What is Goodell really doing and where is the Players Union?
I understand how Goodell came in and wanted to show everyone that he means business with the players and the code of conduct. He has acted swiftly and stern. But is his justice blind? Are his penalties the same across the board? I think not. Every situation is handled a different way.
Jared Allen, DE for the Chiefs, was initially suspended 4 games by Goddell for 2 DUI’s. His suspension was later reduced to 2 games. On the opposite side of the coin you have Odell Thurman, Bengals MB and former rookie standout, who is working on his 2nd year long suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy (missed drug test and DUI). There were talks of an alleged fight during his 2006 suspension but no charges were ever filed. After the first suspension Odell reapplied to enter the league again and Goddell sent him home for another year. Now, I understand cleaning up the league but why treat two players so differently. Continue Reading »
I like the first part of the college season a little bit more than the end. At year end you have the conference championships and the bowls but your left with a bitter taste in you mouth since there isn’t a playoff. At the start of the year everything is fresh and new…everyteam thinks they have a chance. We are in the 3rd week, which is still early, and there are some good games of undefeated teams, up & comers, and just plain interesting matchups.
Games I’m interested in this week:
The Big MidWest Pillow Fight…Notre Dame @ Michigan
I have nothing to say about Lloyd Carr and Michigan. They had the App. St. game on ESPN instant classic last night and I got a chance to really focus on the game. All I can say is that the QB for App St. is talented and the team has speed. They could beat a lot of D-1A teams.
But, I think they can handle ND this week. The offense is still strong and ND has no Defense (or offense). I read a stat that only 1 of Weis’ recruits have scored a touchdown in his 3 years. He needs to go ahead and write Ty Willingham a check for 10% of the contract he just signed.
Battle for the ACC…Boston College @ Georgia Tech
I like this matchup because you have my boys from Atlanta with a top 10 defense playing against BC and their QB Matt Ryan. This is going to be a good game and low scoring because BC can supposedly stop the run. If things work out right there may be a rematch of this game in the ACC championship…let’s hope it isn’t GT and Wake because there was about 5 people in the stands for the game.
First to 100 Wins…Louisville @ Kentucky
Brian Brohm vs. Andre’ Woodson. The over under on this game is 77 points…that is nuts. Kentucky is a lot better and I got a chance to check them out last year when they beat up Clemson in a bowl. I’m just interested to see what is going to happen with Lousiville because they let Middle Tenn. put all those points. They need this game to keep the Big East momentum going after USF beat Auburn and an upset would bring the conference down after that big win.
Best 5 Teamer Known to Man - Week of the Underdogs
I did OK last week (3-2) but I have some strong ones this week. These are big boy picks all underdogs. I almost put the Nebraska and USC game in here. They aren’t going to beat USC but they will cover. Anyway, onto the picks…
1. Arkansas (+3) @ Alabama
Arkansas has won 3 out of 4 from ‘Bama…Arkansas +3 2. Tennessee (+7 1/2) @ Florida
Tebow hasn’t been tested yet and Florida lost some big timers on D to the draft. I think Tennessee shocks the world and wins straight up…Tenn + 7 1/2 3. Hawaii @ UNLV (+17)
I think UNLV keeps it close because Hawaii is working on 2 straight road games. That is alot of time away from home. They will probably start slow…UNLV +17 4. Ohio State @ Washington (+4)
OSU has not looked all that great against Akron and Youngstown. The Big 10 is overrated across the board and Washington is hot. Washington with the upset win…WU +4 5. Texas @ UCF (+18)
Something just tells me this is going to be close. UCF runs that spread attack that more and more teams are picking up…UCF +18
I have been waiting for someone to put this on youtube. This is the Nike commercial with Shawn Merriman and Steven Jackson running around breaking tackles running people over. They took the concept from the movie “Last of the Mohicans”. At the end of the movie the 3 main characters run up a mountain to take their women back from their captures and they kill countless Mohawks on the way. Nike even used the same song from the movie.
If you look real hard though you can see the Reebok logo on Merriman’s jersey. That is crazy how branding works…even in a Nike commercial if there are NFL jerseys they have to have the Reebok logo on them. Something else that stands out is how Mr. Fantasy week 1 bust (2 fumbles and no TD’s) is running over the Falcons…too bad that is how every other running back will do them this year. Those jokers suck.
But, I like the theme “leave nothing”. I should have went to school for marketing and joined one of these firms that makes commercials and ad campaigns for Nike. They always have the best commercials.
It seems like only certain bits of information make it into the eyes of the media. That is why I appreciate small sites and blogs because I find out about information that you don’t normally see on the local or cable news stations. All you hear about is one story and they beat it into the ground. When Vick’s dog fighting case broke it was major, Lohan getting drunk equals front page news, lady shoots her husband in the back and she ends up on Oprah…
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So where is the uproar over Megan Williams?
This is a horrible hate crime that just hit the news. A young black women was tortured by 6 people in West Virginia, all of them white. They sexually assaulted her, tied her up, and kept her locked in a small house for days. This is very sad. Pray for the young women as she is still in the hospital.
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At least my man Roland Martin is asking the same question…where is the outrage when stuff like this happens? (link here)
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AP story on Megan Williams…here
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But whatever the reason, Carmen Williams wants people to know what happened to her daughter. She agreed to talk to a reporter from her daughter’s room at Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital.
She said a man and a woman — who Megan Williams thought were her friends — took her to the house of Frankie Lee Brewster in Pecks Mill, Logan County.
Megan Williams was held in the house for about a week, police said.
According to criminal complaints filed against six people in this case, she was beaten, stabbed, choked, sexually assaulted and threatened with death.
The details are even more horrible. According to the complaints, she was forced to eat dog and rat feces and to lick up blood. She was made to lick parts of Brewster’s body, under the threat of death. Her hair was pulled out. She was made to drink from the toilet. She was sexually assaulted while hot water was poured on her body, and while a man held a knife to her.
. Update: Suspects will not be tried for hatecrimes because other state charges carry stiffer sentences…(here)
In the summer of 2001 I worked out in New York (Westchester County) about 1 hour away from Manhattan. It was probably the worst internship that I ever had but living in New York was worth the experience. Evey weekend I spent at least one day in the city…went to Queens and saw Shea Stadium, went to a Yankee game, fell asleep on the Phantom of the Opera, visited the churches, museums, Times Square, but there is one thing everyone asks me about that I do not remember.
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Did you go to the Twin Towers?
Honestly, I don’t know. I remember walking past them but at that time it wasn’t a big deal. Wouldn’t that be a blessing if it still wasn’t a big deal. Wouldn’t it be nice If it was just another tourist attraction and people still had offices there.
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Today, I put aside how I feel about the “results” of 9/11 and just reflect. I’m alive, breathing, kids are healthy, wife loves me, I get a check from work every other Thursday, and a roof over my head. Yesterday I ended up not being able to see the first 3 quarters of the ‘Nati because of a blown tire and a bootleg Tivo trippin’. I was hot, steam out the side of the ears hot, but it is a blessing that I get a chance to go through adversity…as hard as it can be sometime, I’m still here to talk about it.
A couple of days ago I posted the giant hornets attacking and taking a whole bee hive….but there is more. Certain bees can actually stop the attack of the hornets. I don’t know why but this so interesting to me. Nature is beautiful in how there are so many checks and balances.
Hornets, prepare for glory!!! …not so fast said the honey bee!
So I went 3 out of 5 on my college picks yesterday. I called that USF win over Auburn but I don’t know what I was thinking about Notre Dame. They are an embarrassment of a program right now. Charlie Weis rode in on his white horse and saved them from Ty Willingham. It was all good when he had Ty’s recruits but now in year three this is Weis’ team. It may be that he is just Norv Turner in disguise…a really good coordinator (which improved the ND offense in year 1 and 2) but that doesn’t make you a head coach or recruiter.
Also, if you haven’t noticed speed kills and so does the spread offense. You see more of the “pro-style” offenses from the major programs (Florida would be an exception to the rule)…it is a selling point to prospects. But then teams come in with these dual threat QBs spreading the field with 4 or 5 receivers (Kansas St., Oregon, USF, UNLV) and some teams aren’t built to stop it and it takes away their biggest advantage, the size of their front 7, because they are in a dime coverage all game. Michigan is a perfect example last week. They didn’t know what to do with App St but when the second half rolled in they made better adjustments and slowed them down.
D-1A really needs to have a playoff system or at least start the rankings in November. 10 years ago USF never would have went to Auburn and outplayed them but the field is so level now and there are only 3 or 4 elite teams. Really, is the ACC any better than the Big East? The only SEC team that looks unbeatable is LSU? Middle Tenn. hung 40+ on the #8 team in the country. We need a playoff.
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NFL Picks for Week 1 - “The Best 5 Teamer part Dos” 1. Denver (-3) @ Buffalo
I’m not feeling the Buffalo running game just yet and Lee Evens gets shut down by Champ and Dre Bly… Denver -3
2. Chicago @ San Diego (-6)
Now this looks like a lot points to give San Diego but have you seen how Chicago performed against the AFC (2-3 in 2006 and 1-3 in 2005) and they lost to Cin, Pit, Indy, New England in that stretch… Sand Diego -6
3. Pittsburgh (-5 1/2) @ Cleveland
Cleveland is still not where they need to be in the AFC North pecking order. Jamal Lewis has a long day and who is their starting QB? Doesn’t matter… Pitt - 5 1/2
4. New England (-6 1/2) @ New York Jets
I like New England and they are everyone’s pick for the Super Bowl but they always play the Jets close. Pats win but by a FG… Jets +6 1/2
5. Baltimore @ Cincinnati (-3)
I’m a Bengals fan…this is where my heart is in football. I love Georgia Tech and college football but when the ‘Nati is on everything stops. That being said I’m not liking this game at all. We are struggling without Chris Henry and both Kenny Irons & Chris Perry. Carson Palmer does have the Raven’s number and we are winners of 3 of 4 with the Ravens. Close game but being scarred never made anyone better. We roll on Monday night… Cinci -3
After a great set of college football games last week the NFL is back for week 1. The Colts all ready rolled over the Saints in the kickoff for 2007 and on the college side Rutgers put Navy out of their misery. But, their is some serious games to be played today through Monday night where my Cincinnati Bengals look to beat the Ravens for the 5th time in the last 6 tries. So, let me give everyone the “Best 5 Teamer Known to Man” for college and tomorrow morning I will drop my NFL picks.
College Picks:
1. Notre Dame @ Penn State (-17 1/2)
Now, I’m the biggest ND hater out there, and as soon as they lose big I have a post waiting about how they need to fire Charlie Weis, but I’m all ND and the points. I watched Penn St. last week and wasn’t impressed, the Big-11 is the most over-rated of the big conference, and Georgia Tech is better then #21. ND loses but not by 17… Notre Dame +17 1/2
2. Virginia Tech @ LSU (-11 1/2)
This is 2 strong D’s and 2 weak offenses. LSU put up 45 on Miss. St. but they were given 7 turnovers (6 of those picks) and the score was very misleading. Alvin Flynn didn’t impress me last week and he faces a much faster VT D. I think that VT may even pick up the win… VT +11 1/2
3. TCU @ Texas (-9 1/2)
Well...Texas almost joined Michigan in the upset category last week against Arkansas St. TCU is the "sexy" pick to do some damage this year with their strong D and everyone is calling an upset because they beat Oklahoma in 2005 (TCU also rolled Texas Tech in 2006). That is why I see Texas blowing them out. This feels just like when Georgia smoked Boise St. 2 years ago and everyone was calling the upset... Texas -9 1/2
4. South Florida @ Auburn (-7)
This is the other game the experts are calling a trap game and the next big upset. They may be right this time. Auburn’s O had 7 first downs off of penalties against Kansas St (talk about home field advantage) and looked very bad against them. Plus no Brad Lester again this week. This is going to be a close game and low scoring… South Florida +7
5. Wisconsin (-27) @ UNLV
For some reason Wisconsin likes to play my boys out in Vegas. They have smashed UNLV 11 straight times but streaks are made to be broken and Travis Dixon is the reason. Dixon is a dual threat (running/passing) that may give the Wisconsin D trouble. This is a homer pick but I really think UNLV will cover and surprise some people today… UNLV +27
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These are all picks in my Yahoo college pick’em this week and I’m feeling good about this set. I think that SF v Auburn and TCU v Texas games could go either way…it will be another good day of football. Oh yea…the “Best 5 Teamer Known to Man” is brought to you by Sam Jackson beer…”Sam Jackson, It’s my Beer!!!”
I don’t know if you have ever seen a giant hornet but it looks like a bee on steroids. This clip looks like something out of 300. A small group of hornets go in and kill 30,000 honey bees. This is wild…Hornets, prepare for glory!
Just so you can get a feel for the size of a giant hornet…
This has been one of the best college football days that I can remember. I am still more of a NFL fan than a college fan but my last few years in the South are really pulling me closer to the college side. There were so many good games, a monumental upset, big programs getting put in check, and just raw emotion.
Here are a few of the highlights from the games that stuck out to me:
1. Blacksburg, VA was the place to be today…
Virgina Tech played their first game since the horrible shootings that happened last school year. They had a special program before the start of the game to honor all of the victims. You could see how emotional the team team and fans were during the short program. ESPN showed the best shot of the crowd behind the players tunnel at the start of the game and the crowd looked like the Cameron Crazies at Duke x 100. They were jumping out of their seats going nuts. This is a ritual that they do at every home game called “The Jump” to the song Enter Sandman. That along with the special program had me so hyped up to watch VT. For one day, I went to Georgia Tech so you know this is hard to say, I was a fan.
2. Notre Dame is NOT a Powerhouse Anymore
Georgia Tech came into South Bend and blasted ND. There is nothing to say about this except “stick a fork” in ND because they may not have a winning season. It is funny how Charlie Weis was labeled a genius when he arrived and had that great first year with Ty Willingham’s players…but lets see what this “genius” does with a young team and his own players.
3. Who are these teams playing
What is the deal with all of these big time programs bringing in Division 1-AA and teams ranked #100-109. Everyone is scared to play anyone worth watching with their nonconference games. That is why I tip my cap to Tennessee. The Vols scheduled a “home-n-home” with the California Golden Bears the last two years and last year they smashed the Bears at “Rocky-Top”. On Saturday they were not as lucky losing to Cal on the road 31-45. Now, they still have to play the rest of their SEC schedule and the national title hopes are a long shot now since their ranking will fall into the low 20’s.
Then, you have the exact opposite in some other teams like Alabama, Ohio St., West Virginia, Texas, and Michigan (just to name a few) who did it right and scheduled games that were supposed to be easy warm-ups in the first week. Yes they are not the most entertaining but it will fine tune the team. Worst case is that the game is relatively close and you have to keep the 1st string in the entire game. But guess what…
4. Football is Played on the Field and Not on Paper
When the Michigan athletic department scheduled Appalachian State they never imagined that a two time division 1-AA (excuse me…Football Championship Division) champ, currently on a 15 game winning streak, could come in and compete. But, they not only came in and competed…they were the best team on the field Saturday and exposed the so called 5th best team in the country.
Doesn’t this just prove why there should be playoff system. “Any Given Sunday” was not just a good title for a movie it is a reminder that when the lights come on and the chin-straps are buckled any team has a chance to win.
Quick Hitters:
LSU’s defense might be the best in the nation…top 5 no doubt
LSU’s offense is in the bottom 5 of the SEC and it may be the reason they aren’t playing in the BCS championship
Tashard Choice needs to be mentioned in the Heisman race
I bet Rick Petino wishes he stayed at Lousiville
Auburn is in for a long season if the offense plays like they did against Kansas St.
Texas was a few plays away from being upset like Michigan
Lloyd Car better get his resume ready for Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com because it is going to be a long year…if he makes it to the end of the year
