The Dennis Green Post Game Press Conference

Updates! (Sort of)

2009-05-07T09:22:00.002-07:00

After declaring this blog dead a couple of weeks ago, i've decided to take that back slightly. I will still be doing almost all of my primary writing over at www.fanster.com. They provide me with a much better site and bigger audience than this blog. However, i will still be updating this blog somewhat.

Anything i write over at Fanster, i will create a post for here with the title and a link, so you can still find me writing easily. Also, i will occasionally post articles here that may not necessarily fit onto the Fanster site, such as pieces about the US Men's National Soccer team, and the occasional post about the Hawkeyes. So, keep checking back here i suppose...

Vacant Space Here

2009-04-28T19:51:00.003-07:00

As you may have noticed, i really haven't been writing here much at all as of late. Actually as of the last six months or so. I can't really say it's because i've been busy, or anything like that. Mostly i've just been lazy, and when i do write, it's been for the new and improved Phoenix sports website, Fanster.

So... This is my semi-retirement from this site. I had a lot of fun writing here, but it never really took off the way i was hoping. Then again, what sites do. It takes a lot i suppose, and a one person site with a narrow focus has the odds stacked against it.

Which is exactly why i think Fanster has a great chance to succeed, and why i will be doing my writing exclusively over there from now on. It is a great site, very well designed and with a lot of great writers and content. I am lucky they let me on very early in their development, and have given me a lot of support.

So for the few folks who still visit this site now and then, thank you for your support. It's been fun. Please continue to support me as i write over at Fanster. The important links are below...

Fanster- http://phoenix.fanster.com

My Profile at Fanster - http://phoenix.fanster.com/members/Todd/

Thanks again everyone...

Dbacks Problems Run Deep

2009-04-14T13:50:00.002-07:00

In the middle of the 3rd game of the season, i got upset at what i was watching and what i had seen, and questioned the ability of this Diamondback team to make a run at a division title. Just 4 games later, after the 7th game of the season, i am no longer questioning this team. I'm declaring them dead.

This team has WAY too many problems that need fixing for anyone to consider them anything more than a 'project'. The fact that we didn't see this going into the season is an indication not on the team's ability to cover those flaws up, but on our insistence to quickly gloss over the issues and assume they would get better. I got news for anyone out there reading this: Their issues have not gotten better. In fact, they may have gotten worse.

It doesn't matter how well the starting pitchers pitch (Davis goes 8 innings with 2 earned runs and Haren went 6 innings with 1 earned run in the last two outings), if the Dbacks can't score they aren't going to win. In the Dbacks only two wins, they threw up 9 runs in each. In their other 5 games they've put up a combined 6 runs. Scoring one run a game will not get it done, no matter how good your starting pitchers are. Ok, so how is this different from last year? How is is possibly worse?

Last year the problem was an issue of timely hitting. The Dbacks got hits, got men on base, but couldn't move the runners and couldn't get the hits when men were in scoring position. This year? They can't even get men on base! The Dbacks have one hit from their right field position the entire season. One hit. From the Eric Byrnes/Justin Upton combination. Which is only slightly worse than the three combined hits they have from the catcher spot. Conor Jackson, the team's best hitter last season, is batting .214.

And what about the small ball? Through three games the Dbacks hadn't even attempted a stolen base. Through 7 games they have two stolen bases and one caught stealing. With the speed of Chris Young, Justin Upton, Felipe Lopez, Eric Byrnes, and Mark Reynolds (who's faster than you think), they should be running a lot. Instead, they actually might be running less than last year, attempting just three stolen bases in 7 games.

And let's not forget the other glaring problem with last year's team, the bullpen. To date this season, the ERA's of our bullpen are 15.75 (Buckner), 9.82 (Rauch), 2.25 (Pena), 8.10 (Gutierrez), 3.86 (Schoeneweis, 5.40 (Sltaen), and 0.00 (Qualls). To be fair, Qualls has the least amount of work (2.0 IP) than anyone on the staff other than the left handed specialist Doug Slaten (1.2 IP). Not exactly a stellar round-up of ERA's. Does anyone on this staff not scare you when they come into the game? Qualls maybe, MAYBE, but it's hard to say with only two innings of work. He wasn't exactly a rock last year.

Again, it's only 7 games into the season, but something would have to dramatically change in three different parts of the game (hitting, small ball, bullpen) for the Dbacks to accomplish anything this season. That is too much to overcome in the span of one season, when nothing improved in the off-season. As a result, let it be known that i'm the first to call this season over. The Dbacks are heading for a 90-loss, last place finish in the West season. I take no joy in this, and wish it would be different. I had a lot of optimism going into the season. But the Dbacks have managed to break that optimism in a span of just 7 games. No easy feat...

Is Game 3 Too Early To Declare The Dbacks Season Over?

2009-04-08T13:45:00.003-07:00

It's a rhetorical question, and asked mostly in jest, but listening to the the third game of the opening series against the Rockies, it's becoming apparent the Dbacks have not solved any of their problems from last year. Just three games into the new season and the Dbacks are showing signs of the same bad habits that plagued them the second half of last season: They can't hit consistently, their defense isn't great, they can't play small ball, and their bullpen is getting killed.

In game 1, the Dbacks scored nine runs, but 6 of them were from the home run. They also managed three doubles, accounting for one more run. In game 2 the Dbacks managed to not put up a single run, and only had one extra base hit courtesy of Stephen Drew. Through 5 innings so far today, the Dbacks have just one run, again courtesy of a home run. In the last three innings alone the Dbacks have gotten their leadoff man aboard, only to leave him stranded at 1st base. In nine at bats they haven't been able to advance a runner a single base!

That's not even mentioning the pitching yet. Today Davis just left after 5 after giving up 4 runs. Webb was erratic (that's being kind) in game 1, and it came out today he has some shoulder stiffness and will miss his next start. If Webb misses any serious amount of time, you can forget this team even having a chance. In Game 2 Haren was fantastic, allowing just one run over 7 innings. Of course, he was relieved by Jon Rauch, who promptly gave up two earned runs in 2/3 of an inning. Now would be a good time to mention that a) Rauch was AWFUL after he gave over to the Dbacks last season, and b) he had the highest ERA (16 something) of any pitcher in Spring Training in 2009 (cannot verify this, but this stat courtesy of Schulte on the Dbacks radio broadcast).

Rauch didn't play in game 1, but that didn't stop Doug Slaten and Scott Schoenweis from each giving up an earned run in just 2/3 of an inning. Admittedly, Tony Pena and Chad Qualls both looked pretty good getting the last 7 outs of game 1. If there is any silver lining or hope to the bullpen, it's that these two provide a solid 8th and 9th inning for the Dbacks over the course of the season.

Oh, and did i say something about small ball? The Dbacks have yet to even attempt a stolen base. For a team who told us all offseason they were going to get back to playing small ball and running the bases, that's a scary start to the season.

Despite the title of the article, i am by no means giving up on the Dbacks already this season. But it is scary, and disturbing, that through two and a half games they have yet to show any progress at correcting the problems that plagued them last year. Not a good start to a season with high expectations...

Your New NFLPA Head: DeMaurice Smith

2009-03-16T13:35:00.003-07:00

Yesterday in Hawaii the NFLPA elected Lawyer DeMaurice Smith as the new head of their union. Smith beat out former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, as well as sports attorney Davd Cornwell. Cornwell became a very late candidate after receiving written support from three player reps.

Despite the fact he is not a former player, nor has any specific ties with the NFL, i think Smith is the right man for the job. As i detailed here, the NFLPA needs a strong leader heading into negotiations with the NFL owners over a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Smith appears to be that leader.

According to reports, Smith had a very detailed and specific plan outlined for the direction he would like to see the NFLPA go in. Specifically, it mentioned health care and opportunities for former players, an issue that has been a very large criticism of the NFLPA in recent years. Smith also has assembled an impressive team of advisers to help him with the business side of things.

The NFLPA now turns their head towards the impending CBA negotiations. Smith has already stated his desire to get in touch with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as soon as possible, and has also mentioned his desire to avoid a lockout in 2011, which is a possibility if a new CBA is not agreed upon. You can read about what the main issues regarding the CBA will be here and here.

As always, be paying close attention to how this proceeds. It has the potential to drastically affect the NFL as we know it...

Michael Bradley Scores Again

2009-03-14T14:19:00.003-07:00

Two years when i started this site one of my first posts was about the U-20 Men's National Team playing at the U-20 World Cup. At the time, i was proclaiming to anyone and everyone who would listen that Jozy Altidore was the future of soccer in this country. He played superbly in that tournament, and i chronicled his adventures.

But as i went back and read that article i wrote, there was a couple of sentences tucked in about another player on that team that i came away impressed with: Michael Bradley. At the time he was just 19 years old and known mostly for being the son of Bob Bradley, the senior team head coach. He was just coming onto the national scene and gaining a reputation as a player.

Two years later, he has fully arrived. If it wasn't his 30 goals for Dutch side Herenveen last season, it was his two goals against Mexico in World Cup qualifying. And it it wasn't those two goals, it's the pace he's continued since that time with his Bundesliga team Borussia Moenchengladbach. Bradley has scored five goals so far this season, including these two he put in today (Videos are a little slow to load):

I all but switched my allegiances from Altidore to Bradley last summer after watching Bradley dominate the Dutch league. With the way he is playing in the Bundesliga and his performance against Mexico, i think it's official.

Michael Bradley is the face of the new generation of American Soccer.

Happy Friday!

2009-03-13T15:06:00.001-07:00

It's 3pm on a Friday, which means it's almost time for the weekend. As such, it's time for the Happy Friday Post!

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekend everyone...

RIP Doug Towey

2009-03-13T10:26:00.003-07:00

You may not know his name, but you certainly know his work. Doug Towey, the man responsible for first using the song 'One Shining Moment' as the ending to March Madness each year, has passed away.

In 1987 Towey was a Creative Director with CBS when he was handed the song now known as the send-off to the college basketball season. He had originally planned on using it to close the Super Bowl that year, but events pushed it back and he instead used it to close the NCAA Tournament. Since that moment it's been an iconic part of the tourney.

In Towey's honor, here is the first time it was ever used, in 1987...

Gives me chills every single time i hear that song...

Deconstructing The Complexity Of Stupidity (Updated)

2009-03-12T09:45:00.007-07:00

UPDATE: As you can see in the comments below, the original article i am lambasting here was, indeed, meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Thanks go to Joe Carter, editor at First Things (where the article was originally published), for pointing that out. Read the comments following this article for an interesting discussion on why i was so offended in the first place...

On my Twitter page (see right) this morning was a link from HHR (great site by the way) to an article written by one Stephen H. Webb on soccer in America. More specifically, how soccer is ruining America. This article has got me all sorts of fired up, from the absolute ridiculousness of the thesis of his article to the man himself who wrote it. So, i'm ripping off KSK, who ripped off the originators, and breaking this article down FJM (RIP) style...

"Whether the dumbing down of America or soccer came first is hard to say, but soccer is clearly an important means by which American energy, drive, and competitiveness is being undermined to the point of no return."

What exactly about soccer undermines energy? The 5-7 miles they run each game? And what about drive? Last time i checked soccer is the only sport in the world where the only break in action is halftime. No timeouts, no breaks for commercials, no stoppages between plays.

"What other game, to put it bluntly, is so boring to watch? (Bowling and golf come to mind, but the sound of crashing pins and the sight of the well-attired strolling on perfectly kept greens are at least inherently pleasurable activities.) "

So you like the sound of crashing pins, but not the sound of 30,000 people chanting and singing? As for the golf reference... watching people walking on grass is inherently pleasurable? What pleasure do you derive from that? Do you like watching paint dry also? Soccer has people running on grass! That should be double the excitement right?!

"Any sport that limits you to using your feet, with the occasional bang of the head, has something very wrong with it. Indeed, soccer is a liberal’s dream of tragedy: It creates an egalitarian playing field by rigorously enforcing a uniform disability."

Ahh yes, it's nothing like basketball, where you're not allowed to use your feet. Or you don't use your head. Or chest. Or really anything other than your hands. No enforcing of disabilities there. Oh, and what's with the liberal reference?

"The thumb lets us do things like throw baseballs and fold our hands in prayer. Did Jesus wash his disciples’ hands at the Last Supper? No, hands are divine (they are one of the body parts most frequently attributed to God), while feet are in need of redemption. In all the portraits of God’s wrath, never once is he pictured as wanting to step on us or kick us; he does not stoop that low."

Ooohh... I get it, you're a religious whack job. Now it's starting to make sense...

"Sporting should be about breaking kids down before you start building them up."

That's weird because i thought, as this website states, sporting (and soccer in particular) is about 'the promotion of the game of soccer as a life-long, family oriented activity, that provides for child-parent bonding, team work and friendships, as well as, adequate aerobic exercise.'

Don't see anything in there about 'breaking kids down'...

"We also spent a lot of time in the outfield chanting, “Hey batter batter!” as if we were Buddhist monks on steroids. Our chanting was compensatory behavior, a way of making the time go by, which is surely why at soccer games today it is the parents who do all of the yelling."

Uh huh. So because the players are engaged in the game, busy doing things like actually playing the game, they don't chant and are therefore somehow ruining the sport? And the parents, or fans of the game, chanting and singing and cheering is bad for the game? He did say he liked golf, where spectators spend half their time being told to shut the hell up...

"Everyone knows that soccer is a foreign invasion, but few people know exactly what is wrong with that. More than having to do with its origin, soccer is a European sport because it is all about death and despair."

That might be the dumbest single phrase i've ever heard in my entire life. All of Europe is about death and despair? Tell that to Sweden, or Switzerland, or Italy, or Spain. I've heard nice things about those places. Anyone want to place bets on whether or not this author has been to any of those places?

"Even the way most games end, in sudden death, suggests something of an old-fashioned duel."

Nice journalism with the vague term 'most', which implies more than 50% of all games end that way. Most games do not, in fact, end in sudden death. Very few games actually end that way. In fact, not a single game in any regular season in any league in the world ends that way.

"And then there is the question of gender. I know my daughter will kick me when she reads this, but soccer is a game for girls. Girls are too smart to waste an entire day playing baseball..."

So you raise high the game of baseball earlier in your article to fit your needs, then you imply it is a stupid game later in your article. Which is it?

"The real tragedy is that soccer is a foreign invasion, but it is not a plot to overthrow America. For those inclined toward paranoia, it would be easy to blame soccer’s success on the political left, which, after all, worked for years to bring European decadence and despair to America. The left tried to make existentialism, Marxism, post-structuralism, and deconstructionism fashionable in order to weaken the clarity, pragmatism, and drive of American culture. What the left could not accomplish through these intellectual fads, one might suspect, they are trying to accomplish through sport."

Welcome back Mr. Whack job, missed you for a few paragraphs there. Are you implying that if soccer were indeed a plot to overthrow America it wouldn't be such a tragedy? I'm pretty sure that's what you just said.

"Conservative suburban families, the backbone of America, have turned to soccer in droves... It forces kids to run and run, and everyone can play their role, no matter how minor or irrelevant to the game. Soccer and relevision are the peanut butter and jelly of parenting. I should know. I am an overworked teacher, with books to read and books to write, and before I put in a video for the kids to watch while I work in the evenings, they need to have spent some of their energy. Otherwise, they want to play with me!"

Just to be clear, you're telling us that the backbone of America is turning to this sport that you claim is ruining America, then you tell us that you openly appreciate the game so your own kids will have exhausted themselves to the point that when you get home you won't have to play with them. Nice parenting there buddy...

"That is my one way of protesting the rise of this pitiful sport. Nonetheless, I must say that my kids and I come home from a soccer game a very happy family."

And you end your thesis on how soccer is ruining American by admitting that you and your kids get joy from the sport. By the basis of your article, shouldn't you be boycotting going to the games, or even your kids participating in the sport??

Sigh...

Just for fun, let's take a quick look at the author's bio, courtesy of Wikipedia. Some highlights include (my thoughts in italics):

- Webb graduated from Wabash College in 1983, earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, and has been teaching at Wabash College as Professor of Religion and Philosophy since 1988.

- He co-founded the Christian Vegetarian Association, but was removed from his position as co-chairman in 2006 after writing several articles in which he admitted to eating meat occasionally, while promoting vegetarianism. Umm, seems a bit hypocritical to me.

- He grew up at Englewood Christian Church, an evangelical church in the Restoration Movement. He joined the Disciples of Christ during graduate school but soon became disenchanted with their theological direction. He was briefly a Lutheran, and spent several months considering the Roman Catholic Church. Fence hop much?

- His vision of a non-dogmatic and non-legalistic vegetarianism linked to traditional biblical principles rather than the pantheism of the New Age movement or the abdication of human uniqueness entailed in animal rights legislation has been controversial in both theological and philosophical circles. Him? Controversial? I would have never guessed...

I'm not here to force anyone into loving soccer. You like it or you don't, i get that. I happen to love it, but i grew up playing it. I love the constant action, the back and forth nature of the game, the buildup and anticipation in preparation for few payoffs.

If you don't like it, fine. Ignore it, don't pay attention to. But don't write a ridiculous article on how the sport is ruining America, comparing it to Communism and death and despair. It just makes you look stupid.

Gold Cup Coming To U. Of Phoenix Stadium

2009-03-10T10:36:00.002-07:00

That's right, i'm talking more soccer. And i am pumped about it. The CONCACAF Gold Cup, the Championship of the America's if you will, is coming to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

On July 12th, UoP Stadium will host a doubleheader in the first round of the Gold Cup. Exact schedules have yet to be announced, and other stadiums hosting games include the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA; Crew Stadium in Columbus, Oh (where the US-Mexico World Cup qualifying match just took place); Quest Field in Seattle (home to the soon to MLS expansion club Seattle Sounders); RFK in Washington D.C.; and Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. All in all there are 13 sites, with Giants Stadium in New York getting the final.

With July 12th being the final day of the first round, hopefully one of the big name teams will be here to finish out qualifying. I doubt it will be the US, as they are likely to play in more traditional 'home' venues, such as the Home Depot Center or Crew Stadium. But UoP has a strong chance to get Mexico or one of the teams from South America due to the high Hispanic/Latino population.

I was at US-Mexico two years ago in UoP Stadium, and it was one of the best atmospheres for any sporting event i've ever been to. Groups, schedules, and ticket information will be out in the coming weeks. I urge all of you to go to the stadium and check out world class soccer. I can promise i will be there...

SUNS Stands For... See U Next Season?

2009-03-10T08:51:00.004-07:00

With 19 games left in the NBA regular season, the Phoenix Suns currently sit one spot out of the Western Conference playoffs, trailing the #8 seed Dallas Mavericks by four games. With a win tonight against those same Mavs, the Suns would still be three games out with 18 to go. Even if the Suns were to go 14-4 in those 18 games, the Mavs would only need to finish 11-7 to make the playoffs ahead of the Suns. It's a precarious situation for the Suns to be in, and one which begs the question: Are the Phoenix Suns, as we know them, finished?

The Suns have shown no ability to put together any type of run this season, something that has been a staple of the last three years. And with just 18 games to go, it would have to be a hell of a run. Despite how well they have played at times under Alvin Gentry (beating the Lakers), they have also played terrible (going 0-4 on their recently completed road trip). Grant Hill described tonight's game as the 'Super Bowl'. Steve Nash said the playoffs start now for the Suns.

Is it already too late?

As Doug from Doug and Wolf in the morning opined yesterday, do the SUNS stand for See U Next Season? Is all hope lost for this team?

Even if the Suns were to somehow pass the Mavs and make the playoffs as the #8 seed, they would have a first round matchup with the Lakers. And the latest result notwithstanding, do the Suns actually have a chance to beat the Lakers in the playoffs? With Amare, i'd say maybe. Without? I don't give them much of a chance.

So for the sake of an argument, let's say the Suns don't make the playoffs. Let's say they go into the draft with the 14th pick, too many aging players, and too much money on the books. See U Next Season? We might see the Suns team next season, but we won't be seeing the same Suns players. It's time to face the facts and come to the realization that your Run and Gun Phoenix Suns are over.

I would not be surprised to see the Suns trade Shaq and Nash in the offseason (Sorry Ben, just my opinion...). It's no secret Robert Sarver will be cutting payroll next season in an effort to get under the salary cap. Say what you will about Sarver, but you can't say he didn't go for it all the last four years. And maybe the Suns didn't win it all, but if not for a bad break here or there they may have. That's not Sarver's fault. Do i think he's a great owner? No, but i also don't think he's horrible. He's shown a willingness to go after free agents and trades (Nash, Shaq, JRich); whether they worked out or not is debatable.

But i think Sarver is seeing the writing on the wall that most Suns fans are reluctant to acknowledge: This team's window is over. They had a good run, but they're just not the same anymore. And it's time to start the rebuilding process.

It's not going to be easy, or quick. That's what happens when you go for it and don't make it. The Suns won't have major cap room for a couple of years. They don't have many quality young players. They haven't developed anyone. They don't have good draft picks available to them. In short, they're in trouble. Even if they deal Nash and Shaq in the offseason, or Nash and Amare possibly, they're not going to get equal value back. They just won't. What the Suns will get is maybe some young talent, maybe a decent NBA starter, and a couple of draft picks. And that's where they will start.

But it's going to be a long, uphill battle. The Suns aren't going to be good next year. Or the year after that. Or maybe the year after that. I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it's true. Rebuilding in the NBA is not easy. Especially with the situation the Suns are in.

Suns fans, enjoy it while you can. This may be the last chance you get to watch a decent Suns team in a couple of years, and this might be the last chance you get to see Nash, Amare, or Shaq in a Suns uniform. We'll be seeing the Suns next season, but it won't be the same...

Happy Friday!

2009-03-06T11:59:00.001-07:00

Because once again i am leaving work early on a Friday (I rule!), this weeks Happy Friday post is going up a bit earlier than normal. But no matter, because it's Friday!

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

NFL CBA: Problems Looming

2009-03-05T08:27:00.003-07:00

One of my greatest passions in my sports life is the Minnesota Vikings, and by extension the NFL in general. As such, i tend to follow things in the NFL pretty closely, especially issues that have the possibility of greatly affecting the game as we know it. One such issue, that i believe is not getting near enough exposure, is the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations between the NFL Players Association (NFLPA or Union) and the owners.

I've detailed the actual negotiations and what the issues will be here and here, as well as what the untimely passing of Gene Upshaw means for the negotiations here and here. I've also wrote about how the StarCaps suspensions/court cases coming up will affect the negotiations here. All this is to say that i feel this is a very important issue as well as something i am keeping a very close eye on.

I'm writing this article to focus on what perhaps will be the most important issue facing the NFLPA heading into the negotiations with the owners: Who their leader will be.

With the passing of Gene Upshaw almost a year ago, the NFLPA appointed Titans Center Kevin Mawae as interim president, with the knowledge they would be electing a new president in their winter meetings, which begin next week in Hawaii. Since that time, the selection process has been narrowed down to three names: Former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, both of whom have served as Union President in the past, and lawyer DeMaurice Smith.

As stated in the story above, the reason for Smith's inclusion on the final ballot is more or less a fail safe; There are growing concerns the NFLPA will split on which former player to elect as union head. In that event, Smith will be looked at as a sort of impartial party. That fact alone underscores not only the seriousness of the process, but also the problems plaguing it. Vincent has been mired in controversy since almost the moment he was mentioned as a candidate, having been accused of lobbying for the job, and recruiting congressman to write letters on his behalf (without specifically mentioning him) that raised questions on the integrity of the process.

So, how does all this affect the actual CBA negotiations, which will be taking place later this summer? Well, it means everything. If the NFLPA comes to a quick, majority decision on their new head and comes out looking strong and together, they are in good shape for the negotiations. If, however, the NFLPA has trouble picking a new leader, is split on the decision, and comes out fighting within itself and fractured (as many think is very possible), the negotiations are in big, big trouble.

As i mentioned in my previous article about the steroid suspension and the CBA, any little thing that either the NFLPA or the owners can jump on and take advantage of, they will. If the Union is fractured, suddenly the owners go into the negotiations looking to 'win' instead of just compromise. With that attitude they are likely to upset the NFLPA, causing a stall in the negotiations.

And just as a reminder, if the NFLPA and the owners cannot come to an agreement and get a new CBA in place before the 2010 season, that season will be an uncapped year. What that means is that for that season, there will be no salary cap, much like how MLB operates. If the NFL goes one year without a cap, it will be very, very, very hard to ever get a salary cap back in place. That would be very bad for the NFL.

I know i harp on it a lot, but please pay attention next week to the NFLPA meetings, not just for who they elect, but how they get elected and how the Union comes out of the meetings. The NFL as we currently know it is in the balance...

The Diamondbacks Starting Pitching Situation

2009-03-04T09:29:00.002-07:00

Last week i previewed the 2009 Dbacks in two segments, one for the outfield, and the infield. Today i'll get to my last preview for the season, the starting pitching.

Unlike anything behind the mound, the Dbacks starting pitching for 2009 seems pretty well set. They made one major acquisition (Jon Garland), and had one major loss (Randy Johnson). They have one guy who will be stepping up into a starter's role (Max Scherzer), and three guys who were all here last year (Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, and Doug Davis). Without further adu, let's get into it.

#1
Just as it's been the last 5 years, Brandon Webb is the anchor of the Dbacks pitching staff. A ground ball machine, Webb is about as reliable a #1 starter as you could ask for. With a 22-7 record last year and his penchant for going deep into ballgames, Webb is the perfect pitcher to head a rotation.

#2
At 16-8 with a 3.33 ERA, Dan Haren has good enough stuff to be a #1 on a lot of staff's in MLB. The fact that the Dbacks only need him to be a #2 is fantastic. The Dbacks acquired Haren before the 2008 season, with the clear intention being that they were building on pitching on defense. Unfortunately for the Dbacks (and Haren), the defense wasn't always there. The pitching was, and Haren was a big part of that in 2008. He will be counted on again this season if the Dbacks look to win the NL West.

#3
There seems to be a bit of a debate on which pitcher to put in this slot and which pitcher to put in the #4 hole, but for now it seems like Doug Davis will be here. Davis is a lefty who won't overpower anyone with his stuff, but is a crafty pitcher. When his curve is working it's absolutely filthy. Most games he can be counted to get through 6 innings; anything more than that is a bonus. Davis went 6-8 last year with a 4.32 ERA, though to be fair he missed a good chunk of the season after undergoing surgery to remove some cancerous cells. Davis has a tendency to start the season a little slow but finish very strong. Something like a 12-8 record from him would be great.

#4
Diamondbacks newcomer Jon Garland will fit nicely into this spot for the club. A record of 14-8, which Garland posted last season with the Angels, would be a pretty good record from your #4 spot. Garland has been an 18-game winner twice, and has posted double digit win totals in each of the last 7 seasons. If he can continue to do that, the Dbacks are in good shape.

#5
Which brings us to the back-end of the rotation, the one 'weak' link if you will. How weak it actually is depends on how well you think a rookie will do. Ok, so maybe Scherzer isn't a rookie, as he got playing time last year, but this is the first time he goes into a season as a starter. He was just 0-4 last year, but posted a fantastic 3.05 ERA. It's hard to predict how he will react to being 'the man', but seeing as he's only the #5, and the Dbacks have four really solid pitchers in front of him, there shouldn't be a ton of pressure on him. All you really look from a #5 is something close to a .500 record.

So there you have it. I will not delve into the bullpen situation, mostly because it was such an abject disaster last year and i have no idea how it will play out this year. But with a very strong starting rotation, a little bit of defense, and a little more maturity from our young players, the Dbacks could be on the cusp of a great year. Let's hope it plays out that way...

US Soccer Players In Europe

2009-03-02T12:06:00.004-07:00

Interesting article on TWWL today from a David Mosse regarding the state of the American soccer player trying to break through in European leagues. He calls it a glass ceiling, and makes a passing mention to it being similar to the Jackie Robinson situation with MLB. While i think that's a bit extreme, he makes some good points.

The Americans most talented players are struggling to gain a footing with top teams in top leagues in Europe, often because of an unwillingness to even give them a chance to earn playing time (Fulham FC notwithstanding of course. They are the only club that has given Americans substantial opportunity and playing time, and have been rewarded nicely. Curious to note also that that success has come in the form of forwards Brian McBride, Clint Dempsey, and at least a chance for Eddie Johnson. Forward has always been the weakest position for American players, yet they are finding success at Fulham given the opportunity).

The US Men's National Team has made gigantic strides the last twenty years in making themselves a respectable and respected outfit, becoming arguably the kings of CONCACAF. The individual players, however, still struggle mightily to garner that same respect. It is something that will need to change for the US Team to make the next step; In order for the players to grow and mature their skills, they need to be playing in the top leagues with the top teams. It becomes a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. With players not being given opportunities because of their supposed lack of skill, and the player not able to hone that skill against the best of the best.

It is frustrating to watch America's most talented soccer players toil in obscurity in second-rate divisions and sit on the bench in first divisions in Europe. As Mosse points out in his story, they will need a player that can break through that 'glass ceiling' and show the Americans are worth the time and effort. For my money, look for that player to be Michael Bradley, who after absolutely killing in the Dutch league with Herenveen last year, has moved onto Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga this year. While Gladbach is stuck in near relegation zone, Bradley has excelled with them. If anyone is poised to break through in a top League with a top team, it will be Bradley, and soon.

Once that happens, expect even more opportunities for Americans abroad, and a new found level of play for the US Men's National Team as a result...

Happy Friday!

2009-02-27T14:03:00.002-07:00

Well everyone, we've made it. It's the end of the week. As such, it's time for the Happy Friday post!

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekend everyone...

You Have Failed At Life

2009-02-26T14:09:00.006-07:00

There are a myriad of reasons why Alex Rodriguez could be the subject of this week's 'You Have Failed At Life', up to and including: His postseason 'performances', his record contract, his getting caught using steroids, his pathetic attempt at explaining getting caught using steroids, and on and on. But alas, it takes a special kind of stupid for him to actually end up here.

During A-Fraud's supposed explanation of how his steroid use went down, he fingered his 'cousin' Yuri Sucart as the man who bought and injected the steroids. You would think, then, that after such an explanation and the level of involvement of Sucart, that A-Fraud might want to steer clear of him for a while. You would think wrong.

A-Rod, fresh from hitting a home run in the Yankee's first Spring Training game, was seen getting picked up and leaving the field after the game with Yuri Sucart. Hey A-Roid? You might want to let Sucart lay low for a while, especially considering you have a meeting with MLB about your steroid use coming up.

Alex Rodriguez, You Have Failed At Life.

The Diamondbacks Infield Situation

2009-02-25T14:28:00.003-07:00

Part 1 of my Diamondbacks 2009 Season Preview is here, in which i took a look at their outfield. This is Part 2, where i will look at their infield.

Much like their outfield going into 2009, there are a lot of questions surrounding the Dback infield this spring. With as many as 7 different people figuring into the equation, it makes for a very confusing situation. Let's start with what we know for sure...

Short Stop:
Stephen Drew cemented himself as the Dbacks SS for the foreseeable future with a very solid 2008 season, including the second half of the season where he was nearly unstoppable. He posted career highs in nearly every statistical category, and was one of only two people in the lineup with any sort of consistency. Combine that with his solid play and good range at SS, and you've got yourself an every day player.

Second Base:
Acquired from St. Louis in the offseason, Lopez figures to be a a fairly constant fixture at 2B this season. He finished with a .283 batting average last season, including .385 in the last 43 games of the season. He's not a power hitter, with only 6 HR's and 46 RBI's, but he had a decent amount of doubles (28). He is also a switch hitter, and this lineup desperately needs left handed hitters. Unfortunately he doesn't appear to be a great defensive player, having lead the majors in errors by a shortstop in 2006, and in 2007 had the lowest fielding percentage of all NL shortstops. Yes, that was as a shortstop, and yes he is playing second base for the Dbacks this season. That versatility (or for the cynics questionable position) is a theme for the Dbacks infield in 2009.

Getting the majority of backup second base time will once again be super-sub Augie Ojeda. Ojeda is considered a utility infielder, and can play 2B, SS, or 3B, though most of his time is spent between 2B and SS. He has spent the ends of the last two seasons replacing an injured Orlando Hudson at 2B, and played and batted well in those stints. He will figure prominently in giving guys days off, and if there are any injuries in the infield.

First Base:
Your starter most likely is going to be Chad Tracy. Tracy is something of an question; A could-be batting title winner who struggles to find a true position on defense and can sometimes struggle from the plate. It's hard to take too much stock from the last two seasons as he has been injured, including microfracture surgery in his knee. His last full season, 2006, he batted .281 with 20 HR's and 80 RBI's. I should also mention he is a left handed hitter, which as noted above this team desperately needs. I think Tracy can be a very productive member of the team if he stays healthy and shows an ability to play a decent 1B.

Your backup is Big Tony Clark once again going into 2009. After trading him away between the 2007 and 2008 season, the Dbacks re-acquired Clark from the Padres towards the end of last year. He is used primarily as a pinch hitter and late inning defensive replacement, as he is good with the glove. Unfortunately, he struggled mightily from the plate after returning to the Dbacks. Going through Spring Training and spending the full season with the Dbacks should allow Clark to return to a solid hitter. Like Lopez, he is a switch hitter.

Conor Jackson needs to be mentioned in the debate about 1B as well. If for some reason his stint in LF does not work out, or if Byrnes warrants a return to the line-up in that position, it pushes Jackson back to 1B, where he spent most of his first few years. Jackson though, prefers LF and plays a better field there in my opinion. If he is kicked back to 1B, Tracy possibly gets moved to our next position...

Third Base:
Your starter, at least to begin the year, is Mark Reynolds. The man everybody loves to hate and hates to love. If Tracy is a question, Reynolds is a downright enigma. He managed to set a MLB record for most strikeouts in a season last year, yet also finished first or second on the Dbacks in HR's, RBI's, walks, and runs scored. And after a stellar second half of the season in 2007 at 3B after being called up from AA, he spent most of 2008 struggling in the field, leading MLB in errors by a SS by a lot.

His ability to hit 450ft HR's is hampered only by his inability to hit anything resembling a breaking ball. By the 2nd half of the season the scouting report on Reynolds was simple: Don't throw him anything fast or straight. He couldn't hit anything else, nor could he lay off anything else. I'm listening to Matt Williams on the radio as i type this, and he had a long conversation about the time he's been spending with Reynolds, both at the plate and in the field. Let's hope the work pays off, as Reynolds could be the power guy the Dbacks are lacking.

So there you have it. While the outfield has 4 players splitting time for three positions, the infield has 7 splitting time for 4 positions. If things go well you've got a solid lineup and a decent field. If things go bad you've got neither. These 7 players may very well decide the fate of the Dbacks in 2009.

Next up this week is a look at the Dbacks starting pitchers, a group that figures to be much more stable than either the infield or the outfield. Stay tuned, and thanks for the support.

The Diamondbacks Outfield Situation. Also, My Return.

2009-02-24T14:43:00.005-07:00

...And we're back. With the return of the Dbacks set to begin tomorrow in their first Spring Training game, this blog returns to regular posting. More than anything the timing is coincidental at best. To be honest i was a bit burnt out from a variety of reasons, and as such my writing suffered. And i hate when what i write is total crap. So i stepped away for a while.

But recent events got me thinking it was time to return. First off was the transformation of the old AZ Sports Hub site into Fanster.com. The guys over there, including Greg, Matt, and Vince, have been awesome to me and have supported me throughout the adventure that has been this blog. Their new site is fantastic, and is definitely worth spending some time whether you live here in the Valley or elsewhere.

Second, i've increased my web presence even more by starting my own personal blog (which you can find to the right) and signing up on Twitter. Find me on twitter here, it's a combination of both this blog and my personal life.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

-----

The Diamondbacks head into 2009 as a team with a lot of questions, in a lot of different positions. After a disappointing end to a 2008 season that started with such promise, the team is looking to bounce back with a solid, and hopefully more consistent, 2009 season. Over the course of the next week, i'll be taking a look at some of the positions the Diamondbacks face uncertainties at. The first i'll look at is the outfield situation.

Center Field:
I'll start with the only sure-fire, guaranteed position in the outfield. Chris Young isn't going anywhere, and we should all be very happy about this. At 25 years old, CY is already one of the best defensive CF's in all of baseball. His range and speed are his biggest assets, allowing him to cover up deficiencies from both the LF and RF in that area. He also has the ability to become a decent power hitter, and is capable of becoming a doubles machine.

That said, he's coming off of a bit of a disappointing 2008. Despite playing in more games and getting more at-bats, his numbers were down from 2007 in many offensive categories, including stolen bases, home runs, doubles, slugging, and OPS. Not to mention the fact that he struck out 165 times last year.

If CY can continue to develop while refining other aspects of his game, he could be set for a monster year. He could become a 40-steal, 40-double guy, with the ability to knock in 30 HR's and 100 RBI's. Ambitious yes, but not out of the question. The biggest thing he needs to do is cut down his strike-outs and get back to running. Do that and everything else will fall in line.

Right Field:
No, i'm not gonna say he's a lock in the outfield. Not yet. Not after he spent time last year injured and in the minors. Yes, the kid is immensely, immensely talented, and has all the tools to become a superstar in this league. All he's gotta do is put it all together.

Just 21 years old, Justin Upton could very well be the real deal. We've seen flashes, him gunning down a runner at home plate, him absolutely destroying baseballs into the upper deck, him flying around the bases with unparalleled speed. We've also seen the inexperience, him dropping fly balls, him missing the cut-off man, him getting picked off on the base paths.

This should be shaping up to be his break-out year. He got a pretty decent run at it last year, getting the experience and know-how of what it takes to be a full-time MLB player. Now it's time for him to put it all together and show what he is capable of. He has no real competition at right field, but Bob Melvin also won't let Upton hang himself out there if he's not getting it done.

Count me among the ones who is hoping he will get it done and have a breakout season.

Left Field:
The situation in left field has been mishandled for going on three years now. Luis Gonzalez, while getting old, could have been serviceable out there for another year when the Dbacks decided to dump him. When they did, they turned it over to Eric Byrnes. Byrnes is a nice player who does a great job hustling, but he's no star. That didn't stop the Dbacks from giving him star money, to the tune of $10 Million a year for three years. After receiving the contract, he promptly finished the 2007 season batting under .250, and spent most of 2008 hurt.

Which brings us to Conor Jackson, who replaced Byrnes in LF last year. Jackson actually became a bit of a revelation in LF, seeming much more comfortable there than he had been at First Base. That comfort in the field led to comfort at the plate, and it showed in 2008. Jackson posted career highs in batting average (.300), walks (59), hits (162), runs (87), doubles, triples, and total bases. All of which led to many people calling for Eric Byrnes' head, or at least for him to be shipped out of town.

Neither of which happened. Which creates one of the more interesting position battles in camp. What to do with Eric Byrnes. Can you pay $10 Million a year for a fourth outfielder? Do you let Byrnes and Jackson fight out it in an open competition for LF? Where do you stick Jackson if Byrnes were to beat him out? You can't leave Jackson out of the lineup, he's arguably the team's best hitter.

All indications are that Jackson is set in LF, and Byrnes will be the fourth outfielder. If Byrnes comes back healthy though, and is able to hit and run, can you keep him out of the lineup? What if Upton is struggling both in the field and at the plate?

Interesting questions, to be sure. Though if you think that's a messy situation, you obviously don't know about the infield situation, which involves as many as seven different people, including LF Conor Jackson. I'll be looking at that in the coming days.

As always, thanks for your support.

Happy Friday!

2009-02-19T15:00:00.005-07:00

It's the return of the ever-popular Happy Friday Post. Yes, i know it's Thursday, but i'm heading out of town tonight so it's going up early. Oh, and by the way. Barring any setbacks, i'll be back next week to a normal posting schedule. Giddy up!

... Or should i say Oh Yeah!

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekend everybody!

US defeats Mexico, 2-0

2009-02-17T15:03:00.003-07:00

In the opening game of the final round of qualifying for World Cup 2010 South Africa, the US hosted Mexico in Columbus. As is becoming typical between these two teams when meeting on US soil, the United States defeated El Tri 2-0. Below are the highlights:

I'm Coming Back

2009-01-08T17:55:00.002-07:00

Thanks for sticking in there with me. It's a New Year, and i'll be back soon with updates, columns, and features. Hang in there.

Also, i'm looking for a second or third writer for the site. If anyone's interested, email me via my profile to the right. Open to all types of writers on all sports in all areas.

For now, sit tight a little bit longer and i'll be back. Peace bitches!

Justice Is Served

2008-12-12T18:23:00.003-07:00

Shonn Greene honored as Best Running Back in the nation by winning the Doak Walker Award. Well done Greene. Thank you for putting together the best season by an Iowa back in history...

College Picks

2008-12-06T10:52:00.002-07:00

Quick Post-

Virginia Tech +1.5 over Boston College

UCLA +33 over USC

UCLA is not winning, but they're losing by 30 either

Arizona -11 over Arizona St.

And once again, like a moron, i pick games involving ASU...

Oklahoma -17.5 over Missouri

Alabama +10 over Florida

This game is decide in the first ten minutes. If Florida gets up 10-14 early, they will blow out Alabama. But i think the Tide's defense is good enough to keep Florida in check and keep it close...

Ahh, The Minnesota Vikings

2008-12-04T09:17:00.003-07:00

Great article over on the WWL, from their NFC North blogger, Kevin Seifert. Seifert has been covering the Vikings for years, and has an interesting run-down of all the weird things that have happened to the Vikings over the last 7-8 years. Some pretty funny stuff on there, and even a couple things i had not heard of before, including the Tice contract situation. Check the article out here.

The Steroid Suspensions And How It Affects The NFL CBA

2008-12-04T08:35:00.003-07:00

As i'm sure many or all of you have seen, the NFL this week came down hard on the so-called StarCaps players, suspending the six players who tested positive for a steroid masking agent they supposedly took over the summer. Those six players were all suspended for four games on Tuesday by Commissioner Goodell, meaning they will miss the remainder of the regular season. Of those four players, perhaps the highest profile are the two Williams' Brothers of the Vikings, Kevin and Pat (not actual brothers). The Williams' wall have been a key component in the Vikings ability to stop the run, and as such are key components to the success of the team.

The Williams' responded quickly, filing a lawsuit in a MN court seeking an injunction against the NFL, which was quickly granted by a judge. The crutch of their argument is that a) The banned substance was not listed on the bottle of the diuretic, StarCaps, that they took, and b) The NFL knew the substance was in the diuretic but failed to alert the players.

The judge who issued the injunction has promised a quick 'trial', where he would like to hear both sides of the argument from the players' and the NFL. Of course, here's where it gets interesting. The NFLPA has now joined in, throwing the remaining four players that were suspended into the lawsuit, setting up a potential showdown with the NFL.

While it seems like a showdown over this issue could ultimately be a small battle, it's a piece in the cog for the impending negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which needs to be settled in the next two years. As i've detailed here and here, the importance of a new CBA before the 2010 season cannot be overestimated.

The NFLPA and the NFL figure to have many arguing points while negotiating a new CBA, not the least of which is a Rookie Pay Scale and the Revenue Sharing. Each point of contention along the way, such as the one looming over this StarCaps issue, creates a more hostile environment between the two organizations and more roadblocks to finding an agreement.

The NFL has a year and a half left to get a new CBA in place, and they have a lot of work left. Each time either the NFL or NFLPA flexes their muscle over any other issue, it serves only to create more obstacles to overcome. It should be interesting to see how things turn out...

NFL Picks

2008-11-23T08:49:00.003-07:00

Holy hell i went 1-4 last week, a direct result of me throwing this together at the last moment. 24-23-3 on the year. I suck at this.

Kansas City +3 over Buffalo (L)

I like the way KC has been playing, especially at home. And Buffalo is falling apart at the seams.

Washington -3.5 over Seattle (L)

I'm a little worried that Clinton Portis may not play, but Seattle is terrible.

New York Giants -3.5 over Arizona (W)

The Giants are too physical for the Cardinals, and the Arizona defense will not be able to stop the Giants ground game. That said, Arizona fucks me right in the ass every single time i pick a game the are involved in...

Indianapolis +3 over San Diego (W)

I have no idea how the Chargers are favored in this game. The Colts are really coming on. Though Bobby Sanders is out, which worries me a tad...

Tennessee -5.5 over New York Jets (L)

I'll be honest: I have no idea how this game will go. I've gone back and forth on who to pick. But everyone seem to be taking the Jets, so i'm going the opposite way.

College Football Picks

2008-11-22T10:55:00.004-07:00

3-2 last week, 28-27-2 on the year. I think next year i was cut it down to three picks each week. Three picks are usually easy to find good games. I start reaching after that, hence my chappy record. Anyway, on to the picks!

Penn St. -15.5 over Michigan St. (W)

Penn St. will get back to their dominating ways this week against an overrated Spartans team.

LSU -3.5 over Mississippi (L)

LSU hasn't looked dominating this year, at all, but with the way they finished last week's game i think they come out on fire.

Oregon St. +3 over Arizona (W)

A lot of people seem to like Arizona here, but i like the way the Beavers have been playing. I still think they lose at Oregon though...

Stanford +8 over California (L)

I'm riding this Stanford bandwagon right now. I like them to cover.

Texas Tech +7 over Oklahoma (L)

Everyone has written this off as a loss for the Red Raiders, though i'm nto sure why. They still have the best offense in the country, and they're getting 7 points. I like them to at least cover, and possibly win outright.

World Cup 2010 South Africa: It's A Go

2008-11-19T13:38:00.003-07:00

As i've written about here and here, World Cup 2010 has faced many difficulties, questions, and concerns regarding whether or not the country will be ready to host the event in less than two years time. It would appear, however, that those concerns have been put to rest.

At least that's according to both the CEO of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee South Africa Danny Jordaan, FIFA Executive board member Chuck Blazer, and US Soccer President Sunil Gulati. All three expressed confidence this week that South Africa will not only be ready for the World Cup 2010, but also for the Confederation's Cup being held there next summer.

As for the US World Cup bid, it appears as if 2018 might be the soonest they could host, with a possibility of it being 2022. Looks like soccer fans in the US will have to wait a while to see World Cup action at home...

NFL Picks

2008-11-16T08:07:00.003-07:00

23-19-3 on the year. Not exactly lighting up the scoreboard with my picks this year...

Miami -10.5 over Oakland (L)

Oakland is really, really bad. Especially on the road.

Baltimore +7 over New York Giants (L)

I'm not sure the Ravens can win this, but i like them to keep it close and not get blown out.

Green Bay -3.5 over Chicago (W)

I like the Packers at home, especially coming off the loss to the Vikings. Ha ha ha, i just had to point that out...

Kansas City +6 over New Orleans (L)

I like the Chiefs here. They've been playing well lately, and the weather in Arrowhead could affect the Saints passing game.

Pittsburgh -5.5 over San Diego (L)

The Chargers haven't played great this year, especially on the road.

College Football Picks

2008-11-15T09:25:00.006-07:00

I'm having one hell of a crappy season, and with only three weeks left, i need to make an incredible run. I don't think it will happen, but you never know. 25-25-2 on the season. On to the picks!

Penn St. -35 over Indiana (L)

I don't usually like lines this big, but Penn St. is at home and will be mad. And Indiana is really, really bad.

Ohio St. -9.5 over Illinois (W)

Illinois is kind of in disarray, plus the Buckeyes lost to them last year and will be looking for revenge.

Georgia -10 over Auburn (L)

Georgia rolls the teams it's supposed to roll.

Standford +24 over USC (W)

Stanford is not pulling another upset this year, but USC hasn't been covering on the road, and Standford is playing fairly well.

Texas -14 over Kansas (W)

This might be my lock of the year. Texas ROLLS. They will destroy Kansas by about 35 points...

Press Conference

2008-11-14T09:34:00.003-07:00

This week's Press Conference is a week old, but it's still a classic. Welcome to the head coaching ranks Mike Singletary...

Where You Came From

2008-11-14T09:20:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a while since i last ran this feature, but here we go again. In the past two weeks people have visited this site from The Republic of Korea, Romania, Canada (2), and China.

The search terms that have brought people here are:

1) i'd fuck brett favre (I really, really hope that was a female visitor)
2) jamie d'antona (A Dbacks minor leaguer)
3) "derek anderson" vikings 2009 (Now that's what i'm talking about!)
4) You fail at life game
5) dennis green interview (2)
6) dennis green we know who they are (4)
7) dennis green transcript (2)
8) post game conference bad
9) dennis green basketball (?)
10) dennis green press conference (6)
11) dennis green south carolina
12) shawn marion press conference
13) dennis green laughing commercial (2)
14) dennis green blow out (2)
15) vikings post game press conference
16) is bill cowher coaching the vikings in 09 (God i hope so...)
17) dennis green quote bears game
18) jamie d'antona diamondbacks 2009
19) denny green tampa bay tampa bay
20) 2008 nfl open tryouts (What is with the open tryouts??)
21) famous and funny press conference
22) The Big Shaqtus
23) texas college football open tryouts 2009

So there you have it. Thanks as always for stopping by and sticking with me through the last couple of weeks!

I'm back

2008-11-12T18:39:00.002-07:00

Alright bitches, i'm back and better than ever. Been traveling a lot lately, and as a result my writing on this site has been infrequent. And by infrequent, i mean non-existent.

Anyway, i'm back now and ready to write. The Suns and Coyotes are starting up, the baseball off-season is in full swing, and the college football season is getting to the good part. I'll be back in the following days with write-ups about all of them. For now, i'll leave you with this image from the Iowa-Penn St. game i was at this weekend:

Iowa 24, Penn St. 23. That's what i'm talking about. On Iowa!

NFL Picks

2008-11-02T09:06:00.003-07:00

Much like with my college picks last week, ny NFL picks sucked last week. I blame it again on being on the road and not having proper time to prepare and research. Last week i went 1-3-1, putting my season record at 20-17-3. Not good enough. On to the picks!

Tampa Bay -9.5 over Kansas City (L)

The Chiefs are really, really bad.

Baltimore + 3 over Cleveland (W)

I understand the Browns have been playing better, but i still like the Ravens here.

St. Louis +3 over Arizona (L)

I'm beaking my own rule and picking a game involving the Cardinals, who manage to screw me over every time i pick their game. Still, i kinda like the Rams in this game.

Philadelphia -7 over Seattle (W)

The Seahawks are terrible. I've been saying this for years, but because of their crappy ass division they still manage to make the playoffs every year. Not anymore.

Pittsburgh +2 over Washington (W)

I'm still not sure i completely buy the Redskins, though Portis has been an absolute beast. They have to prove it to me Monday night, and i don't think they can.

College Football Picks

2008-11-01T10:11:00.005-07:00

Jesus i had a crappy week last week. That's what happens when you're on the road and can't properly prepare. Anyway, 2-3 on the week which puts me at 23-22-2. At for good measure i'm late getting this so i can't even predict the Big Ten games, which i watch the most of. God i suck at this...

Pittsburgh +5.5 over Notre Dame (W)

Not sure why, just feeling Pittsburgh in this game. My blind hatred for Notre Dame not withstanding...

Florida -8 over Georgia (W)

I hate Florida more than most, but after what happened last year, with Georgia winning and doing their celebration thing on the first TD, i think Florida exacts some revenge this time around.

Oregon +3 over Cal (L)

My upset special of the week.

Boston College -3 over Clemson (L)

Clemson has almost given up on the season, and BC is playing better as of late.

Texas -4 over Texas Tech (L)

If the last few years have taught us anything, it's that Texas Tech can't hang with the big boys. I'd love to see a Tech upset so Penn St. would be in the National Championship game, but it's not gonna happen this time.

NFL Picks

2008-10-26T09:35:00.005-07:00

19-14-2 on the year after yet another 3-2 week. On to the picks!

New York Jets -14 over Kansas City (L)

Kansas City is on their third string quarterback. Plus they suck.

Tampa Bay +1.5 over Dallas (L)

I saw absolutely nothing from Dallas last week that would lead me to believe they can win this game against a solid Bucs team.

Carolina -5.5 over Arizona (L)

I think this has the potential to be an entertaining game, but Arizona is a different team on the road, and the Panther's defense is pretty good.

Washington -8 over Detroit (Push)

The Lions are really, really bad. And still have Dan Orlovsky playing QB for them.

Tennessee -4 over Indianapolis (W)

Indy has been struggling this year, and the Titan's defense is good.

College Football Picks

2008-10-24T15:32:00.004-07:00

Still in Pittsburgh, so another short post. 21-19-2 on the year.

Northwestern -8 over Indiana (L)

It's only been a week, and Indiana hasn't gotten any better. They're still a horrific team.

Wisconsin +3 over Illinois (W)

Wisconsin has been kicked around pretty bad the last few weeks, but they're back at home and i think they return to some semblance of the team that started the year on a roll.

USC -15 over Arizona (L)

Sorry, UA isn't hanging in this game.

Michigan +4 over Michigan St. (L)

We all know Michigan isn't a good team, but i still like them at home against the Spartans.

Penn St. -2.5 over Ohio St. (W)

I am very, very nervous about this game for Penn St. But, i've been riding them all year, and they're a good team. So i'll pick them again.

NFL Picks

2008-10-18T12:37:00.005-07:00

Ok, i'm sitting in the Pittsburgh on a 4 hour layover. This will be brief, so i can get back to drinking beer and watching football. Also, i probably won't be posting much, if at all this week. I'm in Philly and Pitt all week. 3-2 last week, 16-12-2 on the season. On to the picks!

Tennessee -9 over Kansas City (W)

San Diego (Pick 'Em) over Buffalo (L)

Baltimore +3 over Miami (W)

New York Giants -10.5 over San Francisco (W)

Indianapolis -2 over Green Bay (L)

College Football Picks

2008-10-17T11:37:00.006-07:00

3-2 last week, 18-17-2 on the years. Yikes. On to the picks!

Ohio St. -3 over Michigan St. (W)
Seems like it could be a trap game for the Buckeyes with Penn St looming next week, but i think OSU takes care of business on the road. Michigan State isn't as good as everyone thinks they are.

LSU -3.5 over South Carolina (W)
Speaking of teams that aren't very good...

Illinois -15.5 over Indiana (W)
Indiana is bad. Like, really, really bad.

Missouri +5 over Texas (L)
Not really sure why i'm taking this to be honest, but i don't like Texas after their big win last week, and i like Mizzou coming off a loss.

Georgia -14.5 over Vanderbilt (L)
Umm, i hate to break it to you, but Vandy isn't really that good. Georgia rolls.

You Have Failed At Life

2008-10-13T14:27:00.002-07:00

This is a particularly early-week entry for my weekly feature You Have Failed At Life, mostly due to the complete and utter incompetence of this week's feature. See video below:

Yup, that would be an NFL quarterback not paying attention and accidentally running out of the back of the end zone for a safety. For those of you not in the know, a safety is wroth two points. Also for those of you not in the know, the Vikings won this game 12-10. Yes, that safety ended up being the difference in this game.

Dan Orlovsky: You Have Failed At Life (Though i thank you for giving the Vikings the win...)

NFL Picks

2008-10-12T08:02:00.003-07:00

Much like with my college picks, i forgot to do a recap of my picks last week. For the record, i went 3-2, putting me at 13-10-2 on the season. Not terrible, not great. On to the picks!

New Orleans -7 over Oakland (W)

No way the Saints blow another game like they did against the Vikings on Monday. Look for the Saints to roll big.

Houston -3 over Miami (L)

Houston might be the best 0-4 team i've ever seen. I don't think they go to o-5.

Philadelphia -5 over San Francisco (W)

The Eagles are 2-3, and need a win to get their season back on track. San Francisco just isn't that good.

Washington -14 over St. Louis (L)

This is a big line, but the Rams are terrible. Like, really, really terrible.

Atlanta +3 over Chicago (W)

Atlanta plays much better at home than on the road. The Bear's haven't a meltdown game in a few week, they're due.

CFB Picks

2008-10-10T21:02:00.006-07:00

So apparently i forgot to do my recaps of my picks last week. My only defense is that i was without internet from sunday night to thursday night. Actually, that's kind of a good excuse...

Anyway, i went 2-2-1 on my college picks last week, which puts me at 15-15-2 on the season. Talk about a lesson in mediocrity. On to the picks!

Oklahoma -7 over Texas (L)

Hard to take a 7 point favorite in a game featuring two top-5 teams, but i still like Oklahoma and their QB Sam Bradford. Texas' secondary is young and inexperienced.

Arizona St. +28.5 over USC (W)

(Sigh) God help me, i can't for the life of me figure out why i'm betting on any game involving ASU... To be clear, there is no way in hell ASU wins this game, but USC struggles as a big favorite in conference games.

Penn St. -6 over Wisconsin (W)

As i said last week, i'm riding Penn St. until they fail me. They've been a huge money-winner so far this season.

LSU +6 over Florida (L)

I can't bet against LSU in any bigtime, SEC night games.

Michigan St. -2 over Northwestern (W)

There is zero chance NW is a 6-0 team. Hell, they shouldn't even be a 3-0 team. I think Javon Ringer will bounce back and go for about 160 and MSU controls the game.

Where You Came From

2008-10-10T11:22:00.003-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks, again, since i rolled out my weekly* feature, Where You Came From. Sometimes i fall behind, it happens...

In the past week, people have visited this site from: Canada (3), Germany, and Sweden. Man, that's pathetic...

Anyway, on to the search terms that brought you here:

1) cubs postgame
2) cubs
3) Cubs swept
4) October 4, 2008 Cubs press conference
5) post game news conference dodgers cubs
6) game 3 post game interview cubs
7) cubs post game interview press conference
8) oct 4 cubs press conference
9) arizona diamondbacks offseason 2009 blogs
10) game 3 cubs post game interview
11) dennis green, only one team can win
12) MARWAN WILLIAMS (There it is!)
13) Seitzer batting coach
14) jamie d'antona 2009
15) "they are who we thought they were" transcript (2)
16) dennis green laughing commercial stream
17) dodgers post game press conference saturday october 3, 2008
18) post game interview baseball
19) Bill Cowher vikings (2) (I like where this is going...)
20) open tryouts afl (Again with the open tryouts...)
21) vikings after game conference (After game conference?)
22) NFL CBA
23) nfl Denny Green picks
24) dennis green press conference (2)
25) dennis green (2)
26) marwan williams sentenced
27) nlcs press conference
28) nfl cba 2008
29) underground video george brett (I'm not sure i want to know...)
30) arizona diamondbacks game by game season

So there you have it. I could have condensed all the 'Cubs getting swept' searches like i usually do with similar searches, but i kinda thought it was funny to post them all. Sorry to all my friends back in Chicago...

As always, thanks for stopping by!

You Have Failed At Life

2008-10-10T11:17:00.002-07:00

Again, an easy pick this week for the feature. It's not hard to choose someone when they've just been found guilty on 12 counts ranging from armed robbery to kidnapping to assault. I'm not going to get into whether or not this may have been a make-up call from his murder trial 11 years ago. Everyone already has their own thoughts on this. That said, it was proven 11 years ago that The Juice was at best a shady character, and this trial just confirmed it. Enjoy your time behind bars OJ, you may be there a while...

OJ Simpson: You Have Failed At Life

Cubs Swept

2008-10-04T22:12:00.002-07:00

And that, my friends, is why the Cubs are the Cubs.

Best record in the NL and swept right out of the playoffs... At least put up a fight Cubs. That. Was. Pathetic.

Make it 101 years...

NFL Picks

2008-10-04T21:05:00.006-07:00

10-8-2 on the season. Had a couple of good weeks, let's keep it rolling. On to the picks!

San Diego -7 over Miami (L)

I don't care what Ronnie Brown did a couple weeks ago. The Chargers are a hungry team in need of wins.

Carolina -10 over Kansas City (W)

I also don't care what Kansas City did against the Broncos last week. This is a whole other level of defense, and it's on the road.

Buffalo +1.5 over Arizona (L)

This Arizona team has a bad secondary and is missing their best player. Buffalo is too physical for them.

Tampa Bay +3.5 over Denver (W)

I went back and forth on this pick, admittedly. But Denver hasn't played a real defense yet, and the Bucs are pretty solid. That said, this is my least confidant pick of the week.

New York Giants -7.5 over Seattle (W)

I don't buy Seattle, not for one bit. They are a bad football, and they won't fool me. I called Shaun Alexander's demise three years ago, and i called the Seahawks demise two years ago. They only made the playoffs because their division is the worst in football.

BoSox

2008-10-03T22:12:00.004-07:00

You must be kidding me.

Granted that was a Home Run, but the play before that at 2nd base the runner WAS OUT. It wasn't even close. He was out by a mile. Good job by the refs to FUCK IT UP.

I fucking hate the Bosox. Especially when they keep getting the benefit of the doubt from the umps over, and over, and over, and over, and over, AND OVER, AND OVER A-FUCKING-GAIN. FUCK!

They're the 'luckiest' team in fucking baseball, and it's a fucking disgrace. FUCK.

College Football Picks

2008-10-03T19:35:00.005-07:00

13-13-1 on the season. Need a good week this week to get a jump. To the picks!

Alabama -16 over Kentucky (L)

It looks like it could be a trap game, admittedly, but Bama has next week off and i think Saban will be pushing them hard to finish.

Ohio St. -2 over Wisconsin (W)

Ohio St. struggles against spread offenses. Wisconsin is not a spread offense. Ohio St. dominates the Big Ten.

USC -16.5 over Oregon (W)

Oregon has once again lost it's starting QB. Oh, and USC is coming off a bye. And a loss. And they're at home.

Penn St. -14 over Purdue (Push)

Penn St. is this year's 'ride them till they collapse' team. Did you know they're averaging 50 points a game? And they haven't given up more than 24 in any game?

Kansas -12 over Iowa St. (L)

I don't have nearly enough time to go into detail about ISU's struggles against Kansas lately, but let's just say KU owns ISU. And that was before Kansas was good...

My Brief Brush With Cubs Fandom

2008-10-02T19:17:00.009-07:00

As anyone who knows me or reads this blog regularly knows, i grew up in iowa. Northwest iowa to be specific. Growing up there, you had three choices of baseball teams to root for: The Royals, the Twins, or the Cubs.

Back when i was young and growing up, the Royals were actually good and had George Brett, who was a great player. In fact, my first professional baseball game was at Kaufman Stadium to see the Royals.

The Twins were also good back then, winning the World Series in 1987 and 1991, when i was 6 and 10 respectively. In fact, my first memory of any World Series was listening to Jack Morris pitch Game 7 of the '91 series for a 1-0 win over the Braves.

Then there were the Cubs. As usual for most of the last 50 years, the Cubs were terrible. Though they had some great players, with Mark Grace, Shawn Dunston, and Ryne Sandberg. To be honest, i don't really have any memories about the Cubs as a kid except for a poster of Sandberg my friend had in his room.

When you're young, allegiances to teams are formed mostly arbitrarily, born out of things like 'this is my favorite player!' and 'this is the first team i saw live!'. It can also be passed down from family, from a mother or a father or an older brother.

So which team was i a fan of growing up? None of them. In fact, to be honest, i didn't really like baseball all that much growing up. I thought the game was boring. I never played Little League. Hell, i never played tee-ball. I played hot-box occasionally with my friends, but that was the extent of my baseball interest as a kid. I was more interested in watching and playing soccer and football and basketball.

Fast forward 15 years, to when i'm in college. By this point my interest in baseball had increased only to the point that i would watch the World Series every year. I remember Game 7 of the Indians-Marlins in '97, The Blue Jays repeating in '93, The great Braves winning their one Series in '95, and of course watching the Yankees dynasty in the late '90s.

It came to a head in 2001. I was amazed by what the Yankees had been able to do the previous 6 years, and with them in the World Series again shortly after 9/11, i was captivated. Of course, i also happened to be in Phoenix for my brother's wedding at the same time, who was a huge Diamondbacks fan. We watched Game 1 during his rehearsal, Game 2 during his wedding reception. That Series turned out to be one of the best Series ever played, and to be honest transformed me into a baseball fan for the first time.

Then came the 2003 season. In July of that year, halfway through the baseball season, i moved into a house with 10 other people (Yes, you read that correctly). A majority of those people were from the greater Chicagoland area; As such they were all huge Cubs fan. Cubs games became appointment viewing, playing every night on every tv in the house. Because i watched them every day, and because everyone around were big fans, and because they were actually good that season, i got swept up in Cubs fever.

I became a fan of the Cubs. I even went to a couple games that summer in Wrigley. I can't say i completely immersed myself in them like some of my housemates, but i definitely cheered for them and followed them closely. When the playoffs rolled around and the Cubs were rolling, it was an exciting time.

We all know what happened from there. In ways that can only happen to the Cubs, they collapsed and did not make the World Series. The rest of the house was heartbroken but not surprised. They seemed to sense something like that might happen. I was more dumbfounded than anything. How could that happen?

The following year i moved to Kansas City as baseball season was getting in swing. Royals games were cheap, therefore i went to quite a few that first summer. I started following the Royals. not because they were good (they were terrible), but because they were the local team. As i said, i was a baseball fan but never a fan of any certain team. I followed whatever team i had the most access to.

Two years after that i moved to Phoenix. I moved in with my brother, who was still a huge Diamondbacks fan. As a result i became a Diamondbacks fan. Only this time was different. I became a fan not of the local team, as i had with the Cubs and Royals, but i became a fan of the Diamondbacks. I started following the team, looking at statistics, paying attention to the farm system. Things i had never done with any other team. The Diamondbacks became my team. And they were terrible that year.

Since then they've remained my team, and to be honest will always be my team wherever i go from here. I've had season tickets each of the last two years, and was at each of their playoff Series' last year.

All that said, the Cubs still have a special little piece of my heart due to that 2003 season. I keep my eye on them, to see how they are doing, and to be able to talk to all my friends from back home who are big Cubs fans. I will always root for the Dbacks first, but i pull for the Cubs.

This long rant was to focus on one thing, as i sit here and watch Game 2 of the NLDS between the Cubs and Dodgers: The Cubs fans suffer. A lot. That is one tortured fanbase. Game 1 starter Ryan Dempster gives up more walks in 4 1/3 innings than he has in any start this season. In the 2nd inning of Game 2 the Cubs commit 2 errors and the Dodgers score 5 runs. This is a cursed franchise indeed.

I feel bad for the Cubs and their fans. It's been 100 years since their last World Series win, and it's looking like it's going to be at least one more. The Cubs and their fans deserve more than this. No other fanbase is as loyal to their team as the Cub fans, and no other franchise has waited as long as they have for a World Championship. Things happen to this franchise that happen to no other franchise in baseball, from curses to bad luck to collapses.

As this game goes on, i keep getting texts from my die-hard Cubs fans friends, and they all have varying ways to same the same thing: Of course this is happening. This is the Cubs. Why would i think anything else would happen?

I used to laugh at the futility of the Red Sox until they broke through; I can't do the same to the Cubs. It's too painful. The Lovable Losers are becoming less parts lovable and more parts loser by the year. And it is a sad sight to behold indeed...

The 2009 Diamondbacks Season

2008-10-02T14:22:00.004-07:00

A few days back i wrote a (lengthy) piece on the 2008 Diamondbacks season, with a promise to write a follow-up post about where the Dbacks go from there. This is that post.

That 2008 column ended with a line about the Dbacks facing a mountain of questions going into the 2008 off-season and into 2009. While an admittedly cheesy wrap-up to the post, it was nonetheless true. The Dbacks have a ton of questions they need to answer, and i'm not sure where they (or i) will even begin.

Let's start with a big one: The Big Unit. Randy Johnson is sitting on 295 wins, just five short of they mythical 300. There's no denying it would be a great accomplishment for him, and based on the way he pitched the second half of this season he will get it next year. But will he be in a Diamondbacks uniform? Hard to say.

The Dbacks aren't going to pay Johnson a lot of money. They still owe him something like $41M for his last contract with the Dbacks (no, not this one. The one from before. You know, back from when he won the World Series here?). It's hard to tell what Randy will do; He's always been a bit of a selfish player, but i wonder if he recognizes he should stay here and win 300 with the team he's going into the Hall of Fame with. If he does re-sign here, look for it to be around only $4M, even though he could command upwards of double that in the open market.

Staying in the starting rotation, you have Webb and Haren as the unquestioned leaders. Behind that? Murky. Doug Davis is a crap-shoot as to whether he will be back or not. Max Scherzer will be your number 4, probably regardless of who is here and who isn't. A rotation of Webb, Haren, Johnson, Davis and Scherzer isn't bad. Webb, Haren, Scherzer, Petit, and a started to be named later not as much.

The bullpen is even worse. Depending on who you listen to, the Dbacks need to either get rid of everyone or everyone had an off year and will be better next year. Realistically it's somewhere in the middle. I don't know how you bring Jon Rauch back after his trainwreck of a season here. Chad Qualls is the 2009 closer, mark it down now. He will be fine in that role. Move Lyon back into the 8th inning, i think he will be fine there as well. Either Tony Pena or Juan Cruz are likely gone; Make the other the 7th inning guy.

Billy Buckner and Leo Rosales will be the long-relief guys. What the Dbacks are in desperate need of, and what they have been in desperate need of for years, is a left handed reliever. Sorry Doug Slaten, you are not the answer. Will Ledezma, a late season pickup, could be it. He pitched fairly well in admittedly limited action.

Looking out into the outfield, there is a logjam. Chris Young is the starting Center Fielder. His bat suffered this season, but his defense is gold-glove-worthy. Justin Upton is the Right Fielder. His defense is suspect, but he's only 21. And his bat became electric the last month of this season. In left-field you have some issues.

After the way CoJack adjusted to the switch and how he started to hit once out there, you are basically forced to leave him in left. Problem is you're paying Eric Byrnes $10M a year to be the left fielder. And i know not many people remember this, but when healthy Byrnes isn't a bad player. He hit .276 in his two full season with the Dbacks, 2006-2007, and has some pop in his bat. Not to mention he's the best base-stealer on the roster, something the Diamondbacks sorely missed this year. From the things Bob Melvin and Derrick Hall have been saying, it sounds like Byrnes will go into 2009 as the 4th outfielder. Hard to put $10M on the bench, but in this case it looks like the best option. He'll get plenty of chances to play.

On the infield you have a total disaster. Shortstop is the only position locked up with Stephen Drew. Drew really came around the last month and is poised to have a seriously good breakout season in 2009. The rest of the infield is completely up in the air. Mark Reynolds will be there, though there's no telling where. Third clearly isn't the best place to put him (though he played pretty well there in 2007). There are a lot of rumors about him moving to second, which is where he played in the minors, to replace Orlando Hudson, who will be gone. Just in the last week there has been some talk of putting Reynolds at first as well.

Where Reynolds plays will depend largely on what the Dbacks do in the offseason. If they can get a good third baseman, Reynolds moves to the right side of the infield. If the Dbacks get a stud second baseman, Reynolds may stay at third. The Dbacks do have some options already here. Augie Ojeda and David Eckstein wouldn't be a bad combo at second for the year. Both are good with the glove and good enough from the plate. If the Dbacks go that route, i could see them going after a third baseman in free agency or through trade, and putting Reynolds at first.

Either way, there are a lot of choices and decisions to be made. The Dbacks could also bring Jamie D'Antona up; He can play either corner infield spot. And, of course, all of this is assuming Adam Dunn is gone as well. There has been talk of the Dbacks trying to re-sign him, but i don't think it will happen. Dunn strikes out too much in a lineup filled with people who strike out too much, and is a defensive liability pretty much everywhere on the field.

The last position is catcher. Unlike every other position on the Dbacks, catcher is locked up. Chris Snyder is the starting catcher, he can play almost every day, and he brings a decent bat to the order. Behind him could be interesting. Miguel Montero has been rumored to be working out at third base in the offseason. If that's the case, Robby Hammock would likely be the back-up catcher.

No matter how you shake it, the Diamondbacks will be a very different looking team in the 2009 season. It would not surprise me to see 8-9 players from this season's team gone next season. And while that is a lot of change, it is not necessarily a bad thing. As we saw down the stretch this season, something needs to be done. Let's just hope the Dbacks can pull the right strings...

You Have Failed At Life

2008-09-30T13:39:00.004-07:00

We have another NFL firing today, the second in two days following Scott Linehan's departure from the St. Louis Rams. This one surprises no one, except for maybe how long it took for the actual firing. Lane Kiffin was fired from the Oakland Raiders today. Finally.

Now i actually don't think Kiffin is a bad coach. He didn't have much to work with last year, and while the team hasn't had much success this year yet either, they're been playing fairly well for him. And, you know, it doesn't exactly build continuity or goodwill when you fire a Head Coach after just 20 games...

The Raiders are turning into a complete joke of a franchise, and as one local sports radio host puts it, "The Raiders will never win anything again until Al Davis is dead". Well alrighty then.

Scary pic huh?

Oh, and just for good measure, Davis is claiming he will not be honoring the remainder of Kiffin's contract.

Al Davis: You Have Failed At Life

The 2008 Diamondbacks Season

2008-09-30T11:16:00.005-07:00

Now that the season has come to a whimpering end for the 2008 Arizona Diamondbacks, it's time to take a look back at the season that was. This will be part 1, with part 2 coming later this week in which i take a look at the Dbacks going forward.

First things first: No matter how you slice it, this season was a disappointment. Coming off a year when the Dbacks made the 2007 NLCS, this team was expected to compete for the NL West crown and return to the postseason. Contend for the crown they did, firmly planted in first place in the NL West for 136 games of a 162 game season. Unfortunately those other 26 games just happened to be at the most critical time of the season: The end.

Other than a fast start in April, the Dbacks played sub-.500 baseball all season long, though managed to finish 82-80. It just so happened they were in a historically bad division, which allowed them to remain in first place through most of the season. Which became a rallying cry for this team: "We're still in first place". No matter how bad they looked, no matter how many games they lost, no matter how many errors committed and games blown by the bullpen, the answer always became "Hey, at least we're still in first place".

Ultimately, i believe this is what led to the Diamondbacks demise. The Dbacks never took control of their situation. They never showed a will to win the games they needed. They never showed that killer instinct to step on teams throats when they could have. They were content to sit back and just scrape by.

The Dbacks, and admittedly Bob Melvin was behind this, showed an amazing knack this season for giving away games. This manifested itself in many ways, all of which were destructive. In a three-game series, if the Dbacks won the first two they would invariably trot out their b-team for game 3 as if it did not matter. 2007 was all about winning each series. While a good mantra, it just did not work for 2008. This season we needed more wins, more games. This Dbacks team could not afford to start 3 or 4 bench players at a time.

And don't get me started on giving away games by the bullpen. In 2007 this team had one of the best bullpens in the Majors, which is ultimately got them to playoffs and was the difference over the Cubs in the NLDS. With only one move, trading Jose Valverde to the Astros, the Dbacks thought they would be ok. Move Lyon from the 8th to the 9th, move Pena from the 7th to the 8th, and put Chad Qualls, who they received in the Valverde trade, in the 7.

Despite Lyon blowing two saves in the first 5 games, all seemed fine with the bullpen through April. That was, until it completely imploded, a disaster so complete that not only did every pitcher there go through stretches where they couldn't get an out, but you never knew who was going through the stretch and when. Each pitcher had times when they were completely awful, but it would come and go from week to week, game to game. How do you decide which relief pitchers to run out there when you never know which one is gonna suck, just that one of them definitely is going to?

Just so we don't place all the blame on the bullpen, we must also look at the offense. Arizona finished 27 out of 30 teams in Batting Average, with a paltry .251. They finished with the second highest number of strikeouts in the Majors. And for a team that played virtually no small-ball, you would think they would rely on the home run. Problem is, they finished 19 out of 30 in home runs hit this season.

With the exception of Conor Jackson, Orlando Hudson when he was playing, and Stephen Drew in the last month, the rest of the team could be described only as struggling. If you look at our 'core' 13 starters (Snyder, Montero, CoJack, Dunn, O-Dog, Ojeda, Eckstein, Drew, Reynolds, Tracy, Byrnes, Young, and Upton), 8 finished with a .250 BA or below. Only 3 finished above .290. That's not getting done.

Honorable mention goes to Mark Reynolds, who admittedly i am a fan of and will defend to the death, to his season that is a complete and total statistical oddity. Taking away Adam Dun, who played only 44 games with the Dbacks, Reynolds managed to: Lead the team in HR's, lead the team in RBI's, lead the team in Walks, 2nd on the team in Runs Scored, 3rd on the team in Total Bases, 2nd on the team in Stolen Bases, and lead the team (and set a Major League record) in Strikeouts. Oh, and just for good measure, he lead the team (and the Major's) in Errors as well. His season is on par with one of the most bizarre, inexplicable seasons by a single person in MLB history.

And as long as we're talking about fielding, let's not forget that the Diamondbacks finished 26 of 30 in team fielding percentage, and 6th in most Errors committed.

So to review, the Diamondbacks finished in the bottom 10% in team batting, and the bottom 20% in team fielding. At least we have pitching, right? Right?

Well, actually, in this case they are right. The Diamondbacks did have pitching, despite their horrific bullpen. Did you know the Dbacks had more Quality Starts than any other team in baseball? And gave up the fifth-fewest home runs in all of baseball? It helps when you have Brandon Webb (22-7, most wins in the Majors) and Dan Haren (16-8, tied for 7th most wins in NL). Every other person that started a game for the Dbacks went a combined 27-39. The Bullpen went 17-26 in case anyone was wondering. Special mention here goes to Jon Rauch, who the Dbacks traded for to be their closer, and managed to go 0-6 with a 6.56 ERA.

There are many other items i could get into regarding the 2008 season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. For instance the strange, almost complete refusal to attempt a running game (only 2 teams had less stolen bases than the Dbacks), and Bob Melvin's decision on pretty much everything. In 2007 Melvin was dubbed the Mad Scientist because seemingly every decision he made worked perfectly. 2008 was the exact opposite, as seemingly no decision he made worked out and was second-guessed by everyone. He may not be as good as the NL Manager of the year award he won last year, but he can't be as bad as he was in 2008 can he?

Regardless, everything that happened with the Dbacks resulted in one thing: An 82-80 record, and watching the playoffs from home. In the end, it wasn't enough, which amounted to a massive hill of disappointment for the Diamondbacks and their fans. Not to mention an even larger hill of questions going forward into 2009...

NFL Picks Review

2008-09-29T08:21:00.002-07:00

Now that's what i call a good week, for the second week in a row. I was 1 point scored in the Denver-New Orleans game from being 4-1; instead i finished 3-1-1. Which puts my season record at 10-8-2. Two good weeks in a row have got me rolling, another one good put me in good shape...

CFB Picks Review

2008-09-29T08:20:00.001-07:00

2-3 on the week, which puts me at an even 13-13-1 on the season. Not great, but not getting killed either. Need to get better starting soon though...

NFL Picks

2008-09-27T16:14:00.004-07:00

7-7-1 on the season. This is the week i get back on top of it! On to the picks!

Denver -10 over Kansas City (L)

Kansas City is really, really bad. And Denver scores a ton of points. That's a recipe for a cover.

Carolina -7 over Atlanta (W)

Yes, i realize Michael Turner is a stud. And yes, i realize Matt Ryan has been playing out of his mind. But Atlanta is on the road, and hasn't faced a defense like the Panthers. I expect the Panthers offense, which has been sluggish, to break out this week.

San Diego -8 over Oakland (W)

Oakland is not very good, and the Chargers are trying to get back to .500. They need this game, and i expect LT to dominate. The Raiders as an organization are a complete disaster, so i don't expect much out of them.

Buffalo -8 over St. Louis (W)

Much like it's neighbor to the West, St. Louis is really, really bad. Not to mention they benched their QB this week and the team is on the verge of a revolt. Buffalo is a pretty solid team, and even though they're on the road i think they cruise.

San Francisco - New Orleans over 48 (PUSH)

I keep saying that i don't usually bet on over/unders, but most games involving the Saints deserve to be bet on the over. The Saints are capable of scoring a ton of points, especially at home, and they are also capable of giving up a ton of points. The 49ers have enough weapons to score some points with the Saints and turn this game into a shoot-out.

Happy Friday!

2008-09-26T19:08:00.001-07:00

Congratulations on making it to the weekend everyone. Enjoy it.

see more pwn and owned pictures

College Football Picks

2008-09-26T18:55:00.005-07:00

11-10-1 on the year. I have no idea about this week, i'll admit that now. On to the picks!

Michigan St. -8.5 over Indiana (W)

Indiana's not very good this year. And Michigan St. does one thing really, really, really well. They run the ball better than maybe everyone else in the country. That, my friends, is Big Ten football. And i love it.

Penn St. -16 over Illinois (L)

Illinois may be ranked, but i'm not sold on them. Juice turns the ball over too much, and their defense isn't the same this year as it was last year. And Happy Valley is a tough place to play, especially at night. And, oh yeah, Penn St. is averaging 54 points a game this year...

Nebraska -7 over Virginia Tech (L)

Night game, in Memorial Stadium, against a big-time (sort of) opponent, for a program that appears to be back on the rise. I like Nebraska.

Maryland +11 over Clemson (W)

Clemson, as usual for my picks, has massively underwhelmed this year with a team that should have been good. Maryland has been inconsistent, but Friedgen usually has his boys up for big games.

Florida -22.5 over Mississippi (L)

Florida in the swamp will be looking to roll.

You Have Failed At Life

2008-09-24T18:02:00.004-07:00

This week's Life Failure is pretty much a no-brainer. In fact, at any time since i started this feature he could have been the star. Instead, i waited until the man finally, mercifully, got shit-canned from his job as GM of the Detroit Lions. It was a job he was monumentally horrible at, to the tune of leading his team to a 31-84 record since 2001, when he took over the team. That is, not surprisingly, the worst record in the NFL in that time, with 10 more losses than any other team during that stretch.

Matt Millen: You Have Failed At Life

Where You Came From

2008-09-24T17:43:00.003-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks, again, since i rolled out my weekly* feature, Where You Came From. Sometimes i fall behind, it happens...

In the past week, people have visited this site from: Canada (3), and an undisclosed Europe location (2). Man, that's pathetic...

Anyway, on to the search terms that brought you here:

1) Denis Green Washington Redskins

2) Denny Greene Rant Vikings

3) george brett (I really wish YouTube hadn't taken down this video...)

4) George Brett's bowel movements (On a related note, i saw the video, edited of course, on CNN today. I thought that was strange...)

5) georgia asu college football predictions

6) stupid dennis green quotes

7) Sept 15 football post game interview Tony Romo (Didi miss something good?)

8) denny green who we thought they were (3)

9) "marwan williams" blog (And yet again...)

10) "dennis green" quote 1st win

11) flacco post game interview bears

12) viking coach they are who we thought they are

13) Dennis Green To do that you got

14) commercial where dennis green just laughs (Very specific...)

15) COWHER AND THE VIKINGS IN 2009 (Preach on brother!)

16) iowahawkeyenews (Everheardofspaces?)

17) ditka criminal

18) possible replacements for scott linehan

So there you have it. I swear i must be the first blog that pops up whenever searches for Marwan Williams, all because of two articles i wrote last summer. Crazy...

Anyway, as always, thanks for stopping by.

End Of The Saga

2008-09-23T11:37:00.002-07:00

Today marks the end of what has been a long, sad story involving the Phoenix Suns, the NBA, and sports in general. Former NBA referee Tim Donaghy begins serving his 15-month sentence in prison for his gambling conviction. The disgraced referee plead guilty more than a year ago, and was sentenced in July.

NFL Picks Review

2008-09-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

Now that's the kind of week i'm talking about. 4-1, bringing my overall record to 7-7-1. I'm back in it bitches...

CFB Picks Review

2008-09-21T18:50:00.002-07:00

Another crappy ass week for College picks. Remind me to never, ever, EVER bet on Tennessee again. Jesus i'm a fucking retard. 11-10-1 on the year. Losing money now...

NFL Picks

2008-09-19T18:33:00.005-07:00

3-6-1 on the year. Pathetic. Feeling good about this week though...

Atlanta -6 over Kansas City (W)

Look, i don't think Atlanta is all that good, but have you seen the Chiefs? Really, have you seen them? And now they're starting Tyler Thigpen at QB? I like the home team to cover...

Tennessee -4.5 over Houston (W)

The Titans look pretty solid all around. Houston could be rusty after having last week off unexpectedly. Like the home team to cover here as well...

Denver - New Orleans over 51 (W)

Again, I don't take a lot of over/unders during the season, but both of these teams score a lot of points. Should be a wide-open, high-scoring game.

Baltimore -2.5 over Cleveland (W)

Cleveland is all sorts of terrible...

Buffalo -9.5 over Oakland (L)

Oakland's two top RB's might be out, and they're not that good to begin with. I like Buffalo at home.

Happy Friday!

2008-09-19T13:54:00.002-07:00

In what is becoming my newest weekly feature, it's the return of the Happy Friday post.

see more pwn and owned pictures

College picks are below, NFL picks will come out tomorrow. Enjoy your weekend everybody...

College Football Picks

2008-09-19T11:51:00.010-07:00

Ok kids, i'm back and better than ever. Or, just back really.

After a horrible week in Week 3, it's time for a rebound. 9-7-1 on the year. On to the picks!

Auburn +3 over LSU (L)
Neither team has an offense worth a damn, and both teams have a great defense. Have to go with the home team getting points here.

Michigan St. -9 over Notre Dame (W)
Much like the Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and ASU in college, Notre Dame screws me every time regardless of whether i pick with them or against them. And yet here i am again. Notre Dame's coming off a big win over Michigan, MSU is at home, and MSU can run the ball. I like the Spartans big.

Arizona State +7 over Georgia (L)
I'm not sure ASU can actually pull off the win, but they're been waiting for this game for 9 months. A night game, on the road, on the West Coast, a place Georgia hasn't been in 50+ years. ASU will be geared up for this game.

Penn St. -29 over Temple (W)
Penn St. is averaging something like 54 points a game, and are at home. Expect a blowout...

Tennessee +8 over Florida (L)
Again, i'm not sure the Vols can pull off the win, but i think they hang tough. Florida rolled them last year, then taunted them afterwards. Tennessee has also been looking forward to this game since then. I like Tennessee to keep it close. [EDIT: (Florida up 17-0 in 1st quarter): I'm a fucking moron. Tennessee is officially on my list of teams to never, ever, ever, under any circumstance, EVER bet on. Fuck them...]

Vikings Coaching Options For 2009

2008-09-19T09:37:00.005-07:00

So i took a look at possible QB replacements for the Vikings a few days, and here's a look at possible coaching replacements for them.

Brian Billick
He's in the broadcast booth for this year after 8 years with the Ravens. He led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win with a team built very much like the current Vikings team, though he gained his calling as an Offensive Coordinator. Coincidentally, that calling was gained with the Vikings.

Scott Linehan
Let's face it, he's not lasting into next year with the Rams, and may not even last the rest of the season. I'm not sure he's ready/able to be a Head Coach, but he's also got Vikings ties as an Offensive Coordinator under Mike Tice. If not the Head Coach, i wouldn't mind seeing him back as the O.C.

Marty Schottenheimer
I'm not sure i'm sold on Marty either, though he does have a good track record of fielding good teams. His problem has been that he can't win the big playoff/Super Bowl games. Not that that is any different from the Vikings franchise as a whole... Either way, i threw out this name for my brother...

Bill Cowher
The marquee name on this list. Cowher never said he was done coaching after retiring from the Steelers, only that he wanted to take some time off. This is his second year out of coaching, and i would imagine he would start to feel the itch again. Seeing as how Cowher is a great coach, if he decided to come back he would and should have his pick of jobs. Of any teams out there that will be looking for a new coach, it's hard to argue the Vikings wouldn't be the best option.

So there you go. If i had my picks, it'd be Bill Cowher leading a Vikings team with Derek Anderson as it's starting QB to open the 2009 season. But that's a long ways off, and a lot can happen in the meantime.

The 2008 season is still young, and the Vikings, despite being 0-2, still have a chance to have a good season. As a fan, that's all i'm focusing on for now. The rest can wait...

George Brett Is Not Shy About His Bowel Movements

2008-09-19T09:37:00.001-07:00

This video is awesome...

H/T to AA for the find...)

T-Jack Benched: An In-Depth Look At The 2008 Vikings

2008-09-17T11:04:00.007-07:00

I just logged into ESPN, and the top headline to the right of their main story was that Tarvaris Jackson of the Minnesota Vikings has been benched in favor of Gus Frerotte for the remainder of the season. There are many things i have to say about this, but let's start here:

You might as well leave him in.

I am by no means on the T-Jack bandwagon. In fact, i am one of the people who did not buy into the 'T-Jack looks better than ever' hype he was getting in the preseason. I've never been a big believer in him, and have never thought he had what it takes to lead this team to where they want to go.

That said, i know for sure Gus Frerotte doesn't have what it takes to lead this team where they want to go. Frerotte is a nice back-up, don't get me wrong, but you know exactly what you're gonna get with him: 15-22, 150 yards, 1 TD 1 INT. He doesn't have a great vertical passing game despite what people say (he's 37 people!), and he's not real mobile.

If you're giving up the hope of this offense having any explosiveness in the passing game, why not stick with T-Jack? He hasn't shown any ability to throw vertically either, but he has a little more upside potential that Gus Frerotte. At least T-Jack can run when things break down...

-----

It's becoming painfully obvious this team needs a change. A change in qb, a change in coaching staff, and a change in philosophy.

The Vikings are loaded at pretty much every position except QB, and they're young at most positions. The O-Line is stacked and in their primes. The running back position is poised to be the best in the League for years to come. They have two solid young WR's in Sydney Rice and Bernard Berrian who can stretch the field, and a decent if not spectacular possession-type receiver in Bobby Wade.

Their defense is absolutely loaded. The front four may be the best in football, with only Pat Williams on the backside of his career. Though they already have his replacement in Fred Evans. The LB crew is young and good. Darren Sharper as a Safety is getting up there, but they have his replacement in Madieu Williams who they signed in the offseason. Antoine Winfield is also getting older, but this team has corners galore in waiting, including Cedric Griffin and Charles Gordon.

This team has the talent at every single position to compete for NFL Championships except the most important position: The QB. Not only that, but they haven't had a good QB since the days of Daunte Culpepper, and even he was good for only three or four years. The Vikings haven't had a franchise quarterback since Fran Tarkenton in the '70s. It's the one thing that's been lacking for decades for this franchise. Contrast that to the Packers, who had a franchise quarterback for 17 years, let him go, and appear to have another one. Makes me sick...

So here's the options. Preferably i'd like to get someone in right now, this season, so this year isn't a total waste. Not sure how feasible that is though, so we'll also look at some options to bring in during the offseason. Also keep in mind the Vikings don't need a Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb type quarterback. They only need someone who can manage the game and not throw picks.

Daunte Culpepper
Yeah, i just threw up in my mouth a little also, but he could bring a certain stability to the position and would be familiar/comfortable in Minnesota. He isn't mobile anymore, but can still make the throws. Our O-Line is good enough to give him the time needed in the pocket. At best though he's a short-term option.

Jeff Garcia
He's clearly fallen out of favor with Jon Gruden in Tampa, but showed last year he's still a capable QB. He played well in Philly in 2006 after replacing an injured McNabb as well. Chris Simms has been named the starter for Week 3, and Garcia has been open about his frustration there. He could be had for the right price.

Derek Anderson
Though he's technically still starting for the Browns, i'm not sure how much longer that will last. The Browns have started 0-2 and have looked bad doing it. The pressure is mounting to start Brady Quinn over Anderson, and if that were to happen i have to believe it would be for the rest of the season. The Vikings might be able to get Anderson away from the Browns.

Kurt Warner/Matt Leinart
Only because i don't believe the Cardinals can keep both of them again next season. One of them will be available. Though to be fair i'm still not sure Leinart is a capable QB, but maybe being out of the nightlife of Scottsdale will do him some good.

That's just a quick list for QB needs. I'll post a rundown later of what i think they should do with the coaching situation. Hint: It doesn't involve Brad Childress...

South Africa 2010

2008-09-16T19:33:00.003-07:00

In the on-going saga that is the World Cup 2010, South Africa finally had some good news about it's stadium and security progress: Sepp Blatter was so happy during his recent trip to view their progress that he claims to have danced.

While good news to South Africa and FIFA, i'm still not sure how convinced i am about it. I would imagine things will remain fairly quiet on the front until next June, when South Africa is set to host the ConFed Cup in advance of the World Cup in 2010. Four host cities will be used for the ConFed Cup, and there will be plenty of FIFA officials on hand to tour the country. You can bet it will be an open audition for South Africa, and unless things go well it will be panic time for FIFA. Keep an eye on this in the coming year...

(H/T to my boy at The Beautiful Game. Check him out over there)

The Sports Guy: Revisited

2008-09-15T11:07:00.003-07:00

So i wrote a post while i was drunk the other night ripping the Sports Guy and his NFL picks this week. I honestly haven't looked at how i did against him, so let's take a look...

Titans +1 over Bengals (W). (Bengals -1 Tenn) (L)

Vikings +2 over Colts (L) (Colts -2 Vikings) (W)

Bears +3 over Panthers (Push) (Panthers -3 Bears) (Push)

Falcons +7 over Bucs (L) (Bucs -7 Panthers) (W)

Saints pick 'em Redskins (L) (I pick Saints as well) (L)

Bills +5 over Jags (W) (Jags -5 Bills) (L)

Packers -3 over Lions (W) (I agree) (W)

Giants -8.5 over Rams (W) (I agree) (W)

49ers +7 over Seahawks (W) (Seahawks -7 49ers) (L)

Dolphins +6.5 over Cards (L) (Cards -6.5 Seahawks) (W)

Jets -1 over Patriots (L) (Pats +1 NYJ) (W)

Ravens +4.5 over Texans (I agree) (No Game)

Chiefs -3.5 over (L) Raiders (I agree) (L)

Broncos +1.5 over Chargers (W) (Chargers -1.5 Broncos) (L)

Steelers -6 over Browns (L) (I agree) (L)

Eagles +7 over Cowboys (I agree)

Let's break it down! We agreed on 7 games. One was postponed (Baltimore-Houston), and one is still tonight. For the 5 games played, we went 2-3.

That leaves 9 games we disagreed on. Amazingly we both managed to go 4-4-1. So even though we differed on 9 different picks, we both finished the week 6-7-1. With one game to go tonight, we both picked the same (Philly +7), so we're gonna finish the week with the same record. Take into account that the best we could finish is 7-7-1, and it goes to show that neither of us knows shit...

NFL Picks Review

2008-09-15T11:05:00.001-07:00

Jesus i suck at picking the NFL. 1-3-1 on the week, which puts me record through Week 2 at 3-6-1. I got some work to do...

NFL Picks

2008-09-14T07:54:00.002-07:00

2-3 last week, on to another week. Here's the picks:

New Orleans -1 over Washington (L)

This line just seems wrong. Washington looked terrible last week, and New Orleans can score a ton of points...

Green Bay -3 over Detroit (W)

I can't believe i'm picking a new starting quarterback on the road, but Detroit's defense is bad.

San Diego +1 over Denver (Push)

Denver can't possibly be as good as they looked against Oakland last week, and i don't think San Diego will start out 0-2.

Pittsburgh -6.5 over Cleveland (L)

Cleveland is terrible. As in, really, really bad...

Cincinnati (Pick 'em) over Tennessee (L)

I can already tell Cincy is going to be the death of me this season...

College Football Picks Review

2008-09-14T07:51:00.002-07:00

2-3 on the week, thanks to Georgia and Oregon not managing to cover. Record after three weeks is 9-7-1. Still at 56%, which is turning a profit. Here's to a better week next week...

The Sports Guy

2008-09-13T00:36:00.004-07:00

Look, i'll admit it: I used to love ESPN's Sports Guy, Bill Simmons. When i was in college i ate his shit up. Then the Patriots got good, then the Red Sox got good, then the Celtics got good, and he became practically insufferable. To the point where i can barely read him.

This week's NFL Picks column is the coup de tat, where pretty much everything he says i want to fucking punch him in the face for. Not to mention his picks suck fucking ass. Fuck he pissed me off. Fuck!

Below is his picks, followed by own, better picks. Trust me, i'll let you know how this shakes out. Simmon's picks first, mine in parentheses.

(And these are not my picks, I'll throw those up later.)

Titans +1 over Bengals. (Bengals -1 Tenn)

Vikings +2 over Colts (Colts -2 Vikings)

Bears +3 over Panthers (Panthers -3 Bears)

Falcons +7 over Bucs (Bucs -7 Panthers)

Saints pick 'em Redskins (I pick Saints as well)

Bills +5 over Jags (Jags -5 Bills)

Packers -3 over Lions (I agree)

Giants -8.5 over Rams (I agree)

49ers +7 over Seahawks (Seahawks -7 49ers)

Dolphins +6.5 over Cards (Cards -6.5 Seahawks)

Jets -1 over Patriots (Pats +1 NYJ)

Ravens +4.5 over Texans (I agree)

Chiefs -3.2 over Raiders (I agree)

Broncos +1.5 over Chargers (Chargers -1.5 Broncos)

Steelers -6 over Browns (I agree)

Eagles +7 over Cowboys (I agree)

Ok, so i disagreed with 9 of Simmon's picks. Let's see how the week turns out...

College Football Picks

2008-09-12T20:37:00.006-07:00

OK kids... The NFL is obviously not my bag, but college i'm doing ok in. 7-4-1 on the year. Here's the picks for the week.

Oregon -8.5 over Purdue (L)

Purdue (Big Ten) sucks.

Georgia -7.5 over S. Carolina (L)

This line just seems wrong. Georgia is a national title contender right?

USC -12 over OSU (W)

No Beanie Wells? No OSU cover...

Missouri -26.5 over Nevada-Reno (W)

Missouri just has a crazy offense.

Michigan - Notre Dame under 38 (L)

I don't normally bet over/unders, but these two teams might not combine for 20 points...

Press Conference

2008-09-11T14:36:00.001-07:00

The always famous, always funny, classic Herm Edwards rant is this weeks Press Conference:

Back with the picks tomorrow!

Where You Came From

2008-09-11T14:13:00.003-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since i last rolled out my weekly* feature, Where You Came From, in which i examine the different countries that people have visited this site from and the search terms that brought you here. Enjoy!

In the last week people have visited this site from: China, Canada, and Indonesia. Not many countries, but another new one (Indonesia), and we had a lot of visitors from Canada...

Anyway, here are the search terms that brought people here. As always, the search terms are reproduced here unedited, and i have added the number of times the search appeared and my commentary in parentheses.

1) DENNIS GREEN POST GAME INTERVIEW (6)
2) dennis green they are who we thought they were
3) "the chuckster" tnt
4) dennis green meltdown
5) kevin seitzer, hitting (along with the now-famous Marwan Williams, Kevin Seitzer gets the most non-Dennis Green searches...)
6) washington redskins dennis greene (He can't be worse than the Zornstar...)
7) september 7, 2008 Cowboys Post Game Press Conference
8) Dennis Green invention (What did he invent? New ways to lose? Zing!)
9) carolina panthers post game press conference
10) dodgers clubhouse chemistry 2008
11) dallas cowboys post game press conference sept 7 2008 cleveland
12) brett favre post game interview sept 7
13) joe flacco post game interview (2)
14) Postgame conference NFL 2008
15) dennis green blowout
16) minnesota vikings open tryouts (Seriously, what is with all these searches lately for open tryouts with pro teams? Does this actually happen?)
17) nfl picks (2)
18) Denny the dog NFL

So there you have it. It's a strange way a lot of you get here. Thanks as always for the support!

NFL Picks Review

2008-09-07T16:55:00.003-07:00

And that kids, is why you don't bet what you don't have. 2-3 on the week. Not good... At least next week we'll have a better idea of what's going on in the NFL...

College Football Picks Review

2008-09-06T20:16:00.001-07:00

3-1-1 on the week. Florida had a lower line earlier in the week, but i was late getting on it. Puts me at 7-4-1 on the season. I can deal with that...

Happy Friday

2008-09-05T18:11:00.001-07:00

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekends everyone...

NFL Picks

2008-09-05T17:59:00.005-07:00

Thank Christ the NFL is back. And college football. Football in general.

Anyway, on to my NFL picks. As mentioned in my last post with my college picks, i'm going to pick only 5 games each week to keep it simple. Oh, and one of those picks was the Giants over Washington last night, which was a winner (look it up). On to the picks!

Cincinnati -2.5 over Baltimore (L)

Starting rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Let me say that again: Starting rookie quarterback Joe Flacco. Oh, and he played at a DII school.

New England -16 over Kansas City (L)

Brody Croyle, Tom Brady. Brody Croyle, Tom Brady...

Detroit -3.5 over Atlanta (L)

Yup, changed this pick Sunday morning. Took Indy -10 over Chicago off the board due to concerns about Peyton's knee, and put the Detroit pick on the board due to the fact another rookie quarterback is involved in this game (Matt Ryan for the Falcons). Like this pick...

Arizona -3 over San Francisco (W)

These Cardinals are going to be the death of me. I know this going in. I picked them to win the division (like a moron), and now i'm picking them to win, on the road, against a team they lost to twice last year. Jesus i'm retarded... (JT O'Sullivan anyone?)

College Football Picks

2008-09-05T15:48:00.005-07:00

Ok kids, back for the week. One change: I'm only picking five games each week, in College and the NFL. 7 games is just too much. So with that said, onto the picks!

Penn St. -15.5 over Oregon St. (W)
Penn. St looked really good last week, is at home, and Oregon State traditionally struggles early and on the road. Not a good combination.

Florida -23 over Miami (Push)
This line keeps going up. Either way, i think Florida rolls. Miami is not what they used to be.

W. Virginia -7.5 over ECU (L)
There is zero chance ECU pulls off another upset this week.

Washington +9.5 over BYU (W)
Not sure Washington can pull off the upset, but like them to cover. Which, by the way, is a terrible way to bet. If you bet a 'dog, you should do so because you think they can win. So i'm violating my own rule here. Take that for what's worth.

Kansas -20.5 over La. Tech. (W)
La. Who? Exactly...

NFL Picks

2008-09-04T08:54:00.004-07:00

This is a short version of the picks, as i want to get tonight's pick in. I'll have the full version sometime this weekend.

New York Giants -4.5 over Washington (W)
Somehow i think the defending Super Bowl Champion Giants should be getting more than 4.5 points against the Redskins. At home.

NFL Preview

2008-09-04T08:38:00.004-07:00

It's back! The NFL is here! Hallelujah!

Now i have something to fill the black void in my soul. Some would say you fill that with a woman. I make do with the NFL for now. Don't judge me.

Anyway...

Tonight marks the return of the NFL as the NY Giants host the Washington Redskins at the Meadowlands to kickoff the 2008 season. I couldn't be more excited. So with that in mind, here is an abbreviated NFL Preview post.

Division Winners:

NFC East: Dallas Cowboys.
NFC South: Carolina Panthers.
NFC West: Arizona Cardinals. (I can't believe i'm making this pick...)
NFC North: Minnesota Vikings. Yeah, it's a homer pick, but the division sucks.

AFC East: New England
AFC South: Indianapolis Colts
AFC North: Pittsburgh
AFC West: San Diego

NFC Wildcard Teams: Philadelphia, New Orleans

AFC Wildcard Teams: Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns

NFC Championship: Dallas over Minnesota

AFC Championship: New England over Jacksonville

Super Bowl: New England over Dallas

As a side note - It kills me to pick Dallas to make the Super Bowl, but the NFC is weak again and i can't see Tarvaris Jackson leading the Vikings to the Super Bowl. That said, the Vikings do have the most upside of any team in the NFC.

League MVP: Adrian Peterson. If the Vikings do make the NFC Championship game, it will be on the back of AP. Therefore the MVP goes to him.

So there you go. Enjoy the football everybody, and be happy it's back...

You Have Failed At Life

2008-09-03T12:27:00.003-07:00

Wow, i don't even know where to being this week with people who have failed at life. So many people to choose from...

First off is the story of Tatum Bell, ex-RB of the Detroit Lions. Bell was released from the Lions after they signed RB Rudi Johnson, and apparently was a tad disgruntled. While Johnson was in the coaches office agreeing to terms on a contract, Bell stole Johnson's luggage while it sat outside the office.

I first saw that story last night, and Bell was a lock to be featured in this week's column. That was until i got to work today and i saw the following story. While attending the NBA Rookie Symposium in Rye Brook, NY, former Kansas University standouts and NCAA Tourney Heroes Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers were caught with marijuana in their hotel room they were sharing. Both were sent home from the Symposium, in which new NBA players are taught how to adjust to NBA life, how to manage their money, and how to stay out of trouble, among other things.

Arthur and Chalmers, per League policy, will be required to attend the session again next year, and there are rumors they may start the season on the Suspended List as well. They are also both $20,000 lighter in the pockets thanks to their toking.

Call me strange, but a place where you are learning how to be a good citizen isn't the best place to bring a bag of weed.

Darrell Arthur and Mario Chalmers: You Have Failed At Life.

CFB Picks Review

2008-09-02T11:52:00.002-07:00

Alright, 4-3 was not a great start to the year. Michigan sucked, which i should have known (and told my brother to bet Utah, go figure), and Tennessee should have won by 20 but their quarterback was awful. UCLA threw four picks in the first half and Tennessee only scores 14 points? Worthless...

Regardless, still above .500. And i'm feeling good about this year...

You Have Failed At Life

2008-08-29T13:50:00.003-07:00

This one needs no lead-up, no explanation, nothing. Just the story. Chad Johnson, who would already be perfect for this feature for a multitude of other reasons (including just the picture below alone), has officially changed his name to Chad Ocho Cinco.
Chad Johnson, You Have Failed At Life...

Where You Came From

2008-08-29T10:33:00.002-07:00

Time for my weekly(ish) feature: Where You Came From, in which i examine the different countries that people have visited this site from and the search terms that brought you here. Enjoy!

In the last week people have visited this site from: Czech Republic, Jamaica, India (2), United Kingdom (2). Again, not a lot of countries, but Jamaica is a new one. That's always fun...

Anyway, here are the search terms that brought people here. As always, the search terms are reproduced here unedited, and i have added the number of times the search appeared and my commentary in parentheses.

1) failed at life (2) (I hope that wasn't someone who was depressed. And if it was, i hope they got a laugh at least...)
2) open kicker tryouts (again?)
3) soccer world cup 2010 to be hosted in usa (I wish buddy...)
4) 2010 dallas cowboys could sell games (I bet they will this year and next year too...)
5) dodgers 2010 tryouts (Shoot higher pal, maybe you could try out for them in 2009!)
6) dennis green laughs commercial
7) Gene Upshaw
8) lpga english
9) Marwan Williams (3) (he's back! And in full force! Marwan makes his triumphant return after an inexplicable 6-week absence. Besides anything relating to Dennis Green, he is the most searched for term that leads people here...)
10) amare stoudemire brother arrest (There he is again! Though if you want to be technical he is his half brother...)
11) 4x100 press conference
12) usa basketball see post game press conference
13) R.I.P Gene Upshaw t-shirts (Would someone actually wear this?)
14) dennis green they are who we thought they were bears
15) Kevin Seitzer good hitting coach? (Short answer: No)
16) NFL CBA
17) "plan b" "world cup 2010" (this search came from the U.K. No doubt hopeful the plan b includes England...)

So there you go. As always, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to tell some friends or leave some comments. Oh, and enjoy the Holiday Weekend. Football is back! Go Hawks!

College Football Picks

2008-08-28T11:41:00.012-07:00

That's right kids, they're back! It's picks time!

I finished a pedestrian 39-34-2 last year, for a .520 winning percentage. Not the 55% you need to break even. Man i suck...

This year i'm trying to stick to picking 7 games each week. Last year i was kinda all over the board on how many picks i would make.

On a side note, picking the first week is always the hardest because i haven't seen anyone play yet. Also, you should know i'm not nearly as informed and prepared going into the season as i was last year. It happens.

On to the picks!

South Carolina -14.5 over N.C. State (W)
South Carolina is at home. Also, this game is tonight (Thursday), so i just threw it in there to have something to root for tonight.

Hawaii +35 over Florida
To be clear, i am not picking Hawaii to win. I am picking them to cover a 35 point spread, which is ridiculous. Then again, it is Florida and Hawaii lost their QB and coach... Screw it, i just changed my mind. Florida -35 over Hawaii (W).

Michigan -3.5 over Utah (L)
A lot of people are calling this a trap game for a Michigan team that a) lost their 4-year QB, b) lost their 4-year RB, c) lost their coach, and d) is installing a new system. Especially since they managed to lose at home to Appalachian St. last year. And Utah should be good this year. All that being said, i think Michigan will have enough to beat Utah by 4 or more...

Nebraska -14.5 over W. Michigan (W)
Bo Pelini is the coach Nebraska should have hired last time they were looking for a coach when they hired Bill Callahan instead. Pelini has restored the defense to where it should be, and their QB Ganz should have a good year. Memorial Stadium will be rocking.

Clemson -4.5 over Alabama (L)
I think Clemson could have a great year, and this is where it will begin. Plus they are at home, which is actually a tough place to play.

Missouri -9.5 over Illinois (W)
Consider me one of the people who doesn't think Illinois can repeat what they did last year. I've seen the Zook up close and personal, and he is a terrible game coach. Terrible. I can't even describe to you how bad he is. Example A is the stampeding Iowa put on a Zook-led Florida team in the Outback Bowl in 2003. They will miss Mendenhall. And Missouri should be good.

Tennessee -7.5 over UCLA (Monday night) (L)
Ok, i will admit i changed this pick Friday morning. I'm not sure what i was thinking. Tennessee rolls...

So there you go. I managed to pick all favorites. Next time i'll do better...

Press Conference

2008-08-28T08:58:00.003-07:00

Ok, so it isn't exactly a press conference, but it is an interview. And it is awesome.

The always best-dressed* Craig Sager was being interviewed and had an interesting story to tell about Ted Turner, Jane Fonda, and TBS's broadcasting line-up. Listen and enjoy...

*Not actually best-dressed. Actually, worst-dressed. Like, every time he's ever been on television in his life.

(H/T to AA for the find...)

College Football Previews

2008-08-27T12:12:00.003-07:00

Unlike last year, when i devoted entire posts and previews to each of the BCS conferences, i'm doing a more stream-lined version this year. The reason for this is two-fold: One, you probably don't really care about most of what i have to say except for the actual picks (if you even care for those), and two it's a little late to get rolling on all of those in too much depth since the football season starts in two days (two days!).

So, with that said, here's a streamlined college football preview, where i pick the winners of each conference and various other things.

Big Ten: Ohio St. Obviously. Should roll through the Big Ten, with only Wisconsin giving them any trouble.

Big Twelve: Oklahoma. Poised for a great year behind QB Sam Bradford.

Pac 10: USC. Self-explanatory.

ACC: Clemson. Great backfield. North Carolina isn't ready yet, and Miami and FSU are still struggling a bit.

Big East: W. Virginia. Let's see if this team can continue to burn me anytime i pick them to do anything...

SEC: Georgia. After claiming the #1 ranking in both polls, there has been a lot of backlash about their schedule and inexperience at key positions. I like Stafford, love Moreno, and think they can pull it off.

National Championship Game: Georgia vs. Oklahoma. Georgia will probably have a loss, but with the SEC strength can probably still get in. I like Georgia to win it as well.

Heisman Trophy Winner: Sam Bradford. Had a fantastic freshman season, should really breakout this year. Don't look for Tebow to repeat, he's no Archie Griffin. That's still a taboo.

That's it for me preview this season. Of course, i will resume my picks each week. Hopefully i can do better than i did last year on that front...

You Have Failed At Life

2008-08-26T19:18:00.004-07:00

This week's winner (loser) of my You Have Failed At Life feature is none other than:

You've probably heard by now that the LPGA is requiring all players to learn English by the end of 2009 or face losing their tour card. While i can understand (sort of) their interest in having their players know the language, it still seems a bit harsh. Not exactly a beaming declaration of the support of diversity...

LPGA, You Have Failed At Life.

Gene Upshaw And The CBA

2008-08-26T14:00:00.002-07:00

In what is quickly becoming this site's fourth feature, though unintentionally, here are a few words from ESPN's TMQ regarding Gene Upshaw and what he did for the NFLPA:

"Eugene Upshaw, 1945-2008: Gene Upshaw died young last week, and many of the same people who had denounced him while he was alive praised him after he was dead. When their words could be heard and inflict hurt, they slammed him; when their words could not be heard, they were gracious. As TMQ argued a year ago in detail, Upshaw did a fabulous job for players -- winning 59 percent of the richest pot of gold in sports is hardly to be sneezed at. In 1993 the NFLPA, under Upshaw's leadership, adopted cooperative bargaining as its core tactic. Since then, adjusting to today's dollars, NFL payments to players and retirees are up from $1.3 billion to $3.8 billion, an increase of about 13 percent per year. How many professions do you know where pay rises an inflation-adjusted 13 percent annually? Recently, the NFL owners voted unanimously to exercise a clause that lets them opt out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement two years early. When that same deal was signed in 2006, Upshaw was roundly ridiculed by sports pundits, and by retired NFL players, as a lapdog, because he worked cordially with the owners rather than calling a strike. That the owners unanimously opted out, after having time to think about what they had agreed to, is the proof the NFLPA, not the owners, won the 2006 negotiating round. If some lapdog union leader had agreed to a weak deal, the owners wouldn't be opting out, would they? Upshaw had a difficult personality, and the NFLPA gets self-inflicted bad press because its public-relations operation is among Washington's worst. But in terms of substantive accomplishment, the NFLPA under Eugene Upshaw provided magnificently for its members, including for its retired members. My advice to all who play touch football with Upshaw in the afterlife: watch for the trap block; even in paradise, this guy is unlikely to ease off."

TMQ is what it is, a sometimes interesting, sometimes incessantly rambling column about the NFL. That said, i thought it was a nice summary of some of the things Upshaw accomplished before passing.

Happy Friday!

2008-08-22T12:26:00.001-07:00

This picture just kills me...

see more pwn and owned pictures

Enjoy your weekend everybody...

(H/T to Failblog)

RIP Gene Upshaw

2008-08-21T11:04:00.002-07:00

I'm not one to usually post about deaths, as i try to keep this site light and funny, but i felt i should mention this one. NFL Players Association head Gene Upshaw passed away due to pancreatic cancer. In relevance to two stories i've written before regarding the NFLPA and the upcoming CBA (here and here), Upshaw's passing creates even more questions than answers.

Upshaw was known as a really tough nosed guy who stood up for his players under almost all situations (well, current players, let's not get started on retired players), and had a knack to drive a hard bargain in negotiations with the NFL. He was to have seen the NFLPA through it's current negotiations for a new CBA then retire. Sadly, Upshaw did not make it that far.

The NFLPA is now in an interesting place, as it's greatest and loudest voice has passed. Regardless of who they bring in to take his place (look for former Viking Robert Smith), that person will not have near the experience Upshaw had. Because of this, expect the NFL to attempt to drive a hard bargain in regards to the player revenue pool and a rookie salary structure, which i believe will be the NFL's number 1 issue.

If the NFL does indeed attempt to drive a hard bargain and take advantage of the new NFLPA head (keeping in mind Roger Goodell has done exactly this with regards to issues like player suspensions, drug testing, etc.), expect the NFLPA to scoff at those demands. They are still a strong organization and not willing to bow to the NFL's wishes.

They have two years to come to an agreement, but the passing of Upshaw does nothing to help the NFLPA's stance. Let's hope it doesn't affect their ability to come to an agreement on a new CBA...

Press Conference

2008-08-20T11:25:00.003-07:00

It's been a while since i posted a video of a press conference, so for this one i went straight to mother load of awesome press conferences: Bobby Knight. He's a veritable goldmine when it comes to outbursts and profanity-laced press conferences, which makes him perfect for this feature. Below is a press conference i actually had not seen before, from the NCAA Tournament a long time ago.

I love Bobby Knight.

On a side note, i had a buddy in college who worked on the video crew for the Iowa football team. One of their duties was to exchange tapes with other teams they were going to play during the season. One year the Indiana film crew gave my buddy a tape of a halftime speech Knight gave his players while at Indiana in a game they were losing badly. It was one of the filthiest, dirtiest, meanest things i've ever heard in my life. And i was dying laughing through the entire thing...

Where You Came From

2008-08-20T11:09:00.003-07:00

Time for my weekly* feature: Where You Came From, in which i examine the different countries that people have visited this site from and the search terms that brought you here. Enjoy!

In the last (2) week(s) people have visited this site from: Korea, an undetermined Europe country, Slovakia (?), and Jordan. Not a lot of countries, but some different ones. That's always fun...

Anyway, here are the search terms that brought people here. As always, the search terms are reproduced here unedited, and i have added the number of times the search appeared and my commentary in parentheses.

1) deniss green blowing up
2) how many conference titles has shaq got
3) dennis green press conference (2)
4) will mcbride blogspot (no idea who this is...)
5) US men's soccer vs England
6) valleysports.blogspot
7) phoenix cardinals tryouts
8) nfl kicker open tryouts
9) dennis green they are who we thought they were video
10) usa 4x100 08/10/08 (Awesome)
11) arizona diamondbacks open tryouts
12) nfl open tryouts (What is with all these open tryout queries?)
13) Denny Green preseason

Overall, a pretty week last couple of weeks in terms of traffic and search terms. Doesn't help that my posting kinda dropped off a little. These Olympics are just so damn entertaining i find myself getting lost in them...

Steeplechase

2008-08-18T00:49:00.003-07:00

Listen, i admitted going into the Olympics (here) that i was at best indifferent, with the exception of soccer. And so far, in that same article, my prediction is still holding up with the Men's soccer team eliminated and the Women in the quarterfinals. But that's neither here nor there.

After one week, i admit i am completely captivated by the Olympics. I have watched every one of Michal Phelps 17 swims and was jumping and screaming during his finals. I have rooted Men's water polo to victory against the heavily favored Croatians and into the Medal round with a defeat of Germany. I have watched the USA basketball team absolutely destroy any and all comers.

I watched Usain Bolt obliterate the 100m world record. I complained about the scoring system in boxing and watched China dominate the synchronized diving competitions. I cheered for Shawn Johnson (an Iowa girl) and Nastia Liukin to win all-around medals, and was disappointed when they finished 2nd in the team competition.

I've watched sports i've never seen before, and ones i've never even heard of. I watched a points race in bicycling, totally baffled at what was going on but enthralled. I knew archery was a competition but actually watched it this year. I didn't know you could get a medal for Trampoline, but i watched those finals as well. I watched some equestrian thing earlier. Hell, i'm watching synchronized swimming as i write.

But there is nothing, and i do mean NOTHING, as completely and utterly bizarre as the Steeplechase. I knew what the steeplechase was going in, have even watched a race or two in my day, but watching the final tonight... I mean, have you watched this? It's like they took the most random elements possible and combined them! It makes no sense!

It's a race around a track, with some hurdles. That i can handle. But then, inexplicably, there is another hurdle with a water hazard behind it. A water hazard! In the middle of a race!

I just can't for the life of me wrap my mind around the concept of where this race originated from. How did this come about? Who came up with it? How did it evolve? Who was the guy who said 'Let's make them run a hurdles race, but then once a lap put a pool of water behind one hurdle'? Did he make a fortune off this idea? He had to have, right? Right?!

It's just the most bizarre, random, inexplicable, crazy thing you could possibly imagine. And somehow you get an Olympic medal for it...

US 4x100 Freestyle

2008-08-11T13:20:00.003-07:00

Yeah, so this was pretty much the most awesome clip of sport from a weekend that had a ton.

USA! USA! USA!

(H/T to With Leather for finding video that actually works...)