December 7th update

Don't like it? Well Suh me!

• Ndamukong Suh (pronounced 'sue' in case the cheesy header to this piece didn't make it clear) is an animal. Some people use this term to denote a player who is fierce competitor, improving his team through incredible plays made by that player's unique set of skills. Other use it to mean someone who a questionable human being, unable to act as a decent human being, instead choosing to act otherwise (or animalistic). I use this word because I submit that Suh fits both descriptions.
• Suh, a dominant Defensive Tackle who is extremely athletic for someone his size, probably should have won the Heisman Trophy award, which is supposed to go to the nation's best player, after the 2009 season (It might as well be called the QB or RB award because only 3 non-quarterbacks/running backs have won it since 1970) but lost to Mark Ingram and had to settle for being taken #2 in the NFL draft the following year by the Detroit Lions where he was expected to lead a resurgence for the team's awful defense.
• However, while he has put up incredible stats and the team has improved on the field, he's also come under fire for being a dirty player. In a preseason game his rookie year, he nearly ripped the head off of QB Jake Delhomme and he has been fined multiple times for his over-the-top hits.
• Then in the past couple weeks he was in a wreck and may have told women in the car with him to lie about their injuries and also repeatedly rammed an opponent's head into the turf and then stomped on the player's arm with his spikes (on Thanksgiving no less). He was suspended for two games for the stomp despite an explanation that seemed like something you'd see from a five year old who had been caught stealing cookies from the kitchen. If Suh can focus his anger and play aggressively while not behaving unacceptably, he stands a chance at becoming one of the greatest Defensive Tackles in NFL history. However, to this point, The Detroit Lion seems to think that wearing a helmet with an animal on it gives him the right to act like one.


Miami Marlins on spending spree

• The Baseball winter meetings kicked off in Dallas this week. This annual event generally signals the beginning off the offseason players moves, both in free agency and with trades. This year’s free agent class is headed by two of baseball's best players, Albert Pujols and Jose Reyes.
• The team who seems to be making the biggest splash so far is the newly minted Miami Marlins (formerly titled the Florida Marlins). The Marlins made the first free agent move of the offseason signing closer Heath Bell on a 3-year $27 million deal. They quickly trumped this deal by signing the aforementioned, Jose Reyes, a shortstop formerly of the New York Mets. Reyes, one of the jewels of the free agent market, signed a 6-year $106 million deal. The Reyes signing is interesting for the Marlins as their best player currently is Hanley Ramirez, who also plays shortstop
• Albert Pujols has also been made a long term offer by the Marlins. The 31-year old who has put up career numbers that put him in league with names such as Babe Ruth, Willie Mays and Ted Williams has been looking for a 10-year deal from his current team (The St Louis Cardinals) but they are reticent to give it to him. Such a deal would be risky as even a player of Pujols's caliber would be likely to deteriorate greatly from his current production by the time he reaches 41 years old (and even before then). However, the Marlins are rumored to have made a 10-year offer for Pujols and are expecting a response from him sometime soon.


Rookie Quarterbacks Leading the NFL

• This year’s crop of rookie quarterbacks has been remarkable in leading their teams to strong seasons, which is unusual because apart from Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco a couple years ago, rookie quarterbacks have almost categorically struggled in the NFL over the past handful of seasons.
• The Carolina Panthers' signal-caller Cam Newton has been a dual threat throwing for 13 touchdowns and running for a baker’s dozen as well. Through 12 games, the Panthers have already doubled their win total from last year, and are looking like they are on the upswing. This past weekend, Newton rushed for 3 touchdowns to break the NFL record for quarterbacks in a single season, and he’s' only played 75% of the season. Newton is on pace to shatter many other rookie quarterback records, but he may need to be more judicious with what he does with the footballs afterwards.
• Andy Dalton, the second round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals, is Newton’s biggest competition for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Bengals are 7-5 and have a chance at making the playoffs under the leadership of Dalton. Dalton's statistics are not quite as impressive as Newton, but his team has won more and has a chance at the playoffs.
• The rest of the Rookie quarterbacks have simply enough, shown growing pains. Christian Ponder of the Minnesota Vikings has shown a lot of promise with the young Vikings but the team has only won two games. Blaine Gabbert, of the Jacksonville Jaguars has been very spotty and Jake Locker seems to be a bigger hit on YouTube (this is really funny if you have a couple minutes) than he is with the Titans.

December 2nd update

BCS: Big Confusing System

Note: Skip to bullet #2 if you're already familiar with the BCS system.
• Starting in 1998 college football went to a new system that set up a set of national championship games. This new system was coined the Bowl Championship Series (or BCS). A set of 4 games featured the winners of the 6 biggest (read: most profitable) conferences and two wild card teams (in 2006 a 5th game was added, adding 2 additional wild card teams). Over the past few years many people have had issues with the system saying it wasn’t a good representation of the best teams or it didn’t allow for smaller schools to get representation.
• The South Eastern Conference (SEC) has been the dominant conference in the BCS winning 7 of the 12 championships including the last 5 in a row. This year’s LSU and Alabama teams are currently ranked in the top 2 of the BCS. However, as they are in the same division only one (LSU) can play for the SEC championship (against Georgia this weekend) for that right. If LSU wins, they will most likely face Alabama in a rematch of their offensive explosion from earlier in the year. If LSU loses they will likely still play Alabama for the National Championship despite neither of them winning their own conference. If you’re confused, you’re not the only one.
• Of the other 5 major conferences, each of them sends their conference champion to one of the coveted BCS games. This year the Pac 12 championship features a team, UCLA, that can win their conference and go to a BCS game (and get all the money that comes along with it) with a 7-6 record. If UCLA loses the game they will be 6-7 and not be eligible for any bowl game. This situation makes even less sense than the SEC confusion scripted above. Additionally, the Big East’s presumptive champion, Louisville, is 7-5, but they will make a BCS game even with their mediocre record while teams with only one loss will likely be left out.
• College football is a jumbled mess that is beyond comical at this point. Why not just play a 3 or 4 round playoff that would occur during the regular bowl season? Here's a detailed look at how that scenario might look if it were in place this season.


Weekend Football Preview

• NCAA Conference Championship Games: In addition to the SEC and Pac 12 championship games listed above, the ACC championship game will feature #5 Virginia Tech taking on #20 Clemson. The Big 10’s championship game will feature #15 Wisconsin vs #13 Michigan State and the Big 12 Championship game will not happen this year because 12 teams are required and the no-longer appropriately named Big 12 only has 10 teams.
• The “Who Thought This Game Would Be Good” Game: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers. The surprisingly competitive Cincinnati Bengals travel to Pittsburgh to take on the always Stout Steelers. The Bengals are 7-4 behind the power of their Rookie Quarterback and Wide Receiver (Andy Dalton and AJ Green) and their veteran Running Back (Cedric Benson). The Steelers defeated the Bengals 3 weeks ago and are looking for the season sweep.
• NFL Game of the Week: Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints – The Saints are coming off of a Monday Night Football clobbering of the New York Giants are looking to continue clicking against the Detroit Lions. The Lions, who lost their star Defensive Tackle Ndamukong Suh to a suspension, are looking to rebound after having lost 4 of their last 6 games after starting the season with 5 straight wins.


NBA stars on the move?

• With the NBA lockout finally resolved, the most entertaining part of the NBA other than the games can finally begin: Offseason player movement and the potential for big names to switch teams.
• Superstar PG Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets has stated that he will not sign a long term deal and since he only has one year left on his contract the Hornets may try to trade him in order to get something in return. He's been linked to the Boston Celtics in a trade for defensive wizard Rajon Rondo but both teams have denied that rumor. Paul has stated that he wants to play in New York with good friends Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony.
• Orlando Magic Center Dwight Howard is in a similar position as Paul with only one year remaining on his contract and the New Jersey Nets have expressed interest in trading for him, likely giving up two first round picks and young Center Robin Lopez in return.
• If it happened, the Howard deal could convince superstar PG Deron Williams to change his mind about opting out of his current deal with the Nets as it seems that NBA stars nowadays trend towards pairing up with other big names. It's also worth noting, however, that Williams could opt out of his deal and still sign with the Nets, presumably for more money under the new collective bargaining rules.

November 25th Update

Brothers John (on the left) and Jim (in the middle) and their father on the field before their Thanksgiving Night match-up

Recap of Thanksgiving day NFL Games

For years the standard crop of NFL games has been an early game with the pathetic Lions followed by a late game with the Cowboys that has generally been exciting but can be hit or miss as well. This year however, there were not only two, but three games with compelling storylines. In order:

• The resurgent Lions played the defending Super Bowl champion Packers in a matchup of teams whose record was a combined 17-3. But despite starting off well, the Lions suffered 3 turnovers and were distracted by the amateurish meltdown and subsequent ejection of their best defender, Ndamukong Suh, losing 27-15 (it was 27-8 until the final 15 seconds) as Aaron Rodgers threw for 2 TD's again as he (incredibly) has every game this season.
• The Cowboys played the Miami Dolphins in a game that looked awful 3 weeks ago when the Cowboys were struggling at 3-4 and the Dolphins were winless. But each had won 3 straight coming into this game and the Cowboys were tied for first in the NFC East. The Cowboys didn't wow anyone over with their style of play but in the end managed to position kicker Dan Bailey for a chip shot FG to win 20-19 in the final seconds
• It's only appropriate that the first ever matchup between brothers as head coaches in the NFL happened on a day when so many family members were also with one another. And just like so many families may face off in some sort of uncomfortable competition, the coaches of the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers did so on TV in front of millions. The Ravens set a franchise record sacking 49ers quarterback Alex Smith 9 times en route to a 16-6 victory.

NBA Players Announce 4-Game Charity Tournament

• NBA Stars, Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony announced Wednesday a series of four games starting December 1st in Akron Ohio. The tour, that will end on December 10^th in East Rutherford, NJ will be combined with big charity events prior to each matchup.
• James is from Akron and will act as host for the first game. The second game, on Dec 4^th will be in New Orleans, the NBA home of Chris Paul. The third game will be in Chicago on Dec 7^th, the home town of Chris Paul. The fourth game will be the in East Rutherford, NJ. This suburb of New York is the NBA home of Carmelo Anthony.
• This tour, which will raise a lot of money and awareness for each of the star’s charitable causes, is seen by some of the more skeptical viewers of the NBA as a PR stunt to gain public support for the players in their battle against the NBA in their labor negotiations.