Over the weekend, an event happened that practically flew right under the radar, what with all the action in college football. The Atlanta Braves were officially eliminated from post-season contention. I never wanted to admit it. I hung on as long as I could without letting the thought enter my mind. And, as a fan of the team, why would I? Don't get me wrong....this wasn't like the teams of the mid to late 80's, where you knew going into the season that they weren't going to win. Back then, it was kind of like watching a train wreck in slow motion. You knew you weren't supposed to watch, but you just couldn't help but watch to see how they would lose the next game. People who claim to be Braves fans today more than likely jumped on the wagon during the run started in 1991. They don't really remember the "lean years", because they weren't fans then. You ask them about Joe Torre, and they'll swear that he never managed the team. Some don't even know who Dale Murphy is. At the end of the day, it's their loss. It's one thing to read up on the history of a team. It's another thing to live through some of the sorriest years in a franchise's history, then realize the dream as your team defeats, oh, say the Cleveland Indians in six games to win the World Series. So, if we look back to the 1991 season, we find that there is only a couple of people left from that club currently on the team: John Smoltz, Bobby Cox, and Pat Corrales. Most of the people on that team aren't even in baseball anymore. And while the members of the World Series winning team will always be remembered for their victory in 1995, to me, the 1991 team is just a bit more special, because they were the ones that shed years of losing and did what nobody thought could be done. I only hope that the Braves can find a way to sign Tom Glavine in free agency (if the Mets let him go), so he can win his 300th game in a Braves uniform.
Did anyone else see the sorriness that is the Miami Dolphins over the weekend? They squeaked by the Tennessee Titans and Kerry "The Quitter" Collins by a final score of 13-10. Once again, Daunte Culpepper is at the heart of my dismay here. Come on....if you can't light it up against the Titans, who can you light it up against? Now, we all knew they wouldn't get Matt Leinart or Vince Young. But, with Kellen Clemens, Charlie Whitehurst, Bruce Gradkowski, Brodie Croyle, and Stefan LeFors available in last year's draft, one might think the Dolphins could draft and groom a future QB. Well, so much for wishful thinking. Here's hoping that the Dolphins realize that Culpepper is not the answer, and at least give Joey Harrington a try. Heck, they're playing the Texans this weekend. It couldn't hurt.
To college football, where the number one team, Ohio State, had a time with Penn State before pulling away in the second half. Right now, the Buckeyes are on everyone's short list of teams that will be competing for the national title. But, with Iowa and Michigan still on OSU's schedule, can they make it to the BCS title game? I still like West Virginia, though I feel like they should have blown East Carolina off the field last Saturday. With the way this season is shaping up, it feels like the BCS title game will have at least one team with a loss on their record. West Virginia has the easiest schedule, save for Louisville at the end of the season. My prediction on 25 Sep is this: WVU will take on Michigan in the BCS title game. I included the date there, because I reserve the right to change my prediction at any time.
I know its not a lot, and I apologize. Next time, I'll try to do better. Hope everyone is well. Take care.
Till next time.....
Patrick
Monday, September 25, 2006
Monday, September 18, 2006
A few notes about football, so far.....and other stuff
How's everyone doing? Well, I have to say, if the Dolphins would play just a little better, I'd be feeling great. I mean, what is the deal with Daunte Culpepper? I'll tell you what it is.......HE STINKS! It just goes to show that Randy Moss made him as a quarterback. When you lose to a team whose quarterback throws for a whopping 86 yards and only one touchdown, you stink as a quarterback, period, end of story. The Dolphins have never had a real quarterback since Dan Marino. Look at it: Jay Fiedler, Sage Rosenfels, Gus Ferotte, and some other assorted bums have combined to make the entire city of Miami pine for the days of Marino, Duper, Clayton, Jackson, Cefalo, Rose, and Fryar. Most of the guys on that Miami team deserve better than Culpepper. Is Joey Harrington the answer? I really don't know. But, I do know that the Dolphins need a quarterback in the most desperate of ways. They got Culpepper because he's a local product (UCF, Vanguard High, Ocala). They could have had Drew Brees. Looks like the Saints got the better of that whole deal. I hear Oakland needs a quarterback. Maybe they'd take Culpepper off the Dolphins' hands, and reunite him with Moss. Davis loves that vertical passing game anyway.
Speaking of Miami, the Larry Coker watch is officially on. The Miami Hurricanes got blasted by Louisville this past Saturday. Had you made that statement eight to ten years ago, someone would have had you committed. But, it now seems that the wheels are officially off the Cane bandwagon, and they are returning to their thug-like ways. I mean, how classless is it that you feel the need to dance on the home team's mid-field logo? This team acts like the Miami team that set a Cotton Bowl record for penalties against Texas in the early nineties. They have no offense, their defense has more holes than a practice jersey, and all the firings they did on the coaching staff don't appear to be the answer. What will be the answer is that Cooker will be looking for a job when all this is done. Will Miami bring back Butch Davis? Who knows, especially after he said he never wanted to leave Miami, then took off for Cleveland. Miami doesn't have the appeal they once had. Their aura is now tainted, and it'll soon be time to clean house. We'll see who will be the (un)lucky guy to re-build the once-proud Hurricane program.
Staying in college football, that thud you heard late Saturday evening was Notre Dame's national title hopes being thrown out the door. But, if we leave it to Beano Cook, Notre Dame will be crowned the champion, Brady Quinn will win the Heisman (see:Powlus, Ron), and we can just stop the season right now. Trust me, folks, Notre Dame is nothing special. Like Miami, they've lost their aura. Plus, I can't respect a team who schedules some difficult games (USC, Michigan), but sandwiches them with patsies like Purdue and Navy. You want to impress me, ND? Play a full Big Ten schedule. You'd get smoked by Ohio State, Michigan (already happened), Iowa, Penn State and Michigan State (soon to happen). You don't want that? Play a full Big East schedule. West Virginia would blow you off the field. Louisville would run you ragged. These are the reasons that ND doesn't play in a conference. They'd get blitzed in regular conference play. If I were in charge at the NCAA, ND would be out of the BCS picture until they joined a conference. How fair is it to some team that might be more deserving for ND to have an almost automatic bid to the BCS payout? As if they really need the extra cash, right?
Still in college football, the PAC-10 officiating crew from the game in Oregon should have their credentials revoked. They blew two big calls that were even reviewed, leading to an Oregon win. I'm not a Sooner fan, and I'm almost glad they lost, but they lost a game that the officials completely blew. This is why we instituted replay.....to get calls right. Not to be blatantly blown by an inept crew.
College football, once again. To Jordan-Hare Stadium, where a great game ended on a head scratching play. To the LSU quarterback, here's a thought. If you're down four, with only two seconds left on the clock, how about throwing the ball into the end zone? Auburn wins a thriller, 7-3 over LSU.
To Tallahassee, where Bowden Bowl was decided on a play where the Florida State defense got caught, literally, with their pants down. While their front seven was trying to decide what scheme to line up in, Clemson snapped the ball, and ran James Davis all the way to the two. Clemson scored a TD two plays later, sealing the win. And, while I'm on this game, hey Clemson.....feel free to block for Jad Dean, your kicker.
Back to the NFL, here are some early surprises:
1. Chicago can actually keep Rex Grossman injury-free.
2. Minnesota hasn't gotten in trouble.
3. San Francisco looks like a decent team again.
Some same old-same olds from the NFL:
1. Oakland stinks!
2. Culpepper is a joke.
3. The rich get richer (Seattle acquiring Deion Branch).
I'll have more for everyone soon. Take care.
Patrick
Speaking of Miami, the Larry Coker watch is officially on. The Miami Hurricanes got blasted by Louisville this past Saturday. Had you made that statement eight to ten years ago, someone would have had you committed. But, it now seems that the wheels are officially off the Cane bandwagon, and they are returning to their thug-like ways. I mean, how classless is it that you feel the need to dance on the home team's mid-field logo? This team acts like the Miami team that set a Cotton Bowl record for penalties against Texas in the early nineties. They have no offense, their defense has more holes than a practice jersey, and all the firings they did on the coaching staff don't appear to be the answer. What will be the answer is that Cooker will be looking for a job when all this is done. Will Miami bring back Butch Davis? Who knows, especially after he said he never wanted to leave Miami, then took off for Cleveland. Miami doesn't have the appeal they once had. Their aura is now tainted, and it'll soon be time to clean house. We'll see who will be the (un)lucky guy to re-build the once-proud Hurricane program.
Staying in college football, that thud you heard late Saturday evening was Notre Dame's national title hopes being thrown out the door. But, if we leave it to Beano Cook, Notre Dame will be crowned the champion, Brady Quinn will win the Heisman (see:Powlus, Ron), and we can just stop the season right now. Trust me, folks, Notre Dame is nothing special. Like Miami, they've lost their aura. Plus, I can't respect a team who schedules some difficult games (USC, Michigan), but sandwiches them with patsies like Purdue and Navy. You want to impress me, ND? Play a full Big Ten schedule. You'd get smoked by Ohio State, Michigan (already happened), Iowa, Penn State and Michigan State (soon to happen). You don't want that? Play a full Big East schedule. West Virginia would blow you off the field. Louisville would run you ragged. These are the reasons that ND doesn't play in a conference. They'd get blitzed in regular conference play. If I were in charge at the NCAA, ND would be out of the BCS picture until they joined a conference. How fair is it to some team that might be more deserving for ND to have an almost automatic bid to the BCS payout? As if they really need the extra cash, right?
Still in college football, the PAC-10 officiating crew from the game in Oregon should have their credentials revoked. They blew two big calls that were even reviewed, leading to an Oregon win. I'm not a Sooner fan, and I'm almost glad they lost, but they lost a game that the officials completely blew. This is why we instituted replay.....to get calls right. Not to be blatantly blown by an inept crew.
College football, once again. To Jordan-Hare Stadium, where a great game ended on a head scratching play. To the LSU quarterback, here's a thought. If you're down four, with only two seconds left on the clock, how about throwing the ball into the end zone? Auburn wins a thriller, 7-3 over LSU.
To Tallahassee, where Bowden Bowl was decided on a play where the Florida State defense got caught, literally, with their pants down. While their front seven was trying to decide what scheme to line up in, Clemson snapped the ball, and ran James Davis all the way to the two. Clemson scored a TD two plays later, sealing the win. And, while I'm on this game, hey Clemson.....feel free to block for Jad Dean, your kicker.
Back to the NFL, here are some early surprises:
1. Chicago can actually keep Rex Grossman injury-free.
2. Minnesota hasn't gotten in trouble.
3. San Francisco looks like a decent team again.
Some same old-same olds from the NFL:
1. Oakland stinks!
2. Culpepper is a joke.
3. The rich get richer (Seattle acquiring Deion Branch).
I'll have more for everyone soon. Take care.
Patrick
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