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DC: City of Champions

Yeah, yeah…I am back. Blah, blah, blah. Spare me your jokes, punks.

Anyway, I live in Washington, DC. As a result, I had the privilege of watching the following NFL games yesterday as part of my network package (I have Comcast Cable whom I hate more than the current lovefest with Brett Farve):

1:00 Kansas City vs. Washington (remarkably, not blacked out)

4:00 Philadelphia vs. Oakland and Buffalo vs. NY Jets

That’s right I got to watch four of the worst football teams possibly in the history of the league! And I have one declaration to make here – The Washington Redskins are the worst team I have seen.

THEY ARE VOMIT ON BURNT TOAST!

Keep in mind that as I write this: 1) there was team whose quarterbacks went a combined 2 – 14 for minus 7 yards and 2 interceptions. Shockingly, they lost 59 – 0 and that score could have been 1000 – 0; 2) JaMarcus Russell is still a starter in the league; 3) Tampa Bay and St. Louis may both go 0 – 16 and it wouldn't be a surprise; 4) There are five starting quarterbacks in the league with QB Ratings below 60.0 and only Mark Sanchez plays for a team with a winning record. That will soon change because; 5) Mark Sanchez went 10 - 29 for 119 yards and 5 interceptions yesterday.

Back to the Redskins. Consider the following:

- As of today, the Redskins have not played a team that had registered a win. You are welcome to throw out the NY Giants since that was week one, but that leaves five consecutive winless teams! Has that ever happened before?

- Three teams have registered their first win of the season against the Redskins (Detroit, Carolina, Kansas City).

- During the Kansas City game yesterday there was an attempted onside free kick after a safety. Again, has that ever happened before?

- The Redskins beat Tampa Bay and St. Louis by a combined 5 points. AT HOME!

Now, the Carolina Panthers were a 12-3 playoff team last year and their demise – like Tennessee’s - is somewhat disturbing. You can certainly point to several reasons for why but that is for another post. As for the Chiefs and Lions, well Kansas City had lost 9 straight and 15 of 16 before yesterday. And Detroit? Detroit’s win was its first in 20 games. Let me repeat that, 20 GAMES!

I have no real point to this post other than to take some minutes from your lives. I lost 8 hours of mine yesterday and those are never coming back.

I hate Dan Snyder. I hate that he is making my football watching experience this year like tweezing pubic hair. I have to watch the putrid home team or, soon enough, nothing because the team will be blacked out!

I just want what all other decent, hard-working football fans want...quality entertainment. I don't want to have to start watching the UFL. And, I don’t need this type of torture.

Picks of the Week

I took it on the chin about this week, with my first sub-.500 performance. Trying for a nice rebound this week. Here are this week's "Picks of the Week". As a refresher each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I will keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. On to the picks, without analysis, since I have a lot to do today.

Baltimore Ravens -9 v. Cincinnati Bengals

Minnesota Vikings -10 at St. Louis Rams

Philadelphia Eagles -15 1/2 v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

New York Giants -15 v. Oakland Raiders

Dallas Cowboys -9 at Kansas City Chiefs

Pittsburgh Steelers -10 1/2 v. Detroit Lions

Carolina Panthers -4 v. Washington Redskins

Cleveland Browns +6 at. Buffalo Bills

San Francisco 49ers -2 1/2 v. Atlanta Falcons

Houston Texans +5 1/2 at Arizona Cardinals

Jacksonville Jaguars -3 at Seattle Seahawks

Indianapolis Colts -3 1/2 at Tennessee Titans

New York Jets -1 at Miami Dolphins

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

New England Patriots -3 at Denver Broncos


Previous Week's Record: 6-8 (0-1 Big Bet)
Year to Date: 41-21 (3-1)
Previous Weeks Winnings (Losses): ($445)
Year to Date Winnings (Losses): $2075

Talkin' Baseball

While discussing many of life's important issues, your authors, (Yes, all three of us), turned to the baseball playoffs. Yes, we know that 3 series have already started, but we had our conversation and predictions at lunch yesterday. Just getting to the post toda. Here are our respective predictions, along with the transcript of our exact converstion.

Pepster: Hey Hopps, Sinickal, good to speak with you guys again. How are you doing?
Sinickal: Not too bad, lots of golf over the weekend. Got to get all the east coast golf in that I can before it gets too cold, and I have to concentrate on only Arizona golf.
Hopps: Besides the fact that the family is driving me crazy? I'm doing great.
Pepster: Good, Good. So, playoffs starting today. After that Minnesota-Detroit play-in game, I am ready for some good playoff baseball.
Sinickal: Can you believe how the term "Play-in" game has become so widespread? Just because the NCAA tourney wanted to have 34 at large teams. Ridiculous.
Pepster: I know. They even had a "play-in" game in my kickball league this season.
Hopps: You clowns still playing kicball?
Pepster: Yep.
Sinickal: Not exactly playing since the Achilles incident.
Hopps: Dopes.

Pepster: Anyway, let's start with the Yankees/Twins series, since the Yankess outdistanced everyone else in the Major Leagues by 6 whole games.
Hopps: You know I hate them. I'll just say Yankees in 4.
Pepster: Excellent analysis Hopps.
Hopps: Shut up. I just hate them soooo much.
Pepster/Sinickal: We know. We know.
Sinickal: I think that the Twins are just on a real hot streak right now. Mauer is as good as they come with the bat, Kubel and Spann have been hitting machines this year. Plus, remember that run the Rockies went on a couple of years ago. I don't think that the Twins will win, but they will play the Yanks tough. Yankess in 5.
Pepster: Interesting. Don't forget how well Young has been hitting the last 6 weeks or so too. Bottom line, the Twins are spent. Morneau would have made a big difference as well. Sabathia's inninngs have been lowered, so he's rested, and the bullpen is just lights out. I think the Yankees sweep.

Sinickal: So, we all agree on the Yankees. Let's turn to the other American League series. Hopps, what do you think about this one.
Hopps: Sox will win it all!!!!
Sinickal: So you expect them to beat the Angels.
Hopps: I expect them to beat the Yankees.
Sinickal: They aren't playing the Yankees.
Hopps: Who cares. Sox sweep!
Sinickal: Pepster, your take?
Pepster: I think I am in the minority in this room. I think the Angels will win, in 4.
Sinickal/Hopps: What?!
Pepster: I know, I know. Sox have won 9 of the last 10 in the playoffs against the Angels, but I just have a different feel about this series. It used to be the Angels were Vlad Guerrero at the plate, and hope Glaus, Kotchman or somebody else could hit with him, and maybe Figgins get on base. Not so this year. Kendry Morales hit over .300 with his 34 homers and over 100 RsBI.
Sinickal: Just stop it with your RsBI. I know it is Runs Batted In, not Run Batted Ins, but call them RBIs anyway.
Pepster: Like I was saying, Morales has flat out hit, Torii Hunter, Mike Napoli and Howie Kendrick have had solid seasons, and Abreu will take about 1,000 pitches, wearing down the Sox staff. Although Ortiz has been coming along, Youkilis doesn't seem the same, and he is incredibly important for the Sox.
Sinickal: All true and good points, except that the Angels pitching staff remains the same. Lackey, Saunders, Santana. Kazmir doesn't seem to be himself. Beckett is a big-game pitcher. Sox in 3.
Pepster: Don't I know that. Beckett is money.
Sinickal: Shut up - don't bring up 2003 with me.
Pepster: Why not? Because Beckett shut down your Cubs? Are you going to predict the Cubs will win next year for the 108th consecutive year? (Purposefully not mentioning the word "Bartman").
Sinickal: Find some fans. Really. Like there are more than 14 Marlins fans in the world.

Hopps: OK, guys, that seems like a good time to switch to both of your beloved National League. Before we start, let me remind you that my team is the only one in the playoffs.
Pepster/Sinickal: Shut up.
Hopps: Dodgers-Cardinals. Who you got?
Pepster: I would think that this will be a split-decision amongst ourselves. You can't find 5 bigger Manny Ramirez fans in the country (not named Ramirez) than me. However, Pujols is the best player on the planet. That alone is worth one game. The Holliday and DeRosa pick-ups have proven to be the best mid-season moves in baseball. I say Cardinals in a hard fought 5. Wow - I didn't even talk about pitching.
Sinickal: Carpenter/Wainwright. Enough said. Cardinals in 4.
Hopps: Really? Ramirez is just as deadly at Pujols, because he just doesn't care if he fails in a big spot. That makes him that much more dangerous. Ethier and Kemp are incredible in the field, and at the plate. And you really want to pitch to either Ramirez or Ethier at the plate in a big spot? Billingsley and Kershaw have incredible stuff. Not as good over the full season as Carpenter and Wainwright, but for any given game, those guys can pitch with anyone. Dodgers in 4.

Pepster: What about the Phillies series?
Hopps: The Rockies are a formidable enough team to win 1 game. Phillies in 4.
Sinickal: I would love to give some fascinating analysis about this series, but it isn't really worth it. Phillies sweep.
Pepster: I concur.

Pepster: Gentlemen, it has been a pleasure. I'll call you both before the LCS starts. Closing thoughts?
Hopps: My analysis is a little hindered and blinded by my fandom, but with Lester and Beckett, the Sox have two power, power pitchers to go in any series. That gives them a huge advantage. I just hope that they can take advantage of it.
Pepster: Now I know that we are nowhere near being what others would call emotional guys, but I have to give props to how the Angels have handled the Nick Adenhart situation. Great celebration when they clinched the playoff spot. That would be a great story if that continued. Sinickal - how 'bout our Bears?
Sinickal: Doing great so far. Glad Gould is better than each of the other kickers he has faced so far. Cutler is definitely worth it to date. But, they have a bye this week, so go Syracuse.
Pepster: They are 2-3, going against West Virginia this week. Make that 2-4.
Hopps: And you have to root for Paulus. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
Sinickal: Yeah, well Harvard may run the world, but Syracuse writes, produces and directs it.
Hopps/Pepster: Yeah, yeah. Like we haven't heard that before.

Picks of the Week

A nice 11-5 week 3 to follow week 2's 15-1. Let's see how I can do this week. Here are this week's "Picks of the Week". As a refresher each pick is using the spread (straight up is for wussies), and the betting line is from the same website each week as of the time of typing the entry. I will keep a running tally of my record, plus my winnings/losses. We will pretend that I bet $100 on each game, with one game each week going for $250. Winnings/Losses will be calculated including a 10% vig, which just makes the math that much simpler. On to the picks, without analysis, since the games are getting ready to start.

Chicago Bears -9 1/3 v. Detroit Lions

Washington Redskins -9 v. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Baltimore Ravens +1 at New England Patriots

New York Giants -9 at Kansas City Chiefs

Tennessee Titans -3 at Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts -10 v. Seattle Seahawks

Oakland Raiders +9 at Houston Texans

Cincinnati Bengals -6 at Cleveland Browns

Buffalo Bills +1 at Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints -7 1/2 v. New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers -9 v. St. Louis Rams

San Diego Chargers +6 at Pittsburgh Steelers

Minnesota Vikings -4 v. Green Bay Packers

BIG BET OF THE WEEK

Dallas Cowboys -1 at Denver Broncos


Previous Week's Record: 11-5 (1-0 Big Bet)
Year to Date: 35-13 (3-0)
Previous Weeks Winnings (Losses): $700
Year to Date Winnings (Losses): $2520

The Ole College Try

Here is this week's wrap-up of the college football season, told from a distance simply to let some of the stories simmer a bit and to gain a bit of perspective. Although you may have a different take on the past weekend, I can only truly comment on games that I have seen, and this is my perspective. I did watch an absolute ton of games this week, so lots of information in this week's Try.

Heisman Watch

Big 3 Edition (Since ESPN told me only 3 candidates exist)
As stated earlier - I no longer subscribe to the Big 3 theory (Bradford, McCoy, Tebow).


Quarterback Edition
Tony Pike - Cincinnati - 1,223 yards, 11 TDs, with a 70% completion rate. One of two very important offensive reasons Cincinnati should be looked at seriously for the BCAS Championship game (plus their schedule).

Running Back Edition
Ryan Mathews - Fresno State - 592 yards and 5 TDs, despite being the primary weapon upon which every defense is focused. Of course, he is helped by Cal's obliteration. I still expect Jahvid Best to be back on this list soon.

Statistical Favorite - Still Taylor Potts - Texas Tech - 1,602 yards and 13 TDs, including 321 yards against a surprising Houston team that humbled Oklahoma State as well.

Miscellaneous Position
Marshawn Gilyard - WR - Cincinnati - 31 catches, 442 yards and 6 TDs, including 9 for 177last week against Fresno State.


Defensive Leader - Eric Norwood - LB - South Carolina - Definitely going to give Eric Berry a run for Defensive Player of the Year in the SEC. Norwood runs sideline-to-sideline, has 6 sacks, and even an interception so far this season. Standout in the 'Cocks upset of then number 4 Ole Miss.

Sleeper - Kellen Moore - QB - Boise State - Leading the country in passing efficiency for a team likely to finish the season undefeated.

Rising - Ryan Williams - RB - Virginia Tech - 492 yards and 8 touschdowns to date, including lighting up Miami for 150 yards and 2 scores.

Falling - Jacory Harris - QB - Miami - Perhaps I was a little to hasty to anoint Jacory Harri as the third straight Heisman winning sophomore quarterback. Tough loss to V-Tech, however, if Graham, the power forward-turned-tight end catches one of the two passes on the second drive in the third quarter, the score is 21-14, and it is a whole different ballgame.

Player to Watch

Eric Decker - WR - Minnesota - Perhaps the only reason to watch Minnesota, this exciting receiver is well worth the price of admission.

Taylor Wyndham - DE - Kentucky - If you have to ask why, then you either (a) don't know me; or (b) don't read this blog regularly.

My New Favorite Player

Goat of the Week (Player Edition)
Matt Pipho - T - Miami - His horrendously awful pass blocking led to the Hokies' constant harassment of Jacory Harris, and his run blocking was even worse.

Goat of the Week (Coach Edition)
Joe Paterno - Penn State - To not have your team ready for this game is absolute abomination. With their weak schedule, 1 loss completely knocks Penn State out of the Championshp hunt.

Coach of the Week
Kirk Ferentz - Iowa - Is there a coach in the country that constantly does more with less than Kirk Ferentz?

Breakthrough Performer of the Week
Jean Pierre-Paul - DT - South Florida - George Selvie is a high NFL draft pick caliber on the end of the line, but Pierre-Paul more than upheld his own against the middle of the Florida State line in the Bulls upset of the Seminoles. A couple of sacks and dozens of pressures, Pierre-Paul looked to me like that 4th round draft pick that plays for 10 years in the NFL.

Breakthrough Coach
Dan Mullen - Mississippi State - A goal line stand by LSU away from upsetting the Tigers. Mullen has made Mississippi relevant, and better than they should be right now, while the offense at Florida has grown stagnant. (Mullen was the Offensive Coordinator for the Gators before coming to Mississippi State). Mullen earning his coaching stripes in a tough, tough conference.

Predicted BCS Championship Game Matchup
Texas v. Alabama - Alabama is looking much stronger than Florida right now. Texas does not look like they have a challenger unless Bradford returns, at top form.

RANT OF THE WEEK

Would the officials at least learn the rules. If two players possess the ball simultaneously, the offensive player is deemed to maintain possession. Afterward, if both players then fall to the ground, the play is over, and the offensive receiver is down by contact. If the defensive player then takes the ball away, the offense maintains the ball, it is not an interception. I hope you learned your lessons Big Ten officials in the Michigan/Indiana game, plus the replay official.

Congratulations of the Week

Jim Leavitt - Coach - South Florida - A big in-state win against the Seminoles that should cement Leavitt as one of the better coaches in the country.

Under Performance of the Week

Miami - They did not show up to play in the first half against Virginia Tech. They just were not yet ready to handle the pressure of the big time.

Game of the Week

Michigan 36 - Indiana 33 - Just an exciting game from start to finish. Indiana has not won at the Big House in 42 years. Michgan scores a touchdown, Indiana answers a couple of drives later, only for Michigan to score again on the next drive. Toss in the phantom interception call, and you have the makings of a great 4th quarter.

Play(s) of the Week

Second week in a row for a defensive play. Kentucky's defensive end Taylor Wyndham knocking Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, TFO.

A strong runner up to Safety Chad Jones of LSU, who, on Mississippi State's potential game winning drive, made the play on third, and fourth down. On third down he jumped high into the air to deflect a pass to a wide open tight end. (Jones was easily 5 yards away from the intended receiver while no other player was in the end zone). On fourth down, Chad Jones made the initial hit on quarterback Tyson Lee. LSU won 30-26.

Trivia Question of the Week

South Florida's Freshman Quarterback B.J. Daniels led the Bulls to an upset victory over the Florida State Seminoles. From what hometown does Daniels hail?

Last Week's Trivia Answers

Last week's first question was, "Oklahoma State's Zac Robinson set the Oklahoma State career touchdown record. Whos recod did he break. The answer is Josh Fields.

Last week's second question was, "Tim Tebow's 30 consecutive game streak with at least 1 touchdwon was ended by Tennessee. Who holds, and what is, the recod for most consecutive games with at least 1 touchdown pass? The answer is Ty Detmer, 35 games.

Matchup(s) to Watch

4. LSU v. Georgia - LSu just hasn't looked like a top 4 team yet this year, so the competition of Georgia, who has played Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Arkansas and Arizona State to date, should prove a tough test. The winner of this game is likely to be better than anyone thought.

3. Alabama v. Kentucky - Although the transitive property does not specifically apply in sporting events, Kentucky hosting Florida and Alabama back-to-back can give us a glimpse as to the quality of those two teams vis-a-vis each other.

2. USC v. California - Neither of these teams can afford to lose their second conference game. This was supposed to be the game in the conference, before the losses to Washington and Oregon, respectively. Winner still in the hunt for the Rose Bowl (and outside shot at the BCS Championship game), losers season becomes very disappointing.

1. Oklahoma v. Miami - The matchup this week east of the Mississippi. Can Miami's youngsters bounce back from the VTech defeat? Is Oklahoma the same team with Landry Jones? Will Sam Bradford play? Is Miami more comfortable at home? Either way you slice it, this game should be exciting.

And once again, for good time's sake!

Me and Mariah...(She's Back!)

Mariah Carey - We Belong Together

It's like when you've seen an ex-girlfriend from 15 years ago and you wonder to yourself why you stopped being into her.....?

If that doesn't work for you - I question your Manhood


Almost stripper heels...


Yup.


GOOD GOD!


And a side of DAMN!


A two piece to go...

Enough Said! Have a great weekend!