Roomofzen Podcast Episode #7: Looking Ahead to 2009

We've been kept at bay by some technical issues over the past month or so, but I'm happy to say that we are back in full force. In this New Years edition, Babcock and I weigh in on the firing of Mike Shanahan, pick the Wild Card Weekend matchups, name our MVP, and name the Roomofzen Sportsman of the year in 2008.



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Neil Young and Pearl Jam:




Neil is playing the same black guitar he was playing when we saw him in Worcester a few weeks ago, and the same black guitar he was playing in the 1970s. Everyone have a happy and safe New Years Eve.

Roomofzen Sportsman of the Year 2008: LeBron James

This is an unlikely choice, and yet it was a complete no-brainer in my mind. It was hotly contested amongst the staff (see podcast below), and in the end we had to call upon Smokey to cast the final vote:





What exactly is that red thing in Gilby's shirt? Anyways....


We have all done everything we can to keep LeBron James at bay. Perhaps we were afraid to believe the hype. Perhaps we resented the fact that this young man, who had still yet to complete high school, was already being dubbed as the next Michael Jordan. Whatever the reason, we set the bar higher for LeBron James than we have for any other athlete. The expectations and the path that we laid for him was treacherous and would have swallowed up many. Every time James reached a new checkpoint, we raised the bar even higher. We criticized him for not yet being a complete player, brushing aside the impressive feats that he was able to accomplish and refusing to accept youth as an exscuse. We were looking for the maturity and polish of a 10 year veteran from this kid who was barely old enough to have a beer. Nothing LeBron James did was ever good enough. We denied his accomplishments because what we wanted was perfection. No longer will we deny his greatness, at least not on this site.

When I watch LeBron this season, I think of Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. In the book, Gladwell defines the Tipping Point as "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable". We have all reached our Tipping Point with LeBron James. Not only can we no longer deny his greatness, but we can finally take what he has already achieved in his short career out of the closet and recognize what has been an unparalleled body of work. A year ago, I would have told you that there were at least 3 guys in the NBA that were better than LeBron James. Today, I believe that he is the best player in the league, bar none.


This guy has taken a team of scrubs and led then to the NBA Finals. The next year, he took that same team of scrubs (changed by a big trade, but scrubs nonetheless) and led them to 7 games against a team with three future hall of famers. The Celtics put together the greatest start in NBA history in 08-09, and that has included a 19 game winning streak. And yet, as we stand on December 31 (one day after LeBron's 24 birthday), the Celtics and Cavaliers have the same number of losses. This man is singlehandedly dominating professional basketball at a level unlike anything I can remember. He has already sealed up the MVP, an award that he should have won last year, for 2009 and we aren't even to the All Star Break.

The importance of LeBron goes beyond the hardwood. As Jordan was the first to really cash in on endorsements, King James is the face of the NBA in an era in which the league is expanding far beyond our borders. His name, his jersey, and his face, are recognized worldwide. If the NBA does decide to become an international league, it will do so with him leading the charge. If you asked me if he should be the president, I'd say no. But, I'd have to pause for about 5 seconds to think. The man is a global icon.

Babcock is protesting this decision. You will a picture of his pick, Usain Bolt, in the upper right hand corner.

Rock out in the New Year

Some Megadeth to bring in an awesome New Year.

Merry Christmas

From All of Us at Roomofzen...

Get Some.

Caps

The Washington Capitals provide a bright spot in what would otherwise be another horrific year for DC-area sports. With the Redskins out of the playoffs, the Wizards sucking dog-shit, and the MLS hopefully going bankrupt at RFK, the Caps are holding it down at number one. Winning five out of their last six and seven out of their last nine games, the Russian juggernaut is sitting comfortably in third place with a huge game against the Rangers tonight.

If you read the Washington Post or watch Comcast Sports Net (which I will assume you don't unless you are a Caps-faithful), you'll hear the following analysis as to why the Caps kick so much ass this year:

1) They have offensive firepower spearheaded by probably the best and most exciting player in professional hockey; arguably the world. That person is Alexander Ovechkin aka "Alex the Great." (Sidenote: since MJ, Tiger Woods, or Gretzky, I don't think we've seen such an electrifying player in professional sports. Doubt me? Watch the Caps for a few games and witness the way he plays the game -- it's pretty sick) Ovechkin, like all great players, exponentially improves his teammates so now the Caps get above-average goalscoring from Alexander Semin, Victor Kozlov, a renaissance Federov (when he's healthy), and others.

2) They have role players effectively stepping in for injured starters; back-ups to the role players playing past their expectations; and a strong AHL pipeline which now reaps countless dividends. Witness the rise of Laich, Alzner, Jurcina, Fleischman, and Boyd Gordon. With seven of the Caps starters out with injuries these young guns stepped in and filled the void. And when the Caps get healthy again, they will be even better than they've been so far....

3) Despite injuries, the team is not only surviving, but thriving under less than optimal circumstances. This is attributable to their coach who once made a cameo in Slap Shot and deserves a lot of the credit for keeping this team together AND winning. Thanks, Coach B.

4) Goal tending that is exceeding expectations and providing a pleasant surprise. Brent Johnson is emerging as the go-to-starter for the Caps, while the somewhat inconsistent Theodore still comes through with big saves when he's properly motivated. This is the biggest obstacle for the Caps when they get healthy: will their goaltending allow them to win playoff games this year?

I guess this means you should watch the Capitals if you get a chance during the holidays. I know the NHL doesn't have a major TV contract, but you could always get Center Ice or go over to Nick's house for a Whalers' game...wait, no you couldn't. (Final sidenote: the Caps' announcer is a Bowdoin College graduate for all you Polar Bears out there. His name is Joe Bennanati and I think he's class of '84, but I'm not sure; he also does play-by-play on Versus and he's very good)

Merry X-mas, everyone!

A Look Back at the Past 2 Weeks

I will make no excuses for the lack of production on this blog. As Babcock said, we have all been "limping to the finish" in what is always the busiest time of year. We will pick back up to our normal rate starting on December 26th.


Much Respect To:

The Giants and Titans: There have been a lot of doubts swirling over the past few weeks, and these two teams took care of business against the best competition that their respective conferences had to offer. I was particularly proud of the Giants, because Carolina could not have played better. Justin Tuck had the flu. Barry Cofield and Brandon Jacobs were limited with knee injuries, and the Panthers brought their A game. And yet, the road through the NFC playoffs will run through New York.

Philip Rivers: I hate to do this, because I hate Philip Rivers. But, the Chargers have been left for dead over and over again. Just a few weeks ago, they were sitting at 4-8. Have they benefited from playing in a weak conference? Of course. But, nevertheless, they have earned the right to play for a playoff appearance more than any other team (except maybe New England) and they've gotten to this point on the shoulders of Rivers. Note here: Rivers should be in the pro bowl instead of Brett Favre. Rivers and Cutler hate each other (I'm on Cutler's side). It should be a great game on Sunday night.

New England: I am in total awe of this team. Tom Brady, Adalius Thomas, Rodney Harrison, Laurence Maroney, and I'm sure I'm missing many more. If it were not for the historic turnarounds in Miami and Atlanta, Bill Belichick would be up for coach of the year (personally, I still think he should win it). I don't think they could be a major factor in the playoffs because they would have to go on the road and I don't think they can hang with Pittsburgh or Tennessee, but just the fact that they might be a playoff team is testament to the strength of this organization.

Atlanta: This is for the Falcons and the Hawks. In my season preview, I predicted that the Falcons would be the worst team in the NFL. I said that I hoped Matt Ryan would be able to keep all the sacks and losses in perspective and use the fact that playing in the NFL was his dream to persevere to better days. Clearly this rookie was lightyears ahead of where I thought he was. As for the Hawks, they have twice taken the Celtics down to the wire (and once without Josh Smith). And, despite the fact that I hate Mike Bibby, I can't help but be excited when I watch them.

The Grizzlies: They play in the NBA. At this point, they are only 9-18. But, they have been looking much stronger as of late, and I think their future is bright. Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, and OJ Mayo are all looking like the kinds of players you can build a successful future around. When you consider they got Kwame Brown's expiring contract, Marc Gasol, and two first-round picks, that trade the Grizz made with the Lakers last year doesn't look so bad now.

LeBron James: I am terrified of this man.

Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins: Nobody can say that these Celtics are all about the big 3. Rondo and Perk are finally getting some respect from the media this year, as both are playing at an all-star level. Rondo's signature fake pass has actually caused me to black out on occasion (it was so sick when he pulled it on Mike Bibby last week). In an Eastern Conference that is shallow at point guard, Rondo should be an all-star. Perk won't be, because the game is all about offensive flash, but what he does defensively cannot be ignored. This team needs both of these guys to repeat.








Step it Up:

Brett Favre and Eric Mangini: Favre continues to be the most overrated player in the NFL, and so he will come under little heat for what has happened to the Jets. This team has totally collapsed, and frankly they are completely undeserving of a playoff spot. Perhaps too much was made of their victory at Tennessee, both in the media and in their own locker room.


The Cardinals: Sunday's loss at New England was the most insulting and offensive display of football I have ever seen. The Lions are winless, and we expect that the weight of their losses might be crushing them at this point. But, the Cardinals? They are division champions. Now, I didn't expect them to win in the snow, because I don't think they are a legitimately good team. But, to lose in that fashion to a team that has been totally decimated by injuries? It was a waste of everyone's time. This team doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs. Something has to change. That performance rendered the NFC West inferior to the AFC West in my mind. I have no problem with either the Chargers or Broncos making the playoffs. But, if that godawful display was the best that the NFC West has to offer, then they should lose their right to send a representative to the postseason.

Dallas and Philadelphia: The Giants are pulling their weight, and yet these two teams seem hell-bent on dragging down the division. Dallas looked terrible in the final game at Texas Stadium (I'd push the button on the dynamite if they'd let me). While the Eagles finished "one yard and one timeout short" which really sums up their season. Andy Reid is the worst in-game coach in America. Marvin Lewis seems to be the worst coach in America during the rest of the week. Babcock and I debated which of these two were worse several weeks ago, and we decided on Lewis. Apparently Jim Zorn felt left out, but his victory over Reid on Sunday kept him out of the running.

Jerry Jones: Lately, the Cowboys have been looking more like the Jerry Springer show then the Jerry Jones show. This team is a complete circus, and the coach that Jones is so committed to is completely incapable of managing them.

The Lakers: I don't care what anybody says, this team is still soft. They were soft last year, and the return of Andrew Bynum hasn't been the shot in the arm that even I thought it would be. They don't play defense every night, and I expect Rajon Rondo to toy with them on Christmas. On the other end of the court, I expect to see the return of what Babcock called "twelve feet or further", which means that the Lakers will stay outside of the paint on offense all night. My prediction: Celtics by double digits.

RIP Slingin' Sammy Baugh

ESPN summed up the Redskins' great pretty well:

"After starring at TCU, "Slingin' Sammy" played with the Redskins from 1937 to 1952, leading them to the NFL title in his rookie season and again in 1942.

Baugh was the best all-around player in an era when such versatility was essential. In 1943, he led the league in passing, punting and defensive interceptions. In one game, he threw four touchdown passes and intercepted four as well. He threw six touchdowns passes in a game twice. His 51.4-yard punting average in 1940 is still the NFL record."

Sad day for Redskins' Nation.

Where Have All The Gurus Gone?

My Friends, it has been too long.

I'm not going to offer excuses as to why the number of posts have been down on this site. We all know that we have barely generated enough revenue on this site to keep Larocque and I eating Burritos for 3.5 minutes. Fact: that means we could only buy 5 burritos. We've all got jobs to do, blah, blah, blah. But, like a PR savvy man will always say...it aint about the money homey, its about respect. So here we go...

The Celtics are quite possibly the most exciting professional sports team to watch right now. Notice that I said "team". I have found myself dry heaving to ridiculous highlights of Lebron dunking on people on a nightly basis for the last two months, needless to say he is the most exciting athlete in pro sports right now. Cavaliers sidenote: I've heard rumors of the Cavs making a move to get Shawn Marion via Anderson Verajao and Wally Szerbiak. I don't get this move. Marion was a great role player for the Suns about 5 years ago. Also, I don't buy that any one would take Wally in a trade. Furthermore, Verajao is on my short list of tall assholes in the NBA (led of course by Pao Gasol) but he has actually been playing well for the Cavs this year...in fact, the Cavaliers as a whole are playing better around Lebron than they have in his entire career. Why break this up now by bringing in Marion? Which brings me back to the Celtics. The Cavaliers are playing better than they ever have, but the Celtics GOT better with the addition of a healthy Tony Allen and Ray Allen and the metamorphosis of Rajon Rondo into one of the top 5 point guards in the NBA. (Chris Paul, Devin Harris, Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Rajon Rondo). Whats the difference? The Cavs still have potential (I think) to shit the bed in a big situation. The Celtics have a plethora of guys who could come through at crunch time, including guys who can shoot from the outside... while a monstrous dunk from Lebron might make me shit, puke, and piss at the same time its only worth 2 points.

JP Losman...a poor mans Keanu Reeves.

Last weekends Patriots victory fell under the dark shadow of disgust that is the Buffalo Bills. Watching them give that game away to the Jets took a lot of the fun out of an easy victory over the Raiders. Buffalo has gone spiraling down the shitter faster than a Taco Bell Gordita. I can't imagine what the fans in Buffalo must be going through right now. Is it possible that living in Buffalo is so horrid that it makes it seem that just having an NFL franchise is good enough? One thing is for sure, JP Losman has about as much pocket presence as Plaxico Burress' handgun.

Sidenote: Instead of serving 3 years in Jail can't they sentence Burress to 3 years as a player in Oakland, Detroit, or St Louis?

I'm still optimistic about the Patriots making the playoffs. If Dallas can beat Baltimore and the Patriots win out they could snag the second AFC wild card. Arizona doesn't scare me at home in December, and well, I've already said my piece on Buffalo. All things considered the season has been a remarkable one for the Patriots. The fact is that we could very easily have one two more games this year and might already be in control of our destiny in the Playoffs. Considering that New England has lost an average of 6 starters to injury each week throughout the entire season, 9-5 is pretty good. Just ask a Redskins fan.

On another Patriots related note Matt Cassell was snubbed for the Pro Bowl. I'm not surprised that Favre gets the nod because everybody loves the guy, he's old, I get it. For an entire season no one has been able to come up with anything to say about Cassell except that he has been a backup since high school. Fact is, he put up better numbers than Favre this year in every single category except number of touchdowns thrown (Favre had 21 with 17 picks, Cassell 18 and 11). Brett Favre can kiss my ass.

Now, if you are still reading, step away from the computer and do yourself and watch the Celtics-Hawks game...and don't forget to buy those special people in your life some nice merchandise from the Roomofzen store.









Happy Holidays.

Deadskins...

I remember ridiculing the Eagles for tying the lowly Bengals two weeks ago. McNabb's comments after the game prompted the mockery, but after losing to the Bengals and the Lions, I can't talk trash about the Eagles. The Rams and the Bengals, apart from the Lions, are probably the two worst teams in football and they share one thing in common: they beat a team that was supposed to be a lock for the playoffs 4-5 weeks ago.

Thinking about yesterday's loss is like watching the stock-market these days -- you will see signs of recovery or optimism only to have them crushed by a broad sell-off or hedge-fund redemption. At the start of the season, Redskins' fans were fired up about their road wins at Dallas and Philly speculating that late season games at home would be favorable for the Skins. The Redskins would have a cakewalk with Detroit, St. Louis, Seattle, and Cincy and then leave room for a few losses against NFC East teams at home. Win one against Dallas or Philly, lose to New York, beat the teams you're supposed to beat, and you're playoff bound.

So now casual fans may ask, "how could the Redskins lose this game?"

1. The Bengals have the second-worst offense in the league

2. Cincy's star player and QB is injured (Palmer)

3. There was no home field advantage at the Bengals stadium

4. The 'Skins still had a chance to make the playoffs -- one loss by Dallas or Carolina would have put them right back into the hunt!

5. The Skins have one of the best running backs in football.

A lot was one the line for the Redskins and next to nothing was on the line for the Bengals (it's not like Cincy could even get the number one draft pick this year!). Yet the Redskins still lost this game and lost it badly. What gives?

My analysis suggests that Coach Zorn's play-calling suffers from a recent lack of creativity which makes the Redskins very predictable on offense. Couple bad play-calling with key injuries on the offensive line and you have a recipe for players getting frustrated with a rookie coach who can't seem to adjust his game-plans against defensive coordinators around the league. Zorn admitted this yesterday when he said, "I feel like the worst coach in football." Fans like me agree: you are close to the worst coach in football right now.

The result of Zorn's bad coaching is that popular players speak out, locker rooms turn against their coaches, and teams lose what could have been positive momentum to close the season or a final, desperate push to the playoffs. Morale, like morale on any team sport, is devastated after losses and public questioning makes everything worse and diminishes the collective respect for coaches on teams. (And respect for coaches, arguably, is even more important in the NFL where players make more than their coaches!)

Take the recent spat with Clinton Portis. Everyone in DC knows that Dan Snyder, the Redskin's owner, has a long-lasting and fond relationship with the All-pro running back which predates the Coach Zorn era (thanks for the phraseology Bill Simmons). Clinton knows he'll have zero repercussions for speaking out against the Coach and he took last week's loss as an opportunity to rip Coach Zorn's play calling. Portis called the coach and the play-calling "genius." And Watching Zorn give Mike Sellers the ball not once, but twice on the 1 yard line yesterday makes me agree with Clinton, although I hate it when players speak out against their coaches.

So maybe there is something to Coach Zorn’s recent decline in play-calling abilities. Maybe defenses know how to adjust now and Zorn isn’t ahead of the curve in his game-plans? Either way, players are unhappy and what could have been an excellent season just 5 weeks ago is now a disaster unfolding in sl0w-motion. What should be obvious is that offensive play-calling, like the expectations of players and their offensive duties, should increase as the season progresses. Good teams do this and make the playoffs (the Eagles, potentially) and bad teams (the Redskins) drop the ball.

Patriots fans – this is like seeing Tom Brady’s knee slowly tear over the course of the season. But instead of having it happen at once, it happens slowly and painfully while you watch with horror.

Tonight's The Night

Rock and Roll.

Style Points

The Cavs are scary.

Week 14 Picks

We recorded a podcast with our picks for this week. However, we sound like slow-talking robots. We're going to try and get this fixed by next week. Rather than go without picks, I thought I'd post our picks for this week so that we can have an accurate tally on the roomofzen picks for the entire season.

Before we start:

"Like everyone else, I'm still disappointed that a receiver didn't honor Plaxico Burress last weekend by catching a touchdown, then pretending to shoot himself in the leg with the football and limping around. This never would have not happened if Chad Johnson was still alive."
--Bill Simmons, in his week 14 picks column. Quotes like these are why he makes the big bucks.



We were 13-3 last week


Bears (-6) over Jaguars: I like the Bears to cover here.

Minnesota (-7.5) over Detroit: When we podcasted, I took a leap of faith on Detroit. But, with Pat and Kevin Williams now set to play, I have to take the Vikings to cruise in this one.


Houston (+7.5) over Green Bay: The Texans seem to be hitting their stride. I can't stress enough each week how much I love what Aaron Rodgers and his crew of receivers are doing. But, that Green Bay defense is shotty. 7.5 is too much for Green Bay to be giving.


Tennessee (-10) over Cleveland: I just imagine Romeo Crennel sitting in his office all day watching funny youtube videos and playing computer solatiaire to make the time before he is fired go more quickly. This strategy will not translate well on the field. Shaun Rogers and that defensive line may slow the Titans running game, but I expect Kerry Collins to outdeul Ken Dorsey.


Indy (-13) over the Bengals: 13 is a lot, especially against a Bengals team that seems to keep their losses closely (last weeks game notwithstanding). But, Indy looked as bad as I've ever seen last week. They will come out with a sense of urgency today to prove their worth.


Atlanta (+1) over New Orleans: Even with Will Smith, this Saints defense is too thin to stop this surprising Falcons offense.


Giants (-7.5) over Philadelphia: Assuming nobody else shoots themself in the leg by accident, I like the G-Men to roll and clinch the division here.


Miami (-1) over Buffalo: Miami needs to keep their head above water.


Denver (-7.5) over KC: We have seen two different Denver teams this season. The bad one should win this game by ten.



Jets (-4) over San Francisco: The Jets got smacked back in to reality last week. This is a tough test on the West Coast, but if they are for real then they need to win.



Patriots (-7) over Seattle: "Seattle really sucks" has been one of the more overlooked storylines of this season.



Arizona (-14) over St. Louis: ...........14 points is a lot.......14 points is a lot........but, the Cards are at home and they should get back on track. I think they cover.



Pittsburgh (-3.5) over Dallas: When we originally podcasted, I took Dallas. But, with Marion Barber out, Pittsburgh's defense should have their way with Tony Romo. With DeMarcus Ware out, the Cowboys won't be able to take advantage of the Steelers' shitty offensive line.


Baltimore (-5.5) over Washington: Stop Clinton Portis, stop the Redskins.


Carolina (even) over Tampa Bay: Carolina is undefeated at home and DeAngelo Williams is a machine.

Respect the Voltron

There's something Hypnotizing about this.

Former Celtic Rodney Rodgers Paralyzed.

We'd like to extend our best wishes to former NBA sixth man of the year and former Celtic Rodney Rodgers, who is reportedly paralyzed after an ATV accident. We remember Rodgers fondly as a big man with a nice scoring touch, and as one of the biggest additions that helped the Cs reach the Conference Finals in 2002. All the reports I've heard, as well as the linked article on the accident, describe him as an extremely humble and kind person. This is a big time downer.

NHL Thought Police

Sean Avery, aka "The Pest," is at it again. This time he's talking about Phaneuf and 24's Elisha Cuthbert:

"I'm really happy to be back in Calgary; I love Canada....I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about, but enjoy the game tonight."

I'm not a huge fan of Sean Avery's, but this is getting ridiculous. Is Gary Bettman going to start policing NHL lockerooms now?

Plax & the Giants

If you haven't had the chance to read Kevin Hench's article on Plaxico Burress, do yourself a favor and read it now.

I love how everyone in the media does one of four things when something tragic like this happens to a sports-figure; in this article, the author does all four of them at once:

1) They get on the high horse and lecture the player like he or she is actually reading the article and taking their advice into account (example: "This must have gone over really well with all his teammates — particularly the offensive and defensive linemen lugging that extra weight — who were choosing to participate despite making far less money than Burress.")

2) They speculate as to why this event happened and make suggestions as to how a team can avoid it from happening again (Example: when Hench talks about Rosenhaus and how he allegedly manipulates Plaxico to get more money from his team)

3) They relentlessly criticize everyone involved in the situation so that fans get angry and agree with their analysis (example: "For Coughlin, it was simple: 50 strikes and you're out. For one game.")

4) They make some obnoxious, snide comment that's supposed to be funny: "In other words, don't let the gun discharge into your thigh on the way out the door, Plax."

My take on Plaxico is actually a bit different from Hench's:

- I'm happy he's out of the NFC East although the Giants are playing very well without him.

- Plaxico is yet another example and casualty of the pressure young athletes with money and fame have to deal with every day. I'm not defending his behavior, but I do feel bad for the guy because:

a. The courts won't feel sorry for him; Mayor Bloomberg won't feel sorry for him either
b. The fans won't feel sorry for him because he has money, fame and talent and is "supposed to act a certain way"
c. Just owning a gun is not a good enough reason to do three years in prison (if you ask me)

- I'm happy Antonio Pierce may be suspended since he's just as good as Plaxico! Again, this is good for the Redskins and bad for the Giants. Both players will be missed in the playoffs this year.

- The last time we saw an athlete and a handgun together in a nightclub, we had Ray Lewis. I know Plax may be going to jail, but at least no one got hurt and at least he didn't seriously injure himself. He'll go to jail for at least a year, stay in shape, and like Michael Vick, will be back in the NFL before you know it. (Yes, the NFL is one of the few places where you get second and third and fourth chances; like it or not, you know someone will resign Plaxico as soon as they can)

- Nick saw this one coming a long time ago. I believe his words were, "Plax is one of those guys with off-the-field problems we will never know about."

Brilliance from Tirico Suave: Kicking off the Christmas Season at the expense of Plaxico Burress.

I love Eli Manning, but this post from Tirico Suave is one of the funniest things I have seen in a really long time. A Christmas Story is my favorite holiday movie, and this is hands down the best adaptation out there. Joey Porter as Scott Farkus and Bart Scott as Grover Dill put the icing on the cake.

KO'd

This is happening.

Happy Thanksgiving

The Official Holiday of Roomofzen.

Foil in the Oven: Week 13 Picks

It's looking more and more like there may not be a week 13 picks podcast. There are no rifts or disputes. Things are just as harmonious as ever here at the roomofzen. But, we've all got to hit the road for Thanksgiving.

I was a pathetic 9-7 last week, but I always bounce back:


Tennessee over Detroit: I really like this Detroit team in the same way I liked the '06-'07 Celtics. I watched that Celtics team every night, even though I knew the odds of them winning were very slim each time (especially once they started trying to lose on purpose). But, they were fun to watch. They worked really hard. I was watching Rajon Rondo and Al Jefferson come of age. Anybody who watched that spring was probably not surprised to see Leon Powe come on strong in the playoffs last year. Their effort and potential made me feel a lot better about watching them lose constantly. I assume Detroit fans feel the same way. There is nothing shameful about the way this Lions team is losing. They play hard. Calvin Johnson is turning out highlight reel caliber catches every week. Daunte Culpepper is making a lot of mistakes, but it's an exciting change and at least he's airing it out. I appreciate the way they've been able to go 0-11, and I actually look forward to watching them on Thanksgiving. That being said, they can't stop the run and that does not bode well. The Titans are giving 11 here and I like them to cover.


Dallas over Seattle: Dallas finally got back to business last week. I expect them to hold form on Thanksgiving. Don't be deceived, though, by two straight lopsided home wins against NFC West teams. I don't think they can do this against everyone, and I expect them to continue underachieving. Dallas giving 10.5, and I expect them to cover. I'd like to thank the NFL for these riveting Thanksgiving Day matchups.



Philadelphia over Arizona: You need to separate yourself from everything you see on ESPN. Think for yourself please. Look, the Eagles have the 6th best defense and the 9th best offense in the NFL. They are not a bad team. The Cardinals, despite everything that we see and hear, are flawed. Their run game is weak. They have also turned in piss poor performances on the East coast. Kurt Warner is having a great year, but he does have a tendency to cough the ball up against pressure. The Eagles are at home. They've been listening all week to experts discussing them as if they are no better than the Rams or Lions. Jim Johnson will bring heavy pressure against the Cards. I like Philly here.

This is an NFL Network game, which is too bad. It's tough to leave the family to go to a bar to watch football.

One more thought here: I would like nothing more than to see Donovan McNabb go somewhere new after this season, win a super bowl, and rub it in the faces of Philadelphia fans. They booed him on the way in. All he did was make the Eagles one of the NFL's top teams for over half a decade despite being surrounded, for most of the time, by receivers that are not good enough to start for anybody else (James Thrash, Todd Pinkston, Freddie Mitchell.....). The one good receiver his organization brought in is a cancer. McNabb has gotten no help from this organization. He's laid his body on the line time and time again. People seemed to turn a negative eye on him after the Rush Limbaugh situation, over which he had no control. And now, because this team is not good enough or healthy enough to compete in the NFC East, Philly fans are disrespecting him on the way out. This guy has done a great job. If you want to point the finger, point it at Andy Reid. He pulled McNabb at halftime of a 3 point game! In doing so, he put a young Kevin Colb out there against the Baltimore Ravens defense! In doing so, he ensured a loss for his team.



Buffalo over San Francisco: Marcus Stroud will stuff Frank Gore. Marshawn Lynch will go for over 100, and the Bills will control this one throughout. Mike Singletary dropping his pants on the sideline to reveal a pair of long johns would be priceless.



Indy over Cleveland: Brady Quinn is done for the year, which means Derek Anderson and his sub-50% completion rate are back. The Colts are starting to look like one of those teams that could go from the wildcard spot to the super bowl.



Baltimore over Cincinnati: The Bengals have 10 days rest, which means absolutely nothing here but I think I should mention it. The Ravens are giving 7 here and they should cover. They have been playing very sound football, and I expect them to keep Cincy out of the end zone.

Another note here: Ocho Cinco was benched last week because he refused his assistant coaches orders to sit up straight in his chair during a team meeting. This went on until Chad walked out. Now, I'm not condoning Chad's actions. He does make millions to do his job. BUT, this story makes me very curious to learn more about the priorities of the Bengals coaching staff. We've got guys breaking the law left and right. Chris Henry never missed any more time than what the NFL mandated despite numerous brushes with the law. We've got guys arguing with each other on the sidelines constantly. We've had guys publicly scorning their front office and coaches. Really, this team has NEVER taken action against one of their players unless the NFL mandated it. And yet, Chad Ocho Cinco finds himself suspended for refusing to sit up straight. I can't believe they even asked him to sit up straight. It's like trying to fill the grand canyon with a garden hose.



Carolina over Green Bay: The Panthers are pretenders. There's no question. We saw their true colors last week. However, they can run the ball, and Green Bay's run defense has been VERY shotty. My gut tells me to go with the Packers at home here, but my head says Carolina stuffs it down their throats.



Miami over St. Louis: There is no line for this game. From what I hear, it's because people are waiting to hear some injury news for the Rams (I think Marc Bulger). Rather than delve into it, I'll handicapp it. Miami is on the road, and I like them -8.5 .



Tampa Bay over New Orleans: The Saints are back on the road, and this has let down written all over it. Drew Brees is, in my opinion, the MVP right now. This team would not have won a single game without his brilliant play. They've been incredibly banged up, and his play has not faltered. Brees will play well in this one, but it won't be enough.



Giants over Washington: I've had this game pegged for a Giants loss for the past month. However, the play of the Redskins has really declined since then. Big Blue will keep the Skins' running game in check, and that means trouble for the Washington offense. The wildcard factor here is Sean Taylor being inducted into the Redskins Ring of Fame and how that will affect the emotions of the game.


San Diego over Atlanta: I hate to do this. Atlanta looks great, and San Diego is never going to come around. But, this game is on the West Coast, and I think the Chargers will be looking to bounce back. They could overtake Denver in the AFC West, not that it matters. Whoever wins the AFC West will get dumped by a wild card team (potentially Indy).



Pittsburgh over New England: This will be a great game. Matt Cassell has looked outstanding, but I don't think he can replicate those numbers in this one. The Steelers defense is just too good. At the same time, Pittsburgh can't run the ball and they do not do a good job protecting Big Ben. Pittsburgh wins this one in the final minutes.



Broncos over Jets: This is a bad pick, but I can't take this media lovefest with the Jets anymore. I can't stand people on ESPN comparing the Jets and Packers. You'd have to literally know nothing about football to say that the Jets are in a better position than the Packers right now. Favre was a temporary solution. Where do they go after this season? Aaron Rodgers and those young Packers receivers have a bright, bright future. I hate the Jets. The Broncos have a horrible defense, but they can put up a lot of points. I guess I'm picking that Cutler outslings Favre.



Oakland over Kansas City: Oakland is better than you think. They are undeniably better than Kansas City.



Vikings over Bears: I like the Vikings at home. Kyle Orton doesn't look totally healthy and I don't think Matt Forte has a big day against the Vikings run defense.



Houston over Jacksonville: This game sucks. I feel like everyone overestimates the Jags because, like the Chargers, we all expect them to come around eventually. They won't. They're not good. Houston is not good either, but I think they are more likely to come up with some big plays from Andre Johnson and Steve Slaton.

Eddy Jordan

I feel somewhat obligated to comment on the Wizard's firing of Eddy Jordan. I really liked Eddy Jordan as a person: always well-spoken, articulate, positive in his demeanor, never belittling the press or acting like an asshole. That type of attitude and comportment is hard to find in the NBA these days.

Jordan was also a successful product of DC public schools, graduated college, and played very well in the NBA; I think he's an excellent role model for black kids in DC and I am very sad to see him go.

The irony is that Washington Post writers are claiming that the reason behind Jordan's firing is the way the Wizard's played defense; basically they say that because the team made the playoffs over the last few years and because they scored so many points (usually in the top five in points scored), everyone ignored the bad defense they played night after night. Now, after losing 10 games in a row, the Post argues that defense has always been Jordan's achilles heel.

This is true to a certain extent, but the Wizards improved to the 12th in the league from dead-last last year, and they were making strides; Haywood, until he was injured, was leading the league in blocks (or at least top five) and I think that under Jordan, he was turning into a good presence in the paint.

Of course you can also look at the injuries to Gilbert, Haywood and the trading of Roger Mason, whose nasty on the Spurs right now, for reasons as to why the Wizards suck so badly right now.

Why don't we fire Grunfeld along with Jordan instead of just firing Jordan and leaving the league with one less black coach who is a stellar example to all?

Better yet, why don't people question why Arenas got 110 million dollars, thereby ruining our cap situation for the 2010 bonanza coming up, despite his injury problems? This is the GM's fault for signing this injury prone, overpaid player and not Jordan's fault, right?

Grunfeld also resigned Andre Blatche this year and he's nothing but Kwame Brown redux. I have no idea why they resigned him, other than his size and occasional tendency to hit the three pointer.

Put the signings aside for a minute and think about how the Wizards have not noticeably improved over the last few years while other teams have. Wilbon says it best in his recent column:

"There's no arguing that. Atlanta, Philly, New York, Miami, Toronto, Milwaukee -- they all got better over the summer. The Wizards gave Arenas $111 million and he hasn't played one second, and we don't know when he will or what he'll look like when he does. Every time the Wizards lose a game it looks like keeping Arenas, especially at that price, was an enormous mistake. Grunfeld made a very nice draft pick in JaVale McGee, but the kid needs a couple of years to become a consistent impact player."

The ultimate irony in Jordan's firing, however, was again the idea of defense. When Jordan played in the league, he was known as a fierce defender and very good at getting steals (averaged close to two steals throughout his career). In 1979, on the Nets, he was second in the league in steals so you know Jordan excepts and understands the importance of defense!

I hope Jordan lands on a good team and I also hope that he leads his future team to success. Washington will miss him.

Baroness Returns And Dominates Us Again

As it always does before a holiday, work had piled up over the weekend. The last thing I needed, I thought, was to be heading out late on a cold Sunday night to go to a concert at the Middle East. And yet, I couldn't resist the urge. As soon as I walked through the doors, I realized that I had made the right move. This show was, indeed, exactly what I needed.

Throughout the existence of the roomofzen, we have never missed a Baroness show in New England. The first concert we ever reviewed was a Baroness show at the Middle East (I also just came across Babcock's post from when we saw them in March). Ted Gilbert, who writes for our site (and with whom an interview is published in the current issue of Rue Morgue magazine) works for their label, Relapse Records. We have posted about ten times more Baroness videos on this site than we have any other band. We have mentioned their most recent album, the Red Album (hands down the best album released in 2007. Revolver Magazine named it the best metal album of 2007.), at least 100 times on this site. I would certainly not claim that they are the official band of the roomofzen (and we have certainly not contacted them about this possibility, as it would really benefit them in no way), but they are definitely our favorite. Their shows are the best we've seen, bar none. Sunday, November 23rd at the Middle East was no exception.


The show was kicked off by Boston's own Motherboar, about whom I had heard a great deal but never actually seen live. I have heard multiple people compare them to Motorhead, which pretty much automatically makes them awesome. We arrived a little late to their set, right as they began to play their Underwater Trilogy. What I saw of their performance sucked me right in. There was a ton of energy on stage and the music was sick (everything I've heard from Raise the Death Toll is great). I am definitely going to make a point of seeing them again.


Next up was Coliseum, another Relapse band that had been traveling with Baroness throughout the duration of the tour (and who opened for Rancid this summer). This trio from Louisville, KY had much more of a punk/hardcore sound and feel to them than Baroness and their performance gave us all the forceful kick in the face that we were craving.





As great as the music from Coliseum was, my favorite part of the set came towards the end, when lead singer and guitarist Ryan Patterson addressed the crowd. He thanked everyone for coming out, and talked about how appreciative he was to the crowd regardless of whether or not they were there for Coliseum. He spoke at length about how many people he knows that are in bands who don't have homes to go back to because they put so much of their passion, time, and resources into their music.

At the end of Patterson's address he said, "this time on this stage means the fucking world to us." We already knew that to be true. Coliseum sent that message to us with the raw energy and the honesty with which they performed. But actually hearing the words spoken had a huge impact on me and reminded me why I had come to the Middle East on that cold Sunday evening. I had come to see something real. Bands like these and shows like these are where we can still find the real essence of music. While millions of Americans were at home Sunday night watching plastic musicians churn out manufactured bullshit on the American Music Awards, we were seeing three bands that were bearing their souls to us and presenting us with something authentic and original that we could take or leave. Maybe I'm not explaining it right, but it was fucking badass. See Coliseum and buy No Salvation.


I don't need to tell you that Baroness took the stage around 11 for the final performance of the tour and fucking killed every note. They get better every time we see them, and are hands down the best live act on the planet. The setlist was different from the last shows we've seen. They opened with The Birthing instead of Rays On Pinion (which came later), but still closed with O'Appalachia. This was also the first time we've seen them since Peter Adams joined the group. If I had to pick a highlight of the show, I'd say that Wanderlust was particularly sick. But, there is really no way to break down or describe a live Baroness performance. It's impossible to do it justice. They are so raw and aggresive on stage, and yet the melodies are overwhelmingly present but unpredictable. If you haven't had the pleasure of a live show yet, then you're missing out. If you don't own their CDs (particularly the Red Album), then you must not value our opinion very much because this is about the 500th time we've told you.

I was there with Riley and Salsich, and all three of us agreed afterward that the goblet of rock had never tasted quite so potent as it did on that evening. Now, four days later, we all remain thoroughly quenched.

I don't know when they'll be back in New England, but I can't wait. As always, the roomofzen will be there.


Wanderlust:





Rays on Pinion:





Red Sky:

Release McNabb, Fire Andy Reid

As a Redskins fan, what could make you happier than seeing the Eagles implode before your very eyes?

Off the top of my head, not a whole lot.

Maybe a Dallas loss would put the icing on the cake, but watching McNabb on the bench is like getting an early Christmas present.

McNabb already made himself look like a total fool when he claimed that he was "unaware of the tie rule in professional football." Eight interceptions later, he's sitting on the bench after his assistant coach broke the bad news.

Andy Reid could have at least given him the courtesy of a face-to-face benching, but instead he was too busy coaching himself out of a job (or ordering take-out from Denny's).

McNabb should have quit last year when had the chance. But now, breaking down the 2008 Philadelphia Eagles is like taking a walk down mediocre boulevard. (And as a lifelong Redskins fan, I feel highly qualified to perform this analysis; long-time readers of the roomofzen and Patriots fans would agree I think)

Simply put, the Eagles lost their best receiver when they released Terrell Owens three years ago. Releasing TO was the right move at the time, but they should have signed someone to take his place.

Instead the Eagles put their faith in a Quarterback well past his prime and thanks to his injury last year, the organization had a convenient excuse to fall back on when they lost 8 games. Fake comment from the Eagles GM:

"We don't need more offense than LJ or Westbrook. We can always draft a few guys and have Donovan mentor them. What we need is defense and game-changing turnovers. Get me Rosenhaus on the line. (P.S we're terrible even with McNabb)"

Instead of realizing the need for a deep-threat like TO, they signed Asante Samuel chosing to address their supposed weakness in defense and turnover production. This was a mistake of epic proportions, as much as I like Asante Samuel as a player and person.

Why? Lito Shepherd, Sheldon Brown and B-Dawkins were getting the job done without Asante Samuel. And since the Eagles had no offense last year, their defense was constantly on their heels and getting creamed.

I know they have Westbrook and I agree with everyone who says he's one of the best running backs in football. But when is the guy healthy? Unlike Clinton Portis, whose actually smaller than Westbrook, the guy is always injured and complaining about some ailment. One day it's ribs, the next day it's his tampon.

So combine an injury prone McNabb with a running back who never plays, and now you have the Philadelphia Eagles. Even their tight-end, LJ Smith, can't go two plays without an injury so who is McNabb supposed to throw to right now?

The Eagles made the mistake of being irrationally attached to an injury-prone QB well beyond his prime. It was as if Reid and McNabb made the agreement to go down in flames together instead of quitting or letting Kolb get PT....that is until now, when Reid let his boy McNabb out to dry.

Maybe those Reid legal bills are piling up?

Fly, Eagles Fly!

Myron Rolle: a Rhodes Scholar and an FSU Safety

The roomofzen would like to extend a congratulations to Florida State safety Myron Rolle, who this weekend became the first ever Florida State football player to win a Rhodes Scholarship. It's always nice to read about guys like Rolle (who is an aspiring neurosurgeon) who stand as such strong counter-examples against all of the negative stereotypes we hear about division 1 student athletes.

Sounds like he's got a big decision to make. Personally, I'd still choose the NFL. He can always pursue his interests after he's made his millions. People will say that he'll lose his drive, but this guy earned a Rhodes Scholarship despite being presented with all of the distractions and shortcuts that I'm sure are available to FSU players. I doubt that motivation will go away just because of money.

Welcome to the Weekend

Ween - Orpheum 10/19/07 - My Own Bare Hands

Detroit No Longer the Standard

The Detroit Pistons have been the standard in the Eastern Conference for 5 years now. Although they have only appeared in the Finals twice during that stretch, they have been the consistent mark of excellence by which all other East teams need to be measured in order to be taken seriously. The Heat in 06, The Cavs in 07, the Celtics in 08...all of these teams needed to knock off Detroit in order to gain the respect of their critics. And they did. The irony here is that the Pistons have not won the Eastern Conference since 2005. And yet, every year they are showered with respect and accolades usually reserved for reigning champions.

The Pistons are not heroes. Instead, they are the abyss through which heroes must pass. In order to defeat the machine, a hero must rise up and take their game to new and fabled heights. Dwayne Wade emerged from his battle with Detroit more mature and primed to turn in the greatest Finals performance in NBA history. The next year, LeBron James came of age right before our eyes. We had seen the obvious flashes of potential, but it wasn't until King James found himself backed into a corner by the 5 headed monster from the Motor City that he was able to channel that potential into jaw-dropping, legendary greatness. That's what it takes to beat this team. A superstar. And yet, strangely, they have never had a player like this.


They run like a machine. They are mechanically flawless. There are no weaknesses to exploit. And on top of that, they make their own mismatches. Their 7-footer can knock down 3s with astonishing regularity. Rip Hamilton is the ultimate irritant who can get any defender to leave his feet. If their point guard can't beat you off the dribble, he'll post you up down on the low block. Their team defense is like a sleeper hold, slowing your life functions until you're barely able to breathe at all. It's virtually impossible to beat them just by playing sound team basketball, because there's no way that you do it as well as them. They are not superstars. Instead, they are the fire that forges superstars. They are the ultimate test. At least they were. After last night, it's pretty clear to me that those days are gone.






Last night was one of those games that you circle on your calendar as soon as the schedules are released. We all expected another epic battle. An Eastern Conference Finals preview. Hell, I was still thinking that way as I was making my way to my seat last night. The first matchup was a fluke, I thought, this would be much more difficult. Never did I expect that the Big Three would each see less than 30 minutes of floor time. Never did I expect that we'd see Gabe Pruitt and Patrick O'Bryant out on the floor for the Celtics to gain some garbage time experience. Never did I expect that fans would be exiting the arena after just three quarters because the outcome had already been secured. Now, this Pistons team has had some impressive victories, and I know it seems premature to close the book on them while they're still finding their new selves after the AI trade, but I'm doing it. The Pistons are no longer the Pistons. There are still many credible threats to the Celtics in the East this season, but they are coming from different places.


I love the trade that Joe Dumars made to bring in Allen Iverson, because I think that it will pay huge dividends down the line. Essentially, I think it will allow the Pistons to rebuild before they ever sink too low. But, this move kills them in the short term. First, they don't take care of the ball. The Celtics had 11 steals last night, and the Pistons just looked horrible in transition. Second, they can't score points in the paint. Antonio McDyess was a very underrated piece of the Pistons attack, as was the ability of Chauncey Billups to use his size down on the block. Third, their defense is full of holes. Rajon Rondo had his way with them last night. Finally, they lack depth. Stuckey and Maxiell. That's about it. Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Eddie House, Brian Scalabrine (yes...fine..I said it), and Glen Davis dominated the Pistons bench last night.


Now, some of these issues will be relieved if Antonio McDyess returns. He will help them to improve in the paint on both ends. This will also give them another solid bench player in Kwame Brown. However, McDyess will not be enough to salvage this team.


People say that we can't take too much away from the two Detroit-Boston matchups so far this season, but I don't understand why. Exactly what are we waiting to see from Allen Iverson? People say "oh, they're just getting used to playing with Iverson. He's a totally different player than Chauncey Billups." Are we supposed to wait for him to establish some kind of consistent offensive rhythm with this unit? The Nuggets were waiting for that too....FOR 2 YEARS! It's not going to happen, especially not over a few months. Either Allen Iverson is his team's identity or his team has no identity. That's the way it has been for his entire career. In Philadelphia, he was the identity for a long time. That worked during the dark ages of the Eastern Conference, as he once led his team far enough for them to be the Lakers' sacrificial lamb. Under Iverson, the Pistons will be exciting and they will most likely have a good record. But, they will not establish an identity and they will not take care of the basketball. AI has always taken too many shots and he has always turned the ball over. They will continue to give up points. Chauncey Billups used to thwart opponents' possessions before they ever really built any momentum. AI works on defense (I'm not saying it's an effort thing) but the results appear to be the bare minimum. Can the Pistons beat the Celtics as currently constructed (plus McDyess)? In a single game, absolutely. In a playoff game or two, sure. In a 7 game series? Not a chance. What they're doing this season flies completely in the face of the way they were constructed.


The Pistons will be back. This trade assured that. But, for the time being, the shift in power in the East is complete. The new standard has been established. The road in the East runs through Boston. The Pistons can get in line for their shot.

Roomofzen Podcast Episode #5: Week 12 Picks

Babcock and I briefly touch on Kevin Garnett's suspension, and then delve into what we expect in Week 12. If we had a gun to our head and we had to hire Marvin Lewis or Andy Reid as our head coach, who would we pick? Are either of us taking the Lions to pick up their first win? The Titans to pick up their first loss? Who is living the better life right now, Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart? Has Matt Leinart slept with Kurt Warner's wife? We have all your answers here. Enjoy.....



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Uncle Tupelo: New Madrid

Q-Bitch

I noticed during the game last night that Quentin Richardson and Paul Pierce were going back and forth during the fourth quarter while Pierce was at the free throw line. Q-Rich was jawing at Paul, who was talking back but smiling and knocking down his free throws. So, I wasn't surprised to read on Ball Don't Lie today that Q-Rich once again felt the need to speak out against the Celtics. You'll remember that he did this last year as well.


Here are his comments:


"I think a few of those guys know they can't just say anything to us," said Richardson. "I'm just real curious to see what those guys will be saying if we weren't in a basketball league, and didn't have referees. I mean it wouldn’t be the same story. I mean they are the world champions and rah-rah-rah, but the tough part I don't factor."

"I come from a neighborhood where you can say what you want to say, but 'til you do something, it don't mean nothing. Some of those guys are happy to get a ring, but you ain't been in the league long enough to talk to people like that. I don't have a lot of respect for that. Like I said, I'd be curious to hear what they have to say in a different setting, I'd be very curious to see that."




............So, if I understand correctly, it sounds like he wants to play a game without referees. Is that correct? Were the referees the problem? Maybe I'm misinterpreting. Also, apparently he comes from a neighborhood where you your talk doesn't mean anything...sorry...where your talk doesn't mean NOTHING...until you do something. This is surprising since the Knicks haven't beaten the Celtics in the regular season since he started opening his mouth about them last year. You'd think he'd stop, especially after losing to a Celtics team that rolled out Scal instead of KG. Also, apparently talking means nothing, yet he'd be interested to see what the Celtics would say in a different setting. I'm not sure why he wants to know what they'd say and why that matters if talking means nothing, or what other setting he is referencing. This is all very confusing.

Musings

Now that we're 10 games into the NFL regular season, I can safely say that the Redskins and Eagles do not deserve playoff births. (That's not to say that they won't get them, but only that they don't deserve them right now.)

The Eagles tied the Bengals which is probably the worst team in the NFL.

The Redskins couldn't beat Dallas at home, on Prime-time TV, a week after being destroyed and humiliated by the Steelers.

Both teams are just flat-out pathetic after sparking early-season interest with huge wins over Pittsburgh (Philly) and Dallas (Redskins).

I'm not about to argue that the Cowboys are "good now" after beating the lowly Redskins. Remember that the 'Skins almost lost to the Lions and unequivocally lost to the Rams. That's like saying the Redskins have a strong 6-4 record against winning teams...you would be lying right through your teeth and laughed out of the nearest sports bar. I could be wrong, but the Cowboys have to beat someone good for me to take them seriously these next few weeks.

And I'm not about to start hyping a team that's starting Donovan McNabb right now. From footballguys.com:

"In a loss to the Giants and a tie against the Bengals, McNabb was intercepted a total of four times and lost a fumble. In those two games, he completed 45 of 94 passes (47.9 percent). His passer rating against the Giants was 80.1. Against the Bengals, it was 50.9 as he went 28 for 58 with three interceptions."

So that leaves us with the New York football Giants and the smug Nick Larocque loving every moment of this potential repeat. Can you say the word, "Dynasty" with the New York Giants? Unfortunately the answer is "yes" this year.

Ask yourself the following questions: 1) who in the NFL can beat the Giants right now? 2) Who could do it in the playoffs?

In their one loss to the Browns, the Giants showed uncharacteristic weakness on the road (the Giants had won 11/12 on the road going into the Browns game), but Eli Manning threw 3 interceptions, and I think it's safe to assume that won't happen in the playoffs. The Giants also gave up 455 yards of offense, which is strange because the Giants have one of the stingiest defenses in the league this year. I think the Browns loss was an anomaly for the Giants, but I could be wrong.

So let's assume the Giants continue winning and secure home field advantage in the playoffs. And then let's assume the Cardinals, Panthers, Packers, Redskins and Cowboys (assuming they turn it around these next few weeks) make the playoffs.

- The Cardinals function as a perpetual house of cards; they almost lost to San Francisco for god-sake.

- The Panthers don't have a solid win over a legitimate team so far (if they beat the Giants in three weeks, I will obviously change my mind)

- The Bears have QB problems (injuries, sub-par play) and receiver problems

- The Packers are extremely inconsistent and inexperienced; odds have it that a rookie QB won't lead his team over the Giants anyway.

- Dallas is soft like putty

- The Redskins can't close games, nor do they have a QB who will remain healthy with their current offensive line; it's only a matter of time before Campbell gets his leg broken with the Redskins' current pass-pro

So that leave us with the Giants until someone can convince me otherwise. In my next post, I will tackle the AFC, but the Steelers have to be healthy for them to even have a shot.

The 2007-08 Patriots Brought Us Back Down to Earth

Domination. Dynasty. Dee best team in the league. Ever.

The 2007-08 Patriots sure had a good shot to claim association rights for all these words and phrases. After slapping around the already weary and beat up San Diego Chargers for their 4th AFC Title in 7 years, most fans were feeling pretty good about a week 17 re-match with the New York football Giants. I knew we had a legit shot. I think most people in Boston and New England were in the “cautiously optimistic” caucus, knowing full well that there are no sure things in sports.

Even for the more-dominant-than-usual Patriots.

After all, we hearty frost-bitten New Englanduhs were only a year removed from one of the worst playoff defeats in Boston sports history. Losing to the Colts in that gad-dang velodrome out in the heartland was far worse than losing Game 6 of the World Series in 1986. Since I grew up a FAN (not an obsessive-compulsive devotee) of the Red Sox, I didn’t know that Buckner doffing that ground ball only evened the series at 3 games apiece until I was 21 years old. All that time, until that one fateful night watching a NESN retrospective on the magical Boston sports season of 1985-1986 in which all 4 of our professional teams were in the finals, I had assumed that clip was in fact depicting the Mets clinching the title. I was too busy growing up, being a weird kid in Natick, playing football, throwing the shot-put and applying to college, to realize that NO, stupid!!!! The damn Sox had Game 7, and an extra day thanks to rain, to redeem themselves and blew that too. Sure, Game 6 was devastating. They were a strike away from having the Series crown. But it carried way too much weight in this town.

Two years removed from the sweet relief of the 2004 World Series title, and having won 3 Super Bowls since 2002, the dark days of 1986 were a distant memory on Sunday, January 21, 2007. But what would go down on this day was worse. It stung more. The ’86 Sox were close. And broke a lot of hearts – but they really just cut through scar tissue and refreshed old wounds. The Patriots of recent memory had been different. We were supposed to go into Indy and beat a good team whose defense, up until the playoffs, had underachieved mightily. Matchups be damned. Dwight Freeney going against Matt Light and whoever the other tackle was? Light plays up in big games. Bob Sanders covering wideouts like Jabar Gaffney and an aging Troy Brown? It had never been a problem before. Know why? “We got Bra-dy, cha---cha, cha-cha-cha!!!”

That’s right, we had Brady. Recent history had told us loud and clear that the Pats’ defense had to play well, but not spectactular, against Peyton. We had Kevin Faulk, one of the best and most versatile situational backs out there. We had a veteran / rookie team of Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney. The offense looked as good as it ever had. Plus, we had Brady.

Since Brady took the helm, a slightly modernized Walsh-style offense thrived. And won games. But not today. Too many well-thrown balls dropped. A defensive effort that was good enough to give us a chance, but without the punch to put Peyton’s ass on the carpet often enough to rattle him or take the ball out of his hands with turnovers. So we went home defeated.

Then came the most exciting Patriots’ offseason since drafting Drew Bledsoe at the dawn of the Parcells Era. The ultra-value investors of the Patriots’ coaching and management staff decided to grab a few blue chip wideouts to go with their superstar quarterback. We got Wes Welker. We got Donte Stallworth. And most importantly, we got Randy Moss. The Patriots stacked up like never before. Already picked as a contender yet again, they had a superstar QB, solid defense capable of improving, and a 2nd year running back in Maroney who showed signs that he’d blossom in 2007. We had an elusive, tough, and speedy bulldog of a wideout in Welker who not only fit in the playbook, he fit in the fans’ hearts as the scrappy underdog. And Randy effing Moss.

Tom Brady was more excited for 2007 than he was on his first date with Gisele. And for good reason: Moss re-defined the deep ball during his years with the Vikings, to paraphrase Chris Carter on HBO’s Inside the NFL. A team that was a couple plays away from an exciting AFC win title, and would have beat that wide-eyed Bears squad by 17, now had an all-world wideout with whom their all-world QB could pick apart defenses.

To say we were the Super Bowl favorites heading into the 2007-08 season was a platitude rivaled only by saying something akin to “My, it is soooo nice outside today!” while wasting a July day reclining on a beach in Maine. We’d go 14-2, and beat whoever the NFC sent to Arizona. That was my prediction that July, sitting on that beach in Maine. Barring devastating injuries, smooth sailing was in store for these New England Patriots. A team that won the right way, with class, pride, and an unrelenting determination was going to win their 4th NFL Championship. I felt it in the cockles of my heart, dammnit!

Like the 49ers and Giants teams of the 80’s and early 90’s, the Patriots had swagger, personality, star power, and a defense, and fans whose devotion rivals that of the craziest NFL fan base in the country. They had not been denied their perfect regular season. They would enjoy the extra week off given the best team in the AFC, and of course home games throughout the playoffs.

Two weeks after defeating Green Bay, the Giants rolled into the desert drooling and snarling. Riding high on a playoff run almost as improbable as that of the 2001-2002 Patriots, having broken the sunburned balls, slapped around Dallas as if they had stolen their prom date, and pulled of a win in the most frozen condition the Tundra had ever seen on an infamy-preventing, career-redeeming field goal by Tynes in OT. Not only were they white-hot and peaking at the right time of the year, their week 17 near-miss against the “unbeateable” Patsies was still fresh in their minds, and thus they were still playing as if each Sunday were their last. Not Brett Favre-Mississippi-drama-queen-debutante style. They played inspired, with fire under their asses, and ice in their veins.

Pats fans moan about the Giants’ victory, citing the lucky grab towards the end of the game, insisting still that Eli is not that good of a quarterback. He played well enough for them to win, and the Giants’ defense had the gameplan they needed to win. Pretty simple really: if Brady is getting knocked down, he can’t throw to Moss or Welker or anybody else.

So now that the wounds from the Patriots’ loss to the Giants on that cold dark evening have long since scarred over, I can look back and say that the team is better off having lost that game. No parade, no rolling rally, no dancing in the streets. I love Boston, I love Boston fans, but let’s face it, some are just as annoying as that Jersey kid with a Yankees cap on, talking shit on Lansdowne Street. It wasn’t enough in 2007 for New England to worship the team, we needed the whole league, the national press, the whole damn world to be glowing from this win. We became the very type of fans that we despise with such ardor - we became entitled.

Thank you, David Tyree. Thanks Osi. Thanks Eli. The winter was cold, but the Celtics won and the summer was gorgeous.

Tuesday Heavy Metal...

Why the hell not? Enjoy your Tuesday with this semi-Ozzy tribute band and of course, some relatively new Slayer...