KJ's Sporting View

Im free now!!

2011-11-16T16:25:00.001-05:00

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no regrets after doing this venture!!

2011-11-16T16:25:00.000-05:00

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Fwd: I DID IT!.

2011-11-15T07:30:00.001-05:00

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FWD: this has been your time to shine

2011-11-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

Hello friend.
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FWD: I am finally became Boss...

2011-11-11T23:15:00.000-05:00

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Take a look at this.

2011-11-11T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hey!
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Re: Re: Your question!!

2011-11-11T12:30:00.000-05:00

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2011-11-04T08:59:00.000-04:00

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Countdown to XLII and the Hot 5

2008-01-28T15:10:00.000-05:00

Princess Katie lives in the Phoenix area and loves football, but she is awestruck by the number of people that are in town for the Super Bowl. She asked me how all these people are going to fit into the University of Phoenix Stadium. When I told her that not all that are in town go to the game, she giggled and said, they're like the folks at the Hannah Montana concert, they just wanna be in the area. Leave it to an 11 year old to put it in perspective.
I'll post my indepth analysis on the game either Wednesday or Friday (I've got class on Thursday and no time) but thats the only thing you'll hear from me about it. Like the old Fred Wesley and the JB's song the media is "Doing It To Death." I am already sick of hearing about the so-called secretive status of Tom Brady's ankle and I'm tired of hearing the Giants babble about getting no respect. I am already tired of the hype and hoopla that goes with the game, and I remember a simpler time when the Super Bowl was something you watched late on a January Sunday and watched the winning coach get carried off the field. I remember the first Super Bowl I really paid attention to, Super Bowl 16. I was still developing a love for football and only really paid attention to it because the local area team the Bengals were in it. This game started at 4PM and was done about 7:30, I remember 60 Minutes being on afterwards, now the Super Bowl is an all-day event, drawn out over a full day for maximum ratings and buildup. But I'll tell more of my Super Bowl stories later in the week. For the time being lets turn our focus to college basketball and the Bandit Hot 5

Bandits Hot 5
1 (tie) Kansas (20-0, LW-1) Jayhawks barely outscored their football counterparts in similarly frightening beatdown of Nebraska
1 (tie) Memphis (17-0, LW-2) Held off a game Gonzaga team, cushy schedule provides no tests till Vols come callin' on 2/23.
3. Duke (17-1, LW 5) I detest the Dukie fans, but this team is tough and talented.
4. North Carolina (19-1, LW 4T)BC and Fla. State are mere warmups for the showdown with their hated rivals next week
5. UCLA (18-2, LW NR) Oregon Twostep was a sleepwalk dance, Bruins may get a tougher test with Arizona teams in LA.
Dropped out: Washington State (lost to Arizona) , Tennessee (lost to Kentucky)

The Next 5
Georgetown (16-2), Tennessee (17-2), Michigan State (18-2), Texas (16-3), Washington State (17-2)
Dropped Out: Indiana (Lost to UConn)

The Super Bowl Preview is on deck, Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Daps, Slaps and other random musings

2008-01-24T14:59:00.000-05:00

I live and die with my beloved alma mater, The University of Cincinnati. Last season was the longest, 11-19 and 2-14 in the Big East, when the regular season ended with another loss at West Virginia, the powers that be in the Big East basically said that Cincy was felina non grata, cat not welcome to the Big East Tourney in New York. This season looked to start the same way with dishearening losses to lightweights like Belmont and Bowling Green. But the Bearcats have nicely rebounded with a road win at Louisville (The Cats were winless on the road in Big East play last year) and home upsets of Pitt and Villanova. The Cats had a 12 point lead on UConn, not a Big East power this year but a dangerous team nonetheless. The Cats would continue to turn heads with their strong Big East start at 5-2. The Cats instead blew the lead and despite a late basket to give a slim one point lead Rashad Bishop committed a rather silly foul in the backcourt to give the Huskies the free throws, they were made and despite a couple of decent looks, the Cats dropped a tough one to the Huskies 84-83.
Now I'm not laying blame on Bishop, he played a decent game. The Cats made a number of careless turnovers and played sloppily at times. I'm banking on the Cats to at least make the Big East tourney and possibly qualify for the NIT this year. I know that is a comedown from the 14 straight NCAA appearances the Cats made from 1992-2005, but this team has the talent, however raw to get to the postseason. I want to see that happen.
Ok, enough of my rants on my beloved alma mater. I feel like I have to address comparisons of the postseasons in college football and basketball. I have heard the argument that a playoff in college football would make the regular season meaningless and that the college basketball season is a boring prelude to the tourney. Those that argue that did not see the Baylor-Texas A&M game last night 116-110 in quadruple overtime...
Check that number 5 OVERTIMES
That number of overtimes isn't an NCAA record (my alma mater Cincinnati beat Bradley in a 7 overtime epic in December of 1981) but it was a Big 12 record and watching that game with both teams leaving everything out on the floor. If you think that these games are meaningless and boring, you need to check your pulse. Now I admit that I dont really get into the swing of college basketball until the new year. I have no desire to see Duke beat up the little sisters of the poor or Kentucky beat up on Gardner-Webb and San Diego (Oh wait a minute, UK lost to both of those tomato cans, my bad) The conference play showcases the real battles and games, and the occasional non-conference game in the middle that has really good teams are always fun to watch. Those that say that the college basketball season is nothting special to watch and that the teams have nothing to play for need to take another look.

Some people cant let things die out...
Tiger Woods had to outright state that he was cool with Kelly Tilghman and did not go off on her lynch remark. He had little to say about the Golfweek cover, which like a lot of people I think the subject is dead. But here comes Jim Brown chastisizing Woods on not speaking up more on the lynching subject. Woods has a tendency to be robotic at times, but in his defense I think that Woods should not have to be the spokesman on every touchy subject that comes down the pike. He spoke out on Tilghman's comments saying that he did not believe that they were malicious in their intent. It should be left alone. It reminds me of a situation that I was in when I was in junior high, I flirted with a girl not knowing that she was dating some guy who was bad enough to pound me into the ground. I took a chance and went to this guy and apologized to him and his girl cause I didn't know that they were dating. The guy shurgged it off and said it was cool and he appreciated the apology. Another guy heard it and said "You gonna let him off the hook?" He later tried to jump me saying if the guy wasn't gonna kick my butt, he would. Needless to say he wasn't nearly as tough as the guy I apologized to and I knocked his block off. But like others that won't let something die out when it clearly has, this person tried to restart and issue that clearly was resolved. Brown should mind his business.

Ok I know its a day late but here is the weekly Phat Daps and Head Slaps of the Week

PHAT DAP
Though its a bit on the quirky side, I have to give one to Ron "Fang" Hunter coach of IUPUI, he is coaching against Oakland University tonight barefoot, to raise awareness for children in need. His stated goal is raise enough funds to send 40,000 shoes to children in Africa as part of the Samaritan's feet organization. If you want to learn more about Hunter's project go to www.samaritansfeet.org Though the methods are a bit kooky, I have to give Hunter dap for raising awareness and going to a great length to do so.

HEAD SLAP
I would like to give one to ESPN and TMZ.com who are delving into the type of tabloid journalism that is getting to be a real nuisance these days. TMZ.com who has a tendency to skulk about to stir up rumors and innuendo took pics of Pats QB Tom Brady who had a protective boot on his foot. Brady was visiting his girlfriend in New York on his off day. Now TMZ jumping on this is one thing, but ESPN to report the pics and run wild as if Brady was actually seriously injured is irresponsible. ESPN should know better, but they have gotten to the point where they feel that they are the unchallenged authority on sports. ESPN should report the news and facts along with discussion on these, not stir up rumors and sink to the rumor mongering level of a gutter website like TMZ who normally preys on the hollywood party type.
But this weeks head slap kind of pains me, cause I kinda have a crush on her. Dana Jacobsen of ESPN's First Take got herself suspended for a week for getting rather plastered and making a host of derogatory comments about catholics and Notre Dame at the Mike & Mike celebrity roast last week. Now I can't fault someone for knocking Notre Dame. Knocking the overhyped self-righteous football university is ok with me. Anyone who knows about the radio/TV sports morning talk show knows that Mike Golic is a Notre Dame Alum and regularly takes his lumps on the woes of the Irish. It is also a well known fact that in a roast most everything is going to be fair game to get cracked on, but leave the religion out of it. Jacobsen who otherwise is a good reporter and a fine talk show host should be thankful that the insensitive remarks didn't get her canned. This isn't the time to be out of work, believe me.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Show Shocka! G-Men stun the Pack and other milestones

2008-01-21T17:45:00.000-05:00

The headline says it all, and I'll be the first in line to apologize to Eli Manning. I have to admit that I was one of a number of pundits that wasn't big on Eli Manning. After the "I don't want to play for a loser" pout I really had no love for him. My pops put it best, We dont need his whiny (expletive), we had Ryan Leaf. I was hoping he fell flat on his face as playing in New York would in kind eat him up. But after his sterling performance in the NFC title game, I am ready to apologize. I've said it before, no one will mistake Eli for Peyton as their games are totally different. But no one will dog his pedigree. He played the game with guts and determination. He will always look like a lost puppy, I've given up on thinking that he will ever get anything more than that, but damn. Manning pplayed fearless and everytime the Pack would score and the Lambeau faithful would rise up in cold thunder, Eli would shut them up with a well managed drive. No rocket throws, but the occasional precison sniper pass that seemed to always get the G-Men to a first down. It wasn't pretty but it was played with a gutty aplomb. Give the kid some love, he earned the win.
I watched the game at my local watering hole, figuring that I'd endure the braying of the local chapter of Packer fans. As the game seesawed back and forth. I kept hearing these fans keep making annoyed sounds. It was as if, how dare Eli Manning dare play such a good game. He's overdue for a rushed throw or a dumb mistake. Then it turned to even dumber quotes.
"I think the NFL is scared to let the Packers win."
"Favre would beat Brady in the Super Bowl, the NFL doesn't want that."
"The Refs are giving the Giants all the breaks."
Nevermind the fact that their hero Favre was making a host of puzzling decisions and throws, nevermind the Pack kept making one dumb penalty after another. I would point that out and immediately get shouted down. "Shut up you stupid Viking fan, you're just hating on the Pack like usual." I thought it pointless to make the point that I picked the Pack to win, I just sat and watched the Giants miss chance after chance to bury the Pack. When Tynes missed the game winner at the end of regulation. The bar erupted in cheers, there was no way that the Pack would lose in OT.
"Home in OT, the Pack won't lose."
I decided again that it would be fruitless to remind the Pack fans that the last NFC Title game that went OT was lost by the home team (My '98 Vikes)
The Pack won the toss in OT and I silently thought run the ball, play it close to the vest and wear the G-Men defense down.
Favre throws an INT 2 plays into the OT.
I stood up from the bar and paid my tab, as the stunned Pack fans watched in disbelief. I said loud enough to be heard. "Thats ballgame, next pass Favre throws will either be in July or when they retire his number." I got a number of hateful stares, but the look on the faces of the fans there told me that they knew I was right. I heard a forlorn retort
"Manning will crack under the pressure, Coughlin won't let Tynes try another field goal after two misses."
I stood at the door of the bar when Tynes came out for the 47 yarder. When he kicked it, I simply shouted. "Good Night Green Bay." I've seen enough good field goal kicks to know when its over. The kick split the upright and I let out a chortle as I turned. And I heard a glass hit the door as it was closing behind me.
I know there are a lot of classy Pack fans, but it was fun to torment them a little.
Oh and the Pats slogged through a ho-hum game to go 18-0. You are going to hear so many "Giants have no chance." stories for the next two weeks I wont even acknowledge them beyond my words previous. The G-Men have a punchers chance, but I doubt that Hoodie man will let his team lose focus enough to let them take a swing. I'll preview the game next week.
I'm joining the ranks of those pundits starting to slowly switch to college basketball. Here is the initial Bandit Hot 5, posted every Monday from here to the end of the conference tourneys. Next week if there is a shakeup, I'll post who was where last week.

KJ's Hot 5

1. Kansas (18-0) Better team in a better conference, Jayhawks are the most dangerous team in the nation
2. Memphis (17-0) I dont care that both major services have the Tigers #1, playing in the weak C-USA still holds them back.
3. Tennessee (16-1) The meat and potatoes part of the schedule is coming, but the Vols are a tough squad
4. North Carolina (18-1) Now you didn't think anyone would go perfect in the ACC, did you
5. (tie) Washington State (16-1) Wazzu is looking tough out west, but there still is an Arizona and an Oregon trip to make
5 (tie) Duke (15-1) I'm a notorious Duke hater, but they are a 1 point loss at Pitt from being unbeaten. The next two roadies (Va. Tech & MD) will be a true test.
Next 5 UCLA (16-2), G-Town (14-2), Indiana (16-1), Michigan St (16-2). Wisconsin (15-2)

Is that enough to chew on?

Before I step out, I have to make remembrance of the King Holiday. I would hope that everyone here took at the very least a minute to gage how much Dr. King meant to this country and how far this country has come because of the groundwork that he laid, there is so much more to be done but at least there is a path to follow. I was in junior high when the holiday was made a national one, but I was lucky enough to be in an area where the holiday was already celebrated. So much that still needs to be done, but I think it is great that we can celebrate the work of a great man.

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans

Dumb Decisions and the AFC/NFC Title Game Previews

2008-01-18T14:00:00.000-05:00

I have my usual plethora of info on the respective conference title games but I have to weigh in on a touchy subject.
When I heard about the comment that Kelly Tilghman of Golf Channel made about Tiger Woods, I was incredulous. I couldn't believe that someone would outright say that Woods should be lynched. I caught a replay of the comment and groaned. It was clearly obvious that Tilghman was trying to be off the cuff and funny. If she had of said something like: "A bunch of them tie him up and hide him in a closet." the comment would have been overlooked as another dumb attempt at an anchor trying to be funny. But saying lynch awoke flames. As a black man I am very aware of the history of lynching in this country. I also am aware that this country has come very far in its race relations. I took the comment pretty much the same way Tiger Woods did, I shrugged it off as a stupid comment. Woods openly said that he forgave Tilghman for the comment and believed that Tilghman was not racist or trying to be racist in that comment. Golf Channel suspended Tilghman for two weeks, which I thought was an appropriate punishment. I did not equate this comment to the hurtful comments that shock jock Don Imus made last April.
Now if that was it, I doubt that I would write anything more. GolfWeek Magazine decided to take it a step further. They put a picture of a noose on its cover.
When I saw it, I was to say the least stunned.
I don't play golf, aside from on my Playstation2. I have no need to read GolfWeek so they were in no danger of ever counting me as one of their readers before this incident. But this cover was insensitive and down right rude and crude. Now while Tilghman's comments could have been seen as insensitive, they were done on live tv and can be clearly explained away as off the cuff. What GolfWeek did was stupid. The PGA Tour threatened to pull all its advertising and was urging many of its partners to do the same. Was this a PC move? No, it was the RIGHT move. Dave Seanor, editor and VP of the magazine was fired and GolfWeek is in full damage control. GolfWeek may have been trying to spark a discussion, but the photo of a hangmans noose was out of line and I think that the pepole that were responsible got what they deserved. The column written in the magazine said to keep Tilghman's comments in context were just as inane. The issue while inflammatory and very sensitive was seeming to die down, especially since Woods had publicly expressed his support for Tilghman. But Golfweek tried to fan the flames to sell mags and that is wrong. I'll be willing to bet Kelly Tilghman had a good private laugh at these bozos, her comments didn't cost her employment.
Well now that we've covered the dumb decisions that people make and what it costs them, lets look at the Conference Championships.

And now there are four left, a pair of upsets took the NFC's top seed and the defending Super Bowl Champ out of the running. These games are matchups of four of the older franchises in the their respective conferences. They are also rematches of week 2 games that were routs by the Pats and Pack. Both will be played in frosty conditions with the reward a trip to the desert for the 42nd Super Bowl. Odds provided by Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.

NFL SCHEDULE – CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND

Sunday, January 20

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
San Diego Chargers (13-5) @ New England Patriots (17-0)
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, MA 3:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 13
Fast Facts NE-The Pats are only the third team to win 18 games in a season (San Fran 1984, Chicago 1985) but the only one to do so without a loss. SD-This is the first time since 1994 the Chargers have won multiple games in the postseason.
How They Got Here: The Chargers defeated the Titans 17-6 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Colts 28-24 in the Divisional Round
The Patriots had a first round bye as the AFC’s #1 seed and defeated the Jaguars 31-20 in the Divisional Round
Playoff History The Patriots defeated the Chargers in the 2006 Divisional Round 24-21; The Chargers defeated the Patriots 51-10 in the 1963 AFL Championship (Both games played in San Diego)

The Chargers are a surprise entrant, boasting a stunning road upset of the defending Super Bowl champ Colts. Looking to avenge a divisional round upset from the previous year, the Chargers have an impressive offense. This offense is hurting as both QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson are slowed with knee injuries. Add the fact that All-Pro TE Antonio Gates is still nursing a bad toe and you have an offense that looks to be at less than full strength. But hold the phone, super subs Billy Volek, Michael Turner and Darren Sproles have filled in gamely at crucial times and while not the real thing are capable replacements. The Pats are well…all that. Tom Brady dinked and dunked the Jags into submission last week and after the first play of the game was not touched all night. If the Chargers don’t get to Brady he will pick them apart. Randy Moss is 0-2 in conference title games and despite the messy legal situation he may find his way into, he is still the most dangerous offensive player on the field. Shawne Merriman is one of a host of solid defensive players that the Bolts have but CB Antonio Cromartie is the most underrated, he will have to keep Moss contained, but then again there is the problem of Wes Welker and if the Pats decide that they want to run, Laurence Maroney has touchdown threat potential.

Plain and simple, while the Chargers are talking a good game, they are like Billy Conn before his 1941 bout with Joe Louis, he talked and boasted about what he was going to do to the Brown Bomber. When Louis was asked to respond, he simply said “I’m gonna show up, show up on time and be ready to fight.” Louis knocked out Conn in the 13th round. Don't believe the hype about the Moss incident being a distraction, Hoodie man will have his Pats focused and ready. The Chargers have been talking as if the Pats should fear them, and while the Pats respect the Bolts potential, they have their eyes on a larger prize and a hobbled Bolts squad won’t be able to stop them.
Pick-New England

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
New York Giants (12-6) @ Green Bay Packers (14-3)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 6:30 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 7
Fast Facts NYG-The Giants are 3-0 in NFC title games, but this is their first NFC Championship they are playing on the road. GB-The Packers are 4-0 in NFC/NFL title games.
How They Got Here: The Giants defeated the Buccaneers 24-14 in the Wild Card Round and defeated the Cowboys 21-17 in Divisional Round. The Packers had a first round bye as the NFC #2 Seed and defeated the Seahawks 42-20 in the Divisional Round.
Previous Playoff Meetings: Giants defeated Green Bay 23-17 in 1938 NFL Title Game. Packers defeated Giants 27-0 in the 1939 NFL Title game, 14-7 in the 1944 NFL title game, 37-0 in the 1961 NFL title game and 16-7 in the 1962 NFL title game.

The Packers were expecting to travel to Dallas so Brett Favre could slay one of his last pro demons. The G-Men messed that plan up and the Pack get to welcome Eli and the G-Men to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field. I'm not sure if legendary NFL Films voiceover man John Facenda ever said frozen tundra but this game will likely look like something straight out of the archives. The Pack have developed a once dormant running game as Ryan Grant overcame early fumbles to get stronger as the game and snow wore on Favre's leadership is paying mass dividends as it seems that he has grown confident in the playmaking abilities of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings who have grown into a formidable receiving duo. The Giants will have their hands full trying to contain them. R.W. McQuarters will have to make big hits int he G-Men secondary The underrated defense of the Pack shook off a pair of possessions deep in their own end to shut down the Seahawks.
The G-Men have rode the unspectacular yet effiecent play of Eli Manning to a pair of road playoff wins, but the solid running of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw have been the real reasons the Giants offense have been playing well, they continue to keep Manning in managable situation where he doesn't need to win the game on his own. The Giants defense brings pressure at all times, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan are ends that have to be accounted for at all times.
If the Packers can keep the Giants running game bottled up and force Manning to win the game on his own, they will carry the day. The Pack have to also keep Favre upright, if he isn't hurried he should be able to pick on a so-so Giant secondary who aside from McQuarters is rather ordinary. The Giants need to establish the run and keep the game balanced. Manning has been using Kevin Boss nicely and Amani Toomer is his usual scoring threat. If the G-Men can keep pounding the ball they could steal the game.
The way I see it, Favre sees this as his last best shot to get to the Super Bowl and the chance to get their via the Lambeau faithful will be too much for the G-Men to overcome. It'll be a tight game, but Manning will make a mistake that will doom the G-Men and the Pack book a trip to the desert.
Pick-Green Bay

Last Week 1-3
Playoff Total 5-3
Overall Total 168-96

Enjoy the games, and as always your comments and feedback are most appreciated. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Midweek Musings and the Phat Dap/Head Slap

2008-01-16T13:38:00.000-05:00

Its the anitcipation that is killin me. That and the overkill analysis that ESPN is doing. I'm just getting tired of everyone and their brother giving their spin on the respective conference championships. I mean, I am going to analyze the games on Friday but the spin and re-spin on it is getting to be a little much. That said, I will refrain from putting a lot of spin on the war of words coming from the Chargers so far this week. But I dont think it too good an idea to poke an already known dangerous junkyard dog.

Before I drop my Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. I wanted to give a coming preview. Besides football being a big love of mine. I love basketball. If you have read my thoughts on my profile you know that I like college basketball immensely. I like pro basketball somewhat, but my once favorite team the Timberwolves traded my favorite player to a team that I cannot root for. Sorry Celt fans I grew up detesting the Green and White, I respect them but I cant bring myself to root for them. But my real passion is college basketball.
There are few things that are more exciting than a college basketball game, I'm fortunate to live in an area that is a hotbed of hoops. I can point in virtually any direction on the compass and be no more than 2.5 hours from a basketball school. Cincinnnati, Xavier,Miami of Ohio, Dayton, Wright State, Butler, Ohio State, Kentucky, Louisville (ick), Indiana are all a decent drive from me. I could realistically go to a different basketball venue every day of the week and see some of the best teams in the country. So after the local interests in pro & college football die down (In this area they quiet down they dont die off) The interest in college ball heats up. There is a pro basketball team in the area to be sure. The Indiana Pacers have a loyal following, and the Cavs draw some interest on this of the state only because of LeBron James but by and large the focal point is about college basketball.
I have been known as a football prognasticator and that I'm proud of, but soon my focus will turn to college basketball and the spec sheet.
What is this? My breakdown of the coming March Madness. I love the tournament, but I espcecially love the scramble for the 65 berths. So after the Super Bowl analysis, twice a week until selection sunday you will be able to see my takes on who I think will and will not get in the tournament. I did this on my other blog for the last three years and last year I got 62 teams correct of 65 right. (I didn't see Miami of Ohio making its run to the tourney, for example)I'm not as detailed as some. I have no idea of what the matchups in the tourney, but I love to speculate on who will get in. The fun isn't picking the obvious ones, its the ones on the proverbial bubble that are the most fun to spec on. So get ready, I'm already reading up on teams and watching more games than a rational person should. I'll keep you abreast on who to watch and the players you might not know that you will undoubtedly hear cats like Bill Raftery, Sean McDonough and Len Elmore cooing over. This is hype you need to believe, the spec sheet is coming!
Ok, now that we have that bit of advertisment out of the way. Its time to give out this weeks award.

PHAT DAP
I usually loath to give credit to Packers in any way, but I have to give one to Ryan Grant who shook off a nasty case of the fumbles to rush for 201 yards and 3 scores in the Packers rout of the Seahawks. See kids, good things happen when you keep ya head up. I also have to give one to Billy Volek, ask the Colts if he is still in this league. Volek stepped in for a hurt Philip Rivers and led the Chargers on a game winning drive in the noisy din that is the RCA Dome. You have to give dap for a cat always being on the ready. The final dap of the week goes to Eli Manning, I know I've been one that has been knocking him for a good part of the year, but he has come through like a champ leading his G-Men to a stunning upset of the Pokes. No one will ever mistake Eli for older brother Peyton, but his efficent play has gotten the Giants to the NFC title game, somewhere no one expected them to be.

HEAD SLAP
Wade Phillips could get one for his clueless comments about how the Cowboys were still the better team after being beaten by the Giants. Uh, Wade did you check the scoreboard? And you do realize the Packers are NOT coming to Dallas this Sunday??? And I could give one to Philip Rivers who was yapping at Indy fans after his Chargers pulled the stunning upset. First of all, Phil you were on the sideline for the winning score so though you contributed mightily you weren't the key element. Second, there is a thing called winning with class. You win, you just smile and extend an index finger, yapping with fans is stupid and makes you that much more of a target. And one should go to the Indy fans that booed the little girl that won the Pass, Punt and Kick contest and had the nerve to be wearing a Pats jersey. I thought that Colts fans had a little more sense that to do that. The Pats will have this young lady at the coin toss at the AFC title game so she can get the cheers she rightfully deserves.
But this weeks Head Slaps go to two people that should know better. Adam Pacman Jones who you would think would have the fool sense enough to stay out of strip clubs considering the trouble that it gets him. He has allegedly sucker punched a lawyer in a strip club. Thats bad enough but then sucker punching a female lawyer, Pacman is rapidly blowing his chances of ever doing what made him the money to be able to frequent such high end establishments. Though the lawyer who made the allegations has just recently dropped the allegations. One has to wonder why Jones would even put himself in that situation. The other slap goes to someone that I cant figure out how he can be so stupid. Our old buddy OJ Simpson who against good sense tried to contact a co-defendant in his armed robberyt case. He tried to pass a message through his bail bondsman who turned the message over to prosecutors. Simpson's idiotic act got him a nice reward, a doubling of his bail from $125K to $250K. Hey OJ, you are already a marked man in this country anyway, its bad enough that you are to soon be on trial for armed robbery, you aren't helping yourself in any manner by doing stupid stuff that draws the ire of the court. Both of these knucklehead need to take this slap upside the head and stay home to stay out of trouble.

The conference championships will be previewed Friday, Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Divisional Round Madness

2008-01-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

See thats what I get...
You would think I would know better than to flaunt my wisdom. I go from a Penthouse 4-0 on wild card weekend to a 1 bedroom basement apartment 1-3 this past weekend. Geez, I mean the Colts cant stop Billy Volek?
If you tell any right thinking, rational football fan that the Chargers would be without LT for half of the game, Rivers for the last quarter and a have a hobbled Antonio Gates on the road in Indy, they say Colts walkover.
Chargers 28 Colts 24...
Damn.
Wait I can explain, Eli and Peyton decided to switch teams for a week, cause I know that wasn't Eli playing poised and calm in Dallas. Leading the G-Men to a last minute drive to tie the score at the half. What's that? It was Eli?
Whoa.
And before I get anymore flak from Packer fans. I'll apologize. But on the real for real, after the Seahawks jumped out 14-0 everyone was thinking. Oh snap, the Seahawks could pull the upset. Then Ryan Grant got over his fumbleitis and the Pack rolled off 6 straight scoring possessions and that was that. I knew it was fated for the Pack to win when the snow started to fall heavily. Packer hater that I am, I had to say that was just too cool to watch.
The Pats...what can you say?
Tom freakin' Brady. You cant even be that good on Madden. I tried. Brady was playing out of his mind. The Jags were game, they were bound and determined to keep Moss from hurting them and aside from a critical drive sustaining catch during the Pats first offensive series he was not a factor. But the Pats are just so relentless and the Jags hung tough for a half, but just seemed to wear down, when the Pats went up 28-17 late in the third, you could look at the Jags and tell they were done. Jack Del Rio has a squad that will be a force in the AFC for years to come, but this year they were simply outgunned.
So now we're down to four and lets look at the other teams that were eliminated.

Dallas
The Pokes didn't lose because of Romo's dalliance with Jessica Simpson, they lost becuase their offensive line kept letting Osi Umineyora and Michael Strahan into their backfield. Romo was on the run or on his back all day. Wade Phillips is a lot like his daddy, Bum Phillips was, he can coach a team all year, get them into January and he finds a way to lose it. Could a 13 win coach lose his job?

Indianapolis
The Colts should have had that game won, but it seemed that even with more than a few questionable calls going their way, they couldn't close the deal. Marvin Harrison's fumble cost them a chance to really put the Bolts behind the 8-ball early, Harrison's showed a lot of rust and it hurt. Where was Joseph Addai? Manning had that look on his face like he used to when he was at Tennessee, he looked as if he had done all he could but the parts around him let him down.

Seattle
Paging Shawn Alexander...
The Hawks lack of a running game was their downfall, Matt Hasselbeck while a gutty game QB was throwing all day and the Pack knew that without a real running game that he was dead meat. Shawn Alexander was a non-factor and the Hawks proud defense simply got worn down by the battering ram running of Ryan Grant.

I'll preview the matchups on Friday and have my usual Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday and the spec sheet is coming back soon as well. If you've been here since the beginning you know how that goes...
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Thoughts on Jones, Clemens and the NFL Divisional Round

2008-01-11T13:34:00.000-05:00

I know I had lambasted Savannah State in my Phat Dap Head Slap the other day, but this one takes the cake. Saint Louis was held to 20 points last night by George Washington.
20 Points total, as in the whole game!
That futility set a modern day D-1 record, 20 points in an era with the 3 point line and with a shot clock to speed up the game. I remember when Dean Smith used to whistle and put up four fingers and everyone knew that the scoring would stop instantly. With the advent of the shot clock the only thing that could hold down scoring was the team itself. And the Billikens did it missing at one point 23 consecutive shots. They had more fouls than field goals, going 7-48 from the field. You know Rick Majerus is thinking, I came back for this? With that kind of shooting I think Savannah State would be teaching the Billikens how to shoot. Good night!

How many times must I stress, that the feds don't play?
Disgraced sprinter Marion Jones was sentenced today to six months behind bars for lying to federal prosecutors about her steroid uses and her part in a check writing scam. Her lawyers were hoping for leniecy, like probation or house arrest. But as I've said time and time again, when the Feds get involved they dont play. Jones' fall from Olympic superstar to broke and disgraced figure is complete. I was one of the few that held a wait and see attitude about the then allegations of her drug use. She was busted and compounded the fact by trying to cover it up and lie about it. This is a sad ending to story that could and should have went so much different. Jail might seem a little harsh but its sending a clear message out, the Feds don't play. Deal 'em up straight or you get dealt with.

I mentioned before that I had some thoughts on one Roger Clemens and as the scenario and story keeps changing I remain conflicted. Clemens is more or less being convicted in the court of public opinion. Whether he did or didn't use PEDS remains to be seen, but it is dismaying to me that Clemens is in a damned if he does or doesn't situation. If he defends himself he gets blasted.
"He waited too long to defend himself."
If Clemens had've come out the same day as the Mitchell report with a press conference, I could have seen the media blasting Clemens saying things of why did him come out so fast? He must be trying to hide something.
"The recorded phone call sounds shady"
In this instance, it does but I can't fault Clemens for trying to put as much as he can up to try to defend himself. Clemens said it best in the 60 Minutes interview. "How do you prove your innocence?" Clemens now bears a real burden of proving himself. This whole PEDS mess stirred up by the Mitchell report will only dissolve into a mess of allegations, accusations and he said she said they said. Do I think that PEDS use happened? Yes, can it be proven? Other than by word of mouth? No. The bigger picture is how these players will be viewed in the future. It seems that Mark McGwire will continue to stand at the doors of Cooperstown, locked out. Will the same happen to Bonds? As things continue to thresh out things will get clearer but the rampant speculation and pot stirring is just plain annoying. I will wait till this hearing in Congress to make any judgement. I'm not the only one that has an opinion of course, but might I suggest reading my homegirl terrigirl's latest post, it is an eloquent piece on her thoughts on steroids and their use, You might accuse me of being a shill or pimp for her writing, but I think it my duty to alert folks on good stuff to read, after you read my stuff of course . Please don't get it twisted, I never have advocated the use of PEDS, I just want there to be tangible proof.

Now lets delve into action on the field. Now we have 8 teams left on the road to Glendale, Arizona and all the teams that are left are high quality. Of the remaining teams only the Jaguars have not been in at least one Super Bowl and only them and the Seahawks do not have mutliple Lombardi Trophies so the remaining field is rich in history and talent.

NFL SCHEDULE – Divisional Playoffs Weekend

Saturday, January 12

NFC Divisional Playoff
Seahawks(11-6 #3 Seed NFC West Champs) @ Packers(13-3 #2 Seed NFC North Champs)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 4:30 (FOX)
Favorite: Packers by 7½
Fast Facts Sea- 1-6 in road playoff games, with the 6 losses all in row and current. GB-Brett Favre has thrown a TD in 16 straight postseason games, an NFL record
Previous Postseason Meeting: Packers defeated Seahawks 33-27 in OT in the 2003 Divisional Round
How they got here: Packers earned a bye as NFC #2 seed, Seahawks defeated Redskins 35-14 in wild card round
The Seahawks rallied to roll late on the out of gas Redskins last week, but now have to face some old demons in Green Bay. The Seahwks still wince at Matt Hasselbeck's "We want the ball we're gonna score" blast at the start of overtime in their previous playoff meeting. Hasselbeck threw the winning score, but it was the Packers Al Harris who ran into the end zone with the touchdown on the interception. The Seahawks are older and wiser now and have plenty of playoff experience. Something that the Pack, save ageless Brett Favre, do not have. The erratic play of Shawn Alexander has turned the once reliable Seahawk running game into a liabilty. Hasselbeck will have to win the game with his arm. The Pack are a feel good story of the year, and its tempting to say that Favre wills his team to a win, but there is always an upset in the Divisional round and this, not the sexy pick of the G-Men is it.
Pick-Seattle

AFC Divisional Playoff
Jaguars (12-5, #5 Seed AFC Wild Card) @ Patriots (16-0 #1 AFC East Champs)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 8:00 (CBS)
Favorite: Patriots by 13½
Fast Facts NE 9 straight home playoff wins, last home playoff lost was in 1978 Jax- 0-4 all time in Foxboro
Previous Postseason Meetings Patriots 28 Jags 3 in 1996 AFC Championship, Jags 25 Patriots 10 in 1998 Wild Card Round, Pats 28 Jags 3 in 2005 Wild Card Round
How They Got Here: The Pats earned a first round bye as the AFC #1 seed, The Jags defeated the Steelers 31-29 in the Wild Card Round
Unless the Pats win out the 16 wins previous will be a millstone. Simply put the high-powered Pats offense has been nearly impossible to slow down much less stop. Tom Brady is racking up every offensive award that can be given out, Randy Moss has returned to the superfreak mantra he had in Minnesota. But Moss and Brady aren't the total story. The ballhawking big play ability of the Pats defense can and will cash in on most mistakes an offense make. The Jags play a grinding offense that keeps the mistakes down. David Garrard is growing up fast and proved he had big game mettle with a daring do or die run late in the wild card game at Pittsburgh, he has the confidence of his team and he has them unafraid of any venue. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are a devestating one-two running punch and if the Jags can force feed them to the Pats defense, keeping their electric offense off the field this game will stay low scoring and close. Can the Jags spring the upset?
No. They'll make a mistake and the Pats are money making an opponents mistake pay dividends in spades. The game will be close but the Pats are getting the hang winning tight ones.
Pick-New England

Sunday, January 13

AFC Divisional Playoff
Chargers (12-5, #3 Seed, AFC West Champs) @ Colts (13-3, #2 Seed AFC South Champs)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 9
Fast Facts SD-The Chargers 17-6 win over the Titans was the franchises first playoff win since 1994, Ind- The Colts have the longest active postseason streak, making the playoffs every year since 2002
Previous Postseason Meeting Chargers beat Colts 35-20 in the 1995 Wild Card Round
The Colts may have been the team most happy to see the Pats go 16-0, it let them go 13-3 with little fanfare and let them keep the underdog mantra despite the fact that they are the defending Super Bowl Champs. The Colts have overcome a multitude of injuries the key injury being the extended absence of Marvin Harrison. The Colts have adjusted their offense in his stead and have continued to play strong. The Chargers shed their recent playoff woes with an ugly but effective win over the Titans last week. Many pundits would have predicted a loss if they had have known that all-world RB Ladainian Tomlinson would only be held to 42 yards, but the Chargers got a suprisingly solid start from Philip Rivers and used a steady second half surge to overcome and early deficit. The Colts are a tough team to figure, Peyton Manning is his usual big number self and the defense has benefitted from the full time play of All-Pro DB Bob Sanders but this team looks like its ripe for an upset. The Chargers made Manning look bad in their regular season meeting picking him off six times. I cant see that happening again. The Colts have a pretty good RB themselves in Joseph Addai and Manning has dependable weapons in Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez. I think the Chargers will miss Antonio Gates more than they let on and the Colts may not shut LT down but they can slow him down enough to make Philip Rivers beat them and for him to do so on the road is a much tougher task, especially if Gates is unavailable or plays not at 100%
Pick-Indianapolis

NFC Divisional Playoff
Giants (11-6, #5 Seed NFC Wild Card) @ Cowboys (13-3 #1 Seed, NFC East Champs)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:30 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 7½
Fast Facts NYG- Have won eight straight road road games, no team in NFL history has ever won nine straight Dall-Have not won a playoff game since 1996
First Postseason Meeting
Tony Romo is now figuring out how big a deal being the Cowboys starting QB is, his much publicized weekend holiday in Cabo with ingenue Jessica Simpson has been the talk of way too many outlets. Romo has presented a calm front in the face of this, but his real concern should be the playing status of Terrell Owens who has been fighting a high ankle sprain. The Pokes need both Romo to be focused and Owens to be at least a fairly healthy target to get this win. Eli Manning in comparison looks happy to have a mountain of pressure off of his shoulders as he is in essence playing with house money after his solid play in leading the G-Men in a wild card round win over the Bucs. While Eli will never be mistaken for his older brother, he is playing with a confidence and presence that makes the G-Men a dangerous opponent. I've been known to knock Eli and on the other hand when every one is calling him a bum, I cut him some slack. The G-Men are the sexy pick to knock off the Pokes. The rumor monger and haters want Romo to play bad again so they can spend the winter knocking his relationship with Simpson. Who Romo is kicking it with is of little concern to me. The G-Men are good and play well on the road, I just don't see Eli Manning putting up good numbers on the Pokes underrated defense. It'll be tight but the G-Men's road winning days end here.
Pick-Dallas

Last Week 4-0

Have a great weekend and I will be sure to review the fallout from this round of football action on Monday. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The Coaching Carousel goes round and round

2008-01-09T14:31:00.000-05:00

First of all I wanted to clairify some things I said.
Yes I was very surprised by Joe Gibbs' sudden resignation and I did hint that the impetuous Dan Snyder might have been behind it. I was unaware that Gibbs had a seriously ill family member. That may have been an underlying cause to his sudden departure. I still think that Snyder may have pushed, but given the situation and stress Gibbs may have been under it wouldn't have taken much cajoling for him to leave. In any case, I still think Gibbs is a class act and he left the Redskins in a much better shape than he found them. Prayers and good wishes come from this side of the keyboard to him and his family.
The rumors are spinning wildly that the Falcons have put out feelers for one Pete Carroll. This is a disaster waiting to happen. Yes, Carroll has pro coaching experience, but the Falcons are a major rebuliding project. I fail to see the reason why Carroll would leave the empire that he has built at USC. I remember when Carroll got to SC and the Trojans were a joke. Now USC is about as close to a pro team as one could have in LA. Carroll owns that city and as dispassionate as Angelinos are about...well everything, they love Carroll and the national power he has built in SoCal. If I'm in his position, I'm staying and continuing to fortify my empire. Name me one former college coach that isn't named Jimmy Johnson that has succeeded in the pro game? No, you ninny Barry Switzer don't count (I was 21 when Switzer was hired as the Pokes coach and I could have coached that team to a Super Bowl win.) Carroll should stay at SC, but you know as well as I do how this story will end. Carroll wil get seduced by the supposed power and prestige of the pro game and be introduced as the Falcons head coach within the next 7-10 days. This after denials that he is leaving.
Meanwhile in Baltimore and Miami, the Tuna and Ozzie respectively are carefully sifting through the candidates. Rumors run rampant that Tony Sparano (I want so badly to call him Soprano) and Jason Garrett of the Cowboys are at top of the wish list. Either way both teams are major rebuilds. Washington is a playoff team and a coach like Bill Cowher could step in like he did in Pittsburgh and keep this veteran team really sharp. Though he steadfastly denies it, I have a feeling that he covets the Carolina Panthers (I laughed out loud when old senile Woody Paige called them the Carolina Cougars, the old ABA team, on ESPN's Around the Horn.) job and is just waiting for Panthers owner Jerry Richardson to ax John Fox.
Ok, I'm getting dizzy on the carousel. Lets step off here and check out the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the Week

PHAT DAP
I have a couple to give out this week. I know its piling on, but one has to go to the LSU Tigers who ignored the hype surrounding the BCS title game and the oh poor us bleatings of Ohio State to roll to a convincing win. Knock Les Miles as a riverboat gambler all you want he had his Bayou Bengals ready to play. They shrugged off the initial punch by Ohio State to score 31 points on their next five possessions to win. Too bad Miles is staying at LSU I would have loved to see him coaching Michigan to give old sweta (sic) vest a run for his loot. Not like Rich Rodriguez won't but you know if Miles was on the opposite sideline every year it would eat at Tressel.
An additional dap goes to Xavier University. No, I haven't been smoking anything and yes Xavier is still my alma maters crosstown rival in basketball. But when Rivals.com gave talented point guard Drew Lavender its "Mid-Major Player of the Week Award" Xavier told Rivals.com to keep the award that it didn't want it. Atlantic 10 commish Linda Bruno backed Xaviers stance. Xavier though a small school (actually its bigger than a couple schools in so-called power conferences) has always been a tough team to deal with. Its response that to Rivals.com that "People who come here and see us and what we're about and know what we've accomplished in 25 years would struggle to put any 'mid' label on us," Xavier athletic director Mike Bobinski said. "We've been to 17 NCAA Tournaments. We've had 20 20-plus win seasons. Our arena has been filled to 96 percent capacity. We've had 11 BCS conference home-and-homes in the last six years. That's not 'mid' anything." Growing up in Cincinnati, I've always thought of Xavier as a team on equal footing with UC both teams are solid basketball schools and have been for a while. I say bravo to Xavier's resistance to being pigeonholed into a label and refusing a "pat on the head" Rivals.com said it wanted to recognize a player from a smaller school. Here's an idea just give a player of the week and do your homework on all the schools not just the glamour or power conferences.

HEAD SLAP
There are usually a number I cold give out. First to media that is blowing this whole Tony Romo-Jessica Simpson thing way out of proportion. So they are dating, so they went to Cancun over the Cowboys bye weekend. Who cares? I know I'm stoking the fire, but what or who Romo does is none of my concern. I'm not a Cowboy fan and it irritates me that some in the media are trying to lay blame on Simpson for having Romo (allegedly) sprung so much that his play has suffered. Give it a bleepin rest...
But I'll give this weeks award to the Savannah State basketball team. They weren't supposed to give Kansas State much of a fight, but to score 4 points TOTAL in the second half??? They trailed 37-21 at the half and then went absolute zero cold. The Tigers went 1 for 23 shooting in the second half. This team was actually coming off a win to a known opponent having beat Southern Miss (dont they feel like idiots now) 61-56. El Bandito is sending this team some shooting drill videos and a head slap.

The NFL Divisional previews are coming and will be posted Friday. The subplots are many and the matchups will be good and your humble scribe will be happy to break them down for you. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Should have known better and Gibbs makes a surprise exit

2008-01-08T14:56:00.000-05:00

I admit it...I drank the Kool-Aid.
I fell into the lockstep drumbeat of the banter of the Buck fans that said this is our year, we won't let someone get the drop on us again.
I was swayed by the talk of Tressel and the so-called experts that said that last year was a fluke, that Ohio State learned its lesson and was not going to be beaten by LSU a team that was nowhere as fast as Florida was.
I made the pick and had buyers remorse.
I've been on this site 4 months and ninety posts, I've been railing at the Bucks, dogging them for their soft schedule and saying that when they played a solid team outside of the Big Ten they would be exposed. Still I picked the Bucks, figuring that they were due.
Like the old song by Richard Marx. "Shoulda Known Better."
When Beanie Wells cutback through a nice gap and raced 65 yards for a score, I thought "Uh Oh. Just like last year." The Bucks scored early last year and looked like they were full of confidence. The Gators parried that blow and fell on them with a fury. But still I slugged down my beer and munched on my wings, listening to the frenzied Buck fans at my local tavern. I tried to rationalize and warn the Buck fans that they should comeback with a sustained drive to further quiet the crowd. Then there was an errant snap by LSU on their first drive. The Tigers punted and the Bucks looked like they were in a real position to bury the Bayou Bengals early. The Bucks got a field goal and were up 10-0.
"This ain't last year!" I heard
"Lets bury them early!"
"The SEC is so overrated!"
I shook my head and knew that ten points early is something that can be erased. LSU did just that and the Buck fans got real quiet. Poised to take the lead, the Bucks had a field goal try blocked and then I saw it.
The look.
The "here we go again" look." I sat back in my chair and told my tablemates, "The Bucks had better not let LSU score six before they do, or they're in gumbo." I got a round of dirty looks that was framed more by worry and cold realization that I was right than contempt. The Tigers indeed scored again, and with shocking and sudden swiftness the Bucks came apart. Not like last year where the Gators ran by the Bucks like they were standing still but with a slow and methodical precision. The Tigers kept pounding the Bucks, beating them to the punch time and time again and the Bucks while not seeming a step slower seemed like they were getting muscled around. James Laurinitas has 18 tackles, when a linebacker is leading your team in tackles something is wrong, it usually means that the runners are getting past your first line of defense. LSU scored 31 straight points and after scoring to make it 31-10, the tavern began to clear out. I got my share of dirty looks and nasty under the breath comment about me being "a wet blanket." or "a jinx" I had someone tell me that because I was wearing a University of Cincinnati pullover that I brought bad karma. Hey did I mention that I thought the Bucks would win?
In any case, the Bucks were beaten. The Tigers were the better team, and they brought problems that the Bucks could not answer. Matt Flynn was not flashy, but his effiecent play kept the Bucks guessing all night and he was rightly named the games most outstanding player. Some Buck fans would like to lay blame somewhere. It has to be someones fault, their man Tressel couldn't have been outcoached. In my opinion he wasn't. Todd Boeckman was under a heavy rush all game and was often picking himself of the turf. It wasn't any kind of bias, the Tigers were 118th in the nation in penalties but committed few of them last night, the Bucks had a number of personal fouls and a lot of them were silly preventable ones. Witness the 15 yard facemask after a catch and a personal foul on an unneeded shove. The Bucks were simply beaten by the better team that after having a month to heal the walking wounded exhibited that they were better. The Bucks have nothing to hang their head about, they deserved to be in the title game, but someone had to lose.
And for those that think that I'm gloating over a Buck loss and think that they may have gotten some sort of comeuppance, I'm not. I did think that your team would win. So stop looking to play the blame game and focus on 2008.

I heard the news this morning and was shocked to hear that Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs was resigning his duties. I wonder if Gibbs resigned or is being pushed out by hyper impatient owner Dan Snyder who thinks that he can lure Bill Cowher into DC. I think that Snyder is like how George Steinbrenner was 30 some years ago. Impatient, impetuous and baadly desiring a title to salve his mammoth ego. He sees the rebirth of his hated rival Dallas Cowboys and their egomaniac owner and the possibility of them getting to a Super Bowl and it drives him nuts. He figures if he can push the old coach out while the opportunity is there to get a big name like Cowher he will do it. Gibbs, the portrait of a classy and respected coach deserves better. I don't think this resignation was entirely his idea.

Back tommorrow with the Clemems fallout and the Phat Dap/Head Slap
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The BCS Grand Finale and a side note to Buck Fans

2008-01-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

I'd like to think that my college football prognasticating is getting better with a pair of correct ones to finish up before the title game...hold up Tulsa just scored again.

The weekend was also spade tight as every pro prediction came down as your humble scribe predicted it would. I never thought I could depend on Eli Manning and he'd come through like a champ. As much as I detest the Steelers I was troubled by the play calling of Mike Tomlin late in the Jags-Steelers game. But no matter what call he made on that 3rd and 6 run or pass he would have gotten roasted for it had it not been successful. But to not only fail to stop a timeout depleted Jags team on 4th and 2 but to let David Garrard run for 32 yards was shameful. Wait a minute... Tulsa just scored again...The Redskins were just about to add another chapter to their winning for Sean story when Shawn Suisam missed a chip shot field goal and the Skins just fell apart, letting the Seahawks take not one but two backbreaking picks get took to the house was sad. I hate to say it but the Skins quit in that final quarter. I'll have the preview of the divisional round on Friday.

This whole sordid affair with Roger Clemens is getting messier and messier. Clemens went on 60 Minutes and answered the charges that were leveled at him. Mike Wallace didn't throw softballs at him, but they weren't hard highones either. Then at the press conference it seemed that ESPN watchers were highly skeptical. Clemens is in a no-win situation. If he vocieferiously denies the allegations as he is doing, he "looks guilty" If he does like Barry Bonds has been doing and simply refusing to answer the charges until made to he looks guilty for not defending himself. No one knows who is telling the truth and Congress is going to have to get involved again, because baseball is looking more and more like the buffoon that can't keep its own house clean. I'll detail more thoughts on this later in the week.

You know what the fun things is about irritating Buckeye fans are? Many of them are so used to someone doggin on them they don't even know when they are being given a backhanded compliment. I got a nasty comment on my last post because I was growing tired of the "poor pitiful us" mentality I had been hearing from Buckeye coaches, players and apologist...err fans. I had merely stated that I felt that the Bucks as the top rated (rightfully so in my opinion) team in the country that instead of trying to play the persecuted underdog role instead have a "takin' care of business" mentality. Memo to Buck fan, your team is NOT an underdog. Your team has played well enough to merit its selection to the BCS title game, I grew annoyed by the "Oh it might as well be a road game." blatherings I was hearing. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Did OSU win on the road in a dome? Yes at Minnesota
Did OSU win on the road at a ranked team Yes at Purdue and at Penn State
Did OSU win on the at a non conference team? Yes at Washington
Did OSU win on the road at a historically tough, hostile venue? Yes @ Michigan.
So if OSU did all that and consider themselves title material...WHY ARE YA'LL CRYIN'??? If the Bucks have accomplished the aforementioned, winning in New Orleans despite a pro LSU crowd should be a task that can be done. All I've said from the word go is if the Bucks are the championship material that they claim they are. Go out and win the damn thing and no one will have a thing to say.
Now that I have that off my chest lets look at the matchup.
ALLSTATE BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#2 Louisiana State (11-2) vs #1 Ohio State (11-1)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite LSU by 4
Fast Fact Both teams are vying to be the first team to win multiple BCS titles
Both teams are a bit of surprise to be in this game, needing ill-timed losses by teams that were ranked ahead of them at one time to gain entry to this game. Ignore the carping you hear from Athens and Los Angeles, the two best teams are here. Ohio State is a lunchpail type of team. Todd Boeckman is not superstar QB, but is effiecent and has the gamesmanship that keeps the Bucks out of perilous situations. Boeckman has a pair of Brians: Robiskie and Hartman as dependable targets Chris "Beanie" Wells is a darting slashing running back who is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field. The Bucks offense while effiecent isn't a point a minute offense, they are the methodical wear you type, but
The defense is the Bucks real calling card. DE Vernon Gholston and LB James Laurinaitis are hard hitting, fast pursuing defensive players who are game changers, the latter being a Butkus award winner. Both Gholston and Laurinatis demand attention at all times. To say that this unit is stingy on giving up points is a massive understatement. This team while not the most high scoring doesn't need to be since their defense is so miserly on giving up points itself. The Bucks problem is the same as it was last year and painfully proven against Illinois, they have trouble with mobile teams.
Louisiana State is a high risk high reward team. Jacob Hester gets the most press, but Keiland Williams is a sleeper back who could be utilized effectively. The Tigers have a bit of a QB quandry with Ryan Perrriloux and Matt Flynn sharing duties. Both are smart and handle the offense well. Early Doucet is a talented but underused wideout who OSU CB Malcolm Jenkins will likely be assigned to.
The Tiger defense starts with the emotional play of all everything Glenn Dorsey who in turn opens up things for talented LB Ali Highsmith. This defense can be run on though and if Wells hits it the right way it could be trouble.
In the end, its the Tigers hi-wire act versus the supposed underdog Bucks. The Tigers gambling nature could backfire on them. The Bucks need to start fast and avoid turnovers to take what could be a crowd leaning to LSU though from what I've heard the crowd in the Big Easy has been split. I picked Ohio State to win last year and felt foolish for betting on the Bucks. Fool me once...I can't get over the Tigers getting run over by Darren McFaddden and have to think that Beanie Wells could do the same thing. I see a tight game the Bucks pull out a grinding win and 12 months of having to hear Buck fans lord about how great this "scrappy underdog" team is. I should know better and will probably hate myself for this pick but...
Pick-Ohio State

Previous Pick Set 2-1
Overall 15-17

And no the winner regardless of who it is should NOT have to wear an asterisk or share its title with anyone...

I'll comment on how I'm dealing with a Buck win or loss, on the continuing Clemens saga and have the return of the Phat Dap/Head Slap on Wednesday or Thursday. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

NFL Wild Card Picks & More Apologies???

2008-01-04T14:37:00.000-05:00

I guess I'm going to be issuing apologies throughout the bowl season as Kansas won an exciting Orange Bowl over a BCS jinxed Virginia Tech last night. I still say that despite their solid season that the Jayhawks should not have been in the BCS sponsored Orange Bowl. I'm not knocking Kansas mind you, I just feel that it was wrong for Kansas to lose to Mizzou in what amounted to the Big 12 North title game, and then get a BCS bid after Mizzou lost in the Big 12 championship to Oklahoma. In my humble opinion the BCS matchups should have been

Rose
USC vs Georgia

Orange
Va. Tech vs. Mizzou

Sugar
Hawai'i va Oklahoma

Fiesta
West Virginia vs. Michigan

BCS Championship
Ohio State vs. LSU

Notice that I left Illinois out, they finished 3rd in the Big 10 and got to a BCS bowl? How is that?

I would have sent the Jayhawks to the Cotton Bowl to face (and likely beat Arkansas) and Illinois would have gotten clobbered by Florida in the Capital One Bowl.

Also, since I live in Ohio I get my overdose of Buckeye coverage, I'm already getting sick of hearing the poor pitiful us carping from the Ohio State fans and to some extent the players who are whining that they are the underdog with an unfair burden of having to beat LSU in its own backyard. If my memory serves me correct Ohio State is the #1 team and if they are the champion that they like to say that they are (something that they do so often) they should be ready to go into any venue and win. Not everything will be cooked up to your liking Buckeye nation, deal with it and play. If you're the champion that you say you are, you will win regardless of where and who you play.

Hey, thats just my humble opinion so lets look at the NFL now. Oh and I know I forgot to put my Phat Dap and Head Slap in on Wednesday. I'll bring that back next week.

I gave capsules on each teams strengths and weaknesses now its time to get down to business. New England, Indy, Dallas and Green Bay all sit on their respective couches and barcoloungers this week and let "the lower creatures" fight it out for the right to come to their cribs and houses of pain next weekend. I remember when the wild card weekend was two games on Sunday that usually featured a 9-7 vs a 10-6 team that would be fodder for a divisional champ the next week. Now the last two Super Bowl winners have played that extra game in the wild card round and used it as a springboard to the Super Bowl. The top seeded team in either conference hasn't won the Super Bowl since 2003 and only three times in the past ten years, so history is actually against the teams sitting out this weekend.
As usual the odds are provided courtesy of Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.

Saturday, January 5

NFC Wild Card Game
Redskins (9-7 Wild Card, #6 Seed) @ Seahawks (10-6 NFC West Champ, #3 Seed)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:30 (NBC)
Favorite Seahawks by 3½
Fast Facts The Seahawks beat the Redskins 20-10 in the 2005 NFC Divisional round. Over the last four games the Redskins have given up a league best 71.8 yards rushing a game.
The Redskins come into this game on a serious roll, having needed to win every game after a 5-7 start to get here. They have used the resurgence of Todd Collins and the redoubtable running of Clinton Portis to win their last four and are the keys to a Redskin vicotry. The Seahawks won an extremely weak NFC West for the fourth straight time, they will look to the solid play of Matt Hasselbeck who has had to compensate for the disappointing play of Shawn Alexander. The Seahawks will look to their rowdy home crowd, the Seahawks were 7-1 at home to give them a boost. This game smacks of an upset waiting to happen, but I cant see the Redskins riding their emotions this long.
Pick-Seattle

AFC Wild Card Game
Jaguars (11-5 Wild Card #5 Seed) @ Steelers (10-6 AFC North Champs, #4 Seed)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:00 (NBC)
Favorite Jaguars by 2½
Fast Facts The Steelers are hosting their first playoff game since losing the 2004 AFC Championship to the Pats. The Jags set an AFC playoff record for points in their last playoff win (62-7 vs Miami in the '99 AFC Divsional round)
The Jags are not a typical warm weather team, they are built for a ground pounding down and dirty type game. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor provide an excellent 1-2 punch in the Jags running game. David Garrard is a solid game manager who has a sneaky good arm. The Steelers are their usual battle tested team, but they are hurting. Najeh Davenport is being counted on to fill in for the injured Willie Parker and the offensive line is hurting as well. Factor in a host of injuries on the defensive side including walking wounded Troy Palomalu and the Steelers look lucky to have held off the Browns for their divisional title. The Steelers are by no means a pushover but the Jags outslugged a healthier Steeler squad in the snow three weeks ago, I don't see why it cant happen again. Ignore all the yapping that has begun to emanate from tthe Steelers saying that the Jags won't sneak up on them again, they won't have to.
Pick-Jacksonville

Sunday, January 6

NFC Wild Card Game
Giants (10-6 Wild Card, #5 Seed) @ Buccaneers (9-7 NFC South Champs, #4 Seed)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Facts Jeff Garcia is facing the Giants in the playoff with his third different team (SF, 2002, Phil 2006) Eli Manning is 0-2 in the playoffs.
The Giants impressed many with their strong play against the Pats, but then you are left to wonder are they able to get up emotionally for the Bucs. The inconsistent play of Eli Manning is the one thing that will dog the G-Men. Brandon Jacobs provides tough inside running while the emergence of Ahmad Bradshaw as a chance of pace provides critical depth. The Bucs are a hard team to figure out, they lack a real threat a RB, Earnest Graham is decent but hardly a super threat. Jeff Garcia is a battle tested vet, but his inconsistent play and the lack of a real threat at WR make you wonder how this team got nine wins. The two teams have been yapping at one another and Ronde Barber's comments about Eli Manning were about as ill-timed as one could get. The Bucs are plenty tough in the playoff at home, but the Giants are playing well and are 7-1 on the road. Eli may not be the hero in this game, but he won't be the goat.
Pick-New York Giants

AFC Wild Card Game
Titans (10-6, #6 Seed) @ Chargers (11-5 AFC West Champs, #3 Seed)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:30 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 10
Fast Facts The Chargers have lost their last three home playoff games, The Titans have never won a playoff game on the west coast
The Chargers started slow but have gained momentum and roll into the postseason having won 10 of their last twelve after a 1-3 start. Someone clued Norv Turner in to the fact that he had an all-pro RB on his roster and that he needed to use him a few times. Philip Rivers while not flashy has developed into a fairly effective game manager and the Chargers underrated but solid defense has played well led by the superior play of Shawne Merriman. The Titans needed every break that they got to get to the postseason. A weak running game, Vince Young erratic play and a Jekyll and Hyde tendency had them at 6-5 after a devestating blowout loss in Cincinnati. The Titans ground out four wins in their last five and snuck past the Browns to snatch the last playoff berth. One can never be sure of which team will show up. This is the same team that has these same Chargers behind the eight-ball in Nashville a few weeks ago and blew a 14 point lead to lose in OT. That team was a lot healthier, they won't get the opportunity to jump on the Chargers again. Look for the Chargers to establish a strong presence from LT and use their fast pursuing defense to pressure a hobbled Vince Young into a mistake or three.
Pick-San Diego

Last Week 12-4 (Upset and Lock Correct)
Regular Season Total 163-93(.637 correct)(15-2 Locks, 5-12 Upsets)

I'll review the weekends games on Monday and give an indepth preview of the BCS title game. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Apologies are in order and NFL Playoff Odds

2008-01-03T14:52:00.000-05:00

I should pen an open letter to the teams, fans and supporters of Mizzou, West Virginia and Michigan I really didn't think that any of those teams would show up for their respective bowl games. Especially West Virginia after Rich Rodriguez's messy exit and hiring at Michigan after their head coach retired under pressure. And I thought Mizzou would pout after getting shafted out of a BCS berth.
Boy was I wrong.
Michigan finally played like the strong team that they were supposed to be in the preseason and outgunned Florida. I should know better than to pick a Heisman winning QB.
Mizzou took its BCS snub out on Arkansas and ran them out of the Cotton Bowl. Who was that masked man that made the performance of Darren McFadden look so very average. If you had of told me that Chase Daniel would only have 136 yaards passing, I'd have said that the Tigers would have gotten stomped. Instead Tony Temple carried them on his back with a shocking 281 yards and 4 scores to lead the Tigers to a shockingly easy rout of the Hogs.
And finally may I offer a mea culpa to West Virginia who in spite of the departure of their coach and the injury to their top running back Steve Slaton, the Mountaineers ran roughshod on the Sooners who are fast becoming a BCS punch line. Pat White and Noel Devine just kept running and running and running and flat ran the Sooners out of the Fiesta Bowl. The win virtually earned Bill Stewart a head coaching job in Morgantown, and though I think that Stewart is s decent hire it might not have been the best hire. I'm sure that WVA in such a hurry to put the Rodriguez mess behind them but still have some continutity to his succesful tenure grasped at the first thing that looked appealing. I personally think that Terry Bowden would have been a better choice but Mountaineer nation seems pretty enthused by the win and the hire. Best of luck to them.

Time to step it up, step it up. It's Playoff Time!-Chuck D on Janet Jackson's song New Agenda

From 32 to 12 now the fun begins, all teams are legit Super Bowl contenders. No 8-8 backing in thankfully all but 2 of the teams having won at least ten games

Lets look at all 12 teams and the chances that Princess Katie will see their fans in her area the first week of February.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE (teams listed by playoff seeding)

New England Patriots AFC #1 Seed
Head Coach Bill Belichick 16-0 AFC East Champs
Strengths: The passing game of Tom Brady is simply frightening. The addition of a revitalized Randy Moss has seemed to add octanes to an already potent offense. Brady's 50 touchdown passes, 23 to Moss is only a part of the story. Wes Welker's team record and AFC co-leading 113 catches give Brady a dangerous secondary weapon to throw to. The defense while a bit rubbery can make the big play. Vets Tedy Bruschi and Junior Seau lead a smart savy squad and though he may play a bit on the dirty side at times Rodney Harrison is a big hitting big play force in the secondary
Weaknesses: If the Pats have one, its under utilized running game. Laurence Maroney is a solid running back but has under 1000 yards on the year. The Pats simply have no real use for his talents, but he can be a factor.
Odds on getting to Arizona: 5-2

Indianapolis Colts AFC #2 Seed
Head Coach Tony Dungy 13-3 AFC South Champs
Strengths: The potent offense led by the incomparable Peyton Manning is as good as it gets. Few if any QB's are as prepared as Manning. Reggie Wayne has stepped up nicely in the absence of Marvin Harrison who has been bothered by a knee injury all season. The full season health of Bob Sanders in the Colts secondary has been a real plus.
Weaknesses: The injury bug has bitten and hard, if the Colts want to get through the monsters in the Northeast they need to have all hands on deck.
Odds on Getting to Arizona 3-1

San Diego Chargers AFC #3 Seed
Head Coach Norv Turner 11-5 AFC West Champs
Strengths: When Turner realized that he had a future hall of famer at his disposal the Chargers really got rolling. LaDainian Tomlinson is the heart and sould of the Chargers offense. Philip Rivers is decent but is also smart enough not to force the action.
Weaknesses: The Chargers are playoff jinxed, despite having three sucessive home playoff games they have won none and Norv Turner has little postseason experience.
Odds on getting to Arizona 8-1

Pittsburgh Steelers AFC #4 Seed
Head Coach Mike Tomlin 10-6 AFC North Champs
Stregnths: The defense keeps the rugged Steelers in many a game, and Big Ben Roethlisberger is a savvy QB that does what is needed to get his team in to scoring opportunities. Big Ben's favorite target Hines Ward is always a threat from anywhere on the field.
Weaknesses: This is another team that has been hit haard by the injury bug. This is a team that is dangerously thin at key positions and leaves Tomlin no room poor play. The loss of Willie Parker hampers the once potent running game. Najeh Davenport, while capable in short bursts may not be the long term playoff answer.
Odds on Getting to Arizona 20-1

Jacksonville Jaguars AFC #5 Seed
Head Coach Jack Del Rio 11-5 AFC Wild Card
Strengths: This is a team that can and will run you into the ground. Vet Fred Taylor and youngster Maurice Jones-Drew are scoring threat from anywhere on the field. The defense is underrated but full of ballhawking potential
Weaknesses: David Garrard is young and the playoffs can be brutal to young QB's
Odds on getting to Arizona 15-1

Tennessee Titans #6 Seed
Head Coach Jeff Fischer 10-6 AFC Wild Card
Strengths: Head coach Jeff Fischer has been to the playoffs and has the wherewithal to keep his realatively young team composed
Weaknesses: Vince Young while showing flashes of potential has regressed from his breakout rookie year, also this team is battling numerous injuries that a young team can ill afford
Odds on getting to Arizona 25-1

NATIIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE

Dallas Cowboys #1 Seed
Head Coach Wade Phillips 13-3 NFC East Champs
Strengths: Start from the potent offense and a defense that seems to make the big play when need be. Tony Romo is maturing into a big play QB and if Terrell Owens is healthy they are a deadly combo. Jason Witten is fast growing into an elite TE and a dependable checkdown for Romo
Weaknesses: This is a team that despite winning 13 games is maddeningly inconsistent. They leave teams in games that they should blow out and have a nasty tendency to mind wander at times.
Odds on getting to Arizona 3-1

Green Bay Packers NFC #2 Seed
Head Coach Mike McCarthy 13-3 NFC North Champs
Strengths: A year after fighting the rumors that he was over the hill Brett Favre has once again reminded football pundits why he is one of the elite QB's As he goes so will the team. Donald Driver is the possession man while young Greg Jennings is a valuable deep threat.
Weaknesses: The emergence of Ryan Grant has covered a serious flaw in the Packers offense and curiously this is a team that doesn't play well in the cold. The fact that they may have to go to Dallas where Favre has never won is also a big hurdle
Odds on getting to Arizona 2-1

Seattle Seahawks NFC #3 Seed
Head Coach Mike Holgren 10-6 NFC West Champs
Strengths: Matt Hasselbeck is one of the most underrated QB's in the game, he has developed into a gutty, savvy QB and if the Seahawks are to make any noise in the playoffs it will be on his play. The defense while not full of big names and big plays can step up when needed.
Weaknesses: The noticeable drop off of Shawn Alexander has hurt a once dominant running game.
Odds on getting to Arizona 12-1

Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFC #4 Seed
Head Coach Jon Gruden 9-7 NFC South Champs
Strengths: A strong Jeff Garcia, battled tested and playoff savvy will be the rock that the Bucs must lean on if they want to get
Weaknesses: This is a young team and the lack of a credible running game (Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham are decent but not gamebreakers) may hurt them if Garcia starts slow
Odds on getting to Arizona 25-1

New York GiantsNFC #5 Seed
Head Coach Tom Coughlin 10-6 NFC Wild Card
Strengths: A hard charging defense led by ageless Michael Strahan and the emergence of Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck give the G-Men a real presence. Brandon Jacobs has potential and young Ahmad Bradshaw is developing into a capable backup
Weaknessses: The inconsistent play of Eli Manning is a serious bugaboo. He played well in the season ending loss to the Pats, but one can never be sure if he will play tough or scared and one bad game in January could be a teams last game of the year.
Odds on getting to Arizona 15-1

Washington Redskins NFC #6 Seed
Head Coach Joe Gibbs 9-7 NFC Wild Card
Strengths: A deep team unity after the death of Sean Taylor and the emergence of Todd Collins gave the Skins a fierce closing rush that got them to the playoffs. Clinton Portis is reemerging as an elite back at the right time.
Weaknesses: One has to wonder how long they can ride emotion, the Skins have an tendency to play inconsistent and that is dangerous come playoff time.
Odds on getting to Arizona 20-1

I'll preview the matchups for the Wild Card Weekend tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

2008...Lets Get Started

2008-01-02T13:41:00.000-05:00

Didn't get drunk, didn't end up with a lampshade on my head on New Years Eve. I just watched football, basketball and hockey all day on New Years. Though it does seem like there are less games on New Years than it used to be.
Now you know why I stick to picking Pro games instead of college games, I'm not making excuse for the plethora of incorrect picks. I should have known better than to pick any entity associated with Bobby Petrino, and I apologize to Michigan. I should have had more faith.
Was I the only one that was seriously digging on the Winter Classic yesterday? That was the essence of cool and radical. Outside game, in the elements. I've been to Buffalo and know how the weather is up there in the winter. The NHL could use pub like this more often. The game might have dragged some with all the resurfacing of the ice but it was a fun game to watch. I still maintain that hockey is better to watch live though.
Wait a minute... USC and Georgia just scored again.
Everyone here knows about how much I detest the political machine that is the BCS, never more was the flaws exposed than last nights pair of snooze fests that were the Rose and Sugar Bowls. I watched truncated versions of Kill Bill rather than sit through those abominations. USC & Georgia should have been facing off, Hawai'i should have had Mizzou to play and Illinois should have been in the Cotton. Each of those snooze fests would have looked a lot better with those matchups. And Mizzou would have been rightly rewarded with a BCS trip.

There are a few more college bowls to look at still

TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL
#4 Oklahoma (11-2) vs #9 West Virginia (10-2)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite Oklahoma by 6
Fast Fact: West Virginia will be coached by interim coach Bill Stewart, interim coach are 0-5 so far in bowl games this year.
Oklahoma returns to the scene of a painful loss. Last year they were the victim of Cinderella Boise State and their stirring gadget play laden comeback. This team comes in to this years BCS bowl game on a roll and with a better offense than they had last year, averaging 43.8 points a contest 3rd in the nation. The Mountaineers are still reeling from their shocking upset from Pitt that cost them a BCS title shot and the sudden departure of Rich Rodriguez to Michigan. Steve Slaton is still a marquee back but he has had a couple of so-so games. The Sooners can counter with tailback Patrick Allen and the efficent passing of Sam Bradford. I think the Sooners are the better team and the Mountaineers while talented are still in turmoil over their former coaches sudden exit.
Pick-Oklahoma

Thursday January 3

FEDEX ORANGE BOWL
#3 Virginia Tech (11-2) vs #8 Kansas (11-1)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 8:00 (FOX)
Favorite Virginia Tech by 3
Fast Fact This is Kansas first bowl game in January since the 1968 Orange Bowl
A lot of pundits, including myself think that Kansas should be apologizing to the college football world for getting invited to the Orange Bowl. They lost a Big 12 North Showdown with Mizzou for their first loss, but despite not getting to their conference title game still get a BCS bowl bid. Kansas is plenty entertaining scoring better than 44 points a game. Todd Reesing has the arm to get the Jayhawks up and down the field but he faces a formidable task dealing with Frank Beamer's legendary tough Hokie defense that gives up but 15.5 points a game.
I've always had mad respect for the Hokies and while the Jayhawks are a feel-good story, they are not ready for the big-play ballhawking, roughneck highspeed defense the Hokies bring.
Pick-Virginia Tech

Saturday January 5th

INTERNATIONAL BOWL
Ball State (7-5) vs Rutgers (7-5)
Rogers Centre; Toronto, Canada 12:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Rutgers by 10
Fast Fact Rutgers has qualified for 3 straight bowls the longest streak in school history
The Scarlet Knights were an preseason dark horse to make a BCS bowl, but fell hard. They still have the breathtaking running of Ray Rice and a defense that can force a turnover or three. They will present a real test for one of the better college QB you've never heard of. Nate Davis has thrown for over 3300 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Knights can pound the ball and control the clock, a deadly combination.
Pick-Rutgers

Sunday, January 6th

GMAC BOWL
Bowling Green (8-4) vs Tulsa (9-4)
Ladd-Peebles Stadium; Mobile, AL 8:00 ESPN
Favorite Tulsa by 4.5
Fast Fact Bowling Green has been to three bowls in five years
Both these teams like to throw and then some, Golden Hurricane QB Paul Smith has thrown for 4753 yards and 42 TDs, The Falcons counter with Tyler Sheehan who has thrown for over 3100 yards and 23 scores. This is not a game for the defensive minded. I think the Falcons will have trouble with Tulsa's spread offense and not keep up with the wild scoring that will keep the scoreboard operator quite buy.
Pick-Tulsa

Previous Pick Set 5-7
Overall 13-16

I'll preview the NFL playoffs tomorrow and give you each teams chances of getting to Glendale for the Super Bowl. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The SupaDupa Bowl Pick Post....2007's Finale

2007-12-31T12:17:00.000-05:00

The Pats...what can you say?
12-4 to finish the season strong makes me feel better, as well as my lock and upset pick coming through like I said, but I'm not braggin...
With a little more than 12 hours left in 2007, I have so much to do, not least of which is my bowl picks, which have been coming up some kind of rotten this year. Oh well, the pros are more my forte and you can be sure that I will have indepth analysis and picks for those as well. But some quick thoughts on the recently concluded NFL season.

I'll hand out final grade cards after the Super Bowl, postseason work does figure into my grades, so I figure it would be better to give out all 32 grades at once. Still recognition has to be given to some teams.

New England
These cats are going where no one has gone before. But there are still some haters. Witness Bob Kuchenberg, a lineman on that great '72 Dolphins squad who tried to downplay the Pats achievement. Stating that they can never be better only equal and they were the first team and should get more credit. Lets not say anything about the weak division that they were in and the team that they blasted twice on their way to their perfect season was a 3-11 New England team. But enough of the haters, the Pats should be rightly lionized for their accomplishment, but the real season begins in 12 days if the Pats don't win it all they will lambasted as chokers.

Houston
8-8 could get you as high as 2nd in some divisions in the rugged AFC South it puts you in last. The plucky Texans have shed the expansion pushover status and are fast becoming a dangerous team. Too bad they are stuck in the NFL's deepest and toughest division, they would be a playoff team in any other division.

Washington
You have to give some dap to Joe Gibbs whom the media honks and wonks were trying to put out to pasture after the time out debacle against Buffalo, but the Skins rallied and charged into the playoffs winning four ultra critical games to storm past the badly fading Vikings in to the postseason. The Skins may not get far, but they are a feelgood story. Gibbs is still a decent coach and the Skins are using the tragic murder of Sean Taylor as a rallying cry to make a team unified.

On the other hand you have some teams that should be ashamed most notably

Cincinnati
The Bengals looked like a team full of promise, they were instead full of hot air, dissention some infighting, puzzling losses and a ton of injuries derailed a once promising season into a 7-9 campaign. Marvin Lewis has stated that there may be some changes but this team has got to get a lot more mature and cash in that talent.

Baltimore
This was a 13 win team last year? This team got old in a hurry and went from a bully to a bum in a blink of an eye. Steve McNair seemed three steps slower and the once proud defense got soft. Brian Billick's job is supposedly safe but this is a team so bad, Miami got their lone win from them.

Minnesota
I'm a bit conflicted here. This is a team that has a bright future with Adrian Peterson and CHester Taylor at RB and a stout run defense. But their questions at QB undoubtedly cost them a playoff spot. I have said it before Tavaris Jackson is not an NFL caliber quarterback and he proved it in critical losses to the Skins and Broncos to finish out an 8-8 season that should have been a playoff year. Brad Childress saved his job for now, but if he insists on sticking with Jackson long term he wont be around for long.

OK, now with the pros out of the way (Playoff picks on Friday) lets look at the bevy of college bowl games on tap for the next two days. I'll cover all the Post New Years Day bowl games on the 2nd and the BCS title game on the 5th

December 31

BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL
Air Force (9-3) vs California (6-6)
Amon Carter Stadium; Fort Worth, TX 12:30 ESPN
Favorite California by 4½
Fast Fact Air Force makes it first bowl appearance in five years
This isn't the Air Force squad you're used to seeing, no longer the triple option team it once was. The Falcons can still run as Chad Hall ran for over 1400 yards. The Bears started 5-0 and were talking BCS until a 3 game slide ended all talk of that and the Bears only won one of their last 7. Nate Longshore has had some time to shake off a sore ankle and has thrown for over 2500 yards, still you have to think that the Bears are lucky to be here while the Falcons are excited to be in a bowl. Motivation is a strong factor here.
Pick-Air Force

ROADY'S HUMANITARIAN BOWL
Fresno State (8-4) vs Georgia Tech (7-5)
Bronco Stadium; Boise, ID 2:00 (ESPN2)
Favorite Georgia Tech by 6
Fast Fact Both teams have won their only other appearances in this bowl game
The Bulldogs are familiar with the smurf turf, having battled WAC rival Boise State the YellowJackets are waiting on their new coach as the former Navy head coach Paul Johnson will take over next year until then defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta will guide the Ramblin Wreck. Tech's defense is a big play ballhawking type that will force the issue. Both teams run very well and are ranked in the top 20 nationally, Tech's Tashard Choice led the ACC in rushing and will be the big factor in this game. The combination of Tech's defense and Choice's running should wear the Bulldogs down.
Pick-Georgia Tech

SUN BOWL#21 South Florida (9-3) vs Oregon (8-4)
Sun Bowl; El Paso, TX 2:00 (CBS)
Favorite South Florida by 6
Fast Fact South Florida DE George Selvie needs one tackle for a loss to set the NCAA record
One of the better matchups of the bowl season, both the Bulls and Ducks have high powered spread offenses. The Ducks fell hard and fast after losing Dennis Dixon to a season ending knee injury and after backup Brady Leaf was hurt against UCLA seemed to be putting out want ads for a quarterback. Redshirt freshmen Cody Kempt or Justin Roper may get the starting nod. This puts even more pressure on RB Jonathan Stewart to carry the offensive load. The Bulls have dual threat Matt Groethe to rely on, call him Tim Tebow lite he can run (10 TDS) and throw (13TDS) He does throw a few picks though and the Ducks can keep it close if they force bad throws, but I don't think that the Ducks offense has recovered from the loss of their dynamic QB and it will show.
Pick-South Florida

GAYLORD HOTELS MUSIC CITY BOWL
Florida State (7-5) vs Kentucky (7-5)
LP Field, Nashville 4:00 ESPN
Favorite Kentucky by 9
Fast Fact The Seminoles are making their 26th straight bowl appearance.
Call this the attrition bowl, the Seminoles are leaving 26 players at home in the wake of a cheating scandal. The Wildcats have a couple players of their own suspended but not to the scale that the Seminoles have. This might have been a fairly even game with a slight edge to Kentucky with their fabulous passing game led by Andre Woodson, but the Seminoles losses have exacerbated this. The Wildcats have not won back to back postseason games in 55 years, that streak will end today
Pick-Kentucky

INSIGHT BOWL
Oklahoma State (6-6) vs Indiana (7-5)
Sun Devil Stadium; Tempe AZ 5:30 (NFLN)
Favorite Oklahoma State by 5
Fast Fact The Hoosiers are making their first bowl appearance since 1993
The Hoosiers are playing like gangbusters in memory of their recently deceased former coach Terry Hoeppner and are plenty motivated. The Cowboys Mike Gundy made headlines with his classic meltdown earlier in the year but his Pokes are no better than they were last year, 6-6 and in danger of a losing season. The Hoosiers are led by Kellen Lewis and his passing should be the difference
Pick-Indiana

CHICK-FIL-A PEACH BOWL
#15 Clemson (9-3) vs #23 Auburn (8-4)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 7:30 ESPN
Favorite Clemson by 2
Fast Fact These two teams have played each other often, 45 times since 1899
This clash of the Tigers is the last game of the calendar and has plenty of intrigue. Clemson has a potent, balanced offense with James Davis and CJ Spiller sharing the bulk of the running duties. Cullen Harper is a solid QB that has tossed a school record 27 TDs this year. Auburn has a hard charging stingy defense that has been hampered by the losses of OLB's Tremaine Billie and Nick Watkins who were declared academically ineligble. Those losses will hurt Auburn more than it can make up.
Pick-Clemson

Tuesday January 1, 2008

OUTBACK BOWL
#18 Wisconsin (9-3) vs #16 Tennessee (9-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 11:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Tennessee by 1½
Fast Fact This is Wisconsin third appearance in the Outback Bowl (0-2)
A pair of young but rising teams square of in the calendar years first game.
The Vols are led by senior QB Erik Ainge who has tossed 29 TD and over 3100 yards. The Vols have a young defense that gives up a number of big plays. The Vols are also dealing with the imminent departure of offensive coordinatior David Cutcliffe to Duke. The Badgers are a stout Big Ten team that is suprisingly soft on defense. Badger RB PJ Hill is a definite TD threat in a game that is really too close to call.
Pick-Tennessee

COTTON BOWL
#6 Missouri (11-2) vs Arkansas (8-4)
Cotton Bowl, Dallas 11:30 (FOX)
Favorite Missouri by 3
Fast Fact Retring Arkansas AD Frank Broyles once was head coach of Missouri
Shafted out of the BCS bowl, Mizzou has a right to brood. The Tigers face the potent running attack of junior RB Darren McFadden who is the engine of the Hogs offense. Chase Daniel threw for better than 4100 yards and like McFadden was also a Heisman candidate. The Hogs may take advantage of the Tigers bowl inexperience and their possible pouting over a BCS snub. This may be McFadden's last college game and he'll want to shine for the pro scouts.
Pick-Arkansas

CAPITAL ONE BOWL
#12 Florida (9-3) vs Michigan (8-4)
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando 1:00 (ABC)
Favorite Florida by 10½
Fast Fact: These storied college teams have only met one before, in 2002 (Michigan 38-30 in the Outback Bowl)
Heisman winner Tim Tebow will try to shake the supposed Heisman QB Jinx (QB winners are 5-7 in bowls since 1980) as he leads a decent Gator squad against Michigan. The Wolverines have plenty of talent. Chad Henne is a capable QB and Mike Hart is a scoring threat from anywhere on the field, but both are susceptable to injuries. The Wolverines want badly to send retiring coach Lloyd Carr out with a win. The Gators are well aware of the Wolverines troubles with mobile QB's Vince Young, Troy Smith, Dennis Dixon and Appy State's Armanti Edwards all ran wild against the slower Michigan D. As much as I love the Big Blue, I'm seeing a painful repeat
Pick-Florida

GATOR BOWL
Texas Tech (8-4) vs #20 Virginia (9-3)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Texas Tech by 6
Fast Fact The Red Raiders were sixth in the nation in offensive scoring
Classic opposite meet here, the Red Raiders are led by Graham Harrell who threw for a mind boggling 5298 yards (thats not a misprint) and 45 touchdowns equally impressive was his favorite target Michael Crabtree who caught 125 and 21 touchdowns. The Cavs hope to use their solid defense led by DE Chris Long, son of NFL hall of Famer Howie. The Cavs have held their opponents to under 19 points a game and have won five games by 1 or 2 points, a NCAA record. The Cavs had best keep this game low scoring and close. The word here says that they can't
Pick-Texas Tech

ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI
#13 Illinois (9-3) vs #7 Southern Cal (10-2)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA 4:30 (ABC)
Favorite USC by 13½
Fast Fact USC is playing in the Rose Bowl for the third straight year
An old school Big 10-Pac 10 Rose Bowl features a team used to being here (USC) and a surprise team (Illinois) The Trojans are that same old punch you in the mouth team with good running and solid passing. The return to health of John David Booty will be a boon to the Trojans. Meanwhile the Illini live on the freewheeling style of Juice Williams. The Illini opened a lot of eyes with their stunning upset of top ranked Ohio State but the Trojans should be able to umm..keep the Juice from getting loose.
Pick-USC

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL
#10 Hawai'i (12-0) vs #5 Georgia (10-2)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 8:30 (FOX)
Favorite Georgia by 7½
Fast Fact This is the Rainbow Warriors second ever bowl game on the mainland
This should be called the anger bowl. Both teams feel slighted, the Bulldogs are annoyed that they aren't playing a week later in the Big Easy and the Warriors wonder why their unbeaten mark doesn't get them more love from the BCS. Both teams are very good and this will make for an exciting game. Colt Brennan can and will throw the ball all over the place and put the points up. The Bulldogs have an impressive freshman RB in Knowshon Moreno as well as highly underrated senior RB Thomas Brown who give the Bulldogs a nasty 1-2 punch and can control the clock. The Warriors want to sell themselves as a latter day Boise State with the pluck and ambition to knock off a highly rated big name team. I'm not buying it this year.
Pick-Georgia

Previous Pick Set: 4-3
Overall: 8-9

I don't wear stupid hats, I might blow one of those silly horns or something like that, but I just want to wish everyone a safe, sane and happy new year. I'm wishing everyone the same thing, A great '08!

Until next year Fellow Sports Fans!

Week 17 Picks with more college bowl picks mixed in

2007-12-28T17:45:00.000-05:00

I've been editing this post like crazy, so if you come back and see more things added on, its not because I'm trying to revise history. I'm trying to put more stuff on one post so I don't pad my posting stats with little posts. All of the posts encompass the Saturday and Sunday Pro and College football games, I apologize for any confusion this may cause, so hold onto your hats...

Starting first with the NFL, the curtain is about to close on the 2007 season and there is little drama to be had on the last weekend. Aside from the Pats gunning for a historical finish to their incredible regular season. Most of the teams that are going to play in January are resting players for their games next week, so you might see some no names getting big numbers. Thus it makes some of these games hard to call. Your humble scribe seeks to better his 2006 overall showing and unless I totally tank the week and fail to get five (something that could happen, mind you) I should exceed my 156 of last year. No Monday Night game this week as to not potentially handicap any team going into the wildcard round, so after the end of the Colts-Titan game,thankfully flexed from an orgininally scheduled abysmal Chiefs-Jets matchup. The lines are as usual provided by Yahoo Sports, you know the drill. The playoff implications are posted only for the games that have them.

Saturday, December 29

Patriots (15-0) @ NY Giants (10-5)
Giants Stadium; E. Rutherford, NJ 8:15 (NFLN, CBS, NBC)
Favorite Patriots by 13 ½
Fast Fact: This is the first NFL broadcast to be shown on multiple networks since Super Bowl I
The magnitude of history finally got to Mr. Goddell not Sen. Kerry and the decision was made to show this potentially historic game nationawide. The Pats are shooting for a host of records and despite their usual downplaying of such are now very cognizant of the what history they have on their back. Many people think that the G-Men who are locked into the #5 spot and know who the Bucs will be their playoff opponent next week will play the low-key role so as to not give away too much. I think that will be the case and the Pats write their names in the stars. Hey Mercury, the Pats are in your town and have located your subdivision.
Pick-New England

Sunday, December 30

Bills (7-8 ) @ Eagles (7-8 )
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Eagles by 7½
Fast Fact: Donovan McNabb has not thrown an interception in the three games he has played since returning from injury.
Both teams are playing out the string, but the Eagles seemed to take great delight in messing up playoff hopes of various teams in the past couple weeks and have been playing very well. The Bills have seemed to lose their focus and their play has reflected it. The Eagles will finish like the playoff team that they were last year.

Pick-Philadelphia

Panthers (6-9) @ Buccaneers (9-6)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Panthers by 3
Fast Fact: The Panthers have won four straight in Tampa
The Bucs are trying to play this one close to the vest to keep from giving away too much for their upcoming wild card game against the Giants. The Panthers just want a disastrous season to be over with. The Bucs puzzling decision to lift many of their starters in the 2nd half against the Niners may repeat itself in this game. I know this pick may make no sense, but the Bucs are unconcerned about this game. I think the decision will come back to haunt them.
Pick-Carolina

Bengals (6-9) @ Dolphins (1-14)
Dolphin Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Bengals by 3
Fast Fact The Bengals have not won in Miami since 1968 their first season
The Bengals got some satisfaction from an otherwise disappointing season by crippling the Browns playoff hopes last week. They are wary of coming out flat against a Miami squad looking to put on its best face for its new czar of football Bill Parcells. This game will be tight and one of the better played of the early set of games. I’ll probably regret this pick, but the Bengals have the talent and should finish strong.
Pick-Cincinnati

Lions (7-8 ) @ Packers (12-3)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 4
Fast Fact Brett Favre has yet to lose to the Lions at home, the Lions last win at Lambeau was 1991.
The Pack laid a big fat egg in Chicago and cost themselves a shot at home field advantage. The Lions once again are feeling froggy after beating a hapless Chief squad in an ugly game. The Pack are locked into the #2 spot and have nothing to play for, but would rather not go into their playoff bye on a down note.
Pick-Green Bay

Jaguars (11-4) @ Texans (7-8 )
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Texans by 6½
Fast Fact The Texans are 7-3 outside of their division and winless in it.
The Jags are looking to keep everyone on their squad healthy before an anticipated matchup with either the Steelers or Chargers and will play it lowkey and give many their starters limited playing time. The Texans are fast improving, but are locked in the basement of the NFL’s toughest division. The Texans will play it like a playoff game and send their fans home happy with a win over another playoff team. I'm calling this an upset only because the Jags are a playoff bound team and they were one of the rare teams this year that came through for me on an upset call
Pick-Houston (Upset of the week)

Saints (7-8 ) @ Bears (6-9)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 2
Playoff Implications: Saints must win and get losses by Vikings and Redskins
Fast Fact: The Bears are the 5th team in the last 6 years to miss the playoffs the year after losing the Super Bowl.
Playing for their very lives, the Saints blew a big chance to stay in the middle of the playoff race with an ill-timed home finale loss. Needing a miracle of circumstances to get in, the Saints should play better and hope against hope for a miracle.
Pick-New Orleans

Seahawks (10-5) @ Falcons (3-12)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Falcons by 2½
Fast Fact The Falcons have lost their last five by an average of 22 points
The Seahawks win the criss-cross award for another cross country trip. Look for the Seahawks to rest many of their starters, but they have more than enough to beat the woeful Falcons who just want it to be all over.
Pick-Seattle

49ers (5-10) @ Browns (9-6)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Browns by 10
Fast Fact: The Browns have no say in their playoff status they await the outcome of the Tennessee-Indy game later in the day.
The Browns came out flat in Cincy and now are big Colts fans as they don’t control their playoff fate. The Niners are finishing strong but it won’t likely save Mike Nolan’s job. The Browns are the better team and despite the game having no bearing on their playoff fate will show it.
Pick-Cleveland

Cowboys (13-2) @ Redskins (8-7)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Redskins by 9½
Playoff Implications: Redskins clinch with win or Vikings loss
Fast Fact: With a victory the Cowboys would set a franchise record for wins.
The Pokes locked into the #1 spot are trying to get rested and ready for the playoffs and a possible high stakes meeting with the Packers next month. Normally they would relish a chance to knock their hated rivals out of the playoff race but in this case they could care less about this game and it will show. The Skins blew open their playoff door with a late rush and will charge through a door once thought to be all but closed three weeks ago.
Pick-Washington (Lock Of The Week)

Chiefs (4-11) @ NY Jets (3-12)
The Meadowlands; E. Rutherford, NJ 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Jets by 6½
Fast Fact: This is the only weekend that both the Jets and Giants will both play at home.
The Herman Edwards bowl will conclude a disappointing a season for these playoff teams of a year ago. Both teams have a knack for losing close games, this will be a game of who wants it less…Flip a coin on this one.
Pick-New York Jets

Vikings (8-7) @ Broncos (6-9)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Vikings by 3
Playoff Implications: Vikings clinch with win and Redskins loss
Fast Fact: This is the second time in the last five seasons that the Vikings have gone to the last weekend of the season to attempt to clinch a playoff berth.
The Vikings blew the most golden of opportunities to clinch a playoff spot with a lackluster primetime performance against the Redskins and will be scoreboard watching. The Broncos have the look of a team that packed it in long ago and are playing like it. The Vikes will get a win, but it will be rendered meaningless by events some 1700 miles to the east
Pick-Minnesota

Steelers (10-5) @ Ravens (4-11)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 3½
Playoff Implications: Steelers can clinch #3 playoff seed with win and Chargers loss
Fast Fact: The Ravens are one of three 2006 playoff teams that will finish this season with ten or more losses
Mike Tomlin likely sent Marvin Lewis a nice fruit basket for his teams timely defeat of the fast pursuing Browns. They would love nothing more than to tune up against a Ravens team that fell frighteningly fast from a 13 win team of a year ago. This game will be ugly.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Chargers (10-5) @ Raiders (4-11)
Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 8
Playoff Implications: Chargers can clinch #3 seed with win
Fast Fact: The Chargers have won the last meetings
Rounding nicely into playoff form, the Chargers thumped the Broncos and are looking to do the same against their hated NoCal rivals. The Raiders will finally give JaMarcus Russell the QB reins and his first start. Too bad he will face a Charger D that will pin its ears back and make life miserable for him.
Pick-San Diego

Rams (3-12) @ Cardinals (7-8 )
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Cardinals by 6
Fast Fact The Cards seven wins are the most for the franchise since 2001.
The Cards are trying to finish strong and have something to build on for 2008, the Rams are infighting and haven’t played a competitive game in some time. The Cards may very well treat this like a playoff game and have fun playing the bully.
Pick-Arizona

Titans (9-6) @ Colts (13-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite: Titans by 6
Playoff Implications: Titans clinch #6 seed with win
Fast Fact The Titans have lost eight of the last nine meetings
The weeks best game is the last one of the regular season as the Colts with really nothing to play for are trying to deny the Titans a playoff bid. Vince Young’s so-so play down the stretch hasn’t hurt the Titans yet. Peyton Manning will get a smidgen of work in this game and the Browns playoff hopes may rest on the arm of Jim Sorgi…sorry Cleveland your hearts get broken again.
Pick-Tennessee

Last Week: 10-6
Overall: 151-89

Turning now to the college game there are a few games to take in this weekend, the matchups run the gamut from interesting to sleep inducing. Not becuase of the names in the matchup, but because of the teams behind the names...

Saturday December 29

MEINEKE CAR CARE BOWL
#25 Connecticut (9-3) vs Wake Forest (8-4)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 ESPN
Favorite Wake Forest by 2
Fast Fact Demon Deacons making second consecutive bowl appearance for the first time in school history
Both of these teams are solid and play opportunistic. Both teams have young quartebacks whose play belie their age. Riley Skinner is a fairly solid QB but can be pressured into mistakes, not a good thing facing a ballhawking big play UConn defense that has 22 interceptions. If you watch this game, make a count of how many times the announcers mention how many bigger name school covet both the Huskies Randy Edsall and the Deacons Jim Grobe. I like that both coaches are staying where they are and this will be a good game. Wake is playing in its backyard but I like UConn's defense to force Skinner into bad decisions
Pick-Connecticut

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL
Mississippi State (7-5) vs Central Florida (10-3)
Liberty Bowl, Memphis 4:30 ESPN
Favorite Central Florida by 3
Fast Fact UCF RB Kevin Smith needs 181 yards to break Barry Sanders single season rushing mark of 2628 set in 1988
This may be your first chance to watch amazing RB Kevin Smith in action, his first carry of the 2007 season went for 80 yards and he seemingly hasn't stopped running yet. He will be the focal point of the game, but you have to give some dap to the Bulldogs Sylvester Croom and the Golden Knights George O'Leary. Much ado has been made about Croom being the first black head coach in the SEC, but he has slowly and quietly built the Bulldogs into a decent squad. O'Leary after having to resign from Notre Dame after his resume padding got exposed went to UCF and has developed a tough squad. MSU has a solid defense and will be the biggest test Smith has had to face. This will be a tight game, but I like the Bulldogs big game experience to carry the day.
Pick-Mississippi State

VALERO ALAMO BOWL
Penn State (8-4) vs Texas A&M (7-5)
Alamodome, San Antonio 8:00 ESPN
Favorite Penn State by 5
Fast Fact Nittany Lion Coach Joe Paterno coaches in his 500th game tonight, Aggie Coach Gary Darnell is coaching in his first.
Usually I try to stay neutral on analyzing games, but Texas A&M got on my bad side when one of their "yellers" made comments about Penn State Coach Joe Paterno being in a coffin or close to one. The 81 year old patriarch of the Penn State Football program deserves much more respect than that. Dis the Lions uniforms or blah style of football, but leave the great coach out of it.
The Aggies were blundering along in the wake of now resigned coach Dennis Franchione's insider recruiting newsletter and his subsequent dismissal over it but looked sharp in a shootout win over archrival Texas. Aggie QB Stephen McGee easily played his best game but will have a much tougher go against the Penn State defense, nationally ranked in points allowed and run defense. I believe that if you do dirt it comes back. I think the Nittany Lions come out with a chip on their shoulder about the Paterno comment and play a crisp game.
Pick-Penn State

Sunday December 30

PETRO SUN INDEPENDENCE BOWL
Alabama (6-6) vs Colorado (6-6)
Independence Stadium; Shreveport , LA 8:00 ESPN
Favorite Alabama by 3½
Fast Fact This is the Tide's 55th bowl appearance
A fellow TSN writer called this the worst bowl matchup of the bowl season and I'd have to agree. With apologies to my homegirl Loriebamafan on TSN.com, the Tide are a sorry excuse for a bowl team. They started 6-2 but a fall from ahead loss to LSU triggered a four game slide which included an embarrasing loss to Louisiana-Monroe. The Buffs looked like a decent bowl prospect at one time after upending future Big 12 champ Oklahoma, but they stumbled badly after a 4-2 start losing 3 of 4 before winning a wild 65-51 shootout with a sorry Nebraska team to just get to .500 and bowl eligible. Both teams have decent players to be sure. DJ Hall is a potential gamebreaking WR for the Tide and Hugh Charles is a solid if unspectacular RB for the Buffs, but this matchup will be a yawn fest. It'll be my luck that it'll be a triple overtime shootout, this is a coin flip game. My general loathing of Nick Saban may cloud my pick on this one though.
Pick-Alabama

Previous Pick Set: 2-2
Overall: 4-6

I'm gearing up for the biggest bowl preview of the series, which will be posted either Sunday or Monday 12 games on New Years Eve and New Years Day. I've got to do my research so I'll be off. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

A Bowling we will go...a bowling we will go

2007-12-26T14:40:00.000-05:00

Back after a nice Christmas, thankfully there was no squabbling with the relatives and I spent a majority of the day either eating or watching old school Looney Tunes cartoons. Not a bad combo for Christmas.
Anyhoo, the bowl season picks back up today and really ratchets up tommorrow and the Bandit has more bowl previews for you and of course the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week. ;)

The first set of bowl pick were not at all kind to your humble scribe. East Carolina? Florida Atlantic? Who knew? And anyone outside of New Mexico that thought the Lobos would pitch a shutout is flatout lying... Oh well, the Bearcats came through so I'm happy with that but I've got a prognasticating rep to protect.

Thursday December 27th

PACIFIC LIFE HOLIDAY BOWL
#11 Arizona State (9-3) vs #19 Texas (10-2)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Texas by 2½
Fast Fact The Longhorns make their 4th trip to the Holiday Bowl in 7 years
This used to be the so-called minor bowl before the big boys but now I think of it as the best bowl not in January. This matchup is no exception as you have a pair of top 20 teams with high powered passing offenses. The Longhorns seem to like coming to San Diego as this bowl and the Rose Bowl have been the Horns destination 6 of the last 8 years. Colt McCoy is a servicable QB but has a nasty tendency to throw the interception. The Sun Devils feel a bit slighted and thought they should have earned a BCS berth, QB Rudy Carpenter comes into the came hot having thrown 7 TDs and only 1 INT in his last five games.
The Holiday Bowl is more often than not a high scoring affair and this game will be no exception. I give the slightest of edges to the Sun Devils as their offense can put the points and yards up against a suspect Longhorn D and McCoy's predilection to throwing ill-timed picks.
Pick-Arizona State

Friday December 28

CHAMPS SPORTS BOWL
#14 Boston College (10-3) vs Michigan State (7-5)
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando 5:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Boston College by 4
Fast Fact Boston College owns the nations longest current bowl win streak having won all its bowl appearences this decade.
The Eagles limp into this game, having lost 3 of their last 5 after an 8-0 start. Matt Ryan was a top Heisman candidate but fell off badly. They face a bowl inexperienced team in the Spartans who last appeared in the 2003 Alamo Bowl. The Spartans rely on a balanced offense which can run well with Javon Ringer and pass capabaly with Brian Hoyer getting a good number of catches and yards from Big Ten receiving leader Devin Thomas. The Eagles have slumped but I doubt that the Spartans have the experience to tip the balance that much
Pick-Boston College

TEXAS BOWL
Houston (8-4) vs Texas Christian (7-5)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 8:00 (NFL Network)
Favorite TCU by 4½
Fast Fact: Both these teams were once longtime rivals in the old Southwest Conference
Both teams are staying in state for this bowl game. The Cougars will be riding the running of senior RB Anthony Alridge who rushed for 1568 yards and paces a nationally ranked running game that averages almost 240 yards a contest. The Horned Frogs will try to stop Alridge with all conference DE Chase Ortiz and try to control the clock themselves with a ball control offense. This looks to be a grind it out type game. The slight edge going to the Cougars playing virtually in their own backyard.
Pick-Houston

EMERALD BOWL
Maryland (6-6) vs Oregon State (8-4)
AT&T Park San Francisco 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Oregon State by 5
Fast Fact This is Oregon State's first meeting with an ACC team since the 1942 Rose Bowl.
There are a few things about this game that annoy me. First its being played in a baseball venue. I loath seeing a football game being bastardized by trying to squeeze it in to a place made for baseball. Second, it features a .500 team. Maryland. I know the Terps beat a pair of nationally ranked teams to strengthen its resume, but they are the definition of Jekyll and Hyde. The Beavers are also a bit schizophrenic but finished a bit stronger. Both teams like to run, I saw Beaver senior running back Yvenson Bernard play against Cincy in September and was unimpressed. Bernard does put up decent numbers (103.7 rushing yards per game) but is coming off minor knee surgery and could be rusty. The Terps also have a good running game, featuring Keon Lattimore and and Lance Ball both posting over 700 yards and double digit touchdowns each. The Terps have historically played well in bowls, but I'm just not sold on them coming cross country to beat the Beavers.
Pick-Oregon State

Overall Bowl Picks: 2-4

Phat Dap/Head Slap

PHAT DAP
It might sound a bit self serving, but I'm giving it to me. I won one of my fantasy football leagues The Great Midwest Football League (A Name that I will give up for a certain price to a certain collegiate league I have the copyright), this despite finishing 2nd in my division to an unbeaten team. I beat the team that beat the unbeaten squad. Wanna check out my title winning squad? Take a Look-See Here. The GMFL is a league I founded in 1990 and has been very competitive, though I have won my 6th title in 18 years. I am taking applications for two spots that will soon come open, drop me a private message with your qualifications and you might be able to get a spot.

HEAD SLAP
These go to two NFL teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Minnesota Vikings. Both these teams had chances to clinch a playoff berth by simply winning. The Browns came out flat against the Bengals and Derek Anderson threw four picks. This against a Bengals secondary that was starting two rookies! The Browns have to hope that a nothing to play for Colt team can down the Titans or the playoff berth that they fought so hard for will disappear. The Vikings also had a golden opportunity slip right through their fingers, but to lose at home to a beatable Redskins squad was shameful. Vikes coach Brad Childress stubbornly stayed with a ground game that was not working and QB Tavaris Jackson played a second poor game. This loss means that the Vikes are likely to be eliminated from the playoff race before they take the field in Denver. The Redskins have only to beat a Cowboys team that will likely rest numerous starters as they have nothing to play for to gain a once unlikely playoff berth.

More bowl previews on Friday and the NFL Picks as well. No Thursday NFL games to drop in, thank goodness. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Seasons Greetings & NFL Week 16 Picks

2007-12-22T17:47:00.000-05:00

Here are the rest of the weeks picks, posted later than usual as I was watching my beloved Bearcats complete their first ten win season in 56 years with a 31-21 win over Southern Miss. I’m hopeful for bigger and better things next season.
The picks have been so-so as of late, (I'm not complaining about a 10 win week mind you) but my goal of surpassing my total from last year and staying under 100 incorrect picks is still on schedule. With a majority of the playoff spots locked up there are few good games among the clunkers this week. But the gems are good ones and are thick with playoff rammifications. The odds are provided courtesy of Yahoo Sports and are for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I’ve been telling you for 16 weeks so I don’t think I have to remind you about leaving my name out of it if you get in too deep with Vinnie No-Neck, or 88 Fingers betting these lines..

Saturday, December 22

Cowboys (12-2) @ Panthers (6-8 )
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Cowboys by 10½
Playoff Implications: Cowboys have clinched first round bye and need win to stay in #1 playoff slot. Panthers need win and lots of help to remain in playoff contention.
Fast Fact: The Cowboys are unbeaten in 3 regular season trips to Charlotte, but winless in two postseason visits
The media has been waiting all year to jump on something that TO says or does, and they are taking his comments about Tony Romo’s arm candy a little too serious and are trying to blow it into a full blown controversy. The Pokes looked lethargic in a sloppy loss to the Eagles but should bounce back. The Panthers caught a playoff bound Seahawk squad napping but shouldn’t get as lucky against the Pokes.
Pick-Dallas

Sunday, December 23

Browns (9-5) @ Bengals (5-9)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 2½
Playoff Implications: The Browns clinch playoff spot with win or Tennessee loss, a Browns loss clinches the AFC North for Pittsburgh
Fast Fact: The winner of this game will lead the all time series which is currently tied at 34 wins apiece.
The Browns slugged and slogged through a wintry game with the Bills and have an outside chance of still claiming an AFC North title once thought to be an unreachable star. The Bengals are looking at the calendar and want it all to be over. Jamal Lewis has always run well on the Bengals and this should be no different.
Pick-Cleveland

Packers (12-2) @ Bears (5-9)
Soldier Field, Chicago 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 8
Playoff Implications: The Packers have clinched a bye and need to win and have Cowboys lose to move into #1 NFC playoff slot.
Fast Fact: Packers are 1 of 4 teams to have won at least 12 games in a season after 14 games, the last time this happened was 1968.
The Pack are rolling along but for some reason the Bears have played them tough. Though they looked a bit unsteady against the Vikes. Their QB situation is a mess and Kyle Orton is not the answer. The Pack, wary of a late season stumble that could cost them a shot at the #1 seed will be focused and ready. This game could get ugly and fast.
Pick-Green Bay

Texans (7-7) @ Colts (12-2)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 7
Playoff Implications: Texans need win and lots of help to stay in playoff contention, Colts are locked into #2 AFC playoff slot
Fast Fact: Colts are first team in NFL history to have at least 12 wins in 5 consecutive seasons.
The Colts are cruising to the postseason and have only to worry about staying healthy. The Texans are fast improving and could give them a good game, but still have yet to prove to me that they are ready to step up to the Colts class.
Pick-Indianapolis

Chiefs (4-10) @ Lions (6-8 )
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Lions by 4½
Playoff Implications: None
Fast Fact: Lions have not beaten Chiefs at home since 1981
Zzzzzz. The Chiefs are limping along and the Lions are in free fall. I give the edge to the Lions only because they play much better at home.
Pick-Detroit

NY Giants (9-5) @ Bills (7-7)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Giants by 2½
Playoff Implications: Giants clinch wild card spot with win, Buffalo needs win and help to stay in playoff contention
Fast Fact: The Giants have won four of their last seven in spite of failing to score more than 21 points in any of those seven.
Uh oh…The playoff berth that was all but a spot on lock for the G-Men has suddenly gotten very tenuous. Eli Manning should take none of the blame for the shameful play of his receiving corps last Sunday against the Skins (12 drops???) but he and head coach Tom Coughlin are starting to look like they are under a ton of pressure. The Bills are hanging on to slim playoff hopes and may be energized by an emotional appearance by injured TE Kevin Everett. If the G-Men fall behind early, they could be in trouble. A loss here might bounce them from the playoffs, guess what unbeaten juggernaut is on the docket next week? I’m thinking that hot seat that Coughlin has been on starts to roast him.
Pick-Buffalo (Upset of the Week)

Raiders (4-10) @ Jaguars (10-4)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jaguars by 13
Playoff Implications: Jaguars clinch playoff berth with win
Fast Fact: This is the Raiders first ever visit to Jacksonville
The Jags are hitting their stride at the most opportune time and are the team that no one wants to face in the playoffs. The Raiders are ready to go home and it helps matters none that they are now quibbling over who should start at QB. I’ll help you out Coach Kiffin. Start JaMarcus Russell, let him take his lumps now to get used it. You don’t want to waste another season while he learns, Al Davis wants his super bowl rings…
Pick-Jacksonville (Lock of The Week)

Eagles (6-8 ) @ Saints (7-7)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3
Playoff Implications: Saints need to win to stay in playoff contention
Fast Fact: The Saints are one of seven teams without a player going to the Pro Bowl
The Saints are still in it, and with a little help could realistically get in. The Eagles may be playing for pride, but they are still playing tough and Brian Westbrook is an absoulte nightmare to plan for. Both teams are very evenly matched but the possible return of Reggie Bush to limited duty may give the Saints a slight edge at home.
Pick-New Orleans

Falcons (3-11) @ Cardinals (6-8 )
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Cardinals by 10
Playoff Implications: None
Fast Fact: Falcons have won the last four meetings.
Both teams are playing out the string, but the Cards have a lot of hope for the future and something to build on. The Falcons have by and large quit as was painfully evidenced by the thrashing that they took in Tampa.
Pick-Arizona

Buccaneers (9-5) @ 49ers (4-10)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 5½
Playoff Implications: None, Bucs have clinched AFC South but need a Seahawks loss to move into the #3 NFC Playoff slot with win.
Fast Fact: Micheal Spurlock had the franchise's first kickoff return for a touchdown, it only took 31 years and 1865 times for it to happen.
The Niners stunned many with an efficent win in primetime last week while the Bucs are gearing up to the playoffs. NBC flexed out of this game with the quickness knowing that this game is nothing more than a Bucs tune up for the postseason. The Bucs also need this game to avoid the surging Vikes in the playoffs
Pick-Tampa Bay

Ravens (4-10) @ Seahawks (9-5)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Seahawks by 11
Playoff Implications: The Seahawks need to win to remain in #3 NFC playoff slot
Fast Fact: This is the Ravens first visit to Seattle
Caught unawares in a sloppy game in Charlotte, the Seahawks need a bounce back game in the worst way. The Ravens are fresh off of a humiliating loss to the previously winless Dolphins and have more or less quit. What? The Ravens won’t have the services of Ray Lewis either? Not a real good omen for the road weary Ravens.
Pick-Seattle

Miami (1-13) @ New England (14-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 22
Playoff Implications: None, Pats have clinched AFC East Title and #1 seed.
Fast Fact: This marks the largest win differential between two teams in NFL history
Hoodie man swears up and down that players will not be rested in this matchup. The Dolphins come in off an emotional first win while the Pats are trying not to skylark. The Pats are fighting off the comments that they are playing too many close games now to be a serious contender for this exalted state that the media wonks have put them in. To borrow a line from Al Davis, “Just Win, baby.” And that’s what the Pats are doing and will do. Its too easy to ride the Pats as a lock and as it has been noted the lock is elsewhere, though this is as about as close to one as you could hope for.
Pick-New England

NY Jets (3-11) @ Titans (8-6)
LP Field, Nashville 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 8½
Playoff Implications: Titans need win to stay in playoff contention
Fast Fact: The Jets' run defense is ranked 30th in the league at 141.1 yards allowed per game
The Jets played the Pats tough but were worn down, while the Titans got a badly needed win to stay afloat in the AFC playoff race. With all the questions swirling around who will start for the Jets now and in the future, the Titans are catching them at the right time. This will be a rather ugly game, but the Titans have something to play for.
Pick-Tennessee

Washington (7-7) @ Minnesota (8-6)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Vikings by 6½
Playoff Implications: Minnesota clinches playoff berth with win and Saints loss, Washington need win to stay in playoff contention.
Fast Fact: The Redskins are the second team to play back to back Sunday Night games this year (NE)
Easily the best matchup of the week has been smartly flexed into the showcase primetime spot. The Vikings are playing as about as good as they can, while the Skins are another hanging ‘round type team. Good enough to be in playoff contention, but with too many holes to be taken seriously, yet dangerous enough to knock off a team that isn't careful. The Vikings looked rather sluggish in beating the Bears in primetime last week, I doubt that will happen again. Both teams have dual threat running games but the Vikings have a better run defense and that will be the difference in a game that will look and play like a playoff game.
Pick-Minnesota

Monday, December 24

Broncos (6-8 ) @ Chargers (9-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Chargers by 8½
Playoff Implications: Chargers have clinched AFC West but need win to remain in #3 AFC playoff slot
Fast Fact: With a win, the Chargers will have back to back double digit win seasons for the first time since 1980-81
The Chargers are winning in spite of Norv Turner and in the weak AFC West their play is just enough for the city. The puzzling Broncos are chock full of questions and play horrendous on the road. This should be no exception.
Pick-San Diego

Last Week: 10-6 (Upset & Lock Correct!)
Overall: 140-84 (13-2 Locks, 4-11 Upsets)

The stockings have been hung by the fire, and ol Bandito is sitting in his recliner with the cup of hot cocoa and trying to get Snacks the wonder puppy to lay down just so. I'm not the nostaglic type, but you can't help but get all warm and fuzzy about this time of the year. So from my side of the keyboard to yours. May you and your loved ones have the Merriest Christmas, Joyous Kwanzzah, Happy Hannakkah or Winter Solstice or whatever you celebrate to make your season's bright. I tried to cover everyone not to be PC, but to make sure I didn't ignore anyone. Friends and family are something I do cherish and I wanted to make sure my blogging "Family" knows that I wish them all the best. I'll post again with more bowl picks on the far side of Christmas.

The Best of the Season to you and yours Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Post 200: A wintry mix of Schilling, Tuna and NFL Picks

2007-12-20T19:40:00.000-05:00

I was hoping to hold out until Friday but things couldn't wait, also to my horror there were a pair of minor bowls that I missed analyzing. I know you were waiting with baited breath to get my picks on the New Orleans Bowl and Las Vegas Bowl, but I try to keep my word on getting to all the bowls but first...
It seems that Arthur Blank is the most unlucky rich guy in the world, first the Michael Vick fiasco, then his dealings with that shyster Bobby Petrino then he gets left at the altar by the Tuna. I reported that Bill Parcells was in negotiations to take over as VP of Football operations in Atlanta. But as I was posting it things changed and fast. Suddenly the Falcons upon finding out that Parcells was talking to Miami, pulled the deal off the table. Parcells suddenly took the same position with the woeful Dolphins. For all those that think that the Dolphins are going to make a quick turnaround, pump the brakes. The Dolphins are a long overhaul type and this will take a while to fix. I doubt that the Tuna will have the patience to rebuild this shattered franchise. To tell the truth I think he would have been better going to Atlanta, a team that was at least a playoff contending team before the Vick situation. Parcells won't stay in this quagmire too long.

There was a time that I really liked Curt Schilling, he was a gutty flamethrower with the heart of a lion and a pugnacious outspoken nature that was as live as his fastball. Now I wish someone would put a sock in Schill's mouth. Suddenly Schill has appointed himself the moral conscious of baseball and threw a nice brickbat at Roger Clemens. Schill states that if Clemens does not defend himself against the charges of PED use that he should "Give back some of his Cy Young awards." Oh really? Which ones? And can you be sure of which ones that Clemens won that were PED fueled? This smack of a sizeable use of hater-ade. While Schill is very much a great pitcher and borderline Hall of Famer. He sounds like someone that is trying to cop one of Clemens' 7 Cy Young Awards for himself since he has none. Schill makes it sound like any use of PEDS means instant forfeiture of any awards and titles that the player may have achieved. Well then Schill might as well give back his 2001 World Series Ring that he got with the Diamondbacks. It seems that Matt Williams was someone that has been linked to PED use. Williams was a key cog in the D-Backs stirring World Series title and was the one sweeping Jay Bell up in a hug when the Series clinching run was scored. I guess Schill wants that one taken back...what he doesn't??? Oh okay then.
Schill is a shoot from the hip cat, and his statement while pointed and blunt are not needed here. I have stated before and will do so again, there is no way to find out who used and when and accurately determine how it affected the course of games, so just leave it alone and shut your mouth Schill.

Since I overlooked two bowl games, lets take a look-see at them now. Odds are provided courtesy of Yahoo Sports for entertainment and comparision purposes only.

R&L Carriers NEW ORLEANS BOWLS
Memphis (7-5) vs Florida Atlantic (7-5)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans Fri 8:00 (ESPN2)
Favorite: FAU by 3
Fast Fact: Both teams come into this game with negative scoring differnential (FAU 361-405, Memphis 353-375)
This may be the best reason why there are too many bowl games. The Owls led by ageless coach Howard Schnellenberger are making their first bowl appearance and just started playing D-1 football in 2001, the Tigers have shook off the shooting death of Taylor Bradford to win 5 of their last 6. Both teams can score, but have shaky defenses. The Owls defense is less shaky than Memphis, but I think the Tigers experience in bowls carries the day
Pick-Memphis

PIONEER LAS VEGAS BOWL
UCLA (6-6) vs #17 BYU (10-2)
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas 8:00 Sat (ESPN)
Favorite: BYU by 6
Fast Fact: This is the teams second meeting this season, the Bruins beat the Cougars 27-17 in week 2.
The Cougars feel rightly slighted, 10 wins get them sent to a very small bowl. UCLA is just happy to be in one after the messy firing of Karl Dorrell. If Cougars soph QB Max Hall gets into a groove, the Bruins will be in for a long night
Pick-BYU

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Parcells messy situation & Football Picks too

2007-12-19T15:01:00.000-05:00

In keeping with my sometimes offbeat references, I’m mulling a theme song for my entries. More often than not the song will refer to something going on in the sporting world. Today’s theme song: Here We Go Again by Mint Condition. This song is for the Tuna, Bill Parcells who is rapidly turning into a football version of Larry Brown. Parcells has confirmed reports that he has been talking with Falcons owner Arthur Blank to possibly take over the football operations of the Falcons. Now keep in mind that I do think that this is a great move for the Falcons and a real chance to rebuild their already woeful image. But I have a hard time imagining Parcells wanting to sit idly by and not control all aspects of the team. I cant see Parcells in a suit sitting on high in a skybox fretting over his teams play. I do think that this may be a shot for Maurice Carthon, a long time Parcells player and assistant coach to move into the head coaching ranks, but I think that Parcells will be the power behind the coaching throne, superior to the throne itself. I think that Parcells is someone that has lived on his rep for way way too long. The media honks and wonks may decry this as heresy but I’m still not convinced that Parcells can win big like he did with the Giants in the 80’s, it helps when you know the oppositition had to game plan for the gamebreaking LB Lawrence Taylor.
But as I write this post, suddenly the offer comes off the table and the Tuna suddenly is now exploring a position with the Miami Dolphins. As if this whole mess with the Falcons cant get any more messier. Blowing a chance to have a solid football mind running things is just inexcusable. Details will be updated, so stay tuned for my thoughts on it on Friday.

In the continued fallout from the Mitchell report, Roger Clemens has come out vociferously denying that he took any PEDs and I’m still wondering how is anyone going to prove any of these allegations. In absence of a time machine that you can go back and retroactively test from back in the day and with no positive test results now, its gonna be pretty hard to prove anything.

Rich Rodriguez was introduced as the new head coach of Michigan and the Buck fans are already squawking. I’m hearing things like the Bucks will continue to dominate and that Rodriguez’s spread offense will not work in the Big Ten, I think that adding the element of speed will be just the boost that Michigan needs. The Big Ten has always had that sameness look about it and it Rodriguez installs an offense that is wildly different it might produce results. I will reserve my judgment until next season.

As promised here is the preview of the NFL game on Thursday, note the added caveat of info: Playoff implications.

Steelers (9-5) @ Rams (3-11)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite: Steelers by 7 ½
Playoff Implications: Steelers clinch playoff berth with win and clinch AFC North with win and Cleveland loss on Sunday
Fast Fact: This is the Steelers first visit to St. Louis since 1979 when they defeated the then St. Louis Cardinals 24-21.
The Steelers seemed shocked that the Jags wouldn’t roll over and die in the Heinz Field muck this past Sunday and now have the upstart Browns charging hard at them. Still in possession of a valued tiebreaker over the Browns the Steelers need only to win out to clinch the division. The Rams are going through the motions and should provide token resistance. But the Steelers had best use this time to shake out any bugs, they will be playoff roadkill with a performance similar to the past Sunday.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Keeping with the football theme, the most sports saturated time of the year is upon us. Bowl season begins Thursday and you will have at least one bowl game everyday, except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from now through January 3rd and that is only the prelude to the national championship game. But that’s the main course. Let’s start with the smaller dishes. I miscounted and said there would be six games for the first preview but there are only five this time around.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION POINSETTIA BOWL
Navy (8-4) vs Utah (8-4)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 9:00 ESPN
Favorite Utah by 9 ½
Fast Fact The Utes have won their last six postseason appearances, the second longest winning streak in college football.
This is a classic matchup of high powered offense in Navy versus a stingy defense in Utah. The Midshipmen run that classic wishbone and QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada has a hard to pronounce (and spell name) but an easy to enjoy running style. He leads the nations top rushing team. The Utes have a solid defense and give up only 15.6 points a game, trailing only Va. Tech and Ohio State nationally. If the Utes can slow or shut down Navy’s running game they should dominate
Pick-Utah

PAPA JOHNS.COM BOWL
Southern Miss (7-5) vs #22 Cincinnati (9-3)
Legion Field Birmingham, AL Sat 1:00 (ESPN2)
Favorite: Cincinnati by 11 ½
Fast Fact: These two teams were once conference rivals in Conference USA
The Bearcats are finishing their best season in over 50 years and look to finish their first ever ten win season. The Golden Eagles slumped late in the season but has a solid running game led by Daimon Fletcher who scored 14 touchdowns. He will be running in the teeth of a solid Bearcat defense led by hard hitting safety Haruki Nakamura. The Eagles will have their hands full with the Bearcat offense led by Ben Mauk who has thrown for 27 touchdowns, 13 of them to frosh Marcus Barnett. The Bearcats badly want to show the bigger bowls that they erred in passing on a good team and the Eagles will bear the brunt.
Pick-Cincinnati

NEW MEXICO BOWL
Nevada (6-6) vs New Mexico (8-4)
University Field, Albuquerque, NM Sat 4:30 (ESPN)
Favorite New Mexico by 2 ½
Fast Fact: New Mexico has lost its last five bowl games
The Lobos are playing their bowl game at home…again. They lost to San Jose State last year and are facing a better team this year in Nevada. The Wolf Pack have a precocious redshirt frosh quarterback in Colin Kaepernick, who has filled in nicely as an injury replacement, the Wolf Pack have averaged better than 39 points a game with Kaepernick under center. The Lobos will be hampered by the unavailibity of top RB Rodney Ferguson who was declared academically ineligible. Despite playing in essence, a road bowl game. The Wolf Pack should roll to a solid win
Pick-Nevada

SHERATON HAWAI’I BOWL
#24 Boise State (10-2) vs East Carolina (7-5)
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI Sun 8:00 ESPN
Favorite Boise State by 11
Fast Fact The Broncos play their second straight game in Hawai’i, they lost to the Rainbow Warriors 39-27 a month ago.
The Broncos who captured the nation’s imagination with its stirring rally to beat Oklahoma in last years Fiesta Bowl has a much smaller stage this year. The Broncos still have a high powered and high scoring offense. Taylor Tharp and Ian Johnson are the focal points here. The Pirates have compiled a modest record behind the redoubtable running of Chris Johnson who rushed for 1244 and 16 scores while also catching 34 passes for 496 yards and five more scores. He will have a tough go of it against a rugged Bronco defense.
Pick-Boise State

MOTOR CITY BOWL
Purdue (7-5) vs Central Michigan (8-5)
Ford Field, Detroit 12/26 7:30 ESPN
Favorite Purdue by 8 ½
Fast Fact The Boilermakers beat the Chippewas 45-22 in West LaFayette on 9/15
The Boilers enter this game on a 3 game slide which included a painful late loss to archrival Indiana. The Boilers started the season 5-0 and with QB Curtis Painter throwing for 3,300 yards have a decent offense. This contrasts with the Chippewas who have won seven of their last nine including a 35-10 romp over Miami of Ohio in the MAC title game. Chippewa QB Dan LeFevour can run as well as throw and will be the key man that the Boilers need to stop. This will be a close game, but I think the Chippewas can pull the upset.
Pick-Central Michigan

The next preview will be next week and there will be plenty of games to feast on. 7 to be sure, and yes I counted right this time.

Finally today, lets hand out the Phat Dap/Head Slap Awards

Phat Dap
I could give one to the NFC players who named Sean Taylor to the NFC squad posthumously, but instead I’ll give it to Appalachian State, Valdosta State and
Wisconsin-Whitewater. These are three schools that won the FCS, Division II and Division III national titles respectively in football after a playoff. Gee, it seems that these schools were able to not only play through a playoff and hit the road for at least one game. The quality of football didn’t suffer and wow, these kids still go to class and get good grades. Wisconsin-Whitewater defeated its long time nemesis Mount Union of Ohio who had won the last three D-III titles. For all those that say a playoff cant work, why has it been working in these venues???

Head Slap
Though I could give one to these very same Pro Bowl voters that left playoff bound Jags and Bucs off its respective conference rosters and curiously no teams from the NFC South at all. I have another winner of the dubious honor. I know it may be piling on but I have to give this weeks head slap to the one Peter Edward Rose. Rose got on a moral high horse recently in decrying the alleged PED users, and is trying to link these allegations to his case and continues to shill for his entry in to the Hall of Fame. Rose badmouths the players and tries to make himself a someone who is being persecuted while others skate. Now I speak as a minority in my area. Having grown up in Cincinnati, the legions of Pete worshipers were thick and heavy. I liked Pete Rose as a player but still cannot excuse his breaking the laws of baseball. He bet on the game and bet on his team. These are rules that are clearly defined as verboten. At the entrance of EVERY major league clubhouse is the posted rule about betting on baseball and the severe punishments that are possible for breaking these rules. Rose broke the rules and got punished. I agree with Rose’s assertion that PED use is bad for the game, but until the use is proven. Not with allegation or heresay from a scorned trainer, then I will have something to say about the status of said players. Rose can’t leave well enough alone.

I’ll have the NFL Week 16 preview on Friday, we’re looking at a plethora of playoff critical games on this weeks docket. Also, a holiday season wish and thanks for the 20K mark. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The Dream is Dead and More Mitchell Fallout

2007-12-17T13:35:00.000-05:00

I was an unusual Sunday for me at Bandits Honeycomb Hideout. I had neither the Bengals to deal with watching as they had played (and lost a listless game to the 49ers) the night before nor the Vikings to look forward to (Playing da Bears tonite). Unconcerned about the snow bowl game the Browns and Bills were playing and not wanting to break out into hives listening to the Fox broadcasters drool over Brett Favre (Oh hush, Pack fans. I know he broke Marino's passing yard record and yes he is a great QB) I decided to work on my golf game (I play an old version of Hot Shots Golf and play decent on occasion) and check in on the scores. The only game I was really concerned about was the Dolphins and Ravens. After my first round of 3 under par 69, I checked to see that the Ravens were leading 6-3. After my second round of 1 under 71, I checked to see that the Ravens were leading 13-3 but the Dolphins were driving. After a horrendous 80 (Three times in the water hazard will do that to you) I checked to see to my horror that the Dolphins were winning 16-13.
What!!
This can't be happening.
I must admit before I continue that I was secretly harboring a desire to see the Dolphins go winless or at least until they got to their season ending game against the Bengals. I know that the pressure would have been on the Bengals to complete the dream of a winless season. I debated leaving the cozy confines of the hideout and trekking to the neighborhood pub (In the snow) to catch the conclusion of the game on their NFL sunday ticket. The only drawback is that I would have to deal with annoying Packer fans who host their weekly Favre fests at this bar and braying Browns fans who flush with playoff fever have gotten quite boisterous as of late. I decided to keep a vigil on the sports networls for updates. The Browns-Bills game ended and CBS cut to the Jags-Steelers game a tight one in itself but not the game I wanted to keep abreast on. I tracked the game on NFL.com and was pleased to see that despite being down 16-13 the Ravens were at the Dolphins 1 with a timeout to spare. 4th and Goal at the 1, with battering ram Willis McGahee at your disposal? The choice is obvious, run it in and send the Dolphins to another close loss and keep the winless dream alive.
Billick sends the field goal unit out to kick the chippee
Huh???
What happened to the axiom, play for the tie at home and the win on the road?
Guess Billick wasn't there for that lesson.
Anyway, the Ravens make the field goal and win the toss in overtime, the Jags-Steelers game concludes and the network switches to the Ravens-Dolphins game which sees the Ravens led by last years Heisman winner Troy Smith (Is HE still in this league?) marching down the field. Its looking a lot like this one is going to be over. Then the network does it.
They show a graphic, showing Ravens kicker Matt Stover is 5 for 5 in overtime field goal attempts in his career and I get that feeling.
The same feeling I got in the Metrodome in January 1999 when Gary Anderson lined up for a 38 yard field goal to give the Vikes a ten point lead in the NFC Championship game and hearing someone says Anderson's automatic he hasn't missed a thing all year.
The same feeling I had in 1997 when I was in the RCA Dome in Indy, sitting a row behind a Kentucky fan whom after watching Arizona beat North Carolina in the first national semifinal game and before Kentucky was to take the court to play Minnesota pulled out a cell phone and said "Go ahead and start on those back to back national championship t-shirts. We ain't losing to Arizona.
Anderson missed, the Vikings lost. Kentucky played a bruising game against Minnesota and was so spent that they let a talented but overmatched Arizona team beat them in OT in the national championship.
Anyway, Stover came out for a 44 yarder and missed. I knew then the dream would die. The network citing its league obligations cut away from the game at 4:15 ET. I went back to the computer and waited. The Dolphins ran two plays and then there was a long pause. Just as I was about to curse my PC connection CBS broadcast the final play of the game and I saw an aqua streak going across the small football field. 66 Yards to Brian Cammarillo (Who is that guy?) Touchdown Dolphins, they win and they won't go winless.
Damn.
I guess that dream will go the way of those back to back national championship t-shirts that UK fan was getting made...
I wanted to see the unbeaten Pats taking on the winless Dolphins, but now its just another meaningless game.

Some quick thoughts on the continued fallout about the Mitchell report.
Other than The Sporting News cribbing my abbreviations of PEDs (Yes they did!) There is only one thing I have to ask about.
The records and stats. I have heard that they should be expunged from the record, I have heard that they should have an asterisk next to them. I have heard that the players should never be in consideration for the Hall of Fame. Or that some or all of the items should be weighted But to all of these I say this.
Do nothing to the records and stats.
Make no asterisks.

Bonds hit 762 home runs, can you tell me which ones or how may of them will you throw out?
Given the intricate number of players and teams that were affected by this, what wins and losses do you throw out? Do you call them forfeits? What about the awards won, championships claimed and superlatives set? How do you adjust them?
I heard someone say just vacate their participation, but what of the clean players that have played and the games that they were in that had players that had PEDs? What do you do with them?
Like I said before, do nothing.
I am not condoning the use of PEDS, lets get that straight but what is punishing the players that did what they did retroactively going to prove? Now getting elected to the Hall of Fame, that may be a different story. It may be ironic that MLB's Hit King and Home Run King may be sitting at the gates of Cooperstown, on the outside looking in. But vacating records, alerting standings and redistributing awards will cause more of a mess than leaving things alone.
I state again, the Mitchell report while highly incidiary and quite damming on some fronts does shed light on some activities. It is not a positive drug test and since no one has them; whether because there was no testing for it, or there were ways to get around it. There is no proof besides the accusations of a trainer that there was PED use. Now, if players come forward like a Jason Giambi or an Andy Petitte and admit that they did use PEDS or a player is hemmed up in court to the point that they have to admit that they did use PEDS like I have the feeling that Barry Bonds will end up having to do. No one will ever find out the depth of PED use and how much it affected the game. Don't say look at the numbers and the jump in homers and slugging. You cant say that PED use was the single factor in that happening. Yes the Mitchell report will have some ripple effect. I'm hoping that once and for all it rids the national pastime of this PEDS shadow. But a reactionary and retroactive response to what amount to a McCarthy like laundry list is not the answer.
The great list of bowl picks will start on Wednesday with the first 6 bowl games of the season. Also on Wednesday will be a preview of another boring Thursday Night affair, as well as my thoughts on Michigan's new head coach and the Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week of which I have lots of nominees for both.
Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

The Mitchell Report: Where Name Dropping=Guilt & Week 15 NFL Picks

2007-12-14T15:19:00.000-05:00

Yes, I'm going to as usual analyze week 15 of the NFL skein. But c'mon did you think that I was going to pass up a chance to sound off about the Mitchell report.
When this process was first announced, I thought: OK, now we're going to get a real investigation. We're going to get some definitive actions, people, places events and hardcore info. I thought that it was going to be something akin to a grand jury investigation where it would have been revealed if players had indeed taken performance enhanching drugs or substances. (For the purposes of space and clarity I will refer to them as PEDS) I saw George Mitchell as someone that had federal power and that he was bringing that power to bear to expose what if any shadows that were lurking concerning Major League Baseball and PEDS
But when this whole thing came out, the media was more focused on the name and allegations. Was there any proof? I saw none. Was there any definitive failed tests? Other than allegations from a former trainer naming certain Yankees this report is a 409 page monstrosity. I saw lots of eye catching allegations and enough spin and name dropping to make any socialites head spin. To me, this is what it seems the bottom line is.
This is the case of a disgraced trainer trying to keep his plump rump out of the sling, he figures if he drops enough names and says enough that it will win him points for his upcoming dealings with the courts.
Then you have Bud Selig who after the report was made public, tried to make himself look like the Great Protector of the game by stating that he will deal with the matter on a case by case basis. This in itself is hogwash. I mean, really Bud what are you gonna do? Suspend players who were named in the report? You are going to convict someone on what is at best circumstancial evidence and hearsay? The players union, the MLBPA is in a corner and has no leg to stand on if Selig wants to impose strict, even Draconian standards for testing for PEDs going forward. But Selig would have a real fight on his hands if he wanted to impose punishments on the players that were named in this report. You have no smoking gun, there are no positive tests. Yeah, yeah rail all you want about how Barry Bonds looked different from when he was a slim slender young man out of college to the behemoth crushing tape measure homeruns and now about how Roger Clemens suddenly remade his career in his 40s. I want proof, I want a failed drug test, I want delivery receipts. I dont want a trainer with an axe to grind dropping every name he can think of.
Then there is the curious case of the aforementioned Roger Clemens. The celebrated fireballer. Texas bred, mean and competitive. The Mitchell report alleges that he was one of the more promeinent users of PEDS and that he began taking them in 1998. One then jumps to the conclusion that Clemens career was jump started. The numbers do back up the timing. Clemens was 6-6 in 1998 before allegedly receiving the PEDS then wenr 14-0 after. I did some research and figured out that I actually saw one of these games. Clemens was outdueled by Brad Radke on a Sunday in August 1998 in front of a packed house at the Metrodome. Looking back on it retrospect, was I seeing a rebirth of a career or the start of a PEDS fueled run? But as I've stated before, there is no way to go back retroactively and determine if PEDS were used much less dole out punishment for them.
And then you have Bonds...Barry Bonds. Make no mistake, I like Clemens. I think he is one of my generations great pitchers and I thought so way before the time that the PEDS use was alleged. I also like Bonds (his game, not his attitude) I think both players had Hall of Fame credentials. My wonder is if that Clemens will get a free pass about this or will he be demonized like Bonds has been for years. Clemens has vocieferously proclaimed his innocence and vows to fight to clear his name. Bonds has done much of the same and still gets railed on it. Does having a clean media portrayal give Clemens a leg up in this matter?
I could like ESPN has, go on and on. But I'll save some of my thoughts on it for after I take another read of the report. (Yes, I read the entire thing)

Lets look at the rest of the matchup for Week 15 in the NFL. I thought that the Texans were only marginally better than the Broncos, I did not expect Mario Williams to go buck-whylin' on the Broncos offense. While the Texans may still catch grief for taking him over the more hyped Reggie Bush or Vince Young. I think that they are quite happy with their pick thank you. This week there are plenty of upsets that could be had, but I think many of the teams that are out of or close to being out of contention are starting to mail it in. The odds that are provided are for comparision and I won't be responsible for you losing your kids Wii if bet on the lines.

Saturday, December 15

Bengals (5-8 ) @ 49ers (3-10)
Monster Park, San Francisco 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Bengals by 8.5
Fast Fact The Niners are last in the NFL in point differential (-141)
Two teams headed nowhere fast meet up in a primetime date. The Niners are going through QB's fast and even dug up Chris Weinke as a backup for rookie Shaun Hill. The Bengals while not the most feared defensive team in the world should tee off on the young QB while Carson Palmer leads a solid Bengals offense. The Bengals usually play well in primetime dates and this should be no exception. Why do I have the feeling that Chad Johnson will use this venue to act crazy after reaching the end zone?
Pick-Cincinnati

Sunday, December 16

Cardinals (6-7) @ Saints (6-7)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Saints by 3.5
Fast Fact According to NFL.com, the Saints are 27-7 when QB Drew Brees has a QB rating of 95 or better
The Cards showed why they are not a team to be taken real serious as they got their collective heads kicked in at Seattle. The Saints are still barely breathing in the playoff race and despite the loss of Reggie Bush have a fairly potent offense. The Cards don't play well on the road and the Saints need the win to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. Despite similar records these teams are going in opposite directions.
Pick-New Orleans

Falcons (3-10) @ Buccaneers (8-5)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 13.5
Fast Fact The Falcons have won 2 of the last 3 meetings
I really want the Falcons to play well under interim coach Emmitt Thomas, so that the long time assistant can get a shot at a full time coaching gig. The problem is that they are facing a Bucs squad coming off a rather embarrassing loss to the Texans and they want to lock up a divisional title as quickly as possible. The Bucs have more on the ball and this won't be pretty at all.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Ravens (4-9) @ Dolphins (0-13)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Ravens by 3
Fast Fact The Dolphins lead the series 4-1
Some pundits think that the way the Ravens pretty much laid down last Sunday Night against the Colts may be indicative of how they will play the rest of the season and the woeful Fins may be the benefactor of this poor play and steal a win. Don't beleive the hype.
Pick-Baltimore

Bills (7-6) @ Browns (8-5)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 5.5
Fast Fact Browns TE Kellen Winslow is 57 yards shy of reaching 1000 receiving yards for the first time.
When the schedule was drawn up no one suspected that this would be a battle for a playoff spot. Both teams are mystifyingly good. The Browns keep winning in spite of themselves and the Bills have made winning ugly a way of life. Either way, both teams are winning with strong running games. I get the feeling that despite their tendency to wander off in games the Browns are at least playoff material and are tough to beat at home where they are 5-1. Look for Jamal Lewis to get established and make a big contribution. This will be a tightly played game, but the Browns will pull it out.
Pick-Cleveland

Packers (11-2) @ Rams (3-10)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Packers by 8.5
Fast Fact Packers WR Donald Driver has caught a pass in 93 consective games
The Pack bounced back from their loss to the Pokes to whip the Raiders while the Rams are already looking for the exit door for the season. The Pack is simply the better team and they know it, better still the Rams know it too.
Pick-Green Bay

Jaguars (9-4) @ Steelers (9-4)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 3.5
Fast Fact The Steelers have won 3 of the last 5 but the Jags lead the alltime series 10-8
Another sneaky good matchup, both teams are likely playoff bound and could very well meet again in the playoffs. The Steelers are trying to fight the knock on them that they can't beat an elite team, a moniker that has been dogging the Jags as well. This will be a good old fashioned blood and guts game, won in the trenches. If the Steelers don't have the services of Troy Palomalu, they could be vulnerable. I like the Jags multi-pronged running game to wear the Steelers defense down. It’ll be a tight well played game.
Pick-Jacksonville (Upset of the Week)

NY Jets (3-10) @ New England (13-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 24.5
Fast Fact Jets RB Thomas Jones needs 56 rushing yards to be the first Jet RB since Curtis Martin in 2004 to reach 1000
Spygate bowl II looks to be even uglier than the first mismatch in September. Hoodie Man Belichick is finding all the ways that he can to motivate his squad. But lets be real the Pats are on a different level and I'm sure Roger Goddell is on standby to keep the Pats from dropping 80 on the Jets. You snicker, I wouldn't put it past Hoodie man to leave his starters in well into the 4th up by 6 touchdowns. Ignore the honks and wonks that say that the impending Nor'Easter will slow the Pats down to the point that the Jets could keep it close or spring an upset, this will get ugly and that very quick
Pick-New England (Lock of the Week)

Seattle (9-4) @ Carolina (5-8 )
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 7.5
Fast Fact These teams have split their two regular season meetings
The Seahawks are gearing up for another playoff run while the Panthers are gearing up to go home. Having to make a long road trip usually bodes bad for the Seahawks but the Panthers are horrible at home and are just about as big a hot mess as you can create. The Seahawks are focused the Panthers are not and this is a pretty easy call
Pick-Seattle

Titans (7-6) @ Chiefs (4-9)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Titans by 3.5
Fast Fact Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez has caught a pass in 112 consective games, 2nd only Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome (150)
The Titans had best be careful here as this game has trap written all over it. No one can be sure which Titans squad will show up and after blowing a 14 point lead against the Chargers last week you cant be sure if they haven't mailed it in.. The Chiefs have no real sparkplug on offense and the Titans have a decent defense. The Titans will play desperate and get this one.
Pick-Tennessee

Colts (11-2) @ Raiders (4-9)
Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Colts by 10
Fast Fact Since the Colts drafted Peyton Manning in 1998, the Raiders have started 11 different quarterbacks
Lost in all the talk about the Pats pursuit of a 16-0 regular seasonm is that the Colts despite a nasty rash of injuries are still playing pretty good football. The Raiders have shown some improvement but you are really sippin that stuff if you think that they are ready to stay with these guys.
Pick-Indianapolis

Detroit (6-7) @ San Diego (8-5)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Chargers by 6
Fast Fact The Chargers have won the last five meetings between these teams after losing the first three.
The Chargers took a couple ill-timed personnel hits as Shawne Merriam is hurting and road paving fullback Lorenzo Neal is out. They are fortunate to catch a slumping Lions team that cant close out games. LT is still good enough to get his and I dont think that Lions are good enough to stop him.
Pick-San Diego

Eagles (5-8 ) @ Cowboys (12-1)
Texas Stadium; Irving, TX 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10.5
Fast Fact The Eagles have won 2 of the last 3 meetings but trail the overall series 52-41
The Pokes are getting close to really uncharted waters as their 12-1 start has them atop the NFC and closing in on home field advantage in the playoffs. They need every win to stay ahead of the lurking Pack. The Eagles have slumped badly after getting to .500 and are looking more and more like they are finished. The Pokes are in no mood to be accomadating and will roll.
Pick-Dallas

Redskins (6-7) @ NY Giants (9-4)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Giants by 4.5
Fast Fact The Giants lead the series 85-60-4
The schedule makers got this Sunday Night matchup right as the G-Men are closing in on locking down a wild card spot, the Skins are hanging on to their own playoff hopes by a razor thin margin. While Eli Manning will never play games with the flash and style of his older brother he is getting the job done. Unless the Skins establish a solid running game, a tall order given the G-Men's solid play. Add that the Skins do not play well on the road and Tom Coughlin's seat is only warm cause he's sitting in it solid.
Pick-New York Giants

Monday, December 17

Bears (5-8 ) @ Vikings (7-6)
H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Vikings by 10
Fast Fact Vikes QB Tavaris Jackson is 7-2 as a starter this year.
The Vikes won in spite of getting nothing from Adrian Peterson. The Bears will have all sorts of trouble dealing with the Vikes multi-faceted run game and their offense is not strong enough to match with the Vikes suddenly solid defense. Combine this with a rowdy Metrodome crowd and the Bears get sent to hibernation.
Pick-Minnesota

Last Week: 13-3 (Lock correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 130-78 (12-2 Locks, 3-11 Upsets)

A Post During the Crosstown Shootout

2007-12-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry if I seem distracted during this post. My beloved beleaugered Bearcats are battling the Xavier Musketeers in the Crosstown Shootout, for most of the year the Public City School and the Private Jesuit School are quiet neighbors that mingle and frequent one anothers social gatherings. Both schools are on the edge of the hood and as the crow flies about 3.5 miles apart. Forget the Duke-Carolina rivalry being in one anothers neighborhood, these two teams are in each others back yard. But generally both teams more or less respect one another. Xavier saves its hatred for A-10 rival Dayton while Cincy wants nothing more than to pound Louisville.
Except for one night in the year when both teams are on the same court. This series was largely ignored by the mass media until the early 90s when UC suddenly rose to power. Xavier had by and large a decent team. Most notably their shocking NCAA tourney upset of Georgetown in 1990 (A team that had both Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutumbo)got them some notice, but when UC went to the final four in 1992 the rivalry got more intense. UC was winning the matchup frequently but when Xavier won it got notice. Witness the 80-76 OT struggle in 1994 where then Xavier Coach Pete Gillen stormed off the court after refusing to shake then UC coach Bob Huggins' hand. The rivalry was super intense and was even lampooned by Cincinnati Enquirer columnist Jim Borgman who likened the truce between the coaches as something out of a Israel/Palestine peace accord. The nation took notice in 1996, heavy underdog Xavier stunned then #1 UC at Shoemaker Center 71-69. Being an alum, the mere mention of Lenny Brown will make me cringe. His jumper at the buzzer sent a great UC team down to defeat. The nation took notice and seemed to be interested in the "itty bitty" school taking on the so-called city school bully and more often than not battling them to even terms. I can recall the game in the 1999-2000 season when a #1 UC team led by Kenyon Martin got all they could handle and then some by what was supposed to be a mammoth underdog in Xavier. UC won barely. Lately its been Xavier that is the supposed bully, coming into the game nationally ranked while UC still struggling to shake off the hangover of the dismissal of Bob Huggins in 2005 and trying to get back to respectability. I'm pounding out this post while watching the game so pardon me if my post might seem a bit...stilted.
I'll preview the NFL matchup for tomorrow to start off with.

Thursday, December 13

Broncos (6-7) @ Texans (6-7)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 8:15 (NFL Network)
Favorite Broncos by 1
Fast Fact This is the Broncos first visit to Reliant Stadium and their first visit to Houston since losing to the then Houston Oilers 42-33 in 1995.
Both of these teams are holding on to the slimmest of playoff hopes. The Texans have to climb over at least a half dozen teams to get the wild card and could incredibly win out and still finish tied for last in the AFC South! But considering the teams left on their docket, winning here might be their last best chance to match their best ever win total. The Broncos have a bit of an easier go to make the playoffs though they are depending on a Charger collapse to get there. The Texans are hoping that Sage Rosenfels continues to play well as his solid play sparked an upset of the Bucs last week. The Broncos are also hoping that Jay Cutler continues his positive play as of late. In these short week games, you give a slight edge to the home team and given that outside of Mile High the Broncos have been playing like glue factory nags, I think the Texans shine in a rare primetime date steal a tight one.
Pick-Houston

Phat Dap
I give the dap to someone who needs one. Falcons owner Arthur Blank who rightly called out former coach Bobby Petrino for his sudden abandonment of the Falcons but named Emmitt Thomas as interim coach, here hoping that the Falcons win all three games for Thomas and that Blank keeps him on and is not seduced by the lure of a Cowher or Schottenheimer.

Head Slap
This is one is almost too easy. Bobby Petrino wasn't a dude I had much love for in the first place. I rememeber the 70-7 beatdown that his Cards put on my Bearcats in 2004. When he committed to Louisville signing a long term deal, I rolled my eyes thinking how long would this one last. When he jumped to the Falcons, it surprised me little. A money-grubbing coach that was leaving a good program out to dry. It turns out the Petrino bit off more than he could chew as the Falcons without Michael Vick were an abysmal joke. The team started 3-10 and Petrino bailed on them. His jump to Arkansas looks shady to begin with but his sudden departure and the classless typed form letter his left for his Falcon players just smacks of gutlessness. The word integrity and class is a word that Petrino seemed to think so highly of he uses it sparingly. I have no real beef with Arkansas but I hope Darren McFadden jumps to the NFL and recruits see this fake coach as who he is.
2nd half of the game is starting, so I'll be off. The rest of the NFL Picks will be posted on Friday. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Weekend In Review

2007-12-10T14:32:00.000-05:00

It ain't braggin' if its the truth...

Ok, your humble scribe is feeling a little braggadocious. No I didn't have advance knowledge on the exact order of the Heisman vote. But I know you folks liked how I broke down the odds on who would win it and it came down the exact way.
Can Tebow win it again next year? If Pat White stays in school, I think hes the frontrunner for the trophy but Tebow will be the one to watch.
I'll tell you the truth, I was sweating quite a few of the games. Anticipating another woeful week. But other than the Texans upset of the Bucs and my usual upset not coming to pass everything came down like I said it would. I'm not one to pick on the Lions but were you really surprised when they blew that sizable lead against the Pokes? Neither was I. Jon Kitna's bold prediction of 10 wins now is as valid as the elder Bush saying No New Taxes.
I'm thinking of the line uttered by Deebo, played by behemoth actor Tiny Lister in the movie Friday after he had just finished laying out the character played by Ice Cube. "Who wants some? Huh? Beat him down, beat you down too!" I make reference to this line after the Pats...umm Deebo'd the Steelers yesterday by the score of 34-13. The hacks, honks and wonks were so sure that the Steelers had the Pats number and would physical the Pats into submission. It seems everytime that someone throws a different problem at the Pats, they have an answer. I look at their remaining schedule and think. Could Eli Manning be the last barrier between the Pats and perfection? Also consider this. The Pats got the perfect storm in scheduling. Scheduling rotations gave the Pats them the NFC East and the AFC North which their two road games were both still in the Eastern time zone and both on Monday. They have been out of the Eastern Time zone one time the whole season (Beating the Cowboys in Dallas in October) and won't have to leave the northeast for the rest of the season. The Pats next time change might not be till they hit Glendale Arizona....think about that.

I'm hoping to pass my total of 155 correct picks from last year and going .500 over the last three weeks could do it. I am hoping though for a strong finish.

I dont comment on boxing often, though I do follow it. I was not surprised to see Floyd Mayweather put a beatdown on Ricky Hatton. Hatton just looked out of his league and woefully slow against the sharper Mayweather. No one knows what Mayweather's next move is, in any case Mayweather proved that he is one of boxing's best champions.

I guess I should make mention of the sentencing of Michael Vick. The judge gave him 23 months for his role in dogfighting. Many people wanted him to get an even stiffer sentence and I think its a tragic ending to sad tale. Vick as one of the most electrifying players that I had ever seen. The people that Vick was associated with and the endeavors that he undertook brought him down. I do not condone what Vick did and agree that deserved some sort of punishment, but the thing that bothers me is this. The origin of this whole case wasn't dogfighting...it was drugs. The feds had a supposed tip that drugs were being funneled through Vick's home. That was what the original raid was for, no drug were ever found, but this dogfighting operation was. It seems to that the Feds thwarted on one front decided that they were not going to make such a showy raid without gaining something. Make no mistake, Vick is totally in the wrong for his role and was a fool for not making him self as contrite as possible before his sentencing. But I wonder if Vick made himself a target that was too irresistable to avoid. Just a thought.
A word of note, the Thursday pick will be posted on Wednesday with my Phat Dap/Head Slap and the rest of the picks will be posted as usual on Friday. The posts will be a bit more infrequent until the bowls start then I'll attempt to preview everyone of the 32 bowl games. I'll be around, just a little quieter than I have been. I thank you for your support and comments and ask that you also check out my favorite blog posts to the right, there is some real thought provoking things being written there. Until next post fellow Sports Fans

Week 14 NFL Picks

2007-12-07T15:28:00.000-05:00

Take this time to gear up folks, the bowl season is coming and you will overdose on college pigskin like I will and enjoy it.

Barry Bonds answered the charges levied against him today and posted a 500K bail. I'm telling you now the feds are looking to make an example of him and this trial will get ugly.

Looking at the NFL I have one thing to ask...
Todd Collins??? Is he still in this league? Oh well, so much for my Thursday pick. I thought it quite amusing to hear that former presidential candidate Sen John Kerry penned a letter to NFL commish Roger Goddell urging him to make the NFL network game between the Pats and Giants in week 17 available to the masses. Do you think that the NFL really cares about a nice letter? No one will really get up in arms until the NFL start copping playoff games and the Super Bowl. You laugh, but it could happen. A decent week for me, had it not been for Joe Gibbs brainfart on timeouts, a bad call in the Cleveland game and Eli Manning deciding to be a 4th quarter hero I would have easily been 13-3. 10-6 is nothing to complain about, but some of these games are a call or two away from going my way (Don't remind me of my pick of Miami, please)
Odds are as usual provided for comparison and entertainment purposes only. I'm dead broke so don't call me asking for a loan if you bet these lines and get took.

Sunday, December 9

Panthers (5-7) @ Jaguars (8-4)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Jaguars by 10.5
Fast Fact This is the fourth meeting between the 1995 expansion class, the Jags lead 2-1.
These teams are going in opposite directions though they are coming off of atypical performances. The Jags look to keep their stake on a playoff spot while the Panthers are playing out the string. The Jags have more on the ball offensively and David Garrard is emerging nicely as a tough leader. Meanwhile the Panthers are a mess on the offensive side of the ball. The Jags should slog their way through this cat fight.
Pick-Jacksonville

Cowboys (11-1) @ Lions (6-6)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Cowboys by 10.5
Fast Fact Through luck of the schedule these teams have met each of the last 7 years splitting the last six meetings.
The Pokes are flying high after outgunning a solid Packers squad last Thursday and are well rested. The Motor City Kitties are coming apart fast, their offense has been figured out and their defense is getting regular beatdowns. Looking to wrap up a first round bye the Pokes will have no real worry here and Jon Kitna's preseason claim of ten wins for the Lions will officially be rendered null and void.
Pick-Dallas Lock of The Week

Dolphins (0-12) @ Bills (6-6)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Bills by 7
Fast Fact The Dolphins have lost 14 of 20 in Buffalo since 1987.
The Dolphins took a frightening beatdown from the Jets and have never been too good at playing in cold weather enviroments. I remember going to a Bills-Dolphins game in 1995 with a lot more on the line in this game and seeing Dan Marino coming out of the Buffalo Marriott, he had a look on his face as he perused the snowy setting that was priceless. The Dolphins lost that game and were loads more talented then. Neither team has a real solid offense but if MarShawn Lynch is a go for the Bills they will have a more decided edge.
Pick-Buffalo

NY Giants (8-4) @ Eagles (5-7)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 3
Fast Fact Eagles RB Brian Westbrook leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 1,598.
The Eagles blew a golden chance to stay in the thick of the NFC Wild Card hunt with a heartbreaking late loss to the Seahawks. The G-Men got off the deck to beat the Bears in a game that they really should have lost. Eli Manning is a tough cat to figure out, but he has shown some heart in his last few games. Donovan McNabb might get the starting nod for the Eagles but the Giants will try to unleash a defensive fury at GangGreen similar to the 12 sack mauling they handed the Eagles back in September. The Giants are the better team and should win to keep their lead in the wild card secure.
Pick-New York Giants

Raiders (4-8 ) @ Packers (10-2)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Packers by 10.5
Fast Fact- Brett Favre makes his 250th consecutive start this week
The Raiders are coming in off a surprising beatdown of the Broncos while the Pack have had a few extra needed to days to get Favre healthy after getting whomped on by the Pokes. The Raiders are improving make no mistake, but are you really going to bet on a California team winning in the frozen tundra? I didn't think so.
Pick-Green Bay

Chargers (7-5) @ Titans (7-5)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Even
Fast Fact The Chargers have won four straight meetings in this series
A matchup of two very evenly matched teams, but the Chargers are in a much better position as leaders of the weak AFC West. The Titans look much better after getting hulking DT Albert Haynesworth and they will need him to slow down LaDainian Tomlinson who had a solid game at Kansas City and has the Chargers playing much more solid. This game is too close to call, but I'll bank on the Chargers pressuring Vince Young into a couple costly mistakes.
Pick-San Diego

Rams (3-9) @ Bengals (4-8 )
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Bengals by 7
Fast Fact This is the Rams first visit to Paul Brown Stadium
The Bengals are coming off a lethargic loss to the Steelers while the Rams are coming in winning 3 of 4 following an 0-8 start. The Bengals have historically haad trouble with good running backs and Steven Jackson has been playing well as of late. The Rams get up and down QB Marc Bulger back and he has been playing well too, but I cant shake the feeling that the Bengals are set to make another late season dash to the 8-8 mark. The Bengals have a good enough offense to make any defense wary and they will show that side again.
Pick-Cincinnati

Buccaneers (8-4) @ Texans (5-7)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Buccaneers by 3
Fast Fact This is the Bucs first visit to Reliant Stadium
The Bucs rallied late to beat the Saints and solidfied their grip on the NFC South. This has all the makings of a classic trap game for the Bucs as the Texans are just good enough to be dangerous while their pedestrian record belies that fact. The Bucs have too much on the line to let that happen as they can clinch their division with a win.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Cardinals (6-6) @ Seahawks (8-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 7
Fast Fact The Cards are looking for their first season sweep of the Seahawks since moving to the NFC West in 2002
The Seahawks have shook off a .500 start in the first half of the season to win four straight, surprisingly with little or no help from Shawn Alexander. The points will be plentiful as both teams can and will score. It is hard to take the Cards serious as playoff contenders, but the Seahawks are wary of the Cards and know that they can clinch the NFC West with a win. The Cards are fast improving but have yet to prove that they are ready for primetime.
Pick-Seattle

Vikings (6-6) @ 49ers (3-9)
Monster Park, San Francisco 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Vikings by 8.5
Fast Fact The Vikings have averaged 37.3 points since getting shutout in Green Bay
The Vikings wrote off for dead four weeks ago have ripped off three wins in a row with a stout defense and a two pronged running attack. All of this bodes badly for the Niners who if Frank Gore cant get on track, will have to depend on Trent Dilfer to carry them...not good. If Adrian Peterson and/or Chester Taylor get cranked up the Vikings will roll.
Pick-Minnesota

Browns (7-5) @ NY Jets (3-9)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Browns by 3
Fast Fact The Browns have won all of their games when they have had a positive turnover ratio.
On paper this should be a walk for the Browns, but they have made a bad habit of losing winnable games and the Jets fresh off a beatdown of the Dolphins are just enough of a handful to be troublesome. The Jets will use their decent receiving corp to pound a weak Browns secondary that gives up yards and points at a frightenting clip. The Browns are capable offensively but is another team I can't take seriously. This is an ambush waiting to happen
Pick-New York Jets (Upset of the Week)

Chiefs (4-8 ) @ Broncos (5-7)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Broncos by 6.5
Fast Fact The Chiefs have never won at Invesco Field (0-6 since 2001)
This game looked so intriging at the start of the season, but now both teams are on playoff life support and look punchless. The Broncos are coming off a humiliating rout in Oakland while the Chiefs looked lost against the Chargers. Dont you think that Bronco fan is sorry that they ran Jake Plummer out of town so fast? Jay Cutler regresses more and more each week, but he will have the full time services of Travis Henry at his disposal. Henry has had two solid games against the Chiefs and if he has a third the Broncos win easy.
Pick-Denver

Pittsburgh (9-3) @ New England (12-0)
Gillette Stadium; Foxboro, MA 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 10.5
Fast Fact The Patriots need 87 points (21.75 ppg) over the last four games to break the single season points record. The fewest points they have scored in one game is 24
The honks and wonks are lionizing the Steelers as the one team that could derail the Pats perfection hopes and they believe that they are destined to do it. Steelers DB Anthony Smith has guaranteed a win, but the Steelers were quick to quash that talk in fear of stirring the Pats who have looked less than formidable in their last two wins. The Pats have a great offense (#1 in points, total yards, offense and passing yards while the Steelers have a great defense (#1 in fewest points allowed, total defense and passing yards) This smacks of an upset call here, but the Steelers are weak outside of Ohio and Pennsylvainia and that will be their downfall (9-0 in those two states, 0-3 elsewhere) I'm not calling it a lock but the Pats will win
Pick-New England

Colts (10-2) @ Ravens (4-8 )
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Colts by 9
Fast Fact The Colts have won the last four meetings
The Ravens are still seething after their hotly contested loss to the Pats last Monday. While the Colts have righted their ship after bad back to back losses. The Colts are getting key parts back at the right time as Marvin Harrison should be a go for this game after missing seven games with a knee injury. The Ravens have a good defense to be sure but their offense is highly questionable and you are taking a big chance to count on Kyle Boller having a second solid game in a row.
Pick-Indianapolis

Monday, December 10

Saints (5-7) @ Falcons (3-9)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Saints by 4.5
Fast Fact The Falcons have lost three straight for the third time this year
ESPN goes from the great matchup to an absolute snoozer this week as these two string playing teams hook up. The Falcons have tried everyone short of your humble scribe at QB and turn to Chris Redman (Is HE still in this league???) out of football since 2004 to get the Falcons on track. The Saints who still harbor the faintest of playoff hopes are bad, but not this bad. They will get their offense healthy against a sad sack Falcons squad who are looking longingly toward the end of this pitful season.
Pick-New Orleans

Last Week: 10-6 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 117-75 (11-2 Locks, 3-10 Upsets)

Handicapping the Heisman and NFL 3rd Quarter Grade Cards

2007-12-06T15:06:00.001-05:00

I wish the powers that be would let folks know who the finalists are for the Heisman be announced sooner, handicapping it two days from the announcement is a pain.
Though the four finalists are worthy, they are flawed in their own way. As I handicap who I think will win, I'll also give you a knock on them. My beef with the Heisman folks is that they left a pair of players out of the finalist list who I think were much more deserving:

Pat White; JR QB, West Virginia
Ask any Mountaineer fan how much he was needed in the loss to Pitt. His play and leadership carried the Mountineers to the Big East title and a BCS berth. A crisp and efficient passer and an electric and dangerous runner, his play is the very definition of what the Heisman is, the most valuable player to his team and its success.

Kevin Smith; JR RB, Central Florida
The critics will be quick to point out that he played in Conference USA, but take a look at his stats and you will be blown away. Smith failed to crack the 100 yard mark once. He broke 200 yards five times, including 320 (You read that right) against UAB. Say what you want about the competiton but 2448 yards and 29 rushing TDS is nothing to sneeze at. Add 23 catches for 248 yards in and you have a solid back. The only person who rushed for more yards in a season? Some guy named Barry Sanders...someone told me that he might have won a Heisman and was a fair to middling RB.

Anyway, I've said my piece on who got left out now lets look at the dossiers on the Heisman Finalists.

Tim Tebow, Soph QB Florida
Why Tebow? The essence of the dynamic, unpredictable player. He can beat you with his legs or his arm and the numbers speak for themselves. 29 passing TDs and 22 Rushing TDs, unheard of numbers for a QB.
The knock: Tradition...the old guard is loath to give the most prestigous award to a sophomore. Many think that the three losses that Florida has is a millstone too.
Odds 5-2 (Bandits favorite)

Darren McFadden JR RB Arkansas
Why McFadden The hard charging runner is as subtle as a slegdehammer yet silky smooth with touchdown potential everytime he touches the ball. A finalist last year as a sophomore, McFadden is no stranger to the Heisman Hype. His 206 yards against LSU led to the upset of the then #1 team
The Knock: His inconsistent play (witness the 43 yards against Auburn) and his teams so-so play may hold him back. Also he hasn't really improved his numbers from last year.
Odds 3-1

Colt Brennan SR QB Hawai'i
Why Brennan: Look at the numbers: 4174 and 38 TD's. Add in that Brennan missed part or all of 2 games in compiling it and you are further impressed. The Rainbow Warriors big gun has carried them to an unbeaten record and a BCS Sugar Bowl bid. His numbers every week are almost unreal.
The Knock: Look at the numbers and then the competition. Hawai'i piled up big numbers against weak competition and the decent ones they played were on the island. Many think that Brennan is here because of his record breaking career. I like Brennan but I think the Heisman is a yearly award, not an lifetime acheivement plaque.
Odds 5-1

Chase Daniel JR QB Mizzou
Why Daniel: The gutty field general of the Tigers put up an impressive stat total of his own. Daniel threw for 4170 and 33 in leading the Tigers to their first Big 12 Championship game. The Tigers are playing in their first January bowl game since 1969.
The Knock: Aside from the Kansas game where Daniel was almost letter perfect, he has come up short in big games. Witness the pair of poor performances against Oklahoma and you have a rel big argument why Daniel should wait another year.
Odds 10-1

I think history is made as Tebow becomes the first Soph to win the award and many will begin to speculate that Tebow could join Archie Griffin as the only players to win multiple trophies.

Turning to tonights game we have a pair of 5-7 teams. Ordinarily that would get a stifiled yawn from most football folks, but since the NFL network has it, there is much hype. I'm not fond of Thursday Night games, the timing is just all wrong. But since Mr. Goddell says its so, its so. Both teams need this game to stay afloat in the weaker NFC playoff race.

Chicago (5-7) @ Washington (5-7)
Fed Ex Field; Landover, MD 8:15 NFL Network
Favorite Redskins by 3
Fast Fact The Bears lead this series 20-17-1 but the Redskins eight of the last ten meetings
The Redskins are still trying to work through the haze of Sean Taylor's death and funeral as well as a painful last second loss to the Bills due to horrible time out management. I can't believe that a Joe Gibbs coached team made the type of mental errors it did in that loss. Meanwhile, the Bears blew a 16-7 lead at home to the G-Men in a game that they should have rolled in. Though I have been a notorious Rex Grossman basher, his play has not been the root of the Bears troubles, an atypically soft defense is. The Redskins should be much much better than their 5-7 record indicates. They have had a notorious problem with coughing up late game leads. Who gets the nod? Its really too close to tell, and one can only draw off of emotion for just so long. The hard turn around for both teams should be tougher on a road team, though the Skins are having to gear up for another crucial game so soon after burying their teammate. I really want to give it to the home team by the slimmest of margins since they have a much stronger running game but I can't trust the Redskins secondary. As much as I knock Grossman, his big play ability and "the other" Adrian Peterson give the Bears a slight advantage even on the road
Pick-Chicago

Finally, as promised here are Bandits 3rd Quarter NFL Grade Cards

Head Of The Class
New England (12-0)
No longer a duh, the Pats have been dodging bullets as of late...or are the close games erasing the contention that they can't win tight ones???
Grade: A+

Principals List
Dallas (11-1) Green Bay, Indianapolis (10-2)
The Pokes are the class of the NFC and proved it by rolling over the Pack who will live and die with Brett Favre. Look for a clash of these two teams again with much higher stakes in late January. Knock the Colts all you want the defending champs are hanging tough.
Grade: A

Honor Roll
Pittsburgh (9-3) Seattle, Tampa Bay (8-4)
The Steelers are up this high because of their record, but their road woes will come back to haunt them. The Seahawks and Bucs lead their weak divisions but have put down challenges to their crowns well.
Grade: A-

Good Grades
New York Giants, Jacksonville (8-4), San Diego (7-5)
The Giants showed gumption in rallying to beat the Bears on the road while the Chargers are winning in spite of Norv Turner, but both teams will likely be playoff roadkill. As soon as you want to make the Jags an elite team, they come up short in a mettle proving game. But the Jags are the team no one wants to cross come January
Grade: B

Middle of the Class
Cleveland, Tennessee (7-5), Minnesota, Arizona, Buffalo, Detroit (6-6)
The Browns are winning the ones that they shouldnt and losing the ones they should have easy, but they have no real opposition to get a playoff berth. The Bills are here because they are too good to put in the remedial, but nowhere close to being a real contender. The morass of NFC teams at 6-6 teams will get sorted out soon. The Lions are being exposed as the fraud they are, The Vikings are suddenly looking formidable with a solid run game and good defense and I just cant figure the Cards out. They are looking like an NFC version of the Bills.
Grade: C

Remedial Course
Washington, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Carolina, Houston (5-7)
The first two listed are fighting it out tonight and one will fall into academic watch status with a loss. The Eagles are the biggest enigma in the NFL, while the Panthers cant win at home, the Saints are being reexposed as one trick ponies and the Texans are stuck in the toughest division in the NFL.
Grade: C-

Academic Watch
Denver (5-7), Cincinnati, Baltimore, Oakland, Kansas City (4-8 ), St. Louis (3-9)
None of these teams are going anywhere, but they are still dangerous enough to wreck any of the above teams playoff hopes. The Broncos are another hot mess, while the disappointing campaigns of the Bengals and Ravens play themselves out. The Raiders, Chiefs and Rams are showing some potential but they still have much homework to make up.
Grade: D

Headed for Summer School
San Francisco, New York Jets, Atlanta (3-9)
All these teams are playing out the string
Grade: D-

Failing the course
Miami (0-12)
The Dolphins are in serious danger of an 0-16 season. The offense is non existant and you have the feeling that the defense quit a while ago. 35 years after the 72 Dolphins defined perfection and the Patriots are looking to match it, the '07 Dolphins are defining futility
Grade: F

The rest of Week 14's picks will be posted tomorrow. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

My Point of View Through the snowfall

2007-12-05T15:10:00.000-05:00

Got the first snowfall of the season here (2.5 inches)in Bandits corner of the world, and all the fools are out in force on the roads...
I'm still in pre-mourning for the Twins trading Johan Santana. He was the first bona fide supadupastar, I've seen the Twins have since Kirby Puckett. With apologies to legend in making St. Paul Joe Mauer, Johan was one I always said "That's our Johan" As long as the "Jankees" dont get him, I can deal with it. I was hoping against hope that Santana and Liriano would be the 1-2 punch for the Twins in their new park, so much for that.
I have to say I was mighty surprised by the reaction by my last post. I figure that the people so vehemently against a playoff would just take who is placed in the national championship game and be done with it. But I have heard more carping and crying about who got in.
I really detest these Thursday night games, it scatters my picks over too many days. I'll post that tomorrow, a preview of a do or die matchup between the Bears and the Redskins. Winner here gets to hang on to slim playoff hopes while the loser is for all intents and purposes, done.

Lets check the winners of this week's Phat Dap & Head Slap.

Phat Dap
This one has a bit of a local flavor to it. Phat Dap has to go to the number of online voters that voted enough to put the late Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Joe Nuxhall on the Hall of Fame ballot for the Ford Frick award. He and Joe Morgan are among the nominees. I think it would be neat to see Morgan, a broadcaster I really respect go in for a second time (He was elected as a player in 1990)I admit I was among those that cast an online vote for "The Ol' Lefthander" I would hope that the Hall puts Buck O'Neil another late great ambassador of the game in as well.

Head Slap
I'm sorry Ravens fans, but I have to give the Head Slap to the Ravens who were reduced to childish whining after their late loss to the Patriots on Monday. Look, the Ravens have to be given mad credit for taking the fight to the Pats and nearly knocking them off. But to whine after they lose and cry conspiracy & favortism after such a loss is asinine. They point to 13 penalties for 100 yards. I have to counter that claim and point out that 35 of those yards were from one play: Bart Scott's tantrum after the go ahead touchdown. Take those two penalties and the offsides on the point after and the total is 7 for 65, still a bit high but not outrageous.
If one wants to complain about the 4th down plays. Blame the Ravens D-Coordinator Rex Ryan for calling a timeout, nullifying a great 4th and 1 stop. The false start on the Pats on the following play erased the next stop and you would have to be dumber than a box of rocks not to have called the obvious hold that was done on Benjamin Watson on the 4th and 6. The Ravens tough guy play came back to haunt them, but don't blame the refs. You might want to ask Kyle Boller why he threw that awful deep ball that was picked off, while the Ravens were UP 24-17, where a field goal would more than likely ice the game. The Ravens players who beefed smacked of a sore loser.

I'll preview that Bears-Redskins matchup, I have to hand out 3rd Quarter NFL grade cards and will handicap the Heisman race (I still have to find out who the finalists are) tomorrow. Until Next Post fellow Sports Fans!

Did The BCS Get it Right???

2007-12-03T16:58:00.000-05:00

I have long been a proponent of a playoff system...old news.
I have long stated my dislike for the current setup to determine a national champeen (sic) in college football...more old news
I'm also not shy of publicly stating my intense dislike (I wont call it hatred, I save that for Louisville) of Ohio State...still more old news
What I will say will likely drop some jaws and I preface this with the caveat that I'm saying this grudgingly.

The BCS got it right.

The teams that are in the title game, deserve to be right where they are.

You almost can hear the dulcet tones of John Popper and Blues Traveler singing "The mountains win again." In this case, the mountains are the powers that be in the BCS. The grinning jeering powers that sneer at us and tell us "You idiots, thats why we're the experts. WE know what's best for you and college football." They tell us further that the system works and that there is no reason to change it. They still however keep their collective fingers crossed every year that it works out. And for now, it has...
As I tend to do, I'll roll my eyes and continue to lob brickbats at the system, but its still a ticking time bomb.

Ohio State is slotted at #1, no real argument here. At 11-1 and undisputed Big Ten (Great Midwest) champs. They have no one that can quibble with them being in the top slot. They were the benefactor of Mizzou getting an expected slaughter by Oklahoma. Lets face facts the Tigers looked very much like stage frightened kitties in the Big 12 Championship. Rest assured that you will see Chase Daniel and his Columbia gang back in the championship next year, if they can get by their Jayhawk nemesis. But they did get the shaft on the Bowl. Kansas goes to a BCS bowl and Mizzou doesn't??? No knock to Illinois, but Mizzou should be going to the Rose Bowl, and the Illini should be headed to the Cotton. Mizzou beat Kansas, yet the Jayhawks get the BCS nod. Thats not right.

LSU is the #2 team, some may brook an argument here. But I have to say, LSU won the SEC and the BCS bid that goes with it. Put any of the other BCS qualifiers here and they fail the litmus test against LSU.
VA Tech? The Hokies got the giblets beat out of them in September by LSU.
USC? Two losses and still trying to explain away that inexcusable defeat by Stanford.
Oklahoma? When you can explain to me the loss to Texas Tech, you can get them in.
West Virginia? They had the legit title shot in their hands and were ambushed by Pitt...at home.
Georgia? You're going to give a team that didn't even win its conference division a title shot? Had that happened even the most fervent BCS apologist (ya'll know who you are) would be at a serious loss to explain them as a legitimate title contender.
Hawai'i? As much love as I have for the Rainbow Warriors, their lightweight schedule doesn't make them legit either. I'd have given last years Boise State squad as more of a credible BCS title game worthy team than Hawai'i is this year. The Rainbow Warriors get a well deserved BCS slot, but not a title shot.

So there you have it. Through gritted teeth, I give grudging dap to the BCS this year. They did get the protagonists for the BCS title game right. Now we have a month and five days to debate who will win and why. And we have a plethora of bowl games to dissect before the big game.

My next post will be Wednesday with the Phat Dap/Head Slap as well as handicapping one of the most wide open and diverse Heisman races in recent memory. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Does Boston own New York now? And Week 13 NFL Picks

2007-11-30T23:06:00.000-05:00

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!

KJ's Hot List: Games you Have to See

2007-11-29T18:53:00.000-05:00

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!

Word of The Day=Annoyance

2007-11-28T16:06:00.000-05:00

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!

The Death of Sean Taylor: Does Lifestyle=Deathstyle?

2007-11-27T15:29:00.000-05:00

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.

Weekend In Review

2007-11-26T15:23:00.000-05:00

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!

The Perfect Storm is Brewing in college football

2007-11-25T13:09:00.000-05:00

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!

USC rolls, The NFL's dilemma and Week 12 NFL picks

2007-11-23T10:55:00.000-05:00

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!

A cornucopia of football for Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T19:02:00.000-05:00

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!!!

Introducing the Great Midwest Football Conference

2007-11-20T19:51:00.000-05:00

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!

Carr leaves, A-Rod is MVP and the Pats are unreal

2007-11-19T15:39:00.000-05:00

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!

2 games, 2 States, 2 losses but mighty proud of the Cats

2007-11-18T13:34:00.000-05:00

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.

Nuxhall, Bonds, ARod & NFL Week 11 Picks

2007-11-16T19:02:00.000-05:00

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)

ARod stays in the Bronx and the latest College Hot Sheet

2007-11-15T12:12:00.000-05:00

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!

Random Thoughts on Random things

2007-11-14T11:09:00.000-05:00

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!

A college football quandry of sorts

2007-11-13T13:40:00.000-05:00

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!

Weekend in Review: Just when you think you have it figured out...

2007-11-12T01:36:00.000-05:00

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

NFL Grade Cards...midterm exam

2007-11-10T15:43:00.000-05:00

Stoo-dents...pay attention! Professor Bandit is calling class to order and will hand out mid term grades for your favorite NFL team
Instead of breaking down each team individually I'll just break it down by grades

Head of The Class

A+
New England (9-0)
Duh....The Pats shown their moxie with their rally against the Colts. Forget the hate that Don Shula threw at them, they're biggest obstacle is themselves

A
Indianapolis, Dallas, Green Bay (7-1)
The Colts stay in the A class depsite their loss, the Pokes aside from their Patriots Spanking have made it look rather easy. I keep saying that the Packs lack of a running game will get them and it will eventually, but it'll probably be in the Super Bowl.

Good Grades here

B+
New York Giants, Detroit, Pittsburgh (6-2)
The G-Men have shook off their 0-2 start but the have yet to beat a good team besides Washington. The Lions have turned heads but they have a brutal back half of their schedule. The Steelers have one bad game a month, that'll only get them a 12-4 record...yikes.

B
Jacksonville (5-3)
The Jags are doing it without a real QB and thats gonna catch up with them.

B-
Cleveland, Washington (5-3), Tampa Bay (5-4)
The Skins are winning in spite of themselves while the Browns are winning games that they shouldn't but thats gonna catch up with them both soon. How are the Bucs doing it, Chucky Gruden couldn't tell you and I'm not gonna try

Middle of the Class

C+
New Orleans, Carolina, San Diego, Seattle (4-4)
The only reason all of these teams are in the plus is because they are at the top of their divisions. The Saints have done the most to improve, while Carolina's QB situation will make things hard on them. The Chargers are the most schizo team in the NFL while Seattle is as usual making may in the super weak NFC West

C
Buffalo, Baltimore, Kansas City (4-4)
The Bills will sport a winning record only because of their weak schedule, The Ravens are coming apart fast and the Chiefs will be hurting without Larry Johnson and their grade will begin to show that

C-
Houston (4-5), Minnesota (3-5)
The Vikings have a lot going for them RB wise, but they are still lacking in a lot of areas but they have improved
The Texans are still trying to find their sea legs, but they are not a pushover. If they could get a real homerun back to complement their solid receiving corps they would be solid. But residing the no-joke AFC South, they won't get anywhere anytime soon.

Sleeping in Class
D (You aren't getting a plus if you're below a C
Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Arizona,
The Eagles are a team that is teetering on collapse, while the Bears seem to find ways to lose. The Broncos are 3 last second field goals from being winless and the Cards are spinning their wheels since Matt Leinart's season ending injury
D-
Cincinnati, New York Jets, Atlanta, San Francisco, Oakland
These teams are only off the failure list because they have wins, but their litany of wrongs is too long to list here, but at least they are passing, barely.

Failing the Course
F
St. Louis, Miami
The Rams are closer to getting off this list than the Dolphins are, but at least they have an excuse having been ravaged by injuries. The Dolphins are just bad, period.

These grades will be reviewed again at after each team has played 12 games, (week 13) Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

A Chinese summit?? and NFL Week 10 Picks

2007-11-09T01:14:00.000-05:00

A quick side note, I posted in my last post the incorrect record for the Auburn-Georgia Auburn is 7-3 and Georgia is 7-2, I had them reversed. It was a typist error and my thanks to those who pointed it out. The info has since been corrected. I try my darndest to post accurate info and stats and welcome anyone who sees inaccurate info to let me know.
I promise, no obscure The Color Purple references are in this post. I can't guarantee that I won't quote a great rapper though...

I remember the classic line from fictional Western University coach Pete Bell in the movie Blue Chips after his team had upset #1 Indiana "you know what? 900 million Chinamen couldn't give a damn what happened here tonight." I beg to offer if Yao Ming and Yi Jinlian play, at least 200 million Chinamen might be interested. In what looks to be a rather obscure early season matchup between the Rockets and Bucks looks to be a Super Bowl type ratings hyped match for Chinese Basketball fans, reports are that the first meeting between Yao, the Rockets uber big man and the rookie project Yin will draw 1/5 of a billion viewers in China. Keep in mind that the Colts-Pats game drew a regular season record 34 million and last years Colts-Bears Super Bowl was viewed by 93 million. The one drawback is that the two Chinese players won't likely guard each other, Yi is a forward and Yao is a center who will more likely be tangling with fellow #1 pick Andrew Bogut, which will be a better matchup. I would love to see the overnight numbers for that game.

Another quick side note regarding the A-Rod sweepstakes. The MLB players union has raised concerns that the owners and general managers might be acting in collusion to hold down free agent movement and salaries and that MLB Commish Bud Selig might be behind these efforts to keep A-Rod's next contract down. If a team wants to spend willy-nilly on a player thats on them. Talk of collusion is serious stuff and you would think that the owners would know better, but many of them weren't around back in the 80s when the players union accused the owners of collusion and and arbitrator subsequently agreed. The owners chicanery then cost them $280 million and a number of players were granted free agency on the spot. If something like this happens again, we're talking Bill Gates type money in damages...stay tuned.

Turning to football I never thought I'd see the day when both I would be overjoyed to see both Dallas and Pittsburgh win decisively. Reason being that I needed both of those wins got me to a break even. I've been dawdling at the break even mark for the past three weeks is starting to annoy me, my picking against the grain and a couple of dumb picks seemed to make things worse. Oh well I will do my best to get more correctly prognosticate this weeks slate and after this week no more bye weeks to deal with. So I once again submit for your review and approval my picks for this week. As usual odds are provided for entertainment and comparison purposes only. You bet the lines, its on you.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 10
All times EST Houston (4-5); New England (9-0); NY Jets (1-8 ); Tampa Bay (5-4) are on a bye and the byes have all been taken after this week.

Sunday, November 11

Falcons (2-6) @ Panthers (4-4)
Bank Of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Carolina by 4
Fast Fact David Carr was sacked 7 times last week against Tennessee the 7th time in 81 career starts that he has been sacked at least 7 times in a game.
The Panthers are winless at home, while the Falcons have yet to win outside of the Georgia Dome, which means this game will end in a tie. Seriously, the Falcons despite snapping a three game skid with a win over the Niners are not putting any kind of fear in anyone. The Panthers still have QB questions but are much better than the Falcons.
Pick-Carolina

Bills (4-4) @ Dolphins (0-8 )
Dolphins Stadium Miami 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Buffalo by 3
Fast Fact Bills WR Lee Evans has 19 receptions for 410 yards and 6 TD's against the Dolphins, the most against any opponent
The Bengals managed to make JP Losman look like an all pro. I swear he was calling for wings a couple times in the pocket. He should be unhurried and unbothered by the Dolphins anemic pass rush. Jason Taylor deserves so much better than this.
Pick-Buffalo

Cleveland (5-3) @ Pittsburgh (6-2)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Pittsburgh by 9½
Fast Fact The Browns actually lead the all-time series 55-54, but the Steelers have won the last 7 meetings
The Browns are the surprise contender in the AFC North as Derek Anderson is making the locals forget who that guy that they drafted as their supposed franchise savior. The Steelers are looking rather brutal as Ben Roethlisberger strafed the supposed tough Ravens D for five scores last Monday. While the Browns are fast shedding their pushover status, but they aren't ready to take the Steelers out in their own crib. Though it should be noted that since the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 2 of the 3 wins they have over the Steelers were in Pittsburgh...you think??? Naaaahh!
Pick-Pittsburgh

Broncos (3-5) @ Chiefs (4-4)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Kansas City by 3
Fast Fact The home team has won the last nine meetings
Both teams come in to this game hurting. Jay Cutler is nursing a badly bruised leg suffered in a wicked hit in the beatdown by Lions while Larry Johnson is highly questionable with a badly sprained ankle during a shredding by the Packers. The Chiefs might have to depend on Priest Holmes (Is he still in this league?) to stay afloat, while the Broncos hope to get a good game out of Travis Henry who has historically run well against the Chiefs. I think the Broncos continue their schizophrenic ways and beat a depleted Chiefs squad
Pick-Denver

Jaguars (5-3) @ Titans (6-2)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Tennessee by 4
Fast Fact The Jags are the only team to have to play three straight on the road this year.
Jockeying hard for position behind the rampaging Colts these two AFC South squads try to keep pace. The Jags have been winning despite their inconsistent QB play while the Titans are winning with a stout defense and the improved play of LenDale White who has taken firm control of the RB position and has rewarded the Titans faith in him with three straight 100 yard game, all Titan wins. The trend continues here.
Pick-Tennessee

Vikings (3-5) @ Packers (7-1)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Green Bay by 6
Fast Fact The Packers are looking to win their fourth straight over the Vikes for the first time in 19 years.
The Vikes are feeling good after riding a record day by Adrian Peterson to a stunning rout of the Chargers, Peterson will run against a stout Pack defense who ranks 7th in the league in rushing yards allowed, but will miss hard hitting, ball hawking safety Nick Collins who has a knack for shutting down an oppositions top runner. Everytime I say the Vikes have no chance, AP has a bonkers game and the Vikes win. The Vikes have no chance in Green Bay...
Pick-Minnesota (Upset of The Week)

Philadelphia (3-5) @ Washington (5-3)
FedEx Field; Landover, MD 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Washington by 3
Fast Fact The Redskins are 14-2 when Clinton Portis rushes for 100 yards or more.
The Skins nearly let the woeful Jets beat them, but recovered. The Iggles got whomped by the Pokes and the natives are alternately calling for Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid's head. Clinton Portis has found his running stride and that makes Jason Campbell's life a lot easier. The Eagles have won six of their last seven in Washington but I doubt that trend continues here.
Picks-Washington

Rams (0-8) @ Saints (4-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite New Orleans by 11½
Fast Fact This is the Rams first visit to the Big Easy since losing Super Bowl 38 in Feb 2002
Like the mystic phoenix, the Saints have bounced back from a horrid 0-4 start to claw their way back into the fringes of the playoff picture. The Saints can actually be tied for first in the NFC south with a win. The Saints have been riding the sharp play of Drew Brees who has completed 71% of his passes and thrown for over 1200 yards during the Saints winning streak. The Rams are getting Steven Jackson back to full speed and the Rams could ride this to an upset. But I can't call it here.
Pick-New Orleans

Bengals (2-6) @ Ravens (4-4)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 4:05 (CBS)
Favorite Baltimore by 4
Fast Fact The Ravens were held to a franchise record 104 yards total in offense this past Monday.
Two teams that are fading fast, why has the Ravens once feared defense suddenly looked old, slow and tired. The Bengals cant get out of their own way and have reverted to their old bungling ways. The Queen City Kitties don't play good on the road but the Ravens can be beat. Leave it to the Bengals to win a game that they really have no business winning and artificially inflating their fans hopes...again
Pick-Cincinnati

Bears (3-5) @ Raiders (2-6)
McAfee Stadium, Oakland 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Chicago by 3½
Fast Fact The Bears are 1-2 all-time in their 3 previous trips to Oakland.
Da Bears are looking da-minished. But the Raiders scare no one and with their continued confusion at QB should be easy pickings for the Bears who despite being wracked with injuries still have enough to make life miserable for Josh McCown. Look for Raider nation to continue in earnest its call for JaMarcus Russell as this game drags on.
Pick-Chicago

Dallas (7-1) @ NY Giants (6-2)
Giants Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Dallas by 1½
Fast Fact The 80 points scored by both teams in the season opener was the most in the 90 games the two teams have played since 1960
The G-Men are a far different team than the one that the Pokes ran ragged in week 2. Should the Cowboys think that they can roll up 45 points again, they'll get a sobering shot of reality. Eli Manning lacks the glamorous look of his Pokes counterpart, but his steady yeoman play has given the G-Men the stability they have used to rip off six wins in a row. The Pokes have been way too steady and balanced and this game won't be like the 45-35 shootout in September, but the 'Boys should steal a tight one.
Pick-Dallas

Lions (6-2) @ Cardinals (3-5)
University of Phoenix Stadium; Glendale, AZ 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Arizona by 1
Fast Fact The Lions are after their 3rd road win this year, they won only 3 games on the road total in the past two seasons.
The Lions are for real, I'm not drinking any Kool-Aid writing this. I'm still not sold on their long term viability but their defense is growing up fast and the offense is a game breaking running back shy of being a real juggernaut. The Cards are a mess as usual and despite having a decent offense though you wouldn't know it by their pathetic showing last week in Tampa. The Lions had best make hay now, their schedule gets a lot tougher after this one.
Pick-Detroit

Colts (7-1) @ Chargers (4-4)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Indianapolis by 3½
Fast Fact Peyton Manning is 3-1 vs. the Chargers throwing for over 1200 yards and 5 TD's total in the four games
Both teams are coming off of losses and both need the win to stay in first place in their respective divisions. The Chargers got ran over, literally by the Vikes last week while the Colts dropped a taut thriller in against the Pats. The key here is how LT fares against the strong Colts defense. The Chargers need him to post solid numbers to keep the Colts high powered offense off the field. The Chargers had best keep the score down, they can't win a shootout. Unfortunately that's exactly what the Colts will do.
Pick-Indianapolis

Monday, November 12

49ers (2-6) @ Seahawks (4-4)
Qwest Field, Seattle (4-4) 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Seattle by 10
Fast Fact The Niners have lost seven of their last nine meetings with the Seahawks.
This is a matchup of teams that had supposed strong running games, but have failed to live up to their promise. The Seahawks dropped a shootout overtime game in Cleveland while the Niners keep on losing. Look for Matt Hasselbeck to continue his string of big number games and that bodes badly for a Niners team that has trouble scoring and keeping opposition points off the board.
Pick-Seattle (Lock of the Week)

Last Week 7-7 (Upset Incorrect, Lock Correct)
Overall: 80-50 (8-1 Locks, 3-6 Upsets)

I'll post the NFL midyear grade cards Saturday, until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Bandits College Hot List....This weeks hot games

2007-11-08T00:33:00.000-05:00

I usually dont start talking about college basketball until after the new year (You're gonna love my spec sheet around tourney time) But I had to weigh in on reading that the Big East is expanding its tourney for the 08-09 season to include all 16 teams. To this, I give a hearty thumbs down. "But Bandit." You ask quizzically "Your beloved Bearcats were felina non grata (Cat not welcome) at the Big East tourney last year after finishing 15th of 16 teams. At least your team could go to New York." To that, I have always liked the tourneys that do not include all league members. True it precludes an out of nowhere run my a lower echelon team, but I've always said earn your way in during the regular season. The Pac 10 only allows its top 8 teams in, something I wish the Big Ten would do. I have no real beef with the SEC's tourney setup since they have divisions. But I like the "you have to earn it to get in it mentality."
Nice warmup games we're seeing. Ohio State thumpin' Findlay in their season open...what??? They got beat? In Columbus? Whaaaat? Oh well, Kentucky rolled up a nice win against Gardner-Webb in the 2nd round of the Coaches vs Cancer and a re headed to New...wait a minute, see what had had happened was...you're telling this scribe that they got beat badly in the hallowed halls of Rupp??? (They did 84-68 )Damn, ya'll can't blame Tubba Smiff for this loss. I betcha Wildcat Nation is still trying to figure out who and where Gardner-Webb is (A small school from the Atlantic Sun conference in Boiling Springs North Carolina). Considering that this happened to two teams with haughtier and mouthy fans, Im loving this!

Since we're on the subject of college...

Back by popular demand, or just because I love to do the analysis, here's a list of games that you should be watching. Not only am I going to tell you the games that you need to watch but better still convincing persuasion why you should. I will admit that I watched more of the Michigan-Michigan State game (Cause I was there) but that Bama-LSU was something else.

All Times EST and not all games are nationally televised

#12 Michigan (8-2) @ Wisconsin (7-3)
Camp Randall Stadium; Madison, WI 12:00 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Badgers have won 24 of 25 at Camp Randall but the Wolverines are 21-4-1 there.
Why You Should Watch Michigan can't afford to look past a wounded yet dangerous Badger team to its annual showdown with Ohio State. The Wolverines needed a late rally to fend off in-state rival Michigan State while Wisconsin is trying to recover from its 4th quarter meltdown against the Buckeyes. Emotions run fairly high in this matchup, so expect a tight tense battle.

Wake Forest (7-2) @ #21 Clemson (6-3)
Memorial Stadium; Clemson, SC 12:00 (ESPN2)
Fast Fact Tiger QB Cullen Harper set a school record with his 23rd TD pass
Why You Should Watch This is pretty much a knockout game to stay in contention for the ACC Championship. Wake is coming off a heartbreaking loss to Virginia where a game winning FG try stray wide right. Clemson has rolled up on fairly beatable opponents. Both teams are fairly evenly matched. Keep an eye on Tiger QB Cullen Harper who could take advantage of a weak Demon Deacons pass defense.

Illinois (7-3) @ #1 Ohio State (10-0)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus 3:30 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Illini have lost 12 straight matchups to the #1 ranked team, its last win coming in 1956
Why You Should Watch The Bucks march to a title continues to get tougher as they play a rugged Illini team in what should be an emotional senior day. Its highly doubtful that the Bucks will get caught looking past this game to its date with Michigan but its habit of leaving teams in games for a while will get them sooner or later

#18 Auburn (7-3) @ #10 Georgia (7-2) Bandits 5-Star Matchup
Sanford Stadium; Athens, Georgia 3:30 (CBS)
Fast Fact Georgia RB Keyshon Moreno joins Bulldog legend Herschel Walker as the only freshman to rush for over 1000 yds.
Why You Should Watch An Interesting cross divisional matchup between two teams who need the win to stay in contention for their respective divisions. Auburn has been strong defensively as of late giving up just six points in their last two games. Georgia has on the other hand scored 40 plus points in their last two games. The Dawgs have been getting good games out freshman scatback Knowshon Moreno

#13 UConn (8-1) @ Cincinnati (7-2)
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati 3:30 (ESPNU)
Fast Fact UConn has yet to beat the Bearcats in three meetings.
Why You Should Watch Best game feature under the radar teams. UConn is a slim loss at Virginia from being unbeaten. Cincy got a badly needed win at South Florida racing out to a huge lead and holding on late. The Huskies featuring the twin running attack of Donald Brown II and Andre Dixon. The Bearcats are big play, big score squad and have a fearless defense who if they force turnovers as is their wont, they win games more often than not. Keep an eye out for underrated SS Haruki Nakamura who specializes in big hits and seems to always be in the middle of strips and forced fumbles

#9 Arizona State (7-2) @ UCLA(6-3)
Rose Bowl, Pasadena 3:30 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Bruins have beaten the Sun Devils four straight meetings in Pasadena
Why You Should Watch After taking a beat down from Oregon, the Sun Devils are in a bind, but they can still get to a BCS bowl. The road won't be easy as they face USC and Arizona after a matchup with an always tough UCLA squad. The Sun Devils had better do a better job of keeping QB Rudy Carpenter upright as Oregon sacked him nine times. UCLA's coach Karl Dorrell could fend off the hounds for his job with a win here

#4 Kansas (9-0) at Oklahoma State (5-4)
Boone Pickens Stadium; Stillwater, OK 8:00 (ABC)
Fast Fact The Jayhawks are seeking their first 10-0 start since 1899
Why You Should Watch Like the great rhyme artist Rakim, The Jayhawks are no joke. Go ask Nebraska who got 76 points hung on them. Todd Reesing isn't a household name but throwing for six scores will get you noticed for sure. The Cowboys have a decent offense themselves led by Zac Robinson but keep getting snakebit by blowing late leads. Witness the collapse against Texas, in which the Pokes shamefully squandered leads of 21-0 and 35-14 at home. This could be a blink and miss a score type game as both teams average better than 500 yards a game in offense and are 2nd (KU) and 6th (OSU) in the nation in scoring.

Fresno St (6-3) @ #16 Hawai'i (8-0)
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, HI 11:05 (ESPN2)
Fast Fact The Rainbow Warriors are first in the NCAA in scoring (51.9)
Why You Should Watch For those that doubt the Rainbow Warriors, they have their chance to prove their case against a solid Bulldog team. Hawai'i is a team that will score and score a lot. Fresno State hopes that fab frosh RB Ryan Matthews is a go to help keep Hawai'i's lethal offense off the field. Colt Brennan has been a beast for the Rainbow Warriors the last two games, throwing for a mindblowing 970 yards and 10 scores.

Those are the games that are hot rrrrrright now!

But wait before you go, you have to step into Bandits Court…

Thought you might be interested in looking at this custody case ....

New York (AP) - A seven-year-old Brooklyn, New York boy was at the
center of a Manhattan courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a
court ruling over who should have custody of him. The boy has a
history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially
awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with child custody law and
regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree
possible. The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his
aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live
with her. When the judge then suggested that he live with his
grandparents, the boy cried out they also beat him. After
considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that
domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the judge
took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should
have custody of him. After two recesses to check legal references
and confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary
Joint custody to the St. Louis Rams and Miami Dolphins, whom the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.

NFL Picks tomorrow, until Next Post Fellow Sports fans!

Shula: Stop Hatin' & Happy Trails to Lindros

2007-11-07T01:07:00.000-05:00

Yeah, I voted...so that gives me the right to complain as much as I want to.

I think it was a Notre Dame apologist...err fan that sent me a hater-type anonymous e-mail. Thats ok, my alma mater is going to a bowl game and earn their money, but anyway

Don Shula came out with the crackback blast saying that if the Pats do go unbeaten that they should have an asterisk by the record. As much as I have respected Shula, I think hes been standing a little too close to Dave the head maitre'd at his restaurant a little too long. Shula does forget that his Dolphins played no one with a winning record until the 1972 playoffs, they had to rally to beat the Browns and playoff neophyte Steelers before beating an overmatched Redskins squad in Super Bowl 7. Shula and his crew get mad dap for being the only team to run the table (ironic, that the Dolphins may run the table in losing them all this year) but his comments come off as boorish and jealous. I like the comment that Mercury Morris said "These guys are good; but don't call me when they're in my town, call me when they're on my block!" i.e., the Pats are a little over halfway there, if they get to the playoffs unbeaten (Sorry Mo, Sully, and Frags they wont) Then lets talk, until then I'll sit back and enjoy the show.

Speaking of hot starts, someone break up the Ottawa Senators. Here I was all hyped about the Wings solid 11-2-1 start until I see the Sens 5-2 win over the Maple Leafs gives them 26 points. I know its early but the Sens are the best team not to have put it all together for a run at the Cup. Is it too early to dream of a Wings-Sens Cup final. That would make the hockey purist in me happy.

On a related hockey note, reports out of Canada have oft-injured Eric Lindros retiring. (Lindros, is he still in this league???) I am un abashed in my dislike for Lindros. I always thought he was a big baby. I remember when he declared that he had no desire to play for the then Quebec Noridques (I'll resist calling them the Nor-Dorks, like I used to) and forced a trade to the Flyers where he was a part of the highly overrated Legion Of Doom. (Or as I called them the Legion of Boon) It was a pleasure watching that overrated team get punished and swept by the Wings in 1997. Lindros was oft traveled and did score 865 points but he never fully lived up to the promise of being the next great superstar, maybe if he had some of the humility of an Yzerman or the quiet resolve of a Lemieux or the grace and panache of a Gretzky maybe he would be still playing or at least mention in the same breath of those three aformentioned legends.

Its Mid-week and you know what that means: The awards that everyone in the blogging Community will be talking about, the often controvresial and never punch pulling Phat Dap/Head Slap of the week.

Phat Dap
Couple of good nominees this week, first one to Adrian Peterson who's mind blowing 296 yards helped the Vikings win (something I didn't predict) I just realized both times that I said that the Vikes situation was hopeless in a game AP goes for 2 bills or better. Second Phat Dap nominee goes to the Patriots who rallied from ten down to beat a tough Colts team. We will most definitely see a rematch of this game in January. But the Phat Dap has to go to Roger Goddell whom this scribe has been often very critical of, he stuck to his guns and did not lift the season long suspension of Adam "PacMan" Jones. Jones who still has the courts to deal with was seeking early reinstatement. Hey if Odell Thurman can't get back in what makes anyone in their right mind think that a ne'er do well like Jones (I've always wanted to call someone that) would get reinstated.

Head Slap
Nominees for this one go out to the Nebraska Defense, come on now. You already know I'm no fan of Bill Callahan, but he cant take all the blame. The once famed and feared blackshirt defense gave up TD's on ten straight possessions YIKES! Kansas punted once in the whole game. How far has that team fallen? And I cant let the Notre Dame loss to Navy slip by without nominating them for a head slap. You knew I was gonna take one more shot at the Irish, but instead I'll take it at their administration. How stupid do you think they feel now, being saddled with Charlie Weis' large contract. They were so quick to try to lock him up after his first season for fears that he would jump to the pros after a season or two in South Bend. Now with the Irish looking more and more pathetic. I mean, Navy was the one game that was always a gimme, recruits bailing on the Irish faster than the Titanic. It'll be a long time before the Irish are really feared, not like they were anyway. But the Head Slap has to go to those in the Patriots, mostly some of the Kraft family that made such a big deal of the alleged piped in crowd noise during the Pats-Colts game. I blamed Belichick before and I go on the record as saying I was wrong to tab him, but it isn't enough for the Pats to get a hard-earned and well deserved win. Some in the Pats organization are starting to get that "Everybody is against us mentality." Belichick aka: "Hoodie Man" is someone that we've grown used to, but I hope that thought process doesn't spread to everyone in the organization. You know I've been a voice in defense of the Pats fast start and big wins, but the whining has got to stop. When it comes from the coach, it sounds like coach speak, anyone else its sounds like whining. Shaddup and keep on playing good football and don't be bad winners.

I'm cooking up the hotlist of college games that you need to see, thats on Thursday...Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Thoughts on everything from bad agents to big scores

2007-11-05T19:39:00.000-05:00

Hold on a minute...I think that Kansas just scored on Nebraska again.

I think that A-Rod is being mind manipulated by uber-agent Scott Boras. When are people going to realize that these so called super agents like Boras and Drew "Next Question" Rosenhaus are hurting the games of the players that they represent with their demands. This is one of the few times that I was glad to see the Yankees be at least a little fiscally responsible. $350 million for a player that has played in fewer world series games than Barry Larkin. Who was a good player in his own right but without the numbers, Larkin had performed capably in the playoffs and has something that A-Rod doesn't...a ring. A-Rod is a great player, but $350 xtra large is too much even for a player that will hit over 800 homers before he's done. But then again there's always Tom Hicks to make another stupid contract offer to consider...

Do you think that NBC is wishing that they could get out of their contract with Notre Fraud...er Dame? The Irish apologists want you to believe that its still Ty Willingham's fault. Yeah and the deficit is Clinton's fault too... The Irish and their fans are coming to the sobering reality that they are no longer relevant in the college football world and no one fears them anyone. But dont'cha think UCLA is feeling awful, they are the only team to take an L to them. But there is one thing that still annoys me and ya'll know I'm the type to find something to beef about regarding Notre Dame, they despite their 1-8 record will still get a BCS payout. Their contract that they have entitiles them to 1/66th share of the BCS booty regardless of their record so they still will get more money with at least 8 losses than my beloved alma mater may get if they go to a non-BCS bowl. That aint right.

I think I said it in my last post, but I was glad to see the Pats-Colts game live up to the hype, but leave it to Hoodie Man to have to whine about something. He accused the Colts of "piping in noise." CBS quickly stepped up and said the noise was residual feedback. Having had worked in media, I know that is possible. Throw in the virtual bandbox that the RCA Dome is for football and you have some weird acoustics to be sure. But Belichick is getting all Nixon-like with his questing for every advantage. With apologies to Mo, Sully and all the other fine Pats fans that I know, its getting harder to root for the Patriots now as they are starting to get that Evil Empire look. Good thing for ya'll that Brady is a Michigan Man...

Once and for all I want folks to get off of Chad Johnson. The media honks and wonks are piling on Ocho Cinco as the Bengals have struggled with to a 2-6 record. Since Randy Moss has been a model citizen and TO has been the potrait of stabiity and team play during the Pokes 7-1 start the media has been needing a locquacuious wideout to pick on. They see #85 and since they haven't had a chance to dog on the Bengals in 5 years are taking their shots en masse. Calling Johnson selfish and mocking his being hurt late in the game against Buffalo. It turns out that Johnson was not seriously hurt on a hit by a Bills DB but the media accused Johnson of faking it to lessen his liability for the Bengals bad 1st half of a season. Lets just look at it this way, Is Johnson playing defense? No, I don't think that was Johnson who was blatantly missing tackles on MarShawn Lynch's late TD run that should have been a 2 yard loss. It wasn't Johnson who cant get any pentration on the QB and made JP Losman look like an all-pro. It wasn't Chad Johnson who only gained 11 yards rushing. Lets lay the blame where it is due.

Speaking of laying the blame and a squad that has fallen fast, lets look at Nebraska. Bill Callahan has more or less ruined that once proud program quick. At least Notre Dame's fall was slow and gradual. Nebraska's was sudden, shocking and swift. Kansas was the regular punching bag for Nebraska. But when the Jayhawks drop 76 on the famed Blackshirts. Something ain't right. Now You know that the clock is ticking on Callahan's departure. I wonder how many for sale signs were in his yard when he got home late Saturday or early Sunday?
Do you think Husker fans aren't wishing that they had run a good coach like Frank Solich, Tom Osborne's hand picked succesor, outta town? This situation wont get any better anytime soon, Husker Nation. At least you dont have Oklahoma on your schedule this year, if Kansas drop 76 what would the Sooners have done???

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Weekend in Review

2007-11-04T22:31:00.000-05:00

See I knew that I was gonna have to pay for the Karma I used on Saturday, with Michigan rallying to win, Cincy starting fast and holding on against USF and ND losing. I got hammered on my picks, nothing went right and I'm in the uneviable position of having to root for both the Pokes and Steelers to win just to break even on the week...ugh.
But enough of my whining and moaning. Let me give serious dap to someone. No not Belichick or Brady. To Adrian Peterson. OH SNAP!!!! 296 yards in a 35-17 rout of the Chargers. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I saw that he had a good day, but that kind of day is hall of fame material. Take this into account, Peterson's 315 total yards in offense were more than 9 teams gained in total offense on Sunday NINE TEAMS TOTAL OFFENSE!!!!
Keep in mind that the late great Walter Payton broke the record of 273 yards set by OJ Simpson in 1977 with a 275 yards game and that was the standard bearer for a generation of running backs. Corey Dillon broke that record with an improbable 278 yard game in October of 2000 against the Broncos, that record stood for less than 3 years until Jamal Lewis ran for 295 yards against the Browns, Lewis ironically became the first person to run for 200 yards against a team then run for 200 yards for that same team. AP only topped it by a yard, but could you see him breaking 3 bills?
I could.
This is a kid that many said had potential but was an injury concern. I would hope that Vikings head coach Brad Childress would decide that AP is his #1 dog and hot have him run back kicks anymore.
The game of the century was played at a playoff type level, but I'm glad its over with, though you know that the analysis will run ad infinitum for the next two or three days. Give credit to the Pats for a hard earned win, but the way the game ended with Manning fumbling the ball was an ill way for the game to be decided. Rodney Harrison picks him off, Teddy Bruschi sacking him on 4th down and causing a fumble deep in Pats territory or Manning pulling off the game winning score would have made this game worth the hype. You can better best believe that these two teams will meet in January, possibly in Foxboro with the stakes a lot higher.
I'll do more review on my disastorus week of picks either Monday or Tuesday, my work schedule got changed so the posts may be a little more infrequent, but like Shaft said you'll hear from me when I have something to say. Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans.

Torre in LA, Sonics moving and Week 9 NFL Picks

2007-11-02T15:45:00.000-04:00

Joe Torre's in La-La land, boy do you think that they could push Grady Little out of the way fast enough? But I have a memo to Dodger fan: You ain't....repeat ain't getting A-Rod. No way will Scott Boras let his prized client go to a place where homers go to die. And you can be sure that Artie Moreno of the Angels will want to throw money at A-Rod to keep him out of Dodger Blue just on marketing principle.

The Sonics are rumored to be hedaed to OKC, you had to think that when some of the more hard up owners say the fanatical loyalty that the Oklahoma City folks had to a temporary transplant team they were drooling. You can bet that if this move goes thru, you have an instant rival in the Hornets But this could get ugly before its all sais and done. And the sad thing is that you'd be hard pressed to find a more loyal fan base than Sonics fans. Cant you change owners with the Clippers and move them???

A 8-5 week is nothing to complain about. Everyone is talking about the years 2nd game of the century. I think we should be happy that both the winless teams have a bye this week. Go figure, both winless teams are off the week that the biggest game is being played. Karma is cool like that sometimes.
I don’t think that two teams have gotten this deep into season winless and 1990 was the last time two teams got this deep into a season unbeaten and they both lost the week before their supposed Super Bowl 24 ½ matchup on Monday Night Football.
In any case, believe it or not there are other game besides Super Bowl 41 and ¾ remember the Pats-Cowboys was supposed to be the game of the century/Super Bowl 41 ½/Mega Game what have you and that’s what I’m looking at the other 13 games in addition to the game in Indy. Submitted for your review, inspection and approval are this week’s picks. Odds are provided this week by Yahoo sports since I was too lazy to get a Sports Weekly and are for comparison and entertainment purposes only.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 9
All Times Eastern Standard Time (Clocks go back this weekend)
Note: Chicago (3-5); Miami (0-8); NY Giants (6-2); St. Louis (0-8) all have a bye this week.

Sunday, November 4

Cardinals (3-4) @ Buccaneers (4-4)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Bucs by 3 ½
Fast Fact This is The Cards first appearance in Tampa since 1998
This is a matchup of a pair of teams that are hard to figure. The Bucs lost a tight one to the Jags while the Cards are having open tryouts at QB. The Bucs have caught some bad breaks but the Cards are just the team that the Bucs need to have visit. The Cards have won 5 games on the road in the past three years.
Pick-Tampa Bay

Panthers (4-3) @ Titans (5-2)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Titans by 4
Fast Fact- This is the Panthers first ever visit to Nashville
Who starts at QB? For either team? David Carr looks to be the point man after ageless Vinny Testaverde strained an Achilles tendon. Carr is very familiar with a hard charging Titans defense after being the starting QB in Houston for the last five seasons. The Titans cant hope that Vince Young has another game like he did in Oakland (6-14 42 yds) and think that they’ll even stay close. The Panthers are better than their record and I still dont believe the Titans are a 5-2 team
Pick-Carolina

Bengals (2-5) @ Bills (3-4)
Ralph Wilson Stadium; Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite- Bengals by 1
Fast Fact- The Bengals have not beaten the Bills since their 1988 AFC Championship win
The Bengals are imploding fast, their only break is that they catch an offensively challenged Bills team. As long as the Bills special teams don’t bite them. The Bengals have enough to beat the Bills even though they have traditionally been horrid on the road. Getting Rudi Johnson back is a big help to use with Kenny Watson.
Pick-Cincinnati

Broncos (3-4) @ Lions (5-2)
Ford Field, Detroit 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite-Lions by 3
Fast Fact- This the Broncos first visit to Ford Field
The Broncos are coming off a painful overtime loss on Monday Night at home. The Lions are starting to believe that they can do big things. I’ve been hating on the Lions all year and I bet I’m gonna regret finally giving them an endorsement, but that OT home hangover will linger.
Pick-Detroit

Packers (6-1) @ Chiefs (4-3)
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Chiefs by 2 ½
Fast Fact- Brett Favre has beaten every team in the NFL, except the Chiefs
This is the best game no one is talking about. The Pack is 6-1 with no running game and Brett Favre continues to defy and confound the critics with his stellar play. The Chiefs are another team doing it with mirrors, winning ugly games against beatable opponents. I want to stay with the Chiefs, a tough home team; but the Pack just seem to keep winning the games that they shouldn’t.
Pick-Green Bay

Jaguars (5-2) @ Saints (3-4)
Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Saints by 3
Fast Fact- This is the Jaguars first visit to New Orleans since 1996
The Jags are a solid team but are lost behind the stellar Colts in their own division. They are winning games with a tough efficient defense and while the Saints have seemed to shake off a poor start and have found their sea legs, the fact that they won’t have enough weapons to counter the Jags ball-hawking defense.
Pick-Jacksonville

Chargers (4-3) @ Vikings (2-5)
H.H.H. Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Chargers by 7
Fast Fact- These teams have alternated wins in each of their nine all time meetings (Chargers won last meeting)
Another team that has shook off a bad start to get back into contention. Despite a realtively quiet game by LT last week the Chargers got an easy win. The Vikings are a mess at QB and Brad Childress’ steadfast refusal to make Adrian Peterson the featured back like an LT, may cost the Vikings wins and maybe Childress his job. The Chargers have too many weapons and though I hope to be wrong, I probably won’t.
Pick-San Diego

49ers (2-5) @ Falcons (1-6)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Falcons by 3 ½
Fast Fact- This is the first visit the Niners have made to Atlanta since 2001
Both of these teams had expected to be a lot better than their respective records at this juncture. The Niners are a young team struggling but they can score points, the Falcons however are infighting and lack direction. This is a game for the hardcore fan only.
Pick-San Francisco

Redskins (4-3) @ NY Jets (1-7)
The Meadowlands; East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Redskins by 3 ½
Fast Fact- The Skins have never lost in New York to the Jets
The Redskins are trying to recover from an awful beating at the hands of the Patriots in where they never, ever were in the game. The Jets have decided to give the reins to Kellen Clemens and that may be a good thing for the Skins who fly around the ball and will give the young Jets QB fits.
Pick-Washington (KJ's Lock of the Week)

Seahawks (4-3) @ Browns (4-3)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite Browns by 1 ½
Fast Fact- Cleveland’s Derek Anderson has TD 17 passes, 2nd in the NFL behind Tom Brady
The Seahawks are not flashy and won’t really figure in the scheme of things in the NFC playoff picture, but they are winning the games that they should. The Browns are coming together nicely offensively and are making Brady Quinn talk irrelevant. The Browns outstanding young receiving corps will get a real test dealing with the Seahawks experienced secondary. Shawn Alexander needs to have a solid game to quash some talk about his game getting rusty. This game is really too close to call. But I’ll go with the team used to winning tough games.
Pick-Seattle

Texans (3-5) @ Raiders (2-5)
McAfee Coliseum, Oakland 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Raiders by 3 ½
Fast Fact- The Raiders are one of six teams (AZ, ATL, CAR, CHI, MIA) to have never beaten the Texans
The Texans are a team that is really hard to figure, with Matt Schaub out one would think that the Texans would be in trouble. Sage Rosenfels gives them an experienced option and he can move the ball against a solid defense. The Raiders have offensively regressed having only scored 33 points in the last three games. To put the burden on the Raiders already overtaxed defense is asking a little too much.
Pick-Houston

Patriots (8-0) @ Colts (7-0)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 5
Fast Fact- This is the latest in a season that two unbeaten teams have ever faced each other.
Ok what about this game hasn’t already been said? Brady and Manning are the games best QB’s Dungy and Belichick are the games best coaches. Both teams have outstanding receiving corps and their defenses are top notch. All the signs point to a shootout. The Pats are high scoring and bordering on a juggernaut. The Colts can put the points up as well, but aside from the Cowboys the Pats have been dropping big numbers on so-so teams, The Colts have beaten teams on the road and beaten them badly. The Pats have still yet to be challenged in a game yet. I respect the Pats, but this is the toughest venue they have had to go to and that may be the edge for a snarky call for an upset. I don't know why, I just have that feelin' here.
Pick-Indianapolis (Upset special of the Week)

Cowboys (6-1) @ Eagles (3-4)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Cowboys by 3
Fast Fact- Dallas, starting a three game run against NFC East foes, is only 8-11 against the NFC East since 2004.
The Pokes have relished being the divisional bully and their high scoring offense and are rested after a bye. The Eagles are trying to build off a come from behind win in Minnesota, but are trying to cope with an inconsistent offense. Embattled head coach Andy Reid is looking for a spark to get his team to string together wins. The Pokes just have too many offensive weapons for the Iggles to keep up with.
Pick-Dallas

Monday, November 5

Ravens (4-3) @ Steelers (5-2)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite Steelers by 9
Fast Fact- The Steelers have not lost a Monday Night Game at home in 16 years (11-0)
The Steelers bounced back from a painful Sunday night loss to whip the Bengals, the Ravens well rested after a bye are not the strongest offensively but oh that defense. This game will rest on what team can get their running game going. The Steelers defense is a little stronger and they are oh so tough at home.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Last Week: 8-5 (Lock Correct, Upset Incorrect)
Overall: 73-43 (7-1 Locks, 3-5 Upsets)

Have a good weekend fellow Sports Fans!

KJ's college hot list...games you need to see

2007-11-01T13:35:00.000-04:00

Forget what you might have heard Paris Hilton say, not like anyone reading this would really care. The Bandit is gonna tell you what's hot, in college football that is.
Okay its November and things are about to get tense.
Now, now I already hear some of you out there "Um, Bandito have you been sippin on that stuff again? Or have you been sleepin' the last 8 weeks? Things are already tense and hot in College Football."
Oh but my friends it is already tense and that tension is going to get thicker. With the warm weather rapidly fading away, except for yesterday the kids were sweating getting the candy I was giving out. But the month of November has some of the highest of high impact games on the docket. With conference titles, bowl and BCS berths on the line in many of these games the room for error has vanished. So i've decided to be your guide on some of the best matchups to watch. I'm not a phat slob like that clown Howie Schwab (If you haven't guessed I'm not a big fan of his) but instead I'll give you games to look for on the college scene this weekend and I'll continue to do so for the rest of the college season. And better still I'll give you the reasons why you should watch them. Come on now, I'm not dumb enough to try to predict the outcomes.

Not listed here as games to watch but good ones to note nonetheless is Kansas taking on Nebraska and trying to stay unbeaten this late in season for the first time in 100 years (I cant make these facts up); Navy who has its best shot at beating Notre Dame for the first time in 43 years. (The Irish have scored 79 points all season, Navy and Delaware scored more in their game last week) Cincy at South Florida a game featuring two teams who are both fighting to stay relavant in the Big East and national picture and Mizzou taking on Colorado in Boulder and seeking its best start in over 30 years. But take note of the following game to watch and/or keep tabs on.

#12 Michigan (7-2) at Michigan State (5-4)
Spartan Stadium; East Lansing, MI 3:30 (ABC)
Fast Fact: 100th meeting between these archrivals.
Why You Should Watch: That embarrasing loss to App. St is far in the rearview mirror for the Wolverines as they have been on a roll, shaking off nagging injuries to Chad Henne and Mike Hart to win seven in a row. (And that loss to Oregon even at home doesn't look so bad.) The Spartans are a dangerous team having had lost their meetings to ranked teams by a total of ten points. Michigan can win this game but the Spartans would love to deep six their Big 10 title hopes.

#13 UConn (7-1) vs Rutgers (5-3)
Rentschler Field , East Hartford, CT 7:15 (ESPNU)
Fast Fact: Highest ranking UConn has ever had and have never started 8-1
Why You Should Watch: This is a chance for you to see a team no one wants to deal with UConn was a 1AA team seven years ago. Now they are threating to upset the order of the Big East. They will get a true test of their tough defense as they try to contain Ray Rice who has had good games against the Huskies. Though win or lose, they will learn how bad it is to come to Nippert Stadium next week to be the hunted.

#1 Ohio State (9-0) vs #21 Wisconsin (7-2)
Ohio Stadium, Columbus Noon (ESPN)
Fast Fact: The Bucks have won 19 conference games in a row
Why You Should Watch: The Bucks late season gauntlet continues as a tough Wisconsin team comes a callin'. The Badgers have won four straight in Columbus, but may be without the services of PJ Hill. The Bucks looked chillingly crisp and efficent in blasting Penn State and if they control the ball like they did in that game it could be tough go for the Badgers.

#3 LSU at #17 Alabama
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa AL 5:00 (CBS)
Fast Fact: The Tide have lost four straight to the Bayou Bengals.
Why You Should Watch: Hmmm, why should you watch this one? The Tigers are itching to get after their former coach whom they let go to the pros with good wishes and blessings only to see him come back to coach and archrival. Tide QB John Parker Wilson has had a breakout of sorts his last two games throwing for over 600 yards and 3 scores. While LSU comes in after a bye and a thrilling 30-24 win over Auburn. The stakes are especially high as the winner has control of the SEC West but contrary to what my homegirl loriebamafan might tell you, this isn't even the weeks best matchup...

#4 Arizona State (8-0) at #5 Oregon (7-1) Bandits 5-Star Matchup
Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR 6:40 (ESPN)
Fast Fact: Both teams are enjoying their highest rankings since their last respective Pac-10 and Rose Bowl runs (Az. St in 96 and Oregon in 01)
Why You should watch: This is the weeks best matchup. If you haven't had a chance to see Dennis Dixon play, get past the Ducks hideous day-glo unis and take this opportunity to check out a good west coast based team. Dixon engineered the Ducks win over USC last week and is the leader of a high powered high scoring offense that electrfies scoreboards at 43 point clip. The Sun Devils aren't offensive challenged scoring 36.9 points a game but they also have a ball-hawking big play defense that only gives up a PAC-10 best 15.6 points a game. Somethings gotta give and you can bet that the crazy crowd in Eugene will be at full throat.

Now that ya know, get that clicker thumb in shape and to quote a local news reporter/anchorwoman "Thats what's hot (in college football) rrrrright now!" Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

Odds on where A-Rod Lands

2007-10-31T17:44:00.000-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Quitcherbellyachin!

2007-10-29T19:14:00.000-04:00

You know whats wrong with sports today???

Whiners.

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

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

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

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

Until next post Fellow Sports Fans!!!

Sox Win it All and A-Rod opts out

2007-10-28T23:59:00.000-04:00

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

Until Next Post Fellow Sports Fans!

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

2007-10-27T01:21:00.001-04:00

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

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

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

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

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

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

Wilson was released to his mother this afternoon.

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

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