Sports Shorts Sept. 9

Checking my (sports) shorts wondering whatever happened to Gary Hogeboom.

* Sunday is the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks and if the NFL has anything planned like they did 10 years ago when they returned to play on September 23 that season, get the tissues ready. I will never forget being in Cowboys Stadium for the Dallas-San Diego game and the true feeling of patriotism in the crowd. It was breathing taking watching George Teague run out of the tunnel with the American flag. The crowd erupted with emotion and it left me with goosebumps.

* The Colts should be more than a little concerned that Peyton Manning has gone in for another operation on his neck. Colts fans should be concerned the Colts have not yet shut him down for the season. I am as big of a Manning fan as they come, but I would much rather see him take the whole year off and get his health right. I think Kerry Collins will be able to keep the ship afloat this season and I hope Manning's personality and competitive drive allows him to heal fully without rushing his return.

* After the first week of the college football season, it is clear Notre Dame was overhyped (again). I do think Brian Kelly will get things right, but not this year. ND looked awful last week and lost to a South Florida team that looked equally awful. If South Florida even played a average game, they would have blown ND out fo the stadium. It does not get better this week playing a much improved Michigan team. Brady Hoke is the right man to get Michigan back to national prominence, especially with his star QB Denard Robinson. He is worth watching.

* I hope my fellow media types start the Robert Griffin III hype for Heisman right away. The Baylor QB is the best player in college football that no one knows about. Baylor beat up heavily favored TCU last week thanks to Griffin's 359 yards and five TD passes. For those who have seen him in person, think he is the fastest QB in college football history and with 41 careers TD passes vs. only 11 INTs, he is one of the most efficient. Do yourself a favor and check him out.

* Thanks to all of those who read my NFL preview and sent me reactions to it. I love hearing how people justify their team will be better than the rest. So far, I have heard each of the following are better Super Bowl predictions than mine: San Francisco, Miami, Detroit, Houston and Cleveland. I love the optimism this time of year. Thankfully, no one predicted the Toronto Argonauts.

Fearless NFL Predictions

Last year, folks laughed at my prediction of a Colts v. Packers Super Bowl. I will concede my love of Peyton Manning is a bit overboard, but I hold firm that I did have the eventual Super Bowl winner in the game from early September. In 2011, for the first time since I got into the prediction business, this will be a pony free championship this year. Besides, Super Bowl XLVI is in Indianapolis and no team has ever played the Super Bowl on their home field. Sorry, Peyton. You’re still my boy though. Anyway, to help you along the way, here is how the National Football League should look in 2011.

AFC EAST
New England 13-3
NY Jets 10-6
Buffalo 6-10
Miami 5-11

Analysis: As long as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are in Foxboro, why predict anything else. I like the addition of Chad Ochocinco, look for him to have a huge year. The Jets will be right up there, but I am not so certain about their front seven on defense. Buffalo’s defense will not give up as many points as they did last year, now they just need the offense to score more. Miami will not go very far as long as Chad Henne is the QB. If someone is tossing the ball, they can be better.

AFC NORTH
Baltimore 12-4
Pittsburgh 10-6
Cleveland 6-10
Cincinnati 3-13

Analysis: This is generally the toughest division in the AFC. Baltimore got stronger at receiver with the addition of Lee Evans and I just have a feeling Ray Lewis is on a mission this year. Pittsburgh will fight for the division title, but Baltimore just looks all around better. Cleveland QB Colt McCoy is developing nicely but lacks receivers and Cincinnati is officially back to being the Bungles.

AFC SOUTH
Indianapolis 11-5
Houston 10-6
Tennessee 7-9
Jacksonville 3-13

Analysis: With Peyton Manning’s health a question mark, Colts fans better hope Kerry Collins and his gray beard can keep the ship afloat. Houston is the fashionable pick every year to be on the rise, but they still never beat the Colts. The Titans have a new staff and new look, but will have some growing pains. Jacksonville took a huge step back releasing QB David Garrard.

AFC WEST
San Diego 13-3
Kansas City 8-8
Oakland 6-10
Denver 5-11

Analysis: The Chargers look like they are finally ready to be a Super Bowl contender. I don’t think Norv Turner can jack it up this year. KC was a surprise playoff team last year. They will come back down to earth in 2011. As long as Al Davis continues to coach from his death bed, don’t expect much from the silver and black. Kyle Orton is the only bright spot for Denver and they don’t even want him. He may be gone by midseason.

NFC EAST
Dallas 11-5
Philadelphia 10-6
NY Giants 9-7
Washington 8-8

Analysis: I am one of the few not drinking the kool-aid on Philadelphia. Michael Vick will be good, but not as good as last year. I like what Jason Garrett is doing in Dallas and with Tony Romo back under center, the East is there for the taking. The Giants will be fighting for a wildcard spot and even the Redskins may surprise some people.

NFC NORTH
Green Bay 14-2
Detroit 10-6
Minnesota 9-7
Chicago 6-10

Analysis: The Packers are clearly the best team in football. They got stronger simply by getting all of those injured guys from last year healthy. Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you, I have the Lions winning 10 games. They have a good roster of young talent. Minnesota will be right up there as well with Donovan McNabb looking to show fans, last season was abnormal. Chicago’s defense is not as good as it was and Jay Cutler doesn’t have much to work with.

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans 12-4
Atlanta 11-5
Tampa Bay 11-5
Carolina 3-13

Analysis: This is by far the most exciting division in the league. The Saints will put up points like they are playing Techmo Super Bowl. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan is stacked with weapons. Tampa Bay is the best young team in football. They would be a division winner in just about any other division. Cam Newton will bring excitement to Carolina, but he doesn’t have any help.

NFC WEST
St. Louis 8-8
Seattle 7-9
San Francisco 7-9
Arizona 6-10

Analysis: The West will be a pillow fight to see who is the least crappy. No one in this division should be allowed into the playoffs. I wish Tampa Bay or Detroit could join the West for a season.

AFC PLAYOFFS
1- San Diego
2- New England
3- Baltimore
4- Indianapolis
5- Pittsburgh
6- Houston

NFC PLAYOFFS
1- Green Bay
2- New Orleans
3- Dallas
4- St. Louis
5- Atlanta
6- Detroit

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Baltimore 20, San Diego 17

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP
Green Bay 35, New Orleans 31

SUPER BOWL XLVI
Green Bay 24, Baltimore 20

Sports Shorts Sept. 1

Checking my (sports) shorts wondering whatever happened to Anna Kournikova…

* If the US Open tennis tournament is going on and no one knows about it, do the results still count? The only must see tennis for me is the US Open. It is very cool to see a match under the lights with an energetic crowd and intriguing story lines. They are already four days into the tournament and I just realized that this morning. The lack of star power and interesting story lines is hurting the biggest annual tennis event in the country. While Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray are great players, they are not very interesting. Andy Roddick is still a big draw and has had good runs the last two years in Flushing, but he has struggled this year going only 24-11. He will need a past his prime Jimmy Connors type run to make this year’s draw watchable. On the women’s side, Serena Williams is not considered the top player, but if she too makes a run, this could get interesting.

* If last night’s Syracuse vs. Wake Forest college football opener is what we have to look forward to this season, every Saturday will be Christmas. Missed PAT’s, blocked game-winning field goals, a 15-point deficit overcome to force OT, a diving catch for touchdown to take the lead and the game ends on a 4th down offensive pass interference in the end zone. Lots of drama, I’m hooked!

* Reason #376 why I despise Twitter: Titans RB Chris Johnson slamming his own fans for calling him greedy. His tweet from the other day: “Can these fake Titan fans STFU on my timeline I don't have a regular job so don't compare me to you and I can care less if u think I'm greedy.” News flash: you held out and did not honor the contract YOU signed originally. Then you demanded QB money which is way more than he is worth. If Johnson wanted a new deal, he could have handled this much better and of course not diss is own fans. I don’t blame Titans fans for being upset. Johnson got overpaid and will surely not live up to this contract. If Johnson has any less than 2,000 yards this season or if he does and the Titans win less than eight games, he should give the Titans a rebate. Yes, he is a good player, but he is not a difference maker that makes a lousy team better. P.S. NFL players, listen to Herm Edwards, DON’T PRESS SEND!

* There was a big stink last week when Michael Vick revealed he wanted to sign in Buffalo or Cincinnati in a magazine article, but the league and namely Roger Goodell urged him to go to Philadelphia to play for a more stable organization and coach. Locally, this led to a lot of Bills fans revisionist history. I do remember last year, just about all Bills fans I talked to or heard on radio shows, did not want anything to do with the former dog fighter. But, after Vick had a Pro Bowl season in Philly, Bills fans were crying that the NFL pulled one over on their team and that the NFL compensate the Bills somehow. Typical Western New York reaction when things don't go their way after the fact (as a side note, can WNYers stop whining about Brett Hull already? It has been 12 years!) Personally, I have nothing against Vick and I did not want him as a Bill then and I still don’t want him as a Bill ever. For the record, may I be one of the few that predicts he comes back down to earth as an average QB in 2011.

Baseball Fan Free Agency

Full disclosure, I have never been a huge baseball fan. Growing up I fell in love with the Toronto Blue Jays because I lived in Syracuse and that was their Tripe-A farm team. The back-to-back World Series titles were the pinnacle of my baseball fandom. Once Major League Baseball canceled the World Series in 1994, I was done. In the years since, I have been a casual observer. I have always keep up with the Blue Jays, but this time of year usually turns me off because they are always out of the American League pennant race (damn you Red Sox and Yankees). For this year, I have decided to do something new. I have now exercised my right as a fan free agent and will declare my allegiance to a team I want to follow for the playoff run. I hereby announce that the Milwaukee Brewers are my team for the rest of the 2011 season (Toronto, I will see you next April). Here are my top 5 reasons:

5- The Brew Crew is on pace to win the National League Central (up 10 games as of today) looking for their first divisional title since 1992. This would ensure a playoff spot so I can hopefully go well into October still interested in baseball.

4- Ryan Braun. He is a legit MVP candidate. He may be the most underrated player as both a hitter and fielder in the bigs.

3- Prince Fielder. Anyone who was able to smash a dinger out of Tiger Stadium as a kid (true story) is worth watching. Plus, he too is a front runner for MVP and he can absolutely crush the ball.

2- Nyjer Morgan. This dude is just downright hilarious. He is a must see post-game not matter what he did during the game. Never heard of him? You Tube his name, sit back, grab a beer and enjoy the personality. It’s all about Plushdamentals, kids.

1- I can faithfully drink to a team named after beer!

Sports Shorts-August 18, 2011

It's been a while, but we are back in style so let's get this new blog started.

Checking my (sports) shorts wondering whatever happened to Ozzie Canseco.

* This new, old scandal at "The U" will give us a good idea as to what the NCAA really is. Miami should get the death penalty. After all, what they have done in this current scandal along with everything over the last quarter century, clearly shows they have lacked any institutional or moral control for a long time. SMU was the only school ever to get the death penalty and what they did pales in comparison. If the NCAA only slaps them on the wrist, the NCAA will prove what we have all known for a long time, it is really not about student-athletes, it is all about the money.

* Can anyone explain why Jim Thome becoming the 8th player to hit 600 career home runs got almost no press, while the media drooled over Derek Jeter becoming the 28th player to get 3,000 hits? Oh yes, because Jeter is a Yankee and Thome is a Twin. I'm wonder how the stories would have played out if Thome was in the Bronx and Jeter was in the Midwest. If you take the 'roid boys out, Thome is in a much more elite class and should have got more recognition.

* In light of all the NBA players opting to sign overseas, I got a laugh when Delonte West tweeted he applied at The Home Depot. Don't for a second think West is being noble by taking a "joe" job. Take a look at his arrest record. I am sure he is not allowed out of the country (or within 25 miles of LeBron James family) so the Depot is probably his best option.

* I took my son and his friend to the Buffalo Bills training camp on Tuesday. It was odd to see the Bills in white helmets. I was always a big fan of the red helmets, but I am an even bigger fan of why they went to red helmets in the first place. If you don't know the story, check out this piece (http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Untold-uniform-stories-Fergie-behind-helmet-color-change/363e8e60-8573-42ac-8f4a-2bb56169e127) from Chris Brown on www.buffalobills.com and the true story of how former QB Joe Ferguson was behind the switch.