I love the headline steeling job that the Mets did today. Anyone who can knock the Super Bowl bound Giants to the corner of the front page deserves a lot of credit......... and the fact that its the Mets makes it that much better.
I love that team.
The headline stealing continues on Monday's Edge. Edge veteran Adam Rubin from the New York Daily News will join us to talk about the Santana deal and other Met happenings.
But not to fear........They'll be tons of Super Bowl stuff from your pals at The Edge.
Really, would you expect anything else from us? Tune in Monday at 9pm only on mywcwp.com
-Jordan Lauterbach- The Edge (Monday 9-11pm) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Vindication...if only for a short while
My bad "sporting luck" has been well documented on this blog. There has not been much good to say about the teams I hold so dear in a long, long time (August, by my count). But that changed today at about 4:30. To say that I am ecstatic about the Mets acquisition of Johan Santana is a major understatement. In fact, I can't describe what I'm feeling. Perhaps its just pent up Mets September collapse/Notre Dame/Jets misery finally getting its sweet release. I wrote the day of the Lastings Milledge trade that the Mets should do an thing and everything they can to acquire Santanna. Turns out, they didn't have to. The Twins basically did the Mets work for them. If I'm a Twins fan today, I'm livid. It's obvious that the best deal on the table was the Yankees offer that included Melky Cabrera and Phil Hughes. Even the deal that (reportedly) had the Red Sox trading away top prospect Jacoby Ellsbury would have been better then what the Mets gave up. The principal prospect in the Met deal is Carlos Gomez. I love Gomez. He's got a ton of raw talent and can get to just about any ball in the outfield. He's a center fielder who played left for the majority of his time in Queens. This could have exaggerated his defensive ability a bit, but I still think he's a tremendous defensive prospect. The major deficiency in Gomez's fielding ability was the routes he took to balls. Often times, he would misjudge balls in left field. Most times, his speed was enough to make up for it. Other times it was not. This could have been due to the fact that he was a natural center fielder or just plain youthful exuberance. Gomez was decent at the plate. He hit .232 with 2 homers and 12 RBI's. He also missed a lot of time due to injury. He was growing into a good hitter and I think he will be one in the future. Phil Humber was the other principal in the deal. He's had trouble with injury and was treated with extreme care when he finally came up late in the year. Humber made one start and looked bad. He appeared in three games and had an ERA over seven. Call me crazy, but I don't mind giving that up. Nor do I mind giving up Kevin Mulvey or Deolis Guerra....that's fine by me.
On Friday, I read that the deal was contingent on the inclusion of Fernando Martienez. He is the Mets top prospect. I didn't mind giving him up, but keeping him is certainly testament to how desperate the Twins were to get rid of Santana. That's fine. Sometimes the best things in sports make themselves available due to desperation. Desperation was obviously what the Twins needed to make this move and the Mets reaped the benefits.
If your a Twins fan wondering "how could this happen?", the answer to that question is quite simple. Overestimation. The Mets dumped Lastings Milledge in November because they underestimated his value (I think, anyway). This was the exact opposite. The Twins thought they could get a multitude of top flight prospects for Johan. Obviously this was not true. In step the Mets. Omar Minaya knows that the Twins need to move Santana because his trade value goes down exponentially once the season begins. The Mets are now in the drivers seat and can play with the Twins for a bit. That's exactly what they did. That's why Fernando Martienez is still a Met..........and to think, both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were on the table at one point. Enjoy Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber guys.
What does this do to the Mets? It only fills the exact need that this team has had since Pedro Martienez went down in 2006. Finally, after almost a year and a half without one, the Mets have a true ace. Tom Glavine never fit that role. John Maine never fit that role. Oliver Perez filled that role for about a month. Santana does. He is a no bones about it ace. Santana not only makes the Mets better, he changes the face of the entire organization. Case in point- this was the 2008 rotation as of 4pm today: John Maine, Oliver Perez, Pedro Martinez, Mike Pelfry, El Duque. This is the rotation now: Santana, Maine, Martinez, Perez, Pelfry/El Dueque. See the difference? That's a third place rotation that just became a first place rotation with the addition of just one player. If Maine and Perez can pitch the way we know they can and Pedro Martienez can be anywhere close to what he was pre-injury, this rivals the D-Backs as having the best rotation in the National League.
Bottom Line: Santana turns the Mets into a team that could make the playoffs into a team that should.
- Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Monday 9-10pm) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com
On Friday, I read that the deal was contingent on the inclusion of Fernando Martienez. He is the Mets top prospect. I didn't mind giving him up, but keeping him is certainly testament to how desperate the Twins were to get rid of Santana. That's fine. Sometimes the best things in sports make themselves available due to desperation. Desperation was obviously what the Twins needed to make this move and the Mets reaped the benefits.
If your a Twins fan wondering "how could this happen?", the answer to that question is quite simple. Overestimation. The Mets dumped Lastings Milledge in November because they underestimated his value (I think, anyway). This was the exact opposite. The Twins thought they could get a multitude of top flight prospects for Johan. Obviously this was not true. In step the Mets. Omar Minaya knows that the Twins need to move Santana because his trade value goes down exponentially once the season begins. The Mets are now in the drivers seat and can play with the Twins for a bit. That's exactly what they did. That's why Fernando Martienez is still a Met..........and to think, both Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy were on the table at one point. Enjoy Kevin Mulvey and Phil Humber guys.
What does this do to the Mets? It only fills the exact need that this team has had since Pedro Martienez went down in 2006. Finally, after almost a year and a half without one, the Mets have a true ace. Tom Glavine never fit that role. John Maine never fit that role. Oliver Perez filled that role for about a month. Santana does. He is a no bones about it ace. Santana not only makes the Mets better, he changes the face of the entire organization. Case in point- this was the 2008 rotation as of 4pm today: John Maine, Oliver Perez, Pedro Martinez, Mike Pelfry, El Duque. This is the rotation now: Santana, Maine, Martinez, Perez, Pelfry/El Dueque. See the difference? That's a third place rotation that just became a first place rotation with the addition of just one player. If Maine and Perez can pitch the way we know they can and Pedro Martienez can be anywhere close to what he was pre-injury, this rivals the D-Backs as having the best rotation in the National League.
Bottom Line: Santana turns the Mets into a team that could make the playoffs into a team that should.
- Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Monday 9-10pm) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com
Monday, January 28, 2008
What we should look forward to...
It has literally seemed like forever since I saw the zebras raise their arms up for Lawrence Tynes kick into the Super Bowl. Instead of getting to see Big Blue play I am treated to a more than healthy dosage of Tom Brady's footwear and his every move. Was he seen limping outside his home? Was he wearing his boot during the Pats final rally in Foxborough? I mean come on enough is enough, can we please get to the game...? Sadly, no, but I decided to take the time out to write about the actual game as any sort of remedy to cope with "Bootgate" and the rest of Brady's hysteria. Onto the top 5 story lines heading into Super Bowl XLII...
1.) The Patriots Quest for 19 in a row - How could this not be number one? After all, no team in the history of the National Football League has won 19 in a row and the Pats are the second team to finish the regular season in undefeated fashion. The '72 Dolphins are holding onto their last bit of hope to say that they are still the only team to finish the regular and post-season undefeated. I commend Don Shula for coming out last season and saying that he is down-right rooting for the Giants. There is no reason for him to hide his "fan-ness" at all. He then said that if the Pats, do win, he would be the first to call Belicheck and congratulate him. In my opinion, a true classy and professional move. The Patriots have definitely looked vulnerable in the second half of the season. To put it in perspective, in the first 10 weeks, the Pats won one game by less than 10 points. That of course, came in Week 9, against then undefeated Indianapolis Colts, a game in which they trailed a great portion. From Week 11-17, they won 4 games by less than 10 points. Those coming against the Eagles, Ravens, Jets, and of course Giants in the final week of the season. That is the important game to look at because of all the momentum it created for the Giants. Coughlin played all of his starters and Eli just seemed to explode out of no where. The Pats have looked good in the post-season but not great. It will be interesting to see if they have one more in them to complete the improbable run.
2.) The Giants amazing road winning streak + the evolution of Elias Manning - Ok...so it's not 18 in a row, but 10 road wins in a row is pretty damn impressive. That is exactly what the New York Giants. Since September 9th in Dallas, the Giants have failed to lose on the road. Granted only one of those teams in the regular season finished over .500 (Washington.) However, all that talk has been dismissed after beating three impressive teams in Tampa Bay, Dallas, and in the Ice Bowl II in Green Bay. The Giants have produced a record in this amazing run and nothing seems to be stopping them. They just have a keen sense of playing in visting stadiums, away from the Meadowlands. Although his numbers werent tremendous by any means in the regular season, Eli's QB rating was 79.7 on the road compared to 68.7 at home. His completion percentage also is up from 52% at home to 62.8% on the road. Frankly, I do not think that we can say Eli has totally turned the corner but this playoff run has been spectaular, especially the no interceptions. I think we need to see what happens next season to really get a more direct look at Eli. But why rush the season...we still have a game to play. Manning's playoff this year compared to his 2 previous games against Carolina and Philly are like apples and oranges. It is a new #10 out there for sure...
3.) "BootGate: The Tom Brady Story" - Is any one as tired of this as I am? I didnt think it was possible to create such craziness over a friggin boot but I guess I was wrong. Anything is possible in Tom Brady's world. Winning Super Bowls, dating beautiful women, and then have millions watching your feet to create breaking news. Did anyone notice I was wearing Jordan's today? No? I guess I can never be Mr. Brady then...Lets be real here, we all know he is going to be ready to play in the Super Bowl, so all this hype and injury report is just pure stupidity. It's not even Media Day and we are hearing non-stop questions about this thing. In the words of Tom Brady, "they are going to have to put me on a stretcher for me to not to play this game." In other words, he will be there, no doubt about it. The only thing I am interested about this is just if Brady didnt play in the game, what do you think the point spread will be of the game...There's no other reason to continue on about this, please media, STOP!!!!!!!
4.) Two weeks off, worst thing that could have happened to the Giants - I really wish the NFL would change this rule. I understand it is in place for players to heal for a week longer and have the Media become more involved in the game, as if there is any more room to increase the coverage. Frankly, I get sick and tired of watching Sportscenter everyday and hearing every type of analysis and "x and o" gameplan possible. But that is just coming from a common fan's standpoint. Think of what this does to the Giants. This is a team coming off their final season, maybe playing their best all year against the Patriots and they lose. However, it created momentum and confidence for the Giants going into Tampa Bay. After winning three road games in a row, the last two coming on the final plays of the game, they would have loved to played yesterday. However, the momentum in a way halted yesterday as the layoff continued. I would have loved the Giants chances even more if they played yesterday because I think the Giants have outplayed the Patriots in the playoffs. The first quarter will be interesting to watch because I will be looking to see if there is any rust, kind of like what you see every year in the BCS championship game. It happened with Ohio St. against Florida and LSU struggled in the first quarter of their game this year. I'm telling you these layoffs are no picnic.
5. Jacobs + Bradshaw > Tiki? - Definitely. Not in terms of skill level because under Tom Coughlin, Tiki was putting up HALL OF FAME numbers year in and year out. He was a fantastic runner, both inside and outside, he was a pretty good reciever coming out of the backfield and was a great blocker. However, his leadership began to disappear last year after announcing that he was going to retire at the end of last season. The only bad thing, he said it during the middle of the season. I really believe this created a rift in the season. After retiring, he came out and publicly criticized Coughlin and Eli in ways that were just uncalled for. I understand your a commentator but the way you attacked your fellow mates seemed a bit unprofessional. Along came the power house of Jacobs and the young man from Marshall, Bradshaw. Jacobs missed 5 games during the year but did finish with 1,009 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Bradshaw was not discovered until week 16 against Buffalo. For the year, he carried the ball 23 times averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Against Buffalo, he ran for 151 yards and a 88 yard touchdown on 17 attempts. He was not a factor against Dallas but achieved more than 60 yards against Tampa and Dallas. I want the Giants to use Bradshaw a little earlier against the Pats because I think his speed is too much for the older linebackers of Seau, Vrabel, and Bruschi. However, Jacobs must use his bruising running style to slow them down even more. I love this duo and look forward to seeing them both in years to come.
Wow, this was long, but it did achieve my original goal which was to take my mind off of all the non-football related stories to the actual game. I won't make a pick yet, that will come later in the week, but I hope these storylines help you developing yours. I'm out...
-Matt Soldano (Off the Glass Wed. Nights -9-10pm www.mywcwp.com)
1.) The Patriots Quest for 19 in a row - How could this not be number one? After all, no team in the history of the National Football League has won 19 in a row and the Pats are the second team to finish the regular season in undefeated fashion. The '72 Dolphins are holding onto their last bit of hope to say that they are still the only team to finish the regular and post-season undefeated. I commend Don Shula for coming out last season and saying that he is down-right rooting for the Giants. There is no reason for him to hide his "fan-ness" at all. He then said that if the Pats, do win, he would be the first to call Belicheck and congratulate him. In my opinion, a true classy and professional move. The Patriots have definitely looked vulnerable in the second half of the season. To put it in perspective, in the first 10 weeks, the Pats won one game by less than 10 points. That of course, came in Week 9, against then undefeated Indianapolis Colts, a game in which they trailed a great portion. From Week 11-17, they won 4 games by less than 10 points. Those coming against the Eagles, Ravens, Jets, and of course Giants in the final week of the season. That is the important game to look at because of all the momentum it created for the Giants. Coughlin played all of his starters and Eli just seemed to explode out of no where. The Pats have looked good in the post-season but not great. It will be interesting to see if they have one more in them to complete the improbable run.
2.) The Giants amazing road winning streak + the evolution of Elias Manning - Ok...so it's not 18 in a row, but 10 road wins in a row is pretty damn impressive. That is exactly what the New York Giants. Since September 9th in Dallas, the Giants have failed to lose on the road. Granted only one of those teams in the regular season finished over .500 (Washington.) However, all that talk has been dismissed after beating three impressive teams in Tampa Bay, Dallas, and in the Ice Bowl II in Green Bay. The Giants have produced a record in this amazing run and nothing seems to be stopping them. They just have a keen sense of playing in visting stadiums, away from the Meadowlands. Although his numbers werent tremendous by any means in the regular season, Eli's QB rating was 79.7 on the road compared to 68.7 at home. His completion percentage also is up from 52% at home to 62.8% on the road. Frankly, I do not think that we can say Eli has totally turned the corner but this playoff run has been spectaular, especially the no interceptions. I think we need to see what happens next season to really get a more direct look at Eli. But why rush the season...we still have a game to play. Manning's playoff this year compared to his 2 previous games against Carolina and Philly are like apples and oranges. It is a new #10 out there for sure...
3.) "BootGate: The Tom Brady Story" - Is any one as tired of this as I am? I didnt think it was possible to create such craziness over a friggin boot but I guess I was wrong. Anything is possible in Tom Brady's world. Winning Super Bowls, dating beautiful women, and then have millions watching your feet to create breaking news. Did anyone notice I was wearing Jordan's today? No? I guess I can never be Mr. Brady then...Lets be real here, we all know he is going to be ready to play in the Super Bowl, so all this hype and injury report is just pure stupidity. It's not even Media Day and we are hearing non-stop questions about this thing. In the words of Tom Brady, "they are going to have to put me on a stretcher for me to not to play this game." In other words, he will be there, no doubt about it. The only thing I am interested about this is just if Brady didnt play in the game, what do you think the point spread will be of the game...There's no other reason to continue on about this, please media, STOP!!!!!!!
4.) Two weeks off, worst thing that could have happened to the Giants - I really wish the NFL would change this rule. I understand it is in place for players to heal for a week longer and have the Media become more involved in the game, as if there is any more room to increase the coverage. Frankly, I get sick and tired of watching Sportscenter everyday and hearing every type of analysis and "x and o" gameplan possible. But that is just coming from a common fan's standpoint. Think of what this does to the Giants. This is a team coming off their final season, maybe playing their best all year against the Patriots and they lose. However, it created momentum and confidence for the Giants going into Tampa Bay. After winning three road games in a row, the last two coming on the final plays of the game, they would have loved to played yesterday. However, the momentum in a way halted yesterday as the layoff continued. I would have loved the Giants chances even more if they played yesterday because I think the Giants have outplayed the Patriots in the playoffs. The first quarter will be interesting to watch because I will be looking to see if there is any rust, kind of like what you see every year in the BCS championship game. It happened with Ohio St. against Florida and LSU struggled in the first quarter of their game this year. I'm telling you these layoffs are no picnic.
5. Jacobs + Bradshaw > Tiki? - Definitely. Not in terms of skill level because under Tom Coughlin, Tiki was putting up HALL OF FAME numbers year in and year out. He was a fantastic runner, both inside and outside, he was a pretty good reciever coming out of the backfield and was a great blocker. However, his leadership began to disappear last year after announcing that he was going to retire at the end of last season. The only bad thing, he said it during the middle of the season. I really believe this created a rift in the season. After retiring, he came out and publicly criticized Coughlin and Eli in ways that were just uncalled for. I understand your a commentator but the way you attacked your fellow mates seemed a bit unprofessional. Along came the power house of Jacobs and the young man from Marshall, Bradshaw. Jacobs missed 5 games during the year but did finish with 1,009 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Bradshaw was not discovered until week 16 against Buffalo. For the year, he carried the ball 23 times averaging 8.3 yards per carry. Against Buffalo, he ran for 151 yards and a 88 yard touchdown on 17 attempts. He was not a factor against Dallas but achieved more than 60 yards against Tampa and Dallas. I want the Giants to use Bradshaw a little earlier against the Pats because I think his speed is too much for the older linebackers of Seau, Vrabel, and Bruschi. However, Jacobs must use his bruising running style to slow them down even more. I love this duo and look forward to seeing them both in years to come.
Wow, this was long, but it did achieve my original goal which was to take my mind off of all the non-football related stories to the actual game. I won't make a pick yet, that will come later in the week, but I hope these storylines help you developing yours. I'm out...
-Matt Soldano (Off the Glass Wed. Nights -9-10pm www.mywcwp.com)
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Football Fan Detox With Dr. Naismith
Maybe this column is a few weeks premature but I think with the events of this weekend, it is more then appropriate. We, as a collective group, are entering the darkest period of the football fans life: the first few weekends without football. It's almost like coming off drugs. I don't think it hit me until about 3pm today. It was then when my friend Sam (who is not as fond of football as I am, but puts up with it) remarked to me "Hey, its Sunday and we're actually not watching football!" I guess I had just been experiencing the denial portion of my own personal "football detox". Of course, we'll all relapse into our normal routine this week leading up to Sunday at 6:17. Their will be previewing. Their will be press conferences. Their will be a picks column from yours truly. But after that there will be nothing. Well, nothing but the Pro Bowl and even I don't watch that (not all of it, at least). I wrote about this a few weeks back, but most of my post-football, pre-baseball time is spent watching College Basketball. This was the second weekend that I really got into it. Some highlights and quick thoughts from this weekend......
- The parity in the Big East is absolutely incredible. The Big East is my favorite conference by far and this weekend proved why. After starting 0-6 in the conference, Rutgers has strung together two fantastic victories. First, Villanova on Wednesday and then Pittsburgh on Saturday. This was even more impressive because Pittsburgh NEVER looses at home. The Scarlets went on a 20-2 run in the second half after staying with a tough Pittsburgh team in the first half. Remember when Pittsburgh was considered one of the top five teams in the country? That was this season! They were 17 last week. I'd be shocked if their still ranked this week. You can not loose at home to 1-6 Rutgers when your in the lower half and stay ranked. It just doesn't happen.
- Speaking of falling from grace, what about Villanova? They lost at home to unranked Notre Dame. Now, loosing to Notre Dame is not anywhere near loosing to Rutgers, but it still has to be concerning for Jay Wright and the rest of Wildcat nation. I happen to like Notre Dame. My enthusiasm was definitely tempered after the Irish got embarrassed by Georgetown last weekend, but I suddenly find myself back on the bandwagon. I think Kyle McArlarny is a heck of a player. He had thirty points in the win yesterday. He's a home town boy (Staten Island) and Kyle McArlarny may be the best name for a Fighting Irish basketball player ever. I'd love to see the Irish sneak into the top 25 this week. I think the Georgtown cut may still be a little deep for that though. But keep an eye out for Notre Dame as an early Big East sleeper. As for Villanova, they've lost 3 out of their last five. Ouch.
-As we keep it in the Big East, the best game of the weekend was by far Georgetown/West Virginia. WVU dominated that game for 35 minutes. However, you couldn't tell by the scoreboard. Poor shooting by both teams led to a 1-point halftime deficit for the Mountaineers. Jessie Sapp hit a big three pointer late to give Georgetown a one-point lead. WVU had five seconds to get down the floor. Georgetown let Da'Sean Butler waltz towards the rim before Patrick Ewing Jr (or P.E.J as I like to call him) swatted away what would have been the winning lay up. Bob Huggins was beside himself with anger because he wanted a goal tend. I don't think it was a goal tend and neither did the refs. Fantastic game. Georgetown continues to roll. Their not better then they were last year, but there close.
- Game of the week: Villanova/Pitt- Wednesday at 7pm.
More football this week as we prepare for Sunday at 6:17..................and this lack of football becomes very real. Too real if you ask me.
- Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Mondays 9-11pm) and Fourth Down (Fridays 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com
- The parity in the Big East is absolutely incredible. The Big East is my favorite conference by far and this weekend proved why. After starting 0-6 in the conference, Rutgers has strung together two fantastic victories. First, Villanova on Wednesday and then Pittsburgh on Saturday. This was even more impressive because Pittsburgh NEVER looses at home. The Scarlets went on a 20-2 run in the second half after staying with a tough Pittsburgh team in the first half. Remember when Pittsburgh was considered one of the top five teams in the country? That was this season! They were 17 last week. I'd be shocked if their still ranked this week. You can not loose at home to 1-6 Rutgers when your in the lower half and stay ranked. It just doesn't happen.
- Speaking of falling from grace, what about Villanova? They lost at home to unranked Notre Dame. Now, loosing to Notre Dame is not anywhere near loosing to Rutgers, but it still has to be concerning for Jay Wright and the rest of Wildcat nation. I happen to like Notre Dame. My enthusiasm was definitely tempered after the Irish got embarrassed by Georgetown last weekend, but I suddenly find myself back on the bandwagon. I think Kyle McArlarny is a heck of a player. He had thirty points in the win yesterday. He's a home town boy (Staten Island) and Kyle McArlarny may be the best name for a Fighting Irish basketball player ever. I'd love to see the Irish sneak into the top 25 this week. I think the Georgtown cut may still be a little deep for that though. But keep an eye out for Notre Dame as an early Big East sleeper. As for Villanova, they've lost 3 out of their last five. Ouch.
-As we keep it in the Big East, the best game of the weekend was by far Georgetown/West Virginia. WVU dominated that game for 35 minutes. However, you couldn't tell by the scoreboard. Poor shooting by both teams led to a 1-point halftime deficit for the Mountaineers. Jessie Sapp hit a big three pointer late to give Georgetown a one-point lead. WVU had five seconds to get down the floor. Georgetown let Da'Sean Butler waltz towards the rim before Patrick Ewing Jr (or P.E.J as I like to call him) swatted away what would have been the winning lay up. Bob Huggins was beside himself with anger because he wanted a goal tend. I don't think it was a goal tend and neither did the refs. Fantastic game. Georgetown continues to roll. Their not better then they were last year, but there close.
- Game of the week: Villanova/Pitt- Wednesday at 7pm.
More football this week as we prepare for Sunday at 6:17..................and this lack of football becomes very real. Too real if you ask me.
- Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Mondays 9-11pm) and Fourth Down (Fridays 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Tiger Woods vs. Jim Brown
Jim Brown is arguably the greatest running back in NFL history. He was the league's all time leading rusher until Walter Payton broke the record. Brown has been in many movies, such as: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Three the Hard Way and Any Given Sunday. He has always been outspoken on issues that negatively affect African Americans in the United States.
Brown recently called out Tiger Woods for not taking a stand against remarks made by Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman. Tilghman said, on a broadcast, that the other golfers should 'lynch' Tiger Woods in order to have a more competitive field. She was suspended from the Golf Channel for two weeks and issued an apology. Woods accepted the apology and called the incident 'unfortunate' and did not make any more of situation. Evidentally, Brown has a problem
with Woods' course of action (or non-action).
Yes, the word lynch is insensitive to blacks, and yes, Tilghman should have been punished, but this does not need to be elongated. Woods made the correct choice in not calling for her head. Tiger is one of the few people who would not take advantage of a situation like this. Anyone who does take advantage does not appear to be an activist to me. Most are trying to make a quick buck for something so stupid, like when Imus made his remarks about the Rutgers Womens Basketball Team. He lost his job, but it wasn't enough for Vivian Stringer. She lost all credibility when she decided she needed to write a book. As the great Method Man once said, "Cash Rules Everything Around Me".
Now that Brown has come out calling for more action, it's almost like he wants to exploit Tilghman and lead an unnecessary strike against her. Which would lead to the involvment of people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson which makes the movement seem even less genuine. It's like when a rapper wants to make a meaningful song and gets Mary J. Blige to sing on it, just to let you know it's deep. Everything just gets diluted. Jim Brown needs to chill before this gets out of hand.
I respect Jim Brown, everything he's done and everything he stands for, but he needs to let this go. If Tiger dismisses this and accepts the apology, everyone else should also. I applaude Tiger for taking the high road on this one.
Notes:
- The Giants are a great story but stop giving them a chance to win the Super Bowl.
-If the Knicks are so bad, why don't they sacrifice a little time and a few wins and let Wilson Chandler show his stuff. It couldn't hurt.
Max Caster
Over the Ropes
Saturday's from 10 to 11 pm
http://overtheropes.mypodcast.com/
Brown recently called out Tiger Woods for not taking a stand against remarks made by Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman. Tilghman said, on a broadcast, that the other golfers should 'lynch' Tiger Woods in order to have a more competitive field. She was suspended from the Golf Channel for two weeks and issued an apology. Woods accepted the apology and called the incident 'unfortunate' and did not make any more of situation. Evidentally, Brown has a problem
with Woods' course of action (or non-action).
Yes, the word lynch is insensitive to blacks, and yes, Tilghman should have been punished, but this does not need to be elongated. Woods made the correct choice in not calling for her head. Tiger is one of the few people who would not take advantage of a situation like this. Anyone who does take advantage does not appear to be an activist to me. Most are trying to make a quick buck for something so stupid, like when Imus made his remarks about the Rutgers Womens Basketball Team. He lost his job, but it wasn't enough for Vivian Stringer. She lost all credibility when she decided she needed to write a book. As the great Method Man once said, "Cash Rules Everything Around Me".
Now that Brown has come out calling for more action, it's almost like he wants to exploit Tilghman and lead an unnecessary strike against her. Which would lead to the involvment of people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson which makes the movement seem even less genuine. It's like when a rapper wants to make a meaningful song and gets Mary J. Blige to sing on it, just to let you know it's deep. Everything just gets diluted. Jim Brown needs to chill before this gets out of hand.
I respect Jim Brown, everything he's done and everything he stands for, but he needs to let this go. If Tiger dismisses this and accepts the apology, everyone else should also. I applaude Tiger for taking the high road on this one.
Notes:
- The Giants are a great story but stop giving them a chance to win the Super Bowl.
-If the Knicks are so bad, why don't they sacrifice a little time and a few wins and let Wilson Chandler show his stuff. It couldn't hurt.
Max Caster
Over the Ropes
Saturday's from 10 to 11 pm
http://overtheropes.mypodcast.com/
Monday, January 21, 2008
I guess its only fitting
Time and time again this season, I have said that, between Notre Dame and the Jets, this has been the worst football season of my entire life. Well, theirs an old saying that if your going to do something, do it well. I guess the opposite is true as well. If it wasn't enough for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to be one of the worst "big-time college football" teams ever and the New York Jets to finish 4-12 for the second time in three years, the team I hate more then any team in professional sports is headed to the Super Bowl. No, not the Patriots. The New York Giants.
But I'm not going to sit here and kill the Giants just because of a personal vendetta I have against them. I think many Jet fans do that and I hate it. Today, there is nothing bad to say about the Giants. I can't crush Manning. I can't call for the firing of Tom Coughlin. I can't do any of that. The Giants are going to the Super Bowl and I have to sit here and take it. It's not that difficult though. I'm kind of accustomed to "taking it" over the last year and a half. Lately, it seams as if I'm always "taking it".
Give the Giants a lot of credit. Their was only one way to win this game. Shut down Grant, let Farve beat you and hope for the best. That's exactly what happened. If their is one thing that is sure as day its this: if Brett Farve is pressured, he will take chances. As great as he is, a lot of times those chances don't work. Farve threw two interceptions in the game and lost. This was not a coincidence. From a Packer standpoint, I think the game plan was lacking. I know that the Giants can stop the run with anyone, but why is Ryan Grant carrying the ball thirteen times? This is a guy that ran for over 200 yards against the Seahawks. I yelled and screamed all season about the Jets propensity to abandon the running game far too early. Again, why, in the bitter cold weather, is Mcarthy giving the ball to Grant thirteen times? It just doesn't make any sense. Also, would it have killed the Packers to have a drive in the fourth quarter that lasted more then a minute. Green Bay punted the ball twice in that quarter after having drives of 56 and 18 seconds respectively. I don't care who you are or where your playing, its hard to win that way. Much like the Giants did last week, the Packers had the ball for just a shade over twenty minutes. Once again, hard to win that way.
As bad as the Packers played offensively yesterday, it's not as if the Giants did not play well enough to win. They did .Ten times over. Overall, it was the best they played all playoffs. I think that, despite the lack of touchdowns, Eli Manning did more then manage the game. His presence on the field was more responsible for the victory then it was the last two weeks. This was by far the game that's going to define Eli's career. That's the third consecutive week that I have said that. I'm beginning to think that he's better then I had thought. Better then we all thought. I think the same can be said about this entire Giant team. You can say what you want about these NFC playoffs but one thing you can't say is that the best team isn't still standing.
-Jordan Lauterbach- The Edge (Monday 9-11) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10) only on mywcwp.com. Click on each show to get podcasts of past episodes.
But I'm not going to sit here and kill the Giants just because of a personal vendetta I have against them. I think many Jet fans do that and I hate it. Today, there is nothing bad to say about the Giants. I can't crush Manning. I can't call for the firing of Tom Coughlin. I can't do any of that. The Giants are going to the Super Bowl and I have to sit here and take it. It's not that difficult though. I'm kind of accustomed to "taking it" over the last year and a half. Lately, it seams as if I'm always "taking it".
Give the Giants a lot of credit. Their was only one way to win this game. Shut down Grant, let Farve beat you and hope for the best. That's exactly what happened. If their is one thing that is sure as day its this: if Brett Farve is pressured, he will take chances. As great as he is, a lot of times those chances don't work. Farve threw two interceptions in the game and lost. This was not a coincidence. From a Packer standpoint, I think the game plan was lacking. I know that the Giants can stop the run with anyone, but why is Ryan Grant carrying the ball thirteen times? This is a guy that ran for over 200 yards against the Seahawks. I yelled and screamed all season about the Jets propensity to abandon the running game far too early. Again, why, in the bitter cold weather, is Mcarthy giving the ball to Grant thirteen times? It just doesn't make any sense. Also, would it have killed the Packers to have a drive in the fourth quarter that lasted more then a minute. Green Bay punted the ball twice in that quarter after having drives of 56 and 18 seconds respectively. I don't care who you are or where your playing, its hard to win that way. Much like the Giants did last week, the Packers had the ball for just a shade over twenty minutes. Once again, hard to win that way.
As bad as the Packers played offensively yesterday, it's not as if the Giants did not play well enough to win. They did .Ten times over. Overall, it was the best they played all playoffs. I think that, despite the lack of touchdowns, Eli Manning did more then manage the game. His presence on the field was more responsible for the victory then it was the last two weeks. This was by far the game that's going to define Eli's career. That's the third consecutive week that I have said that. I'm beginning to think that he's better then I had thought. Better then we all thought. I think the same can be said about this entire Giant team. You can say what you want about these NFC playoffs but one thing you can't say is that the best team isn't still standing.
-Jordan Lauterbach- The Edge (Monday 9-11) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10) only on mywcwp.com. Click on each show to get podcasts of past episodes.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Lets party like its 1997
Championship Sunday is a very bitter sweet day for the die-hard football fan. I love it, but it has a sad undertone to it. Those who treat the game like a religious experience week after week have a special connection with it. Its not the fact that its just something to do on a fall Sunday. Its more then that. Its the feeling you get when its fourth and one at the opponents 45 yard line with five minutes to go in the game. It's how you can stay legitimately angry for days after your team blows a big game. I don't understand why football influences my mood past Sunday night. I don't think any of us do. But it does and in a weird way, we love that it does. Or at least I do. These are the things that make football Sundays so special. This is the last one of those. We all love the Super Bowl, but for a different reason. Super Bowl Sunday always feels like more of a skeptical then a day of genuine football. So in many ways, this Sunday is the last "football Sunday" until September...........and with that, the picks..............
Giants/Packers- I think we have finally put to bed the "how hard is it to beat a team three times in a season" debate. It's really hard. Case closed. And it makes sense to. If you face a team three time, obviously the third time is going to be in the playoffs. In the NFL, if your not a good team, you don't make the playoffs. Period. So I can't say I was incredibly surprised that the Giants beat the Cowboys last Sunday. Also, there were obvious holes in the Cowboys all season that finally bit them in the backside last week. Their secondary isn't good. Tony Romo doesn't play well if you put any sort of pressure on him. The running game gets tired in the fourth quarter. The Giants played smart football and didn't beat themselves. That's why they won. Heck, when you only have the ball for a little over 20 minutes, that's the only way you can win. But I think this long whirlwind of a journey ends this week in Green Bay. Here's why: The thing that the Giants must do if they have any chance of winning this game is contain Ryan Grant. Grant ran for over 200 yards last week after coughing up the football twice. That, in it of itself, is remarkable. To have that bad a five minute stretch and then finish the game with 100 yards, much less 200 shows what potential Grant has. Gone are the days when the Packers had no running game. If you contain Ryan Grant, which is a risky proposition in that last eight weeks, you have to deal with Brett Farve. I never thought that I would be writing this in a million years, but for the Giants to have a shot at winning this game they have to let Brett Farve beat them. This is risky, but its not impossible to neutralize Farve. One thing that has been known about Farve forever is that he doesn't always take care of the football very well. When he is pressured, its not uncommon for him to make awful decisions and throw the football into double and triple coverage. Interceptions have dogged Farve his entire career. His interceptions are down this year (only 15, as compared with 18 last year and 29 two years ago ), but when a player has an issue like this for so long, it makes it impossible to ignore. Offensively for the G-men, its all about ball control and limiting mistakes. Ball control didn't hurt them last week, but I'm not comfortable with the Giants having the ball for 20 minutes in Lambeau and winning the game. We've talked for the last two weeks about how Eli Manning has seemingly turned a corner. The reason for that is no mystery. He's not trying to make plays and thus, is not turning the ball over. I know that Giant fans cringe when I use the term "game manager" to describe Manning, but I think its the most accurate description of what he is right now. His stats are certainly not impressive, but they are efficient. How many times have we seen Eli try and make a big play late and it result in a turnover? That hasn't happened in the last two games and that's why the Giants have won. If they can run the ball effectively and Eli plays like he has the last two weeks, the Giants could win the game. That's how the Giants win the game. Here's why they won't: Green Bay can beat you in more ways then Dallas can. If you neutralize Grant, you have to let Farve beat you. I'm uncomfortable giving the ball to Brett late in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field and saying "go ahead, beat me". That never ends well. The Packers defense is also really good. The secondary is better then Dallas and the linebackers are excellent (imagine the "Hawk" references I will make on Monday with Malone on "The Edge"). Last, but not least, the weather. It's supposed to be a high of 5 on Sunday at 5:30 central time. The Giants have played there last two games in Tampa Bay and Dallas. Those are hardly frozen tundras. In fact, the only thing frozen in Florida and Texas might be Popsicles. That's a major adjustment for a football team and a quarterback who doesn't have a fantastic cold weather track record. Also, you'd have to figure that the Giants are due for a road loss one of these days. Right?..................Packers 17 Giants 7
Chargers/Patriots- Maybe describing the Chargers as overrated last week was the wrong choice of words. They played very well against the Colts. Even with the refs trying their best to send Peyton Manning and Co. to New England, the Chargers showed that they have just as much or more talent then anyone in the league right now. In case you haven't noticed, it isn't 1999 anymore. It is now hard to pick off Peyton Manning. The Chargers did it twice and should have done it more. They dropped at least two more picks. I think that the Chargers have enough defense to keep this game close for a while. I don't know if they have enough offense. Ladianian Tomlinson is banged up but will play. He hasn't had much of an impact anyway in either of the last two games the Chargers have won. When Phillip Rivers (who I am slowly starting to hate) left the game with an injury, Billy Volek stepped in and played very well. I'm not sure he would be able to do the same this week if called upon. The Chargers have won the past two weeks with just enough offense. Just enough offense just won't be enough to beat the Patriots this week. It's hard for me to see Tom Brady almost pitch a perfect game for the second straight week, but can you really predict that Brady is not going have a great game. I guess the one road block that could be foreseen for this Patriot team is the Randy Moss situation. However, thinking that this Pat team is going to be swayed by whether or not Randy might be in legal trouble is ludicrous. There is no way that this Patriot team is going to care about Randy's legal woes. Even if Moss' production suffers because of it, they have so many other ways to beat you that it almost doesn't matter what Randy's stats are. The Jaguars double covered Moss all night last Saturday and were quite effective with it. The Jags held him to one catch. That would have been great if Wes Welker hadn't caught nine balls for fifty four yards and one touchdown. Face it, the Pats are way too good and way too deep. They may just be the greatest team of all time. If anyone is going to beat them, it sure isn't going to be the San Diego Chargers............Patriots 24 Chargers 3.
So what that sets up is a Packers/Patriots Super Bowl. Sound familiar? It should. That was the match up in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans. Coincidentally, that was the first Super Bowl I remember being into for the game, and not the funny commercials and the general skeptical. I have fond memories of that one. It sure will be fun to relive it in two weeks. In fact, I can't wait.
- Jordan Lauterbach- The Edge (Mondays 9-11pm on mywcwp.com (9-10) and WCWP (10-11)). and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm on mywcwp.com )
Giants/Packers- I think we have finally put to bed the "how hard is it to beat a team three times in a season" debate. It's really hard. Case closed. And it makes sense to. If you face a team three time, obviously the third time is going to be in the playoffs. In the NFL, if your not a good team, you don't make the playoffs. Period. So I can't say I was incredibly surprised that the Giants beat the Cowboys last Sunday. Also, there were obvious holes in the Cowboys all season that finally bit them in the backside last week. Their secondary isn't good. Tony Romo doesn't play well if you put any sort of pressure on him. The running game gets tired in the fourth quarter. The Giants played smart football and didn't beat themselves. That's why they won. Heck, when you only have the ball for a little over 20 minutes, that's the only way you can win. But I think this long whirlwind of a journey ends this week in Green Bay. Here's why: The thing that the Giants must do if they have any chance of winning this game is contain Ryan Grant. Grant ran for over 200 yards last week after coughing up the football twice. That, in it of itself, is remarkable. To have that bad a five minute stretch and then finish the game with 100 yards, much less 200 shows what potential Grant has. Gone are the days when the Packers had no running game. If you contain Ryan Grant, which is a risky proposition in that last eight weeks, you have to deal with Brett Farve. I never thought that I would be writing this in a million years, but for the Giants to have a shot at winning this game they have to let Brett Farve beat them. This is risky, but its not impossible to neutralize Farve. One thing that has been known about Farve forever is that he doesn't always take care of the football very well. When he is pressured, its not uncommon for him to make awful decisions and throw the football into double and triple coverage. Interceptions have dogged Farve his entire career. His interceptions are down this year (only 15, as compared with 18 last year and 29 two years ago ), but when a player has an issue like this for so long, it makes it impossible to ignore. Offensively for the G-men, its all about ball control and limiting mistakes. Ball control didn't hurt them last week, but I'm not comfortable with the Giants having the ball for 20 minutes in Lambeau and winning the game. We've talked for the last two weeks about how Eli Manning has seemingly turned a corner. The reason for that is no mystery. He's not trying to make plays and thus, is not turning the ball over. I know that Giant fans cringe when I use the term "game manager" to describe Manning, but I think its the most accurate description of what he is right now. His stats are certainly not impressive, but they are efficient. How many times have we seen Eli try and make a big play late and it result in a turnover? That hasn't happened in the last two games and that's why the Giants have won. If they can run the ball effectively and Eli plays like he has the last two weeks, the Giants could win the game. That's how the Giants win the game. Here's why they won't: Green Bay can beat you in more ways then Dallas can. If you neutralize Grant, you have to let Farve beat you. I'm uncomfortable giving the ball to Brett late in the NFC Championship game at Lambeau Field and saying "go ahead, beat me". That never ends well. The Packers defense is also really good. The secondary is better then Dallas and the linebackers are excellent (imagine the "Hawk" references I will make on Monday with Malone on "The Edge"). Last, but not least, the weather. It's supposed to be a high of 5 on Sunday at 5:30 central time. The Giants have played there last two games in Tampa Bay and Dallas. Those are hardly frozen tundras. In fact, the only thing frozen in Florida and Texas might be Popsicles. That's a major adjustment for a football team and a quarterback who doesn't have a fantastic cold weather track record. Also, you'd have to figure that the Giants are due for a road loss one of these days. Right?..................Packers 17 Giants 7
Chargers/Patriots- Maybe describing the Chargers as overrated last week was the wrong choice of words. They played very well against the Colts. Even with the refs trying their best to send Peyton Manning and Co. to New England, the Chargers showed that they have just as much or more talent then anyone in the league right now. In case you haven't noticed, it isn't 1999 anymore. It is now hard to pick off Peyton Manning. The Chargers did it twice and should have done it more. They dropped at least two more picks. I think that the Chargers have enough defense to keep this game close for a while. I don't know if they have enough offense. Ladianian Tomlinson is banged up but will play. He hasn't had much of an impact anyway in either of the last two games the Chargers have won. When Phillip Rivers (who I am slowly starting to hate) left the game with an injury, Billy Volek stepped in and played very well. I'm not sure he would be able to do the same this week if called upon. The Chargers have won the past two weeks with just enough offense. Just enough offense just won't be enough to beat the Patriots this week. It's hard for me to see Tom Brady almost pitch a perfect game for the second straight week, but can you really predict that Brady is not going have a great game. I guess the one road block that could be foreseen for this Patriot team is the Randy Moss situation. However, thinking that this Pat team is going to be swayed by whether or not Randy might be in legal trouble is ludicrous. There is no way that this Patriot team is going to care about Randy's legal woes. Even if Moss' production suffers because of it, they have so many other ways to beat you that it almost doesn't matter what Randy's stats are. The Jaguars double covered Moss all night last Saturday and were quite effective with it. The Jags held him to one catch. That would have been great if Wes Welker hadn't caught nine balls for fifty four yards and one touchdown. Face it, the Pats are way too good and way too deep. They may just be the greatest team of all time. If anyone is going to beat them, it sure isn't going to be the San Diego Chargers............Patriots 24 Chargers 3.
So what that sets up is a Packers/Patriots Super Bowl. Sound familiar? It should. That was the match up in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans. Coincidentally, that was the first Super Bowl I remember being into for the game, and not the funny commercials and the general skeptical. I have fond memories of that one. It sure will be fun to relive it in two weeks. In fact, I can't wait.
- Jordan Lauterbach- The Edge (Mondays 9-11pm on mywcwp.com (9-10) and WCWP (10-11)). and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm on mywcwp.com )
My Official Conference Championship Picks Are....??
I'm going to keep this short and pretty simple. Now, I told everybody this past week that I would come down to a final decision on whether the Giants were good enough (which they certainly are) to go into Lambeau (the play on words = alliteration) and defeat the Green Bay Packers. I think really that with all the ammunition that the Chargers have given New England that its pretty obvious that San Diego will be prepared to get the butt whopping of a lifetime. Its unfortunate to say but if the Patriots are going to loose then they might loose on the biggest stage of it all dubbed the Super Bowl. Never the less, with Igor "The Terrible" Olshansky saying that the Patriots are scared and Merriman forgetting Jabarr Gaffney's name, that it will propel the Patriots to score even more points and prove in Foxborough that they are the team that is undefeated and back up those claims heading over to Glendale, Arizona.
Final Score between Patriots & Charger: Patriots: 52 - Chargers: 17
Synopsis: I can't believe I'm actually rooting for the Patriots. But, when does anybody like a couple of trash talkers that know that their going to loose. It's like Muhammad Ali can talk the talk but when you get into the ring with the true champ then he turns out to be the ultimate jobber with the Glass Joe personality (for the Glass Joe reference, check out a great Nintendo game in Punch Out).
Coverage of Green Bay vs New York: Both great offenses but there has to be a line in the sand that separates both teams and that line might be drawn in the secondary of both defenses. The Giants are badly injured hoping to have Sam Madison back and although Aaron Ross has a separated shoulder hopefully he could come in and maybe play a couple of series unless he's to injured to perform. Expect in Tundra Bowl II hat the Packers try to utilize the run game with ex. Giant, Ryan Grant for a vast majority of the game. Not to mention, Brett Farve can and likely will be finding guys like Greg Jennings and Donald Driver unless, the Giants can present pressure and penetrate that thick offensive line. On the Giants end, keys for success would be to utilize Jacobs/Bradshaw as early as possible because you know that the Packers are going to watch game tape and realize that the Cowboys and Bucs downfalls were pressureing Eli to throw and when they did that, their coverages in the secondary slipped and let Eli get on a roll and when he has momentum on his side, he's one of the toughest QB's to take down. The Road warriors will need to use the run game to capitalize and battle the crowd cause if you take out the crowd often and early then the advantage and ball is in your corner. It'll be a tough but enjoyable game for both sides which is something I can't say for the game above.
Final Score between Packers & Giants: Packers: 24 - Giants: 27
Synopsis: Yes, it may seem like a homer pick but theres just something about this Giants team that can make you believe that they could do it. They weren't supposed to get this far after going 8-8 last year but they are. After the Giants beat Dallas, the results from here on out are all gravy. It'll be a close game and come down to the final whistle and it'll be interesting to see the end result but I have faith that the Giants with Lawrence Tynes coming out with a last second field goal to win the game. Thats they way I see it and those are my final picks. Until next time.
Later Peeps.
Nick Malone: Nick Malone: The Edge (Monday 9-11 PM) and Over The Ropes (Saturday 10-11 PM) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday Nights.
Final Score between Patriots & Charger: Patriots: 52 - Chargers: 17
Synopsis: I can't believe I'm actually rooting for the Patriots. But, when does anybody like a couple of trash talkers that know that their going to loose. It's like Muhammad Ali can talk the talk but when you get into the ring with the true champ then he turns out to be the ultimate jobber with the Glass Joe personality (for the Glass Joe reference, check out a great Nintendo game in Punch Out).
Coverage of Green Bay vs New York: Both great offenses but there has to be a line in the sand that separates both teams and that line might be drawn in the secondary of both defenses. The Giants are badly injured hoping to have Sam Madison back and although Aaron Ross has a separated shoulder hopefully he could come in and maybe play a couple of series unless he's to injured to perform. Expect in Tundra Bowl II hat the Packers try to utilize the run game with ex. Giant, Ryan Grant for a vast majority of the game. Not to mention, Brett Farve can and likely will be finding guys like Greg Jennings and Donald Driver unless, the Giants can present pressure and penetrate that thick offensive line. On the Giants end, keys for success would be to utilize Jacobs/Bradshaw as early as possible because you know that the Packers are going to watch game tape and realize that the Cowboys and Bucs downfalls were pressureing Eli to throw and when they did that, their coverages in the secondary slipped and let Eli get on a roll and when he has momentum on his side, he's one of the toughest QB's to take down. The Road warriors will need to use the run game to capitalize and battle the crowd cause if you take out the crowd often and early then the advantage and ball is in your corner. It'll be a tough but enjoyable game for both sides which is something I can't say for the game above.
Final Score between Packers & Giants: Packers: 24 - Giants: 27
Synopsis: Yes, it may seem like a homer pick but theres just something about this Giants team that can make you believe that they could do it. They weren't supposed to get this far after going 8-8 last year but they are. After the Giants beat Dallas, the results from here on out are all gravy. It'll be a close game and come down to the final whistle and it'll be interesting to see the end result but I have faith that the Giants with Lawrence Tynes coming out with a last second field goal to win the game. Thats they way I see it and those are my final picks. Until next time.
Later Peeps.
Nick Malone: Nick Malone: The Edge (Monday 9-11 PM) and Over The Ropes (Saturday 10-11 PM) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday Nights.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Why don't you just stick me in the eye with a fork.......
I can't wait until Sunday. Championship Sunday is one of my favorite days of the sports year. But I really didn't need this.......................Follow this link and you'll see what I'm talking about.
Thanks Newsday, I really needed that.
Picks later................
-Jordan Lauterbach
Thanks Newsday, I really needed that.
Picks later................
-Jordan Lauterbach
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Finally 900 for Knight
After football ends in two weeks, I find myself in that lost abyss that every football junkie enters right after the Super Bowl. It's always a difficult time and needless to say, I am hardly looking forward to it. So, as I prepare to unleash my Championship Round picks tomorrow afternoon, I will offer a few short musings on the two sports that get me through the time between the Super Bowl and the NFL Draft- Hockey and College Basketball.
College Basketball:
- Bob Knight is no doubt my favorite person in College Basketball. His Texas Tech team dominated #9 Texas A&M tonight in convincing fashion. The win was Knight's 900th. Good for Bobby. But besides being a phenomenal coach, Knight has a great personality. Take this post- game exchange with an ESPN sideline reporter for example:
ESPN REPORTER: We saw at practice yesterday you installed a specific game plan ....How gratifying is it for you to see your team come out tonight and execute that game plan perfectly
Knight: I don't know how gratifying it is for me. Its just damn good for them that they did.
Say what you'd like about Knight, I love this guy!
Also, whats lost in this is how poorly Texas A&M played tonight. I know its on the road and its a special night and all...but to loose to an unranked team by 15 is unacceptable. That's the kind of loss that might knock you down a seed come tourney time.
- It's only a matter of time before UNC finally falls. First, a nail bitter against Clemson and then just barely escaping Georgia Tech. Their next two are home against Maryland on Saturday and at #24 Miami on January 23rd. I bet they drop one of those two. The game against Georgia Tech was way too close for comfort for me to have confidence in this team going another few weeks without loosing. Georgia Tech came into tonight game in last place in the ACC and had an overall record of 7-8. Yet UNC made them look like the Georgia Tech team that lost to Emeka Okafor's UCONN Huskies in the national title game in 2004. That's a little concerning from a UNC standpoint.
Hockey
- Good to see the Isles come back from a bad loss to Montreal and beat the Devils yet again. However, I think the heavy scheduling is getting to this team. They were dead for most of the game against Montreal and didn't look much better in the third period against the Devils. Too often, this team is slow and lethargic for large portions of the game. What angers you is the fact that this team has stretches where it looks like a team that can skate with anyone but can't string together three straight periods of good hockey. They got goals at the right times tonight and that's why they won. But I can't get over how slow this team is. Have you noticed that any time the Isles need a big goal, Mike Sillinger is the one to get it? Despite the "A" on his jersey, I still think his contribution to the team is undervalued. Saturday night against the Flyers is a huge game. I will be there. I don't think the Isles have won when I'm at the Coliseum in about three years. No better time to change that then Saturday night.
College Football:
To follow up on something I wrote about last week, Ryan Mallet is going to Arkansas. Isn't it great to be Bobby Petrino right now? "Hey Bobby, you want the best young quarterback to come onto the college scene in ages?" and yes, I do think Mallet is that good. Of course, he'll have to sit out a year, but it will be worth it for the Razorbacks 10,000 times over.
- Jordan Lauterbach: For more of this (except in convenient audio format) listen to The Edge every Monday night from 9-11pm on mywcwp.com and 88.1 WCWP FM. Can't listen live? Follow this link to get the FREE podcast. He also appears on Fourth Down every Friday from 9-10pm on mywcwp.com
College Basketball:
- Bob Knight is no doubt my favorite person in College Basketball. His Texas Tech team dominated #9 Texas A&M tonight in convincing fashion. The win was Knight's 900th. Good for Bobby. But besides being a phenomenal coach, Knight has a great personality. Take this post- game exchange with an ESPN sideline reporter for example:
ESPN REPORTER: We saw at practice yesterday you installed a specific game plan ....How gratifying is it for you to see your team come out tonight and execute that game plan perfectly
Knight: I don't know how gratifying it is for me. Its just damn good for them that they did.
Say what you'd like about Knight, I love this guy!
Also, whats lost in this is how poorly Texas A&M played tonight. I know its on the road and its a special night and all...but to loose to an unranked team by 15 is unacceptable. That's the kind of loss that might knock you down a seed come tourney time.
- It's only a matter of time before UNC finally falls. First, a nail bitter against Clemson and then just barely escaping Georgia Tech. Their next two are home against Maryland on Saturday and at #24 Miami on January 23rd. I bet they drop one of those two. The game against Georgia Tech was way too close for comfort for me to have confidence in this team going another few weeks without loosing. Georgia Tech came into tonight game in last place in the ACC and had an overall record of 7-8. Yet UNC made them look like the Georgia Tech team that lost to Emeka Okafor's UCONN Huskies in the national title game in 2004. That's a little concerning from a UNC standpoint.
Hockey
- Good to see the Isles come back from a bad loss to Montreal and beat the Devils yet again. However, I think the heavy scheduling is getting to this team. They were dead for most of the game against Montreal and didn't look much better in the third period against the Devils. Too often, this team is slow and lethargic for large portions of the game. What angers you is the fact that this team has stretches where it looks like a team that can skate with anyone but can't string together three straight periods of good hockey. They got goals at the right times tonight and that's why they won. But I can't get over how slow this team is. Have you noticed that any time the Isles need a big goal, Mike Sillinger is the one to get it? Despite the "A" on his jersey, I still think his contribution to the team is undervalued. Saturday night against the Flyers is a huge game. I will be there. I don't think the Isles have won when I'm at the Coliseum in about three years. No better time to change that then Saturday night.
College Football:
To follow up on something I wrote about last week, Ryan Mallet is going to Arkansas. Isn't it great to be Bobby Petrino right now? "Hey Bobby, you want the best young quarterback to come onto the college scene in ages?" and yes, I do think Mallet is that good. Of course, he'll have to sit out a year, but it will be worth it for the Razorbacks 10,000 times over.
- Jordan Lauterbach: For more of this (except in convenient audio format) listen to The Edge every Monday night from 9-11pm on mywcwp.com and 88.1 WCWP FM. Can't listen live? Follow this link to get the FREE podcast. He also appears on Fourth Down every Friday from 9-10pm on mywcwp.com
Monday, January 14, 2008
NFL's Final Four = Packers, Giants, Chargers & Patriots and couldn't be any better
All 4 games this past weekend had me glued to my seat. Including, once Green Bay started to pull away from Seattle, the snow and the football combined made the game all the more meaningful to provide that feeling of realism with the image of Green Bay playing in cold weather conditions like Snow made the game even better. Some of the following Green Bay Packers Ryan Grant, Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and the defense playing as good as it did against a Seahawks team that quickly grabbed a 14-0 lead in the first 4 minutes of the game (not to mention Brett Farve's great performance) showed to me the intestinal fortitude and internal destiny that the Packers have to go to the Super Bowl and derail the Patriots if they can continue the play the way this Packers team has been progressing.......Only if they wern't playing a very streaky team in a Road edition on their own right in the New York Football Giants. With Eli Manning seeing the field better and better each game, its remarkable to see the turnaround in his performance from throughout the regular season into a microcosm of these past 3 games. The defense started blitzing and frustrating Tony Romo in the fourth Quarter which helped them really win the game and helped make Dallas be the #1 seed in the NFC to loose in divisional play since 1990 to be now 17-1. What people also forgot going into this game and most notable Cowboy fans were that they were focusing to much on Tony Romo and his Mexican vacation with Jessica Simpson and the coaching rumors of Sporano and Garrett heading to Miami with Bill Parcells instead of Wade Phillips being 0-4 All time as a head coach in the Playoffs. Biggest thing is that Eli is maturing and becoming a bigger and better QB right before our very eyes and he still hasn't thrown an interception once this playoffs. Granted, Tony Romo did not play terrible but he was let down by Receivers like Patrick Crayton dropping two key catchers that would of given the Cowboys more of an advantage not to mention that with the Giants getting a weaker secondary once Aaron Ross went down, they plugged guys in and got the job done. Eli made bigger plays and when it came down to it, the better TEAM won the game. If your a Giants fan, Terrel Owens crying in the press conference was priceless and a memory added to the greatness of this game and if theres any gripes about the Giants play, it would be that they couldn't stop the run of Marion Barber. Giants vs. Packers is a game that I am looking forward to seeing unlike the AFC counterpart immensely.
Chargers vs. New England. San Diego with the "Fiery Spirits" that truly makes all of San Diego stay "Classy". Philip Rivers taunting against the Indianapolis fans at the end of the game just made that pulled the team personality altogether. I mean you have the match of the cry babies with L.T. and Sack "Steroids" machine, Shawne Merriman going up against the Patriots offensive line that impressed me by holding the Jags D line at bay throughout the duration of the game on Saturday that made Tom Brady look like he had all game to sign autographs and have a Tea Party in that giant pocket against the Jaguars. It'll be interesting to see how Rivers can play after coming out of the game at the end of the third quarter and Billy Volek, once a Titans backup QB to Steve McNaire, engineer a come from behind victory against the Colts which was simply surprising enough. Now the Patriots will probably have an easier time with the Chargers instead of playing the Colts for the 1 Millionth time.
So who will it be in the Superbowl to face the undefeated and vaunted Patriots? Green Bay in a rematch that stirs of Memories from the 1996 Super Bowl when Brett Farve got his first Super Bowl victory. Or will it be the Giants vs. Patriots in a game that sparked Eli Manning's renaissance. To be blunt, it'll be a fun contest and later in the week, I will reveal my answer later in the week before watching this great game between the Packers and Giants. Until Next time.
Later Peeps.
Nick Malone: The Edge (Monday 9-11 PM) and Over The Ropes (Saturday 10-11 PM) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday Nights.
Chargers vs. New England. San Diego with the "Fiery Spirits" that truly makes all of San Diego stay "Classy". Philip Rivers taunting against the Indianapolis fans at the end of the game just made that pulled the team personality altogether. I mean you have the match of the cry babies with L.T. and Sack "Steroids" machine, Shawne Merriman going up against the Patriots offensive line that impressed me by holding the Jags D line at bay throughout the duration of the game on Saturday that made Tom Brady look like he had all game to sign autographs and have a Tea Party in that giant pocket against the Jaguars. It'll be interesting to see how Rivers can play after coming out of the game at the end of the third quarter and Billy Volek, once a Titans backup QB to Steve McNaire, engineer a come from behind victory against the Colts which was simply surprising enough. Now the Patriots will probably have an easier time with the Chargers instead of playing the Colts for the 1 Millionth time.
So who will it be in the Superbowl to face the undefeated and vaunted Patriots? Green Bay in a rematch that stirs of Memories from the 1996 Super Bowl when Brett Farve got his first Super Bowl victory. Or will it be the Giants vs. Patriots in a game that sparked Eli Manning's renaissance. To be blunt, it'll be a fun contest and later in the week, I will reveal my answer later in the week before watching this great game between the Packers and Giants. Until Next time.
Later Peeps.
Nick Malone: The Edge (Monday 9-11 PM) and Over The Ropes (Saturday 10-11 PM) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday Nights.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Mallet Down!......... and Division Round Picks
Before I begin my first picks column in a long, long time (OK, OK I know-the last one was Thanksgiving Football Picks) let me just say how, as a staunch hater of all things Michigan, I was ecstatic when my buddy Anthony DeFranco of Fourth Down and 3rdstringsaftey.blogspot.com told me today that Ryan Mallet has left the Michigan Wolverines. Fist off, I don't know how I missed this but that's besides the point. Now there are conflicting reports about this. I've heard that Mallet was undecided about transferring when Rodriquez made his decision a lot easier by kicking him off the team. Mallet, as well as star receiver Mario Manningham, apparently missed a team meeting. A no no in Rodriguez land. I've also heard that missing the meeting was mearly a formality. Mallet was gone as soon as Rodriguez arrived because he simply does not fit the spread offense system that will be run by the new coach. No matter who you believe (and I tend to believe that second story), Mallet is gone. Now, you may be saying "Jordan, whats the big deal? Freshman transfer all the time." While this may be true, here's the difference: Ryan Mallet is one of the better freshman quarterbacks I have seen in a long time. Mallet has a real chance to be a special player. I think letting a player like that walk is a huge mistake, no matter what system you run. This is the kind of mistake that Rich Rodriquez and the rest of the Michigan brass will come to regret in the next three years.......over and over again. It looks like Mallet will go to the Tennessee Vols or the Arkansas Razorbacks. This is fitting being that the SEC seems to be the new arch enemy of all things Big 10. Ironically, the exception to that rule came when Michigan played a perfect game to edge Florida. Mallet didn't play in the game but it still strikes me as funny.
Oh, and Chad Henne is a senior....and again, I am left smiling. For more on this go to rivals.com
On to the picks for this week in the NFL:
Giants/Cowboys- I am a firm believer in the idea that it is tremendously difficult to beat a team three times in the same season. That being said, I was letting my "I hate the Giants" blinders get in the way earlier in the week when I didn't give Big Blue any sort of a chance. Upon reflection, my opinion is a bit different. For one thing, I think the Cowboys may be in a little bit of disarray. Rumors are swirling all over the place that Wade Philips is going to be fired and Jason Garret promoted for the pure reason that Jerry Jones is petrified of loosing Garret. And for good reason too. Garret is one of the brightest young assistants in the entire NFL and is more responsible for the Cowboys success then Phillips is. Tony Romo may be pressing to prove that his Mexican weekend with Jessica Simpson hasn't affected him in any way. It's been such a story that I can't see how it's not in the back of his mind. If the Cowboys loose and Romo does not play outstanding in the loosing effort, all he will hear about all off season is how Jessica Simpson lost the Cowboys the Super Bowl. He claims he doesn't care about whats being said, but how could he not? (For the record, you will never hear me criticize someone for dating Jessica Simpson. Never) The Cowboys are banged up, but they've been banged up since the first week of the season and it hasn't seemed to phase them in any way. That being said the potential loss of Terrell Owens would be too huge of a loss to overlook. Rarely in the NFL does the impact of one player mean the difference between a win and a loss. I think T.O is one of those players. It's as simple as this: T.O plays=Cowboys win. T.O sits=Giants win. All indications are that he will play. Because of this and the fact that I have to stick with my preseason Super Bowl pick I'm going with Dallas in a tight one....35-32.
One note on how the Giants can win: pressure Tony Romo. If there is one thing we know about Tony its that the way to neutralize to him is to knock him down. If they can ever find a way to consistently pressure Romo, I think they can win. That being said: I'm sticking with my pick.
Seahawks/ Packers: The Seahawks had a lot of trouble with a Redskin team that had Todd Collins throwing its passes. Seattle was down 14-13 late in the ball game. There defense showed me a lot down the stretch of that game but not enough to make me believe that they can stay with a very good Packer team. I think that Farve is going to have people thinking it's 1996 all over again. Maybe it's just me, but I can't see how the Packers have any trouble with the Seahawks. Interesting side note: The last time the Seahawks were in Lambeau for a playoff game? The famous Matt Hassleback "We're going to take the ball and we're going to score" game. Al Haris has something to say about that, Matt. The Lambeau Mystique is back! Pack win........35-14.
Jaguars/Patriots- The Jags really are a great story. They let go of their franchise quarterback in favor of a backup who they feel gives them the best chance to win. The best part of that story for Jack Del Rio and the rest of the Jags coaching staff? They were right. Garrard has been fantastic. I was super impressed with the way they slammed the door on the Steelers last week after dangling the proverbial caret in front of them in the second half. I will even go as far as saying that Jacksonville is the best non-Patriot team in the AFC. If things had broken differently in that San Diego/Tennessee game on Sunday, I was all ready to pick the Jags to beat the Colts. But do you really think that the Patriots are going to go 16-0 and not win a game in the playoffs? Really?..........(silence)........Yeah,thats what I thought. Pats win 35-24.
Colts/Chargers- Well the Colts got lucky. I think they were dead as a doornail if they had to play Jacksonville again. Instead, they get the Chargers. The Chargers are a team that I think is a bit overrated. We saw last week that if you stop LaDainian Tomlinson, you stop the Charger offense. I think the Colts will do that. Also, how many times have we seen Peyton Manning eat up a good defense in the playoffs? A lot, that how many. Colts win this one 41-21.
I was 4-0 last week on Fourth Down on WCWP. Lets see what happens in round two. Enjoy.
-Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Monday 9-11pm) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday
Oh, and Chad Henne is a senior....and again, I am left smiling. For more on this go to rivals.com
On to the picks for this week in the NFL:
Giants/Cowboys- I am a firm believer in the idea that it is tremendously difficult to beat a team three times in the same season. That being said, I was letting my "I hate the Giants" blinders get in the way earlier in the week when I didn't give Big Blue any sort of a chance. Upon reflection, my opinion is a bit different. For one thing, I think the Cowboys may be in a little bit of disarray. Rumors are swirling all over the place that Wade Philips is going to be fired and Jason Garret promoted for the pure reason that Jerry Jones is petrified of loosing Garret. And for good reason too. Garret is one of the brightest young assistants in the entire NFL and is more responsible for the Cowboys success then Phillips is. Tony Romo may be pressing to prove that his Mexican weekend with Jessica Simpson hasn't affected him in any way. It's been such a story that I can't see how it's not in the back of his mind. If the Cowboys loose and Romo does not play outstanding in the loosing effort, all he will hear about all off season is how Jessica Simpson lost the Cowboys the Super Bowl. He claims he doesn't care about whats being said, but how could he not? (For the record, you will never hear me criticize someone for dating Jessica Simpson. Never) The Cowboys are banged up, but they've been banged up since the first week of the season and it hasn't seemed to phase them in any way. That being said the potential loss of Terrell Owens would be too huge of a loss to overlook. Rarely in the NFL does the impact of one player mean the difference between a win and a loss. I think T.O is one of those players. It's as simple as this: T.O plays=Cowboys win. T.O sits=Giants win. All indications are that he will play. Because of this and the fact that I have to stick with my preseason Super Bowl pick I'm going with Dallas in a tight one....35-32.
One note on how the Giants can win: pressure Tony Romo. If there is one thing we know about Tony its that the way to neutralize to him is to knock him down. If they can ever find a way to consistently pressure Romo, I think they can win. That being said: I'm sticking with my pick.
Seahawks/ Packers: The Seahawks had a lot of trouble with a Redskin team that had Todd Collins throwing its passes. Seattle was down 14-13 late in the ball game. There defense showed me a lot down the stretch of that game but not enough to make me believe that they can stay with a very good Packer team. I think that Farve is going to have people thinking it's 1996 all over again. Maybe it's just me, but I can't see how the Packers have any trouble with the Seahawks. Interesting side note: The last time the Seahawks were in Lambeau for a playoff game? The famous Matt Hassleback "We're going to take the ball and we're going to score" game. Al Haris has something to say about that, Matt. The Lambeau Mystique is back! Pack win........35-14.
Jaguars/Patriots- The Jags really are a great story. They let go of their franchise quarterback in favor of a backup who they feel gives them the best chance to win. The best part of that story for Jack Del Rio and the rest of the Jags coaching staff? They were right. Garrard has been fantastic. I was super impressed with the way they slammed the door on the Steelers last week after dangling the proverbial caret in front of them in the second half. I will even go as far as saying that Jacksonville is the best non-Patriot team in the AFC. If things had broken differently in that San Diego/Tennessee game on Sunday, I was all ready to pick the Jags to beat the Colts. But do you really think that the Patriots are going to go 16-0 and not win a game in the playoffs? Really?..........(silence)........Yeah,thats what I thought. Pats win 35-24.
Colts/Chargers- Well the Colts got lucky. I think they were dead as a doornail if they had to play Jacksonville again. Instead, they get the Chargers. The Chargers are a team that I think is a bit overrated. We saw last week that if you stop LaDainian Tomlinson, you stop the Charger offense. I think the Colts will do that. Also, how many times have we seen Peyton Manning eat up a good defense in the playoffs? A lot, that how many. Colts win this one 41-21.
I was 4-0 last week on Fourth Down on WCWP. Lets see what happens in round two. Enjoy.
-Jordan Lauterbach: The Edge (Monday 9-11pm) and Fourth Down (Friday 9-10pm) only on mywcwp.com and 88.1FM WCWP from 10-11 on Monday
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
I wanted to talk football but I was invited to a Roger Clemens pitty party
Upon reflection, I feel my post yesterday was far too short. Roger Clemens press conference came on the tube and I was done. Fascinating stuff by the way. If every there was a case of a guy who calls a press conference and was probably better off not speaking, its Clemens. I said it on the show last night in hour 2 of the edge: Clemens sounded like an innocent man on the phone with Brian Macnamee. He then sounded like someone who has something to hide when he stepped up to the podium. If Clemens goes to the podium and is as sincere and honest as he was during the phone call, no one today would be writing that Roger Clemens wasn't both framed and innocent. Instead, Clemens acts angry and defensive, ending the press conference in a huff. I have a few questions of my own for Clemens. Why is it so horrible that the media believed the Mitchell Report? What are we supposed to think when an established senator who is hired by Major League Baseball to investigate steroid use in the sport says that you were one of the larger offenders? It's also not unreasonable to think that Clemens using the 'roids make sense. If you look at his years in Houston, he only got better. We spent all that time wondering how Barry Bonds could become a better hitter as he aged and none of that time wondering why the exact same thing was happening to Clemens. No one said anything about that when it was happening and now we're the bad guys for believing a pretty well- researched report. Maybe I'm to sensitive, but I get real riled up when athletes blame writers and talk show hosts for saying things that make perfect sense. This is another thing that has been running through my mind since the Mitchell Report was released: What incentive would Brian Macnamee have to lie and say that Clemens did steroids? We heard how loyal he is to Rodger. To be honest, his constant pleas to Clemen was rather unnerving. In his opening remarks, Rogers lawyer said something like "If there telling you that the truth is X, then the truth is X" How does this comment make any logical sense. What would the Mitchell Committee have to gain from specifically outing Rodger Clemens? Why would they care? This was hardly the McCarthy witch hunt that the Clemens camp is trying to convince us of...........I almost felt sorry for Clemens- and then he decided to speak.
-Jordan Lauterbach
-Jordan Lauterbach
Monday, January 7, 2008
Thoughts from Wild Card weekend.............
I know, I know. I haven't been around on this here blog in a while. I appreciate my buddies Max Caster, Mike T, and Nick Malone holding down the fort for me while I have been conspicuously absent. But lately, the blog has appeared to have become the official blog for bashing Isiah Thomas. Not that it isn't deserved. But because the blog has been so Knick-centric over that last month, I thought today would be a perfect time to return to the blog and talk a little bit about the NFL.
Being a Jet fan in these playoffs is kind of like watching your friends play at recess the day after you broke your arm falling down the stairs. It's still kind of fun, but you wish you were allowed to play too. But, Jet game or not, the NFL playoffs is my favorite time of the sports year. It's no coincidence that it comes just a week or so after Christmas. Ok, maybe it is. But the analogy only goes so far.
As someone who hates the Giants (have I said that enough yet...), I have never been so impressed with Eli Manning. Admit it, you had horrible disastrous visions when the Giants opened up the game with three consecutive three and outs and couldn't get anything going whatsoever. If there is one thing that can be said about Eli Manning over the course of his career it's this: he forgets real quickly. Time and time again, Eli has had an awful few minutes and then turn it around in the next 10. This is a big reason for his penchant for comebacks. His first few minutes on Sunday were more ineffective then awful but the point remains the same. If Eli doesn't wake up early in the second quarter, Big Blue probably looses the football game. I was also impressed with the poise that Eli showed during the game. There are two Eli Mannings: the deer in the headlights Manning that Jerry Reese called "skittish" after the Vikings game or the unlimited potential guy that was seen yesterday. But the thing that's in the back of my mind is that we've seen Eli have these kind of performances before. The kind of performance that will push Manning into that A level. Then, as sure as the day is long, he reverts to what he is- A "B leveler" So will this finally be that stepping stone performance? We'll see. But it certainly had the makings of one.
Being a Jet fan in these playoffs is kind of like watching your friends play at recess the day after you broke your arm falling down the stairs. It's still kind of fun, but you wish you were allowed to play too. But, Jet game or not, the NFL playoffs is my favorite time of the sports year. It's no coincidence that it comes just a week or so after Christmas. Ok, maybe it is. But the analogy only goes so far.
As someone who hates the Giants (have I said that enough yet...), I have never been so impressed with Eli Manning. Admit it, you had horrible disastrous visions when the Giants opened up the game with three consecutive three and outs and couldn't get anything going whatsoever. If there is one thing that can be said about Eli Manning over the course of his career it's this: he forgets real quickly. Time and time again, Eli has had an awful few minutes and then turn it around in the next 10. This is a big reason for his penchant for comebacks. His first few minutes on Sunday were more ineffective then awful but the point remains the same. If Eli doesn't wake up early in the second quarter, Big Blue probably looses the football game. I was also impressed with the poise that Eli showed during the game. There are two Eli Mannings: the deer in the headlights Manning that Jerry Reese called "skittish" after the Vikings game or the unlimited potential guy that was seen yesterday. But the thing that's in the back of my mind is that we've seen Eli have these kind of performances before. The kind of performance that will push Manning into that A level. Then, as sure as the day is long, he reverts to what he is- A "B leveler" So will this finally be that stepping stone performance? We'll see. But it certainly had the makings of one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)