The fall semester is finally going to come to an end with finals week up ahead. Classes are over with, and I cannot say I will miss them all too much. It will be nice to have a bit more free time than we usually do. There will be a period without work and studying that needs to be taken care of, and that is what we have all been waiting for during the semester. Even with this semester behind us, there are a number of things I learned during the semester, especially from this class, PWR 340.
When I first came into this class, I had not taken a writing class for about 2 years, and even that class was sketchy. Upon entering this class, I learned about some of the problems I had with varying sentence structure. In order to be interesting, the structure has to be varied. Changing my sentence structure also meant making sure the subjects of my sentences were actually people or things. This was a problem which I had quite often. I also realized that I often wrote in an extremely boring manner, often only using one story throughout an entire piece of work. In longer pieces, this technique would have plagued my writing. My biggest problem was definitely with proofreading. I never realized how pivotal a role proofreading played in the writing process until this class. I never proofread before this class, and in order to succeed as a writer, I needed to change this aspect of my process. Each of these problems was brought to my attention through this class.
By the end of this semester, I feel like I had significantly brought about change in my writing. I made an effort to proofread my works regularly, usually after every page of work. If I wanted to be a successful writer, I knew I needed to make a number of drafts which would drastically change. During the proofreading process, I made sure to especially focus on the sentence structure I used in each paragraph. These two steps alone drastically improved my writing. Finally, I began to do more research and work in order to make my pieces more intriguing to the reader. Reading one 12 page story can be extremely boring, and thus I began to implement a variety of stories in my work. Each of these changes made my work much more interesting and easy to read, and the improvement became more and more relevant as the semester continued.
I do not know if I will ever take another writing class while I am enrolled in college, but I have definitely seen improvement in my writing because of this class. If I am ever again in a class which involves any type of writing,(sustained, creative nonfiction...etc) I will remember all that I have learned in this class, and it will surely help me in an effective manner.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Pats Eek out another
The Patriots pulled out another win on Monday night to get closer to perfection. They now stand at 12-0 on the season, and the chances of them getting to 16-0 are looking better than ever. With the exception of a fairly tough match up with Pittsburgh, the Patriots should have a pretty easy time ending the regular season undefeated. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs, it would be pretty tough for anyone to hand them a loss at all, even the Colts. Yes, the Colts played them close during the regular season, but they were at home and they were healthy. Both of these things will most likely have changed by playoff time.
I am already sick and tired of hearing people say that the Patriots are lucky to have won their last 2 games. The Eagles played alright, not amazing; they simply made very few mistakes during the game, but when it counted most, Feely threw a pick. The same could be said about the Ravens game. The Ravens ran the ball well and played pretty good defense for most of the game. The key words there were "most of the game." When it came down to it in the fourth quarter, the Ravens couldn't run and they couldn't stop the Pats, and that is why they won. The only luck that the Patriots had was a Ravens time out when they were stuffed, and a dumb rule with regards to false start. Neither of which is something they can control, so people need to stop whining about how lucky the Pats are, and start to see them as what they are-- one of the best teams in NFL history.
I am already sick and tired of hearing people say that the Patriots are lucky to have won their last 2 games. The Eagles played alright, not amazing; they simply made very few mistakes during the game, but when it counted most, Feely threw a pick. The same could be said about the Ravens game. The Ravens ran the ball well and played pretty good defense for most of the game. The key words there were "most of the game." When it came down to it in the fourth quarter, the Ravens couldn't run and they couldn't stop the Pats, and that is why they won. The only luck that the Patriots had was a Ravens time out when they were stuffed, and a dumb rule with regards to false start. Neither of which is something they can control, so people need to stop whining about how lucky the Pats are, and start to see them as what they are-- one of the best teams in NFL history.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Weather Outside is Frightful
The way the weather had been going this semester was too good to be true. We hadn't had any snow, and we only had about one week where it rained everyday. The temperatures even seemed to be higher than usual for this time of year. We all should have known that this trend was not going to last. The weekend we just experienced came out of no where, although it is normal for Cortland to follow its own code for weather.
Thursday and Friday were cold days, even for Cortland, and a couple of my friends told me a storm was on the way. I wasn't expecting anything big, seeing that this was about the 3rd time I had heard that snow was on its way. I should have listened. Even after the light snow from Friday night into Saturday, I did not want to leave my room. To make matters worse, it has only gotten colder in the past 2 days, and it has snowed even more. The wind has picked up, and it makes walking anywhere miserable. Walking up the hill is nearly impossible with the temperatures, the wind, and the ice on the sidewalks. I have already seen about a dozen people bite it all around campus. That is probably the only thing fun to see when it gets cold; I get to watch people slip and slide all around, and the occassional falling is not too bad either. Although, you never want to see anyone get hurt too bad.
Well, now that I have rambled on about the weather for a little bit, I think I am going to go warm up before I have to head back outside for another class. Stay safe and Stay Warm!
Thursday and Friday were cold days, even for Cortland, and a couple of my friends told me a storm was on the way. I wasn't expecting anything big, seeing that this was about the 3rd time I had heard that snow was on its way. I should have listened. Even after the light snow from Friday night into Saturday, I did not want to leave my room. To make matters worse, it has only gotten colder in the past 2 days, and it has snowed even more. The wind has picked up, and it makes walking anywhere miserable. Walking up the hill is nearly impossible with the temperatures, the wind, and the ice on the sidewalks. I have already seen about a dozen people bite it all around campus. That is probably the only thing fun to see when it gets cold; I get to watch people slip and slide all around, and the occassional falling is not too bad either. Although, you never want to see anyone get hurt too bad.
Well, now that I have rambled on about the weather for a little bit, I think I am going to go warm up before I have to head back outside for another class. Stay safe and Stay Warm!
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sean Taylor
All of the NFL is mourning over the death of one of its star players. Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins was shot early Monday morning and pronounced dead on Tuesday. Taylor was arguably the most talented player on the Redskins, seeing how he had great speed for his position, strong safety, but still had the ability to crush opposing receivers who dared to cross the middle. In the last day or two, there have been a number of discrepancies surrounding his death and his persona.
Many people are blaming Taylor's past for his death, and saying that it had something to do with his "gangsta" ways. I couldn't disagree more because Taylor wasn't raised that way. He did have a criminal record, but his dad was a police chief. I feel like he is being single out because of his race (yes, for once I feel like it's actually happening). A ESPN reporter made the comparison today of how Duke's lacrosse team was made out to be spoiled, rich, white boys who thought they could cheat the system, when they were accused of rape. Until all the facts are out there, I don't think people should be making rash statements about what kind of a person Taylor was or what kind of a life Taylor had. I agree with reporters about the shooting being somewhat fishy, because nothing was taken from his home, but the incident is still being called a robbery. That makes no sense, but I cannot come to any conclusion just yet. When the facts start to come out, then I, and anyone else, can start analyzing the situation surrounding a sad story about an extremely talented young NFL star.
Many people are blaming Taylor's past for his death, and saying that it had something to do with his "gangsta" ways. I couldn't disagree more because Taylor wasn't raised that way. He did have a criminal record, but his dad was a police chief. I feel like he is being single out because of his race (yes, for once I feel like it's actually happening). A ESPN reporter made the comparison today of how Duke's lacrosse team was made out to be spoiled, rich, white boys who thought they could cheat the system, when they were accused of rape. Until all the facts are out there, I don't think people should be making rash statements about what kind of a person Taylor was or what kind of a life Taylor had. I agree with reporters about the shooting being somewhat fishy, because nothing was taken from his home, but the incident is still being called a robbery. That makes no sense, but I cannot come to any conclusion just yet. When the facts start to come out, then I, and anyone else, can start analyzing the situation surrounding a sad story about an extremely talented young NFL star.
Monday, November 26, 2007
The Weekend In Review
It was a pretty exciting Thanksgiving break for me, and I hope all of you can say the same. I got to see a lot of my family and my friends as well (not to mention Thanksgiving food which is the best ever). Anyways, the sports scene wasn't too bad either. College football had a number of upsets.
This weekend the number 1, 2, and 9 teams all lost in upsets. As if this season hasn't been crazy enough, we get these upsets thrown into play within the last few weeks of the regular season. Now, Missouri sits atop the BCS standings, although that is supposed to change as of Saturday because of a match up with number 9 Oklahoma. I think this game is unfair because it is an ACC championship game, and no other conferences have to deal with this game. Missouri is in a "lose-lose" situation. Missouri winning will do nothing at all because they are supposed to win, but a loss will likely send them deep down the ranking system. I wouldn't mind to see Missouri in the National Championship game, but Hawaii is another team that is getting robbed. They play a weak schedule, but they are undefeated and they still, most likely, will not get into a BCS bowl. We'll see how it plays out in the next couple of weeks.
The Patriots were dangerously close to going down this week as well. Most of the other games were pretty clear cut. Although, my Vikings did blow out the "great" G-men of New York. The performance of Philly's defense and the lack of mistakes by AJ Feely almost did the job in New England, but they couldn't muster enough. Right now I am watching the Dolphins getting dangerously close to a win against Pittsburgh, which would be just plain weird. Maybe I will blog about that next week...until then....enjoy the sports.
This weekend the number 1, 2, and 9 teams all lost in upsets. As if this season hasn't been crazy enough, we get these upsets thrown into play within the last few weeks of the regular season. Now, Missouri sits atop the BCS standings, although that is supposed to change as of Saturday because of a match up with number 9 Oklahoma. I think this game is unfair because it is an ACC championship game, and no other conferences have to deal with this game. Missouri is in a "lose-lose" situation. Missouri winning will do nothing at all because they are supposed to win, but a loss will likely send them deep down the ranking system. I wouldn't mind to see Missouri in the National Championship game, but Hawaii is another team that is getting robbed. They play a weak schedule, but they are undefeated and they still, most likely, will not get into a BCS bowl. We'll see how it plays out in the next couple of weeks.
The Patriots were dangerously close to going down this week as well. Most of the other games were pretty clear cut. Although, my Vikings did blow out the "great" G-men of New York. The performance of Philly's defense and the lack of mistakes by AJ Feely almost did the job in New England, but they couldn't muster enough. Right now I am watching the Dolphins getting dangerously close to a win against Pittsburgh, which would be just plain weird. Maybe I will blog about that next week...until then....enjoy the sports.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Bonds Busted
Barry Bonds has finally been indicted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. I almost feel bad for Bonds, although I am happy to see him finally charged. Even if he is acquitted, Bonds can kiss any chances of playing again goodbye, as well as his hopes of being in the Hall Of Fame. Bonds ruined his own career by using steroids. Yes, I know it has never been proven, but come on now, just look at the guy. Bonds' weight has ballooned in the latter part of his career, just as much as his numbers have. He was a good players before he used steroids, but upon using them he become a star. Unless, you are blind, you can easily see the growth in Bonds' physical appearance and in his statistics.
The sad thing is, Bonds will probably be acquitted of his charges, because there seems to be very little solid evidence against him, but the charges are enough to tarnish his already tainted career. I am sure that within the next few weeks, there will be a number of accusations that Bonds is only being called out because of his race. I understand that nearly 80% of the pros are supposedly using some kind of illegal substance, but they are not all breaking records by doing it. Does this mean that Bonds should be in the Hall, since many are using, but only a few are putting up big numbers, or should he be ousted because of breaking the rules?? I don't know if I have an answer for these questions, but I am sure that all of these issues will be brought to the forefront as his trial comes closer.
The sad thing is, Bonds will probably be acquitted of his charges, because there seems to be very little solid evidence against him, but the charges are enough to tarnish his already tainted career. I am sure that within the next few weeks, there will be a number of accusations that Bonds is only being called out because of his race. I understand that nearly 80% of the pros are supposedly using some kind of illegal substance, but they are not all breaking records by doing it. Does this mean that Bonds should be in the Hall, since many are using, but only a few are putting up big numbers, or should he be ousted because of breaking the rules?? I don't know if I have an answer for these questions, but I am sure that all of these issues will be brought to the forefront as his trial comes closer.
Moss or T.O.??
I have been a fan of Randy Moss ever since he came into the league as a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings. Even then, Moss was breaking records and shocking people with his athletic ability. Back then, the Vikings had a good QB, and Moss had a solid supporting cast in the wide receiver corps. It didn't hurt that the Vikings also had a fairly strong running game. With all of these areas taken into account, Moss was able to provide some impressive stats. Terrell Owens has had a formidable career as well, but I feel like he is below Moss with regards to talent and ability.
Terrell Owens has always had a great supporting cast surrounding him as a player, which is why many people like to think he is a superior wider receiver specimen to Moss. In San Fran, T.O. had Steve Young and then Jeff Garcia, not to mention a pairing with Jerry Rice, which took a lot of pressure off of him. He then moved to Philly where he played with Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and a few decent wide outs. Now in Dallas, he has a good QB in Romo and a number of good receivers. Jason Witten, Terry Glenn, and a great runner in Marion Barber surround him. This is why Moss is the better receiver. Every team T.O. has been on has someone else who is just as talented at their position, if not more (Rice, Westbrook, and now Romo). People forget about Moss because he played in Oakland with a bunch of no names. It is hard to be effective when you have no talent, absolutely none, around you. Now that Moss is back to a team with some talent, his numbers are exploding.
Moss has already had an amazing year and he still has 6 games left to play. Owens is having an impressive season as well, but he is not on the same level as Moss. People can argue as much as they want about who is better, but statistics don't lie. When Moss has had the talent around him, like T.O. always has, he is a much better receiver. T.O. stats this weekend against Washington were astonishing...too bad Moss had the same numbers in the 1st half of his game against Buffalo. Think about it.
Terrell Owens has always had a great supporting cast surrounding him as a player, which is why many people like to think he is a superior wider receiver specimen to Moss. In San Fran, T.O. had Steve Young and then Jeff Garcia, not to mention a pairing with Jerry Rice, which took a lot of pressure off of him. He then moved to Philly where he played with Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, and a few decent wide outs. Now in Dallas, he has a good QB in Romo and a number of good receivers. Jason Witten, Terry Glenn, and a great runner in Marion Barber surround him. This is why Moss is the better receiver. Every team T.O. has been on has someone else who is just as talented at their position, if not more (Rice, Westbrook, and now Romo). People forget about Moss because he played in Oakland with a bunch of no names. It is hard to be effective when you have no talent, absolutely none, around you. Now that Moss is back to a team with some talent, his numbers are exploding.
Moss has already had an amazing year and he still has 6 games left to play. Owens is having an impressive season as well, but he is not on the same level as Moss. People can argue as much as they want about who is better, but statistics don't lie. When Moss has had the talent around him, like T.O. always has, he is a much better receiver. T.O. stats this weekend against Washington were astonishing...too bad Moss had the same numbers in the 1st half of his game against Buffalo. Think about it.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Turkey Turkey
So after a few more dreadful days of classes, we will get to go home and enjoy a little break from school(and I stress the word little). It should be a good time though. Personally, I love Thanksgiving; you get see most of your family, you get to watch some football, and you get to eat good food. Those are three of my most favorite things to do, and putting them all in one day is like giving me a present. Even though we don't have the longest break in the world, it should still be good to see everyone and be home for a few days.
The upside to our break is that upon our return to Cortland, we only have around 3 weeks of classes left. Time should fly after we get back here, and then the first semester is over. I don't know about you, but overall, I feel like this semester has flown right by. There have been some days that seemed like they would never end, but for the most part, this fall semester has finished up pretty quickly. I'll definitely be missing it when i have to wake up at 8 next semester for the earliest class I have ever taken.
Anyways, there is some exciting news for football on Thanksgiving. The Detroit Lions will actually play in a somewhat meaningful game for the first time in a long time. The Lions are playoffs contenders for the first time since Barry Sanders were there. There should be some exciting games that day and this upcoming weekend as well, although they may not be close. Well, sit back, relax, and enjoy some football with your families and have a great Thanksgiving!
The upside to our break is that upon our return to Cortland, we only have around 3 weeks of classes left. Time should fly after we get back here, and then the first semester is over. I don't know about you, but overall, I feel like this semester has flown right by. There have been some days that seemed like they would never end, but for the most part, this fall semester has finished up pretty quickly. I'll definitely be missing it when i have to wake up at 8 next semester for the earliest class I have ever taken.
Anyways, there is some exciting news for football on Thanksgiving. The Detroit Lions will actually play in a somewhat meaningful game for the first time in a long time. The Lions are playoffs contenders for the first time since Barry Sanders were there. There should be some exciting games that day and this upcoming weekend as well, although they may not be close. Well, sit back, relax, and enjoy some football with your families and have a great Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 12, 2007
Football Weeeekend
So, I hope everyone had a great Cortaca weekend. I know I did. It did not even feel like I was at school this weekend with all the fun I had, but let's get back to reality. The game itself was a complete joke, because our school was nowhere near being on Ithaca's level. I guess our luck ran out this year, but maybe we can regain the Jug when we play here again next year. Ithaca was just a better team than us this year, but they were last year too and that didn't stop us. Regardless, the weekend was a good one, even if the football game the weekend is based on was disappointing.
The NFL had some games that were much more exciting. Some of these down to the wire games were not exactly what I would call fundamentally sound, but they were exciting. The Bills got a last minute field goal, and the Eagles had to make a comeback. The Steelers showed there ability by coming back against the Browns (Maybe they are better than the Colts). The Colts went down to a mediocre Chargers team who looks nothing like the team they were last year. Even with Manning's 6 interceptions, the Colts still should have won, or at least came back to take the lead, but once again, a kicker blew a game. Sunday was full of great NFL action, and the rest of the weekend was a Cortaca blow out. Overall, that means a good time. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as me. Stay Safe!!
The NFL had some games that were much more exciting. Some of these down to the wire games were not exactly what I would call fundamentally sound, but they were exciting. The Bills got a last minute field goal, and the Eagles had to make a comeback. The Steelers showed there ability by coming back against the Browns (Maybe they are better than the Colts). The Colts went down to a mediocre Chargers team who looks nothing like the team they were last year. Even with Manning's 6 interceptions, the Colts still should have won, or at least came back to take the lead, but once again, a kicker blew a game. Sunday was full of great NFL action, and the rest of the weekend was a Cortaca blow out. Overall, that means a good time. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as me. Stay Safe!!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Weatherrrr
I cannot believe how cold it has gotten in the past few days. Last week, it was perfect autumn weather. People were walking around in shorts, or at least t-shirts. Now, it seems like everyone resembles a marshmallow. The SUNY Cortland students are already being put into a miserable mood for classes (and just walking in general). Soon enough, walking to go get food or go to class will be like visiting the North Pole. The wind is already out of control, and I have seen flurries numerous times in the past few days.
This week seems to be going by really slow, and the professional sports weekend isn't looking to be too exciting. Regular basketball games, hockey and a maybe one nice football match-up between the Cowboys and Giants (Giants win a close one). However, as C-state students we will benefit from our football games this weekend against Ithaca. It should be a good game, but Cortland will surely pull it out. Parties, football, and craziness are what this weekend is all about. It should be a lot of fun, be safe and have a good one.
This week seems to be going by really slow, and the professional sports weekend isn't looking to be too exciting. Regular basketball games, hockey and a maybe one nice football match-up between the Cowboys and Giants (Giants win a close one). However, as C-state students we will benefit from our football games this weekend against Ithaca. It should be a good game, but Cortland will surely pull it out. Parties, football, and craziness are what this weekend is all about. It should be a lot of fun, be safe and have a good one.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sunday's Finest
Well, it wasn't a blow out for the Patriots,but they got the job done. If the Colt couldn't beat them in Indy, then I don't see how they will do it in Foxboro for the play offs. Neither team played at it full potential, Indy let up on defense towards the end and was without Marvin Harrison. Penalties and dropped balls plagued the Patriots for a lot of the game. I was pretty angry because I didn't get to watch the game. I was at the Meadowlands for the Jets-Redskins game which was an exciting game to watch live, since it ended in over time.
I did not get to see my Vikings record-breaking performance against the Chargers. If there is one bright spot for the Vikings' immediate future, it is Adrian Peterson. He broke the single game record for rushing yards, and I think the Vikings should ride this workhorse for all he is worth. Hopefully, if he keeps running well, the Vikes will keep on winning.
While the Pats and Colts get all the attention, there are some teams in the NFC who are making some noise as well. Granted the NFC is no where near as strong as the AFC, certain teams look like Superbowl contenders at the halfway point. The Cowboys are 7-1, although I don't think they are as good as everyone says. Romo has run up the score plenty of times, which makes his numbers look much better. The Cowboys defense is for real, as for the rest of the team, I just don't know. Sunday, I think the 6-2 Giants are going to give them 'Boys a run for their money. They have greatly improved throughout the season, and they are beginning to look like contenders. A more legitimate team, in my book, are the Green Bay Packers. They have shown big play ability, and an amazing defense. If they can figure out their problems at the Running Back position, they can easily run the boards in the NFC, since there is very little competition for them in the NFC. The playoffs are closer than they seem, and the rush for a spot begins now after the season's midpoint. This is when team's are going to start playing harder and when teams are going to be tougher to beat. That means more entertainment for us.
I did not get to see my Vikings record-breaking performance against the Chargers. If there is one bright spot for the Vikings' immediate future, it is Adrian Peterson. He broke the single game record for rushing yards, and I think the Vikings should ride this workhorse for all he is worth. Hopefully, if he keeps running well, the Vikes will keep on winning.
While the Pats and Colts get all the attention, there are some teams in the NFC who are making some noise as well. Granted the NFC is no where near as strong as the AFC, certain teams look like Superbowl contenders at the halfway point. The Cowboys are 7-1, although I don't think they are as good as everyone says. Romo has run up the score plenty of times, which makes his numbers look much better. The Cowboys defense is for real, as for the rest of the team, I just don't know. Sunday, I think the 6-2 Giants are going to give them 'Boys a run for their money. They have greatly improved throughout the season, and they are beginning to look like contenders. A more legitimate team, in my book, are the Green Bay Packers. They have shown big play ability, and an amazing defense. If they can figure out their problems at the Running Back position, they can easily run the boards in the NFC, since there is very little competition for them in the NFC. The playoffs are closer than they seem, and the rush for a spot begins now after the season's midpoint. This is when team's are going to start playing harder and when teams are going to be tougher to beat. That means more entertainment for us.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Start of Something Great
I am pretty excited because the NBA kicked off last night. I love the sport of basketball. I feel like basketball players are some of the best athletes in the world which makes the game that much more exciting to watch. I will admit that sometimes the games are boring and lack intensity. I cannot say that little kids should look up to NBA regular season games and try to emulate them. They are usually sloppy, and the play is usually more showy than effective. Of course, the drama isn't something that I like to hear about either, but it exists in every sport. Kobe is already getting booed, so hopefully he gets traded soon enough. Until the NBA playoffs are closer, most people won't be too excited about the games, but I love the game so I will be watching. There is still plenty of other sports to watch.
D3 football got some national attention this week, and deservingly so. Trinity college lateraled the ball 15 times on the final play of the game to get a touchdown and win the game. I watched the play on ESPN.com; it was impressive. I think their was great effort on Trinity's side, as well as some luck, but definitely a lack of passion by their competitors. Surely, the play must have been tiring because of the length, but even early on players seemed like they were giving up on the other team. Regardless, the play was a lot of fun to watch and provided a lot of excitement. There is a few more months of college football before bowl season starts, and I am sure that there will be more than a few more upsets before we get to January. Either way, there should be plenty of excitement, at least for me, with regards to sports in the next few months. Enjoy it!!
D3 football got some national attention this week, and deservingly so. Trinity college lateraled the ball 15 times on the final play of the game to get a touchdown and win the game. I watched the play on ESPN.com; it was impressive. I think their was great effort on Trinity's side, as well as some luck, but definitely a lack of passion by their competitors. Surely, the play must have been tiring because of the length, but even early on players seemed like they were giving up on the other team. Regardless, the play was a lot of fun to watch and provided a lot of excitement. There is a few more months of college football before bowl season starts, and I am sure that there will be more than a few more upsets before we get to January. Either way, there should be plenty of excitement, at least for me, with regards to sports in the next few months. Enjoy it!!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Battle of The Best
With victories from both the Colts and the Patriots on Sunday, both teams have ensured a match up of the undefeated teams next week. The Patriots are halfway to a perfect season at 8-0, and the Colts are at a respectable 7-0. Both of these teams were expected to be at the top of their conferences, but they have definitely exceeded expectations at this point. It should be a great game to watch next Sunday.
I can't wait to see the game, but I don't really think it will be as close as every one is making it out to be. Granted, I have been off on my predictions lately (ALCS and World Series). The Patriots are freakishly good, and I think they will easily handle the Colts. The Pats are winning games by an average of 30 something odd points. They have plowed over every opponent thus far, while the Colts have won, but not in the same impressive manner. The Colts usually have a rough time in the first half with regards to putting up points, but they usually pull away in the second half. However, I feel like the Jaguars and the Texans played the Colts tough, and that the games could very easily have gone the other way. You can't say that about any of the Pats' games. Regardless of predictions and who the better team is, I know I will be watching the game this upcoming weekend, because it will be a competitive match-up between teams and coaches who are striving to have an undefeated season.
I can't wait to see the game, but I don't really think it will be as close as every one is making it out to be. Granted, I have been off on my predictions lately (ALCS and World Series). The Patriots are freakishly good, and I think they will easily handle the Colts. The Pats are winning games by an average of 30 something odd points. They have plowed over every opponent thus far, while the Colts have won, but not in the same impressive manner. The Colts usually have a rough time in the first half with regards to putting up points, but they usually pull away in the second half. However, I feel like the Jaguars and the Texans played the Colts tough, and that the games could very easily have gone the other way. You can't say that about any of the Pats' games. Regardless of predictions and who the better team is, I know I will be watching the game this upcoming weekend, because it will be a competitive match-up between teams and coaches who are striving to have an undefeated season.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Excitement
There hasn't been too much excitement with concerns to sport in the past couple days. I wrote about the Red Sox and the Rockies, and the football games from Sunday. I did leave out something I wanted to say about Rob Bironas' record breaking field goal performance. I don't think it was that big of a deal.
Bironas did a good job winning the game for his team, but 8 field goals just shows an inability to score by the Titans. To be honest, I would expect a kicker to hit 8 field goals in a game when given the opportunity. All they do is kick. They don't have to worry about anything else; they train to do one thing and one thing only, so when they miss it kind of pisses me off. They have one of the easiest jobs in sports, in terms of what they have to do. Now physically it isn't as easy, not anyone could be an NFL kicker, but if you make it to that level than you have the tools you need. Once you are there, it is simply a matter of mental ability which apparently very few NFL kickers have.
Anyways, that was all I wanted to write about there. I am getting excited because SAW IV comes out in about a day, and I love those movies. I know they are fairly gory and bloody, but the movies are usually well planned and thought out, and this is why I enjoy them. It looks like it is going to be a good weekend overall with Saw IV, football, and a World Series. Hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I do.
Bironas did a good job winning the game for his team, but 8 field goals just shows an inability to score by the Titans. To be honest, I would expect a kicker to hit 8 field goals in a game when given the opportunity. All they do is kick. They don't have to worry about anything else; they train to do one thing and one thing only, so when they miss it kind of pisses me off. They have one of the easiest jobs in sports, in terms of what they have to do. Now physically it isn't as easy, not anyone could be an NFL kicker, but if you make it to that level than you have the tools you need. Once you are there, it is simply a matter of mental ability which apparently very few NFL kickers have.
Anyways, that was all I wanted to write about there. I am getting excited because SAW IV comes out in about a day, and I love those movies. I know they are fairly gory and bloody, but the movies are usually well planned and thought out, and this is why I enjoy them. It looks like it is going to be a good weekend overall with Saw IV, football, and a World Series. Hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I do.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Unlikely
Even though I wrote about how Boston was done for. They still managed to come back, probably just to spite me. Even though, I hate the Red Sox, they did a good job coming back from a 3-1 deficit. I cannot really say I did not expect this to happen, but I was hoping against it. I feel like the Red Sox were no where near being the best team in the AL. They were built to beat the Yankees, more than anything else. This was exposed for a lot of the season, they had trouble beating other teams, but very little trouble beating the Yanks. I think their GM focused on putting together a team to defeat their rivals, instead of a team to win a World Series.
A lot of analysts feel like the Red Sox made an amazing come back. It was definitely a great effort, but I feel like it was definitely predictable. After the Sox beat Sabathia in Game 5, I felt like the Series was over. They were going to be home for the last 2 games, and they had a huge edge in the pitching match ups. I am not saying the Indians were completely out of it, they definitely had some chances, but they did not come through on those opportunities.
With the way the Rockies are playing and the momentum they have, I do not see how they can be beat. However, the AL is a far superior league, and the Sox seem to be a far superior team on paper, but I guess that is why they play the game. The Rockies were the only team to have a winning record against the AL in interleague play, so be prepared for a great, competitive series.
A lot of analysts feel like the Red Sox made an amazing come back. It was definitely a great effort, but I feel like it was definitely predictable. After the Sox beat Sabathia in Game 5, I felt like the Series was over. They were going to be home for the last 2 games, and they had a huge edge in the pitching match ups. I am not saying the Indians were completely out of it, they definitely had some chances, but they did not come through on those opportunities.
With the way the Rockies are playing and the momentum they have, I do not see how they can be beat. However, the AL is a far superior league, and the Sox seem to be a far superior team on paper, but I guess that is why they play the game. The Rockies were the only team to have a winning record against the AL in interleague play, so be prepared for a great, competitive series.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Rockies
I am extremely impressed with the Rockies in the last few weeks. They win out in the regular season, and get a one game playoff. They win the one game play off and get into the postseason. They get through both series, quite easily, and in doing so, they won the NL pennant. This is such an impressive feat, especially considering they almost missed out on the playoffs altogether. In fact, many analysts had said that the Rockies were all but eliminated from the playoffs with around 10 games left in the season. Little did they know, the Rockies have been on a hot streak, winning something like 20 of their last 21 games, including the playoffs.
This brings me to another occurrence in the playoffs this week. The Indians have made a strong push, and they are a game away from the World Series. This is another team that was underestimated by many baseball followers nation-wide. The Indians have had solid pitching, alongside timely hitting, to almost definitely secure a playoff spot.
Sadly, the Red Sox have been pretty much eliminated from the postseason, barring another one of their comeback miracles (and it really isn't that sad, I am quite happy!!!). I just thought I should address the home run Manny Ramirez hit in the Game 4. He had done nothing but bring his team within 4, with the score 7-3, yet he saw this as enough reason to showboat and celebrate. It is not that big of a deal, but Manny Ramirez should have known he was going to get trashed on. Perhaps, Manny forgot who he was, where he was, and what he had done. It wouldn't be the first time in his illustrious career.
This brings me to another occurrence in the playoffs this week. The Indians have made a strong push, and they are a game away from the World Series. This is another team that was underestimated by many baseball followers nation-wide. The Indians have had solid pitching, alongside timely hitting, to almost definitely secure a playoff spot.
Sadly, the Red Sox have been pretty much eliminated from the postseason, barring another one of their comeback miracles (and it really isn't that sad, I am quite happy!!!). I just thought I should address the home run Manny Ramirez hit in the Game 4. He had done nothing but bring his team within 4, with the score 7-3, yet he saw this as enough reason to showboat and celebrate. It is not that big of a deal, but Manny Ramirez should have known he was going to get trashed on. Perhaps, Manny forgot who he was, where he was, and what he had done. It wouldn't be the first time in his illustrious career.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Changes
Slowly but surely, we are seeing a change in the game of college football. I think this is a change for the better. Elite teams are starting to lose more often to schools of lesser stature. People think that these are complete and utter upsets each week. The fact of the matter is, these lower level schools are gradually improving their programs, and they will soon be able to compete with some of the better teams in the nation.
Standford upset USC, Appalachian state did just the same to Michigan, and LSU lost this weekend to Kentucky. These so-called upsets were cases in which the supposed worse team simply outplayed the favorites. For the most part, there were no fluke plays, or bad calls, these "mediocre" teams just outperformed the ranked favorites. This is why I think college football will be more exciting in the years to come.
I am not a huge fan of college football. The main reason for this is because, very rarely are there upsets. Also, the same teams are good every year. Analysts and fans will tell you their teams are at the top of the pack this year, but realistically, the same teams are ranked every year. There are usually a few exception toward the lower end of the rankings, but they are usually negligible who might slip into a no-name bowl game.
These new upsets are exciting for me because it reminds me of one of my favorite sports to watch. College football reminds me a lot of college basketball to a certain degree. In basketball, there always seems to be a chance for a huge upset, this happens quite a bit in the NCAA tournament in March, as many fans can tell you. Every year, the "best" teams are defeated in one of the early rounds, making early exits. If college football continues to be as competitive as it is right now, we may begin to see more scenarios like these. I welcome these so-called upsets with open arms. Excitement is what makes people watch, and I will be watching very closely in weeks to come, hoping for even more "upsets" of the "best" teams.
Standford upset USC, Appalachian state did just the same to Michigan, and LSU lost this weekend to Kentucky. These so-called upsets were cases in which the supposed worse team simply outplayed the favorites. For the most part, there were no fluke plays, or bad calls, these "mediocre" teams just outperformed the ranked favorites. This is why I think college football will be more exciting in the years to come.
I am not a huge fan of college football. The main reason for this is because, very rarely are there upsets. Also, the same teams are good every year. Analysts and fans will tell you their teams are at the top of the pack this year, but realistically, the same teams are ranked every year. There are usually a few exception toward the lower end of the rankings, but they are usually negligible who might slip into a no-name bowl game.
These new upsets are exciting for me because it reminds me of one of my favorite sports to watch. College football reminds me a lot of college basketball to a certain degree. In basketball, there always seems to be a chance for a huge upset, this happens quite a bit in the NCAA tournament in March, as many fans can tell you. Every year, the "best" teams are defeated in one of the early rounds, making early exits. If college football continues to be as competitive as it is right now, we may begin to see more scenarios like these. I welcome these so-called upsets with open arms. Excitement is what makes people watch, and I will be watching very closely in weeks to come, hoping for even more "upsets" of the "best" teams.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Yank the Yank
The New York Yankees exited the playoffs earlier this week (Much to my dismay). I am getting over it already. It is not that big of a deal to me. Don't get me wrong; I love the Yankees, and I want to see them win it all every year. I am just being realistic. This was a team that had to make an amazing surge to even see the light of day in the post season. Realistically, no one could have seen them making it much further than the first series. Getting to the ALCS would have been a major accomplishment, but like I said, the odds of this happening were slim to none.
The problem I have is not concerned with the situation itself, but the surrounding circumstances. Many people are talking about the termination of Joe Torre. If there are any fans or Yankees executives who think Torre should be fired, they must be absolutely crazy. Torre has done nothing but get the Yanks to the playoffs six times in the last 10 years. No other teams have accomplished this feat. This year, the Yankees were the only team who made the playoffs in back to back years. This shows the consistency that has been brought to the franchise with Torre at the helm.
The fact that the decision is wrong from a statistical stand point is not enough. According to players, Torre is the reason why the team is motivated and keeps on pushing day in and day out. Many veterans, like Posada, Rodriguez, Clemens, have said that they would not return to the Yankees unless Torre was the manager there. Clearly, he is not only effective, but he is also a player favorite. Young players are also praising Torre's as an excellent manger. Phillip Hughes has said that Torre is the driving force behind the Yankees triumphant playoff run this year. Apparently, without Torre there would have been no post season at all this year. Keep that in mind Mr. Steinbrenner, because you have a decision ahead of you. Fire the best manger in the game today, and one of the best in history, or keep him around for the many years to come, and keep your franchise success alive. Seems like an easy choice, doesn't it?
The problem I have is not concerned with the situation itself, but the surrounding circumstances. Many people are talking about the termination of Joe Torre. If there are any fans or Yankees executives who think Torre should be fired, they must be absolutely crazy. Torre has done nothing but get the Yanks to the playoffs six times in the last 10 years. No other teams have accomplished this feat. This year, the Yankees were the only team who made the playoffs in back to back years. This shows the consistency that has been brought to the franchise with Torre at the helm.
The fact that the decision is wrong from a statistical stand point is not enough. According to players, Torre is the reason why the team is motivated and keeps on pushing day in and day out. Many veterans, like Posada, Rodriguez, Clemens, have said that they would not return to the Yankees unless Torre was the manager there. Clearly, he is not only effective, but he is also a player favorite. Young players are also praising Torre's as an excellent manger. Phillip Hughes has said that Torre is the driving force behind the Yankees triumphant playoff run this year. Apparently, without Torre there would have been no post season at all this year. Keep that in mind Mr. Steinbrenner, because you have a decision ahead of you. Fire the best manger in the game today, and one of the best in history, or keep him around for the many years to come, and keep your franchise success alive. Seems like an easy choice, doesn't it?
Monday, October 8, 2007
Trent Green
I have to say that I feel sorry for what has happened to Trent Green. This poor athlete has suffered his second serious head injury in as many seasons. He has proved to be an effective quarterback, but he has just had some bad luck with head shots.
Last year, I watched the hit that ended Green's season, and it was quite vicious. The hit could have been deemed excessive, but it ended up being a small story during the season. I cannot say the same for the injury Green suffered on Sunday. He put himself in the position to be hurt. He tried to chop block a 300 pound linemen. Certainly, Green was doing his job as a blocker and a team player, but I think this crossed the line. Never should any player, hit another player in the knee region, but Green crossed this line. He greatly suffered the consequence, as he left the field unconscious. The player Green hit got up from the block and was clearly upset. He taunted over Green's motionless body.
Many players and analysts have been in uproar about the lineman's reaction, as Green was seriously hurt. I can see why they are angry with how he reacted, but the tables would be turned if Green had ended this lineman's season and/or career. This didn't happen, but it was more likely to occur than what actually happened. Green is hurt now, and maybe the lineman should have controlled his raw emotions a little bit more. I doubt he knew how serious Green's injury was, so I do not see how you can fault him for his actions. Overall, I think many people have overreacted on a man who was, in a way, wrongfully attacked. I am sorry Green's season is probably over, but people would not be in this sort of rage if the lineman had been the one who got hurt. That is for sure.
Last year, I watched the hit that ended Green's season, and it was quite vicious. The hit could have been deemed excessive, but it ended up being a small story during the season. I cannot say the same for the injury Green suffered on Sunday. He put himself in the position to be hurt. He tried to chop block a 300 pound linemen. Certainly, Green was doing his job as a blocker and a team player, but I think this crossed the line. Never should any player, hit another player in the knee region, but Green crossed this line. He greatly suffered the consequence, as he left the field unconscious. The player Green hit got up from the block and was clearly upset. He taunted over Green's motionless body.
Many players and analysts have been in uproar about the lineman's reaction, as Green was seriously hurt. I can see why they are angry with how he reacted, but the tables would be turned if Green had ended this lineman's season and/or career. This didn't happen, but it was more likely to occur than what actually happened. Green is hurt now, and maybe the lineman should have controlled his raw emotions a little bit more. I doubt he knew how serious Green's injury was, so I do not see how you can fault him for his actions. Overall, I think many people have overreacted on a man who was, in a way, wrongfully attacked. I am sorry Green's season is probably over, but people would not be in this sort of rage if the lineman had been the one who got hurt. That is for sure.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Instant Replay?
The Rockies and the Padres faced off in an amazing game this week. They were in a one game tie-breaker to determine who would get into the post season. This is a very rare occurrence; a 163rd game in a Major League Baseball season. The atmosphere for the game alone foreshadowed the great performances that would occur that night.
Matt Holiday (I think that's how you spell it) basically secured his spot as the MVP of the National League. Basically, he single-handedly carried the Rockies on his back to get to the post season. I am not taking anything away from the rest of his teammates, but Holiday has been absolutely amazing. He scored the winning run in the 163rd game of his team's season, and hit a double to bring in the tying run. The amazing thing is that most people probably turned the game off, when the Padres scored 3 runs in the top of the 13th inning. They brought in Trevor Hoffman, the game's most prolific closer, but somehow the Rockies managed to put up 4 runs in the bottom of the 13th inning. It was absolutely amazing.
I am kind of upset with how the game has been analyzed. People say that Holiday did not touch home plate when he slid in, and that the umpire made the wrong call. I cannot say for sure, that he didn't touch home plate, but it doesn't matter. Umpires are a part of baseball; and this is why the game is exciting. Some ESPN analysts were saying this is why Instant Replay is necessary. I have to complete disagree. Umpires are one of the reasons baseball is fun to watch. Surely, there are times when umpires make the wrong calls. However, most of the time, they are on target with their decisions. Think about it: as an umpire, you have seconds to make a call that is often extremely difficult. After viewers watch the replay, they see that somehow he got it right. Umpires don't have the luxury of seeing a replay, but to be honest, they don't seem to need it. They are right, far more often than they are wrong. Put yourself in an umpires shoes, and you too will see how amazingly accurate they are for the majority of calls. I can't make an absolute statement about the Holiday play, but the game is over and the umpire made his call. That is part of the game, a big part, and if the umpire blew that call, then too bad. There were 100's and 1000's more he's made right in his career.
Matt Holiday (I think that's how you spell it) basically secured his spot as the MVP of the National League. Basically, he single-handedly carried the Rockies on his back to get to the post season. I am not taking anything away from the rest of his teammates, but Holiday has been absolutely amazing. He scored the winning run in the 163rd game of his team's season, and hit a double to bring in the tying run. The amazing thing is that most people probably turned the game off, when the Padres scored 3 runs in the top of the 13th inning. They brought in Trevor Hoffman, the game's most prolific closer, but somehow the Rockies managed to put up 4 runs in the bottom of the 13th inning. It was absolutely amazing.
I am kind of upset with how the game has been analyzed. People say that Holiday did not touch home plate when he slid in, and that the umpire made the wrong call. I cannot say for sure, that he didn't touch home plate, but it doesn't matter. Umpires are a part of baseball; and this is why the game is exciting. Some ESPN analysts were saying this is why Instant Replay is necessary. I have to complete disagree. Umpires are one of the reasons baseball is fun to watch. Surely, there are times when umpires make the wrong calls. However, most of the time, they are on target with their decisions. Think about it: as an umpire, you have seconds to make a call that is often extremely difficult. After viewers watch the replay, they see that somehow he got it right. Umpires don't have the luxury of seeing a replay, but to be honest, they don't seem to need it. They are right, far more often than they are wrong. Put yourself in an umpires shoes, and you too will see how amazingly accurate they are for the majority of calls. I can't make an absolute statement about the Holiday play, but the game is over and the umpire made his call. That is part of the game, a big part, and if the umpire blew that call, then too bad. There were 100's and 1000's more he's made right in his career.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Hilarious
I can't believe how crazy of a weekend we had. The Yankees assured themselves a playoff spot, and the Mets threw away their chance to win a Championship. I am not gloating because I am a Yankees fan, I am boasting because of how much I hate nearly every Mets fan. Surely, there are exceptions for my hatred, but for the most part, Mets fans are just annoying.
First off, most of them are not actual fans of the Mets at all. They are anti-Yankees fans. All they do is bash the Yankees and tell people how much they suck, but if you ask them about their favorite team; they can't tell you a thing. Who play right field for the Mets?? Uhhh, Daryl Strawberry. This is an extreme example, but you get the idea.
Another reason I hate Mets fans is because they constantly talk trash about the Yankees. Yankees fans have something to base their arguments on. They play in the most competitive division in all of baseball, and they play in the more competitive league. The Mets play in a league, which until recently, was basically just the Mets and Braves in contention every year. They also play in the National League, which is much less competitive than the American League. If you are above .500 in the NL, you are going to probably contend for a playoff spot. The AL also had a far superior record in Interleague Play. These are just a few of the reasons why it is a fact that the Yankees are better.
Anyone who is a Mets fan cannot argue these facts. They could try to argue on the basis of opinions, but the facts point to the Yanks. Just to add to the fact based argument; now the Yanks are in the playoffs, while the Mets will be sitting home. Congratulations Mets fans, your team is definitely the better team in New York. Not really, but I'm sure you would like to believe that. GO YANKS!!!
First off, most of them are not actual fans of the Mets at all. They are anti-Yankees fans. All they do is bash the Yankees and tell people how much they suck, but if you ask them about their favorite team; they can't tell you a thing. Who play right field for the Mets?? Uhhh, Daryl Strawberry. This is an extreme example, but you get the idea.
Another reason I hate Mets fans is because they constantly talk trash about the Yankees. Yankees fans have something to base their arguments on. They play in the most competitive division in all of baseball, and they play in the more competitive league. The Mets play in a league, which until recently, was basically just the Mets and Braves in contention every year. They also play in the National League, which is much less competitive than the American League. If you are above .500 in the NL, you are going to probably contend for a playoff spot. The AL also had a far superior record in Interleague Play. These are just a few of the reasons why it is a fact that the Yankees are better.
Anyone who is a Mets fan cannot argue these facts. They could try to argue on the basis of opinions, but the facts point to the Yanks. Just to add to the fact based argument; now the Yanks are in the playoffs, while the Mets will be sitting home. Congratulations Mets fans, your team is definitely the better team in New York. Not really, but I'm sure you would like to believe that. GO YANKS!!!
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Injuries Galore!!
The NFL has definitely been exciting so far this year. There have been close games that went down to the wire. Some games were filled with offense, such as the Browns, Bengals game from 2 weeks ago. Then again, some games have been the complete opposite, games that were focused solely on team defense. OK, Maybe, they were based more on a lack of offense. However, there is one thing for sure, injuries are plaguing the NFL this season.
It seems that more and more players are getting hurt every week of the season. The Rams lost Orlando Pace during the first week. If I remember correctly, he is done for the remainder of the season. Andre Johnson, the stellar Texans receiver, went down with a knee injury 2 weeks ago. The Texans are being discrete with information about the injury. This means that the injury is probably far worse than they are letting on. The Texans also lost their starting running back, Ahman Green, to a knee injury. Stephen Jackson of the Rams went down with a partial groin tear last week. Hines Ward, the Steelers' receiver, went down with a knee injury as well. I am very upset about these last few players, because I have them all on my fantasy team. Needless to say, it looks like this season is going down hill for me.
It is not like these are no-name players in the NFL. These are legitimate stars, not only for the respected teams, but in the entire NFL. Will NFL executives lose sleep over the injuries these players suffered? Of course not, there are 30 more big stars waiting to step into the spot light, but it is surprising to see this many impressive players hurt already. Hopefully, the NFL and their trainers will be able to prevent any more injuries to prime time players in the NFL, because this is what attracts fans to the game. I know that they are the reason I tune in every week to watch the game, because great athletes performing on a nation wide platform are a recipe for excitement and success.
It seems that more and more players are getting hurt every week of the season. The Rams lost Orlando Pace during the first week. If I remember correctly, he is done for the remainder of the season. Andre Johnson, the stellar Texans receiver, went down with a knee injury 2 weeks ago. The Texans are being discrete with information about the injury. This means that the injury is probably far worse than they are letting on. The Texans also lost their starting running back, Ahman Green, to a knee injury. Stephen Jackson of the Rams went down with a partial groin tear last week. Hines Ward, the Steelers' receiver, went down with a knee injury as well. I am very upset about these last few players, because I have them all on my fantasy team. Needless to say, it looks like this season is going down hill for me.
It is not like these are no-name players in the NFL. These are legitimate stars, not only for the respected teams, but in the entire NFL. Will NFL executives lose sleep over the injuries these players suffered? Of course not, there are 30 more big stars waiting to step into the spot light, but it is surprising to see this many impressive players hurt already. Hopefully, the NFL and their trainers will be able to prevent any more injuries to prime time players in the NFL, because this is what attracts fans to the game. I know that they are the reason I tune in every week to watch the game, because great athletes performing on a nation wide platform are a recipe for excitement and success.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Uniforms
I don't know how many of you watched football this Sunday, but the games definitely met my expectations. For the most part, there were a number of exciting games this weekend for the NFL. However, there seems to be a bigger buzz around the uniforms that were worn by some of the teams. I didn't really mind the uniforms, but it certainly was strange seeing these colors on some of the teams. I think it is more for publicity and marketing in these situations, rather than trying something new. It is just dumb to switch your uniforms to just make money for a game or so. Actually, the Eagles may want to keep these powder blue uniforms, considering they won their first game in an impressive manner while wearing them.
The Eagles impressed me with their on-field performance this week, but their uniforms were just awful to look at the whole time. They wore powder blue and yellow uniforms, not even the colors of their team now. These were their colors in their first football season. I would hope they could at least get uniforms that resemble those that they have now, but I guess that would be too much to ask. They only did this to make more money for their franchise, as if they don't have enough already.
The Redskins did a similar thing in their game. Yes, they were still trying to make money, but at least they made a smarter decision in retro uniforms. They picked uniforms that, for the most part, resembled the ones they wear now. They didn't win, but they looked normal while playing. There uniforms didn't seem as ridiculous, and money driven, as the Eagles' uniforms did.
This really isn't that big of a deal, but I got sick and tired of hearing about it during half times shows on Sunday, and then again during the highlights on Sunday Night. I thought that if it was important enough for ESPN to devote so much time; the least I could do was write a blog about it.
The Eagles impressed me with their on-field performance this week, but their uniforms were just awful to look at the whole time. They wore powder blue and yellow uniforms, not even the colors of their team now. These were their colors in their first football season. I would hope they could at least get uniforms that resemble those that they have now, but I guess that would be too much to ask. They only did this to make more money for their franchise, as if they don't have enough already.
The Redskins did a similar thing in their game. Yes, they were still trying to make money, but at least they made a smarter decision in retro uniforms. They picked uniforms that, for the most part, resembled the ones they wear now. They didn't win, but they looked normal while playing. There uniforms didn't seem as ridiculous, and money driven, as the Eagles' uniforms did.
This really isn't that big of a deal, but I got sick and tired of hearing about it during half times shows on Sunday, and then again during the highlights on Sunday Night. I thought that if it was important enough for ESPN to devote so much time; the least I could do was write a blog about it.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Half a Tooth
This blog will have very little to do with sports. Actually, it will have absolutely nothing to do with sports. This is going to be focused on some pretty unique and exciting events which happened this past weekend.
Me and my girlfriend went out last Friday night to a local house party, and went back to her room. We ordered DP Dough, which she was extremely excited about, and I cannot lie, so was I. However, we never got our DP Dough that night because of a a small accident.
Me being the jokester that I am, I decided to start tickling my girlfriend. This was probably a bad idea. At first, we were laughing and having a good time, but that quickly changed. This tickle fight took a turn for the worse when we banged heads. Well I should say, her head banged into my mouth. It didn't feel that bad, but it looked pretty messed up. I saw something go flying when we hit, and I noticed some blood after we collided. I had broken my front tooth in half on my girlfriend's right eye. She had a cut and a pretty nice shiner. What a great story to tell the family!! I went downstairs where we waited for EMT's, who didn't really do much except for determine that we weren't hammered. They told my girlfriend she would be fine in a few days, and that I should go to the hospital the next morning. I decided to go that night, but the hospital informed me that they would be of no help to me.
I had to find a dentist open on Saturday, so I went all the way to Ithaca to get it looked out. They told me I needed a cap, and I went back the next day and got a temporary cap on. I looked good as new, and I have to go back in 3 weeks for a permanent. If you see some girl on campus with a shiner; that would be my girlfriend. Don't just stare, be friendly and say hello.
Me and my girlfriend went out last Friday night to a local house party, and went back to her room. We ordered DP Dough, which she was extremely excited about, and I cannot lie, so was I. However, we never got our DP Dough that night because of a a small accident.
Me being the jokester that I am, I decided to start tickling my girlfriend. This was probably a bad idea. At first, we were laughing and having a good time, but that quickly changed. This tickle fight took a turn for the worse when we banged heads. Well I should say, her head banged into my mouth. It didn't feel that bad, but it looked pretty messed up. I saw something go flying when we hit, and I noticed some blood after we collided. I had broken my front tooth in half on my girlfriend's right eye. She had a cut and a pretty nice shiner. What a great story to tell the family!! I went downstairs where we waited for EMT's, who didn't really do much except for determine that we weren't hammered. They told my girlfriend she would be fine in a few days, and that I should go to the hospital the next morning. I decided to go that night, but the hospital informed me that they would be of no help to me.
I had to find a dentist open on Saturday, so I went all the way to Ithaca to get it looked out. They told me I needed a cap, and I went back the next day and got a temporary cap on. I looked good as new, and I have to go back in 3 weeks for a permanent. If you see some girl on campus with a shiner; that would be my girlfriend. Don't just stare, be friendly and say hello.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Analyst A**holes
Recently, I have been wondering what the requirements are to be a sports analyst that appears regularly on television. I am getting sick and tired of some of the radical statements that they make, and the fact that they fail to base their statements, opinions and predictions on facts. Most of the time, they would rather make radical predictions that are completely illogical. No one calls them out on their ludicrous predictions, but when they get lucky and make a fluke prediction, they become are praised for their great understanding of their respective sport.
Over the last few months, ESPN has been a major player in my newfound despisal for a lot of sports analysts. Don't get me wrong, many of these professionals are doing their jobs extremely well. However, these are the guys who get hardly any air time during ESPN telecasts. They are the guys who are unrecognizable when they appear on the television.
The group of analysts who bother me most would have to be baseball. Some of these so-called pros are complete idiots. A perfect example of this would be how often Steve Phillips makes extreme statements about teams. About 2 months ago, the Yankees and Mets had small losing streaks. During these streaks, he decided that these two teams would not make the play offs because they were no where near this caliber. I guess it just happens to be luck that both teams are, as of right now, play off bound.
Some football analysts are starting to make similar mistakes. The NFL has been up and running for only 2 weeks. Some of ESPN's analysts are already labeling certain players as busts, and/or let downs. Surely, there are some players are not performing up to their expected standards, but after only 2 games, there is very little clear cut information available.
I understand that these analysts are professionals who definitely know how to do their jobs. I am not questioning the work they have done to get to their respected positions. However, sometimes these professionals do to much work in trying to make a story. They are sports analysts, not sports "over" analysts.
Over the last few months, ESPN has been a major player in my newfound despisal for a lot of sports analysts. Don't get me wrong, many of these professionals are doing their jobs extremely well. However, these are the guys who get hardly any air time during ESPN telecasts. They are the guys who are unrecognizable when they appear on the television.
The group of analysts who bother me most would have to be baseball. Some of these so-called pros are complete idiots. A perfect example of this would be how often Steve Phillips makes extreme statements about teams. About 2 months ago, the Yankees and Mets had small losing streaks. During these streaks, he decided that these two teams would not make the play offs because they were no where near this caliber. I guess it just happens to be luck that both teams are, as of right now, play off bound.
Some football analysts are starting to make similar mistakes. The NFL has been up and running for only 2 weeks. Some of ESPN's analysts are already labeling certain players as busts, and/or let downs. Surely, there are some players are not performing up to their expected standards, but after only 2 games, there is very little clear cut information available.
I understand that these analysts are professionals who definitely know how to do their jobs. I am not questioning the work they have done to get to their respected positions. However, sometimes these professionals do to much work in trying to make a story. They are sports analysts, not sports "over" analysts.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Fantasy Fanatics
Ever since fantasy sports have been introduced to the United States, it seems like there has been more and more fans of just about every sport. People who never watched sports a day in their lives quickly become interested in them. Whether, they play for fun with a few friends, or they gamble a few bucks with in an office league, more and more people are beginning to become familiar with the components of fantasy sports.
For the longest time, I had opposed the idea of taking part in fantasy sports leagues. I still have these ideas about the so-called game, but I see some of the upside as well. For instance, it's a great way to keep in touch with friends who are also away at school. It also helps people appreciate some of the lesser known players who are effective in professional sports leagues.
This last statement is one of the reasons I oppose the league. Some people feel like knowing worthless stats makes them more knowledgeable than a true fan. I can't stand when someone tries to make an average player sound like an all-star because of just one statistic. In baseball, having a low WHIP is great, but it can be misleading. A pitcher can have a high WHIP and a low ERA, in which case, they are probably a better pitcher, then somebody with an extremely low WHIP and a inflated ERA. Even these statistics are worthless to me, I feel like wins are what matter in baseball. Getting a win, to me, is the most important statistic a pitcher can have, as long as they aren't giving up 10 runs whenever they get a W.
Anyways, I am taking part in a fantasy football league in which I got dominated last week. I fell into the fantasy trap of trying to play guys you shouldn't with the hopes of getting surprising statistics. I had Randy Moss and Andre Johnson, but I decided to bench them for no real reason other than blind hope. Boy, that was a dumb move. Those two alone would have carried me to victory, but instead I got dominated by pretty much only 2 players on the opposing team. Reggie Wayne and Adrian Peterson were on his team, and they scored nearly all of his points. I can't complain though, I won't make the same mistake again this week, as I hope to get back to an even .500 and make my run to a fantasy football championship.
For the longest time, I had opposed the idea of taking part in fantasy sports leagues. I still have these ideas about the so-called game, but I see some of the upside as well. For instance, it's a great way to keep in touch with friends who are also away at school. It also helps people appreciate some of the lesser known players who are effective in professional sports leagues.
This last statement is one of the reasons I oppose the league. Some people feel like knowing worthless stats makes them more knowledgeable than a true fan. I can't stand when someone tries to make an average player sound like an all-star because of just one statistic. In baseball, having a low WHIP is great, but it can be misleading. A pitcher can have a high WHIP and a low ERA, in which case, they are probably a better pitcher, then somebody with an extremely low WHIP and a inflated ERA. Even these statistics are worthless to me, I feel like wins are what matter in baseball. Getting a win, to me, is the most important statistic a pitcher can have, as long as they aren't giving up 10 runs whenever they get a W.
Anyways, I am taking part in a fantasy football league in which I got dominated last week. I fell into the fantasy trap of trying to play guys you shouldn't with the hopes of getting surprising statistics. I had Randy Moss and Andre Johnson, but I decided to bench them for no real reason other than blind hope. Boy, that was a dumb move. Those two alone would have carried me to victory, but instead I got dominated by pretty much only 2 players on the opposing team. Reggie Wayne and Adrian Peterson were on his team, and they scored nearly all of his points. I can't complain though, I won't make the same mistake again this week, as I hope to get back to an even .500 and make my run to a fantasy football championship.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Football Frenzy
So, the NFL season has kicked off, and the first week of action definitely met the majority of my expectations. There were big hits, big plays, and exciting endings. These are the reasons why I love to watch the sport every week.
My big pick of the week wasn't really a huge upset, but it was confirmed after the first game of the season. The Saints were abolished by the Colts. Now, the Colts are definitely an impressive all-around team, but the Saints were supposed to be more effective than they were. Most people are picking the Saints to get to the Super Bowl this year, against the Colts. I don't really want to see the game, but I don't really think it will happen anyways. I hate to break down the Saints feel good story last year, but I feel like it was kind of a fluke. I feel like they will have a worse season than last year, and they will probably only make the playoffs because they play in the weak NFC.
The Vikings performed well beyond my expectations. I was worried early on, because the first half score was unimpressive with their only touchdown coming on defense, and their running back Chester Taylor went down early. However, it was refreshing to see their first-round draft pick, Adrian Peterson, come up big for them later on, scoring a 60 yard touchdown. I'm not ready to put to much faith into them, because they have started off well the last 3 seasons as well. However, they usually break down in the second half of the season. Hopefully, the Vikings will continue to perform well, especially with a boost from this rookie phenom. My team's victory was bittersweet, because I was playing against Peterson in fantasy football, so he put up pretty big points. I guess I'll take the trade off...this time. I'm sure I'll be writing more about fantasy football, and the problems I face.
Without a doubt, football will continue to be exciting. Already in the first week, we saw three games end with last second field goals. The games will probably continue to be extremely competitive and extremely compelling, which is why I'll be tuning in every week.
My big pick of the week wasn't really a huge upset, but it was confirmed after the first game of the season. The Saints were abolished by the Colts. Now, the Colts are definitely an impressive all-around team, but the Saints were supposed to be more effective than they were. Most people are picking the Saints to get to the Super Bowl this year, against the Colts. I don't really want to see the game, but I don't really think it will happen anyways. I hate to break down the Saints feel good story last year, but I feel like it was kind of a fluke. I feel like they will have a worse season than last year, and they will probably only make the playoffs because they play in the weak NFC.
The Vikings performed well beyond my expectations. I was worried early on, because the first half score was unimpressive with their only touchdown coming on defense, and their running back Chester Taylor went down early. However, it was refreshing to see their first-round draft pick, Adrian Peterson, come up big for them later on, scoring a 60 yard touchdown. I'm not ready to put to much faith into them, because they have started off well the last 3 seasons as well. However, they usually break down in the second half of the season. Hopefully, the Vikings will continue to perform well, especially with a boost from this rookie phenom. My team's victory was bittersweet, because I was playing against Peterson in fantasy football, so he put up pretty big points. I guess I'll take the trade off...this time. I'm sure I'll be writing more about fantasy football, and the problems I face.
Without a doubt, football will continue to be exciting. Already in the first week, we saw three games end with last second field goals. The games will probably continue to be extremely competitive and extremely compelling, which is why I'll be tuning in every week.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Let the Football Begin
Tomorrow marks the start of a brand new season for the NFL. I can't speak for everyone, but I am extremely excited for the first opening kick off of the year. Sure, I love baseball, and the Yankees are on an incredible run to make the playoffs. Yes, college football has begun, and there have already been huge upsets, and disappointments for plenty of teams. However, there is nothing like the thrilling entertainment the NFL brings to the table.
Big hits across the middle, great catches, inspiring runs, these are the things that entertain people all across the country. Every Sunday, everyone across the nation tunes in to watch some of the most talented athletes across the nation fight for the chance to compete in the Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, within the first couple weeks, many fans' dreams will be crushed with regards of hopes of their team winning the Super Bowl. Personally, I am not going to get my hopes up, considering my favorite team is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are not what I would call a championship caliber team. They could make the playoffs, simply because the NFC is an extremely weak conference where finished at .500 could mean a play off appearance. I am hoping the Vikings are at least able to finish the season on some kind of positive note, since they have some solid young talent, but I will not get too hyped up. If you are lucky, you will be able to support your team as they make a run to the play offs. I really believe this year will be a great competitive year for professional football, and until college basketball starts, this will be pretty much I will focus on. Even if it is just for fantasy football, I will watch intently every week. Most likely, by the 5th week of the NFL season, the Vikings will be something like 1-4, and I will be posting all my hopes on the Yankees run to the World Series.
Big hits across the middle, great catches, inspiring runs, these are the things that entertain people all across the country. Every Sunday, everyone across the nation tunes in to watch some of the most talented athletes across the nation fight for the chance to compete in the Super Bowl.
Unfortunately, within the first couple weeks, many fans' dreams will be crushed with regards of hopes of their team winning the Super Bowl. Personally, I am not going to get my hopes up, considering my favorite team is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are not what I would call a championship caliber team. They could make the playoffs, simply because the NFC is an extremely weak conference where finished at .500 could mean a play off appearance. I am hoping the Vikings are at least able to finish the season on some kind of positive note, since they have some solid young talent, but I will not get too hyped up. If you are lucky, you will be able to support your team as they make a run to the play offs. I really believe this year will be a great competitive year for professional football, and until college basketball starts, this will be pretty much I will focus on. Even if it is just for fantasy football, I will watch intently every week. Most likely, by the 5th week of the NFL season, the Vikings will be something like 1-4, and I will be posting all my hopes on the Yankees run to the World Series.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
College Football
The first day of college football has come and past without very much notice from me. Over the years I have become less and less interested with the so called "competitive" games that take place around the country. In most cases, I am impressed with the competitiveness of college athletics, but football has slowly become a sport filled with blow outs and unbalanced match ups.
In the majority of college sports, basketball especially, there always seems to be a chance for that cinderella team that overcomes the odds and wins big. Despite what most college football fans think, the same teams are contenders every year in college football. The same big name schools are contending for a national title every year, while the rest of the teams in the country sit back and enjoy the show. USC, Ohio State, Michigan, these teams are always the cream of the crop when it comes to winning. Some teams might win a bit more than expected, but they won't have any chance of contending for a national title.
Michigan was upset this week by Appalachian State, I believe. This could be a big deal for Michigan, although I'm sure they will recover. However, Appalachian State won't be making any national title runs, but if they are lucky they might have a winning season. The schedules for these so called championship callibar teams are usually extremley soft. Rutgers played Buffalo this last week. Is this really going to prove Rutgers is an elite team. The game was an utter joke, as were most of the other games played around the nation. The NCAA needs to straighten out the scheduling for future years. Most of the great teams in the nation play only 2 or 3 games against formidable foes, while the rest of the year is a cake walk. Until the college games become more competitive, I probably won't hold much interest in them. Hopefully, these teams will realize how boring most of these games actually are, and will improve the scheduling, so that fans like myself can thoroughly enjoy a "competitve" season.
In the majority of college sports, basketball especially, there always seems to be a chance for that cinderella team that overcomes the odds and wins big. Despite what most college football fans think, the same teams are contenders every year in college football. The same big name schools are contending for a national title every year, while the rest of the teams in the country sit back and enjoy the show. USC, Ohio State, Michigan, these teams are always the cream of the crop when it comes to winning. Some teams might win a bit more than expected, but they won't have any chance of contending for a national title.
Michigan was upset this week by Appalachian State, I believe. This could be a big deal for Michigan, although I'm sure they will recover. However, Appalachian State won't be making any national title runs, but if they are lucky they might have a winning season. The schedules for these so called championship callibar teams are usually extremley soft. Rutgers played Buffalo this last week. Is this really going to prove Rutgers is an elite team. The game was an utter joke, as were most of the other games played around the nation. The NCAA needs to straighten out the scheduling for future years. Most of the great teams in the nation play only 2 or 3 games against formidable foes, while the rest of the year is a cake walk. Until the college games become more competitive, I probably won't hold much interest in them. Hopefully, these teams will realize how boring most of these games actually are, and will improve the scheduling, so that fans like myself can thoroughly enjoy a "competitve" season.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Yankees done, I think not...
After watching the the Yankees vs. Red Sox game tonight, I have to say I am content with the New York juggernauts' chance of making the playoffs. People have been writing the Yankees off all year because they are not in first. Sometimes, you can't be dominating the entire year, and you have to make a run to get into the playoffs. If that's how this team has to make the playoffs, then so be it. Now that they have taken Mussina out of the starting rotation, I think they have a pretty solid staff. No offense to Moose, but his stuff has looked absolutely horrible as of late, and something needed to done. Now I understand the Yankees don't have an amazing pitching staff. In fact, I'd be the first to argue that they need to stop trading for and signing sluggers. They simply have to many. This can be seen with Giambi and Damon, who don't even start regularly anymore, but have multi-million dollar contracts. The Yankees have another series against the Red Sox, and if they play the way they have been the past 2 games, catching the Mariners, or even the Sox, should be no problem at all. I'm not saying this will be an easy task, but they Yankees always have a way of finding the postseason. I don't think the Yankees have a great future ahead of them. Their management has done a poor job in planning ahead for the future. Signing aging veterans to long contracts and trading away young pitching prospects shows a lack of intelligence on their part. They need to start thinking ahead, rather then trying to put together a new team every year to win the championship. In my opinion, they future of the Yankees doesn't look too bright, with the majority of their players coming the point in their careers were retirement is a clear choice. The Yankees might not have a chance to vie for the playoffs in years to come, but this year I think they may have just enough of that Pinstripe magic to make it to the playoffs one more time, and maybe even pull off a Championship despite all of the criticism they have been subjected too.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sick Of Vick
After turning to ESPN all day yesterday with the hopes of seeing sports news, I was bombarded with news about Michael Vick. In the morning, afternoon, evening, Vick was on the screen all day on nearly every major sports channel in the country. I understand that this is one of the bigger stories in sports at this time, but I am starting to get tired of seeing his face more now than I did when he played in the NFL. It seems that Vick has become more popular and supported now as a criminal, than he ever was as a starting quarterback on the Atlanta Falcons. It wasn't even the fact that he was on television all day yesterday, but the fact that people are still trying to defend him after he confessed to the dog fighting allegations. ESPN analysts were trying to explain that his actions were only being spotlighted because he was an African American athlete with a sort of cocky swagger about him. Is Michael Vick worthy of all this media attention? Perhaps, but he certainly is not being focused on because of his race. He is being focused on because of his career as a professional athlete. They are counted on to be role models for children around the country, and breaking the law is not something that should go unpunished because it shows a horrible example for young people in America. If there was any other athlete accused of these things, the same emphasis would be put on them. Sure it seems that more black athletes are in trouble with the law, especially in the NFL, but that is because there is simply more of them in the NFL. It is a simply statistics and odds, not racism. Honestly, Michael Vick will end up serving less time in prison than any other Average Joe convicted of the same crimes, so people need to stop trying to say he is being persecuted for his color, and start supporting his return to the NFL as one of the most blessed athletes in the league.
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