I have 70 units to spend, keeping the investment at 120 units... might throw in 5 more units by the end of this post (And I'm kicking myself for not posting before the Ga Tech-U game Thursday night, that was easy money)
Anyway
10 units each:
ND (-10) vs. Michigan State (Kooooooooool-Aid)
Okla St (-32.5) vs. Rice
Baylor vs. Connecticut (-10.5)
Va Tech (-5) vs. Nebraska
Oklahoma (-17.5) vs. Tulsa
Cal (-13.5) at Minnesota
Texas (-17.5) vs. Texas Tech
West-Coast Parlay for 5 (Told you I would)
Washington +19.5 vs. USC
UNLV (-7) vs. Hawaii
Nevada (-3) at Colorado State
Friday, September 18, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
More Picks
I think I'm at 60 units... I'm gonna throw in 20 more, so I've invested 120 total
- 15 units: ND -3 at Michigan: More Kool-Aid this week. Remember, Michigan is the enemy.
- 15 units: Iowa -6 at Iowa State: This is usually a close game, especially at ISU, but the Hawkeyes can't play bad two weeks in a row
- 10 units: San Jose State +14 vs. Utah
- 10 units: UTEP +13 vs. Kansas
- 10 units: UNC-UConn under 45.5
- 10 units: Stanford +3 at Wake Forest (5 units, take the money line)
- Missouri -19.5 vs. Bowling Green
- Akron -27.5 vs. Morgan State
- LSU -14.5 vs. Vanderbilt
Thursday, September 3, 2009
We need some picks
We need some gambling picks folks. Since I can't do it in real life, this is my only outlet.
100 total units
20 units:
And some over/unders
Notre Dame over 9
Rutgers over 8 (I've seen this up to 9, they aren't going 8-4 with that schedule)
Texas over 10.5
Illinois over 7.5
Georgia over 8.5
UCLA over 6.5
Pittsburgh over 8
And a bonus NFL Pick
San Diego over 9.5 (this is easy)
100 total units
20 units:
- Minnesota (-7) at Syracuse... Seriously? Syracuse is a seven-point dog? Come on now.
- UTEP (-9) vs. Buffalo... I know a lot about the Bulls. The loss of their RB is going to kill them.
- Notre Dame (-14.5) vs. Nevada... Drinking the Kool-Aid
- Miami (+6.5) vs. Florida State... This will be a close game
- Ohio (+3) vs. Connecticut... I like this upset
- Penn State (-27) at Akron
- Georgia (+5) at Oklahoma State
- Illinois (-6.5) vs. Missouri
- Stanford (-17) at Washington State
- Nebraska (-22.5) vs. Florida Atlantic
And some over/unders
Notre Dame over 9
Rutgers over 8 (I've seen this up to 9, they aren't going 8-4 with that schedule)
Texas over 10.5
Illinois over 7.5
Georgia over 8.5
UCLA over 6.5
Pittsburgh over 8
And a bonus NFL Pick
San Diego over 9.5 (this is easy)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
I guess something from college football needs to make the headlines
This Tim Tebow controversy for not being a unanimous pick for the preseason all-SEC team is ridiculous. Is this all ESPN has to report about? Mark Buehrle's perfect game isn't enough? Can't they conjure up some more stories on Michael Vick? Or Roy Halladay and Matt Holliday? What about the death of Arturo Gatti? And God forbid they report on the Gold Cup.
The story got even more ludicrous when Steve Spurrier admitted that it was his ballot which omitted Florida's Tebow, and backpedaled by saying it was "miscommunication" and asked for his vote to be changed.
Please. Have you no dignity? The coaches should be able to vote for any player they want, even if that means bypassing a Heisman winner and national champion.
Spurrier said that someone else from the program filled out his ballot, trying to parry the media's blame and weasel his way out of the situation. If this preseason all-SEC team is such a big deal, why is Spurrier handing the ballot off to some lackey?
Changing Spurrier's vote from Mississippi's Jevan Snead (who happened to hand Florida their only loss last season) to Tebow will change nothing. Tebow was still the all-SEC team's preseason quarterback, unanimous or not. It just shows how one man, Tim Tebow, has more unnecessary media attention than Tom Cruise's kid. Yes, Tebow is a great player and the best QB in the SEC; but why vote if the position has already been unofficially handed to the guy?
We may see this media hoopla from the BD Blog if I leave Notre Dame off of my preseason Top 25. I may be pressured because Chuck Weis is a better leader than Moses and Jimmy Clausen is apparently Brady Quinn v 2.0, but I'll stand by my ballot - which may or may not include Colorado. I'll keep my spine; I won't pull a Steve Spurrier.
The story got even more ludicrous when Steve Spurrier admitted that it was his ballot which omitted Florida's Tebow, and backpedaled by saying it was "miscommunication" and asked for his vote to be changed.
Please. Have you no dignity? The coaches should be able to vote for any player they want, even if that means bypassing a Heisman winner and national champion.
Spurrier said that someone else from the program filled out his ballot, trying to parry the media's blame and weasel his way out of the situation. If this preseason all-SEC team is such a big deal, why is Spurrier handing the ballot off to some lackey?
Changing Spurrier's vote from Mississippi's Jevan Snead (who happened to hand Florida their only loss last season) to Tebow will change nothing. Tebow was still the all-SEC team's preseason quarterback, unanimous or not. It just shows how one man, Tim Tebow, has more unnecessary media attention than Tom Cruise's kid. Yes, Tebow is a great player and the best QB in the SEC; but why vote if the position has already been unofficially handed to the guy?
We may see this media hoopla from the BD Blog if I leave Notre Dame off of my preseason Top 25. I may be pressured because Chuck Weis is a better leader than Moses and Jimmy Clausen is apparently Brady Quinn v 2.0, but I'll stand by my ballot - which may or may not include Colorado. I'll keep my spine; I won't pull a Steve Spurrier.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
I loathe that which I love
The Major League Baseball All-Star game has again descended upon the summer. America’s three other top sports leagues – the NFL, NHL, and NBA – will lie dormant another two, three, almost four months before playing meaningful games. There are no tennis matches. The fall semester isn’t even close for college football yet. You won’t hear a word on MLS or American soccer (what else is new) with David Beckham still a few days shy of his return to LA Galaxy. Tiger Woods will be perfecting his short game in Scotland. NASCAR is and will always be 43 automobiles driving in continual circles, burning through gasoline and rubber.
Baseball alone has the stage.
But yet again I find myself loathing our Past Time’s annual summer showcase. It has nothing to do with a lack of adulation for the game. You’re reading this straight off the fingertips of a true baseball fan. A man who considers himself the biggest fan of the game since Benny the Jet. A man who would buy season tickets and attend 81 games if he could somehow receive a decent salary and benefits package as an incentive to do so. A man who would readily throw down with anyone having the ignorant audacity to try and pin football as America’s new past time.
There are several reasons contributing to my disdain for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. I used to love the game, as any fan should. Bud Selig and baseball’s brass have made decisions that have turned the game into a mockery, and we’ve all been hoodwinked into thinking the game is better off for them.
It all began with the infamous All-Star Game tie of 2002, perhaps not so coincidentally held in Selig’s Milwaukee. With two outs in the bottom of the eleventh inning – game tied 7-7 and both squads with dugout and bullpen emptied – Seattle’s Freddy Garcia struck out San Francisco’s Benito Santiago to end the game. The decision to call the game a draw was over the concern for the incumbent pitchers, Garcia for the AL and Philadelphia’s Vicente Padilla for the NL. As an exhibition game, perhaps Selig could have told managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly they could recycle pitchers and players. Regardless, Selig – in a rash attempt to save face – told us the next day that the game’s winner in future seasons would have home-field advantage for the World Series.
Honestly I don’t mind the concept. But baseball was proclaiming that the game would mean something, would be a real game. This is where the atrocities begin.
-Why does John Q. Baseball Fan still get to vote for the game’s starters? If this game is to be a real, competitive game, then why still hold a popularity contest? If you say it’s because the game is for the fans I’m going to punch you. The game honors baseball’s top performers for the first half of the season. Instead of voting for those players, fans ignore their consciences and vote for the Red Sox and Yankees to play as a mixed-squad. And great as he was, Cal Ripken Jr. did not deserve about a half-dozen of his All-Star appearances.
-If this game is really going to mean something and be played for a competitive purpose, why have each team represented? I for one am in full support of having a player from all 30 teams at the game. The game is a celebration of baseball. Though Oakland never seems to have a deserving player, their green cap should be on the field.
Additionally, why play every player on the team? If you really wanted to win the game, Albert Pujols gets to the plate as many times as possible.
-Another farce is the Final All-Star vote. “Here, Corey Hart, you were neither popular enough to be voted to the game nor good enough to be selected by manager Clint Hurdle; you won round two of voting among the B-tiered players in the NL. Welcome to the All-Star Game!” (Corey Hart incidentally cost me a game in Las Vegas when he robbed a home-run, but that’s beside my point. It’s just convenient that that s.o.b. was last year’s accessory player.)
-The Home Run Derby used to be a fun event to watch, and it’s on the way back. But under the cloud of steroids, HGH, and female fertility drugs, I find it hypocritical that baseball and its fans forget the shame of McGwire, Bonds, and Palmeiro et al for one night of mesmerizing moonshots. I too marvel at watching the players feast on batting practice meatballs, but there’s still that lingering suspicion.
So here is my solution to fix the Summer Classic:
1) Voting for the starters copies the method in place by the worst and least relevant of any league’s all-star game: the NFL’s Pro Bowl. Let the fans still vote, but that only counts for a portion of the final count. The remainder can come from the players and/or managers and/or GMs. This way Josh Hamilton won’t take up a spot on 2009’s team by riding the coattails of his spectacular 2008 season and Home Run Derby performance.
2) Eliminate the “last man in” vote. Just a ploy to get more people to MLB.com.
3) Every team will be represented. Yes, that means the Washington Generals will have a minor leaguer occupying a spot; but the Senators do deserve to be there. I don’t believe them, but Major League Baseball insists the Washington Oats are indeed a real Major League Baseball team. (This year is an exception, as Ryan Zimmerman is quietly having a great season.)
4) Every player does not have to play. Keep the game competitive by playing the best players, not by reverting to little league and letting each kid get a little dirt in his spikes. Remember when Lance Carter was the Devil Rays’ All-Star in 2003 and made the franchise proud by keeping the rosin bags handy in the bullpen? To your question of “Who?” I’ll simply respond by answering “Exactly. But every team was still represented.”
5) In the event of a tied ballgame in extra-innings with no player absent from the scorecard, let the managers recycle players and pitchers who played one inning or less.
There. The All-Star game would be restored to its past glory and would be balanced between a real game and a showcase and celebration of this magnificent game. Perhaps Terrence Mann said it best in "Field of Dreams":
Baseball alone has the stage.
But yet again I find myself loathing our Past Time’s annual summer showcase. It has nothing to do with a lack of adulation for the game. You’re reading this straight off the fingertips of a true baseball fan. A man who considers himself the biggest fan of the game since Benny the Jet. A man who would buy season tickets and attend 81 games if he could somehow receive a decent salary and benefits package as an incentive to do so. A man who would readily throw down with anyone having the ignorant audacity to try and pin football as America’s new past time.
There are several reasons contributing to my disdain for Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game. I used to love the game, as any fan should. Bud Selig and baseball’s brass have made decisions that have turned the game into a mockery, and we’ve all been hoodwinked into thinking the game is better off for them.
It all began with the infamous All-Star Game tie of 2002, perhaps not so coincidentally held in Selig’s Milwaukee. With two outs in the bottom of the eleventh inning – game tied 7-7 and both squads with dugout and bullpen emptied – Seattle’s Freddy Garcia struck out San Francisco’s Benito Santiago to end the game. The decision to call the game a draw was over the concern for the incumbent pitchers, Garcia for the AL and Philadelphia’s Vicente Padilla for the NL. As an exhibition game, perhaps Selig could have told managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly they could recycle pitchers and players. Regardless, Selig – in a rash attempt to save face – told us the next day that the game’s winner in future seasons would have home-field advantage for the World Series.
Honestly I don’t mind the concept. But baseball was proclaiming that the game would mean something, would be a real game. This is where the atrocities begin.
-Why does John Q. Baseball Fan still get to vote for the game’s starters? If this game is to be a real, competitive game, then why still hold a popularity contest? If you say it’s because the game is for the fans I’m going to punch you. The game honors baseball’s top performers for the first half of the season. Instead of voting for those players, fans ignore their consciences and vote for the Red Sox and Yankees to play as a mixed-squad. And great as he was, Cal Ripken Jr. did not deserve about a half-dozen of his All-Star appearances.
-If this game is really going to mean something and be played for a competitive purpose, why have each team represented? I for one am in full support of having a player from all 30 teams at the game. The game is a celebration of baseball. Though Oakland never seems to have a deserving player, their green cap should be on the field.
Additionally, why play every player on the team? If you really wanted to win the game, Albert Pujols gets to the plate as many times as possible.
-Another farce is the Final All-Star vote. “Here, Corey Hart, you were neither popular enough to be voted to the game nor good enough to be selected by manager Clint Hurdle; you won round two of voting among the B-tiered players in the NL. Welcome to the All-Star Game!” (Corey Hart incidentally cost me a game in Las Vegas when he robbed a home-run, but that’s beside my point. It’s just convenient that that s.o.b. was last year’s accessory player.)
-The Home Run Derby used to be a fun event to watch, and it’s on the way back. But under the cloud of steroids, HGH, and female fertility drugs, I find it hypocritical that baseball and its fans forget the shame of McGwire, Bonds, and Palmeiro et al for one night of mesmerizing moonshots. I too marvel at watching the players feast on batting practice meatballs, but there’s still that lingering suspicion.
So here is my solution to fix the Summer Classic:
1) Voting for the starters copies the method in place by the worst and least relevant of any league’s all-star game: the NFL’s Pro Bowl. Let the fans still vote, but that only counts for a portion of the final count. The remainder can come from the players and/or managers and/or GMs. This way Josh Hamilton won’t take up a spot on 2009’s team by riding the coattails of his spectacular 2008 season and Home Run Derby performance.
2) Eliminate the “last man in” vote. Just a ploy to get more people to MLB.com.
3) Every team will be represented. Yes, that means the Washington Generals will have a minor leaguer occupying a spot; but the Senators do deserve to be there. I don’t believe them, but Major League Baseball insists the Washington Oats are indeed a real Major League Baseball team. (This year is an exception, as Ryan Zimmerman is quietly having a great season.)
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4) Every player does not have to play. Keep the game competitive by playing the best players, not by reverting to little league and letting each kid get a little dirt in his spikes. Remember when Lance Carter was the Devil Rays’ All-Star in 2003 and made the franchise proud by keeping the rosin bags handy in the bullpen? To your question of “Who?” I’ll simply respond by answering “Exactly. But every team was still represented.”
5) In the event of a tied ballgame in extra-innings with no player absent from the scorecard, let the managers recycle players and pitchers who played one inning or less.
There. The All-Star game would be restored to its past glory and would be balanced between a real game and a showcase and celebration of this magnificent game. Perhaps Terrence Mann said it best in "Field of Dreams":
The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.
There is still one last thing I hate about the All-Star game, something I thoroughly detest. The game is aired on FOX, which makes for a poor excuse for a big-time sporting event broadcast that does not involve 43 automobiles. And, of course, I’m forced to endure Joe Buck droning through the play by play and Tim McCarver fumbling through the commentary like he’s Brick Tamland.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Big East Baseball Tourney
The Big East Baseball Tournament was this past weekend in Florida, and there was a lot of rain, so the players had some time to kill and
This dance competition happened.
God bless college student-athletes for their good-naturedness.
This dance competition happened.
God bless college student-athletes for their good-naturedness.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sundry
A great many things have happened in the past couple of weeks, so I've decided to touch on each of the following briefly. We'll start by continuing in the NBA playoffs:
What a shot from LeBron James. Facing an improbable 0-2 hole after losing just twice in Cleveland all season (once if you discount the finale in which James was in street clothes), James made the spectacular three that could be the impetus for a championship run. Had they gone to Orlando down 0-2, I wouldn't by any means count the Cavaliers out. But with Orlando letting a 2-0 record in Cleveland slip away, I may just count out the Magic. Hats off to you, Bernie Blozar.
However, Kobe Bryant has shown that he may be the NBA's best shooter. The Lakers look to be in top form with Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza stepping up to bat behind Bryant. The Nuggets played poorly down the stretch at home in game three. They'll need more consistent, smarter, and generally less stupid play from J.R. Smith to even back up the series.
In the NHL, Pittsburgh is making minced meat of the Carolina Hurricanes. Sidney Crosby and especially Evgeni Malkin look unstoppable. After the thrilling series against Washington - capped by a thorough game seven beatdown - Pittsburgh hasn't at all slowed down against a Carolina team who won their own road game seven against the top-seeded Boston Bruins.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks gutted out an OT victory after Cristobal Huet relieved starter Nikolai Khabibulin to claw back into their series with Cup holders Detroit. Sorry The Doob, but perhaps the Caps should have tried harder to retain Huet so they didn't go into that game seven with tenderfoot Ernie Varlamov and your boy Jose as their options between the pipes.
Filly Rachel Alexandra galloped to the Preakness crown ahead of Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird. Still no Triple Crown winner since 1978, though jockey Calvin Borel has set himself up for a possible personal treble. With me selecting Musket Man to win (who finished a respectable third), I have still never picked a winning horse.
(On that note, I'll be in Vegas shortly and am willing to place bets for any BD bloggers for a small rake.)
Manny Pacquiao obliterated Briton Ricky Hatton, again proving to be boxing's best. After he won me some money as the underdog against Oscar de la Hoya, I put my bet on Pacman to win by decision against The Hitman. No payday was to come when Pacquiao felled Hatton twice in the first and once in the second and final round. I think Money May should stay retired. But he is a retired boxer with the nickname "Money," so look for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout in the future.
Nearly two months have passed in the baseball season, and, after a rocky start, the Yankees have put it together to be fighting at the top of their division with Boston and Toronto (behind Roy Halladay's golden Denver arm). As long as those three teams stay at the top, that means the Devil Rays aren't. For that I would be thankful.
The Florida Marlins began the season at 11-1, but followed that up with a seven game losing streak. On top of that, they've won just eight games since. I predict the Mets will lead that division when September hits and then, as is customary, concede to Philadelphia in the final two weeks. And yes, the Washington Oats are indeed the worst team in baseball.
In other news, Manny Ramirez takes female fertility drugs and the Rockies are in last place.
In Europe's top three soccer leagues, global recession-proof Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Barcelona have given a bit of credence to the idea that money can buy championships. On the contrary, Juventus failed miserably in their attempt a few years back.
Apparently the WNBA season is just around the corner. At least that's what the advertisements in NBA playoff arenas tell me. And here I thought the league folded. Who wants to place a bet on when that actually happens?
10:1 within two years
What a shot from LeBron James. Facing an improbable 0-2 hole after losing just twice in Cleveland all season (once if you discount the finale in which James was in street clothes), James made the spectacular three that could be the impetus for a championship run. Had they gone to Orlando down 0-2, I wouldn't by any means count the Cavaliers out. But with Orlando letting a 2-0 record in Cleveland slip away, I may just count out the Magic. Hats off to you, Bernie Blozar.
However, Kobe Bryant has shown that he may be the NBA's best shooter. The Lakers look to be in top form with Pau Gasol and Trevor Ariza stepping up to bat behind Bryant. The Nuggets played poorly down the stretch at home in game three. They'll need more consistent, smarter, and generally less stupid play from J.R. Smith to even back up the series.
In the NHL, Pittsburgh is making minced meat of the Carolina Hurricanes. Sidney Crosby and especially Evgeni Malkin look unstoppable. After the thrilling series against Washington - capped by a thorough game seven beatdown - Pittsburgh hasn't at all slowed down against a Carolina team who won their own road game seven against the top-seeded Boston Bruins.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks gutted out an OT victory after Cristobal Huet relieved starter Nikolai Khabibulin to claw back into their series with Cup holders Detroit. Sorry The Doob, but perhaps the Caps should have tried harder to retain Huet so they didn't go into that game seven with tenderfoot Ernie Varlamov and your boy Jose as their options between the pipes.
Filly Rachel Alexandra galloped to the Preakness crown ahead of Kentucky Derby champ Mine That Bird. Still no Triple Crown winner since 1978, though jockey Calvin Borel has set himself up for a possible personal treble. With me selecting Musket Man to win (who finished a respectable third), I have still never picked a winning horse.
(On that note, I'll be in Vegas shortly and am willing to place bets for any BD bloggers for a small rake.)
Manny Pacquiao obliterated Briton Ricky Hatton, again proving to be boxing's best. After he won me some money as the underdog against Oscar de la Hoya, I put my bet on Pacman to win by decision against The Hitman. No payday was to come when Pacquiao felled Hatton twice in the first and once in the second and final round. I think Money May should stay retired. But he is a retired boxer with the nickname "Money," so look for a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout in the future.
Nearly two months have passed in the baseball season, and, after a rocky start, the Yankees have put it together to be fighting at the top of their division with Boston and Toronto (behind Roy Halladay's golden Denver arm). As long as those three teams stay at the top, that means the Devil Rays aren't. For that I would be thankful.
The Florida Marlins began the season at 11-1, but followed that up with a seven game losing streak. On top of that, they've won just eight games since. I predict the Mets will lead that division when September hits and then, as is customary, concede to Philadelphia in the final two weeks. And yes, the Washington Oats are indeed the worst team in baseball.
In other news, Manny Ramirez takes female fertility drugs and the Rockies are in last place.
In Europe's top three soccer leagues, global recession-proof Manchester United, Inter Milan, and Barcelona have given a bit of credence to the idea that money can buy championships. On the contrary, Juventus failed miserably in their attempt a few years back.
Apparently the WNBA season is just around the corner. At least that's what the advertisements in NBA playoff arenas tell me. And here I thought the league folded. Who wants to place a bet on when that actually happens?
10:1 within two years
Sunday, May 3, 2009
NBA round two
Reviewing my picks from the first round, I was spot on with the 1-8 and 2-7 series in each conference: Cleveland over Detroit in four; Boston over Chicago in seven; Los Angeles over Utah in five; Denver over New Orleans in five.
I picked Orlando in five over Philadelphia and it took them six. I said I didn't trust the 76ers, and they held true by not laying down for one of their two wins as I predicted.
I knew the Atlanta-Miami series would go to seven, but I thought Miami would come out on top, even though game seven was to be in Atlanta - the worst sports town in America. But what I didn't see coming was the atrocious basketball these teams played from start to finish. Just one game was within ten points, and each game was a laugher.
Two series made me to look like a fool, with Dallas whipping San Antonio around after I thought the Spurs could eke the series out in seven. This is the official end to the Spurs 'dynasty' from the past decade. Then there was Houston dispensing Portland in six, the exact opposite of what I foresaw.
Overall I'm pleased with my performance, much more so than I was after picking Hold Me Back to win the Kentucky Derby. Finishing 12th after I put $5 on him wasn't too kind. He beat out Dunkirk (11th) and Friesan Fire (18th - the odds-on favorite at post-time) for my ticket.
But on to round two of the NBA playoffs:
Cleveland over Atlanta in four
Boston over Orlando in seven
Los Angeles over Houston in five
Denver over Dallas in six
I picked Orlando in five over Philadelphia and it took them six. I said I didn't trust the 76ers, and they held true by not laying down for one of their two wins as I predicted.
I knew the Atlanta-Miami series would go to seven, but I thought Miami would come out on top, even though game seven was to be in Atlanta - the worst sports town in America. But what I didn't see coming was the atrocious basketball these teams played from start to finish. Just one game was within ten points, and each game was a laugher.
Two series made me to look like a fool, with Dallas whipping San Antonio around after I thought the Spurs could eke the series out in seven. This is the official end to the Spurs 'dynasty' from the past decade. Then there was Houston dispensing Portland in six, the exact opposite of what I foresaw.
Overall I'm pleased with my performance, much more so than I was after picking Hold Me Back to win the Kentucky Derby. Finishing 12th after I put $5 on him wasn't too kind. He beat out Dunkirk (11th) and Friesan Fire (18th - the odds-on favorite at post-time) for my ticket.
But on to round two of the NBA playoffs:
Cleveland over Atlanta in four
Boston over Orlando in seven
Los Angeles over Houston in five
Denver over Dallas in six
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
NFL Draft Thoughts
Duve wanted me to provide a mock draft. I'll run through the top 12 (I was going to stop at 11, but I figured Duve would get pissed). There are too many crazy trade scenarios out there. I'll give you things to watch for at each spot.
1. Detroit — The Lions are taking Matthew Stafford. I don't know if this is the right pick, but they've been working on the contract for a couple of days and it doesn't look like the negotiations will break down. When Peter King says he will be a Detroit Lion, I believe him.
2. St. Louis - The consensus is Jason Smith, the offensive tackle from Baylor. The Rams need offensive line help and he's rumored to be their choice for awhile.
3. Kansas City - All of a sudden, this is where the draft gets interesting. They were supposedly taking Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forest) for the past month, but now it's coming out they might take Tyson Jackson (DL, LSU). If the Chiefs take Curry, the draft holds to form. If the Chiefs take Jackson, everyone gets knocked down a slot.
4. Seattle - More intrigue at this spot. They could go with Mark Sanchez for the QB of the future with Hasselbeck on his way down. They could go with Crabtree to continue rebuilding the wide receiver corps. They could trade out to someone who really wants Sanchez (Denver, Washington, Jets). If Curry drops, they could take him.
5. Cleveland - I'm just ignoring all the rumors currently because I honestly don't know if I could handle the Browns trading Brady Quinn right now (another column for another day). If they trade Braylon Edwards, they should draft Crabtree if he's still on the board, because the top receiver (with Donte Stallworth earmarked for jail time) right now is Sydric Steptoe (exactly). For the entire 2008 season, I said the Browns need to draft defense and that's what they should do. If Curry is on the board, the Browns need to jump on him. If he's not, then B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College) would be a very good pick. They could also go with Brian Orakpo (DE/OLB, Texas) or Tyson Jackson and I wouldn't be disappointed. If the Browns trade Quinn and draft Sanchez, I will never support Eric Mangini/George Kokinis.
6. Cincinnati - Needs to draft a lineman. If Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia) falls, the Bengals have their choice of Monroe or Andre Smith (OT, Alabama). I would take Monroe, just because of this video. Could also draft Raji as they need help on both lines.
7. Oakland - Apparently the Raiders are fascinated with speed. Jeremy Maclin (WR, Missouri) has been the projection but now there's a rumor that Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, Maryland) might be the selection, which would be a HUGE reach. If they want DHB, trade down.
8. Jacksonville - This is the sexy "trade" spot. The Jaguars are willing suitors and the Redskins are the top team for this spot. The Redskins would come up to get Sanchez. According to the draft chart, that's only a 250-point different from the No. 13 spot for Washington to the No. 8 spot. That's a low 2nd-round pick or like a 3rd and 4th. If the Jaguars stay in this spot, they could take an offensive tackle, especially if Monroe falls.
9. Green Bay - If the Redskins jump up to take Sanchez, Monroe could still be on the board and the Packers would love to get him as an offensive tackle. They could settle for Andre Smith. They also need help on the d-line, so if go there, someone from the group of Orakpo, Raji and Jackson could still be on the board.
10. San Francisco - This is an interesting team that is close to being successful as the NFC West is a terrible decision. Can use an offensive tackle and will probably go there. If the top three are off the board, cult hero Michael Oher would be the next option at OT. Hopefully, Mike Singletary has pants on while in the war room.
11. Buffalo - Finally we get to the Bills. I've had this feeling all week that Orakpo is going to fall to 11, after being projected to go as high as the top 5 earlier in April. Despite all of the money they have thrown toward the defensive line, they need help there. They could also go with Aaron Maybin, who I don't like after he just got manhandled in the Rose Bowl by USC. With the Jason Peters trade, they need an offensive tackle. Kirk Chambers isn't the answer. He couldn't cut it on the Browns' offensive line a few years ago. I don't think they will reach for Oher, but if one of the top three OT falls to them, they could go there. The Bills could also surprise us with a Donte Whitner-type selection from the 2006 draft.
12. Denver - The Broncos are interesting because they have two first-round picks. Todd McShay said he would shave his body if they trade up for Sanchez. There was a concern about their financial side having to pay four first-round picks in the next two years (having two first-round picks in 2010 as well). If they trade up, I have to think it's to go get Sanchez. If they stay here, D-Line seems to be the pick -- Orakpo or maybe Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee).
You're not allowed to hold these against me as this stuff is really, pure guesswork. I feel more confident in the NCAA Tournament selections.
1. Detroit -- Stafford
2. St. Louis -- Jason Smith
3. Kansas City -- Curry
4. Seattle -- Crabtree
5. Cleveland -- Raji
6. Cincinnati -- Monroe
7. Oakland -- Macliln
8. Jacksonville -- Sanchez (the trade spot)
9. Green Bay -- Tyson Jackson
10. San Francisco -- Andre Smith
11. Buffalo -- Brian Orakpo
12. Denver -- Robert Ayers
1. Detroit — The Lions are taking Matthew Stafford. I don't know if this is the right pick, but they've been working on the contract for a couple of days and it doesn't look like the negotiations will break down. When Peter King says he will be a Detroit Lion, I believe him.
2. St. Louis - The consensus is Jason Smith, the offensive tackle from Baylor. The Rams need offensive line help and he's rumored to be their choice for awhile.
3. Kansas City - All of a sudden, this is where the draft gets interesting. They were supposedly taking Aaron Curry (LB, Wake Forest) for the past month, but now it's coming out they might take Tyson Jackson (DL, LSU). If the Chiefs take Curry, the draft holds to form. If the Chiefs take Jackson, everyone gets knocked down a slot.
4. Seattle - More intrigue at this spot. They could go with Mark Sanchez for the QB of the future with Hasselbeck on his way down. They could go with Crabtree to continue rebuilding the wide receiver corps. They could trade out to someone who really wants Sanchez (Denver, Washington, Jets). If Curry drops, they could take him.
5. Cleveland - I'm just ignoring all the rumors currently because I honestly don't know if I could handle the Browns trading Brady Quinn right now (another column for another day). If they trade Braylon Edwards, they should draft Crabtree if he's still on the board, because the top receiver (with Donte Stallworth earmarked for jail time) right now is Sydric Steptoe (exactly). For the entire 2008 season, I said the Browns need to draft defense and that's what they should do. If Curry is on the board, the Browns need to jump on him. If he's not, then B.J. Raji (DT, Boston College) would be a very good pick. They could also go with Brian Orakpo (DE/OLB, Texas) or Tyson Jackson and I wouldn't be disappointed. If the Browns trade Quinn and draft Sanchez, I will never support Eric Mangini/George Kokinis.
6. Cincinnati - Needs to draft a lineman. If Eugene Monroe (OT, Virginia) falls, the Bengals have their choice of Monroe or Andre Smith (OT, Alabama). I would take Monroe, just because of this video. Could also draft Raji as they need help on both lines.
7. Oakland - Apparently the Raiders are fascinated with speed. Jeremy Maclin (WR, Missouri) has been the projection but now there's a rumor that Darrius Heyward-Bey (WR, Maryland) might be the selection, which would be a HUGE reach. If they want DHB, trade down.
8. Jacksonville - This is the sexy "trade" spot. The Jaguars are willing suitors and the Redskins are the top team for this spot. The Redskins would come up to get Sanchez. According to the draft chart, that's only a 250-point different from the No. 13 spot for Washington to the No. 8 spot. That's a low 2nd-round pick or like a 3rd and 4th. If the Jaguars stay in this spot, they could take an offensive tackle, especially if Monroe falls.
9. Green Bay - If the Redskins jump up to take Sanchez, Monroe could still be on the board and the Packers would love to get him as an offensive tackle. They could settle for Andre Smith. They also need help on the d-line, so if go there, someone from the group of Orakpo, Raji and Jackson could still be on the board.
10. San Francisco - This is an interesting team that is close to being successful as the NFC West is a terrible decision. Can use an offensive tackle and will probably go there. If the top three are off the board, cult hero Michael Oher would be the next option at OT. Hopefully, Mike Singletary has pants on while in the war room.
11. Buffalo - Finally we get to the Bills. I've had this feeling all week that Orakpo is going to fall to 11, after being projected to go as high as the top 5 earlier in April. Despite all of the money they have thrown toward the defensive line, they need help there. They could also go with Aaron Maybin, who I don't like after he just got manhandled in the Rose Bowl by USC. With the Jason Peters trade, they need an offensive tackle. Kirk Chambers isn't the answer. He couldn't cut it on the Browns' offensive line a few years ago. I don't think they will reach for Oher, but if one of the top three OT falls to them, they could go there. The Bills could also surprise us with a Donte Whitner-type selection from the 2006 draft.
12. Denver - The Broncos are interesting because they have two first-round picks. Todd McShay said he would shave his body if they trade up for Sanchez. There was a concern about their financial side having to pay four first-round picks in the next two years (having two first-round picks in 2010 as well). If they trade up, I have to think it's to go get Sanchez. If they stay here, D-Line seems to be the pick -- Orakpo or maybe Robert Ayers (DE, Tennessee).
You're not allowed to hold these against me as this stuff is really, pure guesswork. I feel more confident in the NCAA Tournament selections.
1. Detroit -- Stafford
2. St. Louis -- Jason Smith
3. Kansas City -- Curry
4. Seattle -- Crabtree
5. Cleveland -- Raji
6. Cincinnati -- Monroe
7. Oakland -- Macliln
8. Jacksonville -- Sanchez (the trade spot)
9. Green Bay -- Tyson Jackson
10. San Francisco -- Andre Smith
11. Buffalo -- Brian Orakpo
12. Denver -- Robert Ayers
Thursday, April 23, 2009
1-3
Brian Pothier had a great comment about what it takes to win in the playoffs, and this goes back to his days on Ottawa when they would always choke in the playoffs after great regular seasons...you don't score finesse goals in the playoffs. It seemed like the Capitals had it figured out in Game 3 (finally), work hard to get to the net and good things will happen (i.e. 4 goals). All the goals were scored in close in Game 3, yet in Game 4 the shot chart shows 39 shots with many of them coming again from the perimeter or high slot. The Rangers are obviously going to let their three-time Vezina finalist lock down those shots all day and sure enough - only one goal gets scored.
The Caps are a young team with tremendous individual talent. If they had more speed on defense they would have a more consistent breakout and not put as much pressure on the goalie. There's not much confidence in Jose Three-or-more, but Varly's playing well in pressure situations and that bodes well for the next few years.
There's still confidence to come back from a 3-1 deficit, it was done last year against Philly and the Caps know that they can win in NY...however just because it happened last year doesn't mean it will this year (attention Mike Green). Too many shots are still getting blocked, too many shots are being taken from the perimeter and no one is crashing the net for follow up chances. Grit and will is what's going to win game 5, the Rangers right now are showing they have it in loads - Friday night will tell if desperation strengthens the Caps' will and they finally dig deep to scrape together a win in a close game.
The Caps are a young team with tremendous individual talent. If they had more speed on defense they would have a more consistent breakout and not put as much pressure on the goalie. There's not much confidence in Jose Three-or-more, but Varly's playing well in pressure situations and that bodes well for the next few years.
There's still confidence to come back from a 3-1 deficit, it was done last year against Philly and the Caps know that they can win in NY...however just because it happened last year doesn't mean it will this year (attention Mike Green). Too many shots are still getting blocked, too many shots are being taken from the perimeter and no one is crashing the net for follow up chances. Grit and will is what's going to win game 5, the Rangers right now are showing they have it in loads - Friday night will tell if desperation strengthens the Caps' will and they finally dig deep to scrape together a win in a close game.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
NBA Playoffs
There's no stopping Cleveland.
After seeing the Bulls take game one from the Celtics in Boston, the east is Cleveland's to lose. A couple games in, here are my predictions:
Cleavland in four over Detroit
-The Cavaliers will overwhelm the Pistons without Allen Iverson. He hasn't exactly made Detroit better, but he's a player who could be a factor against LeBron James. The Pistons are going to miss Chauncey in the playoffs, and will further rue that trade. Though Cleveland is still a good team without James, he makes his teammates look better than they really are. And that's exactly why LeBron is the difference each and every game in which he plays. That and he's the best player in the league.
Boston in seven over Chicago
-I was going to pick Boston in five until Chicago stormed The Garden and stole game one behind their rookie point guard. Boston looks a lot shakier than I anticipated, but they should survive round one, even without Garnett. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are a good enough one-two to win the series, but not without some help.
Orlando in five over Philadelphia
-Orlando had a tremendous regular season and are a fun team to watch, with truckloads of outside shooters and the league's best center. But their inexperience could hurt them in the playoffs. That being said, I just don't trust the 76ers.
Miami in seven over Atlanta
-This should be a spectacular series, and I'm picking the Heat in seven because I want the series to go the distance. Dwyane Wade will dominate the series - Miami wins maybe 15 games this season without him.
Los Angeles is the clear favorite in the west, though they're more susceptible to faltering en route to the finals than Cleveland. They'll go as far as Kobe Bryant can carry them - and he can certainly carry them a long way.
Los Angeles in five over Utah
-The Jazz won the season series against the Lakers, but Kobe will rise to the occasion and help them cruise into round two. Pau Gasol and a healthy Andrew Bynum give the Lakers help down low in the physical western conference paint. (Anyone remember what the Lakers gave up to acquire Gasol? Or did they just straight steal him from Memphis? I think I just answered the question.)
Denver in five over New Orleans
-Chris Paul doesn't have nearly enough help to get his team past round one. Carmelo Anthony will step his game up and finally win a playoff series, with Chauncey Billups giving the Nuggets what they've lacked in past playoff failures. A strong supporting cast could help Denver challenge Los Angeles for the west crown.
San Antonio in seven over Dallas
-I could have picked Dallas, but the Spurs are too good this time of year, especially at home. The Mavericks are hot heading to the postseason, but San Antonio's experience and defense will win them the series, even without Emanuel 'Dead Fish' Ginobili.
Portland in six over Houston
-The Trailblazers are an explosive, inexperienced team. They'll be too much for the Rockets, and the tenderfoots will survive to play another round.
I'd love to pick Denver, but the Lakers will beat them and go on to lose to Cleveland in seven. That stellar home mark will pay dividends for the Cavs; I'd take the Lakers to win game seven in LA. LeBron James will bring Cleveland the city's first championship since the Browns in the pre-Super Bowl era. Maybe then he'll be convinced to stay at home and not bolt for the Big Apple to play for the Knicks or the Nets.
After seeing the Bulls take game one from the Celtics in Boston, the east is Cleveland's to lose. A couple games in, here are my predictions:
Cleavland in four over Detroit
-The Cavaliers will overwhelm the Pistons without Allen Iverson. He hasn't exactly made Detroit better, but he's a player who could be a factor against LeBron James. The Pistons are going to miss Chauncey in the playoffs, and will further rue that trade. Though Cleveland is still a good team without James, he makes his teammates look better than they really are. And that's exactly why LeBron is the difference each and every game in which he plays. That and he's the best player in the league.
Boston in seven over Chicago
-I was going to pick Boston in five until Chicago stormed The Garden and stole game one behind their rookie point guard. Boston looks a lot shakier than I anticipated, but they should survive round one, even without Garnett. Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are a good enough one-two to win the series, but not without some help.
Orlando in five over Philadelphia
-Orlando had a tremendous regular season and are a fun team to watch, with truckloads of outside shooters and the league's best center. But their inexperience could hurt them in the playoffs. That being said, I just don't trust the 76ers.
Miami in seven over Atlanta
-This should be a spectacular series, and I'm picking the Heat in seven because I want the series to go the distance. Dwyane Wade will dominate the series - Miami wins maybe 15 games this season without him.
Los Angeles is the clear favorite in the west, though they're more susceptible to faltering en route to the finals than Cleveland. They'll go as far as Kobe Bryant can carry them - and he can certainly carry them a long way.
Los Angeles in five over Utah
-The Jazz won the season series against the Lakers, but Kobe will rise to the occasion and help them cruise into round two. Pau Gasol and a healthy Andrew Bynum give the Lakers help down low in the physical western conference paint. (Anyone remember what the Lakers gave up to acquire Gasol? Or did they just straight steal him from Memphis? I think I just answered the question.)
Denver in five over New Orleans
-Chris Paul doesn't have nearly enough help to get his team past round one. Carmelo Anthony will step his game up and finally win a playoff series, with Chauncey Billups giving the Nuggets what they've lacked in past playoff failures. A strong supporting cast could help Denver challenge Los Angeles for the west crown.
San Antonio in seven over Dallas
-I could have picked Dallas, but the Spurs are too good this time of year, especially at home. The Mavericks are hot heading to the postseason, but San Antonio's experience and defense will win them the series, even without Emanuel 'Dead Fish' Ginobili.
Portland in six over Houston
-The Trailblazers are an explosive, inexperienced team. They'll be too much for the Rockets, and the tenderfoots will survive to play another round.
I'd love to pick Denver, but the Lakers will beat them and go on to lose to Cleveland in seven. That stellar home mark will pay dividends for the Cavs; I'd take the Lakers to win game seven in LA. LeBron James will bring Cleveland the city's first championship since the Browns in the pre-Super Bowl era. Maybe then he'll be convinced to stay at home and not bolt for the Big Apple to play for the Knicks or the Nets.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
America's Team
This article was posted on our school site, the author is cited at the bottom:
Want to have a hand in the success of Manchester United, the world’s preeminent soccer franchise? Forget traveling across the pond or even tuning your television to the next big match — all you have to do is pay your taxes.
The economic downturn has done what even David Beckham could not: transform professional soccer into an American institution.
Just take a look at the jersey of star center forward Wayne Rooney. In addition to the Manchester United logo and the Nike Swoosh, the famed red uniform prominently carries the logo of AIG, the insurance giant famous for paying out bonuses to its top executives after receiving a multi-billion dollar bailout from the U.S. government.
Now, Manchester United doesn’t put logos on its jerseys for free. AIG has to pay the team more than 56 million quid for the exposure, and it’s a good bet that those payments are continuing.
This means that U.S. taxpayers, like it or not, are financially supporting Manchester United — and thus have a stake in how well it performs this year.
So how is our team faring this year?
Just a few weeks ago, Man U sat proudly atop the English Premier League. But its once-significant lead in the standings has shrunk dramatically. On March 14, the team lost 4-1 at home to rival Liverpool. The following Saturday, Man U saw two of its players ejected in a 2-0 loss to Fulham, and later lost its number one ranking. On Sunday, playing without a suspended Rooney, Man U reclaimed a marginal lead in the standings by eking out a 3-2 thriller against Aston Villa.
Though the team’s recent struggles can hardly be blamed on its partnership with AIG, the situation does teach us a valuable lesson about the dangers of co-branding. Joining with a seemingly strong brand may improve a firm’s short-term fortunes. However, in this increasingly volatile world management should think very carefully before staking its company’s reputation on a relationship with a third party over which it has very little control.
But while things may look very challenging for Man U, the team still has a chance to win the English Premier League, the FA Cup and the European Champions League — in addition to the Club World Cup and the English League Carling Cup, which it has already pocketed.
A victory for Man U is a victory for the U.S. taxpayer — in spirit, at the very least — so let’s all give cheer for Manchester United, America’s Team. If we’re going to be backing them financially, let’s make sure we get our money’s worth.
Noel Capon is the R.C. Kopf Professor of International Marketing at Columbia Business School.
Rocks on the Board
Great game tonight and hopefully a taste of things to come for the rest of the season. I like seeing the team rebound on the road, come out with solid defense - strong starting pitching and good relief. Street picks up the save and I love the late inning rally to pad things a bit for the bullpen.
I still miss Holliday, and think that Helton is past his prime - but I have good feelings about this time for this year.
Side note - totally different sport, but the New York Islanders get my WTF Call-Out for the night. Obviously pretty miserable to be outscored 9-0, but how about outshot 57-12 especially after the shots were only 10-6 in favor of Carolina in the first period??? I do not envy the team drawing Carolina in the first round since they've won 13 of the last 16 and those two loses were shootouts.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Mizzu-Memphis comments
All from my roommate:
With 8 min to go and Memphis making a run:
"If Missouri loses this game, Quinn Snyder should be fired."
With 1:30 to go and Mizzu's coach on camera:
"Quinn Snyder has spent too much time in the tanning booth."
By the way, anyone know what the over/under was on this game?
With 8 min to go and Memphis making a run:
"If Missouri loses this game, Quinn Snyder should be fired."
With 1:30 to go and Mizzu's coach on camera:
"Quinn Snyder has spent too much time in the tanning booth."
By the way, anyone know what the over/under was on this game?
The ongoing saga in Denver
While Jay Cutler hasn't shown himself to be a PR genius this offseason, he's not to blame for the quandary in which he and the Broncos find themselves. He's not entirely innocent either. But new boss Josh McDaniels needs to look no farther than a mirror to see where this all began.
This offseason it's more apparent than ever that the Broncos rule Denver. Despite the Nuggets making their case as the best (non-Lakers) team in the west, the Avalanche playing their worst hockey ever, and the Rockies just weeks away from the season, one team steals all the headlines. In fact, the Broncos rule not only Colorado but an entire time zone and mountain range.
When the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan in December, the move was met with mixed emotions. He took the Broncos to the pinnacle of football. They were untouchable for two seasons. He and John Elway pretty much own this city. Elway pretty much owns Cleveland to boot.
Yet after years of poor drafts, failed free agent signings, a revolving-door for defensive coordinators, early postseason exits and late-season swoons, Denver was growing restless. The last straw came when the Donkeys failed to make the playoffs after sitting at 8-5 with a three-game divisional lead. Pat Bowlen joined in the trendy mantra of the time and decided for change.
In comes coaching wunderkind Josh McDaniels, the offensive mastermind of the New England Patriots. He coached Matt Cassel to a remarkable season after Tom Brady's season-ending injury in week one. Wanting to mark the team as his own, he stuck his nose back up Bill Belichick's ass and tried to bring Cassel with him up to 5280 feet. By thinking JV Cassel is a superior quarterback to JC Saves and trying to swap them, all he's done is urinate all over this team and this town.
New England was a far superior team to Denver last year. Proof is no clearer than in their week seven matchup when they manahndled the Broncos so badly that Denver probably wished the NFL had a rule like the WBC. Last season, the edge went to the Patriots at every position, sans quarterback. Cassel was surrounded by a team that was coming off an 18-1 season. Cutler had a nine-headed infirmary in his backfield, an offensive line that was re-quilted each week, and a defense that Lincoln Elementary could have scored on at recess. If McDaniels had had Cutler and Cassel manned the Broncos, I'm pretty certain he would agree with me.
Blame has turned to Cutler as he's shown his immaturity and perpetuated the situation. I can understand that he's upset. His QB coach/offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates - another young offensive guru - left for USC upon McDaniels' arrival. Then he finds out from his cousin's neighbor's ex-roommate's postman that his new coach is trying to ship him off for his own guy from New England.
Cutler is far and away the best player the Broncos have. He has a lot of room for growth and hasn't accomplished much of anything yet, but he will be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
Franchise quarterbacks are hard to find. The Broncos pulled a deal for one in 1983. But after #7's retirement, it took them eight years to find their next in Cutler. With this year's draft so QB-thin and with so many other areas needing to be addressed by the draft, trading Cutler would cripple the franchise - especially after they traded up on draft day to get him in 2006.
A Cutler trade would have to bring another top-calibre young signal caller to the Mile High City. That being said, any trade would be a downgrade. The only acceptable, potentially feasible deal would be to bring Brady Quinn to Denver. Bernie Blozar would be thrilled, and might subsequently murder The Doob. (No, we don't want Derek Anderson.)
I hope Jay Cutler comes to work to show that he's the man in Denver and the Broncos are his team.
I hope Josh McDaniels comes to his senses and decides he wants to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos, not the New England Patriots West.
I hope Matt Cassel is a failure in Kansas City. It's not that I don't like him - I'm sure he's a nice guy. He had a great year and is a talented quarterback. I just hate his team.
As for Mike Shanahan, maybe he'll end up in South Bend in 2010. After all, he's available.
This offseason it's more apparent than ever that the Broncos rule Denver. Despite the Nuggets making their case as the best (non-Lakers) team in the west, the Avalanche playing their worst hockey ever, and the Rockies just weeks away from the season, one team steals all the headlines. In fact, the Broncos rule not only Colorado but an entire time zone and mountain range.
When the Broncos fired Mike Shanahan in December, the move was met with mixed emotions. He took the Broncos to the pinnacle of football. They were untouchable for two seasons. He and John Elway pretty much own this city. Elway pretty much owns Cleveland to boot.
Yet after years of poor drafts, failed free agent signings, a revolving-door for defensive coordinators, early postseason exits and late-season swoons, Denver was growing restless. The last straw came when the Donkeys failed to make the playoffs after sitting at 8-5 with a three-game divisional lead. Pat Bowlen joined in the trendy mantra of the time and decided for change.
In comes coaching wunderkind Josh McDaniels, the offensive mastermind of the New England Patriots. He coached Matt Cassel to a remarkable season after Tom Brady's season-ending injury in week one. Wanting to mark the team as his own, he stuck his nose back up Bill Belichick's ass and tried to bring Cassel with him up to 5280 feet. By thinking JV Cassel is a superior quarterback to JC Saves and trying to swap them, all he's done is urinate all over this team and this town.
New England was a far superior team to Denver last year. Proof is no clearer than in their week seven matchup when they manahndled the Broncos so badly that Denver probably wished the NFL had a rule like the WBC. Last season, the edge went to the Patriots at every position, sans quarterback. Cassel was surrounded by a team that was coming off an 18-1 season. Cutler had a nine-headed infirmary in his backfield, an offensive line that was re-quilted each week, and a defense that Lincoln Elementary could have scored on at recess. If McDaniels had had Cutler and Cassel manned the Broncos, I'm pretty certain he would agree with me.
Blame has turned to Cutler as he's shown his immaturity and perpetuated the situation. I can understand that he's upset. His QB coach/offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates - another young offensive guru - left for USC upon McDaniels' arrival. Then he finds out from his cousin's neighbor's ex-roommate's postman that his new coach is trying to ship him off for his own guy from New England.
Cutler is far and away the best player the Broncos have. He has a lot of room for growth and hasn't accomplished much of anything yet, but he will be an elite quarterback in the NFL.
Franchise quarterbacks are hard to find. The Broncos pulled a deal for one in 1983. But after #7's retirement, it took them eight years to find their next in Cutler. With this year's draft so QB-thin and with so many other areas needing to be addressed by the draft, trading Cutler would cripple the franchise - especially after they traded up on draft day to get him in 2006.
A Cutler trade would have to bring another top-calibre young signal caller to the Mile High City. That being said, any trade would be a downgrade. The only acceptable, potentially feasible deal would be to bring Brady Quinn to Denver. Bernie Blozar would be thrilled, and might subsequently murder The Doob. (No, we don't want Derek Anderson.)
I hope Jay Cutler comes to work to show that he's the man in Denver and the Broncos are his team.
I hope Josh McDaniels comes to his senses and decides he wants to be the head coach of the Denver Broncos, not the New England Patriots West.
I hope Matt Cassel is a failure in Kansas City. It's not that I don't like him - I'm sure he's a nice guy. He had a great year and is a talented quarterback. I just hate his team.
As for Mike Shanahan, maybe he'll end up in South Bend in 2010. After all, he's available.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
AHL Goalie meltdown
He kinda looks like Duve when he falls down trying to hit the boards. He also looks like Duve when he's giving up the two goals...
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
WBC - Team USA
So if it's not the Colorado Rockies, I really don't care when it comes to baseball. I also think that while it could be cool, the WBC is a weak attempt at the World Cup for soccer or the Olympics for bball and hockey. That being said, it was exciting to see Team USA come back tonight after being destroyed by Puerto Rico last time and stealing a game in the 9th. What's even better than that are the comments by David Wright:
Wright then lined a 2-1 pitch just inside the right-field line, raising his fist when the ball dropped in. The New York Mets star called the hit the biggest of his career."You're talking about representing the United States of America," he said. "You've got that across the front of your chest. To be able to get that hit, that's got to be right up there at the top of the list."Wright was mobbed by teammates near second base after two runs scored."You're celebrating a game," Youkilis said. "You're celebrating a nation."
After all the scandal and problems in MLB, it's just great to see some perspective. For reference, the quoted article is here.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Puck and Playoff Predictions
If you haven't been paying much attention to the NHL, I'll fill you in on some intriguing storylines rather than rebuke you. Then I'll make some playoff predictions.
Two of the Eastern Conference's better teams for much of the first half of the season canned their head coaches following strings of poor play and descents in the standings. The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped the axe on Michel Therien - who led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals just last year - after the team dropped out of the playoff standings altogether, despite having the league's top two scorers at the time in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. He's been replaced by Dan Bylsma, a guy most known for being slow and unskilled on NHL video games of the late 1990s.
Later the New York Rangers gave Tom Renney his marching orders with the team also dropping, while struggling mightily to put the puck in the net. They've scored fewer goals than most Eastern Conference teams, though somehow the Ottawa Senators have scored the fewest. Two years ago that would have been like saying the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would someday be a respected baseball club. Renney's replacement is Stanley Cup winner John Tortorella, who himself was supplanted as Tampa Bay Lightning head coach by Barry Melrose after last season.
Speaking of the Lightning, has anyone seen their 'Bolts' third jersey? They've embraced a plural nickname without actually changing their official nickname. This jersey is, however, a huge step up from the team's first try at an alternate uniform. After the league shelved them a few years ago, third jerseys are back for some teams - including the lazy one concocted by the Ottawa Senators.
These are examples of why the alternate jersey was initially banned, though they pale in comparison to what were paraded around in the 1990s. That Wayne Gretzky was ever caught in this L.A. Kings piece of garbage is a crying shame. The mid-90s New York Islanders did not go with a third jersey, but rather an entirely new logo of a crusty old fisherman. After the players were getting seasick from looking at the back of the uniform, the team wisely reverted back to their classic logo. At least the Saint Louis Blues came to their senses and nixed their foray into a third jersey before it got to the locker room.
I'll segue from on-the-ice to off-the-ice threads. Renowned Canadian Don Cherry recently criticized Alexander Ovechkin (the object of The Doob's every desire) for his goal celebrations. He said the Russian acts like a soccer player when he scores. Ovechkin's celebrating is purely out of excitement, and is not premeditated like the soccer celebrations to which Cherry was referring. But if he thinks Ovechkin goes over the top when he scores, how does he explain his suits?
Ovechkin's Washington teammate and countryman Alexander Semin recently scored a goal that would make Ovie jealous, stickhandling and putting the puck away from his knees. He should keep doing stuff like that and not dropping the gloves.
Mats Sundin enjoyed a stunning homecoming in his return to Toronto as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. He received a lengthy standing ovation at the start of the game, then finished it off with a shootout winner.
The Detroit Red Wings recently surrendered eight goals twice in four games. The holders of The Cup were blanked 8-0 by Nashville, then gave the same punishment to Saint Louis 5-0, beat Colorado 3-2, and then lost to Columbus 8-2. While astounding, something tells me the organization will distribute goods equally to all members of the team and they'll be fine for the postseason. That's how communism works. Their victory over the Avalanche was a first this season. After going 8-0 against Colorado in all competition last season, the Wings were 0-3 against the bottom-dwelling Avs this year until the 3-2 win. So somehow Colorado won and almost swept the season series against Detroit, but were themselves swept by the traditionally woeful Blue Jackets.
One would think that the New Jersey Devils would be fighting just to make the playoffs after losing Martin Brodeur for much of the season to a torn biceps. All backups Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes did was backstop the team to first place in the division in Brodeur's stead. Clemmensen, the number one goaltender in Brodeur's absense, was rewarded with a demotion to the AHL. Upon his return, Brodeur earned shutouts in two of his first three outings. He'll soon pass Patrick Roy on the all-time wins list and Terry Sawchuk in shutouts.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are the antithesis of the Devils when it comes to the postseason. New Jersey hasn't missed the playoffs since 1996 and has won three Stanley Cups since 1995. Columbus still awaits their first postseason appearance in their short existence. Even the Thrashers have been once. The Atlanta Thrashers - yes, an actual NHL team. If they get in (and it's a significant 'if'), the Blue Coats want to at least win a game, which would be exactly one more than Atlanta has in their history.
On the topic of the postseason, name one team that will not be participating:
If you answered the New York Islanders, you are obviously correct. But another acceptable answer would be the Colorado Avalanche. They've realized that you actually need good goaltending to compete in the NHL. While long term injuries to Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny - their top two centers - has hurt, I have to admit they're just a bad team. Here's hoping their ping pong balls take some lucky bounces for the lottery.
Like most teams, the Avalanche didn't do a whole lot at the trade deadline, only shipping Jordan Leopold back to Calgary for a new skate sharpener. Calgary's other move was certainly the biggest of the day, acquiring Olli Jokinen from Phoenix. There were immediate dividends for the Flames: Jokinen (drafted #3 overall in 1997) netted a brace in his debut, while Leopold added one on his return.
Now I'll tell you who makes the playoffs:
East:
1) Boston - does this city really need another first place team?
2) New Jersey - a healthy Brodeur behind a potent offense makes them again dangerous
3) Washington - Jose Theodore and the blue line can't keep pace with the offense
4) Montreal - no centennial Coupe Stanley for Les Habitantes
5) Philadelphia - goaltending slightly better than Colorado
6) NY Rangers - offensive woes will continue
7) Pittsburgh - did anyone really think dealing for Chris Kunitz would return them to the finals?
8) Florida - don't worry, they won't make it out of the first round
Conference finals: New Jersey over Washington
West:
1) San Jose - Claude Lemieux is still younger than Chris Chelios
2) Detroit - how has this team stayed under the cap and been so good year after year? It's an egalitarian team where the proletariat and the elite are not divided into classes. Damn Soviets.
3) Calgary - no one wants this team in the playoffs
4) Chicago - playing in Detroit's division doesn't help
5) Vancouver - a healthy Roberto Luongo (drafted #4 in 1997) isn't enough
6) Dallas - as you already know, they won't want Calgary in the playoffs
7) Nashville - see Florida, above
8) Minnesota - they need more than Marian Gaborik to score, and he's hurt more than Ken Griffey, Jr
And it looks like Columbus misses out yet again. That drought is too good to end now.
Conference finals: San Jose over Detroit
Stanley Cup Finals: San Jose over New Jersey
I don't want to see it any more than you, but the Cup goes to San Jose, California. The team is way too good to disappoint. They have one of the league's best goaltenders in Evgeni Nabokov, one of the better center tandems in the league in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau (drafted #1 and #2 overall respectively in 1997), and they added veteran skilled blue-liners Rob Blake and Dan Boyle in the offseason. Even 43 year-old Claude Lemieux (back after a five year hockey hiatus) will have an impact, though he won't contribute on the ice much. He's got four Cups and a Conn Smyth trophy, and is exactly what the team needs for a two month journey to win the Drink. They also have Jonathan Cheechoo, my biggest fantasy sports disappointment since drafting Matt Leinart.
Two of the Eastern Conference's better teams for much of the first half of the season canned their head coaches following strings of poor play and descents in the standings. The Pittsburgh Penguins dropped the axe on Michel Therien - who led the team to the Stanley Cup Finals just last year - after the team dropped out of the playoff standings altogether, despite having the league's top two scorers at the time in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. He's been replaced by Dan Bylsma, a guy most known for being slow and unskilled on NHL video games of the late 1990s.
Later the New York Rangers gave Tom Renney his marching orders with the team also dropping, while struggling mightily to put the puck in the net. They've scored fewer goals than most Eastern Conference teams, though somehow the Ottawa Senators have scored the fewest. Two years ago that would have been like saying the Tampa Bay Devil Rays would someday be a respected baseball club. Renney's replacement is Stanley Cup winner John Tortorella, who himself was supplanted as Tampa Bay Lightning head coach by Barry Melrose after last season.
Speaking of the Lightning, has anyone seen their 'Bolts' third jersey? They've embraced a plural nickname without actually changing their official nickname. This jersey is, however, a huge step up from the team's first try at an alternate uniform. After the league shelved them a few years ago, third jerseys are back for some teams - including the lazy one concocted by the Ottawa Senators.
These are examples of why the alternate jersey was initially banned, though they pale in comparison to what were paraded around in the 1990s. That Wayne Gretzky was ever caught in this L.A. Kings piece of garbage is a crying shame. The mid-90s New York Islanders did not go with a third jersey, but rather an entirely new logo of a crusty old fisherman. After the players were getting seasick from looking at the back of the uniform, the team wisely reverted back to their classic logo. At least the Saint Louis Blues came to their senses and nixed their foray into a third jersey before it got to the locker room.
I'll segue from on-the-ice to off-the-ice threads. Renowned Canadian Don Cherry recently criticized Alexander Ovechkin (the object of The Doob's every desire) for his goal celebrations. He said the Russian acts like a soccer player when he scores. Ovechkin's celebrating is purely out of excitement, and is not premeditated like the soccer celebrations to which Cherry was referring. But if he thinks Ovechkin goes over the top when he scores, how does he explain his suits?
Ovechkin's Washington teammate and countryman Alexander Semin recently scored a goal that would make Ovie jealous, stickhandling and putting the puck away from his knees. He should keep doing stuff like that and not dropping the gloves.
Mats Sundin enjoyed a stunning homecoming in his return to Toronto as a member of the Vancouver Canucks. He received a lengthy standing ovation at the start of the game, then finished it off with a shootout winner.
The Detroit Red Wings recently surrendered eight goals twice in four games. The holders of The Cup were blanked 8-0 by Nashville, then gave the same punishment to Saint Louis 5-0, beat Colorado 3-2, and then lost to Columbus 8-2. While astounding, something tells me the organization will distribute goods equally to all members of the team and they'll be fine for the postseason. That's how communism works. Their victory over the Avalanche was a first this season. After going 8-0 against Colorado in all competition last season, the Wings were 0-3 against the bottom-dwelling Avs this year until the 3-2 win. So somehow Colorado won and almost swept the season series against Detroit, but were themselves swept by the traditionally woeful Blue Jackets.
One would think that the New Jersey Devils would be fighting just to make the playoffs after losing Martin Brodeur for much of the season to a torn biceps. All backups Scott Clemmensen and Kevin Weekes did was backstop the team to first place in the division in Brodeur's stead. Clemmensen, the number one goaltender in Brodeur's absense, was rewarded with a demotion to the AHL. Upon his return, Brodeur earned shutouts in two of his first three outings. He'll soon pass Patrick Roy on the all-time wins list and Terry Sawchuk in shutouts.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are the antithesis of the Devils when it comes to the postseason. New Jersey hasn't missed the playoffs since 1996 and has won three Stanley Cups since 1995. Columbus still awaits their first postseason appearance in their short existence. Even the Thrashers have been once. The Atlanta Thrashers - yes, an actual NHL team. If they get in (and it's a significant 'if'), the Blue Coats want to at least win a game, which would be exactly one more than Atlanta has in their history.
On the topic of the postseason, name one team that will not be participating:
If you answered the New York Islanders, you are obviously correct. But another acceptable answer would be the Colorado Avalanche. They've realized that you actually need good goaltending to compete in the NHL. While long term injuries to Joe Sakic and Paul Stastny - their top two centers - has hurt, I have to admit they're just a bad team. Here's hoping their ping pong balls take some lucky bounces for the lottery.
Like most teams, the Avalanche didn't do a whole lot at the trade deadline, only shipping Jordan Leopold back to Calgary for a new skate sharpener. Calgary's other move was certainly the biggest of the day, acquiring Olli Jokinen from Phoenix. There were immediate dividends for the Flames: Jokinen (drafted #3 overall in 1997) netted a brace in his debut, while Leopold added one on his return.
Now I'll tell you who makes the playoffs:
East:
1) Boston - does this city really need another first place team?
2) New Jersey - a healthy Brodeur behind a potent offense makes them again dangerous
3) Washington - Jose Theodore and the blue line can't keep pace with the offense
4) Montreal - no centennial Coupe Stanley for Les Habitantes
5) Philadelphia - goaltending slightly better than Colorado
6) NY Rangers - offensive woes will continue
7) Pittsburgh - did anyone really think dealing for Chris Kunitz would return them to the finals?
8) Florida - don't worry, they won't make it out of the first round
Conference finals: New Jersey over Washington
West:
1) San Jose - Claude Lemieux is still younger than Chris Chelios
2) Detroit - how has this team stayed under the cap and been so good year after year? It's an egalitarian team where the proletariat and the elite are not divided into classes. Damn Soviets.
3) Calgary - no one wants this team in the playoffs
4) Chicago - playing in Detroit's division doesn't help
5) Vancouver - a healthy Roberto Luongo (drafted #4 in 1997) isn't enough
6) Dallas - as you already know, they won't want Calgary in the playoffs
7) Nashville - see Florida, above
8) Minnesota - they need more than Marian Gaborik to score, and he's hurt more than Ken Griffey, Jr
And it looks like Columbus misses out yet again. That drought is too good to end now.
Conference finals: San Jose over Detroit
Stanley Cup Finals: San Jose over New Jersey
I don't want to see it any more than you, but the Cup goes to San Jose, California. The team is way too good to disappoint. They have one of the league's best goaltenders in Evgeni Nabokov, one of the better center tandems in the league in Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau (drafted #1 and #2 overall respectively in 1997), and they added veteran skilled blue-liners Rob Blake and Dan Boyle in the offseason. Even 43 year-old Claude Lemieux (back after a five year hockey hiatus) will have an impact, though he won't contribute on the ice much. He's got four Cups and a Conn Smyth trophy, and is exactly what the team needs for a two month journey to win the Drink. They also have Jonathan Cheechoo, my biggest fantasy sports disappointment since drafting Matt Leinart.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
FREAKIN' NAILS!
So with A&M playing like crap for most of the game and needing this win over Nebraska to help improve their chances for the tourney the Aggies come back from 18 down in the 2nd half, hold the Huskers to just seven points in the final 14 minutes and only two field goals in the last 16:52 but the Aggies were still down by 1 with 2.6 seconds left to play and...
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
He's back, the big guy!
First off, I am VERY thankful to Coach Leach for his dating advice. Everyone knows if there's one thing I need, it's dating advice.
Secondly, I want to apologize for my extended absence. It's hard for me to do anything since I'm either 1) gone 4/7 of the week or 2) drunk 4/7 of the week. Yes, I am living it up.
Third, as to my latest excursion, Memphis is a city everyone should visit. Graceland is cooler than I expected, Tunica is a better gambling venue than I expected (side note, who knew it was the 3rd biggest gambling locale in the US behind only Vegas and AC? Not I, so I'm guessing no one), and the FedEx Forum is much more baller than I expected - especially from a suite.
Fourth, it's going to royally upset me when ND wins the NIT and Mike Brey is viewed as a hero. Can we fire this joker already? Any real coach would have us with 20 wins already. That said, ND's team next year will be much, much, MUCH better than this year.
Sixth, I can't count.
Seventh, who else is planning to walk the river in San Antonio next fall?
Eighth, Scott Van Pelt is still the man. http://deadspin.com/sports/top/scott-van-pelt-has-a-way-with-the-ladies-192853.php
Ninth, I have nothing else to say.
Secondly, I want to apologize for my extended absence. It's hard for me to do anything since I'm either 1) gone 4/7 of the week or 2) drunk 4/7 of the week. Yes, I am living it up.
Third, as to my latest excursion, Memphis is a city everyone should visit. Graceland is cooler than I expected, Tunica is a better gambling venue than I expected (side note, who knew it was the 3rd biggest gambling locale in the US behind only Vegas and AC? Not I, so I'm guessing no one), and the FedEx Forum is much more baller than I expected - especially from a suite.
Elvis' tomb at Graceland.
Fourth, it's going to royally upset me when ND wins the NIT and Mike Brey is viewed as a hero. Can we fire this joker already? Any real coach would have us with 20 wins already. That said, ND's team next year will be much, much, MUCH better than this year.
Sixth, I can't count.
Seventh, who else is planning to walk the river in San Antonio next fall?
Eighth, Scott Van Pelt is still the man. http://deadspin.com/sports/top/scott-van-pelt-has-a-way-with-the-ladies-192853.php
Ninth, I have nothing else to say.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
More ND Basketball
Everyone knows how great Luke Harangody's numbers have been this season. No one seems to realize that there's probably not another player in the country whose individual performance is less important to his team than Gody. Since the Ohio St. game in December and St. John's game in January, the way that teams beat the Irish is by letting Gody get his 30 pts. per night and eliminating the perimeter game for the Irish (which effectively eliminates MacAlarney, Ayers, and Zeller, the #2, 3, and 5 scoring options, respectively). Good coaches (like Williams at Marquette, Dixon at Pitt, and Huggins at WVU) have realized this and made the appropriate in-game adjustments to respond; bad coaches (like Davis at Providence) haven't done so and have lost because of it.
So Harangody will get his, and ND's 3 guard spots are fairly well set, but who's ND's #2 forward: here's the 3 stat-lines in February (6 games beginning with 2/4 @ Cincy through 2/21 @PC):
Per Game:
Player #1: 3.5pts, 5.7reb, 3.0asst, 0.7stl, 1.3TO, 32.0%FG, 50%FT, 27.0minutes
Player #2: 4.0pts, 3.4reb, 0.4asst, 0.4stl, 0TO, 60.0%FG, 50%FT, 10.8minutes
Player #3: 2.7pts, 1.8reb, 0.2asst, 0.2stl, 0.3TO, 33.3%FT, 100%FT, 9.5 minutes
Per 30 minutes (per minute * 30):
Player #1: 3.9pts, 6.3reb, 3.3asst, 0.7stl, 1.5TO
Player #2: 11.1pts, 9.4reb, 1.1asst, 1.1stl, 0TO
Player #3: 8.4pts, 5.8reb, 0.5asst, 0.5stl, 1.1TO
Player #1 is also the team's weakest interior defender, although he does have a surprising success rate with jump balls. Anyone else see a problem? Player #1 is Zach "I play like a Kyle's mom" Hillesland, player #2 is Tyrone Nash, and player #3 is Luke Zeller.
By the way, this doesn't mean I hate Mike Brey, who is now the 3rd-longest tenured Big East Coach (Boeheim and Calhoun) and has only had one sub-.500 conference record since being hired at ND.
So Harangody will get his, and ND's 3 guard spots are fairly well set, but who's ND's #2 forward: here's the 3 stat-lines in February (6 games beginning with 2/4 @ Cincy through 2/21 @PC):
Per Game:
Player #1: 3.5pts, 5.7reb, 3.0asst, 0.7stl, 1.3TO, 32.0%FG, 50%FT, 27.0minutes
Player #2: 4.0pts, 3.4reb, 0.4asst, 0.4stl, 0TO, 60.0%FG, 50%FT, 10.8minutes
Player #3: 2.7pts, 1.8reb, 0.2asst, 0.2stl, 0.3TO, 33.3%FT, 100%FT, 9.5 minutes
Per 30 minutes (per minute * 30):
Player #1: 3.9pts, 6.3reb, 3.3asst, 0.7stl, 1.5TO
Player #2: 11.1pts, 9.4reb, 1.1asst, 1.1stl, 0TO
Player #3: 8.4pts, 5.8reb, 0.5asst, 0.5stl, 1.1TO
Player #1 is also the team's weakest interior defender, although he does have a surprising success rate with jump balls. Anyone else see a problem? Player #1 is Zach "I play like a Kyle's mom" Hillesland, player #2 is Tyrone Nash, and player #3 is Luke Zeller.
By the way, this doesn't mean I hate Mike Brey, who is now the 3rd-longest tenured Big East Coach (Boeheim and Calhoun) and has only had one sub-.500 conference record since being hired at ND.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Alexander the Great
Alright so after Ovie's goal against Montreal tonight (currently #3 on my list with @ Phoenix #1 01/06, playoffs vs. Philly 4/08 #2, vs Buffalo 12/08 #4).
If you don't mind going from 6 to midnight, have fun watching this clip (throwback to his first year in the league).
If you don't mind going from 6 to midnight, have fun watching this clip (throwback to his first year in the league).
Dating tips from Mike Leach
In honor of the fact that it looks like Texas Tech will be running off their pirate savant coach Mike Leach despite the fact he's the most successful head coach they've ever had I'd like to post some pearls of wisdom from the mad pirate himself:
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Top Ten Ugliest Men is Sports
There are many candidates for this prestigious list, but just ten make the cut. Most are current, whilst a couple made their way back from retirement with their smashing looks.
For some it's a sign of endearment, and others a wakeup call to purchase a mirror.
1) Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves - This is the face of the Vancouver Grizzlies. (Whose idea was this? I hope he's unemployed.) The fate of Kevin Bookout's career was sealed when he was given the moniker 'Big Country v 2.0.' Today, rather than that ghastly Vancouver Grizzlies uniform, Big Country is most likely to be found wearing a mossy oak camouflage hat and jorts.
2) Mike Ricci - He'll always be loved in Denver, where he won The Cup with the Avalanche in 1996. But Lord have mercy, what happened to this guy? He actually looked worse when he cut the mane. One of the best stories I've ever come across was when Queen Elizabeth visited Canada in 2002 and dropped a ceremonial first puck with the team captains prior to a Canucks-Sharks game. Ricci, the acting Sharks captain, put in his teeth for the spectacle out of respect for Her Majesty. He might be ugly, but he is a good looking hockey player who knows how to honour royalty.
3) Franck Ribery - The dude's French, hideous, and a damn good footballer.
4) Chris Kaman - Since he cut his hair, Encino Man more closely resembles Neanderthal than Homo habilis, with the hope of one day catching up to the rest of mankind. By this time I’m sure Homo sapiens will have evolved to robots.
5) Randy Johnson - Never has the Kentucky Waterfall flowed so gracefully from underneath a New Era cap.
6) Sam Cassell - Uncredited for his role as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
7) Adam Morrison - Despite what some photographic evidence tells you, he was not drafted in the 1970s. Perhaps the only part of his game uglier than that 'stache is that he couldn't get off the bench in Charlotte.
8) Mike Tyson - I don’t know what makes me more afraid of him: that facial tattoo, the fact that he chewed off Holyfield’s ear, or his desire to eat Lennox Lewis’ heart and children.
9) Joakim Noah - Originally crowned ugliest female in sports until tests confirmed he possessed the Y-chromosome of human males. (I'm not the only one who thought he was some butch chick the first time I saw him play for Florida.) Noah now debatably beats Anderson Varejao as the most effeminate NBA player.
10) Ronaldinho - The man's been blessed with some of the best moves on the planet. Magnificent. What he may lack in dental alignment is more than made up for with footy skill.
For some it's a sign of endearment, and others a wakeup call to purchase a mirror.
1) Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves - This is the face of the Vancouver Grizzlies. (Whose idea was this? I hope he's unemployed.) The fate of Kevin Bookout's career was sealed when he was given the moniker 'Big Country v 2.0.' Today, rather than that ghastly Vancouver Grizzlies uniform, Big Country is most likely to be found wearing a mossy oak camouflage hat and jorts.
2) Mike Ricci - He'll always be loved in Denver, where he won The Cup with the Avalanche in 1996. But Lord have mercy, what happened to this guy? He actually looked worse when he cut the mane. One of the best stories I've ever come across was when Queen Elizabeth visited Canada in 2002 and dropped a ceremonial first puck with the team captains prior to a Canucks-Sharks game. Ricci, the acting Sharks captain, put in his teeth for the spectacle out of respect for Her Majesty. He might be ugly, but he is a good looking hockey player who knows how to honour royalty.
3) Franck Ribery - The dude's French, hideous, and a damn good footballer.
4) Chris Kaman - Since he cut his hair, Encino Man more closely resembles Neanderthal than Homo habilis, with the hope of one day catching up to the rest of mankind. By this time I’m sure Homo sapiens will have evolved to robots.
5) Randy Johnson - Never has the Kentucky Waterfall flowed so gracefully from underneath a New Era cap.
6) Sam Cassell - Uncredited for his role as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
7) Adam Morrison - Despite what some photographic evidence tells you, he was not drafted in the 1970s. Perhaps the only part of his game uglier than that 'stache is that he couldn't get off the bench in Charlotte.
8) Mike Tyson - I don’t know what makes me more afraid of him: that facial tattoo, the fact that he chewed off Holyfield’s ear, or his desire to eat Lennox Lewis’ heart and children.
9) Joakim Noah - Originally crowned ugliest female in sports until tests confirmed he possessed the Y-chromosome of human males. (I'm not the only one who thought he was some butch chick the first time I saw him play for Florida.) Noah now debatably beats Anderson Varejao as the most effeminate NBA player.
10) Ronaldinho - The man's been blessed with some of the best moves on the planet. Magnificent. What he may lack in dental alignment is more than made up for with footy skill.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Hope
In some ways, this article by Rick Reilly from this past December reminds me of The Doob's post regarding priorities from "way back" in 2008.
I just stumbled across this article tonight, I never saw it when it was actually published so it's a bit off-season; given that it's about Christmas hope and we're only three weeks away from the beginning of Lent.
I found it because in a different place on ESPN.com Rick Reilly says that Roger Goodell invited the coach of Faith to the Super Bowl after Troy Aikman heard the story and passed it on up to the commissioner.
The coach, Kris Hogan, had this to say.
"I hate it that this thing that we did is so rare," Hogan said. "Everybody views it as such a big deal. Shouldn't that be the normal?"
Great message. Sports and hope go hand in hand. Sports can deliver a larger message. But why does it seem so rare that someone use sports to spread hope for a person's character and life, rather than hope for a fat paycheck, hoes in every area code, and a trophy? If every one of us sports fans were to be sure directed our passion for sports to passion for changing the life of someone who desperately needs to know they are not on the margins of society, what would happen?
Perhaps I'm over stating the issue, but hyperbole often returns results.
At least, I hope so.
I just stumbled across this article tonight, I never saw it when it was actually published so it's a bit off-season; given that it's about Christmas hope and we're only three weeks away from the beginning of Lent.
I found it because in a different place on ESPN.com Rick Reilly says that Roger Goodell invited the coach of Faith to the Super Bowl after Troy Aikman heard the story and passed it on up to the commissioner.
The coach, Kris Hogan, had this to say.
"I hate it that this thing that we did is so rare," Hogan said. "Everybody views it as such a big deal. Shouldn't that be the normal?"
Great message. Sports and hope go hand in hand. Sports can deliver a larger message. But why does it seem so rare that someone use sports to spread hope for a person's character and life, rather than hope for a fat paycheck, hoes in every area code, and a trophy? If every one of us sports fans were to be sure directed our passion for sports to passion for changing the life of someone who desperately needs to know they are not on the margins of society, what would happen?
Perhaps I'm over stating the issue, but hyperbole often returns results.
At least, I hope so.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
N-B-A H-O-R-S-E
Okay - so two NBA posts in one night...it's a bit much. I really don't even like the NBA outside of the Nuggets, but this is awesome. So before the NBA All-Star game, they're going to be doing a game of H-O-R-S-E the night before. This is the setup for the game (it's not going to be in the arena) and the rig behind the court can go up 14 feet and from what I've read seems like it could be used for shots.
So I have two questions:
- Who should be the three All-Stars playing?
- If you could play H-O-R-S-E with any other set of two people, who would they be?
The Knicks
Alright, so I'm not saying that New York is good by any means...though given the fact that they are in the East, that means they're one game out of the playoffs. However, because it is the East, they could probably be 12 games under .500 instead of just six by the end of the year and still have a chance at making the playoffs. I digress, the point that I want to make is that while everyone is trumpeting Kobe's heroics and now LeBron's - my first thought is "wow they're good" and my second is "wow the Knicks really suck!" Honestly, for a group of professionals - I would be pretty embarrassed if I were them to get worked by one guy like that. Then again...if I were paid millions of dollars and Kobe scored 61 on me, I probably wouldn't be heartbroken.
Happy Manti Teʻo (and Chris Martin) Day
It's National Signing Day and the Notre Dame momentum is starting to build. We've been disappointed so many times on NSD, but the Irish have gotten two huge commitments today.
Everyone knows about Manti Teʻo as he's arguably the top defensive recruit in the country and is easily the best ND defensive recruit in the last 20 seasons. He is one of those difference makers the ND defense needs more of (Ethan Johnson, Darrin Walls, hopefully Steve Filer).
And this afternoon ND got another commitment from a five-star player. Chris Martin is a five-star defensive end recruit for the class of 2010. He's from California, had a USC offer and is possibly the best defensive recruit from the state of California.
Those are two bellweather recruits that closes the talent gap between Notre Dame and SC.
So ND has three commitments for the class of 2010, two five stars and one four star. You can't over-state the effect momentum has in recruiting.
Things are turning around. I'm not on the bandwagon yet (dominating offensive/defensive line play against inferior opponents is a must), but I continue to want those guys to succeed.
Just look at the video on UND.com of the coaches reacting to the Manti Teʻo announcement.
Everyone knows about Manti Teʻo as he's arguably the top defensive recruit in the country and is easily the best ND defensive recruit in the last 20 seasons. He is one of those difference makers the ND defense needs more of (Ethan Johnson, Darrin Walls, hopefully Steve Filer).
And this afternoon ND got another commitment from a five-star player. Chris Martin is a five-star defensive end recruit for the class of 2010. He's from California, had a USC offer and is possibly the best defensive recruit from the state of California.
Those are two bellweather recruits that closes the talent gap between Notre Dame and SC.
So ND has three commitments for the class of 2010, two five stars and one four star. You can't over-state the effect momentum has in recruiting.
Things are turning around. I'm not on the bandwagon yet (dominating offensive/defensive line play against inferior opponents is a must), but I continue to want those guys to succeed.
Just look at the video on UND.com of the coaches reacting to the Manti Teʻo announcement.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Things have been entirely too mundane around here...
...so here's a little bit to get your blood pumping:
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Sunday
A big football game took place Sunday.
Liverpool defeated Chelsea at Anfield behind an eleventh hour brace from Fernando Torres (the man who led Spain past Germany in last year's Euro 2008 final to crown the Iberians as Europe's finest. I'll remind everyone that Italy are still campioni del mondo until South Africa next year.)
The Spaniard's first goal came in the 89th minute, and his double was completed just a blink of the eye later in the 90th. Today's match also saw Chelsea's Frank Lampard sent off with a straight red card following a dangerous tackle. The home victory keeps Liverpool breathing down the neck of holders Manchester United, just two points ahead.
Oh, and there's another big football game stateside in Florida, with Pittsburgh taking on the debutantes from Arizona. I'm picking the Steelers to win, but the Cardinals to cover the 6.5 points.
Liverpool defeated Chelsea at Anfield behind an eleventh hour brace from Fernando Torres (the man who led Spain past Germany in last year's Euro 2008 final to crown the Iberians as Europe's finest. I'll remind everyone that Italy are still campioni del mondo until South Africa next year.)
The Spaniard's first goal came in the 89th minute, and his double was completed just a blink of the eye later in the 90th. Today's match also saw Chelsea's Frank Lampard sent off with a straight red card following a dangerous tackle. The home victory keeps Liverpool breathing down the neck of holders Manchester United, just two points ahead.
Oh, and there's another big football game stateside in Florida, with Pittsburgh taking on the debutantes from Arizona. I'm picking the Steelers to win, but the Cardinals to cover the 6.5 points.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Kind of speechless, actually.
10 bonus point for whoever can replicate this effort.
Really makes you feel good about all that security you need to go through nowadays. Of course, this is being said by a Rockies who, during a game in early June while it's raining would probably be ejected for requesting to upgrade seats from the Rockpile to something a bit closer.
I need lessons from Lionel.
Really makes you feel good about all that security you need to go through nowadays. Of course, this is being said by a Rockies who, during a game in early June while it's raining would probably be ejected for requesting to upgrade seats from the Rockpile to something a bit closer.
I need lessons from Lionel.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sports Nicknames
Here's a quick Top Ten:
1) 'Terrible' Ted Lindsay - Red Wing or not, don't mess with Ted.
2) Dave 'The Hammer' Schultz - The meanest member of Philadelphia's famed Broad Street Bullies teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in the 1970's, his nickname and these pictures speak for themselves.
3) Stan 'The Man' Musial - Had he been named Frank or Sebastian, he still would have been nicknamed The Man.
4) Wolf 'The Dentist' Stansson - "Because he has the record for knocking out the most teeth ever in the NHL." And I'm sure he still owes Gordon Bombay that beach ball.
5) 'The Galloping Ghost' Red Grange - America's first football superstar got a timeless nickname, the kind that passed by with the golden age of sports.
6) Shaquille 'The Big Aristotle' O'Neal - Maybe a stretch to make the cut, but how can you not include a man who's been such an icon both on the court and off?
7) Chris 'Knuckles' Nilan - Neither the game’s best fighter nor a skilled hockey player, he did have a killer nickname that highlighted the best part of his game. Rather than a photo, here's a video of him inciting a riot. (Real footage starts around the 4:00 mark. At 4:35 the linesman surely saves somebody's life. At 5:48 the commentator takes the role of Nostradamus, and all hell breaks loose starting at 6:06.)
8) Philip 'Joan' Rivers - You're not Bob Stoops, so stop whining to the referees. Ass hat.
9) Andre ‘Red Light’ Racicot – Not as endearing as some of the other nicknames on this list, but it aptly described what was seen behind him when he manned the pipes. However, he did get his name engraved on The Stanley Cup in 1993 as Patrick Roy’s backup. ('Red Light' is a nickname that could be used for Eugene Robinson and Denny Neagle for an entirely different reason.)
10) William 'The Refrigerator' Perry - He may be large, but he's no dumb cookie. I can't decide which is better - The Punky QB with his 1980s shades or Samurai Mike with his 1980s Harry Caray spectacles.
On the subject of nicknames, why are they being recycled?
-'Vinsanity' was first used for the high-flying dunk machine in Toronto; when a QB phenom also named Vince emerged, did he really have to get re-tagged with Vinsanity?
-Sugar is the nickname for some of boxing's greatest fighters. Walker Smith, Jr. (known as Sugar Ray Robinson in the ring) was the first professor of the sweet science to be dubbed 'Sugar,' and is regarded by some as the greatest pugilist of all-time. But later Ray Leonard and Shane Mosley (who just pummelled Antonio Margarito for the welterweight title last weekend in Los Angeles) would also have the name bestowed upon them.
-LT was the unoriginal nickname for one of the best linebackers the NFL has ever known. But now a new L(D)T is on the scene, and is being called by the same name. I understand that they are the man's initials, but when it becomes synonymous with one man I thinks it's pretty lazy to re-use it for someone else.
-Another initials ripoff if LJ, with both having the same name - here's the original, and here's version 2.0.
Speaking of the unoriginality of LT and LJ, any nickname that is the man's initials is really pretty lazy. MJ, AI, KG, and TO all have better nicknames (Air, The Answer (just not in Denver), The Big Ticket, and Soap Opera respectively). Things like 'A-Rod' and 'D-Wade' are no better.
And why is LeBron James being dumbed down to LBJ? Our 36th president has the LBJ distinction. Besides, Mr. James was given - rather early in his career - the regal nickname 'King James.'
Why give Chris Paul the bourgeois nickname CP3? It's just his initials with his jersey number tagged onto the end, and makes him sound like a droid.
But the worst has to be Red Sox ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K? That's just an American's poor pronunciation of his actual first name. (I'm willing to bet that ESPN's Jayson Stark is to blame for this. Stark refuses to just write 'Ken Griffey, Jr' in any column. He always writes him as 'Junior Griffey.') Simply 'Dice' would be much cooler for the Japanese hurler.
In conclusion, the award for the most creative nickname goes to an English football (soccer) defender of club Queen's Park Rangers: 'One Size' Fitz Hall.
1) 'Terrible' Ted Lindsay - Red Wing or not, don't mess with Ted.
2) Dave 'The Hammer' Schultz - The meanest member of Philadelphia's famed Broad Street Bullies teams that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in the 1970's, his nickname and these pictures speak for themselves.
3) Stan 'The Man' Musial - Had he been named Frank or Sebastian, he still would have been nicknamed The Man.
4) Wolf 'The Dentist' Stansson - "Because he has the record for knocking out the most teeth ever in the NHL." And I'm sure he still owes Gordon Bombay that beach ball.
5) 'The Galloping Ghost' Red Grange - America's first football superstar got a timeless nickname, the kind that passed by with the golden age of sports.
6) Shaquille 'The Big Aristotle' O'Neal - Maybe a stretch to make the cut, but how can you not include a man who's been such an icon both on the court and off?
7) Chris 'Knuckles' Nilan - Neither the game’s best fighter nor a skilled hockey player, he did have a killer nickname that highlighted the best part of his game. Rather than a photo, here's a video of him inciting a riot. (Real footage starts around the 4:00 mark. At 4:35 the linesman surely saves somebody's life. At 5:48 the commentator takes the role of Nostradamus, and all hell breaks loose starting at 6:06.)
8) Philip 'Joan' Rivers - You're not Bob Stoops, so stop whining to the referees. Ass hat.
9) Andre ‘Red Light’ Racicot – Not as endearing as some of the other nicknames on this list, but it aptly described what was seen behind him when he manned the pipes. However, he did get his name engraved on The Stanley Cup in 1993 as Patrick Roy’s backup. ('Red Light' is a nickname that could be used for Eugene Robinson and Denny Neagle for an entirely different reason.)
10) William 'The Refrigerator' Perry - He may be large, but he's no dumb cookie. I can't decide which is better - The Punky QB with his 1980s shades or Samurai Mike with his 1980s Harry Caray spectacles.
On the subject of nicknames, why are they being recycled?
-We all know who the most famous Hammerin' Hank is. But do you know the original Hammerin' Hank? These two are true baseball legends. I've heard the blasphemy of another Hank in baseball being preceded with 'Hammerin.'
-'Pudge' is the nickname for two of the better catchers baseball has ever seen. I guess the latter (trying to save Robin Ventura's life) was tagged as a kid and it stuck, but we all know the original.
-'Vinsanity' was first used for the high-flying dunk machine in Toronto; when a QB phenom also named Vince emerged, did he really have to get re-tagged with Vinsanity?
-Sugar is the nickname for some of boxing's greatest fighters. Walker Smith, Jr. (known as Sugar Ray Robinson in the ring) was the first professor of the sweet science to be dubbed 'Sugar,' and is regarded by some as the greatest pugilist of all-time. But later Ray Leonard and Shane Mosley (who just pummelled Antonio Margarito for the welterweight title last weekend in Los Angeles) would also have the name bestowed upon them.
-LT was the unoriginal nickname for one of the best linebackers the NFL has ever known. But now a new L(D)T is on the scene, and is being called by the same name. I understand that they are the man's initials, but when it becomes synonymous with one man I thinks it's pretty lazy to re-use it for someone else.
-Another initials ripoff if LJ, with both having the same name - here's the original, and here's version 2.0.
Speaking of the unoriginality of LT and LJ, any nickname that is the man's initials is really pretty lazy. MJ, AI, KG, and TO all have better nicknames (Air, The Answer (just not in Denver), The Big Ticket, and Soap Opera respectively). Things like 'A-Rod' and 'D-Wade' are no better.
And why is LeBron James being dumbed down to LBJ? Our 36th president has the LBJ distinction. Besides, Mr. James was given - rather early in his career - the regal nickname 'King James.'
Why give Chris Paul the bourgeois nickname CP3? It's just his initials with his jersey number tagged onto the end, and makes him sound like a droid.
But the worst has to be Red Sox ace Daisuke Matsuzaka. Dice-K? That's just an American's poor pronunciation of his actual first name. (I'm willing to bet that ESPN's Jayson Stark is to blame for this. Stark refuses to just write 'Ken Griffey, Jr' in any column. He always writes him as 'Junior Griffey.') Simply 'Dice' would be much cooler for the Japanese hurler.
In conclusion, the award for the most creative nickname goes to an English football (soccer) defender of club Queen's Park Rangers: 'One Size' Fitz Hall.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Recap of the NHL All-Star Game
Moving past the immediate issue that fan voting - while seemingly noble is not representative of the quality of the players voted for starting positions (i.e. Ovechkin not being named a starter yet he's the best player in the world right now), it was at least fitting to see him secure the shootout win for the East. There seems to be concern that the All Star game is searching for relevance. Burnside makes some good points about how players are getting there, hopefully the league can work that out. Moving on, here were the highlights from the evening:
- Kovalev wins the MVP award in front of the Montreal fans
- Video montage of Top 10 plays of the year so far (ESPN had Ovie's goal against Buffalo at 10 though Vs had it at #4)
- Tim Thomas (don't like Boston, but apparently he's gotten past his lack of conditioning from his Vermont days, he was pretty amazing)
- Lundqvist getting shelled, yet he's still better than Al Montoya
That being said, if no one's going to play defense - which is fine...and this game is just for fun and to showcase ridiculous things (read: Malkin's between the legs goal), then why not just play it 4 v 4, so there's more open ice? The YoungStars game is ridiculous at 3 v 3, but is a bit like Wayne Gretzkey's 3D Hockey (for N64). Why not take out icing while you're at it, and goalies can't freeze the puck? Then you pretty much have a total "pick-up" game of the best players in the world doing the most absurd things that will make every kid want to immediately go play street hockey so he can try and make that same move.
On a side note - that was a BS call that gave the decision to the judges for the Cerrone/ Varner fight. At the very least, the Colorado guys on this blog can say that they we knew Cerrone back in the day - and I truthfully never saw this coming. Good for him, it's better than prison I guess (in the words of Lanier).
Super Bowl QB's
ESPN has a poll asking who you would rather have as your QB. Roethlisberger or Warner. Warner is sweeping the country (sans PA) with an aggregate 65% of the nationwide votes.
Does this surprise anyone? Is that like saying I'd rather have J.S. Giguere starting in Game 7 of the Cup finals over, say, Roberto Luongo?
Does this surprise anyone? Is that like saying I'd rather have J.S. Giguere starting in Game 7 of the Cup finals over, say, Roberto Luongo?
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
SportsCenter
Boston Red Sox. Dallas Cowboys with Ed Werder. LeBron James dunk. Tom Brady dates beautiful woman, has illegitimate kid. USC football. New York Yankees. Tiger Woods does something amazing. Roger Clemens in court. BCS. T.O. drama. Shaq soundbite. Athlete DUI. Tim Tebow saves drowning kitten. Kobe Bryant. Barry Bonds with Pedro Gomez. Steinbrenner. Notre Dame football. John Clayton (aka 'Mr. Mackey' from South Park) looking wimpy. Athlete takes drugs. NFL Draft. Duke basketball. UNC basketball. Multi-million dollar contract. Bill Belichick fixes U.S. economy. Athlete involved in shooting. College GameDay. Big Papi. Tony Romo (The Overrated One). Hit to the head in NHL. Bill Parcells. Mets choke, spend money. NASCAR driver angered with opponent's driving. L(D)T. Jerry Jones. Red Sox chowda. Obligatory women's sport. Yankees. College football playoff? Federer-Nadal grand slam final. Cubs for sale. More from Dallas with Ed Werder. Buzzer-beater. Steroids. Chris Berman talking about God knows what. Cinco Johnson Chad Ocho. Beckham sighting. New England Patriots. Nick Saban versus former team. Hockey goal (if Sidney Crosby scores). Boston Red Sox.
Monday, January 19, 2009
More Good News on the Coaching Front
Meet your new graduate assistants for Notre Dame:
Tim Grunhard
Bryant Young
This reminds me of when Pete Carroll had Ken Norton, Jr as a GA.
Another point for Weis
Tim Grunhard
Bryant Young
This reminds me of when Pete Carroll had Ken Norton, Jr as a GA.
Another point for Weis
Friday, January 16, 2009
Coaching Staff Changes
At least Charlie Weis is trying.
I have no idea if Frank Verducci will be successful at Notre Dame. John Latina should have been. His pedigree was very good. But something had to be done with the offensive line.
Verducci showed success at Iowa for 10 years and his quote about players coming in young men and leaving as mature men is encouraging. Maybe there is a change of focus on the coaching staff, because that's what they need. There's no excuse for the lack of production with the amount of talent on that line.
As a Browns fan, I had never heard of Verducci because you don't know much about NFL coaching staffs outside of the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator. Those staffs have like three dozen people.
And the talk about Steve Stirpling being the defensive coordinator is VERY encouraging. You don't know who Steve Stirpling is? Think Michigan defensive line from 2005-07. Yes, he coached them.
So those would be two encouraging hires. Weis still has to fill Haywood's spot with a running backs coach and there are rumors that Polian is going to Indianapolis, leaving another spot.
Once all the changes happen, we'll take a lot at the staff and compare it from 05 to 09 and even 07/08 to 09.
I have no idea if Frank Verducci will be successful at Notre Dame. John Latina should have been. His pedigree was very good. But something had to be done with the offensive line.
Verducci showed success at Iowa for 10 years and his quote about players coming in young men and leaving as mature men is encouraging. Maybe there is a change of focus on the coaching staff, because that's what they need. There's no excuse for the lack of production with the amount of talent on that line.
As a Browns fan, I had never heard of Verducci because you don't know much about NFL coaching staffs outside of the offensive coordinator and the defensive coordinator. Those staffs have like three dozen people.
And the talk about Steve Stirpling being the defensive coordinator is VERY encouraging. You don't know who Steve Stirpling is? Think Michigan defensive line from 2005-07. Yes, he coached them.
So those would be two encouraging hires. Weis still has to fill Haywood's spot with a running backs coach and there are rumors that Polian is going to Indianapolis, leaving another spot.
Once all the changes happen, we'll take a lot at the staff and compare it from 05 to 09 and even 07/08 to 09.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
ND Basketball and Mike Brey
I know that several subscribers to this blog probably don't give 2 hoots for ND football and probably don't give 1 hoot about ND basketball. Too bad. Here's an analysis of this year's ND team from a guy that considers himself an amateur expert on college basketball:
- Defense and Rebounding - This Irish were ranked in the top 10 in the preseason because of their success last year and because they returned everyone but Rob Kurz. No one thought he was THAT big of a loss. I was even shocked to find out that he was in the NBA. We were wrong. ND has never been been renowned for its tenacious D or for protecting the defensive glass. That's what happens when you starting line-up is the cast of the suburban all-stars. Last year, they were poor with Rob Kurz; this year, they are pathetic without him. The Ohio St. and St. John's losses are directly attributable to the absence of Rob Kurz and the inability to prevent the opponents from getting offensive rebounds.
That said, Brey's system doesn't rely on defense by design. Brey knows that his team will score and score in bunches. He knows that there are maybe 8-10 teams in the country that can score with his team on a regular basis. He knows that if his team can make stops on 5 key possessions during the stretch run of just about any game, they will win. And he knows that he doesn't have the depth to allow any of his players to get into foul trouble. So he tells his players to keep their hands straight up and not to contest shots for most of the game--then the Irish get a few key stops down the stretch (aided by an energizing fan base over the past 45 home games) and earn the victory.
Impact: The primary thing that is keeping ND from being a final 4 contender.
- Lack of depth - Brey has never played with a deep bench. The Irish clearly have 3 go-to guys in Harangody (who has the bigger forehead?), Jackson, and MacAlarney. Ayers and Zeller are role players that can contribute offensively when someone else creates for them. Hillesland plays like a bitch. I don't really know what Peoples does. I like what Tyrone Nash (Soph) has done in limited minutes. Carlton Scott has been the next RuCar--instant offense--in limited minutes. The problem is just that--limited minutes. Brey played only 7 players (all Jr's/Sr's in the Seton Hall game. If KMac is going to average 39.5 minutes in the easiest 4-game stretch of the conference schedule, when is he going to get a rest? I think that the bench guys have the ability to contribute more, but they need to be given the ability.
Impact: In college, you can play with 7 for isolated games as long as you can stay out of foul trouble. You just can't do it when you're playing Seton Hall. No direct impact on the Irish, but it indirectly affects the defensive intensity (see above) and will cost the team 1-2 games because of the reliance on just a few people for scoring.
- Tory Jackson - Harangody is great--he's the reason that the Irish are a potential top-10 team instead of a potential top-20 team. MacAlarney is great--he's shooting 45% from 3pt range against the opponent's best perimeter defender each night (averaging 4-9 from 3pt range). Tory Jackson is the reason that ND will be successful this year. Tory's efficiency has been amazing this year; he is quietly shooting 42% from 3pt range (up from 27% in his first 2 years) and leading the Irish to a gawdy 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team (Tory is at 2.3-1 personally). Since the beginning of conference play, Tory is averaging 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and only 1.75 TO in 37.5 minutes per game; during those 4 games, he has shot 19-42 (45.2%) from the field and 14-16 (87.5%) from the FT line.
Impact: As Tory goes, so do the Irish. The ceiling for this year's team is dependent on the ancillary players stepping up; the base for this year's team is Tory Jackson. He is more important to this team than Harangody.
- Upcoming stretch - The next month is the most critical part of the regular season. From Jan 12 to Feb 12, ND plays @ L'ville, @ Syr, vs. UCONN, vs. Marquette, @ Pitt, @ Cincy, @ UCLA, vs. L'ville. As of today, ND is 3-1 in conference; if ND can go 4-3 in this stretch (4-4 overall) and 5-2 to close out the conference season, 11-7 in conference could be good enough to get ND a top 4 seed in the Big East tourney and a bye for the conference tournament.
Prediction: ND will not be able to have the same success against the teams in the bottom of the conference that they did last year. The Irish will drop a disappointing game @ Providence or vs. Villanova towards the end of the season and finish 10-8 in conference as the 6 or 7 seed in the Big East, go 1-1 in the Big East tourney, get a 5 seed in the NCAA's, and go to the sweet 16 but lose to the 1 seed.
- Defense and Rebounding - This Irish were ranked in the top 10 in the preseason because of their success last year and because they returned everyone but Rob Kurz. No one thought he was THAT big of a loss. I was even shocked to find out that he was in the NBA. We were wrong. ND has never been been renowned for its tenacious D or for protecting the defensive glass. That's what happens when you starting line-up is the cast of the suburban all-stars. Last year, they were poor with Rob Kurz; this year, they are pathetic without him. The Ohio St. and St. John's losses are directly attributable to the absence of Rob Kurz and the inability to prevent the opponents from getting offensive rebounds.
That said, Brey's system doesn't rely on defense by design. Brey knows that his team will score and score in bunches. He knows that there are maybe 8-10 teams in the country that can score with his team on a regular basis. He knows that if his team can make stops on 5 key possessions during the stretch run of just about any game, they will win. And he knows that he doesn't have the depth to allow any of his players to get into foul trouble. So he tells his players to keep their hands straight up and not to contest shots for most of the game--then the Irish get a few key stops down the stretch (aided by an energizing fan base over the past 45 home games) and earn the victory.
Impact: The primary thing that is keeping ND from being a final 4 contender.
- Lack of depth - Brey has never played with a deep bench. The Irish clearly have 3 go-to guys in Harangody (who has the bigger forehead?), Jackson, and MacAlarney. Ayers and Zeller are role players that can contribute offensively when someone else creates for them. Hillesland plays like a bitch. I don't really know what Peoples does. I like what Tyrone Nash (Soph) has done in limited minutes. Carlton Scott has been the next RuCar--instant offense--in limited minutes. The problem is just that--limited minutes. Brey played only 7 players (all Jr's/Sr's in the Seton Hall game. If KMac is going to average 39.5 minutes in the easiest 4-game stretch of the conference schedule, when is he going to get a rest? I think that the bench guys have the ability to contribute more, but they need to be given the ability.
Impact: In college, you can play with 7 for isolated games as long as you can stay out of foul trouble. You just can't do it when you're playing Seton Hall. No direct impact on the Irish, but it indirectly affects the defensive intensity (see above) and will cost the team 1-2 games because of the reliance on just a few people for scoring.
- Tory Jackson - Harangody is great--he's the reason that the Irish are a potential top-10 team instead of a potential top-20 team. MacAlarney is great--he's shooting 45% from 3pt range against the opponent's best perimeter defender each night (averaging 4-9 from 3pt range). Tory Jackson is the reason that ND will be successful this year. Tory's efficiency has been amazing this year; he is quietly shooting 42% from 3pt range (up from 27% in his first 2 years) and leading the Irish to a gawdy 2-1 assist-to-turnover ratio as a team (Tory is at 2.3-1 personally). Since the beginning of conference play, Tory is averaging 14.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5 assists, and only 1.75 TO in 37.5 minutes per game; during those 4 games, he has shot 19-42 (45.2%) from the field and 14-16 (87.5%) from the FT line.
Impact: As Tory goes, so do the Irish. The ceiling for this year's team is dependent on the ancillary players stepping up; the base for this year's team is Tory Jackson. He is more important to this team than Harangody.
- Upcoming stretch - The next month is the most critical part of the regular season. From Jan 12 to Feb 12, ND plays @ L'ville, @ Syr, vs. UCONN, vs. Marquette, @ Pitt, @ Cincy, @ UCLA, vs. L'ville. As of today, ND is 3-1 in conference; if ND can go 4-3 in this stretch (4-4 overall) and 5-2 to close out the conference season, 11-7 in conference could be good enough to get ND a top 4 seed in the Big East tourney and a bye for the conference tournament.
Prediction: ND will not be able to have the same success against the teams in the bottom of the conference that they did last year. The Irish will drop a disappointing game @ Providence or vs. Villanova towards the end of the season and finish 10-8 in conference as the 6 or 7 seed in the Big East, go 1-1 in the Big East tourney, get a 5 seed in the NCAA's, and go to the sweet 16 but lose to the 1 seed.
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