Welcome to Week 5!!
11:00am - We are as usual at the #1 son's house camped out in front of the big screen. We have on the NFL Network for now until the regular network crap comes on. Oh how I long for the days of Brent,Irv, and Phyllis. Pop Quiz: Which is louder, Sterling Sharpe or his shirt.
11:23 - Mariucci is talking like the Browns actually have a chance against the Pats today. Yeah right, and I have a chance to hang out with Marissa Miller in Hollywood.
12:08 - Gametime decisions suck
12:31 - OK power nap is over. Baldinger makes me sleepy
12:51 - Caliendo roasts Bradshaw!! He is on the money as usual. I am looking forward
to his new show. Frank not Terry, we get enough of Bradshaw's tired act on
Sundays
12:55 - We get 2 games locally here today!!!! Unfortunately its the Panthers/Saints
and Jets/Giants. Oh well thank goodness for the internet and NFL.com's
awesome scoreboard.
1:15 - These games suck as much as we thought they would. The Mangenius is a coward.
1:21 - Dick Enberg is an all-time great, but he has clearly lost his fastball. Thanks for showing up Brandon Jacobs. You play for the Giants not the Jets, nice gift.
1:26: - STUPID ANNOUCER ALERT - Randy Cross talking about the Jacobs fumble saying how Tiki used to carry the ball to prevent fumbles. Well Randy I don't know where you were but Tiki was known as a fumbler his first few years. One of the reasons he was not an every down back.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
I Am Back
Guys,
Sorry I have been away so long. I took a new job and it has taken way too much of my time. We are going to get back to writing about our favorite sport, Lord Football. We are 1/4th of the way thru the NFL season and there have been many surprises and disappointments along the way. Today I thought I would do a live blog during the days games. My fantasy football year has been awful. I am in 2 leagues and have not won a game in either league. It has been a combination of bad luck and poor lineup decisions. That doesn't mean we still don't love playing and will continue to make moves to get back on top. Stay tuned for my live blog today. It will be good and good for you.
Howie
Sorry I have been away so long. I took a new job and it has taken way too much of my time. We are going to get back to writing about our favorite sport, Lord Football. We are 1/4th of the way thru the NFL season and there have been many surprises and disappointments along the way. Today I thought I would do a live blog during the days games. My fantasy football year has been awful. I am in 2 leagues and have not won a game in either league. It has been a combination of bad luck and poor lineup decisions. That doesn't mean we still don't love playing and will continue to make moves to get back on top. Stay tuned for my live blog today. It will be good and good for you.
Howie
Friday, August 3, 2007
TGIF
Good morning folks,
2 items
1. I am starting a new blog for football. Red Zone Fantasy Football. Here is the link
http://rzff.blogspot.com
2. Have to tell you a funny story. I stopped at the gas station this morning for....well gas and my morning sinful pleasure, HONEY BUN!!!! Anywho, I pre-paid for my gas and got my snacks. I walked out to the car, got in and drove off. Well when I was about to pull into work my fuel light started chirping at me. I realized I had drove off without pumping my gas. I raced back to the station which is only a couple of minuets away and luckily the attendant recognized me and allowed me to get my gas. Folks, it sucks getting old. That's my senior moment for the day. If anything else happens I will be sure to report it, if I can remember.
I should be seeing 2 new movies this weekend, Underdog and Bourne Ultimatium so look for the reviews here.
2 items
1. I am starting a new blog for football. Red Zone Fantasy Football. Here is the link
http://rzff.blogspot.com
2. Have to tell you a funny story. I stopped at the gas station this morning for....well gas and my morning sinful pleasure, HONEY BUN!!!! Anywho, I pre-paid for my gas and got my snacks. I walked out to the car, got in and drove off. Well when I was about to pull into work my fuel light started chirping at me. I realized I had drove off without pumping my gas. I raced back to the station which is only a couple of minuets away and luckily the attendant recognized me and allowed me to get my gas. Folks, it sucks getting old. That's my senior moment for the day. If anything else happens I will be sure to report it, if I can remember.
I should be seeing 2 new movies this weekend, Underdog and Bourne Ultimatium so look for the reviews here.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Thursday Morning
Gang,
It appears that Real Football 365 will no longer be needing my services as a writer. I was done wrong by this site so I encourage you to please refrain from going to that site. Pass the word along that the people that run this site are bogus and liars. Thats all I have to say on that. Stay tuned for football news today. I am working but not motiviated so this maybe the best day for the blog yet!!!!
It appears that Real Football 365 will no longer be needing my services as a writer. I was done wrong by this site so I encourage you to please refrain from going to that site. Pass the word along that the people that run this site are bogus and liars. Thats all I have to say on that. Stay tuned for football news today. I am working but not motiviated so this maybe the best day for the blog yet!!!!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Tuesday Morning Nuggets
Good morning folks, well all 3 of you. This is what's going on in the world of football this morning.
Gore Breaks Hand
49ers running back Frank Gore suffered a broken hand during practice on Monday. Since he gets paid to carry the football this would be an issue. Gore is a consensus top 5 fantasy running back. He is only expected to miss 1 week of practice. Keep an eye on this as if the hand doesn't heal it would have huge implications for your fantasy draft.
Raiders interested in Culpepper
It is being reported that the Raiders are in talks with Daunte Culpepper. Since Culpepper doesnt' have an agent and represents himself we really mean that they are in talks with Daunte. We know that talks between the Raiders and #1 pick JaMarcus Russell have bogged down (more on that in a minute) so this could be a move for insurance against a lenghty holdout or a way to turn up the heat on negotiations with Russell. Either way it would be a nice pickup for the Raiders but would not be a long term solution as Culpepper is looking for a one year deal from whomever he signs with.
Raiders, Russell not talking money
The issue with the contract for #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is not money but the way the contract is structured. The sticking point seems to be the second year option bonus that can't be forfeited. This is also the hangup between the Panthers and their first-round pick, LB Jon Beason. Both of these holdouts could be lengthy and will do nothing but hurt the rookie potential of both players.
That's all for now folks, back this afternoon with more training camp reports.
Gore Breaks Hand
49ers running back Frank Gore suffered a broken hand during practice on Monday. Since he gets paid to carry the football this would be an issue. Gore is a consensus top 5 fantasy running back. He is only expected to miss 1 week of practice. Keep an eye on this as if the hand doesn't heal it would have huge implications for your fantasy draft.
Raiders interested in Culpepper
It is being reported that the Raiders are in talks with Daunte Culpepper. Since Culpepper doesnt' have an agent and represents himself we really mean that they are in talks with Daunte. We know that talks between the Raiders and #1 pick JaMarcus Russell have bogged down (more on that in a minute) so this could be a move for insurance against a lenghty holdout or a way to turn up the heat on negotiations with Russell. Either way it would be a nice pickup for the Raiders but would not be a long term solution as Culpepper is looking for a one year deal from whomever he signs with.
Raiders, Russell not talking money
The issue with the contract for #1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell is not money but the way the contract is structured. The sticking point seems to be the second year option bonus that can't be forfeited. This is also the hangup between the Panthers and their first-round pick, LB Jon Beason. Both of these holdouts could be lengthy and will do nothing but hurt the rookie potential of both players.
That's all for now folks, back this afternoon with more training camp reports.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh dies at age 75
Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Walsh passed away today at the age of 75 after a long battle with lukemia. He won 3 Super Bowls as coach of the San Francisco 49er dynasty of the 80's. He is widely known to be the master of the "West Coast" offense. It revolutionized the sport and many of his assistants have found jobs as head coaches in the league. Walsh learned his craft at the feet of one of the greatest innovators of all-time, Paul Brown. He inherited a mediocre franchise in San Fran and created a powerhouse with great players in a great system. He helped create legends out of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. His footprint on the NFL will be seen for generations to come. RIP Mr. Walsh you will surely be missed.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Sunday Morning NFL Nuggets
Pats reach deal with Meriweather
The New England Patriots signed their first-round draft pick, safety Brandon Meriweather to a five-year contract. The deal is worth $8.75 million with $6 million on guaranteed money.
Brandon can play both corner and safety and it has been reported that he will do exactly that for the Pats. He is a perfect fit for New England as they love players that can play multiple positions. He is a big hitter who can cover as well.
He will make an already good defense better immediately. He could be a good IDP pick as well as he should rack up nice tackle numbers
49ers lock up first-round pick, LB Willis
The San Francisco 49ers have signed their first-round draft pick, linebacker Patrick Willis. The deal is for five-years with $12 million guaranteed.
Willis, the overall #11 pick, won the Butkus award as a senior at Ole Miss where he recorded 137 tackles with 11.5 for a loss. He has good speed and excellent instincts to the ball. He can play either inside or outside in the 49ers 3-4 scheme.
Willis is a tackling machine so look for him to record 100 or more tackles. He is an excellent sleeper in IDP leagues. The 49ers also have a good young defense and should be considered a starter each week depending on the matchup.
The New England Patriots signed their first-round draft pick, safety Brandon Meriweather to a five-year contract. The deal is worth $8.75 million with $6 million on guaranteed money.
Brandon can play both corner and safety and it has been reported that he will do exactly that for the Pats. He is a perfect fit for New England as they love players that can play multiple positions. He is a big hitter who can cover as well.
He will make an already good defense better immediately. He could be a good IDP pick as well as he should rack up nice tackle numbers
49ers lock up first-round pick, LB Willis
The San Francisco 49ers have signed their first-round draft pick, linebacker Patrick Willis. The deal is for five-years with $12 million guaranteed.
Willis, the overall #11 pick, won the Butkus award as a senior at Ole Miss where he recorded 137 tackles with 11.5 for a loss. He has good speed and excellent instincts to the ball. He can play either inside or outside in the 49ers 3-4 scheme.
Willis is a tackling machine so look for him to record 100 or more tackles. He is an excellent sleeper in IDP leagues. The 49ers also have a good young defense and should be considered a starter each week depending on the matchup.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
New Falcons Jersey
Thanks to the gang at Pro Football Talk.com for this picture. We love those guys they crack us up.
NFL Nuggets
Vikings add Rice to the recipe
The Minnesota Vikings announced they have agreed to terms with second-round pick, wide receiver Sidney Rice. The terms of the deal were not made available.
Rice should be able to win a starting position opposite Troy Williamson. He was the third receiver in mini-camp. He is very talented and seems a natural fit for the West-Coast offense.
Rookie wide receivers do not usually make an impact in fantasy football. The Vikings do not have a good quarterback situation so do not look for Rice to be a major player fantasy wise.
Titans get their first-round pick under contract
The Tennessee Titans signed first-round draft pick, defensive back Michael Griffin to a five-year contract. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Griffin, the 19th overall pick, played safety but will likely play cornerback for the Titans. He is a tremendous athlete with great speed and good ball instincts. He likes to deliver the big hit which can sometimes lead to missed tackles. He played against top competition at the University of Texas. He was a tackling machine for the Longhorns where he totaled 124 and 126 tackles his last 2 years in Austin as a starter.
Immediate starter and possible sleeper in IDP leagues. Jeff Fisher’s Titans always have a good defense with an aggressive secondary. Griffin fits right in to this system and should become a star.
Panthers suspend lineman Bridges for 2 games
The Carolina Panthers have suspended offensive tackle Jeremy Bridges for two games for conduct detrimental to the team. He was arrested on Thursday for assault.
Bridges was arrested after a female “employee” charged he waved a gun at her at the club. The suspension will cost Bridges around $82,000 which is the prorated portion of his $700,000 salary.
What is it with NFL players, strip clubs, and guns? Anyway this will have no impact in the world of fantasy football.
Broncos sign yet another D-lineman
The Denver Broncos signed their second-round pick, defensive end Tim Crowder to a four-year contract. The deal includes a signing bonus of $1.371 million.
Crowder was very productive as a four-year starter for the University of Texas. He racked up 191 tackles and 19 sacks for his career, 10 ½ of those sacks coming in his senior year. Those numbers are better than Broncos first-round pick Jarvis Moss.
With a crowded roster at defensive end in Denver the two may not start this year, but could start opposite of each other next season. No impact for now but could be a future solid starter for the Broncos.
Jags get first-round pick, Nelson under contract
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed their first-round draft pick, defensive back Reggie Nelson to a five-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth $13.1 million with $7.1 million in guarantees.
Nelson is already penciled in at the starter at free safety for the Jags. He was an early entry into the draft and has the talent to play right away. He is not too experienced as he does not have two full seasons of starting at Florida. He was very productive during his short time as he had 97 tackles and 7 interceptions in 23 games for the Gators.
The Jags already have a stout defense so Nelson, although talented, will not make that much difference. He could possibly be a sleeper in IDP leagues.
Packers sign first-round pick, DT Justin Harrell
The Green Bay Packers signed their first-round pick, defensive tackle Justin Harrell to a five-year contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Harrell, the 16th overall pick, is already listed as the starter on the Green Bay depth chart even though he hasn’t yet practiced. He is a pure run stuffer at 6-4/300 pounds. He has durability questions as he missed the majority of his senior season at Tennessee with a ruptured biceps tendon. He has shown he will play through pain as he put off surgery on the bicep to play against arch-rival Florida.
If he can stay healthy he will make an immediate impact in Green Bay’s run defense. He is not useful in IDP leagues.
The Minnesota Vikings announced they have agreed to terms with second-round pick, wide receiver Sidney Rice. The terms of the deal were not made available.
Rice should be able to win a starting position opposite Troy Williamson. He was the third receiver in mini-camp. He is very talented and seems a natural fit for the West-Coast offense.
Rookie wide receivers do not usually make an impact in fantasy football. The Vikings do not have a good quarterback situation so do not look for Rice to be a major player fantasy wise.
Titans get their first-round pick under contract
The Tennessee Titans signed first-round draft pick, defensive back Michael Griffin to a five-year contract. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Griffin, the 19th overall pick, played safety but will likely play cornerback for the Titans. He is a tremendous athlete with great speed and good ball instincts. He likes to deliver the big hit which can sometimes lead to missed tackles. He played against top competition at the University of Texas. He was a tackling machine for the Longhorns where he totaled 124 and 126 tackles his last 2 years in Austin as a starter.
Immediate starter and possible sleeper in IDP leagues. Jeff Fisher’s Titans always have a good defense with an aggressive secondary. Griffin fits right in to this system and should become a star.
Panthers suspend lineman Bridges for 2 games
The Carolina Panthers have suspended offensive tackle Jeremy Bridges for two games for conduct detrimental to the team. He was arrested on Thursday for assault.
Bridges was arrested after a female “employee” charged he waved a gun at her at the club. The suspension will cost Bridges around $82,000 which is the prorated portion of his $700,000 salary.
What is it with NFL players, strip clubs, and guns? Anyway this will have no impact in the world of fantasy football.
Broncos sign yet another D-lineman
The Denver Broncos signed their second-round pick, defensive end Tim Crowder to a four-year contract. The deal includes a signing bonus of $1.371 million.
Crowder was very productive as a four-year starter for the University of Texas. He racked up 191 tackles and 19 sacks for his career, 10 ½ of those sacks coming in his senior year. Those numbers are better than Broncos first-round pick Jarvis Moss.
With a crowded roster at defensive end in Denver the two may not start this year, but could start opposite of each other next season. No impact for now but could be a future solid starter for the Broncos.
Jags get first-round pick, Nelson under contract
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed their first-round draft pick, defensive back Reggie Nelson to a five-year contract. The deal is reportedly worth $13.1 million with $7.1 million in guarantees.
Nelson is already penciled in at the starter at free safety for the Jags. He was an early entry into the draft and has the talent to play right away. He is not too experienced as he does not have two full seasons of starting at Florida. He was very productive during his short time as he had 97 tackles and 7 interceptions in 23 games for the Gators.
The Jags already have a stout defense so Nelson, although talented, will not make that much difference. He could possibly be a sleeper in IDP leagues.
Packers sign first-round pick, DT Justin Harrell
The Green Bay Packers signed their first-round pick, defensive tackle Justin Harrell to a five-year contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Harrell, the 16th overall pick, is already listed as the starter on the Green Bay depth chart even though he hasn’t yet practiced. He is a pure run stuffer at 6-4/300 pounds. He has durability questions as he missed the majority of his senior season at Tennessee with a ruptured biceps tendon. He has shown he will play through pain as he put off surgery on the bicep to play against arch-rival Florida.
If he can stay healthy he will make an immediate impact in Green Bay’s run defense. He is not useful in IDP leagues.
Movie Review: The Simpsons Movie
For long time Simpsons fans this movie is a dream come true. I can't remember being this excited about a new movie since the first Spiderman movie and Star Wars Episode 1. Well it was with nervous anticipation I waited for the movie to start as I did not want to be disappointed as I was with Star Wars. Well I can tell you I was laughing after about 5 seconds and didn't stop until the movie was over.
This movie was like a super-sized episode of the Simpsons meaning that the first few minutes have nothing to do with the overall plot of the movie. This doesn't mean that they aren't worth watching because many times that is the funniest part of the show. This is not the case here as the movie gets better and funnier as it goes along.
The writing is excellent as it has been since the show's inception as a short feature on the Tracy Ullman Show back in the 80's. You will have to see this movie more than once to get all the jokes as they are subtle and quick. In a crowded theatre the laughing will drown out some of the subtle humor. Trust me when I say, you will have no problem wanting to watch this movie over and over.
The writers had more room to be edgy since this is a movie and not television. So you might be shocked as there is some cursing (Marge no!), cartoon nudity, and obscene gestures (that felt good didn't it Homer?). That isn't saying the entire movie was full of foul language and adult humor, it wasn't. I did however get the feeling the writers put some things in they have been dying to do but have not been able to on the television show.
I did notice a lot of children in the theatre which surprised me since The Simpsons is not really a kids show. My advice to parents would be if you don't let your kids watch the TV show you might want to leave them at home.
There are also the typical celebrity appearances but they are not overwhelming. Tom Hanks has a memorable cameo and a priceless line. The band Green Day does their punked up version of the Simpsons theme song then a hilarious exit during the opening of the movie.
They also put every character that has ever appeared on the show in the movie. Some have smaller parts than other obviously after 20 years there are many great characters. There are some main characters that could have had more screen time. We do not see much of Monty Burns and Smithers. Also Selma and Patty did not have a big part, but with the storyline I don't think their characters would have added much anyhow.
I also recommend staying in the theatre to the end of the credits. Most people leave as soon as the movie is over. If you leave you will miss some funny stuff that's all I will say about that.
To sum it up the Simpsons movie was a rousing success. The crowd I seen it with gave it a round of applause at the end. It will truly be a classic. If you don't leave the theatre singing, "Spiderpig, Spiderpig, does whatever a Spiderpig does".then shame on you. I can't get it out of my head.
This movie was like a super-sized episode of the Simpsons meaning that the first few minutes have nothing to do with the overall plot of the movie. This doesn't mean that they aren't worth watching because many times that is the funniest part of the show. This is not the case here as the movie gets better and funnier as it goes along.
The writing is excellent as it has been since the show's inception as a short feature on the Tracy Ullman Show back in the 80's. You will have to see this movie more than once to get all the jokes as they are subtle and quick. In a crowded theatre the laughing will drown out some of the subtle humor. Trust me when I say, you will have no problem wanting to watch this movie over and over.
The writers had more room to be edgy since this is a movie and not television. So you might be shocked as there is some cursing (Marge no!), cartoon nudity, and obscene gestures (that felt good didn't it Homer?). That isn't saying the entire movie was full of foul language and adult humor, it wasn't. I did however get the feeling the writers put some things in they have been dying to do but have not been able to on the television show.
I did notice a lot of children in the theatre which surprised me since The Simpsons is not really a kids show. My advice to parents would be if you don't let your kids watch the TV show you might want to leave them at home.
There are also the typical celebrity appearances but they are not overwhelming. Tom Hanks has a memorable cameo and a priceless line. The band Green Day does their punked up version of the Simpsons theme song then a hilarious exit during the opening of the movie.
They also put every character that has ever appeared on the show in the movie. Some have smaller parts than other obviously after 20 years there are many great characters. There are some main characters that could have had more screen time. We do not see much of Monty Burns and Smithers. Also Selma and Patty did not have a big part, but with the storyline I don't think their characters would have added much anyhow.
I also recommend staying in the theatre to the end of the credits. Most people leave as soon as the movie is over. If you leave you will miss some funny stuff that's all I will say about that.
To sum it up the Simpsons movie was a rousing success. The crowd I seen it with gave it a round of applause at the end. It will truly be a classic. If you don't leave the theatre singing, "Spiderpig, Spiderpig, does whatever a Spiderpig does".then shame on you. I can't get it out of my head.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Friday Afternoon Nuggets
With training camps underway teams and players are scurring to get signed and in camp. Here are the news worthy NFL nuggets so far today...
Buffalo Bills QB J.P. Losman practiced today. He had a lower back strain that kept him on the sidelines on Thursday. I was originally thought he would miss a few days of practice. Good news for Bills fans.
The Baltimore Ravens signed 2 draft picks today including their first-round selection OL Ben Grubbs. They also signed fourth-rounder FB LeRon McClain.
Both are expected to battle for starting jobs as the Ravens try to get younger on the offensive side of the ball.
The Jags signed second-round pick LB Justin Durant to a four-year deal which includes a $1.72 million signing bonus. He will likely be a backup this year
Dolphin QB John Beck has been impressive so far in camp. The rookie should pass Cleo Lemon for the backup role. With Trent Green's past health concerns he could see live action sooner than later. He will eventually be the starter and will be a nice QB in years to come.
The Detroit Lions are reportedly interested in signing recently released Simeon Rice. Rice is familiar with the Head Coach Rod Marinelli who was the Bucs D-line coach before he went to the Lions.
The Titans signed third-round pick WR Paul Williams. "Who dat?" you say...well so do we.
Thats all for now. We will be back later with more news and stupidity.
Buffalo Bills QB J.P. Losman practiced today. He had a lower back strain that kept him on the sidelines on Thursday. I was originally thought he would miss a few days of practice. Good news for Bills fans.
The Baltimore Ravens signed 2 draft picks today including their first-round selection OL Ben Grubbs. They also signed fourth-rounder FB LeRon McClain.
Both are expected to battle for starting jobs as the Ravens try to get younger on the offensive side of the ball.
The Jags signed second-round pick LB Justin Durant to a four-year deal which includes a $1.72 million signing bonus. He will likely be a backup this year
Dolphin QB John Beck has been impressive so far in camp. The rookie should pass Cleo Lemon for the backup role. With Trent Green's past health concerns he could see live action sooner than later. He will eventually be the starter and will be a nice QB in years to come.
The Detroit Lions are reportedly interested in signing recently released Simeon Rice. Rice is familiar with the Head Coach Rod Marinelli who was the Bucs D-line coach before he went to the Lions.
The Titans signed third-round pick WR Paul Williams. "Who dat?" you say...well so do we.
Thats all for now. We will be back later with more news and stupidity.
Friday Morning Rant
There will be no talk of Michael Vick after this rant as I am sick and tired of reading and hearing about this story. He should be either cut,suspended, or both. He is getting star treatment I don't care what all the people who are defending him say. I will say this one thing in response to the comments made by Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders, who claim the feds are using Vick's celebrity to go after a "bigger fish" in the world of dog fighting. I say bull cookies!!!! If you read the indictment closely it seems as though Vick IS the big fish. The feds have said there are more charges coming and Vick is a "person of interest" in a dog fighting case in Arizona. This thing will keep getting uglier as it goes on and I will be surprised of Ron Mexico ever suits up for any NFL team ever again.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Shameless Plug
Don't forget to check out my news articles at Real Football 365. I write on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 12-9.
Are You Ready For Some Football!!!
It's the most wonderful time of the year. We are so close to football season you can smell the lineman melt in the heat of training camp. This is what we have been waiting for and the whole reason we started this blog. To talk football, college or pro. We will be updating often as draft picks sign and guys are sent home to work for Uncle Boofies Used Cars and Waffles. So keep it tuned right here folks for the best in NFL news and fantasy football insight. The Big Daddy has been called by some as "The Master" when it comes to fantasy football. While flattering that may be a bit over-stated. The only thing we have ever been master of is our domain, well a boy can dream cant he?
To get you in the mood for football check out this video of the most famous coach meltdowns ever. Man I can't get enough of these. And always remember, you play to win the game....hello!!!
To get you in the mood for football check out this video of the most famous coach meltdowns ever. Man I can't get enough of these. And always remember, you play to win the game....hello!!!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Review of Chuck and Larry
This movie is exactly what you would expect from the two stars, Adam Sandler and Kevin James. The comedy was mostly low-brow and crude, not that there is anything wrong with that. They also brought the usual same collection of actors that can be seen in most of Sandler's movies and from James late TV show, King of Queens. The only saving grace is that we get plenty of Jessica Biel and not much of her clothes.
Premise: Chuck (Sandler) and Larry (James) are best friends who are firefighters in the same unit in Brooklyn. Even though they are inseparable when working together they are total opposites at home. Chuck is the consummate bachelor as he loves to party and see how many Hooters girls he can fool around with. Larry is a widower who is struggling to raise two children by himself who still has not gotten over the death of his wife. Larry saves Chuck's life in a fire and Chuck says he is forever in his debt. When a snafu in the benefits department prevents Larry from naming his kids the beneficiary of his estate, Larry decides to call in the favor from Chuck. He asks him to become his domestic partner so he can make sure his children are taken care of if something were to happen to him. Seems like a simple enough plan but a snoopy government bureaucrat threatens to expose their charade. So Chuck and Larry have to live as newlyweds to fool not only the city inspector but eventually the whole city. If they are exposed the kids would lose the benefits they would be sent to jail for fraud. And as they say from there the hilarity ensues. Now on with the grades.....
Plot: The plot of the movie was very predictable as nothing happens that is not expected. This movie wasn't made to make us think or look inside ourselves or other sap like that. It was made to be funny, and that is about all it was. So since they really did not take themselves too seriously, neither did we. So we will give it a solid B.
Acting: Again not much was expected with this cast and they didn't disappoint. Sandler and James play the same characters we are familiar with, but with different names and backgrounds. I am not saying that was a bad thing as we find both of them to be very funny. This is exactly the kind of movie both of these funnymen should stick to as it is what the public wants and expects from the both of them. So another solid B for delivering exactly what we wanted and expected.
Babes: If this movie was just graded on this category it should win the Academy Award for best babes. Jessica Biel was so hot she almost set off the fire alarm in the theatre in one scène. And you know there is always room for a houseful of Hooters girls and a hot doctor in any movie. As you can imagine we give this category an A++
Overall: This is your typical Adam Sandler production, crude over the top humor with plenty of side characters who are hilarious. We are not knocking this as sometimes you just need to laugh, and for that this movie delivers. It is definitely not one for the kids as most of the movie is filled with adult jokes and sexual situations. If you're a homophobe, I would not go. I personally do not care about your sexual orientation as long as you don't care about mine. Live and let live is the way I roll. Ok enough social commentary. Bottom line, if you like to laugh and are not easily offended then go see it. If your uptight and like your movies thought provoking, filled with deep ideas, you might want find something else to watch. As for me, I like to laugh so I give this one an overall A
Premise: Chuck (Sandler) and Larry (James) are best friends who are firefighters in the same unit in Brooklyn. Even though they are inseparable when working together they are total opposites at home. Chuck is the consummate bachelor as he loves to party and see how many Hooters girls he can fool around with. Larry is a widower who is struggling to raise two children by himself who still has not gotten over the death of his wife. Larry saves Chuck's life in a fire and Chuck says he is forever in his debt. When a snafu in the benefits department prevents Larry from naming his kids the beneficiary of his estate, Larry decides to call in the favor from Chuck. He asks him to become his domestic partner so he can make sure his children are taken care of if something were to happen to him. Seems like a simple enough plan but a snoopy government bureaucrat threatens to expose their charade. So Chuck and Larry have to live as newlyweds to fool not only the city inspector but eventually the whole city. If they are exposed the kids would lose the benefits they would be sent to jail for fraud. And as they say from there the hilarity ensues. Now on with the grades.....
Plot: The plot of the movie was very predictable as nothing happens that is not expected. This movie wasn't made to make us think or look inside ourselves or other sap like that. It was made to be funny, and that is about all it was. So since they really did not take themselves too seriously, neither did we. So we will give it a solid B.
Acting: Again not much was expected with this cast and they didn't disappoint. Sandler and James play the same characters we are familiar with, but with different names and backgrounds. I am not saying that was a bad thing as we find both of them to be very funny. This is exactly the kind of movie both of these funnymen should stick to as it is what the public wants and expects from the both of them. So another solid B for delivering exactly what we wanted and expected.
Babes: If this movie was just graded on this category it should win the Academy Award for best babes. Jessica Biel was so hot she almost set off the fire alarm in the theatre in one scène. And you know there is always room for a houseful of Hooters girls and a hot doctor in any movie. As you can imagine we give this category an A++
Overall: This is your typical Adam Sandler production, crude over the top humor with plenty of side characters who are hilarious. We are not knocking this as sometimes you just need to laugh, and for that this movie delivers. It is definitely not one for the kids as most of the movie is filled with adult jokes and sexual situations. If you're a homophobe, I would not go. I personally do not care about your sexual orientation as long as you don't care about mine. Live and let live is the way I roll. Ok enough social commentary. Bottom line, if you like to laugh and are not easily offended then go see it. If your uptight and like your movies thought provoking, filled with deep ideas, you might want find something else to watch. As for me, I like to laugh so I give this one an overall A
Thursday, July 19, 2007
T.W.I.F.F. Notes
We are starting a new feature here at Big Daddyz Blog. It is called This Week In Fantasy Football. We shall name it T.W.I.F.F. Notes for short. It will be small news blurbs concerning any signings or cuts for all teams and how it affects the world of Fantasy Football. The first one will be long but subsequent reports should be much shorter. Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy.
Michael Vick indicted by a federal grand jury
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy in aiding interstate commerce for unlawful activities as well as the highly publicized dog fighting scandal.
Commentary: Vick is in serious trouble as the federal government does not indict without plenty of evidence. From 2000-2005 they have a 99% conviction rate on their indictments. If convicted he could very well spend years in prison and his highly lucrative football career would be over.
Fantasy Football Impact: This will have major fantasy implications as Vick is one of the NFL’s most talented and marketed players. Falcons fans maybe in for a long season with Joey Harrington at QB. Even if my miracle Vick plays he will not be effective with this hanging over his head.
Patriots re-sign veteran WR Troy Brown
New England signed free agent wide receiver Troy Brown to return for his 15th season as a Patriot. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The 36 year old Brown has spent his entire career with New England. He was originally an 8th round draft pick out of Marshall in 1993. He has done just about everything the Pats could ask of a player. He has played on offense, defense, and special teams and been successful at each position.
Fantasy Football Impact: The Pats have a loaded roster of wide receivers so it will be hard for Troy to make much of an impact fantasy wise.
New England signs LB Rogers
The Patriots signed the third of their four total sixth-round draft picks, Justin Rogers a linebacker from SMU. The terms of the contract were not reported.
Commentary: Rogers is on the small side for an NFL linebacker at 6-4/250 pounds. He was a three-year starter at SMU and a two-time All Conference choice. He could be classified as a “tweener”. He was also a standout special teams player at SMU and even blocked some kicks.
Fantasy Football Impact: The rookie will not have any fantasy impact. If he makes the team it will be as a special team player. He is most likely just a training camp body as New England has a veteran corps of linebackers.
49ers add RB depth
The San Francisco 49ers signed their sixth-round draft pick, running back Thomas Clayton to a four-year deal. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Kansas State Wildcat is 5-10/225 pounds and is a between the tackles type of back. His stock dropped in the draft due to some off the field issues. He transferred to KSU from Florida State and was only a part-time starter in 2006 due to injuries.
Fantasy Football Impact: Clayton is physically gifted but has been plagued by injuries and off the field issues. The Niners have a top 5 fantasy back in Frank Gore, but not much else behind him. If the talented, but troubled Clayton can stay healthy he could work himself into the backup spot behind Gore. He will not have much fantasy impact this year unless Gore gets injured.
Steelers sign seventh-round WR Baker
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed seventh-round draft pick, wide receiver Dallas Baker to a three-year contract. The deal includes a signing bonus of $39,750
Commentary: The former Gator star has impressive hands and is a good red-zone target. He has good size at 6-3/208 pounds and was an All-SEC selection his senior year. He does not have top-end NFL speed for a receiver with a 4.58 – 40 time.
Fantasy Football Impact: Baker will not have any impact this year. He will most likely only contribute on special teams. The Steelers have a full roster of receivers ahead of him. Best case scenario he would only be 4th or 5th on the depth chart after training camp.
Falcons ink third-round pick WR Robinson
The Atlanta Falcons have signed their third-round draft pick Laurent Robinson to a four-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Illinois State star is known for his speed and big play ability. He has nice size at 6-2/199 pounds. He was impressive at the combine and in Falcons mini-camp. He was hampered by an ankle injury his senior year. His junior year he posted spectacular numbers with 86 catches for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Fantasy Football Impact: Robinson is not likely to have a major fantasy impact this year. He could be a good return man but that’s about it. The Falcons QB situation will not be good if Michael Vick is suspended for a long period of time.
Atlanta signs TE to a four-year deal
The Atlanta Falcons signed sixth-round pick Martrez Milner to a four-year contract. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Commentary: Milner is a hometown product from the University of Georgia. He is a 6-4/260 pound tight end. He will be expected to make the team as the number 2 tight end as the Falcons have one of the best in the league in Alge Crumpler.
Fantasy Football Impact: Milner will be used in a H-back type role as a blocker so his fantasy impact will be next to nothing.
Falcons sign sixth-round pick Datish
The Atlanta Falcons signed sixth-round pick Doug Datish to a four-year contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Ohio State Buckeye played at all 5 positions on the line in college which means he is versatile. The 6-5/305 pound prospect is projected to play the center position in the pros.
Fantasy Football Impact: He will have no fantasy impact as he will at best be a backup lineman.
Minnesota signs fourth-rounder, DE Robison
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with their fourth-round draft pick, defensive end Brian Robison. The contract is a four-year deal and includes a $482,000 signing bonus.
Commentary: The 6-3/275 pound prospect has been described as a “workout warrior” and has a non-stop motor. He is a talented athlete who has a 40-inch plus vertical leap and was timed at 4.67 in the 40 yard-dash. He needs to work on football skills as he is a raw talent. He was an All-Conference pick as a junior at the University of Texas and had 14 career sacks.
Fantasy Football Impact: This adds depth to an already good defensive line in Minnesota. He could also play linebacker in the 3 – 4 scheme with his athletic ability. The Vikings are a solid #1 fantasy team defense and worth starting in your lineup each week, depending on the matchup.
Lions sign fourth-round pick, Ramirez
The Detroit Lions announced the signing of their fourth-round draft pick, offensive guard Manuel Ramirez. The deal is for three years, but the financial terms were not disclosed.
Commentary: The Texas Tech product is a mountain of a man at 6-3/326 pounds. He was one of the strongest linemen in the draft with a bench press of 550 pounds. He can be a dominant run blocker, but will need to work on pass protection in the pros.
Fantasy Football Impact: This could be an excellent pick for the Lions and could add some value to whoever is the starting tailback, Jones or Bell. They should have a good running game and Ramirez will add depth and talent to the inside of the offensive line for Detroit.
Titans release 4 players
The Tennessee Titans today waived quarterbacks Kent Smith and David Koral, linebacker Robert Reynolds, and safety Erik Keyes.
Commentary: Reynolds is the only player who has seen playing time for the Titans. He was a fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State who played in 4 games in 2006
Fantasy Football Impact: None of these players have any significance in fantasy football.
Browns sign DE Chase Pittman
The Cleveland Browns signed seventh-round draft pick Chase Pittman to a four-year deal. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Commentary: Pittman was highly recruited out of high school originally signing with Texas. He transferred to LSU after his brother Cole, also a UT football player, died in a tragic car accident. He has good size at 6-4/270 pounds and is described as “intense with an outstanding motor”. His speed and quickness are a bit below average for an NFL lineman so he probably will be nothing more than a backup at the pro level.
Fantasy Football Impact: Chase, whose given first name is “Benjamin” will be fortunate to make the Browns roster let alone make any impact in fantasy football. He is an overachiever and one of those guys you root for to make it in the league.
Michael Vick indicted by a federal grand jury
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy in aiding interstate commerce for unlawful activities as well as the highly publicized dog fighting scandal.
Commentary: Vick is in serious trouble as the federal government does not indict without plenty of evidence. From 2000-2005 they have a 99% conviction rate on their indictments. If convicted he could very well spend years in prison and his highly lucrative football career would be over.
Fantasy Football Impact: This will have major fantasy implications as Vick is one of the NFL’s most talented and marketed players. Falcons fans maybe in for a long season with Joey Harrington at QB. Even if my miracle Vick plays he will not be effective with this hanging over his head.
Patriots re-sign veteran WR Troy Brown
New England signed free agent wide receiver Troy Brown to return for his 15th season as a Patriot. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The 36 year old Brown has spent his entire career with New England. He was originally an 8th round draft pick out of Marshall in 1993. He has done just about everything the Pats could ask of a player. He has played on offense, defense, and special teams and been successful at each position.
Fantasy Football Impact: The Pats have a loaded roster of wide receivers so it will be hard for Troy to make much of an impact fantasy wise.
New England signs LB Rogers
The Patriots signed the third of their four total sixth-round draft picks, Justin Rogers a linebacker from SMU. The terms of the contract were not reported.
Commentary: Rogers is on the small side for an NFL linebacker at 6-4/250 pounds. He was a three-year starter at SMU and a two-time All Conference choice. He could be classified as a “tweener”. He was also a standout special teams player at SMU and even blocked some kicks.
Fantasy Football Impact: The rookie will not have any fantasy impact. If he makes the team it will be as a special team player. He is most likely just a training camp body as New England has a veteran corps of linebackers.
49ers add RB depth
The San Francisco 49ers signed their sixth-round draft pick, running back Thomas Clayton to a four-year deal. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Kansas State Wildcat is 5-10/225 pounds and is a between the tackles type of back. His stock dropped in the draft due to some off the field issues. He transferred to KSU from Florida State and was only a part-time starter in 2006 due to injuries.
Fantasy Football Impact: Clayton is physically gifted but has been plagued by injuries and off the field issues. The Niners have a top 5 fantasy back in Frank Gore, but not much else behind him. If the talented, but troubled Clayton can stay healthy he could work himself into the backup spot behind Gore. He will not have much fantasy impact this year unless Gore gets injured.
Steelers sign seventh-round WR Baker
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed seventh-round draft pick, wide receiver Dallas Baker to a three-year contract. The deal includes a signing bonus of $39,750
Commentary: The former Gator star has impressive hands and is a good red-zone target. He has good size at 6-3/208 pounds and was an All-SEC selection his senior year. He does not have top-end NFL speed for a receiver with a 4.58 – 40 time.
Fantasy Football Impact: Baker will not have any impact this year. He will most likely only contribute on special teams. The Steelers have a full roster of receivers ahead of him. Best case scenario he would only be 4th or 5th on the depth chart after training camp.
Falcons ink third-round pick WR Robinson
The Atlanta Falcons have signed their third-round draft pick Laurent Robinson to a four-year contract. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Illinois State star is known for his speed and big play ability. He has nice size at 6-2/199 pounds. He was impressive at the combine and in Falcons mini-camp. He was hampered by an ankle injury his senior year. His junior year he posted spectacular numbers with 86 catches for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Fantasy Football Impact: Robinson is not likely to have a major fantasy impact this year. He could be a good return man but that’s about it. The Falcons QB situation will not be good if Michael Vick is suspended for a long period of time.
Atlanta signs TE to a four-year deal
The Atlanta Falcons signed sixth-round pick Martrez Milner to a four-year contract. The financial terms were not disclosed.
Commentary: Milner is a hometown product from the University of Georgia. He is a 6-4/260 pound tight end. He will be expected to make the team as the number 2 tight end as the Falcons have one of the best in the league in Alge Crumpler.
Fantasy Football Impact: Milner will be used in a H-back type role as a blocker so his fantasy impact will be next to nothing.
Falcons sign sixth-round pick Datish
The Atlanta Falcons signed sixth-round pick Doug Datish to a four-year contract. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Commentary: The former Ohio State Buckeye played at all 5 positions on the line in college which means he is versatile. The 6-5/305 pound prospect is projected to play the center position in the pros.
Fantasy Football Impact: He will have no fantasy impact as he will at best be a backup lineman.
Minnesota signs fourth-rounder, DE Robison
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms with their fourth-round draft pick, defensive end Brian Robison. The contract is a four-year deal and includes a $482,000 signing bonus.
Commentary: The 6-3/275 pound prospect has been described as a “workout warrior” and has a non-stop motor. He is a talented athlete who has a 40-inch plus vertical leap and was timed at 4.67 in the 40 yard-dash. He needs to work on football skills as he is a raw talent. He was an All-Conference pick as a junior at the University of Texas and had 14 career sacks.
Fantasy Football Impact: This adds depth to an already good defensive line in Minnesota. He could also play linebacker in the 3 – 4 scheme with his athletic ability. The Vikings are a solid #1 fantasy team defense and worth starting in your lineup each week, depending on the matchup.
Lions sign fourth-round pick, Ramirez
The Detroit Lions announced the signing of their fourth-round draft pick, offensive guard Manuel Ramirez. The deal is for three years, but the financial terms were not disclosed.
Commentary: The Texas Tech product is a mountain of a man at 6-3/326 pounds. He was one of the strongest linemen in the draft with a bench press of 550 pounds. He can be a dominant run blocker, but will need to work on pass protection in the pros.
Fantasy Football Impact: This could be an excellent pick for the Lions and could add some value to whoever is the starting tailback, Jones or Bell. They should have a good running game and Ramirez will add depth and talent to the inside of the offensive line for Detroit.
Titans release 4 players
The Tennessee Titans today waived quarterbacks Kent Smith and David Koral, linebacker Robert Reynolds, and safety Erik Keyes.
Commentary: Reynolds is the only player who has seen playing time for the Titans. He was a fourth-round draft pick out of Ohio State who played in 4 games in 2006
Fantasy Football Impact: None of these players have any significance in fantasy football.
Browns sign DE Chase Pittman
The Cleveland Browns signed seventh-round draft pick Chase Pittman to a four-year deal. The financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Commentary: Pittman was highly recruited out of high school originally signing with Texas. He transferred to LSU after his brother Cole, also a UT football player, died in a tragic car accident. He has good size at 6-4/270 pounds and is described as “intense with an outstanding motor”. His speed and quickness are a bit below average for an NFL lineman so he probably will be nothing more than a backup at the pro level.
Fantasy Football Impact: Chase, whose given first name is “Benjamin” will be fortunate to make the Browns roster let alone make any impact in fantasy football. He is an overachiever and one of those guys you root for to make it in the league.
Grading the NFL Draft
The NFL Draft has grown from an afterthought to one of the can't miss events on the sports calender. The draft was such a non-factor that when ESPN asked then commissioner Pete Rozelle for permission to air the draft on their network he replied "Sure but why would you want to do that?". Since then the NFL Draft has become almost as big as the Super Bowl. The fans are very interested to get a first look at the future stars of the league. With that popularity the pundits of the league like to judge and grade the drafts of each team. Of course this is based solely on speculation and potential of each player. It is impossible to know how good or bad a player coming out of college will be as a pro. They have not yet played a single snap and there are "experts' who want to say whether or not the teams have made a good pick.
The best way to grade a draft is to look at it 3 years down the road. This is more than enough time for a player to either blossom into a superstar or fade away into Bolivia (Thanks to Mike Tyson for that line.classic!). We will look at the top 10 picks of the first round and give a letter grade for each pick. It will be based on where the player is now and how they have fared so far in the league. Without further adieu.....let's begin
#1 Eli Manning - New York Giants via trade with San Diego Grade C+
Peyton's little brother has been a little better than average in his first 3 years in the league. He has shown flashes of brilliance but his career has so far been very inconsistent.
#2 Robert Gallery - Oakland Raiders Grade D-
Gallery has been considered a bust considering coming out of college he scored a perfect grade at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has been compared infamously to Tony Mandarich, widely considered to be one of the biggest first round busts of all-time.
#3 Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals Grade A
Larry has proven to be a franchise receiver in his first 3 years in the league. He has teamed with Anquan Boldin to become the most dangerous wide receiver tandem in the league.
#4 Phillip Rivers - San Diego Chargers via trade with the New York Giants Grade B+
Unlike Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers was not thrown to the wolves right away. He had the advantage of sitting for 2 years behind a solid pro QB in Drew Brees. He learned well as he looked like a seasoned vet in his first full year of starting.
#5 Sean Taylor - Washington Redskins Grade C
Taylor has had a solid career on the field but is more famous for making headlines off the field. He has been involved in a DUI, arrested for armed assault, and has refused to attend mandatory training camps. He was also accused of spitting at another player during a game.
#6 Kellen Winslow - Cleveland Browns Grade Incomplete
Another player from "The U", which is the war cry of players from the University of Miami, that has made more news off the field than on it. Do we see a pattern here? He was involved in a motorcycle accident in which he was trying to do tricks he had no training to do. This and a broken leg his rookie season have kept him in injured reserve for most of his short career.
#7 Roy Williams - Detroit Lions Grade A
Has become the franchise WR for the Lions. He has his best year in 2006 and is looking to improve on his already impressive resume as one of the top receivers in the league.
#8 - DeAngelo Hall - Atlanta Falcons Grade A
Hall has developed into one of the elite shut down corners in the NFL. He also won the NFL's fastest man competition at the 2005 Pro Bowl.
#9 - Reggie Williams - Jacksonville Jaguars Grade C-
This former Washington Husky has been considered a bust for his 3 years. He did start to develop some chemistry with Byron Leftwich at the beginning of last year. His production fell off after Leftwich was injured. He has never lived up to the hype that followed him out of college.
#10 - Dunta Robinson - Houston Texans Grade A
Robinson was nominated for Rookie of the Year in 2004 when he had 6 interceptions. In 2006 he was third on the team in tackles and is considered the Texans best DB.
There you have it folks. You have a mixed bag of some total busts, average, and star players. The one thing they all have in common is that coming out of college they were all rated as can't miss prospects. What can we determine from this small sampling of draft history. It is that it doesn't matter how much research, scouting, and workout time you give a player. The draft is one big roll of the dice. As they say there is no such thing as a sure thing.
The best way to grade a draft is to look at it 3 years down the road. This is more than enough time for a player to either blossom into a superstar or fade away into Bolivia (Thanks to Mike Tyson for that line.classic!). We will look at the top 10 picks of the first round and give a letter grade for each pick. It will be based on where the player is now and how they have fared so far in the league. Without further adieu.....let's begin
#1 Eli Manning - New York Giants via trade with San Diego Grade C+
Peyton's little brother has been a little better than average in his first 3 years in the league. He has shown flashes of brilliance but his career has so far been very inconsistent.
#2 Robert Gallery - Oakland Raiders Grade D-
Gallery has been considered a bust considering coming out of college he scored a perfect grade at the NFL Scouting Combine. He has been compared infamously to Tony Mandarich, widely considered to be one of the biggest first round busts of all-time.
#3 Larry Fitzgerald - Arizona Cardinals Grade A
Larry has proven to be a franchise receiver in his first 3 years in the league. He has teamed with Anquan Boldin to become the most dangerous wide receiver tandem in the league.
#4 Phillip Rivers - San Diego Chargers via trade with the New York Giants Grade B+
Unlike Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers was not thrown to the wolves right away. He had the advantage of sitting for 2 years behind a solid pro QB in Drew Brees. He learned well as he looked like a seasoned vet in his first full year of starting.
#5 Sean Taylor - Washington Redskins Grade C
Taylor has had a solid career on the field but is more famous for making headlines off the field. He has been involved in a DUI, arrested for armed assault, and has refused to attend mandatory training camps. He was also accused of spitting at another player during a game.
#6 Kellen Winslow - Cleveland Browns Grade Incomplete
Another player from "The U", which is the war cry of players from the University of Miami, that has made more news off the field than on it. Do we see a pattern here? He was involved in a motorcycle accident in which he was trying to do tricks he had no training to do. This and a broken leg his rookie season have kept him in injured reserve for most of his short career.
#7 Roy Williams - Detroit Lions Grade A
Has become the franchise WR for the Lions. He has his best year in 2006 and is looking to improve on his already impressive resume as one of the top receivers in the league.
#8 - DeAngelo Hall - Atlanta Falcons Grade A
Hall has developed into one of the elite shut down corners in the NFL. He also won the NFL's fastest man competition at the 2005 Pro Bowl.
#9 - Reggie Williams - Jacksonville Jaguars Grade C-
This former Washington Husky has been considered a bust for his 3 years. He did start to develop some chemistry with Byron Leftwich at the beginning of last year. His production fell off after Leftwich was injured. He has never lived up to the hype that followed him out of college.
#10 - Dunta Robinson - Houston Texans Grade A
Robinson was nominated for Rookie of the Year in 2004 when he had 6 interceptions. In 2006 he was third on the team in tackles and is considered the Texans best DB.
There you have it folks. You have a mixed bag of some total busts, average, and star players. The one thing they all have in common is that coming out of college they were all rated as can't miss prospects. What can we determine from this small sampling of draft history. It is that it doesn't matter how much research, scouting, and workout time you give a player. The draft is one big roll of the dice. As they say there is no such thing as a sure thing.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Hot night in hot-lanta
So they have finally put the screws to Vick. Gee I wonder if this will be reported on HYPESPN? I was sick of this story weeks ago and I am probably gonna get sicker. I hate it that this will dominate the news as we get closer to football season. Enough of that crap. Let's talk about what is important...Hailey's party!!!
We survived the 3 hours at Chuck E. Cheese which is a miracle in itself. Being that it was a Gallaher production, no children were harmed or lost in the process. A swell time was had by all. There was no pouting, fighting, hair pulling, or eye gouging. The kids behaved themselves too. LOL!!! Here is a pic of the official grand-daughter of Big Daddyz Blog.
We survived the 3 hours at Chuck E. Cheese which is a miracle in itself. Being that it was a Gallaher production, no children were harmed or lost in the process. A swell time was had by all. There was no pouting, fighting, hair pulling, or eye gouging. The kids behaved themselves too. LOL!!! Here is a pic of the official grand-daughter of Big Daddyz Blog.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Read my stuff
I wanted to let it be known I am writing articles for a new football site. The site is
http://realfootball365.com
I do the breaking news blurbs in the upper right corner of the home page. Look for me on Wednesday,Saturday, and Sunday from 12-9.
Happy Sunday everyone!!!
http://realfootball365.com
I do the breaking news blurbs in the upper right corner of the home page. Look for me on Wednesday,Saturday, and Sunday from 12-9.
Happy Sunday everyone!!!
I'm Baaaaaaaaack
Sorry I have been away so long. I was in the hospital for a spell. Doing much better now thanks for asking. Been working tons of hours. I know it's shocking considering my lack of motivation and all. (See site logo). I will be catching up on things. Today is a special day for the Big Daddy. Hailey, the official grandkid of Big Daddyz Blog, it is her birthday. We are going to the kids paradise, parents nightmare called Chuck E. Cheese. We will have some pics posted tomorrow, if we survive.
As you know it is getting close to football season and this gets the Big Daddy very excited. There are many news stories that have happened this off-season. One of those is about the issue of concussions. The NFL is finally taking a stand and ponying up for some research to try to help their employees deal with and prevent them. So in saying all that being the insensitive male that I am I am posting one of the funniest commercials of all-time. Watch, remember, and enjoy!!!
As you know it is getting close to football season and this gets the Big Daddy very excited. There are many news stories that have happened this off-season. One of those is about the issue of concussions. The NFL is finally taking a stand and ponying up for some research to try to help their employees deal with and prevent them. So in saying all that being the insensitive male that I am I am posting one of the funniest commercials of all-time. Watch, remember, and enjoy!!!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Wednesday Quick Hits
Today we will attempt to entertain you with some short but exciting news from around the sports and entertainment world. Let's hope this works, if not we shall try to find another way for you to avoid work or the family. Please feel free to comment or e-mail me here. Thanks for reading and be safe out there.
Movies
I have been to 3 movies in the last week but I can only really recommend one to go see, Mr. Brooks. Kevin Costner is quite convincing as a serial killer. The only problem is he has been in so many of my favorite movies I was rooting for him the whole movie. Good flick with a nice cast. Big Daddy rates it a B+
Speaking of movies do NOT go see Knocked Up. This movie made Spanglish seem like a classic. It was so long I thought we were gonna see the kid graduate high school before she was ever born. The only thing missing in this movie was a Celine Dion soundtrack, Leonardo DiCaprio, and a sinking ship. Big Daddy rates it a D-. The only good thing was plenty of nudity.
The other movie was Shrek 3. We had fun taking the official grandkid of the Big Daddy Blog, Hailey otherwise known as Skitch. She enjoyed it and grandpa liked it ok too. It had some funny moments but did not bowl me over. Except for one scene with the donkey character. I won't give it away but it involves a high school locker and a well placed sign. Good Times!!! Big Daddy rates it a C+
Sports Shorts
On to the lifeblood of this blog, sports news and views.
Trent Green was finally traded to the Dolphins from the Chefs for a fifth round draft pick. Yes it's slow news this time of year for the NFL. What this means fantasy wise, not much. Kansas City is now left with a roster full of has beens and unprovens at QB. The Dolphins get an aging QB coming off major injuries. Draft with caution fantasy players. Remember you were warned here first.
Another Bengal was arrested this week. Like any of us are surprised. We just heard Marvin Lewis cracking wise at the media about how there have been no players arrested this year. I wonder what his excuse is now.
As I have said before I am tired of hearing about Michael Vick and the dogfighting scandal. Until they arrest him or clear him I am not wasting any more time on it. Let's move on.
Billy "Cold Feet" Donovan decided this week after 2 whole days on the job the NBA was just not right for him. He negotiated a termination of his contract with the Orlando Magic and is headed back to the University of Florida. Good luck ever wanting to go back to the league Chicken Little. I hope your little mini-dynasty keeps going for your sake. Well not really, as a UK fan I hope your team goes back to the dumpster you pulled them out of and our new coach routinely kicks your rear for years to come. I had better stop before I go on a full blown rant. I haven't taken my night time meds yet.
That's all for now folks I should be back Friday. Tomorrow is work and a trip to the in-laws for a birthday party for my mother in law. Should be loads of fun!! Don't forget to read my articles that have been published at the Associated Content site. You can get to them by clicking on the links on the right side of this page. Peace out!!!
Movies
I have been to 3 movies in the last week but I can only really recommend one to go see, Mr. Brooks. Kevin Costner is quite convincing as a serial killer. The only problem is he has been in so many of my favorite movies I was rooting for him the whole movie. Good flick with a nice cast. Big Daddy rates it a B+
Speaking of movies do NOT go see Knocked Up. This movie made Spanglish seem like a classic. It was so long I thought we were gonna see the kid graduate high school before she was ever born. The only thing missing in this movie was a Celine Dion soundtrack, Leonardo DiCaprio, and a sinking ship. Big Daddy rates it a D-. The only good thing was plenty of nudity.
The other movie was Shrek 3. We had fun taking the official grandkid of the Big Daddy Blog, Hailey otherwise known as Skitch. She enjoyed it and grandpa liked it ok too. It had some funny moments but did not bowl me over. Except for one scene with the donkey character. I won't give it away but it involves a high school locker and a well placed sign. Good Times!!! Big Daddy rates it a C+
Sports Shorts
On to the lifeblood of this blog, sports news and views.
Trent Green was finally traded to the Dolphins from the Chefs for a fifth round draft pick. Yes it's slow news this time of year for the NFL. What this means fantasy wise, not much. Kansas City is now left with a roster full of has beens and unprovens at QB. The Dolphins get an aging QB coming off major injuries. Draft with caution fantasy players. Remember you were warned here first.
Another Bengal was arrested this week. Like any of us are surprised. We just heard Marvin Lewis cracking wise at the media about how there have been no players arrested this year. I wonder what his excuse is now.
As I have said before I am tired of hearing about Michael Vick and the dogfighting scandal. Until they arrest him or clear him I am not wasting any more time on it. Let's move on.
Billy "Cold Feet" Donovan decided this week after 2 whole days on the job the NBA was just not right for him. He negotiated a termination of his contract with the Orlando Magic and is headed back to the University of Florida. Good luck ever wanting to go back to the league Chicken Little. I hope your little mini-dynasty keeps going for your sake. Well not really, as a UK fan I hope your team goes back to the dumpster you pulled them out of and our new coach routinely kicks your rear for years to come. I had better stop before I go on a full blown rant. I haven't taken my night time meds yet.
That's all for now folks I should be back Friday. Tomorrow is work and a trip to the in-laws for a birthday party for my mother in law. Should be loads of fun!! Don't forget to read my articles that have been published at the Associated Content site. You can get to them by clicking on the links on the right side of this page. Peace out!!!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Weekend T.R.U
Hello gang, its time for another installment of the T.R.U. It has been a wild and wacky week in sports. Kind of unusual considering this is a traditionally dead period in sports news. Football is still a couple of months away from getting started which we all are counting the days. The NBA and NHL seasons are way too long. By this time if your team is out of the playoffs then who really cares. Next year for your team is right around the corner and they haven't even crowned a champ yet. So let's review some of the hot topics making headlines this week.
NBA Playoffs
The Spurs predictably cruised past the overmatched Jazz to make it once again to the Finals. They will meet either the Cavs or the Pistons. The only thing worth watching is the coming of age of Lebron James. He had a career defining game on Thursday night in the double overtime thriller. He scored 48 points, his team's last 25 in the game. Now all the talking heads and hype machine networks are putting him up there with all the greats. Not so fast my friends. This series is not over and if his team doesn't win tonight or a game 7 in Detroit, then his game 5 efforts will have been in vain. I think they will close it out tonight because Detroit is done. Look for Lebron to seize the moment and will his team to win again. Look at me going on about the NBA. I must stop now I am getting a nose bleed.
NFL News & Notes
The Michael Vick dog fighting story just keeps getting uglier and uglier by the day.There are now reports of informants coming forward to testify that not only was Vick a participant, but a major player in the dog fighting ring. If this is proven true then I feel no punishment could be harsh enough for Vick. He has been teetering on the edge of thugdom for a while. Things he has done have been covered up because the NFL has pushed him as the poster boy for the new breed of "athletic" quarterback of the future. It now seems as there maybe enough evidence to prove he was part of this amoral and totally disgusting activity. I don't think 1 year is enough. If proven guilty of these crimes I would be in favor of a lifetime ban, or at the least a 2 or 3 year suspension. It won't happen but it should. If any of us regular guys were caught doing this, we would be out of a job and spending many years behind bars.
Sad news about Patriots Marquise Hill this week. He lost his life in a drowning accident while riding a jet ski on a lake in Louisiana. He was not a starter but was a good backup defensive lineman. All indications are that the former LSU star was a good person and gave allot of his time and money to help with Katrina relief. The reports are he was not wearing a life jacket. Even though he was reported to be a good swimmer he could not resist the strong currents in the lake. I guess it may be true the good die young. People like Michael Vick and Pacman Jones seem to live forever.
MLB
As I have stated before wake me in September when baseball gets interesting. Right now all we hear is Yankees and Red Sox. By the way do they play every weekend now? Did I miss a meeting with the scheduling department where this was mandated. I am sick of hearing about them so I will not waste time writing about them. Someone should send a memo to MLB and ESPN that there are several other teams in the league now that are still playing baseball. I believe that has been forgotten. Not all of us are Sox and Yanks fans.
College Basketball
The Orlando Magic announced this week the hiring of their new head coach, Billy Donovan formerly of the University of Florida. Donovan says the lure of the NBA was just too strong to resist. Pardon me if I don't buy it. It was the lure of all those dead presidents that was too strong. He is the next in a long line of success stories of college coaches making it big in the NBA. John Calipari, Jerry Tarkanian, P.J. Carlesimo, Lon Kruger, Tim Floyd, Mike Montgermery, and Billy's mentor Rick Pitino are fine examples of how college success will certainly follow you to the pro level. One moment I have just been handed a memo from my research department. WHAT????? All those guys were flaming disasters and stole millions of dollars from franchises and repaid them with losing records. Yes folks we think Billy talked a good game about loyalty to UF while letting UK think they had a shot at hiring him. Oh he sounded good about not giving up what he he had built, blah blah blah. In the end he turned out to be a cash whore like all the rest. Again just like his mentor Tricky Rick Pitino who never saw a job opening he didn't like, or try to weasel an interview for it was all about the Benjamins baby. And the Magic are the next franchise to fall for it too. Don't believe me? Come see me in 3 years when the Magic are 20-62 and stuck with too many big contracts given to overrated former Gators, including the coach.
NBA Playoffs
The Spurs predictably cruised past the overmatched Jazz to make it once again to the Finals. They will meet either the Cavs or the Pistons. The only thing worth watching is the coming of age of Lebron James. He had a career defining game on Thursday night in the double overtime thriller. He scored 48 points, his team's last 25 in the game. Now all the talking heads and hype machine networks are putting him up there with all the greats. Not so fast my friends. This series is not over and if his team doesn't win tonight or a game 7 in Detroit, then his game 5 efforts will have been in vain. I think they will close it out tonight because Detroit is done. Look for Lebron to seize the moment and will his team to win again. Look at me going on about the NBA. I must stop now I am getting a nose bleed.
NFL News & Notes
The Michael Vick dog fighting story just keeps getting uglier and uglier by the day.There are now reports of informants coming forward to testify that not only was Vick a participant, but a major player in the dog fighting ring. If this is proven true then I feel no punishment could be harsh enough for Vick. He has been teetering on the edge of thugdom for a while. Things he has done have been covered up because the NFL has pushed him as the poster boy for the new breed of "athletic" quarterback of the future. It now seems as there maybe enough evidence to prove he was part of this amoral and totally disgusting activity. I don't think 1 year is enough. If proven guilty of these crimes I would be in favor of a lifetime ban, or at the least a 2 or 3 year suspension. It won't happen but it should. If any of us regular guys were caught doing this, we would be out of a job and spending many years behind bars.
Sad news about Patriots Marquise Hill this week. He lost his life in a drowning accident while riding a jet ski on a lake in Louisiana. He was not a starter but was a good backup defensive lineman. All indications are that the former LSU star was a good person and gave allot of his time and money to help with Katrina relief. The reports are he was not wearing a life jacket. Even though he was reported to be a good swimmer he could not resist the strong currents in the lake. I guess it may be true the good die young. People like Michael Vick and Pacman Jones seem to live forever.
MLB
As I have stated before wake me in September when baseball gets interesting. Right now all we hear is Yankees and Red Sox. By the way do they play every weekend now? Did I miss a meeting with the scheduling department where this was mandated. I am sick of hearing about them so I will not waste time writing about them. Someone should send a memo to MLB and ESPN that there are several other teams in the league now that are still playing baseball. I believe that has been forgotten. Not all of us are Sox and Yanks fans.
College Basketball
The Orlando Magic announced this week the hiring of their new head coach, Billy Donovan formerly of the University of Florida. Donovan says the lure of the NBA was just too strong to resist. Pardon me if I don't buy it. It was the lure of all those dead presidents that was too strong. He is the next in a long line of success stories of college coaches making it big in the NBA. John Calipari, Jerry Tarkanian, P.J. Carlesimo, Lon Kruger, Tim Floyd, Mike Montgermery, and Billy's mentor Rick Pitino are fine examples of how college success will certainly follow you to the pro level. One moment I have just been handed a memo from my research department. WHAT????? All those guys were flaming disasters and stole millions of dollars from franchises and repaid them with losing records. Yes folks we think Billy talked a good game about loyalty to UF while letting UK think they had a shot at hiring him. Oh he sounded good about not giving up what he he had built, blah blah blah. In the end he turned out to be a cash whore like all the rest. Again just like his mentor Tricky Rick Pitino who never saw a job opening he didn't like, or try to weasel an interview for it was all about the Benjamins baby. And the Magic are the next franchise to fall for it too. Don't believe me? Come see me in 3 years when the Magic are 20-62 and stuck with too many big contracts given to overrated former Gators, including the coach.
Friday, June 1, 2007
My Screen Debut
This is a video that my co-workers at Connextions submitted to Vonage. We were asked to do a spoof of a Vonage commercial. I was very honored to be asked to play a part. We had so much fun filming the parts that didn't make the final cut are probably funnier than the actual finished product. That is why they make blooper videos. Maybe Ray will put that on Youtube someday. For now here is the finished product. We are still waiting to hear if we won the contest and get a red carpet premier from Vonage. I know I am bias but I think we have this one in the bag. Let me know what you think....and now ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Weekend T.R.U.
Hello folks I am back after a week of R & R. The first lady and I had a wonderful trip to the beach this week. It was our first time without the kids. Needless to say our trip was stress free and fun. We love our children we really do but let’s face it, taking 4 kids to the beach is no picnic. Enough of that boring crap, on to this weeks T.R.U. I case your wondering T.R.U. stands for Thoughts, Ramblings, and Useless Information. Don’t gripe about Information not being in the anagram. It just doesn’t fit. Get over it. Now…on to the show….
NFL News & Notes
Keyshawn Johnson announced his retirement from the game this week. He had reportedly received several offers from at least a half dozen teams before deciding to hang up the cleats. He will be joining HYPESPN as an analyst for several telecasts, including pregame shows on Sunday and Monday nights. Hopefully he will be more accurate and coherent than Michael “The Pleamaker” Irvin who the network let go after last season.
React: This is a good move for both Me-Shawn and the Worldwide Leader. He is well spoken and obviously knows the game after 11 years in the league. He will be a much needed improvement from that joke Irvin. I still think as a player he was highly over-rated but he was an above average receiver with a nice career. He is not however Hall Of Fame worthy in my opinion which means he is a lock to get in.
Cincinnati Bengal Head Coach Marvin Lewis apologized to local police for a comment on a radio interview he made earlier in the week. He was talking on the Dan Patrick show on HYPESPN radio and made comments that indicated he felt the local police were targeting Bengal players. The Bengals under Lewis have been notorious for off-field issues. They have had multiple players arrested multiple times. The comments did not sit well with Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher who did not appreciate the inference that his officers are targeting Bengal players. The Bengals released a statement the next day saying the coach does not believe the police are targeting his players. “At no point did I say or mean to imply that these issues had anything to do with race” Lewis said. “When I spoke of our players being perhaps more subject to scrutiny than others, I was referring to their standing as public figures.”
React: This comes as no surprise as we now probably know where the players get their disrespect for the law from. The Bengals are the poster children for the new outlaw NFL. This has only happened after Lewis took over the team. The next day apology was obviously insincere. Why would he say what he did in the first place if he really didn’t feel that way? As a long time Bengal fan I will continue to boycott them until they hire a new head coach. It is not a race thing it is the fact that Coach Lewis has consistently drafted players with questionable character year after year. These repeated incidents have been a black eye to the city and the organization. I for one feel a change is needed. Hopefully after another year of mediocre football and court appearances that is exactly what will happen.
Not much else happening in the world of football, this is nuclear winter. Check out the countdown clock on the right hand column to see how long it is until opening kickoff day. It can’t come a minute too soon. I will be doing previews this week. Since I don’t care about baseball until September and the NBA playoffs are a joke. I might as well get started on some football. The only other sports going are racing, tennis, and golf….please don’t get me started on that garbage. That is a topic for another day.
That’s all for now folks. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. We will be back with more good stuff real soon.
NFL News & Notes
Keyshawn Johnson announced his retirement from the game this week. He had reportedly received several offers from at least a half dozen teams before deciding to hang up the cleats. He will be joining HYPESPN as an analyst for several telecasts, including pregame shows on Sunday and Monday nights. Hopefully he will be more accurate and coherent than Michael “The Pleamaker” Irvin who the network let go after last season.
React: This is a good move for both Me-Shawn and the Worldwide Leader. He is well spoken and obviously knows the game after 11 years in the league. He will be a much needed improvement from that joke Irvin. I still think as a player he was highly over-rated but he was an above average receiver with a nice career. He is not however Hall Of Fame worthy in my opinion which means he is a lock to get in.
Cincinnati Bengal Head Coach Marvin Lewis apologized to local police for a comment on a radio interview he made earlier in the week. He was talking on the Dan Patrick show on HYPESPN radio and made comments that indicated he felt the local police were targeting Bengal players. The Bengals under Lewis have been notorious for off-field issues. They have had multiple players arrested multiple times. The comments did not sit well with Cincinnati Police Chief Tom Streicher who did not appreciate the inference that his officers are targeting Bengal players. The Bengals released a statement the next day saying the coach does not believe the police are targeting his players. “At no point did I say or mean to imply that these issues had anything to do with race” Lewis said. “When I spoke of our players being perhaps more subject to scrutiny than others, I was referring to their standing as public figures.”
React: This comes as no surprise as we now probably know where the players get their disrespect for the law from. The Bengals are the poster children for the new outlaw NFL. This has only happened after Lewis took over the team. The next day apology was obviously insincere. Why would he say what he did in the first place if he really didn’t feel that way? As a long time Bengal fan I will continue to boycott them until they hire a new head coach. It is not a race thing it is the fact that Coach Lewis has consistently drafted players with questionable character year after year. These repeated incidents have been a black eye to the city and the organization. I for one feel a change is needed. Hopefully after another year of mediocre football and court appearances that is exactly what will happen.
Not much else happening in the world of football, this is nuclear winter. Check out the countdown clock on the right hand column to see how long it is until opening kickoff day. It can’t come a minute too soon. I will be doing previews this week. Since I don’t care about baseball until September and the NBA playoffs are a joke. I might as well get started on some football. The only other sports going are racing, tennis, and golf….please don’t get me started on that garbage. That is a topic for another day.
That’s all for now folks. Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend. We will be back with more good stuff real soon.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Weekend T.R.U.
Greetings from the couch. Hope everyone is well. I just thought I would ramble a bit today about some different items around the world of sports. Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email , or here. Look for my new articles at the Associated Content site as well.
Feel free to sign up but make sure to use my link on the right so I can get credit for the referral. Thanks for reading and away we go......
NBA Playoffs
I do not watch much of the NBA anymore. I was a huge fan growing up but they have lost me over the years as a hardcore fan. I still follow the scores and highlights but I can't watch a full game. I will elaborate on that in more detail at a later time. I wanted to comment on the Horry/Nash incident. The Suns are whining that they were punished unfairly and the Spurs gained an advantage when their player committed the flagrant foul. Well I agree to an extent. The rule states if you leave the bench to get involved in a fight you get a suspension. The 2 players, Stoudamire & Diaw, did leave the bench. After a few steps realized what they were doing and went back. They never approached a player from the other team to initiate an altercation. The NBA decided to suspend these players by using the old "letter of the law" excuse. I feel that they should have not been suspended because they did not violate the spirit of the law which is to keep players from leaving the bench to get involved in fights. This is in place for many reasons mainly to aid officials in restoring order quickly and to prevent serious injury to very highly paid athletes. So in one sense I agree with the Suns that the decision by the league probably cost them Game 5 of the series. On the other hand, the Suns had a chance last night to even the series and go back to their home court for a game 7. They were at full strength and the Spurs were the team that was down 1 player. What did they do? They couldn't even make it a close game. They instead spent the whole game complaining to the refs instead of worrying about winning the game on the court. The press conference was a sobfest as well still complaining how the league cost them the series. Get over it Nash. You had a chance last night to make it right and failed. I am so sick of hearing these guys blame others for their failures. Your are highly paid professionals. You are getting paid to play a game. Be a man and take your loss with class and dignity. The bottom line is you lost to the better team.
http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/10188124
NFL News
This is nuclear winter for my favorite sport. Not much going on so there is not much to report. I will be doing some articles for Associate Content previewing the upcoming season. I will also be doing an article on how to draft and build a winning fantasy football team. Since there is not much actual news to report there are stories being overblown as usual this time of year.
The big news out of Green Bay is Brett Favre is not happy they organizaion did not do more in free agency.
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/GB/10187652
He is also not happy the team did not aquire the troublesome Randy Moss. It was even reported Brett asked for a trade which he is denying. This is not a big deal. Brett is getting old and cranky like the rest of us. He has done everything possible in his career. He is a 3 time MVP, Super Bowl winner, sure fire first ballot HOF'er, the object of a serious and disturbing man crush by John Madden. Now who wouldn't want all that. I think he gets the benefit of the doubt here. He has given his all to the Packers. Is is not too much to ask for them to spend a little money to help him out. Let's face it, Brett is not the player he used to be. Then again who is, we all get old and cranky. Just ask my wife. Bottom line, it's a slow news week and the networks need something to talk about.
In this weeks edition of same crap, different pile
A Bengal was arrested
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CIN/10187681
Ricky Williams failed a drug test
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/MIA/10176934
Michael Vick being told to grow up
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/ATL/10176776
I grow weary of these thugs who think they are above the law just because they make alot of money and are famous. It is a shame that we spend most of our time talking about the criminals in sports when most of pro athletes are good people just like you and me. Unfortunately my love for football outweighs my disgust with the thugs so I will still watch.
Major League Baseball
Wake me when it is September. One quick statement though.
Don't blame Roger Clemens for his "unusual" contract perks. It is the Yankees fault for being so desperate for pitching they had no choice but to give in. Anyone of us would sign a deal like that in a New York minute (pun intended) if given the chance.
That's about all I have the energy for today. Look for my series of NFL previews as we go division by division and break down the upcoming season. What to look for fantasy wise on each team and predictions. Should be a hoot!!! Have a great weekend folks.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
A Time To Cheer
Wer’e Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!!
Yesterday was a banner day for UK fans around the world. Patrick Patterson, the last uncommitted, highly rated high school player announced he would be playing college basketball for the University of Kentucky. Take that Gator and Dookie fans!!!!
Somewhere I am sure Dook Vitale is crying in his stromboli. For the last few years of the Tubby Smith era this is exactly the point where UK has finished in 2nd place. We were runner up for Brandan Wright, Tyler Hansbrough, and Tasmin Mitchell just to name a few. We have never been able to replace the consistent but unspectacular Chuck Hayes.
Check out some highlights of the newest UK Wildcat...
UK is in the midst of the longest Final Four slump in school history. The pressure to get back there was too much for the previous coach to handle. This is why, contrary to what the people at ACCESPN think, he resigned his position. He was not fired or forced out. He left on his own accord to go the equivalent of basketball Siberia where there is no pressure. If he gets 18 wins and goes to the NIT for 2 years straight they will build a statue in his honor. Do that at Kentucky and you might want to keep a low profile in public. That is not right or wrong, just the way it is.
Since hiring Billy Gillespie it has been a whirlwind of good news which is a refreshing change for the program. He has landed 2 of the top players in the country and given UK’s legion of fans hope for the future. He already has a commitment from a top point guard who is only a sophomore in high school. This is something that never did or never would happen under Smith. This was his problem, he always got to these kids too late. Gillespie gets it. You have to get to these kids early and build a relationship. He is young and he gets the internet age teenagers. He texts and e-mails them. Somehow I just can’t see Tubby doing that.
The future is bright for UK basketball and oh how sweet it is. Thank you to the Patrick Patterson family. You made an old man’s heart feel warm again. I know this is waaaaay too important to me, but luckily I am not alone in my passion for UK basketball. How many days until Midnight Madness??? I only have one more thing to say…..
GO BIG BLUE!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Decision Time
Decision 2007
A Recruiting Saga Finally Comes To an End
We are counting down to the time for one of the most anticipated announcements in the last few years for UK basketball.
Patrick Patterson the highly touted power forward from Huntington, WVA has scheduled a press conference for 3:45 this afternoon to announce his decision on where he will play college basketball.
He is a McDonalds All-American and the best player in America who has not announced his college choice. All indications are that it is down to UK vs. Florida. This is a battle which UK has lost on the court and the recruiting trail the last few years.
In my opinion this is a must get for UK. Earlier this week Jai Lucas, another highly rated recruit, chose UF over UK. He and Patterson are good friends and has been speculated that they want to attend the same school. Neither has confirmed this but it has been talked about by many a recruiting analyst over the last few months.
I do not think losing Jai was as big a deal as some might think since UK is guard heavy on the roster for next year. UK is however hurting for a big man who can rebound and score with the loss of Randolph Morris. Ironically the last time UK was playing a similar waiting game it was with Randolph waiting for him to announce his choice of UK, Georgia Tech, or the NBA. UK was considered a distant 3rd on the list by most experts so it was a surprise when Randolph put on the UK hat at his press conference.
As UK fans we can only hope that history repeats itself and Patrick Patterson makes the same decision and puts on the Big Blue hat today.
A Recruiting Saga Finally Comes To an End
We are counting down to the time for one of the most anticipated announcements in the last few years for UK basketball.
Patrick Patterson the highly touted power forward from Huntington, WVA has scheduled a press conference for 3:45 this afternoon to announce his decision on where he will play college basketball.
He is a McDonalds All-American and the best player in America who has not announced his college choice. All indications are that it is down to UK vs. Florida. This is a battle which UK has lost on the court and the recruiting trail the last few years.
In my opinion this is a must get for UK. Earlier this week Jai Lucas, another highly rated recruit, chose UF over UK. He and Patterson are good friends and has been speculated that they want to attend the same school. Neither has confirmed this but it has been talked about by many a recruiting analyst over the last few months.
I do not think losing Jai was as big a deal as some might think since UK is guard heavy on the roster for next year. UK is however hurting for a big man who can rebound and score with the loss of Randolph Morris. Ironically the last time UK was playing a similar waiting game it was with Randolph waiting for him to announce his choice of UK, Georgia Tech, or the NBA. UK was considered a distant 3rd on the list by most experts so it was a surprise when Randolph put on the UK hat at his press conference.
As UK fans we can only hope that history repeats itself and Patrick Patterson makes the same decision and puts on the Big Blue hat today.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Mother's Day Blues
Do not let the title fool you, we had a wonderful Mother's Day this year. We planned to have a family cookout at the park but Big Daddy forgot to reserve a spot so we struck out there. I called the #1 son Josh and he offered to use his palatial estate as a backup plan. This is very generous of him. We know he only agreed so he could have control of his grill which he lives for. He thinks he is a grill master and we will not tell him otherwise. Just kidding he is a great cook which is one of the reasons his wife Leslie married him.
We enjoyed the company of Josh's in-laws as well. Bob, Crystal, and Little Bob were gracious enough to join us. We were all one big happy family for a few hours which did the Big Daddy's heart good. Josh,Meghan,Donna, & Sarah are all but grown up so it is a rare occasion we are all together. We also had the 2 grand kids along, Hailey & Carter. Hailey is Josh's daughter and is 100% papaw's girl. Carter is an adorable 1 year old. He is Meghan's step son. We are just getting to know each other but I am sure it won't be long until the Big Daddy will be spoiling him on action movies, television crime dramas, & heavy metal music. Hey it worked for my 4 kids why not continue the tradition.
Sarah's boyfriend David was in attendance for his first Gallaher family event. After much coaxing and convincing he joined the traditional football game. He was like the new kid in school. At first he was awkward and scared. He later became frightened and wanted a place to hide. He then settled down and fit right in. The bruises will heal eventually both physically and emotionally.
The game went as it always does the winner was Josh and whoever is on his team. He is officially 196 and 0 all time in the series. He will probably always stay undefeated as we don't know how he would handle it if he ever lost to his sisters. I always give the girls the same pep talk that I learned from my favorite movie..."Let the Wookie win". As if they have any choice.
The mothers, Tammy & Leslie, got in the game as well as replacements for the weak and injured. They quickly exited as usual but that was for the best. It wouldn't have been good to send a mom to the ER on mother's day.
Meghan as usual did not last long and came up with a lame excuse why she couldn't play. We are used to this by now but that didn't stop us from teasing her. She takes it well and figures the emotional scars are better than bodily harm.
After the food and football it was time to head over to the mother-in-laws for the second half of our journey. A good time was had by all at Josh's house. We got some much needed exercise and Crystal handed out some valuable life lessons to her new best friend David. Now you know why he decided to play football for a while.
Part 2
We arrived in Pineville at the Stipek Estate and were greeted by our family. It was nice to see them as they are a good drive away and with gas prices we don't get to visit much. Barb, Jinnie, and Bob were gracious hosts as usual. We sat on the back porch catching up and eating some great cake made by Jinnie. She was nervous about the cake since Tammy has been a cake decorator since Fonzie was still cool. She had no reason to be since she did a great job on it. I noticed my lovely wife was very happy to see her sister and mother so anxious to please her. It was good to see my wife smile. After a couple of hours of conversation and cake we decided to head back home. Of course Sarah was with us so we had to stop at Taco Bell. What would a day with Sarah be if she didn't con us out of a meal.
So if you read all that your probably as exhausted as we were by the end of the day. It was a Mother's day to remember in 2007. Once again I am reminded how lucky I am that Tammy Sue Oberling agreed to be my wife and the mother of my children. Even though my mother is not around it sure was a good day for the mother in my life, my beautiful wife. I sometimes take her for granted but this day I thanked God that night for allowing me to have her in my life.
Yes it was sure a good day!!!
We enjoyed the company of Josh's in-laws as well. Bob, Crystal, and Little Bob were gracious enough to join us. We were all one big happy family for a few hours which did the Big Daddy's heart good. Josh,Meghan,Donna, & Sarah are all but grown up so it is a rare occasion we are all together. We also had the 2 grand kids along, Hailey & Carter. Hailey is Josh's daughter and is 100% papaw's girl. Carter is an adorable 1 year old. He is Meghan's step son. We are just getting to know each other but I am sure it won't be long until the Big Daddy will be spoiling him on action movies, television crime dramas, & heavy metal music. Hey it worked for my 4 kids why not continue the tradition.
Sarah's boyfriend David was in attendance for his first Gallaher family event. After much coaxing and convincing he joined the traditional football game. He was like the new kid in school. At first he was awkward and scared. He later became frightened and wanted a place to hide. He then settled down and fit right in. The bruises will heal eventually both physically and emotionally.
The game went as it always does the winner was Josh and whoever is on his team. He is officially 196 and 0 all time in the series. He will probably always stay undefeated as we don't know how he would handle it if he ever lost to his sisters. I always give the girls the same pep talk that I learned from my favorite movie..."Let the Wookie win". As if they have any choice.
The mothers, Tammy & Leslie, got in the game as well as replacements for the weak and injured. They quickly exited as usual but that was for the best. It wouldn't have been good to send a mom to the ER on mother's day.
Meghan as usual did not last long and came up with a lame excuse why she couldn't play. We are used to this by now but that didn't stop us from teasing her. She takes it well and figures the emotional scars are better than bodily harm.
After the food and football it was time to head over to the mother-in-laws for the second half of our journey. A good time was had by all at Josh's house. We got some much needed exercise and Crystal handed out some valuable life lessons to her new best friend David. Now you know why he decided to play football for a while.
Part 2
We arrived in Pineville at the Stipek Estate and were greeted by our family. It was nice to see them as they are a good drive away and with gas prices we don't get to visit much. Barb, Jinnie, and Bob were gracious hosts as usual. We sat on the back porch catching up and eating some great cake made by Jinnie. She was nervous about the cake since Tammy has been a cake decorator since Fonzie was still cool. She had no reason to be since she did a great job on it. I noticed my lovely wife was very happy to see her sister and mother so anxious to please her. It was good to see my wife smile. After a couple of hours of conversation and cake we decided to head back home. Of course Sarah was with us so we had to stop at Taco Bell. What would a day with Sarah be if she didn't con us out of a meal.
So if you read all that your probably as exhausted as we were by the end of the day. It was a Mother's day to remember in 2007. Once again I am reminded how lucky I am that Tammy Sue Oberling agreed to be my wife and the mother of my children. Even though my mother is not around it sure was a good day for the mother in my life, my beautiful wife. I sometimes take her for granted but this day I thanked God that night for allowing me to have her in my life.
Yes it was sure a good day!!!
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