NFL Preseason Top Three

With draft day just around the corner, attention is already focusing on next seasons best teams.  The reigning champ the New York Giants should be a formidable team next year, but a few others may surprise you.  Let’s take a look forward to what August may hold.

1.  Baltimore Ravens

Coming off a great year and returning most of their key players, the Ravens are a force to be reckoned with.  Yes, the AFC North is the best division in all of football and yes, the Bengals and Steelers represent clear challenges for the sometimes sluggish Ravens offense, but the Ravens are the best defensive team in the country and will likely power their way to the top of an otherwise stacked division.  Despite their offensive struggles last season, they still ranked in the top 20 in every major offensive indicator, and 10th in rushing yards.  Combine this with their top 4 ranking in points allowed, pass yards allowed, and rush yards allowed and you set the stage for a team to make a deep run into the playoffs.

2.  New England Patriots

In the last 10 years there has been no better quarterback to snap the ball than Tom Brady.  His ability to get to the post season and win games is undoubted.  Sure, he’s had a couple rough Super Bowls against the Giants, but this still doesn’t do his 3 Super Bowl rings justice.  Despite a season in which many predicted New England to take a step back, they excelled in an offense riddled with new players.  They finished 3rd in points, 2nd in pass yards, and 2nd in total yards.  In addition to these stats they had a double threat at tight end that would make John Mackey and Kellen Winslow Sr. envious.  If New England can secure a solid Halfback and a couple of players on defense(where they ranked 31st in yards allowed), they could make a serious push into the postseason.

3.  Denver Broncos

I’m fully aware that I chose no teams from the NFC in my top three, but the truth is that no NFC team can match the Broncos ease of schedule.  After signing Peyton Manning to a team that ranked 1st in rushing yards and dead last in passing, there is no doubt that Manning will secure the offensive passing game in Denver.  Combine this with the divisional cakewalks of San Diego, Oakland, and Kansas City and you have set the stage for an offensive explosion.  Denver’s defense is mediocre and they lack big, playmaking receivers but they are already in the process of acquiring the former in the draft and the latter through repetition with future hall of famer Manning.  Regardless, the Broncos should finish the season in prime position to take a shot at the Lombardi trophy.

While the NFL season always brings many surprises to armchair quarterbacks around the world, look for the AFC to be the deciding factor in this years Super Bowl.

Flacco retires; Calls his legacy “Unquestionably the best”

Joe Flacco, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, announced his intention to retire in a surprise move yesterday sending the league into pandemonium.  Flacco made the decision while watching old game tape in preparation for his anticipated 2013 NFL MVP award speech.  While watching the tapes he reportedly said, “I now realize, I’ve taken football as far as it can go.”  The retirement announcement stunned the media.  A source from ESPN reportedly tweeted,”@JoeFlacco retired today #Flacco4President2012″.  It reportedly took NFL statistician Roy White 47 seconds to gather all of Flacco’s lifetime stats and mesh them into a montage tribute to the great one.  Raven’s coach John Harbaugh told the media, “Joe was a real inspiration for our guys here.  I guess we need to try and bring in (Tim) Tebow and hope God sends us another hail mary.”

Word also spread quickly throughout the league.  Roger Goodell released a statement saying, “We have lost a true legend today.  We’re pleased to announce that from this point forward the NFL will now be known as the National Flacco League.”  Even Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger posted on his facebook wall about the event saying, “He really retired?!?! Maybe now I won’t have to sell my soul for a championship!”

But as with any major game changing announcement, some disagreed about Flacco’s contribution to the sport.  “He’s an average quarterback at best.” said some asshat from the office who obviously doesn’t understand football.  “Really the pieces are what made that team in Baltimore.” the moron continued.  Whatever the case, Flacco has cemented his place in NFL history with his exceptional play and athleticism.  He’s a sure lock for the newly renamed Flacco Hall of Fame in Canton.

Flacco appears in his last National Flacco League practice signing a ball for a fan.

 

New MLB Policy May Have Player Stuck in the Dugout

Three weeks ago the MLB agreed on sweeping regulations for players use of social media.  These regulations were generally met with relief as the policy is very lax, allowing for maximum communication between players and fans.  The rules were simple; act with civility and sportsmanship and there would be no problems.  Apparently Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson never received the memo.

Just days after the passing of the new social media policy, Wilson tweeted out Rangers Mike Napoli’s number for all of twitterdom to see.  Why you might ask?  No one is sure.  What is known however is that Wilson and Napoli are at best acquaintances and more than likely know little of each other.  Thus, one would question Wilson’s intentions.  Likely, Napoli was contacted by a horde of people sending his phone into a delirium.  Harmless prank? Maybe, but not according to the MLB’s new social media policy.  In paragraph four the policy strictly prohibits,”Displaying or transmitting Content that contains confidential or proprietary information of any MLB Entity or its employees or agents, including, for example, financial information, medical information, strategic information, etc.”  If Napoli’s phone number could be considered “confidential or proprietary information” then Wilson’s tweet was quite obviously in violation of that provision. One violation might be bad enough, but paragraph eight prohibits, “Displaying or transmitting Content that constitutes harassment of an individual or group of individuals, or threatens or advocates the use of violence against an individual or group of individuals.”  Sounds like Wilson has a double play.

The league has yet to comment on when or if actions will be taken against these violations.  In the meantime, Wilson might want to take a look through the league’s social media policy again before finding himself in another “squeeze”.

UK All the Way?

Indeed, Big Blue has met expectations this tournament thrashing opponents by 12+ points.  Jones, Kidd-Gilchrist, and Davis create a pro caliber tandem too difficult for most other teams to compete with. Also, with the current score in the Baylor game being 44-24,  one can only predict UK again being the victor. But let’s take a moment to look at their next two match-ups to see if indeed they will reign supreme at the close of this tournament season.

UK vs. Louisville:

This intense rivalry game is sure to draw national media attention equal to that of the IU vs. UK game.  Rick Pitino’s Louisville squad is certainly the darkhorse of the remaining tournament teams.  Many were predicting an early exit for the Cardinals in this tournament.  Few predicted them sweeping the West in dramatic fashion.  Louisville isn’t a team of all stars like Kentucky, however they play guys that understand and appreciate their role.  They consistently have 4-5 players in double figures and are one of the best rebounding teams in the country.  However, if the past is any indicator, Louisville may have its hands full.  Kentucky won the matchup earlier this year at Rupp Arena 69-62.  Not a blowout by any stretch but a win nonetheless.  In that game Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 24 points and 19 rebounds.  Davis added 19 points and 10 rebounds.  Those two players alone out-rebounded Louisville’s entire squad.  Look for Davis and Kidd-Gilchrist (who is playing some of his best basketball of the season currently), to once again dominate the undersized Cardinals off the glass.  I believe Louisville stays in it until late game thanks to to their fast paced offense, but just can’t hold on.  Kentucky 74 Louisville 63

UK vs. OSU

Yes, I’m predicting THE Ohio State University as the champion from the East to trounce the Mid-West Champion.  If indeed this matchup occurs, this game would be just wonderful to watch.  The matchup of Davis versus Sullinger is especially intriguing.  Ohio State easily has the most complete team outside of Kentucky in all of college basketball at the moment.  William Buford brings the hot hand and Aaron Craft brings veteran leadership with some of the best assist play in the NCAA today.  Sure, OSU hasn’t won their games in dramatic fashion but their statistics do not lie.  They rank 35th in points per game, 31st in assists per game, and 12th in field goal percentage.  These statistics are easily on par with the Wildcats.  Ohio State has certainly played up and down this year, but look for them to finish strong and take down the surging Cats.  Sullinger’s presence inside teamed with Buford’s shooting and Ohio States stingy defense will put an end to UK’s run.  Ohio State 73 Kentucky 70

Calipari is an excellent coach and recruits some of the best talent in the NCAA today.  Unfortunately for him, once he loses this year to THE championship team, he will most likely lose much of this talent.  But like it or not, Big Blue will be back to dominate brackets next year with yet another star laden recruiting class.

NFL Draft Preview: Profiling Which Teams Get “Luck”y

Draft time is quickly approaching, and that means two things.  One, we can be assured of more cheesy Andrew Luck puns (my titles for instance).  And two, teams are looking at the draft board for how to fill those gaping holes.  While I can’t control the former, I will try my best to analyze the latter.  Many teams have big needs this off-season, so let’s look at the first three picks and who those teams should consider taking.

1. Indianapolis Colts- Andrew Luck:  Speculation about this pick has been rampant.  Will Manning stay and play or will he be released to try to fill out the remainder of his career elsewhere.  Rest assured that either way, the Colts will secure Andrew Luck with the first overall pick.  This pick is an absolute no brainer as Luck has proven to be a prototypical drop back and pass player who would fit very well into the Colts style of offensive play.  Furthermore, even if Manning is healthy and able to play, Luck makes for great draft bait.  Experts have said he could fetch as much as two first and a second round draft pick.  Griffin, while not an awful pick, isn’t the right fit for this offense.  Choose him, and the Colts may be looking at Jeff George the 2nd and all the accompanying drama.

2. Saint Louis Rams- Justin Blackmon:  This pick is harder to gauge.  I have a suspicion that the Rams may trade down as Blackmon is more likely a 5 or 6 in this draft.  The Rams passing game was atrocious last year, and while they made a move for Lloyd, it didn’t quite work out in St. Louis.  Blackmon gives this team the big name receiver they’ve been searching for.  I’m still unconvinced that Bradford is the Rams QB of the future, but at the very least, they need to put the right tools around him to really give this offense a chance.

3.  Minnesota Vikings- Matt Kalil:  To be fair, Minnesota has many needs offensively.  However, none more so than the offensive line.  Minnesota’s offensive line was porous last year, giving up 49 sacks(5th most in the league).  Kalil would add some much needed protection to give Ponder a chance to at least release the ball before a DE has his face in the turf.  Minnesota’s ground game is still scary good, and if Kalil can prevent a few sacks/rushed passes a game, the Vikings could be a formidable opponent next year.

While none of these picks seem ultra surprising, the dynamics of this draft make this year especially interesting.  I predict many teams will be trading around in the top 10 and there is no telling where players like Luck or Griffin may eventually end up.  Anyway you look at it, with a little “luck” this draft will be crucial for these bottom teams in securing their position for the future.

The Red Scare: Acquisitions Have Team Poised to Make a Title Run

This time last year, the Cincinnati Reds looked to be a title contender.  Coming off an NL Central League Title, their first since 1995, they seemed to have all the pieces in place.  The Phillies quickly put an end to their run however, and Cincinnati had to wait and hope the stars would align again.  In 2011, they didn’t.  After building a sizable lead in the NL Central, they suffered an abysmal mid-season collapse.  The pitching is where this team seemed to stumble the most.  At times, it looked like the team had brought out Mariah Carey from the bullpen for more than just that “ceremonial” first pitch.  They finished third in the central behind Milwaukee and eventual champion St. Louis.  With the 2012 spring training upon us, expectations are high that Cincinnati can once again return to the 2010 level of play.

So what has changed?  First and foremost, Milwaukee and St. Louis have lost their premier players in Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols respectively.  This should make the NL Central a weaker overall division. Nonetheless, The St. Louis Cardinals are the reigning champions, yet predictions are that the Reds are a slim favorite to win the division.  Let’s take a moment to look at the additions to the pitching roster to see why.

The Reds starting rotation last year was weak, in response, the Reds acquired pitcher Matt Latos from San Diego.  Sure, last year he finished 9-14 for San Diego, but the Padre’s weak hitting and lackluster fielding don’t do Latos’s 3.47 ERA justice.  Of Cincinnati’s starters, only Cueto pitched a lower ERA.  Likewise, the Reds also acquired Ryan Madson.  Madson is a big time closer, and if the starting rotation can keep runs down, he should have no problem finishing off opponents.  Last year alone, he had only two blown saves on a total of 32 saves.  Rounding out the new pitching is Sean Marshall.  Marshall is a capable closer sporting a 2.26 ERA.  Once again, he brings depth to a team much in need of closers.

These additions, paired with the Reds current lineup, should position this team for an NL Central championship and perhaps a new pennant.  That is, unless Mariah once again ruins the party.

Arm Wrestler Gets a “Hand” Up on the Competition

Tiger Woods, Peyton Manning, Michael Jordan, these are just a few of the names that come to mind when thinking about the “Greatest Athletes of All Time”.  John Brzenk is probably not one of the names.  After all, he’s 47, 6’1″ tall, and weighs 200 pounds.  He’s very much like any other guy, except he’s a world champion arm wrestler cited by Guinness Book or Records as the Greatest Arm Wrestler of All Time.  Brzenk maintains this title, despite his growing age and fiercer competition.

John Brzenk began arm wrestling in elementary school at lunch tables. While in middle school, he once lost a match with a broken arm to a friend of his fathers.  He won his first title at 18, being featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports.  Brzenk also earned the nickname “Superman” for defeating much larger opponents, once arm wrestling a man who weighed 660 pounds and winning. It is said the Brzenk employs various different techniques both in a single match, and across various opponents.  These techniques include the Top Roll technique which emphasizes a ‘roll’ of the wrist as he brings the opponent’s wrist down and the Hook technique where the wrist turns into a hooked grip after the referee has started the match, among many others.

Brzenk is hailed as the innovator of modern arm wrestling, and his matches often end in seconds.   Not so bad for a guy who likely would be “too old” for most other sports.  Take a look at the clip below to see Brzenk in action at the 2008 Nemiroff Finals.

From Cellar to Zeller: Profiling IU’s Freshman Phenoms

After two solid wins at Purdue and vs. Illinois, it’s becoming more clear that the talent on IU’s basketball squad is NCAA tournament worthy. Coming in at 5th in the Big Ten currently, it is hard to believe that this team last year was dead last in the conference. So what has changed? The freshman class of 2011-2012 has propelled this team to wins against then No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Ohio State. Let’s take an individual look at each of IU’s freshman.

Austin Etherington:

Etherington has been mostly a role player thus far in the season. He’s played in 11 games for a total of 63 minutes. He has a season high of 9 points on 100% shooting vs. Stony Brook. Etherington has proven he can shoot the ball well, but his defense has left a little to be desired at times. He has only played in 3 Big Ten games for a total of about 6 minutes. If he can show an ability to work the ball and utilize his size, he may yet see more play time this season.

Remy Abell:

Perhaps one of the more pleasant surprises on the roster is that of Remy Abell. He scored a season high 13 points at Purdue, and effectively shut the door on any chance at a Boilermaker comeback. He shoots from behind the arc at a surprisingly good 46%. He plays stingy defense, and can shoot the ball well. He has played in 22 games this year, and will likely see more court time going forward.

Cody Zeller:

Of course this list would have to include the likely Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Zeller is averaging over 15 points per game and shoots the ball at 65%. According to Yahoo, he is second only to Anthony Davis for the best freshman in the country. He has only scored less than double digits in three games this season and 20+ in five. He has a season best 26 points against Iowa on 11 of 12 shooting. He shoots free throws at a 77.7% clip a pretty sweet percent for a big man. However, he has struggled getting rebounds, and only has 2 double doubles on the year. Also, he seems hesitant at times to work the inside. Still, Zeller is the key cog in Indiana’s offense.

This years team is leaps and bounds better thanks in part to the addition of these key freshmen. Look for Indiana to continue to build on these pieces in the future.

Super Bowl Ad’s: “You didn’t see nuthin.”

Between the Giants win, the middle finger half-time debacle, and the constant Peyton reminders, advertisers managed to cram a few Super Bowl worthy ad’s in a throng of car commercials and Go Daddy innuendo.  I use the term “few” loosely.  It seems most who turned in for a rip roaring commercial-athon were sadly disappointed.  If you missed them, I’ll recap the must see’s from the “no please!”

The Best:

1.  Man’s Best Friend:  Doritos has really left its mark on the last few Super Bowls with ultra-creative user generated ads.  The great thing about these ads is the fact that it didn’t take a fortune to create the ad, yet their scripted so well that you would think Steven Spielberg directed the cast.

2.  Mayan Apocalypse: GM certainly had the most creative auto ad of the Super Bowl.  Doomsday predictions? Check. Twinkie product placement? Check.  Huge knock on Ford? Big Check.  If this commercial really reflects the end of times, at least we can all admire our tough trucks.

3.  The Dog Strikes Back:  I loved this commercial for a number of reasons.  Obviously, the dog spot is cute and fun.  But more importantly, this commercial segues back to their commercial from last year with a young Darth Vader.  Many thought they would spin a sequel off of this, but none expected such a witty idea.

And finally my award for the worst commercial of the night goes to:

1. Teleflora: I’m a guy, and I appreciate pretty ladies, it’s just that I appreciate other things too. Perhaps a plot, or maybe something leaving me feeling like I should actually use the product? This commercial left me feeling dirtier than Paul Reubens in an adult theater. Maybe Teleflora should consider that the Super Bowl is marketed as a family event, not as some late night trash on Cinemax.

Perhaps next year we’ll have more creative gems to marvel at, after all, we all know that “the vader kid is funnier”.

Memorable Moments of 2011:Lockout Flashback

With the Super Bowl just one week away, we will all remember the highlights (and lowlights) of the 2011-2012 NFL football season.  Maybe it was the chance at a perfect season for the Packers, or the 2-14 season of the cellar dwelling Colts.  What many seem to have already forgotten is that we are indeed lucky to even be having a Super Bowl at all.  Many experts, owners, pundits, and players were unsure heading into this season just how the lockout would play out.  Let’s take a moment to recap some of the key points in the NFL lockout of 2011.

Many cited greed on both sides of the issue as fanning the flame resulting in the eventual lockout.  The situation involved a $9 billion dollar revenue pool that was initially separated so that owner’s would receive the first $1 billion before the split.  Under the owners proposed plan, they would receive the first $2.4 billion, an effective cut of players wages by 18%.  Many players expressed their disapproval by taking their comments public.  Sean Morey of the NFLPA said, “We’re not trying to villainize the owners, we understand they have a fiduciary responsibility to make revenue for the game. We share in that . . . [But] their entire argument is flawed and unsupported and unpersuasive. They see how much money they’re going to make down the road. … (Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones sat across from us and said he’s a perpetual optimist. Dang right he is. Because he understands that the league is more profitable now than ever, and the amount of money that they’re able to make down the road is something, I personally believe, they don’t want to share with players.”

Roger Goodell was also criticized for his support of owners in the fiasco.  Goodell was quoted as saying, “The owners don’t win by having a lockout. Shutting down your business is not good for anybody and it’s certainly not good for the players, it’s certainly not good for the fans. And that’s most important to us.”  While Goodell attempted to reach a settlement for both sides, he continued to be vilified by both sides as well.

Nonetheless, the bickering eventually stopped, and on July 21, 2011 the owners voted unanimously on the newest CBA.  This presented two pieces of food for thought.  1. If the owners didn’t “need” the season, why did they vote unanimously to approve the new CBA which was much closer to the old (player friendly) one than the new (owner friendly) one?  And 2.  Was much of the public “arguing” a way to push the media into taking action in the players favor?  After all, nearly 60% of the public blame the owners for the lockout versus 30% blaming the players.  I’ll leave that for you to decide…