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September 30, 2009

SC's NBA All-Decade Team (Pt. 2)

Also see: SC's NBA All-Decade Team (Pt. 1)

Normally, there is little to no fanfare for coming in second place.

There is no Oscar for second best picture.

They don't give of Noble Prizes to the second best chemist.

And unless you're Tiger Woods, you don't normally get a big trophy for coming in second place at a golf tournament.

But as you will see today, there's no shame in coming in second on this list.

Today, we continue our three-part series on the NBA All-Decade Team by revealing the five players who made the Second Team. In case you missed it, here's a link part one, in which we revealed the Third Team and also the criteria for being named to the All-Decade Team. Be sure to check back on Friday as we reveal the five players who Sports Central has named as the NBA All-Decade First Team.

Second Team

G Steve Nash

In 2005 and 2006, Nash put his name beside some elite company, joining Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Tim Duncan as the only players in NBA history to win back-to-back MVP awards.

Regardless of how you feel about Nash winning the award twice, there's no denying that he deserves to be on this list.

On top of the two MVP awards, over the course of the 2000s, Nash led the league in assists three times, played in six all-star games, was on six All-NBA teams (three first team, two second team, one third team), and only Reggie Miller had a higher free throw percentage than Nash's .905.

You can question his defense, or the style of play that he thrives in (and believe me, I have), but there's no denying that offensively Steve Nash is as gifted as they come, and well deserving of a place on the All-Decade Second Team.

G Allen Iverson

Forget for a second that he played for three different teams in the 2000s, and that two of them told him to go home and never come back during the season.

Never mind the image problem that he never seemed to shake.

And for a brief moment, even forget about the "practice" rant (but only briefly; it's too awesome to not want to remember forever).

Forget all of those things for right now and focus on Allen Iverson the basketball player, and you'll see that there is no doubt that he belongs on this list.

First of all, he played in all 10 all-star games in the 2000s. That alone basically explains his spot on this list. But I'll go on.

Only Kobe Bryant averaged more points per game in the 2000s than Iverson's 28.1, edging him out by .1 at 28.2.

Need another example of how prolific of a scorer Iverson was over the 2000s? Only 11 times in the whole decade did anyone average more than 30 points per game for an entire season; Iverson did it four of those times.

He led the league in scoring three times, and finished in the top five seven different times.

It's not just Iverson's knack for scoring that has him making an appearance on the Second Team, either.

Iverson had more steals than any other player in the 2000s, leading the league in steals per game three times, and finishing in the top 10 seven different times.

Iverson may have even had a good reason for not wanting to practice all decade, too. He led the league in minutes per game a whopping six times over the 10 seasons that made up the 2000s.

All of the statistics are wonderful, and they certainly make a good case for Iverson to be on the list. But if you had the privilege of watching in person during his heyday with the Sixers or even the Nuggets, then you could have just skipped over his whole section of the column, because it was evident from watching him play live that he was one of the greatest pound-for-pound players to ever play the game. Period.

F Kevin Garnett

In reality, this picture pretty much sums up why he's on this list. But I'll list his accomplishments anyway.

Like Iverson, Garnett played in all 10 all-star games in the 2000s and won one NBA MVP award along the way.

K.G. was one of only eight players to average a double-double for the entire decade, achieving the feat in eight different seasons. In fact, he averaged at least 20 points in all eight of those seasons, making him the only player to have more than six 20-10 seasons in the decade.

He led the league in rebounding for four consecutive seasons starting in 2004 and never finished outside the top six in rebounding until joining the Celtics in 2007-08.

But for as great as his offensive and rebounding numbers were in the 2000s, it was his defense that set K.G. apart from the rest of the league. Garnett was a member of the All-Defensive team each of the 10 seasons, earning eight first team honors and two second team.

K.G.'s all-around greatness on D was finally rewarded in 2008 when he was awarded his first Defensive Player of the Year trophy, just weeks before winning his one and only NBA title with the Boston Celtics.

F Dirk Nowitzki

If consistency is what landed Iverson and Garnett on the Second Team, then surely there is a place on this team for Dirk.

Aside from 1999-2000, his second season in the league, Dirk averaged at least 20 points and 8 rebounds per game in every season of the 2000's.

He's played in each of the last eight all-star games, and has been on the All-NBA team in each of the last nine seasons (four first team, three second team, two third team).

He's finished in the top 10 in scoring each of the past seven seasons, and he and Shaq are the only seven-footers to average at least 20 points per game in the 2000s.

Dirk won the MVP award in 2007, and finished in the top 10 in MVP voting eight of the ten seasons.

C Yao Ming

There may be a lot of players in the league right now that are recognizable by just one name, but there's only one person on the All-Decade Team that earned official one-name status, and that's Yao.

When he was selected first overall back in 2002, there were plenty of question marks and intrigue surrounding him. Never before had we seen a person of his size paired up with his skill set. Hell, if it weren't for all the posters most of us had as kids featuring Shawn Bradley, we would have never seen a person of his size, period.

Yao quieted all his naysayers and doubters quickly, living up to and exceeding all the hype that surrounded him. As a rookie, he averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game and never looked back.

Throughout the course of the decade, Yao averaged 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game.

He was named to seven all-star teams and five All-NBA teams (three third team, two second team).

Unfortunately, for as great as Yao's decade was on the floor, it may be remembered just as much for the fact that he spent a great deal of it not on the floor. Yao missed at least 25 games in three consecutive seasons from 2006 through 2008, and his decade ended abruptly when he broke his foot in the playoffs against the Lakers last season, an injury that will likely cause him to miss all of the upcoming season, as well.

Still, nagging injuries aside, Yao proved to be one of the most talent centers the league has ever seen, using a combination of size, strength, and finesse to make him one of the most well-rounded big men of all time, and easily landing himself a place on the All-Decade Team.

Be sure to check back on Friday when Scott Shepherd reveals what five players landed a spot on the Sports Central NBA All-Decade First Team.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:55 AM | Comments (2)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 28

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson completed the season sweep at Dover, leading 271 of 400 laps on his way to victory in the AAA 400. Johnson trimmed 25 points off of Mark Martin's points lead and trails his Hendrick teammate by only 10.

"That's two races in Dover," Johnson said, "and two wins for the sweep. The No. 48 was exceptional. If you listened closely, you could hear the purr of the engine say 'V-room, b-room!'"

"But I'm not one to count my Cups before they're snatched. But I can take comfort in knowing that my win sent a message that I'll have a say in the championship. As if they needed proof. Haven't the last three years shown everyone that with the Lowe's come the 'highs?'"

2. Mark Martin — Martin finished second in Dover to Jimmie Johnson, who was so dominant in the AAA 400 that Martin compared him to Superman. Martin still leads the points, with a 10-point advantage over Johnson.

"If Jimmie's 'Superman,'" Martin said, "and Jeff Gordon was known as 'Boy Wonder,' then what does that make me? Well, I'm 50, so you could call me 'Captain Numerical.' And, since Jimmie and I seem to be the only two drivers with a chance to win the Cup, does that make us members of the 'Just Us League?'"

3. Juan Montoya — Montoya came home fourth in Dover, his second-consecutive top-five finish and only his third of the year. He moved up one spot in the standings to third, and trails Mark Martin by 65 points.

"I didn't finish the race directly behind Mark Martin," says Montoya, "but I was close enough to get a glimpse of his Yosemite Sam 'Back Off!' mud flaps."

"As you probably noticed, I was in the No. 42 car with the special Polaroid sponsorship and paint scheme. And I hope my finish let Martin and Johnson know that I plan to be on their tails throughout the duration of the Chase. I would have told them to their face, but I figure a 'picture' is worth a thousand words."

4. Kurt Busch — Busch led 99 laps in the AAA 400, second to Jimmie Johnson's 271, and finished fifth, recording his eighth top-five of the year. Busch remained fourth in the points, and now trails Mark Martin by 75 points.

"Maybe Pat Tryson should announce his departure more often," Busch said. "It seems the less I see of him, the better off I am."

"Besides Jimmie Johnson, I'm the highest ranked former Cup champion in the Chase. I feel like I'm still in the running, so let's end this premature infatuation with Johnson as champion. I've still got a chance, so at least give me that common 'Kurt-esy.' If I'm wrong, and Jimmie wins his fourth Cup, I'll graciously 'Kurt-sy' before him as a loyal subject."

5. Jeff Gordon — Gordon had a potential runner-up finish foiled when an air gun broke on a late pit stop, costing him several positions on the way to an eventual sixth in the AAA 400 in Dover. Gordon also battled handling conditions throughout the race, at one point radioing his crew that it felt like he was "driving on ice." He rose two spots in the point standings to eighth, but is 122 behind Mark Martin.

"Two of my Hendrick teammates are running away from the field," Gordon said, "while another, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is running in the opposite direction. The thing is, Junior's not racing for anything, but he's being chased by way more people than Mark and Jimmie. I believe that kind of mass fanaticism is known as the 'Nation of is Lame.'"

6. Denny Hamlin — Hamlin battled a temperamental car throughout a long day in Dover, never finding the proper adjustments on his way to a 22nd that ended a streak of seven straight top-10 finishes. Hamlin fell three places to sixth in the point standings, 108 behind Jimmie Johnson.

"You absolutely cannot afford one slip up in the Chase," Hamlin said. "We had 'great expectations' for the Chase, but darned if we didn't have a 'dickens' of a time in Dover. Now, we may be in a (uriah) heap of trouble."

7. Tony Stewart — Stewart's No. 14 Old Spice/Office Depot Chevy suffered serious damage when he rammed Joey Logano's No. 20 Home Depot Toyota on lap 30. The accident started when Logano slowed to avoid a logjam of cars ahead of him. Repairs to Stewart's car left him as far down as 37th, but he salvaged a ninth out of what could have been a catastrophic result to his Chase hopes.

"I'm still 106 points out of first," Stewart said. "Some may say I'm too far out to win the Cup, but I'm not ready to say the 'Smoke' has cleared from contention."

"As for Logano, I'm glad he's okay. I'm just glad I was never in the Home Depot car when it rolled like that. Now, I have been a part of some rolls in the hay inside the No. 20 Home Depot car, and, like Logano, I walked away shaken up but glad to be alive."

8. Ryan Newman — Newman finished 10th, right behind Stewart Haas Racing teammate Tony Stewart in ninth, Newman's 14th top-10 of the year. The result kept him in the seventh slot in the Sprint Cup point standings, 110 out of first.

"Sure, it was a dominating win for Jimmie Johnson," Newman said. "And nearly everyone's handing him his fourth Cup before all is said and done. This sport is much too unpredictable for that. There's a lot that can happen between now and Homestead. You just never know whether you'll be in a big wreck, or lose a tire, or blow an engine, or have your car fail inspection, or wake up to find your name mysteriously linked to Jeremy Mayfield's."

9. Kasey Kahne — After his 37th in New Hampshire all but ended his Cup hopes, Kahne rebounded in Dover with an eighth, putting his No. 9 Budweiser in the top 10 for the 11th time this year. Kahne is still last in the point standings, 189 behind Mark Martin.

"With the departure of Jim Beam and Jack Daniels sponsorships," says Kahne, "it looks like beer is the only alcoholic beverage left in the sport. It seems that prohibition has hit NASCAR. And that's sad. Don't people realize that this sport's foundation was running moonshine?"

"There's only one way to get hard liquor back in this sport — somebody give Junior Johnson a call."

10. Greg Biffle — Biffle finished 13th in the AAA 400 in Dover, as he and the No. 16 3M crew were never able to find the adjustments necessary to drive him to the front. Biffle remained ninth in the point standings, 138 out of first.

"While several teams are off to great starts in the Chase," says Biffle, "it appears that the Roush Fenway contingent is practically out of the hunt. Some drivers have turned on the afterburners; we're merely an afterthought."

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)

September 29, 2009

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

Five Quick Hits

* Any CBS affiliate outside of Kansas City and Philadelphia that showed the Chiefs/Eagles blowout instead of a real game should lose its right to select games.

* Rookie WR Mike Wallace had a breakout game for Pittsburgh this week. Wallace has clearly passed Limas Sweed as the team's third receiver. Sweed, a college star and first-day draft pick, has been a monumental disappointment.

* Where were the pass rushers on Monday night? Carolina's Julius Peppers and the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware were virtually invisible. Each had one solo tackle and no sacks in Week 3. Last season, Peppers and Ware combined for 34.5 sacks. This year, they're on pace for a combined total of 5.

* One day, crowds will learn to be quiet for their team's offense. Dallas drew a pre-snap penalty on 4th-and-goal from the one, with the home crowd roaring the whole time, and had to settle for a field goal.

* A round of virtual applause for Donald Driver and Reggie Wayne, both of whom made fantastic one-handed receptions on the sideline this week.

***

Last week, the Dolphins nearly upset Indianapolis by grinding out first downs and controlling time of possession with the Wildcat offense. Call it a gimmick, but the Wildcat has been effective, and it's not going away any time soon. This offseason, though, a more dynamic Wildcat was the subject of intense speculation. Rather than snapping the ball to a running back, what if the snap went to a true run-pass threat, like Michael Vick or Miami rookie Pat White? Add that extra dimension to the Wildcat, and it would give defenses nightmares.

Three weeks into the season, it hasn't worked out that way. The "traditional" Wildcat with a running back has been more effective, and these game-changing players and formations have fizzled. This experiment isn't over — there's too much potential, too much upside — but the revolution may have to wait a little longer. Let's get to this week's Power Rankings. Brackets show previous rank.

1. New York Giants [1] — The extent of their dominance against the Buccaneers cannot be overstated. The Giants outgained Tampa by more than 300 yards, held the Bucs to five first downs, and won time of possession by over 27 minutes. The G-Men also solved their red zone woes, scoring touchdowns both times they had goal-to-go. Eli Manning is off to the best start of his career. Playing with a cast of unheralded receivers, he's third in the NFL in passer rating, trailing only Drews Brees and brother Peyton.

2. New Orleans Saints [2] — Through three games, Brees is 67-of-97. Peyton Manning is 66-of-96. Peyton has more yards; Brees has more touchdowns. They are separated by 0.4 of passer rating. Almost as impressive for New Orleans is their opponents' passer rating: 58.0. The Saints are one of four teams holding opponents below 60, and the team's success is due almost as much to an improved defense and rushing game as to its quarterback's other-worldly play.

3. New York Jets [5] — Best defense in the league so far. I know Denver has better statistics, but Denver hasn't played anyone. The schedule doesn't get any easier in Week 4, when the team travels to New Orleans to face the top-ranked offense in the league. Kris Jenkins is an unparalleled disruptive force on the interior defensive line, though there is reason to question whether he can maintain that for 16 games.

4. New England Patriots [6] — A close first half gave way to a second-half blowout, with New England gaining almost 200 more yards than the Falcons, and doubling their first downs and time of possession. Is Tom Brady turning into a second-half QB? The same sort of thing happened in Week 1 against Buffalo. Next weekend features another big matchup, with the Pats hosting Baltimore. Look for Brady to have a big day against the Ravens' vulnerable secondary, but expect Joe Flacco to light things up, as well.

5. Baltimore Ravens [7] — Outgained the Browns by 300 yards and won by 30 points. Baltimore is top-five in every major offensive category, including second in both yardage and scoring. After years of focus on its defense, this team has quietly assembled a number of offensive weapons, including Derrick Mason, who briefly retired this summer but now once again leads the team in receiving yardage. Joe Flacco is still available in 14% of Yahoo! fantasy leagues. If you're in that 14%, pick him up. He might be better than your starter, and he's certainly better than your backup. Willis McGahee (10%) is a good pickup, as well.

6. Indianapolis Colts [8] — Before the SNF game, Tony Dungy showed NBC viewers how Peyton Manning rotated a running back to his right to learn about the defensive scheme he was facing. In the middle of the fourth quarter, we saw exactly that situation play out. Manning motioned Donald Brown to his right, then physically took him by the arm and dragged him back to the left when no one on the defense moved. Thanks, Tony.

7. Dallas Cowboys [4] — Maybe this is strange to say of a team that ranks third in the NFL in yardage and fifth in scoring, but it doesn't look like they really have the weapons on offense. Dallas leads the league in rushing yardage, but it's not getting big plays in the receiving game. TE Jason Witten has more catches than any other two Cowboys combined. RB Felix Jones, easily the most explosive player on the offense, was hurt on Monday night, though the severity of his injury isn't clear yet. On defense, they need a more consistent pass rush.

8. Atlanta Falcons [3] — Last season, they were 7-1 at home (.875), but just 4-4 on the road (.500). This year, they're already 2-0 at home, but failed their first road test. Pass defense may be a concern. They got burned by Steve Smith (131 yards) in Week 2, and Randy Moss (116) in Week 3. Those are great receivers, but in this league, you have to contain great receivers. Part of that is on the secondary, of course, but a better pass rush would help, too. The Falcons only have one sack in the last two games.

9. Minnesota Vikings [10] — Looking at the schedule, it's hard to see them missing the playoffs, even if their quarterback fades down the stretch the way he did last season. They have an imposing trio of games right before the bye, but other than that it mostly looks like smooth sailing. That means they can afford to monitor Adrian Peterson's workload and save him for the most important situations.

10. Chicago Bears [14] — Face the Vikings in Weeks 12 and 16. That's plenty of time for Jay Cutler to get more comfortable with the offense, and for Minnesota's QB to turn 40. I think the wait benefits Chicago. Cutler threw one touchdown pass in the opener, two TDs last week, and three on Sunday. At that rate, he'll toss 28 against the Vikes. Most of the touchdowns will probably be to Devin Hester. He's becoming a real weapon on offense.

11. Philadelphia Eagles [17] — Q: Who needs the starting QB and running back? A: No one who is playing against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles have a much-needed bye next weekend.

12. Denver Broncos [20] — Last year, they ranked 29th in yards allowed and 30th in points allowed. So far this season, they lead the NFL in both categories. New defensive coordinator Mike Nolan obviously deserves some credit for that. So does OLB Elvis Dumervil, who is coming off his second straight multi-sack game. Dumervil has 14 solo tackles (one short of the team lead), 6 sacks (one short of the NFL lead), and 2 pass deflections. Dumervil has never made the Pro Bowl, despite his monster 2007 season. I think that might change this year.

13. Cincinnati Bengals [24] — I made a lot of big changes in this week's rankings, none larger than Cincinnati's 11-spot leap to this position. Partly that's because there were a number of upsets in Week 3, but a lot of it relates directly to the Bengals. Denver's Week 1 victory is looking more and more impressive (+8), Green Bay's Week 2 loss doesn't look so bad any more (+4), and Pittsburgh apparently doesn't deserve to be ranked ahead of the Bengals (-7). Carson Palmer played well — better than his statistics suggest — against the Steelers this week. Antwan Odom, who leads the NFL in sacks, needs to make sure he doesn't overpursue. The Steelers ran at him a number of times on Sunday.

14. Green Bay Packers [18] — This is a downfield passing offense, not a dink-and-dunk West Coast game. Aaron Rodgers ranks 26th in completion percentage (56.7%), but seventh in yards per attempt (7.93). This passing game is geared toward the big play, and the Packers are one of only three teams with two WRs over 200 receiving yards. Downfield passing is normally high-risk, high-reward, but Rodgers has thrown 148 consecutive passes without an interception, the longest active streak in the league. Marc Bulger and Kyle Orton are the only other starting QBs without an interception this year. Green Bay is a league-best +8 in turnovers.

15. San Diego Chargers [15] — Quick, who leads the NFL in passing yardage? Who ranks second in receiving yards? If you answered Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson, you're probably ... well, honestly, you were probably tipped off by this being the Chargers summary. Rivers, Jackson, and Antonio Gates have stepped up to help carry San Diego to a 2-1 record, but this team needs a running game and a pass rush if wants to make a serious Super Bowl push. Shawne Merriman, limited by a fresh injury, has had little impact.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers [9] — This is not the same defense without Troy Polamalu. It's not that the Steelers are giving up a ton of yardage — they aren't — but the big play isn't there. No one else has an interception, and the team is not generating an effective pass rush. The Steelers! Not generating an effective pass rush! That's just wrong.

17. San Francisco 49ers [16] — A fluke play away from 3-0, but the major concern is obviously Frank Gore's ankle. The injury is currently being described as a ligament strain, which usually doesn't cause players to miss a ton of time, but Gore will be out for at least two weeks, and that hurts this team. Glen Coffee replaces him in the lineup.

18. Tennessee Titans [12] — Lost the battle of the Titans. In an homage to the old AFL, Tennessee dressed as the Houston Oilers and lost to the Jets, dressed — in the ugliest uniforms known to humanity — as the old New York Titans. 0-3 teams don't get much better than this. They've lost by 3, 3, and 7, all to teams we think are pretty good (except maybe Houston). The running game is very strong — Chris Johnson is the only running back you compare to Adrian Peterson right now — but Kerry Collins finished Week 3 by throwing 13 consecutive incompletions.

19. Arizona Cardinals [13] — Strange offensive play-calling against the Colts' vulnerable rush defense: 12 runs, 58 passes. I know Beanie Wells had some fumble issues last week, but Arizona drafted him in the first round precisely for games like this one against the Colts. Wells had two carries. Did you see the way Indy's pass rush terrorized Kurt Warner all night? That's what happens when you don't run the ball, and the defense knows what's coming. Wells, by the way, has an awesome picture in the link above. "Chris, one of these days your face is going to freeze like that."

20. Houston Texans [11] — Worst run defense in the NFL. They're giving up 205 yards per game and opponents are averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Both figures are the worst in the league, the former by a wide margin. Matt Schaub continues to play well, but he and his receivers can't win games by themselves. Frank Bush and Bill Kollar need to get more out of this defense. DT Amobi Okoye, in particular, needs to play at a higher level.

21. Seattle Seahawks [21] — Second-year LB David Hawthorne had a monster game filling in for Lofa Tatupu: 15 solo tackles, a deflected pass, and an interception. Rookie Aaron Curry also notched his first sack of the season. The Seahawks are dealing with a lot of injuries right now, but if they can stay close to Arizona and San Francisco until everyone is healthy, this team could make a postseason run.

22. Buffalo Bills [19] — I hate to sound like Michael Irvin or Deion Sanders, and I don't even like mentioning Terrell Owens. But if you're going to sign him and deal with all the accompanying headaches, shouldn't you at least use him? I know Owens had a couple of drops this week, and I'm not talking about the tragic end of his beautiful streak. But it doesn't seem like he's really a big part of the gameplan, and that doesn't make sense to me.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars [28] — Huge game for Maurice Jones-Drew, but I hope they'll be careful with his workload. Prior to this season, MJD never touched the ball more than 40 times in the first three games. This year, he's already at 70. That's not outrageous, but it's a steep increase. Jones-Drew will face a stiff test in Week 4, when Jacksonville hosts Tennessee and its top-ranked run defense.

24. Carolina Panthers [22] — For the last four seasons, Steve Smith has been their primary weapon. When he has a good game, they usually win. When Smith gets shut down, they usually lose. Since 2005, the Panthers are 24-10 (.706) when Smith has at least 80 receiving yards. They are 14-19 (.424) when he doesn't. They're 22-8 (.733) when Smith scores a touchdown, 16-21 (.432) when he doesn't. A swing of .300 is gigantic. This season, Smith has fewer catches, yards, and touchdowns than The Other Steve Smith (NYG). In his one big game, at Atlanta in Week 2, the Panthers scored more points than in their other two contests combined, and lost by less than 10 for the only time all season. I'm not saying they need to throw to Smith more. But if they don't, the team needs to come up with some other weapons, or they're going to lose every time the opponent has a good cornerback.

25. Miami Dolphins [23] — Chad Pennington, whose veteran leadership and strong play (97.4 passer rating) helped Miami to a division title last season, injured his throwing shoulder and is likely to miss the rest of the season. In a 10-year career, Pennington has never had two healthy seasons in a row. The injury is the final nail in the coffin for the Dolphins' 2009 season. They're not good enough to overcome an 0-3 start.

26. Detroit Lions [31] — Won a game, and we're all happy for them. But the defense is still wretched (Jason Campbell had 340 yards and a 97.6 passer rating), and RB Kevin Smith injured his shoulder in the victory. The extent of Smith's injury hasn't been made clear, and it's possible that he might play against Chicago this week, but Detroit needs him out there. Smith keyed the offense against Washington, rushing for 101 yards on just 16 carries before the injury.

27. Washington Redskins [25] — Came to Detroit knowing they were going to lose. At halftime, Michael Strahan was visibly agitated in the FOX studio: "Washington looks like they quit." This offense, built around its running game, needs more balance (13 runs, 44 pass plays). The defense needs to get off the field on third down. Washington is the only team in the league allowing opponents to convert more than half of their third downs.

28. Oakland Raiders [26] — JaMarcus Russell owns by far the worst passer rating in the league (39.8). He is also the only QB in the league to start three games and pass for fewer than 400 yards. Russell should not be playing right now.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [27] — This ranking may be too high — it's entirely possible that the Bucs are actually the worst team in the NFL. They have been outscored by 50 points this season, worse than the Chiefs (-37) or Rams (-49). The loss this week resembled an early-season NCAA tune-up game more than an actual NFL contest. You know, the Giants vs. Florida Atlantic.

30. Kansas City Chiefs [29] — Inauspicious start in the first of four consecutive games against the NFC East. Mortal language has not created words sufficient to explain how badly they were beaten down by the Eagles (though it was still better than Tampa Bay against the Giants).

31. St. Louis Rams [32] — They rise one position not because of anything they did right, but simply because Cleveland is so remarkably terrible. The Rams have lost 13 consecutive regular-season games, the longest active streak in the league.

32. Cleveland Browns [30] — I realize that moving anyone behind the Rams is controversial, but the Browns are an absolute train wreck. They've been outscored 95-29 so far (an average of 32-10), the worst margin in the NFL. The defense is terrible, the offense is even worse, and there are already rumors that head coach Eric Mangini has lost the team. I never advocate firing coaches this early in the season, and Mangini deserves a real chance, but whose bright idea was it to replace Romeo Crennel with one of his disciples? When you fire a coach, don't you normally look to go in at least a slightly different direction?

Posted by Brad Oremland at 11:48 AM | Comments (3)

Any Drama Left in September?

Those baseball purists who opposed the inception of the wild card from the start and never seem to go away have a lot to moan about now. The idea created six divisions and two wild cards in the hopes of keeping numerous teams excited and hopeful through the final games each year. And yet there remain only two mildly compelling races to be resolved in this final week of September.

Last season saw the rise of the miracle Tampa Bay Rays as they surged from worst to first and admirably held off the Red Sox in the standings by a narrow margin before then holding them off by an even narrower one in the ALCS. 2007 was a classic race in which the Rockies' mind-numbing win streak brought them back from the grave and into the winners' circle of perhaps the most epic one-game playoff baseball had ever seen. By contrast, the 2009 pennant chase seems hardly threatening.

So what truly compelling September stories are there? Well, very little really. The Yankees, Angels, and Cardinals have clinched their respective divisions, running away with them like Yankee baserunners stealing on Jason Varitek's arm. The Phillies and Dodgers are virtual locks to clinch the East and West, respectively. This leaves us with only the AL Central and NL wild card races, where each leader currently has a two-game edge on its opponent. This means either race could come down to the final day, but may just as likely be decided in the blink of an eye, perhaps even before you finish reading this.

And yet there are some very solid reasons to believe both races will go down to the wire.

The Atlanta Braves have long been an afterthought in the wild card race. Now the experts point to their easy schedule down the stretch and dominant pitching staff as a means to make them a dark horse contender in October. Atlanta will play host to the Marlins and the putrid Washington Nationals (great time to be a sports fan in the nation's capital, isn't it?), while Colorado will battle a dangerous Brewers team at home and then travel to L.A., where a solid Dodgers team may or may not have clinched home field advantage throughout the playoffs by that point. The Rockies will have to cross their fingers that Joe Torre's Dodgers take care of those matters before they roll into town on Friday, and rest their starters the rest of the way.

The Braves' pitching staff leads off with Jair Jurrjens, Javier Vazquez, and Tommy Hanson, all starters with ERAs under 3.00. Oh, and then there's Derek Lowe, a crafty veteran with a (Boston accent optional here) wicked hard sinker and loads of big-game experience. Their manager, Bobby Cox, has only led teams to the postseason 15 different times — it was a record, you may have heard about it — and thus, should be able to help this new Braves team deal with the pressure some.

Colorado counters with a team that features much of their players in tact from their magical 2007 NL Pennant season. Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki, Todd Helton, Yorvit Torrealba, and the gang are all back for more in '09, only now they have been through these September races not long ago, and defied all the odds in triumph. This makes them more dangerous and equipped to handle the tougher competition of the final week.

Should the Rockies hang on and win the wild card, their signature moment may have already happened on Sunday. Second baseman Clint Barmes made a lunging circus catch in shallow right field, then threw back to first to double off a runner and wrapping up a tense 4-3 win over St. Louis, even as the tying run thought he was scoring from third base on an apparent sacrifice fly. Manager Jim Tracy dubbed this play the team's defensive play of the year and any man with a glove would be hard-pressed to top it over the final week.

Should the Braves make the playoffs, they would most likely draw the Manny Ramirez-led Dodgers in the NLDS. If the Rockies survive, either the Phillies or Cardinals await them. It was not long ago that the Braves were the established veterans and the Rockies were the upstarts trailing behind. In 2009 for this final week, the roles are reversed.

In the American League, the only race still alive is in the mediocre AL Central, as the red-hot Twins have snuck up on Detroit, in a last-ditch attempt to save the Metrodome for one last month of baseball. While Detroit sports the 1-2 pitching combination of Rick Porcello and Justin Verlander, Minnesota can answer with Joe Mauer, the likely MVP of the AL thanks to 28 homers and a scalding .371 batting average; absurd numbers for a catcher.

The Tigers lead this race by two games, as well. Unlike in the NL, there is the added ingredient of these teams playing head-to-head for the next four games. Starting with Tuesday's doubleheader in Comerica Park, the Twins and Tigers may very well decide the AL Central against each other. If they don't, then the Twins will finish the season at home against the Royals while the Tigers would play the White Sox at home, a team they just lost a series to in Chicago just this past weekend.

Another intriguing wrinkle involves Royals probable Cy Young winner Zack Greinke, who dominated the Twins this past Sunday in a 4-1 Minny loss, and is scheduled to start on Friday in the Dome against the same Minnesota team, potentially with much more on the line for the Twins.

Whoever emerges the winner will draw the Yankees in the ALDS. If the past four seasons have told us anything, it's that this is not a death sentence for a seemingly outmanned team. The Angels, Tigers, and Indians have all surprised the Yankees with upsets in the ALDS from 2005 to 2007. They may be the only team with triple digit wins, but this has never scared a young underdog playoff team in the ALDS with nothing to lose.

Either race could end quickly and quietly, or screw in tighter until we have another coveted (or dreaded, for fans of said teams) one-game playoff. We can only hope the story of September 2009, the last month of regular season baseball in this decade, has yet to be written. And if still nothing remarkable unfolds in this last week, fans should be mindful of one thing.

This is all merely an appetizer for the main course to be served in October. Enjoy.

Posted by Bill Hazell at 11:15 AM | Comments (1)

September 28, 2009

Week 4: Five Things We Learned

As another weekend of college football has ended, let's take a look at a few things we've learned from last week's action.

1) The ACC still isn't there yet. It was evident after the collapses of Duke and Virginia to FCS teams, but after Miami's fast start and Florida State's blowout of BYU in Provo, there was hope at least that the Florida schools would make a return to challenge Virginia Tech and give the ACC some new life. That hope came crashing down this weekend. Virginia Tech, in routing the Canes, showed that it's still the team to beat in the conference. As for Florida State, this is the most confusing, roller coaster team I've ever seen. They survive a pitiful performance against Jacksonville State, follow it up with an impressive display against BYU, and then lay an egg against South Florida?

Bottom line: the ACC is Virginia Tech and everyone else, for now at least. And throw some charcoal lighter on the fire under Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen, who has suffered two humiliating losses in a row at home to Middle Tennessee State and Rutgers.

2) The real BCS-buster shouldn't be Boise State, but rather ... TCU. While Boise's win over Oregon looks more impressive by the week, I'm much more impressed with the Horned Frogs, who sit 3-0 after going on the road and beating Clemson. There is a good chance that TCU can run the table, which could set up a scenario where either the Frogs or the Broncos could get taken off the BCS scene. If given an option, I'll take TCU, whose defense is continuously solid and helps set the offense up for success every game.

3) Gus Malzahn will be a head coach in 2010. If you saw Auburn's offense last year, compared to this year, you'd know why the above statement was made. Malzahn can turn the most vanilla offense into something electrifying, and after this season, a team like Virginia or Maryland could use a coach like Malzahn to not only right the ship, but get fans excited almost immediately on his arrival.

4) Florida might have trouble in their pursuit for a second title. The trouble lies in the form of Alabama, who'd they likely face in Atlanta. With the Tide D being as formidable as it is, I think the Gators would have a lot more trouble against them this year than last year. While I'd still pencil Florida in as the top team in the country this week, Alabama would be second, and rising steadily.

5) If Ole Miss wants any chance at being a contender in the West, they better give Kent Austin the playcalling duties. Of course, Houston Nutt told reporters a few years ago that "playcalling is overrated," yet watching the South Carolina game, I question many of the "overrated" playcalling decisions, notably why Dexter McCluster didn't get to shine until the fourth quarter. Of course, this has been a pattern of Nutt's for many years, and I'm sure Ole Miss fans will be commenting and attacking me all over again for bringing it up. No problem ... it's a process, but they'll slowly cross over in time.

Let's add a bonus to this one...

5a) Iowa has opened up some eyes after taking down Penn State in Happy Valley, but after seeing the Hawkeyes take down the Nittany Lions, my mind drifted back to Northern Iowa's near upset of Iowa in the first week of action. The Hawkeyes are good, but how about some credit to the Panthers of UNI? The team that's given Iowa the most trouble has steamrolled through its last three games, winning by no less than four touchdowns. As defending champions, Richmond appears to be the early favorites to repeat as FCS champions, but I'm definitely keeping an eye out on Northern Iowa ... who appear to be the real deal this year.

Posted by Jean Neuberger at 11:59 AM | Comments (1)

SC's NBA All-Decade Team (Pt. 1)

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

With all due respect to Andy Williams, Christmas time has nothing on the first week of October.

That's because, for the first time since June, the NBA is back!

Training camp opens for every team this week for what figures to be another great season of NBA basketball.

And like always in the NBA, the offseason was not short on excitement.

Forget about the crazy free agency period we had, just look at what's happened in the last two weeks: the refs have been locked out. The third best Laker married the third best Kardashian. And how about Delonte West!? Okay, too soon.

Don't worry, we'll get to all of those things an much more starting next week as I bring you the second annual "82 Things to Watch For this NBA Season" season preview. We've got a whole month before the season starts to touch on everything that's happened this offseason.

First, there's a more pressing issue at hand.

Anybody who's new to this weekly NBA column needs to know one thing: I love the history of the NBA. Throughout the season, expect to find plenty of obscure old NBA references and links to YouTube clips of various NBA classic moments.

So with that being said, I think that before we embark on a new decade of NBA basketball, we need to take time to look back at the previous decade of NBA basketball, the 2000s, with the official Sports Central NBA All-Decade Team.

Today, we'll take a look at Third-Team members of SC's NBA All-Decade Team. Check back Wednesday for the second team, and the grand finale on Friday when we name the All-Decade First Team.

Before we get to the teams, keep one thing in mind: the entire decade matters. For example, Chris Paul didn't make any of the three teams. He's hands down the best point guard in the game right now. But the fact is, he's only been this dominant for a little over two seasons.

We'll round up and say he was an elite player for 25% of the decade. To me, that doesn't make him one of the best players of the decade, even if at his peak he was as good a point guard as we saw in the 2000s.

Also worth noting, I'm using the same format the NBA uses for its All-NBA teams: once center, two forwards, two guards.

So let's get right to it. Ladies and gentlemen, I present you the Sports Central NBA All-Decade Team:

Third Team

G Tony Parker

Though his 16.7 points and 5.6 assists per game in the 612 games he played in the 2000s may not blow you away, Tony Parker makes the Third Team because was the starting point guard on the NBA champion San Antonio Spurs three times in the past decade, winning Finals MVP in 2007.

His blinding quickness with the ball combined with his elevated performances in the postseason (he averaged 18.9 points per game in the playoffs) made him one, of if not the most, successful point guard of the decade. The job of any starting point guard is to lead his team to an NBA title. Parker and the Spurs were able to complete that task three times, which is good enough to earn him a spot on the All-Decade Team.

G Dwyane Wade

I mentioned earlier that the entire decade matters, so the second guard spot on the Third Team was the most difficult. On the one hand, there's Chauncey Billups, the ultimate winner. The man played in seven straight Conference Finals, won an NBA title, and a Finals MVP.

On the other hand, there's Dwyane Wade. A player who played in 394 games over the past decade (the fewest of any player on the list). For him to make this list having played 318 less games than Mr. Big Shot, Dwyane Wade had been have been pretty spectacular.

Spectacular, as it turns out, is exactly what Wade was.

Wade's 25.4 points per game was the fourth highest total of any player in the 2000's. He was one of only three players to average at least 20 points and 6 assists per game. He was a five time all-star, made the All-NBA team four times (one first team, two second team, one third team), the all-defensive team twice, won a scoring title, and most importantly, was the NBA Finals MVP in 2006, where he had statistically one of the greatest NBA Finals in the history of the league.

Wade has accomplished more in his career in less than 400 games than 95% of all NBA players have ever or will ever accomplish in their entire career, and he certainly deserves a spot on the All-Decade Team.

F Paul Pierce

Pierce was Mr. Consistency for the Celtics for the entire decade. He averaged 23.9 points per game, good for ninth best in the NBA over that span. Only once in the 10 season of the 2000s did Pierce not average at least 20 points per game. He averaged 19.6 points per game in 2007-08, the year Boston won its one and only title of the decade, and he was named Finals MVP, so I'll cut him some slack.

Pierce's solid play was rewarded all decade long as he was named to seven all-star teams and four All-NBA teams (three third team, one second).

F Ben Wallace

Let's see how long your memory is. At the end of the 2009 season, Ben Wallace was nothing more than a washed up former all-star with leg injuries and a terrible contract.

But for most of the decade, he was the most feared defender in the league, and the heart and soul of one of the best teams of the 2000s.

Big Ben led the league in rebounding in both 2002 and 2003, becoming the first player since Dennis Rodman to average over 15 rebounds per game for an entire season in '03.

Wallace won four Defensive Player of the Year awards, joining Dikembe Mutombo as the only players in NBA history to win the award four times. He was a named to the All-NBA team five times (three second team, two third), the All-Defensive team six times (five first team, one second), and played in four all-star games.

He was also the anchor on the Detroit Pistons teams that won the title in 2004 and went back to the Finals in '05.

Though he may have lost some of his mojo when he left the Pistons after the '06 season, Wallace's resume over the first half of the decade was more than impressive enough to land him a spot on the All-Decade team.

C Dwight Howard

I was going to make a Superman reference here about Howard leaping tall buildings in a single bound to make the All-Decade Team, but that might encourage him to go back into the phone booth for the dunk contest this season, and I think I speak for NBA fans everywhere when I say I've just about enough of that gimmick.

Cheesy exhibition antics aside, Dwight Howard took the NBA by storm when he was selected first overall back in 2004. He not only almost single-handedly revived the Orlando Magic franchise, but he breathed life back into the center position in a decade in which the league seemed to be getting smaller and smaller.

Howard is one of only four players to average at least 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game in the 2000's. His 12.5 rebounds per game is the highest total of any player during that span.

Despite playing only five seasons, Howard has already played in the NBA Finals, has been to three All-Star games, made three All-NBA Teams (two first team, one third team), was All-Defensive twice (one first team, one second), and is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

When you consider the fact that he's only 23-years-old, something tells me that this might not be the only All-Decade Team that Howard's name appears on.

Be sure to check back at Sports Central this Wednesday for the NBA All-Decade Team (Pt. 2) from Scott Shepherd.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:41 AM | Comments (1)

September 24, 2009

NFL Weekly Predictions: Week 3

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

Kansas City @ Philadelphia (-9½)

The Eagles' ears are still ringing in the wake of last week's 48-22 drubbing at the hands of the Saints, who scored seemingly at will against the Philly defense. That ringing noise? It's the recurring notes of "When the Saints Go Marching in, And In, And In."

"I'm not too pleased with the defensive effort," says Andy Reid. "And if you want another alternate title to a song applicable to last Sunday's game, how about Elton John's 'Philadelphia Freed 'Em to Score as They Please?'"

"But with Donovan McNabb still nursing sore ribs and Michael Vick eligible to play, we've got to ask ourselves one thing. And that's 'Can Vick play defense?' Well, he can, but only in a courtroom setting."

"I've said it once and I'll say it again. If Donovan can't go, Kevin Kolb will get the start, and not Vick. I hate to keep a brother down, but Michael's not quite ready. So, it's 'K.K., 'kay?'"

Todd Haley's conditioning regimen seems to be paying dividends so far. Although the Chiefs are winless, they've been competitive well into the fourth quarter of both losses.

"Exactly," says Haley. "Hey, when I took this job, I made no promises that this team wouldn't suck. I just said we wouldn't suck wind."

"But the truth is we don't suck. In fact, we may be no more than two years away from competing for the AFC West title, or as little as three months away."

Michael Vicks gets in for eight plays, and on a quarterback scramble in the second quarter, becomes the first player to be 'dog-collar tackled' when Chiefs safety Jarrad Page wrestles him to the ground. Page is not penalized, however, as all members of the officiating crew were "looking the other way" when the infraction occurred.

The Chiefs hang tough, but Philadelphia wins, 27-21.

Washington @ Detroit (+6½)

After a less than impressive 9-7 win over the Rams last week, neither the Redskins, nor their fans, can be too happy with the team's performance so far. Add in some political pressure from Native American groups frustrated with the team's nickname, and you've got big trouble in the nation's capital.

"Well," says Redskins head coach Jim Zorn, "it's obvious that any references to 'Native American pressure' can't be in regards to our pass rush, because we don't have much of one."

"Of course, our offense wasn't much better. We managed only three field goals. That's not how I drew it up, although 'Jay-Z's The Blueprint 3' does sound good, at least on paper. Scoring in increments of three won't win you many games."

In Detroit, the Lions have given quarterback Matthew Stafford the starting position and let him run with it. Unfortunately, instead of running with it, Stafford has been passing, to the tune of 5 interceptions in two games.

"Obviously, Matthew's learning curve won't be a steep as a Matt Ryan or a Joe Flacco," says Lions head coach Jim Schwartz. "In fact, Matthew's may be as gently sloped as the crown of a football field. That should work out nicely, because by the time he understands the nuances of the game three or four years down the road, it'll be time for another No. 1 draft pick."

Against the 0-2 Lions, you have to give the Redskins the edge, if for no other reason than Ford Field is a great place to kick field goals. But are the 'Skins ripe for the picking, and if the Lions pull the upset, is Jim Zorn ripe for the pruning? To go along with his itchy wallet finger, Daniel Snyder also has an itchy trigger finger.

Detroit wins, 23-20.

Green Bay @ St. Louis (+6½)

There's probably no better way to bounce back from a painful home loss than a visit to St. Louis, where the Gateway Arch beckons visitors to enter the Midwest, and, much like the Rams defense, offers little resistance. The Packers dropped a 31-24 decision to the Bengals in Green Bay last week, and Chad Ochocinco even took a Lambeau Leap after scoring the go-ahead touchdown.

"Hey, I'm disappointed our fans allowed that to happen," says Aaron Rodgers. "Apparently, they haven't seen a baseball game at Chicago's Wrigley Field, otherwise they would have tossed Ochocinco back onto the field."

"Instead, our fans chose the passive route to objecting to Ochocinco's heinous act, and filled his Twitter account with thousands of angry Tweets. But Ochocinco got the last word — he answered every one of them."

"We definitely need to right the ship in St. Louis, before we head to Minnesota the following week for what is sure to be the most anticipated game of the year. I'm usually not one to look ahead to next week, but standing here, with the Rams defense in front of me, I can actually see the Metrodome."

After all the praise the Packer defense received in beating Chicago, they were exposed by the Bengals and their talented offense, which features playmakers at all the skill positions. The Rams aren't the Bengals, though. When you say 'playmaker' in St. Louis, you're usually referring to someone's high school drama teacher.

A-Rod goes yard on the Packs second possession, hitting Donald Driver for a 65-yard touchdown. The Green Bay defense steps up, holding Marc Bulger to 165 yards passing.

Green Bay wins, 30-17.

San Francisco @ Minnesota (-6½)

How would one describe San Francisco's 2-0 start to the season, which has the 49ers atop the NFC West standings and has generated a sense of gaiety in a city that has longed to return to the glory days of old?

"Whatever you do," says Mike Singletary, "just don't call it 'flaming.'"

"Sure, we're off to a hot start, but we've earned every bit of it. This isn't your daddy's 49er team. We won't beat you with Hall of Fame quarterbacks and receivers, nor will we stop you with a hard-hitting safety and his 9½ fingers. Hey, what's the difference between Ronnie Lott and a phone number? A phone number has 10 digits."

"All joking aside ... in a moment. What do you call a steamy erotic drama starring Ronnie Lott and Kim Basinger? "9½ Digits." Okay, I guess you guys didn't know that Samurai Mike had a sense of humor. Of course I do. I rapped on 'The Super Bowl Shuffle.' What's funnier than that? There may not be a West Coast Offense here, but there is a West Coast rapper in the house."

Like the 49ers, the Vikings are 2-0, with two road wins, and flawless play from Brett Favre, who set the NFL record with his 271st consecutive start, breaking the record of Minnesota defensive end Jim Marshall, who set the record from 1961 to 1979.

"I'm honored to pass the great Jim Marshall," says Favre. "It's truly amazing to be able to start that many consecutive games as a defensive end. It's even more amazing that he did so without not once retiring."

"The last thing I want to do is overlook the 49ers with the Packers coming here on October 5th. But it's hard not to. I've had that date circled on my calendar since the schedule was released. But you know me. Between all the retirements and all the comebacks, I've got a lot of dates circled on my calendar."

Does the winner of this contest officially claim the "for real" tag, signifying it as a legitimate NFC contender? You bet. And the NFC rushing lead will likely be decided, with Adrian Peterson looking to extend his 35-yard lead on Frank Gore.

Peterson wins the battle, rushing for a hard-fought 110 yards and a score, and the Vikes win the battle, 22-19.

Tennessee @ NY Jets (-3)

One thing is for sure after the Jets bullied the Patriots into submission last Sunday in the Meadowlands: if Rex Ryan and the Jets tell you they're going to do something, then, by golly, they're going to do it.

"Or maybe the Patriots just aren't that good," says Titans head coach Jeff Fisher. "And I might just know a thing or two about teams that 'just aren't that good.' We're 0-2, and that's not good."

"It's a very rare occasion to see the Patriots intimidated and taken out of their game. I know Tom Brady is expecting a child, but I never expected to see him in the fetal position."

"But I know my guys well enough to know they won't run and hide, unless it's Vince Young from a standardized test, or playing time."

"And I'm confident in myself as a coach to know that I run a clean program. You won't catch me tampering with another team's unsigned draft pick. But let's not jump to conclusions. I think the Jets did, in fact, contact Michael Crabtree, but not for his services. I believe they were inquiring about a good bail bondsman for Shaun Ellis."

Ryan and the Jets impressive 2-0 start has the city of New York in a frenzy, with many a call-in radio fan dialing frenetically for the chance to express their love for the home team. With the Giants also a perfect 2-0, the Big Apple is a collective 4-0, and talk, albeit premature, of a Big Apple Super Bowl.

"Who knew that when Frank Sinatra crooned 'New York, New York,'" says Ryan, "he was talking about a Jets/Giants Super Bowl? Hey, I bet Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and the rest of the gang were Jets fans. And I bet they called themselves the 'Jet Pack.'"

Hey, let's hand it to the Jets, or at least thank them. In a week when very few teams played defense, the Jets did with flying colors. They will again against the Titans, who desperately need a win. But the Titans can as well, at least when facing an 0-3 start to the season.

Tennessee wins, 17-16.

Atlanta @ New England (-4½)

After losing the war of words with the Jets, the Patriots must turn their attention to the 2-0 Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan, who starred at quarterback for Boston College. Atlanta has ridden a balanced offensive attack and a resilient defense to two home wins, and now will test themselves against an angry and humiliated Patriots team.

"We know the Pats are dangerous when down," says Ryan. "And they probably don't want to hear what we're going to do to them any more than we want to tell them."

"But our plan is no secret, anyway. We'll run Michael Turner to set up play action, and on defense, we'll limit Tom Brady's time in the pocket with pressure. Now, if Bill Belichick wants a tape of our practice, I'll gladly send him one. That's assuming he doesn't already have one."

The Patriots are 1-1, and, save for a monumental Buffalo collapse in Week 1, would be 0-2.

"Obviously," says Tom Brady, "we have a problem with New York teams that like to bring pressure. Luckily, there's only two of them in the league."

"But it's no time to panic. I know when it's time to panic, and that's when my two baby mommas are at the same place at the same time. Or Wes Welker and Randy Moss are at the same place at the same time — the injured list. Luckily, that hasn't happened."

Atlanta wins, 23-21.

Jacksonville @ Houston (-3 1/2)

After being shut down by the Jets in Week 1, the Texans offense finally displayed the potency many expected, scoring 34 points and dominating through the air in a 34-31 win over the Titans. The Matt Schaub-to-Andre Johnson connection accounted for 149 yards and 2 touchdowns, and that duo should see success against a Jaguars defense that forced only two Kurt Warner incompletions.

"Yes, the amount of Warner incompletions was alarming," says Jack Del Rio. "But not nearly as alarming as Matt Leinart's completions. Anytime Leinart gets playing time against you, you know it's bad news."

"And we couldn't get pressure on Warner or Leinart. Leinart seemed to be downright enjoying himself in the pocket. I think it was more likely we were guilty of 'fluffing' the passer than 'roughing' the passer."

"There's been a lot of talk about blacking out our home games. I added a twist to that this week — I blacked out tape sessions of the Arizona game."

Well, Jack, hopefully you've scouted your opponent via tape study. If you have, you probably noticed that the Texans surrendered 240 yards on 26 carries on the ground.

"So, you're saying that if I get Maurice Jones-Drew 26 carries, he'll accumulate 240 yards?"

More or less.

Jones-Drew won't see 240 yards, but he will see 26 carries. Jacksonville wins this on the ground, rushing for 222 as a team.

Jacksonville wins, 27-23.

NY Giants @ Tampa Bay (+7)

The Giants played spoiler to the opening of Dallas $1.15 billion stadium in Arlington, stunning the Cowboys 33-31 on Lawrence Tynes' field goal as time expired and ruining the night for Jerry Jones, who had taken a helicopter flight down from his luxury box to enjoy what he thought would be a Cowboy victory.

Now the Giants head to Tampa to face the 0-2 Bucs in a stadium worth approximately $1 billion less than the Cowboys palace.

"Arlington Stadium is overrated," says bruising running back Brandon Jacobs. "Despite all of its amenities, it's still a 'single star' facility."

"It matters little the stadium we're in, though. In Arlington, there's a stiff, wooden structure in the owner's box; in Tampa, there's one in the end zone of Raymond James Stadium. One has crow's feet, the other a crow's nest."

"And, with Plaxico Burress off to take a two-year walk off a short plank, we've needed our receivers to pick up the slack. And they have. Steve Smith had 10 catches for 134 yards and a score. I think it's safe to say he's now known more as a top receiver than as 'the Steve Smith who doesn't punch teammates.'"

With two division wins already, the G-Men look to extend their G-string in a three-week stretch at Tampa, at Kansas City, then at home against Oakland, before what looks to be a huge showdown at New Orleans on October 18th.

New York wins, 24-12.

Cleveland @ Baltimore (-13)

With a huge 31-26 win in San Diego, the Ravens are 2-0 and in first place in the AFC North. Ray Lewis made perhaps the game-saving tackle last week when he drilled Darren Sproles for a loss on fourth and two with the Chargers driving for the potential go-ahead touchdown.

"That may have been the greatest defensive regular-season play of my career," says Lewis, "and possibly the only defensive play we've made this year. We're giving up 25 points per game, which is about twice as much as we did last year."

"But my play against the Chargers was only good enough to make No. 2 on Deion Sanders' top 10 plays of the week, the only top 10 list delivered from the corner of 21st and Prime Time, and the only top 10 list delivered in street lingo from a man dressed in a style that falls somewhere between pimp and preacher."

"Those NFL Network blowhards are like Kanye West — they don't know when to shut up. Is it just me, or would it have made more sense if Kanye had delivered his apology on an episode of Pardon the Interruption?"

It's been a dismal start to the year for the Browns. Already, they're in an 0-2 hole, and head coach Eric Mangini is in a $25,000 hole to the league for failing to disclose Brett Favre's biceps injury last year.

"A Brett Favre injury?" says Mangini. "That had to be the worst-kept secret in the league. How times have changed. Then, I tried to cover up an arm injury to my quarterback. Now, I'd give anything for an arm injury to my quarterback."

After two uncharacteristic defensive performances, it's time for the Ravens to blister an opponent. What better team than Brady Quinn and the Browns?

Lewis finishes the game by sacking Quinn, then punctuates the takedown by downing a serving of EAS Myoplex shake and then saying to the fallen Quinn, "Now you're done."

Baltimore wins, 29-9.

Chicago @ Seattle (+1)

Jay Cutler played mistake-free in the Bears 17-14 win over the Steelers last week, a week after 4 interceptions raised a stink in Chicago. Cutler threw 2 touchdown passes and led the Bears into range for Robbie Gould's game-winning field goal.

"Bears fans don't take kindly to a four-interception day," says Lovie Smith, who was not conceived at Woodstock, but was, in fact, present there as a roadie for Sly and the Family Stone. "And the locker room wasn't too happy, either. Even Rex Grossman was disgusted, and he doesn't even play here anymore."

"But I think Jay has found his comfort zone. He's got that swagger back and he seems to have a better understanding of our offense, which is built on the principle of throwing to the right team. Sure, he's got a rifle arm, but a rifle arm is pretty useless when it's used to shoot yourself in the foot. When we decided to deal for Cutler, in other words, when we decided to 'pick six,' we didn't do it with interceptions in mind."

Only two weeks into the season and the Seahawks are facing catastrophic injury issues. Matt Hasselbeck, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Walter Jones, among others, are nursing injuries, which has turned what looked to be a promising student into one that could dangerously spiral downward.

"Tell me about it," says Jim Mora, Jr. "Talk about an injury 'list.'"

Chicago wins, 22-17.

New Orleans @ Buffalo (+4)

Shaking off the disappointment of their Week 1 collapse against the Patriots, the Bills left no doubt against the Buccaneers, jumping to a 17-0 lead on the way to an eventual 33-20 win. The 1-1 Bills now face the daunting task of slowing the NFL's highest-scoring offense, a Saints squad averaging over 46 points per game.

"It won't be easy," says Dick Jauron. "If we can keep 'em under 30, I think maybe we could go home happy to un-vandalized lawns."

"You know, it was really unfortunate that fans felt the need to deface the lawn of Leotis McKelvin, whose fumble against the Patriots cost us the game. However, I've got to hand it to those fans for accentuating their vandalism with imagination and clever wording. It seems they painted Leotis' front yard like an end zone, with a sign that read 'Keep On.'"

The Saints are no yard vandals, but they have been known to "tear up the turf" so far this year. And regardless of how well the Bills defense plays, their offense will have to produce to keep up with the Saints. Much of the burden for that falls on Terrell Owens, who had his first touchdown catch as a Bill last week.

"I'm not one to shy away from attention," says Owens. "Unfortunately, there's very little of that to be had here. In Buffalo, doing sit-ups in the driveway is not a spectator sport."

"Now, it only someone would have told me years ago of this yard vandalism as a form of protest, then I could have left a swath of destruction running from San Francisco to Dallas, via Philadelphia."

Owens has a big day, catching 8 balls for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns, but that's not enough to keep up with the Saints' offensive juggernaut. Nobody circles the wagons like the Bills, but nobody crosses the "T" in touchdown like the Saints.

New Orleans wins, 31-22.

Miami @ San Diego (-6½)

LaDainian Tomlinson is in a walking boot, Philip Rivers was fined for taunting, and San Diego has serious shortcomings on defense. Oh how the Chargers long for the time when the unsubstantiated claims of a ditzy, C-list, mildly retarded reality star were their only worries.

"Well, it seems as though we've rid ourselves of one 'wildcat,'" says Norv Turner, "just in time for another. That being the 'wildcat' offense made fashionable, and productive, by the Dolphins. The 'wildcat' is a lot like Philip Rivers — a 'useful tool.'"

Miami learned a hard lesson last Monday against the Colts: that a three-to-one advantage on time of possession doesn't always translate to victory. They also learned that blatant mismanagement of the clock often results in a futility.

"I've made a note of what I learned on Monday night," says Tony Sparano, "especially the concept that it's best to kill the clock when you have the lead, and not when trailing by four points."

"Really, this is all my fault. When we spent an hour in practice on the two-minute drill, I didn't expect my offense to apply that literally in a game."

With a short week after a Monday night game, and a long plane trip across America, the Dolphins will be too darn spent to present any resistance to the Chargers, who are at home and desperate to validate those fools that picked them to win the Super Bowl.

Philip Rivers throws for 287 yards and 2 scores, and Shawne Merriman puts his hands on Chad Pennington, recording 2 sacks.

San Diego wins, 27-14.

Denver @ Oakland (-2½)

It's not often a team wins when the number of incompletions tossed by its quarterback exceeds the number of points scored. But it happens, as the Raiders 13-10 win over the Chiefs proved. JaMarcus Russell was 7-of-24 for 109 yards. Oakland is 1-1 and in a tie for second in the AFC West.

"Look, the important thing is JaMarcus didn't turn the ball over," says Tom Cable. "We're not going to win offensive shootouts. For us to be competitive, we'll have to win with defense and conservative offensive play-calling. Slowly, I'm seeing players and coaches alike buying into my system. I want my players to drink the Kool-Aid, and my coaches to swallow the 'punch.'"

"If they continue to do so, the Raiders will be relevant again, and maybe Ice Cube will stop making family-friendly movies and put back on his Raider gear like a real man."

The Broncos are a somewhat surprising 2-0, with one of those wins courtesy of Brandon Stokley's miracle in Cincinnati in Week 1. Last week, Denver manhandled the Browns 27-6 at Mile High.

"One thing's for sure," says Josh McDaniels. "You don't need a miracle to beat the Browns. But it never hurts to ask for one."

"Yes, Stokley's touchdown catch was a miracle. And, if lighting should strike twice, I just hope one of them hits Brandon Marshall."

Raiders win, 16-13.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati (+4½)

Should the Bengals be in the discussion, with the Ravens and Steelers, when the subject of AFC North supremacy arises? The next three weeks should answer that question, as the Bengals host the Steelers, followed by road games at Cleveland and Baltimore.

"Hey, I don't want to get into a long discussion about that," says Chad Ochocinco. "It's way too early. Besides, I'm compelled to communicate in short, barely coherent texts of 140 characters or less."

"But if you want a simple answer, you won't get it, because I'm incapable of those. However, I can give you loads of things you didn't ask for, like the return of the list of cornerbacks who didn't stop me, or a theme for a touchdown celebration, should I score. This week's will have a Spanish flavor, but contrary to some internet rumors, I won't be choking Tila Tequila after I score."

"As usual, I'll give the fans what they want, and that's my touchdown 'pinata' celebration, in which I swing from the crossbar while everyone flogs me with a stick."

While the Steeler defense seems to be managing without the injured Troy Polamalu, concern on offense is the lack of a consistent ground game.

"Hey, don't knock the offensive line. Those guys may not give our running backs room to run, but they sure give me plenty. I'm sure Dancing With the Stars will be calling, because I can move for a big man."

Cincinnati sacked Aaron Rodgers 6 times last week, but Rodgers isn't as nimble afoot as Roethlisberger, who may be the best east-west runner in football. Big Ben will likely air it out at least 40 times, so, when he drops back, the Bengal defense not only needs to pressure him, they need to tackle him.

Cincinnati wins, 23-21.

Indianapolis @ Arizona (-1)

Offense should be in high gear when the 2-0 Colts head to Glendale to challenge the 1-1 Cardinals. Indianapolis won 27-23 in Miami on Monday night, despite only holding the ball for only 14:53, compared to 45:07 for the Dolphins.

"You know the old saying," says Manning. "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Well, give a Manning a team of Dolphins, and it'll only take him a quarter of an hour to eat."

"But above all things, we owe our defense an apology for making them stay on the field while we sat on the sidelines chilling in the mist while enjoying some Gatorade. That's 'G,' and that's 'R&R.'"

The Cards bounced back from a Week 1 defeat with a 31-17 win over the Jaguars. In that game, Kurt Warner set an NFL record by completing 92.3% of his passes (24-of-26).

"That's darn near perfect," says Warner. "I don't think you'll see a lot of incompletions come Sunday, especially with two defenses worn down from games in hot, humid Florida. Jacksonville's about as close to Hell as one can get, which is convenient, because from what I hear, you practically have to deal with the devil to see a game on TV there."

"I welcome the challenge of facing Manning. He's a good Christian man, I think, although he seems to have sold his soul. Not to the devil, though. It's much worse — to Oreos, Gatorade, and DirecTV."

The Colts defense will get a break in Arizona; the Cards don't take nearly as long to score as the Dolphins.

Arizona wins, 35-31.

Carolina @ Dallas (-10)

Jake Delhomme and Tony Romo are two of the NFL's most polarizing quarterbacks, praised when winning, but vilified when losing. Both have found a generous share of scrutiny, Delhomme after 5 turnovers against the Eagles in Week 1, and Romo after a 3-interception performance in a loss to the Giants on Sunday night.

"I'm the quarterback of America's Team," says Romo. "So, when I play badly, I'm apt to get a 'country' whipping."

"But I refuse to be discouraged. Tony Dorsett may not believe in me, but the man upstairs has my back. That's Jerry Jones, of course, not Jesus. And you can worship both in the fabulous new stadium — Jesus in the chapel on the fourth floor, and Jerry in the larger chapel on the fifth floor."

Delhomme played much better in the Panthers' 28-20 loss to Atlanta. He's yet to connect with Steve Smith for a touchdown; he should be able to against a Dallas secondary that was victimized by the Giants.

"If the Cowboys game with the Giants indicated anything," says Delhomme, "it's that there's plenty of room to throw in that place."

"Arlington Stadium is such a cavernous structure, one could easily disappear is such a spacious area. We've seen that even in a smaller venue, like the Georgia Dome, someone as large as Julius Peppers can be hard to find. In Julius' case, anytime he gets lost, he can easily be spotted by locating the huge wallet hanging out of his back pocket."

Delhomme will find Smith often, but ultimately, the Cowboy rush will get to Delhomme, forcing a crucial turnover. Romo throws for 224 yards and a touchdown, and Marion Barber finds Peppers and goes through him for a short touchdown.

Dallas wins, 27-24.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:55 AM | Comments (0)

NFL Observations Through Two Weeks

One of the nicest perks of writing for Sports Central is getting to appear alongside, and occasionally collaborate with, great writers who are unsurpassed experts in their sport of choice like Brad Oremland. Occasionally, Brad will recruit me for some collective effort, like drafting all-time NFL teams. It's a privilege and a lot of fun, but I make sure to caution him that I don't really know what I'm talking about.

I am not an in-the-trenches student. My eyes follow the ball, not the intricacies. During that all-time draft, I had to refer to various publication's "best ever" teams for assistance on non-skill positions.

What else? Football geeks laud the possibility of football games using a long shot as their primary camera (as opposed to the sideline cam ... think of the view you have when playing games like Madden), like they occasionally do for kickoffs. I would hate that, because it's too hard to tell how many yards were gained on a play that way, and I'd rather keep that convenience and forsake the action in the defensive backfield.

Still, I like to think I know more about football than at least 75% of the general public. I at least know more than many of the guys that comment on Brad's power rankings. Last week, he was taken to task for relying too heavily on historical data (i.e. last year ... he apparently should have simply had the 15 teams at 1-0 as his top 15, but instead he was "unimaginative"). This week, he was taken to task for ... not using historical data enough ("The Cowboys haven't won a playoff game since '96.")

I wax about Brad (and not for the first time) because he already gave the Cliff Notes version of what I had already planned to make one of the main points of my article, the sorry state of my Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Right down to the "Where art thou, Monte Kiffin?"

Hard as it may seem to believe, the Buccaneers have only had three losing seasons out of the last 12. And in each of those losing seasons, there was at least some hope of decency that lasted to Week 9 or 10.

Now, I feel like someone should hand me a informational pamphlet entitled, "So your team is bad." The Bucs reek of the housecleaning they did over the offseason. They are bad.

The stinkiest part has been the defense, which is just sacrilege for a Buccaneers team. They are last in the NFL, as Brad pointed out, in most meaningful categories. But I have to also call Raheem Morris's play-calling into question, as well. It's been even more unimaginative than Brad's Week 1 power rankings.

Nothing makes me cringe more, on 4th-and-1, than to see the quarterback sloooowly hand off to the not-very-burly tailback, who gets stuffed trying to get the yard up the middle. I understand the thinking: give your fullback a chance to get in there and provide more fortification, and give the line chance to create a hole. The Bucs had a promising drive against the Bills killed that way.

It just seems like that extra time always benefits the defense a lot more than the o-line. They plug the hole, or even send a DB charging into the backfield, which you can afford to do when you have good intel that you are up against an unimaginative playcaller.

Here's an idea: how often do you see those tackle-eligible TD passes from the one-yard line? Or at least the second tight end? Anecdotally, I'd say it has a fairly high success rate. Why doesn't anyone try that on fourth and one?

More bad play-calling from Morris: 5:27 left in the game, the Bucs kicked off down 30-20. Do you go for a onside kick there or not? It's a toughie, and Morris apparently couldn't decide either because he opted for one of those semi-onside kicks (I hesitate to call it a squib kick, which is enough of a dreadful scourge when you're winning and there's more than 20 seconds left).

As you would figure (especially after what had happened the week prior), the Bills' kickoff team was alert and capable enough. An up-man took the ball a few yards to the 40. So sure, the Bucs didn't get the ball, but at least they gave the Bills good field position. Fish, or cut bait, Morris.

The awful defense and poor playcalling has undercut what has been a surprisingly strong offensive effort, particularly for a team that parted ways with offensive guru Jon Gruden and fired their offensive coordinator halfway through the preseason.

In Week 1, they came out of the gates particularly sharp, outplaying the Cowboys in the first half, but getting outmuscled in the second half. The offseason pickup of Byron Leftwich was shrewd. I wasn't happy with the prospect of Luke McCown leading the offense, and I felt like Leftwich was consigned to the veterans slag heap without due warrant. He looks more like the Leftwich who led Jacksonville to multiple playoff berths and less like a journeyman.

And boy, is it nice to see Cadillac Williams running again, and running well. His knee problems, particularly the gripping, right-out-of-North-Dallas-40 re-aggravation in the final week of last season, have me pulling hard for the guy.

But next week brings the Giants to Tampa and ... I'm cringing already.

But wait! This was supposed to be NFL observations through two weeks, not Tampa Bay observations through two weeks.

The most amazing thing about the Brandon Stokley touchdown in Week 1 was not the deflection, but that no Bengal DBs were playing deep, with just seconds left, and the Broncos pinned back behind their own 20. I feel like even the defensive strength and conditioning coach, gaffer, and the little kid who runs out and gets the tee should be fired for that.

Finally, should the Broncos finish with a better record than the Bears this year, I put the over/under on columns that say something like, "Haw! Who da thunk that Kyle Orton's team would best Jay Cutler's?" at one zillion.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 11:36 AM | Comments (3)

September 23, 2009

Is Patience All We Need?

Sometimes (well, how some is 75%?), I like to fit in an old adage into one of these columns, and ... you guessed it ... this is another one of those moments. The old-time phrase this go-round is that patience is a virtue. Long-time suffering will bring forth fantastic wealth, fame, and supermodels in the end.

Oops. Sorry, thought out loud there for a second. Patience is supposed to get you through the bad times and reward you with good karma. I mean, look at Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer. He bided his time at Bowling Green and Utah before hitting the veritable jackpot in Gainesville. Now he has a stockpile of talent and two national titles over a three-year stretch.

But patience can have its drawbacks. Early, sufficient, and sometimes surprising success can lead to what I would call "high-expectation" patience. This is when you expect to see results, but might run into more disappointment than you prepare for. In today's "what can you do for me now?" world, that patience is thin, at best. However, there are a few examples of that hope and hype still at the forefront of college football.

Patience Case No. 1: Bob Stoops

Being a Big 12 guy, I've known the extent of mental anguish that has been supplied by Oklahoma over the past decade. The Sooners owned Texas until recently. Nebraska hasn't been a factor since around 2002. Even more personally, OU ruined Missouri's season single-handedly in 2007 (and, to a lesser extent, 2008).

However, outside of the Plains, Stoops hasn't made a ripple in the national waters after beating Florida State in January of 2001. "Big Game" Bob has since been beaten by LSU, stifled by Florida, blown-out by USC, and shocked by Boise State. But every year, the talent continues to flock to Norman, giving Boomer Sooner fans hope that this will the year of the return to glory.

Problem is ... Texas has caught up, Nebraska is catching up, and some "small fry" is always waiting in the wings for their big win (BSU, TCU, BYU). We'll find out how much longer Stoops can drive the wagon before the boosters circle it.

Patience Case No. 2: Jim Tressel

Ohio State was in a mediocre way when they fired John Cooper in 2001. The Buckeyes sloshed around the Big Ten, and, worse, they couldn't beat Michigan. Then, in comes Tressel from nearby Youngstown State. He gets on campus, calls out the big arch-rival, and proceeds to beat undefeated and unstoppable Miami for the championship in January of 2003.

It seemed like sweater vests would be the next big fashion throughout the eastern Great Lakes. Then, slowly, the rest of the CFB world caught and past him (as well as the rest of the conference). The speed of the SEC, the offensive schemes of the Big 12, and the overall talent of USC boosted several teams ahead of OSU in the national title pecking order. This was extremely evident in the back-to-back BCS Championship shellackings to Florida and LSU.

Problem is ... the overall talent is still not funneling into (or staying in) the Midwest. Terrelle Pryor could develop into an all-time talent over the next couple of years, but who else will stick around to help combat the speed of, well, everyone else? Oddly enough, Tressel might need some help from his biggest rival to raise his own perception.

Patience Case No. 3: Pete Carroll

The weather's usually bright and sunny in SoCal. The bright lights and bright stars of L.A. might be eclipsed by Carroll and his swagger-filled band of USC Trojans. Over the last eight years, I'd say that no one has had more talent (players and coaches) than USC. That might not be more evident than the run of 2003-2005, where the Men of Troy won a championship, shared another one, and would have gotten another full one if not for one more minute and Vince Young.

Every preseason, the question hasn't whether the Trojans might be a championship contender, but where they will start in the top five. However, the last few years, the follow-up question has been "which cupcake will derail USC's title dreams this season?" That inquiry was answered early in 2009. Last Saturday's loss at Washington marked the fourth straight year that a sub-par Pac-10 foe has taken down mighty Troy early in conference play.

Problem is ... you don't know where the hiccup is going to occur. It could happen because of an undersized running back, or to a 40-point underdog, or to a team that went winless the previous year. The bottom line is that, from 2006 on, it has happened. Now, the expectation is alive that this will happen every year. Can Trojan fans wait for Carroll to reverse the fortune?

Patience Case No. 4: The Mid-Major Plea

Ever since the BCS was formed in the late-'90s, the distinction between championship contenders and also-rans has grown stronger. Fact is, though, the schools relegated to second string during this stretch have been fighting back ever so slightly. From Greenville, South Carolina to Boise, Idaho, there are upstarts that provide us followers with early-season shockers and upsets.

These are the teams that provide hope to the "patient" playoff screamers that want to see this system busted up (yours truly among them). They're the ones who take down the powerful Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, or Virginia Tech. And once that happens, the doors are open to the possibilities of what could be without the constricting bowl system.

Problem is ... most of these squads fade in the long run. BYU had the setup to not only crash the BCS party, but maybe challenge for the national title. Now, one loss later, all of those dreams are done. Last year, East Carolina got off to the hot start, but tailed off after September. All it takes is one blemish, and more familiar conference opponents are looking to take a bite out of the next big thing.

Other problem is ... even when a team goes undefeated, they don't necessarily get the most luxurious opportunities. Sure, they do get into a BCS bowl game, but isn't that more like a pat on the head than a hearty handshake? Utah, Boise State, and others can win all the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls they want, but if you're a fan of the mid-majors, that thin patience may have to thrive on shreds.

Can patience be rewarded? Sure. Vanderbilt finally got back to a bowl game in 2008. But can patience be trying, ruthless, and disappointing? Absolutely. The Commodores are 1-2 so far this season.

Posted by Jonathan Lowe at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 27

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Mark Martin — Martin held off Juan Montoya on a restart with three laps to go to take round one of the Chase with a win in New Hampshire. With Montoya nipping at his bumper, Martin slowed as the two entered turn two with two laps remaining, surprising Montoya, who slowed and lost considerable momentum. Martin then drove away for the win, and later defended his controversial move.

"Don't let my age fool you," Martin said. "'50' is the new '40,' and I believe I just took 10 years off of Montoya's life as well. Sure, I may have slowed considerably to hold him off, but there's nothing illegal about what I did. I told everyone I'd be racing to win the Cup, and I 'backed it up.'"

"I haven't forgotten how to drive defensively, nor have I forgotten how to rap. Listen up for my remake of Chamillionaire's 'Ridin' Dirty.' Like my competitors' standings in the Chase, it 'drops' soon."

2. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson opened defense of his three Sprint Cup titles with a fourth-place finish in New Hampshire, a solid result that kept him well within striking distance of race winner and points leader Mark Martin. Johnson, along with Denny Hamlin, trails Martin by 35 points.

"I realize that a Mark Martin Cup championship would be a popular result in the NASCAR community," Johnson said. "But, as we all know, popularity does not a driver make. Some of us, myself included, measure success by the space in our trophy cases, or lack thereof, and not by number of rowdy fans, or alcohol consumed in that driver's honor."

3. Denny Hamlin — Hamlin edged Juan Montoya for second just as the yellow flag flew on the final lap in New Hampshire as Mark Martin took the checkered flag. The runner-up finish left Hamlin tied with Jimmie Johnson for second in the point standings, 35 behind Martin.

"I've been telling everyone that the No. 11 FedEx team is peaking at just the right time," Hamlin said. "We may not be the 'X' factor, but we're surely the 'Ex' factor."

4. Juan Montoya — Montoya won the pole for the Sylvania 300, topped both practice sessions, and led the most laps on Sunday, but his quest for victory to complete the sweep was foiled by Mark Martin. Martin held off Montoya's charge on the final restart with some crafty driving that Montoya called "dirty" and "not cool." Montoya finished third in his first race as a Chase qualifier, and trails Martin by 55 points.

"I did everything but run a 'Colombian Victory Lap,'" Montoya said, "which is doing a burnout and laying down rubber to cover every white line on the race track."

"But I'll remember how Mark raced me. Sure, Mark's got class, but you can't spell 'class' without the 'ass.' I'm sure, if the tables were turned and I would have been in front and pulled the same maneuver, there would have been a huge uproar condemning me. And NASCAR would have found a way to penalize me for speeding on pit row."

5. Jeff Gordon — Gordon ran up front early in the Sylvania 300, even commenting to crew chief Steve Letarte that the car was capable of winning. But as the day progressed, Gordon struggled with handling, particularly on restarts, and faded, finishing 15th. He is 10th in the points, and trails Mark Martin by 102 points.

"A finish of 15th in the first race of the Chase certainly puts my title hopes in jeopardy," Gordon said. "And speaking of 'jeopardy,' I think my statement to Letarte was posed in the form of a question, as in 'my car is capable of winning?'"

6. Tony Stewart — Stewart led 51 of the first 180 laps at New Hampshire, but his day fell apart when a bolt on the rear axle cap came loose, forcing a lengthy pit stop that eliminated him from contention. Stewart finished 14th and tumbled four places in the standings to sixth, 74 points behind Mark Martin.

"As would be expected," Stewart said, "I wasn't happy with my crew's performance. If they think we can win a championship with mistakes like that, then they've got a screw loose."

"You've got to wonder if I'm jinxed. Was doing the Burger King commercial with Carrot Top and Erik Estrada a good idea? I keep asking myself 'are there two washed-up has-beens in that commercial, or three?'"

7. Kurt Busch — Busch's sixth-place result in New Hampshire could have been better if not for a debris caution on lap 276, which bunched the field after Mark Martin and Busch had opened up a sizable lead on the rest of the cars. Busch lost ground on the restart, and had to be satisfied with his 15th top-10 of the year, which left him 65 points behind Martin.

"You may have heard that my departing crew chief, Pat Tryson, is only allowed at the Penske race shop once a week for a debrief meeting," Busch said. "That's funny, because when I was younger, I lobbied my parents to grant my younger brother Kyle similar once-a-week visitation rights."

"That, of course, was a domestic issue. And, as Kyle's often proved this year, he's barely 'domesticated.'"

8. Ryan Newman — Newman finished seventh in New Hampshire after starting 18th, somewhat offsetting a disappointing finish of 14th for Stewart Haas teammate Tony Stewart. Newman is seventh in the point standings, one spot behind Stewart and 79 points behind leader Mark Martin.

"I'm sympathetic to Tony's plight suffered on Sunday," Newman said. "I truly am. But I can't lie. It's nice to finish in front of Tony. In the first half of this year, Tony got all the headlines. So, it's good to outdo my employer, but I know he loves the spotlight. That's why I call him 'Boss Hog.' Behind his back, of course."

"Please note that my words, unlike the Whopper, are not endorsed and loved by Tony Stewart."

9. Greg Biffle — Biffle finished ninth in New Hampshire, his 13th top-10 finish of the year and a satisfactory start to the Chase. Biffle moved up three spots in the Sprint Cup point standings, and trails Mark Martin by 92 points.

"With a little track position," Biffle said, "I think we could have contended for the win. But I'm not sure how I would have raced Mark Martin had I been in Montoya's position. Mark seems to have found the killer instinct just in time. In the future, I suspect that being behind Mark will be a position in which only his proctologist will feel comfortable."

10. Carl Edwards — Edwards finished a disappointing 17th in the Sylvania 300, finishing behind all of the 12 Chase qualifiers except for Kasey Kahne, who blew an engine early on Sunday. Edwards fells two places to 11th in the points, and trails front-runner Mark Martin by 113.

"This really has been possibly the most disappointing Cup season of my career," Edwards said. "I may just resign myself to the fact that I'm not going to win a Cup race. But, on the bright side, I probably have as good a chance at breaking my winless streak as one would of breaking a foot playing Frisbee."

"I've had flat tires before, but only on my cars. With one on my foot, I guess that would have to be called a 'Goodyear limp.'"

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)

September 22, 2009

NFL Week 2 Power Rankings

Five Quick Hits

* Sweet heaven, how many chins does John Madden have? I don't say this to be mean, but out of genuine concern for the man: he needs to take better care of himself.

* The Lions were leading 10-0, then got outscored 27-3 the rest of the way. Hope is a cruel mistress, Detroit.

* Ricky Williams is 32, older than Larry Johnson (29), LaDainian Tomlinson (30), and Edgerrin James (31). He's outlasted his replacement, Deuce McAllister, who retired at age 30 this offseason. And he still looks good! Yoga and weed, the secrets to a long career.

* The NFL's website is terrible. They have destroyed the GameCenter that used to make the league's site the best place to get info on games. Now the pages take forever to load, there are no links, and the drive charts are indecipherable. Booooo.

* It's time to get rid of last-second timeouts before a field goal attempt. They're against the spirit of the game, and they're unsportsmanlike. They also waste everybody's time.

***

Five short notes about the Monday night game between Indianapolis and Miami:

1. The Colts' 14:53 time of possession was the lowest for a winning team since the NFL has recorded time of possession. Indianapolis ran only three offensive plays in the third quarter.

2. Reggie Wayne doesn't get enough credit. The Dolphins frequently doubled him on Monday night, so he was largely reduced to decoy status, but that attention created opportunities for Dallas Clark (183 yards) and Pierre Garçon (game-winning touchdown). Wayne also saved an interception at the end of the first half, knocking the ball away from Gibril Wilson.

3. Clark leads the NFL in receiving yards (222).

4. Peyton Manning averaged 21.6 yards per completion in this game. That's the highest mark of his career.

5. Ted Ginn had 11 catches for 108 yards. Those are great numbers, but he didn't have a great game. The Dolphins need a big-play threat, and they need Ginn to be that guy.

And now we proceed to the Week 2 Power Rankings. Brackets indicate last week's rank.

1. New York Giants [2] — The NBC commentators said several times that Dallas dominated the game and deserved to win, that the Giants got lucky with turnovers. But weren't New York's struggles in the red zone just as crucial as Tony Romo's interceptions? Five trips inside the 20 yielded four field goals and a missed field goal. If the Giants had gotten a couple of touchdowns in there — say, 23 points instead of 12 — this game would not have been close, and no one would have said that the team with more yards (427/378), more time of possession (34:49/25:11), and fewer turnovers (+4) got dominated. That said, I'm not crazy about ranking the Giants first, and they need to start scoring touchdowns. The Giants are now 0/8 in the red zone this season.

2. New Orleans Saints [9] — Defense remains a concern, but if you average 46.5 points per game, mediocre defense isn't really a problem. Hanging 40 points on Detroit is one thing, but going into Philadelphia and scoring 6 touchdowns against the Eagles is another. The Saints had one of the league's best offenses in 2008, and it's better this year. That makes this a scary team in the vein of the 1999 Rams or the 2006 Colts.

3. Atlanta Falcons [5] — Opened the season with wins over two defending division winners. The bad news is that they haven't yet proven themselves in a road game, which is where the team struggled last year. Next week, the Falcons jump into the deep end, traveling to New England with a chance to show that they can beat anyone, anywhere. Special teams, the one weakness last week, was a strong point against Carolina, including a punt block that set up a touchdown.

4. Dallas Cowboys [4] — Lost the battle of Who Misses Their Top Receiver More? The Giants, playing minus last year's primary target, Plaxico Burress, passed for 330 yards and got a combined 20 receptions from Mario Manningham and Steve Smith. The Cowboys, without Terrell Owens, threw for 127 yards and got a total of four receptions from their wide receivers. Dallas still scored 31 points behind a 251-yard rushing day, held the Giants to two offensive touchdowns, and nearly won despite finishing -4 in turnovers. Romo won't have three picks every week; this is a very good team.

5. New York Jets [14] — Maybe I'm overreacting after only two games, but I think we need to throw a ton of credit in the direction of new head coach Rex Ryan. The Ravens visibly miss their former defensive coordinator, and the Jets have become a defensive juggernaut. They rank first in yards allowed and second in points allowed, despite having played a pair of offenses — the Texans and Patriots — that combined for 69 points (avg. 34.5) when they weren't playing the Jets. New York's defense has not allowed a touchdown this season. This team reminds me a little of the 2004 Steelers.

6. New England Patriots [3] — At last we have found the secret to stopping the Patriots. Get one of the two or three best cornerbacks in the league to shut down Randy Moss, and get Wes Welker to miss the game. I think New England will be fine once Jerod Mayo and Welker are back in uniform, though it wouldn't hurt to cut down on the penalties (11 for 89 yards in Week 2). Mayo (sprained MCL) is likely to miss multiple games, but Welker could be back next week.

7. Baltimore Ravens [8] — It's a good thing the offense has gotten better, because the defense has gotten worse. The cornerbacks in particular are awful. In Week 1, Brodie Croyle had a 116.1 passer rating, and in Week 2, Philip Rivers passed for 436 yards. It seems obvious to me that this team misses its Jets defectors: LB Bart Scott, DB Jim Leonhard, and coach Rex Ryan.

8. Indianapolis Colts [7] — How clutch are the Manning brothers? Both led game-winning drives in Week 2, and not just game-winning drives, but the kind that are all about the quarterback. Peyton can't carry this team, though, and the defense looked atrocious against Miami. Where were the adjustments to stop the run? You can't play base defense against the Wildcat. To make matters worse, it appeared that MLB Gary Brackett was injured at the end of the game.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers [1] — Nothing has changed since last week. Troy Polamalu is a game-changing safety, and the defense misses him. On offense, they need more production from the running game. Defense is a particular concern. Last season, the Steelers averaged 3.2 sacks per game, second-best in the league. This year, they have 2 sacks, tied for 24th. That's after two games, so it's too early to panic, but the team needs to improve in that area if it's going to make the playoffs this year.

10. Minnesota Vikings [13] — Adrian Peterson looks like he's playing a different game than everyone else. You know how Vince Young looked in the 2006 Rose Bowl, a man among boys? That's how All Day has seemed in the first two weeks of the season. He's faster and stronger than the guys trying to tackle him. This defense (fourth in yards allowed, tied for third in sacks) is also very good. The Vikings are +28 in point differential, trailing only New Orleans (+44), but they've played against Cleveland and Detroit. Everyone expected Minnesota to win its first two or three games.

11. Houston Texans [15] — Matt Schaub in Week 1: 166 yards, no TDs, 55.9 passer rating. Schaub in Week 2: 357 yards, 4 TDs, 127.8 passer rating. What didn't change this week was Steve Slaton's lack of productivity. For the season, he has 26 carries for 51 yards. The Texans can contend in the AFC South if that changes. They can't if it doesn't.

12. Tennessee Titans [6] — Okay, pass defense is now officially a concern. In Week 1, Ben Roethlisberger had 363 yards and an 89.6 passer rating. This week, Schaub (see above) and Andre Johnson (10 rec, 149 yds, 2 TD) tore them apart. They're a strong 0-2, losing both games by just a field goal, but with a visit to the Jets next week, this team is in danger of dropping to 0-3 and out of the AFC South division race before October.

13. Arizona Cardinals [17] — Think Kurt Warner is glad to have Steve Breaston back and Anquan Boldin healthy? Warner, as you've no doubt heard by now, set a single-game record for completion percentage (92.3%). That's not quite as impressive as it sounds, though, because these weren't typical Warner down-the-field bombs. Warner averaged 10.1 yards per completion, which is awfully low (he averaged 11.4 last season and 12.9 with the Rams), and Larry Fitzgerald finished the game with 34 yards. Of course, that's still a great game and a nice rebound from a disappointing Week 1.

14. Chicago Bears [18] — When the Bears made the Super Bowl in 2006, they consistently got a strong pass rush from their defensive line. So far this year, they're doing the same thing. Adewale Ogunleye was a terror in Week 1 (2 sacks and innumerable pressures going against Allen Barbre), and Alex Brown picked up a pair of sacks in Week 2. They need to get the ground game going on offense. Last season, Matt Forte averaged 77.4 ypg and 3.9 yds/att. So far this season, his averages are 42.0 ypg and 2.2 yds/att. Teams will line up to stuff Forte until Jay Cutler proves he can beat them with his arm, but 2.2 is a pretty miserable average even with eight in the box.

15. San Diego Chargers [11] — As great as Darren Sproles is, they missed LaDainian Tomlinson on Sunday. The Chargers went 0/5 in the red zone (4 FG, one turnover on downs) without L.T., who ranks second all-time in rushing TDs (Emmitt Smith). Really, though, the problems start up front. Last year, the middle of their offensive line was (from left to right) Kris Dielman, Nick Hardwick, and Mike Goff. Those three all played at a high level, especially at the end of the season. This year, Goff is in Kansas City, Hardwick is injured, and Dielman is playing the worst football of his career. In the "More Bad News" category, all-pro NT Jamal Williams was placed on injured reserve with a triceps injury on Saturday. That's a major blow for this defense.

16. San Francisco 49ers [20] — Frank Gore rushed for 207 yards with a 12.9 average and 2 touchdowns. He had a 79-yard rush in the first half and an 80-yarder in the second half. Gore also led the 49ers in receiving, with 5 catches for 39 yards. Apart from the two long runs, San Francisco had only 200 yards of total offense (3.4 per play) and three field goals.

17. Philadelphia Eagles [10] — Embarrassed in their home opener, losing the game by 26 and losing Brian Westbrook to an ankle injury. Kevin Kolb threw for half a billion yards this week, but he also tossed three picks and has a career passer rating of 50.6. This does not appear to be an above-average team with Kolb at quarterback. How much has the playbook changed in the last 2½ years? I have to believe Jeff Garcia, who had a passer rating of 90.2 last season, is their best option.

18. Green Bay Packers [12] — Amid a sea of yellow flags, they were done in by Cedric Benson's rushing (141 yards) and Antwan Odom's pass rushing (5 sacks). Pass protection is obviously a major issue for this team. If not for Odom's ridiculous day and the major upset (Cincinnati was a 10-point underdog), the story of this game would have been Ed Hochuli's officiating crew, which called 24 penalties for 176 yards.

19. Buffalo Bills [23] — The offense, given up for dead after a tumultuous preseason, is playing at a high level. Buffalo is sixth in scoring (57), behind the strong play of Trent Edwards (104.9 passer rating) and Fred Jackson (220 yards, 5.1 average). The team still needs to work on its red zone offense. They were 0/4 in Week 2, and Jackson has yet to score a touchdown.

20. Denver Broncos [28] — They're 2-0, with an AFC-best point differential of +26. But how much do a last-minute win over the Bengals and an easy victory against the Browns mean? This is the third straight season that Denver has opened 2-0. The previous two years yielded a combined record of 17-19 with no playoff appearances, so you'll have to forgive me for being slow to the bandwagon. If they win at Oakland next week, I'll get them into the top half of the rankings.

21. Seattle Seahawks [16] — Couldn't handle The Inconvenient Truth, but how about this pass rush, which has 7 sacks through two games? Backup defensive end Lawrence Jackson leads the team with three, and won't be a backup for long if he continues at this pace. Jackson also knocked down a pass on Sunday. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck fractured a rib and probably won't play in Week 3, but Seneca Wallace is a capable replacement.

22. Carolina Panthers [19] — Jake Delhomme played a lot better, both running backs were effective, and there's still no one who can cover Steve Smith. Unfortunately, the defense looked almost as bad as it did in Week 1. The Panthers have already allowed 66 points this season. That's third-worst in the NFL, ahead of only Detroit and Tampa Bay. Carolina is one of only three teams to allow twice as many points as it has scored (joining the Rams and Browns), and is last in the NFL in point differential, at -36. This ranking could easily be viewed as generous.

23. Miami Dolphins [21] — Matt Millen after the game: "For the Miami Dolphins, that's as good as they can play. They did everything they wanted to do ... [if] we beat them in time of possession 3:1, and if we outrush them, and we control the football, and we keep Manning on the sidelines, [we should win the game]." The Dolphins rushed for 239 yards with a 4.9 average, made 27 first downs (including a ridiculous 71% on third downs), and had 45:07 TOP. The Wildcat offense won't work that well again all season. Miami and St. Louis are tied for last in the NFL with one touchdown each in the 2009 season.

24. Cincinnati Bengals [30] — Odom has 7 sacks this season, almost twice as many as second-place Elvis Dumervil (4). This was the 13th five-sack performance since sacks became an official statistic in 1982, and the first since Osi Umenyiora sacked Donovan McNabb six times in a 2007 Sunday night game. I feel sorry for Dumervil, who had four sacks this weekend and got his thunder stolen by Odom's five.

25. Washington Redskins [22] — When does a win feel like a loss? When you only beat the Rams by two, at home. When you're favored by 10 and score nine. When you have first-and-goal four times and come away with three field goals. I have hammered Jason Campbell in this space — he stares down receivers, and his deep ball lacks accuracy — but he mostly avoids major mistakes and he had a couple of nice runs on Sunday. The Rams game, rather, was about head coach Jim Zorn. He's being criticized for a pair of bold fourth-and-one calls, going for it twice at the end of the game and succeeding once, but I actually liked the decisions. They were risky, but this team needs to start taking some risks. Of more concern are Zorn's conservative and predictable playcalling, especially in the red zone (run, run, pass), and his general ineptitude as a game manager (special teams coach Danny Smith intervened to stop Zorn from calling a timeout when Washington was trying to run out the clock). It starts at the top.

26. Oakland Raiders [26] — How do you win when your opponent has twice as many yards, twice as many first downs, and almost twice as much time of possession? Win the turnover battle, play well on special teams, and save your best for the red zone, on offense and defense. JaMarcus Russell had an exceptionally poor game in the win.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [25] — Remember when this team was built on a suffocating defense? The Bucs rank 31st in yards allowed, points allowed, and opponents' passer rating. They're 29th in rushing average allowed and 32nd in yards per play allowed. Where have you gone, Monte Kiffin?

28. Jacksonville Jaguars [24] — Another team whose once-proud defense has gotten soft. From 2004-2006, the Teal Curtain was a top-10 defense every season. Now the Jags are averaging less than one sack per game, and they're fourth-worst in opponents' passer rating, 108.7. Jacksonville also ranks 28th in scoring, one of only five teams yet to reach 30 total points this season. It's going to be a long year.

29. Kansas City Chiefs [27] — Gained 409 yards, but only scored 10 points. The Chiefs blew an easy opportunity for three points at the end of the first half, throwing a 1-yard pass from the Oakland 9-yard-line with :14 left in the first half, and running out of time before they could get the field goal team on. They settled for a field goal in their other trip to the red zone, and repeatedly lost field position on special teams and turnovers.

30. Cleveland Browns [29] — Last in the NFL in total offense, with exactly half as many yards as the Saints. They're only second-to-last in scoring, tied with Washington and ahead of St. Louis. The defense is also bad.

31. Detroit Lions [31] — Rookie QB Matthew Stafford (1 TD, 5 INT, 40.5 passer rating) is really struggling, but the biggest problem continues to be defense. The Lions have allowed opponents a combined passer rating of 134.9, by far the worst in the league. Detroit has given up 72 points this season, which is also a league-worst.

32. St. Louis Rams [32] — Don't let the close score deceive you: the Rams got pushed around against Washington, at least between the 20s. They were out-gained by over 100 yards and lost time of possession by almost 10 minutes. Steven Jackson had 104 yards, but 58 came on one play. The rest of the game, he gained 46 yards on 16 carries (2.9/att). The Rams were not impressive on offense or defense, and the close game was more a reflection of Washington's offensive inadequacies than of anything positive from St. Louis.

Posted by Brad Oremland at 11:57 AM | Comments (4)

Resolving the AL MVP Wars

Okay, so the Minnesota Twins are suddenly (so it seems) back in the American League Central race, and possibly for keeps. Helps bump up Joe Mauer's Most Valuable Player campaign, no?

Well, not necessarily. For one thing, the Twins got back into the AL Central race as much because the Tigers haven't been able to hang onto what was once a decent enough division lead as by their own at least survivable baseball. And for the Twins, it's either win the Central or be gone for the winter.

The AL Central may not be the best division in baseball, but a team doesn't exactly look like it's been yanked up by its own stirrups when they suddenly find themselves on the threshold of sweeping a team that's been falling apart in the heat of the stretch.

It speaks well of the Twins that they could close the gap to a single game with a weekend sweep. But does it do Mauer — who tied it up at one all with a first-inning bomb, then drew a free pass that helped to lubricate the Twins' late-game comeback win (the Tigers took a 2-1 lead past the seventh) Saturday — any MVP favors?

Maybe not. Mauer, like the Empire Emeritus's Alex Rodriguez, didn't suit up for the season until May. Mauer has out-batted A-Rod by almost a hundred points and reached base a little more often while out-slugging the Yankee third baseman enough, but they're separated by two bombs and one run batted in. But their teams have very different records with each man in the lineup, even if you removed both men from the rosters and can argue the Yankees are still a much better team.

Month by month, here they are:

THE TWINS, WITH JOE MAUER IN THE LINEUP — May, 13-15. June, 14-12. July, 12-12. August, 14-14. September, 10-7.

THE YANKEES, WITH ALEX RODRIGUEZ IN THE LINEUP — May, 16-6. June, 14-11. July, 16-9. August, 18-7. September, 11-5.

That's 22 games more that Mauer's team lost with him in the lineup than Rodriguez's. That's also 12 games more that A-Rod's team won with him in the lineup.

You can argue that Mauer's been the better player this season to date. No contradiction here. But if you hold to the idea that the best player isn't necessarily the most valuable player, in terms of who's doing what to help his teams win more, it's going to be something of a tough sell convincing even the most recalcitrant Yankee hater that Joe Mauer has been more valuable to his team than Alex Rodriguez has been to his.

While I was at it, I took a look at Justin Moreneau, the Twins' first baseman down for the season with a stress fracture in his back ... with his team, oddly enough, 5-0 since he went down. He was also leading the Twins in bombs (30, though Mauer could pass him before it's all over) and ribs (100) when he went down. Morneau suited up from the word "go" in April, but here's how the Twins have looked with him in the lineup.

THE TWINS WITH JUSTIN MORENEAU IN THE LINEUP — April, 11-11. May, 14-16. June, 15-11. July, 12-12. August, 9-9. September, 4-7.

You see the Twins lost exactly the same number of games more with Morneau as with Mauer in May; two fewer with Morneau than with Mauer in June; and, played .500 ball with either/or in the lineups in July and August. And, without Mauer but with Morneau, the Twins spent April as a .500 ball club.

Now, look at September, allowing for Morneau having a little back trouble before he finally went down for the count: with Mauer, the Twins until Saturday morning were two games over .500; with Morneau, they were three games under.

It won't bump Mauer up noticeably in the American League MVP race if you believe that winning counts and the Twins haven't exactly been as much of a better team with him than the Yankees (who had a far better team on paper, anyway) have been with A-Rod.

And there's another Yankee making a very powerful MVP case, as well. He's produced more runs on the season to date than either Mauer or A-Rod. Last I looked, putting runs on the scoreboard was the name of the offensive game.

THE YANKEES WITH MARK TEIXIERA IN THE LINEUP — April, 11-8. May, 17-11. June, 15-10. July, 18-9. August, 21-7. September, 11-6.

Now, take away Teixiera's April. The Yankees in May won three more games with him in the lineup than with A-Rod while losing the same number of games. In June, they won one more and lost one fewer with Teixiera than with A-Rod; in July, two more wins and the same number of losses. Now, look at August, the beginning of the stretch, when the Yankees are pulling away from the American League East pack in earnest. With A-Rod in the lineup, the Yankees were 18-7. But with Teixiera in the lineup, they were 21-7. In September through Sunday morning, the Yankees with A-Rod are 10-5 but with Teixiera it's 11-6, pretty much the same winning percentage.

The Yankees' total record with Mark Teixiera in the lineup from May through Sunday morning is 82-43. Balance it out and you have three more wins in favor of Teixiera. That accounts for exactly half the Yankee lead in the AL East. And it makes Teixiera a bona fide MVP candidate, at least A-Rod's equal if you count their concurrent playing time, and certainly Mauer's superior if you believe that winning means something.

Mauer's season at the plate isn't something to dismiss out of hand. He may well finish off with the best offensive season ever produced by any catcher who ever played the game, even if Johnny Bench — the number two catcher all-time — may give you a decent argument, even if Bench in the seasons in question was the superior all-around catcher.

(In a tougher home park, Bench was considerably more run productive, though you can argue concurrently that Mauer hasn't had the yummy advantage of the kind of teammates Bench happened to have. Unless there's a Big Twin Machine in business that I haven't caught onto just yet.)

By the way, there's yet another Yankee in the MVP conversation. And if you look at his case by way of how his team has done with him in the lineup through Sunday morning, he's got a pretty solid MVP case in his own right — and on the grounds that get dismissed easily enough because he isn't quite the stat monster his competition seems to be thus far.

THE YANKEES WITH THE CAPTAIN IN THE LINEUP — April, 12-10. May, 16-10. June, 12-10. July, 18-9. August, 21-7. September, 12-5.

Remove April as with Teixiera, to even him out with A-Rod, and you get this: the same number of wins but four more losses in May; two fewer wins, but one less loss in June; two more wins with the same number of losses in July; three more wins and the same number of losses in August; and one more win and the same number of losses in September.

Now, compare him to Teixiera: one more win, two more losses in April; one less win but one less loss in May; three less wins but the same number of losses in June; the same team won-lost record in July and August; and, one more win and one less loss in September.

I'd have to say that, in terms of the team winning percentage with each man in the lineup, and counting each man from May forward (we're cutting A-Rod the injury slack, obviously), Derek Jeter wins ... by a nose:

THE YANKEES WITH TEIXIERA IN THE LINEUP — .656.
THE YANKEES WITH A-ROD IN THE LINEUP — .627.
THE YANKEES WITH JETER IN THE LINEUP — .658.
THE TWINS WITH MAUER IN THE LINEUP — .521.

You can (you should) adjust a little bit for Mauer having not quite the caliber of teammates Mark Teixiera, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter have. (Wouldn't it be delicious to think of how Mauer might produce with the Yankees', never mind the Big Red Machine's, kind of lineup protection?) But even if you make the proper enough adjustment I think you may discover that Mauer does not have the American League MVP case you might think him to have if you look at his batting stats alone.

Not until the Twins can nail down the AL Central, anyway. If they can nail the division down, that is. And even then...

THE BOSTON RED SOX WITH KEVIN YOUKILIS IN THE LINEUP — April, 13-8. May, 8-8. June, 18-8. July, 12-12. August, 14-9. September, 9-4.

THE BOSTON RED SOX WITH JASON BAY IN THE LINEUP — April, 14-8. May, 14-14. June, 17-8. July, 13-12. August: 14-8. September, 11-5.

The guy they used to call the Greek God of Walks is having a rather nice season himself. He's more run productive than Mauer; he's batting higher than A-Rod. Bay is also more run productive than Mauer. Incidentally, his team had only one month in double-figure losses with Youkilis in their lineup with two for Bay; there were four double-figure loss months for Mauer's Twins, three each for Jeter's Yankees and Morneau's Twins, two for Teixiera's Yankees, and one for A-Rod's Yankees.

Still...

THE RED SOX WITH YOUKILIS IN THE LINEUP — .601.
THE RED SOX WITH BAY IN THE LINEUP — .601.

The Red Sox haven't been better with Youkilis and Bay in the lineup than the Yankees with Jeter, A-Rod, and Teixiera, but they have been better — by 80 points — than the Twins have been with Mauer in the lineup. The Red Sox are farther back in the American League East, but they have a virtual lock on the wild card that the Twins — being 12 and a half back of the Red Sox in that pack — can't hope to pick.

Is Joe Mauer the most valuable Twin? No questions asked. Is he the best player in the American League this season? He makes a powerful case. But is he the most valuable player in the American League? Extremely debatable.

And to think there remain 14 regular-season games for the Twins to play and for Joe Mauer to make his irrevocable case. He added to his case reasonably enough Saturday.

Posted by Jeff Kallman at 11:06 AM | Comments (12)

September 21, 2009

Dealing and Reeling

Eight months ago, Mark Sanchez announced his intent to enter the NFL draft. Now he's the cool, collected, and productive leader of the best team in the AFC East (I'm sorry, New England just isn't that good of a team right now). And his school, USC, is making another case for the "if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks" axiom.

You'll now understand why Pete Carroll was a bit surly that day back in mid-January.

USC's offense, despite returning nine starters, looks like something even Jim Tressel would call a bit vanilla. Matt Barkley, out of the Washington game with an injury, did show some Sanchezian poise in the win at Ohio State and may be as special as USC believes he is. But after watching Aaron Corp struggle against Washington, it stands to reason that the true freshman's promotion to the starting role was driven as much by Aaron Corp (who couldn't have been more comfortable in Washington if he had played in a brazier) as by his own exploits.

Then again, the quarterback situation at USC is merely one of several emerging storylines emerging in the college football landscape.

USC: Superpower in a slight down year culminating in Rose Bowl berth, or in real trouble?

This much is not debatable: USC version '09, right now, does not have the aura of previous editions. The offense is pretty constricted at the moment, allowing defenses to clog the short routes and running game. As a result, the Trojans haven't scored 20 points in a game against not-San Jose State yet this year. Roadies against Cal, Oregon, and Notre Dame stack up for a schedule that won't do it any favors in the next month.

But while no longer prohibitive favorites in the Pac-10, USC isn't dead yet. The reloaded defense is again a serious force, and the offense is not wanting for talent; just an identity, experience at QB, reduced turnovers in key situations, and a semblance confidence. A shot at a national title at this point remains a distant long-shot, but if they can sneak through the rough month ahead with a shot at a Pac-10 title, you still have to believe a Pete Carroll-led team will improve markedly. Remember, this is still a man that has not lost in November. In eight years.

Another loss or two in September/October, however, might render that stat moot.

So who is the emerging team that could do damage on a national level?

How 'bout another private school urban beach city football powerhouse? The No. 9 Miami Hurricanes Florida State team (which went on to embarrass No. 7 BYU in Provo). Then they mauled then No. 14 Georgia Tech. They still recruit in that football haven in Florida, and Urban Meyer can't recruit everyone. The U is the only team that has beaten two ranked teams already. Heck, No. 4 Ole Miss only has two ranked teams on the entire schedule. Ditto No. 5 Penn State. No. 3 Alabama has two left after beating Virginia Tech in the opener. Miami should be ranked ahead of all of these teams if body of work means anything.

If the Hurricanes survive a visit to Lane Stadium against Virginia Tech (which, as usual, looks good but not elite), they will be heading into a huge showdown when they host Oklahoma a week later (if lucky, with Sam Bradford still watching in street clothes). After that, their masochistic schedule becomes a notably more manageable smorgasbord of ACC mediocrity. But this is a very talented team under Randy Shannon's regime which seems to be just hitting its stride at the helm of a sleeping giant of a program.

And perhaps most importantly, they possess the answer to the next question.

With Sam Bradford's seat in New York opened up, what outliers have stepped into the Heisman race?

Without any stat-padding cupcake opponents to fatten on at the start of the season, Jacory Harris has 5 touchdowns and 649 yards passing in two games. His completion percentage is 69.5. Those stats extrapolate to about 4,200 yards and 35 TDs over the course of 13 games (including an ACC title game) and would probably be plenty to get him a ticket to the Downtown Athletic Club.

But that's only the half of it. The 6'4" sophomore has got a rocket-launcher attached to his right shoulder, and a slick, cool demeanor in the pocket. He's already posted multiple comeback wins on the resume, and in the Florida State game led the Hurricanes back from second half deficits three times.

Sounds like an emerging candidate to me.

Is there another one? Maybe a non-quarterback?

With Heisman candidates, non-quarterback generally means running back. And the best one going in the country right now is Jahvid Best. (Even money whether "best being the best" or some [Eli] Manning to [Mario] Manningham joke will be the most irritating cliché to develop this football season.) He's averaging 7.8 yards per carry, has at least 131 yards in each of his three games, and has 8 touchdowns already. While the opponents haven't been the dominating type, Minnesota and Maryland are at least BCS conference opponents. He's not just romping on the local high school team.

On top of that, at this point you have to regard Cal as the favorite in the Pac-10. Oregon and USC have hardly looked impressive, and the Bears, while they threaten this every year, finally look like a legit top-10 team. Plus, they get USC at home.

The team that we thought sucked that might actually be pretty good?

Washington. Like Duke last year, the Huskies are breaking in a new regime with tempered expectations. You know, the kind of expectations that come with 14-game losing streaks. But Steve Sarkesian has the Huskies playing their tails off, and the stadium by the Sound is rocking again after an earth-shattering win over USC. Granted, USC didn't exactly play to its No. 3 handicap, but on the other side, Washington has now gone toe-to-toe with LSU and USC. It would stand to reason that the rest of the Pac-10 will have some problems in Seattle, as well. And if stud QB Jake Locker can get Washington even close to a bowl game, this season has to be considered a massive success and an awakening of a once powerful program.

Honorable mention to Michigan, which crushed a pair of directional Michigan schools and beat Notre Dame. Stop laughing; last year out of conference, Michigan lost to Utah, Notre Dame, and Toledo, and beat Miami by 10. Miami, Ohio, that is. But another lesson in giving coaches a chance to get their system into place (and he's ahead of schedule): Rich Rodriguez has his spread offense rolling up 270 rushing yards per game. Don't be surprised to see this team making noise in the Big Ten. Not that it's that difficult a task.

The team we thought would be good that actually is not very good at all?

Notre Dame was campaigning heavily for this slot until they came back against Michigan State. Supposedly an improved team from a year ago abetted by a borderline criminally easy schedule was theoretically going to set them up for a 10-win season. Losses to both Michigan schools would have been devastating. Then again, having to desperately scramble to beat a team that lost to Central Michigan might not be the type of coup that indicates the Irish are ready for the big time. So for now, we need to go ahead and keep expectations set on mediocrity.

In other news, most teams haven't played teams that would truly reveal their colors yet, so the trophy hasn't been engraved just yet.

Is the Big East really a league?

Probably not. This conference has one ranked team. The class of the conference is defending champ Cincinnati. Granted, the Bearcats have the best quarterback you've never heard of in Tony Pike (923 yards, 70.8 completion percentage, 8 TDs in three games) and have a respectable OOC win over Oregon State (regularly a quiet nine-win team that does, however, start notoriously slow). But the Bearcats are hardly a team you're excited to see in the BCS. And the next best win in the conference so far this year is Syracuse over Northwestern. Excuse me, I just yawned so hard I think I pulled something.

Then again, the Big Ten isn't much better. The best out of conference wins in the entire conference are home wins by Iowa and Michigan over Arizona and Notre Dame, respectively. Some real statement games.

Meanwhile the Mountain West and WAC have better wins on the resume than any team in these two conferences combined. BYU beat Oklahoma. Boise State beat Oregon. Memo to teams in conferences that complain about getting slighted in the media: you have to go out and beat a team from another conference before you try to tell anyone that your conference isn't softer than a down pillow.

And memo to the BCS committee: we really need to re-evaluate these automatic BCS berths. Not just for conferences that should be getting them. But for those that shouldn't.

Top 10

Despite my belief that their shouldn't be one before October, here we go.

1. Florida — Call me guilty of buying the hype. But too much is back from the national champs to discount them.

2. Texas — Win over Texas Tech just convincing enough to raise questions.

3. Miami — As noted, the best body of work so far. You could argue them for number one.

4. Alabama — Subdued Virginia Tech. But Virginia Tech is not Miami, as we'll find this week.

5. Cal — Maybe we're overrating them again like every other year since 2006. Maybe not. But they've done more than most teams above them in the polls.

6. Mississippi — Solid team, no doubt. But they have played nobody. The only SEC team with a schedule weaker than Florida's.

7. LSU — Husky Stadium is a tough place to play and they came out with a win. That LSU defense gave up a lot of yards, though, while extending Washington's losing streak to 15.

8. Penn State — Another weak schedule that has revealed nothing. Top of the waste pile in the Big Ten, though. So that counts for something. Right?

9. Boise State — Forget conferences. This is a very good football team. Too bad the schedule after the Oregon opener won't let them prove it. Toughest games left are at Hawaii and at Tulsa.

10. Oklahoma — If Bradford comes back, this is still quite a talented team. But lose to Miami in a couple weeks and that could mean an exit from the top 10.

Posted by Kyle Jahner at 11:44 AM | Comments (1)

MLB Stadiums' Biggest Quirks

NBC managed to squeeze in some football around the three-hour episode of "Cribs" on Sunday night as they took us around Cowboy's Stadium for the game between the Cowboys and Giants, and all eyes were on the very much in-play 60-yard HDTV that hangs over much of the field of play.

It turned out to be much ado about nothing. As Cris Collinsworth pointed out during the game, no punts came within 10 feet of Jerry Jones' monument to excess.

The low-riding Jumbotron has become a huge story over the past month because it serves as quite possibly the only in-play obstacle any NFL stadium has had since the goalposts were moved out of the back of the end zone in 1974.

And while an in-play obstacle is a new fad in the NFL (I'd be willing to bet a whole lot of money that owners around the league took note of the headlines that Jones' TV got and we'll see plenty more 85-foot high TVs pop up in new stadiums across the league throughout the next few years), it's nothing new in baseball.

As long as there have been baseball stadiums, there have been obstacles within these stadiums to overcome. Whether it's bullpens in foul territory, flag poles in center field, statues in left field (lest we forget, Monument Park at the old Yankee Stadium was in the field of play until the mid-'70s), and even fans that were allowed to sit in foul and fair territory until the as late as the mid-'50s, in-play obstacles, for better or worse, have always been a part of the game.

Baseball purists will tell you that these obstacles are "just part of what makes baseball great." Anyone with any common sense will tell you that they're just plain weird.

But regardless of which side of the argument you fall on, there's no denying that baseball boasts by far the quirkiest fields of any of the major sports.

Here's a look at some of the most bizarre in-play obstacles in Major League Baseball today:

Tal's Hill in Center Field at Minute Maid Park in Houston

Named after team president Tal Smith, Tal's Hill is exactly what it sounds like: a 90-foot wide, 30-degree slope in dead center field of the park.

Built as an homage to early 20th century baseball fields like Crosley Field that had hills in the outfield, mostly because it was too costly to remove them, Tal's Hill has been openly ridiculed by players and fans alike since the park opened in 2000.

As if the potential for blowing out an ACL on the hill didn't create enough dangerous intrigue in center field, the Astros also decided to put a 125-foot flagpole right on top of the hill in an attempt to add dislocated shoulders and broken noses to the list of unnecessary risks associated with tracking down a fly ball.

Despite an online petition started by fans to have the hill removed, Tal's Hill remains in play at Minute Maid Park, and the Astros say they have no plans to remove the hill any time soon.

The Catwalks at Tropicana Field in Tampa

It breaks down like this: there are four catwalks near the top of the dome that function as part of the support system for the dome itself, as well as provide support for the lighting and speaker systems for the stadium.

The catwalks are labeled A, B, C, and D. There are yellow lines that distinguish where foul territory ends and fair territory begins on said catwalks. Any batted ball that strikes Catwalk A or Catwalk B on the fair territory side of the yellow line is in play, essentially leading to a big game of "500" in the outfield after a ball hits Catwalk A or Catwalk B, in attempt to record an out. If a ball comes to rest in either Catwalk A or Catwalk B, it is ruled a ground rule double. If a batted ball strikes Catwalk C or Catwalk D, regardless of where the ball ends up, it is ruled a home run.

Got all that? Neither does anyone else.

If you happen to be one of the 500 people in attendance at a Rays game and a ball strikes one of the catwalks, head for the concession stands and grab yourself a cold one. Chances are, by the time you get back to your seats, the umpiring crew will still be explaining their ruling to the visiting manager.

The Green Monster in Boston

When Fenway Park was built in 1912, The Wall, as it was known then (it wasn't pained green until 1947), was more functional than decorative. Due to limited space on the land that Fenway Park was built on, The Wall served two purposes: to block the view of non-paying fans at street-level, and to limit the number of "cheap" home runs due to the fact that the wall sits so close to home plate in comparison to other major league parks.

At 37-feet high, the Green Monster is the highest outfield fence in all of Major League Baseball. Balls have been known to take awkward caroms off the hard plastic wall, and a seemingly functionless ladder at the left-center field corner of the wall adds to the general quirkiness of the Monster.

Nearly a century after it was built, the Green Monster now serves yet another function, this time as a cash cow for the Red Sox , with Green Monster tickets going for as much as $200 per seat (and much higher on eBay, especially if the Yankees are in town.).

The Ivy at Wrigley Field

Though the ivy serves as one of the most breathtaking backdrops in all of sports, what lies behind the several inches of Boston Ivy is sheer terror: a solid brick wall. As in, no matter how hard Milton Bradley huffs and puffs, that boy isn't coming down.

Not only does the ivy serve as an obstacle for the players, with several balls per season getting tangled in it resulting in ground rule doubles, but the wall itself serves as one of the true occupational hazards in sports.

There have been several instances of players injuring themselves slamming into the brick wall, which is about as forgiving as Lou Pinella.

No one know for sure why owner Bill Veeck decided to cover the walls with ivy back in 1937, but then again, no one knows why Bill Veeck did a lot of things (Disco Demolition night, anyone?).

All we know is that, much like the entertainment at a bachelor party, the ivy-covered walls are as beautiful as they are dangerous.

But as far as baseball stadium quirks go, I'll take ivy over a catwalk any day.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:39 AM | Comments (3)

September 17, 2009

NFL Weekly Predictions: Week 2

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

Houston @ Tennessee (-7)

The Titans have had 10 days to contemplate their tough 13-10 loss in Pittsburgh last Thursday, and while there's no shame losing in overtime to the defending world champs, the disappointment still resonates. Particularly for LenDale White, whose personal vendetta against Terrible Towels has overshadowed his hatred of the Steelers themselves.

"That's right," says White. "Losing is a lot like Tila Tequila after some time with Shawne Merriman — tough to swallow. And I regret acting as I did. But I've laid the Terrible Towel incidents to rest — after washing, drying, pressing, and neatly folding one, of course."

"We here in Tennessee often create quite a fuss over inanimate objects. Like Terrible Towels, or Vince Young, for example. Vince rarely moves on the sidelines. Sometimes, he's so motionless that pigeons land on him. Now, maybe they're just there to perch, but I think some are there to brag that their Wonderlic scores are higher."

The Titans are angry, rested, and ready to take out their frustrations on division rival Houston. Even without Albert Haynesworth, the Tennessee front four is formidable, and can stop the run as well as generate pressure on passing downs. Jeff Fisher won't let the Titans fall to 0-2.

White and Chris Johnson combine for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Tennessee wins, 26-14.

Carolina @ Atlanta (-7)

How do you erase memories of a six-turnover performance in the playoffs last year? Well, if you're Jake "The Mistake" Delhomme, you do so with a five-turnover travesty in the season-opener. Delhomme did just that, throwing 4 interceptions and losing a fumble in the Panthers' 38-10 home loss to the Eagles.

"To say it was a case of déjà vu is an understatement," says Steve Smith. "It was more like a case of 'deja WTF!'"

"I can stand here all day and tell you that I have faith in Jake, as long as I'm not within arm's length of the Holy Bible. Maybe it's time to go back to the drawing board. I'm sure Coach Fox and his assistants can congregate in his office and come up with a suitable plan of action. Heck, our cheerleaders have proven that they can come up with some pretty good ideas after brainstorming in a 3'x5' bathroom stall. I have equal faith in our coaching staff."

Well Steve, John Fox is sticking with Delhomme, which means you're "stuck" with him. But the team did pick up A.J. Feeley as insurance, in case Delhomme falters, takes refuge in a car trunk, jets to Argentina to see his mistress, or misses 4-6 weeks after Smith clocks him.

Sure, it's too early in the season to declare this a "must-win" game for the Panthers ... but only by a week. An 0-2 hole surely leaves you in a must-win situation. How will Carolina upset the Falcons at home? By establishing the run, at all costs, taking an early lead, and thus allowing Delhomme some easy play-action completions later in the game.

Smith catches a long score on a flea-flicker from Delhomme, and John Kasay kicks the game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Carolina wins, 30-27.

Minnesota @ Detroit (+9½)

Brett Favre's debut as Viking quarterback was a resounding success as Minnesota prevailed on the road in Cleveland, 34-20. Adrian Peterson rushed for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns, but just as importantly, Favre had no turnovers and not once displayed the urge to toss some crazy underhanded pass. Favre also showed the boyish, unbridled enthusiasm he is known for, celebrating widely after a touchdown pass to Percy Harvin.

"I think you can put the talk of a 'divided' locker room to rest," says Jared Allen. "It's hard not to root for Brett, especially since he's on my team. He's got such a 'disarming' quality about him, and that has nothing to do with his history of injuries. Brett and I are both country boys, so we bonded immediately over talk of high-powered rifles, camouflage coveralls, and smokeless tobacco. Heck, we're already swapping jeans like giddy schoolgirls."

Only for the Vikes can such a monstrous day from a running back be overshadowed by such a mediocre day from a quarterback. Of course, the Lions' Matthew Stafford would kill to have a day like Favre's. Then, by extension, Stafford would probably commit genocide for a running back with Peterson's talent. Stafford had 3 interceptions and a passer rating of 27.4 in a loss to the Saints.

"I don't expect Matthew to run and hide from this," says Jim Schwartz. "He may be a rookie, but he can own up to his mistakes. In fact, he micro-blogged about it on his personal social networking site, Jitter."

It won't be easy for Stafford against the Vikes, either. Running is difficult, and nearly impossible, against Minnesota. Defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams are free from suspensions for now, and defiantly wear Dallas Cowboy hats in protest of the furor over their use of the Star Caps supplement. They'll force Stafford to throw it, which he should be able to do against the Vikings secondary.

But the Lions have to make Favre beat them. What's the best way to do that? Well, they could load the box with eleven, or they could call a press conference and order Favre to make a decision immediately.

Peterson goes for 150 yards and 1 touchdown, and Favre hits tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for a score. With the game in hand late in the fourth quarter, Favre retires to the bench.

Minnesota wins, 34-21.

Arizona @ Jacksonville (-5½)

Kurt Warner is the prototypical white quarterback, a pocket passer with limited mobility and an aversion to absorbing punishment. So, when the defending NFC champion Cardinals travel to Jacksonville, comparisons are inevitable between Warner and the Jaguars David Garrard, a black quarterback with size, mobility, and the ability to take, as well as dish out, punishing hits.

"It's unfortunate that matchups like these always seem to become a racial or ethnic issue," says Garrard. "It shouldn't. Actually, Kurt and myself are more alike than one would expect. Heck, we both dig white chicks."

Barring a tie, one of these teams will fall to 0-2 and further into the cellar of their respective division. That's an undesirable scenario, but hardly a fatal one, particularly for the Cardinals, members of the NFC West, where the parity is so extreme that two game deficits can be made up in one week. Sure, it sounds mathematically impossible, but I've seen it done.

Larry Fitzgerald, who digs white quarterbacks, catches 8 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown.

Arizona gets in the win column with a 24-22 win.

Oakland @ Kansas City (-3½)

Was the Raiders' trade of a No. 1 pick for aging New England defensive end Richard Seymour a wise move? Oakland has a history of serving up No. 1 picks on a Silver and Black platter, but Seymour paid immediate dividends on Monday against the Chargers, with 2 sacks.

"I guess he was worth the wait," says Tom Cable, whose status as head coach and coach-puncher has earned him the nickname 'Brass Knuckles.' "I wasn't sure if Richard was going to report. Speaking of nicknames, Richard gave so many excuses for not being here that we started calling him 'Seymour Buts.' We'll need his pass rush and knowledge of Matt Cassel's tendencies, as well as any secret video he might possess, to help us against the Chiefs."

The Chiefs take the field along with head coach Todd Haley as the new fight song, "Haley to the Chief," blares from the public address system, as somewhere, Dick Vermeil's eyes well up. Even in defeat last week, Haley was pleased with the team's effort, as the Chiefs battled the Ravens until the end. He'll expect the same effort against the hated Raiders.

"Come Haley or high water," says Haley. "I didn't come here to rack up 'quality losses.' That's a 'BCS' concept, and also a 'BS' concept. To quote former coach Herman Edwards, 'We ... win ... the game.' Of course, that's heavily edited, but Herm is a lot like Shannon Sharpe — he makes no sense unless translated."

The AFC West houses four of the most unpredictable teams in the NFL. The Raiders proved they can hang with the Chargers, but can they close the deal in KC? Sure they can, as long as their rushing game is clicking and JaMarcus Russell's completion percentage is higher than that of his body fat.

Oakland wins, 24-21.

New Orleans @ Philadelphia (-1)

Did Michael Vick, in suit and tie, look completely at home watching the Eagles' blowout of the Panthers from high above the field at Bank of America Stadium? He sure did. That's because the Panthers kindly accessorized the luxury box with a defendant's table and a bailiff to accommodate Vick, who is eligible to play in Week 3. And with Donovan McNabb suffering a broken rib last Sunday, the possibility of Vick getting lots of playing time soon seems very likely.

"I know Michael's anxious to play," says Andy Reid. "I'm sure he's pretty sick and tired of sitting around in a suit and tie while others do all the work."

"But until he's eligible, we're taking no chances. That's why we've signed Jeff Garcia. Like Donovan, he understands the West Coast offense, and like Donovan, he hates Terrell Owens. I'm not sure that matters, but it will give them something to talk about."

"I'm not counting Donovan out just yet. He a warrior, but rib injuries can be very aggravating, especially when throwing, or vomiting."

The Eagles defense will face the daunting challenge of containing Drew Brees and the Saints' explosive passing attack, which dropped 6 touchdowns through the air on the Lions last week. Brees knows it won't come so easily against the attacking Philly defense. He also knows stopping him won't come so easily for the Eagle defense.

"Look, I'm no Jake Delhomme," says Brees. "Jake's tossed more 'picks' than Eddie Van Halen. Me? I'll be prepared for everything the Eagles bring. I may be the most studious quarterback in the league. I've watched more video than Bob Crane."

The Eagles defense will throw something at Brees he didn't see against Detroit — resistance. But Brees has a multitude of weapons, including tight end Jeremy Shockey and Reggie Bush, who he'll be able to find underneath if Philly tries to take away the deep ball. Of course, the Eagles will score plenty as well, but the Saints get the ball last, and Brees engineers a drive that ends with a John Carney field goal.

New Orleans wins, 34-32.

Cincinnati @ Green Bay (-10)

The Packers beat division foe Chicago just as dramatically as the Bengals lost last week, as Aaron Rodgers' 50-yard strike to Greg Jennings late in the fourth quarter gave the Pack a 21-15 win over the Bears. It was a magical moment in the short career of Rodgers, and maybe 500 more like that will justify comparison to the great Favre. For now, though, Rodgers is content with the win and his short but growing legacy.

"Look, I don't claim to be a legend," says Rodgers. "Heck, I won't even listen to John Legend. I've got no ill-will towards Favre. If not for his first premature retirement, I probably wouldn't be starting here. So, I owe a lot to him, so therefore, I can't condone the 'Go 4-nicate Yourself' signs aimed at Brett. I will sign them, however."

The Bengals' Carson Palmer looked rusty last week, and will have to be much sharper if Cincy is to spring the upset at Lambeau. The Bengals' improved defense played well last week, but was let down by their sputtering offense, which accounted for only 1 touchdown.

"Yeah, I know that's unacceptable," says Palmer. "Usually for the Bengals, 'unacceptable' is more likely to get you three-to-five, not seven."

"It won't be easy against the Packers' secondary. Al Harris and Charles Woodson are physical corners, and Dom Capers has implemented a scheme very complimentary to the athleticism of the defense.

Chad Ochocinco sets a milestone in Sunday's game. No, he doesn't become the first person to Twitter that he's Twittering. Instead, he records his first big game in two years, with 127 yards receiving yards and a touchdown. But that all comes in the fourth quarter as the Bengals play catch-up before falling, 26-20.

St. Louis @ Washington (-9½)

Upon reviewing the NFL standings on Monday morning, Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo noticed an alarming statistic — the Rams were one of five teams that didn't score a single point. It became even more disturbing when Spagnuolo realized that there were two Monday night games.

"Look, Rome wasn't built in a day," says Spagnuolo. "I'm guessing it took at least six years, and three head coaches, and several mediocre drafts."

"I'll get this offense in gear. You all know what I did in New York. But it took me time to build that defense. And I'm doing the same thing with the offense here, and that's putting together a unit proficient in shutouts."

Talk around water coolers in Washington centered mostly around health care reform, with occasional references to the Redskins' 23-17 loss to the Giants last week.

"Hey, just like my election win over John McCain," says President Barrack Obama says, "the game wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. And offensively, the 'Skins need more work than health care reform. However, I like what I see on defense. Albert Haynesworth was impressive at the point of attack. He's clogged more middles than cheese. If you don't believe what I'm saying, then I dare you to stand up and say it's a lie."

Are the Rams staring a second-straight shutout in the face? Stephen Jackson won't find room to run betwixt the tackles, and oft-injured quarterback Marc Bulger may be facing a death panel after a battering from the Washington defense. After finding little room to run versus the Giants, Washington will establish the run, then look for Santana Moss to show up downfield.

Redskins win, 27-7. The Rams get on the board late with a Josh Brown field goal and an Albert Pujols' grand slam.

New England @ NY Jets (+5)

You can't talk the Patriots/Jets rivalry without speaking of "Spygate," the 2007 controversy in which the Patriots secretly videotaped a Jets practice. And no true, red-blooded American can talk of 'secret video' without mentioning Erin Andrews revealing peephole video.

"It's incredibly sad," says Bill Belichick. "Not that I show no shame for 'Spygate,' but because I get more excited viewing a Jets practice than footage of Andrews primping in the nude. However, unlike the Jets, I see no weaknesses in Andrews' game."

The Jets may have found their answer at quarterback, but what team hasn't after a Brett Favre retirement? Mark Sanchez was anything but a rookie in the Jets' 24-7 win over the Texans. Just as importantly, they have a coach in Rex Ryan who is not afraid to ruffle the feathers of a division rival.

"I know just how to get under the skin of the Patriots, and Tom Brady in particular," says Ryan. "And that's by posting these bootlegged ultrasound pictures of Brady and Giselle's baby."

"Brady may be a stud on the field, but it looks as though he's a hen-pecked, beaten man as Giselle's husband. Did you see him try to escape Suzy Kolber's interview request? Giselle has obviously laid down the law and forbidden Tom from contact with any women."

Do the Jets have what it takes to take out the Patriots? Can a rookie quarterback outplay a three-time Super Bowl champion? Do Ryan and Belichick already hate each other's guts? The answers: no, no, yes.

Brady schools Sanchez, throwing for 3 touchdowns, and the Pats' defense confuses Sanchez with a variety of blitzes, coverages, and foul language.

New England wins, 30-20.

Tampa Bay @ Buffalo (-4)

Despite a crushing 25-24 loss to the Patriots on Monday, excitement is at a fever pitch in Buffalo. The Bills showed promise against a team many consider the Super Bowl favorite, and Terrell Owens makes his regular season debut in Buffalo. Owens No. 81 jerseys are flying off the racks. Tickets sales are off the charts. And false hopes are at an all-time high.

"We should have won that game," says a dejected Dick Jauron. "That defeat was as heartbreaking as a Goo Goo Dolls ballad. But we've got a history of letting wins slip away at the last minute, or in the second quarter, as in the case of our Super Bowls."

"But we've got a lot to build upon. We played well, albeit for only 55 minutes, and to my knowledge, Owens is not yet disgruntled. T.O. had only two catches; we were hoping for a little more production from him. I guess that's what we get for trying to 'pass' a '$6 Million Dollar Bill.'"

Against the Bucs, the Bills need stick to fundamentals, avoid mental mistakes, and most of all, get Owens the ball at least ten times before he gets overly frustrated. I think they call that an intervention.

Owens has 8 catches for 135 yards and a 45-yard touchdown.

Buffalo wins, 24-17.

Seattle @ San Francisco (+1)

It's an early-season showdown for the NFC West lead as the Seahawks travel to San Francisco to face the 49ers, who shocked the Cardinals in Glendale last week, 20-16. Head coach Mike Singletary has infused pride and effort back into 49er football, and his no-nonsense approach to coaching is reminiscent of Dirty Harry Callahan's no-nonsense approach to policing in the Bay Area, just without the brutality, harassment, and clever catch-phrases.

"And my coaching in no way skirts the boundaries of the law," says Singletary. "When I was given the reigns of this team, Callahan himself said to me, with a glare in his eyes, 'Go ahead. Make my Bay.'"

"And that's what I'm doing. I'm giving this region a reason to love the 49ers again. Sure, we may not be the most dynamic or exciting team in the league. You're not going to see a lot of 80-yard touchdown passes. The 49ers of the 1980s had 'The Catch.' Personally, I'd settle for a catch."

With a win on Sunday, the Seahawks would own a 2-0 division record, which is by no means an insurmountable lead, especially in the NFC West, and would give Seattle a very early inside track to….

"I'm gonna have to stop you right there," says head coach Jim Mora, Jr. "Were you going to say an inside track to the 'playoffs?' Playoffs? Playoffs? You're talking about playoffs? Come on. Let's not jump the gun here. You obviously tricked me into repeating the lines my father made famous. Next time, just ask me, and I'll happily oblige your request. Shoot, I'll do anything to get my own Coors Light commercial."

Seattle wins, 20-17.

Baltimore @ San Diego (-4½)

It looks as though Shawne Merriman was telling the truth in the Tila Tequila mess that threatened to hang a dark cloud over the Charger linebacker's season. After further review, the district attorney handling the case determined that Tequila was not, in fact, "in the grasp," and therefore, her criminal accusations would hold up about as well as her resume.

"That's NFL players 2, lying skanks 0," says Merriman. "Ben Roethlisberger is innocent, and so am I."

"I didn't, nor have I ever, choked Ms. Tequila. However, I will cop to the nude Heimlich maneuver. Anyway, let's not let this incident get in the way of this titanic matchup against the Ravens. We're not playing the Bills, so why are we talking about an overrated reality star anyway?"

We weren't. You were. In any case, Ray Lewis and the Ravens are coming to San Diego, and they're packing attitude and several cans of whoop ass.

"Those are two things you need to overcome the jet lag," says Lewis. "We realize the Chargers are a tough team and have been picked by many to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. However, I came here to bury the Chargers, not to praise them. And I came here to drink Tequila, not to choke her. But I can't wait to get my hands on somebody."

In what will surely be the week's most physical game, the Ravens' three-man rushing attack will dictate the outcome. Joe Flacco hits Todd Heap for the game-winning score, and the Ravens defense stops the Chargers on downs to hold on.

Baltimore wins, 19-13.

Pittsburgh @ Chicago (+3)

Can you quantify the importance of Troy Polamalu and Brian Urlacher to their respective teams? Probably not. But it would be much easier to quantify amount of hair when discussing the two defensive superstars — Urlacher has none, Polamalu has lots. Hair or no hair, injuries have sidelined both, Polamalu for 3-6 weeks, Urlacher for the entire season.

As for the Bears offense, maybe Josh McDaniels is a genius, and expediting Jay Cutler to Chicago was a shrewd move for Denver. If last Sunday night's game in Green Bay is any indication, maybe Cutler isn't cut out for life in the NFC North, or life without the beneficial calls of Ed Hochuli. Cutler's 4 interceptions contributed to the Bears' 21-15 demise in Green Bay, while Urlacher's dislocated wrist further clouded a dark night.

"That's two limp-wristed performances we could have done without," says Lovie Smith. "Urlacher's wrist can be surgically repaired; Cutler's is a handicap he, and we, may have to just live with. But I'm dealing with it the only way I know how — by seeking to trade Cutler. You know it's bad for a quarterback in Chicago when people in helicopters are mooning him."

Cutler will face a Pittsburgh defense that thrives on quarterback pressure, a feature that was equally as, if not more, important to last year's success than a phantom roughing the passer call on the Cardinals Karlos Dansby. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau will attempt to confuse an already confused quarterback.

Ben Roethlisberger throws for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns, and Pittsburgh wins, 23-14.

Cleveland @ Denver (-3½)

By no means a religious man, Bronco wide receiver Brandon Stokely can nonetheless consider himself a purveyor of miracles. Stokley's stunning 84-yard touchdown off a deflected pass gave the Broncos a 12-7 win in Cincinnati.

"Hey, wasn't it cool how I ran along the goal line to kill more time?" says Stokley. "It's a good thing Don Bebe wasn't chasing me. But a play like that can't go without a clever nickname, like the 'Immaculate Reception.' Since that's taken, and is blatant blasphemy, I vote we call my catch the 'Bungle in the Jungle.'"

"But miracles do happen, obviously. Heck, Brandon Marshall is still a Bronco."

What's more satisfying for Josh McDaniels? Winning in Denver, or seeing Jay Cutler lose in Chicago? They're equally satisfying. How would his first home win as head coach stack up?

"That'd be great," says McDaniels. "Go Steelers!"

Denver wins, 20-13.

NY Giants @ Dallas (-3)

The post-Terrell Owens era began in earnest in Dallas, with Tony Romo throwing for a career-high 353 yards, including 3 touchdowns. Could Romo's success be attributed to a less stressful environment without T.O., or is the bliss of a romantic life free of Jessica Simpson the major contributing factor?

"T.O.'s absence is a weight off my shoulders," says Romo. "Jessica's absence was because of weight on her thighs. But I'm my own man now, and free to pursue other unhealthy relationships. Luckily, I have lots of support around me. If ever I need a shoulder pad to cry on, Jason Witten is always there."

Since Owens is not around to do it, the Giants will have to rely solely upon themselves to take Romo out of his game. They have the pass rush to do that, led by Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. Defense will keep them in the game. The question is, will Eli Manning take them out of it?

"If I do," says Manning, "and you don't have DirecTV's NFL Sunday Ticket, then you might miss it. But it's hard to be spectacular in this offense when my wide receivers keep going down due to leg injuries. Rookie Hakeem Nicks is out, and here's the amazing part — it wasn't self-inflicted, it didn't happen in a night club, and he's not a total moron. I do believe Antonio Pierce helped him off the field, though."

New York wins 22-20.

Indianapolis @ Miami (+3½)

South Florida will be hopping when Peyton Manning and the Colts visit Land Shark Stadium for a Monday night showdown. The 'Fins will be looking for their first win, and want to avoid having to dig themselves out of an 0-2 hole.

"Is it correct that the Williams sisters, Venus and Serena, are part owners of the Dolphins?" says Peyton Manning. "Remind me never to anger Serena. Her tirade at the U.S. Open was downright scary. I haven't seen anyone go off like that on an Asian since Bruce Lee in Fists of Fury."

"But really, can you call a foot fault in that situation? Especially on a round-rumped sister with a wicked forehand? I think the flat-assed line judge was just jealous. It was a 'booty' call, and an unfair one. Baby got back judged."

"Now, does a big Monday night game at home give Miami an 'advantage?' Maybe, but this team's never seen an advantage we couldn't drop a deuce on. We'll have to weather the storm, but we'll be there at the end."

The fired-up Dolphins jump out to a quick 14-love lead, but the Colts, led by Manning and Dallas Clark, methodically trim the lead. Adam Vinatieri kicks a 45-yarder with under two minutes to go to give Indy a 29-27 win.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)

Mike Vick, American Hero

If there's one thing America loves, it's a good conspiracy theory. UFO cover-ups, grassy knolls, new world orders (the government kind, not the Hulk Hogan kind), presidents born in Kenya. Granted, America seems to love them more when they come from Sean Hannity, but it seems like most of the country has missed the boat on the most probable conspiracy theory on the sports scene since the NBA stopped freezing draft envelopes.

Michael Vick is a dog-lover who cares more about the pet cause than he does about his own well-being and should be praised as an American Hero.

Truth be told, this even slipped past me until I recently came across a small advertisement in a Washington Post. It was an ad from an animal rescue operation in Philadelphia that is donating bags of dog food to a local Washington shelter for every time Vick is tackled (the city changes depending on who Philly is playing).

Imagine the following scenario. You are a professional athlete of considerable fame who believes passionately in the animal cause. You notice there are serious problems with what some people deem acceptable when it comes to the treatment of dogs and you also notice there's an incredible lack of awareness on the national stage of this epidemic.

To solve it, there's Option A. You could raise awareness by using your fame to advance the cause. Of course, that move wouldn't get much done. All it would do is excite middle-aged women who have no relevance or effect on anything that happens in this country.

Everyone else, in this age of cynicism and snark among sports fans and bloggers, would have mocked your charitable efforts as well-placed PR:

"Oh, look at Mike Vick, he's all 'Oh, I'm so shocked to see a newspaper camera here while I'm handing this oversized check to this animal charity, how unexpected!!!' lol what do u think were stoopid mike?"

That's just the way people are in 2009. You organize a cancer benefit, like a Race for the Cure, and snarky people will tell you it's mean to make sickly cancer victims race for a cure that doesn't exist. Organize a charity basketball game and the snarky blogosphere will assume the charity is your unpaid child support. They will assume this even if you don't have kids.

You could take Option A your whole life and fail miserably at doing much of anything for the cause. Or there's Option B.

Option B is doing something so horrific, so terrible and so reprehensible that America will never forget it. It will ruin your image and you will temporarily lose your freedom and your livelihood. No one will treat you the same and everywhere you go, there will be people who hate you because of it.

But something glorious will happen because of it. People will become hyper-aware of the people who mistreat animals. People will rise up and organize because of it and work towards animal rights. People will open their pocketbooks and donate to animal shelters. Humans from across the globe will unite together to raise awareness and fight something they didn't know was a problem two years ago.

And the positive effects that come from this don't go away overnight. The snarky blogosphere will keep your story front and center for years by mocking you and posting photos of dogs wearing your uniform. And the longer you stay in the public eye, the more power your original cause gains. Sure, they hate you, but now America has discovered a deep passion for something it never knew it could love so much.

It's so obvious that Mike Vick took Option B and he should be applauded. It's unfathomable that no one can see Mike Vick for what he truly is. Nothing is as black and white as dumb Americans want to believe this Vick situation is. Peel it back a little bit and you see the real story.

Look at it another way. Is the world a better place because of Mike Vick's actions? Undoubtedly, the answer has to be yes. In 2006, you would see people dribbling dogs down the street like basketballs. In 2009, we know better. We know dogs are to be treated with love and affection and not like piñatas.

True story. I was in a long line at the bank recently and the guy in front of me started killing time by playing a Sean Kingston song on his boom-box and kicking his dog to the sweet beats. The bank crowd turned into a lynch mob and tarred and feathered this guy. Then someone took the money out of the guy's wallet and used it to by everyone White Castle hamburgers to eat while we talked about whether or not to tar and feather the man's house to send an even stronger statement.

This never happens if Mike Vick doesn't make the ultimate sacrifice. His is a name that should be among others that greatly sacrificed for a cause. Jesus, Ghandi, Rosa Parks, and Mike Vick. Although, if you examine the facts closely and remove all emotion from the equation, Vick may be the most selfless one of the bunch.

Rosa Parks was an extraordinary woman who was one of the significant figures in the civil rights movement. Her actions were incredibly courageous, but also somewhat self-serving, seeing as how she too was an African-American.

Ghandi fought for civil rights of Indians. Noble? Abso-freaking-lutely. Self-serving? Well, he was Indian. Jesus too, great guy, gave his life for his cause. Of course, his cause was to give eternal salvation to his friends, his people.

Mike Vick? Completely selfless actions to help those without a voice, literally. Vick wasn't out to help his own race. He wasn't even in it for his own species.

He saw an injustice in this world. He did everything in his power to right it. That, my friends, makes him an American hero. We could all learn a lesson from him.

Posted by Mark Chalifoux at 11:18 AM | Comments (12)

September 16, 2009

Arizona Will Upset Iowa Saturday

Let's get something out of the way right from the get-go: I'm an Arizona guy.

I went there. I graduated from there. And in the decade since I left campus, I've spent a great deal of time following the school's sports teams.

So I'm a partisan. I'm Glenn Beck talking about health care — I have an agenda and I make no bones about it.

So take all that into consideration when I tell you this: Arizona football is about to get back on the map.

After two ho-hum wins to open the season (19-6 over Central Michigan, 34-17 over Northern Arizona), the Wildcats now head up north to Iowa to take on the similarly 2-0 Hawkeyes (a 5.5-point favorite as of writing).

The 2-0 start in itself isn't all that impressive. They went 2-0 last year only to get beat by New Mexico.

But this Wildcats team is better. The have a great run game with Nic Grigsby, who is second in the nation in rushing with 325 yards on just 38 carries (8.6 yards per rush) with 3 touchdowns.

Thanks also in part to ultra-athletic quarterback Matt Scott, who leads all Pac-10 QBs in rush yards with 16 times for 131 yards, Arizona is averaging 300 yards on the ground per game, fourth most nationally. They have a 6.6 yards per carry average on 93 attempts.

They also have a dynamic return man in backup running back Keola Antolin (who is also averaging 5.1 yards per rush).

And then there's a defense that shut down a Central Michigan team that went on to put up 418 yards in their next game, beating Michigan State in East Lansing last week.

The Arizona D held Central Michigan, which led ranked 11th nationally in pass offense in 2008, to just 3.5 yards per pass attempt (18-of-31 for 108 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception). Against the Spartans, Chippewas starting quarterback Dan LeFevour completed 33-of-46 attempts for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns with an interception.

(Yes, I'm using Central Michigan as an example. It was either them or Northern Arizona.)

You may not know the names, but this Arizona defense can cause problems for any offense.

There are a few concerns heading into their first road game of the season: the have a young, inexperience quarterback duo of Scott, an 18-year-old sophomore, and Nick Foles, a third-year sophomore who has 16 total pass attempts to his college career.

Scott has great athleticism, but he's also thrown two interceptions against defenses not exactly over-flowing with future NFL draft picks. He's going to have to watch out for Iowa CB Tyler Sash, who already has 3 interceptions in two games.

Also young is true freshman kicker Alex Zendejas, who has missed 2-of-6 field goal attempts and an extra point. On the road against a team that has shown it can block some kicks, the Arizona special teams need to get that corrected or it could come back to haunt them.

Arizona could get some help on the injury front with the possible return of Rob Gronkowski, the first-team All-Pac-10 tight end who has missed the first two games with a back injury.

Gonzkowski, a third-team All American in 2008, was set to practice Monday and will be evaluated by the coaching staff later in the week to see if he can go for Saturday. His return would be a huge addition for an offense that's already averaging 500 yards per game.

There's a little bit of a homecoming aspect to this game, as well: Iowa is the alma mater of Arizona head coach Mike Stoops and his brother, UA defensive coordinator Mark Stoops. Both Mike and Mark played safety for the Hawkeyes and both started their coaching careers at Iowa.

One final bit of motivation for the Cats: in this week's Associated Press rankings, Arizona appeared in the "Also Receiving Votes" section with four votes. A win on the road over Iowa and it could be the end to a nine-year drought out of the polls.

It's time.

Posted by Joshua Duffy at 11:16 AM | Comments (2)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 26

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson was quick early, but loose handling conditions that developed on long runs later in the race unhinged his chances for victory. He finished 11th in the Chevy Rock And Roll 400, and starts the Chase 10 points behind Mark Martin.

"It doesn't matter where you start," said Johnson. "It matters where you finish. As three consecutive Sprint Cup titles can attest, I'm the 'finisher,' and everyone else in 'finished.'"

"I know everyone wants what I've got. But I won't let them take it from me. Those other 11 Chasers may have nerves of 'steal,' but I've got nerves of 'steel.'"

2. Denny Hamlin — Hamlin led 299 of 400 laps in Richmond, and blew away the competition on the final restart to win the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Hamlin called the win at his home track the biggest of his career, and issued a warning to the rest of the field that the No. 11 FedEx team is "dangerous."

"Hey, I don't fear anyone," said Hamlin. "Nor do I scare anyone. But, with apologies to Kasey Kahne, I feel like I'm the hottest driver entering the Chase."

"And, as the only member of Joe Gibbs Racing in the Chase, I'll have the full support of the organization at my disposal. Heck, even Kyle Busch has said he'll do whatever necessary to help me bring home the Cup. Hopefully, that will mean staying as far away from me as possible."

3. Mark Martin — Martin finished fourth in Richmond, clinching his spot and locking up the top seed in the Chase For the Cup by virtue of his four wins, tied for tops on the circuit this year. Martin will start 10 points ahead of Jimmie Johnson and Tony Stewart, and brings nearly 30 years of racing experience to his quest for the Cup.

"I'm not known for being tall," said Martin, "so it's not often you'll find me commenting on the 'view from the top.'"

"I'm just hoping I can remain at the top. You know, it's times like this I wish I was still in the Viagra car, because right now, above all other things, I need staying power."

4. Jeff Gordon — Gordon posted a solid third-place finish in Richmond, his 12th top-five of the year, and starts the Chase 30 points down to Mark Martin. Gordon led 97 laps on the night, but his No. 24 DuPont Chevrolet was no match for Denny Hamlin, who led 299 laps.

"Clearly, we couldn't touch Hamlin's car," said Gordon. "But I thought we easily had the second-best car out there. And I guess I'm satisfied with that. If being Jimmie Johnson's teammate has taught me anything, it's that there's nothing wrong with being second best."

5. Tony Stewart — Stewart fell a lap down early after making contact with Reed Sorenson on lap 44. He quickly got his lap back on the next caution as recipient of the Lucky Dog free pass, and eventually posted a 17th-place finish. Stewart will start the Chase ten points behind Mark Martin.

"The pressure of the Chase is immense," said Stewart. "You've got eleven other guys out there willing to do anything to beat you. It's nerve-racking, and downright scary, much like shooting a Burger King commercial with Erik Estrada and Carrot Top. It's 'ChiPs and a dip.' That Carrot Top is truly a frightening sight, possibly even more horrifying than a Jeremy Mayfield in-law."

"It's amazing the great lengths Burger King will go to sell a Whopper, but that's nothing compared to the great lengths Mayfield will go to tell a 'whopper.'"

6. Kurt Busch — Busch easily clinched a Chase berth with a strong runner-up finish in Richmond, making an unsuccessful push to catch Denny Hamlin down the stretch. Busch will start the Chase 30 points behind top seed Mark Martin.

"It's too bard my brother Kyle didn't make the field," said Busch. "He gave it his best shot, but, as we all know, as in life as in racing, there comes a time when you've got to trim Busch."

"It's common knowledge that Kyle often acts like an outsider; now he actually gets to be one. And so will my crew chief, Pat Tryson, who just made public his intentions of leaving the No. 2 team to chair Martin Truex next year. I guess I was wrong about there being no quit in this team."

7. Kasey Kahne — Kahne clinched his ticket to the Chase with a 12th-place finish in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 after starting from the fifth position. Kahne will begin the Chase 20 points behind Mark Martin when the 10-race Chase starts on Sunday in New Hampshire.

"I think it's only fitting that Richard Petty is represented in the Chase," said Kahne. "Sadly, though, the No. 43 is driven by Reed Sorenson, who's about as far from NASCAR royalty as you can get."

"Hopefully, I'll be able to make history and give King Richard his first Cup as a car owner. That would the biggest story of the year, and for once, my driving would overshadow my popularity with the ladies. So, hopefully the Chase 'tale' will take precedence over my desire to chase 'tail.'"

8. Carl Edwards — Edwards, still winless in Sprint Cup races this year, finished 15th in the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 and will start at the bottom of the Chase standings with his winless brethren in the Chase, including teammate Greg Biffle.

"I see it as a new beginning for the No. 99 Aflac team," says Edwards. "Sure, we've lacked speed at times, which has lead to the unfortunate nickname of 'Sitting Duck.'"

"But I guess I'll have to face ridicule until I win a Cup race, just as I'll have to face ridicule for this cast on my foot. Breaking a foot playing Frisbee is really embarrassing, and it prevents me from having total comfort in my race car. Talk about a restrictor 'plate.'"

9. Brian Vickers — Vickers bravely raced his way into the Chase, delivering a pressure-filled seventh in Richmond to seal the last Chase position. Matt Kenseth, 12th in the points when the race started, finished 25th, thus allowing Vickers to overtake him. Despite being the last man in, Vickers won't start the Chase at the bottom. Due to his one win this year, he'll trail Mark Martin by 30 points.

"What a great feeling," said Vickers. "Not only does Red Bull give you wings, Red Bull gives you 'cha-ching.' Red Bull also gives you a much cooler sponsor than Garnier Fructis."

"In less than three months we'll have a champion. The countdown has begun. 'T-minus 18, T-minus 17.' That's a Chase without Kyle Busch and Matt Kenseth."

10. Juan Montoya — Montoya finished 19th in Richmond, clinching a spot in the Chase and thus becoming the first international, the first Hispanic, and first former Formula 1 driver to qualify for NASCAR's post-season.

"Hey, it's a great day for non-American, Hispanic, former Formula 1 drivers," said Montoya. "Every single one of them can rejoice in my accomplishment."

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:00 AM | Comments (3)

September 15, 2009

NFL Week 1 Power Rankings

Five Quick Hits

* I was not pleased when Cris Collinsworth was announced as the replacement for John Madden, but he was terrific in Week 1. Terrific isn't even strong enough — he was magnificent. Keep up the good work, Cris.

* Dan Marino totally called Minnesota's quarterback "Breast" on the CBS Pregame Show. Does someone have the audio of this? I swear it's true.

* I wish the U.S. Open finals had not been scheduled the same weekend as the opening of the regular season. Wouldn't it have made sense to scoot things up by a week? Anyway, congratulations to Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin del Potro. Also, this is the most level-headed take I have read on the Serena Williams fiasco. It includes brief, mild potty language.

* One more reason for 99% of the country to hate Joe Buck: calling New York "the greatest city in the world." Or maybe he meant East Rutherford? Either way, that's not really cool on a national broadcast.

* Tom Brady and Joe Namath obviously have very different feelings about Suzy Kolber. Brady literally ran away from her on Monday night.

***

What a Monday night to open the regular season. A pair of huge underdogs showed grit and heart and had the favorites on the ropes before losing at the last minute. The Bills played well and had a chance to win, but the Raiders deserved to win, dominating San Diego everywhere except the scoreboard through three quarters. The impact of the Richard Seymour trade was apparent in both of these games. New England's defense appeared to miss him and did not play well up front, while Seymour was probably the Raiders' most valuable player in Week 1. He was a huge disruptive force against San Diego's offensive line, particularly Pro Bowler Kris Dielman.

The first game brought back memories of the 2003 season opener. New England was coming off a good season in which it had missed the playoffs, and had recently parted with a veteran leader on the defense (safety Lawyer Milloy). Buffalo won that game 31-0. The Patriots finished the season 14-2, capped by a 31-0 victory over the Bills in Week 17, and won the Super Bowl.

The nightcap was almost a mirror image of the earlier contest, with the underdog Raiders controlling the first half and taking the lead with about five minutes left in the game. Of course, the Chargers, like New England, came back to win. Both were exciting finishes, but disappointing if you root for the underdog. It's been a great first week of games, and let's wade into the power rankings. Brackets show last week's rank.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers [1] — Opened the season with a big win against a good opponent. But Troy Polamalu will miss at least three games with a sprained MCL, and the Steelers have to be concerned about their running game. Even in last year's Super Bowl campaign, Pittsburgh ranked 23rd in rushing yards and 29th in average per carry. On Thursday night, they had 23 carries for 36 yards, and only one of their 19 first downs came on the ground. This team relies on a ball-control offense, and the rushing attack needs to improve.

2. New York Giants [4] — The defense still looks good, but I wonder if they'll be able to score enough to match points against better offenses than Washington's. The line played well, Eli Manning was okay, the running game was fine, and a couple of the young receivers showed promise. But if this team is serious about contending for the Super Bowl, it needs more than a great defense and an offense that is okay.

3. New England Patriots [3] — The offense came together in the second half, with Tom Brady completing passes and looking comfortable. But the defense did not play well against Buffalo. This team lost a lot of veteran leadership in the offseason, and Seymour's departure on the eve of the regular season seems to have left a void no one is ready to fill just yet. The running game was not impressive, and for now it looks like this team will live and die with Brady and his receivers.

4. Dallas Cowboys [7] — Ran away with things in the third and fourth quarters, securing an easy victory after a tough first half. In his first game without Terrell Owens, Tony Romo threw touchdown passes to three different receivers, set a career-high for passing yards, and led the NFL in passer rating. Dallas has a huge matchup against the Giants next Sunday night to open their new stadium. I give the edge to New York, because the Cowboys' run defense looked vulnerable against Tampa.

5. Atlanta Falcons [9] — Won't be able to lean on Michael Turner the way they did last year. Fortunately, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez look ready to step up and fill the void. But where is Jerious Norwood? Atlanta overworked Turner last season, and splitting carries 22-2 when you have someone with Norwood's talent doesn't make sense. Special teams are a concern after Jason Elam missed two short field goals and an extra point. Punter Michael Koenen also had an unusually poor game.

6. Tennessee Titans [6] — Nothing to be ashamed of after taking the defending champs to overtime in a hostile road environment. The defense looked great, and Chris Johnson appears just as explosive as he was in 2008. But why on earth was Cortland Finnegan returning punts? He's too valuable as a cornerback, and not nearly good enough as a return man, to risk in that kind of role on special teams. Finnegan had four returns for 14 yards (3.5 avg), plus a muff and another that he let bounce to the two-yard-line.

7. Indianapolis Colts [5] — Coaches may change, all-pro receivers may retire, but one thing stays the same: Peyton Manning's insane third-down conversion rate. Last year, Indianapolis led the NFL with a sensational 50% conversion rate on third downs. In Week 1, the Colts were at 57% (8/14). Injuries are already a concern, though, as the run defense looked poor without Bob Sanders, and the team can ill-afford the loss of wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

8. Baltimore Ravens [8] — Repeatedly blew chances to put the Chiefs away. The game was close until the last minute, despite that Baltimore dominated time of possession by a 2:1 ratio and made more first downs than any other team in Week 1. Baltimore's special teams played very poorly — which must have infuriated former special teams coach John Harbaugh — and the team committed too many penalties (8 for 65 yards). Joe Flacco looked good, but I don't think they want him throwing 43 times a game.

9. New Orleans Saints [14] — Is it too early to start the Drew Brees for MVP campaign? I know it was against the Lions, but 358 yards and 6 TDs are impressive if you're playing Duke. I'm starting to think Brees is this decade's Dan Fouts. The Saints look to have an improved defense this year, too. On Sunday, they held Detroit to 231 yards and 21% third-down efficiency, with three interceptions. Big game next week in Philadelphia, and an important test for a team that went 2-6 on the road last season.

10. Philadelphia Eagles [11] — Scored 28 in the second quarter and destroyed Carolina, but Donovan McNabb fractured a rib and is likely to miss at least one game. I know everyone just wants to talk about Michael Vick, but the Jeff Garcia signing is an excellent move for Philadelphia. Garcia led this team to the playoffs when McNabb got hurt in 2006, and I have to believe the team has more confidence in him than in Kevin Kolb or Vick. They should probably be ranked higher than this after such an impressive first game, but I'm waiting to see how the quarterback thing plays out.

11. San Diego Chargers [2] — Don't blame Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. Blame the lines. San Diego's offensive line, which in 2006 and 2007 was among the best in the NFL, got dominated on Monday night. Dielman, whom I named to my 2008 all-pro team, was awful. Jeromey Clary got schooled repeatedly by Greg Ellis. And starting center Nick Hardwick left the game with what looked like a serious injury. The defensive front was almost as bad, especially in the first half. NT Jamal Williams was okay, but the Raiders just dictated to everyone else in the front seven.

12. Green Bay Packers [13] — Sunday night's game was, against all expectations, a tale of two defenses. Aaron Rodgers was okay, but without better pass protection, he's going to have a disappointing season. The player to watch here is DL Cullen Jenkins. He was a hugely disruptive force against Chicago, and looks like a serious impact player. Dom Capers' new defense bears a decided resemblance to Dick LeBeau's schemes in Pittsburgh. The Packers won't grab four interceptions every week, but I think they're going to cause headaches for opposing offenses.

13. Minnesota Vikings [15] — How is it that after an incredibly blah game, with 110 yards and 5.2 yds/att, the quarterback is getting as much attention as the running back who just demonstrated, pretty authoritatively, that he is the best running back in the league? Does anyone really believe that Minnesota would have lost to the punchless Browns with Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels or Gus Frerotte under center? Not a chance. Forget the QB: Adrian Peterson is the only player in NFL history to rush for at least 180 yards and 3 TDs in a season opener.

14. New York Jets [18] — Week 1 statistics aren't particularly meaningful, and drawing significant conclusions from them is like saying that Drew Brees is on pace for 96 TDs. Having made that disclaimer, the Jets currently rank second in yards allowed and fourth in yards gained. If you're looking for a complaint, the Jets committed 10 penalties for 80 yards. They have a very intriguing matchup against New England in Week 2. Will Bill Belichick rattle rookie QB Mark Sanchez, or will his defense look like it did against Buffalo? This could be a statement game in the AFC East.

15. Houston Texans [10] — Probably weren't the worst-looking team in Week 1, but they were close. It is only a slight exaggeration to say that nothing went well against in the opener, and that everyone was disappointing. Mario Williams led the team in tackles, and that speaks well for him, but a defensive end really shouldn't be your leading tackler. The rest of the team needs to step up.

16. Seattle Seahawks [21] — Easy win at home against an overmatched opponent. Now they go on the road to face San Francisco, with first place in the NFC West on the line. A road victory would make Seattle 2-0 in the division and give them the (very) early inside track for a division title. Second-year tight end John Carlson picked up where he left off last season, hauling in 6 catches for 95 yards and 2 touchdowns.

17. Arizona Cardinals [12] — League-high 12 penalties this weekend, and they seem to miss offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the new head coach for Kansas City. Of course, with four wide receivers on the injury report in Week 1, maybe they just need to get healthy. The defense actually did what it set out to against San Francisco: shut down Frank Gore. They held The Inconvenient Truth to 30 yards on 22 carries, an abysmal 1.4 yds/att, and forced the 49ers to beat them with Shaun Hill's arm. Unfortunately for Arizona, their own offense performed below expectations, and that's exactly what Hill did.

18. Chicago Bears [17] — Best line of the week, from Bob Costas, with the Bears doing nothing on offense and the Packers up 10-2 at halftime: "Chicago trails by four safeties." The defense played well, but Brian Urlacher will miss the rest of the season after undergoing wrist surgery yesterday. As for the offense, well, I don't know the answer to this question, but I think it's legitimate to ask: would the Bears have won with Kyle Orton at QB? It certainly seems plausible.

19. Carolina Panthers [16] — Jake Delhomme is the obvious scapegoat, and he certainly had a terrible game. But Matt Moore and Mike Goodson also had turnovers, and the Panthers averaged 2.9 yards per rush, while the Eagles averaged 5.8. Delhomme is prone to games like this — he has a couple every season — but it's worrisome given his performance in the playoffs last year. If he plays anywhere near that poorly against Atlanta in Week 2, the team has to make a change.

20. San Francisco 49ers [23] — I hate having to mention this after a big division winner in the season opener, but it now appears that first-round draft pick Michael Crabtree is going to sit out the season and re-enter the draft in 2009. That's a terrible career move for him, but it also hurts the Niners, who thought they had gotten a great player with the 10th pick in April's draft. San Francisco played well in all phases against Arizona, and Justin Smith was a monster at the end of the game.

21. Miami Dolphins [19] — After eager speculation about Pat White running the wildcat offense, he had one incomplete pass and one rush for no gain. The Dolphins lost this weekend because of turnovers, including two by tight end Anthony Fasano. Losing by 12 is actually pretty respectable when you're -4 in turnovers, and I expect Miami to be much more competitive against the Colts in Week 2. Watch for the upset.

22. Washington Redskins [20] — If I've said it once, I've said it 1,000 times: you're not going to win a game when your most valuable player is the punter. Actually, I've never said that before, and I don't even believe it's true, but Washington got about as much offense out of Hunter Smith as it did from Jason Campbell on Sunday. This looks like the same team as last year: a good defense with an equally bad offense.

23. Buffalo Bills [22] — Impressive in defeat. Fred Jackson played very well and Trent Edwards did a nice job with the no-huddle offense, but the real stars — at least until the last five minutes — were the offensive and defensive lines. If Buffalo can maintain the intensity it showed against New England, and cut down on the offensive penalties, this team could be very competitive in 2009.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars [25] — Maurice-Jones Drew and the run defense played well. No one else did. I think David Garrard can be a good starting quarterback, but until he gets some help, he's not going to be effective. Also, it might be a good idea to cover the other team's best receiver.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [26] — Showed some good things despite a lopsided defeat. Cadillac Williams looked fantastic, though you always worry about his health. Byron Leftwich showed a lot of toughness, and I think he's capable of running this offense. Kellen Winslow, Jr. looks ready contribute for his new team, Michael Clayton made several impressive catches, and Ronde Barber didn't show his age. Nonetheless, there's a long way to go, especially on defense.

26. Oakland Raiders [30] — Great performance in the trenches, especially on the defensive line. Running backs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush also played well, but JaMarcus Russell, who completed only 12 of his 30 pass attempts, does not look up to the job. I am convinced that punter Shane Lechler is more concerned about his gross average than he is about helping the team. This guy would rather boot a 43-yard touchback than a 33-yarder out of bounds or fair caught. Also, if the Raiders keep their schemes as basic as they were in Week 1, I think future opponents will take advantage of that.

27. Kansas City Chiefs [32] — Even without QB Matt Cassel, they were competitive with Baltimore, getting solid play from Brodie Croyle and several highlights from their special teams, including a 53-yard field goal by this year's Mr. Irrelevant, Ryan Succop. The biggest problem seems to be defense, where a group of young players has yet to come together. The Ravens gained over 500 yards and 30 first downs.

28. Denver Broncos [27] — Brandon Stokley has got to be one of the smartest receivers in the game. He was in the right place at the right time, and some of that is coincidence, but how about the wherewithal to take another six seconds off the clock by running down the goal line before his touchdown? And remember last season, when he ran into the end zone to stop Brandon Marshall from earning a 15-yard celebration penalty? That's a guy you want on your team.

29. Cleveland Browns [24] — Last year, they couldn't score. One game against a good defense may not be a fair test, but right now, it looks they still can't. The bright spot is probably Josh Cribbs, who looks like he's still the best returner in the league.

30. Cincinnati Bengals [29] — They are cursed, for they are the Bengals. Yes, they lost on a fluke play, but there's not much room to complain when you don't score for three quarters. It was a less-than-triumphant return for Carson Palmer, who finished with two interceptions, three sacks, and a 61.0 passer rating. At least the defense seems to be improved.

31. Detroit Lions [28] — Well, their defense is still terrible. The offense might be good if there was a better line and a top-notch possession receiver. Kevin Jones rushed 15 times for only 20 yards, and Calvin Johnson is more of a big-play guy than a chain-mover. He needs a Wes Welker to his Randy Moss.

32. St. Louis Rams [31] — They were historically bad last season, and it's not apparent that anything has changed. The weird thing is that there are some good players here. Steven Jackson managed 67 yards on 16 carries, while O.J. Atogwe had 8 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and an interception. Atogwe, by the way, looks in his NFL.com picture like he just stuck his finger in an electric outlet.

Posted by Brad Oremland at 11:42 AM | Comments (3)

Will MLB's Latest Tech Hurt the Game?

As the end of the 2009 Major League Baseball season approaches, technological advances, still in their infancy, were instituted in 2009, intended for the game's future progress; that according to MLB.

Most fans, however, are probably unaware of the new computer technology, mandated by MLB, and its use throughout 2009, that will be precedent setting for seasons to come.

Firstly, the MLB umpires' evaluation system from 2001–2008, known as QuesTec, was replaced in 2009 by a technology called the Zone Evaluation® system; a supposed upgrade. QuesTec made use of computerized camera technology in an effort to force uniformity between umpires' strike zones, as well as MLB's insistence that umpire inconsistency contributed to the undesirable lengthiness of games.

However, only 11 major league ballparks out of 30 were ever set up with the QuesTec technology for the seven-year period, and its technological accuracy was continually questioned by pitchers, umpires, and clubs alike. Many felt that the strike zone was too small and varied from stadium to stadium, and especially between those ballparks that had no such technology at all. And through it all, MLB was fervent in its declaration that QuesTec was merely a tool for the umpires.

During the 2008 MLB season, the PITCHf/x camera system was installed in every major league park — with certain exceptions made for the last year of Yankee and Shea stadiums in New York, as both the Yankees and Mets relocated to new stadiums in the 2009 season. The object of the PITCHf/x system was to gather data from the stadiums in order to composite requisite information for the camera system technology to go live in 2009.

Data was collected during the 2008 season by the PITCHf/x system that included tracking nearly all pitches thrown for the entire season for supposedly all 30 teams, totaling approximately 700,000. And that data is now being used as the base measure to evaluate MLB umpire accuracy for 2009. Unfortunately, the umpiring data for the new Yankee Stadium and the Mets' Citi Field was not included; unaddressed publicly by MLB.

PITCHf/x takes 25 pictures of the ball in flight between the pitching mound and home plate. Sportsvision® software then uses a "best fit" algorithm in order to calculate compensation for different variables of the ball's flight path, including the position of the ball when it crosses the plate.

But here is where the disparity arises, as a strike is not called at the front of the plate, but where it crosses the plate as it makes its way into the catcher's glove. The camera, however, starts reporting data five feet in front of home plate; reminiscent of the ill-timed traffic light camera that incorrectly tickets a driver for going through a red light while traveling through the tail-end of a yellow caution light in an intersection.

MLB Rule 2.0 defines the strike zone, and presently remains in effect as follows:

The Strike Zone is defined as that area over home plate, the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.

Yet the calls in that strike zone have given way to a technology that cannot be assimilated by the naked eye. Thus, judging an umpire's accuracy by a standard that may not even be humanly commensurate is foolhardy at best.

Moreover, many players and team personnel reportedly were unaware until the 2009 season got under way that a new camera system was even being used for the strike zone, let alone in all 30 MLB stadiums.

During QuesTec's reign, an umpire who failed to reach a 90% accuracy rating in a game was notified by MLB that he had called a "bad game." And such game ratings of 90% or lower averaged over the course of a MLB season would make an umpire ineligible for postseason assignments.

Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB's Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations, commented at the beginning of the 2009 season that the Zone Evaluation system, "Has given us much more data, much more granular, and it provides many more camera angles for the pitch track. We only had one view with QuesTec. Now we have multiple views ... that will allow us to pull up various trajectories."

In 2009 when umpires arrive at ballparks, they receive a printout of how many balls or strikes they called right or wrong for the game the day before, according to Zone Evaluation. Yet, in the early part of the 2009 season, umpires had a learning curve needed to get acclimated to the new system, not to mention in combination with the two new ballparks in NYC. Therefore, umpires' season averages for accuracy may be markedly different from 2008 when QuesTec was still in use or from the upcoming 2010 season, after having used the new system for a year.

And even though the World Umpires Association — the union for all MLB umpires — approved the change from QuesTec to Zone Evaluation, any objection it has will be addressed for certain during the negotiations with MLB over their next Collective Bargaining Agreement, expiring after the 2009 season.

Umpires' quality of accuracy was documented as quite high with QuesTec, as they proved there was little difference in their calls between parks that had QuesTec technology and those that did not. Therefore, the need to upgrade such technology by MLB seems less about reining in umpires and more about diminishing the human factor in adjudicating baseball games.

For after PITCHf/x, the upcoming HITf/x will be used for scouting in the not too distant future by MLB teams and it also will be a supposed tool that will measure every aspect of every player's mechanics. Such technology will put sabermetrics to shame and will again rely upon technology which again, the naked eye cannot see on its own. "Every moving event within an actual game will be tracked," according to Sportsvision's General Manager of Baseball Products, Ryan Zander. It will track the pitcher, the ball, and the fielder with individual stats.

And it will beg the question of MLB of whether or not umpires and advance scouts will be less and less depended upon as the years go on. Furthermore, such data will eventually be available to fans via paid subscription through MLB Advanced Media (MLBAM), its internet and electronic media property that brings fans MLB.com, the MLB Network, and its MLB.TV computer subscriptions for live games over the Internet.

The Sportsvision software will utilize 2-4 cameras for HITf/x, which has been gathering data throughout the 2009 season, while presently installed at the San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park. It is expected to be installed in all 30 MLB stadiums throughout the 2010 MLB season, with the intent of gathering enough data to eventually go live by the 2011 season.

Future Hall of Famer and NY Yankee Derek Jeter was scouted in high school at Kalamazoo Central High, out of Michigan, by Dick Groch, and was eventually selected in the first round of the 1992 baseball draft by the NY Yankees with their sixth pick. Back then, Groch did not carry a laptop computer, and cell phones were several years away from reaching the mass market. Yet, Groch was still remarkably able to successfully do his job.

What may come as a surprise to many was that Groch had to convince NY Yankee management not to use their first round pick on a player other than Jeter, as he did not have stats which necessarily jumped off the page. Yet Groch insisted that, "The ceiling is only left to the imagination," when it came to Derek Jeter.

Fast forward to the 2010 season and beyond, should a Jeter-like prospect become available. He may never have a shot to ever play in MLB, for not only will he not necessarily fit the statistical profile, but scouts may no longer be considered useful to MLB clubs.

And what a shame it would be for the game of baseball to lose those intangibles which contribute to the elements of its mystique. And it is through its imperfections that allow for a new script for every game played, making us ever more appreciative of its outcome and yet continually indebted to the human element in its sport.

Posted by Diane M. Grassi at 11:07 AM | Comments (2)

September 14, 2009

The NBA's Real Officiating Problem

For months now, the dirty little secret around the NBA is that the league is preparing for what could be a lengthy lockout.

No, not that lockout.

I'm not referring to the potential lockout that the league faces in 2010 after the current collective bargaining agreement is up. We're still a long way from throwing out the "L" word and having a repeat of the unfortunate 1999 season, where the league crammed 50 games into less than half of the scheduled time for the NBA season, forcing teams to have to play on three consecutive nights just to complete even a partial season.

The league and the players association have already begun negotiations to avoid that lockout. That potential lockout is a worst-case-scenario for the NBA.

But the lockout that I'm talking about is a close second.

The one I'm referring to is the potential lockout of the NBA's referees.

If a deal isn't struck by October 1st, the NBA will lockout all of the referees and will start the season using replacement refs.

The last time this happened, back in 1995-96, it wasn't until late December that an agreement was reached and the NBA officials went back to work, but not before missing most of the first half of the season.

There are two schools of thought here.

The first one, and the one that I have a feeling most NBA fans have, is, "Who Cares? The refs suck anyway, it's not like the replacement referees are going to be any worse."

And then there's the other school of thought, the side that I happen to be on, "uh-oh."

I know I'm probably in the vast minority here, but I think that the NBA officials are by far the best official of the three major league sports.

The MLB's most import rule, the one that affects literally every single pitch, the strike zone, is interpreted differently by each one of the 70 Major League Baseball umpires. It's unbelievable to me that the most basic rule in the sport fluctuates from game to game depending on who the umpire behind the plate is for that game.

Then there are the world's most famous part-time employees: NFL referees. After a nice 12-hour day of enjoying the NFL's kickoff weekend on Sunday, I had one lingering thought, "I can't believe I forgot how bad the NFL refs are."

The Lion/Saints game dragged on for nearly an hour longer than the other 1 o'clock games because the officiating was brutal in the third quarter. The refs couldn't agree on a call, they blatantly missed an out of bounds call that took a touchdown away from the Lions (albeit briefly since they scored a few plays later), and there were three different plays that were highly questionable that the coaches wanted to challenge, only for reasons that no one can explain, the plays in question weren't reviewable.

Why even have instant replay if you can't use it to get every call right?

Now, the NBA faces a real problem if they have to enter the season using replacement referees, and by all accounts, that's exactly what is going to happen.

Both sides are still very far apart in negotiations, and there are currently no further talks scheduled between now and October 1st, the first scheduled preseason game.

No, the NBA refs aren't perfect, but they are better at their jobs than the other professional referees. And I promise you this: they are 10 times better than the replacement refs they are going to bring in. There's a reason these guys aren't reffing NBA games in the first place: they are good enough.

I've written it before and I'll say it again: people only blame the referees for deciding NBA games because they don't know anything about basketball.

Now the league, a league that has done a masterful job of sweeping the embarrassing gambling scandal under the rug, suddenly opens the door for nonstop complaining from fans about replacement referees blowing calls because the two sides are $700,000 apart on where they feel the budget should be for this season.

Some people believe that David Stern is sending a message to the players that it's going to be his way or the highway when it comes to negotiations for the new collective bargaining agreement. By not conceding anything to the referees, he's actually making a veiled threat to the players that he won't be conceding anything to them, either.

Others believe that by locking out the officials and demanding the refs make some concessions on their retirement benefits, Stern is trying to force out some of the older officials to make way for a new, younger generation of referees that he and his staff can mold into what their vision of a good official is.

Either way, the real losers in this equation are the fans. It's bad enough that there might not even be a season in 2010-11, but now we as fans might have to sit through months, maybe even an entire season, of poorly officiated basketball games called by referees who have no business being on the court in the first place.

I'm not saying the NBA is completely in the wrong here. The bad economy is hurting everyone, but the refs have already agreed to take a 10% decrease in pay from last season. The league is demanding nothing less than 15%.

I know the league has to protect itself and make money to stay afloat, but the only way to save money is by cutting $3.2 million from the referee budget? Are we sure there isn't a trip to China or something we can cancel first and see where that leaves us?

Before Stern turns the key and locks out the officials on October 1st, he needs to ask himself one simple question, "What's more important? Putting out the absolute best product for our fans, or $700,000?"

My gut tells me that Stern is going to play hardball and make the refs come down to his number. NBA basketball will suffer because of it.

And when it does, I hope someone makes a YouTube video with the cool piano music playing in the background that shows overwhelmed and under-qualified officials blowing calls with the caption "WHERE AMAZING HAPPEN$."

Maybe then David Stern will realize that there are some things you just can't put a price tag on.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:57 AM | Comments (0)

2009-10 NHL Preview: What You Missed

Training camps are open and the preseason is just around the corner. While many sports fans may be talking about the NFL's first week, true puckheads are gearing up for the baby steps that will ultimately turn into the Stanley Cup marathon. Have you been hibernating all summer while dreaming of slap shots and hip checks? Here are the top five stories you'll need to watch for as we head to the opening face-off:

5. Beginnings and Endings

2009 saw the retirement of several NHL greats, including long-time Avalanche captain Joe Sakic and long-time microphone fodder Jeremy Roenick, while Sergei Zubov and Sergei Fedorov ended their magnificent NHL careers by signing with the Russian teams. On the other hand, a new era begins for teams in rebuild mode. Most notably, all eyes will be on No. 1 overall pick John Tavares. If we've learned anything from last year's Steven Stamkos debacle, it's that not every highly-touted rookie can come flying out of the gate, but a strong second half can redeem a miserable first half and provide flashes of what you'll see for years to come.

4. Does History Repeat Itself?

People love a good story, so whenever a team or a player can draw parallels to the past, it'll be dubbed the "Second Coming" before anything has really happened. There have been enough observers who, perhaps prematurely, have looked at the Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup win as a parallel to the 1980s Edmonton Oilers — they lost their first Cup final, they beat an established "dynasty," and they have a dynamic young team. While there's no denying the long-term potential of the Penguins, drawing Oilers parallels is stretching it a bit. Instead of comparing and contrasting, it's best to let the Penguins write their own story as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin pursue Cup No. 2.

3. Catch Olympic Fever While You Can

Enjoy your favorite NHL stars as Olympians this winter in Vancouver, because it might be the last time you see it. It sounds like the NHLPA is firmly behind Olympic participation, but the league is semi-diplomatically trying to preach a wait-and-see approach for 2014. What does that actually mean? It's all about dollars and cents, as a North America-based Olympics is easy to capitalize on, meaning that Nagano and Torino were just warm-ups for Salt Lake City and Vancouver. After that, it's up in the air, so enjoy it while you can.

2. New Faces in New Places

Major moves in the offseason include Dany Heatley to San Jose (and if you've been asleep, you've missed a hell of a soap opera with that one), Marian Hossa to the Blackhawks, Chris Pronger to Philadelphia, Marian Gaborik to the Rangers, Montreal retooling with Scott Gomez and Michael Cammalleri, and a bunch of guys decided to give the KHL a try (Sergei Fedorov, Viktor Kozlov, Richard Zednik, and Sergei Zubov). It's appropriate to look at the new rosters and think that the balance of power has shifted a little bit. Western powers either lost players (Detroit, Anaheim) or shuffled the deck (San Jose), while the East looks to be about the state of Pennsylvania and the nation's capital.

1. Battle in the Desert

If you've tuned out hockey news all summer, you've missed out (probably fortunately) on an ugly, bitter battle over the future of the Phoenix Coyotes. Long story short, Canadian billionaire has worked out a deal to take the Coyotes into bankruptcy so he could cut-and-paste them into Hamilton, Ontario ... except he did all of this without NHL approval. Thus, Balsillie and the league entered into a war of words that culminated in a U.S. Bankruptcy Court auction over the past weekend.

What happens next, regardless of the result, will most certainly be a lengthy appeal process that will suck the life out of whatever die-hard Coyotes fans remain, and who knows where the team will ultimately end up playing? (If the NHL wins control of the team, it will try to sell it to local investors before holding its own relocation auction.) For those fans, their best hope is to re-watch the movie "Major League" to see how Charlie Sheen and Wesley Snipes could turn ownership squabbles into a playoff appearance.

Posted by Mike Chen at 11:49 AM | Comments (0)

September 13, 2009

Serena's U.S. Open Tirade Costs Her

On a cool New York night, Serena Williams provided some heat, going down in flames with a volley of words, not shots. And you knew I wouldn't let this pass quietly. It may be a little later than my compatriots, but no less important.

Serena Williams is, as she said last night, "intense." As I have found out, though, she is only "intense" when she is losing or someone has a different opinion from hers. And it came out last night the biggest way. For the first time, most of the U.S. and world finally saw it first-hand.

The idealistic image of the Williams sisters cracked last night. So much that my colleges in the media who are enamored with her didn't know what to do or say. Mary Joe Fernandez looked like someone had just shot a family member. She spent most of the time referring to Serena being defaulted, but that is not what happened. Mary Joe should know, having played on the professional tour for many years. It seems Mary Joe forgot the rules. Or just didn't want to believe what she had just seen.

I'll congratulate Dick Enberg for saying that Serena's conduct is not that of a champion. I will correct him, though, for repeating several times that she was defaulted from the tournament. Serena wasn't. Tennis has always been looked at as the polite, civil sport. The actual rules of tennis are few compared to other sports, and tennis is guided more by a booklet called "The Code" than the actual rules. The codes are guides, not hard and fast rules. In tennis, you can give points to your opponent if you believe that a mistake was made. You say sorry if you toss the ball to serve and catch it before hitting it, and are supposed to acknowledge apologetically when a net cord shot falls in your favor. You warm your opponent up and you shake hands at the end of a match.

Over the years, actual rules of conduct have been instituted at the competitive level. Partially brought by the "intensity" that John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, and Ilie Nastase brought to the game. Partially brought on by succeeding generations of players who have bought into the professional sports hero hype. Serena said again last night that her idol was John McEnroe. Even John tried to distance himself from that when he was doing commentary after the match. John need not worry, as there is a very long distance from "you cannot be serious" to "I'm going to f'n shove this ball down your f'n throat." Jimmy Connors was intense, but there is a continent that divides a once 39-year-old player making his last great stand, playing his heart out and screaming "get outta the chair, get outta here" and "I'm gonna shove this f'n ball down your f'n throat."

The Compton came out last night, in a huge way. Compton is a badge warn by and hailed by rappers, entertainers, and anyone who wants to claim they are streetwise. It has a special connotation because it notes a very aggressive, dangerous type of street life. Let's not forget that Serena hails from Compton.

So here is what actually happened. After losing the first set to a very, very focused, fit, and ready Kim Clijsters, Serena had a tirade, taking it out on her racquet in what was clearly now known in the rules as racquet abuse, and also known as a conduct penalty. The first violation was a warning, which Serena got. Kim Clijsters played controlled tennis, made fewer errors, and was way ahead of Serena in all the statistics of consistency. Serena played the only game she knows how, and it wasn't working. We've seen this before, and it usually leads to Serena losing in the end.

So the second set continues, pretty much Clijsters matching Serena shot for shot and looking like she isn't going to fall due to her nerves as she was prone to early in her career. Serena began to lose it mentally, and actually started to notice she was making errors. In other matches, she would make the same, but in those matches, she would dominate play so much that they didn't matter. At 4-5, Williams ran four straight points on her serve to tie the second set. Then Kim immediately turned around and did the same to Serena, and it clearly had an effect on Serena. Clijsters didn't run away, and wasn't intimidated by the forceful game. She did Serena one better.

Now comes the final game. Serena misses an easy backhand. Serves an ace. Then misses another easy backhand. Faults on her first serve, then gets called for a foot fault. Then she explodes. It was the first time she goes over to the lineswoman and states her now infamous line. Then she walks back to the baseline. Had she stopped there, the incident would have passed without much fanfare. Then she walked back to the lines woman and unloaded again. Out came the tournament referee. After a quick discussion, Serena walked across the court, shook Clijsters' hand, said congrats, and left the court. I've known Serena long enough to know that this was her way of trying to avoid having to say she actually lost on court.

Serena made it look like a default, like the tournament threw her out. Mary Joe thought so, as did many members of the media. Several minutes of commentary later, even after the explanation by the tournament referee that Serena had been given the normal point penalty for a second conduct offense, unfortunately at match point, they continued to let Serena make it look like a default and therefore shift blame. Shame on my media colleagues who still this morning let that seem like what happened.

Immediately after the match, the television cameras caught Venus and Serena in the stadium tunnels, at one point Serena smiling and laughing. In the press conference, Serena was gracious enough to give some credit to Kim, but it was classic Serena. First, she said that she had already "put the incident behind her" and what she shared with Venus after the match was between them. Fair enough, as there should always be some privacy allowed, but she would have said what it was if it was something that benefitted her.

Then she said Kim Clijsters played "incredible." My colleagues think this was a compliment. No, this is Williams language for no one can beat me if they just play regularly. In Serena's mind, she never loses nor can lose. If she loses a match, it is always because she made too many errors or she did something to lose, not that her opponent actually played better and beat her. In order to beat her, you must play incredible tennis. Kim played great, no doubt, and I really enjoyed watching her play a good match. It was not, however, the best match she has ever played, nor a match of incredible tennis.

The foot fault call was questionable. I couldn't find a replay or picture that was definitive, one way or the other. Call it a bad call, but the call alone was not the reason Serena was about to lose, nor enough to bring on a tirade like the one she had. Yes, a champion would have vented quickly, then stepped up to the line and served and ace or played an incredible point to erase the call. Serena knew in her heart that the match was over, that she had met her match that day, and instead let it all out on the line judge. Serena knew exactly what she said, and knew what the rules say about it. In her press conference, she said that she didn't think she would get a point penalty for it. Why? Because she is Serena, and no one dare do something like that to her in such an important match. You don't do that to Serena.

Well, they did. Serena is gone. Yes, the TV ratings will be lower because it's just Kim Clijsters versus heretofore unknown Caroline Wozniacki. And unless the unbelievable happens, Kim will win her second U.S. Open title. Wait, according to most of the commentary today, the unbelievable already did...

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:41 AM | Comments (33)

September 11, 2009

Why Your Team Will Not Win the Super Bowl

This is the time of year where everyone is amped for the start of the NFL season and thinks this could be the year their team wins it all. Obviously there are some teams that have no realistic chance at getting to the Super Bowl, but after last year's Dolphins team that went from 1-15 to 11-5 and a division crown, everyone believes the impossible is now possible.

Why not my team? Why can't the Lions win nine or 10 games this season after winning nary a one last year? I'm going to tell you why your team will not win it all this year.

Arizona Cardinals — The Cards shocked the football world by making a Super Bowl appearance last season after coasting into the playoffs. Will quarterback Kurt Warner hold up for the entire season? He had hip surgery in the offseason and it has taken him a while to get it going this summer and the offensive line has allowed 9 sacks in the first three preseason games.

Will the defense stand up this year? The defense allowed 26.6 points per game last year, they did not make any significant changes, and have not played terribly well in the preseason. The Cards own a -8 turnover ratio after three games. The defense just does not have enough play-makers that teams have to game plan for and Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry's days of being good pass rushers are over. The Cards need a Calais Campbell or Cody Brown to emerge as a dominant pass rusher and hope that having Bryant McFadden as one of their starting corners does not come back to bite them.

Atlanta Falcons — The Falcons were another team that surprised last season by riding the back of Michael Turner to an 11-win season and a playoff appearance. The biggest question facing the Falcons is whether or not they have figured out how to stop teams from moving the ball on them. Atlanta's defense ranked 25th against the run and 21st against the pass last season. They let a lot of veterans go, including Keith Brooking, Lawyer Milloy, and Michael Boley, and spent the bulk of their draft picks on defensive players. It is shaping up to be a pretty young, inexperienced defense, but the fact that they just dealt for St. Louis corner Tye Hill is a bit of a concern.

The other big question will be whether or not Turner holds up after a season that saw him get the ball 417 times. Historically, players who have had as many touches as Turner have a big drop-off in production the following year and are never as productive again. He has looked good in the preseason, but it remains to be seen if he will still be breaking those long runs come December.

Baltimore Ravens — The Ravens surprised quite a few folks by winning 11 games last season. The Ravens are relying on a lot of veterans to be big contributors this season and that could end up being their Achilles heel. Derrick Mason (35), Matt Birk (33), Kelly Gregg (32), Trevor Pryce (34), Ray Lewis (34), and Samari Rolle (33) are all well into their 30s and the Ravens cannot afford injuries to any of them if they want to make it back to the playoffs in January. One wonders when losing quality defensive stars like Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott every offseason is going to catch up with them.

The lack of any quality depth behind Derrick Mason at receiver and Todd Heap and L.J. Smith's tendency to miss games due to injury could hamstring the Ravens a bit in the passing game this year, as well.

Buffalo Bills — The Bills looked like the team to beat in the AFC East at the beginning of the year and then crash landed, losing eight of their last 10 to finish 7-9. Will the Bills' defense step it up this year? The team ranked in the middle of the pack in terms of yards allowed, but it was 23rd in turnovers forced and tied for 28th in quarterback sacks. The team just lacks anyone that opposing offenses need to game plan around and they need to find someone to get after the quarterback to force some more turnovers.

This is also a make-or-break year for quarterback Trent Edwards. He has shown flashes of what he can do, but has yet to put it all together, and with the addition of Terrell Owens and rookie tight end Shawn Nelson to go along with Lee Evans, he should have an ample number of weapons to get the job done this season.

Carolina Panthers — The Panthers won 12 games last season, only to see it all go to pot in the debacle against the Cardinals that saw quarterback Jake Delhomme implode, turning the ball over 6 times. The defense seems to have the biggest question marks this summer. Julius Peppers has no interest in being a Panther any longer, starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu was lost for the season the first day of camp, Jon Beason and Thomas Davis have both missed practice time due to injury, Nate Salley was just put on IR, and Charles Godfrey has a broken bone in his hand. It could be a long season in Charlotte if they do not get healthy on defense or find replacements for them.

The offense should be fine with the triumvirate of DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, and Jonathan Stewart carrying the load. Stewart has yet to see any game action and has barely practiced this summer, which is a concern, but, fortunately for them, rookie Mike Goodson looks like a legit player for them and could soften the blow of not having Stewart in the lineup for the short-term.

Chicago Bears — The Bears finally have a franchise-caliber quarterback in Jay Cutler the only problem is he does not have anyone to throw the ball to. The lack of a receiving threat on the outside and the possibility of not having a healthy Dusty Dvoracek and Tommie Harris to occupy blockers for Brian Urlacher for the entire season could be what does the Bears in this season.

Cincinnati Bengals — It is basically the same story for the Bengals this year as it has been the last few years. Will the defense finally turn the corner and impose its will on other teams? The Bengals sacked the quarterback just 17 times last season and ranked in the bottom third of the league in interceptions, touchdown passes allowed, and opposing quarterback rating.

Will the offensive line open enough holes for Cedric Benson and give Carson Palmer the protection he needs to stay healthy enough to play for sixteen games this season?

Cleveland Browns — Will the Browns get any kind of consistency from their quarterbacks this year? Four different quarterbacks, including Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson, combined to complete just 48.8% of the teams passes and compiled a 54.8 overall quarterback rating for the team last season. Quinn was recently named the starter, but even he left something to be desired during his brief tenure as the starter last season.

The Browns need to better than 17 sacks and they still do not look like they have any semblance of a pass rush and are lacking that dynamic play-maker on the edge that teams need to game plan for.

Dallas Cowboys — Until Tony Romo shows he can win a game that matters after December 1st, is there any reason to believe the Cowboys are a legit Super Bowl contender? I am also not convinced that Roy Williams is going to give them the type of production that T.O. gave them.

Denver Broncos — This team is a mess right now and has been in a downward spiral ever since Jay Cutler found out about Josh McDaniels trying to deal for Matt Cassel. The Brandon Marshall saga is surely going to be a distraction, Kyle Orton is a stopgap starter at best at quarterback, and they are still lacking a dynamic pass rusher. Brian Dawkins is probably starting to wonder why he took the money to go to Denver rather than stick around in Philly.

Detroit Lions — The Lions did not win a game last year and are going with a rookie at quarterback, which is generally not a precursor to a big season. I am not sold on Matt Stafford being anything special to begin with and the best one season turnaround was last season's Miami team that went from one win to 11. Given that the Lions' issues revolve more around an overall lack of talent than suffering through a string of injuries, it seems unlikely they will be able to build a winner in one offseason. Besides, rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle more times than not their first year in the league.

Green Bay Packers — The defense still seems to be struggling with consistency and probably will as they switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defensive front. It looked good the first two games, allowing just 21 points, but the Pack gave up 64 points the final two preseason games and ranked in the bottom third of the league defensively for the preseason.

Houston Texans — Quarterback Matt Schaub has yet to start more than 11 games in a season and, historically speaking, Andre Johnson has a tendency to follow up a Pro Bowl-caliber season with a mediocre one. He has yet to post consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. The offense looks good, but, the defense still seems to be searching for an identity.

Indianapolis Colts — Do not underestimate the value of Tony Dungy to this franchise, he was more than just a coach to a lot of these players. There have been some rumblings that Peyton is not entirely happy with how some things unfolded over the offseason and it seems we can always count on at least one or two key defensive players missing significant playing time for the Colts throughout the season. There is already some question as to whether Bob Sanders is going to be ready for the season-opener.

Jacksonville Jaguars — I am still not sure who David Garrard is going to be throwing the ball to this year aside from Torry Holt. Do they have a competent enough backup behind Maurice Jones-Drew? Keep in mind Jone-Drew has never carried the ball more than 197 times in a season and they do not have Fred Taylor to fall back on this season. The pass rush also looks like it still has some issues to work out.

Kansas City Chiefs — The Chiefs are still a team in transition and Matt Cassel needs to show he has what it takes to be a franchise QB and his success was more than just being coached up by Belichick and McDaniels last season. The Chiefs are also still in the process of rebuilding the defense and lack that big-time pass rusher off the edge to get after the quarterback.

Miami Dolphins — The team still lacks any elite play makers in the passing game, including the quarterback, and the wildcat is not going to catch teams by surprise this season they way it did last season.

Minnesota Vikings — Brett Favre is no longer an elite quarterback in the NFL and really does not provide a significant upgrade over what Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson bring to the table. Either is just as capable of throwing ill-timed interceptions as Favre has proven to be over the past few years. The Vikings have play-makers at receiver, but they lack any consistency and are still prone to drops and running bad routes.

New England Patriots — The Pats defense is taking a huge step back in terms of veteran leadership this season with Rodney Harrison and Tedy Bruschi retiring, Mike Vrabel being dealt to Kansas City, Ellis Hobbs being dealt to Philly, and Richard Seymour being dealt to the Raiders. They are going to be counting on a lot of young, untested talent to be able to rise up to the challenge on defense this season.

New Orleans Saints — The Saints will be able to score at will on just about any team in the league, the only problem is other teams will likely be able to do the same with them. Sean Payton is being to look like the anti-Buddy in that his offenses are always dominant, but his defense is mediocre, much like Buddy Ryan's defenses destroyed other teams and his offenses were sorely lacking.

New York Giants — Like David Garrard in Jacksonville, I am not sure who Eli Manning is going to be throwing the ball to this season. It could turn into a disastrous season for Manning if he starts pressing out there in an attempt to prove he was worth the contract he got, it could be 2005 all over again where he struggles to complete over half of his passes.

New York Jets — Like the Lions, the Jets are going with a rookie under center and they open with a brutal schedule, meaning the Jets could easily open the season 1-4 or 0-5 as Mark Sanchez learns to be a starting quarterback in the NFL on the fly. In addition to that, the Jets have some real questions at receiver that could lead to even more struggles on offense in the early going.

Oakland Raiders — All one needs to know about the Raiders is Al Davis is still calling the shots. Enough said.

Philadelphia Eagles — Like the Saints, the Eagles should have enough weapons on offense to be able to drop 30 on just about anyone. What could be the Eagles' downfall this season is the loss of Jimmy Johnson, the defensive coordinator, and key defensive players Brian Dawkins and Stewart Bradley. Dawkins was the quarterback of the secondary and held it together, while Bradley was the team's best run defender last season and was developing into one of the league's better middle linebackers. The secondary has looked downright brutal at times this preseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers — The Steelers need to get better play from the offensive line this season if they expect Ben Roethlisberger to be standing at the end of the season. One has to believe that he cannot stand up to another season of that kind of abuse.

San Diego Chargers — Will Shawne Merriman be dominant enough to lead the defense back into form and will the Chargers be able to win despite Norv Turner being the head coach? Is the offensive line going to be as bad as it looked during the preseason? It is a bit disconcerting that Philip Rivers took 6 sacks in 36 dropbacks this summer.

San Francisco 49ers — Is Shaun Hill really the answer at quarterback and, for that matter, who is he going to be throwing the ball to? The inability to sign Michael Crabtree leaves them without the dynamic playmaker they were sorely lacking at receiver and the passing game in general.

Seattle Seahawks — Will Matt Hasselbeck stay healthy enough to start 16 games this season? Who is going to be the other receiver opposite T. J. Houshmanzadeh? Will the 'Hawks have any semblance of a running game this season? They have struggled running the ball this summer. I am also not sold on Jim Mora, Jr. being anything special as a head coach in the NFL.

St. Louis Rams — Can Marc Bulger endure another year like last one and stay healthy? If so, who will he throw to aside from Donnie Avery, who is a nice player, but nothing special at this stage? Will the Rams be able to coax more than 12 games out of Steven Jackson this season? They have failed to do so the past two seasons. The defense has struggled with consistency this summer, as well.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Does anyone really think Byron Leftwich, Josh Freeman, or Josh Johnson can lead this team to more than six or seven wins tops? This is a team in transition under rookie head coach Raheem Morris as it learns to play without leaders like Warrick Dunn and Derrick Brooks.

Tennessee Titans — Was 2008 Kerry Collins' last hurrah or does he have it in him to do it one more year? The running game is stacked, but it remains to be seen if the team is going to get better production out of its receivers. How will the team cope with the loss of Albert Haynesworth in the middle of the defense?

Washington Redskins — Will Jason Campbell be able to overcome the fact that the team basically told him they did not think he was good enough to win when they tried everything under the sun to land either Jay Cutler or Mark Sanchez this offseason? Is the aging offensive line going to hold up enough to provide holes for Clinton Portis and protect Jason Campbell? Is Brian Orakpo going to give the pass rush the shot in the arm it has needed for several years now?

This story republished with permission from PopPickle.

Posted by Eric Engberg at 11:39 AM | Comments (8)

September 10, 2009

NFL Weekly Predictions: Week 1 (Pt. 2)

Also see: NFL Weekly Predictions: Week 1 (Pt. 1)

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

Miami @ Atlanta (-4)

The Dolphins, last year's surprise AFC East champions, may find the road to a division title a bit more bumpy, what with a healthy Tom Brady in New England, an eager Terrell Owens in Buffalo, and Brett Favre out of New York. That doesn't mean the 'Fins don't expect to repeat, despite the rigors of the AFC East slate, as well as contests with the Colts, Chargers, Titans, and Steelers, all playoff teams in 2008.

"That's right," said Ricky Williams, from the comfort of his bubble-windowed, 1979 Chevrolet Vantastic, nicknamed the 'Van Wilder,' as Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit' fills the stereo speakers. "We've got goals. There's no reason to believe we can't repeat as champions. Heck, expectations are so high that the 1972 Dolphins are pulling for us to lose."

"One thing is for sure. With Bill Parcell's micro-managing, and Tony Sparano coaching, we will be well-prepared. 'Sparano' may sound a lot like 'Soprano,' but Coach Tony's got no connections to the mafia, or garbage collection. He'll never wake up in bed next to a horse's head, but he does have an office in the stadium next to a horse's ass."

The Falcons and rookie quarterback Matt Ryan tasted success last year, earning a wildcard berth with an 11-5 record. Obviously, the goal this year is to surpass last year's accomplishments, a task that won't be easy in the competitive NFC South.

"We shocked the world last year," says Ryan. "This year, we're the worst-kept secret in the NFL. We're 'out of the closet,' so to speak. Not that there's anything wrong with that."

Last year, the Dolphins found success running the "Wildcat' formation, a ploy which opponents will be expecting this year. To keep opponents guessing, Miami will run the formation less often, but with greater attention to detail, an offensive philosophy Sparano calls "More Pounce For the Ounce."

Ronnie Brown rushes for a score, and Chad Pennington plays mistake-free.

Miami wins, 22-17.

Washington @ NY Giants (-6½)

In the offseason, Eli Manning signed a $97 million contract extension, making him the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. Meanwhile, upstate and up the river, Plaxico Burress was sentenced to two years in prison for felony weapons charges stemming from an incident in which he shot himself in a nightclub. Burress was the key to the Giants' big-play offense, and Eli Manning hopes someone will step up to fill that void.

"Obviously, we lost some firepower when Plaxico went rogue," said Manning. "I visited him in the slammer, which really made his day, and it showed. So much so that my first words to him were 'Is that a pistol in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?' Luckily, he did have a pistol in his pocket. It was made of soap, though."

When free agency opened this winter, Redskins owner Daniel Snyder did his best "Pacman Jones at a strip club" impression, tossing money at the shapely Albert Haynesworth to the tune of $100 million over seven years. We're all well aware of the appetite of the 350-pound former Titan; it remains to be seen, however, whether Snyder can "eat" $100 million if Haynesworth doesn't return the desired results.

Is rookie wide receiver Hakeem Nicks the answer to the G-Mens's need for a big-play receiver? The Giants seem to think so, or maybe it's just wishful thinking, thus Nicks' nickname "The Dream." More importantly, though, is the return of defensive lineman Osi Umenyiora, who will lead a very good New York defense. And, in New York, defense is key. Why? Because it allows Manning to post stat lines like 9 completions on 21 attempts for 130 yards, a touchdown, and 2 interceptions ... and still win.

New York wins a low-scoring affair, 17-13.

San Francisco @ Arizona (-6½)

Can the Cars rekindle the magic that led them to the cusp of a Super Bowl victory last year? Kurt Warner seems to think so; after flirting with the 49ers, Warner resigned with Arizona.

"Kurt is the key to this team's fortunes," said Larry Fitzgerald. "He's in great shape. You know, Matt Leinart may have utilized mixed martial arts in his training, but Kurt's most famous for his mixed marital arts skills. It's a little-known fact, but Kurt used to be married to a man. Then, all of a sudden, his 'wife' grew her hair, got pretty, and became a woman. It's those kinds of dramatic transformations that make this team special. We went from a middling 8-8 team in 2007 to the Super Bowl last year."

The 49ers and first-round pick Michael Crabtree have remained at an impasse for months in contract talks, with the two sides nowhere near reaching a deal. Crabtree and his agent are demanding a ridiculously lucrative contract, while the 49ers have refused to budge, saying Crabtree's draft position doesn't warrant such a deal. And speaking of "warrant," Crabtree's cousin and former bail bondsman, David Wells, has been "advising" Crabtree in contract talks.

"There's a difference in 'asking' for money," said 49er backup quarterback Alex Smith, "and 'axin' for money. Clearly, when you bring in a jive-talking, jack-booted, chicken-necked bail bondsman into contract talks, you're 'axin.' What kind of advice can Wells give? Ten percent up front and the rest when Crabtree shows up? It doesn't work like that. Contract negotiation is a game of give and take. When San Fran signed me, they gave me a lot of money, and I took it."

The Cards have there own disgruntled wide receiver in Anquan Boldin. But there's a difference in Boldin and Crabtree — Boldin's in uniform, and he's a pro. Boldin takes advantage of the double- and triple-teams on Fitzgerald, and grabs 10 catches for 125 yards and a score.

Arizona wins, 30-24.

St. Louis @ Seattle (-7½)

Jim Mora, Jr. takes over for the retired Mike Holmgren in Seattle, and he's not the only new face in town. Seattle acquired free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in March, then the 'Hawks signed free agent running back Edgerrin James in August. The new additions are expected to make an immediate impact on a Seahawks offense starved for scoring threats.

"Personally, I'm thrilled to have those guys," says Matt Hasselbeck. "T.J.'s a serious red zone threat, plus he's an Oregon State alum. It never hurts to have one more reason to say 'nice beaver.'"

"As for the Edge, there was a time when he was the 'gold standard' for running backs. And I'm not talking about dental work. He's led the NFL in rushing before. From what I see in practice, he's still got it. And that includes impeccable timing. He left the Colts and they won the Super Bowl the following year. The Cardinals went to the Super Bowl, and he left the following year. So, it seems the sooner we get rid of him, the sooner we'll return to NFL prominence."

Seahawks win, 31-13.

Chicago @ Green Bay (-3½)

The outlook for the Bears improved as soon as Jay Cutler arrived from Denver via a trade. Word around the league is that the unhappy Cutler got out of Denver so fast he got the bends. But upon arrival, and after adjusting to a new time zone and life at sea level, Cutler could not hide is excitement at becoming a Bear.

"I'm not sure what excites me more," said the sleepy-eyed Cutler. "Being a Bear, or not being a Bronco. I'm just happy to be appreciated, although I have no idea what it's like to be appreciative. I am to football what Kanye West is to music. Or maybe I think I am to football what Kanye thinks he is to music."

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, one year after replacing Brett Favre, will now have to face the former Packer quarterback, at some point this year.

"Twice, if he doesn't retire early," says Rodgers.

"Look, I know my one year as Green Bay's starter doesn't even compare to Favre's tenure here. You won't see me using the word 'legendary' in reference to myself. However, I do reserve the right to name my new ice cream shoppe venture the 'Legend Dairy.'"

"As for Jay Cutler, I think it's great he's in the NFC North. He'll force defenses to adapt to his style. Myself? I've already adapted to his style. I've developed a dislike for him already."

Cutler and Rodgers could develop a personal rivalry much like Cutler had with Philip Rivers. That is, assuming Rodgers is immature enough to engage in the type of childish rivalry that was Cutler vs. Rivers.

Bears win, 30-27.

Buffalo @ New England (-10½)

Tom Brady is back under center for the Patriots, and no one is happier about that than Brady himself. After a year spent rehabbing his left knee, as well as catering to every whim of his pregnant wife, Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen, Brady is healthy and ready to lead the Patriots back to the playoffs.

"Don't hate me because she's beautiful," said Brady. "And don't hate me because I'm 'hussy'-whipped. I'm chomping at the bit to get back on the field. Domestic life has its advantages, but I'd much rather be facing a 240-pound blitzing safety than a 170-pound lactating Brazilian."

The Bills are relatively the same team from last year, with one major addition: Terrell Owens is now a Bill, and still a pill. Some may know him as the most dominating force in football. Still others, like 49ers, Eagles, and Cowboys, may know him as the one player whose skills at disrupting a secondary are topped only by his skills at disrupting an entire team.

"To say Terrell is a good teammate is like saying Marshawn Lynch is a good driver," said head coach Dick Jauron. "But don't worry, before signing him, we did a thorough background check, including academic records, where we discovered that T.O. failed chemistry in high school and college. After processing all the information gathered, we decided to ignore it and sign him anyway. I got a little reminiscent, because it reminded me of the Bills process in hiring me back in 2006."

The Bills will throw a lot to Owens, because they'll have to, especially after falling behind 14-0. The Pats suffer a scare early in the third quarter when Brady goes down without being hit. He remains on the ground for 10 minutes before the training staff determines that it was simply a contraction.

New England wins, 34-17.

San Diego @ Oakland (+9)

Oakland Raiders lore is replete with defining moments, including three Super Bowls, head-hunting defensive backs, the "Fumblerooski," non-consensual sex, stickum, mickey-slipping, amoral kickers, Ray Guy, owner ignorance, the "tuck rule," and outrageous contracts, to name a few. The instances of fame and those of infamy are practically equal. That is, until July, when head coach Tom Cable slugged assistant coach Randy Hanson, thereby tipping the scales toward "infamy."

"This is a dark moment for this franchise," says Davis, lying in a vat of age cream, which, much like being a fan of the Raiders, takes years off your life. "Frankly, I'm shocked that this happened. Not that someone got punched, but shocked that it wasn't me that got punched."

Now, the Chargers aren't immune to unlawful acts of physical violence. Last week, star linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested on charges of choking and restraining his girlfriend, reality icon Tila Tequila, star of MTV's A Shot of Love With Tila Tequila.

"Shawne's no stranger to off-the-field troubles," says Norv Turner. "It's a tough situation. Who do you believe? The vacuous, talent-deprived reality star, or the temperamental linebacker who's been suspended for using a banned substance? Stories indicate that Shawne was just trying to keep Ms. Tequila from driving home intoxicated. I think, eventually, the truth will come out is some type of out-of-court settlement."

San Diego wins, 27-14.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:34 AM | Comments (0)

How ESPN Got LeGarrette Blount Booted

Oh, college football. How I missed thee so. How I will tenderly embrace the hearth of your warm love forevermore. This time, I promise, I will never let you go.

I'm not the only one who was ready and hungry for college football. So was ESPN. And what good are just the games to ESPN? Don't get me wrong. I defend ESPN. Because along with that ceaseless hype, they do deliver the content. And a lot of their more cynical stunts make them money, just as the focus groups told them they would, because (as hard as this is for people to accept), ESPN gives people what they want. It's just that, well, not a lot of people are like you and I, who want the sports without the bombast. They know they have us, so they have to make their money on the fringes, by attracting the casual fan.

Still, besides admirably pining for the minimal, straightforward approach of Setanta USA — who often fill the slot between one match beginning and the last one ending by just giving us a closeup of a soccer ball, soothing moog music, and their schedule for the next few hours repeated ad nauseam — I often think ESPN puts the cart before the horse.

Such was the case with LeGarrette Blount. I'm sure you saw the clip. After a week of talking trash about Boise State and how his Oregon Ducks would exact revenge, Boise State put the wood to them once again. And when an obnoxious BSU player said something to Blount in passing after the game — and tapping him on the shoulder pad to make sure he had Blount's attention — Blount socked him in the jaw. Later, it appeared he needed to be restrained from going into the stands.

Blount saw the handwriting on the wall and apologized pretty quickly, right from the locker room in fact. Having seen it live, I asked myself what would be an appropriate punishment for Blount, and I decided a game or two — and I decided this knowing he has already had discipline issues of the other kind (showing up to practice out of shape, academic problems) and suspended for that.

Why a game or two? Like any good jurist, I look for precedents, and the first person who popped into my mind was Robert Reynolds. You remember Robert Reynolds, right? No? He's the Ohio State linebacker who was revealed to be strangling Wisconsin quarterback Jim Sorgi after the pile cleared on one of those three yards (actually eight in this case) and a cloud of dust plays.

It was enough of a choke that Sorgi had to leave the game, and he did not return. Reynolds issued a public apology later. His suspension? One game.

Blount's victim, Byron Hout, was not hurt. The punched floored him, but he popped back up immediately, like one of those children's punching bags with sand at the bottom (I forget what they're called).

Even with Blount's spotty history, and Reynolds's clean (as far as I know) one), it would be difficult to argue that Blount deserved an exponentially more severe punishment than Reynolds.

Of course, an exponentially worse punishment is exactly what Blount got. He is suspended for the season, including bowl season.

So why exactly is Blount worthy of such a stiffer penalty than what Reynolds got? Let's examine the possibilities:

A. Reynolds's action was in game, while Blount's was after the game was over.
B. ESPN played the story like it was the JFK assassination.
C. Racial double standards (Blount is black, Reynolds is white).
D. Blount's prior history of violations.

As far as A goes, don't make me laugh. It's more okay to injure a player in game, in a dead ball situation, than it is 30 seconds after a game ends?

I'll get back to B.

I'm going to say no to C, as well, but I always, always wonder about this. It is a rhetorical fallacy to presume a hypothetical situation and argue based on how you have decided the hypothetical would have been handled, but I still wonder. I wonder if Peyton Manning would have gotten the same amount of time that Mike Vick did, and if we would've gotten more columns marginally defending the dog fighting as a part of good ol' boy culture.

D, maybe, but none of his other misdeeds were those of the poor snap-judgment variety.

So, back to B. ESPN has been eager for college football to return, too, and with the return, they are salivating the next big story. Stories come thick and fast in midseason, both on and off the field, when we go back to debating the BCS, keeping an eye on records about to be broken, and seeing which SEC school will lead the nation in arrests.

But the cupboard is slightly more bare in the season's infancy, so ESPN takes what it can get and wrings it out like a washcloth. The Blount debacle was perfect for this.

Throughout the halls of the Oregon athletic complex, where ESPN is usually broadcast the clock, the TV's instead just bore Oregon's ubiquitous O logo the day after the game, rather than the looping newsreel of the team's embarrassment that ESPN was providing.

It's easy to see, then, that Oregon felt a greater need for damage control than it felt the need for justice. This is particularly true considering the disarray the program seems to be in all of the sudden. The Ducks, known for their offense, started their season with seven straight three-and-outs. They were dominated by a team they were eager to get revenge on. The biggest problem, however, may be the respect, or lack thereof, that new head coach Chip Kelly is commanding from his players after taking over for the beloved and successful Mike Bellotti, now the school's athletic director:

Kelly was disrespected multiple times on the Ducks sideline during the game. Players scoffed in his face. Another shouted at him. Bellotti undermined him, too, by walking up in front of Kelly's players to offer the new guy input in the second quarter.

That, if I can borrow some ESPN-style hyperbole, sounds like a mutiny in the making. And if the players and the old coach don't respect you, how do you force your team to stand up and take notice, to acknowledge and really feel your authority?

Kicking your star player off the team for a impulsive transgression no one will remember two years from now is one way.

Posted by Kevin Beane at 11:07 AM | Comments (12)

September 9, 2009

NFL Weekly Predictions: Week 1 (Pt. 1)

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

Tennessee @ Pittsburgh (-5)

What's the best thing about Super Bowls and meaningless sexual encounters? Why, the memories of course. Ben Roethlisberger has two bejeweled rings, as well as a pending sexual assault civil suit, to rekindle those fond memories. In July, Big Ben was sued by a casino employee in Las Vegas who claimed Roethlisberger assaulted her in his hotel room in July of 2008.

"I'd like to reiterate my innocence," Roethlisberger stated. "I never sexually assaulted anyone, although I may have been guilty of 'offensive holding.' I guess I truly am a 'defending' champ."

"But seriously, I expect this case to end up like a pass to Terrell Owens — dropped. I'm innocent. In fact, I'm the victim here. I did not sexually assault her, and I know sexual assault. Heck, I lost my virginity under a pile of Baltimore Ravens in 2005."

The world champs will host the Titans, who suffered a heartbreaking 13-10 to the Ravens in the divisional round as the No. 1 seed last year. Such a loss can be a great motivator, and Tennessee running back LenDale White used those painful thoughts as the catalyst for losing 30 pounds in the offseason. Actually, White dumped the excess weight simply by giving up Patrón tequila.

"I understand he quit 'cold turkey,'" said Troy Polamalu, still undefeated in "hair versus hair" matches. "And I believe that's what they called him after his crucial fumble against the Ravens in chilly Tennessee practically cost them the game. And speaking of nicknames, are White and his shifty backfield mate Chris Johnson now called 'Slim Fast and Dash?'"

"But seriously, did LenDale really lose 30 pounds by nixing tequila from his diet? That's a lot of alcohol. Of course, that explains his troubles in the Baltimore game — the Ravens got him drunk and took advantage of him."

My crack (addicted) research staff tells me the previous year's Super Bowl winner has won its season opener 33 of 42 times, plus or minus 9. I'll go with the odds, however inaccurate, and the defending champs, to prevail on Thursday in an exceptionally hard-hitting game.

The Steelers take control late in the third quarter when a run-blitzing James Harrison drills White, forcing him to lose not only the ball, but three pounds, as well. Pittsburgh recovers, and Roethlisberger hits Heath Miller for the clinching score.

Steelers win, 23-13.

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis (-7)

The biggest rivalry in the AFC South heats up immediately as the Jaguars face the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, "The House That Lube Built," where fans lucky enough to score a luxury suite can enjoy service from the classy waitress staff known as the "Personal Lubricants."

The Colts are a team in transition, with Tony Dungy gone to champion the rights of dog abusers and wide receiver Marvin Harrison off peddling "This Car Wash Protected by Smith & Wesson" bumper stickers. Still, even with a new head coach and a veteran receiver gone, Manning sees no reason why the Colts can't continue their winning ways.

"Our new coach, Jim Caldwell, is a lot like Dungy," Manning said. "He doesn't tell me what to do, either."

"Look, as long as I'm under center, this team has a chance. Especially with my faithful and trusty center, Jeff Saturday, making reads at the line, as well. I call Jeff my 'Saturday Knight Special.' He calls me his 'Sunday Afternoon Reacharound.'"

The Jaguars always pose a stern test for the Colts, especially when the Jacksonville running game is clicking. With Fred Taylor now a Patriot, most of the rushing burden falls to Maurice Jones-Drew, the 5'7", 208-pound fireplug who often answers to the nickname "Short Bus." Jones-Drew welcomes the greater workload, as well as the pressure that comes with being ranked as a top-five fantasy pick.

"Hey, you can also call me 'Thigh Master,'" says the stocky Jones-Drew. "But under no circumstances are you to call me 'Tattoo' or 'Wee Man.'"

It's Week 1, so you know what that means — the Colts have a moderately healthy defense. Safety Bob Sanders is listed as probable, and the Colts will need him off the crutches and out of the sling to contain the Jacksonville running attack. First on the Colts agenda — hold the Jags to less than a quarter-mile of rushing yards. That may be easier with Jones-Drew feeling the lingering effects of a bruised leg suffered late in the preseason.

In the end, it's the artistry of Peyton Manning that carries the Colts to the win. Manning throws for 241 yards and 2 scores, and the Indy defense holds Jones-Drew to 67 yards rushing.

Colts win, 24-17.

Detroit @ New Orleans (-13)

What was the hottest story out of New Orleans this offseason? Well, that had to be the news that Saints running back Reggie Bush and his bootylicious girlfriend Kim Kardashian had called it quits. Call it mindless tabloid fodder if you will, but it's gosh darn hard to ignore a headline that reads 'Kardashian Bush Split,' not to mention the accompanying photographs.

"Amazing flexibility there," said Sean Payton. "Isn't it bewildering what the omission of a simple comma can do?"

"But spacing is everything. And our objective is to get Reggie the ball in 'open space,' which I think we've been trying to do, with limited success, for about three years now. We're hoping that Reggie, who's been downgraded in fantasy rankings, as well as downgraded in his biographical data from NFL 'star' to NFL 'player,' can sneak up on people this year."

The Lions are coming off the worst season in NFL history, an 0-16 campaign in 2008, but excitement still abounds in Detroit, and Thomas Magnum, P.I. still considers himself a fan. Detroit added quarterback Matthew Stafford to their collection of No. 1 picks, and after a decent preseason, new head coach Jim Schwartz named Stafford the starter for the season-opener.

"Yeah, I think Matthew's ready," says Schwartz. "Especially since Daunte Culpepper was sidelined after suffering a freaky foot injury after stumbling on some carpet. I never thought I'd see 'toe jam' listed on the injury report."

The New Orleans fans are no strangers to futility, and prior to the game, several season ticket holders graciously leave brown paper sacks in the seats of Lions fans who make the trip to the Big Easy. And a huge sign lining the upper deck in the Superdome sends a kind message to Stafford: "May the Schwartz Be with You."

Drew Brees throws for 342 yards and 3 scores, thus beginning another assault on Dan Marino's passing yardage record.

New Orleans wins, 37-20.

Philadelphia @ Carolina (+1)

The Panthers were struck by a rash of injuries during training camp, although surprisingly none were the result of a Steve Smith haymaker. Smith himself was one of the casualties, injuring the shoulder of his right (punching) arm in practice in early August. Nose tackle Maake Kemoaetu went down with an Achille tendon tear on the first day of training camp. Pro Bowl linebacker Jon Beason hurt his knee, running back Jonathan Stewart has hardly practiced while nursing an Achilles tendon injury, and the entire Carolina organization is hobbled by Julius Peppers' massive contract.

"With all those injuries," says Jake Delhomme, "a lot of people are saying I'll have to take up the slack. 'Delhomme will have to put the team on his shoulders' is a familiar refrain, much like the '2, 4, 6, ate' cheer often heard from our cheerleaders partying in a bathroom stall."

"But I welcome the challenge. I don't mind people 'counting' on me, although, when they're counting, or should I say, inventorying, turnovers, it can be a little distressing to me."

With a date in last year's NFC Championship Game, expectations for this year's Eagle squad are lofty, and the addition of Michael Vick has only added to the fervor. Philadelphia sports fans are notoriously demanding, and can turn on a superstar faster than an Eric Lindros slap shot, but Eagles fans have praised the addition of Vick, signed by the Eagles in August.

"Indeed," said Andy Reid. "Philly fans have welcomed Vick with open arms. And I hear local swingers clubs have been equally as receptive to Ron Mexico."

"I know it may have been a controversial move to sign Michael, but I think Philadelphia is the right place for him. He's got quite a bit of experience dodging G-Men already, and we play the Giants twice. And, if he can avoid tacklers with the same aplomb he's displayed dodging creditors, then we're on to something."

Donovan McNabb passes for 296 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Philadelphia wins, 27-24.

Dallas @ Tampa Bay (+4½)

What hangs lower than the cojones of Dallas owner Jerry Jones? Why, the scoreboard at the Cowboys new $1 billion stadium in Arlington, where you can enjoy a pizza for the nominal fee of $90, if you're foolish enough to get hungry at a Cowboys game.

But that's beside the point. The 'Boys open their season in Tampa, where the only obstacle to towering punts is the blue Tampa sky. Dallas embarks on a season without wide receiver Terrell Owens, so failure in the 2009 campaign will leave them like Lee Majors after a 1986 ABC series cancelation — with no "Fall Guy."

"We'll be just fine without T.O.," says Tony Romo. "Now, culpability for Cowboy failures will fall squarely on me and my bad dating choices. I look forward to double-dating with my good buddy Jason Witten, an arrangement which often includes only three people. Only in my world does a threesome not include any sexual acts."

The Buccaneers ended the season on a sour note, with an 0-4 finish to a promising 9-3 start hastening the firing of Jon Gruden and the departure of defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Defensive backs coach Raheem Morris was hired soon after to replace Gruden, who led Tampa to the Super Bowl XXXVII title.

"Obviously, I've got big shoes to fill," says Morris. "And a lot of curse words to learn."

Starting at quarterback for the Bucs will be journeyman Byron Leftwich, who won the starting job after solid performances in the preseason. Leftwich, known as much for his painfully slow throwing motion as for his powerful arm, has worked hard on his release.

"Look, I'm serious about getting rid of the ball sooner," says Leftwich. "I even had a clause written into my contract promising delivery in thirty minutes or less or it's free."

"I think it's cool that our new head coach lets us address him by his first name. Raheem's a players' coach, and his office door is always open if you want to rap. And it helps that he's a member of the Wu-Tang Clan."

It's not a good sign when your offensive coordinator is fired less than two weeks before the season opener. That's exactly what happened in Tampa when Jeff Jagodzinski was fired and replaced by quarterbacks coach Greg Olsen. Obviously, 'turnover' is a problem in the Tampa organization, as well as in Sunday's game.

Leftwich turns it over three times, and Tony Romo hits Jason Witten for a touchdown score. Romo then proposes — that he and Witten celebrate the win over dinner.

Dallas wins, 27-6.

NY Jets @ Houston (-4½)

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez earned the starting job for the Jets in late August, when head coach Rex Ryan announced that Sanchez had won the position over Kellen Clemens. Thus, Sanchez became another name on the ever-growing list of quarterbacks who replaced Brett Favre when he retired. Like "Broadway" Joe Namath before him, Sanchez is a hit with the ladies and is certainly not lacking in confidence.

"Hey, I'm not one to guarantee a Jets victory in the Super Bowl," said Sanchez, "nor will I wear panty hose, unless it's for her pleasure. But I predict this team will be much improved over last year. We've got a brand new coach, Rex Ryan, who's a real S.O.B., son of Buddy, and Rex is not afraid to speak his mind, or slug an offensive coordinator."

Houston hopes to make the leap from being a "team on the verge" to a team in the playoffs. Paramount to achieving that is maintaining the health of starting quarterback Matt Schaub, who did nothing to quell his reputation as injury-prone when he sprained his ankle in a preseason game. However, Schaub is ready to go against the Jets.

"All too often last year," says Gary Kubiak, "I found myself saying 'Bring out the gimp' whenever Matt got hurt, which was often. If Matt's injury issues have proved anything, it's that David Carr was one tough son of a gun. "

The Texans have their own version of "The Triplets" — Schaub, Steve Slaton, and Andre Johnson, and collectively, the Texans offense is known as "Matt, Andre, and Slate Plus 8."

Houston wins, 27-16.

Kansas City @ Baltimore (-10)

Back for his 14th year as a Raven is linebacker Ray Lewis, an icon whom fellow players and fans alike have come to expect and appreciate, kind of like their local Wal-Mart greeter welcoming them to "our house," just with slightly more menace and bravado. Lewis anchors another fearsome Ravens defense that will shoulder the load for the team's success.

"Do Todd Haley and Matt Cassel think they can come here and expect the success they experienced last year?" asks Lewis. "Well, I have reservations. Not only is this 'my house,' but I'm also king of the 'Cassel.'"

In Kansas City, new head coach Todd Haley has set out to change the mindset of a franchise accustomed to losing under the Herman Edwards regime. That started with a brutal conditioning regimen, a program so intense that it quickly became known as "Haley's Vomit."

"No fat Chiefs!" barks Haley. "It was no accident that Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" was playing on the loud speaker when these chubby, out-of-shape players arrived for training camp, because 'now they're messing with a son of a bitch.'"

Is a gimpy-kneed Cassel ready to face the wrath of the Baltimore defense? Probably no more than the K.C. defense is prepared to stop the Ravens' deep running back corps of Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and Le'Ron McCain.

Ravens win, 27-3.

Denver @ Cincinnati (-3)

Offseason discussion on the Bengals centered not around what it should have (the return of a healthy Carson Palmer), but on attention-starved wide receiver Chad Ochocinco (née Johnson), Cincinnati's resident Twittering fool, who, in the last four months, announced plans to Tweet during games, was reprimanded by Denzel Washington, kicked an extra point in a preseason game, and feuded with sports columnist Skip Bayless.

"Well, I guess it was a slow year for Chad," said head coach Marvin Lewis. "The kid just has to make headlines. Take last year for example. He kissed me, for Christ's sake. I've indicated to Chad that I'm fed up with his shenanigans. I've made it clear to that clown that under no circumstances will I kiss "ass" this year."

In Denver, it's well documented that "The Drive" may be the greatest moment in Broncos lore. And new nead coach Josh McDaniels wasted no time in creating his own Bronco magic, orchestrating "The Drive II," in which he ran off franchise quarterback Jay Cutler and clashed with star receiver Brandon Marshall. Cutler was traded to the Bears, while Marshall has been the subject of trade rumors, as well as several videos showing him loafing in practice, and still others showing him in a tutu and a tiara.

"Who needs a Pro Bowl quarterback when you've got the most innovative offensive mind in all of football?" said McDaniels. "While in New England, I was known by the nickname given to me by none other than the 'Patriot Missile' himself, Zeke Mowatt. My nickname? The 'Patriot Whiz' of course."

"As for Cutler and Marshall, they're obviously spoiled crybabies. I'm not sure what kind of ship Mike Shanahan ran around here, but obviously he didn't mind players rocking the boat."

Carson Palmer versus an injured Kyle Orton, or his backup? Fun-loving Ochocinco versus the disgruntled Marshall? Give me the Bengals, and the points.

Cincinnati wins, 30-17. Ochocinco catches 6 balls for 101 yards and a score, then is caught Twittering in the shower.

Minnesota @ Cleveland (+3½)

What was the reaction in Vikings camp when Brett Favre decided to suit up for the Vikings instead of remaining retired? Well, many of Favre's new teammates were ecstatic, thrilled to have a Hall of Fame quarterback leading the 2009 charge. And their excitement only grew when Favre himself walked into the locker room and said, "It's time to give up the booty."

For most of the Vikings, that was a sure sign that Favre wanted to celebrate with a team cruise on Lake Minnetonka aboard the infamous SS Natch, where "taking a knee" takes on a new meaning.

Sadly, their hopes went flaccid when Favre clarified his statement to indicate that he simply wanted the No. 4 jersey of reserve quarterback John David Booty.

"That doesn't mean I'd turn down a trip on the yacht," said Favre. "I could use a little wind in my sails. Besides, it's been reported that there's some division in the locker room concerning my return. What better way to fit in than to take 'one' for the team? Heck, it's the least I can do. Some of these guys have taken '69' for the team."

In Cleveland, Romeo Crenel is out and Eric Mangini is in as coach, as general manager Phil Savage is obviously convinced that a plump Bill Belichick disciple holds the key to the Browns success. More likely, though, a solid year from a quarterback is the key to their success. Earlier this week, Mangini named a starter at QB, but refused to release his identity.

"He's also keeping the starter a secret from the team," says Derek Anderson, who battled Brady Quinn for the job in camp. "Funny, I saw Brian Sipe heading into team offices the other day. You know, Mangini's trying to be a little too clever for his own good. That's a so-called 'skill' he must have learned from Bill Belichick. In the meantime, though, I'll ponder my starting possibilities while casually viewing this bootleg video of a recent Vikings practice."

With the Vikes Kevin and Pat Williams approved to play on Sunday, the Browns running game will go nowhere. And whomever gets the starting nod will have to deal with the rush of defensive end Jaren Allen (or is that Kenny Powers?) Allen records 2 sacks, and Adrian Peterson rushes for 178 yards and 2 scores.

Minnesota wins, 29-14.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:46 AM | Comments (0)

The Exclusionary Tactics of the BCS Conferences

When Sen. Orrin Hatch held a hearing regarding the BCS this past June in the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which he is the ranking Republican member, the consensus was that another hearing on Capitol Hill regarding sports was inappropriate. Such was the perception that many member of the committee failed to even make a presence at the hearing.

Mind you, Hatch's position as a senator from the state of Utah, whose namesake university had six months earlier finished number two in the country in the final polls, did come off as a bit opportunistic. Yet, a point Hatch raised in a column he wrote in the following week's Sports Illustrated was especially relevant. It said in as many words that if a business in almost any other realm made as much money as major college football did, and operated like the BCS does, that people would go into conniption.

The common sense college football public may well have a similar reaction should BYU, out of the same Mountain West Conference and same Utah as Hatch, run the table and not get a crack at the national championship game. An undefeated BYU would have beaten ranked conference powers Utah, TCU as well as Florida State on top of Saturday's 14-13 win over No. 3-ranked Oklahoma in what essentially amounted to a road game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX. The win for the Cougars served to back up the MWC's growing status as a league that steps up to the plate when given the opportunities

Let's forget about BYU having a shot for the national championship for a little while and focus on their, or any other Mountain West team's prospects at getting an automatic BCS bid. A team from a non-BCS league can get into a BCS bowl if it finishes in the top 12 in the BCS standings or finishes in the top 16, ahead of a BCS league's champion. Due to the paucity of elite teams in both the Big East and the ACC, it is not out of the realm of possibility that a one-loss Mountain West champion could finish ahead of a major conference winner not in the top 16 in the BCS.

However, the BCS conferences knew what they were doing to keep as much power as possible in their hands while still allowing the illusion of giving non-BCS teams a fighting chance when the rules on automatic qualifiers were changed before the 2006 season. The BCS only allows one team from the five non-BCS conferences to qualify per year, regardless of whether multiple teams could qualify under the rules, in what amounts to a poison pill in the BCS contract. In the context of this season, Boise State was the top-ranked non-BCS team coming into Week 1, and already has already won its toughest-on-paper game for the season, defeating Oregon. This is not good enough, and should be changed if college football wants to get away from being so blatantly, and perhaps criminally, oligarchic.

As a student of political science and more specifically, international politics, I am fascinated by the electoral concept of proportional representation, mainly because this country does not have it. To make a long story short, proportional representation is when a political party gets a number of legislative seats proportional to the share of the vote it received in an election, and in most countries where it or some modified form of it is employed, a threshold must be met to insure that a party will get any seats.

A system of proportional representation allows more parties to get seats, and allows voters to have an incentive greater than intrinsic pride to vote for a party that may not be one of the dominant parties in the country, because their voice may be represented at a national scale. If the Mountain West had an automatic bid into the BCS, as the last few years have shown they deserve, the incentive would be great for the conference's schools to attract recruits who are after what only the BCS' six conferences plus Notre Dame can promise.

Unfortunately, the unchecked metaphorical parliament of the BCS believes that the Mountain West Conference has not reached its electoral threshold, despite evidence to the contrary, and has the current system locked in until 2013. Until at least then, the BCS remains a one-party state with no new entrants needing apply.

Posted by Ross Lancaster at 11:27 AM | Comments (1)

NASCAR Top 10 Power Rankings: Week 25

Note: the quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Tony Stewart — Stewart had a top-10 finish in sight until a loose lug nut forced an extra pit stop on lap 203. Stewart recovered from that setback, and, after numerous adjustments throughout the race, the No. 14 Office Depot Chevy was fast on its final run, and Stewart nearly cracked the top 10 with an 11th-place finish.

"The pressure of the approaching Chase affects everyone," Stewart said, "even us. Our extra pit stop was just a microcosm of the duress teams feel under this situation, and they both lead to the same thing — nuts tightening."

"And, as Danica Patrick's unofficial spokesman, I'm here to say that she's ready to make the jump to NASCAR. We've talked about it, and I think what I've told her has had a positive impact on her ultimate decision. I'd love to see her in the driver's seat of a Stewart Haas Racing car. And I'd love to see me in the passenger seat, singing the Beatles 'Drive My Car.'"

"Plus, Danica would be the first woman on my payroll who doesn't feel the need to work for tips."

2 .Jimmie Johnson — Johnson qualified third in Atlanta and was a fixture up front for the first half of the race. But a broken axle with about 80 laps to go sent Johnson to the garage, where repairs cost him 20 laps. Johnson finished 36th, and dropped to third in the Sprint Cup point standings.

"The No. 48 Chevy and the volatile band Guns N' Roses now have something in common," said Johnson. "A faulty 'Axl.'"

"But our finish in Atlanta is not a big deal. This doesn't mean I'm not still the favorite to win the Cup. I am. If the last three years have proved anything, it's that in the Chase, the Cup hasn't been very good at eluding me. The hardware always seems to find its way to Lowe's."

"I feel no pressure. None. Not only is the champagne on ice, but the 'champion' is 'on ice,' as well."

3. Jeff Gordon — Gordon finished eighth in the Pep Boys Auto 500 on an unpredictable night on the tricky Atlanta Motor Speedway track. On short runs, Gordon sported one of the faster cars, while the handling of the No. 24 DuPont deteriorated considerably on long runs. Gordon moved past Jimmie Johnson into the number two slot in the point standings.

"And that's the 'long' and 'short' of it," said Gordon. "The inconsistency was troubling; I didn't know whether to put my foot on the gas or the brake. I did, however, know not to put it on a Frisbee."

"Hey, I think it's really cool that Tom Cruise will narrate an upcoming documentary on the history of Hendrick Motorsports. He's a huge Hollywood star and famous across the universe, so I think he'll bring a lot of attention to this organization. Let's just hope he can be as big of a shill for Hendrick as he is for Scientology."

"If this Hendrick documentary features spaceships and Cruise excitedly jumping up and down on a couch, then I don't think I'll endorse it as true."

4. Denny Hamlin — Hamlin became the fourth driver to secure a Chase For the Cup position, his sixth-place finish in the Pep Boys Auto 500 locking up the spot. Hamlin is fourth in the Sprint Cup point standings, 398 out of first.

"Unlike eight other drivers," said Hamlin, "I can go to Richmond content in knowing that I'm guaranteed a spot in the Chase. My teammate, Kyle Busch, doesn't have that luxury. That means, like the recipients of those guitars he donated to schools in Nashville, he'll be doing a lot of 'fretting.'"

5. Mark Martin — Martin finished fifth in Atlanta, his eighth top-five result of the year, as the No. 5 Car Quest/Kellogg's Chevy was consistent throughout the night, absent of the wild swings in handling that plagued many cars. Martin remained tenth in the point standings, but finished higher than the drivers below him, thereby solidifying his Chase position.

"Hey, I'm not in this just to make the Chase," says Martin. "Winning the Sprint Cup is my ultimate goal. Should I make the Chase, I'll bring a lot of wisdom and experience to the table, some '50 Sense,' if you will. Now, I haven't been shot nine times, but I have been snakebitten quite often in my Cup quests."

6. Kasey Kahne — Kahne benefitted from a timely caution with 17 laps to go at Atlanta, and zoomed past Kevin Harvick on the restart with 11 to go. Kahne pulled away, and celebrated his second win of the year, which boosted him a whopping five places in the point standings. Kahne is sixth, 96 points ahead of Brian Vickers in 13th.

"The No. 9 Budweiser Dodge was fast on the restarts," said Kahne. "When I saw Harvick in front, I knew I could catch him if I remained patient and tempered my amazement and disbelief at seeing a Richard Childress leading the race."

"But nothing's cooler than celebrating the win in Victory Circle with a Budweiser 'tall boy' and a Miss Sprint Cup 'shortie.'"

7. Juan Montoya — Montoya finished third in the Pep Boys Auto 500, only his second top-five of the year, and moved up one spot to eighth in the Sprint Cup point standings. After a brush with the wall late in the race, Montoya's No. 42 Dodge got faster, and he led laps 275 through 304.

"Sometimes," said Montoya, "when you can't get the right adjustment in the pits, you have to take it upon yourself to get it done. A slap of the wall is often the perfect remedy. And Michael Waltrip is the best self-adjuster in the game."

"I'm really focused on making the Chase, not just for me, but for my fans, whom I like to call my 'Target Audience.' And speaking of Target, I 'aim' to become the first Colombian to qualify for the Chase For the Cup. Like Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the dreams of an entire nation are resting on my shoulders. Unlike Junior's, the dreams of my nation are realistic. I'm intent on becoming the most well-known Colombian to deliver the goods since Juan Valdez."

8. Carl Edwards — Despite a broken foot suffered while playing Frisbee, Edwards still raced in Atlanta, and the No. 99 Aflac Fusion was quick early. But an oil leak sabotaged his evening, as repairs in the garage left him 20 laps down. He eventually finished 37th, 23 laps down, and remains fifth in the points.

"We've all heard of odd injuries to athletes," said Edwards. "This may top them all, except for that time I broke my hand shooting myself in the foot. Luckily, Aflac is my sponsor, as well as my insurer. So, if you want a clever headline for the Frisbee incident, 'Disc-Oh! Duck' would work nicely."

"Yeah, the oil leak really did us in. I guess that's not the first time, as far as oil is concerned, that we should have 'put a lid on it.'"

"As for the broken foot, that's just the second best excuse not to do a back flip. The first being the inability to win a Cup race."

9. Kurt Busch — Busch's No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge got extremely loose on lap 245 in Atlanta, and he slammed the wall and bounced into the No. 43 car of Reed Sorenson. Busch's car was done for the night, his second DNF of the year, and he finished 38th.

"The car was loose all night," said Busch. "And from the looks of things, I wasn't the only one dealing with those issues. There were cars fish-tailing all over the place. I haven't seen that many rear ends wiggling since Tony Stewart's last hauler party, which I wasn't invited to, but heard lots about, and got slapped for."

10. Brian Vickers — Vickers kept his Chase hopes alive with a remarkable seventh in Atlanta, overcoming a broken axle on lap 246 without losing a lap to the leaders. Vickers moved up a spot to 13th in the point standings, and now trails the 12th spot by only 20 points.

"Two words came to mind when the rear axle of the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota snapped," said Vickers. "Not 'Oh no!' But 'Bull Split.' It's really a sickening sound to hear an axle give way, almost as bad as hearing Brad Daugherty speak."

"But we have our work cut out for us in Richmond. Kyle Busch is strong there, and, like me, he'll be doing everything in his power to win the race. But I'll be more than ready if he wants to tangle. I know Carl Edwards' injury is a huge detriment, but I think I could benefit from the same type of injury, because I'd like to break a foot — off in Kyle's rear end."

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:06 AM | Comments (2)

September 8, 2009

NFL Preseason Power Rankings

As we enter the 2009 NFL season, all the big stories seem to be about individual players: Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Brandon Marshall, and a couple of attention hogs in Cincinnati and Minnesota who don't need any extra mentions of their names. I bet those guys count their Google hits first thing every day.

With all this focus on individuals, it's easy sometimes to forget that football is not just a team game, but the ultimate team game, a sport in which individuals cannot excel without support from their teammates. That's true to a lesser extent in other sports, but never the way it is in this game. The receiver can't do anything without a quarterback to throw the ball. The running back can't go anywhere without a decent offensive line. The quarterback needs all of them. Defensive players are equally dependent on their teammates. And with apologies to those of us with foul memories about the 1995 Cowboys, you need a great coaching staff to tie it all together.

So forgetting about Brady's injuries and Vick's off-field sins and whatever is going on with Marshall, how good is each team as we open this year's regular season? The rankings below are for right now, beginning-of-season strength, and not necessarily a prediction of each team's success over the course of the year. Brackets show predicted regular-season record.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers [11-5] — Here's what is scary: Ben Roethlisberger did not play well last season. Big Ben is a good quarterback, but 2008 was a down year for him. Promising RB Rashard Mendenhall, who missed most of last season on the injured list, is also back in action, and despite a few losses in free agency, all of the core players from last year's Super Bowl run are still in town. The concern for Pittsburgh is depth. They're especially thin at offensive tackle and wide receiver, and injuries are always a worry for teams coming off a long postseason. Adding an extra month of playoff games to your calendar takes its toll the next year. For now, the Steelers are the team to beat, but I don't expect them to finish the season at the top of this list.

2. San Diego Chargers [12-4] — If the Chargers don't win the AFC West, I will eat my shoe. In fact, I'll eat both of them. You know what, I'll eat all my shoes: athletic shoes, dress shoes, sandals, slippers, flip-flops, those little booties my mom has been saving from when I was little, everything. Partly that's because the rest of the AFC West is utterly hapless. But it's also because San Diego figures to be a powerhouse this season. The loss of Igor Olshansky in free agency is more than offset by the return of Shawne Merriman, the offense is stacked with weapons, and the special teams should be among the best in the league. The shoe-eating bet is off if Merriman goes to jail or Philip Rivers gets hurt early in the season.

3. New England Patriots [12-4] — They have an advantage where the Steelers are weak: New England missed the playoffs entirely last year, despite being a very good (11-5) team. The Patriots have a phenomenal passing game and a solid defense. Their Achilles' heel is Achilles heels: this team is really old. Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Derrick Burgess, Adalius Thomas, Shawn Springs, Jarvis Green, Fred Taylor, Kevin Faulk, Nick Kaczur, Matt Light, and Stephen Neal are all over 30. Dan Koppen will join them before the bye, and Joey Galloway is damn near 50. I don't doubt this team's talent, but how well will it hold up over the course of the season? You have to think the window of opportunity is starting to close here, and this year might be New England's best shot at a championship before some major rebuilding. I like these top three teams much more than the other 29. Everything changes after Week 1, but right now, no one else is close.

4. New York Giants [11-5] — Like San Diego, the Giants return a key contributor who missed last season because of injury, DE Osi Umenyiora. This team has an incredibly deep and imposing defensive line. The offensive line is just as good, though not as deep. If you believe games are won in the trenches, this is your team. But I wonder how the departure of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will affect the team, and I don't know who is going to fill the void left by Plaxico Burress. There are a lot of young receivers here, and maybe one of them will step up, but right now I just don't see anyone to scare defenses. Eight in the box.

5. Indianapolis Colts [10-6] — Struck by injuries last year and started 3-4. They're banged up again now, with all-pro safety Bob Sanders the most notable casualty. Furthermore, there's been a lot of turnover in the coaching ranks, and that worries me. Tony Dungy retired, of course, defensive coordinator Ron Meeks is gone, and there were questions all offseason about the roles of key offensive assistants Tom Moore and Howard Mudd. Even Marvin Harrison is gone. If the revamped coaching staff can put it all together, the Colts should be an elite team again. But after seven straight seasons of double-digit wins, it just seems like they're due for a downturn, and changes at the top don't make that any less likely.

6. Tennessee Titans [10-6] — Everyone knows about the loss of Albert Haynesworth, but the team hopes the additions of Jovan Haye (in free agency) and Sen'Derrick Marks (second-round draft choice) will compensate for his absence. Underrated DT Tony Brown will also be expected to step up. Besides Haynesworth, the player most likely to be missed is special teams standout Chris Carr, who signed with Baltimore in the offseason. The team's offseason priority was improving its mediocre receiving corps, addressed by drafting Kenny Britt in the first round and signing former Steeler Nate Washington. I can't see Tennessee duplicating the success it had last season, but this should be a good team again.

7. Dallas Cowboys [9-7] — This year, it's all about what happens on the field. Terrell Owens is gone. So are Adam Jones and Tank Johnson. The roster remains stacked with talent: Tony Romo, Jason Witten, a trio of promising RBs, and one of the best offensive lines in the league join a strong defense with a scary pass rush and above-average special teams. On paper, there's no reason the Cowboys shouldn't contend in the NFC. But the track record isn't there, and fans have little faith in the coaching staff to bring it all together. The prediction is another up-and-down year, though I'll guess there are more ups than downs.

8. Baltimore Ravens [9-7] — Great at the end of last season, but they were raided by the Jets, losing defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, LB Bart Scott, and DB Jim Leonhard. Several other starters or key role players also left in free agency, and the team's offseason additions were hole-patching, not upgrades. The Ravens will benefit from playing in a weak division — the Steelers are great, but the Browns and Bengals are not — but they won't return to the AFC Championship Game after so much turnover in the offseason.

9. Atlanta Falcons [9-7] — I'm hard on the good teams. I don't need to tell you what's good about the Steelers and Patriots and Giants, because they're mostly the same things that have made those teams good in recent years. Similarly, the Falcons should be optimistic over the same areas where they showed promise last season, especially quarterback Matt Ryan. The team even added all-pro tight end Tony Gonzalez. What's not to like? Well, young QBs often struggle in their second season, so let's not expect Ryan's 2009 to resemble Dan Marino in 1984. RB Michael Turner got a lot of work last year (376 att.) and is unlikely to repeat last year's success. John Abraham, who led all defensive linemen with 16.5 sacks last season, has struggled with injuries throughout his career and is now 31. Can he stay healthy all season? This team has a lot of unknowns, but for now, they're the smart bet to lead the competitive NFC South.

10. Houston Texans [10-6] — I really like their offseason, spent addressing a defense that last year ranked 27th in points allowed. The biggest additions are on the defensive line: Antonio Smith, who started every game for the Cardinals last year; Shaun Cody, who will probably start at DT; and draft choice Connor Barwin, a standout pass-rusher at Cincinnati. The defensive backfield remains a concern, but improvement up front should help to hide any deficiencies. The offense, barring injuries, should be a steamroller. There is a lot of talent at the 'skill' positions. Houston reminds me of last year's Cardinals.

11. Philadelphia Eagles [9-7] — I don't understand the predictions of greatness for the Eagles. This team lost a ton of people in the offseason: both starting tackles, tight end L.J. Smith, defensive captain Brian Dawkins, and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, who died in July. Middle linebacker Stew Bradley will miss the season on injured reserve, as will rookies Cornelius Ingram and Fenuki Tupou. The team made some trades to help fill the holes: Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters, and DB/KR Ellis Hobbs are both nice additions. I don't see how they're a better team than they were last season, though. In fact, I don't see how they're as good.

12. Arizona Cardinals [10-6] — Yeah, they're the defending NFC champs. They went 9-7 last season in the worst division in the NFL, their offensive coordinator left for Kansas City, and their quarterback is 38. That doesn't sound like a top-10 team to me. Still, I like that the team made an effort to address its deficiencies in the running game (rookie RB Beanie Wells and free agent FB Dan Kreider) and defensive backfield (two draft picks and former Steeler CB Bryant McFadden). This team has a good, young defense with a lot of potential.

13. Green Bay Packers [10-6] — At the beginning of last season, the Packers looked like the best team in the NFC North. Then Cullen Jenkins and Nick Barnett got hurt, and the defense went from good to awful. It's difficult to predict how good the unit will look in its first year as a 3-4, but the returns of Jenkins and Barnett alone should give the defense a substantial boost from the end of last season. The question in my mind is the health of Aaron Rodgers. If he can stay injury-free, I don't see why the Packers can't win their division.

14. New Orleans Saints [10-6] — Suspended DEs Charles Grant and Will Smith are expected to play in Week 1. With most of last year's league-leading offense back in 2009, the Saints' concern continues to be defense. In fact, the offense might even be better this season, since Reggie Bush and Marques Colston missed much of last season with injuries. The defense will be counting on a lot of help from first-round draft choice Malcolm Jenkins, but New Orleans — which doesn't have to contend with an overseas trip this year — figures to be competitive if the team can keep its playmakers on the field.

15. Minnesota Vikings [9-7] — This will be the only time this season that I mention Brett Favre by name. I have lost almost all respect for this drama queen, petty vengeance, attention hog. I know there are still people out there who blindly worship him, so go ahead and fill up the comment section with your sad protestations of his greatness and bizarre accusations of jealousy. The Vikings did some good things this offseason — I loved their draft — but signing a whiny, insecure old man to a $10-million contract two weeks before the season and starting him at quarterback wasn't one of them. Since his 39th birthday, the new guy has passed for 10 TDs and 18 INT, with a rating of 71.8. Over the same period, Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels combined for 13 TDs and 10 INT, with a rating of 92.8. I expect that Minnesota will be about as good this year as in 2008 — a bubble playoff contender — but not any better.

16. Carolina Panthers [9-7] — Last season, the Panthers were remarkably lucky with injuries. This year, the other shoe has already dropped. Starting DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu is out for the year, and several other key players are already dealing with injuries. Carolina is also looking at a tough schedule, and probably can't count on pulling out close games the way they did last year (5-1 in games decided by less than a touchdown). This is still a scary team at home, but a record in the neighborhood of .500 seems likely when all is said and done.

17. Chicago Bears [8-8] — The big offseason move, of course, was the trade for QB Jay Cutler. It seems clear that Cutler should be an upgrade over Kyle Orton, but the Bears' biggest problem last season wasn't the quarterback. Orton didn't have much to work with: his leading receivers were a running back (Matt Forte, 63 receptions), a tight end (Greg Olsen, 54), a punt returner (Devin Hester, 51), and another tight end (Desmond Clark, 41). Hard to be a great passer when you don't have any wide receivers. And because I know you're curious, Chicago's leading non-Hester WR in 2008 was Rashied Davis (35 catches). Anyway, the biggest problem wasn't the passer. It was the pass defense. Last season, the Bears ranked 16th in points allowed, 21st in yards allowed, and 30th in pass defense. Nothing in the last eight months made me think they're going to be any better at stopping the pass this year. Also, Cutler is quickly going to learn that Rashied Davis is no Brandon Marshall.

18. New York Jets [7-9] — They won't have Shaun Ellis for the opener in Houston; he was suspended for ... well, for several things. Anyway, he's not playing. Calvin Pace is also suspended, and he'll be out for four games. The Jets look much different than they did at this time last year: new head coach, new quarterback, massive defensive overhaul, two 16-game starters suspended. Ultimately, the Jets' season may come down to rookie QB Mark Sanchez, but it will also be intriguing to see how Ryan's nü-Raven defense fares.

19. Miami Dolphins [7-9] — This will be Chad Pennington's 10th season in the NFL. Over that time, Pennington has never had two good seasons in a row. Some of that is due to injuries, but his big years have been 2002, '04, '06, and '08. Well, it's an odd-numbered year, and Pennington is due for an off season or a visit to the hospital. Tasteless snark aside, it's hard to see the Dolphins repeating as division champions after so many things broke just right for them last year. Really hard.

20. Washington Redskins [7-9] — Made two big moves to address a toothless pass rush, their biggest weakness on defense: signing Albert Haynesworth and drafting Brian Orakpo. That improvement, though, is partially offset by the loss of Shawn Springs and the absence of a top-flight cornerback. The defense, though, is not the problem here. Special teams have been consistently terrible throughout the decade, and even that isn't the biggest concern. It's still, and I hate to beat up on him, Jason Campbell. This team is not good enough to succeed with a mediocre, play-it-safe QB. Oh, and the star running back has more authority than the head coach. That's a problem.

21. Seattle Seahawks [7-9] — Injuries may derail their bid to reclaim the NFC West crown. Standout CB Marcus Trufant is on the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list, and the offensive line is in shambles. The receiving corps added T.J. Houshmandzadeh but remains unimpressive. The running backs now include Edgerrin James, but still don't scare anyone. The team is now coached by Jim Mora, Jr., who last year oversaw the worst pass defense in the league.

22. Buffalo Bills [6-10] — One of three teams to fire its offensive coordinator less than two weeks before the start of the season. That can't be a good sign. Buffalo's offense has been in turmoil all offseason, and not just because the team signed Terrell Owens, who is turmoil personified. Pro Bowl LT Jason Peters was traded to Philadelphia, starting RB Marshawn Lynch was suspended for violating the league's personal conduct policy, the offense is going no-huddle, and now the QB coach is running the offense.

23. San Francisco 49ers [7-9] — First-round draft pick Michael Crabtree has yet to sign a contract and is unlikely to be a meaningful contributor this season. This means that the team's top receiver is presumably 136-year-old (give or take 100 years) Isaac Bruce. Not the best situation for Shaun Hill to succeed as the official starting QB. This team overachieved under new HC Mike Singletary at the end of last season, but there's no substitute for talent, and the 49ers don't have it.

24. Cleveland Browns [6-10] — Filled a lot of holes on draft day, but there's still very little star power on this roster, and the team is even playing coy about who will start at quarterback on Sunday. Sometimes progress comes slowly, though, and it looks like the Browns should be a little better this season than they were in 2008.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars [6-10] — It's only September, and already the defensive line has been ravaged by injuries: three players, including starter Rob Meier, are on injured reserve. Starting RB Maurice Jones-Drew is also banged up, though he is expected to play in Week 1. But with Fred Taylor gone, there's no proven backup to help MJD carry the load. In fact, there are only three running backs on the roster, though FB Greg Jones is a capable runner if called upon. I love Torry Holt, but he's 34, and the team owes David Garrard more support in his receiving corps. I'll be surprised if the Jaguars don't finish last in the AFC South.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [6-10] — Another team that fired its offensive coordinator right before the regular season. I don't have a problem with the team firing Jon Gruden (whom I already hate on "Monday Night Football"), and I know Raheem Morris was a rising star, but I'm not sold on his being ready for an NFL head coaching position, and moves like this don't change that feeling. The team won't have safety Tanard Jackson, who was suspended by the league, for the first four weeks.

27. Denver Broncos [6-10] — Has new head coach Josh McDaniels already lost the team? This team just seems to have set itself up for failure. And by "this team," I mean Marshall, who seems to be deliberately sabotaging his own career. There are good players here, but I question whether they can come together as a team.

28. Detroit Lions [4-12] — I think the Lions are going to be a real NFL team this year. Not a good team, but a real one, at least, competitive with other NFL teams. And they'll win some games this year. I like new HC Jim Schwartz, and they've made some really positive offseason additions, including veterans like Julian Peterson and Jon Jansen who could help change the culture in Detroit.

29. Cincinnati Bengals [5-11] — When you have a team with a reputation for bad off-field behavior, the obvious solution is to sign Tank Johnson, who has been arrested about a thousand times, usually on weapon charges. The team's hopes for success in 2009 are primarily dependent on Carson Palmer and Chad (sigh) Ochocinco rediscovering the form they showed in 2005, and Johnson not shooting anyone.

30. Oakland Raiders [5-11] — Perennial doormats (they have six straight seasons of 5-11 or worse), but they won two in a row to close 2008, and there are some intriguing young players here, especially on offense. Zach Miller is emerging as an elite tight end, and the team has a trio of promising RBs. If the offensive line holds up, JaMarcus Russell takes his game to the next level, and Darrius Heyward-Bey justifies the high draft pick used to select him, the Raiders could surprise people. A lot of "ifs," especially on a team with a hot-tempered head coach and a loony chief executive, but there is real potential here.

31. St. Louis Rams [4-12] — When your team is terrible — and the Rams are 5-27 the last two seasons — you need to make dramatic moves in the offseason. St. Louis got a new head coach, which is a good head start, and did well to bring in free agent center Jason Brown, but as dramatic improvements go, they leave something to be desired. Those are probably steps in the right direction, but there's little reason to believe the team can contend in 2009.

32. Kansas City Chiefs [5-11] — Forgive me if this looks cut-and-pasted from the Buccaneers summary, but I don't have much faith in Todd Haley as an NFL head coach, and firing his offensive coordinator on the eve of the regular season reinforces the impression that he might be in over his head. Also, the team traded its best player, TE Tony Gonzalez, during the offseason. This is a young team that was explicitly rebuilding last season, so if several of the young guys can elevate their play, the Chiefs could resemble a real NFL team. Don't hold your breath.

AFC Playoffs

Wild Card: PITTSBURGH def. Tennessee, HOUSTON def. Indianapolis
Divisional: SAN DIEGO def. Houston, Pittsburgh def. NEW ENGLAND
Championship: SAN DIEGO def. Pittsburgh

NFC Playoffs

Wild Card: GREEN BAY def. Atlanta, NEW ORLEANS def. Dallas
Divisional: NEW YORK GIANTS def. New Orleans, ARIZONA def. Green Bay
Championship: NEW YORK GIANTS def. Arizona

Super Bowl XLIV: San Diego Chargers def. New York Giants

Posted by Brad Oremland at 11:45 AM | Comments (6)

September 7, 2009

The NBA Gets Rick Rolled

Have you ever gone on YouTube and seen headlines like this, "Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera Getting It On!!!" or "Jessica Simpson Topless Photo Shoot!!!", only to click on the video to find this?

There's a term for this; it's called getting "Rick Rolled." A few years ago, a bunch of pranksters on the Internet fooled all of us with videos that promised things that were too good to be true, we clicked them anyway, and there was an extremely '80s-looking Rick Astley reminding all of us to stop being such perverts.

Well, the NBA suffered its own version of getting "Rick Rolled" this week.

The Rick in this case is Ricky Rubio, and instead of teasing us with softcore celebrity porn, NBA fans were teased by the second coming of Pete Maravich.

A good-looking, 19-year-old phenom from Spain was supposed to come over and be the face of a new era of the NBA. For years, NBA titles have been won by big men. For every M.J. or Kobe Bryant title, there has been five Tim Duncan or Bill Russell title teams to remind us that this is a league dominated by big men.

But that was the old NBA. We've entered a new era in NBA basketball. The 2000s are behind us, and we are entering the teens, a decade that is going to be dominated by point guards, mark my words.

We already have Chris Paul, Derron Williams, and Derrick Rose as the faces of a new generation of basketball. After the 2009 NBA Draft back in June, NBA fans were promised another name to add to that list: Ricky Rubio.

Instead, Rubio got cold feet and decided not to enter the NBA. At least, not right now.

After reportedly having a deal in place to join the team that drafted Rubio fifth overall, the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rubio changed his mind and agreed to a deal that will send him to FC Barcelona for at least the next two seasons.

I say at least two seasons because ESPN's Chris Sheridan wrote a very interesting piece about the Rubio situation last week. Essentially what he writes is that if Rubio plays three more years in Spain, the buyout from his contract is the same as if he plays two seasons ($1 million Euros). If Rubio decides to join the NBA after two more seasons in Spain, he will still be subject to the NBA rookie salary guidelines, and will make a maximum of $16.3 million over four seasons.

If Rubio waits three seasons, he no longer has to sign a "rookie" contract and is free to sign with whichever team owns his rights (which will be Minnesota still assuming they haven't traded him by then) for any salary they chose, so long as it is under the salary cap.

So, in theory, if Minnesota is $8 million under the cap three years from now, they can pay Rubio $8 million per season with the normal 8% increase from season to season allowed by the current collective bargaining agreement. A five-year contract at that rate would pay Rubio $46.4 million dollars and still allow him to be an unrestricted free agent at the age of 26.

Based on those numbers, it's hard to imagine we'll be seeing young Ricky Rubio any time soon. By the time he's gets here, he's just going to be Ricky Rubio.

So who's to blame for this mess? My initial reaction is that David Kahn, new team President in Minnesota, completely dropped the ball in his first offseason calling the shots for the T-Wolves.

However, the more I think about it, the more I like what Kahn did. Sure, the end result is atrocious. Kahn was trying to deliver a franchise player to his fans in his first season, and now there's no telling if and when that franchise player will even play in Minnesota.

But you can't fault Kahn completely for this. He drafted what he thought was the best player available at the time, and did everything in his power to get Rubio out of his contract with DKV Joventut.

The league only allows NBA teams to pay $500,000 of a player's buyout if he is under contract with a team overseas. So Kahn got creative, manipulated the numbers through endorsements, and had a deal in place that would have had Rubio in a Wolves jersey this October.

Kahn put all his chips in, called Rubio's bluff that he planned to stay in Europe, and lost big-time.

There's never been a situation where it was this difficult to get a player to come from overseas. Kahn couldn't have possibly thought going into that pick that if he drafts Rubio he's going to run the risk of being the first Team President to get completely screwed by a European player.

If I were a Wolves fan, I'd be directing my ire more at Rubio than Kahn. As an NBA fan, that's exactly where I'm directing my ire.

Rubio said that coming to the NBA now would "complicate his life." Well, Ricky, what the hell did you expect when you signed a contract that had a buyout clause that was more than five times your annual salary and said buyout is higher than the maximum annual salary allowed for an NBA rookie? How did you not anticipate getting out of that contract to be complicated?

If playing in the NBA is his ultimate goal, and Rubio's stated many times that it is, why on earth would he sign that contract in the first place?

Rubio stock isn't going to get a whole lot higher than it was last summer. A lot of terrible things can happen to him if he does decide to play three more seasons in Spain.

First, there's the obvious potential that he could injure himself and never even realize his dream of making it to the NBA. I'll admit, that isn't the most likely of scenarios, but you can never say "never" when it comes to injuries.

Secondly, what happens if Rubio performs terribly at the FIBA World Championships in Turkey in 2010? He's going to be under intense scrutiny for the entire tourney. If he and/or Spain underperform, he may play himself right out of favor with any potential NBA suitors.

Lastly, what happens if Johnny Flynn turns out to be the real deal in Minnesota and the Wolves decide they no longer need Rubio? David Kahn bent over backwards for Rubio this summer, making three separate trips to Spain in an attempt to get Rubio free from his contract, and in the end, Rubio turned his back on him.

A part of me wants to see Minnesota enjoy a great deal of success over the next three seasons without Rubio so that David Kahn can call Rubio up and say, "You know what, Ricky? We're doing just fine without you, and all these trips to Spain to discuss buyouts are just too 'complicated'. We're going to let you toil away in basketball purgatory for two more seasons and let you finish out you're contract with FC Barcelona, then we'll talk."

Of course, we all know that won't happen, and I fully expect to read stories each of the next two summers about how Kahn is once again in Spain pleading with Rubio to come back to the States with him.

The bottom line here is that nobody won this week when Rubio decided to play for FC Barcelona.

Rubio missed out on a chance to play basketball at the highest level.

Minnesota missed out on a potential franchise point guard.

And NBA fans missed out on at least two season of an exciting point guard playing in the new era of NBA.

For now, it looks like this situation is resolved. We're going to have to wait to see if Ricky Rubio really is the second coming of "Pistol" Pete, and that's a shame. (I'll save you the suspense: he's not.)

It may be years before we finally see Ricky Rubio highlights in which he's wearing an NBA uniform.

Until then, join me in watching some of Rubio's highlights from the 2008 Olympic Games and take a moment of silence as we collectively wonder what might have been had Rubio had come to the NBA for the 2009-10 season.

Posted by Scott Shepherd at 11:27 AM | Comments (2)

Super Saturday Saves the Day

Every tennis fan remembers or has heard about that memorable Saturday in 1984, a day that lasted over 12 hours, saw two men's semifinals go to the final set, and the women's final between two classic rivals, Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. Coincidentally, the 25th year anniversary of that day will be commemorated at the U.S. Open this year.

Ironically, this year's U.S. Open has already had its version of a Super Saturday and it took place in the first week. Needless to say up to that day, the first week of the last Slam tournament of the year desperately needed some excitement, especially on the men's side.

The day started with what many thought would be a day in the park by Roger Federer — not that he does not look like he is doing just that in many of his matches — against Lleyton Hewitt, who used to be the best player in the world at one time earlier this decade, but who since has lost to the new king of the court 13 times in a row prior to the match. Hewitt was determined to make it a match this time, and showed glimpses of the old Hewitt, scrambling for every ball, frustrating Federer, fighting his way to break-point situation in a crucial time in the third set with the sets tied at one a piece.

That's when Federer did what he does best — served his way out of trouble and raised his game level to win the third set. Hewitt did not give up and made Federer earn the fourth set. He called his year a "rebuilding year," and it seems that Hewitt is rebuilding quickly and it should show in the rankings at the end of the year.

Although Hewitt pushing Federer to limits was unexpected, it can hardly be called a surprise. But when a stocky 26-year-old guy, ranked 276 in the world with an 0-6 ATP Tour career record, freshly let go by his clothing sponsor, shows up to play Novak Djokovic, it is not only unexpected that he can push the latter, but also highly improbable. Yet, Jesse Witten who played college tennis in Kentucky, did exactly that, battling Djokovic for over three and a half hours, and coming very close to turning the No. 4 in the world's day into a nightmare when he served for a two sets to one lead at 6-5 in the third set. At the end of the day, Djokovic prevailed, but perhaps the success of Witten was a sign of things to come for the underdogs of the day's later matches.

Melanie Oudin, who by the time you read this article, will hardly be considered an unknown, was one of those underdogs who took court later in the afternoon. Already having defeated an in-form Elena Dementieva, surely Oudin, who is ranked outside top 50 and just a few weeks short of turning 18, was not going to beat another giant in Maria Sharapova. In the most electric women's match of the day, Oudin defeated Sharapova and it almost felt like the whole stadium defeated Sharapova because they were cheering for Oudin so hard — hardly the usual case when Sharapova takes the court.

While this was happening on Arthur Ashe, a high quality match between Tommy Haas and Fernando Verdasco was taking place in Louis Armstrong. Verdasco would win this match that lasted exactly three hours and 45 minutes. He would later say "I feel good" three times answering the same question in the post-match conference. Unfortunately, in the kind of day that was taking place, this monumental battle between two seeded Europeans went unnoticed, because there were plenty of Americans like Oudin and Witten stealing the spotlight. However, they were not the only ones.

Another young American, John Isner, was to pull the monumental upset on the men's side, defeating the American of the summer, Andy Roddick. After winning the first two sets, Isner lost the next two, not capitalizing on a match-point and showing signs of cramping at the end of the fourth set. The fifth set fittingly went to a tiebreaker, an area that Isner feels comfortable; he has played 45 of them this year and has a whopping 39-14 record in them, 5-0 this U.S. Open. He added in the press conference, "I am not satisfied yet!"

Just for good measure, later in the day, the No. 1 seed Dinara Safina was eliminated by Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, and normally the upset of the top-seeded player would make the headlines, right? Not this Saturday. This match was a slugfest that finished in favor of the one who could, while nailing the ball as hard as possible, could also hit as close as possible to the lines. Kvitova was able to do that a few points more than Safina, who was not happy about having her match moved to Louis Armstrong after having been scheduled on Arthur Ashe.

However, outside of Safina, hardly anyone had anything to complain about. The day provided so many thrills, so many climactic moments that most fans, outside of James Blake's well-known supporting group, had nothing left in the tank for the evening session match opposing James Blake and Tommy Robredo. Fittingly, after a lackluster performance, James Blake left the court defeated, wondering what is happening with his miserable 2009 season.

The second week promises more thrills as all the highly seeded players other than Roddick are still in the men's draw at the time of this article being written. On the women's draw, Serena Williams still seems to be the one to beat. But Saturday showed that the attraction does not center on Serena, Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Kim Clijsters. The likes of Isner and Oudin may still have a few words to say. Bring on the second week!

Posted by Mert Ertunga at 11:03 AM | Comments (6)

September 6, 2009

Expect the Unexpected at U.S. Open

I'm still in shock. I'm not exactly sure what I just saw yesterday. For the first time in my writing years, the U.S. Open blew up on one day. I probably could have predicted one or two of the upsets, but I don't think anyone would have expected the men's and women's draw to have a day and night like Saturday.

If you are an Andy Roddick fan, you may as well stay in bed. I'm sure he is. The current reigning American men's player fell in an epic battle to the rising star John Isner. Not exactly like watching Andy and Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final this year, but darn close.

Statistically, Roddick was the better player, winning more points, having a higher first serve percentage, winning more points on first serve, winning more receiving points, and even converting more break points. Looking at the match stats, you would have thought that Roddick was the winner. What it all came down to was that Isner played better hard court tennis when it counted. The telling statistic is that Isner won nearly double the net approaches.

Isner winning net approaches is definitely not a surprise, at just under seven feet tall, he makes Roddick look like an average human instead of the tennis giant he is. Isner matched Roddick stroke for stroke, and if anything, it seemed like he knew this was his day. Isner pounded 38 aces and dominated the net, as a tall man with the wingspan of a 747 should. Roddick said it best after the match last night when he said, "You can't teach 6-9."

So Roddick's run ends. Isner continues on into the second week. Can he now be the first U.S. men's player to win the title since Roddick in 2003? Maybe.

James Blake fell in three sets to Tommy Robredo. Not quite the exciting shocker of Isner, but maybe more profound. Blake is always the sentimental favorite here in NYC, being home-grown, and falling to Robredo handily in three sets doesn't sit well. Blake was understatedly out-classed all match, being dominated on his home hard court by a clay court specialist. Blake had a terrible service day. With only 49% of his first serves going in, you knew it wasn't going to be easy or pretty. And it wasn't.

Tommy Haas fell to Spaniard Fernando Verdasco Saturday, as well. While Verdasco is the higher seed, hard courts favor Haas and he has had quite a good year coming into the Open. Haas played valiantly for five sets, but ultimately it wasn't in the cards for him, either. Verdasco and Haas were nearly even in every category in the match except one. Verdasco won.

Haas has been a continuing story on the ATP men's tour, having been injured a few years back, then on the verge of coming back, his parents were in a serious accident. Haas took time off the tour to nurse them back to health, showing that he is an amazing person and quite selfless. He has not quite hit the top form he showed earlier in his career, but of late, he has become the one player on the men's tour you cannot count out. Of course, he is out of here now.

Roger Federer didn't look too good, either. No one expected him to lose, and he didn't. I'm not sure that they expected the four sets of tennis, though. Lleyton Hewitt is still the scrappy shot maker he was when he won here in Flushing Meadows in 2001 and it looked like he could be champion again, at least for a couple of sets. Roger has looked human lately, which may provide for some more interesting results as we reach the second week.

Not surprisingly, the season's most predictable player is again running strong. Swede Robin Soderling continues to have a season to remember, making it easily into the second week of the Open gliding past the other U.S. future star, Sam Querrey in four workmen-like sets. While not exactly Bjorn Borg, Soderling has shown that Swedish tennis did not begin and end with Borg. Soderling next will get a shot at Nikolay Davydenko and is a good bet to get to the quarterfinals.

This week, I said goodbye to Marat Safin. Yesterday, I said goodbye to sister Dinara Safina. Safina came in as the number one seed and this was her tournament to lose. And she did. Having struggled through all of her matches to get to Saturday, Safina fell to unknown Petra Kvitova of Czechoslovakia. Wasn't nearly as close as the scores would show. Kvitova hit five times more winners, played the clutch points better, and handled the pressure like a tour champion. Dinara faded into the cloud that has surrounded her tennis family.

Dinara's loss opens the top half of the women's draw up for the tournament's biggest surprise, American teen sensation Melanie Oudin. Oudin survived her match with Maria Sharapova, playing consistent tennis that enabled her to take the three-set stunner over Maria in what looked like to be her full return to form and top-tier tennis. Sharapova has not yet fully regained the form she had prior to her shoulder injury. Oudin managed to stay in the match and wound up the benefactor of Sharapova's spotty play. With that, Oudin sits in a top half of the round of 16 with only her next opponent, Nadia Petrova, as her clearest challenger to the semis.

So now I have to go take a rest. I'll be spending most of the day in Arthur Ashe Stadium, waiting to see what happens next. I'm rooting for you, Kim Clijsters. Heck, after what has happened so far, nothing would surprise me.

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:38 AM | Comments (0)

September 4, 2009

Two Champions, Two Careers, Many Tears

Well, it's day four here at Flushing Meadows, and the tournament has started to get interesting. The weather has been perfect and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center is probably the best place on the planet to be right now. The tennis has been also nearly perfect, as Kim Clijsters continues to show killer form and Roger Federer is still playing like the greatest player of all-time.

I'm sitting here in Louis Armstrong Stadium, and just watched women's number one seed Dinara Safina struggle in the second round to defeat unknown Kristina Barrois of Germany, after nearly losing in the first round to another unknown, Olivia Rogowska of Austria. As I look at her, I can't help but see her brother, Marat Safin, in her face and in her countenance.

Which actually makes me sad, because yesterday Marat took his final bow for the U.S. Open. At the "ripe old age" of 29, Safin lost to Jurgen Melzer, 6-1, 4-6, 3-6, 4-6, bringing his major tournament career to a crashing end. It was only nine years ago that a young Marat Safin stormed through the 2000 U.S. Open Men's draw, surprising all-time great Pete Sampras in the final in straight sets. Marat that day showed the game he always had in him, bullet serves, big ground strokes, and physical ability few others could rival. Marat looked like the next great champion.

Since that day, Marat has never lived up to that potential. Most of us would agree that his mental game was his downfall. While he did end his career with a U.S. Open and Australian Open title, more times than not, he floundered out in the early rounds of the big four. Yesterday Marat played the first set like he played the entire tournament in 2000. He was unstoppable. Then Jurgen happened. The old Marat re-emerged, although looking more complacent than disturbed. So Safin ends his run as a professional tennis player with $14,000,000 in career prize winnings.

I'm also shedding a tear for Fabrice Santoro, the crafty, wily Frenchman, a tour favorite and the elder statesman of the ATP tour. He also announced at the beginning of the year that he would make this his last hurrah.

Santoro fell to his long-time tour opponent Juan Carlos Ferrero. For the past 20 years, Santoro has been playing major tournaments, and it seems like only yesterday he made his debut at the 1989 French Open. Known for his quirky, two-handed forehand and backhand, his mastery of spin and tricky shots, he leaves with $10,000,000 in career prize money and two Australian Open doubles titles.

Au revior, Fabrice. Dasvidania, Marat. Tennis will miss you, as will I.

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:47 AM | Comments (0)

September 3, 2009

NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat

Expectations run high for NFL fans this time of year and even though the season has yet to kick-off, there are several coaches who are already sitting on the hot seat. Cities like Dallas and Washington expect Super Bowls, while places like Buffalo and Jacksonville want to get back to the playoffs. With coaches like Mike Holmgren, Bill Cowher, Mike Shanahan, and Jon Gruden sitting it out this year, the pressure is going to be that much more intense for some coaches to win or move on. The following is a list of coaches who need to win now or could find themselves in the unemployment line come the end of February if things implode on them.

On the Hot Seat

Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings — It is reaching the point of do-or-die for Childress in Minnesota. The Vikings were seen as a Super Bowl contender last season, only to lose their first playoff game. He has the quarterback he has coveted for the past two years in Brett Favre, so he is running out of excuses as to why the Vikings are not getting the job done. Anything less than a deep playoff run and Childress is probably done.

Wade Phillips, Dallas Cowboys — The Cowboys went from 13 wins and the top seed in the NFC in 2007 to nine wins, a season-ending debacle in Philly, and missing the playoffs altogether in '08. Jerry Jones can accept missing the playoffs one year, but he will not abide missing out two years in a row. Phillips may need to make the NFC Championship to save his job. With all of the big names available out there, Jerry will not hesitate to can Phillips and open the check book in hopes of luring one of the big names to Dallas.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars — Del Rio received a last-second reprieve last year after the Jags went from 11-5 and a divisional playoff appearance in 2007 to 5-11 in 2008. Del Rio was on the chopping block, but Wayne Weaver gave him a reprieve provided he agreed to certain changes. Be rest assured that if the Jags do not turn things around this season, Del Rio will be out of a job.

Jim Zorn, Washington Redskins — Like Jerry Jones in Dallas, Washington owner Daniel Snyder has an itchy finger when his team fails to make the playoffs in consecutive seasons. It is believed that Snyder favors Shanahan and probably would have hired him if not for the timing of his dismissal in Denver. It is thought that the 'Skins made a play for Jay Cutler in part because Shanahan will be the coach in DC come 2010.

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers — Turner inherited a 14-win team and in two years they went from being in the AFC Championship to winning just eight games and barely winning the division in 2008. The Chargers are considered by some to be a Super Bowl contender and playing in one of the weakest divisions in football, he needs to win 11 games and a playoff game or two to keep his job for after this season.

Dick Jauron, Buffalo Bills — How many 7-9 seasons can a head coach survive before getting fired?

On the Tepid Seat

Things could get a bit uncomfortable for these coaches if they fail to live up to expectations or if their teams fail to show significant improvement.

Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles — After making the NFC Championship Game last season, expectations in Philadelphia are the highest they have been at the start of a season since they landed Terrell Owens. The Eagles may need to at least make another NFC Championship appearance for Reid to keep his job. Jeffry Lurie seems like a pretty loyal guy, though, and Reid could be safe unless the team absolutely implodes this season.

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints — Payton has gone from 10-6 in 2006 to 15-17 over the past two seasons due in large part to a mediocre defense. The offense is as good as there is in football, but Payton has had three years to fix the defense and another year of mediocrity could put Payton on the hot seat.

John Fox, Carolina Panthers — There is not anything to make one believe Fox's job is currently in jeopardy, but if the Cats maintain tradition, they will go from 12 wins to seven or eight this season. One has to wonder if Jerry Richardson finally pulls the trigger on Fox and tries to persuade Cowher, who lives just up the road in Raleigh, to come to Charlotte.

Posted by Eric Engberg at 11:57 AM | Comments (2)

King of St. Louis: Man vs. Machine

Times are good in St. Louis. The Cubs are bad, worse than they've been in a while in fact, and the Cardinals just had their best August in franchise history. What all of this means for the Cardinals, and their fans, is that October is a given right now. Like death and taxes, the Cardinals playing playoff ball is certain at this point.

Almost as certain their playoff chances are Albert Pujols chances of winning his third career, and second consecutive, MVP award. Most people would have no problem with giving the award to a player who is leading the league in HR, and is top-five in both RBI and average. Not to mention his absurd numbers with the bases loaded.

There are some players, however, who have numbers that rival those of Pujols. Names like Ruth, Aaron, and Williams come to mind immediately. Each of these players is, of course, in the Hall of Fame, and amassed those numbers over illustrious careers. Another name many think of in this context, more so in St. Louis than anywhere, is Stan Musial.

Musial was, and in no small way, still is, known as "The Man" to St. Louis fans. A statue that attests to this fact has been present in front of each of the last two Busch Stadiums. "The Man" is quite possibly one of the top-five hitters of all-time, and yet might not be the greatest hitter in the history of his own team.

The heir to the St. Louis throne is so consistently dominating that he has been dubbed, among other things, "The Machine." The question at this point seems to be not whether he will one day overtake Musial, but rather when that day will come. Maybe, however, it's already happened. To determine this, though, one needs to take an in depth look at the careers of both men.

"The Man," The Legend

Stan Musial was not just a great ballplayer, he was one of the best ever. His numbers alone speak volumes of his talent. A .331 lifetime average on 3630 career hits, 475 HR, 1,951 RBI, and 1,949 runs scored. He not only won the MVP award three times, but also led the Cardinals to three World Series titles in four appearances. Given that this took place on the heels of the incredible success the team enjoyed in the 1920s due to the play of another all-time great, Rogers Hornsby, Musial is remembered by some as the man that changed the Cardinals from a good team to the undeniable kings of the National League.

A model of consistency, Musial appeared in a nearly inconceivable number of All-Star Games, 24 to be exact. But his No. 6 is retired not only because of what he did on the field, but also because of his continued support of the team, including one season as its GM, in which the Cardinals won the World Series. He is not just a great Cardinal, he is the Cardinal against which the greatness of all other Cardinals are measured.

Rise of "The Machine"

Albert Pujols is, without equivocation, the greatest player of his generation, and it's not even close. Part of this enormous gap in talent is due to the fact that Pujols has played among a group of contemporaries that is void of any Hall of Fame-type talent. That's not to say that players like Ken Griffey, Jr. haven't played at the same time as him, but those who have are all well past their prime. Also, to be fair, players like Ryan Howard and Ryan Braun, both of whom are great players, don't qualify as Hall of Fame talent yet. They need more years of consistently high levels of play before that happens.

What separates Pujols from the other players of his generation is not just the numbers (.333 career average on 1,678 hits, 361 HR, 1,088 RBI, and 1,051 R in under nine years), but also how critical he has been to the success of a Cardinals team that has been arguably the best team in the National League during his career. No Cardinals player, and maybe no player on any team, has been at the heart of more big victories over the last nine years than Pujols.

But perhaps the greatest asset that Pujols provides is his aforementioned consistency. He has had at least a .300 average, 30 HR, 100 RBI, and 99 R in each of his nine seasons so far. When compared with any, and I do mean any, Hall of Fame player, Pujols numbers compare very well, and in most cases favorably. This is part of the reason that he is on his way to tying Musial's franchise record of three MVP awards, and is also part of the reason that the Cardinals have won two NL pennants and one World Series title over the last nine years.

The Verdict

So, of the two players, who reigns as king of St. Louis?

That question is unanswerable until Pujols' career is over, but as long as he continues on the same pace he has for nine years, and avoids major injuries, it seems foolish to think that he won't one day supplant Musial as "The Man." But even if he doesn't, there's nothing wrong with the idea of two statues greeting the great fans in St. Louis on summer nights.

Posted by Paul Foeller at 11:32 AM | Comments (0)

September 2, 2009

Finally! Week 1 Preview

The time, finally, has come.

All the talk is over. The fun finally gets underway as this year's college football season hits full swing next weekend. While most teams use the first week to work out the kinks in their system (see Florida), there are also some pretty good matchups to open off the year. From Salt Lake to Stillwater, from Athens to Ann Arbor, this somewhat "predictable" season has the potential to be anything but. For the sake of fans everywhere, let's hope that comes true.

With that said, here's a quick overview of opening weekend games, with predictions in bold. Enjoy!

Five Must-See Games

Alabama vs. Virginia Tech (in Atlanta) — Unlike last year's rout of Clemson, the Tide takes on a much tougher opponent in Frank Beamer's Hokies. The biggest question in this game surrounds new Alabama QB Greg McIlroy. Certainly, this isn't the best game to start a brand new signal caller, and McIlroy will have his work cut out for him. However, Alabama counters that inexperience with a nasty veteran defense, a defense that should carry them this season, and in this game. Alabama 17, Virginia Tech 13

Georgia vs. Oklahoma State — The T. Boone Ranch will be rocking in what has to be one of the biggest home openers in a long time for the Cowboys. Despite the hostile environment, I wouldn't be surprised if Georgia wins this game. Mark Richt is a great coach, and the Bulldogs return fantastic starters from the offensive and defensive lines. However, Mike Gundy is a man. He's 42. And he has a quarterback with experience. He's Zac Robinson. The OSU offense will be just a little too much to handle in Stillwater. Oklahoma State 35, Georgia 27

South Carolina vs. NC State — This should be an interesting battle. NC State is predicted to do well in the ACC, while many people think this could be Steve Spurrier's swan song at South Carolina. While the Wolfpack were routed in their last trip to Columbia, this time they're the team on the rise. It won't be a blowout, but the Gamecocks will have a tough time in Raleigh. NC State 23, South Carolina 13

Oregon vs. Boise State — I've had a lot of trouble with this one. Boise is extremely tough at home, but rarely if ever have the Broncos hosted someone of Oregon's caliber on the Smurf Turf. Kellen Moore doesn't have Ian Johnson at tailback, and will have a whole different group of receivers this year, which has me leaning towards the Ducks, but the Broncos have more riding on this game than Oregon, which has me heading back towards Boise. This could be the game of the year and a definite classic, and it's almost down to a coin flip to pick a winner. However, I believe in a simple formula. When in doubt, take the home team. Boise State 28, Oregon 27

BYU vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas) — This game is going to be more interesting than most people think. BYU QB Max Hall is underrated nationally, and if the fairly new Cougar offensive line gives him time, Brigham Young might make this interesting. The one problem for BYU is that, for their best chance at pulling off an upset, they needed to take on Oklahoma later in the year. Sure, the Sooners will have a young offensive line that hasn't been battle tested as much as Bob Stoops wishes. However, the OU defensive line is stout, and that's what will decide this game. Oklahoma 42, BYU 17

Five Biggest Cream Puffs

After all, it is the first weekend...

Charleston Southern vs. Florida — Please. If Tim Tebow takes one snap in the second half, Florida should be forced to double the rent-a-win check it gave to Charleston Southern. This one will be close for the first four minutes, and then the Gator JV squad should be put in as a mercy rule. Florida 77, Charleston Southern 0

Akron vs. Penn State — The Nittany Lions didn't push themselves in creating their non-conference slate. They won't need to push themselves in this game, either. Penn State 45, Akron 10

UL-Monroe vs. Texas — ULM beat Alabama two years ago. Does anyone actually believe they'll pull the upset in Austin? I thought so. Colt McCoy will start his Heisman campaign in the right way, and the Horns will put a statement score to the rest of the country. Texas 63, UL-Monroe 6

Jacksonville State vs. Georgia Tech — It's a short trip from Jacksonville, AL to Atlanta, but even with Ryan Perrilloux in a Gamecock jersey, Paul Johnson and his option attack should have no problems running all over Jax State. Georgia Tech 51, Jacksonville State 7

Liberty vs. West Virginia — Even without Pat White, Bill Stewart can breathe a sigh of relief. The Mountaineers, who could be the dangerous team flying under the radar, should keep their fans happy in quickly routing the overmatched Flames. West Virginia 59, Liberty 10

Week 1 Upset Alert

Louisiana Tech vs. Auburn — The Gene Chizik era stars on the Plains, and it won't be an easy start as Derek Dooley's Bulldogs visit Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers struggled mightily last season trying to run Tony Franklin's offense, and while Gus Malzahn is better at fitting his offense to the talent given to him, it'll still be a tough transition for Auburn. The Tigers don't seem to have the double threat at tailback yet to fully utilize the Wildcat, while the shift of Kodi Burns to WR has me thinking that Malzahn is really trying to spread talent wherever he can. Louisiana Tech is no slouch, having beat Mississippi State last year, and something tells me they'll pull off another shocker to open this year. Louisiana Tech 17, Auburn 13

Posted by Jean Neuberger at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)

NASCAR Chase For the Cup Preview

Atlanta

Former Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick issues the "Gentlemen, start your engines" command to start the Pep Boys 500. Ironically, it is Kyle Busch, piloting the No. 18 Pedigree Toyota, who dominates the race, with sights firmly set on piercing the top 12 in the point standings. Busch leads 297 of 330 laps, and seems well on his way to victory before tragedy strikes, with cat-like quickness and with equal irony, when Busch is collected in a crash involving Jeff Burton's No. 31 Caterpillar and Mark Martin's No. 5 Chevy, featuring Tony the Tiger on the hood.

Kasey Kahne takes the victory while Busch recovers to finish 10th, keeping his Chase hopes alive. Busch guarantees victory at Richmond the following week.

Richmond

It's a veritable free-for-all at Richmond, as drivers hoping to maintain or secure a Chase position navigate a track littered with the wreckage of Chase-safe drivers gunning for a victory. Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, and Kurt Busch wreck early, while Kyle Busch makes good on his guarantee and wins, finishing 11th in the points and grabbing a share of top seeding in the Chase based on his four wins. Mark Martin, also with four wins, comes home sixth in Richmond, while Tony Stewart finishes second.

Brian Vickers snags the final spot in the Chase, gutting out a fifth-place finish as Kasey Kahne and Matt Kenseth falter with engine troubles and stumble from the top 12.

Chase seedings — Martin, Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Brian Vickers, Carl Edwards, Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle, Juan Montoya.

New Hampshire

Kurt Busch and Jimmie Johnson renew their feud at Loudon, heatedly battling over the last 100 laps on the 1.06 mile oval at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. On a crucial pit under caution with 30 laps to go, Busch beats Johnson out of the pits, and holds off the No. 48 on the final lap with a controversial block, a maneuver Johnson later diplomatically describes as "so much worse than ‘bush league' that it probably violates the Geneva Conventions."

Busch offers no apologies and celebrates in Victory Lane, as Johnson glares angrily, yet calmly, at the spectacle through his shades, while plotting not revenge, but strategy for next week at Dover. Asked later in the media room what he was doing, Johnson replies simply that he was processing the situation through "Lowe's-colored glasses."

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch

Dover

An angry Johnson sweeps the weekend at Dover, topping both practice sessions, winning the pole, and taking Sunday's Price Chopper 400. Johnson's No. 48 Impala is so dominant that he laps several competitors and wins by a whopping eight second margin. He gains a measure of revenge by lapping Kurt Busch twice while nudging the right side door of Busch's No. 2 each time by, a move Johnson later joyfully recounts as "shotgunning" Miller Lite.

Martin stays on Johnson's tail with a third-place finish, while Kyle Busch holds on to second in the points with a fifth, then collectively criticizes the 31 non-Chase drivers as a "speed impediment."

Busch storms from his car after the race, gets lost on the way to his hauler, and accidentally walks smack dab right through the middle of a predominantly Junior Nation campground, where he inadvertently qualifies for a "chase." Busch is pursued by angry villagers wielding torches and pitchforks, and is cornered in an abandoned silo, where he is rescued by mad scientist Dr. Igor Punch, brother of Dr. Jerry Punch.

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Kyle Busch, Martin

Kansas

The first of three Chase flat tracks is the 1.5-mile tri-oval in Kansas, maybe the least-known track on the NASCAR circuit and one that certainly has fans hoping NASCAR will soon be saying, "We're not in Kansas anymore."

Flat tracks, of course, are a favorite of Roush Fenway cars, and Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth lead an early charge, as the trio trade the lead over the first 150 laps. Johnson struggles early, falling a lap down after getting caught in the pits during a caution. But in typical Johnson fashion, he finds the groove late, and leads until he's passed by Jeff Gordon. Gordon pulls away for the win, while Johnson takes the runner-up position and lengthens his lead in the points.

Kyle Busch tangles with Brian Vickers early in the race as the two battle for 27th position, and they crash out, giving up the position to Brad Keselowski. Busch and Vickers then share an awkward ride together in the ambulance en route to the infield care center.

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Martin, Gordon

California

Just when it looks as if Johnson will run away with the Cup, trouble arises in California. Johnson wins the pole, but blows an engine in practice, forcing him to start from the back. With their setup off the mark, the No. 48 falls a lap down early and never recovers, finishing 27th, as Martin wins.

Chase standings top three — Martin, Gordon, Johnson

Charlotte

Is there any doubt who will win this race? With Lowe's ending it's sponsorship of Lowe's Motor Speedway at the end of this season, Jimmie Johnson wants to give Lowe's a going away present. And he does, winning at Charlotte. Johnson performs a lengthy celebratory post-race burnout, spelling the words "Bi-Lo's" in hot rubber on the front straightaway, thrilling the fans and giving the speedway a pretty good lead to pursue for new sponsorship.

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Martin, Gordon

Martinsville

Denny Hamlin, edged by Johnson at Martinsville in March, beats Jeff Gordon to the stripe in a thrilling finish to the TUMS Fast Relief 500. Johnson struggles with handling all day, and he fails in his attempt to sweep the two Martinsville dates, finishing 28th.

An ecstatic Hamlin celebrates excitedly in Victory Circle, although sponsor Fed Ex later distances itself from Hamlin's "Grab the Package" victory celebration.

Chase standings top three — Gordon, Hamlin, Martin

Talladega

The high-banked 2.66-mile superspeedway in Alabama is easily the most unpredictable factor in the Chase. April's version saw spectacular crashes and an unlikely winner, Brad Keselowski. Chase hopes can be dashed in the blink of an eye, or in the backwash of unstable air coming off a rear spoiler.

So, crew chiefs are nervous. Drivers are nervous. Even fans are a bit edgy. It seems that memories of Carl Edwards' crash, and some disturbing scenes in The Final Destination movie, have fans spooked, and the race begins with not a single fan in the 10 rows of seats nearest the catch-fence.

The "Big One" comes early, as the lapped car of Michael Waltrip spins in front of the onrushing field, causing a massive pile-up that wipes out nine of the twelve Chasers. Johnson's No. 48 and Kurt Busch's No. 2 come to rest side-by-side, and the two engage in a shouting match. The endless bickering is finally broken up by none other than Tony Stewart, who slaps Johnson and Busch Three Stooges-style to get them to cease.

Juan Montoya eventually wins, setting off a wild celebration in Colombia, while things remain relatively quiet in Columbia, SC, Columbia, MO, and Columbia, NH. Kyle Busch finishes second as only 26 cars are running at race's end. Busch leaps from fourth to the lead in the Sprint Cup standings.

Chase standings top three — Kyle Busch, Gordon, Johnson

Texas

Once again, Johnson rebounds from a Chase-damaging finish the previous week with a win the following week. Johnson wins the Dickies 500, despite having a long run in the lead interrupted when the race is red flagged after a bag of white trash, later identified as Lisa Mayfield, finds its way on the track.

Johnson regains the points lead and celebrates Texas-style in Victory Circle, where it is proven once again that Richard Petty is the only driver that looks cool in a cowboy hat.

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Gordon, Stewart

Phoenix

With his fourth-consecutive Cup title in sight, Johnson looks strong early in the Checker O'Reilly Auto Parts 500, leading 60 of the first 100 laps. Johnson's "clinching" of the Cup seems imminent, verified by the "clenching" of his competitors' sphincters. But Gordon and Stewart gamble on a late pit stop, taking two tires while Johnson opts for four. Gordon and Stewart lead at the restart, but Johnson, restarting 16th, roars to the front, and splits the No. 24 and No. 14 for the lead with six to go. Gordon and Stewart fade, while Johnson takes the checkered flag, all but insuring the Cup title. Kyle Busch takes second, and is practically the only driver with a realistic chance of catching Johnson in the final race.

Chase standings top three — Johnson, Kyle Busch, Hamlin

Homestead

Scandal rocks the Sprint Cup garage on Saturday, when NASCAR announces that a member of Carl Edwards' pit crew has tested positive for a banned substance. Further tests reveal even more shocking results — Edwards, picked by many to win the Sprint Cup before the season, tests negative for victories.

All is well in the No. 48 Lowe's camp, however, as Johnson merely needs to avoid disaster to clinch his fourth title. Johnson can wrap up the title by finishing no worse than eleven positions behind Kyle Busch. Johnson plays it conservatively, hovering just outside the top 15 for most of the race while keeping an eye on Kyle Busch and two on Kurt.

Up front, the Roush Fenway cars of Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, and Matt Kenseth jockey for the lead. On the final lap, Kenseth has the lead until Edwards wildly dives low for the pass, spinning Kenseth, who takes out Biffle. Jamie McMurray, odd man out at Roush Fenway, slides through the wreckage for the win.

Kenseth and Biffle confront Edwards and yank him out of the No. 99 Aflac Fusion and beat him with down pillows, shouting "duck, duck, goose!" in the process.

Johnson celebrates his fourth Sprint Cup championship after sweating out a post-race inspection.

Posted by Jeffrey Boswell at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

September 1, 2009

Tennis and Parenthood: Perfect Together?

It's that time of year again, and I'm still recovering from the U.S. Open Player's Party. Friday night, I walked the red carpet (thank you, Lauren Ezersky for taking notice) and enjoyed one great evening with today's stars of the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tours. I especially wanted to thank James Blake for being a very gracious host and for spending some time with us. Good luck, James, we are rooting for you!

Day one of the 2009 U.S. Open is in the books. No great upsets, and some pretty good matches. To me, there were only two notable happenings. First, American hopeful Donald Young once again failed to live up to his potential, or at least noted potential, losing pretty easily to tour veteran Tommy Robredo. Young has been hailed as the next rising U.S. superstar, but has yet to come close to showing he is worthy of the title. Guess we will have to wait until 2010.

The other of note is the return of 2005 women's champion Kim Clijsters. Having taken a couple of years off to get married and start a family, Kim is back on tour and her opening match was impressive. Her straight set win looked very easy. Very good for a champion who has not played at this level for quite a while. Her second round match, however, will be her first real test and could very well be the match that ends her U.S. Open comeback.

Marion Bartoli will be her opponent, after Bartoli advanced in very, very easy straight sets. Seeded 14th, Bartoli has become one of the toughest players on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and is a challenger for any title she plays. Interestingly, Clijsters defeated Bartoli recently in their meeting in Cincinnati just two weeks ago. While previous performance does not guarantee future results, it does say that the second round match should be one of the best of the tournament.

The return of Kim Clijsters to high level, professional tennis after having a child is not unheard of, and her return has been in keeping with her recent contemporaries. Lindsay Davenport returned in 2007 after an 11-month hiatus to give birth to son, Jagger, and while never quite able to reach the upper echelons, she did win several tournaments and defeated top-10 players in the process.

The trend for female tennis players to return to the pro tour after starting a family is becoming more and more prevalent. Sybille Bammer also started a family and returned to the women's tour in 2007 to take a tournament title. While the competition in today's game is fierce, the top women seem to be able to return to great form. It is interesting that the very top women have always seemed to be able to regain their best games and dominate even with the added workload of being a full-time mom.

Margaret Court is probably the most notable of the working tennis moms. In her return year of 1973, she managed to take the Australian, French, and U.S. Open titles. She holds the record for most major tournament titles with 62 (Martina Navratilova is second with 56) and has the most grand-slam singles titles with 24. She finished her comeback year as number one in the world.

Evonne Goolagong Cawley, another Australian player and mom, won her only Wimbledon singles title after her return from having her first child in 1980. Goolagong never returned to the very top of the rankings, but showed that motherhood and top tier tennis do mix. Watching Kim play reminds me a lot of the 1980 matches played by Cawley. Even though it has only been one match, she looks as poised as ever.

But before I get too giddy over my newest Jersey Shore neighbor, a quick look at the draw puts Kim smack dab against Venus Williams in the fourth round, and if she survives, that would have her run into Venus' sister Serena in the semis. Clearly, if Kim can win both those matches, she deserves to win. I'll hope she does well, but if she can just make it to the fourth round against Venus, it will have been a great tournament for her first slam since coming back.

Having children also seems to be a theme. Mirka and Roger Federer are now parents of beautiful twin girls. While motherhood seems to propel women on the professional tour, will it bring Roger his sixth consecutive U.S. Open title, tying him with all-time great William Tatem Tilden for the most consecutive U.S. Championships? Now that will be interesting. And if it's true, maybe Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, and Pete Sampras should think about a comeback...

Posted by Tom Kosinski at 11:36 AM | Comments (2)