So much anger....

Hello all. This morning I messaged my buddy, Johnny Biscuits, of scaleofonetogusjohnson.com, and ranted, just a little about my latest fixation. The subsequent reproduced conversation is the result. Thought I'd post this and let you guys enjoy the humor. While I enjoyed reading this, I hoe you don't forget about the disturbing Brett Favre problem that is afflicting our nation. Enjoy and check back tomorrow for my NFL playoffs musings.
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This morning, PedrioaTheDestroyah and I had a little debate via email. It all started with a simple question, "why do people like Brett Favre?" We've seen the Sports Guy post similar online conversations on the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network website, so we thought it would be fun to post ours on our websites. Enjoy…or don't, really doesn't matter.

PtD: Why do people like Brett Favre? Packer fans shouldn't anymore, and god knows Jets fans shouldn't. I guess Dolphins fans have a reason, though.

JB: Who likes Brett Favre?

PtD: The media, and apparently middle America. Someone must like him or he wouldn't be on TV all the damn time.

JB: Just because he's a story doesn't necessarily mean people like him. I think people used to like him, I know I used to love watching him play. I'm sort of ambivalent towards him now. But, he's still one of the greatest QB's ever, so he's news.

PtD: Yeah, but the story is that he is now terrible, but people keep saying he is good. People say he started the season strong, but that's not really true. He was never playing very well. For instance, his first touchdown of the year may as well have been a punt. He literally just threw it straight in the air with no idea what jet might catch it.

The Jets played well at times, only that was when he wasn't allowed to throw like a jackass because Mangina said he needed to work within the offense. Then they got to 8-3, and Favre decided he could do whatever he wanted, and then their season went to hell.

JB: I'm sensing you have strong feelings about this.

PtD: Oh yes, this summer Brett became my most hated of all athletes...and he took it to a new level on Sunday. No one (except Steven A. Smith, preach on) calls this loser out.

JB: Ok, I look at it like this. Brett Favre is like George Carlin at the end of his career. Back in the day, Carlin was one of the funniest comedians around, a transcendent talent. But, once he got older, he stopped being funny. Only no one acknowledged this. People kept buying his CD's, going to his shows, and laughing at his "jokes". But, it wasn't because he was funny, it was because he was George Carlin. He kept trading on the Carlin name that he had built up earlier. That's the stage that Favre's at in his career. He's not a quarterback anymore, he's Brett Favre.

PtD: I'm fine with there being idiots who continue to like him, there will always be those idiots. My problem is that every time Jaws is asked about Brett Favre he should say the following..."Brett Favre is not capable of being a quarterback in the National Football League."

JB: Really? Not capable? He may not be capable of being an elite QB, or even a good one for that matter. But, I think Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Thigpen, Dan Orlovsky, Ken Dorsey, and J.T O'Shaun-Hill all started several games this year.

I think that's one of the big myths about NFL QBs. There really aren't that many good ones. Anytime Tony Romo is anywhere near a discussion of who the best QBs in the league are, you're in trouble.

PtD: Oh, I completely agree (although Thigpen actually looked promising at the end of the year), I just don't think Favre can get a team in the playoffs. And it's not just that Brett gets credited as being good, but he's considered one of the best. He's made the Pro Bowl! Do you know how crazy that is? I get the feeling Brett is going to fake an injury and not go, but he should get up in front of all those cameras and say…hey, I had a very bad season, and therefore I cannot accept an invitation to the Pro Bowl.

And it's inexcusable that ESPN didn't bash the Favre pick. This kid gloves shit needs to stop. The guy is still playing, he's not a retired legend yet. At one point on Sunday, Jim Nantz and Phil Simms were blaming an interception on an injury that occurred after the pick had happened. And I'm sure Brett came out with this shoulder thing to the media knowing full well there was a good chance he would lose...and this way its the arms fault. I want to punch him.

JB: I think you're being a little overdramatic. Plus, he has a torn muscle.

PtD: Meh, it's partially torn. Big Ben and Tom Brady have both won Super Bowls with separated throwing shoulders. What I'm saying is...throwing a two yard pass directly to a 300 pound D lineman is not caused by an injury, it's caused by being terrible. And, that was honestly the worst TAINT I've seen in years.

JB: Or maybe the best? That was a hell of a run by the big guy. Plus, those kinds of int's on screens happen all the time. I think Jarrett Lee (LSU's QB) threw 2 of them this year.

PtD: 1. The LSU QB is a joke. 2. Brett stared down that lineman, then threw it to him. The lineman didn't step in front, he was standing there. Brett threw it right to the Dolphin player.

JB: I don't think that's true. Favre faked the screen to the left, then whipped around and threw the ball. He probably could have avoided the throw, but I wouldn't say he stared the receiver down. You're way too emotional about this.

PtD: Best case, he threw the ball without looking. My view may be extreme, but my conclusion that the media and the Jets should hate him more than they do is very accurate. The Jets came out yesterday and said they would give Brett as long as he needed to decide if he wants to play next year. Why in the hell would they want him? Brett sucked down the stretch…what was it, 1 TD and 9 ints his last 4? But he's a gunslinger. Apparently, gunslinger also means terrible quarterback.

JB: I'm not even sure what we're arguing about anymore.

PtD: That the Jets are crazy to want him back, and Brett Favre needs to be ridiculed in public by members of the media.

JB: Ha, that's never going to happen, he's a legend. It's like when Jerry Rice was at the end of his career but wouldn't stop playing. He was awful, but everyone still talked about him like he was Jerry Rice. I guess nobody really noticed though because he didn't have the ball every play.

PtD: I agree with you on that, I'm just saying it's wrong, it's always wrong.

JB: Cool, I just like comparing things. So far I've compared Favre to George Carlin and Jerry Rice.

PtD: And I've compared Favre to a terrible quarterback. If more people did that, I'd be happy. I must once again give props to Steven A., though. On Sports Reporters this Sunday, he called Favre "an interception waiting to happen." I liked that.

JB: Ha, you like Steven A. Smith.

What Would Jesus Watch?

So as Christmas morning ends and gives way to the realization that the day we have all waited so long for is almost over i find myself far more excited by the Lakers-Celtics match up later today than I am at looking at any of the shiny new toys I got today. As we near the end of 2008 I have begun to look back at the year that was in sports and I have decided on what my 10 favorite events were. These are events, that whether or not I was happy with the outcome, lived up to, or vastly surpassed the hype. So here they are, my top ten moments in sports for 2008.

#11 (Honorable Mention) - Euro Cup 2008

Yes, i know...soccer. But if you aren't a fan and didn't watch this tournament, then you simply can't understand. If soccer always looked like this, not only would it more popular in America, it'd be considered one of the major sports. Spain's offensive explosion, along with the cardiac Turks NUMEROUS miraculous comeback's and some truly amazing endings made this, quite possibly the best soccer tournament I have ever seen played. I know most of my readers will look at this and think I've lost my mind, but I'm telling you, right through the final and Spain's beautiful game against the hated Germans, this tournament was sport at its finest. Here's to hoping the 2010 World Cup can be as good.

#10 - Sharks v. Stars - Game 6 -2007/08 Stanley Cup Playoffs

I had to put hockey in here. I had to. God I hope hockey makes a comeback. The league has two rising stars in Crosby and Ovechkin, it is by far the best game to see live and the playoffs show a level of intensity rarely achieved in any other sport. This game proved the last of those points beautifully. I rarely watch hockey anymore and only watched this game because the NBA was off entirely on this particular night, but boy am I glad that I did. The sharks faced elimination against a stars team that was not expected to give them much trouble. The game was a see-saw affair and was tied at the end of regulation. There are few things more exciting than playoff hockey. Even fewer more exciting than a potential elimination game, but when it goes to sudden death overtime, then you have seen what hockey is all about. One overtime wasn't enough for these teams though. I watched this game until well past 3 A.M. when finally in the 4th overtime Dallas scored to win the game and the series. Over the course of this overtime there were incredible saves, slapshots that I still don't know how they were not game winners and some of the best, fast paced hockey I've seen since Devils and Rangers in 94. Nobody, unfortunately, seems to have seen this game though, and so the NHL continues to languish on the brink of extinction. This spring and summer, when playoff hockey is in full swing, make sure you catch some games. I promise you will not be disappointed.

#9 - Superbowl XLII

This one hurts just to think about. My beloved patriots were mere minutes away from a perfect 19-0 season, that would cement them as one of the greatest franchises in league history, and would finally free all football fans from the menace that is Mercury Morris. Unfortunately it was not meant to be. This game made the list less for the quality of the game itself, and more for the build up and sheer shock that came from its outcome. I would be surprised if even the entire Giants team thought they had a chance in this game. They played a masterful defensive game and out executed the Pats across the board. Even after what seemed like patented last second magic by Brady, "My Brother" Eli marched the Giants down the field and took the ring with less than a minute to play. I think we will always remember the image of David Tyree dragging down that ball, and the first thought we all had....David Tyree?? In the end, as painful as it was for me, I must admit this was one for the ages.

#8 - John Lester's No Hitter

Yes, it was early in the season. Yes, it was against the lowly Royals. Yes, I'm a total homer. But all this aside, this very much belongs on the list. Not just because throwing a no hitter is no small feat. Not only because John Lester went on to prove he is an elite pitcher this year. The reason this makes the list is because this 24 year old man overcame cancer just a year and half earlier. Since coming back from cancer John Lester has won the deciding game of a world series and thrown a no hitter. Maybe I'm alone, but I find that incredibly inspiring. Since battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma John Lester has not only come back to form as a pitcher but he has worked with and served as an inspiration to cancer patients and survivors in New England and throughout the country. His triumph over such a horrible disease serves as a reminder that hope is not lost and great things can be accomplished. So, maybe I'm a homer, but you go ahead and argue this isn't one of the best moments someone could have playing a game.

#7- Rafael Nadal v. Roger Federer - 2008 Wimbledon Final

This my friends, is why tennis is on TV. This was, without a doubt, the greatest tennis match I have ever seen. And from what I hear it may have been the greatest ever played. 5 Sets, tiebreakers, rain delays, and most importantly, the two best players in the world. By the time they finished it was nearly too dark to play, but finally Rafa made it over the mountain and seized his first Wimbledon. This match was amazing beginning to end, and the delays and darkness only added to the suspense. Most importantly, these two men are the BEST in the world at what they do and they were at their BEST that day. This was what tennis should look like.

#6 - Memphis v. Kansas - 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Game

This game was terrific. Tons of stars and lottery picks. A back and forth struggle. A late comeback. A couple buzzer beating shots and an overtime in a national championship game. This game lived up to the hype and was a perfect microcosm of what is great about march madness. Terrfically entertaining from the opening whitsle to the final buzzer and, perhaps more importantly, they were the two teams I predicted in the finals....had Kansas winning too. I know, I'm a genius.

#5 - USA Basketball - 2008 Olympic Games

FINALLY, The US has come back to basketball. How refreshing was it to see our Olympic team filled with stars finally live up to their billing. It truly had a feel almost akin to the 92 Dream team. You expected a 30 point win, and you almost always got it. While I still believe the 92 team was the greatest ever assembled, a strong argument could be made that the 08 team achieved a greater accomplishment as the level of talent on the opposing teams has risen so significantly in the last 16 years. Regardless, this team, Coached by Coach K, was a thrill to watch. And we got an early showing of the return of Dwayne Wade. Cap it all off with some gold and once again, all is right in the basketball world.

#4 - Texas v. Texas Tech

#1 team, on the road, gets behind by a bunch early, then comes all the way back...only to lose on a last second touchdown by the best college football player in the country. Tell me it gets any better than that. This was a great game. After Tech got up by several scores in the first half at home it seemed they would turn this game into a blowout...like seemingly every big time college football game ends up being. Instead they failed to go for the jugular and Texas slowly climbed their way back in and took the lead late in the 4th Quarter with only a few minutes left to play. Texas Tech took an amazingly long time to move up the field and it appeared their efforts would be too little too late, but then, Michael Crabtree showed everyone in the nation what all the fuss was about. Amazing route, great throw, better catch, and then the power to stay on his feet and find the end zone. Game, Set, Match. AWESOME.

#3 - Tiger Woods v. Rocco Mediate - 2008 US Open of Golf

72 holes wasn't enough to decide this one. Through the first three rounds Tiger made some simply unbelievable shots just to stay near the top and then struggled through Sunday needing a final putt to force another round. Of course, with the pressure on, Tiger nailed a very long putt (complete with signature fist pump) to force the US Open to fifth round. There he would face Rocco Mediate who was surprisingly game. Even 18 extra holes wasn't enough. It was not until the 19th hole of the day, and the 91st of the tournament that Tiger was finally able to claim the championship.

As amazing as the tournament was on its face it is what we learned shortly afterwards that makes this moment so high on the list. Not only had Tiger turned in a great performance...he had done it on one leg. After the Open Tiger underwent a serious knee surgery and has not played since. He was in excruciating pain for all 91 holes and still managed to beat the best golfers the world has to offer. What seemed like just another Tiger victory may well have been the greatest and gutsiest performance in the history of golf.

#2 - Celtics v. Lakers - 2007/08 NBA Finals

The rivalry is renewed. OH how bad the Celtcs had been. 15 wins, are you serious. Danny Ainge not fired? Really? Doc Rivers is getting another year? Come on! Oh how quickly things change. Trade for Ray Allen and get a gift of KG from an old friend and suddenly your team finds itself with 66 wins.

Across the country an offseason rife with controversey and trade demands gave way to a terrific start. And after a gift from an old friend from Memphis the Lakers found themselves as the #1 seed in the West.

We all hoped (except those with another horse in the race, of course) that Boston and LA would meet, but few really thought it would happen. Especially after Boston's struggles against the Hawks in round one, and the hated Spurs still alive in the West. But lo and behold there we were. The two greatest franchises in the league's history meeting once more with a championship at stake. Six games later Boston's defense had allowed them to once again claim their throne as the ruling monarchy of the NBA. Now with the finals behind us the rivalry is reaching fever pitch and everyone is hoping to see a rematch in this year's finals. It's great for Boston, great for LA and frankly great for the NBA. Here's to hoping the latest iteration of this rivalry can last for a few good years.

#1 - Michael Phelps - 2008 Olympic Games

8 Events, 8 Golds....I'm gonna let that sink in for a second. We all talk about Jordan and Tiger dominating their sports. They don't have anything on Michael Phelps in terms of dominance. This man beats everyone in every discipline. He is a physical freak and workout monster. Going in we all wondered whether he could possibly have the stamina to make it through all 8 events. We wondered how he could get every single one with such a huge bull's eye on his back. And we wondered if he would get the help he needed from his teammates in the relays. All of these questions were answered with a resounding "YES!". Early on Phelps gold hopes were kept alive when Jason Lezak swam the leg of his life and snatched victory away from the trash talking French. Then Phelps captured his seventh gold by out reaching Serbia's Milorad Cavic to win the 100-meter butterfly by an astonishing .01 seconds. Phelps' quest for 8 golds was rife with excitement and was simply amazing to watch as the sheer dominance of his performance became apparent. Say what you will about whether or not Mark Spitz was a better swimmer, what Michael Phelps did at the Olympics in 2008 (and 2004 for that matter) is one of the most amazing feats I've seen in my 25 years on this Earth. There is no doubt its the top moment, of 2008.

The AFC East Wasn't Bad Last Year...The Pats Were Just That Good!

On the advice of one of my many fans I've decided to take a moment to muse on the roller coaster that has been the AFC East. A division where the Miami Dolphins, a year removed from a 1-15 season control their own destiny in their pursuit of a division crown. Where the defending conference champs lost their big gun in week one and a virtual unknown has led them to a 10-5 start and has them on the cusp of post season play. And where the Jets have reminded us yet again, why, before last year everyone knew that it was time for Brett Favre to hang it up.

I'm gonna break it down team by team. So here we go.

Nobody Circles The Wagons Like The Buffalo Bills

Unfortunately for the Bills, wagon circling is not particularly helpful when trying to win football games. Everyone was all about this team early on, and I will admit their 4-0 start almost had me believing the hype, but then we were all reminded of the 1 undeniable truth in the NFL. If you don't have at least a decent quarterback you are not a good team....PERIOD. The Bills have two halves of a QB, and they will not ever get better until they find a better option. I will give Trent Edwards one more year before I say he can't cut it, but the window is closing. J.P. Losman on the other hand is terrible, and should probably retire following his showing last week against the Jets....take the sack you idiot. In short, the Bills need to realize they have a decent defense and a great young running back. Find a QB, get rid of Dick Jaron (that play against NY alone is grounds for dismissal) and give Lynch the ball on every play and hope like hell you can get to 9 wins. Better luck next year Buffalo, but probably the same result.

J-E-T-S SUCK, SUCK, SUCK!

God I love writing that. Here's the thing. The Jets D has some serious talent, but even with the great seasons turned in by Kris Jenkins and Derelle Revis they have been inconsistent. Speaking of inconsistent, why does Brett Favre want to make us all forget about when he was good. His election to the probowl is a joke, and from watching yesterday's game its obvious that he is not giving his team a chance to win. Worse than that, there is a good chance that if he comes back next year that he will get Eric Mangini fired. You could tell yesterday as he shook his head on the sideline after another interception this is not how he wants to run his offense. The experiment has failed, and will not get better. Of course, now that I say this they will find a way into the playoffs and win a couple games.

They're Mammals, Not Fish.

I want to make fun of the Dolphins, I really do. I wanna tell you how the weakling at QB has been lucky and its just a matter of time till he is exposed. I wanna tell you how their coach is more like Bill Parcells' lapdog than an NFL coach and I want to make a joke about how its only a matter of time before Bill Parcels calls Ted Ginn Jr. a girl. But I can't, bravo Miami, one hell of a turn around. Maybe someday you will even challenge for a Superbowl ring. Not likely, but maybe.

Matt Cassell, Shopping For Homes in Detroit.

The New England Patriots season has been a very strange to say the least. Coming off an 18-1 year and losing the best QB in the NFL in quarter 1 is the end of the season right? Apparently not, as Matt Cassell has stepped in and led this team potentially into January football. Now I've already weighed in on how I believe people are giving Matt just a little too much credit, but it would be unfair to say that taking this team to 10-5 is not one hell of an accomplishment. They don't quite control their own destiny, but just to have a chance at the post season in week 17 is a heck of thing for a team that is led by a QB who hadn't started a game since the mid nineties...in high school.

What Does It All Mean?

So what should we take from this year in the AFC East. Well several things. One, parity means you don't need to be very good to be a playoff team. Two, Bill Parcells knows what he is doing. Three, the AFC is falling off. Four, the Patriots have more talent on offense than most teams have in their entire organization and Five, Brett Favre is done...

In the end, i think the Pats come out on top, if only because they have been there before and the Bills suck. In any event it should be a fun end to the season and hopefully this is just the start of a real competitive division.

Hey, Is His Headband on Upside Down?

OK, Chris Sheridan did a great piece on Rondo on today's Daily Dime on espn.com. You should read it. But this kid needs more press. He is way too good. So, at the request of a fellow blogger I have decided to weigh in on the start to the season that this third year point guard has had for the defending champion Celtics.

It seems like just yesterday that the recently assembled Big 3 had the NBA world abuzz with speculation over whether or not their egos could coexist, and even if they could...can Rajon Rondo find a way to pass that ball around enough to keep everyone happy. Rondo, coming off a successful rookie season had more pressure on him than perhaps any other point guard in the league. He didn't just need to continue to improve, he had to lead a team with 3 future hall of famers to a championship.

There were reasons to question whether or not Rondo could do it, and it was not just his lack of experience. While he is incredibly athletic there were legitimate concerns about his ability to hit jumpshots (honestly this is still a concern) and his ability to consistently make good decisions with the ball in his hand. Suffice it to say, Doc Rivers, and indeed any fan of the Celtics no longer have any concerns about this kid.

After a very serviceable year last year, in a seemingly impossible situation, and a nearly unbelievable run through the playoffs Rajon Rondo has improved so much over the course of this new season that he barely resembles the player he was as a rookie. Rajon Rondo runs this team on the floor. He calls the plays and when all three of the Big 3 get major attention from opposing defenses Rondo keeps them honest by breaking down defenses and taking the ball to the rim with impunity. His shooting is still questionable, but to be honest, on this team he rarely needs to hit a jumpshot.

Last night against the Knicks Rondo showed exactly what makes him such a dangerous player. In the third quarter after the Celtics slowly let the Knicks climb back into the game after the Celtics had a 23 point lead Rondo took over. He went 9 for 9 from the floor. He went to the rim whenever he felt like it and consistently made the perfect decision about whether to take it for the score, pass to an open teammate or dribble it back out the other side and reset.

That, my friends, is what has made Rondo so much better. He has always been a physical freak. Fast as lightning, long arms, big hands, and an amazing vertical leap. What has made him a true standout point guard, however, is the improvement in his decision making. Not only is he making the right choices, HE BELIEVES he is making the right choices. He is not afraid that he will piss off the big three by taking more shots. He isn't worried that he will lose his job or be the reason the Celtics lose a game. And that confidence has made him the dangerous player he is today. And this is without mentioning his strong defensive abilities.

The Celtics are a very good team with anyone at point guard. No doubt about it. But Rajon Rondo is the real reason for the 18 game winning streak. Right now he is the difference between good and great. And I can assure you, if he plays like this through June, the Celtics may have rings on both hands.

CC, and Manny, and T.O., OH MY!!

Oh what a couple of weeks it been. In my short absence the sports gods have given us even more little stocking stuffers after the Plaxico present. I decided because I haven't posted in awhile and there are so many deserving topics that I would write down some quick hits on a bunch of subjects. So enjoy my musings and ramblings and expect more regular updates to the site in the future.

The Hot Stove, Surprisingly Cool?

Baseball's winter meetings have come and gone. The Mets added two, count em two, closers and I believe have had the most productive offseason thus far. The Yankees signed CC Sabathia to a ridiculously large contract and then went on to sign a smaller, but much more ridiculous contract with A.J. Burnett. Other than that there were not many splashes.

Some of the biggest names, most notably, Mark Texiera remains unsigned and there were not huge blockbuster trades anywhere near the magnitude of the Detroit and Florida swap last December. Many have mused that this is due to a strange economic climate and teams unwilling to be aggressive, but whatever is causing it, its ruining one of my favorite times of the year. The baseball season is long enough and the hot stove period can get very dragged out, but to basically accomplish nothing as a league at the winter meetings is simply unacceptable. How much longer do the Red Sox expect me to check the latest rumors every ten minutes....make some damn deals.

In any event, with so much still left to be determined I will give my thoughts on what has happened and what will happen going forward.

The Yankees have definitely improved their rotation. CC has been a horse and has more wins in the last few seasons than anyone else. He proved he has heart with his heroic run late last year with the Brew Crew and he is clearly already the Yankees #1. The question remains though, can he beat Boston, and can he win in October. CC is a big dude, and I have to wonder if the last two years and his struggles in the playoffs aren't due to the obscene number of innings he throws. Its not out of the realm of possibilities that CC's weight and his inning eating nature is gonna lead to him breaking down well before the end of his 7 year deal. A.J. Burnett is a good pitcher who has had two truly solid years, both contract years. He has electric stuff and his strike out numbers when healthy are fantastic...but really, this guy is gonna stay healthy? Nuh-uh. 82.5 Mill is crazy, enjoy him New York.

The Mets did an amazing job addressing their biggest weakness without creating any new holes. The Mets still need to find another power bat I believe, but they have shored up their biggest problem. If their starting pitching has a decent year they could finally get back to playing October baseball.

The Red Sox, while quiet so far this off season, may have actually made the best move. They locked up their MVP at an nearly unbelievable price. The 6 year 40 million dollar deal only pays Pedroia 1.5 million dollars for the 2009 season, and with Manny's contract coming off the books the Red Sox now find themselves with heir committed payroll just under 100 million dollars. This makes the Red Sox a perfect place for Mark Texiera to sign, and they could easily still sign Varitek and Lowe. Make a deal for another catcher. And if they don't sign Lowe, don't be surprised to see John Smoltz try to make it back to the majors in a Red Sox uniform.

The Angels are in some trouble. If they can't find a way to resign Texiera then their offseason will be marked by losing their best offensive player and their all-star closer. There isn't a lot out there in terms of power. I can't see Pat Burrell fitting in with Anaheim's small ball approach and Manny and Mike Socia doesn't exactly scream match made in heaven to me.

Those are just my initial thoughts, as things become more settled I will give my opinion on the entire league and let y'all know who is looking the best on paper.

He's Gonna Play for Manny, Manny More Years

Oh Manny, it had been almost 5 months since you had "been Manny". I'm so excited to see you back. Manny Ramirez reportedly has been so upset because their appears to be almost no market for his services that he is apparently contemplating retirement. Oh Manny.

Then, after saying this, he said that he was gonna stick around until he hits 700 HRs and would definitely play next year. The man is not crazy folks...just incredibly dumb.







TOtally TOo much T.O.

OK, i know T.O. has not made a habit of breaking the law like Pac-Man and isn't accused of any serious, potentially prison worthy offenses like Plax, but can't the NFL just suspend him indefinitely anyway? Please?

Honestly when I heard about the latest T.O. drama I realized something...T.O. might be the worst person ever. OK, maybe that's a bit overboard, but my god. How selfish can one man be. He has been thrown to more times, and has fewer catches (meaning more drops, more than likely) than the man he is complaining about.

I call on anyone who is so inclined to send emails to ESPN, or the Cowboys or the NFL calling for a complete boycott of this jackass.

The Beasts of the East

OH MY. Folks, circle January 9th on your brand new calenders. Celtics and Cavs, playing for the first time since opening night and right now looking like far and away the best teams in the league. (No, I haven't forgotten LA, its just that they are soft until proven otherwise)

Obviously I am biased, but I think the Celtics still have the edge. During their 14 game win streak they have beat several quality teams, and have run up a franchise best start. In addition, the offense that has been slow to start for the Celtics has improved by leaps and bounds the last few weeks. Rajon Rondo is playing out of his mind and Ray Allen has found his stroke. The bench gets better and better and they are beating teams by double digit scores nightly.

The Cavs have been playing phenomenally, don't get me wrong. Lebron truly is the King and the whole team is playing inspired ball. They play great defense, run smart offense, and frankly, when you have Lebron, you're hard to beat. But Mo Williams still gives me a little pause, and the champs are the champs til i see a reason to declare otherwise. Regardless, after the Finals rematch on Christmas day January 9th is the day to look out for.

Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up

Lastly I would like to be a little bit more serious than usual. This past week was Jimmy V week on ESPN. I love Jimmy V week because they re-air his amazing ESPY speech and it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. (If you haven't seen it, please find it on youtube.) As we head towards the holidays I think its important to remember how lucky most of us are. We have our health, great educations and most of us (not me of course) have great careers beginning. At this time in our country where so many people are hurting because of joblessness and harsh economic conditions I think we should all try to do whatever we can to try to make someone else's holiday a little better. Whether that means a small charitable donation, or bringing clothes to the Salvation Army, or giving to Toys for Tots, or volunteering at a soup kitchen I think all of us who read this blog can each do at least one thing to help someone else this time a year.

I hope you will all join me in doing something extra this holiday season when so many people are in need.

In any event, I've run out of ramblings, be on the look out for more entries this week and as we approach Christmas.

Applebee's Is No Longer Safe!!!!

So this holiday weekend gave us an early Christmas present as Plaxico Burress has created the best news story of the year. I will admit, I LOVE stupid criminals and clearly from the rapidly emerging details Plax is stupider than most. First off, the man shot himself in the leg with his own gun. He wasn't even trying to draw it, or use it. Just sitting there and BAM... Classic. Second, he was only mere inches away from giving us the funniest news story or all time by becoming the first NFL player to give himself a sex change operation.

Jokes aside, however, this is a truly amazing story. Not only did Plax bring a gun to a club. Not only did he shoot himself with it. But he broke the law by doing so, and then, when he realized the trouble he was in, he compounded it by lying to the hospital and then to police. Plax actually told the hospital that he was shot at an Applebee's....a frikken Applebee's. What? They wouldn't report it?...What kind of Applebee's do they have in NYC. At least he was smart enough to give a fake name, the unfortunately unfunny Harris Smith. Its no Ron Mexico, I'll tell ya that.

This event, as stupid and fun to make fun of as it is, points to a very serious problem in sports. As i started to talk about with my Pac-Man post last week, all sports, especially the NFL, need to do something to make it clear to troubled players that there will be real world consequences to their actions. Pac-Man has made mistake, after mistake, after mistake and still he pulls down an NFL paycheck and gets to play on Sundays. This cannot continue.

If we look at Plaxico's situation it becomes clear that this type of behavior can not be tolerated. Not only did Plaxico break the law, but he endangered the lives of others. This isn't the first time Plaxico has made bad decisions, but there is a huge difference between the immature and selfish things Plax has done in the past and the dangerous and criminal acts he is accused of committing this weekend. The point is, however, with his past discipline problems and his huge new contract (including an $11 million signing bonus) Plaxico knew that he could not afford any missteps. And still he put himself in this situation.

I know some out there will say that we expect too much of young athletes. And while I recognize that many of the young athletes who end up in trouble didn't grow up under the best circumstances, and didn't get the best of education, I don't think that can be an excuse any more. Yes some of these players have faced disadvantages, but they also have huge advantages. Plaxico Burress just signed a $35 million dollar contract. The man can afford to pay for private security. As a matter of fact if he is so concerned that he will be shot out at a club, maybe he should just rent out the club. Or better yet, what any normal human being would do...If you think you will get shot at a particular place then don't go to that place. I'll pause while you let that brilliance wash over you.....got it?...alright good.

Perhaps the most troubling part is seeing how Plaxico and his attorney have reacted to this. My favorite quote... "He is standing tall. He is a mature adult," Brafman said. "I think any professional athlete in this situation would be concerned." He may be standing tall, (and probably limping) but he is not a mature adult. This is the problem. He should be one, but he isn't and continuing to let him skate by without facing any real punishment will do nothing to change that fact.

I understand that rich athletes and entertainers are targets in the club scene for people who wanna act tough and compensate for the fact that they don't have a great life, but the fact of the matter is part of the price of having incredible wealth and being famous is that you have to avoid those situations. Frankly I don't think there are many people who wouldn't gladly trade their ability to go to a nightclub for 35 million dollars. Plaxico, it appears just seems to think he is some sort of gangster. And no, this isn't because of rap music, or The Wire or anything else. Its because Plaxico Burress is a childish, selfish, careless MORON.

My point in writing all this is that there is no excuse for this type of behavior. Plaxico didn't just hurt himself with his actions. He hurt his team and he hurt his organization. He put lives in danger, he broke the law and it appears that he has involved Antonio Pierce in his crimes enough that Pierce will likely face charges. With what we saw from Michael Vick and Pac-Man Jones it is clear that many athletes seem to think they are above the law. And with the number of second and third chances given out by teams and the NFL its no wonder they do. Its time that we as a society stop making excuses for these young men just because they can play a sport.

Imagine if it was you who did this at a club this weekend. Do you think your employer would be so quick to forgive. Of course not, and why would you not deserve the same treatment as Plaxico. More likely than not you don't have a record of disrespect and disregard for others. Obviously athletes lead very different lives from us "normal" people, but they aren't better, or more deserving of extra slack.

So I hope that Mayor Bloomberg follows through and makes an example out of Plaxico. Frankly, Plax deserves to have the book thrown at him, there is nothing he has done in his career that indicates otherwise. Maybe if Plax goes to jail for a few years athletes in all sports will realize that just because you are rich doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want.

Either Plaxico is a man who has not grown up enough to be trusted with his freedom, or he is a bad man who does not, and will not respect the rules of law. Either way, he is not someone who should be allowed to make huge sums of money and be idolized by kids for his on-field abilities.

Mr. Goodell, New York Giants, football watching public... FIRE PLAXICO BURRESS.

Oh, and New York prosecutors....put him away. Do it for Applebee's.

She-gles: The Drama Continues

Ok, I've had it. Everyone needs to stop being surprised when the Eagles underachieve. I understand it from Philly fans, we all hate to admit that our team just isn't very good, but the national media has no excuse. The Eagles used to be much younger, and much deeper. Their defense wasn't just good it was formidable. McNabb could run like crazy and wasn't afraid to. And people had no idea what to make of Brian Westbrook. Now, however, they are an old, slow and predictable team that doesn't have the talent to overcome the shaky decision making of Andy Reid.

I'll start with Donovan "Chunky Soup" McNabb. He was a monster years ago. An absolute beast and a gamer. Even early in his career when his passing ability hadn't caught up with his big arm and his quick feet he would leave it all on the field. Now, however, I see a shell of that player, both physically and emotionally. The physical toll has been obvious. Since the knee injures Donovan has all but abandoned the run as part of his game, when in the past it was a big part of what made him truly dynamic. What is more disappointing, however, is that it seems ever since TO broke Chunky's heart that he hasn't recovered. He seems soft and unwilling to hear or deal with any criticism of him or his protector Andy Reid. Every press conference I see him in he seems like he doesn't want to be there and when people ask him about the struggles of the team he always seems to have an excuse. The QB is supposed to be fiery, and when times are bad he should be the one taking the blame for his teammates and rallying the troops to go right the ship the following week. I just don't see in McNabb the player that led Philly to the Super Bowl in 2004.

Now on to the real problem, Andy "I Look Like A Walrus" Reid. Now there is no denying that Reid is a good coach. He took a team to four straight NFC Championships and coached in a Super Bowl. Very few coaches achieve that type of success at any point and it can't be taken away from him. The problem that Reid has is that he seems to have forgotten how to coach in an actual game. Over the last three years I can think, off the to of my head, of at least three games in which Reid simply didn't realize or care how much time was on the clock and cost his team scores. One of these times was the dreadful drive in the Superbowl when they showed no sense of urgency and appeared to not have a two minute offense even in place (By the way, they lost that Super Bowl by three points). This year, time and time again, Andy has refused to give the ball to his best player, Brian Westbrook. The only time he seems to feel comfortable feeding him the ball is in 3rd and 4th and 1's when Westbrook is probably at his least effective. The fact of the matter appears to be that While Reid certainly knows football, now that his team has aged and lost some of their edge he has proven to be an inconsistent coach during the close games his less talented team now constantly finds itself in. Reid is smart coach and is not the sole reason the Eagles have struggled, but the idea that this guy is anywhere near Tony Dungy or Bill Belichick is absolutely insane.

The point of this rant is simply this. The Eagles team you have seen on the field the last few weeks...IS THE EAGLES. Its who they are, its fitting for their level of talent, their age and their QB and Coach. So yes, if Philadelphia wants to be a perennial Super Bowl contender they need to get rid of Reid and McNabb, but they also need to find two replacements who are better than these two and assemble a whole lot more talent. The Eagles have had their day in the sun and as hard as it may be for Eagles fans to hear, its time to blow it up and start building again around your good player, Brian Westbrook. Hey, at least the Phillies won.

How many games will he get if he kills someone?

I must say I was shocked to see that Pac-Man Jones has already been reinstated to play in the NFL. More than that I am completely dumbfounded by Roger Goodell. Of course when he came in with all the suspensions everyone said "ok, he is tough, he is gonna clean things up." Then the Patriots get off with what, even I, a Patriots fan, would call a slap on the wrist. This we all kinda chalked up to the Pats being the story of the NFL and him not wanting to turn a positive into a negative anymore than was necessary. Now, however, after giving Pac-Man yet another chance, and telling him he doesn't have any strikes left he lets him back in after having a fight to which the police were called.

Now don't get me wrong. I know mistakes get made, and I know Pac-Man Jones doesn't need to get that out of control to garner the attention of the police. This, however, was not a situation where some loser in a bar decided to pick a fight with the football player just to get noticed. Pac-Man got drunk and fought his own body guard (Let the amazing stupidity of what you just read really wash over you, it tok me awhile to really appreciate how amazing this screw up was.). Now, I would never do this... because I'm not a moron, but I will play along and say that everyone makes mistakes, but how many times can you make a mistake that requires someone else to call the police.

Goodell should have stayed consistent, stepped up and made an example of this player. Ban him for life, don't give him another chance. I am quite glad to see that Pac-Man got counseling for his alcohol problem, but it seems like maybe this is something he should have figured out before. It leaves me wondering if he got counseling because he needs it, or because he thought showing the initiative would get him back on the field sooner.

What other profession could Pac-Man be in where this wouldn't have ruined his career. Maybe loan shark? Professional wrestler (Although he didn't last long at that)? I know these players are young kids, who don't grow up or get the education they need in many cases, but there are limits to what can be forgiven. The fact of the matter is Pac-Man should be fired, but its not entirely Goodell's fault. No, he should not have let Pac-Man back this time, but the Cowboys shouldn't take him back either, and no other team should show interest. The problem is that all the teams care more about winning than integrity. Any team out there that thinks Pac-Man can make them better on the field will give this loser another shot no matter what he does off the field. A sad thought indeed for the biggest and most watched of all leagues.

Has Brady Been Bledsoed?

To answer the question in the title of this post...of course not, are you insane? There is no one, anywhere, that can beat out Tom Brady for a starting job, but even with that being true I'm sure we are just mere hours from the start of people going completely insane about the abilities of one Matt Cassel.

Now before you get the wrong idea, I really like this kid. He came into a near impossible situation. Everyone expected him to fail and he plays for a franchise that expects nothing less than perfection every time they step on the field. He hadn't started a game since high school as we were told by ESPN and their crack research team 1000 times, and yet through the pressure and the lack of experience he has become quite a serviceable quarterback. As a matter of fact, with back to back 400 yard games you can make the argument he has been more than serviceable. But not so fast my friend....

I will admit, i loved watching Cassel today as he amassed a ton of yards and threw 3 TDs to Randy Moss, who reminded me today why he is far and away the best WR in the game. I won't tell you the kid can't make the throws, he can, but lets face it, what reasonably talented quarterback couldn't throw to these guys. When your second option is Wes Welker you have a pretty good team. And when your other options behind Welker and Moss include Kevin Faulk, Ben Watson, Jabar Gaffney and Sammy Morris you've got one hell of an offense. And when you protect it all with a stout offensive line it gets all the better. What people are undoubtedly going to forget is that this team went 18-1 last year on the strength of the most prolific offensive attack EVER!

Cassel is going to finish the year out strong. He is proven he is accurate, has a strong arm and is surprisingly mobile. He has handled immense pressure and scrutiny and deserves the starting job he will undoubtedly get next year for whatever team ponies up the cash, but lest not go crazy and start calling this kid the heir apparent. When he is throwing to a double covered Calvin Johnson and NO ONE ELSE I doubt the 400 yard, 3TD, 0 INT games are going to be quite so frequent.

Even within the last two games, signs can be seen that Cassel has a lot of growing left to do. He missed Randy Moss on two sure fire TDs against the Jets. the first of which he threw about 20 yards past him. And this week, several of Cassel's biggest plays were screens to Welker and Faulk, and several big hook ups went to wide open receivers.

I don't want this to sound too critical. I like Matt Cassel. I think he is a very good young player and I'm hoping that he can take the Patriots on a run deep into the playoffs this year. I think he will get a starting job elsewhere and will have a good chance at succeeding if there is any talent around him. I just think its important to remember that its one thing to get great performance out of a Cadillac its quite another to get it out of a Ford Focus. (HAHA, isn't that perfect for Detroit?)

The Failing Irish

Really? Syracuse? After leading by 13 in the second half? In South Bend?

Up to this point as a Notre Dame fan and a Patriots fan I have defended Charlie Weis. He inherited a terrible program that was in decline. He was instituting a pro-style, complicated offense. He made the most of talent that Willingham couldn't do anything with, and I fully believed that as his recruits started to filter in and mature that he would bring Notre Dame back into the national spotlight. When things didn't go well I was prepared to give more time because South Bend isn't the easiest place to recruit to, and let's face it, a buyout of his contract seemed insane at a rumored 21 million dollars.

Now though, even I am having trouble convincing myself that Weis isn't in over his head. Weis had way more talent on the field today and despite playing incredibly inconsistently on the offensive side of the ball the Irish had a 13 point lead, at home in the second half against a 2-8 team who's coach had just been fired. But the Irish couldn't get out of their own way and managed to let the Orange score two 4th quarter TDs to claim a one point victory over a stunned Irish team.

This loss to teh Orange isn't just embarassing, its historic. This moves the Irish to 6-5. Combine that with their 3-9 record last year and they have lost 14 in the last two years, the most in any two consecutive Irish seasons. It also is the second straight week in which the Irish blew seemingly iron clad leads. Last week they managed to barely hold on against Navy, but the win was certainly less than satisfying.

Perhaps most troubling is that despite Weis having had time for his recruits to reach the playing field the team does not appear to be any faster or more talented than they were under Willingham. The defense is inconsistent and rarely appears to be talented enough to hang with upper echelon programs and Weis is far from a defensive genius. The offensive players, while certainly showing more promise, have yet to show that they can play consistently. Jimmy Clausen showed quite a bit of promise early in the season, but over the last few weeks has shown that he has a tendency to float balls and turn it over.

The bottom line is the last few weeks have made me realize that this team isn't a year or two away from really living up to their expectations, it's a team that seems to have fulfilled its less than exciting potential. With this as the case it may be time for ND to cut their losses and move on in a new direction. Of course, I don't think there is anyone else out there that can turn this train wreck around. I Think its time for the Notre Dame alumni and fans to accept what the rest of the country realized years ago, it's unlikely that Notre Dame will ever be the powerhouse it was. The sooner ND realizes this, the sooner they can make the moves they need to be a strong and consistent second tier team. A sad day indeed.

Most Valuable Pipsqueak

This week major league baseball finally finished the long and unnecessarily drawn out process of handing out their season awards. The seemingly unending process came to an close with the announcement of the American League's Most Valuable Player. The announcement came as no real surprise, front runner Dustin Pedroia won the award garnering 16 of the 28 first place votes. Coming into the season the idea of Dustin Pedroia winning this award would have been laughable. Listed at 5-9 (probably closer to 5-6) and 180 lbs., playing second base and hitting near the top of the order, Pedroia hardly fits the mold for AL MVP. This award is usually reserved for guys with power numbers. Overwhelming home run and RBI totals usually carry the day, and ultimately it was surprising that they didn't again this year.

Pedroia's numbers are great, there's no getting around it. He hit .326, with 17 HRs, 83 RBI, a .376 OBP, .493 slugging, tied for the league lead with 213 hits and 54 doubles. He won the gold glove at second base, was successful on 20 of 21 steal attempts and lets not forget he played in 157 games (a stat I think should carry weight for an MVP award). Perhaps most impressively he only struck out 52 times in 653 at bats.

These numbers are certainly impressive and from a second year, under sized second baseman they are incredible, but Pedroia didn't win the award because of his numbers, he won because of 18 key at bats in August.

The sole reason Pedroia won the MVP award instead of Morneau or Youkilis is because Pedroia had a signature stretch. A week of baseball where he played at such a high level that he caught the entire country's attention. With Manny Traded and Ortiz, Lowell and Youk all injured Pedroia was thrown into the clean up spot for a week with Boston battling to stay well positioned for the playoffs. Not only was Pedroia serviceable in the role, he was incredible. He went 12-18 with 2 HRs and 4 Doubles. He slugged 1.222 and seemed to carry the entire Boston Red Sox team on his back for a time. Every sports center seemed to focus on his rise and ESPN started asking every expert they could find if Pedroia had positioned himself to win the MVP.

It was this stretch that made voters for get about the power numbers, or the fact that Youkilis was arguably the most valuable Red Sox player this year. For that one week Pedroia wasn't just good, he was great and the whole sports nation took notice.

But regardless of why he won, its great that he did. Nice to see the little guy come out on top, and with Stephen Surry mere months from winning Player of the Year in college ball maybe the little guys is getting ready to assert themselves and big factors across all of sports.

MLB Playoffs Musings

First off the NLCS

I will start off by saying that while I have been following the NLCS I have hardly been hanging on any pitch. So anything I miss feel free to bust on me for. That being said there are a few things that have struck me.

1. Manny is a frikken beast

I may hate ManRam for the way he left Boston and turned his back on fans that put up with unreasonable behavior for years, but that doesn't change the fact that this man is an absolute beast in the batter's box. Anyone who saw his home run in game one of the NLDS or game two of the NLCS can see that this man more than anyone other than possibly Vlad can hit ANY ball out of the park. And anyone he can't, he puts in a gap. The difference between Manny and Vlad, however, is that Manny can do it, and has done it in October.

I don't know if Manny is worth 80-100 million over 4 or 5 years, but what I can tell you is if one of the real franchises (Sox, Yanks, Mets and Cubs (I know, but they got dough)) can sign this guy and keep him happy it will be worth it for the time being.

That being said, I believe the sports media has dropped the ball on their coverage of Manny's tank job in Boston. Obviously as a Sox fan I may be a bit biased, and it scares me that I find myself agreeing with Tim McCarver, but what Manny did in Boston was despicable. Effectively, a man making 20 million dollars a year went on strike and carried on in a way that forced Boston's hand in making a trade. While the media has focused on the fact that the deal seems to have worked out great for both the Sox and Manny, the focus should be on the ethical questions raised by a man who faked a knee injury in order to put pressure on his team to trade him. Manny has gotten away with his inappropriate actions. Not only has baseball not been able to pin anything on him, but the media has not only let his actions slide, but are so infatuated with the way he is playing in LA that they are making him out to be a good teammate. I think there are 40 or so people in Boston that would disagree with that assessment. I hope the baseball owners take a stand (though I don't hold out much hope) and refuse to pay this man and send a message to the prima donna players out there to keep this from becoming a reoccurring theme in baseball.

2. I love Shane Victorino

This guy is a ball player. Fast, plays defense, smart at the plate, flair for the dramatic and a great nickname. What more can you ask for.

Don't have much more to say, but i feel like he needs more press.

3. Derek Lowe

In the NLDS someone (I can't remember who) at ESPN described Derek Lowe as a big game pitcher. That's like calling Matt Stairs a big game hitter. Yes DLowe has won some big games, but he has also been an inconsistent pitcher for his entire career. I know he hasn't been awful, but its no surprise he has no wins in this series.

Alright, Now for the ALCS

1. The Rays are good

Who knew? Come on, we all assumed that the swoon would happen eventually. First it was just an early season streak, then it was that in the second half they will fade. Then the Red Sox were gonna pass them for the Division. Then they reach October and they were supposed to wilt under the pressure of the post season, and then there was no way they could beat the defending champs. Now, however, with a 2-1 lead and Tim Wakefield on the mound for the Red Sox for Game 4 the Rays seem to have World Series written all over them. Whats important about this though is that unlike the Colorado Rockies, this team does not appear to be a fluke. They have a deep young lineup a strong rotation and a stronger bullpen and an incredibly deep farm system filled with high draft picks acquired during the teams years of abysmal play.

If the Rays can continue their success in the coming years they will show that parody is possible in baseball if you have competent people in charge of personnel. It will be interesting to see if the worst teams out there can follow the Rays blueprint and create a shake up at the top of the league. I doubt it, but who knows, and it will be interesting to see.

2. Seriously Papi?

Really, nuff said.

3. Is it over, or is the fat lady still on deck.

Everything seems to indicate going into Game 4 that this series is over, but the Red Sox have been here before. Down 3-0 to the Yankees in 2004 and 3-1 to the Indians last year the Sox found ways to come back and reach the World Series. The question this year is, with their new run manufacturing offense, can they score enough to beat this well balanced Rays team. I suppose only time will tell. Enjoy the game tonight and comment away if you happen to see/read this entry.

Boredom wins out and makes me a member of the blogosphere

Hello all,

Friend and foe alike come and bask in the greatness of my quickly assembled and utterly simplistic sports blog. After years of convincing myself people on the blogosphere are simply blowhards who can't get real journalism jobs I've decided I'm either wrong, or I'm right, but no one else cares, so I may as well have my ridiculous opinions heard as well. In today's 24 hour a day news network world ESPN has become less of a sports information source and more of a CNN Headline news for puffed up stories about TO crying and A-Rod getting divorced. And I'm sure I don't need to remind any of you of the nauseating nonstop coverage of Brett Favre's midlife crisis. In any event most of the people that appear on TV to analyze sports either don't know what they are talking about or are told to dumb it down for the most simple minded viewers.

What we are left with is a watered down product that tells us nothing about sports. Sports is far from rocket science, sure it can be unpredictable, but it is not nearly as surprising or volatile as people like Jay Mariotti and John Madden might have you believe. So my hope in starting this blog is to write some posts that will show that sports analysis is not that hard, and that the professionals should be held to a higher standard.

I hope you all enjoy the posts that will begin to roll out of the coming days and weeks and please join up as a season ticket holder and read and comment regularly.

PS. Jaws is an awesome analyst and should not be considered a target of my rant..."Let's take a look at the Visa Skycam."