Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A big reason why Locker should stay
Upon reading two similar articles from the Seattle Times and the Tacoma News Tribune, I began to think that the biggest reason for Jake Locker to return is that despite his great numbers (and having to play for Willingham) he wasn't a winner. It says more than one would think. There were growing pains this year (less than last year thank God). There were, however, games that were winnable, but were lost. Two wins over ranked teams are nice, but he must stay for more tutelage. How more impressive would it be if he stayed one more year and pad the resume: more wins, more awards and revenge (Oregon). I'm out.
Monday, December 7, 2009
My chest can't bare this, I have to get it off
I feel like my mind has been dormant. I'm not proud of this, it's just something that happens to me all to0 periodically. Once again, my friends, or those of you who sort of read this, which raises the question that if you're reading this, what is wrong with YOUR life? But, as I resume, my friends this has been an otherwise entertaining football season. Yes, the exception of another year without a postseason to brag about (Seahawks and Huskies), but it has been a good one nonetheless. I'd like to get a few things off my chest while I have your ears, however. I have been struggling with my own likeness and my own motivational creativity. I know it's down there somewhere, let me take another look. It's been there before and it can be here again. And for those of you who care, I will try to please your sour taste buds that is sports life to the best of my ability. I have been stricken with the all to easily, self-diagnosed, writer's block. It's a simple mode to fall under. If I write about sports or my life or whatever comes to this simple mind, and nobody reads it, does it make a sound? And what I'm struggling with is that even if this doesn't make the sweet music that I intend it to have, why should I stop? A musician doesn't stop making music if nobody hears it.
First, let me talk about the recent BCS bowl selections. It looks like everything turned out as it probably have. Alabama beat Florida to rid the nation of another upset stomach virus from the over-telecast and constant storylines of the bromantic relationship
between Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow. That story will have to be buried, which won't be a problem for most Americans who all too often get tired of success stories. I don't mind success stories, I just don't like it being shoved down our throats by the likes of Sportscenter.
So Alabama and its magnificent run game and defense will take on Texas. This is the matchup that most people have been waiting for. You have two top coaches (Mack Brown and Nick Saban), two top programs, two top Heisman candidates (Colt McCoy and Mark Ingram) and two great defenses. The BCS keeps getting a pass from their inevitable disaster of putting two teams that don't deserve a spot in the national title game. But this year is not much different from any other year. The top two teams are in it without any controversies. So now, we as a football nation must wait for mid January for these two teams to meet. I think because of this, the defenses are going to look great and it will end in a low-scoring match. Instead of a 41-38 thriller like
2005-06 Rose Bowl National Title game (the last time Texas was in the hunt), I believe this year will be on the lines of a 24-17 thriller. It will exceed expectations as far as a thriller go, but not much scoring and it will end in a lackluster way. I can't say who will win it this year, but I would rather see a Big 12 team win it than an SEC team.
So then lets move onto the other games. Florida and Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, which is kind of an odd matchup. I think Florida will absolutely kill, demolish, throttle, dismantle the Bearcats. Nothing against Cincy, but Florida will be extra pissed after the way they ended their regular season and if there is one player that I would want on my team in a bowl game, it is Tebow. I know I just got done ripping he and Meyer, but that's because they're good at what they do, win. I feel bad for Cincy, they should have gotten Boise State.
Speaking of Boise State, the Fiesta Bowl is now the non-BCS BCS game. I actually really like this matchup. With a few exceptions. These two teams played last year,
they're both non-BCS teams and when putting these two teams up against each other, what the BCS committee is really saying is, "We love TCU and BSU. So much that we want them to play each other while not proving anything to the rest of the nation." What this matchup does (or doesn't do) is make all of their arguments to get into a legit BCS bowl or a BCS conference bogus. What it really says is, we like you enough to put you in the BCS, but we still don't believe either team can beat Florida or Cincy or Georgia Tech or Iowa. We like you so much that we want to see who is the best non-BCS team rather than risk another miraculous upset.
And because of this match and because of this political discrepancy within the BCS, this game will probably the best game. Both teams have something extra to prove. Consider this game a job interview in front of the nation. Who is the better non-BCS team and who deserves all of this recognition? Both teams are fighting not just for themselves, but for their respective non-BCS conferences. I still think the best way for either team to continually compete in the BCS with no controversy is for Boise State to jump into the Mountain West thus making the Mountain West a BCS conference with Boise State, TCU, Utah and BYU all conference foes, all top 25 teams this year. But that's something that I've stated for years.
The Rose Bowl: Let me put it plainly. I don't like either of these teams (Ohio State and Oregon). Neither team is worth my writing. Except for this, the Buckeyes have no idea what is coming their way. Oregon has a scheme that is unstoppable. Beware Buckeyes, beware.
The Orange Bowl. Eh? Iowa and Georgia Tech? I don't know either team very well enough to state anything that matters, except I think Iowa will get beat. They're overrated. Any team from the Big 10 is overrated.
National Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
Heisman: Mark Ingram, Alabama (although I think Toby Gerhart deserves it, no west coast love)
National Champions: Alabama
New Notre Dame coach: Brian Kelly
Pac-10 coach of the Year: Whoever implemented Oregon's offense. (But it should go to Jim Harbaugh of Stanford)
Biggest regional postseason story: Will Jake Locker return? (And deservedly so)
My friend posed a statement to me on Facebook about how both Steve Sarkisian and Jim Mora have the same record (5-7), but do the Huskies have the better 5-7 record. That's a good question on two different scales. For one, all of the Seahawks' wins none were over good teams. They were against mediocre to bad teams. The Huskies at least beat Cal and USC. The Huskies also have more team unity. If there were one thing that I would knock the Seahawks on, it's team chemistry. I don't feel there isn't a whole lot, if any on that team. The Seahawks have a chance to improve to 8-8 this year. As far-fetched as it may seem, it is possible.
I attribute the lack of team chemistry to the expectations the Seahawks had preseason. Many people predicted them to win the NFC West. And when the expectations don't go as planned, finger pointing begins and the team begins to unravel. This is squarely on Mora, nothing else. When Mora put public blame on Olindo Mare for missing two field goals against the Bears (even if he deserved blame) the team took a turn for the worse. There are obvious differences between pro and college ball, but one big difference in the coaches is that Sark wouldn't have thrown anyone under the bus, even when he had chances. Pro or college, you don't throw players under for their mistakes. All that does is takes the confidence out of the players and all of a sudden you have a split locker room.
Sark should have the step up on Mora because of the preseason expectations the Huskies had. They lost every game last season and were expected to win maybe 2 this year. They win 5. Should have been at least 7, but they won 5. With wins over two top 20 teams.
I am, however, a firm believer in second chances and a bigger believer in patience. Mora should have another chance to redeem himself as the leader of the Hawks. If the SeaChickens can finish at either 8-8 or 7-9, that is considered a success of sorts. Even though, the fans have a new found expectations that the NFC West should run through the Oregon Trail first and foremost (which it should).
But in a tail of two coaches, it's not a disaster like last year. Neither team smells the postseason, but at least they have momentum for next season, which last year, neither team had.
NFL awards:
MVP: Drew Brees, New Orleans
Offensive Player: New Orleans offense
Defensive Player: Darren Sharper, New Orleans
Coach of the Year: Peyton Manning, Indy
Rookie of the Year: That fast guy who plays for Minny.
Sports Mustache of the Week:
Mark Mangino's Stache and his Belly will be remembered most for turning around KU, buffet lines and little stache on a big body. But sadly, he'll also be remembered for being an ass. One could say he Rock Chalked his way out of Lawrence. Good thing they have a pretty good basketball team.
First, let me talk about the recent BCS bowl selections. It looks like everything turned out as it probably have. Alabama beat Florida to rid the nation of another upset stomach virus from the over-telecast and constant storylines of the bromantic relationship
between Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow. That story will have to be buried, which won't be a problem for most Americans who all too often get tired of success stories. I don't mind success stories, I just don't like it being shoved down our throats by the likes of Sportscenter.
So Alabama and its magnificent run game and defense will take on Texas. This is the matchup that most people have been waiting for. You have two top coaches (Mack Brown and Nick Saban), two top programs, two top Heisman candidates (Colt McCoy and Mark Ingram) and two great defenses. The BCS keeps getting a pass from their inevitable disaster of putting two teams that don't deserve a spot in the national title game. But this year is not much different from any other year. The top two teams are in it without any controversies. So now, we as a football nation must wait for mid January for these two teams to meet. I think because of this, the defenses are going to look great and it will end in a low-scoring match. Instead of a 41-38 thriller like
2005-06 Rose Bowl National Title game (the last time Texas was in the hunt), I believe this year will be on the lines of a 24-17 thriller. It will exceed expectations as far as a thriller go, but not much scoring and it will end in a lackluster way. I can't say who will win it this year, but I would rather see a Big 12 team win it than an SEC team.
So then lets move onto the other games. Florida and Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, which is kind of an odd matchup. I think Florida will absolutely kill, demolish, throttle, dismantle the Bearcats. Nothing against Cincy, but Florida will be extra pissed after the way they ended their regular season and if there is one player that I would want on my team in a bowl game, it is Tebow. I know I just got done ripping he and Meyer, but that's because they're good at what they do, win. I feel bad for Cincy, they should have gotten Boise State.
Speaking of Boise State, the Fiesta Bowl is now the non-BCS BCS game. I actually really like this matchup. With a few exceptions. These two teams played last year,
they're both non-BCS teams and when putting these two teams up against each other, what the BCS committee is really saying is, "We love TCU and BSU. So much that we want them to play each other while not proving anything to the rest of the nation." What this matchup does (or doesn't do) is make all of their arguments to get into a legit BCS bowl or a BCS conference bogus. What it really says is, we like you enough to put you in the BCS, but we still don't believe either team can beat Florida or Cincy or Georgia Tech or Iowa. We like you so much that we want to see who is the best non-BCS team rather than risk another miraculous upset.
And because of this match and because of this political discrepancy within the BCS, this game will probably the best game. Both teams have something extra to prove. Consider this game a job interview in front of the nation. Who is the better non-BCS team and who deserves all of this recognition? Both teams are fighting not just for themselves, but for their respective non-BCS conferences. I still think the best way for either team to continually compete in the BCS with no controversy is for Boise State to jump into the Mountain West thus making the Mountain West a BCS conference with Boise State, TCU, Utah and BYU all conference foes, all top 25 teams this year. But that's something that I've stated for years.
The Rose Bowl: Let me put it plainly. I don't like either of these teams (Ohio State and Oregon). Neither team is worth my writing. Except for this, the Buckeyes have no idea what is coming their way. Oregon has a scheme that is unstoppable. Beware Buckeyes, beware.
The Orange Bowl. Eh? Iowa and Georgia Tech? I don't know either team very well enough to state anything that matters, except I think Iowa will get beat. They're overrated. Any team from the Big 10 is overrated.
National Coach of the Year: Brian Kelly, Cincinnati
Heisman: Mark Ingram, Alabama (although I think Toby Gerhart deserves it, no west coast love)
National Champions: Alabama
New Notre Dame coach: Brian Kelly
Pac-10 coach of the Year: Whoever implemented Oregon's offense. (But it should go to Jim Harbaugh of Stanford)
Biggest regional postseason story: Will Jake Locker return? (And deservedly so)
My friend posed a statement to me on Facebook about how both Steve Sarkisian and Jim Mora have the same record (5-7), but do the Huskies have the better 5-7 record. That's a good question on two different scales. For one, all of the Seahawks' wins none were over good teams. They were against mediocre to bad teams. The Huskies at least beat Cal and USC. The Huskies also have more team unity. If there were one thing that I would knock the Seahawks on, it's team chemistry. I don't feel there isn't a whole lot, if any on that team. The Seahawks have a chance to improve to 8-8 this year. As far-fetched as it may seem, it is possible.
I attribute the lack of team chemistry to the expectations the Seahawks had preseason. Many people predicted them to win the NFC West. And when the expectations don't go as planned, finger pointing begins and the team begins to unravel. This is squarely on Mora, nothing else. When Mora put public blame on Olindo Mare for missing two field goals against the Bears (even if he deserved blame) the team took a turn for the worse. There are obvious differences between pro and college ball, but one big difference in the coaches is that Sark wouldn't have thrown anyone under the bus, even when he had chances. Pro or college, you don't throw players under for their mistakes. All that does is takes the confidence out of the players and all of a sudden you have a split locker room.
Sark should have the step up on Mora because of the preseason expectations the Huskies had. They lost every game last season and were expected to win maybe 2 this year. They win 5. Should have been at least 7, but they won 5. With wins over two top 20 teams.
I am, however, a firm believer in second chances and a bigger believer in patience. Mora should have another chance to redeem himself as the leader of the Hawks. If the SeaChickens can finish at either 8-8 or 7-9, that is considered a success of sorts. Even though, the fans have a new found expectations that the NFC West should run through the Oregon Trail first and foremost (which it should).
But in a tail of two coaches, it's not a disaster like last year. Neither team smells the postseason, but at least they have momentum for next season, which last year, neither team had.
NFL awards:
MVP: Drew Brees, New Orleans
Offensive Player: New Orleans offense
Defensive Player: Darren Sharper, New Orleans
Coach of the Year: Peyton Manning, Indy
Rookie of the Year: That fast guy who plays for Minny.
Sports Mustache of the Week:
Mark Mangino's Stache and his Belly will be remembered most for turning around KU, buffet lines and little stache on a big body. But sadly, he'll also be remembered for being an ass. One could say he Rock Chalked his way out of Lawrence. Good thing they have a pretty good basketball team.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thoughts about this weekend
As I sat at O'Blarney's, a local Olympia pub, drinking a brew after refing (first timer) the firefighter and police officer basketball game named Fire and Ice, I conversed with my friend about how the University of Washington was slowly turning into a basketball school rather than a football school. I know this can be a touchy subject to the football faithful that bleed purple and gold, but if 2009-2010 is supposed to be a year of change, then Husky fans need to look in the mirror and accept the change from football to basketball.
Here are some of my thoughts about that issue:
For one, not many schools can make that transition between dominant sports. My friend named me that when you think of Texas, you think of football, however, Texas had a good basketball program and a good baseball team as well. I begged to differ. Texas may have a good bball team, but their football team is good year in and year out.
There are schools that will always be more dominant in one sport than the other, but consider this. Of all the "football schools" none have made the ultimate switch like UW. Florida won back to back Final Fours, but their football squad is just as good, if not better. And where is their basketball program now?
There aren't any college programs that have nose dived in one sport and sky rocketed in another during the same span of years. When UW's football program was one prevalent, it's basketball team was in the middle of the Pac-10. And that was in the 80s and 90s. This is the 2000s. The last time UW football sniffed the top 10, it was 2001. And it's been a downward spiral ever since. Meanwhile, its basketball team has been building a steady program and have since been ranked in the top 25 more times than the football team.
Listen, I realize that football programs bring in the dough. But that shouldn't take away from the success Lorenzo Romar has brought to UW, something that the football program is still struggling to manage. While the basketball team has sent more athletes to the pros, the football team has been marred by terrible decision after terrible decision.
I am a biased writer because I prefer basketball over football, but barely. LoRo is a top-notch recruiter who can recruit in Seattle. Imagine that! A good program in a city that breads great ballers.
The tradition might be in Husky Stadium. But the talent is in Hec Ed. Why fight it? I'm not saying fans should abandon the football program by any means, but I believe UW is not a football school anymore. It's a basketball school.
It's a no brainer.
Let me reiterate, while some football schools have good basketball programs, their football programs are always good. In UWs terms, while the basketball program is quite possibly the best its ever been, the football team will have to, yet again, sit home and watch other Pac-10 teams play during bowl season.
Last night's game against San Jose State might not have been a blowout like everyone expected, but there is a stat that is most interesting. It's 30-15. That's the points and rebounds by Quincy Pondexter. That's one of the more dominant showings so far. If he stays healthy, along with the rest of the team, it will be scary good at how far this team can go.
I know many of you will disagree with me, but I'm just sayin'. UW = Basketball.
Here are some of my thoughts about that issue:
For one, not many schools can make that transition between dominant sports. My friend named me that when you think of Texas, you think of football, however, Texas had a good basketball program and a good baseball team as well. I begged to differ. Texas may have a good bball team, but their football team is good year in and year out.
There are schools that will always be more dominant in one sport than the other, but consider this. Of all the "football schools" none have made the ultimate switch like UW. Florida won back to back Final Fours, but their football squad is just as good, if not better. And where is their basketball program now?
There aren't any college programs that have nose dived in one sport and sky rocketed in another during the same span of years. When UW's football program was one prevalent, it's basketball team was in the middle of the Pac-10. And that was in the 80s and 90s. This is the 2000s. The last time UW football sniffed the top 10, it was 2001. And it's been a downward spiral ever since. Meanwhile, its basketball team has been building a steady program and have since been ranked in the top 25 more times than the football team.
Listen, I realize that football programs bring in the dough. But that shouldn't take away from the success Lorenzo Romar has brought to UW, something that the football program is still struggling to manage. While the basketball team has sent more athletes to the pros, the football team has been marred by terrible decision after terrible decision.
I am a biased writer because I prefer basketball over football, but barely. LoRo is a top-notch recruiter who can recruit in Seattle. Imagine that! A good program in a city that breads great ballers.
The tradition might be in Husky Stadium. But the talent is in Hec Ed. Why fight it? I'm not saying fans should abandon the football program by any means, but I believe UW is not a football school anymore. It's a basketball school.
It's a no brainer.
Let me reiterate, while some football schools have good basketball programs, their football programs are always good. In UWs terms, while the basketball program is quite possibly the best its ever been, the football team will have to, yet again, sit home and watch other Pac-10 teams play during bowl season.
Last night's game against San Jose State might not have been a blowout like everyone expected, but there is a stat that is most interesting. It's 30-15. That's the points and rebounds by Quincy Pondexter. That's one of the more dominant showings so far. If he stays healthy, along with the rest of the team, it will be scary good at how far this team can go.
I know many of you will disagree with me, but I'm just sayin'. UW = Basketball.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Broncos are fleeing with the lottery
Just finished up watching Monday Night Football. How the hell are the Broncos so good? Where did this come from, and why didn't anyone see this coming? Josh McDaniels is putting himself as the main contender of coach of the year. With ease by the way. How can McDaniels automatically transform Kyle Orton into a Pro Bowl caliber quarterback? This is what makes me wonder what he knows that Chicago didn't. I think everyone else just assumed that the only thing would be the same from Chicago would be Orton's neck beard. 
Looks like he shaved it.
Yeah, right before he moved to a mountain, shaves his neck beard and then becomes an all-pro leading the Donkeys to an undefeated season. Maybe the biggest difference was his neck beard. Wouldn't that be something?
And why don't the Broncos go after the mid-90s Mecklenburg jerseys instead of those terrible yellow and brown ones?
But thanks to Neck Beard Orton and Eddie Royal being able to flee the entire Chargers special teams, I was handed ANOTHER loss in my fantasy football league. I'm 1-5 now. I feel like the Titans. I feel slightly better than the Rams, however, WAY better than Rush Limbaugh. If the season before I lost every game, I'd feel grateful for my one win like the Lions.
You know what sucks? I'm not very good at fantasy football. Not sure why, but every year my players that I choose suck it up. They suck it worse than a Hungarian prostitute trying to pay rent.
You know what I love about baseball now? The pie in the face after a big win. Like tonight, Jimmy Rollins nails a walk-off double that won the Phills the game and put them up 3-1. Pie in the face. This is something that is becoming more and more common. But at least this time, J-Roll only got a pie in the face.
As a matter of fact, I think after every game at least someone should get a pie in the face. Even if it's a 5-0 win for any team. Even if it's in the middle of June when the games don't really matter yet. And if there's not a player to pie, pie the manager for wearing a jersey. I would love it. And no more shaving cream in the towel, I'm talking about a freshly baked apple pie. Or rhubarb if that's your type. If that's who you are.
Can someone tell me why TBS has three former American Leaguers (Dennis Eckersley, David Wells and Cal)? And can someone tell me what channel TBS is on, too? And big ups to Craig Sager. He'll wear these ridiculous suits
anywhere he covers for TBS/TNT.
So this was one of the more terrible weekend in Washington football. The sad thing is is that this isn't the first and it's not going to be the last. As I stated above, the Broncos are 6-0, which means that little first round draft pick that we own of theirs doesn't have the same luster that it previously did. Now, it's almost like the Hawks should lose the rest of the games so they can get another top 5 pick. I'm only joking of course, I would never want them to lose more games. I'm just sayin' though.
I can't believe the Huskies sometimes. I get it though. You can't be fully angry with them like you can with an NFL team. They're kids. They're still learning. Somehow Willingham managed to take good football players and regress their talents. It's as if Sarkisian has a bunch of freshman and sophomore, no matter the true class. You know, last year's injury to Locker was a blessing in disguise. If Locker never gets hurt, they possibly win the Apple Cup and maybe even another. And by not finishing with an oreo at the end of the season, Willingham would have stayed and this year's team would have allowed ASU to blow out UW. Instead UW lost that game. ASU didn't win it. Last year it would have been all day passing TDs over UW. This year, luck is all that gets by now. I can live with that for now.
Now with the Hawks. I was at the game. The Cards owned the Hawks on the first drive. The 12th man had no affect on Kurt Warner. The 12th man was benched on Sunday. There are a lot of finger pointing. Which I don't like. Mora needs to man up and admit that he didn't have his men prepared fully. There was a lot of terrible things happen in this terrible game. First is the Hawks couldn't get the Cards off the field on the opening drive, there's one against the defense. Then the Cards recover an onside squib kick, that's a BIG one against the special teams. And just because the special teams produced one of few first downs of the game doesn't let them off the hook. Justin Forsett is playing like a scared little boy. Not fully sure if he should fair catch it, and if he doesn't, which way should he go? I have a suggestion, don't run towards the guys who are on the other team! Then, the offense looked as if they were channeling 1992 when Rick Mirer was quarterbacking the Seahawks. Those were great years, huh? I'm quickly having a flash back. Those early 90s team would be the same team we're seeing right now. They would have a great game one Sunday, then fall flat on their faces and lose the next Sunday. Oh, Mike Holmgrum, where are you?
I know Mora still needs time to work out the kinks and get players that he needs to run his offense and defense. I know injuries are taking this season over again. I know this is NOT 1992. I know that the defense is better than that. I know that it's still early in the season. I know that Ruskell needs to reevaluate his previous moves and maybe move on himself.
But I also know that whatever it is, things need to change.
Speaking of Holmgren, he gets the Stache of the Week:
Looks like he shaved it.
Yeah, right before he moved to a mountain, shaves his neck beard and then becomes an all-pro leading the Donkeys to an undefeated season. Maybe the biggest difference was his neck beard. Wouldn't that be something?And why don't the Broncos go after the mid-90s Mecklenburg jerseys instead of those terrible yellow and brown ones?
But thanks to Neck Beard Orton and Eddie Royal being able to flee the entire Chargers special teams, I was handed ANOTHER loss in my fantasy football league. I'm 1-5 now. I feel like the Titans. I feel slightly better than the Rams, however, WAY better than Rush Limbaugh. If the season before I lost every game, I'd feel grateful for my one win like the Lions.
You know what sucks? I'm not very good at fantasy football. Not sure why, but every year my players that I choose suck it up. They suck it worse than a Hungarian prostitute trying to pay rent.
You know what I love about baseball now? The pie in the face after a big win. Like tonight, Jimmy Rollins nails a walk-off double that won the Phills the game and put them up 3-1. Pie in the face. This is something that is becoming more and more common. But at least this time, J-Roll only got a pie in the face.
As a matter of fact, I think after every game at least someone should get a pie in the face. Even if it's a 5-0 win for any team. Even if it's in the middle of June when the games don't really matter yet. And if there's not a player to pie, pie the manager for wearing a jersey. I would love it. And no more shaving cream in the towel, I'm talking about a freshly baked apple pie. Or rhubarb if that's your type. If that's who you are.
Can someone tell me why TBS has three former American Leaguers (Dennis Eckersley, David Wells and Cal)? And can someone tell me what channel TBS is on, too? And big ups to Craig Sager. He'll wear these ridiculous suits
anywhere he covers for TBS/TNT.So this was one of the more terrible weekend in Washington football. The sad thing is is that this isn't the first and it's not going to be the last. As I stated above, the Broncos are 6-0, which means that little first round draft pick that we own of theirs doesn't have the same luster that it previously did. Now, it's almost like the Hawks should lose the rest of the games so they can get another top 5 pick. I'm only joking of course, I would never want them to lose more games. I'm just sayin' though.
I can't believe the Huskies sometimes. I get it though. You can't be fully angry with them like you can with an NFL team. They're kids. They're still learning. Somehow Willingham managed to take good football players and regress their talents. It's as if Sarkisian has a bunch of freshman and sophomore, no matter the true class. You know, last year's injury to Locker was a blessing in disguise. If Locker never gets hurt, they possibly win the Apple Cup and maybe even another. And by not finishing with an oreo at the end of the season, Willingham would have stayed and this year's team would have allowed ASU to blow out UW. Instead UW lost that game. ASU didn't win it. Last year it would have been all day passing TDs over UW. This year, luck is all that gets by now. I can live with that for now.
Now with the Hawks. I was at the game. The Cards owned the Hawks on the first drive. The 12th man had no affect on Kurt Warner. The 12th man was benched on Sunday. There are a lot of finger pointing. Which I don't like. Mora needs to man up and admit that he didn't have his men prepared fully. There was a lot of terrible things happen in this terrible game. First is the Hawks couldn't get the Cards off the field on the opening drive, there's one against the defense. Then the Cards recover an onside squib kick, that's a BIG one against the special teams. And just because the special teams produced one of few first downs of the game doesn't let them off the hook. Justin Forsett is playing like a scared little boy. Not fully sure if he should fair catch it, and if he doesn't, which way should he go? I have a suggestion, don't run towards the guys who are on the other team! Then, the offense looked as if they were channeling 1992 when Rick Mirer was quarterbacking the Seahawks. Those were great years, huh? I'm quickly having a flash back. Those early 90s team would be the same team we're seeing right now. They would have a great game one Sunday, then fall flat on their faces and lose the next Sunday. Oh, Mike Holmgrum, where are you?
I know Mora still needs time to work out the kinks and get players that he needs to run his offense and defense. I know injuries are taking this season over again. I know this is NOT 1992. I know that the defense is better than that. I know that it's still early in the season. I know that Ruskell needs to reevaluate his previous moves and maybe move on himself.
But I also know that whatever it is, things need to change.
Speaking of Holmgren, he gets the Stache of the Week:
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Biiiiiiiig Weekend
So, let me start off by stating that this is the finest time of year for all sports fans alike. There is no other time of year that involves college football, NFL, MLB playoffs, NHL, NBA, AND now college basketball is soon to be under way. This is sequential to my love of sports for my birthday falls right in the middle.
A little thoughts of college football. This is written on Friday, October 16 2009, which means that tomorrow is not only the Red River Shootout between OU and Texas, but the ND v. SC game. These will be two historic games that we'll all be paying attention to. Also, we'll be paying a lot of attention to the UW v. AZ game as well. At least for those who are Dawg fans. I'll Bark for Sark. I'll bark for him being Pac 10 coach of the year already. And if the Dawgs become bowl eligible (and if they become eligible lets just assume they're going to a bowl game), Sark should be crowned NCAA coach of the year. If Obama has already been crowned with a Nobel Peace Prize, there should be no gripe in predicting that Sark is giving UW more hope than ever imagined. So, I suppose they should give Sark a Nobel Peace Prize for he, too, has inspired hope in the hearts of Husky fans!
And oh yeah, if Boise State can barely handle Tulsa, what makes you think they're deserving of a No. 5 ranking?
The NBA still sucks.
The NHL is coming back strong. Thank the Lord above for Ovi and Sid the Kid for bringing that league back .
Here are my picks for the weekend:
OU v. Texas: Texas, 28-21. Bob Stoops will do his best impression of his brother...and blow it.
ND v. USC: USC in 3 OT, 44-41. Charlie Weiss' stomach will then explode...along with his ego.
Florida v. Arkansas: Florida, 55-10. Tim Tebow 55, Arkansas 10.
VT v. GT: V Tech, 27-12. Tyrod Taylor will do something that Vick never did...beat GT on the road during week 7 at night.
South Carolina v. Bama: Bama, 9-1. The 'Ol Ball Coach will actually figure out a way to score 1 point...and brag about it.
UW v. ASU: UW, 31-26. Steve Sarkeeeeesion will find another improbable, immaculate play that could only happen once in a blue moon and win in the 4th quarter...and then act like it was all a plan.
Hawai'i'i'i v. Idaho!: Idaho!, 789-24. Not sure how the Vandals will have a victory so large...but I'm sure they won't even care, it's a win.
A little thoughts of college football. This is written on Friday, October 16 2009, which means that tomorrow is not only the Red River Shootout between OU and Texas, but the ND v. SC game. These will be two historic games that we'll all be paying attention to. Also, we'll be paying a lot of attention to the UW v. AZ game as well. At least for those who are Dawg fans. I'll Bark for Sark. I'll bark for him being Pac 10 coach of the year already. And if the Dawgs become bowl eligible (and if they become eligible lets just assume they're going to a bowl game), Sark should be crowned NCAA coach of the year. If Obama has already been crowned with a Nobel Peace Prize, there should be no gripe in predicting that Sark is giving UW more hope than ever imagined. So, I suppose they should give Sark a Nobel Peace Prize for he, too, has inspired hope in the hearts of Husky fans!
And oh yeah, if Boise State can barely handle Tulsa, what makes you think they're deserving of a No. 5 ranking?
The NBA still sucks.
The NHL is coming back strong. Thank the Lord above for Ovi and Sid the Kid for bringing that league back .
Here are my picks for the weekend:
OU v. Texas: Texas, 28-21. Bob Stoops will do his best impression of his brother...and blow it.
ND v. USC: USC in 3 OT, 44-41. Charlie Weiss' stomach will then explode...along with his ego.
Florida v. Arkansas: Florida, 55-10. Tim Tebow 55, Arkansas 10.
VT v. GT: V Tech, 27-12. Tyrod Taylor will do something that Vick never did...beat GT on the road during week 7 at night.
South Carolina v. Bama: Bama, 9-1. The 'Ol Ball Coach will actually figure out a way to score 1 point...and brag about it.
UW v. ASU: UW, 31-26. Steve Sarkeeeeesion will find another improbable, immaculate play that could only happen once in a blue moon and win in the 4th quarter...and then act like it was all a plan.
Hawai'i'i'i v. Idaho!: Idaho!, 789-24. Not sure how the Vandals will have a victory so large...but I'm sure they won't even care, it's a win.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
With no kids and no wife, there are no rules to this life.
You know how there is a time in your life where a decision needs to be made? I'm there. The trouble with making such a decision now versus 5 years ago is that there were no other options for me. I had nowhere to go except putting myself in a new situation.
When I was a young 22, I was immature. Naive. Stupid to the world. Easily fooled and afraid. Nevertheless, I was ready for a failure. I was ready for mistakes. I put myself out there; thinking the best possibility for me was to experience more. The only problem was that my cord was still connected to home. I had no desire to mature because of my safety net. I was a young 22 year-old. Too young to value education. Too young to value a good time. I had too much weight on what other people thought. It held me back. As if to go forward always second guessing my own steps.
I was going to school for the wrong reasons. I wanted to just get away from Olympia and Lacey. I just wanted out of my own life. Experience and meeting new people without seeing the importance of learning.
You become humbled when you lose your love, your job, your desire and your way, and your overall self-esteem. Living in Idaho was the best thing I've ever done. There I lost a lot. There I gained much.
Do I love journalism? No. Do I love sports? Yes. Do I love writing? Always. But sometimes the best of both loves don't always mix well.
Back then I was certain, so certain that journalism was my passion, only to find that it isn't. People must have a more acute eye for it. I didn't. I just had a passion of writing about sports. Not covering the day-to-day aspect of it.
Do I want to continue a path of working for small newspapers? No. And if the new direction I want yields new doors, which way do I want to go? Will I stay in communications? A masters degree perhaps? Or do I want something new all together? That's the conundrum I am faced with on a day-to-day basis.
Do I have a desire for communications? And if I do, which field? The more I grow and the more I mature, the more desire I have to do greater things with my life. I'm not yet 30. I still have room for a career change.
With no kids. No wife. There are no rules to this life.
I have nobody telling me to do this or that.
I have no obligations to refer to.
Nothing to hold me back.
I've lived and learned. I've written for a newspaper and written for magazines and have seen the true competitiveness of it all.
If I go into teaching, which direction shall I lean? I enjoy kids. I enjoy the value of teaching and I understand it in full now. And if teaching is the road that I choose, which minor shall I possess? One minor seems not enough. Two seems good. History? Nutrition? Photo-journalism? Communications? Radio? All of which sounds good, I want to dip into everything now.
But how do I do it all without becoming a career student? Is that even a profession? We will see. I shall meditate on this more.
When I was a young 22, I was immature. Naive. Stupid to the world. Easily fooled and afraid. Nevertheless, I was ready for a failure. I was ready for mistakes. I put myself out there; thinking the best possibility for me was to experience more. The only problem was that my cord was still connected to home. I had no desire to mature because of my safety net. I was a young 22 year-old. Too young to value education. Too young to value a good time. I had too much weight on what other people thought. It held me back. As if to go forward always second guessing my own steps.
I was going to school for the wrong reasons. I wanted to just get away from Olympia and Lacey. I just wanted out of my own life. Experience and meeting new people without seeing the importance of learning.
You become humbled when you lose your love, your job, your desire and your way, and your overall self-esteem. Living in Idaho was the best thing I've ever done. There I lost a lot. There I gained much.
Do I love journalism? No. Do I love sports? Yes. Do I love writing? Always. But sometimes the best of both loves don't always mix well.
Back then I was certain, so certain that journalism was my passion, only to find that it isn't. People must have a more acute eye for it. I didn't. I just had a passion of writing about sports. Not covering the day-to-day aspect of it.
Do I want to continue a path of working for small newspapers? No. And if the new direction I want yields new doors, which way do I want to go? Will I stay in communications? A masters degree perhaps? Or do I want something new all together? That's the conundrum I am faced with on a day-to-day basis.
Do I have a desire for communications? And if I do, which field? The more I grow and the more I mature, the more desire I have to do greater things with my life. I'm not yet 30. I still have room for a career change.
With no kids. No wife. There are no rules to this life.
I have nobody telling me to do this or that.
I have no obligations to refer to.
Nothing to hold me back.
I've lived and learned. I've written for a newspaper and written for magazines and have seen the true competitiveness of it all.
If I go into teaching, which direction shall I lean? I enjoy kids. I enjoy the value of teaching and I understand it in full now. And if teaching is the road that I choose, which minor shall I possess? One minor seems not enough. Two seems good. History? Nutrition? Photo-journalism? Communications? Radio? All of which sounds good, I want to dip into everything now.
But how do I do it all without becoming a career student? Is that even a profession? We will see. I shall meditate on this more.
Monday, September 28, 2009
A new delusion
I have to get a few things off my chest before I begin. Today is a new day. The writer's block that has been an ever excruciating dark cloud over my head is starting to part. No excuses that I know, however. So it ends today. No more hiding my desire, no more wallowing in my own self-pity. This is me. I was laid off in Idaho after working for a newspaper, worked last winter at a snow resort, and now, well, now I am the typical sports blogger who lives with his parents and eats his mom's awesome meat loaf. I don't live in a basement nor do I wear a bathrobe (although I do own one).
So as I begin with rants, raves juxtaposed with the best logic I can come up with, I want all of you (yes even if it is just Hepburn who reads this) to know that pent up creativity pours out like a mudslide.
Before I delve into the bi-polar University of Washington football team, and before I urge Jim Mora, Jr. to burn those horrid, and I mean horrid lime green jerseys, I have to begin with the best college football team in the Northwest, the Boise State Broncos and their delusional fans.
Before I moved to Idaho and before the BSU win in the Fiesta Bowl, I kind of liked the Broncos. That was, however, before the television stations in Southern Idaho spent more time on Bronco practices than actual news-related stories. But that's neither here nor there, I understand the excitement surrounding the Boise and Southern Idaho area. There are no pro teams and BSU is the closest its going to have.
I realize the fandom has been ever-present and the need to stick by your team is greater to understand why your team is even good in the first place. The fan base is like a proud parent who thinks their son or daughter is the greatest athlete in the world, but in reality, they just dominate YMCA basketball.
Can someone from Boise please answer this question with full honesty: Will the Boise State Broncos really fair well against the likes of a bigger conference foe week in and week out?
My answer is no.
Here is my reasoning. When a team's season is ultimately predicated upon one win early in the season, there is no way of telling that their a solid team. Yes, they beat Oregon two years in a row. Yes, they run the table on the undeniably awful WAC. But what else do they have on their resume?
This is my problem with Mid-Majors and in result, the problem with the NCAA system. And let's get one thing clear, there will be no BCS playoff system no matter if President Obama tries to butt in or not. It ain't happening.
But if BSU wants more respect, they need to get into the Mountain West Conference. It's the only way they'll be able to compete in the BCS Championship year in and year out. And also, we as football fans will figure out how good these posers are. Is it a legit football program, or is a program that is built on a few good games and let the cards fall in front of it so the rest of the season will be a cake walk?
I want to believe that BSU is legit. I want to see Kellen Moore get national respect. I want to see Chris Peterson get Coach of the Year honors. Can BSU fans look in the mirror and, with a straight face, consider themselves the 5th best team in the nation? True as it may be it is there by process of elimination. But try telling fans of the SEC how good BSU is.
For nostalgic purposes lets bring the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win in the conversation. It was THE greatest game I've ever seen. But, and here's a big but, if I were a betting man, and the rest of Bronco nation a betting nation, too, would I or BSU fans bet that it would happen again?
I know, I know, I know that people say that that's the way it happened, no need to think about what could have been or what would happen. But let's hypothetically think for a moment. BSU had a very dominant team, arguably better than this year's No. 5 ranking (their highest in school history), and it was a game against a highly overrated Oklahoma Sooner team. Adrian Peterson was THE team. You take him off, what kind of team do you have? Bob Stoops was out-coached by a brilliant Chris Peterson. But when you have to resort to trick plays for a win, it's not a legit win. The stars aligned at the right time, the wind blew just enough, Oklahoma's secondary was fooled just enough and the momentum shifted dramatically.
If we knock teams like Florida, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma or Texas for playing cup cake teams in their opening weekends, then we MUST knock BSU for their schedule because it's the exact opposite of what happens to those bigger schools. BSU plays one tough team to open the season and the rest of the schedule is a walk on the beach. To the contrary of bigger programs. Playing a cup cake team (equivalent to NFL's preseason) and then playing a schedule full of teams that are chasing conference championships. Please, Boise State, do yourself a favor and get into the Mountain West Conference so it will make a better case to become a BCS conference. That way Boise can compete week in and week out with Utah, BYU and TCU, all of which are top 25 teams.
Case closed.
Now onto (dare I say) a brief state of delusion at the University of Washington? I hate to hate on the Dawgs because I'm a fan. But when we (UW) got a No. 24 ranking, something about me was fooled. It was like watching a street magician do a card trick right before your eyes, you want to believe so you do. And you get tricked. That's what happened to us (UW). That little No. 24 next to Washington was like a mirage. We saw something beautiful again and we forced ourselves to believe no matter how terrifying the truth seemed. We lost every game last season, beat USC, and then all of a sudden ranked with the best. Woah. I wish we never had that ranking. Because as much as all of the players said that it didn't matter, it did. The Husky sub-conscious was ultimately screwed with and even the players believed they were the 24th best team in the nation. And were underdogs the next week. How does that happen?
After watching Washington get manhandled in Stanford, that 24 next to Washington was like when I write something brilliant down on a piece of paper, only to read it to myself and realize that it was garbage. Stanford tore Washington out of the Top 25 notebook and threw them in the trash.
Now, we will see what type of coach Sark will be. Remember, there was a bit of jubilation following Washington's win over Syracuse and Boise State (ahem, another point by the way) to start the 2007 season. Then we all know what happened to the Coach That Shall Not Be Named.
My only hope will be that Sark will use this Toby Gerhart ass-pounding as a motivational tool to get the Huskies' offensive and defensive line awake and ready to pray to Football Jesus in North Bend next weekend, because UW will need all of the power of God to help them win. Let's just hope Charlie Weiss doesn't all of a sudden turn into a "genius" at the right moment.
And finally, the Seahawks and their terrible jerseys. What hell, man? The jerseys are just a metaphorical anger outlet. Because, other than Julius Jones, those were not the Hawks. Those jerseys had terrible clock management, those jerseys fumbled the ball and those jerseys missed field goals. I don't know who those jerseys were, but I'd like my original Hawks back please.
Leaving the game yesterday I thought that the ending to that pathetic game would never have happened under Holmgren. I was on fire over Mora and Greg Knapp's play calling. I couldn't believe how those jerseys were stalling on 4th and 1, throwing a pussy screen pass for a first down. I mean, what the phuq? But then I saw how angry Mora was. And that's the type of fire I like. So, if Jim Mora ever reads this, I apologize for any lack of fire I thought you had. The post-game rant was something I, like the rest of us, needed to hear. Like I said before, those jerseys sucked.
Okay, the Stache is done.
So as I begin with rants, raves juxtaposed with the best logic I can come up with, I want all of you (yes even if it is just Hepburn who reads this) to know that pent up creativity pours out like a mudslide.
Before I delve into the bi-polar University of Washington football team, and before I urge Jim Mora, Jr. to burn those horrid, and I mean horrid lime green jerseys, I have to begin with the best college football team in the Northwest, the Boise State Broncos and their delusional fans.
Before I moved to Idaho and before the BSU win in the Fiesta Bowl, I kind of liked the Broncos. That was, however, before the television stations in Southern Idaho spent more time on Bronco practices than actual news-related stories. But that's neither here nor there, I understand the excitement surrounding the Boise and Southern Idaho area. There are no pro teams and BSU is the closest its going to have.
I realize the fandom has been ever-present and the need to stick by your team is greater to understand why your team is even good in the first place. The fan base is like a proud parent who thinks their son or daughter is the greatest athlete in the world, but in reality, they just dominate YMCA basketball.
Can someone from Boise please answer this question with full honesty: Will the Boise State Broncos really fair well against the likes of a bigger conference foe week in and week out?
My answer is no.
Here is my reasoning. When a team's season is ultimately predicated upon one win early in the season, there is no way of telling that their a solid team. Yes, they beat Oregon two years in a row. Yes, they run the table on the undeniably awful WAC. But what else do they have on their resume?
This is my problem with Mid-Majors and in result, the problem with the NCAA system. And let's get one thing clear, there will be no BCS playoff system no matter if President Obama tries to butt in or not. It ain't happening.
But if BSU wants more respect, they need to get into the Mountain West Conference. It's the only way they'll be able to compete in the BCS Championship year in and year out. And also, we as football fans will figure out how good these posers are. Is it a legit football program, or is a program that is built on a few good games and let the cards fall in front of it so the rest of the season will be a cake walk?
I want to believe that BSU is legit. I want to see Kellen Moore get national respect. I want to see Chris Peterson get Coach of the Year honors. Can BSU fans look in the mirror and, with a straight face, consider themselves the 5th best team in the nation? True as it may be it is there by process of elimination. But try telling fans of the SEC how good BSU is.
For nostalgic purposes lets bring the 2007 Fiesta Bowl win in the conversation. It was THE greatest game I've ever seen. But, and here's a big but, if I were a betting man, and the rest of Bronco nation a betting nation, too, would I or BSU fans bet that it would happen again?
I know, I know, I know that people say that that's the way it happened, no need to think about what could have been or what would happen. But let's hypothetically think for a moment. BSU had a very dominant team, arguably better than this year's No. 5 ranking (their highest in school history), and it was a game against a highly overrated Oklahoma Sooner team. Adrian Peterson was THE team. You take him off, what kind of team do you have? Bob Stoops was out-coached by a brilliant Chris Peterson. But when you have to resort to trick plays for a win, it's not a legit win. The stars aligned at the right time, the wind blew just enough, Oklahoma's secondary was fooled just enough and the momentum shifted dramatically.
If we knock teams like Florida, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma or Texas for playing cup cake teams in their opening weekends, then we MUST knock BSU for their schedule because it's the exact opposite of what happens to those bigger schools. BSU plays one tough team to open the season and the rest of the schedule is a walk on the beach. To the contrary of bigger programs. Playing a cup cake team (equivalent to NFL's preseason) and then playing a schedule full of teams that are chasing conference championships. Please, Boise State, do yourself a favor and get into the Mountain West Conference so it will make a better case to become a BCS conference. That way Boise can compete week in and week out with Utah, BYU and TCU, all of which are top 25 teams.
Case closed.
Now onto (dare I say) a brief state of delusion at the University of Washington? I hate to hate on the Dawgs because I'm a fan. But when we (UW) got a No. 24 ranking, something about me was fooled. It was like watching a street magician do a card trick right before your eyes, you want to believe so you do. And you get tricked. That's what happened to us (UW). That little No. 24 next to Washington was like a mirage. We saw something beautiful again and we forced ourselves to believe no matter how terrifying the truth seemed. We lost every game last season, beat USC, and then all of a sudden ranked with the best. Woah. I wish we never had that ranking. Because as much as all of the players said that it didn't matter, it did. The Husky sub-conscious was ultimately screwed with and even the players believed they were the 24th best team in the nation. And were underdogs the next week. How does that happen?
After watching Washington get manhandled in Stanford, that 24 next to Washington was like when I write something brilliant down on a piece of paper, only to read it to myself and realize that it was garbage. Stanford tore Washington out of the Top 25 notebook and threw them in the trash.
Now, we will see what type of coach Sark will be. Remember, there was a bit of jubilation following Washington's win over Syracuse and Boise State (ahem, another point by the way) to start the 2007 season. Then we all know what happened to the Coach That Shall Not Be Named.
My only hope will be that Sark will use this Toby Gerhart ass-pounding as a motivational tool to get the Huskies' offensive and defensive line awake and ready to pray to Football Jesus in North Bend next weekend, because UW will need all of the power of God to help them win. Let's just hope Charlie Weiss doesn't all of a sudden turn into a "genius" at the right moment.
And finally, the Seahawks and their terrible jerseys. What hell, man? The jerseys are just a metaphorical anger outlet. Because, other than Julius Jones, those were not the Hawks. Those jerseys had terrible clock management, those jerseys fumbled the ball and those jerseys missed field goals. I don't know who those jerseys were, but I'd like my original Hawks back please.
Leaving the game yesterday I thought that the ending to that pathetic game would never have happened under Holmgren. I was on fire over Mora and Greg Knapp's play calling. I couldn't believe how those jerseys were stalling on 4th and 1, throwing a pussy screen pass for a first down. I mean, what the phuq? But then I saw how angry Mora was. And that's the type of fire I like. So, if Jim Mora ever reads this, I apologize for any lack of fire I thought you had. The post-game rant was something I, like the rest of us, needed to hear. Like I said before, those jerseys sucked.
Okay, the Stache is done.
Top 10 players who were better in the pros than college
These players are prime examples of how to elevate one’s game when being paid millions of dollars.
10. Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
The hype: Bosh only played one year at Georgia Tech and sometimes that is all you need to make the jump to the pros. Bosh only averaged 15 ppg and 9 rpg, but the Raptors took him anyway with the gamble at No.4 in 2003.
The result: Bosh, like Wade, was overshadowed by James and Anthony in that draft class, but Bosh has become the go-to guy the Raptors were wanting. Bosh led the Raptors deep into the playoffs this year while averaging 23 ppg and 8 rpg.
9. Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina
The hype: Wallace was at times overshadowed by Vince Carter’s highflying dunks while at UNC. Wallace, however, was a much more complete player than Carter and it didn’t show until he went pro.
The result: With an NBA title under his belt, Wallace could have been one of those players who didn’t amount to much at the power forward spot (see Derrick Coleman), but he didn’t. He became one of the best power forwards in the game today.
8. Shawn Marion, UNLV
The hype: The Matrix as he is called was a pure athletic talent buried in the desert. UNLV never did a whole lot, but Marion was one of those players shined light to a basketball program that hardly ever shines.
The result: Marion became an instant threat in the league because of the style of play in Phoenix. Teamed up with Steve Nash, the Matrix was at times unstoppable. We’ll see how he copes in Miami.
7. Jason Richardson, Michigan State
The hype: Not much here on the hype other than his pure athletic talent. He only averaged 14.7 ppg as a sophomore at Michigan State.
The result: The gamble worked out pretty well for Golden State by taking a guy based off of potential. His pro stats skyrocketed from his college days: 18.8 ppg in his career.
6. Scottie Pippen, Central Arkansas
The hype: Scottie Pippen didn’t go to a big school and sport mind-blowing stats, which caused Seattle (you guys are idiots!) to trade him on draft day, thinking that he wouldn’t amount to much.
The result: So I guess that trade worked out well for the Bulls and Mr. Pippen. Six NBA titles and being named to the 50 Greatest Players’ List later and the guy who the Sonics traded is bound for the Hall of Fame.
5. Paul Pierce, Kansas
The hype: True Pierce was one of the best players in the nation when at KU, but he never wowed many people with his game. He averaged 16 ppg over his career in college and early exits out of the NCAA Tournament marked him as a non-clutch player (chocker).
The result: We all know now that he is not a choker. He’s just never been surrounded by strong talent. After 10 years of being mentioned as a good player, not a great player, Pierce is finally an NBA champion. The Truth is averaging 23 ppg for his career and was named Finals MVP for the Celtics.
4. Baron Davis, UCLA
The hype: Baron Davis’ college numbers were not eye-popping (15 ppg and 5 apg), but he was selected third overall by the Hornets who were desperate for a point guard. So, what did they get?
The result: Even though he was traded to the Warriors, Davis has become one of the best point guards in the league. His toughness and versatility makes him tough to guard. In the last three years with Golden State, Davis has averaged 21 ppg and 8 apg. Not bad for a part-time movie producer.
3. Dwayne Wade, Marquette
The hype: Wade was explosive in college and led the Golden Eagles deep into the NCAA Tournament, but was easily overshadowed by LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Wade averaged 21.5 ppg in college, but how would that transfer to the pros?
The result: Looks like D-Wade has done pretty well for himself. He’s averaging 23 ppg over his three-year career with the Heat he not only shed the shadow of James and Anthony, but also won a title before both of them. He was easily the MVP of the finals the year the Heat won, but did anyone see this coming out of Wade?
2. Brandon Roy, Washington
The hype: Not a whole lot of it. Roy had the numbers to be a great player (20.2 ppg), but never got the attention from the rest of the country being buried in the Northwest. His style of play isn’t the most overwhelming, but he doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s a solid dribbler and he can flat out shoot.
The result: There were many, many more players taken ahead of Roy that were touted as Rookie of the Year contenders, but none of them lived up that bill as much as Roy. I can bet my entire weekly salary, which isn’t much, that the Bobcats are kicking themselves for picking another guy from the state of Washington instead of Roy (Rookie of Year).
1. Chris Paul, Wake Forest
The hype: Coming into the draft, Paul was one of three great point guards taken that year. He averaged only 15 ppg and 6 apg his final year as a Demon Deacon.
The result: The Hornets hit the jackpot with Paul. He not only raised his game statistically (21 ppg and 11 apg), but he was in the running of MVP and was named Rookie of the Year.
10. Chris Bosh, Georgia Tech
The hype: Bosh only played one year at Georgia Tech and sometimes that is all you need to make the jump to the pros. Bosh only averaged 15 ppg and 9 rpg, but the Raptors took him anyway with the gamble at No.4 in 2003.
The result: Bosh, like Wade, was overshadowed by James and Anthony in that draft class, but Bosh has become the go-to guy the Raptors were wanting. Bosh led the Raptors deep into the playoffs this year while averaging 23 ppg and 8 rpg.
9. Rasheed Wallace, North Carolina
The hype: Wallace was at times overshadowed by Vince Carter’s highflying dunks while at UNC. Wallace, however, was a much more complete player than Carter and it didn’t show until he went pro.
The result: With an NBA title under his belt, Wallace could have been one of those players who didn’t amount to much at the power forward spot (see Derrick Coleman), but he didn’t. He became one of the best power forwards in the game today.
8. Shawn Marion, UNLV
The hype: The Matrix as he is called was a pure athletic talent buried in the desert. UNLV never did a whole lot, but Marion was one of those players shined light to a basketball program that hardly ever shines.
The result: Marion became an instant threat in the league because of the style of play in Phoenix. Teamed up with Steve Nash, the Matrix was at times unstoppable. We’ll see how he copes in Miami.
7. Jason Richardson, Michigan State
The hype: Not much here on the hype other than his pure athletic talent. He only averaged 14.7 ppg as a sophomore at Michigan State.
The result: The gamble worked out pretty well for Golden State by taking a guy based off of potential. His pro stats skyrocketed from his college days: 18.8 ppg in his career.
6. Scottie Pippen, Central Arkansas
The hype: Scottie Pippen didn’t go to a big school and sport mind-blowing stats, which caused Seattle (you guys are idiots!) to trade him on draft day, thinking that he wouldn’t amount to much.
The result: So I guess that trade worked out well for the Bulls and Mr. Pippen. Six NBA titles and being named to the 50 Greatest Players’ List later and the guy who the Sonics traded is bound for the Hall of Fame.
5. Paul Pierce, Kansas
The hype: True Pierce was one of the best players in the nation when at KU, but he never wowed many people with his game. He averaged 16 ppg over his career in college and early exits out of the NCAA Tournament marked him as a non-clutch player (chocker).
The result: We all know now that he is not a choker. He’s just never been surrounded by strong talent. After 10 years of being mentioned as a good player, not a great player, Pierce is finally an NBA champion. The Truth is averaging 23 ppg for his career and was named Finals MVP for the Celtics.
4. Baron Davis, UCLA
The hype: Baron Davis’ college numbers were not eye-popping (15 ppg and 5 apg), but he was selected third overall by the Hornets who were desperate for a point guard. So, what did they get?
The result: Even though he was traded to the Warriors, Davis has become one of the best point guards in the league. His toughness and versatility makes him tough to guard. In the last three years with Golden State, Davis has averaged 21 ppg and 8 apg. Not bad for a part-time movie producer.
3. Dwayne Wade, Marquette
The hype: Wade was explosive in college and led the Golden Eagles deep into the NCAA Tournament, but was easily overshadowed by LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony. Wade averaged 21.5 ppg in college, but how would that transfer to the pros?
The result: Looks like D-Wade has done pretty well for himself. He’s averaging 23 ppg over his three-year career with the Heat he not only shed the shadow of James and Anthony, but also won a title before both of them. He was easily the MVP of the finals the year the Heat won, but did anyone see this coming out of Wade?
2. Brandon Roy, Washington
The hype: Not a whole lot of it. Roy had the numbers to be a great player (20.2 ppg), but never got the attention from the rest of the country being buried in the Northwest. His style of play isn’t the most overwhelming, but he doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s a solid dribbler and he can flat out shoot.
The result: There were many, many more players taken ahead of Roy that were touted as Rookie of the Year contenders, but none of them lived up that bill as much as Roy. I can bet my entire weekly salary, which isn’t much, that the Bobcats are kicking themselves for picking another guy from the state of Washington instead of Roy (Rookie of Year).
1. Chris Paul, Wake Forest
The hype: Coming into the draft, Paul was one of three great point guards taken that year. He averaged only 15 ppg and 6 apg his final year as a Demon Deacon.
The result: The Hornets hit the jackpot with Paul. He not only raised his game statistically (21 ppg and 11 apg), but he was in the running of MVP and was named Rookie of the Year.
Top 10 players who were better in college than the pros
Players with career ending or career altering injuries are not taken into account, these players have just underperformed for the talent in which they were selected in the first round of the draft since the draft lottery was incorporated in the NBA.
10. Andrew Bogut, Utah
The hype: The Australian number one pick was the obvious choice. He was the Player of the Year and led the nation in double-doubles with 26. The Bucks had no other choice but to pick this lock of a big man.
The result: Hardly of a good pick. Bogut is just averaging 11.9 ppg in his three years with the Bucks and forced Milwaukee to pick Yi Jianlian out of China to give him a challenge. So far, no good.
9. Steve Francis, Maryland
The hype: Francis mirrored Marbury so much while in college; a quick point guard from the East Coast who was done after his freshman year. He averaged 17 points his one year as a Terp.
The result: You know money was talking really loud to him when he made his decision to go pro. Just imagine how good the Terps would have been had he stayed, shoot, they won the national championship the following year! He came out strong in the NBA, but became a stats player. A guy who scored a lot of points, but didn’t win a whole lot in Houston. He is now on the Knicks with Marbury. See they do mirror each other quite well.
8. Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech
The hype: Starbury was beyond hype. He was a breath of fresh air in college basketball. He was a quick scorer who took control of games. He was so good that he was a one-and-done player averaging 18 points a game in his freshman year. Who could blame him though. He had one of those crossovers that screamed a million dollars.
The result: Marbury was drafted by the the Bucks then traded to the Timberwolves where he teamed up with KG. Minnesota fans wet their pants simultaneously with the thought of those two playing together. But off-the-court troubles sent him packing to numerous teams. He has a hefty price tag for his talent, but was never taken serious when it came to championship talks.
7. Joe Smith, Maryland
The hype: The Maryland Terps were a threat every game with Smith on the floor. He had a smooth jumper with height and pure physical talent. He was a 20-10 guy in college and was supposed to be even better in the pros.
The result: Well, not so fast. The top pick in the draft is not supposed to end up a journeyman after his third season. He struggled with his place on a roster and only averaged 11.9 points a game in his career.
6. Calbert Cheney, Indiana
The hype: Cheney was a smooth stroker from Indiana who came out the same year as Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal. So it was a strong class, no?
The result: The Bullets took Cheney with the sixth pick in the draft. He was fun to watch in college, but when he got to the pros, he only mustered up 9.5 ppg career average.
5. Nearly the entire 2002 lottery class
The hype: Despite an already weak class as is, it still had talent. Although much of the talent came from either foreign countries or high school; however, of the college players that did come out of this class, it was a bit of a let down. There was Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy from Duke, Drew Gooden from Kansas, Dajuan Wagner from Memphis, Chris Wilcox from Maryland and Caron Butler from Connecticut.
The result: Of all of those players metioned above, Butler is the only player who is a difference maker for his team (the Wizards). Williams gets a get out of jail free card because he never really played much, but Dunleavy, Gooden, Wagner and Wilcox are hardly doing anything.
4. Keith Van Horn, Utah
The hype: Van Horn was the great white hype. He was fundamentally sound and was coachable, or at least I’d like to think so. At Utah, Van Horn averaged 20 points a game for a national title contender. Suffice it to say, he was Adam Morrison before Adam Morrison. Van Horn just did it better the first time around…and never cried.
The result: He must have done something right because he’s getting paid very well right now and he’s not even an NBA roster. You have to give props to that in some way or another. But aside from that, Van Horn never really lived up to a No. 2 overall selection from the Nets. (Seems like there is a theme here from the Nets, don’t you think?). He’s been on eight different rosters while averaging 16 points a game for his career. I’m going to miss him because no matter how pale I get, he’ll always be a shade lighter. Plus you can’t knock a player for wearing knee-high socks.
3. Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
The hype: Ah, the Van Horn replica. Morrison won over the nation (not exactly sure why) with his head-down-then-pull-up-a-jumper type of play for the Zags. He got unworthy comparisons to Larry Bird and cried after the Zags were beat in the NCAA tourney. He scored a bunch of points but not a whole else.
The result: Overrated comes to mind when I see Morrison and his ridiculous mustache. His aforementioned head-down-then-pull-up-a-jumper type play was easily figured out from NBA defenses, which is the main reason why he barely even plays now.
2. Ed O’Bannon, UCLA
The hype: Oh boy. O’Bannon was one of those sleek, basketball-comes-easy-to-me type players. The south-paw drifted and steered UCLA to the national championship in 1995 and averaged 20 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. A lock for the New Jersey Nets, right? WRONG!
The result: This isn’t even fair. I shouldn’t even say anything about how poor his pro career was. It only lasted two and a half seasons with the Nets and Mavericks. He only averaged 3.7 points per game and was out of the league by the time was just 24. Damn.
1. Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
The hype: Coleman was taken first overall in the 1990 draft out of Syracuse where he named Big East Player of the Year his final year in college. He was billed as one of the next great power forwards and set an NCAA record for most career rebounds with 1,537.
The result: Coleman may have had a decent career (16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and was the 1990 Rookie of the Year, but when you become expendable (being traded from the Nets to the Sixers with a couple of no-namers for SHAWN BRADLEY!) it says a lot about what type of player you are. He became a journeyman by the end of his career playing for four different teams (Nets, Sixers twice, Hornets and the Pistons).
10. Andrew Bogut, Utah
The hype: The Australian number one pick was the obvious choice. He was the Player of the Year and led the nation in double-doubles with 26. The Bucks had no other choice but to pick this lock of a big man.
The result: Hardly of a good pick. Bogut is just averaging 11.9 ppg in his three years with the Bucks and forced Milwaukee to pick Yi Jianlian out of China to give him a challenge. So far, no good.
9. Steve Francis, Maryland
The hype: Francis mirrored Marbury so much while in college; a quick point guard from the East Coast who was done after his freshman year. He averaged 17 points his one year as a Terp.
The result: You know money was talking really loud to him when he made his decision to go pro. Just imagine how good the Terps would have been had he stayed, shoot, they won the national championship the following year! He came out strong in the NBA, but became a stats player. A guy who scored a lot of points, but didn’t win a whole lot in Houston. He is now on the Knicks with Marbury. See they do mirror each other quite well.
8. Stephon Marbury, Georgia Tech
The hype: Starbury was beyond hype. He was a breath of fresh air in college basketball. He was a quick scorer who took control of games. He was so good that he was a one-and-done player averaging 18 points a game in his freshman year. Who could blame him though. He had one of those crossovers that screamed a million dollars.
The result: Marbury was drafted by the the Bucks then traded to the Timberwolves where he teamed up with KG. Minnesota fans wet their pants simultaneously with the thought of those two playing together. But off-the-court troubles sent him packing to numerous teams. He has a hefty price tag for his talent, but was never taken serious when it came to championship talks.
7. Joe Smith, Maryland
The hype: The Maryland Terps were a threat every game with Smith on the floor. He had a smooth jumper with height and pure physical talent. He was a 20-10 guy in college and was supposed to be even better in the pros.
The result: Well, not so fast. The top pick in the draft is not supposed to end up a journeyman after his third season. He struggled with his place on a roster and only averaged 11.9 points a game in his career.
6. Calbert Cheney, Indiana
The hype: Cheney was a smooth stroker from Indiana who came out the same year as Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, Alonzo Mourning and Shaquille O’Neal. So it was a strong class, no?
The result: The Bullets took Cheney with the sixth pick in the draft. He was fun to watch in college, but when he got to the pros, he only mustered up 9.5 ppg career average.
5. Nearly the entire 2002 lottery class
The hype: Despite an already weak class as is, it still had talent. Although much of the talent came from either foreign countries or high school; however, of the college players that did come out of this class, it was a bit of a let down. There was Jay Williams and Mike Dunleavy from Duke, Drew Gooden from Kansas, Dajuan Wagner from Memphis, Chris Wilcox from Maryland and Caron Butler from Connecticut.
The result: Of all of those players metioned above, Butler is the only player who is a difference maker for his team (the Wizards). Williams gets a get out of jail free card because he never really played much, but Dunleavy, Gooden, Wagner and Wilcox are hardly doing anything.
4. Keith Van Horn, Utah
The hype: Van Horn was the great white hype. He was fundamentally sound and was coachable, or at least I’d like to think so. At Utah, Van Horn averaged 20 points a game for a national title contender. Suffice it to say, he was Adam Morrison before Adam Morrison. Van Horn just did it better the first time around…and never cried.
The result: He must have done something right because he’s getting paid very well right now and he’s not even an NBA roster. You have to give props to that in some way or another. But aside from that, Van Horn never really lived up to a No. 2 overall selection from the Nets. (Seems like there is a theme here from the Nets, don’t you think?). He’s been on eight different rosters while averaging 16 points a game for his career. I’m going to miss him because no matter how pale I get, he’ll always be a shade lighter. Plus you can’t knock a player for wearing knee-high socks.
3. Adam Morrison, Gonzaga
The hype: Ah, the Van Horn replica. Morrison won over the nation (not exactly sure why) with his head-down-then-pull-up-a-jumper type of play for the Zags. He got unworthy comparisons to Larry Bird and cried after the Zags were beat in the NCAA tourney. He scored a bunch of points but not a whole else.
The result: Overrated comes to mind when I see Morrison and his ridiculous mustache. His aforementioned head-down-then-pull-up-a-jumper type play was easily figured out from NBA defenses, which is the main reason why he barely even plays now.
2. Ed O’Bannon, UCLA
The hype: Oh boy. O’Bannon was one of those sleek, basketball-comes-easy-to-me type players. The south-paw drifted and steered UCLA to the national championship in 1995 and averaged 20 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. A lock for the New Jersey Nets, right? WRONG!
The result: This isn’t even fair. I shouldn’t even say anything about how poor his pro career was. It only lasted two and a half seasons with the Nets and Mavericks. He only averaged 3.7 points per game and was out of the league by the time was just 24. Damn.
1. Derrick Coleman, Syracuse
The hype: Coleman was taken first overall in the 1990 draft out of Syracuse where he named Big East Player of the Year his final year in college. He was billed as one of the next great power forwards and set an NCAA record for most career rebounds with 1,537.
The result: Coleman may have had a decent career (16.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg) and was the 1990 Rookie of the Year, but when you become expendable (being traded from the Nets to the Sixers with a couple of no-namers for SHAWN BRADLEY!) it says a lot about what type of player you are. He became a journeyman by the end of his career playing for four different teams (Nets, Sixers twice, Hornets and the Pistons).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)