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.