TC Sportsline

Rajon Rondo: The next big thing November 13, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in NBA.
Tags: Boston Celtics, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Kevin Garnett, NBA, point guards, Rajon Rondo
2 comments

For those of you who don’t know, I live in Seattle. Now, that being said I have a fondness for the Boston Celtics and have for some time. I’m not sure why, beings that they are about as far from Seattle as you can get, but I have just loved watching them play and how their team is run. Another reason may be that former Seattle Sonic Ray Allen plays for them, so naturally I am a fan, and also one of my favorite players of all time Kevin Garnett is also on the squad. My brother can vouch; when we were little I collected KG basketball cards, no lie. So, after all that why write an article about Rajon Rondo? Well, Rondo is going to be the next elite point guard in the NBA right up there with Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, and Jason Kidd. With his ungodly speed, moves that leave more broken ankles than a well placed AI crossover, and a command of the court almost unrivaled in the NBA, Rajon is well on his way to being one of the best. So, how am I so sure that Rondo deserves to be in the top tier of point guards in the NBA? Funny you should ask…

Rondo’s rise to the top started in high school in Louisville Kentucky where he played for famed coach Doug Bibby at Easter High School. During his junior year there, Rondo averaged a balmy 27.9 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per contest (looks eerily similar to what he did in the playoffs last year, hmmm). Once he was done there, he transferred to the well know NBA star factory Oak Hill Academy. Here are some of his numbers his senior year:

21.0 points per game

12.0 assists per game

Single season record 303 assists

Two 27 assist games and on 31 assist game (single game Oak Hill record)

One 55 point game (second all-time at Oak Hill)

Oh and just for all you visual learners out there…

High School Highlights

Once Rondo was done dominating in the high school ranks, he moved on the University of Kentucky where he had two solid years. Though his per game averages weren’t spectacular (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) it was his command of the floor and the way he ran his team that garnered him attention from NBA scouts. But, for all his on court skills and crazy potential, there has been one consistent knock on Rondo: attitude. At Kentucky he was slapped with a reputation of being hard to coach, cocky, and sometimes just downright mean. We will get to more on why this is somewhat true, but blown out of proportion later.

So, we all know what happened next, Rondo was selected 21^st overall by the Phoenix Suns and traded to the Celtics. He played backup his first season and began starting late in that season. Then, in his second season he was teamed up with “The Big Three” and the rest is history. When the Celtics first acquired Rondo, Doc Rivers knew what he had.

In a piece from ESPN, it was noted that “Rivers identified early on that Rondo had both the physical attributes (speed and rebounding ability) and intangibles (vision and confidence) to become a star at his position.” Rivers was also quoted as saying “Rondo will be [the franchise player] and it’ll be great.” He is speaking of the post-Big-Three era in Boston of course. So what are the things that Doc sees that are going to make Rondo an elite point guard in this league. I think they boil down to this: leadership, vision, work ethic, defense. With those things intact, the sky is the limit for Double R.

So when the league is playing catch up they know who he is

Being surrounded by arguably one of the greatest trios of all time, Rondo has been successful in leading his team. I mean trying to keep three future hall of famers happy is a tall order. Rondo’s ability to be a leader and move the team where it needs to be is his biggest asset. Paul Peirce knows the value of a strong leader, “He’s doing a great job facilitating the offense and being the quarterback. He understands that he doesn’t have to score. But what he’s been doing these four games into the season; his maturity has been tremendous to watch.”

It has always been a criticism on Rondo that he is too quiet, too in his own mind, not enough of a team player. Maybe those people saying that should ask the people that are closest to him on a daily basis. Kendrick Perkins, his teammate and Boston Celtics center, has said “If you didn’t know him, you’d think he’s just this quiet kid, But he can be the loudest guy in the locker room.” Perkins isn’t the only won recognizing Rondo’s skills and ability. Kevin Garnett sees Rondo as the future of the league.

“If Rondo is not the best point guard in three or four years, I’d be very, very surprised. He has all the tools to lead a team. His defense is unlike any other guard I’ve seen. He has the quickness of a Tony Parker. He has the eyes and the passing skills of a Jason Kidd. He has to establish that 15-foot jumper, make it stick and be consistent. But I’m very, very, very, very impressed with Rondo.”

The C’s recently played the New Orleans Hornets and before the game, head coach Byron Scott was asked about the matchup between Rondo and Chris Paul and has this to say, “Rajon Rondo should be considered among the top five or six point guards in the league.” High praise from someone who coaches Paul, who is widely considered the top point guard in the league. Speaking of Paul vs. Rondo, they were involved in a spat after that game. Now some people criticized Rondo for this. I say it shows he is not afraid, ready to stand up to anyone, even the great CP3

He ain’t affraid

Taking the comments of his future hall of fame teammates, I think Rajon’s leadership skills are not to be questioned. Though it is of high value, leadership is somewhat intangible. Things like presence, court awareness, and knowledge of what to do when are also things that are hard to measure. Rondo has all these things, as well as one of his greatest assets that is measureable, and that is vision. For me, vision translates into seeing the floor and subsequently abusing your opponent while placing the ball to your teammates in a position to do damage. For all intents and purposes, these are assists. But over and above that, vision is not just getting an assists, it is knowing when and where to push the ball, pull it out, take a jump shot, or drive to the basket. Please witness in this highlight reel.

Highlight Reel

After the Chicago game referenced above (you know you want to watch that video again) Doc Rivers called Rondo “the most dominate player on the floor.” This is on a night when his line was 2 points on 2 shots, 16 assists to only 2 turnover, and 8 rebounds. Dominate with his vision and leadership, not with scoring. Most guys could go out and get 20 points if the shot enough and played enough minutes, but very few people can get 16 assists and only turn the ball over twice in an entire game. Vision. ESPN Boston had a piece on Rondo and why he should be in the discussion of top point guards in the league. They said, “Rondo, only 23 years old and in his fourth NBA season, seems to have triple-double potential. That’s the type of output previously reserved for the likes of Jason Kidd…”

To go along with his vision, Rondo is one of the best off the ball defenders and one of the best steal guys in the league. So far this season he is averaging 3.0 steals per game, up from his 1.9 per game last season and 1.8 per game for his career. Defensive specialists are usually role player guys, a la a Bruce Bowen, who don’t contribute in other statistical categories. Rondo is not that type. Though his one on one defense isn’t spectacular, his unnatural wing span and frying-pan-sized hands give him the ability to get lots of deflections and thefts from off the ball.

Cookies!

Slam Magazine did their yearly ranking of the 50 best players in the NBA recently, and Rondo came in at number 27. Is it so crazy to think that there are only 26 guys that are more valuable to their teams and are better players than Rondo? In the playoffs last year, with Kevin Garnett out, Rondo bore the weight of carrying the Celtics through the playoffs on his broad shoulders, pushing his 171 pound frame to its limits. Wasn’t Rondo’s play the determining factor in the Celtics run last year? Slam had this to say,

“Think about that Celtics team minus Kevin Garnett. We saw how that worked out this past postseason. Now, picture that team also without Rajon Rondo. Or, substitute Garnett’s absence for Rondo’s. Is it so ludicrous to think that the impact would be just as large? Who would have stepped in to save them and fill Rondo’s shoes? Eddie House?”

Now that we have gone over the things that Rondo brings to the table, can we please talk about aesthetic presentation? I mean are there many more guys in the NBA that are more fun to watch than Rondo. I mean you watched the videos, and he does it all with a straight face. That crazy fake-around-the-back-cupping-the-ball-with-my-giant-mitt move that he does is crazy and I’ve never seen it before. Watching him slash through defense, find his teammates in impossible places, and throw in the occasional posterizing slam (see below) and what more entertainment could you want?

Get up little guy

The main argument I hear against putting Rondo in that top tier is that he is only good because he plays with great players. Well, it is true that he plays with great players, but playing with them doesn’t diminish his game, it just changes it. If say Rondo switched places with Chris Paul and played with the guys Paul does, do you think that Rondo wouldn’t be just as successful if not more? We have seen that Rondo can score when he needs to, even in the playoffs, but he doesn’t just because he doesn’t need to now. If he didn’t have legit scorers on his team, why could he average 20+ points a game?

Slam Magazine makes a good point in saying, “Asking whether his game benefits from the players around him is like asking whether Phil Jackson has helped Kobe Bryant’s career. The question isn’t open for debate. It also doesn’t really matter, because to quote any and every NBA player, it is what it is. And, it is what each has made out of it.” So each player’s position is what it is and really shouldn’t affect their value. If anything Rondo has thrived in an environment that most others would have failed. Think of the pressure and expectations of playing with The Big Three. I mean over and above trying to keep them happy, but the expectations of Sports Nation and the Celtics organization. He has taken it in stride and done what most other players probably couldn’t.

So where would you rank him? Top 10, top 5? Hoopsworld.com had a ranking system that seemed legit to me:

These are the players I would trade for, move the earth for, revamp my roster for, and change my philosophy for. If I can get them in any way shape or form, I’m pulling the trigger. If any of these players are running my team, we are immediately relevant and a perennial playoff contender. I want management to do whatever it takes to get a player in this group.

Chris Paul – simply the toughest competitor at the position
Tony Parker – totally un-guardable and offensively dominant in stretches
Deron Williams – takes over games when he’s rolling
Chauncey Billups – the best veteran QB in the league
Derrick Rose – he’s a 10-year All-Star
Rajon Rondo – can wreak havoc and dominate on both ends

For me, it goes Paul, Williams, Rondo, Nash, Kidd, and then everyone else. Those are the guys who make or break their teams and get the job done on both ends as well as on the glass. Rondo should be and will be among the top two or three point guards in the league this year and for many years to come, you heard it here first. Also, just to leave you with something to think about, check this shot…

Ridiculous

Closing the Door on “Blowing the Whistle”: What can we take from the Tim Donaghy saga? November 3, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in NBA.
Tags: Blowing the Whistle, David Stern, gambling, NBA, sports betting, Tim Donaghy
2 comments

When sport moves from beautiful game, to multi-billion dollar business there is always going to be corruption. Maybe the most famous instance in recent memory is the case of convicted felon ex-NBA referee Tim Donaghy. After being indicted on federal wire fraud charges, Donaghy has spent the last 15 months in jail. Now, preparing to rejoin society, Donaghy had written a book entitled “Blowing the Whistle: The Culture of Fraud in the NBA” and was preparing to release it this month. Just before its release the publisher, Random House, pulled the plug. They cited “concerns over potential liability” as the reason for the cancellation. Excerpts from the book have been leaked and give a glimpse into the damning claims Donaghy makes against the league, other officials, and upper management of the NBA. How much stock do we put in the words of a convicted felon with a gambling problem who has a proverbial axe to grind with the NBA? Is there cheating in the NBA and how much does David Stern and the league actually know? Who is to blame and what are the consequences of these revelations? Lets examine the topic and you can make the call yourself.

Before we dive into the details of the claims of Donaghy himself, can we really be surprised by his claims? I mean, if you look at big-time sporting events in the past it is hard to ignore. Take Super Bowl XL for example. The heavily favored Steelers were on the goal line and Ben Rothlisberger attempted to run the ball into the end zone. Now, everyone in the stadium, at home, and on the sideline could see the ball hit the ground short of the goal line. Even after the booth review the referee’s called it a touchdown. Talk about questionable.

That is just one example. The BCS, college football, the NCAA tournament. These are big time sporting events where millions of dollars are bet on thousands of games. Every sports fan has sat and watched a game and said, “Dude, is the other team paying these guys or what?!” Well, that might not be as ridiculous as it seems. There has to be some pretty damaging things in the book because the NBA reportedly “came after Random House” according to a source, “and threatened a lawsuit, and Random House just rolled and decided to not go with it. It’s really that simple.” It looks like David Stern and his cronies think that the things in this book need to stay out of public view. .

One excerpt from the book outlines how certain officials would make friendly wagers on things that would happen in the game:

“To have a little fun at the expense of the worst troublemakers, the referees working the game would sometimes make a modest friendly wager amongst themselves: first ref to give one of the bad boys a technical foul wouldn’t have to tip the ball boy that night.”

This type of thing would not necessarily determine the outcome of the game but just illustrates how referees used their power to manipulate the game to their own bias. Again, for me, this doesn’t come to that much of a surprise because if you have watched as much hoops as I have, you have seen it first hand. I mean when a guy runs over someone and doesn’t get called on it, and then the next time down the floor they call some touch foul on someone else it begs questioning. And is anyone else disturbed by the fact that refs are tipping ball boys here. Recently the league, in its new collective bargaining agreement with the officials addressed this:

“The new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and National Basketball Referees Association prohibits referees from paying tips or compensation of any kind to locker room attendants or other team or arena personnel for personal services performed for referees by such personnel during games.”

Yeah, maybe tipping the attendant for giving you an extra beer for after the game isn’t a big deal, it just looks bad. Donaghy also cited that “during one particular summer game, Duke Callahan, Mark Wunderlich, and I made it to the three-minute mark in the first quarter without calling a foul.” This is just the small stuff he lets out in the book.

Donaghy goes on to talk about specific referee-league-player relationships and how they were coached in certain situations. He talks about what the league called “star stoppers” and how there were to deal with these situations. He says that, “Some players, even very good ones, were targeted by referees and the league because they were too talented for their own good.” This mostly had to do with great defensive players going against marquee guys who bring in the tickets for the league. In particular he talks about Raja Bell and his defensive prowess against Kobe Bryant. According to Donaghy “Star stoppers hurt the promotion of marquee players. Fans don’t pay high prices to see players like Raja Bell — they pay to see superstars like Kobe Bryant score 40 points.”

Yeah, so the refs picked on some players, that doesn’t mean they were fixing the games? Well, if you knew for a fact that a certain player or certain team was going to receive favorable treatment from an official that could have major implications in Vegas. Donaghy talks in his book about veteran official Steve Javie and his relationship with Allen Iverson. In not so many words he says that Javie hated Iverson and loved picking on him. Donaghy says that “if Javie was on the court when Iverson was playing, I would always bet on the other team to win or at least cover the spread.” Betting was not the only thing that makes me as a fan sick.

In probably the most surprising and damning example Donaghy gives is the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings. For a life-long hoops fan, this game lives in infamy. If you are not a Laker fan and feel they get special treatment, this series is a go to example. When the series went to game six and the Kings were up 3-2, everyone smelled upset. Knowing the officials personalities and how the league felt about these teams Donaghy has this revelation:

“The referees assigned to work Game 6 were Dick Bavetta, Bob Delaney, and Ted Bernhardt. As soon as the referees for the game were chosen, the rest of us knew immediately that there would be a Game 7. A prolonged series was good for the league, good for the networks, and good for the game. Oh, and one more thing: it was great for the big-market, star-studded Los Angeles Lakers.”

Donaghy has claimed that officials decide before the game which team should win and why. This is very damning information and completely discredits the legitimacy of outcomes in the NBA. David Stern and the league surely would put a swift end to anything near this right? Not so fast, Donaghy claims the league not only knew about it but encouraged it:

“In the pre-game meeting prior to Game 6, the league office sent down word that certain calls — calls that would have benefited the Lakers — were being missed by the referees. This was the type of not-so-subtle information that I and other referees were left to interpret.”

Throughout the excerpts that were leaked Donaghy talks at length about Dick Bevetta, a veteran official who has worked more playoff games than any other referee. He talks about how Bevetta’s involvement in the 2002 series was not the first time or the last the league called on him when they needed “help” with a game. He was the self-proclaimed “go-to guy” for the NBA. What do these claims mean for us, the fans? What are we supposed to do now and should Donaghy’s book be released? How much can we believe of what the disgraced referee has to say?

The guys from ESPN’s “Around the Horn” talked about this topic on their show. Bob Ryan of ESPN talked about how the referee is vital in determining the outcome of the games. He says they “tell you two things; who is going to play and how the game is going to be played.” This is for better or worse, and for much worse if you think Tim Donaghy is telling the truth. Tim Cowlishaw feels the book “needs to be published and read” for there to be any kind of credibility in the NBA. He feels that we should be able to read the book and make our own conclusions.

On that same show, resident NBA expert J.A. Adande weighed in and made some strong points. As he should be, Adande is critical of the league and says the “NBA needs to address personal bias effects on the outcomes of games.” Yeah, that would be good Stern, listen to Adande and stop looking the other way. I mean, really, you are telling me you can’t see what is going on. Come on dude. Adande also asks “what is the league going to do to address this?” What are they going to do? Well apparently they are going to do what they always do, deny and ignore, that is what they do best.

As a basketball fan and someone who has watched the NBA since I could see, it has been clear that the NBA is more business than it is pure sport. Bill Simmons, “The Sports Guy” from ESPN, has been talking about this for years. From June 2006 to June 13 2007 Simmons wrote these articles:

State of the NBA Finals
Welcome to the No Balls Association
Tanks for Nothing, NBA
Common Sense vs. The NBA Rule Book
Time to Fix the NBA Playoffs

Simmons, me, and pretty much everyone who follows the NBA has a notion that the type of things that Donaghy talks about go on to some extent. Tony Cornhiser from ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption makes the point that these claims “feed into what so many fans always feel, that there is an agenda with league management to get certain teams into positions to win” He also talks about how these things happen in college football, especially with teams such as Florida and USC. Also on PTI, Mike Wilbon says “people talk about this in the culture of the NBA and in NBA circles and I have brushed it off. It’s harder to brush it off today.” No doubt Mike, no doubt.

Even though we all seem to be in agreement, how much credibility does Tim Donaghy have? How much can we take from the statements of a proven compulsive gambler who has beef with the NBA and other referees who he perceived as letting him take the fall? From reading the excerpts of the book that were leaked on Deadspin.com, it is obvious to the reader that Donaghy is pissed. Some of what he says seems to be fabrication and it probably is. But, some stuff seems all too possible and validates what those who follow the NBA have feared for so long. Not to mention the reaction by the league in quickly throwing out his claims and threatening a lawsuit. In an ESPN article the NBA says this:

“In 2008 Mr. Donaghy’s allegations were thoroughly investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We are reassured that the U.S. Government completed its investigation finding that the only criminal conduct was that of Mr. Donaghy. We take any question regarding the integrity of our game extremely seriously. At the time Mr. Donaghy’s crimes came to light, we appointed Lawrence B. Pedowitz, a former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s office of the Southern District of New York to lead a comprehensive independent review of the NBA’s officiating program. Mr. Pedowitz’s review revealed that the NBA’s core values of neutrality and accountability were not compromised by anyone other than Mr. Donaghy.”

This is typical David Stern bs and just makes me want to throw up. Not only is he avoiding the questions and not giving any new information, the league doesn’t address specifically Tim Donaghy’s book. Do they honestly believe that the things that he was convicted of he did alone? I mean come on, you proved that the things he claimed he did were true, why would the things that others did not be true having to do with the same events? That is the type of look-the-other-way-so-my-pockets-stay-fat attitude that taints the NBA beyond repair.

Whenever something that you love is threatened you want to find someone to blame, right? So who is to blame here? Obviously the parties involved according to Donaghy take the bulk of the responsibility here. No matter who is telling you what, you always have the choice whether or not to do it. So I am not excusing their actions and they should, if in fact Donaghys book is true, be held accountable. Beyond that, shouldn’t the people whose job it is to monitor these things take some blame? Not only those who monitor, but those who stand to gain from the infractions of their employees should be held accountable just as much. I mean Stern and his mob of wealthy owners and managers are getting Lil Wayne rich from the NBA and partly due to which teams are good and which teams and players win.

Beyond that I blame Stern and his men for doing nothing. David Stern has looked the other way on these kinds of things throughout his tenor. When Clay “make every effort to stay in Seattle and then snatch your team away” Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City unjustly, Stern not only looked the other way, but encouraged it. Maybe I am biased due to being a life-long Sonic fan, but hey, bias seems to be the name of the game when it comes to the NBA right?

What is most disheartening in all these shenanigans is that the fan takes the biggest hit. The people who dedicate their emotions, hard earned money, and valuable time to supporting a team are left to feel betrayed. When my dad used to take me to games when I was little I didn’t see the corruption, the beauty of the game shown through all the crap. That beauty is what is lost in all this, the skill of the athletes who give their blood and sweat to give us all something to watch and love. Is the childhood innocence that I can remember lost forever? Well, what we have to do is appreciate the game for what it is: a showcase of some of the most skilled and physically gifted athletes on the planet pitting their best move against the best of their opponent. The results of the games, the playoffs, the endorsements and commercial deals are all secondary. If we cant trust the outcomes, we can at least appreciate the skill involved and the beauty of the game.

Friday Preview October 30, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in Fantasy Football, NBA, NFL.
Tags: college football, Fantasy Football, MLS, NBA, NFL, USC
4 comments

Before we get the weekend in sports, let’s dive into some fantasy goodness for the NFL. We will go through some pickups for this week and the weekly fantasy gods and goats for this week. Every week when the gods and goats are picked I will keep a tally and see how I do over the course of the season. So let’s get it started.

Fantasy football preview

Pickups of the week:

Jamal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (strong grab in all leagues): For all intents and purposes it seems that Larry Johnson has carried the ball for the last time in Kansas City. After making a few, shall we say, “colorful remarks”(hyperlink comments) in the media, Johnson was asked to stay away from team activities until their next game November 8^th. LJ and the Chiefs have had a strained relationship for some time and this seems like the end. Thus Charles is thrust into a featured back role. More of a third down, pass catching back, Jamal Charles has yet to carry the rushing load for his team. It is yet to be seen how his skills translate, but getting a guy who will get the bulk of the work of waivers is a must. Grab him in all league formats.
Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers (medium grab in 12+ team leagues): After scoring in two of the last three games, Wallace has become the favorite deep target of the revamped Steeler passing game. Big Ben Rothlisberger is taking more shots downfield and Wallace is happy to catch them. This season Wallace has catches of 51, 47, and 40 yards for a strong 17.5 yards per catch. When in a deep league sometimes you only need one big play to win your week. More often then not Wallace is going to get the deep ball when Rothlisberger channels his inner gunslinger.
Fred Davis, TE, Washington Redskins (strong grab in all leagues): Many a fantasy owner cringed when fantasy stud and internet aficionado Chris Cooley went down with a broken ankle. In steps Fred Davis to the rescue. After Cooley went out Davis went for 8 catches, 78 yards and a touchdown in his steed. The weaknesses that may keep Davis from matching Cooley’s production is not his speed or pass catching ability, but his complete lack of blocking skills. It was embarrassing. I mean it was like watching a guys working out with a blocking sled the way guys moved him out of the way. If he can improve on this Davis could be the answer to many teams missing Cooley.

Fantasy gods and goats week 8

Fantasy gods:

Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets: I know, I know, why isn’t Shonn Greene in this weeks pickups column? Well because his potential for a big game this week was enough for me to list him as a fantasy god. After Leon Washington went down with a broken leg last week, Greene stepped in and rushed for 144 yards on 19 carries and two scores. This was against a pretty weak Oakland run defense also, but they aren’t the worst in the league. This week’s match up will be though, but Greene along with his running mate Thomas Jones has the luxury of running behind one of the best lines in the league. Greene is fast, strong, and hungry to show the world what he can do.

God-like prediction: 18 carries, 125 yards, 2 touchdowns

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears: Ok, I promise, really, this is the last chance for Forte. After almost half a season of running like a girly man, Forte and the Bears have to reestablish the run game. This is a good week to do it too against the third to last ranked Cleveland Brown run defense that got lit up by Ryan Grant last week. Forte, for all his woes, has been involved in the pass game and is on track for 53 catches this year. The Bears play at home this week two and the last home game for Forte he put up 121 yards and a touchdown against and equally terrible Lions team. So, if Forte craps the bed again this week we can make it official, he will be the biggest fantasy bust of the year.

God-like prediction: 22 carries, 115 yards, 5 catches, 55 yards, two touchdowns

Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys: It has been a long time since a guy has stepped into a role and shown out like Austin has the last two weeks. After all that, Dallas and Austin face a Seattle Seahawks pass defense that is in the bottom 10 in the league. They have given up big games to Indianapolis and Arizona this season so far. Austin isn’t Reggie Wayne or Larry Fitzgerald but he is hot right now. We have seen that Austin can have his way with bad pass defenses in Kansas City and Atlanta and this week should be no different. Oh yeah, and they are playing at Jerry’s World too, who doesn’t want to see themselves dominate on the largest LCD screen in the world. Nice.

God-like prediction: 8 catches, 130 yards, two touchdowns

Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Collie has shown that he can produce even when Reggie Wayne is doing his hall-of-fame thing. Now with Wayne questionable for the game and not 100% even if he does go, Collie should see a few more Peyton Manning lasers than usual. The Colts’ offense is sick, and Collie will be the beneficiary of that sickness.

God-like prediction: 7 catches, 117 yards, one touchdown

Fantasy goats:

Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants: My theory of the winter meltdown for Eli Manning is documented (hyperlink previous article) so it makes sense to have him here. The weather is getting nasty and the Giants have two very skilled running backs. Now is the time for Coach Coughlin to put the ball in the hands of his work horses and ride them into the frigid cold.

Goatish prediction: 17-30, 180 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions

Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers: This placement has everything to do with the defense they are facing. Minnesota has given up only 581 yards and two touchdowns in 7 games this season and those two scores both came against the incomparable Ray Rice. With all the hype about Green Bay moving on from Farve and going with Rodgers, the new kid has the most to prove in this situation. Look for Rodgers and especially Greg Jennings to go off when the run game struggles. With Green Bay finally getting it and using some more two TE sets, Rodgers should stay of his butt and throw the ball.

Goatish prediction: 18 carries, 45 yards, 3 catches, 15 yards, zero touchdowns

Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens: Though Rice has been a beast this year putting up a two touchdown rushing game against Minnesota who don’t give up multiple touchdowns very often; Rice has carried a heavy load early in the season. The Denver Broncos have surrendered only 438 yards and two scores to running backs over 6 games this season. Coming off the bye at home the Broncos look to make a statement. Unfortunately Ray Rice will be the whipping boy.

Goatish prediction: 12 carries, 52 yards, 4 catches, 40 yards, zero touchdowns

Brett Farve, QB, Minnesota Vikings: Too much hype, too much hype. Farve makes his not so heroic return to Lambeau Field and the people who worshiped him for so many years. Though he played well in the last match up, the hostile environment and swirling emotions will get the best of Farve this time. He may say it doesn’t matter but Brett wants to exact revenge on the team he felt wronged him so badly, he will stop himself. Not only will the Packers win, but Aaron Rodgers will outplay Farve this time.

Goatish prediction: 22-40, 203 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, one fumble

Weekend in sports

Now with the fantasy football stuff out of the way, let’s go over some of the more interesting sports taking place this weekend. If you can’t watch all this stuff you are forgiven, but you should really try.

College Football Saturday

#5 USC @ #10 Oregon: In a battle for Pac 10 supremacy, Pete Carol takes his freshman Phenom into Eugene to face a hungry and talented Duck team who is perfect in conference games. The match up to watch for in this game is the Oregon offense vs. and underperforming USC defense. The Trojan gave up 500 yards of offense and 36 points to OSU last week and most of that came through air. Even though this is ugly, USC is better than that stat line shows. Taylor Mays has some improvements to make in his reading of offenses, but passing is not Oregon’s strength.

Matt Barkley has led USC to wins in hostile places before, but Eugene is a whole different animal. Barkley has a nothing-rattles-me attitude which is rare for a freshman, but winning in Eugene is tough to do for even seasoned vets. Look for Carol to manage his quarter back, using short passes and the run games to keep him comfortable. That will be easier now that the Trojans welcome back Ronald Johnson off injury and his freakish athletic ability. The USC pass game should be in full effect.

On the other side of the ball, the Oregon run game looked doom to mediocrity when The Punch Hear Round the World sent LaGarrett Blunt to the bench for the season. Alas, LaMichael James bursts on the scene and has given the Ducks a slashing, burst of speed back that can change games. Jacquizz Rodgers of OSU lit USC up last week so this could be pivotal in deciding this game. This game is going to be exciting and could end USC’s national title hopes with a loss. Can Oregon play party pooper and start to run away with the Pac 10. Should be fun to find out.

#3 Texas @ #14 Oklahoma State: Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns bring their A game into Boone Pickens Stadium to take on a surging Oklahoma State Cowboy team looking to make a statement. To pull the upset, the Cowboys will look to get Colt McCoy away from what he does best, the short pass to Jordan Shipley. McCoy attempts the fewest passes beyond five yards in all of the FBS and they do it well. Shipley is a dangerous weapon every time he touches the ball and Oklahoma State will have to focus their efforts there to get the win.

Though Colt McCoy gets all the Heisman talk, OSU quarterback Zac Robinson has been more consistent this year. Even without stud wide receiver Dez Bryant, who’s season long suspension is a joke by the way, The OSU passing game looks strong. Wide receiver Hubert Anyiam has stepped up to become Robinsons go to guy.

Though an Oklahoma State victory would be the first in this series since 1997, the last two meetings have seen razor thin margins of victory for the Longhorns. In 2007 they squeaked out a win 38-35, and 2008 saw a 28-24 win for Texas. This year could be the year that the Cowboys get over the hump and break out of a 12 year slump. No matter what the outcome, this game will be fun to watch.

National Football League

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers: Call me crazy, but I am convinced that Brett Farve is going to smell up Lambeau Field like no other. For all the hype about Farve returning to Green Bay, what will decide the outcome of this game will be what happens in the trenches. Is Green Bay going to be able to contain Jared Allen and allow him to get less than 4.5 sacks this time? 4.5 sacks! By himself! Ridiculous. Will Green Bay stack the box against Adrian Peterson despite the emergence of Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin and the revamped Viking passing game? Look for Aaron Rodgers to hide behind some two tight end sets and try and get rid of the ball before he is knocked the eff out. Also, just a hunch, I think Greg Jennings gets back in the saddle here. Just a hunch.

Unbeaten or constantly beaten: This Sunday features three undefeated teams; New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos. Of these three it seems that the Denver Broncos have the best chance of getting their first loss of the season on the road against a tough and talented Baltimore Ravens team. It will come down to the Broncos containing the shifty Ray Rice and putting pressure of Joe Flacco.

Monday Night Football features the perfect New Orleans Saints taking on a dangerously talented Atlanta Falcons team looking to make a statement. Though the Falcons are strong on offense with Roddy White, Matt Ryan, Michael turner, and Tony Gonzalez, their defense is no match for the vaunted Saints passing game. Look for the Saints to remain perfect.

As for the Colts, it is hard to see anyone stopping them with Peyton Manning at the helm. They should take care of business against an overachieving San Francisco 49ers team. Manning will air it out against them and should be able to leave with a win.

Now, the battle of the Titans, literally. The winless Rams and Titans try to grab their first wins of the season on Sunday. Tennessee made a bold move and named Vince Young as the starter at quarter back to try and give the team a new look and get their first win. Taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars, they have a good chance to come out victorious.

In the case of the Rams, they are the only team with a legitimate shoot at giving the 2007-2008 0-16 Lions a run for their money. This week against those very Lions, if they don’t get a win, 0-16 here we come. These teams are both horrible, terrible teams and the game could get ugly. If the Lions come out on top, look for the Rams to give that winless record a real shot.

National Basketball Association

Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Charlotte Bobcats: For a team that lost only two games at home last year, the Cavs go into tonight’s game 0-2, and 0-1 at home. If, by some crazy twist, the Cavs loose to the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, they should be able to get a win against the Charlotte Bobcats Saturday. The Bobcats are improved with guys like Anthony Randolph and Anthony Morrow coming up and making their mark. The Cavaliers defense should be able to keep their offense in check, and LeBron will do his triple-double thing as usual.

Boston Celtics vs. New Orleans Hornets: The healthy and hungry Celtics face a pretty tought test against a sort of teetering Hornets team. Oh, who am I kidding, I just want to see Chris Paul take on Rajon Rondo. Rondo is really making a case to be in the conversation of the elite point guards in the League and Paul is established as the top of the top. This matchup should be fun to watch. The Celtics could move to 4-0 and are looking strong. Great game to watch.

MLS Playoffs: Sunday David Beckham and the LA Galaxy take on Chivas USA in the first round of the MLS Playoffs. With Beckham lofting laser crosses through the box to Landon Donovan, the Galaxy are hard to beat. Chivas USA does play a physical game and the Galaxy will look to win, but keep their studs healthy for the run to the cup. Love me some soccer.

Hoops Weekly October 29, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in NBA.
Tags: basketball, Boston Celtics, Chris Paul, hoops weekly, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA
6 comments

For the first real Hoops Weekly article I thought I would throw out some of my predictions along with some players and teams to watch. Being a Celtic fan, I also thought a recap of their season opener was in order. Enjoy.

Predictions:

Champs: Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics had a tough go of things in the latter half of last season and in the playoffs without their heart and soul Kevin Garnett. Their defense lost some of its intensity and they lost a go to scorer when they needed a bucket. Now, coming into the season with a healthy KG who, yes, is older, but is also in superb shape the Celtics look to manage their stars and go into the post-season rested and ready to run to the title.

Celtics look to add to their impressive resume

In addition to the health of their starts, Boston has added some much needed depth to their roster in acquiring Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels in the offseason. Wallace brings scoring off the bench and spreads the floor with he three-point shooting. Daniels is a strong defender and can run the point off the bench, letting Eddie House stalk the three-point line and fire at will. This will also allow Doc Rivers to manage the minutes of his aging stars and assure they are fresh when the post-season starts. This is crucial. Even if it costs them a few regular season wins, Rivers must not over play Garnett, Peirce, and Allen leaving them a step slow when it counts most.

Maybe the most important piece besides the health of Kevin Garnett is the Celtics emerging floor general Rajon Rondo. In a recent ESPN The Magazine article Rondo talked about a meeting he had with coach Doc Rivers after last season. Rivers was asking Rondo if he thought his teammates liked playing with him. Rondo was taken back and was affected by the question. He assumed a guy who averages almost double digit assists per game would be a teammate from heaven. It is not the passing that is the problem, it’s the attitude. Rondo has a rep now of being kind of a head case, checking out for periods in games especially if he makes a mistake. He is his own worst critic and needs to become more level-headed to lead his team.

A key to this season for Boston is going to be Rondo taking the next step from talented young guard to elite point guard and carry his team even when things are tough. Rajon has the skills to slay opposing D’s with his offense and defense. Contract negotiations and team chemistry can not distract him or the Celtics could come up short again.

Western Conference Champs: Los Angeles Lakers

Fresh of their tenth NBA Championship, the Los Angeles Lakers did not sit tight but made some acquisitions of their own. In an offseason trade they brought in Ron Artest from Houston for Trevor Ariza. Now on the surface this looks like a smooth deal, but if you look closer it looks more and more like a downgrade. Don’t get me wrong, Artest is a stellar player but he doesn’t bring the intangible things to an already star-studded team that Ariza did. Bringing in a guy who is accustomed to being the first or second option to a team with Kobe, Gasol, Odom, and Bynum seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Also, for all the people that call Artest a lock-down defender, I argue that Ariza is better. He is younger, faster, and has the potential to get better whereas Artest slows with each day.

On a positive not the Lakers did resign Lamar Kardashian-Odom to an extension, securing his versatile services for a while longer. With a healthy Bynum and happy Odom, the Laker frontcourt looks formidable. Where they are going to falter is in the back court. In the playoffs, in the finals, under extreme pressure your point guard is what makes or breaks you. Yeah, the Lakers won last year with Jordan Farmar, but they were also playing against a Magic team that didn’t have a point guard either. Going against Rondo or Jameer Nelson in the Finals will prove fatal for the Lakers. Even before that, trying to make Shannon Brown and Farmar compete with Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and Jason Kidd in the West is going to prove difficult at best.

Can Kobe carry the Lakers to a repeat campaign? Can he trust his teammates enough not to have to play 40 minutes a game? Will Bynum stay healthy? These questions make me worry and lead me to give the edge to the Boston Celtics in the end. The Lakers will win more regular season games, but when it counts most they will stumble.

Rookie Of The Year: Blake Griffin

When the news that Blake Griffin had a stress fracture in his knee cap and would miss 6 weeks you could almost hear the hearts of Clipper Nation (is there such a thing) break. Fear not Clipper faithful, your golden boy will still be the face of your franchise. Griffin is a physical specimen able to hang with NBA big men right away. There are only a few players in the NBA that can out muscle just about anyone, and Griffin falls into that class. In company with his power he possesses speed that surprises you for his size. Though he is the beneficiary of a particularly weak draft class, Griffin is still a dominant rookie and will run away with the award.

Most Valuable Player: Chris Paul

Call me bias, but I tend to think that a little guy who can dominate in the NBA

That just happened!

is not only cooler, but is harder to do. Chris Paul carries his team more than any other player in the league. You can make the argument that LeBron is more valuable to his team, but he also has more skilled pieces around him. You can say the same for others in the MVP discussion; Dwight has Jameer and Vince, Kobe has Pau and Odom, LeBron has Shaq. Being a point guard Paul is responsible to set the tempo, keep the team in their offense, and set a defensive example. Take him away and who would run the show?

Intriguing teams:

Chicago Bulls: This year’s version of the Bulls will ask 08-09 Rookie of the Year Derrick Rose to carry more weight and to lead a team minus Ben Gordon. He will need to pick up the scoring and also get his teammates involved. The Bulls did pick up Janero Pargo who has proven he can score in spurts in New Orleans. With the Bulls strength being its perimeter play, its glaring weakness is their front court play. Joakim Noah, Tyrus Thomas, and Brad Miller are decent players but can not hold their own against the Kevin Garnett’s and Shaq O’Neal’s in the Eastern Conference. Miller is more of an outside threat and Thomas and Noah are undersized and can’t create their own shot. If Rose can move to the next level of elite point guards and get some help down low, the Bulls can be a surprise team in the east.

Magic: When it comes to big man – point guard combos in the NBA, the Dwight Howard Jameer Nelson combo might be one of the best. Jameer Nelson is one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA and now fully healthy is ready to take his game to the next level. With the acquisition of Vince Carter and the loss of Hedo Turkoglu, the Magic seem to have broken even. But Vince Carter is more of a prolific scorer than Turkoglu is and can take some pressure of Howard down low. Health is going to be a factor here with Nelson’s shoulder and Carter’s age but you can say that for many teams in the league. An under the radar piece of the trade for Vince Carter is Ryan Anderson. This versatile swing man can shoot the three and handle himself in the post. With Rashard Lewis missing the first 10 games due to suspension, Anderson will fill in nicely. The Magic look to make a run back to the Finals with a healthy Nelson and seek their first championship.

Spurs: What do they say, one year older but one year wiser? Well the Spurs are one year older, but it seems Greg Popavich is the one who is wiser. He has made it clear that he intends to keep his aging stars fresh throughout the season by sitting them on back-to-backs and in blowouts. Pop has said that even if it costs them some regular season wins, Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker will be fresh and ready when the playoffs come. This plan seems to make sense now that the Spurs have acquired Richard Jefferson in the off season. Him in addition to adding Antonio McDyess gives them sort of a Ginobli-Duncan Jr. If Pop’s plan works out the Spurs could be a force in the Western Conference playoffs.

OKC: This is all about the young guns; Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden are some of the most talented young players in league. Now people say that a lot and most of the time it is code word for physically gifted but not proven and unsuccessful. Well, this may be the case but if these young players can take their fame t o the next level this season they could surprise some teams. Their biggest question mark is their bigs. This stretches all the way back to their Seattle Sonics days when a slew of high draft picks on big men didn’t work out (see Swift, Robert and Petro, Johan). This will be an exciting team to watch and that is what they care going to catch some teams doing, watching.

Breakout Players to Watch For

Kevin Durant: Durant had a solid season last year so he isn’t much of a breakout, but he is going to take his game to the next level. Durant has the skills and ability to be an elite player in the league and move into the discussion with the upper echelon of athletes. The Thunder are a young team with lots of talented young players and Durant is going to benefit from the improvement of the guys around him. Not facing double teams every time he touches the ball will free him up to not only score more, but get his teammates more involved.

Bold Prediction: 29 ppg, 5 apg, 8 rpg, 1.5 bpg, 1.5 spg

Ryan Anderson: The Orlando Magic acquired Ryan Anderson in the deal that brought Vince Carter to South Beach from New Jersey. Many thought Anderson just a throw-in in that deal, but he is much more than that. He is a big, mobile guy who can get to the rim and knock down the outside shot. He is going to present lots of matchup problems and capitalize on smaller

In case you didn't know.

defenders while bringing taller guys outside the lane. He may not replace Hedo Turkoglu, but he will give the Magic a weapon they may not have expected.

Bold Prediction: 15 ppg, 6 rpg, 2 apg

Eric Gordon: A former 7^th overall pick by the Clippers, Gordon has blazing speed and the ability to finish around the rim with the best of them. As a compliment, his three-point shooting is deadly as well making him an inside outside threat. Now that Barron Davis is health, Gordon can play the two guard where he is much more comfortable with his scoring ability. Look for him to be the beneficiary of some perfectly placed Barron Davis passes and give the Clippers another young athletic player.

Bold Prediction: 22 ppg, 5 apg, 2.5 3’s pg

Jason Thompson: Sacramento is going to be an unmitigated disaster this season holding onto the #30 spot in the NBA like grim death. Now that the coaches in Sac Town realize small forward isn’t the place to play Thompson, being back at center should boost his numbers. Look for Thompson to be a pretty steady double-double guy and be the lone bright spot in Kings’ lineup.

Bold Prediction: 15 ppg, 12 rpg, 1.5 bpg

Andrew Bynum: After an injury shortened season (thanks a lot, again, Kobe) Bynum looks to be coming back strong. In Tuesday’s opening night game he put up 26 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. The few weeks before he was injured last year, Bynum was putting up these kinds of numbers every night. With Gasol out for a period of time look for Bynum to establish himself as the big man on the Lakers campus. Even with Gasol back, Bynum will be the low-post, rebounding machine he showed he could be.

Bold Prediction: 19 ppg, 12 rpg, 2 bpg

Opening Night Recap

Boston Celtics 95 at Cleveland Cavaliers 89:

In a matchup of arguably the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, new acquisitions showed up and superstars showed out. The King remains the king as LeBron went for 38 points on 12 of 22 shooting to go with 8 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 4 ferocious blocks. He also added four three point shots as well showing his improved outside shooting. Garnett, Peirce, and Ray Allen combined for 52 points and led the Celtics to their first victory in Cleveland since 2004. Both teams showcased their new additions, but the Cavaliers started fast while the Celtics looked sluggish.

Shaquille O’Neal made his first three shots as a Cavalier and looked to be fitting in nicely. The first quarter saw Cleveland jump out to a 14 point lead feeding Shaq and letting LeBron run wild. One particular play saw Celtics guard Rajon Rondo make a clean steal leading to a fast break. As he rose up near the basket it was apparent he was going to try and jam on LeBron James. Bad idea Rajon. LeBron made one of the most impressive blocks in the open court I’ve seen in a while. It was sick.

Speaking of Rondo, his jump shot is much improved. He is going to make teams pay if they deicide to lay off him on the pick and roll this year. To go along with his 8 points, Rondo had 10 assists to only 2 turnovers, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. As we discussed earlier the Celtics season will hinge partly on his performance.

Another key point for both teams here is the addition of some depth on the bench. For the Celtics the addition of Rasheed Wallace, Marquis Daniels, and Sheldon Williams looks to give them some much needed scoring off the bench. In the first half the Celtics had a +15 advantage in bench scoring which is promising for the future. This will be key in allowing Doc Rivers to rest his stars, especially Kevin Garnett coming of knee surgery, and keep them fresh for the playoffs.

On the Cleveland side the big addition of the Big Cavalier looked to be a good one early. Shaq ended the game with 10 points and 10 rebounds giving Cleveland in inside presence they haven’t had in some years. Though he doesn’t demand an automatic double team like he used to, he can get you big paint points and some rebounding that is crucial to success.

As the game wound down the Cavaliers made a push to come back. It was easy to see that having a fresh Garnett and Pierce is what is going to win games for them as the season goes on and the playoffs ensue. LeBron did his best to bring his team back for the victory but the staunch Boston defense did its job and they hit their free throws when they needed to. After going 27-2 at home last year, is losing their home opener to a conference rival a sign of things to come? It is one of 82 games, but the Celtics look strong and this rivalry is heating up.

Booth Review: A look back at week 7 in NFL action October 27, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in Fantasy Football, NFL.
Tags: Drew Brees, football, Miles Austin, Monday Night Football, NFL, review, week 7
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Story Time

Miles Austin’s Powers go for miles: Some people had pegged Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin as a one-hit wonder. [reference one hit wonder of the past] Now that Austin has followed up his 10 catch, Cowboy record 250 yards, and two touchdowns last week with a six catch, 171 yard, two touchdown performance this week, is he now the Jay Z of this NFL season? Is he someone you can count on for hit after hit, album after album, delivering elite performances every week? He has had these two stellar games against some sub-par defenses in Kansas City and a Brian Williams-less Atlanta Falcons team which are both in the bottom half of the league in pass defense. But, he is now second in targets on the team behind Jason Witten so Romo is looking for him. Miles Austin might be the savior of the Cowboys season.

Michael Crabtree holds onto the ball instead of holding out: In his first game action of the year for the San Francisco 49ers, Michael Crabtree had 5 catches for 56 yards and was targeted 6 times. This isn’t a stellar line, but the value here is in what he did in his first game. He ran clean routes, ran hard and fast, and had a report with Shaun Hill and Alex Smith. Now that the 49ers have shown that they are not loyal to Shaun Hill, Crabtree’s value goes up with Alex Smith throwing the rock because Smith can throw a better deep ball where Crabtree excels. Crabtree played 48 snaps in this game, out of 52. I’m just saying.

Pittsburgh defeats Vikings in battle of defense: Two fourth quarter scores by the Steelers defense lifted Pittsburgh over the undefeated Minnesota Vikings 27-17 Sunday. Brett Farve threw the ball 51 times but it wasn’t enough, even for the immortal Farvinator. Maybe he should have thrown the ball one less time when he threw an interception at a critical point in the fourth quarter. The score was 20-10 Steelers and the Steelers kick off to the Vikings. Percy Harvin took the ball and took it to the house to make it 20-17 Pittsburgh. On the next possession the Steelers offense went three and out, giving the ball back to the Vikings. Farve drops back for his 500^th pass of the game and it is picked off by Keyaron Fox. The big guy stumbled, rumbled and took the ball to the end zone, all but stomping out the Viking comeback. Sometimes even a superhero makes mistakes.

A Week of picking on the weak: Take a look at the scores from some of this week’s games:

Green Bay vs. Cleveland = 31-3

San Diego vs. Kansas City = 37-7

Indianapolis vs. St. Louis = 42-6

New England vs. Tampa Bay = 35-7

New York Jets vs. Oakland = 38-0

Cincinnati vs. Chicago = 45=10

Yeah, those are some pretty nasty beatings. In fact the only real “game” was between the Houston Texans and the San Francisco 49ers. This game was decided by only three points as the Texans held off a furious second half comeback by Alex Smith, Vernon Davis, and the 49ers. Smith hooked up with Davis for the third time in the half with 3:49 as San Fran tried to come back. It was not to be, but it made for a sweet game. As for the other games, there were some awesome performances, but not much excitement as far as wins and loses go. If you play fantasy football you either scored the most points you ever had, or you didn’t score any. Too bad.

Saints mount furious comeback and Brees past Dolphins in fourth: If you were a Dolphins fan watching the game between the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins, you were pretty comfy at halftime. But, if you have

Drew Brees rushed for more touchdowns Sunday then Matt Forte has all year, wow.

watched any amount of football with the Saints involved, you had to know that not even a 50 point lead is enough to be comfy with. Lo and behold, The Saints outscored the Dolphins 22-0 in the fourth quarter to win the game 46-34. Though Brees struggled somewhat in the passing game – 3 interceptions to 1 touchdown – he made up for it by doing his best LeBron impression. After rushing for his second touchdown of the day with 8:35 left in the game, Brees proceeded to rise up and yoke on the uprights firing the ball into the stands. Drew Brees is like the Kevin Garnett of the NFL; unlimited energy and unrivaled enthusiasm for the game he plays. Love me some Drew Brees.

Fantasy Round-up

Gods/Goats:

Here we look at fantasy gods and fantasy goats from the past weekend in the NFL. Also, look in my Friday Preview for that weeks Gods & Goats predictions. For this week, we will just look at the weekends games.

Gods:

The aforementioned Miles Austin:
1. 6 catches, 171 yards, 2 touchdowns
2. Went from [reference one hit wonder] to fantasy superstar
Carson Palmer
1. 233 yards passing, 5 touchdowns
2. Wanted ocho touchdowns, but thought better of it and stayed with 5
Ricky Williams
1. 9 carries, 80 yards, 3 touchdowns
2. Torched Saints D in and out of wildcat
3. Rejuvenated career in wildcat system
Vernon Davis
1. 7 catches, 93 yards, 3 touchdowns
2. All three touchdowns came in second half with Alex Smith at QB
3. Went from being thrown off the field to top 5 TE
Cedric Benson
1. 37 carries, 189 yards, 1 touchdown
2. Benson got ‘em close, Palmer got ‘em in
Shonn Greene
1. 19 carries, 144 yards, 2 touchdowns
2. Came in after Leon Washington broke leg
3. Will see increased carries with Washington out for season

Goats:

Greg Jennings (for the second week straight)
1. 5 catches, 52 yards, 0 touchdowns
2. Outplayed by running mate Donald Driver again
3. 14 catches for 147 yards in last 3 games
Matt Forte (for the second week straight)
1. 8 carries, 24 yards, 4 catches, 25 yards, 0 touchdowns
2. 4 yards per carry
3. Tony Romo had more rushing yards on 6 attempts
Matt Ryan
1. 19-35 for 198 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble
Jay Cutler
1. 251 yards, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions
2. Put Bears down with turnovers, Forte only got 8 carries as a result
Dwayne Bowe
1. 2 catches, 11 yards, 1 touchdown
2. Did get in end zone but only had 2 catches
3. This just in, Matt Cassel sucks
Tim Hightower
1. 4 carries, 9 yards, 2 catches, 11 yards, 1 touchdown
2. Outplayed by rookie Beanie Well

i. 14 carries, 67 yards, 1 touchdown

ii. 3 catches, 10 yards

Frank Gore
1. 13 carries, 32 yards, 2 catches, 15 yards, 0 touchdowns
2. Came off injury and looked rusty

For Real, For Real:

These guys are the real deal, some established, and some moving up, that you can count on week in week out.

Miles Austin: I know, I know, he’s good. Austin is about as good a receiver as the Cowboys have, and have shown they realize that by inserting him in the starting lineup. With Roy Williams not living up to his pre-season hype, the Boys are looking for someone to step up. If you watched either this week or last week you can see that Tony Romeo, as his friends call him, is super comfortable with Austin. And is it just me or does it seem like Austin’s jersey is doused in Vaseline or something. I mean this guy slips more tackles than anyone I have seen in a while. You remember that Seinfeld episode where George buys the Frogger machine and tries to move it to his apartment to

Another victim of Slippery Miles...

preserve his high score? The guy who he gets to move it is named Slippery Pete. Hmm, Slippery Miles? Sounds good to me.

Vernon Davis: When Mike Singletary took over last season for the 49ers it’s an understatement to say he shook things up. He was throwing guys out of games (Vernon Davis) and dropping pants in the locker room (glad I wasn’t there). Apparently he wants winners. He wants guys who want to win, and he can’t win with guys who don’t want to win. Vernon Davis went from whipping boy to team captain and finds himself in the elite tight end discussion. He has 6 touchdowns in the last 4 games and 22 catches in that same time frame. It is apparent that Alex Smith is going to be the starter going forward and he obviously looks for Davis a lot. Look for Davis to end the year in the top 10 of tight ends.

Shonn Greene: Coming into this year I touted Greene as a sleeper who, if given the chance, would be very effective and outplay the other Jets backs. Looks like Greene is going to be given his chance. Leon Washington left the game Sunday with a broken leg on a play that was pretty hard to watch. His leg broke in two places and was hauled off the field on a cart. With Washington out for the year, Greene is going to get the carries that Washington was getting. With his 19 carries he piled up 144 yards and two scores. Thomas Jones had a great game too running behind arguably the best offensive line in the league. Greene is going to rack up yards and scores like they were free and the Jets running game won’t miss a beat.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid:

I will say it again…

Matt Forte: See fantasy goats section. Forte looks like a shell of his rookie self and wasn’t helped by the Bears being down so much and having Jay “complete more passes to the other team” Cutler throwing the ball away. Who knows when and if Forte turns it around, but don’t hold your breath.

Greg Jennings: See fantasy goats section. Again, Jennings is a shell himself and is become the victim of a porous offensive line. Rodgers isn’t able to let Jennings get deep and that is where he makes his money. Another wait and see.

Man enough to say I’m wrong…

Steve Smith (CAR): This just in, Jake Welcome sucks a little less. Smith had 6 catches for 99 yards on Sunday turning in his best performance of the season by far. Hopefully he can keep it up, but I think some Delhomme-be-gone would do the trick.

If you own these players, start to worry, and more importantly, target an owner in your league to take advantage of, now. Go, now, do it.

LaDanian Tomlinson: It was painful to watch. LT was stuffed at the goal line three times in a row. After his rant on the sideline last week when Darren Sproles got the goal line carry, Tomlinson couldn’t prove he was right for being upset. Instead of being jealous of Sproles, maybe he should take some tips. Darren Sproles outplayed LT again this week like he has consistently been this year. This week LT put up decent numbers (23 carries for 71 yards) but it was his lack of explosiveness and sluggishness were something that makes me worry. Tomlinson is 30 years old, has a history of injuries, and has shown he can’t get it done at the goal line like he used to. LT, the bench called, its cold.

Eli Manning: Why should I worry about a guy who has been stellar so far this season? Well, I call it the winter meltdown. If you look at Eli Manning’s stats last year you will know what I mean. In weeks 6-11 last year Manning threw for over 200 yards only once and scored more than one touchdown only twice. Also, in weeks 13-16, Manning went for 200+ yards once and threw 3 total touchdowns. Now, in week 6 of this year, Manning went for 178 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Hmm. Also look at this week, 243 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Those are by far his least productive games of the season. Now, past doesn’t always predict future, I’m just putting stuff out there, do what you will with it. If you play fantasy football you should sell, sell, sell.

Still, anyone playing the New England Patriots: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Coming Week Preview

Injuries

Jermichael Finley, Tight End, Green Bay Packers: After only ten minutes into the game, Finley left with an apparent leg injury. Even more discouraging, he left the field after the game on crutches as reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. With Finley out, look for Spencer Havner and Donald Lee to split time at tight end. This injury will also affect Aaron Rodgers due to the fact that Finley has been one of his most reliable targets this year. More information to come.
Donald Brown, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts: Brown went down in the second quarter with a shoulder injury after he amassed 58 yards on two carries. He was looking to go big this game before he was knocked out. If brown has to miss an extended amount of time, Joseph Addai would see a boost in his 52.5 percent of the carries for the Colts. Brown has been solid and has seen a rise in his carries as the season has gone on and missing time will set him back.
Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver, Houston Texans: Though Johnson was unproductive up to the point of his injury in the fourth quarter, if he misses extended time Houston would be without arguably the best pass catcher in the NFL. Preliminary word is that it is some kind of chest injury but specifics aren’t known. Look for Kevin Walter and Andre Davis to up their production if Johnson stays out.
Leon Washington, Running Back, New York Jets: As mentioned in Shonn Greene’s fantasy god section, Washington left the game in the first quarter with a broken leg. Washington is scheduled to have surgery in Oakland this week and is going to be out for the rest of the season. Benefiting from a stellar offensive line, Washington has been producing solid numbers for a number two back. Look for Greene to not miss a beat and motor ahead in his place.

Games to watch:

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers: So obviously the main story in this game is [find something funny here]. Just kidding. Brett Farve has not played at Lambeau Field since 2007. These two teams matched up week 5 of this season when Farve led the Vikings to a win with 271 yards and 3 touchdowns. Look for Lambeau field to be loud and angry and for Farve to have a sweet neck beard.
Miami Dolphins @ New York Giants: Miami takes their crazy-good wildcat offense into New York to try and deal the Jets another loss. In week 5 these teams met and both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams moved the ball on the ground for 142 rushing yards and two Brown scores. New Jet Braylon Edwards made an immediate impact with 5 catches for 64 yards and a score. Look for New York to be more prepared for the wildcat and shut it down.
St. Louis Rams @ Detroit Lions: Battle of the Titans 2009. With one win between them, we can say one thing about this game; someone will win. These two teams both are averaging less than 300 total yards of offense and allow more than 400 a game each. There may not be much to watch here so why should you watch. This is why: Steven Jackson will score multiple touchdowns in this game which will be his first of the year. Yes, it will happen.

Monday Night Football Review

Philadelphia Eagles 27 at Washington Redskins 17:

I’ve never been concussed before, but watching Brian Westbrook take a big knee to the dome and go stiff, I sort of feel like I have. Westbrook left the game in the first quarter after looking strong and didn’t return to the game. Man, my head hurts.

The Philadelphia Eagles pull out a victory against the tattered and spiraling Washington Redskins, but it wasn’t anything to be proud of. It started out nice when on the fourth play of the game DeSean Jackson took the ball on an end-around and went 67 yards to the house. There was nothing more to that play except that DeSean Jackson might be the fastest guy in the NFL. He has break away speed that is rare and utilizes it on a regular basis. Jackson would score again on a long touchdown pass using the same speed to toast the opposing corner and still have time to slow up and catch the under thrown ball.

That is about it for the nice looking stuff so let’s move on. Throughout this entire game it was apparent that Jason Campbell does not trust his teammates. When he was in the pocket he spent more time watching where the pressure was coming from than watching if his receivers were open. When they were open he didn’t throw it. Who knows what is going on but it is obvious that Washington has some work to do for sure.

The Redskins day started bad when late in the first quarter the Eagles brought the house on a blitz. Campbell tried to get rid of the ball and with hands in his face the ball was tipped, picked off in the air, and ran into the end zone for a score. Skins fans had something to cheer about later though.

In the second quarter on a third down and three the Eagles got caught on an offside’s penalty and gave the Redskins a first down. Washington drove down the field and scored on a beautifully thrown ball to the back of the end zone. At this point things are looking up for the Redskins but it was not to be.

Four turnovers gave the Eagles 13 points and a loss for the Redskins. They could not run the ball, couldn’t block, and couldn’t stop the Eagles playmakers. Jason Campbell threw the ball 43 times and the Redskins only ran the ball 19 times which is not what they do best. With a guy calling plays

Turnovers lead to Eagle touchdowns on MNF.

who two weeks ago was calling bingo, the Redskins need a miracle to save their season. It is going to take a change of attitude, culture, and confidence from the team, fans, coaches and ownership for the Redskins to turn it around.

The Eagles will take this win after losing last week to a Raiders team that had not been within 20 points their previous three games. It was ugly but a win is a win and this one moves them into a tie for second in their division. Washington goes on a bye next week and it couldn’t come at a better time.

Hoops Weely October 22, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in Fantasy Basketball, Fantasy Sports, NBA.
Tags: Chris Paul, draft, Fantasy Basketball, LeBron James, NBA, Seattle
2 comments

So for the first Thursday NBA preview of the season, I thought I would do a recap of one of the fantasy basketball drafts I was in just yesterday. If ever there was a draft for the oddest fantasy basketball league, this league would be LeBron. Not to say the owners in this league aren’t of the highest caliber, its just they aren’t your typical owners. For instance, my mom and dad are both in this league. Now I know what you are thinking, this draft is worthless, but wait; my parents know their shizz. Both are avid NBA fans and probably watch more games than I do.

This is a 10 team head to head league that uses a point system as opposed to categories. The scoring goes like this:

1 point = 1 fantasy point

1 rebound = 2 fantasy points

1 assist = 2 fantasy points

1 steal = 3 fantasy points

1 block = 3 fantasy points

1 missed shot = -0.5 fantasy points

1 missed free throw = -0.5 fantasy points

1 turn over = -1 fantasy point

1 three-pointer made = 1 fantasy point

So, as you can see, the rare categories (steals, blocks, threes) are at a premium in the league. We also start all the regular positions (PG, SG, SF, PF, C, G, F) plus three utility slots that you can put any position in, and carry three bench spots. Even though this league is for fun, the competition is fierce and the battle for bragging rights can sometimes get ugly. For example, we had an unfortunate incident last year involving the games limit for the week and a sure victory becoming a loss. Needless to say, my dad was pretty pissed. Getting away from a sensitive subject, lets jump right in to it.

Round1

Pick	Player	Team
1	LeBron James	Tyler
2	Chris Paul	Ani Rudh
3	Dwayne Wade	Alan
4	Kevin Durant	Taea
5	Kobe Bryant	Conklin
6	Deron Williams	Nate
7	Dwight Howard	Tanner
8	Chris Bosh	Mary
9	Pau Gasol	Rich
10	Danny Granger	Bob

What I was thinking:

Why is Dwight Howard still on the board!! Due to our league setting, free throw percentage doesn’t kill you as much as in a roto-league so I was ecstatic to get Howard here. He is good for 20-15-3 a game which equates to 59 fantasy points, yeah, I’m pumped. Before the draft I had written down LeBron = 1, CP3 = 2, Howard = 3 so needless to say I was happy with round one.

What were they thinking!?:

Pau at 9!? Really!? Well, to each his own I guess. I mean Gasol is good for 18-9 a game which is pretty solid but I think Rich could have waited another round to grab him. I also was surprised at Kobe going that high, number 5. He has too many weapons around him; he doesn’t have to do everything which is great for the Lakers, but bad for Kobe’s fantasy value.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

I was impressed with Nate’s Deron Williams pick here. He and CP are the only guys who are going to average 10+ assists a game this year so it was smart to grab him early. If Howard was off the board I would have taken Williams with my first pick. Kevin Durant has become the sexy 3^rd pick this year, but I love that Alan took Dwayne Wade. There aren’t many guys (maybe two others) who could single-handedly win you a week, by himself. Health is a factor, but I think the reward outweighs the risk.

Round 2

Pick	Player	Team
1	Dirk Nowitzki	Bob
2	Tim Duncan	Rich
3	Antawn Jamison	Mary
4	Al Jefferson	Tanner
5	Steve Nash	Nate
6	Amare Stoudomire	Conklin
7	Brandon Roy	Taea
8	Andre Iguadala	Alan
9	Carmelo Anthony	Ani Rudh
10	Devin Harris	Tyler

What I was thinking:

I am usually a point guards early guy, and looking back I should have stuck to that, but I couldn’t pass up having two 20-12+ guys on my team. Howard and Jefferson will lead my team in fantasy points, and it won’t be close. If I hadn’t taken Jefferson here I would have taken Nash, but I worry about his age and the steady decline of his production over the years. Upon reflection, I should have snagged a solid PG here, but it didn’t kill me, I think.

What were they thinking!?:

Obviously I wasn’t impressed with taking Antawn Jamison this early in the draft, so I’m not exactly sure what to say. A’mare here is also somewhat of a risk to me. Who knows what he is going to give. His health is always a question and I like to lock up consistent production in the first couple rounds. Carmelo is somewhat of a one dimensional player, though he showed flashes of what he can do with some double digit assist games last year.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Besides mine, Bob probably had the two most solid picks here. Granger and Dirk, nice combo at the turn. Both are elite scorers and Dirk will get you solid rebounding. Granger scores, scores, and then scores some more along with a little bit of the hard to get categories steals, blocks, threes. Love me some Danny Granger. Again, I probably should have snagged Devin Harris in this round and cursed Tyler when he took him, I like him to improve in all categories as him and Brook Lopez will carry the Nets this year.

Round 3

Pick	Player	Team
1	Carlos Boozer	Tyler
2	Rashard Lewis	Ani Rudh
3	Joe Johnson	Alan
4	Rajon Rondo	Taea
5	Tony Parker	Conklin
6	Kevin Garnett	Nate
7	David Lee	Tanner
8	Baron Davis	Mary
9	Jason Kidd	Rich
10	Chauncey Billups	Bob

What I was thinking:

So my move away from my strategy continues as I went with another big. Can you blame me; a solid 15-10 rebound guy in the third round is pretty good. David Lee produces numbers even when his team is horrible and will get his every game. I really wanted Rondo in this round and was kind of counting on him. Taea knew I wanted him and took him out of spite, fail. After Rondo the PG crop kind of drops off to me as Davis and Billups aren’t real point guards to me, and Jason Kidd has to hit the wall sometime. I am getting nervous.

What were they thinking!?:

Liked most of the picks in this round, maybe Boozer a little earlier for my liking. He will not play more than 60 games this year so his health is a risk. Rashard Lewis is out for the first ten games, but he will be back and be solid so that pick was pretty good. This round was kind of full of guys who could go either way, lots of guys with good history but teetering on the edge of a big drop off. Some picks will rewards, some will frustrate.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Rondo, ARGHHHHH!!!

Round 4

Pick	Player	Team
1	Paul Peirce	Bob
2	Vince Carter	Rich
3	Shaq	Mary
4	David West	Tanner
5	Gilbert Arenas	Nate
6	Josh Smith	Conklin
7	Troy Murphy	Taea
8	Caron Butler	Alan
9	LaMarcus Aldridge	Ani Rudh
10	Brook Lopez	Tyler

What I was thinking:

Go big, or go bigger. This seems to be my strategy here. I just was not impressed with any of the guards left on the board, and obviously everyone else was not either. This was a round of bigs and guys who play big. I figure the West-CP3 combo has to carry the Hornets again. Even with Okafor now in New Orleans West will still score tons and grab close to 10 boards a game. Maybe I will just not draft any guards and see what happens, jeesh.

What were they thinking!?:

The Big Aristotle goes in the fourth round. Wow. I think this is more of an out-of-spite pick than anything else. Last year Rich (my dad) took Shaq in the middle rounds and boasted all year about his production. Coming into this year we all knew my dad wanted Shaq again. Mary (my mom) I think took him so early just to push his buttons. Still, this is probably the worst pick yet, but kudos mom for putting spite over strategy.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Really like the Josh Smith and Troy Murphy picks here. Smith is a solid source of blocks, which are three points each in our league, and is going to score and rebound more this year. Murphy is another one of those underrated 15-10 guys that give you consistent production every game. Also really like Brook Lopez at the end of this round. Tyler now has both of the Nets only two players that should even be on an NBA squad. I see big things out of Lopez this year.

Round 5

Pick	Player	Team
1	Jose Calderon	Tyler
2	OJ Mayo	Ani Rudh
3	Gerald Wallace	Alan
4	Andris Biedrins	Taea
5	Elton Brand	Conklin
6	Nene	Nate
7	Russell Westbrook	Tanner
8	Paul Millsap	Mom
9	Andre Miller	Dad
10	Kevin Martin	Bob

What I was thinking:

Ok, so round five finally brings me to a point guard I like. Westbrook was really solid as a rookie last year and has shown vast improvement in his turnovers and jump shot in the pre-season. Running with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green is going to give Westbrook ample opportunity to bolster his assist numbers, and he will get two steals a game at least. I’m not super excited about him being my #1 PG but I think he will be a lot better than last year and that could be solid.

What were they thinking!?:

I really didn’t like Elton Brand this early. There is no way to know what he is going to do or if he is even going to play regularly. I have never been a fan of Brand, I think he is only out for himself and will quit if he feels he isn’t getting his. Millsap might have been a little bit of a reach here, but if Boozer cant stay healthy or doesn’t perform, Millsap has shown he can more than hold his own. Side note, my favorite call in an NBA game ever was last year, Nuggets vs. someone I cant remember, Nene blocked some guy on the fast break and the announcer says, “Nene says No No!!!” Classic, so funny.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Really, Really like Gerald Wallace here. If he was still on the board when it was my pick I would have really had to think about taking him. He is capable of 20-10 2 blocks and 2 steals in a game. His versatility is unmatched on most teams. Jose Calderon was in my queue and the guy I was going to take. I think he is capable of being in that elite class of guards averaging 10+ assists a game. Would have really liked him.

Round 6

Pick	Player	Team
1	Hedu Turkoglu	Bob
2	Lamar Odom	Rich
3	Rudy Gay	Mary
4	Monta Ellis	Tanner
5	Andrew Bynum	Nate
6	Derrick Rose	Conklin
7	Ray Allen	Taea
8	Stephen Jackson	Alan
9	Michael Redd	Ani Rudh
10	Ben Gordon	Tyler

What I was thinking:

I wasn’t the biggest fan of this pick but I do like Monta Ellis’ upside. Since he 100% healthy this year I think he has big numbers. He is a 22 points per game guy and can get 4-5 assists and 3-4 rebounds a game to go along with a steal and a half. He also could get hurt and miss half the season or struggle with his jumper and be a bust. This is the result of my taking so many bigs in the early rounds. If I could go back I would have grabbed an elite guard in the first couple rounds and avoided this situation.

What were they thinking!?:

Lamar Odom is an interesting choice here. It doesn’t look like he is going to be starting at the beginning of the season and will share time with Andrew Bynum. If Bynum stays healthy I think he is going to put up huge numbers. Before he got hurt last year he was on his way to stud status. He is fully healthy and is looking strong in the pre season. So Odom’s value kind of depends on the health and performance of Bynum so that is why I’m not thrilled with this pick.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

As Conklin took Derrick Rose I cursed myself for not taking him with my pick. Rose has crazy upside and played lights out in his rookie year. His status as the Bulls franchise guy and new face of the Bulls gives him free reign to do work. I would have liked to have Rose ahead of Ellis.

Round 7

Pick	Player	Team
1	Josh Howard	Tyler
2	Jameer Nelson	Ani Rudh
3	Mo Williams	Alan
4	Ron Artest	Taea
5	Mehmet Okur	Conklin
6	Boris Diaw	Nate
7	Charlie Vilanueva	Tanner
8	John Salmons	Mary
9	Jason Richardson	Rich
10	Allen Iverson	Bob

What I was thinking:

My pick of Vilanueva here was kind of a risk I think. I really like his combination of rebounds, steals and blocks. Plus he has double eligibility with SF and PF so that helps. He is in Detroit now and it is kind of a traffic jam but I think his talent and skills help him rise above the crowd. As long as he gets minutes he should be a solid source of 15-20 points and 8-10 rebounds a game.

What were they thinking!?:

Really don’t like Artest or Iverson here. Artest goes from somewhere he was like the second or maybe the first option to somewhere he is now behind Kobe and Gasol and will not play nearly as many minutes as he did in Houston. Iverson is just a mess. He joins a team with a plethora of guards and only a certain amount of minutes to go around. I don’t think he resigns to being on the bench and it could go south really fast. Just too much risk this early.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Jameer Nelson is a solid value in the seventh round. His shoulder injury is a thing of the past and he looks like the unmitigated leader of the Magic offense. With guys double, triple, and quadruple team Dwight Howard, Nelson will be free to fire jump shots and slash through the d.

Round 8

Pick	Player	Team
1	Manu Ginobli	Bob
2	Raymond Felton	Rich
3	Luis Scola	Mary
4	Tyrus Thomas	Tanner
5	Jason Terry	Nate
6	Blake Griffin	Conklin
7	Jeff Green	Taea
8	Marcus Camby	Alan
9	Trevor Ariza	Ani Rudh
10	Al Horford	Tyler

What I was thinking:

Tyrus Thomas was one of the guys I targeted as a sleeper for myself before the draft. He is a physical freak and has the ability to go 10-10 and like a block and a steal. I really like his versatility and his ability to hit the boards and bang with the big boys. He can take small guys off the dribble and jump with the guys in the middle. Should be solid.

What were they thinking!?:

Not thrilled with Ginobli but in the eighth round he might be a solid pick. I’m just not excited about his ability to do anything much else except score. Felton is kind of an interesting pick, but I’m not sure what he is gonna be able to do with the guys around him. His assists will be low but he could be solid for steals and some good points.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Loved the Scola pick, which again was who I was going to pick next. With Yao out, Scola is going to be a monster on the boards. Even with Yao in the mix last year, Scola put up career numbers in rebounds and points. Also like Conklin taking a chance on Griffin. In a rookie class that is poor at best, Griffin will be the lone bright spot and could lead his team in points and rebounds.

Round 9

Pick	Player	Team
1	Michael Beasley	Tyler
2	Emeka Okafor	Ani Rudh
3	Zach Randolph	Alan
4	Richard Hamilton	Taea
5	Andrew Bogut	Conklin
6	JR Smith	Nate
7	Eric Gordon	Tanner
8	Nate Robinson	Mary
9	Al Harrington	Rich
10	Rasheed Wallace	Bob

What I was thinking:

I really needed another guard here and Eric Gordon has some good sleeper potential. His backcourt mate, Baron Davis, is going to be running the show so his assists will be fairly low, but he is going to score with the best of them. He put up solid numbers last year with Davis in the lineup, and word is he has improved his jump shot and three-point range. Tasty.

What were they thinking!?:

I was convinced that Rip Hamilton was going to go undrafted. In our point system he has so little value it is almost comical. A line of 21 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist isn’t going to go very far in out league. I wouldn’t have taken Rip with even my last pick. Also was not impressed with taking Rasheed Wallace. He is going to be playing behind KG and Kendrick Perkins and be splitting that time with Big Baby Davis. If Boston is smart they will limit his time and keep him out shooting threes, opening up the lane for KG to do work.

Why didn’t I think of that?:

Love Okafor here. Now that he is in New Orleans, he gets to be on the receiving end of one of the most beautiful things in sports: a Chris Paul alley-oop. Yes, he cant get up as high as Tyson Chandler, but my 5 year-old niece could score on a pass from CP3 so I’m not too worried. Anyone playing with Paul is automatically a better player, period.

For rounds 10-13 we just auto drafted because some people had to get going. So below are the results but no comments because we didn’t pick the players.

Round 10

Pick	Player	Team
1	Andrea Bargnani	Bob
2	Richard Jefferson	Rich
3	Tayshaun Prince	Mary
4	Anthony Randolph	Tanner
5	Kevin Love	Nate
6	Stephen Curry	Conklin
7	Ramon Sessions	Taea
8	Lou Williams	Alan
9	Mike Bibby	Ani Rudh
10	Lual Deng	Tyler

Round 11

Pick	Player	Team
1	Shawn Marion	Tyler
2	Wilson Chandler	Ani Rudh
3	Mike Conley	Alan
4	Joakim Noah	Taea
5	Mike Dunleavy	Conklin
6	Samuel Dalembert	Nate
7	Brad Miller	Tanner
8	Aaron Brooks	Mary
9	Kirk Hinrich	Rich
10	Greg Oden	Bob

Round 12

Pick	Player	Team
1	Ronnie Brewer	Bob
2	Mike Miller	Rich
3	Leandro Barbosa	Mary
4	Grant Hill	Tanner
5	Tyson Chandler	Nate
6	Jermaine O’Neal	Conklin
7	Johnny Flynn	Taea
8	Al Thornton	Alan
9	Shane Battier	Ani Rudh
10	Kendrick Perkins	Tyler

Round 13

Pick	Player	Team
1	Chris Duhon	Tyler
2	Randy Foye	Ani Rudh
3	Jason Thompson	Alan
4	Marvin Williams	Taea
5	Drew Gooden	Conklin
6	Corey Maggette	Nate
7	Larry Hughes	Tanner
8	Jarret Jack	Mary
9	Tracy McGrady	Rich
10	Courtney Lee	Bob

So conclude the draft for Seattle Throw Down, the biggest hodge-podge league in the world. Here is the link to the actual league if you want to follow as the season goes on:

Seattle Throw Down

There were some crazy picks, some angry fist waving, and a lot of good natured insulting. I am pretty happy with my team; I think I will need to trade for a quality point guard, but beings I took every quality big man, that shouldn’t be too hard. Thanks for reading and remember, you can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friends nose. Good night.

Booth Review: A look back at the weekend in NFL action October 20, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in Fantasy Sports, NFL.
Tags: Adrian Peterson, Brett Farve, Fantasy Football, NFL, Tom Brady, week 6
add a comment

Story Time

Patriots embarrass reeling Titans: The New England Patriots destroyed, dominated, owned, (insert you adjective of choice) the now-sucky Tennessee Titans 59-0 on Sunday. Wait, weren’t the Titans 13-3 last year and had a 10 game winning streak? Yup! That just happened. Brady recorded an NFL record 5 touchdown passes in the second quarter leading the Patriots to an NFL record 45-0 halftime lead. They actually played the second half?! Yup! Unfortunately for the Titans there is no mercy rule like in little league baseball, and also unfortunate for the Titans Bill Belichek and the Patriots have no mercy, period. The lone bright spot for the Titans was that Chris Johnson rushed 17 times for 128 yards, which was 70% of the Titans total yards on the day. Hey, maybe there is such a thing as a morale victory… Nah!!

Eagles work magic, make JaMarcus Russell look good: Having watched the first five games of the Raiders season I was convinced someone had pulled a fast one and the Raiders were starting a really big, really average, high school QB. Well, the Eagles cleared that up real quick. Russell threw for 224 yards and a TD, which is the same amount of yards he threw in the last two games

Big Fat JaMarcus Russell torched the Eagles

combined. He also has a nifty run where he spun around two Eagle defenders. Yes, we are still talking about slightly over-weight, underachieving JaMarcus Russell here. The Eagles laid an egg, crapped the bed, failed to show up, period. They didn’t score a touchdown; their leading rusher had 50 yards, and gave up 139 receiving yards to previously non-existent tight end Zach Miller. All I can say is I feel bad for the Washington Redskins, they get to face a pissed off, motivated, extremely embarrassed Eagle team who’s offense and defense are much better than this game showed.

Saints slay undefeated Giants: The New Orleans Saints are for real. For Real, For Real. The Saints have always been a high-octane, high-flying offense, but what makes them a Super Bowl contender this year is their vastly improved defense. They not only beat, and beat senseless, the New York Giants, but they shut them down offensively. They also shut down the New York Jets offense as well. We all know Brees is a stud. A man among boys. He threw for 369 yards and 4 touchdowns. 7 different Saints scored touchdowns in this game including fullback Heath Evans. Another interesting story here is what everyone thought was an invincible Giants defense. Drew Brees is football kryptonite to the Giants Superman. The Giants had all but made quarterbacks like Tony Romo (127 yards passing and 3 int) look like amateurs. Obviously Brees has shown he is far and away the best quarterback in the NFL. Something that is often overlooked with the Saints is their running game. All three backs, Pierre Thomas, Mike Bell, and Reggie Bush had good games and together they make one of the most potent rushing attacks in the league.

My game is too Farvilicious for ya babe: A 58 yard pass from Farve to Sidney Rice put Ryan Longwell in position to put the Vikings on top for good against the Baltimore Ravens. To this point in the season Farve has thrown 12 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions. Brett Farve?! Really!? The old gunslinger who threw 10 interceptions to only 7 touchdowns in the last 8 games last season? Mr. Wrangler jeans, tossing the ball around with buddies in the mud, petting my loyal pooch on the tailgate of my truck? Yes, that one. It also doesn’t hurt to have arguably the best running back in the league to open up that passing game. Adrian Peterson, or AD as the kids call him, is a man. A stud. He rushed 22 times for 143 yards in the game, not bad. His counterpart for the Ravens, Ray Rice, ain’t no boy neither. Rice had 194 total yards and two scores including 10 catches for 117 yards. Ray Rice is the real deal and looking like a top 5 running back more every week. Look out for him; he is the next big thing.

Fantasy Round-up

Gods/Goats:

Gods:

Tom Brady/Randy Moss/Wes Welker: Dropping NFL records like they were hot
1. Brady = 380 yards, 6 touchdowns, NFL Record 5 touchdowns in the second quarter
2. Moss = 8 catches, 129 yards, 3 touchdowns
3. Welker = 10 catches, 150 yards, 2 touchdowns
4. Patriots = NFL record 45-0 halftime lead
Deangelo Williams
1. 30 carries, 152 yards, 2 touchdowns
2. Williams and Stewart accounted for 70% of Panther’s offense
Maurice Jones-Drew
1. 33 carries, 133 yards, 3 touchdowns
2. 5 catches, 45 yards
3. Not the only two-named dude on the Jags who put up numbers this week
Mike Sims-Walker
1. 9 catches, 120 yards
2. Now a bonafide #1 receiver for Jags
3. See For Real section for more info
Drew Brees
1. 369 yards, 4 touchdowns, 0 int
2. Threw touchdowns to 4 different receivers
3. Made Eli Manning cry (accuracy disclaimer, not proven, but I would cry if I was him)
Thomas Jones
1. 22 carries, 210 yards, 1 touchdown
2. 9.5 yards per carry
Matt Schaub
1. 392 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 int
Chris Johnson
1. 17 carries, 128 yards
2. 70% Titans offense

Goats:

Greg Jennings
1. 6 catches, 64 yards, 0 touchdowns
2. Outplayed by running mate Donald Driver every game accept 1
3. Second on team in targets
Matt Forte
1. 15 carries, 23 yards, 5 catches, 37 yards
2. 1.8 yards per carry
Eli Manning
1. 178 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 int
2. Got bent over Drew Brees’ knee and spanked
3. Tried to blame Ahmad Bradshaw for his interception
Terrell Owens
1. 3 catches, 13 yards
2. Wow
Steve Smiths
1. CAR: 1 catch, 4 yards
2. NYG: 4 catches, 44 yards
3. This just in, Jake Delhomme sucks
Jake Delhomme
1. 9 completions, 65 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions
2. This just in, Jake Delhomme sucks

For Real, For Real:

These guys are the real deal, some established, and some moving up, that you can count on week in week out.

Mike Simms-Walker: MSW has now become the Jaguars, and David Garrard’s, go to receiver. He is big, fast, and can make plays on balls that should not be caught, by humans. He is second on the team in targets (31) to Tory Holt (39). The thing is MSW has only played in 4 games to Holt’s 6. In the four games he has played in he has catches of 6,6,7, and 9. If you

Adrian Peterson/Maurice Jones-Drew: These guys are 1 and 1a in the league in no particular order. They are two of maybe 5 guys that you start every week no matter the matchups and can expect huge games, no matter what, ever. MJD has 8 touchdowns in 6 games with two games over 120 rushing

Um... I would not get in his way, on or off the field

yards, and almost three games over 100 rushing yards. What makes him elite is his pass catching and his unchallenged access to 20+ touches every game. AD can carry your team in so many ways. If he doesn’t get in the end zone, he gets 100+ yards. If he doesn’t get 100+ yards, he will get multiple scores. Now, as opposed to last season, AD is staying in on passing plays and has improved his pass catching skills.

Sidney Rice: Becoming Farve’s favorite target down the field. Once you beat the other team into submission with Peterson’s hammer of a stiff arm, things tend to open up downfield. Rice is second on the team in targets (27) behind Bernard Berrian (33). I’m not saying Rice is a top receiver, or even the Vikings most reliable guy, but he will have big games this season.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid:

If you own these players, start to worry, and more importantly, target an owner in your league to take advantage of, now. Go, now, do it.

Matt Forte: Last year and the start of this year, Forte has been known for his sure hands, holding onto the ball like his manhood depended on it. He has only fumbled twice in his last 477 NFL touches. He fumbled twice in two carries Sunday, on the goal line, late in the game. So much for sure handed

As you can see, the Bears O line wasn't helping

huh? His 1.5 yards per carry are a season low, and for those who own him, something maybe we should have seen coming. The only positive thing we can take from Forte’s performance this season is that he is on pace for 80 catches, which is the only thing saving his value. Can we blame his underperformance on Cutler throwing more, the offensive line, Brett Farve? Even though I would jump on board blaming it on Farve, who knows what is going on. Remember this though, Forte is still in the elite group of guys who have unchallenged access to 20-25 touches per game. Still, I would worry a little, but just a little.

Steve Smith (CAR): This just in, Jake Delhomme sucks. Yeah, Steve Smith has fallen victim to the wrath that is Jake Delhomme. Also, it is not helping that Carolina has maybe one of the strongest running games in the league, making their dependence on the pass limited. Smith was quoted in a Carolina newspaper as saying, “I am no longer an asset to this team…” He has become obsolete in the passing game, and it doesn’t look to improve soon. He is constantly doubled due to the fact that there isn’t anyone else on the team who can catch the ball consistently. It might be too late to get anything for him, but if I could get 60 cents on the dollar for him, I would do it now before that becomes a stretch.

Aaron Rodgers/Greg Jennings: Maybe not so much Rodgers here as far as stats go, but if he keeps getting the S knocked out of him every game because the offensive line in Green Bay cant protect, he is going to be hurt before too long. Chad Clifton got hurt again Sunday and will miss an extended amount of time. This does not make things better for Rodgers and if the Packers can’t plug the whole on the line soon, they might be without Rodgers for an extended amount of time. Being that Rodgers has limited, if any, time to throw the ball Jennings isn’t getting the deep looks where he makes his bread. No time in the pocket means no time for routes to develop means no dap for Jennings. Either the Pack has to get Jennings involved in other ways or have to improve the protection, or Jennings’ owners are in for a long, disappointing season.

Willis McGahee: Many a fantasy team was carried by McGahee for the first three weeks of the season, but now McGahee is left searching for carries himself. In the last four games McGahee’s carries are 7,5,1, and 7. As we talked about earlier, Ray Rice is a man, and it just took a while for the Ravens to realize that and give him the effing ball. If you own McGahee, thank him for the good times and send him out to pasture on the waiver wire.

Anyone playing the New England Patriots: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Coming Week Preview

Injuries

Brandon Jacobs, Running Back, New York Giants: New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs left the game with what appeared to be a stinger in his neck. The medical staff worked on him and he was able to return to the game. If he is limited in practice and cant go Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Ahmad Bradshaw steps into a prime featured back role and his value would sky rocket.
Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver, Arizona Cardinals: Cardinals #2 wide receiver Anquan Boldin suffered a high ankle sprain also and was unable to return to the game. Early test were negative for bone damage and ligament damage, but his status for Sundays meeting with the New York Giants is up in the air.
Frank Gore, Running Back, San Francisco 49ers: Gore is expected to return to action after last week’s bye, giving him time to recover from the ankle injury that sidelined him for the last two games. Expect Gore to return to his high level of production as the 49ers best player. If you own Gore, hanging on to or picking up Glenn Coffee is a must as he performed well in Gores absence.
Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills, Quarterback: Edwards was knocked out of the game in the second quarter after being concussed for the second time in his short career. Head injuries of this kind can be tricky and can vary in the time needed to heal. Edwards hasn’t really done much to this point and the Bills passing game is so bad, it doesn’t really matter who throws the ball. Look for backup Ryan Fitzpatrick to start if Edwards can’t go.

Games to watch:

Wembley, here we come: The NFL returns to Wembley Stadium in London England this week with the New England Patriots facing off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 1 pm ET. Judging by what we saw this week from the Pats, and the inability of the Buccaneers to do anything except make opposing fantasy players look like studs, this game could get ugly. Brady, Moss and company should be solid starts as always, but also look at Laurence Maroney. With Sammy Morris down and questionable and Fred Taylor out for the season, Maroney becomes the Pats number one back. Once the Patriots get up by an absurd amount, they will be handing the ball off.
New Orleans Saints at Miami Dolphins: The Saints look to stay perfect against a tough and deceptive Dolphins team. Look for the Saints to focus on stopping the wildcat offense and shut down Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams.
Minnesota Vikings at Pittsburgh Steelers: The undefeated Vikings face their toughest test yet in the defending champion Steelers and the terrible towel. Look for the Vikings to try and establish the run early and control the clock. Both teams boast elite run defenses so this could be a bruising, low scoring affair.
New York Jets at Oakland Raiders: The Jets not only need to make a statement with this game and reestablish themselves as contenders, but Mark Sanchez needs to rebound from his worst game of his young NFL career. Look for the Jets to give Sanchez some easy passes and control the ground game, limiting his mistakes. Oakland looks to gain momentum after their win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

Monday Night Football Review

Denver Broncos 34 at San Diego Chargers 23:

Since the merger in 1970 only six players have had a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown in a single game. Eddie Royal is fast. Scary fast. Royal had a 93 yard kickoff return for a score in the first quarter, and a 72 yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter. And, not wanting to feel left out, Darren Sproles ran a 77 yard punt return back for a touchdown also. This was the first time since 1998 that there were three kicks ran back for scores in the same game. Whew, I’m tired just writing that.

For all of Eddie Royal’s impact on this game in special teams, he didn’t have a single catch out of quarterback Kyle Orton’s 20 completions. Even so, Orton had another stellar game. He went 20-29 for 229 yards and 2 touchdowns. Most of his performance was in the second half with the game on the line (11-15, 146 yards, 2 touchdowns) because in the first half Eddie Royal wouldn’t let the Denver offense on the field. Much like the Denver defense, everyone is waiting for Orton to break, but he hasn’t even shown signs of bending, not yet.

Speaking of the Denver defense, it had another solid game. Though they gave up 23 points, they sacked Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers 5 times, forcing him to fumble three times, 1 of which he lost. They also held the San Diego run game to just 73 yards, LaDanian Tomlinson getting 70 of them. The Bronco D continues to look legit and helped Denver stay perfect on the season.

During the pregame warm-ups the Chargers and Broncos got into a bit of a shoving match where Chargers linebacker Shawn Merriman tried to play peace-keeper. This was the 99^th meeting between these two teams so needless to say the rivalry grows. For all of Merriman’s passion before the game, his comments after the game were much more subdued. “I’m sick of it.” This when he was asked about always having to come from behind in games. The Chargers are not out of the playoff hunt, though the division now is the Bronco’s to lose. San Diego needs to regroup and make a run at the wild card and start playing a little better.

Denver is now one of four undefeated teams left in the league (Colts, Broncos, Saints, Vikings) and have a bye this coming week. Off the bye they face a tough Baltimore Ravens team coming off a heart breaking loss to the Vikings Sunday on a missed field goal. Look for the Broncos to try and stay perfect against the Ravens.

Fantasy Football: Are we really better off? October 19, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in Fantasy Sports, NFL.
Tags: einstein, Fantasy Football, internet, NFL, technology
1 comment so far

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity”

– Albert Einstein

Einstein would have crapped his tweed pants if he could have glimpsed into the generation of Google, Twitter, and instant

He might have looked something like this...

gratification of any informational need. But what we forget to ask is how has this access changed things in the world of fantasy football? In an age where people have become conditioned to rely on their favorite gossip site to formulate their opinions, is the art of research, discernment and following your gut dead? How has this fact affected fantasy sports and how they are played? Who benefits and who loses out? I thought that maybe we could take a journey through the history of fantasy sports to try and understand how things have changed, what things have become, and for better or worse, what is the state of the game?

First, a little tale of yester-year. A time when instant lineup changes, up to the nano-second information about how our star players lunch will affect his practice output, and boundless statistical resources being a mouse click away are nothing more than a distant thought. When lineups are mailed, not emailed, but postal mailed like with a stamp (I know right?!), to the league manger and the scores are mailed back a week later. When going to the mailbox didn’t mean hitting up your Gmail account to get scoring alerts, and mobile updates meant someone walking over and letting you know what is going on. An article I read said:

“The early years involved few leagues, but serious players. Several people stopped after several years, as it was too strenuous looking through statistics every week and remembering to call in with their starting rosters. The game was a fun idea, but had yet to become convenient enough to be the phenomenon it is today.”

Fantasy football creator, visionary, and all around smart guy Wilfred Winkenbach could not have imagined what his brain child would become. But the question is would he be proud, or would be appalled at the prostitution of a once pure, thinking-man’s game. Well, let’s take a look at some different perspectives.

Fantasy sports used to be much different. But was it all bad? When everyone didn’t have instant access to the same information things like instincts, real statistical research, and experience won leagues, not who could use their Iphone to pick up the latest sexy waiver wire acquisition. Has everyone having access to the plethora of information really killed fantasy sports, or has the emergence of the internet leveled the playing field. Let’s take message boards for instance. ESPN.com gives fantasy footballers a place to gather and talk football. These message boards are a great example of the transformation of fantasy football. One peek in and you will see countless people every minute asking things like “pick 2 out of these 6 players I should start” or “should I do this trade?” People then answer them and people skip off to do as they are told to do. To me there are so many things wrong with this.

First being able to go somewhere and have someone tell you how to manage your team completely detracts from what makes fantasy sports great; knowing more than the next guy, dominating, and gloating. There is a difference between using articles, columns, and commentary of intelligent people as a tool, and taking something as fact and running with it like it is prophecy. Furthermore, if you think about it, who is telling these people what to do? Other people! It’s like someone goes on the message board, asks a question, someone answers it and now you have a chain reaction. Those two people are doing the same thing, along with whoever reads that post and all the people they Tweet after they are done. Now you got like a million people all doing the same thing with their lineups. The question about validity of that information is a whole other issue that we will touch on later. So the question is what does this mean for the rest of us? Let’s explore.

Philosophically speaking we could launch into the how information revolution and the dumbification of people attributes to the death of independent thought, but that might be a little much for a fantasy football article. So let’s stick to the topic. You can look at it two ways, the proverbial glass half empty or half full. On one hand we can almost bank on the fact that 60 to 75% of the information out there is crap. Agreed? So for us who don’t rely solely on the direction of faceless language on a shiny screen, but choose to do our own research, watch games, and go with our gut, we can rest assured that most of our opponents are being fed garbage like swine being led to the Sunday Slaughter. So in that sense we should feel good about things, yeah?

But, half empty has some basis too. Because there is so much misinformation out there, so easily accessed by people too easily persuaded, the very integrity of fantasy sports seems to be compromised. Without regulation, selectivity, and discretion our game seems to be doomed to be no more legit than the latest TMZ gossip. Even with careful preparation, planning, and obsessive compulsive attention paid to our weekly lineups, it can all go south because some zit faced pre-pubescent douche with too much time on their hands started a rumor that Adrian Peterson was traded to the UFL, posted on

Someone like this winner...

his Facebook, and now AP is 80% dropped and the integrity of our league is ruined. Part of the fun of fantasy sports is outsmarting other smart, decisive folks and feeling good that you beat someone worthy of beating. The eventual Superbowl champion Steelers beating the snot out of the 0-16 Lions isn’t as gratifying as beating an inspired and uber-talented Cardinal team on the biggest stage in sport. Get my drift?

In fear of being the doom and gloom guy, I actually feel like we are lucky to play fantasy sports in this era. How fun is it to be able to watch a game on TV, watch live scoring of your team on ESPN.com, and get scoring alerts on your phone in a glorious whirlwind of football heaven. To me, it doesn’t get much better than that. Putting aside the fact that its integrity is tested by misinformation, pied-pipers and their unfortunate sheep, and monotonous harmonizing of strategy on a catastrophic level, I think fantasy sports and those players who play the game how it was meant to be played are stronger and will prevail over the rest. No matter the idiocy that rains down like bullet fire in the battle for sensibility, fantasy sports will be victorious and we can all remember something. Do we really want the purest form of fandom to end up buried under a stinking, steaming mountain of garbage that is popular culture, doomed to be nothing more than a shell of something once beautiful and pure? I sure don’t, so let us keep that in mind as we obsess over every move, every add or drop, every deal done with sweaty palm and churning stomach. Keep alive what is great about fantasy sports, the fantasy.

TC Sportsline: The Beginning October 15, 2009

Posted by coltons1 in introduction, sports writing.
Tags: dreams, introduction, sports journalism, sports writing
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Henry David Thoreau once said, “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined!” This speaks volumes to me, not only in my life, but I think it says something about the society we live in. There is a set path we are to take, a road that is paved, straight, and jam packed with road-raging people trying to get where they think they need to be going. Life is funny that way, we grow up with such huge dreams, aspiration that at the time seem certain, be it except for that pesky thing we call time. We dream, we wait. Then somewhere between dreamy-eyed school boy and astronaut, we get smacked upside the head with a sock full of life. Life is funny that way.

So what am I getting at? I am that dreamy-eyed school boy, that big-headed child who decided he wanted to be a doctor, a motocross racer, a sports writer. Sports writer? That doesn’t seem so unreachable, you say. You are right. And I just recently realized that the only thing standing in between me and my dreams was me… and a sock full of life. I love my life, my beautiful wife, my easy, predictable job. My work has afforded me many opportunities to travel, do things I want to do, and to provide for my family. But what would Thoreau say to me? Would he say, “Yes, your life is just fine, your dreams are not realistic and will just lead to heartache.” No. He would say jump in head first, headlong without thought of consequence. So here I start to reach for that dream, to take a step, to make a move. I am not quitting my job (yet) or leaving my wife, I am not sacrificing everything on a whim. But in my heart I believe that this marks the beginning of something that will change my life, and I thank you for coming along.

Before I get all philosophical and have to kick my own ass, let me tell you something about me. I have loved sports from birth. Sports of all kinds, from all countries, and in all arenas. If I had to choose, my biggest passions are basketball and football. I have always loved researching sports, delving into the fine print of what makes them great, what makes them transcend time and space and live in our hearts. Reading, watching, playing, loving sports. That is my true heart. Some say sports are worthless, rotting your mind and turning you into an overweight, middle-aged man with greasy hair screaming at a TV set on Sunday morning. To you I say look deeper. Sports bind us, they move us to passionate frenzy, they set memories of watching the big game with our dads and having him buy you a hotdog deep in our minds. These are the things that make me want to write about sports.

So here I am, starting my own sports Blog, “going confidently in the direction of my dreams.” Its not much, this simple, cookie cutter blog, one among tens of millions just like it. But to me it is Apollo 11, ready to blast off and carry me to far away places, places where dreams live. I hope that if you are reading this that you can, in some small way, see yourself in me. Take the time to see what makes this blog different. See your own dreams in the 12 point, Times New Roman type you read before you. To you I say not only thank you for taking time to read, but “live the life you’ve imagined,” go boldly into the place off the paved road, the place that though rough, leads to that which is greatest. Thank you and enjoy…

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TC Sportsline

Rajon Rondo: The next big thing November 13, 2009

Closing the Door on “Blowing the Whistle”: What can we take from the Tim Donaghy saga? November 3, 2009

Friday Preview October 30, 2009

Hoops Weekly October 29, 2009

Booth Review: A look back at week 7 in NFL action October 27, 2009

Hoops Weely October 22, 2009

Booth Review: A look back at the weekend in NFL action October 20, 2009

Fantasy Football: Are we really better off? October 19, 2009

TC Sportsline: The Beginning October 15, 2009

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