As I sit here on New Year's Eve waiting for the Saturday NFL games to start, I figured I would give out my awards for the season. I mean everybody else and their mother does so why shouldn't I? I'll hand out your typical awards, like MVP, and some I made up just for spite or love. So let's get to it!!
MVP
Tom Brady-QB New England Patriots
This one was pretty honestly very tough to call. My criteria being that an MVP must be the most valuable player. Not the best, the most VALUABLE. I also prefer that they are on a winning team. I don't care how important you are to your team, if you're only winning 5 games, you may be important, but you're not that good. So it was with that criteria I chose Tom Brady over Shaun Alexander.
Can you imagine where the Patriots would be without Brady? All year they were completely ravaged by injuries, and he put the entire franchise on his back and led them to a division title. Now the team is starting to get healthy and there's that whole "Uh oh" being muttered by every other playoff team in the AFC right now. Nobody wants to play them at the moment. Shaun Alexander has had a great year, but honestly if you put another above average back (Think Rudi Johnson or Thomas Jones) on the Seahawks I think they still finish 11-5 or 12-4. Take Brady off the Patriots and give them Brad Johnson or Jake Delhomme and they go 7-9 (at best.)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shaun Alexander-RB Seattle Seahawks
Now Shaun gets his due. I don't need to say much but his numbers after 15 games. 1,805 yards 27 (TWENTY FREAKING SEVEN!!) touchdowns. He had the type of year that a fantasy owner could have chosen him in the first round and then chosen nothing but fullbacks and third string WR's for his Fantasy team.....and STILL win the league. Now like I said the Seahawks could still be a good team with a slightly worse RB, but they sure as hell ain't 13-2 without him right now. My only question is this, after Alexander finally gets that contract he's been waiting so long for this offseason(whether it be from the Seahawks or whoever) does he still perform like this? I mean it's well known he is very motivated by his own numbers. We all know how he complained last season when Mike Holmgren didn't give him a couple more carries in Week 17 last season so he could take the rushing yards title. Then this year Holmgren kept him in longer than he needed in Week 16 so Alexander could tie the TD record, and you know he'll get goalline carries this week. After he gets paid though will he still have that same desire? I mean it wouldn't be the first time we saw it happen to a player would it? My gut says he likes being the man too much, so even after he gets paid he's still gonna want to do it..but you never know.
Also getting strong consideration for this vote was Chiefs RB Larry Johnson. He only started half the season after Priest Holmes went down and has had an Alexander like tear. I'm pretty sure we can expect about 99.9% (Keeper leagues not included) of fantasy league drafts to go something like #1 Alexander, #2 Johnson next season. I mean there will be the one guy who still drafts Peyton Manning over them. ($50 says he lives in Indiana too.)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Brian Urlacher-MLB Chicago Bears
How can you not give it to him? He has been the best player on the best defensive team in the league. Yes he has gotten trememdous help from the DLine being so good, but it works both ways. Opposing offensive lines are so busy scheming up ways to get to Urlacher and block him that they have to leave Bears DE's Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown in single blocking schemes. Urlacher started the season off with 6 sacks in the first few games. Then the Bears stopped blitzing him so much, and he STILL consumed opposing Offensive coordinators weeks.
Remember last season when the Sporting News said he was the most overrated player in the NFL? Then remember last season when Urlacher spent a lot of time sidelined with a hamstring and the Bears defense (Virtually the same unit they have now.) was not very good and the team was horrible? Well Urlacher was healthy all year and look how things have turned around in Chicago. The point? Sportswriters are idiots.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Carnell Williams-RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pretty easy choice in my opinion. He was the most important rookie offensive player in the NFL and he had the best season of any of them. If the Bucs don't have him this year are they even in contention right now? I don't think so. When Cadillac struggled during the middle weeks of the season, Tampa struggled. When he played well, Tampa played well.
Plus his nickname is Cadillac. He get's the award on that alone.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Lofa Tatupu-MLB Seattle Seahawks
This one was like the MVP in that it was really tough for me to call. Lofa got the nod in the end though, just cuz I wanted to keep the streak of Samoans who went to USC winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (Troy Polomalu) alive. I hope one day it rivals Dimaggio's 56 game hit streak. Ok so that's not the only reason. I don't think numbers alone can justify what Tatupu meant to a revitalized Seahawk defense this year. He was a rookie, thrown into the most important position on a defense, and he excelled. Shawne Merriman had a good year with San Diego and has more of the "Wow" factor goin for him, but Tatupu had the better year, and meant more to his defense. Merriman was good, but not good enough to help the Chargers make the playoffs. Merriman may go on to have the better career, but Lofa had the better 2005.
COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Tedy Bruschi-MLB New England Patriots
Who else can you give this too? Brad Johnson? Ya he had a pretty nice season in Minnesota when nothing was expected of him. Joey Galloway? Great season. Looks like he did when he was 25. Steve Smith? Missed the entire season last year, and now had the best 2005 at the WR position. Of course he deserves it.
Did any of those guys have a stroke in the offseason? Yes, that's right...STROKE. I'm not talking on a putting green kind of "Nice stroke" either. I mean "I can't feel the left side of my body" kind of stroke.
No?
Thought so. Then he comes back to play in the middle of this season and is right back to his old self. Giving Brady someone to help take the weight off his shoulders. Not only does Bruschi have the greatest last name of all time (Pronounced Brew-ski, as in "Hey dude toss me a brewski!") but he backs it up with his play. If this guy isn't someone to admire I don't know who is.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Lovie Smith-Chicago Bears
Tony Dungy is a GREAT coach, I know. Tony has Peyton Manning, Edgerrin James, Marvin Harrison, Dwight Freeney, and I can go on and on. Lovie Smith had Kyle Orton.
Even after the Bears got off to a 1-3 start Smith said to his fellow coaches on a flight home from a loss in Cleveland "We're gonna laugh at this at the end of the season when we are in the playoffs after starting 1-3." Teams take on the character of their coach. Lovie never quit, and never let his players quit on him. Trust me, after that loss to Cleveland the Bears had every reason to believe that it was gonna be a BAD year. The headlines in the sports section were all safety Mike Brown's infamous "We suck" comment. They did suck at the time too. Lovie didn't try anything drastic, and saw the pieces were in place. He kept things going the same way and then the Bears ripped off an 8 game win streak and now have secured the NFC North and a first round bye. This from a team that Sports Illustrated had ranked before the season as the 32nd best team (Thats last folks) in the NFL (BELOW THE 49ERS!!!!!!)
My point? Once again SPORTSWRITERS ARE IDIOTS.
Ok now we will get to MY awards.
HOW THE HELL DID YOU LAST THIS LONG IN THE FIRST PLACE AWARD?
Jim Haslett-Head Coach New Orleans Saints
Seriously. I say, and I hear the same exact thing about the Saints every year. "How does a team with that much talent suck so bad year after year?" Well they have absolutely no discipline. Where's that come from? Yep. The head coach. How many times do the Saints have to underachieve for them to fire him? I mean, and I know this sounds bad, but it literally took a huge natural disaster to get rid of Haslett. If Katrina never comes and sends things in disarray for the Saints Haslett may never be on the virge of being fired. The good news is that he won't have a job come Monday evening.
JEKYLL AND HYDE AWARD
San Diego Chargers
Has there ever been a "better" team to be 9-6 at this point? I mean one week they are losing at home to the Miami Dolphins, and the next they are beating the Colts IN Indianapolis. No team in the NFL cost me more money this season than the San Diego Chargers. If they were supposed to come through, they'd fail. When they were supposed to fail, they'd come through.
Another team in consideration for this award was the Dallas Cowboys, who each week looked like a completely different team too.
THE SURE THING AWARD
Chicago Bears and the Under
To go along with the Chargers costing me money, there was no more easy money wager than taking the under in a Bears game. Sometimes parlaying it with the cover too. In 15 games of just taking the under in a Bears game I went 13-2 this season. There was also an 8 week stretch where parlaying the too came through. As if I didn't love this team enough to begin with, then they start making money for me too. I LOVE MY CHICAGO BEARS. (Not to mention player prop bets that went something like Kyle Orton Under 125 yards passing)
THE MOST DEVASTATING INJURY THAT ACTUALLY HELPED A TEAM AWARD
Daunte Culpepper-QB Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings were horrible with their franchise QB, and then great without him. When Daunte went down and the Vikings were already in the tank you could hear all of Minnesota yell "Welcome to Minnesota Reggie Bush!" Wow thinking like that , maybe Culpeppers injury really did HURT the Vikings by helping them win. Crazy league that NFL is.
THE HANG IT UP AWARDS
Brett Favre-QB Green Bay Packers
Curtis Martin-RB New York Jets
Looking at the state of your respective teams, and the state of your respective abilities, just do yourselves a favor and retire. I think Martin is more likely, but both need to. Now not many people have more of a reason to want Brett Favre to retire (In the words of my future brother in law, Joe "He ruined my childhood!!") than me and my fellow Bear fans, but I actually used to ENJOY watching him play. Sure not when it was against the Bears, but as a football fan I don't see how you couldn't enjoy him while he was still Brett Favre. He was great, and watching him now is just really kind of painful. You just sit there and wait for him to throw that back breaking interception(which I had a discussion about with my boss Mark the other day and we both agree that should be a new stat. The BBINT. If for nothing else than so Favre could have ANOTHER record.)
Curtis Martin I have different reasons for. Running backs start to lose it when they get past a certain age. It can't be helped, cuz they are the most battered player on the field. Martin was a very good running back in his career, but at this point I don't see a reason to risk his body for a team that won't be better than 4-12 next year. I mean is one more season of 4-12 something to give up a somewhat pain-free life for after football?
That's it. I hope you enjoyed my awards. If you don't agree, oh well. Remember sportswriters are idiots. You can either post your thoughts here or email me at [email protected]. Have a Happy New Year and I'll see you all next week.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
2005
You know, it's not easy being a sports fan in Chicago. Year after year it's kind of the same thing. You love your teams, you support your teams, and then at the end of each season you watch teams from other cities compete for a Championship. Yes there was the Bulls dynasty in the 90's, but basketball has never been a big deal to me, or most of this city. Even when the Bulls were winning it wasn't the basketball that drew us in. It was Michael Jordan. I mean MJ could have been a quilter, but if he quilted anything like he played basketball we would have watched him work on his newest quilt. He then could have sold them off at a ridiculous price and taken all the profits to the nearest craps table. The point is, be it basketball or quilting, MJ would still have been MJ, and we still would have loved him for it. After Michael left though basketball was nowhere near as important in this city. Looking back on it, it seems that the Bulls historic run was nothing more than a way for this city to be distracted away from our other teams. The Bears had hardly been to the playoffs, let alone won anything since 1985. If you took a poll in the city and it had the question "What is a Blackhawk?" on it half the city would have said "Dominique Wilkins." Plus we all know the history of the White Sox and Cubs, so I don't need to rehash it.
Then this year came.
Admittedly, 2005 was a lot more enjoyable for a Chicago White Sox fan than a Chicago Cubs fan, but it was still a good year to be in Chicago. In January through March the city was ignited by the Fighting Illini and their quest to go unbeaten and win the National Championship. (It's official that U. of Illinois is the resident "home" college bball team in this city, NOT DePaul. It's gotten this way thanks to the tons of Illinois Alumni now living in Chicago, added to DePaul's lack of winning.) Of course the Illini ended up losing twice, the last game of the regular season at Ohio State, and in the last game of the Final Four against North Carolina. Still it was a breath of fresh air cuz it had been some time since this city had gotten a whiff of a championship. (Sure in 2003 the Cubs were close, but any true Cub fan knew what was going to happen in Game 6 before it took place.)
Shortly after the Illini's season ended baseball had begun. Like every year in Chicago there was that renewed sense of hope about our local teams. Yes, for Cub fans it was not a very fun year. (This is the part of the year Sox fans enjoyed a touch bit more. Being a Sox fan, I'll try not to rub it in too much.) At the very least though Cub fans were treated to a fantastic season from Derrek Lee.
The White Sox on the other hand were a completely different story. They were in first place after game 1 and remained there until the final out of Game 4 in Houston. I remember making a bet with my friend Aaron ( A Twin fan and Minnesota native) that his would be the year the Sox dethroned the Twins in the AL Central. I believed it too, it wasn't just sheer fan bravado. This despite the fact many "experts" had picked the White Sox to finish in 4th place in the division. Did I think they would win it all? No. Did I feel they could? Of course. What real fan doesn't think his team can win it? I mean is there anything in the world more obliviously optimistic about anything than a sports fan about his favorite team? (Dubya excluded.)
When the White Sox jumped out of the gate and stayed so far ahead of everyone I had that whole No Way!/I told you so! look on my face the entire time. (The real life equivalent of the Nic Cage/John Travolta movie poster for Face/Off. You know, half bug eyed, and half look at me dance, you know I got it!) I thought they could compete, but I didn't expect them to flat out dominate. It was just an odd way to feel for me. There was always that feeling in the back of my mind, the whole "wait for it" phenomenon. Just waiting for Buehrle's arm to fall off, or Podsednik's legs to snap in two. It always happens that way in this city. Boston gets all the publicity for it, but Chicago has been the same way with twice the teams, and a longer time. We just don't have the New York media (Or Boston's) around to exploit it and rub it in our (and your) faces.
Then late August came, and September and the Sox weren't winning 8 out of every ten games. Only 5. Not that big of a deal, or problem really with the size lead they had. Of course you throw in the Cleveland Indians winning 10 of every ten games and you get a problem. The whole country, and even people in this city were alive with the "See, told you they'd blow it." headlines. Even Sox fans were worried, and even if I didn't agree, I couldn't blame them. Stories of the 69 Cubs and their infamous collapse to the Mets were all over the place. The mistake was though, that this wasn't the Cubs (Sorry...one little dig.) the Sox weren't going to blow it. We weren't choke artists on the South Side, we were more of a "Seldom there" artist. As far as which is better, it's debatable, well for masochists anyway. I think they both suck.
All fears were thrown to the wayside though when in the last week of the regular season the White Sox flipped the light switch back on and tore off a winning streak that included a 3 day sweep in Cleveland to end the season using mostly our bench players. (Poor Indian fans. They were practically buying ALCS tickets and the next thing they knew we were stomping their face in the mud. I mean it's the sports equivalent of falling in love with a girl, only to have her dump you for no reason, and then she brings her new boyfriend over one night to kick your ass. Oh and he's 5'6" and weighs 125 pounds.) The White Sox then stormed through the playoffs and their opponents like (insert random country here) through France. No team had an answer for that pitching staff. The Red Sox? The defending champions who score runs like there's no tomorrow? Shut down. Vlad and the Angels? I don't think Vlad hit a ball out of the infield the entire series except one pop up to right field. The Astros and their pitching staff? Clemens-Loss, (Hey look!! Roger had to leave a big postseason game with an injury. Nothing new here.) Pettite-Loss, Oswalt-Loss, Lidge-Lit up.
It all ended up with some fat baby faced kid named Bobby Jenks who throws about 200MPH being mugged by 25 of the happiest guys in the world. That and me picking up K-Dogg in a bear hug and swinging him and Miller High Life all over Bryan Manion's living room. I sit here nearly 2 and a half months later, and I still don't think what happened that night has hit me yet. I had never felt so happy.
Now it's the end of December and the Bears are reminding people of the 85 team. While I think comparisons of the two aren't exactly fair, i definetely see likeness. Amazing defense, solid running game. Wins on the board. This season's team isn't as dominant, but they are good enough to get to the Super Bowl. Especially now that we have a QB who doesn't resemble one of my friends in our old Thanksgiving Day games.( I miss those games. I mean they were just fun. How many other times can you break a guys leg by diving at his knees, and then later that night be having a beer with him and laughing about the whole thing? Oh, it wasn't me who broke Mustain's leg, it was Vu, but you get the point.) Also with the White Sox winning I just have that whole "Oh the Bears could beat the Colts in the Super Bowl easily" feel about them. I mean the friggin White Sox won the World Series. Therefore the Bears can beat the Colts on a nuetral site. I mean if the Red Sox and Patriots can win championships in the same time frame, anybody can.
If the Bears do end up winning the Super Bowl I may drop dead from sensory overload. No joke. Even with that risk, I'm still gonna pull for em. It's not the same as it was with the Sox, cuz I have been alive for a Bears championship before, but I was only 5 years old. I don't think they meant too much to me at that point. I had cool toys that needed tending too. So I guess in a way if the Bears do win it, it will kind of have that same "once in a lifetime" feel to it. This city would erupt though. Unlike baseball there is no division here for the Bears. There are some Packer fans around here (Trust me if you lived in Green Bay you'd move here too.) but they don't count. (Literally, every ten years when the census is taken if you live in Chicago and check the box next to Packers fan they throw your little card out.) The party here would be amazing. I hope I get to go to it.
Now I know I haven't mentioned either the Bulls or the Blackhawks (they're a hockey team. Pronounced HA kee). The Bulls even showed some promise this year though. They made the playoffs for the first time since the dynasty was dismantled. They didn't get past the first round, but a solid young core of Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon has given the city some hope at least. Maybe one day soon the Bulls will have this city worshiping them again. The Blackhawks though, well to steal a too often used cliche, are the Fredo of Chicago's Corleone family. We're all still waiting for someone to take them fishing. The NHL left for a season, and from what I can sense, nobody really cared. So I guess not everything in 2005 was great, but denial is an underrated state of mind sometimes.
All I know is that for 2006 I don't have the "Wait til next year mentality" as much as the "I can't wait til next year!!!" feeling. Life is starting to get good around here, and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings me.
Then this year came.
Admittedly, 2005 was a lot more enjoyable for a Chicago White Sox fan than a Chicago Cubs fan, but it was still a good year to be in Chicago. In January through March the city was ignited by the Fighting Illini and their quest to go unbeaten and win the National Championship. (It's official that U. of Illinois is the resident "home" college bball team in this city, NOT DePaul. It's gotten this way thanks to the tons of Illinois Alumni now living in Chicago, added to DePaul's lack of winning.) Of course the Illini ended up losing twice, the last game of the regular season at Ohio State, and in the last game of the Final Four against North Carolina. Still it was a breath of fresh air cuz it had been some time since this city had gotten a whiff of a championship. (Sure in 2003 the Cubs were close, but any true Cub fan knew what was going to happen in Game 6 before it took place.)
Shortly after the Illini's season ended baseball had begun. Like every year in Chicago there was that renewed sense of hope about our local teams. Yes, for Cub fans it was not a very fun year. (This is the part of the year Sox fans enjoyed a touch bit more. Being a Sox fan, I'll try not to rub it in too much.) At the very least though Cub fans were treated to a fantastic season from Derrek Lee.
The White Sox on the other hand were a completely different story. They were in first place after game 1 and remained there until the final out of Game 4 in Houston. I remember making a bet with my friend Aaron ( A Twin fan and Minnesota native) that his would be the year the Sox dethroned the Twins in the AL Central. I believed it too, it wasn't just sheer fan bravado. This despite the fact many "experts" had picked the White Sox to finish in 4th place in the division. Did I think they would win it all? No. Did I feel they could? Of course. What real fan doesn't think his team can win it? I mean is there anything in the world more obliviously optimistic about anything than a sports fan about his favorite team? (Dubya excluded.)
When the White Sox jumped out of the gate and stayed so far ahead of everyone I had that whole No Way!/I told you so! look on my face the entire time. (The real life equivalent of the Nic Cage/John Travolta movie poster for Face/Off. You know, half bug eyed, and half look at me dance, you know I got it!) I thought they could compete, but I didn't expect them to flat out dominate. It was just an odd way to feel for me. There was always that feeling in the back of my mind, the whole "wait for it" phenomenon. Just waiting for Buehrle's arm to fall off, or Podsednik's legs to snap in two. It always happens that way in this city. Boston gets all the publicity for it, but Chicago has been the same way with twice the teams, and a longer time. We just don't have the New York media (Or Boston's) around to exploit it and rub it in our (and your) faces.
Then late August came, and September and the Sox weren't winning 8 out of every ten games. Only 5. Not that big of a deal, or problem really with the size lead they had. Of course you throw in the Cleveland Indians winning 10 of every ten games and you get a problem. The whole country, and even people in this city were alive with the "See, told you they'd blow it." headlines. Even Sox fans were worried, and even if I didn't agree, I couldn't blame them. Stories of the 69 Cubs and their infamous collapse to the Mets were all over the place. The mistake was though, that this wasn't the Cubs (Sorry...one little dig.) the Sox weren't going to blow it. We weren't choke artists on the South Side, we were more of a "Seldom there" artist. As far as which is better, it's debatable, well for masochists anyway. I think they both suck.
All fears were thrown to the wayside though when in the last week of the regular season the White Sox flipped the light switch back on and tore off a winning streak that included a 3 day sweep in Cleveland to end the season using mostly our bench players. (Poor Indian fans. They were practically buying ALCS tickets and the next thing they knew we were stomping their face in the mud. I mean it's the sports equivalent of falling in love with a girl, only to have her dump you for no reason, and then she brings her new boyfriend over one night to kick your ass. Oh and he's 5'6" and weighs 125 pounds.) The White Sox then stormed through the playoffs and their opponents like (insert random country here) through France. No team had an answer for that pitching staff. The Red Sox? The defending champions who score runs like there's no tomorrow? Shut down. Vlad and the Angels? I don't think Vlad hit a ball out of the infield the entire series except one pop up to right field. The Astros and their pitching staff? Clemens-Loss, (Hey look!! Roger had to leave a big postseason game with an injury. Nothing new here.) Pettite-Loss, Oswalt-Loss, Lidge-Lit up.
It all ended up with some fat baby faced kid named Bobby Jenks who throws about 200MPH being mugged by 25 of the happiest guys in the world. That and me picking up K-Dogg in a bear hug and swinging him and Miller High Life all over Bryan Manion's living room. I sit here nearly 2 and a half months later, and I still don't think what happened that night has hit me yet. I had never felt so happy.
Now it's the end of December and the Bears are reminding people of the 85 team. While I think comparisons of the two aren't exactly fair, i definetely see likeness. Amazing defense, solid running game. Wins on the board. This season's team isn't as dominant, but they are good enough to get to the Super Bowl. Especially now that we have a QB who doesn't resemble one of my friends in our old Thanksgiving Day games.( I miss those games. I mean they were just fun. How many other times can you break a guys leg by diving at his knees, and then later that night be having a beer with him and laughing about the whole thing? Oh, it wasn't me who broke Mustain's leg, it was Vu, but you get the point.) Also with the White Sox winning I just have that whole "Oh the Bears could beat the Colts in the Super Bowl easily" feel about them. I mean the friggin White Sox won the World Series. Therefore the Bears can beat the Colts on a nuetral site. I mean if the Red Sox and Patriots can win championships in the same time frame, anybody can.
If the Bears do end up winning the Super Bowl I may drop dead from sensory overload. No joke. Even with that risk, I'm still gonna pull for em. It's not the same as it was with the Sox, cuz I have been alive for a Bears championship before, but I was only 5 years old. I don't think they meant too much to me at that point. I had cool toys that needed tending too. So I guess in a way if the Bears do win it, it will kind of have that same "once in a lifetime" feel to it. This city would erupt though. Unlike baseball there is no division here for the Bears. There are some Packer fans around here (Trust me if you lived in Green Bay you'd move here too.) but they don't count. (Literally, every ten years when the census is taken if you live in Chicago and check the box next to Packers fan they throw your little card out.) The party here would be amazing. I hope I get to go to it.
Now I know I haven't mentioned either the Bulls or the Blackhawks (they're a hockey team. Pronounced HA kee). The Bulls even showed some promise this year though. They made the playoffs for the first time since the dynasty was dismantled. They didn't get past the first round, but a solid young core of Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon has given the city some hope at least. Maybe one day soon the Bulls will have this city worshiping them again. The Blackhawks though, well to steal a too often used cliche, are the Fredo of Chicago's Corleone family. We're all still waiting for someone to take them fishing. The NHL left for a season, and from what I can sense, nobody really cared. So I guess not everything in 2005 was great, but denial is an underrated state of mind sometimes.
All I know is that for 2006 I don't have the "Wait til next year mentality" as much as the "I can't wait til next year!!!" feeling. Life is starting to get good around here, and I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings me.
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Sporting World Potpourri
Reggie Bush Wins The Heisman
The voting wasn't even close. He won the thing by the largest margin in the history of the award. In fact I think Reggie got more first place votes than fellow Bush George W. got in the blue states combined. I mean how bad must Vince Young have felt afterward? It's too bad for him cuz he's led the Longhorns to the National Championship game against Bush and his Trojans. The problem was he had his best year during the same season Reggie Bush blew up. He would have won it any other year. Back to Bush though. I stay up late and watched USC games just so I could watch him run. It is sick. I was at a bar during the USC/Fresno State game where he racked up over 500 all purpose yards. Hot scantily clad chick after hot scantily clad chick walked by and I couldn't take my eyes off of Reggie Bush. A lot of people are comparing what he does to Gale Sayers, but I've never seen Sayers except in film. I have to compare him more to a Barry Sanders type, but bigger and faster. Honestly though I don't think we can compare Bush to anybody except Reggie Bush. He is not either of those two, and before it's all over he may just be the greatest running back we have ever seen. I know it's not official yet, but Bush will declare for the NFL this year. He has already won a National Championship (and should get another in January) and will be the #1 pick in the Draft. What possible reason could he have to stay in school? The only thing that would keep him at USC is the thought of playing for the Houston Texans.
The Rose Bowl: #1 USC vs. #2 Texas
I don't think this game is going to be as good as a lot of people think. I'm more of the opinion that USC is going to roll over the Longhorns. Remember the majority of the country thought USC and Oklahoma would be a great game too, and the Trojans whipped their ass. That Oklahoma team won the Big 12 when it was still a good conference too. This year's Big 12 is weak. The Longhorns destroyed their competition, but there wasn't much competition. Yes Ohio State was a big win, but playing Ohio State in September, and the Trojans in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship is a completely different story. Also let's not forget Texas Head Coach Mack Brown's tendency to lose big games. I think Reggie Bush runs for 135, receives for 50 more, and scores 2 TD's. USC's defense isn't as strong as in the past, and I think Texas moves the ball against them, but not enough. My prediction is USC 34 Texas 17. The only reason I think it's even that close is USC starts celebrating around the 4th quarter, and Texas gets a late pointless TD.
Reggie Bush Sweepstakes
Anyone who saw Kris Brown miss that game tying field goal for the Houston Texans last weekend against the Titans all thought the same thing. There is NO WAY any professional place kicker can miss a field goal from 30 yards as bad as Kris Brown did. Robbie Goulds field goal try for the Bears with the 45 MPH cross wind didn't blow as far off course as Brown's attempt. It's obvious the Texans aren't trying to win right now and possibly jeopardize the entire franchise's future. I bet Texan fans riot if the Texans win a game again this year. I just wish Kris Brown wouldn't lie about it. He denied he missed it on purpose. We're not idiots Mr. Brown. Just tell us. The only person in all of Houston upset by the whole thing (Dom Capers doesn't count cuz he's not coming back next season anyway.) is current Texan Running Back Domanick Davis. I hear he slashed Brown's tires, and had sex with his wife after the game Sunday. When asked if this was a response to the missed FG all Davis had to say was this, "I didn't slash nobody's tires, and I've been having sex with Kris' wife for years. I mean c'mon, how can any woman respect a man who spells his name like that?"
Indianapolis Colts:Perfection or Trophy?
Why not both!? The Colts are 13-0 and have clinched homefield in the AFC. Coach Tony Dungy has already said publicly that he would sit his key players in meaningless games, and therefore jeopardize their chances of going undefeated. The good news is that the Colts have only one real tough game left and it's this week against San Diego in Indy. Dungy said his starters will play this game as long as it's close, cuz he doesn't want to give them an entire month off before their first playoff game. So if the Colts win Sunday, and then play the starters preseason style in the last two games (for a few series at the start of the game.) they may still go undefeated! I do have to agree with Dungy though. Winning the Super Bowl is a lot more important than going undefeated while doing it. This isn't college, you can lose. Somewhere though you know Don Shula, Nick Buonicotti, and Bob Griese are ramming pins and needles into a Peyton Manning voodoo doll. In many ways I see the 72 Dolphins clinging to their undefeated season as a real life equivalent of Al Bundy telling everybody he once scored 4 TD's in a single game. It was over 30 years ago!! Besides that 72 Dolphins team goes 3-13 in today's NFL.
The NFC
Ok, since it's pretty clear that the Colts will win the AFC and destroy whoever they play in the Super Bowl the only question left is who will those lucky losers be? I'm gonna go ahead and say the Seahawks. Yes, I know the Seahawks have a somewhat suspect postseason history (as does all of Seattle really), but I do believe this year is finally it for them. Holmgren finally has been able to concentrate on doing what he does well, and that's coach. He never should have tried to be GM, Head Coaching in the NFL these days is hard enough as it is. Don't put more on your plate, although looking at the walking walrus that is Mike Holmgren I can see why he had that "The more on my plate the better" philosophy. Yes I think the Seahawks defense isn't as good as a lot of people think. This is despite the fact that they have won their last two games by a combined score of 83-3. (No that's not a typo. 42-0 over Eagles, 41-3 over Niners.) The two teams they beat though aren't exactly the class of the NFL though. I remember the Seahawks actually struggling with the Niners in San Fran earlier this year. Plus if you look around the rest of the NFC the conference leaders are all struggling right now. The Bears just got torn a new one by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and need to bounce back Sunday Night against the Falcons. The Falcons are going to be playing in sub 20 degree weather, in Chicago on grass, with a banged up Michael Vick. Oh and if they lose they can basically kiss the postseason goodbye. I have to say I think the Bears bounce back in this one. The Falcons have a bad run defense, and the Bears will get back to running more this week (They only ran the ball 18 times against the Steelers.) Plus look at Brian Urlacher and the Bears track record against Vick. In 2 career games I think Urlacher has 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and a fumble recovery returned 95 yards for a touchdown against them, and that was on turf. The Bears are a lot like the Buccaneers in the fact that their defense matches up very well against Michael Vick cuz they are so fast. The problem for the Bears in the playoffs will be if they get to the NFC Championship game against Seattle they won't be able to stay on pace. Yes the defense is amazing (excluding last week) but look at the last 2 games. Samkon Gado and Jerome Bettis both had huge days against them. Last year Gado was a 3rd string RB at Liberty, and Jerome Bettis is like 59 years old. What do you think Shaun "I already have like 46 TD's this season, but no contract" Alexander is going to do against them? The Giants and Eli Manning are struggling, the Panthers aren't a good road team, and the Bucs aren't complete enough. The hottest team in the NFC right now are the Vikings and they wouldn't be in the playoffs if they started tomorrow. Besides, they're the Vikings so in Week 17 against the Bears with their season on the line we all know they will do something incredibly stupid and miss the playoffs like they always do. The other team in the NFC, the Cowboys, are just too inconsistent. One quarter they are great, the next they look like a Division 1-AA College team. The Seahawks will win the visit to Detroit, and the ass whoopin that comes with it.
Pat Riley Returns......Again
Riley returns to coaching more often than 50 Cent gets shot. The Miami Heat players are in for a lovely wake up call though. I wanted to be there for that first practice so bad. I don't care what Shaq says, you know he helped orchestrate this move behind the scenes. I just want to see Shaq's face when Riley comes into practice, and starts verbally emasculating him in front of the team for being fat and lazy, and then makes him run 50 laps. I mean if he can tell Kareem and Magic they were slacking in practice, you think Shaq will be treated differently? Plus what happens when Riley informs Shaq that defense is actually an important part of basketball? Riley isn't going to stand for Shaq's "The playoffs are all that counts" attitude. Should be fun to watch all this develop. Plus you know mens hair gel companies all across the country are excited about this development. All the airtime Rileys perfectly coiffed hair will get the rest of the season is bound to boost sales.
Random Thoughts
The voting wasn't even close. He won the thing by the largest margin in the history of the award. In fact I think Reggie got more first place votes than fellow Bush George W. got in the blue states combined. I mean how bad must Vince Young have felt afterward? It's too bad for him cuz he's led the Longhorns to the National Championship game against Bush and his Trojans. The problem was he had his best year during the same season Reggie Bush blew up. He would have won it any other year. Back to Bush though. I stay up late and watched USC games just so I could watch him run. It is sick. I was at a bar during the USC/Fresno State game where he racked up over 500 all purpose yards. Hot scantily clad chick after hot scantily clad chick walked by and I couldn't take my eyes off of Reggie Bush. A lot of people are comparing what he does to Gale Sayers, but I've never seen Sayers except in film. I have to compare him more to a Barry Sanders type, but bigger and faster. Honestly though I don't think we can compare Bush to anybody except Reggie Bush. He is not either of those two, and before it's all over he may just be the greatest running back we have ever seen. I know it's not official yet, but Bush will declare for the NFL this year. He has already won a National Championship (and should get another in January) and will be the #1 pick in the Draft. What possible reason could he have to stay in school? The only thing that would keep him at USC is the thought of playing for the Houston Texans.
The Rose Bowl: #1 USC vs. #2 Texas
I don't think this game is going to be as good as a lot of people think. I'm more of the opinion that USC is going to roll over the Longhorns. Remember the majority of the country thought USC and Oklahoma would be a great game too, and the Trojans whipped their ass. That Oklahoma team won the Big 12 when it was still a good conference too. This year's Big 12 is weak. The Longhorns destroyed their competition, but there wasn't much competition. Yes Ohio State was a big win, but playing Ohio State in September, and the Trojans in the Rose Bowl for the National Championship is a completely different story. Also let's not forget Texas Head Coach Mack Brown's tendency to lose big games. I think Reggie Bush runs for 135, receives for 50 more, and scores 2 TD's. USC's defense isn't as strong as in the past, and I think Texas moves the ball against them, but not enough. My prediction is USC 34 Texas 17. The only reason I think it's even that close is USC starts celebrating around the 4th quarter, and Texas gets a late pointless TD.
Reggie Bush Sweepstakes
Anyone who saw Kris Brown miss that game tying field goal for the Houston Texans last weekend against the Titans all thought the same thing. There is NO WAY any professional place kicker can miss a field goal from 30 yards as bad as Kris Brown did. Robbie Goulds field goal try for the Bears with the 45 MPH cross wind didn't blow as far off course as Brown's attempt. It's obvious the Texans aren't trying to win right now and possibly jeopardize the entire franchise's future. I bet Texan fans riot if the Texans win a game again this year. I just wish Kris Brown wouldn't lie about it. He denied he missed it on purpose. We're not idiots Mr. Brown. Just tell us. The only person in all of Houston upset by the whole thing (Dom Capers doesn't count cuz he's not coming back next season anyway.) is current Texan Running Back Domanick Davis. I hear he slashed Brown's tires, and had sex with his wife after the game Sunday. When asked if this was a response to the missed FG all Davis had to say was this, "I didn't slash nobody's tires, and I've been having sex with Kris' wife for years. I mean c'mon, how can any woman respect a man who spells his name like that?"
Indianapolis Colts:Perfection or Trophy?
Why not both!? The Colts are 13-0 and have clinched homefield in the AFC. Coach Tony Dungy has already said publicly that he would sit his key players in meaningless games, and therefore jeopardize their chances of going undefeated. The good news is that the Colts have only one real tough game left and it's this week against San Diego in Indy. Dungy said his starters will play this game as long as it's close, cuz he doesn't want to give them an entire month off before their first playoff game. So if the Colts win Sunday, and then play the starters preseason style in the last two games (for a few series at the start of the game.) they may still go undefeated! I do have to agree with Dungy though. Winning the Super Bowl is a lot more important than going undefeated while doing it. This isn't college, you can lose. Somewhere though you know Don Shula, Nick Buonicotti, and Bob Griese are ramming pins and needles into a Peyton Manning voodoo doll. In many ways I see the 72 Dolphins clinging to their undefeated season as a real life equivalent of Al Bundy telling everybody he once scored 4 TD's in a single game. It was over 30 years ago!! Besides that 72 Dolphins team goes 3-13 in today's NFL.
The NFC
Ok, since it's pretty clear that the Colts will win the AFC and destroy whoever they play in the Super Bowl the only question left is who will those lucky losers be? I'm gonna go ahead and say the Seahawks. Yes, I know the Seahawks have a somewhat suspect postseason history (as does all of Seattle really), but I do believe this year is finally it for them. Holmgren finally has been able to concentrate on doing what he does well, and that's coach. He never should have tried to be GM, Head Coaching in the NFL these days is hard enough as it is. Don't put more on your plate, although looking at the walking walrus that is Mike Holmgren I can see why he had that "The more on my plate the better" philosophy. Yes I think the Seahawks defense isn't as good as a lot of people think. This is despite the fact that they have won their last two games by a combined score of 83-3. (No that's not a typo. 42-0 over Eagles, 41-3 over Niners.) The two teams they beat though aren't exactly the class of the NFL though. I remember the Seahawks actually struggling with the Niners in San Fran earlier this year. Plus if you look around the rest of the NFC the conference leaders are all struggling right now. The Bears just got torn a new one by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and need to bounce back Sunday Night against the Falcons. The Falcons are going to be playing in sub 20 degree weather, in Chicago on grass, with a banged up Michael Vick. Oh and if they lose they can basically kiss the postseason goodbye. I have to say I think the Bears bounce back in this one. The Falcons have a bad run defense, and the Bears will get back to running more this week (They only ran the ball 18 times against the Steelers.) Plus look at Brian Urlacher and the Bears track record against Vick. In 2 career games I think Urlacher has 3 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and a fumble recovery returned 95 yards for a touchdown against them, and that was on turf. The Bears are a lot like the Buccaneers in the fact that their defense matches up very well against Michael Vick cuz they are so fast. The problem for the Bears in the playoffs will be if they get to the NFC Championship game against Seattle they won't be able to stay on pace. Yes the defense is amazing (excluding last week) but look at the last 2 games. Samkon Gado and Jerome Bettis both had huge days against them. Last year Gado was a 3rd string RB at Liberty, and Jerome Bettis is like 59 years old. What do you think Shaun "I already have like 46 TD's this season, but no contract" Alexander is going to do against them? The Giants and Eli Manning are struggling, the Panthers aren't a good road team, and the Bucs aren't complete enough. The hottest team in the NFC right now are the Vikings and they wouldn't be in the playoffs if they started tomorrow. Besides, they're the Vikings so in Week 17 against the Bears with their season on the line we all know they will do something incredibly stupid and miss the playoffs like they always do. The other team in the NFC, the Cowboys, are just too inconsistent. One quarter they are great, the next they look like a Division 1-AA College team. The Seahawks will win the visit to Detroit, and the ass whoopin that comes with it.
Pat Riley Returns......Again
Riley returns to coaching more often than 50 Cent gets shot. The Miami Heat players are in for a lovely wake up call though. I wanted to be there for that first practice so bad. I don't care what Shaq says, you know he helped orchestrate this move behind the scenes. I just want to see Shaq's face when Riley comes into practice, and starts verbally emasculating him in front of the team for being fat and lazy, and then makes him run 50 laps. I mean if he can tell Kareem and Magic they were slacking in practice, you think Shaq will be treated differently? Plus what happens when Riley informs Shaq that defense is actually an important part of basketball? Riley isn't going to stand for Shaq's "The playoffs are all that counts" attitude. Should be fun to watch all this develop. Plus you know mens hair gel companies all across the country are excited about this development. All the airtime Rileys perfectly coiffed hair will get the rest of the season is bound to boost sales.
Random Thoughts
- When the Blue Jays signed AJ Burnett to that $55 million deal was I the only one who immediately thought Darren Driefort?
- Does White Sox GM Kenny Williams just sit around his office during the day and make trades out of boredom? I'm not questioning his deals, cuz his previous instincts have shown to be pretty damn good. It's just his team won a World Series and he's done more than any other MLB GM (Save for maybe Mets GM Omar Minaya) to improve his team this offseason. Meanwhile the Yankees mull over Nomar, to complete their shortstop trifecta of Jeter, A-Rod, and No-maaaaaaaaaaah.
- How perfect would it be if the Pacers trade Ron Artest to the Portland JailBlazers?
- Did you know that if I saw Stuart Scott on the street I would punch him in the face and yell "Booyah bitch!" afterwards?
Finally a quick thanks to the San Diego Chargers for losing at home to the mighty Miami Dolphins last weekend. Way to be fellas. You owe me the $250 I would have won had you not blown it. Ya I still finished up $20 on the weekend, but it had the hopes of being so much more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Follow by Email
