Arenas and Crittenton Out

Photo courtesy WPIX in New York.

Updating yesterday's post, the NBA announced last night beleaguered Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton have been suspended for the rest of the season. Arenas will lose $7.4 million of his salary and may even have the rest of his contract ($16.1 million annually) revoked. He's also looking at jail time anywhere from 6 months to 5 years, though prosecutors are reportedly pushing for the minimum.

Tale of Two Franchises

Photo courtesy of USAToday.com

The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Washington Wizards last night 115-103 at the Verizon Center in DC. The game provided a glimpse of two teams traveling in opposite directions. First, the Lakers have one of the best records in the NBA (34-11) and are 6-4 in their last ten games. Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol each scored 26 in what looked like a show of dominance. The Lakers are having a season free of drama, unusual for the Lakers given the microscope they're under.

Then, there are the Wizards. The Wizards' leading scorer, Gilbert Arenas, plead guilty earlier this month to felony gun charges and awaits sentencing. Arenas was storing guns in the Wizards' locker room at the Verizon Center, which lies within the actual District of Columbia. DC gun laws are among the toughest in the nation, so as a result, the revelation that Arenas was storing guns in DC outraged many in the Washington metro area. The Wizards' haven't been able to cope with the loss of Arenas on the court and are currently 14-30 and are 2-8 in their last ten games. Assuming Arenas will be having a long-term suspension, the Wizards will take several years to recover from one player's terrible decision.

Favre Falls Short Again

Photo courtesy of Brian Peterson/Minneapolis Star-Tribune/NJ.com.

One of the ripple effects of the New Orleans Saints going to the Super Bowl is that the Minnesota Vikings, and by extension Brett Favre, are not. As a result, Favre will once again take lots of time and media attention while deciding if he'll return for another season.

You know it's bad when Sears makes fun of you...

Going on the Offensive

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

So the Super Bowl is set. It's the Indianapolis Colts vs. the New Orleans Saints in what is sure to be a showcase of two of the league's best offenses. Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and Saints QB Drew Brees (shown above) are statistically ranked 6th and 1st, respectively, amongst quarterbacks this season (passer rating). Receivers Marques Colston of the Saints and Reggie Wayne of the Colts are two of the best receivers in the game.

Defensively, both teams aren't known for their D. While they both have star defensive players (Dwight Freeney of the Colts, Darren Sharper of the Saints), the defenses as a whole can break down and give up the big score.


Photo courtesy of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

This Super Bowl has more character than people are giving it credit. First, the Colts are a likable team with one of the best players of this era in P. Manning. Many of the players from the Tony Dungy era (I consider Dungy to be the best coach of the modern era) are still there. Colts fans are some of the most passionate in the NFL. Yet, they won a Super Bowl in 2006, so the taste of a championship victory is still fresh.

As for the Saints, there's a reason why their nickname for the longest time was the 'Aints. Fans would be so distraught over the team's on-field performance they would wear paper bags over their head. Decades of disappointment for New Orleans went by as the Saints were consistent cellar-dwellers. Then, Hurricane Katrina happened, leaving the city battered and broken. Then, a new coach came in (Sean Payton), a new quarterback (Brees), a new running back (Reggie Bush), and a host of personnel changes have turned the Saints into a competitive team since Katrina. Simply put, this is uncharted territory for the Saints who are going to the first Super Bowl in franchise history (the franchise was established in 1967).


Photo courtesy of Michael Conroy/AP and NJ.com.

This Super Bowl, like last year's, pits a classic franchise against a perennial underdog. However, this year's should be a high-scoring shootout between the offenses. On paper, I think Indy has the better shot at winning, but it's hard not to root for N'Awlins, especially in light of Katrina. Either way, it should be a great game.

Ungrateful Fans...Is it a Northeast Thing?

Photo courtesy of Bleacher Report.

On Sunday, the fans of the New England Patriots turned on their own team during a playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens. They booed the home team, with many saying it was due to the team's performance. Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork was quoted in the Boston Globe saying, "It felt like we were playing an away game, that's what it felt like." While Boston has shown this trend most recently, due to the city's impressive championship runs in multiple sports and higher expectations thereafter, other East Coast cities have had fans boo the home team, namely, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington DC. The act of booing the home team is a foreign concept to those here on the West Coast, with the exception of the Oakland Raiders.

There is a certain amount of gratitude to athletes that must be acknowledged, especially football players. These athletes are real people who bang, smash, flatten, and run into each other with high injury risk (concussions, torn ACLs and MCLs, etc.) Teams want to play at home because they'll have the crowd support. Seattle and New Orleans are great examples of a home-field advantage. Teams feed off the crowd energy, hard to do when said crowd is booing you.

Booing the home-team should be strongly discouraged by the fans. Stay classy and respect the fact that its real people playing the game. After all, rooting for a team means rooting for them through all the ups as well as the downs.

Randy Johnson Hangs it Up

Photo courtesy of the Idaho Statesman/AP.

After 22 seasons, ace pitcher Randy Johnson has decided to retire. He is second on the all-time strikeout list (4,875), has a career record of 303-166, a World Series ring, two no-hitters, a perfect game, and ten-time All-Star.

But what many may remember him for is his personality. His shaggy hair, his height on the mound, his tenacity to go after hitters. His fastball and slider pitches were absolutely devastating to hitters' psyche. I doubt we'll see a pitcher of his dominance again soon or ever. He played for Montreal, Seattle, Houston, Arizona, NY Yankees, and San Francisco, but his most memorable moments occurred in a Diamondbacks uniform (the 2001 World Series and his perfect game in 2004).

The AFC Playoffs are Here!

Yesterday, I covered the NFC side of the playoff equation. Today, it's the AFC's turn. Here are the playoff teams with seeding:


Photo courtesy of American Sports Blog.

1) Indianapolis Colts
Up until two weeks ago, the Colts were undefeated. Now, they don't look nearly as dominant after two straight losses. Quarterback Peyton Manning is the best in the league and receiver Reggie Wayne is an outstanding player, but what about the other guys? I wouldn't count the Colts out, but they're certainly not scaring anybody, unlike...

2) San Diego Chargers
...the Chargers, winners of their last eleven games. The Bolts are on a roll and have played some of the toughest teams in the NFL in that stretch (Dallas, Philadelphia, Cincinnati). The offense is playing extremely well, led by quarterback Philip Rivers. Probably the most well-rounded team in the AFC at this point.


Photo courtesy of The Red Zone Report.

3) New England Patriots
The Patriots are very banged up and are without stud receiver Wes Welker for the playoffs. The Pats still have Tom Brady and the best coach in Bill Belichick, but given their amount of injured players, I doubt a deep playoff run is in the cards for this team.

4) Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have struggled since the death of receiver Chris Henry and were non-existent on Sunday night against the Jets. They have the talent to reach the second round, but which team shows up: the one that dominated its division or the team that was shut out by the Jets?


Photo courtesy of FantasyPlayers.com

5) New York Jets
The Jets were out of the playoff picture until the Colts decided to put in their B team against them two weeks ago, then the Bengals rolled over Sunday night. They have a rookie quarterback who's prone to throw interceptions, but they have a top defense and running game. Very difficult to tell which team shows up.

6) Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were very good at the beginning of the season, then stumbled to a 9-7 record and playoff berth. They have an excellent running game and a pretty good defense, but again as with the Jets, which version of the Ravens shows up? (Side note: The Ravens are the team that has Michael Oher, subject of "The Blind Side, so congratulations are in order for the young man. He may very well end up winning rookie of the year honors).

So, here are my AFC predictions:
3) Patriots defeat 6) Ravens (barely)
4) Bengals defeat 5) Jets

1) Colts defeat 4) Bengals
2) Chargers defeat 3) Patriots

2) Chargers defeat 1) Colts
Chargers go to the Super Bowl in Miami.

Super Bowl Prediction: Chargers defeat Cowboys. They did it in the regular season, albeit in a close game, and they do it again.

The NFC Playoffs are Here!

After another week of football, the NFL regular season has ended. Despite the crazy scenarios for the AFC, it eventually finished the way many had predicted, while the NFC shifted a tad. So here are the playoff teams for the NFC:


Photo courtesy of NowPublic.net.

1) New Orleans Saints
The Saints have clinched home-field up to the Super Bowl, should they advance that far. While playing in the Superdome is an advantage, the Saints have not played at a dominating level since they smoked the Patriots in late November. Also noteworthy, Steve Wyche of NFL.com wrote in his column that no team with a three-game losing streak going into the playoffs has won the Super Bowl. They have a chance to win the Super Bowl based on the team's immense talent, but will they be ready to compete at the high level required to eliminate another playoff contender?

2) Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota also has a home-field game and first round bye. Between Minny and New Orleans, the Vikings are the better team right now. Minnesota has a lot of older, veteran players desperate to get to the Super Bowl, none more than quarterback Brett Favre and the team is healthy at the right time. However, while Favre can be an asset, he can also be a liability since he has a knack for making risky throws. Another minus is that defensive end Jared Allen recently hasn't been the dominant force he usually is.


Photo courtesy of the Financial Post.

3) Dallas Cowboys
After the 'Boys shutout the Eagles yesterday to take the 3 seed, a date with the Eagles next week in Dallas seems easy, right? However, history suggests beating a team three times in a season is very difficult. In 2007, the Cowboys beat the NY Giants twice in the regular season, but were then beaten by the Giants in Dallas in the playoffs. That being said, the Cowboys are playing healthy and loose right now, especially after the team's first successful December in years. Getting that monkey off their back was huge for this team. Having the top defense (in terms of points allowed) doesn't hurt either.

4) Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals rolled over and played dead with the Packers on Sunday and get a do-over with Green Bay next week in Arizona. The Cardinals are playing similar to the Cards of last season, albeit with a better record (10-6 vs. 8-8 last season). Arizona played okay at home, but was excellent on the road (4-4 vs. 6-2), so going to another team's stadium doesn't spook the Cards. Plus, last year's Super Bowl contending team is nearly intact. That experience will help them.


Photo courtesy of UPI.

5) Green Bay Packers
While Green Bay has been playing excellent football as of late, the Pack are very banged-up defensively. What happens when they play the high-octane offenses of the Saints, Vikings, or Cardinals? Having said that, the Packers did have considerable defensive success at times during the season, but I think the farthest Green Bay can go is the second round.

6) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have been in this position before (they were the 6 seed last year) and are still a dangerous team. They were winners of six straight prior to yesterday's shutout in Dallas. But can they beat the team that has had their number all season? If they do, look out.


Photo of Minnesota's Metrodome courtesy of ESPN.

So my NFC predictions are as follows:

3) Cowboys defeat 6) Eagles
4) Cardinals defeat 5) Packers

4) Cardinals defeat 1) Saints
3) Cowboys defeat 2) Vikings

3) Cowboys defeat 4) Cardinals
Cowboys advance to the Super Bowl in Miami.

The Eagles-Cowboys game will be on Saturday, 8pm ET/5pm PT on NBC while the Packers-Cardinals game will be Sunday 4:40pm ET/1:40pm PT on FOX. Tomorrow, I'll post my AFC predictions.

The Favre Drama Returns

Photo courtesy of NJ.com.

There's trouble in Minnesota as Vikings quarterback Brett Favre and Vikings head coach Brad Childress are feuding over recent play calls. The blame for this fiasco is entirely on Favre, who yet again, is causing problems with a coach. His relationship with his coaches helped end his time in Green Bay and New York. He breeds his own drama and acts as though his years of experience in the NFL give him a say in how to run a team. Childress is trying to do the right thing and resolve the issues privately, whereas Favre has a history of informing media outlets of internal problems.

Favre should take a page out of the Indianapolis Colts playbook. When the Colts ended their run at perfection, the starting players were pulled at halftime due to the head coach's decision. They may have disagreed with it, but they're resolving the matter privately and publicly supporting their coach. Since the Favre-Childress tussle is out in the public, the coach's authority is being undermined. Should the Vikings not do well in the playoffs, fans will look at this tussle as the event that derailed the season.

AFC Playoff Picture: Simply a Mess

Photo courtesy of BallHype.com

Yesterday, I went over the NFC playoff picture. Today, it's the AFC's turn.

If the playoffs started today, the seeds would be:

1) Indianapolis Colts (14-1)
After their run for perfection ended Sunday against the Jets in one of the most disputed coaching calls in recent memory. The game on Sunday won't matter for them because they've locked up the first seed awhile back.

2) San Diego Chargers (12-3)
The Chargers are red-hot with ten straight wins and have locked up the 2 seed, so the game on Sunday is meaningless for them. Having a first round bye and hosting a playoff game in sunny Southern California doesn't sound too bad. Their likely opponents would be the NY Jets or the Cincinnati Bengals.


Photo courtesy of fantasy-info.com

3) New England Patriots (10-5)
The Patriots will get another AFC East title, but they've been shaky all year. Losses to the Colts and Saints underscore the fact that the Pats have lost to good teams and beaten up on the bad ones. I don't see the Patriots going past the second round.

4) Cincinnati Bengals (10-5)
The Bengals have struggled since the death of their teammate, wide receiver Chris Henry. They'll make the playoffs, but their success is predicated on how they handle the loss of Henry. They're 1-1 since his death. Of the teams hosting a playoff game, Cincinnati is the most vulnerable.


Photo courtesy of UPI.

5) Denver Broncos (8-7)
The Broncos may not even be here this time next week. In order for the Broncos to make the playoffs, a lot of things have to fall right for them. The simplest way is for a Broncos win, plus a NY Jets loss and Houston Texans win.

6) NY Jets (8-7)
If the Jets win against Cincinnati on Sunday, they're in the playoffs. The Jets have been a roller coaster ride this year and with an inexperienced rookie quarterback, I don't see them going deep into the playoffs.

On the outside looking in are the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars. If the Ravens win, they're in the playoffs, likely knocking Denver out. The Texans and Steelers need a lot of help to get in while the Dolphins and Jaguars would need complete collapses of the teams in front of them in order to get in. I think the wild cards will be the Ravens and Jets.

NFC Playoff Picture: A Matter of Seeds

Photo courtesy of Eagles blog Bleeding Green Nation.

The NFL season is a week away from ending and only three of the playoff seeds are locked down. Let's start with the NFC...

If the playoffs started today, the seeds would be:

Seed No. 1) New Orleans Saints (13-2)
As a result of the Minnesota loss last night, the Saints have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. However, they have lost two straight and are showing vulnerabilities, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

Seed No. 2) Philadelphia Eagles (11-4)
The Eagles currently own the 2 seed, but the Cowboys, Vikings, or Cardinals could also claim this spot. If the Eagles beat the Cowboys in Dallas next week, then they have the 2 seed locked. Philly is playing well and is considered the team to beat in the NFC right now.


Photo courtesy of nflnewsworld.com

Seed No. 3) Minnesota Vikings (11-4)
The Vikings have lost three out of their last four games and lost the two seed last night. Quarterback Brett Favre is making more drama again, this time with Vikings coach Brad Childress. The Vikings can reclaim the two seed with a win at home against the NY Giants and a Philly loss against the Cowboys, but even if they get the Cowboys assist, I doubt the Giants will just roll over.

Seed No. 4) Arizona Cardinals (10-5)
The Cardinals are playing better lately and have been a stellar road team this year. That being said, if both Philly and Minnesota lose, the 2 seed is the Cardinals' to have. I'm not sure how advantageous having the 2 seed would be for Arizona given their road success, but I do think the Cardinals will make it to the second round of the playoffs. They host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.


Photo courtesy of the NY Daily News.

Seed No. 5) Green Bay Packers (10-5)
The Packers are locked into the 5 or 6 seed, so of the NFC teams, the Packers have one of the most predictable roads. Either way, they'll be playing on the road for the duration of the playoffs.

Seed No. 6) Dallas Cowboys (10-5)
The Cowboys have the 6 seed, but could jump up to the 2 spot if Philly, Minnesota, and Arizona lose. The surprise victory in New Orleans has really jump-started this team and given them the extra confidence to overcome the December woes of recent Cowboys teams. This team could go far in the playoffs, especially if they beat Philly on Sunday.

Tomorrow, the AFC playoff picture. If the NFC picture is a little fuzzy to you, wait 'til you see the AFC picture. What a mess.

The Long Fall

Photo courtesy of NewsOne.com

The news of Tiger Woods' infidelity over the last couple of weeks has rocked the sports world. His reputation for being a family man shattered. So how does one look at Tiger Woods now? On the golf course, he's my generation's Jack Nicklaus. His level of play and era of dominance is unmatched. His passion for competition is admirable. But that's where the love ends. Off the course, he's made a grievous mistake. There are so many aspects to Tiger's misdeeds, it makes it difficult to support him.

First, this incident shows Tiger to be clueless. Surely he had to have known someone was going to find out about his indiscretions. With as many as seven women (and counting, it seems) coming out as his mistresses, he had dug a hole so deep, there was no getting out. Did he not realize his reputation would be destroyed if these relationships came to public light? Second, this whole saga shows Tiger to be arrogant. If he had thought all this through and thought he could sweep it under the rug because he's Tiger Woods, than he's an arrogant fool. Third, Tiger underestimated the media's ability to gather information. What started as a car crash on Thanksgiving became a bigger story when it was revealed his wife wasn't with him in the car and it was in the middle of the night. By the time reporters verified everything, Woods' skeletons were jumping out of the closet.

Tiger is now on the same level as Tom Brady and, to a lesser extent, Kobe Bryant. Tom had an affair with a supermodel than broke up with his pregnant fiance Bridget Moynahan and married the supermodel. As a result, Tom could win twenty Super Bowl titles and I still wouldn't buy his jersey. Kobe had an incident that nearly got him thrown in jail, but he has since been "on the straight and narrow" with his wife and two daughters. Regardless of whatever he does at this point, when you have that many extramarital affairs, let alone the morass that Brady and Bryant found themselves in with one indiscretion, your reputation is gone. Sad for Tiger, as he is one of the game's greats.

School Semester is Over / Deja Vu in Dallas

Now that the school semester is over, I can comfortably resume posting here on FTRS. The last couple of months were thick with schoolwork as the semester was drawing to a close.

Prior to the Red Sox winning the World Series, there had been a saying thrown around online and elsewhere that "when the leaves fall, so do the Red Sox." Perhaps it should be re-phrased as "When snow falls in December, so do the Dallas Cowboys." The Cowboys worst nightmares of a failed December are coming true...again.


Photo courtesy of the Syracuse (N.Y.) Post-Standard.

The Cowboys opened the month with a critical match in New York against the Giants, who had spoiled the opener of the Cowboys' new stadium in a close game. Motivation enough, right? After taking an initial 10-0 lead in the second quarter, the Cowboys went on to lose 31-24, thanks in large part due to terrible special teams play in the 4th quarter. Due to the Cowboys losing that game, it helped the Giants get closer to playoff contention and should the Cowboys deteriorate further, it could be the Giants going to the playoffs and the Cowboys staying home.

Then they played the San Diego Chargers yesterday in Dallas. Home-field advantage with 90,000+ fans in your favor, right? After tying it 10-10 in the third quarter, the Chargers surged in the 4th quarter to win 20-17. So much for home-field. The neck injury to star Cowboys linebacker in the 4th quarter made a huge difference, as the Cowboys had no pass rush. Without a pass rush, the opposing quarterbacks can sit in the pocket all day and throw with ease.


Photo of Cowboys head coach Wade Philips courtesy of WFAA-TV in Dallas.

But that seems to be the problem with this Cowboys team. One week, it's special teams, the next it's the pass rush, or lack thereof. The secondary has been an issue all year. The schedule-makers didn't do them any favors, either. Next week, they play the undefeated New Orleans Saints, which has a more explosive offense than San Diego, in New Orleans. Then, they play their rivals, the Washington Redskins, in DC and finally, they return home to play the Philadelphia Eagles, who are in first place in Dallas' division.

There are some teams constantly under a microscope. Some markets, like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, have multiple teams that receive year-round attention from the local press. Other markets have that one team that everybody follows closely. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Cowboys are two examples. The Los Angeles fanbase likes the Dodgers, the Kings, and the college teams in the area, but everyone loves the Lakers. Of the SoCal teams, only the Lakers receive wall-to-wall year-round coverage. Likewise, Dallas fans breathe football. If you play for the Dallas Cowboys, you're in a fishbowl. Much of this is due to the level of success in the team's history and with those past successes, expectations are bred of championships on a yearly basis.


Photo of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones courtesy of mkrob.com

Maybe Dallas' December woes are a result of the intense scrutiny that comes with being a Cowboy, maybe it's a case of "self-fulfilling prophecy" (i.e., if you tell yourself you're going to fail, you're going to fail), maybe it's a poor coaching effort on the part of Wade Philips. Whatever it is, until the Cowboys get a win in December, the talk of a December collapse will always come up. Should that win not happen this year, Wade Phillips can pack his bags. The Cowboys would have then gone 14 years without a Super Bowl title, and for a team called "America's Team", that's too long.

Down to the Wire

Photo courtesy of Baseball1027.wordpress.com.

The baseball playoffs are just about set. Here are the American League seedings if the playoffs started today:

1) NY Yankees vs. 4) either Detroit Tigers or Minnesota Twins
2) LA Angels vs. 3) Boston Red Sox

Yankees have home-field throughout the playoffs including the World Series, assuming they go that far. Angels have home-field against the Red Sox. The Tigers are only two games up on the Twins with 3 games remaining, so it'll come down to the final weekend in that division.

Here are the National League seedings if the playoffs started today:

1) LA Dodgers vs. 4) St. Louis Cardinals
2) Philadelphia Phillies vs. 3) Colorado Rockies

The Dodgers have lost 4 straight, have not clinched the NL West division, and are only two games up on Colorado. They play each other in LA beginning tomorrow, and all the Dodgers need to do is win one game to clinch the division. The Rockies have to sweep in order to clinch the division. Home-field is still up for grabs between LA and Philly.

Adenhart is Still With Them

Photo courtesy of NJ.com.

The Angels celebrated another AL West division title last night, but after the traditional beer and champagne pouring in the clubhouse, the team walked out to the centerfield wall where a mural of Nick Adenhart, the rookie pitcher killed by a drunk driver in April, sits.

No matter what team you root for normally, you can't help but root for the Angels a little this year in light of the Adenhart tragedy. There are moments when the reality that the game of baseball being a low priority is reinforced. This was one of those moments. I went to Angels Stadium for the Angels-Red Sox series in April, a day or two after the crash. A huge memorial of flowers and photos was out front of the home plate gate and an eerie silence fell over passers by.

The drunk driver, 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo, was charged in April for three counts of second-degree murder and could face life in prison. He had multiple DUI arrests and did had a suspended license at the time of the crash. He plead not guilty to the murder charges. If convicted, he could face anywhere from 55 years to life in prison.

The Angels have a tough road ahead of them (they play Boston in the first round of playoffs), but this team is gelling and as cohesive as ever. To see the tribute from last night (and a great column by Eric Neel to boot), go here. For a SoCal perspective, try this LA Times column.

Friday Video: Basketball in Aggieland

These videos have been making the rounds online this week. Real or fake? You decide...

Book Review: The Blind Side

Photo courtesy of DailyRadar.com.

I finished Michael Lewis' book The Blind Side a few weeks ago. What a great story with a lot of heart. The book alternates between the history of the left tackle position, the player that protects the quarterback's blind side, in the NFL and the story of Michael Oher, a kid growing up in the impoverished slums of west Memphis, taken in by the wealthy Tuohy family and given a chance to succeed in football as a left tackle.

The left tackle position was undervalued in the early days of the NFL until Lawrence Taylor, linebacker of the New York Giants, wrecked havoc on quarterbacks by attacking their blind side. The book begins with Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann suffering a severe injury at the hands of Taylor. Later on, San Francisco 49ers coach Bill Walsh, the genius behind the "West Coast Offense", devised a plan to stop Taylor by putting his biggest blocker on the left side. Now that the passing game is even more crucial to teams than ever, the left tackle is often times the second highest-paid player on the team.

But it was the story of Michael Oher that was the highlight of the book. Michael was an African-American kid who had hardly ever slept on a bed, or known what having his own room was like. His mom was a drug addict, they lived in housing projects (appropriately named Hurt Village), he had to repeat first and second grade, and was what some would consider "damaged goods". After a family friend sent his son and Michael to a private, mostly white Christian school on the other side of town, the Tuohy family effectively adopts him and sets him on a path to success in both academics (his GPA went from a 0.9 to a 2.65) and sports. He was the school's starting left tackle and went on to earn a scholarship from Ole Miss, the same school that Mr. and Mrs. Tuohy attended. Michael currently plays in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens as the rookie starting right tackle, though he may move back to left tackle after gaining experience at the pro level. The Ravens' offensive line, the group of players that Oher is a part of, is receiving early rave reviews for protecting quarterback Joe Flacco.

The book's main flaw was there were times reading the book where I wanted to get back to Michael Oher's story, rather than hear the nuances of the evolution of the left tackle. Oher's story is so gripping, you want to see more of it and the left tackle history can get a bit technical at times, losing casual readers.

To hear author Michael Lewis in an NPR interview for the book, go here. And, as with most books, a movie adaptation is on the way this November (video courtesy of A3FilmTrailers/Warner Bros.):

Newspaper Bailouts?

Photo of The Boston Globe headquarters courtesy of The Atlantic.

This isn't necessarily a sports related post, but rather a topic that affects sports media. Political website TheHill.com posted an article Sunday afternoon saying President Obama is "open" and "happy to look at" a bill that would effectively bailout the newspaper industry. The bill, S. 673 "Newspaper Revitalization Act", was introduced by Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and co-sponsored by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, also a Maryland Democrat. The bill would give tax breaks to news organizations that restructure as nonprofits.

It's no surprise newspapers are struggling. Denver's Rocky Mountain News folded in February, Seattle's Post-Intelligencer moved exclusively to online format in March, and the Philadelphia Daily News merged with the Philadelphia Inquirer earlier this year. The Boston Globe nearly folded in May, but was saved by union worker concessions. In addition to declining ad revenue, some would say newspapers in most major cities are too politically slanted one way or another to be a reliable news source.

So what would being a nonprofit do to newspapers, and more specifically, sportswriters at the newspapers? First, I think it would make travel hard for reporters. For example, the lead political reporter for the Miami Herald has to go to Denver for a political party's convention while the Marlins beat writer has to go to Milwaukee for a three-game baseball series. The political reporter would win, leaving sports fans in Miami out in the cold. In other words, where would the now-nonprofit companies get the money to pay for expenses like reporter travel, maintenance for the printing machines, and the like? Foundation grants? Taxpayers?

But the person that would most be affected by this proposed bill is the sports fan. City politics can be covered by the local broadcast news in a way sports cannot. By the time the sports segment of the late local news comes on, the majority of the audience has been lost, whereas political news would be at the top of the newscast. The newspaper beat writers that follow the local sports teams are te best place to go for in-depth analysis for the team, not the broadcast news. For example, the Boston Globe employs three writers to exclusively follow the Red Sox. Likewise, the Los Angeles Times employs Andrew and Brian Kamenetzky to exclusively write on the Lakers. Would these organizations be able to have this setup for fans? Would these writers even have a job?

All these questions plus the thought of yet another bailout lead to more questions than answers for an industry that is built on getting answers. To read the original article at TheHill.com, go here.

Fall of the Trojans?

Photo courtesy of the National Post.

On Saturday, the USC Trojans were upended by the underdog Washington Huskies 16-13. As a result, they fell from #3 to #12 in the polls, erasing their national title hopes. There has been much speculation on the net since that this may be the year the Trojan "dynasty" ends. While that seems premature, they sure haven't looked as dominant on defense as in years past and their quarterback situation is tenuous at best. Does Pete Carroll really want to start a freshman against Cal? The backup hasn't been very good either.

The October 3 game at Cal will effectively decide the Pac-10 title. Cal has a Heisman Trophy contender in Jahvid Best and the Golden Bears are ranked #6 in the country as of today. If USC wins, they'll probably end up going to the Rose Bowl for the 5th straight time. If Cal wins, USC would be out of the BCS for the first time since 2001. I'm not ready to say this is the end of the Trojan dominance on the West Coast, but if Cal wins and SC goes to a minor bowl, then one can say the balance of power is shifting.

Friday Funnies - Vader Dances

Since I'm at Disney World today (celebrating E.H.'s first birthday and R.H.'s RnR from Afghanistan), I figured I'd post these videos from Star Wars Weekends, an annual event held at Walt Disney World every June. This Vader knows how to get his groove on.

Here Come the Western Teams!

Photo courtesy of Howtowatchsports.com

As I previously discussed in this post, there is a perceived sense of East Coast bias in the sports media, specifically at ESPN. College sports, particularly football, can be susceptible to this claim. So it comes as a nice surprise that when the new AP top 25 college football poll was released, 5 of the top 20 teams are from states west of the Rockies. They are (rankings in parentheses):

USC (3), BYU (9), Cal (10), Boise State (12), Utah (17)

While USC is a traditional powerhouse, others like Boise State and BYU aren't. These schools are at a fundamental disadvantage compared even to the likes of USC or Cal because they are in a non-BCS conference.

The BCS is the Bowl Championship Series. It's the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange and National Title bowl games that help determine a national championship. Certain conferences have guaranteed slots in these bowls, while others don't. For example, the Pac-10 champ is guaranteed to at least go to the Rose Bowl, if not the national title game. Boise State's conference, the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) does not have that guarantee. The BCS has relaxed the rules a bit to allow for non-BCS teams to play in a BCS bowl, but in order for that to happen, the team pretty much has to go undefeated.

Arguably the most memorable BCS bowl has been the 2007 Fiesta Bowl between Boise State and Oklahoma. It symbolized everything about the modern college football scene. Boise State, the outsider finally allowed to join the dance was the utter underdog against a potent Oklahoma team that was used to playing in the big bowl games. But one famous play left a mark on the status quo of the football bowl system...



Now, almost two years later, Boise State is back in the top 15, but this time, fellow Western teams have joined the fray. BYU has been good the last couple of years, but after their upset win against Oklahoma, they're in the top 10. Cal is in the top 10, though they won't stay there if they don't beat USC later this season. Cal's Rose Bowl and/or title hopes rest on that game. Utah may make a run as well, but with BYU and Boise State ahead of them, it's going to take a lot of surprises to bump them up. Either way, the Mountain West conference will be a slugfest between BYU, Utah, and TCU and the stakes can be very high this year.

As for movers and shakers for this year, I think Oklahoma State, in addition to Boise and BYU will be the darkhorses for the national title. If we can't have a playoff system like March Madness, than this will have to do. The unfortunate reality in college football is that the powerhouses seem to always win, because of the vast financial resources available to them via boosters. Florida, Texas, USC, Ohio State, and LSU are consistently in the hunt for a title, sometimes just based on the history of the program (in the case of Michigan the last few years.)

Friday Humor - Soxycontin

Here's a little humorous video to start your Labor Day weekend. When needing a pain reliever to cure your team's blues, this might do the trick...



To watch on YouTube, click here.

Video courtesy of TownieNews.com

Social Lockdown in the NFL?

The NFL has recently announced that players will not be able to post Facebook or Twitter updates 90 minutes before kickoff and 90 minutes after the game, after the postgame interviews with the press. While this policy is well-intentioned, it may get a bit excessive, as was the case with the San Diego Chargers' Antonio Cromartie. He was fined $2500 by the Chargers for criticizing the food service at training camp on Twitter. The Miami Dolphins even went as far as to impose restrictions on spectators during training camp. Several other teams, including the New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts, and the New England Patriots, have restrictions in place on the practice field.

Twitter is a great chat tool that can easily get misused. I think the Chargers' fining Cromartie was an over-step, while I understand the moves by the Colts and other teams banning Twitter and Facebook from the practice field. The NFL 90 minute policy, while seemingly a little excessive, is well intentioned. The players' focus should be on the game, not posting their latest status update.

A First-Class Patriot Retires

Photo courtesy of everyjoe.com blog "Squib Kick".

Tedy Bruschi, linebacker of the New England Patriots, has decided to retire after 14 seasons, all with the Patriots. It was partly because of Bruschi that I became a Patriots fan. He embodied a strong work ethic and overcame multiple challenges to be a role model for fans and fellow players alike. If I owned a Patriots jersey, I'd own Bruschi's before any other player's, including superstar quarterback Tom Brady.

Bruschi was drafted by the Patriots out of the University of Arizona in the mid 1990's. While a defensive end in college, the Patriots converted him to linebacker, a considerable challenge. He won 3 Super Bowls with the Patriots (2002, 2004, 2005), but suffered a mild stroke shortly after the 2005 Pro Bowl. Later that year, he made a full recovery and won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

For more on this story, visit Mike Reiss' blog at the Boston Globe.

My Fantasy Football Draft

Last Saturday, a yearly tradition continued in the Clark house. Our fantasy football league draft was a success, though R.H. unfortunately couldn't make it, so we drafted on his behalf. The screen on the left was for Dad's team, the middle was for R.H., and the lower laptop was mine. Quite the craziness in the draft war room! This year was more intense since there was a change in position (the 3rd WR slot was changed to a RB/WR flex slot) and everyone used their full 2 minutes per pick.

My starters as of today:
QB Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers
RB Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
RB Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
RB/WR Kevin Walter, Houston Texans
WR Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons
WR Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers
TE Kevin Boss, New York Giants
K Ryan Longwell, Minnesota Vikings
DEF New England Patriots
LB DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys
DL Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings
DB Erik Coleman, Atlanta Falcons


Photo of Adrian Peterson courtesy of nola.com.

Overall, I'm pretty pleased with my squad this year. I had Adrian Peterson his rookie year and did a blog post on him, in a segment dubbed "Player Spotlight", a column that will be returning this fall, which can be viewed here. My bench/depth is a concern, but that's something that can be adjusted as the season goes on. Considering I picked 1st overall in a twelve team league, I made out pretty well. The key disadvantage to picking 1st is that I don't get to pick again until the 24th pick.

A thing I like to do with my fantasy roster is get players from cities I have family or friends in, in addition to my favorite team. While I only take them if it makes sense for my team, It does make for interesting conversation with people during the season when you mention you have a local player on your team. A few years ago, I had a Seahawk on my team, which led to an interesting chat with an old friend who is originally from Seattle. So to start off this year, I have 3 Vikings (C.B.), 2 Patriots (favorite team), 2 Redskins (L.M. and L.M.), 1 Cowboy (R.H. and W.H.), 1 Raven (L.M. and L.M.), and 1 Cardinal (lots of family in AZ). Unfortunately, no Packers, Bears, or Seahawks this year (heck, I usually have more Cardinals too.)

Fantasy football makes football season so much better. There's the friendly rivalry amongst friends, the thrill of victory and the bragging rights attached, and the pain of losing in the championship game. Draft day is one of the best days, like baseball's spring training, where everyone starts at 0-0. There's also lots of banter on draft day between players that makes the experience all the more better.



Everyone in the family was getting into fantasy football in our house. Even Eli, though, judging by the torn pages, he wasn't impressed by the wide receiver crop this year.

TV Review: Shaq Vs.

Photo courtesy of RealityWanted.com

ABC has been airing a summer reality series called "Shaq Vs." for two episodes now. Last week, Shaq took on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and last night, he took on beach volleyball superstars Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor. I watched the volleyball episode last night. If for nothing else, "Shaq Vs." is hilarious comedy. In a sense, the whole show is a mockumentary of sports, including the broadcasters and sideline reporter. The trash talking between Walsh, May-Treanor, and Shaq was funny.


Photo courtesy Cleveland.com/Nachofoto.com

Shaq had Todd Rogers as his teammate on the court, but came up short in the match. So, he had to walk along Hermosa Beach wearing a pink speedo three sizes too small. Next week, he takes on St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols. The show is just a funny, late summer comedy fluff that anybody can enjoy. "Shaq Vs." airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on ABC.

Fenway South - Camden Yards Part 2

More pics from my June trip to Camden Yards in Baltimore...




Jonathan Papelbon's about to throw a heater to close the game for the Sox...


The scoreboard at the end of the game. The board had really good presentation, especially after the sun went down. When an Oriole player produces a hit, the "H" in THE SUN flashes. Likewise, the E flashes when an error is committed.


Game MVP J.D. Drew is down on the field talking to Heidi Watney, clubhouse reporter for NESN. As you can see, mostly Sox fans nearby.

The surprising thing about Camden was the level of hard-core Orioles fans. The Orioles haven't been competitive for a very long time, and yet, their fans showed up to root for them, even when the Sox were up 4-0. In LA, people would leave early. On the East Coast, that's apparently a foreign concept. When Red Sox fans would say "Let's go Red Sox, let's go!", Orioles fans would immediately counter with an Orioles cheer.

For that atmosphere, and the amenities, Camden Yards is easily my number 2 park in the majors. So what stops it from #1? Fenway has the history that Camden tries to emulate. Also, the Orioles' history since Camden opened has been anything but illustrious. Here is the updated list:

1) Fenway Park, Boston MA
2) Camden Yards, Baltimore MD
3) Petco Park, San Diego CA
4) Chase Field, Phoenix AZ
5) Safeco Field, Seattle WA
6) Angels Stadium, Anaheim CA
7) Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles CA
8) Old Yankee Stadium, New York NY

Showdown Weekend...Sort Of

Photo courtesy of fellow Blogger blog "Blithe & Blonde."

What looked like a great weekend of baseball turned out to be a so-so one. In the American League, the Yankees took 2 out of 3 from the Red Sox, who are still barely on top of the AL Wild Card standings. Tampa Bay has climbed back into the AL Wild Card race by nearly sweeping the Rangers.

As for the National League, the Chicago Cubs have just about kissed their playoff hopes goodbye, after nearly getting swept by the LA Dodgers. A seven game deficit is hard to make up when you have four other teams ahead of you. Another lost year for Cubs fans.

Elsewhere in the NL, the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins were at a stalemate heading into the weekend, and things are still pretty much knotted up. As for the San Francisco Giants-Colorado Rockies series, the Rockies have given themselves more cushion and may very well start to pull away with the NL Wild Card (the series finale is tonight). They're also 3.5 games back of the Dodgers for the NL West division race and are 7-3 in their last 10 games. After the Giants finale tonight, the Rox host the Dodgers for 3 games, then travel to San Fran for another weekend series against the Giants. In other words, the NL West division and/or NL Wild Card could be close to decided by next Monday.

The six division leaders are pretty much set, except for two. The AL Central is a two-horse race between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox, with Chicago 2.5 games back as of this morning. The other is the aforementioned NL West race between LA, Colorado, and San Francisco.

Showdown Weekend

The Colorado Rockies' Yorvit Torrealba and the San Francisco Giants' Travis Ishikawa face-off again in a 3-game series starting tonight. Photo courtesy of NachoPhoto.com

It's going to be a huge weekend in baseball...

Texas Rangers @ Tampa Bay Rays
San Francisco Giants @ Colorado Rockies
Florida Marlins @ Atlanta Braves
Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox

Prior to tonight's games, the AL wild card standings are very tight. The Red Sox lead, but the Rangers are a game back. Tampa is 4 games back of Boston. The Texas-Tampa series this weekend could make a huge impact on the wild card race. If Tampa sweeps, then, it'll be an even tighter race. If Texas sweeps, Tampa's season is pretty close to done.

Going into tonight's series, there was a 4-team race for the NL wild card. Colorado is in front and two games up on next-place San Francisco. They face off this weekend in a series that is crucial for San Fran. Both Atlanta and Florida are tied, 4 games back of Colorado, 2 behind Frisco. They play a three game series in Florida starting tonight. If that series is a sweep for either Atlanta or Florida, the loser's season is pretty much finished. Also, the Chicago Cubs are 6 games back, but they play the Dodgers in LA this weekend. It's not looking good for the fans in Wrigleyville.

Oh yeah, and the Red Sox and Yankees play this weekend. Sunday night will be a great duel (Sabathia vs. Beckett) and it's on Sunday Night Baseball (ESPN, 8ET/5PT).

Enjoy a great baseball weekend!

Fenway South - Camden Yards Part 1

When I went to the Washington DC area to visit family earlier this summer, I took a daytrip to Baltimore, primarily to visit Camden Yards. The Red Sox were in town (Jon Lester started) and while my seats were in the upper deck (after all, my view is from the reserved seats), they were easily some of the best seats in the house. Here are photos of the park:


This is the main entry plaza, just beyond the scoreboard in center. The Orioles' retired numbers are here, most notably, Cal Ripken's #8.


The Eutaw Street concourse along right field. This is where the fans hang out inside Camden. The building on the right used to be the B&O Railroad's main office, but now serves as the team office building. There's a pretty good pub on the bottom floor. Also on this concourse is Boog's Barbeque, considered some of the best non-hot dog ballpark food in baseball.


This area is between the Eutaw concourse and the right field wall (it acts as an overlook of sorts.) There are a ton of flagpoles here, corresponding to the current baseball standings. Many a home run ball lands in this spot.


Pickles Pub, just across the street from Camden. Pickles is the Orioles equivalent to Boston's Cask n' Flagon. One of the great things with the East Coast clubs is that they are better meshed with the community. In LA, the ballparks are surrounded by parking lots and the game is like an event. You pay your ticket, you go, you see the game, you leave. On the East Coast, it's an experience. You might stop by the neighborhood bar for Happy Hour before the game and most fans take public transit to the ballpark, so many fans end up talking about the game with each other on the ride home. Some Western cities like Phoenix, Denver, and San Diego are making attempts at recreating the neighborhood vibe of the East Coast parks, but it still isn't as prevalent.


The front entrance to Camden.


The view from my seats. I think it was Section 332, but I forget. Seats went for $35-40 on StubHub (thanks M.H. for the tip)

Part 2 of my Camden photos will come next week.