More topics on the brain...

Curt Schilling -- Is anyone else tired of hearing what Curt Schilling thinks about...anything?  The way the media handles him and the way he behaves is the epitome of what's wrong with the way sports stars are revered and how celebrity has blown up in America today. 

This guy is a pitcher in a game.  He throws hard.  He was a really good pitcher too.  That said, why does the media report all of his thoughts on politics just because he is the one who said them?  If he wants to comment about steroids or changes needed in the game, fine.  However, until he actually does something in politics then I don't want to hear it.  He's a loudmouth who thinks he knows more about things than he does and he has always been a good quote so the media runs his comments and he has become a "go-to" guy.

If Schilling runs for office or actually becomes a politician, that is a different story.  He's not alone either!  I don't condone actors or pseudo celebrities having their opinions reported on either.

This photo makes me sick to my stomach (photo from crooksandliars.com)

Announcer Gripe: Jim Nantz  -- First, let me say I think Jim Nantz does his homework and is prepared.  My issue with him is his delivery while doing football.  For golf and tennis, his voice is the perfect tempo and volume and works holding viewer interest.  However, while doing football on CBS' #1 team with Phil Simms, he seems like a fish out of water.

Nantz reminds me of Pat Summerall (who was propped up like "Weekend at Bernie's" at the Cotton Bowl) in terms of his enthusiasm and dynamic personality.  For Summerall, it worked because he balanced out John Madden's over-the-top personality and volume.  Simms knows his stuff, but isn't that type of personality to balance the lame Nantz.  Maybe a different partner pairing would make me feel different about him, but I think CBS could still keep him in some capacity just not on the #1 team.  They won't do that, of course, because he is one of their headliner sportscasters.  He is better during basketball with Clark Kellogg because Special K is loud and excitable.  It has made a difference for Nantz since the departure of the grumpy Billy Packer.

Please stick to golf, Jim, and leave the NFL alone (photo from CBS)

NFL Championship Weekend Picks

AFC: INDIANAPOLIS over New York  -- Look, the Jets are a great story and they have put together quite a run.  They run the ball well, play solid defense and have a bit of attitude to go with it.  History is on their side lately as the last several Super Bowls have featured first-round teams that caught some momentum like the Cardinals last year. 

I just think the run ends here.  Cincinnati gave up in Week 17 to prevent injuries and then showed why they played so poorly in the second half of the season.  Carson Palmer's passing has disappeared and Cincy has no stretch-the-field WR to balance Chad Ocho Cinco's route running.  As a result, the Jets could put Darrelle Revis on Ocho Cinco and play aggressive, attacking defense.  Ballgame.  Last week, San Diego plain choked.  If Nate Kaeding hits the two makeable field goals it may have been completely different.  Also, the Chargers are a team with a history of playoff failures.  The Colts and Peyton Manning have overcome that part of their past.

Manning is the most dependable player in the NFL.  A coach on the field.  There isn't much the Jets can throw out there he hasn't seen or prepared for.  You can't shut down the Colts' offense completely and I think they get a few touchdowns in the first half and make the Jets have to go to the air to try and stay with them.  That is not Jets football.  Colts 27, Jets 17

This guy may be the best QB in NFL history & not the guy you want to face this Sunday.

NFC:  NEW ORLEANS over Minnesota -- This game is harder to pick because the two teams are very even.  It comes down to which team can pressure the quarterback the best.  Both have many offensive weapons, so it is the ability to disrupt their rhythm and put them tough down-and-distance situations that will make the difference.  The Vikings' pass rush last week vs. Dallas was very impressive, but there was some mitigating circumstances that helped aid that.  I just see Drew Brees as the more dependable of the two QBs in this game, and a lot like Manning, will make the right quick reads to get around the tough pass rush and expose the Minnesota CBs.

Brett Favre has had his best season in years, but all it takes is one mediocre game for the season to be over.  With an offense like the Saints out there, Minnesota needs to get off to a fast track or risk falling behind, which would limit their impressive running attack.  If Favre plays great, the Vikings will win.  I think he plays good, which may not be enough in the road atmosphere of the Superdome, which is hosting its first-ever NFC title game. Saints 30, Vikings 27.

2011 NFL Labor Issues -- The focus right now is on the 2010 season that will be uncapped, but the possibility of a lockout of the 2011 season is real and right now, probable.  Brace for it, folks.  The owners can't agree among themselves how to divide revenue.  Teams like Dallas don't think it is fair they have to split the Pepsi revenue and stadium-naming revenue in the same pool with other teams that don't market themselves well or try as hard and still get the same share of the pot.  Also, teams like Dallas and others that privately finance stadiums take more of a financial hit for doing so.  Until the owners agree on the new revenue issues, they can't realistically bang out the other side with the players.

Both sides will agree to reforms on draft picks, pension and alumni plans but the owners want the current 51-49 revenue split that is in favor of the players to be 60-40 in favor of the owners.  The owners think the money they have put into new stadiums and the changes that were expected in the last CBA that didn't happen need to be factored in and they are refusing to go forward with the current NFL economic structure.  The players gladly would.  Heck they are an $8 billion industry, I hope they can figure something out before it is too late.  Most pundits are seeing a grim future.

Jerry Jones in his Palace in Dallas. His Cowboys rake in the $ compared to others. (from thesportingblog.com)

All-White Basketball League -- I saw this on Deadspin earlier in the week.  And it is for real!  Don "Moose" Lewis is starting up the All-American Basketball Alliance (AABA) and this guy and the concept are half in the looney bin.  According to the Augusta Chronicle, where the league is attempting to place one of its 12 single-entity owned teams, the league put out a statement that said, "only players that are natural born United States citizens with both parents of Caucasian race are eligible to play in the league."  Ok then...


From the Augusta Chronicle:

"There's nothing hatred about what we're doing," Lewis said. "I don't hate anyone of color. But people of white, American-born citizens are in the minority now. Here's a league for white players to play fundamental basketball, which they like."

Lewis said he wants to emphasize fundamental basketball instead of "street-ball" played by "people of color." He pointed out recent incidents in the NBA, including Gilbert Arenas' indefinite suspension after bringing guns into the Washington Wizards locker room, as examples of fans' dissatisfaction with the way current professional sports are run.

"Would you want to go to the game and worry about a player flipping you off or attacking you in the stands or grabbing their crotch?" he said. "That's the culture today, and in a free country we should have the right to move ourselves in a better direction."

Ok, Moose...some questions.  What does flipping someone off, grabbing one's crotch, attacking people in the stands and Arenas' gun incident have to do with "fundamental basketball?"  These are non-playing style issues and speak toward the racist undertones he is striving to bury.  He sounds like Mark McGwire saying steroids didn't help his performance, when we all really knew that was the elephant in the room.  I'm sure the "street-ball" he is referencing is so awful that the NBA brings in billions of dollars and fans of all colors and cultures.  Yep, sure looks like the billions in China that like that type of basketball just fine. 

If you want fundamentals, go watch the WNBA.  If you want to see white guys playing "fundamental basketball," then go to the church picnic, YMCA or Jewish Center.  There's a reason why there has not been an outcry for the formation of a league like this.  Guess where the league is based?  Georgia, of course.  The same place that was having a rally for the state flag for the old Stars & Bars aspect because it had to do with southern heritage, but then people were all wearing and selling John Rocker t-shirts...which go right back to the racist undertones, thereby completely undermining their point.

Obviously, the reason for this league is racist based.  I like how he says because "white, American-born citizens" are in the minority now, that they should make a league so they play the way they want to.  Absurd.  Why isn't there a Mexican soccer league in the US now?  Or a cricket league for English-born Americans?  I can't wait for this to fail.  Anyone involved with the league or goes to watch a game should have the government keep their information on file.  I think Timothy McVeigh would like these games.

Looks like the AABA has its uniforms picked out already.

Catching up with a few things...

I'm back on the blogging horse after a little break.  I'll be better at updating this more often.  Here's just a few things on my mind...

BCS Title Game -- It is a shame for Alabama that this game will always be remembered as the game Colt McCoy got hurt.  That's not to say Texas would have won with McCoy, but as soon as he went out it was over and sucked the life out of the game.  Yes, Texas rallied, but that was basically because Nick Saban went into a super-conservative offense with McCoy out and let his excellent running backs do the work.  I know the Big 12 teams are used to facing more spread offenses so they probably aren't used to the pound-it-out style, but Mark Ingram really does look a lot like Emmitt Smith when he runs and Trent Richardson may actually be more explosive.

The 2010 BCS Championship will be mostly remembered for McCoy's injury (photo from Cleveland.com)

Nick Saban -- As for Nick Saban himself, have you ever seen a less joyful man?  Would you want to play for this guy if you were an 18-year-old?  I can understand being a little upset the moment after being clocked on the side of your head and neck by the Gatorade bucket, but after the initial shock wouldn't most people smile and celebrate such huge accomplishment? 

I'm not saying a coach shouldn't take his profession and his team seriously, but Saban seems to sap the joy out of it.  Even in the rare times he smiles he looks less comfortable doing so than Mr. Burns.  Look, Jim Tressel is button-downed to the point of being labeled Senator Tressel, but there are many moments where he smiles, shows joy and is a little corny.  Pete Carroll was a fun-loving guy and Mack Brown seems like he understands there is a fun element to it all and they are two highly successful college coaches.  I get what Alabama brings to the recruiting table (tradition, SEC school, great facilities and a coaching staff that will well prepare the athlete), but a lot of schools have the same things without such a grump as the coach.

Mr. Burns' smile is about as natural as Nick Saban's

NFL Playoffs -- Hopefully this weekend will be a little more interesting than the Wild Card round last weekend.  I know the Cardinals-Packers game was great theater, but those other three games were brutal.  The Bengals and Eagles never showed up and the Patriots just aren't the same.  I do think many people don't realize this was a transition year for the Pats because they jettisoned many defensive stalwarts of the past and were beginning the process of rebuilding.  To make the playoffs in a year like that is an accomplishment and they get the home-game gate money.  In addition, they won't fall into the final eight teams that fall under the NFL uncapped year free agent restrictions, so if you aren't going to win a Super Bowl, then that's a good way to go.

NFL Picks for this weekend:
Cowboys over VIKINGS -- As much as it pains me, Dallas is this year's "hot" team in the playoffs and recent history shows they have a solid chance to go to the Super Bowl.

SAINTS over Cardinals -- If this game was in Arizona or a neutral field, I'd think about taking the Cardinals.  However, in the atmosphere of the Superdome with the extra time off to study the Cards and the Cards passing defense having to go against Drew Brees & Co., I'll go with the Saints.

CHARGERS over Jets -- I think the Jets can hang in this game since they do play solid defense and have a good running game.  I just don't think they will pull it out going across the country to play a team that is much better than the lame Bengals, who the Jets have played the last two weeks.  I'm not sure they can gear up enough for the balanced Chargers attack on the road.  The Bolts have enough weapons that they don't have to go at Revis like Cincy had to with no extend-the-field WR.

COLTS over Ravens -- Peyton Manning with extra time to study an opponent with a home game.  I know it isn't that simple, but sounds good, eh?  Also, there is no way Baltimore wins this game with Joe Flacco throwing 10 passes or less like last week and despite what he says, he isn't 100% or seemed to be even that close to it.  If he struggles, it will be tough for the Ravens offense to keep pace with the Colts offense.  The Ravens defense is good, but this isn't the 2000 Ravens defense at the corners, in particular.

NBA Jam -- In case you missed it, EA Sports made a fantastic announcement last week that they planned on bringing back NBA Jam for the Wii system using the original programmers!  For those in the proper age range, this was one of the landmark games both at the arcade and home consoles.  I can close my eyes and still hear the "BOOM-SHAKA-LAKA" and the "He's on FIRE!!"  I was a big fan of the Gary Payton/Shawn Kemp combo.  They could do it all.  It will be cool to see what they do with the modern players (Shaq and LeBron?) and with the technology today.  Wouldn't you have to pick Kevin Harlan with his loud style?  That would be perfect. 

Could the new NBA Jam have LeBron looking like this? (animation from Armchair Empire)

Pete Carroll/USC/Lane Kiffin -- First on Carroll.  I think he is going to have a tough time in Seattle because he's been gone from the NFL game for a long time and won't be able to bring in recruits/talent like at USC.  Also, he has a QB situation there and that is death for college-to-pro coaches.  He needs to fix that and the Seahawks' offensive lines ASAP and has to hit on their two high first-round picks.

As for USC, what a mess they made their coaching search.  They had to know Pete always wanted to go back to the pro level at some point, so why didn't they have a short list of names ready?  Most USC people will even tell you that Mike Garrett shouldn't be a major college athletic director and this just is another notch in that direction.

Many USC people think Mike Garrett is no genius (photo from LA Times)

I understand why Lane Kiffin would want to go back to USC.  Let's get that out of the way.  However, the "stealing back" of the Tennessee recruits is pretty low-brow and I understand why Tennessee and their fans/alums are so angry.  Tennessee is one of the major programs in the United States and one of the upper crust teams in the SEC.  A legit national title contender with the right players, and not many schools can say that.  This betrayal really stings.  As has been discussed at length recently, I am not sure there is a great solution to the part where student-athletes who come to a school because of a coach can't leave just like the coach.  The best I can suggest, as I have heard others like Dan Patrick bring up,  is to set a different timeframe on when coaches can and cannot be allowed to leave and change when the recruiting signing day takes place to help curb this as well.  All of that being said, I think Lane certainly comes off like a spoiled brat and I know many hope he fails, but with a good coaching staff and being at a school like that, if he stays he should win consistently there.  Still, his history of pushing the NCAA envelope will be heavily watched.

Lane Kiffin shown here trying to explain himself...again. (photo from The Big Lead)

Braylon Edwards -- I have to admit, as a Buckeye fan I was never the biggest Braylon Edwards guy but I tried my best went he to my hometown Browns.  He never wanted to be there and was hurt that Miami didn't draft him as they said they would.  Miami is what he wanted-- the flash and dash of the exciting city.  He never wanted blue-collar Cleveland.  Now, if he had just gone out and played hard the town would have embraced him. But when you drop easy passes repeatedly and make excuses for that and other off-field behavior that city will turn on you with the drop of a hat.  So, now that he is in the big city like he always wanted, I am glad to see him still drop passes and still make excuses but now he gets called out on a nationwide level and not just little Cleveland.  We'll see how he responds...

Edwards will always be remembered in Cleveland for images like this

Baseball Hall of Fame -- Congrats to Andre Dawson for making the Baseball Hall of Fame.  He was one of my favorites growing up and when his knees were healthy he was a dynamic player.  I know there is discussion about whether he'll go in as a Cub or Expo.  Here's one person rooting for the Expos, but I think in the end the Cubs will win out.  I think Roberto Alomar got squeezed by the anti-first ballot crew.  The pitting incident and dogging it to a degree while with the Mets, where many HOF voters are in NY, probably did him in this year. 

Dawson should go into the Hall of Fame as an Expo

Alomar's rep "dogging it" while in NY may have cost him a first-ballot election (photo from NY Daily News)

To me, a Hall of Famer is a Hall of Famer.  Yes or no.  Now, you can make arguments for people you think should be in like I do with Jack Morris, but the fact is 75 percent need to agree with you.  At what point is it clear the person is a borderline candidate?  Nothing against Jim Rice or Dawson, but it shouldn't take that long to get into the Hall.  A true Hall of Famer should be obvious.

Random Thoughts...

Just some things on my mind:

Adam James & Texas Tech -- I don't want anyone to think I endorse Mike Leach's actions when it came to handling Adam James' medical situation.  Now that is clear, this situation stinks.  You had an administration that didn't like its coach, whether that is due to his quirky attitude or the fact he has entertained other jobs.  This resulted in contentious negotiations for Leach's new contract after the big success he had last year.  Now, with the Adam James situation, the administration saw this as its chance to get rid of this problem once and for all.

Texas Tech thought Leach was only out for more money and was waiting for its chance.  Like when Indiana canned Bobby Knight for the whole "Hey, Knight!" episode with a student.  The James thing just opened the door.  The truth was they didn't want to pay the guy or give him his $850K bonus due at the end of the year.

As for James, what stinks is by all accounts this kid is a lazy, spoiled, wussy jerk.  The fact that he is getting Leach out of there has to be a big point of pride to his bruised ego, when in truth, Leach should have kicked him off the team two years ago so this never would have happened.  I don't think the ESPN job part of his dad Craig's background had as much to do with it as his dad is an entitled athlete who makes/made a lot of money and isn't used to not getting his way.  It is a bummer this family is what caught up to Leach.

I wish someone would remove Adam James' smug smile

Cleveland Cavaliers and Shaq--Folks have been all over the Cavaliers case due to the slow start out of the gate and because Shaquille O'Neal isn't the player he used to be.  What they don't understand is the Cavaliers really don't need Shaq until the playoffs.  They went 66-16 last year without him, but they need him basically to play Dwight Howard, the Celtics and the Lakers big front line.  The Christmas Day game at Los Angeles showed how important he can be vs. the Lakers, as he, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao have the size to matchup and cause problems.  Shaq also helped Cleveland win in Orlando in the only matchup so far this season. 

As for the slow start, the Cavs have the best record in the Eastern Conference and only a game behind the Lakers (who have had an easy schedule) in the NBA. So it looks like the Cavaliers and Shaq are learning to play together.  They just need to keep everyone healthy because they are certain to have no worse than the three seed (and probably no worse than the two seed) heading into the playoffs.  Chill out, pundits.  It is VERY early.

Cleveland Browns and Eric Mangini--I have to give Eric Mangini credit for getting the Browns to come together and play as hard as they did, winning four straight to end the season, during a time when most teams would have quit following a 1-11 start.  In most cases, he probably would keep his job.  However, I have a feeling Mike Holmgren will make a change.

Holmgren understands this job will impact his legacy and he has the unique opportunity of having a franchise's keys being handed to him.  I don't see how he wouldn't want to do it his way from the start with so much on the line.  It is like going to a car lot with the pick of whatever car you want, no matter the price.  You may be driving a nice Mercedes that has served you well.  Luxury car.  Gets the job done.  Would be a solid car going forward.  Still, how many times would you ever get like that?  You could pick a Lotus or Ferrari or anything else that catches your eye and at no cost.  Could you just say, "No, I'll pass because at least I know my Mercedes is reliable."?  Didn't think so.  He's a West Coast offense guy with a deep family tree.  I'm not saying he won't keep Mangini, but I don't see it happening.

This guy won't be smiling if the Browns fail while not doing it his way

Winter Classic and team relocation--Hockey's premier non-Stanley Cup event took place on New Year's Day at historic Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers.  It is one of the few marketing things the NHL does right.  The majority of the game was dull this year until things picked up, along with the Bruins' offense, midway through the third period.  However, the great ending that was capped by the Team USA hockey roster announcement worked out big for the NHL. 

Word is they are going to get the Washington Capitals and star Alexander Ovechkin in the game next year vs. probably the New York Rangers at either Yankee Stadium or Citi Field.  The other new idea is to have an annual outdoor game between two Canadian franchises.  A long overdue idea.  That country adores the game and with the Canadian dollar doing a complete turn over the last decade against the American dollar, they should take this opportunity to take some of the warm-weather American teams and move them back to Canada.  How can Winnipeg or Hamilton not have teams, but Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta and Miami do?  That's crazy!  Then Gary Bettman talks about how they don't plan to relocate franchises and that they'd expand first.  Someone should drug test him.  Don't they realize the Phoenix Coyotes just went bankrupt and the league had to buy them??

The poor Winnipeg fans have no Jets, but at least Phoenix has a team!-logo from sportslogos.net

The Ohio State BCS Bowl Theory and the 2010 Rose Bowl

The Ohio State BCS Bowl Theory:
--First, I'll start with why OSU struggles so much in the BCS bowl games.  Let me start by saying that the speed differential is a myth, for the most part.  I do think the speed of the SEC defensive fronts in the two BCS title games took them by surprise, but they have since recruited differently and adjusted.  Ok, no more about the speed because otherwise it is a push. 

OSU recruits as well as any team in the country and actually has the most Florida blue-chippers than any non-Florida school.  Heck, OSU is the only non-warm weather school that is a consistent national title contender (USC, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU and Alabama lately and Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and other SEC schools can be included over recent time).  The problem is OSU regularly outrecruits the rest of the Big Ten on an annual basis.  Sure, Penn State or Michigan may get a class here or there ranked higher, but the Buckeyes are always in the top 10 classes and don't fall off like the other schools.

This means OSU has more talent than its Big Ten foes and can play a very conservative, don't-turn-the-ball-over and field possession style.  This allows them to win about nine out of 10 Big Ten games, which wins them conference titles, recent wins over Michigan and sends them to BCS bowls.  Why would anyone want to rock that boat?  I get why Jim Tressel coaches as he does.  It accomplishes just about every goal every year. 

Why change things when teams like Minnesota can't hang?

The problem comes when they face teams of equal or better talent who are used to playing other teams of that talent level.  Those teams play more aggressive and more one-on-one, man-to-man styles.  It creates a faster style of play, but also opens a team up to more mistakes and chances of losses.  But it is a "playing to win" style.  OSU plays "not to lose" during Big Ten play because it pays off.  Purdue, with less talent than the Buckeyes, is only going to string together maybe two 12-play drives vs. the OSU defense and maybe scores 17 points, as long as OSU doesn't make turnovers.  The problem is that eight-yard pass the Purdue receiver makes is a 25-yard gain by Percy Harvin.  The top SEC schools and USC play other teams of equal talent several times a year and are better prepared for that style.  Then OSU has to sit around after a long layoff and try to play a style they are not used to.  The result is a BCS burnout.

The Buckeyes weren't ready for the pace of the SEC teams - photo UPI

Now, things started changing last year vs. Texas in the Fiesta Bowl.  OSU came out aggressive because they had nothing to lose after being embarassed in the previous two BCS Championship games.  As a result, it came down to a terrific drive by Colt McCoy and a late touchdown to scratch out the win.  Then this season, as the newly-recruited speed on the defensive line resulted in the best D-line since the 2002 title team, they played an aggressive defense instead of their passive zone and it made all the difference and will continue to going forward.

2010 Rose Bowl:
--OSU really came to play against Oregon.  First of all, Oregon was the first team the Buckeyes have played in four bowls they had more overall talent.  Oregon plays a faster style and has fast players, but OSU is far deeper, especially on defense.  The key was OSU played to win.  Tressel turned Terrelle Pryor loose and it made all the difference in the world.  This was a case of Oregon not playing defenses like OSU's during the year and they couldn't gear up for it.  The shoe was a bit on the other foot.  Hats off to OSU for learning their lesson.  It should be an interesting 2010 season.

Oregon wasn't ready for the Silver Bullets - photo TheOregonian

No picks this week!

In honor of half the teams mailing it in this weekend in the NFL, I will to in their honor.  I will have a post on several topics going up tomorrow.