Seriously?

I honestly don't even know what to say about Plaxico Burress anymore.  He misses meetings, gets more fines than he does catches, and now has shot himself in the thigh.  It's unbelievable what this guy does.  He held out for more money, or at least tried to, and for what?  His numbers are way down, and the Giants are 3-0 with out him this year.  Plus, they have found a solid replacement in Dominik Hixon.  I don't want to admit it, but perhaps the Giants are better off with out him.

Burress is just the latest in a long list of players who can't stop causing problems for themselves.  Everyone knows about Adam "Pacman" Jones.  He gets arrested, then again, then "shoots" up a night club, then gets suspended for a year, then comes back, then causes more trouble, then gets another chance.  Whether or not he blows this chance remains to be seen, but the point is that it is becoming an epidemic in the NFL were players cause too many problems for themselves, and distractions for their teams.

In NBA news, how about those Knicks?  They're not playing the BEST basketball in the Eastern Conference, but they have been playing well considering what they have...or don't have.  Their top pick has played 3 games tops, their best two players have been traded away, and the little talent they have left is more like a college team.  However, they managed to win 138-125 on Saturday, and even scored 82 points in the first half, a team record.  I'm not saying the Knicks are going to make it to the playoffs, but they won't be horrible.  Well, not THAT horrible.  Look on the bright side, we're one day closer to July 1, 2010!

Exciting...

It's Thanksgiving, and like many football fans I am watching the Titans demolish the Lions.  It's 44-10, but something tells me that won't be the final score.  It's not a big surprise though, the Titans are coming off their first loss, and are looking to lay the smack down on someone.  That someone just happens to be the Lions, who are on their third quarterback, and still looking for their first win.

What's really upsetting, is that the Lions play every year.  It sucks that on a day so amazing, we have to watch a team so bad.  Honestly, why can't the NFL  change the schedule.  I know it's a "tradition", but sometimes you have to start fresh.

Since it is Thanksgiving, I figured it would be appropriate to give what I am thankful for in the world of sports.  First comes the Giants.  That amazing playoff run, capped off with the best Super Bowl I've ever seen.  Plus they're still playing great football and are poised for another playoff appearance.  Second, I am thankful the baseball season is over so I don't have to suffer through the Mets sucking it up any more.  Finally, I am thankful that the Knicks have actually gotten their heads out of the ground, and are slowly moving in the right direction.  Maybe in 2010 they'll give me something to cheer about, but that's another story.  

I am also thankful for someone's eight years almost being up.  About damn time. 

Crap I Still Have One More Blog To Do

People are crazy, and sports fans are crazier.   First thing that comes to mind is the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit.  In case you forgot it was four years ago this week when it happened.  I didn't see it live, but I'm sure like everyone else I saw it replayed thousands of times after.  It was the most shocking thing I had ever seen, to think that fans and players would actually be fighting with each other.  People threw beer at the players, enticing them, and Ron Artest even ran up into the stands to throw a punch.  It was one of the darkest days in the NBA, and even though it has come a long way since that brawl, it still remains that it happened.

The players might have started the brawl, but it was the fans who made it worse.  And speaking of fans, some of them have gotten crazy.  At Michigan, first year coach Rich Rodriguez said how fans say things to him that sometimes don't even pertain to the game.  What is it with fans?  Your team has a history of winning, and you think you deserve to win all of the time.  And yes, that goes for you Yankee fans too.  You guys think you deserve to be in the World Series every year, it makes me sick.  Admit your team is not that good anymore, and accept your fate.

Speaking of fate, today is big for both New York football teams.  The Jets face the 10-0 Titans in Tennessee.  I might be a Giants fan, but I'm pulling for the Jets.  Not only am I a huge Favre fan, but I'm tired of people sucking up to the Titans.  They're a good team, but they've not only had an easy schedule. they've also taken advantage of a week division that includes a Colts team that is having an off year.  It is going to be a very tough game for the Jets, but I think they can come out of it with a win.

Now for my Giants.  who face a tough Arizona Cardinals team today.  The Cardinals have been destroying defenses, as Kurt Warner has three 300 yard games in a row.  If the Giants can get to Warner, and their secondary can hold up, Warner is going to have a long day.  On offense, we'll need Manning to have a good day passing, along with a strong running game.  Today's game also is the first time the Giants will be in Arizona since winning the Super Bowl back in February.  I'm not going to say what I think the outcome will be, but you know what I'm hoping for.

On Today's Menu:Brett Favre, Donovan McNabb and Lebron James

For todays blog, I'm going to shake things up a bit.  Instead of talking about one topic, I'm going to cover a few different things, quick fire style.

First up, Brett Favre.  If this season has shown us one thing, it is that he really is THAT good.  Everyone thought after his interception in OT in the NFC Champion but they would be wrong.  He might not be putting up great numbers, but he does have the NY Jets in first.  It just goes to show how good he is, and how important a QB is to a teams success.  If Favre was a first ballot Hall of Famer before his time in NY, he with out a doubt solidified that now.  On that note, I should also add that Bill Parcells deserves recognition too, for turning the Dolphins(1-15 last year) to a 6-4 team this year.  They've increased their win total by 5, and the season isn't even over!  Wow.

Next up, Donovan McNabb.  You know what he admitted after his team tied Sunday, that he didn't know there were ties in the NFL.  Okay, okay, it's a bad thing to say, in fact, it's down right dumb.  Especially when there was a tie in 2002, and McNabb has been in the NFL ten years!  Even worse, why was he not told by coach Andy Reid that they had to play with urgency, since there is only one OT?  Something doesn't make sense.

Number three on my list, Lebron James.  We all know how good he is, or how GREAT he is.  Fastest to 11,000 points as of last night, and in two years he will be a free agent.  So we all know how many teams will be clamoring over him.  The three discussed the most, NY Knicks, NJ Nets, and his current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers.  A lot of people are saying he is going to go to the Nets since they are partly owned by his close friend Jay-Z, and he is going to move the team to Brooklyn.  Only problem is that Lebron is a free agent in 2010, and the Nets can't get to Brooklyn until 2011 at the EARLIEST.  People also say the Knicks since Lebron loves NY, and wants to play on the biggest stage, which Madison Square Garden is.  Plus Lebron's favorite team is the New York Yankees.  No one is saying he will stay in Cleveland, but hey you never know.  If he wants to improve his legacy, and winning a championship will certainly do that, then what better of a legacy to bring a championship to Cleveland for the first time in 60 years!

That's all for now, tune in next time when I'll discuss crazy fans, the Palace Brawl, and whatever else is on my mind when I sit down to write.

Running Away With It

Well, today was another test for the New York Giants, and they passed.  They faced the defensive minded Baltimore Ravens at home, winning 30-10.  It was the best rushing team(Giants) vs. the best rush defense(Ravens), and the offense won.  They torched the Ravens for 207 yards, the most since the late 90's.  The Giants put up 70 yards and two scores in the first quarter.  While at one point, the score was 20-10, the game was never actually that close.  An untimely interception by Manning at the end of the second quarter prevented them from going up 27-3.

The Giants needed this win, as it would prove they were one of the top teams in the league, able to play against any opponent.  The win also furthers the Giant's control of the NFC East, which is big considering their upcoming schedule.  They will face divisional opponents three times in a row in the coming weeks, and any wins they can get now will help.  Plus, it's always nice to get wins when analysts said in the offseason that the Giants would have a Super Bowl "hangover".

The Giant's win also guarantees that they will be in the talk of best team in the NFL.  After the undefeated Titans, they are the best team at 9-1.  I personally think the Titans have had an easier schedule, but that's just my opinion.

As I'm writing this post, the Eagles and Bengals just finished in a tie, 13-13.  It is the rarest thing in the NFL to see a tie, and makes you wonder why they don't change the rules.  They should at least add a second overtime.

What Channel?

So tonight might be the biggest game of the year for the Jets.  At 6-3, and tied for first with the Patriots, the two face on in Foxborough tonight.  The only problem is, that the game is being broadcasted on NFL Network, aaand you can't get it up here with the basic cable programs.  What is that about?  Biggest game of the week, and you can't even get it up here.  The NFL network is a great idea, NFL stats/ clips/ interviews 24/7.  But what gives?  How can you not provide everyone with the service.  

The answer, greed.  The NFL is a money machine, and they want people to pay for the NFL network.  It's sad when the most popular current sport in America wants its fans to pay to watch a game. 

Anyway, tonight's game should prove to be a big one.  The Jets lost the last matchup, and need this win to have any chance of making the playoffs.  And they should be able to get the win; Brett Favre seems to have settled in, the running game is looking good(3 TD for Thomas Jones last game), and the defense has just been filthy.  Combine that with the fact that the Patriots have some key injuries(Brady, Maroney, Harrison, Thomas), and the Jets have a real chance.  The only question is will they show up?  For my room mates sake, let's hope so.

NFL(National Fairy League)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't football a tough, manly, hard hitting game.  It's about bone rattling hits, and jaw breaking helmet on helmet collisions.  However, concussions and injuries have become an increasing problem.  I can understand making helmets better, and more resistant to hard hits, but we have to draw the line somewhere.  Especially when it comes to hits on the quarterback, the most protected player in sports.  Understandably, the quarterback gets the hardest of hits, whether the defender is coming straight at him, or rips him apart from the blind side.  

But, in an effort to protect the quarterback the NFL has changed the rules to how defenders can or can not sack the quarterback.  The ruling is as follows: No defensive player may run into a passer of a legal forward pass after the ball has left his hand (15 yards).  The referee must determine whether opponent had a reasonable chance to stop his momentum during an attempt to block the pass or tackle the passer while he still had the ball.

The problem with this is that it can be very hard to determine whether or not the hit was "hard", or with bad intent.  Also, you have to take into account whether or not the player would have been able to stop his momentum, as the ruling says.  Just last weekend, Justin Tuck of the Giants got fined $7,500 for a helmet to helmet hit, and his driving of the quarterback into the ground.  I'm sorry, but Justin Tuck is HUGE, and he's running full strength at the quarterback and when he gets a hold of him, it would be hard to stop, let alone think about "hmm should I not continue this tackle?"  The NFL is smart for fining people, as a way of getting the message across that dangerous hits are not tolerated, but fining people for every hit changes the mentality and toughness of the game.

Worth the Wait...

Sometimes in sports all you need to do is wait.  Wait to play, wait to win.  In the NFL, waiting has paid off for some people today.  Rex Grossman, Daunte Culpepper, and Brady Quinn.  Each one has an interesting story of their own.  

Perhaps you remember when the Bears were in the super bowl two years ago.  Even if you don't that's okay, it wasn't a spectacular super bowl.  It was raining, and the Bears had no chance, I think very few people expected them to win.  Needless to say they didn't.  Now, do you remember who was playing quarterback for the Bears?  Here's a hint, it wasn't the starting quarterback at the start of the season.  Nope, Rex Grossman, who helped lead the Bears to the super bowl, wasn't even the starting quarterback this season.  It was Kyle Orton, who had filled in for Grossman during various points of the season when Grossman was injured.  So why was Orton the starting quarterback this season?  Because Rex Grossman is very over rated, in fact.  He sucks.  He does not have what it takes to be a quarterback.  One game he would throw for 5 TD's, and then the next game throw 5 INT's and have a QB rating of 2.  But, good things come to those who wait, and yesterday when Orton got injured, Grossman was back in the game.  And led the Bears to a win!!!

Daunte Culpepper, remember him?  Great arm, good runner, had a good target in Randy Moss.  Well, Moss leaves the team, Culpepper destroys his leg.  In the following years he was traded to Miami, where he rushed his rehab and never performed at the same level.  He then bounced to Oakland after another surgery and more poor playing.  At the start of this season, with no one asking him to play, Culpepper retired.  However, it was announced late last week that he was going to sign a 2-year deal with the Lions.  And today he was basically announced as the starting quarterback when the current starter went down with a thumb injury.  Look at that.

Now for Brady Quinn.  Good 'ol Brady Quinn.  Maybe you've seen him in the E.AS. Myoplex commercials, because that is all he's done since being drafted in 07.  Quinn played his college football at Notre Dame, where he set various school records.  Yet, people knocked Quinn and wondered if he could make the leap to the NFL, if he would be any good.  When it came time for draft day he waited, until the 22nd pick in the first round.  He went to Cleveland, in his native Ohio, so people were happy.  However, Derek Anderson was quarterback and he had a great year, leading the Brown's to the doorsteps of the playoffs.  They didn't make it, but going into this year Anderson was rewarded with a nice contract and people had high expectations for the Browns.  Well, things didn't start well, in fact they couldn't win a game.  Anderson wasn't playing well, receivers were dropping passes and injuries were killing them.  Then they beat the Giants(painful), and things seemed to be turning around.  They won two more games, and Derek Anderson seemed like he would be keeping his job.  Yet, after losing yesterday and blowing a ten point lead, it was announced today that Brady Quinn would be the starting quarterback.  Worth the wait indeed.