The Worst Sharpie Moment In Sports History

Who would have thought that the Terrell Owens moment on Monday Night Football when he signed a football after scoring a touchdown would have been topped. Well now it has, but it is not necessarily done by an athlete. Rather, it's done by a fan who has the looks of Jared from Subway (at some point during his weight-loss transformation) and the brains of Peter Griffin.

So here's the story: This guy goes to some sort of Upper Deck promotion where Los Angeles Clippers power forward and #1 overall pick Blake Griffin is out for a autograph session. Sure kids want jersey ink and basketball ink, and well-asset women want breast ink. But what does this (to quote WCWP Station Manager Dan Cox) "chucklehead" want? He wants panini ink. Yep, he wants to "absorb" Blake's power. Check it out...

I do not care if this guy was joking when making this video. Just a plain simple moron. Blake, you should not have wasted your time with this fraud. At least he doesn't root for the Lakers.

-Matt Soldano

DeShawn Stevenson is an Idiot

From the man who has Abe Lincoln and two 5's in "dollar bill" font on his neck, comes this update from the Washington Post:

DeShawn Stevenson showed up with a new look -- on his face! He has a tattoo of the Pittsburgh Pirates "P" on his left cheek, but it's backwards, so it looks like a "9" when he's not looking in the mirror. He also has a crack inked on the top of his forehead because "I don't crack."

Okay.

And the name of his son, Londyn, is on the side of his hairline. He also said that he was cool with the offseason moves because they made the team better.

What's next? A tramp stamp?

Don't be like this guy, DeShawn.



I think Jay should put him on blast again:




--Max Caster

You Can Suit up for the Jets!

This is cool. The New York Jets are running a contest where a fan could lead the team out of the tunnel for the Bills game on October 18.

I'm signing up now. I want to be close to Mark Sanchez!

You can try too.


--Max Caster

The Jets Can't Make the Same Mistake Twice

The New York Jets are easily the top story in all of football. The team is led by an outspoken, brash coach who backs up his claims. The rookie quarterback is a star on and off the field. The defense hadn’t let up a touchdown until Week 3. And the team is 3-0, beating three of the most highly touted teams in the AFC on the way. Regardless of the endless scroll of positives, there is one negative that is hidden amongst the glitz.

Coming into this season, the wide receiver spot was viewed as the weakest position on this Jets team. There were questions whether or not Jerricho Cotchery was a true number 1 target. Chansi Stuckey had not yet displayed his playmaking abilities. And Dustin Keller’s name was hardly ever uttered. Now that that position is more or less squared away, the Jets need to focus on another, arguably more important, offensive position: the backup quarterback.

As a rookie, Mark Sanchez has done everything he was expected to do and more. The leadership and liveliness he presents on the field prevents him from being pulled at any time this season. But the question always remains. “What if he gets hurt?” says the typical, cynical Jets fan. “Who’s there to back him up?” And while it may seem like normal pessimism, it has a great deal of validity.

Who is there to rely on if Mark Sanchez happens to leave a game? Think about it.

Kellen Clemens has been nothing but a big bucket of failure his entire career. The man has lost 3 quarterback battles for a reason. Count them. One to Chad Pennington (Get well soon). Another to Chad, this one though scared the Jets so much; they went and traded for Brett Favre. And this past one to Mark Sanchez, a rookie, albeit excellent, but Clemens’ knowledge of the New York playbook should have made it much closer. He really has no business being a backup plan for a potential playoff team like the New York Jets.

Next would be Erik Ainge, who, according to JP Pelzman of the Record, could be overtaking Clemens as the second string quarterback soon. He performed extremely well in the preseason and was much more impressive than Clemens. He was 10-of-17 for 160 yards in the final preseason game against Philadelphia. The problem is that he’s never thrown a regular season pass or a pass against a first string defense in any game. So his clout isn’t that of a backup.

And lastly is Kevin O’Connell, played in two games for New England last year, but is more known for being at the center of a conspiracy against his former team.

The group of people backing up Sanchez is weak at best. But now the Jets have an opportunity to rectify that position and add some experience and stability. Again.

Three weeks ago, Jeff Garcia was released by the Oakland Raiders. The Jets, in the same position they’re in now, failed to make an offer to the veteran. He was scooped by the Philadelphia Eagles after Week 1 and all hope seemed lost. Now, with Kevin Kolb’s encouraging play and Michael Vick’s growing presence, Philly doesn’t need Garcia. So the Eagles released him today. The door for the Jets to get Jeff Garcia is reopened.

Jeff Garcia has had an impressive NFL career thus far, from his years in San Francisco, to his first stint with the Eagles and his time in Tampa Bay. Just about every time he’s come into a situation where he’s thrust into a starting spot, he’s done phenomenally. And even though he didn’t blow people away in Philly this year, I believe he’d do well with the Jets. The offensive line is one of the NFL’s best, the receivers are underrated and he would add a much needed dimension to a somewhat stagnant ground game. And that’s not even mentioning the support given to him by the defense and special teams.

Also, Jeff Garcia has been closely compared with our new favorite Jet, Mark Sanchez. Getting past similar origins of their last names and their longtime residence of California, the two are alike. Both are active in the pocket, using their feet to buy a few extra moments to make a throw. Both don’t have to put up gaudy passing numbers to win. And while Sanchez isn’t a great threat running the ball, maybe Garcia could teach him to tuck the ball in when he runs into a linebacker.

If that doesn’t sell you, this will. Do you really want Kellen Clemens to play football for your team? Some Jets fans welcomed the idea of Garcia, when it looked like the quarterback battle would be between Clemens and Brett Ratliff. Remember those days?

The Jets have an opportunity to not only improve their team exponentially now, but also in the future. They can’t make the same mistake twice. They have to sign Jeff Garcia.


--Max Caster

C.W Post V.S Bloomsberg Live Blog W/ Sean Croft!

CFB: Week Four Picks

Last Week: 17-5

Season- 55-11

Currently sitting in a motel room on the side of the road in Mifflinville, PA. All set to call tomorrows Bloomsberg/C.W Post matchup. You can hear the game on wcwpsports.com beginning at 11:30am. Hopefully I’ll make it back in time for Notre Dame/ Purdue at 8.

#1 Florida over Kentucky- Kentucky is 2-0, but they haven’t seen anyone quite like the Gators this year. I thought it spoke to how good the Gators are when people were impressed at the way Tennessee played last week. I guess not getting destroyed against this bunch is suddenly an accomplishment… and who said there were no moral victories.

#2 Texas over UTEP

#3 Alabama over Arkansas- Three games in and Ryan Mallet is already getting recognized as one of the top quarterbacks, in terms of arm strength, in the nation. It won’t be enough to beat Alabama, but Arkansas owes Rich Rodriguez a debt of gratitude.

#6 California over Oregon- Cal has to be careful of looking ahead to USC next week.

#7 LSU over Mississippi State

#8 Boise State over Bowling Green

#12 USC over Washington State

#13 Ohio State over Illinois

#14 Cincinnati over Fresno State

#15 TCU over Clemson

#16 Oklahoma State over Grambling State

#18 Florida State over South Florida

#19 BYU over Colorado State

#20 Kansas over Southern Miss

#21 Georgia over Arizona State

#22 North Carolina over Georgia Tech

#23 Michigan over Indiana

#24 Washington over Stanford

#25 Nebraska over La-Lafayette

Notre Dame over Purdue- At this hour, Clausen is expected to play. Armando Allen is iffy. As big as the Michael Floyd injury is (and its huge), any injury to Allen will be huge as well. Allen is quietly having a huge year. He’s stronger, he’s more athletic, and it shows. If he can’t go for any long amount of time, this Notre Dame offense is in a lot of trouble. That being said, assuming Clausen plays well, the Irish will beat Purdue.


2 To Change Plans For

#5 Penn State Over Iowa- We don’t know a lot about Penn State. Sure, they’ve looked real good. Sure, they haven’t allowed more than seven points a game. But who have they played? Do you know anything more about Penn State then you did four weeks ago? I don’t think so. I still think Penn State will win the Big 10, but I’m pumped to see them play an actual game this week.

#9 Miami over #11 Virginia Tech- Isn’t it interesting that both pre-season ACC favorites are hanging on by a string. Miami puts the dagger in Va Tech’s hopes this week.

Upset Of The Week (2-1 this year)

Texas Tech over #17 Houston- Texas Tech played well against Texas last week. I think the bye week came at a bad time for Houston. They were hot, coming off a big win over Oklahoma State, and sat down for a week. I think they come out flat, fall behind early, and never recover.

Jordan Lauterbach

Replacements NFL Picks: Week 3 Edition

With Max on the road heading down to Bloomsburg, PA, we had to make the weekly picks on Thursday's Rush Hour. Here's the recap of what happened last week. I went 4-1 only losing the New England/New York Jets game while Max went 3-2 losing the Jets and San Diego/Baltimore.

Now, the picks for Week 3:

New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Unanimous - New York
Tennessee Titans vs. New York Jets : Matt - New York Max - Tennessee
Atlanta Falcons vs. New England Patriots: Unanimous - New England
Indianapolis Colts vs. Arizona Cardinals: Unanimous - Indianapolis
Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders: Matt - Oakland Max - Denver

Overall Standings: Matt 4-1
Max 3-2

You can listen to the Replacements today at 2pm (est) and every Friday at 1 pm only on wcwpsports.com. At 2:15, I will be joined with Terez Owens, the king of all sports media, to talk everything from Lamar Odom's bachelor party to Lebron James throwing temper tantrums.

-Matt Soldano

Road Trippin': Edinboro, PA

Here we go again! Last time we met, we had a rousing time in Indiana, Pennsylvania. Then we went to a slightly less exciting Edinboro.

The trip was long.

How long was it, Max?

Thanks, anonymous question asker. Try 10 hours long. I-80 in PA has become our second home. And lucky for us, most of I-80 looks like this:



So the 10 hours flew by. Just spotting cows, stopping at the cleanest McDonald's I've ever seen, and beautiful grassy views -- most of them blocked by crops ("My SUV doesn't run on corn." said Daniel Tosh). Yep, the trip went so quickly. The endless wall of rain made it even faster. Just a quick, quick trip. I'd definitely do it again.

~End sarcasm~

We got to the hotel, the Comfort Suites in Edinboro, and it was a really beautiful hotel. But with Edinboro being less than a hotspot, the place was pretty much empty. This was literally all the cars that were in the parking lot, including ours. I assume some of them belonged to the hotel staff.



We checked in. And FYI, the budget for these trips isn't extravagent. I mean, we can tear up a Perkins or two, buy some out of date NFL jerseys at a truck stop or even spend some scrilla at a titty bar. But there's no way we could afford a hotel suite, even a modest one. And despite what we payed, that's what we got:



Jordan Lauterbach (pictured) was floored when he opened the door. He drooled over the sitting area. He fawned over the bathroom stocked with makeup remover. But he J'ed his P's when he learned that the hotel had NFL Network. Any chance to see Rod Woodson and JL is down. Luckily, that kept him busy enough to not realize the room had Golf Channel as well. I'll tell you right now, there was no way in hell I'm sitting up until midnight hearing about how Trevor Immelman has an outside shot to win an event Tiger Woods isn't playing in.

Still creeped out by the lack of people (and slightly off kilter after an omelete at Perkins), I penned a letter to the nice people at Comfort Suites:



It read: Dear Comfort Suites,

Where are all the other guests. It's like a haunted hotel where guests vanish. I hope Freddy drives his Mystery Machine up in this [place] real soon. I don't want to vanish or end up in a parallel universe or dead.

I didn't sign it. I ran out of room on the notepad.

With my question still unanswered, we hit the hay, awaiting the next day's game at Edinboro University.

We awoke to my favorite thing and Jordan's least favorite: breakfast. The child doesn't eat! I don't get it! What makes it even more delicious is that it's free. Not the best selection for a place so upscale, but it will do. Especially when there's cereal:



The empty plate contained scrambled eggs and fruit. I ate it before I thought to take a picture. Also that morning, I learned that corn beef hash looks like someone vomitted a puree of red twizzlers, applesauce and beef jerky. Stuff like that isn't served in New York. That's why I love it here.

After that we jetted over to Edinboro University, where the CW Post Pioneers would play the Edinboro Fighting Scots. The press box was nice, but there were a couple of issues. First, I had to chase all the flies out of the room, which took longer then expected. Then they served us some BS sandwiches that left me with an empty feeling in my gut. I asked Edinboro's Assistant Sports Information Director what grade he gave the sandwiches. He said "C-." I say that's about right. At least it's not as bad as the spoonful of garbage fed to us by CW Post that next week.

Here's the field CW Post jumped out to a 17-3 lead on. It's also the field where CW Post gave up that lead and lost 31-23.



And that was it. We hit the road for that fun little drive again, on our way back to New York. This is how it looked:



Next time on "Road Trippin'": Bloomsburg, PA.


--Max Caster

Nate to Sign 1-Year Deal

From Alan Hahn:

Nate Robinson will be signed to a one-year contract today and, according to a person with knowledge of the situation, Robinson, who was a restricted free agent who earlier this summer told the Knicks he had no interest in playing anywhere else, will get more than his $2.9M qualifying offer. There are also performance bonuses included in the deal.

David Lee, the team's other restricted free agent, is still unsigned, though his agent, Mark Bartelstein, and Donnie Walsh are in the midst of negotiatins on a one-year deal.


Alan later added:

Was told the Nate Robinson signing won't be officially announced today. Details? Not sure. An agreement is in place, however.



Okay... It's a good thing Nate Robinson is coming back at this point. After passing on the obvious (Ramon Sessions) and the oblivious (Jason Kidd, Jamaal Tinsley, White Chocolate), the Knicks have a lack of guards. Nate should fill that role as he has for the past several seasons.

That was drawn out. I'm glad half of it is over. Now onto D. Lee.


--Max Caster

Woman Arrested at Ford Field

This is from the Week 2 game between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings:



They should have thrown her out. A Roy Williams jersey? Really? The guy hasn't been on the team in over a year. I think they sell that at a truck stop in Mifflinville, PA. Step your game up. Call me when you start repping Megatron.

The bro in the brown button up and flip flops has it right. Everything except his wardrobe.


--Max Caster

The Jets Could Use this Guy on Defense

...Seems like a Rex Ryan guy.

Great work, old man.


--Max Caster

Terrible News....Just Terrible News

This is a little late, but no less significant....

From ESPN:

Notre Dame will likely be without wide receiver Michael Floyd for the rest of the regular season and quarterback Jimmy Clausen might not be 100 percent when the Fighting Irish play at Purdue on Saturday.

Floyd underwent surgery Sunday for a broken left collar bone. Coach Charlie Weis said he hasn't been told how long Floyd will be out, but he expects to be without him the rest of the way. Floyd might be available for a bowl game "if we chose to go in that direction," Weis said.

Crap. I don't normally use that type of coarse language in my writing, but this story deserves it. The issue goes beyond the obvious effects of loosing a player like Michael Floyd for the season. That alone is reason for concern.

But it also changes the entire complexion of the offense. Now teams can get away with double covering Golden Tate. As good as Tate is, I'm obviously concerned about this. Last season, Floyd missed the final three games of the season. Tate averaged 17 yards a catch in the nine games that Floyd played and only 9 yards a catch in the three that he missed. Those numbers are skewed when you consider that Tate was held catch less in Floyd's first game out (11/15 vs Navy) and exploded for 7/146 against Syracuse. Not exactly the balance we were used to. Tate also failed to record a touchdown in two of those three games.

More importantly, The Irish lost two of the three games that Floyd missed. The win came against Navy...by six.

So yeah, loosing Michael Floyd is really bad. It may just be the difference between the BCS and a three or four loss trip to a made-for-tv bowl. That would be the end of Charlie Weis.

But Charlie Weis apparently has some ideas. Before Michael Floyd broke the freshman receiving record, Duval Kamara owned it. Kamara is still on the team. His has four catches for 29 yards this season. I don't expect Kamara to resurrect his freshman production, but would it be too much to ask to become more of a presence in the offense?

Also look for Robert Paris and Shquille Evans to get more looks. Parris, a senior, has four catches for 26 yards and a touchdown this season. Evans is only a freshman and has two grabs this season. Back on national signing day, I mused about the possibility of a "Clausen-to Shaq!" touchdown call. But I never wanted it to become a reality under these circumstances.

As for Clausen, I get the sense that he will play. This guy is tough as nails. Remember his freshman year? He hit the dirt more times then anyone should and continued to get up. Even Saturday was impressive, 300 yards passing and two touchdowns after getting banged up in the first quarter. My concerns about Clausen are minimal.

We also now get to see what kind of quarterback Clausen is without Michael Floyd to throw to. He had 2 touchdowns and four picks in the three games that Floyd missed last year. The touchdowns both came against Syracuse. If that happens again, the team will struggle for six wins. But I don't think it will. Clausen is a much better player than he was in 2008. Case in point, he had six interceptions after three games last year. He doesn't have any this season.

Jordan Lauterbach

Welker Out Against the Jets

From Rich Cimini:

The Jets catch a big break today, as Patriots WR Wes Welker (knee) has been declared inactive. He was limited all week in practice and was listed as questionable. Most everybody assumed he'd play, so this comes as a surprise. Look for Joey Galloway to get the start opposite Randy Moss, although that isn't confirmed.



I picked the Jets to lose this game primarily because of Wes Welker's presence on the field. But now that he's gone, I have to imagine that New York will have a much easier time today. I don't know if they'll come out on top, but it sure as hell will be close.

Welker is like another running back, in that he gets short yards (usually under 10) and gets first downs. Out of the slot, he's almost unstoppable. Joey Galloway isn't that type of wide-out. He's a deep threat. Now that Welker is out, the Jets have one less area to worry about.


--Max Caster

C.W Post Vs. Cheyney Football Live Blog at 12:45

CFB: Week Three Picks

Last Week: 20-2

Season: 38-6

#2 Texas over Texas Tech- The Longhorn revenge tour kicks into high gear against the team that coast them a national championship birth last season. I’m reminded of last years Texas Tech/Oklahoma shelling, only Texas Tech doesn’t have as good an offense. Ouch. This one is done by 9:30.

#3 USC over Washington-Don’t forget, Aaron Corp almost won the starting job this summer.

#4 Alabama over North Texas

#5 Penn State over Temple- Joe Pa wants to find out if it’s possible to not play anyone and still win a conference title. In the Big 10, it may be.

#5 Ole Miss over S.E Missouri

#7 BYU over Florida State- Thought about FSU for a millisecond, then remembered that they aren’t all that good.

#8 California over Minnesota- This would be a huge win for Minnesota, but Cal is too good to drop this one.

#9 LSU over Louisiana Lafayette

#11 Ohio State over Toledo- Maybe this will be the week Buckeye fans can actually feel good about something.


#12 Oklahoma over Tulsa- Doesn’t that Miami game look even scarier than it did last week for the Sooners?

#15 TCU over Texas State- I know BYU is ranked higher, but TCU is the best in the Mountain West.

#16 Oklahoma State over Rice

#17 Cinncinatti over Oregon State- Love this game. Cinncinatti suffered a big loss on defense today, but I still think they eek out a close one.

#18 Utah over Oregon

#22 Kansas over Duke

#23 Georgia over Arkansas

#24 UNC over East Carolina

Notre Dame over Michigan State- This game worried me a little at first, but after seeing MSU implode against Central Michigan last week, I don’t think they’ll be able to stop Clausen and co. MSU caused a lot of problems defensively last season for Jimmy Clausen. I don’t think that will happen again. And no, MSU winning every game in South Bend since the early 90’s is not proper justification for picking the Spartans.


Two to Change Plans For

#1 Florida over Tennessee- It’s really only interesting because Lane Kiffin is a moron. But I think seeing a mad Florida team might be fun to watch. Don’t fool yourself. This isn’t close.

#19 Nebraska over #13 Virginia Tech- This is the game of the week, by far. I’m beyond frustrated that my market is getting the USC/Washington game instead of this one. I think I underestimated what the loss of Darron Evans would mean to the Hokies. Can Tyrod Taylor orchestrate a big win like this, even if it is at home? I don’t think so.

Upset of the Week (2-0 this season)

Eastern Michigan over #25 Michigan- This is by far my biggest reach all season, but I think the Wolverines will get a little too big for their britches and suffer a bit of a “Irish hangover”. It’s very low scoring and E.Mich wins by three.

Jordan Lauterbach

Replacements: NFL Picks of the Week

With the NFL season upon us, Max Caster and I have decided to raise the stakes and create a new segment on The Replacements, in which we pick what we deem to be the 5 games of the week. Since Caster was in Edinboro, Pennsylvania last week, we are officially starting the picks for Week 2. Each time, we will pick the Giants/Jets games, two premiere games of the week, and the "suck" game. At the end of the season, the winner will take home a candy bar, courtesy of the loser's pocket change.

So without further ado, here are the picks for Week 2.

New England at New York Jets = Matt: New England Max: New England

New York Giants at Dallas = Matt: New York Max: New York

Baltimore at San Diego = Matt: Baltimore Max: San Diego

New Orleans at Philadelpha = Matt: New Orleans Max: New Orleans

"Suck Game" Cleveland at Denver = Matt: Denver Max: Denver

Remember you can listen to The Replacements every Friday afternoon from 1-3 pm (EST) only on wcwpsports.com

-Matt Soldano

Corp To Start Against Washington

From ESPN:

USC quarterback Aaron Corp has been chosen to start the Trojans' Pac-10 opener against Washington on Saturday, a person briefed on the decision told ESPN's Joe Schad on Friday.

Freshman Matt Barkley is expected to regain his status as starter when he is healthy enough to resume throwing, the source said. Barkley continues to experience pain in his bruised right (throwing) shoulder, which was injured in the third-ranked Trojans' 18-15 victory at Ohio State last weekend.

USC coach Pete Carroll said Thursday that Barkley is improving every day, and Carroll wants to give him as much time as possible to heal before ruling him out against Washington.

This makes a ton of sense. Corp was a guy who was thought to have the inside track on the starting job when camp opened in August. He's a more than capable backup to make a start against Washington.

Good news for USC fans is that Matt Barkley doesn't appear to be hurt to bad. I get the sense that if this was a sense that if this was a tougher oppoent, Barks would be in.

That being said, pretty good subplot in this one: first year head coach Steve Sarkisian against his old team.

Jordan Lauterbach

JP Pelzman Interview

Max Caster and Nick Malone talk to JP Pelzman, Jets beat writer for 'The Record', about the New York's Week 2 matchup with the Patriots.

Lee, Boozer Sign & Trade Not Happening

From RealGM:

Alan Hahn reports on his Twitter page that a source says a rumored trade involving David Lee and Carlos Boozer is "not happening" and that the Knicks do not view Lee as a one-year rental. The team plans on signing Lee to a long-term contract after the 2009-2010 season.

Earlier, Ric Bucher reported that the Jazz is looking to acquire Lee by working out a sign-and-trade deal with the Knicks.

"The Jazz have great interest in Lee and are still looking to move Carlos Boozer," Bucher said. "There would have to be other pieces involved, but with Boozer's contract expiring, that would make sense for both sides."


That's good to hear. At this point, a 1-year deal is the best option, because it frees David Lee up from signing a long-term offer sheet this year. And next year, he'll still be on the Knicks' radar, and vice versa.

A deal for Carlos Boozer would be idiotic. A quick fix power forward with shotty knees...? I'm having flashbacks of the Antonio McDyess era. Plus, the Knicks have enough money in the bank without Boozer's expiring deal.

Also, nice job by Alan calling out Ric Bucher:

Boozer-for-Lee scenario "not happening" according to a source. Another says it hasn't been anything new on that "in weeks". Sorry Ric!

Suck it, Ric.


--Max Caster

Gallo: I'm 100%

From Alan Hahn's Twitter:

Just caught up with Gallo at MSG. Says he feels 100 percent and ready for training camp.


A Jets win. A classic Gus Johnson call. A decent start by Joba. And now this.

This is shaping up to be the best week ever.


--Max Caster

Eagles Cut Hank Baskett

From Pro Football Talk:

The Philadelphia Eagles, after trying in vain to trade receiver Hank Baskett, have opted instead to dump him in the circular bin for holding waste.

The move was necessitated by a desire to activate quarterback Mike Vick to the 53-man roster. Previously, Vick was on an exempt list; he was permitted to attend meetings and work out on his own, but he was not permitted to practice.


My reaction:




How can they cut Hank!?!?!? This is Hank freaking Baskett. He's married to Kendra! Kendra!!! And she's pregnant. Does this organization have a heart?

Does Jeff Lurie realize that when you type in 'Hank' into Google, just 'Hank', that Hank Baskett comes up before any other great Hanks. He's ahead of Hank Aaron, Hank Azaria and Hank Hill.




You know what Jeff Lurie... Suck it! Now the Jets have a shot at this great player. Forget Brandon Marshall, let's get Hank.


--Max Caster


PS: Hank really isn't that good.

Matt Barkley Practices

From ESPN:

Freshman quarterback Matt Barkley participated in No. 3 Southern California's light practice Monday, but didn't do any throwing drills while resting his sore shoulder.
Barkley
Safety Taylor Mays skipped practice to rest his injured right knee.
Barkley bruised his right shoulder during last weekend's 18-15 victory at Ohio State, and he was limited to handing off Monday. Sophomore Aaron Corp, who lost the starting job to Barkley in training camp, took snaps with the first-team offense.

If I'm Peter Carroll I sit Matt Barkley this week. New coach or not, I tend to think that Aaron Corp can handle Washington this week. No need to risk Barkley injuring himself further in this type of game.

But while we're on the subject, how impressive has the freshman been in his first two career starts? While the numbers may not necessarily be there (only 60% completion rate and one touchdown pass), he's shown that he has tremendous poise and knowledge that has come to be expected of USC quarterbacks. All you had to watch was that final drive on Saturday night to see that Barkley has something special.

Numbers in college football can be easily manufactured. Late game moxie and smarts can't be. Barkley has the latter, the numbers will come soon enough.

Don't look now, but we are about to watch yet another special USC quarterback for a few years to come.

Jordan Lauterbach

The Dolan's Could Sell Cablevision

From RealGM:

The Dolan family, which owns the Knicks and the Madison Square Garden entertainment operation, could sell its ownership in Cablevision, the country's fifth-largest cable company.

With the MSG unit in the process of being spun off, Cablevision becomes a more attractive takeover target.

Any sale of Cablevision would be at least a few years away.

With this possibility, could it finally mean Cablevision subscribers get the Tennis Channel? Or the NFL Network? Or maybe HDNet...

I don't know how many serious candidates are out there to buy Cablevision, but Mark Cuban always comes to mind. He, along with the Dolan's, are thought to have interest in buying the Mets with the Wilpon's in serious financial turmoil. Now that it looks like the Dolan's are looking to sell things, Cuban could use Cablevision to expand his media empire.

Rupert Murdoch could be another candidate. Maybe Eli Manning. He just got a lot of money...

And just a thought, but James Dolan looks a bit like Anthony De Franco, our friend here at WCWP and 3rd String Safety.



--Max Caster

Hail to the Victors!!

Hey everyone, Mike T here.

The Michigan- Notre Dame week the last couple of years as always been fun between Jordan Lauterbach ( a fan of the Touchdown Jesus) and myself ( a maize and blue supporter). We trade good natured barbs on shows and of course stick to our hearts and pick our teams. Thursday night I was made aware of Jordan's prediction, but did not believe it until I saw it in print:

#18 Notre Dame over Michigan- I’ve been saying it on the radio all week, ND is in a different class at this point in the programs’ history. It’s not even close….35-7

Jordan, like ESPN's Lou Holtz, were heaping so much praise on the Golden Domers that you figured Michigan shouldn't even show up. Well in the words of another ESPN personality, Lee Corso, NOT SO FAST MY FRIEND!

Led by rising star Tate Forcier, the freshman QB and the Wolverines traded blows with the 18th ranked Irish and came out with a 38-34 victory. Forcier led a fantastic 2 minute drive that culminated with a 3 yard touchdown pass to Greg Mathews with 11 seconds left to give coach Rich Rodriguez his first signature win at Michigan.

The game was back and forth, a true heavyweight battle from two legendary rivals who showed everyone they are ready to get back onto the national stage. Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen was electric in the game, picking apart the Wolverine defense for 336 yards and 3 TDs. However it was the loss of stud Sophomore wideout Michael Floyd to a knee injury and two questionable play calls at the end that did in Notre Dame at the end.

Granted their defense was picked apart by Forcier and crew (especially in the second half), head coach Charlie Weiss called two straight pass plays on 2nd and 3rd downs, and both fell incomplete. This gave Michigan the ball back with around 2 minutes left and allowed them to save their two final timeouts for their final drive instead of wasting them to stop the clock. This call could become Weiss' undoing this season if Notre Dame doesn't rebound against a Michigan St team that will be pretty angry following their 29-27 loss to Central Michigan.

But this day belonged to the Wolverines and especially their freshman QB. Forcier threw for 240 yds and 2 TDs, and also had 70 yds on the ground with a TD. His 31 yard TD run on 4th and 3 in the 3rd quarter gave Michigan an 11 point lead and electrified the soldout crowd at Michigan Stadium. The play is sure to live in Michigan lore, and only added to the legend of Forcier.


Matt Millen was the analyst for ESPN during the game, and gushed about Forcier being cool under pressure and his big play ability. Especially note-worthy was his ability to stay alive in the pocket and keep his eyes downfield. To quote play by play man Sean McDonough who was calling the game "A star has been born in College Football."

While only two games into the season, I could not agree more having watched every minute of the games. He has the "it" factor at 18 years old, and has added some life and excitement into Michigan, and every play he makes pushes the 3-9 2008 season further and further into the past.

Hail to the Victors indeed!

-Mike T

Road Trippin': Indiana, PA

Yes, this is a week late, but the story must be told.

Indiana, Pennsylvania is not the party capital of the country, and appropriately, we did not party. The 6+ hour drive took all of the party out of us. Although we did tear an Arby's the hell up.

We got to the field at Indiana University in the early afternoon. And after I was stung by a bee, we found our way up to the press box. We were on the second level of the booth. We searched for stairs, an escalator, a trampoline and a pole vaulting area. So how did we get up there, you ask? A ladder.



Jordan Lauterbach (pictured)was not too pleased with this.

We got up to our spot, sweaty from the summit. Angered for our effort. But the view from the press box was nice.



That beautiful view ended around 4pm when our CW Post Pioneers were anemic once again, this time falling to IUP 27-14.

After the Pioneer loss, we headed back to our luxurious accomodations -- the Super 8 Motel (which was actually a hotel) in Indiana. The first thing I noticed after the overwhelming stench of cigarettes in the lobby and the lack of free internet (always a big no-no) was the cleanliness. The room was clean, but the bathroom wall drew some concern from me.



That was directly opposite the toilet, leading me to ask the question 'How the hell did that get over there?' I didn't want to know. Aside from the supposed fecal matter on the wall, the room was nice and we slept well.

I awoke to a new day and free continental breakfast -- my favorite. The spread was a bit weak, which led me to wonder what the word 'continental' means. Dictionary.com defines the word as 'of or of the nature of a continent'. So I guess that means English muffins, cheap doughnuts and fruit loops. I wasn't impressed, but I can never turn down cereal.



And for the hell of it, a close up of my lovely breakfast.



And on that note, we left Indiana, PA for good, and good riddance.

Next week: Edinboro, PA.


--Max Caster

The Madden Curse Lives On

From the AP:

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee late in the first half of their 13-10 overtime victory against Tennessee on Thursday night. Coach Mike Tomlin said the injury usually sidelines a player from 3 to 6 weeks.

"They are reading the scans and so forth," Tomlin said. "It is speculation [how long Polamalu will be out] at this point."

Polamalu was injured when a Titans player fell on him as Steelers defensive end Aaron Smith blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt by Rod Bironas with about three minutes left in the half. Polamalu was attempting to pick up the ball.


The Cardinals play the 49ers this weekend. Larry Fitzgerald will be hurt in that game.

If this happens, then why not put Public Enemy #1 on the Madden 11 cover? Or at least T-Pain?

By the way, I picked my upset of the week tonight. I have the Niners going over the Cards in Week 1.


--Max Caster

CFB: Week 2 Picks

On the road again with the C.W Post Pioneers again this weekend. The destination this week: Edinboro, PA. You can hear the game on Saturday at 12:30pm on wcwpsports.com

Before I depart on the nearly ten hour journey, here are some quick picks for DI Week 2….

#1 Florida over Troy

#2 Texas over Wyoming

#4 Alabama over Florida International

#5 Oklahoma State over Houston

#7 Penn State over Syracuse

#9 BYU over Tulane

#10 California over Eastern Washington

#11 LSU over Vanderbilt

#12 Boise State over Miami (OH)

#13 Oklahoma over Idaho State

#14 Virginia Tech over Marshall

#16 TCU over Virginia

#17 Utah over San Jose State

#19 North Carolina over Uconn

#21 Georgia over South Carolina

#22 Nebraska over Arkansas State

#23 Cincinnati over S.E Missouri State

#24 Kansas over Utep

#25 Missouri over Bowling Green.

2 To Change Plans For

#18 Notre Dame over Michigan- I’ve been saying it on the radio all week, ND is in a different class at this point in the programs’ history. It’s not even close….35-7

#3 USC over #8 Ohio State- I feel a lot more comfortable with USC’s week one thrashing of San Jose State than I do about Ohio State’s near choke-job against Navy.

Upset Of The Week

Not a great week for matchups but here’s an out of the box one…

Central Michigan over Michigan State- He didn’t play well last week, but Dan LeFevor is flat out fun to watch.

Jordan Lauterbach

Erik Boland Interview 9-10-09

Max Caster talks with Erik Boland, the Yankees beat writer for Newsday, about the Bronx Bombers and their run to the playoffs. Erik addresses Derek Jeter’s quest for Gehrig record, the bullpen and of course Joba Chamberlain.

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Why Should I Watch the US Open Now?

After the past few days, there is no reason for me to follow the US Open religiously. Sure, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are bound for a fight in Flushing. Yeah, Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters should put on a great match. And, of course the Williams sisters are still alive and kicking in women's doubles.

But that's commonplace in most tennis majors. What I want is some excitement. Some stories to get behind. Something new. And two eliminations this week pulled all of those characteristics out of the US Open.



Back on Tuesday, Gael Monfils was beat by Rafael Nadal in 4 sets. The Frenchman gave Nadal a fight with his usual flash, hustle and emotion. And while I didn't fully expect Monfils to beat one of the world's best, he is an extremely likable player. Anybody can appreciate the energy he brings to a "Country Club" sport. If he had advanced, I would be tuned into the Open.

And last night, Melanie Oudin's improbable run at a US Open title was dashed by Caroline Wozniacki. Now what is there to watch on the women's side? Nothing! I want to see Oudin and her ugly shoes a little more.

Seriously though, both of the best storylines in the US Open were ended in a span of 24 hours. Wake me up for the men's finals. And if it's not Federer-Nadal 289, I'm going back to sleep.

Until then, I'm going to replay this volley including Gael Monfils. Watch some of the shots he makes -- sliding on hardcourt.




--Max Caster

Programming Update

Tonight Off the Glass, makes its Wednesday debut at 8pm on wcwpsports.com. Nick Malone and I will begin our division by division previews starting with the Atlantic tonight. Alan Hahn of Newsday will join the guys at 9:15 to talk some Knicks.

Immeadiately following the show at 10 pm, switch over to 88.1 FM, for Sports Talk 4 Dummies as Matt and Nick will have their full blow out NFL preview show predicitng division winners, round by round playoff picks, and eventually a Super Bowl winner. They will also be prediciting individual awards for around the league.

Jordan Lauterbach will be your starting your Thursday's off when he comes on the show at midnight to discuss college football and the Pioneers upcoming game against Edinboro on Saturday.

-Matt Soldano

Iverson: I Am Signing With Memphis

According to Allen Iverson's Twitter account, the biggest name left on the free agent market has chosen a team. AI had this to say on his account:

"God chose Memphis as the place that I will continue my career. I met with Mr. Heinsley, Chris Wallace, and my next head coach Lionel Hollins. I feel that they are committed to developing a winner and I know that I can help them accomplish that. I feel that I can trust them."

The deal is said to be worth for one year for worth $3.5 million, much less than the near $21 mill he was earning last season. Here is my take: Who would have thought one of the smallest markets in the NBA and in all of professional sports would house O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and now A.I. Although Iverson is a household name who has earned his spot in the Hall of Fame once his career is finished, I cannot come to grips with where he fits in the Grizz system. Does Lionel Hollins play Iverson at the point and take rising young guard Mike Conley off the bench or vice versa? How will there be any ball movement when you have three pair of hands that belong to Rudy Gay, Zach Randolph, and Iverson? And how long will the whole "I'm going to be a good guy and lead by example" charade last by Iverson.

Let's face the facts, there were four teams throughout this entire offseason that were linked in some sort of way to Iverson. The Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, and of course, the Memphis Grizzlies. The reason why Iverson took so long to sign was because he was holding out hope that one of those teams would offer Iverson somewhat of an appropriate contract. If I had to pick one team that would have been the best fit it would definitely be the Bobcats because of head coach Larry Brown and his ability to coach Iverson. I am not so sure if Lionel Hollins can last a full 82 games.

To me, Iverson is still a guy who can score the ball and put up 20+ points per game. Assuming the Grizz put out a starting five of Iverson, Mayo, Gay, Randolph, and Thabeet on opening night with Conley and Marc Gasol coming off the bench, this team is primed to win 30 games. In a tough Western Conference and too many players to share one basketball, Iverson might have wanted to just take a discount and wait for an offer from either of the Eastern Conference teams.

-Matt Soldano

Week One AP Poll Thoughts

The first sets of “real polls” are out. Here’s the A.P:

1. Florida (56)

2.Texas (2)

3.USC

4.Alabama (2)

5.Oklahoma State

6. Mississippi

7. Penn State

8. Ohio State

9. Brigham Young

10. California

11.LSU

12.Boise State

13.Oklahoma

14.Virginia Tech

15.Georgia Tech

16.TCU

17.Utah

18.Notre Dame

19. North Carolina

20. Miami (FL)

21. Georgia

22. Nebraska

23. Cincinnati

24. Kansas

25.Missouri


A few thoughts

I think it’s a fair top 25. Not too many surprises. The only issue I have with it is BYU at nine. Now, I understand why a team that gets as big a win as they did jumps up, but I refer to something that Kirk Herbstreit said on ESPN today.

When asked about how he believes polls should be voted on, Herbie said that voters should start with a blank piece of paper and write down who they believe are the 25 best teams in the nation, regardless of what the preseason polls said. Everyone knows that, for the most part, preseason polls are deceiving. With that theory in mind, do you really think that BYU is a top ten team in the nation? It was a great win over Oklahoma, but it did come by one point against a team without its two biggest offensive weapons for the majority of the game. Is BYU better than Cal? Boise State? I don’t think so. I would have put them in the top 15, but not the top 10.

Once again, Notre Dame’s position make a ton of sense. As dominant as Saturday’s win over Nevada was, it still came against Nevada. A win against Michigan this week will put them in the top 15.

Nice to see a Big East team crack the top 25. Despite being a BCS conference, the Big East did not have a team in the preseason poll. Something always seemed a bit odd to me about that.

CFB: 3 Week One Thoughts

Week One Record: 18-4

1.I’m having trouble deciding whether Saturday’s win over Oklahoma was a bigger win for BYU or a bigger loss for Oklahoma. But I’ll go big picture and say the loss was bigger for Oklahoma. They are now forced to run the table, maybe without Sam Bradford for the greater part of the season. With Idaho State and Tulsa next up for Oklahoma, I don’t think that the Bradford injury will be felt right away. But watch out for Miami on October 3rd. If the Heisman winner isn’t back by then, the October 17th match up with Texas may not be the “winner take all” Big 12 Match up that we all assumed it would be.

However, I wouldn’t go to the bridge quite yet if you’re a Sooner fan. If Oklahoma comes into that game with a single loss and beats Texas at home, then they are right back in title contention. However, it all hinges on Bradford coming back fast and playing well when he does.

BYU impressed me on Saturday. Despite throwing two interceptions, Max Hall drove the Cougars down the field late in the game. That’s what you want to see from your quarterback. I mused on Friday about whether Hall would play well in a game of this magnitude. For the most part, he did. The win makes the Mountain West a three team race, if it wasn’t already. TCU doesn’t play until next week and despite being close early, Utah handles Utah State this week. But as good a win as it was, its hard not to notice that BYU beat an Oklahoma team without Jermaine Greshem for the entire game and without Sam Bradford for the second half by one point. Oklahoma is not that good that loosing their two best offense weapons would not affect them a lot. While this takes nothing away from the win itself, forgive me if I’m a little more concerned about Oklahoma then I am encouraged by BYU.

2. The Irish are back! I know it was only Nevada, but it’s hard not to admit that Notre Dame looked great on Saturday. I go back to one year ago when Notre Dame let San Diego State make a game out of the home opener. You felt good about the win, but not that good. More than anything, the feeling was that any win, no matter how nerve-racking, was progress for the Irish after 2007. But Saturday had a different feeling. It had a feeling of dominance on both sides of the ball.

I Was pleasantly surprised by two things.

One, the defense looked awesome. Nevada may not be Texas, but they certainly can put points on the board offensively. Notre Dame didn’t just shut them out, they made them look silly in the process. After an opening drive that saw Nevada move the ball fluidly down the field and miss a field goal, the Wolf Pack never got close again. Colin Kaepernick was picked off twice and sacked twice. Running back Vai Taua had 118 yards, but it didn’t make a difference because the passing game was shut down. For a secondary that has struggled under Charlie Weis, the emergence of a passing defense is a welcome revelation. Also, freshman Manti Te’o looked great in the limited action he saw. This guy is as advertised.

Two, the running game looked good. Armando Allen ran for 72 yards and a score on 15 carries. Jonas Grey had 50 yards on only nine. The running game is supposed to be the weak link for this offense. We know that Clausen and company can put up points. If you forgot how good Michael Floyd was, he reminded you with three touchdowns on Saturday. Golden Tate chipped in with another signature big play. This, combined with a solid running game, will make Notre Dame’s offense even harder to keep up with.

3.FSU-Miami ended the weekend in splendid fashion. Offensively, Florida State was better than I expected, but couldn’t make plays down the stretch. Even with an extra set of downs thanks to a pass interference call, FSU couldn’t make that one big play. Miami did and that was the difference in the game. The 21 points in the fourth quarter wore down a Seminole defense that couldn’t stop anyone in the final period. Jacory Harris was impressive, tossing 2 touchdowns and throwing for 386 yards. A big win for a Miami team on the rise. An awful loss for a Seminole team with division winning aspirations in the A.C.C.


Jordan Lauterbach

CFB: Week One Quick Picks

I’m off to Indiana, PA to call some D2 ball on the radio, but here are my quick picks for the rest of week one. Keeping with my bowl mania trend, I was 2-2 on Thursday night.

#6 Ohio State Over Navy

#9 Penn State over Akron

#22 Iowa over Northern Iowa

#15 Georgia Tech over Jacksonville State

#23 Notre Dame over Nevada- maybe its my pessimism, but I think this one is close in the third quarter. Think last year’s San Diego State game. That being said, Clausen has a big fourth quarter and ND wins by 14.

#4 USC over San Jose State- Who’s pumped to see Matt Barkley? I know I am

#24 Nebraska over Florida Atlantic

#1 Florida over CSU

#3 Oklahoma over #20 BYU- BYU beat writer Jeff Call was on my show last month and questioned Max Hall’s ability to play well in big games. We’ll see early on if he’s improved. TE Jermaine Gresham is out for this one, that’s sure to effect a Sooner offense that will be less explosive to begin with. But the biggest storyline??...What if a punt hits the scoreboard?!?!

#25 Kansas over North Colorado

#2 Texas over L.A Monroe

#12 California over Maryland

#11 LSU over Washington

#8 Mississippi over Memphis

#21 UNC over Citadel

2 to change plans for

#9 Oklahoma State over #13 Georgia- I think this is one of those matchups where you have to pick the home team.

#7 Va. Tech over #5 Alabama

The Upset of the Week

Miami over #18 Florida State

Jordan Lauterbach

Blount Suspended for the Remainder of Season

From AP:

Oregon suspended running back LeGarrette Blount on Friday for the remainder of season for punching Boise State defensive end Byron Hout.

As Boise State began celebrating on their famous blue turf, Hout yelled in Blount’s face and tapped him on the shoulder pad. Before Broncos head coach Chris Petersen could pull Hout away, Blount landed a right to Hout’s jaw, knocking him to his knees.

Blount also had to be restrained by police officers from fans heckling him on the way to the locker room after No. 16 Oregon’s 19-8 loss Thursday to the No. 14 Broncos.


Well done, Oregon. Well done!

Earlier on "The Replacements", Matt Soldano and I both thought that a full year suspension was in line for LaGarrette Blount. I went as far as suggesting a lifetime ban from NCAA athletics.

Not only did he punch another player after the game, he tried to attack fans as well. That doesn't fly. But I'm just pleased that Oregon didn't wait for the Pac-10 or the NCAA had to step in and hand out a punishment themselves.

Blount is a bonehead, and deserves this.

Here's what happened:



Disgraceful...


--Max Caster

G-Men Not out to Get Marshall

From Mike Garafolo of the Star-Ledger:

The plane with the Giants logo that has sparked an overnight Internet frenzy of rumors of an impending trade of Brandon Marshall to the Giants appears to have been making nothing more than a coincidental trip to Denver.

In talking with folks in the know Thursday, I'm told the plane was not there as part of a meeting between any team officials and Marshall. Plus, a team spokesman said the Giants do not own a private plane.

None of the members of the Mara family owns a plane. There is a plane owned by the Tisch family, though it's unclear if it's marked with the Giants' "NY" logo.



Then who's plane is it? Who would buy a New York Giants airplane? Better yet, why would anyone make a Giants airplane? Reebok has to stop this madness.


--Max Caster

CFB: Opening Night Picks

The wait is finally over. College football starts tonight!

Full picks column coming by Friday night, but here are some quick ones for opening night.

South Carolina vs. N.C State- South Carolina won 34-0 last year. Expect different things this year. South Carolina has a young team with some uncertainty at the quarterback position. NC State’s Russell Wilson threw only one interception last season and is ready to take that next step. If Wilson improves on his 54% completion percentage, he should be able to do that. Also, don’t think 34-0 hasn’t been thrown around a lot this week. Players have pride. The Pick: NC State

North Texas vs. Ball State- After a season in which he ran for over 1700 yards, Ball State’s Miqual Lewis is the leading returning rusher in the country. Look for him to have a big game The Pick: Ball State

Utah State vs. Utah- Utah needs every game in what should be a fascinating MWC. They have some uncertainty at quarterback now that Corbin Louks has moved on to Nevada. The jury was still out on whether Louks would win the job anyway, but now Utah is looking at even less experience at quarterback. I think this will hurt them late in the year when they play TCU. However, it won’t make much of a difference tonight. The Pick: Utah

Oregon vs. Boise State- The game of the night, by far. Maybe the game of the weekend (it’s at least top three). It’s rare that you can say this on the season’s opening night, but this is a really important game. Boise State needs to go undefeated to have a shot at the BCS. Oregon is, by far, the toughest game on the schedule. Kellen Moore had a great season for the Broncos last year and will be just as good, if not better, this season. This will be the first taste of how he meshes with his new group of top receivers (three of Moore’s go to guys in ‘08 are gone for ‘09).

Call me crazy if you’d like, but I think Oregon is overrated. The defense is rebuilding. The head coach, while from inside the program, is new. LeGarrette Blount is really good, but I think the defense will struggle a lot early. Going on the road against the high powered Broncos spells bad news. The Pick: Boise State

Jordan Lauterbach

Could Brandon Marshall Be Heading To The Giants?

With all the big hoopla circulating the tri-state area concerning the Jets' interest in acquiring disgruntled Broncos' wide receiver Brandon Marshall, the Giants just might be the team where Marshall lands.  

Now do not get your hopes up Giants fans, (I know I sure am not), but its being reported by 104.3 FM in Denver, that a New York Giants private jet has landed in Denver at Jeffco Airport. This might be the weirdest and dumbest rumors of them all.  The picture could easily be one of the following: either the picture is photoshopped, the airplane is stationed anywhere in the country, or maybe the Giants are being classy and shipping Sinorice Moss off in style.  Man, I really hope it's the latter.

I know Jordan Lauterbach and Max Caster would certainly welcome a deal for Marshall to play along with Mark Sanchez but my feelings differ.  To me, the Jets do not have the leadership that would be appropriate to handle a guy like Marshall.  Yes, Rex Ryan seems to be the type of coach where he does not care about personalities as long as your a football player but what players can really lead and keep Marshall's head on straight.  You think this guy will listen to a rookie quarterback?  I'm not so sure.

However, the Giants are filled with guys who seem to be able to take accountability and responsibility.  Take Osi Umenyoria for example.  After going AWOL from practice, he responded to the media like he should have.  Eli Manning, Justin Tuck, and Brandon Jacobs can all be a voice in the locker room that Marshall does not need to be.  Marshall makes the Giants infinitely better right away.  I mean have you seen the Giants receivers in preseason?  Hell, the Jets have looked better!  Nicks has come on very strong as of late but where is everyone else? The Giants have to do this deal A.) if it is the right price (proposed deal below) and B.) if Jerry Reese and Tom Coughlin both are 100% sure that Marshall can turn his antics around.

So what would get a possible deal done for the Giants?  Probably a second round pick and either Domenick Hixon or Mario Manningham.  The Giants have the running game and defense to contend for a championship, adding Marshall to the mix will make them the favorites.

Here's Marshall's highlight reel...

-Matt Soldano

Beltran Drives in Run in Rehab Start

From the Star-Ledger:

Carlos Beltran went 1 for 3 with an RBI single Wednesday for Class-A Brooklyn in his first rehab game since going on the DL in late June. Beltran drove in a run with a line drive to center in his first at-bat, drew a walk in his second at-bat and later lined out and struck out.

Playing in a game for the first time since June 21, Beltran was the designated hitter in the Cyclones' 4-2 loss to Hudson Valley at KeySpan Park. If he feels no pain in his right knee, Beltran is expected to play center field Thursday, when the Cyclones play at Hudson Valley.

Beltran was picked off at first base after drawing a walk in the fourth inning.


Gee, not even the minor league teams can win.


--Max Caster

Heat want Dooling, Alston from Nets

From the Miami Herald:

The Heat -- which says it would prefer to trade for a backup point guard than sign one -- spoke to New Jersey about ex-Heat guards Rafer Alston and Keyon Dooling, one of whom could be dealt. Nothing materialized, but the door was left open for further talks.


The Miami Heat would have to give up something good for Rafer Alston. Rod Thorn is literally in love with his expiring contracts. He'd field a team of 12 guards if they all had expiring deals -- and he'd still tell the fans that he hasn't given up all hope on New Jersey.

Now when it comes to Keyon Dooling -- who has 2 years left on his deal -- Thorny would move him in a second. No matter how good Dooling has been for NJ, he'd be sent away if Rod Thorn could get his 8th expiring contract on his "competitive" team.

I say Thorn should trade both of them for Quentin Richardson. If he's traded another time this summer, he may just call it quits.


--Max Caster

Marshall to Jets "Highly Unlikely"

From Newsday's Bob Glauber:

A league source familiar with the Marshall situation told us that, at this point, "a trade [to the Jets] appears highly unlikely."

Our sense here: The Jets do, in fact, have interest - which we reported in today's newspaper - but the Broncos are simply not ready to entertain any trade offers for the disgruntled wide receiver. That doesn't mean the situation can't change; after all, it wasn't long ago the Broncos maintained they weren't going to trade Jay Cutler.

And we all know what happened with that one.


I have a feeling that this will end up as a drawn out rumor mill, like Ramon Sessions going to the Knicks.

Here we go!


--Max Caster

Broncos Want David Harris for Marshall

From ESPN:

The Denver Broncos would want New York Jets linebacker David Harris in any trade scenario for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, two NFL sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter on Wednesday.

There is no indication that the Jets would surrender Harris, who was fifth on the Jets in tackles last season despite playing only 11 games due to groin surgery. He led the Jets in tackles the previous season.


As I've said before, adding Brandon Marshall would be an extreme positive for the Jets offense. But is improving a weak passing game worth diminishing an overrated defense?

Come on. Even the jettiest Jets fans have to admit. The defense -- even with Darrelle Revis and Bart Scott and Kris Jenkins and David Harris etc. -- is overrated. We haven't seen the squad do anything yet. In the preseason games, they weren't as lock down as they claim to be. All we have to go on is Rex Ryan and Bart Scott hyping up the defense in the media.

I wouldn't take the practices too seriously. The defense has gone up against Mark Sanchez, a rookie, and Kellen Clemens, who's lost three quarterback battles for a reason. On top of that, they didn't have great receivers.

So giving up a great young player like David Harris would obviously worsen the defense significantly. Taking him out of that group removes a ubiquitous force. That, along with the fact that New York traded Jonathon Vilma away, makes me hesitant to give up another fine, young middle linebacker.

Why take away from Rex Ryan's strength by trading David Harris?

I'm leaning towards 'no' on this deal. But that doesn't mean I don't consider it. Brandon Marshall is still a top 5 receiver in the league, and would give New York more opportunities to score points, something they'll have issues with this year.

Right now, the Jets need to do everything in its power to not give up Harris. My proposal is a 1st round pick, a 4th and Jerricho Cotchery. Denver could really use an improvement in their receiving corps.


--Max Caster

Stephen Jackson wants to Play in NY

From Dime Magazine:

Dime: You made a big declaration earlier today by saying you wanted out of Golden State. When did you decide this?
Stephen Jackson: It’s not about a decision I made. It’s just things are in the air right now. I really can’t get too much into it right now, but I’m just looking to go somewhere where I can go and win a championship.

Dime: Are the Warriors aware of this?
SJ: Yeah they all know.

Dime: Is there anywhere specifically you want to go?
SJ: Either Cleveland, anywhere in Texas or out here with Al in New York.


Dude, get the hell out of here.

Forget the fact that he's a carbon copy of Al Harrington. Forget that he chucks shots and dominates the ball. Forget that every team he goes to ends up losing. Forget that he eventually implodes an organization -- like TO without top level talent. He has a big money contract that lasts all the way through the 2012/13 season.

Stephen Jackson should never be allowed in New York! Ever! Not even to visit. He shouldn't be able to watch any movies set or shot in New York. No music recorded in or about New York. Just keep his behind out on the West Coast so I don't have to think about him.


--Max Caster

Walsh: Expect Lee & Nate to Re-Sign

From the Daily News:

Knicks president Donnie Walsh is confident that both David Lee and Nate Robinson will re-sign with the club before training camp opens later this month.

"Things are moving along," Walsh said Tuesday. "Nothing is imminent, but the talks have been good."

Lee and Robinson are restricted free agents, and Walsh has said repeatedly that he wants to retain both players. Lee had hoped to get a long-term contract worth between $10 million and $12 million annually, either with the Knicks or another team.

Instead, he'll likely have to settle for a one-year contract with the Knicks worth approximately $7 million. Robinson's one-year contract could be worth as much as $5 million. Those deals would allow both players to become unrestricted free agents on July 1.



I could care less about Nate Robinson to be honest. He's not really needed in New York anymore. Toney Douglas should be getting his minutes this season.

David Lee, on the other hand, needs to be in New York. With the recent reports of Chris Bosh considering an extension from Toronto, plus the inevitable Carlos Boozer to Miami trade, the Knicks' shot of landing a big-time power forward in the "Summer of LeBron" is reduced. Get Lee back for a 1-year deal, then after the season, see where he fits.


--Max Caster

Power Ranger to try MMA

From TMZ:

The guy who used to play the Green and White Ranger on the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is trying to fight with creatures from this planet -- dude is an MMA fighter now.

35-year-old Jason David Frank -- who used to fight inside a friggin' Dragonzord -- just told MMAweekly.com he's hoping to fight inside the UFC octagon.

The 6th degree Black Belt just signed a deal with a new management team and hopes to get in the ring pretty soon. We'll let you know when he actually schedules a fight.

No word on what color his trunks will be...


In order to not upset the fans of the Green Ranger and/or the White Ranger, this guy should go with a nice seaform green ensemble.

That aside, I'm waiting for Brock Lesnar vs. the Green Ranger as the headliner of UFC 112.


--Max Caster

College Football '09: Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Last Season- 7-6, beat Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl

AP and Coaches Poll: 23

The goal in South Bend is clear. The goal for head coach Charlie Weis may be even clearer.

BCS bowl or bust.

After two consecutive years of downright embarrassing football played under the watchful eye of Touchdown Jesus, 2009 may be one of the most important seasons in the history of the program. While 2008 may not have been quite as bad as the 3-9 campaign of a year earlier, it sure felt like it towards the end of the regular season.

Yes, the Irish beat Navy- but they lost to Syracuse. Yes, they were 5-2 at the beginning of November- but they were 6-6 at the end of it. A bad overtime loss to Pittsburgh started what was an almost comical final month. That final month almost got Charlie Weis fired.

I think he would have been canned if not for a Christmas Eve thrashing of Hawaii that gave Notre Dame its first bowl victory in what seemed like a thousand years. But that game was only the beginning of what should be a remarkable comeback story for the Irish.

Think about it. How impressive would it be for a program to finish a season with three victories and find itself in a BCS game two years later? Almost unthinkable right?

But that is precisely what Charlie Weis must do to keep his job.

And he has the talent to do so.

It starts at the quarterback position. The excuses are gone for Jimmy Clausen. The quarterback who came to South Bend with such high expectations has been a bust in his first two seasons. But I give him a pass for a lot of what happened in 2007.

The quarterback situation was horribly mismanaged that season. The star recruit was placed behind an awful offense line and paid for it. Because of this, his 2008 wasn’t as good as it could have been. Clausen made a lot of bad decisions that led to seventeen interceptions. Say what you will about Clausen in ’08, but he single handily lost games because of poor decision making and interceptions at the worst possible times.

But despite some mind-blowing mistakes, Clausen showed what made him such a valuable asset coming out of high school. In the Hawaii bowl, he threw for 401 yards and five touchdowns. The touchdown total matched what he had accumulated in the last five games of the season combined. If the Hawaii bowl is any indication, Clausen should be one of the more improved quarterbacks in the nation this season.

Jimmy Clausen isn’t the only player that makes this passing game dangerous. Receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd are a big play threat on almost every down. Tate caught 58 passes for 1080 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He was on the receiving end of three of Clausen’s five touchdowns against Hawaii and averaged nearly twenty yards per reception last season.

Michael Floyd had some injury issues late in the year, but still grabbed seven touchdown passes. He is expected to be fully healthy and possibly even better in his sophomore season. The combo of Floyd and Tate will make Notre Dame air attack hard to contain.

The biggest questions offensively are at running back. The Irish ranked 100th in the nation in rushing last season. Armando Allan, the teams leading rusher, ran for only 535 yards and three touchdowns. Robert Hughes followed with 382 yards and four touchdowns. As good as this passing game can be, the running game must improve dramatically for the offense to reach its full potential. An offensive line that suddenly has some experience (four starters returning) should help that.

With Charlie Weis calling the plays, I expect the Irish to be aggressive down the field more than almost any other team in the nation. Expect a lot of big plays from Clausen as he morphs into the player everyone thought he was coming out of high school.

Despite the running game questions, if Notre Dame falters again it wont be because of their offense.

Defensively, Notre Dame has struggled in recent years. Even during the BCS/Brady Quinn years, the Irish won because of points on the scoreboard, not goose eggs. This season might not be all that different.

Notre Dame only has a few players with starting experience. Nose tackle Ian Williams and defensive end Kerry Neal provide experience on a defensive line that will be starting a red shirt freshman. That freshman, Kapron Lewis-Moore has tremendous upside, but has never played a snap of college ball.

The linebacking core has depth, but maybe not the right kind. In spring camp, six players were fighting for starting positions. Those six do not include highly touted recruit Manti Te’o. Te’o, while only a freshman, is expected to eventually lead the defense and may get significant time this season.

Linebacker Harrison Smith has moved back to his natural position, free safety. This should improve a secondary that returns Sergio Brown, Robert Blanton, E.J Banks, Raeshon McNeil, and Darrin Walls. Walls missed all of 2008 for “personal reasons”.

What makes Notre Dame’s outlook more favorable this year than it has been in years past is the schedule. The Irish are famous for having a schedule that makes it almost impossible to compete on a national level. While many national powerhouses schedule a few powder puff games to pad the record, Notre Dame has been stuck playing a marquee matchup almost every week. This is not the case this year.

A few weeks ago, Lou Holtz was chastised for predicting Notre Dame would make the national championship game. While I ultimately disagree with the end result, I don’t think the logic is at all absurd or misguided. I see a maximum of two losses on the schedule. The toughest game, USC, comes at home. They visit programs that are either in a “rebuilding mode” or just not very good.

This makes the goal even clearer.

I think that a two loss Notre Dame team gets a BCS bid. There is no excuse for a three loss season, given the schedule. Rarely is the measure of success so cut and dry in August. But for Charlie Weis, it couldn’t be any more obvious.

Find yourself in a BCS game or go find a new job.


3 Games To Watch
September 19th- Michigan State- The first of two potential losses that I see on the schedule. A good defense, led by Greg Jones, frustrated Jimmy Clausen and the Notre Dame offense in last year’s matchup. This could be a low scoring slugfest. The kind of game that I don’t think Notre Dame would win early in the year.

October 17th- USC- Remember the Bush push game? I’m sure you do. This one could have all the hype of that game if both teams come in undefeated (which is a strong possibility). The Trojans have won the last seven matchups, most by knockout. While I’m already on record saying that Notre Dame finally beats USC this year, who would be surprised if the Irish fell for an eighth straight time?

November 14th- @Pittsburgh- A game with late season trap potential. Pittsburgh fought back from a second half deficit in last year’s matchup in South Bend and could need this one for a Big East Title shot.

Jordan Lauterbach