Jan 15, 2008

Rappers + Steroids

50 Cent and others have allegedly been outed as steroid users...



(wait for it...)

(wait for it...)

And I for one, am outraged!

I Couldn't Resist...

Some of the funnier Photoshops I've run across given the last two weeks of sports coverage...

This is to remind us about Spygate...


This is because the Big 10 is a Big-joke...


The first Photoshp is funny because of it's irrelevance. Seriously, spygate doesn't matter anymore. This is a team of destiny, and no matter who comes out of the NFC might just be a footnote in the Pats' march to the record books. As much as I hate the whole region, I am excited about the prospect of seeing the best team ever.

The second Photoshop is funny simply because it's true.

Oh look, an idiot...


Apparently, Adam 'Pac Man' Jones is dumber than I even thought possible.

ESPN.com article.

Now, I don't know if he's guilty or innocent. I do know that he put himself in a situation...excuse me, ANOTHER situation where the words 'violence' and 'strip club' are used in the same article.

Jan 10, 2008

These are Facts...and Divisional Picks!

Roger Clemens is guilty as sin.

You release a taped conversation with your former trainer where he repeatedly offers to go to jail for you, and asks what you want him to do. Hmm...did another recently embattled star have his trainer sit in jail for him as opposed to ratting him out? Did aforementioned trainer receive a LARGE payment for his troubles? Is Clemens' trainer friend (whose name I have forgotten, and is unimportant) currently hurting for money? Is it suspicious how little the Rocket was saying, with the knowledge he was being taped?

Hmm indeed.

Oh, and to everyone who thinks that his impassioned defense was convincing, and definitive proof that he's innocent? Remember a certain someone else who's defiance was noteworthy and is now facing jail time? This should jog your memory.

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The Big 10 is dead. Long live everyone else.

The SEC and Big 10 champions met in a game to decide the National Champion of College Football. Again. The Big 10 started fast, building a quick lead. Again. The SEC utilized superior speed/size/(insert thing that wins football games here) and dominated from that point forward. Again.

A four team playoff would be best for everyone, as (extremely biased) Georgia President Michael Adams pointed out this week. I wish he had done this last year, because now he just looks like a poor sport, but the fact remains that he has the backing of every major conference save two: The Pac-10 because of the devotion to the Rose Bowl, which does not share the other Fox television contract as the other BCS bowls, and the Big 10, because they can manage their schedule, have the least mediocre team emerge, and bully their way into the title game, boasting stats pumped up against less than quality opposition. Maybe LSU didn't have the statistically best defense in the game coming in, but OSU didn't play 9 bowl teams, and the Tigers did.

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I will do more NBA stuff soon, I promise. But until then, I present to you the site I wish I made...

http://heylarryhughespleasestoptakingsomanybadshots.com/

Yes, it's a real site, and yes, it does track Larry Hughes' shooting every night. If you're a Cavs fan, beware. If not, it's worth reading even if you just look at the loss to Atlanta last night (Wednesday).

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Home teams are in bold.

Green Bay (-8) over Seattle

Their secondary isn't that good, Favre is WORLD's better than Todd Collins, who almost mounted a comeback in round 1, and Ryan Grant is playing like Ahman Green/Dorsey Levens in their prime. Aside from all the Hasselbeck jokes we've endured this week, this team just isn't ready to make the leap over a 13-3 squad that looks to do something special this post season.

Plus, Favre is 35% magic. Can't forget that.

Jacksonville (+13.5) over Terminators

Just to be clear, New England gets the win, just not nearly 2 touchdowns of the win. Call me nuts, but as long as the secondary for Jacksonville even remotely shows intrest in Randy Moss, they won't get blown out. It's really tough to blow out teams that rarely turn the ball over, have a dominant running attack, play solid defense, and don't get penalized often. I mean, if anyone can do it, it's the Terminators. I just don't think so.

Indy (-8.5) over San Diego

Wait a minute. What happened in Indy? Was there a chemical fire that cost Payton an eye? How is this line so low? Is there any chance the Colts don't win by 2 touchdowns?

Wait a minute. If betting were legal, I could 2-team tease Favre at Lambeau, and Manning and Dungy taking on Norv Turner at the RCA dome, hoping that both favorites win by more than a field goal? In the words of Rich Skrosky, it's like stealin', men.

Giants (+7.5) over Cowboys

I'm just about to pick Eli Manning on the road to lose by less than a touchdown (oh, you better believe he's gonna lose). I hate myself.

Jan 7, 2008

National Title Game...Yawn...

I can finally respond to this huge football weekend/day, because I don't have internet at my house until Wednesday (thank you Comcast)

Well, after about a month, it's finally here. LSU v. Ohio State. It's amazing really, that this team is being given a second chance after last year's debacle, but these are the breaks (break em up, break em up, break em up...). Anyway, expect to see the same as last year, blowout pt. 2. Position by position, the Buckeyes are just over matched and outclassed against a superior Tigers team.

Quarterback: Boekman has never thrown more than 30 passes in a game, while the duo of Perriloux and Flynn have been leaders to a fault for this team.

Running Back: Here's where everyone thinks OSU has an edge. But, I'll let you in on a little secret. No matter how good Beanie "Chris" Wells is, Jacob Hester is better. He may not be faster, but I defy you to show me one time an opposing player brought him down on his own.

Receivers/Fast People: HAHAHAHA...Early Docet and Trinton Holiday do NOT play for the Buckeyes.

O-Line: First real edge for OSU, having only given up 13 sacks this year. They didn't play anyone, but that's still impressive.

D-Line: A very healthy, very rested, very anxious Glenn Dorsey means LSU has the edge here.

Linebackers: The person taking all those post-season trips with Dorsey? Mr. Laurinaitis, that's who. While I still think that he is undersized, you cannot deny results.

DBs/Other Fast People: One team lost two starters for off the field infractions. The other has a man named Xenon trolling the defensive backfield. And, since the SEC doesn't follow NCAA behavior guidelines, the edge goes to the Tigers.

Final: LSU 31, OSU 17

Now if they meet again in the NCAA Basketball Title Game, I quit.

Jan 4, 2008

Wild Card Picks

Well, they did it. The were what we thought they were. They vanquished the New Jersey Football Giants, and Eli Manning, who’s meltdown was predicted by me mere seconds before occurring. True story.


The point remains, that the Terminators went 16-0 and are now a mere 3 games from immortality. Some would argue that all the records broken over the past 17 weeks place them on that immortal pedestal with Mercury Morris and co., but I say they are not quite there yet. Once in my lifetime, I have seen history (when the ’98 Bulls put together a 10 loss season) and it didn’t seem as epic until they had secured the title. The ability to look back as Jordan hoisted that trophy, and truly marvel at what they had accomplished, their complete body of work, if you will. What I’m saying is, no matter the disdain I feel for Boston…nay, the entire New England region, I enjoy the thought that I could be watching history unfold.

Or I could be watching the greatest fall ever when they lose to the Packers in the Super Bowl.

I’m just saying…

Now, for some picks. Home team in bold.

With my mortal lock picks (Green Bay, Indy, Terminators) all resting up this weekend, I’m walking into many of these games with dilemmas…

Seattle (-3) over Washington

Raise your hands if you’ve been suckered in by Todd Collins’ play these last few weeks? All of you huh? Is that why this line is so low? Well, allow me to let you in on a little secret.

Ready?

No one is a back-up for 10 years if they are any good. No one. It’s never happened in the history of mankind. There is actually an article on ESPN.com right now that has the headline, in bold, calling him a career backup. Does anyone really think he has a chance in Seattle in January?

Jacksonville (-2) over Pittsburgh

I know, everyone is picking J’Ville. But it just feels right. I can’t believe that the Steelers and “Ben” are underdogs at home in the playoffs, but we have seen that day.

By the way, this “Ben” nonsense has got to stop. I don’t know who started it, but it’s affecting more facets of my life than I’m comfortable admitting.

Bucs (-2.5) over Giants

In the gutsy showing the G-Men put up against the Terminators last week, they lost about four players to injury, and Eli Manning’s patented meltdown is GUARANTEED to factor in heavily. Let’s break the offenses down like a Super Bowl game, even though neither team will get deeper than round 2:

O-Line: The Buccaneers line makes Earnest Graham look good. The Giants just lost their starting center. EDGE: Bucs.

Receivers: Giants rely on Plaxico and Amani Toomer. The Buccaneers have android Joey Galloway catching balls. EDGE: Giants

Quarterbacks: Jeff Garcia. Winner everywhere he’s been (except Cleveland). Eli Manning. He’s a Manning. Damn, that joke was a lot funnier before last year…Okay, he’s a Manning in the NFC. Whew, close one.

Coach: Gruden has been resting players since he figured out they were gonna play the Giants. He has gameplanned the life out of this game. Coughlin? Ha ha ha ha ha…

Chargers (-9) over Titans

Kerry Collins could be heavily involved. And if he isn’t, Vince Young will be.

Jan 3, 2008

Happy New Year!!!

My friend "Rake Colson" is a rabid USC fan, and we decided to ring in the new year via an email exchange bemoaning the fact that our two teams had glorified practice sessions on national television...

Rake: How good would a Georgia-USC Rose Bowl have been?

Me: That thought kept me up all night. Both our teams looked lights out yesterday, and that game would have made my head explode.

Rake: I'm not anti-BCS because i think a playoff doesn't work and the BCS is as good a system as any, but I would also throw SC against anyone in the nation right now. I'm sure you feel the same way about UGA.

Me: Most certainly.

But, at the same time, UGA got to pick on an undersized, outclassed 'football team' last night. It wasn't fair from the jump, as our size and speed up front created such a mismatch that it doesn't translate well to us playing other teams.

We both picked on mediocre to bad teams, but I think Illinois is better than UH. Ya'll looked unreal yesterday.

Rake: Absolutely. I feel like whats happened the last two years (2 loss regular season, dominate in the rose bowl, have everyone at the end of the season talking about how we're a potential #1 team) is going to be the pattern for SC over the next few years. Does that make us a dynasty? I don't know. but I'll take a 5-1 BCS record and six straight years of top 5 finishes against anybody else out there. But the Pac-10 is so deep and our recruiting classes aren't (we're top heavy every year, with a couple of 5-star blue chippers and little else), that when we have injuries like against Stanford and Oregon, we're bound to lose a game or two. I guess I'll take it, though I worry that a few more years without a national championship and Carroll's gonna get the NFL itch,

Me: I'm not touching the 'depth of the Pac-10' comment...oh, and Carroll's already had the NFL itch; it didn't go well .

Oh, and I love how everyone is writing in UGA as a National Title Contender next year. Flattering, yes, but look there are three games I am legitimately worried about next year.

Sept 20: @ Arizona State; Oct 25: @ LSU; THE NEXT WEEK: @ UF

Not to mention Nov. 15 @ Auburn...did you catch their new fast, strong armed QB who is going to be a TRUE SOPHOMORE...I hate my life.

Did I say worried? I meant terrified.

Rake: God the SEC is disgusting. Although it should be...if you're a top recruit, why would you ever consider going anywhere other than Florida, USC, Miami, Bama, Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee? I mean come on.

Me: You mean you don't find those Ohio State winters/coeds more appealing than 65 degrees on Christmas day/promises of beaches and song girls? For shame!
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The conversation took a turn here, where we pretty much made fun of every other team in the nation. Mostly the Big 10. I bring you back to our new-found debate on college coaching. Or the lack thereof.
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Rake: Rank the top 5 coaches in the game today, based on a combination of 1) past success, 2) recruiting, 3) knowledge of the game, 4) stability, 5) personality. Basically, if you were given a blank check to go get a coach for your program, who would you pick?

Me: Know that it hurts me to do this...

In no particular order:

Spurrier
Saban
Fulmer
Stoops
Tressel or Your boy

I will now impale myself on a spear, 300-style.

Rake: Really? You can put saban and spurrier on a list that's concerned with stability?!

Me: Saban, good point. Spurrier has coached Duke to an ACC title, was at UF for 10 terrible years, and has been stable at USC. Bump Saban, and throw on Richt.

Yeah, I said it.

Rake: Wow, ok. Pretty broadminded there; you know there are other conferences, right?

Me: I have heard such things. Wouldn't throw on Mack Brown, Lloyd Carr is gone, the old men are just that old, what's your top five?

Rake: I'll agree with you on Fulmer and Stoops, but I still think Stoops is overrated. You know I have Carroll on there; I think its pretty hard to ignore 14 losses in 7 years, especially when 6 of them came in his first year.

As for Richt, I have a ton of respect for what he's done. I think on the criteria I included, he's weaker on past success but really strong on stability knowledge and potential. I can't put Tressell on there because he's dirty and its coming out sooner or later.

So I've got Carroll, Fulmer, Stoops. I guess I can give you your boy Richt, but you've got to throw Les Miles some love. I don't know, its hard. Urban Meyer deserves some credit too. I can't pick between those two.

So ill give it to the genius himself...

Charlie Weis

Me: Now I know you're just picking on me; but this points out the real reason why this has been such a topsey-turvey season: no elite coaching. I put Tressel on there so you wouldn't claim my SEC bias, and how you leave off Spurrier considering the 90s is beyond me. I can't believe I forgot Urban Meyer, but he defiantly deserves to be in the conversation. My hatred of Les Miles and belief that he has added nothing since Saban's departure keeps him off my list (he recruited these seniors AND juniors). Maybe once Herm Edwards is coaching in college next year, we can add to this list.

I see your Charlie Weiss...

And raise you Bill Callahan.
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And finally, this debate spilled into this morning...
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Rake: One thing about our discussion last night...all Bob Stoops does is lose BCS games.
What about Beamer? I guess he's too old but he's in the convo. i don't know why I'm so anti-Spurrier, i just think he's old and if i were starting a program today, I'd want someone younger.

Jesus Christ though, Carroll's only lost 8 games in 6 years. That's absurd.

Me: Beamer hasn't really done anything, esp in the new, exceptionally weak ACC. Trust me, if anyone is anti-Spurrier, it's me, but I have to give credit where it is due...however begrudgingly. For what it's worth, we both know for the majority of those 6 AMAZING years, the Pac-10 was comprised of mostly also-rans. Though, this year, ya'll were far and away the second best conference in the land. Maybe the rest of the Pac-10 has caught up?

Rake: To be fair, in the BCS era, 7 of the 10 Pac-10 schools have gone to a BCS game. Granted, most of those were lukewarm Pac-10 champs before SC returned to dominance, but the Pac-10 is always competetive and is now turning into an incredible conference. Agree on beamer, didn't think about that. the Pac-10 has started to catch up, by the way, but only in the way a newborn baby is "starting to catch up with" his 24 years older beast of a father...one day he might be stronger, but the old man will still win in arm wrestling any time.

Me: Great analogy...but unfair. I really think that Pac-10 schools outside of SC have noticed that while Carrol and co were becoming National Darlings, they were just window dressing. That's when teams like Oregon (legit before losing Dixon), Arizona State (pleasant surprise) and Stanford (hahahaha) decided to become committed to putting out a winning product.

Maybe your analogy is right though. Putting out a winning product and becoming completely obsessed to the point that coaches shake hands post-game flanked by 2 state troopers each is a little different. The thing is, the West Coast has so much to offer, while down here all we have is football, whiskey, and women. And on Saturdays, we do all three better than anyone else in the world. You'd love it here.