NFL Dud's

(Picture from ESPN.com)

This afternoon I turned on my television completely ready for another NFC shootout between the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. After the first couple minutes, I thought for sure that America was in for another all-offensive spectacle. Then two things happened, Reggie Bush and a Cardinal offensive line that couldn't stop a Pop Warner defensive line. Reggie danced around a terrible, lackluster, lazy, poor tackling Cardinals defense and had a career day. He single handily changed the game, and was part of two of the three biggest plays of the game. The first was on a handoff up the left side where Bush hit a hole, should have been tackled, cut back across the field, broke Calais Campbell ankles and sent him diving into thin air only to come out empty handed, and then dead sprinted for a 46-yard touchdown. The other was just an 83-yard punt return, no big deal. Bush picked the best time to be the player "Dem Saints" thought they were getting. The third play that turned the tide (and probably the most epic) was a bit of Sean Payton trickery with the good ol' Flea Flicker. Brees hit Devery Henderson (who changed route for an amazing catch) for a 44-yard touchdown.

What The "Heck"?

(Picture from img.dailymail.co.uk)

In the last couple of days, the NBA has had some unpredictable and crazy moments. Between gun charges to an All-Star, and last second shots being taken by a point guard instead of the third leading scorer in the NBA, I often ask my self, "What the 'Heck'?". Here are my Top 5 moments from the past few days.

What the "Heck" moment #1: In last night's game against the Lakers, Dirk Nowitzki became the first German player to score 20,000 points in a career. The Dallas Mavericks took on a hurting L.A. Laker team that was missing Pau Gasol and had an ailing Kobe Bryant who was nursing a hurt back (and possibly a hurt heart because LA has yet to renew his contract and it is rumored that talks have stalled). Dallas, playing at home, was looking to avenge a 35-point loss earlier in the season. As always, Dirk decided he would take matters into his own hands by dropping 30 points and grabbing an amazing 16-rebounds. Kobe did not play for most of the first half, but came out after halftime and put his back to the "back burner". The Mavs, who never lead by more than 3-points, even with Kobe shot putting shot after shot, could not find another scorer to get a win over a STRUGGLING Laker squad. As a Dallas player, how could you not sweeten the pot for the Big German? How could you not stop a Lakers team that doesn't have the flowing Spaniard and a healthy Black Mamba? How do you let Kobe Bryant crash the party by allowing him to drain a pull up dagger with 28-seconds left in the game (a shot that shut the door closed on the Mavs)? Mark Cuban must have blown more than 20 blood cells in his head, and probably hit three people that unknowingly bought tickets next to him. I'm still surprised Cuban didn't waive half the team after last nights effort. Nobody but Dirk grabbed over 10 rebounds and Jason Terry went a disgusting 2-12 shooting ("The Jet" was never cleared for take off during last nights game). On a night where Jason Kidd tac's up 11-assists and Dirk finishes with 20,001 career points, how does a team not win? What the "Heck" (I'm sure Cuban has asked himself that same question every 30-seconds today)?

Trojan Horse

(courtesy of thepomegranateapple.wordpress.com)

Much like the infamous Trojan Horse used to fool the citizens of ancient Troy, the fans of Southern California football have been fooled by their own Trojan Horse. Year after year, Pete Carroll is among the many college coaches that come up in discussions regarding NFL openings and year after year, Pete returns to his top recruiting class, extravagant lifestyle and enormous paycheck at the University of Southern California. Trojan fans have learned to deal with this over the years and don't get too worked up when his name swirls in the rumor winds of the NFL. However, this time the rumors are true and that darn Tojan Horse is poised to bring down the great empire that has been USC.

Spievey Joins Bulaga and Richardson

ESPN's Big Ten Blog reported that Amari Spievey is headed to the NFL Draft (just when I convinced myself that he would stay). In bold and black the headline read, "Iowa's Spievey declares for draft" (and my heart keeps sinking). Spievey was second on the team with 42-tackles, and was a lock down defender week in and week out. Our campaign to keep Spievey one more year failed, but I can't blame him at all. He is projected as a second to early third round draft pick by Mel Kiper Jr, and has to look out for his best interests. Amari made this statement about leaving early: "My time at the University of Iowa has been great and the opportunity Coach [Kirk] Ferentz and defensive coordinator Norm Parker have given me has been tremendous. Even though I love being a Hawkeye, moving on to the NFL is in my best interest." I still argue that he would have been a first round pick with one more year of college football under his belt, but I admit I'm a little biased. Good Luck to Amari, and I look forward to watching him play on Sunday's.

Who now steps into this empty spot in the defense? What about Linebacker (is it Tarp's to lose?) Leave your comments below!

I'm NOW Here to Talk About the Past

(Picture from http://www.i.a.cnn.net/)

As if there was any disbelief about McGwire's steroid use, the Associated Press has put an end to it. McGwire has finally come clean about his steroid use. He admitted to taking the supplement while he was breaking the single season Home Run record back in 1998. McGwire said in a statement to The Associated Press that he used steroids on and off for nearly a decade. Big Mac added that "It was foolish and it was a mistake. I truly apologize. Looking back, I wish I had never played during the steroid era." The article also includes that McGwire used HGH, a statement made by someone close to McGwire. It seems that McGwire submitted this statement to elimanate a circus during Spring Training where he will be the new St. Louis Cardinal hitting coach. McGwire is going to have to finally face the press (something he is not very good at), and accept that some people are going to be pretty angry at this. Hopefully he will be forgiven within the Cardinal community quickly like New York did with A-Rod and Andy Pettitte.

The Fall of Troy

(Picture from http://www.extras.mnginteractive.com/)

Everyone already knows the news about King Carroll's departure from Troy to the down and out Seattle Seahawks. The move seems absolutely absurd, yet could make alot of sense for Carroll. I KNOW, I said the remarkable! I said the stunning! I said the exact opposite of every ESPN announcer the past few days! So let me explain. I have a theory, I think Carroll knows that some violations are coming out from the wood works, and his So Cal dynasty will soon be in complete jeopardy (I guess he ignored USC's own Tim Floyd). With the Reggie Bush investigations lingering in the air, and the Joe McNight drama, it only seems plausible that the NCAA is onto Carroll's "amazing recruiting skills" and his window might have been slammed shut. If these rumors gain some ground, USC could be losing not only their coach but some possible championships as well. Either way, there is something going on and Carroll knows all about it. This whole debacle has put USC in a pretty bad light, and it is forcing most recruits to sit back down with their families and take another look at other schools (COME ON SEANTREL, IOWA LOVES YOU, AND KIRK DOES IT THE RIGHT WAY!).

Carroll reportedly has already sent in his resignation, but there doesn't seem to be any new news yet about Norm Chow (Carroll's OC from 2001-2004) or Jeremy Bates going along for the road trip. IF Carroll can some how steal away Bates and Chow, USC is going to go from the top of the top to the lowest of low (and lord knows it happened fast).


No matter what happens, it seems that I just might be vindicated for believing that conference supremacy is cyclical (and I think that we will see a big shift this decade). It is now time for Cal and UCLA to steal the best players in California from the "cheating" University of Southern California (and I use cheating in a very loose way, considering nothing has been proven.... yet). The Big Ten is also going to flex their muscles in the new decade, and have already showed the Eye of the Tiger in 2009 (The Big Ten is kind of like Rocky in the fourth installment. Rocky is supposed to get his ass kicked by the bigger, faster, better Ivan Drago [i.e. SEC, PAC-10, Big 12]. Week in and week out people question his integrity, and argue that he should not be fighting such a great boxer [kind of like when the media argues that teams with worse records should be ranked higher because they are from the SEC/Big 12]. Well we all know what happens in the end, Rocky proves that he can beat the best, and single handedly ends the Cold War). Sure I may be pushing it a little bit but it kind of works. With three teams in the AP Top Ten, and four in the Top 25, the Big Ten looks like they could be the conference to beat in the new decade (hopefully sticking it to every ESPN college football announcer that hates on the Big Ten including the following: Lou Holtz, Kirk Herbstreit, Jesse Palmer, Lou Holtz, Brian Griese, Lee Corso, Lee Corso again, Lee Corso a third time, Desmond Howard, Lee Corso one last time and Lou Holtz).

The SEC will continue to be ESPN's sex doll. Just a pure power conference full of stellar speed (that no other school outside of the southeast can keep up with), poster players, and orgasmic coaches (Saban is trying to steal the limelight away from Urban, which might cause Urban's head to spontaneously combust). The new decade is going to have a completely different look and I have a feeling that there will be more recruiting violations from big name coaches. I just hope I didn't jinx the Big Ten for the next ten years! Thanks for the memories Peter, I loved the "Lean On Me" segment and Will Ferrell as your trainer. Good Luck with Hasselbeck's back, a crappy defense, and the rainy weather in Seattle.

Warner Likely to Retire

(Picture from http://www.cnbc.com/)

Reports from ESPN.com are saying that Kurt Warner will be retiring after this season. Tonight he will be playing in a wild card matchup against a Green Bay Packer team that has been clicking at the right time. With Anquan Boldin out for the playoff game, it could be the last time we get to see Preacher Warner throwing a Hail Mary. Matt Leinart better study up on his notes (the ones Warner hand wrote for him) because it looks as though he might be taking the keys to the Cardinal franchise once again (and I'm not sure how Cardinal fans feel about that). Nontheless, tonights wild card game should be a good one with Aaron Rodgers looking for his first Playoff win as starter and Kurt looking to make it to the Super Bowl one last time.