Bloggin' with Bull

Pigskin Podcast

2008-02-08T19:05:00.000-08:00

Hello to whoever still reads my blog. I'm sure there arent many left.

I'm sticking to what I'm best at, and thats radio. So I want to let you know about my latest venture, www.pigskinpodcast.com .

Me and my buddies Erik Bell, Nick Seuberling and Joel Hammond do a weekly talkshow about all things football. We've got some special guests lined up and even though its the off season for football, we will still find ways to entertain you.

So head to the pigskin podcast to check it out.

I'll try to update this a little more often. In the coming weeks, I will try to throw some nfl draft updates on here, and of course, when the baseball season hits, I'll blog from each city.

Stay tuned!

Six Week Surprises

2007-10-15T20:16:00.000-07:00

I was long overdue for a blog entry, so here we go. Since we are six weeks into the NFL season, its time for me to pass out my six-week surprises. I’ll start with number six, and work down to number one.

6. The year that Plaxico Burress is having. Its amazing that his team is having the year that they are. Eight touchdown catches (halfway through Monday’s game), tied for the most in the NFL, and he’s done it with a bum ankle. He was hurt in the pre-season, nursing a sore back. For years I thought he was a head case that would never make it, despite his incredible level of talent. I watched this guy at Michigan State and thought wow, he’s a great player, but he’s got so much to learn, and too many problems upstairs. I drafted him reluctantly in both fantasy leagues, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

5. The Eagles are 2-3. I picked these guys to win the NFC East, and right now they’re in last place. These guys just can’t avoid injuries. One of these years they’ll keep most of their key players on both sides in tact. This year McNabb has been dinged up, Westbrook has missed a game, Sheppard and Dawkins have missed time and they’re looking up at the other three teams. Having said that, they’re still within striking distance of the Cowboys who were dismantled on Sunday.

4. New Orleans Saints are 1-4. How in the World did the darlings of last season fall so far? Losing on opening night to Indy is one thing, losing three of your next four is another. It was an impressive win for those guys on Sunday night in Seattle, but these guys look like a one-year wonder if there ever was one. I thought their defense was bad, but not this bad. Their passing game just hasn’t worked. They’ve thrown for a decent amount of yards with 229.4 per game, which is 10th best in the NFL, but they only have three touchdowns through the air, tied for third fewest in the league.

3. The Cleveland Browns are 3-3 going into their bye week and the schedule doesn’t look too tough the rest of the way. Their aerial attack has been unreal. You’d think Bernie Kosar was under center the way they’ve thrown the ball. Their 14 passing td’s are third most in the NFL, and their 239.3 yards per game passing is 9th best. They do however still have problems stopping the run, allowing nearly 150 yards a game on the ground, which is third worst. At 3-3, they’re just a game and a half out of first place and they have a shot to finish second in that division with their schedule being somewhat favorable after the bye.

2. The New York Giants. I mentioned Plaxico Burress’s incredible season earlier, and how he’s done so much even though he’s incredibly banged up. Everyone, present company included, thought that the writing was on the wall for Tom Coughlin when the season was over, and we all thought we were spot on after the team started 0-2. Their win against the Redskins has catapulted this team into the second spot in the division right behind the powerful Cowboys. This offense is enjoying a nice trio in the running game with Ward, Jacobs and Droughns. On offense they have relatively mediocre numbers going into the Monday night game (14th best rushing attack, 17th best passing attack and that will change when the game is over) and defensively they are 19th against the pass and 10th against the rush which is WAY ahead of where I thought they’d be. They’re 17 sacks, are tied for fourth most, and this team could be a contender, unless they go on one of their traditional second half collapses.

1. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I was way off on this squad when I did my NFL preview. I thought they’d be picking first in the draft next year, and they have done a great job of proving me wrong. They’ve only allowed 87 points, 6th fewest in the league, and they’ve allowed 314 yards per game defensively, which is 11th best in the league. Offensively, they’re using a third string tailback, and a journeyman quarterback in Jeff Garcia. They lost one of the best offensive linemen in Luke Petitgout. They’ve got the 23rd best passing attack and they’re the 19th best rushing team in the league, which isn’t great but its better than I thought they’d be. They’ve won games with good defense, though they’re numbers aren’t that great. They’ve been the Arizona Diamondbacks of football.

WEEK THREE NFL/WEEK FOUR NCAA

2007-09-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

Few things surprise me more than NFC teams who weredominant a year ago, but are awful just a few weeks intoa new season.

I saw this Bears debacle coming a mile away, but I never saw the Saints being 0-3. They have no running game, their passing gameis attrocious and their defense is worse than we all thought. Both of these teamswill miss the playoffs.

The Bucs are making me look bad for saying they'd pick first next year, and it looks like its the St. Louis Rams who could be the ones picking first next season.

Why is it that the four o'clock games have been so much better thanthe one o'clock games so far? Most of the last second finishes have been at four.

I must admit I was way off on the Titans. Their offense has an identity, and their defense has been much better against the run.

Of the 3-0 teams, New England, Green Bay and Indianapolis will all hold their leads at the top of their respective divsions.

New England and Indy are obvious. I think Green Bay wins the division now because the NFC North isnt very strong.

Dallas looks great now, but something tells meit wont all be fine and dandy before the season is over. Wade Phillips's teams have a history of fading down the stretch.

Pittsburgh has been a bit of a surprise to me, but I think Cincy has played their worst football, and they will get better.

Onto the NCAA, where there really havent been a ton of surprises.

Notre Dame is still awful. They made Michigan State look GREAT on Saturday. Brian Hoyer didnt have his best game, but he still thrashed that Irish defense. Is this the yearmy Spartans FINALLY compete in the big 10??

Like it or not, Michigan is winning the Big 10. I know Ohio State fans dont believe it, and dont want to hear that, but this team played its worst ball at the beginning of the year. There's an old saying, its not how you start, but its how you finish.

Louisville is AWFUL. The loss to Kentucky is one thing, but how in the world did they lose to Syracuse? Thats just bad on so many levels. A friend of mine, Larry Glover who hosts a talkshow in Lexington told me he had a caller on his show tell him that if he (Larry)cant see that Louisville is an elite program, then he doesnt deserve to have his show. I think it was Brian Billick who said......thats why writers write, players play, and coaches coach. Larry knew what he was talking about, there is a reason he's got that show.

Say what you want about Michigan losing to Appalachian State and Oregon, I think Louisville losing toKentucky and Syracuse is worse.

Speaking of Kentucky, I like this Woodson kid more and more each week. If they knock of a big team in the SEC, then he's winning the heisman. If they knock off a team the caliber of LSU or Florida, he wins the Heisman. It may not even take that much.

Check out my buddy Joel Hammond's blog for my picks www.hammondbacon.blogspot.com. I'm 28-20 after three weeks.
Here are my early picks for week 4: Houston over Atlanta, Baltimore over Cleveland, Miami over Oakland, Detroit over Chicago, Jets over Buffalo, Minnesota over Green Bay, Dallas over St. Louis, Arizona over Pitt, Carolina over Tampa Bay, San Fran over Seattle, Indy over Denver, Chargers over KC, Philly over the Giants, Bengals over Patriots.

I'll add more later in the week.

ANOTHER SUNDAY FULL OF EXCITEMENT

2007-09-19T13:54:00.000-07:00

Football is hands down the greatest sport on the face of the earth. Let me begin by telling you that I’ve had several problems with my Sirius satellite radio subscription. The signal cuts out about an hour into every drive I make, and the internet version NEVER allowed me to log in.

That all changed this Sunday after I finally reached a human being in their customer service department, after several failed attempts which involved my classic profanity-laced tirades with the voice activated operator who could never understand what message I was trying to convey.

This Sunday, I spent more time in front of my computer listening to “The Red Zone” which is Sirius NFL Radio’s show that lasts eight hours, and it breaks in on every single game every time somebody is on the verge of scoring. It might be the best invention in the history of radio.

So instead of watching the boring ass Steelers-Bills game (which was all I had at 1:00 in West Virginia this Sunday) I listened to the show to follow my fantasy football freaks and chart my picks for the week.

While the one o’clock games did have the Browns-Bengals slugfest and a couple of unexpected blow-out upsets, the intensity failed in comparison to what I witnessed through the four o’clock games.

While both Fox and CBS basically ignored the other games going on, aside from the ones they were showing in this market, “The Red Zone” was ALL OVER IT. I heard the Seattle fumble, and a few minutes later the Neil Rackers game winning field goal for Arizona. Not much later, I heard Longwell’s missed field goal, Kitna’s return, and Hanson’s game winner in overtime in the Lions-Vikings thriller. I didn’t see the highlights of either one of these until the two televised games on CBS and Fox were both over.

At which point, CBS finally put the overtime period of the Raiders-Broncos on. Speaking of which, talk about a no-brainer, calling a time-out when a head case is attempting a potential game winner in overtime just to make him think twice about it, just might be the easiest call of all time. It shifted the momentum of that game, and it showed how well Shanahan knows that team, especially that kicker.

A few surprises: I had no idea the Browns were capable of scoring 51 points in a game this year that may have been the surprise of the week. Houston bitch-slapping Carolina even though Steve Smith caught three td passes was also a shocker. How in the hell does New Orleans get SHALACKED by Tampa Bay??? Is their offense really that bad?? Tampa Bay winning by a touchdown, or a field goal is a surprise, but not a complete and utter jaw dropping shock like that 31-14 victory over last year’s feel-good story.

Some things that just don’t change: The Titans still played the Colts tough, but lost by a pair. This Titans team is a lot better than I thought. Bret Favre has a huge second half for the Packers to help them pull away from the Giants and start out 2-0. He still comes through and performs when he has to. Even though Pittsburgh has a new coaching staff, and they lost another emotional leader on defense from last year, they’ve held opponents to just three points in two games this season.

After two weeks, how are the Saints and Eagles both 0-2?? The Redskins, Texans and Lions are all 2-0?? Of the two 0-2 teams, I like the Eagles to rebound because they’ll eventually get back to running the ball effectively to take pressure of McNabb to balance out that offense, and their d-line won’t wear down as easily as they have, which has made them vulnerable against the run. Of the 2-0 teams, I like the Texans, that defense is stronger than I thought and I believe Matt Schaub’s quick decision making ability will make the difference in the passing game and give this offense an identity.

Here’s to hoping that week three will be just as exciting as week two. One stat that I thought was mildly interesting from Gil Brandt. Since the most recent realignment in 2002, 34 for the 60 playoffs teams since then, started their seasons either 1-1 or 0-2.

Random Observations 9/16

2007-09-15T23:24:00.001-07:00

Observations:

First things first, congratulations to the 2007 West Virginia Power for one hell of a season. This was my fifth year in minor league baseball, and I had a lot of fun. Though they were swept 3-0 in the Championship, it was still a great year, and I watched a lot of records fall.

Onto some football and my random observations:

Michigan State looked like hell against Pitt, and they will have a tougher time with Notre Dame next weekend than some people realize. If they shoot themselves in the foot with penalties the way they did against the Panthers, they are in a lot of trouble.

Michigan rebounded very nicely and though they were embarrassing on back-to-back weeks to open the year, maybe its time to start taking them seriously again. Notre Dame looks awful in every phase of the game, but I worry about teams like this who play with little to lose.

Florida’s offense is so incredibly dominant that I wouldn’t be shocked to see them take down LSU, my pre-season favorite to win it all. They have so many freakish athletes its sick.

The game of the week featured Louisville and Kentucky. Two great quarterbacks going at it in an absolute thriller. If I had the first pick next year and needed a QB, I’d pick the Woodson kid from UK. His poise in the pocket, his calm demeanor, athleticism, and the terrific touch on his passes all make him a fun guy to watch.

USC took Nebraska to the Woodshed, but did that surprise anybody? I know the Pac-10 is a little stronger this year, but I don’t think anyone has the dogs to compete with USC until they get to the National Championship.

Now to the NFL: These are week one observations and they are way late.

The 49ers defense was awesome, and so was Arizona’s for that matter. That game was not what I expected. After watching the 49ers though, I’d be shocked if the didn’t win 10 games and take that division.

How did the Cowboys allow Burress to light them up and how did the Giants score 30+ against them? I like the Cowboys, but that defense scares me a bit early on.

The Packers beating the Eagles, to me anyways is a HUGE upset, even if it was at Lambeau. The defense they have in Green Bay is the best they’ve had this decade. That d-line might be the deepest in the league. They need a receiver who can stretch the field, otherwise, that offense will keep them from going to the playoffs.

New year, same sorry ass Browns. They were a complete train wreck on offense. That franchise needs to re-evaluate things AGAIN. I still don’t know that Brady Quinn is the answer, but with the rest of the QB’s they’ve got, he might be the only one who gives them any kind of realistic shot.

The Ravens are already riddled with injuries early on, and I like my pre-season prediction (6-10). Forget about the defense, if Ogden is hurt all year and that toe issue doesn’t go away, they are really going to suck.

I was shocked at how well the Titans ran on the Jaguars. That was my biggest surprise of the week. Maybe the Titans will be better than I thought. The defense is really all the Jags have, for their sake, I hope they get better quickly.

Quick Picks for the second week:

Check out my picks on Joel’s website www.hammonbacon.blogspot.com.

Steelers over Bills, Carolina over Houston, Saints over Bucs, Jags over Falcons, Bengals over Browns, 49ers over Rams, Pack over Giants, Colts over Titans, Dallas over Miami, Vikings over Lions, Cards over Seahawks, Chicago over KC, Jets over Ravens, Denver over Oakland, Chargers over Pats, Philly over Washington.

Notice I went with only seven home teams. I also went against the odds here, taking seven underdogs, according the latest spread. I absolutely love this time of year. Enjoy it.

NFL PREVIEW 2007

2007-09-06T23:00:00.000-07:00

Its late, but its here. My 2007 NFL Preview, I’ll try to be as concise as I can possibly be with these.

AFC NORTH:

Bengals-I like this offense a lot. Rudi Johnson is a sure bet to rush for 1200 yards and have double digit touchdowns every single year. They may have lost Steinbach on the o-line but I like the group they still have. Its hard to match their skill set at the skill positions on offense. Defensively they’ve spent back to back first round picks on their defensive backfield which will improve. The thug impact and criminal intent in their linebacking corps hurts a bit but I still think this bend but don’t break defense will do enough to get them the division. (12-4)

Pittsburgh-Though it will be a tough transitional year with a new head coach, there is too much talent on offense for this team to be bad two years in a row. Roethlisberger is due for a big comeback year, fast Willie Parker is proving he can be a three down back and the offensive line is still in tact. The defense is always changing and they always seem to find guys every year to who can fill in for a departed pro bowler. (9-7)

Ravens-This is my surprise pick of the division and conference. I’m not buying the hype. The offensive line is old and its going to cause problems for both McGahee and McNair. They have no great receivers, no legit deep threats and they wont be able to keep the defense off the field. I think the defense is good, but they are also aging a bit. Losing Adalius Thomas will be a bigger hit than a lot of folks think. They’ll draft in the top 10 next year. (6-10)

Browns-I think they’ll win the same amount of games as the Ravens. They made some sensible moves in the off-season bolstering that offensive line. When LeCharles Bentley comes back this team will be a lot better. This is actually a respectable offensive line but the questions at quarterback will cause problems as far as chemistry, game management and I don’t like any of their QB’s. I’ve never been a big frye guy (whaaaaaaale) and I don’t think very highly of Brady Quinn. Their defense will keep them in games. (6-10)

AFC South

Colts-It won’t even be close. They’ll win this division by about five games. They aren’t as good as they were last year, but the rest of the teams in that division have gotten worse. Addai is every bit as good as Edge was, and while losing Tarik Glenn hurt, they at least had an idea it was coming and that’s why they drafted Tony Ugoh. That’s their only question on offense, and it’s not a very big one. The questions are on defense where they gutted the interior of their d-line, lost a playmaker in Cato June and lost a couple of key contributors in their secondary. (13-3)
Jaguars-David Garrard will manage the game, but lacks elite arm strength to throw the ball deep down field, not that it matters, they don’t have anybody who can stretch the field anyways. I think Jones-Drew and Taylor make a nice 1-2 punch. Their o-line isn’t bad. Defensively they’re tough to run on with their studs in the middle but they generate no pass rush and I think they’ll get picked apart through the air. This isn’t a playoff team. They wont score enough points and their defense will be on the field a ton. (8-8)

Texans-They’re finally out of the cellar this season. I don’t think Ahman Green will set the world on fire, but he’ll do enough to take the pressure off Matt Schaub who will have more time that people think to get rid of the ball. I think his decision-making is way better than David Carr’s (that’s why they got rid of him). Schaub will get rid of it quickly to Jacoby Jones and Andre Johnson. On defense they’re getting a lot better up front but have a long ways to go. The secondary needs a lot of work and this is whole team is still a big work in progress. (6-10)

Titans-I’m officially off the Vince Young bandwagon. Ask Mike Vick how well the elusive running style of a quarterback in the NFL translates to wins and losses. He surprised some people last year but he won’t catch anyone off guard this year. The offensive line is average at best, and he lost his two best skill players in Travis Henry and Drew Bennett. He’s got nobody good or healthy to hand the ball off to and nobody reliable to throw it to. Defensively this team lost a lot in Pacman Jones and they don’t have much worth writing about on that side of the ball. I’ve always been a big Jeff Fisher guy, but this year he’ll have to wave the magic wand several times to make this team competitive. (5-11)

AFC East

Patriots-As much as I hate just about everyone on this team, how can you not pick them to win the division? They’ve made upgrades just about everywhere. Maroney is a great back who will prove he can handle the load and with all those WR’s how will teams ever be able to load up in the box against him? They should score a lot of points. Defensively they’re in trouble with Seymour hurt, Samuel arriving late and Harrison suspended for a while. The linebackers are aging quickly but the arrival of Adalius Thomas helps. They’ll win the division by at least three games. (12-4)

Jets-Bufallo will contend for this spot but the Jets are well coached and they’ll finally have some stability in the running game with Thomas Jones. I like that move a lot and I think he’ll be great for these guys. Pennington is finally healthy and they have a pair of good receivers who can stretch the field. Defensively they are steadily improving. The linebackers are quick and their d-line is a bit underrated. The secondary has some ball hawks and should be able to create more turnovers this year. Fringe playoff team (9-7)

Bills-Sure they lost a lot on defense but I like what they’ve got on offense. I was hopeful that Lynch would fall to the Pack but the Bills snagged him a few picks before and they’ve got themselves a complete back. He can catch, he can make you miss and he’s got that explosive second gear. Their offensive line isn’t too shabby. Dockery was a big addition, Peters is an underrated tackle and when you have a guy like Lee Evans who is one of the best deep threats in the game, it makes it tough for defenses to creep up and focus on Lynch. This is Losman’s breakout year. Defensively they lost a lot. They still do have a pair of good rush ends in Schobel and Kelsay. Linebackers are young and have lots to learn while this secondary is a work in progress after losing Clemens. Whitner is a great player but he’s about all they’ve got back there. They’re a playoff team in ’08. (8-8)

Dolphins-I don’t buy the hype on this older than dirt defense. They’re exactly that, old, slow and just not as good as advertised. Getting Ginn will help them in the return game if he proves he can stay healthy. They’ll need him desperately to help out with field position, because I don’t think very much of that offense. As a matter of fact I don’t think this offense is good at all. Chambers will get lost in Cameron’s offense, the line is not that great and Ronnie Brown hasn’t proven much. Trading for a QB in his mid-thirties also doesn’t make this team a playoff contender. They’re a few years away. (6-10)

AFC West

Chargers-Yeah, I’m gambling here. On paper this is the best team in the NFL. They are great everywhere. They’re also deep everywhere it seems. They have good players at all their skill positions on offense and on defense they play the pass well, rush the passer well, and they defend the run very well. Its hard not to like this team. They’ve got the talent to go to the big show, the only question is this, how much will the turnover on the coaching staff hurt? (13-3)

Broncos-They’re a playoff team and one of the best in this conference. I like what they did on draft day by getting all of those young d-linemen. They’ve got two good corners in Bly and Bailey, throw Ferguson and Lynch in there and you’ve got one of the best d-backfields in the league. Losing Wilson hurts but Gold and Williams still remain. Simeon Rice and those young d-linemen make this a great defense. Offensively they’ve got their next 1200-yard rusher in Henry who fits the one cut and run philosophy to a T. Cutler was able to get some experience last year and develop a rapport with Javon Walker. He also has two good tight ends in Scheffler and Graham. (11-5)

Chiefs-I don’t like this team very much. Defensively they’ve got some good young players in Johnson, Allen and Hali. Other than those three, they’ve got some old defensive players who won’t do much. On offense their line has lost way too much the last three years. Larry Johnson will get his, but he’s all they’ve got. It’ll be easy to load up on these guys because running is about all they’ll be able to do. They’re a step above the Raiders, but not by much. (6-10)

Raiders-They’re still a train wreck on offense. The line still needs work, Russell still isn’t in camp, they have some talent rushers who won’t have much room to run and who will catch passes in this offense? Apparently Jerry Porter has looked good and Curry isn’t bad but if those are the best two they’ve got then they’re in trouble. I like Ryan’s philosophy on defense and they’ve got some horses. They put up good numbers on D last year but the problem this year is that they’ll be on the field way too long. They’re drafting in the top five again next year. (4-12)

NFC NORTH

Vikings-This is perhaps my biggest surprise of the season. They’re offensive line is awesome with Birk, Hutchinson and McKinney. They’ll always have a fresh back with Peterson and Taylor back there. Both guys can catch and run very well. They’ll take pressure off Jackson in the passing game and wear defenses down. Defensively they have the two big Williams’s in the middle to eat up blockers, both James and Udeze are healthy this year and they’ll provide a much needed pass rush. Chad Greenway is healthy, E.J. Henderson mans the middle and will have well over 100 tackles. The secondary is led by Sharper and Winfield who are both great players. They have some depth in this cover two scheme, which should have plenty of chances to make big plays. (11-5)

Packers-I originally put the Bears here, but I shoved them back one spot. Brandon Jackson gets the start and should see a bulk of the carries in this zone-blocking scheme. The o-line is young and should give Jackson some room to run but he doesn’t have that explosive second gear or big play ability. Greg Jennings must be healthy for this passing game to thrive. They’ve got Favre, therefore they still have a chance. Driver is a great player but he can’t stretch the field like he used to. This defense is outstanding. They have TONS of depth up front with Harrell, Jenkins, Kampman, KGB, Pickett and Williams. The linebackers are young and quick. Barnett, Hawk, Hodge and Poppinga make up a very athletic unit. This defensive backfield has one great year left because they’re getting old. Harris, Woodson and Blackmon are all ballhawks who should benefit from a great pass rush. (8-8)

Bears-This offensive line is so good that anybody should be able to run behind it. I don’t like Cedric Benson, never have. He’ll prove he can’t handle the load and will share carries with the other Adrian Peterson. As long as Rex Grossman is the quarterback I’ll never take their passing game seriously. The defense is still good. Hillenmeyer, Urlacher and Briggs are a great threesome. The d-line is still solid but Harris is coming off an injury and there is no Tank Johnson. Secondary is still pretty good with Archuleta helping out against the run, Manning and Vasher serving as viable options against the pass. They are however, an injury away from being average. Call it a hunch, but they’re due for a down year. (7-9)

Lions-The offense has the talent and the balance, but they just don’t have enough on defense to get it done. I like their o-line with Backus, Foster, and Muilitalo (I know I spelled that wrong). Bell is a versatile back who will be spelled by Duckett in goaline situations. The passing game speaks for itself with Williams, Johnson and Furrey. Kitna is due for a big year. On defense they just don’t have very much to speak of. If you cant stop anybody, it doesn’t matter how many points you score. They’re still a couple years away. (6-10)

NFC SOUTH

Saints-I’m not impressed by their defense but their offense is fantastic. Henderson and Meachem are great deep threats and Colston will still get his. That o-line is awesome and they’ve got two great backs in McAllister and Bush. There is too much not to like on offense. The defense added a few playmakers but they wont be any better than they were last season. Still, its enough to win this declining division. (11-5)

Panthers-How they’re a favorite on the road in week one is beyond me. The defense is very talented but never healthy, and Delhomme is in a great state of urgency, perform now or find employment elsewhere. I wish they’d just give the ball to Williams and be done with it. Foster cant stay healthy and Williams is much more explosive. The o-line is good and deep, which will allow the rest of the offense to keep this team competitive. I like all of their receivers, which is why its now or never for Delhomme. On defense, I like their front seven if they’re healthy but they rarely are. There isn’t enough talent in the secondary to make up for that. (7-9)

Falcons-I still think there’s some fight left in these guys after the Vick debacle. The two-headed monster of Dunn and Norwood should work well in Petrino’s offense. If their receivers hang on to the ball I think Harrington will be a big surprise this year because he’s not as awful as people think. I think Harrington will have a decent year. Horn will help the underachieving receivers. Hall is a great corner, Brooking is an aging but still productive linebacker and their front four, when all healthy can be productive, but much like Carolina, that rarely happens. (7-9)

Bucs-This is Chucky’s last year. I don’t see enough talent ANYWHERE on this roster. The o-line is bad, they have 9000 quarterbacks who are average at best, Cadillac has yet to prove he can handle the load and aside from Mr. All or Nothing Joey Galloway, the receivers offer very little. On defense they’ve lost so many great players from their glory days it’s hard to tell who the opposition will have to design their game plan around. They could draft first next season. (3-13)

NFC EAST
Eagles-There are a lot of people who love the Cowboys in this division, while I like Dallas, I like Philly a lot more. McNabb is due for a big year and they just might have the best o-line in football. The line allows them to do a lot. Reggie Brown will have 1,000 yards receiving and Kevin Curtis wont be far behind. Brian Westbrook gives McNabb a great security blanket and he’ll be huge again for these guys. On defense I think they’re very talented up front with Reagor, Kearse Bunkley and Cole. Linebackers are old but they still have some life left. I like their secondary a lot. Dawkins, Brown and Sheppard make up a very good group. (11-5)

Cowboys-Wade Phillips’s attacking 3-4 style will create nightmares for the opposition with the talent he has on this roster. They have so many athletic freaks who will constantly be around the ball. They’ve struggled against the pass in the past but they’ll be much better this season with that attacking 3-4 generating an insane pass rush. On offense they have a great line with road graters and a nice two-headed monster to compliment an above average passing game. Romo has plenty of guys to throw to and that makes this team a favorite even if I don’t have them winning the division. (10-6)

Redskins-I like what they’ve got on defense, but there are some questions on offense. They have a young quarterback who wont take many chances downfield. They have a good offensive line with two great tackles and if Portis doesn’t work out, then they have Ladell Betts who went over 1,000 yards last year. They have receivers that don’t fit the bill. Moss and Randel-El are both vertical threats in an offense that needs good possession receivers. On defense I like Fletcher-Baker and Marcus Washington. The line doesn’t offer much. Daniels, Griffin and Carter don’t get me too excited. The strength is in the secondary with Taylor, Landry, Springs and Carlos Rogers. That’s a great foursome who will make it tough to pass. Still, not enough on offense, not for me anyways. (7-9)

Giants-I don’t like very much about this squad. Their o-line was bad last year and its worse this year. Manning isn’t a bad quarterback but he’ll be on his back a lot. Jacobs is a good goaline back but what else does he offer? The last time they tried to make an oversized back their feature back, (Ron Dayne) he lost his job to Tiki Barber who is making a living out of throwing his ex-teammates and coaches under the bus. Strahan is old, Umenyiora isn’t bad but those are the only two guys I like on defense. This team isn’t very good. Coughlin is done after this year. (5-11)

NFC WEST

49ers-This is becoming a more popular pick by the day. Maybe that’s not such a great thing. I like the offensive line a lot. Their depth is a big asset and their skill positions are getting stronger. Alex Smith will do fine in his third year especially when he has a 1600 yard back to give the ball to. Darrel Jackson needed a change of scenery and will do well as their number one receiver. Not to mention, its time for second year tight end Vernon Davis to make his mark and he’ll be big as Smith’s security blanket. On defense they have some questions up front, but they have some very good athletic linebackers to make up the difference. Lawson, Moore, Banta-Cain, Derek Smith and newcomer Patrick Willis make up a very nice unit. Their secondary will be tested in a pass-happy division but they’re up to the task. I like this unit a lot with Clemens, Walt Harris, Michael Lewis and Mark Roman. I think their due for a big year. (10-6)

Seattle-They are beginning to decline offensively. Hasslebeck is coming off an injury and will have to find a new favorite target with Jackson gone. I like Alexander, but he’s now 30 years old, he’s taken a beating and he’s coming off an injury. The offensive line has lost Tobeck and Hutchinson, two key cogs in the interior, though they still have Walter Jones. On defense they’ve still got some talent up front and their linebackers are still pretty good. I like Kerney and Tubbs up front, Tatupu and Peterson lead the linebackers but I don’t like the secondary much. I like Trufant in that group, but the rest of those guys are aging quickly. (9-7)

Arizona-The new coaching staff will stress the importance of winning the war in the trenches, which is something this team hasn’t done in years. They have all the talent on the perimeter and should score a lot of points. I think the o-line will improve and allow this team to score close to 30 points a game. They will have to do that in order to stay competitive because this defense still isn’t very good. They have some decent players up front in Branch and Dockett but the secondary is still a work in progress. I think they’re a year away from winning this division. (7-9)

Rams-I think they’re right there with Arizona. A lot of offense but no defense whatsoever to match. I still think the line has one or two good years left but they are getting old very quickly. Bulger is a great accurate quarterback who makes the most of the tools he’s got. Holt, Bruce and Bennett will have nice years and there is nothing bad I can say about Steve Jackson who should have another great season. On defense, they have a little more than I thought initially. Up front they’ll make it tough for teams to run with Little, Glover, Kennedy and Carriker. They also have two good ‘backers in Witherspoon and Tinoisamoa. I don’t like their secondary at all though, and I think other teams in this division will be able to throw on them a ton. (7-9)

Playoffs and Super Bowl Stuff will come later on.

Kannapolis

2007-05-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

I promised a final post in Asheville, and I failed, so I'll do a little of both in this post.

The day after I posted my last entry, I witnessed one of the greatest pitching performances in my five years of calling baseball games.

Mike McClendon took a no-hitter into the ninth inning of a game on Friday, May 18th. It was truly amazing. What was even more amazing, was the fact that he appeared to be even more nervous when I interviewed him four days later.

Asheville was an amazing trip. The folks there are great, its a scenic town, and they have the best hotel in the league ( so far). The Power cooled off one of the hottest teams in all of minor league baseball by taking three of four games from Asheville.

I'm writing this from Kannapolis North Carolina. I love this area. Kannapolis is a beautiful part of North Carolina, its a northeast suburb of Charlotte.

The press box here is IDEAL for broadcasting. The view is great, the booth is spacious and air conditioned, and they offer me wireless high speed internet which is about as clutch as Lebron James.

The hotel is nice, it offers all the essentials and has some decent places around it to eat. You cant beat an IHOP and a Cici's pizza buffet. The hotel has all the things you need to survive.

The team is playing GREAT baseball right now. As I write this, they are 7.5 games up with 17 games to go in the first half. I didnt think I'd ever see a team better than the 2004 Charleston Alley Cats, but this team is better.

This team flat out hits, and they hit in CLUTCH situations. Every time they need a big hit, they get it. Even if they blow big leads, they always seem to make up the difference. Whats even more amazing is that this was totally unexpected out of spring training.

Tonight, they wre up 7-0, and Kannapolis tied the game with seven runs in the fourth inning. Still, the Power went on to win their sixth game in a row. They are 21 games above .500 thats insane.

They have a chance to deliver the knockout punch in a four game series this weekend with the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

The atmosphere on the bus, in the clubhouse and around the ballpark is simply amazing. The chemistry is that of something I've never witnessed. I hope that they clinch somewhere besides Lexington, because I'm gonna' go nuts when they clinch, and that press box in Lexington is WIDE OPEN.

Thats where Jack Jackity Jack originated, when they won a game in Lexington, and Christian Snavely hit a BOMB, and I went nuts. I drew several stares in that press box because I went nuts.

Here is to hoping that they wrap it up in Hickory, or at home so I can go absolutely insane when it happens.

Good times to come for sure, this is truly a special team. By for now, from Kannapolis.

--BULL

Catching UP

2007-05-17T23:36:00.000-07:00

I’ve already missed a few trips, and for the second year in a row, I’ve failed to do what I intended to do. So I will try to catch up on some of the highlights of previous road trips, and later this weekend I’ll recap this road trip.

Let me say this about this trip, I’m currently in Asheville, NC. The series features two division leaders and it should be a fun four game series. I have a freaking suite. Two full bathrooms, a living room, a bedroom, full kitchen, its AMAZING.

Lets recap some of my other trips. In Delmarva the boys started to hit their stride and won two games in a rain shortened series. Delmarva was pleasant as always. The hotel isn’t great but the location is ideal. I don’t ever really shop, but I decided to upgrade my wardrobe by purchasing a few things at a Marshalls that’s maybe 100 feet from the hotel.

I gained weight as usual because the hotel is right near SEVERAL outstanding restaurants. The trip was short because of the rain. On the ride home there were wind advisories that were so intense, we didn’t know if the bus would make it across the bay bridge. Thankfully it did and we got back at a decent hour.

Highlight of the trip: Cold Stone Creamery, enough said.

The next trip was an eight gamer, four in Lexington and four in Hagerstown. The Power won the first three games in Lexington. The had a 14 game winning streak, setting a franchise record. The way they won their 14th game was amazing. The game went 17 innings and they won 8-5. Here is how it went down…the Power were down 4-3, facing Lexington’s closer Santo Luis who was 5 for 5 in save opportunities. He hit Andrew Lefave with an 0-2 pitch. Anderson Delarosa pinch ran for Lefave, he stole second, the throw down to second went into center field, Delarosa went to third, and the throw from center to third, took a weird hop and went into the crowd allowing Delarosa to score the tying run. BIZZARE.

The highlight of the trip, besides the 14 victories in a row, talking to former Reds General Manager Dan O’Brien who was a first class human being. He works for the Brewers as an assistant to GM Doug Melvin.

It was off to Hagerstown after an off day. There were two day games during the trip. Day games are great when they are over, they are tough to start though. After one of the day games we went to the Hagerstown Outlet mall to kill a few hours. It was probably the highlight of the trip.

Its tradition on the Hagerstown trip, that within 10 minutes after getting in, the entire staff goes to the Chinese buffet and the crushing begins. Its been done every year since 05. I love it. My stomach doesn’t like it so much, and minutes after I get back to my hotel room, my toilet doesn’t like it.

The Power took three games from the Suns and continued to dominate, they won 14-3 in the first two games, taking advantage of two big innings. In game one they scored nine in the fifth, and in the second game they scored eight runs in the seventh inning. Bizzare.

The next trip, we went back to Hagerstown. Same trip, different week. Same result, West Virginia took three of four. They dropped the first game of the series but won the next three. One in six innings, a rain shortened game, and in the final game, they won 11-10.

In that final game they were up 4-0, let the Suns come back and tie it, until Taylor Green hit a freaking bomb, a Grand Slam, the highlight of the trip. The Suns came back to make it a one run game but couldn’t get over the hump.

That takes us to the current trip. It started with two games in Greensboro, and now we’re in Asheville. In Greensboro, the Power dropped game one 4-0. Graham Taylor, a lefty for Greensboro recorded the Sally League’s first complete game shutout. He held the Power to five hits. The game took just over two hours to complete, LIGHTNING quick, my kinda game.

The second game was WAY different. West Virginia won 14-10. It was a lot like the 11-10 win in Hagerstown. West Virginia had an 11-2 lead, but the ‘Hoppers came back to make it 11-10 before the Power scored three times in the ninth to pull away. Taylor Green hit two bombs. Amazing.

Greensboro’s park is great, but my broadcasting position is not good. I cant see much on the left side of the field because a suite is in my way, and there are windows obstructing my view. The hotel is great, its near some good restaurants, it has wireless internet and it’s a good, clean hotel.

Here is what we’re working with in Asheville. It’s a GORGEOUS hotel, great scenery, wireless internet, I have a suite and the whole nine yards. The ballpark isn’t great, but my broadcasting position is great. I can see everything. Its small, but I like it, very easy to see the action.

To recap. Hagerstown’s hotel had no internet, that means I had no chance to blog there. Its not a great area, but the people there are very nice. I ate way too much Chinese food there.

Delmarva was shorlived. The broadcasts were ok. Good people, not a bad hotel, GREAT area though.

Lexington is nice. Our hotel isn’t near much out there, but the stadium is nice, press box is kinda crammed but I like the people there a lot. Larry Glover, their radio announcer is one of my good friends, and he makes the trip worthwhile because he runs a good operation. The hotel on the whole is good, reliable internet access, big, clean room with all the essentials.

Greensboro has all you need, except the broadcasting position sucks. The people are great, the city is nice and so is the ballpark. The hotel is awesome.

We don’t go to Hagerstown or Delmarva again, which isn’t a real bad thing. We go to Lexington and Greensboro a lot more so I’ll report on those areas again. This is our only trip to Asheville, and I’ll have more to report on it later.

Delmon Young

2007-03-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Its tough to get a read on a guy that you’ve only seen four times in person. However, when I saw Delmon Young play in Charleston, South Carolina during the 2004 season, I was very impressed.

The bar is normally set extremely high when you watch a first overall pick, and sometimes the expectations are set too high, which causes you come away disappointed. That wasn’t the case with Delmon Young.

In 2004, I was calling games for the Charleston Alley Cats, and they had the best pitching staff in the South Atlantic League. Delmon Young went yard five times in the four game set against the Alley Cats and four of those bombs went the opposite way with the wind blowing in. Not only was the wind blowing in, the wind probably could have knocked me over.

The homeruns told me just how much power he really had. When he was in the field, it was easy to see that he was built for right field. He’s got that natural big athletic build of a right fielder, and an absolute cannon of an arm. I don’t think he should play anywhere else.

Not only was Young a guy that turned heads in the stands, he was so incredibly gifted, that he practically had the Alley Cats in awe. That might sound a bit cliché but I’m being 1000000% serious when I say that.

I’ll never forget the third game of that series. He hit two bombs in that game, and threw out two people in right field. He nailed one guy at third base, and the other at the plate. The final score was 4-3, so obviously, he was a HUGE factor. The Alley Cats manager that year, Kenny Joyce was FURIOUS after the game.

Kenny had managed against Delmon Young in the All-Star Game that year, so he knew how great Young really was. On the bus after the game, Kenny was as mad as I’ve ever seen him. He got on the bus and minus SEVERAL expletives, he said “If you want to be like their right fielder, then play like him, don’t play in awe of him.”

It was an incredible quote at an emotional moment from one of my favorites in this game. Perhaps what was most impressive about that whole scenario, was that Delmon Young was just 18 years old at the time, and he was EXTREMELY dominant.

Young obviously has painted a foggy picture for most casual fans, and even the die-hards who have yet to see him. His bat throwing incidents and the rumors of his discontent with the D-Rays system that have gone public certainly won’t help his image at all, at least until people get to see him, and see just how great he really is.

His numbers have been very consistent since he started playing pro ball. He spent not quite three seasons in the minor leagues, but in that time he tallied 59 bombs, 273 RBI, 448 hits over 353 games, and had a .317 average.

Though his time in the majors last year was brief, he still did fairly well, hitting .317 with three homers, 40 hits, and nine doubles over 30 games. That’s one heck of a start for a guy that is only 21 years old, and wont be 22 until September.

Dmitri Young, Delmon’s older brother has had a solid major league career. He’s been nothing too special, but he’s been good enough to stick in the majors for a little while. Delmon is going to be different, Delmon will be a guy that you hear about, and see smiling at all star games for years to come.

Bull's Prospect Pulse

2007-03-24T08:57:00.000-07:00

With the season just a little less than two weeks away, I figured it was time for me to put up a list of the finest prospects that I’ve seen in my short stint as a radio announcer in the minor leagues.

I don’t know how many I’ll get to, and for the time being, they’ll be in no particular order. Perhaps that will be a post to look forward to in the summer time when I’m able to rank the best I’ve seen so far.

I’ll start doing one at a time, and if I feel adventurous, I’ll throw two into the same post.

Lets get started with a gentleman that very few people outside the minor league circuit, and a few die-hards have ever heard of. I’d like to tell you about Hunter Pence. Last summer, the Houston Astro’s were in search of some offensive firepower, and before they took Carlos Lee off Milwaukee’s hands, they made a VERY strong run at Miguel Tejada.

The deal involved mostly minor leaguers, and the kicker in the deal for the Orioles, was Astros’ outfielder Hunter Pence. Now I know you are asking “how can you get so excited about a guy who hasn’t even played past the AA level?”

Trust me, there is a reason this guy was the kicker in a deal that would have given Houston one of the best offensive shortstops in the game. Pence is a monster at 6’4’’, he’s listed at 210, but I’d say he’s closer to 225 lbs (unless he’s lost weight since I last saw him). He also moves EXTREMELY well in the outfield.

He’s not your typical big outfielder with speed. Most of those guys are all or nothing, big stolen base/homerun threats and very little of anything else. Pence has pretty darn good range in center field, but probably projects better as a corner outfielder. He’s arm is pretty strong, though I have seen stronger, which is why I think his future is in left field.

Offensively, his numbers are pretty impressive, but you have to base your evaluation on a prospect on more than numbers. However, its very hard for me to look past two things here; first, Pence hit 28 bombs last year at AA Corpus Christi, (3rd in the league) and knocked in 95 runs (5th in the league).

His batting stance is much like that of Jose Cansaeco’s, his approach is much like Cansaeco’s, and his game rivals that of the author/ex-steroid user.

Looking at his 2005 numbers impressed me more, and I saw him close to a dozen times that year. He was so impressive during the 2005 season that Houston sent their assistant general managers down to see him several times. He hit some bombs against the WV Power in 2005 that haven’t landed yet.

He was the kind of guy that made EVERYONE in the ballpark stop what they were doing when he took batting practice. He hit a homerun every 8.6 at bats in the South Atlantic League for the first half of the season. He played 80 games in the Sally League and hit 25 bombs, VERY impressive. Had he played there the whole year, he would have broken the league record.

Baseball America ranks him as the best prospect in the Astro’s system, and last year they ranked him 6th best in their system. What often motivates a man, is doubt from others that he’ll ever make a significant impact. Scouts said he’d have a lot of trouble at the higher levels because they’d jam him, bust him in and make him change his approach.

They also said he’d had success early on in his career because he was old for the leagues he was playing in, and a higher level of competition would make his numbers drop. In 2006 he put those doubters in their place with a great year at Double A Corpus Christi. He was in the top five in eight major categories, and if you can do that at the Double A level, then I’d say you’ve proven your point against a greater level of competition.

This season is obviously huge for him. I think one of two things will happen; he’ll either make it to the big leagues as a September call up and put himself in a position to play in Houston on a permanent basis in 2008, or he’ll end up getting traded so that Houston can bring in an extra arm to try and make that big run in the 2nd half like they always do.

Either way, you’ll hear his name A LOT on SportsCenter in a couple of years.

Previewing the First Month

2007-02-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

Check out my other blog at www.threedrunk.blogspot.com.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm going to do a better job of keeping up on my blog during the summer as I tour the Sally Leauge and share my experiences with you.

Here is a preview of the roadtrips during that first month. For the entire schedule go to www.wvpower.com. I'm coming soon to a ballpark near you.

There are only a few trips in April, with the first one being in Delmarva. More than likely, I'll come back 15 lbs. heavier from that trip. There are TONS of great restaurants around the hotel in Delmarva. Fudruckers, Cold Stone Creamery, Salsaritas (just like Chipotle) and Applebee's, just to name a few. I might crush my meal money in one day.

Delmarva is actually located in Salisbury, Maryland which is about 20 mintues away from Ocean City. That trip in August is usually awesome for all the obvious reasons. But that trip in mid-April will probably be a little chilly.

The ballpark is OK, its not great, but there are PLENTY worse in the Sally League. Randy Scott does a real nice job there and the setup in their press box, while wide open and element tested, does provide a little privacy which is nice.

I've caught two foul balls with my bare hands at that park and I've had a bird poop on my scorebook once. When it rains, you'd better protect your belongings, because you dont control the window structures there.

The other trips in the first month include an eight game, nine day road trip with four games in Lexington, KY and then a four gamer in Hagerstown, MD which spills into May.

Lexington is always a good trip because I get to see my good friend Larry Glover who has been with the Legends since their inception six years ago. He's got the longest running tenure of any full time radio announcer in the league, yours truly is second in that category.

The ballpark is pretty nice but the press box is extremely cluttered. Its simply not big enough and there is NO privacy whatsoever. I cant imagine just how packed that box was when Roger Clemens was in town.

The hotel is nice because it has all of the amenities, but there is NOTHING around there to eat. There are a couple of gas stations and a Fazzoli's but thats it. I usually come back five pounds lighter from this trip.

After Lexington its off to Hagerstown. Hagerstown is an adventure. Its typically regarded as the worst ballpark in the league. The park is awful, the broadcasting conditions are sub par but the people are extremely nice which makes the visit a pleasant one.

Its tradition for the coaching staff to eat at the China Buffet for the first and last day of the trip in Hagerstown. China Buffet is as unhealthy as it gets, but its cheap, it fills you up, and its a great place to go to bat the breeze.

The hotel is OK. Not great, but not awful. Its also one of few hotels in the league with a Dairy Queen right down the street. Therefore, I'll put on 10 lbs. during the trip between Blizzards at DQ and the staff's routine trips to the China Buffett.

The trips are relatively long in the first month. Its about an eight hour trip to Delmarva, and while its only three hours to Lexington, Its a solid seven from Lexington to Hagerstown. Of course there is a day off between the end of the Lexington series and the beginning of the four game set with Hagerstown, so that helps.

I'm counting down the days, only 41 remain until the start of the season.

Update

2007-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Charleston, West Virginia.

The off season is almost over and I will be staying in Charleston for at least another season. I plan on doing something with this blog this season, that I did not do last season. I plan on giving reports/reviews from every minor league city and ballpark that I go to this summer with the Power.

Unfortunately, the first road trip isnt until April 13th in Delmarva, which happens to be Friday the 13th. I expect a phone line or two not to work (not because its Delmarva, but because its Friday the 13th) and I expect the bus to break down a few times on that 8 hour trip. Oh the joys of minor league baseball.

March is usually the absolute worst f'ng month of the year in minor league ball. You never know how late you'll be at the park or what has to be done, and you get to a point where you just want the season to begin so you can start your routine.

Because of that, I dont know if I'll be able to add much here or not. Keep checking in though, as I'll try to post as much as possible.

Also check out my other blog at www.threedrunk.blogspot.com

DOME

2006-11-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

Thats right, DOME. I couldnt think of anything else to put for a title, so I went with old reliable. Random Thoughts pop into my mind on a daily basis. So I'll share them with you.

I know, its been a real long time since I've last "blogged" so bare with me here. I thought it would be cool to blog from the hotel rooms of different places in the South Atlantic League, but I didnt have internet access in each city, so that didnt allow me to get into a routine. Those who know me, know that I'm a routine guy, when my routine is skewed, I get angry, and I'm thrown off completely.

Whats with the myspace revolution? I've checked it out, but I've yet to take part. There have been times that I've been tempted to join in, only because its not a bad way to keep in touch with people you havent seen in years. Remember when you graduated from high school and you didnt really care because you knew that you'd keep in touch with the people you WANTED to keep in touch with? Well this has become a way for you to keep in touch with people you didnt care to keep in touch with after you graduated. A contradictory concept indeed. I still havent made an account, but I've thought about it, not that anyone cares what I do.

The football season is halfway over, which is absolutely amazing. When you are trapped in baseball for an entire summer, your anticipation for the fall time (which of course coincides with the football season) doubles each year, and because of that I was so fired up for the football season in the final weeks of August, and now here we are two and a half months later and the season is half over, time absolutely flies. I host a weekly football talkshow called Monday Night Foot'Bull from 7-8 PM on Mondays here in Charleston. Its aired on 580 AM WCHS perhaps the most powerful AM station in the state, which is a thrill for me. Another notch in the belt right??

I'll try to get back to posting on here a little more often. Since I didnt get a chance to report during the season (which would have been cool had I been able to get into a routine) I will try to write up something on each city I visited this season, and I'll also do a season in review, experience the day by day life over a 5 month season with yours truly.

Out of the Shadows

2006-03-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

For over a month now, I've been hiding, but tonight, I've decided to make my comeback. In my last post I mis-spelled a name, and I was down in the dumps because I knew that the stretch up-coming in Sports was going to test my will to watch....and it did. However, now I've got the fever of March Madness, and baseball is right around the corner. That means a lot to me because I absolutely hate selling in the off season and getting back to broadcasting games (doing what I am best at) is like bringing me to an all you can eat buffet line and telling me I dont have to worry about gaining any weight because this magical pill you take when you leave will eliminate all of the calories you just took in.

Some things to consider.......I dont have much input on March Madness itself because I just havent given College Hoops the attention it deserves this year. That may actually help me fill out my brackets because its been proven in the past that the more you know, the more you analyze, the more you analyze, the worse off you are.....OK maybe not, but I've decided to take a different approach this year. I just hope Michigan State wakes up and makes a strong run in the tournament.

The NFL Draft is right around the corner and I am really starting to get excited. The Packers made a HUGE signing, re-upping Defensive End Aaron Kampman. A lot of fans dont believe it, but he is a BETTER overall player than KGB. To me this begs the question, will they draft DE Mario Williams and move KGB to OLB or will they draft AJ Hawk now that they have both of their defensive ends locked up?

The Redskins and Browns are both making noise in the free agent pool. We've known about the problems for the Browns on the o-line since they came back into the league, and they took a MASSIVE step in the right direction toward improving that unit this weekend by signing LeCharles Bentley. They have also signed Ted Washington who will eat up blockers in the 3-4 system, and they are in a good position to draft Demeco Ryans or Chad Greenway with the 12th overall pick in the draft. Sure, I'm not a Browns fan, but that franchise is supported just as well as any other Franchise in sports, and they havent been good for a very long time, so I am happy to see those guys significantly better themselves in the off-season.

The Redskins are at it signing guys at will once again. Signing Carter and Archuleta on defense should only make this defense even more aggressive, and better in the off season. Greg Williams finds innovative ways to put pressure on the passer, and Archuleta has 12 more sacks than he does interceptions in his career. Carter has underachieved a lot and a change of scenery may be just what he needs. Keep in mind, Carter will fill the void left by Lavar Arrington who never lived up to all of the hype after being drafted 2nd overall in the 2000 draft.

Keep in mind, I'm due for more posts, but our season starts in 3 weeks, and when the season starts, I wont have as much time to put posts up. I will do my best, and I'd love to do some NFL Draft Posting here in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Back in Business

2006-02-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

Friends, its time to run for cover. After you deliver your Valentine's Day package, and hopefully get your "package" serviced after this "holiday", run, hide, hibernate, and dont wake up until Mid-March. This is the absolute worst time of the year for sports. Nothing is more brutal than flipping through the channels, only to find ridiculous reality show after ridiculous reality show. There is very little on TV to watch from now until Mid-March when the conference tourney begins.

Me personally, if I cant listen to Joe Tait on my sirius satellite radio, then I am lost, because here in WV, I'm forced to watch Fox Sports Pittsburgh (instead of Fox Sports Ohio whichs shows the Cavs) which is about as entertaining as watching my college roomate light his socks on fire. They show the Penguins who are even more dissapointing than the shameful Rick Tocchet scandal which isnt going away for a while.

Sticking with hockey, haha get it??? Anyways, I dont really care about this scandal, I mean honestly, if these guys are using their money to bet on sporting events outside of hockey (which eliminates the possibility of the fix) then why does it really matter? Its their money, let them do what they want with it. Now of course if this kind of garbage leads to true organized crime, then I guess we have a problem, but if all they are doing is wagering on events, then leave them alone, go after people who are selling drugs and plotting murders....or hiring Mike McCarthy as their head coach and running Brett Favre out of town.

Big time broadcasting news came earlier this week when it was announced that Al Michaels wouldnt honor his contra.......I mean was traded from ESPN to NBC to do the Sunday night games with John Madden, and Monday Night Football would have Mike Tirico take his place and Tony Kornheiser was thrown in as the Wild Card. My thoughts....SHAME ON YOU Al Michaels.....granted, he's done more in the broadcasting business than I will ever do in my entire life......but honor your freaking contract. It amazes me that nobody is talking about this in greater detail. Its not like ESPN was given Jimmy Roberts, Dick Ebersol and the Arena League in exchange for Michaels........at any rate, this is still a good situation for ESPN.

Here is what they gain....PTI (the greatest show on television next to the Daly Planet) will do their Monday shows live on scene at the Monday night games which is going to be awesome. That show needs more exposure, I'd say move them to a different time slot....but thats just me.

Mike Tirico, next to Ron Franklin is the most underrated play by play announcer in the business today. Tirico has been on the big stage before, and save all of your sexual harassment comments, despite what he's done in the past, he's been able to put that behind him and move on. Tirico will do A GREAT job.

Theismann takes a lot of crap from a lot of people, but I think he will be much better without Paul Aguire, Aguire was absolutely awful, and Theismann does a great job of pointing out the positive things in the game, when its too easy to keep pointing to the negatives.

As for Kornheiser, I think his comedy and natural ability to incorporate different sports into the discussion and make them relevant to the situation will keep the current viewers entertained and it may even draw more viewers. Kornheiser will be a terrific addition to the booth.

I'm out. Good luck getting serviced.

Super Blog

2006-02-02T22:02:00.000-08:00

Forgive me if this isnt in depth. Its 1 am and I have to drive for 4 hours tomorrow, so I'm fighting sleep in order to get this on the blog, that and I felt like I was due because I havent posted anything since last Tuesday. So here is my prediction for Super Bowl XL.

Too many people are talking about the Steelers, and that is not good kharma. Honestly, I'd rather not be talked about, and then be able to surprise people and say F U on the day of the big game. Unlike a lot of other Clevelanders, I'd love to see Pittsburgh win because I think Bill Cowher is an excellent coach, and all of those naysayers will have to eat their words if he wins this thing. Jerome Bettis has also been a class act and I wouldnt mind seeing him go out on top, its a feel good story that you cant help but love...unless you hate the Steelers, or you are Seahawks fan, and the two go hand in hand this week.

All of the attention has been on the Steelers this week, and very little is mentioned about the Seahawks, which is why I think they will win. This game is so hard to predict because I could easily see this thing being a blowout, and I could also see it being a nailbiter.

Seattle is the first team in the postseason that the Steelers face, that does not use the Shotgun. This in turn helps the offense because it is harder to determine the angle you want to use to get to the quarterback on a blitz when he is not in the Shotgun formation, this will buy more time for Hasslebeck to find his receivers, who have been very reliable this season after dropping tons of passes in the past. I think the pass will open things up for Shawn Alexander later in the game, and he will be the MVP because of what he will be able to do in the 2nd half, pounding away at a then tired Steelers defense.

We've seen what happens to the Steelers when they have to play catchup. Seattle's offense has what it takes to get ahead early, and a steady running game to take time off the clock, wear down the defense and keep the other offense of the field. Big Ben has been a big factor in the playoffs when he's had the lead, or the game has been tied. He hasnt had to come from behind very often this year. They've done a great job of catching teams by surprise with their aerial attack early in games, but when they fall behind, they won't be surprising anyone.

The two weeks helps Mike Holmgren because he is very similar to Bill Belicheck in that he is a mastermind in gameplanning and he will make great use of these two weeks. Plus, the Steelers were hot for 6 weeks straight, and if the off week hurts either one of these teams, it hurts the Steelers because they were so hot for so long.

My prediction, Seattle 31 Pittsburgh 17. Again I think the Seahawks will get ahead early, and maintain the lead, forcing the Steelers to throw a lot and play catchup. I honestly dont care who wins, I'd be happy for Holmgren because he's a former Packer, and I'd be happy for Cowher because I think he's one hell of a coach. Best of luck to both teams, see you guys next week.

RANDOM, RELENTLESS RANTS

2006-01-24T06:27:00.000-08:00

Its been way too long since I last put the tips to the edge of the home row on my keyboard. I have to comment on a few things.

Mike McCarthy, the new head coach of the Green Bay Packers........thats too easy, and there isnt enough room on this post, I'll get to that later tonight or tomorrow. This honestly pisses me off more than watching Terrell Owens cry after making that catch against the Packers during the playoffs back in '99.

Steel City Celebration
The Steelers have become the first 6 seed to make it to the Super Bowl. That is very impressive, but in the ERA of Parody on the NFL, that should be about as surprising as Barry Bonds backing out of the World Baseball Classic to avoid steroid testing.......oops, I mean avoid risking injury to his knee.
You knew this was going to happen eventually, just like the Patriots had to lose eventually in the playoffs under the guide of Joe Montana......oops, I mean Tom Brady. Speaking of which, can we put that garbage to rest? Montana NEVER threw a pick in his playoff career, and Brady threw a pair of them in the same game, making him look like the last Patriots QB to lose in the playoffs (Scott Zolak) which sent the Broncos into the AFC Title game 10 days ago. I'm one of those guys that will tell you time and time again that the greatest quarterback of all time does not exist, and trust me, he doesn't. When it comes to the playoffs, few were better than Montana, and to put Tom Brady on the same level as Montana, is about as embarassing as Gloria James humiliating her son by drinking and driving and being unruly with the police.

So who do I like in Super Bowl XL? Well, for now it seems like Pittsburgh is destined to win this thing, and they have really overcome a lot of obstacles. However, Seattle, despite a nice run in the playoffs and a great regular season, still seems to fly under the radar. One thing is for sure, the same old boring ass "nobody gives us respect" routine will be heard at least 28000 times through the next two weeks. I do think that the week off is not going to help the Steelers. As well as they are playing a week off is not what they need.

More on Super Bowl XL as it gets closer, for now, lets just enjoy this hype week which accomplishes absolutely nothing, and if anything, it takes away from the game itself. See you then.

EEEK

2006-01-13T22:51:00.000-08:00

Last weeks 1-3 performance was inexcusable and embarassing. Matter of fact, it was about as embarassing for me as the Spencer Schitz moment was for Zach Baker a few years back during a Bowling Green Baseball broadcast. Its time to turn things around and make a run like Vivid Video in the early 90's.

By the way, for those of you wondering when my next post in regards to the Packers' outstanding hire of Mike McCarthy is going up, you just wait, it will be here before the Veterans Committee votes someone into the Hall of Fame. There may not be enough room on my blog for me to emotionally vent on Terrible Ted Thompson.

Redskins vs. Seattle
Gil Brandt made some terrific points in his nfl.com column this week. One of the stats he pointed out, was this...since 2000, teams who have won the only regular season contest and then met again in the divisional round have an 8-0 record in the 2nd matchup (in the divisional round). This plays well into the favor of the Redskins who won the first matchup in overtime. I think this 8-0 record comes to an end this week. If they couldnt put up over 120 yards of total offense against the Bucs, how in the world are they going to be able to compete with the top ranked offense in the NFL? I really dont think Washington will be able to keep Seattle from getting ahead early and making them play catchup. If the Seahawks are up 2 scores early, this game is over. Seattle's defense is a lot better than people think. 'Matter of fact, they had the 5th best defense against the run in the regular season. I dont buy into this Mark Brunell hype, if you stop Clinton Portis, you stop the Redskins offense. The Seahawks are 8-0 at home and these people are ANGRY because unlike the desperate, crybaby Patriots, they actually havent gotten the respect they deserve. I'm going with the Seahawks, and I dont think its going to be close.

Patriots vs. Broncos
The Broncos are clearly the best 13-3 team that nobody is talking about. This is going to be the most entertaining game of the weekend. I think these two teams are as evenly matched as they come. As much as I hate the Patriots, I think you have to be impressed with the way they have come together, and they way they manhandled the Jags last weekend. However, they are playing a Denver Broncos team that is 10-0 in home games played in December and January since 2000, they went 8-0 at home in the regular season, and they have won their last 8 games played on Saturdays. Obviously, those streaks combined with the current post season Patriots streaks make for an interesting matchup, and something has got to give. The Patriots will have trouble rushing against the 2nd best rush defense in the league. However, Tom Brady should have a field day against Denver's secondary which ranks 29th, ouch. The Patriots have won games through the air before, and you have to believe, that since I'm picking them to win this game, they will lose. Every time I pick them they lose, when I pick against them they win. Here goes nothing, I'll pick the Pats (even though I'm not dead set on that).

Steelers vs. Colts
After further review, Joey Porter is the most flamboyant and homo erotic linebacker in the history of the NFL. Tell me that Ray Nitchske wasn't doing backflips and carthweels in his grave when he saw Joey Porter dressed like Elly May Clampet with his jersey tucked under his shoulder pads last week. Rumor has it Dick Butkus delivered a package of Maxi pads to Porter's front door after he saw him dressed like that. Ok, enough, no wait, not enough. Porter opened his mouth earlier this week saying that the Colts try to out think you, and they aren't a physical team. He also said that Edgerrin James's 100 yard game against them earlier this year was a cheap 100......maybe I watched a different game, but James had about 30 yards in the fourth quarter, and they essentially ran the ball down Pittsburgh's throats, keeping their offense off the field and not allowing them any chance to get back in the game. Why give a 14-2 team bulletin board material? This team is well rested, this team is fired up and emotionally, they are back where they ought to be after the death of Dungy's son. They know Pittsburgh is going to be physical, and they know that they will try to throw their timing off, you think they havent come up with alternative ideas or given Peyton Manning other check down options if his timing routes are thrown off? This is a game that will end up being like the first one. Pittsburgh will fall behind early, and they wont be able to recover. If this is the last game for Jerome Bettis, then thank you Bus, you've been a pleasure to watch for the last 14 years, and he's one of the few players I like that went to Notre Dame.

Carolina vs. Chicago
I think I'd rather watch Janet Reno guest star on Night Calls, or Courtney Love grind on Martha Stewart than watch the Bears offense. This is a sexy upset pick for a lot of people. The real question here, is how will John Fox a) make adjustments on the offensive linemen's schemes to avoid letting Delhomme get sacked 8 times again and b) generate the same kind of pass rush he did last week against the Giants. I said it last week on the blog, and I'll say it this week, there are times where the Panthers look like the best team in the NFC hands down, and then there are weeks where they look as bad as the girl you puked on the night before but dont remember walking home with. The numbers can be misleading in a game like this, where one big play will ultimately be the difference. Do the Bears have a game changer like Steve Smith? No sir, Mush. Muhammed is a former Spartan so he has my respect, but he's not the game changer that Steve Smith is. The Bears will have to stop a red hot DeShaun Foster who has run for over 310 yards in his last 2 games. What the Panthers will do in this game is force Rex Grossman to make plays. The Panthers Defense ranks 4th against the run and 9th against the pass. Rex Grossman has absolutely no playoff experience and most of this Carolina defense went to the Super Bowl 2 years ago, giving them the edge, and I think they will create a couple of turnovers which will make the difference. Take the Panthers to go at least one more round.

Enjoy the final "full weekend" of Football, man February is going to suck.

WILD BILL ROSEWOOD

2006-01-07T12:13:00.000-08:00

Thats right, in Beverly Hills Cop 3, Judge Reinhold aka Bill Rosewood, said one of the absolute greatest lines ever produced in a sequel since Mr. T said "Prediction?? (dramatic/intense pause) PAAAAIN...." as Clubber Lang in Rocky 3. Wild Card Weekend, means some wild picks, "The name's Wild Bill Rosewood, I'm the Sheriff of this town." Thats the attitude I'm taking into this posting. I know thats a bit of a stretch, but I am going somewhere with this, so lets get to the Wild Card Weekend Predictions.

Game 1
Redskins vs. Bucs
We've heard the same thing from Redskins fans at least 8843743700 times. "We should have won that first matchup and we would have if it wasnt for that B.S. call, blah blah blah." Look, the Redskins have run off 5 wins in a row, they have a very good defense, and their offense has shown both the ability to run the ball effectively, and take shots down the field with success. However, they are playing a Tampa Bay Defense which ranked first in total defense this season and Derrick Brooks is playing better than anyone else at the position, and he will be all over Clinton Portis like flies on a turd. I love what the Redskins have done this season, but that five game winning streak is going to come to an end this afternoon. No Shawn Springs, means someone else is going to have to keep an eye on Joey Galloway deep down the field and things will open up for Cadillac Williams. Bucs sweep the season series and move on.

Game 2
Patriots vs. Jaguars
Lets set the record straight. ESPN.com just conducted a poll asking who the least disrespected team in sports is, and guess what one of the options was? You guessed it, the New England Patriots. Yet these morons INSIST on playing the "Nobody gives us any respect" card which is about as fun to listen to as the the Fabulous Sports Babe, and that might be one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. It may have worked a few years ago against the Rams, but it doesnt work anymore. Erik Kasillius said it best this week, the actions of Cory Dillon and Tom Brady this week when asked questions after practice were displays of desperate measures. As desperate as the guy with the peanut butter jar and the dog in the closet. These guys know that they're VERY vulnerable to this upset. The Jaguars are the best team in the league in sacks per pass play, and they will beat Tom Brady up all night long. The difference here is that the Patriots will not be able to protect him by running the ball because Jacksonville's front 7 will MANHANDLE the Patriots depleted offensive line. I'm calling for the upset here. On offense the Jags will throw over that Patriots secondary to get the victory. I know, Florida teams dont play well in the cold, and Tom Brady is 9-0 in the post season, and the Patriots havent lost a playoff game since 1999. Well guess what, the Jags were the last team to beat them in the playoffs, and just like the one night stand with the hottest girl in the bar, all great things must come to an end, the streak ends tonight. Jags win.

Carolina vs. Giants
This is the toughest game of the week to pick. I really like Carolina a lot, there were times this year I really thought they were going to be the odds on favorites to win the NFC, but this team has become so inconsistent from one week to the next. Their lack of a running game, and the pressure from Umenyiora and Strahan (who combined for 26 sacks) really scares me in this game. Their defense is outstanding and they will get to Eli Manning, but Shockey is playing, Tiki Barber is absolutely on fire and Plaxico Burress can beat any corner that they have. At the beginning of the week I tried to convince myself to pick Carolina, but Eli Manning is 7-1 at home this season, and he is a totall different player at home. This one will be very close, but I like the Giants.

Bengals vs. Steelers
To some this is the game of the weekend. They split the season series with the road team winning both games. The major concern here is the Bengals run defense which has been as effective as Denis Leary in a disney movie. The running game is Pittsburgh's bread and butter, I really dont think the Bengals will be able to stop it. However, this defense can force turnovers, and give their offense the opportunity to make something happen. I understand that the Bengals didnt play their starters a ton last week, but when you lose 2 in a row to end the year, and one of those games was against the Bills at home, thats saying a lot about where this team is mentally right now. We kept hearing about the changing of the guard in the AFC North all year long, and while the Bengals might have the Division Crown, it will mean nothing if they lose in the first round, and the rubber match in the season series. Cincy's +24 turnover margin will be tough to pick against, but their defense (26th vs the pass, 20th vs. the run) will not be able to keep the Steelers off the field. Plus, Pittsburgh's playoff experience is second to none, I'll go with the road favorites.

Have a nice weekend.

Vacation Ending Blog

2006-01-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, its been about two and a half weeks since I last posted anything, and when I published my last post, I posted it twice. So here's to hoping that things turn out much better on the first blog of the year. Happy Holidays to all, I hope the year's end turned out as well for you as it did for me.

The topic on everyone's mind right now is the return of another fantastic reality TV show called Dancing with the St.......wait a minute, thats not right. Here he my question, you know how the adult film industry names some of it's films after a box office smash with a sexual twist? How long is it before this is done to reality shows? Like, for every Harry Twotter and Pulp Friction out there, you know there has to be something like "The biggest oozer" or "Rear Factor". You know its on the way, don't you? Ok, that was my cheap shot at reality shows and network TV.

Last night's game was the best college football game I've ever seen on that kind of stage. Vince Young is more impressive at this level than Mike Vick was, and we need to stop ridiculing Reggie Bush. Lost in his very solid yet un-superhuman like night was that OUTSTANDING effort he put forth diving into the end zone in the fourth quarter on what was one of many terrifc plays in that contest. People are now saying that he's not as good as advertised because he didnt have a HUGE game and all of this other nonsense. He was pretty solid last night, and while that botched pitch did turn out to be a 'Signing Big Country Bryant Reeves to a long term contract' type mistake, it shouldnt take away from the fact that this guy is truly a special player.

So what happens next? The Texans are not keeping that first overall pick. Picking a running back when you have lots of money tied up in another pretty good one, and you have several teams salivating about the guy who will go number one that you don't need, makes about as much sense as wiping down the posterior before a big Mexican dinner, when you know the fireworks are on the way about a half hour later to clear the room and set the tone.

After Bush, who is next? This morning on Mike and Mike in the morning, Mel Kiper Jr. said that the Leinart/Young race will go right down to the wire. One of these guys will go to the Saints, and the other will go to the Jets unless somebody else trades up. At this point, Leinart will probably make a more immediate impact because he seems to be NFL ready, while Young is a better long term investment because he has all of the physical tools of Mike Vick and then some. After these 3 are off the board, it's as wide open as Mariah Carey's sex life now that she's been reduced to slutting herself up on New Years Eve on national television. Rest assure, there will be a lot of defensive players taken off the board, after the first 3 guys are gone.

In the coming days I will have my playoff predictions, and I will talk about the obnoxious New England Patriots who love to bitch and moan like a teenage girl after a breakup about how they get absolutely no respect. Have a great day.

Unwatchable Time of the Year

2005-12-14T06:18:00.001-08:00

I have received some e-mails about how this is the absolute worst time of the year for sports because during the week there is NOTHING on TV to watch. I think it is looked at that way not because there is nothing on during the week in sports, but because there is NOTHING worth a crap on TV period. (Before I go any further, I'll take this time of year over February because at least now we have more than just basketball and hockey to watch, in February, thats all we've got...well that and re-runs of Poker on TV which is the equivalent of staring at the toilet bowl and waiting for it to change colors over time) Save your defensive responses for "King of Queens" "Prison Break" and all those other awful shows currently on network TV. I havent discussed this yet in the blog, but let me lay it out for you. NETWORK TV ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!!!!

With the exception of a few programs (Sporting Events, Nightly Newscasts and the late night shows) the programming makes me want to vomit. When shows like Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, Survivor, Dancing with the Stars and all of this other crap that people call good programming are filling up my television like a 400 pound man in a telephone booth, then I know its time to take my viewing elsewhere.

Here's a better question....what happened to the good old fashioned sitcom? Now everyone is so wrapped up in these "reality" shows (which is funny because these shows are further from reality than the Keebler Elves and the Smurfs) that the art of the sitcom has gotten lost like Debbie Gibson. Its to the point now where I cant watch network TV. Just hearing announcers during football games talk about/hype up/preview the upcoming episodes (Insert Pat Summerall's lackluster effort to pump up...MALCOM....IN THE MIDDLE...) makes me want to put a sledge hammer (Triple H style) through my television.

Thats the reason why this is an unwatchable time of the year for us sportsfans. Thank God for ESPN 8 the ocho and the 7 that came before it, a long with the 18 trillion cable stations that help us forget about the crap on network TV. Maybe there isnt as much on during the week yet, but give it a few days, and you'll have more bowl games than you know what to do with, and all will be right with the world until the Super Bowl is over in February (Are you like me? Do you dread this time of the year like Tom Benson dreads a trip to Louisianna?)

NFL Draft updates are coming soon, keep a close eye on this.

NFL PICKS WEEK 14

2005-12-10T22:39:00.000-08:00

To my faithful readers, I've been slacking on the posts. Part of that is due to my illness this weekend and others, just plain laziness. I'll get back to a more consistent schedule next week. On we go with the picks. Short and sweet.

Bears vs. Steelers
This winning streak of Chicago's has to end soon. The Steelers threw the ball at will last week, but this is a team in desperate need of a victory. I dont see these guys losing another game, the losing streak ends this week and the Bears winning streak will also come to a halt. Steelers win.

Bengals vs. Browns
These two often split the season series, but this isnt the same Bengals team. Charlie Frye doesnt have many receiving options, and this Cincy Defense can create a lot of turnovers. I dont think this is going to be too exciting, Bengals win #10.

Texans vs. Titans
After watching the end to the last 2 Texans games, I'm convinced that this is one of the worst teams I've ever seen. Maybe they won't win another game this year. The Titans play hard under Fisher, and they'll win against the snakebitten Texans.

Colts vs. Jags
The Jags always play these guys tough. David Garrard's ability to make things happen with his feet will allow him to make plays and fight through the overpursuit of the Colts D-line. Plus Fred Taylor and Greg Jones make a formitable combo in the backfield. Their D will hold the offense in check, and the winning streak comes to and end this week. It had to happen sometime, better now than in the playoffs.

Bill vs. Pats
My pick to win the division at the beginning of the year was the Bills. The Patriots can clinch this weak ass division with a win this week. The Patriots will clinch eventually, but they won't clinch this week as the Bills delay the inevitable one more week.

Jets vs. Raiders
Lamont Jordan would like to prove a point to his former employer. He'll do that in a big way this week. Randy Moss is hurt, but Marques Taasosfajsfdalsfkldj will get the ball to him against this awful Jets defense. Take the Raiders.

Rams vs. Vikings
These teams are headed in opposite directions. The Rams defense cannot stop anybody, Bennett will run circles around them and Brad Johnson will make them look silly. Had this team (Minn.) kept losing, we'd be hearing more and more about this sex ship, but while its being settled, they are winning games, and Tice is doing a hell of a job keeping them focused. The Vikings will win this week and make a push for the division title.

Panthers vs. Bucs
A low scoring affair, take the under in this game. The Bucs didnt score over 10 against the Saints, so what makes you think they'll do more against the Panthers? Carolina is on a roll. They leaped a major hurdle last week against Atlanta, and they'll beat the Bucs with no problem this week.

Giants vs. Eagles
Wow are the Eagles awful. Injury, after Injury has kept this team down. The Seahawks D is far from the 85 Bears, but they looked just as good against the Eagles on Monday night. The Giants have 2 FANTASTIC rush ends who will give McMahon hell all day long, and Eli will light this secondary up. Giants.

Seahawks vs. 49ers
The Seahawks are proving everyone wrong. They have answered a lot of questions and won some big games this year, and they are the best in the NFC right now. The 9ers on the other hand are a team that will be picking at the top of the draft for the next 2 years. Take the Seahawks.

Cards vs. Redskins
Warner may have thrown all over the 9ers last week, but this week, ol' cement feet will be running for his life after Greg Williams blitzes the hell out of him. The Cards will have a tough time getting it going through the air early in the game, and their defense will have as much trouble shutting down Portis as the Rams did last week. Take the Redskins.

Broncos vs. Ravens
It will probably be a boring game. The Ravens dont have the stars on defense anymore and their offense is attrocious. The Broncos dont get many sacks, though they do defend the run pretty well. When all is said and done, the Broncos are just a much better team this year, and they have a huge mental edge because they've proven they can win this year, and the Ravens havent. Bottom line. Broncos.

Chiefs vs. Cowboys
The Chiefs played well last week, despite giving up a few big plays against the Broncos. They are a different team on theroad however. Dallas needs a win very badly. I dont think they'll make the playoffs due to their meltdowns the last 2 weeks. However, I do think they'll shock a lot of people and win this week against a suspect KC defense.

Dolphins vs. Chargers
The Dolphins dont have a shot in hell in this game. They pulled that win out of their ass last week. The Chargers run D is very good and they'll force Rosenfels to throw the ball a lot, that said, LT will jam the ball down the throats of the fins, and it will be all over. Chargers.

Lions vs. Packers
DYNAMITE SUNDAY NIGHT MATCHUP!!!!!!!!! The battle for Reggie Bush continues. The Packers will do just enough not to get him. They can trade all 11 starters on offense, but they will not get him. Therefore, instead of being in games until the final minutes, why not blow somebody out? This Lions team is in Shambles, I smell an upset this week. Lambeau has lost its mystique, but the Pack will bring some of it back. What an awful game to watch on Sunday night.

Saints vs. Falcons
Speaking of awful games, this shouldnt be close. The Falcons will run on the Saints 10 times better than the Bucs did last week. There is no stopping these guys on Monday night, against a team that has had to battle several elements. You have to feel sorry for these guys, but the
Falcons won't on Monday.

Those are the Picks, take em or leave em.

NFL Picks Week 13

2005-12-03T21:43:00.000-08:00

We will make this short and sweet since the games start in about 12 hours.

Falcons vs. Panthers
I am going with the Falcons because Mike Vick owns the Panthers. He's 9-1 against these guys and the Falcons appear to be back on track after last week's thrashing of the Lions. I know, it was the Lions, but they established the run, and if they run with confidence, they will be VERY tough to stop.

Bills vs. Dolphins
I'll go with the Bills. I predicted that they would win that division. That prediction will probably be wrong but I'm sticking with it. They'll find a way to run on the Dolphins and they'll make Gus Frerotte play like the fire of old.....and that will be enough to win.

Bengals vs. Steelers
The Bengals have a chance to prove their worth in this game. Only one quality win this year (vs. Bears) they have a chance to win a big game and really create some separation in the division. The Steelers will enter bruised after last week's loss, and Cincy will take control early to give themselves a nice lead, forcing an injured Big Ben to make things happen. It won't happen, and Cincy will walk away with a win.

Dallas vs. Giants
The Cowboys needed that win last week. After that loss, I dont know if they'll be able to get into the playoffs considering how well the teams in the south are playing right now. The Giants seem to be so much more in sync offensively at home, which is why I think they'll win this game. Bledsoe has slow feet, and he'll be tested by two of the finer ends in the league, Giants win.

Packers vs. Bears
Brett Favre always plays great against the Bears. He knows just how intense this rivalry is, and he ALWAYS steps up against the Bears. The Packer D will surprise people tomorrow and nuetralize the run, and force Orton into making mistakes. The Bears have to lose sometime, they are good, but they aren't this good........are they? I'm taking the Pack, they'll do just enough to lose out in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes.

Ravens vs. Texans
This Texans offense didnt look too bad last week, but that defense was AWFUL down the stretch. They can score on this Ravens defense, but the Ravens can't really score on anybody, although they did put up some numbers in the 2nd half last week. I'll take the Texans in the "dissapointment bowl". These two teams should be MUCH better.

Jags vs. Browns
In Cleveland, no Fred Taylor who has DESTROYED the Browns in the past, I'll take the Browns. The Jags have lost some big time players on offense. Lefty, Taylor, are the focal points of that offense, and they will play a tough Browns team that is headed in the right direction. Upset pick of the week, as Reuben Droughns finds a way to run vs. the tough Jags D.

Lions vs. Vikings
The Lions are in dissaray. You've got people pointing fingers and throwing each other under the bus, while the Vikings are red hot heading into the final month of the season. I dont think this will be close at all. The Vikings win big.

Bucs vs. Saints
Saints got one against the Jets last week. By the way, shouldnt more have been made last week about the last time the Jets and Saints met on Sunday night?? You know what happened in that game.........KYLE F'N TURLEY RIPPED OFF ROBINSON'S HELMET AND THEN THREW IT!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!!!!! TURLEY!!!!!!! TURLEY!!!!!!!!!! That guy rocks, Bucs win big.

Titans vs. Colts
I'd love to see the Colts go unbeaten, I dont think they can, but it would be fun to see it happen. While I do think they'll lose, I dont think they'll lose this week. This team actually seems as though they get BETTER every week. Its scary, I think the only team that can beat the Colts is......well, the Colts. Titans will be with them for 3 quarters because Jeff Fisher won't let them run away, but the Colts will win by a couple of scores.

Cards vs. 49ers
The 49ers just dont have much talent. I see this being a shootout. Kurt Warner is quietly having a pretty nice year. The 49ers wont have an answer for that aerial attack, therefore I am picking the Cardinals to win.

Rams vs. Redskins
Rams are down to the 3rd string QB who got it done against the Texans last week, but the Redskins are a totally different defense. Gregg Williams will blitz the $#!T out of him and he will have nightmares of Arrington and company when its all said and done. Oh yeah, Clinton Portis will run circles around that defense, Skins win.

Broncos vs. Chiefs
The Broncos just don't play well against the Chiefs in arrowhead, that it is damn near impossible for anyone other than the Chiefs to win in Arrowhead in December. The last team to beat them there in December was Colts back in 1996. Call me crazy, but I just don't see Denver winning this game. This game means more to the Chiefs than it does to the Broncos. A win for Denver would pretty much give them the division. I like the Chiefs, going against a trend is never a wise decision.

Jets vs. Patriots
I was all set to pick the Jets in an upset, but now it looks like both Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk are going to play. Who knows just how great they will be, but they'll take just enough pressure off of Tom Brady, so he won't make the mistakes that he made last week. Plus, the Jets like other teams have endured several key injuries that may prevent them from winning another game this year. I'll pick the Pats.

Chargers vs. Raiders
The Raiders are another team that has underachieved this season. This offense puzzles me, for whatever reason, they havent put up big numbers like I thought. That could be a lack of balance. Just last week they started to run the ball a little more. The Chargers do a great job of defending the run, and that will force Collins to go to the air a little more than he'd like. Plus their defense won't be able to stop Tomlinson and Brees, so they'll be playing from behind. I dont see this being close, take the Chargers.

Seahawks vs. Eagles
The Seahawks typically havent caught any breaks in the past, but this year, they are catching every break under the sun. The Eagles.......T.O., McNabb, not so much. They have not caught the breaks this year. I dont know that they'll be able to do much against a Seahawks team that has been able to rise to the occasion and win some big games. The Eagles aren't so good at stopping the run, and the Seahawks have a pretty darn good running back in Mr. Alexander who is going to make A LOT of money next year. Take the Seahawks.

I need to make up 21 points on the points leader, and I need a head to head victory in order to walk away with some money in fantasy football. Lets make it happen. Have a great day.

Random Rants

2005-12-01T19:21:00.000-08:00

Pasquarelli on Baseball??

Today Len Pasquarelli of espn.com broke the Kyle Farnsworth story, announcing that he is going to sign a lucrative deal with the New York Yankees to be their set up man. I thought that Len Pasquarelli was strictly an NFL reporter for espn.com, when did he get into baseball? Maybe I'm alone here, but does this strike you as a Geico commercial? Play it out, Pasquarelli walks into George Bodenheimer's office (he is the president of espn), Bodenheimer welcomes him in and he is expecting him to have some kind of big story on Terrell Owens going to the Dallas Cowboys. So Bodenheimer says ok, what do you have on T.O.? Pasquarelli then responds with, well, sorry boss, I've got nothing on T.O., but I've got really good news....instead of telling him he saved a bunch of money on his car insurance he says....I just heard that Kyle Farnsworth signed with the New York Yankees to be their set up man. Imagine the look on Bodenheimer's face. Did Pasquarelli eat Buster Olney or something? When did he start to report on baseball? Pasquarelli is a great reporter no less.

Boxin' Babies

Ohhh Boxing, is there a bigger joke today in the world of sports? Boxing has fallen farther and farther down the colletive sports interest tree, and now its sitting below the branches of the WNBA and Slamball, basically, its just above the stump. Lets just come out and say it, Boxing is fixed, and its just as big a show, well no, its not as big a show as professional wrestling. Honestly, wrestling is more entertaining, and instead of having Don King promote these fights, lets have Vincent Kennedy McMahon get involved and really make things interesting. This whole crybaby angle between Bernard Hopkins and Jermain Taylor is pathetic. I'd rather watch a bunch of seniors bump and grind to Bing Crosby at the Intermission on Bingo night. Instead of bringing in Elvis or calling each other crybabies, Vince McMahon would play a different angle. He'd have Jermain Taylor bring in a guy that made Bernard Hopkins his bitch when he was in prison and Hopkins could counter by walking down the isle with the army known as Evander Holyfield's illegit to quit squad. You get the idea, boxing needs Vince McMahon, and they need him fast. Speaking of needs, I need a better week in my nfl picks, but I need a real big week to finish off the fantasy football season. The NFL picks will be up in the next 2 days, have a great day.

Delayed Aggression

2005-11-29T19:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since my last post. So lets get right back to it. Before I go any further, you absolutely have to check out http://hammondbacon.blogspot.com. My good buddy Joel Hammond is now a blogger and he is absolutely hysterical. This guy can piss on a Jerry Seinfeld routine and make a legendary routine like that seem as funny as Carson Daly's late night show on NBC. To this day that is the absolute worst late night talkshow I've ever seen and it has no business being on the same station as Legends like Conan and Leno.

I think Joel is dreaming in that blog when he talks about the Packers (and when he posts as Brett Favre, which is humorous and fantastic on many accounts, he resembles Brett Favre as well as I resemble Paul Mooney). Speaking of the Packers, you can put those Mariucci rumors to rest. Take a look at this team, a defense that is actually playing pretty well (and doing it quietly) under Jim Bates who is the 3rd leader of this defense in as many years. The offense is riddled with injuries and they have battled salary cap issues just as hard as Kirstey Alley has battled weight issues (Remember her looking respectable in "Look Who's Takling Two"? They should make a sequel 20 years later called Look Who's Feeding Two!). Its a miracle that Mike Sherman has this team very much in every single game down to the final 2 minutes, this guy deserves a John Holmes esque extention as far as I'm concerned. The record doesnt show it, but he really hasnt done too bad this year.

On to guys who deserve their jobs as much as Ashley Simpson deserves a grammy. John L. Smith MUST get the boot in East Lansing. On www.spartantailgate.com they discussed Tom Izzo's comments on Mariucci's future in East Lansing, and Izzo said if he were Mooch, he'd get as far away from the state of Michigan as possible. When did Izzo become an Ohio state fan? Lets be honest, Izzo isn't going to throw another coach at his same institution under the bus. I mean c'mon, who do you think he is? Terrell Owens? Mr. Mason had better remove the hockey stick from his rectum and realize that he has to rid East Lansing of John L. Smith and create a legacy of Spartan athletics by hiring Steve Mariucci, that would be a match made in heaven and a Christmas Gift for me. I'm sorry, but 1-4, 1-4, 1-4, in your last 5 games of Big 10 Conference Play in your 3 years as head coach isnt going to cut it and recruits are going to laugh at you like a bunch of 7 foot one leggers and christmas elfs squaring off in an ass kicking contest. Thats all I have time for tonight, enjoy the holiday season.

NFL PICKS WEEK 11

2005-11-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Last week I went 9-5, lets see if we can't improve upon that. My season record is tracked on my buddy Zach Baker's website. Check it out at www.vitaminz.blogspot.com. Chris Ermisch is a fantastic football mind, check out his picks at http://attempt3.blogspot.com. On we go.

Cards vs. Rams
Kurt Warner plays his former mates......who just happen to be a lot better than this Cardinals team which is ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. I've seen better play at my Grandma's house when the old church ladies come over for bridge club. The Rams will burn this team up. Curtis, Bruce, Holt, they will destroy the Cards, its really not worth getting into. Rams get back to .500, the Cards continue to live in misery.

Bears vs. Panthers
The Bears offense showed its true colors last week against the 49ers. Sure they had to be one dimensional because of the wind, but this just isnt a very good offense. I know Thomas Jones is back, but for how long? They are running into the hottest defense, and perhaps the hottest team in the league. Da Bears are 4-1 at home, but they've yet to play a team like the Panthers at Soliders Field. The only team that beat them at home was the Cincinatti Bengals, and the 4 teams they beat at home all have losing records. Plus there is all of this hoopla going on in regards to Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller. No drama in Carolina, they are going to tie their franchise record with their 7th straight win in this game.

Lions vs. Cowboys
Fitting that the two teams who ALWAYS play host on Thanksgiving, will play each other on the Sunday before the Holiday. Steve Mariucci needs to stick with one running back. Artose Pinner and Shawn Bryson are has beens who are situational and one dimensional backs. Until he committs more to Kevin Jones, they are not going to get any consistency with their running game. This musical quarterbacks game isn't working either. Harrington had a great week against the Cardinals, and he has been rewarded with a nice warm spot on the bench. Dallas is coming off of an emotional victory, and their offense is very balanced. Dallas is 6th in total defense and 12th in total offense. Detroit has great players at the skill positions, but they wont have enough to earn their 2nd game away from home this year.

Titans vs. Jaguars
Surprisingly, the Titans have DOMINATED this series. According to nfl.com, the Titans have won 6 of the last 7 in this meeting and 10 of the last 13. The Jags are a shaky 2-2 on the road this year, and it will be Greg Jones at RB in place of Taylor agian. Jimmy Smith's nose is away from goaline's but he is hurt, as is Ernest Wilford. The Titans are coming off a bye week, and they have had time to rest a lot of their injured players. The Jags have the best pass defense in the league, but they have struggled against the run where they rank 22nd. Call me crazy, but I'm calling for the upset here. Titans win a close one.

Dolphins vs. Browns
This is a game that we will be forced to watch (If you live in my region of the country) with 2 awful football teams, just waiting for the season to end. Sage Rosenfels might make his 2nd start of his career of Gus Frerotte can't go. These guys let one get away from them last weekend against the Patriots, and it's going to be hard to let that go this week. Saban returns to Cleveland since he coached there back in '95, and Chris Chambers, who played his H.S. ball at Bedford is making a homecoming as well. The Dolphins are piss poor on the road, and Cleveland is respectable at home. Reuben Droughns is starting to run better for the Browns and the Dolphins are slightly below the curve against the run. The Dolphins continue to struggle on the road where they've lost 10 of their last 12, and the Browns win their 4th game of the year.

Saints vs. Patriots
The Patriots continue to get bitten by the injury bug. Corey Dillon will miss the game with a vaginal infection....oops, I mean his calf hurts. Brady has a sore shoulder but he will play. The Saints surprisingly have the 5th best pass defense in the league. They will force the Patriots to run the ball, which they dont do very well (79.1 PG, 29th in the league). For some strange reason, I'm feeling an upset here. I know the Pats are riding high after avoiding the upset last week against the Dolphins, but I sense a let down here as the Saints win their first game since October 2nd when they beat Buffalo 19-7.

Redskins vs. Raiders
First meeting between these two teams in nearly seven years. The Redskins surprisingly are very balanced on offense. Clinton Portis is running downhill finally and where in the hell did this Brunell to Santanna Moss connection come from? Its like the re-incarnation of Rypen to Art Monk. The Raiders are a team with talent but they are underachieving. Quietly, Kerry Collins has kept his mistakes to a minimum, but that won't matter in this game. The Raiders don't run the ball enough, and they wont be able to pass against the Redskins who have the 9th best pass defense in the league. The Redskins go 5-0 at home with the win.

Eagles vs. Giants
Again, I'm with Mark "Stink" Schlereth on the Eagles, THEY ARE DONE. Last week's loss on Monday night was King Slender's backbreaker in Pro Wrestling on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The Eagles will not be able recover from a devastating loss like that. The Giants do an incredible job of throwing the ball, and they'll have no trouble doing that against the Eagles who rank 24th against the pass this season. Mike McMahon, Vince McMahon, Ed McMahon, Jim McMahon, it doesnt matter who is at QB for the Eagles, they will lose this game as their disastrous season continues.

Chargers vs. Bills
There are several reasons to pick the Chargers in this game. They are playing a team that is 0-4 on the road, the Chargers have the best defense against the rush and that is all that the Bills can really do on offense. Plus they are coming off a bye week. J.P. Losman gets the start at QB here for the Bills who really need a victory on the road badly. This is a tough team to figure out. They cannot stop the run (31st in the league) and that is not good news, since they are facing the best rusher and best player in the league. It would be a minor miracle, and a MAJOR upset if the Bills were to win this game, I'm going with the Chargers.

Steelers vs. Ravens
Perhaps no team has underachieved as much as the Ravens have this season. I really thought this was going to be a special year for them. It has been an absolute disaster. No Ed Reed and no Ray Lewis again, that means the Steeler offense will have no problems getting it going with whomever behind center. People in the Steel city are calling for Randel El to take the snaps, but it looks like its going to be Tommy Maddox. The Steelers have the 3rd best defense against the run this year, and as we've learned, the Ravens cannot throw the ball very effectively, so the Steelers will improve to 5-0 on the road this year.

Falcons vs. Bucs
This game is absolutely huge for both teams. They are chasing the Panthers who look unstoppable at this point. A loss here could mean one of these teams will miss the playoffs. Chris Simms looked very good last week against a good Washington Defense. The Bucs have the 5th best rushing defense but they are facing the BEST rushing attack in the NFL. That is where this game will be won or lost. The Falcons usually play pretty well at home, and they will rebound from last week's humiliating loss against the Packers.

Seahawks vs. 49ers
This is a mismatch. The 9ers played in a very difficult situation last week, and allowed a 109 yard kick return for a touchdown, OUCH. The Seahawks traditionally havent been very good on the road, but I'll make the exception here. The 9ers have nobody who can stop Shawn Alexander, that guy is unreal. The Seattle Defense is playing great, though they do give up a few big plays through the air. This one really shouldn't be close, as the Seahawks increase their lead in a pittiful NFC West.

Bengals vs. Colts
The game of the week by far. This should be very exciting, considering all of the marquee matchups. The Bengals have had 2 weeks to prepare, and I think that will help them a ton in this game. They will give a little in the ground game because Edgerrin James is fantastic, plus the Bengals are 24th against the run this season. On offense, I think Carson Palmer will find wrinkles in that defense and he'll make the most of them. This situation is very similar to that of the Chiefs vs. Bengals game a few years ago where the Bengals knocked off the unbeaten and became the talk of the NFL for weeks. I predicted that upset, and I will predict this one also. The extra week to prepare will help the Bengals force a few turnovers and set them up nicely on offense. The 72 Dolphins pathetically celebrate in the process.

Jets vs. Broncos
I feel bad for Herman Edwards, they have been absolutely destroyed by the injuries this season, and this week they face a team that has virtually no injuries whatsoever. This has become a rebuilding year for the Jets, and they are 0-5 on the road this season, playing in Denver where the Broncos have yet to lose a game this season. Like I said earlier in that Bills/Bolts game, it would be a minor miracle and a MAJOR upset if the Jets win, I'll go with the Broncos.

Texans vs. Chiefs
I really dont see the Texans winning many more games this year. The Chiefs had high hopes at the beginning of the year, but when the smoke clears after week 17, they will find themselves in front of only the Raiders in the AFC West. However in this game Larry Johnson will continue to roll and run downhill against the Texans rush defense which ranks dead last in the NFL. I dont really see Texans doing much on offense. If they do make it close, then they are going to have to throw the ball, and they are going to have to protect David Carr to do that, and we all know thats not happening.

Vikings vs. Packers
I'd go with the Vikings if this game were in Minnesota. However, since its in Lambeau, and the Vikings really cant win on the road, I'll go with the Pack. That pains me in some way because its a wasted victory. I want them to have a good pick in the draft next year, so that they can address one of their 12903859083593 43 problems. In this game, they will find a way to beat Minnesota who was lucky last week, scoring their only touchdowns on returns on punts, kickoffs and interceptions. The Vikings battled back and got a way with one the last time they played, and this week, the Pack is riding an emotional high after that upset over Atlanta. Their defense has really overachieved this season. Jim Bates has done a nice job with that unit. I think they'll feed off of last week's win and take care of business on Monday night.

Again thanks to NFL.com for their help with this post.

Updates

2005-11-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

Its been a few days since I last posted anything. So here are some random thoughts from the week. NONE of which have to do with T.O. because I am tired of hearing about that garbage.

Big 10 showdown. Ohio State and Michigan fight for a chance to play in a BCS bowl, and perhaps a big 10 Championship IF they can get some help from Michigan State.......BAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You're better off asking Jessica Simpson for help with an algebraic equation than you are asking Michigan State for help with a victory. What an embarassing program that is, I can only hope that this is John L. Smith's final game as head coach, BRING BUD FOSTER TO EAST LANSING!!!!!! Penn St. will absolutely destroy the Spartans.

"We Ready" by Archie Eversole is the most underrated rap song of all time. I dont think that there is a song out there that can get you more amped........I told you these were random thoughts.

Ahman Green is complaining about not getting a contract extension with the Packers. Sorry Ahman, had you stayed healthy at all these last 2 years that might be a possibility, but since you havent, you arent getting any kind of new deal with the Pack. In 2003 he was one of the best backs in the game with over 1800 yards rushing, but he clearly isnt the same player, and there is no way in hell he is getting a big new deal after having missed most of the last 2 seasons. The Packers are more likely to re-sign Najeh Davenport as long as he doesnt drop any frozen logs in anybody's closet in the Winter time up in Green Bay.

Minority Coaches.....this is old news but the BAC released a report card for university athletic programs earlier this month. Notre Dame somehow got a B after they prematurely fired Ty Willingham to try and get Urban Meyer (and failed miserably), this confuses the hell out of me. Bottom line here, there are no Universities saying....hey, we're not going to hire this person because he's black, asian, hispanic etc......the best person for the job will be hired. If the argument is being made that black coaches need to be given more of a chance, then lets take a look at the 3 black head coaches in 1-A football. Ty Willingham is 2-8 at Washington, Sly Croom is 2-7 (currently trailing a 3-6 Arkansas team 41-3) at Mississippi State and Karl Dorrell is 9-1 at UCLA. Thats a combined record of 13-16, not counting the outcome of the Mississippi State game. Of those in the past, one african american head coach that comes to mind is Bobby Williams at Michigan State who completely lost control of his team. I'm not saying that black coaches aren't deserving, I'm just saying they shouldn't be hired over more deserving candidates just because of the BAC's pressure. The best candidate will be hired, white, blue, orange, purple or red.

NFL Picks coming later today.

Baseball's Steroids Policy/Eddie Guerrerro

2005-11-15T15:53:00.000-08:00

First and Foremost, condolences to the friends and family of "Latino Heat" Eddie G. was a guy that was very well respected in the wrestling industry, but as my man Zach Baker said, he has become another name on a list that keeps growing, and it isnt as much of a surprise anymore. Apparently heart failure figured into the equation, which stemmed from his extremely long hours of work and his substance abuse. It should be noted that he celebrated his 4th year of sobriety a few weeks ago, it just goes to show the long term effects of these "substances" that he took. Its too bad, you cant help but feel bad for his family, he left behind a wife and 3 girls. Say what you want about Vince McMahon, but that guy put together one hell of a tribute show last night, and that was a very moving beginning to Monday Night Raw. Vinny Mac is a legend.

Baseball finally put through this 50-100-Life Steroid Policy which should all but eliminate this substance from the sport. I'm anxious to see what kind of results we'll get in terms of overall power numbers, and I'm anxious to see how these players look during spring training. Basically, you have to be an absolute moron to abuse this system. If you are caught once, you miss out on 30.8% of the season, which is enough for you to become an afterthought, unless of course you are a well established superstar.

I'm also very glad that this was passed because it could have a domino effect on the rest of sports. Kids these days must be aware of the danger of steroids. ESPN.com conducted a poll late last January that asked the question to fans in all sports, (it went something like this) would you take steroids, knowing the consequences, knowing they wouldnt guarantee you success, but at least give you a better chance at it? 51% of the people who were polled said no they wouldn't. To me that number is scary as hell. If we do not make it clear to the youth of America that Steroids can and more than likely will do a lot of harmful things to you, then these kids are going to take these chances. In turn, the more they roll the dice, the more we'll hear stories about kids dying of heart failure at age 18, or losing legs and other body parts before the prime of their lives.

One final note on this, can congress get involved again and institute a salary cap? Or better yet a spending minimum for MLB owners? If they can get Selig's pitch across the plate (no pun intended) on steroids, then there is no way that they can't get something done in regards to a salary cap. Hopefully they'll get started on that, so we can stop seeing the same teams (Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals, Braves, etc.) in the playoffs over and over and over. We see these teams in the playoffs as often as we see re-runs of Roseanne on Nick at Nite. Also, Screech had a better chance with Kelly than teams like the Tigers, D-Rays, Pirates, Brewers and Reds have of making it to the playoffs every year. Lets get that fixed.

NFL PICKS

2005-11-13T09:11:00.000-08:00

Since Everyone else gets in on the action, I'm going to put in my 2 cents on this week in the NFL.

Cards vs. Lions
Talk about 2 underachieving teams. There is a contraversy at QB for both teams, but it will be Warner and Harrington at the helm. At home I dont see how the Lions will have any problems against the Cardinals. No Bert Berry means the Cards are without their best pass rusher, and if Joey Harrington has time, he'll find Roy Williams, Charlie Rogers and Marcus Pollard enough to take down the Cardinals. Oh yeah, the Lions also have the 10th best total defense in the league.

Ravens vs. Jags
Still no Ed Reed, and still no Ray Lewis, makes it very tough for the Ravens to beat the Jags on the road. These games are huge for the Jaguars because they are right in the middle of the wild card hunt. No Fred Taylor? No problem, that guy is the most overhyped back of the last 5 years, he spends as much time on the DL as Brett Saberhagen and Ken Grumpy Junior. Leftwhich and company will do just enough on offense, and the return of Kyle Boller won't matter for the Ravens as the Jags make the B-more offense one dimensional, shutting down the running game.

Colts vs. Texans
The Colts are at an all time high after SHAVING the nasty back hair that was on their spines for the last few years at GILLETTE stadium. Get it?? That was a stretch. The Texans suck, Capers is gone after the year and they won't win more than three games. So they have to win at least 2 more then right? Right, but this will not be one of them. Colts roll.

Bills vs. Chiefs
I'm picking an upset here. The Bills can throw on the Chiefs defense, which is a little dinged up coming into this game. They will find a way to run on these guys and getting McGahee going will be very important. The Bills D is 2nd last against the run but they are the best against the pass. Without Holmes, the Chiefs won't have fresh legs to constantly sub in, therefore the Bills will do enough to neutralize the Chiefs on offense, and pull off the upset. The Bills still have a shot to win the AFC East. I still think they will win it.

Giants vs. Vikings
Plain and simple, the Vikings CANNOT win on the road. Hell, they are so bad on the road that they will probably lose to the pathetic Packers in Lambeau at the end of the year. The Giants are on a roll, and they are not going to lose this game. Their tremendous balance on offense will help them cruise to victory. Burress, Shockey and Toomer will abuse this secondary without Fred Smoot.

Pats vs. Dolphins
Big game for the Patriots, if they lose this, then we are looking at a potential 3 way tie at the top of the division (if the Bills come through on my upset). A pair of key components, Matt Light OL and Duane Starks CB are out as the injuries continue to mount for the defending champs. The Dolphins are not as good as their 3-5 record. Gus Frerotte, despite his early season success, still sucks and Pats D will rattle him just enough. The Patriots will rebound in this game and take a 2 game lead over the Dolphins in the division.

49ers vs. Bears
The 9'ers are 0-3 on the road this season, and they will be 0-4 after this game. As a Packer fan I hate to say it but, the Bears are actually a half decent team this year. Their defense is pretty damn good, and against a very young offense, they will have all kinds of success. The Bears have the 3rd best total defense in the league and the 49ers are the WORST in the league in terms of total offense. I will say this, Mike Nolan has these guys playing tough every week. They will be tough again in a couple of years.

Broncos vs. Raiders
Call me crazy but, I'm going with the Raiders. The Broncos are 1-2 on the road this season and the Raiders have been in every single game this season, but boy have they lost some tough games. The Broncos give up a lot of yards through the air (244.5) which ranks 29th in the league, and the Raiders dont run the ball very much, so expect them to torch that Bronco secondary and win this game.

Jets vs. Carolina
I'm beginning to think that the Panthers are going to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. This defense is playing much better, they are getting to the quarterback and they are making some big plays. Steve Smith's year has been nothing short of remarkable, and against the injury riddled Jets, they will have no problems at all. The Jets are 0-4 on the road, and they just dont have what it takes to get their first win away from home this week.

Falcons vs. Packers
This has been a painful season as a Packer fan, but I'll admit, I knew they were going to suck from the get go, so it isnt like I've been let down here, my hopes were never up. Every week someone else goes down on that team, and Brett Favre is now sitting out practices. Whether Vick can or cannot throw won't matter in this game, the Falcons will smash the ball down their throats with the running game, and Dunn might rush for 200 yards against this piss poor defense which has overachieved this year.

Seahawks vs. Rams
The Big 3, Isaac Bruce, Bulger and Holt all come back this week against the Seahawks, who have yet to really choke this season. Matt Hasslebeck is garbage, and he will do something stupid this week to lose this game for the Seahawks who are playing great football. The Rams are averaging about 6 yards per play, that is amazing, and they will find a way to win on the road this week.

Bucs vs. Redskins
I think its fair to say that both teams are in must win situations this week. I dont think either of these teams are going to win their division, and I dont think either of these teams can make it to the playoffs with a loss in a game of this caliber. The Bucs are more balanced on offense, and on defense they are 2nd against the run and the pass. The Redskins defense is outstanding, but I like Monte Kiffin's approach, and making the Redskins continue to air it out with Mark Brunell at the helm (who has been jeckyll and hyde this year) will force the skins into mistakes that they wont be able to overcome.

Steelers vs. Browns
The Steelers aren't as effective at home as they are on the road for some reason. That said, I'm not too confident in the Browns' ability to play on the road where they are 1-3 this year. Oh yeah, that and TRENT DILFER IS F'ING awful, that guy absolutely sucks and he has no business starting for anybody in this league. Its an absolute disgrace that he has a Super Bowl ring. Turning and handing to Jamaal Lewis may have worked for a year, but turning and handing to Reuben Droughns against the 4th best rushing defense in the league is not going to get it done on Sunday night. Steelers win.

Cowboys vs. Eagles
Drew Bledsoe has thrown no INT's in 3 Monday night football games, but he's thrown 4 INT's during his only other start in Philidelphia, where the Eagles are 4-0 this season. Maybe I'm the only believer outside the city of brotherly love, but I really think this Eagles team is closer after the loss of T.O., without him, they went to 3 straight NFC CHampionship games, and without him in the playoffs last year, they made it to the Super Bowl. I'd love to see Dallas win and create some separation between themselves and the Eagles, but I think the Eagles sense the urgency here and they roll to victory at home.

--THANKS TO NFL.COM for their help with this posting. Check out their extensive amount of information on all of these games at www.nfl.com.

On the Call Tonight

2005-11-11T08:42:00.000-08:00

Tonight I am on the call for a high school playoff game in West Virginia. A pair of AAA teams will lock horns in the first round. The two teams have met before, the #3 seed Woodrow Wilson Flying Eagles welcome in the #14 Seed Cabell Midland Knights. The 2 teams played before on September 23rd with Woodrow Wilson winning 32-14. Some key points in this game, Midland's star tailback Wade Midkiff is going to try to play despite a broken bone in his left leg, if he can't go, Christian Edwards has proven in the past that he can get it done, but Midkiff is clearly the man. Also, Woodrow Wilson's flash tailback Marcus Manns rushed for 334 yards last week and 5 touchdowns. I cant even get my Heisman tailback to rush for that much in NCAA 2006.

Woodrow Wilson runs the double wing, and they have perfected it. I mean they run this thing better than I've ever seen an offense run it, and it takes a certain amount of discipline from everyone to make this thing work. Last time they met, they ran it with the fullback Emeka Eneje up the middle during their first drive. After they established that, they faked to the fullback and pitched to one of the wings that they sent in motion during the "pre-snape phase". This team is fun to watch and they could be very dangerous in the playoffs.

Cabell Midland is a pretty young team but they do have some playmakers. I particularly enjoy watching Josh Turley, a senior linebacker and fullback who runs hard and makes plays on defense. They use several different formations on offense and if they have Wade Midkiff, then they will make things interesting. Midkiff mentioned earlier this morning that he wants to play, he can deal with the pain, and I cant imagine him missing a playoff game, in what could be his final game of his high school career.

Listen tonight on 930 AM WRVC in Huntington, WV. I will put up an NFL Preview posting sometime tomorrow, or later this afternoon, a long with a few other broadcasting posts.

T.O./EAGLES SAGA

2005-11-10T21:56:00.000-08:00

I think we need to DROP this subject. We've been talking about this for a few weeks now. We all know that T.O. is insubordinate, and he has proven to a pair of NFL teams that he is not a team player. When he is on the field, he is one of the top 3 receivers in the game today. (I dont care what anybody says, for my money, they dont get any better than Marvin Harrisson in that category. The guy blocks, runs great routes, he puts up great numbers every year, and he always keeps himself out of trouble. The third guy in this group is obviously Randy Moss. ) Back to T.O., I have a real problem with what he has done because he has thrown his teammates under the bus on more than one occasion. This is clearly not the guy you want on your squad, in a game that focuses on fellowship and chemistry more than any other major sport.

I do however feel a little bit of compassion for the guy. While listening to Colin Cowherd (for those of you who are still bitter that Kornheiser went off the air and this guy took his time slot, get over yourselves, and listen to this guy, he is hilarious, and he is OUTSTANDING) I learned that T.O. had a very rough up-bringing. As the story goes, T.O.'s mom was abused because his Grandma (who raised him) was an alcoholic. T.O.'s mom abaondoned him at a young age, and he met his father at age 12 when he became close friends with a girl across the street, who's father later told T.O. to stay away from her because she is his half sister. The odds are very good that this guy wore a wife beater with spaghetti stains on it just like every other dead beat Dad, that is if the story I heard was correct. Now if this is the case, then its a minor miracle that T.O. has turned out to be as successful as he's been. I cant imagine having to go through all of that as a young kid. And you thought Gary Coleman had it rough as a kid. As a kid, he basically had to 'wear it' every single day, now that he is grown up, he's tired of 'wearing it' and he's constantly on the lookout for good ol' number one, I cant really blame him for that.

The root of the problem goes back to his ridiculous demand for a new contract after he signed a new deal last year. If he had a year, or two years left on his deal, I would understand a little more, but one year into the deal is absolutely absurd. Whatever happened to living up to a contract? I understand he wants to get paid, but had he not played well during 2004, should the Eagles have gone back and re-negotiated with him and said, hey T.O., I know we signed a contract last year, but.....let's renegotiate. This problem stems from the hiring of Drew Rosenhaus, but Rosenhaus as an agent, is playing the role of Rino Riggins, Barry Horowitz and The Brooklyn Brawler (all of the non-wrestling fans are as lost as my man John Daly on the 15th Green without his heaters (aka cigs)), basically, Rosenhaus is jobbing, he's just doing the job, so I can't completely blame him either.

However, as I said at the beginning, its time to move on. Lets follow this mess when T.O. goes somewhere else at the end of the year. By the way, McNabb ending his press conference with "Next Question" was almost as great as \\//ADER's return to RAW last week. Thats all for tonight, I'm out.

INAUGURAL BLOG

2005-11-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, Bloggers of all Ages, the one and only Bull, proudly brings to you, the Inaugural Blog. This is the first post, and it will probably be the shortest. Plain and simple, I will discuss the world of sports, pro wrestling, and a few things in between, but mostly sports, because that is what I know most about. This will not be updated daily, especially between the months of April and September. For those of you who know me, you know that I don't have very much time at all during the baseball season, and because of that, I won't be able to do much posting during that time, but until then, I'll try to put something up at least once a day. I hope you all enjoy the Blog, and your participation is encouraged. Holla at it.