Finally...

For the first time I can remember, not one, but two of teams I root for (Twins, Rays, Phillies, in that order) is in the World Series. Everyone and their mother seems to be picking the Rays in 6 or 7, which is odd, because just a few days ago, they were claiming the Rays were dead with a 3-2 lead in the ALCS.
Now, Crawford, Price, Longoria, the Flying Hawaiian, and Cole will meet the nation. As for my prediction, Rays in 7. Any team with 3 possible MVP's in their lineup will not go down without a brawl.

The Face Of OKC

Is there a better player to be on a team searching for a identity, than this man? Oklahoma City Thunder meet Joe Smith. Match made in heaven.

My, Times are Changing

As of 4:50 on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins have the same number of wins as the New England Patriots. Yes, let that sink in...

Ronnie Brown is Back!

A Season A Decade in the Making

I held off all season to say anything, afraid to jinx them, but I think it's safe now, because the Tampa Rays are in the playoffs.
They could win the World Series.
This is a good team. And still, luck has everything to do with it. How else would you explain a team that was perennial basement dwellers, gets off to a unbelievable start, loses two of their best players, keeps on truckin, clinches their first ever playoff appearance, and is now in the drivers seat of a division with two of baseballs most dominant teams.
Let's just call it karma.

Second, about all this talk about the Tampa not deserving this team due to the attendance. For the first decade of their existence the {devil} rays have not mattered. To put this into perspective, the team that came into the majors with them, the Diamondbacks, have already won the World Series. Also, while the writers are complaining about the Rays attendance, the two-time Champion Marlins are playing to 56 fans a night.
Wait till next year.

Above all else, I just can't believe how things have changed since the days of Boggs, and McGriff. Times are changing, and maybe the AL East is a three headed monster now...

NFL's LeBron and Melo

First off, I know this is a ludicrous statement. Personal rivalry's are much more rare in the NFL than in the NBA. There are less players in the NBA and it is more personal (smaller playing surface, no pads or helmets).

What I am saying is Adrian Peterson and Darren McFadden could be the next Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. The best at their positions, and their respective teams battling for the number one spot.

For this to happen two things need to take place:
#1 Both Peterson and McFadden would have to become the full-time starter, and thrive on it.
#2 Both teams would have to greatly improve. Because, lets face it, Oakland will not be in the Super Bowl this year or next. Minnesota is alot closer to that goal than the Raiders

As for the LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony thing: they do have several similarities. Both were stars before they made it pro: A.P at Oklahoma, and Run DMc at Arkansas, where the two came in 2nd for Heisman voting. Both were drafted as the face of the franchise. Although not as much as LeBron for Cleveland.

This will take time. Oh yes it will take time. But on a talent level it is there. 2012 Super Bowl: Raiders vs. Vikings!

Buccaneers Cut More QB's Than Spleens!

The Chris Simms era in Tampa is over! After one legendary QB changes jerseys this preseason, another will be added to the list.

Alright, I hope no one actually believed that. My question is not "why?" but "what took so long?". Even before missing two seasons, Simms seemed too be throwing interceptions all the time. Although he did throw more touchdowns than interceptions in 2005 when he played in 11 games, all of my memory's are of his INT's.

It is a sad day for Jon Gruden, however. Think of your prized collection. Then think of the 5th best item in the collection. Then think of giving it away. The QB collector has lost one, but don't forget about Jake Plummer.

No More Morelli!

Well that was fun. I knew Penn State's game against Coastal Carolina would be pretty easy (minus the chance of a App State like upset), but this was a fantastic start to what all Penn State fans are hoping to be a great year.

Keep in mind that this is Coastal Carolina and not Ohio State. But the QB's were solid with Clark going 11-14, 146 yds 1 td, and Devlin 5-8 83 yds. Paul Cianciolo even got in the action passing for 31 yards.

The Running game is what I most excited about this year, and I got a little taste of what could happen. Starter Evan Royster did the most with his 8 carries, ending up in the endzone 3 times. The most excitement was reserved for freshman Stephfon Green who had 89 yards and 2 touchdowns.

So, things are looking really good (for now) and will most likely continue for the next three weeks. Then conference games will start, and the true status of this team will show. Keep your fingers crossed!

Tim Tebow? Really!?!?

So you want to portray Tim Tebow as a throw-back type player. Why not have him stand next to a statue, or even make it a black and white picture, but this? It just makes me want to burst out in uncontrollable laughter.

Gilligan to Favre: "I Know How You Feel"

Since the beginning of time (1988) there has been Madden Football. A little bit after the dawn of man, (2001) EA Sports decided to change around the Garden of Eden, switching the white-haired, jolly "Adam", for the gladiators themselves.

The rest is history (along with my horrible analogy). Since Eddie Gorge has graced the cover, there have been interceptions, injury's, retirements, dog-fighting, and several other curse-like things. But then retired Brett Favre was selected, and then promptly unretired, then traded to the Jets, not in time for the covers to be changed to reflect the trade. Hence, according to the curse rulebook makes the curse null and void, since the uniform has changed.

Think about it, in the third season of Gilligan's Island the episode "Voodoo", Gilligan was under a curse because the voodoo doll was dressed just like himself. If he had simply ditched the silly hat, the curse would expire.

There it is. The logical end to the Madden Curse. But then again, there is that one episode of the Brady Bunch...

Two-Timing Gators: The NBA Season

You remember them right? Before the 2006 Tournament, they were a 3 seed with a bunch of unknowns. Now, the Florida Gators have 2 Championships on the shelf, and a bunch of NBA players. Here's how Florida's fab five did in their first season in the pros.

Joakim Noah F/C Chicago Bulls 6.6 PPG 5.6 RPG 1.1 APG
Corey Brewer F Minnesota T-Wolves 5.8 PPG 3.7 RPG 1.4 APG
Al Horford F/C Atlanta Hawks 10.1 PPG 9.7 RPG 1.5 APG
Tauren Green G Denver Nuggets 1.6 PPG 0.6 RPG 0.6 APG
Lee Humphrey G PAOK (Greek) ------- -------- -------