I'm still bummed over the Patriots getting knocked out, but I'm rallying back.....
Without football this weekend, I got a chance to watch a few different sports and liked what I saw:
1) Tiger - He won the Buick Invitational which is 7 PGA victories in a row. Just a dominant performance over 4 days and did anyone really think he wouldn't win on Sunday when he started 2 back????
2) Roger Federer - Possibly the only athlete going right now who can make a claim that he's more dominate in a sport than Tiger.. In winning the Austrailian open this weekend, it gives him his 10th grand slam title, a record of 254-15 since the start of 04 and 35 titles in 50 tournaments! He goes about his business every week without all the antics of other top athletes (which means no one knows him.....). Quickly, without looking it up, tell me where he's from?????
3) Winter X Games - Very enjoyable to watch.... Some tremendous athletes out in Aspen, CO, putting on a show this weekend. Between the snowboading pipes, downhill racing and snowmobile jumping there was never a dull moment! If you haven't watched one of these X games shows, check it out..
4) Celtics - Yes I know, who cares?? Well I do, dammit! The NBA league pass had a "free preview" this weekend so I took advantage and checked out my Celtics... Ok, they suck but at least they're young and have some sort of plan to get better (or at least I hope....). If they can keep Pierce on the injuried list thru February, they might actually have a chance at one of the top 2 picks in the up coming draft (Oden, Durant). Put together with a good solid young nucleus and they actually may do something in the next year or so.. Hey it's my fantasy, let me live it!
5) Suns - Speaking of basketball, if you're a fan of the style of play of the early to mid 80's (Celtics, Lakers, 76ers, Bucks, Hawks...) you've got to check out the Phoenix Suns! They won their 17th in a row yesterday beating the Cavaliers. This is a team that knows how to play a team game. Anytime they wanted to score it looked effortless. They can pass, shoot, take it to the hoop, fastbreak, slow it down... whatever, they can do it... They are so much ahead of everyone else right now, it isn't funny. In watching these two teams play, it was obvious why Nash has won the last two MVP's. He makes everyone else around him better! yes Lebron is a great player, but no one on his team is improving... They stand around and watch him go one on one... He makes 1 or 2 amazing plays, everyone ohhhs and ahhhhs and in the mean time Phoenix takes it down, makes 3 passes and gets a layup.. Eventually Lebron misses a couple times, you look up and Phoenix is up 9 and wins going away... Still plenty of room on the bandwagon, so check out a game and hop on board! (1 other note on Nash... In 2 games against Cleveland this year, he has 35 assists and 1 turnover........)!
6) Serena Williams - I thought she was a clothing designer now, what happened??? Although I'm happy to have an american win the womens Australian open, is this a sad commentary for the state of womens tennis now? For Serena to come out after not really playing much over the last couple years and dominate this tournament, it doesn't really say much for the level of talent... I heard Billie Jean King is dusting off her mini skirt and getting ready to make a run at Wimbledon!
7) Rumor - Helton to the Red Sox - All I've got to say about this is "NO THEO!" The Sox don't need a broken down 33 (soon to be 34) year old 1st baseman on the downside of his career.... I don't want to give up any prospects for him. If they can move Lowell and Clement and get Colorado to pick up some of Helton's contract (he has 6 years left and 91 million owed..) than fine. Otherwise forget it...
8) Shaq chasing down hit and run driver - At least the kid will have a story to tell! http://tinyurl.com/3a38z6
9) Rivaldo - (Caution, soccer note...) - Everyone knows about Beckham coming to the MLS this summer but don't be surprised to see Rivaldo also over here in the near future. Apparently the NY Red Bulls are interested..
10) Super Bowl - Bears 31, Ponies 24
Ciao,
Bill
ps........ Ok and just so I'm fair here to all those Patriot haters out there, here's a link for you to enjoy:
http://tinyurl.com/fbvsx
Monday, January 29, 2007
Friday, January 19, 2007
Where Does The Smart Money Go?
Away from what the public is picking.......
In reading most of the "experts" this week, it seems like most are picking Indy and New Orleans to win this weekend, but is that because they are the "better" teams or are people picking them with their hearts? Here's how I see it breaking down:
Saints at Bears - I like the Saints, I really do, but it seems that for a team that was 10-6 on the season, a lot of people have elevated them to Super Bowl status after they've beaten 1 average team in the playoffs... What happened to what they did during the season? Here's a dome team, loaded with young players, going on the road and facing a Bears team that went 14-2 on the year playing at home....... Say what you want about Grossman and their beat up defense, but I still see Urlacher and the rest doing enough to win this game. Watch for Bernard Berrian have a big game against the worst DB's in football...... Bears 31, Saints 17.
Patriots at Colts - Both won big games on the road last week, yet each seem to have something to prove. People still claim NE is lucky although they keep winning games the "experts" don't think they have a chance in and Manning and Indy need to prove they can get to a Super Bowl. Indy's defense after being dead last in stopping the run all year, have come up with 2 monster games in the playoffs. Which will show up on Sunday? I think that's the key to the game. These 2 teams faced each other during the regular season with Indy winning in a turnover fest, so I think that's what it's going to come down to. If NE has 2 or less turnovers, they'll win the game, but over and Indy wins. I'm biased so I'll say Patriots 27, Colts 21.
Which leaves us with with a rematch of the 86 Super Bowl, Bears vs. Patriots.
Ciao,
Bill
In reading most of the "experts" this week, it seems like most are picking Indy and New Orleans to win this weekend, but is that because they are the "better" teams or are people picking them with their hearts? Here's how I see it breaking down:
Saints at Bears - I like the Saints, I really do, but it seems that for a team that was 10-6 on the season, a lot of people have elevated them to Super Bowl status after they've beaten 1 average team in the playoffs... What happened to what they did during the season? Here's a dome team, loaded with young players, going on the road and facing a Bears team that went 14-2 on the year playing at home....... Say what you want about Grossman and their beat up defense, but I still see Urlacher and the rest doing enough to win this game. Watch for Bernard Berrian have a big game against the worst DB's in football...... Bears 31, Saints 17.
Patriots at Colts - Both won big games on the road last week, yet each seem to have something to prove. People still claim NE is lucky although they keep winning games the "experts" don't think they have a chance in and Manning and Indy need to prove they can get to a Super Bowl. Indy's defense after being dead last in stopping the run all year, have come up with 2 monster games in the playoffs. Which will show up on Sunday? I think that's the key to the game. These 2 teams faced each other during the regular season with Indy winning in a turnover fest, so I think that's what it's going to come down to. If NE has 2 or less turnovers, they'll win the game, but over and Indy wins. I'm biased so I'll say Patriots 27, Colts 21.
Which leaves us with with a rematch of the 86 Super Bowl, Bears vs. Patriots.
Ciao,
Bill
Monday, January 15, 2007
"Lights Out"........
For the Chargers!
As I said in my picks on Friday, this game would be close, low scoring and I thought New England would make enough plays at the end to win it..... Unlike my Colts/Ravens pick, I think I hit this one on the head!
Great game, exciting the whole way, with both defenses stepping up and making plays all day long. Some items of note:
1) Co - Plays Of The Game - Everyone knows about Troy Brown causing the fumble getting the ball back for NE, but the other play that not many people are mentioning, is Brady's completion to Reche Caldwell for 49 yards on a 3rd and 10 play with 2:49 left in the game. If NE doesn't convert there, I think the Chargers go on to win the game. After being pressured to death all game, Brady stepped up on that throw and laid it in there perfectly. Gutsy call at that point in the game..
2) Pats Receivers - In 2 playoff games, NE's 2 starting wide receivers (Gaffney and Caldwell) have 30 catches for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne for Indy? 16 catches and no touchdowns..... All season long NE has been criticized for letting David Givens go and trading Deion Branch, maybe they were right after all..... What does NE get from Seattle for Branch? Their 1st round draft pick which I believe is #24..... Not bad.....
3) Schottenheimer will be fired - I doubted this when I first heard it, but apparently him and AJ Smith (Chargers GM) don't get along and this is an opportunity for AJ to make the change. Don't be surprised to see Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron be elevated to head coach next week...
4) Patriots Celebration - Much has been made about this but I'll bet no one actually has seen any clip of this........... Oh sure you've heard LT talk about it, mediots write about it, but please tell me if you actually saw anything... From everything I've read in the local Boston papers Vince Wilfork (NE's 350lb nose tackle) did a little imitation of it on the field and Rosevelt Colvin (linebacker) did a quick choking sign. That was it. Tomlinson made it out to be like the whole Patriots team (along with Belichick) were taunting them with the lights out dance, but that wasn't the case. As to Tomlinson's comments about NE being disrespectful by their taunting, here are a few quotes from the Chargers after they beat NE in Foxboro last year:
"That's an ass-whipping," said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in an article penned by Tom Curran, who at the time wrote for the Providence Journal and who now works for NBCSports.com. Cornerback Drayton Florence was less tactful: "F--k New England and their team," he said, before turning to a "collection of onlookers" and adding: "Get the look of shock off your faces. Don't be shocked. We beat your ass."
Do you think LT went to the podium after that game and said his coaches and fellow teammates were showing a lack of class??? Apparently LT is just another whiner who can't get over the fact his team lost....
5) Chargers Rally - Ahh, and here's a beauty..... Here's a clip from a Chargers Rally 4 days before the game. How many rally's do you think Tom Brady, Richard Seymour and Tedy Bruschi went to last week and chanted about how much Philip Rivers sucked????? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say , oh,...... zero........... And you wonder why NE won and SD lost..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHyLlL01tGA
Ciao,
Bill
As I said in my picks on Friday, this game would be close, low scoring and I thought New England would make enough plays at the end to win it..... Unlike my Colts/Ravens pick, I think I hit this one on the head!
Great game, exciting the whole way, with both defenses stepping up and making plays all day long. Some items of note:
1) Co - Plays Of The Game - Everyone knows about Troy Brown causing the fumble getting the ball back for NE, but the other play that not many people are mentioning, is Brady's completion to Reche Caldwell for 49 yards on a 3rd and 10 play with 2:49 left in the game. If NE doesn't convert there, I think the Chargers go on to win the game. After being pressured to death all game, Brady stepped up on that throw and laid it in there perfectly. Gutsy call at that point in the game..
2) Pats Receivers - In 2 playoff games, NE's 2 starting wide receivers (Gaffney and Caldwell) have 30 catches for 337 yards and 2 touchdowns. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne for Indy? 16 catches and no touchdowns..... All season long NE has been criticized for letting David Givens go and trading Deion Branch, maybe they were right after all..... What does NE get from Seattle for Branch? Their 1st round draft pick which I believe is #24..... Not bad.....
3) Schottenheimer will be fired - I doubted this when I first heard it, but apparently him and AJ Smith (Chargers GM) don't get along and this is an opportunity for AJ to make the change. Don't be surprised to see Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron be elevated to head coach next week...
4) Patriots Celebration - Much has been made about this but I'll bet no one actually has seen any clip of this........... Oh sure you've heard LT talk about it, mediots write about it, but please tell me if you actually saw anything... From everything I've read in the local Boston papers Vince Wilfork (NE's 350lb nose tackle) did a little imitation of it on the field and Rosevelt Colvin (linebacker) did a quick choking sign. That was it. Tomlinson made it out to be like the whole Patriots team (along with Belichick) were taunting them with the lights out dance, but that wasn't the case. As to Tomlinson's comments about NE being disrespectful by their taunting, here are a few quotes from the Chargers after they beat NE in Foxboro last year:
"That's an ass-whipping," said defensive coordinator Wade Phillips in an article penned by Tom Curran, who at the time wrote for the Providence Journal and who now works for NBCSports.com. Cornerback Drayton Florence was less tactful: "F--k New England and their team," he said, before turning to a "collection of onlookers" and adding: "Get the look of shock off your faces. Don't be shocked. We beat your ass."
Do you think LT went to the podium after that game and said his coaches and fellow teammates were showing a lack of class??? Apparently LT is just another whiner who can't get over the fact his team lost....
5) Chargers Rally - Ahh, and here's a beauty..... Here's a clip from a Chargers Rally 4 days before the game. How many rally's do you think Tom Brady, Richard Seymour and Tedy Bruschi went to last week and chanted about how much Philip Rivers sucked????? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say , oh,...... zero........... And you wonder why NE won and SD lost..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHyLlL01tGA
Ciao,
Bill
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
MLK Football Picks.........
As I head out for the holiday weekend by honoring Martin Luther King by playing craps in Vegas, I wanted to give you my football picks.
New Orleans / Philly - I'm tempted to take the Eagles in this but they'll be so excited in NO that they'll probably win a close one. I'll take the Saints 31-27.
Chicago / Seattle - I'm so underwhelmed by the Seahags I can't stand it...... The Bears score early and often and win a laugher 41-10....
Baltimore / Indy - The Colts surprised me last week with their defense but I see that as a one night stand type of thing. I think the Ravens are going to shut down Manning and score easily on offense and win comfortably 31-17. For what it's worth, I think Baltimore is the best team in football and will end up winning the Super Bowl.
Pats / Chargers - Game of the week. I think this game is going to be everything they're building it up to be..... San Diego's favored (as well as they should be), but I think in the end New England does enough to win it. We all know about the Chargers but a couple of interesting notes to keep in mind. Of San Diego's 14 win's 12 of them were over teams that didn't make the playoffs and in those other 4 games they were 2 and 2. Yes the Chargers were 8-0 at home this year but the Patriots were 7-1 on the road along with having the second rated defense in fewest points allowed. Expect this to be low scoring with New England winning 21-17.
Place your bets accordingly!
Ciao,
Bill
New Orleans / Philly - I'm tempted to take the Eagles in this but they'll be so excited in NO that they'll probably win a close one. I'll take the Saints 31-27.
Chicago / Seattle - I'm so underwhelmed by the Seahags I can't stand it...... The Bears score early and often and win a laugher 41-10....
Baltimore / Indy - The Colts surprised me last week with their defense but I see that as a one night stand type of thing. I think the Ravens are going to shut down Manning and score easily on offense and win comfortably 31-17. For what it's worth, I think Baltimore is the best team in football and will end up winning the Super Bowl.
Pats / Chargers - Game of the week. I think this game is going to be everything they're building it up to be..... San Diego's favored (as well as they should be), but I think in the end New England does enough to win it. We all know about the Chargers but a couple of interesting notes to keep in mind. Of San Diego's 14 win's 12 of them were over teams that didn't make the playoffs and in those other 4 games they were 2 and 2. Yes the Chargers were 8-0 at home this year but the Patriots were 7-1 on the road along with having the second rated defense in fewest points allowed. Expect this to be low scoring with New England winning 21-17.
Place your bets accordingly!
Ciao,
Bill
He's Agile, Mobile and Fertile! ... 1/10
At this rate he'll be caught up with Shawn "The Rain Main" Kemp in 5 years!
McGahee sued for paternity
Buffalo Bills running back Willis McGahee is facing his third paternity suit in two years, according to the Miami Herald.
Keisha Walls, 27, an elementary school teacher, claims McGahee is the father of son Kai Walls, who was born April 19, 2006. McGahee also fathered Willis McGahee IV, born Jan. 6, 2006 to Chiniqua Smith, 26, and Bria McGahee, born Jan. 17, 2005 to Dorothy Doretha McNeil, 29. McGahee, 25, was declared the biological father in those cases and is paying child support.
The Miami Herald reported that Walls met McGahee in Miami during a college break. Walls was married at the time, but said she was estranged from her husband when Kai was conceived. They are now in divorce court. Her husband took a paternity test, which she said was negative.
"I don't sleep around," Walls told the Herald. "It was Willis."
Maybe Keisa doesn't sleep around, but we know Willis does!
Ciao,
Bill
McGahee sued for paternity
Buffalo Bills running back Willis McGahee is facing his third paternity suit in two years, according to the Miami Herald.
Keisha Walls, 27, an elementary school teacher, claims McGahee is the father of son Kai Walls, who was born April 19, 2006. McGahee also fathered Willis McGahee IV, born Jan. 6, 2006 to Chiniqua Smith, 26, and Bria McGahee, born Jan. 17, 2005 to Dorothy Doretha McNeil, 29. McGahee, 25, was declared the biological father in those cases and is paying child support.
The Miami Herald reported that Walls met McGahee in Miami during a college break. Walls was married at the time, but said she was estranged from her husband when Kai was conceived. They are now in divorce court. Her husband took a paternity test, which she said was negative.
"I don't sleep around," Walls told the Herald. "It was Willis."
Maybe Keisa doesn't sleep around, but we know Willis does!
Ciao,
Bill
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Well I guess that's why they play the game..
Could I have been more wrong? I don't think so!
Well the Florida Gators completely destroyed the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 to win the BCS Championship Game. Last week I predicted Ohio State would blow out Florida so it shows you what I know.......
I have to give credit to Chris Leak as I thought he played smart and under control the whole game. Whenever they had a 3rd and long he effortlessly went thru his reads and always found someone wide open. Also his throw for Florida's 1st touchdown was a thing of beauty as he laid it perfectly over the top of the defender.... Good job by him, he looked much better than I've ever seen him.
Troy Smith. Wow, could he have looked any worse? I know he lost Ginn for most of the game, but still, times when he had receivers open, he couldn't hit them.... And what's with the 12 step drops???? I've said all year I wasn't too impressed with him and it'll be interesting to see where he drops in the draft. Would you spend a 1st round pick on him???? Highly unlikely.
I've noticed some mediots posting their early predictions for rankings for next year. How can they do that before they know which undergrads commit to the draft? After that list comes out, I'll put together my rankings.
Ciao,
Bill
Well the Florida Gators completely destroyed the Ohio State Buckeyes 41-14 to win the BCS Championship Game. Last week I predicted Ohio State would blow out Florida so it shows you what I know.......
I have to give credit to Chris Leak as I thought he played smart and under control the whole game. Whenever they had a 3rd and long he effortlessly went thru his reads and always found someone wide open. Also his throw for Florida's 1st touchdown was a thing of beauty as he laid it perfectly over the top of the defender.... Good job by him, he looked much better than I've ever seen him.
Troy Smith. Wow, could he have looked any worse? I know he lost Ginn for most of the game, but still, times when he had receivers open, he couldn't hit them.... And what's with the 12 step drops???? I've said all year I wasn't too impressed with him and it'll be interesting to see where he drops in the draft. Would you spend a 1st round pick on him???? Highly unlikely.
I've noticed some mediots posting their early predictions for rankings for next year. How can they do that before they know which undergrads commit to the draft? After that list comes out, I'll put together my rankings.
Ciao,
Bill
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Last..... Entry....... Ever..... 1/02
Well possibly.......... as there's a 93 to 94.5% chance I'm going to have a stroke or heart attack in the next 20 minutes........ It's 7am on a Tuesday morning and I just returned from my 1st ever spin class! Yes, it's true, I'm exercising again.....
My new year's resolution is to get back into shape and in doing so I've signed up for a half marathon on February 4th. As of today I've exercised now for 12 days straight which has got to be some kind of record for me.....
About 2 weeks ago I got challenged by a chick and I couldn't let it pass..... (ok, ok, her name is Julie and she's a woman...). She runs a lot and she had signed up for this race and it was late, and I'd been drinking so I was like "hell yeah, I can do it, it's just 13 miles...". Famous last words.... She some how sweet talked me and a buddy of mine into signing up but he's since come down with an "injury" and has now backed out. So it looks like I'm on my own!
Now in my youth I was in shape and did quite a bit of running, but never anything of this distance (normally just 3 to 4 miles). I have a recurring back injury which caused me to quit playing basketball a couple years back and got so bad recently that I basically stopped exercising about 8 months ago. Consequently my weight has ballooned so it's time to start doing something about it.
My training now is mainly concentrating on getting my cardio back and then I'm going to worry about distance as the race gets closer. Granted I'm down to 5 weeks till race time (February 4th, Super Bowl Sunday) but I gotta start somewhere. I've gone out on a couple of long, slow runs but no distance over 8 miles and no time over an hour and a half.... The main thing I notice so far is with the longer distance it's much more mentally grinding..... It definitely takes it toll once I get to an hour.....
As you might imagine I've gotten quite a bit of advice from people.....Most of it is well intentioned and very helpful (Pete, Renee and Deidre all who have run marathons and can do sub 7 second miles...) but it's amazing how many people are "experts" and then when you ask them if they've actually run that distance they come up with this response "well no, but I run a couple times a week.....". Well you know what, whoop do F#$%&ing do! To those people that think they are experts and say they could do it no problem if they wanted, here's the link http://tinyurl.com/ykwsw3, put your BAWLS where your mouth is, sign up and come out and run... You want my respect, earn it, don't be a P$##$Y! Yes you know who you are and yes I'm calling you out.....
As to how long it'll take me to run the race, who the hell knows.... I started out with some ridiculously low time of 1:45, but have since revised it to 2:30 and even that is probably to low.... On my birthday, January 22nd (in case you want to send me a card....) I'll come out with my goal. First and foremost will be to finish, but I'll be in a little better shape by then and will be able to make a more accurate guess in what I can run this in....
Well that's it for now. My heart rate has subsided so it looks it I'm going to live and post another day. Please check back in after the race and I'll give you an update as to how it went!
Happy New Year,
Bill
My new year's resolution is to get back into shape and in doing so I've signed up for a half marathon on February 4th. As of today I've exercised now for 12 days straight which has got to be some kind of record for me.....
About 2 weeks ago I got challenged by a chick and I couldn't let it pass..... (ok, ok, her name is Julie and she's a woman...). She runs a lot and she had signed up for this race and it was late, and I'd been drinking so I was like "hell yeah, I can do it, it's just 13 miles...". Famous last words.... She some how sweet talked me and a buddy of mine into signing up but he's since come down with an "injury" and has now backed out. So it looks like I'm on my own!
Now in my youth I was in shape and did quite a bit of running, but never anything of this distance (normally just 3 to 4 miles). I have a recurring back injury which caused me to quit playing basketball a couple years back and got so bad recently that I basically stopped exercising about 8 months ago. Consequently my weight has ballooned so it's time to start doing something about it.
My training now is mainly concentrating on getting my cardio back and then I'm going to worry about distance as the race gets closer. Granted I'm down to 5 weeks till race time (February 4th, Super Bowl Sunday) but I gotta start somewhere. I've gone out on a couple of long, slow runs but no distance over 8 miles and no time over an hour and a half.... The main thing I notice so far is with the longer distance it's much more mentally grinding..... It definitely takes it toll once I get to an hour.....
As you might imagine I've gotten quite a bit of advice from people.....Most of it is well intentioned and very helpful (Pete, Renee and Deidre all who have run marathons and can do sub 7 second miles...) but it's amazing how many people are "experts" and then when you ask them if they've actually run that distance they come up with this response "well no, but I run a couple times a week.....". Well you know what, whoop do F#$%&ing do! To those people that think they are experts and say they could do it no problem if they wanted, here's the link http://tinyurl.com/ykwsw3, put your BAWLS where your mouth is, sign up and come out and run... You want my respect, earn it, don't be a P$##$Y! Yes you know who you are and yes I'm calling you out.....
As to how long it'll take me to run the race, who the hell knows.... I started out with some ridiculously low time of 1:45, but have since revised it to 2:30 and even that is probably to low.... On my birthday, January 22nd (in case you want to send me a card....) I'll come out with my goal. First and foremost will be to finish, but I'll be in a little better shape by then and will be able to make a more accurate guess in what I can run this in....
Well that's it for now. My heart rate has subsided so it looks it I'm going to live and post another day. Please check back in after the race and I'll give you an update as to how it went!
Happy New Year,
Bill
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