It was a very up and down weekend on the fantasy football front. My team in the trash talking league is either feast or famine. This week was famine. Once again Ryan Mathews did absolutely nothing (the divorce is final) and 4 of my players combined for a measly 7 points. I still have Carson Palmer going tonight but I'm down 22 points and my opponent is starting Hines Ward, Cedric Benson, and Pittsburgh's defense. Doesn't look good. I got called out in one of my leagues so luckily I have Adrian Peterson, Peyton Manning, and LeSean McCoy to take care of business. They made him eat his words. In my last league I lost by 2 points even though I had the star of the day Peyton Hillis on my team. I'm a little miffed about that defeat. I'm still in the playoff picture in all 3 leagues and that's all that counts. Here are some weekend observations.
The NFL:
Kickers are still trying to sabotage the outcome of the game. 2 contests were decided on missed extra points. By the way the extra point is the simplest play in football.
The New York Jets defense is overrated. Although the Jets are 6-2 and sit atop the AFC East, their vaunted defense is a little suspect. Maybe I'm just being bitter because they yield me no points in my fantasy league, but they don't play like the top 5 defense they were projected to be. This may cost them in the 2nd half of the season.
Wade Phillips (dead man walking) will not make it through the season. The Dallas Cowboys play with no heart, no passion, and no sense of urgency. This team had Super Bowl aspirations to start the season and now they will be lucky to win 4 games. Someone has to take the blame and clearly the team is not responding to the current leadership. So long Wade.
The NBA:
Nicolas Batum is the front runner for 6th man of the year. He's improved his outside shooting and ball handling skills over the summer. At 6'8 he's a great compliment to Brandon Roy in Portland and could ultimately end up as a free agency prize. Stay tuned.
Miami will demolish Boston this week. The Heat were embarrassed by the Celtics on opening night and are out for revenge. They have a few games under their belt now and have learned how to play together. They will make an example out of Boston.
Look out for Tito Horford in Atlanta. Armed with a new $60,000,000 contract Tito Horford is capable of going for 30 and 10 on any given night and is a big reason the Hawks have only one loss this season. He looks ready to make the leap from good player to perennial all star.
MLS:
The Sounders are not who we thought they were. Seattle was overwhelmed in every facet of the game by the LA Galaxy in the opening playoff round. David Beckham and Edson Buddle made the Sounders look like amateurs. So much for riding the momentum of the regular season.
On a side note I saw 2 horse jockeys and 2 NASCAR drivers get into fights over the weekend. This goes to you show those guys may be small, but a competitor is a competitor. The fights were hilarious by the way. They looked like 7th graders fighting on the playground.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Randy Moss Effect
I wrote last Saturday about the possibility of Michael Vick joining the Minnesota Vikings next year to team up with Randy Moss and Adrian Peterson. Scratch that. Randy Moss has found a new home in Tennessee. I don't condone Randy cussing out the Vikings caterer or drooling over the Patriots organization in a press conference, but couldn't the Vikings have just talked to him about it? Is it ever a good idea to cut a hall of fame receiver you just traded a 3rd round pick for? Christmas has come early for the Titans and Chris Johnson. No more 8 man fronts stuffing the line to stop the run. Everyone knows Chris only needs a quarter of a step to break off a 60 yard run at any given time. Randy will help stretch the field and give the Titans big play capability they've never had. There are some concerns about Randy's attitude (The Titans are his 3rd team in 5 weeks) but I am confident Jeff Fisher can control the situation. Let's not forget Vince Young has a pretty strong arm and excels at the play action pass. You always have to respect Chris Johnson so Randy will definitely have some opportunities to do big things. The AFC playoff picture now looks like this:
1. New England Patriots
2. New York Jets
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Baltimore Ravens
5. Tennessee Titans
6. Kansas City Chiefs
The verdict is in, Randy Moss helps the Tennessee Titans get into the playoffs and re-shapes the landscape of the AFC knocking the Indianapolis Colts out of the playoffs. Could the Titans end up in Dallas in February? We shall see.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Cleavie The Greek Predicts Oregon Over Washington (Badly!)
Any self respecting University of Washington alumnus is wishing this game didn't have to happen. If I had my way I'd have the Huskies sign a waiver saying they forfeit the game and accept the loss. No need to suit up and actually play the game when the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Vegas has the Oregon Ducks as a 35 1/2 point favorite and I think that's being kind. I'm not sure the Huskies can hold the number one team in the land under 70 points. If the rivalry wasn't so personal maybe the Ducks would put their 2nd stringers in after halftime, but considering the bad blood between the two schools that scenario is unlikely. The Huskies have treated the Oregon Ducks like 2nd class citizens in the past (before this decade) and I'm sure the Ducks haven't forgotten. There will be no mercy. This game will be the equivalent of Brock Lesner vs. Pee Wee Herman without a ref to stop the contest. I may not be able to watch past the 1st quarter. Here are some bonus picks from Cleavie The Greek:
Alabama over LSU. Alabama got healthy over the bye week and that's bad news for LSU. The game is in Death Valley so the Tigers may keep it close for a half, but Alabama wins by 2 touchdowns.
Arizona St. over USC. The empire will continue to crumble on Lane Kiffin's watch. Arizona St. is better than people think and they have no problem kicking the Trojans while they're down.
Raider over Chiefs. The Chiefs are a young and upcoming team that will most likely win the division. They struggle on the road however and Oakland is looking to ride the momentum of last week's victory over the Seahawks. It is the Raiders though so anything is possible.
Ravens over Dolphins. Ed Reed is back.
Bucs over Falcons. I'm going out on a limb here, but Tampa Bay is starting to believe in themselves. Atlanta will underestimate The Bucs and LeGarrette Blount will run angry. Tampa Bay in a surprise upset.
Alabama over LSU. Alabama got healthy over the bye week and that's bad news for LSU. The game is in Death Valley so the Tigers may keep it close for a half, but Alabama wins by 2 touchdowns.
Arizona St. over USC. The empire will continue to crumble on Lane Kiffin's watch. Arizona St. is better than people think and they have no problem kicking the Trojans while they're down.
Raider over Chiefs. The Chiefs are a young and upcoming team that will most likely win the division. They struggle on the road however and Oakland is looking to ride the momentum of last week's victory over the Seahawks. It is the Raiders though so anything is possible.
Ravens over Dolphins. Ed Reed is back.
Bucs over Falcons. I'm going out on a limb here, but Tampa Bay is starting to believe in themselves. Atlanta will underestimate The Bucs and LeGarrette Blount will run angry. Tampa Bay in a surprise upset.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Weapons Of Mass Destruction (WWF Style)
After much deliberation I decided to include professional wrestling as a sport. Although the outcome of the contests are pre-determined there is still quite a bit of athleticism (and choreography) involved. Plus I was a big fan of Saturday night's main event when I was a kid. It goes without saying that wrestling has had its fair share of characters over the years. From Rick Flair to Shawn Michaels to The Junk Yard Dog each wrestler brings a unique quality into the ring. Unlike basketball, wrestling was and always will be about the signature move. With no further adieu here are the 7 deadliest moves in wrestling history.
The Spectacular 7:
7. The full nelson. Billy Jack Haynes and Hercules Hernandez were the masters of this move. The hold itself is not that debilitating, but when applied by the right person it can be quite effective.
6. The piledriver. This is a favorite move of The Undertaker. It takes a lot of power and strength to pull off the maneuver and the opponent needs to be on his last legs, but if the moment is right you will get a 3 count.
5. The flying elbow. I'm not sure anyone has ever wielded the flying elbow as successfully as The Macho Man Randy Savage. From the top rope he could get enough air to swing the elbow twice before contact. I saw him crush Ricky The Dragon Steamboat's larynx with this move.
4. The DDT. Jake The Snake Roberts was notorious for putting people to sleep with this move. You know your opponent is completely knocked out when you can let a 15 foot boa constrictor crawl all over them.
3. The Boston Crab. A favorite move of Sting's. The move has a high degree of difficulty, but if a wrestler has the skill and strength to sync it in there is no getting out of it.
2. The figure 4 leg lock. I was put in this hold one time and my knee hurt for 2 months straight. Greg The Hammer Valentine perfected this move and sent numerous wrestlers to the hospital. An easy move to apply with deadly force behind it.
1. The camel clutch. This move made The Iron Sheik a legend. A hard maneuver to apply, but impossible to get out of. Hulk Hogan is the only wrestler to ever buck out of the camel clutch.
As a side note here are the top 5 wrestlers of all time:
1. Hulk Hogan
2. Rick Flair
3. The Rock
4. Mach Man Randy Savage
5. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Cleavie Wonder's favorite wrestler: Macho Man Randy Savage. Elizabeth, down that aisle!
The Spectacular 7:
7. The full nelson. Billy Jack Haynes and Hercules Hernandez were the masters of this move. The hold itself is not that debilitating, but when applied by the right person it can be quite effective.
6. The piledriver. This is a favorite move of The Undertaker. It takes a lot of power and strength to pull off the maneuver and the opponent needs to be on his last legs, but if the moment is right you will get a 3 count.
5. The flying elbow. I'm not sure anyone has ever wielded the flying elbow as successfully as The Macho Man Randy Savage. From the top rope he could get enough air to swing the elbow twice before contact. I saw him crush Ricky The Dragon Steamboat's larynx with this move.
4. The DDT. Jake The Snake Roberts was notorious for putting people to sleep with this move. You know your opponent is completely knocked out when you can let a 15 foot boa constrictor crawl all over them.
3. The Boston Crab. A favorite move of Sting's. The move has a high degree of difficulty, but if a wrestler has the skill and strength to sync it in there is no getting out of it.
2. The figure 4 leg lock. I was put in this hold one time and my knee hurt for 2 months straight. Greg The Hammer Valentine perfected this move and sent numerous wrestlers to the hospital. An easy move to apply with deadly force behind it.
1. The camel clutch. This move made The Iron Sheik a legend. A hard maneuver to apply, but impossible to get out of. Hulk Hogan is the only wrestler to ever buck out of the camel clutch.
As a side note here are the top 5 wrestlers of all time:
1. Hulk Hogan
2. Rick Flair
3. The Rock
4. Mach Man Randy Savage
5. Rowdy Roddy Piper
Cleavie Wonder's favorite wrestler: Macho Man Randy Savage. Elizabeth, down that aisle!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Weapons Of Mass Destruction
Over the years the NBA has seen its share of devastating moves and players who captivate us with their superior athletic ability. Some moves are perfected by exceptional players with unique physical skills while others mastered a specific technique. The signature move has gone the way of the franchise player. It is a concept that exists in the past. As a tribute to the legends of yester year here is a list of the NBA's 7 deadliest moves of all time.
The Devastating 7:
7. James Worthy baseline spin. During the Showtime era of the mid 80's the Worthy spin was unstoppable. It was so quick and precise defenders were often left standing still while James followed through with a tomahawk slam.
6. George Gervin finger roll. Probably the prettiest move on this list. At 6'8 George Gervin could finger roll on opponents at will. Whether it was from the free throw line or driving down the lane the finger roll resulted in instant scoring.
5. The Rick Barry underhand free throw. The ability to consistently average 90% from the free throw line can't be overstated. Sure, it looks a little girly, but if its that effective who cares? If Shaq or Dwight Howard perfected this move they would average 45 points a game ( Shaq in his prime of course).
4. The Tim Hardaway UTEP 2 step. Before Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant there was Tim Hardaway. Easily the most devastating crossover in the history of the NBA. Had it not been for a horrible knee injury in the early 90's there would be an hour long highlight reel dedicated to the ankle breaking exploits of Mr. Hardaway.
3. Tim Duncan off glass. No one has ever abused the backboard like Timmy D. It is such a fundamental and basaic move you wonder why everyone 6'9 and over isn't required to practice it for an hour everyday. The results speak for themselves don't they? I mean he only has like 4 championships right?
2. Hakeem Olajuwon dream shake. I got to sit on the baseline and watch Hakeem do his signature move in person. It's 10 times more impressive to watch it live than on TV. I don't fault big men for not trying to duplicate this one. Only one in 10,000 have the coordination to pull it off.
1. The Kareem sky hook. Is it any wonder Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the leading scorer in NBA history? It helps when you possess the most devastating shot the NBA has ever known. He's tried to pass his knowledge and expertise on to the next generation, but the dunk happy era hasn't responded. The sky hook is not very sportscenter friendly.
Tomorrow I will reveal the weapons of mass destruction WWF style!
The Devastating 7:
7. James Worthy baseline spin. During the Showtime era of the mid 80's the Worthy spin was unstoppable. It was so quick and precise defenders were often left standing still while James followed through with a tomahawk slam.
6. George Gervin finger roll. Probably the prettiest move on this list. At 6'8 George Gervin could finger roll on opponents at will. Whether it was from the free throw line or driving down the lane the finger roll resulted in instant scoring.
5. The Rick Barry underhand free throw. The ability to consistently average 90% from the free throw line can't be overstated. Sure, it looks a little girly, but if its that effective who cares? If Shaq or Dwight Howard perfected this move they would average 45 points a game ( Shaq in his prime of course).
4. The Tim Hardaway UTEP 2 step. Before Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant there was Tim Hardaway. Easily the most devastating crossover in the history of the NBA. Had it not been for a horrible knee injury in the early 90's there would be an hour long highlight reel dedicated to the ankle breaking exploits of Mr. Hardaway.
3. Tim Duncan off glass. No one has ever abused the backboard like Timmy D. It is such a fundamental and basaic move you wonder why everyone 6'9 and over isn't required to practice it for an hour everyday. The results speak for themselves don't they? I mean he only has like 4 championships right?
2. Hakeem Olajuwon dream shake. I got to sit on the baseline and watch Hakeem do his signature move in person. It's 10 times more impressive to watch it live than on TV. I don't fault big men for not trying to duplicate this one. Only one in 10,000 have the coordination to pull it off.
1. The Kareem sky hook. Is it any wonder Kareem Abdul Jabbar is the leading scorer in NBA history? It helps when you possess the most devastating shot the NBA has ever known. He's tried to pass his knowledge and expertise on to the next generation, but the dunk happy era hasn't responded. The sky hook is not very sportscenter friendly.
Tomorrow I will reveal the weapons of mass destruction WWF style!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Why Hockey Isn't More Popular In America
Can you name me 3 hockey players off the top of your head? Can you tell me who won the Stanley Cup last year? Have you watched an NHL all star game? If you're a Canadian that can't answer these questions the country will revoke your citizenship and send you to Greenland. Most Americans however don't have a clue. Hockey is a sport that is rich in tradition and entertaining to watch yet most Americans pay little attention.The sport had a mini renaissance in the mid 80's when Wayne Gretzky played for the Los Angeles Kings. Stadiums and arenas sold out all over the country for the hockey equivalent of Michael Jordan but the sport never experienced that kind of success before or after the Great One. Here are the reasons hockey is not more popular in the United States.
1. Hockey is a specialized sport. With the exception of cities in the Northeast and and cities that surround the great lakes there is no such thing as a pick up game of hockey. Kids don't play it in their backyard or at the playground.
2. The best players are Russian or Canadian. Although the USA gave a valiant effort in the Winter Olympics the best hockey players in the world aren't homegrown. It's difficult for fans to embrace stars that aren't born and raised in the United States.
3. There are few minorities in the NHL. Although the sport was invented by Afro Canadians there is little diversity in the sport as a whole. 1/3 of the country are people of color. Again, it is hard to identify with a sport if you don't see a reflection of yourself.
4. There is no replacement for Wayne Gretzky. Hockey doesn't have a marquee name to hang its hat on. Wayne Gretzky was one of the 5 greatest athletes of the 20th century. No one has followed in his footsteps and put the sport on their back.
Take the time to watch the puck every once in a while. I think you'll be surprised at what you see. At the very least catch the highlights on sportscenter.
1. Hockey is a specialized sport. With the exception of cities in the Northeast and and cities that surround the great lakes there is no such thing as a pick up game of hockey. Kids don't play it in their backyard or at the playground.
2. The best players are Russian or Canadian. Although the USA gave a valiant effort in the Winter Olympics the best hockey players in the world aren't homegrown. It's difficult for fans to embrace stars that aren't born and raised in the United States.
3. There are few minorities in the NHL. Although the sport was invented by Afro Canadians there is little diversity in the sport as a whole. 1/3 of the country are people of color. Again, it is hard to identify with a sport if you don't see a reflection of yourself.
4. There is no replacement for Wayne Gretzky. Hockey doesn't have a marquee name to hang its hat on. Wayne Gretzky was one of the 5 greatest athletes of the 20th century. No one has followed in his footsteps and put the sport on their back.
Take the time to watch the puck every once in a while. I think you'll be surprised at what you see. At the very least catch the highlights on sportscenter.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Weekend Observations
My fantasy football genius was on display over the weekend. in what could be considered the greatest in season move in fantasy football history, I acquired and started Mike Sims-Walker against Dallas. Sheer brilliance. In my trash talking league the combo of Sims-Walker and Brandon Tate buried my opponent. Playoffs? I'm down 20 points in my 2nd league, but I have Peyton Manning and Kevin Walter going tonight. In my 3rd league Jamaal Charles did the heavy lifting while Jason Witten chipped in with an unexpected 18 points. Dare I say I'm about to sweep all three leagues. Dominance, I has it! Here are some observations from the weekend:
The NFL:
Donovan McNabb will be an Arizona Cardinal next season. Anytime you get benched in favor of Rex Grossman because the coach thinks he gives you a better chance to win you might as well put your house on the market. Grossman never gives you a better chance to win. Maybe Philadelphia knew more than they were letting on when they traded McNabb.
The Seahawks are homers. Even Mr. automatic Olindo Mare mailed it in on Sunday missing not one, but 2 field goals. The Raiders are a decent team, but certainly not good enough to record 8 sacks, hold the Seahawks offense to 162 total yards and 3 points. Only count the games at Qwest Field as wins if you're a Seahawk fan.
College Football:
Jake Locker is no longer a first round pick. Whenever announcers refer to a senior quarterback as raw and unseasoned there's a problem. Talk of winning the Heisman and being the #1 pick in the draft seems like decades ago.
The Big 10 is mediocre. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio St. all have a chance to win the conference title, but none of them have a chance to win the national championship. Michigan St. blew their opportunity.
The NBA:
The new technical foul rule is extremely annoying. Don't be surprised when a player loses his composure and does something stupid. Arguing with the refs should be addressed, but the league has gone too far.
Miami will be just fine. After a blow out loss to Boston to start the season the Miami Heat are starting to figure it out. Once Mike Miller returns from injury they will have a legitimate 3 point shooter and he'll see a lot of wide open looks. The Heat will go 63-19.
MLB:
Cliff Lee will shake off his poor performance in game one, but the Rangers bats are nowhere to be found. Lee will pitch 7 scoreless and the Rangers will lose 2-1. Congrats Giants fans!
The NFL:
Donovan McNabb will be an Arizona Cardinal next season. Anytime you get benched in favor of Rex Grossman because the coach thinks he gives you a better chance to win you might as well put your house on the market. Grossman never gives you a better chance to win. Maybe Philadelphia knew more than they were letting on when they traded McNabb.
The Seahawks are homers. Even Mr. automatic Olindo Mare mailed it in on Sunday missing not one, but 2 field goals. The Raiders are a decent team, but certainly not good enough to record 8 sacks, hold the Seahawks offense to 162 total yards and 3 points. Only count the games at Qwest Field as wins if you're a Seahawk fan.
College Football:
Jake Locker is no longer a first round pick. Whenever announcers refer to a senior quarterback as raw and unseasoned there's a problem. Talk of winning the Heisman and being the #1 pick in the draft seems like decades ago.
The Big 10 is mediocre. Iowa, Wisconsin, and Ohio St. all have a chance to win the conference title, but none of them have a chance to win the national championship. Michigan St. blew their opportunity.
The NBA:
The new technical foul rule is extremely annoying. Don't be surprised when a player loses his composure and does something stupid. Arguing with the refs should be addressed, but the league has gone too far.
Miami will be just fine. After a blow out loss to Boston to start the season the Miami Heat are starting to figure it out. Once Mike Miller returns from injury they will have a legitimate 3 point shooter and he'll see a lot of wide open looks. The Heat will go 63-19.
MLB:
Cliff Lee will shake off his poor performance in game one, but the Rangers bats are nowhere to be found. Lee will pitch 7 scoreless and the Rangers will lose 2-1. Congrats Giants fans!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)