Checking In

Yes, we're still alive and actually a little happier now that it seems like we'll have some football this year outside of the NCAA.  Let's catch up on a few things we missed over the last few weeks.

NBA:

Everyone seems to be wanting/planning on going overseas if the NBA lockout takes a while.  I'm not sure how I view this one because you have people like Stephen A. who says that it's selfish for guys to do this when they are supposed to be a group supporting each other, and then you get stories like the one on Deron Williams where he articulates that he spoke with the NBAPA and they basically said that they are on board with his decision.  Now you got rumors of Ron Artest playing in Britain, Nicolas Batum playing in France, Malik Hairston going to Italy, Kobe putting together an All-Star team for a trip through China, Tony Parker going to play for ASVEL (France), David Lighty and DaJuan Summers both going to Italy, Will Bynum going back to Maccabi Tel Aviv, and even guys like Matt Janning going to Fastweb Casale (Italy). 

Of course with the NBA, you got silliness with of all people, and no one was surprised, that Michael Beasley was ticketed for the Mary Jane.  Please forgive me as I fake the surprise face. Beasley has all the talent in the world, but they just drafted a kid that can do what you do and you are going to show up in the national headlines for this?  (Getting on my soapbox) If you are a professional talent and need someone to mentor you or provide some real life experience on your journey, please, please please, drop me an email.  We can work out the money (I do have kids I need to put through college, but they're young), I can guarantee that it'll definitely be worth it.  My job will be to keep you out of the papers and doing stupid stuff like 'The Decision'.  Call me. 

LeBron is coming back to Ohio, well kind of.  LeBron, or his image will be coming back to Ohio.  The LeBron Brand will outfit the Ohio State Buckeyes, Kentucky Wildcats, and the University of Miami Hurricanes for the upcoming season. 

We need basketball back just so we can watch the guys on TNT.  Can you imagine how much more fun it'll be with adding Shaw to the lineup with Kenny, Charles, Ernie, and Webber?  Look for the Big Broadcaster to join the TNT team when the lockout ends. 

NFL:

A guess this is really a bad time for all athletes, Hines Ward was cited for a DUI, which prompted Ray Rice and Ryan Clark to start trash talking on Twitter.  July 21st, please get us some football. 

Another one of those, let me get my surprise face on, Pacman Jones, actually Adam Jones was arrested for drunken disorderly conduct.  Unless he has a twin brother, this guy should just stay at home.  Check the neck brace, this just can't be true. 

Mike Vrabel is retiring to go back and be an assistant at his alma mater, The Ohio State University.  He put in 14 years in the NFL and has some rings to show for it.  He should be a welcome sight at the university with everything going on there. 

Plaxico is being rumored to play for every team in the NFL, and we'll see which GM gives him a chance. 

DeSean Jackson, please see note above about a mentor.  This was a rampant issue in the NBA this year, so why do NFL players feel they'll get a pass?  And on the radio? 

When Peyton Manning says that he's hurting and needs the Colts training staff, you know the end of the lockout is near.  


That's it for now,....what else is going on?

NFL Matchup Week 3

After a week of 12-3 with my picks, I stand at a whopping 21-10, two weeks into the season. Week 3 has some very tough games this week since there are a lot of favorites (including my fantasy football team) that are 0-2 and are on the bubble for sitting at home during the playoffs. Let's see if we can't get a remake of last week and get some good picks.

Kansas City @ Atlanta - Talk about the interesting. The Falcons are 1-1 and hosting a team that for all intensive purposes could go to the playoffs if this were a 7 on 7 league. The Chiefs are like 'Can't Get Right' and Atlanta at least has a chance with a decent running game and a decent QB. The Chiefs are starting Tyler Thigpen. If you can even tell me where Coastal Carolina is, you get points from me. LJ asked to get 20+ carries this week (and every week). Winner - Falcons.

Oakland @ Buffalo - Oakland showed a pulse last week, albeit not at the QB spot. Buffalo is coming off a win where they are starting to show people that they can win the big games. It is a process people, you don't just wake up and win games after horrible seasons previously. This is a home game for the Bills and my fantasy team (Marshawn Lynch, and Trent Edwards) should flourish. Winner - Bills.

Tampa Bay @ Chicago - This one will be interesting. Brian Griese gets to go against the defense that he used to practice against on a daily. Both of these teams are very similar to each other, both have good defenses, both have good running games, the Bucs have a little bit better passing game with Griese at the helm. This game is in Chicago (my father-in-law will be at this one) and the Bears are quiet about what's up with Devin Hester. If he's hurt, this team can't put up numbers. Winner - Bucs.

Houston @ Tennessee - Game 2 for Kerry Collins and they are going against a front 4 that will get to Collins on too many occasions. Houston just doesn't have the O to win games now. Titans in a close, maybe sloppy game. Winner - Titans.

Carolina @ Minnesota - This is really a big game for the Panthers. They can start the season 3-0 and make some noise in the NFC. They get the mercurial Steve Smith back and that will help the passing attack that already seems to be clicking. The Vikings are looking to kick start their season with the starting of Gus Frerotte. Yes, Gus has an arm, yes Gus can do a better job in the passing offense than Tavaris, but Gus is 37 and he's known to make some mental lapses at times. Both defenses will determine who wins this game. I think the Panthers get to Gus a little quicker and make his first start a miserable one. Winner - Panthers.

Miami @ New England - Do I even need to say more than the Patriots will dress and that alone should beat the Dolphins? Winner - Pats.

Cincinnati @ New York Giants - (Shaking my head) So, Carson Palmer has played like doo-doo and now he gets to meet Justin Tuck. Unfortunately for me, I think that Palmer turns in another sub par performance and the Giants cruise to a win. Has anyone ever looked more excited to get Chris Henry back on the field? Winner - Giants.

Arizona @ Washington - Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines. This will be a shootout. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald should run wild against this secondary, while the Redskins running attack may just go crazy. If Kurt Warner can continue to drink from the fountain of youth, the Cards have a chance at scaring some people. Now only if their D can stop someone. Winner - Cardinals.

Detroit @ San Francisco - Last week the 49ers needed overtime to get into the 30's. I think this week they'll need half way into the 2nd quarter. Detroit can't stop a 3 month old baby from crawling (no, I haven't seen too many 3 month old babies crawl, but that's my whole point). Detroit had Shaun Alexander and Cedric Benson in for tryouts for backup running backs. Do I need to say more? Winner - 49ers.

St. Louis @ Seattle - Finally, an easy win, even for Seattle. The Seahawks should be able to close the deal on this one and get a W. Julius Jones showed up last week, let's see if he can do it two weeks in a row. Winner - Seahawks.

New Orleans @ Denver - I told you there are some good matchups this week. I picked the Redskins over the Saints last week and I am not going to try that one again. They should be clicking by now. Look for a big game from Shockey against the Denver D. The Saints better start praying that they can get to Cutler or it'll be a long day. Winner - Broncos.

Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia - The battle of Pennsylvania. Is Ben's shoulder hurt? separated? Who really cares? He showed up and played ok against the Browns. This is the game that I want to see this week. I imagine that this will be a slug fest of sorts. I am putting McNabb on 'injury alert' meaning this could be the week that he gets dinged. Give me the Eagles at home on this one. McNabb looked too good last week against the Cowboys. Note to DeSean Jackson, celebrate on the sidelines after you get your TD this week. Winner - Eagles.

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis - The Jags got some help on the O Line by signing Chris Naeole, but I think that it's still a tough road to ho for them. The Colts lose Bob Sanders for 4-6 weeks on a high ankle sprain and we all know that the Colts D goes down when this happens. Because of the Colts O and it's a home game, I gotta go with the Colts. Hopefully there still won't be Bears fans in the new Lucas Oil Stadium. Winner - Colts.

Cleveland @ Baltimore - Talk about a rude awakening. After losing a tough one to the Steelers the Browns are rewarded with the Ravens. That D is going to punish the Browns. Derek Anderson is being put on 'injury alert' also. Fantasy owners be ready to snatch up Brady Quinn. The Baltimore O is still limited as Flacco learns, but Ray Lewis and the guys will keep this close for him. Winner - Ravens.

Dallas @ Green Bay - This is Aaron Rodger's first big game, well all of them this year will be big games. Dallas showed that their D could be a sieve but could also make some stops when necessary. The Cowboys come to the land of cheeseheads and they normally play well there. No cold weather to deal with, but some amped up fans who are sure to root for the home team and give them some momentum (possibly 3-0 in the NFC). Romo, don't stop going to TO!! Winner - Cowboys.

New York Jets @ San Diego - Talking about two teams limping. The Jets at least have one win (and should have two), but the Chargers are banged up physically and psychologically. They have lost two heart breakers and LT has a hurt toe that has kept him out of practice this week. The Chargers are on the cusp of letting this season go, but a win against the Jets will make life rosy (at least for a week). The Jets will look to open the playbook up a little more with Favre in there. Coles, please stop mourning Chad Pennington leaving the team and play football. Winner - Jets.

Shootout in Big D - NFL Monday Night Football Wrap Up Week 2

If you watched the game last night you saw an amazing display of fireworks coming from each team. I for one had picked the Eagles because they normally play the Cowboys tight and something about Tony Romo with the ball in hands (or lack there of) at the end of a big game. This was a heavyweight slugfest with the Cowboys coming out on top. Things I noticed:

Donovan McNabb - Man, I'm sorry. I had you pegged as delirious with your proclamation that you guys were going to win big this year, along with SI forecasting that the Eagles will be in the Superbowl this year. I talked about you not having anyone to throw the ball too, except Westbrook and LJ Smith (whom you ignored last night and cost me my Fantasy Football game), but you are proving me wrong after week 2. Has anyone, and I mean anyone thought about how good this guy could be with a legit #1 receiver? Again, can't they get Anquan Boldin?

DeSean Jackson - Set a record by having two 100+ yard games in his first two starts. Will forever be remembered for his (2nd) bonehead play to toss the ball away at the one, something close to a Leon Lett play. Dude, finish the play, then celebrate. I'm not going to ride him because everyone else will do that for weeks and years to come, thanks to You Tube.

Marion Barber III - Ummmmm,......I'm not sure how much better this guy can get. He runs hard, catches the ball well, and seems to be pretty durable when you consider his running style. Should we be mentioning this guy as one of the best in the game now? Right up there with LT and Adrian Peterson?

Tony Romo - I guess if we just get this guy some stickum, he'll be ok. He really only made about 4 bad plays last night, and two of them happened on the fumble (the fumble and then not falling on the ball to give the Eagles the safety instead of the TD).

T.O. - What's his fascination with Usain Bolt? This is the second week in a row that T.O. has impersonated the sprinter during a game. Last week it was getting in the starting block and firing off after his TD (which he was fined for, stupid move by the league), and then on his 72 yard TD reception last night he broke the tape at the end zone as he crossed the line. T.O. became #2 on the NFL Career Receiving TD list. He's only a mere 65 behind Jerry Rice (yes, Rice was that good).

This game puts Cowboys are 2-0 and the Eagles at 1-1. The NFC East will be exciting this year if the games are played like this. I ended the week going 12-3 on picks, so all in all a good week.