Tuesday, January 20, 2009

What Dream?

Judge not by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character.
As Barack Obama is coronated this afternoon, America, the people hope, will move in a new direction. They believe that change is coming.
What they don't need to think about is race. The media is to blame, really.
During the primaries, the U.S. saw a man who was different: Intelligent, eloquent, vibrant and compassionate; a man who said all the right things and made the United States believe better tomorrows lay a pasture away.
During the election debates, the U.S. saw a man who was different: calm, collective, fresh, while the candidate opposite him was irascible, discombobulated, and stale.
What the U.S. didn't see was his skin color.
They voted for the man who, in their minds, would be a better leader.
For a moment, the words, the sentences, the message Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963 rang true just like the freedom and equality to which he alluded.
On election night, and ever since, that has changed.
People everywhere continue to talk about how much it means to have a black man finally elected president. His portrait, not what created it, has made Obama into a patron.
The media controls the message and it has tossed Dr. King's aside to be ignored or forgotten like yesterday's news.
If everyone is meant to live harmoniously and build relationships by the qualities others possess within them, why is there such a distinction between black and white with Obama?
Society hasn't learned that some things are better left unsaid.
We, as a people, have a hard time letting go and moving on.
Voraciously ingest the moment, admire this historical achievement, but also understand that Obama has been elected to raise the United States up from turmoil and decline, hardship and recession.
Whether he will ultimately succeed or falter -- a stark contrast we may not see if too worried about black versus white and whether criticizing Obama's policies is seen as racist -- will be determined over the next four years.
Even if Obama can change the U.S. for the better, it would be unwise to believe the same about people and their copious thirst for color.

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Big One Got Away ... Again


Bob Stoops proved he isn't a big-game coach.
Not anymore, at least.
The Oklahoma coach's latest Bowl Championship Series loss came against Urban Meyer and Florida in the national championship game 24-14.
His losing streak in such bowl games has reached five. His losing streak in title games, three.
That's no small feat for the man who coached the Sooners to a national championship in 2000 but has followed with big stage losses since.
Let's mathematically break down how significant this "accomplishment" truly is.
First, let me explain my logic.
BCS games are played on neutral sites between two well-deserving teams (usually). More specifically, for purposes of my calculations, the teams have equal chance of winning; one in two, or 50 percent.
Taking 1/2 to the fifth power (.5 x .5 x .5 x .5 x .5) to represent the probability that Stoops would lose (or win) all five games gives us this result: .03125, or 3.1 percent.
According to the laws of probability, values of less than 5 percent are considered statistically significant.
There you have it.
Now go tell your friends or family that the topic of whether Stoops struggles when it matters most has been disabused: He is.
Math proved it.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Hill Rumbles Out of Wisconsin

Get out while you can.
That's the phrase that must have come to mind for Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill because he declared his intention to become draft eligible last Thursday.
The decision likely came as a surprise to many since the redshirt junior doesn't possess any of the skills NFL teams seek from the position. He isn't oxen strong despite weighing 228 pounds. He's not fast. He's not dual purpose. And for a straight-ahead "bruising" back, he's often hurt, missing parts of two games in 2008 and four in 2007.
To top it off, ball security is an issue.
So far Hill leaving Wisconsin early seems highly questionable.
Not so.
He'll get money much sooner, and it's not like he would raise his draft stock any by staying another year.
John Clay is the present and the future of the Badgers' ground attack. Hill not only would have gained nothing financially in returning, but he would have partially set Clay back another season as well.
Third on Wisconsin's rushing list with 3,942 yards and tied for second in touchdowns (44), Hill will certainly leave a lasting legacy behind. But like the record holder in both categories, Ron Dayne, it seems destined that Hill will have too many barriers to climb and too little talent to make a lasting career out of football.
So while it was a good decision all around for Hill to rush out of Wisconsin early, don't expect it to be the difference in his professional success. That is, if he has any at all.

Chargers Safety Has Rough Game

Carom off his dome
Missed tackles and assignments
Weddle was dreadful

(A Haggy Haiku)

It's really unfortunate I could never use sesquipedalianistic in one of these haikus. Having a tendency to use really long words, sesquipedalianistic, at eight syllables, demonstrates itself beautifully.

Donating to Charity


It's a wonder what Shaq can do with a bit of motivation.
In shape and healthy entering training camp for the first time since his MVP campaign in 1999-2000, Shaq has restored the dominance that made him perhaps the game's greatest in that department.
Not that it ever completely left.
Averages of 17.4 points and nine boards are his best totals in three years, and the Big Fella isn't getting any younger, turning 37 in March.
Shaq has stepped in nicely as the team's No. 1 option during the games playmaker Steve Nash has missed due to injuries or the times top scorer Amare Stoudemire was in foul trouble.
Most impressive has been O'Neal's stretch and leap to respectability at the foul line. Including a stretch of 13 consecutive makes, his 62.8 percent efficiency at the stripe is the best of his career. If only he had been motivated from 15 feet away the past 16 years.

Pittsburgh Defeats San Diego

Snow dusting the field
Big Ben doesn't stop ticking
Steelers strike down Bolts

(A Haggy Haiku)

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Baltimore Moves On

Titans errs, no call
Delay of game not flagged
Baltimore profits



(A Haggy Haiku)



Much to the chagrin of football idealists, the game-winning drive was aided by an inexcusable referee blunder. On third-and-2, from his half of the field, Joe Flacco stood behind center, preparing to snap the ball.
Two seconds after the play clock struck zero, he hiked it, threw and connected for a 23-yard gain to tight end Todd Heap.
Instead of facing a third-and-7 from their 28-yard line, the Ravens had a first-and-10 from the Tennessee 45.
Plays later Matt Stover kicked the eventual game-winning field goal.
Turnovers, including two in the red zone, not that call, cost the Titans the game. Still, the back official's job is to watch the play-clock and manage the game, not be a leading player in the decisive drive.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

This Week's Picks

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Florida over Oklahoma 34-27

(OU coach Bob Stoops can't shed the "Doesn't Win When It Counts" label. The Sooners had a bad loss to West Virginia in Fiesta Bowl last year, a worse defeat to Boise State two years ago and failed to win a national championship back-to-back years in 2003 and 2004. That's the reasoning behind my pick).

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS
Tennessee over Baltimore 20-12
Pittsburgh over San Diego 13-10
New York over Philadelphia 24-13
Carolina over Arizona 34-21

(Let's see how off I am)

Living on That Prayer ... and an Easy Schedule

Read "Prayer for Relief" to get the background, then come back and check out these thought. Done?
OK.
The Timberwolves won for the fourth straight time Wednesday. Minnesota made all the noise, blitzkrieging the Thunder 127-89.
Have the Timberwolves turned the corner thanks to some divine presence? Inspired play? What?
The answer is simply a soft schedule -- wins against Oklahoma City (5-31), Chicago (15-20), Golden State (10-26) and Memphis (11-25) tell much of the story-- combined with a stronger familiarity and connection between players and coach.
That, and Kevin McHale began sensing the "Out of a Job" recliner approaching.
It will be interesting to see how Minnesota handles Miami or Phoenix, two playoff-bound teams, next week.
McHale, see you in church.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Recipe for Keeping a Job

Norv Turner has got to be one of the worst coaches in the NFL.
Most, if not all, the success San Diego has had is due to talented individuals finding inspiration to play to their potential.
If you need convincing, here goes: Turner didn't know what to do on second-and-12 from the Colts' 20-yard line in overtime of the AFC Divisional Playoffs. Quarterback Philip Rivers suggested isolating scatback Darren Sproles on a linebacker.
Turner obliged.
Game over.
Sure Turner told Matt Scifres -- all six of his punts were downed inside the 20 and he set an NFL playoff record with a 51.7-yard net average -- to do well, but a coach can't take credit for a guy who has come up big throughout his career.
If anything, Turner has limited the team's playing abilities.
He and the rest of the coaching staff were the ones confused on the play where Manning hit Reggie Wayne for a go-ahead 76-yard touchdown. Chargers were standing about looking to the sidelines for help when Manning and the Colts offense got set at the line of scrimmage and ran that scoring play.
All season, primarily because of LaDainian Tomlinson's nagging toe injury, the Chargers were much better when they got the ball down the field to receivers Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd or Chris Chambers (when healthy). When Rivers averaged 9 yards per pass or better, San Diego won six of seven games. Their only loss, coming Week 2 against the Broncos -- a game San Diego would have won if not for referee Ed Hochuli ruling an obvious Jay Cutler fumble imcomplete just seconds before Denver scored a touchdown and game-winning two-point conversion.
Despite all this, Turner insisted on sticking to the run and short passes.
Truth is, San Diego hasn't played up to its potential since he became its coach at the beginning of 2007. The Chargers started 5-5 before rattling off six straight wins to close the regular season and two more in the playoffs.
This year, San Diego needed an onside kick recovery and Denver to roll over just to make the postseason, finishing 8-8.
Playoff wins are great -- they are the ones that truly count -- but know the Chargers could have won just the same (three January games in two years) without him.

Coming Down to Earth

Bored playing so well
Celtics shed bulletproof vest
Wins mark out of reach

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Boston started 27-2. Since rattling off 19-straight wins, the Celtics have gone 2-5. Included, are losses to Charlotte (13-22 ), New York (13-20) and Golden State (10-26).
No need to worry here, Boston is merely in a midseason slump. The entire team is a bit off the mark. Despite having three future Hall of Famers, the Celtics go as Rajon Rondo goes. He had a nine turnover game Tuesday and is averaging 4.8 drops in those five losses.
Boston is still the team to beat in the East; Cleveland and Orlando seemed to have closed the gap.
It certainly makes you respect what the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls were able to do, losing back-to-back games once during the regular season en route to a 72-10 record.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Gophers Checkup

While Minnesota is succeeding at the collegiate level, so are two former Gophers reunited in the pros.
The Gophers (10-3-5) won the Dodge Holiday Classic and moved up in the rankings released Monday to No. 3 nationally. Phil Kessel and Blake Wheeler, meanwhile, are enjoying teaming up on the resurgent Boston Bruins, the second-best offense in terms of goals per game in in the NHL.
Kessel, a one-and-done star with the Gophers in 2005-06, is putting together his finest season yet, ranking fourth in the NHL with 24 goals. Overall, he has 40 points in 39 games.
Wheeler is thriving after making the jump to the professional level this past summer. League-wide, his plus-22 plus/minus rating ranks third. Among rookies, Wheeler is fourth in points (24) and tied for first in goals (13).
Success for these two shouldn't come as too much of a surprise, considering they both were lottery picks. How they came to be teammates (twice) is an entirely different matter.
The first encounter: From Madison, Wis., it seemed the Wisconsin Badgers would be the natural choice for Kessel to play a season of college hockey; the Badgers long have had a history of recruiting and producing NHL-talent. Instead, Kessel went to Minnesota, teaming with Wheeler.
Reunited: Enter the 2008 offseason.
Wheeler was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in the 2004 NHL-entry draft, but could not come to terms on a contract.
So much for joining fellow top prospect and rookie Kyle Turris to become the face of the Coyotes’ franchise, that picture had been put to rest.
Free agency it was.
More than 20 teams expressed interest in the 6-foot-5, 220 pound winger. Boston seemed like the best fit.
A season ago, the Bruins sneaked into the playoffs as the eight-seed, a win ahead of the Hurricanes of Carolina. This, Boston is sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 29-6-4, ahead of second place Washington by seven points.
Wheeler made the roster out of training camp, which doesn't often happen to prospects coming from the college game, and then notched a goal in his first career NHL game.
Wheeler, Kessel and the Bruins have been rolling since.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Ravens Pick at Fish

Ed Reed and the "D"
Picked apart Chad and the Fins
Ravens will play on

(A Haggy Haiku)

Not Surprised, Vikes Lose to Eagles

Bad choice all along
Knew Jackson couldn't take charge (read "T-Jack Fine for Now" post)
Vikings slip and fall

Here's the haiku with an alternate ending:

Bad choice all along
Knew Jackson couldn't take charge
Childress should be canned

(A Haggy Haiku)

Prayer for Relief

Kevin McHale was hard to miss. Standing 6-feet-10, he loomed over the churchgoers of St. Odilia's. It was the second time in three weeks the former Boston Celtics great could be found listening to a sermon rather than giving one.
McHale would probably tell you he's a religious man. He consistently devotes the 11 a.m. hour on Sundays to Father Rask and the church, just not during the NBA season. I would know, I am there almost weekly, too.
Whatever McHale has been saying to the man upstairs has worked. Since his decision to end hibernation from the parish, the Timberwolves have gone 4-3, a marked improvement from an 0-7 start to his second stint as coach.
It seems McHale is doing what he can to retain a job, something he didn't used to lose sleep over.
He used to hide behind closed doors orchestrating poor decision after poor decision to send a once promising franchise into a tailspin.
Owner Glen Taylor decided it was time McHale own up to his mistakes, following a 4-15 start. He named the team's former VP of basketball operations head coach.
Fix the mess you created was Taylor's proverb. Playing experience, not scouting talent, was McHale's Bible.
At first, McHale sat and watched from his chair on the bench loss after loss, making clear he had no say in the demotion. Lectures absent in spite of poor, selfish play from countless individuals.
Around Christmas, the time of giving, McHale started taking more opportunities to reconnect to his faith.
Is it the start of a turnaround that will help save the franchise from further embarrassment?
McHale is praying yes.

Chargers Move On

Chargers matchup well
Offense better when behind
Sproles sprints team past Colts

(A Haggy Haiku)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Complete Game

Home field, savy vet
Cards pass inexperience
Playoff win at last

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Defensively, through the air and even on the ground the Arizona Cardinals dominated the Atlanta Falcons to earn its first home playoff win in 61 years.

Figures

As soon as Utah defeated BYU to finish the season undefeated and lock up a BCS bid, I looked over the possible matchups and thought the Utes have a terrific chance if they draw the Crimson Tide of Alabama (I was predicting a Florida win in the SEC Championship game).
Sure enough, the selection committee pitted the two teams together and Utah didn't disappoint, winning 31-17.
When it comes to college football, particularly bowl games, the team with the best offense wins, not taking anything away from John Parker Wilson and the Nick Saban-run offense.
The defense either won or kept the Crimson Tide in most of its games this season.
For instance, it defeated LSU because Jarrett Lee was held to 13-of-34 passing, including four interceptions.
Figure in the "something to prove" factor Brian Johnson and company carried into this game for being snubbed from the BCS Championship game and it makes sense why Utah won.

Manning Easy MVP Choice

In a season stock-full of talent, but lacking the kind of "difference-maker" among the league's best teams, Peyton Manning became the no-brainer choice for MVP.
Manning kick-started the Colts back from a 3-4 record into the playoffs as perhaps the team to beat. Lacking the numbers of some of the other candidates, Manning won for a record-tying third time (matching Brett Favre) because no other individual on teams with a better record quite matched Manning's heart, resilience and ability.
Here were the other options and a synopsis as to why Manning reigned supreme.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans
Came within 18 yards of the single-season passing record and threw 34 touchdowns for the most potent offense of 2008. Despite all that, Brees picked up just eight wins.

Phillip Rivers, QB, San Diego
LaDainian Tomlinson hurting, the defense lifeless without "Lights Out" Shawne Merriman and the offensive line struggling for unknown reasons, Rivers took on a "Can't Win" role and made an MVP-like season out of it. He threw a franchise-best 34 touchdowns and was the only quarterback to boast a quarterback rating of at least 100 (105.5).
Mistakes at the end of games by both he and the defense resulted in an unsatisfactory 8-8 record.

Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona
Hard work and that uncanny ability to put the ball in the hands of his playmakers allowed Warner to have yet another monster season, this time at the age of 37. His 4,583 yards ranked second and his 30 touchdowns and 96.9 rating third.
Again, a mediocre record in an atrocious division combined with a terrible finish prevented Warner, not Manning, from tying the NFL record for MVPs in a career.

Chad Pennington, QB, Miami
Unwanted in the Meadowlands, Pennington took a franchise left for dead following a 1-15 season into the playoffs, tying a league record for best single-season turnaround.
Value not lacking, his numbers just don't do the trick in a packed field (19 touchdowns on 3,653 yards).

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota
The most dynamic and explosive runner in all of football was done in by the fumble bug. His nine drops paced all backs.

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta
Clearly the best free agent sign of the 2008 offseason, Turner made Matt Ryan's tranisition from college to the pros easy. Second in the NFL in rushing yards (1,699) and touchdowns (17) on a playoff-bound team is impressive. It's hard to argue against the value of a dominant and consistent running back, but the quarterback ultimately makes the decisions and carries with him more the burden of losing and congratulations of winning.

Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee
The best offensive player on the league's best team deserves serious recognition, just not MVP.

James Harrison, LB, Pittsburgh
Ditto about the best defensive player in the league.



Jacked Decision


It kind of seemed inevitable that it would happen. Still, it doesn't make the reality any easier to stomach.
Vikings coach Brad Childress named Tarvaris Jackson the team's starter for 2009. The announcement doesn't come as a surprise as Jackson excelled while Gus Frerotte was sidelined with a lower back injury and has long been labeled the franchise's future, mainly because of the time Childress has invested in developing the 2006 draft pick.
The team likely won't give Matt Cassel, or another decent free agent to be quarterback a look. The future starts (and stops) with Jackson.
As a starter to close the season, he led the Vikings to a 2-1 record and came off the bench to bring the team back from a first-half deficit against the Lions in Week 14.
Against Arizona, Jackson took on the role of a Vietnam platoon leader. He astutely and calmly dissected every defensive scheme and made precise decisions when called upon, finishing with four touchdowns on 11-of-17 passing.
When the Vikings needed a playmaker against the Giants in Week 17 to assure a playoff berth, Jackson hit receiver Bernard Berrian a 54-yard touchdown to put the team within striking distance and converted two key third downs to set up the game-winning field goal by Ryan Longwell.
Jackson consistently moved the ball versus the Atlanta Falcons, but costly turnovers proved the team's undoing.
With the outwardly collective and heroic comes the internal fear and post-traumatic stress.
Most of the mistakes made in the Atlanta game were by Jackson. He fumbled three times, losing two. No interceptions is perceived as fantastic, but if the only throws made are tosses out-of-bounds or short drops across the middle, not so much.
The point is, Jackson continues to play scared. That means not taking chances.
There are also the poor reads and indecision that lead to turnovers and loss of downs in other situations (think the end zone interception in the first half of the Giants game).
He learned to cope slightly better than to start the season and has become more comfortable with the offense, no doubt.
The Vikings are (and will be consistent) playoff contenders with him, but never Super threats. With a deafening crowd (now that the Metrodome finally sold out for Sunday's game), a talented defense, offensive line and Adrian Peterson to help, Jackson could very well be fine against the Eagles.
Sooner or later, however, his mind will catch up to his throws.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Respect the Lions

No shame in losing
Trojans trounce all in Rose Bowl
State remains worthy

(A Haggy Haiku)

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Really, no one should be dissing the Big Ten for this particular matchup. As for the rest (except Iowa), do your worst.
The Nittany Lions are a top-10 team. USC is one of the four best. The Trojans, however, tend to tank one or two conference games early and are thus forced to settle for the Rose Bowl rather than receiving a crack at the BCS Championship game.
Bottom line: Penn State is good, USC is significantly better.