Dennis Dixon vs Matt Grothe

Pretty good matchup today at 2:00. Dennis Dixon vs Matt Grothe, Oregon vs South Florida. Two versatile QB's, who can both pass and run (Both could be considered a poor man's Tim Tebow). Both quarterbacks, where basically unheard of last year, and this year have taken their teams as far as the number 2 spot in the country.

BUT, scratch that. That is what the matchup would have been. Unfortunately, Dixon tore his ACL, and will not be able to play in the Sun Bowl. Too bad, would have been a great game.

See Ya Later Kyle

Philadelphia's resident Ashton Kutcher look-a-like, Kyle Korver, is heading to Utah. In his place, the Sixers will get Gordy Giricek, and a first round draft pick.
Korver will be missed, for his lights-out three-point shooting (including second place in the 2005 All-Star Weekend 3-Point Challenge), and his involvement with the Philadelphia community. He was very active in helping the Coats for kids drive, donating winter coats to Operation Warm. They, in turn, give disadvantaged kids new winter coats.
The Gordon Giricek I remember is the one who averaged 12.2 ppg during two season with the Magic, and who hasn't been very cooperative with the Jazz offices. I'm not too excited player-for-player wise, but the first round pick sounds pretty good, for a team that still lacks a face of the franchise since Allen Iverson has left. Andre Iguodala and Louis Williams have some potential, but lack A.I. charisma.

The Next Batch of NCAA Dominance in Florida?

Is the dominance of Miami, Florida, and Florida State over? Well, I wouldn't go that far, but look at for the new kids.
South Florida, Florida Atlantic, and Central Florida, all have less then 50 years of college football under their belts combined. FAU football was only started in 2001! This year, 5 teams from Florida will compete in the bowl season. This list doesn't even include Miami. Two teams (Florida and South Florida) are ranked. (Both were in the top ten some time in the year.) So maybe we'll be seeing more Bulls, Owls, and Knights during New Years rather than Gators, Seminoles, and Hurricanes.

Florida in the Bowls:
Florida Atlantic (7-5) vs Memphis (7-5) Dec. 21nd 8:00 on ESPN2
UCF (10-3) vs Mississippi State (7-5) Dec. 29th 4:30 on ESPN
South Florida (9-3) vs Oregon (8-4) Dec. 31st 2:00 on CBS
Kentucky (7-5) vs Florida State (7-5) Dec. 31st 4:00 on ESPN
Michigan (8-4) vs Florida (9-3) Jan. 1st 1:00 on ABC

PiPA Update: Martin Gramatica

This just in (5 days ago), the New Orleans Saints have signed Martin Gramatica. Martin was last seen with the New England Patriots, but never actually played with them. Of course he was Tampa Bays kicker during the Super Bowl run of 2002, known as "Automatica Gramatica". At least once a day I think of one of his T.O.esque celebrations (who am I kidding?). I seriously hope he can have a good rest of the season.


He went 1-1 with a 31yarder on Sunday against the Cardinals

Mic'd Up

Ted Ginn Jr.: Man! Isn't the NFL AWESOME!
Troy Smith: Yeah! This beats going to the BCS Championship game any day!
TGJ:..........................
TS:........................
TGJ:........ 1st Win in 15 games......
TS: ....8 game losing streak.......
TGJ:....
TS:......
TGJ: Man! This sucks!
TS: Lets find out if Chris Weinke can get us back in.
TGJ: I'm in

Week 15: PA vs. FLA

Buccaneers:
Michael Spurlock did something Karl "The Truth" Williams, Aaron Stecker (now with the Saints), and countless other Kick returners could never do; return one for a touchdown. 1,865th time is the charm.
Tampa Bay also clinched the NFC South. Last year was horrendous with a 4-12 record, and an 0-6 division record. This season, for some inexplicable reason, they are playing decent football. They still have not lost in the division (Last game of the season is against the Carolina Panthers).

Dolphins:
A day for first in Florida. Tampa gets their first kick return and Miami wins. Once again the Dolphins were about to get their 7th loss by 3 points, when god must have felt sorry. Ravens miss the field goal; Cleo Lemon works his magic (anyone think that sentence would be uttered before this year?)
On the other side of the ball, what is happening to the Ravens? Two weeks removed from a near win against the undefeated Patriots, with the defense clicking, they get blown out by Indy and then become the answer to prayer against the Miami Dolphins.

Eagles:
This was it, if the Eagles were to only win one more game the whole year, this would be the game to win Philly fans would say. The Cowboys also had something to play for, or should I say Cowboy. Tony Romo's latest blonde was in attendance, and all was set for a Big D Blowout. Funny thing: that never got started, even funnier: Philadelphia came away with the W. Across the North East, workers in their cubicles will never hear the end of how Donovan McNabb stole one from Romo in his own house.
Another incredible thing also happened during the game: A player gave up a touchdown for the teams benefit! In an era where basketball player would shoot at their own basket to get that final rebound for a triple double, Brian Westbrook laid down at the one yard line to kill the clock and seal the victory. Could you see Terrell Owens do that, "And miss a chance to celebrate? No Way!". So I thank Brian Westbrook, thank you for thinking about the game, instead of you choreography.


Steelers and Jaguars:
Was that really the Pittsburgh Defense out there on Sunday? Or did the Oakland Raiders just put on some Steeler jerseys and go into the game for them? Seriously, if the Jags can do this to Pittsburgh, watch out. After seeing Fred Taylors performance, I was shocked to read that he has never been to a Pro Bowl. He has had 7 1,000yd seasons, including a 1,500 yd performance in '03.
These teams seem to be taking different routes to the playoffs: Pittsburgh is limping, while the Jags, with their two-headed monster of Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, are surging.

Standings
1.) Jacksonville Jaguars (10-4)
2.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-5)
3.) Pittsburgh Steelers (9-5)
4.) Philadelphia Eagles (6-8)
5.) Miami Dolphins (1-13)

Florida is pulling away. Every team in the sunshine state won this week, including the Fins!

Attention NBA

If you are in a position of authority in the NBA, do not allow your players to have a deal with Steve and Barry's, the discount athletic sportswear store. Forget the Madden Curse or the SI Jinx, this involves the whole team.
Case in point, last year the New York Knicks were struggling. They had a 33-49 record with a winning percentage of .402. This year, with Steve and Barry's leader of the "Starbury" shoe line, Stephon Marbury, the Knicks have limped to a 6-11 record (.353 winning percentage) including a court trial and a loss to the Boston Celtics by just about 50 points.
Exhibit B: Ben Wallace led the Chicago Bulls to a decent 49-33 record (.598). After starting the "Big Ben" product line at Steve and Barry's: 5-11 (.313).
So I cry out to you Dwight Howard, forget discount basketball shoes. The Magic need you, I need you.

Masks of Glory

Just wanted to expand on the last post. Masks of Glory is a blog dedicated to the goalies of hockey, and the masks they wear.
And the picture to the left is Marc Denis with the Lightning. One of my favorites, just for including a Gator.

Where to Find PiPA

This is just going to be a quick post to show where you can read:
The Main Site
(palmsinpa.blogspot.com/)

Sports Illustrated: FanNation
http://www.fannation.com/blogs/show

The Sporting News Sporting Blog
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/Svenjayne

Main Blog is updated first.

And for hockey fans:
http://masksofglory.blogspot.com/

Bucs Might Possibly Be For Real

Some teams, when faced with injury to one or two players, fold. Case in point the Atlanta Falcons without Mike Vick. The Buccaneers however, have gotten better. I thought, at the beginning of the year that the Bucs were a 6 win team. After injury's to Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman, I would have said 4 wins. That's the great thing about this team. People step up. That why Ernest Graham is consistently having 100-yard games, and Luke McCown, after sitting since '04 threw for 313 yards and two scores. How else can you explain the old man known as Joey Galloway having 159 yards in a single game.
So that is the reason Tampa is leading their division by 3 games and yet to lose in the South (Not playing Mike Vick also helps). I do not miss Trent Dilfer at all.

State of College Football Address

Wow. Just wow. Name me one year in any sport, where the unthinkable happened just about every week. Give me a season where a Division II team, beats a Big Ten powerhouse, or a season that Notre Dame finishes with three wins, thanks to Duke. Or where such teams as South Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, or Missouri are in the top 10, let alone top 25! The unstoppable Southern Cal Trojans were beaten a couple times; by STANFORD! This season, no one was safe, that is except for Hawaii. Therefore I believe Hawaii should be in the National Title Game against Ohio State. Any team that did not lose in a season like this, deserves the chance to play the best; to be considered the best.
The defending champs, the Florida Gators, lost their starting QB, and his replacement is a guy who only knows how to use his legs. They're done, Right? Well now, they finished with only 3 losses, and that happy footed quarterback? The probable Heisman winner.
One Heisman candidate came out of nowhere this year. Honestly, before the season, did you even know who Chase Daniels was?
All in all, this was a bad time to start your College Football pick 'em team. Was it enjoyable? Definitely. Do I like it? I'm not so sure. Sure, everyone loves a good upset, but wont they lose some of their luster, when each season is filled with at least ten huge upsets? For now, GO HAWAII!

Thank You Reggie Bush

The New Orleans Saints, beat the Buccaneers, bringing them just one game behind in the NFC South. But wait, for some inexplicable reason, the Saints tried an end around with Brees handing off to Bush, who in turn attempted to pitch it to Devery Henderson. Somewhere in that span of time, Reggie's head wasn't in the game. Maybe, he was daydreaming about USC possibly making it the BCS Championship, or perhaps he was looking forward to New Orleans upcoming heavyweight battle with the Falcons. Whatever the reason was, he held on to that ball a tad too long. The pitch went behind Henderson, and the Bucs recovered with 3:30 left on the clock. I just want to know, who even suggested that play? A QB kneel would be smarter than that play, wasting time, and not turning it over. So my deepest gratitude goes to you, Reggie Bush. Thank you.