tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42840642207309300972024-03-12T16:22:03.611-07:00Mike's Sports Blog.My uniquely skewed view of the world of sports.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-32879959761057073552012-10-03T14:35:00.000-07:002012-10-03T14:35:05.700-07:00Mystique don't win ya ball games but it can be held against you.My Dallas Cowboys sit at 2-2 going into their bye week. (Something I accurately predicted, by the way.) They are coming off a Monday Night Meltdown where Tony Romo was responsible for 5 turnovers. This was the latest bad performance in Blue Star-crossed career for #9. A career that has been mainly defined by such games. Romo is the guy capable of throwing 5 TD's in a game as he is thowing 5 picks. Dude's 49-32 as a starter with a 96% QB rating and a three-time pro-bowler. However, he also is only 1-3 in the postseason and that is the number everyone points to. Was it all Romo? Of course not but the average fan is too lazy and or stupid to take the time to get all the facts and Monday night was a microcosm of that.<br />
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Everyone hears "Romo had 5 interceptions". Technically that is correct, however, let's look at them:<br />
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INT#1....Romo makes a sight adjustment to the play called based on what Chicago's defense is showing him. This adjustment calls for Dez Bryant (another culprit in said meltdown) to break off his route early for a timing pattern from Romo. Bryant heads upfield instead of breaking off the route so when Romo throws it to the spot Bryant is supposed to be...he's not there and Charles Tillman was...boom, pick-six.<br />
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INT#2....Romo hits Kevin Ogletree in apparently the worst place you can...his hands....can't hold on to the ball, pops up into the air and Chicago grabs its.<br />
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INT#3....was actually a fumble on a great play by Henry Melton to knock it out of Romo's hands and into Lance Briggs'.<br />
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Romo wasn't blameless however. While his receivers were dropping sure catches, Romo zinged plenty over their heads and/or into the arms of the Bears. Yet he gets the brunt of criticism. And the reason why is two-fold.<br />
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Playing quarterback in the National Football League is the most visible and scrutinized position in all of pro sports. The only position in the NFL where individual wins and losses are counted? Quarterback. Add to that playing QB with a Star on your helmet makes it even more so especially when two of the guys who came before you have 5 rings and are considered as two of the best ever in the game. <br />
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Mystique, thy name is the Dallas Cowboys.<br />
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Love them or hate them, the Cowboys are still relevant despite not having a Super Bowl appearance in 16 years. Why is this? Dallas has arguably the biggest fan base in the NFL but almost as many fans tune in to see them lose as do to see them win.....but they <em>all tune in</em>. Don't like Dallas constantly being on TV? <br />
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Ignore them.<br />
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The TV people aren't stupid nor is there any grand conspiracy to help the Cowboys. They are on TV a lot because people...even the haters....will watch. Why else is the first stat all the media pundits go to is "Dallas has only one playoff win since 1996"? BTW, those same "experts" used to say "Dallas hasn't won a playoff game since 96 and said that once they got that first playoff win that comment would go away....wrong, it was just changed. Five NFL teams have one or no wins in the same time or longer (technically six but I am giving Houston a pass) Buffalo (last win 1995), Cincinnati (1990), Cleveland (1994) Detroit (1991...by the way...your "lookee..we made the playoffs" banner was soooo cute.)and Kansas City (1993) yet none of them is ever mentioned with the "Haven't won a playoff game since..."line. So again we ask....why? and again I say...<br />
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Mystique, thy name is the Dallas Cowboys.<br />
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Historically they are one of the most successful NFL franchises ever. The most wins in the Super Bowl era(425), tied for the most post-season wins in the same period(33) and having the best winning percentage of all time (.577) When you have that much success, it means other teams are not and after a while, it gets their fans cranky. Hey, in sports if someone hates you....you're usually doing something right.<br />
That all being said......what do all those stats mean this season and going into the next game after the bye week in Baltimore?<br />
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Stay tuned.....<br />
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The two most over used words in sports are love and hate. If you truly hate a team or player, I mean actual hate, then you need to start watching QVC because you lack the mental strength to handle sports and you suck as a fan. By the same token, if you overly worship your team to a point where real life takes a back seat, you are also doing it wrong. <br />
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I have a few peeves when it comes to sports fans, I've shared some before but they bear repeating...<br />
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If you are ignorant enough to paint an entire fan base as being of one mindset due to the actions of a few idiots then you're a dumbass and too stupid to walk outside by yourself. For those of you who do this, I may have used too many big words so let me dumb it down for you...when you drop your "_____ fans are_____" card...pick it up and go back to your group home and hurry because you'll miss taco night.<br />
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Also (and its usually the same group of dipshits) when you insult, facebook bomb, commit vandalism or attack (verbally or otherwise) someone solely based on the college or pro team they root for....you should follow the same steps in the previous paragraph and add "driving off of a bridge" because frankly the world needs oxygen and you are wasting it.<br />
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Finally....when your only response to a loss by your team is "we got rings" again....you're a dumbass. First of all, "you" got nothing. All you did was drink beer and crush nachos while your team was winning that hardware. Which brings me back to those Dallas stats I mentioned earlier....what do all those stats mean this season and going into the next game after the bye week in Baltimore?<br />
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Not a damn thing. <br />
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Mystique doesn't win ball games...players do. Right now, the collection of players Dallas has is not getting it done. They have the talent to compete for championships on a consistent basis, however, talent alone does not win trophies. Dallas' biggest problem is a lack of discipline which has caused them to underachieve on a consistent basis. They have committed the second most penalties in the league, turned the ball over 11 times (third most) and has the second worst turnover differential at -7. They did not address the offensive line questions (with the exception of bringing in Bill Callahan as OL coach...now he needs better players) in the off season and the defense, while slightly improved, has still not lived up to the Rob Ryan hype. As much as I would love to drop it all at Romo's feet, I can't because its not solely him. I wish it were because then he could be moved. If Kyle Orton was the answer, he'd be starting despite Romo's contract. You think for a moment if he thought Orton was the better option, Jerry Jones wouldn't say something? JJ has been known to put his two cents in now and then. Besides Jerry has his own problems....Cowboys Stadium is the best venue in the NFL and possible the country. It has every bell and whistle anyone could want...there is just one thing he forgot to install......a home field advantage. Since Jerryworld opened in 2009, the Cowboys are only 15-12 at home. Opponents aren't intimidated....they are impressed and it gets them motivated to play better. I'm not suggesting that everyone go Philly fan and start lobbing things at players but something has to be done. <br />
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Dallas has the teeth of its schedule coming up. The next four games are at Baltimore, at Carolina, the Giants at home and at Atlanta. Baltimore, NY and Hotlanta are all division leaders and Carolina is young and unpredictable. If they can somehow survive this run and get two wins, (hell at this point I'd take one)..and that's a big if, five of the last eight are at home so the season is not lost. However, if they finish out of the playoffs again....look for a wholesale house cleaning at Valley Ranch where no one will be safe. <br />
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Stay tuned folks, because like your favorite soap opera, when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys....you never know what will happen next. <br />
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Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-10516249807930738752012-08-28T19:11:00.000-07:002012-08-28T19:11:59.941-07:00I'ts the most wonderful time...of the year....No....I haven't lost my senses....I know it's not Christmas...at least I think I know....wait, what month is it? :)<br />
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Hello again campers. Miss me? Thought i'd dust off the ol' blog and see if I can stay consistent this time. :)<br />
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It's the end of August and signs of the impending Autumn are appearing all around. Here in mid-Michigan, the first shades of Fall color are starting to make an appearance, back to school sales are in full swing and a certain craft store chain of which is similarly named as myself and that I have a close connection to is now selling Halloween candy. Oh yeah...there is one more portent of things to come....<br />
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Football. <br />
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Actually if you count the high schoolers, the season has already begun. The big boys start this thursday with the bigger boys starting next week. Cowboys, Longhorns and Spartans, Oh my! <br />
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Today we are focusing on the college kids. Last we saw the collegiate gridders, Tonyajune's Tide was finishing off LSU for their second title in 3 years which also marked the sixth in a row for the SEC. Sparty broke its bowl skid by beating UGa's troops in OT and the University of Texas, fresh off of a series ending upset in Aggieland took out Cal with a young defense with a bright future. (Something, BTW, yours truly predicted...see my previous blog entry.)<br />
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So what's going to happen this year? Well for one thing, its almost the end of the road for the BCS. It was voted over the summer that a four team playoff will decide the national champion starting in the 2014-15 season. Yayyyyy. One contrivesy replacing another. Don't get me wrong, I am all for a playoff system but only four teams? Weak. Needs to be at least eight....then come talk to me.<br />
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A lot of movement in the off season has changed the college football landscape with more on the horizon. Let's see who ended up where:<br />
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Mizzou and Texas A&M headed into the SEC with unbridled enthusiasm and high spirits! All of which will come crashing down when they have to line up against Bama, LSU, Georgia, South Carolina...well you get the idea. Welcome to the land of 6-6.<br />
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TCU and West Virginia shunned the Big East (the Frogs did so before they actually got there!) to join the Big 12. For TCU it finally made regional sense and reunites them with old Southwest Conference foes Baylor, Tech and Texas. The Mountaineers come in with a high powered offense that is used to feeding weak sisters. They will be good but trips to Austin and Lubbock will not make life easy.<br />
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Speaking of the Big East, Temple returns home to join the conference this year coming in from the MAC. The Big East will be going under the biggest upheaval in the coming months. Syracuse and Pitt, two of the founding members, will head to the ACC next season. However, they will be adding Boise State, Central Florida, Houston, Memphis, San Diego State and SMU as football-only members starting in 2013 and Navy joins in 2015. Apparently the "East" will now stand for anything east of Hawaii.<br />
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UTSA and Texas State leave 1-AA to move up to the big time. Well not really, they are going to the WAC and only for one year. OK, when two fledgling programs only want to stick around in your conference for a year....you just need to go away. Just merge with the Mountain West and be done with it. Texas State will go to the Sun Belt in 2013 while the Roadrunners will go to Conference USA.<br />
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Speaking of C-USA. They currently have 12 members but will be losing UCF, Houston, Memphis and SMU in 2013 but at the same time adding UTSA along with Louisiana Tech, Florida International, and North Texas...then in 2015 they will add Old Dominion and UNC-Charlotte. Their new motto can be "Just as many teams as the SEC and our tickets are cheaper" <br />
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Confused? Yeah me too but, it will shake itself out and no, its not over yet. <br />
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Now down to the games on the field. Will the SEC claim a seventh straight title? Can anyone stand in the way of the sweet tea fueled juggernaut that is the Southeastern Conference? No.<br />
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You heard it here.<br />
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The SEC does not get lucky number seven.<br />
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I know what you are thinking....."but who, O wise pigskin guru? who can unseat the SEC from their grits and gravy high throne?" Patience friends....patience. Actually, I also know what TJ is thinking "what the crap Mikey? you're not picking Bama?" No. And yet, you still love me. :)<br />
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Here are my picks for the BCS conference winners and BCS games:<br />
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ACC: Florida State<br />
Big East: Pitt<br />
Big 10+2: Michigan State<br />
Big 12-2 Oklahoma<br />
Pac 12: University of Spoiled Children<br />
SEC: Alabama (there ya go TJ)<br />
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Now for the BCS Bowl games:<br />
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Fiesta: Michigan v. Pitt<br />
The Maize and Blue make their second trip to the BCS under Brady Hoke and their second straight win. The Wolverines will face off against the Panthers who are the best of what is left of the Big East and, as per usual for the Big East champ, will provide easy pickin's for their opponent. Look for University of Phoenix stadium to become the Big House west as U-M dominates. The Big East is the single biggest reason we need a playoff....to avoid crappy bowl matchups. <br />
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Rose: Michigan State v. Oregon<br />
Sparty gets over the hump by beating Wisconsin in a rematch of last year's Big 10 championship game and gets back to Pasadena for the first time in 25 years. Oregon goes back for the third time in five years and goes for back to back wins after dispatching the aforementioned Badgers last year. Oregon has sick, Nike-fueled speed but MSU defense will be better than any the Ducks will have faces all year. Should be a classic.<br />
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Orange: Florida State v. South Carolina <br />
FSU has a lot of national title buzz this season. Jimbo Fisher has them playing well and it wouldn't shock me totally if they run the table....if they do, they could end in a higher ranking game. The Gamecocks, who will lose in the SEC title game to Bama, gets the Ol' Ball Coach back in the BCS and another crack at his old sunshine state rival. <br />
<br />Sugar: Alabama v. West Virginia.<br />
The Tide could still make a run at the national championship but in a more even and tougher SEC, they will be headed to the Big Easy. WVa goes to New Orleans after their first Big 12 season and their only loss being to the Sooners. Classic speed(WVA) vs. power (Bama) matchup here. Problem is, Bama has speed to with that power. Still, a successful season in Morgantown. <br />
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and now the biggie:<br />
USC over OU in the BCS title game.<br />
USC proves that they are all the way back from the crippling sanctions imposed by them on the NCAA for the whole Reggie Bush fiasco. Matt Barkley becomes the third Trojan quarterback in 10 years to win the Heisman and will cap off his final year on campus with a national title. The Sooners will run the table in the Big 12 but will again fall short in a BCS game. <br />
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There you have it, folks....your 2012 College Football season. See you here again soon.<br />
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Peace.<br />
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<br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-26408261906096505022011-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:002011-12-16T20:01:06.123-08:00Mikey's Bowl PredictionsMerry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to all! <br /><br />I am in a bit of a hiatus but I can tell you the Sports Blog will be back strong in 2012. For now, I am dropping in with my predictions for the 2011-12 College Bowl Season. For the record, I think there are WAYYYY too many bowl games and that means WAYYY too many 6-6 teams or 6-7 in UCLA's case...no way they should be in a bowl with you had teams like a Western Kentucky who went 7-5. Anywho, more about the bowl system on another day...here are my predictions for this season's bowl games. Just so you know...I cut out all the corporate names attached to bowls wherever I could. I know corporate prostitution is common in sports...but I don't have to like it.<br /><br /><strong>New Mexico</strong><br />Wyoming over Temple..honestly I don't care but I have family from Wyoming so for my Aunt Esther Maude and cousins Chip and David..there ya go!<br /><br /><strong>Famous Idaho Potato Bowl</strong><br />Utah State over Ohio...Utah State is one of the better teams you haven't seen...if they are smart, they will go with all blue on the Smurf turf. <br /><br /><strong>New Orleans</strong><br />San Diego State over Louisiana-Lafayette...the Aztecs over the Ragin' Cajun's.....SDSU gets it on the cooler nickname. <br /><br /><strong>Beef 'O' Brady's</strong> <br />Florida International over Marshall...I was leaning toward the Herd here but gotta go with the Golden Panthers...FIU had no bowl appearances before last year's Little Caesars Bowl and now they will have two bowls and two wins. <br /><br /><strong>Poinsettia</strong><br />TCU BIG over Louisiana Tech...TCU heads into the Big 12 with a frog-stomp over the Bulldogs.<br /><br /><strong>Las Vegas</strong><br />Boise State BIG over Arizona State..a missed FG against Nevada..again...keeps Boise out of the BCS..again. Kellen Moore heads to the NFL with a huge game over Sparky.<br /><br />(if you are doing one of those bowl game contests where you rate your confidence in which bowl is more of a sure thing..use the previous two games as HIGHLY confident!)<br /><br /><strong>Hawaii</strong><br />Southern Miss over Nevada...high scoring game. Expect both teams in the high 30's or into the 40's. Brett Favre's alma mater crushed Houston's BCS dreams..now look for them to shut down the WolfPack's pistol.<br /><br /><strong>Independence</strong><br />Missouri over North Carolina...Missouri bids farewell to the Big 12 with a win over the Heels. The Tigers head to the SEC where they will be lucky to qualify for a bowl the next few years. How's that workin' for ya, Mizzou? <br /><br /><strong>Little Caesars</strong><br />Western Michigan over Purdue...MAC over Big 10? Absolutely. Alex Carder will be a name you hear in next April's NFL draft. The Broncos bring the Crazy Bread back to Kalamazoo. <br /><br /><strong>Belk</strong><br />Louisville over NC State...no, I don't know what the hell Belk is either.<br /><br /><strong>Military Bowl</strong> <br />Toledo over Air Force...oddly enough, it's the Rockets air attack that will prevail over the AFA's ground game. <br /><br /><strong>Holiday</strong><br />Texas over California. Low scoring...look for the Horns young defense to dominate.<br /><br /><strong>Champs Sports</strong><br />Florida State over Notre Dame...remember a game between these two teams meant a lot more? <br /><br /><strong>Alamo</strong><br />Baylor over Washington...Alamo Bowl goes back to their original Pac 12-Big 12 matchup..the first of which featured Baylor's last bowl appearance until last season...RG3 dominates in what is probably his last game. <br /><br /><strong>Armed Forces</strong><br />BYU over Tulsa...at SMU's stadium while Amon Carter goes through a renovation. BTW, Tulsa...Golden Hurricane? Couldn't you at least make it plural?<br /><br /><strong>Pinstripe</strong><br />Iowa State over Rutgers even though this is a de facto home game for the Scarlet Knights. <br /><br /><strong>Music City</strong><br />Mississippi State over Wake Forest....great basketball game...football game, not so much. <br /><br /><strong>Insight</strong><br />Oklahoma over Iowa...OU in the Insight? Wow. Stoops will use this for motivation and OU will crush the Hawks. <br /><br /><strong>Texas</strong><br />Texas A&M over Northwestern...another high scoring affair, the Ags will be a little better in another de facto home game but watch out for Dan Persa of NU...he will give Reveille's boys fits. <br /><br /><strong>Sun</strong><br />Utah over Georgia Tech...usually its games like this that GT gives people fits with their triple option..however, Utah has seen it pretty much every year by playing Air Force. Glad to see the Sun Bowl still alive and kicking.<br /><br /><strong>Liberty</strong><br />Cincinnati over Vanderbilt...another bowl "home game" this time for Vandy..doesn't matter though, Bearcats win behind the QB with the coolest game in college football..Munchie Legaux..look it up.<br /><br /><strong>Kraft Fight Hunger</strong><br />Illinois over UCLA...bowl game fans will still be fighting hunger...the hunger for a good game after this...yuk.<br /><br /><strong>Peach</strong><br />Auburn over Virginia...big step down for the defending champs but a win none the less.<br /><br /><strong>TicketCity</strong> <br />Houston over Penn State...the Cougars should be preparing for a BCS game if not for an embarrassing loss in the C-USA title game...look for Case Keenum to go nuts against a mentally worn down Nittany Lions team. <br /><br /><strong>Outback</strong><br />Michigan State over Georgia...Sparty will have had a long time to nurse the wound of their Big 10 title game loss. MSU gets their first bowl game win since 2001 <br /><br /><strong>Capital One</strong><br />South Carolina over Nebraska...The Blackshirts are good but the Ol' Ball Coach and his Gamecocks have a pretty good defense his own self and Taylor Martinez tends to wilt in big games...take the Cocks. (Only in college football can you say that and get away with<br />it!)<br /><br /><strong>Gator</strong> <br />Ohio State over Florida...Urban Meyer's old team against his soon to be team. The football gods smiled on this one. Remember the name Braxton Miller...he will be good today and better when Meyer gets ahold of him. <br /><br /><strong>Rose</strong> <br />Oregon over Wisconsin...second straight trip to Pasadena for the Badgers...second straight loss and this one won't be pretty. Montee Ball will break Barry Sanders TD record and then the joyfulness will be over. The Ducks speed is nothing like Wisky<br />has seen. Also, who knows what funky uniform Oregon will come out in. <br /><br /><br /><strong>Fiesta</strong><br />Oklahoma State over Stanford...whomever runs the scoreboard will be a busy person. It could end up that the first team to 50 wins the game. Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon play their last games for OSU and go out with a bang. Andrew Luck begins<br />to look at real estate in the Indianapolis area. <br /><br /><strong>Sugar</strong><br />Michigan over Virginia Tech...the Maize and Blue discovered something new this year...defense. That and a healthy Dennard Robinson (he's like a less talented RG3) mean that Michigan's return to the BCS is a success. They will expose Va Tech as<br />the fraud they are. <br /><br /><strong>Orange</strong><br />Clemson over West Virginia...speaking of frauds..I give you the Big East. Tajh Boyd and Clemson were a great story this season and they cap it off with Clemson's first BCS win. <br /><br /><strong>Cotton</strong><br />Arkansas over Kansas State..Arkansas hung tough in the best division in the country's toughest conference. K-State has been great under Bill Snyder and QB Collin Klein and will give the Hogs a fight but in the end, too much Pig. <br /><br /><strong>BBVA Compass Bowl</strong><br />SMU over Pittsburgh..in a rematch of the 1983 Cotton Bowl..sadly for the Panthers, Dan Marino isn't at quarterback and they just lost their coach to Arizona State after only one year. SMU, after no bowls in 25 years, will win their second in a row.<br /><br /><strong>GoDaddy.com</strong><br />Northern Illinois over Arkansas State...honestly, unless Danica Patrick and Jillian Michaels are there naked..does anyone really care? <br /><br /><strong>BCS National Championship Game</strong><br />LSU over Alabama....Honey Badger don't care 'bout no rematch with Bama! Les Miles gets his second national championship. My question is this...the Mad Hatter likes to eat a little grass from the field before the game...does he do that with fake<br />grass like there is in the Superdome?Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-19616088408782923142011-09-14T18:56:00.001-07:002011-09-14T18:56:41.319-07:00My latest blog on the new celebration penalty in college football and a Tigers note.<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p/><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_925369706&shared_name=l0c47pkfk3kzaqz3flcj'>01 Celebration penalty.wma</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-77276291314592554612011-09-07T18:50:00.000-07:002011-09-07T18:51:06.918-07:00Hero Worship"To a New Yorker like you...a hero is some kind of weird sandwich"<br /><br />A great line from a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt8hQk76GcA">great movie </a><br /><br />But what is a Hero?<br /><br />Webster's defines a hero as everything from the aforementioned sandwich to <em>"the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem"</em> to <em>"A man of distinguished valor or enterprise in danger, or fortitude in suffering; a prominent or central personage in any remarkable action or event; hence, a great or illustrious person."</em><br /><br />Not one place is an athlete mentioned.<br /><br />My first hero was my cousin Jeff. He was older which automatically made him cool. He had model airplanes hanging from the ceiling, KISS albums on the record player..(for those of you under 30...google that term) and seemed to always be wearing Cowboys gear. When you're 7...what more do you need? He lived with my other hero at the time my Uncle David. He always seemed to be driving a new and different car..one of the perks of working for a car dealer. (By the way my favorite? a huge blue <a href="http://http://image.streetrodderweb.com/f/9729151/0804sr_01_z%25252525252B1967_ford_galaxie_500%25252525252B.jpg">Ford Galaxie 500</a> probably sucked on gas mileage but I am pretty sure we could have driven through a nuclear strike in that thing!)<br /><br />Like most kids growing up, I considered athletes heroes. For me, the hero triumvirate was George Gervin, Nolan Ryan and Roger Staubach. Every time I stepped on a field or court I tried to be like them. I wanted to finger roll like Ice, throw a 100mph dart like the Express and scramble around for an eternity avoiding tacklers before finally heaving a Hail Mary TD like Roger the Dodger. <br /><br />Did I consider them heroes? yes.<br /><br />Were they in reality? no.<br /><br />Bear in mind also that I grew up in a time where athletes cared more about team success than individual honors. Such is not the case these days. Most of today's athletes know that there is no "I" in team..but there is in "mine". Players who are unselfish are the exception when they used to be the rule. <br /><br />Today, with the advent and explosion of social media, we have more access than ever before. Facebook and Twitter have allowed us to follow these people 24/7 and not always to good results. Hey, you want the good, you have to take the bad. For all the wishes we have put forth to have just a taste of their fame, it comes at a price. We think we can criticize their every move, then we get pissy when they snap back. <br /><br />The dynamic of pro athletes changed in the 90's. As ESPN grew in the global entity it now is, athletes figured out that the more they stood out, the more they could get on SportsCenter. The more outlandish their behavior, the more airtime. Kids saw this and, as those before, began to mimic their "heroes". Oddly enough, one of the biggest stars of the 90's and one known for the occasional temper-tantrum made it a point to try and straighten things out.<br /><br />1993. the Chuckster. Nike helped him get his message out..<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzdAZ3TjCA">"I am not a role model"</a><br /><br />Love that ad. <br /><br />Ever since the beginning of time, we have always put athletes up on a pedestal. I am sure Greek kids ran around claiming that they were the latest Olympian who dazzled fans with athletic prowess. This really picked up in the 20th century. Joe Louis to Babe Ruth, Bill Russell to Terry Bradshaw, Dale Earnhardt to Wayne Gretzky. We all did, especially as kids. Emulation, to a point is fine...hero worship should not bestowed upon someone just because he can hit a ball, drive a car or hit the open jumper. <br /><br />I can hear you heading to your keyboards ready to bang out "not my favorite player!" and some of you may be right. Guys like Tim Duncan, Jeff Gordon and Matt Stafford and many others donate time and money to many worthy causes and love doing it. Some of today's pros genuinely care about others and want to help. Some don't. Some also like to do one thing and say another. Shaquille O'Neal has helped many kids in the Los Angeles area but his disdain for the city of San Antonio led him to organize an autograph signing in the suburb of Live Oak then, after charging people (including kids) decided not to show up. Drew Brees is another hypocrite. He talks about helping people and encouraging folks to give to his foundation, then accuses retired players who are suffering ill effects from the game of "just looking for handouts". Really Drew? I don't wish injury on players due to football karma but you're almost worth the risk.<br /><br />So am I saying its wrong for little Johnny to want to be the next DeMarcus Ware? Of course not. However, parents have to step in. Let them know that while its OK to model some players actions on the field, some actions should not be emulated. In other words "Johnny..if you want to run and throw like Tim Tebow, that is fine..but if you taunt an injured opponent like Tim Tebow, i'll knock you on your ass." And no, that is not child abuse..it's discipline. Yes I said that and no, I don't have kids! Oh the horror! Hey I don't have to be a parent to know that your little darling is Satan incarnate and that you and your kids should be banned from Walmart. (that was for you Wendy) Did I get pissed at my mom for dropping the hammer on me? Hell yes! Did I think it was unfair? Absolutely. Was I right? No. A lot of parents are worried "oh if I am too strict my kids will hate me" At the time, it will feel like that to them for a bit, however, they will get over it and be better off for it. So will you. My mom at times had to be the bad guy. All parents will have to be from time to time..somehow though, your little princess' fragile psyche will remain intact.<br /><br />You want athletes to be heroes? How about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwWzjjbIISw">Welles Crother</a>? The Boston College lacrosse player who on 9/11 helped people out of the South Tower...then went back in to help more people.<br /><br />He only stopped when the building came down.<br /><br />Or, on that same day, the four former athletes on United <a href="http://http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/6935757/remembering-flight-93">Flight 93</a> who tried to overtake the terrorists and in doing so, saved the Capitol and prevented even more carnage.<br /><br />You want heroes for your kids? Sit them down Sunday and have them watch the 9/11 remembrance coverage. Tell them about the New York City firefighters who stayed their posts and kept going back into the World Trade Center. Ironically those who we would call heroes because of their actions, did said actions not out of heroism but sense of duty. They had families too. Their kids have heroes..sadly now they are merely angels on their shoulders.<br /><br />You want heroes for your kids? How about teachers? You know teachers...those folks who you rely on to get your kids ready for the future when you don't want to bother? I remember when all a teacher had to be was a solid educator. Now they have to be educators, diplomats, babysitters and referees all rolled up. Yet they get paid like fast food workers. Teachers are supposed work in concert with parents in turning out a child who will be an enhancement to society, not a hindrance.<br /><br />Finally...you want heroes for your kids?<br /><br />Look in the mirror.<br /><br />Parents have the opportunity to be the best of heroes. Who has more influence over your child than you? Especially in the early years, you are with your kid every day. Talk to them. Tell them why its wrong that his favorite football player gave the nice "self-employed model" money to have "special time" in a hotel room. Too many times, young ball players get into trouble in college or when they sign that first pro contract and they don't understand why. It's because too many Little League parents from Hell decided that junior was a meal ticket. They cared more about what the kid could do than the kid himself. If you have a child who is blessed to have athletic ability..encourage it, nurture it but temper it and do not exploit it. Make sure that they understand playing sports is a privilege and not a right. Make them still take the trash out, enforce the curfew you set, homework not done? Well, until its done they are going nowhere. <br /><br />It's OK at 7 to idolize your favorite ballplayer...hell, its even OK at 17. Its OK to rock your favorite teams jersey. It's OK to get together with your friends and have some food, roll off stats and talk a little trash. It's OK to play fantasy football and debate your buddies on who was better. But in the end of the day, we need to watch how we throw around the word "hero". We need to remember that it's OK to be ecstatic in victory and downtrodden in defeat but in the grand scheme of things...<br /><br />It's just a game, and those whom we would anoint heroes, are merely players.<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-14466199204479328022011-08-13T18:23:00.000-07:002011-08-13T18:24:11.500-07:00My conference lineups.Here is a clearer look at what my conferences would look like:
<br />
<br />ACC
<br />North South
<br />Boston College Duke
<br />Cincinnati Louisville
<br />Maryland Miami
<br />Rutgers North Carolina
<br />Virginia NC State
<br />Virginia Tech South Florida
<br />Syracuse Wake Forest
<br />UConn West Virginia
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<br />Big 10
<br />West East
<br />Iowa Illinois
<br />Iowa State Indiana
<br />Michigan Northwestern
<br />Michigan State Notre Dame
<br />Minnesota Ohio State
<br />Missouri Penn State
<br />Nebraska Pitt
<br />Wisconsin Purdue
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<br />Pac-16
<br />West East
<br />Cal Arizona
<br />Oregon Arizona State
<br />Oregon State BYU
<br />Stanford Colorado
<br />UCLA Oklahoma
<br />USC Oklahoma State
<br />Washington Texas
<br />Washington St. Utah
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<br />SEC
<br />East West
<br />Alabama Clemson
<br />Arkansas Florida
<br />Auburn Florida State
<br />LSU Georgia
<br />Mississippi Georgia Tech
<br />Miss. State Kentucky
<br />Texas A&M South Carolina
<br />Vanderbilt Tennessee
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<br /> Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-51726573027917374942011-08-13T14:07:00.000-07:002011-08-13T18:26:24.882-07:00The times...they are a-changin....It's August and that means one thing...well two things if your in Texas...brutal-ass heat and football.
<br />
<br />College football is right around the corner and it's going to look a little different. The round of college football conference re-alignment that happened two years ago takes effect this season. Here's what is different:
<br />
<br />The Pac-10 added Colorado and Utah to form the Pac-12.
<br />The Big 10, which had 11 teams, added Nebraska to have 12 and the Big 12, losing Ralphie and Herbie drops to 10 teams.
<br />
<br />Pac 10 had 10, adds 2, now has 12. 12 teams, Pac-12...nice.
<br />
<br />Big 10 had 11, adds 1, now has 12...still called Big 10
<br />Big 12 had 12, lost 2, now has 10...still called Big 12
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<br /><em>Higher</em> education?
<br />
<br />Personally I think the Big 12, should go back to being called the Southwest Conference. Then again, the Big 12 is about to go bye-bye so no big deal.
<br />
<br />I live in Big 10 country and I love the people here but some of them just don't quite get it. For decades, if you were a fan of a Big 10 team, your goal was to see your team in the Rose Bowl. That's great but times have changed. This is no longer Bo and Woody's Big 10. So I am going to give you an assist...there is this other game, perhaps you've heard of it, called the National Championship. This game is...and I will type this slowly..
<br />
<br />M-O-R-E I-M-P-O-R-T-A-N-T
<br />
<br />than the Rose Bowl. A trip to Pasadena is nice but its, at best, a consolation prize. I respect the tradition of the Big 10 and love the huge role tradition in all of College Football but campers, come join us in the 21st Century. If the National Championship is not the ultimate goal for your team..then you're doing it wrong. Go follow a T-Ball league where the only thing that is important is kids having fun and little Johnny not peeing himself when the ball comes to him.
<br />
<br />The latest round of talks centers around a rumor that was circulating two years ago when all this movement was going on. Your Fightin' Texas Aggies are reported to be headed to the Southeastern Conference. They thought they were going last time but they ended up staying in the Big 12.
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<br />Loyalty, right? Tradition, right? They wouldn't go anywhere without Texas, right?
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<br />Wrong....wrong....and...wrong.
<br />
<br />What was it? Money. Pure and simple.
<br />
<br />The A&M-Texas rivalry is one of the best ones in the country but big time College Football has become such a business that as nice as the whole "both schools want to stay together to keep the rivalry" thing is, the fact is that both schools are after the coin. Hence the Longhorn Network. Aggie fans are bent but, and they won't admit this, if A&M could have a viable network and ESPN threw the money at it that they gave Bevo-TV..they would do it. And you know it. And if you don't..you're fooling yourselves. A&M in the SEC could make it happen. Hell, Oklahoma is in the middle of looking at one right now.
<br />
<br />Ok so right now...the Ags are reportedly going to the SEC along with Florida State, Clemson and Georgia Tech. Missouri had been mentioned but it looks more like the Yellow Jackets. This set up would strengthen current rivalries between FSU and Florida, Clemson and South Carolina and Georgia-Georgia Tech. It would also re-kindle the A&M-LSU rivalry which kind of died when the Big 12 formed.
<br />
<br />What does this mean to the rest of the college football landscape? It means all hell is going to break loose. The SEC has long been the best league in the nation and they just added the #5 and #9 teams currently ranked in the first Coaches Poll of 2011.
<br />
<br />With the SEC adding four teams, the Pac-12 reacts quickly and grabs Texas, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. The fourth team could be interesting. It will probably be Texas Tech or Baylor. The Bears tried to sue their way in two years ago when the Pac-10 came knocking but not asking for Baylor. Then there is the urban legend that when the Big 12 was being formed, Ann Richards, Governor of Texas at the time and a Baylor alum, worked some legislative shenanigans to keep the folks in Waco at the big folks table. What I would do...ignore them both. I would go for BYU. I would love to see TCU instead but with adding UT, the Pac-16 would get the Dallas-Fort Worth TV market which is still dominated by the Horns despite the presence of TCU and SMU. BYU has its own network as well and while currently independent, they will realize that the title hopes that are slim going solo right now, would be dead in the superconference era.
<br />
<br />Seeing the seismic shift happening to the south and west of them...the Big 10+2 is gripping. However not as much as the good fathers at Notre Dame. For decades, they have been flirting and teasing the Big 10 like that cute girl in high school who knows she can smile and you will hang on her every word. You don't care that you have no chance of her going out with you..you live on the hope. Well, that all ends now because ND finally gives in. Unlike when the first BCS agreements came out, Notre Dame's name is not what it once was and again, its all about cash. Touchdown Jesus' friends at NBC would love a crack at an expanded Big 10 that includes the Irish. Plus ND feels what BYU did about being an Indie in the new world order. So ND makes it the Big 10+3. Missouri and Pitt, who both were mentioned a few years ago when the Big 10 added Nebraska, come on board. Finally, Iowa State is added. No real reason really except geography, a built in rivalry for Iowa and hope for Indiana that they might win one more game. The feeling is mutual in Ames.
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<br />The name of the new league? The Big 10 of course. Oy. At least come up with some better divisional setups. This "Legends and Leaders" crap with Wisconsin in the same division with Penn State and Ohio State is riduculous.
<br />
<br />Finally with the world as they know it crashing down all around them, the Atlantic Coast Conference does what it did last time it wanted new teams..it raids the Big East (also known as the ACC's slumpbuster). The ACC, now down to nine with the defections of FSU, Georgia Tech and Clemson, finishes the job it started in 2003 and merges with the Big East. Well, merge is a strong word...more like swallows up. With that, you have four 16-team superconferences.
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<br />What of the leftovers you say? I suspect they will wander about for a bit, much like survivors after a nuclear bomb attack. Then they will band together and try to rebuild.
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<br />The Mountain West and WAC merge. They both have 8 teams each and were going to be swapping out schools and bringing on new ones anyway so keep it as it. That means TCU doesn't go through with the proposed move to the Big East in 2012 (another geographic brainstorm) since the Big East is disappearing, although not completely. There will still be a Big East Conference but it will go back to being a basketball-only conference. UTSA and Texas State were scheduled to join the WAC in 2012 also but that will also not happen. Unless they want an 18-team conference which is possible but not probable. The Bobcats and Roadrunners stay in 1-AA but that is not a bad thing, in fact I think it will be good for both.
<br />
<br />That leaves Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State and Texas Tech. Where do they go? They go to that conference that loves to pick up unloved and unwanted teams along with the occasional stray animal. Conference USA! Also known as the "Conference of Misfit Toys" C-USA's 12 team memebership grows to 16 with the addition of these Big 12 refugees.
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<br />These two conference will beg and of course sue (with Baylor leading the way) to get in the coalition but to no avail. The MAC and Sun Belt want in on it but no one will return their calls.
<br />
<br />Where do we go from here? Easy....the four superconferences form a coalition and tell the NCAA a collective "go to hell" and create an 8 team playoff with the top two teams from each conferences going. What about the bowls you say? Oh we might lose a few but a culling of the bowl herd would not be a bad idea and the ones who do stay will do whatever the new coalition says otherwise, you will have heaping bowls o'leftovers.
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<br />Are these guarantees? No. It could totally end up way different than anything posted here but, my alignments make sense. Of course, when does the NCAA make sense?
<br />One thing I can guarantee...its going to be chaos and when its all over, the landscape of college football will look very, very different.
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<br />Enjoy the ride.
<br />
<br />Peace.
<br />
<br />Here's what they would look like:
<br />ACC
<br />Boston College Duke
<br />Cincinnati Louisville
<br />Maryland Miami
<br />Rutgers North Carolina
<br />Virginia NC State
<br />Virginia Tech South Florida
<br />Syracuse Wake Forest
<br />UConn West Virginia
<br />
<br />Big 10
<br />Iowa Illinois
<br />Iowa State Indiana
<br />Michigan Northwestern
<br />Michigan State Notre Dame
<br />Minnesota Ohio State
<br />Missouri Penn State
<br />Nebraska Pitt
<br />Wisconsin Purdue
<br />
<br />Pac-16
<br />Cal Arizona
<br />Oregon Arizona State
<br />Oregon State BYU
<br />Stanford Colorado
<br />UCLA Oklahoma
<br />USC Oklahoma State
<br />Washington Texas
<br />Washington St. Utah
<br />
<br />SEC
<br />Alabama Clemson
<br />Arkansas Florida
<br />Auburn Florida State
<br />LSU Georgia
<br />Mississippi Georgia Tech
<br />Miss. State Kentucky
<br />Texas A&M South Carolina
<br />Vanderbilt Tennessee
<br />
<br /> Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-79880259375120068222011-06-14T19:38:00.000-07:002011-06-14T19:39:36.944-07:00NBA Finals recap podcastA funny thing happened on the way to King James' coronation! <br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/zlvedhox8htp603ogas5"><br />Karma's a biznatch!</a>Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-73295365889328455442011-06-12T19:23:00.000-07:002011-06-12T20:07:07.554-07:00College Football plan 1One of my plans to re-align Division 1-A college football in order to set up a playoff. 8 conferences with 16 teams in each. Conference champ from each goes then the next 8 teams with best record regardless of conference. The MAC and Sun Belt conference are dropped to 1-AA as are Army and Navy. Traditional rivalries can be preserved with out of conference scheduling (UT-A&M)Usually I am not one for naming conferences and divisions after people but..just for fun. :)<br /><br /><strong>Bobby Bowden Conference</strong><br /><br />Duncan Division (yes..Tim Duncan...I know he's a basketball guy but he's Tim F-ing Duncan)<br />Duke<br />East Carolina<br />Maryland<br />North Carolina<br />NC State<br />Wake<br /><br />Jimmy Johnson Division<br />Clemson<br />Florida<br />Florida State<br />Miami<br />South Carolina<br />South Florida<br /><br /><strong>Bear Bryant Conference</strong><br /><br />Vince Dooley Division<br />Alabama<br />Alabama-Birmingham<br />Auburn<br />Central Florida<br />Georgia<br />Georgia Tech<br /><br />Johnny Majors Division<br />Memphis<br />Mississippi<br />Mississippi State<br />Southern Mississippi<br />Tennessee<br />Vanderbilt<br /><br /><strong>LaVell Edwards Conference</strong><br /><br />Frank Kush Division<br />Arizona<br />Arizona State<br />New Mexico<br />NM State<br />Texas Tech<br />UTEP<br /><br />Urban Meyer Division<br />BYU<br />Nevada<br />UNLV<br />Utah<br />Utah State<br />Wyoming<br /><br /><strong>Tom Osborne Conference</strong><br /><br />Frank Broyles Division<br />Arkansas<br />Iowa<br />Iowa State<br />Kansas<br />Kansas State<br />Missouri<br /><br />Fisher DeBerry<br />Air Force<br />Boise<br />Colorado<br />Colorado State<br />Idaho<br />Nebraska<br /><br /><strong>Joe Paterno Conference</strong><br /><br />Frank Beamer Division<br />Marshall<br />Penn State<br />Rutgers<br />Virginia<br />Virginia Tech<br />West Virginia<br /><br /><strong>Woody Hayes Division</strong><br />Boston College<br />Cincinnati<br />Connecticut<br />Ohio State<br />Pitt<br />Syracuse<br /><br /><strong>John Robinson Conference</strong><br /><br />Don James Division<br />California<br />Oregon<br />Oregon State<br />Stanford<br />Washington<br />Washington State<br /><br />John McKay Division<br />Fresno State<br />Hawaii<br />San Diego State<br />San Jose State<br />UCLA<br />USC<br /><br /><strong>Knute Rockne Conference</strong><br /><br />Schembechler Division<br />Iowa<br />Michigan<br />Michigan State<br />Minnesota<br />Notre Dame<br />Wisconsin<br /><br />Heppner-Walk Division<br />Kentucky<br />Illinois<br />Indiana<br />Louisville<br />Northwestern<br />Purdue<br /><br /><strong>Darrell Royal Conference</strong><br /><br />R.C. Slocum Division<br />Houston<br />LSU<br />Louisiana Tech<br />Rice<br />Texas A&M<br />Tulane<br /><br />Bud Wilkinson Division<br />Baylor<br />Oklahoma<br />OK State<br />SMU<br />Texas<br />TCUMike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-11310414370180023502011-06-07T17:01:00.001-07:002011-06-07T17:08:15.400-07:00Buckeyes? More like Black eyes.Check out my take on the mess at The Ohio State University!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.box.net/shared/3urhvbo9hm">Buckeye Blues</a>Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-6211602400969367352011-06-02T18:53:00.000-07:002011-06-02T19:57:31.925-07:00The Big Goodbye and not the next......After 19 season in the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal has decided to retire. With 4 rings on his fingers, the Big (insert nickname here..he's given himself quite a few) Shaq hangs up his immense size 22 sneaks and heads off into the sunset with his next stop being the Hall of Fame. It was about time too. Remember when he came out of LSU <a href="http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery/2011/NBA/Shaquille%20O%27Neal/photo%203pg-vertical.jpg">all those years ago</a>? He was both a freak and force of nature. It kills me to say this but....<br /><br />I am going to miss the big lug.<br /><br />Yeah I know he once called the Spurs a WNBA team but that was just Shaq being Shaq. He was calling the attention to himself and therefore deflecting it from his teammates. He was a leader and to a man, almost every teammate he has had have been nothing but reverent in their tones regarding the big fella. Some big men see their size as a burden (Kareem...im looking at you) or curse (Dwayne Schintzius spitting on people comes to mind) Not Shaq. He embraced it. He reveled in it. He wore it like a 4X trenchcoat. <br /><br />We all heard the amusing story about how his eventual college coach Dale Brown saw him on an Army base in Germany and asked a then 13-year old Shaq "what unit are you in, son?" When Shaq replied he was just a teen...Coach Brown had his scholarship waiting for him.<br /><br />At <a href="http://blog.mysanantonio.com/garydelaune/files/legacy/shaq_350.jpg">Cole High School </a>in San Antonio, watching him play was watching a man among boys. There was talk at the time along the lines of "yeah...but its against 3A talent".<br /><br />Yeah....no.<br /><br />Shaq would have dominated at any level. He proved this when he went from that 3A school to the Bayou State. <br /><br />San Antonio embraced him as their own even though he only spent a few years there, there was even a suggestion in the Express-News that the Spurs should trade David Robinson, who was still getting used to the NBA, to Orlando in order to bring Shaq home. You think the LeBron hate was bad? Imagine a million pissed off South Texans if Shaq would have jumped to the Lakers from SA? Two words for you....Riot Squad.<br /><br />When Shaq did leave the Magic Kingdom for Tinseltown, the move seemed like a great fit but it also had a downside. Shaq loved to fill his offseasons with all kinds of things...rap albums, movies, commercials...everything but working on his game. That is the one thing, in my opinion, that kept him from possibly being the best ever. The physical talent was unmistakeable but the focus on the game was not there like it was for a Russell, Jordan or even his former teammate Kobe. Jordan too enjoyed endorsements and fame outside of basketball but it never got in the way of his preparation for the game. Aside from his first few years...he rarely had any kind of offseason workout regimen. Well, unless you count crushing Krispy Kremes. Right now..my all time big men list goes like this:<br /><br />1. Bill Russell<br />2. Wilt Chamberlain<br />3. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar<br />4. Shaq<br /><br />If he had given two shits for most of his career...he would be #1 easily. <br /><br />The Big Aristotle was not without his other faults. The whole WNBA thing...calling Sacramento the "Queens", making up a lie about David Robinson snubbing him for an autograph when Shaq was a high school senior. (By the way...everyone loves to ignore this but early in Shaq's career...DRob used to abuse him) He also snubbed a group of kids in Live Oak who had paid money for an autograph session. We also aren't even going to get into it about "The Sarge", Shaq's stepdad Phil Harrison. The guy who used to call the newspapers complaining that his boy wasn't getting enough ink. None of those are excusable but to be fair, Shaq has also always been very active in the community. Being Shaq-a-Claus for needy kids, providing Thanksgiving and Easter dinners, being involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the like. <br /><br />It was time for the Big Shamrock to hang it up because he was looking more like a Center for the Pats than a <a href="http://allucanheat.com/files/2011/05/shaq.jpg">Center for the Celts</a>. <br /><br />He was a big kid playing a kids game...nothing wrong with that. Enjoy retirement big man..you've earned it. <br /><br /><strong>The next....no, I don't think so...</strong><br />We are in the midst of the 2011 NBA Finals, the Miami Hype Machine is up 1-0 on the Mavs in the series and game 2 is being played as this is being written. Miami is favored to win the series and have put me in the unclean position of rooting for Dallas. I think has to mainly do with LeBron. I respect the guys talent, just not the way he goes about things. Giving yourself your own nickname works for Shaq when its in fun and you win titles. Glossing yourself "the Chosen One" in high school makes you look like a sphincter, not a savior. <br /><br />With the Heat close to winning the title, there have been quite a few conversations comparing Michael Jordan to LeBron James. Make no mistake about it...LeBron is a better physical specimen. He is bigger, stronger and faster than MJ. LeBron is a better athlete...MJ was a better basketball player.<br /><br />Follow me closely on this one, campers...<br /><br />There will <strong><em>never</em></strong>...<em><strong>ever</strong></em>..be another Michael Jordan.<br /><br />Period. End of sentence. New paragraph.<br /><br />Why? Simple. It's the one thing that can't be measured. <br /><br />The desire to do anything to win. MJ had that...Russell had that...Barkley had that (too bad he kept running into MJ) Duncan and Kobe have it. Michael Jordan would have stabbed someone if he had to if that person stood between him and a title. MJ went for your throat...LeBron wants to be loved. He wants to be the next Global Icon...MJ did it without trying. LeBron isn't the best closer in the NBA...he isn't even the best closer on his team. In the last 2 minutes of the game, I want D-Wade to have the ball if I am Heat fan. I would take Kobe, DWade, Derrick Rose, Paul Pierce and Manu Ginobili to take my last shot before LeMiss. <br /><br />We have had many "next Jordans" Grant Hill, Jerry Stackhouse, Vince Carter, Kobe...hell, Harold Miner was nicknamed "Baby Jordan" not happening.<br /><br />MJ was a singularly unique talent which will never be duplicated....and why does it have to be?<br /><br />There is nothing wrong with not having a Next anyone. Why not concentrate on being the first LeBron instead of the next MJ? LeBron is not the next Jordan and to be fair to LeBron..I don't think there will be a next LeBron..or Kobe for that matter. <br /><br />We are always in a hurry to replace our retiring heroes when we forget that those qualities that made them our heroes cannot be duplicated. I know it won't stop anytime soon but we really should not be so quick and desperate to anoint someone a successor to a departed legend. Let them write their own chapter and have history decide.<br /><br />Speaking of history...I am out<br /><br />Until next time boys and girls...<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-54099085610867814352011-05-31T18:21:00.001-07:002011-05-31T18:21:02.391-07:00Fan Rules<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>Ok..more like suggestions than rules but you get the idea. :)</p><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_761585322&shared_name=1lherpa8p9'>Track01.cda</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-58980367386494468142011-05-11T16:44:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:36:03.155-07:00College Football Playoff<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p/><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_726135038&shared_name=rcpfz1bxxk'>Collfootball.cda</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-47719017376053218332011-05-03T17:40:00.001-07:002011-05-03T17:40:38.563-07:00sportsmanship<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p/><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_726135038&shared_name=rcpfz1bxxk'>Track01.cda</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-17035949020043097972011-04-27T18:06:00.001-07:002011-04-27T18:06:20.887-07:00NFL Draft Podcast<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>my top 10 mock draft</p><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_718736405&shared_name=hhvpdicjz9'>01 nfldraft.wma</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-20448913088194173232011-04-20T18:49:00.001-07:002011-04-20T18:49:25.442-07:00First Podcast<br /><div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p>my thoughts on the NFL lockout!</p><br/><a target='_blank' href='http://www.box.net/index.php?rm=box_download_shared_file&blog&file_id=f_710805830&shared_name=7osdq5opmb'>01 Track 1.wma</a></div><br />Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-72508659364503363772011-03-07T14:57:00.000-08:002011-03-07T16:44:57.672-08:00I wish I had an answer....Many a day and night, I spent on the hallowed courts of Misty Oaks Park. So many great battles. Made shots, missed shots, trash talk, sweat, blood and maybe the occasional elbow. Like most people who have picked up a basketball, I dreamed. How many times did I try to re-create the Iceman's finger roll, Magic's no look pass or Kareem's sky hook? And like all kids...who didn't dream of hitting the last shot? The shot to win the game. Jordan's jumper in 82 to win the National Championship, Sean Elliott's Memorial Day Miracle. The fellas and I back in the day had quite a few phrases we liked to throw around. One of them was "never leave the court on a missed shot". Seems maybe a little hokey now but when you are young and headstrong, it just sounds really cool. (I often wonder who came up with it. It was probably Salmans, he can be clever at times) Basically, we wanted to make sure that we left it all out on the court. To make sure we gave 100% every time. Recent events have given me another reason. What if it's your last shot? <br /><br />Ever. <br /><br />No doubt most of you have heard of the tragedy that befell a small town last Thursday. Wes Leonard, a 16 year old basketball player for Fennville High School in Fennville, Michigan lived out every player's fantasy. He hit <em>that</em> shot.<br /><br />The scene was right out of Hollywood and right off of the playground. With less than 30 seconds to go in overtime, his team tied at 55, Wes drove to the basket and scored the winning layup. His fellow Blackhawks mobbed him as they celebrated the win which also secured a 20-0 regular season.<br /><br />Every little kids dream....shortly turned into every parent's worst nightmare.<br /><br />Minutes into the celebration, Wes collapsed on to the floor. Two hours later, he was gone. A family, a team and a community went from a soaring high to the ultimate low. <br /><br />Wes himself seemed like he came out of Hollywood. 6-2, 215 pounds and described by Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer as "the quintessential all-American kid." <br /><br />"Beyond his outstanding athletic abilities, Wes was a better person," Weeldreyer said. "His fellow students liked and respected him. Their grief speaks volumes about the high regard in which Wes was held."<br /><br />He was the quarterback who threw for seven touchdowns in one game, he also at times played receiver and defensive end, a three year starter at those various positions. He played baseball too. Big ol' conceited jock right? Wrong. Chad VanHuis, who once umpired Leonard's middle-school baseball games, (the same ones where opposing coaches asking to see his birth certificate earning him the nickname "Big Man Wes")told ESPN "He was very courteous. He was the nicest kid. You'd think with his star potential, because he's so gifted, he'd be cocky, but he never really was that way," <br /><br />I have watched, played or coached some form of sport for almost 40 years. Many of those years coaching young men like Wes and I have to ask....<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />Why was this young man taken from us so soon? Now that I think about it...I can accept no answer. There is no good reason why Wes Leonard is gone. I mentioned in my last entry Brandon Gordon who was also taken from us so young after a fight with cancer. That was tragic and no less painful. I can't figure out what is worse...knowing your time is short and not being able to do anything about it or having your life cut short so abruptly with no warning. All I know is that losing these young men is such a horrible waste. You think our world couldn't use men like that in the future? The universe is truly a cold, unfeeling mistress and I have to admit, my faith is quite shaken. <br /><br />All Wes Leonard did was be a kid. Well loved, someone who seemed enjoy every day and how does fate repay him? Blowing the whistle and declaring "game over".<br /><br />Fennville has voted to play on and tonight they face Lawrence High School in the first round of the state playoffs. This story has taken on a national feel as dozens of media people have come to West Michigan to cover the game. The game has been moved to Hope College's DeVos Auditorium to accommodate the expected crowd of what should be approaching 3500. Kudos by the way, to Lawrence High School. They have been the ultimate good sports. Having to be the team who plays the team that the whole country will be rooting for is not going to be easy. This was supposed to be a home game for them. They first volunteered to donate all the proceeds to the charity of Wes' parents choice, then when they realized their gym couldn't handle the impending crowd, Hope College stepped in and donated the use of their building. The two teams will also be sharing a pre-game meal...something unheard of in today's sports world. Bo Kimble, who lost his best friend Hank Gathers 21 years to the day after Wes died, will be speaking to the teams as will Michigan State Basketball coach Tom Izzo. <br /><br />I have played and coached in dozens of games and won a bunch of them. I have coached outstanding young men to victories and trophies. I was a small part of that group that dominated Texas DeMolay conclave from 02-06 in a way that had never been seen before or has been since.<br /><br />I would give it all back for Wes Leonard to be leading his team tonight. <br /><br />Kids like that deserve to be given a long full life to see what they can do with it. My heart goes out to that community and to his parents. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through. I was never blessed with kids of my own but you don't have to be a parent to realize that the ultimate tragedy for a parent is having to bury a child. Which leads me back to my question...<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />I don't have an answer and no one else does either. God already has Pistol Pete and John Wooden...did he need Wes too? Oh and before anyone drops the obligatory "he's in a better place" don't. He was 16 for heavens sake. His place is with his family and friends and playing ball. He needs to be patrolling the fields and courts of Fennville...the sun on his face, dirt on his shoes and a twinkle in his eye. <br /><br />I don't know what will happen with the Fennville Blackhawks this post-season. Will they rally around the memory of a fallen teammates and have the ultimate storybook ending? Just as possible is the burden being too much for young men and they are too emotionally spent to go on. It's not fair to ask so much of those so young. Personally, I hope for the former. I hope they go on a magical run that ends in the Breslin Center holding the trophy up so high that Wes can read the engraving. <br /><br />God, fate and the universe owe the people of Fennville that much. You took one of their own way too early than was necessary. You have devastated a community and ripped apart a family. In your arrogance and selfishness, you robbed the world of a bright young man who may have made the world a better place. A championship is the least of what you can do.<br /><br />I never met Wes Leonard and I mourn the wasteful loss of one so young but as someone who loves the games people play, I envy him this much. If you are a basketball player, is there a better way to leave this world? If you have to be cruelly taken from your family....you went out knowing your teammates will live to play another day. Wes gave his team one final assist. No one ever gave their all more than he and for that sir...I salute you. <br /><br />One last thing....the official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy...also known as an enlarged heart. Big Man Wes had a big heart. From what those who spent time around him have told us...that was no surprise. <br /><br />Go Blackhawks. <br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-33257960776452636962011-03-02T18:49:00.000-08:002011-03-02T20:53:58.758-08:00Labor strife and bring on the Madness!!Iron City Beer 17<br />Brats and Cheese 14....in overtime.<br /><br />Well, I screwed that one up.<br /><br />Since we last chatted, they played Super Bowl 45 in Dallas, or officially, North Texas. The rest of the country learned that yes, it can snow in Texas and it usually does at the worst possible times. Jerry Jones must have been pulling his hair out of his oft-surgically enhanced skull. As I have learned up here in the Great White North, use salt Jerry, not sand. Works much better. I must give the Pack credit. They outplayed Pittsburgh in every phase of the game and we ended up with a great contest and Green Bay ended up with it's 13th title.<br /><br />The confetti had not even stopped falling in Jerryworld when talk turned to the labor dispute between the NFL players union and the NFL and its team owners. Basically, the players like the deal the way it is, and the owners want more. They are crying poverty but are unwilling to show anyone their books to prove this. The Owners want an 18-game schedule and rookie salary cap, the players want neither.<br /><br />I will fix this.<br /><br />No 18 game schedule, add the rookie salary cap. Make the split 58-41 in favor of the players (they currently get 59.5) and give the remaining 1% to the retired players. Also, show us the books or you forfeit. Problem solved. In the real world, it won't be that smooth or logical but don't worry, their might be a lockout for a bit but it will not ruin the season. Neither side is stupid enough to risk the golden goose.<br /><br />We go through this periodically with the games we love. I have no problem with players getting paid but don't cry poverty if you have to "settle" for $5 million as opposed to $8 million. Owners, don't bitch about players salaries because you pay them willingly. Players just don't find money trees, someone has to sign the checks. Let's all have a moment of reality here. Players and owners make a buttload of money off of a game. Forgive me for being pollyanna-ish for a moment but what if we paid scientists, doctors and teachers what we pay our pro athletes? We would be #1 in the world in, well damn near everything. Playing pro sports is not a right, it's a privilege. What would Shaq be without basketball? Broke as hell. Speaking of Shaq...the NBA is headed for a collision with their own labor dispute and unlike the NFL, that could drag out for months and we may lose a season over it.<br /><br />Times like these make me appreciate and long for the days on the playgrounds, sandlots and parks of my youth. More and more pro athletes are motivated by money and fame. We were motivated by bragging rights. We played in sun, cold and even the occasional hurricane. Sometimes, it was 7a at Central Park Mall against strangers and radio people....other times it was 1a at Emerald Valley which may or may not have been followed by breaking into a neighborhood swimming pool. Places like <a href="http://mistyoakshoa.org/images/misc/mo1.jpg">Misty Oaks</a>, Stone Ridge or <a href="http://www.usabasketball.com/images/hoop-it-up/austin.jpg">Dallas's West End</a> served as venues. We played in the shadows of skyscrapers getting sunburned or behind a bank in Bowie watching the locals getting burned by a kid in Air Jordans and dress slacks. Every player in pro sports had those moments. I truly believe that if they remembered them more, we would have less problems. Ok, enough nostalgia for now.<br /><br />With the NFL season done, its time to turn to basketball. In the pro game, my San Antonio Spurs are still the holders of the best record in the league currently sitting at 50-11. However, there might be a black cloud on the horizon and its not a Silver and Black one. Tony Parker was injured in the February 27 win over Memphis. He injured his left calf and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks. Since the injury, the Spurs are 1-1, losing in Memphis by 16 then winning in Cleveland by 10. The trouble could come down the road as San Antonio faces the Heat twice along with the Lakers then the red hot Dallas Mavericks in Big D, all in the next seven games. This is the first real adversity the Spurs have faced in an otherwise magical season. How they deal with said adversity will go a long way in proving whether or not Duncan, Ginobili and company have one more title in them. The fun begins Friday night as the traveling circus and freak show that is the Miami Heat visit the Alamo City.<br /><br />The date on the calendar reads March and that means one thing...<br /><br />Let the Madness begin.<br /><br />Conference play wraps up this week and the conference tournaments will be starting soon. Who is the favorite going into the Big Dance?<br /><br />What time is it, right now?<br /><br />It has been a number of teams so far this season. Duke and Michigan State started the year 1 and 2. The Dookies have done their part, holding the top ranking for the first 10 weeks of the season. Sparty? Well, the folks in East Lansing are gripping hardcore after what they have gone through. A team many selected to reach a third straight Final Four has a current record of 17-12, lost to in-state rival ( and previous doormat) Michigan at home in the Breslin Center for the first time since 1997 and the first time anywhere in six years. MSU is scrambling to even make the NCAA tourney and if they fail, they will break a streak of 13 straight appearances.<br /><br />Duke lost the top spot to Ohio State in week 11. The Buckeyes stayed there until a loss to Wisconsin dropped them out four weeks later. Kansas then took over and was #1 for about 8 hours before getting ambushed in Manhattan that night. (Little Apple, not Big Apple) Duke ascended back up until a loss to Florida State put Brutus' boys back at #1. In addition to these teams Pitt, UConn, Texas and Syracuse have all made cases for being the best in the land at one time or another. Out West, Mountain West brethren San Diego State and BYU have been in the conversation with lengthy win streaks. This past Saturday, BYU defeated the Aztecs for a second time this season and there was talk of the Cougars first ever #1 tournament seed and even as a dark horse candidate to win it all. They have a player in Jimmer Fredette whom many think, myself included, is the player of the year. Jimmer reminds me of video I have seen on the great Pete Maravich. Take away the Pistol's floppy socks and add a few pounds of muscle and you have Jimmer. Yesterday however, BYU was dealt a blow when it was announced that Sophomore Brandon Davies has been suspended indefinitely due to a violation of BYU's Honor Code. The school has said that no criminal act took place and left it at that. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Davies violated the code by <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/51348870-88/davies-byu-code-honor.html.csp">having sex with his girlfriend</a>. Premarital sex is one of the things that is a no-no for BYU students.<br /><br />And no, I am not sure either how they would enforce that rule without a confession.<br /><br />OK, I have never been a fan of BYU. Any school that doesn't allow their students to drink iced tea is 10 kinds of wrong to a Texan. Personally, if the kid wants to have sex with his girlfriend, that's his business. However, he did sign a pledge and went into his time in Provo knowing what he could and couldn't do. I applaud BYU for having the huevos for sticking to its rules even if I don't agree with that rule. Although....does anyone else find it ironic that the faith that this institution is based on was once a big fan of polygamy and with some members, still is?<br /><br />With no clear cut dominant team in college hoops, we should be in for an outstanding tournament. It will be bad for our brackets but a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Get those brackets warmed up because the madness is upon us.<br /><br />Before I go...a couple of shout outs...<br /><br />Billy Newton...welcome to Club 40. You have some dark clouds of your own coming...we're going to get you through.<br /><br />Joey Pants....thanks man.<br /><br />And finally...to what I was talking about early in reference to children and the games they play. There was a local young man who passed away in February of 2009 named Brandon Gordon. As someone who as mentored and coached young folks, nothing makes my heart ache more than when one is taken from us so early. When I read his story, what amazed me is not how he died but how he lived. It's odd but more often than not, kids deal with illnesses like this better than adults. As we get older, we develop cynicism, fear and prejudices but the kids are still young enough that they don't have those built in yet. I read the story and while I was sad that Brandon had to endure cancer before he passed, I was more sad because the world was robbed of what he could have been.<br /><br />All Brandon wanted to do was play hockey, and we have millionaires fighting over billions. Maybe we should make both sides read Brandon's story. Maybe then, they will gain proper perspective and stop making asses of themselves.<br /><br />You can read Brandon's story <a href="http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=staystrongdoit">here</a>.<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-76904091735662468882011-02-02T15:28:00.000-08:002011-02-02T18:30:48.920-08:00Snow Day, Super Bowl and taking care of one's own.Today I got to hear some of the sweetest words one can hear in the Midwest.<br /><br />Snow Day. <br /><br />It was only the second time in my life I got a snow day. The first was back in January of 1985. Those of you in or from San Antonio know exactly what I am talking about. That weekend 26 years ago where the city shut down and we kids had a blast. 13 inches of snow over those two days. I remember walking out of my house like I was stepping out of a spaceship onto the surface of some distant planet. You walk out into the snow and jump into it...then you remember that its frozen water! Up here in mid-Michigan, snow is a way of life. Its pretty at first, it makes the holidays specials but by February, you're done with it. The snow melts, gets dirty and slushy and makes everything wet for weeks...Pure Michigan. Even though folks up here are better suited for it, occasionally it comes in fast and heavy enough to shut things down and last night and today was one of those times. Things will go back to normal tomorrow but a snow day was fun and relaxing.<br /><br />Celebrated my birthday this week (thank you all again for all the well wishes) and if the birthday has happened, that means one of the biggest days of the year is not far behind. That unofficial national holiday known as Super Bowl Sunday. Hard to believe that tickets to the first game back in 1967 were $6, $10 and $12. That game was also the only one to be covered by two networks and was the only game not to sell out. The best ticket this year? $600. Yeah...good luck finding that price!<br /><br />This year's game features two of the oldest and most successful franchises in the NFL. Green Bay, one of the leagues original teams, has won the most championships with 12 dating back to its first one in 1929 (yes kids, there was football before the Super Bowl)the Packers have been to four previous Super Bowls, winning three. <strong>(Here's a way to fool your friends...the Super Bowl name didn't come into being until SB III so technically, the Pack has been to three Super Bowls (31, 32 and 45) and 2 <em>"AFL-NFL Championship Games"</em> what we now call SB's 1 and 2)</strong> Pittsburgh came into the league in 1933 but didn't enjoy any title success until Super Bowl IX in 1974 and has six wins in seven Super Bowls. The Steelers run is even more impressive to me since it has been 6 championships in 36 years. Somewhere, Pam Murphy is very proud of me. <br /><br />This game has the makings of a classic. You have the #1 and #2 rank defenses, two pro bowl quarterbacks, <a href="http://youthrowlikeagirl.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Clay-Matthews.jpg">two guys</a> with <a href="http://thirty86.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Troy-Polamalu.jpg">crazy hair</a>, the superlatives go on and on. Both teams have had to overcome major adversity to arrive at this point. Pittsburgh had to deal with another round of Ben Roethlisberger's bad judgement this time ending up with Big Ben sitting for four games while Green Bay has had to deal with a deluge of injuries. The Pack has put 16 players this season on Injured Reserve not to mention several other players missing various amounts of games. Aaron Rodgers even missed a game and a half with a concussion and to the team's credit, they have had players step up and help Green Bay win. In fact, they are the hottest team in the league right now winning their last 5 games including three playoff wins, all away from the Frozen Tundra. <br /><br />So who's gonna win? Well, here is a guarantee...there will be a lot of yellow confetti on the field when its over. Ok, ok so both teams wear yellow....my prediction is...coming later.<br /><br />The other big story this week in the NFL is the labor situation. The current Collective Barganing Agreement between the league and the players union is set to expire in March and both sides are posturing for a fight. One of the biggest items in dispute is the idea to get rid of two preseason games and replace them with two regular season games and therefore going to an 18 game schedule. The league wants it, the players don't. There are safety concerns in the game as it is right now, an 18 game schedule would heighten those concerns. Player response to the idea has been vocal and loud. This week, a <a href="http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/201102/nfl-concussions-players">story in GQ Magazine </a>came to light that spoke with several NFL players about safety concerns. Steelers receiver Hines Ward, never one to shy away from an opinion had this to say:<br /><br /><strong><em> They're so hypocritical sometimes. They came out with these new helmets that are supposed to stop concussions. If they care so much about our safety, why don't they mandate that we wear the new ones? If they're so worried about what concussions will do to us after our careers, then guarantee our insurance for life. And if you're going to fine me for a hit, let the money go to veteran guys to help with their medical issues. To say the league really cares? They don't give a f**k about concussions. And now they want to add on two extra games? Are you kidding? Come on, let's be real. Now that these new guidelines are in place, you'll see more and more guys lying to doctors to stay on the field. Contracts aren't guaranteed. If a guy's contract is coming up and he gets his bell rungβand if he has a concussion, he'll have to leave the game and maybe miss another oneβtrust me, he ain't tellin' nobody. Look at [49ers running back] Brian Westbrook. He was an elite player who had concussion issues, and he struggled to find work after the Eagles cut him. Guys saw that. I'm telling you, if you're a guy on the bubble or playing for your next contract, you're going out there and jeopardizing your life to get that payday.</em></strong><br /><br />Amen. <br /><br />I love the NFL. It's the one sport that, to paraphrase my boy Arch, even though my team may not be in the playoffs, I still enjoy watching. I was born and raised on football and I know it can be violent. The NFL knows it too and they make money off of it. They fine players for hits and try to legislate the violence out of the sport...then turn around and take those same hits, put them on a DVD and charge 9.95 for it. That is hypocricy at its finest. You can't tell a guy he's wrong, but then say its ok for you to use his action to profit. <br /><br />One of the other issues on the table is the league's treatment of its former players. It is deplorable. The older these former players get, the more that the wear and tear of an NFL career adds to health problems. Some former players qualify for an NFL pension but it is usually less than $1,000 a month and as we all know, health care costs continue to go up. The league just does not care. For them it's out of sight, out of mind. They figure that the old guys will eventually die so we can just wait them out. These men gave their all for the game they loved and did so in a time where medical technology and player salaries were not at the level that we see today. What is even sadder is some of the current players feelings about the men who came before them, the ones who laid the foundation of the game the young guys enjoy today. Drew Brees <a href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/02/02/conrad-dobler-drew-brees/">said that the older players </a>βThey took their pensions early because they never went out and got a job. Theyβve had a couple divorces. And thatβs why they donβt have money. And theyβre coming to us to basically say, βPlease make up for my bad judgment.ββ <br /><br />Wow. Talk about bad judgement...making that statement was a great example. <br /><br />Those "deadbeats" help build the league that currently employs you and you drop a load of crap like that? Hard to believe you are a Texan. Try and remember what you said when you are asking for money for <em>your</em> <a href="http://drewbrees.com/">foundation</a>. <br /><br />A <a href="http://www.metrolic.com/medicine-abuse-very-common-among-former-nfl-players-159191/">recent study</a> on NFL players who have and currently abuse pain medication, 75 percent of them stated that the pain is unbearable. They also stated that their daily activities were affected by the pain, and that they could not perform their daily activities in the proper manner because of it. 70 percent of them stated that the pain they felt was moderate.<br /><br />I'm sure they making it all up, Drew. <br /><br />I hope that the players union and the league can come together on this one. The former players need help and the league and union should be the ones to do so. How many more horror stories like <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1972285">Mike Webster </a>do we have to endure before these men are helped out.<br /><br />You can help too. Check out these websites to see how you can. <br /><br /><a href="http://dignityafterfootball.org/">Dignity After Football</a><br /><a href="http://www.gridirongreats.org/index.htm">Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund</a><br /><br />For what its worth, I do not think that the current labor strife will affect the 2011 season. There will probably be a lockout in March but I really feel a deal will be in place by training camp. I really don't take sides in these labor disputes because its basically millionaires fighting with billionaires. I am with the players on the 18 game season, I don't feel its neccessary. In fact I would still decrease the number of preseason games and expand the current rosters while maintaining the 16 game season. One thing that the players union does need to do is present a united front and so far, there have been cracks in the armor of solidarity. You have players sniping at the union and each other about the labor agreement on twitter recently. You also had a bunch of players questioning Jay Cutler's toughness after coming out of the NFC Championship game with a knee injury. Finally you had the head of the Union, DeMaurice Smith comparing the negotiations with the league as "being at war". That remark almost makes me want to side with the owners. <br /><br />Haven't we evolved past the point where every disagreement is a "war"? I am pretty sure that sitting in a nice warm hotel meeting room with catered food and a nice, soft bed to go to after a day of squabbling over money is nothing like war. Go ask the men and women in the deserts of Iraq or the mountains of Afghanistan, you know the ones away from their families and having bullets fly at them? I am pretty sure their idea of war is a little different. Smith's statement was disgusting, inappropriate and an insult to those Americans in an actual war zone. Luckily, they are too busy to notice at the moment.<br /><br />That's what's on my mind for now. Super Sunday is approaching so enjoy the game and of course, the commercials. See ya-oh wait...you wanted a prediction. Ok here goes...the team who has the most points by the end of the 4th quarter will end up taking it.<br /><br />Oh..not good enough? :)<br />Alright then....<br /><br />the color of confetti that will be flying along with the yellow will be black.<br /><br />Iron City Beer 17<br />Brats and Cheese 14....in overtime.<br /><br />PeaceMike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-82101002802489698602011-01-19T18:07:00.001-08:002011-01-19T21:00:29.783-08:00Odds and Ends.<em>"Oh the weather outside is frightful...."</em><br /><br />Frightful? No. Butt cold? Yes! So what does one do when the mercury does the nestea plunge? Stay inside and put pen to paper...or in this case, fingers to keyboard. <br /><br />So what's happening? College football is done. Good game between the Tigers and Ducks. The SEC got it's 5th in a row (again I say...<strong>No Colt McCoy</strong>) Cam Newton can enjoy his Heisman and the National Championship!...well, until they take both away in about 5 years. <em>Allegedly.</em> I gotta give Gene Chizik and Auburn credit though....they played a good game and were not blinded by those really <a href="http://thinkgeek.com.au/wp-content/uploads/1294754458-40.jpg">bright and funky socks</a>. <br /><br />Someone should tell Phil Knight and his boys at Nike to lay off the bong water during their brainstorming sessions. I admire the creativity but the purist in me is not digging the uniforms. My nephew, Frodo the Orange, told me..."you're not happy unless all teams have boring block numbers and no names on the back"...he said it like it was a bad thing. <br /><br />Speaking of college.....apparently the University of Texas signed a contract with tha ESPN to form a <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-longhorns/20110119-texas-longhorns-strike-20-year-300-million-deal-with-espn-for-longhorn-tv-network.ece">Longhorn TV network</a> <br /><br />All Burnt Orange, all the time..its BEVO-TV!! <br /><br />30 years, 200 million..well that should keep Bevo in food for awhile. Hey, if the four letter network is willing to pony up that kind of cash, I don't blame the Orangeblood hierarcy for taking it. Still, I am not crazy about a school having its own network. I also didn't like it when Notre Dame did its deal with NBC. (Sorry, Jeff) It, at least to me, kind of goes against the whole team concept. It's great that the lesser known sports will get some publicity but the kids in those sports at Baylor, Tech and A&M deserve the same shot. Ok, well maybe not A&M. The other side is that I am mostly about football anyway so I guess it won't affect me. Oh well, nature of the beast. Plus...its one more thing Horn haters can get pissed over, which works too. <br /><br />Those of you in Lansing, no doubt have heard of the Mad Dog DeMarco morning radio show. Mad Dog is our local sports talk morning host and I contribute to the show with the occasional phone call. Dog lets me vent my conventional wisdom and drop a nugget o' knowledge or two. I have had the priveilge of meeting him and his producer Josh Lattime in person. Great guys and fun to be around. Dog, unlike many in his business, is genuinely gracious off the air, and he throws a wicked christmas party. He has dubbed me "Gunslinger"...being Texan and all. A nickname I like. <br /><br />I mention his show because a recent topic was the NFL's Rooney Rule. This rule, named for Pittsburgh Steelers president and current Ambassador to Irelnd, Dan Rooney. The rule was established in 2003 and requires NFL teams to interview African American candidates for head coaching and senior football operations opportunities. A columnist for the Detroit Free Press, Drew Sharp, wrote a piece recently saying that while the rule served its purpose, it has outlived its usefulness. Sharp, an African-American, says in the article "The true measure of fairness is when diverse talent becomes an unconsciously accepted standard. This country's most influential sports entertainment entity has reached that touchstone."<br /><br />I would agree.<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. Racism is this country's most insisdious problem. We just celebrated a man who gave his life in the service of ending this form of hate. While I do not believe things are as bad as they once were, it would be foolish to say that racism no longer exists. The NFL was bad at perpetuating the "Good Ol' Boy network". The Rooney Rule opened the door for team owners and general managers to look beyond the usual suspects for job openings. <br /><br />Minority candidates for head coaching and GM jobs were the exception, they are now part of the process. To me, that is what the rule was designed to do and it has been accomplished. If the rule is retired, pro football will not degenerate into some bubbas beer bash. Does color still play a part in hiring your team's next head coach? Absolutely. However, that color is not black or white...it's green. Owners cannot <em>afford</em> to even think about skin color. The NFL has evolved to a level where qualified assistants, regardless of color, will get a shot at a head coaching gig. Something else Drew Sharp mentioned, if the Steelers and/or Bears win this weekend, it will be the fifth Super Bowl in a row with a team who has a black head coach or GM. I can guarantee you that in the multi-billion dollar business that is the NFL, if a team finds a coach that will help them win they will snatch him no matter what he looks like. <br /><br />I wasn't totally crazy about the rule to start with. I believe any person that has the qualifications for a job should be considered for that job but I don't like when a man is interviewed because he has to be and not because he is actually being considered for the job. The Rooney Rule was designed to not treat people differently because of race...by going through the sham of an interview when you have no intention of hiring that person..isn't that doing the same thing? <br /><br />While I think the NFL has evolved past the need for this rule....college football has not. Of 120 Division 1-A schools, there are 13 minority head coaches. Unlike the NFL where all teams answer to one league, each college has to answer to its own administration. Boosters get involved, favors are no doubt traded, etc. I am not saying that schools <strong>have</strong> to hire minority candidates. Schools have the right to hire who they wish but I do believe that all qualified candidates should have the opportunity to make their case as to why they should be hired. <br /><br />Now...on to the games on the field. The NFL playoffs are in the Conference Championship round. Pittsburgh hosts the New York Jets in the AFC while Green Bay travels to Chicago in the NFC. The Jets ran their mouths big time last week about their opponent, the New England Patriots, and I thought Tom Brady, Bill Belichek and the boys were going to blow NY out of the sky but I give it to Rex the Wonder Coach and his team...they went into Foxboro and punched the Pats in the mouth. However, I do believe the flight ends this week in the Steel city. I think Pittsburgh beats NY and I think Cheesehead nation sees their team knock off their longtime rival. These two have played each other for the last 89 years but oddly enough, they have only played once previously in the post season. December 14, 1941 saw a 33-14 Bears win..although i'm sure minds at the time were on other events. <br /><br />It is winter and that squeaking you hear is the sound of basketball in the air. At the halfway point in the NBA season, the team with the best record is not the defending champion Lakers, the traveling sideshow that is LeBron and the Heat, nor the Magic, Celtics or (thank God) Mavericks. Yup...you guessed it..say it with me...<br /><br />the San Antonio Spurs. After 41 games, San Antonio was 35-6, the best start in franchise history. Yep, while the media and the rest of the world has been salivating over stories of Kobe and Lamar, Carmelo being traded or not and the Miami Soundbyte machine, the Spurs have retooled and compiled the best record so far. <br /><br />"Wait...the Spurs?!?! But..but..they're too old..and,and..boring...and..and..." <br /><br />and the best team in the league, kids. <br />****UPDATE*****San Antonio is now 36-6 as of tonight's win over Toronto. Good win, eh?<br /><br />How is SA doing it? Offense. <br /><br />Whoa.<br /><br />The team that hung its hat on defense for over a decade is sacrificing a touch of that Popovichian defense for added offense and it has worked brilliantly. Something else that has added to the Spurs success is the infusion of young talent. Guess who is not the oldest team in the NBA anymore? Young guns like DeJuan Blair, Gary Neal and the ever-improving George Hill have refreshed the Big 3 to a point where Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are playing at all-star levels. The other major component is Tim Duncan. However TD's impact has been different. His stats are down all across the board. Points, rebounds, blocks..all career lows...as is what is proving to be the most important stat.<br /><br />Minutes played. <br /><br />For his career, Duncan has averaged 36 minutes per game. This season, 29. Is he slipping, no. He is still Tim freaking Duncan and can go off when he has to but the great thing is that he doesn't have to. Duncan is doing at the end of his career what David Robinson did at the end of his. He is taking a lesser role in order to let the younger players star. Worked out pretty good for Dave and the way things are going...it could for Tim as well. Don't be fooled though, come playoff time Duncan will be there. Rested and ready. Woe be to he who dismisses this when the lights are brightest and the stakes are highest. <br /><br />Campers, that is it for now, got a Super Bowl coming up, that should be fun...more later but right now this is all on my mind...well that and an approaching birthday. How old will I be? Hmm....Terence Newman, Tom Seaver and Phil Zevenbergen. <br /><br />You figure it out.<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-26899526549997638982011-01-05T18:59:00.000-08:002011-01-05T21:28:46.753-08:00My plan to fix College FootballMerry New Year!!<br /><br />"That's "happy." In this country we say "Happy New Year." <a href="http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2832503552/tt0086465">Trading Places</a>...gotta love the classics.<br /><br /><br />Lot of things have happened since we last talked. The Spurs have soared, the Cowboys...not so much..though some fresh blood had them finishing strong. We also had the 2010-11 College Football season...well, we are still in it technically. That is what happens when you have 35 freaking bowl games. Yes..35. There are only 120 teams in Division I...yes DIVISION I...don't give me that FBS or FCS crap...lipstick, pig...you understand. 120 teams and 70 get to go the postseason as long as you have 6 wins...unless you are poor Temple..8-4 and they stay home but 13 6-6 teams went including such football factories as Middle Tennessee, FIU and UTEP. Bill Cosby is probably still choking on his pudding pop. Mediocrity, thy name is the NCAA.<br /><br />The argument we hear every year about this time is for or against a Division I football playoff. Uncle Mikey is in favor of such a plan and if he were in charge it would happen...hmm....what would that be like? (cue wavy picture and dream sequence music)<br /><br />I am now in charge of College Football. Automatic wins for Texas over the Aggies and Sooners every year!! OK...not really. Hey..this year they needed all the help they could get! However I would wield an iron hand. Some of you are not going to like it but what fun would it be if we all got along.<br /><br />First thing I am doing is moving the headquarters...Indiana...really? The new headquarters will be <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUovtwKcwdflPm8fPqts69b91jWDrbSvGVzkxDzjRKTNexAhiRgHY_UAY1coU4HRG9gDOBrEXVzRq9S1J9ApvixFKD5ya9H5Uy38nWpzWGX9wzylegEdV15bUX7VZllQ8ePYfREIsWWwuD/s1600/hooters.jpg">13131 San Pedro Drive, San Antonio Texas</a>.<br /><br />Down to business. You have those folks out there who are against a playoff. Let me tell you something campers, every excuse you have, I can counter with why it's weak and I will prove it to you now. The three biggest anti-playoff excuses are as follows:<br /><br />The schools will lose money.<br />The players will have too much time away from class.<br />We will lose the tradition of the bowls.<br /><br />Crap, crap and...hmm...oh yeah, crap!<br /><br /><em>"The Schools will lose money"</em><br />Are you kidding? The TV network execs would sell their children for the right to a D-1 playoff. The most recent March Madness package garnered the NCAA right at 1 Billion dollars...say it with me kiddos....One Bill-ion Dollars. ESPN/ABC, CBS and Fox would double that easily.<br /><br /><em>"The players will have too much time away from class"</em><br />Right, because the BCS conferences care so much about academics. The majority of the post-season is played during semester break. Besides, how would that differ than the regular season? Also...the other Divisions seem to be able to make it work, including D-3 which has no athletic scholarships. Yes, real students playing football and getting an education..who knew?<br /><br /><em>"We will lose the tradition of the bowls."</em><br />Ah yes....the tradition of such classic as the Beef O'Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.<br />You incorporate the bowl system in to the playoff..with some tweaking.<br /><br />Also, don't hand me this junk about <em>"the current season makes every week a playoff game"</em> Hmmm...somehow, Michigan State v. Northern Colorado or Alabama v.Georgia State doesn't scream postseason drama. But enough of me shooting holes in the opposition....let's get to the plan.<br /><br />Currently there are 120 D-1 schools...that number will increase to 123 in the next 2 years. That is the number we are sticking with. No expansion for awhile. In fact I would even consider contracting a few schools down to 1-AA (Eastern Michigan and most of the Sun Belt...I'm looking at you) but for now, we will keep it with 123.<br /><br />Next...you independents...pick a conference or go to 1-AA. BYU plans to go Indie in 2012...nope, back to the Mountain West. Army and Navy...because of your tradition..I will not demote you...have fun in the Big East. Speaking of which...TCU...you are going to the Big 12...I want geographic normalcy. Also, Big 12...find a 12th (TCU is your 11th) or I am re-naming you the Southwest Conference. In fact...I will do that...trade Oklahoma State to Conference USA...add TCU, SMU and Houston..done.<br /><br />This leaves me with Notre Dame. Big East or Big 10, your choice. That shadow you see is the Shillelagh of Damocles over your Golden Dome if you piss me off. You jackwagons have had this "our poop don't stink" attitude for way too long. Rockne's dead and the Gipper ain't walkin through that door anytime soon. You think SMU's Death Penalty was bad...step one buckled shoe out of line and find out. Your soul belongs to Touchdown Jesus but your ass belongs to me.<br /><br />Speaking of the Big 10....change the name or become the third division of the MAC. Mathematical normalcy will be achieved as well. Oh and "Legends and Leaders"? More like Dumb and Dumber...East and West...or, North and South...it ain't hard boys.<br /><br />Back to the playoff system. It is really easy. There are currently 11 conferences. Each conference champion gets an automatic bid and there will be 5 at large bids for a 16 team bracket. Seeding will be as it is for March Madness. You play the first rounds before and opposite the NFL playoff games and the championship game is played in the time between the NFL Conference championship games and Super Bowl. It might take a few viewers away from the Pro Bowl but who would notice?<br /><br />One other minor annoying bleat by the anti-playoff folks is <em>"our kids will be playing too many games"</em> Yeah...no. You have some schools playing 13 or 14 games anyway. I would eliminate conference championship games which would take one game away. Our little darlings can handle the extra time, they're young...they can take it.<br /><br />Here is where you incorporate the bowls. You have 15 games in the playoff. You use your upper tier bowls for those playoff sites. You lessen the bowl payouts, which saves money, and the schools will still make money as they advance. Here is how I would break it down:<br /><br />First Round sites:<br />Aloha (formerly Hawaii), Bluebonnet (formerly Texas)Holiday, Independence, Liberty, Peach (formerly Chik-fil-A), Sun Bowl, Tangerine (formerly Champs)<br /><br />Quarterfinals:<br />Alamo, Cotton, Fiesta, Gator<br /><br />Semi-finals:<br />Orange, Sugar<br /><br />Final:<br />Rose<br /><br />The title game was easy...the granddaddy deserves it. Perhaps you were wondering what was up with all the "formerly"'s. Corporate whoring...er, uh, I mean, sponsorship is a necessary evil but there needs to be restraint. No bowl will be known by just the sponsor name. It can be in the name but the bowl name must be there. For example...Chik-fil-A Peach Bowl=good....Chik-fil-A Bowl=bad. I also went back to some of the original names (Aloha, Bluebonnet, Tangerine). For the non-playoff bowls, you have to include a flower, fruit, city or state name. I will let the Humanitarian Bowl slide only because I dig the <a href="http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2010/0420/ncf_g_boise-field01_300.jpg">Smurf Turf</a>. Bring back some of the classics, like the Cherry Bowl, Raisin Bowl or Salad Bowl!!! Or one of the all-time greats...the Bacardi Bowl. Imagine the stuff in that goodie bag!<br /><br />With 15 bowl games and 16 teams taken for the playoff...that leaves 20 bowls, 40 teams. If we keep the current NCAA eligibility rules where you have to be 6-6 to qualify and we remove the 16 teams who qualified for the playoff....that would still leave us with 52 teams. I would raise the requirement to 7-5 and only go to 6-6 if there were not enough 7-5 teams to fill out the spots. If we did that....we would have 39 teams eligible and would only need to bring one 6-6 team up. That way you don't reward mediocrity and the quality of games would improve. You still keep the bowls intact and you reward those teams who have a good season. The bowls are important. If you are 7-5 or 8-4 and haven't been in a while, its good for your school, your players, your alumni and your fans. Everyone gets a week at the bowl site to enjoy the swag, impress your recruits and bask in the national spotlight, if only briefly.<br /><br />It is really sad that D-1 college football is the only level of any sport who's champion is not decided on the field. This is not rocket science. We are taught from day one that if we win our games, we get to compete for a championship. How many years do we have 1 or 2 or more teams get screwed out of that chance. This year it was TCU, last year it was TCU and Boise. You pick a year, you can find a team who got hosed. The current BCS system expires in 2014. I hope that in the real world, the NCAA can find a way to work this out. However, when you have dimwitted and greedy conference commissioners possessing all the power, I won't hold my breath.<br /><br />That is my plan to fix college football...and it's just crazy enough to work.<br /><br />Merry New Year.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-47881852021986366102010-09-01T18:53:00.000-07:002010-09-01T20:32:46.131-07:00Back To SchoolHola mis amigos! The summer is coming to an end. The kidlets are dragging themselves back from summer vacation (or, more accurately, mom and dad are pushing them!) vacations are done and soon the leaves will be a-falling. Of course, all these factors mean but one thing here at the Sports Blog.<br /><br />Football.<br /><br />Is.<br /><br />Back.<br /><br />Can you smell it? No...that is not Gulf Coast oil, your roommates funky socks or Paris Hilton's...excuse for getting arrested. Its pigskin baby and not a moment too soon. We have had preseason NFL football all month and now the kids on campus strap on the headgear and get after it. It is with these young men where we focus today's musings.<br /><br />When we last saw our friend College Football, Tonyajune's Crimson Tide were holding the trophy with a win over my beloved Longhorns (three words...<strong><em>no Colt McCoy</em></strong>) :)and Bama had secured their first title since 92 and their second since the passing of the legend, Bear Bryant. Can the Tide go back to back? Will Nick Saban win his third title..and thereby further add to the venom hurled at him from Mid-Michigan? Alabama is a trendy pick by a lot of folks to do just that. I am not so sure. They have to replace 7 starters on defense and while St. Nick of Tuscaloosa is known for his defense, they will be awful young and the SEC is no place for on the job training. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram will also miss the opener but its against San Jose State so no big deal then. Ironically, it will be another breed of Trojan who will feel anger with Saban on that day. <br /><br />I think Bama will meet Florida in the SEC title game and the Gators will take the crown. Florida does have a new quarterback in redshirt junior John Brantley. Brantley takes over where St. Timothy left off. He has limited experience but so did Tebow and look what he did...and Brantley has a better arm. The Gators have a talented stable of running backs and while only returning 6 starters on offense, Urban Meyer will have his team poised for another run. The defense loses 6 starters, much like Bama, so they may have to outscore some teams to win.<br /><br />The AP top 10 is as follows:<br />1. Alabama<br />2. Ohio State<br />3. Boise State<br />4. Florida<br />5. Texas<br />6. TCU<br />7. Oklahoma<br />8. Nebraska<br />9. Iowa<br />10. Virginia Tech<br /><br />The Coaches poll is similar at the top with Bama and OSU, they then have Florida and Texas 3 and 4, then Boise at 5, Va Tech up at 6, then TCU, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa. <br /><br />I can agree pretty much with the top 10, I think Texas is ranked a little high though. I think they are better suited for 7 or 8 and I am not convinced that TCU is a top 10 team. What we have to remember is that this poll is largely based on last year's results. Personally, I think pre-season polls are garbage. If I were in charge...ooh, sent a shiver down your spine, didn't it?....I would not have a poll until the first Monday in October. Then again, I would have a playoff, better uniforms, and less strict rules for celebrating. I would also outlaw artificial turf..but I digress.<br /><br />Speaking of pre-season polls, upstart Boise State has its highest pre-season ranking in school history. The once-quirky underdog with the <a href="http://www.davesfootballblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/boise-state-blue-turf.jpg">Smurf Turf</a> (which by the way, I love!) is now ranked up with the big boys. BCS recognition is something that the Broncos have been clamoring (and to be honest, at times whining) to achieve for a few years now. To be fair they have been to two BCS games and one them both, including that classic Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma. That hasn't been enough though, two undefeated seasons in the last four years has had the boys in blue desiring a national title shot. <br /><br />OK Boise, you have your high ranking you need to be considered for that title shot. All you have to do is beat the Hokies on Labor Day night and you should be set. Your schedule is cake, as it usually is and, to be honest, is what has held you back. Your move to the Mountain West will help but unless you can horn in on the next wave of conference expansion, you will be more often on the outside looking in. I think you can beat Va Tech and run the table but the other teams around you have tougher schedules and that will be your downfall again. <br /><br />Back to the predictions...along with Florida winning the SEC, I have Oklahoma winning the Big 12, Wisconsin winning the Big 10, Pitt in the Big East, Miami winning the ACC and Oregon quacking its way to a Pac 10 title.<br /><br />Whew....conference bingo, gotta love it! <br /><br />The only one I am shaky on is Oregon. Even without disgraced QB Jeremiah Masoli, the Ducks have the tools to win but if anyone can reach up and bite them, its Andrew Luck and Stanford. I almost typed in Oliver Luck, Andrew's daddy and former Oiler QB. :) However, Oregon gets the Cardinal in Eugene so I like their chances. Stanford should do well this year, especially with USC being rendered useless thanks to a Kardashian sister's former boyfriend. They could, however, be looking for a new coach next year especially if Rich Rodriguez has another bad season in Ann Arbor. The Maize and Blue faithful are already calling for Jim Harbaugh and you can be assured that with every Wolverine loss, the clamor will get louder. <br /><br />My BCS Bowl predictions for the 2010 season:<br /><br />Orange: Miami-Pitt<br />Sugar: Bama-Boise<br />Rose: Oregon-Wisconsin<br />Fiesta: Texas-Ohio State<br />BCS Championship: Florida-Oklahoma (Brother Billy is already cringing at the thought.)<br /><br />One other tidbit I wanted to bring up. Paul Lukas, a writer for ESPN.com, does a great job talking about logos, uniforms and the changes thereof for all the major pro sports as well as college football and basketball. This week was his annual <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/100830_college_football">College preview</a>..hmm, a familiar theme...and he highlights the <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4917911849_fb1feaeb05_o.png">good</a>, the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/100901_college_football_update">bad</a> (although I like the Boise and Miami helmets) and the <a href="http://twitpic.com/1htw64/full">ugly</a> in this year's uniform trends. <br /><br />Really Michigan State? After all that whining and bitching about a very minor logo change, you allow this? Oy. <br /><br />Like Mr. Lukas, I am a uniform, colors and logo geek. I was the one who came up with the Uniform Curse theory which states that when you win a championship and you change your uniforms for the next season, you are doomed not to repeat...it happened with Duke and the Chicago Bulls in the 90's and the St. Louis Rams in 2000. I also have another theory...lack of success on the field leads to the uniforms changing every few years. You don't have success, you bring in new coaching staffs, new coaching staffs want to put "their stamp" on the program and the first to go is usually the old regimes uni's. Also when you don't have a good on-field product you have to come up with new things to keep your fan base interested..again, cue the new togs. I did some research to bear me out.<br /><br />These are the top 10 winning programs in the history of D-1 college football:<br />1. Michigan<br />2. Texas<br />3. Notre Dame <br />4. Nebraska<br />5. Ohio State<br />6. Alabama<br />7. Penn State <br />8. Oklahoma<br />9. Tennessee <br />10. USC<br /><br />Aside from the odd tweak now and then and the occasional "alternate" uniform, these programs have not significantly changed their looks since leather helmets. <br /><br />The last 10 BCS Champions? Oklahoma, Miami, Ohio State, USC, Texas, Bama, LSU (twice) and Florida (twice). LSU and Florida also have changed their look in decades, Florida went from orange to blue helmets but that was it. Logo is the same as are the colors, number font, etc. Oh and don't get me started on number fonts. Its football...block numbers, period. You are lucky I will allow names on the back. :)<br /><br />Coincidence? I think not.<br /><br />One more note before I go...as of this writing the Big 10 announced its new divisional football lineup that will take place in 2011 when Herbie Husker and the rest of the Children of the Corn join up. Not sure of the divisional names yet but here is how they will break:<br /><br />Division 1:<br />Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska<br /><br />Division 2:<br />Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue<br /><br />Each team will play the others in their division and each will have a permanent "crossover" game with the other. This way, Ohio State-Michigan gets played every year..this is good. Otherwise the alignment is pretty stupid. You either have an East/West alignment with Wisconsin in the East or a North/South alignment with Wisconsin in the South. Apparently Geography is not a pre-requisite for graduating from a Big 10 school...then again, they will have 12 teams and will still call themselves the Big 10. Guess Math isn't required either.<br /><br />See you next week when we tackle (see what I did there?) pro football.<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-70258800335532774392010-07-12T21:28:00.000-07:002010-07-12T22:37:00.274-07:00Futbol, Football and oh yeah, some guy in Cleveland.We have a winner!!<br /><br />64 games, 5 weeks and wayyy too many vuvuzelas but Copa Mundial 2010 is en los libros and Espana is El Winner. Personally I was rooting for the Dutch. Erica's family is Dutch and we were pulling for the <em>Oranje</em>. Congrats to La Furia Rojo. I would imagine the party in Madrid, Barcelona, Ibiza, etc. is probably still going on. For The Netherlands, the third time in the final was not the charm. Holland did all they could for 116 minutes but their lack of composure (9 yellow cards, 1 red) reduced them to 10 men and eventually cost them the World Championship. Although in Amsterdam, there are enough things to do to make you forget the loss. For what its worth, Europe now leads South America 10-9. There also has not been a repeat champ since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. That was also the last time a continent won back to back. <br /><br />Ok...I just used Dutch, English and Spanish in the same paragraph...I am indeed an international man of mystery. Yeah, baby!!<br /><br />I have to hand it to the Soccer world. I again enjoyed the World Cup. I guess for me it is, as mentioned before, like the Olympics. Not a fan in off years and I do not follow the MLS, EPL, Serie A or La Liga but when the National Team is involved every 4 years...I like it. Rio in 2014 should be interesting seeing as how Brazil got knocked out early this time around. <em>Agradecimentos, Selecao</em> for messing up my winner prediction. (Ooh...I just added Portuguese) Yeah I think Kaka and his side will be amped up for that one. The U.S. is in the running for the 2018 and 2022 WC, that would be cool and we all know that Jerry Jones will be all over those committee members to have Jerryworld as one of the sites. With a new Giants Stadium, Ford Field, Lucas Oil Staduim, Qwest Field as well as Jerryworld....FIFA would be stupid to pass us up. In 1994, we had the most attended and most watched tournament in history. We can do it again.<br /><br />Ok, with the world's biggest tournament done, its time to concentrate on our football. The Browns start their camp first on the 23rd with the Cowboys starting on the 24th and everyone else joining in after that. I have but two words for this...<br /><br />Thank God.<br /><br />You can't get enough football and I am soooo ready. Got the fantasy football mag...will be setting up the leagues soon....its a sign of the seasons. Fall is near and the pigskin's a-comin. I think the NFC will be up for grabs this year with the Vikes, Cowboys, Pack and the defending champ Saints. The AFC should be just as wild. Peyton and the Colts will be there, as well Brady and the Pats. San Diego will make some noise and the Jets and Ravens might have the top two defenses. I will be making predictions closer to the season.<br /><br />I think just two fantasy leagues for me this year. Down from three last year and five the year before. Yeah, you're right...what the hell was I thinking?<br /><br />Totally off the subject...this week I will be recording my entry to the Mad Dog Russo Sports Host contest. If I win, I can get up to eight shows on Sirius Satellite Radio. Please keep positive thoughts for me. I will keep you posted on my progress.<br /><br />Then there is the elephant in the room. <br /><br />LeBron.<br /><br />Being the Self Proclaimed Sports God of the Southwest...and now the Midwest, I have been asked by tons of people what I think about the whole LeBron sideshow. Well, first thing I can say is I was totally wrong about where he was going. :) I picked Chicago..oops. Miami pulled off what some thought was impossible. They basically erased their roster to pull of the Free Agent hat trick of keeping D-Wade, adding Chris Bosh and securing the services of LeBron. Hey...it's the best 3-on-3 team on the planet and in the history of basketball. Not even Chili Bowl, Kris Winston or the mighty THP could take them. Well, maybe THP...after all, I have 5 fouls and there are no easy buckets. The question is can they secure enough role players to supplement Miami Thrice. Mike Miller signed today and Udonis Haslem re-signed today. They also still have Mario Chalmers and drafted three players in the second round this season, including DeSean Butler whom I think, when he fully recovers from his devestating knee injury suffered in the NCAA's, can be a good NBA player. So if they have the Tres Grande, with Miller, Chalmers and the Tres Ninos (hey, why can't the rookies get a nickname too?) that is nine players. They are allowed 15 on the roster (you can suit out 12) so that leaves 6 spots. Ok, if the sports radio thing doesn't work out...I, too, this fall will take my talents to South Beach. (In the NBA, I get 6 fouls..woot!) <br /><br />The celebration in Miami-Dade county was almost as big as the one in Spain. As happy as they were in South F-L-A, they were as sad and angry in C-L-E. Not just angry....freaking pissed off!! Burning jerseys, throwing rocks at LeBron posters and general mayhem. A lot of people outside of Cleveland didn't understand the anger and were even dissing those fans for acting that way. I totally get their reaction. I get it because I almost had it 10 years ago. <br /><br />The summer of 2000 proved to be a pivotal one in San Antonio. The Spurs were one season removed from an NBA title and were poised to challenge the Lakers for another one when Tim Duncan hurt a knee and was unable to play for most of the first round. A round which saw the exit of the Spurs to Phoenix. Bigger than that was Duncan's impending Free Agency. The rumors were flying like the cicadas that buzz like Nature's little vuvuzelas during the summertime. Much like this year, there was talk of a trio of stars. Orlando was trying to get Tracy McGrady, Grant Hill and Duncan..or some combination thereof. Peter Vescey on a daily basis was telling us that his sources confirmed that TD was staying...then he was going...then he was staying. I'm not kidding....every day he changed his mind. Tool. These rumors precipitated the Great Message Board War of 2000 on SpursCentral (now <a href="http://www.clubspurs.com/">ClubSpurs</a>) The funniest rumor I heard that summer was on that site where someone said that they had a friend who knew someone at the HEB pharmacy (for my peeps in Lansing...think Meijer) and that Amy Duncan had switched her prescriptions to an Orlando pharmacy. Another media tool, Peter Brown, "just knew" that Duncan was not coming back. As did many callers on national radio shows. As we all now know, Duncan chose SA (maybe you dumbasses really didn't know?) and three titles later...the rest is history. But what if.....Duncan chose Mickey Mouse over Henry the Puffy Taco? I can tell you what would have happened...a reaction much like we saw in Cleveland...maybe worse. Cleveland still has the Indians and the Browns...San Antonio just has the Spurs. The good people of SA would have gone ape-shit...and you all know it. They have to rebuild around a soon to be retired David Robinson and 4 titles shrinks to 1. Spurs fans have to hear the tired asterisk talk still...but imagine if they only had 1 title? <br /><br />I feel for the fans of Cleveland. Their sports history reads like a bad dime store novel. No championships of any kind since 1964 and countless examples of being <em>this</em> close then RRRIIPPPPPP...out comes their hearts. So, no, I don't blame those fans at all for how they reacted. I don't necessarily agree with what they did but I can't say for sure that I would not have reacted similarly. It's not right because in the grand scheme of things, its just a sport but we love our sports. We invest in them emotionally and the pain we feel is real. <br /><br />Then there is Dan Gilbert. On one hand, I also get him. Again, if I was in his position..maybe I do something similar. It would, however, still have been the wrong way to handle it. I thought it was funny....inappropriate....but funny. I like the way he rallied the support of the fans. I just hope he didn't get some of the less stable ones to be encouraged to commit real violence. Yell, scream, stomp your feet...let it out. You deserve it Cavs fans, but don't be destructive by words or actions. It was reported today that the Commish fined Gilbert 100K....I imagine he feels it was money well spent.<br /><br />Oh and for what its worth....Reverend Jesse....with all due respect...shut it. I admire what you do for people who need help but, and this will come as a shock, its not always racial. Just because a rich white guy loses his temper does not mean he is reaching for a white hood. That "runaway slave" comment was wayyy out of line. The loyalty issue, I agree, doesn't fit here...but just because Gilbert accused James of being disloyal to Cleveland is not even close to even inferring that he is calling LeBron a slave. Slavery is a horrible stain on our history and while we should never forget it in order to grow from it, we cannot grow with comments like that. Implying racism where there is none is almost as bad as racism itself. <br /><br />Which brings me to the man who would be King. (again LBJ...Kings have titles...you don't) I am all about loyalty. I am loyal to those close to me almost to a fault. While I feel for the Cavs fans who got hosed, I'm sorry.....LBJ did nothing wrong. Loyalty on the professional sports level, with few exceptions, is dead. Gone are the days where your superstars and favorite players stayed with one team. Tim Duncan is almost the last future hall of famer currently playing to fit that description. Bird did it. Magic did it. Robinson did it. Kobe and D-Wade are doing it but that is about it. Shaq didn't. Neither did Barkley or Olajuwon. Hell, Jordan didn't do it. He started to, then he got that wild hair up his ass and came back and went to the Wizards. (Still don't know who spiked his Gatorade on that one) It's a business. Does it suck that its a business? Yes. However, because it became a business, we are enjoying the NBA as we know it now. I can't fault LeBron for wanting to go somewhere where he feels he can win a title. That is, after all, what athletes <em>should</em> strive for...and yes, technically he is taking less money to go there in order to win. Yeah..poor LeBron...he is only going to make $110 million instead of $140 million. Boo f-ing hoo. Also...this "decision"? What the hell were you thinking son? You just went from arguably the most liked NBA player to one of the most disliked in 60 minutes..and not just in Cleveland where you have been placed at the same table as Satan and Art Modell. Really Lebron? A one hour commercial to promote yourself? I have no problem with you leaving Cleveland but doing your hometown like that? Damn...that is homeroom during summer.....No Class. When I saw that...I momentarily thought about breaking one of my cardinal rules and wishing for a blown knee..but I know what Karma is so I thought better of it. <br /><br />One last thing....I don't want to hear how LeBron and Bosh are "sacrificing" for a title. Ok, so each left $30mil on the table...they are still getting $110mil!!!! 110 is less than 140 but its still $110 <strong>MILLION</strong> tell me again what great sacrifice they are making? A sacrifice is when a parent gives up their personal time or rewards so junior can make soccer practice or when mom and dad have to pay a bill next month in order to pay rent this month. James and Bosh want to impress me? Donate a year's salary to the charity of their choice. LBJ has a $90mil contract with Nike...you telling me he couldn't donate that and live off "just" his $110 mil? Child, please.<br /><br />Enough of that pretension though....football is around the corner. Time to get in the right mode and bring on the new season. The countdown begins now. Are you ready for some football? Because I sure as hell am. :)<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-21664390753725682412010-07-02T18:45:00.000-07:002010-07-02T20:22:06.143-07:00I'm Baaaaaack? Didja miss me?Wow.<br /><br />April 24..really? Well neighbor..it's been too long.<br /><br />What has happened since we last met here at Mike's Cyber Sports Cafe and Bait Shop? My Spurs knocked out the Mavs, then got swept by the Suns. Nice win Phoenix, enjoy your championship..oh, wait. :) The Lakers took out the Celtics in a classic seven game series, Steven Strasburg gave DC baseball fans a glimmer of hope and we all learned what a <em>vuvuzela</em> is.<br /><br />Yes campers...Copa Mundial is well under way and I must admit, I have enjoyed it. I view the World Cup like I do the Olympics. I get into it but only when it is on and then I wait 4 years. I had three predictions for WC 2010:<br /><br />1. The USA would advance from their group<br /><br />2. Brazil would get its 6th cup<br /><br />3. Players would be flopping more than that load of shrimp on Forrest's boat after he and Lt. Dan rode out the hurricane.<br /><br />To quote a <a href="http://images.coveralia.com/autores/fotos/meat-loaf4526.jpg">fellow Texan</a>: "Two out of three ain't bad"<br /><br />The US team not only advanced from group play, they won their group for the first time since 1930. They tied Mother England 1-1 then settled for a 2-2 tie against Slovenia (after a goal was stolen from Maurice Edu and made Koman Coulibaly a name ranked up there with Santa Anna) and finally a stoppage time 1-0 win over Algeria. Landon Donovan cemented his place in U.S. Soccer history with his follow of a Clint Dempsey miss. Then in the round of 16, they lost again to Ghana. This was the country that eliminated the US in 2006 and pulled it off again. Yeah and those "oh I've been shot" dives toward the end of the game to kill time...real classy.<br /><br />OK, now I admit, my soccer experience is limited. I played YMCA soccer for 2 years when I was 9 and 10. My first question about the World Cup was "Who's mom brings the oranges?" I started watching in 1994 and liked it. I am always a USA first guy in sports so if the US is playing, I cheer the home team. I remember July 4, 1994...the US made the round of 16 and faced off against mighty Brazil. What an opportunity. The rebirth of soccer, a World Cup on American soil and facing the best team on the planet on our biggest day. Could it happen? Another Miracle on Grass? 84,000 screaming Americans...screaming for..soccer? Sadly...it was not meant to be. The <em>Selecao </em>prevailed 1-0 thanks to a tough shot by Bebeto and some crappy officiating (yes Priscilla....your boys got bailed out by the refs) which seems to be the norm for FIFA. Since '94 though, I have watched and enjoyed.<br /><br />However, there are some things I would change. First off...ties. Soccer is loved wildly and madly by every country in the world....except ours. Well, us and Canada but do they really count? :) One reason why is that in American sports...there is a winner and a loser. There used to be ties in football but now on every level except the NFL (which...I do NOT get) ties have gone the way of the Wishbone. They play overtime after the group stage, not including stoppage time, so why not before that? These are the best <em>futbol </em>players in the world and as such arguably the best athletes in the world...run your asses around some more, then go to your shootout. (Which by the way, those are cool....I watched the Uruguay-Ghana one today...wow...oh yea and F-U Ghana.)<br /><br />Secondly...the refereeing is horrid. Again..highest level of the sport and the refs are really bad. It's a big-ass field...add at least one more guy out there.<br /><br />Finally..the aforementioned flopping. FIFA claims to have cracked down on this. Yeah, and if they think that, they are on crack. Flopping is straight up cowardice. I don't like it when my boy Manu does it but he is nowhere near as bad as these guys. If you are so weak in your game that you have to resort to bullshit tactics like that....then take up needlepoint and get your asses off the pitch.<br /><br />Hey Brazil......His name is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/images/2008/04/02/pele_5_wcf_1970_313x470.jpg">Edison Arantes do Nascimento</a>..he wore 10....no one else should. and unless you are him....use both your names. Your mama will be happy. Kaka? Really? Tiago Splitter, the Brazilian hoops star may be coming to the US to play for this Spurs this season...I double dog DARE him to tell Popovich "call me just Tiago" How do you say "run around until <em><strong>I</strong> </em>get tired" in Portugese?<br /><br />Here now are my top 5 things I have liked about the 2010 World Cup:<br /><br />5. The historically themed matchups you can get. England-US..how many 1776 references did we get? Also Germany against...well pretty much anyone else in Europe...two world wars give people long memories.<br /><br />4. South Africa's welcome back to the world community. Good for you, Springboks. So far, its been a great show.<br /><br />3. Makana FA....look it up..its a great story.<br /><br />2. The US Team getting us excited..if only for a moment.<br /><br />1. The passion and emotion that this event brings out. Appropriate for the Beautiful Game.<br /><br />And my top 5 things that I have not liked about the 2010 World Cup:<br /><br />5. Ties...see above<br /><br />4. Flopping...see above<br /><br />3. Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA and all-around choade. He has let the officiating go to crap and then he wanted to censor which replays were showed in the staduim as to not show up his refs? Dude...you should change the spelling of your last name to "Bladder" because you are pissing me off.<br /><br />2. France. You guys won the Cup in 98 and you frickin imploded this year. You brought back all the "we surrender" jokes. Actually, it was kinda funny...maybe this should go on the other list.<br /><br />1. Vuvuzelas. Yeah, I know it's "your thing" South Africa but seriously. Its about as bad as that insipid buzzing the Hornets do in their building...and look where they are. Besides...blowing your vuvu (oooh...sounds dirty!) can be <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1287631/The-dreaded-vuvuzela-claims-victim-Woman-bursts-windpipe-blowing-hard.html">harmful</a>.<br /><br />Changing the subject...NBA Free Agent Madness is upon us. Who will go where? It all starts with King James. BTW LeBron....I looked it up and in order to be called a King, you have to have a title. :D It's kind of a rule. Personally if LeBron leaves, I think he ends up in Chicago. Cleveland can pay him the most money but he really has an affection for all things Jordan so if he can win trophies in the House that Michael built, it would be the ultimate for him. Personally, if I were him, I would stay in Cleveland. They are close to being the team they need to be to get him his ring. The money is there and plus, its home. To be able to win a title in your hometown (or close enough..he is actually from Akron) is something not even MJ did.<br /><br />One argument I hear for him to leave is that he will not be able to earn the "Global Icon" status that he craves. That is a load of crap. LeBron is in the unique position where he doesn't have to go to the endorsements, they come to him. You think Nike or Gatorade or whomever is going to tell him.."Sorry LBJ, we would love to pay you a buttload of cash to pimp our product but you don't live in NYC or LA" yea...right. I guarantee you that Phil Knight and whomever runs Gatorade knows exactly which way to point the G5 and visit C-Town.<br /><br />One dark horse team in my opinion, is the Clippers. He knows that the only guy who can challenge him for NBA supremacy is Kobe. To battle him 4 times a year in Staples and be the sole reason people give a rat's ass about Clipper-ball? Oooh. If that were the case and if I were Donald Sterling, I would do what he should have done a few years ago..move to Anaheim. No splitting of the profits with the Lake Show and a castle that the King can have all to himself.<br /><br />One possible destination is the Knicks...(in God's name kid, why?) and another player that has been rumored for the Big Apple and other places is Tony Parker. He is a free agent in 2011 and recently told the French sports newspaper L'equipe βIt would be ... maybe a good challenge for me to go elsewhere. If I leave, I can make another career β eight, nine years in a different club.β Hey, I love TP but someone once said "anyone is expendable if it makes the team better" If he is not committed long term to the Spurs, then Pop needs to move him. He would be a very valuable trade asset and SA could probably get quite a bit for him. If George Hill continues to impress next season...look for Parker to be dealt prior to the trade deadline in February.<br /><br />Today marks the one year anniversary of my appearance on "The Morning Drive" on the Ticket 760 in San Antonio as their guest co-host. Thank you all again for your support in helping me achieve that. This past year has not been what I had hoped but there is a new contest with Sirius Satellite Radio and Chris "mad dog" Russo which I will be throwing my hat into. Details to follow.<br /><br />Good to see you again...I promise to be back sooner than later. Have a great holiday weekend. Kick back, relax, enjoy the fireworks and give your vuvu a rest.<br /><br />Peace.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4284064220730930097.post-47617844862995754752010-04-24T18:26:00.000-07:002010-04-24T21:54:11.700-07:00Sportsmanship, we hardly knew ye.Back in the day.<br /><br />I admit, it's probably my most used catchphrase. It's one of those sayings that define a person. I am pretty much the historian withing my circle of friends. "Hey Mike, who was that guy that..." or when I am at a class reunion (sometimes not even my own, Miss Roberts.) and I am the one people ask..."who was that?" Yep, that is me. So when a catchphrase defines one....one tends to use it...so, here 'tis.<br /><br />Back in the day....remember when sportsmanship existed and was the rule and not the exception? <br /><br />Growing up when I did, it was commonplace to play sports especially that of the sandlot variety. A few of us dabbled in organized sport but the majority of our highlights were made on the front yards, asphalt courts and playground fields of our neighborhoods. Names like Silver Creek, Stone Ridge and Misty Oaks were as hallowed to us as Hemisfair Arena, the Astrodome and Texas Stadium. It was pretty much football or basketball. We tended to lean toward hoops in the hotter months and when it got cooler, it was time for the pigskin. It was always fun and every so often, there were epic games. The kind of games that you talked about for days afterward and tried to recreate but couldn't. There were touchdowns, fumbles, three-pointers and blocked shots. Sometimes you won, sometimes you lost and usually once a game, you argued. One thing was always there though. A lack of punkage. Punkage is a Salmans-esque term for just what it says, being a punk. You didn't trash talk for the most part except in jest (no one's mom was mentioned...mainly because you knew everyone's mom and they would smack you just as fast as your own) you played hard but not dirty and if you lost, you took it like a man, said "good game" shook hands and that is it. You then went somewhere with your buddies and laughed about what happened..usually long into the night and over some, er..uh..root beer. On the court, you played 100% and knocked each other around, when it was done, it was done. No whining, no crying and no bitching. It was done this way because that is the way the pros did it. Which brings us to our story today...sportsmanship, with few pockets of exception, is gone. <br /><br />Putting on my Ducky Mallard hat, my cyber autopsy has isolated the components which I believe has led to the demise of sportsmanship.<br /><br /><strong>Cause 1: I saw you on da ESPN</strong><br />I love me some ESPN. I am one of its original viewers. I have watched Sportscenter pretty much since 10 years old and still love watching the nightly highlights. The problem is, so does everyone else. We are a monkey see, monkey do species. As kids, we emulated our heroes. We wanted to be the Iceman, Roger Staubach or Nolan Ryan. We watched what the pros did and did what they did because we wanted to be like them. Starting in the late 80's, players figured out that this ESPN thing was here to stay and it was a good way to catch themselves on TV. This curiosity evolved into a fascination by pro and college athletes and further evolved into a philosophy that it was more important to get one's self into that night's highlight package than getting one's team into the win column. Also, if we saw a pro or college athlete pull a 4-star nutty or throw a cheap shot, hey, if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. To this day in 40 and over leagues all over Michigan, you see guys pop someone in the mouth then act like they did nothing wrong a'la Bill Laimbeer. <br /><br /><strong>Cause 2: Mama's little meal ticket</strong><br />The difference between us and a lot of kids now is that our parents would catch us if we acted a fool and corrected it immediately and harshly. These days, too many parents are worried about damaging Johnny's fragile psyche or getting labeled a child abuser if they pop him on the butt. You also have the parents who's kid has talent or worse, has none but they <em>think</em> he does, and they are looking to make sure nothing gets in the way of him signing the big contract that lets them retire early. When the kids shows that he does have real talent, greedy parents will do anything to ensure that nothing gets in the way of the dollar signs in their eyes. Often times this involves telling junior how great he or she is and then telling the coach the same thing. It also leads parents or coaches to encourage selfish behavior in order to get the kid noticed. Occasionally young Johnny throws an elbow or after a score, gets in another kid's face letting them know how good he is. Mom and Dad or Coach say its OK because the kid is "just expressing himself". I yelled at a ref in youth soccer once because of a bad call (I know, me yelling?) ref gave me a yellow card and I said "bite me". My coach kinda said "don't do it again" but my mom? Oh damn. I got yelled at all the way home. I was more scared of her than of my coach. I got quite the lecture about how my behavior reflected on myself, my team and her and that I was not to do anything to embarrass any of those people <em>especially</em> her. She didn't pop me but I wish she had, it would have been less painful than the blistering talking-to I got. <br /><br /><strong>Cause 3: Fan is short for Fanatic</strong><br />Fans of teams come in varying degrees. You have the casual fan who roots for his team and can probably name the starters but not much else. There is the homer who loves his team more than anyone in the real world and will proclaim the greatness that is his team to anyone who will listen..even if said team is a cellar-dweller. The smallest group is the educated fan who is loyal but not blind to his teams lack of success. He knows the players and the game and is pretty much a stat-geek. (Or, basically me. :) ) Fans too, have changed with the times. As fans have done since the Ancient Greeks ran around all naked and dusty and as mentioned earlier, fans will emulate their sports heroes. There has always been hero worship of athletes but it also used to be easier. You rooted for one team and those players almost always played out their entire careers there. In this modern era of player and, hell even franchise movement, its harder to maintain one's loyalty. Harder, but not impossible. A <a href="http://www.saidaonline.com/en/newsgfx/jack%20sparrow-saidaonline.jpg">wise man of the sea</a> once said "the biggest circle of hell is reserved for betrayers and mutineers". I personally believe that it's reserved for bandwagon and fairweather fans. Too many people have forgotten that a true fan NEVER deserts there team regardless of what happens. It's easy to root for a winner, it takes guts to stand there and proclaim your allegiance to a team that sucks out loud. It used to be that even the pros played for the name on the front of the jersey, not the one on the back. Remember those big wind gusts in the 90's? Those were caused by the Orlando fan stashing their Magic jerseys when they all of a sudden were "diehard" Laker fans when Shaq headed west. Then there was the one around 1993 when MJ hung them up and all those black and red 23 jerseys were tossed in the back of the closets..for two years then they were brought back out when Jordan figured out he couldn't hit the curve ball. But really, those fans <em>always</em> supported the Bulls. Happened in South Texas about 1999 when the Spurs won their first title. "Go Spurs Go! Oh, and who is that 21 guy again?" Sadly enough, it happened to my Cowboys as well. In the infamous 1-15 year, I was pretty much alone (save for a few)...five years later I suddenly had lots of company.<br /><br /><strong>Cause 4: Respect and Responsibility...no one wants to give one or take the other.</strong> <br />Something else that has gone away in today's sports world is taking responsibility. You ever see an NBA player who actually thinks a foul was committed? The sad thing is that the superstars, the ones who need the least help by calls going their way, are the worst offenders. Even the stoic Tim Duncan whines about calls..and he whines alot. Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade...all-stars and all-star bitchers. One play I will never forget was in the 2003 Western Conference Semis. Kobe had gone up for a shot and Bruce Bowen stripped him of the ball and while the other 9 guys on the court ran down to the other end, Kobe stood there and complained to the ref. Oh by the way Kobe-ster, they just scored on your team. Recently, after game 3 of this year's Spurs-Mavs series, Eric Dampier's post-game comments weren't about the fact that his team just lost a game to fall behind in the series but about the raw deal his team was getting. Wahhh. Maybe if you nutted up a little in the 4th quarter E, Manu Ginobili wouldn't have raced by you constantly as if you were standing still. Oh wait, you were..or as you call it, playing defense. Coaches are just as bad. Phil Jackson has been playing the ref card for years in an attempt to mess with opponents heads. Oh what power you have O wise zen master. Yeah, I would like to that Zen crap with a team that didn't include Jordan, Shaq or Kobe. <br /><br />The aforementioned fan emulation also extends to officiating. No one's team ever loses, the refs took the game away. Check out your local teams fan message board and you will see this. It's like clockwork. Here's how it works...the losing teams fanbase will pull the ref card, then the winning teams fanbase will call them out for doing so. Then, when the previous losing team becomes the winning team, the roles reverse. The greatest example of this was in 2006. The Spurs and Mavs played an epic series which Dallas won in 7 games. There were Spurs fans who blamed the refs for all four losses and those fans were called out for doing so by Mavs fan. Two weeks later, those same Mavs fans who had been putting down the Spurs fans for blaming the refs did the exact same thing about the refs in the Finals against Miami. <br /><br />Let me give you some advice. Can officials affect a game? Yes. They can disrupt the flow if they call the game too tight or they can get into a players head by calling some early fouls on him. However, do they <em>decide</em> the game? No. Refs don't cause you to miss shots, clank your free throws or throw the ball into the first row. If your team loses by 4 and they missed 10 free throws..do the math. Your player hits the popcorn vendor instead of the open man? Guess what? 22 turnovers and 12 assists? You lose. But you didn't lose because the zebras stole it from you. You lost because you got beat and it seems as if no one is willing to admit that. Hey, it happens. Your team will not win every game. Some nights, the other guys are just better. You play hard, you shake their hands and you work harder to get ready for the next game. We as fans have invested so much emotionally in our teams that we can't bear the thought of losing. Losing is for everyday, normal life..not for the world where our heroes reside. We can't lose!! And yes, its usually "we" or "us" even though none of us actually did anything. That is how pathetic some of us have become. The we'ers and us'ers are so wrapped up in the successes and failures of men and women we don't know and could never compete with that they can't always recognize reality when they see it. Well, they can't or won't. <br /><br />The question of respect is raised all too often in the sports world. It seems athletes and fans, especially the younger ones, have developed a mindset where somehow respect equals fear. You always hear players blather on about "getting my respect" or "they have to respect me" or "we don't get no respect" You earn respect junior, its not handed to you with your first paycheck. You have a bunch of wannabe, hood-rat gangstas running around crying about "I gots ta get mine". Really? How about the family of 4 who had to take out a second mortgage to watch you "get yours"? Andrea Kremer, then of ESPN, did an interview in the late 90's with some players about the state of the NFL. One of those players was future Hall of Famer and mental midget Shannon Sharpe. When asked about respecting your opponents...Sharpe's answer was "Why?" Perfect example of what is wrong with sports. I'm not saying you have to go out to dinner with an opponent or exchange Christmas cards but you scream about not getting respect and then you are not willing to give it? Double standard much? Sports use to live by the saying of "Respect all, fear none" now its "Respect none and make sure you get on Sportscenter".<br /><br />OK, I know this might come off a little as a cranky old man rant and I am not saying all athletes or fans are bad. However, we have too many who have lost the desire or just flat out refuse to embrace sportsmanship. Sports are in no way the pure form of distraction they once were and they don't have to be. We can evolve and change with the times while still keeping basic principles intact. The biggest problem I have is the lack of respect for the game. Without the game, no player would have the accolades or riches they have. Without the game, the fans wouldn't have something to cheer for and rally behind. There is nothing wrong with painting your face and screaming yourself hoarse yelling for your favorite team, just sprinkle in a little perspective and reality now and then. It won't hurt and will make the experience more enjoyable. Remember, the kids are watching.Mike Paceleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01810480165817678810noreply@blogger.com1