The Knicks Get Clobbered

50 is a big number. It is a milestone age. It is half of a century. If you have been married that long, then you celebrate your golden anniversary. But to lose a game by 50 points is terrible, especially if you get paid to play that sport professionally. The New York Knicks lost by 50 points today to the Dallas Mavericks, 128-78. Oh, and Mavs' starting point guard Jason Kidd didn't even play. And the Knicks were at home. Just unbelievable. I don't really have any thoughts on the matter other than the fact that it is an embarrassment for a once proud franchise.

Colts Win!

The Colts are heading back to the Super Bowl after beating the New York Jets, and I am thrilled about it. I understand that some people like the underdog story and how brash Rex Ryan is, but I want to see the best game possible in two weeks. That game wouldn't have the Jets in it. The Colts were the best, if not in the top two or three, all season. The Vikings and the Saints were the other teams up there with them. A Super Bowl of the Colts verse either of those teams will b e the best game, and the match up of the best teams.

A Potential Recruit Gives Syracuse Football Hope

Very nice article from ESPN Insider about a D-line recruit looking at Syracuse. Enjoy.

Goggins impressed with Syracuse
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Posted by Greg Biggins

Defensive lineman Deon Goggins (Norwalk, Calif./Cerritos JC) has become a hot commodity out West. The tackle prospect took an official visit to Syracuse last weekend and raved about his time back East.

Goggins is an intriguing player and a very athletic defensive tackle. He was a 265-pound running back in high school before adding 20 pounds and moving to the defensive line.
Even with the added weight, Goggins is still very quick and explosive and his recruitment has taken a nice bump after his YouTube video started making the rounds. He took his first visit to Baylor and checked out the Orangemen this past weekend.

"I went in to the Syracuse trip and didn't really have big expectations but it blew me away," Goggins said. "There was so much about Syracuse I didn't know about it. Everyone knows about Jim Brown and the Express but they have great tradition there and have had a lot of great players come through the program.

"They have the No. 1 communications program in the nation, which makes sense since it's right there in New York. When it comes to TV, film, basically anything media related, you want to be in California or New York and that's what area I want to go in to so it was great to see all that up close."

Goggins was also impressed with the coaching staff and spent a lot of time with the defensive staff.

"I love the coaching staff and really connected with all the guys. Coach (Jimmy) Brumbaugh is the defensive line coach and he's an awesome guy. He's real big on technique and loves to teach. I love to learn and he would be a great guy to learn from.

"I also talked with coach (Scott) Schafer a lot, the defensive coordinator, and he's hard-nosed and serious about football and I love him. Coach (Doug) Marrone is going to build something special and you can tell how much love he has for the school. He played at Syracuse, so he has a lot of passion for the school and I know he'll be there for a long time.

"I just loved how much passion everyone at the school has for Syracuse. They have that Orange Spirit there, you can feel it. Even on my plane ride over there, someone asked me if I was Deon Goggins and knew all about football recruiting and told me how much they need me at Syracuse, I was really impressed with everything I saw and I know I would fit in very well there."
Goggins returned home on Sunday and got a call from Washington State and they immediately set up a home visit for Monday.

"Coach (Paul) Wulf came in and they offered me a scholarship," Goggins said. "I set up a visit there for this coming weekend. This is my first Pac-10 offer, so that was pretty exciting and I'm looking forward to learning as much as I can about the program.

"Coach (Todd) Howard at UCLA is talking to me regularly too and I just sent them my transcripts this week. It sounds like as long as everything checks out OK, they're going to offer me as well. So right now, things are good and I'm excited to have some great options. I have two visits left to take after Washington State and I would love to take all of them before I make a commitment anywhere."



Fantastic. Love how they called us the Orangemen too.

The Hated One Finally Coming Around

Never thought I would see the day, but Doug Gottlieb is finally complimenting the Syracuse Orange. Shame that it took them going 18-1 to get props from him, but hey, better late than never. The video evidence is at the link above.

A Hall of Fame Opinion on Steroids

Interesting article in the Chicago Tribune (yes, it is still around) discussing the use of steroids and PEDs with Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk. Have a read here. His anger seems very justified, and reminds me of the things that former players and ESPN analyst John Kruk said on Baseball Tonight. Enjoy, and tell me what you think.

Chan-ge The Bills Can Believe In?

The Buffalo Bills hired former Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey to run their team today. The new head coach was probably the 7th or 8th choice. Obviously the Buffalo fans are upset. None of the big name coaches came to Western New York. None of them were, in my opinion, really serious candidates. The only one that could have been was Brian Billick, and the Bills didn't offer him the job. He could have helped bring a new attitude to the team. He could have instituted the same swagger that his Ravens teams had. But no.

The team also didn't wait to get Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier. Or interview Cincinnati defensive Mike Zimmer. No, instead they looked to Chan Gailey. He has a winning record as an NFL head coach, going 18-14 in his two years in Dallas. He managed to make the playoffs with Quincy Carter under center. He has also been on the coaching staff of 4 different Super Bowl winning teams. He has the resume, even if he isn't the sexy signing.

His experience could bring some stability to Buffalo. But, in truth, the coach can only do so much. Gailey is a coach that can get a team to the playoffs. The problem is that the Bills aren't exactly a team right now. They have no QB. They have no line. They have one great but underused running back and one overrated headcase starter. They have questionable defense, especially on the ends. No, Gailey isn't heading into the best situation. What he needs to do is to try to build a team with the players he has and try to find quality picks in the draft. Doing something like picking Aaron Maybin when Brian Orakpo on the board is a mistake that the Bills made just last year. Maybin did nothing, and Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl for the Redskins. So, to try to help out Chan, here are my instructions.

1. Fix your QB situation. Michael Vick will sell some tickets. Go for him. Why not?
2. Fix your lines. Vick can run, so if they don't fix the line he will be able to run away from some defenders.
3. Don't play any more games in Toronto. I know this won't happen, but the Bills are really beating their fans when they are down by moving one of their home games to a different country. It just isn't fair.
4. Draft well. Go for surer things- players that will be solid starters instead of going for the high risk combine monsters like Maybin.
5. Spend some money on free agents- The Bills will get this money back 10-fold if they win. Sounds like a good reason to do it. Get Vick, some offensive linemen, maybe a Vincent Jackson type wideout.
6. Do not keep TO. One year was fine. He didn't blow up. Don't press your luck.

Buffalo, I am rooting for you. I don't know if it will work out, but I think that Gailey's veteran experience makes him a good choice for your team at this point.

Mc-Juiced

Mark McGwire finally came out and admitted to steroid use today, 5 years after his day in Congress saying how he would only talk about the future, not the past. I buy everything that he said in his 20 minute talk with the AP. I, along with numerous other baseball fans I imagine, have instantly forgiven Big Mac because he was just a product of the environment. We the fans and baseball itself needed his historic summer with Sammy Sosa to finish the rebirth that Cal Ripken Jr. had started with his streak. It healed the wound that was left by the 1994 strike and made baseball relevant again. Now, as we look back, we can say that we should have known and it was deplorable, etc. But really, I do not blame him, will not hold it against him or any other player that comes clean and forgive him. The only thing I would ask is that the * be put by his numbers during the time he used, as should happen with the other admitted uses (and those who will eventually be found to use them, Bonds and Clemens). So, thank you for coming clean, Mark. And welcome back to baseball.

Wrong III

Ok, I got the Packers wrong, but the game was too fun for me to feel bad. Kurt Warner belongs in the Hall of Fame, by the way.

Got One Right, Finally

Well, I got one right finally. The Ravens took Tom, Bill and Randy to the woodshed, winning 33-14 on the road. A great job by the Ravens, especially their rushing attack. Ray Rice is a special back, and showed that on the first play of the game scampering for an 82-yard score that shocked the Patriots and set the tone for the whole game. Now they get to play the team that left Baltimore, the Colts. I'll give you my pick for that game next week. Just a teaser, its going to be really close.

Wrong Part II

Well, at least with the Cowboys-Eagles game, I was relying only on my love for McNabb. I stated that the Cowboys were better. So, I picked the Eagles knowing they would lose anyway. And so they did, or are going to at this point. 34-14 with 3:20 left in the game. Nice season Eagles. I am happy that the Philly fans don't get any satisfaction, but sad for Donovan. Hopefully this is the year that he leaves the that ungrateful city and goes to somewhere that will appreciate a borderline HOF quarterback.

Ugh, I Hate Being Wrong

Well, the Jets won. I was wrong. The Bengals didn't show up at all. Credit to Shonn Greene for running wild, for Mark Sanchez being really efficient, and for Jay Feeley pulling punting and kicking duties. Oh, and Shayne Graham for missing two kicks...

My Picks for Wild Card Weekend

Here are my picks for the Wild Card weekend playoff games:

- I like the Ravens over the Patriots 20-14. Losing Wes Welker last week was a huge blow to the Patriots. With the exception of their game against the Jags, the past5 Brady has had more interceptions that touchdowns. The Ravens will hit him in the mouth and run all over the D.

- I understand that the Jets D is great. But I also know that they shouldn't be in the playoffs. They backed in against two opponents that laid down for them. Going back to Cincinnati, I think the Bengals come up big, dominate the time of possession and win by 14. Give me Cincy 28-14.

- The Cardinals have a bunch of injuries. Anquan Boldin has a high ankle sprain and a sprained MCL, but will still probably play. They didn't show anything to the Packers last week, except that Matt Leinart isn't that good. The Packers could have fits with Fitzgerald, but if they can ignore the hobbled Boldin then I think they can pull one out on the road. Give me a shootout, but a close one. 31-28 Packers.

- The Cowboys actually have been winning late in the season. So I am completely thrown for a loop on this one. I think that the Cowboys have more talent. I think Andy Reid is the most overrated coach in the NFL. But I love McNabb. So much. So I will just hope for an Eagles win, though I do not completely believe they will win. How does 17-14 Eagles sound?

Ray Guy: The Punter without a Leg to Stand On

It is unthinkable that Ray Guy, once again, was not a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When the best player at a position ever isn't in the hall, it is a crime. Eventually, the voters will recognize that special teams is an amazingly important aspect of the game.

There would be no Tom Brady or Patriots dynasty if it wasn't for Adam Vinatieri winning two Super Bowls with his leg (and John Kasay kicking the ball out of bounds, setting up the Pats on the 40, cost the Panthers one of those rings). Would the Bears have made it to the Super Bowl without Devin Hester? Desmond Howard won a Super Bowl MVP for returning kicks and winning it for the Packers. Jermaine Lewis put away the Giants with a kickoff return and clinched a ring for the Ravens. If you don't have a good punter on the field, then you end up giving a short field to the likes of Brady, Manning, Brees or Rivers. The last thing your team needs is for those QBs to have a field position advantage.

Ray Guy deserves to be in the Hall, and hopefully will be soon. Until he is, I will view the Hall of Fame as incomplete.

Roll Tide

So Alabama managed to win the BCS National Championship by playing really conservative football. Obviously, the injury to Colt McCoy will forever cast doubt onto this game, because the best player on the field wasn't able to play beyond the second series of the game. Just a few of my thoughts after the game:

- Terrence Cody is the new Gilbert Brown, and I love him.

- I still have faith in Colt McCoy at the pro level. He can make every throw, can move, doesn't have a weird release and just wins.

- Loved the spin move from the big man, Marcell Dareus, on his pick 6. Any time you see a fat man score, your heart should be happy.

- Nick Saban: Great coach. Smile more. And that last touchdown was classless. Just kneel and win.

- The post-game interview of Colt McCoy was just mean. You know how he is feeling, there is no point to interviewing him. Interview the coach, sure. But the best player on the field, who is heartbroken because he didn't get to lead his team to a victory in the biggest game of his life? Shame on you, ABC.

- Kirk Herbstreet owes the Texas Longhorns offensive line an apology. They get the ball back, down 3 with 3 minutes left. Kirk says that the line, which allowed 9 sacks against Nebraska, hasn't allowed one all night. Next play- Gilbert is sacked, fumbles and Alabama recovers. Game over. Never say that Kirk. Never mention things like a line not giving up a sac, a QB not throwing an interception or a kicker not missing field goals, because you know that they will the second you say it. Kirk, you jinxed us out of a great finish.

- I think Boise State could have beaten the Alabama team we saw last night.

- Boise finishing 4th in the AP poll is insane. If you are undefeated and win a BCS bowl, you should either be #1 or #2.

So that was the college football season that was. Soon I will have a mini-preview of my expectations for next year. Tide-Broncos in the championship? A bowl game for Cuse? The fall of Florida without Tebow? Does Ingram get his second Heisman? I'll tell you my opinion then.

The Bowl Cup

It is kind of anti-climactic, really, when the yearly Bowl Cup is decided by New Years eve. The Mountain West Conference has already won this award by having the best record in the 32 bowl games. They are currently 4-0 with only one game remaining, TCU against Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl. Now, I will not say that this means that the MWC is as good of a conference as any of the other BCS conferences, but I am sure that the top teams in the MWC belong in major conferences. TCU and Utah could fit in geographically with the Big XII, who might be losing Mizzou to the Big Ten (11, 12, 15, whatever).

Now, let us also not forget the conference with the second best record. The Big East has finished its bowl season with a 4-2 record. Its losses, West Virginia to FSU and Cincinnati to Florida can be easily understood. Rarely does an amazing career end with heartbreak or disappointment. This is the case for Bobby Bowden and Tim Tebow. Neither of them would go out on a sour note. To make matters worse for the Bearcats, they were against an amazing Florida team without any sort of coach. Brian Kelly left them in the lurch as he ran to Notre Dame. Their interim coach has already been named the new head coach of Buffalo, replacing Turner Gill after he took the Kansas job. There is no way that he was concentrating on the Sugar Bowl. Instead, he was only the coach in title, not in spirit.

As for the other conferences, they are hovering around .500 or worse. The Big Ten has made a minor statement by finally winning a Rose Bowl (helps when USC isn't playing in it), and they have a chance to win both of their BCS games with Iowa playing Georgia Tech. The Pac-10 has taken a huge hit, making the MWC look like the better conference. There are still a few more days to go this season. It will be interesting to see who can make the biggest and strongest statement for conference supremacy.

Happy New Year, and Edgar Martinez

First, a Happy New Year to you all. I for one can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for sports fans. One of the first big events of the New Year will be the Baseball Hall of Fame voting. One of my favorite players, Edgar Martinez, is up for the Hall this year. Here is an excellent column making the case for Edgar as the first DH in Cooperstown.