Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
HalftimeWords Bracket Madness!
In light of the NCAA Tournament and everyones brackets being busted within the first day I decided to make a bracket of my own. Now I know some of you chose Michigan State as your Champions and well you blew it by not picking Oregon! It seems as if every year there is always a top dog going down to a unheard of school form a barely noticed division and somehow the only people that ever get it right are the people that don't watch nor care. So for the few of you out there that have brackets, like making brackets but absolutely have no investment towards the outcome I invite you to come help me make a bracket of my own.
I have made a form on Google (link below) that has my Blog posts from this past year pitted against each other. Please take the time to read my posts and help me decide what I did well and what I pulled a Michigan State on!
Cheers,
http://goo.gl/forms/LYlpoQ0RFx
I have made a form on Google (link below) that has my Blog posts from this past year pitted against each other. Please take the time to read my posts and help me decide what I did well and what I pulled a Michigan State on!
Cheers,
http://goo.gl/forms/LYlpoQ0RFx
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Warriors, Spurs and the 95-96 Bulls
If you are an NBA fan and you miss the 90's then this season so far has been some sort of special. Not only are some of the Bull's records from their historic season in trouble of being broken but some of their records have been broken and by more than one team! Not only have the Warriors beaten the Bulls record for most consecutive wins at home but the Spurs are on the verge of breaking this record as well. Let alone the Warriors and Spurs are both on the brink of the elusive undefeated at home season, counting opening day to the playoffs. The Warriors managed to break the record when you take into account last season. The Spurs are nipping at their heels though and have been all season in all aspects. Lets break down the amazing that the 2016 season has shown thus far!
First the Warriors going 24-0 to start the season. Not only did they break the previous record of 15-0, set by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and matched by the 1993-94 Houston Rockets but they damn near almost doubled it. If it wasn't for playing a 2OT game against the Boston Celtics on the first night of a back to back they most likely would have beaten Milwaukee, the team that broke this streak. Funnily enough the Bucks have broken a couple of the best winning streaks in history including snapping the 71-72 Los Angeles Lakers' 33 game winning streak. This is just one record the Warriors have broken this season, no real need to mention Steph Curry breaking his own 3 pointers made in a season record, or that they also broke the 95-96 Bulls most consecutive home wins.
Now the Spurs! The media has been all about the Warriors since they started off 24-0 but quietly and I mean dead quiet, the Spurs are only 3 games behind the Warriors, 3 games! The Spurs are also on the brink of breaking the Chicago Bulls' most consecutive home wins and are nipping at the heels of the Warriors as they have been all season. The Warriors lost a close one in San Antonio just the other night. Let alone they also play each other two more times this season. One more in Oakland and one more in San Antonio. That means that these records could very well be broken or made by the very team they are each challenging.
Now the elusive 72-10 record. Now it is very unlikely but the Spurs still aren't out of this race. They would need to go undefeated the rest of the way which is unlikely since they have to go to Oakland and play the Warriors in two weeks time. With that said they are still right there, not only is a team capable of breaking this ridiculous record but there are two and even if the Spurs don't make it they are almost guaranteed to be a game or two away. The Warriors on the other hand are poised to make it. 12 games left and 8 of them are at home. Lets say they win all of their home games that means they only have to win one on the road to match the record and with their remaining road schedule only having 2 of 4 teams above .500 I would put money in the bak on the fact that they at least match the record.
Either way this season has showed us that the magic of the 90's is not gone in fact the game has sped up and there is as much talent in the league as their ever has been. Wether it be players or coaches everything has been interesting and I can't wait to see it play out.
First the Warriors going 24-0 to start the season. Not only did they break the previous record of 15-0, set by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and matched by the 1993-94 Houston Rockets but they damn near almost doubled it. If it wasn't for playing a 2OT game against the Boston Celtics on the first night of a back to back they most likely would have beaten Milwaukee, the team that broke this streak. Funnily enough the Bucks have broken a couple of the best winning streaks in history including snapping the 71-72 Los Angeles Lakers' 33 game winning streak. This is just one record the Warriors have broken this season, no real need to mention Steph Curry breaking his own 3 pointers made in a season record, or that they also broke the 95-96 Bulls most consecutive home wins.
Now the Spurs! The media has been all about the Warriors since they started off 24-0 but quietly and I mean dead quiet, the Spurs are only 3 games behind the Warriors, 3 games! The Spurs are also on the brink of breaking the Chicago Bulls' most consecutive home wins and are nipping at the heels of the Warriors as they have been all season. The Warriors lost a close one in San Antonio just the other night. Let alone they also play each other two more times this season. One more in Oakland and one more in San Antonio. That means that these records could very well be broken or made by the very team they are each challenging.
Now the elusive 72-10 record. Now it is very unlikely but the Spurs still aren't out of this race. They would need to go undefeated the rest of the way which is unlikely since they have to go to Oakland and play the Warriors in two weeks time. With that said they are still right there, not only is a team capable of breaking this ridiculous record but there are two and even if the Spurs don't make it they are almost guaranteed to be a game or two away. The Warriors on the other hand are poised to make it. 12 games left and 8 of them are at home. Lets say they win all of their home games that means they only have to win one on the road to match the record and with their remaining road schedule only having 2 of 4 teams above .500 I would put money in the bak on the fact that they at least match the record.
Either way this season has showed us that the magic of the 90's is not gone in fact the game has sped up and there is as much talent in the league as their ever has been. Wether it be players or coaches everything has been interesting and I can't wait to see it play out.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Was Conor McGregor out of his mind or just Conor McGregor?
Conor McGregor is a great fighter, maybe too great for his own good. He is well known as of late because of his abnormal confidence and over the top attitude. Not only did he call out Jose Aldo, saying how he was going to dodge a right hook and then knock him out with a left, but then he came through within the first 15 seconds of a match and did just that. This makes him seem to be a man of his word, so when McGregor announced he was going to move up a weight class to fight Nate Diaz people everywhere thought he could do it, Conor and the people were wrong (maybe I was too)!
McGregor is obviously an ambitious guy and has never done anything to show us he isn't. Although his idea of being able to fight multiple weight classes has obviously taken him into a class that he would not like to be in, the losing class. Conor didn't get beaten out of the building but the main match of UFC 196 ended in the beginning minutes of the second round by a rear naked choke on McGregor from Diaz. Both men were bloody and both men put up a fight but all was settled on the ground, in which Diaz is a better and stronger fighter on the ground (Conor should have seen it
coming).
McGregor will be going back down to his featherweight division to defend his title. Which most fans are hoping is a rematch with Jose Aldo, who doesn't want to pay to see another 15 second bout. With that said McGregor did admit after the fight that he is not done trying to move around weight classes and even said "It is what it is, I was fighting a heavier man he could take a shot and remain in your face. Like Nick Dies. In the second I was hitting glove. He stayed in my face, capitalized on it. I make no excuses. I took a chance, I came up short." I myself would love to see this. As loud and as obnoxious as Conor McGregor can be he is entertaining and a damn good fighter. The more he wins the bigger the stage, hell the more he loses in different weight classes the bigger the stage. As long as he keeps winning in the division he is meant to be in.
Resources:
Davies, A Gareth (07 Mar, 2016) How Did McGregor lose to Nate Diaz at UFC 196, what was the reaction to defeat and who will he fight next?
Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/ufc/12184610/Conor-McGregor-vs-Nate-Diaz-UFC-196-live.html
Thursday, March 26, 2015
If it looks like a catch, sounds like a catch, and there was a football move made like a catch, it’s a catch!
The NFL has gone ahead and done it again. That "It" you ask, is make every football fan in the world scratch their heads in disgust. In a move almost as exciting as the recent Cleveland Browns logo change, the NFL has decided to move forward in changing the "process of the catch" rule that all Football fans know and love.
The change is more of a change in wording than actually changing the rule. The new wording states that the catcher has to make a move that considers them a runner. This is instead of the rule stating that the catcher must make a "football move" in order to be considered down upon hitting the ground. All this says to me is that the NFL is more concerned in making the rule foggier than making the rule clear. Does this now make red-zone targets that are falling to the ground with the ball void? Does this now mean that if you catch the ball and switch it to your left hand and reach for the end zone, it's still not a catch? Or maybe this just means the NFL is the NFL and are continuing to do what they always do which is ruin the game that we will continue to love and watch no matter what (admit it).
So with more questions we still have one answer from the NFL. The Dez Bryant catch is still not a catch. The reasoning behind the change is to clarify the rule so it can be more consistent. Dean Blandino the NFL's Vice President of officiating has said just that by stating, "What is, what isn't a football move. We're not talking about a lot of plays over the course of the five seasons since the Calvin Johnson play. This allows us to consistently officiate the rule." Basically saying that somehow this change makes the rule less confusing. In my mind it has changed confusion for dizziness or maybe a concussion or two! Jeff Fisher the St. Louis Rams Head Coach as well as co-chairman of the competition committee has chimed in as well saying "If you're going to the ground, hang on to the ball. It's really pretty simple," Fisher said. "To include if you become a runner, I think it really cleans things up for us. If you start talking about reaching the ball out, you invite a lot of gray area back into the interpretation."
At the end of the day the NFL is still the NFL and the rule is still the rule. If you ask ten officials you will get ten different answers and it still seems like Dez Bryant never caught a ball that was clearly caught.
The change is more of a change in wording than actually changing the rule. The new wording states that the catcher has to make a move that considers them a runner. This is instead of the rule stating that the catcher must make a "football move" in order to be considered down upon hitting the ground. All this says to me is that the NFL is more concerned in making the rule foggier than making the rule clear. Does this now make red-zone targets that are falling to the ground with the ball void? Does this now mean that if you catch the ball and switch it to your left hand and reach for the end zone, it's still not a catch? Or maybe this just means the NFL is the NFL and are continuing to do what they always do which is ruin the game that we will continue to love and watch no matter what (admit it).
So with more questions we still have one answer from the NFL. The Dez Bryant catch is still not a catch. The reasoning behind the change is to clarify the rule so it can be more consistent. Dean Blandino the NFL's Vice President of officiating has said just that by stating, "What is, what isn't a football move. We're not talking about a lot of plays over the course of the five seasons since the Calvin Johnson play. This allows us to consistently officiate the rule." Basically saying that somehow this change makes the rule less confusing. In my mind it has changed confusion for dizziness or maybe a concussion or two! Jeff Fisher the St. Louis Rams Head Coach as well as co-chairman of the competition committee has chimed in as well saying "If you're going to the ground, hang on to the ball. It's really pretty simple," Fisher said. "To include if you become a runner, I think it really cleans things up for us. If you start talking about reaching the ball out, you invite a lot of gray area back into the interpretation."
At the end of the day the NFL is still the NFL and the rule is still the rule. If you ask ten officials you will get ten different answers and it still seems like Dez Bryant never caught a ball that was clearly caught.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Lets Talk Defense!
The Super Bowl is a week away and arguably the best secondaries in the league (honorary mention to Arizona) will be going head to head. The ball deflating Patriots are going up against the 12th man Seahawks (even if their amazing fan base leaves games early). Both teams have the right to say that they have lock down defenses. The Patriots took a team in the Indianapolis Colts and made them look completely out of their realm by beating them 45-7. Indianapolis was the third best offense in the league for the 2014 regular season as well as the number one offense in the postseason, by over a hundred yards. Then the Patriots showed them how a championship team plays. The Seahawks on the other hand didn't necessarily stop the packers from scoring until they absolutely had to. The Seahawks respectively took a Green bay Packers team that ranked 6th in overall offense for the regular season and held them to one touchdown for the entire game. Green Bay did score five field goals as well as take a 16 point lead into the locker room at halftime but how you finish means everything. In this manner everything came down to which corners stopped two of the best QB's in the league from continuing their onslaught of offense that happened throughout the 2014 season. Leaving the question to be answered, who has the best defense and I specifically want to zone in on who has the best secondary. The Pats or the Hawks?
Seattle comes into the postseason with the number one ranked defense. The Patriots come in with the 13th. Now both teams came out of the gate slumping but got it together when push came to shove. Seattle has a game plan that has yet to fail them. That game plan is letting strong safety Kam Chancellor cover between the numbers while Richard Sherman covers the left side of the field and the right side of the field is left to Byron Maxwell. All I have to say is Gronkowski! This game is strongly based on the play of Gronkowski and if Seattle's cover-3 scheme can stop him. If theres anyone that can match up with Gronkowski I would put my money on Chancellor. Although with that said, I think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are up to the
task to make Chancellor run if not sprint for his money. The Chargers did it in week 3 when Antonio Gates ended the game with 96 yards and 3 TD's in a 21-30 victory. That entire game they attacked the middle of the field and left Seattle to make the decision between letting Chancellor do his thing or abandon their scheme. They did the latter and ended up losing. This leads me to saying how will Sherman contribute. The receiving core of the Patriots isn't the best. I mean Amendola is always a threat but has yet to bust out like he has in the past. Then theres Edelman who seems like he is always a threat (did you see that 51 YD TD pass he threw to Amendola), but everyone knows Gronkowski is their bread and butter and Brady and Gronk are going to attack the middle of the field all game I already put my money on it! So Sherman can cover whoever ends up on his side of the field but it won't be Gronk so I am left to wonder how much he will impact the game. In my eyes if Sherman wants to be considered the best CB in the league he needs to cover the best receivers on the opposing team. Regardless to say Seattle has a respectable defense and they are as good as they look on paper but I think if there is an offense that can put that to the test its the stout O line of the Patriots followed up by Brady and Gronk.
The Patriots! I don't care if they are blamed for deflating balls. Beating the Colts to the tune of 45-7 is a feat in its own, even if the balls weren't standard. Holding that offense to 209 yards goes to show the kind of defense that the Patriots can put on the field. Then there's Revis! With the Seattle receiving core not being able to make the big play unless the game is on the line against Green Bay - I still have no idea how they did that by the way - New England might be able to beat the Hawks by the tune of 45-7 just like they did the Colts. Thats not my prediction but if it happened I wouldn't be surprised. You can put Revis on any receiver you want anywhere on the field. Then theres Browner who if he can stop getting penalties 3-4 times a game is a pretty damn good back. There is no doubt in my mind that Revis can lock down Doug Baldwin and Im almost positive Browner can put in some work on Jermaine Kearse. Leaving the Seattle offense in the hands of the rush attack from Lynch and Wilson. Those aren't bad hands to leave your fate in though. Overall based from Seattle's options I see the Patriots defense looking better than Seattle's. If the Patriots can and did stop Andrew Luck, by stop I mean completely knock him over, then I see them having no trouble stopping Seattle's mediocre offense from moving the ball. Darrelle Revis is a force to be reckoned with and Sherman can mouth off all he wants. I can't wait for the question of who is the better CB is answered. The Super Bowl is that answer and it will appear clear as day when Seattle struggles to be super at all. Maybe a little beastly but very rarely do you win a game let alone the Super Bowl off of a single performer. Pats 38 Hawks 17 call me crazy!
Seattle comes into the postseason with the number one ranked defense. The Patriots come in with the 13th. Now both teams came out of the gate slumping but got it together when push came to shove. Seattle has a game plan that has yet to fail them. That game plan is letting strong safety Kam Chancellor cover between the numbers while Richard Sherman covers the left side of the field and the right side of the field is left to Byron Maxwell. All I have to say is Gronkowski! This game is strongly based on the play of Gronkowski and if Seattle's cover-3 scheme can stop him. If theres anyone that can match up with Gronkowski I would put my money on Chancellor. Although with that said, I think Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are up to the
task to make Chancellor run if not sprint for his money. The Chargers did it in week 3 when Antonio Gates ended the game with 96 yards and 3 TD's in a 21-30 victory. That entire game they attacked the middle of the field and left Seattle to make the decision between letting Chancellor do his thing or abandon their scheme. They did the latter and ended up losing. This leads me to saying how will Sherman contribute. The receiving core of the Patriots isn't the best. I mean Amendola is always a threat but has yet to bust out like he has in the past. Then theres Edelman who seems like he is always a threat (did you see that 51 YD TD pass he threw to Amendola), but everyone knows Gronkowski is their bread and butter and Brady and Gronk are going to attack the middle of the field all game I already put my money on it! So Sherman can cover whoever ends up on his side of the field but it won't be Gronk so I am left to wonder how much he will impact the game. In my eyes if Sherman wants to be considered the best CB in the league he needs to cover the best receivers on the opposing team. Regardless to say Seattle has a respectable defense and they are as good as they look on paper but I think if there is an offense that can put that to the test its the stout O line of the Patriots followed up by Brady and Gronk.
The Patriots! I don't care if they are blamed for deflating balls. Beating the Colts to the tune of 45-7 is a feat in its own, even if the balls weren't standard. Holding that offense to 209 yards goes to show the kind of defense that the Patriots can put on the field. Then there's Revis! With the Seattle receiving core not being able to make the big play unless the game is on the line against Green Bay - I still have no idea how they did that by the way - New England might be able to beat the Hawks by the tune of 45-7 just like they did the Colts. Thats not my prediction but if it happened I wouldn't be surprised. You can put Revis on any receiver you want anywhere on the field. Then theres Browner who if he can stop getting penalties 3-4 times a game is a pretty damn good back. There is no doubt in my mind that Revis can lock down Doug Baldwin and Im almost positive Browner can put in some work on Jermaine Kearse. Leaving the Seattle offense in the hands of the rush attack from Lynch and Wilson. Those aren't bad hands to leave your fate in though. Overall based from Seattle's options I see the Patriots defense looking better than Seattle's. If the Patriots can and did stop Andrew Luck, by stop I mean completely knock him over, then I see them having no trouble stopping Seattle's mediocre offense from moving the ball. Darrelle Revis is a force to be reckoned with and Sherman can mouth off all he wants. I can't wait for the question of who is the better CB is answered. The Super Bowl is that answer and it will appear clear as day when Seattle struggles to be super at all. Maybe a little beastly but very rarely do you win a game let alone the Super Bowl off of a single performer. Pats 38 Hawks 17 call me crazy!
Monday, January 12, 2015
The Natty!
There is a lot to be said about the first inaugural four team college football playoff. Pinning number 2 Oregon against number 4 Ohio state in the national title game, was a good way to start. Respectively both teams earned their spot. Ohio state took down number 1 ranked Alabama while Oregon took down number 3 ranked Florida state, last years national title winners. The old system used statistics and schedule voting with computers to decide the national title game. Which because Florida state was undefeated (even with an easy schedule), they would have most likely been the number one seed. Leaving Alabama at number two. So the fact that what the computers would have chosen would have been wrong makes me feel like the playoffs are nothing less than a success.
We all know that the playoffs were just another run at ratings. I mean that is what college football seems to be about. Case in point that there are dozens of pointless championship bowl games that no team really deserves to be in. With that said the semifinals which were played on new years eve set some records with their ratings. More than 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the games leaving the imprint that ESPN was looking for when they invested in the idea of a playoff system. The national title game could break those records as well. Adding onto the many successes that the playoffs have already shown.
Oregon managed to beat Florida state 59-20 thanks to five second half turnovers, all leading to points on the board for Oregon. The Ohio state Alabama game was a little closer but no less entertaining with a final score of 42-35. Marcus Mariota is the player to watch going into this game. The current Heisman winner for the Ducks has quacked up quite a few stats that bolster his resume as one of if not the best players in college football. Stacking up 55 total TDs with only 3 interceptions on the year is definitely a way to make a name for yourself. Ohio state is on their 3rd string QB but Cardale Jones has looked poised and has played efficiently in the past couple of games. Also with the help of his team, Ohio state definitely looks like a well oiled machine that has the speed and arm to match Oregons style of big or go home play.
The final score will come down to how well the defensive lines get pressure on the opposing QB. Although I have yet to see Mariota get flustered, since Oregons one defeat on the year against Arizona, that will and should be the point of emphases for the Buckeyes defense. I think Oregon will take the game but it should be a classic. Going with a final score of Oregon 45 Ohio 34. With Marcus Mariota leading the way for National title game MVP honors.
We all know that the playoffs were just another run at ratings. I mean that is what college football seems to be about. Case in point that there are dozens of pointless championship bowl games that no team really deserves to be in. With that said the semifinals which were played on new years eve set some records with their ratings. More than 28 million viewers tuned in to watch the games leaving the imprint that ESPN was looking for when they invested in the idea of a playoff system. The national title game could break those records as well. Adding onto the many successes that the playoffs have already shown.
Oregon managed to beat Florida state 59-20 thanks to five second half turnovers, all leading to points on the board for Oregon. The Ohio state Alabama game was a little closer but no less entertaining with a final score of 42-35. Marcus Mariota is the player to watch going into this game. The current Heisman winner for the Ducks has quacked up quite a few stats that bolster his resume as one of if not the best players in college football. Stacking up 55 total TDs with only 3 interceptions on the year is definitely a way to make a name for yourself. Ohio state is on their 3rd string QB but Cardale Jones has looked poised and has played efficiently in the past couple of games. Also with the help of his team, Ohio state definitely looks like a well oiled machine that has the speed and arm to match Oregons style of big or go home play.
The final score will come down to how well the defensive lines get pressure on the opposing QB. Although I have yet to see Mariota get flustered, since Oregons one defeat on the year against Arizona, that will and should be the point of emphases for the Buckeyes defense. I think Oregon will take the game but it should be a classic. Going with a final score of Oregon 45 Ohio 34. With Marcus Mariota leading the way for National title game MVP honors.
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