Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Chomp

Something is wrong with Florida. I can't figure it out exactly. They've been getting worked by UT and LSU lately. This happened last year and they solved it rather well. But right now they don't look very strong.

On the opposite side. Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl collectively rival Geno Aurieama and Jim Calhoun, Mike Kryszewski and Gail Goestenkors for basketball programs, but they have no rival for school spirit. Summitt wore a UT cheerleading uniform and sang Rocky Top during a timeout tonight. Luckily for my eyes and genitals I was laughing in slight admiration and not looking at her legs. I would give my buddies right nut to have that kind of enthusiasim in Columbia from a coach not named Steve Spurrier. Spurrier isn't that kind of guy, the type that dresses up I mean, but I honestly believe he would do it if it gained an advantage in the conference. I say that and I forget, he did dress in drag for Digiorno's pizza...so he will do anything.

Listen as far as March Madness is concerned...it cannot get here fast enough. Currently I'm unemployed, but with out a doubt things will fall into place exactly as the games get going....If USC were in the tourney, I'd probably sit out of work until they were done....I've got problems..

Saturday, February 24, 2007

And so it begins...

It's getting to be that time of year in basketball. The small conference tourneys are starting next week and then the bigs get going. I love March Maddness, but something I'd like to see changed immediately. No more colored uniforms vs. colored uniforms. I cannot stand watching blue jerseys vs. orange jerseys. Is white that out? I understand the business of these uniforms, believe me I do, but it should be a rule that the home team choses colors and the road wears the opposite. One in white or grey the other in a color...red, green, orange, purple, black I don't care. It looks beyond stupid to see a team in green play the team in red, this ain't the YMCA.

Things I like very much...the internet. Bless it. I have watched USC baseball online for the past couple of days...I'm not in love with the production, but at least I can see it. Sure my dad only had a transisitor and his imagination...but I'm not that type of purist.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Baseball was Very, Very Good to Me

RIP to DJ. Dennis Johnson was one of the first basketball players I liked. I grew up in the 80's with the Celtics on TV all the time. Of course we all liked Bird and McHale, the Chief and scrappy Danny Ainge, but DJ was that strange freckled black guy. Something as a white southerner I found weird. I figured he really might have been a Celtic.

I'm ready for baseball to get started. I was thinking back to my baseball playing days as one of the only things from childhood I miss. I don't miss school (except for college), I don't miss watching a 13'' television in my 8X9 room. I really don't miss having $15 and thinking I was rich. I don't miss Nintendo, or Sega Genesis...I could care less if I ever played a video game again. I miss, very very deeply playing baseball. I was good. Really good and got a thrill out of going out there and truly showing off. There were certainly times that weren't easy, but things tended to come naturaly on the field for me. I remember each time I moved up an age group I struggled hitting and usually didn't have a lot of confidence, but it seemed those were the teams I pitched really well for or somehow came up with memorable defensive plays.

Yeah I miss baseball and hanging out at my neighborhood pool in the summers. That's about it. I swear I'd give your left nut to sit in the dugout with my buddies getting ready for a game. Or practicing under the lights on a humid night. I miss it dearly.

I'm currently between jobs, and as soon as I start working again I'm either going to find a team to help coach, or learn to umpire or something. It's been in my blood and its been too long since I've used what skills I might have left. Spring does this to me every year. It starts warming up, the days get longer, and you see spring training...it gives me that itch.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Don't Know Much About History

**Very important that it be noted I am a Univ. of South Carolina alum and die hard fan of USC athletics.**

The Sunday sports sections were full of stories about the National Signing Day controversy at Clemson. It seems that in the 11th hour Clemson was forced to reject a couple of prospects based on academic standards. These players were informed that they did not qualify for admission and subsequently had their offers revoked. This is not a common practice in southern football. It might happen at Vanderbilt and Duke, but we are speaking of real football, not a club sport.

Clemson is surging to achieve a lofty goal of top 20 public school and football national championships. This seems impossible to many considering lots of schools have players that are primarily football players and secondarily athletes, and many more have only athletes. What Clemson is trying to acheive though is not impossible, it is actually the key to success at least according to recent history. University of Michigan, University of Texas, University of Florida, and Ohio State University all won national championships in the last ten years, and all are currently in the top 20. It is admirable what Clemson is trying to do, and in many ways these are the growing pains of this program.

The problems arise when you consider Clemson is much smaller than any of the schools listed above. Their alumni base is dwarfed by those of Texas, Ohio St. and Michigan. The base of those schools fans are alumni. It is the complete opposite at Clemson, where approximately 30% of everyday Clemson fans are alumni. The alumni get it, the plain folks and the rabid fans of the 80's do not.

Head Coach Tommy Bowden acted as if he'd not been aware of the standards required of his future players, and thus acted shocked. His antics although not unusual actually made me feel that the rug had been pulled from beneath him. It stripped him of his fleeting strength. It signified more and more his future is limited in Clemson. This program needs a much stronger leader, especially based on the current and future standards.

The strange thing in all of this, one of the athletes rejected by Clemson ended up with another school. He went to UNC. UNC currently ranks #4 on the Top 20 Public Schools. Clemson lost an athlete because they don't have the earned capital to spend in academia. They will or the 70% of people not currently counted as alumni will find a way to have him leave the state.

*The estimation on % of alumni as fans is completely my opinion. It is also my opinion that football is much more important to that school than will ever be admitted, I don't think we will see this problem ever again. Mainly because you don't win in football by rejecting kids after you offer on signing day. You never recruit them, you find a way to get them in once you offer and you place them in a junior college. You know your standards and you seek athletes that fit them. If you end up with someone that doesn't fit, you bring them in anyway. Save yourself the headaches. Clemson just developed a reputation for rejecting borderline kids at the last minute.

Friday, February 09, 2007

I Miss Tom Landry

I don't mind saying I miss the old Dallas Cowboys. I was born in 1977 so I didn't get to see much of what they were. I love the history of the NFL and have been really looking into those old teams, and why they were America's Team. I miss the teams of the 80's too. They were the good ol' boys and they were great for years. I guess it happens with every team. The luster gets worn off, and the legendary coaches stretch further and further away.

Thankfully college baseball started for USC today. No more worrying about the basketball team. Hopefully we can get through the next couple of weeks without any major injury or problem. Hopefully we can send Tre' Kelley out with some class and style and thank him for his efforts with dignity. Hopefully we won't win the NIT again.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Head of the Class

Housekeeping....

For all the bad Rex Grossman did in the Super Bowl, lets think about this, Manning handled nearly twice the snaps and never had an exchange problem.

As far as the best to never win one:

Donovan McNabb has the monkey, but I bet Brett Favre really has the most self imposed pressure. He seems to have a bloodoath driving him. Of course he is the type that would much rather fade into the abyss at 45 with a bad arm. Little known fact: Johnny Unitas had to sign autographs left handed due to the damage sustained from football to his throwing arm. His son Joey and I had a couple of classes in college. Great guy. Never wore his wealth nor told anyone who his dad was.

Baseball is a little different, but the three best players are Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Craig Biggio. I'm starting the campaign now for Biggio.

Golf to me its Colin Montgomerie, and Sergio in a tie. You can't throw that Luke Donald mess at me. He's like 25. You don't qualify if you are that young.

Basketball its Kevin Garnett and Dirk Novitzki, with Steve Nash.

On to more important things. Today is National Signing Day, an internet holiday. Middle aged American me will log on to the internets today to see exactly how things broke down. Most haven't chatted with their fan buddies much since their respective bowl games. Some will take a half day and watch as the recruits pile up. The sports radio shows are better today than normal, because we (you are included in this too, if you aren't your team sucks) are prescribing great things from our incoming QB's and 4.3 in the 40 WR's, and don't forget to marvel at the 6'7" 335 OL from Iowa. A real corn fed hoss.

I love National Signing Day, partially because its like a half of a game. You get to talk college football and remember several years ago back to a particular bust, or hero, its fun. Like the spring game we need something to fix our jones for football. I honestly don't know how I get through May-July.

The reason this post started was Signing Day and this simple fact. USC, not So. Cal for the uninformed. The Unverisity of South Carolina was founded before California was a state, we are The USC. USC has a top ten recruiting class. Great on paper, who knows how these kids will pan out( another California reference). But that being said. We are one of 6 SEC teams in the top 10. Think its tough. Four of six teams in the East are in the top 10. Unbelieveable talent playing everyday in the SEC.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Hall of Fame

I have my own editoral space, but will allow you to make the decision. I get a little crazy about the Hall of Fame occasionally.

Art Monk-940 receptions, 12, 721 yards, 68 TDs, 3 Super Bowl Rings, 16 seasons. Won 3 Super Bowls Quarterbacked by 3 different men. 0 drug related arrests,

Michael Irvin- 750 receptions, 11904 yards, 65 TD's, 3 Super Bowl Rings, 12 seasons. Won 3 Super Bowls with Hall of Fame Quarterback and League's All Time Rusher. Multiple Arrests for Drugs.

Should they be in the Hall of Fame?

Friday, February 02, 2007

Bears Win it All

I thought I'd wait until tomorrow for this, but why not go ahead and lay it down. Besides, I'll be away from my desk for a few days, and don't want to risk not having this on record, timestamped.

I'm taking the Bears. 13-9. Very low scoring. Very ugly. Its what the Bears would kill for, a dirty ugly slow burner. It's not destined, but lots of times teams that have too much hype around them collapse like houses of cards. The Colts, are paper champions. Their heart is in about three players and a kicker. The Bears are workmen-like and are being disrespected.

Some examples of this type situation. Remember the Patriots vs. Rams. It was "the greatest show on turf", and defending champs (right?). The Patriots had been making a killing on defense and opportunistic offense. The Rams were out gameplanned, and then made a great comeback. The same can happen this weekend.
Remember a few weeks back when University of Florida beat Ohio St. Similar situation. UF struggled and took a bunch of criticism. Granted, they deserved it and played their best game of the last two years when it counted. Teams feel the way they are being represented, and as much as I love Peyton Manning this Super Bowl has all but been given to him, but not on the field.

And this is critical. I never bother with 3rd down stats or the fact that a team is good on grass, I go with my gut when making predictions. And right now my gut tells me, that Peyton Manning is going to suffer the same fate as Dan Marino. He'll play in a Super Bowl. But he may never win one. I actually could see him winning one from the sidelines as a back up one day. Imagine that Peyton Manning as a back up for the Minnesota Vikings as they win their first Super Bowl. I can see it. As much as I don't want to, I see it. Peyton is southern royalty. He's a prince in the south, and will always be thought of as a great gentleman, and tremendous player, but he might be without certain hardware as proof.

So mark it down Bears 13 Colts 9. I hate to say it, and I'll be pulling for the Colts.

Super Bowl Shuffle Remix

Its time to talk about the Chicago Bears. But first I wanna hit on a couple things. I was thinking about how Chicago might seem like a football town, but really isn't. Chicago is always going to be thought of as probably the second best city for basketball, and often gains identity through the Cubs.

The other thing is while watching NFL Films presentation of Tampa Bay's Super Bowl I learned something. Coaches are vital to team success in football. I think coaching should be ranked in importance from most to least by football, basketball, and then baseball. The game had John Lynch (future Hall of Fame) safety for the Buc's wired for sound. He was calling plays in the backfield for the defense. But he wasn't calling their sets, he was calling the Raiders plays based on formations. Both of Dexter Jackson's INT's were read before the ball was snapped. Gruden, the Oakland coach just the season before, knew player tendencies and weaknesses. Through the magic of film editing, we are privy to an absolute coaching masterpiece.

Now for XLI's other team. The Bears are getting no respect, and we all understand why. There isn't really a marketable person on the team, outside of Brian Urlacher. And even Urlacher isn't personable. They aren't getting the respect they deserve because Rex Grossman stunk it up for a while, and defense never gets love. So this seems like a team that underachieved or shouldn't be here. This is not the case and its never good for the Colts.

What the Bears need to do to win:

1. Be no worse than +3 on turnovers. They cannot turn the ball over even once. They must force more than two. The more possessions or plays you can take away from Peyton Manning the greater your odds of winning. The Colts called about 20 more plays than the Patriots two weeks ago. It's vital.

2. Gain field position through the kickoffs. Did you see how well New England ran back kicks. If the Bears can start the field position at the 40 or better, its gonna be hell on the Colts.

3. Get an MVP performance from Ricky Manning. If he can shut down his receiver, it will cause Manning to telegraph his intentions.

4. Get 150 rushing yards from Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. If they can do this it won't be close. And the past being the best indicator of the future, they can do this and should.

MVP Watch
Bernard Berrian, Desmond Clark, Devin Hester, but the most critical guy to the Bears success is Mark Anderson. Who is Mark Anderson? Well he's Dwight Freeney in navy and orange. The rookie speed rusher will go head to head with Ryan Diem, who I predict will be the most critical component to Indy's success. Watch the Diem and Anderson matchup. If Anderson is in Peyton's head it might not even be close.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Giddy-up

I don't believe in keys of the game, but I do look for definitive things that have to happen for the Colts to win.

Its pretty simple, as someone once said, score more than your opponent. The keys to the game are usually obvious, don't turn the ball over, stop the opponent's offensive attack, and third down. What I prefer are things or people that will decide the outcome. And then making predictions on what will have to happen for the team to win. My "keys to the game" are not meant to be broad. They should be pointed and measurable.

So here goes.

Peyton cannot throw more than 2 picks.
Adam Vinatieri cannot kick more than 4 field goals.
Dwight Freeney must pressure Rexie at least 5 times. (By pressure I mean knock down or sack).
Colts need to rush for over 150 yards.

What am I saying here?
Peyton is vital to the Colts success. He cannot throw more than two picks because you give the Bears way too many opportunities and free possessions. I do however think you get a little wiggle room and can get away with a pick or two.

Vinatieri cannot kick more than 4 field goals. Reasons, are obvious. Four field goals is 12 points. The Bears can score 14 in the game with out much problem. What this is about is missed opportunity. Now if Vinatieri has 5 extra points and four field goals this may be different. But mark this down, if the Bears can keep the Colts out of the endzone and settling for 3 pointers. It won't be good for Colt fans.

Dwight Freeney needs to pressure Grossman. Obvious. It is pertinent that Freeney disrupt what Rex does. Rattle Rex and you shut the Bears offense down. Freeney will crucial to Indianapolis.

Colts need to rush for 150. This means they are moving the ball and have the Bears worn down. If they amass 150 yards on the ground, I have to think this will equate to 30 points.

Most Important Players for the Colts (not named Peyton Manning)
Dallas Clark, Dwight Freeney, Ryan Diem (he's blocking the future superstar on the Bears Mark Anderson, more on him tomorrow), and Bob Sanders.

MVP candidates. Bob Sanders, Marvin Harrison, Peyton Manning, and the Dark Horse Aaron Morehead.

Bears preview tomorrow.