roomofzen

If We Only Knew....

2010-03-17T10:05:00.002-04:00

I think this was taken in 2007. At the time, I would have thought that was an "I'm so uncomfortable being around all of these girls" smile.

Big Blue Splash

2010-03-06T11:01:00.005-05:00

We've been taking a hiatus from the site until our lives slow down and we're able to bring it back to its former glory. But, I had to break our silence for this...

This is EXACTLY what the Giants needed. There literally could not be a more perfect fit for this team. This is a defense that gave up over 30 points 7 times last season, and over 40 points 5 times (in a schedule that featured both the NFC and AFC west divisions). In fact, you could argue that all of the Giants shortcomings last year boiled down to one major problem: they couldn't protect the middle of the field. That problem has been solved. The return of Kenny Phillips from injury was already a hugely positive step. However, the addition of Antrel Rolle will completely transform this secondary. This is not simply a talented young safety. This is one of the premeire safeties in the NFL. Don't think so? Take a look:

What other guys can make plays like this? Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu,.......and that's it.

The Giants still have what it takes. The pieces are there, and I'm glad to see they're still going full steam ahead despite last season's disappointments.

Also, while we're talking NFL, I can't help but scratch my head at some of the moves the Bears made yesterday. Sure, three great additions. Yes, of course you get Julius Peppers if you have the chance. But, have they already overdone it? They've signed three free agents already, and there is still one HUGE GLARING HOLE that they have failed to address.

A Little Irish Tour 1974 for ya....

2010-02-25T21:53:00.000-05:00

2010-02-06T13:15:00.004-05:00

It seems highly unlikely that anyone will ever produce a documentary about the rise and fall of the roomofzen, and if they did it probably wouldn't be anywhere near as badass as "Refused Are Fucking Dead" (probably because we are not as badass as Refused). So, instead, I thought people could just watch parts 1,2, and 3 (I think it's broken up into 6 parts on youtube) of that documentary of a sick band touring one of the most epic albums of all time. They play New Noise live on part 3.

Note, this dvd is a great buy. It's also on netfilx.

Sneak Peek of the Nike Air Max LeBron VII

2009-12-31T15:16:00.006-05:00

The Cleveland Plain Dealer published some pictures of LeBron James's next sneaker (Air Max LeBron VII), which is yet to be released.

Here they are:

Anybody know where this guy is hoping to land next season? It's hard to tell based on these pictures. That blue and orange would look odd paired with Cleveland's maroon, gold, navy, and white.

This is actually brilliant, because these will be even more sought after if he doesn't end up with the Knicks. So, either way it was smart.

happy new year.

Holiday Wishes from Scal

2009-12-23T11:32:00.001-05:00

Week 15 Picks: Video Message Taken on TBJ

2009-12-18T16:20:00.008-05:00

After submitting hundreds of e-mails and drunk phone calls to the basketball jones, I finally decided to up my game and make a video. I submitted a question about the NBA All-Defensive team that was first brought up on this site when Babcock, Casten, and I did a NFL picks podcast last season. I am proud to have sparked such enthusiastic discourse.

My question comes 12:24 into the episode below (although the whole episode is great, so watch all of it). It's nice to get Boner Salad some international exposure.

Ep. 486: Cry Foul from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

The Basketball Jones is hands down the best podcast out there, and everyone should be helping them out. You should email feedback@thescore.com (Canadian television network, and also international website that features great liveblogging and Jones videos) and let them know that you want to them to include more basketball jones.

We've got quick-hit picks this week. Here they are:

NEW ORLEANS -7 over Dallas

Green Bay +2 over PITTSBURGH

Miami +3 over TENNESSEE

NEW ENGLAND -7 over Buffalo

Arizona -12.5 over DETROIT

PHILLY -8 over San Francisco

JETS -4.5 over Atlanta

Chicago +11 over BALTIMORE (seems like a steep line to me. But I don't really recommend this. If anything throw Baltimore into a teaser)

KANSAS CITY -2 over Cleveland

Houston -12.5 over ST. LOUIS

SAN DIEGO -6.5 over Cincinnati

DENVER -14 over Oakland

SEATTLE -6.5 over Tampa Bay

MINNESOTA -9 over Carolina

NY Giants -3 over WASHINGTON

10 point teaser of the week: Baltimore -1 over Chicago, Denver -4 over Oakland, and San Diego +3.5 over Cincinnati

Lay it down.

A few tunes to get you through this frigid weekend:

This Is All Your Fault

2009-12-13T23:33:00.005-05:00

Plaxico Burress was brought to the Giants to be the ultimate weapon against the Eagles undersized defensive backs. These wide receivers are talented, but they're young and they weren't supposed to have to shoulder the load yet. Hakeem Nicks is having balls bounce off his hands. Mario Manningham can't get his feet down twice on plays that would have been guaranteed touchdowns for Burress. Eli is smart and saavy and he knows where to go with the ball, but what else can he do when these guys can't even stay in bounds?

Bottom line: this game, this season, and certainly last season would have been different if this asshole didn't shoot himself in the leg.

I hate the Eagles, but hats off to them.

I can only hope that Steve Spagnuolo is fired in St. Louis (although I don't think it's likely) so we can get him back here next season. It doesn't even have to be him. Anybody! Bill Sheridan is a joke. This defensive line is an absolute joke right now. I don't know what it is, but I find it hard to believe that every single one of these guys has suddenly "lost it". Maybe it's scheme, maybe they aren't motivated to play for him. Whatever it is, it needs to change. Osi Umenyiora is good. I know he is. Two years ago, he sacked Donovan McNabb 6 times.

I can give Sheridan a pass on the secondary breakdowns. That whole secondary is patchwork. But, the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks is inexcusable.

The D.E.N.N.I.S. System

2009-12-13T13:34:00.005-05:00

This season of It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has been amazing. The Gang Gives Frank An Intervention was probably the funniest episode of any tv show I have ever seen in my life. And, The D.E.N.N.I.S. System isn't far behind. If you need to kill time before the Giants kickoff tonight, and you haven't seen it yet, why don't you take in Dennis's fool proof plan for seducing women (note, you should probably hit play, then immediately hit pause, and let it load for a couple of minutes).

and, while we're at it, why not see how it turns out at the end:

If you haven't been watching, you can get caught up at Hulu.

Week 14 Picks: Monogamy Just Doesn't Make Sense For Everyone

2009-12-11T22:45:00.009-05:00

Also, Jessica Simpson is now dating Billy Corgan. It's weird because even though I know this is hands down the most badass dude she's dated, it feels as if she's hit rock bottom because he's so old. Good for him though, she's way hotter than any of Tiger's mistresses. I guess there are some barriers that not even Tiger can break: chicks will always take rock stars over golfers. I think the world is a happier place that way.

Anyways, the picks:

INDIANAPOLIS -7 over Denver: I'll be shocked if Indy doesn't finish 16-0.

Cincinnati +6.5 over MINNESOTA: I don't want to be hopping on the "this is where Favre totally self destructs" bandwagon, but I can only go by what I see. I said in our pre-season podcast that even if Favre started well, it wouldn't last. It certainly lasted longer than I thought, but now it seems to be coming to an end. 19 yards last week: Adrian Peterson is not healthy.

TAMPA BAY +3 over NY Jets: I'm going with Josh Freeman over Kellen Clemens because he's at home and he threw five picks last week, which means he's going to be extra careful with the ball this week.

KANSAS CITY PK over Buffalo: The Chiefs were embarrassed by a division rival last week. I like them to bounce back a home here.

GREEN BAY -3.5 over Chicago: Two teams on totally opposite paths here. Despite all the fuss over Jay Cutler this off-season, it will be very apparent that he is the inferior quarterback in this matchup.

NEW ORLEANS -10 over Atlanta: The Saints have had some close calls lately, but this Falcons team is done.

Detroit +13.5 over BALTIMORE: Two touchdowns seems a little steep to me. These Lions play hard, and the Ravens are not so intimidating this year.

Miami +2.5 over JACKSONVILLE: Miami has the right kind of swagger. Jacksonville's win over Houston last week only came with Schaub missing time. They are the ultimate "blah" team.

NEW ENGLAND -13 over Carolina: As long as Randy Moss is on time.

HOUSTON -6.5 over Seattle: This Texans team is so much better than their record. I have a feeling they are going to be like the Cardinals. We heard for years and years about how the Cardinals were going to be a surprise team. They'd show flashes, but wouldn't be able to put it together. Then, last season, after we'd all written them off, they finally prove us right. Not this year for the Texans, but they're getting there.

TENNESSEE -13 over St. Louis: Vince Young is questionable, but I don't really know if it even matters. Yeah, he's been great. But it isn't just him. This is a talented team, and they will all benefit from this momentum.

OAKLAND +1 over Washington: Wow, is this tough. The Raiders have to be taken seriously when they play at home. But, the Skins have been playing way over their heads. Still on the West Coast, I'll go with the West Coast team.

San Diego +3 over DALLAS: It will feel strange to be this happy about the Chargers winning.......

NY GIANTS -1 over Philadelphia: The stakes don't get much higher here. I can't talk about it.

Arizona -3.5 over SAN FRANCISCO: The Cardinals are better than the Saints, and they just spanked the Vikings. Assuming they won't have to play a postseason game outdoors in the cold, don't be surprised to see this team in the Super Bowl.

Again, good for you Billy:

Phase 1 Complete

2009-12-06T20:03:00.004-05:00

In order for the Giants to redeem this season and reignite the high hopes we all held when the season began, they needed to win two in a row at the start of December. We're halfway there, and I couldn't be happier. It wasn't perfect, but I finally saw the spirit in this team I'd been missing for the past 6 weeks.

Next week won't get any easier, as the Eagles dominated the first meeting and crushed Atlanta today. But, Tony Romo played incredibly well this afternoon (yep, that's the first time I've said something like that). It's hard to imagine a quarterback playing better, and the Giants were able to withstand it. This will be the best I've slept on a Sunday in a long time......

And, don't forget, this still happened:

Week 13: Where There are no Picks, Because Only One Game Matters....

2009-12-04T22:01:00.010-05:00

After posting a 75% record last season, we see that I clearly can't pick games worth dick this year. I'm not even going to try this week. The Giants Thanksgiving Day humiliation makes it even less appealing. Have I thought about the NFL all week? No. The Celtics are 9 minutes away from sweeping their roadtrip, Kendrick Perkins is fulfilling his destiny to become the second coming of Robert Parish, and Kevin Garnett isn't looking like a gimp. So, I've been enjoying myself in other ways.....

It's been nice, pretending that football is over and I only have the NBA to worry about, but it's not real. But all I've really been doing is distracting myself from the one game season that awaits on Sunday. Call me crazy, but I still wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants in the NFC championship game if they can win this weekend. Yes, I know the Saints and the Vikings play in the NFC. But, if they can't win this weekend, Big Blue won't even see the postseason. The stakes are that high. I can't think about it. I just need to wait for it, and then experience it. Thank god for Florida Alabama tomorrow. Without it, this matchup with Dallas would consume me.

I've been hooked on Barstool Sports NY ever since it was launched. No site captures the emotions I feel pre and post Giants game more accurately, win or lose. Today, Scott gives us this masterpiece, which sums up exactly how I feel:

"I feel like Hillary Clinton right now. Because no matter how many different vaginas the Giants slide a cigar into, I’m standing by them no matter what. Through thick and thin. Good times and bad. So they can fuck all the fat interns they want, bottom line is that in the NFL, the best teams in the beginning of December are rarely the teams still standing at the end of January. And thats about all I have to hold onto at this point. And because even with Bradshaw questionable, the entire offensive line banged up, the season-long disappearance of Osi and Tuck, Eli’s foot problems, whothefuckknowswhat with Jacobs, the secondary’s weekly toasting, Pierce’s season-ending injury, and Bill Sheridan’s last few weeks as an employee of the New York Giants, there is not a bizarro world fucked up enough where I would ever pick the Cowboys over the Giants. Because I hate the fucking Cowboys and I never want to see that redneck dickhead Jerry Jones win anything."

Amen. You'd be hardpressed to find a scripture more powerful than that anywhere throughout recorded history. For the next three days, this is my rallying cry.

Celtics Finally Find Their Mojo

2009-11-27T21:57:00.003-05:00

Forcing 25 turnovers, holding the Raps to 17 in the third, KG 6-6 from the floor, Perk 8-8 from the floor, under 30 minutes for KG, 35 minutes for Pierce, 34 minutes for Ray, all 5 starters in double figures...

Oh yeah, and this, the exact moment that the swagger returned:

Week 12 Picks: Carrying the Load

2009-11-25T09:32:00.012-05:00

DETROIT +11 over Green Bay: What type of a person would I be if I picked any differently? I am certainly not advising you to lay down any money here. But, I think it's safe to say that all Americans outside of Wisconsin will be rooting for the Lions tomorrow.

Oakland +13.5 over DALLAS: Dallas hasn't had much time to regroup after their win that felt like a loss over Washington on Sunday, and Oakland is probably feeling pretty good about themselves after knocking off Cincinnati. Now, Oakland is much worse away from the black hole, but I just don't think the Cowboys are capable of blowing anybody out. I like Tony Romo to struggle against a stout secondary. The Cowboys win, but not by two touchdowns.

NY Giants -7 over DENVER: Denver is regressing to the mean as we speak. This is not a playoff team. They were playing over their heads for a long time. On the other hand, I think the Giants are back where they should be. I actually think, special teams aside, that they played a great game against San Diego up until the final minute, when they clearly felt as if they already had the outcome in hand. Eli Manning returned to his early season form on Sunday against Atlanta, and it wasn't just a matter of the Falcons secondary being woeful. For the most part, they had good positioning on the Giants receivers. Eli was fitting the ball into small windows where only his receivers could get it. Manningham, Nicks, Boss, and Steve Smith are growing more confident every week. I know this is a night game in Denver, and I might be letting my fandom get the best of me, but I really don't think so. The G-Men are back.

Indianapolis -3.5 over HOUSTON: Indy might lose a game this season, and my pick will be wrong that week. I won't pick against them.

CINCINNATI -14 over Cleveland: I don't expect the Bengals to take Sunday's loss lightly. They've done more than enough to earn our respect up until this point, but I think this team feels the pressure of doubters every week. As for the Browns, Brady Quinn is certainly looking like the future. But, he's more of a next year or the year after that future. Certainly not a this season future. They may not win another game this season, but hopefully his improvement can be something that they can hang their hats on in the offseason.

MINNESOTA -11 over Chicago: The Vikings very well could be the NFL's best team. There's really no way to definitively separate the teams at the top, but this team can just get you in every way possible. They are very scary.

Washington +9 over PHILADELPHIA: The Redskins have been tougher lately. They are really showing some resolve. I'm not sure if they are trying to play for Jim Zorn, or if they are simply just starting to gel. The performances of Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright over the past two weeks certainly don't reflect very well on Clinton Portis. But, it does mean that maybe he doesn't need to be the workhorse next season if Betts is able to recover from this knee injury. Splitting up the carries between the three next year could be a much more effective approach, as it would keep Portis more fresh. Even with Betts out and Portis in question, I like the Skins to keep it close. They won't win, though.

Miami -3 over BUFFALO: For the first time in my life, I can't get enough of watching the Miami Dolphins. Can we please get some more love for Ricky Williams? People can say what they want about his off the field actions, but we here at roomofzen have never held it against him. I know nothing about what it is like to be a major celebrity who has been diagnosed with clinical depression and social anxiety disorder. I would imagine it's difficult. I also believe that people are allowed to think that their job sucks. On the field, this guy is everything that you could ever want in a player. He is the ultimate workhorse. I don't think I've ever seen a guy more overworked than he was in Miami in his first go-round and he never seemed to wear down. Because the Dolphins run so much, people are worried that Ricky won't be able to take on the primary back responsibilities on his own. Well, he's done it before. And, he seems healthier and happier now than he ever was then. I think he'll be fine.

TENNESSEE -2 over Arizona: Are people really that surprised that Vince Young is playing well? I mean, I didn't think he was a sure thing to play well this season, but by no means had I written him off completely. People forget that he played in the pro bowl his rookie year. The ability has always been there. He just had to fix his head. If you want to see an example of a guy doing that, see above (Ricky Williams) or see the 36 year old quarterback who led the titans to the playoffs last season in Young's absence.

ST. LOUIS +3 over Seattle: Call me crazy. Kyle Boller is under center, and Steven Jackson will be limited with a sprained lower back. But I just have a feeling. That Seattle defense has not been great lately.

ATLANTA -12 over Tampa Bay: The Falcons impressed me on Sunday. Curtis Snelling is the real deal. I think Josh Freeman is too, but it's going to take a while.

NY JETS -3 over Carolina: I don't care about this game.

SAN FRANCISCO -3 Jacksonville: The Jags don't travel well, which is not something I'd expect from a team who never has any fans at its games. The last time they went West, Seattle hung 41 on them.

SAN DIEGO -13.5 over Kansas City: Whatever man. I guess San Diego doesn't suck at football the way they suck at life. The Chiefs aren't going to win three in a row.

BALTIMORE -2.5 over Pittsburgh: I didnt watch Pittsburgh on Sunday, so it was really weird to turn on ESPN and have them say "Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch is out for the season with a broken wrist" while they showed him taking snaps. They didn't mention anything about him being in because of roethlisberger's concussion. I felt like I was in a time warp. Was it 2003? 2005? What the hell was going on. I didn't even know Charlie Batch was still in the league.

New England +3 over NEW ORLEANS: The Patriots are really good. I feel extremely confident about this one.

Happy Thanksgiving:

Embrace the Weekend: KG Says F%(K Your Rookies

2009-11-20T14:51:00.008-05:00

First, it was a great TBJ week, and it was capped off with Tas and Skeets selecting our very own Kevin Garnett for their Wanker of the Week:

Ep. 471: Pau Pow!!! from The Basketball Jones on Vimeo.

The story says that KG was at a commercial shoot at Conseco Fieldhouse this summer, and when he was asked by a Pacers assistant on his way out to meet the Pacers rookies Tyler Hansborough and AJ Price he responded by saying "Fuck your rookies!" and walking out.

I love this story. Unless by "meet" this assistant coach met "have sex with their wives", I'm not exactly sure what he was expecting. People can hate KG all they want, but I stick to my guns that he hasn't changed a bit. He's always been this way, and he was appreciated for it when he was in Minnesota. The only thing that's changed is the quality of his teammates and the size of the market he plays in. People can say what they want, they wish they had guys like this on their team.

Cs at Magic tonight. Fuck their rookies too....and their veterans....and their ron jeremy look alike coach.

And, as if you needed more, don't forget that the world's greatest band will be playing at the Middle East on Saturday night (I know I've posted the Gnashing several times lately...I guess sometimes a song does that to you):

Where did Randall Cunningham go to college?

2009-11-20T07:01:00.001-05:00

The answer: UNLV

Why do questions like these disrupt my sleep in the middle of the night?

Baroness at the Middle East on Saturday Night

2009-11-19T20:45:00.004-05:00

Baroness will be coming back around again this Saturday (11/21) at the Middle East in Cambridge. People get sick of us plugging no band but this one, but I am unphased. In a perfect world, this would be the highest grossing tour in history. I can honestly say that there isn't a show I can think of that I would see over them. Obviously, you should be there.

Sometimes, Less is More

2009-11-16T19:18:00.005-05:00

This Walmart commercial is, hands down, one of the funniest I've seen in a while:

They have good editors, because this extended version feels extremely forced and unfunny:

Somehow seeing that extended version makes me appreciate the shorter one less. The creative vision here was clearly a failure in terms of comedy. But somehow, through editing, they seemed to have fallen ass backwards into something funny. What more can you expect from a company that only sells censored CDs?

Week 10 Picks

2009-11-13T06:47:00.003-05:00

Watching Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Shawne Merriman triumph over the Giants in the meadowlands in the final minute on Sunday felt like being neutered. I haven't been able to watch or talk about football since it happened. Hopefully, I'll be able to bring myself back this weekend. And, more importantly, hopefully the Giants will pull themselves back together. There couldn't be a more aptly timed bye.

NY JETS -7 over Jacksonville: You can officially bury whichever team loses here. I'm assuming (as I'm hoping the Giants will do this week) that the Jets were able to find their early season form over their bye week. I like them at home in this one.

Denver -3.5 over WASHINGTON: Apparently that Steelers victory made quite an impression on Vegas. Only 3.5? That wouldn't be enough even if Clinton Portis were playing.....which he's not.

PITTSBURGH -7 over Cincinnati: There is no way the Bengals beat Pittsburgh twice this year.

TENNESSEE -7 Buffalo: I said in my week 1 picks that I really thought this Tennessee team was good, especially on defense. I still feel that, personnel wise, they are very talented. Now that they've got some positive momentum, I like them to win their third straight this weekend at home. Perhaps the biggest nonstory in this one is that we're still not sure whether or not TO will play due to his injured hip.

MINNESOTA -17 over Detroit: This line is really steep, and I'd love to take the Lions. BUT, how can I go against the Vikings coming off of a bye week? I can't. But, I really wouldn't feel good laying it down on these 17 points. I'm looking forward to Detroit on Thanksgiving.

NEW ORLEANS -13.5 over St. Louis: The Saints have shown that they can spot good teams double digit points and come back to win. They won't get behind against St. Louis, which means we're looking at complete destruction.

Atlanta -1.5 over CAROLINA: Pass.

Tampa Bay +10 over MIAMI: What a great surprise it was to see the creamsicle uniforms resurfacing. I love those uniforms. I think the pirate on the helmet is badass, and the colors are great. I also like what we saw from Josh Freeman, and I think he and Chad Henne will have a close matchup this weekend.

OAKLAND -2 over Kansas City: The Chiefs have played teams tough on a more consistent basis. But, all logic goes out the window when the Raiders are at home, where they've given San Diego a run for their money and have also beaten the Eagles.

ARIZONA -8.5 Seattle: I really thought that this Seattle team was going to be, at least, as good as the Cards. But, clearly, I misread that one (keep in mind, I also said "I like how this Browns team is built" in week 1).

Philadelphia +1.5 over SAN DIEGO: This is how much I hate the Chargers. The Eagles are coming off a tough loss. They got spanked last time they went out West. So, I think they'll be especially motivated. On top of that, everyone hates Philip Rivers, and I don't think the Eagles are immune to that. They won't let this happen.

DALLAS -3 over Green Bay: Dallas seems to be really hitting their stride. They should be pretty tough to beat from here on out, setting us up perfectly for another epic late season choke.

New England +3 over Indy: The Colts have to lose at some point, and this is the opponent best armed to take them down. Bill Belichick knows what to do.

Baltimore -11 over CLEVELAND: I'll be surprised if there isn't a riot in the stands at the end of this one.

Book Recommendation: Paper Lion

2009-11-11T16:40:00.005-05:00

George Plimpton joined the 1963 Detroit Lions in training camp at age 36. This was after his failure to catch on with the New York Giants, Washington Redskins and New York Titans (for some reason that sounds better than Tennessee Titans). You have to admire his persistence. Though he wanted to be treated exactly like any player, his "teammates" figured out pretty quickly that he was a reporter in disguise. His only appearance (an inter squad scrimmage) was disastrous, as he lost 30+ yards in his one series as the team's quarterback.

It is a well-written book in which the Phillips Exeter, Harvard and Kings College (Cambridge) educated Plimpton does not change anything about his style or speech. It was even difficult for him to swear. Of course the Lions picked up on this and had a ton of fun at his expense. The key however, was that Plimpton had almost unlimited access to both players and coaches. And unlike the disappointing Patriot Reign (I feel strongly about this) Paper Lion delivers. Some points before you head off to get the book:

- This was before television transformed football into big time, year round business. Some guys still had jobs in the off-season.

- Weight lifting and conditioning were still in their early stages.

- Paper Lion is a certain generation's The Jordan Rules. In both cases, even people who don't read a ton, love them.

- Night Train Lane. Just a fascinating guy. One of the best corners ever, somewhat enigmatic and holder of a freaking awesome nickname. Furthermore, the "Coach is that a 2 door or a 4 door?" anecdote is pure gold.

- 1963 was the season that Alex Karras was suspended for gambling. He was an excellent defensive lineman and a character as well. Plimpton did a follow up chapter where he outlined a visit with Karras. Karras talked about past lives (worked for Hitler amongst others) and other off the wall observations. Then in the quasi sequel - Mad Ducks and Bears - Karras put any quirky modern athlete to shame. His foray into the sex toy business was legendary. Having said that you might know him better as "that guy from Webster".

- Plimpton had an interesting life to say the least. In addition to his education he drove a tank in World War II and was a prolific writer. His Sidd Finch article would be a career in and of itself for a lot of writers. And on top of all that Plimpton was friends with Robert Kennedy from their time at Harvard. He, along with another man, tackled Sirhan Sirhan to the ground after Kennedy's assassination. What didn't Plimpton do?

There is no god.

2009-11-08T19:16:00.002-05:00

My feelings are nicely summed up by Scott at Barstool Sports NY:

"only thing worse than watching that fucking trash talking cocky pussy who’s never won an important game in his life and the roided out woman beating has-been freakshow celebrate on our field is watching the season literally go down the tubes. Hey congratulations on your first sack in 2 years asshole. Fuck the Chargers."

ROOMOFZEN Fantasy Football Update

2009-11-05T21:35:00.002-05:00

I'm taking the week off as Bad Newz Kennels is in the midst of a New York Giants style slide (sorry Nick) right now. And it coincides exactly with me posting about the league. So call this my bye week. However, I will throw something more substantial up next week - win, lose or tie.

Foil in the Oven: In Defense of the BCS, In Defense of Rajon Rondo, and in Defense of Hating the Dallas Cowboys

2009-10-31T21:00:00.023-04:00

For my first order of business, as I did last year, I'd like to make a preemptive strike against all of those fans, coaches, players, analysts, and politicians who are gearing up for their annual bashing of the BCS, which is set to begin soon. It's gotten to the point now where we are all programmed to believe that the BCS system is somehow inherently unfair and unjust. We're supposed to blindly agree that it doesn't work the same way we're supposed to agree that kids shouldn't smoke cigarettes and fast food is unhealthy. Politicians are even speaking out and taking action against this system not because they truly feel it an abomination, but rather because there is seemingly no other matter on which the American people seem more passionately unified.

My biggest fear in all of this is not that the BCS might be changed. The system is certainly imperfect, and the methods for which a national champion are chosen could no doubt be improved. Rather, I worry that as the naysayers are swept up in all of the anti-BCS hysteria, they lose sight of the fact that this system is an improvement over what was in place before. And, most of the time, the system gets it right.

Obviously, the biggest issue that people have with the BCS is that teams are not given the chance to settle things on the field. Teams can make it through an entire season unscathed, and still be denied the chance to compete for the national championship. It doesn't feel right. However, the only way to fix this trouble would be to implement a playoff system, which is something we've never had.

Many people act as if the BCS was implemented in place of a previously existing playoff tournament. Not the case. In fact, before the BCS, there was no national championship game, and the potential for trouble was far greater. John Flinn, loyal Michigan Wolverine fan and roomofzen follower, still tenses up when he discusses the 1997 season, the final season before the BCS. His Michigan Wolverines were 11-0, and had one of the most dynamic players in the history of college football (Charles Woodson). John swears up and down (and it's hard to argue with him) that the Wolverines were the best team in college football. By taking care of business against PAC-10 champion Washington State, he argues, they should have earned their sole place as national champions. Instead, they (the AP poll champs) had to share their championship with the Coaches Poll champion, Nebraska.

Both Michigan and Nebraska finished their seasons undefeated, and were clearly the two best teams in college football. There is no question that they should have been playing each other for the national championship. However, because the old system offered no such game, and they were instead each forced to play one loss teams in their Bowl Games. This was our old system, and we survived with it for a long time. I don't see how you can think we haven't made progress in the past 10-12 years.

Look, if it could work, I'm all in favor of a playoff system. College football is a spectator sport, and this would add more excitement and draw in more fans. That's why it would be great. More drama, more tailgating, more rowdy screaming fans, and more cheerleaders. It would scratch the fans right where they itch, and sports are all about the fans. That's the most persuasive argument for a playoff system. However, it's not the one I normally hear. Most people who argue in favor of a playoff system because they think it would do a better job than the BCS currently does of finding us college football's two best teams. On this, I disagree.

Last year, T wrote about a book he had read called The Drunkard's Walk by Leonard Mlodinow. The book talkes about randomness in the world, and deals mostly with statistics. My wife really enjoys studying statistics and also is a college football fan. She posed this question to me today when discussing the BCS vs. playoff system issue (and she wants me to be clear that she wasn't giving an opinion here): Who deserves to be in the championship game more: the team who wins 1 actual game or the team who would win more often over the course of hundreds of games?. She then referenced this passage from The Drunkard's Walk (note, he is discussing baseball and a 7 game series, but the passage is still relevant):

"....you will discover that in a 7 game series, there is a sizeable chance that the inferior team will be crowned champion. For instance, if one team is good enough to warrant beating another in 55% of it's games, the inferior team will nevertheless win a 7 game series about 4 times out of 10. And, if the superior team could be expected to beat its opponent on average 2 out of ever 3 times they meet, the inferior team will still win a 7 game series about once every 5 matches. There is really no way for sports leagues to change this. In the lopsided 2/3 probability case, for example, you'd have to play a series consisting of at minumum the best of 23 games to determine the winner with what is called statistical significance, meaning the weaker team would be crowned champion 5 percent or less of the time. And in the case of one team's having only a 55-45 edge, the shortest statistically significant "world series" would be the best of 269 games, a tedious endeavor indeed!" (pages 70-71)

What this tells us is that a playoff tournament would probably be less effective at giving us the two best teams in the nation at season's end than a system that factors in season-long trends, the vote of people who know the game well, and algorithms that crunch statistics that go beyond simply wins and losses. Take our current season. There are two clear classes of undefeated. We have the juggernauts: Texas, Florida, and Alabama. If all goes according to plan, two of these three will meet in the national championship. When this happens, the fans of the other undefeated teams (potentially Iowa, TCU, Boise State, and Cincinnati) will no doubt scream injustice, particularly mid-major fans. Well, sure, there is no doubt that in a one-game playoff situation Iowa, TCU, Boise, State, or Cincinnati COULD upset Florida, Texas, or Alabama. Anything can happen in one game. But, would that really mean that they are better than Florida, Texas, or Alabama? No. Wouldn't you know that you weren't watching the two best teams if Iowa or Cincinnati were in the game? Yes, you would. If all you're really concerned about is finding the two best teams, this system is probably more accurate than a playoff would be.

Perhaps I have veered all over the map here, so I'll try to sum up what I'm trying to say to the BCS bashers. First, you should be glad that we have a national championship game. It hasn't always been so. Next, a playoff system would no doubt be amazing, because it would add a great deal of excitement and upset potential. But, there is evidence that what we have in place might actually be more effective at finding the two best teams. Also, given the stadium and media contracts involved, I wonder if the logistics are as easy to overcome as people think (for the record, I'm still in favor of a playoff, because this is a spectator sport, and who ends up winning at the end has no real global implications one way or the other).

And, lastly, college football is awesome, and you shouldn't let all this negativity ruin it for you.

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Sources report that the Celtics and Rajon Rondo are going to make one last effort on Sunday to reach a contract extension. I will be at the Garden Sunday night to see the Cs and Hornets, and I am very hopeful that before tipoff the announcement will come that the sides have finally reached an agreement.

Look, I understand why the Cs are hesitant to overpay here. They have the right to match any offers after the season, and doing so is a great way to make sure they're not dishing out more than what the market commands (sucks to be restricted). But, there is something that really doesn't feel right about the way this whole thing has been handled. The negativity that came out over the summer did not sit well with me. This guy needs to be a Celtic for life, and even though I know they wouldn't let him go in the offseason, I'd feel great about getting it done now.

Take a look at Rondo's line from Friday night against the Bulls: 1-2 from the field with 2 points, 8 rebounds, 16 assists, and only 2 turnovers. There could not be a more perfect line from the point guard of this team. He was totally in control of the game, forcing nothing, letting things come to him, not concerned with how many shots he gets, and distributing the ball to his scorers. On top of that, he is one of the best guards in the league when it comes to rebounding and defense. Mike Gorman said on Friday night that the Cs have been working hard to increase the number of deflections that they get on defense. They have been tracking the stat in practice and in games. Rondo was the first guy I thought of, because he is so good at getting into the passing lanes and disrupting opponents' flow.

I won't say he's the best point guard in the league. But, I will say that I NEVER look at other ones and think "god, I wish we could have him instead of Rondo." The thought has never crossed my mind. At least not in the past two years.

That being said, am I excited to see Chris Paul tonight?....

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I'm a sucker for articles like this one from Green Street that describe what great chemistry the Celtics have. I sent it around to a bunch of people, and we all had the same reaction: great article, but why the hell is Rasheed Wallace a Chiefs fan? I wouldn't expect that. We all agreed that maybe Sheed was from the Kansas City area. I left it alone for a few weeks.

However, then Steve Buckley had this to say in the Boston Herald on Thursday:

"Coming off the bench with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter of the Celtics' too-easy, 92-59 victory against the Charlotte Bobcats in last night's Garden opener, Wallace got the place rocking just 40 seconds later when he pumped in a 3-pointer from 25 feet out. Ninety seconds later, he did it again. And the place rocked again. He had three treys and nine points in all. Could the new guy feel the love? 'I didn't feel it, I heard it,' he said as he buttoned up his stylish black-and-white Philadelphia Phillies warmup jacket, all while glancing at the flat screen to check out his hometown nine's Game 1 victory in the World Series. [...] 'Guys were talking about it on the plane (ride home from Cleveland). They said, ‘The fans here ... they're going to be crazy.' And you felt that as soon as they said, ‘And now, your starting lineup for your Boston Celtics.' Wallace then did a cool imitation of a roaring crowd. It's simple as this: He fits in. He has played just two games with the Celtics, one at home, yet somehow it seems as if he's been around for a long time, an old soldier of the parquet."

Now...obviously chemistry piece is great and Sheed is such a good fit here....but, more importantly...Sheed a Chiefs fan? This doesn't add up.

1. He is from Philadelphia, and this article suggests that he supports his hometown teams. So, you'd think he'd be an Eagles fan.

2. Even if he didn't like the Eagles (no argument from me), there are a clear pool of favorites from which fans generally draw. It includes the Cowboys, Raiders,and Packers. The Chiefs are not one of these teams. I find it hard to believe he would have arrived on this conclusion by himself.

3. Sometimes there are historical trends in certain areas that explain why fans choose against their home teams. Many people in New York are Dodgers or SF Giants fans. I am one of many Giants fans living in Massachusetts because my father grew up rooting for the Giants. But, I cannot for the life of me think of any reason why someone growing up in Philly would find themselves rooting for the Chiefs.

This all had me stumped on Thursday. I chewed on this stuff all day, and finally came up with this answer, which seems the most logical. But, unless I actually get the chance to sit Sheed down and talk to him, I won't be satisfied.

My explanation: Ok, the original Green Street article scene begins with Kendrick Perkins declaring the greatness of the Cowboys to the Celtics lockerroom. Sheed then interjects as he cheers for his alleged "favorite team", the Kansas City Chiefs. He gloated as Perk walked off into the trainers room when the Chiefs scored to sent the game into overtime.

I'm a Giants fan, and I would do the same thing if I were watching that game with a Cowboys fan. Everyone hates the Cowboys, particularly NFC East fans. I wouldn't be surprised if Sheed were an Eagles fan. At the very least, I suspect that growing up around so many Eagles fans taught him to hate Dallas. I believe that Sheed's gloating was nothing more than anti-cowboy sentiment. The writer, in this case, chose to assume him a Chiefs fan, because it paints the perfect picture of a lockerroom scene: two big men taking in a matchup beween their favorite teams.

Unless I hear otherwise, this issue has been put to rest in my mind.

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Having free NBA League Pass this week has been great, and I thought I would end with some quick thoughts I have from flipping around the League Pass channels this week:

- One nice thing about League Pass is that you see teams you wouldn't see otherwise. I haven't watched the Kings play anyone but the Celtics in years. I caught parts of all their games this week, as they played three teams I wanted to see (Thunder, Hornets, and Spurs). The Kings aren't good. But, they are young, and they aren't boring. In particular, I was impressed with Jason Thompson, who appears to be a strong rebounder and a pretty solid all-around piece.

- If I were a Rockets fan, I would be absolutely loving this team. They are uptempo, and they have all hustle guys and overachievers. Trevor Ariza showed me more this week than Tracy McGrady ever has in terms of his prowess as a complete player. The Rockets, even without T-MAC and Yao, will be a tough out for everyone, and will give their fans something to be excited about all season.

- I am not afraid of the Cavaliers. That game with the Bobcats on Saturday night was much closer than the score indicates. I am hoping, with every fiber of my being, that Stephen Jackson and Ronny Turiaf come over and Big Z is run out of town. Big Z has always created matchup problems for the Celtics because of his shooting range. He spaces out the defense. If he is gone, this is going to be the most predictable and easy-to-plan-for offense in the NBA. LeBron could score 38 every night and it won't matter. On top of that, it will leave a greater burden on the old, achy, flabby back of Shaq.

Odds and Ends

2009-10-29T21:05:00.004-04:00

Random Recommendation: Grocery store pizza. I'm not talking about grabbing something from the frozen food section. Rather I'm talking about hitting up the made to order section of a Shaws, Big Y, etc. The pizzas are always reasonably priced, tastier than you may think and frequently come in a sweet party size. Give it a shot.

Article You Should Read: Things aren't going well for old friend Delonte West. Hopefully he get's the help he needs and returns to playing ball. Let's just flash back to happier days for a moment. Also Danny Ainge took a lot of heat for his youth movement back in 2007 that was allegedly lacking in talent. Well Big Al is legit (and we knew this), there was a ton of talk about how much the Cavs needed Delonte on opening night, Perk is one of the best defensive centers in the league, Rajon Rondo is stellar, and Gerald Green...never mind. So it hasn't been perfect. Passing on Brandon Roy comes to mind. But it's been great to watch. And the Pau Gasol deal was way more of an egregious farce than the KG trade.

Game of the Week: I'm just not overly impressed with Giants/Eagles right now, or the NFC East for that matter. I could see the division rounding into form, but we'll see. Meanwhile, the AFC east could be an under the radar solid division. Long story short I'm going with Jets/Dolphins. For the record I still enjoy Bill Parcells and wish he was guiding a NFC team.

Phrase I Can't Pull Off: "Git-r-done." And I'm okay with that.

Some NBA Thoughts:

1. I hope the C's don't devolve into a "Live by the 3, Die by the 3" type of team.

2. I turned on the Spurs/Bulls game and thought, "I didn't realize San Antonio still had Bruce Bowen. Of course I immediately realized it was Richard Jefferson. Not sure what to make of this except the Spurs are happy with the current situation. Also, throw me in the DeJuan Blair fan club. He might give the Spurs what some people thought Jackie Butler would a few seasons back.

3. Hypothetically let's just say the wheels come off the Rasheed Wallace in Boston experience. And let's say it happens in the spring while a recently activated Leon Powe gets buckets in Boston. That may be the point Tommy Heinsohn loses his mind, repeatedly shouts "I love Leon" and pours a scotch before they cut his mic.

MLB Thoughts:

1. I thought it was surreal to see Pedro pitch against Manny. And then Pedro went to the House that tons of money built. It was fascinating. Especially when Pedro pulled off the wily veteran role in the early innings.

2. In other news, I definitely caught more C's/Bobcats than Game 1 of the World Series. That's odd.

3. I hate the music Fox is using.

Closing Thought: In college we played football with a guy who wore gloves in the weight room. He took a fair amount of abuse for that. But he continued to wear them. I bring this up because I respect him more than the guy who shows up in them, gets some heat and discards the gloves. That's sort of how I felt about Brett Favre when I saw his Sears commercial. I'm still tired of the Wrangler ads, how much fun he's having out there, his bitterness towards an organization that he toyed with for a few years, the free pass he got on that abysmal pick he threw against the Giants that ultimately cost the Pats Super Bowl #4, how much of a factor his wife is in the news, and the general Favre circus. But I get a kick out of this:

WEEK 8 Pick: ESPN Scandal Edition

2009-10-29T16:58:00.003-04:00

Let's just dive right in shall we?

Denver +3 @ Baltimore

I think that the Bronco's are going to hit a wall, and this very well could be the week, BUT you have to like how this offense has been playing especially now that Marshall is on board and contributing and Correll Buckhalter is back of the IR to spell Moreno. I like the Bronco's and their whack-ass uniforms.

Indy -13 vs San Francisco

Was last week a coming out party for Vernon Davis and Alex Smith? I'd have to say its more of an anomaly. Rumor has it that Singletary has a bunch of lewd photographs on his phone to use as motivational tools, should the need arise, but even still Indy rolls at home.

Houston - 3.5 @ Buffalo

Its hard to believe that the Bills are really only two special teams plays away from being 5-2 and alone atop the AFC East, and Houston has shown some real inconsistent streaks this season. Nothing so far this year has brought me more joy than watching TO languish in despair with 1 touchdown, 15 catches, and 5 drops. Unfortunately this makes his inevitable jump to color commentator all the more imminent...

Chicago-14 vs. Cleveland

Eric Mangini should really think about seducing, groping, or molesting an intern to stir things up in Cleveland...This is the least interesting team in the world. The world. PS, somebody tell Matt Forte to show up this season please, he's totally under performing his draft position in both of my fantasy leagues.

Miami + 3.5 @ New York Jets

Didn't this game just happen? Whats going on here? Well anyway, I think that the tables have turned for Sanchez, Miami's got their ground game cruising and I think Henne is going to have a strong game here. Hot Dog to Interception ratio for the Dirty Sanchise 2:4.

Very phallic club placement...this aint his first rodeo!

Saint Louis PK @ Detroit Lions

If you're betting on this game, you have a gambling problem. If you already know this, and you're ok with it or simply refuse to better yourself and move your life in a positive direction take the Rams.

Cowboys- 10 Vs Seattle

What if you could have a swimming pool filled with any cereal you liked what would it be? You really should be thinking of these things.

Giants-1 @ Philly

I like both of these teams, and if Philly can find the same holes in the secondary that New Orleans did this one will be an absolute shootout. But, I think the Giants know this and will try to play ball control with the freak of nature known as Brandon Jacobs carrying 25+ times. Desean Jackson is 21 years old.

Oakland +17 @ San Diego

I hate the Chargers so much that I just have to take this line! Also, tell me I'm not the only one who sees a future Sean Salisbury in Phillip Rivers...well at least you can acknowledge that hes a Douche.

Tennessee -3 vs Jacksonville

Either this is the weak or Tennessee will really fall off the deep end. I cannot for the life of me figure out whats going on with this team, it seems like total chaos and lack of giving a shit. Steve Phillips says, "Get yourself a slump buster".

Mr and Mrs. Steve Phillips Ladies and Gentlemen!

Before I go on, I have to throw these out there as renaming suggestions for ESPN:

ESPN: Exposing Salisbury's Penis Network

ESPN: Extramarital Steve Phillips Network

ESPN: Especially Sleazy Persons Network

Green Bay Packers - 3 Vs Minnesota

I'm beginning to hate Favre less, but I think that the Packers have something to prove here.

Arizona - 10.5 vs. Carolina

Total chaos in Carolina...almost as strange as Tennessee. Maybe it has something to do with the South? I can't figure it out.

New Orleans - 10.5 vs Atlanta

The Saints are the team to beat right now and I don't see the Falcons slowing them down enough to keep it close.

I'm Back Bitches!

Check Out The Basketball Jones

2009-10-28T19:32:00.004-04:00

Not that I want to bump this post down the blog. However, The Basketball Jones podcast is back. This is a truly awesome development. Bonus points because our own Nick L is referenced in the inaugural show of the season and makes a comment on the previously linked TBJ post. Between watching the C's last night and listening to the Jones this afternoon I was so fired up that I snapped on a co-worker who derisively said, "They don't play defense in the NBA." Foolishness. As a side note, is it just me or is Nick L. one of the biggest Wayne's World fans out there? Just something I was thinking about.

Time for the Celtics/Bobcats, which hearkens back to the good old days of an intense, inexplicable rivalry between a lowly Tampa Bay Devil Rays squad and the superior Red Sox. Awesome.

ROOMOFZEN Fantasy Football Update

2009-10-27T08:05:00.007-04:00

Awards

The 2006 LaDanian Tomlinson Top Performing Team of the Week: Favre's Old Balls (136.42 points) took the week with 7 of 9 players earning double digit points and DeSean Jackson putting forth a monster effort.

The 2009 JaMarcus Russell/Derek Anderson Low Performing Team of the Week: Pitino Spamortion registered slightly more than 55 points. Strangely it was more about his guys under performing than anything else. Other than starting the Bears D instead of the Dolphins D, a move that cost him 16 points and given the match ups made a ton of sense, there's not much he could have done.

The Clutch Pick Up of the Week: It's all about the D. Buffalo's D gave Favre's Old Balls 14 points, narrowly edging the 13 Cincinnati put up for Move it up 5.

Owner of the Best Overall Player: Pitino Spamortion's Adrian Peterson threw up 18 points to hold down the top spot. It should be noted that Matt Schaub of Stan Mikita's Donuts had a similar week. In the process he moved up to #2 in the rankings and took the overall points lead. Can anyone knock Peterson out of that top spot?

Owner of the Worst Overall Player: Another back to back winner - LenDale White. And I only put him here again because he got the start in his bye week with a ranking of 1464. On the plus side he couldn't lose points in his bye week. I should note that I have a dangerous number of low ranked guys. They're on the bench, but it might be time to drop them regardless.

Call Out of the Week: This week brought up a question I never thought I'd ask - Is it better to start a player in his bye week or a player who recently had surgery and will not be on the field for several weeks? I tend to think the answer is neither and you should find someone else. But for whatever reason the latter continues to work for Stan Mikita's Donuts. Meanwhile, OBI WAN CANOLI and Rogue Trader decided to go 7 vs. 7 in week 7. Maybe it is better to have a blank roster spot instead of throwing Derek Andersen out there. Still I think it's bad for the competitive balance of the league. Of course writing a round up of a fantasy sports league is a sign that I may be taking this whole thing too seriously. So what do I know?

The 2007 Derek Anderson He's Ranked What? Award: He was frequently drafted somewhere around the 121st pick right after Laurence Maroney and Tim Hightower and well behind Beanie Wells, yet has risen to the 18th in the rankings. That's right Ricky Freaking Williams. And let the record show I never faulted Williams for walking away from an organization that seemed determined throughout the 2003 and 2004 seasons to prevent him from ever walking after his 40th birthday. Throw in his Texas carries and there's no way Williams is still around if he doesn't take some time off.

Matchup to Watch in Week 7: Once again That's a Tasty Burger gets the nod, sharing the spotlight with Rogue Trader this time around. They're tied at 5-2, battling for control of the league and as always they hate each other.

If the Season Ended Today...: Awkward Silences, That's a Tasty Burger, Rogue Trader and Bad Newz Kennels would make the playoffs. When it's all said and done I think Favre's Old Balls and Move it up 5 will bump those last 2.

What ever happened to...

2009-10-25T20:32:00.001-04:00

I'm starting a "What ever happened to..." series here at ROOMOFZEN that delves into fictional characters from movies, television and video games and figures out what the hell they're up to now. Hopefully it's more successful than the fantasy football league updates that caused Bad Newz Kennels to plummet from a previously strong position. First up - Butch Coolidge.

Last time we checked Butch was driving Zed's chopper, with the Coolidge family watch in his possession, to pick up his girlfriend Fabienne. Since there never was a Pulp Fiction II, which is a good thing, I'm left to my own devices on this one. Here goes.

The Assumed Ending: Butch was financially set. He used Marsellus Wallace's bribe to bet on himself and realistically struck it rich in the process. On top of that he definitely seemed like a fighter approaching the end of the line. Provided he recognized it was time to hang up the gloves and accepted the Marsellus Wallace decree of lost "LA privileges", Butch could have disappeared with his golden parachute to start fresh somewhere else. That's entirely plausible. However, I'm not convinced that happened. Here's why:

The Breakup: Fabienne was incredibly annoying. While they enthusiastically played the part of an over the top teenage couple throughout the movie, I see Butch eventually tiring of her. And let's not forget that she had one real responsibility in the whole movie - keep track of the Coolidge family watch. She failed. Now factor in the astronomical divorce rate of professional athletes, particularly in retirement. Greg Bishop explored just that in this article, which looked at a number of factors including the following:

"When athletes retire, most face an identity crisis. Many do not retire on their own terms, and once they leave the game, they also leave behind the fame and fortune, the crowds and adoration. Their wives experience a similar loss of status. The dynamic players they married can become passive and withdrawn."

And Butch wouldn't even have to go through the hassle of a divorce.

The Finances: Butch received a substantial pay day for his successful double cross. Yet athletes have a long history of going broke. While he seemed to avoid the drug, alcohol, and procreating potholes, I envision him making some bad investments and burning through his nest egg. We also know that prior to that fateful night Butch's entire boxing career netted him a modest apartment and a white civic. He's no Hakeem Olajuwan (although I wonder how the Dream is doing since the market downturn).

The Personality: Butch was not someone who shied away from danger. First he enraged Marsellus Wallace, which by all accounts is an awful idea. Then he returned to his apartment for the family watch when everyone in the Wallace organization had to be looking for him. Upon retrieving the watch he disregarded his hunted status for a toaster pastry snack. Tangent alert - I'm not prepared to choose a winner in the Pop Tart versus Toaster Strudel debate. I'm just here to say, "Pop tarts win because you can eat them hot or cold" is not a valid argument. Cold pop tarts are no bueno. But back to Butch. He risked death at the hands of 2 gun toting, deranged rednecks to save Wallace. Granted Butch had a samurai sword and his decision ultimately removed the bounty from his head. Doesn't mean it was a safe bet. Are we really expected to believe he simply rode off into the sunset?

Retirement?: As previously discussed Butch appeared to be at the end of the line. But often times an athlete will struggle to retire. And it wasn't like he won his "final bout" in unconvincing fashion. Butch killed his opponent. Provided the whole legal, public homicide doesn't psychologically drive him away from the only career he's ever known, Butch could very easily get the itch to fight again. I'm betting he'd scratch it.

The Fall of Wallace?: And finally the most crucial point of all. Marsellus Wallace banned Butch from a) discussing the rape and b) returning to LA. However, that whole incident may have been the beginning of the end for Wallace. First there's the entire rape and dealing with the aftermath of it. Even if Butch kept his word and remained silent are we sure Wallace's cavalry would? What if one of his guys showed up in the shop, tortured Zed and then decided to take a shot at the crown? From Vincent and Jules' earlier massage conversation we know the organization is prone to gossip. Details of the account could spread like wildfire and cripple Wallace's authority. I picture a mad dash for power reminiscent of European monarchies warring in their heyday. In the resulting power vacuum Butch could return from laying low and pick up where he left off.

Conclusion: In the end the discovery of Vega's bullet ridden body in his apartment, coupled with Coolidge's AWOL status would be the biggest obstacle to his return. However, Vega was a heroin using, career criminal. Any half decent lawyer could help beat those charges. And the notoriety would only increase interest in Butch and the purse for his bouts. I see several more fights, a tell all book (Killer Inside and Out of the Ring?) some paternity suits (he's due) and eventually a remarkable downward spiral that ends with Butch working as a collector for a loan shark, just as Rocky Balboa did before his career took off.

Week 7: Looking to Bounce Back

2009-10-23T14:26:00.010-04:00

KANSAS CITY +5 over San Diego: I don't really have the logic to explain myself here. My head is saying I should pick San Diego. But, I hate the Bolts, and they really are not good. They haven't impressed me once so far this year. This Chiefs team seems to be growing more confident each week, and they haven't won at home yet. They're due. The way the Chargers have looked, I think the best case scenario for them this week is a 3 point win.

Indianapolis -13.5 over ST. LOUIS: The three team tease is back and more reliable than ever. The Colts should be at the top of your teaser flow chart every week. You don't even need to look at the matchup. It's like the new Velveeta version of Easy Mac. You can't go wrong.

Chicago +1 over CINCINNATI: The Bengals looked very ordinary last week, and I really don't think they're as good as that 4-2 record. The injury to Antwan Odom makes this game a lock for the Bears, who have impressed me even in their losses. Also, doesn't it seem like it would be smart to always tease an underdog against the Bengals? They seem to always win on the last minute, ensuring a small margin of victory, or they lose. Either way, with the tease, you're probably in good shape.

Green Bay -8.5 over CLEVELAND: The Browns suck, and they seem to be getting worse. I'm really not sure what else you want from me.

Minnesota +5.5 over PITTSBURGH: The Steelers have won 9 in a row at home, and they'll have Troy Polamalu, a major game changer, back in action. But, I just don't like that pass-happy offense against this Vikings defensive front. This could be a long day for Big Ben. The Vikings big wins (San Fran, Green Bay, and Baltimore) have come at the Metrodome. This will be their first major road contest (they've been at Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis). This win in Pittsburgh will be a major statement.

New England -15 over Tampa Bay: Last year I lost when I wagered on the London game. I expected the Giants to steamroll the Dolphins, but the rainy field in London made it just a three point game. But, after last week, I certainly can't justify taking Tampa because of weather considerations. The Patriots are building momentum.

San Francisco +3 over HOUSTON: Frank Gore is back, Glen Coffee has some experience under his belt, Michael Crabtree is in the starting lineup, and I love the Niners from this point forward. Plus, they are coming off a bye, and they were embarrassed their last time out. I can only imagine that the image of Mike Singletary's grundle is permanently burned into Dre Bly's memory after that one.

OAKLAND +6 over NY Jets: 6 points? really? The Jets have lost three straight, and haven't looked good doing it. Their head coach seems completely shell-shocked after these losses, and they're bringing a rookie quarterback into the black hole to face a tough defense. On the other hand, the Raiders seemed to have bounced back extremely well from the ass whooping the Giants put on them a couple of weeks ago. They just beat a team that was playing in the NFC championship game last year, their coach was just cleared of assault charges, their new stud defensive lineman has guaranteed they will make the playoffs, and their recently deceased players are coming back to the field as pigeons. Yeah, I like Oakland here.

Buffalo +7 over CAROLINA: I don't care if Ryan Fitzpatrick is playing quarterback or not. There is no reason for Carolina to be giving 7 to anybody besides St. Louis.

New Orleans -6.5 over At Miami: Miami is a very popular pick this week. I guess I understand it from the standpoint that the wildcat might neutralize the Saints pressure and Miami will chew up minutes. But, I will direct your attention back to Monday night in week 2. Miami perfectly executed their game plan, holding the ball for over three full quarters. And yet, despite having less then 15 minutes of possession, Peyton Manning was able to score his points quickly enough to win the game. The Saints can do the same thing.

DALLAS -4 over Atlanta: I love Dallas coming off the bye here. Some of you out there might be wondering what it's going to take for me to believe in the Falcons. I don't have an answer. Every week I'm wrong about them, and I'm still not convinced.

NY GIANTS -7 over Arizona: I wouldn't want to be the Cardinals this week. The Giants were embarrassed last week. They are better than they showed, and I'm sure they are itching to get back out on the field. They were getting blown out in the first half, and they still had a chance to make it a one possession game had it not been for Roman Harper's forced fumble.

CC Brown had the Roy Williams syndrome last week. He was so eager to play the run that he got roasted in the passing game. Of course I'd rather have Kenny Phillips. But Brown started in this league for 4 years with Houston, and I expect him to bounce back and at least play competently from here on out.

Philadelphia -7 over WASHINGTON: NFC East divisional matchups are always closer than you'd think. Were it not for the Eagles losing to Oakland last week, I might like the Skins here. But, like the Giants, I'm sure the Eagles have had a bad taste in their mouth all week.

Your Teaser of the Week:

10 point teaser:

Indy -3.5 over St. Louis, Green Bay +1 over Cleveland, and New England -5 over Tampa Bay.

ROOMOFZEN Fantasy Football Update

2009-10-20T21:02:00.000-04:00

Awards

The 2006 LaDanian Tomlinson Top Performing Team of the Week: Flying Elvises hung up 108 points and grabbed a playoff spot for the time being.

The 2009 JaMarcus Russell Low Performing Team of the Week: We all have our down weeks. This week it just happened to be Rogue Trader's 65.26 points that stood out. That's good enough to lose every single matchup from week 6 with everyone else scoring at least an 80. And in typing this I'm heading for a solid 55 next week.

The Clutch Pick Up of the Week: Not a lot to choose from on this one. Put it this way - no one is praising my (Bad Newz Kennels) pick up of Mike Wallace. So I'm giving the hat tip to Movie It Up 5 for grabbing Nate Kaeding. That's 14 points and a comfortable victory. Had Move It Up 5 gone with Rod Bironas, as favre's old balls did, it would have netted him 0 points. Of course both those teams won their matchups and who thought the Titans would be that awful?

Owner of the Best Overall Player: I'm going with ranking instead of points. And the current leader is...Adrian Peterson of Pitino's Spamortion. Although it's worth noting that 5 QBs currently have more points over the course of the season than the former Sooner.

Owner of the Worst Overall Player: Initially I started with ranking instead of points. But I wanted to go with someone who had played in all his team's games to date and started for his fantasy squad in Week 6. That eliminated Chansi Stuckey (sat out the last 2 weeks), Josh Johnson (Byron Leftwich was the starter on opening day) and Davone Bess (bye week). Strangely all 3 of those guys are on Drugs Delaney's roster. But I digress. And the winner or loser is...LenDale White (ranked 1370) of OBI WAN CANOLI. Bonus points because White scored -.50 points and looked atrocious in New England. Of course if OBI WAN CANOLI had dropped him last week I would have swooped in and promoted White over Derrick Ward. As is Ward earned 0 points. So what do I know?

Call Out of the Week: I was all set to call out Nick (Stan Mikita's Donuts) for starting a player (Adam Vinatieri) in his bye week. But then Nick beat me. Now he looks like an evil genius - "Hey Weeks I only need 8 to beat your 9, a receiver (Wes Welker) from your favorite team will thrash you, I don't need Laurence Maroney's 19 points either, and I'll even taunt you with the best kicker in your team's history. Have the Pats won a Super Bowl since he left? What about in 2007?" I haven't seen someone this unnecessarily vengeful since *Rick James assaulted Eddie Murphy's Couch (NSFW). As a side note, I'm assuming that's a Wayne's World reference, but Stan Mikita was pretty cool. Long story short, I'm calling myself out for losing to an undermanned team.

The 2007 Derek Anderson He's Ranked What? Award: That's right Derek Anderson was ranked 9th in 2007. 9th! He's completed 11 of his last 41 passes and has as many yards in his last 2 games (145) as some QBs have had in quarters. Okay I'm too lazy to do the research on that one, but I assume Brady, Brees and possibly Peyton Manning have done it lately. I thought about Ray Rice (5th), but he's freaking awesome and is just coming into his own. I was tempted by Kyle Orton but he out dueled Brady, is 6-0 and once had this picture taken. Orton might have a mustache too. No the winner was drafted in 36% of Yahoo! leagues and usually went around 109th. That's right Cedric "I was cut by the Bears in June 2008" Benson. He's ranked 13th and plays for shotintheleg.

Matchup to Watch in Week 7: We're all looking forward to That's a Tasty Burger facing off against Flying Elvises. They're currently tied at 4-2 and separated by just under 15 points and one spot in the standings. For our purposes let's also pretend they hate each other.

If the Season Ended Today...: Pitino's Spamortion, Bad Newz Kennels, Awkward Silences, and Flying Elvises would make the cut. Of course there's a lot of season left.

Standings:
* It seems like all of those clips were remixes on YouTube.

Book Recommendation: Bringing the Heat

2009-10-19T19:30:00.006-04:00

The Reader's Digest (hopefully someone gets that reference) version from the Publisher’s Weekly review on Amazon.com:

“This look at the Philadelphia Eagles covers both the tenure of coach Buddy Ryan, which began in 1986 and ended with his firing in 1991, and the next three years of current coach Rich Kotite's regime. The 1992 season is the focal point, but Bowden, who covered the Eagles for the Philadelphia Inquirer, deals in depth with the years leading up to that season. Of particular interest are Bowden's profiles of many of the Eagles' colorful characters, including Ryan, owner Norman Braman (who sold the team to Hollywood producer Jeff Lurie in 1994) and players Jerome Brown, Seth Joyner and Randall Cunningham. Bowden pulls no punches, documenting the stormy off-the-field lives of several team members including Joyner and Wes Hopkins, as well as describing the players' dislike of star quarterback Cunningham. Although a bit melodramatic at times, this is as thorough an account of a sports franchise as any fan, even Eagles fanatics, could want.”

Ten Reasons You Should Read This Book:

Bonus reason #1: It's a minor thing, but Bringing the Heat is a great title, epitomizes the style of those Philly defenses and still works. Even today you can use it to describe both football and daily interactions. How many things that were cool from the early 90s have that kind of staying power? For example, consider this.

Bonus reason #2: - Let's just say this book does nothing to dispute the fact that many professional athletes end up broke when their careers are over.

10. Mark Bowden. He is a fantastic writer/author. I haven’t read all of his work, but Killing Pablo (Vince should have bought the rights), Guests of the Ayatolla (great title), and Black Hawk Down (mesmerizing in the movie theater as a side note) speak to his talent. When a real writer completes a sports project it's almost always better than anything from the average sportswriter or hack blogger (damn). While I can't say that I agreed with everything and at times wondered if Bowden had disdain for the entire football enterprise, it's easily a top football book.

9. The Eagles of that era were an underrated video game team. Even to this day that squad doesn’t get the respect it deserves. There’s still a ton of buzz about Bo Jackson from Tecmo Super Bowl, and rightfully so. But I’d take the Eagles against his Raiders any day of the week. The defense, led by Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, Jerome Brown, and Seth Joyer, is stacked. Strangely Eric Allen is nowhere near as good in the game as he should be and for some strange reason Andre Waters (more on him later) is awful. So while the defense is dominant against the run and has a great pass rush, it's suspect if the QB actually gets rid of the ball.

However, none of that matters as QB Eagles (Randall Cunningham) is light years better than every other quarterback. If you know how to maximize his running and passing potential he’s better than Bo. And the skill guys, especially Keith Jackson, can play.

Three Tecmo Super Bowl points before moving on:

- If you think this game is dead, think again.

- This website is also incredibly researched and informative. An updated format would put it over the edge.

- It's been 18 years and I still don't understand why they didn't call it Super Tecmo Bowl.

8. Seth Joyner. The Eagles organization caught up with him almost four years ago for a nice "Where are They Now" style piece. It's a quick, interesting, although far from in depth read that portrays Joyner in a better light than Bowden's book. While Bringing the Heat definitely acknowledges how dominant he was as a linebacker, Joyner also comes off as extremely unlikeable. Some of that stems from the fact that Joyner was devoted to Buddy Ryan and simply wasn't a Richie Kotite fan. Yet Joyner also despised Cunningham, barely acknowledged the offense (and never in a flattering way) and was a lousy family man at that point and time.

7. Mike Golic and Eric Allen. Bowden featured both of them prominently and after reading about their football days their respective media careers make sense. Every time I see Allen on ESPN he's as smooth as can be and looks like he could still play. Meanwhile, Golic started out somewhat as a court jester. Although I have to admit I'm still surprised by the success of Mike and Mike, and Golic has evolved over time.

6. Fight at the Vet. I'm linking to this article because it should simultaneously annoy Nick and introduce the story of Wes Hopkins' wife meeting his mistress:

"There was the former Philadelphia Eagles safety Wes Hopkins, whose marriage collapsed one blustery afternoon in Veterans Stadium when his wife discovered a second Mrs. Hopkins in the stands."

Imagine a current NFL player's wife beating up his mistress at a game. I can barely believe it happened. You have to read the book.

5. Randall Cunningham. First check out his stats, particularly his rushing numbers from 1986-1992 and his out of nowhere 1998 campaign with the Vikings. Then remember that he played during a time period when the NFC East was absolutely terrifying. Maybe I was younger and more impressionable. And I'm sure people will talk about the Giants' current D-Line in reverential terms in years to come. But the Skins, Eagles, Giants, and Cowboys were loaded back then. Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous.

Once again I encourage you to read the book to fully grasp how enigmatic he was. His personality, appearance (seemed to permanently pout), flippant approach to film study, and most of all big contract, caused some of his teammates to loathe him. Cunningham's cult of self, successful self promotion and belief that only Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Aresnio Hall, and a select few others walked in his circle, made things even worse. The following clip actually gets at the heart of a lot of it:

Steve Young was sick too.

4. Free agency. This was right on the cusp of free agency with Keith Jackson jetting for the Dolphins mid-season to unofficially kick off the movement. Of course Reggie White left town following the season to officially get the ball rolling. Do you remember how crazy that was? Politicians tried to lure him to their cities and or states and Sports Illustrated ran one of my favorite covers of all time:

Some more points about White:

- Everyone raved about his "monster contract" - $17 million over 4 years. Don't get me wrong I'd take it. But compare that to some of today's deals.

- I caught a show on the NFL network about this year's Hall of Fame inductees that called Bruce Smith the most feared defensive player and best defensive lineman ever. I respect his game. But don't those titles belong to Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White respectively?

- White was 31 when he signed his deal. That's up there for a NFL player.

- Somehow I didn't realize that White played in the USFL. I love "The Memphis Showboats" as a team name. More on the Minister of Defense later.

3. Social Commentary. Bowden takes the book into a lot of interesting directions. A couple stood out to me:

- Some of the players beat pretty ridiculous odds to make it to the NFL. Yes there were some amazing athletes like Allen, Cunningham, White, Herschel Walker, Keith Jackson, and others. But Andre Waters and several other Eagles literally clawed their way into the league and were far from a sure thing. On top of that some of the players came from the lowest levels of poverty.

- The over the top and in many ways unnecessary "Dream Home for Mom" phenomenon. And it was even more interesting when Bowden looked at the conflicts players' moms and wives had. This was particularly true for African Americans who grew up in poverty and married someone from a very different socioeconomic class than their mothers.

2. Jerome Brown and Reggie White. The book opens with Brown's death, which happened right before the '92 season. It shook many of the players, particularly on defense, to their core and seemed to simultaneously inspire and haunt the Eagles throughout the season. Brown was simply a larger than life figure that lived hard and fast and drew people to him. He was a hero in his hometown as well as an unabashed partier, spender, and pursuer of women. Yet 15 years later White's death has to be even more shocking. Consider the fact that White was far less reckless and just seemed like a super hero. I did not see that coming. Meanwhile, the book obviously can't get into his Super Bowl run with the Packers or his infamous speech to the Wisconsin state legislature. Pretty complex guy.

1. Andre Waters. When I recently reread this I somehow forgot that Waters committed suicide in 2006. Like my first reading Waters emerged as my favorite player in the book. Yes, he may have made Rodney Harrison look mild. Just ask Dan Dierdorf. Yet Waters truly was an unlikely NFL starter that beat the odds. On top of that he comes off as a great guy. So when I finally remembered his death it was even more tragic. Furthermore, while I'm in no way qualified to fully understand the research, I'm intrigued by the contention that "the depression that family members recalled Mr. Waters exhibiting in his final years was almost certainly exacerbated, if not caused, by the state of his brain -- and that if he had lived, within 10 or 15 years 'Andre Waters would have been fully incapacitated.'" - Dr. Bennet Omalu

As much as we all love football there are two things we have to eventually face.

- A good chunk of these guys have to be using HGH right? The size, speed, strength, and quickness have risen to outrageous and dangerous levels.

- It truly can be a debilitating game. And despite the stellar efforts of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund it does not seem like monumental changes have been made yet. And watching last year's Steelers, Ravens and Titans it seemed like a player's death on the field was more of a matter of when than if.

Prime Cleveland Real Estate For Sale

2009-10-18T11:33:00.006-04:00

Formerly owned by NFL player, 6BR, 4.5 Baths, 5000sf. Top of the line Kitchen with custom cherry cabinets. Includes shattered dreams and utter disappointment of Browns fans, Media room, jacuzzi. In ground pool and 3 car garage full of MetRx supplements. Finished basement features Wainscotting and unfounded hype. Used almost as little as owner. Highly (un)Motivated Seller--Make an offer! MLS#100696901

Week 6 Picks: The Blue Record Edition

2009-10-14T19:20:00.013-04:00

My deluxe copy of The Blue Record, the new Baroness album, finally arrived on Tuesday night. Because of this, needless to say, my week has kicked more ass than usual. The album is unreal. Coming off the Red Album, my expectations could not have been higher, and they were all exceeded. On top of that, the deluxe edition of the album comes complete with a live CD with 5 great live Red Album cuts. You need to get this for yourself. You can order it here.

Now, the picks.

Kansas City +6.5 over WASHINGTON: A colleague of mine, who is a Skins diehard, is making a pretty strong case for his team to be the worst in the entire NFL. At first I didn't buy it, but the more he talked with me, the more I became convinced. Even their wins have felt like losses. Despite being an NFC team, the strength of schedule factor hurts the Skins on a historic level. This will mark the 6th consecutive week that the Redskins will face a winless team. This is week 6. Every single team they have played has entered the game winless. That has never happened before. And yet, despite this cupcake schedule, they have not managed to turn in one solid performance. So, are they the worst team? You'd be hard pressed to argue otherwise.

CINCINNATI -5 over Houston: The Bengals are currently one super flukey play in Denver away from being undefeated. They also currently have the NFL's leading rusher. Carson Palmer seems to have returned to form for the time being, and you have to love the way this team is finally gelling after the better part of a decade.

PITTSBURGH -14 over Cleveland: I'm not a Browns fan (which I am thankful for every day), but I have to believe that win in Buffalo on Sunday felt like a loss. Derek Anderson, who was supposed to help breathe some life into this offense, completed 2 passes for 23 yards. Between the piss poor performances on the field, and all of the turmoil off the field (I don't know how often multiple players file grievances against their coach in the same week, but I'd imagine it means 2 things: 1) the players are unhappy, and 2) they don't feel like their coach would be receptive to them communicating that unhappiness), this team is not going to win another game.

MINNESOTA -3 Baltimore: I was sure the Vikings would flame out eventually, but they're showing no signs of that at the moment. In fact, they seem to be getting more and more powerful and in sync as each week passes. Coming off two straight losses, the Ravens are certainly hungry, but I can't pick against Minnesota at home with the way they've looked.

JACKSONVILLE -9.5 over St. Louis: What the fuck was that last week, Jacksonville? All along we've been saying that you never know what you're going to get with the Texans and Cardinals, but this Jaguars team seems like the ultimate wildcard right now. I thought they might have trouble in Seattle and I didn't expect them to win. But, I couldn't believe they got waxed like that. Still, I'll take them at home over the Rams just like I would take anybody at home against the Rams.

Giants +3 over NEW ORLEANS: Maybe I'm missing something, because just about everyone I've talked to or heard talk on tv has picked the Saints. I get that they're coming off of a bye, but the G-Men played the Raiders at home last week. I also understand that if you're not looking any further than the quarterback matchup, it's hard to go against what Drew Brees has been doing. But, this game is about a lot more than Brees vs. Manning.

The Giants can bring huge pressure with their front four, so Drew Brees will have to get rid of the ball quickly. This will prevent big plays. The Saints blitz a lot, and they can get a lot of pressure that way. But, the Giants running game is so solid right now, and it seems like they are always facing manageable down and distance. Because they are so good on the ground, it's hard for me to imagine the New Orleans blitz forcing mistakes. I've tried to slice this one a lot of different ways, and I come up with the Giants winning every time. That being said, don't overestimate the importance of this matchup. It's only week 6.

And then there's this guy.....who I hopes takes a lot of hits on Sunday:

TAMPA BAY +3.5 over Carolina: I'm taking the home team in this matchup, because I can't be bothered to consider any other elements.

GREEN BAY -13.5 over Detroit: With Calvin Johnson most likely on the shelf this weekend, it's hard for me to envision the Lions making a game of this. The Pack should be fresh after their bye week, and I'm sure they're itching to feast on the Lions after losing a tough one to Minnesota their last time out.

Philadelphia -14 OAKLAND: I don't think I realized how pitiful the Raiders were until I experienced it first hand. The Raiders only touchdown came off a Giants muffed punt and an officiating miscue which allowed them to keep possession after a fumble. If Eli Manning had stayed in for the whole game, the Giants were on pace to score 100 points.

Arizona +3 over SEATTLE: That goal line stand against Houston last week was just the kind of thing that rejuvenates good teams (see Giants in week 3 of 07-08 at Washington). That was a gut check moment for the entire season. 1-3 would have been impossible to overcome. At 2-2, I like the Cards to keep improving.

NY JETS -9.5 over Buffalo: On the plus side, the Bills defense held Cleveland to 23 yards through the air on Sunday. But, they lost that game, which is unforgivable. Coming off of two straight road losses, the Jets will cruise at home this week.

Tennessee +9.5 over NEW ENGLAND: New England has looked good at home, but I don't know if I really buy that the Patriots are good enough to be giving 9.5 here. I don't think they should have been favored at Denver last week, and certainly not by more than three! More than anything, I'm angry about the line, which I just think is too high given New England's holes. So, it may be my undoing, but I'm taking Tennessee on principle. While I'm feeling this way, I'll go bold: Titans get their first win this Sunday.

Chicago +3 over ATLANTA: I showed the Falcons no respect last week, and it came back to bite me. But, I'm still not buying it. I think the Bears make some big plays on Sunday night, and pull this one out.

Denver +3.5 over SAN DIEGO: The Broncos are undefeated, one of the Chargers two wins was a nailbiter against Oakland, and San Diego has key guys banged up. The fact that Denver is getting points at all here is absurd. More than three points certainly makes no sense.

Remember That Time the Redskins Lost to the Lions...And Other Thoughts

2009-10-11T01:05:00.008-04:00

MJ's epic Hall of Fame speech did not bring me back. I did not run a post when a member of the Los Angeles Lakers married a reality television star. I remained quiet when T's Redskins eked out a win against a dreadful Rams team, lost to the Lions and barely managed to top a pretty bad Tampa Bay squad.* And to be honest I didn't even want to touch the nauseating coverage of Tom Brady's return against the Bills that gave me one of those rare, "If I were a fan of another team I would hate this" moments. And yet four events happened within a span of a couple of days that ended a months long drought:

4. I was in a police station getting fingerprinted (background check) by a wildly unfriendly police officer who said maybe 3 words to me and seemed intent on twisting my clearly bruised finger (basketball injury). The bigger point is that on our way back to the lobby I debated the pros and cons of giving him a flat tire. Could he hold me for that? Would it break the awkwardness of his surly demeanor?

3. I've been thinking about running a "Jay Leno joke of the week" segment for about 2 years now. It finally got to the point a couple weeks back where I actually almost did it. It would question the very fact that someone so unfunny could be considered the exact opposite by so many. And then this happened:

"Q: What if there was a day on Twitter where everyone tweeted Leno-esque jokes? Such as: "Dr. Christopher Post saved a man's life at a Pirates game. His only regret? The newspaper printing that he was at a Pirates game!"
-- Dan, Philly

SG: I like it. How's Oct. 16? "Sad day for Charlie Weis yesterday. No, Notre Dame didn't lose again. His local Red Lobster canceled its all-you-can-eat buffet!"

Let's be honest. I don't have that many original ideas. And when I do have one I should jump on it. Alas.

2. I had to wear a suit. That's something I rarely do. The only bright side of wearing a suit is it always makes me think of a line from Hoosiers that goes something like this:

"I got me a suit. A real humdinger. It's the suit I was married in." - Shooter

1. I was playing Mike Tyson's Punchout, which is reason enough to be regularly posting on a blog. As I working my way towards Mike Tyson I couldn't help but think of the huge advantage Floyd Mayweather Jr. had in his recent fight. If that's supposed to be bad for boxing consider Bald Bull's 191-pound advantage on Lil Mac. How much of a fine would that prompt if there were a weigh in? How could Doc Louis even let that fight happen? Ultimately I just can't get that worked up about Mayweather.

These are the kind of things I need to be sending out into cyberspace (do people still say that?) from time-to-time. On top of that ROOMOZEN has been quiet of late. So I'll end this post by reworking a line from Hoosiers, "I don’t know if it’ll make a difference, but I figured it’s time I started writing again."

* That has to be one of the worst 2-1 stretches of football...ever.

Week 5 Picks: Favorites In Rhyme

2009-10-09T18:04:00.016-04:00

Babcock is living the good life in Los Angeles, watching games 3 hours early. So, I'm back, and hoping to improve. Rhyming seemed to bring him a lot of success, so I've tried to make all my picks in rhyme. It won't be as good as him, but I've tried.

Tough week. I count two good games, and I expect the favorites to clean house (despite the big lines).

Here we go:

Minnesota -10 over ST. LOUIS:
Clearly I was wrong: this Brett Favre hype was not fake
What a huge difference a good line and a great back can make
Who would have guessed that at night after he pulls down the drapes
Jon Gruden beats off to old Brett Favre practice tapes

Dallas -8.5 over KANSAS CITY:
I couldn't be happier about how things have gone for America's Team
Seeing Tony Romo playing so badly feels like a dream
Kansas City is a good place for people to turn their luck
But no matter how many TDs Tony throws on Sunday, the Cowboys still suck

BALTIMORE -8.5 over Cincy:
Over the past few years I've grown extremely tired
of trying to figure out what it will take for Marvin Lewis to be fired
Sure, right now wins are up and arrests are down
But will that be enough after the Ravens pound the Bengals into the ground?

CAROLINA -3.5 over Washington:
The Redskins may as well be 0-4
They almost lost to both the Rams and Bucs, and what's more...
They lost in Detroit, something no team has done in years
If I were a Skins fan, I'd find Dan Snyder and cut off his ears

TAMPA BAY +15 over Philadelphia:
It was pretty easy for me to pick
that a shitty organization like the Eagles would take a chance on Mike Vick
Killing dogs and racketeering just sounds like foolish fun
compared to some of the shit that Andy Reid's kids have done

Cleveland +6 over BUFFALO:
The only part of this game I can really respect is the fans who put up with this shit
Braylon Edwards gone to an already shitty offense is a pretty big hit
Year after year, fans of both these teams cheer hard, even in the cold
And yet their teams always suck dick, it must be starting to get old

Steelers -10.5 over DETROIT:
I hope Lions fans enjoyed that win, because it may not happen again
Certainly they have no shot this weekend against Big Ben
His team is back on track, and he looked great against the Bolts
In fact, I think the only guys better than him are Drew Brees and #18 for the Colts

GIANTS -14.5 over Oakland:
Eli's Plantar Fasciitis made me feel very sad
Because I remember in 2007 when it made Kendrick Perkins play bad
But even if Carr is in, the offense still cruises
and Osi, Tuck, and Pierce will cover Jamarcus Russell in bruises

NINERS -2.5 over Atlanta (lock of the week):
The Falcons are good, I certainly feel
But this thing the Niners have going is real
Giving less than three at home, this is my lock
If they blow this one, Mike Singletary might show the whole team his cock

BRONCOS +3 over Patriots:
To Randy Moss, Champ Bailey has always been a pest
And I couldn't be happier that Brian Dawkins decided to move West
He put a dirty hit on Ike Hilliard, and I have never forgotten
After this game, Vince Wilfork's jockstrap will smell really rotten

Houston +5.5 over ARIZONA:
Both of these teams look different every week
Some days they're really good, some days they're weak
Kurt Warner in the Super Bowl again? I think it not
But, he can thank God for the greatest miracle of all: making his wife suddenly hot

SEATTLE over Jacksonville (pick em):
I'm sure it will be another packed house at Qwest
Fans at the games - The Jags will be impressed
Nobody ever comes to see them, they're blacked out every day
On this pick em game, no money should you lay

Indy -4 over TITANS:
It sure looks LenDale White must be back on the sauce
The Titans without a win- I'm at a loss
Avoid the Tennessee betting trap, there is no turnaround in sight
Only a fool would bet against Peyton Manning on a Sunday or Monday night

Jets -2 over DOLPHINS:
Even on the road I like the Jets here
Miami's wildcat is something the Jet's defense does not fear
After the game, Mark Sanchez will probably sleep with many a Miami Dolphin dancer
Don't get too excited Jets fans....on the way is a locker room cancer

COLLEGE PICK OF THE WEEK

LSU +7.5 over Florida:
"A win is a win" is the cliche I normally expect
from these experts who refuse to give the Tigers respect
History tells me LSU is good, and Tebow may be out....the feeling is right
for an upset in Death Valley on Saturday night.

Week 4 Picks: Digital Underground Edition

2009-10-01T20:16:00.003-04:00

"Its Shock G...The one that put the satin on your Panties."

Here we go, for no apparent reason whatsoever. Week 4 coming at ya....

Houston -9 vs Oakland

I think the struggles over, I think the time is now,

I think that Old Al Davis is milking his own cow.

I dont know what that means, I know this spread is large

Its time for Stevie Slaton to step up and take charge.

Tennesee -3 @ Jacksonville

Tennessee is 0-3, somewhat hard to swallow,

Three tough games without a win, leaving me so hollow.

Chris Johnson will run wild, Kerry will sling passes

I walk these lonely streets at night and stare at women's asses.

New England -2 Vs Baltimore

Essentially a pickem game, this one is mighty tough

The weather man has called for rain, conditions will be tough.

Ravens have the Defense, the Pats have all the weapons

You should take the under too, if youre smellin what I step in.

Cinci -6 @ Cleveland

Maybe its because I watch the TV show Hard Knocks

Or maybe its because Coach Mangini gargles cocks,

Cleveland's changing horses, Cinci's got some style

Watching Cleveland struggle really makes me smile.

New York Giants -8.5 @ Kansas City

The Giants are a juggernaut, the NFLs best team

The d line and their running backs are something from a dream

This one wont be that close at all, probably 21

Stick a fork in Cassell, Kansas City's done

Chicago - 10 Vs Detroit

Chicagos playing pretty well, Detroit is riding high,

I picked the lions right last week, now its time to die.

Forte finds the end zone for the first time in this season

But Stafford throws the ball away, thatll be the reason.

Tampa Bay +7.5 @ Washington

Haynesworths on the sidelines, too bad he aint the coach

This games going to be ugly, I wish I had a roach

I wish I had a reason to sit and watch this game

The Redskins are pathetic, floundering, and lame.

Seattle +10 Vs Indy

Indy's going to win this game, but the seahawks keep it tight,

Seattle's kind of scrappy, but they face an awful plight.

Peyton's looking pretty good, so is Reggie Wayne,

If I don't eat some chicken wings I think Ill go insane.

New Orleans -7 Vs New York Jets

The Jets are 3 and 0 whoopty fucking Doo

But can they stop an offense that does what Drew Brees do?

I think this is the week, where Sanchez acts a rookie,

I hope that he goes camping, and gets molested by a wookie.

Me and Shock G at the Topsfield Fair, 1998.

Buffalo -1.5 @ Miami

The Dolphins lost their quarterback, but I forget his name,

Buffalo could use some offense, But won't get much in this game

TO hasn't caught a touchdown, hes barely caught 5 balls,

But I bet hes got pictures of Himself all up on his walls.

Saint Louis +9.5 At San Francisco

The Rams have been depressing, but I think that theres a reason,

That they can cover 9 point 5 at this point in the season.

I hated to watch the game last week, when Favre pulled one out.

Vikings fans get ready, he'll sabotage without a doubt.

Dallas -3 @ Denver

Dallas heads to the Rockies, Their balls might get real cold

The air is thin like wisps of hair, the mountains are so old

This pick does nothing for me, but Im confident its right

Im confident Im going to hump a couch on Friday night.

San Diego +6.5 @ Pittsburgh

The reason that I pick this one is that the Steelers are so Blah,

And Philip Rivers makes me mad, hes probably in a spa

Waxing off his nutsack, So LT can lick his nuts.

Green Bay + 3.5 @ Minnesota

Please, Please, make this Brett Favre ball-lathering stop.

Week 4 Picks Coming Soon...

2009-10-01T16:36:00.001-04:00

This ought to hold you over...

Week 3 Picks: Random 90s TV Show Edition

2009-09-24T16:15:00.005-04:00

Here are the Roomofzen Picks for week 3...after a slow start we are looking to pick things up. First we have to acknowledge that we are not worthy of using a theme such as Greg Lloyd until performance improves, hence this weeks theme of early 90s TV shows that I may or may not have watched occasionally featuring girls I may or may not have humped my couch to. Also, the picks will be made to rhyme.

Tennessee + 2.5 @ New York Jets:

The Titans getting 2.5, surely you must be joking,

Rex Ryan's eating candy bars... oh no I think hes choking!

Alas they beat New England, but I think they are a fluke,

If I knew where Mark Sanchez lived, you can bet I'd hide the Duke.

Houston -4 vs Jacksonville

For the last two weeks this season, I've spent some time a waitin

For the appearance of a running back- the one they call Steven Slaton

Jack Del Rio may call to mind a sideline Charlie Bronson,

But the Jags won't stop the Texans, especially Andre Johnson.

Philadelphia -9 vs KC

It won't even make a difference- Ty Thigpen or Matt Cassel,

KC won't make this close at all ,it will barely be a hassle

If Kolb starts to struggle, we just might see Mike Vick,

Westbrook, McCoy, and Jackson, The Eagles O is sick.

Baltimore -13.5 vs Cleveland

I think this is the year that the Browns turn things around,

No I don't, I'm only kidding, they're the biggest joke in town.

The Ravens D is playing well, thats really all they need,

And seriously is there anyone more badass than Ed Reed?

New York Giants -7 @ Tampa Bay

The Giants are really rolling, two good wins to start,

Tampa's got no Quarterback and I just ripped a fart.

In fact even on the road I'm surprised its only seven,

Does anybody out there know what became of Dorsey Levens?

Detroit -6.5 vs Washington

The Lions have some talent, I guess that much is true,

And I want to pick this upset, honestly I do.

I think the Redskins blow this one, despite playing solid D,

But the Lions are so due to win, it makes me have to pee.

Green Bay - 6.5 @ St. Louis

The Packers are a solid team, they're going to win this game

On the road or in Green Bay, its really all the same.

The Rams have Steven Jackson, but it really aint enough,

I heard that Aaron Rodgers loves a hairy muff.

San Francisco +7 @ Minnesota

I wouldn't eat food at Friendly's, in fact I'd rather starve,

And I'd rather wax my asshole than put money on Brett Favre.

The 49ers have some juice, so I'm going to take a chance,

I love a team whose coach is known for taking off his pants.

New England -4 vs. Atlanta

The offense it has struggled, the point production poor,

But lose two games back to back? it aint been done before.

The Falcons they are a decent team, in fact they are quite good,

But will win this game I say-- Giselle she gives me wood.

Chicago -2 @ Seattle

The Bears head out west this week, to the land of rain and grunge,

Does anybody anymore use a spermicidal sponge?

Forte has a breakout game, I think this one's a lock,

I wish I had a hundred grand and a 12 inch cock.

New Orleans -6 @ Buffalo

The Saints can score with ease, some would say at will,

If TO doesn't catch a score there'll be one unhappy Bill.

I know the meltdowns coming, I can feel it in the air,

New Orleans might hang 50 and I still might not care.

San Diego - 6 Vs Miami

San Diego can put up the points, and I hate Phillip Rivers,

And Merriman is a dirtbag, and Darren Sproles delivers.

Miami is a year away...we've heard that one before,

I've also read somewhere that Tia Tequilla is a whore.

Cinci +4 Vs Pittsburgh

The Steelers running game it blows, and Polamalus out,

Cinci has some talent, of that there is no doubt.

Big Ben will turn it over, that same old tale again,

Chris Henry looks exactly like a Roswell alien.

Denver pk @ Oakland

Who Cares!

Indy +2.5 @ Arizona I think the Colts are solid, though they struggled Monday night,

Peyton has some weapons, and man is that guy white!

I laugh at his commercials, he plays a real good tool,

Kurt Warners wife is hot now, man am I a fool!

Dallas -9.5 vs Carolina

Lose twice at Jerry's palace, you know it can't be done,

The Boys are back in town they say, Panthers on the run.

Delhomme is mighty shitty, they used to call him good,

Tony Romo dumped Jess Simpson cause she gained 47 pounds. Haha. Yes.

'Big Fan'

2009-09-22T16:14:00.001-04:00

The Nick LaRocque story? Roomofzen can neither confirm or deny. Now showing in Kendall Sq. in Boston...

Foil in the Oven: Week 2 Picks

2009-09-17T21:31:00.011-04:00

If you're reading this, I can only assume that you didn't follow my picks last week. Those who did can probably be found camped out at the nearest street corner.

5-10....not a great showing. But, weeks 1 and 2 are always the toughest to pick. The NFL is the most unpredictable of the 4 major sporting leagues, and this unpredictability is one of the elements that makes it so great. I was way off on some, and missed by half points on others. Nevertheless, it's great to be picking games again. I feel much more confident as we head in to week 2. Here they are. Home teams are in caps.:

Raiders +3 over CHIEFS: Even as the home team, I don't see how Kansas City can be favored here. Despite putting up 24 points against Baltimore, the Chiefs were dominated in all phases of the game. Most notably, they were only able to muster 29 yards on the ground. Oakland, on the other hand, looked great on Monday night. They outgained the Chargers, the had the edge in time of possession, and they held even in first downs (19 a piece). Richard Seymour may no longer be playing for another Super Bowl, but he is playing for a new contract and it showed. The guy made a huge impact with virtually no practice time. I love the Raiders here. I still meant all that bad stuff I said last week about them though.

TITANS -6.5 over Texans: I wasn't right about much last week, but I think I was dead on about Houston not being able to live up to the hype and about the Jets being better than you think. In that same post, I said that the Texans can't be a favorite in the AFC South because they are nowhere near as good as the Titans. I guess we'll see if I was right. That was a staggeringly lopsided affair in Houston last week.

Patriots -3.5 over JETS: This is tough. The Jets looked fantastic on the road last week, while New England looked completely out of sync at home. The Jets defense looks better than ever, while the Patriots are down Teddy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, Mike Vrabel, Richard Seymour, and now Jerod Mayo. All this, plus the fact that this game is in the Meadowlands, says to me that the Jets should be giving points. Since they're getting points, it seems like a no-brainer that I should pick them. But I can't. Not when we've got a rookie head coach and quarterback taking on Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and especially not when they've got defensive backs talking shit just days before suiting up against Randy Moss.

Bengals +9 over PACKERS: I'm such a dumbass. Look, the Packers are a really good team. And, there's no question that year 7 of the Marvin Lewis era is shaping up to look just like year 6. HOWEVER, the Bengals have a habit of showing up, playing hard, and then losing by about three when they play really good teams. Knowing that, I can't in good faith advise you to take the Packers by 9. But, if you really lay it down on the Bengals, you're going to feel like a real dickhead if you're wrong. Best to stay away from this one. Bet on Tennessee.

Vikings -10 over LIONS: I've never heard commentators so captivated by a 110 yard, 1 touchdown passing performance. I would rather bathe in shit than watch this game.

Saints even over EAGLES: We can't just dismiss the Saints win last week because it was against the Lions. They didn't just beat them. They fucking killed them. They did everything they should have and more. I'd lean towards New Orleans even if Donovan McNabb were healthy.

Panthers +6 over FALCONS: Of all my blunders last week, none is more humiliating than Carolina being my "lock of the week". But, I'm far from quitting on the Panthers. Things got out of hand pretty quickly last week. Jake Delhomme is a hot-cold guy and he could play great against Atlanta.

REDSKINS -9.5 over St. Louis: This will make the Redskins wish they played in the NFC West. They'd probably take home the division crown.

JAGUARS -3 over Arizona: the Eastern seaboard has not been kind to the Cardinals.

Seahawks +1.5 over NINERS: Here's your lock of the week. I'm drinking the Seahawks kool-aid, and I'm not yet ready to say the Niners "look good".

Bucs +5 over BILLS: The Bills love to tease us into believing in them during these Sunday and Monday night performances. I don't know how much they have left this week.

Steelers -3 over BEARS: The Bears are interesting at home here, particularly with everyone questioning Jay Cutler. But, if you followed us last season, you know I always have a hard time picking the Bears because I can't hitch my wagon to a team that relies on flukey special teams plays and converts kick returning defensive backs into number one receivers. Jay Cutler will play better, but they need to run for him to be successful. They won't do that against Pittsburgh. Also, I think the absence of Urlacher is much more crushing than the absence of Polamalu (not because I don't think Polamalu is elite, but just because I think the Steelers are better built to absorb that loss).

Ravens +3 over CHARGERS: The Ravens are a very quiet contender in the AFC. Even at home, I don't think the Chargers have the cajones to hang with them.

Giants +3 over COWBOYS: Did you see the way Tampa was able to run on Dallas? This Cowboys team is very ordinary. I can't wait for Sunday night.

Colts -3 over DOLPHINS: This is my one to skip. But, I will just say that I think this line should be wider.

UPDATE: I forgot to add this one:

Cleveland even over BRONCOS

The Greatest Day of the Year

2009-09-13T11:20:00.003-04:00

Happy Week 1 everyone. I know the Super Bowl is supposed to be the greatest day of the year, but I've always found it to be bittersweet because of the season being over. Sunday of Week 1 gives us the fix we've been craving for 7 months, and it also provides the comfort of knowing that things are going to be like this for a long time.

I don't want to discount thanksgiving. Maybe we can call it a tie.

see our week 1 picks below.

To celebrate, some Marshall Faulk highlights:

Foil in the Oven: The Greg Lloyd Edition: Week 1 Picks

2009-09-11T17:08:00.012-04:00

Well, just like last season, we missed the kickoff spectacular. However, there was no way I could let this week pass without getting up the rest of my week 1 picks. Generally, these will be up by Thursday night.

Miami +4 over Atlanta: I was originally inclined to go with Atlanta. I feel great about the Matt Ryan era, and Tony Gonzalez brings more (tangibles and intangibles) than just about anybody they could have brought in. On top of that, the Falcons are at home. But, I hate their defense, and I can't get that out of my head. Miami is the more balanced team, so I'm taking them. However, they say you should always stick with your first instinct, so we'll see how it works out.

Baltimore -12.5 over Kansas City: Steep line here, but how can you not take it. Even if things were going smoothly in Chiefs camp, I'd like the Ravens. The fact that things have been disastrous makes it a no-brainer.

Carolina +2.5 over Philadelphia: This line infuriates me. Carolina is the lock of the week.

Bengals -4 over Broncos: This Bengals team is very intriguing. Cedric Benson could be primed for a huge year. Laverneus Coles is a nice piece to put with Ocho Cinco and a supposedly refocused Chris Henry. Tank Johnson and Roy Williams have come over from Dallas. If they weren't in the AFC North, I'd give them a fighting chance to be a playoff team. The Broncos, on the other hand, have been spiraling out of control ever since Mike Shanahan was fired at the end of 2008.

Cleveland +4 over Minnesota: Now that TO outed the Browns QB situation, is it really necessary to leave the QB section of their depth chart completely blank? The Browns are well built on both sides of the line, and I like them at home here. The Vikings are pretenders.

Jets +4.5 over Texans: The Texans seem to be this season's "it" team. I was shocked to log on to espn.com earlier this week to see them listed with the Steelers, Patriots, and Giants as favorites. That's a tough division that they play in, and in my opinion they are nowhere near as good as Tennessee. The Jets are better than you think.

Indy -7 over Jacksonville: Each week this season, I will pick one game that I would prefer to not discuss. This is it for week 1.

Detroit +13 over New Orleans: Maybe I'm crazy, but 13 just feels like a lot. Great teaser potential here.

Dallas -6 over Tampa Bay: This will be a tough year in Tampa, but I'd say the reconstruction is off to a good start.

Arizona -6.5 over San Francisco: Kill me please. NFC west matchups are the only thing keeping me thinking that maybe I really don't need to bother getting Sunday Ticket.

Giants -6.5 over Washington: The Giants are, in this one incredibly biased fan's eyes, the unquestioned favorite in the NFC. Their defensive line is going to set a new standard for dominance this season.

The Redskins, on the other hand, are as uninspiring a group as I can imagine. They've made it clear that they have no confidence in their quarterback. Clinton Portis will be worn down by week 8. The offensive line is old, and struggled mightily last season. Albert Haynesworth is the most dominant player at his position, but frankly not even he could help this group. Throwing 100 million dollars at one great defensive lineman and surrounding him with bums does not work. Haynesworth was able to make such an impact in Tennessee because he was surrounded by other good players (did you even notice that Tennessee didn't have him last night? No. That defense didn't miss a beat). The Redskins are starting Phillip Daniels at defensive end. He's 36 and coming off knee surgery. Guys like this make Haynesworth less effective.

Seattle -8 over St. Louis: Don't let the monochromatic turquoise uniforms fool you. Seattle has a lot of playmakers on both sides of the ball. Everyone is talking about the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh, but I'm really more interested to see if Edgerrin James will be rejuvenated by the change of scenery.

Green Bay -3.5 over Chicago: The Packers, in my mind, are the clear favorite in this division.

New England -11 over Buffalo: The Patriots are not fucking around right now, and I'm excited to watch their offense operate. I'd be more excited if I wasn't constantly surrounded by their insufferable fans.

San Diego -9.5 over Oakland: Oakland doesn't deserve to play on Monday night. In fact, they don't deserve to ever be on television outside of the Bay Area. They are an absolute black eye on this league, and they should be treated as such. Oakland had the highest payroll in the league last season (over 152 million). This is a very puzzling fact when you consider the 5-11 record they compiled and the fact that a recent Forbes article lists them as the least valuable franchise in the entire NFL. So, really, it would seem impossible for things to get worse. But then, at the end of last week, they did.

Really stop and think about this most recent deal. Richard Seymour is a guy who many feel has been on the decline over the past few seasons. He's a guy who many believe, despite playing for an extremely competitive team, lost motivation after signing his last contract. Already, he doesn't sound like the type of guy you want to give up too much for. His momentum's going the wrong way. On top of that, he's up for free agency at the end of this season, and there is NO FUCKING WAY he would ever consider signing with the Raiders (why would anybody) as a free agent unless Oakland just blew away all the other bidders. So, on top of being on the decline, he's a guy that will only help you for one season.

There is no way in the world I can ever imagine giving up a first round pick for this guy. That, in itself, is ridiculous. What's equally ridiculous is that the Raiders never talked to Seymour before making the deal. If you're going to give up something as valuable as a first round pick, you'd better make sure the guy you're getting is motivated and start negotiating long-term before the ink dries. There are rumors that the Raiders requested contact with Seymour and the Patriots refused. If that is true, then it should have been a dealbreaker for Oakland. Now they've given up a first round pick, most likely a top ten pick, for nothing.

I understand that Davis (and I blame only him, because he's the only name you can click on when you go to the Raiders administrative page) has the right to do whatever he wants with his team. I also understand that he's not a bad guy and that he's been extremely influential in this league. However, it is unacceptable. The NFL needs to start pushing for a change of hands, and that starts with refusing to put this team in a prime time slot. At some point, Raider fans are going to lose interest in professional football.

Son Volt, Windfall:

and Uncle Tupelo, Gun, from 1992:

The Anticipation Builds......

2009-08-25T05:41:00.003-04:00

As excited as I am for the college and professional football seasons to kick off, I am equally as excited for the new Baroness album to arrive at my door in October. In case our widget below didn't work for you, here is a youtube version of the first two cuts from the upcoming Blue Record. The first song is Bullhead's Psalm, and it leads in to The Sweetest Curse. Lie on the couch and let this thing soak in. Really really awesome.

The Podcast Returns: NFL Preview, Part 1

2009-08-18T20:47:00.015-04:00

It's been over six months since our last podcast, and our rust certainly shows in this shaky return to action. Babcock and I called each other this afternoon to vent our mutual anger that Brett Favre was back in the news, and somehow this resulted in an impromptu podcast. We begin by bashing Brett Favre for about 20 minutes before we move on to discuss the impressive preseason debuts of the Giants and Patriots. We then break down the AFC and NFC East and make our Heisman Trophy pick. Finally, I try (unsuccessfully, although I did give him a huge hint) to stump Babcock in celebrity trivia. Here's your hint: "if you lie with dogs, you're bound to get fleas". Informative? Definitely not. But, I'd say it's certainly entertaining.

We will be back with part 2, and will bring the rest of the staff in to the fold.

(it might take a few seconds to load. If you haven't heard anything after 30 seconds, close and come back to the site and try again. This should do the trick. If that doesn't work, click below and it will feed you the episode straight from gcast).

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Check out this single from the new Baroness album (set to drop in October). It's called Bullhead's Psalm/The Sweetest Curse, and it kicks a lot of ass. It's comforting to know that soon enough (November or December according to their website), I'll be back at the Middle East and they'll be fucking blowing my face off again.

UPDATE: These are actually the first two songs of the new album. Bullhead's Psalm is the intro and leads in to track 2, which is the Sweetest Curse.

Roomofzen Fantasy Football.

2009-08-17T21:50:00.012-04:00

What more can we say about Jeff Feagles that hasn't already been said 1,000 times on this website? The man is a fucking institution, plan and simple. At this point, I'm just enjoying every chance I get to see him punt while simultaneously awaiting the biography that I assume will be released when his career comes to a close.

I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I don't even know why we're bothering with the regular season. Let's just put the Giants and Patriots in the Super Bowl right now. The Giants defensive line rotation is unstoppable. Casten had Clint Sintim right. The guy is an animal. He would have had about 6 sacks tonight if he wasn't getting held like a bastard. How the hell are teams going to contend with him after they've already been broken by Osi, Tuck, Kiwanuka (who has given up his number to Sintim), big Fred Robbins, Rocky Bernard, Barry Cofield, Chris Canty, and Jay Alford? They won't. They can't. It's impossible. It's an embarrassment of riches. Don't even get me started on tonight's hero Tommie Hill. And then, on top of that, after Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw spent the first quarter steamrolling the Panthers, Danny Ware comes in and looks like he could go for 1,000 yards this season. David Carr and Mario Manningham both look like they're back in college. Maybe it's just me, but it really seems like the Giants could lose their entire first string (except Antonio Pierce) to injury and still win the Super Bowl.

Anyways, the reason I'm writing this post is to encourage you to join the roomofzen fantasy football league. Now, please don't be discouraged if you joined the fantasy basketball league and thought it was lame. The truth is that we all take fantasy football extremely seriously, and this league will be very competitive. It will also be covered right here on the site. Every transaction, every trade, every matchup will be covered here as if it were happening in real life. Not only will this plan finally give you that recognition you deserve for all that hard work you put in during the summer months, but it will also ensure that all players stay dedicated to their team throughout the entire season so that they can save face.

It should be awesome. The winner will receive a free roomofzen shirt that they design. Their design will also be featured in the roomofzen store.

Here are your instructions to join:

1) Follow this link to Yahoo! Fantasy Football

2) We are League #609049

3) Our password is: neclamchowder

This should bring you to our league (Boner Salad Reunion Tour) page. There, you can create your team. First come, first served. Draft will take place Tuesday, September 8th.

Speaking of the roomofzen store, we have a new item that is arriving just in time for fantasy football season:

purchase it here.

SICK!

2009-08-11T21:06:00.002-04:00

This is Awesome.

Train of Thought

2009-08-11T19:45:00.006-04:00

I just watched a pretty solid cameo on Entourage by Tom Brady. Notable moments that pop to mind include Turtle planning to inform Brady that he "Sucks Balls" only to be instantly won over by his charm and offering to bring the 3 time Superbowl champ wine and chocolate. (Typical Giants fan move) Then Brady tells us that Giselle cooks. Sure, Tom, sure she does.

Pretty pictures of mountains over sick guitar riff and slightly inaudible lyrics by the Heartless Bastards.

This play was pretty sick. You gotta love that they leave the punter without any blockers against what is probably eleven 3rd and 4th stringers who would literally eat a live kitten to make the roster. I would consider that a "life-saving ball fake".

Uncle Tupelo...badass.

Rashard Lewis Suspended 10 Games

2009-08-06T17:12:00.005-04:00

Rashard Lewis has been suspended without pay for 10 games by the NBA because he tested positive for elevated testosterone levels.

Unfortunately, the Magic do not play the Celtics during the first ten games of the season. However, this is going to be a tight race in the East, and I'll gladly accept any turn of events that puts Orlando or Cleveland at a disadvantage.

Lewis says that he was taking an over the counter supplement that contained substances banned by the league, and his statement said that he hopes "every athlete can learn from my mistake that supplements, no matter how innocent they seem, should only be taken after consulting an expert in the field,".

Ordinarily, since Lewis plays for a rival team, I'd be screaming steroids here. However, Lewis has already told the press exactly what caused the positive test (DHEA). I'm much more inclined to accept the "taking a legal supplement not knowing it contained a banned substance" story when the athlete specifically states what it was that they took. It's only when they are vague in their explanation that I get suspicious.

Whoa This Shirt Is Intense

2009-08-06T15:27:00.003-04:00

I had heard rumors that there were fans showing up at Redskins camp with "Washington Wants Vick" shirts and signs. So, I googled the shirts. I didn't find the Washington Wants Vick shirts, but I did find a whole slew of Anti-Vick shirts. Some are sort of funny ("Vick is a dick"). However, I couldn't help cracking up at the shirt pictured above, which is apparently an anti-Vick shirt and features what is hands down the most intense quote ever to be put on a t-shirt. You must have some seriously unresolved issues to wear this thing.

Just to be clear.... the quote, which lies over fire, reads:

"I am confident that the hottest places in Hell are reserved for the souls of sick and brutal people who hold God's creatures in such brutal and cruel contempt. - Sen. Robert Byrd"

What the hell do you do if you're at a cookout and there's some dude wearing that shirt? I would go with the obligatory raise of the beer can. You've acknowledged the shirt, and you can then relocate very quickly because you haven't engaged any discussion.

Baron Davis Documentary

2009-08-06T14:01:00.006-04:00

I just took some time to watch Crips and Bloods: Made in America , which is an award winning documentary produced by Baron Davis. I won't lie, this isn't a topic in which I have ever had much interest. However, I was drawn by the fact that it was produced by one of my favorite NBA stars and because the reviews have been nothing but outstanding. Plus, I'm on vacation, so why not.

I really recommend this to anybody who is interested in American history, anybody who is interested in urban culture, or anybody who will consume anything with an NBA player's name attached to it (as I said, I fall into category #3). This is much more than your typical film that interviews gang members in hopes of dehumanizing them, keeping people at an even greater distance, and making the problem worse. Instead, this film is filled with history. It takes us all the way back to the mid-20th century, and shows us how something that began so seemingly innocent exploded to the point where there have been over 15,000 gang-related deaths over the past 30 years in Los Angeles county alone. It also paints the current gang culture in an undeniably negative and unflattering light, and in no way glorifies street violence. As an anti-gang documentary, what makes this incredibly successful is the knowledge it provides in terms of how this problem arose, how connected it is with the history and politics of America, and how deep-rooted it is in the culture of this pocket of America.

It's on demand. Check it out.

Delonte West Raps About Chipotle in the KFC Parking Lot

2009-08-04T10:15:00.004-04:00

Via Fanhouse:

While apparently having to wait 18 minutes in the KFC parking lot for his cousin to bring him chicken, Delonte West freestyles to kill time. Our favorite restaurant chain features very prominently (around 2:20)in his rhymes:

We love Chipotle here. I'll never forget my first trip (spring of 2003, Wisconsin Avenue in DC), and my life is infinitely better since Chipotle finally edged into the Boston area in 2007. Jim took his first trip there last summer (preparations here, and then post-trip thoughts here with lots of burrito discourse in the comments section). Hearing Delonte feature Chipotle so prominently in his rap means that he must love it as much as we do. I think the recent arrival of Chipotle in the Boston area (which, ironically, was around the same time D-West was moved to Seattle) might totally change his opinion of the city, and might mean that he might be more willing to wear green again someday (something I would LOVE).

August 4th, Time To Start Hating The Chargers

2009-08-04T09:03:00.004-04:00

I already had enough hostility for the Eagles, Redskins, and Cowboys. I didn't need another team to hate. However, I began to hate the San Diego Chargers as soon as the less than worthy LaDainian Tomlinson was given a nickname already taken by one of the NFL's all-time great players. And then, once they were already on my shit list, they made things worse. I've never seen a team act more ridiculous after a loss than the Chargers did after choking away a home playoff game to the Patriots in January of 2007. In fact, of the Patriots celebration, Tomlinson actually said, "When you go to the middle of our field and start doing the dance Shawne Merriman is known for, that is disrespectful." He and Philip Rivers are always complaining and whining. And, on top of that, Philip Rivers refuses to swear. I can't get on board with that. I can't stand this team, and I think now is the time to start the 2009-2010 Chargers Hate Train.

To get you in the mood, here is Deion Sanders ripping LaDainian Tomlinson in January of 2008:

Let me just state for the record that I have no ill feelings towards the San Diego cheerleaders, which are the most professional in the entire league.

More Ed O'Neill (Always A Good Thing)

2009-08-03T18:57:00.005-04:00

Here is today's tribute to Ed O'Neill (something I hope to do more regularly): The final part of the Married....With Children pilot episode. Al (O'Neill) has the chance to go see the Bulls host the Lakers, but Peg forbids it because she has invited the new neighbors Steve and Marcy over. They come over happily married (and having agreed to never watch sports again), and are both infected by Al and Peggy. If nothing else, you have to watch the shot at 3:43. The face Al gives Steve after he says to Marcy about her mother "what is she coming to teach you to bury me like she buried her previous three husbands" is frickin classic.

Chad Ford On Pierce and Rondo

2009-08-03T13:16:00.003-04:00

In this insider piece today, Chad Ford goes through the three different categories of 2010 free agents, and where things currently stand with each of them. First, Ford assures readers that Paul Pierce wants to retire a Celtic, a sentiment that is shared by the Boston front office. The Celtics will, he says, offer Pierce an extension.

However, in discussing the players who will be restricted free agents, Ford says the following on Rajon Rondo:

"Conventional practice would've had Rondo already locked into an extension by now. He was the best player on the floor for the Celtics in the playoffs, and he's just 23 years old.

However, the truth is much weirder. The Celtics actually shopped Rondo this summer, and when the shopping went public, both Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers bad-mouthed Rondo a little. It was nothing major, but talk about him being selfish and not following team rules couldn't have gone over well in his camp. I think the Celtics are afraid to give him a long-term extension right now and fully expect that, unless Rondo is traded, he'll be a restricted free agent next summer.

A number of teams, including the Heat, Knicks and Rockets, need a point guard. If the Celtics won't pay him, someone else will."

This whole thing has been very strange, and I haven't really known what to make of it. All along I've just been hoping that Ainge's intention was to have a few declined trades to use as leverage when negotiating Rondo's extension. Rondo believes he's a max contract player. The activity of early June suggests otherwise. However, if no extension is reached before the season begins, I really have to wonder how wise it was for Ainge and Rivers to open their mouths at all. If you're not going to extend him long term, then it makes no sense to open your mouth and say anything that might affect his motivation or psyche.

The one thing I keep reminding myself of is this: if no extension is reached, Rondo's motivation won't be affected because he'll have no choice but to give his team everything he has. The further he leads the Celtics in the playoffs, the bigger contract he'll be inking in the offseason.

Genius

2009-08-03T10:37:00.003-04:00

Wayne's World was on TV last night. It's something I don't think to watch very often nowadays, but whenever I do see it I'm reminded about what a huge impact it had on me as a kid. It also reminds me how much I wish the term "mental" was still popular today.

This sequence absolutely kills me every time (everything Ed O'Neill touches turns to gold):

Excellent use of "mental":

LenDale White Stops Excessively Drinking Tequila, Loses Over 30 Pounds

2009-08-03T08:08:00.006-04:00

Titansonline.com: LenDale White came into Titans camp this year having lost more than 30 pounds in the offseason. How did White lose the weight? He says it's because he stopped drinking tequila. My reaction to this story is twofold: first, the guy must really drink A LOT of tequila. I've never met anybody who drinks so much tequila on a daily basis that cutting it out of their diet would lead to a weight loss of over 30 pounds in six months. I can only imagine what other health benefits will come from this drastic change. The second part of my reaction is that this Tennessee running game is going to be even scarier than last year. LenDale White has been overweight ever since his last college game. This healthier weight will make him quicker, more versatile, and able to take on a larger load in terms of carries. White's weight loss and a more equal distribution of carries will lead to he and Chris Johnson both being fresher at the end of games.

Also, I had both White and Johnson in fantasy last year, and it was great. Johnson went over 100 yards seemingly every week, and White always scored TDs. This news may make White a more attractive pick, but it doesn't lower Johnson's stock any. He will get his for sure.

Embrace the Weekend: We're Finally on Twitter

2009-08-01T06:21:00.003-04:00

What a week...Brett Favre might actually be retired, Stephon Marbury may be on the brink of suicide, we learned that our roid heads beat everyone else's roid heads twice, some people got very excited about Kevin Durant.........and in the end it all means nothing. Please, this baseball only lull has to end soon.

and: we're finally on twitter!

New Baroness Album Set to Release October 13th

2009-07-31T13:20:00.003-04:00

Yeah, as always, that's some sick cover art. Gilby got an advanced listen of this thing over at Relapse, and reports that "it's fucking amazing". Honestly, the Red Album still blows my mind and it's been about two years now. Here's a link with more of the cover art and the track listings.

The band announced in this blog post that they had to cut their summer tour short, but says that they will be touring during November and December to promote the new album. As always, when they come to New England, the roomofzen will be there.

This video is 30 minutes, but well worth your time if it loads:

If you don't have that kind of time, here's something shorter:

Update From Justin.Tv: Marbury Was Not Paid

2009-07-31T12:08:00.009-04:00

We have received the following information through correspondence with the folks at Justin.Tv:

"Hi, I would like to talk with you about your post that claims we paid Stephon Marbury to broadcast on Justin.tv. That is a complete lie and I'm baffled as to why you would write that, especially without talking to anyone at the company. Please call me."

So, I'll accept that we were misinformed. I've taken down our previous post, which hopefully considered the possibility that Marbury was paid. We had heard some rumblings around here to that effect, and it seemed to make sense. I in no way meant to baffle the people at justin.tv by presenting a scenario in which a professional athlete might require compensation for a live media appearance. It's still hard for me to believe he's getting nothing, but I'll take them at their word.

Great Piece on Paul Pierce From Red's Army

2009-07-30T11:26:00.003-04:00

This is the stuff we need at this time of year:

Great piece on Paul Pierce.

Chris Cooley Makes Fun of Jason Witten and Tony Romo

2009-07-29T11:29:00.003-04:00

From the Cooley Zone:

Here is Chris Cooley playing the role of Jason Witten in his own take on the NFL Fantasy Files commercials:

Fantasy Files from Tanner Cooley on Vimeo.

classic.

If you don't know the commercials, here is the Braylon Edwards one referenced in the video:

What Does Favre Retierement Mean For Michael Vick?

2009-07-29T11:09:00.003-04:00

We've all been wondering what team out there has enough to gain from taking a chance on Michael Vick. When Brett Favre informed the Vikings that he will not be returning to the NFL, they became the clear front runners. Their current quarterback situation, a duel between Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, is not a recipe for success. Michael Vick, at his best, is better than both of these two guys. By signing him, the Vikings at the very least would be gaining a guy that can be a dangerous situational weapon. They're also gaining a guy who will push their current QBs to take their game to the next level. At best, they're gaining a starting quarterback and maybe the most feared ground attack we've seen in a long time.

And, I'm sure it won't be lost on Vikings fans that this was the first visiting quarterback to win a playoff game at Lambeau Field.

The commercial at the start of this video is one of my favorites (Vick throwing the ball out of the stadium):

A Sad Day in the NFC East

2009-07-29T08:25:00.004-04:00

The NFC East, for as long as I've been alive, has been one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL. The spirit of rivalry between all 4 teams is fierce, and inter-divisional games are always tight regardless of how either team has fared throughout the rest of the season. Former Giants linebacker Carl Banks called these divisional matchup "body bag games". From the fires of these intense rivalries, a strong sense of camaraderie and respect is forged between the executives, coaches, players, and fans of this historic division. It was this camaraderie and respect that caused me tremendous sadness this morning as I learned that Jim Johnson succumbed to cancer at the age of 68. Since he joined the Eagles in 1999, Johnson has been a nightmare for the Giants. Every matchup featured new wrinkles and new blitzes that were extremely well-disguised. I have cursed this man hundreds of times. But, he has been instrumental in my life as a sports fan, and it would be hard to find someone in the entire NFL for whom I have more respect.

From philadelphiaeagles.com:

"From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).

As the Eagles' defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Asante Samuel (1), Trent Cole (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).

Four of his defensive assistants have gone on to successful careers with other NFL franchises: Steve Spagnuolo (head coach of the St. Louis Rams), John Harbaugh (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), Ron Rivera (defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers) and Leslie Frazier (defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings).

Prior to his tenure in Philadelphia, Johnson served as the linebackers coach with Seattle in 1998. That year, Johnson helped the Seahawks register 10 touchdowns on defense, including eight interceptions returned for scores, second-most in NFL history. He arrived in Seattle after a four-year stint in Indianapolis, the last two as defensive coordinator. While with the Colts, Johnson helped them secure a berth in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh in 1995.

Johnson spent eight seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (1986-93). After overseeing the Cards defensive line for four seasons, Johnson excelled as their secondary coach, helping Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interceptions (6) since 1981."

The Eagles first home game comes on September 20th, a week 2 matchup with the Saints. I'm sure there will be a ceremony to honor Johnson. If that is the case, for the first time in my life, I will be rooting for the Eagles to win.

Monday Morning Bullets Complete With My Bachelorette Prediction

2009-07-27T08:07:00.011-04:00

1- T.O. and I are so in sync lately. I can't even handle it. When it comes to sports, there is nothing I like more than watching talented players, and I am giddy about being able to appreciate TO again now that he is over in the AFC. I have also been going out of my way to convince everyone I can that Michael Vick needs to be reinstated to the NFL immediately. TO is on the same page, of course. In a league where everyone seems to be terrified to speak out against the commissioner, guys like Owens are more valuable than ever:

I will direct you to a direct quote from Babcock (our CFO)which was given to me when I was preparing to write my own piece on Vick's case:

"If we can't throw a guy in jail, take everything he has, make him pay for his crimes, and then turn him loose with the freedom to get it all back, then we've really lost our way as a nation."

The man has paid for what he has done, and he did not receive the celebrity discount on his jail time. He spent nearly two years in prison. As far as we know, he has committed no crimes since. He should now be free to put his life back together. It is not our job as a society to punish him further. If our goal as a society is really to rehabilitate crimals when possible, then we should want them to get back on their feet. We should hope that they can all find work and build a life that keeps them clean, and that helps the future generations not make the same mistakes. This Vick case is a great scenario. I wish all released inmates had skills as marketable as Vick's...we'd certainly see significantly fewer repeat offenders.

2-I've hosted and attended many Big Lebowski parties over the past 8 or so years. Nothing that I've experienced rivals the Seattle Lebowski Fest, which Jim Caple recaps in this column. Caple describes the event as a cooler man's Star Trek convention: where fanatics gather in meticulously constructed costumes to mimic the mannerisms and recite the lines of their favorite characters.

Caple also introduces us to the real life dude, Jeff Dowd. I had no idea that such a man existed. The greatest quote comes when Dowd explains that he wasn't actually in to bowling, and instead was really into running:

"Well, you had to be in shape to drink all those White Russians and make love to all those women."

Here he is, the real dude, with Jeff Bridges:

alright.

3-I'm not going to waste too much time justifying this, I'm going to try to just jump in to it. I'm a married man. My wife has watched virtually every Celtics and New York Giants game since we've lived together (and many before that as well). Most of the time, she enjoys that. It's only fair that I have taken in my fair share of reality tv as well. So yes, I have watched every episode of this season's Bachelorette. And, I'll admit that most of the time I enjoy that.

Judge me if you want, but I know there is at least one other member of the roomofzen staff who is in the same boat. Also, let me just point out that this is really not much different than Rock of Love or Flavor of Love. In fact, in the last episode, we had to watch Jillian and Ed rub lotion all over each other as foreplay, and then we learned that the night came to an abrupt end because Ed was too tired and couldn't get it up. If that's not entertainment, then I don't know what is.

You may be wondering whether or not this is appropriate for the roomofzen, and I assure you that I would never post this unless I felt like I had a chance to be correct in my prediction for tonight's finale. Here it is:

So, we're now down to two men, Ed and Kiptyn. However, because of the unusual way this season has unfolded, we cannot assume that Jillian is limited to picking one of those two men tonight. Ed has already left and returned to the show. To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this. If it is indeed, a competition, then once you're gone you should have lost your chance to win. However, we're all supposed to be worrying about Jillian "finding love", so clearly the integrity of this competition means nothing.

Anyways, because of the way things have gone, we have to assume that a previous contestant could appear. Now, there were only two eliminated contestants not present at last weeks "Men Tell All". One was Wes, who is off promoting his new country album, and who may have been too controversial (I actually think he came into the show with a much more realistic and attainable goal ((promoting his music career)) than any of the other men, but this isn't the time for that) to feature. The other was Reid, who was the last man eliminated. Chris told us that Reid was not in attendance because he had "a prior engagement." I thought it seemed strange: these guys get paid for being on the show, and they are obviously all doing it as an attempt at fame. So, why would Reid not be there? Plus, I imagine that the men knew about this WAY ahead of time, and were told that they all had to be there. So, I wonder exactly what must have kept Reid away.

At the end of the show, they showed a preview of tonight's finale. There was a definite screenshot of Reid in there. And then, I suddenly remembered Chris's words: "a prior engagement". A clever play on words? I think so. Reid seemed like he had the best chemistry with Jillian on the dates in Spain and Hawaii, and I was surprised to see him go. My prediction: he returns, finally tells her that he loves her and wants to get married. She will then choose him.

It's a little out there, but if it happens, remember that you read it on the roomofzen first.

A little note here: When Reid does this, he won't actually mean that he wants to get married. But, he will say it anyways. No guy wants to get married after spending 6 MONTHS dating a girl. Nevermind 6 weeks, with her dating 29 other dudes simultaneously, including banging a few of them in the fantasy suite. It's completely unrealistic, but you have to say that's what you want if you want to stay alive in this game. Kiptyn, Ed, Jake, and Michael S. all knew that. Reid clearly didn't understand what it took to be a champion. It's not surprising that he's from Philadelphia.

UPDATE: I was close, but not quite on the money. Reid did return in a minivan, looking quite disshevled. He did also propose to Jillian. Then, in typical Philadelphia fashion, he was sent home crying right before a winner could be crowned. The winner was Ed. Worth mentioning that Babcock picked him to win in week 2.

Embrace The Weekend: Kid Rock Pays Homage to Fleetwood Mac

2009-07-26T14:51:00.002-04:00

Kid Rock often makes me cringe. But, he has also done a lot of things (and the best example of this was the great speech he gave inducting Bob Seger into the rock n roll hall of fame) that are badass. This performance, in my mind, is one of them:

It's a beautiful day for grilling. The roomofzen will resume heavy operation this week. You can expect some NFL conference previews, some thoughts on why college football coaches should look to Asia to bolster their offensive and defensive lines, and my own theory on how tomorrow night's Bachelorette finale will play out.

Roomofzen Value Hits All-Time High

2009-07-24T09:17:00.004-04:00

Wall Street- Shareholders of Roomofzen.com received news from top executives within the firm that the website's value has hit an all-time high. In a statement given from the corporations Amesbury, MA offices CFO Ben Babcock stated that "Despite these trying economic times the site is currently valued at $1036.60, an all time high. For those of you who have difficulty in math, that is a 1250% increase in value since the company went public in 2007."

The news could not have come at a better time for the site, which is mired in the traditionally slow part of the fiscal year that falls in between Basketball and Football seasons.

"Typically you see a lack of interest in sports blogs during this time of the year, " said Babcock, who spoke with us via cellphone from the porch of his top floor penthouse in Amesbury's exclusive neighborhood, known to the world as "near downtown". "While no one can deny the impact of Baseball on American culture and on sports media in general, there is no disputing that it is rather boring; especially when compared to spending a morning in a rocking chair, listening to Ragged Glory and smoking cigarettes, as I am doing right now. This has always been one of our slowest portions of the year in terms of actual output, our customers know this, and they brace themselves for an increased number of youtube videos and fewer podcasts." He then added with a sigh, "We all must make sacrifices in these difficult economic times, we here at Roomofzen.com are no different than anyone else. We put our Boner Salad T shirts on one sleeve at a time, too."

However, Babcock was quick to point out that with the start of both the NFL and NCAA football seasons right around the corner the site plans nothing short of total dominance in the third quarter. "You can rest assured that our staff and its subsidiaries have been ramping things up in the "offseason". The blogging industry requires a lot from its employees. This summer has not been wasted, rather this is a time where we encourage personal development in the form of bachelor parties, NASCAR race attendance, vomiting into shrubs, that sort of thing...we can always find ways to improve, whether that means something as exorbitant as purchasing Playstation 3 or something as simple as switching aftershaves, we are constantly looking to improve the quality of our product and grow our brand."

Rumors have been swirling in recent weeks about whether or not the company had plans to tap into either India or China's ever expanding blog market, which boasts cheap labor costs and literally billions of assholes that fit the bill of the company's target demographic. Mr Babcock, however, refused to comment on these allegations calling them "Unfounded, ridiculous, and absolute typical communist hogwash. We're an American company, and that is really where we are at right now. But, in today's economy you need to remain versatile and flexible, literally and figuratively, and so I won't rule anything out at this point. We've got a long way to go to get to where we want to be, but we're on our way"

Perk Rejects Wedding Gift from the Roomofzen

2009-07-22T15:05:00.005-04:00

Here at Roomofzen, we hold the work of Kendrick Perkins in high esteem. His tough, physical play not only embodies the spirit of the Celtics, but has also been a crucial part of their recent success. He has developed into one of the most feared interior defenders in the NBA. He has done this quietly, as his name rarely mentioned by members of the national media when they discuss the Celtics. For this reason, we decided that we wanted to find a way to show Perk how much we appreciate him. He's getting married on Saturday, and a wedding present seemed to make perfect sense. So, we scoured the Internet, found his wedding registry, and purchased him an electric burger maker:

It seemed like the perfect gift: well-suited for a man who relies on his size and strength to keep the opposition out of the paint.

We received word this morning that the burger maker was returned, and that our money would be refunded. We're not really sure why our gift was rejected, but we accept this decision with no hard feelings. Perhaps Perk just didn't feel right about fans spending money on him when he is already rich. Perhaps he is trying to stay trim in the off season, and thinks that this gift could cause him to put on weight. Perhaps he was upset that our card only spoke of the hard work that he puts in, and mentioned nothing of his wife to be (you can only use 180 characters). I am also fully aware that he may just feel creepy about someone he doesn't know sending him a wedding gift. It would certainly be understandable.

All of these reasons are plausible. While we may never know what Perk was thinking when he sent back the burger maker, I'd like to think that his reasoning was rooted less in the nature of the gift itself, and more deeply connected to the nature of his being and the reasons why he plays basketball. Many NBA stars use their talents to build up themselves up into icons. Their fame and their desire to be treasured and exalted by the fans and media seem to be the driving force behind their success. They take on nicknames, endorse shoes, and develop signature moves all in an effort to become household names. In an ironic twist, these incredibly strong, rich, and talented men spend an incredible amount of time worrying about what we ordinary people think of them, and how they can make us like them more.

Perk is a different type of player. He will never be a superstar, because his game is far too practical for today's market. He fights for rebounds, he keeps opposing big men out of the paint, and he makes sure that nobody gets to the rim easily (even if it means a technical foul). Many see no glory in this work. But, men like this change games, and over time they change the fortunes of teams. Their work is thankless, and it requires incredible strength of character. Like all of those who do noble work, Perk must resign himself to the belief that he receives his fulfillment simply in knowing that his work is important and that it is appreciated by his teammates. He must not get drawn in to seeking approval from the fans and media, as this can only lead him to a dark place. Soon, he might be trying to change his game to please the fans, losing part of his own identity and effectiveness in the process. Accepting a burger maker from people that you don't know would be one step down the dark path. I understand that, and we certainly don't want him to compromise his integrity.

Again, I am fully aware that he may have just been creeped out. But, unless we get to talk to him, we'll really never know.

Nelson Mandela

2009-07-21T12:02:00.002-04:00

I know people are probably sick of us posting nothing but videos for the past month. With nothing happening but baseball, and with the weddings, vacations, and summer programs that have been going on, we have all been extremely busy. However, I promise you that this week we have started preparing to unleash a full onslaught of NFL preview material. You can expect it at the beginning of next week.

In the meantime, another video. As cynical as I may be about ESPN, I really enjoyed the ESPYs. In particular, I thought this video about Nelson Mandela (who won the Arthur Ashe award) was fantastic. I am pretty well read on Mandela, and still I had no idea about the rugby world championships of 1995. It is a great story, and although I am hesitant to weigh sports too heavily among those factors that affect human relations, I don't think there is any denying this story of an example that sports can be a very powerful force in the world.

Haven't Had a Sprite In a While?

2009-07-20T14:24:00.002-04:00

Sprite is one of those sodas I always forget about. But, it is always refreshing and delicious when I have it. It's clear, light, and caffeine-free. Very innocent overall. I certainly never thought I'd see an ad like this for it:

Paul Pierce in Vegas

2009-07-19T12:50:00.001-04:00

Taking in the summer league, the Truth talks about some young players and about the Sheed signing.

Why Do I Love TO Now?

2009-07-18T12:54:00.004-04:00

I never expected to feel this way.

I have been in love with TO ever since he left the NFC East. It feels so strange to suddenly love someone you have hated for so long, but I can't help it. Between knowing that Dallas is going to suck this season and knowing that I no longer have to worry about the Giants secondary contending with his size, I have no reason to be angry or to hate this man. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy his antics, because they will no longer be at my expense.

Important note: Randy Moss is still, and will always be, my favorite NFL player. Nothing Owens does now can change that.

Pacman Jones Vegas Video

2009-07-17T16:55:00.006-04:00

Outside The Lines featured new amateur footage of Pacman Jones making it rain during NBA All-Star Weekend in Vegas at Club Minx.

I don't want to paint Pacman as a victim of public opinion, because it sounds like some pretty ugly shit went down after the camera cut out. But, this definitely does not look the way I pictured it looking. From the way it's been described and sensationalized by ESPN, I was expecting to see Pacman pull up in a tank and start shooting the place up. Instead, it looks like he's pretty calm. He's throwing money around, but so are other people (they show them carrying money away in buckets before Pacman even gets going). It also looks like there were more people (Jermaine Dupri) who were riling things up. It seems like whatever the final conflict was arose from many different causes, not just Pacman Jones making it rain. Also, I think Jones's role in the shooting of the employee who is now paralyzed has been a little skewed. I had no idea that it happened outside and that a man hidden behind a tree started shooting when people came out.

Again, I'm not trying to take any stance on this case. I'm just scratching my head. What's happening in this video really doesn't look so bad.

Sheed is Here!

2009-07-09T18:01:00.007-04:00

I just took in the Sheed Press Conference on the radio, and I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't fully erect when it was finished. I was excited when I found out about this move, but the full impact of it didn't sink in until today. Everything about the way the press conference unfolded was encouraging. Sheed said that the only member of the organization that he was expecting to be there was Danny Ainge. His voice sounded ecstatic as he thanked his three teammates for showing up to support him. He emphasized how excited he was to be playing with the big three, his desire to focus his energy on the defensive end, and his willingness to play however many minutes and take however many shots are necessary for the team to win.

Here are some highlights:

some other reasons to be excited:

At the beginning, Danny Ainge spoke about how well Wallace fits in with the Celtics' system, and said that he doesn't think it will take more than 2 practices for him to be completely familiar with everything the team does. He's not usually a "drink the kool-aid" type so I believe him.

Sheed talked about how taken aback he was from the fact that KG, Ray, and Pierce all went to Detroit together to meet with him and tell him how much they would love to play with him. KG was in LA. Pierce and Allen were both in different places. However, this was that important to them. The money was similar from every team, and when you add in the impact of three superstars flying out and asking to be your teammates, how could he say no and how could he not give everything he has to this.

All of the big three were borderline giddy: Ray talked about how he was already thinking about making a play for Sheed during last season because he knew it would be perfect. KG said it was like going back to the AAU days. Pierce said that the move gave him an extra boost in his workouts.

When you really contemplate Sheed: how could you not love this move? The guy is a fierce competitor, he has a fiery personality, he defends better than anyone in the league in the post, and he has insane range. The biggest complaint I can muster is that he's a hothead on the court: that fits this team and I'll take it! Honestly, what is the concern? Since when has this team been worried about technical fouls?

The guy is most likely here for the next three years, and it will be interesting to see how this effects the type of money Ray is willing to settle for at season's end.

Finally, and most importantly, the Cavaliers absolutely cannot beat the Cs in a 7 game series now.

Joanna Krupa: Devil Woman

2009-06-28T22:50:00.003-04:00

I can't believe I'm actually about to defend TO (maybe his departure from the NFC East made me like him more). I just watched the first episode of "The Superstars" on DVR, and it is clear that in Joanna Krupa TO finally found the one thing we never thought he would: a worse teammate than himself. Every other team had partners encouraging each other. Capriati totally shat the bed on two straight challenges. Her partner was very supportive. Lisa Leslie got caught in the cargo net and then went out the wrong way. Her partner was very supportive. TO (who was very supportive of Joanna throughout), got his foot caught in the cargo net in one of his trips through the obstacle course, and it totally derailed Krupa. Here is the video (and this is only one part, it got a lot worse).

In the final heat of the obstacle course, TO got his team a lead, which Krupa blew. And yet, after it finished all she could do was scream "you call yourself an athlete!?" I think TO's teammates are justified in just about everything they have ever taken up with him. However, his athletic prowess is really the one thing you can't question. She looked foolish.

TO stayed very calm and pleasant throughout, and even had a great line on the way out: "I feel sorry for her boyfriend."

MD 20/20: Bling Bling

2009-06-28T18:18:00.005-04:00

I have a certain relative (who shall go unnamed) who once drank ten bottles of Mad Dog in one day while being initiated into a fraternity at his college (both of which shall go unnamed). I feel like that's one of the most impressive drinking feats in history. There are few boozes that burn the stomach and the head quite like Mad Dog does. I will openly admit to drinking it often in high school, and occasionally in college when my budget dictated. However, I have not had it in a LONG time, and I've never been better.

Anyways, this relative is getting married in August and had his bachelor party yesterday at an undisclosed location. We were invited to bring any booze we would like to haze him with. There was a case of Jameson, some Smirnoff Ices (the fruity flavors), and pretty much everything else you would never want to drink too much of on their own, never mind drinking them all simultaneously. I thought nothing could be more appropriate for this good man than a Mad Dog.

As I said, it had been a while since I sought out the MD 20/20, and I couldn't be happier to see their new labels, which now feature a gold chain hanging from the classic logo. As you can see, the chain reads: Bling Bling.

I'm not sure if all flavors have this new addition, or if it's just the Blue Rasberry.

There are many directions in which to go from here, but I will choose instead to end this post.

Much Respect.

2009-06-26T07:19:00.000-04:00

The Basketball Jones: 2008 Draft Preview

2009-06-25T13:28:00.002-04:00

Many fans (myself included) have been contacting the Basketball Jones endlessly in search of an NBA draft episode. Well, it looks like that won't be happening. But, instead, they have provided all of us with this preview of last year's draft. In retrospect, it's really amazing how dead on these guys were about everything that went down last year. Take a look.

Courtesy of Koster

2009-06-23T21:39:00.001-04:00

Joe Buck is a pussy

2009-06-21T22:01:00.002-04:00

Watch this and enjoy. This is Joe Buck's new show, which is really just Buck taking over for Bob Costas' old show on HBO. It is simply fantastic to watch him squirm...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/16/artie-lange-rips-joe-buck_n_216163.html

Rajon Rondo and the Boston Celtics

2009-06-19T21:35:00.006-04:00

I hate to take away from Nick's pending wedding, but I'm pretty sure he want me to post this. So congrats Nick and enjoy:

This morning I caught Rajon Rondo on the Dennis and Callahan show responding to swirling trade rumors. Supposedly Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins are also on the block. Now as Wyc Grousbeck recently said on the Dale and Holley show phones calls and discussions happen all of the time in the NBA. Of course that’s what any savvy owner would say. Still, initially I was a little taken back by the rumors, as I’ve grown attached to this team over the last two years. Yet I like the fact that Danny Ainge is always thinking about how to prevent the C’s recent revival from being a flash in the pan. In order to be good over the next 5 years the Celtics are going to have to make some hard decisions. They have to decide who gets paid. And at the heart of it’s the delicate line professional sports teams walk right now. When it comes down to it fans in the 21st century are rooting for the jersey. But it still helps to follow guys over the course of several seasons. Ultimately this is a Rajon Rondo post, but I’d like to make three points regarding all of these rumors before delving into the numerous points of information that have surfaced about the former Kentucky point guard.

1. Kevin Garnett’s health or lack thereof hangs over all of this. I’m even more convinced than I was in January that if healthy the C’s could have made a hell of a run at the championship in 2009. I’d like to see this team get one more shot at it next year. Of course if KG is not effective, it’s not going to happen.

2. I’ve loved everything Ray Allen has brought to the C's. He’s been unselfish, professional and at times an assassin. I understand that he may have to be traded or not resigned after next season. But I don’t want the C’s to align themselves for one of the marquee 2010 guys and miss out on acquiring someone. I honestly don’t see LeBron or Wade ending up in Boston. And I’m not sold on Bosh. Wait and see I guess.

3. I’m a huge fan of Perkins. I know people outside of Boston can’t stand him, but it’s been awesome to watch his growth as a player. Just know that moving him will make things more difficult for KG.

On to Rondo…

Point One: Rondo is somewhere between stubborn/difficult and uncoachable.

- This notion has been floating around over the last few days and I just don’t buy it. Granted if memory serves that was the word out of Kentucky and Rondo slipped in the draft as a result. I’m positive that a lot more goes on behind closed doors than we’ll ever know. And I don’t doubt that Rondo and Doc Rivers disagree frequently. But how can you explain Rondo’s improvement over the past few seasons? He fits within Boston’s systems and can’t be doing this all on his own.

Point Two: Rondo was late for a playoff game, showing up an hour before tip off.

- Rondo danced around this a little bit in the Dennis and Callahan show. He never addressed the specific incident, but did admit he hates wasting time in the locker room. He just likes to show up, get dressed and play. In fact at times he’ll get to the game and sit in his car for a half hour before heading in. I’m torn on this one. To be honest it’s a little weird. Granted he’s entitled to his own routine. It just screams a little bit as a guy who is relying heavily on his health and youth. It does shed some light on the final topic.

Point Three: Rondo is not well liked by some of his teammates.

- My initial reaction is, what is this freaking kindergarten? You know who everyone likes? The 15th man on the roster. If they didn’t he be gone. This is the freaking NBA. Being liked isn’t the be all end all. He does not appear to be a cancer and if Rondo is such a jerk why is he in Perk’s wedding later this summer? Still I could see how he might not be buddies with everyone. The guy roller skates a massive amount in the off season and by all account is a little quirky. Still, is the NBA really a league where everyone is buddy buddy.

Point Four: Rondo’s defense suffered when KG went out and Derrick Rose lit him up in round one of the playoffs.

- This one might make me the angriest. You mean Rondo was a better defender when KG was on the floor? I always thought Brian Scalabrine, Glen Davis and Leon Powe brought the exact same defense. Here’s a thought. Paul Pierce was a better defender with KG. And so were Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins. And I bet KG would argue that it’s easier to defend with Rondo and Perk on the floor than say Ervin Johnson and Troy Hudson. And for the record Rose had a huge game one, got burned plenty by Rondo and did not win the series. Finally, Steve Nash has been talked about as a possible replacement. Now there’s a guy who struggles on D. And Nash is also almost exactly 12 years older than Rondo.
Point Five: Rondo is carried by the Big Three.

- As good as Rondo is he’s not at the point where he’s raising teammates’ games like Jason Kidd during his best years with the Nets. Still Rondo brings much needed energy, athleticism and playmaking to the C’s. He’s a rising star at the point guard position and there are not a lot of guys in the league who could do what Rondo does with the C’s, big three or not.

Point Six: He can’t shoot:

- I won’t point to his superb field goal percentage, which is greatly helped by layups and floaters. I don’t even think it’s necessary to delve into his improvement since coming out of Kentucky and all the work he is currently putting in. I’ll just say this. I hate when we focus on what a guy can’t do instead of looking at what they do. How many guys can throw up triple doubles in the playoffs? Not many.

Point Seven: Rondo thinks he’s a max contract guy.

- In the Dennis and Callahan interview Rondo said while he may not be there yet, he’d like to be. It was unclear if he thought he’d be there once his current contract runs out or after his next one. I absolutely love his game but I’m not sold on the max contract. Just because a team has the ability to give a max contract does not mean it should. One needs to only look at division rival Philadelphia, and numerous other teams as well, to see what happens when guys get drastically overpaid.
Point Eight: Overall Rondo is difficult.

- I’ve probably touched on this already. It’s just important to stress that shipping a guy out of town for that reason makes way less sense if Amar’e Stoudemire is on the other end of the deal. I’d like to compare it to the Red Sox letting Mo Vaughn walk and trading for Carl Everett, but Rondo doesn’t deserve to be spoken about in that company. How about the fact that Rondo will be 23 in February? How long did it take Paul Pierce to get it? Guys frequently come into the league, put up stats, get paid, and then figure out what it takes to win as they mature. Rondo has to go through that process as well. I'd hate to see a guy leave town because he's quirky and still maturing.

Clearly I’ve written 1000+ words when I could have gone with three: Don’t Trade Rondo. On the bright side it’s June, the C’s were knocked out in the second round and the NBA season is over. Yet the Celtics got some substantial airtime of late on WEEI. What a difference a few years make. Nothing wrong with that.

Congratulations Nick

2009-06-19T17:14:00.003-04:00

A big roomofzen congratulations go out to Nick on the eve of his wedding day.

More Puppets!

2009-06-17T16:54:00.000-04:00

Everyone else in the world says they are sick to death of these puppets, but frankly I don't ever want this campaign to stop. I don't know if it's that I don't want the season to be over or if I just have a soft spot for puppets. But, whatever the reason, PLEASE NIKE give me more puppets!

How In The World Does This Make Sense?

2009-06-16T12:47:00.002-04:00

I don't think Donte Stallworth is a bad guy. I never have, and I was sad to hear about the DUI manslaughter charges that he was facing in Florida. However, our friend Jarrett sent me this link today, and I became angry. Stallworth was facing up to 15 years of prison for killing a 59 year old man, but he has avoided any sort of career threatening or life ruining prison time by reaching a financial settlement.

I'm not upset that Stallworth's life and career haven't been derailed, and I'm not looking for any sort of retribution in this case. I hate to see bad things happen to anybody. However, I can't help but become outraged when I read stories like this , and then think about the way Michael Vick has been publicly treated.

Do we, as a society, really place less value on human life than we do on the life of dogs? Leonard Little killed a woman in 1998 because he got behind the wheel of a car drunk and drove recklessly. For this, he received a slap on the wrist, similar to Stallworth. I brought this point up on this site when the Vick allegations first came up. Now, many have stated that Little's situation was different (and they have said the same for Stallworth) because it was unintentional. First of all, he was arrested again in 2004 for driving drunk. He wasn't convicted of the DUI (despite smelling like alcohol and failing three field sobriety tests), but was found guilty on the speeding charge, which should not be taken lightly when you've already claimed one life. Secondly, you don't get a pass for carelessly ending someone's life because you didn't mean to. It just doesn't work that way.

Again, I'm not saying I wish Leonard Little or Donte Stallworth were wasting away in a prison right now. I don't wish that on anybody. However, Michael Vick spent almost two years in federal prison for providing the money and property for people to run a dogfighting ring. At the end of the day, I feel that it is a much greater crime to take a person's life. My biggest problem with all of this is that I feel the vast difference between the way Vick has had to suffer and the way Little and Stallworth has is completely related to the way the public has reacted to these crimes. It's scary to see the legal system work that way. But, what really puzzles me is why people will devote their lives to destroying another man because they are so opposed to dog fighting, and yet nobody seems to care one bit about people killing other humans. Very strange.

Pau Gets A Puppy From Mom and Dad

2009-06-15T09:34:00.006-04:00

I don't want to ridicule Pau Gasol today, because he played well enough in these finals to have taken MVP honors (even though we all knew he wouldn't before the series even began). Offensively, he played great. He could have had a lot more points if he had more touches, but the Magic were packing in the middle, and the Lakers offense doesn't need to force anything. If they did though, he would have been up to the task. He also played tremendous interior defense on Dwight Howard. He played tough and he played physical. I already (despite what you might think from reading this site) had a great appreciation of his game, and it grew leaps and bounds as I watched these finals.

All that said, it's rare to have such a great athlete photograph so awkwardly on such a consistent basis. He looks like a 12 year old girl in that picture above.

Embrace The Weekend: The Dream

2009-06-12T19:21:00.002-04:00

I don't want to be one of those "these players today are nowhere near as good as the old days" guys. I'm young, and I think that the talent in the NBA is fantastic right now. However, I think we can all agree that there's not a single big man in the NBA that can do this stuff:

LeBron Puppet: 2010

2009-06-12T15:39:00.001-04:00

Does This Picture Make You Like The Magic More Or Less?

2009-06-12T14:04:00.002-04:00

via Ball Don't Lie

I can't decide.

Tom Thibodeau: Successor to Doc Rivers?

2009-06-11T08:09:00.005-04:00

Clearly other teams in the league aren't appreciating the Tom Thibodeau's talents. Doc Rivers is a devoted family man who says that every year he needs to reevaluate whether or not he wants to continue coaching (it reminds me very much of Tony Dungy). Now that a deal is in the works for Thibodeau to be back, I want to state on record that I think the best plan is for Wyc to reach DEEP into his pockets, and shell out big money for Thibs so that he can be groomed to be Doc's successor.

I really think Doc was the best coach in the NBA this season, no question about it. As far as I'm concerned, his ticket is punched to work here forever. However, if the Cs are able to bring home banner 18 sometime in the next two years, and if PP and KG retire at the end of that run, I wouldn't be surprised to see Doc ride out of town with them. The best thing to help Rondo and Perk lead this team into the future would be to have familiarity with the head coach. If all this happens, and Doc still wants to stay on board, then Thibs will walk and (I would hope) become a head coach elsewhere. This is the risky financial part for Wyc. But, I feel pretty strongly that this would work out well.

Steelers Super Bowl Rings Unveiled

2009-06-10T15:31:00.006-04:00

Pretty manly for a piece of hand jewelry.

The line of Lombardi Trophies is amazing. It really looks like it's going back into the ring.

Ricky Rubio Signature Moves: The No Look Pass

2009-06-10T13:14:00.003-04:00

I have a feeling I've seen that move before, but a cool video nonetheless. There are a lot of mixed feelings about this kid, and the negative camp grew larger after reports surfaced saying that he'd rather return to Spain than play for Memphis or Oklahoma City. I was surprised by those reports, especially since I think a young up and comer like him would be chomping at the bit to take over the reigns in OKC, where there is so much young, explosive talent. But, despite that, I'm still very intrigued by Rubio, and I can't wait to see what he can do. I think he looks pretty impressive for an 18 year old.

Thibs Back With Celtics Next Season

2009-06-10T12:45:00.002-04:00

"Celtics coach Doc Rivers said that assistant Tom Thibodeau withdrew from consideration from the head coaching job with the Sacramento Kings.

Thibodeau, who also interviewed for the Philadelphia 76ers job, is expected to rejoin the Celtics bench next season."

I don't understand this, I wasn't expecting it, but it's fantastic news.

Top Of The World

2009-06-08T13:22:00.005-04:00

Certainly, none of us imagined it would take Adam Morrison this long to reach this point. But now, after 3 greuling seasons and a change of city, he appears hungrier than ever to capture his first championship. This moment was clearly not lost on him last night, as he was flailing all around on the bench as if he were actually in uniform, showing the most life we have seen from him since before that fateful night in Oakland:

I actually thought Morrison had died on the court for about 4 months until I saw him get drafted on live television. While it was clear at that point that Morrison was not actually clinically dead, spiritually he has seemed completely vacant. However, this championship run, for which he is being paid quite handsomely despite not actually suiting up seems to have rekindled a firey passion deep within his soul. He was jumping up and down like a giddy schoolboy last night as he watched his teammates. This might be just the lift the stache needs to refocus his efforts on working his way back onto the court and back into the hearts of moustache enthusiasts everywhere. Look out NBA, once Morrison tastes this sweet championship nectar, he may never look back.