As an amateur sports writer and a full time product coordinator, I spend a lot of time reading sports online. I am not biased to one page and keep my horizons broad but I will admit that there are two particular writers that I favor. One being Bill "The Sports Guy" Simons and Michael Silver. I have read far more Michael Silver lately due to ESPN being blocked at my job. Even though Silver refuses to ever answer one of my emails in one of his 3 weekly columns (I've been in the mailbag for TSG 3 times) I continue to wait every Monday, Wednesday and Friday for his three columns a week discussing the NFL. In today's 32 Questions, Silver discussed the Family that has from at "The U." I am a self proclaimed hater of "The U" but admit as a former college football player (at the DIII Level) no bond is formed other than that of one gained in college through sports. I give SJFC football all the credit in the world to my enjoying college all the more. When a kid leaves HS for College it's like entering a new world. Specially if the college you choose is one with few HS buddies tagging along. In this atmosphere it can be very difficult to adjust and make new friends in a matter of weeks and develop a close relationship that you developed over the previous decade of your life with the kids you grew up with. Playing a sport in college was the best decision I ever made. The bond I formed with the guys that I played 2 short seasons with helped me through 3 and 1/2 years of college (1/2 spent on hiatus at a local school). For that reason the article today hit home. This is not just evident on a college level but through high school and other sports as well. With the exception of the professional level in the salary cap era teams are families. Jim Kelly said on the local radio the other day how close the Bills during his years were, along with his team at Miami. When teammates are together a lot they gel quicker. Today with the possibility of leaving after 2 years teammats often find it difficult to form bonds and for that reason I feel amateur sports teams are the closest things to family some of these athletes have. That is why at Sean Taylor's funeral hundreds of "The U" alums (even those who never played with Taylor) flew hundreds of miles to attend. Because he was a part of their family, the Hurricane Family.
Angels in the Beltway
Speaking of the last article, did any three individuals have bigger games channeling Sean Taylor than Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Willis Magahee. I HATE Willis Magahee with a passion for the way he treated Buffalo and it's fans that were loyal to him. Not only did the Bills give him a shot in the NFL after his horrific knee injury in his last college game but we pushed out the best thing for Buffalo's population in recent years by trading Travis Henry. I'm no genious, but I'm almost positive Ray Lewis could motivate the Miami Dolphins to at least 2 wins this season. Watching the huddle between him and Reed and Magahee was intense. It made me want to go out there and hit somebody for Sean Taylor. No wonder Magahee had his best outing as a pro on Monday. It was even so good that I found myself cheering for Him. I feel that what those three players did on Monday was exactly what was needed to be done in memory of Sean Taylor.
Classless Again
Last time I touched on the celebrating of Junior Seau after routine plays and how much it upsets me. Well I have a new beef with another vet on the Pats. This time it's with a player who has shown a lack of class his entire career and seemed to put a stamp on it monday night. I'm talking about you Rodney Harrison. What you did by getting in Brian Billick's face was totally disgusting. You are a professional athlete. I understand today players are very close in age with their coaches and make a lot more money than them. However, this gives them no right to show disrespect for a person in the position of someone that you owe your life too. I will bet that 100% of NFL players would not be where they are today without the effect of the coaches they had in their lives in whatever sports they played. I gaurantee every player will agree with this. Kids everywhere look up to pro athletes and it is embarassing how poor of a role model these people can be on national television. I can't wait until some kid in HS gets suspended for yelling in another coaches face at the game and ruins his senior year of HS or gets him kicked off the little loop team, embarassing his parents. Way to be a role model Rodney. Let's talk about your career. You're known as a cheap shot artist, even in practice with your own teammates. You've been busted for steroids as early as this season. You show blatant disrespect for your coaches in the past and other coaches as shown on Monday. I'm just glad any kids I have will be raised after your career is long over and you are long forgotten.
Kudos to Brian Billick for handling the situation and blowing the roid rager a kiss.
Lucky number 13?
Well whatever you argue, you can't argue the fact that the Patriots are indeed lucky. I know they say they practice for situations like that and Blah Blah Blah. But you really can't say you practice to get stuffed on 4th down and catch breaks. You mean to tell me every day they line up and get stuffed in practice only to have the scout team call a timeout. Or a gaurd to jump offsides. Does Bellicheck have ESP or something. I refuse to listen to their smug comments. Admit that you got lucky and that you are grateful for it. Stop ruining the game New England and at least show that you are having fun.
(to the chorus of Outkast)
Dear Fred Jackson,
You are for Real!!!!
-DG1 (who called him as the Bills should be starter the week Marshawn got hurt)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Circling Some Wagons
Bills Wagon
The game yesterday was sloppy, but a win is still a win. It doesn't matter how you get it as long as you do. I understand that everyone is yelling at Joe Gibbs for his mistake in calling consecutive timeouts on our game winning attempts, but it's not as though Lindell was definitely going to miss. He made the first one just after the timeout, so why would one be left to assume that he wasn't going to make it again? I realize 34 is closer than 51, but he's on a streak of 17 straight field goals made. He's been clutch when we've needed him.
I'm not going to dive too deep into the Edwards/Losman debate as I really don't have the energy to defend myself once again. Without Marshawn Lynch and a solid running game there are few quarterbacks in this league that can confidently win. Fred Jackson is a good back-up, but he isn't an equal trade. Edwards is not a deep ball threat, and don't use that throw at the end to Josh Reed as justification that he can. If you look at the replay you can clearly see a Bills player (I believe it was Royal) on his knees preparing to make the catch, but not realizing that there was a 'Skins defender diving over the top of him to make a play. I don't believe that the throw was meant for Reed, but, again, a win is a win. Edwards didn't look great and his passes didn't look sharp all that often. We failed to get into the endzone and really didn't click as a unit. So where is the upgrade that is supposedly happening with Edwards?
Here's another angle to view it from. Lee Evans and Losman are very close. Evans has come to the defense of Losman when the topic of starting quarterback is raised. That has to bother Edwards and it shows in the stats. Don't believe me? Here are some numbers to chew on:
Losman to Evans: 25 receptions for 415 yards and 2 TDs
Edwards to Evans: 20 receptions for 274 yards and 0 TDs
The numbers don't lie. Losman's deep ball threat is what Evans thrives upon for success. His biggest games came in wins. If Edwards is the starter I don't see Evans wanting to stick around. His game will go unused as Edwards is more of a dink and dunk passer. Here are some more numbers to feed the debate:
With only a 1.6% difference in completion percentage (Edwards is higher) Losman has 150 more passing yards, a 4-1 edge in touchdown passes, a 4 point higher rating, one more INT, and a better longest completion of 85 yards as compared to Edwards' 54 yarder. Additionally, Edwards' longest passes come on short routes than turn into long gains. Losman's come on true deep balls that are thrown 50 or 60+ yards in the air.
I'm not just defending Losman for the sake of defending Losman. I am defending him because a deep ball threat opens the game up for much more offensively. When a deep threat receiver is on a team the running game does exorbitantly better. Shorter routes open up and the tight end can be utilized in a more positive way. The other team is forced into playing off of receivers because of the fear of getting burned on a fade route. An offense is more explosive when there is that possibility of going deep. It adds another dimension and allows a team to get creative (ie, the Lynch passing TD, the Parrish rushing TD).
Continuity on a team can never be established when there is always change. Since the retirement of Jim Kelly (let's take a moment to appreciate him) we have not had a QB last more than a couple of season as the undisputed starter. Care to take a trip down memory lane?...
We've seen the likes of: Todd Collins, Billy Jo Hobert, Alex Van Pelt, Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb, Craig Nall, Trent Edwards, and JP Losman.
Jim Kelly only retired a little more than 10 years ago! Did we really go through 10 different starters in that time? That averages out to about a quarterback a year!
After Thurman Thomas left for Miami we went through the process of trying to find another running back. That led to: Antowain Smith, Sammy Morris, Travis Henry, Willis McGahee, Anthony Thomas, and Marshawn Lynch becoming starters (just to name a handful).
We have also had 4 different head coaches since the retirement of Marv Levy! Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, and Dick Jauron have each taken their spin on the coaching carousel. That averages out to a change every 2.5 years!
You want to know why it has been so long since the Bills have been in the playoffs? Look no further than continuity and the promise of stability.
Say what you want, but not every long term starting quarterback comes into the league and dominates from the first play, first game, or first season. Things take time. Give up on a quarterback, a coach, or any other intricate position on a regular basis and you will not have success. I can guarantee that.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
The game yesterday was sloppy, but a win is still a win. It doesn't matter how you get it as long as you do. I understand that everyone is yelling at Joe Gibbs for his mistake in calling consecutive timeouts on our game winning attempts, but it's not as though Lindell was definitely going to miss. He made the first one just after the timeout, so why would one be left to assume that he wasn't going to make it again? I realize 34 is closer than 51, but he's on a streak of 17 straight field goals made. He's been clutch when we've needed him.
I'm not going to dive too deep into the Edwards/Losman debate as I really don't have the energy to defend myself once again. Without Marshawn Lynch and a solid running game there are few quarterbacks in this league that can confidently win. Fred Jackson is a good back-up, but he isn't an equal trade. Edwards is not a deep ball threat, and don't use that throw at the end to Josh Reed as justification that he can. If you look at the replay you can clearly see a Bills player (I believe it was Royal) on his knees preparing to make the catch, but not realizing that there was a 'Skins defender diving over the top of him to make a play. I don't believe that the throw was meant for Reed, but, again, a win is a win. Edwards didn't look great and his passes didn't look sharp all that often. We failed to get into the endzone and really didn't click as a unit. So where is the upgrade that is supposedly happening with Edwards?
Here's another angle to view it from. Lee Evans and Losman are very close. Evans has come to the defense of Losman when the topic of starting quarterback is raised. That has to bother Edwards and it shows in the stats. Don't believe me? Here are some numbers to chew on:
Losman to Evans: 25 receptions for 415 yards and 2 TDs
Edwards to Evans: 20 receptions for 274 yards and 0 TDs
The numbers don't lie. Losman's deep ball threat is what Evans thrives upon for success. His biggest games came in wins. If Edwards is the starter I don't see Evans wanting to stick around. His game will go unused as Edwards is more of a dink and dunk passer. Here are some more numbers to feed the debate:
With only a 1.6% difference in completion percentage (Edwards is higher) Losman has 150 more passing yards, a 4-1 edge in touchdown passes, a 4 point higher rating, one more INT, and a better longest completion of 85 yards as compared to Edwards' 54 yarder. Additionally, Edwards' longest passes come on short routes than turn into long gains. Losman's come on true deep balls that are thrown 50 or 60+ yards in the air.
I'm not just defending Losman for the sake of defending Losman. I am defending him because a deep ball threat opens the game up for much more offensively. When a deep threat receiver is on a team the running game does exorbitantly better. Shorter routes open up and the tight end can be utilized in a more positive way. The other team is forced into playing off of receivers because of the fear of getting burned on a fade route. An offense is more explosive when there is that possibility of going deep. It adds another dimension and allows a team to get creative (ie, the Lynch passing TD, the Parrish rushing TD).
Continuity on a team can never be established when there is always change. Since the retirement of Jim Kelly (let's take a moment to appreciate him) we have not had a QB last more than a couple of season as the undisputed starter. Care to take a trip down memory lane?...
We've seen the likes of: Todd Collins, Billy Jo Hobert, Alex Van Pelt, Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb, Craig Nall, Trent Edwards, and JP Losman.
Jim Kelly only retired a little more than 10 years ago! Did we really go through 10 different starters in that time? That averages out to about a quarterback a year!
After Thurman Thomas left for Miami we went through the process of trying to find another running back. That led to: Antowain Smith, Sammy Morris, Travis Henry, Willis McGahee, Anthony Thomas, and Marshawn Lynch becoming starters (just to name a handful).
We have also had 4 different head coaches since the retirement of Marv Levy! Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, and Dick Jauron have each taken their spin on the coaching carousel. That averages out to a change every 2.5 years!
You want to know why it has been so long since the Bills have been in the playoffs? Look no further than continuity and the promise of stability.
Say what you want, but not every long term starting quarterback comes into the league and dominates from the first play, first game, or first season. Things take time. Give up on a quarterback, a coach, or any other intricate position on a regular basis and you will not have success. I can guarantee that.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Playoffs?
Dearly Departed
Yesterday the NFL and the world lost a very talented young man in Redskins safety Sean Taylor. I am a devoted hater of everything that is the U. It took me 4 years to start to warm to Roscoe Parrish, and I still say pretty nasty things about Willis McGahee. It brings me great joy to see them lose 48-0 in their last game in the famous Orange Bowl. However, some things in life are bigger than sports and this is one. Sean Taylor was an incredible athlete and within the next year or two could have become the most feared safety since Ronnie Lott. That man brought the lumber to every game and it is a terrible thing that happened to him. I'm going to avoid voicing my opinion on the matter due to the "too soon" factor. However, I suspect this is going to be a very very, sketchy situation unfolding in the next few weeks. My thoughts go out to the Redskins who will play my beloved Bills as well as all of Taylor's friends and family.
Business as Usual
One of my least favorite things about players today is celebrating a routine play. This is a totally mind blowing thing. I can not stand players who get up all fired up after making a routine play. I don't mean lighting up a receiver after a 10 yd slant when they manage to hold on to the ball or catching a clutch first down. I'm takling about getting up all pumped after making a routine tackle after a gain of 6 yards or a shoe string play 10 yards down feild then getting up and going wild or being pumped for picking up 3 yds on first and 10. This is the same as doing a lavish endzone celebration when you are down by 30 with 4 minutes left. Junior "Say Ow" is a consiment pro for 18 years and after tackling Brian Westbrook after a 6 yard catch got up like he had just made a game winning sack. I'm all about getting pumped up and showing emotion. But that to me, is the equivalent of me jumping up and down after I make a copy at work or create a spreadsheet. It's part of the job description and making a routine play should not be calls for celebration. It's embarassing. I played organized football for 10 years and did my fair share of celebrating. However, even as a junior in HS i knew not to get pumped on plays that were unnecessary. Stopping a back for a loss or sacking the qb or picking up the big gain or making the huge play was acceptable. But when you make a routine play after a gain of 7. Get up and go back to the huddle Seau, and stop embarassing yourself, you already did enough of that by signing with New England in the first place.
We can't do Diddly Poo...
Fans of Buffalo, Shut the Hell up. Thank you. We all know that JP Losman as underacheived while he was here in Buffalo. I'm a JP supporter and do not agree with the Edwards switch. Without Marshawn Lynch the Bills would have suffered the same fate with Edwards. We are a running team and the A-Train had lost a serious burst this season. Watching him fall forward into holes instead of making simple cuts made me sick. Watching our Defense allow 36 points to a ball control offense by running Tampa Two against inferior receivers made me sick. Yet the blame falls on JP. Yes I feel JP is a huge head case and has a problem letting things brush off him like most good QBs should do. However the constant "we love you now we hate you" attitude of Bills fans is the thing that makes me the sickest. Our Defense and Marshawn kept us in games with Trent against the Cowboys and won us a few games against really bad teams (Jets) and everyone thinks he is the second coming of Christ (or in our case Jim Kelly). I'm just excited to see that if Marshawn doesn't play and our defense gives up big plays to Portis and Cooley and McCardell how the fans will react if Trent can't pull it out. We are a running team with a bend don't break defense. Unless it's Brett Favre or Peyton Manning behind center it won't matter who our QB is if we don't change our identity and the play calling of the timid Steve Fairchild.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa...
Is the home of Coe College. The alma matter of Bills legend Marv Levy and Rookie RB Fred "Fast Freddy" Jackson. I mention this because I feel that Fred Jackson earned himself at least consideration as the starter this week if Marshawn is unable to go. Jackson cuts upfield, doesn't dance around and has a burst 10x that of A-Train. He is a screen pass threat and a big play threat. I feel he is our best option this week to spread the defense and hope to win.
Fav - re?
I get it, Tom Brady is gonna break all the records. He's having the best season a QB could ever possibly have. He dates a super model, he plays on the most dominating offense in the history of the NFL. However, he IS NOT the league MVP. Argue with me all you want. I gaurantee you that with the Patriots line, Lawrence Maroney and the league's best wide out Randy Moss, Todd Collins could put up 35 touchdowns. Brett Favre is the MVP of the NFL this season hands down. He is doing something that Tom Brady could never do. Brady could not move around and improvize to make things happen. If you put Brady on Green Bay they are 2 games above .500. Favre has far less talent around him and yet the Packers are 10-1. This why he is the leagues MVP. Sure he doesn't date supermodels or act like a robot and dress like GQ model in post game interviews. He may be reckless sometimes and make poor decisions. But Brett Favre goes out every game and has fun. He's ALWAYS smiling and is an American Icon. He had the game of his life the day after his dad died, and the second best after he found out his wife had cancer. He's 38 years old and playing and acting like he's 25. He makes football fun to watch and that makes him the MVP of his team as well as the MVP of the NFL.
D3 Blotter,
My alma matter St. John Fisher Cardinals will travel to Alliance, OH this saturday for the regional final against Mt. Union College, in a rematch of last years national semi-final. Nice to see a program that 7 years ago was 0-10 turn around to make the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years and give Mt. Union it's closest game last year in the previous 3 years. Let's hope they can capitalize this year and end the streak that is now at 20 some odd games. If Turner Gill leaves UB, I nominate Paul Vosburgh for the next Head Coach of UB.
- DG1
Yesterday the NFL and the world lost a very talented young man in Redskins safety Sean Taylor. I am a devoted hater of everything that is the U. It took me 4 years to start to warm to Roscoe Parrish, and I still say pretty nasty things about Willis McGahee. It brings me great joy to see them lose 48-0 in their last game in the famous Orange Bowl. However, some things in life are bigger than sports and this is one. Sean Taylor was an incredible athlete and within the next year or two could have become the most feared safety since Ronnie Lott. That man brought the lumber to every game and it is a terrible thing that happened to him. I'm going to avoid voicing my opinion on the matter due to the "too soon" factor. However, I suspect this is going to be a very very, sketchy situation unfolding in the next few weeks. My thoughts go out to the Redskins who will play my beloved Bills as well as all of Taylor's friends and family.
Business as Usual
One of my least favorite things about players today is celebrating a routine play. This is a totally mind blowing thing. I can not stand players who get up all fired up after making a routine play. I don't mean lighting up a receiver after a 10 yd slant when they manage to hold on to the ball or catching a clutch first down. I'm takling about getting up all pumped after making a routine tackle after a gain of 6 yards or a shoe string play 10 yards down feild then getting up and going wild or being pumped for picking up 3 yds on first and 10. This is the same as doing a lavish endzone celebration when you are down by 30 with 4 minutes left. Junior "Say Ow" is a consiment pro for 18 years and after tackling Brian Westbrook after a 6 yard catch got up like he had just made a game winning sack. I'm all about getting pumped up and showing emotion. But that to me, is the equivalent of me jumping up and down after I make a copy at work or create a spreadsheet. It's part of the job description and making a routine play should not be calls for celebration. It's embarassing. I played organized football for 10 years and did my fair share of celebrating. However, even as a junior in HS i knew not to get pumped on plays that were unnecessary. Stopping a back for a loss or sacking the qb or picking up the big gain or making the huge play was acceptable. But when you make a routine play after a gain of 7. Get up and go back to the huddle Seau, and stop embarassing yourself, you already did enough of that by signing with New England in the first place.
We can't do Diddly Poo...
Fans of Buffalo, Shut the Hell up. Thank you. We all know that JP Losman as underacheived while he was here in Buffalo. I'm a JP supporter and do not agree with the Edwards switch. Without Marshawn Lynch the Bills would have suffered the same fate with Edwards. We are a running team and the A-Train had lost a serious burst this season. Watching him fall forward into holes instead of making simple cuts made me sick. Watching our Defense allow 36 points to a ball control offense by running Tampa Two against inferior receivers made me sick. Yet the blame falls on JP. Yes I feel JP is a huge head case and has a problem letting things brush off him like most good QBs should do. However the constant "we love you now we hate you" attitude of Bills fans is the thing that makes me the sickest. Our Defense and Marshawn kept us in games with Trent against the Cowboys and won us a few games against really bad teams (Jets) and everyone thinks he is the second coming of Christ (or in our case Jim Kelly). I'm just excited to see that if Marshawn doesn't play and our defense gives up big plays to Portis and Cooley and McCardell how the fans will react if Trent can't pull it out. We are a running team with a bend don't break defense. Unless it's Brett Favre or Peyton Manning behind center it won't matter who our QB is if we don't change our identity and the play calling of the timid Steve Fairchild.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa...
Is the home of Coe College. The alma matter of Bills legend Marv Levy and Rookie RB Fred "Fast Freddy" Jackson. I mention this because I feel that Fred Jackson earned himself at least consideration as the starter this week if Marshawn is unable to go. Jackson cuts upfield, doesn't dance around and has a burst 10x that of A-Train. He is a screen pass threat and a big play threat. I feel he is our best option this week to spread the defense and hope to win.
Fav - re?
I get it, Tom Brady is gonna break all the records. He's having the best season a QB could ever possibly have. He dates a super model, he plays on the most dominating offense in the history of the NFL. However, he IS NOT the league MVP. Argue with me all you want. I gaurantee you that with the Patriots line, Lawrence Maroney and the league's best wide out Randy Moss, Todd Collins could put up 35 touchdowns. Brett Favre is the MVP of the NFL this season hands down. He is doing something that Tom Brady could never do. Brady could not move around and improvize to make things happen. If you put Brady on Green Bay they are 2 games above .500. Favre has far less talent around him and yet the Packers are 10-1. This why he is the leagues MVP. Sure he doesn't date supermodels or act like a robot and dress like GQ model in post game interviews. He may be reckless sometimes and make poor decisions. But Brett Favre goes out every game and has fun. He's ALWAYS smiling and is an American Icon. He had the game of his life the day after his dad died, and the second best after he found out his wife had cancer. He's 38 years old and playing and acting like he's 25. He makes football fun to watch and that makes him the MVP of his team as well as the MVP of the NFL.
D3 Blotter,
My alma matter St. John Fisher Cardinals will travel to Alliance, OH this saturday for the regional final against Mt. Union College, in a rematch of last years national semi-final. Nice to see a program that 7 years ago was 0-10 turn around to make the playoffs 4 of the last 5 years and give Mt. Union it's closest game last year in the previous 3 years. Let's hope they can capitalize this year and end the streak that is now at 20 some odd games. If Turner Gill leaves UB, I nominate Paul Vosburgh for the next Head Coach of UB.
- DG1
Monday, November 26, 2007
Scalping the Game...
Just a quick problem that I've been having with local sports writers. I love how people are so quick to play the card that sports have lost their loyalty and management and athletes only think about money. That seems like a great argument, unless of course you have a few brain cells to rub together...
I love hearing the old line "they're only in it for the money." It actually makes me laugh. OF COURSE THEY ARE. Do you really think that they actually care where they play or what the fans think? Do you personally think about your co-workers when you decide to change jobs? No, you go to where the money is. Nobody would tell you that you should work for minimum wage because the Hamburgler really likes you when you have an offer to run a Fortune 500 company.
These same fans that claim that sports are nothing more than a business are the same ones posting their spare tickets to a game on ebay for 10 times the face value. Or, you're that fan in the crowd that yells out "I paid 'X' amount of dollars to watch this." As though because you paid a certain amount of money to go to the game you are entitled to a better performance/outcome. Yeah, see that's not how it works. If it was then the teams with the highest ticket prices would always win. But, right, you have reason to complain that it is merely just a business. It's a business, get used to it.
As fans it's our nature to develop an emotional attachment to a team. However, expecting players to do the same is foolish. Sure, athletes appreciate the fan base that makes them what they are (sometimes we create gods out of men; ie Tom Brady, Lebron James), but at the same time they know that fans are a dime a dozen and they could easily go to another team and find more just like them.
We bought Nike products because we wanted to "be like Mike." We drank Gatorade because Mia and Mike played to "anything you can do, I can do better." We drank Coke because of Mean Joe. We wear UnderArmor because the Old Ball Coach says "click clack."
We fuel the business. We flock to trends like they want us to. We're the reason why Jordan still makes millions a month even though he hasn't laced them up in years. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
I love hearing the old line "they're only in it for the money." It actually makes me laugh. OF COURSE THEY ARE. Do you really think that they actually care where they play or what the fans think? Do you personally think about your co-workers when you decide to change jobs? No, you go to where the money is. Nobody would tell you that you should work for minimum wage because the Hamburgler really likes you when you have an offer to run a Fortune 500 company.
These same fans that claim that sports are nothing more than a business are the same ones posting their spare tickets to a game on ebay for 10 times the face value. Or, you're that fan in the crowd that yells out "I paid 'X' amount of dollars to watch this." As though because you paid a certain amount of money to go to the game you are entitled to a better performance/outcome. Yeah, see that's not how it works. If it was then the teams with the highest ticket prices would always win. But, right, you have reason to complain that it is merely just a business. It's a business, get used to it.
As fans it's our nature to develop an emotional attachment to a team. However, expecting players to do the same is foolish. Sure, athletes appreciate the fan base that makes them what they are (sometimes we create gods out of men; ie Tom Brady, Lebron James), but at the same time they know that fans are a dime a dozen and they could easily go to another team and find more just like them.
We bought Nike products because we wanted to "be like Mike." We drank Gatorade because Mia and Mike played to "anything you can do, I can do better." We drank Coke because of Mean Joe. We wear UnderArmor because the Old Ball Coach says "click clack."
We fuel the business. We flock to trends like they want us to. We're the reason why Jordan still makes millions a month even though he hasn't laced them up in years. Don't hate the player, hate the game.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Friday, November 16, 2007
Fallen Friday
Wounded Duck, Lame Duck
Well it's happened again. A top 5 team has lost last night with Arizona pulling the upset over #2 Ranked Oregon. The only difference in this is how it happened. Most of the teams all season have fallen after being ranked higher than they deserved to be and having well known weaknesses exposed. Ohio State lost to a speedy and gutsy underdog in Illinios. LSU was outplayed and bad penalties caught up to them against Kentucky. USF played to it's potential and Grothe stopped over achieving. However, last night American not only witnessed another top 2 team falling, but also witnessed the importance of Dennis Dixon on the Oregon Ducks. After scoring 2 minutes in Dixon drove the Ducks back to the 5. A poor effort by his receiver led to a pick and an Arizona score. Then after driving Oregon back down the field in less than 2 minutes, Dixon went to pivot and his already injured knee buckled and he dropped, untouched. The injury shouldn't be long term (Dixon will be a pro baseball player before football) but the effects were seen. All year long there have been talk about the heisman. First with Woodson and Kentucky. Then Ryan with BC and Tebow with Florida. However, the Heisman goes to the best player in college football. I feel that after the way the Ducks fell apart after Dixon left proves that he is truly worth of the Heisman Trophy. With one game left, Oregon is still the front runner in the PAC 10 and can earn a Rose Bowl Birth. However, after watching the Offense sizzle out behind Brady Leaf (yes, of that tree) it is doubtful Oregon can do anything without Dixon. He is the heart and soul of that offense and that team. As we saw last night, with out him the team is no more than mediocre and i feel even if he doesn't play, he deserves the heisman. Tebow is surrounded by a ton of talent and Florida has 3 losses. Ryan has been terrible the last 3 weeks and Woodson fell off the face of the earth. I've been following the Ducks all season and it's sad to watch them fall short of the Nat'l Title Game.
Chicken Hawk
So the Kansas Jayhawks need a huge win in Kansas City this weekend over #9 Mizzou. With this, they should assure themself the #2 ranking going into the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma. The winner of that game should then face LSU in the National Title Game. Still don't know how LSU will match up with Georgia or the other SEC East teams in the title game with their inconsistency. Should be an interesting stretch.
Upset Bug
Michigan (22) over OSU (7) - Lloyd Carr is due. Plus OSU needs to lose. Either way I win. With Oregon with a healthy Dixon running wild on the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.
If UB wins a football game...
They will be bowl eligible. I can't beleive I just said that. Hopefully I can witness this first hand and rush the field Saturday against Bowling Green.
Turkey Week
After the Bills shocker on NBC Sunday Night. Followed by the goal posts being ripped down and absolute fandemonium, I'll be on the road. Look for more in the next week, plus a Triptophen laced rant on Thursday Evening after a meaningful game in Detroit on Turkey Day for a change.
- DG1
Well it's happened again. A top 5 team has lost last night with Arizona pulling the upset over #2 Ranked Oregon. The only difference in this is how it happened. Most of the teams all season have fallen after being ranked higher than they deserved to be and having well known weaknesses exposed. Ohio State lost to a speedy and gutsy underdog in Illinios. LSU was outplayed and bad penalties caught up to them against Kentucky. USF played to it's potential and Grothe stopped over achieving. However, last night American not only witnessed another top 2 team falling, but also witnessed the importance of Dennis Dixon on the Oregon Ducks. After scoring 2 minutes in Dixon drove the Ducks back to the 5. A poor effort by his receiver led to a pick and an Arizona score. Then after driving Oregon back down the field in less than 2 minutes, Dixon went to pivot and his already injured knee buckled and he dropped, untouched. The injury shouldn't be long term (Dixon will be a pro baseball player before football) but the effects were seen. All year long there have been talk about the heisman. First with Woodson and Kentucky. Then Ryan with BC and Tebow with Florida. However, the Heisman goes to the best player in college football. I feel that after the way the Ducks fell apart after Dixon left proves that he is truly worth of the Heisman Trophy. With one game left, Oregon is still the front runner in the PAC 10 and can earn a Rose Bowl Birth. However, after watching the Offense sizzle out behind Brady Leaf (yes, of that tree) it is doubtful Oregon can do anything without Dixon. He is the heart and soul of that offense and that team. As we saw last night, with out him the team is no more than mediocre and i feel even if he doesn't play, he deserves the heisman. Tebow is surrounded by a ton of talent and Florida has 3 losses. Ryan has been terrible the last 3 weeks and Woodson fell off the face of the earth. I've been following the Ducks all season and it's sad to watch them fall short of the Nat'l Title Game.
Chicken Hawk
So the Kansas Jayhawks need a huge win in Kansas City this weekend over #9 Mizzou. With this, they should assure themself the #2 ranking going into the Big 12 title game against Oklahoma. The winner of that game should then face LSU in the National Title Game. Still don't know how LSU will match up with Georgia or the other SEC East teams in the title game with their inconsistency. Should be an interesting stretch.
Upset Bug
Michigan (22) over OSU (7) - Lloyd Carr is due. Plus OSU needs to lose. Either way I win. With Oregon with a healthy Dixon running wild on the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.
If UB wins a football game...
They will be bowl eligible. I can't beleive I just said that. Hopefully I can witness this first hand and rush the field Saturday against Bowling Green.
Turkey Week
After the Bills shocker on NBC Sunday Night. Followed by the goal posts being ripped down and absolute fandemonium, I'll be on the road. Look for more in the next week, plus a Triptophen laced rant on Thursday Evening after a meaningful game in Detroit on Turkey Day for a change.
- DG1
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Bones To Pick
I have some bones to pick with various different topics in mind. These are just some of things that have been bothering me over the last few weeks or months. Take it as a rant or take it as gospel, the choice is yours.
A-Rod
Really? Well what really is to be taken out of this sudden change of heart. I mean he had ridiculous demands that were not to be met by any team in the league. Not because he is not worth the cash, but simply because teams cannot afford mortgaging their team in order to pay him each year. That's not really the part that bothers me though. Get paid what they're willing to pay you. You're not the fool for making more money, they're the fool for allowing it to get so out of control.
I loved reading over the past few weeks how Yankee fans "really" felt about A-Rod. How he was greedy and would be overpaid. How he was a joke and did not understand what it was to be a Yankee. How he wasn't as good as people think. How he couldn't handle the pressure of playing in New York. How he could easily be replaced by Miguel Cabrera, Mike Lowell, or a farm prospect. How they were glad that he was gone because now the Yankees could get back to the glory days when they didn't buy players, but produced them. Even the Yankee ownership and management aired their grievances and spoke their peace regarding A-Rod. My favorite "he never really fit in, and I didn't really like him anyways."
Now, all of a sudden, the media releases reports that he may be signing back with the Yankees. Yankee nation rejoices. Seemingly forgetting all the shit that they talked about him over the past few weeks. I'm not saying that any team should be pissed at the prospect of signing A-Rod, but have a backbone or some integrity. Look into the archives of periodicals, publications, message boards, blogs, and television shows if you conveniently forget all of the things that were said.
Please, there is nothing that ANYBODY can say to convince me that neo-Yankee "fans" are not a complete joke. You have proven it. Between A-Rod, Posada, and Rivera you have shown your true colors. None of those guys were worth the money when they were on the market (SHOCKINGLY that was only really since Monday), but now they're back as the saviors of days gone by.
This does not just extend to Yankee fans as fans of the Angels have done the same thing. Now that it looks as though he won't end up in Anaheim they have begun to utter similar remarks of "overpaid," "greedy," and other superfluous name calling.
Wake me up when things change and teams and their fans show some integrity. If you have an opinion then make it out of fact and stand by it. Don't simply change it because it's trendy or suddenly the deck is stacked in your favor. True colors come out in times of adversity and I think the world caught a glimpse of what those really are...
Buffalo Sabres
I guess I could categorize this section under the last one. We're 16 games into the season and people are already crying that the sky is falling. I understand that the Sabres are under .500 and have not been playing up to their true potential, but all hope is not lost. Can I put all of the names of the people writing this season off down on paper so that I can tell them not to watch the playoffs come April because they feel that this team "sucks."
Fair weather fans make me sick. Last year you could not find a ticket to a Sabres game for under $100 and now people are barely getting face value and some are not even sold out. ONCE AGAIN, have some integrity. Stand by your words or else don't speak at all.
What exactly does "playing like a $7M player" look like? Why does the fact that Vanek is making more money this year make anyone believe that he suddenly becomes a different player. Money does not change the ability of an athlete. It is continually mind boggling for me to see people arguing that he should be playing like a $7M athlete. Money doesn't make you a better player, being a better player makes you more money.
There is not shame in being a fan of the team that is only able to watch games once in a while. It is also o.k. to not be completely up to date with the latest Sabre or NHL news. However, do not walk around acting as though you're the mega-fan of the Sabre Nation. There are some people out there that watch/listen to every game, follow the NHL like crazy, have season tickets and actually go, and soak up as much information about the team as possible. It really comes across as insulting and pathetic to claim to be a huge fan when you're nothing more than a casual fan. There is nothing wrong with being a casual fan as it fills the seats and generates revenue for the team and the city. However, do not act as though you've been along for the entire 82 game ride when you've barely hung on for 10...
The NBA
Stephanie [sic] Marbury is a complete joke. One of the biggest cry babies in the sport and an embarrassment to those that work hard. Claiming that you have "shit" on Isiah Thomas and that he should "fuck" with you is complete garbage. You're trash, plain and simple. You were fined $195,000 for a temper tantrum in which you essentially took your ball and went home. You packed your bags and flew back to New York leaving your teammates to play without you for one game.
Awesome, we're all impressed. You certainly showed them. I mean you guys are 2-5 and haven't made the playoffs since 2004. You haven't won a playoff series since 2000 and are Championship-less since 1973. But who am I to criticize you Ms. Marbury? You are the man because you don't let any authority figure hold you down. You let your game do that...
Kobe Bryant is also on my list. I mean the guy only had to get a gag order from his team to stop his whining. In exchange for Kobe to stop "saying nasty things" about the Lakers the team agreed to pursue opportunities for Kobe to be traded. Wow, and I thought putting that huge rock on your wife's finger and crying in front of the world after you slept with a slut was your low point...
Cornhusker Football
A rabid and distraught fan decided to leave some nice voicemails for defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove. This "man" (used rather loosely) simply requested that Cosgrove go back where he came from before he fucking kills him. A second message reminded Cosgrove that he had 76 fucking points scored on him. Always classy to see a fan driven to such a breaking point where they are willing to make death threats against a coach. Perhaps there are deeper issues here than botched coverage and false start penalties. Here's a hint: Nebraska isn't very good...
I think that's enough for now as I'm sure the world of sports will give me more ammunition very soon...
Long Live Sports,
DG2
A-Rod
Really? Well what really is to be taken out of this sudden change of heart. I mean he had ridiculous demands that were not to be met by any team in the league. Not because he is not worth the cash, but simply because teams cannot afford mortgaging their team in order to pay him each year. That's not really the part that bothers me though. Get paid what they're willing to pay you. You're not the fool for making more money, they're the fool for allowing it to get so out of control.
I loved reading over the past few weeks how Yankee fans "really" felt about A-Rod. How he was greedy and would be overpaid. How he was a joke and did not understand what it was to be a Yankee. How he wasn't as good as people think. How he couldn't handle the pressure of playing in New York. How he could easily be replaced by Miguel Cabrera, Mike Lowell, or a farm prospect. How they were glad that he was gone because now the Yankees could get back to the glory days when they didn't buy players, but produced them. Even the Yankee ownership and management aired their grievances and spoke their peace regarding A-Rod. My favorite "he never really fit in, and I didn't really like him anyways."
Now, all of a sudden, the media releases reports that he may be signing back with the Yankees. Yankee nation rejoices. Seemingly forgetting all the shit that they talked about him over the past few weeks. I'm not saying that any team should be pissed at the prospect of signing A-Rod, but have a backbone or some integrity. Look into the archives of periodicals, publications, message boards, blogs, and television shows if you conveniently forget all of the things that were said.
Please, there is nothing that ANYBODY can say to convince me that neo-Yankee "fans" are not a complete joke. You have proven it. Between A-Rod, Posada, and Rivera you have shown your true colors. None of those guys were worth the money when they were on the market (SHOCKINGLY that was only really since Monday), but now they're back as the saviors of days gone by.
This does not just extend to Yankee fans as fans of the Angels have done the same thing. Now that it looks as though he won't end up in Anaheim they have begun to utter similar remarks of "overpaid," "greedy," and other superfluous name calling.
Wake me up when things change and teams and their fans show some integrity. If you have an opinion then make it out of fact and stand by it. Don't simply change it because it's trendy or suddenly the deck is stacked in your favor. True colors come out in times of adversity and I think the world caught a glimpse of what those really are...
Buffalo Sabres
I guess I could categorize this section under the last one. We're 16 games into the season and people are already crying that the sky is falling. I understand that the Sabres are under .500 and have not been playing up to their true potential, but all hope is not lost. Can I put all of the names of the people writing this season off down on paper so that I can tell them not to watch the playoffs come April because they feel that this team "sucks."
Fair weather fans make me sick. Last year you could not find a ticket to a Sabres game for under $100 and now people are barely getting face value and some are not even sold out. ONCE AGAIN, have some integrity. Stand by your words or else don't speak at all.
What exactly does "playing like a $7M player" look like? Why does the fact that Vanek is making more money this year make anyone believe that he suddenly becomes a different player. Money does not change the ability of an athlete. It is continually mind boggling for me to see people arguing that he should be playing like a $7M athlete. Money doesn't make you a better player, being a better player makes you more money.
There is not shame in being a fan of the team that is only able to watch games once in a while. It is also o.k. to not be completely up to date with the latest Sabre or NHL news. However, do not walk around acting as though you're the mega-fan of the Sabre Nation. There are some people out there that watch/listen to every game, follow the NHL like crazy, have season tickets and actually go, and soak up as much information about the team as possible. It really comes across as insulting and pathetic to claim to be a huge fan when you're nothing more than a casual fan. There is nothing wrong with being a casual fan as it fills the seats and generates revenue for the team and the city. However, do not act as though you've been along for the entire 82 game ride when you've barely hung on for 10...
The NBA
Stephanie [sic] Marbury is a complete joke. One of the biggest cry babies in the sport and an embarrassment to those that work hard. Claiming that you have "shit" on Isiah Thomas and that he should "fuck" with you is complete garbage. You're trash, plain and simple. You were fined $195,000 for a temper tantrum in which you essentially took your ball and went home. You packed your bags and flew back to New York leaving your teammates to play without you for one game.
Awesome, we're all impressed. You certainly showed them. I mean you guys are 2-5 and haven't made the playoffs since 2004. You haven't won a playoff series since 2000 and are Championship-less since 1973. But who am I to criticize you Ms. Marbury? You are the man because you don't let any authority figure hold you down. You let your game do that...
Kobe Bryant is also on my list. I mean the guy only had to get a gag order from his team to stop his whining. In exchange for Kobe to stop "saying nasty things" about the Lakers the team agreed to pursue opportunities for Kobe to be traded. Wow, and I thought putting that huge rock on your wife's finger and crying in front of the world after you slept with a slut was your low point...
Cornhusker Football
A rabid and distraught fan decided to leave some nice voicemails for defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove. This "man" (used rather loosely) simply requested that Cosgrove go back where he came from before he fucking kills him. A second message reminded Cosgrove that he had 76 fucking points scored on him. Always classy to see a fan driven to such a breaking point where they are willing to make death threats against a coach. Perhaps there are deeper issues here than botched coverage and false start penalties. Here's a hint: Nebraska isn't very good...
I think that's enough for now as I'm sure the world of sports will give me more ammunition very soon...
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
It's A Wonderlic Young Is Still A Starter
Vince Young is an enigma wrapped in a mystery. I do not, and have not or will not, understand the obsession with this guy. Maybe it's because his underdog team beat USC and stopped their attempt at a three peat? Maybe it's because Texas hats look "cool" and everyone likes to do that horn thing with their fingers? Maybe it's because he can run really fast even though he's freakishly tall?
The guy is an athlete not an NFL quarterback. For everyone that believes that he is great please read on so I can disprove any misconception.
Where to begin...hmm...perhaps at the beginning. First off the guy scored a 6 on the Wonderlic test. Yes a 6. Just as a reference point Jeff George scored a 10 and we all remember how smart he was. Had an excellent arm, probably the best of his class, BUT made rampant mistakes and could not get out of his own way. On the other side of the coin John Elway scored a 30, Steve Young a 33, and Troy Aikman a 29. Combined they have six rings and countless MVP and Pro Bowl appearances.
In case anyone was wondering the highest score is a 50 and the average score a 21, but for NFL prospects the average is 19. The Wonderlic is given by hundreds of corporations, so it is not biased to football players. Vince Young's score means that he only managed to get one question right. Additionally, DG1 took the Wonderlic a few years ago and scored in the "above average" category. Anyone trying to claim that the test discriminates against minorities, try again. Daunte Culpepper scored a 21 and other minorities including Ian Gold and Mike Anderson have been close to the NFL average.
Vince Young's stats this year alone should help to clear up any thoughts of greatness as well. Currently he has a rating of 62.2 which ranks him 29th in the league. He is 24th in completions, 20th in completion percentage, 26th in yards, and 32nd in longest pass (48 yards). He has thrown 4 TDs and 10 INTs this season, which is horrible (Tom Brady has thrown more than that in one half). He ranks 19th in sacks with 14 and his unwillingness to throw the ball has accounted for most of them.
For a guy that was put on the cover of Madden this year one would think that he would have to be in the top of the league in order to garner such an honor. However, as you can see, he has been in the basement of the league all year.
So you're saying to yourself: "he was good last year, that's why he was on the cover." Sure, we'll explore that myth too! He was 30th in QB rating last year. As a reference point guys like Carr, Pennington, Brunell, Grossman, and Vick had better ratings. None of them are current starters this year. He ranked 21rst in TDs, 39th in longest pass (that's dead last behind second string QBs), 15th in INTs thrown, 25th in completions, and 26th in yards. I realize that he split time with Kerry Collins, but he was on a collision course for even worse numbers if he played the whole season rather than most of it.
They have a very good defense, above average special teams, and a solid running game. Their offensive line is very strong and their receivers are not a bunch of no names. Eric Moulds, Brandon Jones, Roydell Williams, Justin Gage, Bo Scaife, and Ben Troupe are better than most teams can boast for receivers.
Let's look at their schedule for a second too as I'm sure people will use THAT as the reason why his numbers are not better. They have played New Orleans (when they were struggling), Atlanta, Oakland, and Carolina. ALL of these teams have defenses which give up big plays and large amounts of yards. His TOTAL passing against Oakland was 42 yards. Please tell me THAT is a misprint. Kerry Collins in relief of Young for two games had a total of 427 yards in those games and a completion percentage of 59% which falls just 1% shy of Young's season total.
Why am I hating on Vince Young you ask. Simply because he is touted as such a great QB that is deserving of the accolades that are thrown at him. We get it, he is a running QB. We've seen how well that's worked out for Aaron Brooks, Akili Smith, and Michael Vick.
I hate on him because I think that people unfairly rank him ahead of better players in the league. All I ask is for people to look at the facts before they start crowing him. He is average at best and an insult to real QBs.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Monday, November 12, 2007
The Bigger They Are...
...The harder they fall?
As a result of my leaving work early last friday in order to handle some business, I was unable to post my usual upset alert on my friday morning blog. However, I will state now, that all of last week I talked amongst my co-workers about how Ohio State did not have a favorable match-up this week against the new Juice. No, no, no, not that Juice, but Juice Williams who is named after Buffalo's beloved OJ. With Michigan, who also lost but who I wouldn't have put on upset alert, coming up the next week it is hard to not expect OSU to be looking ahead. Also, Ron Zook deserves an insane amount of credit. What he is doing at Illinios, a "basketball" school is incredible. Ron Zook is one of the greatest recruiters in the nation. Urban Meyer owes Ron Zook all the credit for the talent he won his national championship with and now Zook is using his Florida ties and formula to recruit speed up in Champagne. Illinios is quickly becoming a team that is going to have the speed of an SEC team in a conference who's perennial winners always struggles against speed. Let's just hope Zook can pull it together without all the pressure he had a Florida and pull together a 11-1, 10-2 season.
College Hoops
So it's about that time of year. The tip-off tournaments have started, high ranked teams are taking on their usual powder puffs to tune up for the long season ahead and Garner-Webb beat Kansas. The first victim of the regular season has fallen to a no name school that is usually bad. This is just the start to my second favorite sports season of all (behind football season). Look for an upcoming college basketball preview sometime mid-week, full of bias talk about Duke Basketball.
WWMJD (What Would Michael Jordan Do)
So, big story of the week was MJ's oldest son Jeffrey, giving up a scholarship at Valpo to walk on at Illinois. Nice to see that he is following in his fathers footsteps while still maintaining his own identity. I'm sure he could go to UNC and walk-on, but based on what I've read he is a well rounded individual raised on solid values by the Greatest basketball player ever. Although his dad is the most famous UNC alum, I don't think solid values and walk-on fit into the program at UNC these days. Unless you plan on a one and done or a two and shoo, then you don't fit in at Roy Williams program. Gone are the days of players gritting it out for a spot and then earning a starting role their senior years. That is unless you are a mid-major school or a program that stresses academics and team (Illinois, Florida, Duke, Notre Dame, UCLA, Georgetown). I'm sick of the one year rule. Make it 2 or 3 or don't make it a rule at all. But back to Jordan. For those of you who know the MJ story know he wasn't highly recruited and had to work to get where he was at UNC. It'll be interesting to follow JJ and see if the same holds true for him. Although, it is well documented that MJ did not stress or push basketball on his sons. Possibly knowing they could never live up to what he was, considering no one will ever live up to MJ.
If he catches it in the End Zone, it's a touchdown?
Good to see the Bills pull one out ugly against an 0-9 team. Watching that game it seams that when you are 0-9 everything that can go wrong does. The hold on the Ginn TD, the 4th and inches and the Beast Mode of Marshawn. At 5-4 the Bills are way better than expected after the first 2 weeks and all the injuries and should lead to hopefully an interesting game on Sunday Night. Either that or a blow out. Then with Wash, Jax and Miami the Bills could be 8-5 down the stretch. That is if they stick with JP. Speaking of 0-8, nice to see the Rams get off the schneid. Watch them run off 8 in a row to finish .500 and win the WEAK NFC West.
Thoughts and Letters
If only Nick Folk pulled a Vinateiri a month ago, there would have been two games this season won by an inferior team without a hint of offense.
With Peyton Manning channeling baby brother Eli last night, the Chargers have yet to be proven wrong in passing on both Mannings.
And boy oh boy, do he and Reggie Wayne REALLY miss Marvin Harrison?
Is anyone really gonna pay A-Rod $300mil over 1o years?
And if they do, does he automatically become a Fortune 500 company?
Dear Bellicheck,
If you run the score up on Sunday Night on national TV. You better be looking over your shoulder all the way to the Airport. With a police escort. Cause if a player doesn't take a shot at Brady in the Fourth. You better beleive yours truly will be leading a riot squad to do so after the game. Either that or physcially harm you.
Sincerely,
DG1 (And every other fan of the other 31 teams).
As a result of my leaving work early last friday in order to handle some business, I was unable to post my usual upset alert on my friday morning blog. However, I will state now, that all of last week I talked amongst my co-workers about how Ohio State did not have a favorable match-up this week against the new Juice. No, no, no, not that Juice, but Juice Williams who is named after Buffalo's beloved OJ. With Michigan, who also lost but who I wouldn't have put on upset alert, coming up the next week it is hard to not expect OSU to be looking ahead. Also, Ron Zook deserves an insane amount of credit. What he is doing at Illinios, a "basketball" school is incredible. Ron Zook is one of the greatest recruiters in the nation. Urban Meyer owes Ron Zook all the credit for the talent he won his national championship with and now Zook is using his Florida ties and formula to recruit speed up in Champagne. Illinios is quickly becoming a team that is going to have the speed of an SEC team in a conference who's perennial winners always struggles against speed. Let's just hope Zook can pull it together without all the pressure he had a Florida and pull together a 11-1, 10-2 season.
College Hoops
So it's about that time of year. The tip-off tournaments have started, high ranked teams are taking on their usual powder puffs to tune up for the long season ahead and Garner-Webb beat Kansas. The first victim of the regular season has fallen to a no name school that is usually bad. This is just the start to my second favorite sports season of all (behind football season). Look for an upcoming college basketball preview sometime mid-week, full of bias talk about Duke Basketball.
WWMJD (What Would Michael Jordan Do)
So, big story of the week was MJ's oldest son Jeffrey, giving up a scholarship at Valpo to walk on at Illinois. Nice to see that he is following in his fathers footsteps while still maintaining his own identity. I'm sure he could go to UNC and walk-on, but based on what I've read he is a well rounded individual raised on solid values by the Greatest basketball player ever. Although his dad is the most famous UNC alum, I don't think solid values and walk-on fit into the program at UNC these days. Unless you plan on a one and done or a two and shoo, then you don't fit in at Roy Williams program. Gone are the days of players gritting it out for a spot and then earning a starting role their senior years. That is unless you are a mid-major school or a program that stresses academics and team (Illinois, Florida, Duke, Notre Dame, UCLA, Georgetown). I'm sick of the one year rule. Make it 2 or 3 or don't make it a rule at all. But back to Jordan. For those of you who know the MJ story know he wasn't highly recruited and had to work to get where he was at UNC. It'll be interesting to follow JJ and see if the same holds true for him. Although, it is well documented that MJ did not stress or push basketball on his sons. Possibly knowing they could never live up to what he was, considering no one will ever live up to MJ.
If he catches it in the End Zone, it's a touchdown?
Good to see the Bills pull one out ugly against an 0-9 team. Watching that game it seams that when you are 0-9 everything that can go wrong does. The hold on the Ginn TD, the 4th and inches and the Beast Mode of Marshawn. At 5-4 the Bills are way better than expected after the first 2 weeks and all the injuries and should lead to hopefully an interesting game on Sunday Night. Either that or a blow out. Then with Wash, Jax and Miami the Bills could be 8-5 down the stretch. That is if they stick with JP. Speaking of 0-8, nice to see the Rams get off the schneid. Watch them run off 8 in a row to finish .500 and win the WEAK NFC West.
Thoughts and Letters
If only Nick Folk pulled a Vinateiri a month ago, there would have been two games this season won by an inferior team without a hint of offense.
With Peyton Manning channeling baby brother Eli last night, the Chargers have yet to be proven wrong in passing on both Mannings.
And boy oh boy, do he and Reggie Wayne REALLY miss Marvin Harrison?
Is anyone really gonna pay A-Rod $300mil over 1o years?
And if they do, does he automatically become a Fortune 500 company?
Dear Bellicheck,
If you run the score up on Sunday Night on national TV. You better be looking over your shoulder all the way to the Airport. With a police escort. Cause if a player doesn't take a shot at Brady in the Fourth. You better beleive yours truly will be leading a riot squad to do so after the game. Either that or physcially harm you.
Sincerely,
DG1 (And every other fan of the other 31 teams).
Friday, November 9, 2007
Old Juice...New Juice...Red Juice...Orange Juice...
Old Juice...and Orange Juice
OJ had his first chance at the legal system for his recent run-in with the law. I was able to watch a substantial amount of the preliminary trial and thought that the defense stood a very sound chance of being competitive when the actual trial takes place. The witnesses looked shaky on the stand and were regularly wavering from already sworn testimony and statements. The stories were very unclear and some of the key pieces of evidence seemed suspiciously different from when the story broke a few months ago.
My prediction is that we will have a medium length trial on our hands with OJ once again walking due to poorly prepared prosecution. The whole thing stinks considering that the FBI knew of the whole operation before it even went down. OJ is not a dumb man, and even without his trusty Jackie Chiles--err Johnnie Cochran by his side I once again see him as a free man.
New Juice
The Mitchell people once again gave the sports world a scare with the tease that 11 current MLB free agents were thought to have been on "the list." However, a few hours later it was released that they are only subject to questioning and really were not sure fire users. Mike Golic had an interesting piece of information to offer up yesterday when he admitted to using steroids for a period of 2 weeks in order to recover from a shoulder injury. While he was not (or at least he claims not) to have been a career user it opens the door for speculation as to how many other players used steroids in the same manner.
Red Juice
Injuries seem to be sky rocketing in professional sports. Maybe it's a result of tougher competition and tougher athletes. Bigger, stronger, faster, and harder hitting results in more hospital visits. Maybe it's more evident in Buffalo with both the Sabres and the Bills dealing with injuries in mass amounts. However it just seems as though the nation as a whole is seeing a spike in bruises and scrapes.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
OJ had his first chance at the legal system for his recent run-in with the law. I was able to watch a substantial amount of the preliminary trial and thought that the defense stood a very sound chance of being competitive when the actual trial takes place. The witnesses looked shaky on the stand and were regularly wavering from already sworn testimony and statements. The stories were very unclear and some of the key pieces of evidence seemed suspiciously different from when the story broke a few months ago.
My prediction is that we will have a medium length trial on our hands with OJ once again walking due to poorly prepared prosecution. The whole thing stinks considering that the FBI knew of the whole operation before it even went down. OJ is not a dumb man, and even without his trusty Jackie Chiles--err Johnnie Cochran by his side I once again see him as a free man.
New Juice
The Mitchell people once again gave the sports world a scare with the tease that 11 current MLB free agents were thought to have been on "the list." However, a few hours later it was released that they are only subject to questioning and really were not sure fire users. Mike Golic had an interesting piece of information to offer up yesterday when he admitted to using steroids for a period of 2 weeks in order to recover from a shoulder injury. While he was not (or at least he claims not) to have been a career user it opens the door for speculation as to how many other players used steroids in the same manner.
Red Juice
Injuries seem to be sky rocketing in professional sports. Maybe it's a result of tougher competition and tougher athletes. Bigger, stronger, faster, and harder hitting results in more hospital visits. Maybe it's more evident in Buffalo with both the Sabres and the Bills dealing with injuries in mass amounts. However it just seems as though the nation as a whole is seeing a spike in bruises and scrapes.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Monday, November 5, 2007
Ouch-O Cinco and Others...
Ouch-O Cinco
Chad Johnson looked terrible yesterday. He was a non-factor in the game and dropped one of the most important passes for the season. Cinci basically moved themselves out of the playoffs by losing this week. They have a tougher schedule and will not run the table or at least win all but one. Johnson was injured, but not on the play that everyone gives credit for. Donte Whitner did NOT hurt Johnson on that play. I'm not even convinced that Whitner made significant contact with Whitner. I'll tell you the play that Johnson was injured on. The planting forearms of George (Hey Mr.) Wilson forced Johnson to smash his face off of the unforgiving turf. After that play Johnson did not catch a pass. He looked shaky and his face told the story of someone that had suffered a concussion. He looks bad this season and his tears on the sidelines were a sad sight of a former game breaker. I guess this opens the door for T.J. Who's-Your-Mama.
Manning Up
The Colts/Pats game did not really prove much in my mind. I guess it showed that both teams can score points despite sub par offense. The Colts were without Tony Ugoh and Marvin Harrison and that is bigger than ANY players that the Pats were without. With Ugoh in the game Manning doesn't see half the pressure that he did and takes significantly less number of hits. Harrison goes without saying. There's a reason why he and Manning are the top tandem in history. When/if they meet in the playoffs I see a different outcome. The Pats are human.
L.A.'s New Look
Joe Torre and his crew of Bowa and Mattingly are going to do great things in L.A. I see the playoffs in their immediate future with a great batting coach and the best infield coach in the game. Robinson Cano owes his success in the field to Bowa and his relentless tips and techniques. Torre looked great in his press conference too. Handling questions just as one would think, but mixing in a fair amount of comedy too which seemed forbidden by the Emperor.
Frank Yallop decided to leave the L.A. Galaxy today in favor of coaching the expansion San Jose Earthquakes. That used to be my favorite team before they moved to Houston and now are looking poised to grab me again. My personal choice of replacement is Bruce Arena who also left his coaching post today. His ties with Landon Donovan are very strong and he would salivate at the opportunity to coach David Beckham. Look for a MLS Cup run next season if this all works out.
Sunday Night
Don't look too far ahead or the Dolphins could get their first win of the season. While it's exciting to see the Bills/Pats on Sunday night next week, we shouldn't look past this weekend's match-up against the winless and hopeless Dolphins. We just need to take care of business and allow what we do best (run the ball) to dictate the play. I agree though, Sunday night football will be nasty.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Chad Johnson looked terrible yesterday. He was a non-factor in the game and dropped one of the most important passes for the season. Cinci basically moved themselves out of the playoffs by losing this week. They have a tougher schedule and will not run the table or at least win all but one. Johnson was injured, but not on the play that everyone gives credit for. Donte Whitner did NOT hurt Johnson on that play. I'm not even convinced that Whitner made significant contact with Whitner. I'll tell you the play that Johnson was injured on. The planting forearms of George (Hey Mr.) Wilson forced Johnson to smash his face off of the unforgiving turf. After that play Johnson did not catch a pass. He looked shaky and his face told the story of someone that had suffered a concussion. He looks bad this season and his tears on the sidelines were a sad sight of a former game breaker. I guess this opens the door for T.J. Who's-Your-Mama.
Manning Up
The Colts/Pats game did not really prove much in my mind. I guess it showed that both teams can score points despite sub par offense. The Colts were without Tony Ugoh and Marvin Harrison and that is bigger than ANY players that the Pats were without. With Ugoh in the game Manning doesn't see half the pressure that he did and takes significantly less number of hits. Harrison goes without saying. There's a reason why he and Manning are the top tandem in history. When/if they meet in the playoffs I see a different outcome. The Pats are human.
L.A.'s New Look
Joe Torre and his crew of Bowa and Mattingly are going to do great things in L.A. I see the playoffs in their immediate future with a great batting coach and the best infield coach in the game. Robinson Cano owes his success in the field to Bowa and his relentless tips and techniques. Torre looked great in his press conference too. Handling questions just as one would think, but mixing in a fair amount of comedy too which seemed forbidden by the Emperor.
Frank Yallop decided to leave the L.A. Galaxy today in favor of coaching the expansion San Jose Earthquakes. That used to be my favorite team before they moved to Houston and now are looking poised to grab me again. My personal choice of replacement is Bruce Arena who also left his coaching post today. His ties with Landon Donovan are very strong and he would salivate at the opportunity to coach David Beckham. Look for a MLS Cup run next season if this all works out.
Sunday Night
Don't look too far ahead or the Dolphins could get their first win of the season. While it's exciting to see the Bills/Pats on Sunday night next week, we shouldn't look past this weekend's match-up against the winless and hopeless Dolphins. We just need to take care of business and allow what we do best (run the ball) to dictate the play. I agree though, Sunday night football will be nasty.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Monday Afternoon Assesment
Unlucky Number 2
Well another weekend has gone by and another #2 team has fallen. According to my research, the #2 ranked team in the country has been upset in 5 or the 10 weeks this season and at least 1 top 5 team has lost each of the last six weeks. This weekend Boston College played into my prediction by falling to lowly Florida State in a monsoon in Chestnut Hill. If it wasn't for a sloppy fourth quarter, Alabama would have upset LSU causing mayhem at the top of the BCS once again. Not to mention the bragging rights I would have had if all four of my upset alerts from last week would have held true (2 of 4). Well that is with the exception of Kansas shutting me up and drop 76 points on Nebraska. Bill Callahan can't find the door soon enough.
Speaking of Corn
So, the atmosphere out here in Buffalo is pretty good. The Buffalo Bills are 4-4 and overacheiving tremendously on the defensive side of the football with our offense waking up against poor defenses and gaining cofidence. In a lesser spectrum, The University of Buffalo Bulls are one game away from clinching a tie for the MAC East title. Yes, those Bulls. The same team that over the last 10 years has maybe won 20 games total (an average of 2 a year). Second year head coach Turner Gill has begun to turn a program around that was absolutely dismal the last decade. However, this excitement should be shortly lived. I've heard Gill say he wants to stay in Buffalo and turn the program around but lets face it. Turner Gill is a Nebraska Cornhusker. He won a national title there, his former coach is the new AD and the current head coach is quickly on a plane back to a NFL assistant coaching job. All the pieces align for Turner to be on the first flight to Lincoln at the end of the college season. Again leaving Bulls fans again excited.
Madden in Buffalo?
I am proud to be one of the first sports sites to announce to my reader(s) that the next Buffalo Bills home game will be moved to the 8:15pm slot and broadcast Nationwide on NBC. Inside sources have confirmed this and it is expected to be announced within the hour (3pm est). This is shaping up to either be an incredible season for the Bills and thier fans, after what looked to be early on a 2-14 season. However, solid play and an overachieving defense has the Bills at .500 with a very favorable schedule. Not to mention their toughest games coming up are at home and could (looking ahead at the schedule) all be subject to flex scheduling. After winless Miami next week, New England is about to be officially a home game and after the MNF game and the intensity of the crowd that game could be closer than many think. Not to mention every year Buffalo plays New England close once and Brady has never experienced the Bills crowd at any time other than at 1pm on a Sunday when everyone is nursing a hang over. Also, weather will be a factor. I know NE has the same temps but the big 3 are not accustomed to snow. Stallworth spent his career in New Orleans and last season began to slow down once it got cold. Moss only played 2 games a year in the snow (green bay and Chicago). And Wes Welker always struggled in those December games up in Buffalo. I may be the first to proclaim that I feel the nation will be shocked. After that, the Bills schedule looks like this:
@ Jacksonville - Run heavy team against a good run defense with a injured QB expected to get his first start in 5 weeks
@ Washington - Struggled against a Jets team and after a solid start is starting to struggle against it's AFC foes
vs. Miami - need i say more
@ Cleveland - with the Browns 1 game back of the NFC north title and in the lead for the wild card and the bills possibly coming in at 7-6 or 8-5 this game could be worth a lot more and be moved to primetime.
vs. NYG - again could be subject to big things and perhaps the sunday night game 2 days before xmas.
@ Philly - by then the team could be handed over to the new QB and philly could be looking towards the future with the Andy Reid issues and Donovan McNabb on his way out of town.
Looking at this and my reasons, this could be a very interesting stretch. As a Buffalo fan my whole life, especially the last 3 years, I will not mention a certain word. However, if the Bills can continue to improve and beat teams they should beat as well as teams with better records but with weaker schedules we could not only be looking at 3 prime time home games in one season, but an event like no other. If only they played in the NFC or the AFC West and not in the same division as the Patriots.
Canada, eh?
Rogers will not buy the Buffalo Bills. He may buy a bunch of luxory boxes to help make revenue on one of the largest capacity stadiums in the NFL (65,000+ to an average of 55,000). But the Bills will not move to Toronto or anywhere else. Injunctions by the city along with big name former players and investors will step up and do something before Ralph dies. Which quite possibly could be very soon with the way he is pissing off fans. Not to mention sources on the internet claiming that the Losman, Edwards thing is 90% financial. Until Ralph is willing to spend big money on premier players we can kiss Losman, Evans and both Lynch and Edwards good bye as soon as their contracts are up. I hate to wish against the welfare of one individual, but we'll never be speaking the P word until Ralph starts to realize he has enough money and begins to invest in his team and keeping Marquee players.
Chew on This
So the other day Giselle proclaimed she will only sign contracts that pay out in any currency other than US. The question now is, how long until she convinces her robot Tom Brady to demand the same from the Krafts?
Watching the end of Superbowl 41.5, When did Peyton turn into Eli and vice-versa?
- I mean his players kept that game close.
Randy Moss is good. He doesn't like to get hit, but Moss, NOT Brady is the reason New England is 9-0.
New England is beatable and will not go 16-0!!!
Stay Rowdy
-DG1
Well another weekend has gone by and another #2 team has fallen. According to my research, the #2 ranked team in the country has been upset in 5 or the 10 weeks this season and at least 1 top 5 team has lost each of the last six weeks. This weekend Boston College played into my prediction by falling to lowly Florida State in a monsoon in Chestnut Hill. If it wasn't for a sloppy fourth quarter, Alabama would have upset LSU causing mayhem at the top of the BCS once again. Not to mention the bragging rights I would have had if all four of my upset alerts from last week would have held true (2 of 4). Well that is with the exception of Kansas shutting me up and drop 76 points on Nebraska. Bill Callahan can't find the door soon enough.
Speaking of Corn
So, the atmosphere out here in Buffalo is pretty good. The Buffalo Bills are 4-4 and overacheiving tremendously on the defensive side of the football with our offense waking up against poor defenses and gaining cofidence. In a lesser spectrum, The University of Buffalo Bulls are one game away from clinching a tie for the MAC East title. Yes, those Bulls. The same team that over the last 10 years has maybe won 20 games total (an average of 2 a year). Second year head coach Turner Gill has begun to turn a program around that was absolutely dismal the last decade. However, this excitement should be shortly lived. I've heard Gill say he wants to stay in Buffalo and turn the program around but lets face it. Turner Gill is a Nebraska Cornhusker. He won a national title there, his former coach is the new AD and the current head coach is quickly on a plane back to a NFL assistant coaching job. All the pieces align for Turner to be on the first flight to Lincoln at the end of the college season. Again leaving Bulls fans again excited.
Madden in Buffalo?
I am proud to be one of the first sports sites to announce to my reader(s) that the next Buffalo Bills home game will be moved to the 8:15pm slot and broadcast Nationwide on NBC. Inside sources have confirmed this and it is expected to be announced within the hour (3pm est). This is shaping up to either be an incredible season for the Bills and thier fans, after what looked to be early on a 2-14 season. However, solid play and an overachieving defense has the Bills at .500 with a very favorable schedule. Not to mention their toughest games coming up are at home and could (looking ahead at the schedule) all be subject to flex scheduling. After winless Miami next week, New England is about to be officially a home game and after the MNF game and the intensity of the crowd that game could be closer than many think. Not to mention every year Buffalo plays New England close once and Brady has never experienced the Bills crowd at any time other than at 1pm on a Sunday when everyone is nursing a hang over. Also, weather will be a factor. I know NE has the same temps but the big 3 are not accustomed to snow. Stallworth spent his career in New Orleans and last season began to slow down once it got cold. Moss only played 2 games a year in the snow (green bay and Chicago). And Wes Welker always struggled in those December games up in Buffalo. I may be the first to proclaim that I feel the nation will be shocked. After that, the Bills schedule looks like this:
@ Jacksonville - Run heavy team against a good run defense with a injured QB expected to get his first start in 5 weeks
@ Washington - Struggled against a Jets team and after a solid start is starting to struggle against it's AFC foes
vs. Miami - need i say more
@ Cleveland - with the Browns 1 game back of the NFC north title and in the lead for the wild card and the bills possibly coming in at 7-6 or 8-5 this game could be worth a lot more and be moved to primetime.
vs. NYG - again could be subject to big things and perhaps the sunday night game 2 days before xmas.
@ Philly - by then the team could be handed over to the new QB and philly could be looking towards the future with the Andy Reid issues and Donovan McNabb on his way out of town.
Looking at this and my reasons, this could be a very interesting stretch. As a Buffalo fan my whole life, especially the last 3 years, I will not mention a certain word. However, if the Bills can continue to improve and beat teams they should beat as well as teams with better records but with weaker schedules we could not only be looking at 3 prime time home games in one season, but an event like no other. If only they played in the NFC or the AFC West and not in the same division as the Patriots.
Canada, eh?
Rogers will not buy the Buffalo Bills. He may buy a bunch of luxory boxes to help make revenue on one of the largest capacity stadiums in the NFL (65,000+ to an average of 55,000). But the Bills will not move to Toronto or anywhere else. Injunctions by the city along with big name former players and investors will step up and do something before Ralph dies. Which quite possibly could be very soon with the way he is pissing off fans. Not to mention sources on the internet claiming that the Losman, Edwards thing is 90% financial. Until Ralph is willing to spend big money on premier players we can kiss Losman, Evans and both Lynch and Edwards good bye as soon as their contracts are up. I hate to wish against the welfare of one individual, but we'll never be speaking the P word until Ralph starts to realize he has enough money and begins to invest in his team and keeping Marquee players.
Chew on This
So the other day Giselle proclaimed she will only sign contracts that pay out in any currency other than US. The question now is, how long until she convinces her robot Tom Brady to demand the same from the Krafts?
Watching the end of Superbowl 41.5, When did Peyton turn into Eli and vice-versa?
- I mean his players kept that game close.
Randy Moss is good. He doesn't like to get hit, but Moss, NOT Brady is the reason New England is 9-0.
New England is beatable and will not go 16-0!!!
Stay Rowdy
-DG1
Friday, November 2, 2007
SuperSonics Should Not Be O.K., Bills Don't Need A T.O.
What's the fastest way to boost the revenue for a team? Move them. Profit off of new merchandise and a new fan base. Seems like a great idea. Quickly you rise to the top because everyone needs to have the latest gear and local media needs to hire mass amounts of staff to keep up with the new team.
So now it's a few years after you moved. The honeymoon is over and you're kind of lost. You say to yourself "perhaps we should have thought about this one." Pretty much every time a franchise moves to a new city that's supposed to be great, it ends up costing so much money that new management is needed and the original investors never see the benefits of their work.
I get it that it can work and their are examples, but leagues are spreading themselves too thin and new old franchises end up coming back anyways.
The Seattle SuperSonics have new ownership and have officially applied to move the team to Oklahoma City. Just wait and see on this one. I understand that after Katrina the Hornets called O.K. home, but this is just another gamble that I do not see paying off.
Baltimore moved the Colts, but later came the Ravens.
The Ravens are the old Browns, which came back after a few years of absence.
The Raiders were Oakland, were L.A., are Oakland again.
Nashville made an NHL home, threats to move the team have been relentless.
North Stars moved to Dallas, Wild came later.
Expos went to D.C., yeah, they can't sell tickets.
Professional baseball in Florida, do I really need to explain?
There are plenty of more examples, but I'm sure you get the picture by now. It's a bad idea in the long term, no matter how great the cash flow is at the start.
The Bills are soon to be the next team in the discussion. The Bills want to play 2 games a year (one pre-season, one regular) until 2012. I'm sure that was well calculated with the approximate date that Ralph Wilson is set to expire. Now, not a few weeks later, the owner of Rogers media group is expressing interest in buying the team. I called this one weeks ago and everyone told me that I was crazy. Well, call me crazy, but get ready to start the petitions and rallies because it's going to be one hell of a fight to save this team.
Long Live Sports (while you have a team to root for),
DG2
So now it's a few years after you moved. The honeymoon is over and you're kind of lost. You say to yourself "perhaps we should have thought about this one." Pretty much every time a franchise moves to a new city that's supposed to be great, it ends up costing so much money that new management is needed and the original investors never see the benefits of their work.
I get it that it can work and their are examples, but leagues are spreading themselves too thin and new old franchises end up coming back anyways.
The Seattle SuperSonics have new ownership and have officially applied to move the team to Oklahoma City. Just wait and see on this one. I understand that after Katrina the Hornets called O.K. home, but this is just another gamble that I do not see paying off.
Baltimore moved the Colts, but later came the Ravens.
The Ravens are the old Browns, which came back after a few years of absence.
The Raiders were Oakland, were L.A., are Oakland again.
Nashville made an NHL home, threats to move the team have been relentless.
North Stars moved to Dallas, Wild came later.
Expos went to D.C., yeah, they can't sell tickets.
Professional baseball in Florida, do I really need to explain?
There are plenty of more examples, but I'm sure you get the picture by now. It's a bad idea in the long term, no matter how great the cash flow is at the start.
The Bills are soon to be the next team in the discussion. The Bills want to play 2 games a year (one pre-season, one regular) until 2012. I'm sure that was well calculated with the approximate date that Ralph Wilson is set to expire. Now, not a few weeks later, the owner of Rogers media group is expressing interest in buying the team. I called this one weeks ago and everyone told me that I was crazy. Well, call me crazy, but get ready to start the petitions and rallies because it's going to be one hell of a fight to save this team.
Long Live Sports (while you have a team to root for),
DG2
Friday Morning Frenzy
From the New to the Old
Big news yesterday in the LA market. The most recent ex-Yankee manager is packing his bags and moving out West. Yesterday the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the hiring of Joe Torre as manager for the next three years. As a result Torre is leaving the Bronx for warmer temps just like the old Dodgers before him. Hard to say that this is a suprise. Torre loves the sport of baseball and I couldn't have pictured him not coaching right away. The prospect of him being on the market with all the teams that need help was just too enticing. Let me say it now, the Dodgers WILL make the playoffs next year. They are a very talented bunch of players and with one of, if not the, best coaches in baseball history at the helm, they should be able to keep it together for a whole 162 game schedule.
LA-Rod of Anaheim
To Steal a little bit of DG2's thunder, this is my number one player in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Of all the top ten lists I've seen over the past few years this is the only place that has a good argument. The Cubs won't want his salary to dump on a potential new owner and most other teams with the exception of the Tigers won't need him. I feel this is going to be a 2 team race between the Tigers and the Angels with the Angels winning out. I feel A-Rod is soft, i've always felt he was soft when it comes to dealing with scrutiny. Although he made a huge step forward this season, I feel the prospect of playing on the west coast will entice him. The later time zone allows for less National Exposure, although the increased paparazzi presence may be a little much. But as long as he avoids late night encounters with Paris or Unfitney, he'll be fine.
Moving Forward
I wouldn't count out the Yankees in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Although negotiating a deal could kill the reputations of the new regime of the Empire with agents in the future, the loss of a player of A-Rods caliber should not be easy to stomach. However, the hiring of Joe Girardi opens the door for a interesting thought of mine that I want to share with you. As we all know Joe Girardi won manager of the year in Florida two seasons ago for taking a team with virtually no payroll that was full of young players and keeping them in contention. One of the best players in that organization is Miguel Cabrera, a young, great third basemen. Girardi and Cabrera have ties and a good relationship, not to mention the Marlins try and shop Cabrera and Willis every season at the trade deadline in order to avoid arbitration. As much as I like what the Yankees are doing with the farm, it wouldn't hurt to throw in some young prospects and a wilson betimit to take a Miguel Cabrera or/and the D-Train off the Marlins hands, considering both are under 26. I'd like to see how this plays out considering I don't forsee the Yankees moving forward with Wilson Betimit past this offseason as their every day 3B.
Weekly Upset Bug
Kansas (8) @ Nebraska - Kansas is having a quiet Cinderella (ella, ella, eh, eh) season. But Nebraska has been underperforming all season with a massive playbook and lack luster attitude of Bill Callahan.
LSU (3) @ Alabama (17) - Simply because it's the SEC and this season is crazy
ASU (6) @ Oregon (4) - Not necessarily and upset in rankings, but ASU is unbeaten with USC, UCLA coming up. The Ducks have this part of the schedule complete and could be looking at a BCS Title game. Quack Quack
BC (2) v. FSU - I've been saying all year BC will lose 2 games. Number 1 will come this week. Even though it's home, if they don't lose, my prediction is wrong. Therefore they will.
Powder My Nose
I don't understand the whole drug testing thing with the Olympics and other World Sports. I understand drugs are bad and all. But honestly, destroying an individuals life due to cocaine or weed (especially weed) is rediculous. I refer to the Robin Williams on Broadway stand-up. THEY ARE NOT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS. THEY ARE PERFORMANCE HINDERING DRUGS!!! It's not like the snowboarder was juicing or using vasoline on his board. And I'm not saying Hingis does blow. But cut us some slack. Neither has had any run ins with the law nor been a negative aspect to their sport. Keep the tests behind closed doors and really recosider your actions before you take something away from someone that they earned, w/o the help of anyone or thing. Then sit back and think about what the US is going through in the major 4 with violence, steroids, and bastard children and be grateful that your gold medal snowboarder took a hit from the pipe, I mean if you look back, I'm sure that who ever invented the sport was stoned when he did so.
Thoughts to Chew On
If Indy is winning, does Dungy pull a Belicheck and run it up on the Pats...?
...And if so, I wonder how humble pie tastes?
Reggie Bush,
Apparently a couple 100k is too much to salvage everything you did in college. I wonder how you'll be welcomed at the reunion if this effects the USC teams you were a part of. If so, I'm sure Chris Webber and Jalen Rose are for-hire mentors.
Toodles,
DG1
Big news yesterday in the LA market. The most recent ex-Yankee manager is packing his bags and moving out West. Yesterday the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the hiring of Joe Torre as manager for the next three years. As a result Torre is leaving the Bronx for warmer temps just like the old Dodgers before him. Hard to say that this is a suprise. Torre loves the sport of baseball and I couldn't have pictured him not coaching right away. The prospect of him being on the market with all the teams that need help was just too enticing. Let me say it now, the Dodgers WILL make the playoffs next year. They are a very talented bunch of players and with one of, if not the, best coaches in baseball history at the helm, they should be able to keep it together for a whole 162 game schedule.
LA-Rod of Anaheim
To Steal a little bit of DG2's thunder, this is my number one player in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Of all the top ten lists I've seen over the past few years this is the only place that has a good argument. The Cubs won't want his salary to dump on a potential new owner and most other teams with the exception of the Tigers won't need him. I feel this is going to be a 2 team race between the Tigers and the Angels with the Angels winning out. I feel A-Rod is soft, i've always felt he was soft when it comes to dealing with scrutiny. Although he made a huge step forward this season, I feel the prospect of playing on the west coast will entice him. The later time zone allows for less National Exposure, although the increased paparazzi presence may be a little much. But as long as he avoids late night encounters with Paris or Unfitney, he'll be fine.
Moving Forward
I wouldn't count out the Yankees in the A-Rod sweepstakes. Although negotiating a deal could kill the reputations of the new regime of the Empire with agents in the future, the loss of a player of A-Rods caliber should not be easy to stomach. However, the hiring of Joe Girardi opens the door for a interesting thought of mine that I want to share with you. As we all know Joe Girardi won manager of the year in Florida two seasons ago for taking a team with virtually no payroll that was full of young players and keeping them in contention. One of the best players in that organization is Miguel Cabrera, a young, great third basemen. Girardi and Cabrera have ties and a good relationship, not to mention the Marlins try and shop Cabrera and Willis every season at the trade deadline in order to avoid arbitration. As much as I like what the Yankees are doing with the farm, it wouldn't hurt to throw in some young prospects and a wilson betimit to take a Miguel Cabrera or/and the D-Train off the Marlins hands, considering both are under 26. I'd like to see how this plays out considering I don't forsee the Yankees moving forward with Wilson Betimit past this offseason as their every day 3B.
Weekly Upset Bug
Kansas (8) @ Nebraska - Kansas is having a quiet Cinderella (ella, ella, eh, eh) season. But Nebraska has been underperforming all season with a massive playbook and lack luster attitude of Bill Callahan.
LSU (3) @ Alabama (17) - Simply because it's the SEC and this season is crazy
ASU (6) @ Oregon (4) - Not necessarily and upset in rankings, but ASU is unbeaten with USC, UCLA coming up. The Ducks have this part of the schedule complete and could be looking at a BCS Title game. Quack Quack
BC (2) v. FSU - I've been saying all year BC will lose 2 games. Number 1 will come this week. Even though it's home, if they don't lose, my prediction is wrong. Therefore they will.
Powder My Nose
I don't understand the whole drug testing thing with the Olympics and other World Sports. I understand drugs are bad and all. But honestly, destroying an individuals life due to cocaine or weed (especially weed) is rediculous. I refer to the Robin Williams on Broadway stand-up. THEY ARE NOT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS. THEY ARE PERFORMANCE HINDERING DRUGS!!! It's not like the snowboarder was juicing or using vasoline on his board. And I'm not saying Hingis does blow. But cut us some slack. Neither has had any run ins with the law nor been a negative aspect to their sport. Keep the tests behind closed doors and really recosider your actions before you take something away from someone that they earned, w/o the help of anyone or thing. Then sit back and think about what the US is going through in the major 4 with violence, steroids, and bastard children and be grateful that your gold medal snowboarder took a hit from the pipe, I mean if you look back, I'm sure that who ever invented the sport was stoned when he did so.
Thoughts to Chew On
If Indy is winning, does Dungy pull a Belicheck and run it up on the Pats...?
...And if so, I wonder how humble pie tastes?
Reggie Bush,
Apparently a couple 100k is too much to salvage everything you did in college. I wonder how you'll be welcomed at the reunion if this effects the USC teams you were a part of. If so, I'm sure Chris Webber and Jalen Rose are for-hire mentors.
Toodles,
DG1
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Let The Sweepstakes Begin
Let's start this off by saying that if you're a Yankee fan and you're upset that the whole A-Rod issue is even an issue then you only have yourself to blame. The same manner in which you were able to get him is the same manner in which he's leaving. The Yankee organization GAVE him an option, which like it or not he had the right to exercise. How surprised can you really be? He went from Seattle to Texas for money and then Texas to New York for even more money. You took away the manager that he loved in a manner which was seen as insulting by the national media. You showered him with boos when he wasn't living up to your standards and constantly criticized him for his post season woes. He put up ridiculous numbers playing in a high profile city that can make even the most stable man crumble. So if you're A-Rod, why not leave? You have a good chance of shattering the batting records elsewhere at a much quicker pace.
With that said, let's take a look at possible destinations for A-Rod:
Could he be:
Shea-Rod?: An easy subway ride over to Flushing and a chance to play shortstop again if the Mets move Reyes to second, but would more likely move Wright to second and let A-Rod play third. Probably not a likely destination, but if he did end up there can you imagine the line-up: 1. Reyes 2. Wright 3. Beltran 4. A-Rod 5. Delgado Yeah, sick.
L.A.-Rod?: Reuniting with Torre? Probably not, but then again he could stay at third and be a powerhouse in that line-up. Maybe a good fit to go back to the west coast. I could see it happening.
Devil Ray-Rod?: Tampa? Yeah, that's what I thought too. BUT, then again they'd be pulling in a high profile player for once and could build their team around him. Well, at least for four years until he opts out.
Oakland A-Rod?: A should-be playoff team that thirsts for a consistent bat. Could really fit in with their infield and would be a nice clubhouse presence in a team searching for a solid leader.
City by the Bay-Rod?: The Giants would love to replace the current home run king with the future home run king. Can you imagine that marketing scheme? Boras is drooling just thinking about it. Not to mention rebuilding that team around another perennial MVP. Could have his choice in the field too.
Fenway-Rod?: Boston would love to throw his bat into their line-up, which would be just nasty with the proven Papi, Manny, and Youkilis. Not to mention up and comers Pedroia and Ellsbury. He's already played in the hardest city in sports, so why not for the rivals? Not likely. Additionally he could have a metrosexual contest with Tom Brady and we can finally see who is gayer.
The L.A. of A-Rod?: The Angels have been rumored all along and probably seem to be the best fit. A playoff team with a lot of potential. Ownerships seems weary, so that might be the snag that kills this deal.
Stay-Rod?: Most likely not, however the brothers Grimm could reverse their stand and take him back. They would have to remember if they did then they would never ever be taken seriously by any agent. Ever. Ever. But they could do themselves a favor and save some face. Wait, I almost forgot who I was talking about...
Jay-Rod?: Could use a big name player to boost the only team in Canada. He punishes the ball when they play in the dome, but something tells me that Boras would be bored with Toronto and wouldn't want to use his passport that much to fly in and out.
P.A.-Rod?: The Phillies are going to at least be in the talk concerning his ultimate decision. They might not want the contract in terms of length, but they could use the bat.
Well, I guess we'll just have to see where it goes from here. My guess is that he'll end up with a massive contract and an option after his fourth year. I also think that in those four years we could see an injury, finally. I'm thinking west coast, but then again Boras is always willing and ready to surprise.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
With that said, let's take a look at possible destinations for A-Rod:
Could he be:
Shea-Rod?: An easy subway ride over to Flushing and a chance to play shortstop again if the Mets move Reyes to second, but would more likely move Wright to second and let A-Rod play third. Probably not a likely destination, but if he did end up there can you imagine the line-up: 1. Reyes 2. Wright 3. Beltran 4. A-Rod 5. Delgado Yeah, sick.
L.A.-Rod?: Reuniting with Torre? Probably not, but then again he could stay at third and be a powerhouse in that line-up. Maybe a good fit to go back to the west coast. I could see it happening.
Devil Ray-Rod?: Tampa? Yeah, that's what I thought too. BUT, then again they'd be pulling in a high profile player for once and could build their team around him. Well, at least for four years until he opts out.
Oakland A-Rod?: A should-be playoff team that thirsts for a consistent bat. Could really fit in with their infield and would be a nice clubhouse presence in a team searching for a solid leader.
City by the Bay-Rod?: The Giants would love to replace the current home run king with the future home run king. Can you imagine that marketing scheme? Boras is drooling just thinking about it. Not to mention rebuilding that team around another perennial MVP. Could have his choice in the field too.
Fenway-Rod?: Boston would love to throw his bat into their line-up, which would be just nasty with the proven Papi, Manny, and Youkilis. Not to mention up and comers Pedroia and Ellsbury. He's already played in the hardest city in sports, so why not for the rivals? Not likely. Additionally he could have a metrosexual contest with Tom Brady and we can finally see who is gayer.
The L.A. of A-Rod?: The Angels have been rumored all along and probably seem to be the best fit. A playoff team with a lot of potential. Ownerships seems weary, so that might be the snag that kills this deal.
Stay-Rod?: Most likely not, however the brothers Grimm could reverse their stand and take him back. They would have to remember if they did then they would never ever be taken seriously by any agent. Ever. Ever. But they could do themselves a favor and save some face. Wait, I almost forgot who I was talking about...
Jay-Rod?: Could use a big name player to boost the only team in Canada. He punishes the ball when they play in the dome, but something tells me that Boras would be bored with Toronto and wouldn't want to use his passport that much to fly in and out.
P.A.-Rod?: The Phillies are going to at least be in the talk concerning his ultimate decision. They might not want the contract in terms of length, but they could use the bat.
Well, I guess we'll just have to see where it goes from here. My guess is that he'll end up with a massive contract and an option after his fourth year. I also think that in those four years we could see an injury, finally. I'm thinking west coast, but then again Boras is always willing and ready to surprise.
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday Morning Mania
Hit it and Quit itSo, TMZ.com is reporting today that Larry Fitzgerald is taking a page out of Matt Leinart's book. Fitzgerald has been served by a former Raiderette that he is the father of her unborn child. The woman, a 35 year old former cheerleader and Fitzgerald got busy and she got prego. Paterno-ty test pending, Fitzgerald agreed to pay support if he's the father. I find this especially humorous since Fitzgerald is only 24 and was obviously taken in by a cougar. I love it, a washed up former cheerleader (left), who is clearly attractive, nabbed herself a rich baby daddy to pay the bills for the rest of her life. Don't these guys know what a condom is? Nobody said football players are supposed to be smart.
Weekend Madness
Well halloween weekend certainly lived up to expectations. Barely clothed women, crisp cool fall weather and lost of sports. Generally a boring weekend this weekend compared to the past month. We've finally had a weekend with hardly any college upsets to speak of. Well except Kentucky getting crushed at home by Sylvester Croom's Miss St bulldogs or USF getting beat on the road at UConn. But generally no really big changes in the BCS. OSU showed it's muscle and beat it's hardest competitor this season in a mediocre Penn St team. Michigan won it's 7th straight to show they got something for OSU in 4 weeks. Oregon held up to my prediction and took out USC showing that with a BC or OSU loss we can be watching Oregon v. LSU down in New Orleans for the Ship. This is looking like a pretty good bet, except LSU has to play the Winner of the SEC East and I predict BC will lose 2 of it's last 4 games and Michigan will finally get of the schneid at home vs. OSU. Then, Sunday, America was treated to a dull day of football that included Indy and NE winning big and the fans in Buffalo dozing off at about half-time of a 3-3 game that included one interesting play the entire game in a 13-3 Bills win. Pretty dull right? That is unless your a Red Sox fan.
Mercenary for Hire
Having a hard time getting to the top. Losing ticket sales and looking to turn the fate of your franchise around? Well have no worries. For around $300 Million dollars over 6 years and partial ownership of your franchise you can have Alex Rodriguez, Baseballs newest free agent Mercenary for Hire. As of last night, smack in the middle of the clinching WS games, super sleaze Scott Boras released a statement that A-Rod is opting out and ending his run with the Yanks. So much for his talking about having a legacy with one team then decides to opt out and move on to the highest bidder desperate for my generations best player and quite possibly one of the best players in the history of baseball (playoffs excluded). Then again who knows, maybe somewhere else he won't fold like a lawn chair in the playoffs. I remember being so excited when my favorite player growing up signed with my favorite team. Now I'm questioning A-Rods love for baseball over his love for money. Then again that could be influenced by Baseballs Drew Rosenhaus Scott Boras. American Icons for aspiring sports agents everywhere.
My top places for Gay-Rod: Los Angeles (either), Chicago (Sweet Lou), Boston (the New Yankees), San Fran (two HR Kings), NY Mets (A-Rod SS, Reyes 2B, Wright 3B)
Decision Time
Yankees expected to Announce New Manager today. My money is Girardi, who I said all along will be a perfect fit.
Weekly Monday Morning Fantasy Rant
So. After losing by 1 pt in my money league where turnovers don't count against you to a team who started Marc Bulger (5 of them) last week, There is a potential for me to be screwed and lose for the 4th straight week taking me to 4-4 after starting 4-0. This will move me to a 3 way tie for 3rd in my division (only 4 teams). How was a screwed this week you ask? Well apparently my starting of 3rbs and 2 WRs is not a legal footbal formation. Apparently the commish of my league, who is a hs football coach, has never heard of the wishbone spread. A formation made famous by Nebraska and Navy over the years. As a result, my commish has taken Brandon Marshall from my line-up who is playing tonight and replaced him with Chris Cooley. This hurts me because I was up by 200 pts (each yd is a pt) with Marshall against Cutler tonight. Since Marshall is Cutler's #1 threat i figured to cancel out some of Cutler's points and beat the first place team to be tied for first. Now I have a 300 pt cushion and need to pray Cutler bombs tonight. This could quite possibly be the worst fantasy football league ever created.
Questions and Letters
Tom Brady,
Obviously my pleas are coming back unaswered. I'll get my jollies on Sunday when we win. And if we don't. You better hope the Hoodie pulls you if you have a big lead. Otherwise you may not be walking at the end of the day.
-Peyton (and my Defense)
In the Year 2008:
Travis Henry Signs with Arizona upon reinstatement from the league and Edgerrin James' retirement.
In the Year 2030:
Local HS wins State Championship:
Today Glendale Prep won the state championship riding the offensive domination provided by Henry VII running behind the offensive line of Henry IV and VI. Meanwhile, Leinart throws for 250 yds, 140 of it to Fitzgerald III and the other 90 to Henry III and Henry X. The defense was led by the secondary entirely made of the rest of Travis Henry's children. On a side note, 3 women were arrested after attacking Travis Henry in the parking lot over backed child support. Henry, 45, is was taken to the hospital and released a short time later.
-DG1
Friday, October 26, 2007
Free at Last
What could have been
Nice little feel good piece to touch on. For anyone who doesn't know the story of Genarlow Wilson let me give you a brief piece.
You all know that I am a huge college football fan. What I have yet to touch on is my admiration of HS Football and the whole recruting process. I remember almost 5 years ago reading about Calvin Johnson and that when he was in HS he was dominant, except in one game when a guy by the name of Genarlow Wilson held Johnson to a mediocre day for his standards. Wilson was a talented athlete and speed corner that had high upside. That was till he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sure that sounds bad, but Genarlow was a senior in HS and was at a party and was videotaped receiving oral sex from a sophmore. He was 17 and she was 15 and was videotaped doing the same with other boys at the party. ESPN recently covered the story and I'm sure, for reasons I'm about to state, will run it often this week. Some high points, if Wilson would have had regular sex with the girl he would have had a minimum sentence. However due to some stupid law in Georgia from the early 1900s a blow job is a heinous act and worse than sex. The video showed the intercourse to be consensual but the judge quite possibly ruined this kids life.
But anyways, today, the new District Attorney of Georgia has deemed Wilson's cruel and unusual and released him today. After years of refusing to retroact a law that was ammended due to his case and appeals for fear of letting out real predators. I mean we all lived through HS. What person as a senior didn't hook up with a sophomore. Some of my friends even dated freshman and were sexual with them. Taping it was obviously dumb, but considering the video proved it was consensual and the girl testified she was willing. Also you have to give him credit for refusing to take the plea because it would have labeled him a sexual predator and he would not be allowed near his little sister at the time.
Congratulations Genarlow and although you wont get those 4 years back, you are at least young enough to make a difference. Maybe give football another shot, the publicity can't hurt.
-DG1
Nice little feel good piece to touch on. For anyone who doesn't know the story of Genarlow Wilson let me give you a brief piece.
You all know that I am a huge college football fan. What I have yet to touch on is my admiration of HS Football and the whole recruting process. I remember almost 5 years ago reading about Calvin Johnson and that when he was in HS he was dominant, except in one game when a guy by the name of Genarlow Wilson held Johnson to a mediocre day for his standards. Wilson was a talented athlete and speed corner that had high upside. That was till he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Sure that sounds bad, but Genarlow was a senior in HS and was at a party and was videotaped receiving oral sex from a sophmore. He was 17 and she was 15 and was videotaped doing the same with other boys at the party. ESPN recently covered the story and I'm sure, for reasons I'm about to state, will run it often this week. Some high points, if Wilson would have had regular sex with the girl he would have had a minimum sentence. However due to some stupid law in Georgia from the early 1900s a blow job is a heinous act and worse than sex. The video showed the intercourse to be consensual but the judge quite possibly ruined this kids life.
But anyways, today, the new District Attorney of Georgia has deemed Wilson's cruel and unusual and released him today. After years of refusing to retroact a law that was ammended due to his case and appeals for fear of letting out real predators. I mean we all lived through HS. What person as a senior didn't hook up with a sophomore. Some of my friends even dated freshman and were sexual with them. Taping it was obviously dumb, but considering the video proved it was consensual and the girl testified she was willing. Also you have to give him credit for refusing to take the plea because it would have labeled him a sexual predator and he would not be allowed near his little sister at the time.
Congratulations Genarlow and although you wont get those 4 years back, you are at least young enough to make a difference. Maybe give football another shot, the publicity can't hurt.
-DG1
Frantic Friday
Humble Pie?
So, as a proud man I am very humbled by the events of last night. For those 3 of you who read my frantic babbling on a semi-regular basic you would know that Monday I predicted that a fortunate BC team would travel to Blacksburg last night and fall to an underacheiving Virginia Tech team. For 58 minutes of football my prediction looked to be holding true. BC offense struggled in the terrential downpour that fell and Matt Ryan looked like an average QB who's magic had run out. It looked like BC was gonna make the push but finally come up short after a season of pulling out close games. However, as humbling as it is, Matt Ryan cemented himself atop the Heisman race last night and has made it a two man race between himself and Kentucky's Andre Woodson. The last two drives of the game were sickening. Not only did Va Tech play soft and leave way too many holes in the zone, but the way Ryan, a prototypical "pocket passer" scrambled around to make time and wait for receivers to come open was incredible. It's good to see a young man (who is only a year younger than me mind you) dig deep and give everything he has in order to acheive a goal. And in a sport where 1 loss (except in the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 10) can ruin your dreams at a national championship, Matt Ryan's performance last night was the reason college football is one of the greatest sports today.
...Speaking of giving it your all, did anyone notice Ryan puking for about 5 minutes on the sideline while ESPN kept showing it. I mean, were they trying to guess what Matt Ryan ate for dinner?
Weekend Warriors
For all intensive purposes this weekend is halloween to everyone above the age of 17. What better time of year to express your love for sports, and barely clothed women than this upcoming weekend. Yours truly is going as a noble Knight and looks forward to all the sexy referees and football players and cheerleaders, OH MY!!! But back to the purpose, this weekend has so much more to offer in the wide world of sports. Big time match-ups are starting to develop and world of sports is due for some big stories. Let's touch on some highlights for the weekend. Tons of big match-ups in college football. USC travels to Eugene to face a solid Oregon team. Rutgers hosts WVU in a key game in what is quickly a crowded Big East race. The other 2 teams atop that conference face off with USF traveling to face UCONN. Add to that the World Series potentially ending on Sunday and the usual NFL weekend and one can harldy find time to go out and enjoy the beautiful scenery (and i'm not talking about the foliage).
The Upset Bug
OSU at PSU - OSU needs to step it up if they want to avoid a shocker in happy valley
USF at UCONN - traveling north to a cold state the week after falling off the coaster can't be good
USC at Oregon - not an upset in the standings, but i'm feeling good about Dixon and the Ducks
The World Series (of Baseball)
So my prediction of Rockies in 6 is not looking too good. Need that snow to fall out in the Rockies and the high altitude to mess with Manny's hea.....no wait.... i'm gonna stop right there.
Thoughts to Chew On...
If Roger Goodell paid Manchester United to play the Giants on Sunday would they give them a better game?
More importantly, would anyone notice?
Dear ESPN,
We all know now that Doug Flutie went to Boston College. And we would greatly appreciate if you stopped showing him in massive amounts attending big Boston College sporting events. As much as we love Flutie, we love watching the game more.
Thank You,
Every Sports fan not a BC Alum
How bad is jet lag from Colorado to Boston? Just ask Matt Holliday.
When the 1 o'clock game on Fox is a night game, how many people are going to be really confused?
Channing Crowder,
Were you joking, or is the education system in Florida really THAT bad?
Sincerely,
The other 49 States
Live Free or Die Harder with a Vengeance,
DG1
So, as a proud man I am very humbled by the events of last night. For those 3 of you who read my frantic babbling on a semi-regular basic you would know that Monday I predicted that a fortunate BC team would travel to Blacksburg last night and fall to an underacheiving Virginia Tech team. For 58 minutes of football my prediction looked to be holding true. BC offense struggled in the terrential downpour that fell and Matt Ryan looked like an average QB who's magic had run out. It looked like BC was gonna make the push but finally come up short after a season of pulling out close games. However, as humbling as it is, Matt Ryan cemented himself atop the Heisman race last night and has made it a two man race between himself and Kentucky's Andre Woodson. The last two drives of the game were sickening. Not only did Va Tech play soft and leave way too many holes in the zone, but the way Ryan, a prototypical "pocket passer" scrambled around to make time and wait for receivers to come open was incredible. It's good to see a young man (who is only a year younger than me mind you) dig deep and give everything he has in order to acheive a goal. And in a sport where 1 loss (except in the SEC, Big 12 and Pac 10) can ruin your dreams at a national championship, Matt Ryan's performance last night was the reason college football is one of the greatest sports today.
...Speaking of giving it your all, did anyone notice Ryan puking for about 5 minutes on the sideline while ESPN kept showing it. I mean, were they trying to guess what Matt Ryan ate for dinner?
Weekend Warriors
For all intensive purposes this weekend is halloween to everyone above the age of 17. What better time of year to express your love for sports, and barely clothed women than this upcoming weekend. Yours truly is going as a noble Knight and looks forward to all the sexy referees and football players and cheerleaders, OH MY!!! But back to the purpose, this weekend has so much more to offer in the wide world of sports. Big time match-ups are starting to develop and world of sports is due for some big stories. Let's touch on some highlights for the weekend. Tons of big match-ups in college football. USC travels to Eugene to face a solid Oregon team. Rutgers hosts WVU in a key game in what is quickly a crowded Big East race. The other 2 teams atop that conference face off with USF traveling to face UCONN. Add to that the World Series potentially ending on Sunday and the usual NFL weekend and one can harldy find time to go out and enjoy the beautiful scenery (and i'm not talking about the foliage).
The Upset Bug
OSU at PSU - OSU needs to step it up if they want to avoid a shocker in happy valley
USF at UCONN - traveling north to a cold state the week after falling off the coaster can't be good
USC at Oregon - not an upset in the standings, but i'm feeling good about Dixon and the Ducks
The World Series (of Baseball)
So my prediction of Rockies in 6 is not looking too good. Need that snow to fall out in the Rockies and the high altitude to mess with Manny's hea.....no wait.... i'm gonna stop right there.
Thoughts to Chew On...
If Roger Goodell paid Manchester United to play the Giants on Sunday would they give them a better game?
More importantly, would anyone notice?
Dear ESPN,
We all know now that Doug Flutie went to Boston College. And we would greatly appreciate if you stopped showing him in massive amounts attending big Boston College sporting events. As much as we love Flutie, we love watching the game more.
Thank You,
Every Sports fan not a BC Alum
How bad is jet lag from Colorado to Boston? Just ask Matt Holliday.
When the 1 o'clock game on Fox is a night game, how many people are going to be really confused?
Channing Crowder,
Were you joking, or is the education system in Florida really THAT bad?
Sincerely,
The other 49 States
Live Free or Die Harder with a Vengeance,
DG1
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Rocky Mountain Low...Looking Past Week 8...Byrnes Burned
I love how everyone is looking right over week 8 and right to week 9 in the NFL. Everyone wants so badly to see the undefeated Colts vs. the undefeated Pats. Now, don't get me wrong, it will be a great match-up, but who's to say that both teams will make it out of this week without a loss? Washington has a strong defense and could give the Pats trouble. They have above average speed in their LBs and the secondary can stay with just about anyone. The Panthers are no slouch team either and would love to upset Indi. The Colts are 0-3 against the Panthers and while trends don't say everything, they are good guidelines. Am I saying that I think there will be an upset with either team, probably not, but just like Berman says "that's why they play the game."
The Red Sox dismantled the Rockies last night with some pretty good help from the Rockies. Boston's bats were in full force and Josh Beckett was, well, Josh Beckett. However, the wheels fell off the bus in the 5th when the Rockies walked in a bunch of runs with the bases loaded. I'm not taking anything away from Boston, but the Rockies are only down a game and the rust may be shaken off now. Look for this series to be more interesting, but probably won't last past 5 games.
The Sabres looked bad last night. I understand that they lost Gaustad and Kalinin earlier in the game and the onslaught of 4 goals came in the 3rd period, but they looked bad. This team really confuses me. Some nights they string together passes and plays like the team from last year, but other nights (last Friday in particular) they looked terrible. Hopefully they can put it back together this weekend and we'll see the good, not the bad or the ugly.
Good to see the NFL add $10 million to the medical fund for retirees. Only one thing to say: it's about time.
Oh, by the way, Eric Byrnes, you had nothing to do with the Rockies winning the NLCS and sweeping your team. Well, except maybe the fact that you were terrible at the plate and looked lost in the outfield. It wasn't your mouth, it was your lack of bat and glove. Shut up and deal with it. They were the better team. They had to have been to beat you four straight games. You can't win four straight games on luck against the same team.
Long live sports,
DG2
The Red Sox dismantled the Rockies last night with some pretty good help from the Rockies. Boston's bats were in full force and Josh Beckett was, well, Josh Beckett. However, the wheels fell off the bus in the 5th when the Rockies walked in a bunch of runs with the bases loaded. I'm not taking anything away from Boston, but the Rockies are only down a game and the rust may be shaken off now. Look for this series to be more interesting, but probably won't last past 5 games.
The Sabres looked bad last night. I understand that they lost Gaustad and Kalinin earlier in the game and the onslaught of 4 goals came in the 3rd period, but they looked bad. This team really confuses me. Some nights they string together passes and plays like the team from last year, but other nights (last Friday in particular) they looked terrible. Hopefully they can put it back together this weekend and we'll see the good, not the bad or the ugly.
Good to see the NFL add $10 million to the medical fund for retirees. Only one thing to say: it's about time.
Oh, by the way, Eric Byrnes, you had nothing to do with the Rockies winning the NLCS and sweeping your team. Well, except maybe the fact that you were terrible at the plate and looked lost in the outfield. It wasn't your mouth, it was your lack of bat and glove. Shut up and deal with it. They were the better team. They had to have been to beat you four straight games. You can't win four straight games on luck against the same team.
Long live sports,
DG2
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday Morning (afternoon) Madness
Weekend in Review
Well another weekend of college football gone by and another week closer to January and the playo.... er BCS game. Touching on the weekend it's nice to see that I was close to, if not correct on my upset special. Well minus the USC/ND game, which was more of a biased prayer than an actual prediciton. I've excepted since week 2 that ND has no shot at a good season with the terrible group they call an offensive line.
Deja Vous?
Last week #2 USF ventured up to NJ riding the tide of a cinderella season that was borderline incredible and was "upset" (if that's what you can call it) by an underacheiving Rutgers team. Well this thursday, exactly a week later, a fortunate #2 Boston College team ventures into Blacksburg, Va to take on an underachieving Virginia Tech Hokies team. I suggest you watch and then Friday check back for some boasting in the Friday Morning Fog. As well as an analysis of the most biased calling of a game in the history of sports, unless ESPN blackballs Flutie from his usual Thursday Night Commentary.
Hockey Season?
Not just the name of my fantasy hockey team but also my feelings for this time of year. Just gonna touch on a few things.
-Rough weekend for a Sabres team that looks tired and lacking enthousiasm that could be solved with some quality, vocal leadership and not leader-by-example
- Sid the Kid's shootout goal was the most incredible thing I've seen performed on ice since I was 12 and saw Aladdin on ice at the Aud. I mean did anyone else feel like they were watching a Barry Sanders highlight.
October Delight
Ah, the foliage is green and the weather is warm and fall is here. Wait, that doesn't make sense, damn global warming. But anyways, after another "amazing" (sarcasm) comeback by the Boston Red Sox, a team that had underacheived throughout the entire ALCS then finally decided to do what was expected of them, the world series is set. The Colorado Rockies (that's right those Rockies) have been waiting in the Snow for the series to begin while Bud Selig has been sitting home crying. What a better matchup than America's new "team" vs the perenial losers hailing from a city that received 8 inches of snow the other day. I bet Selig is pumped at the potential of the season also ending with snow delays just like it started. This is further evidence that baseball season has been expanded too long and that things need to change. If Selig wants parity, he needs to fix other problems so that small market teams in not so ideal April and October cities can succeed without any issues.
Prediction -
Rockies in 6. Boston is gonna slack and drop one at home and... in snowy conditions struggle with colder than usual temperatures and the loss of the DH with Papi having to field his position in snow flurries. (Plus I HATE Boston)
Lost in the Mail:
Dear Manny,
Thank you for almost making my dream come true by hitting the longest single in MLB history. Not quite as good as pimping a grab at the wall but it'll suffice.
- DG1
Willis,
Happy Bday. Enjoy your loss. Although I doubt you even noticed because you got your 100 yds and scored. I guess that means that you did your job. Right?
-Fans in Buffalo
Dear Tom Brady,
Seriously Stop! Or I'll be forced to do something really bad.
-Peyton Manning
Dear Peyton Manning,
Sorry, I really wanted to relax during the second half and imagine what the night had in store for me and my smoking hot, gf (she's a supermodel you know) but that damn perennial backup had to turn the ball over. Not to mention my coach wants to stick it to the world, while I'm sticking it to Giselle.
-Tom Brady
Well off to my usual monday night activity of sitcoms and dinner with Adriana Lima....
Keep it Artificial,
DG1
Well another weekend of college football gone by and another week closer to January and the playo.... er BCS game. Touching on the weekend it's nice to see that I was close to, if not correct on my upset special. Well minus the USC/ND game, which was more of a biased prayer than an actual prediciton. I've excepted since week 2 that ND has no shot at a good season with the terrible group they call an offensive line.
Deja Vous?
Last week #2 USF ventured up to NJ riding the tide of a cinderella season that was borderline incredible and was "upset" (if that's what you can call it) by an underacheiving Rutgers team. Well this thursday, exactly a week later, a fortunate #2 Boston College team ventures into Blacksburg, Va to take on an underachieving Virginia Tech Hokies team. I suggest you watch and then Friday check back for some boasting in the Friday Morning Fog. As well as an analysis of the most biased calling of a game in the history of sports, unless ESPN blackballs Flutie from his usual Thursday Night Commentary.
Hockey Season?
Not just the name of my fantasy hockey team but also my feelings for this time of year. Just gonna touch on a few things.
-Rough weekend for a Sabres team that looks tired and lacking enthousiasm that could be solved with some quality, vocal leadership and not leader-by-example
- Sid the Kid's shootout goal was the most incredible thing I've seen performed on ice since I was 12 and saw Aladdin on ice at the Aud. I mean did anyone else feel like they were watching a Barry Sanders highlight.
October Delight
Ah, the foliage is green and the weather is warm and fall is here. Wait, that doesn't make sense, damn global warming. But anyways, after another "amazing" (sarcasm) comeback by the Boston Red Sox, a team that had underacheived throughout the entire ALCS then finally decided to do what was expected of them, the world series is set. The Colorado Rockies (that's right those Rockies) have been waiting in the Snow for the series to begin while Bud Selig has been sitting home crying. What a better matchup than America's new "team" vs the perenial losers hailing from a city that received 8 inches of snow the other day. I bet Selig is pumped at the potential of the season also ending with snow delays just like it started. This is further evidence that baseball season has been expanded too long and that things need to change. If Selig wants parity, he needs to fix other problems so that small market teams in not so ideal April and October cities can succeed without any issues.
Prediction -
Rockies in 6. Boston is gonna slack and drop one at home and... in snowy conditions struggle with colder than usual temperatures and the loss of the DH with Papi having to field his position in snow flurries. (Plus I HATE Boston)
Lost in the Mail:
Dear Manny,
Thank you for almost making my dream come true by hitting the longest single in MLB history. Not quite as good as pimping a grab at the wall but it'll suffice.
- DG1
Willis,
Happy Bday. Enjoy your loss. Although I doubt you even noticed because you got your 100 yds and scored. I guess that means that you did your job. Right?
-Fans in Buffalo
PS. tell your coaches to enjoy the long run, cause if history serves me right, it'll be another year before it happens again.
Dear Tom Brady,
Seriously Stop! Or I'll be forced to do something really bad.
-Peyton Manning
Dear Peyton Manning,
Sorry, I really wanted to relax during the second half and imagine what the night had in store for me and my smoking hot, gf (she's a supermodel you know) but that damn perennial backup had to turn the ball over. Not to mention my coach wants to stick it to the world, while I'm sticking it to Giselle.
-Tom Brady
Well off to my usual monday night activity of sitcoms and dinner with Adriana Lima....
Keep it Artificial,
DG1
Quick Hits and Horse Collars
Quick Hits:
The Red Sox, combined with poor coaching on the base paths by Cleveland, looked great last night in a rout to advance to the World Series. Somewhere Manny is still walking around with his arms in the air and David Ortiz is sporting that red cut-off with swimming goggles. Just in case anyone else has a bottle of champagne that they're ready to uncork.
It was rather unprofessional of Ortiz to be in the Red Sox dugout in the top of the 9th with no jersey on and those goggles on his face. I understand that they were up by a significant amount of runs, but Boston knows better than anyone that it isn't over until it's over. You had all night to celebrate the win. At least wait until the last out is recorded. He should have been at 1rst anyways as I hate the DH and think that it ruins the AL. Have your pitcher bat and run the bases and then see how difficult it is for them to throw a complete game.
Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are on a collision course to ruining one of the best franchises in sports. If you thought King George was a lunatic, then you'll love Uday and Qusay Steinbrenner. Not only did you insult one of the greatest managers in your team's history with a one year contract, but you then completely embarrass yourself by trying to sling mud at the guy. Please, George did not make the Yankees a World Series machine in the late 90s, Torre did. That team was not bought it was manufactured. Take a look at the rosters and you won't find more bought players than homegrown ones. Only lately have those teams been assembled with ridiculous amounts of money and if you've been paying attention they haven't exactly won the World Series during any of those years. So good luck Yanks. For some reason I'm getting the image of a toppling statue being dragged through the streets by livid Yankee fans. Maybe it's just me...
If I hear one more person cry about the BCS standings I'm going to kill them. Win your games and the rest will take care of itself. If you're a good enough team then you'll be fine. Additionally, stop complaining about the schedules of other teams. Tell me that when USC and ND signed the deal for the two to play a couple of years ago they knew that ND was going to be a basement team. Things change. Luck has a lot to do with things. Stop losing to unranked teams if you want to be on top.
The Bills won yesterday so please stop over analyzing it. Yes, we are two last second field goals away from being 4-2. We know we're not a bad team. Who cares what everyone else says. These "experts" also picked Miami to go to the Super Bowl last year and for the Jets, Bengals, and Rams to all be playoff contenders this year. They're wrong, a lot.
The New England Patriots continue to sicken the world week after week. We get it, you're the best team in the NFL. However, suspensions, fines, and cheating all diminish that quite a bit. Combined with saying that you were worried about losing the game when you were up 42-21 in the 4th quarter, so you put back in Tom Brady to throw a 6th touchdown to make it 49-21 doesn't charm any of us. We know that you're on a mission to dispel rumors that your Super Bowl years were nothing but cheating, but running up the score doesn't really impress any of us. You were playing the Dolphins. Go back to bumming around in your tattered hoody like a 70s protester so that you can "stick it to the man." It's ok, we all realize that you're way smarter than us and we'll never understand you.
Glad to see that Willis McGahee (pronounced "Mc-GAY-hee") didn't get the satisfaction of beating his old team. Sorry to disappoint all of your illegitimate children here in WNY, but the first half of yesterday's game was exactly why we traded your sorry ass.
Alright, I'm off to head to my weekly guy's night with Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, Tim Donaghy, and Pacman Jones. We bring our dogs, syringes, and dollar bills and listen to Donaghy predict NBA games for the week. Remarkably he never gets the ones wrong that he officiates that day. We all figure that he just studies them really well. I wonder why he gets all those calls and texts from Pete Rose...
Long live sports,
DG2
The Red Sox, combined with poor coaching on the base paths by Cleveland, looked great last night in a rout to advance to the World Series. Somewhere Manny is still walking around with his arms in the air and David Ortiz is sporting that red cut-off with swimming goggles. Just in case anyone else has a bottle of champagne that they're ready to uncork.
It was rather unprofessional of Ortiz to be in the Red Sox dugout in the top of the 9th with no jersey on and those goggles on his face. I understand that they were up by a significant amount of runs, but Boston knows better than anyone that it isn't over until it's over. You had all night to celebrate the win. At least wait until the last out is recorded. He should have been at 1rst anyways as I hate the DH and think that it ruins the AL. Have your pitcher bat and run the bases and then see how difficult it is for them to throw a complete game.
Hank and Hal Steinbrenner are on a collision course to ruining one of the best franchises in sports. If you thought King George was a lunatic, then you'll love Uday and Qusay Steinbrenner. Not only did you insult one of the greatest managers in your team's history with a one year contract, but you then completely embarrass yourself by trying to sling mud at the guy. Please, George did not make the Yankees a World Series machine in the late 90s, Torre did. That team was not bought it was manufactured. Take a look at the rosters and you won't find more bought players than homegrown ones. Only lately have those teams been assembled with ridiculous amounts of money and if you've been paying attention they haven't exactly won the World Series during any of those years. So good luck Yanks. For some reason I'm getting the image of a toppling statue being dragged through the streets by livid Yankee fans. Maybe it's just me...
If I hear one more person cry about the BCS standings I'm going to kill them. Win your games and the rest will take care of itself. If you're a good enough team then you'll be fine. Additionally, stop complaining about the schedules of other teams. Tell me that when USC and ND signed the deal for the two to play a couple of years ago they knew that ND was going to be a basement team. Things change. Luck has a lot to do with things. Stop losing to unranked teams if you want to be on top.
The Bills won yesterday so please stop over analyzing it. Yes, we are two last second field goals away from being 4-2. We know we're not a bad team. Who cares what everyone else says. These "experts" also picked Miami to go to the Super Bowl last year and for the Jets, Bengals, and Rams to all be playoff contenders this year. They're wrong, a lot.
The New England Patriots continue to sicken the world week after week. We get it, you're the best team in the NFL. However, suspensions, fines, and cheating all diminish that quite a bit. Combined with saying that you were worried about losing the game when you were up 42-21 in the 4th quarter, so you put back in Tom Brady to throw a 6th touchdown to make it 49-21 doesn't charm any of us. We know that you're on a mission to dispel rumors that your Super Bowl years were nothing but cheating, but running up the score doesn't really impress any of us. You were playing the Dolphins. Go back to bumming around in your tattered hoody like a 70s protester so that you can "stick it to the man." It's ok, we all realize that you're way smarter than us and we'll never understand you.
Glad to see that Willis McGahee (pronounced "Mc-GAY-hee") didn't get the satisfaction of beating his old team. Sorry to disappoint all of your illegitimate children here in WNY, but the first half of yesterday's game was exactly why we traded your sorry ass.
Alright, I'm off to head to my weekly guy's night with Michael Vick, Barry Bonds, Tim Donaghy, and Pacman Jones. We bring our dogs, syringes, and dollar bills and listen to Donaghy predict NBA games for the week. Remarkably he never gets the ones wrong that he officiates that day. We all figure that he just studies them really well. I wonder why he gets all those calls and texts from Pete Rose...
Long live sports,
DG2
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Fog Clears
I called last night's came earlier in the week. I'm not going to blab on and on about how I knew Rutgers would win or how about I thought that they were the better team. Honestly, I'm not so sure that they are better than USF. They were better last night and I guess that's all that matters. Special teams? Oh those tricky tricky men from Jersey.
As far as Cleveland goes, I was pulling for you 110% up until last night. Now I'm somewhere between 85-90%. Calling Beckett's ex-girlfriend and having her sing "God Bless America" on a day you knew he was going to start. Please, this isn't some lame ass reality TV show, this is sports. Save the drama and your stupid head games. He is one of (if not the best) current post season pitcher. You have two more shots at winning one game. Go back to basics like you did in the regular season and you'll be just fine.
As far as Manny goes, who cares? Nobody is up in arms over Kenny Lofton's bat flip after what he thought was Ball 4 and there is a history with him and Beckett. Manny doesn't hate on certain pitchers, he's an equal opportunity hater.
Nobody impresses me more in baseball than Rockies' skipper Clint Hurdle. Class Class Class. The man is nothing short of awesome. If you were lucky enough to catch his interview with Jim Rome today (radio version) then you know what I'm talking about. If not, then I suggest you head over to his web-site and listen to the podcast. The man gives you chills.
Some letters delivered to the wrong desk:
Dear Ralph,
We get it already. You love sticking it to "the man." I'm not like Paul, Bud, or David. I get things done and I'm decisive in my actions. The people of Buffalo are going to hang you.
Love Always,
Roger
Dear George,
Have fun replacing me. Let me know what it's like to not make the playoffs.
--Joe
Dear NCAA Division I teams,
Thank you for melting down first so that we can enjoy some time at #1. Even though that usually means a quick exit to a lesser talented team.
--Buckeye Nation
Long Live Sports,
DG2
As far as Cleveland goes, I was pulling for you 110% up until last night. Now I'm somewhere between 85-90%. Calling Beckett's ex-girlfriend and having her sing "God Bless America" on a day you knew he was going to start. Please, this isn't some lame ass reality TV show, this is sports. Save the drama and your stupid head games. He is one of (if not the best) current post season pitcher. You have two more shots at winning one game. Go back to basics like you did in the regular season and you'll be just fine.
As far as Manny goes, who cares? Nobody is up in arms over Kenny Lofton's bat flip after what he thought was Ball 4 and there is a history with him and Beckett. Manny doesn't hate on certain pitchers, he's an equal opportunity hater.
Nobody impresses me more in baseball than Rockies' skipper Clint Hurdle. Class Class Class. The man is nothing short of awesome. If you were lucky enough to catch his interview with Jim Rome today (radio version) then you know what I'm talking about. If not, then I suggest you head over to his web-site and listen to the podcast. The man gives you chills.
Some letters delivered to the wrong desk:
Dear Ralph,
We get it already. You love sticking it to "the man." I'm not like Paul, Bud, or David. I get things done and I'm decisive in my actions. The people of Buffalo are going to hang you.
Love Always,
Roger
Dear George,
Have fun replacing me. Let me know what it's like to not make the playoffs.
--Joe
Dear NCAA Division I teams,
Thank you for melting down first so that we can enjoy some time at #1. Even though that usually means a quick exit to a lesser talented team.
--Buckeye Nation
Long Live Sports,
DG2
Friday Morning Fog
Wanted: Cinderella?
Well last night the slipper fell off the foot of the USF Bulls amisdt a strong outing by Ray Rice (41 Carries 187 Yds) and a string of mistakes by USF. Grothe looked incredible at many points during the game but wilted in many key situations and tried to do too much or wait too long to make a decision. The sack on 1st and 10 from the 50 for a loss of 12 with 1 minute left was unacceptable. The resulting spike leaves you with a lost down and a 3 and 22 without running a positive play when you are driving the ball. That is the dumbest thing I've seen in, well a week. Since Cal's back-up QB scrambled for 8 yds on 1st and 10 from the Oregon St 15 down three with no timeouts and 17 seconds left to lose the game instead of throwing it away. Yesterday's win (I won't call it an upset because let's face it, USF has been ranked all of 4 weeks in their history and Rutgers is streaky and inconsistent) has all but assured one thing, The National Championship game will include one or more teams with one or two loses. There is no other way to have a game. IF for some reason BC runs the table in a decent ACC does anyone really want to watch a Boston College v Ohio St National Title Game. Well besides Doug Flutie and Kirk Herbstreit. The only way to have an enjoyable, exciting National Title Game is if it includes an LSU, South Carolina, Oklahoma or USC. NCAA needs a playoff. Complain about missed time and all that, but let's face it, if your team is good enough to make the playoff, your kids aren't going to class anyways, unless of course you are Boston College.
LET THEM PLAY!!!
Not using this as an excuse but the 3rd and 22 at the end of the game was not Offensive Pass interference. Sure people (including DG2) are going to say you're just making excuses but think about it. The rule is, Offensive pass interference occurs when the offensive player(s) uses blatant contact to gain an advantage. In the game of football offensive pass interference is generally called when the receiver extends their arms to gain separation. The ball was a perfectly thrown Fade Stop (Go past the sticks, if the DB is running with u stop, ball will be to your back shoulder) and the receiver did not extend his arms. His arms were on the DBs back but there was no push. It was an situation where the refs are assuming that on a 22yd conversion attempt there is going to be a penalty, either a DB holding or a push off, so that when any contact occurrs, no matter how small, they throw a flag. These are 18-22 yr old kids playing a sport they love and you're gonna take the game into your hands. Same with the personal foul calls that were iffy at best resulting in a different complex of the game. Go back to my post from April about the NCAA tourny. I'm not saying the refs cost USF the game, they did that to themselves, but honestly Stripes? Let the kids have fun.
RAINBOW WARRIORS
Hawaii remains undefeated and is one of the remaining undefeated teams in the country (OSU, BC, Hawaii, ASU) begging the question, can they sneak into a BCS game like Boise St did last season. Looking down the line it is fair to assume that Boston College will be bitten by the (upset) bug. Arizona State still has to play Cal, USC and Oregon and I am going to assure you now, Ohio State will lose at least one game this season. As a result those teams can be expected to fall in the BCS. USF can run the table if they get past Louisville and UCONN in november on the road (thank global warming) and if Colt Brennan can limit his picks (9 in last two games, 1 in the 5 before.) Hawaii can sneak into the top 8 of the BCS rankings and bid for a major bowl off the Island for the first time in school history.
SO LONG JOE
Yesterday ESPN pulled the biggest (expletive) tease in the history of sports. They set up the contract offer like it had been accepted for 15 minutes and then told the nation Joe Torre had rejected the Yankees offer. I'm not gonna blab on about this, but it was a good choice for Joe. He has been disrespected by The Emperor for the last 5 years and deserves better. I feel that the only way to keep the team intact is to hire someone the older players respect half as much as Joe, and that in my opinion is another person named Joe. I feel Girardi has the respect of Jeter, Rivera and Posada. He could handle the team and was a leader on that team in the mid-90s when all of those three were coming up. He is a proven leader and coach. Donny Baseball is a NY legend and has been on Torre's staff with the same respect as Girardi. However there is one major difference between the two....EXPERIENCE. Girardi has a manager of the year trophy with a young team and a terrible staff (minus D-Train during April-June). Plus the players don't have to adjust from ok Joe to ok Donny.
Lost Letters/Questions of the Day
Dear Cleveland,
Aren't you glad this isn't softball?
- Josh Beckett
Wouldn't it be great if Manny hit a ball and "pimped" it only to watch it get snagged above the wall by Sizemore or Guitteirez?
Has anyone been worked harder since the 1920s than Ray Rice was last night?
College Upset Bug
Ohio St v. Michigan St - only slight because of it being at OSU
LSU v. Auburn - same reason, home field edge for LSU
USC at ND - nobody has ever had a six game win streak against ND. Sharpley can be dangerous with time and don't forget the long grass in Southbend to slow USC who might be without Two-Name Booty)
Cinci at Pitt - Pitt's O put up 42 in a loss to Navy. If they get a defense Cinci could be caught looking ahead to USF
Well last night the slipper fell off the foot of the USF Bulls amisdt a strong outing by Ray Rice (41 Carries 187 Yds) and a string of mistakes by USF. Grothe looked incredible at many points during the game but wilted in many key situations and tried to do too much or wait too long to make a decision. The sack on 1st and 10 from the 50 for a loss of 12 with 1 minute left was unacceptable. The resulting spike leaves you with a lost down and a 3 and 22 without running a positive play when you are driving the ball. That is the dumbest thing I've seen in, well a week. Since Cal's back-up QB scrambled for 8 yds on 1st and 10 from the Oregon St 15 down three with no timeouts and 17 seconds left to lose the game instead of throwing it away. Yesterday's win (I won't call it an upset because let's face it, USF has been ranked all of 4 weeks in their history and Rutgers is streaky and inconsistent) has all but assured one thing, The National Championship game will include one or more teams with one or two loses. There is no other way to have a game. IF for some reason BC runs the table in a decent ACC does anyone really want to watch a Boston College v Ohio St National Title Game. Well besides Doug Flutie and Kirk Herbstreit. The only way to have an enjoyable, exciting National Title Game is if it includes an LSU, South Carolina, Oklahoma or USC. NCAA needs a playoff. Complain about missed time and all that, but let's face it, if your team is good enough to make the playoff, your kids aren't going to class anyways, unless of course you are Boston College.
LET THEM PLAY!!!
Not using this as an excuse but the 3rd and 22 at the end of the game was not Offensive Pass interference. Sure people (including DG2) are going to say you're just making excuses but think about it. The rule is, Offensive pass interference occurs when the offensive player(s) uses blatant contact to gain an advantage. In the game of football offensive pass interference is generally called when the receiver extends their arms to gain separation. The ball was a perfectly thrown Fade Stop (Go past the sticks, if the DB is running with u stop, ball will be to your back shoulder) and the receiver did not extend his arms. His arms were on the DBs back but there was no push. It was an situation where the refs are assuming that on a 22yd conversion attempt there is going to be a penalty, either a DB holding or a push off, so that when any contact occurrs, no matter how small, they throw a flag. These are 18-22 yr old kids playing a sport they love and you're gonna take the game into your hands. Same with the personal foul calls that were iffy at best resulting in a different complex of the game. Go back to my post from April about the NCAA tourny. I'm not saying the refs cost USF the game, they did that to themselves, but honestly Stripes? Let the kids have fun.
RAINBOW WARRIORS
Hawaii remains undefeated and is one of the remaining undefeated teams in the country (OSU, BC, Hawaii, ASU) begging the question, can they sneak into a BCS game like Boise St did last season. Looking down the line it is fair to assume that Boston College will be bitten by the (upset) bug. Arizona State still has to play Cal, USC and Oregon and I am going to assure you now, Ohio State will lose at least one game this season. As a result those teams can be expected to fall in the BCS. USF can run the table if they get past Louisville and UCONN in november on the road (thank global warming) and if Colt Brennan can limit his picks (9 in last two games, 1 in the 5 before.) Hawaii can sneak into the top 8 of the BCS rankings and bid for a major bowl off the Island for the first time in school history.
SO LONG JOE
Yesterday ESPN pulled the biggest (expletive) tease in the history of sports. They set up the contract offer like it had been accepted for 15 minutes and then told the nation Joe Torre had rejected the Yankees offer. I'm not gonna blab on about this, but it was a good choice for Joe. He has been disrespected by The Emperor for the last 5 years and deserves better. I feel that the only way to keep the team intact is to hire someone the older players respect half as much as Joe, and that in my opinion is another person named Joe. I feel Girardi has the respect of Jeter, Rivera and Posada. He could handle the team and was a leader on that team in the mid-90s when all of those three were coming up. He is a proven leader and coach. Donny Baseball is a NY legend and has been on Torre's staff with the same respect as Girardi. However there is one major difference between the two....EXPERIENCE. Girardi has a manager of the year trophy with a young team and a terrible staff (minus D-Train during April-June). Plus the players don't have to adjust from ok Joe to ok Donny.
Lost Letters/Questions of the Day
Dear Cleveland,
Aren't you glad this isn't softball?
- Josh Beckett
Wouldn't it be great if Manny hit a ball and "pimped" it only to watch it get snagged above the wall by Sizemore or Guitteirez?
Has anyone been worked harder since the 1920s than Ray Rice was last night?
College Upset Bug
Ohio St v. Michigan St - only slight because of it being at OSU
LSU v. Auburn - same reason, home field edge for LSU
USC at ND - nobody has ever had a six game win streak against ND. Sharpley can be dangerous with time and don't forget the long grass in Southbend to slow USC who might be without Two-Name Booty)
Cinci at Pitt - Pitt's O put up 42 in a loss to Navy. If they get a defense Cinci could be caught looking ahead to USF
Live Well,
DG1
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Triumphant Return/ Monday Mix-Up
Hello faithful reader... er I mean readers. Yeah, that's it, readers (all 3 of you)! After a long, well deserved vacation I return during the peak time of the sports year to fill your heads with opinions and thoughts from my swollen brain and destroyed Ego.
Let's Start from the beginning,
Last Monday I was exposed to quite possibly the worst 30 seconds of my life as a sports fan. After a weekend of watching my Yankees give a young, inexperienced team loads of confidence in Game one of the ALDS and having flashbacks of the previous two seasons I went into Monday with my only thoughts being how excited I was to get drunk and watch MNF. I won't lie and tell you I thought my beloved Bills had a shot, no, i'm a realist. I went in thinking I am gonna get so hammered and just enjoy the atmosphere. Then, 3 minutes in we take the lead and begin defensive domination of a highly overrated NFL team in a piss poor conference. Then it began to fall apart and at around 12:15 est I was informed that my Yankees had succumb to the Indians. not even a minute later Nick Folk's second field goal from 53 yds split the uprights and I sank into my seat until I was informed I had to leave the stadium by security. That is the most I will ever speak of this game. Also, I'm not gonna waste my breath on the QB situation. I'm going to enjoy my bye week.
Big Choke Season Rankings
Just a few thoughts on the first BCS rankings of the season and the thoughts floating around the internet.
1. Ohio State - I used to be a big OSU fan, that was during there upset over miami and the andy katzenmoyer days (aka. my youthful ignorance). however, i will discuss their deserving the number 1 spot. Ohio State has played 7 games. 2 of those seven were against teams in Non-BCS conferences ranked in the bottom 20 and a 1-AA school. That's almost 50% of their schedule against poor competition, some of which were close games. The other games were against a young, but up and coming Washington team and two mediocre big 10 teams. I know i'm from the north and shouldn't hate on the big ten but honestly, the SEC is the dominant conference in football. Bitch and complain about having no undefeated team, but when you play South Carolina, LSU, and Florida in back to back to back weeks then you talk trash. That's one hell of a stretch. With a conference that large, teams are forced to play more conference games than anyone in the big ten and have less opportunities to schedule powder puff teams. I've heard everyone talk about how Kentucky sucks and all this, but think about it reasonably, they were once considered the worse team in the SEC West and now are in the Top of the class with other big name SEC Teams. That is an incredible feat and shows the depth of the conference and all of the bandwagon Big Ten fans should choke on their greasy food. As a result, OSU has benefited. Give the AD credit, he realized he had a young QB and a Young team and scheduled a softer non-conference schedule. Gone are the days of OSU v. Texas in week two, and what a smart decision that is. I give credit where credit is due and scheduling those games during two years of a team that was peaking was brilliant and realizing your young team needed warm-up games to build confidence and subsequently scheduling Akron, Kent St, and Youngstown state was a good choice. Now with all the premier teams weeding each other out due to insanely difficult schedules along with the help of a brave bunch of 4.0 students at Stanford, OSU is sitting pretty. The only question is for how long.
2. University of Southern Florida -
What is there not to love about this team. I mean say what you will, and I know DG2 is not a big believer in how things are (He's an OSU fan), but I am in love with this team from Tampa Florida. I may be biased since one of my best friends goes to USF along with two of my cousins being alumni. Or perhaps it's because of the week i spent down their last new years eve surrounded by booze and hot cheerleaders at a USF thumping of Wake Forest in Hoops. But either way I have been telling everyone this year all along that USF was gonna do big things. I stated at the beginning of the season that of the Big 3 in the Big East (Rutgers, WVU, Louisville) USF would take down 2 of them. Well 7 weeks in and they've toppled one, a #5 ranked WVU, whom they dominated. Throw in a Upset of then #12 Auburn, who went on to beat #3 Florida along with other wins by an average of 20 pts in a BCS conference and you have the makings of a solid cinderella story. Again as a realist I won't sugar coat it, yes i had big expectations but even yesterday I was saying #2 in the AP was awesome, the benefit of being cinderella but didn't think a BCS #2 would happen. When it did i called my buddy right away and confirmed my seat firmly on the bandwagon by purchasing a USF #8 Jersey. Then I purchased tickets to the USF game up in Cuse. But not to get ahead of my self, but with a win Thursday in NJ against a solid Rutgers team, USF can make a statement. Then with the rest of the season filled with solid competition from an upstart Big East along with weaker schedules in the Big Ten and the heat of it all in the SEC and Pac-10 USF could solidify a spot down the stretch and perhaps an unheard of run at the Nat'l Championship and a weeks vacation in Arizona for me and that friend. Now that's a cinderella story!
Lost Letters I stumbled across
Dear Lawrence Maroney,
Hope all is well and that you are healing up nicely in New England. Watching is not the same without you on the field producing. I hope you get well very soon and look forward to seeing you on the field again getting lots of touches.
Sincerely,
Peyton Manning (and my touchdown Record)
Dear Mike Martz,
Hey, long time no talk. How's things going? Things here are just ok, I'm having a tough time living up to all the expectations that I have. This offensive coordinator thing is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I miss you, hope to hear from you soon and maybe if things don't work out there in Detroit you can come move to Buffalo with me and help me out at work.
Love always,
Steve Fairchild
ps. Thanks for making me look so good in St. Louis
Dear AD (all day)
Nice work up there in Chicago the other day. But remember, anything you can do I can do better.
Sincerely,
LT
Dear Eli Manning,
Please throw for 400 yds and 5 touchdowns spread out like this.
Ward - 100 and 1 Touchdowns (plus 100 on the ground and 1 TD)
Burress - 200 and 2 TDs
Shockey - 100 and 0 TD
Amani Tommer - 0 and 0
Sincerely,
DG1's fantasy team
(down 70 pts with manning and ward and the giants D vs. Amani Toomer)
alright, that is all for the monday morning mix-up here from my 40h/wk job.
Till Next Time,
DG1
Let's Start from the beginning,
Last Monday I was exposed to quite possibly the worst 30 seconds of my life as a sports fan. After a weekend of watching my Yankees give a young, inexperienced team loads of confidence in Game one of the ALDS and having flashbacks of the previous two seasons I went into Monday with my only thoughts being how excited I was to get drunk and watch MNF. I won't lie and tell you I thought my beloved Bills had a shot, no, i'm a realist. I went in thinking I am gonna get so hammered and just enjoy the atmosphere. Then, 3 minutes in we take the lead and begin defensive domination of a highly overrated NFL team in a piss poor conference. Then it began to fall apart and at around 12:15 est I was informed that my Yankees had succumb to the Indians. not even a minute later Nick Folk's second field goal from 53 yds split the uprights and I sank into my seat until I was informed I had to leave the stadium by security. That is the most I will ever speak of this game. Also, I'm not gonna waste my breath on the QB situation. I'm going to enjoy my bye week.
Big Choke Season Rankings
Just a few thoughts on the first BCS rankings of the season and the thoughts floating around the internet.
1. Ohio State - I used to be a big OSU fan, that was during there upset over miami and the andy katzenmoyer days (aka. my youthful ignorance). however, i will discuss their deserving the number 1 spot. Ohio State has played 7 games. 2 of those seven were against teams in Non-BCS conferences ranked in the bottom 20 and a 1-AA school. That's almost 50% of their schedule against poor competition, some of which were close games. The other games were against a young, but up and coming Washington team and two mediocre big 10 teams. I know i'm from the north and shouldn't hate on the big ten but honestly, the SEC is the dominant conference in football. Bitch and complain about having no undefeated team, but when you play South Carolina, LSU, and Florida in back to back to back weeks then you talk trash. That's one hell of a stretch. With a conference that large, teams are forced to play more conference games than anyone in the big ten and have less opportunities to schedule powder puff teams. I've heard everyone talk about how Kentucky sucks and all this, but think about it reasonably, they were once considered the worse team in the SEC West and now are in the Top of the class with other big name SEC Teams. That is an incredible feat and shows the depth of the conference and all of the bandwagon Big Ten fans should choke on their greasy food. As a result, OSU has benefited. Give the AD credit, he realized he had a young QB and a Young team and scheduled a softer non-conference schedule. Gone are the days of OSU v. Texas in week two, and what a smart decision that is. I give credit where credit is due and scheduling those games during two years of a team that was peaking was brilliant and realizing your young team needed warm-up games to build confidence and subsequently scheduling Akron, Kent St, and Youngstown state was a good choice. Now with all the premier teams weeding each other out due to insanely difficult schedules along with the help of a brave bunch of 4.0 students at Stanford, OSU is sitting pretty. The only question is for how long.
2. University of Southern Florida -
What is there not to love about this team. I mean say what you will, and I know DG2 is not a big believer in how things are (He's an OSU fan), but I am in love with this team from Tampa Florida. I may be biased since one of my best friends goes to USF along with two of my cousins being alumni. Or perhaps it's because of the week i spent down their last new years eve surrounded by booze and hot cheerleaders at a USF thumping of Wake Forest in Hoops. But either way I have been telling everyone this year all along that USF was gonna do big things. I stated at the beginning of the season that of the Big 3 in the Big East (Rutgers, WVU, Louisville) USF would take down 2 of them. Well 7 weeks in and they've toppled one, a #5 ranked WVU, whom they dominated. Throw in a Upset of then #12 Auburn, who went on to beat #3 Florida along with other wins by an average of 20 pts in a BCS conference and you have the makings of a solid cinderella story. Again as a realist I won't sugar coat it, yes i had big expectations but even yesterday I was saying #2 in the AP was awesome, the benefit of being cinderella but didn't think a BCS #2 would happen. When it did i called my buddy right away and confirmed my seat firmly on the bandwagon by purchasing a USF #8 Jersey. Then I purchased tickets to the USF game up in Cuse. But not to get ahead of my self, but with a win Thursday in NJ against a solid Rutgers team, USF can make a statement. Then with the rest of the season filled with solid competition from an upstart Big East along with weaker schedules in the Big Ten and the heat of it all in the SEC and Pac-10 USF could solidify a spot down the stretch and perhaps an unheard of run at the Nat'l Championship and a weeks vacation in Arizona for me and that friend. Now that's a cinderella story!
Lost Letters I stumbled across
Dear Lawrence Maroney,
Hope all is well and that you are healing up nicely in New England. Watching is not the same without you on the field producing. I hope you get well very soon and look forward to seeing you on the field again getting lots of touches.
Sincerely,
Peyton Manning (and my touchdown Record)
Dear Mike Martz,
Hey, long time no talk. How's things going? Things here are just ok, I'm having a tough time living up to all the expectations that I have. This offensive coordinator thing is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I miss you, hope to hear from you soon and maybe if things don't work out there in Detroit you can come move to Buffalo with me and help me out at work.
Love always,
Steve Fairchild
ps. Thanks for making me look so good in St. Louis
Dear AD (all day)
Nice work up there in Chicago the other day. But remember, anything you can do I can do better.
Sincerely,
LT
Dear Eli Manning,
Please throw for 400 yds and 5 touchdowns spread out like this.
Ward - 100 and 1 Touchdowns (plus 100 on the ground and 1 TD)
Burress - 200 and 2 TDs
Shockey - 100 and 0 TD
Amani Tommer - 0 and 0
Sincerely,
DG1's fantasy team
(down 70 pts with manning and ward and the giants D vs. Amani Toomer)
alright, that is all for the monday morning mix-up here from my 40h/wk job.
Till Next Time,
DG1
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