Random thoughts from the weekend

I never did give my Super Bowl predictions, but I have been thinking for the last few weeks Ravens over Packers.  The Super Bowl I would like to see... a year after the game was in Texas, wouldn't it be ironic Cowboys vs. Texans?  But on with the thoughts from the weekend.
I haven't followed Tennis that much in recent years.  Was a big fan in the 80's McEnroe Lendl, Becker Edberg, and then the 90's one of my all time favorite athletes is Monica Seles. Haven't followed as much lateley ,but The Federer- Djokovic match was one for the ages.  Serena Williams needs to grow up.  Speaking of Djokovic 66-2 for the year? Wow.  I think the Giants (both football and baseball) are in trouble.  I am amazed as anybody at Cam Newton's 422 yards? What a performance.  Should point out that ESPN showed the quarterbacks who hadn't thrown for 422 yards in a game for their career.  Tom Brady was on it.  Not any more.  What's amazing about Brady is he is one of only 3 QB's to throw for 500 yards and 4 tds in a game.  The other 2? Norm Van Brocklin and YA Tittle.  Can you believe Manning Fouts Marino, Unitas never did it?  Passing stats are ringing up like a pin ball machine and before last night only Van Brocklin  and Tittle had done it..

I think Aaron Rodgers when all is said and done will be thought of as being better than Favre.  Did you know Peyton Manning came in to the league a year before Donovan McNabb.  They both have 9 playoff wins.  Brady has 14.  It was always said Brady could light it up like Manning but doesn't have the weapons like Manning.  Well guess what? Other than Moss he hasn't yet, he is lit it up as great as Manning ever did.

I think the Bills will give the Pats and Jets headaches this season.  (ok mainly the Jets.)  But i do stand by my prediction that the Pats will lose their 4th straight playoff game in January.  They are great for Fantasy Football.  I just think the way they play cannot win a Super Bowl, and their defense is suspect.  They made Chad Henne look like.. well... Tom Brady last night.

Everybody knows I am the biggest Tony Romo fan, but at 31 years old. Can he protect the ball? Please?  At this point he has to know game tied you can't force a pass.  Ball protection is key in the NFL.  Win the Turnover battle win the game.  It is that simple.  If Romo ever learned how to protect the ball, especially in the 4th quarter, he would be up there with Brees and Rodgers and Brady, but he hasn't, I just don't know if he ever will, and that stinks.  For the Record though Romo isn't as big a choker as is perceived.  since 2006, he has 39 TD's in the 4th quarter.  and 18 Ints.  he has 9 comeback wins, its just that people remember the fumble in Seattle and the game against the Giants in 07, which The Giants D Line played out of their mind.  (The Giants had 52 yards in the 2nd half in that game, but everyone keeps reminding me Eli outplayed Romo in that game.)

I think the Red Sox will not make the playoffs

I think the NBA will not play this season and they can blame the NFL.. here is why:  Demaurice smith made a horrible deal for his players.  less than 50% of the revenue (48%) to a bunch of owners who have tax exempt status and have stadiums for the most part paid for by the taxpayers.  What did he get for the players. No more 2 a days, less practice in pads.  Do you think the owners give a #%^$ about that.  They have a product that everybody wants.  look at the ratings for this weekend.  They don't care if the players don't know how to tackle anymore.  They just signed a deal with ESPN for Monday Night football that will pay the NFL $16 Billion over the next 10 years.  that's right Billion.  Now with a new agreement in place they are swimming in money.  If the NFL labor negotiations were a title fight, Roger Goodell knocked out Smith in the 4th round.   The players have less money, People like David Garrard are out of a job.  so the owners can save even more money.  Look don't cry for the players they are still making millions more than me and you, but they got beat and beat soundly by the owners.
Anyway, back to my original point, how does this affect the NBA?  David Stern is determined to get the salary cap changed and rightfully so.  Bill Simmons of Espn actually is great at pointing out all the horrible contracts, but look at Eddie Curry, basically got payed 3 years for doing nothing, Rashard Lewis didn't need a gun to hold up the Orlando Magic.  Joe Johnson is a nice player but the Hawks to compete had to give $100 million. Ok no way anybody should be making $100 million, but in terms of NBA players, Joe Johnson does not deserve that. A lot of teams are garbage in the NBA because a not so franchise player makes $100 million and the team needs to be competitive, the problem is being "competitive" means a first round exit or just missing the playoffs and picking 13th in the NBA draft.  So I commend Stern for wanting to change this. (Actually he is money hungry like everyone else, but I think he really cares about his product, unlike Roger Goodell).  I think the players realize there is a problem with the contracts and would be willing to move for a compromise, but Billy Hunter head of the NBA players association saw what happened to DeMaurice Smith and he does not want Stern to knock him out like Goodell knocked out Smith, so there is a lot of bobbing and weaving going on right now, and i think the next time we see the NBA is November 2012.  Sad to say because the NBA had one of its most compelling seasons in recent memory, but they are going to blow it up, I think they need to, but they don't need to lose a season doing it.