadium; Reno, NV Friday 11:00 ESPN2
Fast Fact: The Raibow Warriors are looking to start 10-0 for the first time since 1925
Why You Should Watch: The Rainbow Warriors like to score and they will score often. Colt Brennan is a fun player to watch in that jackrabbit offense and with his next TD pass will become the all time NCAA TD pass leader
#7 Ohio State (10-1) at #21 Michigan (8-3)
Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor 12:00 ABC
Fast Fact: for the first time since 1959 both teams are coming into this game off a loss
Why You Should Watch: This game may not have the BCS implication it had this time last week since the Bucks were upset by Illinois, but this classic rivalry is still chock full of intrigue. Could this be Lloyd Carr's final home game? The winner will go to the Rose Bowl and the Wolverines would love to complete a swift fall from grace for their hated rivals. The Bucks have a stout defense and will present a challenge to oft injured Chad Henne and Mike Hart. Just for sheer rivalry status this will be a fun one to watch...I'll be there.
#23 Kentucky (7-3) at #9 Georgia (8-2)
Sanford Stadium, Athens GA 12:30 JP Sports
Fast Fact: The Wildcats have not won in Athens since 1977
Why You Should Watch: The Wildcats are looking to play spoiler to the Dawgs slim SEC East title hopes. To do so they will have to contain fab frosh RB Knowshon Moreno. The Dawgs need to win and get help to get to the SEC title game in Atlanta and must be careful not to overlook a solid UK team.
#17 Boston College at #15 Clemson
Memorial Stadium; Clemson, SC 7:45 ESPN2
Fast Fact: The Tigers are seeking their first conference title since 1991
Why You Should Watch: The winner of this game clinches the ACC's atlantic division and a trip to Jacksonville for the ACC title game. The Eagles have slipped badly, losing to Florida State and Maryland to fall out of any kind national title talk and now have to go to Death Valley to battle a fierce Tiger team who are looking to avenge back to back heartbreaking OT losses to the Eagles. Instead Matt Ryan, Cullen Harper of Clemson has risen to the top as the marquee ACC QB having completed an eye popping 77.1% his passes for 902 yards and 12 TDS during the Tigers four game win streak.
#5 West Virginia (8-1) at #22 Cincinnati (8-2) Bandits 5 Star Matchup
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati 7:45 ESPN
Fast Fact: The Bearcats have won their last four games against ranked opponents, but are 1-13-1 against the Mountaineers
Why You Should Watch: Bearcats coach Brian Kelly calls this the biggest game in school history, and rightly said this game has the more riding on it than any other game that has ever been played in November for UC. For the Cats to win they must contain Pat White and Steve Slaton two players that the Cats have had much trouble with. The Mountaineers also need to be wary of the Cats ability to force turnovers. Ben Mauk while not the most flashy has developed into a a gutty gritty leader and as he goes so will the Bearcats. This will be a fun one to watch...I'll be here for this one too.
NFL Picks tomorrow...Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Random Thoughts on Random things
If you haven't figured out, I'm a black man (For those that didn't figure that out, you got issues) and very proud of who I am and sm proud of my heritage. I read that in the world the people who make the difference are either the Tree Shakers or Jelly Makers. My folks weren't tree shakers. Rather they were jelly makers who instilled in me the ethic of hard work and discipline an ethic that they got from their parents. My maternal grandfather (I call him Grampy) worked at Ford for 47 years and has been retired for 8 years. I think Grampy still would rather get up and go to work, rather than putter around the house even at 83. My mom is a supervisor of a mail room and my dad is a retired Marine, who has various business enterprises.
That said, it bothers me often and sometimes shames me to see the way that some of these brothas act. Don't ask me why but everytime I see Adam "Pacman" Jones and that relaxed "well cus" look on his face even as he's facing (and now dodging) serious jail time for his various transgressions. Of course then theres OJ Simpson, who now cuts a tragic, sad pathetic figure as he faces charges for robbery. I dunno, I guess I wish that these and other "thugged out brothas" would take a look at how they are screwing up the legacy that the tree shakers and jelly makers left. Its also sad to see that the media focuses so much on these idiots and waves off the ones that handle their business and do the right thing. I hate also that as a black man I get lumped into this.
I get to return to my beloved University of Cincinnati campus to audit a class (I'm trying to get back into grad school)and to fit in (a little) I wore a UC hoody, jeans and gym shoes. My youthful face doesn't let on that I haunted this campus over a decade ago, but it annoys me that I've seen a few of the older profs and officals give me the once over like I'm a thug. I've seen a few of the football and basketball players on campus and I'm glad to hear that they carry and comport themselves with class and dignity. I know college and pro athletes are more often than not different animals, but I just hate seeing and hearing about athletes more often than not folks of color getting into trouble and the pros seem to do so with more frequency as of late. Ok, I'm off the soapbox.
My man Sully was a bit bent to see CC Sabathia win the Cy Young, but like I told him. I think that if the choice came down to the ring or the golden hand that the Cy Young trophy is the choice is pretty obvious. Sabathia had the better regular season, had they included postseason well...go ask Carsten Charles if he had a good postseason. Dustin Pedroia was the duh choice for AL Rookie of The Year, there were a lot of people that thought the voters got it wrong for picking Ryan Braun over Troy Tulowitzki for NL ROY, including your humble scribe at first but I looked at the numbers and Brauns numbers are better across the board. More triples, HR, SB and better batting average and slugging percentage and all in fewer games. Not three or four try 42 fewer (113 for Braun vs 155 for Tulo) Both had great seasons and Tulo was the sparkplug for the Rockies awe inspring late season dash to the postseason and their run to the World Series but Braun was the better rookie. I doubt that either will go the way of Super Joe Charboneau or Bob Hamelin who were hot rookies for forgettable teams and faded fast.
And Now for the weeekly award everyone in the TSN community is talking about: anticipated, often controversial, Phat Dap/Head Slap of the Week
Phat Dap
I dont chronicle hockey often, but I do keep up with it (Oooh I hate that the Wings dropped a 4-3 decision to the Blues. Don't get too happy Blues fan, that loss was your one fluke this season) But I have to give Phat Dap To Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick who both set important milestones recently. Modano became the most prolific American born scorer in NHL history passing Phil Housley. Roenick, who I swore had retired and was on NBC, scored his 500th goal on a crazy rebound against the Phoenix Coyotes. Both Modano and Roenick are NHL legends and are no doubt hall of famers. Speaking of which the NHL named their latest induction class. The names read like a whos who of hockey that I watched growing up Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Mark Messier, Scott Stevens now if there was a defintion of hockey legends short of Gretzky you've got four right there. Ron Francis, the cool leader of Carolina Hurricanes and whose veteran leadership helped the Penguins win two cups. MacInnis who had the most feared slapshot (over 110 mph) in the game. Stevens who as the Devils Captain was a great two player and one of the most feared open ice hitters and the incomparable Messier who defined grit, toughness and leadership. I dare say that the Rangers would still be under the 1940 curse if not for Messier. Daps and hugs for all!
Head Slap
Maybe a hard check from Stevens or Messier or a slap shot by MacInnis upside the head would get these knuckleheads attention. The slap goes to two coaches who as leaders of men should act better.
First one goes to Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn who made an obscene gesture to the Utah bench after they recovered an onside kick. Now keep in mind that Glenn guaranteed a win by his Cowboys over the Utes of whom they were heavy underdogs. The Utes got wind of his guarantee and used it as motivation to thrash the Cowboys to the tune of 50-0. Glenn tried to explain away his actions during an apology by saying that hes a people guy. Nothing wrong with fireing up your fans, and nothing wrong with making wild predictions. But instead of taking his whipping, he acted like a whiny brat. Real classy.
The other head slap goes to Texas Tech coach Mike Leach whom the Big 12 finesd 10 large after he ripped the officials after the Red Raiders lost a 59-43 shootout to Texas. Claiming ref bias, Leach called out refs that were from Austin and said they favored the Longhorns. Leach overlooked the fact that one of the calls he was steamed about was actually the right call, though it didn't favor him. He conveniently forgets that he was the beneficiary of a favorable yet suspect last second call that netted the Red Raiders a win over Oklahoma. Coach, you didn't think that you could rip the refs and not get your wallet lightened?
I've bent your ear enough for today College Hot list tomorrow as well as dream and nightmare scenarios for the college conferences. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
That said, it bothers me often and sometimes shames me to see the way that some of these brothas act. Don't ask me why but everytime I see Adam "Pacman" Jones and that relaxed "well cus" look on his face even as he's facing (and now dodging) serious jail time for his various transgressions. Of course then theres OJ Simpson, who now cuts a tragic, sad pathetic figure as he faces charges for robbery. I dunno, I guess I wish that these and other "thugged out brothas" would take a look at how they are screwing up the legacy that the tree shakers and jelly makers left. Its also sad to see that the media focuses so much on these idiots and waves off the ones that handle their business and do the right thing. I hate also that as a black man I get lumped into this.
I get to return to my beloved University of Cincinnati campus to audit a class (I'm trying to get back into grad school)and to fit in (a little) I wore a UC hoody, jeans and gym shoes. My youthful face doesn't let on that I haunted this campus over a decade ago, but it annoys me that I've seen a few of the older profs and officals give me the once over like I'm a thug. I've seen a few of the football and basketball players on campus and I'm glad to hear that they carry and comport themselves with class and dignity. I know college and pro athletes are more often than not different animals, but I just hate seeing and hearing about athletes more often than not folks of color getting into trouble and the pros seem to do so with more frequency as of late. Ok, I'm off the soapbox.
My man Sully was a bit bent to see CC Sabathia win the Cy Young, but like I told him. I think that if the choice came down to the ring or the golden hand that the Cy Young trophy is the choice is pretty obvious. Sabathia had the better regular season, had they included postseason well...go ask Carsten Charles if he had a good postseason. Dustin Pedroia was the duh choice for AL Rookie of The Year, there were a lot of people that thought the voters got it wrong for picking Ryan Braun over Troy Tulowitzki for NL ROY, including your humble scribe at first but I looked at the numbers and Brauns numbers are better across the board. More triples, HR, SB and better batting average and slugging percentage and all in fewer games. Not three or four try 42 fewer (113 for Braun vs 155 for Tulo) Both had great seasons and Tulo was the sparkplug for the Rockies awe inspring late season dash to the postseason and their run to the World Series but Braun was the better rookie. I doubt that either will go the way of Super Joe Charboneau or Bob Hamelin who were hot rookies for forgettable teams and faded fast.
And Now for the weeekly award everyone in the TSN community is talking about: anticipated, often controversial, Phat Dap/Head Slap of the Week
Phat Dap
I dont chronicle hockey often, but I do keep up with it (Oooh I hate that the Wings dropped a 4-3 decision to the Blues. Don't get too happy Blues fan, that loss was your one fluke this season) But I have to give Phat Dap To Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick who both set important milestones recently. Modano became the most prolific American born scorer in NHL history passing Phil Housley. Roenick, who I swore had retired and was on NBC, scored his 500th goal on a crazy rebound against the Phoenix Coyotes. Both Modano and Roenick are NHL legends and are no doubt hall of famers. Speaking of which the NHL named their latest induction class. The names read like a whos who of hockey that I watched growing up Ron Francis, Al MacInnis, Mark Messier, Scott Stevens now if there was a defintion of hockey legends short of Gretzky you've got four right there. Ron Francis, the cool leader of Carolina Hurricanes and whose veteran leadership helped the Penguins win two cups. MacInnis who had the most feared slapshot (over 110 mph) in the game. Stevens who as the Devils Captain was a great two player and one of the most feared open ice hitters and the incomparable Messier who defined grit, toughness and leadership. I dare say that the Rangers would still be under the 1940 curse if not for Messier. Daps and hugs for all!
Head Slap
Maybe a hard check from Stevens or Messier or a slap shot by MacInnis upside the head would get these knuckleheads attention. The slap goes to two coaches who as leaders of men should act better.
First one goes to Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn who made an obscene gesture to the Utah bench after they recovered an onside kick. Now keep in mind that Glenn guaranteed a win by his Cowboys over the Utes of whom they were heavy underdogs. The Utes got wind of his guarantee and used it as motivation to thrash the Cowboys to the tune of 50-0. Glenn tried to explain away his actions during an apology by saying that hes a people guy. Nothing wrong with fireing up your fans, and nothing wrong with making wild predictions. But instead of taking his whipping, he acted like a whiny brat. Real classy.
The other head slap goes to Texas Tech coach Mike Leach whom the Big 12 finesd 10 large after he ripped the officials after the Red Raiders lost a 59-43 shootout to Texas. Claiming ref bias, Leach called out refs that were from Austin and said they favored the Longhorns. Leach overlooked the fact that one of the calls he was steamed about was actually the right call, though it didn't favor him. He conveniently forgets that he was the beneficiary of a favorable yet suspect last second call that netted the Red Raiders a win over Oklahoma. Coach, you didn't think that you could rip the refs and not get your wallet lightened?
I've bent your ear enough for today College Hot list tomorrow as well as dream and nightmare scenarios for the college conferences. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A college football quandry of sorts
I'm conflicted. I have tickets to both the Ohio State-Michigan games and the UC-West Virginia games. The OSU-Michigan game is at Noon and the UC-West Virginia game is at 7:45. Its about a 4.5 hour trip from Ann Arbor to Cincinnati. Straight down US 23 to Interstate 75 and UC is 1.3 miles due east of the freeway on exit 3, and I have a parking pass. Do I take the chance of leaving Ann Arbor early or getting to the cozy confines of Nippert late. Or do I sell one of the ticket sets that I have? Keep in mind though I am a big Michigan fan, I am a UC grad and have faithfully toiled watching the Cats play in half empty 35,000 seat Nippert Stadium and now relish the biggest game in UC Football history or that OSU-Michigan game tickets at the Big House are rare to obtain. I knew I was gonna have this conflict when I got the tickets in August. I am glad though I held on to both sets, as if I decide to sell one set, it could fetch a nice price. Any input on this delicious dilemma is welcomed.
The BCS mess is getting to almost nightmarish proportions. At least for the honks wonks and apologists for The powers that be set up the deciding of a national champion and now are wringing their hands that the "desirable teams" are falling out of the mix. In a best case scenario, the pundits would love to have 2 undefeated teams preferably from big name, big money conferences with alumni that spend and travel. If the media had their way they would get Ohio State, Notre Dame, a deep south school, a heartland school like Texas or Oklahoma and either USC or UCLA to rotate through the national championship game with the other school. Anytime that a no-name school or a lesser known lightweight school like a Boise State gets close to national title contention they might gain entry to a BCS bowl but never ever the title game. But as it stands now, you have Kansas and Hawai’i
Like I’ve said before, a playoff system would be the only way to rectify this mess, because unlike what some of the wonks might tell you, this isn’t a once in a millenium thing that’s happening in the world of college football there fellow sports fans. The talent in college football is getting more and more spread around. Contrary to what wonks like no playoffs (see my entry from 10/23) want you to believe a playoff would only intensify the jockeying for these spots and make the regular season games even more meaningful. Whos to say that fighting to get into a conference title game with a playoff berth at stake would not carry drama? I’m not gonna get my blood pressure up about this again…
If you really want a debate, lets talk about the Heisman trophy vote. Some like the ubiquitous Tim Tebow who seems to defy logic with his skill at QB. Equally fun to watch is one Dennis Dixon of Oregon, and silky RB Darren McFadden has emerged yet again as a Heisman hopeful. You want me to handicap? I'll pass on giving you odds. But right now I'm leaning to Tebow only because he has gotten so much more pub. Though I'm fascinated with Dixon's playmaking ability. I'll be interested in seeing if either QB can make the jump to the pros, but that a different debate for another day.
The often talked about occasionally controversial Phat Dap/Head Slap will be posted tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
The BCS mess is getting to almost nightmarish proportions. At least for the honks wonks and apologists for The powers that be set up the deciding of a national champion and now are wringing their hands that the "desirable teams" are falling out of the mix. In a best case scenario, the pundits would love to have 2 undefeated teams preferably from big name, big money conferences with alumni that spend and travel. If the media had their way they would get Ohio State, Notre Dame, a deep south school, a heartland school like Texas or Oklahoma and either USC or UCLA to rotate through the national championship game with the other school. Anytime that a no-name school or a lesser known lightweight school like a Boise State gets close to national title contention they might gain entry to a BCS bowl but never ever the title game. But as it stands now, you have Kansas and Hawai’i
Like I’ve said before, a playoff system would be the only way to rectify this mess, because unlike what some of the wonks might tell you, this isn’t a once in a millenium thing that’s happening in the world of college football there fellow sports fans. The talent in college football is getting more and more spread around. Contrary to what wonks like no playoffs (see my entry from 10/23) want you to believe a playoff would only intensify the jockeying for these spots and make the regular season games even more meaningful. Whos to say that fighting to get into a conference title game with a playoff berth at stake would not carry drama? I’m not gonna get my blood pressure up about this again…
If you really want a debate, lets talk about the Heisman trophy vote. Some like the ubiquitous Tim Tebow who seems to defy logic with his skill at QB. Equally fun to watch is one Dennis Dixon of Oregon, and silky RB Darren McFadden has emerged yet again as a Heisman hopeful. You want me to handicap? I'll pass on giving you odds. But right now I'm leaning to Tebow only because he has gotten so much more pub. Though I'm fascinated with Dixon's playmaking ability. I'll be interested in seeing if either QB can make the jump to the pros, but that a different debate for another day.
The often talked about occasionally controversial Phat Dap/Head Slap will be posted tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Weekend in Review: Just when you think you have it figured out...
I'm saltier than a bag of peanuts.
Though I should have known better, I picked Detroit to win. I did this in spite of the lovely Princess Katie telling me that the Cards were going to win. (Memo to self, on the rare instances that Princess Katie calls it don't ask questions.) St. Louis decided that they were going to look good (Stephen Jackson makes that much of a difference?) Washington and Tennessee let me down in what should have been winnable home games. It all adds up to another mediocre sunday (Sigh)...
Oh well, Ohio State got beat...and I'm lovin it. Keep in mind I live in Ohio. Buckeye Nation is still trying rationaize why they got beat by a team that the last time it game to Columbus they beat 40-2. The supposed invincible Buckeyes were outplayed and Illnois were not cowed by the 105,000 fans at Ohio Stadium. The Luckeyes finally crapped out and their luck finally turned. This time next week I will love to see how Buckeye nation will explain getting thrashed at the Big House and why they went from talking title to trying to find where the Capital One Bowl is being played at (I think its in Tampa)
How bout them Bearcats? No silly, not the 1-2 basketball team that I fear may be on its way to another 11-19 season, the 8-2 #22 ranked squad that defeated its second straight ranked team by beating UConn 27-3. Next up is West Virginia who is a top 5 team and the Bearcats have still yet to beat in Big East play. I'm hoping that the Bearcats magical season continues with a win on Senior Night.
Getting back to the pros, I can't believe that the Colts spotted the Chargers a 23-0 lead and roared all the way back...what, Vinatieri missed that 29 yarder? Oh snap, you sure that wasn't Vanderjagt? Is the one time Automatic Adam getting human and rusty??? The Colts suddenly look real mortal and Peyton Manning had as about a horrible game as one has ever seen. 6 Picks??? Whoa!
Here's hoping that Adrian Peterson is ok, I would be sick if he was out a serious amount of time with an injury. He is the most breathtaking running back that I have seen since maybe Barry Sanders, but he has the power and grace of a Walter Payton (May he rest) But I'm fearing that he might be a all too brief flash. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a positve prognosis. You mention the debacle in Green Bay today you lose an appendage.
The Bengals won today with 7 field goals and no touchdowns, I've said that an ugly win is better than a pretty loss and the Bengals proved it today. Marvin Lewis has suddenly gotten more conservative inside the 20 than Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity put together, by all thats right this should have been a 34-0 or 41-0 shellacking. Instead the Ravens scored and were lining up for an onside kick after making it 21-7. Go figure, all that offensive talent and when the defense finally shows up they get inept.
One more thing before I'm out.On this Veterans Day make sure that you take a minute to thank a vet for your freedom and way of life. I'm not a super big flag waving type, but I think its something that is right and appropriate. My Pops was a Vietnam Vet and retired Marine, and he has always said that just saying "Thanks" to a vet will make him or her feel like what they sacrificed worth it. So if you see a vet or someone in military colors. Give 'em dap, wish them well, thank them or do all three. I bet you cash money you'll get a smile that will warm your heart. Just something to consider. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans
Though I should have known better, I picked Detroit to win. I did this in spite of the lovely Princess Katie telling me that the Cards were going to win. (Memo to self, on the rare instances that Princess Katie calls it don't ask questions.) St. Louis decided that they were going to look good (Stephen Jackson makes that much of a difference?) Washington and Tennessee let me down in what should have been winnable home games. It all adds up to another mediocre sunday (Sigh)...
Oh well, Ohio State got beat...and I'm lovin it. Keep in mind I live in Ohio. Buckeye Nation is still trying rationaize why they got beat by a team that the last time it game to Columbus they beat 40-2. The supposed invincible Buckeyes were outplayed and Illnois were not cowed by the 105,000 fans at Ohio Stadium. The Luckeyes finally crapped out and their luck finally turned. This time next week I will love to see how Buckeye nation will explain getting thrashed at the Big House and why they went from talking title to trying to find where the Capital One Bowl is being played at (I think its in Tampa)
How bout them Bearcats? No silly, not the 1-2 basketball team that I fear may be on its way to another 11-19 season, the 8-2 #22 ranked squad that defeated its second straight ranked team by beating UConn 27-3. Next up is West Virginia who is a top 5 team and the Bearcats have still yet to beat in Big East play. I'm hoping that the Bearcats magical season continues with a win on Senior Night.
Getting back to the pros, I can't believe that the Colts spotted the Chargers a 23-0 lead and roared all the way back...what, Vinatieri missed that 29 yarder? Oh snap, you sure that wasn't Vanderjagt? Is the one time Automatic Adam getting human and rusty??? The Colts suddenly look real mortal and Peyton Manning had as about a horrible game as one has ever seen. 6 Picks??? Whoa!
Here's hoping that Adrian Peterson is ok, I would be sick if he was out a serious amount of time with an injury. He is the most breathtaking running back that I have seen since maybe Barry Sanders, but he has the power and grace of a Walter Payton (May he rest) But I'm fearing that he might be a all too brief flash. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a positve prognosis. You mention the debacle in Green Bay today you lose an appendage.
The Bengals won today with 7 field goals and no touchdowns, I've said that an ugly win is better than a pretty loss and the Bengals proved it today. Marvin Lewis has suddenly gotten more conservative inside the 20 than Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity put together, by all thats right this should have been a 34-0 or 41-0 shellacking. Instead the Ravens scored and were lining up for an onside kick after making it 21-7. Go figure, all that offensive talent and when the defense finally shows up they get inept.
One more thing before I'm out.On this Veterans Day make sure that you take a minute to thank a vet for your freedom and way of life. I'm not a super big flag waving type, but I think its something that is right and appropriate. My Pops was a Vietnam Vet and retired Marine, and he has always said that just saying "Thanks" to a vet will make him or her feel like what they sacrificed worth it. So if you see a vet or someone in military colors. Give 'em dap, wish them well, thank them or do all three. I bet you cash money you'll get a smile that will warm your heart. Just something to consider. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans
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