Just thinking about it, here is some more on those wagon-circling Buffalo Bills:
- Honestly, trade for Jared Gaither or accept that your backup QBs (by which I mean every one on your roster) will be toast by week 8. He is still unhappy in Baltimore, and they might feel desperate. A 2nd rounder will get him, but I would offer a 3rd at first, or maybe a 3rd and conditional pick in 2012.
- Start paying attention to the NCAA game a lot more, Bills fans. Get to know names like Anthony Castonzo from BC, or Gabe Carimi from Wisconsin, cause one of those guys could be your new left tackle in the 2011 Draft. Also, since you need a QB, follow Stanford, Washington and Arkansas closely. That is where quarterbacks Andrew Luck, Jake Locker and Ryan Mallet play. Many thought that, if Locker had come out this year, he would have been the number 1 pick. One scout even dared to call him a more athletic, left-handed John Elway. Personally, I think I would take Mallet, but you will have options drafting towards the top of the 1st round.
- Yes, I think you will be drafting towards the top of the first round. Sorry. But even if you make it to around 10, those QBs will still be there. There aren't many bad teams that need them right now. Detroit, St. Louis and Cleveland all have their QBs of the future. The real place to look is teams with aging vets or draft picks that haven't quite panned out. I could see Buffalo, Washington, Jacksonville, Arizona, San Francisco, Minnesota and Seattle as the only teams that would pick a signal caller in the first two rounds. I think even Oakland will stay away from them this year, depending on how many come out. So, pay attention to the college game so you can know who you are getting.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Biondo's Bills Blog
Just wanted to tell you all to check out JFLANland reader and my boy Biondo's new blog dedicated to his Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Blitz. If you are interested in the goings on the professional football team of Western NY, this is the place for you. I will briefly say what I always say about the Bills (and what I said about the Skins before they traded for Jamaal Brown. BOOYAH!). That is that they will never get anywhere without an O-line. I think they would be willing to trade a 2nd rounder for Jared Gaither if he is healthy, as well as plugging in Flozell Adams as a 1-year fix. If not, all 3 of their QBS will go down like poor Trent Edwards has.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
RIP Manute Bol
Former Washington Bullets center Manute Bol passed away today at 47. He was one of the first giants in NBA history, standing just under 7'7". He led the NBA in blocks for 2 seasons. Bol was also a great activist, raising money and awareness for the problems in his native homeland, The Sudan. I will best remember him for his amazing height, his strange three-point shot form, and this picture with former Bullets teammate and shortest player in NBA history, Muggsy Bogues.
RIP Manute. You will be missed.
RIP Manute. You will be missed.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Quick Thoughts
Just a few quick thoughts:
- Great decision to stay at Michigan State, Tom Izzo. LeBron isn't staying in Cleveland, and that is worthless without him. Now, stay at MSU and be a legend. Teach boys how to be come successful men, not just basketball players. Be like the late John Wooden.
- Game 7 in the NBA. Haven't watched much of the series, to be honest. Have class on Thursday before the game. Should catch the 2nd Half, and I will try to watch all of it. I am hoping for overtime, and I am picking Kobe.
- If Kobe wins 5 more titles, including this one, will we say he is better than Jordan? Cause that would be 9 total, and 6 without another sure-fire HOFer on his team. Jordan won 6 with Pippen, who is in the HOF now, and some with Rodman, who (while strange) was one of the best defenders and rebounders ever. Just throwing it out there. It could happen, especially with Duncan and KG slowing down a bit.
- Ignore previous statement if LeBron joins a good team, or if Wade/Bosh or Wade/Stoudamire happens. It will be harder then.
- I can't wait for John Wall!
- STEPHEN STRASBURG! Seeing him on Friday at hoe against Mark Buerhle. Should be an excellent matchup. Prediction- 6 IP, 5 H, 8 K, 2 BB, 2 ER. The win will be up to the offense.
- Fat Albert Haynesworth still wants to be traded. I say send him to another 3-4 team. If they are willing to give a 1st rounder for him. I would say that we should get a quality OT for him, but there aren't any on the market that come from teams that need DTs. Maybe Jamaal Brown on the Saints. I actually like that. Jamaal Brown and a 2nd for Albert.
- Love that Charles Mann called Fatboy out. Listen to a legend, son.
- Congrats to the Hershey Bears of the AHL (the minor league team for my Washington Capitals). They won the Calder Cup championship! 2nd Straight! Lets bring that success to the big leagues now. I want to drink out of Lord Stanley's Cup at The Front Page!
- Great decision to stay at Michigan State, Tom Izzo. LeBron isn't staying in Cleveland, and that is worthless without him. Now, stay at MSU and be a legend. Teach boys how to be come successful men, not just basketball players. Be like the late John Wooden.
- Game 7 in the NBA. Haven't watched much of the series, to be honest. Have class on Thursday before the game. Should catch the 2nd Half, and I will try to watch all of it. I am hoping for overtime, and I am picking Kobe.
- If Kobe wins 5 more titles, including this one, will we say he is better than Jordan? Cause that would be 9 total, and 6 without another sure-fire HOFer on his team. Jordan won 6 with Pippen, who is in the HOF now, and some with Rodman, who (while strange) was one of the best defenders and rebounders ever. Just throwing it out there. It could happen, especially with Duncan and KG slowing down a bit.
- Ignore previous statement if LeBron joins a good team, or if Wade/Bosh or Wade/Stoudamire happens. It will be harder then.
- I can't wait for John Wall!
- STEPHEN STRASBURG! Seeing him on Friday at hoe against Mark Buerhle. Should be an excellent matchup. Prediction- 6 IP, 5 H, 8 K, 2 BB, 2 ER. The win will be up to the offense.
- Fat Albert Haynesworth still wants to be traded. I say send him to another 3-4 team. If they are willing to give a 1st rounder for him. I would say that we should get a quality OT for him, but there aren't any on the market that come from teams that need DTs. Maybe Jamaal Brown on the Saints. I actually like that. Jamaal Brown and a 2nd for Albert.
- Love that Charles Mann called Fatboy out. Listen to a legend, son.
- Congrats to the Hershey Bears of the AHL (the minor league team for my Washington Capitals). They won the Calder Cup championship! 2nd Straight! Lets bring that success to the big leagues now. I want to drink out of Lord Stanley's Cup at The Front Page!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Strasburg Update
Just a quick update-
After his win yesterday, Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 22 Ks in 12.1 innings.
BOOYAH!
After his win yesterday, Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 22 Ks in 12.1 innings.
BOOYAH!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
New Expansion Ideas
Based on the report that Nebraska is almost certainly going to go to the Big Ten (11), here are my new safe and extreme expansion visions.
Safe Plan-
-Big 10 (11) adds Nebraska. Mizzou goes with them. Two scenarios follow:
1. Notre Dame caves in and joins, moving from the Big East and stopping Big 10 expansion at 14.
2. Notre Dame stays independent, Rutgers jumps to the Big 10, which will now be known as the Big 14, or the Big North, or the Big Midwest, though most of our schools are east of the Mississippi. New conference still considers adding other teams, but doesn't.
- Pac 10 dismantles the Big XII, taking Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St., and Colorado. These 6 teams, along with Arizona and Arizona St, make up one division. The Pac 8 schools (Stanford, USC, UCLA, Cal, Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St.) make the other division, setting up a conference championship game every season (Arizona Cardinals' stadium as the likely sight?).
- Big East's scenarios:
1. Rutgers leaves and is not missed all that much. Conference adds UCF to fill the void left. Considers adding other teams but doesn't yet.
2. Notre Dame leaves. Football is not affected at all. Basketball is. Conference considers either adding a basketball only school (Xavier?), or adds UCF, ECU or Memphis for both main sports.
- Big XII leftovers Kansas, K-State, Iowa State and Baylor join the Mountain West Conference along with Boise State, and they are awarded a BCS automatic birth within 3 years.
- ACC does nothing. SEC does nothing. Expansion is over.
Crazy plan!-
1. Everything above concerning the Big Ten (11) and Pac 10 happens. Moving forward-
- The SEC panics and offers Miami, FSU, Georgia Tech and Clemson spots in the SEC. They join, and the ACC loses it's presence in the deep south.
- The Big East gives an ultimatum to Notre Dame, telling them to join or get out. If they get out, they join the Big 10 and all is well. If they join, the Big East gets that delicious ND money. The following scenarios:
1. Notre Dame and Rutgers leave the Big East, dropping them to 7 football teams and 14 basketball. The Big East really only loses ND basketball. They offer spots to Kansas, KState, and the remaining ACC schools, seeing if any are interested. They also talk to ECU, Memphis, Xavier (cross town rivalry with Cincinnati) and UCF. Xavier accepts, along with 5 football schools. The Big East now stands with 20 basketball schools and a sold 12 football schools. No ideas which would join, but I think BC would come back, the Virginia schools would consider it, maybe Maryland. Duke and UNC would be harder to crack. NC State might come if ECU joins, would definitely if UNC joins.
2. The above happens, but adjust the numbers for one of the two schools (RU or ND) staying.
3. The ACC and Big East merge into the Gigantic East Conference, or GEC. 24 basketball teams, 16 football teams with the inclusion of team(s) to replace RU or Notre Dame.
- The Big XII leftovers latch on to some conference and wait till basketball season... or take Houston, Rice, UTEP, Boise State, Akron, Miami (OH), Tulsa and Marshall and reform the Big XII! NEVER SAY DIE!
What is the moral? Money matters more than anything else. As the Wu Tang Clan said, "Cash rules everything around me". Academics no longer matter. Traditional rivalries go out the window. The NCAA finds itself in danger of losing its top teams. And the ratings go up...
Safe Plan-
-Big 10 (11) adds Nebraska. Mizzou goes with them. Two scenarios follow:
1. Notre Dame caves in and joins, moving from the Big East and stopping Big 10 expansion at 14.
2. Notre Dame stays independent, Rutgers jumps to the Big 10, which will now be known as the Big 14, or the Big North, or the Big Midwest, though most of our schools are east of the Mississippi. New conference still considers adding other teams, but doesn't.
- Pac 10 dismantles the Big XII, taking Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, OK St., and Colorado. These 6 teams, along with Arizona and Arizona St, make up one division. The Pac 8 schools (Stanford, USC, UCLA, Cal, Washington, Washington St., Oregon, Oregon St.) make the other division, setting up a conference championship game every season (Arizona Cardinals' stadium as the likely sight?).
- Big East's scenarios:
1. Rutgers leaves and is not missed all that much. Conference adds UCF to fill the void left. Considers adding other teams but doesn't yet.
2. Notre Dame leaves. Football is not affected at all. Basketball is. Conference considers either adding a basketball only school (Xavier?), or adds UCF, ECU or Memphis for both main sports.
- Big XII leftovers Kansas, K-State, Iowa State and Baylor join the Mountain West Conference along with Boise State, and they are awarded a BCS automatic birth within 3 years.
- ACC does nothing. SEC does nothing. Expansion is over.
Crazy plan!-
1. Everything above concerning the Big Ten (11) and Pac 10 happens. Moving forward-
- The SEC panics and offers Miami, FSU, Georgia Tech and Clemson spots in the SEC. They join, and the ACC loses it's presence in the deep south.
- The Big East gives an ultimatum to Notre Dame, telling them to join or get out. If they get out, they join the Big 10 and all is well. If they join, the Big East gets that delicious ND money. The following scenarios:
1. Notre Dame and Rutgers leave the Big East, dropping them to 7 football teams and 14 basketball. The Big East really only loses ND basketball. They offer spots to Kansas, KState, and the remaining ACC schools, seeing if any are interested. They also talk to ECU, Memphis, Xavier (cross town rivalry with Cincinnati) and UCF. Xavier accepts, along with 5 football schools. The Big East now stands with 20 basketball schools and a sold 12 football schools. No ideas which would join, but I think BC would come back, the Virginia schools would consider it, maybe Maryland. Duke and UNC would be harder to crack. NC State might come if ECU joins, would definitely if UNC joins.
2. The above happens, but adjust the numbers for one of the two schools (RU or ND) staying.
3. The ACC and Big East merge into the Gigantic East Conference, or GEC. 24 basketball teams, 16 football teams with the inclusion of team(s) to replace RU or Notre Dame.
- The Big XII leftovers latch on to some conference and wait till basketball season... or take Houston, Rice, UTEP, Boise State, Akron, Miami (OH), Tulsa and Marshall and reform the Big XII! NEVER SAY DIE!
What is the moral? Money matters more than anything else. As the Wu Tang Clan said, "Cash rules everything around me". Academics no longer matter. Traditional rivalries go out the window. The NCAA finds itself in danger of losing its top teams. And the ratings go up...
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!
I turned 24 today, and I spent my evening down at Nationals Park watching the debut of Stephen Strasburg. It was amazing. 7 innings, 14 k's, 4 hits, 2 ER, no walks. The place was sold out and was rocking almost all red. Ken Burns was there to plug the new "10th Inning" of his Baseball documentary (coming to PBS September 26th, I believe). ESPN was there. MLB Network. Every local sports anchor (including the lovely Lindsay Csarniak, who was wearing Pirates colors for some reason). Just insane. I will put up some pictures in a later post. Just a fantastic evening, a fantastic game, a fantastic debut and a fantastic birthday!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
A Quick Note on "The Kid"
Yesterday, lost in the hullabaloo over the not-so perfect game, the greatest baseball player I have ever seen retired. Ken Griffey Jr closed out his 22 year career quietly, saying he did not want to distract or hinder his team anymore.
This may be the only case of wondering what a player with 630 career home runs, an MVP and 11 gold gloves might have been like if he had stayed healthy. Jr lost at least 3 full seasons due to injuries to his legs and wrist, and had been averaging over 40 home runs when he was healthy.
He made fielding an art form. The acrobatics we see from the likes of Torii Hunter these days began with Jr, the next evolution of the perfect player.
He was Willie Mays. He was Hank Aaron. He was better than Bonds and didn't need steroids to do it. Griffey was my second favorite player growing up, second only to Cal Ripken Jr. If he had stayed healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have broken Aaron's record and won a few more gold gloves. So goodbye Jr. We are going to miss you. You represented what was good, fun and right in baseball. We will miss your play, your spirit and your smile.
PS- SOMEONE GIVE HIM A TV DEAL!
This may be the only case of wondering what a player with 630 career home runs, an MVP and 11 gold gloves might have been like if he had stayed healthy. Jr lost at least 3 full seasons due to injuries to his legs and wrist, and had been averaging over 40 home runs when he was healthy.
He made fielding an art form. The acrobatics we see from the likes of Torii Hunter these days began with Jr, the next evolution of the perfect player.
He was Willie Mays. He was Hank Aaron. He was better than Bonds and didn't need steroids to do it. Griffey was my second favorite player growing up, second only to Cal Ripken Jr. If he had stayed healthy, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have broken Aaron's record and won a few more gold gloves. So goodbye Jr. We are going to miss you. You represented what was good, fun and right in baseball. We will miss your play, your spirit and your smile.
PS- SOMEONE GIVE HIM A TV DEAL!
Speechless
I still have no words for the travesty that was Jim Joyce robbing Armando Galarraga of a perfect game, nor do I have words for Bud Selig's idiocy over not overturning the only and awarding the perfect game. Precedent or not, it is the right thing to do, and the problem would go away if you did. Instead, we will have this game stuck in our heads every time a bad call is made. Just unbelievable.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Sportsman (Sportswoman?)- ship
There is a reason why Rick Reilly is such a famous writer. He knows how to have a balance of the hilarious and odd stories about sports with those that are truly touching and inspiring. His latest column represents the latter. Here it is-
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
For love of the game
We live in a world where Peyton Manning walks off the Super Bowl field without shaking anybody's hand. Where Tiger Woods leaves the Masters without a word of thanks to the fans or congratulations to the winner. Where NFL lineman Albert Haynesworth kicks a man's helmetless head without a thought.
So if you think sportsmanship is toast, this next story is an all-you-can-eat buffet to a starving man.
It happened at a junior varsity girls' softball game in Indianapolis this spring. After an inning and a half, Roncalli was womanhandling inner-city Marshall Community. Marshall pitchers had already walked nine Roncalli batters. The game could've been 50-0 with no problem.
It's no wonder. This was the first softball game in Marshall history. A middle school trying to move up to include grades 6 through 12, Marshall showed up to the game with five balls, two bats, no helmets, no sliding pads, no cleats, 16 players who'd never played before, and a coach who'd never even seen a game.
One Marshall player asked, "Which one is first base?" Another: "How do I hold this bat?" They didn't know where to stand in the batter's box. Their coaches had to be shown where the first- and third-base coaching boxes were.
That's when Roncalli did something crazy. It offered to forfeit.
Yes, a team that hadn't lost a game in 2½ years, a team that was going to win in a landslide purposely offered to declare defeat. Why? Because Roncalli wanted to spend the two hours teaching the Marshall girls how to get better, not how to get humiliated.
"The Marshall players did NOT want to quit," wrote Roncalli JV coach Jeff Traylor, in recalling the incident. "They were willing to lose 100 to 0 if it meant they finished their first game." But the Marshall players finally decided if Roncalli was willing to forfeit for them, they should do it for themselves. They decided that maybe -- this one time -- losing was actually winning.
That's about when the weirdest scene broke out all over the field: Roncalli kids teaching Marshall kids the right batting stance, throwing them soft-toss in the outfield, teaching them how to play catch. They showed them how to put on catching gear, how to pitch, and how to run the bases. Even the umps stuck around to watch.
"One at a time the Marshall girls would come in to hit off of the [Roncalli] pitchers," Traylor recalled. "As they hit the ball their faces LIT UP! They were high fiving and hugging the girls from Roncalli, thanking them for teaching to them the game."
This is the kind of thing that can backfire with teenagers -- the rich kids taking pity on the inner-city kids kind of thing. Traylor was afraid of it, too.
"One wrong attitude, one babying approach from our players would shut down the Marshall team, who already were down," wrote Traylor. "But our girls made me as proud as I have ever been. ... [By the end], you could tell they were having a blast. The change from the beginning of the game to the end of the practice was amazing."
Roncalli wasn't done. Traylor asked all the parents of his players and anybody else he knew for more help for Marshall -- used bats, gloves, helmets, money for cleats, gloves, sliders, socks and team shirts. They came up with $2,500 and worked with Marshall on the best way to help the program with that money. Roncalli also connected Marshall with former Bishop Chatard coach Kim Wright, who will advise the program.
"We probably got to some things 10 years quicker than we would have had without Roncalli," says Marshall principal Michael Sullivan.
And that was just the appetizer. A rep from Reebok called Sullivan and said, "What do you need? We'll get it for you." A man who owns an indoor batting cage facility has offered free time in the winter. The Cincinnati Reds are donating good dirt for the new field Marshall will play on.
"This could've been a thing where our kids had too much pride," says Sullivan. "You know, 'I'm not going to listen to anybody.' But our kids are really thirsty to learn."
And they are. Marshall never won a game, but actually had leads in its last three games. In fact, it went so well, the players and their parents asked if they could extend the season, so they're looking to play AAU summer softball.
Just a thought: Major League Baseball is pulling hamstrings trying to figure out how to bring baseball back to the inner city. Maybe it should put the Roncalli and Marshall girls in charge?
Anyway, it's not an important story, just one that squirts apple juice right in your face. And who knows? Maybe someday, Marshall will be beating Roncalli in the final inning, realize how far it has come, and forfeit again, just as a thank you.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
For love of the game
So if you think sportsmanship is toast, this next story is an all-you-can-eat buffet to a starving man.
It happened at a junior varsity girls' softball game in Indianapolis this spring. After an inning and a half, Roncalli was womanhandling inner-city Marshall Community. Marshall pitchers had already walked nine Roncalli batters. The game could've been 50-0 with no problem.
It's no wonder. This was the first softball game in Marshall history. A middle school trying to move up to include grades 6 through 12, Marshall showed up to the game with five balls, two bats, no helmets, no sliding pads, no cleats, 16 players who'd never played before, and a coach who'd never even seen a game.
One Marshall player asked, "Which one is first base?" Another: "How do I hold this bat?" They didn't know where to stand in the batter's box. Their coaches had to be shown where the first- and third-base coaching boxes were.
That's when Roncalli did something crazy. It offered to forfeit.
Yes, a team that hadn't lost a game in 2½ years, a team that was going to win in a landslide purposely offered to declare defeat. Why? Because Roncalli wanted to spend the two hours teaching the Marshall girls how to get better, not how to get humiliated.
"The Marshall players did NOT want to quit," wrote Roncalli JV coach Jeff Traylor, in recalling the incident. "They were willing to lose 100 to 0 if it meant they finished their first game." But the Marshall players finally decided if Roncalli was willing to forfeit for them, they should do it for themselves. They decided that maybe -- this one time -- losing was actually winning.
That's about when the weirdest scene broke out all over the field: Roncalli kids teaching Marshall kids the right batting stance, throwing them soft-toss in the outfield, teaching them how to play catch. They showed them how to put on catching gear, how to pitch, and how to run the bases. Even the umps stuck around to watch.
"One at a time the Marshall girls would come in to hit off of the [Roncalli] pitchers," Traylor recalled. "As they hit the ball their faces LIT UP! They were high fiving and hugging the girls from Roncalli, thanking them for teaching to them the game."
This is the kind of thing that can backfire with teenagers -- the rich kids taking pity on the inner-city kids kind of thing. Traylor was afraid of it, too.
"One wrong attitude, one babying approach from our players would shut down the Marshall team, who already were down," wrote Traylor. "But our girls made me as proud as I have ever been. ... [By the end], you could tell they were having a blast. The change from the beginning of the game to the end of the practice was amazing."
"We probably got to some things 10 years quicker than we would have had without Roncalli," says Marshall principal Michael Sullivan.
And that was just the appetizer. A rep from Reebok called Sullivan and said, "What do you need? We'll get it for you." A man who owns an indoor batting cage facility has offered free time in the winter. The Cincinnati Reds are donating good dirt for the new field Marshall will play on.
"This could've been a thing where our kids had too much pride," says Sullivan. "You know, 'I'm not going to listen to anybody.' But our kids are really thirsty to learn."
And they are. Marshall never won a game, but actually had leads in its last three games. In fact, it went so well, the players and their parents asked if they could extend the season, so they're looking to play AAU summer softball.
Just a thought: Major League Baseball is pulling hamstrings trying to figure out how to bring baseball back to the inner city. Maybe it should put the Roncalli and Marshall girls in charge?
Anyway, it's not an important story, just one that squirts apple juice right in your face. And who knows? Maybe someday, Marshall will be beating Roncalli in the final inning, realize how far it has come, and forfeit again, just as a thank you.
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