Sports Fan Unleashed

2010 All Star Let-Down - Can the NBA fix this?

2010-02-13T21:21:00.000-08:00

Each year there is a growing notion that the NBA All-Star weekend is all about the money and all about flash over substance. How else can you explain some of the useless babble that is added in to the scheduled events? But usually there are some great moments and genuine electricity sparked from the event that seems to justify the pomp and vanity. Dwight Howard coming out of the phone booth, Nate Robinson in Kryptonite green, Tracy McGrady throwing an alley-oop to himself off the backboard.

So far no such luck with the 2010 All-Star Weekend. Let's start with the 2nd year of HORSE. HORSE, really? How did this make it to a 2nd year? They wasted an hour of TV time and still had to shoot it out the old fashioned way due to time constraints. Kevin Durant won mainly because he can shoot the lights out, not because he could do any real tricks. Rajon Rondo gave him a run for his money but just couldn't pull it out in the end. And poor Omri Caspi. He didn't make many shots at all. And the shots he did make were the ones he came up with...for example, banking a free throw (sounds really hard doesn't it).

Next came the Shooting Stars competition. This year's representatives were the LA team, Sacramento team, Texas team and the Atlanta team. I won't bore you with the play by play on this but the two finalists were the Texas team and the LA team. The LA team posted a very respectful time of 55.2sec...but the Texas team, on the back of a half-court shot by Kenny Smith, posted a relatively amazing time of 34.3sec. Relatively in the sense that in the grand scheme of things, the Shooting Stars competition is not a main draw. Its a nice little event but no one would miss it if it was gone.

Next came the Skills challenge. Russel Westbrook was out early. Brandon Jennings was flying around the court but came up just short. The finalists were Steve Nash, last year's winner, and Deron Williams. If you were watching the competition without looking at the clock you would swear that Deron Williams was in the lead. Nash just doesn't look as fast in real time, and his overall time was about 5 seconds slower than last year, but he won convincingly, mainly because of his passing accuracy.

Then the 3 point competition. To be honest, this wasn't too bad, and in retrospect was probably the best competition of the night. Don't get me wrong, no one was shooting the lights out. But rookie, and former Davidson stand out, Stephon Curry led everyone after one round and looked like the favorite to win. In the second round it looked like either the pressure got to him or he was tired, or maybe he simply was not stroking well but in any event, Paul Pierce beat him with a score of 20 to Curry's 17.

And finally, the crown jewel of the All-Star weekend, the dunk contest. Here were your contestants: DeMar Derozan, Shannon Brown, Gerald Wallace and Nate Robinson. It didn't seem like anyone wanted to win the first round. Shannon Brown missed what looked like what was intended to be a 360 Statue of Liberty dunk and then settled for an ordinary dunk where he switched hands in the air...and took off from the opposite baseline...still not sure why he needed so much space for that kind of dunk. Gerald Wallace posted a couple of ordinary looking reverse dunks. Nate Robinson posted some solid dunks (one self pass Windmill and one alley-oop reverse) Nothing to write home about, believe me. The best dunk of the first round by far belonged to DeMar Derozan who had a teammate throw an alley-oop off the side of the backboard and then ended in a Windmill.

The final round was boring and non-descript. Derozan and Robinson were the finalists. Derozan had an alley-oop dunk over a teammate (sounds cool but he actually used his hands to push off the guys shoulder) and running double-clutch dunk. Nate followed with self bounce pass dunk and a self pass off the backboard reverse slam. To watch this contest was to realize that there is an apathy among the league's best dunkers and David Stern needs to fix this somehow. DeMar Derozan had the best dunk of the night, but Nate Robinson had the best overall performance. Who won? Nate Robinson barely pulled off the 3 peat with fan voting in his favor 51%.

Overall this has been a pretty lame All-Star weekend. We'll see what happens tomorrow night with the All-Star game. If the NBA insists on keeping this Friday, Saturday, Sunday schedule then Mr. Stern needs to make sure that its crown jewel is worth the anticipation. Without the dunk contest the whole weekend seems pointless. And so far this weekend has seemed pointless.

Do the Chargers Look at Brees with a Jealous Eye?

2010-02-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

What do you think the Chargers are thinking right now? They let Drew Brees go because his shoulder was bothering him a little and they had a young stud in the wings. But they consistenly get bounced out of the playoffs after having a seemingly powerhouse team every year.

Meanwhile, Drew Brees racks up yardage, points, accolades and more importantly - wins. This guy is a winner plain and simple. And now hes' got a Superbowl and an MVP to go along with it. Above all of that he's a class act.

Phillip Rivers will have a great career, but the Chargers have still got to look over their shoulder every once in awhile and wonder - what if?

The Gutsiest Calls Get the Glory

2010-02-08T17:36:00.000-08:00

Another Superbowl in the books and it turned out to be a pretty good game. When Peyton Manning lofted that pretty ball into the air over the defenders head for their first touchdown making the score 10-0, it really looked like the game was over already. It looked like the Colts were going to nurse the lead going into the half and then do what they've always done this season, explode in the second half.

But in the second quarter Drew Brees and company started to get their stride again. Even though they only scored 2 FG's, you could tell they were starting to click again. Then we had a very old, traditional, non-controversial half time show (where is Janet and some wardrobe malfunctions when you need them?) and on came a second half that was awesome.

First of all, to me the greatest call of this game was the onside kick to open the second half. Genius. This was even more gutsy than the call to go for it on 4th and goal with another run play. (For the record, I thought it was gutsy but the wrong call..and not just because they didn't convert. At least one of those plays should've been a pass) I remember thinking when the ball was in the air..."genius!". If you're going to do it, that's the time to do it, in a big game when absolutely no one was expecting it. It was only a 4 point game and their defense was playing pretty well and I thought it was worth the shot. I thought all of this while the ball was still unclaimed. You've got to take risks sometimes and I was agreeing with this call before we even found out that it actually worked.

If that was the biggest call, then the biggest play was Tracy Porter's pick 6 while the Colts were threatening to tie the score. That sealed the victory.

The biggest winner here, though, is not Sean Payton or Drew Brees, or even Jeremy Shockey who is a forgotten story (and player) around here. The biggest winner without question is the city of New Orleans and the whole state of Louisiana. Is there anyone who is actually upset that the Saints won? I'm surrounded by true Carolina Panthers fans, a division rival, and they were rooting for the Saints. I don't even think Colts fans are upset that the Saints won. Upset that the Colts lost, yes, but not upset that the Saints won. Good for them. Who Dat?

Who Dat Gonna Win the Superbowl?

2010-02-06T11:14:00.000-08:00

The time is finally here. Tomorrow the two juggernauts of the NFL, prematurely crowned many weeks ago as the favorites to represent the NFC and AFC and finally came through after being doubted, second-guessed and taking a few losses, the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts will square off. Who will win?

The fan favorite seems to be the Who Dat nation of Saints fans and the many women who will be watching the game purely to see Reggie Bush...I can't tell you how many young and old women have told me that they are watching just to see him. The analyst favorite seems to be the reliable, offensive powerhouse of the Colts. Not necessarily because of the team, but because Peyton Manning is a savant at his position.

I agree with anything that a Colts fan or analyst will tell me. Yes, the Colts won every game that they actually tried to win. Yes, Peyton Manning is uncanny at figuring out defenses and ripping them to shreds in the second half. Yes, they've played better defenses than the Saints (the Jets for example). Yes, this is the first time the Saints have been in the Superbowl while the Colts have been here before and won. And yes, the Saints barely beat the Vikings and in all honesty should have lost that game.

But here's where I stand with this. I believe that the Saints offense will make for a powerful defense and the Colts will have to play under pressure on both sides of the ball. (Let's not forget that the Saints defense is not shabby at all. Not as good as the Jets, but not shabby) I believe that the Saints really want it and that is an intangible that cannot be overstated. I also believe that the key to this game will come down to 2 players. You're expecting me to say Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, but that's too obvious. Besides, they will probably both play lights out. The two players that will shape this game the most is Dwight Freeney and Reggie Bush.
In all likelihood, Dwight Freeney will not play. That could be huge for the Colts. Freeney is their best pass rusher. They do have some other players that are pretty good, but none can really take his place. Reggie Bush is always an X factor and it seems like he's been showing some glimpses of really adapting to this NFL game over the last few weeks. If the Colts cannot adequately replace Freeney's effect on the defense and if Reggie Bush can make 1 or 2 big plays on special teams and on the run game, it may be hard for the Colts to come back from those early leads they habitually give up. I'm picking the Saints.

Who Dat!?!?!

Lil Penny vs MVP's

2010-01-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

Most of the kids who love the Kobe & LeBron Most Valuable Puppet commercials probably have no idea it started with Chris Rock giving voice to Lil Penny in commercials years ago. For that matter, they probably don't even know who Penny Hardaway the character who the dimunitive, talking action figure was based on. But I was watching the videos on You Tube recently and was surprised by how much I had forgotten about those commercials. They were well done and pretty funny.

That being said, the MVP commercials are better. Very creative, funny and very appropriate to the personas Kobe & LeBron have engineered for themselves. The Christmas commercials this year I thought were really good. Even one of the newer ones where Kobe's shoes burned the house down is pretty good. I've posted links below. What are your favorites?

Classic Lil Penny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK88MQWsYj8

Kobe's shoes too hot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_tI0eMeimw

Who Will be in the Superbowl?

2010-01-23T10:40:00.000-08:00

This year's playoffs have been a crazy ride. But when it comes down to it, the 2 teams everyone thought were favored to face each other in the Superbowl still have a chance to make it a reality. Of course, everyone thought they would be facing each other as 2 undefeated teams but looking back that kind of fairy tale is too far fetched and unrealistic.

Tomorrow the Saints will face the Vikings for the NFC championship. The Vikings have a potent passing game, the potential for an explosive running game if they ever actually let Adrian Peterson loose again, what looks to be a rejuvenated defense and did I mention one of the best Quarterbacks to ever play the game? The Saints...well, they're the Saints. Highly potent offense, solid running game, potentially explosive special teams and a defense that plays well when it wants to. By the way, Drew Brees is certainly no slouch at QB either. This is a tough game to call, and I could see it going either way. For the sake of making a pick, I will go with the New Orleans Saints.

In the AFC, the Colts will be facing the Jets. On paper this seems like such an easy pick. But in reality the Jets are playing really good football. They remind me of that Ravens team that won the Superbowl several years ago. Outstanding defense, solid running game and less than stellar at the QB position. That being said, there's no way you can go against the Colts in a game like this. They've won every game this year that they've actually tried to win. Brett Favre may be one of the best (or arguably the best) QB to ever play, but Peyton Manning is the best in the league right now. He will not allow this team to lose. The Colts defense is fast...not necessarily great, but fast...besides the Colts offense is their defense. With the Jets its the opposite. Their defense is their offense. This game is not as easy to call as it seems, but I'm definitely going with the Colts. How could you not?

So that would leave us with The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts in the Superbowl. This was a foregone conclusion about 5 weeks ago, but then the Saints lost some important games and the Colts intentionally lost some games and everyone abandoned hope. Now, if conventional wisdom holds true, they should have a chance to atone for what everyone else saw as "backing into the playoffs."

The Colts and the Saints, yup...sticking to it. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

The Hottest and Coldest Teams Entering the Playoffs

2010-01-05T07:21:00.000-08:00

So who would've guessed three weeks ago that the seemingly Super Bowl bound Colts and Saints would end so poorly? Both of these teams were juggernauts heading into week 15. Now they are like tame pussycats. As good as they are, my confidence is now shaken that they can reach the Promised Land this year.

Let's start with the Saints. I was impressed at how many close games and come from behind victories they had throughout the season. I really thought they had a chance of finishing the season 16-0 and go to the big game. But the Cowboys really exposed them. Then they lose to the lowly Bucs. Then they rest their starters and lose to the Panthers. The Saints are good, but the Playoffs are about momentum and theirs is frankly going in the wrong direction. I can't see this team making it to the Super Bowl when the NFC is so wide open now. The Saints are definitely mortal.

On to the Colts. Again, another team that could've and should've gone undefeated and maybe even shut the Dolphins and Mercury Morris up for good. I understand why the coach opted to take Manning out, but I can't agree with it and now we see the results. They've now given rest to their starters for 2 straight weeks, suffered 2 straight losses and have a bye to begin the playoffs. There is no momentum with this team. Will they even remember how to win? There's too many good teams in the AFC to have such a lackidaisical attitude headed into the Playoffs.

So who's hot? In the NFC, there's none hotter than the oft cold in December Dallas Cowboys. They were the first to beat the Saints, then they soundly beat two division rivals to close the season. Their defense looks solid on the line and in the secondary. Their offense seems to finally be clicking on all cylinders. They have the kind of momentum that could be scary if they don't get in their own way.

In the AFC, and perhaps the entire NFL, there is no team with more momentum than the Chargers. They always turn it on in December, but they've actually won their last 11 games. Phillip Rivers is playing some of his best ball right now. San Diego could be a very difficult team to beat.

To recap, the hottest, sexiest teams in the NFL are no longer hot, sexy or even favored in my opinion. Meanwhile, the two teams who typically have playoff misfortune appear to be hot, sexy and primed for action. Of course, these are the playoffs so anything can happen. I'll be watching.

Quarterbacks are not Sissies? Are they?

2009-10-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

The Brady rule. This is crazy! It's hard to enjoy a decent game of football when your team is flagged for this ridiculous rule. Its one thing if a guy is deliberately making a dirty hit that could injure a player or place his career in jeopardy. Its a whole different ball game when you flag a guy for touching the QB.

Even though I'm reacting like this based on a few non-hits made on Brady, for who the rule was put in place, this past week against Baltimore, it is spilling over into other games. Namely, teams with star QB's are getting the benefit of lousy calls because the league is afraid that it will lose another superstar for a year like it did with both Brady and Carson Palmer.

These guys get paid to play the game of football. This is a man's sport! You're telling me they have to be untouchable during the whole game? Just my two cents, but I believe in penalties that prevent injury but not penalties that prevent the game from being played.

What's Wrong with the Cowboys? - Start the List

2009-10-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

What's wrong with the Dallas Cowboys? On paper they are one of the most if not the most talented rosters in the league. Seriously, who has a better roster the Colts (4-0) or the Cowboys (2-2)?

There's a lot of things to talk about but we can narrow it down to a list of iniquities:

5. Defense - The Boys have not done a consistent job of pressuring the QB. DeMarcus Ware had 20 sacks last year and has exactly 0 by week 4 this season. The result? Their secondary is getting beat for big play. I don't necessarily see good discipline either. Last night I saw Anthony Spencer try to jump a route and intercept a ball meant for Buckhalter instead of batting it down and/or making the hit. The result? A big play for Denver. Did anyone watch that Carolina game? I haven't seen such poor tackling since my son's Middle School game. I'm assuming Wade has not taken over play calling duties from the Defensive Coordinator like he did last year, but he may need to soon. If he is calling the plays, then this really needs to be addressed.

4. Receivers - Romo is getting plenty of time in the pocket. But the fastest guy we have is Miles Austin who is our #3 receiver I believe. Our #1 is Roy Williams and he is big and slow. Patrick Crayton is a good, maybe slightly above average receiver. In a nutshell, Romo gets 4 seconds or so, but no one is getting open consistently. The result? Usually a sack, interception or incompletion because we all know Romo will not just throw the ball away. Jason Witten is the only real receiving threat and every team knows it

3. Tony Romo - Okay, Romo's been taking a lot of heat and most people would probably rank him #1 on this list. I refuse to do that. He is a very, very talented QB with so much potential. He is playing abnormally bad even for his standards. I mean, you don't expect to see him play this bad unless its a playoff game or a late December game. His biggest problems? He relies to much on his talent, he won't throw the ball away if no one's open, he forces the ball too much...all sound like the same problem right? Here's the kicker; he's not a leader. If we haven't seen it before, we're seeing it now. There can't be any leadership there because this team is underachieving, plain and simple. I like Romo, but he needs to toughen up mentally. He CAN be a franchise QB, but he's not playing like it right now.

2. Play Calling/Jason Garrett - I hate to put this at the feet of Jason Garrett, but the offensive play calling is his responsibility right? This team's personnel dictates that it be a run oriented, blitz oriented team. Do they play that way? No. With Barber, Jones and Choice there's no question we should be running, running, play-action, running, play-action...and a few passes sprinkled in. But that's not what's happening. In fact, during the game against the Broncos I saw a fairly successful 1st half of running the football. In the 2nd half they only ran in run situations. The results? Three and outs and an overall ineffective offense. Do you credit the Broncos defense? Somewhat. You can't argue the talents of Champ Bailey. However, look at Denver's defensive roster and then look at the Cowboys' offensive roster. Need I say more?

1. Coaching/Wade Phillips - I've got to start at the top. I don't even know if I need to make this point. Is there anyone who doesn't recognize that Wade Phillips is a very nice guy who runs a very good defense but is a complete push over? I feel like I'm jumping on the poor guy. So instead of listing the reasons why he can no longer be the head coach, I will put out a short wish list for his replacement. Guess what? Jason Garrett is not on the list. He's shown me nothing to suggest he would be a good coach for this team. Another team? Maybe. But not the Dallas Cowboys. Choice #1 would be Bill Cowher..I know, I know - some Cowboys fans would protest because of his Steeler affiliation, and Bill would probably refuse for the same reasons. But you've got to try when it comes to a coach of that caliber. Choice #2 would be Mike Shanahan. With his zone blocking schemes and undisputed success in the running game along with his knack for developing QB's he would be the perfect choice. The problem there, of course, is that Shanahan would want more control than Jerry Jones would be willing to give. Hmmm....maybe problem 1a should be Jerry Jones? That is for another article.

The Best NFL Teams as of Week 4

2009-10-05T16:44:00.001-07:00

Who are the best two teams in the NFL right now? Its early in the season, week 4, so this is subject to change. And I'm sure I'll take some flack for this, but I don't care. Its only week 4. I reserve the right to change my opinion later, say around week 8.

I believe the best team in the NFC is the New Orleans Saints. Not because they are 4-0, but because their defense is finally showing up to support the stellar offense they've had for a couple of years now. They look pretty tough. I have the NY Giants as 2nd best in the NFC right now...and in about 2 more weeks I might even be willing to push the Giants into that number 1 spot, it just depends how it goes. But right now, I would not want to face the Saints. Even when Drew Brees is not putting up outrageous numbers (which has happened a couple of times already, I know because he's on my fantasy team) they still put a beat down on their opponents.

I believe the best team in the AFC is the Baltimore Ravens. Yes, I know they lost yesterday to the Patriots. Yes, I know the Colts are 4-0. But its almost the same thing as the Saints in reverse. Now they finally have a great offense to go along with that stellar defense they've had for all these years. I'd probably list the Colts as 2nd best in the AFC right now.

I'm not saying that these 2 teams will meet in the Super Bowl...I'm just saying that as of week 4 these are the 2 teams I would least want to play if I was an opposing coach. We'll see how the rest of the year plays out.

Michael Crabtree - Dumb or Dumber?

2009-09-18T20:20:00.000-07:00

What is going on with this guy? Who is advising him? Man this guy is a Diva with a capital D. (The D, coincidentally, also stands for dumb) He makes TO look like the model of humility.

I don't want to make this sound like a personal attack, which is why I call into question the people that are advising him. I understand he got drafted later than he wanted to, which by the way, according to reports I've read, can also be traced to his actions and speech based on the people that are advising him. But, how can you demand the money you would've made IF you were selected earlier...when you WEREN'T selected earlier? He's going to turn down 16 million dollars because he thinks he's going to have the career of a top 3 pick? Let's clarify something. Most top picks turn out not to be worthy of the money and get lower deals later once the first contract runs out. If he is so confident that he's going to be a star, why not wait and then demand top tier money later, which is the opposite of what most athletes are fortunate enough to do.

Perhaps the dumbest thing about this, and its hard to get dumber than leaving 16 million dollars on the table, is that he is supposedly willing to sit out the entire year and re-enter next year's draft. Are you kidding me? The reason you slipped so far this year is because of your arrogance and poor attitude. There's no way you go any earlier next year, which also means you won't make more money. This is so stupid on so many levels. Man up and play football!

I am becoming increasingly disenfranchised with professional athletes because of cases like this. I was rooting for Crabtree until now. Now...I don't know. I never would want any athlete to see his dream fail or to suffer a career ending setback. However, I wouldn't feel very sorry for Crabtree if he didn't get drafted at all next year or if he played but was a bust.

If there is even the remotest chance that Crabtree checks the blogs for articles about himself (which given everything I've seen and heard, he probably does but probably doesn't care what people say) I have a message: Whoever is advising you and encouraging you to think of yourself as the best, being larger than the game and deserving of this extra money you are trying to extort, even if it's a family member or close friend, they are not doing you any favors. They are ruining your career and may be ending it. Which do you love more; the game, the fame or the money? If you love the game, then get out there and play, the rest will follow.

LeGarrette Blount - Fair or Foul?

2009-09-07T18:50:00.001-07:00

By now everyone has probably seen the sucker punch Oregon's Blount laid on Boise State's Byron Hout. Oregon laid the hammer down on this NFL prospect. He is suspended for the rest of the year (this is his senior season by the way) including any postseason games. Meanwhile, Hout, who actually was the instigator of the incident itself, was not disciplined at all. Now, the University says that he is being disciplined internally. However, he's not missing any games and the only thing I've heard is that they plan to talk to him to make sure he understands the ramifications of this event. In layman's terms that pretty much means there is no discipline.

My take on the discipline to Blount is that it is definitely foul...although I do think that it is good for him as a person to experience this. Let me explain. Blount was not out to cause trouble that night. He was on his way to the locker room when Hout came across the field, seeking him out so that he could yell in his face. Which he did. He also made contact with Blount, tapping him on his shoulder pad. Blount then responded poorly, he went after him and as Hout's coach was trying address him, Blount cocked him in the jaw sending the big man to his knees. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of it. Some of Boise's fans began heckling Blount and he had to be restrained to prevent a possible melee in the stands.

The NCAA itself cannot really enforce any rules on this kind of matter so it is up to each University to determine appropriate punishments. In my mind, 3 or 4 games would've been fair. Maybe even 6 games. But the whole season including bowl games? This is a young man with legitimate NFL aspirations. I don't think that many other Universities would've responded so harshly. We know that Boise wouldn't have. After all, their guy instigated this fight and there are no repercussions to discuss in his case.

But I will say this. As a person, this might end up being one of the best things to happen to him. Unfortunately, elite athletes today are given the silver spoon treatment from the moment their pop warner coach figures out how much the kid's talent will advance their own careers. These athletes naturally begin to feel invincible and untouchable which only promotes undesirable behavior. Even before this incident there have been situations that called his character into question. More and more the NFL, under the direction of Roger Goodell, is concerned about character as well as talent. This suspension will cost him draft position and therefore money, but it may help him build character as a person which is priceless.

To Oregon's credit, they are not kicking him off the team. He is still invited to practice with the team and participate in other team activities. If he's smart he'll take the high road here and continue to be a part of this team. He'll go to anger management counseling and other things that will help allay any fears that potential NFL suitors may have. He'll go into the combine next year and when interviewed by teams he'll say how much this experience humbled him and made him a better person and maybe even a better football player. He'll convince them that nothing like this would ever happen again with him. If he does that, he doesn't have to worry about being a victim of circumstance. The ball has been served...its in his court now.

First Time Fantasy Leaguer

2009-08-29T19:46:00.001-07:00

Friends have been trying for years to get me into fantasy football and I've been resistant until this weekend. This past Friday, I joined my first ever fantasy football league and experienced my first live draft. I have to admit it felt pretty awesome.
I was able to get some premier players in the early rounds, Drew Brees for example. And in the later rounds I was able to get some solid help, like Kevin Boss, Joe Flacco and Mushin Muhammad. I was also able to take a few calculated chances. For example I picked up LeSean McCoy the Eagles rookie who figures to get some good reps behind Brian Westbrook. I also took a chance and picked up Mike Vick in round 15 instead of picking a backup kicker. Its possible that might haunt me later, but with Vick's talent I figured I could always trade for a kicker later in the year if I really need to. The possibility of getting a potential touchdown machine like Vick in round 15 was too good to pass up.
I'm pretty happy with my fantasy team. I'll post updates on how my team is doing throughout the season. Even though your first year is supposed to be just getting acquainted with the process, I'm planning to take out the other guys in my league. Watch out.

Plaxico Burress - Fair or Foul?

2009-08-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

So another career goes up in smoke, gunsmoke if you will. Plaxico was a player with great potential who probably was just starting to consistently live up to some of that potential with the Giants. I could write a thousand articles on players who I feel, like Burress, have the greatest potential but for whatever reason (entitlement issues, coaching, personality, the system) can't consistently maximize that potential. But with the Giants, Plax was a playmaker and a big contributor to their Super Bowl run.

Now for the tough part. Was Plax treated fairly or not? I did a similar article about Goodell's punishment for Mike Vick. The big difference here, though, is that Vick's punishment from the NFL does allow him to play while Plax's punsiment from the judicial system could effectively end his career. By the time his 2 year sentence is served he'll be 34.

I've heard so many debates about this and the chasm between schools of thought on this is vast and surprisingly does not lie along racial lines. At least not solely. On the one hand you have Vick who killed dogs and Stallworth who killed a man. Meawhile, Plax shoots himself and gets 2 years!

On the other hand, if you're a resident of New York you know how tough the gun laws are and how important it is to have a valid registration, not to mention the potential for someone getting hurt.

Here's my take on this, and perhaps it is a harsh stand. But I can't feel too sorry for Plax. I feel bad for him as a person because I don't want the primadona rich men in prison, I want the hardcore thugs who are committing real crimes in prison. But it comes down to this. He knew the laws and he chose to break this one. Although he ended up hurting himself, he could have very easily shot someone else by accident. Also, I can't help but feel a little resentment when I see men who are making millions of dollars from playing sports but can't seem to keep their nose clean. If I were making millions of dollars as an athlete, I would be making sure that I protected that at all cost. Among other things, that means that if I think I will need a gun if I go to a certain club...I won't go that club. Or at the very least I will make sure that my gun is registered...and that the safety is on.

That being said, I do think 2 years under the circumstances is a little much. And considering that he had to plea guilty to get 2 years tells me that he felt he would definitely get more than that in trial. If they're going to make an example out of Plaxico, then they'd better go after the club management because somebody let him in with full knowledge that he had a gun. And if someone at the hospital did not initially report the shooting to the police as has been rumored, then somebody better go after the hospital. I've never subscribed to the theory of administering harsher punishment than usual on someone just to make an example of them. So if they are making an example of Plax, it means nothing if they don't also go after the enablers.

Oh, Brett Favre's back? Ho hum...

2009-08-19T17:06:00.000-07:00

So what can you say? You can't say you're surprised that he's back because he's played this game of 'I will, no I won't, yes I will' for the last couple of years. You can't say you wish he would've stayed retired (unless you're a Packers fan) because he's a future hall of famer, one of the best ever to put on a helmet...and hey, if the guy wants to play then let him play. So what can you say? Perhaps you can say what I did - whatever.

I'm so tired of Brett Favre stories I really don't care anymore. And I wasn't surprised that the Vikings made this move despite the denials by coach Childress, mainly because they passed on Vick when they didn't really have a solid option at Quarterback. I feel like the Vikings and Favre led us on a wild goose chase during the whole summer and finally ended up doing the exact opposite of what they said they would do just in time for Favre to miss enough of training camp to rest his body (quite convenient). But then again, I'm numb to the whole thing and don't care anymore. Let's just get the season started.

Are the Vikings better with Favre? Absolutely. Can they do some damage in the playoffs? Definitely. Will they win a SuperBowl? I can't see that happening. The talent pool in the NFC is deep and I expect that Brett will start to wane toward the end of the season again just like last year. And though he signed a 2 year contract, I think its pretty much this season or bust as far as any hope to win a championship.

So what can you expect from the Vikings and Favre? Big plays, an even more potent running attack from Adrian Peterson now that there is a legit deep threat, and for you fantasy leaguers...expect Bernard Berrian to have a really good year. His numbers last year were pretty impressive without a solid QB in the huddle. This year Favre should be dialing up the deep ball plenty.

I'm not going to write a whole lot on this topic right now. Instead I will reserve judgement. Partly because the season hasn't started yet and there's a lot of football to be played. Partly because I know I will end up writing ten thousand articles about Brett before the season is over. But mostly because I'm pretty apathetic to the whole Brett Favre saga right now. In a few weeks when football is coursing strong through my veins and we've had a chance to actually see him play, perhaps I will start caring.

Michael Vick Joins the Eagles - Did Anyone See That Coming?

2009-08-17T14:58:00.000-07:00

I'm glad Vick is back in the NFL. That being said, I'm a little disappointed that he's with the Eagles. The first and foremost reason is because I'm a Cowboys fan. But that aside, there were other teams that could've really used a franchise talent QB (Minnesota for example).

The Eagles with a healthy McNabb and Westbrook and the threat of a fully re-acclimated Vick is a nightmare for coaches. From what I hear, DeSean Jackson is ready to have a break-out year. The Defense is usually a nightmare for coaches anyway. If this works out, Philly could go really far...this year.

I applaud Philly for being willing to take such a bold move. I never even figured them to be in the hunt for Vick's services. I would like to take the opportunity to boo the Washington Redskins for even considering it (c'mon, do they dislike Jason Campbell that much?) I would also like to boo the Carolina Panthers for not at least trying to do something...you're telling me its ok to backup a top caliber QB like McNabb but you don't need a backup to Delhomme? Finally, jeers and rotten tomatoes to the Minnesota Vikings. Not only could they have had Vick with AP, but they don't even have a starting caliber quarterback...Vick couldn't back up Rosenfels? (I'm assuming this means that they will be making another run at Favre before the end of the season)

With all the applause for Vick's signing this year comes this. I don't get a good feeling about what happens next year. If Vick is really good, do the Eagles end up trying to dump McNabb?...it's not like they really have been a pillar of support to him in recent years. If he's bad do they use him as a scapegoat for the team's failures?

Either way, this is a win-win for Vick. He's back in the NFL, playing for a playoff-caliber team, playing with one of the better quarterback's in the league, with minimal pressure. When I say minimal pressure I'm referring to the pressure of being expected to carry a team. He'll have plenty of pressure no matter where he plays but at least he doesn't have to be some team's savior. Still, this works out great for Vick. I get an uneasy feeling about what this could potentially mean for McNabb, even though Donovan seems to be the one who clamored for Vick's signing.

If Mike Vick can get himself back into NFL form, and learn from the McNabb and Andy Reid, he can easily be one of the best QB's in the game. Not to long ago he was the highest paid, most electrifying and most talented player in the NFL. Imagine if this year's mentoring and his life experiences shaped him into a better decision-maker and passer! Then the question would not be whether he would be a franchise QB again, it would be whether he would become Philly's franchise QB. For Vick's sake, I hope he is able to put the past behind him and truly live up to his off the charts potential. For Donovan's sake and the Cowboy's sake I hope he reaches that potential with some other team.

The NFL is Back!! Finally!!

2009-08-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but the months between April and August are torture for me. Don't get me wrong, things are great when you can watch College Football, then NBA Basketball, the MLB Pennant race and World Series, maybe even a little NHL here and there. But once the NBA Finals are over and the only thing on ESPN is baseball and poker...uggghh.

Finally training camp and pre-season football. Something to whet the appetite for all the upcoming Sunday afternoons and Monday nights!

Let's list all the great reasons to watch the NFL instead of reality TV this fall: Mike Vick, TO, Buffalo Bills with TO, Dallas Cowboys without TO, Jay Cutler, Brett Favre (couldn't resist, sorry), Matt Cassell, Plaxico Burress, Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Tony Gonzalez, Tom Brady's return.....need I go on? What reality show could even compare to these storylines?

I don't think there's any question that football (or American Football for those that insist on the distinction) reigns supreme in the United States. At least it does in this house. Now is the time for all the Fantasy Leaguers to make up their draft boards. Now is the time for overweight guys to dust off their favorite jerseys and make a beer run. Now is the time for all the Cowboy haters to start hoping for Tony and Jessica to get back together. Now is the time for Football!

Lakers vs Celtics in 2010 Finals?

2009-08-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Lakers sign Ron Artest, the Celtics sign Rasheed Wallace - chess anyone? Its far too early in the season, considering that the season hasn't started yet, to anoint an NBA Champion for 2010. But is there anyone that doesn't see these two meeting in next year's finals as a foregone conclusion? (Other than Cleveland fans who hope that Shaq will be enough to help LeBron or Orlando fans who for some reason think that they're better with Vince Carter than they were with Turkoglu)

Look at the landscape in the Western Conference. San Antonio's probably the biggest threat after signing Richard Jefferson. But they gave up some key defenders/role players and I still don't think they're better than the lakers. Next up the Denver Nuggets, a great team but other than a little increased chemistry with Chauncey Billups, they probably won't be much better than last year. Houston is pretty much out of the picture seeing that Yao is out for the season and no guarantees with the oft-injured McGrady. Who's left? Portland? They are a good team and, make no mistake, in another 3 years they will probably own the Western Conference. But they're still too young.

Now look at the landscape of the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is probably the biggest threat to Boston with the addition of the mighty Shaq-Diesel. I predict that Cleveland will be very scary early in the season with this combination, but in the playoffs I don't think they could take Boston in 7 (assuming all the Celtics are healthy). By default, next up is Orlando. They had a great season and they will be tough but I don't think that pick and roll will work as well with Carter as it did with the extremely versatile Turkoglu. I actually think Detroit will make some noise in the East this year having added Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and Chris Wilcox. But still...they won't touch the Celtics.

Of the two, it looks like the Lakers would have the easiest march to the Finals. 2 years ago the Celtics embarrassed the Lakers in the Finals. (I can say this because I'm actually a Lakers fan) But there is every reason to believe that if the Celtics and Lakers do meet again, the outcome will be quite different.

First of all, the Lakers lost because they were not tough on the interior. That has changed with Bynum being healthy again. Also, Odom disappeared during the playoffs and Gasol disappeared during the finals that year. In last year's playoffs both Odom and Gasol were great in almost every game. Even though the Lakers lost Ariza, they gained one of the best enigmas in the game. Ron Artest is tough mentally and physically, he defends, he rebounds and he scores. Imagine this line-up: Fish, Kobe, Artest, Gasol, Bynum. Perhaps the greatest move off season was the re-signing of Odom. A 6-10 forward who can play the 3 or the 4 and handle the ball. And with him coming off the bench (his best role if you ask me...which I will probably discuss in a later post) it creates a nightmare for the opposing coach. Have I mentioned Kobe yet, who is playing like a man possessed?

Granted, the signing of Sheed is huge. I could hear all the Celtics fans spilling their clam chowder as they shouted in triumph when the signing was announced...one of them actually called me. Rasheed, similar to Odom, is a versatile big man who can shoot. But when it comes down to it, an old team just got older. And what about their young guys? Leon Powe, Glen "Big Baby" Davis, even the swirl of trade rumors around Rajon Rondo. A lot of questions out there. Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Perce, Sheed and Garnett are definitely a formidable five, although I don't necessarily think that Rasheed will start. But what's happening with their depth?

I will stick by my Lakers vs Celtics prediction and I'll make another one. The Lakers in 7. How bold is that? I'm sure I will hear from some Celtics fans so let me end with this rarely mentioned stat; Phil usually wins titles in 3's.

Big Expectations for TO in Buffalo - And More Popcorn!

2009-08-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

So the TO show hits the air this season. I guess technically it hit the air already with his narcissistic TV program, but I'm actually referring to his upcoming season with the Buffalo Bills. I thought this was a great move by Buffalo and a perfect fit for Owens. I'm probably most surprised that TO was willing to go to the Bills than anything else.

That being said, let's examine the facts. Buffalo is a some-what mediocre team in a small market that has been on the verge of being good for a few years now. TO immediately makes the team better and just as immediately makes their market seem larger. Just wait and see how many more fans actually claim the Bills this year. Not only that, but I'm pretty sure the Bills make the playoffs this year. TO is that good.

Of course, I recognize that problem will come somewhere around week 7 or so. Sharing the ball with Lee Evans. Controversy with the QB as usual. But overall they should benefit a great deal this season.

Buyer beware for season 2, however. This is usually when things fall apart with Terrell (see Garcia, McNabb, Romo for details). If the Bills are smart, they'll use TO to increase revenue and possibly make the playoffs this season...and then refuse to continue the relationship thereafter. One thing is for sure, there will be plenty of popcorn in Buffalo this year.

If any of you watch the TO show on VH1, you probably saw the multitude of fans reacting positively to his arrival. Completely warranted. What's not warranted is the show itself. I mean, c'mon, all the guy does is walk around with his shirt off and flirt with women the entire show. Even the serious, "dramatic" moments seem scripted. Is this supposed to repair his image? His body is ripped and he's smooth with the ladies...I get it. He's got to wonder the same thing I'm wondering about his career in Buffalo - will there be a season 2?

Cheese Rolling - Are you Serious?

2009-07-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

So I was watching ESPN the other night and they showed video of something called Cheese Rolling. Trust me, you need to google this or search it on YouTube. It's crazy!! I'm always amazed at the things people will do for money, fame or sheer boredom.

The premise is people line up at Cooper's Hill in Gloucester England to chase a round block of cheese down and insanely steep and bumpy slope. The cheese itself can reach speeds of 70mph! The first one to reach the bottom of the hill wins. Because of the number of participants they actually have to hold the race in 4-5 stages, kind of like the playoffs.

The tradition is at least 200 years old and grows more popular every year. Injuries range from sprained ankles to broken bones and concussions. No deaths yet that I'm aware of, which is amazing considering that this has been going on so long. Seriously, you have to watch the video to appreciate how dangerous this looks and how pumped up (or bored) these guys have to be to do it.

Oh, I forgot to mention - if you're fortunate enough to be on your feet when you reach the bottom of the hill there are people waiting for you to help slow your momentum...by tackling you!! I'm sure this started as necessary convenience but if you watch the video you'll see a couple of people basically getting pile driven into the earth after narrowly escaping death coming down the hill. Hilarious!

Now, I must say that there are definitely people who have developed this into a skill. They alternate between running and going into a controlled roll or slide. Then when they hit a nice bump they use the momentum to pop right back onto their feet. Everybody else just kind of free falls into an entanglement of limbs and other body parts.

If any of you have done this or seen it in person...I need to hear from you firsthand - why would anyone do this? What would drive you to say "hey, I think I'll roll 200 yards down a cliff for a piece of cheese"? I'm not knocking it, after all the entertainment value is pretty high, I'm just trying to understand. I mean, I see perfect logic in chasing an orb of pigskin and ramming your body into anyone who gets in your way and then celebrating like crazy when you run over a little white line...but I'm not too sure about this cheese rolling thing.

The Vick Verdict - Fair or Foul?

2009-07-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

After serving an 18 month sentence for his role in operating a dog fighting ring, Michael Vick is free to play for another NFL team. On Monday, 7/27/09, Roger Goodell announced the terms of Vick's reinstatement. The terms are as follows: 1) Vick can immediately participate in preseason workouts, practices and meetings, 2) Vick can play in the final 2 preseason games, 3) Vick can participate in all regular season team activities EXCEPT games until he is fully reinstated, 4) Goodell will consider Vick for full reinstatement by week 6 at the latest. All of these terms come with the assumption that Vick will get picked up by a team, which so far is the pink elephant in the room that no NFL team really wants to talk about.

The question making its rounds through much of sports talk radio is whether this is a fair and just punishment or if it is simply "piling on" for someone who has already paid his debt to society. Lets examine this from both sides; why it was a fair ruling from Goodell but an unfair ruling for Michael Vick. As with most disputes, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

Why is this a fair ruling from Mr. Goodell's viewpoint? A few reasons. First and foremost, he has made no secret of how intolerable he is of player misconduct. Misconduct off the field has consistently led to investigations and often to fines or suspensions. Yes, Vick has paid his debt to society, but playing football in the NFL is not a right it is a privilege. Second, besides all the negative publicity, besides the fact that he committed a heinous crime, he lied to Roger Goodell about it when given the opportunity to defend the allegations. Goodell seems to me to be one of those straight shooter types who can work with anything you give him as long as you don't lie to him (I can appreciate that since that is how I see myself). Third, let's be honest, there would definitely be a great deal of noise made by animal rights groups if he were reinstated with no additional penalty. As it is some of those group don't want him to play ever again. Fourth, I don't think Roger wants the biggest stories during week 1 and 2 to be about Michael Vick, and they certainly would be.

Why is this an unfair ruling from Michael Vick's standpoint? It's clear that he is being made an example of. First of all, Vick paid dearly for his crimes. To many, even his criminal sentencing was over the top and unfair. But that's neither here nor there and not the topic of this article. The fact is, he lost just about everything, including almost 2 years of his life. He took what the legal system meted out against him and conformed to everything asked of him, including devising ways of paying back debts though not having a job or confirmation that he would ever resume an NFL career that would allow him to pay those debts. This he does not complain about, nor should he. This was the retribution decided by our courts of law for unspeakable crimes against animals. (I could go into a rather lengthy explanation here of Vick's childhood and cultural influences regarding dog fighting and other things, but I deem it irrelevant since we are really discussing his future in football rather than his past with animals) After that heavy retribution, he now comes back hoping to get picked up by a team for a fraction of his former worth only to find out that he MIGHT be able to play week 6 or after? Vick just wants to continue his career and put this whole mess behind him. He's already spent 2 years away from football and now more time is being added to that.

Let's look at some middle ground here. I think Goodell is playing it pretty safe. Had he suspended him for the whole season or even half the season, the uproar from players and even many fans would have been loud. Had he not suspended him at all, PETA along with some private citizens would've been down his throat which could threaten some advertisers to pull out. So, he is allowing him to find work, play football during preseason and practice with a team. He remains purposely ambiguous about when Vick will be fully reinstated. I suspect that Vick will apply for full reinstatement as early as week 1 and I suspect that Goodell will grant full reinstatement between week 4 and 6. All this is assuming that Vick stays clean for that time period. I can't imagine him getting in trouble again, at least not for dog fighting. He's not known for off the field troubles. (Unless you count marijuana in airports...Vick - stay away from the dutchies!)

My initial reaction to this issue of fair or foul was to put myself in Vicks shoes. Let's say I get busted for a felony and go to jail. As a result I lose my job at Best Buy. 2 years later I'm released from prison. Best Buy doesn't want to re-hire me which is their right. I look elsewhere but am told by the BBB that I cannot work for any business for an additional 6 months. (BBB is the closest thing I could think of to a governing body on short notice and I realize that this is not the same thing since the NFL is like its own private industry in which Goodell does have the final say, unlike the BBB which has no real authority. But you get my point, I'm sure. Vick would get hired by an individual team, not by Goodell himself.) To me it seems a little excessive. I've never fully applied to the theory of "making an example of someone". I think by applying fair punishment you do make an example of someone. However, by common standards, when you make an example of someone today it usually means that you add a little extra to the punishment so that others get the idea. Once you cross that line it is no longer fair, it becomes purposely foul with the intent of stopping the behavior in the future. If I had to call fair or foul on this one I would lean towards foul.

In reality though, its both fair and foul. Fair for the NFL (to a degree) and foul for Michael Vick. The bottom line, though, is that Vick will have to make the best of it. He may not ever be the face of the league again like he once was. But I don't doubt for a moment that he can and will be the face of a franchise again. The verdict is still out on which franchise that will be and how long it will take.

Congratulations Brett - You Made the Right Choice

2009-07-28T14:31:00.000-07:00

One of the legends of our time, Brett Favre, retires...again. Or, to be more precise, flirted with the idea of coming back to the NFL and ultimately decided to remain retired. Bravo! I don't mean that as a dig either. He's absolutely one of the best quarterbacks ever (I don't necessarily think he is the best ever, but he's definitely in the conversation). But it was time and I'm glad he recognized it.

Here's the deal, you saw him come out and have an awesome 1st half of the season last year with the Jets and then fade a little toward the end when they were in the playoff hunt. He's 39 and will turn 40 in October. He's taken a lot of hits. I actually think he would've gotten the Vikings to the playoffs if for no other reason than having the best running back in football on his team. But those December games in Minnesota and those January games (or game) in the playoffs would not have turned out well. I am a legend fan - meaning I root for the legends to go out as heroes riding off into the sunset on their own terms.

Even though he had a 'good' year with the Jets, after all the hoopla every day (will he or won't he? will he or won't he?), not to mention the verbal rips back and forth with the Packers, and then to see him fade in December took a little bit of the luster off of his legacy for me. Just a little. You can only lose so much luster when you lead the NFL all time in touchdown passes, completions, yards passing, most consecutive starts and regular season victories (and interceptions...but we'll gloss over that for now) But you have to admit, it was a little disappointing to see how things played out last year.

If you're a Vikings fan, this news sucks. I mean, you have 2 serviceable quarterbacks with Rosenfels and Jackson but neither has shown themselves to be a franchise quarterback. And then of course there's John David Booty, remember him? But Favre wasn't your long term answer here anyway. The Vikings organization has to do something at some point to get a younger, long term solution at the position.

This brings me to why I'm happy for Brett. First of all, he decided to call it quits. This was on his terms. He didn't get 3 quarters of the way through the season only to realize he couldn't do it anymore. He doesn't have to worry about any embarrassment during the season. Secondly, he comes off looking classy by letting the Vikings know before training camp (or at least classier than he looked during the Packers/Jets travesty last year) Thirdly, this is Brett Favre and we can officially close the book on this chapter of his life. (Until next year when the Broncos call him up...another team that desperately needs a long term solution at QB). We can now look back fondly over a career that was, to say the least, incredible. He is firmly entrenched as a legend of the game.

Here's to you Brett. A great quarterback who made a great read on this one. Enjoy you're retirement. Hopefully, relationships can be repaired with the Packers organization so that you can have some future involvement with the team that will be forever synonymous with your name.