majesty95's Blog

Is What Happens In "Source Code" Possible?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Over the past couple of years, there have been several movies that have come out exploring the mind and quantum physics. Inception, Limitless and Source Code are the three that immediately come to mind. Many people just write these movies off as movie magic and fantasy and go about their way, but what if what we see in these movies is really possible?

Theory

Quantum physics is defined here as "a branch of science that deals with discrete, indivisible units of energy called quanta as described by the Quantum Theory." (You can also see a short video explaining it here.) The way I perceive it is that it is the science of explaining the unexplainable.

Now, what we see in these movies like Inception, Limitless and Source Code is a deep water dive into the possibilities of the brain. These ideas are formed and explained through Quantum Theory.

Inception provides us with the theory that time is an illusion and that it can be manipulated. Leonardo DiCaprio and his friends are able to splinter the time-space continuum and embed themselves in the mind of another individual while taking themselves into deeper levels of their brain.
Limitless explores the notion that human beings use only 20 percent of their brain (although the original concept thought we only used 10%). Through the use of a pill, Bradley Cooper was able to use all 100% of his brain power at one time and for an extended period of time to accomplish amazing things.
The third movie, Source Code, suggests we can tap into the brain and, again, fragment the time-space continuum. Jake Gyllenhaal's brain is used to go back in "time" to gain information about what caused an event in an effort to prevent another from taking place in the future.

So, the question is, are any of these things possible?

Analysis
Most traditional scientists would say no. However, those same scientists cannot explain much of what Quantum Theory tries to. There are simply things in this universe that we cannot explain and we may never be able to. With that being said, I think the most plausible would be Limitless.

Neurologists will tell you that the 10% (or 20%) theory is a myth and that humans use every part of their brain at one point or another. On the other hand, they will tell you that at a given time, we may only be using 10% of our brain (mostly because different activities use different parts of the brain). Limitless seems to suggest that we only use 20% of our brain at one time and that we could accomplish unbelievable things if we were able to get all of the parts of our brain working in unison.

I think this is possible, although at a great risk. I was glad to see the long-term effects the pill had on people after prolonged use. That made it more realistic to me as having that kind of brain power for that length of time has to have repercussions. On the other hand, I do think a pill that was able to manipulate the brain to fire all of its regions at the same time is possible. I just do not think it could last for very long and that it could have devastating effects, like brain damage or death.

Conclusion
What about the other two? Those are a little more tricky and I honestly do not know enough to make a definitive statement either way. Should Quantum Theory and the belief that time is just an illusion be true, then I guess they are plausible. However, there does not seem to be enough (and there may never be enough) evidence to suggest this is true. So, at this time, I would say they are unlikely. However, as we figure out more about our world and how it, and we, work—possibilities are limitless.

World of Mixed Martial Arts 3

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:53:00 +0000

This has become one of my favorite games over the past few years. I stumbled across WMMA2 a couple of years ago while wanting to play an MMA game and not having a console system. I was quite familiar with text-based games since I had been playing Out of the Park Baseball for several years. I thought incorporating that text-based approach into an MMA game would be interesting. So, I downloaded it. I've been hooked ever since.

WMMA 3 released last December and has received a ton of critical acclaim. While it took me a couple of months to decide to upgrade from WMMA2, I have not looked back since making that decision. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be Dana White or to run an MMA promotion, you have to check this game out.

WMMA3 expands vastly on a very enjoyable WMMA2 experience. There are innumerable options for creating mods (expansion databases that differ from the default data) which has led to some very good mods on the forums. There are even three or four real life MMA mods allowing you to play with the UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, etc.

The updated fight engine is pretty amazing too. While I still think fighters miraculously escape too many sub attempts, the play-by-play and flow to the fights gives you a sense of watching or listening to a real match. There have even been some Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen-type fights relived and recapped in the forums.

There has also been a tremendous amount of work done by the community to create renders (graphical representations) of new fighters and a re-working of some of the older ones. The default fighter database is now up to over 1,300 unique fighters with mods.

This game is certainly a must have for any hardcore MMA fan or text-based simmer. You will spend many-a-night getting lost in your virtual MMA dynasty.

If you would like to check it out and try a free trial of WMMA3, you can visit Greydog Software here.

For media reviews of WMMA3 you can follow the links below:

411mania

DiehardGamefan

WeDoGames

How Long Will Food Last?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 18:52:00 +0000

This has been a hot topic among me and my friends and family for quite some time. Everyone has differing opinions (or lack of knowledge) on how long food can be stored, either in a refrigerator or a freezer. I generally tend to err on the side of caution. However, I have heard of, and even seen, friends eat leftovers out of the fridge 1-2 weeks after they were cooked! (refer to the chart below to see how bad that is)

I decided to do some research and put together a chart that you can use for a reference. For those of you who are unaware, eating food that has been stored too long, or improperly, can cause severe illness and even death. Food borne illnesses like e. coli, salmonella and listeria can all develop in spoiled food. The food can also grow mold which can make you severely ill, and in some instances, cause death.

So, please refer to the chart below when storing your food to keep you and your family healthy and safe.

Most of the information in the chart below comes from the USDA Fact Sheets.

Type of Food	Refrigerated (40°)	Frozen (0°)
Leftovers	3-4 days	1-3 months
Fresh poultry (chicken and turkey)	1-2 days	9-12 months
Fresh beef, veal, lamb and pork	3-5 days	chops 4-6 months others 4-12 months
Hamburger and other ground meats	1-2 days	3-4 months
Bacon	7 days	1 month
Sausage	1-2 days	1-2 months
Lunch meat - opened or deli - unopened	3-5 days 2 weeks	1-2 months
Hot dogs - unopened - opened	2 weeks 1 week	1-2 months 1-2 months
Salads - egg, tuna, chicken, macaroni	3-5 days	Does not freeze well
Fruits - apples - oranges - melons, cut - melons, whole - lemons, limes, grapefruit - grapes - cherries, berries	1 month 2 weeks 3 days 1 week 1-2 weeks 3-5 days 3 days	Do not freeze
Vegetables	1-2 weeks	Blanch or partially cook to freeze
Cheese - soft (brie, feta, etc) - hard (cheddar, Romano, etc)	1 week 3-4 weeks	Do not freeze
Pasta sauce	5-7 days	Do not freeze
Mayonnaise	2 months	Do not freeze
Condiments (ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, etc)	Refer to expiration dates	Do not freeze
Pies	3-4 days	After baking, 1-2 months
Eggs - in shells - raw egg whites - raw egg yolks - hard cooked eggs - egg substitute, liquid - unopened - opened	3-5 weeks 2-4 days 2-4 days 1 week 10 days 3 days	Does not freeze well 12 months Does not freeze well Do not freeze 12 months Do not freeze

Rolling Papers Leaked

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 22:13:00 +0000

Wiz Khalifa's first album on a major label, Rolling Papers, is set to release next week. However, it has already been leaked, illegally, on several music sharing sites. Khalifa doesn't seem to be affected, however, as he tweeted "Roll one for leaks" on his Twitter account.

Khalifa is best known for his single "Black and Yellow", a tribute to the city of Pittsburgh, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in February following the Steelers run to the Super Bowl. "Roll Up", "On My Level" featuring Too $hort and "The Race" are the other featured singles on the album and currently available for download.

Bruce Pearl Fired By Tennessee

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:47:00 +0000

According to a report by Fox Sport's Jeff Goodman, Bruce Pearl has been fired as the head basketball coach at the University of Tennessee. The school is expected to make an official announcement as early as this afternoon.

The firing comes amidst an NCAA investigation in which Pearl is expected to receive heavy sanctions for recruiting violations. Pearl admitted to lying to investigators in September and has been coaching without a contract since then. Tennessee officials finally decided to part ways after the NCAA notified them of 10 major violations, including unethical conduct, during Pearl's tenure.

Pearl posted a 145-61record with the Volunteers including trips to the NCAA tournament in all six of his seasons as head coach. Tennessee made three Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite 8 appearance under Pearl. The Volunteers were eliminated in the first round of this year's tournament by Michigan 75-45.

Prior to his stint with Tennessee, Pearl coached at the Universitiy of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for four seasons, leading the Panthers to two NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 birth in 2005. Pearl began his head coaching career at Souther Indiana where he led the Screaming Eagles to an NCAA Division II championship in 1995.

Tennessee is expected to go before the NCAA Committe of Infractions in June. Goodman sited sources indicating Appalachian State head coach Houston Fancher would take over coaching duties on an interim basis until a permanent replacement was hired.

Freecycle Your Old Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to get rid of that old item in the garage but didn't think it was worth the time and research required to post it on eBay? Maybe you needed something for your home or kids but money was tight and everything you could find on Craigslist was too expensive? Well, there is an alternative for you. It is called Freecycle.

Freecycle is a non-profit organization designed to allow people to search for or offer items for free. That's right! Everything on the site is free! Additionally, there are no listing fees or final value fees and no negotiations over the price. Everything is completely free!

All you have to do to start freecycling is go to http://www.freecycle.org/ , find a user group (the site is divided into user groups, generally by city or geographical area) and sign-up by using your e-mail. Then you can search through your local group for things you may need or post things that you are looking to get rid of. It is really that easy!

Now, some of you may be thinking, what can I possibly get for free? Well, a quick look through the Fort Worth, TX user group found people giving away a couch, cats, a dog, a dishwasher and a hot tub! For those of you who think nobody would want your old stuff, people were searching for everything from a blender, to living room furniture, to children's clothes to moving boxes!

So, if there is something you need but cannot afford or something you no longer need but would like to get rid of, give Freecycle a try. Enjoy!

Freecycle

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The Dukan Diet: Innovation or Fad?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:18:00 +0000

Seemingly everyone wants to lose weight. Whether to improve their health, feel better or just look better in their clothes, more and more people are searching for that fool proof plan to get them to where they want to be. Due to this, more and more "experts" are coming out with "diet plans" and marketing to the millions of people desperately trying to shed pounds. The latest craze is the Dukan Diet.

The Dukan Diet is the creation of French doctor Pierre Dukan. The main concept is to eat protein rich foods that are low in fat. Along the way you add in daily servings of oat bran and avoid elevators (he encourages you to take the stairs whenever possible). There are four phases and each one is designed to optimize your body's ability to burn fat. The length of the diet is entirely based upon how much weight you want to lose. Upon reaching your desired weight you simply begin to re-introduce foods that you have cut out and then devise a plan to maintain your weight from there.

The Dukan Diet has been compared to the Atkins Diet by some in the media. While they do have some similarities, I think they are significantly different. The Atkins Diet encourages you to eat large amounts of protein and severely restrict carbohydrates. In that way they are similar. They are also each divided into four "phases". However, Atkins allows you to eat very large quantities of fatty proteins whereas Dukan suggests very lean meats. That is a significant difference and one that could have a serious effect on your cholesterol and blood pressure.

Lean meats are widely accepted as a "must" for dieters. Not only are you reducing your caloric intake by removing the calories from fat, but you are helping to reduce your cholesterol and lower your blood pressure as well. I think this distinction alone favors Dukan. Does that make the Dukan Diet a must have for dieters though?

While I have always championed weight loss through a healthy diet and exercise, I realize most people just want the easiest and fastest "plan" to get to their goal. In that regard, I think the Dukan Diet can help many people. The Dukan Diet is pretty straight forward, simple to understand and implement, focuses on a "healthful" weight loss and requires minimal exercise. If that sounds like what you are looking for, you may be able to benefit from the Dukan Diet. Otherwise, hit the gym and punish the fat away! Happy dieting!

If you want ot check out either diet mentioned above or another garnering alot of press, The Diet Solution, follow the links below.

Is Cable TV for Free Real?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:48:00 +0000

A few months ago, while doing door-to-door sales for a major satellite provider, I was introduced to the idea of getting cable/satellite TV for free. Prior to this date, I had always thought it was inevitable that one needed to pay $60-120 per month for an assortment of television and music channels. This usually came packaged with a two-year contract and the occasional loss of a channel due to negotiation breakdowns between the cable/satellite provider and the TV station. However, on this day I was introduced to an interesting character who changed the way I thought about my TV viewing.

The gentleman I came in contact with that day told me he had not paid for cable or satellite TV in over two years. He said that he used his computer to get every channel he wanted for free. Of course, I was skeptical at the time and thought he was either some delusional nitwit who had hit the bong a few times too many or a brilliant computer programmer who had entirely too much time on his hands. While either of those two scenarios, or a combination of each, is entirely possible for this individual, it turns out that neither is required to actually accomplish what he had claimed he was doing.

I stumbled across a website while surfing the web that claimed you could get up to 3,500 cable and satellite channels for free. There were no monthly fees to pay, no contracts or early termination fees and no technicians required to install the service. I immediately thought this must be some sort of scam. So I set out to prove my initial reaction true. Interestingly, what I found seemed to back what my door-to-door friend had claimed more than it proved what my mind tried to rationalize.

From what I have found through my research, you can actually get up to 3,500 cable/satellite channels for free. There are several sites online that provide software for unlocking these channels directly to your computer. Some are even compatible with PC and Mac. Also, as I've found through my girlfriend's connection of her Mac to her high definition television, you can get a very good picture and incredible sound quality with a cable or two that connect your computer to your TV. Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, I can't give you a product review or an endorsement for one of these products myself. It seems I was not diligent in my research before signing a two-year agreement with my current satellite provider. However, I can tell you that this is certainly possible and there seem to be more than one legitimate provider of the software capable of turning your computer into a cornucopia of TV channels. I think for those of you without a cable or satellite provider or near the end of your current contract, that this is a viable alternative, one that is certainly worth looking into. Hopefully, we can all eventually free ourselves from the $100 per month recurring cable/satellite bills and the constrainment of the associated two-year agreements. Happy television viewing!

For more information on the two leading TV for free software programs, click either of the links below.

Satelliet Direct

Online TV

Brandon Marshall Should Check His Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 04:46:00 +0000

I ran across this story today and thought to myself, "Really? Are you kidding me?"

Brandon Marshall is apparently one of those athletes that thinks because he has reached a certainly level of success in the NFL that anyone who has not achieved the same success has opinions which do not matter.

That is quite interesting considering the former receiver he is questioning dominates him statistically at the same point in their careers. However, that is not the funniest part.

Marshall said the guys on the NFL Network are not "coaches" and should just stick to what they do. Hmmm, I wonder if he would feel different had John Gruden or Tony Dungy criticized him? They were successful "coaches", right?

But wait. Gruden and Dungy were't "Hall of Fame guys" as players. So wouldn't that discredit their opinions in Marshall's eyes? What about Bill Bellichek, Andy Reid, Sean Payton or even his own coach, Tony Sporano? Not a "Hall of Fame guy" in the bunch, at least as players.

Isn't it funny how some of these "elite" athletes think that because of a certain gene pool and gifted work ethic that somehow they are smarter than everyone else who wasn't "blessed" with the same gifts? I wonder if Warren Buffet or Bill Gates decided to give him some "life" advice, would he would shrug it off because they cannot run a 4.4 40 and don't posses a 40" vertical?

Brandon may want to keep his mouth shut next time he wants to fire back at a critic. At the very least, he should check his facts. I don't think Mike and Mike still have the "Just Shut Up" award but if they did, Marshall would certainly win this week. So Brandon, my advice to you, with my 5.0 40 and 20" vertical is this...JUST SHUT UP!

2010 Fantasy Draft Preview: Quarterbacks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 21:34:00 +0000

2010 Fantasy Football Draft Preview

Quarterbacks

1. Phillip Rivers, SD (2010 Fantasy Projection: 396 pts)

Rivers posted 335 points last season against a schedule that featured seven Top 10 defenses. He gets one of the softest schedules in the league this year and it is particularly easy early in the season. San Diego does play a tough Cincinnati defense in Week 16, which would likely be your league's championship game, however Rivers is 18-0 in December games so I'll take my chances.

Average Draft Position: 37

2. Drew Brees, NO (2010 Fantasy Projection: 354 pts)

Brees was the second highest scoring QB last season with 370 points but only played four Top 10 defenses. He plays seven defenses in the Top 10 this season and a very tough Baltimore defense in Week 15. That drops his value a bit, especially with an avg. draft pos. of 10, but he's still one of the best fantasy QB's in the league.

Average Draft Position: 10

3. Peyton Manning, IND (2010 Fantasy Projection: 339 pts)

Manning has never thrown less than 26 touchdown passes and has thrown for over 4,000 yards 10 times. He's not as flashy as some of the other QB's but he is one of the more solid fanstasy choices at QB. The Colts' schedule is slightly tougher this season so Manning's number could dip a bit but getting WR Anthony Gonzalez back could also provide a boost.

Average Draft Position: 14

4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (2010 Fantasy Projection: 342 pts)

Rodgers was the highest scoring player in fantasy last year with a whopping 407 points. The schedule is considerably more difficult this season though and includes a four-game stretch in the middle of the season all against Top 10 defenses. Rodgers does have tough games against New England and the Giants in weeks 15 and 16 but is still a top fantasy QB.

Average draft position: 13

5. Tony Romo, DAL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 341 pts)

Dallas' schedule is virtually indentical in strength to last season's so Romo should benear the 344 points he put up last season. The addition of WR Dez Bryant could provide a boost to the numbers but WR Miles Austin could also see a drop off.

Average Draft Position: 32

6. Matt Cassel, KC (2010 Fantasy Projection: 321 pts)

Cassel is a big surprise here considering his pedestrian 229 points last season. However, Kansas City plays the easiest schedule of the Top 24 quarterbacks in contrast to one of the more difficult ones last season. They also face two of the worst defenses in the league (St. Louis and Tennessee) in weeks 15 and 16. Cassel is a huge sleeper pick in the middle rounds.

Average Draft Position: 125

7. Brett Favre, MIN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 329 pts)

This pick is, of course, contingent on whether Favre returns (which I think he will). Favre had his best season last year and posted a surprising 342 points at 40 years old. It is not logical to suspect he is capable of duplicating those amazing numbers at 41 years old against a slightly tougher schedule. Favre does have potentially tough games in weeks 15 and 16 (Chicago and Philadelphia) but the raw data suggests he will have a very similar season and be a solid value in the sixth or seventh round.

Average Draft Position: 71

8. Matt Schaub, HOU (2010 Fantasy Projection: 306 pts)

Schaub had the third best fantasy season among QB's last season with 360 points. The schedule gets considerably tougher this season, however, and Houston faces a solid Danver defense in week 16. Schaub will still be a solid fantasy QB but do not expect the same type of season as he had in 2009.

Average Draft Position: 37

9. Tom Brady, NE (2010 Fantasy Projection: 290 pts)

After posting the sixth best fantasy QB numbers last season, Brady was rewarded with one of the league's toughest defensive schedule this year. Tough games in weeks 13 (Jets) and 15 (Green Bay) and an aging receiving corps makes Brady a risky pick in the third round.

Average Draft Position: 34

10. Kyle Orton, DEN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 344 pts)

Another surprise appearance in the Top 10 is Orton. He is actually being drafted behind Tim Tebow (113 avg.) in many leagues. However, Orton posted the 13th best fantasy QB season last year and gets one of the easiest defensive schedules in the league. I do not think Tebow will start this season unless Orton gets injured so Orton becomes a very viable option as a No. 2 QB late in the draft.

Average Draft Position: 133

11. Carson Palmer, CIN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 289 pts)

A case could be made for selecting Palmer ahead of Orton with the addition of WR Terrell Owens. However, we do not know how that marriage will turn out. Palmer does get a slightly easier schedule this year and has decent match-ups in weeks 15 and 16 (Cleveland and San Diego). You should expect an increase over his 269 points of 2009 and he makes an attractive option as a No. 2 QB in the ninth or 10th round.

Average Draft Position: 109

12. Eli Manning, NYG (2010 Fantasy Projection: 296 pts)

The younger Manning posted a respectable 315 points against a pretty difficult schedule in 2009. Unfortunately, the schedule is even more difficult this year. Games against Philly and Green Bay in weeks 15 and 16 don't make things any better. Eli is a decent fantasy QB but is probably overvalued in the eighth or ninth round.

Average Draft Position: 90

13. Matt Ryan, ATL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 286 pts)

Matty Ice faced one of the toughest schedules in the league and posted a reasonable 243 fantasy points. This year Ryan gets a much easier schedule and poor defenses in Seattle and New Orleans in weeks 15 and 16. The bad news is that many fantasy players realize this as well and are drafting him in the seventh round or higher. He's a solid fantasy pick if you can get him in the eight or ninth round.

Average Draft Position: 83

14. Donovan McNabb, WSH (2010 Fantasy Projection: 282 pts)

McNabb posted decent fantasy numbers last season (293) in Philly. He gets a slightly tougher schedule and may be handing the ball off a lot more. The raw data suggests only a slight dip in numbers but he could be in the 250's. Still a good No. 2 QB, especially if you can get him in the 10th round or later.

Average Draft Position: 98

15. Joe Flacco, BAL (2010 Fantasy Projection: 257 pts)

The addition of WR Anquan Boldin has many thinking Flacco is due for a breakout season. However, Baltimore is a run-first team with a tremendous back in Ray Rice. Flacco gets a slightly tougher schedule so the data suggests his numbers dip slightly, but I think he will be right around 255 again.

Average Draft Position: 94

16. Jay Cutler, CHI (2010 Fantasy Projection: 271 pts)

Even with all of the interceptions, Cutler still had a decent fantasy point total (316) in 2009. He did that against one of the toughest schedules in the league. The bad news, the Bears' 2010 schedule is ever more difficult. Week 15 and 16 games against Minnesota and the Jets don't help, making Cutler a very poor fantasy option.

Average Draft Position: 65

17. Jason Campbell, OAK (2010 Fantasy Projection: 303 pts)

Campbell posted a respectable 289 points in Washington last season. He gets an easier schedule with Oakland but also has less talent around him. The data suggests 303 points but I would guess in the 270's.

Average Draft Position: 118

18. David Garrard, JAX (2010 Fantasy Projection: 265 pts)

Garrard tallied a respectable 291 fantasy points last season for a poor Jacksonville team. He doesn't have a great supporting cast and has been terribly inconsistent. Plus, he faced the easiest schedule in the league in 2009. Garrard isn't a great fantasy option, even later in the draft.

Average Draft Position: 122

19. Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (2010 Fantasy Projection: 241 pts)

Because of his injury history, Hasselbeck is a risky fantasy option. However, a new coach in Pete Carroll and a talented young receiving corps could make him a feasible No. 2 fantasy QB.

Average Draft Position: 124

20. Chad Henne, MIA (2010 Fantasy Projection: 223 pts)

Henne wasn't a great fantasy QB last season (254 points) and the Dolphins' schedule gets more difficult this season. The one positive is that he plays cupcakes Buffalo and Detroit in weeks 15 and 16 so he may be worth a look late in the season if your QB is hurt or resting the final few weeks.

Average Draft Position: 128

21. Alex Smith, SF (2010 Fantasy Projection: 195 pts)

Smith is not a reliable fantasy option and should be an absolute last resort. He does have decent match-ups in weeks 15 and 16 (San Diego and St. Louis) but should only be last resort.

Average Draft Position: 124

22. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (2010 Fantasy Projection: 151 pts)

Many people expect Sanchez to improve on the 200 fantasy points he posted in 2009. They point to the additions of LaDanian Tomlinson and Santonio Holmes and a full season with Braylon Edwards. What those people don't take into account is that Sanchez is going from one of the easiest schedule to one of the most difficult. I think he will be better than the data suggests (151 points) but I would be surprised if he gets to 200 again. Plus, he faces a really good Pittsburgh defense and a potentially tough Chicago defense in weeks 15 and 16.

Average Draft Position: 114

23. Matthew Stafford, DET (2010 Fantasy Projection: 155 pts)

Stafford posted one of the lowest fantasy totals among fantasy QB's last season (165). Unfortunately, the league rewarded him with the league's toughest defensive schedule. It is possible Stafford gets better but still posts poor fantasy numbers, considering the schedule. He does get breaks in weeks 15 and 16 (Tampa Bay and Miami) however.

Average Draft Position: 118

24. Vince Young, TEN (2010 Fantasy Projection: 140 pts)

People have been waiting for Young to break out since his rookie season. However, meantal and injury issues have hampered the former Texas star. He's much too inconsistent and is on a run oriented team making him a very poor fantasy option.

Average Draft Position: 128

2010 Fantasy Football Draft Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:13:00 +0000

The football season is upon us and it is time once again to begin preparing for our fantasy draft. This season I decided to take a more serious approach to my pay league after finishing a disappointing 7-7 last season (I did win my free league on Yahoo! with the same approach though).

This year I sat down and crunched numbers and fiddled with a spreadsheet to try and find a method of predicting performance for the season. This info I planned to use to develop my Top 24 for each position so that I can pre-rank my players and develop a draft strategy.

After several hours of trying out formulas and testing and substituting, I came up with a method I was satisfied with. I started out with the quarterbacks and will release my projections for each position (QB, RB, WR, TE and DEF) over the next several days. At the end, I will rank the Top 50 players by their projections.

Some things to keep in mind:

These projections are statistically based off of last season's performances and this season's opponents. They do not account for injury history or players added to or lost from that team or their opponents. I did this because I wanted a straight projection based on raw data. The effect of new players can be huge or minimal. Losing players at other positions or players added or subtracted to opponents can all affect the stats and performances. Nagging injuries, weather and personal issues can all affect these stats as well. These are impossible to predict. So I went with raw data and then used the subjective data to alter where I ranked the players overall.
Player rankings are primarily based off of the statistical projections. Some rankings are adjusted to account for a key player that has been added or subtracted but, for the most part, are based off of the statistical projection.
The data and formula used are not being released. What I will reveal is that the projections are statistically based off of the 2009 season, the opponents played and the opponents on the schedule for the 2010 season. Most analysis I see uses three year averages or weighted statistics or complicated statistical projections trying to factor in new players. However, not always is the quality of the opponent factored in. I feel this is key to figuring out past success or failure and predicting that in the future.
Rookies are not included in these projections or rankings. I have been cursed by the rookie bug before, most recently last season, and tried to grab the breakout player that would propel my team to victory. What I got was a bunch of inconsistent rookies that propelled my team into mediocrity. I firmly believe in the "sure thing". I believe taking the player, especially in the earlier rounds, that has the largest body of work for predicting future success, is the key to winning. Leave picking rookies to the other guys. They may hit on one but hopefully we will hit on many. Plus, you can usually find as many gems in the free agent pool during the season as you will in the draft. Use your pics on known commodities.
I have not had my fantasy draft this year. I am releasing this data knowing full well several of the players in my league will have access to it. Fortunately, there are many publications and websites offering projections and rankings. I fully expect most people to shrug off my projections and rankings. My hope, though, is that a few players, and myself, will use these rankings to experience great success in their league. After the season, I will go back and see how accurate my projections were and adjust as needed for the following season. I expect these to evolve and become one of the more accurate fantasy predictors around.
The projections and rankings are only a guide and cannot and will not guarantee a certain level of success in your league. There are many variables which can affect the success of a fantasy team. These can include strange happenings in the draft, like runs on players, injuries, demotions, firings, trades, and breakouts by unsuspecting players. I have read many times that the draft is only 70% of the success of a fantasy team. The other 30% accounts for free agent pickups and lineup substitutions. The idea here is to give you the best chance of maximizing that first 70%.

So, that is what's to come over the next several days. Soon I will be releasing the quarterback projections and rankings with my insight into each players draft value. For those of you that choose to use my projections and rankings, good luck this season and hopefully we can all sit back at the end of the season and pop a top, reveling in our fantasy league dominance.

A bettor's guide to UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:15:00 +0000

I haven't done a blog post in awhile but after a lengthy and somewhat heated discussion about UFC 116 with a friend last night, I thought it appropriate to return to blogging with a preview of what to expect for UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin.

The best course of action to predicting an outcome is to first remove the variables that are least likely to impact that outcome. In this instance that means removing the possibility of a decision. I can guarantee with 99.9995% probability that this fight ends without going to the judges. I see no way it even gets to the fifth round. If you can find someone to let you bet against a decision on this fight, take it. I don't care if you have to lay $1000 to win $100, it a LOCK.

So, now that we know this fight WON'T go to the judges, what ARE the likely outcomes? Well, let's determine the probable length of the fight first. We all know Shane Carwin has not been out of the first round and has finished all of his 12 opponents. Okay, first round stoppage seems highly likely. Brock has made it out of the first round in three of his five fights, one being a three round decision victory (over Heath Herring). Since only one of the 17 fights these two have been involved in has gone to the third round, I find it highly doubtful this fight would make it that far either. I'll go slightly over the straight math and say 7% chance. Okay, we have a 93% chance that this fight ends in the first two rounds. So, how's it going to happen?

Carwin has seven finishes by way of knockout or TKO but he has two submissions due to strikes. I find it very unlikely Lesnar would submit to strikes and, since those fights were in smaller promotions, I think it is likely those fights may have been stopped by better referees resulting in a TKO. So we'll go with nine KO/TKO's for Carwin. Lesnar has two TKO's in his five fights giving us 11 in 17 fights between these two. Straight math would give us a 65% chance of KO/TKO. However, both fighters like to punch. Carwin has admitted his passion is stand up and Brock is a great wrestler which he uses to set up a vicious ground-and-pound game. I also don't think Carwin or Lesnar want to win by submission unless in a precarious spot on the ground and a blatant opportunity presents itself. So, I will say 93% probable this fight ends in a KO or TKO.

Now we know this fight is likely to end in the first or second round by KO or TKO, so who wins?

The logical way to determine would be to compare records versus common opponents. However, Lesnar and Carwin only share Frank Mir as an opponent and each defeated him rather convincingly, so that's pretty much a wash. Okay, how about quality of competition? Well, Lesnar has definitely faced the tougher opponents with five-time champion Randy Couture on his resume as well as Mir and long time UFC/Pride veteran Heath Herring. Carwin has beaten Mir and former top contender Gabriel Gonzaga but that's about it. Lesnar definitely gets the edge in quality of competition. So, we'll see a Lesnar KO/TKO win in either the first or second round, right? Maybe not.

The unknown variable here is how Lesnar responds to his comeback from diverticulitis and subsequent weight loss as well as the "ring rust" from not having fought in just under a year. We just don't know how he has been affected by that. So, this is how I see this fight from a betting perspective...

Lesnar, with a slightly better pedigree from wrestling (NCAA Division I champion in 2000 compared to Carwin's 1999 Division II national championship), having faced a slightly tougher set of opponents and having been in the spotlight many times before (headlined UFC 100 vs. Mir and also wrestled in huge arenas for WWE), I think the true line should be Lesnar -150, Carwin +125. However, since Lesnar has not fought in a year and had the health issues and had to regain a lot of his size and strength, I think it should be adjusted down to -125/+110. Lesnar is likely still an elite athlete and had the better credentials coming in AND he's still the champion.

So, how do you bet? Well, many of the books out there have the line anywhere from -130 to -200 for Lesnar and +100 to +160 for Carwin. I don't think you will be able to find a book to give you better than -125 on Lesnar (although you might find a buddy to bet you heads up which is probably a good bet) so that makes betting on Carwin your only logical bet. With that being said, I think +110 is a push (as that is my "true" line) so only bet Carwin if you can get +115 or better. Sportsbook and Bodog have Carwin at +160 and +155 so I would say those are pretty safe bets. Remember though, you're not betting on Carwin because he's for sure going to win, you're betting on him because he gives you the best value and if he and Lesnar were to fight 100 times with these odds, you'd make money.

As for my personal, non scientific opinion of the fight? I think Carwin is going to win by KO/TKO. Lesnar's chin has not been tested and he has not fought in a year. I think its going to be an exciting fight and will be memorable but it could also be the most exciting 90 second fight we've ever seen. Unless Lesnar can get Carwin to the mat and keep him there (which I don't think he can consistently) he is going to have to stand and bang with Shane. I think Carwin holds the edge in striking and has slightly more KO power and that will lead to a stunning and spectacular finish in one of the biggest (figuratively and literally) fights in MMA history.

Five Improvements Needed for UFC Undisputed 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 21:48:00 +0000

With the recent announcement that UFC Undisputed would be returning with a new iteration in 2010, I thought I would share my thoughts on how UFC cannot only improve on the 2009 version, but best EA Sports MMA as well.

Expanded Rosters - It is rumored that EA Sports MMA will not only include Strikeforce and its fighters but also smaller promotions and their fighters as well. THQ will need to combat this by expanding the Undisputed roster. 2009 saw 16-17 fighters per weight class including the downloadable characters Efrain Escudero and Ryan Bader. Since UFC's website lists roughly 25 fighters in their heavyweight division to over 40 in some of the others, there is certainly room for expansion.

While we don't want to see the level of detail decrease, adding fighters like Lil Nog, Jones Jones, Matt Hamill, Luiz Cane, Carlos Condit, Paul Daley, Dan Hardy, and others is imperative. I would personally like to see a heavyweight roster of 20 fighters and the other weight classes with 25-30. This would not only give a lot more variety but would also deeply enrich the career mode.

Additionally, there needs to be a monthly roster update like Madden and the other sports games do. I told everyone when this game first released it was going to be the next Madden. Let's make sure it is by giving us updated ratings on fighters who may have won or lost that month and showed an improved skill set or deteriorating game. Also, when a fighter that is not in the game does something noteworthy to merit inclusion, put him in the next update. Madden did it when Favre returned, let's see it in Undisputed.

Enhanced Career Mode - For most hardcore gamers, career mode is where most of their time is spent. As such, the career mode should be the most in depth and detailed aspect of the game. While enjoyable to a point, 2009's career mode left a lot to be desired.

While I enjoyed the fight offers and moving up the ranks, the fighter progression and training was limited. I like the idea of having camps but expand it to include all of the fighters within that camp. Allow the ability to train twice per day, every day with the ability to grapple or spar with any fighter in that camp. However, keep the ability to bring in a sparring parter who mimics your opponents skill set if a fighter at that camp isn't comparable.

Each grappling or sparring session should slowly improve your skills in the areas most utilized during training. You should also be able to do things like cardio, weight training, circuit training and specific drills for building speed, power, balance and agility. You should also have to watch your fighters fatigue level and morale as to not overtrain.

Additionally, your fighter's appearance should potentially change as you train, kind of like your character did in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This could also impact your weight class. Say you are doing a lot of weight training and power training but are slacking on cardio. Your fighter may appear bigger but appear less defined like Lesnar. However, if you are a cardio machine but incorporate weights as well, you could be ripped like GSP. Gains in strength and muscle could lead you to a higher weight class such as GSP suggested could be in the cards for him due to the muscle he has added. Conversely, if you do a lot of sparring and cardio with little or no weight training you may see your fighter get slightly smaller and find that you are having difficulty maintaining your current weight and be a better fit at a lower weight class, a la Diego Sanchez.

Incorporating injuries, whether in training or in a fight, should be incorporated as well as the time off for them. The athletic commissions should hand out suspensions after fights and you should be at risk for broken noses, fractured orbital bones, broken hands, separated shoulders and joint injuries with mandatory time off from contact (which you could use to do cardio or weight train). Also, all of these should be possible in training as well. Obviously, we do not want to see our fighter constantly injured but if we occasionally have to miss a fight or adjust our training to compensate for an injury, it will just make it that much more realistic.

The expanded roster would give you a lot more variety as you progressed your fighter as well. Not only would you have more options for fights as you move up, you would have a broader base of styles to fight against once you reach elite or champion status. However, fighters need to age or it becomes redundant. If I am a middleweight fighter and have taken three years to get a title shot, I shouldn't still be fighting Anderson Silva or Dan Henderson (who probably shouldn't be in the game anyway). Having generic fighters that populate the lower levels (after a few years) as the real UFC fighters move up or retire and who eventually interpolate the Top 10 would add a great deal of replay value.

There also needs to be more of a focus on presentation. From Buffer announcing your actual name to to Rogan and Goldberg commenting on your winning or losing streak to your progression to your camp. There needs to be an out-of-cage experience too, be it UFC Magazine or UFC.com, Sherdog or MMA Live. Something that talks about the happenings in the UFC and eventually, as you progress and get noticed, you.

Alas, the most notable omission is The Ultimate Fighter. Whether by a "Superstar" type mode in addition to career mode or as a part of career mode, TUF needs to be included. Ideally, a full on six week "camp" with training and all of the tournament fights leading up to the Ultimate Finale need to be included. You should be able to select to either win your way into the UFC through TUF (which even if you don't win the tournament you could get a reprieve by winning in the TUF finale a la Kimbo) which would guarantee you a nine-fight, three-year (only first year guaranteed) contract. Or, you could elect to go the more "traditional" way with possibly a three-fight contract and just try to fight your way up through the ranks with lower pay and less exposure.

The drawback for selecting the TUF route would be if you don't win the show and lose your Ultimate Finale fight you would have to spend quite a bit of time training and fighting "regional" generic fights to rebuild your rep and possibly earn another shot in the UFC. However, if you start out in the UFC and lose two or three of your fights you could still earn your way back into the UFC through the next season of TUF. However, if you don't that win the show or your Ultimate Finale fight, your fighter retires. I cannot think of a better way to replicate what a real fighter has to go through and if you don't want your fighter to retire you can just just start a new career mode with your saved created fighter and try again.

Fight Mechanics - This is probably the biggest area in need of improvement. Simply, the knockout is too prevalent and the ground game is too redundant.

Almost everyone I know plays as a kickboxer/BJJ specialist because of the easy high kick knockouts and submission/escape ability on the ground. Obviously, high kicks can be deadly bot not every one that is unblocked connects cleanly or even reaches the head. Many are glancing blows or hit shoulder and some even make the kicker slip and fall to the mat. I don't think it is realistic to make head movement manual but, depending on fighter ratings, head movement and body lean should be incorporated to lessen the likelihood of clean strikes and subsequently knockouts, especially to elite fighters.

On the ground, it basically comes down to who can rotate the stick the fastest. I have played guys who, once they get to the ground, can almost immediately transition to mount and quickly ground-and-pound or submit you, with similarly skilled fighters. There needs to be a much larger focus on fighter skills and expanded movements and animations on the ground. Fatigue (and stamina) should play a larger role as well, especially later in fights. It is much too easy for these players to sub similarly skilled fighters in the third round when, in reality, there would likely be little progress made by the two resulting in a standup. This could be combated by slower animations leaving more time to react and, in effect, stall so the fight gets back to the feet.

Improved Scoring - The scoring system is simply atrocious. It is predicated off of who has more stamina at the end of the round instead of who did more during that round. If I leave it all out on the table in the third round with several takedowns, sub attempts and ground-and-pound while my opponent employed a more defensive, lay-and-pray strategy, I shouldn't lose the round because I exerted more energy.

I think a hidden point system where takedowns, strikes, sub attempts, transitions and reversals are weighted and applied to award a round would be better fit. Of course, there should be some variety based on the judge so each category would be weighted differently for each judge. This would give variety in winning rounds and sometimes fights but would eliminate the loss by the fighter who clearly dominated the fight but lost a unanimous decision because he was more fatigued after every round.

Fighter Customization - There are a ton of ways to create the facial look of a fighter but it is a painstaking process. Once you spend that inordinate amount of time on his face, you are left with relatively few options pertaining to the rest of his body. Being able to scan a picture and upload it as the face of your fighter is the best option. After that, if you want more of a generic fighter, there would be numerous default faces (that can be used on the fictitious characters in career mode) that you can choose and then alter as you like.

There needs to be more options as far as body types, tattoos and accessories go as well. If you want a Big Country belly or your fighter to look like "fat" Mir, you should be able to. Also, you should be able to create your fighter with a well built, muscular upper body and smallish legs or powerful, thick legs and a more average upper body if you so desire.

Tattoos are a huge area of opportunity as well. There are literally thousands of tattoos in the UFC and most of them should be available to add to your fighter. Not every tattoo is unique like Lesnar's sword or Thiago's sleeve so those more generic tattoos should be available. However, if you want Thiago's sleeve or Lesnar's sword on your shoulder or leg or neck, why shouldn't you be able to?

An increase in actual companies (i.e. sponsors) would not only bring in revenue for THQ but add to the realism of fighter creation. If I did "want to be a fighter" I may want to train in Jaco shorts, fight in Bad Boy shorts and walkout in an Affliction or Silver Star shirt. I should be able to do that in game as well.

Additionally, I should be able to create the banner behind my fighter at introduction. If I want to give props to my camp, my sponsors, God, my parents, whoever, I should be able to. That could also play into your sponsorships and income.

Basically, THQ needs to borrow from EA's slogan of "Its in the game". The UFC is the largest promotion, with the best fighters, the largest sponsor base and most recognizable personalities. When we sit down to play, we should feel like we're our favorite fighter and are experiencing what they do in there everyday lives from an MMA level.

Your 12 Point Plan for Personal Success

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:51:00 +0000

By Stephan Iscoe

No one becomes successful by accident. Success requires making a plan and sticking to it. It is simple, but does require commitment; it is not hard to do, but does require hard work. The good news is that once you begin, the results start coming almost instantly. The miracle of successful living is that the smallest step towards success attracts more success! Here is a very brief outline of the key points that will help you achieve the highest levels of success.

1. Look into the nearest mirror - the person staring back at you is the only person responsible for your success. Smile! No one else is the cause of your success or to blame for your short comings. Successful people take full responsibility for their actions.

2. Smile back at your reflection. Successful people are cheerful, optimistic, and forward thinking. If you think you don't have anything to smile about, smile anyway. Positive thoughts drive out negative thoughts. It's hard to have a negative thought while you are smiling!

3. Positive self-esteem is the foundation for success. Feel good about yourself and your abilities, achievements and potential. Don't dwell on your mistakes. Remind and praise yourself on your past accomplishments. Congratulate yourself for taking positive steps toward a more successful future.

4. Believe in yourself. You are here for a purpose. God doesn't make extras just to fill in the scenery. Find your mission and begin working to fulfill it.

5. Desire to be a success. Decide right now that you will be successful. Commit to being successful.

6. Associate with successful people. Do what they do. When faced with choices, make the choice a successful person would make. Blow your bonus check on a gambling trip or invest it?

7. Avoid unsuccessful people. Do not under any circumstances associate with negative people. Negative people are toxic; they destroy, they do not build. They are vampires that can live only by draining the life from others. The odds are greater that they will pull you down faster than you can lift them up. You can choose to stay away from all the negative people in your life. Avoid all the whiners, complainers, blamers and thumbsuckers.

8. Do what you are best at and what you get the most satisfaction from. There is no reason to stay stuck doing things that are frustrating, boring, unhealthy, unproductive, demeaning or unfulfilling.

9. Write down a vision of how you want to live your life. Be specific. Where you want to live, what kind of carpet, who your friends are, the pony's name, what the new church rec hall you donated looks like, etc. Make a Future Scrapbook; paste in pictures, drawings, essays, clippings. Make up news headlines about your achievements. Every day visualize yourself as you would like to be - and then act that way!

10. Write down your biggest goal, the one you most want to fulfill. Write it in the present tense, "I am...", "I have...", "I contribute...". Success is the result of a personal decision, so start your goal with "I". Read your goal aloud every morning and night. Tell people your goal. Make a plan to achieve your goal and stick to it.

11. Study the science of success. Read books, listen to tapes, watch videos and positive TV programming. Talk to successful people and ask them how they became successful. Fill your mind with positive thoughts and give yourself positive self- affirmations.

12. Every day do something that brings you closer to your goal. Never give up. You can only fail if you quit trying. Keep on keeping on and you will succeed. Achieving success requires following a system. Begin today by putting these 12 points into daily practice.

Everybody experiences fear of failure, uncertainty, insecurity, low self-esteem, indecision, depression, nervousness and embarrassment. Successful people master these temporary conditions by taking positive action, by sticking to their plan, by maintaining their vision of the future, by learning from setbacks and by redicating themselves to the pursuit of their mission. By following these simple steps you will become successful and achieve all that you desire.

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Copyright S. Iscoe, 1998. Please feel free to copy and distribute this article, but only in its entirety, including this notice and the following credit lines.

Stephan Iscoe is a successful consultant and trainer in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stephan welcomes your feedback at 888-842-5651. Visit http://LinktoSuccess.com

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majesty95's 2009 NFL Mock Draft

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 01:17:00 +0000

1. Detriot - Matthew Stafford, Georgia - It appears the Lions and Stafford are close to a deal. Stafford may not be the best player in the draft but that hasn't stopped them before. He's the sexy pick and he'll go #1.

2. St. Louis - Jason Smith, Baylor - The Rams need to find a tackle to replace Orlando Pace who's now a Bear. Smith or Eugene Monroe could go here. Andre Smith's draft stock has slipped since leaving the combine early but he could still be a possibility.

3. Kansas City - Tyson Jackson, LSU - Scott Pioli likes big, athletic linemen and Jackson fits the mold. Aaron Curry is the concensus pick here but he could slide out of the top 10 if Seattle dosen't take him.

TRADE ALERT-Look for DEN, NYJ or WSH to move up here and select Mark Sanchez.

4. Seattle - Aaron Curry, Wake Forest - Curry is the top player on many draft boards but he dosen't have the upside of many of the others. The Seahawks desperately need an outside linebacker so this should be the pick. Mark Sanchez is a possibility here also either for Seattle or through a trade.

5. Cleveland - Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech - I think the talk about the Browns being disinterested in Crabtree after his visit was just a smokescreen. I think they take the ultra talented receiver here and deal Braylon Edwards to the Giants. Its also possible they trade ahead of Seattle and take Sanchez and deal Brady Quinn to Denver or the Jets but I don't see how that's a huge upgrade for them.

6. Cincinnati - Andre Smith, Alabama - The Bungals (not a typo) love players with issues so Smith makes sense here. They also desperately need a lineman to protect Carson Palmer. Jason Smith or Eugene Monroe could go here also.

7. Oakland - Jeremy Maclin, Missouri - There is talk of the Raiders taking Darius Heyward-Bey here because of his size and his 4.29 40 but that would be a reach. Maclin is the explosive receiver Al Davis likes and they'll take him here unless they trade down.

8. Jacksonville - Eugene Monroe, Virginia - The Jaguars are thin on the O-line and could use a big tackle, especially with Khalif Barnes being a free agent next season. If Maclin is available he could go here also.

9. Green Bay - B.J. Raji, Boston College - I think the Packers will be happy to find Brian Orakpo still available here at #9 and will use most of the clock debating who to pick. In the end the safer Raji will win out over the more needed Orakpo. Michael Oher could sneak in here but I don't think it is likely.

10. San Francisco - Mark Sanchez, USC - Sanchez is likely gone by now but if not the Niners scoop him up and move on from the Alex Smith era. However, I don't see the Niners staying in this slot. They either move up to grab Sanchez or Curry or move down and grab Vontae Davis or Clay Matthews.

11. Buffalo - Brian Orakpo, Texas - The Bills should be giddy to see the versatile Orakpo still available here and quickly snatch him up. However, they could throw us a curveball and opt for Oher or even make a reach for Brandon Pettigrew but they might be able to get him at 28.

12. Denver - Michael Oher, Mississippi - I think it is highly unlikely Denver stays in this slot. I think they trade up, most likely for Sanchez (then Curry or Jackson), or trade down. Whoever winds up in this slot likely does so to take Oher ahead of Washington.

TRADE ALERT-Look for someone to move into this spot either to take Oher or Josh Freeman. DET or MIN are the most likely suitors for Oher and NYJ or TB for Freeman.

13. Washington - Aaron Maybin, Penn State - It is possible Washington could move up to get one of the top three tackles or Sanchez. If not they'll likely settle for Maybin. He's not the run stuffing DE they're looking for but he has good upside as a pass rusher.

14. New Orleans - Chris Wells, Ohio State - Beanie has moved up the draft boards since the combine and the Saints need a replacement for Deuce McAllister. Brian Cushing could go here but Wells is a better fit.

15. Houston - Brian Cushing, USC - The Texans need an outside linebacker to team with Demeco Ryans and Cushing fits the bill. Malcolm Jenkins is a possibility but dosen't quite fit what the Texans need.

TRADE ALERT-If someone has not taken Freeman yet there is very likely to be action here. Tampa Bay is apparently interested as are the Jets who pick two spots from now.

16. San Diego - Robert Ayers, Tennessee - Many analysts believe the Chargers will take a running back with this pick. It is quite possible they use it to select Knowshon Moreno. However, I believe the Chargers will feel they can't spend a first round pick on a third string running back and take Ayers to strengthen their linebacking unit.

17. New York Jets - Josh Freeman, Kansas State - I really think Freeman will be gone by now, likely to Tampa Bay, but if not the Jets will grab him. Rey Maualuga and Eben Britton are possibilities here if Freeman is gone.

18. Denver - Peria Jerry, Mississippi - Jerry would fit the Broncos defense nicely. Maualuga is a possibility here as well.

19. Tampa Bay - Rey Maualuga, USC - I think it is highly unlikely Tampa Bay is still in this slot. They desperately need a franchise QB and Raheem Morris coached at Kansas St. in 2006 so Josh Freeman seems the logical choice. Maualuga is a great value here so whoever winds up with this pick likely takes him with it.

20. Detroit - Eben Britton, Arizona - The Lions could trade up to take Oher but most likely they will stay put and take the Wildcats tackle. It is possible they could take Clay Matthews here also.

21. Philadelphia - Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State - The Eagles could look at Moreno or Pettigrew but I think corner/safety is of greater concern. Moreno and Pettigrew may be stars and the better value picks but Jankins is more versatile and fills bigger needs. The Eagles are smart so they could go either way but I'm leaning towards Jenkins.

22. Minnesota - Vontae Davis, Illinois - Most experts predict the Vikings will pick another wide receiver. After missing with Troy Williamson and still waiting on Sidney Rice I doubt it. Plus they have Bernard Berrian. They need a corner to eventually take over for Antoine Winfield and Davis is the best one available. Pettigrew is a possibility here also.

23. New England - Clay Matthews, USC - The Patriots need an inside linebacker and Matthews could be the best available. There is definately alot of value drafting him here. There's talk of them moving up to take Jackson but that's unlikely. The other option I could see here is New England moving out of the first round.

24. Atlanta - Everette Brown, Florida State - The Falcons trade for Tony Gonzalez solidifies their offense and allows them to focus solely on the defense in the draft. Having Brown slide to #24 would be like Christmas coming twice for GM Thomas Dimitroff. If Brown dosen't make it this far Larry English would likely be the pick.

25. Miami - Clint Sintim, Virginia - It is a toss up between Sintim and English but I give the nod to Sintim. Parcells would likely take the four year starter at a BCS school over the four year starter at a MAC school although not much seperates them.

26. Baltimore - Darius Heyward-Bey, Maryland - I think the Ravens will be happy that the Raiders didn't gamble with the #7 pick and will gladly take the Terps wide receiver. Jarron Gilbert is a possibility here as well.

27. Indianapolis - Evander Hood, Missouri - The Colts always seems to have a need when it comes to stopping the run so Hood could help plug some of the gap in the middle although he is more of a pass rusher. However, that could free up Mathis and Freeney more. The Colts could always look to replace Marvin Harrison here as well by taking Percy Harvin or maybe Brian Robiskie.

28. Buffalo - Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State - If all goes as planned, Buffalo gets their man here while also helping the team with the #11 pick. If Pettigrew is not still on the board here, which is possible, Eric Wood is a likely selection.

29. New York Giants - Brian Robiskie, Ohio State - Assuming the Giants don't deal for Braylon Edwards and Robiskie is still on the board the Giants will gladly take the sure handed Buckeye. Kenny Britt could be a possibility but I'm not sure they are sold on him. Michael Johnson is a big, athletic defensive player like Coughlin likes so he's a possibility as well.

30. Tennessee - Alex Mack, California - The Titans need a center and Mack is the best one in the draft. Max Unger might be a bit of a reach but he has some versatility. Sen'Derrick Marks could be a possibility.

31. Arizona - Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech - The versatile defensive player fits the Ken Whisenhunt mold of big and athletic. Johnson's size and speed would be a big asset to the Cardinal's D. Jarron Gilbert and Ron Brace are also possibilities.

32. Pittsburgh - Max Unger, Oregon - Can play guard and center so will fit well while Mike Tomlin rebuilds the line. Wiliam Beatty and Eric Wood are also possibilities.

Goodbye Chuck Liddell

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:04:00 +0000

I hate to say it but it is time to say goodbye to the UFC's Chuck Liddell. Having lost four of his last five fights, Liddell is clearly past his prime and nowhere near being a contender again in the light heavyweight division. UFC President Dana White as much as said Liddell was done if he lost.

Liddell, nicknamed the Iceman, was one of the greatest champions in UFC history and a big part of making MMA what it is today. His legenday wins over Tito Ortiz, Randy Couture and Renato "Babalu" Sobral will long remain in the minds of MMA fans. Unfortunately, so will the knockout losses to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Rashad Evans and Mauricio "Shogun" Rua.

Thank you for everything you have done for MMA Chuck. Thank you for being a great champion and a positive influence in the sport. Your trademark mohawk and thundering right will never be forgotten and you will be sorely missed inside the octagon. We look forward to seeing your induction into the UFC Hall of Fame.

Should the Vikings fire Brad Childress?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:23:00 +0000

One word: YES!

The Vikings are one of the most boring and inept teams in the league right now. They are stale and lack creativity on offense, they have horrible special teams and there is no hurry or hustle when the game is on the line. All of those point directly at one person, the head coach.

Childress was brought in to fix a beleaguered offense that ranked 25th in total yards and 19th in scoring in 2005. They got worse the next year finishing 21st and 26th, respectively. The addition of Adrian Peterson, a gift falling to the Vikings at #7 in the 2007 draft, bumped the production up to 13th and 15th, but the Vikings finished 28th in passing yards.

This season the Vikings are 18th in total yards per game and 22nd in points per game, that's with the NFL's third leading rusher in Peterson. Surprisingly, the Vikings are 20th in pass yards per game. That's primarily because Gus Frerotte has accounted for 73% of those passing yards in his three games as starter. Unfortunately, Frerotte's 74.2 QB rating is 23rd among NFL quarterbacks. Is this really what the Vikings expected when giving Childress a five-year contract in 2006? How about when they gave Bernard Berrian, who coincidentally has 17 receptions in five games, a six-year, $43.4 million deal in the offseason?

At what point does Vikings owner Zygi Wilf realize Childress is a snake oil salesman and cut his losses?

In addition to the offense underperforming, the defense, supposedly the team's strength, only ranks 15th in the league in total yards allowed and points allowed. That has a lot to do with the Vikings only having four defensive interceptions (tied for 16th in the NFL) and eight sacks (tied for 22nd). On top of that, the Vikings are the 9th most penalized team in the league (257 yards), have the league's fifth worst kick return coverage (25.8 yards per return) and the league's worst punt return coverage (an astonishing 20.5 yards per return).

Players have also openly criticized Childress and his coaching style during his tenure in Minnesota. Brad Johnson, Jermaine Wiggins and Travis Taylor all asked for and received their release due to the unhappiness with their roles on the team. Wiggins, for one, was a huge upgrade over the Vikings current tight end Vicente Shiancoe. Marcus Robinson, the team's leading receiver in 2006, claimed there was a "total lack of communication" with Childress and the players and was subsequently released. The Vikings finished 6-10 that year after having won nine games the previous year.

The overall talent has improved significantly since Childress took over, however the results have not. Childress continues to underutilize Peterson, lacks creativity and imagination on play calling and has one of the most undisciplined, lacksidasical teams in the NFL. Its time for a change in Minnesota and that change needs to start with the head coach.

What does Dan Wetzel have against Kimbo?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:02:00 +0000

Who is this Dan Wetzel guy on Yahoo! claiming Kimbo Slice is a "farce" and saying Kimbo made his name beating up "bums" in boat yards and back alleys? I have one question for you Dan, how many guys have you beat up? Better yet, how many hours have you spent training in mixed martial arts? My guess, me and my three sessions of Karate training could knock you out.

It is obvious Wetzel has something against Kimbo and possibly the Elite XC. He was knocking Kimbo and the league days before the fight, proclaiming the Elite XC would crumble if Kimbo lost. He asked why Kimbo got all the notoriety, not Fedor Emelianenko. Why Kimbo gets the money and the headlines not Fedor. Maybe he's got a man crush on Fedor, who knows?

I'll start by addressing the Fedor situation. Fedor has been fighting in Japan. Nobody here knows who the hell he is. You bring up his name to most marginal MMA fans and they confuse him with heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko. Had he not insisted he be able to fight in Russia, Fedor could have been proving himself in the UFC, getting paid and gaining the notoriety. Fedor allowed his potential contract with the UFC to crumble. Fedor is the reason he isn't more famous, not Kimbo, not Elite XC.

As for Kimbo beating up "bums" on YouTube and being a “farce”? When did 6-5 300lb guys become bums? How many have you taken down Dan? Come on! Kimbo murdered nearly everyone he faced. Yes, he lost to Sean Gannon, a "bum" by UFC standards, but a guy I don't want to throw down with. Gannon lost to Brandon Lee Hinkle at UFC 55. Hinkle lost his next two UFC fights and was booted from the league. He then lost his next fight in the fledgling GFC. Gannon's still a tough guy. He's just not a great mixed martial artist. Neither is Kimbo.

Yeah, Kimbo lost to a UFC washout in Seth Petruzelli. However, Petruzelli has a 10-4 MMA record and won a decision over former UFC champion Dan Severyn. Severyn, coincidentally, had lost to Kimbo's last opponent, James Thompson, as well. Does that make Severyn a "bum"? There are plenty of UFC fans who would square off with you for even hinting at that.

The fact is, Kimbo isn't now who he was when he became a legend. The 260lb brawler is now a 235lb MMA newbie. Just because you can throw a football 75 yards does not mean you can quarterback the Patriots. Just because you can knockout 300lb bruisers in Miami does not mean you can dominate even small MMA leagues. Is that Kimbo's fault? Would you turn down the opportunity to make six figures plus endorsements and get regular exposure on television? Blame the Elite XC. Blame CBS. Blame Bas Rutten, the fans, the media, the growth on your testicles (assuming you have testicles), but don't blame Kimbo.

Kimbo's capitalizing on our capitalist economy (weird how those two words coincide). He's making the most out of the opportunities presented to him. He should be commended! How many people in this country sit back and wait for fortune and blame the world for their poverty? How many people seize the day and make the most out of their life? You can call Kimbo a lot of things. A hustler? Sure. An opportunist? Absolutely. A fraud? Hell no. I call him damn smart. I just hope my unique talents can garner me the payday at some point that Kimbo's have given him.