Sheed’s Staying Power

Philip Matthews —  Sunday, January 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

In case you’ve missed it, Rasheed Wallace is back in the NBA. That’s right– the 38-year-old whose grungy beard likely has better stamina than his body is back for more. Sheed came out of his two-year retirement this year to sign with the Knicks, making the oldest team in the league that much more… mature. It should come with no surprise after two years out of basketball that this newest addition sat out the six exhibition games because he wasn’t in shape. So just how is Wallace fitting into his role with the Knicks, and why would an accomplished veteran of 15 years come out of a two-year retirement?

One would expect Sheed’s role to be somewhat minimal this season, being that he’s probably there mostly for his experience, leadership, and all those mystical qualities you hear that good teams have. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wallace is an insurance or ‘what if’ guy for the squad this season. He’s excelled at that role. Through the first quarter of the season he’s averaged 15 minutes, just over 7 points and 4 boards per contest, while helping the Knicks get off to a solid start.

The fact that he’s back and contributing certainly makes for a good story, but there has to be more to why a man 38-years-young would come out of a two-year retirement. He’s got a solid legacy: he’s an NBA champion with the Pistons and a 4-time All-Star. Money? I’m sure extra pocket change ($1.7 mil) doesn’t hurt, but there’s no way that is a major factor. Another ring? That’s what Sheed is saying, and that has to be part of the reason. Maybe he wants to pass along his knowledge of the game to his teammates? Probably somewhat truthful.

Sure these things have something to do with Sheed putting himself through the grind of an NBA season again, but we all know the real reason he’s back… He’s not done running his mouth.

He might have been able to hang up the high tops, but he couldn’t slow down his tongue. He was probably content no longer posting people up, but he’s not done putting people in their place, or at least attempting to. He even said it himself in an article with the New York Times. He explained that at his age his speed and agility obviously aren’t the same, “but yet I can still talk. That’s an extra defender out there.” Whether it’s instructions to his teammates, something he’s seeing in the defense, or a call he disagrees with, saying Wallace isn’t afraid to speak his mind might be the understatement of the century.

Wallace is widely regarded as one of the best trash talkers the game has ever seen, and his record shows… literally. He holds the record, a very safe one at that, for most technical fouls in a season with 41… that’s a “T” every two games. Many believe this record can go on the “unbreakable” list next to Wilt’s 100-point game and DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak. Since Sheed set this mark during the 2000-01 season, Antoine Walker’s 23 has been the most in a season. Also, a rule change implemented in 2006 forcing a player to sit out a game without pay after his 16th technical, and each additional technical after that only gives Wallace’s mark more insurance.

For his career, Wallace has approximately 317 technicals. Two of those came early in December during a classic Sheed “Ball Don’t Lie” episode that makes for must see TV. Wallace’s 317 is a solid feat nonetheless, but it fails in comparison to Jerry Sloan’s lofty 400 or so. Does Sheed have his sights set on the career mark? Only time will tell, and the clock’s ticking. If so, he better get to work. Or better yet do what he does best… just sit back and let his mouth do the work for him.

Whether he’s back in an attempt to help the Knicks bring a ring back to their storied franchise, or if he just needed an outlet for his many words and occasional tirades, Wallace has been and will continue to be worth paying attention to this season. Do yourself a favor and tune in. You never know what you might see… or hear.

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By: Philip Matthews

In NBA ,
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The Cliché Award

Caleb Brasher —  Sunday, January 6, 2013 — Leave a comment

Today, I will give out an award for the most cliché sentence that has ever been uttered in the English language. And the award goes to………..Allison Williams! She wins today’s award for her performance at the halftime recap of the Florida-Florida State game. I will just let her words display her brilliance in reference to what Coach Muschamp told his players at halftime:

“He told his players about those slip ups; it’s all about focus; this is a big game; we need every snap; you have to play with emotion, but you can’t let it overcome you or you’re not doing your job.”

Impressively cliché indeed.

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By: Caleb Brasher

In Monthly Awards , ,
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My Top 10 Sporting Events

Spencer Boothe —  Sunday, January 6, 2013 — 6 Comments

As a sports fan, there is always something on TV that I can watch. However, some of those events are more appealing to me than others. Some events I can tolerate, while others I would do anything to be able to watch (I thought about inserting some corny over-exaggeration here, but I’ll just let you use your imagination). So I decided to make a list of my top 10 favorite sporting events. Now I am a Mississippi State, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Team USA fan, so this list is assuming that my favorite teams are NOT involved in that event. Obviously, if my favorite teams are involved, then I would be much more interested. Also, since I am in SEC country here in Mississippi, there is a little SEC bias. So here goes:

10. SEC Baseball tournament- As a former high school baseball player, baseball was always my one true love when it came to playing sports. However, watching baseball has never been as appealing to me as actually playing. I enjoy watching the SEC tournament because I know all the teams and have watched many of them play throughout the season. As for the tournament, it is interesting for me, but it’s not something that I feel like I have to watch.

9. World Series– Along the same lines as the SEC baseball tournament, I just don’t LOVE watching the World Series. I generally do watch the majority of the series, but it is generally for an inning or two at a time.

8. World Cup Qualifying– From my previous article, it is fair to assume that I am a soccer aficionado. Well, that assumption is correct. I really enjoy the sport, but I am much more of a fan of the international game, rather than club seasons. The World Cup is the mecca that every country in the nation longs to play for and win, and every country has an opportunity to get there during qualifying. 207 national teams from around the world have the opportunity to be among the final 32 that make it to the World Cup. The World Cup takes place every four years, so qualifying is taking place in between events. I really enjoy watching the qualifiers because every team is playing to advance, or to have to sit at home during the big event.

7. SEC Basketball Tournament– I am a big college sports fan, in general. Much more so than professional sports because in college players are playing to win rather than for their paychecks (I know that is debatable, especially here in SEC country). The SEC tournament is the end of the basketball season, and it is one last chance for teams to increase their seeding in the Big Dance, push themselves to the right side of the bubble, or steal a bid from someone else by winning the tournament. There is so much emotion during the tournament because for seniors it may be the last game they ever play. Every team wants to go to the NCAA tournament, and the SEC tournament is the last chance to impress the selection committee, or to win an automatic bid.

6. SEC championship game (football) – In recent years, SEC champion=BCS national champion. So, basically, watching this game is like watching the national championship game. It is always fun to watch the best team from the West play the best from the East for their shot to play for the BCS title. Even when it is not a de facto semifinal match, the game still determines the SEC winner and who will go to, at worst, the Sugar Bowl.

5. BCS National Championship– Now for the actual national championship game. As I just said, the winner of the SEC championship game usually wins this one, as well. But that is not always the case, and one of these days it will change (maybe Notre Dame this year. Probably not, though.) The national championship game is usually a hard-hitting affair for all the marbles, and it is a game that I always enjoy watching. Another thing I like about the broadcast is that they always show a “Year in Review” montage of all the big plays from the college season. It is also the last chance we get to watch football for roughly 8 months, so it is something that I cherish.

4. Bowl Season– You’re asking, ‘how can this guy like all the bowl games more than the actual championship game itself?’ Well, I do. I’m one of the people who actually enjoy watching all of the bowl games. As a huge college football fan, I enjoy watching as many games as possible. So you think that an Arizona vs Nevada matchup is boring? Well, I think that it could be awesome, and I’m going to watch it because you never know what’s going to happen. Some of the best plays of the season come in the small bowls that no one is watching. I’m watching, and I always will.

3. Super Bowl– I’ve already said that I like college sports much more than professional sports, and that is true. However, the Super Bowl is the exception. The talent in the NFL is so much better than it is in college football, and the game is so much faster. I am absolutely amazed by the freak athletes that play in the NFL, and the two teams in the Super Bowl are the best of the best. This is the last football action that we have until the preseason for the next year, so it is one last time for the guys to get together, grill out, and watch some football. Oh, and the commercials involved don’t hurt either.

2. World Cup– Yep, soccer again. I told you I love it. The World Cup is the only event in the world that the best players from each country play against each other to see whose country is superior (other than the Olympics, which I don’t care about, and other small sports that the USA doesn’t take part it). I love watching from the group stages to the knockout rounds to the finals while 32 countries battle to find out who is the world’s best. The fact that it is a tournament consisting of nations rather than professional teams is a huge reason why I am such a fan of the World Cup. Also, the fact that it takes place only every 4 years makes it that much more prestigious to me.

1. March Madness (NCAA Basketball Tournament)– And last but not least, as if there was any doubt, March Madness is my favorite sporting event. From flipping the channel between 4 games at one time on the first weekend, to the final buzzer of the championship game, I love every minute of it. The win or go home mentality makes every game as intense as possible, and who doesn’t love an upset? The first weekend of the tournament is as fast paced and unpredictable as anything else in sports (sorry NASCAR, you aren’t a sport). Does the best team in the nation always win the tournament? No, but 68 teams have a chance to win it. And whichever one of those teams actually does hoist the trophy will absolutely deserve it. I love watching every game of the tournament, and I always make sure my schedule is empty come March.

What say ye?

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By: Spencer Boothe

In MLB, More Sports, NCAAB, NCAAF, NFL, Soccer , ,
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Notre Dame: For What It’s Worth

Tyler Raborn —  Sunday, January 6, 2013 — 4 Comments

Notre Dame beat Purdue by 3.

…Oklahoma State beat Purdue 44.

Notre Dame beat Oklahoma by 17.

…Texas A&M beat Oklahoma by 28.

Notre Dame beat Pittsburgh by 3, in overtime.

…Ole Miss beat Pittsburgh by 21.

Notre Dame beat USC by 9.

…Georgia Tech beat USC by 14. 

Read into that however you, or your biases, would like.

…For what it’s worth.

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By: Tyler Raborn

In NCAAF , , ,
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Miles from Glory

Vance McCullough —  Saturday, January 5, 2013 — 1 Comment

Why Les Miles is beloved, but needs to watch the clock!

The Hat, Les Miles, LSU’s head coach got some deserved love for his personality. As Tyler Raborn referred to in an earlier post – there is some part of us all that loves Les. Who doesn’t love this man’s enthusiasm for the game of college football? But, we are all flawed in some way, and Les has been known to let time slip by him at the most crucial of moments.

Miles’ record as the headman at LSU is an impressive 75-18, with 2 SEC Championships and a BCS National Title. I am not here to say the man can’t coach because he’s won 9 or more games every season he’s been at LSU.

Knowing the personality of Les Miles, he’s got to be a Rolling Stones fan. You know he cranks up “Doom and Gloom,” and when he puts on “Start Me Up” his speakers go to all the way up to 11, but he’s also familiar with the ballad “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”

We are here to put aside the playfulness of a heralded SEC coach and focus on the late game lapses – the time Les wishes he had back.

The Good

This one has a good ending – but is it still considered crazy even if it works?

Flynnstant Success

Matt Flynn to Demetrius Byrd down 23-24 with :09 left (8:06 on the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PNdBPyrSZU

Les Miles tine grandees bolas. This man has no fear in Tiger Stadium. The Flynn to Byrd for the win was the call, and they executed.

The Bad

The Dooley Doozie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=u6sbwLrUu9o

The day the number 13 was lucky. The day UT screwed up worse than LSU.

13 Volunteers on the field equaled an additional LSU play and victory in Tiger Stadium in 2010.

Chick Fil A Bowl Blunder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHn_Q6Ilokg

LSU takes a 24-13 lead into the fourth quarter and lets this one get away from them. Two possessions in the 4th quarter, 2nd down and 2 to go and consecutive pass plays, and you run the ball only once in the 4th? A video is not necessary – the previous sentence said it all.

The Ugly

Ole Missed Opportunity

This one hurts. It was a rivalry game with a mismanaged ending by Miles. It is as the Youtuber named the vid “Les Miles Epic Fail.”

Les had another good year, another 10 wins, but ended the year on a tough loss. The coach will regroup, get ready for next season, and his top song going into the 2013 season will be another Stones classic, “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction!”

———-

By: Vance McCullough

In NCAAF, Videos , ,
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Just 9 More Yards

Caleb Brasher —  Friday, January 4, 2013 — 3 Comments

This last weekend, I found a new level to my own depravity. As I watched Adrian Peterson attempt to break the record for most rushing yards ever in a single season held by Eric Dickerson, I found myself lost in anticipation.

The odds could not have been more against AD. He blew up his knee last year and it usually takes about 24 months to fully recover from what he did to his knee according to the surgeon who performed the surgery, Dr. James Andrews.

Not only that, he plays on a team where he is the team. You don’t have a legitimate passing threat to worry about; you have Adrian Peterson. And yet he continued to run all year. All the way to this last drive for the record.

He began the final drive needing 45 yards to break the record. 45 yards to go down in NFL folklore. 45 yards to have a Disney movie made about him with Jaime Foxx as the lead role. 45 yards to greatness.

The drive began to dwindle, and it appeared that little could be done for the record to fall. Then Adrian did what Adrian does: he ran through people. He shot through the line on his way to a 29 yard run, leaving him just 8 yards short of the record, 9 yards short of breaking it.

But then they brought on the kicker…

My heart sunk as I knew that the record would not fall today. Dickerson would remain on top. AD would fall just short. I watched as Blair Walsh’s field goal soared through the uprights and the game was over, the record still in tact.

Then a thought went through my mind that went something like this, “Man, he only needed 9 more yards to greatness. Oh well. Maybe next year.”

Maybe next year?!?! Was I really saying that? Did I really believe that??? Have I grown so romanticized in our Hollywood, American culture that in order for me to remember Peterson’s season and tell my grandkids about it is if he had broken that record, if he had only gotten 9 more yards?

9 yards is nothing. 9 steps. 8.2 meters. 27 feet. 324 inches.

One time in elementary school, the wind was blowing just right, and I spit 9 yards. It is nothing. And yet it is everything.

But I found myself peering into my soul to see what it was that sparked that thought. Now to be transparent, 95% of me was and is blown away at what AD did this year and could arguably be the greatest season any NFL player has ever had, but there is still that lingering 5% that wanted more. Not much more, just 9 yards more.

We love legend and we love stories of triumph. Unfortunately for our society, the triumph must always end with the underdog on top in the final scene. There is no other option. Anything less than victory is defeat. Or in the words of the philosopher Ricky Bobby, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” Say what you will about how ridiculous that mindset is, but think about if any part of you believes that.

I think the small part of me that began to already forget what Adrian had done was because it wouldn’t make a good movie. In the movie, it would come down to his final run. And he would burst through the line just like he did in the actual game. But then as the defenders began to wrap Jaime Foxx up, he would drag his opponents with nothing more than heart and determination. Much like Spike did in “The Little Giants.” It would of course be in slow motion and “Can’t Stop Me Now” by Afrojack and Shermanology would start playing in the background. I am tearing up just thinking about it.

But that’s not what happened. Adrian didn’t break that tackle and Afrojack didn’t drop that beat. Instead, Adrian Peterson will be in second place in NFL history. And that just doesn’t sound as good. It sounds a little too much like real life for us. We want something dramatic and triumphant and odds-defying. We don’t want normal and disappointing and runner up. And yet that is what we got. But let us not lose the legend in search of the legendary.

He is unlike any other player in our time. And if you were able to watch him this season, tell your kids about him. Tell them about how you got to see the greatest individual season in NFL history. And when they ask you, “But didn’t somebody rush for more yards than him?”, all you have to say back to them is “You know, there is someone who ran for more yards than he did, but no one ever ran for those yards quite the same way he did.”

What is 9 yards? It is a mirror that showed me how I long for the dramatic escape from reality that only Hollywood can provide. It is so small that it is right there in reach and yet now entirely unreachable. It is “disappointing.” It is second place. It is first loser. But you know what it is not? It is not forgettable. I believe it is the greatest season any player has ever had.

So while those measly 9 yards may make AD second place, it does not make him second best.

———-

By: Caleb Brasher

In NFL
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Brash & Burn #1

Tyler Raborn —  Thursday, January 3, 2013 — Leave a comment

Welcome to the inaugural Brash & Burn. Caleb Brasher and Tyler Raborn, Brash & Burn respectively, will answer five questions, which will eventually be decided in the coming weeks. Once every question has been determined, we’ll tally up the score and present a monthly winner. Let the games begin…

#1: Who will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl?

Brash: Out of all the questions, this one was the easiest for me. I have seen no more consistently impressive team than the Broncos- except recently the Seahawks, but more on that in a minute. Granted Denver had their growing pains at the beginning of the season starting 2-3 trying to adjust to a quarterback who people were not sure would ever be able to play again. But what have they done since then? Oh they just won 11 straight on their way to a number 1 seed and clinching home field through the playoffs. Their offense is very good but what makes me pick this team is the defense, which is ranked third in both rushing and passing yards allowed. Combine that with arguably the greatest quarterback to ever throw a football, and I believe that soon the Bronco faithful will be booking their plane tickets to the Big Easy.

Burn: Conversely, this question was not an easy one for me. I struggled between selecting the red hot Broncos and the ever-consistent Patriots. In the end, I took the Patriots. Two variables eventually tipped the scale enough for me to select the Patriots: Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. When it comes to playoff time, there is no duo that I trust more. They’ve won 3 Super Bowls together and were 2 plays away from 2 more. And, I know, they haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004, but they’ve gotten there 5 times since 2001. Also, one final note on this selection, the fact of the matter is that football is a game of inches and any team can win on any given day. Thus, I want to pick the team that gives me the highest probability to be correct- and I see that in the New England Patriots.

#2: Who will represent the NFC in the Super Bowl?

Brash: This was much trickier. There is no clear-cut leader in this conference for me You could say San Fran, but did you see that game against Seattle? That was the most shocking game of the year for me. What about Atlanta? They are just terrible; I won’t even go there. So for me, I am going with the hottest team in the NFL right now: the Seattle Seahawks. Their defense is nasty (again I’m a big believer in defenses when it comes to the playoffs), and their QB is the surprise of the year in my opinion. Add in Pete Carroll and I think you have a Super Bowl contender. Now to get there they have to play every game on the road, but you know what they say travels well…running game and defense. Both of which Seattle possesses.

Burn: Aaron Rodgers. But, but, but… no. Aaron Rodgers. Can you outscore the Packers? Scoring will be the name of the game this postseason for teams facing Green Bay. Defenses win championships… unless you’re the Green Bay Packers. Then, Aaron Rodgers wins you championships.

#3: Who will win the Super Bowl?

Brash: So you have two great defenses and two good offenses. I believe the difference in this game is the experience of Peyton Manning. I think it is a close, fairly low scoring game that Denver eventually takes over in the fourth. Is there any way Manning could win Comeback Player of the Year, MVP, and Coach of the Year? I’d vote for him.

Burn: Have I mentioned Tom Brady and Bill Belichick? I have? Well… I think I will again. Actually, I’ll just copy and paste my last sentence from my answer to Question #1… “I want to pick the team that gives me the highest probability to be correct- and I see that in the New England Patriots.” So, I think I’ll stick with that theme. Patriots. Super Bowl Champs.

#4: Who will win the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year?

Brash: This is a quarterback’s league. In what has undeniably been the most successful skill position rookie draft in recent memory, I believe that RG3 will take this honor from among the likes of Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, Doug Martin, and teammate Alfred Morris. The stats speak for themselves: 3,200 yards passing, 814 yards rushing, 6.8 yards per carry, 27 total touchdown’s, and only 7 turnovers. He also became the leader of this young and surprisingly successful Redskins team.

Burn: This was the easiest question for me. Robert Griffin III has been incredibly impressive. Actually, he’s been phenomenal. Doug Martin has played head and shoulders above what anyone expected of him. Alfred Morris has been a beast, though some may argue that he’s a product of Shanahan’s system. And finally, Russell Wilson is 5-foot nothing- so, I have a special place for him in my heart. But, when discussing Rookie of the Year, I can look no further than Andrew Luck. To take a 2-14 team and mold them into an 11-5 team as a rookie is insane. Further, he did it with a change at the head coaching position. Some may make the argument that Pagano’s leave was “motivation” for the team, which I agree with- to a point. It wasn’t enough motivation to make a 2-14 team 11-5. This is still the NFL. Emotion can only go so far. At some point, talent, ability, and preparation factor into a team’s success. Thus, I attribute some of that success to the arrival of Andrew Luck- my Rookie of the Year.

#5: Who will win the NFL Coach of the Year Award?

Brash: This was again very difficult for me with all of the unexpected success of teams like the Redskins and the heart-wrenching, tear-jerking story of Chuck Pagano, Bruce Arians, and the Indianapolis Colts. But this year give the coach of the year honors to Pete Carroll. What makes me pick him over Arians and Shanahan is that in the past few weeks, Seattle is not just winning; they are dominating. He has taken a team that had a good defense and has turned them into a legitimate Super Bowl contender. As much as I love Bruce Arians and RG3, neither of those teams are contenders yet. And it makes it difficult to vote for Arians when he did not even coach a full season. Meanwhile, John Fox had all the talent and makings of a Super Bowl team in front of him and managed it great. But Carroll has taken a 5’10’’ QB and a tough D and is now on their march to New Orleans.

Burn: Expanding on my answer to question #4, the Colts improved from 2-14 to 11-5. There were several factors that attributed to this vast improvement. And, while it is impossible to put a finger on exactly what was responsible for the change, it’s obvious that the arrival of Andrew Luck and a new head coach had a lot to do with it. But, the Colts head coaching situation was far from normal. Head coach Chuck Pagano took a leave of absence in September after being diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia, so offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was named interim head coach. In his first tenure as an NFL head coach, Arians did not disappoint. He humbly assumed Pagano’s role, and he deflected all of the credit for his success to the team and Chuck Pagano. For the best story in sports this year- My NFL Coach of the Year Award goes to Co-Winners in Bruce Arians and Chuck Pagano. #ChuckStrong

 So, to sum up…

Question

Brash

Burn
#1: AFC Champion? Denver Broncos New England Patriots
#2: NFC Champion? Seattle Seahawks Green Bay Packers
#3: Super Bowl Champion? Denver Broncos New England Patriots
#4: NFL Rookie of the Year? Robert Griffin III Andrew Luck
#5: NFL Coach of the Year? Pete Carroll Bruce Arians/Chuck Pagano

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By: Caleb Brasher & Tyler Raborn

In Brash & Burn , ,
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ESPN Giving Us More Than Just Play-by-Plays

Philip Matthews —  Thursday, January 3, 2013 — 2 Comments

In today’s day and age, no matter what field you’re talking about, a business, the media, you name it, it’s all about production. That’s all that really counts. Are we putting forth our best product, pleasing customers, and ultimately accumulating dollars? That’s what it boils down to. However, at some point, there is a line in which businesses, in this case the media, can jeopardize the quality and sometimes credibility of the product- in an attempt to boost their ratings.

Recently, ESPN has had some eyebrow-raising instances on some of their shows, which have caused their fair share of controversy and conversation. This raises the question: is ESPN doing their job efficiently when these instances happen, or are they trying to boost their ratings by sparking debate even if it crosses the line at times?

Most notably, it was Rob Parker, a guest analyst occasionally on ESPN’s First Take- a debate-centered show on which Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless can bring up good points for fans to chew on, but it also tends to flirt with the line and sometimes beats issues into the ground. They like to bring up controversial issues, such as race, to prove they’re not scared to talk about them (summarizing their reasoning). In talking about Robert Griffin III and the issue of race in the game, Parker mentioned that Griffin was “not black enough” or “down with the cause,” mentioning that he was a Republican and had a white girlfriend. This sparked a wave of rebuttals from all around the media world, as well as forcing ESPN to suspend Parker indefinitely.

Next, ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge, who has always been super critical of the playing abilities of Tim Tebow, moved from criticizing Tebow on the field to bluntly attacking and questioning his character. After anonymous reports of Tebow telling Coach Rex Ryan he no longer wanted to play in the “wildcat” package after Ryan named Greg McElroy the starter instead of Tebow, Hoge called Tebow “as phony as a three-dollar-bill,” criticizing his character and his status of being the ultimate team-oriented guy. Adam Schefter and Ron Jaworski, who were in the segment along with Hoge, were much more objective about the issue, reporting what Tebow actually said to them and looking at his side of the situation as well, and they seemed to take the report from “sources” with a grain of salt.

In response to Hoge’s comments, Tebow repeatedly said he never quit on his teammates. Furthermore, he went on to address the comments saying, “For people to not know the situation and then start to bash your character and then say you’re a phony or you’re a fake or you’re a hypocrite, I think that’s what’s disappointing and that’s what’s frustrating.” Exactly what Merrill Hoge has against Tebow we’ll probably never know, but it is obvious he wanted his comments to be heard loud and clear, and they have, sending ripples throughout all the media world, as he went straight for the jugular and reputation of one of the game’s most popular players. Maybe he should keep more of his personal frustrations to himself, or just work on his tie… too good to go unshared.

More recently, ESPN’s NFL analyst Lomas Brown made headlines for himself with comments he made in an interview on ESPN radio in late December, admitting that he purposefully whiffed on a block out of frustration in a 1994 game with the intent of getting his quarterback knocked out of the game. He succeeded, as his quarterback Scott Mitchell left with a broken finger. Brown’s comments came across almost boastful, and he showed no remorse, which is disgraceful, especially to talk about betraying a teammate, not to mention the motive of injury, for the world to hear. Brown, who later apologized for his comments on ESPN, is ironically suing the NFL for not doing enough to protect players from concussions.

With all of this said, I am by no means insinuating that ESPN is terrible at what they do or should totally revamp the way they do things, especially after mentioning the comments of just three employees. I am an avid watcher, and I understand the irony of me being critical of comments a few people made, but all of us at some point have to take self-inventory and examine what our purpose is and how effectively we’re doing it. ESPN, quite frankly, dominates the sports media world in this country, and in effect can seemingly do and talk about whatever they want. Just one example of this has been the Tebowmania, when Doug Gottlieb, who then worked for ESPN, admittedly was told “You can’t talk enough Tebow.”

The network of ESPN is there to “serve sports fans,” (to quote their mission statement) which is done by reporting sports stories and providing analysis on these stories, and for the most part they do a good job. But recently it seems that they have spent almost as much time making headlines as they have reporting them.

So, in closing…

ESPN,

We don’t want you to create the news… just relay it.

———-

By: Philip Matthews

In Random , , ,
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Way Too Early 2013 Fantasy Football Top 50

Guest Writers —  Thursday, January 3, 2013 — Leave a comment

We are less than nine months away from your 2013 NFL fantasy draft.  So what better time than now to put together a list of the top 50 fantasy players for 2013.  Obviously a lot will change in the coming months- but here we go:

  1. Adrian Peterson: A once in a generation player whose best comparison may be Jim Brown.
  2. Arian Foster: The best zone runner in the league, Foster gets it done week after week.
  3. Doug Martin: Martin is an every down back that spent nearly the entire 2012 season without two pro bowl guards in Davin Joseph and Carl Nicks. Their return will mean big things for Martin in 2013.
  4. Ray Rice: Rice and Martin are very similar players and the Ravens are a better team when they lean on Rice instead of Flacco.  If only they could find an offensive coordinator who understands this.
  5. Calvin Johnson: The best wide receiver in the league, Johnson’s touchdowns were down in 2012, but he surpassed Jerry Rice’s record for receiving yards in a season.  Additionally, he is the primary target on a team that just set the record for passing attempts in a season.
  6. Marshawn Lynch: Beast mode runs hard, seeks contact and represents what the Seahawks are as a team.
  7. Drew Brees: Brees led all fantasy players in points in 2012. Having to keep up with teams, thanks to a porous defense, played a large part in this, but I don’t anticipate the defense getting exponentially better and having an offensive guru like Sean Payton back can only help.
  8. Tom Brady: Brady may be the most consistent fantasy player in the league.
  9. Aaron Rodgers: If Brady is the most consistent then Rodgers is likely second.  Like Brady, he has a plethora of options to throw to in a pass-first offense.
  10. Alfred Morris: He’s not the most talented running back, but Morris runs hard, and being a good zone back in the Shanahan offense has historically translated into a lot of rushing yards.
  11. Brandon Marshall: Cutler + Marshall = Lots of Fantasy Points
  12. AJ Green: Green is an elite talent in an improving receiving corps. He is on the same level as Calvin Johnson with a less capable QB.
  13. Trent Richardson: Apparently Richardson played most of the season with broken ribs. Are you kidding me? Richardson is an absolute stud.
  14. Rob Gronkowski: Gronk scores TDs and spikes footballs. Gronk cannot be covered in the redzone.
  15. Peyton Manning: Peyton has proved that the neck surgeries were only a minor hiccup in a stellar career.  Manning has recreated the high scoring offense of his Colts days with the Broncos and reminded us that he is one of the best of all time.
  16. CJ Spiller: Spiller may be the most under-utilized back in the league. Injuries to Fred Jackson allowed Spiller to really shine in 2012, and one would think that a new coach would see what we all saw in 2012 and allow him to take over the primary running back responsibilities in 2013.
  17. Jimmy Graham: Graham may be the most consistent tight end and he provides a very solid redzone option for Brees.
  18. Jamaal Charles: Charles is a home run threat each time he touches the ball.  He’s not as consistent as some players but is a threat to blow up every week.
  19. Dez Bryant: Dez really came into his own in 2012 and will be a force going forward.
  20. Cam Newton: Cam looked like a disappointment early but came on very strong late in the season.
  21. Demaryius Thomas: Peyton’s new Marvin Harrison, Thomas is an elite talent with an elite QB.
  22. Julio Jones: Lots of people questioned Thomas Dimitroff for trading up to grab Julio. The more we see of Jones, the more it looks like the right move.
  23. Percy Harvin: Harvin is not always healthy but is an explosive WR when he is on the field.  If only Ponder could get him the ball down field…
  24. Roddy White: I covet consistency in my fantasy players and Roddy exemplifies consistency in a wide receiver.
  25. Maurice Jones-Drew: Due to a combination of his holdout and injuries, MJD had a disappointing 2012, but we all know the talent that he possesses.
  26. Lesean McCoy: McCoy is a well rounded running back in the mold of Brian Westbrook.  A big determinant of his 2013 success will be who ends up being the new Eagles coach.
  27. Matt Forte: Forte is similar to McCoy in that he is a talented runner and receiver.  Much like McCoy, a new coach could significantly impact Forte’s 2013 fantasy value for better or worse.
  28. Frank Gore: Gore proved that he had more in the tank than many believed and remains the primary option on a running team with a solid, young offensive line.
  29. DeMarco Murray: Murray has injury issues but the talent is there.
  30. Steven Ridley: Ridley was surprisingly productive for a New England running back in 2012, but starting a Belichick running back is often a crapshoot.
  31. Andre Johnson: Johnson finished 2nd in the league in receiving yards and came up just 2 yards shy of 1,600.  He played in all 16 games this year but injuries are always a concern.
  32. Vincent Jackson: Jackson is in an offense that likes to chunk it down the field with a quarter back who can get it to him.  He ranked 1st in the league in yards/reception with 19.2.
  33. BenJarvus Green-Ellis: The Law Firm came on very strong at the end of the season, running for over 100 yards in 4 of his last 6 games.
  34. Michael Crabtree: Crabtree finally got the chance to show what he could do when the 49ers put in a quarterback that could get him the ball.
  35. Eric Decker: Decker scored 5 touchdowns in his last three games and led all Broncos receivers in touchdowns.
  36. Chris Johnson: CJ1k has game breaking speed but puts up duds far too often.
  37. Reggie Bush: Bush only had two 100-yard rushing games in 2012 but he is always a threat to catch the ball coming out of the backfield.
  38. Victor Cruz: Cruz doesn’t do any one thing especially well, but he is a good all around receiver.
  39. Knowshon Moreno: Moreno finished the season strong after McGahee went down.  If he can keep the starting running back job going into next season, he will be a solid option going forward.
  40. Darren McFadden: McFadden cannot stay healthy but he is a special player when he is on the field.
  41. Vick Ballard: Ballard proved to be a serviceable, if unspectacular, back for the Colts.
  42. Robert Griffin III: I likely have RG3 lower than most, but I prefer consistency over upside in the early rounds.
  43. Steven Jackson: I don’t know for certain if Jackson will remain with the Rams but if he does, he will continue to rack yards like he always does.
  44. Ahmad Bradshaw: Bradshaw may have lost some carries to David Wilson and Andre Brown in 2012, but he is still productive when he gets the majority of the work.
  45. Tony Romo: Romo may be the most scrutinized player in the NFL, but he is a solid fantasy football option year in and year out.
  46. Randall Cobb: Cobb solidified his role in the Green Bay offense in 2012 and thanks to his versatility will be a significant contributor going forward.
  47. Marques Colston: Colston has been plagued by injuries throughout his career but is an excellent wide receiver when healthy.
  48. Matt Ryan: Ryan had his ups and downs in 2012 but finished as a top 10 quarterback.
  49. Matthew Stafford: Stafford broke the record for attempts in a season, and it appears as though Schwartz will be around for 2013.  Lots of attempts = lots of opportunity for points.
  50. Shonn Greene: I do not like Greene’s talent, but he performed fairly well this year and is currently the best option on the roster.

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By: Bryce Daves

In Fantasy Football, NFL , ,
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