skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Great article by Czabe today about the "Zorn Face," and the troubles of his hometown Redskins. It almost - and I stress "almost" - makes me feel better about the demise of the Giants this season. While it's true that, as Bill Parcells used to say, you are what your record says you are, I believe there are different levels of bad in the NFL. Both the Giants and the Redskins have lost 4 games in a row and are spiraling downward. I hope I'm wrong, but I think the Giants' season is lost. But the Giants are a solid, sound organization and they have what it takes to be back in the mix soon, even if 2009 is a wash. The Redskins on the other hand, have so many issues that it will take several years to rebuild, and that will only be possible with a change in the way things are done in management. (You then have a 4 or 5 team grouping below the Redskins, that are in such disarray it might take a decade or more to clean up, but they are not the focus of this post.)
It is wonderful to see the Yankees win the championship - their 27th - and their first in nine years. It seemed fitting that Pettitte started the game, Rivera came on in relief, and Jeter and Posada played prominent roles, just as it went for many playoff games as this version of the Yankees' dynasty began some 13 years ago.It was a great series and the Phillies were worthy adversaries, but it was clear that the Yankees were the dominant team. Maybe this team will turn into another branch of the Yankee dynasty, and maybe it won't, but either way I will sure enjoy this one on its own merits.Regarding the series itself, it is easy to second-guess a manager for decisions or moves that did not work out, but rarely do you hear praise for moves that do. So, a job well done by Joe Girardi on the Yanks' 3-man rotation working out perfectly for the duration of the playoffs.
Also, a tip of the cap to Fox for their excellent coverage. Particularly the isolation on each Yankee player with a different camera, for the final out. I thought that was a really neat touch. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to listening to We Are The Champions on a loop...what was the name of the band who recorded that song again?
It's amazing how some businesses have the moxie to continue to charge draconian prices, or even raise them, in this economic climate. And when I say economic climate, I don't mean the one that's portrayed in the media (super-horrible worst thing ever), but the realistic one (kinda bad; not terrible, but certainly not helped by aforementioned media sensationalism).
I feel cable companies are the best example. It seems they are just begging people to yank it out of their homes. I've said this before about movie theater prices ($10 per person in this era where you could buy the DVD and watch it in high-definition forever for about that much), and it's almost stunning the amount of hubris it takes to price yourself out of a market and assume no one will leave you because they simply MUST have cable. Well not me. I recently bought a house and for the first time in over 5 years, was faced with the decision of whether or not to pay the current rate of over $50 a month for cable. I said no.
I know where technology is going. So much is online now - ABC, Fox, CBS, and NBC upload most of their prime time shows, and even some of my favorite cable shows like South Park, Rescue Me and It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, are also available. Not to mention everything people put on Youtube. And there's Netflix. In fact, I think the only thing on cable these days that can't be worked around, is a live, cable-televised sporting event. And for that, I submit just any bar or restaurant.
One of my friends has canceled his cable service in the past few months. I have 9 friends so sure it's a small sample size, but hey, counting myself that's 20% of people I know that have said no to cable lately.
I think the backlash is delayed a bit, but in the not too distant future we're going to see record numbers of people cut down on this entertainment expense, from companies that either simply don't understand their market, or have the heap of arrogance it takes to ignore it.
At about noon yesterday during the Vikings-Steelers game on Fox, the local Phoenix affiliate, Fox 10, ran a promo for their sports show, featuring Jude LaCava.
LaCava: "Coming up on Sports Wrap Up Tonight (or whatever the exact title of the show), it's the Yankees and the Phillies in the World Series. We'll preview the matchup, and blah blah blah..."
Nice and accurate, except for one problem...this was a good five hours before the first pitch of Angels-Yanks ALCS Game 6 was scheduled to be thrown.
So either someone at Fox 10 has a sports almanac telling him the participants of the next 50 World Series that he traveled back in time to give himself, or Jude LaCava didn't want to come in on a Sunday so he recorded recaps of several different versions of things that could happen. I'm reminded of the old SNL skit where Dana Carvey plays Tom Brokaw, and Brokaw wants to go away for the summer and has to record all kinds of news stories with crazy scenarios, just in case. "Former President Gerald Ford dead today...mauled by a circus lion in a convenience store."
Something I don't recommend is timing yourself in either the 100 meters, or 40 yard dash. You'll only be disappointed to find that you're a lot slower than you think you are. It happened to me this fall, as I began getting ready for what I vaguely call "Sports Season" - the time in Arizona spanning approximately mid-October to late-March, when people can actually perform physical activity outdoors, including sports if they care to organize them.
I felt pretty good going out to my local Community College track and field facility to time myself. I even felt fast as I tore up the track. I looked at my cell phone (it has a stop watch function - fancy!), expecting a 100 meter time in the high 11s or low 12s. (Not in the 10s though - I'm not that delusional.) Then I saw it: 14.2 seconds. What a wake up call. In fairness, it was my first sprint in many months, and I have since gotten my 100 time all the way down to 13.5. But man, that pales in comparison to people who run fast for a living. I'm not even going to publicize my 40 time, but rest assured, it's slower than any NFL lineman.
My immediate reaction was to be embarrassed and disappointed, but then I realized a few things that made me feel better. One, NFL players are among the best athletes in the world. Two, even the 300-pound linemen are fast; they only appear slow compared to the breathtaking speed of the running backs, receivers, defensive backs, and most linebackers. Three, these men's whole existence revolves around being fast. It's their career. Of course they are genetically gifted, but they also devote their livelihood to sports. If any of us were put in a scenario where we could quit our jobs and just focus on running the 40 for a while, I'm sure we would all get a little faster.
So, this Sunday when I settle in to watch football, I'll be reminded of just how wide the gap is between professional athletes and the average guy. And I'll just be satisfied to be as fast as the friends with whom I play sports.
What a relief, as the Yankees escaped last night with a 2-0 series lead over the Twins. I think Joe Girardi made a couple of questionable managerial decisions in the game (waiting too long to bring in Rivera, and letting Damaso Marte anywhere near the mound in the playoffs), but those were masked by the dramatic, clutch homers by Rodriguez in the 9th and Teixeira in the 11th.
A sweep sure would be nice. It would remind me of the kind of confidence I had in this team in the late 90s when they'd match up with Texas in the first round and I'd say, "Yeah, they'll take care of these chumps, no problem." In first rounds since, they've either had to sweat it out (Oakland 2001, Minnesota 2004), or were outright upset by a lesser team (Anaheim 2002, Anaheim 2005, Detroit 2006, Cleveland 2007).
Of course, the Angels concern me bigtime, as the Yanks can't seem to beat them even when they are the better team, and the Angels are leading Boston 2-0.
So maybe this newfound Yankee playoff confidence will be short-lived. But, that's what makes playoff baseball so exciting - as Czabe says, it's more random than a game of plinko.
It was almost easy to overlook this past weekend, but David Robinson was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame. A once in a generation player, someone who served his country, and a great person by all accounts I've seen or heard. Not many of his stardom level are so humble or generous, and he sets a perfect example of the kind of persona a sports superstar should display.
Have you ever seen a worse haul of regional games than the following?
CBS, Early - Broncos at Bengals
FOX, Early - Cowboys at Buccaneers
FOX, Late - 49ers at Cardinals
Eh, who am I kidding, it's football and it's week 1. I'll probably watch at least one of these. Though my NFL Films DVD collection might really come in handy as the day wears on.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have cliched their 17th consecutive losing season, setting a record that applies to all major sports. What rubs me the wrong way, is how Pirates' ownership continues to allow the Yankees, and perhaps the Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets as well (I wasn't able to find the official 2009 luxury tax threshold), to subsidize them, while they simply pocket the cash rather than spending it on their team. The Pirates have been "rebuilding" for 17 years now, and make no effort to put a good product on the field. The fans of Pittsburgh really deserve better than this - better than an ownership group that are essentially the welfare queens of sports. It's so blatant it's almost like they're flaunting it. "We're going to take this handout every year, and there's nothing you can do about it." The Marlins and Padres are also notoriously cheap, but at least they make a calculated run at the postseason every 10 years or so.
About a month ago I mentioned what should be done for the next NBA collective bargaining agreement. Here, I'll plead for both the abolition of the luxury tax (as clearly it isn't working - unless you consider making pennypinching owners who don't care about winning rich, working), and the institution of a salary floor. This won't be easy of course - it looks like a maximum of 4 teams pay the luxury tax, while the rest benefit, and most owners would agree to a team salary minimum.
Time again to roll out an NFL season preview! Here is how I did last season.
2009 Predicted NFL Standings
AFC EAST
New England 12-4
NY Jets 9-7
Miami 8-8
Buffalo 8-8
TOTAL: 37-27 (Last season: 38-26)
Tom Brady is back - and while New England is no longer allowed to cheat, they'll resume dominance of the division. Miami took a big jump last year, and whenever a team takes a meteoric, unexpected rise in one season, they fall back to earth the next. (I base this on absolutely no tangible data.) Mark Sanchez will throw less interceptions than Brett Favre for the Jets, but they still don't have a complete team to challenge for the title. Buffalo is better with Terrell Owens, who will behave himself, but they've got a long way to go as well.
AFC NORTH
Pittsburgh 11-5
Baltimore 10-6*
Cincinnati 6-10
Cleveland 5-11
TOTAL: 32-32 (Last season: 31-32-1)
The Steelers and Ravens will both be slightly down this year, but still leaps and bounds above the Bengals and Browns. On paper, there seems to be no reason the Steelers can't repeat. But, after their Super Bowl XL triumph they struggled a bit, and I think we could see the same thing in 2009.
AFC SOUTH
Tennessee 11-5
Indianapolis 10-6*
Jacksonville 8-8
Houston 7-9
TOTAL: 36-28 (Last season: 38-26)
The Jaguars are improved, but I still don't see them as reaching the level of the Titans or Colts. The Colts take a step backward without their coach and leader, Tony Dungy. But any team led by a healthy Peyton Manning has a pretty high "floor" for wins in a season. The Texans are nothing special besides Andre Johnson, but they will be competitive.
AFC WEST
San Diego 9-7
Denver 5-11
Kansas City 5-11
Oakland 3-13
TOTAL: 22-42 (Last season: 23-41)
I don't see much changing from last season here. San Diego will again win by default, over two teams in transition and a third that resembles the baker on Sesame Street falling down a flight of steps while carrying 10 chocolate cakes (the legendary Jim Henson - here's the video, watch the last 15 seconds, it's totally worth it.).
----------------------
NFC EAST
Dallas 11-5
NY Giants 11-5*
Philadelphia 11-5*
Washington 8-8
TOTAL: 41-23 (Last season: 38-25-1)
This should again be the best division in the NFL. And again the NFC East has been blessed with an easy "dance partner," cycling with the AFC West. (Last year they had the NFC West.) Other than Washington at San Diego in week 17, this could be clean 16 game sweep. But, you never know and that's what makes the NFL great; any team can beat any other team in one game. It's a cop-out that I'm not picking a clear division winner, I really can't decide...but I'm confident that the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles will all make the playoffs, regardless of division winner.
NFC NORTH
Green Bay 11-5
Minnesota 9-7
Chicago 7-9
Detroit 4-12
TOTAL: 30-34 (Last season: 25-39)
The Packers quietly continue to build around Aaron Rodgers and will have a solid season. Adrian Peterson leads the NFL in rushing, but the Vikings are sabotaged by the Gunslinger. The Bears are mediocre, and the Lions, well...they can't get any worse than last year. This season they'll stumble into 4 wins and lose out on the first draft pick.
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans 11-5
Carolina 10-6
Atlanta 10-6
Tampa Bay 5-11
TOTAL: 36-28 (Last season: 40-24)
The Saints put on a show, but I don't see them doing anything in playoffs. Carolina is tough to stop on the ground, but Steve Smith may start to show his age. The Falcons become another example of a team that takes a big jump then regresses a bit the following season (again, based on no data). The Bucs continue their collapse from last season, when they lost their last four games.
NFC WEST
Arizona 7-9
Seattle 5-11
San Francisco 5-11
St. Louis 5-11
TOTAL: 22-42 (Last season: 22-42)
These teams went 10-30 outside this division last season and don't look any more palatable this season. So I'll give 7 wins to my projected NFC West winner, Arizona - 6 of which will come by getting 2 apiece against Seattle, San Francisco, and St. Louis. Last season before their improbable run to the Super Bowl, the Cardinals were 6-0 against the NFC West; but 3-7 against actual NFL teams. I believe an easy road to the playoffs is the best way to prepare for a deep postseason run, and the Cardinals will again have that luxury.
PLAYOFFS!???
Wild Card Round:
Steelers over Colts (Steelers still too physical for Colts, especially at home)
Ravens over Chargers
Giants over Saints
Cardinals over Eagles (A 7-9 team hosts a playoff game against an 11-5 team...the NFL still refuses to fix the seeding/home game awarding system. McNabb and Reid fail again, Vick era begins.)
Divisional Round:
Patriots over Steelers
Titans over Ravens
Packers over Cardinals
Giants over Cowboys (Romo still doesn't win a playoff game, even after a 1st round bye.)
Championship Round:
Titans over Patriots (Belichick drowns his sorrows by again stealing another man's wife.)
Packers over Giants (Lack of game breaking WR finally catches up to Giants.)
Super Bowl:
Titans over Packers (Jeff Fisher, currently the longest tenured and perhaps best coach in the league, finally wins a championship.)
*And one final disclaimer: Reason # 13,661 that the NFL is so awesome, is that the landscape changes so quickly, and week-to-week it is like looking into a kaleidoscope. So, I fully expect that by week 2, these picks will look as dated as bellbottoms, long sideburns, or the goatee.
Great article by Czabe today about the "Zorn Face," and the troubles of his hometown Redskins. It almost - and I stress "almost" - makes me feel better about the demise of the Giants this season. 
