The Los Angeles Lakers are synonymous with winning. Since 1980 the storied franchise has played for the championship 16 times (winning 10) and established itself as the standard for excellence. The level of expectation in LA is higher than other basketball cities and right now there's a lot of concern for Laker Nation.
A month into the season the Lakers have a modest 12-9 record with a dismal 2-7 performance on the road. If the playoffs started today they would be in a 3 way tie for the last spot. The offense is stagnant since the departure of Lamar Kardashian and Metta World Peace hasn't been the same player since the public has forgiven him for the Auburn Palace melee. Kobe Bryant's quest for immortality will always keep the team competitive, but it's obvious the Lakers are going to need help if the intend to make a run for the title.
Enter Gilbert Arenas. The controversial point guard has been out of the league since the Orlando Magic released him and until recently there were no inquiries for his services. At his best Arenas is a lethal scorer capable of averaging 30 points a game and worthy of the nickname "Hibachi." At his worst Arenas will bring guns into the locker room, send tweets during the halftime of games, and get into altercations with his teammates.
It would be a huge risk for the Lakers to acquire Arenas, but one I think they should take. Players seem to respond better when they know it's their last chance to prove themselves. In addition, the Lakers will have him on a short leash. One flare up with the Black Mamba and Agent Zero will be reassigned permanently. If nothing else LA is exhausting every resource to make the team better and you have to respect them for that. Good luck Gilbert. I hope the experiment works out for everyone.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Weekend Observations
This is the time of the year where sports fans are forced to make the transition away from football. It's time to put the flags away, hang up the jerseys, and put the tailgating equipment in storage. There's only one game left to crown a champion and then we fade to black. Fortunately there's other sports to pick up the slack and hold our interest until training camp starts again. Can you imagine the void that would be left if the NBA were still locked out? Here are some observations over the weekend.
Tiger Woods finished a respectable 3rd in his first tournament of the year. It looks like he might get his name engraved on a few trophies this year.
The Pro Bowl is the most meaningless all star game there is. There's no defense played, everybody runs a half speed, and no one really remembers who won or lost. Do we really need this game?
The New York Jets locker room was more fragmented this year than they were letting on. Rex Ryan's style of coaching may have run its course if he can't get players to buy into his philosophy.
Novak Djokovic is as mentally tough as anyone who's ever played the game. Rafael Nadal would be closing in on Pete Sampras and Roger Federer if he didn't have to play this guy in grand slam finals. I think Novak is headed for a Tiger slam with a victory at the French this year.
The Miami Heat vs. the Chicago Bulls is the best rivalry in the NBA right now. The battle for Eastern conference supremacy should be compelling and exciting down the stretch. If the Bulls can find one more scorer to take some pressure off of Derrick Rose the Heat may be in trouble.
Tiger Woods finished a respectable 3rd in his first tournament of the year. It looks like he might get his name engraved on a few trophies this year.
The Pro Bowl is the most meaningless all star game there is. There's no defense played, everybody runs a half speed, and no one really remembers who won or lost. Do we really need this game?
The New York Jets locker room was more fragmented this year than they were letting on. Rex Ryan's style of coaching may have run its course if he can't get players to buy into his philosophy.
Novak Djokovic is as mentally tough as anyone who's ever played the game. Rafael Nadal would be closing in on Pete Sampras and Roger Federer if he didn't have to play this guy in grand slam finals. I think Novak is headed for a Tiger slam with a victory at the French this year.
The Miami Heat vs. the Chicago Bulls is the best rivalry in the NBA right now. The battle for Eastern conference supremacy should be compelling and exciting down the stretch. If the Bulls can find one more scorer to take some pressure off of Derrick Rose the Heat may be in trouble.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Super Bowl Prediction: Eli Over Tom
There are times when something looks so predictable you end up with the opposite result. In the sportsbook world this phenomenon is referred to as the double jinx. On paper the New England Patriots are the better team, but for some reason I don't see them winning the Super Bowl.
The New York Giants are masters of the double jinx. They pulled it off in Super Bowl XLII when they beat the undefeated Patriots and again this year when they beat the undefeated Packers. The Giants aren't explosive on offense, but they do just enough to win. Their defensive line is stellar and has the tendency to make opposing quarterbacks feel uncomfortable.
The wild card however is Eli Manning. Most people underestimate his ability to make clutch plays. On the flip side he also makes costly mistakes at inopportune times. If he can limit the interceptions and fumbles the Giants have a legitimate shot to win the game.
The Patriots have better coaching. Tom Brady is better than Eli Manning. The Patriots have better tight ends and receivers. The Belichick dynasty is legendary. This is why the double jinx is so hard to accept. In my rational mind there's no way the Patriots can lose this game, but my intuition tells me something different. At the end of the day I'm following my instincts. Giants by a field goal over the Patriots.
The New York Giants are masters of the double jinx. They pulled it off in Super Bowl XLII when they beat the undefeated Patriots and again this year when they beat the undefeated Packers. The Giants aren't explosive on offense, but they do just enough to win. Their defensive line is stellar and has the tendency to make opposing quarterbacks feel uncomfortable.
The wild card however is Eli Manning. Most people underestimate his ability to make clutch plays. On the flip side he also makes costly mistakes at inopportune times. If he can limit the interceptions and fumbles the Giants have a legitimate shot to win the game.
The Patriots have better coaching. Tom Brady is better than Eli Manning. The Patriots have better tight ends and receivers. The Belichick dynasty is legendary. This is why the double jinx is so hard to accept. In my rational mind there's no way the Patriots can lose this game, but my intuition tells me something different. At the end of the day I'm following my instincts. Giants by a field goal over the Patriots.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
UW Basketball Has A Silver Lining
At the start of the 2011-2012 college basketball season I had high hopes for my Alma mater. Although the Washington Huskies lost point guard Isaiah Thomas to the NBA and veteran leader Venoy Overton to graduation the team added Abdul Gaddy (coming back from injury) and highly touted recruit Tony Wroten Jr. Making the NCAA tournament and winning 20+ games seemed like a realistic expectation. 2/3 of the way through the season I can hear Lee Corso in my head saying, "Not so fast my friend."
The Huskies got off to a slow start playing mediocre ball which culminated with an inexplicable loss to South Dakota St. Tony Wroten is a special talent, but he has trouble getting his teammates involved. Terrence Ross and CJ Wilcox have both struggled to find their place in an offense that is predicated on Wroten's score first mentality. The more I watch the Huskies play the less optimistic I become.
Recently however the Huskies have presented me with an unexpected surprise. I don't usually get excited over a player fouling out with 0 points and 7 rebounds in 16 minutes, but when it's your football team's starting tight end there's reason to celebrate.
If Austin Seferian-Jenkins is athletic enough to play Pac 12 basketball he is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. If the play of Tony Gonzalez, Jimmy Graham, Julius Peppers, and Antonio Gates (all former college basketball players) are any indication of what to expect from a two sport athlete in the NFL the future looks bright for Sefarian-Jenkins and the Husky football program as a whole.
As for the Husky basketball team, it's Pac 12 championship or bust. They have no quality wins to speak of and their inconsistent play makes them susceptible to bad losses. I have confidence in coach Romar and I'm forever the optimist when it comes to my Huskies, but if they don't win the tournament at the Staples Center in March they won't make the big dance. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
The Huskies got off to a slow start playing mediocre ball which culminated with an inexplicable loss to South Dakota St. Tony Wroten is a special talent, but he has trouble getting his teammates involved. Terrence Ross and CJ Wilcox have both struggled to find their place in an offense that is predicated on Wroten's score first mentality. The more I watch the Huskies play the less optimistic I become.
Recently however the Huskies have presented me with an unexpected surprise. I don't usually get excited over a player fouling out with 0 points and 7 rebounds in 16 minutes, but when it's your football team's starting tight end there's reason to celebrate.
If Austin Seferian-Jenkins is athletic enough to play Pac 12 basketball he is going to be a nightmare for opposing defenses. If the play of Tony Gonzalez, Jimmy Graham, Julius Peppers, and Antonio Gates (all former college basketball players) are any indication of what to expect from a two sport athlete in the NFL the future looks bright for Sefarian-Jenkins and the Husky football program as a whole.
As for the Husky basketball team, it's Pac 12 championship or bust. They have no quality wins to speak of and their inconsistent play makes them susceptible to bad losses. I have confidence in coach Romar and I'm forever the optimist when it comes to my Huskies, but if they don't win the tournament at the Staples Center in March they won't make the big dance. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Did Jorge Posada Retire Too Soon?
In an emotional ceremony Jorge Posada announced his retirement form the game of baseball Tuesday. Over his 17 year career (all with the New York Yankees) Posada won 5 World Series titles and his career numbers are comparable to any catcher in the Hall of Fame. Without question Posada was an integral part of the Yankees most recent dynasty and well respected in the clubhouse. So why did he walk away?
The answer is simple. There's no substitute for being a Yankee. He retired because emotionally and psychologically he couldn't bring himself to play for another team. The Yankees didn't offer Posada a contract for the 2012 season, but if they had I guarantee you he would have been on board for another season.
After you've had Fillet Mignon it's hard to start eating hamburger helper. A stint in Kansas City, Denver, or Toronto wouldn't suffice. Jorge figured he had made enough money and there was nothing left to prove. If he couldn't be a Yankee, baseball wasn't worth playing anymore.
I always say play the sport as long as you're physically able. There's nothing in your life that can replace the feeling of competing every day. In addition, Posada could probably make another 3 to 5 million dollars if he stuck around. Last I checked cash money was still a good thing to have. Good luck in retirement Jorge. I admire you for following your heart.
The answer is simple. There's no substitute for being a Yankee. He retired because emotionally and psychologically he couldn't bring himself to play for another team. The Yankees didn't offer Posada a contract for the 2012 season, but if they had I guarantee you he would have been on board for another season.
After you've had Fillet Mignon it's hard to start eating hamburger helper. A stint in Kansas City, Denver, or Toronto wouldn't suffice. Jorge figured he had made enough money and there was nothing left to prove. If he couldn't be a Yankee, baseball wasn't worth playing anymore.
I always say play the sport as long as you're physically able. There's nothing in your life that can replace the feeling of competing every day. In addition, Posada could probably make another 3 to 5 million dollars if he stuck around. Last I checked cash money was still a good thing to have. Good luck in retirement Jorge. I admire you for following your heart.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Weekend Observations
For those of you that read my blog on a consistent basis I know my words were ringing in your head watching the Patriots/Ravens game on Sunday. KICKERS WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE!!! Everyone was saying all the right things after Billy Cundiff did his shankapotimus impersonation from 32 yards out, but I'm sure a few of his teammates want to give him a good old fashioned soap beat down Full Metal Jacket style. As for Kyle Williams fumbling the game away in San Francisco someone needs to get him a therapist quickly. Super Bowls are hard to come by and I know making a blunder of that magnitude will linger in his head for years. Here are some observations over the weekend.
After the success of Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, NFL teams are looking to the college ranks more often for coaching talent. Good thing Chip Kelly changed his mind about the Tampa Bay position choosing to stay at Oregon. He wasn't ready top make the leap.
After Serena Williams' loss in the fourth round of the Australian Open there are no more American men or women in the draw. US tennis is still a work in progress.
Joe Paterno 1926-2012. Although technically Joe Paterno passed away from complications due to his lung cancer treatment those close to him would say the shame and embarrassment of the Penn St. sex abuse scandal was more than he could endure. I'd be inclined to agree. Rest in peace Joe Paterno. Your legacy is safe.
Dare I say it, Eli Manning is an elite quarterback. Not only is he an elite quarterback, but for the time being he's the best quarterback in his family as well. Peyton's got some work to do if he wants to tip the scale back in his favor.
After the success of Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, NFL teams are looking to the college ranks more often for coaching talent. Good thing Chip Kelly changed his mind about the Tampa Bay position choosing to stay at Oregon. He wasn't ready top make the leap.
After Serena Williams' loss in the fourth round of the Australian Open there are no more American men or women in the draw. US tennis is still a work in progress.
Joe Paterno 1926-2012. Although technically Joe Paterno passed away from complications due to his lung cancer treatment those close to him would say the shame and embarrassment of the Penn St. sex abuse scandal was more than he could endure. I'd be inclined to agree. Rest in peace Joe Paterno. Your legacy is safe.
Dare I say it, Eli Manning is an elite quarterback. Not only is he an elite quarterback, but for the time being he's the best quarterback in his family as well. Peyton's got some work to do if he wants to tip the scale back in his favor.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Oklahoma City Celtics
Clay Bennett must eat Lucky Charms cereal for breakfast. There's no other explanation for the amount of good fortune the Oklahoma City Thunder has received. I thought their luck had run out when they got Kevin Durant to sign a long term deal, but apparently the rabbit's foot in Mr. Bennett's pocket is still paying dividends. It has been reported that Russell Westbrook will sign a 5 year $80,000,000 contract giving the Thunder the most dynamic duo in basketball for years to come.
If this signing is indicative of the climate in the NBA I have to wonder what the lockout was all about in the first place. Here is an example of one of the league's best players shunning the bright lights of New York City or the glamour and glitz of LA to play in a city where the cattle outnumber the people. Teams in Cleveland, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Sacramento can no longer complain that free agency and big market teams have created an unfair competitive advantage.
I'm not saying these cities will become big free agency destinations like Miami, Chicago, or Brooklyn, but if the money is right and the organization has a promising future anything is possible.
Not since Karl Malone and John Stockton have two bonafide superstars decided to spend their prime years in a small market wasteland. Most players in this day and age look for situations where they can leverage their celebrity status to create enormous wealth through endorsements.
It's interesting to see two young men put their quest for winning championships and personal happiness above all other things (even if I hold a grudge against the team they're doing it for). Whether it's because Clay Bennett is half leprechaun or the calendar stays on March 17th all year round in OKC the Thunder aren't going away anytime soon.
If this signing is indicative of the climate in the NBA I have to wonder what the lockout was all about in the first place. Here is an example of one of the league's best players shunning the bright lights of New York City or the glamour and glitz of LA to play in a city where the cattle outnumber the people. Teams in Cleveland, Indiana, Milwaukee, and Sacramento can no longer complain that free agency and big market teams have created an unfair competitive advantage.
I'm not saying these cities will become big free agency destinations like Miami, Chicago, or Brooklyn, but if the money is right and the organization has a promising future anything is possible.
Not since Karl Malone and John Stockton have two bonafide superstars decided to spend their prime years in a small market wasteland. Most players in this day and age look for situations where they can leverage their celebrity status to create enormous wealth through endorsements.
It's interesting to see two young men put their quest for winning championships and personal happiness above all other things (even if I hold a grudge against the team they're doing it for). Whether it's because Clay Bennett is half leprechaun or the calendar stays on March 17th all year round in OKC the Thunder aren't going away anytime soon.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Is Baylor Headed For Probation?
Right now, Waco Texas is the center of the college sports universe. Baylor University has produced the Heisman trophy winner in Robert Griffin III, the #1 women's basketball team, the #4 men's basketball team, the front runner for the Naismith player of the year (Brittney Griner), and the potential 200 meter champion (also Robert Griffin II). The green and gold seem to have it clicking on all cylinders. What's wrong with this picture?
Typically when a school comes out of nowhere and dominates on the national scene something illegal is going on. Baylor is far from the predominant school in Texas an its enrollment is a modest 15,000 students. Without state of the art facilities or a big name coach it's a little far fetched to believe the Baylor programs could persuade top athletes to come to Waco without a little extra incentive.
Baylor supporters will tell you the athletic department is innocent. No one has come out with any allegations of wrong doing and the school's top performers (Griner, Griffin III, and Quincy Acy) are all from the state of Texas. There's no rule that says the big schools get to hoard all the talent or that great players can't attend small schools. I'd be inclined to accept those arguments if it wasn't for the fact all the programs are dominating at the same time.
I'm a paranoid conspiracy theorist, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. History has shown us that this type of meteoric rise doesn't come without a price. Whether it's improper benefits, changing of test scores, or excessive endowments like the ones received by Oklahoma St. and Oregon something has to get the ball rolling. This is not an indictment on Baylor as a university, just the cold hard reality of big time college athletics. When you see one of the Baylor teams on probation a year from now don't be afraid to say I told you so.
Typically when a school comes out of nowhere and dominates on the national scene something illegal is going on. Baylor is far from the predominant school in Texas an its enrollment is a modest 15,000 students. Without state of the art facilities or a big name coach it's a little far fetched to believe the Baylor programs could persuade top athletes to come to Waco without a little extra incentive.
Baylor supporters will tell you the athletic department is innocent. No one has come out with any allegations of wrong doing and the school's top performers (Griner, Griffin III, and Quincy Acy) are all from the state of Texas. There's no rule that says the big schools get to hoard all the talent or that great players can't attend small schools. I'd be inclined to accept those arguments if it wasn't for the fact all the programs are dominating at the same time.
I'm a paranoid conspiracy theorist, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. History has shown us that this type of meteoric rise doesn't come without a price. Whether it's improper benefits, changing of test scores, or excessive endowments like the ones received by Oklahoma St. and Oregon something has to get the ball rolling. This is not an indictment on Baylor as a university, just the cold hard reality of big time college athletics. When you see one of the Baylor teams on probation a year from now don't be afraid to say I told you so.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Husky Football Is In Serious Trouble
In my estimation the University of Washington football team is in a bad place right now. After giving up 67 points and 777 total yards of offense in the Alamo Bowl the firing of Defensive coordinator Nick Holt was a foregone conclusion. The move no one expected was defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin leaving the Huskies to join the coaching staff at UCLA. Martin was considered the Huskies best recruiter and a conduit to the talent pool in California. Since his departure several top players have changed their commitments from Washington to other schools.
In another stunning development Washington lost its offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Nussmeier was integral to an offense that looked virtually unstoppable at times and like Martin was a great recruiter. Although head coach Steve Sarkisian calls the offensive plays the absence of Nussmeier can't be overstated. He was critical in the development of Heisman hopeful Keith Price and someone the Husky players respected and trusted. His presence won't be easily replaced.
Right now the foundation of Husky football is shaky at best. This couldn't come at a worse time because the top players in the country are deciding where they will play their college ball. With all the new faces at key coordinator positions and relative uncertainty as to what we can expect from them it's hard to convince a top prospect Washington is the school for them. Recruiting is where you build a team's success for the future and Washington is losing that battle.
The Huskies can't afford to have the program regress. The Pac 12 is buzzing with high profile coaches ready to make a splash at their new schools. One mistake can send the Huskies back to a 5-7 team searching for an identity praying to become bowl eligible. The program has made great strides over the past two seasons, but if we don't keep the momentum going the Huskies will be irrelevant once again.
This is where we see what coach Sark is made of. If he can hold the program together in the face of adversity while still winning big games they'll name streets after him. If he drops the ball the Husky program will have to start all over from scratch. I'm pulling for him, but I honestly don't know what to expect. Stay tuned.
In another stunning development Washington lost its offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier to the national champion Alabama Crimson Tide. Nussmeier was integral to an offense that looked virtually unstoppable at times and like Martin was a great recruiter. Although head coach Steve Sarkisian calls the offensive plays the absence of Nussmeier can't be overstated. He was critical in the development of Heisman hopeful Keith Price and someone the Husky players respected and trusted. His presence won't be easily replaced.
Right now the foundation of Husky football is shaky at best. This couldn't come at a worse time because the top players in the country are deciding where they will play their college ball. With all the new faces at key coordinator positions and relative uncertainty as to what we can expect from them it's hard to convince a top prospect Washington is the school for them. Recruiting is where you build a team's success for the future and Washington is losing that battle.
The Huskies can't afford to have the program regress. The Pac 12 is buzzing with high profile coaches ready to make a splash at their new schools. One mistake can send the Huskies back to a 5-7 team searching for an identity praying to become bowl eligible. The program has made great strides over the past two seasons, but if we don't keep the momentum going the Huskies will be irrelevant once again.
This is where we see what coach Sark is made of. If he can hold the program together in the face of adversity while still winning big games they'll name streets after him. If he drops the ball the Husky program will have to start all over from scratch. I'm pulling for him, but I honestly don't know what to expect. Stay tuned.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Weekend Observations
In the world of sports it's easy to over analyze the outcome of competitive events, but sports is not a mathematical equation or a formula with a precise answer. It is the ultimate reality show unscripted and dramatic and the results are not always predicable. There are a lot of so called experts (including myself) who should be standing in the corner wearing a dunce cap after this weekend's games. If nothing else this weekend proved anything is possible and things are not always what they appear. Here are a few observations.
Someone forgot to tell the 49ers and the Giants they weren't invited to the NFC championship game. The Packers looked a step slow and out of sync while the Saints gave up too many big plays at crucial times. The team with the best stats on paper doesn't always win and that makes it more interesting.
The tight end has become an important position in football again. Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham, and the two headed monster in New England (Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski) played a significant role in their team's success. Lets hope this trend continues.
The Los Angeles Clippers are capable of holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to an inner city rivalry with the Lakers. From a talent perspective the Clippers are younger, more athletic, and have more depth than the Lake show. Kobe Bryant has been on a scoring binge as of late (4 straight games scoring 40 or more), but if he doesn't get help Lob City will get all the headlines in Tinseltown. Stay tuned.
College basketball lacks star power. With all the one and dones it's hard to get excited about unpolished players with no proven track record of success. Wake me when it's tournament time.
I sure hope the Seattle Mariners know what they're doing. On the surface trading Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero and some minor league prospects looks like an absolute joke. Pineda is a proven commodity with a huge upside capable of becoming a 20 game winner. Those other guys need to make a quick impact to justify parting with a #2 starter.
Someone forgot to tell the 49ers and the Giants they weren't invited to the NFC championship game. The Packers looked a step slow and out of sync while the Saints gave up too many big plays at crucial times. The team with the best stats on paper doesn't always win and that makes it more interesting.
The tight end has become an important position in football again. Vernon Davis, Jimmy Graham, and the two headed monster in New England (Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski) played a significant role in their team's success. Lets hope this trend continues.
The Los Angeles Clippers are capable of holding up their end of the bargain when it comes to an inner city rivalry with the Lakers. From a talent perspective the Clippers are younger, more athletic, and have more depth than the Lake show. Kobe Bryant has been on a scoring binge as of late (4 straight games scoring 40 or more), but if he doesn't get help Lob City will get all the headlines in Tinseltown. Stay tuned.
College basketball lacks star power. With all the one and dones it's hard to get excited about unpolished players with no proven track record of success. Wake me when it's tournament time.
I sure hope the Seattle Mariners know what they're doing. On the surface trading Michael Pineda for Jesus Montero and some minor league prospects looks like an absolute joke. Pineda is a proven commodity with a huge upside capable of becoming a 20 game winner. Those other guys need to make a quick impact to justify parting with a #2 starter.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Young Sam Rothstein's Playoff Predictions
It was tough sledding for Young Sam Rothstein last weekend. I got burned like a charcoal briquette on the 4th of July. All the home teams covered in convincing fashion and I ended up looking like the 3rd member of the dumb and dumber cast. 1 for 4 is acceptable if you're a shortstop playing AA ball in Albuquerque, but not for a world renowned sportsbook expert. This weekend will be different however. Dreams will be shattered and order will be restored. Unlike the stock analysts in Boiler Room I'm going to get you your money back. Here are the golden picks for the weekend.
New Orleans -3 1/2 over San Francisco. If Vegas is giving points on the road to a lower seed it means they don't have a whole lot of confidence in the 49ers. Me either. Alex Smith is a good game manager, but Drew Brees is a playmaker. This one will get ugly.
Green Bay -7 1/2 over New York. At first glance this spread looks a little high until you consider Green Bay has been at home for a month (the last two regular season games were at Lambeau Field). The Packers are rested and healthy which means the Giants are going to get carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Baltimore -7 1/2 over Houston. The bye week did wonders for the Ravens defense that's about to face a rookie quarterback. Houston will struggle in the cold weather and Arian Foster won't look like a runaway locomotive. Ravens by 10.
New England -13 1/2 over Denver. After this weekend Tebow World will look like Wally World, shut down for construction. Tom Brady taped a picture of Tim Tebow to his locker this week for extra motivation. He's tired of the Media talking about this goofball and disrespecting his legacy. Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the Broncos and that's too much time. Patriots in a rout.
New Orleans -3 1/2 over San Francisco. If Vegas is giving points on the road to a lower seed it means they don't have a whole lot of confidence in the 49ers. Me either. Alex Smith is a good game manager, but Drew Brees is a playmaker. This one will get ugly.
Green Bay -7 1/2 over New York. At first glance this spread looks a little high until you consider Green Bay has been at home for a month (the last two regular season games were at Lambeau Field). The Packers are rested and healthy which means the Giants are going to get carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Baltimore -7 1/2 over Houston. The bye week did wonders for the Ravens defense that's about to face a rookie quarterback. Houston will struggle in the cold weather and Arian Foster won't look like a runaway locomotive. Ravens by 10.
New England -13 1/2 over Denver. After this weekend Tebow World will look like Wally World, shut down for construction. Tom Brady taped a picture of Tim Tebow to his locker this week for extra motivation. He's tired of the Media talking about this goofball and disrespecting his legacy. Bill Belichick has had two weeks to prepare for the Broncos and that's too much time. Patriots in a rout.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Is Going Back To School The Right Choice?
Now that the college football season is over the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is fast approaching. Several outstanding players including Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin II, and Trent Richardson have all decided to turn pro. The real surprise however is how many star players have elected to return to college.
Landry Jones, Montee Ball, and Matt Barkley have all decided it's in their best interest to play another season. Football is such a violent sport that it makes you wonder if they made the right choice.
Certainly there are team goals and individual accomplishments to achieve that may improve their draft status, but the risk of injury and future earning potential is a real concern. What if they get hurt or don't perform to the standards that everyone expects?
Coming back for a senior year cost Matt Leinart $10,000,000 and Jake Locker roughly $30,000,000. Money isn't everything and I'm sure they are better people for the experience, but a precedence has been established. Going back to school may not always yield the desired results.
If I was advising Jones, Ball, or Barkley I would encourage them to leave. Nothing in life is guaranteed and in the blink of an eye it could all be over. Strike while the iron is hot and the window of opportunity is open. I hope their decision doesn't backfire on these guys.
Landry Jones, Montee Ball, and Matt Barkley have all decided it's in their best interest to play another season. Football is such a violent sport that it makes you wonder if they made the right choice.
Certainly there are team goals and individual accomplishments to achieve that may improve their draft status, but the risk of injury and future earning potential is a real concern. What if they get hurt or don't perform to the standards that everyone expects?
Coming back for a senior year cost Matt Leinart $10,000,000 and Jake Locker roughly $30,000,000. Money isn't everything and I'm sure they are better people for the experience, but a precedence has been established. Going back to school may not always yield the desired results.
If I was advising Jones, Ball, or Barkley I would encourage them to leave. Nothing in life is guaranteed and in the blink of an eye it could all be over. Strike while the iron is hot and the window of opportunity is open. I hope their decision doesn't backfire on these guys.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
HTB Statements
It's time for another installment of HTB statements. For those of you not familiar with what HTB means HTB refers to statements that are hard to believe. Here's a few for your reading pleasure.
1. Barry Sanders Jr. will not follow in his father's footsteps and attend Oklahoma St. He's going to Stanford instead.
2. Ricky Williams is the 26th running back in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards.
3. Barry Larkin is the only member of the 2012 MLB Hall of Fame class.
4. Prince Fielder still remains unsigned.
5. Over 1/3 of NBA coaches played point guard in the league.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. called out Manny Pacquiao and he hasn't responded.
7. 3 SEC coaches have 2 national championships.
8. Tim Tebow has more playoff wins than half of the NFL's starting quarterbacks.
9. Kobe Bryant gets a pain injection in his wrist before every game.
10. 25% of the teams in the top 25 men's basketball poll this week are from the Big East.
1. Barry Sanders Jr. will not follow in his father's footsteps and attend Oklahoma St. He's going to Stanford instead.
2. Ricky Williams is the 26th running back in NFL history to rush for 10,000 yards.
3. Barry Larkin is the only member of the 2012 MLB Hall of Fame class.
4. Prince Fielder still remains unsigned.
5. Over 1/3 of NBA coaches played point guard in the league.
6. Floyd Mayweather Jr. called out Manny Pacquiao and he hasn't responded.
7. 3 SEC coaches have 2 national championships.
8. Tim Tebow has more playoff wins than half of the NFL's starting quarterbacks.
9. Kobe Bryant gets a pain injection in his wrist before every game.
10. 25% of the teams in the top 25 men's basketball poll this week are from the Big East.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Is Landon Collins The Modern Day Johnny Be Good?
Landon Collins, the nation's top high school safety had a very tough decision to make. After receiving several hundred scholarship offers he narrowed down his choices to LSU and Alabama. Although his heart told him to stay at home and attend LSU his mind told him Alabama was a better place for his college career. After the Crimson Tide shut out the Tigers last night it looks like he made a wise decision.
Not everyone in his inner circle agreed with his decision however. Landon's mother was visibly upset during his announcement and told the viewing public she thought her son made a big mistake. What should have been one of the happiest days of Landon's life turned into an awkward public relations mishap. What went wrong?
I'm no expert on the Collin's family, but my intuition tells me Landon's mother was more than just an interested observer in this whole process. Anyone who's seen the movie Johnny Be Good or He Got Game knows the recruiting of top high school athletes is a dirty business.
Boosters and alumni will do almost anything to gain an advantage over the competition. Family members and friends often take gifts or money with the understanding they can deliver the top recruit to the school that pays them. Watching the tape I think Landon's mom is on the take.
No one likes to disappoint their mother and the commitment is only verbal, but the backlash puts Landon in an extremely uncomfortable situation. To make matters even more complicated his girlfriend is attending Alabama as well and I'm sure she can be quite persuasive in her own right. No one knows what the future holds, but hopefully his decisions will be made with conviction and ultimately respected by everyone involved. Good luck young man.
Not everyone in his inner circle agreed with his decision however. Landon's mother was visibly upset during his announcement and told the viewing public she thought her son made a big mistake. What should have been one of the happiest days of Landon's life turned into an awkward public relations mishap. What went wrong?
I'm no expert on the Collin's family, but my intuition tells me Landon's mother was more than just an interested observer in this whole process. Anyone who's seen the movie Johnny Be Good or He Got Game knows the recruiting of top high school athletes is a dirty business.
Boosters and alumni will do almost anything to gain an advantage over the competition. Family members and friends often take gifts or money with the understanding they can deliver the top recruit to the school that pays them. Watching the tape I think Landon's mom is on the take.
No one likes to disappoint their mother and the commitment is only verbal, but the backlash puts Landon in an extremely uncomfortable situation. To make matters even more complicated his girlfriend is attending Alabama as well and I'm sure she can be quite persuasive in her own right. No one knows what the future holds, but hopefully his decisions will be made with conviction and ultimately respected by everyone involved. Good luck young man.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Weekend Observations
Because I keep the television on something sports related 16-20 hours a day every once in a while I feel obligated to give up the remote control and watch something different. Instead of watching the Lakers game last night I was forced to watch re-runs of the hit show Kourtney and Kim Take New York. It was pure comedy to see how dysfunctional the relationship between Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries really was. Other than physical attraction I can't see why those two ever thought their marriage would work. At one point in the show I thought Kris was going to turn to Kim and say "Could you just be quiet and go into the room and get naked?" After putting myself through that torture it's safe to say I will have a kung fu grip on the remote from here on out. Here are some observations over the weekend.
The Bengals and Falcons are a bunch of girlie men that didn't deserve to be in the playoffs to begin with. Sure they were both on the road, but there's no reason not to give it maximum effort. Both teams should be thoroughly embarrassed by their performances.
Losing a playoff game to Tim Tebow is like getting dunked on by Mugsy Bogues. You know he's a professional athlete and anything can happen in sports, but the feeling is still utter disbelief. No matter what he does I can't bring myself to jump on the Tebow Bandwagon.
Give the coaching staff and the players at Syracuse a lot of credit for their ability to handle all the distractions surrounding the program. Amidst the horrible accusations against former assistant Bernie Fine the Orangemen have managed to start the season with 17 straight wins. Impressive.
The Washington Wizards have started the season 0-8 and star player John Wall says he doesn't enjoy playing basketball right now. It's time for coach Flip Saunders to contact his realtor and think about spending more time with his family. He may not make it through the month.
Even though Floyd Mayweather Jr. got his prison term suspended until June 1st Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has gone on record as saying he will not fight the champ. Arum's excuse? Manny suffered a cut during his fight in November and won't be ready. Pretty flimsy if you ask me.
The Bengals and Falcons are a bunch of girlie men that didn't deserve to be in the playoffs to begin with. Sure they were both on the road, but there's no reason not to give it maximum effort. Both teams should be thoroughly embarrassed by their performances.
Losing a playoff game to Tim Tebow is like getting dunked on by Mugsy Bogues. You know he's a professional athlete and anything can happen in sports, but the feeling is still utter disbelief. No matter what he does I can't bring myself to jump on the Tebow Bandwagon.
Give the coaching staff and the players at Syracuse a lot of credit for their ability to handle all the distractions surrounding the program. Amidst the horrible accusations against former assistant Bernie Fine the Orangemen have managed to start the season with 17 straight wins. Impressive.
The Washington Wizards have started the season 0-8 and star player John Wall says he doesn't enjoy playing basketball right now. It's time for coach Flip Saunders to contact his realtor and think about spending more time with his family. He may not make it through the month.
Even though Floyd Mayweather Jr. got his prison term suspended until June 1st Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has gone on record as saying he will not fight the champ. Arum's excuse? Manny suffered a cut during his fight in November and won't be ready. Pretty flimsy if you ask me.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Young Sam Rothstein's Playoff Picks
Ladies and gentlemen, family, friends, and followers the playoff are upon us. The regular season is where you make your name, but the playoffs is where you get your fame. Even after 25 years in the business I still get goose bumps this time of year. Casinos fear me, bookies won't make eye contact with me, and street corner chumps run the other way when they see me coming. That's because they all know with my financial backing and my unbelievable attention to detail and nuance I could ruin their entire organization in one weekend. No one man should have all that power, but I try not to abuse it. You however should take my picks and start the new year off with a bang. Get to know the Brinks truck drivers on a first name basis. Here's your path to success.
Detroit +10 1/2 over New Orleans. Drew Brees has been putting it on people as of late, but the Saints defense has no answer for Megatron. Detroit can score enough points to keep the game close. they may not win, but that's not my concern.
New York -3 over Atlanta. The Giants have been in playoff mode the last two weeks with impressive wins over the Jets and the Cowboys. They will keep the trend going with big plays from Victor Cruz and the defensive line.
Pittsburgh -9 over Denver. The Steelers are the wrong team to try and run some gimmick offense against. With a quarterback that can't complete more than 40% of his passes the Broncos have no shot. This one will get ugly.
Cincinnati +3 1/2 over Houston. In the battle of the rookie quarterbacks I'm going with Andy Dalton. He's proven all year he can make big plays when it counts. Houston is just happy they made the playoffs and that attitude is a recipe for disaster.
Detroit +10 1/2 over New Orleans. Drew Brees has been putting it on people as of late, but the Saints defense has no answer for Megatron. Detroit can score enough points to keep the game close. they may not win, but that's not my concern.
New York -3 over Atlanta. The Giants have been in playoff mode the last two weeks with impressive wins over the Jets and the Cowboys. They will keep the trend going with big plays from Victor Cruz and the defensive line.
Pittsburgh -9 over Denver. The Steelers are the wrong team to try and run some gimmick offense against. With a quarterback that can't complete more than 40% of his passes the Broncos have no shot. This one will get ugly.
Cincinnati +3 1/2 over Houston. In the battle of the rookie quarterbacks I'm going with Andy Dalton. He's proven all year he can make big plays when it counts. Houston is just happy they made the playoffs and that attitude is a recipe for disaster.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Is DeMarcus Cousins Worth The Risk?
In the 2010 NBA draft the Sacramento Kings took a gamble on the controversial and misunderstood DeMarcus Cousins. The so called experts labeled him as supremely talented, but lacking maturity and a solid work ethic. 18 months later those words are sounding prophetic as the Kings find themselves in a crisis with their star player. DeMarcus has had run-ins with teammates and coaches in the past, but last week Cousins was sent home before a game against New Orleans for disciplinary reasons. Where did it all go wrong?
The problem is three fold. First off, the Sacramento Kings are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Their roster has 10 players under the age of 26 and lacks leadership. There is no one to put DeMarcus in his place when he acts up. Secondly, in Sacramento the Kings are the only game in town. If a city only has one professional sports franchise there's too much scrutiny on the player's every move. Things get blown out of proportion and fans tend to gossip more than they should. Lastly, the coach doesn't like him. Paul Westphal is a 5 time all star that's won championships with the Boston Celtics and coached one of the 50 greatest players in his only MVP season (Charles Barkley 1993). In his mind who the hell is DeMarcus Cousins and why does he think his attitude will be tolerated? The two of them can not coexist and one of them has to go.
I always say keep the talent and agile big men are hard to come by, but this time I think Sacramento is willing to cut their losses and start over. DeMarcus has become a malcontent and there's no end in sight. The distractions are starting to hurt the team and the best thing for everyone is to trade him. Hopefully his agent can get him to a team down south where he's from (Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans) or a team with veteran leadership (Boston, San Antonio, Dallas) to help his development and maturation process.
The real question is whether DeMarcus Cousins is worth the risk. From a physical standpoint the answer is obvious. You can't teach 6'11 270 pounds and at age 21 the sky's the limit for this guy. From a team standpoint however, DeMarcus is a volatile, moody, problem child that's difficult for players and coaches to reach.
I'm sure off the court Demarcus is a fine young man and sweet as a sugar cube to his family and friends, but as an NBA player his stock is uncertain. Would you risk $70,000,000 on someone with his track record? In the end someone will take the chance, but they'll have to exercise extreme patience. DeMarcus Cousins is far from a finished product. You might end up with the second coming of Zach Randolph or you might end up with the second coming of Derrick Coleman. Tough choice.
The problem is three fold. First off, the Sacramento Kings are one of the youngest teams in the NBA. Their roster has 10 players under the age of 26 and lacks leadership. There is no one to put DeMarcus in his place when he acts up. Secondly, in Sacramento the Kings are the only game in town. If a city only has one professional sports franchise there's too much scrutiny on the player's every move. Things get blown out of proportion and fans tend to gossip more than they should. Lastly, the coach doesn't like him. Paul Westphal is a 5 time all star that's won championships with the Boston Celtics and coached one of the 50 greatest players in his only MVP season (Charles Barkley 1993). In his mind who the hell is DeMarcus Cousins and why does he think his attitude will be tolerated? The two of them can not coexist and one of them has to go.
I always say keep the talent and agile big men are hard to come by, but this time I think Sacramento is willing to cut their losses and start over. DeMarcus has become a malcontent and there's no end in sight. The distractions are starting to hurt the team and the best thing for everyone is to trade him. Hopefully his agent can get him to a team down south where he's from (Memphis, Atlanta, Charlotte, New Orleans) or a team with veteran leadership (Boston, San Antonio, Dallas) to help his development and maturation process.
The real question is whether DeMarcus Cousins is worth the risk. From a physical standpoint the answer is obvious. You can't teach 6'11 270 pounds and at age 21 the sky's the limit for this guy. From a team standpoint however, DeMarcus is a volatile, moody, problem child that's difficult for players and coaches to reach.
I'm sure off the court Demarcus is a fine young man and sweet as a sugar cube to his family and friends, but as an NBA player his stock is uncertain. Would you risk $70,000,000 on someone with his track record? In the end someone will take the chance, but they'll have to exercise extreme patience. DeMarcus Cousins is far from a finished product. You might end up with the second coming of Zach Randolph or you might end up with the second coming of Derrick Coleman. Tough choice.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
New Year's Resolutions
Happy New Year to all my family, friends , and followers. Hopefully there was enough Aleve and Alka Seltzer to go around for all the partying that went on New Years Eve and all the pizza eating and beer drinking during the bowl games (not that I would know anything about that). The new year is a time for resolutions and I have a few of my own:
1. Give MLB players the benefit of the doubt even if they put up hall of fame numbers out of nowhere (Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista).
2. Forgive the NHL for having racist, banana throwing fans.
3. Watch the amazing Kevin Durant without wanting to choke the life out of Clay Bennett.
All theses tasks are easier said than done, but I'll give it my best effort. Here are some observations over the weekend.
The bowl committees must have told all the teams to leave their defenses at home. Can't say as I blame them, it makes the games more exciting.
Georgia and Stanford fans have both contacted me asking where they can get their KICKERS WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE t-shirts. I can barely keep up with the demand.
New York is not the town if your name is Ryan. After Rex had to eat his words following last Saturday's loss to the Giants brother Rob came up short on Sunday with the Cowboys defense. I'm sure that New York humble pie has a bit of an after taste to it.
The NFL is doing a ton of spring cleaning and it's only January. Tampa Bay and St. Louis both let their coaches go while Indy, Chicago and St. Louis dismissed their front offices (The Indy dismissal only adds to my Drew Brees theory). The NFL stands for not for long if you don't get the job done.
The Dallas Mavericks had too much time off celebrating their championship and it shows in their play on the court. We definitely won't see them repeat as Western conference champs.
1. Give MLB players the benefit of the doubt even if they put up hall of fame numbers out of nowhere (Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista).
2. Forgive the NHL for having racist, banana throwing fans.
3. Watch the amazing Kevin Durant without wanting to choke the life out of Clay Bennett.
All theses tasks are easier said than done, but I'll give it my best effort. Here are some observations over the weekend.
The bowl committees must have told all the teams to leave their defenses at home. Can't say as I blame them, it makes the games more exciting.
Georgia and Stanford fans have both contacted me asking where they can get their KICKERS WILL RUIN YOUR LIFE t-shirts. I can barely keep up with the demand.
New York is not the town if your name is Ryan. After Rex had to eat his words following last Saturday's loss to the Giants brother Rob came up short on Sunday with the Cowboys defense. I'm sure that New York humble pie has a bit of an after taste to it.
The NFL is doing a ton of spring cleaning and it's only January. Tampa Bay and St. Louis both let their coaches go while Indy, Chicago and St. Louis dismissed their front offices (The Indy dismissal only adds to my Drew Brees theory). The NFL stands for not for long if you don't get the job done.
The Dallas Mavericks had too much time off celebrating their championship and it shows in their play on the court. We definitely won't see them repeat as Western conference champs.
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