July 23, 2013
It's been a relatively quiet summer in sports other than the Aaron Hernandez case. Of course that all changed a few days ago when Ryan Braun was officially suspended for violating the MLB substance abuse policy. He's been suspended for the remainder of the year without pay. This was a pretty bold stroke by MLB as it basically came out of nowhere. Braun has also said he's not going to appeal or fight his punishment, and has apologized to the Brewers and fans that he's let down. It's apparent that he did indeed use PEDs during the past few years, though when is still unknown. The backlash against Braun has been incredible and very vitriolic in nature. Some are calling for the Brewers to terminate his contract and get him out of Milwaukee. HA I laugh at anyone that says he should be cut or thrown out of baseball. While it is troubling that he's denied PED so steadfastly in the past and now willingly admits to it, cutting him wouldn't make this situation any better. And if he were a free agent next year, I 100% guarantee all 30 teams would line up to sign him to a mega deal. Know why? Because he's one of the best all-around players in the game. And one 65 game suspension isn't going to change that. Steroids may make you bigger, or faster, but they don't help you to make contact with the ball or give you a better swing. And if this suspension is indeed stemming from the supposed 2011 positive test by Braun then I contend that he's been clean for the last year and a half anyway, unless he's just stupid, which I doubt.
A lot of the feedback, including a ridiculous and stupid article written by ESPN lapdog Buster Olney contends that this is a momentous day for MLB and the player union. Once again, I LAUGH. How is anything related to this case a positive? One of the game's brightest stars and best personalities has been suspended for using PEDs. Does this mean the PED witch hunt is over? Not a chance! The Alex Rodriguez saga is ongoing and many other players are under investigation for possible PED use tied to the Florida clinic. This may actually be one of the darkest days in MLB history. MLB and the union specifically are scared of how deep this may go, and are hoping that by dropping the hammer on Braun they can deflect some of the attention away from other cases. By diverting attention from the other players they can hope to lessen the impact when and if these players are found to have tested positive. Another interesting thing is that the players and the union have not been behind Braun through the suspension process. This tells me one thing. The union and/or players don't want to get too involved with this, as they're all dirty too. I think the union has a pretty good idea of just how many players are doping, and I can bet you its a lot. My guess would be 30% of current players have doped during their career or are currently doping. By throwing Braun under the bus, the union is attempting to protect the large population of its members that are also doping. The idea that by nabbing Braun the steroid era is past is complete bullshit, but the league has too much money and pride on the line to let anything major drop that would implicate a large amount of players, though that may be the case.
I don't support PED use, and my confidence in Ryan Braun has tremendously been shaken. But I do believe in second chances, and that everyone deserves one. He'll be back, and he'll be just as good as he's been, I guarantee it. I just think it's ridiculous to be so critical of one player when it's quite possible that most of the league is doing it as well. Expect a lot more bullshit from ESPN as they continue their wondrous reporting of the steroid saga, keep in mind that it's in their best interest to not drop a bomb that would severely hurt the reputation of MLB.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Saturday, June 8, 2013
June 8, 2013
June 8, 2013
Finally went to my first professional soccer match, and I was not disappointed. Me and a few other friends hit the Minnesota United game at the Metrodome against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, where they emerged victorious 2-1. I was impressed with the atmosphere in the dome and especially by the supporters section, who were vocal and loud the entire game. From several of the songs I heard they must have recruited several trumpeters from the University of Minnesota band. United was down early as the Strikers struck in the 13th minute after the MN keeper was unable to control a back pass and basically had it stolen from him for an easy tap in. United got several good chances in the first half but was unable to capitalize and entered the half down 1-0. In the second half they came out firing again. In the 57th minute Pablo Campos finally broke through for United as he put home a penalty kick. After a lull in the action the last 10 minutes became incredibly fast paced as both teams became stretched out and several very fast attacks went both ways. Finally, in the 94th minute Pablo Campos once again put home a goal for United on the end of a beautiful left-footed cross from a United teammate. Below I've posted my video of United's 1st goal!!
Finally went to my first professional soccer match, and I was not disappointed. Me and a few other friends hit the Minnesota United game at the Metrodome against the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, where they emerged victorious 2-1. I was impressed with the atmosphere in the dome and especially by the supporters section, who were vocal and loud the entire game. From several of the songs I heard they must have recruited several trumpeters from the University of Minnesota band. United was down early as the Strikers struck in the 13th minute after the MN keeper was unable to control a back pass and basically had it stolen from him for an easy tap in. United got several good chances in the first half but was unable to capitalize and entered the half down 1-0. In the second half they came out firing again. In the 57th minute Pablo Campos finally broke through for United as he put home a penalty kick. After a lull in the action the last 10 minutes became incredibly fast paced as both teams became stretched out and several very fast attacks went both ways. Finally, in the 94th minute Pablo Campos once again put home a goal for United on the end of a beautiful left-footed cross from a United teammate. Below I've posted my video of United's 1st goal!!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
June 6, 2013
June 6, 2013
Summer is in full swing!! And for fantasy football players like myself, the season is never done. The Good and the Bad, my main dynasty league is currently in in the midst of its rookie draft. As to be expected offense was taken early and often, with defense finally making a comeback in the later rounds. Currently we're at the beginning of Round 4. I'll talk a bit about my picks so far.
2.11, 27th Overall, Jarvis Jones, LB, PIT - Jones will be competing for a starting spot right out of the gate, and with his pass-rushing ability I believe he will win a spot on opening day. A fierce OLB in the mold of Von Miller, he has the potential to be a double digit sack LB. This upside made him an easy 2nd round choice, overall I had him rated as the #1 LB and #6 overall player.
3.07, 39th Overall, Eric Reid, S, SF - Questions at safety for the Niners made Reid's selection a no-brainer. He will most likely win a starting safety job in training camp and will be a solid player at the back of the Niners defense. He has big potential to develop into one of the games best safeties. I had him rated as the #2 Safety and #14 overall player.
4.04, 53rd Overall, Bjoern Werner, DE, IND - I can't believe he fell to the 4th, and I was happy to snag him here. In this case I drafted straight off my Big Board and not by need, as he was easily my highest rated remaining. He'll start day 1 in Indy and with a little more polishing can be an elite DE. His arrival should lighten the loss of Dwight Freeney. His ability to play with his hand in the dirt and standing up will also help him make an impact. He was my #2 DE and #17 overall player.
I would have picked earlier in the 3rd, but I traded back twice to get to 4.04 and pick some cash. It worked out well as I was still able to grab Werner in the 4th. My next pick is 4.17 and I also have 5.10.
Summer is in full swing!! And for fantasy football players like myself, the season is never done. The Good and the Bad, my main dynasty league is currently in in the midst of its rookie draft. As to be expected offense was taken early and often, with defense finally making a comeback in the later rounds. Currently we're at the beginning of Round 4. I'll talk a bit about my picks so far.
2.11, 27th Overall, Jarvis Jones, LB, PIT - Jones will be competing for a starting spot right out of the gate, and with his pass-rushing ability I believe he will win a spot on opening day. A fierce OLB in the mold of Von Miller, he has the potential to be a double digit sack LB. This upside made him an easy 2nd round choice, overall I had him rated as the #1 LB and #6 overall player.
3.07, 39th Overall, Eric Reid, S, SF - Questions at safety for the Niners made Reid's selection a no-brainer. He will most likely win a starting safety job in training camp and will be a solid player at the back of the Niners defense. He has big potential to develop into one of the games best safeties. I had him rated as the #2 Safety and #14 overall player.
4.04, 53rd Overall, Bjoern Werner, DE, IND - I can't believe he fell to the 4th, and I was happy to snag him here. In this case I drafted straight off my Big Board and not by need, as he was easily my highest rated remaining. He'll start day 1 in Indy and with a little more polishing can be an elite DE. His arrival should lighten the loss of Dwight Freeney. His ability to play with his hand in the dirt and standing up will also help him make an impact. He was my #2 DE and #17 overall player.
I would have picked earlier in the 3rd, but I traded back twice to get to 4.04 and pick some cash. It worked out well as I was still able to grab Werner in the 4th. My next pick is 4.17 and I also have 5.10.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
May 14, 2013
May 14, 2013
Last day of finals for the semester!! I still have one more to go today but I can squeeze in some time for a quick blog entry. The Minnesota Vikings unveiled their new stadium designs today and I have mixed feelings about. I love their idea of a "clear" roof. This is pretty innovative as far as stadiums come and it will yield some really amazing views of the outside, even in snow or rainstorms. I also hope that the Vikings follow through with their plan to revitalize the area around the stadium. Part of what made the Metrodome such a failure is the lack of ANYTHING around it. It is most definitely a blighted side of the city and one of the main reasons the Twins took their new stadium to the East side of Minneapolis, which has since been revitalized and restored, making for an incredible gameday experience. The Vikings owe it to their fans and also the people of Minneapolis to try harder with their own new stadium. While the design is futuristic and modern, it's fairly unimaginative as well. The second image below makes the stadium look like a big, lopsided warehouse. Much more could've been done to prove the aesthetics of the building. Overall, I give the design a 7, if only for the innovation and beauty of the new roof.
Last day of finals for the semester!! I still have one more to go today but I can squeeze in some time for a quick blog entry. The Minnesota Vikings unveiled their new stadium designs today and I have mixed feelings about. I love their idea of a "clear" roof. This is pretty innovative as far as stadiums come and it will yield some really amazing views of the outside, even in snow or rainstorms. I also hope that the Vikings follow through with their plan to revitalize the area around the stadium. Part of what made the Metrodome such a failure is the lack of ANYTHING around it. It is most definitely a blighted side of the city and one of the main reasons the Twins took their new stadium to the East side of Minneapolis, which has since been revitalized and restored, making for an incredible gameday experience. The Vikings owe it to their fans and also the people of Minneapolis to try harder with their own new stadium. While the design is futuristic and modern, it's fairly unimaginative as well. The second image below makes the stadium look like a big, lopsided warehouse. Much more could've been done to prove the aesthetics of the building. Overall, I give the design a 7, if only for the innovation and beauty of the new roof.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
April 23, 2013
April 23, 2013
Back again! Today the Jacksonville Jaguars unveiled their new jerseys and helmets for the upcoming season. Needless to say, I'm impressed. It's definitely a different direction for a franchise that desperately needed a change.
Where I'm most impressed is in the helmet design. This will be really the first time in the NFL that a team features a gradient on their helmet, in the Jaguars case going from gold to black at the bottom. It creates a really unique helmet and is definitely a step in the right direction.
So naturally this got me thinking about the best uniform sets in the NFL, here's my team by team rankings.
1. Green Bay Packers: I may be a little biased here, but the classic green-and-gold is topped by no scheme in the NFL. The jerseys have changed little over the years, and that's only because they're frickin awesome to begin with.
2. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks were the first team to take advantage of the new Nike system of uniforms and man did they score. The crazy color combinations actually are positive here and they just vibe exciting and colorful. Big ups for going with something new.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: I love innovation, and this allowed the Jaguars to catapult themselves to #3 on my list. Their previous jerseys were nothing special, but Nike has taken this design to the next level and they look fantastic. While the jerseys may not help them win games, they definitely earn points for looking sweet doing it.
4. San Francisco 49ers: The Nike redesign made these uniforms more crisp and really brings out the character in these classic threads. As with the Packers they haven't changed much over time, but they really don't need to.
5. San Diego Chargers: Royal or powder blue - it doesn't matter! These jerseys look clean and energetic no matter what colors are being worn. The white helmet really brings it all together to make the Chargers one of the best-dressed teams in the NFL.
6. Baltimore Ravens: When you think of the Ravens, you think of badassery. While their uniforms could fit that description as well. The team can use either its purple or black uniforms to great effect and they just look and feel sleek to the observer.
7. Detroit Lions: I may not like them, but those silver and blue duds get the job done. The silver helmets really complement well and even though they haven't been historically good, the new Nike uniforms really put the Lions in the upper tier of jerseys.
8. Washington Redskins
9. Denver Broncos: orange crush is back and better than ever!
10. Chicago Bears
11. St. Louis Rams
12. Buffalo Bills: the redesign did wonders for these threads!
13. Houston Texans
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
15. Cincinnati Bengals
16. New York Giants
17. Minnesota Vikings
18. Indianapolis Colts
19. New Orleans Saints
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: bring back the orange, full time!
21. Atlanta Falcons: outstayed their welcome, time for a redesign.
22. Dallas Cowboys
23. Tennessee Titans
24. New England Patriots: if only they played every game in the AFL retros!
25. Cleveland Browns
26. Kansas City Chiefs
27. Miami Dolphins
28. Philadelphia Eagles: desperately need a redesign!
29. New York Jets
30. Carolina Panthers: never have black uniforms looked so dumb, except for maybe Oakland.
31. Arizona Cardinals: too gimmicky, get a redesign!
32. Oakland Raiders: ahh the classic prison uniforms.
Back again! Today the Jacksonville Jaguars unveiled their new jerseys and helmets for the upcoming season. Needless to say, I'm impressed. It's definitely a different direction for a franchise that desperately needed a change.
Where I'm most impressed is in the helmet design. This will be really the first time in the NFL that a team features a gradient on their helmet, in the Jaguars case going from gold to black at the bottom. It creates a really unique helmet and is definitely a step in the right direction.
So naturally this got me thinking about the best uniform sets in the NFL, here's my team by team rankings.
1. Green Bay Packers: I may be a little biased here, but the classic green-and-gold is topped by no scheme in the NFL. The jerseys have changed little over the years, and that's only because they're frickin awesome to begin with.
2. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks were the first team to take advantage of the new Nike system of uniforms and man did they score. The crazy color combinations actually are positive here and they just vibe exciting and colorful. Big ups for going with something new.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars: I love innovation, and this allowed the Jaguars to catapult themselves to #3 on my list. Their previous jerseys were nothing special, but Nike has taken this design to the next level and they look fantastic. While the jerseys may not help them win games, they definitely earn points for looking sweet doing it.
4. San Francisco 49ers: The Nike redesign made these uniforms more crisp and really brings out the character in these classic threads. As with the Packers they haven't changed much over time, but they really don't need to.
5. San Diego Chargers: Royal or powder blue - it doesn't matter! These jerseys look clean and energetic no matter what colors are being worn. The white helmet really brings it all together to make the Chargers one of the best-dressed teams in the NFL.
6. Baltimore Ravens: When you think of the Ravens, you think of badassery. While their uniforms could fit that description as well. The team can use either its purple or black uniforms to great effect and they just look and feel sleek to the observer.
7. Detroit Lions: I may not like them, but those silver and blue duds get the job done. The silver helmets really complement well and even though they haven't been historically good, the new Nike uniforms really put the Lions in the upper tier of jerseys.
8. Washington Redskins
9. Denver Broncos: orange crush is back and better than ever!
10. Chicago Bears
11. St. Louis Rams
12. Buffalo Bills: the redesign did wonders for these threads!
13. Houston Texans
14. Pittsburgh Steelers
15. Cincinnati Bengals
16. New York Giants
17. Minnesota Vikings
18. Indianapolis Colts
19. New Orleans Saints
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: bring back the orange, full time!
21. Atlanta Falcons: outstayed their welcome, time for a redesign.
22. Dallas Cowboys
23. Tennessee Titans
24. New England Patriots: if only they played every game in the AFL retros!
25. Cleveland Browns
26. Kansas City Chiefs
27. Miami Dolphins
28. Philadelphia Eagles: desperately need a redesign!
29. New York Jets
30. Carolina Panthers: never have black uniforms looked so dumb, except for maybe Oakland.
31. Arizona Cardinals: too gimmicky, get a redesign!
32. Oakland Raiders: ahh the classic prison uniforms.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
April 17, 2013
April 17, 2013
First post in April!! Lots has happened since I was away, most importantly the beginning of the new baseball season. The season is already 2.5 weeks old and already the contenders are becoming clear. Here's my Top 10 teams, as of now!
1. Atlanta Braves (12-2)
2. Oakland Athletics (11-4)
3. Washington Nationals (8-6)
4. St. Louis Cardinals (8-5)
5. Detroit Tigers (8-5)
6. Texas Rangers (9-5)
7. San Francisco Giants (9-5)
8. Boston Red Sox (9-4)
9. Colorado Rockies (10-4)
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (8-5)
So far the NL West is looking very strong, with 3 teams in the Top 10 according to me. Overall, the Braves are the team to beat and are my early favorite to win the World Series. Their rotation is deep and strong and a revamped lineup has given them the power to put big numbers as well. One of the other big surprises this year has been the Oakland A's. A surprising and young lineup is putting up tons of runs and a up and coming rotation has been dynamite so far. My only question is: can they keep it up over an entire season?
Who's Hot:
Justin Upton, OF, ATL: .340, 8 HR, 12 RBI, 2 SB
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL: .380, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB
Matt Harvey, SP, NYM: 3-0, 0.82 ERA, 25 K, 22.0 IP
Paul Maholm, SP, ATL: 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 20 K, 20.1 IP
Who's Not:
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT: .073, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA: .167, 0 HR, 0 RBI
John Axford, RP, MIL: 0-2, 15.19 ERA, 5 K, 5.1 IP, 1 BS
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK: 0-2, 10.80 ERA, 4 K, 11.2 IP, 8 BB
First post in April!! Lots has happened since I was away, most importantly the beginning of the new baseball season. The season is already 2.5 weeks old and already the contenders are becoming clear. Here's my Top 10 teams, as of now!
1. Atlanta Braves (12-2)
2. Oakland Athletics (11-4)
3. Washington Nationals (8-6)
4. St. Louis Cardinals (8-5)
5. Detroit Tigers (8-5)
6. Texas Rangers (9-5)
7. San Francisco Giants (9-5)
8. Boston Red Sox (9-4)
9. Colorado Rockies (10-4)
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (8-5)
So far the NL West is looking very strong, with 3 teams in the Top 10 according to me. Overall, the Braves are the team to beat and are my early favorite to win the World Series. Their rotation is deep and strong and a revamped lineup has given them the power to put big numbers as well. One of the other big surprises this year has been the Oakland A's. A surprising and young lineup is putting up tons of runs and a up and coming rotation has been dynamite so far. My only question is: can they keep it up over an entire season?
Who's Hot:
Justin Upton, OF, ATL: .340, 8 HR, 12 RBI, 2 SB
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, COL: .380, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB
Matt Harvey, SP, NYM: 3-0, 0.82 ERA, 25 K, 22.0 IP
Paul Maholm, SP, ATL: 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 20 K, 20.1 IP
Who's Not:
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT: .073, 0 HR, 1 RBI
Giancarlo Stanton, OF, MIA: .167, 0 HR, 0 RBI
John Axford, RP, MIL: 0-2, 15.19 ERA, 5 K, 5.1 IP, 1 BS
Jarrod Parker, SP, OAK: 0-2, 10.80 ERA, 4 K, 11.2 IP, 8 BB
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
March 12, 2013
March 12, 2013
March Madness is nearly here!! Championship week in the NCAA has begun and already a few teams have punched their tickets to the dance.
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast (24-10)
Big South: Liberty (15-20) wtf?
Colonial: James Madison (20-14)
Horizon: Valparaiso (26-7)
Ivy: Harvard (19-9)
Metro Atlantic: Iona (20-13)
Missouri Valley: Creighton (27-7) no doubts here
Northeast: LIU Brooklyn (20-13)
Ohio Valley: Belmont (26-6)
Southern: Davidson (26-7)
Summit: South Dakota St. (25-9)
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky (20-15)
West Coast: Gonzaga (31-2) another no doubter
13 teams are in, and another 55 are yet to go, it should be exciting.
The other big story in sports is the beginning of NFL free agency. Day 1 had some big moves made by several teams. Here's the moves I find important.
Mike Wallace, WR: signed by Dolphins
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB: cut by Eagles
Cullen Jenkins, DT: signed by Giants
Patrick Chung, S: signed by Eagles
Jared Cook, TE: signed by Rams
Dannell Ellerbe, LB: signed by Dolphins
Paul Kruger, LB: signed by Browns
Martellus Bennett, TE: signed by Bears
DJ Williams, LB: cut by Broncos
DeAngelo Hall, CB: cut by Redskins
Sione Pouha, DT: cut by Jets
Antoine Winfield, CB: cut by Vikings
Charles Woodson, CB: cut by Packers
James Harrison, LB: cut by Steelers
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR: cut by Raiders
James Anderson, LB: cut by Panthers
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB: cut by Bills
Michael Turner, RB: cut by Falcons
March Madness is nearly here!! Championship week in the NCAA has begun and already a few teams have punched their tickets to the dance.
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast (24-10)
Big South: Liberty (15-20) wtf?
Colonial: James Madison (20-14)
Horizon: Valparaiso (26-7)
Ivy: Harvard (19-9)
Metro Atlantic: Iona (20-13)
Missouri Valley: Creighton (27-7) no doubts here
Northeast: LIU Brooklyn (20-13)
Ohio Valley: Belmont (26-6)
Southern: Davidson (26-7)
Summit: South Dakota St. (25-9)
Sun Belt: Western Kentucky (20-15)
West Coast: Gonzaga (31-2) another no doubter
13 teams are in, and another 55 are yet to go, it should be exciting.
The other big story in sports is the beginning of NFL free agency. Day 1 had some big moves made by several teams. Here's the moves I find important.
Mike Wallace, WR: signed by Dolphins
Nnamdi Asomugha, CB: cut by Eagles
Cullen Jenkins, DT: signed by Giants
Patrick Chung, S: signed by Eagles
Jared Cook, TE: signed by Rams
Dannell Ellerbe, LB: signed by Dolphins
Paul Kruger, LB: signed by Browns
Martellus Bennett, TE: signed by Bears
DJ Williams, LB: cut by Broncos
DeAngelo Hall, CB: cut by Redskins
Sione Pouha, DT: cut by Jets
Antoine Winfield, CB: cut by Vikings
Charles Woodson, CB: cut by Packers
James Harrison, LB: cut by Steelers
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR: cut by Raiders
James Anderson, LB: cut by Panthers
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB: cut by Bills
Michael Turner, RB: cut by Falcons
Saturday, February 9, 2013
February 9, 2013
February 9, 2013
I'm a little late but I'll finally be discussing the aftermath of Super Bowl XLVII, which was won by the Ravens 34-31. A few things popped out at me during the game that I consider one of the best in recent memory, other than the Pack obviously winning the Super Bowl two years ago.
1. Joe Flacco has arrived, sort of. You can doubt him all you want, the man can win playoff games. I would still only consider him the 9th or 10th best QB in the NFL. Here goes: Rodgers, Brady, P. Manning, Brees, E. Manning, Ryan, Stafford, Romo, Flacco. I guess he's 9th haha.
2. Jacoby Jones was a major X-factor. Had he showed this sort of game-breaking ability in Houston he may have lasted there longer. Arguably the Ravens MVP.
3. The power outage definitely made for some good entertainment, even though the game wasn't happening it was one of those stories that defines a Super Bowl, and apparently gave the 49ers the momentum they needed to make it a game.
4. Colin Kaepernick will be a beast, no doubt. The more games he plays the better he's gonna get. The 49ers may have found their franchise guy.
5. Of these two teams, the 49ers have a far better chance of getting back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens, while still a decent team, are NOT champion worthy in my opinion. You can call them a team of destiny or whatever you will, but they should not have been in that game, so kudos to them for defying the odds.
6. Vernon Davis had a solid game for the 49ers, something that for some reason became rare during the course of the season. For their offense to be running successful, Davis must be a part of the gameplan.
Thus begins the long offseason in the NFL. Already teams are making cuts and moves for next season and they're should be some very interesting storylines for the offseason. The draft and the combine are next on the agenda and I'll be talking more about that as they near.
I'm a little late but I'll finally be discussing the aftermath of Super Bowl XLVII, which was won by the Ravens 34-31. A few things popped out at me during the game that I consider one of the best in recent memory, other than the Pack obviously winning the Super Bowl two years ago.
1. Joe Flacco has arrived, sort of. You can doubt him all you want, the man can win playoff games. I would still only consider him the 9th or 10th best QB in the NFL. Here goes: Rodgers, Brady, P. Manning, Brees, E. Manning, Ryan, Stafford, Romo, Flacco. I guess he's 9th haha.
2. Jacoby Jones was a major X-factor. Had he showed this sort of game-breaking ability in Houston he may have lasted there longer. Arguably the Ravens MVP.
3. The power outage definitely made for some good entertainment, even though the game wasn't happening it was one of those stories that defines a Super Bowl, and apparently gave the 49ers the momentum they needed to make it a game.
4. Colin Kaepernick will be a beast, no doubt. The more games he plays the better he's gonna get. The 49ers may have found their franchise guy.
5. Of these two teams, the 49ers have a far better chance of getting back to the Super Bowl. The Ravens, while still a decent team, are NOT champion worthy in my opinion. You can call them a team of destiny or whatever you will, but they should not have been in that game, so kudos to them for defying the odds.
6. Vernon Davis had a solid game for the 49ers, something that for some reason became rare during the course of the season. For their offense to be running successful, Davis must be a part of the gameplan.
Thus begins the long offseason in the NFL. Already teams are making cuts and moves for next season and they're should be some very interesting storylines for the offseason. The draft and the combine are next on the agenda and I'll be talking more about that as they near.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
January 27, 2013
January 27, 2013
Two things on the blog today. First, last night me and a few friends went to the Red Bull Crashed Ice event in St. Paul, only a 30 minute bus ride from our campus. I was really excited to see a crazy new sport that I'd never heard of, and was not disappointed. It's basically played on a luge sort of track, but instead of a sled the competitors simply skate, so its essentially downhill skating. The course has various jumps, uphill climbs, and banked turns that do increase the difficulty immensely. The initial drop is 48 feet high and at its steepest is a 45 degree angle! There were quite a few Americans in the 64 man field so understandably they received the most cheers and had the support of the over 80,000 people in attendance. Only one American, Cameron Naasz made it to the final round where he finished 3rd after being involved in a 3 man crash towards the finish line. He's apparently one of the best the sport has to offer as he's currently in 2nd place in the season standings. The winner was Kyle Croxall of Canada, who was last year's world champion as well. The track was situated right underneath the St. Paul Cathedral and they worked very hard to incorporate the beautiful building into the event. The cathedral was lit up throughout the night and had color changing lights that would bathe the building in several different brilliant colors, its was pretty awesome. Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a new and exciting sport.
Second, today is the annual NFL Pro Bowl. I just don't understand why there is so much negativity directed towards what is not an actual game. If you have ever watched the Pro Bowl with the intention of watching a realistic, intense NFL game then you are delusional. The Pro Bowl is meant to be a fun and ENTERTAINING gathering of the best the NFL has to offer, and to just let them go out and ball, basically to have fun. This should above else be a chance for the best players in the NFL to essentially meet up to play a friendly game of football. The Pro Bowl is usually high scoring as defenses are extremely limited so in this regard the game lives up to its entertainment value. Moreover, the Pro Bowl is not an actual game it counts for NOTHING, there's no reason for the players to go out and risk their bodies and livelihoods for a game that is only for entertainment. I don't understand why people want the game eliminated, what would you replace it with? You then would leave a hideous gap between the conference championship round and the Super Bowl. Once the Super Bowl is done the long cold summer of no football begins, so people should be appreciative of a last chance to see most of the stars of the game in one location. And even in its so called "diluted" form the Pro Bowl still draws more viewers than any other major sports all-star game.
Two things on the blog today. First, last night me and a few friends went to the Red Bull Crashed Ice event in St. Paul, only a 30 minute bus ride from our campus. I was really excited to see a crazy new sport that I'd never heard of, and was not disappointed. It's basically played on a luge sort of track, but instead of a sled the competitors simply skate, so its essentially downhill skating. The course has various jumps, uphill climbs, and banked turns that do increase the difficulty immensely. The initial drop is 48 feet high and at its steepest is a 45 degree angle! There were quite a few Americans in the 64 man field so understandably they received the most cheers and had the support of the over 80,000 people in attendance. Only one American, Cameron Naasz made it to the final round where he finished 3rd after being involved in a 3 man crash towards the finish line. He's apparently one of the best the sport has to offer as he's currently in 2nd place in the season standings. The winner was Kyle Croxall of Canada, who was last year's world champion as well. The track was situated right underneath the St. Paul Cathedral and they worked very hard to incorporate the beautiful building into the event. The cathedral was lit up throughout the night and had color changing lights that would bathe the building in several different brilliant colors, its was pretty awesome. Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a new and exciting sport.
 |
| St. Paul Cathedral lit up for Crashed Ice |
Thursday, January 24, 2013
January 24, 2013
January 24, 2013
I've often wondered if the NFL is in some way, "fixed." While I keep faith that the NFL is honest in its business dealings and that games aren't fixed and certain teams subject to favoritism there are cases that do offer evidence to the contrary. Here's a blog I came across today while surfing.
http://spaces.covers.com/blog/MaximumWins/NFL/03042012-Reasons-Why-The-NFL-Is-Fixed-For-Profit.html
If the NFL is truly fixing games, they aren't very good at making it not obvious. The last few Super Bowls are perfect examples of great story lines that potentially net the the NFL plenty of profit.
Super Bowl XLVII
Two words: Harbaugh Bowl. Has fix written all over it as the NFL tries to drum up excitement for the upcoming Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVI
A rematch between the Giants and Patriots that produced one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory is the perfect way for the NFL to further the Manning family legacy, as Eli wins his 2nd Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLV
A game featuring two of the most historic franchises in history was a great way for the NFL to hype up the Super Bowl at the huge Cowboys Stadium. The Packers were victorious as the NFL was probably hesitant to give Ben Roethlisberger another Super Bowl after his escapades earlier in the year.
Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL and truly believe it is a truthful and model sports organization. It is helpful to consider all sides though.
I've often wondered if the NFL is in some way, "fixed." While I keep faith that the NFL is honest in its business dealings and that games aren't fixed and certain teams subject to favoritism there are cases that do offer evidence to the contrary. Here's a blog I came across today while surfing.
http://spaces.covers.com/blog/MaximumWins/NFL/03042012-Reasons-Why-The-NFL-Is-Fixed-For-Profit.html
If the NFL is truly fixing games, they aren't very good at making it not obvious. The last few Super Bowls are perfect examples of great story lines that potentially net the the NFL plenty of profit.
Super Bowl XLVII
Two words: Harbaugh Bowl. Has fix written all over it as the NFL tries to drum up excitement for the upcoming Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLVI
A rematch between the Giants and Patriots that produced one of the best Super Bowls in recent memory is the perfect way for the NFL to further the Manning family legacy, as Eli wins his 2nd Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XLV
A game featuring two of the most historic franchises in history was a great way for the NFL to hype up the Super Bowl at the huge Cowboys Stadium. The Packers were victorious as the NFL was probably hesitant to give Ben Roethlisberger another Super Bowl after his escapades earlier in the year.
Don't get me wrong, I love the NFL and truly believe it is a truthful and model sports organization. It is helpful to consider all sides though.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
January 20, 2013
January 20, 2013
First post of the new year!!!! Finally got back to school yesterday for the spring semester so time should be a little more plentiful, at least for now.
It's conference championship week in the NFL, here's my predictions for the Super Bowl participants
NFC
49ers 30, Falcons 24
AFC
Patriots 35, Ravens 20
Now that my Packers have gone down I shall be rooting exclusively for the Patriots, who are my 2nd favorite team in the NFL.
First post of the new year!!!! Finally got back to school yesterday for the spring semester so time should be a little more plentiful, at least for now.
It's conference championship week in the NFL, here's my predictions for the Super Bowl participants
NFC
49ers 30, Falcons 24
AFC
Patriots 35, Ravens 20
Now that my Packers have gone down I shall be rooting exclusively for the Patriots, who are my 2nd favorite team in the NFL.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
December 25, 2012
Sorry for the long delay, finals and school have been taking up a lot of time but the semester is nearly over. Anyway, I've been playing my dynasty with the Packers on Madden 12 and just wanted to comment on the crazy alternate reality that has come to pass. As a note, the Pack has won the last two Super Bowls, defeating the Steelers and then the Texans. We're now in the year 2014.
One of the big things to look at is the starting QBs around the league:
Bears: Jay Cutler
Bengals: Andy Dalton
Bills: Ryan Lindley (apparently he is going to become much better than he currently is)
Broncos: Tim Tebow (RG3 is currently his backup, haha)
Browns: Colt McCoy
Buccaneers: Andrew Luck (already a 91 in his 2nd season)
Cardinals: Brandon Weeden
Chargers: Philip Rivers
Chiefs: TJ Yates (backed up by Ricky Stanzi, yuck)
Colts: Peyton Manning (they didn't get the memo that Peyton was a Bronco)
Cowboys: Tony Romo
Dolphins: Domanique Davis (head scratcher, though he's an 89 overall)
Eagles: Michael Vick
Falcons: Matt Ryan
49ers: Alex Smith
Giants: Eli Manning
Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert
Jets: Matt Cassel
Lions: Matt Stafford
Packers: Aaron Rodgers (He isn't going anywhere, let's just say that)
Panthers: Cam Newton (now the #2 rated QB in the league)
Patriots: Tom Brady
Raiders: Carson Palmer
Rams: Sam Bradford
Ravens: Joe Flacco
Redskins: Landry Jones (so this is the alternate RG3less destiny?)
Saints: Drew Brees
Seahawks: Tyler Wilson (starting right out of college)
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger
Texans: Matt Schaub
Titans: Jake Locker
Vikings: Christian Ponder
One of the big things to look at is the starting QBs around the league:
Bears: Jay Cutler
Bengals: Andy Dalton
Bills: Ryan Lindley (apparently he is going to become much better than he currently is)
Broncos: Tim Tebow (RG3 is currently his backup, haha)
Browns: Colt McCoy
Buccaneers: Andrew Luck (already a 91 in his 2nd season)
Cardinals: Brandon Weeden
Chargers: Philip Rivers
Chiefs: TJ Yates (backed up by Ricky Stanzi, yuck)
Colts: Peyton Manning (they didn't get the memo that Peyton was a Bronco)
Cowboys: Tony Romo
Dolphins: Domanique Davis (head scratcher, though he's an 89 overall)
Eagles: Michael Vick
Falcons: Matt Ryan
49ers: Alex Smith
Giants: Eli Manning
Jaguars: Blaine Gabbert
Jets: Matt Cassel
Lions: Matt Stafford
Packers: Aaron Rodgers (He isn't going anywhere, let's just say that)
Panthers: Cam Newton (now the #2 rated QB in the league)
Patriots: Tom Brady
Raiders: Carson Palmer
Rams: Sam Bradford
Ravens: Joe Flacco
Redskins: Landry Jones (so this is the alternate RG3less destiny?)
Saints: Drew Brees
Seahawks: Tyler Wilson (starting right out of college)
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger
Texans: Matt Schaub
Titans: Jake Locker
Vikings: Christian Ponder
Saturday, November 17, 2012
November 17, 2012
Well this has been one of the craziest as well as most disappointing days I can ever remember in college football. Both #1 and #2 went down in upsets, including my Ducks being defeated by Stanford in OT. After this loss their shot at the National Championship appears to be gone, barring a surprise in the polls. Anyway, here would be my Top 5 Rankings.
#1 Notre Dame, 11-0: They rise to #1 only because the top 2 fell, I feel they're vastly overrated and have big upset potential next week against USC.
#2 Oregon, 10-1: Even with this loss they have a better claim to the title game than Alabama I feel, who's loss is arguably worse than Oregon's. Based on that alone I leave Oregon #2.
#3 Alabama, 10-1: I supremely hate the SEC and I just don't think Alabama should be elevated this week after destroying a Division 2 team, real classy.
#4 Georgia, 10-1: Another SEC team that well impressive, hasn't really impressed me that much.
#5 Kansas St, 10-1: They majorly blew their shot at the title game, losing to unranked Baylor by 28.
If Notre Dame makes it to the title game and gets slaughtered, don't say I didn't warn you.
#1 Notre Dame, 11-0: They rise to #1 only because the top 2 fell, I feel they're vastly overrated and have big upset potential next week against USC.
#2 Oregon, 10-1: Even with this loss they have a better claim to the title game than Alabama I feel, who's loss is arguably worse than Oregon's. Based on that alone I leave Oregon #2.
#3 Alabama, 10-1: I supremely hate the SEC and I just don't think Alabama should be elevated this week after destroying a Division 2 team, real classy.
#4 Georgia, 10-1: Another SEC team that well impressive, hasn't really impressed me that much.
#5 Kansas St, 10-1: They majorly blew their shot at the title game, losing to unranked Baylor by 28.
If Notre Dame makes it to the title game and gets slaughtered, don't say I didn't warn you.
Monday, October 22, 2012
October 22, 2012
Sorry for the delay it's been a busy month so far!!
While I was gone:
The Packers have gone 2-1 and won two impressive games against the Texans and Rams. Aaron Rodgers appears to be back on track and is silencing anyone who possibly doubted him this year.
The Gophers have begun their inevitable yearly slide after hitting B1G play. They're now 4-3 on the year and face Purdue this weekend in a definitely winnable game. Philip Nelson did look good at times last week against Wisconsin, but its too bad that his redshirt had to be taken for him to get the chance.
Oregon has kept on steamrolling opposition, and is now 6-0 for the year and #2 in the AP poll, and #4 in the BCS poll. Despite big wins they've continued to drop against Pac-12 opposition. They have a few big tests left this year and those should be the games that push them back into the championship game.
While I was gone:
The Packers have gone 2-1 and won two impressive games against the Texans and Rams. Aaron Rodgers appears to be back on track and is silencing anyone who possibly doubted him this year.
The Gophers have begun their inevitable yearly slide after hitting B1G play. They're now 4-3 on the year and face Purdue this weekend in a definitely winnable game. Philip Nelson did look good at times last week against Wisconsin, but its too bad that his redshirt had to be taken for him to get the chance.
Oregon has kept on steamrolling opposition, and is now 6-0 for the year and #2 in the AP poll, and #4 in the BCS poll. Despite big wins they've continued to drop against Pac-12 opposition. They have a few big tests left this year and those should be the games that push them back into the championship game.
Monday, October 1, 2012
October 1, 2012
College Football: Week 5
Iowa 31, Minnesota 13 - F
Well, we finally suffered our first loss of the year, and did it in hideous fashion. The offense mustered only 75 total yards in the first half and didn't post points until the 3rd quarter. Max Shortell, who had played so well prior to this game, looked completely unable to handle the hostile crowd at Kinnick Stadium. It was definitely a disappointing B1G start for the Gophers. We're now on a bye week before taking on Northwestern for homecoming.
#2 Oregon 51, Washington St. 26 - F
After a slow start the Ducks once again blew out their opponent. Kenjon Barner had 4 TDs as the offense ran rampant in the second half. The Ducks are now up to #2 in the country and control their own BCS destiny.
Other Notables
#9 West Virginia 70, #25 Baylor 63 - F
Washington 17, #8 Stanford 13 - F
NFL: Week 4
Saints 27
Packers 28 - F
The Pack rebounded from the atrocious Monday night call to edge out the Saints and get back to .500 on the season. Aaron Rodgers finally returned to MVP form, throwing 4 TDs and leading the go-ahead score late in the 4th quarter.
Patriots 52
Bills 28 - F
49ers 34
Jets 0 - F
Raiders 6
Broncos 37 - F
Iowa 31, Minnesota 13 - F
Well, we finally suffered our first loss of the year, and did it in hideous fashion. The offense mustered only 75 total yards in the first half and didn't post points until the 3rd quarter. Max Shortell, who had played so well prior to this game, looked completely unable to handle the hostile crowd at Kinnick Stadium. It was definitely a disappointing B1G start for the Gophers. We're now on a bye week before taking on Northwestern for homecoming.
#2 Oregon 51, Washington St. 26 - F
After a slow start the Ducks once again blew out their opponent. Kenjon Barner had 4 TDs as the offense ran rampant in the second half. The Ducks are now up to #2 in the country and control their own BCS destiny.
Other Notables
#9 West Virginia 70, #25 Baylor 63 - F
Stat Line of the Day
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| Geno Smith's line vs Baylor |
NFL: Week 4
Saints 27
Packers 28 - F
The Pack rebounded from the atrocious Monday night call to edge out the Saints and get back to .500 on the season. Aaron Rodgers finally returned to MVP form, throwing 4 TDs and leading the go-ahead score late in the 4th quarter.
Bills 28 - F
49ers 34
Jets 0 - F
Raiders 6
Broncos 37 - F
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
September 25, 2012
September 25, 2012
Rightfully so, there is only one thing that will consume the sports world for the foreseeable future: the horrible MNF game between the Packers and Seahawks, and how this referee lockout has gone too far. I've been a lifelong Packer and football fan, and I'm fairly sure I always will be. Never before have I ever questioned my love for either, but last night was the first time I've ever doubted the game of football, and more specifically, the NFL. This was arguably the first time that a ruling by the replacements has actually decided the outcome of a game, and it may finally be the straw that breaks the camels back in relation to the referee lockout. The part that makes me the most angry is not that the Packers lost (though that does hurt a lot) and were screwed out of a hard fought win, it's more that the NFL can accept what has happened in games this season, especially last night, and not feel any emotion that would compel it to get a deal done with the former referees. They've showed no desire to make the process easy and the longer they wait, the easier it will be for them to negotiate a better deal for themselves, granted the replacements don't get worse. (which has happened so far) As long as the revenue stream for the NFL isn't affected, why would they try to get a deal done? The league is as popular as ever and that doesn't look to change, in spite of the chaos raging. If anything, it actually gives the NFL even more publicity, if that's possible. The NFL is once again showing itself to be a cash grabbing, fan stomping monster, and cares nothing for the INTEGRITY of the game which it so endears itself to. That's troubling as well, as the integrity of the NFL / football is at stake amongst this firestorm and they've done nothing except hand down fines to coaches who've stepped out of line. And even more frustrating is that there's little fans can do about it, save a wholesale boycott of the league and its revenue streams, (that fans can affect) namely ticket sales, merchandise sales, and TV viewership. Fans can't affect TV deals or sponsorships (the ones that make the big bucks) so while the NFL would potentially feel this drop in revenue, it would most likely be fine in the end. The NFL has worked hard to restore its image after the summer 2011 lockout, and this is definitely posing a setback in terms of fan relations and quality of games. I won't be doing an NFL recap this week, as I'm unwilling at this time to support the NFL until they show some remorse or intention to change the way this season is going.
College Football Week 4
Minnesota 17, Syracuse 14 - F
The Gophers held on to defeat Syracuse at the Bank to move to 4-0 on the young season and put themselves in good position going into B1G season. Max Shortell wasn't quite as good as he was the previous game, but still did enough in the passing game to move the offense down the field. This week we head to Iowa City to play Iowa in the Floyd of Rosedale game. I'll be going to this game as well, so I'm expecting a good atmosphere and a pretty fun weekend.
#3 Oregon 42, #22 Arizona 0 - F
The Ducks overcame a slow start to lay down a beatdown on the Wildcats in Eugene. What was also interesting is that the D stole the show in this game, completely shutting down the Wildcats offense and eventually giving the offense the drives it needed to run up the score.
Rightfully so, there is only one thing that will consume the sports world for the foreseeable future: the horrible MNF game between the Packers and Seahawks, and how this referee lockout has gone too far. I've been a lifelong Packer and football fan, and I'm fairly sure I always will be. Never before have I ever questioned my love for either, but last night was the first time I've ever doubted the game of football, and more specifically, the NFL. This was arguably the first time that a ruling by the replacements has actually decided the outcome of a game, and it may finally be the straw that breaks the camels back in relation to the referee lockout. The part that makes me the most angry is not that the Packers lost (though that does hurt a lot) and were screwed out of a hard fought win, it's more that the NFL can accept what has happened in games this season, especially last night, and not feel any emotion that would compel it to get a deal done with the former referees. They've showed no desire to make the process easy and the longer they wait, the easier it will be for them to negotiate a better deal for themselves, granted the replacements don't get worse. (which has happened so far) As long as the revenue stream for the NFL isn't affected, why would they try to get a deal done? The league is as popular as ever and that doesn't look to change, in spite of the chaos raging. If anything, it actually gives the NFL even more publicity, if that's possible. The NFL is once again showing itself to be a cash grabbing, fan stomping monster, and cares nothing for the INTEGRITY of the game which it so endears itself to. That's troubling as well, as the integrity of the NFL / football is at stake amongst this firestorm and they've done nothing except hand down fines to coaches who've stepped out of line. And even more frustrating is that there's little fans can do about it, save a wholesale boycott of the league and its revenue streams, (that fans can affect) namely ticket sales, merchandise sales, and TV viewership. Fans can't affect TV deals or sponsorships (the ones that make the big bucks) so while the NFL would potentially feel this drop in revenue, it would most likely be fine in the end. The NFL has worked hard to restore its image after the summer 2011 lockout, and this is definitely posing a setback in terms of fan relations and quality of games. I won't be doing an NFL recap this week, as I'm unwilling at this time to support the NFL until they show some remorse or intention to change the way this season is going.
College Football Week 4
Minnesota 17, Syracuse 14 - F
The Gophers held on to defeat Syracuse at the Bank to move to 4-0 on the young season and put themselves in good position going into B1G season. Max Shortell wasn't quite as good as he was the previous game, but still did enough in the passing game to move the offense down the field. This week we head to Iowa City to play Iowa in the Floyd of Rosedale game. I'll be going to this game as well, so I'm expecting a good atmosphere and a pretty fun weekend.
#3 Oregon 42, #22 Arizona 0 - F
The Ducks overcame a slow start to lay down a beatdown on the Wildcats in Eugene. What was also interesting is that the D stole the show in this game, completely shutting down the Wildcats offense and eventually giving the offense the drives it needed to run up the score.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
September 16, 2012
College Football: Week 3
Minnesota 28, Western Michigan 23 - F
The Gophers are up to 3-0 after holding on to defeat Western Michigan at the Bank. It was a costly win as Marqueis Gray went down with what is being called a high ankle sprain. Max Shortell came into the game and played quite well in relief, throwing 2 TDs to AJ Barker in the first half. Shortell completely changes the offense for the Gophers, as he's much more of a standard pocket passing QB, but he does still have scrambling abilities and this could end up being a blessing in disguise for Minnesota.
Other Notables
#4 Oregon 63, Tennessee Tech 14 - F
My Ducks cruise again and are now up to #3 in the rankings after USC went down, they now control their own BCS destiny.
#1 Alabama 52, Arkansas 0 - F
NFL: Week 2
Bears 10
Packers 23 - F
The Pack rebounded nicely against the Bears on Thursday at Lambeau Field. The defense totaled 7 sacks and 4 picks of Jay Cutler, who looked frustrated and distraught throughout the game. What was troubling again is that the offense was held in check for stretches of the game as well, though this could be attributed to the high level of the defenses faced so far. In fact, the only Packers TD of the first half was a fake field goal where punter Tim Masthay pitched the ball to backup TE Tom Crabtree.
Other Notables
Cardinals 20
Patriots 18 - F
Major upset as the Patriots fall at home to the lowly Cardinals. Aaron Hernandez was also lost with an apparent ankle injury in the game.
Ravens 23
Eagles 24 - F
Buccaneers 34
Giants 41 - F
Minnesota 28, Western Michigan 23 - F
The Gophers are up to 3-0 after holding on to defeat Western Michigan at the Bank. It was a costly win as Marqueis Gray went down with what is being called a high ankle sprain. Max Shortell came into the game and played quite well in relief, throwing 2 TDs to AJ Barker in the first half. Shortell completely changes the offense for the Gophers, as he's much more of a standard pocket passing QB, but he does still have scrambling abilities and this could end up being a blessing in disguise for Minnesota.
Other Notables
#4 Oregon 63, Tennessee Tech 14 - F
My Ducks cruise again and are now up to #3 in the rankings after USC went down, they now control their own BCS destiny.
#1 Alabama 52, Arkansas 0 - F
NFL: Week 2
Bears 10
Packers 23 - F
The Pack rebounded nicely against the Bears on Thursday at Lambeau Field. The defense totaled 7 sacks and 4 picks of Jay Cutler, who looked frustrated and distraught throughout the game. What was troubling again is that the offense was held in check for stretches of the game as well, though this could be attributed to the high level of the defenses faced so far. In fact, the only Packers TD of the first half was a fake field goal where punter Tim Masthay pitched the ball to backup TE Tom Crabtree.
Cardinals 20
Patriots 18 - F
Major upset as the Patriots fall at home to the lowly Cardinals. Aaron Hernandez was also lost with an apparent ankle injury in the game.
Ravens 23
Eagles 24 - F
Buccaneers 34
Giants 41 - F
Stat Line of the Day
 |
| CJ Spiller's line vs the Chiefs |
Sunday, September 9, 2012
September 9, 2012
College Football Week 2
Minnesota 44, New Hampshire 7 - F
The Gophers run their record to 2-0 after a drubbing of the Wildcats in Minneapolis. It was a pretty entertaining game throughout and the constant wind made it fairly cool out as well, because I wore pants. Marqueis Gray totaled 4 TDs and showed why he's the focal point of the Gophers offense. 3-0 looks in reach when we take on Western Michigan next week.
#4 Oregon 42, Fresno St. 25 - F
The Ducks rolled again over a cupcake opponent. Once again Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas ran roughshod over the opposing defense and showed that the Ducks offense has lost nothing since last year. Tennessee Tech awaits.
Other Notables:
Oregon St. 10, #13 Wisconsin 7 - F
#6 Florida St. 55, Savannah St. 0 - F
Louisiana-Monroe 34, #8 Arkansas 31 - F/OT
NFL Week 1
The NFL is back, I'll comment on the Packer game every week as well as some other notable games.
49ers 30
Packers 22 - F
Alex Smith and the Niners offense made the Packers D look just as they did last year, getting torched over and over again. They also managed to stifle Aaron Rodgers and the Packers O for most of the game, including a CRITICAL late-game interception that allowed the 49ers to score and go up by 15, when the Packers had finally gained the momentum, it effectively ended the game. Randall Cobb had a spectacular game, accumulating 9 receptions for 77 yards, along with 73 kick return yards and 80 punt return yards, for a total of 230 yards. This could be the coming out party for the beginning of a spectacular young star, he was routinely the most exciting player on the field for the Pack. Clay Matthews and the defense totaled 3 sacks, but the pass coverage was still full of holes and made Alex Smith look like an MVP candidate.
Redskins 40
Saints 32 - F
Robert Griffin III looked spectacular in his rookie debut, throwing for 320 yards and 2 TDs. This could be the beginning of a disappointing season for the Saints, as Drew Brees completed less than 50% of his passes.
Bills 28
Jets 48 - F
Falcons 40
Chiefs 24 - F
Minnesota 44, New Hampshire 7 - F
The Gophers run their record to 2-0 after a drubbing of the Wildcats in Minneapolis. It was a pretty entertaining game throughout and the constant wind made it fairly cool out as well, because I wore pants. Marqueis Gray totaled 4 TDs and showed why he's the focal point of the Gophers offense. 3-0 looks in reach when we take on Western Michigan next week.
#4 Oregon 42, Fresno St. 25 - F
The Ducks rolled again over a cupcake opponent. Once again Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas ran roughshod over the opposing defense and showed that the Ducks offense has lost nothing since last year. Tennessee Tech awaits.
Other Notables:
Oregon St. 10, #13 Wisconsin 7 - F
#6 Florida St. 55, Savannah St. 0 - F
Louisiana-Monroe 34, #8 Arkansas 31 - F/OT
NFL Week 1
The NFL is back, I'll comment on the Packer game every week as well as some other notable games.
49ers 30
Packers 22 - F
Alex Smith and the Niners offense made the Packers D look just as they did last year, getting torched over and over again. They also managed to stifle Aaron Rodgers and the Packers O for most of the game, including a CRITICAL late-game interception that allowed the 49ers to score and go up by 15, when the Packers had finally gained the momentum, it effectively ended the game. Randall Cobb had a spectacular game, accumulating 9 receptions for 77 yards, along with 73 kick return yards and 80 punt return yards, for a total of 230 yards. This could be the coming out party for the beginning of a spectacular young star, he was routinely the most exciting player on the field for the Pack. Clay Matthews and the defense totaled 3 sacks, but the pass coverage was still full of holes and made Alex Smith look like an MVP candidate.
 |
| 49ers - Packers Overview |
Saints 32 - F
Robert Griffin III looked spectacular in his rookie debut, throwing for 320 yards and 2 TDs. This could be the beginning of a disappointing season for the Saints, as Drew Brees completed less than 50% of his passes.
Bills 28
Jets 48 - F
Falcons 40
Chiefs 24 - F
Stat Line of the Day
 |
| Matt Ryan's line vs Kansas City |
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
September 5, 2012
The Cowboys shocked the Giants 24-17 on the opening night of the NFL regular season.
 |
| Kevin Ogletree's line vs the Giants |
The big individual story was the emergence of Kevin Ogletree as Tony Romo's main target during the game. Though Miles Austin got involved late and Dez Bryant was targeted throughout, it was Ogletree who was the go to receiver late in the game when the Cowboys were trying to put it away. It will be interesting to see how this develops this year.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
September 1, 2012
COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!!!!!
The beginning of the college football season marks the beginning of my favorite time of year: football season. Already there's been intriguing games around the country and I've been able to watch a few of them.
Minnesota 30, UNLV 27 - F/3OT
My Gophers struggled a bit on offense in regulation, but the D was solid all night, only giving up 275 total yards. In the end, Marqueis Gray was too much to handle for the Rebels as he threw 2 TDs in OT to give the Gophers the win. We'll take on New Hampshire at home next week, and I plan on being there!!
#13 Michigan St. 17, #24 Boise St. 13 - F
I do love Boise St. as well, and I love how they always try to open with a difficult game. This year, however, they didn't come away with a win, and it will probably end their BCS-busting capabilities this year. Le'Veon Bell was just a beast all night for the Spartans, carrying over 40 times and amassing 200+ rushing yards. He could be a darkhorse Heisman candidate this year if the Spartans keep on winning.
I'd also like to comment on the rash of incidents involving fans falling at stadiums lately. While theses cases are very tragic, I'd like to point out that until the last 2 years this has never really been an issue, except for major soccer incidents. The stadiums aren't magically getting less safe, so it has to be something with the fans. In regards to the incident at Reliant Stadium in Houston, where a fan fell 3 stories off an escalator to his death, he was allegedly "horseplaying and trying to slide down the escalator railing." While the result is sad, this is completely a case of bad judgment and drunken stupidity. I would imagine the Texans will now be forced to add security measures on all escalators in the stadium, at their cost. This is all because of one person. It's always the few who ruin things for the many, and hopefully people learn from these events.
#2 Alabama 41, #8 Michigan 14 - F
The highlight game of the opening week ended up not really being a game at all. The Crimson Tide defense smothered Denard Robinson and the Michigan O and never let up. Michigan proved to the nation that they were ranked far too high and this will just put the SEC another step closer to another stranglehold on the national title chase.
#5 Oregon 50, Arkansas St. 3 - 2nd Qtr
My other favorite team is off to an impressive start after hanging half a century in the first half already. Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas have combined for 5 TDs and are already on the bench for the night. Marcus Mariota also was impressive in his first half as the starting QB at Oregon, going 18-22 for 3 TDs. Final Score will be updated tomorrow.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
#19 Oklahoma St. 84, Savannah St. 0 - F
#1 USC 49, Hawaii 10 - F
#3 LSU 41, North Texas 14 - F
#14 Clemson 26, Auburn 19 - F
The beginning of the college football season marks the beginning of my favorite time of year: football season. Already there's been intriguing games around the country and I've been able to watch a few of them.
Minnesota 30, UNLV 27 - F/3OT
My Gophers struggled a bit on offense in regulation, but the D was solid all night, only giving up 275 total yards. In the end, Marqueis Gray was too much to handle for the Rebels as he threw 2 TDs in OT to give the Gophers the win. We'll take on New Hampshire at home next week, and I plan on being there!!
#13 Michigan St. 17, #24 Boise St. 13 - F
I do love Boise St. as well, and I love how they always try to open with a difficult game. This year, however, they didn't come away with a win, and it will probably end their BCS-busting capabilities this year. Le'Veon Bell was just a beast all night for the Spartans, carrying over 40 times and amassing 200+ rushing yards. He could be a darkhorse Heisman candidate this year if the Spartans keep on winning.
Stat Line of the Day
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| Le'Veon Bell's line vs Boise St. |
I'd also like to comment on the rash of incidents involving fans falling at stadiums lately. While theses cases are very tragic, I'd like to point out that until the last 2 years this has never really been an issue, except for major soccer incidents. The stadiums aren't magically getting less safe, so it has to be something with the fans. In regards to the incident at Reliant Stadium in Houston, where a fan fell 3 stories off an escalator to his death, he was allegedly "horseplaying and trying to slide down the escalator railing." While the result is sad, this is completely a case of bad judgment and drunken stupidity. I would imagine the Texans will now be forced to add security measures on all escalators in the stadium, at their cost. This is all because of one person. It's always the few who ruin things for the many, and hopefully people learn from these events.
#2 Alabama 41, #8 Michigan 14 - F
The highlight game of the opening week ended up not really being a game at all. The Crimson Tide defense smothered Denard Robinson and the Michigan O and never let up. Michigan proved to the nation that they were ranked far too high and this will just put the SEC another step closer to another stranglehold on the national title chase.
#5 Oregon 50, Arkansas St. 3 - 2nd Qtr
My other favorite team is off to an impressive start after hanging half a century in the first half already. Kenjon Barner and De'Anthony Thomas have combined for 5 TDs and are already on the bench for the night. Marcus Mariota also was impressive in his first half as the starting QB at Oregon, going 18-22 for 3 TDs. Final Score will be updated tomorrow.
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
#19 Oklahoma St. 84, Savannah St. 0 - F
#1 USC 49, Hawaii 10 - F
#3 LSU 41, North Texas 14 - F
#14 Clemson 26, Auburn 19 - F
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