The 2011 World Series was one of the best series i have seen in my 39+ years on the planet. I will say game 6 was the 2nd greatest game of all time. I still say nothing beats game 6 of the 1986 NLCS. The Mets scratching and clawing not wanting to face Mike Scott in Game 7. The Astros trying to stay alive. The Mets came back in the ninth down 3-0. They took the lead in the 14th only to have Billy Hatcher tie it with a dramatic homer. The Mets finally took the NL pennant... only after Kevin Bass just missed a walk off homer.. you know if the term "walk off homer" actually existed in 1986.
This weekends football games show why you should not bet sports.. if sports betting were actually legal anywhere except Las Vegas. (Delaware doesn't count. they are nothing more than bookie tickets)
1) USC getting 7.5 lose because Stanford has to go for two in the 3rd OT. Then USC fumbles into the endzone to end the game after the previous play looked like a USC touchdown, but he stepped out at the 4.
2)The Cardinals up 24-3 at Baltimore? The Ravens should have easily covered the 11.5 spread.
3) The Rams beating the Saints? I don't care if Babe Ruth was the honorary captain for the Rams. No way the Saints after a 62-7 Whipping of the Colts should lose this game Not to mention the fact no Sam Bradford and had AJ Feely. at QB
Andy Reid is 13-0 after byes. I think they forgot the one in February 2005, you might remember they played a little game in Jacksonville vs. Tom Brady.
Here is the thing about Reid. Most players seem to love the guy, his record is way better in November and December than it is in September and October. Why has this guy only gotten to 1 Super Bowl? You want to know why? He is a horrible in game manager. He has made decisions during games that are just head scratchers. Also I think I will always remember the way the Eagles just went so casual during the two minute drill in Super Bowl XXXIX.
I think LeSean McCoy is the best running back in football right now. I put him ahead of Adrian Peterson because he is a much better receiver. That is not a slight on Peterson. I am just saying how much I think McCoy is a beast. As a Cowboys and Pitt Panthers fan, when the Eagles drafted McCoy, I dreaded something happening like last night where he just ran all over the Cowboys.
I think Giants come back down to earth the next few weeks, although I think they have a good shot to beat the Pats this week. I know Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are hall of fame QB's, but I think the Colts and Patriots both have let their fan base down by relying too much on these guys the last few years building average defenses that are great playing downhill when they have a lead, but ask to make a huge stop... no way.. Just leave enough time on the clock for Brady or Manning to pull it out. Well we see what happens when Manning went down. The colts are horrible. The pats went 11-5 in 2008 when Brady went down, because of Matt Casell and they still had a decent defense, today if Brady went down, They would be just as bad as the Colts without Manning. This is what happens when you break the bank for your franchise QB with the salary cap and drafting near the bottom, it is hard to put together a championship defense.
Finally I hope the NBA doesn't settle for another month. The Celtics are old. The less games they have to play the better
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Random thoughts from the weekend... and looking ahead
Lets start with a non sports thought. 1% of the population owns 40% of the money in the U.S. Yet only assume 5% of the personal debt. The 1% also own 50% of all stocks and bonds in this country. This my friends is why they are protesting on wall street. Nobody is asking for a handout. (OK, I am sure some are.) But most are looking for a chance. Ever since Reagan took over as President, those chances seem to be less and less. Unless of course you can sing and appear before 3 judges, or you want to swim in a pool of mud for a couple of weeks.
Sorry had to get that off my chest. Now the fun stuff: If you read my previous blogs, and judging by the responses, you haven't. You would know i warned you about the Buffalo Bills.
Calvin Johnson is a great athlete playing Wide Receiver. Larry Fitzgerald is a great athlete and a great Wide Receiver. That is why I still think Fitzgerald is better than Johnson. Although the gap is closing.
Thanks to Nelson Cruz I have to be reminded of the "Grand Single" by Robin Ventura, not because of that moment, but because it reminds me of the next night when the Mets led in the 9th and 10th innings of game 6 and could have erased a three games to none deficit, and done what the 04 Red Sox did 5 years earlier, but alas thank you Kenny Rogers.
I think the Cowboys have a shot to win in Foxboro this week. Again i have said in previous blogs, I do not like the Pats defense.
I really hope the Redskins put their foot on the Eagles throat this week. If the Eagles get any momentum, well just look at the 2010 Packers, 2007 Giants and 2005 Steelers.
I think if the only reason the Players haven't made a deal with the owners in the NBA is because the players feel the owners are trying not only to win, but to crush the players. Then I think the owners have already won.
I think David Stern is an arrogant self centered man who doesn't care about the game of basketball.. only about money.
With that being said, he isn't much different than Roger Goodell Bud Selig, or Gary Bettman. I think the other 3 commissioners just care about their respective sports a little more than Stern.
Why throw a hot dog at Tiger Woods? I don't get it.
I actually hope the NBA lockout lasts a while. The Celtics are old. The less games they have to play the better.
The Cardinals really can't afford to lose Albert Pujols.
I think if they do, Jose Reyes will be a Cardinal next year.
The Phillies are the 21s century vs of the Braves. A ton of pitching, lots of division titles, only one world series title.
Are Yankees Fans still mad they didn't sign Cliff Lee?
I think its not fair to blame Brian Cashman for the yankees early exit, he didn't want to sign a-rod to that ridiculous contract. But if i were him i would try to beat Theo Epstein for the Cubs job. The Yankees are getting old and Yankee fans are going to realize soon, there is only one Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
Finally I can't believe we are heading to Week 6 of the NFL season. The season goes way too fast.
Sorry had to get that off my chest. Now the fun stuff: If you read my previous blogs, and judging by the responses, you haven't. You would know i warned you about the Buffalo Bills.
Calvin Johnson is a great athlete playing Wide Receiver. Larry Fitzgerald is a great athlete and a great Wide Receiver. That is why I still think Fitzgerald is better than Johnson. Although the gap is closing.
Thanks to Nelson Cruz I have to be reminded of the "Grand Single" by Robin Ventura, not because of that moment, but because it reminds me of the next night when the Mets led in the 9th and 10th innings of game 6 and could have erased a three games to none deficit, and done what the 04 Red Sox did 5 years earlier, but alas thank you Kenny Rogers.
I think the Cowboys have a shot to win in Foxboro this week. Again i have said in previous blogs, I do not like the Pats defense.
I really hope the Redskins put their foot on the Eagles throat this week. If the Eagles get any momentum, well just look at the 2010 Packers, 2007 Giants and 2005 Steelers.
I think if the only reason the Players haven't made a deal with the owners in the NBA is because the players feel the owners are trying not only to win, but to crush the players. Then I think the owners have already won.
I think David Stern is an arrogant self centered man who doesn't care about the game of basketball.. only about money.
With that being said, he isn't much different than Roger Goodell Bud Selig, or Gary Bettman. I think the other 3 commissioners just care about their respective sports a little more than Stern.
Why throw a hot dog at Tiger Woods? I don't get it.
I actually hope the NBA lockout lasts a while. The Celtics are old. The less games they have to play the better.
The Cardinals really can't afford to lose Albert Pujols.
I think if they do, Jose Reyes will be a Cardinal next year.
The Phillies are the 21s century vs of the Braves. A ton of pitching, lots of division titles, only one world series title.
Are Yankees Fans still mad they didn't sign Cliff Lee?
I think its not fair to blame Brian Cashman for the yankees early exit, he didn't want to sign a-rod to that ridiculous contract. But if i were him i would try to beat Theo Epstein for the Cubs job. The Yankees are getting old and Yankee fans are going to realize soon, there is only one Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
Finally I can't believe we are heading to Week 6 of the NFL season. The season goes way too fast.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The Enigma That is Tony Romo
Most professional athletes are hated or loved by fans. The dividing line is if he plays for your team you love him, if he doesn't play for your team you hate him. Individual sports such as Tennis, golf and boxing, it depends on the personality. The individual sports have had the most "villains" if you will. Muhammad Ali, and John McEnroe are two examples of this. For various reasons people either rooted for or against Ali and McEnroe. There was no in between. In team sports it used to be rare that a player transcended the dividing line between love and hate. Reggie Jackson was one of those rare players. Not only did fans of opposing teams hate him, fans of the Yankees were divided on their loyalty to Mr. October.
Today with talk radio and social networking, there seems to be more players who fit this trend. Unfortunately most of the time this is due to acts off the field. Whether it be Tiger Woods cheating on his wife, or Michael Vick being convicted of running a dog fighting ring. Lebron James became a lightning rod because of his "decision" to break the city of Cleveland's hearts and take his talent to South Beach, whether you agreed or not, fans either root for Lebron, or want him to fail, regardless of what team you are a fan of.
Alex Rodriguez is an interesting case, because he attracts so much attention and like James its either you root for him or you want him to fail. Other than having an outrageous contract, Alex Rodriguez is guilty of being... Alex Rodriguez. (Wait i cannot believe i just defended A-Rod. I hate him for saying he always wanted to play for the Mets then took the money from Texas.) You see, he stirs that kind of emotion from fans.
The latest athlete to draw on polar opposite emotions of fans is Tony Romo. Cowboys fans are divided, the media is divided. Opposing teams fans love seeing Romo fail. The only thing Tony Romo is guilty of, is being the quarterback of "America's Team", a term by the way as a Cowboys fan, I never really cared for.
The bullseye is clearly on his back, but I have never seen a player week to week see his stock go up and down so dramatically. He goes from "hero" to "zero" in a matter of plays!
I have to admit Tony Romo is one of my all time favorite athletes. Even now though he is making it harder and harder to defend. With that being said, I feel the need to defend him because of the hyperbole and just plain misconceptions about Romo.
First off, all quarterbacks get way too much praise when they win, and way too much blame when they lose. Football, more than any other sport is a team game. In Baseball, a starting pitcher can dominate a short series. Basketball, with only five players on each team, sometimes having the best player on the court is enough. In Hockey, just look at the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals where Tim Thomas was a brick wall in leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 39 years. The quarterback relies on an offense line. he needs playmakers at the skill positions. Dan Fouts and Dan Marino will tell you a defense helps too. At the end of the day, though fans and media remember the interceptions, and the last drive of games.
I must admit Tony Romo has thrown some horrible interceptions. Not just this year. 2008 at Pittsburgh they lost an 11 point lead in the 4th quarter. 2009 throwing at Champ Bailey on the last play of the game at Denver. Last year in the brief time he played, he through crippling interceptions against the Bears and Titans at home. In the Titans game by the way, he threw for over 400 yards.
Tony Romo has all the skills, its the decision making, that just drives people bananas. He has to learn ball security. At 31 will he ever learn? I don't think Jerry Jones, nor Jason Garrett know..
He has become a leader. He certainly wasn't the last game of the 08 season when the entire team got spanked by the Eagles in a "win and you're in" game. The players believe in him, at least publicly.
I think Jones has to take some of the blame. T.O. had great seasons in Dallas, but his disruptive behavior, sometimes countered his great play. Also the Roy Williams trade... what a disaster! It crippled the salary cap and cost a ton of draft picks. Still I believe the Cowboys will win the NFC East this season.
One last thing i want to talk about is his 1-3 record in playoffs. Peyton Manning has a losing record in playoff games. Tom Brady has lost his last three playoff games. Take away Eli Manning's run in 2007 and he is 0-3 in playoff games. The game that everyone talks about is the Seattle game in 06. He led them to victory. He should not have been the holder on the field goal. No starting QB is, but since he started the season as a back up to Drew Bledsoe he was there. It was terrible. Still for a guy making his first playoff start playing at Quest field a very difficult place to play he gave them a chance to win. What people fail to remember is after that play the Cowboys had 3 timeouts and the two minute warning with the Seahawks having the ball on their own 2. Shaun Alexander runs for 11 yards 1st down.. game over. That game hurt the most because had they won, I believe they go into Chicago and beat a bears team that made it to the Super Bowl, but they weren't that good. They were beatable. If that happens I don't think Bill Parcells leaves after the season and with another year as Parcells student, instead of being at the country club run by Wade Phillips, maybe things are different. Maybe Tony Romo doesn't become this enigma that draws on all fans emotions. Love him or hate him, you sure do get a reaction when you bring up his name.
Today with talk radio and social networking, there seems to be more players who fit this trend. Unfortunately most of the time this is due to acts off the field. Whether it be Tiger Woods cheating on his wife, or Michael Vick being convicted of running a dog fighting ring. Lebron James became a lightning rod because of his "decision" to break the city of Cleveland's hearts and take his talent to South Beach, whether you agreed or not, fans either root for Lebron, or want him to fail, regardless of what team you are a fan of.
Alex Rodriguez is an interesting case, because he attracts so much attention and like James its either you root for him or you want him to fail. Other than having an outrageous contract, Alex Rodriguez is guilty of being... Alex Rodriguez. (Wait i cannot believe i just defended A-Rod. I hate him for saying he always wanted to play for the Mets then took the money from Texas.) You see, he stirs that kind of emotion from fans.
The latest athlete to draw on polar opposite emotions of fans is Tony Romo. Cowboys fans are divided, the media is divided. Opposing teams fans love seeing Romo fail. The only thing Tony Romo is guilty of, is being the quarterback of "America's Team", a term by the way as a Cowboys fan, I never really cared for.
The bullseye is clearly on his back, but I have never seen a player week to week see his stock go up and down so dramatically. He goes from "hero" to "zero" in a matter of plays!
I have to admit Tony Romo is one of my all time favorite athletes. Even now though he is making it harder and harder to defend. With that being said, I feel the need to defend him because of the hyperbole and just plain misconceptions about Romo.
First off, all quarterbacks get way too much praise when they win, and way too much blame when they lose. Football, more than any other sport is a team game. In Baseball, a starting pitcher can dominate a short series. Basketball, with only five players on each team, sometimes having the best player on the court is enough. In Hockey, just look at the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals where Tim Thomas was a brick wall in leading the Bruins to their first Stanley Cup in 39 years. The quarterback relies on an offense line. he needs playmakers at the skill positions. Dan Fouts and Dan Marino will tell you a defense helps too. At the end of the day, though fans and media remember the interceptions, and the last drive of games.
I must admit Tony Romo has thrown some horrible interceptions. Not just this year. 2008 at Pittsburgh they lost an 11 point lead in the 4th quarter. 2009 throwing at Champ Bailey on the last play of the game at Denver. Last year in the brief time he played, he through crippling interceptions against the Bears and Titans at home. In the Titans game by the way, he threw for over 400 yards.
Tony Romo has all the skills, its the decision making, that just drives people bananas. He has to learn ball security. At 31 will he ever learn? I don't think Jerry Jones, nor Jason Garrett know..
He has become a leader. He certainly wasn't the last game of the 08 season when the entire team got spanked by the Eagles in a "win and you're in" game. The players believe in him, at least publicly.
I think Jones has to take some of the blame. T.O. had great seasons in Dallas, but his disruptive behavior, sometimes countered his great play. Also the Roy Williams trade... what a disaster! It crippled the salary cap and cost a ton of draft picks. Still I believe the Cowboys will win the NFC East this season.
One last thing i want to talk about is his 1-3 record in playoffs. Peyton Manning has a losing record in playoff games. Tom Brady has lost his last three playoff games. Take away Eli Manning's run in 2007 and he is 0-3 in playoff games. The game that everyone talks about is the Seattle game in 06. He led them to victory. He should not have been the holder on the field goal. No starting QB is, but since he started the season as a back up to Drew Bledsoe he was there. It was terrible. Still for a guy making his first playoff start playing at Quest field a very difficult place to play he gave them a chance to win. What people fail to remember is after that play the Cowboys had 3 timeouts and the two minute warning with the Seahawks having the ball on their own 2. Shaun Alexander runs for 11 yards 1st down.. game over. That game hurt the most because had they won, I believe they go into Chicago and beat a bears team that made it to the Super Bowl, but they weren't that good. They were beatable. If that happens I don't think Bill Parcells leaves after the season and with another year as Parcells student, instead of being at the country club run by Wade Phillips, maybe things are different. Maybe Tony Romo doesn't become this enigma that draws on all fans emotions. Love him or hate him, you sure do get a reaction when you bring up his name.
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