Just because today is Father's Day, it doesn't mean that this blog will take the week off! NO SIRREE!! I have some sports figures that I'd like to throw Under The Bus
NFL
Chad Johnson: the Bengals' WR is becoming a regular fixture here. He whined and complained about being unhappy in Cincinnati. BOO FREAKING HOO. You're a professional, you're SUPPOSED to be in minicamp. If I were Marvin Lewis, I'd tell Chad you have ONE more chance. You #### a #### in training camp, I WILL deactivate you for the first four games of the season. Problem is, Lewis won't do it. Chad Johnson gets thrown Under The Bus for being a whiny ####.
Jeremy Shockey: the Giants' TE engaged in a shouting match with GM Jerry Reese early in the final day of the Giants' mandatory minicamp. Since Shockey's injury, the G-men are a much better team; a Super Bowl championship proves it. Get him out of there if you want to have a chance at repeating. And in the meantime, Shockey gets thrown Under The Bus.
Plaxico Burress: the Giants' WR refused to practice until he gets his contract renegotiated. He even hinted he may hold out during training camp. WTF? NOBODY put a gun to his head and forced him to sign his current deal. Shaun O'Hara was right in calling him out. And in the meantime, Burress gets thrown with Shockey Under The Bus.
NBA
David Stern: the NBA Commissioner dressed down Sean Farnham when Farnham asked the Commish a question that was on the minds of millions of NBA fans: why the discrepency of scores in the Spurs-Hornets series? (in one game, the Hornets won by 20 at NO; the very next game in San Antonio, the Spurs won by 20) Rather than answering the question honestly, Stern chose to ridicule Farnham. A very bad message considering the integrity of the NBA is very much in question. Stern has his head buried so far in the sand he can see China. We'd better get the Bus to run over him from that position he's in.
MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers: they proceeded to get shut out in consecutive games this week. They rolled over against Jake Peavy and the Padres 9-0 and on Friday they rolled over against the struggling Tigers. They proceeded to get swept by the Tigers. The Dodgers get thrown Under The Bus.
Ken Rosenthal: for suggesting that the Dodgers trade Matt Kemp. WHAT? Kemp is a five-tool player; something the Dodgers haven't had since Raul Mondesi. Kemp is vital to the Dodgers' present and future success. For his foolish and reckless suggestion, Rosenthal gets thrown Under The Bus.
HORSE RACING
Rick Dutrow, Jr.: he keeps stepping into it. He called out Big Brown's jockey, Kent Desormeaux, for pulling back Big Brown. The truth of the matter is, Big Brown was falling further behind as the race went on. Desormeaux should be THANKED for protecting a very valuable horse. For throwing his jockey under the bus, Dutrow himself gets thrown Under The Bus.
These are the sports figures that I throw under the Bus this week. Feel free to come in and vent!
It's that time of week again. I've got some sports figures to throw Under The Bus.
NBA
The Game 2 crew: a 19 to 2 FT advantage by the Celtics in the first half? WTF? And two Lakers with THREE fouls?? Talk about home cooking at its best!!! IF YOU'RE GOING TO CALL TICKY TACK FOULS, CALL THEM CONSISTENTLY, AND NOT IN FAVOR OF ONE TEAM!!! Even the ABC announcers commented on the gross inconsistency of the calls. The Game 2 crew get thrown Under The Bus after the game.
NFL
Odell Thurman: he failed another drug test. Roger Goodell suspended him for ANOTHER season. That means this druggie has missed THE LAST THREE NFL SEASONS because of drugs. Way to #### away your NFL career, Odell. And don't expect ANY sympathy from me. Sympathy is reserved for those that have lost loved ones suddenly and sometimes unexpectedly. You made your choices, now you have to live with the consequences of those choices. For pissing away your NFL career, you get thrown Under The Bus.
Cedric Benson: TWO arrests in a month period? This guy can't seem to stay out of trouble. How long will it be before the Bears pull the plug on him? (More on the Bears later.) For getting arrested for the second time in a month, Benson gets thrown Under The Bus.
Chicago Bears: or more specifically, their front office. They got rid of the wrong RB in Thomas Jones, they kept Rex Grossman two YEARS too long, and haven't drafted a QB since Kyle Orton. And they drafted a RB of questionable character in Benson. For being incompetent, the Bears' front office gets thrown Under The Bus.
FORMULA ONE
Lewis Hamilton: in case you forgot or don't know, red means STOP. He barreled into Kimi Raikonnen's car as Raikonnen stopped for a red light at the end of the pits. Understandably, Raikonnen was pissed. Question: did Hamilton drink the same water as Denny Hamlin did last week? Hamilton's brain #### ended up knocking himself and Raikonnen out of the Montreal race. For his brain ####, Lewis Hamilton gets thrown Under The Bus.
HORSE RACING
Rick Dutrow, Jr.: after boasting for two months that Big Brown cannot be beat, he was NOWHERE to be found after the Belmont Stakes. WHAT A WUSS!! If Dutrow were a REAL MAN, he'd have owned it, faced the music regarding Big Brown, and credited Da'Tara on his win. For being an arrogant #### and hiding like the wuss that he is, Dutrow gets thrown Under The Bus.
Those are my nominations. Feel free to come in with yours!
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! They really do the Lord's work. That being said, here's this week's version of "Who Would You Throw Under The Bus?". Time to call out those sports figures that so p****d you off over the past week. And here we go!
NASCAR
Darrell Waltrip: you have to keep in mind he's a shill for Toyota. Yet his constant lovefest with Kyle Busch was downright disgusting and takes away from the broadcast. I like DW; he's entertaining and brings a former driver's perspective to the broadcast. But I have to call them as I see them. Hate to do this, but DW goes under the Bus.
NBA
The Officials: or more specifically, the officials that allowed a Pistons 3-pointer that should have NEVER counted. The clock froze at 4.8 seconds left in the third quarter of Game 2. Any official in the history of the world (except these officials) would have stopped play and awarded the Pistons the ball with 4.8 seconds left. Because the clock froze, the Pistons were given extra time to hit the three. And because of that, the officials get thrown under the Bus.
Los Angeles Lakers: or more specifically, their bench. They were totally outclassed by the Utah Jazz bench today. Going into the series, I'd have rated the two benches even. Did the Clippers hijack the Lakers' bench and play in this game? The Lakers bench gets thrown under the Bus.
MLB
Los Angeles Dodgers: they got swept by the weak-#### Houston Astros. At home, no less. It's one thing to lose to the Mets; they're a good team. No shame in losing to the Mets. Houston is only slightly better than Pittsburgh. And I have to throw Jonathan Broxton under as well. He's the reliever that the Astros took batting practice off of. (Word had it the Astros had a team brawl at the bat rack) He let a stellar outing by Hiroki Kuroda go to total waste. Kuroda no-hit the Astros for 6 2/3 innings. And he has NOTHING to show for it. The Dodgers and Broxton get thrown under the Bus.
NFL
Marvin Harrison: the Colts' WR has carefully cultivated an image of being a quiet, unassuming player that goes out and does his job. That image is being called into question. He was involved in a shooting in a seedy part of Philadelphia at a bar he owns. The gun involved was found in a bucket at a nearby car wash he also owns. Details are sketchy, because no one's talking. Sorry Marvin, gotta throw you under the Bus for being involved with seedy ####.
Cincinnati Bengals: because they have become the league's halfway house for bad seeds, ingrates, and general all around bad guys. And it's a shame for classy players like Carson Palmer and T.J. Houshmanzadeh that they have to be lumped in with their malcontent teammates. The Bengals (except Carson and T.J.) get thrown under the bus.
NCAA
Ryan Perriloux: this guy had the opportunity of his young lifetime to be THE MAN at LSU. Starting QB for a national championship contender. So what does he do? He gets kicked off the team for allegedly failing a drug test. He was allegedly found with chronic in his system. He apparently didn't attend Common Sense 101 in the school of life. Is getting your bong on so important to you that you #### away the opportunity that just about every young man your age would rip his arm off for? For sheer stupidity, you get thrown under a FLEET of buses!
Those are my nominations! Feel free to come in with yours!
It's that time of week again, sports fans! Time to call out the object of your ire in the sports world by throwing them Under The Bus. Remember, it can be a player, team, owner, coach, official, or fans of the team of your ire. There are plenty of dumba$$e$ out there in the world of sports! I have a few!
NFL
Cincinnati Bengals: do I have to do this AGAIN? Actually, I do. For a team that wants to draft players that are good character guys, they go out and draft a player (Jason Shirley of Fresno State) that was arrested THREE TIMES IN THE SAME SEASON! Sure, Shirley can play; he's a 338-lb run stuffer, something the Bengals sorely need. If not for his off-field issues, he'd have been drafted much higher. You guys are becoming regulars Under The Bus. I'm going to need a bigger bus for you guys and the Enver Nuggets (more on them later). For drafting a player of questionable character at best, the Bengals (again!) go Under The Bus.
Chad Johnson: like the rest of your team, you are becoming a regular Under The Bus. I'm glad Marvin Lewis ####-slapped you in the media, stating he won't be traded. Good! Now go to the corner of the room and pout and sulk, after you get thrown Under The Bus.
NBA
Enver Nuggets: remember, there is no D in this team. Actually, they DID play some defense yesterday, but when the Lakers started pulling away, they QUIT. WAAAAAAY to go for that NIIIIIIICE effort, Enver. The Nuggs up and quit on their coach, their team owner, and their fans. Granted, you ARE playing a better team in the Lakers, but at LEAST you can give an effort the fans will be pleased with, rather than half-assing it. For quitting, the Enver Nuggets get thrown Under The Bus.
NASCAR
Kevin Harvick: or more specifically, his crew. I have no explanation of how he faded down the stretch at Talladega, especially since he had a strong car that was in the Top 10 much of the race. And his fade cost me in the Trifecta! This is the time of year he fades, usually until Sonoma, then he gets strong again between Sonoma and the Chase. Happy, don't fade to the point where you have to play catch up; you won't get in if you're 13th going into Richmond in September. I hate throwing Happy under the Bus, but I have to. Happy goes Under The Bus for fading at Talladega.
Those are my nominees! Feel free to chime in with yours!
Here we go again! Here is the forum for you, the Joe Six-Pack Fan, to call out those sports personalities that so #### you off. I'm sure you have personalities that you so badly want to throw Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp) you can smell the burnt rubber and brake dust! I know I have a few!
NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals: for being WAY too permissive in drafting players with shady pasts (A.J. Nickerson, Chris Henry (more on him later), Odell Thurman, etc.). They have become the NFL's halfway house for shady characters. At one point last year, they were averaging one arrest a month. Now it's come back to bite them in the ####. Marvin Lewis had the reputation for being a disciplinarian, but where's the discipline? The Bengals and their bad seeds get thrown Under The Bus (as if they haven't got run over by Jerome Bettis and the Pittsburgh Steelers many a time over the years!).
Chris Henry: this thug just doesn't get it. He's had chance after chance after chance; now he's pissed it all away. His latest crime he's accused of? Punching an 18-year-old boy in the face and breaking his window with a beer bottle. Nice move there, ####. The judge in the case called Henry, "a one-man crime wave." Harsh, but true. After he gets out of prison, Henry gets thrown Under The Bus by his accuser.
Chad Johnson: in the SAME WEEK, he chirps again about not wanting to be in Cincy. The Bengals have said time and again that Ocho Cinco won't be traded. Do I detect a pattern here? It was a BAD week for the Bengals. Chad, let your game do the talking. You're one of the best WRs on the planet. When you score TDs and the Bengals are winning again, then you can do the River Dance. Until then, you go under the Bus.
NBA
Enver Nuggets: there is a good reason for this. There is no "D" in Denver. They blew a 22-point lead to Phoenix and lost. Hence, the "Enver". If they miss the playoffs, they can look to that game. For no "D" in the game at Phoenix, the Enver Nuggets go under the Bus.
New York Knicks: they brought in Donnie Walsh, supposedly to clean the mess that Isiah Thomas left. Now Walsh wants to EVALUATE Thomas before making a decision? Doesn't he know that the Knicks always catch fire at the end of the season and save Isiah's job? For not whacking Thomas, the Knicks and Donnie Walsh are to be thrown under the Bus.
Miami Heat: they're playing for the Derrick Rose Sweepstakes. (Rose is an UBER-stud who will be a great NBA player for the next decade and a half.) They've mailed it in. Just forfeit your regular games and let Pat Riley take his extended vacation. Until then, you go Under The Bus.
FORMULA ONE
Max Mosley: it's rare that F1 is mentioned on my blog. But I must mention it. Mosley has been accused of an orgy with five skanks, errrrrr, hookers in which #### role playing was part of the orgy. If Mosley wants to roll with hookers, that's his choice. The #### role playing went WAAAAAAAAY TOO FAR. Let him roll with hookers on his own time and NOT while he's running F1. Mosley gets thrown under the Bus for his indiscretion.
MLB
ESPN: they get thrown under the Bus for two reasons.
They glorified that patently absurd position known as the Designated Hitter. I call it the Disabled Hitter. Today marked the 35th anniversary of this "momentous" occasion. (Ron Blomberg was the first DH in MLB history on April 6, 1973) I've long been an advocate of eliminating the DH and replacing that slot with an extra player. For glorifying the absurd, ESPN goes under the Bus, along with the man who thought of the DH.
For endlessly hyping the first Yankees-Red Sox series of the season. It's only been in recent years both teams have been good at the same time. When the Yankees have sucked, the Sox have been good, and vice versa. Yes, it's a bitter rivalry, I get that. But don't act like they're the only two teams in MLB that matter. For that, and for perpetuating the hype machine that is the Yankees-Red Sox, ESPN goes under the Bus.
NCAA Football
Florida State Seminoles: for firing its college football color analyst Peter Tom Willis for no apparent reason. Why? Because he stepped on some toes with his brutal honesty regarding the Seminoles' program? Was it because Emperor, errrrrrrrr, Coach Bobby Bowden wanted him run because he DARED to criticize Jeff Bowden's handling of the offense? For more reasons, go to Lisa H's blog on this. She did a tremendous job on this! Florida State goes under the Bus.
Those are my nominees for the week. Feel free to come on in with yours! If you have someone in sports you want to throw under the Bus, feel free to do so here!
Around the world of the NFL faster than an Ahmad Bradshaw 88-yard TD run in the snow at Buffalo, Crappafoni Pictures presents this week's vignette of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
THE GOOD
Pittsburgh Steelers: they made some big plays, particularly early in the game. They found a complement to Fast Willie Parker in Najeh Davenport. Ike Taylor had a Pick Six Special late in the game that sealed the win.
Jacksonville Jaguars: they thoroughly dominated an overmatched Raiders team. On the ground, in the air--it didn't matter. With a playoff berth on the line, they were going to get it done right, and they did.
Cincinnati Bengals: or more specifically, their defense. They picked off Derek Anderson four times, leading to three TDs, including two TDs within the last two minutes of the first half. Then the defense withstood a furious Browns rally.
Philadelphia Eagles: they put the Saints' playoff hopes on life support with their huge win in New Orleans. Donovan McNabb came up huge, including a 40-yard run to set up a score. McNabb also threw for 3 TDs.
New York Giants: they withstood a 14-0 deficit in the first quarter and dominated from that point on, outscoring the Bills 38-7. Both Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs rushed for over 145 yards. Bradshaw ripped off the NFL's longest run of the season, 88 yards for a TD in a driving snowstorm.
San Francisco 49ers: their game against Tampa Bay was one of the hardest hitting, most physical games in recent memory. They stared into the eyes of the Big Bad Bucs and didn't flinch. It was good old-fashioned, old-school smash mouth football. In the end, the Niners executed enough to pull out the win. Patrick Willis was the Stud of the Game, registering 20 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
Chicago Bears: it looked like THEY were the #2 seeded team in the NFC and the Packers were the cellar dwellers. The Bears' special teams blocked two punts and forced a 9-yard punt. Brian Urlacher returned a Pick Six Special for the first time in his career.
Washington Redskins: in a game they HAD to have, they put forth a great team effort and got it done. Todd Collins was sharp, Clinton Portis ran and passed all over the Vikings' defense, rushing and passing for a TD. Now with a win over the Cowboys next week, they're in the playoffs.
New England Patriots: it looked like they were going to run and hide from the Dolphins, leading 28-0 at halftime. The Fins actually outscored the Pats in the second half, holding the Pats scoreless. Laurence Maroney rushed for a career high 156 yards on just 14 carries.
THE BAD
Oakland Raiders: after that effort against the Jaguars. They were outplayed in every facet of the game. The Jags made the Raiders look like the bad team that they are.
Baltimore Ravens: are they the worst team in the NFL, or what? I think they're worse than the Dolphins, and that's saying something.
Green Bay Packers: sure, you're the second-best team in the NFC. Could have fooled me. You played like the second-WORST team in the NFC. That was ca-ca.
THE UGLY
N.Y. Jets at Tennessee: 16 total points between the teams. It seemed like neither team wanted to win. From Tennessee's perspective, style points aren't rewarded in the NFL; just wins and losses. The Titans' win means they control their own destiny. Win, and they're in.
Atlanta at Arizona: this was a matchup from hell. A bad team against another bad team. Depending on your perspective it was either a shootout or just bad defenses. I tend to lean towards the latter.
Those are my nominations. Feel free to opine with your nominations.
As I'm watching the Steelers-Rams tilt in St. Louis, I can't help but wonder WHY didn't the Rams go for it on 4th and 6 at the Steelers' 38 with just over 12 minutes left in the game and the Rams down by only a touchdown?
The Rams have been hanging tough with the Steelers and they had momentum on their side. They had been moving the ball on the tough Steelers' defense all game long, reminiscent of their Greatest Show on Turf days. At that stage of the game, with the Rams having momentum, and being 3-11, YOU GO FOR IT!! Even if you don't make it, you show confidence in your team that they ARE capable of winning. You even show confidence in your defense that they can stop the Steelers.
A similar situation happened a few weeks ago in the Cincinnati at San Francisco tilt. The 49ers had a fourth and 1 around the Bengals' 35 yard line. A first down takes another couple of minutes off the clock, and perhaps the Niners kick a FG or score a TD and put the game out of reach. But the Niners punted and nearly allowed the Bengals to tie the game.
Going back to the Rams. When I saw their punting unit trot out on the field, my mind said, Game over. The Rams have mailed this one in. They have mailed the season in. True enough, the Steelers took nearly eight minutes off the clock on their ensuing drive. The drive led to a FG, and desperation time for the Rams. And just like clockwork, the Rams' Marc Bulger threw a Pick Six Special to Ike Taylor. Game, set, and match, Steelers. And now the Rams are 3-12, and more than likely will finish 3-13.
Scott Linehan coached scared. He has no confidence in his playmakers, several of whom have WON a Super Bowl. The players, in turn, have ZERO CONFIDENCE in Linehan and the coaching staff. It's time for Linehan and his whole coaching staff to go. The Rams need to blow up that team and start over.
Around the world of the NFL faster than the San Diego Chargers’ scoring rampage, Crappafoni Pictures brings you, the fan, the NFL’s version of the spaghetti western, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
THE GOOD
San Francisco 49ers: they played their best game of the season in yesterday’s win over Cincinnati. Shaun Hill, in his first NFL start, was superb. Frank Gore rushed for a season-best 138 yards. While it’s too early to tell, the 49ers definitely played better than they have all season.
Carolina Panthers: the defense brought back memories of the 2003 season, when the team made its only Super Bowl appearance. They swarmed all over the Seahawks’ potent offense, limiting the Hawks‘ ground game to 44 yards for the game. Richard Marshall made a key fumble recovery late in the game to set up the Panthers’ only TD. Matt Moore was efficient in his first NFL start. He became the fourth Panthers’ QB to win a game this season.
Miami Dolphins: you earned this win. Cleo Lemon was stellar, passing for over 300 yards and the game-winning TD in overtime. And he didn’t throw an interception. Lemon gets my nomination for AFC Player of The Week.
Philadelphia Eagles: the defense showed up to play BIG-TIME. They harassed a normally stellar Tony Romo into three interceptions. And they sacked him four times and forced two fumbles. Brian Westbrook made a heads-up play just before the end of the game. Rather than scoring, he fell down at the Cowboys’ one yard line, denying the Cowboys a shot at coming back.
San Diego Chargers: was it a football game or a track meet? It’s kind of the football equivalent of teammates getting into a fight at the bat rack because they want to be the first to take their hacks at a struggling pitcher. It seemed like the Chargers couldn’t wait to get on offense to batter the LLLLLLLLLLLions’ defense. The Chargers’ defense also battered the LLLLLLLLLLLions’ offense, too. If it were a heavyweight fight, it would have been stopped in the first round.
Jacksonville Jaguars: great win by the Jags. To go into a hostile environment and beat the Steelers in their house speaks volumes about this team. They pounded the Steelers’ defense to the tune of over 200 yards rushing on a snow-covered field. Be very wary of this team in the postseason. They CAN move the ball on the ground. David Garrard is vastly underrated, but he gets the job done. He takes care of the ball and is very efficient.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: yes, they beat a demoralized Atlanta Falcons team; they were supposed to. But what stands out is the first kickoff return for a TD in FRANCHISE HISTORY. Since the Bucs came into the league in 1976, OVER 300 times a kickoff has been returned for a TD. And until today, not one by the Bucs. Michael Spurlock did the trick, returning a first quarter kickoff 90 yards for a TD. He will forever be etched into Buccaneers’ lore, something he can tell his children and grandchildren.
Cleveland Browns: or more specifically, Jamal Lewis. In a blizzard, Lewis rushed for 163 yards. Lewis also broke the 1,000 yard barrier for the season. Lewis was a battering ram and battered the Bills’ defense into submission.
THE BAD
Baltimore Ravens: pathetic. That’s all I’ll say. Your play spoke VOLUMES about how bad you really are.
Cincinnati Bengals: they have given up on this season. Remember, there is no “D” in Cincinnati. Time to blow this team up and start over. Start at the head coach. While I think Marvin Lewis is a good man, he has lost this team. Time for him to go. They had their opportunity and it’s slammed shut with the window boarded up.
Detroit LLLLLLLLLLions: you had golfing at Torrey Pines on the brain. Might as well make reservations for tee times at Torrey Pines, the TPC at Summerlin, Pebble Beach, etc. You’re not making the playoffs. So much for Jon Kitna’s guarantee of double-digit wins.
Atlanta Falcons: while I feel for the fans who felt betrayed by their franchise QB and a coach with no loyalty, the bottom line is that the players are professionals and owe it to the fans to give an honest effort. No wonder it’s ugly in the ATL.
THE UGLY
Buffalo at Cleveland: this game was better suited for the Iditarod dog sled race. The snow was coming in sheets and blowing sideways. Cleveland won 8-0; it was the first 8-0 game since 1929. Snow was THREE inches deep in some spots on the field. On the other hand, it was good old-fashioned smash mouth football.
Atlanta Falcons: UGH. They’re players in the Darren McFadden Sweepstakes.
Scanning the world of sports, one can see many malcontents, miscreants, ingrates, and other bad seeds. As a fan, do you get so pissed off that you just want to VENT? Well here’s your chance to vent. While I gear this column towards the NFL, I welcome fans of all sports to throw the object of your ire Under The Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 850 hp). I have some nominees.
NFL
Baltimore Ravens: I’ll laugh at you after I throw you under the bus. This team is PATHETIC. You LOST to a winless team!! You deserve to be called the Baltimore Canaries after that “effort”. AND YOU RUINED MY CHANCE TO SEE A TEAM GO WINLESS!!!! UNDER THE BUS YOU GO!!!
Cincinnati Bengals: it’s OVER for you. Time to blow this team up and start over. As much as I like Chad Johnson, his heart wasn’t in the game against San Francisco. Trade him while he has high trade value and get extra draft picks.
Detroit LLLLLLLLLLLions: you have golfing on the brain. Giving up 51 points to San Diego? That’s the sign of a team that has quit. The Dolphins have a WORSE record than you, yet they haven’t QUIT. So under the Bus you go.
NBA
Golden State Warriors: yes, you beat the Lakers the other night in front of the largest crowd to see a basketball game in California. Good win. But don’t act like you won the NBA championship in mid-December. So Under The Bus you go!
MLB
Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine): what a colossal waste of money! And for what? To make you look important? While I’m at it, I’ll throw the Commissioner under the bus as well.
Those are my nominees for this week. Come on in with your nominees!!
Around the world of the NFL faster than a Richard MarshallPick Six Special, Crappafoni Pictures brings you the fan, in living color, the NFL's version of the spaghetti western, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. And away we go!!
THE GOOD
Carolina Panthers: it's been a LONG time since I've been able to put the Cats in the Good category. For the first time all season, the defense showed up and BALLED. Coming into the game, the Panthers forced only 10 turnovers. Today, they forced SIX turnovers, including the Pick Six Special that turned the game around. The defense harassed Trent Dilfer and the 49ers all game long, causing four picks and recovering two fumbles. Throw in six sacks, and you have a complete game by the Panthers' defense.
Oakland Raiders: for beating their archnemesis, the Denver Broncos. Justin Fargas was once again the star, rushing for 146 yards on 33 carries. The Raiders as a team rushed for 175 yards. This game also marked the NFL debut of the first pick in the draft, JaMarcus Russell. He was 4 of 7 for 56 yards. Simply put, they put a good old-fashioned beatdown on the Broncos.
Dallas Cowboys: even though this game was played last Thursday, they are in this category because they are the best team in the NFC. Tony Romo was stellar again, throwing 4 TD passes. Terrell Owens was superb, grabbing 7 of Romo's passes for 156 yards and a TD. They did what they had to do to win. Now they have the inside track for home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs. At 11-1, the Cowboys are off to the best start in the franchise's storied history.
Minnesota Vikings: don't look now, but they are one of the hottest teams in the NFC right now. The two-headed beast of Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson is clicking on all cylinders. The Vikings have the inside track to the playoffs right now. They would be a #6 seed if the season ended today. Another bright spot was rookie Aundray Allison. Allison, filling in for an injured Troy Williamson, set a Vikings' franchise record with a 103-yard kickoff return for a TD.
Seattle Seahawks: this was a HUGE win for the Hawks. Any time you can beat the Eagles IN Philly, you'll be put into the Good category. The Hawks' defense rose to the occasion, picking off A.J. Feeley four times, three by Lofa Tatupu. Tatupu was all over the field, amassing 11 tackles in addition to the three picks. Good win by the Hawks. This puts them in the driver's seat in the NFC West.
THE BAD
San Francisco 49ers: simply put, they played WORSE than the Dolphins, and that's saying something. Dilfer had the game from hell, Frank Gore was MIA, and the Niners' "skill" players had a severe case of the dropsies. Patriots Nation was rooting HARD for the Panthers. (The Patriots have the Niners' first round draft pick in next year's draft, and they'll probably draft Darren McFadden, rendering them unbeatable for the next decade. Imagine McFadden behind the Pats' O-line--I can see him becoming the NFL's first 300-yard rusher in a single game)
Miami Dolphins: the streak is alive! Zero and 12 and counting! They could well become the first team in history to lose 16 straight games in the regular season. At least you'll have Glenn Dorsey next year.
Detroit Lions: what kind of effort was that? Kiss your playoff aspirations bye-bye. I'm convinced that unless the Ford family sells the team, the Lions will continue to foster the culture of losing.
Atlanta Falcons: or more specifically, Joey Harrington. Harrington was pulled for Chris *(*#@&*(*^@ Redman. Being pulled for Redman will get you in the Bad category every single time. Joey, take comfort in the fact that you weren't pulled for a QB with NO experience, like last week, when David Carr was pulled for Matt Moore.
THE UGLY
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins: this game is the only reason San Francisco at Carolina wasn't included in the Ugly category. As one who lives on the West Coast, I'm glad I wasn't subject to this game. The Jets got their third win of the season at the expense of the hapless Dolphins.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers: it was a sloppy game, the weather and the turf being great equalizers. At the same time, it was old-school football, lining 'em up and smashing them in the mouth.
Those are my nominations! Your nominations are more than welcome.
Around the world of the NFL faster than two Devin Hester returns for touchdowns, Crappafoni Pictures presents the spaghetti western version of the Good, Bad, and Ugly, NFL style.
THE GOOD
Dallas Cowboys: while they didn't play their best football against the woeful New York Jets on Thanksgiving Day, they didn't have to. Terrell Owens had pedestrian numbers, but he brought double and triple coverage and the other receivers stepped up. Tony Romo was superb yet again.
Green Bay Packers: going into a hostile environment and putting a beatdown on your key divisional rival gets you into the Good category every single time. I think we've run out of adjectives to describe Brett Favre. Let's just say it doesn't suck to have young studs that can tote and catch the rock.
Cleveland Browns: after spotting an early lead to the Texans, the Browns took over. Jamal Lewis looked like the Jamal Lewis of old, gaining 134 yards on 29 carries. Rookie CB Brandon McDonald made several huge plays, including a key pick that set up the final Browns' touchdown. And he held stud WR Andre Johnson to 3 catches for 37 yards. Looks like the Browns have TWO studs at CB: McDonald and Eric Wright.
San Francisco 49ers: what a gritty, gutty win against a divisional rival! Frank Gore was an uber-stud, rushing for 116 yards and added 98 receiving yards on 11 catches. While Kurt Warner passed for 485 yards, it was his fumble in his own end zone that Tully Banta-Cain recovered that gave the Niners the win. Trent Dilfer did a great job in taking care of the ball, not committing a turnover. In fact, the Niners did not commit a turnover for the whole game.
Oakland Raiders: they won the old-fashioned way--by pounding it on the ground with Justin Fargas and swarming, tenacious defense. The Raiders broke a nine-game losing streak to the Chiefs and a 17-game losing streak against AFC West opponents.
Chicago Bears: or more specifically, Devin Hester. He Hesterized the Broncos for a punt and kickoff return for a TD in the same quarter. And what a TD catch by Bernard Berrian (former Fresno State Bulldog!) late in regulation on fourth down!
Minnesota Vikings: or more specifically, their defense. Any time you defeat a good team in their stadium, and especially with THREE Pick Six Specials, you'll be in this category every single time. Dwight Smith, Darren Sharper, and Chad Greenway did the honors.
THE BAD
Tennessee Titans: six points against one of the league's worst defenses? They have been exposed as frauds. They gave Cleveland a golden opportunity to clinch the final AFC playoff spot. And if the Browns do clinch that playoff spot, they can thank the Titans for losing to the Bengals.
Carolina Panthers: this is a bad team getting worse. Forget about the wheels coming off, they came off a long time ago! Looks like they'll end up in the top 5 in the draft. Time to draft a stud QB, and there's no shortage of them in this year's draft.
Denver Broncos: there is NO excuse for blowing a 14 point lead in the fourth quarter. Now your playoff chances went blowing in the wind. You won't catch the Browns, you won't catch the Jaguars, time to start thinking about next year.
THE UGLY
Carolina Panthers: yes, this team deserves to be in BOTH the Bad and Ugly categories. They STILL have not had a QB finish a game he started. The season is over, and no playoffs again. WHEN WILL WE DRAFT A YOUNG STUD QB THAT IS A WINNER?
New York Giants: just when many of us were buying into what Eli Manning was selling, he puts up this turkey o####ame. He was outdueled by Tarvaris FREAKING Jackson.
Philadelphia Eagles: I was going to put them in the Good category until the atrocious play calling late in the game. They had been going inside all game until late, when they went outside. THE PATRIOTS DON'T GIVE UP THE OUTSIDE. You HAVE to go inside.
Those are my nominations. Chime in with your nominations!!
I almost didn't write this blog due to it being Thanksgiving week. But as I saw a lot of college and pro football this weekend, I saw numerous teams and coaches that deserved to be thrown under the bus. I'll give you a few of mine that deserve to be thrown under the Bus (Jerome Bettis Limited Edition, 800 hp)
NFL
Carolina Panthers: will you guys PLEASE make up your mind on who's going to be the QB for the rest of the season? (Hint: it SHOULDN'T be David Carr) And will you guys SHOW SOME HEART AND NOT MAIL IN THE SEASON? Pathetic effort you guys showed out there today!!
Kansas City Chiefs: you guys lost to the woeful Oakland Raiders at HOME? Granted, the Raiders played well and earned that win, but the Chiefs treated this game and the Raiders very lightly, rather than like a playoff game.
Tennessee Titans: what in the HELL was that effort? It was VERY Pantheresque! Your offense scored ONLY six points against one of the WORST defenses in the NFL? Granted, the Bengals still have one of the league's better offenses, although they have struggled lately. SIX points against a PATHETIC defense?? UNDER THE BUS YOU GO!!
St. Louis Rams: they came from ahead to lose to a bitter division rival in the Seattle Seahawks. Then they fumbled away one last chance with precious few seconds left in regulation and the ball on the Seahawks' ONE YARD LINE.
NCAA
LSU Tigers: why they didn't beat Arkansas by at least two TDs is beyond me. Maybe they are who we thought they were: a good, but not great, team. Maybe the rumors of Les Miles going to Michigan WERE a distraction to the Tigers' preparation.
Kansas Jayhawks: on the biggest stage perhaps in the school's history, they were flat for the first three quarters. By the time they realized they were the 2007 Kansas Jayhawks and not the 1987 Kansas Jayhawks, it was too late.
NASCAR
Carl Edwards: in an interview shortly after the season ended, he laid out his plans for 2008, which included cutting back his Nationwide Series schedule to devote more time to Sprint Cup, and he included this gem: "to bully and intimidate Matt (Kenseth) more." I'm getting tired of this guy's act. He showed his true colors when he threatened to punch Kenseth as Kenseth was giving an interview over an incident WITH EDWARDS that happened A MONTH PRIOR. I have lost a LOT of respect for him. I hope Jack Roush gets tired of his act, too. UNDER THE BUS YOU GO, CARL! Don't let the door hit you in the #### on the way down, YOU S.O.B.!!
This is a place for fans to vent (and rant) about who they would like to call out for bad play, bad decisions, or just plain sucking. You can name a player, coach, owner, fans, team executives, agents, or schools. I am expanding this to include NCAA teams, coaches, and/or players. Do any of you have anyone (within reason) to throw under the Bus? Here's your forum!! I have a few nominees:
NFL
Pittsburgh Steelers: losing to a one-win team is totally inexcusable! This is a team the Steelers should beat IN THEIR SLEEP. I have a healthy respect for the Men of Steel, but to go into the Meadowlands and lay a big, fat egg?? I could see losing to the Giants in OT, but the JETS? Under the Bus you go!!
New Orleans Saints: you've GOT to be kidding me!! This is a team that fought back from an 0-4 start to 4-4. Now they've lost their last two games. Stick a fork in 'em, they're DONE. Under the Bus you go, not to be heard from again this season!
Atlanta Falcons: for rolling over and playing dead against Tampa Bay. At home, no less. This was a game they could have used to build some momentum to finish strong. To quote a former Arizona Cardinals coach, "THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE!" We thought you sucked. We still do.
Cincinnati Bengals: are you becoming the Bungles again? Or are you auditioning for The Longest Yard 3, as the prison team again? Four picks, including TWO Pick Six Specials TO THE SAME GUY will get you thrown under the Bus every single time.
MLB
Scott Boras: he gets thrown under the Bus for being a greedy ####, and having Pay-Rod opt out DURING the World Series, and overestimating the market for P-Rod.
Bud Selig: for presiding over the Steroid Era in MLB, and trashing the integrity of the game. Bud, this Bus is for you! (sound of Bus running over Bud Selig and keeping going)
NASCAR
ESPN/ABC: THANK GOD it was the LAST telecast for this bunch of yahoos. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) it was also the last race of the season.
Those are my nominees. Feel free to come on in with yours!
I've been sitting here, thinking, what should I write about tonight? I feel the inspiration to write, but am not sure what to write about. Well, I found something to write about. I'm ruminating about what is happening in the sports world, and I have some random musings.
The NFL Network ended up striking gold TWICE this season: New England vs. Pittsburgh and Dallas vs. Green Bay. Of course, they also struck fool's gold with San Francisco vs. Cincinnati.
In order to ensure Adrian Peterson's long-term NFL survival, it's imperative the Vikings shut him down for the season. His knee injury will set him back at least six weeks. The Vikings will be playing for position in the NFL Draft, so to shut him down could ensure them playing for a stud O-lineman or QB.
Don't look now, but the Falcons are playing like the second-best team in the NFC South. In what was essentially a throw-away season due to the Michael V**k fiasco, the Falcons have won two in a row. Of course, the NFC South is garbage this year.
Stephon Marbury has QUIT on the Knicks. He is NOT a leader. If I'm Isiah, I put him on the inactive list for the season. I don't trade him, I don't release him, I just inactivate him without pay until further notice. I don't buy him out, either. He can #### and moan all he wants, but you, Isiah, have to get tough on him.
Suddenly the Boston Celtics are relevant. Too bad the Los Angeles Lakers are irrelevant. The NBA needs BOTH the Lakers AND the Celtics to be elite teams.
Is Adam Jones' new attorney the new Johnnie Cochran? Jones' attorney cut a deal with the Clark County D.A. and all Jones has to do is community service. If you're a gang-####ing thug, or a wannabe gang####er, you want that attorney's name and phone number on speed dial. He'll get YOU community service and keep you out of the hole.
NFL teams that are exceeding expectations: Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo.
NFL teams that are underachieving: I could put A LOT of teams there, but Carolina leads the pack. They have NO heart or grit. John Fox is looking like Dead Man Walking. If the Panthers end up 4-12, which is becoming a real possibility, look for Fox to be fired. An intriguing possibility: Bill Cowher (he lives in Raleigh, NC).
I don't expect any big free agent signings in MLB until early December. I can see some second level signings by Thanksgiving. A-Rod will go to Southern California, most likely with the Angels. I think the Dodgers will balk at Scott Boras' contract demands for his megastar client.
Seahawks' fans are crowing and feeling good about their team again. While you have a very solid QB and leader in Matt Hasselbeck, your lack of running game will bite you in the #### in the playoffs. Shaun Alexander is a shell of his old self. He's been used so much in the last three years he's broken down and has gotten real old real suddenly.
Jimmie Johnson is having a season for the ages in NASCAR. He has won the last four races and with an 18th place or better finish he will repeat as champion. A win at Homestead and Johnson will put his own stamp on history. No driver in the modern era of NASCAR has won five consecutive races. Johnson is only the fourth driver to win four in a row (Harry Gant, Mark Martin, and Jeff Gordon are the others).
I think only fans of Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson are compelled by the Chase this year. As for this Kevin Harvick fan, I was pulling for Clint Bowyer to make a run at Gordon and Johnson, but it didn't happen.
Is this the craziest year in memory in college football, or what? App State beating Michigan, Stanford beating USC, KANSAS in the top 3, Oregon on a collision course with LSU for the national championship, Notre Dame, Nebraska, and Miami being WAY down, etc.
I can make a case of the following teams in the national championship picture: LSU, Oregon, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Both LSU and Oregon need to run the table. Kansas has to run the table and hope either LSU or Oregon loses. Oklahoma, same thing as Kansas. The loser of the Big 12 title game could still end up in the Fiesta Bowl.
The Miami Dolphins could go winless this season. Here's their remaining schedule: 11/18, at Philadelphia; 11/26, at Pittsburgh; 12/2, New York Jets; 12/9, at Buffalo; 12/16, Baltimore; 12/23, at New England; 12/30, Cincinnati. Of those games, only the Jets and maybe Baltimore are winnable.
It's gotta be tough to be a sports fan in South Beach. The Marlins are in a perpetual fire sale, the Heat are underachieving, the 'Canes are nowhere near what they once were, and the Panthers are under .500 and nowhere near Stanley Cup contention. And of course, the Dolphins are winless with a chance to make history in reverse.
Conversely, it doesn't suck to be a Boston sports fan. The Red Sox won their second World Series championship in four years. The Patriots could very well run the table all the way to their fourth Super Bowl title. The Celtics are among the NBA's elite again. Boston College is having a great season. Even the Bruins are above .500 in a tough Northeast Division.
The Browns-Steelers game was one of the best games of the season in the NFL. The Steelers showed why they are among the NFL's elite.
That's enough ruminating for now. Feel free to chew the cud and commisserate.
