On Tuesday, the latest inductees to the Baseball Hall of Fame will be announced. I have a strong opinion about this subject over which, as with most sports topics, I have absolutely no influence whatsoever. But if I had a vote, here's who I'd induct:
Tony Gwynn: About a decade ago, Sports Illustrated put Gwynn on the cover, with the caption "The Greatest Hitter You'll Ever See". Truer words have not been spoken. Since Teddy Ballgame, nobody else could work as effectively and as consistently at the plate as Tony Gwynn could. He hit .338 over his career and won five batting titles while amassing 3,141 hits. He also stole 316 bases - including 56 in 1987! A class act and a joy to watch, Gwynn ought to be a first-ballot inductee.
Cal Ripken, Jr.: There once was a time when all shortstops were little guys, all glove and no bat. Remember the "Three Bad National League Shortstops Named Rafael"? Well, while they were stinking it up in Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Queens, Cal Ripken, Jr. revolutionized the position. Lost in the glory of his consecutive games streak are his awesome statistics: .276, 431 homers, 1,695 RBI, 3,184 hits. These numbers indicate why Ripken played in 2,632 games - because he was frickin' awesome. In my mind though, his greatest legacy, in a career full of great moments, was one evening in September 1995 - when he broke Gehrig's record, trotted around Camden Yards, high-fived the fans, acted every bit the gentleman he's always been, and helped baseball take its first real step toward the post-strike recovery for which so many of us yearned.
Andre Dawson: My approval of Dawson's candidacy, and rejection of Jim Rice's, may simply reflect my pro-Cubs bias. Guilty as charged. Ok, that's out of the way, so let's look at Hawk's accomplishments: Rookie of the Year in '77 and an MVP in '87. Career BA of .279, 483 homers, 314 stolen bases. His 2,774 hits are the most of anyone who's not in the Hall. Oh, and let's not forget his eight Gold Gloves. This guy was flat-out one of the best at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the field. How on earth can Dawson be kept out?!?!
Bert Blyleven: The Eddie Murray of pitchers, Bert "Be Home" Blyleven quietly put together a long, terrific career. He's fifth all-time in strikeouts, and won 287 games over 22 seasons. As Tim Kurkjian notes, there have been 21 pitchers in history who have thrown 4,500 innings and had a career ERA at least half a run better than the league average. 17 are in the Hall. Three are named Clemens, Maddux, and Glavine. The 21st is Blyleven. He should be rewarded for his consistency and longevity - not to mention his excellence.
Lee Arthur Smith: As the era of the one-inning closer began, there simply was nobody more feared in the 9th inning than Lee Smith. He was Samuel L. Jackson on the mound, before any of us knew who Samuel L. was. His 478 career saves are second all-time (Trevor Hoffman just passed him in '06). If Bruce Sutter is in, and if Goose Gossage deserves enshrinement (as he does; see below), then Smith must go as well, to round out the group.
Goose Gossage: Another long-time dominant closer, Goose absolutely belongs in Cooperstown. He was a 9-time All-Star and a key part of the winning Yankee teams of the late 70s and early 80s. I don't remember him well enough to comment personally on his skills - but he compares well with Sutter, and if Sutter's in, Goose goes, too.
Here's who I'd ultimately leave off (after much internal debate):
Jim Rice: Maybe it's because my 1980s baseball attention was focused on the National League - but while I remember Rice as a highly-regarded player, I never thought to place him among the all-time greats. Don't get me wrong: he was very, very good, and very much feared at the plate. But his solid numbers (.298, 382 HR, 1451 RBI) just don't scream Cooperstown to me. To be fair, he was an 8-time All-Star, a three-time HR champ, and has an MVP award to his name. I won't be upset if Rice gets inducted, but I won't shed any tears for him, either. I think he's legitimately a guy who falls just short.
Mark McGwire: You knew this was coming. Bill Simmons' column, discussed at this blog last week, has weighed on me quite a bit. After reading Simmons' take, I found myself without any strong justification to reject a player whose gargantuan numbers are truly unparalleled in baseball history - until I saw this quote from Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News:
"He doesn't want to talk about the past? Then I don't want to consider his past."
Simmons' excellent argument acknowledged, there remains something about McGwire's attitude toward the whole steroid issue that I cannot come to terms with and that I cannot accept. Excoriate me for this if you must. Maybe I'll soften in years to come; maybe Big Mac will. But in 2007, if McGwire wants to go to Cooperstown, he should be made to buy a ticket.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
MMBSD: Simple Math Answers to Simple Questions
Inspired by the Hitman's accourate and yet brief analysis of Colts v. Chiefs game I will attempt the same.
Where the outcomes of the NFL games this weekend predictable?
Yes
Could you elaborate?
1) Colts over Chiefs
a) Happy + learned to putt (stopped the run) = win
b) Herm + Edwards = Pat Robertson level of conservativism
2) Seahawks over Cowboys
a) First year starting QB on road + Defending NFC champion on homefield = loss
b) Parcells + increased cup size = loss
3) Pats over Jets
a) Tom + Brady + playoffs = points
b) Belichek + team that lost to the Browns = New England victory
4) Eagles over G-Men
a) Eli Manning + Second/Third Quarters = Deer in headlights
b) craptacular arm tackles + undisciplined penalties = loss
This has been an edition in simple math answers to simple questions. Thank you.
Where the outcomes of the NFL games this weekend predictable?
Yes
Could you elaborate?
1) Colts over Chiefs
a) Happy + learned to putt (stopped the run) = win
b) Herm + Edwards = Pat Robertson level of conservativism
2) Seahawks over Cowboys
a) First year starting QB on road + Defending NFC champion on homefield = loss
b) Parcells + increased cup size = loss
3) Pats over Jets
a) Tom + Brady + playoffs = points
b) Belichek + team that lost to the Browns = New England victory
4) Eagles over G-Men
a) Eli Manning + Second/Third Quarters = Deer in headlights
b) craptacular arm tackles + undisciplined penalties = loss
This has been an edition in simple math answers to simple questions. Thank you.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Baseball In The New Year
This is my first baseball post of 2007 and I’m already feeling like baseball’s around the corner. Only 41 days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training!
1. Randy Johnson. After much back and forth, and after the San Diego Padres submitted an 11th hour trade offer, the Yanks agreed in principle to send RJ back from whence he game, in exchange for a D-backs RHP relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino and three minor leaguers: RHP’s Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson and SS Alberto Gonzalez.
I’d give the Yanks a B or B- grade on this trade. The upside is that they shed another $14M in payroll (RJ’s 2007 salary, minus $2M being sent to Arizona in the trade). Considering the luxury tax implications of the Yankees’ recent payroll, shedding $14M in contract money is more like realizing a savings of $17M. Furthermore, the Yanks continue to stockpile minor league talent. Although none of the three minor leaguers were rated in the top 10 in Arizona’s system (the kids came in at 18, 19, and 20), it’s never bad to add young pitching to a system that is now suddenly replenished with arms at the AA and AAA levels. Between the Johnson and Sheffield trades, the Yanks added five young arms in exchange for $29M in payroll for 2007.
The only parts of the trade I don’t like for the Yanks are: a) they probably could’ve gotten better prospects had they been willing to send more cash to Arizona, b) their rotation, on paper, became slightly more questionable going into spring training, and c) Luis Vizcaino is not a useful relief pitcher for New York. He was ineffective for the Chicago White Sox in 2005 and has shown that he’s more suited to the light-hitting National League.
2. Doug Mientkiewicz. The Yanks also signed Doug Mientkiewicz to a one year, $1.5M contract to be their regular first baseman. Mientkiewicz is a no-hit defensive specialist. I’m not crazy about this move because “Minky”, although still above-average, is no longer considered a superb defender. Putting him out there for 550 AB’s is like putting a backup catcher out there every day. He’ll kill rallies and be a drag on the offense. My hope is that his defensive abilities will make me forget about all of his woefully ineffective AB’s but the reality is that defense at first base is pretty close to irrelevant. In short, it wasn’t a move that had to be made but I suppose this isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things – the Yanks aren’t winning or losing the division based on what Doug Mientkiewicz brings to the table.
3. Joel Piniero. The Boston Red Sox signed the former Seattle Mariner to a one year, $5M contract and will give Piniero the chance to win the closer’s job in spring training. While closers remain an overrated commodity, there is no denying that stability in the bullpen is a major factor in success during the regular season and the playoffs. The Red Sox have totally remade their bullpen this winter, moving Jonathan Papelbon to the starting rotation and importing Brendan Donnelly and JC Romero from the Minnesota Twins. Those two, together with Piniero, Mike Timlin and Julian Tavarez will form the main crux of the Red Sox relief corps.
Piniero has suffered a massive drop-off in performance since going 16-11 in 2003. However, he is still young, having only turned 28 a few months ago. Furthermore, after being demoted from the rotation late in the 2006 season, Piniero seemed to take to relief duty, posting impressive splits as a reliever vs. as a starter. Case in point, his metrics in ERA, WHIP, K/9, BAA, and BABiP improved:
As starter – 6.62/ 1.72/ 4.2/ .326/ .343
As reliever – 4.81/ 1.19/ 7.3/ .213/ .242
There’s no telling if Piniero will take to his role as closer. But there seems to be some evidence to suggest that he might make an effective reliever. And for one year, with only $5M invested, it seems like a low-risk move for the Red Sox.
1. Randy Johnson. After much back and forth, and after the San Diego Padres submitted an 11th hour trade offer, the Yanks agreed in principle to send RJ back from whence he game, in exchange for a D-backs RHP relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino and three minor leaguers: RHP’s Ross Ohlendorf and Steven Jackson and SS Alberto Gonzalez.
I’d give the Yanks a B or B- grade on this trade. The upside is that they shed another $14M in payroll (RJ’s 2007 salary, minus $2M being sent to Arizona in the trade). Considering the luxury tax implications of the Yankees’ recent payroll, shedding $14M in contract money is more like realizing a savings of $17M. Furthermore, the Yanks continue to stockpile minor league talent. Although none of the three minor leaguers were rated in the top 10 in Arizona’s system (the kids came in at 18, 19, and 20), it’s never bad to add young pitching to a system that is now suddenly replenished with arms at the AA and AAA levels. Between the Johnson and Sheffield trades, the Yanks added five young arms in exchange for $29M in payroll for 2007.
The only parts of the trade I don’t like for the Yanks are: a) they probably could’ve gotten better prospects had they been willing to send more cash to Arizona, b) their rotation, on paper, became slightly more questionable going into spring training, and c) Luis Vizcaino is not a useful relief pitcher for New York. He was ineffective for the Chicago White Sox in 2005 and has shown that he’s more suited to the light-hitting National League.
2. Doug Mientkiewicz. The Yanks also signed Doug Mientkiewicz to a one year, $1.5M contract to be their regular first baseman. Mientkiewicz is a no-hit defensive specialist. I’m not crazy about this move because “Minky”, although still above-average, is no longer considered a superb defender. Putting him out there for 550 AB’s is like putting a backup catcher out there every day. He’ll kill rallies and be a drag on the offense. My hope is that his defensive abilities will make me forget about all of his woefully ineffective AB’s but the reality is that defense at first base is pretty close to irrelevant. In short, it wasn’t a move that had to be made but I suppose this isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things – the Yanks aren’t winning or losing the division based on what Doug Mientkiewicz brings to the table.
3. Joel Piniero. The Boston Red Sox signed the former Seattle Mariner to a one year, $5M contract and will give Piniero the chance to win the closer’s job in spring training. While closers remain an overrated commodity, there is no denying that stability in the bullpen is a major factor in success during the regular season and the playoffs. The Red Sox have totally remade their bullpen this winter, moving Jonathan Papelbon to the starting rotation and importing Brendan Donnelly and JC Romero from the Minnesota Twins. Those two, together with Piniero, Mike Timlin and Julian Tavarez will form the main crux of the Red Sox relief corps.
Piniero has suffered a massive drop-off in performance since going 16-11 in 2003. However, he is still young, having only turned 28 a few months ago. Furthermore, after being demoted from the rotation late in the 2006 season, Piniero seemed to take to relief duty, posting impressive splits as a reliever vs. as a starter. Case in point, his metrics in ERA, WHIP, K/9, BAA, and BABiP improved:
As starter – 6.62/ 1.72/ 4.2/ .326/ .343
As reliever – 4.81/ 1.19/ 7.3/ .213/ .242
There’s no telling if Piniero will take to his role as closer. But there seems to be some evidence to suggest that he might make an effective reliever. And for one year, with only $5M invested, it seems like a low-risk move for the Red Sox.
Cheers and Jeers: Pine Cone Edition
Ingredients:
- 1 jigger Southern Comfort
- 1 jigger Amaretto
- 1 glass Pineapple juice
Drink this Pine cone it amuses me
Cheers: To another TFF (Charlie Weis) beat down. Has there been any coach in recent memory that is more Teflon coated? How could he be in the running for head coach of the Giants? Notre Dame despite having one of the best QBs (in theory) in college football has not beaten a single ranked team during Tits Mcgee Jr.'s tenure began. His best performance is almost beating USC. Something that
Sir, have you no shame?
Toilets are rarely gracious winners. This one taunted me but luckily was flagged for 15 yards for unnecessary celebration.
And now in honor of NFL playoff football…Jessica Biel….who has far bigger bicep muscles than you do….deal.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Garbage
Read the article:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof07/news/story?id=2717705
ESPN surveyed Hall of Fame voters for their opinions regarding Mark McGwire's presence on the Hall of Fame ballot. Only 27% said Big mac deserved to be in the hall, and 44% said Bonds deserved to be in. This is one of the most ridiculous things ive ever heard.
How can any person, let alone the supposedly-educated and unbiased HOF voters, think that Bonds deserves to be in the hall and big mac doesnt.
I completely agree 100% with what Bill Simmons said, and can only say that the HOF is not the place to make an example of someone. Big Mac should not pay the everlasting price of being blocked from the HOF because a substantial portion of the league was using performance enhancing drugs.
Frankly, i blame Bud Selig and the owners for this plight. In the 90s, when players were using steroids, the owners and Selig turned the other way and decided not to do anything about enforcement. You can't make big mac (and i guess sosa) the bearers of the punishment for this. I'm saying that these suspected steroid users should not be shunned by the hall because there was no reprecussion while they were playing.
However, i think that players who do test positive can be scrutinized because the rules have changed so the judgment can change.
Thats my story and im sticking to it.
Laz
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/hof07/news/story?id=2717705
ESPN surveyed Hall of Fame voters for their opinions regarding Mark McGwire's presence on the Hall of Fame ballot. Only 27% said Big mac deserved to be in the hall, and 44% said Bonds deserved to be in. This is one of the most ridiculous things ive ever heard.
How can any person, let alone the supposedly-educated and unbiased HOF voters, think that Bonds deserves to be in the hall and big mac doesnt.
I completely agree 100% with what Bill Simmons said, and can only say that the HOF is not the place to make an example of someone. Big Mac should not pay the everlasting price of being blocked from the HOF because a substantial portion of the league was using performance enhancing drugs.
Frankly, i blame Bud Selig and the owners for this plight. In the 90s, when players were using steroids, the owners and Selig turned the other way and decided not to do anything about enforcement. You can't make big mac (and i guess sosa) the bearers of the punishment for this. I'm saying that these suspected steroid users should not be shunned by the hall because there was no reprecussion while they were playing.
However, i think that players who do test positive can be scrutinized because the rules have changed so the judgment can change.
Thats my story and im sticking to it.
Laz
Colonel Sanders Finger Lickin' Picks For All Degenerate Gamblers Out There - Playoff Edition - Round 1
Well it appears that I am not going to take over Bill Simmons job. He seems to have bested me even with my help from the reinforcements of LTC MJ and my "no retreat, no surrender" policy of last week. Maybe next time I should have dressed like SnowJob while I am on mountain duty.
Perhaps I can take him on in the playoffs, since that will be the only time I actually gamble with Mighty's money. Onto the picks:
KC (+7) at IND: KC. Like Gutsy, I feel the logic around this pick is just weighing in favor of KC. Indy has a run defense that blows, KC has one of the best running back in the game...you do the math. Although I think after this year, LJ will need both knees replaced because Edwards is running him into the ground. Speaking of LJ, are we allowed to call him Gran Ma Ma. I know with LDT, you can't take nicknames from previous greats, but would you consider Gran MaMa a previous great? What is the rule on nicknames?
DAL (+3) at SEA: SEA. I was going to go with the whole Madden curse thing but since the game is in Seattle, I have to take the home team. Like MJ said, any of the NFC teams could win. This is why I am not betting Mighty's money on the NFC, except against them in the Super Bowl.
NYJ (+9.5) at NE: NYJ. I think that the Pats will win this game, but I also think that the Jets defense has been pretty good under the Mangina. According to my stats people, the Jets have only lost by over 10 points in three games this year, none of which was to NE, so I gotta go with the points.
NYG (+7) at PHI: PHI. Since the Eagles have won their last 3 games by more than 7 points, I have to go with them. And yes, I did pick the underdog in both AFC games and the favorite in both NFC games.
On a final note, I would just like to inform the reading public that Denver is not the land of drive bys and gang warfare. Just watch the Real World Denver and you will get an idea of how all races live in harmony in this city. However if you are a defensive player for an AFC team frequenting a party, I would not recommend coming here. You might be the victim of a drive-by or an ass shooting.
Last Week: 9-6-1
Overall: 121-121-14
Simmons Overall (even though I think that he fudged his numbers) 128-123-6...especially since his numbers don't add up to 256, which is the total amount of games. A math major he was not.
Perhaps I can take him on in the playoffs, since that will be the only time I actually gamble with Mighty's money. Onto the picks:
KC (+7) at IND: KC. Like Gutsy, I feel the logic around this pick is just weighing in favor of KC. Indy has a run defense that blows, KC has one of the best running back in the game...you do the math. Although I think after this year, LJ will need both knees replaced because Edwards is running him into the ground. Speaking of LJ, are we allowed to call him Gran Ma Ma. I know with LDT, you can't take nicknames from previous greats, but would you consider Gran MaMa a previous great? What is the rule on nicknames?
DAL (+3) at SEA: SEA. I was going to go with the whole Madden curse thing but since the game is in Seattle, I have to take the home team. Like MJ said, any of the NFC teams could win. This is why I am not betting Mighty's money on the NFC, except against them in the Super Bowl.
NYJ (+9.5) at NE: NYJ. I think that the Pats will win this game, but I also think that the Jets defense has been pretty good under the Mangina. According to my stats people, the Jets have only lost by over 10 points in three games this year, none of which was to NE, so I gotta go with the points.
NYG (+7) at PHI: PHI. Since the Eagles have won their last 3 games by more than 7 points, I have to go with them. And yes, I did pick the underdog in both AFC games and the favorite in both NFC games.
On a final note, I would just like to inform the reading public that Denver is not the land of drive bys and gang warfare. Just watch the Real World Denver and you will get an idea of how all races live in harmony in this city. However if you are a defensive player for an AFC team frequenting a party, I would not recommend coming here. You might be the victim of a drive-by or an ass shooting.
Last Week: 9-6-1
Overall: 121-121-14
Simmons Overall (even though I think that he fudged his numbers) 128-123-6...especially since his numbers don't add up to 256, which is the total amount of games. A math major he was not.
Threat Condition Midnight
Hey peeps, its been a while since I posted, but since Mighty Mike is going European for many moons, I thought I should step it up. I want to talk about the ridiculous coaching situations in the NFL.
First of all, in regards to Sgt Slaughter, a.k.a Bill Cowher, I think it shows no class at all that the Rooneys gave Cowher a timeline to make a decision. Now, I love the Browns and hate the Steelers, but I respect their organization. I respect the Rooneys because they have stuck by their football philosophy for decades. They stick by their coaches; the Steelers have had two coaches (Cowher and Chuck Noll) in 37 years, that is UNHEARD OF. It shows that the Rooneys trust their coaches and don’t fly by the seat of their pants. Also, i respect the hell out of Cowher, he’s not a showboat, he plays hard-nosed football, and he has done so for his entire career. Lots of organizations take on a whole new image every 5 or 10 years, but not the steelers, they have been a rock for decades, which is I believe they are one of the top 3 organizations in football history. However, this ultimatum to Cowher shows no class and completely goes against what they stand for, im shocked.
As far as Nick “Satan” Saban as Dan LeBatard calls him, I think that people are getting way too pissed off over this. First of all, LeBatard sucks, so everything he says is garbage. As a side note, on PTI yesterday, he said that every NFL team needs a few thuggish type players in order to be a good team (which he said while saying how good the Bengals are). Absolutely moronic, Kornheiser let him have it.
Anywhoo, I can’t believe people are crucifying Saban because he said he wasn’t gonna take the Alabama job a few weeks ago and then did. This is one of those situations in which Saban couldn’t appease everyone. Had Saban said he was gonna take the job, someone would’ve cut his balls off, so what else could he have done? I think its ridiculous that people are getting this mad at him for supposedly lying.
However, I do think that what he did was pretty dumb for leaving though and frankly he has nothing to show for his 2 years in the NFL, and in fact I think this will seriously hurt his chances of being an NFL coach ever again.
When Saban came to Miami, he had an awful team with no promise, but he got the team fired up because he portrayed that he had a future plan for the team that he would stick by and eventually the team would rise. Well, it is hard to rebuild a team in only two years (or 8 if you live in Cleveland) and for him bail after two years as the coach only leaves the team in disarray and should leave Saban feeling like he wasted two years of his life.
So, the people in the media and the people of Miami should not be mad for him lying, they should be mad because he did a shitty job as a coach and continues to leave the organization in chaos.
However, I was highly amused by Wayne Hyzinga’s (spelling?) plea to THE MEDIA of all people asking for help. That’s the equivalent of asking Pat Robertson advice on how to act morally, ZING!
Laz
First of all, in regards to Sgt Slaughter, a.k.a Bill Cowher, I think it shows no class at all that the Rooneys gave Cowher a timeline to make a decision. Now, I love the Browns and hate the Steelers, but I respect their organization. I respect the Rooneys because they have stuck by their football philosophy for decades. They stick by their coaches; the Steelers have had two coaches (Cowher and Chuck Noll) in 37 years, that is UNHEARD OF. It shows that the Rooneys trust their coaches and don’t fly by the seat of their pants. Also, i respect the hell out of Cowher, he’s not a showboat, he plays hard-nosed football, and he has done so for his entire career. Lots of organizations take on a whole new image every 5 or 10 years, but not the steelers, they have been a rock for decades, which is I believe they are one of the top 3 organizations in football history. However, this ultimatum to Cowher shows no class and completely goes against what they stand for, im shocked.
As far as Nick “Satan” Saban as Dan LeBatard calls him, I think that people are getting way too pissed off over this. First of all, LeBatard sucks, so everything he says is garbage. As a side note, on PTI yesterday, he said that every NFL team needs a few thuggish type players in order to be a good team (which he said while saying how good the Bengals are). Absolutely moronic, Kornheiser let him have it.
Anywhoo, I can’t believe people are crucifying Saban because he said he wasn’t gonna take the Alabama job a few weeks ago and then did. This is one of those situations in which Saban couldn’t appease everyone. Had Saban said he was gonna take the job, someone would’ve cut his balls off, so what else could he have done? I think its ridiculous that people are getting this mad at him for supposedly lying.
However, I do think that what he did was pretty dumb for leaving though and frankly he has nothing to show for his 2 years in the NFL, and in fact I think this will seriously hurt his chances of being an NFL coach ever again.
When Saban came to Miami, he had an awful team with no promise, but he got the team fired up because he portrayed that he had a future plan for the team that he would stick by and eventually the team would rise. Well, it is hard to rebuild a team in only two years (or 8 if you live in Cleveland) and for him bail after two years as the coach only leaves the team in disarray and should leave Saban feeling like he wasted two years of his life.
So, the people in the media and the people of Miami should not be mad for him lying, they should be mad because he did a shitty job as a coach and continues to leave the organization in chaos.
However, I was highly amused by Wayne Hyzinga’s (spelling?) plea to THE MEDIA of all people asking for help. That’s the equivalent of asking Pat Robertson advice on how to act morally, ZING!
Laz
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Welcome to the NFL Playoffs
It’s game time! The NFL Playoffs always have a special place in my heart, as it has the ability to make almost every Saturday and Sunday in January very memorable. First, I have some random issues I need to discuss:
1) Cincy radio announcers stink like the team does– I went on a road trip to Cincy for New Year’s, and I had the unfortunate experience of listening to the Cincy radio announcers for the 1st quarter of their game against the Steelers. Maybe I’m biased, but they were just terrible. The thing that drove me nuts, is that in the 45 minutes I listened, there was only one play where they actually told me what the formation was. It was really quite unbelievable, and the play-by-play guy was really focused on calling out who was in motion each play (which is nice, but pales in comparison to telling what the formation is). Call me crazy, but its really hard to enjoy a game on the radio when you have no idea if there are 2 WRs, 3 WRs, 4 WRs, a split-back, or a 2-TE set.
2) Fantasy Football Championship –First, I would like to thank all of the fans who came out and supported my team this year, because without them, the team would never have performed as well as they did. Seriously though, as much as I talk about football, I never seem to be skillful or lucky enough to put together a championship. The key this season to my BSD Championship was having the absurd team of LT, Colston, and a guy named Drew Brees. I will never have a team like this again. How I got Drew Brees was actually kind of funny, because my strategy going into this draft was to be the “last” guy to take a starting QB. I was banking on landing someone like Trent Green, Kurt Warner, etc. under this strategy. Once both Green and Warner got taken, along with just about any other QB I “thought” was worthwhile, I freaked out, abandoned my strategy, and decided to go with Brees, because I thought he was the best of the crap that was left. Clearly, I got completely lucky, because had the draft worked out the way I wanted, I would have had Trent Green.
NFL Playoff Picks
Due to the crap-tacular nature of the NFC, and the competiveness of the AFC, it makes for an extremely difficult year for handicapping.
3-Indy vs. 6-KC
It’s just so sad what’s happened to Indy. They have no rush defense, and if the Broncos would have somehow just held on last weekend against the 49ers, the Colts would have been playing the hapless Jets, which would be more of a manageable game. Instead, the Colts will need an amazing turnaround if they want to somehow be able to stop Larry Johnson. Alas, the Colts will be in for some major changes this offseason, and it should be interesting to see.
Pick: KC
4-NE vs. 5-NYJ
This ends up being an interesting matchup, because it’s another divisional tilt, and it’s the Mangina vs. Belichick, who now ignores Mangina. You couldn’t ask for a stranger sub-plot. The other weird thing is that the Jets were 6-2 on the road this year. Ultimately though, I just can’t bank on the anemic Jets offense.
Pick: NE
3-Philly vs. 6-NYG
Rule 4: 8-8 Teams don’t win playoff games. They just don’t win games. It’s simple.
Granted, TWO 8-8 teams won playoff games in 2004, but that was in the craptacular NFC, and both games involved divisional matchups. Oh my goodness, is it possible that the Giants can also win??? It’s possible, but their defense is too much in shambles for me to believe it.
Pick: Philly
4-Seattle vs. 5-Dallas
So now that Dallas has just been trampled week-after-week for the last month, everyone finally realizes that the secondary is very suspect, and a passing team can shred them apart. It appears to be a slam-dunk for Seattle, though there always is a possibility of Coach Tuna making some major adjustments.
Pick: Seattle
I’m going to pick the whole playoff tree, but I’ll be back each week to pick the matchups. So, it’s time to get to what I’m seeing in my crystal ball (which never actually happens)…
AFC
After the Chiefs beat Indy, they get a date with the familiar San Diego Super-Chargers. Could Marty Schottenheimer possibly win his first playoff game since 1993, when he was coach of the Chiefs, and they beat the Houston Oilers? I love holding on to silly myths (like Marty can’t win a playoff game), but I think that both the Chiefs and the Chargers will play conservative with Marty finally growing a pair of testicles and calling a flea flicker in the 4th quarter to provide the winning score. Meanwhile, the Baltimore defense will be giving the Patriots a merciless beating due to Cobra Commander’s new mind-reading device, enabling the Ravens to know every play of the Patriots, and enabling kicker Matt Stover to steal Tom Brady’s date the night before. In the end, the AFC will be played by two flawed teams, one with no true offense, and one with a coach who may or may not have testicles. Since the NFL went to a 12-team format, the LOSER of the first game wins only 42% of the time (Hart called me out last year, so I checked all the numbers). The Chargers lost the first game during the season against the Chargers, so the odds are against them. If the Chargers can play from behind, though, Marty will be bold enough to make the right calls to take the most complete team to the Super Bowl (plus, he will wear a hat lined with adamantium, which happens to be the only substance that can block Cobra Commander’s mind-reading device.)
NFC
Philly earns a rematch with the Saints. I’m saying Dennis Green calls the game as a the special third announcer and calls out Jeff Garcia by saying, “You are, who I thought you were!” and the Saints roll to victory. The Seahawks travel to Chicago, and once again, the Bears are vulnerable to the long-ball, this time with DJ Hackett, Burleson, and Deion Branch doing the damage. Suddenly, the crappy Seahawks go to the NFC Championship game, where they get utterly manhandled by America’s team, the New Orleans Saints.
Drew Brees Super Bowl Spectacular
Everyone will be talking about how Drew Brees left the Chargers, yet both teams are in the Super Bowl. LT will use the Brees-love-fest only as motivation to cap off a season for the ages with the Super Bowl title, the Super Bowl MVP, the touchdown record, and an offer he can’t refuse to be on the cover of Madden next season.
Editor’s Note: Gutsy seriously considered picking Baltimore vs. New Orleans in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, which would be even better than the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. http://www.ultimateshowdown.org/ Gutsy could not choose such a scenario, because it would probably result in Cobra Commander enslaving the world (and winning the football championship).
Final Stats From the Regular Season
Yahoo Average: 155-101
Peter King: 153-103
Me: 148-108 (that’s the official count, off the website of the pool I’m in, I don’t know when I screwed up the blog count.)
Manwich: 12-7 (thanks Chiefs)
Upset Special: 5-12 (I thought the Giants were going to lose out the season)
So, while a 57.8% sounds decent, it’s absolutely terrible, because the average person was hitting 60.5%, and Peter King was cashing in on every Packers victory and rubbing it in my face. I realize that Peter King beating me is pretty sad, but this will only provide me with more motivation for next season.
1) Cincy radio announcers stink like the team does– I went on a road trip to Cincy for New Year’s, and I had the unfortunate experience of listening to the Cincy radio announcers for the 1st quarter of their game against the Steelers. Maybe I’m biased, but they were just terrible. The thing that drove me nuts, is that in the 45 minutes I listened, there was only one play where they actually told me what the formation was. It was really quite unbelievable, and the play-by-play guy was really focused on calling out who was in motion each play (which is nice, but pales in comparison to telling what the formation is). Call me crazy, but its really hard to enjoy a game on the radio when you have no idea if there are 2 WRs, 3 WRs, 4 WRs, a split-back, or a 2-TE set.
2) Fantasy Football Championship –First, I would like to thank all of the fans who came out and supported my team this year, because without them, the team would never have performed as well as they did. Seriously though, as much as I talk about football, I never seem to be skillful or lucky enough to put together a championship. The key this season to my BSD Championship was having the absurd team of LT, Colston, and a guy named Drew Brees. I will never have a team like this again. How I got Drew Brees was actually kind of funny, because my strategy going into this draft was to be the “last” guy to take a starting QB. I was banking on landing someone like Trent Green, Kurt Warner, etc. under this strategy. Once both Green and Warner got taken, along with just about any other QB I “thought” was worthwhile, I freaked out, abandoned my strategy, and decided to go with Brees, because I thought he was the best of the crap that was left. Clearly, I got completely lucky, because had the draft worked out the way I wanted, I would have had Trent Green.
NFL Playoff Picks
Due to the crap-tacular nature of the NFC, and the competiveness of the AFC, it makes for an extremely difficult year for handicapping.
3-Indy vs. 6-KC
It’s just so sad what’s happened to Indy. They have no rush defense, and if the Broncos would have somehow just held on last weekend against the 49ers, the Colts would have been playing the hapless Jets, which would be more of a manageable game. Instead, the Colts will need an amazing turnaround if they want to somehow be able to stop Larry Johnson. Alas, the Colts will be in for some major changes this offseason, and it should be interesting to see.
Pick: KC
4-NE vs. 5-NYJ
This ends up being an interesting matchup, because it’s another divisional tilt, and it’s the Mangina vs. Belichick, who now ignores Mangina. You couldn’t ask for a stranger sub-plot. The other weird thing is that the Jets were 6-2 on the road this year. Ultimately though, I just can’t bank on the anemic Jets offense.
Pick: NE
3-Philly vs. 6-NYG
Rule 4: 8-8 Teams don’t win playoff games. They just don’t win games. It’s simple.
Granted, TWO 8-8 teams won playoff games in 2004, but that was in the craptacular NFC, and both games involved divisional matchups. Oh my goodness, is it possible that the Giants can also win??? It’s possible, but their defense is too much in shambles for me to believe it.
Pick: Philly
4-Seattle vs. 5-Dallas
So now that Dallas has just been trampled week-after-week for the last month, everyone finally realizes that the secondary is very suspect, and a passing team can shred them apart. It appears to be a slam-dunk for Seattle, though there always is a possibility of Coach Tuna making some major adjustments.
Pick: Seattle
I’m going to pick the whole playoff tree, but I’ll be back each week to pick the matchups. So, it’s time to get to what I’m seeing in my crystal ball (which never actually happens)…
AFC
After the Chiefs beat Indy, they get a date with the familiar San Diego Super-Chargers. Could Marty Schottenheimer possibly win his first playoff game since 1993, when he was coach of the Chiefs, and they beat the Houston Oilers? I love holding on to silly myths (like Marty can’t win a playoff game), but I think that both the Chiefs and the Chargers will play conservative with Marty finally growing a pair of testicles and calling a flea flicker in the 4th quarter to provide the winning score. Meanwhile, the Baltimore defense will be giving the Patriots a merciless beating due to Cobra Commander’s new mind-reading device, enabling the Ravens to know every play of the Patriots, and enabling kicker Matt Stover to steal Tom Brady’s date the night before. In the end, the AFC will be played by two flawed teams, one with no true offense, and one with a coach who may or may not have testicles. Since the NFL went to a 12-team format, the LOSER of the first game wins only 42% of the time (Hart called me out last year, so I checked all the numbers). The Chargers lost the first game during the season against the Chargers, so the odds are against them. If the Chargers can play from behind, though, Marty will be bold enough to make the right calls to take the most complete team to the Super Bowl (plus, he will wear a hat lined with adamantium, which happens to be the only substance that can block Cobra Commander’s mind-reading device.)
NFC
Philly earns a rematch with the Saints. I’m saying Dennis Green calls the game as a the special third announcer and calls out Jeff Garcia by saying, “You are, who I thought you were!” and the Saints roll to victory. The Seahawks travel to Chicago, and once again, the Bears are vulnerable to the long-ball, this time with DJ Hackett, Burleson, and Deion Branch doing the damage. Suddenly, the crappy Seahawks go to the NFC Championship game, where they get utterly manhandled by America’s team, the New Orleans Saints.
Drew Brees Super Bowl Spectacular
Everyone will be talking about how Drew Brees left the Chargers, yet both teams are in the Super Bowl. LT will use the Brees-love-fest only as motivation to cap off a season for the ages with the Super Bowl title, the Super Bowl MVP, the touchdown record, and an offer he can’t refuse to be on the cover of Madden next season.
Editor’s Note: Gutsy seriously considered picking Baltimore vs. New Orleans in the ultimate battle of good vs. evil, which would be even better than the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny. http://www.ultimateshowdown.org/ Gutsy could not choose such a scenario, because it would probably result in Cobra Commander enslaving the world (and winning the football championship).
Final Stats From the Regular Season
Yahoo Average: 155-101
Peter King: 153-103
Me: 148-108 (that’s the official count, off the website of the pool I’m in, I don’t know when I screwed up the blog count.)
Manwich: 12-7 (thanks Chiefs)
Upset Special: 5-12 (I thought the Giants were going to lose out the season)
So, while a 57.8% sounds decent, it’s absolutely terrible, because the average person was hitting 60.5%, and Peter King was cashing in on every Packers victory and rubbing it in my face. I realize that Peter King beating me is pretty sad, but this will only provide me with more motivation for next season.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Decisive Action Necessary
Here’s something I’ve never understood – the concept of a coach “saving his job” by winning one game. As far as I’m concerned, if a GM or owner has decided that the coach is on thin ice then a change has to happen, regardless of whether the team wins or not. Obviously there are extenuating circumstances, such as when Jeff Van Gundy led the eighth-seeded New York Knicks to an improbable run to the NBA Finals in 1999 or when Jim Fassel made his “playoffs” speech after the New York Giants dropped to 7-4 and then ran off seven straight wins, making it to Super Bowl XXXV.
I bring this up because pundits and fans are saying that Coach Coughlin might have to beat Philadelphia in the playoffs next Sunday in order to save his job. What would be the point? If he is perceived to be so weak and disrespected in his own locker-room, if he is so ill-regarded by his own players, then why should one meager victory change his fate? Why would the Giants want to go through this again next year? It seems pretty arbitrary that a coach should be spared the hangman’s noose if he is able to win one game.
Please keep in mind that I am a big fan of Tom Coughlin’s. I think he’s the unfortunate victim of some incredibly selfish and undisciplined players who can only be controlled in short doses. But at this point I see the benefits of letting him go. And no margin of victory (or defeat) should spare Coughlin at this point.
I bring this up because pundits and fans are saying that Coach Coughlin might have to beat Philadelphia in the playoffs next Sunday in order to save his job. What would be the point? If he is perceived to be so weak and disrespected in his own locker-room, if he is so ill-regarded by his own players, then why should one meager victory change his fate? Why would the Giants want to go through this again next year? It seems pretty arbitrary that a coach should be spared the hangman’s noose if he is able to win one game.
Please keep in mind that I am a big fan of Tom Coughlin’s. I think he’s the unfortunate victim of some incredibly selfish and undisciplined players who can only be controlled in short doses. But at this point I see the benefits of letting him go. And no margin of victory (or defeat) should spare Coughlin at this point.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Two Things On Baseball
1. Let me be very clear about this: I am not in favor of steroid use in baseball (or any other sport, for that matter). The “Steroids Era” has made me skeptical of every record or accomplishment achieved in baseball since 1995 and, likewise, has made me doubt the integrity of most of the game’s elite players. I’d love to see baseball cleaned up but I’m not naïve enough to think that rogue medicine won’t always be one step ahead of testing and enforcement.
That being said, I’m not in favor of witch-hunts or the ridiculous hypocrisy that goes along with any conversation about steroids in baseball. Ballplayers are being blamed for something that was condoned and encouraged by all levels of baseball hierarchy, from the commissioner, to the owners, to the GM’s, to the writers and commentators, right down to the fans.
The biggest perpetrator of this unjustified witch-hunting has been our own government, which, in their attempts to nail Barry Bonds, seems willing to trample on the rights of every single American perceived to be standing in their way. Peter Abraham frames the scenario in a way which is easy to understand without oversimplifying things. Read this and tell me if you’re as disgusted as I am.
2. The San Francisco Giants signed Barry Zito to a seven year, $126M contract with an option for an eighth season also at $18M. That is just way too much money to pay a pitcher, even if he’s proven to be durable and is still relatively young. Barry Zito has never been a game-changing ace like a Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, or Roger Clemens and is more of a #2 or #3 starter in terms of stuff and ability. Not only do I not understand why they didn’t make an offer to Jason Schmidt but why they were willing to double what Schmidt got from the Dodgers. I have a hard time seeing Zito finishing this contract in San Fran and I fully expect the Giants to eat a big chunk of his money in three or four years when they look for potential trade partners.
Of course, the biggest losers in all of this are the New York Mets. The Mets wanted Zito. Hell, they needed Zito. They tried to go for Suppan last weekend but missed the boat. While I praise the Mets for showing restraint in not offering more than five years, they certainly should’ve offered more than the $75M. Had they gone up to $18M a year, perhaps Zito would be in their rotation. Now, the Mets have to figure out how to repeat as NL East champs with Glavine and El Duque as their #1 and #2 and hope that Pedro does indeed come back in July and not much later.
That was my last baseball post in 2006. It’s been a good year for me in the baseball department – I learned a lot and expanded my interests into the minor leagues and statistical analysis. I hope some of my posts have been interesting and informative. Happy New Year to all.
That being said, I’m not in favor of witch-hunts or the ridiculous hypocrisy that goes along with any conversation about steroids in baseball. Ballplayers are being blamed for something that was condoned and encouraged by all levels of baseball hierarchy, from the commissioner, to the owners, to the GM’s, to the writers and commentators, right down to the fans.
The biggest perpetrator of this unjustified witch-hunting has been our own government, which, in their attempts to nail Barry Bonds, seems willing to trample on the rights of every single American perceived to be standing in their way. Peter Abraham frames the scenario in a way which is easy to understand without oversimplifying things. Read this and tell me if you’re as disgusted as I am.
2. The San Francisco Giants signed Barry Zito to a seven year, $126M contract with an option for an eighth season also at $18M. That is just way too much money to pay a pitcher, even if he’s proven to be durable and is still relatively young. Barry Zito has never been a game-changing ace like a Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, or Roger Clemens and is more of a #2 or #3 starter in terms of stuff and ability. Not only do I not understand why they didn’t make an offer to Jason Schmidt but why they were willing to double what Schmidt got from the Dodgers. I have a hard time seeing Zito finishing this contract in San Fran and I fully expect the Giants to eat a big chunk of his money in three or four years when they look for potential trade partners.
Of course, the biggest losers in all of this are the New York Mets. The Mets wanted Zito. Hell, they needed Zito. They tried to go for Suppan last weekend but missed the boat. While I praise the Mets for showing restraint in not offering more than five years, they certainly should’ve offered more than the $75M. Had they gone up to $18M a year, perhaps Zito would be in their rotation. Now, the Mets have to figure out how to repeat as NL East champs with Glavine and El Duque as their #1 and #2 and hope that Pedro does indeed come back in July and not much later.
That was my last baseball post in 2006. It’s been a good year for me in the baseball department – I learned a lot and expanded my interests into the minor leagues and statistical analysis. I hope some of my posts have been interesting and informative. Happy New Year to all.
The Joys of (200)6: Hitman's Year in Review, Part IV
Top 6 Teams of 2006:
6. Florida Gators: Lost in the excitement of the George Mason cinderella story (see below) was the fabulous performance of the Florida Gator's men's basketball team. It's nice to see Billy Donovan getting his due as a top coach, after the title he won for Gainesville this spring. Led by Joakim "I am as Good as I am Ugly" Noah and Corey Brewer, the Gators conquered all in an impressive, fun romp to the title.
5. Italy: The Azzurri finished first in the "Group of Death", squeaked by Australia in a tight Round of 16 match, then blasted Ukraine to reach the semis. There, they handed the host Germans their first loss ever in Dortmund. In the World Cup championship against France, the team survived "The Headbutt Heard 'Round the World" en route to a penalty-kick win. Great, gritty World Cup performance by a seasoned, exciting team.
4. Miami Heat: Sports announcers love to use the "Team of Destiny" tag when playoff season rolls around and one team starts winning games in spite of everything. Miami didn't quite battle the adversity that previous Teams of Destiny did, but they did climb the mountain in some very exciting, hard-fought series - the first round against Chicago and the Finals against Dallas, most notably. They very clearly deserved the title, for the way they jelled toward the end of the season and into the postseason.
3. New Orleans Saints: The new America's Team! What a great story coming out of the Crescent City this fall. How do you root against these guys? Is there a more memorable play from the 2006 season than the blocked punt for a TD on Monday night against Atlanta, in the first game back in the Superdome? But this team isn't just about the return to the devastated New Orleans and the pick-me-up it's providing to the City's residents. There's the steady hand of the cast-off, Drew Brees, and the emerging rookies, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. No matter what happens in the playoffs, we'll all remember this team.
2. Detroit Tigers: Nobody - and I mean nobody - saw this one coming. Everybody loves an underdog, and a surprise underdog even more - but what impressed me most about the Tigers is that they weren't just getting lucky. This team played fundamental baseball about as well as it can be played, and it was that discipline more than anything else that got Detroit into the World Series. In the end, the talent wasn't quite there - but like the '02 Angels, '03 Marlins, and '05 White Sox before them, this team showed that when you play baseball "the right way," you can get a lot farther than teams with more talent and less focus.
1. George Mason: The little engine that could - George Mason was a lowly revolutionary and an unknown school before the 11th-seeded Patriots romped to the Final Four. There simply was no better story in sports in 2006 than what this team did in March. With apologies to Coach Jim Larranga for not making my Top 6 Coaches list, I name the George Mason men's basketball team as Team of the Year.
*Of course, I hope that 2007 brings GMU a #1 seed and a first-round loss to #16 Mississippi Valley State - it's madness!
Happy New Year to all the Back Seat Drivers!
6. Florida Gators: Lost in the excitement of the George Mason cinderella story (see below) was the fabulous performance of the Florida Gator's men's basketball team. It's nice to see Billy Donovan getting his due as a top coach, after the title he won for Gainesville this spring. Led by Joakim "I am as Good as I am Ugly" Noah and Corey Brewer, the Gators conquered all in an impressive, fun romp to the title.
5. Italy: The Azzurri finished first in the "Group of Death", squeaked by Australia in a tight Round of 16 match, then blasted Ukraine to reach the semis. There, they handed the host Germans their first loss ever in Dortmund. In the World Cup championship against France, the team survived "The Headbutt Heard 'Round the World" en route to a penalty-kick win. Great, gritty World Cup performance by a seasoned, exciting team.
4. Miami Heat: Sports announcers love to use the "Team of Destiny" tag when playoff season rolls around and one team starts winning games in spite of everything. Miami didn't quite battle the adversity that previous Teams of Destiny did, but they did climb the mountain in some very exciting, hard-fought series - the first round against Chicago and the Finals against Dallas, most notably. They very clearly deserved the title, for the way they jelled toward the end of the season and into the postseason.
3. New Orleans Saints: The new America's Team! What a great story coming out of the Crescent City this fall. How do you root against these guys? Is there a more memorable play from the 2006 season than the blocked punt for a TD on Monday night against Atlanta, in the first game back in the Superdome? But this team isn't just about the return to the devastated New Orleans and the pick-me-up it's providing to the City's residents. There's the steady hand of the cast-off, Drew Brees, and the emerging rookies, Reggie Bush and Marques Colston. No matter what happens in the playoffs, we'll all remember this team.
2. Detroit Tigers: Nobody - and I mean nobody - saw this one coming. Everybody loves an underdog, and a surprise underdog even more - but what impressed me most about the Tigers is that they weren't just getting lucky. This team played fundamental baseball about as well as it can be played, and it was that discipline more than anything else that got Detroit into the World Series. In the end, the talent wasn't quite there - but like the '02 Angels, '03 Marlins, and '05 White Sox before them, this team showed that when you play baseball "the right way," you can get a lot farther than teams with more talent and less focus.
1. George Mason: The little engine that could - George Mason was a lowly revolutionary and an unknown school before the 11th-seeded Patriots romped to the Final Four. There simply was no better story in sports in 2006 than what this team did in March. With apologies to Coach Jim Larranga for not making my Top 6 Coaches list, I name the George Mason men's basketball team as Team of the Year.
*Of course, I hope that 2007 brings GMU a #1 seed and a first-round loss to #16 Mississippi Valley State - it's madness!
Happy New Year to all the Back Seat Drivers!
Week 17 - The End of the Beginning
There are so many crazy playoff scenarios for this week. I’m not sure whether I should be biased, and just pick the outcome I want to happen, or just pick the games as normal. I’m going to try picking the games as normal without looking too much at the playoff scenarios (though it was impossible to avoid knowing that the JETS and the Broncos only need wins to get in). Last week, I picked with my heart and ended up going 5-11. Ouch! I’m still in utter shock that the Green Bay Packers, the Packers!, are in probably the best position to make the playoffs if the Giants should lose to Washington.
Manwich Matchup of the Week
Jacksonville at Kansas City – Because this is a 1PM game, and both teams are 8-7, this is certainly the sexiest matchup on the schedule. No matter how silly it sounds, I think I have to go with KC at home, rather than Jacksonville on the road, simply because of their respective home and road records. Pick: KC
Upset of the Week?
NYG @ Washington- Well, I’m not really sure what to make of the Giants. I mean, the odds are actually pretty high right now that they are going to just lose out the season, and fail to qualify. I don’t expect all the 7-8 NFC teams to lose, though part of me is rooting for that to happen. Pick: Washington
New England at Tennessee- Tennessee needs too much help to get in the playoffs. If I picked with my heart, I would pick the scenario allowing the Titans to be the first 0-5 team EVER to make the playoffs. It’s strange how my 2007 playoff chant about a month ago almost has turned into a 2006 playoff appearance. Pick: Tennessee
Atlanta at Philadelphia – Atlanta’s another team that is just fading away. Gotta stick with the red-hot Jeff Garcia. Pick: Philly
Buffalo at Baltimore – Baltimore is still playing for a bye, and possibly even homefield. Pick: Baltimore
Carolina at New Orleans – I’m extremely torn on this game. But my rule of thumb is to typically go against the team with nothing to play for, and the Saints are locked in at the #2 seed. Pick: CAR
Cleveland at Houston – QB Ken Dorsey is starting for the Browns. This guy once was like 38-2 in college football, and then went to the pros… and the rest is history. Pick: Houston
Detroit at Dallas – Even the Cowboys can take down the Lions. Right? If the Lions win, that would be like Rocky Balboa fighting his son after a boxing match for the “Right to Fight” under the Balboa name. I still think Rocky Balboa will find a way to make a Rocky 7, because Rocky is a winner. Pick: Dallas
Green Bay at Chicago – Welcome to your Sunday Night matchup! The Bears are resting everyone, and the NFL Network is hoping people tune in to watch Favre’s (possibly) last game. Honestly, I don’t understand the enfatuation with watching someone’s LAST game. Usually, the person is past-their-prime, makes lots of mistakes, and its just an utter disaster. Pick: Chicago
Miami at Indianapolis – Who the hell is Miami QB Cleo Lemon? Sounds like a fortune-telling used car salesman to me. Pick: Indy
Oakland at N.Y. Jets – Such bullshit. Pick: Jets
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – Of all the strange losses by the Steelers, the one that certainly seemed to seal their fate was that loss to the RAIDERS when they had like 6 turnovers. Imagine if the Steelers had won that game, and both the Steelers and the Bengals were 8-7 in this game? Now, that would have certainly qualified for Manwich status. Pick: Cincy
Seattle at Tampa Bay – I don’t believe that Seattle even cares at this point. Pick: Tampa Bay
St. Louis at Minnesota – Yawnn… I’m just going to think back to when both teams were good, and Kurt Warner and Randy Moss were awesome. Pick: St. Louis.
Arizona at San Diego – The Chargers are going to lock up homefield in a place that they haven’t lost yet this year! Pick: San Diego
San Francisco at Denver- What bad luck for all the other AFC teams. Pick: Denver
[Under my game-by-game predictions, Jets and Denver are AFC wildcards and based on the NFL.com playoff scenarios http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9817776 , the CAR Panthers end up making the playoffs! Actually, it does seem like all of the NFC 7-8 teams could lose this week! FYI – I just picked 14 home teams and only 2 road teams. That’s never going to happen.]
Last Week: 5-11 (I hope that’s the worst I’ve ever been)
Season: 134-105
Manwich: 10-7 (Stupid Jaguars)
Upset of the Week: 5-11 (The Titans cannot be stopped!)
Manwich Matchup of the Week
Jacksonville at Kansas City – Because this is a 1PM game, and both teams are 8-7, this is certainly the sexiest matchup on the schedule. No matter how silly it sounds, I think I have to go with KC at home, rather than Jacksonville on the road, simply because of their respective home and road records. Pick: KC
Upset of the Week?
NYG @ Washington- Well, I’m not really sure what to make of the Giants. I mean, the odds are actually pretty high right now that they are going to just lose out the season, and fail to qualify. I don’t expect all the 7-8 NFC teams to lose, though part of me is rooting for that to happen. Pick: Washington
New England at Tennessee- Tennessee needs too much help to get in the playoffs. If I picked with my heart, I would pick the scenario allowing the Titans to be the first 0-5 team EVER to make the playoffs. It’s strange how my 2007 playoff chant about a month ago almost has turned into a 2006 playoff appearance. Pick: Tennessee
Atlanta at Philadelphia – Atlanta’s another team that is just fading away. Gotta stick with the red-hot Jeff Garcia. Pick: Philly
Buffalo at Baltimore – Baltimore is still playing for a bye, and possibly even homefield. Pick: Baltimore
Carolina at New Orleans – I’m extremely torn on this game. But my rule of thumb is to typically go against the team with nothing to play for, and the Saints are locked in at the #2 seed. Pick: CAR
Cleveland at Houston – QB Ken Dorsey is starting for the Browns. This guy once was like 38-2 in college football, and then went to the pros… and the rest is history. Pick: Houston
Detroit at Dallas – Even the Cowboys can take down the Lions. Right? If the Lions win, that would be like Rocky Balboa fighting his son after a boxing match for the “Right to Fight” under the Balboa name. I still think Rocky Balboa will find a way to make a Rocky 7, because Rocky is a winner. Pick: Dallas
Green Bay at Chicago – Welcome to your Sunday Night matchup! The Bears are resting everyone, and the NFL Network is hoping people tune in to watch Favre’s (possibly) last game. Honestly, I don’t understand the enfatuation with watching someone’s LAST game. Usually, the person is past-their-prime, makes lots of mistakes, and its just an utter disaster. Pick: Chicago
Miami at Indianapolis – Who the hell is Miami QB Cleo Lemon? Sounds like a fortune-telling used car salesman to me. Pick: Indy
Oakland at N.Y. Jets – Such bullshit. Pick: Jets
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati – Of all the strange losses by the Steelers, the one that certainly seemed to seal their fate was that loss to the RAIDERS when they had like 6 turnovers. Imagine if the Steelers had won that game, and both the Steelers and the Bengals were 8-7 in this game? Now, that would have certainly qualified for Manwich status. Pick: Cincy
Seattle at Tampa Bay – I don’t believe that Seattle even cares at this point. Pick: Tampa Bay
St. Louis at Minnesota – Yawnn… I’m just going to think back to when both teams were good, and Kurt Warner and Randy Moss were awesome. Pick: St. Louis.
Arizona at San Diego – The Chargers are going to lock up homefield in a place that they haven’t lost yet this year! Pick: San Diego
San Francisco at Denver- What bad luck for all the other AFC teams. Pick: Denver
[Under my game-by-game predictions, Jets and Denver are AFC wildcards and based on the NFL.com playoff scenarios http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9817776 , the CAR Panthers end up making the playoffs! Actually, it does seem like all of the NFC 7-8 teams could lose this week! FYI – I just picked 14 home teams and only 2 road teams. That’s never going to happen.]
Last Week: 5-11 (I hope that’s the worst I’ve ever been)
Season: 134-105
Manwich: 10-7 (Stupid Jaguars)
Upset of the Week: 5-11 (The Titans cannot be stopped!)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
The Joys of (200)6: Hitman's Year in Review, Part III
Top 6 Players of 2006
6. Carlos Beltran: I sang the praises of Beltran all season long. In my opinion, and with apologies to Ryan Howard, Carlos should have been the NL MVP. Beltran hit .275 with 41 homers and 116 RBI, leading the Mets to the division crown and the best record in baseball (tied with the Yanks). No player meant more to his team than Beltran did to the Mets in '06. His production slipped in September - but the Mets are not playing in October without Beltran, who finally earned that big paycheck. He was a joy to watch this year.
5. LaDanian Tomlinson: I don't need to elaborate on his 1,749 rushing yards, 494 receiving yards, and 31 touchdowns to date. But I will, with this thought: is there a classier superstar in sports today? LDT is unbelievably dominant and is the biggest reason why San Diego is the current favorite to win a title. What does LDT do when he scores? He flips the ball to the official, takes the pats on the back, and heads to the sideline. No showboating, no dancing, no bullshit. He is a true role model on and off the field - someone a lot of his peers could learn from.
4. Troy Smith: I can't write a lot about this guy because, as a Buckeye, he represents evil incarnate. But dammit, this frickin' devil is one hell of a football player. On an extremely talented team, clearly the best in the country, Smith rightly stood out as its leader and playmaker. His 2006 campaign is one of the best any of us have seen in our lifetimes.
3. Dwyane Wade: Raise your hand if, after the 2003 draft, you thought Wade would win a title before LeBron and 'Melo. If you're raising your hand, you're a bold-faced liar! Here's a guy who was highly regarded by scouts and unheralded in the media, because of the other superstars who went before him. 2006 was D-Wade's coming out party, a year in which he averaged 27.2 points per game, and most importantly, put his team on his back to fight back from an 0-2 Finals deficit. Not to take anything away from James and Anthony - but Wade is the yardstick of the 2003 Draft. What a tremendous year from a tremendous athlete.
2. Vince Young: Young single-handedly muscled Texas over USC for the college football crown, and now, as a rookie, is 8-4 and has the Tennessee Titans poised for an unlikely playoff berth. I don't think they'll beat the Pats, so I think the Titans will be home for January - but if they slipped in at #6, you think the Colts want to see them next weekend? I can't remember the last time a rookie had such a tremendous impact on championships in both college and the pros in one calendar year.
1. Roger Federer: I can't believe this guy lost in the French Open finals! He sucks! What, does winning the Australian Open for a second straight year, Wimbledon for the fourth straight year, and the U.S. Open for a third straight year makes him some kind of superstar? Sheesh.
6. Carlos Beltran: I sang the praises of Beltran all season long. In my opinion, and with apologies to Ryan Howard, Carlos should have been the NL MVP. Beltran hit .275 with 41 homers and 116 RBI, leading the Mets to the division crown and the best record in baseball (tied with the Yanks). No player meant more to his team than Beltran did to the Mets in '06. His production slipped in September - but the Mets are not playing in October without Beltran, who finally earned that big paycheck. He was a joy to watch this year.
5. LaDanian Tomlinson: I don't need to elaborate on his 1,749 rushing yards, 494 receiving yards, and 31 touchdowns to date. But I will, with this thought: is there a classier superstar in sports today? LDT is unbelievably dominant and is the biggest reason why San Diego is the current favorite to win a title. What does LDT do when he scores? He flips the ball to the official, takes the pats on the back, and heads to the sideline. No showboating, no dancing, no bullshit. He is a true role model on and off the field - someone a lot of his peers could learn from.
4. Troy Smith: I can't write a lot about this guy because, as a Buckeye, he represents evil incarnate. But dammit, this frickin' devil is one hell of a football player. On an extremely talented team, clearly the best in the country, Smith rightly stood out as its leader and playmaker. His 2006 campaign is one of the best any of us have seen in our lifetimes.
3. Dwyane Wade: Raise your hand if, after the 2003 draft, you thought Wade would win a title before LeBron and 'Melo. If you're raising your hand, you're a bold-faced liar! Here's a guy who was highly regarded by scouts and unheralded in the media, because of the other superstars who went before him. 2006 was D-Wade's coming out party, a year in which he averaged 27.2 points per game, and most importantly, put his team on his back to fight back from an 0-2 Finals deficit. Not to take anything away from James and Anthony - but Wade is the yardstick of the 2003 Draft. What a tremendous year from a tremendous athlete.
2. Vince Young: Young single-handedly muscled Texas over USC for the college football crown, and now, as a rookie, is 8-4 and has the Tennessee Titans poised for an unlikely playoff berth. I don't think they'll beat the Pats, so I think the Titans will be home for January - but if they slipped in at #6, you think the Colts want to see them next weekend? I can't remember the last time a rookie had such a tremendous impact on championships in both college and the pros in one calendar year.
1. Roger Federer: I can't believe this guy lost in the French Open finals! He sucks! What, does winning the Australian Open for a second straight year, Wimbledon for the fourth straight year, and the U.S. Open for a third straight year makes him some kind of superstar? Sheesh.
Bowl Predictions
Well the Bowl Season is almost upon us and as most of us will require help operating the tv remote in order to watch the games on New Years Day I thought it would be smart to start the Great Bowl Pickoff Challenge. Picking Bowl Games is much like predicting the weather, few people are good at it. I mean who knows how a team will show up after being off 30-50 days. Its like a different season. I think some seniors might be eligible for social security by the time the BCS Championship Fiesta Bowl Presented by Trojan Ford Microsoft blah blah blah. (Fucking Corporate Sponsors. Guess what just because of your insistent ads I'm not going to use Sugar, Oranges, Cheetos or Roses. I might buckle under and eat some tostitos. I mean what else would eat with all this dip?
Alright so here's the list of things to watch for Bowl Season (just select which applies to you)
Dec 31 Nevada v. Miami
This is the game you should be watching while preparing to head out wherever it is that your poisoning your liver/sacrificing bulls to Jupiter/ wearing funny hats. Why you ask? Because Miami (or the U as they say among the ex-convicts) is playing in Idaho. How great is that?
Pick: Miami
Jan 1
11 AM - Outback Bowl Penn State v. Tennessee
At this point in the morning you should very angry that sunlight exists/ cuddling with your significant other/ cuddling with your favorite stuffed animal/ cursing that asshole who turned on the tv to watch Penn State and Tennessee. I think the major story lines here at will Joe Pa man the sidelines on foot or some scooter and how many pies will the Tennessee coach eat during the game (over/under of 4). This game should be slow so you don't have to be fully cognizant yet.
Pick: Tennessee
1 PM - Capital One Bowl - Wisconsin v. Arkansas
At this point you should have rolled out of the bed/off the floor/dragged self out of bathroom and are now stationed in living room watching the tube. The capital one bowl I think is a good foreshadowing of the SEC v. Big 10 Championship Game on Jan 8. Arkansas' Coach McNutt is starting with his QB Dick. I couldn't make that up if I tried. On the Wisconsin side are very large farm boys that are playing for pride and bratwursts. According to Publius, Bratwursts are tasty and can be used to keep Jewish Vampires away.
Pick: Wisconsin.
5 PM - Rose Bowl - Trojans v. Wolverines
Well according to ABC the road to the Rose Bowl is paved with Trojans. I can only say I'm pretty angry I wasn't invited to this party. Nonetheless its a battle of the disgruntled. USC lost in a close match to its cross-city rival UCLA which gave away their shot at the championship. The Maize and Blue lost the BCS vote brought to you by Diebold. Which team(s) will show up? Will they take their anger out on the opposition or did they spend the time off sulking? Will Lloyd Carr perform his tribute to James Brown by singing "I'm Just a Sex Machine" at halftime or after the game? While enjoying this game you should be checking to make sure you have a light dinner/ making sure you've hidden the remote so no one can change the channel/ checking to make sure you're in the right city.
Pick: Wolverines
Jan 3 Sugar Bowl - Notre Dame v. LSU
I think the only question here is will LSU be sober enough to play the game. The Tigers are playing in the Superdome and have been home near Bourbon street for awhile now. That doesn't sound promising. Notre Dame better hope that LSU has had one too many drinks otherwise Charlie Weis' team will get crushed once again by a top 10 team
Pick: LSU Wins While Drunk
I'll save my analysis for TOSU v. Florida for next year. I just wanted to thank everyone for all their work and postings. It really is a joy to wake up or go to bed reading your guys analysis. I realize I might not express it but I certainly learn a ton from all of you. Happy and Healthy New Year to one and all!
Colonel Sanders Finger Lickin' Picks For All Degenerate Gamblers Out There - Week 17
This is the do or die week. I am backed up against the fence. I want to beat the bitter Bill Simmons and beat him badly however it seems that he might be jumping ahead of me. I know this is a little early to post my picks. I normally do it after Gutsy, but there is a storm brewing in these parts and after shoveling out of 2 feet of snow last week, I figured I would do it while I have access to a computer. Ok onto this weeks important picks
NYG (-1) at WAS: WAS. MJ just told me that whatever I do, take the Skins. I will follow the logic of the great wizard, not the one from the Baseball Bunch but MJ. I even think he might be the one on the far left.
CAR (-3) at NO: NO. This is a tough one because I don't know if the Saints will play their scrubs since they have #2 locked in or will they want to put the beat down on the CAR. Gotta go with the home dog in any case.
CLE (+4) at HOU: HOU. After using Cleveland's starting QB last week on my fantasy team I will never ever go with Cleveland ever again. Even if they are playing the Texans.
DET (+13) at DAL: DET. I am sure they are going to pack it in and go on the #1 pick stakes...perhaps they will be interested in one of the UM defenders. However, 13 points seems to be a bit high.
JAC (+1) at KC: KC. I still go with the idea that nobody beats KC in KC in the winter.
NE (+3) at TENN: NE. NE still has something to play for. The way Indy is playing now they really could lose to Miami. With Brady and Co, this will be a great game but NE will win.
OAK (+13) at NYJ: OAK. The Jets will probably win but not by 13 points. Oakland will be in the #1 stake with Detroit by the end of the day.
PIT (+6) at CIN: CIN. This is another tough matchup. Not a good week to take on Simmons. I am still in shock about the "kick", and will not lose hope in the Bungals.
SEA (+3.5) at TB: SEA. Seattle still has something to play for and Shalex needs to make LDT believe that there is not a Madden Curse out there so that he won't be hesitant to appear on the cover.
STL (-1) at MINN: STL. St Louis has something play for, Minnesota does not.
ATL (+9) at PHI: ATL. Whatever happened to the Falcons. Michael Vick was on a run and they just collapsed. And speaking of Vicks, I saw his brother is playing for the Dolphins. I can't wait until Ricky Williams comes back, him and Marcus will keep the people of CSI Miami very busy.
BUFF (+9) at BAL: BAL. Although I wish that the Cobras would just curl up and be eaten by a Mongoose, I think they have more to play for and should breeze by the Bills.
MIA (+9) at IND: MIA. Another one of those bets that I probably will lose, but it is all or nothing right now. Indy is not that good this year.
ARI (+13.5) at SD: SD. San Diego also still has something to play for. I don't want to think about LDT going up against the Cobras. If only the Bungals can make it to the first round. Ocho Cinco is Gung Ho, Housh is Spirit and CP is Duke. They could bring down the Cobras.
SF (+11) at DEN: SF. If San Fran can get into the city on Sunday, I think that they will be able to keep it close. Denver is not that great this year. Definately not deserving of 11 points.
GB (+1) at CHI: CHI. Wow even with the Bears playing their second string they are still favored by 1. Not sure but I will give it to the home team.
Last Week: 6-9-1
Total: 112-115-13
And I will not include my fabulous playoffs picks in my total amounts.
NYG (-1) at WAS: WAS. MJ just told me that whatever I do, take the Skins. I will follow the logic of the great wizard, not the one from the Baseball Bunch but MJ. I even think he might be the one on the far left.
CAR (-3) at NO: NO. This is a tough one because I don't know if the Saints will play their scrubs since they have #2 locked in or will they want to put the beat down on the CAR. Gotta go with the home dog in any case.
CLE (+4) at HOU: HOU. After using Cleveland's starting QB last week on my fantasy team I will never ever go with Cleveland ever again. Even if they are playing the Texans.
DET (+13) at DAL: DET. I am sure they are going to pack it in and go on the #1 pick stakes...perhaps they will be interested in one of the UM defenders. However, 13 points seems to be a bit high.
JAC (+1) at KC: KC. I still go with the idea that nobody beats KC in KC in the winter.
NE (+3) at TENN: NE. NE still has something to play for. The way Indy is playing now they really could lose to Miami. With Brady and Co, this will be a great game but NE will win.
OAK (+13) at NYJ: OAK. The Jets will probably win but not by 13 points. Oakland will be in the #1 stake with Detroit by the end of the day.
PIT (+6) at CIN: CIN. This is another tough matchup. Not a good week to take on Simmons. I am still in shock about the "kick", and will not lose hope in the Bungals.
SEA (+3.5) at TB: SEA. Seattle still has something to play for and Shalex needs to make LDT believe that there is not a Madden Curse out there so that he won't be hesitant to appear on the cover.
STL (-1) at MINN: STL. St Louis has something play for, Minnesota does not.
ATL (+9) at PHI: ATL. Whatever happened to the Falcons. Michael Vick was on a run and they just collapsed. And speaking of Vicks, I saw his brother is playing for the Dolphins. I can't wait until Ricky Williams comes back, him and Marcus will keep the people of CSI Miami very busy.
BUFF (+9) at BAL: BAL. Although I wish that the Cobras would just curl up and be eaten by a Mongoose, I think they have more to play for and should breeze by the Bills.
MIA (+9) at IND: MIA. Another one of those bets that I probably will lose, but it is all or nothing right now. Indy is not that good this year.
ARI (+13.5) at SD: SD. San Diego also still has something to play for. I don't want to think about LDT going up against the Cobras. If only the Bungals can make it to the first round. Ocho Cinco is Gung Ho, Housh is Spirit and CP is Duke. They could bring down the Cobras.
SF (+11) at DEN: SF. If San Fran can get into the city on Sunday, I think that they will be able to keep it close. Denver is not that great this year. Definately not deserving of 11 points.
GB (+1) at CHI: CHI. Wow even with the Bears playing their second string they are still favored by 1. Not sure but I will give it to the home team.
Last Week: 6-9-1
Total: 112-115-13
And I will not include my fabulous playoffs picks in my total amounts.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
The Truth Hurts…And So Do Lies
The Truth Hurts:
As much as I don’t like Phil Jackson – he seems like a giant phony – I have to say that I love him for taking a potshot at Shaquille O’Neal. When you’re 380 lbs. and you don’t come to training camp in any sort of shape and then publicly admit that you like to play your way down to the appropriate level of physical fitness, you’re pretty much opening yourself up to this sort of criticism.
Shaq has always skated by with a Manny Ramirez-like coating of Teflon, never getting called out for being fat and lazy or for his role in the premature collapse of the Lakers dynasty. I’ve never understood why his boastful, arrogant, hyper-sensitive nature hasn’t been picked on more by the press but it’s good to see that Big Chief Triangle isn’t afraid to take on the Big Unshapely.
And So Do Lies:
Over the past several days ESPN and the New York papers have used some form of the word “regress” next to Eli Manning’s name. Some are blaming Manning’s “regression” on Tom Coughlin or his assistant coaches. Some are saying that Manning’s “regression” will cost Coughlin his job, as it has already cost offensive coordinator John Hufnagel his. Everywhere I look this week, people refer to Manning and how he has “regressed” this season, resulting, in part, in the Giants’ mediocre 7-8 record heading into Week 17.
Let’s blow the roof off this lie right now. Here are Manning’s career stats, updated through this past Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Manning’s completion rate climbed six points and his QB rating increased by two points. In statistics, it would be incorrect to call that “regression” but rather “stasis”, or stagnation.
In effect, Manning is the same player in 2006 that he was a year ago. Slightly wiser, slightly more experienced, marginally improved in the face of devastating injuries to his offensive line and possession receiver. I personally don’t have faith that Manning will ever improve far beyond what we’ve seen of him thus far. He will always be prone to inaccuracy and mistakes. I think there is still talent to be mined in his body and perhaps new coaches can bring up some of the value that is trapped deep within him. But one thing is clear – ESPN continues to perpetrate negative myths about Eli Manning because ESPN knows nothing but negativity and hyperbole.
As much as I don’t like Phil Jackson – he seems like a giant phony – I have to say that I love him for taking a potshot at Shaquille O’Neal. When you’re 380 lbs. and you don’t come to training camp in any sort of shape and then publicly admit that you like to play your way down to the appropriate level of physical fitness, you’re pretty much opening yourself up to this sort of criticism.
Shaq has always skated by with a Manny Ramirez-like coating of Teflon, never getting called out for being fat and lazy or for his role in the premature collapse of the Lakers dynasty. I’ve never understood why his boastful, arrogant, hyper-sensitive nature hasn’t been picked on more by the press but it’s good to see that Big Chief Triangle isn’t afraid to take on the Big Unshapely.
And So Do Lies:
Over the past several days ESPN and the New York papers have used some form of the word “regress” next to Eli Manning’s name. Some are blaming Manning’s “regression” on Tom Coughlin or his assistant coaches. Some are saying that Manning’s “regression” will cost Coughlin his job, as it has already cost offensive coordinator John Hufnagel his. Everywhere I look this week, people refer to Manning and how he has “regressed” this season, resulting, in part, in the Giants’ mediocre 7-8 record heading into Week 17.
Let’s blow the roof off this lie right now. Here are Manning’s career stats, updated through this past Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Manning’s completion rate climbed six points and his QB rating increased by two points. In statistics, it would be incorrect to call that “regression” but rather “stasis”, or stagnation.
In effect, Manning is the same player in 2006 that he was a year ago. Slightly wiser, slightly more experienced, marginally improved in the face of devastating injuries to his offensive line and possession receiver. I personally don’t have faith that Manning will ever improve far beyond what we’ve seen of him thus far. He will always be prone to inaccuracy and mistakes. I think there is still talent to be mined in his body and perhaps new coaches can bring up some of the value that is trapped deep within him. But one thing is clear – ESPN continues to perpetrate negative myths about Eli Manning because ESPN knows nothing but negativity and hyperbole.
The Joys of (200)6: Hitman's Year in Review, Part II
Top 6 Coaches:
6. Scott Skiles: The 2005-2006 Bulls were clearly not ready to seriously challenge for the NBA crown. They are also widely credited with putting up the best fight against the ultimate champion Miami Heat. A team without a true center then, and still built mainly on youth and still-improving talent, the Bulls have become the team that everybody hates to play - in large part because Skiles motivates his hard-working bunch to maximize their abilities. It's time that Skiles gets credit for the great work he's done over the last few years.
5. Greg Schiano: Rutgers won its first nine games, and finished 10-2. RUTGERS. Coach Schiano orchestrated the best story in what might be the beginnings of a resurgent Big East. Unless you're a fan of the Scarlet Knights' rivals (New Jersey State, anyone?), you had to root for these guys.
4. Sean Payton: We'll never know the exact combination of emotion, talent, luck, and coaching that made the surprise success that is the 2006 Saints. What we do know is that Payton played a major role in this wonderful story (that I hope ends in Chicago). No city needed to win more with a team that had less. Payton played almost every card right, and as a reward his boys get a home game in January.
3. Jim Leyland: This will not be my first reference to Motown's ballclub. Leyland guided a team from obscurity to the playoffs - and then to the World Series! The Tigers were a top team all year, and though they shit the bed in the Fall Classic, they took on their skipper's persona and played solid, fundamental, hustling baseball for 6+ months. Fabulous job by Leyland in getting the most out of these previously-unknown players.
2. Jim Grobe: I think I read that Wake Forest was picked by the experts to finish last in the ACC. Memo: they're in the Orange Bowl. If you're like me, you still didn't know Grobe's name until this week. I'm ranking him this highly because for the Deacs to have the season they did, the coach must have done a phenomenal job.
1. Eric Mangini: The "Man-genius" has taken a team that nobody expected anything from, and brought them to the brink of the playoffs. Unlike the G-Men, who'd be a #6 seed that everyone would love to take a big fat crap on, the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are showing signs that they could pull an upset or two, especially if they draw the stumbling Colts. Full credit to the Mangina.
6. Scott Skiles: The 2005-2006 Bulls were clearly not ready to seriously challenge for the NBA crown. They are also widely credited with putting up the best fight against the ultimate champion Miami Heat. A team without a true center then, and still built mainly on youth and still-improving talent, the Bulls have become the team that everybody hates to play - in large part because Skiles motivates his hard-working bunch to maximize their abilities. It's time that Skiles gets credit for the great work he's done over the last few years.
5. Greg Schiano: Rutgers won its first nine games, and finished 10-2. RUTGERS. Coach Schiano orchestrated the best story in what might be the beginnings of a resurgent Big East. Unless you're a fan of the Scarlet Knights' rivals (New Jersey State, anyone?), you had to root for these guys.
4. Sean Payton: We'll never know the exact combination of emotion, talent, luck, and coaching that made the surprise success that is the 2006 Saints. What we do know is that Payton played a major role in this wonderful story (that I hope ends in Chicago). No city needed to win more with a team that had less. Payton played almost every card right, and as a reward his boys get a home game in January.
3. Jim Leyland: This will not be my first reference to Motown's ballclub. Leyland guided a team from obscurity to the playoffs - and then to the World Series! The Tigers were a top team all year, and though they shit the bed in the Fall Classic, they took on their skipper's persona and played solid, fundamental, hustling baseball for 6+ months. Fabulous job by Leyland in getting the most out of these previously-unknown players.
2. Jim Grobe: I think I read that Wake Forest was picked by the experts to finish last in the ACC. Memo: they're in the Orange Bowl. If you're like me, you still didn't know Grobe's name until this week. I'm ranking him this highly because for the Deacs to have the season they did, the coach must have done a phenomenal job.
1. Eric Mangini: The "Man-genius" has taken a team that nobody expected anything from, and brought them to the brink of the playoffs. Unlike the G-Men, who'd be a #6 seed that everyone would love to take a big fat crap on, the J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets are showing signs that they could pull an upset or two, especially if they draw the stumbling Colts. Full credit to the Mangina.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Another Year in Review Special
What better way to go through the year in review then to recap some of the greatest games and moments of 2006…
NCAA Basketball –George Mason vs. Uconn in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. A school that no one outside of small portions of the East Coast had even heard of was taking on the undisputed #1 team in the country. In addition, Uconn also happened to have FOUR 1st round NBA draft picks and a 2nd round draft pick on their team. So, the odds were clearly in Uconn’s favor. What made this game even more memorable for me was going to a sports bar to watch the game and people were screaming and cheering for both teams equally, presumably because half the bar stood to win their brackets, and half the bar rooted for the most absurd Final 4 team since the Jacksonville Dolphins made the Championship game in 1970 (I looked that up, but it’s still cool trivia).
NBA – San Antonio vs. Dallas, game 7, 2nd round of the playoffs – The Mavs had a 3-1 lead in the series, only to be forced to a game 7. The Mavs then had a 20-point lead, only to have Ginobili bury a 3 for the Spurs to take a 3-point lead with 32 seconds left. At this point, it seemed like all of the momentum was on the Spurs side and that they would win. Then, the most inexplicable foul of 2006 happened, as Dirk went to the lane for a layup, Ginobili fouled Dirk. The Spurs had a 3-point lead, and the only thing they had to do was ensure that they didn’t foul someone, especially Dirk, especially if it was going to just be a soft foul. Dirk then hit the free throw to tie the game and the game miraculously went to OT (after close misses by Ginobili and Duncan). At this point, Duncan already had 39 points. Then, the ‘Lil General, Avery Johnson, made what turned out to be the smartest coaching decision, which was to let DeSagna Diop take on Duncan for OT. Blame it on Duncan’s fatigue, or Diop playing the best 5 minutes of his life, but Diop just dominated OT. 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, and most importantly, he forced Duncan to travel and miss two other shots, holding Duncan to only 2 points. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=260522024
By the way, Diop forced Duncan to travel by doing the classic move where you’re your opponent start to back you down, and then you suddenly move laterally, which allows your opponent to stumble backwards as there no longer is anyone supporting him!
2005 NFL Playoffs – Indy vs. Pittsburgh – Everything seemed so normal: Dungy & the Colts were chokcing, the Steelers were controlling the game physically, and Bettis was about to score from the 2-yard line to ice the game. Somehow, one of the Colts jars the ball out by HEADBUTTING Bettis arm! And the Colt’s Nick Carter picks up the ball and it looks like he should be able to go all the way (or at least very close to returning it 90 yards). All Nick Carter has to do is get by Roethlisberger… but Carter dekes INTO the path of Roethlisberger, instead of cutting to a spot where Roethlisberger wasn’t. Roethlisberger gets enough of Nick Carter to stop him. Once this insane play is over, the game plays out predictably, with the Colt’s kicker shanking the kick, allowing the Steelers to advance (and eventually win the Super Bowl).
2006 World Cup – France vs. Brazil – Just an utter domination by Zinedine Zidane of France, who juggled, one-touched, spun, and juked his way around the whole field, in what was a rather surprising upset by France over the heavily favored Brazilians.
As for some other moments of 2006…
You Have Chosen Wisely
New Orleans Saints – for choosing Drew Brees and gambling that a throwing should injury would not be as detrimental as 3 torn knee ligaments would be to a mobile Daunte Culpepper.
Deron Williams – for losing his baby fat during the summer of 2006, allowing him and the Utah Jazz to get off to a dominating start.
New Orleans Saints 4th string QB Adrian McPherson – actually, he’s no longer on the Saints, but this is the guy who got hit by a golf cart by the Titans’ mascot, T-Rac (a cool-looking raccoon) during a pre-season game, and McPherson was subsequently cut. It sounds dramatic that he got cut right after he got injured, but McPherson probably would not have made the team anyways. I don’t know why it took McPherson so long, but he finally filed a lawsuit against the NFL for getting injured by a mascot. I don’t like promoting lawsuits, but the mascots have clearly gone too far. If one of the medical trainers was driving the “injury golf cart” and he accidentally ran over another player, the medical trainer would get in a lot of trouble. Mascots should be treated equally, as they are not above the law.
To Be Determined…
Tennis decided back in August 2006 that in 2007, some of the lesser tournaments will employ a “round robin” format, to increase the likelihood of marquee matchups. It’s a decision that was made in 2006, that may truly help revitalize the popularity of tennis. Or at the least, I hope it increases the popularity so that I can watch more matches on TV.
NCAA Basketball –George Mason vs. Uconn in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. A school that no one outside of small portions of the East Coast had even heard of was taking on the undisputed #1 team in the country. In addition, Uconn also happened to have FOUR 1st round NBA draft picks and a 2nd round draft pick on their team. So, the odds were clearly in Uconn’s favor. What made this game even more memorable for me was going to a sports bar to watch the game and people were screaming and cheering for both teams equally, presumably because half the bar stood to win their brackets, and half the bar rooted for the most absurd Final 4 team since the Jacksonville Dolphins made the Championship game in 1970 (I looked that up, but it’s still cool trivia).
NBA – San Antonio vs. Dallas, game 7, 2nd round of the playoffs – The Mavs had a 3-1 lead in the series, only to be forced to a game 7. The Mavs then had a 20-point lead, only to have Ginobili bury a 3 for the Spurs to take a 3-point lead with 32 seconds left. At this point, it seemed like all of the momentum was on the Spurs side and that they would win. Then, the most inexplicable foul of 2006 happened, as Dirk went to the lane for a layup, Ginobili fouled Dirk. The Spurs had a 3-point lead, and the only thing they had to do was ensure that they didn’t foul someone, especially Dirk, especially if it was going to just be a soft foul. Dirk then hit the free throw to tie the game and the game miraculously went to OT (after close misses by Ginobili and Duncan). At this point, Duncan already had 39 points. Then, the ‘Lil General, Avery Johnson, made what turned out to be the smartest coaching decision, which was to let DeSagna Diop take on Duncan for OT. Blame it on Duncan’s fatigue, or Diop playing the best 5 minutes of his life, but Diop just dominated OT. 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 block, and most importantly, he forced Duncan to travel and miss two other shots, holding Duncan to only 2 points. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=260522024
By the way, Diop forced Duncan to travel by doing the classic move where you’re your opponent start to back you down, and then you suddenly move laterally, which allows your opponent to stumble backwards as there no longer is anyone supporting him!
2005 NFL Playoffs – Indy vs. Pittsburgh – Everything seemed so normal: Dungy & the Colts were chokcing, the Steelers were controlling the game physically, and Bettis was about to score from the 2-yard line to ice the game. Somehow, one of the Colts jars the ball out by HEADBUTTING Bettis arm! And the Colt’s Nick Carter picks up the ball and it looks like he should be able to go all the way (or at least very close to returning it 90 yards). All Nick Carter has to do is get by Roethlisberger… but Carter dekes INTO the path of Roethlisberger, instead of cutting to a spot where Roethlisberger wasn’t. Roethlisberger gets enough of Nick Carter to stop him. Once this insane play is over, the game plays out predictably, with the Colt’s kicker shanking the kick, allowing the Steelers to advance (and eventually win the Super Bowl).
2006 World Cup – France vs. Brazil – Just an utter domination by Zinedine Zidane of France, who juggled, one-touched, spun, and juked his way around the whole field, in what was a rather surprising upset by France over the heavily favored Brazilians.
As for some other moments of 2006…
You Have Chosen Wisely
New Orleans Saints – for choosing Drew Brees and gambling that a throwing should injury would not be as detrimental as 3 torn knee ligaments would be to a mobile Daunte Culpepper.
Deron Williams – for losing his baby fat during the summer of 2006, allowing him and the Utah Jazz to get off to a dominating start.
New Orleans Saints 4th string QB Adrian McPherson – actually, he’s no longer on the Saints, but this is the guy who got hit by a golf cart by the Titans’ mascot, T-Rac (a cool-looking raccoon) during a pre-season game, and McPherson was subsequently cut. It sounds dramatic that he got cut right after he got injured, but McPherson probably would not have made the team anyways. I don’t know why it took McPherson so long, but he finally filed a lawsuit against the NFL for getting injured by a mascot. I don’t like promoting lawsuits, but the mascots have clearly gone too far. If one of the medical trainers was driving the “injury golf cart” and he accidentally ran over another player, the medical trainer would get in a lot of trouble. Mascots should be treated equally, as they are not above the law.
To Be Determined…
Tennis decided back in August 2006 that in 2007, some of the lesser tournaments will employ a “round robin” format, to increase the likelihood of marquee matchups. It’s a decision that was made in 2006, that may truly help revitalize the popularity of tennis. Or at the least, I hope it increases the popularity so that I can watch more matches on TV.
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