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Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
AFC Predictions
The AFC, thanks to Pittsburgh, Indy and the Pats, has dominated the Lombardi trophy in the last decade. However, Vince has headed to the NFC for the last two years. Can the AFC bring back the championship? We shall see.
As for each team, here is a breakdown of what I think happens in the AFC this year.
South
The AFC South has been a battle for second ever since Peyton was drafted out of Tennessee by Indy. The AFC south boists the best QB of the last decade in Manning, the best receiver in football in Andre Johnson and the biggest head scratcher move in quite some time. We will explore...
Divisions Champs - Indianapolis Colts (11-5). Probably the biggest story in this preseason has been the health of Peyton Manning. Manning has been a stud running the offense his way and is coming off a season with over 4,000 yards. However with neck issues (and trust me, they aren't quick fixes), Manning starts the season on the sidelines. The Colts brought in Kerry Collins to fill the void and to increase DUI charges in Indy I presume. I still like this team and think if Collins can give Peyton a 2-2 start, Manning comes back by week 5 and leads this team to their umpteenth division title.
2nd - Houston Texans (9-7). Houston is an interesting team and man, this might be the scariest offense in the league. Arian Foster is arguably the league's best back and it doesn't get any better than Andre Johnson in terms of wideouts. Throw in a serviceable QB in Matt Schuab and you have an offense that can put up 40 against any NFL defense. The big question for this team is inexperience - especially playoff experience - and the defense. The Texans are so close to be a playoff team - just not this year. Unless Peyton is out for a while that is.
As for each team, here is a breakdown of what I think happens in the AFC this year.
South
The AFC South has been a battle for second ever since Peyton was drafted out of Tennessee by Indy. The AFC south boists the best QB of the last decade in Manning, the best receiver in football in Andre Johnson and the biggest head scratcher move in quite some time. We will explore...
Divisions Champs - Indianapolis Colts (11-5). Probably the biggest story in this preseason has been the health of Peyton Manning. Manning has been a stud running the offense his way and is coming off a season with over 4,000 yards. However with neck issues (and trust me, they aren't quick fixes), Manning starts the season on the sidelines. The Colts brought in Kerry Collins to fill the void and to increase DUI charges in Indy I presume. I still like this team and think if Collins can give Peyton a 2-2 start, Manning comes back by week 5 and leads this team to their umpteenth division title.
2nd - Houston Texans (9-7). Houston is an interesting team and man, this might be the scariest offense in the league. Arian Foster is arguably the league's best back and it doesn't get any better than Andre Johnson in terms of wideouts. Throw in a serviceable QB in Matt Schuab and you have an offense that can put up 40 against any NFL defense. The big question for this team is inexperience - especially playoff experience - and the defense. The Texans are so close to be a playoff team - just not this year. Unless Peyton is out for a while that is.
3rd - Tennessee Titans (7-9). I really like what Tennessee did this offseason by bringing in Matt Hasselback - a highly underrated vet with playoff experience - to fill the void left by Kerry Collins and Vince Young. Whether he will fill the hole at the ABC Store and Shrink's office is yet to be seen. Tennessee also got Chris Johnson happy again and if Kenny Britt can keep his hands out of handcuffs, this offense could put up some points. The big question is defense. An improved team, but not quite back in the "Music City Miracle" days yet.
4th - Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12). No David Garrard? huh? No David Garrard? I'm still shocked. It won't be long until rookie Blaine Gabbert get's the start and Jack Del Rio may be the casuality in all this. Despite his rediculous hyphanated last name, Maurice Jones-Drew is a stud at RB and Marcades "don't call me Mercades" Lewis is quietly one of the best Tight Ends in the league. But no QB with any experience leads to a frustrating year for the Jags.
East
One of the best divisions in football, the AFC East has the perinall class of the league with the Patriots, the bad boys everyone loves (except Pats fans) with the Jets and then a lot of question marks. These division has consistently put two teams in the playoffs and it looks like it might be that way again. However, there is no bigger disparity between teams in any division in football like there is in the AFC East.
Division Champs - New England Patriots (14-2). With all the talk about the Jets, the Steelers, the Eagles, and the Colts this off season, we all keep forgetting about the boys from Boston. Tom Brady is coming off perhaps the best year of his career where he threw 36 touchdowns, ran for another and only threw 4 interceptions. That stat still makes me drool. The Pats are the real deal and adding Ochocinco to the mix makes this the best team in the league. However what is the biggest flaw on the Pats? Simple. The dumbest name known to man. Benjarvis Green-Ellis. Not only the silly hyphen, but a double name first name? Holy smokes...
2nd - New York Jets (11-5). The last time a guy missed two years of play because of incarceration, he almost won the MVP. I guess the Jets saw Plaxico Burress as the next Michael Vick signing the ex-convict to a deal to replace Braylan Edwards. So their top wideout hasn't played a down in 2 years and has a self inflicted gun shot wound, Mark Sanchez is awful, their coach is a fat slob who likes feet, and one of their corners, Antonio Cromartie has 5 4 year olds without any sets of twins (think about it....). Despite all this, this team wins. And wins a lot. Another wild card birth for the men in green.
3rd - Buffalo Bills (5-11). The Bills have without a doubt the most underrated player in the league in wideout Steve Johnson - that is of course unless God doesn't want him to be good. The Bills really have no defense but obviously I like Johnson and I think CJ Spiller will have a breakout year. Count the automatic 4 losses to the Jets and Pats and you have a team already in the whole. The Bills will be better and have the ability to put points on the board, but they aren't close to being back to a super bowl five time runner up yet.
4th - Miami Dolphins (3-13). The Dolphins will win 4 things this year. 3 football games and the number one overall pick in next year's draft. The Dolphins lost Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams and replaced them with the most overrated player in football not named Tony Romo in Reggie Bush. Speaking of which, remember when everyone laughed at the Texans for picking Mario Williams instead of Bush? Now they have Williams, who is one of the best defensive linemen in the league AND Arian Foster. Gee, how did that work out? The Dolphins have no quarterback and will struggle this season until Chad Heinne is finally replaced by, you guessed it, Andrew "I don't want to be a Carolina Panther so I'm staying in school" Luck.
AFC North
The AFC North, also known as the place where the Steelers hang out, is known for two things. Lack of scoring and defense. Even though one causes the other, I do list these two differently intentionally because the AFC North, even when playing against teams with bad defenses, still don't score. But no one scores on them!
Division Champs - Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4). It's just too easy. You pick the Steelers and you move on. I've always like Rashad Mendinghall simply because the place that kept me alive in college was Mendinghall Dinning at East Carolina University. He's a hard nosed runner and get's lots of chances to run when the Steelers play their clock game. Big Ben wins but I've never been sold on him being an elite QB. The steel cities finest comes off an AFC championship and nothing should stop them from being in the hunt once again.
2nd - Baltimore Ravens (11-5). November 6th. Baltimore Pittsburgh. Pretty much the AFC North championship game. Oh yeah, they open their season against each other too. Baltimore starts and ends with defense and Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader and without a doubt the best player in NFL history.......to not get convicted of murder...wait, neither did OJ. Ok, to not get convicted of murder AND not get convicted of kidnapping! I like Ray Rice in the backfield and I think Joe Flacco is a better version of Mark Sanchez and Big Ben. The Ravens don't quite win the division but clearly the 2nd wild card team from the AFC.
3rd - Cleveland Browns (8-8). The success of this team depends on exactly one thing. Colt McCoy. Without a doubt the story ON the field in the preseason was McCoy blossoming into what looks like a top 15 NFL Quarterback. Peyton Hillis was one of the best stories in the NFL last season going from "who the hell is that?" to winning the Madden cover contest. The big question for me on this team is the wideouts. Cleveland is a better team and certainly close to making it, but tough division leads to an average 500 season for the Browns version 2.
4th - Cincinnati Bengals (5-11). Carson Palmer decided the best team to be a part of was the AARP and that opened the door for the only guy I've ever seen that has Bengal orange hair without any die, Andy Dalton. This team was a wreck last year WITH Palmer, I don't expect too much more this year. The one highlight will be AJ Green who should have a pro bowl year.....that is if Chris Gamble covers him every week. Cedric Benson is a good back but not enough to carry this team towards another top 5 pick.
AFC West
You know why I love the AFC West? It's like reality TV non stop. You have Rivers arguing with fans. Fans willing to murder anyone who says a bad thing about Tim Tebow. Al Davis and the craziness he does. And the Chiefs always are up to something.
Division Winner - San Diego Chargers (10-6). I'll never forget a conversation I had in the shower in college with a guy. Heck of a start to a story, I get it. I remember saying Phillip Rivers would be an NFL bust. Oops. Not quite. Rivers has consistently been the best of second tier quarterbacks in the NFL and puts up numbers every week. Vincent Jackson in powder blue for an entire season should help and a stable of good running backs brings this team to an AFC west title.
2nd - Kansas City Chiefs - (9-7). The best team that won't make the playoffs in the AFC, the Chiefs have a very balanced offensive attack. Matt Cassell is a solid QB and he has a fantastic duo of Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones and not to mention the speedy Dexter McAllister if things get really bad. Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breston is quietly one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. All this combined makes up a solid NFL team. Just not quite there. However, a major injury in San Diego and the Chiefs are representing the west come January.
3rd - Oakland Raiders (6-10). Jason Campbell is awful. I mean awful. That really will be this teams setback. Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will get the brunt of the work on the offense thanks to well, Campbell not being good. And since it's been mention on other teams, I gave this team one less win than I think because they start a hyphenated name at wideout in Darius Haywood-Bay. I like bringing in Kevin Boss and they still have Richard Seymour up front, but it will come down to the QB and the Raiders haven't been able to fill that slot since Rich Gannon.
4th - Denver Broncos - (5-11). Let's get it out of the way. Not only will Tim Tebow not start, he won't play should Kyle Orton get hurt. The most celebrated back up's back up in the free world - and that includes when Speaker of the House Lyndon Johnson got vaulted to President - Tebow garnered more headlines than the hiring of John Fox as head coach. As we saw in Carolina, the super conservative offense of Fox should be the case and expect Knoshawn Marino to get lots of carriers. The defense is awful and will be downfall of the team.
Playoff Predictions
Wildcard weekend - Baltimore over Indianapolis, NY Jets over San Diego
Second Round - New England over Baltimore, Pittsburgh over NY Jets
AFC Championship - New England over Pittsburgh
SUPER BOWL!!
Atlanta over New England
There ya go folks. The Atlanta Falcons. YOUR 2012 Super Bowl Champions.
Monday, August 29, 2011
NFC Predictions
Last year, I'm proud to say, I picked the boys from Green Bay as the super bowl champs and like I've always said, when it comes to sports, there are two scenarios. Either I'm right or you are wrong.
So with that mind, I'm going to break down my thoughts of the NFC and see how it goes aka look like a genius.
With the minor exceptions of the Giants, the Saints and the Packers, the Super Bowl has been dominated by the AFC. Heck, for a while the NFC, in terms of the super bowl, stood for "No F'n Chance." The best teams in the league still play for the AFC, but the NFC does have some interesting divisions and teams.
NFC South
Anyone who thinks this is the best division in football makes me laugh. CLEARLY the best division is the NFC North, but more on that later. The NFC South boasts lots of passing and lots of small time big name players. Guys like Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Mike Williams, Josh Freeman, and Marques Colston are quietly some of the better players in football. There are some really good teams here and some really bad teams. I see it breaking down like this.
Division Champs - Atlanta Falcons (12-4). The Falcons start and end with Ryan to White. Those people in ATL will hear that non stop this year. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Just in case the passing breaks down, the Falcons have the best big man rusher in the league in Michael Turner. However, expect Atlanta to air it out. In the first half of the Falcons' third pre season game, Ryan threw the ball 44 times making people with him as their fantasy QB (*coughs* me *coughs*) start drooling. The only question for this team is their defense but with an offense that could average close to 30 a game, I don't think it will matter.
2nd - New Orleans Saints (10 - 6). I'm just not that sold on these guys this year. I don't see them doing anything to help out their defense and while Mark Ingram is an interesting addition to their offense, you pretty much know what the Saints will do. Pass. Pass. Pass. Yes, I just mentioned that the Falcons' will do that but the difference is the Saints have no rushing game. None. Just sit back and wait for Drew Brees' to air it out. Now Brees' is still a great QB and should lead his team to a wild card birth, but I don't expect another Super Bowl run out of them.
3rd - Tampa Bay (7-9). Without a doubt this most disappointing team this pre season has been the Bucs. Josh Freeman had a breakout year this year and their defense is solid, but nothing is clicking in Tampa right. I expect these guys to go at best 4 - 2 in NFC South games, and in reality probably 2-4 or 3 - 3. Combine that with tough games against Indy, Houston, Jacksonville, Chicago and the much improved Detroit Lions, and I don't see a 500 season.
4th - Carolina (5 - 11). Clearly they are better than last season. Hell, you don't add a single draft pick to the team and you know they are better just based on the fact you get a healthy Steve Smith , DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah this year. The big question, obviously, is the QB position. Cam Newton has looked awful almost every time he has thrown the ball and the defense still is awful. I really like what they did at the TE position grabbing Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen filling a void that Carolina has not been able to fill since Wesley Walls retired. Chris Gamble as a number one DB looks like one of a dozen or so issues in Carolina. However, if they can win 2 games without Smith Williams Stewart and Otah, I'll give them 5 with them.
NFC North
This division is the best in football. And to me it's not even close. All 4 teams look legit and all 4 teams will be very tough opponents for anyone. There should be some very good matchups in this division come November December.
Division Champs - Green Bay (13-3). Aaron. Freaking. Rodgers. I mean that is all you really need to say. I really wish that teams like Carolina and Cincinnati would look at model of how you really mold an NFL QB. You do exactly what the Packers did with this guy. Put him behind a vet and let him learn. The defending champs didn't need to add anyone to a potent offense but basically did when you consider Ryan Grant will be back from injury as the feature back. A great defense, the toughest place to play in football, one of the best wideouts in football in Greg Jennings and all the confidence in the world, Green Bay is going to be in serious contention to repeat.
2nd - Chicago Bears (11-5). Let's not forget the Bears were a playoff team last year and made it all the way to the NFC Title game. If it wasn't for Jay Cutler getting hurt, who knows what would have happened. On an interesting note, Cutler's back up, Caleb Hanie, became only the third person ever to throw a TD pass in a playoff game without throwing one in a regular season game thanks to the Cutler injury. The Bears have the best pass catching back in the league in Matt Forte and they also possess a nasty defense led by Chris Harris in the secondary and Julius Peppers up front. Add in a tough place to play and the Bears are the 2nd wild card team from the NFC.
3rd - Detroit Lions - (10-6). It won't be good enough to get in the playoffs, but the Lions will be one of the talks of the NFL this year. With one of the best young players in the league in Matt Stafford under center, a break out RB from last season in Javhid Best, receivers left and right and a front four that matches up with anyone in the league, Detroit is going to be a team that no one wants to play this season. The only reason this is not a playoff team? 6 games against their very tough division.
4th - Minnesota Vikings - (8-8). I'm a big believer in this team. They will be seen as not very good due to their division, but they have a proven winner who will be healthy at QB - something they haven't had in a long long time - in Donovan McNabb. But the Vikings start and end with still what I believe to be the best back in the league in Adrian Peterson. Throw in Percy Harvin in the mix and the Vikings can put up some points. Jared Allen is still on the best front 4 d-men in the league but there are questions in the linebackers and secondary. This team will be close, but playing in the NFC North - where they will be lucky to win three times - will be their downfall.
NFC West
Gotta love 7 - 9 teams making the playoffs. What a joke. Oh wait, they won a game once they got there? I still can't believe that happened.
Division Champs - St. Louis Rams (9-7) - The not so greatest show on turf will get back to the playoffs since the Grocer himself led the Rams this year thanks to a weak division. Steven Jackson is still a heck of a football player and I expect Sam Bradford to have a break out year. The question is - and has been for the last 10 - 15 years - defense. Luckily they are playing some of the worst quarterbacks in the league 4 times this season.
2nd - Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - It pains me to this moment that a talent like Larry Fitzgerald is still out in Arizona. At least he has someone to throw him the ball now. Kevin Kolb signing there is one of the better signings in football this offseason and Beanie Wells is an intriguing guy in the backfield. But like St. Louis, can these guys stop anyone? To shut this team down simply run it down their throats and quintuple cover Larry and you have an easy win. However Kolb to Fitzgerald will be too much for some teams, so they get a few wins here and there.
3rd - San Francisco 49ers (5-11) - Let's see, who is good for the 49ers. Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree. Braylon Edwards. Um..... Um....Frank Gore? Wait, already said him. Holy Lord this team is a mess. On a team where I would be considered a backup QB, it's going to be an absolute lol fest trying to figure out who sucks the most between Josh McCown and Alex Smith to be the starter. All those QB's in the draft and you guys get none?? Well, you will be in the battle for Andrew Luck next year so it's not all bad...
4th - Seattle Seahawks (4-12) - There are two reasons why this team won a playoff game last year. 1. Matt Hasselback is one of the most underrated QB's in the game. 2. Marshawn Lynch had the best run the NFL seen in probably 20 years. Speaking of which, if you have never seen this version of that run, please watch this. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen (warning, R rated and NSFW. Don't have the kids or bosses around). No more Hasselback. No more legendary runs. Instead of getting like Kevin Kolb, they get....Tavarus Jackson? Be right back. BWHWHAHWAHHAHAAHAH. Ok I'm back. Andrew Luck - have fun in Seattle.
NFC East
I saved these guys for last because it makes me laugh how bad this division is, yet how much hype it gets. That's all I got.
Division Winner - Philadelphia Eagles (11-5). I'm really not sold on the Eagles. I know they are the dream team this year, but I'm just not sold. I think they will be good but not this end all be all team they are being hyped as. DeSean Jackson is nasty. Jeremy Macklin will have a monster year. LeSean McCoy is great. And Mike Vick was the story of the NFL last year. But I don't think this is the 14-2 team like people are saying. Vick has been shakey and their O-Line has been awful. However, if there is ever a QB who can make up for a bad O-line, its Vick. I pick them to win the division for one simple reason. Someone has to win it.
2nd - Dallas Cowboys - (8-8). Let's get this over with. Tony Romo is the most overrated player in the league - and maybe the most overrated player in history. Yes, I said it. However I do like the receivers in Dallas. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are two great players and basically Jason Whitten is a receiver in that offense. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are a great duo in the backfield but the issue is the O-line. No one will block for those two and Romo throwing the ball over the place equals disaster. Throw in some question marks on D and you get an average 500 team.
3rd - New York Giants (7-9). Was it just me or did this team get worse? What's better? Hakim Nicks, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham or Hakim Nicks and Mario Manningham. Hmmm...Eli Manning still has some things to prove and Ahmad Bradshaw needs to stay consistent to see any success for the New York Football Giants. Take out Osi Menoira (yeah, I have no idea how to spell it and nope, I'm not looking it up) of the front 4 and this team looks like it has problems.
4th - Washington Redskins (5 -11). What a disaster. Look, I know Mike Shannahan is a good coach. But Rex Grossman? Anytime Rex Grossman is your discussion for starting QB your team is bad. I mean it's really that simple. There is nothing else that needs to be said. So I'll say it again. Rex Grossman is your quite possibly your starting QB. For an NFL team.
Playoffs
Wild Card Weekend - Chicago over St. Louis, Philadelphia over New Orleans
2nd Round - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Atlanta over Chicago
NFC Title Game - Atlanta over Green Bay
Next time, AFC break downs and a Super Bowl pick.
So with that mind, I'm going to break down my thoughts of the NFC and see how it goes aka look like a genius.
With the minor exceptions of the Giants, the Saints and the Packers, the Super Bowl has been dominated by the AFC. Heck, for a while the NFC, in terms of the super bowl, stood for "No F'n Chance." The best teams in the league still play for the AFC, but the NFC does have some interesting divisions and teams.
NFC South
Anyone who thinks this is the best division in football makes me laugh. CLEARLY the best division is the NFC North, but more on that later. The NFC South boasts lots of passing and lots of small time big name players. Guys like Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Mike Williams, Josh Freeman, and Marques Colston are quietly some of the better players in football. There are some really good teams here and some really bad teams. I see it breaking down like this.
Division Champs - Atlanta Falcons (12-4). The Falcons start and end with Ryan to White. Those people in ATL will hear that non stop this year. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Ryan to White. Just in case the passing breaks down, the Falcons have the best big man rusher in the league in Michael Turner. However, expect Atlanta to air it out. In the first half of the Falcons' third pre season game, Ryan threw the ball 44 times making people with him as their fantasy QB (*coughs* me *coughs*) start drooling. The only question for this team is their defense but with an offense that could average close to 30 a game, I don't think it will matter.
2nd - New Orleans Saints (10 - 6). I'm just not that sold on these guys this year. I don't see them doing anything to help out their defense and while Mark Ingram is an interesting addition to their offense, you pretty much know what the Saints will do. Pass. Pass. Pass. Yes, I just mentioned that the Falcons' will do that but the difference is the Saints have no rushing game. None. Just sit back and wait for Drew Brees' to air it out. Now Brees' is still a great QB and should lead his team to a wild card birth, but I don't expect another Super Bowl run out of them.
3rd - Tampa Bay (7-9). Without a doubt this most disappointing team this pre season has been the Bucs. Josh Freeman had a breakout year this year and their defense is solid, but nothing is clicking in Tampa right. I expect these guys to go at best 4 - 2 in NFC South games, and in reality probably 2-4 or 3 - 3. Combine that with tough games against Indy, Houston, Jacksonville, Chicago and the much improved Detroit Lions, and I don't see a 500 season.
4th - Carolina (5 - 11). Clearly they are better than last season. Hell, you don't add a single draft pick to the team and you know they are better just based on the fact you get a healthy Steve Smith , DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Jeff Otah this year. The big question, obviously, is the QB position. Cam Newton has looked awful almost every time he has thrown the ball and the defense still is awful. I really like what they did at the TE position grabbing Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen filling a void that Carolina has not been able to fill since Wesley Walls retired. Chris Gamble as a number one DB looks like one of a dozen or so issues in Carolina. However, if they can win 2 games without Smith Williams Stewart and Otah, I'll give them 5 with them.
NFC North
This division is the best in football. And to me it's not even close. All 4 teams look legit and all 4 teams will be very tough opponents for anyone. There should be some very good matchups in this division come November December.
Division Champs - Green Bay (13-3). Aaron. Freaking. Rodgers. I mean that is all you really need to say. I really wish that teams like Carolina and Cincinnati would look at model of how you really mold an NFL QB. You do exactly what the Packers did with this guy. Put him behind a vet and let him learn. The defending champs didn't need to add anyone to a potent offense but basically did when you consider Ryan Grant will be back from injury as the feature back. A great defense, the toughest place to play in football, one of the best wideouts in football in Greg Jennings and all the confidence in the world, Green Bay is going to be in serious contention to repeat.
2nd - Chicago Bears (11-5). Let's not forget the Bears were a playoff team last year and made it all the way to the NFC Title game. If it wasn't for Jay Cutler getting hurt, who knows what would have happened. On an interesting note, Cutler's back up, Caleb Hanie, became only the third person ever to throw a TD pass in a playoff game without throwing one in a regular season game thanks to the Cutler injury. The Bears have the best pass catching back in the league in Matt Forte and they also possess a nasty defense led by Chris Harris in the secondary and Julius Peppers up front. Add in a tough place to play and the Bears are the 2nd wild card team from the NFC.
3rd - Detroit Lions - (10-6). It won't be good enough to get in the playoffs, but the Lions will be one of the talks of the NFL this year. With one of the best young players in the league in Matt Stafford under center, a break out RB from last season in Javhid Best, receivers left and right and a front four that matches up with anyone in the league, Detroit is going to be a team that no one wants to play this season. The only reason this is not a playoff team? 6 games against their very tough division.
4th - Minnesota Vikings - (8-8). I'm a big believer in this team. They will be seen as not very good due to their division, but they have a proven winner who will be healthy at QB - something they haven't had in a long long time - in Donovan McNabb. But the Vikings start and end with still what I believe to be the best back in the league in Adrian Peterson. Throw in Percy Harvin in the mix and the Vikings can put up some points. Jared Allen is still on the best front 4 d-men in the league but there are questions in the linebackers and secondary. This team will be close, but playing in the NFC North - where they will be lucky to win three times - will be their downfall.
NFC West
Gotta love 7 - 9 teams making the playoffs. What a joke. Oh wait, they won a game once they got there? I still can't believe that happened.
Division Champs - St. Louis Rams (9-7) - The not so greatest show on turf will get back to the playoffs since the Grocer himself led the Rams this year thanks to a weak division. Steven Jackson is still a heck of a football player and I expect Sam Bradford to have a break out year. The question is - and has been for the last 10 - 15 years - defense. Luckily they are playing some of the worst quarterbacks in the league 4 times this season.
2nd - Arizona Cardinals (7-9) - It pains me to this moment that a talent like Larry Fitzgerald is still out in Arizona. At least he has someone to throw him the ball now. Kevin Kolb signing there is one of the better signings in football this offseason and Beanie Wells is an intriguing guy in the backfield. But like St. Louis, can these guys stop anyone? To shut this team down simply run it down their throats and quintuple cover Larry and you have an easy win. However Kolb to Fitzgerald will be too much for some teams, so they get a few wins here and there.
3rd - San Francisco 49ers (5-11) - Let's see, who is good for the 49ers. Frank Gore. Michael Crabtree. Braylon Edwards. Um..... Um....Frank Gore? Wait, already said him. Holy Lord this team is a mess. On a team where I would be considered a backup QB, it's going to be an absolute lol fest trying to figure out who sucks the most between Josh McCown and Alex Smith to be the starter. All those QB's in the draft and you guys get none?? Well, you will be in the battle for Andrew Luck next year so it's not all bad...
4th - Seattle Seahawks (4-12) - There are two reasons why this team won a playoff game last year. 1. Matt Hasselback is one of the most underrated QB's in the game. 2. Marshawn Lynch had the best run the NFL seen in probably 20 years. Speaking of which, if you have never seen this version of that run, please watch this. It's the funniest thing I've ever seen (warning, R rated and NSFW. Don't have the kids or bosses around). No more Hasselback. No more legendary runs. Instead of getting like Kevin Kolb, they get....Tavarus Jackson? Be right back. BWHWHAHWAHHAHAAHAH. Ok I'm back. Andrew Luck - have fun in Seattle.
NFC East
I saved these guys for last because it makes me laugh how bad this division is, yet how much hype it gets. That's all I got.
Division Winner - Philadelphia Eagles (11-5). I'm really not sold on the Eagles. I know they are the dream team this year, but I'm just not sold. I think they will be good but not this end all be all team they are being hyped as. DeSean Jackson is nasty. Jeremy Macklin will have a monster year. LeSean McCoy is great. And Mike Vick was the story of the NFL last year. But I don't think this is the 14-2 team like people are saying. Vick has been shakey and their O-Line has been awful. However, if there is ever a QB who can make up for a bad O-line, its Vick. I pick them to win the division for one simple reason. Someone has to win it.
2nd - Dallas Cowboys - (8-8). Let's get this over with. Tony Romo is the most overrated player in the league - and maybe the most overrated player in history. Yes, I said it. However I do like the receivers in Dallas. Miles Austin and Dez Bryant are two great players and basically Jason Whitten is a receiver in that offense. Felix Jones and Tashard Choice are a great duo in the backfield but the issue is the O-line. No one will block for those two and Romo throwing the ball over the place equals disaster. Throw in some question marks on D and you get an average 500 team.
3rd - New York Giants (7-9). Was it just me or did this team get worse? What's better? Hakim Nicks, Steve Smith and Mario Manningham or Hakim Nicks and Mario Manningham. Hmmm...Eli Manning still has some things to prove and Ahmad Bradshaw needs to stay consistent to see any success for the New York Football Giants. Take out Osi Menoira (yeah, I have no idea how to spell it and nope, I'm not looking it up) of the front 4 and this team looks like it has problems.
4th - Washington Redskins (5 -11). What a disaster. Look, I know Mike Shannahan is a good coach. But Rex Grossman? Anytime Rex Grossman is your discussion for starting QB your team is bad. I mean it's really that simple. There is nothing else that needs to be said. So I'll say it again. Rex Grossman is your quite possibly your starting QB. For an NFL team.
Playoffs
Wild Card Weekend - Chicago over St. Louis, Philadelphia over New Orleans
2nd Round - Green Bay over Philadelphia, Atlanta over Chicago
NFC Title Game - Atlanta over Green Bay
Next time, AFC break downs and a Super Bowl pick.
Friday, July 1, 2011
NHL Free Agency Day
It's not a coincidence in my mind that the NHL's version of Free Enterprise Day and Canada's Independence Day are one in the same. Right up there with the day the Cup is raised, the first time I walk back into an NHL arena of the summer and trade deadline day, July 1st is one of my favorite days of the year.
So I start out with what my boys here in Carolina did. With only 8 forwards on the roster, not a surprise the Canes were active.
After signing Joni Pitkanen, Chad LaRose and Jussi Jokinen, I was not surprised to see Erik Cole walk. He was ok in his "rental" stint here in 2009, he was given a 3.5 Million 2 year deal that expired today. Considering this past season was the 2nd best year of his career, the offer of 3.5 Million probably did appear like a slap in the face to Cole.
Exploring free agency, Cole signed with Montreal for 4.5 Million and 4 years. What I find interesting in this deal is who it is with. Cole has been a Canadian killer his entire career. It all started in 2002 in the "Miracle at Molson."
The Molson Center, the former name of the home of the Canadians, played host to game 4 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Up 2-1 in the series, game 4 was huge for both teams. Montreal came out and dominated the first 40 taking a commanding 3-0 lead and 20 minutes away from a strangle hold on the series.
The Canes struck twice and then tied it on the stick of a then rookie Erik Cole. Not only did this set up the Canes winning the series and eventually the Eastern Conference, it set up Cole to dominate Montreal throughout his career, especially in the Molson (now Belle) Center.
What I'm curious to see is was it the team he was playing or the building he was playing in? He obviously can't dominate Montreal playing for them, however can still dominate in the building.
Personally, I'm ok with the money he got. He was a 3.5 million player and was clearly better after the contract than before it. That screams raise. However, 4 years is a lot to commit to a guy who is one more hit away fom his career being over and a guy who was an absolute disaster when he left Carolina for Edmonton previously in his career. Cole has never proved he can play with anyone but Eric Staal and will need to prove he is worth not only the money, but the term.
Carolina brought in 3 new guys and resigned Juri Tlusty as well on this day. Tlusty was a good pick up. I think he brings a lot to the table and considering we traded a first round pick to get him, I'm glad we didn't just lose him to free agency.
The three guys brought in, as a whole, I'm really in the middle about. However, I'm thrilled with Brian Boucher coming in Raleigh. Cam Ward desperately needed a veteran backup that was ready to step in at any moment. The Justin Peters experiment did NOT work and he needs another few years in the AHL. Boucher as the back up for the next two years gives Peters a chance to be the guy in Charlotte and come back in two years as a much more experienced goalie. However, the only down side is young goalie Mike Murphy, who I really like, just lost a of time in net due to this.
Tim Brent is also wearing red now. I'm mixed about this one. This guy really hasn't done much in his career and is really small. However, he is a great face off guy and that was a clear struggle last year. He should takes some draws and kill some penalties. I thought Zenon Kenopka would be an interesting option at this spot, but alas, we get a small guy who doesn't intimidate anyone.
I really don't like the Alexei Ponikarovsky getting added. He hasn't done much the last few years and unless he stays in a third line role, really will not add that much to the team. I'm glad he's on a one year deal. And at 1.5 Million, it's not too high risk. I just don't see a big splash from this guy and more importantly, I don't really see him fitting in. He was intended to be the big nasty guy in front on the Cole Staal line. Without Cole, who knows where he fits in.
Alright, so there's Carolina. Here are my best signings of the day:
Jeff Halperin - Washington - 825K. Super cheap for a role this team needs. With all that firepower and trouble in the playoffs, a good defensive veteran center is a great add. Ideally, he was my first choice in the spot that Tim Brent got.
Maxime Talbot - Philadelphia - 1.8 Million, 2 years. What a deal. This guy can do it all in any situation and has crazy amounts of playoff experience, including his name on the cup.
Mike Commodore - Detroit - 1 Million. I think Commodore is a very underrated player in this league. He had a little bit of pressure on the redonkulas contract he got in Columbus a few years back. A million seems about right and small term, so if it doesn't work, he's gone. Low risk, big payoff.
Dan Carcillio - Chicago - 750K. With all that talent, Chicago needs a tough guy. Great pickup. Low price.
Here are my stretches....
Patrick Eaves - Detroit - 1.3 Million - 3 years. He is my least favorite player of all time. You could pay him below US minimum wage and I would think it's too much.
James Wisniewski - Columbus - 5.5 Million - 6 years. 5.5 Million? For a second tier defensemen? You're serious? And then you get him for 6 years?!? Without a doubt the worst signing of the day. I can name 15 - 20 defensemen I would pick over this guy and probably 5 - 10 of those make less than this. He's a good player, no doubt. But no more than 2 - 3 million for this guy. But Columbus has a nack for doing this. I.E. see Mike Commodore a few years ago.
Tomas Fleischmann - Florida - 4.5 Million - 4 years. Exact same deal Erik Cole, and I thought Erik Cole's was a stretch. So, Cole has 28 goals and 28 assists last year on an average team. Felischmann had 12 and 19 in 45 games on a great team and has only hit the 20 goal mark once in his career. But hey, enjoy your money.
Erik Cole - see above.
Free Agent Day Winners
Chicago - lots of grit added. They have the firepower, just needed to add the muscle that won them the cup in 2010.
Washington - Great trade with Varmalov getting rid of the 3 goalie issue and then throw in Halperin, playoff guru Joel Ward, stud defensmen Roman Hamrlik, plus the trade for Troy Brouwer and Washington looks as complete as I've ever seen them and my early favorite to hoist the cup.
Philly - They made up for the guys they lost with Talbot and oh yeah, Jaromir Freakin Jagr. Any doubt that this could still play in my mind was erased in the Olympics last year.
Signing Day Losers
Florida - Holy crap calm down. This is basically a brand new team this year but guess what, no one watches this team. This team is basically starting over. Hell, their website is advertising them basically starting over. Lots of new players to play in front of empty green seats.
New York Rangers - These guys did NOTHING and they need scoring. Lots of names out there still, including Brad Richards, but so far, nothing.
Montreal - Once again, over paying and taking risks. These guys are like the Yankees.
Things to keep your eye on
Locally, Carolina is not done. They still need a top forward to complete a roster. Maybe Corey Stillman resigns? But ideally, JR will wait and make a trade this summer.
Brad Richards, the top prize this year, is still out there. I was shocked he didn't get signed today.
Tomas Kaberle needs a home as well and I don't see him returning to Boston
I'll be interested to see if anyone grabs Sergei Samsonov. I really wouldn't mind him back in Carolina if we can get him under a million, but there is no chance it happens.
So I start out with what my boys here in Carolina did. With only 8 forwards on the roster, not a surprise the Canes were active.
After signing Joni Pitkanen, Chad LaRose and Jussi Jokinen, I was not surprised to see Erik Cole walk. He was ok in his "rental" stint here in 2009, he was given a 3.5 Million 2 year deal that expired today. Considering this past season was the 2nd best year of his career, the offer of 3.5 Million probably did appear like a slap in the face to Cole.
Exploring free agency, Cole signed with Montreal for 4.5 Million and 4 years. What I find interesting in this deal is who it is with. Cole has been a Canadian killer his entire career. It all started in 2002 in the "Miracle at Molson."
The Molson Center, the former name of the home of the Canadians, played host to game 4 in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Up 2-1 in the series, game 4 was huge for both teams. Montreal came out and dominated the first 40 taking a commanding 3-0 lead and 20 minutes away from a strangle hold on the series.
The Canes struck twice and then tied it on the stick of a then rookie Erik Cole. Not only did this set up the Canes winning the series and eventually the Eastern Conference, it set up Cole to dominate Montreal throughout his career, especially in the Molson (now Belle) Center.
What I'm curious to see is was it the team he was playing or the building he was playing in? He obviously can't dominate Montreal playing for them, however can still dominate in the building.
Personally, I'm ok with the money he got. He was a 3.5 million player and was clearly better after the contract than before it. That screams raise. However, 4 years is a lot to commit to a guy who is one more hit away fom his career being over and a guy who was an absolute disaster when he left Carolina for Edmonton previously in his career. Cole has never proved he can play with anyone but Eric Staal and will need to prove he is worth not only the money, but the term.
Carolina brought in 3 new guys and resigned Juri Tlusty as well on this day. Tlusty was a good pick up. I think he brings a lot to the table and considering we traded a first round pick to get him, I'm glad we didn't just lose him to free agency.
The three guys brought in, as a whole, I'm really in the middle about. However, I'm thrilled with Brian Boucher coming in Raleigh. Cam Ward desperately needed a veteran backup that was ready to step in at any moment. The Justin Peters experiment did NOT work and he needs another few years in the AHL. Boucher as the back up for the next two years gives Peters a chance to be the guy in Charlotte and come back in two years as a much more experienced goalie. However, the only down side is young goalie Mike Murphy, who I really like, just lost a of time in net due to this.
Tim Brent is also wearing red now. I'm mixed about this one. This guy really hasn't done much in his career and is really small. However, he is a great face off guy and that was a clear struggle last year. He should takes some draws and kill some penalties. I thought Zenon Kenopka would be an interesting option at this spot, but alas, we get a small guy who doesn't intimidate anyone.
I really don't like the Alexei Ponikarovsky getting added. He hasn't done much the last few years and unless he stays in a third line role, really will not add that much to the team. I'm glad he's on a one year deal. And at 1.5 Million, it's not too high risk. I just don't see a big splash from this guy and more importantly, I don't really see him fitting in. He was intended to be the big nasty guy in front on the Cole Staal line. Without Cole, who knows where he fits in.
Alright, so there's Carolina. Here are my best signings of the day:
Jeff Halperin - Washington - 825K. Super cheap for a role this team needs. With all that firepower and trouble in the playoffs, a good defensive veteran center is a great add. Ideally, he was my first choice in the spot that Tim Brent got.
Maxime Talbot - Philadelphia - 1.8 Million, 2 years. What a deal. This guy can do it all in any situation and has crazy amounts of playoff experience, including his name on the cup.
Mike Commodore - Detroit - 1 Million. I think Commodore is a very underrated player in this league. He had a little bit of pressure on the redonkulas contract he got in Columbus a few years back. A million seems about right and small term, so if it doesn't work, he's gone. Low risk, big payoff.
Dan Carcillio - Chicago - 750K. With all that talent, Chicago needs a tough guy. Great pickup. Low price.
Here are my stretches....
Patrick Eaves - Detroit - 1.3 Million - 3 years. He is my least favorite player of all time. You could pay him below US minimum wage and I would think it's too much.
James Wisniewski - Columbus - 5.5 Million - 6 years. 5.5 Million? For a second tier defensemen? You're serious? And then you get him for 6 years?!? Without a doubt the worst signing of the day. I can name 15 - 20 defensemen I would pick over this guy and probably 5 - 10 of those make less than this. He's a good player, no doubt. But no more than 2 - 3 million for this guy. But Columbus has a nack for doing this. I.E. see Mike Commodore a few years ago.
Tomas Fleischmann - Florida - 4.5 Million - 4 years. Exact same deal Erik Cole, and I thought Erik Cole's was a stretch. So, Cole has 28 goals and 28 assists last year on an average team. Felischmann had 12 and 19 in 45 games on a great team and has only hit the 20 goal mark once in his career. But hey, enjoy your money.
Erik Cole - see above.
Free Agent Day Winners
Chicago - lots of grit added. They have the firepower, just needed to add the muscle that won them the cup in 2010.
Washington - Great trade with Varmalov getting rid of the 3 goalie issue and then throw in Halperin, playoff guru Joel Ward, stud defensmen Roman Hamrlik, plus the trade for Troy Brouwer and Washington looks as complete as I've ever seen them and my early favorite to hoist the cup.
Philly - They made up for the guys they lost with Talbot and oh yeah, Jaromir Freakin Jagr. Any doubt that this could still play in my mind was erased in the Olympics last year.
Signing Day Losers
Florida - Holy crap calm down. This is basically a brand new team this year but guess what, no one watches this team. This team is basically starting over. Hell, their website is advertising them basically starting over. Lots of new players to play in front of empty green seats.
New York Rangers - These guys did NOTHING and they need scoring. Lots of names out there still, including Brad Richards, but so far, nothing.
Montreal - Once again, over paying and taking risks. These guys are like the Yankees.
Things to keep your eye on
Locally, Carolina is not done. They still need a top forward to complete a roster. Maybe Corey Stillman resigns? But ideally, JR will wait and make a trade this summer.
Brad Richards, the top prize this year, is still out there. I was shocked he didn't get signed today.
Tomas Kaberle needs a home as well and I don't see him returning to Boston
I'll be interested to see if anyone grabs Sergei Samsonov. I really wouldn't mind him back in Carolina if we can get him under a million, but there is no chance it happens.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Missin the Kinda Not So Long Ago Days
I really don't know when. I really don't know how. I certainly don't know why. But ever since around the age of 12, I've loved pro wrestling.
My first real memory of wrestling came on Monday nights watching Raw - and only 1 per month was live - where there would be one interview promoting the main event at one of 5 Pay Per View Events throughout the year, then some big names would destroy guys with characters that were made to represent nerds or homeless people or whatever they could think of and by the end of the night, some bad guy, known as a heel, did something awful and the night was saved by our hero, known as a face. This face would celebrate in the ring as the cameras faded and thus went my favorite hour of the week.
I was obsessed. This was before the day and age of DVR and while VCR's were around, programmed VCR's weren't. There was no on demand. No internet. You either watched it from 9-10 on USA or you didn't see it. It really was that simple.
Twice a year, mom, dad and I headed to Florida to see my mom's family and this caused quite the issue come Monday night. Grandma didn't have cable. How dare I miss Bret Hart walk down with his greasy hair to that awesome guitar rip in pink tights and then hand his autographed glasses to some unsuspecting kid? How dare I miss Undertaker bring the lights up at the ring? Who would stop the demented Psycho Sid? No matter what, somehow I made it to a TV on that Monday for that hour and answered all those questions.
Wrestling wasn't cool, however. No one really ever admitted to watching it. We all had that friend we talked to about it, but it wasn't something you broadcasted that you were into. I saw it kind of like the being in the band. It wasn't the coolest thing in the world, but you knew lots of cool people that did it. That is until one man forever changed the business by accident.
Steve Austin, who had a so-so career wrestling as Stunning Steve Austin and the Ringmaster, was in the need of a new personality. With his Texas roots, he became one of the biggest heels in wrestling. He was the stereotypical Texas Redneck with a huge attitude and a bigger since of entitlement.
After defeating Jake the Snake Roberts, who was pushing his Christianity at the time, Austin muttered the most famous line in the history of wrestling, literally on a whim and both completely unscripted and completely live.
You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16... Well Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!
Five months later Austin was battling Bret Hart, right after some kid got a pair of sunglasses that is, and was locked in Bret Hart's famous and surely match ending Sharpshooter, a move that looks like would hurt about as much as laying on a pillow, screaming for his life. Earlier in the match, Austin had been cut open in the forehead (real) and was bleeding pretty badly.
That day and age, that amount of blood was never fake on the mainstream of wrestling. There is no way anyone could have known what would happen when Austin arched his back, just as the camera shows his face, and screamed in pain with blood dripping to the mat. Almost as unforeseeable and random as Austin's famous line a few months before, a new era was born by accident. The heel became the face. The face became the heel.
Austin, still instructed to play the heel over the next few months and Hart, still instructed to play the face, were clearly different after this night. Hart is and was one of the most popular wrestlers ever and Austin was the guy we loved to hate. Hart would come to the ring, talk up the crowd and how much he loved the city - classic good guy stuff - and here comes the boos. And then here comes Austin saying he hates this city and hates every SOB here - classic bad guy stuff - and here comes the cheers.
Austin was then morphed into the role model for all the hard working blue collar workers in the country. He was a good ole southern boy who didn't take crap from anyone. He did what he wanted when he wanted. He drank beer. He poured beer on his boss. He drove a pick up truck into people. He even broke in someones house and beat them up at home. But with the exception of doing these things to heels instead of faces, the "new" Austin really was not much different than the "old" Austin.
Wrestling was now cool and was completely different. Raw was now 2 hours, live every other week, rivaling WCW - which coincidentally for me, came on channel 26, where as Raw was on channel 25, producing a Pay Per View per month but more importantly, cool to watch. Instead of having that one friend, you had circles of friends. Instead of it being like in the band, it was like being on the football team. Anyone who was anyone watched and loved wrestling.
If I was obsessed at 12, I'm not sure what the word would be at 16. There was a new heelface - my term for a guy who like Austin somehow merges into a heel from a face when their character isn't much different then who they were as heel - that went by The Rock and was, and likely forever will be, my favorite wrestler of all time.
This dude always had something to say and you can rest assured no matter what it was, it was hysterical. He had a move where he stood over an opponent, took his elbow pad off, threw his arms back and forth looking like he was impersonating the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, would run over the guy a few times and then right before dropping what is nothing more than a simple elbow to the chest - a move literally every wrestler did almost in every match - would stop to make it the most dramatic - and entertaining - five seconds of the night. Give it a fancy name - The People's Elbow - and you have a revolution.
In reality it was dumber than Hogan's Leg Drop. Worse than Mankind sticking a sock down someone's throat. Looked less painful than the Sharpshooter. Yet, it was amazing. It was the greatest thing I'd ever seen.
And it wasn't just the Rock. There was DX who declared war on WCW. There were constant run ins with Vince McMahon, the evil and rich owner. There were people buried alive. One time someone got thrown into a river, and then pinned IN the river. It literally NEVER stopped.
But then one day, just as magically Austin started it all, wrestling did something it didn't do in quite sometime. Stopped. Austin had too many neck injuries and retired. The Rock, with this good looks, amazing ability to keep a straight face and large physique, went on to movies.
Suddenly the old was new again. The nWo, one of the most popular groups ever from WCW, came to the WWE. Hulk Hogan was brought back. DX was reformed. And it was just the same washed up stuff over and over.
The WWE was now forced with a very radical decision. Do they bring back the era that started it all - an era full of beer drinking, sexual references, blood, head shots, cursing and pretty much 100% hell raising or do you realize that parents are refusing to let their kids watch this and they are the biggest market and the ones with the dollars.
And then came the moment that wrestling finally stopped; wrestling sold out. And for the first time in a while, it wasn't an arena.
From a business stand point, I get it. I bet, financially, WWE is as good as ever. By taking away the head shots, keeping it PG, fining wrestlers in real life for crossing the line with the violence, wrestling is really marketable to families. But there's no Rock. There's no Austin. Kids are in love with John Cena - a guy who stands up for what is right, never backs down from a challenge and is always there to defend our country. There's Rey Mysterio who takes the time to touch forehead to forehead with any kid wearing his mask at ringside. There's one heelface - Randy Orton - but it's pretty much people like me who are wrestling purists and love his talent. But ironically, wrestling is closer to how it was when I was 12 then ever before.
For about 10 years - from the night Austin bled in the Sharpshooter till around 2007, the WWE was in it's golden age. It's hard for me to say "I miss the good ole days" because it's impossible to miss something that we currently have. So I guess what I'm saying is I miss the kinda not so long ago days.
I still watch wrestling every Monday but it certianly doesn't go too much further. In an age with DVR, my DVR is never set to wrestling. If I miss it, eh, who cares. I'll be ok.
My first real memory of wrestling came on Monday nights watching Raw - and only 1 per month was live - where there would be one interview promoting the main event at one of 5 Pay Per View Events throughout the year, then some big names would destroy guys with characters that were made to represent nerds or homeless people or whatever they could think of and by the end of the night, some bad guy, known as a heel, did something awful and the night was saved by our hero, known as a face. This face would celebrate in the ring as the cameras faded and thus went my favorite hour of the week.
I was obsessed. This was before the day and age of DVR and while VCR's were around, programmed VCR's weren't. There was no on demand. No internet. You either watched it from 9-10 on USA or you didn't see it. It really was that simple.
Twice a year, mom, dad and I headed to Florida to see my mom's family and this caused quite the issue come Monday night. Grandma didn't have cable. How dare I miss Bret Hart walk down with his greasy hair to that awesome guitar rip in pink tights and then hand his autographed glasses to some unsuspecting kid? How dare I miss Undertaker bring the lights up at the ring? Who would stop the demented Psycho Sid? No matter what, somehow I made it to a TV on that Monday for that hour and answered all those questions.
Wrestling wasn't cool, however. No one really ever admitted to watching it. We all had that friend we talked to about it, but it wasn't something you broadcasted that you were into. I saw it kind of like the being in the band. It wasn't the coolest thing in the world, but you knew lots of cool people that did it. That is until one man forever changed the business by accident.
Steve Austin, who had a so-so career wrestling as Stunning Steve Austin and the Ringmaster, was in the need of a new personality. With his Texas roots, he became one of the biggest heels in wrestling. He was the stereotypical Texas Redneck with a huge attitude and a bigger since of entitlement.
After defeating Jake the Snake Roberts, who was pushing his Christianity at the time, Austin muttered the most famous line in the history of wrestling, literally on a whim and both completely unscripted and completely live.
You sit there and you thump your Bible, and you say your prayers, and it didn't get you anywhere! Talk about your psalms, talk about John 3:16... Well Austin 3:16 says I just whooped your ass!
Five months later Austin was battling Bret Hart, right after some kid got a pair of sunglasses that is, and was locked in Bret Hart's famous and surely match ending Sharpshooter, a move that looks like would hurt about as much as laying on a pillow, screaming for his life. Earlier in the match, Austin had been cut open in the forehead (real) and was bleeding pretty badly.
That day and age, that amount of blood was never fake on the mainstream of wrestling. There is no way anyone could have known what would happen when Austin arched his back, just as the camera shows his face, and screamed in pain with blood dripping to the mat. Almost as unforeseeable and random as Austin's famous line a few months before, a new era was born by accident. The heel became the face. The face became the heel.
Austin, still instructed to play the heel over the next few months and Hart, still instructed to play the face, were clearly different after this night. Hart is and was one of the most popular wrestlers ever and Austin was the guy we loved to hate. Hart would come to the ring, talk up the crowd and how much he loved the city - classic good guy stuff - and here comes the boos. And then here comes Austin saying he hates this city and hates every SOB here - classic bad guy stuff - and here comes the cheers.
Austin was then morphed into the role model for all the hard working blue collar workers in the country. He was a good ole southern boy who didn't take crap from anyone. He did what he wanted when he wanted. He drank beer. He poured beer on his boss. He drove a pick up truck into people. He even broke in someones house and beat them up at home. But with the exception of doing these things to heels instead of faces, the "new" Austin really was not much different than the "old" Austin.
Wrestling was now cool and was completely different. Raw was now 2 hours, live every other week, rivaling WCW - which coincidentally for me, came on channel 26, where as Raw was on channel 25, producing a Pay Per View per month but more importantly, cool to watch. Instead of having that one friend, you had circles of friends. Instead of it being like in the band, it was like being on the football team. Anyone who was anyone watched and loved wrestling.
If I was obsessed at 12, I'm not sure what the word would be at 16. There was a new heelface - my term for a guy who like Austin somehow merges into a heel from a face when their character isn't much different then who they were as heel - that went by The Rock and was, and likely forever will be, my favorite wrestler of all time.
This dude always had something to say and you can rest assured no matter what it was, it was hysterical. He had a move where he stood over an opponent, took his elbow pad off, threw his arms back and forth looking like he was impersonating the scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, would run over the guy a few times and then right before dropping what is nothing more than a simple elbow to the chest - a move literally every wrestler did almost in every match - would stop to make it the most dramatic - and entertaining - five seconds of the night. Give it a fancy name - The People's Elbow - and you have a revolution.
In reality it was dumber than Hogan's Leg Drop. Worse than Mankind sticking a sock down someone's throat. Looked less painful than the Sharpshooter. Yet, it was amazing. It was the greatest thing I'd ever seen.
And it wasn't just the Rock. There was DX who declared war on WCW. There were constant run ins with Vince McMahon, the evil and rich owner. There were people buried alive. One time someone got thrown into a river, and then pinned IN the river. It literally NEVER stopped.
But then one day, just as magically Austin started it all, wrestling did something it didn't do in quite sometime. Stopped. Austin had too many neck injuries and retired. The Rock, with this good looks, amazing ability to keep a straight face and large physique, went on to movies.
Suddenly the old was new again. The nWo, one of the most popular groups ever from WCW, came to the WWE. Hulk Hogan was brought back. DX was reformed. And it was just the same washed up stuff over and over.
The WWE was now forced with a very radical decision. Do they bring back the era that started it all - an era full of beer drinking, sexual references, blood, head shots, cursing and pretty much 100% hell raising or do you realize that parents are refusing to let their kids watch this and they are the biggest market and the ones with the dollars.
And then came the moment that wrestling finally stopped; wrestling sold out. And for the first time in a while, it wasn't an arena.
From a business stand point, I get it. I bet, financially, WWE is as good as ever. By taking away the head shots, keeping it PG, fining wrestlers in real life for crossing the line with the violence, wrestling is really marketable to families. But there's no Rock. There's no Austin. Kids are in love with John Cena - a guy who stands up for what is right, never backs down from a challenge and is always there to defend our country. There's Rey Mysterio who takes the time to touch forehead to forehead with any kid wearing his mask at ringside. There's one heelface - Randy Orton - but it's pretty much people like me who are wrestling purists and love his talent. But ironically, wrestling is closer to how it was when I was 12 then ever before.
For about 10 years - from the night Austin bled in the Sharpshooter till around 2007, the WWE was in it's golden age. It's hard for me to say "I miss the good ole days" because it's impossible to miss something that we currently have. So I guess what I'm saying is I miss the kinda not so long ago days.
I still watch wrestling every Monday but it certianly doesn't go too much further. In an age with DVR, my DVR is never set to wrestling. If I miss it, eh, who cares. I'll be ok.
Friday, June 24, 2011
NHL Draft Night
JV football plays on Thursday nights and Varsity plays on Friday. The NBA draft was Thursday and the NHL draft was Friday. Just saying.
This year's draft comes from the hockey state, Minnesota. One of the coolest thing the NHL does is rotate the draft around like All Star Games. This surely is better than what other sports do by always having it in the same venue over and over. Getting the same reaction to teams picks like you see in the NFL draft get's boring and old. The NHL gives fans all over North America a chance to go to the NHL draft.
Saying all that, I'm a hockey nut and you couldn't pay me to sit at one of these things. Holy Lord. The draft was in Raleigh a few years back (the Ovechkin draft, actually) and my dad asked if I wanted to go. Yeah, sure dad. And then let's go run a marathon.
To start out, thank the good Lord that once again Versus has decided to not use their own coverage of the draft rather Canada's version of ESPN, TSN's feed. Without too much surprise, there really is no one there and outside of a few notable stories, really has been a pretty boring draft.
Last year, you had Taylor (Hall) or Tyler (Seguin) as the big story. Hall went first to Edmonton sending Seguin number 2 to Boston. That's right, the current champs had the number 2 pick last year. The reason why is simple. Ownage. Phil Kessell, a good player no doubt, was traded to Toronto two seasons before for not one, not two but three first round draft picks. Toronto places no conditional tag on these first round picks, bombs and Boston is guaranteed an NHL ready forward.
Perhaps my favorite part of this complete ownage is what happened this past season. Toronto, tanking (thanks to in part to no first round pick and Kessell having a so so year), sends pending unrestricted free agent and offensively gifted defenseman Tomas Kaberle to Boston in exchange for a first round pick this year. Not Toronto's pick, but Bostons. Yeah, the one waaaaaaaay back in the first round, not the one Toronto earned at 9. Maybe one of the most lopsided trade stories I've heard in a quite sometime.
On to some commentary about the draft...
Immediately I want to start by saying how different this draft is. Last year I could name 4 guys I knew would be drafted high (Hall, Seguin, Cam Fowler and ROY Jeff Skinner). This year I seriously couldn't name a single one. And I love hockey. And know a lot more about it than you. Unless "you" happens to be Brooks. Then I don't.
So we start at the top and once again, you start with Edmonton. The Oilers take triple named Ryan Nugent - Hopkins. I haven't been able to confirm this, but I would like to officially start a rumor that Ryan is the illegitimate love child of Ted and Bernard.
Perhaps my favorite thing thus far about the draft coverage is the tweets running across the screen when players made comments about the draft. Ryan Whitney started the tweeting off with a great one liner.
"Welcome RNH to the Oilers. Now go get my tape."
If was tweet was RN-H instead, I would love probably taken a screen shot of his twitter account and made it my background on the laptop.
I would like to, at this time, rant about my hatred of hyphenated names, triple names and pretty much anyone who uses their middle name when identifying themselves. What is the deal with the hyphen? Can you not make your mind up?
This all started when I worked as teller. Many people would always ask me when making deposits what would happen if I made a keying error by one number and put the funds in another account. How would I know? Great question. Well, you also have to put in the first two letters of the person's last name as extra verification. So if the account is owned by Smith and the account is 123456 and someone with the name Johnson has the account 123457 and I key 123457 accidentally, the SM entered instead of the JO makes the deposit denied.
So here is the common bond of the last two paragraphs. People with hyphenated names caused me to flat out guess what those two letters would be. I mean flat out guess. No matter what, I was wrong. And I'd have to start allllll over again with the deposit.
There was one guy who came by the branch I worked at all the time with a deposit for his wife who had a hyphenated name and while he was awesome, it drove me crazy inside making the deposit. Ironically, I ended up working with her a few months later.
And just to wrap up name chat, my least favorite name of all time is Calgary Flame Curtis Glencross. When you hear it, it seems like it is a triple name, but it's not. His last name is Glencross. So this guy has a FAKE triple name. Can't stand it. I've even called it repulsive at times.
The next big story, in my mind, was at pick seven by the Thrasherless Winnipeg whatevers. Mark Scheifele made history being the first player drafted by the new....drumroll.....Jets. That's right, they also announced that this team would be the Jets. However, there was nothing mentioned about logos. Colors. Nothing.
So this kid gets up, stoked to be drafted seventh in the NHL draft, realizing his dream has come true, just watched 6 other kids run up on stage, shake hands with the commissioner (get your head out of the gutter) and put on a classic NHL sweater and what happens? He get's a freakin generic black and white jersey and hat with the NHL logo. You have to be freakin kidding me. That's the best they could do? Black and white head to toe. It looked like they were drafting from the California Penal League. Yup, that's where Rick Vaughn pitched.
As a Carolina fan, their pick at 12 was very important to me. A few minutes prior, they show this super jersey shore looking Canadian kid with his hair all spiked up wearing a light blue shirt with the top button undone and his tie kinda somewhat tied and I'm thinking holy crap look at this little prick. Turns out this pricks name is Ryan Murphy, the newest member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
I'm not going to break down what I think about the pick because all I could really do is copy and paste what I've read. What I can do is say that the best offensive defensmen in the draft, as I read, going to us (and yes, I can say us. I have the 42 tickets year in and out to prove it) brought a few interesting thoughts to my mind. Our GM Jim Rutherford, who I recently saw getting a massage at a rehab facility, HATES drafting D men in the first round (and this isn't opinion, this is documented) and the Canes need help stopping goals, not scoring them. But one thing I've learned in the close to 15 years the Canes have been here - Rutherford's track record speaks for himself. This time last year we were going "why is he drafting Jeff Skinner? Kid is too small to play." A Calder (ROY) trophy a year later and Rutherford once again looks like a genius.
This pick, like it has been for the last few years, was read by our most legendary player, Ronnie Franchise (By the way, another thing the NHL does better than anyone else with their draft. Let's the team make the picks. A true welcoming to the team. Love it).
But this does bring up another point I would like to make right now. Ron is 6 ft 3 in tall (unless someone thought it would be funny to make him taller or shorter on Wikipedia as a joke that is) which compared to you and I is pretty tall. But I would say this is probably below average for a professional athlete, especially when you consider basketball. But alas, not very tall. This guy has to bend down literally to where he looks like he has just been smacked in the back of the head to get to the microphone. I met Gary Betteman at the NHL All Star game. Dude is short. Maybe he decided where the mic height should be? Just redonkulas.
Another cool thing was the city of Minnesota booing EVERYTHING the Dallas Stars did while at the stand. They also booed the Canadians pick as most of it was in French and started a USA chant. Classic. Made me laugh.
Speaking of that, that guy spoke for like 20 seconds in french and then like 4 seconds in English. I really hope he wasn't relaying bomb codes north of the border. Hate to end that whole largest undefended border in the world record we have going with the Canadians.
Without a doubt the classiest and best thing of the draft was the Rangers letting the late and former member of the Minnesota Wild Derek Boogaard's brother, Aaron, make the pick for the Rangers. Huge standing ovation for him and a good ole "BOOOO" broke out, this time in a good manner, throughout the arena.
I'm ready to drop puck this fall. Can you tell?
This year's draft comes from the hockey state, Minnesota. One of the coolest thing the NHL does is rotate the draft around like All Star Games. This surely is better than what other sports do by always having it in the same venue over and over. Getting the same reaction to teams picks like you see in the NFL draft get's boring and old. The NHL gives fans all over North America a chance to go to the NHL draft.
Saying all that, I'm a hockey nut and you couldn't pay me to sit at one of these things. Holy Lord. The draft was in Raleigh a few years back (the Ovechkin draft, actually) and my dad asked if I wanted to go. Yeah, sure dad. And then let's go run a marathon.
To start out, thank the good Lord that once again Versus has decided to not use their own coverage of the draft rather Canada's version of ESPN, TSN's feed. Without too much surprise, there really is no one there and outside of a few notable stories, really has been a pretty boring draft.
Last year, you had Taylor (Hall) or Tyler (Seguin) as the big story. Hall went first to Edmonton sending Seguin number 2 to Boston. That's right, the current champs had the number 2 pick last year. The reason why is simple. Ownage. Phil Kessell, a good player no doubt, was traded to Toronto two seasons before for not one, not two but three first round draft picks. Toronto places no conditional tag on these first round picks, bombs and Boston is guaranteed an NHL ready forward.
Perhaps my favorite part of this complete ownage is what happened this past season. Toronto, tanking (thanks to in part to no first round pick and Kessell having a so so year), sends pending unrestricted free agent and offensively gifted defenseman Tomas Kaberle to Boston in exchange for a first round pick this year. Not Toronto's pick, but Bostons. Yeah, the one waaaaaaaay back in the first round, not the one Toronto earned at 9. Maybe one of the most lopsided trade stories I've heard in a quite sometime.
On to some commentary about the draft...
Immediately I want to start by saying how different this draft is. Last year I could name 4 guys I knew would be drafted high (Hall, Seguin, Cam Fowler and ROY Jeff Skinner). This year I seriously couldn't name a single one. And I love hockey. And know a lot more about it than you. Unless "you" happens to be Brooks. Then I don't.
So we start at the top and once again, you start with Edmonton. The Oilers take triple named Ryan Nugent - Hopkins. I haven't been able to confirm this, but I would like to officially start a rumor that Ryan is the illegitimate love child of Ted and Bernard.
Perhaps my favorite thing thus far about the draft coverage is the tweets running across the screen when players made comments about the draft. Ryan Whitney started the tweeting off with a great one liner.
"Welcome RNH to the Oilers. Now go get my tape."
If was tweet was RN-H instead, I would love probably taken a screen shot of his twitter account and made it my background on the laptop.
I would like to, at this time, rant about my hatred of hyphenated names, triple names and pretty much anyone who uses their middle name when identifying themselves. What is the deal with the hyphen? Can you not make your mind up?
This all started when I worked as teller. Many people would always ask me when making deposits what would happen if I made a keying error by one number and put the funds in another account. How would I know? Great question. Well, you also have to put in the first two letters of the person's last name as extra verification. So if the account is owned by Smith and the account is 123456 and someone with the name Johnson has the account 123457 and I key 123457 accidentally, the SM entered instead of the JO makes the deposit denied.
So here is the common bond of the last two paragraphs. People with hyphenated names caused me to flat out guess what those two letters would be. I mean flat out guess. No matter what, I was wrong. And I'd have to start allllll over again with the deposit.
There was one guy who came by the branch I worked at all the time with a deposit for his wife who had a hyphenated name and while he was awesome, it drove me crazy inside making the deposit. Ironically, I ended up working with her a few months later.
And just to wrap up name chat, my least favorite name of all time is Calgary Flame Curtis Glencross. When you hear it, it seems like it is a triple name, but it's not. His last name is Glencross. So this guy has a FAKE triple name. Can't stand it. I've even called it repulsive at times.
The next big story, in my mind, was at pick seven by the Thrasherless Winnipeg whatevers. Mark Scheifele made history being the first player drafted by the new....drumroll.....Jets. That's right, they also announced that this team would be the Jets. However, there was nothing mentioned about logos. Colors. Nothing.
So this kid gets up, stoked to be drafted seventh in the NHL draft, realizing his dream has come true, just watched 6 other kids run up on stage, shake hands with the commissioner (get your head out of the gutter) and put on a classic NHL sweater and what happens? He get's a freakin generic black and white jersey and hat with the NHL logo. You have to be freakin kidding me. That's the best they could do? Black and white head to toe. It looked like they were drafting from the California Penal League. Yup, that's where Rick Vaughn pitched.
As a Carolina fan, their pick at 12 was very important to me. A few minutes prior, they show this super jersey shore looking Canadian kid with his hair all spiked up wearing a light blue shirt with the top button undone and his tie kinda somewhat tied and I'm thinking holy crap look at this little prick. Turns out this pricks name is Ryan Murphy, the newest member of the Carolina Hurricanes.
I'm not going to break down what I think about the pick because all I could really do is copy and paste what I've read. What I can do is say that the best offensive defensmen in the draft, as I read, going to us (and yes, I can say us. I have the 42 tickets year in and out to prove it) brought a few interesting thoughts to my mind. Our GM Jim Rutherford, who I recently saw getting a massage at a rehab facility, HATES drafting D men in the first round (and this isn't opinion, this is documented) and the Canes need help stopping goals, not scoring them. But one thing I've learned in the close to 15 years the Canes have been here - Rutherford's track record speaks for himself. This time last year we were going "why is he drafting Jeff Skinner? Kid is too small to play." A Calder (ROY) trophy a year later and Rutherford once again looks like a genius.
This pick, like it has been for the last few years, was read by our most legendary player, Ronnie Franchise (By the way, another thing the NHL does better than anyone else with their draft. Let's the team make the picks. A true welcoming to the team. Love it).
But this does bring up another point I would like to make right now. Ron is 6 ft 3 in tall (unless someone thought it would be funny to make him taller or shorter on Wikipedia as a joke that is) which compared to you and I is pretty tall. But I would say this is probably below average for a professional athlete, especially when you consider basketball. But alas, not very tall. This guy has to bend down literally to where he looks like he has just been smacked in the back of the head to get to the microphone. I met Gary Betteman at the NHL All Star game. Dude is short. Maybe he decided where the mic height should be? Just redonkulas.
Another cool thing was the city of Minnesota booing EVERYTHING the Dallas Stars did while at the stand. They also booed the Canadians pick as most of it was in French and started a USA chant. Classic. Made me laugh.
Speaking of that, that guy spoke for like 20 seconds in french and then like 4 seconds in English. I really hope he wasn't relaying bomb codes north of the border. Hate to end that whole largest undefended border in the world record we have going with the Canadians.
Without a doubt the classiest and best thing of the draft was the Rangers letting the late and former member of the Minnesota Wild Derek Boogaard's brother, Aaron, make the pick for the Rangers. Huge standing ovation for him and a good ole "BOOOO" broke out, this time in a good manner, throughout the arena.
I'm ready to drop puck this fall. Can you tell?
Thursday, June 23, 2011
NBA Draft Night
Interesting night, thus far, in New York.
Without any surprise and much to the love of conspiracy theorists everywhere, Kyrie the toe Irving was selected by Cleveland at number 1 overall. There's certianly some merit to the conspiracy theory regarding him. It is rather amazing that the year after Cleveland get's LeBroned they end up with the number one pick. While Kyrie certainly seems to be an NBA All Star and a boost to wallets of podiatrists in the Cleveland area, this is nowhere near the biggest warranted conspiracy in sports.
How about in 2005 when the NHL was returning from a lock out and were busy trying to explain why hockey would work on the Outdoor Life Network? The NHL, and rightfully so, did a true lottery for the picks. With all the rule changes in the upcoming season, no one really knew who would be good that year as proved by Carolina and Buffalo meeting in the Eastern conference after being predicted to finish last and next to last, respectively, at the start of the season.
Pittsburgh was the lucky team that year winning the first overall pick. The Penguins at the time were a complete disaster. Not only were they terrible, the Igloo was becoming the Trash Can and the team was ready to move to Kansas City. Luckily, local hockey legend and probably the second best hockey player of all time Super Mario Lemeuix was interested in purchasing the team and would save the team and lead them to the Cup in the next few season.
Well that and their draft pick from that "random" lottery - Sidney Crosby.
And if you want to talk conspiracy in the NBA with Cleveland, how about Cleveland getting the first pick when LeBron was coming to the league. The biggest can't miss since Coke Zero, LeBron not only had mega celebrity MVP written all over him, he came from Ohio.
Of course, both the NHL and NBA use a non traditional draft with the worst teams not guaranteed the first pick. This prevents tanking but promotes silly conspiracies that really are nothing more than coincidence like the three mentioned here.
Other things I've noted tonight is how friendly everyone has been. It's so sweet that teams are drafting for each other and holding hands. When Norris Cole debuts in Miami, maybe he should have Kum By Yah as his entrance music - kinda like each individual hitter does in MLB. He was drafted by Chicago for Minnesota. Then Miami drafted some kid from Bosnia for Minnesota so they could get Cole. Awww. So sweet we are all getting along!
And what is up with all these international players? At first I thought I was maybe a day in the future watching the NHL draft. Of course this in reality has nothing to with the talent across the pond but rather the lack of talent in college basketball this past season. Let's not forget that when everyone was illegally (and probably breaking many rules of their employers) filling out brackets in March, no one could consistently pick a champion. "What a tournament this will be!" the heads at ESPN proclaimed. I get that 10 teams are evenly matched, but when your match up is B minus play, then whatever. I guess the only comment I have is Fran Freschella is going to hold out for more money next year. Holy crap I'm tired of hearing this guy and watching videos of players shot from hand held cameras and streaming from youtube from a Nigerian account who still needs your help with that currency transaction.
My worst move of the night goes to my local Charlotte Bobcats. MJ certainly was magic on the court but the magic he creates as an owner is much larger. Maybe it should be called black magic as he has once again proved that big name athletes are terrible coaches and GMs.
While on that subject, I once heard Charles Barkely, when he wasn't contemplating switching his golf swing to the left side of the ball (which as a lefty golfer, I highly advise), give his opinion why this was the case. Guys let Gretzky, Jordan, Bird and other failures as coaches / owners / GMs went to levels no one could match on their playground of choice in their prime. They just knew they had to put whatever "it" is into gear. That was the way their teams played - just get it to the guy, he will take care of it. Not many Michael Jordans on the Charlotte Bobcats. I certainly don't remember seeing anyone from anywhere near French Lick on the Pacers. Phoenix almost went bankrupt, much less had anything close to 99.
So MJ makes a great trade and sends overrated and overpaid and very common named Steven Jackson away and grabs another top 10 pick. So far so good Black Magic. And you also snag Corey Maggette. Ok, we get it, you like UNC and Duke players. But he's a solid player.
With this pick, clearly addressing a terrible draft decision from the years before, you pass up on to me the biggest need in Charlotte, a scoring point guard and future all star (and maybe rookie of the year) Brandon Knight. And who do you get? A septlingual high pitched version of Mutumbo. This allows Detroit to grab Knight and then, uh oh, here comes number 9. Wait, you still need a point gaurd. Guess we will have to get ole chin hair himself, Kimba Walker.
Drafting whatever the dude from Congo's name is at 7 and having a pick at 9 means you both really wanted him AND you thought the team at 8, Detroit, would grab him. If your plan was Makhtar Ndiaye's twin and a PG, why not get the Knight at 7? With Buckwheat Wallace on Detroit, do you really think they want another big man who can't score?
Of course this all relates to two terrible draft decision. MJ passed up on Rudy I'm not Gay to get Dirty Sanchez himself Adam Morrison. And then he passes up on Brook Lopez when the team CLEARLY needed a big man and you get DJ Augustine. While Augustine is a good player, Ray Felton was on the roster and really didn't need someone like Augustine behind him. And how about Alexis Ajinca. Yeah, he's been a huge help. Guys like Serge Ibaka, George Hill and Mario Chalmers were all around at the time. Of course MJ broke rule one. Never draft a dude with a girls name when someone with the name Serge is around.
And like normal at the NBA draft, the move of the night goes to the Spurs. Want to know why this team is so good? They draft good. Throw the Duncan move out because the only reason they got him was a ping pong ball landed right a season after David Robinson, who signs every autograph with a Bible verse, was out for the year. Gionobli, Parker and many other picks all homegrown Spurs draft picks. What do they do tonight? They get Kawhi Leonard from the Aztecs. This guy can flat out play and enters a perfect situation in San Antonio where they don't need him, but will certianly add depth to one the best franchises in sports over the last 20 years.
My haha moment of the draft goes to the Detroit Pistons drafting Mr. Softie and twin brother of a raptor, Kyle Singler. Look, I get it. The guy is soft but he can hit the step back jump...wait, no he can't. This guy will be a huge NBA bust. In fact, the only thing I can think that is good about him being drafted is the economic impact it will have on US Economy. That's right. I said it. He's so ugly and so awful, no one in Detroit will want to go see him play. Then these guys will get bored and go back to work. They then fix the automotive industry. I guess all that basketball Obama played was in fact part of this master plan - the Singler Stimulas plan.
That's all I got tonight. I'm sure more will come later. Keep coming back. If you must.
Without any surprise and much to the love of conspiracy theorists everywhere, Kyrie the toe Irving was selected by Cleveland at number 1 overall. There's certianly some merit to the conspiracy theory regarding him. It is rather amazing that the year after Cleveland get's LeBroned they end up with the number one pick. While Kyrie certainly seems to be an NBA All Star and a boost to wallets of podiatrists in the Cleveland area, this is nowhere near the biggest warranted conspiracy in sports.
How about in 2005 when the NHL was returning from a lock out and were busy trying to explain why hockey would work on the Outdoor Life Network? The NHL, and rightfully so, did a true lottery for the picks. With all the rule changes in the upcoming season, no one really knew who would be good that year as proved by Carolina and Buffalo meeting in the Eastern conference after being predicted to finish last and next to last, respectively, at the start of the season.
Pittsburgh was the lucky team that year winning the first overall pick. The Penguins at the time were a complete disaster. Not only were they terrible, the Igloo was becoming the Trash Can and the team was ready to move to Kansas City. Luckily, local hockey legend and probably the second best hockey player of all time Super Mario Lemeuix was interested in purchasing the team and would save the team and lead them to the Cup in the next few season.
Well that and their draft pick from that "random" lottery - Sidney Crosby.
And if you want to talk conspiracy in the NBA with Cleveland, how about Cleveland getting the first pick when LeBron was coming to the league. The biggest can't miss since Coke Zero, LeBron not only had mega celebrity MVP written all over him, he came from Ohio.
Of course, both the NHL and NBA use a non traditional draft with the worst teams not guaranteed the first pick. This prevents tanking but promotes silly conspiracies that really are nothing more than coincidence like the three mentioned here.
Other things I've noted tonight is how friendly everyone has been. It's so sweet that teams are drafting for each other and holding hands. When Norris Cole debuts in Miami, maybe he should have Kum By Yah as his entrance music - kinda like each individual hitter does in MLB. He was drafted by Chicago for Minnesota. Then Miami drafted some kid from Bosnia for Minnesota so they could get Cole. Awww. So sweet we are all getting along!
And what is up with all these international players? At first I thought I was maybe a day in the future watching the NHL draft. Of course this in reality has nothing to with the talent across the pond but rather the lack of talent in college basketball this past season. Let's not forget that when everyone was illegally (and probably breaking many rules of their employers) filling out brackets in March, no one could consistently pick a champion. "What a tournament this will be!" the heads at ESPN proclaimed. I get that 10 teams are evenly matched, but when your match up is B minus play, then whatever. I guess the only comment I have is Fran Freschella is going to hold out for more money next year. Holy crap I'm tired of hearing this guy and watching videos of players shot from hand held cameras and streaming from youtube from a Nigerian account who still needs your help with that currency transaction.
My worst move of the night goes to my local Charlotte Bobcats. MJ certainly was magic on the court but the magic he creates as an owner is much larger. Maybe it should be called black magic as he has once again proved that big name athletes are terrible coaches and GMs.
While on that subject, I once heard Charles Barkely, when he wasn't contemplating switching his golf swing to the left side of the ball (which as a lefty golfer, I highly advise), give his opinion why this was the case. Guys let Gretzky, Jordan, Bird and other failures as coaches / owners / GMs went to levels no one could match on their playground of choice in their prime. They just knew they had to put whatever "it" is into gear. That was the way their teams played - just get it to the guy, he will take care of it. Not many Michael Jordans on the Charlotte Bobcats. I certainly don't remember seeing anyone from anywhere near French Lick on the Pacers. Phoenix almost went bankrupt, much less had anything close to 99.
So MJ makes a great trade and sends overrated and overpaid and very common named Steven Jackson away and grabs another top 10 pick. So far so good Black Magic. And you also snag Corey Maggette. Ok, we get it, you like UNC and Duke players. But he's a solid player.
With this pick, clearly addressing a terrible draft decision from the years before, you pass up on to me the biggest need in Charlotte, a scoring point guard and future all star (and maybe rookie of the year) Brandon Knight. And who do you get? A septlingual high pitched version of Mutumbo. This allows Detroit to grab Knight and then, uh oh, here comes number 9. Wait, you still need a point gaurd. Guess we will have to get ole chin hair himself, Kimba Walker.
Drafting whatever the dude from Congo's name is at 7 and having a pick at 9 means you both really wanted him AND you thought the team at 8, Detroit, would grab him. If your plan was Makhtar Ndiaye's twin and a PG, why not get the Knight at 7? With Buckwheat Wallace on Detroit, do you really think they want another big man who can't score?
Of course this all relates to two terrible draft decision. MJ passed up on Rudy I'm not Gay to get Dirty Sanchez himself Adam Morrison. And then he passes up on Brook Lopez when the team CLEARLY needed a big man and you get DJ Augustine. While Augustine is a good player, Ray Felton was on the roster and really didn't need someone like Augustine behind him. And how about Alexis Ajinca. Yeah, he's been a huge help. Guys like Serge Ibaka, George Hill and Mario Chalmers were all around at the time. Of course MJ broke rule one. Never draft a dude with a girls name when someone with the name Serge is around.
And like normal at the NBA draft, the move of the night goes to the Spurs. Want to know why this team is so good? They draft good. Throw the Duncan move out because the only reason they got him was a ping pong ball landed right a season after David Robinson, who signs every autograph with a Bible verse, was out for the year. Gionobli, Parker and many other picks all homegrown Spurs draft picks. What do they do tonight? They get Kawhi Leonard from the Aztecs. This guy can flat out play and enters a perfect situation in San Antonio where they don't need him, but will certianly add depth to one the best franchises in sports over the last 20 years.
My haha moment of the draft goes to the Detroit Pistons drafting Mr. Softie and twin brother of a raptor, Kyle Singler. Look, I get it. The guy is soft but he can hit the step back jump...wait, no he can't. This guy will be a huge NBA bust. In fact, the only thing I can think that is good about him being drafted is the economic impact it will have on US Economy. That's right. I said it. He's so ugly and so awful, no one in Detroit will want to go see him play. Then these guys will get bored and go back to work. They then fix the automotive industry. I guess all that basketball Obama played was in fact part of this master plan - the Singler Stimulas plan.
That's all I got tonight. I'm sure more will come later. Keep coming back. If you must.
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