Keep Your Eyes on the Prize



SUPER DAY

It is the holy Sunday of sports the day parties are thrown and everyone comes to watch.  Non sports fans, non football fans, probably even those who hate football all gather in front of the screen and watch the greatest event in American sports.


But Why? I believe because in the past decade the game has been extremely competitive and the cheerleaders have gotten better looking. With the exception of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers  v. Oakland Raiders bowl the games have been the most exciting I've ever witnessed.


League parity as well as the fact that practically every team plays the same style of offense and defense, with some variations has contributed to making the game a close contest.  Aside from being interesting and entertaining it's a PARTY!!!  This is Thanksgiving without the turkey, it's New Years without black ties and dumb hats, it's food and fun for all with unscripted drama.


Many have no vested interest in the game, or the outcome but they will never the less get together for a good party.  Love of the game or love of the dip, no matter the reason it's hard to say no to a super party. I'm having as much pizza as I can afford.


So enjoy America, eat up, drink (don't drive) have a good time. Sports, especially the Super Bowl is as good as it gets.

Tags: Super Bowl Steelers Packers

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July 5, 2010

No smiles for the US, yet again


THEY MISSED


How many times can one team lose a game? The USA soccer team found a way to do it twice, in the same game. The US had 2 point blank shots on goal and they kicked it right to the opposing goalie. COME ON! The media keeps praising the team for improving and they keep telling everyone that this will mean a lot for the sport in the US, really! I have to write that losing games you should win does nothing for the sport and will do nothing for the sport, for if you saw the game you are disappointed because the team actually has not improved, they have been to the round of 16 before and as before they could not get past it.


The game may not have even been that close, Donovan almost blew the penalty kick, he hit the post. We don't play much soccer in this country and it's a low profile game here but certain things are elementary, SHOTS ON GOAL IN THE OPEN FIELD SHOULD BE MADE.  Simply because the sport is not very popular here does not mean we should be praising an effort that was sub-par.


The sport may not gain in popularity even if the team advances further next time, but I would like to at least give this popularity theory  a chance, and until the US teams wins we will never know.

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JUNE 18, 2010

Excuse me I have to get my 5th ring


L.A. GETS THE RING


By playing some tremendous 'D' the Lakers get the 'W'.  The Celtics ran out of gas in the 4th. There was no one except Paul Pierce who could make a shot there was no one to turn to in the end. Ray Allen disappeared after game 2, never to be heard from again. Unlike in the '08 Finals where he stepped up big this time he was ineffective offensively. Allen's defense was excellent but it was not enough.


You have to give LA a bunch of credit, they were down by 12 in the third and came back to win, at one time leading by 8 in the 4th that's a 20 pt. turn around. That is how bad the Celtics were in the fourth quarter with no one who could step up and hit a shot they faded. This was particularly heart breaking because of Bryant's abysmal performance, he's no Jordan.


Of course no one will remember how many points any player had only that he has his ring. As for Boston the one championship they got is the only one they will have for a long time, they are old and really had no one who could create his own shot. The Lakers were more active, played better defense at the end and were smarter with the ball forcing the issue and getting to the line. The better team won .


It's going to be a long off season.

JUNE 3, 2010

We're back for #18


THE FINALS


The time has come to bring this season to a close. No one could have drawn it up any better, with the two most storied franchises in professional basketball going up against each other. It's Celtics Lakers time. As the great  Robert DeNiro  said in the Untouchables "You got an all out prize fight, you wait 'till the fight is over and see the guy left standing and that's how you know who won. " That's what we have here, an all out prize fight.


Even though I'm a Celtics fan I have an unbiased, objective opinion, that the Celtics will win the series in 6 despite the fact that Bryant is the world's best player. For you see the Celtics are the world's best TEAM. Two years ago this Celtics team was not very good, there was not enough chemistry and the bench was inexperienced yet they still won the title. Today this is a much better team. This year's Celtics have played with much more unity and even a more resounding sense of purpose. And of course let's not forget Rondo.


Rondo has improved to the point where Derek Fisher's excellent play will be nullified. Gasol is much better on the offensive end than Garnet, however defensively he is no match for employee #5, so far it's a wash. No one is better than Bryant, but Paul Pierce can score as well, he just looks less athletic doing it. That bring us to Artest and Allen, AKA, Ray Ray the best 3 pt. shooter in the game today. It's all about the match ups and the Celtics match up better, they have more players who can score and play better defense. Which bring us to the benches.


Odom versus Wallace, I think Odom could quiet possibly be more athletic than Bryant, Odom can play any spot on the floor, so I have to give the edge to the Lakers but the rest of the bench favors Boston. Therefore I conclude that the Green Machine will win their 18th title in 6 games.

Tags: Lakers Celtics Basketball Nba

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MAY 30, 2010

THE GREAT RACE



Why do I love the Indianapolis 500. Well let me tell you. First it’s called “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”  Then, for me, it’s the first day of summer, it’s summer’s official opening.



It’s a place where women have an equal place on the track.  A place where describing a woman as “FAST” is a good thing, a very good thing.



They say in sports, SPEED KILLS.  And at The 500 they go over 200 mph.  And every year they are doing everything they can to go even faster.



I like that the cars don’t look like ordinary cars and all they did was paint some numbers on them, sorry NASCAR. But it’s true these things look like space ships.  It is indeed a spectacle.



And you got to love a race where if you win, you get a bottle of milk.



Got Indy?

MAY 20, 2010

Charge on Rondo



Cs GET AN A


When the Celtics are on their game, they can't be beat. The only time this team loses is when they lose their concentration. For whatever reason this team just loses their focus for periods of time sometimes entire games, like game 3 in this series with Cleveland when they lost by 29. All the experts on ESPN picked Cleveland, these guys get paid for their analysis, HA! It is so obvious that the Celtics are a better team and really do not get serious about their job until the playoffs and the job is on the line.


Boston has the depth, their bench is much better than most teams. Even though they may not score much they do the little things, and when they need to, they will score. If you follow the NBA you have to understand that this team sometimes loses its focus, like when they fell asleep in game 2 and allowed the Cavs to cut a 21 pt. lead by half.  This is nothing to be alarmed about, they play up to their competition and they will dispose of the Magic in 6 games as well.


This Magic team is the same one that had no business being in the Finals last year. Orlando beat an overrated Cleveland team last year to earn the right to lose to the Lakers well this year it's going to be Boston and they are not overrated. The Celtics want to get back to the Finals and take on the Lakers which will happen again this year. As for the Magic series, Boston matches up well with Orlando. Howard will be out-matched by the Celtics' size. As stated earlier that Boston bench is better. Although Orlando is a much better team with Nelson at point, he will be neutralized by Rajon "Is anyone playing better than me right now" Rondo who is 3" taller ( if Jameer Nelson is 6 ft. then I have a harem of Playboy bunnies, and I don't). Lewis will disappear in this series as he did against the Lakers in a Marijuana smoke filled haze.


In conclusion, Boston in 6 and on to the Lakers.

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APRIL 25, 2010

Sam Bradford, I'm #1


NFL DRAFT THOUGHTS


Denver, McDaniels passed on Dez Bryant and took Tim Tebow, a QB, who by my account will never be good enough to paly the position in the NFL. McDaniels took Tebow in the first round. Do you know why he did that, because there are no consequences to personnel decisions.  GMs and head coaches get a buy out when they get fired, i.e. you get paid to leave for failing.  McDaniels is not purposefully ruining the franchise, but he is dumb and will be out in 3 years as I predicted here on Sportvent.


Seattle, Carroll got the best left tackle in the draft Okung and safety Earl Thomas. Maybe this Carroll guy knows what he is doing. Interesting that Carroll did not take his own safety from USC, Taylor Mays. Those USC players don't really play well in the NFL Palmer being the exception.


Washington, needed a left tackle and they got one. Some have questioned Williams' work ethic so we shall see what comes of this pick. With tremendous upside if he dedicates himself he can be one of the best.


San Francisco, did what every good team needs to do, they are building from the inside out. This game is won and lost in the trenches and getting 2 offensive lineman is the only way to build a team. Smith needs more time to find Crabtree and Gore needs more holes to run through.

APRIL 6, 2010

Brad Stevens


WHAT A GAME


Butler could have won, but it was not to be and thus Duke wins their 4th championship. But what a championship game it was. It is a shame that the Bulldogs had to lose  because their effort was tremendous.


I thought Duke would run away with the title and win by 12 but Butler is a scrappy bunch that defended well and outplayed the Blue Devils in the first half.  The game was back and forth, Duke makes an 8-0 run in the first, Butler follows with a 7-0 run of their own.  With their impressive defense Butler was able to limit Duke's 3-pt. shooting and held the Devils to under 60 total points for most of the game until the very end. Duke finished with 61.


You have to tip your hat to this mid-major that was one shot away from making history. I for one am very thankful that the game turned out to be as great as it did. I remember last year where Michigan State was done 4 minutes into it.


Oh, that was NOT a flagrant foul. A stupendous effort by the Bulldogs!!!

APRIL 3, 2010

Tom Izzo, "We're Back!!!"


FINAL 4


The madness has reached its final location, Indianapolis with 3 games remaining it's anyone's guess who will take the title.  I will be in Vegas Baby, next Saturday to do a little eating, well let's be honest, no one does a little eating in Vegas Baby, to do a lot of eating and a little sports wagering.


I call it the  "4 WAY and PRAY". This is my attempt to handicap the remaining four teams and to guess the over/under on both games on Saturday. To make the big bucks I have to wrap it all up in a four way parlay with a 10 to 1 pay out you need not bet a significant amount to leave Sin City with a smile on your face.


The Butler did it. No matter what happens Butler has thoroughly impressed.  The first Final Four appearance for the Bulldogs unfortunately they are facing an experienced Michigan State team that should go back to the championship game.


Duke is back and will face West Virginia. This one is hard to figure, but my initial thought is that the Mountaineers do not shoot lights out as they did against Kentucky and thus fall to an ever improving Blue Devil squad.


What are your thoughts Venters? Shout at me!!!!

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MARCH 28, 2010

Calipari hasn't figured it out yet


COACHIN' AIN'T EASY


As the madness continued this Saturday my brackets were tenuously grasping on to the tethered string of respectability. As I sat on my most comfortable couch to enjoy the Kentucky vs. West Virginia game I did not think there would be much to watch, for the contest would be over by half time. This plan was perfectly ruined by John Calipari's inability to coach and thus ending Kentucky's tournament run in the most gloriously disappointing fashion.


You see the game that was supposed to be a bounce back win for the clearly the best team left in the field of 8 turned out to be a lesson in how bad coaching can ruin a great freshman class and superior talent. You see I think Calipari is the BEST recruiter in college basketball BUT at the same time is one of the most mediocre coaches in the game.


How can Kentucky, clearly the superior team lose in such a poor showing. Some will say Kentucky players missed shots it's not the coaches fault, he's not playing. But I say different. It is up to the coach to recognize his team's inability to shoot from long range (0 for first 19 attempts) and come up with a different strategy. How about trying shorter range shots, how about driving to the hoop and drawing the foul and how about defending the "3".  All these things escaped Calipari.


The Wildcats out rebounded the Mountaineers  45 to 34 and 22 of the 45 were offensive. West Virginia shot 38% from the field that is not good, unless your opponent shoots 34%. It was Calipari's job to figure out how to score, to tell his players to stop taking the three point shot and get closer but NO, he didn't and he lost and with that my champion is gone.


I will make my annual pilgrimage to Sin City (Las Vegas) for the FINAL 4. Maybe a nice 4-way parlay will sooth the pain of holding brackets with not one team that made it to Indianapolis.

MARCH 22, 2010

Kansas


NCAA THOUGHTS


Kansas, What happened!? The #1 team in the country, the overall #1 seed in the entire tourney loses to Northern Iowa. Very disappointing. Bill Self who did a masterful coaching job in winning the championship a few years ago really did not have his team ready to play in this go around.



Villanova What happened!? That aint WRIGHT JAY. St. Mary's going to the Sweet 16 and Notre Dame isn't, maybe Jesus is a basketball fan.


How about the Cornell BIG RED beating Wisconsin (4). One should never underestimate the smart kids especially from upstate New York.


But the most disappointing thing is that I had Villanova and Kansas in the final 4. Here is to Calipari's first championship and for me a saving face win to salvage a minuscule shot at redemption.

MARCH 16, 2010


YOU'RE CERTIFIABLE QUINN!


Well it's been two years and Brady Quinn is shipping out. The team that he followed as a boy, Browns, said SEE YA. That has got to be tough when your childhood team trades you, but this change of scenery may help Brady. Quinn is more suited for the short passing game even though he looked terrible running it in Cleveland missing short pass after short pass.


The problems in Cleveland were mental and the pressure got in Quinn's head to effect him to the point where routine throws were missing the mark. This was coming from a kid who was a star in college. I for one am not sold on Quinn and I don't like McDaniels. McDaniels was right about Cutler,  but it's the way he went about the trade that was immature.  QB decisions are what makes or breaks you in this business. In Joe Gibbs' second go around QB mistakes cost the Redskins. From acquiring Mark Brunell to picking Campbell in the first round. I can see the same thing happening with the Broncos.


I wish the best for Quinn but I don't see him succeeding unless he has another year of college eligibility, and boy can the Irish use him.

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J-E-T-S JETS, JETS, JETS!!!


I can't write enough good things about the other team from New Jersey.  The Jets were absolutely tremendous. The defense is so good it works as the offense. New York beat that not so smart genius Norv Turner IN San Diego. They did receive a little help from the Charger receivers with dropped balls and penalties but the rest was their doing. To go from allowing 212 yards in the first half to not allowing a first downs in the 3ed qtr. They are well coached and defensively prepared.


It would be something to see the Jets in the Super Bowl, but I'm getting ahead of myself. The Colts will not lose, they should not lose and they do not have Norv Turner for a coach. Payton is better than Rivers and no one has been able to stop Indianapolis all year. New York will need to score some points to keep up and a whole lot of points to win. Anything is possible in sports, Manning could get hurt for instance.


I'd love to see my sentimental favorites Jets pull one out. The odds are against them, but they like those odds.

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JANUARY 17, 2010

I can score even if I'm on I.R.



TURNING IT ON


Some teams can do it, some teams can't. New Orleans and Indianapolis turned it up and dominated their respective opponents. What happened to Arizona? The mighty Cardinal passing attack was stymied by the Saints' defense and Kurt Warner only managed 1 INT.  The pressure got to God's favorite QB and he was able to do nothing. With real estate it's LOCATION, with football it's PROTECTION. Warner got none. He received no help from his running game either. With the exception of a 70 yard run by Hightower, Arizona got 24 yards rushing. Tremendous defensive effort by the Saints.


The Colts also turned in a dominant defensive performance, turning the Ravens over 3 times. I will be pulling for my J-E-T-S, JETS but most likely it will my Super Bowl pick San Diego Chargers against the Colts next week in the Conference Championship.

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JANUARY 12-16, 2010

I'll need all my muscles to carry that contract


MOVING ON AND CASHING IN


Pete Carroll is off to rainy Seattle. $35 million buys a lot of umbrellas. Carroll is one of the best college coaches EVER and I wish him all the best, he might have the same success as he did in Los Angeles, now he can pay players legally. The odds of succeeding are not with Carroll, very few successful college coaches win in the pros. It's not about your enthusiasm in the NFL it's about winning. Many years ago Lou Holtz tried his hand at the NFL, he couldn't even finish the 1976 season and resigned with one game left. He thought the Jets needed a fight song.


Sometimes failure can bring success and maybe Carroll's time with New England and the Jets will serve him well and he will have a different approach in his second time around. That's a big maybe, people usually do not change their approach they just move to a place where their approach works, like college.






NICE GUY FINISHES LAST


A word on the National Championship Game. Mack Brown is a heck of a guy. His QB gets hurt on the second possession and Brown keeps him out the rest of the game knowing that he will probably lose the title. This coach actually cares for his players and I have to tip my hat to him. Brown placed the health of his player above his own success, a most noble gesture.

JANUARY 7-11, 2010

That's right, we bad


END OF THE ROAD


We have come to the end of our pilgrimage, A.K.A the college football season. Two teams remain, Alabama and Texas. I have to write I did not think Alabama would be here and with the way this bowl season has turned out (TCU losing to Boise State) Texas is as deserving as any team to be in the championship game.


Even though I do not like Nick Saban personally, he is a great coach. He turned the Tide in 3 years, that's impressive. Saban is a better coach than his counterpart, Mack Brown. I think the four weeks off will help Texas but Brown likes to stick to what got him there and that's McCoy to Shipley. With 4 weeks to prepare for the game the same old game plan will not work against Alabama If Brown wants to win another National Championship he has to show Saban something he has not seen before.


That much time off teams get healthy and tend to look better than at the end of the season. Of course it's hard to look any better than Alabama did at the end of their season but with the rest they just might. All eyes will be on the Texas offensive line because of their awful performance versus Nebraska but they will play much better in Pasadena, they better or it will be over quickly.


It's hard for me to pick against Alabama that has the better team and the better coach, so I won't. Bama by 6.

JANUARY 4-6, 2010

IN A DARK PLACE


The Texas Tech football program is in a dark place of its own right now. I’ve been following the Mike Leach situation and it’s clear to me that he had animosity towards Adam James. I have to retract my earlier MY 2 CENTS from December 29th, 2009. The fact that he told the trainer to place James in a “DARK PLACE” makes sense because you become light sensitive after a concussion. However, according to the trainer Leach told him to “LOCK” James up in a dark place and not to let him sit or rest against the wall. It is entirely possible that the trainer decided on his own that James should be placed in a closet instead of some office.  One thing is clear Leach did not like James or his father Craig James and it was this dislike and frustration that led to the mishandling of the situation.


It’s now turned into a case of he said - he said between Leach and the trainer. The blame has fallen on Leach at this point in time which seems to be the correct call. It appears that Leach did tell the trainer to lock the player up somewhere dark and ordered that the James not be allowed to sit or lean against the wall. But it is not clear that he specifically told the trainer to place James in the closet.


This whole thing will have to be sorted out and if it turns out that no “CLOSET” orders were given the blame may shift to the trainer as having made the decision on his own. Either way the situation was poorly handled.

JANUARY 2-3, 2010

Watch out next year


BREAK OUT


I would have never thought it, but there was always that possibility that Terrelle Pryor could actually play like a real QB, and that’s what he did at the Rose Bowl. To put it simply Pryor was phenomenal, 23/37 for 266 yds, 2 TDs and 1 pick. The stats, as good as they are, do not tell the whole story, Pryor made key throws, his receivers made tremendous catches. In addition to being accurate and on time Pryor made key plays running the ball Oregon simply could not bring the 6’6” 235 lbs. fellow down. 


I watched Pryor all season and he was simply terrible, terrible Terrelle but the BCS bowls are 4 weeks after the regular season ends and the players really are able to prepare and alter their games, hone their skills. What ever Jim Tressel did worked to perfection. Ohio State dominated the game statistically even though the score was closer than the statistics indicate. With almost 42 min. of possession time the Ducks could not get into a rhythm and their defense, as it has all year, gave up some huge plays in the secondary which also hurt the offense and precluded Masoli from getting that passing game in gear.





TEBOW HAS LEFT THE BUILDING


What way to go out for Tebow. The Gators dominate the Cincinnati Bearcats from coin toss to the final buzzer. Tebow could do no wrong and the Gator defense looked like they should have looked against Alabama. Cincinnati was inexplicably inept on offense and fell behind by so much that they were forced to become one dimensional. Florida’s pass rush was on, that shut Tony Pike, only 170, yds down. The statistics are outrageous. Tebow had 533 total offense with 482 through the air, ridiculous!


The most decorated scorer in SEC history goes out with a bang.




YOU’RE GOING TO JAIL


Plaxico may have a jail mate soon. Gilbert Arenas allegedly pulled a gun on a teammate Javaris Crittenton, who himself pulled his own gun in a dispute over a card game bet. Brandishing a gun outside ones home is a felony in D.C. and rightfully so. This is why we have these laws so these incredibly stupid people aren’t allowed to have guns so they shoot each other or an innocent bystander.


With any luck these two morons will be convicted and sent off to jail as mates in the same cell with a deck of cards.

JANUARY 1, 2010

Patton would be proud


MILITARY MIGHT


How fantastic did the military service academies perform yesterday. Navy beat Missouri and Air Force beat Houston. To put it in perspective just how impressive the wins are you have to understand that today’s athletes do not go to the military schools, they go to football factories to hone their skills to become professionals.  That means it’s very difficult for these military schools to compete with your “average” big time football program.


But Air Force and Navy did just fine. Navy racked up 515 yards against the Tigers and held them to 13 pts. Air Force had 563 yds. and 6 picks to hold Houston, one of the country’s better passing offenses to 1 passing TD. Don’t mess with the boys in uniforms.





TWO SIDES TO EVERY STORY


Mike Leach has revealed some new facts regarding the treatment of James. Leach has stated that James was a lazy player with a sense of entitlement.  Leach has also stated that Craig James, his father has been meddling in the program complaining about playing time and questioning coaches.


I believe Mike Leach. Kids with prominent and famous parents may very well have a sense of entitlement and try to impose their parents’ influence. Be that as it may Leach should have never taken out his frustration on James by locking him in the closet. Leach is the head football coach and if some parent is bothering him, tell him to leave. If that doesn’t work just keep coaching and do the best you can under the circumstances, but don’t take out your frustration with the parent on the kid.

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