Friday, April 23, 2010

NFL Draft

As the NFL Draft kicks off this year (on a Thursday), excitement can be felt everywhere.

Which means I'm pretty damn excited right now. The first round went on last night (check it out online) and I think I did pretty well last night. I got a good chunk of them correct (yessss!).

As I'm anxiously sitting here, waiting to hear Taylor Price called (I go to Ohio, what do you expect?), I'm feeling the need to discuss my feelings and well, unfortunately for all of you, you get to read about it. So I apologize in advance for my spontaneous shout outs about who just got drafted.

New England's pick is in, FYI. Anddd... they picked Brandon Spikes, ILB from Florida.

I remember when they beat Cinncy. HA. That's the only reason I like Florida. Otherwise, I do not like Urban Meyer.

Speaking of Florida, I cannot believe Tim Tebow went in the first round. What was Denver thinking?

Patrick Angerer, ILB from Iowa goes to Indy!

Anyway, that pick had to be staged. Why the hell would you trade up to get a second rounder, at best? Not to mention, Denver has Orton and Quinn. You can't just seat them to watch a crybaby take their starting position.

Charles Brown, OT from USC to the Saints!

Round 3 starts now! Taylor Price soon? TO THE STEELERS?! I can only hope.

The biggest disappointment so far (in my opinion) has to be that Colt McCoy is still in the draft. Jimmy Clausen and Tim Tebow before McCoy? Despite his off accuracy when it comes to long passes, his short pass accuracy is spectacular and he definitely has what it takes to lead a huddle in the NFL.

Then again, I'm not the coach here.

However, as a fan, watching the reactions of the draftees (sounds legit) was absolutely mind blowing. Gerald McCoy, DT from Oklahoma to Tampa Bay was probably my favorite reaction ever. He was a genuinely happy man with that phone call. So much emotion.

Jon Asamoah, OG from Illinois goes to Kansas City!

I hope you're all watching this draft. There isn't much else to watch. Baseball season is to early to contemplate and the NBA is... well the NBA. If it's not the Cavs or some big shot, then to hell with that.

(However, I was a fan of Duke winning the March Madness!)

I'M SO TIRED OF SEEING TIM TEBOW BEING TALK ABOUT. This pick had to be soooo staged. There was just an ESPN guy chilling in the house? He had a great time around him (as you can tell by the 7 Florida guys drafted already), but without that team, he's doomed. He's not that accurate, he's just all talked up. They say his arm has gotten better, well, he's did the practices without any pressure. He's just overrated. We'll see how Denver uses him. Until then, talk about someone else, ESPN.

My computer is starting to freeze up on me, so I ought to start wrapping this up. (I'm really getting sick of my computer freezing up). However, I have only two picks left until the Steelers, so hopefully my computer will last.

STEELERS UPPP!!

And the 3rd round draft pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers is... OH OH.

COME ON ESPN, SHOW IT.

Oh.. Emmanuel Sanders, WR from SMU...

I'm disappointed, Taylor Price is a WR!

Well everyone, thanks for reading.

FYI... Taylor Price went to New England with the 90th Pick.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Live! MLB Draft

Aren't you all lucky tonight? I'm doing a baseball draft, and well, you all get to hear about it.

10:02 -- I'm anxiously awaiting my turn. I pick 10th out of ten, which means I pick 10th and 11th, and well you know how it goes. It's actually going kind of slow. However, I'm scanning through the top players and picking some potential candidates. ARod? I had him last year, but he was out for a while, he didn't impress me. Miguel Cabrera? I am a HUGE Tigers fan and he had a good 09 season -.324 BA and 103 RBI. Hmm...

10:08 -- I'm picking now Cabrera is gone, so is ARod. It sucks picking last. Prince Fielder looks promising. Hit .299 last year. OH wait, I'm up again! I'm going to get a couple high ranked draft candidates first. Tim Lincecum from the Giants had a good season, maybe I'll get a starting pitcher. Okay, I will...

10:13 -- My turn, AGAIN! Wow this is going fast, is anyone actually looking at who they are drafting?

10:15 -- Whew, I really had to think there! This time I got Brandon Phillips (always a good choice) and Robinson Cano. I may hate the Yankees, but he had a good season and they were the Champs I guess.

10:17 -- I see Justin Verlander coming up, I just have to draft him!

10:18 -- I think someone is watching my live blog... They just drafted Vander Lander.

10:19 -- Two classics choices this time around. I got two of my Fantasy superstars from my 1st place finish last season -- Johan Santana and Chris Carpenter. It's weird to think that I got Santana in like the first or second round last year, not the fifth.

10:23 -- Jonathan Broxton and Adam Dunn this time. It's time I start looking for consistent guys, not the superstars. Dunn may not have had the highest BA out of the guys towards the top but he usually pretty consistent. Plus, you can switch him between 1B, LF and RF. Helps the roster!

10:27 -- Hunter Pence and Heath Bell. This round was tough. Hunter Pence or a random high BA player? Hunter Pence did play in 159 games and still was hitting in the upper .200's. Heath Bell, well with 42 saves, you got to have faith.

10:32 -- A couple more pitchers, Jose Valverde and Max Scherzer. You think I'm going to pass up some Detroit Tigers pitching? No way. After last year's fabulous pitching gang, there's no way I'm going to doubt their pitching staff in selecting talent. I'm feeling Chad Billingsley next round. Not only is he from around from where I'm from, he's got an arm.

10:36 -- I swear someone is reading this. Chad Billingsley goes right after I say that! I still got some good picks. Miguel Montero and Rick Porcello. I'm expecting a great season out of Porcello, he's young but wow, he's fantastic.

10:41 -- Placido Polanco and Brad Hawpe. Polanco is always a good choice. Although, I'm pretty upset he isn't a Tiger anymore, but I still like him. He's consistent.

10:45 -- It's at the time where I should start rounding out my roster. Jorge Cantu fits in at 3B while Ryan Theriot can settle in at SS. I'm still scoping for some of those "I told you so" players. I'm thinking of giving Austin Jackson a shot. Anyone who is suppose to be following up in Curtis Granderson's shoes ought to be a run for the money.

10:50 -- I went with Austin Jackson and Vernon Wells. Vernon Wells is consistent (as you can tell, I'm really looking for consistency).

10:51 -- is this the last couple rounds already?!

10:55 -- still some tough selections. I rounded out my outfielders with Juan Rivera. It's disappointing to see that he was the best one left. We'll see how he is in spring training. To finish up my pitchers, I choose Jeremy Bonderman. After being hurt last year, he's going to come back strong.

10:59 -- Its towards the end of the draft, so it's time to just look for some potential. I drafted Matt Capps, who knows, maybe now that he isn't a Pirate anymore, he'll step his game up. I also got Freddy Sanchez, he was a favorite of mine when he was a Pirate, if he gets any better, then he'd be fantastic (since he was pretty good for a Pirate.

11:01 -- LAST PICK!

11:02 -- I got the last pick, I choose you Jeff Niemann!

11:03 -- Draft complete. What a draft! Sheffield of Dreams looks like a team to compete with. Let's hope I do as well with this one as I did with my Jeters Never Prosper team.

Alright everyone, that's the end of the draft, I hope you enjoyed this live draft as much as enjoyed typing it. Until the next entry (or next draft!)...

Monday, February 15, 2010

Welcome to Vancouver 2010

Although I was unable to update during the Super Bowl this year, I must say, what a game! (And GO SAINTS, of course!)

This year, we're lucky to be able to view the Winter Olympics game this year (now we have something to watch between football and baseball)! I advise you all to turn to NBC and get ready.

I have never been so excited for the Winter Olympics. Friday night's events definitely set the tune for the Olympics. It all started with Apolo Ohno in the short track speed-skating prelims. If you didn't see this, you need to. Starting out in the back, taking his time and then with only a few laps left, he quickly bolts to the front and wins, just like that.

Although, in the finals, he got boxed out by a couple of Koreans (who later in the race knocked each other down), and got the silver medal.

The last event on Friday was so thrilling. The energy in the room was so high. Hannah Kearney, the 23 year old from Vermont, edged out the competition by a point! And Shannon Bahrke from the United States managed to capture the bronze.

Currently, the United States is in first place with most medals earned with

Scott Wescott, gold --> Men's Snowboard Cross
Todd Lodwick, silver --> Nordic Combined (ski jump)
Bryon Wilson, bronze --> Men's Moguls
Apolo Ohno, silver --> Men's short track 1500m
J.R. Celski, bronze --> Men's short track 1500m
Hannah Kearney, gold --> Women's Moguls
Shannon Bahrke, bronze --> Women's Moguls
Johnny Spillane, silver --> Nordic Combined (10km)

That's it up through day 4 right now.

Go U.S.A!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Super Bowl XLIV

Hey sport fans,

I apologize for my lack of blogging through the playoffs. Fortunately, I'll be here for the Super Bowl, at least I'll try my hardest too.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, it's only a mere 3 days and 6 hours away. I don't know about all of you, but I'm ready, all I need is my Fantasy Football star's jersey -- Drew Brees.

Drew Brees. It's a name people have heard a lot this season. Before this season, Brees had only ONE playoff win. Now he's making a Super Bowl debut with the Saints, who are also making their Super Bowl debut? Unbelievable. Actually, it's not that unbelievable when you think about. With the numbers Brees has put up with the Saints, it was bound to happen sometime. In the last three seasons alone, he has like what? 24 touchdowns and 4,400 yards? Yeah. Impressive.

However, this Super Bowl isn't all about Brees.

It's Brees vs. Manning.

Peyton Manning. Despite being 34 years old, he seems to have a lot in him left. He's on the verge of surpassing every major passing record in the NFL. I've even heard him compared to Dan Marino. Only difference -- Marino didn't have a Super Bowl win. Poor guy.

On Sunday, who are you rooting for?

The Colts have more experience when it comes to the Super Bowl, who won the Super Bowl last time they were in Miami.

Let's look at the defense. The Colts have the 18th ranked defense. The Saints have the 25th ranked defense against the pass. I'm feeling a high scoring game.

However, the Saints utilizes a defense based on movement, deception, several blitzes and getting after the quarterback. Which you can basically assume the Colts will do also.

But how well the defense plays depends on how good the offenses are. On the rush, the Saints are ranked 6th among the NFL and in order from them to have any success on the field, they will have to block Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis for the Colts. Meanwhile, the Colts have one of the top-notch pass offenses in the NFL with Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, Joseph Addai, Dallas Clark,and Reggie Wayne. Sounds dangerous.

Currently, the Colts have to conjure up a plan that does not include Dwight Freeney due to ankle injury. Even if Freeney manages to get into the game, the Saints will attempt to slow him and Mathis down with screen passes to Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas and moving Brees out of the pocket to allow for more time to pass and for plays to develop.

While the Colts are being plagued by injury, the Saints are returning from injuries. Expect to see tight end Jeremy Shockey, safety Darren Sharper, and lineman Jonathan Vilma back again this week, especially after the game at Minnesota. They want to be part of this game.

Wow. So much information and I barely scratched the surface. This still doesn't help me (or any of you I bet).

However, after watching football all season long, I'm going to go with the Saints. This game isn't all on stats, it's on heart and determination. And that's something I personally think the Saints have more of.

So what will it be?

The New Orleans Saints or The Indianapolis Colts

Until next time...

Friday, January 1, 2010

Week 17: Make it or Break it

Last week was a tough week for several of us. Indy falls to the Jets? Even worse - Saints fall to Tampa Bay?

Unfortunately, I went only 10-6 for my picks last week, which isn't too bad for Week 16 - especially since top teams pulled starters out, unexpected teams fell.

Anwayyy, for this week, here are my predictions:

Sunday, January 3rd:

Round 1 at 1pm:
Indianapolis Colts vs. Buffalo Bills
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Cleveland Browns
Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions
San Francisco 49ers vs St. Louis Rams
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Miami Dolphins
New York Giants vs. Minnesota Vikings
Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers
New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans

Round 2 at 4pm:
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Denver Broncos
Baltimore Ravens vs. Oakland Raiders
Green Bay Packers vs.Arizona Cardinals
Washington Redskins vs. San Diego Chargers
Tennessee Titans vs. Seattle Seahawks

Sunday Night Football:

Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets

GAME OF THE WEEK

This week, I actually have three games to keep an eye on. Once again, my biased opinion of the Steelers vs. Dolphins game AND the Patriots vs. Texans game AND the Bengals vs. Jets. Now, I'm not saying the Steelers game JUST because I'm a huge Steelers fan, but because of the playoff implications once again. If the Steelers want any shot at the playoffs, they need to beat Miami. Since they beat the Broncos, they have the advantage over them, so the Broncos are out. Miami is out after the lost to Houston last week. So in my opinion, it's basically down to the Ravens, Jets, Steelers, and Texans. That's why the Patriots/Texans game will be good, the Texans need this win, along with the same situation with Bengals/Jets. What a race it is in the AFC! This week may just be one of the most intense weeks yet this season.

PLAYOFF PICTURE

Now, I know I often refer to the AFC, but what's going on the NFC? Let me draw up a picture...

In the NFC, expect to see New Orleans (NFC South, first-round bye and home-field advantage), Minnesota (NFC North), Arizona (NFC West), Philadelphia (playoff spot), Green Bay (playoff spot), Dallas (playoff spot)

Philadelphia can clinch the NFC East with just a win over Dallas.

It's pretty black and white, right?

However, you have the AFC, which will be determined in a mere 30 hours. Can you wait?
Here's the rundown:

Indianapolis (AFC South and home-field advantage), San Diego (AFC West, No. 2 seed and first-round bye), New England (AFC East), Cincinnati (AFC North)

That's just the division winners. You still have the playoff teams, which consist of either Ravens, Jets, Broncos, Steelers, Texans, Jaguars and Dolphins.

For the Jets and Ravens, a win will put them in the playoff picture, but for the other teams, its necessary for the other teams to lose in order to put them above that team.

That's it for now everyone, enjoy your Week 17.