Upsets Galore

The last two weeks of college football have been rather upsetting. Allow me to explain.

Upsets, it is what drives the sports fan. Next to winning the championship, a major upset is the next best thing. And the last two weeks of college football have been full of them.

Last week Oregon St. beat 9.Arizona, 23.Florida State over 13.Miami and of course 19.South Carolina handled 1.Alabama like it was nothing.

And compared to this week, last week was the calm before the storm.

Miss St. beat 19.Florida, San Diego St. beat 23.Air Force, Hawaii beat 19.Nevada, Kentucky beat 10.South Carolina, Washington beat 24.Oregon St., Texas beat 5.Nebraska and the #1 fell again for the second straight week by double digits, the assassin this time was 18.Wisconsin and the victim, 1.Ohio State.

All these upsets also lead to the fact that TCU and Boise St will only move up in the polls. Which I am a fan of. Who isn't,I did just finish talking about upsets and how everyone loves them. And I know you bought into it. Enjoy the sport for what it is, not only the pure competition bought all of the emotions and stories that come with it.

Moss goes home

The Vikings just recently acquired Randy Moss from the Patriots for a third round draft pick. One of the greatest deep threats at WR ever for a third round pick. I would make that deal in a heart beat.

Looking at it from the Patriots point of view it looks like they are crazy. But really they are staying true to their own philosophy of not paying big bucks for players. Moss' contract is up at the end of the year and he made it clear that he wanted to get a big contract. Even though the connection between Brady and Moss was like a match made in heaven, the Pats didn't even hesitate to ship Moss out. Knowing them they will found another stud at wideout in no time and be fine. They did pull Welker out of no where and Brady was a 6th round pick after all.

Looking at it from the Vikings point of view doesn't even require thought. They are 1-2 and have injury problems at the WR position. (When in a previous post I said they would be fine, I had no idea that meant bringing back Moss) For everyone, including myself, who said Favre couldn't put up the numbers he did last year, well we might be biting our tongues now. Moss is all gun slinging Brett needs, a deep threat he can chuck it up to. And somehow the Vikings look to be a super bowl contender sitting at 1-2.

Bringing MLB up to speed

In case you missed it, Derek Jeter displayed his acting ability Wednesday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5iMSrwVUB8&feature=player_embedded

I don't blame Derek Jeter for taking advantage of the situation. He gets paid millions of dollars to win games and that is exactly what he was doing. And honestly it is not a big deal. Athletes every game will hold, pull, shove, push, and flop to get every advantage possible. If they did not then referees would not be needed at all.

So is it the end of the world that Jeter took advantage to get on first base, far from it. And if you really do have a problem with it then go lobby for MLB to instate instant replay so they can finally start getting calls right.

Locking up the Heisman Trophy

There are a lot of preseason favorites for the Heisman this year. But one leads the pack with the potential to run away with the trophy and be a top 3 NFL draft pick.

Jake Locker has everything you want in a quarterback. I see him as a Tim Tebow but with a better arm. Before you leave and go check your facebook hear me out.

In college Tebow was listed as 6-3 235. Locker is listed as 6-3 230. Both are can run the ball, aren't afraid to truck defenders and fast.

There is one main difference, Tebow had outstanding leadership and Locker has yet to prove that is capable of leading a team to the top. However, Locker has a much better arm then Tebow. Locker doesn't even have an arm, he's got a cannon attached to his shoulder. And his accuracy is only getting better.

Jake Locker is the prototype quarterback with a good supporting cast and an excellent head coach in Steve Sarkisian that understands what it means being a quarterback from his own playing days at the position at BYU.

By the end of the season Locker will be the lead dog of Heisman candidates and bring back the trophy to Seattle for the first time.

Land of Ten Thousand Lakes

Percy Harvin is out until medical officials can diagnose his severe migraines. Sidney Rice will miss at least the first six weeks of the NFL season. So the Vikings are going to barely get by the first half of the season offensively right? Not really.

First lets go back to the beginning of last year. Not very many people if any had even heard of Sidney Rice. And Brett Favre made him a pro bowl receiver in a blink of an eye. So basically the Vikings don't need to worry about much. Harvin will most likely be back soon. And if not, lets not forget Favre is quarterbacking his final season and he has some guy by the name of Adrian Peterson in the backfield. So I think the Vikings will be fine and firing on all cylinders come playoff time.

NBA Goes International

The NBA schedule was released recently. The games that popped out of course were James and the Heat playing in Cleveland, and Heat vs Lakers Christmas day.

Something that I didn't even notice until it was announced was that there will be two international regular season games, both in London. Commissioner David Stern wants to expand the NBA and bring more global attention to it. So immediately I assume that the NBA would send the best of the best to represent the league, right? Teams like the Heat, Lakers, Thunder, Bulls, Magic, or Celtics as the teams that would be sent across the pond.

Not quite. Instead the NBA will be represented by the Toronto Raptors and New Jersey Nets............no it's not April 1st.

The Raptors finished last season two games below a five hundred WITH BOSH. And the Nets finished with the third worst record in an eighty two game season in NBA history. So why would either one of these teams be sent to play in London?

Honestly, no idea.

At least the Lakers are playing a preseason game in London against the T-Wolves and a game in Spain against Regal FC Barcelona. Those two moves are excellent ideas to draw attention to the NBA.

Apparently Stern favors the two steps forward and one step back approach to expanding the NBA. At least it's a step in the right direction and there is always the 11-12 season for him to get it right.

CO and TO

Terrel Owens signed a one year contract worth two million dollars with the Bengals.

So what does this all mean?

The Bengals will be dangerous.

Terrel Owens will join Chad Ochocinco (both just happen to be the most out going and controversial wide receivers in the past decade) and give Carson Palmer another pro bowl receiver to throw to. With wideouts to throw to and a hungry Benson ready to pound the ball up the middle (and don't under estimate their D either), the Bengals are looking like they have a good chance to repeat as NFC north champions.

But to get to what I am most excited about.

The touchdown celebrations.

Knowing both TO and CO, there will be a few entertaining, to say the least, celebrations. I mean Chad, previously Johnson changed his name to Ochocinco. Between the two they have many memorable celebrations, TO and the pom poms and signing the football, Chad and his many different dance moves and commandeering the TV camera. Many of which these can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cjxt9w0aau0

So we can only imagine what might be coming this year. Nothing will surprise me, but most likely everything will entertain me. Enjoy.

One Step Too Far

When LeBron James made his decision, I had no problem with him teaming up with Wade and Bosh down in South Beach. The medium which he did it might not have been the most appropriate but he had the right to do it and ALL of us fed off it.

But now "CP3" AKA Chris Paul publicly requested a trade from the New Orleans Hornets. He gave the Hornets a short list of teams he preferred with the Knick's at the top.

All my respect (which used to be a lot) for Chris Paul just went straight out the window for me.

Paul still has two years left on his contract, but in his mind he can switch teams and create a super team like James, Wade and Bosh did.

James was torn up in the media after he choose the Heat while he was a free agent.
Even though James refused to comment on his future in the free agency market over the past couple years and repeatedly told the media he wanted to focus on winning in Cleveland.

Chris Paul on the other hand is too impatient to wait until his contract is up and wants to be moved NOW. Not when his contract is up but specifically before the season starts. If you want to see an example of a superstar who must have his way then Chris Paul is your guy.

Will the Hornets trade Paul? I am not sure, I wouldn't if I were them. But to all you Cleveland fans and everyone else that though James "abandoned" the Cavs, don't feel so bad. Chris Paul just gave New Orleans fans the finger and slapped them in the face.

Say Who?

Without fail, the world of sports never ceases to produce amazing stories week in and week out.

Louis Oosthuizen, try to pronounce it on your own.........if you were as successful as I was then you probably butchered it. The native South African's name is pronounced LOO-ee WEST-hye-zin.

If your also like me and mostly pay attention to only golfs majors and the occasional tournament then you have never heard of the guy. In fact he has only made the cut once at a major before, the 2008 PGA Championship. And now Oosthuizen just won the most historic major at the most historic course (St. Andrews).

Not only did Oosthuizen pretty much run away with the title, what's more surprising is how hos golfing career started out. For three years he was supported financially by Ernie Els' golf foundation.

As much as I want to see Tiger dominate golf again, it was refreshing to see someone with the completely opposite background that Tiger has win a major. Someone just like you and me who worked hard and had his wildest dreams come true. That is why I love sports.

The Man We All Envied

The Yankees have always been a team that many have loved to hate. Myself included. I have never been a fan of the Red Sox, but you better believe that I jumped on their band wagon during the 2004 ALCS just to enjoy the Yankee's embarrassing loss even more. I loved to see the Yankees lose because they were the best team with the highest payroll and the best overall players. And I, among the fans of every other team, hated them for it.

Did and still do the Yankees deserve all this hostility? Not really. Every fan wishes their team was the best and had big name super stars. The Yankees just happened to have one of if not the best owner in the game. George Steinbrenner passed away this morning suffering from a massive heart attack. This is the man who was solely responsible for the Yankees success and high spending. However this isn't the man that should be hated, I think those who do hate him are only envious of him.

George Steinbrenner did exactly what I would do if I had more money then I could throw away. Buy your favorite sports team and make them the best at any cost. And can any of us blame him? It wasn't against the rules, there is no salary cap in baseball so why not. We hated the Yankees because they were good and their owner made them that way. We were envious of their success and owner who was a fan that wanted to win just like us. I'm sure that Pirates fans (if any still exist) would have traded Kevin McClatchy or Robert Nutting in a heartbeat for George Steinbrenner to take control of their team.

So here is to the man, and his team, that we all envied and hated because of it. If only we had all learned to appreciate the man while he was still alive.

R.I.P. George Steinbrenner 1930-2010

Decision 2010

And so the aftermath of “decision 2010” began. Jerseys were burnt, dogs were kicked, tears were shed and more surprisingly a NBA owner unleashed his inner child. Yes James, left his hometown, yes he did it on national television and yes he did it with a look of no remorse. However lets remember that James was a FREE agent. Free to choose whichever team he wanted to go to. Teams are allowed to cut or trade away players and it is considered “business”, but when James makes his decision based on business he is criticized for not having a heart.

Now back to the child who is Dan Gilbert. In his open letter to Cavaliers fans, Gilbert says “You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal”. I wouldn’t consider LeBron James announcing his decision on national television very cowardly. Then Gilbert really stuck it to James, promising the Cavs fans in bold letters that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win a NBA Championship before LeBron James does. I’m not sure if Dan Gilbert wrote this letter or the eleven year old kid down the street did as he was throwing away his James jersey.

Winning the fans over is one thing, but this is more of a cover up. The Cavs did nothingto bring back James. The Bulls and Heat made big moves and that is why it came down to them and the Cavs. Except all the Cavs had to offer was that it was his hometown, hooray! Not really, James wants to win. So Cavs fans, instead of blaming James for going to a better team, why don’t you turn around and take a good look at what your front office did to keep him.