The Sports Fellas

A New Feature: The Walk of Shame

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:36:00 +0000

As a new feature here on the Sports Fellas we will be bringing you the Walk of Shame every week with our take on people in sports who need to shape up, shut up, or just go away.

1. Roger Clemens. Apparently this guy doesn't know when to quit. Surely he has to realize at this point that he has no credibility? You would think, but he went out of his way to continue his ridiculous denial of any steroid involvement. Seriously Rog, just go away. No one cares anymore. Your legacy is already ruined.

2. Manny Ramirez. If it wasn't bad enough that he torpedoed the Dodgers hot start with his 50 game suspension, Ramirez has now gone into hiding. Embarrassed to face the media or even his teammates. It's not just gonna go away big fella. The players who have rebounded from their link to steroids did so by coming forward and owning up to their mistake. It's really his only shot at a measure of redemption.

3. Brian Wilson. Wilson, the Giants closer got upset over the weekend that Casey Blake of the Dodgers mocked his save celebration by mimicking it after homering off Wilson. Apparently it's ok for closers like Wilson, Papelbon and others to show up hitters with their unexplained gestures but when the other side returns the favor it's poor sportsmanship. Wilson claims his gesture is done to honor his late father, but how could Blake or anyone else possibly know that? Hard to believe a guy who sports a mohawk haircut and numerous tattoos could be this sensitive. See pictures of the "gesture" here...

Have any suggestions for the "Walk of Shame"? Drop me an email at TheSportsFellas@gmail.com

I Have A Man Crush On....... Jeff Weaver?

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:54:00 +0000

Yeah, you read that correctly. I'm talking about Jeff Weaver. The same Jeff Weaver that was demoted by the Angels in favor of his kid brother, the same Jeff Weaver that was all but run out of baseball after posting an ERA over 6.00 with Seattle in 2007.

But here is the thing. Weaver was always a much better pitcher in the National League. Insert your "The NL is the AL's bitch joke here", I get it, the hitters in the AL are better. There is the DH, the National League just isn't as good. But the crazy thing about pitching for, you know, a National League team, like say, the Dodgers... Most of your games come against National League opponents. Crazy concept ehh? Weaver was very good for the Dodgers in a 2 year stint from 2004-5, making 34 starts each year and averaging 222 IP per season all while posting an ERA right around 4.00. Now you're telling me you wouldn't be happy with numbers like that from your 3rd or 4th starter?

Weaver was also outstanding in the playoffs for St. Louis in 2006, starting 5 games and winning 3, including the World Series clincher, all while posting an ERA under 3.00. He of course used the momentum from that postseason to sign his contract with the Mariners but I never said the guy made great choices, just that he could be a very solid pitcher in the right situation.

What Weaver brings to the Dodgers is a little of what Derrick Lowe took with him. A veteran who will take the ball every 5 days, keep his team in ballgames and most importantly, eat innings. Lowe didn't just take an outstanding ERA with him to Atlanta. He also took an almost guaranteed 220 IP with him. Those are tough shoes to fill for a youngster, even one as talented as Clayton Kershaw.

Now it just occurred to me that as I type this, Weaver is slated to face reigning Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum tomorrow in the rubber game of a 3 game series at Dodger Stadium. So there is a chance that I am going to look like a fool for posting this article now. But the fact is, I have always liked Jeff Weaver. I was bummed when he left and disappointed when I saw him struggle with the Angels and then the Mariners. He always came across as a good guy and his performance for the 2004 and 2005 Dodgers was vastly underrated. I have often wondered how his career might be different if he had accepted arbitration from the Dodgers in the 2005 offseason.

In the dark cloud that has surrounded the Dodgers the past few days they really needed a few rays of sunshine. Eric Stults provided a few on Saturday afternoon and the re-emergence of Weaver has created even more. So however long it lasts, I'm going along for the ride. Welcome back, Jeff. Welcome back...

Tainted Love

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Fri, 08 May 2009 07:24:00 +0000

I have been a Los Angeles Dodgers fan for over 20 years. Those years were filled with mostly happy memories. There have however been a few heart wrenching days. Today definitely qualifies as one of them. If for some reason your head has been under a rock and you missed it, Manny Ramirez was suspended today for violation of the MLB Drug Policy. He tested positive for one of the drugs listed on the banned substance list given to every MLB player at the start of Spring Training. What that drug actually was, or why he was taking it are still open to debate. But whether Manny is struggling to hit for the Mendoza line in the bedroom, was trying to trigger his monthly menstrual cycle, or just flat out 'roiding, the end result is the same. 50 game suspension and the burst of the magical bubble that was beginning to encompass Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers woke up Thursday with a 13 game home winning streak to open the season, the longest such streak in the history of modern baseball. They had a 6 and a half game lead in the NL West and appeared poised to run away and hide from the rest of the division. All that is gone now. Sure the Dodgers are still probably the best team in the division and should in theory have more than enough talent to weather the storm for 50 games. But of far more concern is the impact of this situation on the Dodgers' psyche. This was a shattered and broken clubhouse prior to Manny's arrival last summer. Cranky veterans like Jeff Kent and Luis Gonzalez were quick to point the finger at the Dodgers young core for their lack of work ethic, respect and honor for the traditions of the game. Although to be fair, Kent lost any and all respect his great career might have earned him when he had the audacity to call out Vin Scully. The fact is, the biggest thing that seemed different about the Dodgers with Manny in their midst wasn't just the impact of the long home runs into the LA skyline, but rather the fact that they actually seemed to like playing baseball together. Energized by the arrival of Orlando Hudson, this looked the best Dodgers lineup in decades with the chance to really have a special season. Instead they will spend the next 2 months answering the same questions that we ask ourselves today.

Why, Manny? Why this? Why now?

The talking heads will spend countless hours discussing what he did and didn't take and the impact it has on his legacy. But it doesn't matter. There are no names beyond reproach at this point. Outside of Greg Maddux, I don't think there is a single name from that past 20 years that would surprise me if it was announced tomorrow they had been using performance enhancers. We've seen too many go down. Prior to today the Dodger fan in me would have made a case for Manny. "He's too happy go-lucky, if ever there was a player who just exudes the child-like joy for the game that you want to see, it was this guy". Truth is, the only difference between Barry Bonds, who I loved to hate and Manny, who I grew to love, is the name on the front of their jersey. I'm not quite sure why this one hurt so much. As much as I loved the electricity in Dodger Stadium when Eric Gagne entered the game for the 9th inning during his peak years, it was always there at the back of my mind. "This guy went from failed minor league starting pitcher to the best closer in baseball in 6 months time". The signs were undeniable. I just ignored them and enjoyed the ride and was grateful he was wearing a Brewers uniform when he finally got called on the carpet for his behavior after being outed in the infamous Mitchell Report. Manny was different. He had reeled me in hook, line and sinker. I truly believed he loved the game with child-like abandon and that he loved being a Dodger. I couldn't have been more wrong. The only thanks I got for my misguided trust was my worst day as a Dodgers fan since Mike Piazza was traded for Mr. Cancer himself, Gary Sheffield.

So where do we go from here? Will Dodger fans welcome him back in early July when he is eligible to play again? How will his teammates look at him now when the question will always be at the back of their minds that everything he did and represented was probably a lie? That remains to be seen. Hollywood might be the "fakest" town in the history of the world, so if ever there was a place that might be willing to give him a second chance, he's in the right place. But for that to happen there needs to be a lot more revealed than the, "my Doctor did it", we got in Manny's sterile and bland statement released Thursday morning. So here is my advice for Mr. Ramirez...

Just come clean. Your legacy is already tainted, at least be smart enough to avoid the path taken by Bonds and Clemens and continue to deny in the face of overwhelming evidence. Whether it was for 20 years or 20 days, just tell the truth. It's too late for Scott Boras to spin this one. We're past the point of blaming your Doctor, your trainer, your cousin or your cat. When you make 25 million dollars to hit a ball for a living you bear the ultimate accountability for your actions and what you put into your body. Major League Baseball has even created a hotline that players can call if they are considering a supplement or medication that might contain illegal ingredients so that these types of situations can be avoided. Manny has no one to blame but himself.

So for now I will continue to cheer for Matt Kemp, Orlando Hudson and all of Manny's less famous teammates and nervously await July 3rd, 2009. The first day Manny is eligible to don his Dodger Blue #99. I hope that between now and then he gives me a reason to cheer for him again. I really do. But I won't hold my breath. Not anymore.

The Baseball Offseason Has Begun.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:35:00 +0000

As a Chicago Cubs fan, usually as soon as the regular season is over, I really just can't wait til the off-season begins. Over the years, other teams celebrating championships has become less and less appealing to me, to the point where its tough for me to watch the World Series, I guess I'm just too addicted to me team and too bitter to enjoy others success. Lately its been nice to at least make the postseason but the hasty exist have made me care even less about the postseason. According to the TV ratings I wasn't the only one this year as the 08 World Series experienced record low ratings and an embarrassing finish.

Anyway now that, that is over we can get to the good stuff. The first trade of the off-season was made to today, with the Marlins shipping Mike Jacobs to the Royals. Over the next 3 months there will be many more to follow.

And so, my top 5 baseball off-season questions.

5. What Will the Mets do to turn things around?
Last year they went out and got Johan Santana, who had an amazing year, but it still wasn't enough to get in the playoffs. The Mets have as many stars any any team in baseball, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes and the aforementioned Santana. Is it time to rebuild? There has been rumors that they may be shopping Beltran. no matter what they do, the fans in New York won;t put up with the underachieving team much longer.

4. Who will sign Mark Teixeira?
Teixeira is one of the premier names on the market this year as far as offense goes. He was nothing short of fantastic after being traded to the Angels, and is great with the glove too. He would be a huge asset to any team. The Angels will likely make a hard push to re-sign him. There may only be a few teams out there that need a 1B and can afford his salary.

3. Will Manny re-sign in LA?
So far we have already heard the dodgers offered him a contract, then we heard they actually hadn't. We do know that Manny said LA was like being on vacation all the time after the trade last year, and his numbers seem to show it. He was the best hitter in baseball during August and September. Some also believe he may go to the Bronx to stick it to his former team in Boston

2. Can the Brewers somehow hold on to CC Sabathia?
If Ramirez was the Offensive MVP during August and September, Sabathia was surely the Cy Young during those 2 months. He literally almost single handily carried the Brewers into the playoffs on his back. Losing both Sheets and Sabathia would be a huge blow to the Brewers so they are likely to offer anything and everythign they have to keep him. Still there is almost surely to be higher offers available, so it will depend on whether or not CC is willing to give a hometown discount to the Brewers.

1. Who will win the Jake Peavy sweepstakes?
The Padres have made it known they are going to shop the 2007 Cy Young winner to the highest bidder. Peavy does have a no trade clause and is said to prefer to stay in the NL. He has given the padres a list of preferred teams that includes the Cardinals, Braves, Cubs, Astros and Dodgers. The Braves are believed by many to be the favorites but they do not want to part with their top prospects. whoever lands Peavy though will get an instant ace.

Anyway, I'm sure there are to be many surprises and interesting story lines that will develop before spring training in February. Stay tuned.

The NBA "Big 9", Power Rankings

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:28:00 +0000

As with the NFL, we will be checking in weekly with an NBA power rankings. The rules will be the same. The 9 teams we think are playing the best right now. So if the Lakers lose 3 strait we're not keeping them in the top 3 just because they are the Lakers. Win or go home. Besides... The Lakers suck... :P

So here you go. The Week 1 Edition..

1. Boston Celtics - They're the still the Champs and looked solid in their opener against LeBron and co.

2. Los Angeles Lakers - I try to keep objective as much as possible but I really don't like the Lakers. You can't deny their talent though. They won the west with Bynum unavailable and look to be even stronger this year.

3. New Orleans Hornets - Added James Posey to an already imposing roster. If Peja can turn back the clock they can win it all. If not I still think they're a player away.

4. Utah Jazz - Big year for the Jazz. Will the potential free agency of Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur be a huge distraction or will the opportunity for a big payday have them playing better than ever? As always it will come down to Kirilenko.

5. San Antonio Spurs - Everyone seems ready to write them off despite the fact they were playing without Manu down the stretch last year. I think there is plenty of firepower left.

6. Cleveland Cavaliers - Mo Williams is definitely a big pickup and arguably the best sidekick LeBron has had in Cleveland. But he's still not a legit #2. You can still beat them if you slow down LeBron.

7. Detroit Pistons - Another powerhouse that everyone seems ready to write off. I think they're still good enough for the #3 seed in the East.

8. Phoenix Suns - This one is a bit of a reach but I don't think they ever got comfortable after the Shaq trade last year. With a new system better suited to an aging roster I think the Suns surprise people. Amare, Nash and co. are too talented to fade away and if Shaq is motivated. Look out.

9. Houston Rockets - They seem to be a favorite of many in the media to make a big jump this season but I don't see it. Yao hasn't played 60 games in a season since the '04-'05 season so unless Artest is bringing some sort of special medical staff with him, I don't see how his signing puts them over the top.

Apologies to: Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors.

The "Big 9" for Week 8

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 23:51:00 +0000

Unlike the previous week, this last week in the NFL went pretty much as expected. Most of the teams expected to win, did and our big 9 doesn't change a whole lot at the top. The Chargers and Cowboys continued to struggle however, which makes room for a few new teams this week. Only one prime time game in the NFL this week, thanks to the World Series, but week 10 is not far away, when we start getting 3 prime time games a week. Anyway, lets get to the rankings.

1 (1) Tennessee Titans 6-0 - The Titans kept on rollin' this week with a 24 point win over the lowly Chiefs. Their backfield duo of Lendale White and Chris Johnson combined for over 300 yards and 4 TDs on the ground and their defense continued to shine. Their poor QB play really hasn't caused any problems and they are drawing more and more comparisons to the 2000 Ravens.

2 (2) New York Giants 5-1 - The Giants bounced back from their poor performance against the Browns to pick up a nice road win in San Francisco. The Giants still look like the most likely team in the NFC to make the Super Bowl but they face a very tough test at Pittsburgh on Sunday that may answer a few questions for us.

3 (3) Pittsburgh Steelers 5-1 - Another spot at the top of the rankings that doesn't change this week. The Steelers destroyed the Bengals on the road Sunday even without Willie Parker. Backup Mewelde Moore showed that the Steelers have some depth at the RB position if Parker continues to deal with nagging injuries. The Steelers haven't played this well since their Super Bowl year in 2005.

4 (5) Tampa Bay Bucs 5-2 - Jeff Garcia seems to have answered any questions about a QB controversy in Tampa. He looked very good in the Bucs 20-10 win of Seattle on Sunday night. The Bucs can put themselves in a great playoff position if they can defeat the struggling Cowboys this week. Their defense continues to look very strong.

5 (4) Washington Redskins 5-2 - The Skins looked a little bit skittish this week but still held on for a 3 point win over the Browns. Its still a tough road to the postseason for the Redskins considering the division they play in, but a week 8 match-up against the Lions should put them in a very favorable spot in the standings for the 2nd half. Clinton Portis continues to stay healthy and look better than he has in years.

6 (NR) Buffalo Bills 5-1 - Our first newcomer to the week 8 rankings. The Bills simply continue to win games. On paper they don't look like the best team around but they keep getting it done. They'll have to travel to Miami this week, but if they can come up with a win they will have a great shot at winning the AFC East.

7 (7) Arizona Cardinals 4-2 - The Cardinals had a bye week in week 7 but they still may have improved their chances at an NFC west title. The Rams, 49ers and Seahawks are all struggling mightily so even 8 wins may be enough to seal a playoff spot up for the Cardinals. They get Anquan Boldin back soon and should easily be able to come up with 4 or 5 more wins with their schedule. Its looking more and more like their first division title in over 30 years may finally happen.

8 (NR) Carolina Panthers 5-2 - The Panthers may have looked better than any other team in week 7, drubbing the Saints 30-7. Their defense ranks first in the NFC in scoring defense allowing only 14.8 points a game. The NFC South still looks like a tough division this year but if Jake Delhomme can continue to play like he did in week 7, the Panthers have as good a chance as anyone to win it.

9 (8) Atlanta Falcons 4-2 - Despite their hot start the Falcons fell to 3rd place in the NFC South during their bye week. They will have to play very well against conference foes if they hope to win a playoff spot. It won't be easy but this young team has a lot to look forward to in the coming years. They have a tough match-up at Philadelphia this week.

Apologies to the Patriots, Bears and Packers

Swedish Hockey Fans Know How to Party

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:48:00 +0000

Now I've followed sports passionately my entire life and I've seen fans do some pretty crazy stuff. Things can get especially ugly when the target is a former player who now plays for a rival team. But NOTHING I've seen or even heard of can possibly top what went down in Sweden the other night. The target was Swedish National Team defenseman, Jan Huokko who used to suit up for the club AIK out of Stockholm but now plays for Leksand.

Take a look at the incredible welcome his former fans gave him when he came back for a visit...

Unbelievable.. Remind me never to play hockey in Sweden....

The Mad Scientist

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:14:00 +0000

They used to call him "The Mastermind", but these days he looks more like a mad scientist who refuses to listen to outside ideas and insists on pushing through his own crazy agenda despite the results. I am referring to Denver Broncos' Head Coach, Mike Shanahan. When you win back to back Superbowl titles, you get a lot of leeway but it's clear to this Bronco fan that The Mad Scientist is wearing out his welcome in Denver.

He traded one of the top tailbacks in the league in Clinton Portis to get Champ Bailey and then 3 years later traded the guy that replaced Portis, Tatum Bell, to the Lions for Dre' Bly. The tandem of highly regarded DB's was supposed to help turn around a porous defense. The result? The worst pass defense in the league. And what of that running game? Once regarded as the top rushing attack in the league because of Denver's superb zone blocking scheme, it seemed for awhile like anyone could run in the Denver system. No names like Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson and Reuben Droughns all had big years in Denver. The problem? It was a different guy every year. There was zero consistency in the offense and no chemistry in the locker room. Guys would rush for 1400 yards one year and then lose their spot to an undrafted rookie the next. And the past 2 seasons? Led by lightweight Selvin Young and a series of journeymen including Michael Pittman, Anderson and Travis Henry, Denver is well on it's way to a 2nd consecutive season without a 1000 yard rusher and is being forced to throw on almost every big play.

I know what you're thinking. Denver is still posting solid rushing totals, in fact they currently rank 13th in the league right? Sure that may be true but this team has zero ability to control the clock and put away a team late. In fact, Denver has often squandered big leads because of their inability to put teams away by running the ball down their throat when they had the lead. They even lost to the lowly Chiefs, who allow more rushing yards than any team in the league, because of their inability to exploit the Chiefs weak rushing game. Selvin Young has a lot of talent but he is built more like a kick returner than an every down back and there is a reason nobody wanted to sign Michael Pittman until Denver came calling. His best years are in the rear view mirror. He's a solid 3rd down back and does a nice job of protecting Cutler but you can't build an offense around him. Teams are figuring this out and as they bite less and less on the play action and keep more and more DB's back in coverage it becomes harder and harder for the Denver passing game to be efficient and operate like it is capable of doing.

Don't get me wrong. I still believe Shanahan has a future as a head coach but I think it's time for a change. If he goes somewhere else and starts fresh, I think he has a shot at turning a team around. But you have to take away the personnel decision making power. If you let him mess with the roster the mad scientist will take over and the results won't be pretty..

The "Big 9" Week 7 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:32:00 +0000

What a crazy crazy week in the NFL. The Redskins, Cowboys and Giants all looked awful. The Falcons and Cardinals come up with huge exciting wins and Cleveland out of no where looks like the Browns of last year. This causes quite a shake up in the big 9.

1 (4) Tennessee Titans 5-0 - Can it really be anyone else at this point? Our top 3 teams from last week all lost to inferior opponents. The Titans remain the lone undefeated team in the NFL. Their schedule also stays weak with a match-up against the Chiefs this week.

2 (1) New York Giants 4-1 - Their defense looked pretty awful last night against the Browns and Eli went back to his old ways of turning the ball over at every opportunity. Still, every tea, has some bumps in the road and the Giants have looked too good over their last 10 games to just collapse.

3 (5) Pittsburgh Steelers 4-1 - The Steelers move up two spots during a bye week. Willie Parker should be back and healthy this week, and the Steelers should have no trouble improving their record to 5-1 against the lowly Bengals.

4 (2) Washington Redskins 4-2 - Of all the games this last week, the one I thought was a certain lock was the Skins over the Rams. However, the Rams looked rejuvenated after a head coaching change and somehow came up with the win. THe Redskins defense is still very good however and they should get in to the playoffs with out too much problem.

5 (NR) Tampa Bay Bucs 4-2 - The Bucs defense looked fantastic on Sunday against what previously had looked like a strong Panthers offense. They look liek the odds-on favorite to win the NFC South, but it won't be easy.

6 (NR) San Diego Chargers 3-3 - The Chargers really could be 6-0 or at least 5-1, they have had some real bad breaks, including one game being taken away that they won fair and square. They still have an uphill battle, but they looked fantastic against the Patriots and I still think they will come away with the AFC West crown.

7 (9) Atlanta Falcons 4-2 - The Falcons-Bears game on Sunday migth have been the best I have seen all year. Matt Ryan looked exceptional, throwing for well over 300 yards and completing a miraculous pass with 6 seconds left to set up the winning FG. The NFC South is wide open and the young Falcons have a real shot.

8 (NR) Arizona Cardinals 4-2 - Another newcomer to the rankings this week. The Cardinals played a great game against the cowboys on Sunday and proved themselves the heavy favorites to win the NFC West. When they get Anquan Boldin back they may have the best receiving core in the league.

9 (3) Dallas Cowboys 4-2 - The cowboys fall 6 spots in this week's rankings, partially because they lost but mostly because Tony Romo will miss the next 3 games with a broken finger. If the Cowboys can win one or two of those games they will still have a shot at the playoffs but things got a whole lot dimmer in one week for Cowboys fans.

Apologies to the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos

NFC Week 6 Roundup

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:29:00 +0000

NFC East

Bye Bye Cowboys?

At the start of this season, I like many others thought this could be the year the Cowboys finally broke through and won a playoff game for the first time since 1996. I even picked them to be the NFC's representative in the Super bowl. Through their first 3 games the Cowboys looked to be everything that was promised. Great offense, strong defense, 3 very convincing victories. However the last 3 weeks they haven't looked like the same team. Now there are reports that Tony Romo has a broken finger and will be out for at least 4 weeks. If true the Cowboys could very well be sitting at home this January, considering the division they play in.

NFC South

Hello Falcons?

The NFC South has been one of the most wide open divisions in Football for a long time. Each of the last 3 years, we have seen a different divisional champion. The only team not to win it recently is the Falcons, but they are trying to do something about that. Rookie Matt Ryan seems to have the poise it takes to be a winning QB, and the Falcons keep looking stronger each week.

NFC North

Who will win the North?

The NFC North Division looked like it had a chance to be a very strong division at the start of the year. Everyone loved the Vikings and the Packers were coming off a 13-3 year. The Bears also looked strong early on. Lately through, the division has looked anything but strong. All 3 teams sit tied for first with 3-3 records, while the awful Lions bring up the rear. The Vikings really haven't impressed and the Packers have had no running game at all. If The Bears can get their defense healthy, they could have a good shot to win this division.

NFC West

Year of the Cardinal?

Are the Arizona Cardinals finally going to do it? The team that has had great skill players and a solid defense for a long time now, finally looks poised to make some noise. Kurt Warner is showing flashes of his old past and The Cardinals keep winning games. No one else in the West appears to be even decent, so if the Cardinals can't win the division this year, they may never win it.

The Shocker in the Desert.. Sign of Parity or Just Another Cowboys' Choke?

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:50:00 +0000

It's been a crazy season in the NFL so far. It all started in the 1st Quarter of Week 1 when Tom Brady went down and took the juggernaut Patriots with him. Since then it has been a week to week roller coaster of ups and downs for just about every team in the league. Sure, the defending champion Giants are undefeated, as are the surprise Titans, but it's been a free for all with just about everyone else..

The Redskins? They won back to back road games at Philly and Dallas then promptly lost at home to an 0-4 Rams team. Green Bay started the year looking like it would be smooth sailing without Favre only to lose 3 strait before bouncing back on Sunday. Jacksonville, my pick as the best team in the AFC, couldn't take care of business at home against Buffalo and Pittsburgh but managed road wins at 2 of the toughest venues in the NFL, winning in Indianapolis and at Denver. But perhaps the greatest example of the ups and downs in this year's NFL are the Dallas Cowboys.

They were pretty much everyone's pick to represent the NFC in the Superbowl and appeared to be the best team in football after Brady went down but looked erratic in a home loss to the Redskins and then fell apart in crunch time once again Sunday at Arizona.

It was a special teams nightmare for the Cowboys, who allowed a 93 yard kickoff return for a TD on the first play of the game and a blocked punt for a TD in OT on the last play of the game. It was an unbelievable finish for the Cowboys and perhaps evoked memories of a previous Special Teams gaffe when Tony Romo fumbled the hold in a playoff game at Seattle in Jan. of 2007. It just seems like no matter how much talent they have, this team just can't get the job done when it matters. Add in the circus-like cast of characters from T.O. to Pac-Man to Tank Johnson. Dallas has made a living out of taking chances on troubled individuals and it has repeatedly come back to haunt them. More importantly, with this many volatile personalities in the locker room, can this team possibly co-exist for an entire season with this many bumps in the road? Anything is possible, but things sure didn't look good for them Sunday in Phoenix.

He Looked Like a Ghost!!! I Swear!!

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:20:00 +0000

Cowboy fans can't be happy with this news. Look who is at it again. It's our good friend Adam "Don't call me Pac-Man" Jones. Police were called to an altercation on Tuesday night between Jones and one of his bodyguards at an upscale hotel in downtown Dallas. No charges were filed but it is the latest in a line of numerous altercations involving Jones and the Police. The truly ironic part is that it took place mere hours before a scheduled meeting with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday morning.

It's just the latest in a string of strange events involving Cowboy players in recent years ranging from the alleged suicide attempt by T.O. in 2006 to the Jessica Simpson scandal during last year's playoffs. The Cowboys have the talent to be an amazing team but it's hard to imagine them reaching their potential with all the distractions surrounding this cast of characters.

The NFL "Big 9" Week 6 Edition.

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:15:00 +0000

Ahhhh, sweet, sweet wonderful parity. Can you imagine if 2 months ago I had told you the Dolphins would own wins over the Patriots and Chargers? That the Falcons looked like the best team in the NFC South, that the only undefeated team in the AFC through 5 games was led by Kerry Collins? You would have thought I was insane.. Welcome to the 2008 NFL Season! Parity is fantastic, no? Let's get to the rankings.

1 (1). New York Giants - 4-0 - No Plaxico Burress? No problem for the defending champs who humiliated the Seahawks on Sunday. And things don't look any tougher the next couple weeks with games at Cleveland and home to the 49ers on the horizon.

2 (4). Washington Redskin - 4-1 - They just keep chugging along, winning big games. Hard to believe this is the same team that was humiliated in Week 1 by the Giants. They don't win pretty but they just keep on winning. Back to back road wins in Dallas and at Philly earn them the 2 spot.

3 (5). Dallas Cowboys - 4-1 - T.O. claims the media made up his fued with Romo and that everything is dandy in Cowboywille. It certainly looked like it against the Bungles on Sunday. Don't believe the hype though. The big guns on this offense aren't Romo and Owens, but rather the RB tandem of Barber and Jones.

4 (3). Tennessee Titans - 5-0 - The Titans fall to the 4 spot but it's more an indictment of their opposition than it is of the Titans themselves. 5 wins is nice and all but the collective record of their opponents to date is 6-17 including W's against the winless Texans and Bengals. Things remain easy next week with a game against the struggling Chiefs before finally facing their first big test in a Monday Night Match-up with the Colts on Oct. 27th.

5 (6). Pittsburgh Steelers - 4-1 - It seems new names are added to their injured list almost on a daily basis, but for now at least, the Steelers keep plugging along. After failing to practice much of the week with shoulder pain, Ben Roethlisberger had a huge game against the Jaguars, throwing for over 300 yards and 3 TD's. Mewelde Moore provided the rushing attack with Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall both out with injuries. They remain the most talented team in the AFC, IF they can get healthy and overcome injuries.

6 (7). Denver Broncos - 4-1 - Yes, Virginia, the Broncos DO have a defense. In one of the biggest surprises of the week the Denver defense made a cameo just in time to welcome former friend Brian Griese back to town. And welcome him they did to the tune of 3 1st half sacks and a big hit by Champ Bailey that chased Griese from the game. Of concern to the Broncos are injuries to Eddie Royal and Tony Sheffler that may leave Jay Cutler without 2 of his favorite targets for an extended period of time.

7 (8). Carolina Panthers - 4-1 - The defense was impressive again as the Panthers shutout the hapless Chiefs. The running game was also in fine form as the offense rushed for almost 200 yards rushing. Injuries to OT's Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah could prove troublesome long term though.

8 (NR). Chicago Bears - 3-2 - The Bears are back and as staunch as ever on the defensive side of the ball but what's impressive is for the first time in a long time the Bears offense is actually quite potent as well. Led by rookie phenom Matt Forte at RB and Captain Neckbeard himself, Kyle Orton at QB the offense is averaging nearly 26 points per game. With the Packers in a sudden tailspin, the NFC North appears to be Chicago's to lose.

9 (NR). Atlanta Falcons - 3-2 - No, that's not a misprint. The Falcons are for real. Led by breakout star, Michael Turner and rookie sensation Matt Ryan, Atlanta is giving it's fans something to cheer about for the first time in years. A big win at Lambeau Field propels them into the rankings but they'll have a real chance to show they belong in a big matchup with the rising Bears this coming Sunday.

Apologies to the New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Bucs.

The Best Pitcher You Probably Haven't Heard Of...

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:35:00 +0000

It's not often you can pitch for a team with a storied pitching history in the second largest media market in the country and fly under the radar. It's not often you can post a 3.14 ERA and be the best pitcher on a division championship team and receive little to no recognition. Usually when you finish 7th in the league in ERA, 5th best in ERA+ and 5th in the league in strikeouts while pitching for a 1st place team you end up being a household name in a hurry... Unless your name happens to be Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He might be the best pitcher that casual baseball fans have never heard of. In the lead up to the Cubs-Dodgers NLDS matchup there was lots of talk about Manny, and how well Derek Lowe had pitched down the stretch. There was talk of the Cubs deep rotation and concern about the health of Zambrano and Harden... But almost no mention of the best pitcher on the Dodgers staff. Chad Billingsley. Yes, Lowe got the Game 1 start and most of the hype, but that was largely due to his previous post-season experience. Don't fool yourself, it was Billingsley that carried this pitching staff and put the team on his back at times. Just 24 years old and having just completeted his first full season as a regular starting pitcher, he is already the ace of a team that built it's reputation with the likes of Koufax, Drysdale and Sutton.

That might have all changed Thursday night as Billingsley made his first post-season start. On the road in a tense Wrigley Field, he took the ball and was nothing short of sensational. He allowed just one earned run in 6 2/3 IP and struck out 7 while facing the best offensive team in the National League. His performance, along with a series of defensive miscues by the Cubs infield, helped the Dodgers take a 2-0 lead over the heavily favored Cubs and maybe, just maybe will help Billingsley get the type of recognition his performance on the field deserves...

It's about time......

The Playoffs are finally here....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:37:00 +0000

Its been an awfully long season, for us die-hards we have been going at it since mid-February. All working towards one thing, the postseason.... and its finally here. Things get underway this afternoon on TBS.

The Match-ups:

ALDS

Chicago White Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays

What a year for the Rays, I remember thinking at the start of the year that there were a few teams in baseball that had absolutely no chance of ever making the playoffs. The Pirates and Royals came to mind and also... the Rays. I never could have guessed this one.

Why the Rays might win....
Pitching. The Rays have done it with pitching all year long. Kazmir, Garza and Shields might be the best playoff rotation in the AL. It doesn't get much easier in the bullpen either.... Balfour, Howell, Wheeler and Bradford have been lights out. The Rays may be the best built team in the AL to go to the World Series.

Why the White Sox might win....
Momentum, Looking over the two squads on paper, this should be a Rays win, however the White Sox are coming off 3 victories in must-win situations. They also have a lot of power, when an offense like that gets hot, it might not matter what pitcher they are facing.

CubsFella's pick: Rays in 4

Boston Red Sox vs. LA Angels of Anaheim

This is a giant match-up, TBS is watering at the mouth at the chance to have 5 games in this series. Two major markets with large fan bases, the meda will be all over this one.

Why the Angels might win...
The most complete team in baseball. The Angels don;t really have an MVP candidate or a Cy Young candidate, but they are solid in every aspect of the game. Above average starting pitching, a strong offense and a great bullpen, and while Closer may be an overrated position during the regular season, in the postseason a shutdown closer like K-Rod can make a huge difference.

Why the Red Sox might win...
Confidence and Experience. The Red Sox might be the most confident team in the bigs. After struggling for decades they have shown the world they have what it takes to win. It won't be easy with a banged up Josh Beckett and without Manny Ramirez, but the Red Sox still have a lot of talent and character and they have been here before.

CubsFellas pick: Angels in 5

NLDS

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs

As, mentioned before, here at the Sportsfellas, this is the matchup to watch. I myself have been a die-hard Cubs fan sine I was a very small kid. I haven't missed more than a handful of Cubs games all season and I am hoping and praying somehow the this is the Cubs year. As for Gaddeus he has been a Dodger fan for many years, the Dodgers have won just one playoff game in 20 years so he will be hoping for a change in fortune as well.

Why the Cubs might win...
Depth. The Cubs, like the Angels don't really have an MVP or a Cy Young, but they are strong at literally every position across the board. 4 very good starting pitchers a stacked lineup and two power arms at the back of the bullpen. The Cubs will need good outings from the starters as middle relief has been suspect.

Why the Dodgers might win...
Derek Lowe and Manny Ramirez. Derek Lowe has been the best pitcher in baseball since August, an ERA well under two and a 6-1 record. Not to mention he has had a lot of past success against the Cubs. He will take the ball twice in the series and that might make things tough on the Cubs. Manny Ramirez is also the best hitter in the game right now.

CubsFella's pick: Cubs in 5

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

This might be the most low key match-up of the postseason, this one might fly under the radar a bit in the media. The Phillies look to be huge favorites in this one as the Brewers limp in without Be Sheets and a tired Sabathia

Why the Phillies might win...
Utley, Howard, Burrell. The Brewers bullpen has struggled mightily and they also really only have one good starting pitcher, The middle of the Philies order may feast on the rest of the Brewers pitching staff and put this one away early

Why the Brewers might win....
CC Sabathia. There really isn't any other way, The Brewers will need two more dominating short rest outings from CC to win this series. Sabathia has been lights out since coming to the Brewers in a trade 3 months ago, but he has been overworked big time. Still the big man looks strong, he will have to stay that way if he wants to carry the Brew into the NLCS.

CubsFella's pick: Phillies in 3

The NFL "Big 9", Week 5 Edition.

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 23:50:00 +0000

What a wild week in the NFL. Our previous week number 1 ranked Cowboys fell to Washington and among other undefeated teams, Denver and Baltimore fell. As a result there was lots of movement on the "Big 9".

Last week's rank in ().

1 (2). New York Giants - 3-0 - The defending champs take over the top spot by default. As they rested in their bye week they saw division foes Dallas and Philly fall leaving them as the last team standing in the NFL's toughest division.

2 (3). Buffalo Bills - 4-0 - They just keep chugging along under the radar. Could this really be the AFC's best team? Hard to believe but so far they might be.

3 (NR). Tennessee Titans - 4-0 - I left them off last week because it's hard to imagine a team that has undergone all the Vince Young drama and led by Kerry Collins amounting to much but it's hard to overlook a 4-0 record. They have already logged 3 home victories though and things figure to get harder as they face tougher opponents on the road.

4 (9). Washington Redskins - 3-1 - The forgotten team in the mighty NFC East marched into Texas Stadium and knocked off the Cowboys, showing they belong with the big boys. Still a lot of questions including the always fragile health of Clinton Portis but when you knock off the #1 seed you deserve to move up.

5 (1). Dallas Cowboys - 3-1 - A home loss to the Redskins and now the media reports that T.O. had a heated discussion with Romo about his lack of involvement in the passing game. Somewhere Donovan McNabb is laughing. This is still the most talented team in the league but nobody can wreck locker room chemistry quicker than a disgruntled T.O.

6 (8). Pittsburgh Steelers - 3-1 - It wasn't a pretty W but the Steelers bounced back from an ugly loss to Philly by stopping the previously unbeaten Ravens. The injury to Rashard Mendenhall could be a killer though as Willie Parker's health is also in question. It's hard to be a power running team without a healthy running back.

7 (5). Denver Broncos - 3-1 - Even some of the great Denver teams over the years struggled to win at Arrowhead so the loss alone wasn't a killer but this game highlighted a lot of Denver's weaknesses. When the passing game sputters they are very beatable because there is no running game to speak of and the Denver can't stop anyone. They remind me a lot of the early Elway years. Great passing game, not much else.

8 (NR). Carolina Panthers - 3-1 - They win ugly and by the smallest of margins but thus far they have gotten the job done. I don't think the have the weapons to hang with the Cowboys or Giants offensively but Steve Smith getting into a groove could change that in a hurry.

9 (NR). San Diego Chargers - 2-2 - They are an Ed Hochuli whistle away from being 3-1 and are probably still the most talented team in the AFC. If the L.T. we saw in the 4th quarter Sunday shows up the rest of the year, this team is going to be VERY tough to beat.

Other teams on the rise - Chicago, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville.

So there it is folks. As always comments are appreciated!

Another One Bites The Dust...

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:48:00 +0000

Thursday night saw another major college football power fall to an unheralded team as USC fell to Oregon State. What a crazy season we have seen so far. The Big-10 is down, the Pac-10 is down and 6 non BCS teams are currently ranked in the top 25.

USC had been the lone bright spot in what has been a brutal start to the season for the Pac-10. They are the only ranked Pac-10 teams compared to the non-BCS, Mountain West which has 3 ranked team and non-BCS WAC which has 2. In addition the Pac-10 is 0-5 head to head against Mountain West teams.

The Big-10 hasn't fared much better as I wrote about 10 days ago following Ohio State's humiliating loss to the Trojans, which looks even worse now that USC was knocked off.

To put the current rankings into perspective.

The Mountain West has 3 ranked teams(#11 BYU, #17 Utah, #24 TCU), which is more than 3 conferences who qualify automatically for the BCS. The Pac-10 which has one ranked team, the Big East which has one ranked team and the ACC which has 2 ranked teams.

The WAC has 2 ranked teams(#19 Boise State and #25 Fresno State), which is more than 2 conferences who qualify automatically for the BCS. The Pac-10 and the Big East and they have the same number of ranked teams as the ACC.

Conference USA has one ranked team(#23 ECU) which is equal to 2 conferences who qualify automatically for the BCS. The Pac-10 and the Big East.

It's been a magical year for the "little guys" but thanks to the BCS, it's unlikely more than one of these teams, if any, ends up playing in a BCS game at the end of the year. But if nothing else, hopefully a few more seasons like this will lead to the talking heads who run college football to FINALLY come to the realization that a 16 team playoff is the only possible way to solve this madness.

*AP Poll data was used for all rankings information.

The NFL "Big 9".

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:43:00 +0000

I've thought about doing an NFL Power Rankings for awhile but hesitated because everyone has one. Then I realized I spend like 2 hours every Tuesday looking at the NFL power rankings on every sports site imaginable. So hey, one more can't hurt... Right?

So here you go.. Gaddeus' "Big 9", the 9 NFL teams I feel are playing the best right now.

1. Dallas Cowboys - 3-0 - Is anyone playing better than America's team? The offense is cranking on all cylinders after besting the Packers on Sunday Night despite T.O. barely even making an appearance. The 1-2 punch of Marion Barber and Felix Jones looks as good as any tandem in the league. And don't forget this team is capable of throwing the ball some too.... Unless it's the playoffs.

2. New York Giants - 3-0 - Going into the season a lot of people (including yours truly) wondered if the Giants could even make the playoffs in the brutal NFC East. Especially with Strahan retired and Osi Umenyiora out for the year with injuries. But lo and behold the defending champs are 3-0 and showing no signs of letting up.

3. Buffalo Bills - 3-0 - Who? No seriously. This team is playing outstanding football right now and with the Patriots shell-shocked after their crushing loss to Miami, Buffalo is clearly the team to beat in the AFC East.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - 2-1 - Yes, there are numerous undefeated teams we could stick here ahead of the Eagles but it's hard to penalize a team when their only loss was to the Cowboys in Texas Stadium. This team just plays with incredible heart. With both McNabb and Westbrook nursing injuries this past Sunday the defense just took over the game, sacking Big Ben so many times he still hasn't gotten up.

5. Denver Broncos - 3-0 - Watching Bronco games this year is like watching two of your friends play Madden. Both teams score on every possession. It's almost like a college game. Eventually the Broncos lack of anything resembling a defense and uncanny good luck will catch up with them. But right now they look as good as anyone, especially on offense.

6. Green Bay Packers - 2-1 - Another NFC team who's only loss came to the Cowboys. The Packers have looked solid all year in spite of the Brett Favre fiasco but suffered 2 big losses on Sunday night. Not only did Dallas come into Lambeau and get the W but Packers CB, Al Harris left the game with a serious injury and may be done for the year.

7. Baltimore Ravens - 2-0 - Though I haven't been overly impressed with the Ravens they are unbeaten. And while it's hard to imagine a Joe Flacco led team as a serious Superbowl contender, 2-0 is still 2-0.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers - 2-1 - A week ago I probably would have put them at #2 but after an embarrassing loss to the Eagles it appears the Steelers have some pretty serious issues on offense. Their O-Line had no answer for Philly's blitz scheme and now comes the news that Wlllie Parker will miss at least one week as well.

9. Washington Redskins - 2-1 - The forgotten team in the brutal NFC East, the Redskins have really flown under the radar. With road games in Dallas and Phily on the horizon it's hard to imagine the 'Skins hanging onto this slot.

So there it is.. Sure you can argue that New England, Indianapolis, San Diego and Jacksonville are gonna finish ahead of many of these teams by season's end but right now they just haven't performed well enough to merit consideration. The Pats might have snuck in had they kept is respectable against Miami but when you can't stay within 3 TD's of the Dolphins on your home field, you aren't making the "Big 9".

Down the Stetch They Come......

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:33:00 +0000

Its autumn time again.... what a great time of the year. The weather is getting cooler, football is now in full swing and the playoff races in baseball are coming down the home stretch. With only 9 days left in the baseball season, we still have some interesting races to watch.

In the American League, one division has been settled for some time now. The Angels clinched the West with little resistance and is now playing only for home field advantage. Whether they succeed or not however, they will match-up with the winner of the AL Wildcard. Due to some unique and pretty stupid baseball rules, two teams from the same division can not play first round.

K-Rod and Vlad look to lead the Angels back to the World Series

As for the AL East it appears they have all but secured two playoff teams, the Red Sox and the surprising Rays. The only question is who will get home field and play the AL Central and who gets the wildcard and has to travel to Anaheim.

The AL Central is the only real race left in the AL where someone is going to be left out. Going in to Saturday's action, the White Sox had a lead of 2.5 games over the Twins. The teams still have 3 games left against one another in Minnesota. The Twins will likely need to win 7 of their last 8 games and/or sweep the White Sox to still come away with the title.

As for the National League, they also have one division where it has pretty much already been decided. The Cubs have a 9 game lead in the NL Central going into Saturday, leaving them only one win, or one Brewers loss away from clinching the division title. The Cubs are also very likely to end with best record in the NL and home field advantage. Who they will be playing however is still a long way from being decided.

The Cubs hope to celebrate in the postseason for the first time in ages

The NL East and wildcard races are definitely the most open as we head down the stretch. The Mets and Phillies are in a seesaw battle at the top. Whoever fails to tie up the division will have to out battle the Brewers for the wildcard. Just a short time ago, the Brewers looked almost certain to make the playoffs, but so far have had a terrible September. They now trail the Phillies by 1.5 games in the Wildcard. With Ben Sheets likely out for the remainder of the season as well, they have an uphill battle.

The NL West is a division that has become much more clear of late. After battling the Diamondbacks at the top of the division for months, the Dodgers, who have been rejuvenated by the deadline acquisition of Manny Ramirez, have now opened up a 3.5 game lead. With only 9 days left and a cupcake schedule remaining the Dodgers should easily hold on to the title.

Manny being Manny has been enough to vault the Dodgers to the top of the NL West

So what will the first round playoff matches look like?

I'll say the Rays and White Sox will both hold on to their division leads, setting up ALDS matchups of Angels vs. Red Sox and Rays vs. White Sox.

In the NL, I think the Phillies will win the NL East and that the Mets will out battle the struggling Brewers for the wildcard leaving matchups of Cubs-Mets and Phillies-Dodgers in the NLDS. Where things go from there is anybody's guess.

For the first time in our lives, both my Cubs and Gaddeus' Dodgers should be in the postseason though, meaning the Sportsfellas will be paying close attention this year..... and with a possible NLDS or NLCS Cubs-Dodgers showdown, things could get pretty interesting this October.

Time To Scrap Instant Replay in the NFL.

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:30:00 +0000

So after watching the now infamous San Diego-Denver game this past Sunday I have come to the realization that instant replay has to go. It was an outstanding game for the most part as 2 high powered offenses traded punches the entire game with big plays on both sides. Sadly though, there were 2 plays that left a cloud over the game and made us all wonder how real the outcome was.

The first one happened early in the game when Champ Bailey wrestled the ball away from Chris Chambers as he fell to the ground after a reception. Props to Bailey for an outstanding strip of the ball but replays showed Chambers was clearly down by contact before the ball came loose. But the refs couldn't verify this information because the on field replay equipment malfunctioned and NFL rules state that if a malfunction occurs and it can't be fixed within 2 minutes then the game is to resume and the play on the field stands. So even though millions of people watching saw that it was clearly not a fumble, Denver was awarded the turnover. Really? In a world of instant information and high tech data transfer we can't find a way to re-route the network TV feed to the refs in event of equipment failure? It led to a Denver TD. Amazing part is, this gaffe was mild in comparison to what happened later...

Down 38-31 late in the 4th quarter, Denver QB, Jay Cutler drops back to pass and dropped the ball. No forward arm motion, no tuck rule, nothing. He just dropped the ball. He even admitted as much after the game. San Diego scooped up the ball and it appeared the game was pretty much over. San Diego would take over possession and run out the clock. But no, referee Ed Hochuli signaled incomplete pass. Replays confirmed what we already knew, it was clearly a fumble. Only one problem. Hochuli blew the whistle, ruling the play dead before San Diego recovered. So even though everyone, including Hochuli knew he got the play wrong, the rules prohibit a change of possession after the whistle is blown. So even after reviewing the play and seeing his error, he couldn't award the ball to San Diego. All he could do was move Denver back 9 yards from the previous line of scrimmage because that is where the ball was when he blew the play dead. Denver went on to score and convert a 2 point attempt winning the game by a score of 39-38. It was an incredible ending to an outstanding game. But all anyone is going to remember is the botched replays.

I'm sorry but if this is how instant replay is gonna work then what's the point? Just get rid of it. If you can watch a replay and see you made the wrong call but the rules prevent you from reversing it then why waste everyone's time reviewing it in the first place? It's a flawed system and it needs to go. At least before if the refs made the wrong call you could rationalize that it was harder to see in real time or the ref had a bad angle. But to KNOW you made the wrong call and not have the power to fix it? Utterly insane. Bad calls are part of sports and always will be. It's time to embrace the human element of the game and just go with it. The flawed eyes of the zebras were good enough for generations of football players before instant replay was created and it's good enough for today.

The Big-10? Try the Little Eleven...

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:25:00 +0000

It's one of the most storied conferences in College Football history. But lately it's been a lightning rod for criticism and failed expectations. It's the Big-10 Conference! Even the name doesn't make sense. There have actually been 11 teams in the Big-10 since Penn State formally joined in 1990. They even sneakily acknowledge this in their logo by designing the letters so you can make out the number 11 inside the Big-10 logo... Those tricksters!

Historically it has been the best of the best. Winning numerous National titles and awards. But lately, it's turned into a nightmare for Big-10 fans and a bit of a joke for the rest of the country. The Big-10 continues to feature highly ranked teams but their lack of bowl success and high profile out of conference victories leaves many wondering if perhaps they aren't receiving votes for their storied history rather than the talent of the teams on the field.

Case in point? Ohio State. The Buckeyes ran roughshod over the Big-10 in both 2006 and 2007 and earned a spot in the BCS National Title Game. Great news, right? Not unless you are a Florida or LSU fan. The Gators crushed Ohio State in the 2007 Championship game by the score of 41-14 and LSU dispatched them almost as easily in the 2008 Championship by the score of 38-24.

The rest of the Big-10 didn't fare so well in their Bowl matchups either as the Conference as a whole went 5-10 in Bowl games over the past 2 seasons. By way of comparison, the SEC, widely considered to be the strongest conference in the country, went 13-5. The Big East was next best amongst the BCS conference at 8-2, followed by the Pac-10 at 7-5, the Big-12 at 8-8, and the ACC at 6-10. That means the worst BCS conference in Bowl performance over the past 2 seasons was? You guessed it... The Big-10.

So if the Conference is down and struggling to win games against their peers then why do the Buckeyes and other Big-10 teams continue to get so much love from the polls? Your guess is as good as mine but it certainly isn't due to high profile out of conference success. In the past 2+ seasons, Ohio State's non conference opponents included Youngstown State(twice), Akron, Ohio University, Northern Illinois and Troy. To their credit they did win a big game at Texas at the start of the 2006 Season but their only other high profile matchup came last Saturday at USC when they were once again, humiliated at the hands of a superior opponent, 35-3.

The evidence is pretty compelling when you look at it. Big-10 teams have made a living out of convincing the pollsters that beating up on each other proves their strength only to go on to defeat and often humiliation at the hands of better teams in their Bowl matchups. Be it the National Title game or even the Rose Bowl, which the Big-10 hasn't won since 2000, they just haven't been worthy of their rankings or their acclaim for quite some time now.

Hopefully the pollsters will finally take notice and penalize them for failing to perform in Bowl Games and big OOC matchups. Because until they show they can beat someone outside of the the "mighty Big-10", they shall remain, at least in the eyes of this blog, The Little 11.

Stumble It!

BIG Z NO HITS THE.... Milwaukee Astros....?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:03:00 +0000

Sunday night was a great night for me. For the past 20 years now, I have been watching as many Chicago Cubs games every summer as I possibly could. I became a die-hard fan at a very young age and have suffered through many losing seasons and disappointments as all Cubs fans have. This year, of course, things have been different. Something feels special and unique about these 2008 Cubs. Sunday night was a first for me, getting to watch a starting pitcher on my beloved Cubs throw a no-hitter. Thanks to MLB.TV I was able to watch the whole thing and experienced one of my best feelings as a Cub fan. What a great night.... right?

Unfortunately I woke up this morning to find nearly every major sports news outlet along with Astros fans, Brewers fans, Cardinal fans and who knows who else, complaining about this game being played in Milwaukee. Of course its no secret, Milwaukee is a 2nd home stadium for the Cubs. It is widely referred to as Wrigley-North. The first few years after it opened it seemed like it was about 80% Cubs fans when we visited to play the Brewers. Even now when the Brewers have a good team with playoff hopes, the Cubs seem to pack in Miller park and be as loud or louder than Brewer fans.

So why did this game, a supposed home game for the Astros have to move to Milwaukee? Of course we all heard about Hurricane Ike, which ravaged the Texas and western Louisiana coasts and caused severe problems. Houston was hit hard and the city took a lot of damage and was without power, obviously this is not a time to be worrying about baseball games in Houston. But we knew this was going to happen didn't we? Weather forecasts had been warning Houston for many days that this hurricane was headed straight for them. The Astros and Major-League baseball had plenty of time to make a decision to move this series before the hurricane hit. The reason they didn't? Astros owner Drayton McLane.

Baseball and the Cubs tried to get this series moved to a neutral location from the very start. St. Louis, Kansas City, Tampa and Atlanta were all mentioned as possible neutral sites. However, McLane adamantly refused that the games be played anywhere other than Houston. Houston chronicle writer Richard Justice went as far as to say "Astros owner Drayton McLane so wanted this series to be played in Houston -- in spite of warnings from the National Weather Service -- that his judgment clouded all common sense." So we waited and waited and waited for a decision. where was this series going to played? Was it going to be played at all? Friday evening as the hurricane approached still no decision had been made, there were rumors that the series now may be moved to Milwaukee as other venues were no longer available. McLane claimed these reported were "very premature" and that the series could still be played in Houston. Of course everyone else knew there was no chance that would happen.

So as expected on Saturday Hurricane Ike struck with full force, leaving many people homeless, injured and without power. It was obvious the games could not be played in Houston. So MLB did the only thing left it could do, move the series to Milwaukee. ""We wanted Phoenix, Tampa Bay, Arlington, Atlanta, you name it. There was nothing else." McLane said Sunday. Of course the bottom line is all of this happened because of a tragedy. The ideal situation would have been to play the games in Houston as scheduled and for Texas to be sparred the wrath of this 'cane but it wasn't so, and everyone knew what was going to happen.

Sunday night, Carlos Zambrano took the ball for the Cubs and put on an amazing show, looking as good as he has all season. He completed the Cubs first no hitter since 1972 and I jumped for joy at the result. With the stuff Z had, I'm not sure the site of the game mattered anyway.

So for Astros fans claiming MLB screwed them over and that choosing Milwaukee as the neutral site was a sham, you only have one person to blame, your own owner.

As for the Cubs, their division lead is now 7.5 games with only a couple weeks of ball left. The Cubs will try to secure their 2nd straight NL central crown and will hope for a better result in the playoffs than last year. Really the only questions this team had, was the the health of aces Zambrano and Harden. With great starts under the belt for both, the Cubs appear to be in great shape for a run at their first World Series title in.... quite a while.

Stumble It!

The Silliest Record in Sports?

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:51:00 +0000

You probably know already that Francisco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of California of the Western Coast of the United States of America, is one of the best closers in baseball. You also probably know that his team is one of the best in baseball, their silly name notwithstanding. What you may not know is he recently tied the all-time single season saves record. He was far from dominant in his performance as he allowed 2 hits, K'ed none and even allowed an RBI single to Jeremy Reed but thanks to a 4 run lead and baseball's silly save rule he was awarded his 57th save of the season. Don't get me wrong. I think K-Rod is a fantastic pitcher and is one of the best closers in the game today. But the save rule has become so pointless that the record happened with little fanfare.

Can you imagine the single season HR record or pitcher wins record being broken with so little national awareness? Part of the problem is also due to the fact that unlike most baseball records, the saves title wasn't held by a household name. It wasn't Lee Smith, Goose Gossage or Dennis Eckersley that he equaled, but rather former Chicago White Sox closer, Bobby Thigpen. Thigpen's career numbers are solid, but his 57 save season in 1990 was far and away the best season of his career. In fact, after that year his numbers got progressively worse and he washed out of baseball less than 4 years later, just 30 years old when he threw his last major league pitch. After closing out 57 games in that single season, he went on to record just 53 more saves in the remainder of his career.

Ultimately though, running up big save numbers is largely a thing of chance. If your team isn't good enough, you simply don't get the save chances. In the cases of the both Thigpen, his White Sox won 94 games in 1990 and K-Rod, who's Angels are on pace to win 99, they both played for teams good enough to give them plenty of chances. By way of comparison, Eric Gagne's Dodgers won just 85 games in 2003 when Gagne set the National League record with 55 saves in a season. Does he top the 57 save mark if he gets those extra chances? It's impossible to know.

Baseball is a strange game where a bad hop or glare from the sun can take you instantly from hero to goat. But in most cases your fate is in your own hands. Every time a hitter steps into the batters box, he has the opportunity to hit the ball out of the park. It's not dependent on anything but his own abilities and performance. As a closer, all you can do is sit back and wait. If you are lucky, your team will score enough runs to put your team in a position to win and the manager will call your name to come in and finish it off. But it's out of your hands. Purely a game of chance and opportunity. Being in the right place at the right time. If you want to point to K-Rod's outstanding ERA or K/BB ratio as examples of his dominance, we've got a great discussion on our hands. But glorifying his big saves number is nothing but smoke and mirrors.

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Week 1 Surprises

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:00:00 +0000

The first week of the NFL season is always filled with unexpected wins, performances and disappointments. The Parity in the league is unlike any other in major sports. That's what makes the start of the NFL season so much fun. Who will be this year's breakout team and who will fall off the map. Here is a quick run down of some of the week one surprises.

Chris Johnson RB, Titans
Thanks to my stupid local CBS channel I got to watch a game between two teams who won a total of 5 games last year instead of the game I really wanted to watch which was Titans/Jaguars. Thanks to NFL Gameday Final however, I got to see quite a few highlights from this rookie. He looked very impressive, rushing for 93 yards on 15 carries and adding 34 yards receiving and a TD as well. If he gets the opportunity he could very well be this year's rookie running back sensation. The Titans have a very strong rushing game, which they are going to need considering how awful Vince Young has looked over the past year.

Atlanta Falcons
Again, thanks to DirecTV monopolizing the NFL sunday ticket market I didnt get to see this game, but the stats pretty much tell it all. The Falcons offense was running on all clynders. Rookie QB Matt Ryan by all account looked very poised and comfortable and RB Michael Turner had a HUGE day, running for over 200 yards. The Falcons defense still needs some work and I think they are a stretch to make the playoffs this year, but they looked far better Sunday than they did at any time in 2007. With their good young core, we may be looking at a team who could make some serious noise in a couple years.

Matt Forte RB, Bears
Thankfully this game was a Sunday night national game so I got to watch every play of Bears/Colts. I think pretty much everyone (well maybe not Brian Urlacher), including myself thought the Bears would open the season with a loss. However their defense showed shades of their 2006 NFC championship season and Peyton Manning looked flat for the Colts. The biggest surprise by far to me however was rookie running back Matt Forte. He looked surprisingly explosive and hard to tackle. The Colts defense was one of the tougher teams in the league to run against last year but Forte racked up 123 yards rushing including a long TD run. I would have never guessed this a few days ago, but the Bears could be real contenders to win the NFC North.

Eddie Royal WR, Broncos
Royal for me was the very biggest surprise of week 1. This guy can do pretty much everything. Catching 9 passes for 146 yards, running the ball out of the back field, returning punts and even attempted a pass. He filled in and then some for suspended WR Brandon Marshall. It will be interesting to see how many touches he gets next week when Marshall is back in the lineup but the Broncos offense looks primed for a huge season. Their run defense still looked shaky to me, but the way the Chargers looked against Carolina they could have a real chance to compete for a division title.

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5 Thoughts from NFL Opening Sunday...

noreply@blogger.com (Gaddeus) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:57:00 +0000

Thanks to the new Thursday game it's not the true start of the season anymore but to me, NFL Opening Sunday is one of the better sports days of the calender year. Lots of games and hopefully some questions answered as we finally get to see the team perform on the field.

Here are some of my thoughts on what turned out to be a pretty wild day.

1. Tom Brady is hurt, maybe out for the season. Nothing official has been announced by the team but there is already talk the Patriots are desperately seeking an alternative at QB. Among the rumors swirling is a report on NBC's Sunday Night Football that they have already contacted Chris Simms about working out for the team. It's an interesting situation to be sure. Backup Matt Cassel wasn't even a starter in college and may not have started a football game that mattered since High School. He looked good after Brady left and he's got an incredibly talented cast around him. But the Patriots without Brady is like M.A.S.H. without Hawkeye Pierce, Cheers without Sam or Seinfeld without Jerry Seinfeld. No matter how great the rest of the cast is, that one big star made it all tick.

2. What happened to the AFC elite? The Patriots hung on without Brady and Pittsburgh looked great but the Chargers, Jags and Colts all lost and in the case of Indianapolis, did so in embarrassing fashion. 4 of the consensus top 5 teams in the AFC are reeling after week 1. Can they pick up the pieces or will a surprise team rise up.

3. Green is green no matter the city. A lot may have changed this offseason for Bret Favre but some things didn't. He still took the field Sunday wearing a green jersey with #4 on the back and he still led his team to victory. His numbers weren't all that impressive and it was pretty clear that he is still learning to adapt to his new teammates and new surroundings but in an AFC East with no Tom Brady, the Jets are as good a pick as any to fill the void.

4. Business as usual in the NFC. The AFC may be a wreck but the favorites cruised for the most part in the NFC. The Cowboys and Eagles were particularly impressive but the Panthers, Bears and Saints looked good as well. Chicago marched into Indianapolis and dismantled the Colts, looking far more like the Superbowl Bears of 2006 than the mess of a team that struggled to win 7 games last season. They also look to have a keeper in rookie RB, Matt Forte, who rushed for 123 yards and a TD in his NFL debut. The AFC may be in a state of flux but things look as rosy as ever in the NFC. Could the balance of power that saw AFC teams win 8 of the past 11 Superbowls finally be shifting?

5. This guy really is pretty good... Michael Turner was long considered the best backup RB in football. But he had never been a starter on an NFL team. That all changed on Sunday as Turner ran around, over and through the Lions defense to the tune of 220 yards and 2 TD's. The bridesmaid no more, Turner looked to have all the skills to be one of the top RB's in the NFL. No one was more excited to see it then the much maligned Falcons. After suffering through the Michael Vick debacle and the failed experiment with former Head Coach Bobby Petrino, who didn't even finish out the season in which he was hired before accepting the job at Arkansas. He left after just 13 games in a dismal season that ended with a record of 4-12. The Falcons rode Turner and rookie QB, Matt Ryan to an impressive 34-21 victory against Detroit. Will it be a sign of things to come in Atlanta?

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