Good for Team USA Hockey. After goalie Ryan Miller (looking like one of the top, if not the top, keeper in the world) stopped 42 shots against the Canadians, Team Canada put up seven goals, including four in the first period, against powerhouse Russia. Talk about making a great achievement look even better. The re-match tomorrow has more Americans excited about hockey than we’ve seen in a long time. These kids could do a tremendous service to professional hockey in the U.S. (and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman) by winning tomorrow. By the way, with the exposure his league is getting right now, Bettman would be crazy to try and keep NHL players from playing in the Olympics.
You know when I saw Tiger Woods, a Florida native, standing on the Indianapolis Colts’ sideline IN Miami for a Monday Night game against the Dolphins; I really started to resent the guy. I never really liked him because of his standoffish, aloof demeanor, but he didn’t bother me too much until I saw him rooting against the ‘Phins. (I’m very protective of my Dolphins). When the car accident happened and all of the allegations started coming out (I loved the ecstasy thing in particularly), I just kind of sat back and laughed. But when I watched his ill-timed, completely unnecessary press conference last week in which he said ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, it really hit me just how much I can’t stand the guy, and how disgusted I am by American sports media and the viewing population. Who the hell CARES if Tiger Woods cheated on his wife? Unless someone makes a parody of Woods rolling on ecstasy while driving a stolen car ala Neil Patrick Harris in Harold & Kumar go to White Castle, I don’t want to hear about it, and you shouldn’t either! How is it possible that the New York Stock Exchange was affected by his nine-minute worthless “speech” where, by the way, he had to look at note cards to say “I’m sorry”? Jesus Christ. We have the Olympics going on, college basketball getting mad, the NBA season heating up, NFL free agency on the horizon and spring training baseball, not to mention, an actual golf tournament, and we’re talking about Tiger Woods' sex life. I just realized that with this blog, I’m becoming part of the problem. Accordingly, let’s move on.
Dolphins’ fans: We need to get a receiver. Period. Look, I’m not going through another season telling my friends that guys named Bess, Camarillo and Hartline can carry the passing game. I’m just not gonna do it. Bill Parcells needs to get over his issue with drafting WR’s high or giving them big money. Not EVERY receiver is a head case and a prima donna. Parcells has NEVER liked dishing out cash to receivers and has only drafted two in the first round during his entire career as head coach/general manager/lord of the Dolphins – Mark Ingram (Giants) and Terry Glenn (Patriots, against his wishes to take a defensive lineman). This needs to stop! In today’s NFL, you need playmakers outside. Look at New Orleans and Indianapolis, the two Super Bowl teams. How about New England, San Diego, Minnesota, even Dallas was greatly boosted by the development of Miles Austin (who, by the way, is NOT worth 1st and 3rd round compensation as a restricted free agent), and Philadelphia? Two years ago, Pittsburgh doesn’t win the Super Bowl without Santonio Holes making a ridiculous play in the corner of the endzone. Get a ‘freaking receiver, please. My suggestion? Trade a mid-round pick for Anquin Boldin and draft a guy with speed (AND some kind of vision, awareness, hands, hand-eye coordination – in other words not another Ted Ginn).
By the way, I’ll be running a live NFL Draft blog this year, something I haven’t done in a while.
One more thing – how in the world did the Knicks manage to trade away Jared Jeffries’ contract? What did they give up to do it, Jordan Hill and a pick? Not too shabby. Signing LeBron next summer would be amazing but with money for two max players - a Dwayne Wade/Amar'e Stoudamire combo with Tracy McGrady playing 20-25 minutes on the wing would be pretty impressive. It WILL, however, be really interesting to see what LeBron decides to do, because the lure of Madison Square Garden might be too much to pass up if Wade or Chris Bosh come along for the ride.
That’s all for now.
Thanks for reading and root for Team USA hockey even if you can’t see that little puck on TV.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Super Bowl XLIV
6:16 Just got to my friends house in Adams Morgan (Washington D.C.) for the game. You would think that after taking a cab, walking thirty minutes and riding two trains to get there after a blizzard made public transportation impossible and my car invisible, your friends wouldn't try to convince you to go and get the food. Since the guys that live in the place (Dave and Zak) were playing in a high stakes poker tournament online, I guess they figured it made sense that I go, which I did. I walked in cursing up a storm about the weather and the walking and told them gambling becomes a problem when it starts affecting your relationships. Specifically, I hate both of them. Anyway...
6:21 We're betting on the length of the national anthem - Dave set the over/under at 1:56. The under dominated, Carrie Underwood came in at precisely 1:46.
Now, the coin toss; I'm taking tails all the way. They just showed Jerry Rice. He's kind of like Michael Jordan, only the exact opposite. He knows he's the best and a total pimp because of it, he doesn't have to rub it in people's faces. I don't think MJ was hugged enough when he was growing up or something. Whatever. Why did they call heads?? You never call heads! And... it's a head, Saints win the toss, they will receive.
My prediction is 41-38 New Orleans in the highest scoring Super Bowl of all time.
6:31...And here we go....By the way, the highest scoring Super Bowl to date was Super Bowl XXIX , San Francisco over San Diego 49-26 with Steve Young as MVP. Dave wanted me to mention that he called it when I asked the room.
Someone just asked if Manning is playing for the title of "best quarterback of all-time." Two championships with his gaudy numbers and the name to go with it?? I'll say this; if they win, he will certainly have a good case and the debate wil at least give 'analysts' something to talk about until Brett Favre shows up at training camp somewhere.
My favorite player on the Colts is Pierre Garcon just because I love saying "Manning to his boy Garcon." You know (Dave didn't), because Garcon means boy in French. Anyway, on 3rd down, Manning just did what makes him the player he is. Under pressure, he threw off his back foot and rifled one into Collie for a first down. Drive stays alive, 1st and 10 at the 25. On 3rd and 5 from the 20, Manning misses the throw and Stover comes on to hit a field goal. Almost every drive in this game I expect to be a scoring drive. The difference will be who can score the most touchdowns when they get in the red area.
Betty White just got laid out in a commercial. Not bad. My only question is, Betty White's still alive? Hm. Also during the break, the D.C. jumbo slice I scarfed down while waiting for wings started killing my stomach, updates on this to come...
I just suggested we set an over/under for how many calls get challenged during this game. We set it at 2.5. Everyone, including me, took the over, except for Dave. I should mention this now - Dave is die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan from Boston. For those of you not familiar with this type, Dave is a hater. He hates the fact the Colts are in this game to begin with and he resents me because the Yankees won the World Series. Colston just had a ball bounce right off his hands and incomplete. That kind of stuff won't beat Peyton Manning or, as importantly, help my prediction come true.
Joseph Addai rips off a 12-yard run. He's had a tough year but he's going to have a long career in this league because he doesn't have to carry it 25-times a game, he gets to the perimeter a lot and he does a lot of things very well. This is the new wave of running backs in the NFL - gone are the days of the prototype 230-pound workhorse, they just don't last and teams have started really figuring this out over the last few years. You want a more versatile guy who can stay healthy, pick up a lot of assignments and not mind splitting carries.
MANNING TO HIS BOY GARCON!!! 10-0 Colts. I just challenged the Red Sox fan to a fight-to-the-death at halftime. He declined, I win.
New Go Daddy commercial. Yesterday I was looking for a host for my upcoming website and I chose Go Daddy. This is why, seriously. Let's Go Brees, time to get it going. The city of New Orleans needs this.
Largest deficit a team has ever overcome to win the Super Bowl was 10 by the Redskins, of all teams, against Denver in Super Bowl XXII; they fell behind 10-0 and won 42-10. I just had a weird vision of Reggie Bush winning the MVP and asked the guys what kind of odds I could get on that bet, to which I got a sarcastic response from Dave. Tough running from Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas as the Saints maneuver down field. Big sack from Dwight Freeney on 3rd down; the ankle looked okay on that one. 10-3 Colts.
My friend Avi's reaction to the Mark Sanchez heartbeat commercial said it all: "I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."
2:00 warning with the Saints at the 1 yard-line after a great looking drive. They HAVE to get 7 here, you can't kick a field goal after all that and then have Manning come back down the field in 90 seconds and make it 17-6. When we (the Dolphins) played them in Week 2 and held the ball for 46 minutes and still lost, this is exactly the type of thing we did. Even when we scored TD's, Manning would answer so quickly and go to the sideline with that "What were you saying, again?" look on his face. Point is, definitely can't settle for three. 3rd down, let's go Brees. The play call is a Mike Bell run to the right, he trips, falls, loses a half-yard and New Orleans has a decision to make.
They choose to go for it and can't convert. How in the WORLD do you call a run there on 4th down with the best quarterback in the NFC on the field? I knew it was a bad idea from the millisecond Brees' handed off. The ironic thing is it was a great idea to go for it - I had just got done explaining that to the room - and then they run the ball and not even with their best back? Unreal. The score remains 10-3.
Saints get another chance after forcing a punt and Brees finds a wide open Henderson at the 32. Spike with :20. Brees to Henderson again at the 28 but he can't get out of bounds and NO uses its last timeout. Hartley hits to give them back the three points they missed out on when they went from it from the 1. Halftime.
Pretty good half of football. No 80-yard TD throws like many expected but some physical play and back-and-forth action. I have a feeling the 4th quarter will be crazy. Sticking to my prediction and my pride: 41-38 New Orleans.
8:16 - Halftime show...not really a lot to say. It's pretty much what you're gonna get from The Who, just a solid performance. Update: I've only had one beer so far and I'm feeling alright. Dave is in 9th place with 15 left in a poker tournament that pays way more money than he deserves. Back to the action..Indy will have the ball first.
ONSIDES KICK by New Orleans to start the second half!!!... and they recover. It's almost like they really want to win this game, maybe they'll have a chance if they don't run the ball with a backup running back on 4th down after making a gutsy call to go for it. A chance for some serious redemption now.
Brees is starting to look more comfortable out there, they're rolling him out, doing some different things to keep the rush away from him and he's getting into a rhythm. Doesn't hurt that Freeney is on the sidelines getting his ankle heavily taped. Touchdown Pierre Thomas!! The Saints take the lead and now Peyton Manning gets to do what he does best - make plays with the pressure on. Remember a few years ago when we would never say that about him, or any Manning for that matter? I guess he has really come a long way. What a throw by Manning to Dallas Clark to put them at the 20. Indy scored to make it 17-13 and it looks like the Manning-Brees battle is about to catch fire.
On a lighter note, Dave busted out in 12th place to win $500 and he looks like his girlfriend just broke up with him. One of our friends was trying to tell him that even though he didn't win he still has an extra $500, but Dave isn't hearing it. I commented that he no longer lives on the same plane as we do, which drew a couple of laughs. I'm not-so-secretly happy that Dave lost in the tournament. Life is alright...
New Orleans cuts the lead to 17-16 on a Hartley field goal.
The new Google commercial is pretty cool but it needed a better ending like those Mastercard "priceless" commercials. The guy is in a long distance relationship with a girl in Paris, he googles everything he needs to know like "how to speak french" etc etc. up until he books a flight, goes to Paris, plans a wedding, and then the last line is "how to assemble a crib?" I would've liked something surprising or, preferably, a little dark humor, but maybe that's just me.
After the game, let me know what your favorite commercial was in the comments section
Zak just pointed out there have been few penalties, no turnovers, no big plays and no challenges. In other words, nothing controversial or overly exciting. 15 minutes to play....
Predictions for MVP: In this room we've heard Manning, Garcon, Pierre Thomas (Dave - not sure if he's being sarcastic, he insists he isn't), Deverey Henderson, and I'm gonna say...Drew Brees.
We just got into a talk about the most recent defensive players to win the MVP...I thought Harrison won it last year but apparently it was Santonio Holmes, I guess I must have blocked out that TD he caught. The answer: Dexter Jackson won it for Tampa Bay 2003, before that it was Ray Lewis for Baltimore in 2001 and Larry Brown for Dallas in 1996.
8:00 left, New Orleans with the ball after Matt Stover missed a 51-yarder for Indy. Any Ravens fan could have told you Stover would miss that kick. Someone should have told Tony Dungy...or whoever it is that coaches the Colts these days.
Wow, Jeremy Shockey just caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl! Who would've thunk it, now we just gotta get Tiki Barber a Super Bowl win. It's 22-17, they go for two and miss. Things are starting to heat up. Our first coaches challenge of the game comes after the two-point try; really interesting situation and this might be the first time I've seen this. What happened is the receiver, Lance Moore, caught the ball, put it over the goal-line, hit the ground with possession and then as he was turning over, the ball was kicked out of his hand. They overturn it and here's why: According to the NFL Rulebook , "a forward pass is complete when a receiver clearly possesses the pass and touches the ground with both feet inbounds while in possession of the ball." In this case, he landed with possession and the ball only came out when he made a second move after already being down. Got it? I think it's a good call, everybody concurs and we can move on with our lives. Huge deal by the way because now a touchdown ties it as opposed to giving Indy a potential lead.
Interception return for a Touchdown by Tracy Porter for the Saints!! Imagine making a play of that caliber in a game of this magnitude. Unbelievable and that's what makes pro sports so exciting. This rare pick of Manning comes straight from film study and knowing the Colts' offense and tendencies; Porter read the play and made a break on the ball. Hats off to him and that could do it for the Colts. Two touchdown lead for the Saints, 31-17, but if there's anyone you don't want to face in this situation today it's Manning, and even all-time after Marino and maybe Elway.
As the Colts drive to try and make it a one-score game with less than two minutes left, one of my friends just made a good point - this season really showed just how good Manning is because he really didn't have much of a squad around him; reminds me of another guy who went pretty far almost every year without a good team.
Manning incomplete on 4th down and they turn it over. Here's my problem with this: the Colts called TO after they were stopped on 2nd so once that timeout was gone, they should have used their last one before the 4th down play with the clock running and their season on the line. Come out with your best play, then worry about recovering the onsides kick.
Anyway, the Saints are going to win this game and their first Super Bowl 31-17, Brees will be the MVP and Jim Nantz just took a cheapshot at the Dolphins for passing on Brees...twice.
"Mardi Gras is about to break out here in Miami," says Nantz. Pretty good Super Bowl and we now have a good string going ever since the cheatin' Pats stopped winning. While Bourbon Street will party into the night, I'll sleep like a baby and dream of seeing my 'Phins win one. Good night.
6:21 We're betting on the length of the national anthem - Dave set the over/under at 1:56. The under dominated, Carrie Underwood came in at precisely 1:46.
Now, the coin toss; I'm taking tails all the way. They just showed Jerry Rice. He's kind of like Michael Jordan, only the exact opposite. He knows he's the best and a total pimp because of it, he doesn't have to rub it in people's faces. I don't think MJ was hugged enough when he was growing up or something. Whatever. Why did they call heads?? You never call heads! And... it's a head, Saints win the toss, they will receive.
My prediction is 41-38 New Orleans in the highest scoring Super Bowl of all time.
6:31...And here we go....By the way, the highest scoring Super Bowl to date was Super Bowl XXIX , San Francisco over San Diego 49-26 with Steve Young as MVP. Dave wanted me to mention that he called it when I asked the room.
Someone just asked if Manning is playing for the title of "best quarterback of all-time." Two championships with his gaudy numbers and the name to go with it?? I'll say this; if they win, he will certainly have a good case and the debate wil at least give 'analysts' something to talk about until Brett Favre shows up at training camp somewhere.
My favorite player on the Colts is Pierre Garcon just because I love saying "Manning to his boy Garcon." You know (Dave didn't), because Garcon means boy in French. Anyway, on 3rd down, Manning just did what makes him the player he is. Under pressure, he threw off his back foot and rifled one into Collie for a first down. Drive stays alive, 1st and 10 at the 25. On 3rd and 5 from the 20, Manning misses the throw and Stover comes on to hit a field goal. Almost every drive in this game I expect to be a scoring drive. The difference will be who can score the most touchdowns when they get in the red area.
Betty White just got laid out in a commercial. Not bad. My only question is, Betty White's still alive? Hm. Also during the break, the D.C. jumbo slice I scarfed down while waiting for wings started killing my stomach, updates on this to come...
I just suggested we set an over/under for how many calls get challenged during this game. We set it at 2.5. Everyone, including me, took the over, except for Dave. I should mention this now - Dave is die-hard Patriots and Red Sox fan from Boston. For those of you not familiar with this type, Dave is a hater. He hates the fact the Colts are in this game to begin with and he resents me because the Yankees won the World Series. Colston just had a ball bounce right off his hands and incomplete. That kind of stuff won't beat Peyton Manning or, as importantly, help my prediction come true.
Joseph Addai rips off a 12-yard run. He's had a tough year but he's going to have a long career in this league because he doesn't have to carry it 25-times a game, he gets to the perimeter a lot and he does a lot of things very well. This is the new wave of running backs in the NFL - gone are the days of the prototype 230-pound workhorse, they just don't last and teams have started really figuring this out over the last few years. You want a more versatile guy who can stay healthy, pick up a lot of assignments and not mind splitting carries.
MANNING TO HIS BOY GARCON!!! 10-0 Colts. I just challenged the Red Sox fan to a fight-to-the-death at halftime. He declined, I win.
New Go Daddy commercial. Yesterday I was looking for a host for my upcoming website and I chose Go Daddy. This is why, seriously. Let's Go Brees, time to get it going. The city of New Orleans needs this.
Largest deficit a team has ever overcome to win the Super Bowl was 10 by the Redskins, of all teams, against Denver in Super Bowl XXII; they fell behind 10-0 and won 42-10. I just had a weird vision of Reggie Bush winning the MVP and asked the guys what kind of odds I could get on that bet, to which I got a sarcastic response from Dave. Tough running from Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas as the Saints maneuver down field. Big sack from Dwight Freeney on 3rd down; the ankle looked okay on that one. 10-3 Colts.
My friend Avi's reaction to the Mark Sanchez heartbeat commercial said it all: "I don't even know what that's supposed to mean."
2:00 warning with the Saints at the 1 yard-line after a great looking drive. They HAVE to get 7 here, you can't kick a field goal after all that and then have Manning come back down the field in 90 seconds and make it 17-6. When we (the Dolphins) played them in Week 2 and held the ball for 46 minutes and still lost, this is exactly the type of thing we did. Even when we scored TD's, Manning would answer so quickly and go to the sideline with that "What were you saying, again?" look on his face. Point is, definitely can't settle for three. 3rd down, let's go Brees. The play call is a Mike Bell run to the right, he trips, falls, loses a half-yard and New Orleans has a decision to make.
They choose to go for it and can't convert. How in the WORLD do you call a run there on 4th down with the best quarterback in the NFC on the field? I knew it was a bad idea from the millisecond Brees' handed off. The ironic thing is it was a great idea to go for it - I had just got done explaining that to the room - and then they run the ball and not even with their best back? Unreal. The score remains 10-3.
Saints get another chance after forcing a punt and Brees finds a wide open Henderson at the 32. Spike with :20. Brees to Henderson again at the 28 but he can't get out of bounds and NO uses its last timeout. Hartley hits to give them back the three points they missed out on when they went from it from the 1. Halftime.
Pretty good half of football. No 80-yard TD throws like many expected but some physical play and back-and-forth action. I have a feeling the 4th quarter will be crazy. Sticking to my prediction and my pride: 41-38 New Orleans.
8:16 - Halftime show...not really a lot to say. It's pretty much what you're gonna get from The Who, just a solid performance. Update: I've only had one beer so far and I'm feeling alright. Dave is in 9th place with 15 left in a poker tournament that pays way more money than he deserves. Back to the action..Indy will have the ball first.
ONSIDES KICK by New Orleans to start the second half!!!... and they recover. It's almost like they really want to win this game, maybe they'll have a chance if they don't run the ball with a backup running back on 4th down after making a gutsy call to go for it. A chance for some serious redemption now.
Brees is starting to look more comfortable out there, they're rolling him out, doing some different things to keep the rush away from him and he's getting into a rhythm. Doesn't hurt that Freeney is on the sidelines getting his ankle heavily taped. Touchdown Pierre Thomas!! The Saints take the lead and now Peyton Manning gets to do what he does best - make plays with the pressure on. Remember a few years ago when we would never say that about him, or any Manning for that matter? I guess he has really come a long way. What a throw by Manning to Dallas Clark to put them at the 20. Indy scored to make it 17-13 and it looks like the Manning-Brees battle is about to catch fire.
On a lighter note, Dave busted out in 12th place to win $500 and he looks like his girlfriend just broke up with him. One of our friends was trying to tell him that even though he didn't win he still has an extra $500, but Dave isn't hearing it. I commented that he no longer lives on the same plane as we do, which drew a couple of laughs. I'm not-so-secretly happy that Dave lost in the tournament. Life is alright...
New Orleans cuts the lead to 17-16 on a Hartley field goal.
The new Google commercial is pretty cool but it needed a better ending like those Mastercard "priceless" commercials. The guy is in a long distance relationship with a girl in Paris, he googles everything he needs to know like "how to speak french" etc etc. up until he books a flight, goes to Paris, plans a wedding, and then the last line is "how to assemble a crib?" I would've liked something surprising or, preferably, a little dark humor, but maybe that's just me.
After the game, let me know what your favorite commercial was in the comments section
Zak just pointed out there have been few penalties, no turnovers, no big plays and no challenges. In other words, nothing controversial or overly exciting. 15 minutes to play....
Predictions for MVP: In this room we've heard Manning, Garcon, Pierre Thomas (Dave - not sure if he's being sarcastic, he insists he isn't), Deverey Henderson, and I'm gonna say...Drew Brees.
We just got into a talk about the most recent defensive players to win the MVP...I thought Harrison won it last year but apparently it was Santonio Holmes, I guess I must have blocked out that TD he caught. The answer: Dexter Jackson won it for Tampa Bay 2003, before that it was Ray Lewis for Baltimore in 2001 and Larry Brown for Dallas in 1996.
8:00 left, New Orleans with the ball after Matt Stover missed a 51-yarder for Indy. Any Ravens fan could have told you Stover would miss that kick. Someone should have told Tony Dungy...or whoever it is that coaches the Colts these days.
Wow, Jeremy Shockey just caught a TD pass in the Super Bowl! Who would've thunk it, now we just gotta get Tiki Barber a Super Bowl win. It's 22-17, they go for two and miss. Things are starting to heat up. Our first coaches challenge of the game comes after the two-point try; really interesting situation and this might be the first time I've seen this. What happened is the receiver, Lance Moore, caught the ball, put it over the goal-line, hit the ground with possession and then as he was turning over, the ball was kicked out of his hand. They overturn it and here's why: According to the NFL Rulebook , "a forward pass is complete when a receiver clearly possesses the pass and touches the ground with both feet inbounds while in possession of the ball." In this case, he landed with possession and the ball only came out when he made a second move after already being down. Got it? I think it's a good call, everybody concurs and we can move on with our lives. Huge deal by the way because now a touchdown ties it as opposed to giving Indy a potential lead.
Interception return for a Touchdown by Tracy Porter for the Saints!! Imagine making a play of that caliber in a game of this magnitude. Unbelievable and that's what makes pro sports so exciting. This rare pick of Manning comes straight from film study and knowing the Colts' offense and tendencies; Porter read the play and made a break on the ball. Hats off to him and that could do it for the Colts. Two touchdown lead for the Saints, 31-17, but if there's anyone you don't want to face in this situation today it's Manning, and even all-time after Marino and maybe Elway.
As the Colts drive to try and make it a one-score game with less than two minutes left, one of my friends just made a good point - this season really showed just how good Manning is because he really didn't have much of a squad around him; reminds me of another guy who went pretty far almost every year without a good team.
Manning incomplete on 4th down and they turn it over. Here's my problem with this: the Colts called TO after they were stopped on 2nd so once that timeout was gone, they should have used their last one before the 4th down play with the clock running and their season on the line. Come out with your best play, then worry about recovering the onsides kick.
Anyway, the Saints are going to win this game and their first Super Bowl 31-17, Brees will be the MVP and Jim Nantz just took a cheapshot at the Dolphins for passing on Brees...twice.
"Mardi Gras is about to break out here in Miami," says Nantz. Pretty good Super Bowl and we now have a good string going ever since the cheatin' Pats stopped winning. While Bourbon Street will party into the night, I'll sleep like a baby and dream of seeing my 'Phins win one. Good night.
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