Devil of Sports

Broken Championship Series

2011-11-30T10:01:00.000-08:00

This year in college football has proved one thing, again: the BCS system is a joke. One big hypocritical joke.

If anyone believes that #1 LSU vs. #2 Alabama is a fair BCS Championship game, you’re kidding yourself.

It’s not because both teams play in the Southeastern Conference. It’s not even because both teams play in the SEC West. The problem is that these teams have played each other already and that it gives other conference with deserving teams no opportunity to win.

This would be the most hypocritical thing the NCAA and BCS will have ever done if they allow the championship to be played between LSU and Alabama. The proof? The 2006 Ohio State-Michigan rivalry game.

Until this year, when the Big Ten divided itself into two divisions with a conference championship game, Ohio State and Michigan would face each other in the last game of the regular season. In 2006, Ohio State was ranked #1 and Michigan #2, both entering the game undefeated. It ended with a Buckeye victory, 42-39 over the Wolverines. Following the game, a debate ensued over who Ohio State would face in the BCS Championship. At the time Florida also had a one-loss record. In the end, Florida got the nod over Michigan and went on to win the BCS Championship.

The reason that was given for Florida was that Michigan essentially lost their opportunity for a championship when they lost to Ohio State. The final regular season game was treated as a playoff game.

LSU and Alabama played each other this year on November 5. The teams entered the game #1 and #2, respectively, and in the end the Tigers came out victorious over the Tide 9-6. But with several more games left on the schedule for both teams, plus the SEC Championship, what the BCS and NCAA are saying is that because they faced each other earlier in the season, Alabama deserves a rematch.

That’s bullshit.

First, college football doesn’t have a playoff system. It should, but it doesn’t. If Michigan was eliminated in their final game of the regular season but Alabama gets another shot, that is ridiculous. The SEC is the best conference right now, but five years ago the Big Ten was arguably the best conference. The rules today are still the same, so shouldn't the same rules still apply, regardless of when the #1 played the #2?

Second, there are several other, deserving, one-loss teams out there in other conferences this season. #3 Oklahoma State has been hot all season and has an amazing, exciting offense. However, because they lost to an unranked Iowa State in their second to last game of the season, they are being penalized. If they beat in-state, conference rival #9 Oklahoma in the last game of the season, it would be a crime for them to not get a national title shot. And #5 Virginia Tech has fought through a tougher than usual ACC and has been a pleasant surprise. Their only loss came at the hands of Clemson, who is currently ranked and was #13 at the time of the loss, and the two teams meet again this Saturday in the ACC Championship game. But the BCS would claim that the SEC is the better conference so Alabama is more qualified.

Third, if Alabama doesn’t have to win their conference, or even their division, to get to the BCS Championship, then shouldn’t #4 Stanford also be thrown into the mix. Like the Tide, the Cardinal also only have one loss, to #8 Oregon, and have the best quarterback in college football, Andrew Luck.

Yesterday, Collin Cowherd of ESPN said that people need to get used to rematches in college football. With the Big Ten and Pac-12 expanding to 12 teams, and the Big 12 returning to that next season, rematches are going to be common. However, shouldn’t the BCS Championship be different?

In the NFL teams that meet in the playoffs have played each other in the regular season quite often. But once again, there are no playoffs in college football. The NCAA and BCS constantly claim that a playoff would diminish the importance of the regular season, which they claim is the most significant in all of sports for that reason. They claim that the regular season essentially are the playoffs. Well, if by their own logic that is the case, wouldn’t Alabama have been eliminated?

And if we really want to see the stupidity of the “people” running this joke of a system, do they not remember that politicians, some in US Congress, have been breathing down their necks saying that the BCS violates anti-trust laws and have been threatening to legally enforce changes? Don’t they see that a LSU vs. Alabama BCS Championship is only going to help their cause?

In 2006, going into the Championship, everyone assumed that Ohio State and Michigan were still the best two teams. They assumed that Florida had no business in the game and that the Buckeyes would blow them out of the water. They assumed that the Big Ten was the best conference. Well their assumptions were wrong. Florida won.

Shouldn’t these other conference teams be given a shot this year too? Or does the hypocrisy favor the SEC? Maybe other conferences and teams should just make their schedules more favorable?

Either way, you can bet that an all SEC BCS Championship game will not be a big hit with fans. The SEC has won the past five BCS titles and this wouldn't even allow another conference the opportunity to end that streak.

But we, the people, the fans, don’t have a vote, and it looks as if we are heading for a rematch. Let’s just hope it’s not another 9-6 snooze fest.

It All Rolls On

2011-11-09T12:25:00.000-08:00

On the Outside

Remember when you were a kid and believed that athletes played for the love of the game?

We all do. And we all can remember when we realized that pro athletes care more about money and endorsements than the sports they play. We watch our favorite stars leave our favorite teams for millions of dollars elsewhere, and our hearts are crushed when they take their talents to places like South Beach.

But there is a sport out there that is still pure, and played for passion and love.

So when I say the words “women’s roller derby,” what comes to mind? This is my story of how I became a part of the culture, and why this sport is becoming more popular in America each season.

On the outside, we see tattooed and pierced women. We see crazy hair colors and make up that would cause Mary Kay to roll over in her grave, assuming she’s dead. We see bruises on the skaters and crutches with the injured. And let’s not even talk about the smell of the venue after the game.

But what we don’t see (or smell) is what roller derby does to each woman that participates. The impact it has on every skater’s life. The memories it makes and the development it causes.

Nobody gets paid for playing this sport, at least not yet. These are women with jobs, women in school. These are women with kids, families, and responsibilities. These are women that go to late night or early morning practices, risking their pride and their bodies, only to leave and wake up, going to work the next day.

They will skate in one or two games, or bouts, a month. Not for money or fame, but for respect and fun. Some teams play in larger college arenas while others roll to skate parks, rec centers, high school gyms, and roller rinks.

But that’s not the whole derby way. You see, roller derby is not just a sport; it’s a way of life.

That might sound a little cliché, but spend a day, even an hour, with a team, and you will see how true it is.

I won't go into the rules of the sport, even though it is very different from any other, because it's far more than women knocking each other around on wheels. As awesome as that sounds, it's way better.

From Determinator to Tom Slamilton

My journey into this culture began in November 2010, when I started dating a member of the Cleveland Steamers, one of the four local teams part of the Burning River Roller Girls (BRRG) in Cleveland. I remember the first time she told me she played derby. I thought it was a cute little hobby. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I became what is called a Non-Skating Official (NSO), or as I called it a “Stat Geek,” for BRRG and went under the alias The Determinator. I made great friends and had a lot of fun. And even though my relationship with the skater known as B-Onya Guard only lasted a few months, my relationship with derby has lasted much, much longer.

Eventually, I ended up moving to Scranton, PA, not knowing a soul. I googled roller derby in the area and became a part of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Roller Radicals. I was nervous entering Skate-away, where they practice, for the first time. I was immediately accepted in Cleveland, and feared, having no friends in the area, that my frat-boy/super-geek combination of a personality would be rejected. When the doors swung open and I entered, I was accepted without question or hesitation. Within a week, they treated me like I had been there for years. Like a family member, in a slightly abusive family.

By the time of their last home game, and my first with the team, they had made me their announcer. I had dreamed of being a broadcaster since I was a little kid, and gave up on my dream of doing it professionally after not being able to find a job in that field after college. Some people said it was silly, but it’s always nice to still hold onto a dream, even if it’s just for a few hours a month. With that, Tom Slamilton was born.

The Culture, the Way of Life

Hold on… Determinator? B-Onya Guard? Tom Slamilton? Anyone reading this who is unfamiliar with derby is probably asking themselves “WTF is this dude smoking?”

The crazy names are only one part of the culture. They range from a funny play on words like CupQuake and Smash Potato, to variations of famous characters and celebrities like Rainbow Fright and Stevie NixHer. It’s what the names represent that emphasize the way of life.

Never once have I called Liberty Violence by Alana or HaloChic by Melissa. These names take on a completely different persona. To the outside, professional world, these are hard working, dedicated women. All of them. Many are single mothers. Many struggle to make ends meet. And they don't get paid to play either. In fact they pay to play.

But for a few hours a week, and maybe a game or two a month, the outside world is null. Deep down, hidden from most of their friends and coworkers, these women are warriors on wheels. All the stress and problems of the real world are left on the sidelines, in their smelly derby bags (never sniff one, trust me). All that matters is what’s on the track. Besides, what’s better stress relief than knocking a bitch four feet in the air?

It’s because of all of this, and more, that these women share a special bond. Derby unites them. They call each other “mommas,” “daughters,” and “wifeys.” In fact, I had the pleasure of witnessing a derby wedding in Long Island several weeks ago. It was… interesting, to say the least.

Derby also shows these women that they are not alone. The only comparison that I can think of to the bond that these women share is that of my college fraternity (I know they’re not going to like reading that). I don’t mean anything about drinking, partying, or shenanigans. I am talking about an experience that they all share. I have seen groups of women that call themselves sisters, but the derby family is by far the closest. Too often are groups gossipy, catty, and cliquey, causing rifts and fights. But in derby, it’s all settled on the track.

And the bond goes beyond the team. As a spectator, I wondered how these women could be competing and beating each other down on the track one minute, and then have a beer and laugh about life together the next? From coast to coast, from country to country, it’s derby. It’s a nation, on wheels.

The Final Frontier

So why do I love derby? I’m a 26 year old Jewish professional who moved from an average Midwestern city to the middle of nowhere PA. I have no tattoos or piercings and come from the average American middle class household. Hell, I’ve never even put on a pair of roller skates before. I have made other friends and have found other hobbies in my new home, yet derby has become a part of me. It is not the cute little hobby that I thought my girlfriend had.

I love derby because it is pure. In a day where college players get paid under the table and not one, but two professional sporting leagues have had lockouts over billions of dollars in revenue this year, derby remains a sport untainted by greed and economics.

In many cases, team records don’t even matter. Some leagues don’t even have playoffs or championships.

These women are athletes. Dedicated, hard working athletes. They may not realize it, but their love and passion goes far beyond what any professional has.

And it goes beyond just the skaters. The culture touches refs, officials, announcers, and everyone else involved. From friends to family, for anyone who loved the innocence of sports as a child, there is a little bit of derby in all of us.

This sport will only get more popular. Maybe one day these athletes will get paid. Maybe one day it will have its own lockout over revenue sharing and TV contracts. The fact that one of the most popular skaters, Suzy Hotrod, is featured in ESPN Magazine’s Body Issue foreshadows what’s to come. But the way of life, the culture, will always remain, even if it goes underground.

For now, derby is carving out its own place in American culture and it is capturing the hearts of millions along the way.

Keep'em or Kick'em

2011-01-03T08:01:00.001-08:00

The 2010 NFL season is over. And before the post season begins, as we do every year, we now wonder which head coaches are going to be given another chance and who will be shown the door. Here is my take on the hot seats in the league (and as I wrote this paragraph I discovered that the Browns have fired Eric Mangini, so that makes my life easier).

Miami Dolphins – Tony Sparano:
It’s quite weird talking about Sparano getting the axe only two years after a playoff run. Sparano turned this team around very quickly, after finishing 1-15 in 2007 in Cam Cameron’s only year as head coach, winning the AFC East at 11-5 in 2008. The Dolphins have finished 7-9 the last two seasons, and won only one home game this season, but Sparano deserves another shot. Chad Henne’s struggles prove that he is not the quarterback of the future for this team, and the only argument I believe is valid for firing Sparano is that if this team does draft a new quarterback, an early career coaching change may stunt his development.
Opinion: Give him more time. The defense has improved greatly and they’re not too far from competing for a playoff berth.

Cincinnati Bengals – Marvin Lewis:
This decision is a two way street for both Lewis, if he wants to return, and owner Mike Brown. Lewis is clearly frustrated with Brown’s frugality, having the smallest scouting department in the NFL (which causes the coaches themselves to do off season scouting) and having no GM. Brown is a cheap knock off of Al Davis. At least Davis has had success as a decision maker, albeit that it was almost a decade ago that the Raiders made the playoffs. Brown is as clueless, cheap, and stupid as an NFL owner could be, and for that reason alone, Lewis shouldn’t want to come back, especially with an opportunity at the University of Pittsburgh. The Bengals have had only two winning seasons in 16 years, both of which have been under Lewis. However, there are going to be a lot of players leaving this team as well, and it’s time for Cincinnati to have a fresh start across the board.
Opinion: Leave Marvin… get out while you can. Mike Brown doesn’t deserve a good coach. There are good fans in Cincinnati, but the Bengals can’t win with that owner.

Jacksonville Jaguars – Jack Del Rio:
Del Rio is not a bad coach, but he is not a great one either. Facing a banged up Colts’ team, the Jags just could not pull out a win when they needed it. The fact is that if the Jaguars want to not only make the playoffs but get over the hump and compete for Super Bowls, Del Rio is not the guy. The AFC South is an underachieving division, and Jacksonville cannot afford to be left behind if Tennessee and Houston step up in the next year or two.
Opinion: Fired. Even though quarterback David Garrard did well this year, it’s clear that a new guy is going to be taken within the next year or two. If the Jags want consistency, it’s time to make the coaching switch now so that the players are more comfortable heading into an almost certain rebuilding mode.

Houston Texans – Gary Kubiak:
I know that the Texans have tried to make it clear that Kubiak will be back next year, but I don’t agree with this decision. I know that he led the team to it’s only winning season in franchise history in 2009, but during his tenure the Texans haven’t made the playoffs. The past two years, this team has had the talent to make a post season appearance, and both years they have failed. The defense has been horrendous and even adding Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator won’t be enough.
Opinion: Let him go. It’s time to find a defensive coach who can make this team great. The talent is there.

Tennessee Titans – Jeff Fisher:
He is the longest tenured coach in the NFL, with 16 seasons under his belt. However, owner Bud Adams made it pretty clear with his Christmas cards who he favors in the Fisher-Vince Young feud. It’s hard for any coach to remain at the helm for this long without players starting to get sick of hearing the same thing over and over. Whether VY is the quarterback of this team next year or not, it’s time for the Titans to start fresh. Fisher will have teams lining up to give him another shot, and he also deserves a chance to find a new home.
Opinion: A mutual split. It’s just time for a change.

San Diego Chargers – Norv Turner:
I don’t understand how this guy keeps getting head coaching jobs. He was awful in Washington and Oakland, and now he failed to make the playoffs with a team that many consider to be the most talented in the NFL. How can you fail to reach the post season with a top five offense and defense, and keep your job? Remember, GM AJ Smith fired Marty Schottenheimer after a 14-2 season because the team didn’t make the Super Bowl. The only reason Smith isn’t firing Turner this time is because he is in the hot seat as well after the Vincent Jackson debacle. Owner Dean Spanos has said he isn’t making any changes, but it’s not a good football move.
Opinion: Fire him. If you ask me, the only reason the Chargers have made the playoffs with Turner at the helm is because of how talented this team is.

Oakland Raiders – Tom Cable:
All morning I have read that Cable will be fired. Rumor has it that the veterans think that Cable lacks the discipline to keep his young players in line. Then again, Al Davis is crazy so we know that it wouldn’t be hard for him to get rid of Cable. The team made a lot of improvements and for most of the season was in contention. However, Cable may not be the guy for the long run.
Opinion: Give him another year. Cable turned this team into a contender and he needs one more shot with San Diego on the way down.

New York Giants – Tom Coughlin:
This is how ridiculous the NFL has become when the coach who beat the 16-0 Patriots in the Super Bowl is in the hot seat three years later after finishing 10-6. The Giants didn’t make the post season not because of Coughlin, but because Eli Manning turned the ball over 30 times. If they fire him, it will come back to haunt them, trust me.
Opinion: Keep him.

Fair Weather Frenzy: the 2010 World Cup

2010-06-26T15:16:00.000-07:00

Today, the United States was defeated by Ghana in the elimination round of the 2010 World Cup. All I can say is “Thank God.”

The fact that I am not a soccer fan does not play any part of my opinion of the average American soccer fan. I have ADD which gives me the super power of being able to tune out anything I want and completely forgetting what I have been talk… Oh, look a tree.

The aggravating part about the average American soccer fan is how fair weather he/she is. For one month every four years they are soccer aficionados, claiming to know all about the sport and love it with a passion. That would be fine and dandy, if they actually were soccer aficionados and did love the sport with a passion.

Here’s a few brain teaser to test any friend to see if they are really a soccer fan;

Question One: Who won the last World Cup?
This might not be the hardest question (I even know the answer to this one) but considering that the average American sports fan has the attention span of a dust mite, it will wean out those who really don’t know shit about soccer.

Question Two: Who won the MLS Cup?
I don’t know if that is the actual name of the MLS championship game but I’m taking a guess at it. If the person corrects you and tells you that it is called something else, he or she is probably right and you might as well not wait for their actual answer.

Question Three: Who won the European Cup?
Like Question Two, I don’t know the name of Europe’s soccer championship. I think they have like five a year so I’m just going to go with that.

Question Four: Name five MLS teams.
This might be the stumping question. Many soccer fans don’t follow American soccer because it is not the best that the world has to offer (hint: anyone that has called you un-patriotic for not cheering for Team USA in the World Cup can suck on this one).

Question Five: What the hell does Real mean or FC stand for?
FC is pretty obvious, but I still don’t know what Real means. Yes, a good journalist finds that out for himself. But I have better things to do with my time like breathing, farting and World of Warcraft.

So to all the real soccer fans out there, I have no problem with you. Nobody should tell you what you can or cannot like.

My problem is with the ignorant people who claim to love soccer, and the second that the World Cup is over or Team USA is eliminated, they don’t give a damn about it anymore.

If so many Americans love soccer so much, then why is the MLS struggling so badly in attendance and financially? Why don’t they and all of their soccer fanatics go to the games?

Want to know why? It’s because they are all fair-weather fans. When it’s cool to like soccer, they love it. But once something shinier pops up, the biggest question once again will be “Who the hell is Landon Donovan?”

The New BCS

2010-06-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

This week, rumors have emerged that the PAC 10 Conference is looking to expand. Their main target has been reported as six Big XII schools; Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Colorado.

While the move makes sense, there is no doubt that several of these teams would not fit well geographically in the PAC 10 conference, or whatever it would be renamed.

In addition, the Big Ten has been looking to expand. The four schools they have targeted are Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, and Syracuse. Also, there have been rumors that the Big Ten has been in contact with Texas and Missouri.

The negotiations and changes required would be astronomically impossible to figure out at this point, but we (I) here at Devil of Sports decided to take some time and figure out how the college leagues would change if anything were to actually happen, and what scenarios could actually play out.

This map assumes that with the other conferences looking to expand, the Big XII and Big East would be dissolved and absorbed into the other four. While the Big East is primarily a basketball conference, with another eight teams participating in all other sports except football, I would say that the conference would actually go on, but as a weaker non-football league.

PAC 10 - 16 schools

East: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Colorado, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Utah

West: Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State

The PAC 10 Conference is the reason that all of this has come to light so I will start with discussing them. The main reason that the conference wants to expand is because of marketability. While they do have two of the nation’s largest markets in Los Angeles and the San Francisco/Oakland area, all of their schools play in the Pacific Time Zone, except for Arizona and Arizona State.

The issue of timing makes it difficult for the conference to sell and broadcast itself to markets on the East coast, which are three hours ahead.

This leads to the main reason that the PAC 10 is chasing the Texas schools; a conference cable network. Making a west coast cable network would not be very easy to sell to places on the east coast. However, by adding central schools, it allows them to cover a greater portion of the country with one of the nation’s largest schools in the University of Texas.

But it would not be a good move for the Longhorns to go to the PAC 10. For starters, geographically it would be a mess for the three Texas schools to have to travel to the Pacific Northwest, even with divisions. Plus, the PAC 10 would not be able to get the same type of coverage that conferences like the Big Ten or SEC have.

With that said, the PAC 10 would have to look elsewhere, to different markets. Texas Christian University (TCU) would be a great fit. It is located in Ft. Worth and would in draw the metroplex area. After being snubbed out of a chance to play for a National Championship in an undefeated regular season, the chance for TCU to move up into the BCS would be an offer that they couldn’t refuse.

Also, if Texas does not go to the PAC 10 it can be safe to bet that its in-state rivals, Tech and A&M, would not follow and would look to stay with the Longhorns. The consolation prize for those schools could be Brigham Young University (BYU) and Utah. Both teams are a good fit both geographically and market-wise. Like TCU, they are both nationally renowned college football programs that play in non-BCS conferences.

The other three teams from the Big XII, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State, I believe would actually go to the PAC 10. While both Oklahoma schools could get offers from the SEC, I believe that it would want the three Texas schools, with their larger markets over the smaller Oklahoma markets. Not wanting to make the conference too large, the SEC would probably not take all six schools from both states, especially when the PAC 10 has no interest in Baylor, and the SEC would accept them as a package.

Big Ten - 18 schools

East: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers

West: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin

Of all the BCS conferences, the Big Ten is the wealthiest. The reason is simply because they have partnered with Fox to create the Big Ten Network. This brought each school an estimated $22 million in 2008. It is the whole reason why other conferences are talking about expanding.

The Big Ten is interested in Rutgers and Syracuse because they have a market in New York City. However, I cannot see both of them leaping over to the Big Ten just yet. Syracuse is a smaller school and most likely would not be a good fit, primarily because the school prides itself on its basketball program, which would draw huge interest from the ACC. On the other hand, Rutgers would welcome the chance to increase revenue and play in a more competitive football conference.

While Ohio State would refuse to let another school from in-state join, in Cincinnati, Penn State has reportedly welcomed the challenge. That is the cause for Pitt to be getting attention from the conference. However, like with Syracuse, the ACC would probably throw a pitch that could make it one of the dominant football programs in the conference with a basketball league that no other conference could compare to. Plus, Pittsburgh would not want to risk ruining its Backyard Brawl rivalry with West Virginia, whom the conference has no interest in acquiring.

Although the Big Ten has more to offer than any other conference, with a network already strong and in place, the next schools to join would not be their first choices. Missouri is on the Big Ten radar and has been reportedly interested at looking at conferences outside of the Big XII. Should the Big XII fall apart, which this article assumes, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, and Nebraska would also be looking for new homes. Geographically these schools make perfect sense, as their locations would make the establishment of two divisions easier to create.

The biggest piece of the puzzle is Notre Dame. The Big Ten has invited the Irish to join multiple times. However, Notre Dame makes more money on its own with contracts with NBC and competing with schools all over the country than it would by joining a league.

The Irish pride themselves on being one of the top athletic programs in America. If the Big East folds as a football conference and all that are left are the small schools for basketball, Notre Dame would likely be looking to move its other athletic programs to another conference. However, at this point, no other conference is going to accept Notre Dame without its football program, forcing them to eventually join the Big Ten.

Southeastern Conference - 18 schools

East: Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt

West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech

With the Big XII folding, the four Texas schools would most likely be more interested in joining the SEC over the PAC 10. From a competition stand-point, the University of Texas would relish the chance to be a member of the best conference in college football today.

It would also allow the creation of a SEC network that could match the marketability of the Big Ten.

Geographically, this is a great fit. A large concern about joining the PAC 10 would be students traveling and arriving home at odd hours only to have to attend class in the morning or a day later. Joining the SEC allows the Texas schools to keep their travel cost and time low, and only have a one hour time difference with some of the other schools in the league.

However, one drawback for Texas would be the academic standards of the SEC schools, which is lower than that of those of the Big XII. While the Big Ten is interested in Texas, the Longhorns would not abandon their in-state rivalries and would require Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Baylor to accompany them, which the Big Ten would not want.

The other two schools in the mix are Louisville and Cincinnati. Kentucky and Louisville are in-state rivals, and both would love to be able to play each other, in football and basketball, every year, with the kind of stakes that only an in-conference game could provide. Should Louisville show interest, it would quickly draw Cincinnati into the equation.

Cincinnati is located only about 100 miles from Lexington, so geographically it fits well in the SEC. However, its main pull would be because Louisville and Cincinnati have been in-conference rivals since 1929, with the creation of the Keg of Nails. Both were founding members of Conference USA and leapt to the Big East together. If one goes, the other will follow.

Cincinnati would also give the SEC a presence in the north, which would give it the chance to compete, head to head, for the Southern Ohio market with Ohio State.

Atlantic Coast Conference - 17 schools

North: Boston College, Connecticut, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia

South: Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Florida, Wake Forest

With the dissolving of the Big East, arguably the strongest basketball conference in the NCAA, the remainder of the Big East schools would find a welcoming home in the ACC. Syracuse, UConn, Pitt, and West Virginia all possess four of the premier basketball programs in the country. The chance to be able to match them up against the likes of Duke and North Carolina on an annual basis would draw in more money than any other conference could.

In addition, these are both currently seen as two of the weaker football conferences. With Louisville and Cincinnati joining the SEC and Rutgers the Big Ten, the remainder of the programs will be required to fill in the lost spots. The ACC would be able to add West Virginia and Pittsburgh, absorbing a popular and historic football rivalry.

South Florida would be enticing, as they have a quickly up and coming football program as well.

The combination of the remaining Big East schools with the ACC would also make a conference that could entirely dominate all of the Atlantic Coast markets. While the creation of its own television network would be difficult to sell from a pure football standpoint, the basketball revenue could be enough to generate one, especially if they could convince the basketball teams of Georgetown and Villanova to follow.

A New College Playoff Format

With these four new Super Conferences, the creation of a playoff system would be quite simple. Each conference would now have to hold a conference championship game. And, with now only four conferences instead of six, a plus-one game would be very easy to establish. Of course there would still be questions and scrutiny about barring non-BCS teams from the competition. However, BCS expansion to schools like Boise State would become much easier, giving schools with the talent the ability to compete.

Last year, five teams in the FCS finished with perfect regular seasons; Alabama, Texas, Cincinnati, TCU, and Boise State. However, only two of them got to play for the National Championship. Every year there is an outcry for a college football playoff system. With the reduction of the number of leagues and increased revenue generated from TV networks and larger markets, the establishment of a plus-one playoff would be more acceptable to the NCAA and the BCS.

The Definition of Apathy

2010-05-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Webster’s defines the word “apathy” as a lack of feeling or emotion. If you take the time to look it up, you may actually see a picture of Lebron James.

Well, maybe in the 2010 Cleveland edition that is.

On Thursday night, James and the Cavs were eliminated in the second round of the NBA playoffs after losing to the Boston Celtics 94-85 in Game Six. While he did have a triple double, any basketball fan could tell that during the last two games of the series, James was disconnected and didn’t care.

He is the self proclaimed “King” of basketball. But what exactly has he become the king of? He hasn’t won any rings, so he doesn’t have the jewelry. He has almost as many haters as he does fans, so he doesn’t have the court.

The King of quitting. The King of being spoiled. The King of nothing.

Say what you will about Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Michael Jordan’s personalities. Whether you love them or hate them, they all share one thing in common. They have heart.

James doesn’t have heart. Instead, the passion that should be driving him towards a championship is void and replaced with greed and ego.

For as much flack as he has taken over the past week for his performance in Game Five, I would bet that he hasn’t heard a word of criticism from his A-Team of yes-men. He has been ripped and shredded for not hustling down the court, not paying attention during huddles, and not caring about the fans around him that were about to burst into tears, which led to the worst home loss in Cavaliers playoff history and losing the last two games in Cleveland by over 50 points combined.

After Game Six, Lebron spoke to the media, unlike last year where his sour-ness decided to not shake hands with the Orlando Magic or address the public after losing in the Eastern Conference Finals. He said that “his team” would take care of things. He wasn’t talking about the Cavaliers. He was talking about his suck-ups. His chumps. The guys that would give up a limb just to be able to stay in his close inner circle.

To him, they are the media. They are a shield from the real world and the reality that he has been uncovered as an un-coachable phony.

Could the Cavaliers have done things differently as a team? Of course.

Mike Brown is going to be fired, and deservedly so. He has no idea how to handle an offense or make adjustments. A team that has clinched the number one seed in the East two years in a row should be the one forcing the other team to change, not the other way around.

Danny Ferry has tried hard to build a team around Lebron. For the most part he succeeded, at least on paper. However, Jordan had Pippen and Kobe has Gasol. While both “side-kicks” are/were good defenders, they can/could also score. Antwan Jameson and Shaq were good pickups, but neither one can take the pressure off James offensively. Ferry is notoriously non-aggressive and seems to take what he can get. If trading JJ Hickson would have led to the acquisition of Amare Stoudemire, who CAN score, he should have taken it. Jameson was an overpriced and over the hill consolation prize. It was about as useful as a gift certificate to Bennigan’s.

It was unfair for James to have to carry the weight of the Cavs on his shoulders, but he should not have quit. He doesn’t get paid millions of dollars from Dan Gilbert or any of his sponsors to quit.

It doesn’t matter whether he got into a fight with Brown or his teammates. It doesn’t matter if he wanted to turn Cleveland against him, making it easier to leave his home town of nearby Akron. The reasons he tanked it are irrelevant.

He stabbed Cleveland in the back and in the end he is going to have the last laugh. At 25, he’s smart enough to know that he has at least a decade of good ball left in him. That’s plenty of time to get a ring or two. That’s the most frustrating part of all of this.

As for Cleveland, whether he stays or goes doesn’t matter now, at least for the 2009-2010 season. Getting home court throughout the entire playoffs doesn’t come easy and is hard to repeat for three years in a row. And because of his apathy, he threw it all away. I could care less about how Lebron feels about not earning a championship this year, because I doubt he cares either.

So buyer beware: Lebron James is a quitter, backstabber, thief, fool, phony, pompous, asshole who doesn’t deserve anything. He deserves what every other apathetic quitter deserves; nothing. Not the food on his table, the cars in his garage, the clothes on his back, or the shoes on his feet.

Assuming that he leaves, Lebron will have cemented his place in Northeast Ohio history as the greatest failure and quitter the area has ever seen.

Then again, I bet he doesn’t even care about that.

Brady Quinn Owes Jimmy Clausen Money

2010-04-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

With the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft only hours away, two of the looming questions are both surrounding Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen: Why did he slip out of round one and where will he land?

After Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford was taken first overall by the St. Louis Rams, Clausen was expected to be the next passer taken. Some of the possible destinations that were being thrown around were Washington at four, Kansas City at five, Seattle at six, Cleveland at seven, Oakland at eight, Buffalo at nine, Jacksonville at 10, and Minnesota at 30.

The Redskins and Jaguars can both be ruled out because of their current quarterback situations, with Washington acquiring Donovan McNabb less than a month ago and Jacksonville still having confidence in David Garrard. The Chiefs were reportedly willing to take him, probably because former Irish coach Charlie Weiss is now their offensive coordinator, but taking safety Eric Berry was a bigger need for them. And the Seahawks swapped second round picks with the Chargers in exchange for Charlie Whitehurst, who looks to be the successor to Matt Hasselbeck.

So what about the Browns, Raiders, Bills, and Vikings?

In Cleveland, team president Mike Holmgren came out and said that he wished he liked Clausen more. That’s a sure indication that they weren’t (and probably still won’t be) going after him.

Oakland would have made sense because Al Davis doesn’t make sense. Then again, taking Clausen would be Davis finally admitting that Jamarcus Russell is the biggest draft bust of all time.

Buffalo would have been a great fit for Clausen, but taking RB CJ Spiller was a good move.

And it was supposed to be very unlikely that the Vikings would even have a chance at Clausen, but with Favre probably returning and the coaching staff having confidence in Tavaris Jackson, passing on him and trading the pick was more appropriate.

Not to mention that Clausen has been bashed by analysts and the media lately. Now this doesn’t mean that NFL scouts and front offices are agreeing with the critics and leaking information, but if the first round is proof of anything, it’s that there is at least some truth behind their skepticism.

Issues like the size of Clausen’s hands and his “lack” of leadership were the two big knocks on him that were being publicized primarily. However, I like to think about another quarterback that came out of the same system and had very similar qualities and attributes to Clausen. That man is Brady Quinn.

Coming into the league in 2007, Quinn was said to be “the most pro-ready quarterback” that could be “thrown onto the pro-field immediately” because “he played in a pro-style offense at Notre Dame.”

Although fans and the media don’t seem to remember this, NFL teams do. Quinn serves as a precautionary tale to all teams interested in Clausen. Now presumably buried on the Denver depth chart behind Kyle Orton and last night’s surprise pick Tim Tebow, Quinn shows that quarterbacks that succeed in “pro-style” offenses, don’t always pan out in the NFL.

As for where will Clausen land? That will be answered tonight. I would put my money on Cleveland not being his new home though. That wound is still pretty fresh.

But if I were Jimmy Clausen, I’d be calling Brady Quinn asking him for some money, because his failure may have cost Clausen millions.

Final 2010 NFL Mock Draft

2010-04-19T13:57:00.000-07:00

With the NFL Draft only three days away, I thought I'd let my three loyal followers in on my final mock board. I know that I have three of the first five picks hailing from Oklahoma, but hey, they have some good guys coming out. Anyhow, enjoy.

Round One
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB. Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions – Ndomukong Suh, DT. Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT. Oklahoma
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT. Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Trent Williams, OT. Oklahoma
6. Seattle Seahawks – CJ Spiller, RB. Clemson
7. Cleveland Browns – Eric Berry, S. Tennessee
8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE. South Florida
9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB. Notre Dame
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant, WR. Oklahoma State
11. Denver Broncos (via Chicago Bears) – Joe Haden, CB. Florida
12. Miami Dolphins – Rolando McClain, LB. Alabama
13. San Francisco 49ers – Earl Thomas, CB. Texas
14. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) – Bryan Bulaga, OT. Iowa
15. New York Giants – Ryan Mathews, RB. Fresno State
16. Tennessee Titans – Derrick Morgan, DE. Georgia Tech
17. San Francisco 49ers (via Carolina Panthers) – Anthony Davis, OT. Rutgers
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati, OG. Idaho
19. Atlanta Falcons – Everson Griffen, DE. USC
20. Houston Texans – Bruce Campbell, OT. Maryland
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE. Oklahoma
22. New England Patriots – Taylor Mays, S. USC
23. Green Bay Packers – Charles Brown, OT. USC
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Sergio Kindle, LB. Texas
25. Baltimore Ravens – Jarred Odrick, DT. Penn State
26. Arizona Cardinals – Brandon Graham, LB. Michigan
27. Dallas Cowboys – Maurkice Pouncey, C. Florida
28. San Diego Chargers – Jhavid Best, RB. California
29. New York Jets – Demaryius Thomas, WR. Georgia Tech
30. Minnesota Vikings – Tim Tebow, QB. Florida
31. Indianapolis Colts – Devin McCourty, CB. Rutgers
32. New Orleans Saints – Sean Witherspoon, LB. Missouri

Round Two

33. STL – Arrelious Benn, WR. Illinois
34. DET – Jerry Hughes, LB. TCU
35. TB – Patrick Robinson, CB. Florida State
36. KC – Kareem Jackson, CB. Alabama
37. PHI (via WAS) – Dan Williams, DT. Tennessee
38. CLE – Colt McCoy, QB. Texas
39. OAK – Navorro Bowman, LB. Penn State
40. SD (via SEA) – Terrence Cody, DT. Alabama
41. BUF – Golden Tate, WR. Notre Dame
42. TB (via CHI) – Kyle Wilson, CB. Boise State
43. MIA – Brian Price, DT. UCLA
44. NE (via JAX) – Greg Hardy, DE. Ole Miss
45. DEN – Damian Williams, WR. USC
46. NYG – Rodger Saffold, OT. Indiana
47. NE (via TEN) – Mardy Gilyard, WR. Cincinnati
48. CAR – Carlos Dunlap, DE. Florida
49. SF – Linval Joseph, DT. East Carolina
50. KC (via ATL) – Brandon LaFell, WR. LSU
51. HOU – Dexter McCluster, RB. Ole Miss
52. PIT – Nate Allen, S. South Florida
53. NE – Jimmy Graham, TE. Miami (fl)
54. CIN – Jon Asamoah, OG, Illinois
55. PHI – JD Walton, C. Baylor
56. GB – Jonathan Dwyer, RB. Georgia Tech
57. BAL – Jamar Chaney, LB. Mississippi State
58. ARI – Chris Cook, CB. Virginia
59. DAL – Alex Carrington, DE. Arkansas State
60. SEA (via SD) – Geno Atkins, DT. Georgia
61. NYJ – Ben Tate, RB. Auburn
62. MIN – Morgan Burnett, S. Georgia Tech
63. IND – Vladimir Ducasse, OT. Massachusetts
64. NO – Reshad Jones, S. Georgia

Steeler Nation Hates Women

2010-04-10T08:56:00.000-07:00

With all of the Big Ben rumors and speculation going on, focusing on his sexual assault case in Georgia, Pittsburgh Steelers’ fans have ultimately proved, once again, they are dumb-asses.

On Friday, it was reported by ESPN’s Kelly Naqi that Ocmulgee (Ga.) Judicial Circuit District Attorney Fred Blight will most likely not be pursuing charges against the Steelers’ quarterback for his alleged sexual assault on a 20-year old college student in a bar on March 5.

Plus, he has already dodged criminal charges of rape from an incident in Nevada last year.

Being a Browns’ fan, and having nothing but hatred for Ben Roethlisberger and everything he does, I have been following the story on ProFootballTalk.com quite closely. One of the reasons writer Mike Florio believes that charges won’t end up being filed is because Blight would have to assemble a “Dream Team” of lawyers if he has any hopes of beating Big Ben and his high priced attorney. Remember, Blight doesn’t have any major cities in his jurisdiction, so facing a trial like this would presumably be unprecedented for him.

Now, the reason I am targeting Steelers’ fans on this is not because of how crooked this sounds. Rapistberger is a monster. You don’t get accused of sexual misconduct twice within a year without some sliver of truth behind it. Hell, he even admitted he was fooling around with the girl in the bathroom of the bar (while his cop buddy played lookout).

After the news broke that charges probably would not be filed, Steelers’ fans started posting all over ProFootballTalk.com on how now they forgive their quarterback and that they will now win the Super Bowl.

Dear Steeler Nation, we already know that you’re not the brightest of people, but this takes the taco.

First off, the Steelers didn’t even make the playoffs last year, losing several of their final games to the Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Browns. By the way, all of those teams have top eight picks in the upcoming draft. That has to sting a bit.

Second, while I do appreciate the fact that the fans weren’t supporting him because even they believed he is a sexual deviant, doing a complete 180 before the actual news is announced, on Monday, that he won’t be charged is very foolish. I can’t blame any of them for wanting to root for their Super Bowl winning quarterback. However, treating him as a god after this only says to Rapistberger that no matter what he does, in the end, the fans will stand behind him.

And third, just because charges aren’t filed doesn’t mean the dumb-ass is innocent. The guy still did something wrong here and will continue to break the law and mistreat women until he can stop buying his way out of trouble. Personally, it’s that fact that makes me most disgusted of all. He reminds me of that yellow-dude from "Sin City," never getting in trouble because of his wallet. His lawyers and police entourage have given him better protection than his own offensive line!

So no, I can’t blame Steelers’ fans for a corrupt judicial process and a possible cover-up.

However, I can blame them for being obnoxious about their quarterback going free, not because of his innocence, but because he has the deep pockets to do so. I can blame them for accusing the guy of being a criminal and then suddenly forgiving him for his offenses. And I can blame them for completely forgetting that this kind of behavior encourages others with money to go out and commit similar horrors to women.

Steeler Nation, ignorance is the worst kind of dumb-assery.

March 31 Mock Draft

2010-03-31T14:42:00.000-07:00

So I’ve been feeling a bit lazy lately and haven’t updated my mock draft and quickly as I had hoped. While conforming to my huge demand for another one but needing to satisfy my lazy tendency, here are the first two rounds of my mock draft, minus the explanations. Comment and enjoy!
ROUND ONE
1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB. Oklahoma
2. Detroit Lions – Ndomukong Suh, DT. Nebraska
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Eric Berry, S. Tennessee
4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT. Oklahoma State
5. Kansas City Chiefs – Joe Haden, CB. Florida
6. Seattle Seahawks – Gerald McCoy, DT. Oklahoma
7. Cleveland Browns – Dez Bryant, WR. Oklahoma State
8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE. South Florida
9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB. Notre Dame
10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Rolando McClain, LB. Alabama
11. Denver Broncos (via Chicago) – Derrick Morgan, DE. Georgia Tech
12. Miami Dolphins – Taylor Mays, S. USC
13. San Francisco 49ers – Bryan Bulaga, OT. Iowa
14. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver) – CJ Spiller, RB. Clemson
15. New York Giants – Sergio Kindle, LB. Texas
16. Tennessee Titans – Dan Williams, DT. Tennessee
17. San Francisco 49ers (via Carolina) – Earl Thomas, S. Texas
18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Trent Williams, OT. Oklahoma
19. Atlanta Falcons – Sean Witherspoon, LB. Missouri
20. Houston Texans – Anthony Davis, OT. Rutgers
21. Cincinnati Bengals – Jermaine Gresham, TE. Oklahoma
22. New England Patriots – Kyle Wilson, CB. Boise State
23. Green Bay Packers – Mike Iupati, G. Idaho
24. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Graham, LB. Michigan
25. Baltimore Ravens – Everson Griffen, DE. USC
26. Arizona Cardinals – Kareem Jackson, CB. Alabama
27. Dallas Cowboys – Maurkice Pouncey, C. Florida
28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Mathews, RB. Fresno State
29. New York Jets – Golden Tate, WR. Notre Dame
30. Minnesota Vikings – Patrick Robinson, CB. Florida State
31. Indianapolis Colts – Charles Brown, OT. USC
32. New Orleans Saints – Jerry Hughes, LB. TCU

ROUND TWO
33. St. Louis Rams – Arrelious Benn, WR. Illinois
34. Detroit Lions – Jhavid Best, RB. Cal
35. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Bruce Campbell, OT. Maryland
36. Kansas City Chiefs – Jared Odrick, DT. Penn State
37. Washington Redskins – Tim Tebow, QB. Florida
38. Cleveland Browns – Devin McCourty, CB. Rutgers
39. Oakland Raiders – Brandon LaFell, WR. LSU
40. San Diego Chargers (via Seattle) – Brian Price, DT. UCLA
41. Buffalo Bills – Mardy Gilyard, WR. Cincinnati
42. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via Chicago) – Demaryius Thomas, WR. Georgia Tech
43. Miami Dolphins – Jonathan Dwyer, RB. Georgia Tech
44. New England Patriots (via Jacksonville) – Damian Williams, WR. USC
45. Denver Broncos – Rob Gronkowski, TE. Arizona
46. New York Giants – Jon Asamoah, G. Illinois
47. New England Patriots (via Tennessee) – Dexter McCluster, RB. Ole Miss
48. Carolina Panthers – Terrence Cody, DT. Alabama
49. San Francisco 49ers – Carlos Dunlap, LB. Florida
50. Kansas City Chiefs (via Atlanta) – Rodger Saffold, OT. Indiana
51. Houston Texans – Chris Cook, CB. Virginia
52. Pittsburgh Steelers – Nate Allen, S. South Florida
53. New England Patriots – Geno Atkins, DT. Georgia
54. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe McKnight, RB. USC
55. Philadelphia Eagles – Brandon Ghee, CB. Wake Forest
56. Green Bay Packers – Corey Wootton, DE. Northwestern
57. Baltimore Ravens – Morgan Burnett, S. Georgia Tech
58. Arizona Cardinals – Jimmy Graham, TE. Miami (fl)
59. Dallas Cowboys – Brandon Tate, RB. Auburn
60. Seattle Seahawks (via San Diego) – Anthony McCoy, TE. USC
61. New York Jets – Navarro Bowman, LB. Penn St
62. Minnesota Vikings – Dan LeFevour, QB. Central Michigan
63. Indianapolis Colts – Jamar Chaney, LB. Mississippi St
64. New Orleans Saints – Dominique Franks, CB. Oklahoma

I Still Don't Care

2010-03-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Winter Olympics have created a huge buzz about the sport of Hockey. Unfortunately, it’s still hockey.

So I have never been a big hockey fan. I grew up in Cleveland, which is a football city (even though in the 90s it focused on the surging Indians in the absence of the Browns and King James has given the Cavs a huge boost). Not far away are Pittsburgh and Detroit, two of the biggest hockey markets in the country. But, I still don’t care.

I remember a few years ago I tried watching the world cup. My roommate and a fraternity brother of mine were into soccer and I figured I’d at least give a shot at watching it. Ten minutes later I regretted the decision and gave up.

Before I go any further I have to admit that I did not watch any Olympic hockey until the gold medal game. If you’re wondering why, it’s because I just don’t like hockey.

“But Olympic hockey is better,” people would tell me, including my Canadian cousins.

So for the final game I figured, what the hell? I’ll give it a shot. I’m trying to be a sports writer, might as well try to watch a new sport.
I had heard all of the hype surrounding the US team and goalie Ryan Miller. That nobody could score on him and just how fast the team was.

OK, so I don’t know if maybe they were slower that day or if the Canadians are just as fast, but I really did not see this speed of the game that people were talking about. I just saw bulky looking dudes with sticks on ice going after a little black dot.

It was still super boring.

Yes, I did get excited when (some player whose name I don’t remember off the top of my head) scored in the final seconds to tie it up and send the game to overtime. Call me un-patriotic, but after three periods of boredom leading up to that, I was kind of hoping the game would just end already.
But into overtime we go…

Now, I don’t know all the rules to Olympic hockey, and NBC did no service during the 15 plus minutes between the end of regulation and overtime to explain anything useful. By the way, that intermission is too long. Even the broadcasters were questioning if such a long break would affect momentum. Unfortunately, the only thing I know about hockey momentum has to do with friction and ice (that’s a science joke, people).

And just as quick as it began, it was over when Sidney Crosby scored the game winning goal on Ryan Miller.

Did I cry? Did I moan? No, I just turned to my computer and went back to chatting on facebook.

So, what did I learn? That hockey is the colder, less flamboyant, drunken, Canadian cousin of soccer. Just as boring, but with less teeth and on ice. Come on guys, get some god damn teeth? You want to be taken seriously? It’s difficult when you smile and all we see is gum.

Oh, and I love how NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners are considering baring their players from participating in the 2014 Olympics. Are they dumb or just plain retarded? While this definitely has made a buzz for hockey, in about a week Americans will remember just how bored they are.

You can put NHL, Olympic, or even Super Duper Fun Filled Amazing in front of it, but it’s still hockey, and I’m still bored.

2010 NFL Mock Draft (March 1 Edition)

2010-03-01T14:49:00.001-08:00

The 2010 NFL Draft is only a month and a half away. In case you don’t know anything about me, that is my absolute favorite part of the football season, even though it is technically in the off-season.

There’s just something about how teams fill their spots, making replacements and improvements along the way, that I just really enjoy watching. But unlike the common spectator, I like to dabble in what I think those teams will do in their effort to prepare for the future.

Here are my picks along with explanations for the first few off the board (assuming there are no trades, because, you know there never are (sarcasm)):

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB. Oklahoma
A lot of the talking heads are saying that either DT Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy will be the first off the board on April 22. But look at the Rams first round picks over the past few years. While they did go O-Line last year, the two years before they selected DE Ryan Long and DT Adam Carriker, respectively. While I think Suh is the best player coming out of the draft (and ESPN is licking McCoy’s nuts although I don’t see anything that makes him separate himself from Suh), the Rams NEED a quarterback, now! Waiting any longer to begin the future of the offense is just too risky a move. If I was in the organization I’d look at trading down because I do concur that Bradford is not #1 overall talent, but you can’t risk waiting until the second round to address your biggest need.

2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT. Nebraska
Suh is already drawing comparisons to greats who have come and gone. Suh is a monster. I was skeptical at first until I saw him play in the Big XII Championship against Texas. Don’t listen to anyone else when they say that the reason the Longhorns couldn’t score was because of the pressure, or injuries, or some other bullshit. The reason they couldn’t score was because Suh kept knocking Colt McCoy on his ass, along with anyone else that crossed his path. The Lions need… well… everything. Suh will give them a force in the middle that will change their entire defense.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Eric Berry, S. Tennessee
The hype of Eric Berry is not being calmed, even with the noise of Suh. The first time I saw him play was against Florida and in that game I saw something rare; Tim Tebow afraid to throw or even go near a certain defensive player. That player was Eric Berry (surprise!). He doesn’t have the hitting and blitzing power of guys like Troy Polamalu or Bob Sanders but he is a backfield menace, like Ed Reed or Darren Sharper. The Bucs need help all over the defense and while Gerald McCoy is still on the board too, Ronde Barber isn’t getting any younger.

4. Washington Redskins – Gerald McCoy, DT. Oklahoma
Yes, I know they just signed Albert Haynesworth to a ridiculous contract last year. And yes, I know there is unrest about QB Jason Campbell. But the fact is that owner Daniel Snyder loves big names and new coach Mike Shanahan has already said that Campbell is going nowhere. Can you imagine how intimidating it would be, as a runningback or quarterback, to line up and see both Haynesworth and McCoy waiting to slam you into the ground? Yeah, I think Snyder and GM Bruce Allen can imagine it too.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Joe Haden, CB. Florida
Haden is the best corner coming out this year and the Chiefs need some major help solidifying that defense. Haden is a fast corner with good hands. I could see them maybe going with an offensive lineman, but they have a much bigger need in the defensive backfield. Not to mention this years draft goes pretty deep on the line (both sides). If the team even wants to think about Matt Cassel playing like he did two years ago in New England, the defense is going to need to create more turnovers to put the ball back in his hand. Haden can make some of those turnovers.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Russell Okung, OL. Oklahoma State
Matt Hasselbeck isn’t getting any younger and constantly getting tossed to the ground can’t possibly feel better with age. The line that helped get the Seahawks to the Super Bowl years ago has both aged and left. And while no back on their roster gives you the shivers, they do need someone that can at least open holes for Julius Jones and Justin Forsett. Pete Carroll has said that he likes what he’s seen from Hasselbeck and the offense, but he knows that if he even wants to think about a quarterback anytime in the near future, he’s going to need a barrier on the line to protect him. Okung is that guy.

7. Cleveland Browns – Dez Bryant, WR. Oklahoma State
Bryant to the Browns? I know the team has a habit of taking “solid” picks and making them busts, but Bryant may be the other way around. He hasn’t played since mid-season because of an NCAA rule violation, but by the looks of it he’s just as in shape as we was when he sat. People can cry all they want that Brady Quinn is a bad quarterback, but who does he have to throw to? New President Mike Holmgren is an offensive minded guy (and it wouldn’t surprise me to see him trade to bring a new QB in) and Bryant at least gives them a weapon to throw to.

8. Oakland Raiders – Rolando McClain, LB. Alabama
Al Davis is Crazy with a capitol C. OK, I just really wanted to point that out so if I’m wrong, you’ll know why. McClain will be the biggest name on the board at this point. He’s the best rated linebacker in the draft and a hard, hard hitter. The Raiders have a great defensive backfield but consistency starts in the front seven. But Davis is arrogant and could take someone who’s projected to go in the second, third, or even fourth rounds (see 2009 Oakland Raiders draft results). How’s Darrius Heyward-Bey working out for you?

9. Buffalo Bills – Derrick Morgan, DE. Georgia Tech
The Bills are a mess everywhere. However, when you look at their defense their front seven is pretty good already. So why do I have them taking another D-Lineman? They’re never all healthy. The Buffalo staff knows their playing style and a hard, tough defense is just what a cold, snowy and bitter condition calls for. There are a lot of questions for the offense, but the Bills know a solid defense is something to build upon.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Brian Bulaga, OT. Iowa
I know that they really want Tim Tebow, but tenth overall is a little too high for the risks he brings. On the other hand, should he be available in the second round or via a trade, Bulaga would be a big help for his transition. Right now Jacksonville’s line is average at best and they already have a great running game.

11. Denver Broncos (via Chicago Bears) – Jason Pierre-Paul, DE. South Florida
Denver’s defense was far better in 09 than it was in 08, but there’s still work to be done. Coach Josh McDaniels seems pretty confident in his QB, Kyle Orton, and the rest of the offense. The Broncos need another guy besides Elvis Dumervil who can come from the outside. JPP can be a good fit for that.

12. Miami Dolphins – Carlos Dunlap, DE. Florida
He’s already a star in Florida and while there are character and technical issues with him, Dunlap would give the Dolphins a big defensive boost.

13. San Francisco 49ers – Trent Williams, OT. Oklahoma
It looks like they’re giving Alex Smith one more shot. I mean the guy wasn’t bad last year but having some protection will definitely help.

14. Seattle Seahawks (via Denver Broncos) – CJ Spiller, RB. Clemson
Remember how I said Julius Jones and Justin Forsett aren’t that scary? Spiller is.

15. New York Giants – Sergio Kindle, LB. Texas
After releasing Antonio Pierce, the Giants need to find someone who can be a menace in the front seven. I know McClain is higher on the board, but personally I think Kindle is the best LB going pro this year.

16. Tennessee Titans – Brian Price, DT. UCLA
You could totally see last year how much they missed Albert Haynesworth. Price isn’t even close to that talent, but he’ll give them the obstacle down the middle that made them go from 14-2 in 08 to 8-8 last year.

17. San Francisco 49ers (via Carolina Panthers) – Brandon Graham, LB. Michigan
If you think Mike Singletary isn’t using one of his two first round picks on a defensive player than you’re just ignorant.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Anthony Davis, OT. Rutgers
Another guy ESPN loves to fondle. Pittsburgh’s O-Line has been horrible (it was a miracle they won the Super Bowl like that). It’s time to address it before Big Ben gets hurt, again.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Bruce Campbell, OT. Maryland
Campbell is taking some time off from helping Michael Weston and the rest of the Burn Notice cast and coming to the NFL! OK, I just love his name and really wanted to say that. But in all seriousness (ha!), Matt Ryan needs more protection.

20. Houston Texans – Taylor Mays, S. USC
The defensive backfield’s inability to make any big plays or stops has been their Achilles. Mays takes them over the top and gives them exactly what they need. He’s a steal at 20.

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Golden Tate, WR. Notre Dame
I am a huge Chad Ochocinco fan! But let’s face it, they really don’t have a dominant two or three WR. Tate fits that mold.

22. New England Patriots – Kyle Wilson, CB. Boise State
It didn’t take a genius to notice how little Bill Belichick trusted his defense last year. Watch that change with an overhaul, including Wilson.

23. Green Bay Packers – Mike Iupati, OG. Idaho
Iupati will be the best lineman on the board at this point and the Packers need someone who can help keep Aaron Rodgers upright. They had unarguably the worst pass protection in the league last year. This is a big upgrade for them.

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Dan Williams, DT. Tennessee
The Eagles are a pretty solid team all around, but they have to address their need on the D-line.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Earl Thomas, S. Texas
Ed Reed is already contemplating retirement and the rest of the backfield is geriatric. The great Baltimore defense is aging and the team knows it’s time to get younger before it’s too late.

26. Arizona Cardinals – Jermaine Gresham, TE. Oklahoma
Matt Lienart has a lot of skeptics. If he can’t do it with the addition of Gresham to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, then he can’t do it, period.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Maurkice Pouncey, C. Florida
He’s definitely used to blocking for a guy who likes to move around a lot.

28. San Diego Chargers – Jhavid Best, RB. Cal
LT is gone and all signs point to Darren Sproles being on his way out too. A complete overhaul of the running game has begun.

29. New York Jets – Brandon LaFell, WR. LSU
“Bobblin’” Braylon Edwards was supposed to be the guy for Mark Sanchez. LaFell gives the sophomore QB a new toy.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Jimmy Clausen, QB. Notre Dame
Like Brady Quinn and Aaron Rodgers before him, Clausen needs to get his parachute ready for the free fall. No Brett? No problem!

31. Indianapolis Colts – Charles Brown, OT. USC
The Colts really don’t NEED anything but it never hurts to have another lineman.

32. New Orleans Saints – Kareem Jackson, CB. Alabama
Wow, it’s just weird saying where the Super Bowl Champs are weak, isn’t it? I mean they just won a championship! They’re the best in the game! But I digress… New Orleans still needs help in the secondary.

Who Cares About Timing

2010-01-29T11:01:00.001-08:00

For the first time in the history of the National Football League, the Pro Bowl is being played a week before the Super Bowl, in Miami.

Here’s my question though; were you going to watch it anyway?

If you’re an honest person, you’re answer is probably no. I can’t even claim that I have ever watched a Pro Bowl in my life, although I have caught a few glimpses of the other contests and festivities here and there on ESPN.

Of all the professional sports all-star games we have, the Pro Bowl is the least popular, ironically representing the most popular sport in the country.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been saying that he is pleased with the attention and publicity that this year’s Pro Bowl is getting. Really? Because all I have heard in newspapers, TV, and radio has been criticism and confusion. And even with that there are still a lot of people unaware that the Pro Bowl is being played a week before the Super Bowl. Not like they were going to watch it at its regular date anyway.

Goodell must be thinking “Bad press is better than no press.” People are tuning in and voicing their opinions about it because change makes things relevant.

Will this increase the ratings? Probably. People are going to tune in out of curiosity. Chances are it will be the highest rated game in the history of the Pro Bowl. However, the NFL cannot count on that to continue for long.

I’ve heard chatter and complaints about how the 13 players on the Colts and Saints won’t be playing in the Pro Bowl. Plus, stars like Tom Brady and Brett Favre have decided to sit this one out. In all honesty though, a lot of those guys wouldn’t be playing anyway.

Once fans begin to realize how many stars are missing, the silly rule changes and the hype of the scheduling difference calms, the attention will go back to the Super Bowl, and the ratings will die down, lower than they were before. With the biggest game of the year the following week, the Pro Bowl will be overlooked and forgotten, again.

The Pro Bowl cannot be moved to the middle of the NFL season, like it is with the other sports. Teams get in rhythms and grooves, and placing a league-wide week-long intermission would not only distract them, but also get in the way of the entire regular season as a whole.

Now, football needs an all-star game. Just voting somebody as an all-pro isn’t enough. The ratings might be low, but the chance to play in the Pro Bowl is an honor for a lot of NFL players.

Goodell and the other league executives should be satisfied with their biggest products; the regular season and Super Bowl. The sport is already the biggest in the country, and even though their all-star game is dismal compared to the rest of the business, they’re already in a great position.

This is a problem the NFL can afford to have. After-all, the game is supposed to be about showing the fans a good time.

The Dark Side

2009-12-11T06:39:00.001-08:00

Brian Kelly has been named the new coach at Notre Dame, and now, with the Sugar Bowl approaching, UC Fans are left wondering what will happen next?

I can’t say I’m shock by his decision. Kelly said, years ago, that he would walk to South Bend for that job. Well as someone who’s not only made the trip to South Bend, but also walked the streets of the city doing door to door sales for AT&T, he’s not missing much by driving.

Details of the contract aren’t out yet, but you can bet Notre Dame is giving him quite a raise.

So put yourself in Kelly’s shoes. His dream job opens up with a big payday. He’s had a great thing going at Cincinnati for the past three years, but now has the opportunity to be the savior of the Irish. I don’t think you can blame the guy for taking the job.

However, this is probably the darkest and most unfair element in college football. In the professional sports, teams cannot steal coaches away while they are still under contract. But in college (basketball too), it’s almost common place. There is no respect what-so-ever for the sanctity and commitment from one contract to the next.

This doesn’t make any sense. I can understand that coaches don’t want to wait or miss out on bigger and better opportunities, but deserting the team is just wrong.

And during Bowl Season? C’mon NCAA, this is bullshit. At least in professional sports, coaches and assistants cannot finalize contracts until their current teams’ seasons are over. This allows teams to go through the playoffs, not focusing on what coaches will and will not be back and gives fans a peace of mind.

So why can’t the NCAA at least adopt that? With Kelly now coaching the Irish, the Bearcats are left to their assistants to put together a game plan against the defending national champion, Florida Gators.

And this isn’t the first time this has happened. The last school to win the Big East was West Virginia, whose coach, Rich Rodriguez, was hired by Michigan right before the Fiesta Bowl. While assistant Bill Stewart was able to win the game, and eventually the job, it was Rodriguez that got them there, and it should have been Rodriguez to coach them.

A big question people have been asking has been “Why couldn’t he have waited until after the Sugar Bowl?” Well, the answer is that big programs, like Notre Dame, have a history of getting who they want, when they want. If Kelly had even asked to wait until after the Sugar Bowl, you can bet the Irish response would have been “Thanks, but no thanks.” Kelly would have lost millions and probably the job.

Notre Dame, Brian Kelly, or even the UC Administration are not to blame for this. It’s just a broken system.

Stop It!

2009-05-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

OK, Brett Favre, if you say you want to stay retired, then stay retired.

I am so sick of hearing a new Brett Favre report everyday on ESPN. And the worst part about that damn network is that all of their radio personalities, like Scott Van Pelt and Collin Cowherd, all say that they’re sick of it too. Here’s the problem; they say it everyday which means they’re just as bad as the station they work for!

I don’t blame them though. If it bleeds it leads, right? Well Brett Favre is bleeding all of the fun and excitement out of football news. Hell, out of all sports news.

Manny Ramirez’s positive drug test couldn’t even silence Favre. I actually have a theory that because Manny stole the spotlight for a day when Favre said he “wanted to stay retired,” that suddenly the attention whore began to change his mind again. “Oh no, they’ll forget about me!” Cry me a river.

So here’s what you should do Baby Brett, you fuck-head. Just unretired and join the Minnesota Vikings. We all know you want to. The more you deny it the dumber you look. And believe me, you look pretty dumb already.

No, this will not affect Favre’s admission into the Hall of Fame. No, when people think about Brett Favre 10 years from now they will still think of the three time MVP and Super Bowl winner, not the old grumpy guy who can’t make a decision. But did you ever hear the word “saga” after the names Marino, Elway, or Montana? I doubt we’ll hear it post Manning or Brady.

However, I know that it’s hard to imagine an NFL with no Brett Favre at all. But Favre doesn’t have to play to be involved with the sport.

Why not look at broadcasting? A lot of great football players have gone on to become analysts and commentators. John Madden retired (and unlike Favre, he will probably stay retired), so why not look into taking his job? ESPN would probably jizz their pants if you offered to work for them. Look at the quarterbacks that work for them! Trent Dilfer, Tim Hasselbeck, Sean Salisbury (did he get fired or something?), Favre is more qualified than all three of them!

How about coaching? C’mon Baby, you know football. Become a quarterbacks coach. Hell, I bet even the Packers might give you a shot at that. And if you’re as close with Aaron Rodgers as you claim, I’m sure he would love to have you mentor him.

Maybe Favre sits on these decisions because teams want him to participate in off-season workouts and training camps. We all know Favre hates these. He hasn’t participated in them in years. Ironically, those are the years where he has struggled most. And the scary part is that each year he has broken down more and more towards the end of the season. I don’t think Baby’s body can handle a full season with all the off-season programs, and I think he knows it too.

But guess what? The Vikings will still take him even if he decides after all of the programs. Why? Because they think that Baby is still an upgrade over what they have.

And because of that, it’s going to be August before we can see a Favre-free Sportscenter.

The Curse of Brooks

2009-03-30T07:09:00.000-07:00

Note to all college basketball players and coaches: pray that I don’t put you in my Final Four.

Every damn year I suck at this. I make my bracket and, in confidence, I believe that by some miracle I just may be right and win my group challenge. Once again, I am reminded how much I suck at this.

I did do a little better this year. While Wake Forest, my upset pick, got knocked out in the first round by Cleveland State, my other three made it farther than usual. Duke made it to the Sweet 16, Oklahoma to the Elite Eight, and UConn is in the Final Four (I had Oklahoma over UConn in the championship).

People called me crazy for picking Oklahoma. I only had (and still have) two words… Blake Griffin. Dude’s a beast. Regardless of the fact that North Carolina spanked the Sooners, Griffin was still the best player in the NCAA this year. I’d take him over Tyler Hansbrough any day.

Wake Forest was iffy. After they lost the top spot in the hoops poll they limped on the rest of the season. Still, I thought that the Deacons could pull some upsets. After all, history tells us that any team in the dance has a shot.

As for Duke, I thought their division was weak. While Pitt was strong, they choked a lot. And they did again in the tournament to Big East Rival Villanova. I just thought the Blue Devils could pull through. I had them beating Pitt in the Elite Eight.

And of all of this what pisses me off the most is Michigan State. I am a life-long Spartan fan, thanks to my Dad being an alumnus. Ever since I was a kid I have loved all MSU sports. So why am I angry that they are in the Final Four? Because every year I DO pick them to get there they choke. The years that I haven’t (2005 and this year), they do. I’ll be wearing my green and white for the remainder of the tournament, I just wish that I could have picked them too.

So, in conclusion, I am just ranting. Next year I’ll have less confidence in my picks. For fuck’s sake, I suck at this.

Confliction on the Court

2009-03-17T08:09:00.001-07:00

They lost to DePaul. How the hell did that happen?

Last week, UC lost to DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament. In case you didn’t know, the Blue Demons went 0-18 in conference play. Yet somehow, the Bearcats broke down.

UC head coach Mick Cronin has yet to get past the first round of the conference tourney. He has gone 0-10 in March, during his three year tenure. And the program has yet to get a bid to the NCAA Tournament, after getting there almost every year under Bob Huggins.

The fact is that UC had a winning basketball tradition. It was one of the premier programs in the country. While I do agree that Huggins deserved the axe for off-court issues, Cronin has done a horrible job filling his shoes.

Yes, taking the place of a local legend is not easy, but the name University of Cincinnati, alone, used to be able to get some of the country’s top recruits. Now, it struggles. Kids look at it and say “No.”

Maybe if the Bearcats were still in Conference USA it would be different, but the Big East is a whole other animal. It is the best and toughest conference in the country. And under Cronin, they can’t even break into the middle of the pack.

Here’s the big problem quickly arising with UC basketball: UC football. With a limited amount of money it’s kind of hazy how much money the school will be able to allocate to the two programs. While the school is traditionally known as a basketball school, their recent failures may have hampered the program for a while. On the other hand, the football program is on the rise and starting to bring new money to the school that it didn’t have before.

Can we blame Cronin for this? No. But the students and fans are quickly turning against him. Calling out cross-town rival Xavier (who he has yet to beat) doesn’t help you out, buddy. And when Huggins was here, he was the most beloved coach at the school. With the success on the gridiron, the fans won’t hesitate to turn on Cronin as they’ve fallen in love with Brian Kelly.

Basically, my opinion is that UC should give Cronin one more year, but they have the keep close tabs on him. No more stupid sound bites. Maybe one win in March. The guy needs a lot of help if he wants to keep coaching after 2010.

Give the Dawg a Bone

2009-03-09T08:12:00.000-07:00

In just a few months, ex-Falcons’ quarterback and dog whisperer extraordinaire Michael Vick will be back in the free world.

The fact that Vick could potentially be back in the NFL leads to some issues. And you have to break it down into two questions: Should he be allowed back into the NFL and would any team want him?

From what I gather, most people don’t want him back in the NFL. I don’t blame them either. The dog fighting circus that Vick funded and served as ring-master not only shamed his own name but that of his team and the league.

However, players have done worse things and still been allowed to stay in the league. Ray Lewis was accused of murder, Pacman Jones of hiring someone to shoot someone, Jamal Lewis was involved in a drug bust, and Chris Henry is just a burden to society. All of these players have been punished by both the law and the league. All of these players are still in the league.

And when Vick gets out of prison, he will have served his full 23-month sentence. He hasn’t gotten into trouble while in the slammer and has been relatively quiet since. They say that prison is supposed to punish people so that they don’t make the same mistakes again. Let’s hope it has.

I know this isn’t the easiest thing to believe, but Vick should be allowed back in the league. The fact is that he not only has been behind bars and will have served the sentence that he was given as a result of his crime, but he also has been suspended indefinitely since. By all means, Vick deserves to be back in the league.

If Roger Goodell decides to suspend him for another year, that is up to his own discretion. But banning him for life? I know I want to see that, but it shouldn’t happen.

Now, who would want Vick? That’s a whole other animal.

Vick wasn’t that good of a quarterback to begin with. He has never thrown more than 55% of his passes accurately in a year. No other “run first” quarterback since him has had any success. If Vick wants to come back into the league, he can’t be a quarterback. On the other hand, there will be a team out there that might give him a chance to be under center.

Right now NFL general managers have the luxury of sitting back and saying that they have no interest in pursuing Vick. He is still serving his sentence for a few more months, free agency has just begun, the draft is coming up, and Goodell hasn’t even made his decision on him. Plus, the Falcons want a trade for Vick, and other teams know that when he comes back there will be no place on their roster for him, making a cut imminent. Every GM can wait on that call.

And who doesn’t love a great story of redemption? Before he went to prison, Vick apologized for his crimes. Many, including myself, were skeptic. I mean, had he not gotten caught would he have apologized? But now he’s lost all of his money, his houses, his friends, his team, and his job. If anything, he has definitely paid the price for his crime.

I say let him back into the NFL. The unemployment rate in this country is high enough as is and someone as athletically talented as Vick doesn’t need to be on that list. Let him play, but keep him on a short leash (pun intended).

Numb to the Needle

2009-02-24T08:27:00.000-08:00

So Alex Rodriguez admitted to using steroids… why am I not surprised?

No, it’s not because Jose Canseco wrote about it in his second book. But seriously, how great does he look now?

I think I have become numb to baseball players using steroids. At this point, it’s almost a surprise to find out that someone didn’t juice.

My feelings are kind of unique though. I understand why these guys used performance enhancing drugs. Look at it this way, there were no rules against steroids in baseball until 2005. They didn’t even test until 2003. Now put yourself in their shoes. There’s something that will make you better and there are no penalties for doing it. I’ll admit it, I would have done it too. It’s the same thing as the teacher giving you the answers for an exam; yes it’s cheating, but there’s no chance you’ll get in trouble at the moment.

From what people have told me though, the feelings are mixed. Some people say that any and all records of roiders should be erased. Some say that should ban you from Cooperstown. Some even told me they want a lifetime ban.

The problem with that, once again, is that it wasn’t illegal in baseball at the time. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”

That’s right. Don’t punish the players for using steroids. For their entire lives, athletes are taught to be the best and do anything to reach that. How are steroids any different? MLB Commissioner Bud Selig and MLBPA President Donald Fehr are the two that should be punished.

While Selig has no real power over Fehr, an entire drug ring happened under his watch. And Fehr was no different than a drug lord. He let it all happen and even fought for a player’s right to use drugs. Both of these men should be in jail.

Whenever I say this to people the typical response I get is “But Brooks, players were doing illegal things!” Well peons, it’s not illegal until you get caught. And of those of you who responded to my questions, how many of you can honestly say that you’ve never done something illegal and gotten away with it before? Underage drinking? Smoking weed? Urinating in public? Hell, even speeding on the road! ALL OF THEM ARE ILLEGAL, TOO!

Now, I do think it was at least a little admirable that A-Rod admitted he used steroids. He could have gone down the same road Roger Clemens, Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds have and denied it repeatedly, even after they have been proved wrong. And yes, he did lie about it before, but at the same time he did at least admit it and while he is still playing.

And he probably will get into the Hall of Fame. Look at Pete Rose, for example. When he got caught betting on baseball there was an outcry for him to be banned and never let into the Hall. But now, decades later, people want the all-time hits leader enshrined as a player.

Just remember, Rodriguez probably has five to 10 years left in his career. That’s enough time to play “clean” and put juicing behind him. Hopefully by then, we will be moving out of the steroid era and start the forgive and forget process.

Not Too Shabby

2009-02-23T13:44:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I really hate to sound like a local guy (because I'm really not), but the Cincinnati Reds could make a run this year at the NL Central.

Ask anyone that knows me; I'm a diehard Indians' fan, but I'm sitting at my internship right now, looking up news stories and I see a post that Homer Bailey is fighting for the fifth spot in the Reds' roation. While Bailey has gone from promising prospect to bud of many jokes among vendors, the rest of the rotation looks pretty strong.

Edinson Volquez was a 17 game winner last year and the starter for the NL in the All-Star Game. Johnny Cueto may have finished the season with 14 losses and an ERA over 4.80 but early in the season she showed a lot of promise. If he can stay consistent he can be dangerous at the back end.

Then there's the older guys, starting with Bronson Arroyo. His hair makes him look like the goofiest dude in the world (thank god he still doesn't have the cornrows like in 04). But Arroyo has been a solid starter before. I remember going to games at the beginning of the season and yelling to remind him that no sponsor likes a loser. I mean he looked absolutely horrible. Maybe Time-Warner Cable called and threatened to cancel his contract, but he finished the season with 15 wins and 200 innings pitched.

The real question is can Aaron Harang bounce back? In 06' and 07' he had well over 200 strikeouts and 16 wins. I have no idea what the hell was wrong with him last year but if he can put that nightmare of a 6-17 record behind him, the ace could keep this team in contention.

Of course, all of this is based on some big "ifs." IF Cueto can play to his potential. IF Arroyo can be consistent. IF Harang has a short memory. IF Volquez isn't a one year wonder. And don't forget... IF the young hitters can give the team enough offense.

Then again, these are the Reds. If/then is usually the same story every year.

The Saga Continues...

2009-02-17T08:50:00.000-08:00

Brett Favre retired, again.

Okay, the title isn’t flashy but why is it hard to believe? Maybe it’s because we’ve seen this before. Maybe it’s because he told Peter King that he thinks he’ll have the urge to play again.

Last March, when Favre announced his retirement, I believed him. To get so close to play in another Super Bowl and then throw the final interception which ultimately cost your team the game cannot be a good feeling. Like Michael Strahan, John Elway, and Jerome Bettis, I’m sure Favre wanted to retire with another Super Bowl win. Who wouldn’t?

The fact is that it probably wasn’t going to happen anyway. The only reason that the Giants beat the Patriots was because of a freak catch by David Tyree. Yeah, I know that we don’t know what the outcome would have been if the Packers were there, but I think Favre wanted to be the hero to stop the juggernaut.

And you can’t be angry at Packers’ GM Ted Thompson for not wanting Favre back. Not because he has been more of a liability in the clutch over the last few years and not because he didn’t want to deal with his contract. It’s because he had a young quarterback in waiting who’s contract with the team was quickly coming to an end. Thompson knew that if he didn’t hand the reigns over to Aaron Rodgers this year, he never would. And if Rodgers numbers are any indication, he ultimately made the right move for the team.

So why does Favre still want to play? Maybe it’s the same reason that Joe Paterno keeps coaching; he doesn’t want to be forgotten. Well Brett, after all the drama you’ve caused I don’t think we can anymore. We all remember that one kid in preschool who cried about everything (a little easier for me, I was that kid). Having the word “saga” asphyxiated to your name is not always a good thing.

Maybe he fears that his records will be gone in a few years if Payton Manning stays on pace. People don’t always remember number two or three on a list. Records are meant to be broken. Maybe he should have played baseball instead, where every record has become tainted.

Retirement is like marriage. You’re still going to see beautiful women and want to chase them, but you know you can’t and you shouldn’t. We all know Favre still wants to play, but the question is can he resist the urge and do what his body, his fans, and his numbers are telling him? RETIRE!

If he came back to the Jets, the team was saying that he would fully have to participate in training camp. Favre hasn’t done that in years. He hasn’t been criticized publicly by teammates like he was by Thomas Jones. Favre has always had his own, giant island in Green Bay and it looks like staying in New York would force him to swim to the mainland.

And one more thing. We know an NFL team is going to have an opening at some point this year. There’s always a major quarterback injury that will open the door for Favre. And when this happens you can bet that Favre will have a decision to make. Can the fat kid guard the cupcake? Let’s hope he can.

Greed and the Citi

2009-02-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

We are paying $400 million for the new Mets stadium. Shit, I don’t even live in New York.

Here’s how I got to this conclusion. Last week, Representatives Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Ted Poe (R-Tex) called for Citigroup to withdraw its name from the new Mets stadium. Citi is paying $400 million to have their name on the stadium for 20 years. The government gave Citigroup $45 billion in federal bailout money. Ergo, I am paying for the Mets new stadium.

It’s no surprise Citigroup refuses to break their contract and ditch their deal. They’re a bank. They like money. They follow the moronic belief that having your name on a baseball stadium makes people want to support you. I’m from Cleveland, and when Progressive renamed the Jake I was more turned off by them than willing to switch my insurance.

I’m not mad at Citigroup. Not only are they under contract with the Mets but if you expected them to dip out you are stupid. I’ll say it again, they’re a bank. If I had my own language, bank would be another word for greed. That would be like standing in front of a bear and expecting it not to rip your arms off.

I’m pissed at the Mets.

Yes, $400 million is a lot of money to give up. But you’re the fucking Mets. You’re one of the most popular teams in the biggest market in the country. I’m sure you can find another sponsor. Maybe not for $400 million, but you’ll still make money.

I’m not a Mets fan. I have no interest in paying Francisco Rodriguez or Carlos Beltran. It makes no difference to me if they win they crumble at the end of the season again or win the World Series (unless they're playing the Indians).

I keep saying $400 million because it’s a shit-ton of money.

$400,000,000.00

Anyway, I am officially protesting the Mets. That really doesn’t entitle much considering I have never paid to watch them in any form.

Lock Him In

2009-02-03T08:49:00.000-08:00

When the Arizona Cardinals got to their first Super Bowl the questions started swirling around Kurt Warner and whether he will be in Canton.

The guy has to be a Hall of Famer. There are more than a few reasons to let him in.

First off, he was the best in the league, for a period of time. One of the arguments to let someone into the Hall is that they are the best player at their position for a few seasons. Well, from 1999 until 2001, Warner was the gold standard of NFL quarterbacks. He was seen like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning are today. He even won the MVP in ’99 and ’01. That’s proof on paper.

He’s also won a Super Bowl. In ’99 he filled in for the injured Trent Green and led the St. Louis Rams to a Super Bowl win. It was the beginning of what coach Mike Martz coined as “the Greatest Show on Turf.” Rings are what can hold people out of the Hall, and Warner’s got one. Don’t forget that he won the Super Bowl MVP and has been to two more, where he has played pretty well.

Warner has some critiques on his resume though.

Some say he isn’t a shoe in because there were years when he struggled. In 2002, Warner only played in seven games while throwing three TDs and 11 picks. He sat most of the year because of a broken pinky on his throwing hand. The next year he only played in two games before being benched for Marc Bulger.

The next year he played for the Giants. He got benched in the middle of the year, but he was 5-4 as a starter and it was mainly because the fans wanted to see Eli Manning play. They only won one game the rest of the season.

When Warner struggled again in 2005 in Arizona, the Cards drafted Matt Leinart. However, when Leinart got hurt last year and Warner was named the full time starter, he has returned to play the way he did almost 10 years ago. The fact is that Warner didn’t have protection from the line for years. No quarterback can succeed with that. And he played hurt for a few years.

People also say that his numbers are ballooned because he has only succeeded in pass-first offenses. While he did have run support from Marshal Faulk in St. Louis, Edgerrin James hasn’t exactly been a solid back for him. Anyone who can win without a running game deserves some credit. The Cards had the lowest ranked ground attack coming into the playoffs, yet Warner still led them to the Super Bowl. Most teams today win using a balanced run-pass, but a guy who isn’t afraid to throw the ball 50 times a game should get some props.

Maybe he’s not a first ballot guy, but Warner has to get in at some point. He started his NFL career late because scouts didn’t notice him. It’s a shame they didn’t, because if he had played a full career we probably wouldn’t even be having this discussion.

God Hates Cleveland

2009-02-02T08:24:00.001-08:00

What the hell does Cleveland have to do to win a championship?

At this point, it’s not even the fact that the city hasn’t won a professional sports championship since 1964. It’s not the fact that the teams underachieve. Right now, it’s the fact that out damn rivals win championships while we wallow and suffer that really pisses me off.

True, I’m writing this the night after the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII. And for anyone who is saying the 27-23 win over the Cardinals the greatest Super Bowl in history, I say shut the hell up. It can’t be the best game if the Steelers win. Period.

Being a Cleveland fan is pretty hard and last night was just another reminder of that. It’s like every few years some divine being/s is/are reminding the fans that we are not in his/her/their favor.

Football is the worst of them all too. First off, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls in the past four years. I pray that’s not the foundation for a dynasty. To add insult to injury, they now have the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history. They’re probably the rival that Cleveland fans hate most. Not to mention the Browns haven’t beat them since 2003.

And if I’m talking about football, I can’t forget mentioning the Ravens. The worst thing about the Ravens is that they won a Super Bowl three years after relocating. They should have been the Browns. That could have been us.

You can’t talk about rivals winning without talking about the Chicago White Sox. In 2005, the Indians lost the division in the last three games to them. Then, they beat the Angels in the ALCS on one of the dumbest calls I have ever seen. If you signal strike, it’s a damn strike. If that’s not proof that someone hates us, I don’t know what is.

And of course, there’s the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. Now I know that the Bulls haven’t had much success since Michael left, but their dominance in the 90’s always got to Cavs fans. I remember early in that decade when the Cavs had Mark Price, Larry Nance, and Brad Daugherty. All great players. Yet they still could never get past the Bulls.

I’m honestly not as fired up about the Pistons. Don’t get me wrong, I hate them. I was not really happy that they won the NBA Championship in 2004, even though they were playing the Lakers. It’s probably because they play in the same city as the Lions that puts a small smile on my face.

I’m not a religious person. Miracles and testaments do nothing for me. Oddly enough, it seems that every time I see a team I despise celebrate a championship that I start to think that someone is looking down at me, and every other Cleveland fan, reminding us that we aren’t supposed to win anything.

Grave Digger

2009-01-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

It is only a few weeks before spring training begins for Major League Baseball and one of the greatest hitters in history still can’t find a home.

Manny Ramirez has effectively dug his own grave. For the past few years, he had an annual off-season tantrum where he requested to be traded from the Boston Red Sox. Every time he did this, it was no surprise that the organization wouldn’t submit to his demands. It was just “Manny being Manny.”

During last season, it erupted.

First there were reports that Ramirez refused to play for the Sox. Then there were reports that several of his teammates refused to play with him on the team. It finally led to him being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline.

Once he got to LA, Ramirez said he was happy, even though manager Joe Torre made him “trim” his hair. He had one of the greatest second halves of a season anyone has ever had, hitting over .390 with 17 homeruns and 53 RBIs in 53 games.

But for all of his talent, can we be surprised that nobody wants to sign this guy? Let’s take a look at his potential suitors and what has/hasn’t happened.

The Yankees have spent a ridiculous amount of money so far on pitchers C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Tiexeira. So why wouldn’t a team that can out-spend everyone else want the slugger? Wouldn’t they love to stick it to their rival? Simple, he is too costly for them. Manny wants at least a four year deal worth at least $25 million a year. For a 36 year old with temper tantrums? Even Brian Cashman won’t go there.

Then there are the cross-town Mets. It might have been the biggest insult to Manny when last week the team said no thank you to him. This is a team that has melted down at the end of the year for two years straight. Last year, Manny carried the Dodgers on his back to the playoffs. That has to sting when a team that NEEDS you, doesn’t WANT you.

For a while, the San Francisco Giants were flirting with Ramirez and his agent, Scott Boras. But after dumping a truckload of money on the greatest bust in the history of the world and history, Barry Zito, I think the Giants purse may be a little too tight for his wants.

Back to the Red Sox? That’s laughable. He burned every bridge in Cleveland when he left for Boston. The Angels are “satisfied” with their outfield. And neither Chicago teams will even take a look at him.

So where will Manny end up? By the looks of it, back with the Dodgers. A few months ago they offered him a two-year deal worth around $45 million. By the looks of it, that’s the best deal he’s going to get.

Ramirez’s options are either lower his demands or retire. In this economy, take what you get.

Surprise, No Surprise

2009-01-20T14:34:00.000-08:00

The Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl and everyone is SO surprised.

Should we be surprised? Not really. OK, well maybe, but that’s just because it’s the Cardinals. But for the past four years now there has been the one team that has fought on the road and gotten to the Super Bowl. Unless you have some form of Alzheimer’s or have suffered a head injury, these are things you should remember.

In 2006, the same Pittsburgh Steelers that are in this year’s game were the “Cinderella” story. They first beat a Carson Palmer-less Cincinnati Bengals. That didn’t take much. But next on the list were the “unstoppable” Colts. That was the year they began the season 13-0, before losing to San Diego (as I predicted). It was the year Peyton Manning broke Dan Marino’s single season touchdown record. The Colts had everything going for them, except a kicker that could make a fourth quarter field goal. Following that they beat the Broncos, which really didn’t look too difficult either. And then they played Seattle in the Super Bowl. These were the Seahawks that locked up the number one seed in the NFC and were favored to win with MVP Shawn Alexander. Still, the Steelers won and as a Browns fan, I wanted to puke.

In 2007, it was the Colts’ year for redemption. After finally predicting that they would win the Super Bowl the year before, I swore I would never pick them again. Now, this year they started as the three seed, so winning the Super Bowl shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, except for the fact that their defense was notoriously horrible at stopping the run (sound familiar?). They got passed the run-happy Chiefs in the first round and then the suddenly redeemed Jamal Lewis and the Ravens. It was like their defense suddenly remembered how to tackle or something. The biggest shocker was that in the AFC championship they finally beat the New England Patriots, who they had lost to two straight times in the playoffs. Their road block so to speak. When the Super Bowl came, they were up against a number one seed Chicago Bears that was known for its menacing defense and inconsistent offense. It was no surprise that they were able to stop Rex Grossman and help Tony Dungy become the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

And then there’s last year and the tale of Eli and the Giants. The biggest shock wasn’t that they got into the playoffs, after their annual late season meltdown. It wasn’t that they defeated their division winner and number one seed in the Cowboys (honestly, Romo is the world’s biggest choke artist, pretty boy) who beat them twice in the regular season. And it wasn't that they beat Brett Favre in the playoffs in Lambeau (he has been more of a liability in the clutch for the past few years). The shocker came when they beat the unbeaten New England Patriots. A team that had broken almost every single season offensive record. The Pats were favored in the spread by 13.5. But a fourth quarter, fourth down pass from Eli Manning to David Tyree eventually led to a touchdown and a win.

So without getting into the details, should we really be shocked that the Cards are now in the Super Bowl? I know they got smashed by the Pats 47-7 only two weeks before the playoffs and that they got murdered by the Eagles by 28 points only a few weeks prior to that. I know they were winless on the east coast. But if there’s a constant theme here it’s that these teams have gotten hot at the right times and that anyone in the playoffs has a chance to win any game.

The Arizona Cardinals are no different. Don’t be surprised if they win because they came into the playoffs 9-7 as the four seed. Only be surprised because… they’re the Arizona Cardinals.

The Amazing Mr. Tebow

2009-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

Arguably the greatest college football player ever as a second day draft pick? I don’t think so.

According to many NFL scouts, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, Florida QB Tim Tebow would not be drafted until the third or fourth round in the draft. Now, while I am not a professional draft analyst, I really have to disagree with the whole notion that Tebow could not be a successful passer in the NFL.

However, I do see where they are coming from.

The first argument against the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner is that he comes from a certain college system. Alex Smith, the first overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2005 NFL draft, played under Florida coach Urban Meyer while he was at Utah. By the looks of it, Smith is now out of a job. He did not play at all this past season due to a shoulder injury and will probably be released by the 49ers. His career QB rating is 63.5, with 19 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. In his defense though, he has had a different offensive coordinator with a different system every year.

But there is a huge difference between the two quarterbacks. First off, Tebow is far more physically talented than Smith. He is bigger, stronger, faster and more accurate. He also plays in much more talented and difficult conference. The Mountain West Conference doesn’t even compare to the excessive speed and skill of the SEC. Smith played against the defenses of New Mexico, BYU, and TCU in his route to a BCS Bowl berth. Tebow, on the other hand, had to get passed Georgia, LSU, and Alabama on his route to two National Championships.

The other knock on Tebow is his similarities to two other “run-first” quarterbacks who were not successful in the NFL; Michael Vick and Vince Young. While Vick may never play in the league again because of actions off of the field, it is unfair to make comparisons to Young. Mainly, because Young just completed his third year in the NFL, and wasn’t even given the chance to start after getting injured and benched in week two.

But Tebow has qualities that Young doesn’t. First off, he is a far better leader. Many great college quarterbacks, like Young and Smith, don’t make it in the NFL simply because they are not strong leaders. Tebow is. He takes responsibilities for his actions and carries the team on his back when he needs to. Those are qualities that are rare among quarterbacks at any level. It is one of the qualities that separates the elite quarterbacks from the rest of the bunch.

And Tebow is not a true “run-first” quarterback. A real "run-first" guy is someone who chooses to run the ball when the play still calls for him to throw it. Can you blame the guy for having skill with his legs?

He has also defied every criticism that people have thrown at him. When he was a freshman, and Chris Leak was the starter, Tebow was only used to pound the ball for a few short yards.

After his freshman year, critics and analysts doubted that he could be the full time starter. Not only did he answer that question, he broke the NCAA record for touchdowns scored by one player in a season and won the Heisman. Coming into this year they doubted that Tebow could win by passing more than running. Well, his numbers say it all as he threw 30 touchdowns and only four picks as the Gators won another national championship.

So, when people doubt his ability to be a successful quarterback in the NFL, what do you think Mr. Tebow will do?