Ladies and gentlemen, family, fans, friends, and followers it is the return of Young Sam Rothstein. I took a little hiatus to refine my razor sharp skills and get back to my zen like ways. After careful analysis and review of the football landscape my finger is squarely on the pulse of things once again. It's mid November now and the wild card factors are in full effect. I have to go beyond the X's and O's. I need to know if the quarterback's girlfriend is knocked up, I need to know the wind velocity so I can judge the field goals, I need to know if the players are wearing Nike cleats or Adidas cleats, I need to know what kind of team meals these guys are eating, I NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING! Now that I've gathered my facts I'll win enough money to make it rain like a Lil Wayne video. You're all welcome to join me of course as I share my knowledge free of charge for the betterment of those that support me. Thanks again for reading. Now let's make your lifestyle exciting! Follow my lead.
Wisconsin -4 over Michigan. Michigan's defense has no answer for Wisconsin's high powered offense and Denard Robinson is as fragile as Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Unbreakable. Michigan doesn't play well without the lead and Wisconsin will jump on them early.
Stanford -6 1/2 over Cal. I almost never take the road team in a rivalry game giving up points, but Young Sam has a hunch about this one. Look for Andrew Luck to have a big game. All bets are off though if if Shane Vereen is wearing the yellow cleats. He's superstitious and he thinks they give him special powers.
Baltimore -11 over Carolina. The game is on the road, but who cares? Carolina is starting Brian St. Pierre at quarterback and he's had insomnia problems all season. The medication he's on makes him sluggish and the Ravens defense will take advantage. Vegas has set the bar high at 11 points so this might be a trap game, but I still say bet against Brian St. Pierre. Who the hell is he?
St. Louis +3 over Atlanta. Sam Bradford is at home getting points and the Falcons are coming off a signature win against Baltimore. There will be an emotional let down plus Atlanta is not a great road team. As a side note Matt Ryan likes to drink peach flavored snapple before the games to calm his nerves and they don't sell that flavor in St. Louis. He may be a little edgy.
Philadelphia over New York. Follow the gamblers creed and ride the hot hand. Michael Vick's hand is hotter than that kid in the X-Men movies right about now. Don't expect a repeat of Monday night, but they can cover the 3.
See you at the cashiers cage!
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Tony Parker Is Not Cool
You know I'm not one to gossip and rarely do I pass judgement on someone unless the crime is severe, but friends, fans, family, and followers I must confess Tony Parker has disappointed the basketball community and sports world alike with his acts of infidelity. His actions were irresponsible and selfish and I for one am completely shocked by his behavior.
Am I shocked that Tony cheated on his wife Eva Longoria? Of course not. Although Eva is beautiful and famous she is only one woman. Professional athletes have an insatiable appetite and are rarely monogamous. Am I shocked that Tony cheated with a married woman? Of course not. The typical standards of right and wrong don't resonate with a man that just signed a $45,000,000 contract extension and was once voted one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people. Am I shocked to hear Tony was having an affair with former teammate Brent Barry's wife? Beyond words. This is the 2nd time in less than a year we've heard of a basketball player crossing the imaginary line and breaking an unwritten rule. Do you really have to tell someone that your teammates wives are off limits for sexual escapades? The pretty boy superstar has no conscience.
It is even more astounding that Tony disrespected basketball royalty. The Barry name in basketball is like the Manning name in football or the Griffey name in baseball. The ramifications of disrespecting the son of Rick Barry will be significant. Don't be surprised to hear Jon Barry sucker punched Tony after a game or endorsements and public appearances for Tony being cancelled.
The biggest tragedy of this whole fiasco is the betrayal of teammate and friend Brent Barry. The two have gone to battle together. Brent's kids probably refer to Tony as "Uncle Tony." Brent probably confided in Tony about his marital problems not realizing he was speaking to the source of the problem. There is no doubt Brent was devastated to hear the news.
How does this affect the Spurs organization? Can anyone look at Tony with a straight face knowing that he might push up on their wife the minute they turn their back? Tony has broken a trust he can never get back and the Spurs may not recover from the fallout. Once a close knit bunch the Spurs will lose the continuity that gave them a competitive advantage.
If your going to do something wrong, at least have the decency to do it the right way. From here on out mothers, daughter, and wives are ALWAYS off limits, ex-wives need a 2 year cushion after divorce, and aunts and sisters need special permission. Common sense you would think, but obviously not. Hang in there Brent Barry.
Am I shocked that Tony cheated on his wife Eva Longoria? Of course not. Although Eva is beautiful and famous she is only one woman. Professional athletes have an insatiable appetite and are rarely monogamous. Am I shocked that Tony cheated with a married woman? Of course not. The typical standards of right and wrong don't resonate with a man that just signed a $45,000,000 contract extension and was once voted one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people. Am I shocked to hear Tony was having an affair with former teammate Brent Barry's wife? Beyond words. This is the 2nd time in less than a year we've heard of a basketball player crossing the imaginary line and breaking an unwritten rule. Do you really have to tell someone that your teammates wives are off limits for sexual escapades? The pretty boy superstar has no conscience.
It is even more astounding that Tony disrespected basketball royalty. The Barry name in basketball is like the Manning name in football or the Griffey name in baseball. The ramifications of disrespecting the son of Rick Barry will be significant. Don't be surprised to hear Jon Barry sucker punched Tony after a game or endorsements and public appearances for Tony being cancelled.
The biggest tragedy of this whole fiasco is the betrayal of teammate and friend Brent Barry. The two have gone to battle together. Brent's kids probably refer to Tony as "Uncle Tony." Brent probably confided in Tony about his marital problems not realizing he was speaking to the source of the problem. There is no doubt Brent was devastated to hear the news.
How does this affect the Spurs organization? Can anyone look at Tony with a straight face knowing that he might push up on their wife the minute they turn their back? Tony has broken a trust he can never get back and the Spurs may not recover from the fallout. Once a close knit bunch the Spurs will lose the continuity that gave them a competitive advantage.
If your going to do something wrong, at least have the decency to do it the right way. From here on out mothers, daughter, and wives are ALWAYS off limits, ex-wives need a 2 year cushion after divorce, and aunts and sisters need special permission. Common sense you would think, but obviously not. Hang in there Brent Barry.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
The Miami Heat Need A New Coach
It's time for Pat Riley to come down from the president's box suite and coach the Miami Heat. There was so much anticipation coming off the summer free agent acquisitions that a 6-4 start just won't cut it. Coach Eric Spoelstra is a good guy and a company man. He started with the Heat 16 years ago and understands the organization from top to bottom, but he's in way over his head. Dealing with multiple superstar egos that have expectations out of this world is more than he can handle.
Pat Riley is much more equipped for the task at hand. He's played or coached on 7 championship teams and knows what it takes to win. He is the architect of the Miami project and ultimately responsible for its success or failure. In his heart he always wanted to coach this team, but felt it was only right to give his protege the first crack at driving the ship. Eric Spoelstra has come up short however and now it's time for a change.
This is not an indictment on Eric Spoelstra's coaching ability. He knows the X's and O's as well as anybody. The problem is the superstar trio assembled in Miami hasn't responded to his leadership. Ordinarily the Miami Heat would show patience letting the team come together and gel, but there's no time for that. The target has been on their backs since Lebron announced he was taking his talents down to South Beach and the pressure to put a dominant team on the floor is mounting. A .500 record won't get it done.
The transition won't be pretty and some will argue Pat Riley is putting his own agenda in front of what's best for the team. In the end the main focus is to win championships and Pat Riley gives them the best chance to do so. Sorry Eric. It's nothing personal.
Pat Riley is much more equipped for the task at hand. He's played or coached on 7 championship teams and knows what it takes to win. He is the architect of the Miami project and ultimately responsible for its success or failure. In his heart he always wanted to coach this team, but felt it was only right to give his protege the first crack at driving the ship. Eric Spoelstra has come up short however and now it's time for a change.
This is not an indictment on Eric Spoelstra's coaching ability. He knows the X's and O's as well as anybody. The problem is the superstar trio assembled in Miami hasn't responded to his leadership. Ordinarily the Miami Heat would show patience letting the team come together and gel, but there's no time for that. The target has been on their backs since Lebron announced he was taking his talents down to South Beach and the pressure to put a dominant team on the floor is mounting. A .500 record won't get it done.
The transition won't be pretty and some will argue Pat Riley is putting his own agenda in front of what's best for the team. In the end the main focus is to win championships and Pat Riley gives them the best chance to do so. Sorry Eric. It's nothing personal.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Cam Newton Is Worth Every Penny
If the allegations surrounding Cam Newton and his acceptance of improper benefits from Auburn University turn out to be true Cam Newton was worth every penny. Once you get over the moral and ethical implications and realize that scholarship athletes getting paid is a common occurrence you'll come to the conclusion that the investment in Cam Newton was worth the risk.
At 6'5 250 pounds Cam Newton is a unique physical specimen that invokes fear in the hearts of tiny defensive backs that try to tackle him in the secondary. Most experts see him as the second coming of JaMarcus Russell with a better work ethic and appreciation for his god given ability. In a season where several major programs are having a down year (Florida, Texas, USC) and several non BCS teams are staking their claim to play in the national championship game (Boise St., TCU) Cam Newton has established himself as the best player in college football.
Heisman voters will be skeptical about checking the box next to his name when they cast their ballots however. That's understandable considering all the media backlash surrounding Reggie Bush over the last few months. The committee would be wise to err on the side of caution going forward. That's not to say the two situations are the same. Reggie Bush received money from an agent for three years while Cam (allegedly) received money from a booster to attend Auburn University. In the end improper benefits are improper benefits and the committee has to protect itself. The best player in college football probably won't win the Heisman.
Did Auburn do the right thing if they paid Cam Newton? The odds were heavily in their favor they wouldn't get caught and the potential results were too good to pass up. Auburn is more relevant than their fierce rivals The Alabama Crimson Tide, they are 11-0 for only the 3rd time in school history, and will more than likely play in the national championship game and earn close to $3,000,000 for the appearance. If you factor in ticket sales, jersey sales, and the overall economic impact on businesses serving Auburn University interests it sounds like a pretty good return on investment to me.
People have to realize the SEC handles things differently. Football is religion. Their priorities are football, football, football, spring football, and high school football. Any of those schools would do whatever it takes to win the SEC and have a shot at the national championship. Traditions run deep and losing is not acceptable. Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, and Les Miles make more money than some NFL coaches for a reason. The alumni at these schools expect results by any means necessary. It's not how you win, but if you win.
The most probable outcome to the whole situation is probation, loss of scholarships, and the forfeiture of a few games. It's never a good thing when the FBI gets involved and key members involved in the scandal have already professed their guilt. You can't un ring the bell and erase people's memories though. What's done is done. Cam Newton is putting together one of the greatest seasons in Auburn football history and if he continues on his current path the Auburn Tigers will beat Alabama in the Iron Bowl, beat South Carolina for the SEC championship, Cam Newton will win player of the year honors, and they will battle Oregon in the big game. What's a couple hundred thousand dollars if you get all that?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Weekend Observations
Cleavie Wonder's ego took a beating over the weekend in the world of fantasy football. This was by far my worst weekend of the season. In my trash talking league I lost by 57 points. and I am in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. My receiving corp is worse than the Carolina Panthers and me and Carson Palmer are no longer on speaking terms after his ridiculous performance. In my 2nd league I lost by 3 points despite a breakout 30 point day from Dwayne Bowe. Pro bowlers Reggie Wayne and Randy Moss combined for a total of 5 points. They're not on suspension, but I am monitoring their progress very closely. In my non-trash talking that I converted into a trash talking league I got beat by the last place team by 47 points. My hall of fame quarterback (Peyton Manning) and the best running back in football (Adrian Peterson) both scored less points than my kicker Olindo Mare. If the Bentley's aren't rolling my team is very mortal. After the shellacking I took this weekend it's time to channel my inner Gary Payton and my inner Michael Irvin. The trash talking won't stop. If I stop now they win by shutting me up. They will not turn off my voice! I will make the necessary adjustments and victory will be mine. If I didn't believe that then I shouldn't have opened my mouth in the first place. My motto is talk the talk and walk the walk till you can't walk it anymore. I'm still standing for now. Here are some observations from the weekend.
College Football:
There is a formula for beating Oregon. Play them when they're on the road, play then when their offense is a little flat, run it down their throats, and make clutch field goals. Cal came within 2 points of pulling it off. I doubt the stars will align like that again this season however.
All the allegations swirling around Cam Newton and improper benefits he may have taken doesn't make it any easier for defensive backs to tackle him in the secondary (more on him tomorrow). Oregon and Auburn will meet in the national championship game. Let's hope Cam is still eligible by then.
The NFL:
Jason Garrett has been holding back the offense in Dallas so that Wade Phillips would get fired and he could inherit the Cowboy's coaching job. There's no other explanation for the dramatic turnaround witnessed on Sunday. I had to check ESPN 4 times to make sure I was reading the score and the stats correctly. 3 touchdowns and 300 yards for Jon Kitna still sounds like a misprint.
It's time to factor in the intangibles when picking a winner. Watch out for warm weather teams going to cold weather climates. Watch out for turf teams playing on grass. Watch out for rookie quarterbacks. Watch out for road teams.
If Troy Smith began the season as the 49ers starting quarterback they would have made the playoffs.
Boxing:
Manny Pacquiao no longer needs Floyd Mayweather Jr. to solidify his place in history as one of the greatest fighters ever. After beating the snot piss out of Antonio Margarito breaking his orbital bone and swelling up his face like Christmas ham public opinion has swayed towards Manny. When the super fight happens Pacquiao will be the favorite. Floyd will still win though.
College Football:
There is a formula for beating Oregon. Play them when they're on the road, play then when their offense is a little flat, run it down their throats, and make clutch field goals. Cal came within 2 points of pulling it off. I doubt the stars will align like that again this season however.
All the allegations swirling around Cam Newton and improper benefits he may have taken doesn't make it any easier for defensive backs to tackle him in the secondary (more on him tomorrow). Oregon and Auburn will meet in the national championship game. Let's hope Cam is still eligible by then.
The NFL:
Jason Garrett has been holding back the offense in Dallas so that Wade Phillips would get fired and he could inherit the Cowboy's coaching job. There's no other explanation for the dramatic turnaround witnessed on Sunday. I had to check ESPN 4 times to make sure I was reading the score and the stats correctly. 3 touchdowns and 300 yards for Jon Kitna still sounds like a misprint.
It's time to factor in the intangibles when picking a winner. Watch out for warm weather teams going to cold weather climates. Watch out for turf teams playing on grass. Watch out for rookie quarterbacks. Watch out for road teams.
If Troy Smith began the season as the 49ers starting quarterback they would have made the playoffs.
Boxing:
Manny Pacquiao no longer needs Floyd Mayweather Jr. to solidify his place in history as one of the greatest fighters ever. After beating the snot piss out of Antonio Margarito breaking his orbital bone and swelling up his face like Christmas ham public opinion has swayed towards Manny. When the super fight happens Pacquiao will be the favorite. Floyd will still win though.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Sports Nicknames
The world of sports can never have enough nicknames. The more colorful the better. I've made it my personal goal to give basketball players Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose new nicknames. From here on out Blake Griffin shall be referred to as Blake "The Barbarian" Griffin. I did extensive research on the subject and anyone who's seen the movie Conan the Barbarian will recognize the similarities between Blake and Conan the main character (Arnold Schwartzenegger's breakout role). Derrick Rose will now be referred to as Mr. Funky. If you've ever seen Derrick cross over on someone then explode for a 2 hand jam you'll know where I'm coming from. He also gets his own theme music, Funky Child by Lords of the Underground. It's a grass roots movement so I'll need the help of my fans, friends, family, and followers to get it going. Tell anybody who will listen. Me quest to rename these players got me thinking of my favorite nicknames of all time. Here's the list I came up with.
Football:
"The Manster" Randy White. Half man, half monster? One of the greatest Cowboys of all time Randy White wreaked havoc from the defensive end position in the 70's and 80's.
"The Nigerian Nightmare" Christian Okoye. At 6'1 260 pounds running a 4.4 Christian Okoye kept many a defensive back awake at night. Steve Atwater is the only man I ever saw stop him in his tracks.
"The Kansas Comet" Gayle Sayers. The original Reggie Bush, Gayle Sayers was as elusive and fast as his nickname would indicate.
Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail. A nickname so catchy they nicknamed his little brother "The Missile."
"The Playmaker" Michael Irvin. I'm not sure there's ever been a more fitting nickname in all of sports. When you need a completion, a first down, or a touchdown you turn to Big Mike.
Basketball:
Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Mr. Erving was bestowed his nickname by Rucker Park fans because he operated so well on the court. True story.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson. A nickname so synonymous with the person I bet half of the people reading this didn't even know his real name was Earvin.
Darrell Griffith AKA "Dr. Dunkenstein." I once had a poster with Darrell wearing a lab coat holding 2 half basketballs in his hand like a scientist. One of the greatest dunkers of all time.
Dominique Wilkins AKA "The Human Highlight Film." Dominique was a better dunker than Michael Jordan, there's no question about it. The way he got robbed in the 1988 slam dunk contest will forever live in infamy!
"The Skywalker" David Thompson. Before Luther Campbell or Mark Hamil there was David Thompson. The 44 inch vertical was no joke.
Baseball:
"The Terminator" Jeff Reardon. When you saw this guy coming out of the bullpen it was curtains for you.
"The Sandman" Mariano Rivera. Cue the Metalica. Mariano Rivera is as responsible for the Yankees dynasty as anyone.
"The Natural" Will Clark. I have a good friend that loves this guy so I'll give him a little plug. He also goes by the nickname of Will "The Thrill" Clark.
Pete Rose AKA "Charlie Hustle". Over the years this nickname has become more and more fitting hasn't it?
Reggie Jackson AKA "Mr. October." The perfect way to describe how clutch this guy was. Not too many people get a candy bar named after them.
Boxing:
Thomas "The Hit Man" Hearns. The name speaks for itself.
James "Bonecrusher" Smith. A big, mean, ugly man who might rip your spleen out.
Hector "Macho" Camacho. He talked the talk, but he walked the walk..
Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. He might still be fighting when he's 50.
Roberto Duran AKA "Hands of Stone." I can imagine those punches really hurt.
MMA:
Tito Ortiz AKA "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy." The name fits his personality and demeanor.
Jens Pulver AKA "Little Evil." The name conjures up images of Damien in the Omen or an exorcist child. Nice image for a UFC champion.
Football:
"The Manster" Randy White. Half man, half monster? One of the greatest Cowboys of all time Randy White wreaked havoc from the defensive end position in the 70's and 80's.
"The Nigerian Nightmare" Christian Okoye. At 6'1 260 pounds running a 4.4 Christian Okoye kept many a defensive back awake at night. Steve Atwater is the only man I ever saw stop him in his tracks.
"The Kansas Comet" Gayle Sayers. The original Reggie Bush, Gayle Sayers was as elusive and fast as his nickname would indicate.
Raghib "The Rocket" Ismail. A nickname so catchy they nicknamed his little brother "The Missile."
"The Playmaker" Michael Irvin. I'm not sure there's ever been a more fitting nickname in all of sports. When you need a completion, a first down, or a touchdown you turn to Big Mike.
Basketball:
Julius "Dr. J" Erving. Mr. Erving was bestowed his nickname by Rucker Park fans because he operated so well on the court. True story.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson. A nickname so synonymous with the person I bet half of the people reading this didn't even know his real name was Earvin.
Darrell Griffith AKA "Dr. Dunkenstein." I once had a poster with Darrell wearing a lab coat holding 2 half basketballs in his hand like a scientist. One of the greatest dunkers of all time.
Dominique Wilkins AKA "The Human Highlight Film." Dominique was a better dunker than Michael Jordan, there's no question about it. The way he got robbed in the 1988 slam dunk contest will forever live in infamy!
"The Skywalker" David Thompson. Before Luther Campbell or Mark Hamil there was David Thompson. The 44 inch vertical was no joke.
Baseball:
"The Terminator" Jeff Reardon. When you saw this guy coming out of the bullpen it was curtains for you.
"The Sandman" Mariano Rivera. Cue the Metalica. Mariano Rivera is as responsible for the Yankees dynasty as anyone.
"The Natural" Will Clark. I have a good friend that loves this guy so I'll give him a little plug. He also goes by the nickname of Will "The Thrill" Clark.
Pete Rose AKA "Charlie Hustle". Over the years this nickname has become more and more fitting hasn't it?
Reggie Jackson AKA "Mr. October." The perfect way to describe how clutch this guy was. Not too many people get a candy bar named after them.
Boxing:
Thomas "The Hit Man" Hearns. The name speaks for itself.
James "Bonecrusher" Smith. A big, mean, ugly man who might rip your spleen out.
Hector "Macho" Camacho. He talked the talk, but he walked the walk..
Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins. He might still be fighting when he's 50.
Roberto Duran AKA "Hands of Stone." I can imagine those punches really hurt.
MMA:
Tito Ortiz AKA "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy." The name fits his personality and demeanor.
Jens Pulver AKA "Little Evil." The name conjures up images of Damien in the Omen or an exorcist child. Nice image for a UFC champion.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Cleavie The Greek Predicts Utah Over Notre Dame
I usually don't like to beat a dead horse, but I have to admit I do derive a great deal of pleasure out of pointing out the flaws and ineffectiveness of the Notre Dame football program. Truth be told Notre Dame hasn't been a national powerhouse since Lou Holtz coached them a gazillion years ago. From Bob Davies to Ty Willingham to Charlie Weiss and now Brian Kelly Notre Dame has a long list of failed architects who have tried to resurrect the mystique Notre Dame once had. Turning out quarterbacks like Rick Mirer, Brady Quinn, and Jimmy Clausen doesn't give your program the elite status tag. Furthermore Notre Dame will not be bowl eligible for the umpteenth straight year and this week they face an embarrassed, angry Utah team. Utah got the snot piss kicked out of them last week by TCU and guess who they're going to take their frustrations out on? That's right, the gold helmet guys. Notre Dame will lose by 30 points. Ok, enough about the Irish. Here are some bonus picks from Cleavie The Greek.
Arizona over USC. I missed it by one point last week, but the avalanche following USC is still in motion. USC is hanging on with bubble gum and aluminum foil right now. Arizona will seize the time and possibly make their way to a BCS bowl.
South Carolina over Florida. South Carolina has been sub par since their signature win over Alabama, but Florida brought bad karma on themselves by leaking the story about Cam Newton. Yes I believe Urban Meyer had something to do with that.
Pittsburgh over New England. The battle for AFC supremacy will be a close one and the winner will have a leg up for the #1 playoff seed. The Steelers are starting to put it together while the Pats are re-inventing themselves after the loss of Randy Moss. It's still a work in progress.
Minnesota over Chicago. There is a mutiny taking place in Minnesota, but every game is a playoff game for the Vikes from here on out. They will find a way to beat an average Chicago team.
Tennessee over Miami. The Randy Moss show begins in Tennessee in fine fashion at the expense of the Dolphins. They picked the wrong week to start tinkering with the quarterback position.
Next week is the return of you know who. Get your notepads ready and adjust your checkbooks accordingly.
Arizona over USC. I missed it by one point last week, but the avalanche following USC is still in motion. USC is hanging on with bubble gum and aluminum foil right now. Arizona will seize the time and possibly make their way to a BCS bowl.
South Carolina over Florida. South Carolina has been sub par since their signature win over Alabama, but Florida brought bad karma on themselves by leaking the story about Cam Newton. Yes I believe Urban Meyer had something to do with that.
Pittsburgh over New England. The battle for AFC supremacy will be a close one and the winner will have a leg up for the #1 playoff seed. The Steelers are starting to put it together while the Pats are re-inventing themselves after the loss of Randy Moss. It's still a work in progress.
Minnesota over Chicago. There is a mutiny taking place in Minnesota, but every game is a playoff game for the Vikes from here on out. They will find a way to beat an average Chicago team.
Tennessee over Miami. The Randy Moss show begins in Tennessee in fine fashion at the expense of the Dolphins. They picked the wrong week to start tinkering with the quarterback position.
Next week is the return of you know who. Get your notepads ready and adjust your checkbooks accordingly.
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