Nov 02
Sorry, we’re not buying the hype that this is the “biggest game of the season” for the New Orleans Saints. The same column could have been written for their first road test (at Philly) and home games against the then-unbeaten New York teams. You’ll read the same column when the Patriots and Cowboys visit the Big Easy. The “bigger” Saints-Falcons game will be the one in Atlanta next month. (And even though ESPN will hype this as a crucial divisional match, that’s laughable. The Falcons still have to play at the Giants and Jets, plus they host the Eagles. Best case scenario, nine wins.) But hey, at least there’s football on. Read the rest of this entry »
Nov 02
Hints: He’s a pretty good NBA player who has been in the league since he was a lottery pick in 1999.
She’s on a reality TV show and has fewer redeeming qualities than her two sisters.
The answer after the jump, along with a vampire gangster athlete-celebrity couple. Read the rest of this entry »
Brett Favre: Saw that Peter King wedged Brett Favre into the MVP race today. There's no question Favre has been impressive this season and he's one of primary reasons the Vikings are 7-1 and Super Bowl contenders. But is is worth noting that last season,
Favre peaked in weeks 10-11-12. In wins over the Rams, at New England and at Tennessee, Favre had a QB rating over 100 in each game and five TDs vs. one INT. The Jets were 9-3 and thought to be Super Bowl contenders. You know how that ended. Yes, things are different in Minnesota - only one trip west (at Arizona) late in the season, Adrian Peterson in the backfield, and a defense that leads the league in sacks - but a late season implosion wouldn't surprise us in the least. In fact, we expect him to flounder - perhaps in Chicago - and the inevitable "too old?" columns to surface. [
Grading Favre]
(29) Nov 02
You must see the video of Jonathan Dwyer trucking of a hapless Virginia defensive back below.
1. Florida – Beating Georgia isn’t a big accomplishment, but they haven’t lost since last September. That’s impressive.
2. Alabama – I would put Texas here, because beating Okie State on the road is cool … but I’m not gonna drop ‘Bama just because it didn’t play. Read the rest of this entry »
Brandon Spikes: The star Florida linebacker has been suspended for
one half of the Gators' next game against Vanderbilt for this blatant
eye-gouge of Georgia running back Washaun Ealey. Tough justice there, Urban. (It has been noted that
eye-gouging is illegal in MMA.) The Gators - including Tim Tebow! - claim that Spikes was just retaliating for getting gouged himself earlier in the game. A few readers in Florida believe that Georgia fullback
Shaun Chapas gouged Spikes
on this play. We watched it a few times and that claim is suspect at best. Spikes' helmet already coming off, and there doesn't appear to be any malice involved. [
Orlando Sentinel]
(38) Nov 02
Unfortunately for Alex Gerrard, her husband Steven’s groin may be out of commission for a few more weeks.
Contenders No More: Arsenal did what they should have, beating arch-rival Tottenham 3-0 at home. Spurs played well most of the first half, but Arsenal’s rapid-fire deuce right before halftime felled them. It was not necessarily sexy football, but it was certainly Cescy. Missing Modric, Lennon and Defoe, Tottenham’s depleted squad had neither the pace nor the creativity to come back. Spurs have won just two of their last eight and have been outscored 9-1 by Arsenal, Man U and Chelsea. Eight points back their title pretensions are over.
Read the rest of this entry »
Joe Alexander: The man with one of the
great college basketball dunks in the last few years has never seemed like a good fit in Milwaukee - we said that in our 2008
draft recap - and on Friday, Alexander was notified that he'll be the "highest pick ever to have his rookie contract option declined." Ouch. Alexander is a small forward whose limited offensive game would probably only work on an up-tempo team. His best case scenario - shoot 500 three-pointers a day this offseason, improve his defense, and try to become a Trevor Ariza-type role player. Probably won't happen. Hope he's frugal with that
$2.5 million salary this year. [
Yahoo]
(14) Nov 02
Yeah, so most teams have only played seven games and it’s not officially midseason until after next weekend. But screw it, let’s jump the gun! Here are your 2009 NFL Midseason Awards, brought to you by the exotic (and techno-friendly!) beauty of Olivia Munn.
Worst Development of the Half: The “Tom Brady” Rule: In theory, this new rule was enacted to protect the southern hemispheres of NFL quarterbacks, and thus, their well being. Read the rest of this entry »
Bill Walton: He is retiring from broadcasting. The former college basketball star at UCLA who had a
very good, injury-plagued run in the NBA, is citing
back problems as the reason. He'll be missed. We maintain that the best NBA announcing trio in the last decade was Marv Albert, Snapper Jones, and Bill Walton.
Here's an example. And here they are in the
2002 Western Conference finals. You'll be missed, Bill. "Throw it down" in retirement. [
SBD]
(27) Nov 02
It’s too bad there isn’t a BCS playoff, right? If one existed – forgive the pipe dream – Oregon would be a sexy underdog to capture an eight or 16-team playoff. After the Ducks destroyed the Trojans Saturday night in Autzen – the worst loss off Pete Carroll’s tenure in Troy – the media predictably swooned. These aren’t the same Ducks who were butchered in Boise in September. Read the rest of this entry »
