PITCHING IDEAS

Most remarkable turnaround in 2009 is one titanic meltdown

2009-10-19T16:22:00.000-07:00

Forget the New Orleans Saints and their potent offense. Forget the Denver Broncos and their newfound defensive prowess under a 33-year-old head coach. Nothing has been more shocking in 2009 than the demise of the Tennessee Titans.

Once thought to be a Super Bowl contender after going an NFL-best 13-3 in 2008, Jeff Fisher's squad has plummeted to depths almost unheard of by NFL standards. The lasting memories of this miserable 0-6 beginning to the year will be the Titans laying down in the snow in a 59-0 demolishing at the hands of the New England Patriots. But just as troubling was their 20-point loss in Jacksonville two weeks ago, or being held out of the end zone last Sunday night by the Indianapolis Colts.

The Titans have been outscored by 114 points thus far, and even more shocking is the lack of effort they have showed the last few weeks. This from a team that took the Super Bowl champion Steelers to overtime in Week 1 and only lost its next two games by a combined 10 points.

Winnable games lie ahead, as the Titans will face the Jaguars, Bills, Texans, and Rams later on, but that will only allow them the opportunity to avoid being remembered as one of the all-time bad teams. Based on yesterday's no-show against New England, however, a date with any of those teams is no guarantee.

Stunning.

Are the Cardinals primed for a letdown? Not with Fitz

2009-08-27T09:41:00.000-07:00

Even if the Arizona Cardinals do indeed wallow in yet another case of Super Bowl hangover in 2009, you can count on one thing. Larry Fitzgerald will continue to amaze.

Let's face one distinct possibility: that Kurt Warner will not make it through an entire season. History is highly stacked against quarterbacks in their late 30's playing in 16 games in back-to-back years. Warner did so last year, the first time since his St. Louis days in 2001.

The Cardinals were able to hang on to some of their key players, franchising Karlos Dansby for a second consecutive season, locking up Adrian Wilson long term, and at least for now, keeping Anquan Boldin quiet about his displeasure with his current contract situation.

To boot, they have a soft schedule, and an even softer division, the NFC West. Since 2000, the only Super Bowl loser to return to the playoffs the following year was the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, beneficiaries of the same weak division. So the Cardinals, woebegone until their amazing run last year, have that to look forward to.

The biggest questions as far as personnel go for the Cardinals lie at the hands of Matt Leinart, the team's first round pick in 2006 who has started just 16 games in three years. Leinart has had his desire questioned somewhat by head coach Ken Whisenhunt, and many still wonder if he can lead Arizona should Warner go down.

But alas, even a partied-out Leinart can rejoice in the awesomeness of Fitzgerald, the game's top receiver who put on a show last January and February when the Cardinals shocked football fans everywhere. Rookie running back Chris "Beanie" Wells also has a chance to lighten the load on Cardinal quarterbacks this year and keep Arizona's offense among the game's elite.

You thought Favre was selfish? Cutler tops all

2009-04-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

Maybe the Jets will end up with Jay Cutler. If they do, they'll have traded for a selfish, whining quarterback for the second straight year. Last year, the Brett Favre soap opera carried out all summer, and it resulted in a messy divorce between Favre and the Packers. This year it shouldn't take as long, which should just make it all the more evident that Cutler is in a league of his own when it comes to selfishness. And babiness. And sensitivity. And whininess.
Now, Josh McDaniels is an inexperienced coach, and a chip off the Bill Belichick block. To flirt with the idea of trading Cutler to get an overrated quarterback in Matt Cassel is ludicrous. But flirtation is flirtation, not infidelity. No trade was ever made, and Cutler was to be the man leading the Broncos.
But now, Cutler has complained to no end. He isn't returning the team's phone calls, as if he were a child who had something said about his momma and doesn't want to confront the situation. The Broncos' franchise quarterback is gone, and a team that once had high hopes for 2008 could be in real trouble. Thanks to one man's complete and utter immaturity.

Orioles Spring Training update

2009-03-11T21:14:00.000-07:00

Orioles manager Dave Trembley offered his thoughts on the state of his team and some of his newcomers before Sunday's exhibition game against the Minnesota Twins. Some snippets:

On pitcher David Pauley, acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox: "The first time he pitched he was out of his lane, so to speak... The last two times he's pitched he been very good. He's a control guy, sink, curveball, he pitches early to contact. He's gonna get an opportunity to pitch. He's a guy that's in the mix.”

On veteran hurler Mark Hendrickson: "[He] had movement, had some life on his pitches. He says that's the best he's felt."

On former Cubs prospect Felix Pie: "He's worked very well with Crow [hitting coach Terry Crowley]. I think he's the kind of guy that needs to play a lot... He's been a little bit better than what I thought. I didn't know the guy. I saw him a long time ago... We want him to start being a line-drive type of hitter... His work ethics have been tremendous.”

On the Twins and their philosophy which has worked so well for them over the past several years: “They play baseball the old fashioned way... They police themsevles... They rely on their farm system, they bring their own guys up... You know when you play them, you better bring your A game because they're going to come at you all 9 innings.”

2009 MLB Predictions -- Predictable

2009-03-03T13:31:00.001-08:00

I always say when I pick Boston or New York, I HOPE I'm wrong. If I pick them and they fail miserably and someone comes back to me at the end of the year and says, "See!", I'm perfectly fine with that. With that said, I will try not to let my hatred of the Evil Empires stand in the way of my sure-to-be-off predictions:

AL East
1) New York
2) Boston*
3) Tampa Bay
4) Baltimore
5) Toronto

AL Central
1) Cleveland
2) Minnesota
3) Chicago
4) Kansas City
5) Detroit

AL West
1) Oakland
2) Los Angeles
3) Seattle
4) Texas

ALDS: New York over Oakland, Boston over Cleveland
ALCS: New York over Boston

NL East
1) New York
2) Florida*
3) Philadelphia
4) Atlanta
5) Washington

NL Central
1) Chicago
2) Houston
3) Cincinnati
4) St. Louis
5) Milwaukee
6) Pittsburgh

NL West
1) Arizona
2) Los Angeles
3) San Francisco
4) San Diego
5) Colorado

NLDS: Chicago over Florida, Arizona over New York
NLCS: Arizona over Chicago

WS: New York over Arizona

Hope I'm wrong!

Clippers slip: Sign of things to come for Celtics?

2009-02-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

If there's one thing I've learned about Boston sports, it's that just when you think you have them where you want them, they defy all odds (and I mean ALL odds) to make some sort of miracle comeback. The Celtics may not be an exception, but it's hard not to revel in last night's 93-91 loss to the lowly Clippers in L.A. No Kevin Garnett, but no excuses. The Celtics have won with players out, so you can't have it both ways, Boston.
The Eastern Conference is still soft, which is what mainly benefited Boston last year in their ridiculous turnaround. But Cleveland needs to capitalize on what looks like it could be a mini midseason swoon by Boston.
I'm sure that something like this won't happen again, so let's enjoy it while it's here. Boston was 66-16 last year, a record they likely will not match this year. Cleveland has one loss at home all year. The sagas of the two cities are well-chronicled, with Cleveland being a notorious choke town and Boston being a charmed town. But if just this once there is no miracle left for a Boston team, perhaps such an inexcusable loss is in fact a good sign.

Message to 31 teams: Don't mortgage the farm for Cassel

2009-02-22T21:29:00.001-08:00

It almost might work out in what looked like the worst of circumstances for the resident cheaters of the NFL. Sacrificing one year of making the playoffs may let them earn some depth and security for years to come. Why? Because their so-called "system", the one whose legitimacy has still yet to be verified, allowed a mediocre quarterback to look like an elite one. Matt Cassel is just that, mediocre. But he will be making the most money in a one-year tender for a franchise player in league history next year, because the Patriots used their franchise tag on him. That means that if some team is foolish enough to try and snag him, they will owe the Patriots two first-round draft picks. Meanwhile, it's not like the Patriots won't be in good hands at quarterback without him.
So if a team like, say, the Minnesota Vikings finally wakes up and realizes Tarvaris Jackson can't cut it at this level and decides to sell out for Cassel, they will be handing the Patriots two first-round draft picks for a player who shouldn't even command one seventh-rounder. It will also save the Patriots plenty of salary cap money, rather than keep them financially constrained. The money freed up by Cassel's possible departure could allow them to land a malcontent like Julius Peppers and turn him into the second coming of Corey Dillon.
So to those other 31 teams, even those with dicey quarterback situations, please, please don't fork over more than $14 million for the product of a strong offensive system whose receivers push off and whose line cut-blocks as if it was going out of style. Save the money and the draft picks and keep Cassel where he belongs, on the New England bench chewing up valuable cap space.

NFL gaffes with moving Pro Bowl to Miami

2009-02-08T21:19:00.001-08:00

It's not that the people of Hawaii are any more deserving to have the Pro Bowl than a city like Miami, but the tradition has been around for 30 years and the players love it. It needs to stay. Roger Goodell is always looking for the extra buck, but he really doesn't need to tinker with the Pro Bowl. Playing it before the Super Bowl doesn't make it any less anticlimactic, especially considering players from the Super Bowl teams won't be participating, and quite possibly players who played in the previous week's championship games.
Playing it in Miami also cheapens to game. The players love going to Hawaii to be away from the distractions. Miami is hardly a getaway considering many players are from there or spend their offseasons there. Having it Miami merely makes it an side note, and perhaps just a way to ease the sting of the dreaded Super Bowl "dark week" that also needs to go. But nonetheless, having it after the season and in Hawaii is what the players want, and quite frankly what the fans want.
Having it before the Super Bowl doesn't mean anyone will care any more than they do or don't now. Attendance will likely be low; the fans in Hawaii get one game a year, as opposed to those in Miami, who get 8. Celebrities and other VIPs in town for the Big Game don't figure to spend a Sunday afternoon watching a meaningless game that very well will be missing some of the game's biggest stars.

I stand corrected: Parity may be fading

2009-02-02T09:20:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl XLII should have been seen as an aberration, not a sign of the times. The Patriots were 18-0 going into that game, and even though the Giants became the fourth team in four years to win the Super Bowl, it should have been clear that the balance of power had not really shifted.
Fast forward to last night, Super Bowl XLIII. I can hear Dennis Green this morning saying the Cardinals "let them off the hook". The Steelers, with yet another ludicrous comeback against a super-prevent defense, and the Patriots have now combined to win five of the past eight Super Bowls, and the joy of last season's game seems miles away.
Who besides those two teams, and perhaps the Colts and Chargers, feel that they have a chance to win the AFC next year? The NFC is wide open, but they are a cut below the AFC and don't figure to win as many Super Bowls as the AFC in the next decade or so.
The ending was brutal, because it was the underdogs that got kicked in the gut when it looked like they were destined for glory. It seems we now must allot at least one season out of every two or three for either the Steelers or Patriots to have their celebratory parades and what not. It was nice to see Jerome Bettis get his ring I suppose, but last night was not fun too watch. Dynasties are back in pro football until further notice.

A fist full of Lions jokes, even after the season

2009-01-28T11:11:00.000-08:00

No one is better than Jay Leno at keeping the Detroit Lions fresh in our memories, even a month after their dubiously historic season ended. The jokes just keep on coming, and each is just as funny as the one that preceded it. So without further do, here are five of my favorites. Keep in mind, Leno has been doing these for years, even since Johnnie Morton exclaimed, after the Lions won a game after being 0-12, "I want Jay Leno to kiss my ass!" (Leno actually did, because Morton sent a donkey out to L.A. for Leno to plant one on). And now the jokes (These are not verbatim, but as close as possible):

- On the Super Bowl and the NFL Experience provided for fans: "The Detroit Lions have a section, fans actually just put on a uniform, stand there and fans boo them and throw beer at them."

- On the upcoming NFL playoffs: "Well it's NFL playoff time... or as the Detroit Lions call it, 'Fantasy Football'.

- On the divisional round of the playoffs: "Lot of good games this weekend, Ravens are playing the Titans, Chargers are playing the Steelers, Lions are playing Guitar Hero."

- Relating the Presidential election: "According to Newsweek, sociologists believe that nine months after election day, there could be tens of thousands of what they call 'Obama babies.' Psychologists say this is not unusual, because a lot of people celebrate a big victory by having sex. That's true. See, that's why there's never been any Detroit Lions babies."

- On their accomplishment of becoming the NFL's first 0-16 team: "I don't want to say they're getting cocky, but some of the players are already starting to talk about doing it again next year."

Despite Steelers' sixth, 2008 was still a decent season

2009-01-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Let's establish one thing right off the bat: Come Super Bowl Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals will be what we thought they were, and always have thought: they are losers. They have had a great season and deserve credit for their run, but they are overmatched by the Steelers. That said, the new Pittsburgh dynasty is an unwelcome nuisance in this age of supposed parity.
But 2008 had a lot of good things to remember. There was some parity, like the 1-15 Dolphins turning around into division champions. The Ravens qualifying for the AFC championship game with a rookie quarterback. The Falcons unscrambling the mess left by Michael Vick.
For the first time in a long time, all four finalists did not win a single playoff game the previous year. The Titans' 13-3 record was the best in football, the first time since 2002 that the NFL didn't have at least a 14-win team. And the Cardinals removed themselves from a dubious list, those who have never appeared in a Super Bowl. Only the Lions, Saints, Browns, Texans, and Jaguars have never appeared in the Big Game.
The Steelers had a lot of numbers and laws of averages on their side Sunday against Baltimore, much like they did the previous week against 8-8 San Diego, a team essentially playing with house money after a 4-8 start. And on Feb. 1, the Cardinals will be up against not only the league's best defense, but bad history. Seven of the past nine teams making their first Super Bowl appearance have lost, with only the Ravens and Buccaneers being the exception in that span. The Cardinals happen to be going against the team with the most Super Bowl wins, not an enticing proposition for a team that has look extremely pedestrian at times this year.
The Seahawks had a much stronger team than Arizona does, and the Steelers team that defeated them was not as dominant, at least on defense, as this one. Uh-oh.
Oh well. At least there were a lot of positives in 2008, even if the end result did not show it. Did I mention the Patriots were absent from the postseason?

L.T. could miss most of 2009 with sore fingernail

2009-01-17T12:22:00.000-08:00

LaDainian Tomlinson might not spend the 2009 season in a San Diego Chargers uniform. He has had a phenomenal 8-year run with the Chargers, a record-setting run in fact. But with the way his play has declined and the way his previous two seasons have ended, it has left a bitter taste in the mouths of the fans and perhaps of management as well.
The lasting images of what was a great run in 2007, when the Chargers went from 1-3 to the AFC championship game, was Tomlinson sitting on the sidelines in New England with his parka pulled over his head and his eyes hidden behind his tinted visor. This after it was believed he would be able to play in the most important game of his career.
This past season, when the Chargers reeled off four straight wins to capture the AFC West title, Tomlinson injured his groin in the season finale and was only able to play on a limited basis in the wild card round against Indianapolis. In their toughest game of the season at Pittsburgh in the divisional round, Tomlinson once again was M.I.A. In his absence, backup Darren Sproles rushed for only 15 yards as the Steelers rolled. Once again, with his team needing him, Tomlinson was nowhere to be found as the Chargers' season came to an end.
Tomlinson is slowly turning into either a prima donna, a machine with failing parts, or just a running back with extremely bad timing when it comes to injuries. His legacy may be one of greatness, but only in the regular season. He has never excelled in the postseason, either due to injury or ineffectiveness, and ultimately that may spell the end of his time in southern California.

Steelers: the new Patriots?

2009-01-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Should the Pittsburgh Steelers win two more games en route their NFL-leading sixth Super Bowl title, can they be considered a 21st-century dynasty? It would be their second in four years, and more importantly, give them two more in the past four years than the New England Patriots, thought to be the first (and only) dynasty this decade to date.

The Steelers are not a flashy team, nor are they even a dominant team. They are easy to dislike for me as a Ravens fan, but nowhere near Patriot-hatable. They aren't exactly world-class guys, but they generally don't possess the bend-or-break-the-rules-at-cost mentally that Bill Belichick's squad does.

The Patriots videotaped their way to three Super Bowl titles at the start of the decade, while the Steelers fielded strong teams, but not championship-caliber teams. They suffered two AFC championship game losses to New England before finally breaking through in 2005.

What would a second Lombardi trophy in four years mean? The good would be that they would supplant the Patriots as the current NFL powerhouse. The bad is that it's the Steelers, a team that won four Super Bowls with the help off avid steroid use in the 1970s. While this team doesn't closely resemble the Steel Curtain teams, history is far too appreciated in the Steel City to go unnoticed and be disconnected from the modern-day group.

I am, as usual, pessimistic about the banged-up Ravens' chances this Sunday, and the Steelers would figure to be considerable favorites against either the Eagles or Cardinals in the Super Bowl, meaning we could be heading down a familiar, and painful, path once again.

A grim baseball season approaching in 2009

2009-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Is there any point in watching baseball in 2009? The competitive balance was already going to be any issue, and that was before the Yankees spent half of America's economy in free agency and the Red Sox added another half-roster to their already loaded squad just to stick it to the Yankees. As we know, that's all that matters in Boston.
Unfortunately, the rest of baseball has been virtually idle. The Rays are headed for a major downfall, and while the Cubs threw some money at some more players, the best they can hope for is to take the weak National League before getting smoked in the Series by one of the Evil Empires.
The Blue Jays and Orioles will duke it out for 4th place in the AL East, and both will be lucky to crack 70 wins in another broken-record of a season. The Phillies may have broken the city's mini-curse, but that's all they'll get, as it's likely back to reality next year. The NL West is simply dead weight to baseball.
So, when do NFL training camps start?

No Pats? Great. Wild Card Weekend? Odd.

2009-01-01T15:31:00.001-08:00

A Sunday unlike too many others for me transpired and I was thankful. December 28, 2008: the day that my hometown Ravens qualified for the postseason while the Patriots did not. To make it sweeter, New England wasted an 11-5 season, becoming the first team in 23 years to win 11 games and miss the postseason. The playoffs can now be enjoyed without the Patriots being able to cheat and terrorize as they have six of the past seven seasons.
But how about this for an oddity? For the first time in recent memory (and probably ever), all four road teams are favored in the Wild Card round. So much for home field advantage in the postseason, right? While it can't be expected for that to happen in the division round, it is a resounding statement that this year is a free-for-all. No Patriots, no problem. Now other teams don't have to worry about succumbing to divine intervention, just old-school, smash-mouth football.
The oddity of four road teams being favored is due in large part to the fact that two of the games feature road teams with three and four more wins than their home counterpart. The Ravens and Dolphins have identical 11-5 records, while the Eagles and Vikings are separated by just a half game.
The feeling here is that at least one home team will prevail, considering two of the visiting teams are starting rookie quarterbacks and the Chargers have always had the Colts' number. The Vikings, meanwhile, are the largest of the four underdogs at a full three points (same as Baltimore-Miami), but are 6-2 at home this season.
But alas, this is a weekend to truly rejoice. January is here, and New England is not. Junior Seau once again will go ringless, as will Randy Moss and how-many-4-yard-out-patterns-can-you-run-and-call-yourself-great Wes Welker. Bill Belichick will not stalk the sidelines in his hoodie, nor will he have any hidden cameras at any games (that we know of).
Truly odd, but great nonetheless.

CC why people hate the Yankees?

2008-12-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

Okay so let me get this straight. The New York Yankees, the original Evil Empire (hard to use that term because Larry Lucchino of the Red Sox coined it), just threw the fattest contract at a pitcher in MLB history just days after asking New York taxpayers to fork over more than $100 million in tax dollars for their new stadium? The moment I learned this, I thought of some of my friends that live in New York who are NOT Yankees fans that will be seeing their tax money in part end up in Sabathia's suddenly-oversized pockets.
Now it's known that anyone who signs with the Yankees, especially when their offer is the largest, is automatically deemed a sell out. But when you preach about the importance of playing close to home, playing somewhere where your family is comfortable living, and THEN end up taking the ridiculous dollars, that is truly something to despise.
Sabathia gets credit for being a workhouse last year, for consistently taking the ball on three days rest when the Brewers' rotation was depleted. But now that is all a distant memory. Sabathia has done what sadly was inevitable anyway, but with the dwindling economy, and the knowledge of the Yankees' request for more taxpayer money for their billion-dollar stadium, this has simply pushed me farther away from the game I grew up loving.
I feel secure in saying I'm not alone here.

Hasselbeck sits, cites “conflicting emotions”

2008-12-09T09:45:00.001-08:00

I don't care that Seneca Wallace threw 3 touchdown passes on Sunday, nor that former Patriot Deion Branch found the end zone twice. Because the lasting image from Seattle's choke-job on Sunday was Wallace getting decked by an untouched blitzer, fumbling to end a half-hearted comeback effort by the now 2-11 Seahawks. Wallace has, is, and always will be a backup.
Naturally, Matt Hasselbeck sat this one out. His presence likely could have been the difference maker. Instead, the proud Boston native cited an earlier back issue as a means for not having to go against his secret favorite team, the one his father played for in the 70s.
As the Patriots now coast through the rest of their schedule and a gift AFC East title, this is the game we will look back on as the one that got away. The grueling images of Seattle allowing a 4th-and-goal, go-ahead touchdown after having outplayed New England all day. Wallace putting the ball on the turf at crunch time. And most of all, bald number 8 wearing civvies on the sideline.
There is little doubt it was predetermined he wouldn't go in this one. Heaven for bid he took a few hits on Thanksgiving day in Dallas. His absence is eerily reminiscent of the Patriots' opponents last season, when seemingly every week the team it was facing was without several key players.
Lucky for us, that won't be an issue next week when the Patriots travel to Oakland to take on the NCAA Raiders, a sad-sack team in utter disarray. JaMarcus Russell's injured ankle will be a blessing, if anything, as he is prone to some of the worst throws possible.
The overrated Cardinals follow in Week 16, and then the Bills, who haven't found the end zone against a team other than the Chiefs in nearly a month, to close out what once was a promising regular season for Patriot-haters like myself.
Hasselbeck, you got your wish.

Additions of Colvin, Seau raise more than just eyebrows

2008-12-05T16:38:00.000-08:00

This is suspicious and disgusting at the same time. Rosevelt Colvin is suddenly cut from the Houston Texans before their dreadful season begins and goes unemployed for three months. Junior Seau, who was never believed to be retired (although ESPN will spin it to make you believe he was, and thus his return is somehow courageous), jumps immediately when Bill Belichick calls and asks "How high?" Seau, the ringless one, clearly has had a desire to return to the Patriots, as Colvin likely did too. I am beginning to wonder if Belichick, who is no stranger to not just bending the rules, but completely shattering them, paid them under the table to avoid signing with other teams in case New England needed them.

Colvin is a very dirty player, who like many before him, has presented a mirage of half-decent numbers thanks in large part to his knowing the opposition's plays before they are run. Seau, meanwhile, is one of my most despised athletes ever. And yet both are back in New England trying to create last year's "magic". Seau was certainly sitting by the phone twittling his thumbs and stroking the large framed photo he has of Belichick sitting by his bed. If either of these washed-up, just-in-it-for-an-easy-ring slimeballs has any impact on the Patriots' stretch run, it should make fans everywhere sick.

In other Patriot-related news, proud Boston native and closet Patriots fan Matt Hasselbeck is conveniently sidelined for this week's game, as is the Seahawks' All-Pro left tackle Walter Jones. That means Seneca Wallace will be called on to slay the demons known as the Patriots this week. Funny how that works. Good luck, Seatte, you'll need it. Actually, "miracle" would be a better word.

Goodell's “International Series” aides Patriots

2008-12-01T15:42:00.000-08:00

Let's say you're the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and you glance ahead to your schedule opponents for next season. You know you're playing the AFC and NFC East in addition to the regular brutal slate of divisional games in the NFC South. Tough sledding. At least one of your toughest games, against the New England Patriots, is at home – right?
Wrong. Because greedy, money-hungry commissioner Roger Goodell needs extra pocket cash so once a year, a team gets shafted out of a home game and gets to “host” an opponent overseas. Unfortunately for football and the Buccaneers' fans, their toughest opponent will no longer have to face the Bucs on their home turf, but rather at a “neutral” site. And let's face it, with the Patriots and their never-ending horde of bandwagoners, there's never such thing as a “neutral” site.
So to sum up, the Patriots don't have to play one of their toughest road games so the commissioner can make a few extra bucks he doesn't need. Conveniently when selected two teams, he miraculously picked this matchup, instead of, say, the Detroit Lions, who could probably play on the Moon while their opponents have no oxygen masks and still not have an advantage.
My opinion of it, Patriots-biased or not, is that this idea royally sucks. Not only does one team have to forfeit a home date, but their opponent gets one of their road games played at a neutral site. The Dolphins, they of 1-15 infamy in 2007, and the Saints, they of missing out on the playoffs yet again, have been victimized by it. Now it's the Buccaneers turn. Advantage, as usual, Patriots.

Primary reasons why people hop the Sox bandwagon

2008-11-25T21:10:00.000-08:00

What prompts someone to pull for the Boston Red Sox? Before delving into that question, let's clarify this: There is no such thing as a Red Sox fan that isn't a fan of all Boston sports. If you are supporting one entity, then you may as well support them all, because your face is already covered in dirt. So none of this, “Well I've always loved the Sox but the Cowboys are my NFL team.” No no no, please don't try and get classy and save face.
The “B” [for Bandwagoner] hats are selling like hot cakes these days. Is it because people once felt sorry for the Red Sox because of the curse? (No need for caps on “curse”, it doesn't warrant it). Is it because they feel the pain of Boston always being inferior to New York, whether it's the Yankees or the city itself being far more prestigious than anything Boston ever will? Maybe it's just a fad, and people tend to love fads. The point is, there is no acceptable answer.
That said, here is a closer look at some of those sad-sack excuses people come up with in regards to their undying support of the Red Sox:

The “curse”. Can't hear that one enough, can you? 86 years when they couldn't win a World Series. The ball through Bill Buckner's legs in the '86 series? Bucky “F***ing” Dent? Who knows? Who cares? There is a false sense of “lovable loser-ness” here that doesn't belong (much more suited to the Chicago Cubs). That always wins over some slimy hearts.
The underdog mentality garnered from being slapped around by the Yankees for years on end. Again, underdog is going overboard. Title or not, the Red Sox always had money to spend and seasons to remember. No one likes the Yankees; I can't stand them. But they are the standard of excellence in baseball, with 26 World Series titles to boast and countless daggers into the hearts of Boston fans (no complaints from me about the latter).
The fad. The hats are pretty basic. But then again, cigarettes are pretty nasty. And yet people smoke to look cool, or because it's a habit they can't kick. The Red Sox gain so much media attention thanks to their personal sports network, ESPN. Media attention is the primary reason for the grisly fad that doesn't figure to fade anytime soon.
“Red Sox Nation”. Another media creation. I don't pay much attention to Raider Nation, as entertaining as Black Hole in Oakland is. But any time a group of sports fans utilize this label, it diminishes their credibility greatly. Especially when the title was crowned by a television station, and not even the fans themselves.
Hatred of the Yankees. Might seem repetitive. I can't stand the Yankees, but I would stand behind them under an attack of whining Red Sox fans who are envious of the prestige and glamor of New York. The Giants are Super Bowl champions, and the Jets are on their way. The Mets and Rangers are always competitive. And New York, simply put, is the city that never sleeps. And for good reason. It is one of the best places to be in the world, with everything in every facet of life and culture to offer. Many hypocritical Bostonians end up moving there, like people from all over the globe. When it comes to sports, like it or not, New York is the cream of the crop. And the dislike for the Yankees (and this is what really gets my goat) automatically steers people to pull for the Red Sox, as if it's “If you're not cheering for one, it's the other.” This small-mindedness can again be largely attributed to the overdose the media provides of these two organizations.
You need to feel good about yourself. Sometimes sports act as an escape for us. We wrap ourselves up in our teams. If they win, we win. If they lose, we get down as if we lost. Like the countless Lakers and Cowboys supporters, it's always a safer bet to back a team that constantly wins. Therefore we (well, not me, speak for yourselves of course) are more likely to be satisfied. With that little psychoanalysis comes the striking reality that this is the poorest excuse yet. You really can't hold an intelligent sports conversation with someone like that because it is hard to really take them seriously as a sports fan.

Completing the monopoly: Bruins rising

2008-11-22T22:13:00.000-08:00

Figures, doesn't it? Actually, not to me. I don't consider myself much of a gambler, so betting $1 on the Boston Bruins at 50/1 well before the hockey season started was a minimal investment with a nice potential return. I know very, very little about hockey, except that one thing was evident: The Bruins play in Boston, so they will get enough breaks to have a chance to win.
So far, I am looking pretty smart, for a change. All the Bruins have done is rack up 32 points, tops in the Eastern Conference and one shy of the San Jose Sharks' NHL-leading 35. I couldn't tell you much about the Bruins other then that their goaltending is considered among the game's elite. I believe they have a number of big-time fighters on their team, so foul play, as per usual with Boston sports, is likely a factor. I know that the Red Sox didn't win it in 2008, so A.J. Burnett is a likely candidate to end up there to make sure that doesn't happen again in 2009. For now, the Celtics are running away with a pitiful Eastern Conference in the NBA, and in case they slip, the Bruins likely will get enough luck on their side to more than make up for it.
Me, I am predictably disgusted, but hardly surprised. I don't really follow hockey enough to invest the same energy I do into baseball and football, but if a Boston team is winning, I'll take notice. If the Bruins do in fact rise to prominence and win the Stanley Cup, I will feel vindicated in one sense. There was little rhyme or reason why the Celtics became so dominant last season, and even less if the Bruins do the same this year. Except for the obvious theory that there is a higher being watching over Boston sports.
The $50 would be a nice “Sorry for your troubles” pocket cash if the Bruins complete the Boston sports monopoly, but it would continue a despicable trend of absurdity in the first decade of the 21st century. Canadian teams are supposed to rule hockey when the de facto powerhouse Red Wings slip, but Boston has the kind of charmed existence that automatically supersedes that. When the Bruins stand on the Fenway Park field before the Red Sox season opener in April hoisting the Stanley Cup trophy, it will put the cap on the complete takeover of sports. A scary thought indeed.

The 5 Most Enraging Moments Of Boston's Sports Decade

2008-11-19T18:05:00.000-08:00

Throughout the enduring pain of Boston's sports gods smiling down on them this decade, there have been many moments that stand out for the frustration and anger they created. For every lucky break or inexplicable comeback they had, the sports world suffered just a little bit more. Take, for example, the infamous Tuck Rule. Now at the time, Boston sports had not gotten on their karmic run, so who knew then that the Notorious Raiders' misfortune would become the Patriots' everlasting treasure. Looking back on it, Oakland was cheated and the Patriots actually cheated. That unfortunate event, as well as Drew Bledsoe's untimely injury in Week 2 of that season, changed everything for the worse. A look back (and hopefully, not forward from this point on) at the 5 most grueling and despised moments in Boston's recent run in sports, in no particular order:

Game 5 of the 2007 ALCS. The end does not justify the means here. The Rays may have won the series in 7 games, but lest we forget that Game 5 may have emotionally and psychologically drained them for the World Series, in which they came out flat against an inferior but rested foe in Philadelphia. The 7-0 meltdown suffered by Tampa Bay was one of the most painful things I've ever watched. It figured Boston was back at their old cheap tricks, coming back from a deficit in a series to prove their place in baseball lore. The Rays (and the fans) had to gut out such a gruesome thought until Matt Garza finally turned out the lights on Boston's 2008 season in Game 7. But the days between Games 5 and 7 were terrifying, to say the least.

Game 4 of the 2008 NBA Finals. As if the Red Sox and Patriots' successes weren't enough, the Lakers got to experience what many past victims of those aforementioned clubs had in Game 4 of the NBA Finals last season. A complete and utter choke job only explainable by means of divine intervention ensued, as the Celtics erased a 24-point deficit to rally for a command 3-1 series lead. They went on to win in 6 games to make it a grisly trifecta in sports titles in the present decade. Perhaps the worst part about the Celtics' title run was that very few people saw it coming. Alas, that's how it always seems to be, doesn't it?

Super Bowl XXXVIII. So many little things that could've changed the game but didn't. Either it was the two failed, ill-advised two-point conversion attempts by Carolina, or it was their kicker, John Kasay, kicking the kickoff following the game-tying TD out of bounds, setting up a short field for Tom Brady to claim to be a hero by leading a truly-defining, 47-yard drive to set up a field goal. When Carolina took a short-lived, 22-21 lead in the fourth quarter, it was the first time we had the pleasure of even seeing the Patriots trail in a game in over two months to that point. The Panthers gave up a touchdown and never led again. Adam Vinatieri, who gets props at least for bolting to the rival Colts after the '05 season, got to experience deja vu and hammer the final nail in the Panthers' coffin.

Marlon McCree's fumbled interception, 2006 Divisional Playoffs. This is the one that killed me to almost no end. Even though it paved the way for Peyton Manning's heroics the following week in the championship game, the annual Patriots charade should never have gotten that far. Tom Brady was picked off for the third time in the game, but McCree carried the return like a loaf of bread, only to be stripped by prehistoric receiver Troy Brown. IT gave the announcers and media a chance to laud a “truly selfless” effort by the overrated Brown, when really the focus should have been on McCree's utter stupidity, as well as Marty Schottenheimer's constant postseason failures. Mercifully, Schottenheimer's career ended after this debacle, but the Patriots luck did not. Predictably, the botched interception set up the tying touchdown and ultimately the 24-21 victory, which the classless Patriots followed up by mocking the Chargers at midfield after the final seconds ticked off.

May 13, 2007. This was possibly the worst of them all because it involved my beloved Orioles being victimized by the Boston terrorism. The Orioles were well on the verge of taking two out of three at Fenway Park, leading 5-0 in the bottom of the 9th. Jeremy Guthrie had pitched lights-out to that point, and got the first out of the inning before catcher Ramon Hernandez mishandled an infield pop-up that ignited a brutal 6-run rally by the Red Sox. The horrendous nightmare culminated with Julio Lugo hitting a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Former Sox hero Kevin Millar made an errant flip to pitcher Chris Ray at first, allowing the winning runs to score. I immediately wen to the gym and took out my frustrations on the punching bag.

Manning's 2004 trumps Brady's 2007*

2008-11-18T11:18:00.000-08:00

Again, notice the asterisk. Tom Brady may have thrown 50 touchdown passes to set a single-season record* in 2007. Peyton Manning held the legitimate previous mark at 49, breaking Dan Marino's mark that had stood for 20 years. But there are some facts worth noting that in this Patriots-hater's mind make Manning's record-breaking season a more impressive one.
Consider, first of all, that having the class that he does, Tony Dungy sat Manning in the fourth quarter of a number of blowouts to let backup Jim Sorgi take some reps. Bill Belichick, meanwhile, not only usually left Brady in, but once even brought him back out to throw one more scoring pass just to rub it in Miami's face because the winless Dolphins got to within 21 points.
Unlike when New England went for the jugular with nothing on the line other than a record in the final game against the Giants (who won the only matchup between the teams that mattered last season), Dungy pulled Manning after just one series of the Colts' season-finale in Denver. Sitting on 49 against a defense that just two weeks prior had been scorched for 45 points by a sub-.500 Chiefs team, Manning easily could've topped 50. Even with Marino's record gone, Manning should have figured it wouldn't be safe with cheaters still on the loose. But still, Dungy is a class act and wanted to make sure his top-notch players were healthy when the Colts met the Broncos again the next week in the first round of the playoffs.
Brady undoubtedly knew what plays the Jets were running in the 2007 opener, and it wouldn't be much of a shock if he caught some illegal video footage of some of the other opponents the Patriots played. There were games, like the aforementioned Miami contest and a game against Washington the following week in which, despite a massive lead, Brady was still in slinging it against a hapless, defeated foe. Brady connected with Wes Welker in the Washington game for a score to make it 45-0 in the fourth quarter. The pint-sized Welker, beneficiary of double- and triple-teams on Randy Moss all year, spiked the ball like he had just won the Super Bowl (something he will hopefully never experience). What did Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne do after a touchdown? Hand the ball to the official, even if the score put the Colts ahead in the fourth quarter.
All told, Brady maxed out with 50 scoring tosses. Manning probably lost more than a game's worth of action to rest because many of the Colts games that year were out of reach early. No need to rub it in, right? But had slimy Belichick been pulling the reigns, Manning's record would probably still be standing in the mid-50s.

More obnoxious fans: Patriots or Steelers?

2008-11-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

Good Will Hunting, Jason Bourne and Entourage whole-heartedly support the New England Patriots, cheating, scumminess, and all. Of course, that's easy when it seems that 97% of the popular universe hails from the New England area. But the Steelers may smoke the Patriots in that department – literally. That's because they have the D-O-Double Jizzle in their corner, the one and only Snoop Dogg. Rumor has it that Billy Madison, Adam Sandler, is a Steelers supporter as well.

The Patriots are more of a “woodwork” team. That means that due to their recent success* (notice the asterisk), many of their so-called “fans” are still coming out of the woodwork (I actually met a guy who claimed to be a die-hard because he just ordered a Matt Cassel jersey over the Internet). The Steelers, admitted cheaters due to excessive steroid use during their reign of terror in the 70s, at least are more steeped in tradition that the team that was almost shipped off to Hartford by Robert Kraft prior to the turn of the 21st century.
These teams have met many a time in recent years, with much at stake every time. The Steelers are still trying to figure out what they are more steamed over, the cheap film the Patriots had of their sideline from the 2001 championship game or Deion Branch gloating to the all the Terrible Towel wavers after the 2004 title game. They played last year during the Patriots run at imperfection, when rookie safety Anthony Smith of the Steelers virtually guaranteed a win. The result, an inevitable 34-13 drubbing.
Pittsburgh is a blue collar, hard-nosed town. They haven't had much to cheer for in the last 15-20 years with their Pirates. The Penguins came up just short last year, while the Pitt football and basketball teams have been competitive if not glorious. But it's all about the Steelers. The terrible towels alone make them an easy target for fans of anyone else, especially their division rivals. The difference is, the Patriots should be despised by all. Especially their so-called “fans”.

Patriots' Welker only benefiting from Moss' presence

2008-11-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

Maybe the most misleading stat in the history of football is that New England Patriots' receiver Wes Welker is the first player in NFL history to catch at least six passes in his team's first nine games of a season. Let's forget that he has a paltry 9.4 yards per catch, one touchdown, and his longest gain this year is 27 yards. Welker is among the most overrated receivers in football. All he does is run five-yard patterns out of the slot, which are usual open because defenses are so afraid of lackadaisical Randy Moss they usually assign two or three defenders to him.
Welker getting yardage is like taking any generic fast player and throwing him quick passes that any Average Joe could catch, and because the Patriots' lineman are generally holding and cut-blocking, he can pad his stats with so-called yards after the catch.
One friend of mine claims that although Welker and Moss may not be the most dynamic one-two punch in football, they complement each other better than anyone. I then compared that theory to an over-sized bully and his pint-sized sidekick. The sidekick can still command respect and get his licks in on the helpless victim because he is protected by his mammoth partner-in-crime.
Of course, no one even remembers that Welker was once a member of the Miami Dolphins. He did very little to command any respect of his own, which only furthers my claim that he is hardly anything special. But with Brady last year and Moss still around this year, Welker can reap all the benefits and claim he's the real deal.

Maybe Boston would prefer it this way -- without Brady

2008-11-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

When Tom Brady went down for the season in Week 1, I was thrilled – not that he was injured, but simply that his Golden Boy aura finally experienced a little gray. I was ready to start focusing elsewhere, not wondering whether the Patriots would torment the league with their cheating the way they have this entire decade since that fateful day when Drew Bledsoe went down in 2001. But for Boston, the kings of charmed stories, it just seems to keep getting better for them. Matt Cassel, a nobody, leading a ball-control offense for a team now inexplicably in first place in the AFC East. With about a dozen running backs out, an undrafted free agent putting up 100-yard games. And a defense with a number of veterans gone still keeping teams under 20 points. No, the nightmare isn't over. It's just continuing.
New England may have had the best of both worlds after Tom Terrific tore up his knee. They could either have a down year and claim a freebie with Brady out, or have another playoff season and let smarmy Bill Belichick stick it to his critics that the sum is greater than the whole of its individual parts.
If the Jets can't avenge a disgraceful Week 2 loss in New England this coming Thursday, the ridiculous saga of Boston sports will continue with the Patriots at 7-3 and in first place in a crummy division who's deficiencies are masked by overachieving teams having winning records. Buffalo and Miami are not legitimate contenders, and the Jets are teetering on the brink. With everything that should have knocked the Patriots out like a wave of anesthesia, the legend and the lore keeps growing with every lucky win they get.
We can't say for sure if they still know the plays the opposition are running, although in today's contest against Buffalo it sure looked that way. Now it's up to the Jets, they of ratting out the Pats last year, to relieve the football fans of more Patriots-related suffering. Enough is enough.

Dirtbag Wilfork let off the hook by Goodell

2008-10-29T14:20:00.000-07:00

This is why people should hate the New England Patriots, and why commissioner Roger Goodell may truly be a Pats fan. He let the NFL’s scummiest player out of a possible suspension despite what is one of the most disturbing pieces of video footage from the 2008 NFL season. Jay Cutler can now commiserate with the likes of J.P. Losman, Jason Witten, Brandon Jacobs and Michael Turner, all four of whom Wilfork was fined substantially for cheap shots on last season. Following a Denver turnover, Wilfork was seen not only pummeling the Broncos quarterback to the ground, but utilizing an elbow to his helmet that left him wobbly. The footage was not in HD, but the violent and malicious intent was as clear as day. As a football fan, that hit even made me feel a little queasy, although hardly as bad as Cutler felt lying face-down on the turf.
Rodney Harrison may be out for the season, but the despicableness of Patriots players is very much alive in the mean spirit of Wilfork. Somehow, some inexplicable way, Goodell let Wilfork off easy. Adam Jones goes to a few too many strip clubs and is banned from the NFL. Wilfork throws an elbow that could jeopardize a player’s health and merely has to cough up a few chump-change dollars.
In a season where we should all be rejoicing that Tom Brady is out for the season (not rejoicing that he is injured, but simply the fact that the Patriots have to try and win without their Golden Boy), New England has again benefitted from a pathetic schedule and weak division to get out to a 5-2 start.
And it’s because of the consistent inhumane acts of players like Wilfork that one day, the tables should truly turn on the game’s biggest cheaters. One can only hope so, no thanks to Goodell.

Time to reflect on the 2008 MLB season

2008-10-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

Now that the Tampa Bay Rays are in the World Series, it’s no longer necessary to mention that they are the biggest surprise team in baseball in 2008. However, as the World Series is upon us now, let’s take a look back at the biggest other surprises, and busts, from this past season. I will also dole out my awards for the best individual performances.

Top Surprise Teams (Besides Rays)
- Minnesota Twins (88-74). The Twins were supposed to tank after dealing Johan Santana to the Mets for a very little haul and watching Torii Hunter depart in free agency. Instead, they battled the White Sox down to the very last day for the AL Central title, falling just short in a one-game playoff. Justin Morneau had an MVP-caliber year to help ignite an offense that on paper should still be one of the weaker ones in baseball. Their rotation, spearheaded by up-and-comers such as Scott Baker, kept them in many games, key because their bullpen still ranks as one of baseball’s best.
- Florida Marlins (84-77). Like the Twins, the Marlins greatly overachieved in a 2008 that was supposed to be a rebuilding year for them. Thanks to outstanding offensive years from the likes of Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla and great pitching from youngsters such as Ricky Nolasco, the Marlins were able to hang in despite a shaky bullpen and very little fan following. They ultimately came up short, but Fredi Gonzalez’s squad has paved the way for a breakout year in 2009.
- St. Louis Cardinals (86-76). The Cardinals used a patchwork starting rotation for virtually the entire year, yet Tony LaRussa’s team overcame that in addition to a two-week injury to all-world hitter Albert Pujols to stay in the hunt into September. The world champs of two years ago were also without the services of their ace Chris Carpenter for virtually the entire season, but utilized overachievers such as Todd Wellemeyer and Braden Looper to stay afloat.

Top Disappointments
- Detroit Tigers (74-88). Like many so-called “experts”, I had this team winning the World Series. Instead, they not only missed the playoffs, but finished in last place (behind even the Royals) in the suddenly weak AL Central. Their pitching was awful, especially their bullpen, while a lineup considered by many as the best in baseball never really got going on a consistent basis. By the time the dust cleared from a shocking 0-7 start, it was too late.
- Seattle Mariners (61-101). For some unknown reason, your truly had this awful club picked to win the AL West in 2008. Instead, they achieved the dubious feat of not having a single pitcher win 10 games. Starting pitching was a weak point in a surprising 2007 campaign, and the trade for Orioles ace Erik Bedard was supposed to fix that. Instead, Bedard pitched only 15 games for a team that lost a disgraceful 101 games.
- Arizona Diamondbacks (82-80). Yes, the Rockies could easily be on this list instead of the D-backs. My NL pick for the World Series, the D-backs showed that a great starting rotation can’t overcome a horrendous bullpen. With Brandon Lyon blowing saves left and right, many a great effort from Brandon Webb and Dan Haren were wasted. The offense never fully flourished, and instead of running away with a subpar NL West, Arizona ended up barely finishing over .500. The team that ended 2007 with the National League’s best record took a step backward in 2008.

Awards
- AL MVP: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox. It pains me to give this to a Boston player, but Justin Morneau faltered greatly down the stretch for the Twins, and Carlos Quentin’s idiotic self-inflicted wrist injury cost him a chance for the award. Pedroia was the spark plug all year for a Red Sox lineup constantly enduring injuries. He hit .326, narrowly missing the batting title to Minnesota’s Joe Mauer, and tied Ichiro Suzuki for the league lead in hits with 213. Pedroia played in 157 games and also led the league with 118 runs scored.
- NL MVP: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. Perhaps missing two weeks due to injury only enhanced Pujols’ case as the NL’s top player. He still finished second in batting average (.357) and on-base percentage (.462) and fourth in homers (37) and RBIs (116). The Cardinals offense went as Pujols did, as he once again proved that no one in as feared and respected at the plate than he is. Chase Utley, Lance Berkman, Hanley Ramirez, and Ryan Howard all deserve consideration, but Pujols deserves the trophy.
- AL Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians. Lee will also easily grab Comeback Player of the Year, as he bounced back from an injury- and ineffectiveness-plagued 2007 campaign to post an astonishing 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA while earning the start for the American League in the All-Star Game. He almost single-handedly turned a forgettable season for the Indians into a late-season push to .500.
- NL Cy Young: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants. I changed my mind about taking Brandon Webb, who won 22 games but faltered a bit down the stretch when his team was still in contention. Lincecum went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA and a league-leading 265 strikeouts. His win and ERA totals were good for second in the league behind Webb and Johan Santana, respectively. Lincecum’s dominance prevented the Giants from being an utter laughingstock this year, as the baby-faced ace was perhaps the lone bright spot in yet another miserable season by the Bay.
- AL Rookie of the Year: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays. Even though he missed more than a month with a fractured wrist, Longoria was one of the main reasons the Rays went from worst to first in 2008. He led all major-league rookies with 27 home runs and all AL rookies with 85 RBIs for baseball’s best team and was outstanding defensively at third base. Chicago’s Alexei Ramirez should finish a close second, while Boston’s Jacoby Ellsbury will also garner some votes.
- NL Rookie of the Year: Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs. Soto appeared in 141 games for the National League’s best team, posting impressive numbers, especially for a backstop. He led all rookies with 86 RBIs while hitting a solid .285 and clubbing 23 homers. He was as valuable as anyone for the 97-win Cubs in 2008. Cincinnati’s Joey Votto also had an outstanding rookie season and deserves consideration.
- AL Manager of the Year: Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays. This one is almost self-explanatory. The Rays remarkable turn-around and run to the top of the AL East standings was baseball’s best story in 2008. Maddon got the most out of a roster that, on paper, wasn’t anything dynamic. Seemingly every move he made turned out well, and his “9=8” slogan seemed to energize his team throughout the season.
- NL Manager of the Year: Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs. Yes, normally it would be hard to fathom Sweet Lou, manager of the talent-loaded, high-payroll Cubs, getting the nod. But in a year in which no other team took center stage quite like the Cubbies, Piniella deserves the award. He kept his team focused and competitive despite endless talk of the curse, and guided the Cubs to their most wins since 1945. Chicago was one of the most exciting teams to watch, and that’s no coincidence.

Boston-hater haters rejoice, and attack yours truly

2008-10-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

I deserve it. All my Boston-bashing has come back to bite me yet again, as your beloved Red Sox have completed another amazing comeback en route to a World Series title. I was left speechless, even a tad bit queasy. I knew subconsciously it was possible, but I couldn’t grasp it as reality. Until it actually happened, that is.
J.D. Drew, the great one, a hero yet again. A team with no business being in the playoffs succumbing to Fenway magic. It was bound to happen. So let’s give credit where credit is due, wherever credit is due. Perhaps it is time for me to stop fighting it and instead embrace it as cold-hard fact. After all, I have long-searched for happiness in sports. My Orioles have been in the toilet for years, and the Ravens’ best years are long behind them.
The Patriots are hurting this year, and the Bruins aren’t exactly the cream of the crop, but no worries. The Red Sox and Celtics are not only picking up the slack, they’re capturing hearts and places in history with each passing day.
I avow you this right now. If miraculously, somehow, the Red Sox don’t win these last 2 ALCS games behind Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, I will not bash Boston and say “Just kidding!” about this recent rant. Rather, I will simply express pure shock that this unimaginable comeback didn’t lead to a third world title in five years for the Nation. That a team winning solely with momentum and confidence, and not sheer talent, is in the World Series instead of the best team baseball has seen in years.
The two aces are still left to go for Boston, and I would really be surprised if a Boston fan told me he/she was concerned about their team’s chances at this point. Even down 3-2, how could you be worried? Tampa Bay will help your team out even if they are not doing enough themselves to get by.
I’m not a rocket scientist, nor do I claim to be one. But I envision a bounce-back start from Beckett, followed by a classic dominant performance by Lester in Game 7 so send Beantown into yet another frenzy.
Red Sox Nation, start preparing for the victory parade.

Shhh – NFC South quietly making waves

2008-10-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

You know that division where every team is at or above .500? The one with all the hoopla, the top-notch quarterbacks and such? Okay, the NFC East has lived up to its hype for the most part. The division boasts the defending Super Bowl champions and everyone’s consensus Super Bowl pick for this season. In addition to the Giants and Cowboys, the Redskins have been an early-season surprise at 4-2 while the Eagles are treading water at 3-3.
But the East isn’t the only NFC division with an impressive resume through six weeks. Thanks to the upstart Falcons, the South also has three teams with winning records and a fourth at 3-3. The Buccaneers, Falcons, and Panthers are all 4-2 thanks to solid quarterback play and strong defenses. The Saints, another chic Super Bowl pick this year, have been their usual Jekyll-and-Hyde selves, hanging in despite a boatload of injuries.
Let’s face it, sexiness sells. The NFC South is hardly “sexy”. The Bucs and Panthers in particular are hard-nosed, grind out it teams who rarely achieve style points for their success. Even with a dynamic player like Steve Smith, Carolina has never won pretty. The Falcons have garnered more attention in recent years for their disgraced former star quarterback than anything they’ve done on the field. Fortunately, it’s been a new young sensation at QB that’s helped Atlanta regenerate excitement.
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who truly believes this year’s NFC Super Bowl representative will come from outside the NFC East. The North and West are clearly a cut-below. But lest we forget that it was just a few years ago that the NFC South produced back-to-back Super Bowl teams and then a title game representative the next. While they have won a total of just one playoff game since 2005, perhaps it’s time to start giving them some props again.

Big Brother was watching Sox in Game 1

2008-10-11T15:29:00.001-07:00

Did you see that Game 1 of the ALCS? Well someone above certainly did, and he was donning the famous “B” cap. The 2-0 Red Sox victory was sprinkled (maybe “tainted” is a better word) with the kind of breaks that have no business being the determining factor in a championship series. Mark Kotsay, the team’s obligatory in-season pickup-for-nothing, was inevitable right at the heart of that. The left-hander hit a check swing double off James Shields in the 5th inning to set up the game’s first run. He almost duplicated the feat in his next at-bat but was thwarted by a great effort from Rays’ shortstop Jason Bartlett.
Then, of course, was Dice-K getting lucky, just as he has all year. The Rays hit themselves out of a game-tying inning in the 7th before Evan Longoria aided reliever Justin Masterson with a double play ball in the 8th. Of course, sandwiched in between was a ball glancing off the glove of left fielder Carl Crawford to plate the much-needed insurance run.
The Red Sox, as usual, got more breaks last night than a Kit Kat bar, while the Rays could only scratch their collective heads. Considering that there is no team with that kind of karma, this bad movie will have a predictable ending yet again in 2008. Unfortunately, the final victim will be the Philadelphia Phillies and their die-hard fans, starving for a championship for the first time since 1980. The Phillies are no match for the Red Sox, and bitter memories of Super Bowl XXXIX will arise and once again haunt city of Brotherly Love.
The final word is this. Since that matchup is obvious, it will be Brad Lidge choking again in the postseason at the hands of a David Ortiz walk-off home run. The rerun will air sometime next week during the Red Sox’s final frontier.

Ponder this theory on Dice-K

2008-10-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so you, the reader, have to make a decision now. The decision is regarding Japanese pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Boston Red Sox, whether or not he is one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

I am one of the top Red Sox haters, but I am starting to wonder after Game 1 of the ALCS. If Matsuzaka isn't perceived as great, he has at least earned the nickname Jam Master (Dice)K. I can't figure out myself how he constantly gets out of jams. I am aware he has good stuff, but so did Sandy Koufax and Walter Johnson. Like all greats, they were human, they had bad outings that they wanted to erase from their memory. But no, not Dice-K. No matter how bad he pitches, he is bailed out.

This is a guy that walks about 5 batters per game, yet continues to defy logic. Watching his games make me sick, especially game 1 of the ALCS, because it's a tease. You think you are about to rally, and then the opposing hitter psyches himself out and swings at an awful pitch to strand the runners. The Rays had 1st and 3rd with 0 outs needing just a ground ball or adequately deep fly ball to tie the game, yet came up empty. They ended up, predictably, being shutout.

So is this one of the all-time greats weaving his magic? Or just the baseball gods once again doing everything in their power to help the Red Sox? That is for you the reader to answer.

ESPN hoping (dying, actually) for Sox-Dodgers Series

2008-10-05T19:30:00.001-07:00

If only the world were truly perfect were ESPN… But oh, it can be. Even though Golden Boy Tom Brady is shelved for the year, the Red Sox-Dodgers World Series that is seemingly inevitable will fill up countless hours of airtime. America’s heartthrob sports city against Tinsel Town and all its glory. Manny against the Sox. Nomar and Lowe against the Sox. Joe Torre matching wits with Terry Francona yet again, almost like a renewal of the Yankees-Sox rivalry.
Boston versus L.A. in sports is equivalent to Boston over L.A. Red Sox over Angels. Celtics over Lakers. Harvard over USC (okay, not in sports, but in things that matter, like academics). Besides the obvious sports storylines that this World Series will feature, it will also feature all the Red Sox fans in the celebrity community making their presence felt on both coasts. I can picture it now, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck flaunting their David Ortiz jerseys in the faces of so-called Dodger fans like Alyssa Milano (yea that’s lame, but can you think of any real Dodgers fans)?
It’s almost as if this matchup should’ve been a sure thing since Day One. It’s almost as if the pro-Boston media getting its juicy stories to air supersedes the once-pure aura of sports. This decade has been all about Boston sports, a kind of divine intervention not seen in professional sports. Do the gods feel bad about the Curse and all that stuff? Doesn’t seem to be working for the Cubs.
The Red Sox-Dodgers world series would be nothing more than a sideshow with no desirable winner. Even a Dodgers victory would somehow be diminished in the wake of Boston’s seven other pro titles in the 2000s. And Manny getting another ring would hardly be a settling feeling.
World Are-You-Serious 2008 here we come.

Naturally, Yankees help Sox-- ESPN should be all over it

2008-09-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

I've stopped reading ESPN.com, much like I've stopped watching ESPN TV. That's easy in Canada, where they don't have it. While the Yankees were busy parading their history and their tradition in front of my hapless Orioles, lost in the fold was some simple math. Like the number one, Boston's magic number for clinching a playoff berth.

While the schedule makers clearly aired in not making the Yankees' final home game against the Red Sox, the extra insult came in that a Yankees lost would have allowed Boston to clinch a playoff berth prior to their season-ending seven-game homestand. While I don't condone that fact, it is, at this point, inevitable. It would have been much better to have the Red Sox celebrate quietly in the confines of their individual homes rather than tomorrow night at Fenway Park once they get through dismantling the woeful Indians.

So as usual, Red Sox bandwagoners have something to be happy about. This time, they can thank the Yankees for winning and allowing their team to clinch at home in front of the so-called greatest fans in baseball (try telling that to the Wrigley die-hards).

ESPN and its undying Boston-New York bias did not get around to mentioning this in its 12-hour Yankees memory-lane trip today, but given the opportunity it most certainly would have. In an age where the baseball gods are smiling down at the Red Sox 24-7, this is a new low for inconvenient truths.

Dolphins, Saints know stormy times lie ahead for Texans

2008-09-13T12:11:00.001-07:00

The 2004 version of the Miami Dolphins and 2005 version of the New Orleans Saints can probably relate to what this year’s Houston Texans team is going through already. With Hurricane Ike ravaging the gulf of Texas, and Reliant Stadium banged up as a result, those two clubs cringingly think back to recent seasons in which they were focused on Mother Nature than their next opponent.
The ’04 Dolphins had their first two home games moved around because of Hurricane Jeanne. Their opener was moved up a day to Saturday, and their second home game was played in a monsoon on a Sunday night. Amidst all of their football troubles that year, the natural disasters helped contribute to a miserable 4-12 campaign.
The Saints ’05 season was much more well-documented, as Hurricane Katrina destroyed New Orleans before the regular season began. The SuperDome was wrecked, and the Saints played their home schedule in three different locations: Baton Rouge, San Antonio, and one “home” game at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The end result was a 3-13 record and controversy that owner Tom Benson wanted to move the team to San Antonio on a permanent basis.
While those two teams did follow up those nightmarish seasons with winning records the next year, the Texans may be in for a rough go of it this year. Even if their home opener against Baltimore is the only one affected by Ike, their season had already begun on a sour note with a 38-17 drubbing at the hands of the Steelers. Combine that with playing in the AFC’s toughest division, and the off-field distractions could prove to be too much for a team that has still never had a winning season in its six-year history.

Classless Red Sox buying their way back atop East

2008-09-08T18:29:00.001-07:00

What is it with all of these also-ran teams willingly handing over solid veteran players to the Boston Red Sox for virtually nothing? Are most baseball general managers just green with envy over Theo Epstein? The same can be said about teams' quick willingness to help out the New York Yankees as well.

When most teams in most sports suffer injuries or ineffectiveness, it's up to the bench players or minor league players to step up and fill the voids. But with deep deep pockets, the Red Sox and Yankees have an easier solution -- just go out and buy a player because something isn't going their way.

J.D. Drew whines about back spasms, and so naturally Mark Kotsay is in Boston within days. Tim Wakefield needs a cortisone shot, so the Red Sox pick up rabid HGH user Paul Byrd. Hideki Matsui goes down for the Yankees, and Xavier Nady comes by and hits another 15 home runs down the stretch.

It is a crying shame the Tampa Bay Rays didn't go out and stock up at the trade deadline, and in some ways kudos to them for showing class and not abusing the system like the financial demons above them did. But it is coming back to bite them now, as they will be buried back in second place in the American League East within a matter of days.

O no: Osi's injury hampers Giants repeat hopes

2008-08-24T21:52:00.000-07:00

Can you imagine the New York Giants defense without Michael Strahan AND Osi Umenyiora? Unfortunately, that nightmare scenario is now a reality for the defending world champions. For a team that showed off its depth during its incredible championship run last year, their two Pro Bowl ends missing could spell doom for Big Blue.

Can the Giants get pressure on opposing quarterbacks like they did last season with Justin Tuck as their premier pass rusher? I for one would have to say no. It is truly a shame, as Umenyiora is not only one of the top ends in the game but also one of the most likable players as well. He was expected to become the defensive leader after Strahan's retirement, but now newly-compensated coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full trying to gameplan without his two top guns from a year ago.

Rays' Friedman whiffed at deadline, paying price

2008-08-14T22:25:00.000-07:00

Tampa Bay Rays GM Andrew Friedman has assembled quite a collection of young talent. A team that never won more than 70 games before this year and is now 73-47 is a remarkable story. The Rays are baseball's darlings. But they are suddenly looking more human, day by day.

When Carl Crawford and Evan Longoria landed on the disabled list within a week, it began to expose the roster a little bit. Even more so it highlighted the team's failure to land a big-time bat at the trade deadline. They made a solid pickup in Chad Bradford off waivers to bolster their bullpen depth, but their lineup looks far inferior to that of the league's elite. The blame falls completely on Friedman.

Xavier Nady looked like the ideal fit in Tampa Bay's weak outfield, yet he ended up with the Yankees, who hardly needed another fat contract on their $200M payroll. Ken Griffey and Jason Bay were possibilities, but those pipe dreams quickly faded. Raul Ibanez's name was rumored in the past few days, but no deal was struck. The Rays are now leaning on the likes of journeymen like Eric Hinske and Gabe Gross to help fill the lineup void left by Crawford and Longoria. Carlos Pena and B.J. Upton are hardly reliable as the lineup's mainstays.

The sad part in all this is not just that they missed out on possible key additions, but rather that they have as deep and talented a farm system as anyone to dip into to try and win this year. They decided to play coy with several of their top farmhands and stick with the bats that they had. Considering they have one .300 hitter in their lineup, that wasn't a wise choice.

The Pirates are an utter disgrace, may they continue to suffer

2008-07-25T17:57:00.000-07:00

It's official: I hate the Pittsburgh Pirates. At about 8:30 EST I stopped feeling sorry for their pathetic trek of 15 straight losing seasons when they effectively handed the New York Yankees a playoff berth with the trade of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte for a box of pizza (okay, technically four garbage prospects, but what's the difference?)

The Yankees once again get what they want, and didn't have to bat an eyelash to do it. The Tampa Bay Rays desperately needed Nady's bat. A plethora of other teams could've used Marte's left arm. Did the Pirates actually take the time to see if they could get quality players for these two? No. Instead, they shipped them off for nothing to the Evil Empire. Surely, it's another "rebuilding" phase for the despicable franchise. The Yankees, meanwhile, will rally around their near-$200 million payroll but claim they truly had to dig deep for this one. With a few players on the disabled list, that only left about $150 million worth of talent on the field. However did they make the postseason in that case?

The (expletive)-burgh Pirates are to thank for that.

From one Yankee-hater-turned-Pirate-hater to you, I propose this question. Now that their top man is off the table, do the Tampa Bay Rays turn their attention to Ken Griffey? Regardless, the Yankees got their way. In the end, that seems to be all that really matters.

In Rod They Trusted

2008-07-24T23:47:00.000-07:00

Not a day seems to go by in today’s NFL when there isn’t a me-first wide receiver grabbing headlines, whether it’s demanding to be more involved in the offense or demanding a new contract or else. From the Terrell Owenses (at least pre-Cowboys) to the Anquan Boldins of today’s game, it’s quite easy to lose sight of their great production on the field because of their whining and selfish antics off it.

But then there’s Rod Smith.

Smith was always one of my favorite receivers. When he formally announced his retirement today in an emotional press conference, it was a good reminder that there are some players at his position that have it all yet can keep it all in perspective. A lifetime Denver Bronco after joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 1995, Smith tallied some impressive numbers in his 13-year career. His franchise records include 849 receptions, 11,389 receiving yards, 68 touchdown catches, and 31 100-yard games. He is a proud owner of two Super Bowl rings as well.

I hardly have a voice when it comes to Hall of Fame votes, but Rod Smith merits one. While his numbers may not look dazzling, his consistency and loyalty to the Broncos organization was. A 13-year career spent with one team, a pair of championships, and countless clutch plays should be rewarded with a trip to Canton. Best yet, no one will ever accuse him of being an attention-grabber, a pain in the rear, or a distraction to his football team. He quietly caught passes first from John Elway, then Brian Griese and Jake Plummer before missing all of last year with a hip injury. He handled himself with class, and yet his name rarely surfaced in discussions about the game’s top pass catchers.

No matter.

As Smith pointed out in his retirement news conference, all he ever wanted to do was win. And win he did. In the process, he made quite a name for himself, even if it was in fact a quiet one.

Come on Brett, now it's starting to get ridiculous

2008-07-12T12:24:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong, I admire Brett Favre. He is one of my favorite players. It's really hard not to root for him, I suppose unless you are a fan of one his NFC North rival teams. But with the season he had last year, leading the Packers to the NFC championship game, it was as close to going out on top as he was going to get. The Packers probably would've been steamrolled by the Patriots in the Super Bowl anyway.

When Favre announced his retirement at an emotional press conference back on March 6, the media, fans, and everyone alike was taken by storm. NFL Network ran endless hours of Favre-related programming to honor the future Hall of Famer. As shocking as the decision was given the Packers' success last year, it was time to move on to the Aaron Rodgers era while fondly reflecting on the magical career of one No. 4.

But here we are in July, with training camp right around the bend, and it appears as if Favre may not be done after all. In fact, he has apparently asked to be granted his release by the Packers in the case that he does come back and the team plans to move on without him.

So forget Favre's usually thumb-twiddling of "should I stay or should I go?" This situation is much more fragile considering the Packers had already named Rodgers their new top gun. The franchise is now in a tenuous position. Ted Thompson probably does not want to be known as the general manager to part ways with Brett Favre, but it turns out he just might. And Favre's selfishness and indecision is a major migraine for Green Bay's front office.

I for one want to remember Favre for the tremendous year he had last year as the icing on a magical career. With all of the adversity he has overcome on and off the field in his 17 years in the league, it is hard not to marvel at him. Even as he has become more outspoken in recent years, he is still as beloved a player as anyone in the game. But if he were to backtrack on this decision and end up playing somewhere else, it would not only be painful to watch, but disturbing in many ways. The sight of Favre in another uniform would mark an ugly ending to a wonderful relationship between him and the Packers. Aaron Rodgers has already borne enough burden this offseason before even getting the opportunity to prove himself as an NFL quarterback. Mike McCarthy went out and drafted Brian Brohm to help the youth infusion at QB in the post-Favre era. But now the third-year head coach has this distraction hanging over him and his young team. Why? Becuase Brett Favre apparently decided he not only feels like playing again, but that he is also more important than the well-being of the Packers organization.

Remember him? Former Super Bowl winner again taking a back seat

2008-06-25T22:28:00.000-07:00

He may be the most unceremonious Super Bowl winning quarterback this side of Trent Dilfer (and perhaps Mark Rypien). But Brad Johnson, who guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 48-21 rout of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII, has had an above-average career that currently has him holding a clipboard for Tony Romo in Dallas. He will be entering his 17th NFL season in 2008 after being drafted in the 9th round of the 1992 Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He is among the most accurate passers in NFL history, becoming the first player to complete over 60% of his passes in 12 straight seasons. Yet he has always taken a backseat role to flavors of the month despite his steady production. First it was Randall Cunningham in his 1998 renaissance year. Then it was Jeff George in a 2000 season in Washington gone awry. Tavarais Jackson helped give him the boot in his second stint in Minnesota before Johnson became Romo's backup this past year.

So perhaps it was only fitting that Johnson's performance in 2002 was overshadowed by the Buccaneers' dominant defense. He almost assuredly will never be a starter again in the league, but if Romo succumbs to injury, the Cowboys would be in steady hands with Johnson.

Johnson had a potentially promising career with the Redskins before injury and ineffectiveness in 2000 led to George taking over at the helm. Johnson left as a free agent in 2001 to join the Bucs, but a one-and-done in the playoffs had many questioning if he was capable of taking Tampa Bay deep into the playoffs. But Johnson flourished in Jon Gruden's first season as head coach, and was as instrumental to their Super Bowl run as their vaunted defense.

Alas, he will not end up in Canton. He may not even be remembered by the casual football fan when his career officially ends. But he'll always have his Super Bowl ring and a place in the history books.

Minus fanfare, D-Backs could still slither to top of NL

2008-06-24T11:51:00.000-07:00

They certainly aren't baseball's sexiest team. Considering they have Randy Johnson, how could they be? But despite their pedestrian 40-37 record, the Arizona Diamondbacks still may be better equipped to make a run at the NL pennant than the recent fan-favorite, the Chicago Cubs. They have last year's NL Cy Young winner and last year's AL All-Star starter heading their starting rotation, perhaps the most lethal 1-2 punch in baseball. They have two of the top up-and-coming outfielders in Chris Young and former first-overall pick Justin Upton. While the Cubs possess a much deeper lineup, their pitching, namely their starting pitching, is a cut below Arizona's. Johnson, Doug Davis, and Micah Owings round out the D-Backs' starting staff.

I am sticking to my guns of my preseason pick of Arizona as NL champions. Yes, it's early. Yes, the Cubs are the darlings of the Midwest, a team starving for a championship for 100 years now. The Cardinals and Phillies will have a say. But last year's league-runner up, Arizona, could be best-assembled to compete in a playoff series. While I have whiffed thus far on my AL pick, the Detroit Tigers, I will stand by the Diamondbacks. Very quietly, they could snake their way to National League supremacy.

Interleague Play has lost its luster

2008-06-15T16:47:00.000-07:00

I am saying enough with interleague play. It was a novelty for the first few years, and then again when they rotated it so teams could play teams from other divisions in the opposing league. But really, all it does it highlight the major discrepancy between the quality of American League teams and National League teams. When I see Kansas City beating up on Arizona and the Tigers regaining life against the Dodgers, I realize that while those NL teams are considered solid in their respective league, they are a cut below the majority of American League teams.

Interleague play, in addition to feeding the top AL teams easy wins against NL bottom feeders, also can spoil some of the potential World Series matchups. In the old days you knew the only AL-NL showdown you'd see was the World Series, a pair of teams with no past history on a collision course for destiny. Now, it's not the case. The last three years have featured World Series matchups that played out in the regular season.

I'd rather see the AL teams beat up on the AL teams and the NL teams beat up on the NL teams all the way up until late October. But I also want a salary cap, and world-class commissioner Bud Selig doesn't figure to take that path either.

Real fans don't need to wear paraphernalia

2008-06-12T22:38:00.000-07:00

Maybe it's just frustration stemming from the countless baseball hats with the dreaded "B" logo on it (technically stands for Boston, but actually stands for Bandwagoner). A few years prior, the "NY" Yankees hats were seemingly the only sports gear people wore, with an occasional Lakers jersey or Cowboys t-shirt mixed in.

Which brings up an interesting question. Ever talked to a Kansas City Chiefs fan? How about a Cleveland Indians supporter? As crazy as it sounds in this Boston/New York universe that we are victims of, there are, in fact, fans of some of those other sports organizations. While the Tony Gonzalez jerseys and Grady Sizemore tees are scarce, it doesn't mean that those teams, like many others, aren't well followed and supported. Most sports fans are not spoiled by their teams' success and have to stick with their teams through the rough patches (I should know, I support Baltimore sports teams and follow the Blue Jays rather closely up here in Toronto).

The fact of the matter is, as many knowledgeable sports fans as there are, many do not have to flash their teams' logos to prove to others that they are fans. As many fashionable logos and jerseys as there are out there, sometimes sports paraphernalia is as much a fashion statement as anything else. And that's where one can separate the paraphernalia from the true fans.

While it seems like most all sports teams outside of Boston aren't allowed to ever win championships, there is an occasional ray of hope. Every now and then I'll spot a Steelers' Super Bowl XL hat or a Florida Gators National Championship shirt. Of course, Steelers and Gators fans are certainly more hardcore than the average team. It's just that not every one of them needs to show it off.

Fantasy race: LT vs. AP

2008-06-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson have flat out separated themselves from the rest of the running backs in the NFL. Peterson took the league by storm last year in his first year, just like Tomlinson did six years prior as a rookie.

If these two phenomenal running backs were to in fact race, it would be a dream matchup. It isn't that they are the two fastest backs in the league. That may in fact be far from the truth. But if one were to apply a guantlet of defensive players to them, it would simply be dazzling to watch them maneuver their ways to the end zone.

Tomlinson does it with his vision as much as he does with his speed and power. Peterson's cut backs top that of even Fred Taylor. Both can catch the ball out of the backfield, but LT is more adept at it than Peterson.

For them to start at midfield and dash to the end zone would be exciting, to say the least. Tomlinson would get there primarily on the strength of his initial burst, while Peterson would be more likely to utilize his patience, then draw defenders one way just to juke them back another way. The end result would have the two mild-mannered backs high-stepping into the end zone just a few split seconds apart. In a dead sprint, Tomlinson might win. But any time these two backs go head to head, it would be worth the price of admission.

Just think back several months to their only encounter. Peterson stole Tomlinson's thunder and Jamal Lewis' old rushing record by ripping LT's Bolts for an NFL-best 296 yards. What will they have in store when their teams meet again in 2011? It's a shame we will have to wait that long.

Now the Patriots are snitches, too

2008-06-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

The team that Eric Mangini ratted out, much to the delight of many NFL fans, now has its own personal snitch. Nick Kaczur, and offensive lineman, helped the feds bust his supplier after Kaczur was arrested for illegal possession of a painkiller.
Kaczur is the third Patriots player to be arrested on drug charges since the Super Bowl, a time that the NFL’s dirtiest team on the field is starting to have their noses covered in off-the-field business. After Willie Andrews and Kevin Faulk were caught with marijuana, Kaczur was caught with painkillers. As a true Patriot, he turned into the golden boy all of a sudden, cooperating with the feds to save face. Maybe the feds simply didn’t want to smear the Patriots’ “good” name.
Or maybe it’s yet another heartwarming story, a Boston athlete doing a good deed. Of course, being a spy is nothing new to the Patriots. Kaczur surely was well-prepared seeing as how he learned from the best in Bill Belichick.

Can Detroit or L.A. reign supreme as top sports city?

2008-05-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

Boston has had their little run. The Patriots videotaped their way to the top. John Henry increased the Red Sox budget by more than $100 million so they could slay the Yankee dragon, which is all that Red Sox fans really care about anyway. And the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett because the rest of their roster was atrocious.

People (at least those from Boston, anyway) will claim Boston is the top sports city right now. Maybe. But where there is a king, there are always princes waiting in the wings.

Who could the next king of the sports nation be? Will it be Detroit, the Motor City, with the Pistons and Red Wings leading the charge? How about Los Angeles, the City of Angels, with the Lakers, Angels, and Ducks all among the elite teams in their respective sports.

I am leaning more towards the latter. Unfortunately, even with the Yankees slipping (no complaints here), New York can never be overlooked. But Los Angeles boasts one of baseball's best teams in the Angels, who appear the have the best chance to overtake Boston in the American League, and another solid team in the Dodgers as well. In basketball, the Lakers have always been thought of as an elite team, especially with their early-decade dynasty. They are back on top again, frontrunners to win their fourth championship in nine years. And then you have the Ducks, winners of the Stanley Cup a year ago and playoff entrants once again in 2008. Even the Clippers have dug themselves out of their usual doldrums the past few years, and it's getting easier and easier to overlook the fact that L.A. hasn't had an NFL team since the Rams and Raiders left following the 1994 season.

The tossup between Detroit and Los Angeles may ultimately come down to the NBA Finals. The Red Wings are comfortably ahead of the Penguins and figure to coast to the title. The Pistons are locked in a tie with the Celtics and their luck of the Irish, and would almost certainly be facing the Lakers should they win the Eastern Conference. The two teams met in the finals in 2004, which was won by the Pistons. The Pistons, by the way, are in the Eastern Conference finals for the sixth consecutive year. Pretty impressive.

Ted Kennedy will recover, hit winning homer for Sox

2008-05-23T10:37:00.000-07:00

It's not like the Red Sox need a 76-year-old U.S. Senator to help their baseball team, either on or off the field. They have purchased a pretty handy team to stick it to the Yankees. They have two cancer survivors (which bests the Patriots, who only have one stroke survivor), and they are trying to tug at more heartstrings by claiming they took a chance on overweight and over-the-hill pitcher Bartolo Colon when no one else wanted him. But when discussing the Red Sox and all their karma and good fortune, you can't help but wonder what Boston native Ted Kennedy, recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, could do for their spirits.

My first thought was that he will throw out the first pitch (a perfect strike right down the middle, I might add) at a World Series game, which will be pitched by fellow cancer survivor Jon Lester, and of course won by the Sox. But then I realized that would just be too easy and, frankly, boring.

Kennedy will, in fact, not only miraculously recover from the tumor, but then sign a one-day contract and smack a game-winning home run for Boston. That will turn the last of the unturned stomachs of those who have to endure the Red Sox winning on an almost-daily basis and provide yet another great, inspiring story for ESPN to air to honor one of their beloved Boston teams.

Just wait until the so-called "pennant" race in the AL heats up. You thought being reminded 75 times that Jon Lester is a cancer survivor was annoying. How about when lifelong Bostonian Ted Kennedy finds his way into the mix?

Trading Tejada bringing good karma for Orioles

2008-05-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

As an Orioles fan, I was absolutely thrilled the day the Orioles finally dumped the excess baggage that was Miguel Tejada, shipping him off to Houston in a six-player deal. I was so sick and tired of his negative attitude. Not once did I ever feel sympathy for a guy who supposedly was a great player stuck on a bad team. His involvement in the Mitchell report, lying about his age (which came out after he had left Baltimore), and his constant pouting never prompted me to feel bad for him.

The day he left, the Orioles clubhouse became more unified, thanks in large part to a youth infusion that was boosted by the arrival of Adam Jones in the Erik Bedard deal with Seattle. Bedard is a fantastic pitcher, but even he was a bit of a sourpuss, mostly keeping to himself.

The Orioles are 22-19, and I am not drinking the Cool-Aid and feeling false hope. The O's are notoriously fast starters and slow finishers, but it's more the fact that they are a young team with very few expectations that leads me to believe they are playing a little over their heads right now. Nevertheless, first-year manager Dave Trembley has the O's playing hard every game, and there is no doubt the team chemistry is much improved. The thing that has impressed me about this year's Orioles, believe it or not, is how they've handled themselves in defeat. They have kept most of their games close and have battled back on a number of occasions. They have also managed to stay upbeat and have, to this point at least, avoided any major losing streaks.

As the season progresses the Orioles will be tested more and more. They may crumble as they seem to do almost every year, but at least they will stick together. Even if they fall apart.

NFL needs to keep applying pressure to solve Patriot games

2008-05-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

While it's annoying to see U.S. Senators sticking their nose into NFL business, I can live with Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter keeping the heat on the Patriots to keep digging into their shady past (and present). The NFL Network recently aired some footage of some of the game tapes former video assistant Matt Walsh turned over to the league, and it only enhanced the scumminess of an already pitiful situation. And so where to begin?

The one excuse that bothers me the most is that these tapes are useless and have no bearing on the game. Bill Belichick has been doing this ever since he got to New England in 2000, so this is just another dirty habit of his. My question keeps being, if the tapes aren't used for any advantage, then why need them in the first place? And even if halftime adjustments aren't able to be made using the tapes, what about the games against division rivals, when the Patriots would play them a second time that same season?

It always puzzled me how nobody receivers like David Patten, David Givens, and Troy Brown consistently got so open over the years. If they weren't pushing off, they simply knew where to be in advance. And 15 second-half screen passes in Super Bowl XXXIX against the Eagles? I don't care if Jim Johnson walked over to Bill Belichick and told him he was going to blitz every play, that's simply not right.

Unfortunately we will never know how and when those tapes were used, but more answers are sure to come. The Rams feel cheated and feel that their Super Bowl XXXVI loss to New England ruined their once-formidable enterprise. That's why it's good to see Specter and NFL officials prying as much as possible to get to the bottom of this. The Patriots keep trying to brush it off and say the issue is dead, but when I see Willie McGinest giving lame half-denials in interviews (this, by the way, the same McGinest who once faked an injury to grant New England an extra timeout in a critical game against the Colts), I can't help but wonder if the players knew about and ultimately benefitted from these spy tactics.

So Mr. Specter and the NFL, keep applying the pressure. Unlike the Super Bowl, the Pats won't have an easy out against this all-out blitz.

Who tops list of NFL's biggest dirtbags?

2008-05-12T00:02:00.000-07:00

Whenever I think the word "dirty" in the NFL I immediately think of Rodney Harrison. It's hard to imagine how most football fans don't readily agree that Harrison is the most hated player in the game. It started for me in 1999 when Harrison took the cheapest of cheap shots at Trent Green, taking out his knees, ending his season and ultimately, changing the course of history for that Rams team. Of course, Harrison plays for the Patriots, who have a plethora of bottom-feeders.

Meanwhile, I don't want to even include Pacman Jones and Chris Henry in this discussion. They are troubled individuals, to say the least, and their problems off the field are far too well-documented to even get into detail here.

Joey Porter has always been a player I've loathed, from his foul mouth to his even fouler antics. Somewhere between him ruffling up every pregame warmup by the opposing team, spitting in William Green's face, and shoving Todd Heap so hard he missed half the season with an ankle injury I guess I conjured up some negative feelings toward Porter.

Leonard Little can't not draw your ire considering what he did in 1998, when he drove drunk and was in an accident that resulted in a woman's death. Little served four months in jail, but apparently that didn't seem to teach him a lesson, as he later incurred another DWI arrest.

And of course, without rambling on too much here, I can't omit Kyle Turley from this list. Turley recently blew up on Dan Lebatard's radio show, dropping an F-bomb directed at fellow former NFLer Robert Smith. Turley was a hothead during his playing days. He will be most remembered for ripping off and throwing Damien Robinson's helmet during a 2001 game, then later erupting at Mike Martz and threatening to kill him after Martz cut him from St. Louis.

Now that I've aired out some of my dirty laundry players, I'd like to hear your thoughts of who some of the most hated players in the game are.

Are the Rays for real?

2008-05-11T13:29:00.001-07:00

It’s hard for me not to call them the Devil Rays. The team name they carried from 1998 to 2007, a 10-year stretch when they incurred nine last-place finishes and never won more than 70 games in a season. A team that fed the Yankees and Red Sox double-digit wins each year yet always seemed to beat up on my team, the Orioles.
But now they are simply the “Rays”. A new name, and apparently a new feeling surrounding the team. Their bullpen is much improved, complementing a strong young starting rotation. Their lineup isn’t exactly Murderers Row, but is filled with up-and-coming players like Evan Longoria and B.J. Upton.
Of course, they don’t throw money at players like the Red Sox and Yankees do, and never once has a baseball god even batted an eyelash towards the Rays. So it’s almost impossible to think they have a real shot in the AL East.
But maybe one day, when the Red Sox actually have something go wrong for them, or when the Yankees finally miss the playoffs after their annual mediocre start, the Rays will stand up and be counted for as an American League playoff contender.
The talent is there, but there is a ways to go. The Rays are making more and more believers every day.

OUCH! Take a look at some Japanese baseball collisions

2008-05-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

Maybe they play the game harder over in Japan. Or maybe just differently. Or maybe they're just plain clumsy. But if you watch this video of some of the best (or worst) baseball collisions in this video from Japan, you see a contrast in style to the American game.

At any rate, this video, which I happened to just find while perusing YouTube, is enhanced by this great Japanese song. The video is about eight minutes long, which is asking a lot to watch the whole thing, but if you're in a hurry, my favorite collision happens at about the 4:19 mark.

So without further ado, here you go:

Dungy aims to finish his coaching career where it started

2008-04-30T23:58:00.000-07:00

The scenario doesn't seem to play out for guys like Tony Dungy, even though he is one of the most revered men in all of football. Dungy had his fair share of heartbreak in Tampa Bay as a head coach. After all, he built a championship team, only to see his successor Jon Gruden reap the rewards. He has also dealt with his own personal tragedy, with his son James taking his own life in 2005. Yet Dungy has found inner peace within his faith and has stayed strong through it all.

So imagine this. Dungy standing on the podium in the middle of Raymond James Stadium, hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in his final game as head coach in the city where his legacy began. After turning the Buccaneers from laughingstock to powerhouse, Dungy gets to ride off into the sunset a la John Elway and Jerome Bettis, and do so in the same place his journey began.

The Colts have as good a shot as anyone to win it all in 2008, and even if they fall short next year Dungy will retire as a world champion regardless. But the Colts want to show everyone they were not a one-hit Super Bowl wonder. Dungy, who became the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl, could find his own poetic justice if his team captures Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa Bay next February.

I hope the Red Sox repeat... their 2006 season

2008-04-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

You couldn't have been fooled by the title. Certainly, you all remember the way the Red Sox's 2006 season unfolded. The first half was similar to last year and this year, with the very real possibility of another World Series title. But then came the downfall.

Injuries started piling up, some of the bizarre variety. David Ortiz came down with an irregular heartbeat and missed some time. Jon Lester was diagnosed with cancer after complaining of back pain. Josh Beckett was getting rocked in his first season in the AL. Before you knew it, Eric Hinske was a regular in the lineup and Devern Hansack had cracked the starting rotation. While the Yankees were busy with their annual sob story ("oh, we showed SO much character bounding back from a .500 start to reach the playoffs with a $200 million payroll, isn't it just heartwarming?"), the Tigers swept America's hearts with their surprise playoff berth and subsequent run to the World Series. The Red Sox were home for October.

So could that dream become a reality again in 2008? Curt Schilling is out until at least July. Mike Lowell, Sean Casey, and Josh Beckett have already spent time on the disabled list. At times even during a 17-12 start, the Red Sox have, dare I say, looked beatable. Yet we all know that come the second half, they have the almighty powers above on their side, which is the toughest foe of all to beat.

But before this recent high the Sox have gone on, believe it or not (I'm still trying to convince myself, actually) Boston baseball fans suffered a few late-season meltdowns. So I for one will be keep my fingers crossed that history does indeed repeat itself. And that would mean that the word "repeat" does not get uttered once we reach October.

Giants' White House visit brings smiles

2008-04-30T23:36:00.000-07:00

It was a typical day for Boston sports. Another baseball god smiling on the Red Sox and pissing on the Blue Jays. The Celtics clobbered the Hawks. The Bruins were probably issued a pardon from the NHL and somehow found out they weren't technically eliminated from the playoffs.

But then I saw this.

And it certainly brought a smile to my face. I remembered back to that oh-so-happy evening of February 3, 2008, when the Patriots' run at history* was mercifully denied by yet another Manning. Imagine soon-to-be-former President Bush giving a speech on sportsmanship with Tom Brady and Bill Belichick standing behind him, about to present him with a "190" jersey to symbolize going 19-0. Throw that into the mix with everything else going on right now in Boston sports and it could make enough people sick to represent a national outbreak of the Ebola virus.

But because of Eli Manning and David Tyree's heroics, an otherwise-downtrodden late April evening serves as a reminder that indeed, cheaters never prosper (at least since 2004, anyway) and sometimes nice guys DO finish first. Thank you, Giants.

Does Hart to Indy equal Alexander to N.E.?

2008-04-29T23:30:00.000-07:00

The Colts definitely need depth at running back, and they got a pretty solid back in the 6th round in Michigan's Mike Hart in the draft. The Colts were rumored to be interested in Shaun Alexander, but now maybe that interest has diminished. Hart is a productive player who should fit nicely into the Colts system. So guess who the other team rumored to be interested in Alexander the Not-So-Great is? Of course, the New England Patriots.

Alexander appears way past his prime, but things have a funny way of working out for players like that in New England. Since the Patriots couldn't rub it in to the Dolphins by stealing either Zach Thomas or Jason Taylor, they may try and rejuvenate Alexander's career to prove a point. Belichick will never let the media and fans' animosity over Spygate go, so he will keep going for players like Alexander to show off his so-called genius "system".

I hope for Alexander's sake he maintains some integrity and goes to a team with a young running back core to mentor them while still providing productive yardage, but for a guy entering his ninth season and still without a Super Bowl ring on his finger, he may take the easy way out and pull a Junior Seau.

At this moment I still have a lot of respect for Shaun Alexander, but that could all change with one quick bolt to the Patriots.

Seau's return to the Patriots would be pathetic

2008-04-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

A return to the New England Patriots by Junior Seau, who is currently unsigned, would be nothing short of pathetic, and also quite hypocritical. Seau, who has long craved a Super Bowl ring, is still in search of his first one. Surely he assumed he could get one the easy way by signing up with the Patriots, but it hasn't worked out that way. Now with the Patriots drafting a pair of linebackers this past weekend (let's face it, even their sixth-round pick, Bo Ruud, will probably end up in Canton seeing how as his coach will alert him of all the opponents' plays before they are run), a return by Seau would only spot him a part-time role. For a guy who rants on about his passion for the game, he might even be, dare I say, selling himself short.

Seau is 39, but he may be able to find more playing time elsewhere. Let's say a team like Indianapolis came calling. Last I checked the Colts were pretty good but could use some help at linebacker, and it's not as if a guy like Seau couldn't live with playing for Tony Dungy. But obviously he is so in love with Bill Belichick's "system*" that such a scenario is unlikely. Love for the game? Or just love for the quickie ring?

If Junior comes back as the senior citizen that he is, it would be nothing short of weaseling, a way to just put in enough reps to try and get that long-awaited ring the easy way. Seau, who once retired for a few days after Miami cut him and no one wanted anything to do with him, would lose the last ounces of respect that anyone should even have for him now. If he really was the heart and soul of the Chargers all those years, what a weak heart and soul that was. Seau was part of some pretty awful teams, including a 1-15 squad in 2000, but that doesn't mean he deserves a ring any more than the next guy. Going to the Patriots should not make anyone root for you, because you are part of the problem.

If Seau returns for his 19th season, it would be just the opposite of heartwarming. It would be a pathetic rouge to make one last run at it for the most hated team in football.

Prise du jour: Reed Johnson goes all out vs. Nats

2008-04-28T11:32:00.000-07:00

This is simply an appreciation of one of the finest catches I've seen. Reed Johnson, the scrappy center fielder for the Chicago Cubs, went all out in left-center to take extra bases away from the Nationals' Felipe Lopez in a tie game in the 5th inning on Friday.

Johnson is hardly known for his bat but earned a reputation as a throw-your-body-around type gamer with the Toronto Blue Jays. His catch against Washington was one of the finest you will see by an outfielder, between the distance he had to cover and the full out extension he had to make to reach the ball.

Here is the clip of that amazing catch, with broadcast calls courtesy of WGN Radio. Enjoy.

Chiefs come up big in Draft with Dorsey, Albert

2008-04-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Kansas City Chiefs in my mind had one of, if not the, strongest drafts this past weekend. While losing Jared Allen hurts, they utilized the pick they acquired from the Minnesota Vikings and selected one of the best offensive lineman in the draft, this after they took a major step toward replacing Allen by selecting perhaps the best defensive lineman in the draft. Defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive guard Branden Albert will be plugged in immediately to the Chiefs lineup, as Kansas City has a major uphill climb after losing its last nine games in 2007.

For a team that has so many holes to fill, the Chiefs also added a top-notch cornerback in Virgina Tech's Brandon Flowers in the second round, then plucked Jamaal Charles, a running back from Texas, in the third round. After Ty Law was cut and Priest Holmes retired, depth at the cornerback and running back positions was extremely thin.

The Chiefs had 12 draft picks overall, and it would be no surprise if all of them were with the club come opening day. The Chiefs could have as many as eight new starters next year after a tumultuous end to last season.

Additionally, I will admit that often times you can't grade a draft class until after the ensuing season, but the Chiefs' success, or lack thereof, should be evident even sooner, considering the fact that many of these rookies could be asked to contribute right off the bat. My expectation is that like many young teams, the Chiefs will go through growing pains early and often, but the more experience their youngsters get, the stronger they will become as a team. If Dorsey, Albert, and Flowers can adjust quickly, the Chiefs rebuilding process should go smoothly. If not, there could be some lean years ahead in Kansas City.

Great teams draft for talent, not need

2008-04-26T13:58:00.000-07:00

If you look at the track record of NFL teams that draft well over the recent years, it's because they don't simply draft for need, but rather the best available player out there. Sometimes that doesn't ring true, but why pass up a great player at one position just because you need a bigger upgrade at another position? As a Ravens fan, I got used to this. Ozzie Newsome has made his mark at doing just that, and with a plethora of Pro Bowl players his track record speaks for itself.

The Ravens aren't the only good example, but a good one nonetheless. They have always seemed to need offensive players, especially a quarterback, but still go for defensive talent because it's available and can help their team. They didn't necessarily need a tight end in 2001 because they still had Shannon Sharpe, but found a gem at the end of the first round in Todd Heap. They also didn't particularly need a safety when they were starting to rebuild in 2002, but they found a superstar in Ed Reed. Add defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to the list and it's no wonder they always seem to field a top-notch defense.

I will eschew discussing the Patriots because just about everything they do is shady. Instead another good example is as recent as last year's draft. The Minnesota Vikings had a 1,000-yard rusher in Chester Taylor and a lot of glaring weaknesses elsewhere on their offense and also with their pass defense. Yet Adrian Peterson was simply too good to pass up, and now Minnesota boasts one of the most dominant offensive players in football and a much more feared offense, even without a true quarterback.

Teams sometimes have needs that are simply too glaring to pass up, but more often there are players available that are simply too talented to pass up. Let's say you have a poor defense and a strong offense, especially on the offensive line. But by the luck of the draw one of the top offensive line prospects becomes available. What do you do, especially if you feel that the offensive lineman is more of a sure bet than the defensive player you covet? My opinion is you with the offensive lineman. A great player is a great player, no matter what you need.

Mild prediction: AFC champion will come out of South in '08

2008-04-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

It would be a great injustice to one of the strongest divisions in recent memory in the NFL if it did not produce next season's AFC Super Bowl representative. Call it a prediction, or maybe just wishful thinking that the Patriots don't cheat their way to a fifth* big game appearance in eight years. Just consider that the last-place team, the Houston Texans, finished at 8-8 last year, something that has happened only a handful of times since realignment. The division produced the two AFC Wild Card teams, as three clubs, the division-winning Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Tennessee Titans, all reached double-figures in wins. The combined winning percentage of the four teams in the division was .656, the best-ever in the NFL history.

This offseason, the Colts, as in the norm with them, stood pat in free agency, mainly keeping intact a team that has won at least 12 games each of the past five seasons, a first in the NFL annals. The Jaguars addressed one of their weaknesses by upgrading the wide receiver position, while the Titans also made significant additions to an average offense. The Texans are like the forgotten step-child, a franchise that has never posted a winning season in its five-year existence but who made significant strides to reach .500 last season.

Like the NFC East, the AFC South has four playoff-caliber teams that will duke it out over the course of the season. The Colts have won the division five straight years, but the Jaguars are hot on their coattails, and the Titans don't figure to go quietly either. The biggest issue for the Jaguars and Titans will be first overcoming the Colts before they can think about overcoming some of the other top teams in the conference.

My semi-prediction, if you will, is that either the Colts or Jaguars will represent the AFC in Tampa Bay in next year's Super Bowl, but don't be surprised if the Titans make a run at it. The Texans are solid, but at least a year or two away.

Chad for Anquan: Why not?

2008-04-23T10:29:00.001-07:00

Swapping disgruntled wide receivers Anquan Boldin for Chad Johnson could be so simple. At the same time it could fail to erase any headaches the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals are feeling right now. Boldin and Johnson are among the game's top wideouts, but both are unhappy with their current squads. Boldin has never come across as a super-selfish, me-first kind of player. He has quietly put up big numbers for a team that is often out of playoff contention by October. Johnson, on the other hand, is as showy and attention-getting as almost anyone in football. His numbers speak for themselves, but unfortunately so does Johnson, sometimes too much. He has clearly wore out his welcome in the Queen City.

So why not simply swap the two players? Okay, maybe it really isn't actually that simple. But what if it is? What if both players are just craving a change of scenery? Both are dynamic receivers, so it's not as if either team would be losing much. Both are going to be big salary cap hits anyway, so why not? Boldin has kept his name out of police blotter, always a good sign for karma when you're headed to play for the Bengals. Johnson has never gotten into legal trouble either, but he has clearly damaged team chemistry for a team in desperate need of it. In Arizona he could team with Larry Fitzgerald to give the NFL one of its most potent one-two punches at receiver in ages -- maybe even ever.

In today's NFL, nothing is really that cut and dry. A simple swap of two frustrated receivers can't simply occur at the snap of a finger. But it's worth considering. Both players want out, and their teams could use to rid themselves of the distraction.

Alexander's release sign of the times

2008-04-22T15:49:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how fast things can change in the NFL. Just two years after being named the league's MVP with a then-record 28 touchdowns for the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, Shaun Alexander is unemployed. He was released today after eight years with the club. He leaves as their all-time leading rusher.

It was somewhat apparent this would happen when the Seahawks signed a pair of free agent running backs this offseason in the Cowboys' Julius Jones and the Lions' T.J. Duckett. But for one of the faces of the franchise, it was hard to imagine this day would actually come. At least so soon, anyway.

The man who graced the cover of Madden '07 will now be waiting by the phone for an offer from another club. There's no doubt he will find work quickly. But the shock will still remain.

Loyalty no longer exists in the NFL, if it ever did at all. Alexander was not only one of the most successful players in franchise history, but also one of the most well-liked and well-respected. But injuries hampered him the past two years, as he failed to top 1,000 yards after doing so the previous five seasons. And just as Ricky Watters was bumped out the door by Alexander, Alexander is being bumped out by Jones and Duckett.

Number 37 will likely be number one on a lot of teams' priority list, at least ones who need a running back. Where ever he ends up he does not figure to be the presence he once was in Seattle, where he once sat among the league's elite backs. The soft-spoken and oft-smiling Alexander is yet another victim of a vicious cycle. But heck, if Jerry Rice can be cut by the 49ers and Zach Thomas by the Dolphins, Alexander can be just as abruptly sent packing by the Seahawks. While his salary cap number made it a somewhat logical decision, it is still unfortunate to see the former MVP depart the Pacific Northwest.

Brewers: Without Sheets, less Parra to ya

2008-04-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

I've grown tired of picking the same team every year and watching them unravel the same way at the end each time. I used to pick the Kansas City Chiefs for the Super Bowl almost every year under Dick Vermeil, and despite a top-notch offense they never even won a playoff game. I've started a similar trend with the Milwaukee Brewers, who at least finally broke the .500 barrier last season in narrowly missing the postseason for about the 50th straight season (actually it's only been since 1982, which just feels like 50 years because the Brewers haven't made the playoffs in my lifetime).

The Brewers have at least one bonafide superstar in ace starting pitcher Ben Sheets, who has been absolutely lights-out thus far. Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun are certainly stars-in-the-making for a potent Brewers lineup, but Sheets is the key for Milwaukee if they are to have any shot at a rare NL Central title. Sheets has spent far too much time on the DL the last three seasons, crippling an otherwise-mediocre Brewers rotation. This year's current staff also includes 2006 NLCS MVP Jeff Suppan, David Bush, and youngsters Yovani Gallardo and Manny Parra. The return of Gallardo brings much hope, but once again it's all about the Benjamin.

The prospect of Sheets being a dominant ace in a playoff series for Milwaukee is enticing because the rest of the Brewers' rotation is certainly competent to hold up its end and make them a legitimate title contender. They have no problem scoring runs, although holding leads is a concern with a shaky bullpen. But if Sheets is on his game, none of that would even matter. When healthy and thriving, Big Ben might be the best pitcher in all of baseball. For a franchise that hasn't played October baseball in 25 years, not having him out there is basically a death sentence.

Drafting first overall not such a priviledge anymore

2008-04-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

Tim Couch is out of football. David Carr might as well be. Drafting number one these days is not only a risk, it's also a headache. The amount of guaranteed money teams are forwarding to the top pick is ludicrous considering these players have never played a snap in the NFL.

There's no exact science to guarantee that the first pick will be a success in the league. Sometimes they are an instant success, sometimes it takes time. For players like Couch and Carr, it's somewhat unfair considering they were thrust under center for poor teams from the get-go. For players like defensive end Courtney Brown, they simply never have the impact at the pro level that they did in college. For players like running back Ki-jana Carter, they simply can't stay healthy enough to be a factor.

If you are the Miami Dolphins, you have some options at number one. But trading the pick will be tough because no one wants to take on the process of negotiating a fat contract for an unproven player. In a draft with no clear-cut top pick, Bill Parcells is in a tough spot.

Jake Long, Matt Ryan, Darren McFadden. There are some big-time prospects with big-time question marks. They will demand money, and almost certainly get it. If they don't, they simply will holdout, because it's what almost everyone does these days. Then when they do play, they have a mountain of expectations to live up to. Generally it takes a special type of player to live up to that hype. For a franchise like Miami, they are hoping to hit the jackpot.

It would making picking first well worth their while.

Sporting tip: Can't stand 'em? Bet 'em

2008-04-20T13:19:00.000-07:00

I learned a valuable and profitable lesson that offered me some comfort last October. My undying hatred for the city of Boston and especially the Red Sox led me to do something rather unorthodox. Sensing they would win the World Series with the baseball gods on their side, I knew I had to do something to ease the pain. So it dawned on me that I could actually benefit from my own misery by putting money on them, figuring that hedging my bet would let me win either way.

I am not much of a gambler so I did not front that much money, but 50 bucks in your pocket is 50 bucks. When the Red Sox were celebrating on the field in Colorado, my TV had long been turned off, but my wallet was a little fatter. I knew the entire baseball season was a waste, but at least I was a tad richer for it.

I also experienced the other end of the spectrum with this past Super Bowl. I bet the Patriots assuming a perfect season was a lock for them, and assumed it'd be a few more easy dollars. But when Tom Brady's desperation heave fell incomplete on fourth-and-20, I was emotionally richer although financially poorer. Nevertheless, the joy of seeing the Patriots' run at perfection spoiled was well worth the small amount of money I put on them. Once again, I was set either way. In all honesty though, this was better than winning a little pocket cash.

If you like to make the stakes a little higher, then you can probably cope with your hated team winning even better. If you're like me, petty cash offers at least some solace. Just moments ago I happened to catch online the fact that the Red Sox rallied from five runs down to shock the pathetic Rangers, which for me was like watching the same movie for the hundredth time. But the other day I bet the Sox to both win the AL pennant and the World Series, so I figure this charmed existence they are living will at least throw a few dollars my way at season's end.

Bottom line here folks is, if you're as passionate about sports as I am, you have at least two or three teams you hate with every fiber of your being. I've never been a proponent of the "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" cliche, but this may be the exception. Place a small (or large) bet on your most hated sports teams, and either way you'll come out richer. For me, I hope by the end of October I am emotionally richer and financially poorer. But money is money, right?

Restoring the good name of Adam Jones

2008-04-19T23:31:00.000-07:00

If your name is Adam Jones and you are a professional athlete, chances are people do not have a good association with you. Maybe that's because the most well known Adam Jones, commonly referred to as "Pacman", is one of the biggest thugs in the NFL. He is currently suspended from the league for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct policy, including a possible involvement in a triple shooting in Las Vegas last year.

But if you are a 22-year-old outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, you are doing your best to restore the integrity of that name. This Jones is one of the baseball's bright young prospects, the key component of the trade that sent former Orioles ace Erik Bedard to the Seattle Mariners.

While "Pacman" Jones tries to make his way back to football, Adam Jones has quietly had a solid start for the surprising Orioles, collecting 14 hits in his first 54 at-bats including a homerun. But how unknown is he? It's not often a professional baseball player takes a backseat to another professional athlete AND a musician when you Google his name. Yet despite the relative anonymity, Jones is one of the fresh faces of the future for the struggling Baltimore franchise.

On the other end of the spectrum, "Pacman" Jones (if you hadn't guessed by now, no relation) is the poster child for bad behavior in pro football. He has drawn recent interest from the Dallas Cowboys but has yet to be officially reinstated by the league. Whether or not he continues and ultimately resurrects his troubled career remains to be seen.

In the realm of professional sports there are hundreds of Joneses, from the Atlanta Braves' Chipper to the Seattle Seahawks' Julius to the Philadelphia Flyers' Randy. But there are only a pair of Adams, and they could not seemingly be more opposite. The baseball version is doing his part to make people forget the bad memories of the football version.

Two instant classics, courtesy of the Manning Bros.

2008-04-19T20:18:00.000-07:00

Even a heavy sense of bias can't keep me from calling the Patriots' last two postseason losses two of the greatest games in NFL history. First it was the Colts rallying from 18 points down in the 2006 AFC Championship Game, the largest comeback in championship game history. Then just this past February it was Eli Manning's last-minute touchdown lob to Plaxico Burress to knock off the previously undefeated Patriots.

Part of the reason I believe these were two of the best games ever was my hatred for the New England Patriots. But realistically the scenarios under which the games were played made them that much more memorable. First it was Peyton Manning trying to shed the label of big-game choke artist, especially when it came to playing the Patriots. After throwing an interception returned for a touchdown that put his Colts in a 21-3 hole, Manning and the Colts embarked on a frantic comeback to tie the game at 21-21. The two teams then traded a touchdown and a field goal before New England regained a 34-31 lead. After a huge defensive stand got Manning the ball back, No. 18 drove the Colts almost the length of the field for a game-winning touchdown. A Brady comeback attempt was then thwarted by the Colts defense, which many believed had hindered Manning's ability to lead the Colts to a Super Bowl in years past.

This past Super Bowl was one of the best Super Bowls of all time. After all, how many Super Bowls come down to the final minute? I still think the Rams-Titans classic was the best in Super Bowl history, but this one was a close second. The Patriots were attempting to become just the second team in NFL history to go through an entire season undefeated. The Giants were huge underdogs with a quarterback who also was seen as a big-game choker, if not a draft bust. The vaunted Patriots offense was held to a meager 14 points after shattering the points record in the regular season. David Tyree's incredible catch may go down as the best in history given the circumstances. But the image that will always stand out to me was Tom Brady being lit up for a sack on the final drive by Giants' rookie Jay Alford that all but sealed the deal.

For a team that has caught seemingly every break in the 21st Century thus far, whether legitimately or not, the Patriots have been on the losing end of perhaps two of the best games in recent memory, at least in the playoffs. Mr. Perfect Tom Brady has been picked by the Colts and sacked by the Giants in the final minute, when he is supposedly invincible.

Surely, the NFL has had its share of memorable contests in recent years. Who can forget Dwayne Rudd of the Browns throwing his helmet on the final play to allow the Chiefs the chance to kick the winning field goal? Or the 49ers rallying from 24 points down to shock the Giants in the 2002 Wild Card playoffs? But the Manning brothers' greatest hours, respectively, have not only come at the hands of the Patriots, but have also been as breathtaking as anything we have seen in the NFL.

Buffalo Bills: Welcome to Toronto

2008-04-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry Buffalo, but get used to this. The Bills haven't made the playoffs since 1999, and they don't appear headed there next year. One place they are headed, however, is north of the border. Toronto's Rogers Centre will be hosting the first regular-season NFL game played in Canada on December 7 when the Miami Dolphins visit the Bills. Tickets will be anywhere in the $200 range on average, something absurd for Bills fans. But Toronto is a top-notch city (I should know, I live there), and the high price is nothing to be shocked about. Worse yet for Bills fans, who should be used to heartbreak by now, is that the home game they are losing is against arguably their biggest divisional rival.

I think it's great that Ralph Wilson is trying to dip into the Canadian market; Toronto is only 90 miles from Buffalo and there are plenty of Bills fans in the area. I don't even need to mention that the Rogers Centre is a much nicer place to watch a game than Ralph Wilson Stadium, perhaps the biggest dump in all of football.

I am not insinuating that the Bills should move to Toronto permanently, but playing once a year in Toronto is a great idea. Bills fans should embrace the idea considering their luck here can't be much worse than it has been of late in Western New York.

Cleveland is the ultimate sports heartbreak city

2008-04-16T23:27:00.001-07:00

The Drive. The Fumble. Jose Mesa. The fact that LeBron James is only one player and not five. Whatever the reason, Cleveland always seems to be suffering from bad karma when it comes to sports. The Indians choking away a 3-1 lead in last year's ALCS, combined with Ryan Garko's big mouth, got me thinking that it really is a bad case of the sports gods frowning on the Mistake on the Lake (aka Cleveland).

The Browns, perhaps the worst name for a professional sports franchise, have really been left in the cold when it comes to the Super Bowl. In addition to being one of six franchises never to reach the big game, they are the only one of those six to not at least host a Super Bowl in their city. John Elway did them in twice in the late 80's, and they have barely smelled the playoffs since then.

The Cavaliers had a nice run in knocking off Detroit in last year's conference finals, but LeBron James was no match for the Spurs, who have a complete team, not just one superstar. The Cavaliers have never won an NBA title, and last year was their first-ever appearance in the NBA Finals.

And then there's the Indians. They lost two World Series in the 90's, including a heartbreaking, 7-game marathon against the Marlins in 1997. Blowing a 3-1 lead to Boston last year extended Cleveland's World Series title drought to 59 years.

Alas, there is no justice for Cleveland fans (not even David Justice, who went on to win a World Series only after departing Cleveland) when it comes to sports and notably championships. Ohio State is a winning collegiate program in nearby Columbus, but the fans of the Dawg Pound would much rather see their Browns, who will be featured in five prime time games next season, bring home the hardware. The city is championship-starved despite having some talented teams, and it's just a shame. But hey, it could be worse. Any of those teams could be the Chicago Cubs.

Goodell's Spygate "punishment" a joke

2008-04-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

First of all, way to go 49ers. Way to finish 5-11 knowing that your first round draft pick belongs to, who else, the Patriots. When that draft pick was crappy offensive tackle Joe Staley, not even Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis. Second of all, way to make an example, Roger Goodell. Goodell's "punishment" for the Patriots years and years of blatant cheating was the Patriots losing their first-round pick "if they reached the postseason". That is laughable. What's more laughable is that Goodell figured it would sound harsh but knew all along New England would get a higher pick because of San Francisco's ineptitude as an organization. Docking less than a million dollars from one of the league's richest owners was merely a slap on the wrist.

The 15-plus screen passes the Patriots called against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots' third* title in four years, should've sent up a red flag. Then again, no one seems to flag the Patriots. Least of all Goodell.

So while the new, stern commissioner is busy setting up ridiculous regular-season games in London and suspending players for going to too many strip clubs, the Patriots are continuing to ruin the integrity of the game. Maybe South Park put it best. In a recent episode chronicling Bill Beli-cheat, Cartman explains to a group of students, "If you cheat and win, you're a success... and when caught redhanded, say what all middle-aged white male cheaters say: 'I misinterpreted the rules'".

Belichick didn't misinterpret anything, except maybe Goodell. Even he couldn't have thought the commish would be so easy on him. Heck, Goodell even did the coach a favor by destroying all of the evidence.

Pete Rozelle must be spinning in his grave.

NFL schedule is out -- time to start planning

2008-04-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

Because I am the consummate sports nut, especially an NFL nut, this is kind of a holy day for me. Maybe it is for others too. I'll play it safe and speak only for myself, though.

At 2 p.m. EST, the NFL Network and NFL.com simultaneously released the officially 2008 NFL schedule, and at about 2:01 p.m. my mind was racing with thoughts about which games I not only would look forward to watching, but also which games I might be attending. I enjoy checking out new stadiums, picking out intriguing matchups, preferably teams I have never seen live. Last year I had the pleasure of seeing Brett Favre play for the first time, combining that with my first trip to Arrowhead Stadium.

This year my top target destination is Dallas. After all, 2008 is the final year for Texas Stadium, where the Cowboys have called home since 1971. The Cowboys play in the NFC East, so right there that's three excellent home matchups. They also play Seattle on Thanksgiving and my hometown Ravens in the regular-season finale on a Saturday night in late December.

For most fans, the more casual ones, this is simply a day to peek ahead and seem who their teams play and when. Travel plans are still on hold for several months; rather, it's a day of speculation and anticipation. And in some cases, major questions.

My top question is, in a league that prides itself on parity, why do the Patriots have the league's easiest schedule? Why do the Chargers, who admittedly will be doing their fair share of traveling this year, have the second-easiest schedule? By New England's good graces, of which this decade they seem to have many, they get to face the pathetic NFC West and almost equally-inept AFC West. Their first four games are against teams that won a combined 13 games last year. Yikes.

At any rate, this April day represents the turning of the page from 2007 to 2008. The NFL Draft in two weeks will help culminate that process. But now that we know who plays who and when, it's time to start pondering -- and in my case, maybe even start planning.

Time for baseball to stop pretending everything is okay

2008-04-14T20:34:00.000-07:00

Major League Baseball will probably never have a salary cap, which is tragic. As much as most baseball fans would like to cling to the fact that baseball has crowned seven different champions over the past eight years, it's now apparent that was just a faze, and a cover up for the real problems that the game still has. Parity really is non-existent.

This actually does not have to be another Red Sox/Yankees rant. As much as I would like to see a salary cap destroy the high the Red Sox are on, like the one the Yankees were on in the late 90's, it isn't just those two financial juggernauts ruining America's pasttime. The payrolls of the high-market clubs are skyrocketing. The Mets and Angels don't have the baseball gods smiling on them like the Red Sox and their horde of obnoxious bandwagoning fans do, but they are spending ad nauseum and will almost assuredly steal a playoff spot from a grittier and more deserving team that doesn't have the financial resources to hold up over a 162-game schedule.

It would be nice to enjoy the nice starts that teams like the Orioles, Athletics, or Marlins are having. But this isn't a 16-game season like the NFL. Eventually karma gets to the little guys and kicks them in the gut. Rest assured that on the flip side, the Red Sox will have a player overcome a heart attack or an awful bout with pneumonia in the midst of another title run, and ESPN will run twelve stories on them in a span of a week. A team like the Blue Jays, meanwhile, will stick around until August, suffer one or two key injuries, start losing, then blame it on that. We've all seen this movie before.

It's April, and the writing is already on the wall. It's time for baseball to start assessing the problem. Predictability is no fun in sports.

Devin Hester, You Are Ridiculous

2008-04-13T23:12:00.000-07:00

By the time the 2008 NFL season rolls around, the Chicago Bears' Devin Hester may be considered the NFL's most versatile player. He is perhaps the game's most gifted athlete, on pace to shatter almost every kick and punt return record with an absurd 11 touchdowns in just two seasons. But in 2007, Hester was utilized as a wide receiver by head coach Lovie Smith, hauling in 20 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns.

While the Bears slipped to 7-9 last season and are hardly considered a major contender heading into next year, Hester has proven that he alone is worth the price of admission. His flare for the dramatic, which includes the only opening kickoff returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history, is almost uncanny. The Bears, who lost their top receiving threat in Bernard Berrian this offseason, have tried to utilize Hester in the passing game. But as the game's premier return man, Hester has simply set a new standard.

With Chicago's new #23 standing back returning kicks, the Bears are virtually guaranteed of favorable field position. For those foolish enough to kick to Hester, the risk is tremendous. For those who choose to kick away from him, they suffer the consequences of a short kick and thus, a short field for the opposing offense.

A victim of a team devoid of big playmakers on offense, Hester's increased role was thought to have taken a toll on him last season. Instead, he nearly duplicated his extraordinary rookie campaign with five more return touchdowns while also pitching in some big plays on offense for a team that had its fair share of quarterback issues.

While the 2008 Bears might be a far cry from the club that reached Super Bowl XLI just two seasons ago, Hester makes them an instant attraction. He may in fact be the only player in all of football to validate the old cliche "he's a threat to score any time he touches the ball". Which is why, of course, Lovie Smith has tried using him in every which way possible.

When the Montreal Canadiens draw my interest

2008-04-13T12:35:00.000-07:00

I really don't like hockey, and I should because I now live in Toronto. The Leafs, I'm told, suck. They haven't won a title since 1967. But the Canadiens, apparently quite disliked in my new neck of the woods, are suddenly my rooting NHL interest. Why? If you've read this blog enough it should be obvious. They are playing the Boston Bruins. The Bruins, who play in the same town as the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics. The Bruins, who are trying to elevate their status with their fellow Boston franchises.

Last I heard the "Habs" were up 2-0 in the series, comforting news considering the Celtics could be on their way to an NBA championship themselves. The Red Sox are back at their recent winning ways already, and the Patriots have the 7th pick in the NFL Draft at month's end. If nothing else, a Canadiens' series win would provide a brief sigh of relief.

Pressure is on Rivers now

2008-04-11T19:18:00.000-07:00

Once a New York Giant (for about a mere hour), Philip Rivers, one of three quarterbacks taken with the first 11 picks in the 2004 NFL Draft, has seen Ben Roethlisberger (taken 11th) and Eli Manning (first overall) win Super Bowls in their first four seasons. Rivers, who finally won a playoff game this past year (two, in fact), now needs to take the next step. But recovering from a torn ACL will only hinder that process, as the Chargers might be forced to start the 2008 season with Billy Volek under center.

The Chargers started 1-3 last season before rallying to win their third AFC West title in four years. Rivers showed incredible grit by playing with a torn ACL in the Bolts' AFC Championship game loss at New England. But once again San Diego came up short of its ultimate goal, and Rivers knows that, even with LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield, the journey to Super Bowl XLIII falls squarely on his shoulders.

Calipari no longer feeling fried

2008-04-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

It always seemed to be the worst of two worlds for Memphis head coach John Calipari. In the pro ranks, he simply couldn't win. A 72-112 overall record and no postseason wins marked two-plus failed years at the helm of the New Jersey Nets. In the collegiate ranks, Calipari was the coach who could always field strong teams yet never get them to the premier level. Despite entering this season with a career 373-134 overall coaching record in college, Calipari had only guided one team to the Final Four, his 1995-96 UMass squad. He has been a champion in the NCAA, but that was an NIT title with Memphis in 2002. His two previous best teams were his 2006 and 2007 Memphis clubs, which went a combined 66-8 in from 2005-07. Yet both of those teams were bounced in the Elite Eight, and one could only wonder if Calipari would ever deliver a championship.

But 2008 has arrived, and so have Calipari's Tigers. Finally.

Even entering the tournament at 33-1, many thought Memphis was the most vulnerable of the four number one seeds in this year's NCAA Tournament, especially with it's poor free-throw shooting. But with its rout of UCLA on Saturday, the Tigers are on the doorstep of destiny. As fate would have it, only another coach looking to shed the can't-win-the-big-one label, Bill Self, and the Kansas Jayhawks stand in the way.

Please, not the Celtics too

2008-04-05T14:54:00.000-07:00

As if not enough obnoxious humans are walking the streets flaunting Red Sox caps and Patriots jerseys, just imagine another major pro sports team from Boston making a run at a title. I don't claim to know enough about basketball to say the Celtics can't develop their own players, but I seem to remember Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett starting their careers elsewhere. Garnett, an offseason purchase, is an attempt by a losing franchise to try and restore glory. Thanks to recent New England karma, the move has made the Celtics the top dog in the weak Eastern Conference.

The Spurs, Patriot-like in winning four of the last nine NBA titles, have somehow fallen back to the pack in many people's minds, and have taken a backseat in the media. ESPN, a Connecticut conglomerate, have used their status to implant the name "Boston Three Party" in people's minds, making the newfound Boston hatred that much easier to stir up.

So when it comes time for most of us to ignore the NBA Finals in favor of the baseball season starting to heat up in the early summer months, yours truly can only hope the Celtics do not follow in the footsteps of last year's Red Sox or the Patriots' three asterisk-marked titles from earlier this decade. Such a gruesome image it would be, the Irish parading all over Beantown pretending to care about the Celtics, when the reality is its just another excuse to be obnoxious, drink heavily in the streets, and rub it in that their once-pathetic sports tandem is riding high.

The Spurs, Lakers, Hornets, Pistons, and maybe a few surprise entries ultimately may have something to say about that. Let's hope so.

1 and not done

2008-03-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

March wasn't full of madness after all.

When Davidson's Jason Richards misfired on a 3-pointer at the buzzer Sunday, the last of the Cinderellas fell as Kansas escaped with a Final Four berth, 59-57. That means that all four of the tournament's number 1 seeds will battle for the national championship. It is a far cry from two years ago, when a 2, 3, 4, and 11 seed advanced to the Final Four (No. 3 Florida won it all).

As I mentioned previously, the madness generally fizzles after the first two rounds anyway. Even with Davidson making an improbable run, just as improbable was the possibility of someone not seeded number 1 having a legitimate shot at the title.

The two matchups next Sunday certainly will be entertaining and enjoyable for the hardcore college basketball fan (you know, the one that actually follows the sport the entire year and not just during March Madness). North Carolina figures to battle UCLA for the national title, but Kansas and Memphis will have something to say about that.

So there will be no George Mason-like success story this year, not even a slightly-under-the-radar team like Florida two years ago getting hot at the right time. Instead it will be the four teams that are cut above the rest duking it out. Good basketball, certainly. Worth watching? Maybe.

Message to NFL coaches: No need to run up the score

2008-03-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

It's odd to think that in the NFL a team leading 31-7 in the 4th quarter might have a dilemma on its hands. The outcome of the game is inevitable, but the issue then remains how to handle the remainder of the game. Rest your regulars? Run the ball almost exclusively? Play prevent defense?

The debate is many times a non-issue because of the competitive nature of today's game, but in 2007 was brought back into focus mostly by the New England Patriots. A number of early-season games were early routs, and Bill Belichick, as is his nature, was drawing the ire of his opponents by leaving his regulars in, passing the ball with enormous leads, and generally sticking it to his critics who said he was a low-down dirty cheater. The result was ugly, with Wes Welker spiking the ball with a 45-7 lead, Tom Brady being brought back off the bench to throw his sixth touchdown pass of a game, and Ben Watson catching a touchdown pass on fourth down with a 35-7 lead.

But put aside the Patriots for a second. This trend is generally reserved for college football because often times the disparity in talent leads to many a rout throughout the course of a season. Steve Spurrier was one of the head honchos in that department for many years with Florida. Though blowouts are less common in the NFL, gamesmanship can still get distorted in cases like the aforementioned ones.

Not to preach too much, but my thought process shouldn't be rocket science and should be followed by coaches. If you're team is leading by three or four touchdowns late in the game, there's no need to have your starters in. Why risk your top players getting injured when the win is already in the books? I don't think coaches have to run every single play -- the play-calling isn't so much the issue. But it's one thing to have Tom Brady airing it out with a 42-10 lead; it's another, less disrespectful thing to have Matt Cassel getting some throws in up 32 points. As for the fourth-down issue, this is perhaps the biggest gray area. Kicking a field goal is, in the opposition coach's opinion, adding three unnecessary points. Yet going for it is rubbing it in. Taking a knee is pure patronization. My opinion: run the ball. If you get it, more time to burn off the clock. If you don't, no extra salt-in-the-wound points, other team gets the ball back, other team's coach slightly less mad about his insurmountable deficit.

By in large, no fan wants to see an NFL game result in a blowout -- unless of course it's your team on the winning end. With parity the way it is, blowouts aren't as big a part of the game as they used to be. Remember some of the Super Bowls from the 80s and 90s? Only two Super Bowls in the last nine years have been decided by more than 12 points. That said, when a gruesome runaway does ensue, there is no need for coaches to massage their egos by adding insult to injury and pouring it on for the sake of personal records and perhaps personal vendettas (think Belichick for the latter). Tony Dungy won't have Peyton Manning under center with the game wrapped up, let alone throwing passes. The agenda for coaches when a game is that out of hand should not be the final margin of victory, but rather getting the game over with as quickly as possible with as few injuries as possible. After all, in today's NFL, no win is more important than the next one.

March Fad-ness: Tourney boring after first 2 rounds

2008-03-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

I can't speak for everybody -- heck, I can barely speak for myself -- but put me in the sure-to-be-large grouping of those that simply loses interest in the NCAA Tournament after the first two rounds. Like most Americans (and I wouldn't dare discriminate against those elsewhere in the world who feign interest) I park myself in front of the television for most of the day on that Thursday and Friday when 32 teams advance and 32 teams go home. Saturday and Sunday are weekend days so I try and socialize somewhat, but the buzz is still there. That is, until the next work week rolls around and only 16 teams remain.

Perhaps the biggest buzzkill is simply the fact that viewers have to wait from Sunday until Thursday for the tournament to resume. A close second to that is that usually by the third round the clock has struck midnight for most, if not all, of the potential Cinderellas of the bracket.

Of course, I am not a basketball purist, nor do I claim to be one, and thus one can't deny that perhaps the best basketball games are the ones played in the later rounds featuring the nation's powerhouses. So it is not as if the Sweet 16, Elite 8, and Final Four are slouches. But by that time virtually all of your brackets are completely busted and thus you have no desire to see your friends or coworkers duke it out to see who takes home the prize in your tournament pool.

Maybe I'm just venting on the grounds of my own yearly bracket pitfalls. But be honest, tell me this doesn't at least describe you the reader at least partly.

Thought so.

Baseball is here: 2008 Predictions

2008-03-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Why spend time reading the predictions of so-called "baseball experts" when you can get equally unreliable ones right here on this site? Though it wasn't rocket science to pick Boston last season, most experts will swing and miss with at least a third of the league's teams' fates. That said, here are my undoubted whiffs at what the 2008 Major League Baseball season will hold.

Predicted American League Standings:

AL East
1) Boston
2) New York*
3) Toronto
4) Tampa Bay
5) Baltimore

AL Central
1) Detroit
2) Cleveland
3) Chicago
4) Kansas City
5) Minnesota

AL West
1) Seattle
2) Los Angeles
3) Texas
4) Oakland

Playoffs:
ALDS -- Seattle over Boston; Detroit over New York
ALCS -- Detroit over Seattle

Predicted National League Standings (*-Denotes Wild Card team)

NL East
1) New York
2) Philadelphia
3) Atlanta
4) Washington
5) Florida

NL Central
1) Milwaukee
2) Chicago*
3) Houston
4) St. Louis
5) Cincinnati
6) Pittsburgh

NL West
1) Arizona
2) Los Angeles
3) Colorado
4) San Diego
5) San Francisco

Playoffs:
NLDS -- New York over Chicago; Arizona over Milwaukee
NLCS -- Arizona over New York

World Series:
Detroit over Arizona, 4 games to 2

Green Bay now Mr. Rodgers' neighborhood

2008-03-04T11:25:00.000-08:00

With Brett Favre's retirement Tuesday, the reins of the Green Bay Packers will, in all likelihood, be handed to a 24-year-old California kid who has never started an NFL game. Aaron Rodgers, a first-round selection out of Cal in the 2005 draft, has essentially had one significant NFL showing in three seasons as the backup to the NFL's Iron Man. Rodgers completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown in Green Bay's 37-27 loss to Dallas in Week 13 after Favre left the game due to injury. But now Rodgers will finally get his shot. So is he ready?

There is no reason to believe he isn't capable of leading the Packers back to the playoffs. He was highly touted coming out of college and didn't disappoint in his relief outing against the Cowboys last year. In a game with home-field advantage implications Rodgers stepped up and kept the Packers in the game the whole way through. But in becoming the first person other than Favre to start a game for Green Bay since 1992, Rodgers will face different sorts of hurdles. Like the media pressure of filling Favre's shoes. It was a similar situation faced by Brian Griese after John Elway's retirement. 10 years later, the Broncos have just one playoff win to show for it. Rodgers also will have a first-round pick status to live up to. But at least the very least, he appears a far better suitor than, say, the quarterback that was chosen first overall in '05, Alex Smith, who has struggled mightily in San Francisco.

Working in Rodgers' favor is an extremely talented wide receiving core and one of the league's better offensive lines. With weapons like Donald Driver and Greg Jennings to throw to, and Pro Bowl-caliber linemen like Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher protecting him, there won't be much room for excuses if Rodgers can't keep the Packers offense at a high level.

It would be hard to imagine anyone viewing Rodgers as a failure if he, at the least, keeps Green Bay in playoff contention next year. He naturally will always be comapred to Favre as his first successor, and because Rodgers has been a Packer for three seasons there shouldn't be much of a learning curve in 2008.

As No. 4 used to say it was "Super Bowl or bust" for the Packers. With No. 16 stepping in, that sentiment is probably far-fetched at best. But all eyes will be on Rodgers now as he attempts to lead the Packers back to the postseason.

Free agency not always precursor to success in today’s NFL

2008-02-28T13:44:00.001-08:00

It’s easy to look back at what the New England Patriots did in the realm of free agency following the 2006 season and say that big spending in the free agent market is the key to success in today’s NFL. But it’s even easier to realize that three of the final four teams this past season, including the world champion New York Giants, were hardly factors in the free agent market prior to their tremendous 2007 campaigns.

The two conference finalists, the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers, each essentially made one free agency move, and neither shook the earth off its axis. Green Bay’s only notable free agent signing was nickel defensive back Frank Walker from the Giants. Walker was hardly an impact player, recording just 17 tackles and no interceptions in 12 games. Meanwhile, the Chargers’ lone move was retaining guard Kris Dielman to keep their offensive line intact. Yet despite their lack of activity in the market, both the Packers and Chargers came within one game of the Super Bowl in large part because their core players, mostly all of whom they acquired through the draft or as undrafted free agents, produced on a consistent basis.

The Giants, they of perhaps the greatest upset in NFL history, made only one significant move in free agency in bringing in linebacker Kawika Mitchell from the Kansas City Chiefs. While Mitchell was a solid contributor, it was the growth of quarterback Eli Manning and the overachievement of their unheralded draft class that propelled the Giants’ incredible playoff run.

So what does this all mean? Does it mean that the Patriots didn’t need to purge their wallet to get back to the Super Bowl? Not necessarily. Players like Adalius Thomas and Donte Stallworth were important pieces, and receivers Randy Moss and Wes Welker (acquired through trades) were a large reason why the Patriots shattered all sorts of offensive records in 2007. But like the other successful teams in the league, the Patriots didn’t go 16-0 in the regular season without tremendous success from their own players. It’s not as if quarterback Tom Brady, a sixth-round pick in 2000, or Asante Samuel, a third-round selection in 2003, were big names coming out of college. Yet they are just two examples of excellent scouting and what being in the right system can do for young players.

If you need further proof that free agency isn’t what many people expect, just look at the previous two Super Bowl winning teams. The Indianapolis Colts’ lone free agent acquisition, albeit a big one, was a kicker. Adam Vinatieri was a huge part of their postseason success, but virtually all of their offensive and defensive starters came through either the draft or as castoffs from other organizations.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ formula for success was almost identical for the 2005 championship team. Ben Roethlisberger was a first-round pick yet the third quarterback taken in the 2004 draft, while other key players like Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, and Ike Taylor came through the draft. Running back Willie Parker, who broke a Super Bowl-record 75-yard touchdown run, was an undrafted free agent out of North Carolina who worked wonders assuming the starting role from Jerome Bettis. Bettis, while not originally drafted by Pittsburgh, had been with the team for 10 seasons and his leadership was just as important as his play on the field.

Free agency certainly is not as impactful as it is in baseball in large part because of the salary cap, but also because the draft is often where great teams are made. You don’t have to have a high pick, either, as many of today’s stars were late-round gems or even undrafted players. Scouting and player development is as critical now as it has ever been, and with the recent success of teams who have scored big with young players, that doesn’t figure to change any time soon.

A Giant Upset, A Giant Relief

2008-02-10T18:26:00.000-08:00

The writing on the wall was as clear as day. 19-0. Perfection. History. Words alike scrawled out, paying homage to the conclusion of the New England Patriots' perfect season. Their fourth Super Bowl win in seven seasons, the one that bought them a share of property in Perfectville alongside the cherished 1972 Miami Dolphins. Not in a million years were the New York Giants going to stand in their way.
But apparently, Tom Coughlin, Eli Manning, and the rest of Big Blue didn't get the message. Instead, they traveled to Perfectville to deliver a gift card to Mercury Morris and his gang. "Enjoy it for one more year."
And indeed they will.
The Patriots' quest for perfection never came full circle. The Giants delivered one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, knocking off the 18-0 Pats, 17-14, on the strength of an epic, 83-yard game-winning touchdown drive by the younger Manning. David Tyree, known mainly for his stellar work on special teams, made one of the greatest catches in recent memory to keep the drive alive. Four plays later, Manning lofted an on-target -- perfect, actually -- pass to outspoken wide receiver Plaxico Burress to cap the comeback. The unheralded Giants defense officially sealed the deal shortly after that, sacking Tom Brady and forcing three incompletions to bring the Lombardi Trophy home to the Big Apple.
And so, as Vegas oddsmakers lost approxmiately $2.6 million, most of the world got exactly what they wanted. The hated Patriots, attempting to bring Massachusetts its second championship in four months, not only lost a game, but perhaps got a dose of karma. Up until Super Sunday the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick made it known that they wanted to stomp every opponent, most likely to erase any doubts over the "Spygate" scandal that arose after a week 1 matchup with the Jets that created some doubt over their recent success. As if the Patriots hadn't terrorized the NFL enough this decade, the possibility of them going 19-0 was downright sickening to many, including yours truly. After coughing up an 18-point lead to Indianapolis last January in the AFC title game, the Patriots went on a spending spree that landed them star wide receiver Randy Moss and two stellar complements in Wes Welker and Donte Stallworth, as well as plucking linebacker Adalius Thomas from the Ravens. Through the season's first 18 games, it looked as if the "sign up for a ring" policy was going to come to fruition for the Patriots newest additions, as well as Junior Seau, the grisled veteran linebacker who has gone through his share of lean years in San Diego and Miami. But in the end, it was the likes of Michael Strahan, Amani Toomer and Shaun O'Hara, to name just a few of the Giants own grisled vets, who brought home the hardware.
Perhaps the whole thing was made even sweeter by two factors. The fact that New England achieved the first-ever 16-0 regular season and failed to win the title is quite satisfactory. Then add in yet another chapter of New York ousting Boston in a major sporting event, and the spoiled Beantown sports fans start to think back to the old days of Bill Buckner and the many Red Sox heartbreakers, as well as the old Foxborough Stadium days that hardly were filled with lore.
To look deeper at the Giants and their run to glory, it is hard to believe a 10-6 regular season team could turn it on and become such a force in the postseason, but Eli Manning proved why he was the first overall pick in the 2004 draft. His numbers were solid if not spectacular, and in the end he had the poise to do the unthinkable and knock off the seemingly-invincible Patriots.
Who says the Cowboys are America's Team? The Giants just made a pretty strong case.

Jaguars face unthinkable task

2008-01-06T21:04:00.000-08:00

The Jaguars are one of six franchises never to participate in a Super Bowl, a fact that doesn’t appear likely to change next Saturday night. Not that the Jaguars lack the talent or moxie to make it to Arizona; it’s just that they have the unenviable task of trying to knock off the unbeaten Patriots in Foxboro in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

The unknown, gritty squad from the Sun Belt will assume the role of America’s team on Saturday as those outside of Boston (plus a few bandwagoners that we could all do without) will be pulling for Jack Del Rio’s club.

The Jaguars will have to pound Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew on the ground, which is a distinct possibility considering the one vulnerable spot on the Patriots defense appears to be their run defense. But ultimately it will come down to David Garrard, because Bill Belichick will try and take away what the Jags do best: run the ball. That said, Garrard’s legacy can grow in massive proportions if he can pull the upset of the year.

As much as I would love to see the Jags knock off the smarmy Pats, the prediction stands as follows: Patriots, 27-13.

It’s not that I don’t believe the Jags can’t win. But divine intervention won’t let the Patriots’ record-setting season take such an ugly turn. Maybe the Colts or Cowboys or Packers will knock them off down the road, which I (and would imagine most others) would be just fine with. But wouldn’t it be nice if Jacksonville took a step closer to removing itself from that dubious non-Super Bowl list?

Strong 'pens written with youthful exuberance

2007-08-22T15:26:00.001-07:00

In this day and age in baseball, when the complete game is almost non-existent, the teams built to last are the ones with strong bullpens. Generally, that entails steady middle relief, complemented by a 1-2 punch of a setup man and closer to finish out games. A prime example for the 2007 season would be the Boston Red Sox, who knew they had a strength in their middle relief and in closer Jonathan Papelbon but truly hit the jackpot by lucking out on Japanese-import-turned-setup man Hideki Okajima. Okajima is 31 but technically a Major League rookie, while Papelbon is 26. In looking back at recent successful teams, the key seems to have been a strong yet young bullpen. Last year's World Series featured a pair of teams carried by tremendous bullpens. The Tigers were sparked by flame-throwing then-21-year-old Joel Zumaya, while the Cardinals found a gem in interim closer Adam Wainwright, 25. This year's Yankees seemed to have taken a similar path, promoting youngsters Joba Chamberlain (21) and Edwar Ramirez (26) to set up games for aging closer Mariano Rivera. Chamberlain has taken fans aback with his 98-mph heater and devastating slider, and the Yankees suddenly have a much stronger bullpen to help bolster their postseason hopes.
This is in no way to say that veteran relievers are out of style. But the last several years have been an indicator that it never hurts to have fresh young arms in your bullpen to take some of the heat off of the older guys during the stretch run. Francisco Rodriguez, a.k.a. "K-Rod" started something of a trend by taking the league by storm after a September call-up by the Angels in 2002. Rodriguez became Troy Percival's primary setup man as the Angels won their first ever World Series title. He has since emerged into one of the game's premier closers. Dating back even further, it is a similar path the Yankees went down with Rivera, who started out as a 26-year old setup man for John Wetteland during the Yankees' 1996 championship season. When Wettleland departed for Texas as a free agent in 1997, Rivera took over as the closer, and has evolved into a Hall Of Fame-caliber pitcher.
It may not be out with the old, but it's certainly in with the new.

Orioles improved, but not quite ready yet

2007-04-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Not to diminish an 11-9 start for a franchise that has endured 9 consecutive losing seasons, but if you watched the Orioles brief two-game set against perennial playoff contender Oakland, you probably were able to pick up a few things, things that lead you to believe that while the Orioles are much improved from a 70-92 2006 campaign, they are not quite at a playoff level just yet.
Start with Monday night's 6-5 loss. After falling behind 5-0 against A's ace Dan Haren, the O's battled back to within 5-4 after 8 innings, getting a huge lift from Aubrey Huff's 3-run homer. But the ninth inning was an indicator that they are not there yet. Nick Swisher hit a crucial homerun to give the A's a 2-run cushion in the top of the 9th before young closer Huston Street came on in the bottom half to close it out. Jay Payton's walk was followed by a Corey Patterson double to put runners at 2nd and 3rd with no outs. With a golden opportunity presenting itself, the Orioles crumbled when it mattered most. Chris Gomez took a called third strike for the first out. Then, Brian Roberts lined a single into center field that should've tied the game. Instead, Corey Patterson inexplicably broke back towards second base and failed to score the tying run. Still, the O's had runners at the corners with just one out trailing by just a run. Then, in an even more befuddling turn of events, Melvin Mora dropped a bunt down that failed to score Patterson, as Mora was retired and Roberts advanced to second. After an intentional walk to Nick Markakis, Miguel Tejada swung at the first pitch and hit a harmless grounder to second to end the game and thwart what was an almost improbable comeback against one of the league's best teams.
Sadly, more proof would follow in the following afternoon's game that the Orioles are still a cut below the top-tier teams in baseball.
The Orioles got a strong outing in the first career start for Jeremy Guthrie, yet trailed 2-1 after 5 innings against Dallas Braden, the A's starter also making his first start. In the top half of the 6th, John Parrish came on to relieve Guthrie, and promptly retired Eric Chavez to start the inning. But a hit and two walks later, the A's had loaded the bases with 2 outs for the pesky Jason Kendall. After getting ahead 0-2 on Kendall, Parrish induced what looked to be a harmless ground ball to second baseman Brian Roberts. But Roberts went for the force at second, only to have Miguel Tejada fail to cover the bag, allowing Mark Ellis to reach safely at second. Kendall reached on the fielder's choice, and a run scored to make it 3-1. Parrish then compounded matters by walking No. 9 hitter Danny Putnam, and when the inning finally ended it was a 4-1 game. The hole was too deep for the Orioles against a strong Athletics bullpen, and they suffered a 4-2 loss and a 2-game sweep to Oakland.
After winning 8 of 9, the Orioles have been brought back to reality somewhat, and now host the first-place Boston Red Sox for two games before heading to Cleveland. These two games will be yet another daunting task, as the Orioles get to face Curt Schilling and Josh Beckett. The A's series taught us something, and now it's up to the O's to dispel these notions against the Red Sox. We'll see.

Ring was nice, but it didn't validate Manning's career

2007-02-21T13:24:00.000-08:00

Charles Barkley called it the S**t List. Call it what you want. You know, the list of professional sports greats never to win a championship. Barkley knows about it. So do Dan Marino and Alex Rodriguez. But Peyton Manning no longer has to worry. He’s off of it following the Colts’ 29-17 win over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.
Some out there may believe this is the game that finally elevates Manning to elite status, that it validated his Hall of Fame credentials. But that is a foolish notion. The man who has started all 157 games of his career (including postseason) already holds the NFL record for most seasons with 4,000-plus yards (7), consecutive seasons with 25-plus TD passes (9), and most TD passes in a single season (49, breaking Dan Marino’s coveted record of 48 set in 1984). Throw in a 92-52 record and five division titles, and Manning’s pedigree sans Super Bowl speaks for itself.
Granted, Manning already was a 99.9% sure bet for Canton and he is now a lock. But not even his six previous playoff failures were enough to have kept him from NFL immortality. Given that he likely has at least eight more years, his final numbers could be downright scary. But Manning will tell you all those records just became a lot more meaningful now that he has joined an even more elite club: Super Bowl champion quarterbacks. Number 18 is number 26 on that list, one that doesn’t include Marino, Frank Tarkenton, or Dan Fouts.
In making final reflections upon the 2006 season, Manning probably couldn’t have scripted it any better. Unlike in previous years, where expectations were high for the Colts, they entered the playoffs as one of the biggest question marks thanks in part to their 32-ranked rush defense and a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. And perhaps in the best scenario possible, Manning was able to orchestrate the biggest comeback in conference championship game history, leading his team back from a 21-3 deficit to beat his tormentors from years past, the New England Patriots. That was the game some labeled as the real Super Bowl, but the win over the Bears helped Manning accomplish something that even Tom Brady has yet to do, win four games in a single postseason.
Super Bowl or no Super Bowl, though, Manning is a Hall of Famer.

General comparison: baseball's economics are poor

2006-07-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Without getting too deep into legal jargon, most casual fans would find it hard to disagree that football is, and will continue to be, a more popular sport than baseball. There may be a million and one different reasons why, but perhaps the most prominent is the salary cap. In baseball's case, the lack thereof. Think about preseason football versus spring training for baseball. There are 32 NFL teams and 30 MLB teams. Each year, about 75% of NFL teams go into the season with legitimate hope of making the playoffs. Baseball? Try about half -- if that. Now I don't want to turn this piece into a complete Yankees/Red Sox-bashing, as fun as that might be. But with combined payrolls topping $300 million dollars, how can one not? Consider this disturbing fact -- four Yankees are currently making more than the ENTIRE Florida Marlins team. Need a double-check? This is not a misprint. It's cold, hard, sad fact. Then consider this: Alex Rodriguez, making roughly $25 million a year, could tear his ACL tomorrow and be lost for the season, yet continue to earn that money. Conversely, Peyton Manning does not earn paychecks for games that he misses (save for signing bonus money, the only guaranteed money in the NFL). There is always talk about the big market clubs versus the "small-market" clubs. In football, league officialls generally consider the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, owned by Ralph Wilson and Mike Brown, respectively, to be the two lowest-revenue teams in football. But the difference in football is poor seasons result in a couple of things: high draft position and an "easier" schedule the next season. The former "Bungles", a one-time laughingstock, were 2-14 in 2002 and earned the first pick in the '03 draft. They used it on Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer. Two years later, they were back in the playoffs for the first time since 1990. The Bills, though scuffling of late, made four straight Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990's and have continued to field competitive teams over the years despite geographic anonymity and a crummy stadium.
Okay, I think you see where I'm going with this. But let me just pad this article with a few more keys that make football more competitively balanced that Bud Selig's MLB. 16 games versus 162. Hence, more significance in each game. More than half-full stadiums (try consistent sellouts), as opposed to MLB, where you'd be hard pressed to find any stadium (save for perhaps New York and Boston) more than two-thirds full. In many cities (i.e. Tampa, Kansas City), more than 2/3 of the stadium comes disguised as empty seats. And what, prietel, could that be attributed to? It couldn't be because those teams have no chance in you-know-what of competing on a yearly basis, could it? Hmm...
I'm going to hold off on telling you that in football, scheming, coaching, and gameplanning actually matter, as opposed to oversized, juiced players like Jason Giambi and Barry Bonds hovering over home plate scaring the Bejesus out of the pitchers, who in turn are too afraid to throw a strike. Did we mention baseball had a faulty drug-testing system? Oh, well, maybe another time. Anyways, that's all she wrote for now. Meanwhile, you baseball fans (sadly, I remain one of them) sit back and watch the Yankees and Red Sox square off for the 76th time in the ALCS, then the winner goes on to buy (excuse me, win) another championship. Or, just let these three-hour yawners tide you over until September 7, when the 2006 NFL season finally kicks off -- at long last.

Jags' Smith leaves game, mark on franchise

2006-05-11T18:45:00.000-07:00

It wasn't always a smooth ride for Jimmy Smith, but the leading receiver in Jacksonville Jaguars history was a class act throughout. Smith, 37, announced his retirement Thursday following a 13-year career spent primarily in Jacksonville, where he made his mark as one of the game's all-time great receivers. Smith ends his tenure 7th on the all-time receptions list with 862 and 11th with 12,287 yards. But what Smith may be remembered for best was his quiet leadership on a team that garners very little fanfare.
Smith began his career in Dallas, where he played just seven games in three years, when the Cowboys won two Super Bowls. But in 1995, he caught on with the then-expansion Jaguars and began his legacy. In 1999, Smith led the NFL with 116 receptions for a career-high 1,636 yards while helping lead Jacksonville to its second AFC title game in four seasons. In 2001, Smith caught 112 balls for 1,373 yards and tied a career-best with 8 touchdowns while starting all 16 games for the sixth time in seven seasons. He was the only remaining member from the inaugral '95 team.
Smith, though, encountered his fair share of rough spots along the way. In November 2001, Smith was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, when tests later reveal Smith had cocaine in his system. Smith denied ever using the drug. Then, Smith was suspended for the first four games of the 2003 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, when he admitted that he had previously spent time in rehab for a drug addiction. And early in his career he was derailed by leg and stomach injuries, when it was thought he may not even play again. But Smith overcame the odds, and became of the all-time greats, all the while keeping a professional attitude.
(The Associated Press contributed to this article)

Titans should start '06 with Volek, not Young

2006-05-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

Think back a few years to when the Bengals made Carson Palmer the first overall pick in the draft. The Bengals entered 2003 coming off the worst season in franchise history, not to mention 12 straight non-playoff seasons, and the assumption was that the Heisman Trophy winner would start right off the bat. But Marvin Lewis resisted the temptation to throw the rookie to the wolves, instead allowing veteran Jon Kitna to play the entire season. Kitna responded with a Pro Bowl year, but the Bengals failed yet again not he make the playoffs. Palmer finally earned the starting job in 2004 and struggled through the first half of the year before turning the corner, leading the Bengals to a second-straight 8-8 record. In 2005, the move paid dividends as Palmer led the Bengals to an 11-5 record and a division title while Cincinnati has finally re-established themselves as legitimate playoff contenders.
In 2006, the Tennessee Titans will be facing a similar dilemma. With Steve McNair likely on his way out, the Titans selected Texas quarterback Vince Young with the number 3 overall pick in this year's draft. Young is undoubtedly the most talented quarterback in the rookie class, but that talent is mostly raw at this point. The Titans, meanwhile, are coming off two seasons in which they have a combined record of 9-23. So the big question is, when does the Vince Young era officially begin the Music City?
The logical choice for the Titans would be to start the season not with young, but with sixth-year backup Billy Volek. Volek joined the Titans in 2001 as an undrafted free agent out of Fresno State, where he backed up current Houston Texans starter David Carr. Although he has only started 10 games in his NFL career, he has posted impressive numbers. In ten games, including eight starts, in 2004, Volek completed 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,486 yards and 18 touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions. That season included a two-game span in which Volek threw for a combined 918 yards, both Titans losses.
Volek may not be the future in Nashville despite his relatively young age (30), but he gives the Titans stability and veteran leadership while the Titans groom Young. Odds are that Vince-anity (sorry for the corny label) will begin some time around mid-season in Tennessee, barring injury to Volek of course. But don't be surprised if the Titans offense shines under Volek, as the team has brought in several reinforcements to an already solid offensive unit. The worse-case scenario for the Titans would in fact be a Volek injury, but if he is healthy, there is no need to throw Young into the ring of fire and salvage the 2006 season.

Browns already making a splash in free agency

2006-03-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

Free agency for the upcoming 2006 NFL season is finally underway, and the Cleveland Browns are wasting no time trying to build on a disappointing-yet-progressive 6-10 season. The Browns entered free agency with approximately $27.1 million to spare under the salary cap, and immediately went to work, signing LeCharles Bentley, arguably the best offensive lineman on the market, right off the bat. They also added four others, including two with Super Bowl experience. WR Joe Jurevicius, who has participated in three of the past six Super Bowls, returns to his hometown, while the Browns also acquired mammoth DT Ted Washington, who was a member of the Patriots' second world championship team in 2003. Also in the mix are punter Dave Zastudil and offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer.
For the Browns, there should be a sense of renewed optimism heading into '06. In 2005, they found their quarterback of the future in Charlie Frye, and got their first 1,000-yard rusher since 1985 in Reuben Droughsns. Add in a pair of potent receivers in wideout Braylon Edwards and tight end Kellen Winslow, even though both have serious injury concerns, and the Browns may be able to make a move in a rock-solid AFC North that includes the Super Bowl-champion Steelers. It certainly is too early for predictions, but the beleaguered Browns now appear headed in the right direction -- finally. Credit Romeo Crennel, architect of the Patriots' fierce defense during their Super Bowl, with getting things turned around so quickly for an organization that has had more than their fair share of disappointment and heartbreak.

Super Bowl quick hits

2006-02-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl XL is now only a day away, as the Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers get set to square off in Detroit. While some feel this game lacks the intrigue of games past, it figures to be a hard-hitting, physical affair. Some fast facts about this year's game: Both of these teams lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the regular season, meaning this year will mark the first time a team has lost to the Jaguars and gone on to win the Super Bowl. Only the Buccaneers, Panthers, Texans, and Ravens have yet to beat an eventual Super Bowl champion -- but the Ravens could come off that list if Pittsburgh wins tomorrow ... Ben Roethlisberger looks to become the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, supplanting nemesis Tom Brady, who did it in 2001 ... Despite success in recent years, Pittsburgh has only one player with previous Super Bowl experience: former Seahawks' CB Willie Williams, who went to the Super Bowl in 1995 in his first stint with Pittsburgh. The Seahawks have five active players with previous Super Bowl experience: WR Joe Jurevicius (2000 NYG, 2002 TB), DE Grant Wistrom (1999, 2001 STL), Chuck Darby (2002 TB), John Howell (2002 TB), and P Tom Rouen (1997, 1998 DEN). LB Jamie Sharper, who is on IR, won a ring in 2000 with Baltimore ... 2005 marked the ninth consecutive season that at least one of the two road teams has won on Championship Weekend ... Only six teams (Arizona, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Jacksonville, and New Orleans) have failed to reach a Super Bowl, but five of them (all except Cleveland) have at least hosted Super Bowls in their cities ... Opinion: the "dark week" needs to go. Having two weeks between the championship games and the Super Bowl is too much; the media overhypes the game, and I personally get antsy waiting an extra week for the season's premier game.

Emerging from under the radar, 'Hawks finally going Bowling

2006-01-22T19:32:00.000-08:00

Mike Holmgren has done this before. It was just nine seasons ago that Holmgren and Brett Favre helped lead the Packers to a world championship. One year later, the Packers captured their second straight NFC title. But after a heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the 1998 NFC playoffs, Holmgren parted ways with Green Bay and headed to the pacific northwest to coach the Seattle Seahawks, 15 years removed from their last playoff win. But after a division title in his first year, the Seahawks went three straight years without a postseason berth, then suffered through two more disappointing playoff losses in 2003 and 2004. After a home playoff loss to the Rams last January, many people began to question whether Holmgren was still the man to lead Seattle. 12 months later, no one is questioning Holmgren or his coaching abilities. The Seahawks' 34-14 win over Carolina in Sunday's NFC championship game helped propel the 'Hawks to the first Super Bowl berth in franchise history. Yet despite a 13-3 season (including an 8-0 home mark) and sporting the league's MVP in running back Shaun Alexander, who set an NFL record with 28 touchdowns, the Seahawks have still toiled in relative anonymity playing in the state of Washington. While Alexander and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck have become household names, the Seahawks have also gotten major contributions from the likes of savvy veteran receiver joe Jurevicius, who has played in two Super Bowls in the past five six years with New York and Tampa Bay, defensive end Grant Wistrom (who also has been a part of two NFC title teams in St. Louis), and one of the most unheralded offensive lines in football. Prior to the 2004 season, the 'Hawks were the chic pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, only to go 9-7 and yet again fail to even with a playoff game. But heading into 2005, the expectations seemed to be somewhat mellowed, as many experts predicted Arizona to contend for the division crown. After a less-than-stellar 2-2 start, Seattle reeled off a franchise-record 11-game winning streak to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, then followed with two more playoff wins to finally reach the Big Game. Now, the Seahawks will finally get the attention that has been lacking for many years in the Pacific Northwest. And although they may not have quite the following that the Steelers do in terms of fanbase, the Seahawks have thrived at home in large part because of their own fans, something they will count on two weeks from now in Detroit.

Colts, like others prior, waste terrific season

2006-01-15T18:09:00.000-08:00

It was a lock. Finally, at long last, Peyton Manning would take his Colts to the Super Bowl. After all, they established themselves as the NFL's most dominant team in 2005, winning a league-best 14 games. And with New England out of the picture, nothing would stop the Colts from finally reaching the Big Game. But apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers never got the message. Yes, the same Pittsburgh Steelers team that Indy thrashed, 26-7, on a Monday night in Week 12. But perhaps the Steelers can sympathize in one sense with the team they beat, 21-18, in Sunday's Divisional round game at the RCA Dome. Last season, the Steelers won an AFC-record 15 games, including 14 straight after a Week 2 loss. But when the smoke cleared after the AFC Championship Game, the Steelers were left scratching their heads as New England celebrated a 41-27 romp at Heinz Field. But both teams are classic examples of how it isn't always the best team that wins the Super Bowl, but rather the team that simply plays its best football down the stretch.
Just ask the 1998 Minnesota Vikings, who also went 15-1 in the regular season, not to mention scored a league-record 556 points. Like the '04 Steelers, the Vikings made it 16 wins with a victory in the Divisional round, only to fall short on their home field in the championship game. The heavily favored Vikings lost, 30-27, in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons, coming up one game short of Super Bowl XXXIII.
This year's Colts team looked like it was the real deal. After flirting with perfection through the first 13 games, Indianapolis had clinched home-field advantage was well-rested with the Steelers coming to town. Yet they were rusty, falling in a 21-3 hole that proved to be too much to overcome. And now, at 30 years old, the pressure is mounting on Manning to finally reach the Super Bowl after almost unparallel regular-season success over the past three years.

Bucs, Jags fly under radar in Sunshine State

2005-12-05T14:15:00.001-08:00

If you talk AFC playoffs, it’s all about the Colts and they’re flirtation with history. Then it’s the Broncos and no-mistake-Jake and the always-resurgent run game. And of course the Chargers and Chiefs and their high-powered offenses, and the constant attraction that is the Patriots.
If you talk NFC playoffs, it’s all about the Seahawks and the "is this the year they finally get there" question. Then it’s the Bears and the talk about how this new group is as good as the history-making ‘85 Bears. And then it’s the Falcons and Michael Vick.
So where does this leave the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers? Jacksonville is 9-3 but yet finds themselves three games out of first in the AFC South because they are paired with the Colts. And the 8-4 Buccaneers have seemingly become an afterthought to chic-Super Bowl-pick Carolina and the popular Falcons. Yet both are in serious playoff contention despite their doubters.
The Jaguars have been counted out now that Byron Leftwich is done for the regular season with a broken ankle. Stepping in is fourth-year man out of East Carolina David Garrard. But it’s the defense that gets the job done for the Jaguars, who have quietly built a solid resume, beating Seattle, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh. The Jags face the Colts next Sunday with a chance to be the first team to hand Indy a loss (they lost 10-3 in their previous meeting at the RCA Dome).
The Buccaneers were 5-1 when they lost Brian Griese for the year to a torn ACL, leaving the team with third-year pro Chris Simms (exit Griese, enter Simms, how’s that for history?) After two ugly losses, the Bucs at 5-3 were officially done. The offense scored three touchdowns in losses to lowly San Francisco and division rival Carolina and were about to start a tailspin. But then came Simms’ late-game heroics against Washington, followed by a road win against Atlanta. Suddenly, the Bucs are 3-3 with the lefty at the helm and just a game behind Carolina for first place in the NFC North (they face Carolina in Charlotte next Sunday).
Jacksonville is relatively inexperienced when it comes to postseason play, seeing as how they have not been there since 1999. But lest we forget that Tampa Bay won it all in 2002 behind one of the greatest defenses of all time, and a good chunk of that defensive core is still donning pewter and black, while the offense has gotten a spark from rookie running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams.
It is fair to say these teams from Florida are longshots to be playing in Detroit in February, but their success through 12 games in 2005 should not be overlooked. Both teams are have hard-nosed, physical defenses, competent quarterback play, and strong coaching. More importantly, both teams have a number of solid young players who will continue to flourish in years to come.

Monday Morning Musings -- Week 12 in the NFL

2005-11-28T10:25:00.000-08:00

So how much more damage can Adrian Wilson inflict on opposing quarterbacks? The same guy who broke Donovan McNabb's ankle three years ago knocked Marc Bulger out last week and yesterday dealt Jacksonville's playoff hopes a major blow by essentially ending Byron Leftwich's season. To be fair, Wilson has emerged as one of the league's best safeties despite toiling in anonymity in the desert ... Consider Week 12 a reunion weekend of sorts. Three head coaches went up against former employers, and all three of them won. Jim Mora beat former 49ers boss Steve Mariucci, Marvin Lewis beat old friend Brian Billick, and Marty Schottenheimer won in his first visit to Washington since being fired by Daniel Synder following the 2001 season ... Why does it seem like the Giants are always done in by special teams? Forgetting their 2002 playoff debacle against the 49ers, two of their four losses this season have come as a result of faulty special teams. They allowed punt and kickoff returns for touchdowns in a loss to Minnesota in Week 10, then watched as Jay Feely missed three potential game-winning field goal attempts in yesterday's loss to Seattle ... The Colts are getting all the headlines, but perhaps the Chargers could be undefeated too. Just consider that they have held fourth-quarter leads in all four of their losses ... The Broncos' two losses were to the Dolphins and Giants, the same two teams they lost to in 1998 when the went 14-2 and won the Super Bowl. Furthermore, if Denver goes on to win the AFC championship, it will mark the seventh time in eight years that the eventual AFC champion has lost to Miami during the regular season, with all of those games taking place in Miami ... If you want to assess the jobs that 2005's three new head coaches are doing, just look at their records relative to last season. Neither San Francisco's Mike Nolan, Miami's Nick Saban, nor Cleveland's Romeo Crennel will be coaching in the playoffs this year, but through 12 weeks, all three have already won the same total number of games their predecesseors won in 2004. Albeit 2-9 this year, the 49ers were 2-14 last year, while the Dolphins and Browns, both 4-7 this year, finished 4-12 last year. It appears as if all three coaches have brought stability to organizations that so sorely lacked it last year ... Despite a 2-9 record of their own, the Packers have still managed outscore their opponents, 232-223, thanks in large part to a 52-3 hurting they put on the Saints in Week 5 ... So much for the Packers being well-received on the road. Seems like fans this year and making an extra effort to disrupt the Packers' rhythm -- literally. In a Week 8 visit to Cincinnati, a fan sprinted onto the field during a last-minute drive and took the ball away from Brett Favre. Then last week in Philadelphia, a fan ran onto the field to spread his mother's ashes before he, too, was taken into custody.