The Monday FourPlay will expectantly return on a weekly basis. It is a time for me to sit at my desk at work and get some burning hot topics on the floor in hopes of encouraging some healthy discussion. Each Monday I will bring 4 topics to the floor in a variety of sports.
#5 My Writer's Block - ended just about 6 minutes ago, so I have returned to inspire and incite all the knuckleheads that like to read my blog (I think there were about 3 of you). Inspired by the recent 007 movie my clarity has once again returned. With my faith in the intelligence of the human race permanently scarred by recent events I am hoping to regain an ounce of belief in my fellow American. Avoiding certain topics will help in the healing process and I kindly ask anyone with a vote and an IQ below 112 to refrain from commenting on anything here. More like a look but don't touch rule.
#4 Quantum of Solace - Now talk about an entertaining flick. I am a true Bond fan and own all four boxed sets of James Bond movies. I personally am a Roger Moore fan, but appreciate what Daniel Craig brings to the lore of the Bond character. I know many reviews were not supportive of the untraditional direction of the movie but I am here to provide a different perspective. Yes, the Bond Girl didn't have the same feel. Yes, Bond was a rogue unlike any other Bond I can remember. Yes, this had more of a Bourne Ultimatum feel. But...when the movie starts off with a song combining Alicia Keys with the lead singer of the White Stripes its time to #### or get of the pot. If you don't know who these two are then go back and watch Sean Connery on VHS and bypass this one. But for me this goes right to the top three of alltime Bond movies. I'd say in the category of A View To a Kill.
#3 Mike Singletary - Go ahead and sign him long term already. Only people who watch the 49ers every week know what I am talking about. The last two games reminded me of the Super Bowl 49ers (except Vernon Davis of course). Singletary has got these guys playing like Walsh and Seifert were coaching this squad. Sure Singletary got in the news with some questionable behaviors, but we know how the media is. And like a true coach Singletary could care less what ESPN has to say. The team is playing better than they have since...gulp, gasp, barf Steve Mariucci. Of course I am not going to get too excited, I know the playoffs are not going to happen this season, but I really believe that for the first time since Mariucci, I am looking forward to a playoff berth in the near future if Singletary stays. If the Niners go with another retread, or son of a former somebody, then it will be another 5 years of garbage. Get me a ticket to the 'Stick in 2009!
#2 NY Yankees - 6 years/$140 million. Say what? Come on Bud Selig, please don't let this happen. If this does happen do people realize that the Yankees will be paying 2 players just about as much as some teams pay their whole team? The Evil Empire would be earning its name if CC ends up in the Bronx. I'll say it again Zito to the Yankees, just to be nice, give us anyone. How about Giambi straight up for Zito and let someone else have CC. CC is from the V-town home of E-40 and the Click. "Let's get, let's get, let's get drunk and throw up in the car." I say CC to the Athletic's and let him spend some time at Marine World. I hope you're feeling me on this one 30 something West Coasters.
#1 Jimmie Johnson - I enjoy NASCAR don't get me wrong. I watch it all the way up to the Chase when other sports take precedence. But seriously don't go there Brad Dougherty and Rusty Wallace. Please don't go there and drag Tiger's name through the mud. Jimmie Johnson is not on the "iconic level of Tiger Wood's or even Babe Ruth." That is just plain moronic. I would fire the producer's who let these clowns actually say this on television without a Gong. Jimmie Johnson is a great racer, he is on the level with Cale Yarborough and the other legends of motorsports but give America a break. Rusty you stick with coming in 12th, and Brad you stick with throwing the ball to Michael Jordan and him and his team going to the Title every year while you and Ehlo and Price shoot practice free throws in the offseason.
And with credit to Pablo Francisco and his Droopie Dog bit, "I'm Done."
I'm a BLOGGER and I believe everyone has a right to FREE SPEECH.
1. I have the right to use someone else's idea for a blog and then pawn it off as my own (similar to how Colin Cowherd does his show btroup).
2. I have the right to misuse any word I choose to misuse, or for that matter make it up out of thin air, jimbob.
3. I have the right to say something I don't believe, this does not condone lying or impersonating any said individual as we are all aware, the children are reading.
4. I have the right within my list of rules to give random facts about myself, such as I'm 5'9, 168 lbs, and in my Madden Hall of Fame Season just caught 27 touchdowns in my third year in the NFL and had 2378 yards receiving. This all despite the fact Drew Brees got cracked ribs and I had to finish the year with Adrian McPherson calling the shots. I, of course, won the Super Bowl and parlayed that into a huge FA contract and a bigger pad.
5. Placing sexual parameters on your blog is a good idea, if you don't, you are likely to be taken advantage of in the worst way, a way that Sebastian Janikowski can elaborate on if you ever corner him in a bar.
6. I refuse to use restraint in situations where you show up, on my blog, and say something that doesn't make much sense, kelly.
7. I do agree that burning flags is a desperate, cheap cry for attention, if you will. I’m not sure if it makes you a polecat, but darn close to it if you ask me.
8. I believe that if you don’t vote, you still reserve the right to complain. My best example of this is I’d venture to say there a very few of us that get an AP, USA Today, or Coaches Poll vote, yet we argue about the BCS like we were all married.
9. I, even if intending to make a list of ten things, might through lack of creativity, en up with only nine and then stop writing. I do intend to write all of my posts in English, so hopefully that will be fine with all of you.
10. This blog is of course in reference to our friend jimbobjo, who posted his in the NASCAR section. Jimbobjo, thanks for the idea pop!
11. I have the right to call myself Scottstradomus and claim to be some professional writer. And, then in every attempt to discredit myself, make the most outrageous and overreaching claims I can fathom to garner attention and comments. This in all reality may be more egregious than burning a flag, and definitely qualifies you for dead polecat consideration.
12. I also reseve the right to intend to stop my list at ten, and then decide later to add to that list as I see fit. Hey, does anyone else, when looking at #### Stockton in the booth, expect to see a long pony tail if he turned around, and then as your daydream continues, picture him on a Harley Davidson. Just wondering.
I have been saying it for a long time now that sports figures or celebrities are great choices for role models. People seem to automatically attach some status to individuals who are good at a sport and then somehow transfer that into role modelism. Which of course I can't help but agree with since I can't think for myself. I just wanted to point out a few more instances where maybe letting your kids have high profile athletes as celebreties may be the best idea. Here are some recent instances where having athletes as role models is brilliant. I have some very low standards so you may not be in complete agreement with my top three choices for best role models. Warning: Let your kids read this, it is highly unlikely they will go on a robbing spree or sexually harrass their teacher. A little like Eminem said, "You can be just like me."
1.Isaiah you may have been a good point guard, but you are a bona fide piece of dog doodoo. Just go crawl back into the hole you crawled out of and leave the Knicks and the rest of society alone. You are one expensive ####. Absolutely perfect for my children.
2.OJ, The Juice. What should we do with this guy? I mean a serious menace to society. If I saw him coming down the street I'd definitely move to the other side. High speed chase on speed. Double murder, armed robbery, bar fight, 10 handicap, 11,000 yards rushing. Amazing! And it would be the most super entertaining thing if we let OJ try to get to 12,000. Let him back in the league, my kids deserve the chance to see OJ's head knocked off.
3.Iron Mike Tyson . Oh yeah. Let's just let the guy box. I mean his worst offense in the ring is biting off Evander's ear. Which in all reality isn't that big a deal, and so what if he likes to go fast and do drugs (Mike's biggest role model when he was growing up just happened to be OJ Simpson). He's got the brain of a 13 year old. Just leave old Mikey alone people and let him lead the children.
Silver: Ricky Williams - the poster child for wasted talent and laziness
Bronze: Mark Ecko - The gold standard for wasting money because you have lots of it and you want to rub that fact in the face of all the people that don't have much, Mark Ecko you're my hero and my kids hero, too.
These are my top six role models for my children, at least for when I have some. I will make sure to remind my kids the most important people on this planet are ones that are good at sports and anyone who entertains us. But, remember there are many role models to choose from. Your kids can sift through the newspaper or watch some television and find their own if you want to go that route.
The other night I was in an online tournament. I've really been using my online poker playing as a tool to practice for when I get to play in live tournaments, whether they be in Tunica, Biloxi, Las Vegas, or a home game. The only real thing you can practice online though is different betting styles and patterns. The most important skill I've been able to hone is the discipline to make the same type of bet throughout the tournament at least while I'm at the same table for an extended period of time. Depending on the type of raise you're willing to make whether it be straight three times the big blind, or you want to take it up a notch and click the old pot button. I personally like the pot button (only because I'd rather not have to type in my bet). Anyhow, the discipline to make this play will do a few things. The type of hand you're raising with is undetectable especially if you're able to avoid showing down a hand as long as possible. Eventually this will pay off with a big hand, they won't be able to put you on the aces on the seventh hand you've raised preflop. You're basically conditioning your opponent. The key to this play is to vary the type of bets you make on the turn and river and I'm not so much talking about the amount, but more about taking control of the hand by leading out with a bet, check-calling, and check-raising. Most times 1/3 to 1/2 the pot will get someone out of the hand. Most opponents have already decided to call or fold to you whether you bet the minimum, or the pot. To these weak players the size the bet compared to the pot does not figure into their decision.
Here's a situation where this paid off against a quality opponent who actually lasted longer than me in the tournament. I could obviously tell this player knew what he was doing, he was using his position to take control of hands and win pots. I also knew he thought he could push me around, which he did twice. You do know what they say on fooling me three times don't you?? So 2 times in a row I raised one of his blinds. He called. I bet the flop (which I did get a piece of) the same with a 1/3 pot bet both times. He raised. I folded. On the third time around I made the pre flop raise this time with a much bigger hand. He called. I made the same exact bet after the flop for the third time except this time I've got a huge piece of the flop. So now in his mind I'm weak again and he thinks he can take the pot. He raises me again. This time I move all-in. He types in the comment box "Are you just mad, or do you have it this time^". Hook, line, and sinker. Got him. He called, I had trips he had top pair. Now that is a semi advanced play, which actually would only work against an advanced player. Remember a play like this would not work against an opponent who wouldn't understand it. I always have to remind myself not to give my opponent too much credit unless he's earned it.
My results from last night: 18 player sit n go/1st place
Here are 3 hands, all of which happened before they combined to the final table.
Hand #1 (Blinds 50/100): I was in middle position at a table that was playing very passively before the flop. I was medium stacked after my broadband connection decided to take 10 minutes off. I had As 7s, and limped in. It folded around to the big blind, who raised to 200 chips. I called and the heads-up flop came 2s 5h 10s. Although not my normal style I bet into my draw (I usually prefer to check my flush draws out of position and take control of the hand with a raise if I feel a raise is necessary). I bet 100 into a 450 chip pot to keep it small (a little Phil Ivey controlling the size of the pot), he re raised the minimum and I called again. The turn was 8s and I was in business. I continued my “careful” play with another bet of 100, he again raised the minimum and I called one more time. The river was an Ad. I again bet 100, assuming he would raise me again, which he did raise the minimum for the fourth time in the hand. I moved all in for my remaining 900 chips into a pot of 1500. I guess he felt compelled to call. He flipped over Ah Qs. In this case I never tipped the strength of my hand. If I had moved any faster he might not have been willing to get all his chips in. Nonetheless he caught up enough to risk most of his chip stack. The pot was worth around 3600 chips. Needless to say, he was out soon after that.
Hand #2 (Blinds 60/120): I was in the big blind with 5c 3c and the pot was un-raised with four players going to the flop. Immediately to my left was the table chip leader who had been taking down pot after pot with minimum bets after the flop. The two players after him were playing tight and not getting mixed up in many pots. The flop came 6s 4d Kc. I checked my draw once again (especially straight draws) and once again the chip leader made his bet of 140 into a 480 pot. It folded back to me and I was happy to call and get 4.4 to 1 odds (that’s even better than a free card to me). The turn was a 2c I checked and he checked. I was a little disappointed in his check obviously, but calling bets after the flop almost always get 1 of 2 reactions from the initial better. 1) it slows them way down or 2) it speeds them way up. This opponent chose #1 and I was hoping he chose #2. Either way it saved him lots of money. I had just gotten moved to this table and I wasn’t able to see enough hands to realize how he played after the turn. He must have won 5 or 6 hands in a row without getting past the flop. In hindsight I probably should have played back at him when that 2s hit, its unlikely he would have been able to put me on my hand and I probably should have bet around 1/3 to 1/2 the pot. I should have remembered that chapter in Super Systems! Anyhow the river was a blank and I bet 1/2 the pot this time. He thought a long time and finally called. He flipped over pocket nines. After the hand he became one of my favorites at the table. A real nice guy! The pot was worth around 1600 and I was feeling confident.
Hand #3 (Blinds 80/160): Not long after the previous 2 hands had been played I was second in chips at the table. Once again I found myself in my un-raised big blind with the same 4 players as the previous hand. This time I had Ad 5d. I checked my option to see what we could do (I should have raised probably, but I’m not a big fan of a weak ace, suited or not). The flop was 9c 10d 2d once again our chip leader to my left led out with a 160 chip bet. The guy in third position came back over the top with a 720 chip bet. I had to stop and think about this one. I knew the guy who made the raise hadn’t done something like that in nearly one hour of playing. I also knew at best he flopped a set and at worst had top pair with a good kicker, which obviously was of little to no concern since if I made my hand he was beat. I was a little more worried about the guy to my left than the raiser. I didn’t really want to call and let the initial better get in. I also didn’t want to raise because I knew the initial raiser was likely to move all in. Even though I had the guy in 3rd position covered 2 to 1 in chips, getting over half my chips in on a draw is just not the way I like to play. I ended up calling the 720 chip bet, and to my surprise it got the chip leader out of the hand and we were heads up. The turn was a blank, and as I gravely predicted my opponent moved in for his remaining 1400 chips. The pot was now somewhere around 3600. I wasn’t really excited about getting around 2.5 to 1 pot odds with probably only a 14% chance of winning (I didn't look it up and don't know if this is right, so sorry if I'm off a little). I ended up making a horse #### call. Even when I clicked the call button, I knew I’d have to get lucky to hit my hand (not a good way to play mind you). He flipped over 10c 9h for two pair and the river didn’t hit me. I felt this hand could have ruined my tournament. I was at one point up over 4400 and this hand left me with around 1700. I wasn’t happy with the way I played it. I’m not much of a flush chaser for that type of money and this is a great example of why I usually don’t do it. Then again when trying to win a tournament, accumulating chips is the only way you win one. I wasn’t at risk and using a Doyle Brunson style of tournament poker (not very well though), you accumulate chips so you can risk them. Picking up chips allows you to make plays and calls you wouldn’t have otherwise been able to afford. I was happy I didn’t rush my chips into the middle and allowed myself a way out – I just didn’t take it!
I have gotten into playing online poker recently after studying and playing poker off and on the past 7 years and was looking for quality poker players on this site that would be willing to share their opinion on one of my favorite pasttimes. I know there are a few of you on here that enjoy playing poker, namely:
54fulltiltfulltime and Ultra (others I have not spotted)
I am still working on my bankroll and started with only $50 last Christmas. I'm not really playing too seriously, I keep most of my buy-ins between $5 and $20 and have worked my way up to around $400, and currently am treading water around $300. I have noticed a trend at the low stakes games where opponents are deathly afraid of playing after the flop and witness numerous over the top all in bets that take the play out of the game. Most players seem to be afraid of confrontation instead of figuring their EV and playing for more chips. They'd rather shove em in rather than risk getting outplayed. For example: Last night I was in a $24+$2, $14,000 guarantee and was about halfway throught the tournament. I was sitting around 14,000 in chips and the chip leader had me covered by about 8,000 in chips. He was in the big, we were heads up and I had AK off. The flop came 6 J 6 rainbow and I made my contination bet. He called. The turn was an ace. I bet 2/3 the pot, he came back over the top for about 30% of my remaining chips. The river was a blank. He moved in on my me and I took my remaining time clock to make my decision. I eventually agonized the call, as I still had about 7,000 chips left. I finally made the call and he had AQ off, his comment was "did you slow roll me on purpose." I obviously didn't slow roll, he had the reputation at the table of being a loose player and wasn't so sure he didn't have a 6. I took down a nice pot, but didn't understand why he was so surprised I didn't make an insta call or insta all in bet on either the turn or the river, which brings me to my point. Overvaluing cards, mainly KQ, KJ, QJ and middle to low pairs is the norm on most online poker sites at the low stakes level. At what stake level do players actually start taking the size of the pot and pot odds and value into account? I take poker very seriously and enjoy playing "quality poker against quality opponents." Any advice from serious poker junkies would be greatly appreciated.
I also know previously, I think Shooter organized it, that bloggers got a private table one evening and foxsportsbloggers played. It wouldn't have to be anything big money wise, maybe $10. I just think it would be fun to play against somebody you "know" in loose terms. Lemme know.
In response to the recent realization that the most overused term on ESPN is "walk off..," I wanted to particiapate in the walk off craze. The other night me and my buddy are riding through Atlanta listening to the Braves broadcast and heard the audio replay for a walk off wild pitch. Pure excitement I tell you. It got us wondering why do they even have the stat "walk off rbi." Why not walk off run scored? Then we realized how appropriate and necessary the walk off stat is.
How about Ryan Braun is the league leader in walk off 3-2 pitches that would have been balls but were swung at to end the game.
Hanley Ramirez is the league leader in walk off pop-ups caught.
I even heard that Laz Diaz is the league leader in walk off called third strikes.
Here's more...
Pete Rose is the league leader in walk off broken legs.
Randy Johnson is the league leader in walk off exploding pigeons.
Outside of the game of baseball...
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is the league leader in walk off on your step mom's business.
Michael Vick is a dual league leader. He takes the cake in both walk off dead pit bulls in the ground and the league leader in walk off and turn in 30 other NFL players who participate in pit bull fighting.
The media and the fans have been ready and willing to bash the individuals who they've deemed deserve all of their steroid angst. As I think about the last 20 odd years of major league baseball I find it hard to pinpoint where it seems evident steroids infiltrated the national pasttime. The most glaring would be the Mark McGwire/Jose Canseco Oakland A's Bash Brothers.
Between the time of the Bash Brothers and home run 756 I wonder how many of our favorite players and least favorite too, have been on the juice. It might be altogether more justifiable to just erase the last 20 years of major league baseball completely.
Or maybe, even more appropriate than that, to embrace the last twenty years and not pin our hatred on one record breaking event that involved thousands of MLB participants. Don't you folks realize this is more than a one way street? Did you ever wonder how many of those 756+ home runs were hit off of a juiced up pitcher? A juiced up hitter versus a juiced up pitcher seems fair*. Hey wait, what if out of a few of those 756 the hitter wasn't on the juice at the time, but the pitcher was. Hmmm...
If the Mets happen to win the World Series with a PROVEN steroid user, a PROVEN cheat, I expect this World Series to go in the books with an *.
I hope to do these pieces through the MLB season. I'll chime in when I see fit. Peruse on.
The best offense in the league without a chance to make the playoffs, and the best chance to have their draft pick be in the bigs before the season is over. Tampa Bay Devil Rays This team is an exciting club with a great manager, and Don Zimmer. I would not bet against this team causing a lot of problems in the AL East next season. With Brignac and Longoria waiting in the minors, the most potent upsided offense, and tool players to trade. I wouldn't be surprised to see them in the World Series within three years. A well timed deadline trade this season could add a great arm to their staff and as soon as 2008 could be knocking at the door of the World Series.
The team most likely to implode before the season is over. Chicago White Sox I wonder how many fights are going to be in this dugout if the Pale Hoes don't start winning. A.J. Pierzynski is a ticking time bomb and Ozzie Guillen is a bigger and worse ticking time bomb. They had a magical year a few years back but this team will most likely finish last in the division.
The team most likely to be eliminated from playoff contention first. Texas Rangers It's not like I'm going out on a limb here. Statistically speaking their magic number is 83, the lowest in the bigs. You could say that the Royals, Reds, and Nationals would like to contend for this distinction, but I'll go with the faves. Other than an exciting middle infield, all they are left with is Slammin' Side Show. Teixiera just went on the shelf, and who's in that rotation again?? With regards to Rivjo, the A-Rod curse lives on not only in the Home of Starbucks, and the Bronx, but also in the Lone Star State.
The Division that doesn't look like anyone deserves to win. National League Central (National League West finishes a close second). I don't think anyone really expects the Brew Crew to stay atop this division. Most likely to win the division, gulp, Chicago Cubs. Heck they've gotten a bad rap up to this point, but if there is a manager in the bigs that can handle a situation like this its Coach Lou. If Coach can get the cancers out of the dugout that continue to question who's in the lineup everday, they have a pretty potent team. You heard it here first.
Best team in baseball. Oakland A's Have you checked their disabled list lately?? Let's see, if Bradley, and Harden, and Sreet, and Loaiza, and Duchscherer, and Kielty can get healthy, this team is sick. Hail Moneyball. Without a doubt the best team in baseball playing in the cavern that Al built. Too bad nobody in America gets to see them on ESPN because the all sports network has their #### in Steinbrenner's ####.
I hope to report back in a few weeks. Work has kept me busy and the lack of any interesting blogs has hindered my participation on the foxsports blogosphere.
Being a Giants fan I realize this post won't apply to most of you because I think I've only found 2 of you blogging. What you will understand is the type of player I am describing. You have to understand that I've been featured on sfgiants.com as of about 3 years ago asking why in the world Pedro Feliz still has a job. I don't think this good for nothing would even be a good third baseman in the minor leagues. I mean seriously, I'd rather go back to David Bell, or dare I say Edgardo Alfonzo. Since I moved away from California, and I can't get MLB extra innings because of the communists, I hadn't been seeing as much baseball as I wanted. Until of course I paid the extra $3 to get fox and wgn on my dish network account, and this is where I got flustered. I was watching the ChiSox on Thursday and watched AJ Peirzdiadensky (I spelled that wrong on purpose because I don't want to look it up and I don't want it to look like I actually tried to spell it correctly) hit a seven hopper to the second baseman to get the runner to third with one out. A sac fly promptly scored him. Later in the game someone bunted a guy up and then he scored on a ground ball. The Sox won that game 3-1 I believe.
Fast forward to Saturday's game of the week I picked up from Fox's feed out of the Bay Area. Pedro Feliz at his best, runner at second no outs. He hooks around a ball three times, the third one rolls to the third baseman with a runner at second and no outs; now its the runner at second with one out. Frandsen then comes to the plate and grounds out to ss. Which of course would have scored the runner if he'd been at third (but of course he wasn't because Feliz is a selfish sucker). Later in the game Feliz with runners at first and second can you believe bounces into a double play for like the 200th time of his career. I wanted to throw my box of Nerds through the television at that point. Feliz needs to go still, but of course that doesn't happen because the Giants brass thinks Feliz is worth a dime. Let me tell you he isn't worth two ####. Now if you're Manny Ramirez and you don't want to get a guy up, then fine you hit 50 bombs a year and drive in 140. But Feliz muscles up on every swing and hits 22 bombs and only scores about 80, and plays every day. I'd rather he didn't play everyday with those numbers. Mutha' Freakin' David Bell could approach those numbers playing everyday, and he plays balls to the wall.
Part of this problem goes back to Felipe Alou rounding up every Latin player he possibly could and sticking them on the field as often as possible. Go back and look at the Giants roster the year they went to the World Series and then look what happened to it when Alou came to town. I'm glad we have Vizquel still, but hopefully Bochy can grow a pair and find the first taker and get rid of a worthless third sacker. Don't worry Philly fans, it ain't so bad.
I'm trying to re-educate myself for this fantasy baseball season and I want some advice from people who actually know what they are talking about!!!!!! Some guy in my league (and in an effort not to defame anyone without a sense of humor/this is my apology) aforementioned unnamed guy in my league has proclaimed himself the king of fantasy baseball and I think his opinion holds as much weight as the hot air that comes out of my piehole. The best way I can do it is ask some questions and all you have to do is answer them. LSU you are not invited to comment. Neither is anyone else in our league because you guys keep predicting me last and now I'm pissed (shooter, chitown, mustard, fp, beantown, socal, and the rest of you).
One word answers will suffice, unless you feel you have to defend your opinion.
#1 Would you rather have Julio Lugo, or Tad Iguchi @ second base?
#2 Would you want Matt Cain on your pitching staff?
#3 Do you feel Alex Gordon will have a similar year to Zimmerman's 2006 season?
#4 Does Huston Street suck as a fantasy closer?
#5 Will Tim Hudson have a good year?
#6 Is this the year for Pat Burrell to finally act like he's a Hurricane again (ie. hit about 40 bumps, and collect about 135 steaks)?
#7 Would you take Todd Helton in a trade. I'm waiting till he has about 10 homeruns after the first month.
#8 What type of pitcher would you expect for Albert Pujols? He's on the market.
#9 Kelvim Escobar or Brad Penny?
#10 The Yankees fifth starter or the Royals number 1?
If I get about 20 responses I'll have an idea if I should be looking forward to this season or dreading it.
Thanks homies (this does not include you, king of fantasy baseball)
In an ongoing installmant coinciding with the release of the rest of the foxsports mock draft I will continue to breakdown the players in the first round. If a player is still being drafted by the same team I will skip them and move on. This will give me more of a chance to prove my worth of evaluating college football players as I stare into my crystal ball.
So what I aim to do here is apply my expert opinion to the football draft. I am going to use the most recent mock draft released by foxsports and breakdown the picks. I won't go into much detail, just use what I know to shed a little light. I predict I'll be 70% effective with my predictions. Follow me as I lead you down a path of enlightenment. I will give a grade based on my prediction of their fist five years in the NFL also prediction is based on them going to the team they are projected to land on.
(The first three were based off of Peter Schrager's mock drafts. This one goes off of the NFLDraftScout.com's latest entry.)
2. Brady Quinn/Lions (A) - As stated in volume 1 Quinn is a great pro prospect. Despite his negative publicity, the kid never had a great offense to play with, and carried his team the last two years. Jon Kitna is not a bad mentor, he'll get 4-5 starts his first year. This is the pick Detroit needs to make.
3. Joe Thomas/Browns (B) - This doesn't seem to be the pick that makes sense. Why not go with Calvin Johnson?? At the least draft Johnson and trade him if they really don't want him. Thomas is a good player, but get a guy that touches the ball.
6. Amobi Okoye/Redskins (B+) - If the Skins are dead set on drafting a DL then this is the pick. Okoye gets a B+ only because he's a better choice than Branch. Still, look at the history of impact DTs. Is there such a thing unless Ray Lewis is standing behind you?
7. Leon Hall/Vikings (B) - The lack of testing in college is going to make the transition of this guy into the NFL very tough. I'm not so sure he's really a 7 pick. I would go ahead and take a versatile LaRon Landry here. Use the cover two and get the best overall DB in the draft.
8. Laron Landry/Falcons (B) - I suppose this means the Falcons are set on drafting this guy. Unless its a smokescreen to move up for the chance at Peterson. You know Petrino loves offense, and if they've made the decision to let Vick take them to the promised land, they'd better get some more offensive weapons. I'm just not so sure Norwood is the answer and Dunn is obviously on the last leg of his career.
9. Alan Branch/Dolphins (C) - Not sure what this pick is aimed to do for the Dolphins. Getting the second best DT inside of the first ten picks? Should they be looking for a replacement for Thomas??? That's what I'd be doing. Then again I'm not a rich guy that runs a football team like I know nothing about football.
10. Adrian Peterson/Texans (B) - Matt Schaub and Adrian Peterson for Laron Landry and... Someone must really know what they're doing because this one has me baffled. Let's see, David Carr never had a chance in Houston because they never had a line. Now they still don't have a line, but at least they have Schaub. I'm glad I'm not a fan of either team.
11. Robert Meachem/49ers (B) - According to Norcals website and 41 mock drafts polled, Meachem is the 4th or 5th best reciever in the land, yet he's going 2nd? I know he had a hot combine, but is this a gamble worth taking? You know Nolan goes on character as much as he goes on talent. I trust the guys evaluation abilities more than I trust his conservative wimpy coaching style. I believe this will happen. They'll take an o-lineman in round 2.
12. Patrick Willis/Bills (A) - The next Demeco Ryans? I'd suppose that's what they are aiming for. Their offense has been coming along nicely, I suppose its time to turn towards the defense. Replacing Nate Clements may be something they'll take care of later.
13. Darelle Revis/Rams (B) - I'd think about trying to find some recievers or trade down and get a tight end. The Rams have been quiet in the offseason so maybe they are just bracing for a losing season or two. Marc Bulger is good, but he needs help and more speed. Bruce just ain't what he used to be.
Here's a ranking of how I feel these teams are meeting their needs with these picks. This by far is the worst of the mock drafts I've seen. The only picks I really agree with are the Lions, the Redskins, and the 49ers. The other ones may happen, but I just don't get them. The more drafts I look at, the more I realize I'm as much of an expert as these guys that release this garbage.
In an ongoing installmant coinciding with the release of the rest of the foxsports mock draft I will continue to breakdown the players in the first round. If a player is still being drafted by the same team I will skip them and move on. This will give me more of a chance to prove my worth of evaluating college football players and stare into my crystal ball.
So what I aim to do here is apply my expert opinion to the football draft. I am going to use the most recent mock draft released by foxsports and breakdown the picks. I won't go into much detail, just use what I know to shed a little light. I predict I'll be 70% effective with my predictions. Follow me as I lead you down a path of enlightenment. I will give a grade based on my prediction of their fist five years in the NFL also prediction is based on them going to the team they are projected to land on.
3. Brady Quinn/Cleveland (A) - Now this is more like it. The most polished, NFL ready player in the draft. The Browns would add wins with this pick. They have some weapons on offense and Quinn can get the ball to them. I'd still like to see Quinn go to the Raiders though.
9. Amobi Okoye/Dolphins (A) - Learning from some of the best interior defensive players in the league would be perfect for this youngster. Put him next to Jason Taylor and I think you have an impact player right away. I believe this is the pick that will happen.
11. Adam Carriker/49ers(B+) - More of a Mike Nolan fit. A solid player and could fit in very well here. You could say the Niners need more speed in this position, all they need is production and I think this guy can give it.
12. Adrian Peterson/Bills (B) - Peterson still has the injury problem no matter where he goes. How many RBs are the Bills going to draft before they get it right. This could definitely help the offense if he stays healthy. I still like the pick.
15. Paul Posluszny/Steelers (A) - This guy is going to be a great player. The next Zach Thomas type of guy. Plus put him in a Steelers uniform, make him meaner, and maybe he's the next Jack Lambert. This guys a stud, should get drafted higher.
16. Marshawn ####/Packers (B) - I am hesitant about this player. His ankles bother me, plus, the shake and bake type of runners in college have a tough time in the pros unless your name is Bush. If he could alter his running style into a little more like Shawn Alexander he'll be a great pro. His ability to catch adds to his value. The running back pick makes a whole lot of sense for the Pack.
18. Leon Hall/Bengals (B+) - I guess his speed isn't the problem. I still hold to my contention that the lack of wide reciever talent in the Big Ten will have him unprepared to shut down many NFL recievers. Still the Bengals need help here and Hall should stay out of trouble and be a good safe pick.
19. Darelle Revis/Titans (B+) - It's amazing how a bad choice in a previous draft can really tie your hands. The Titans need to draft offense but PacIdiot has #### Tennessee royally. I hope this guy has better character so Fisher can keep his job.
20. Lawrence Timmons/Giants (C) - This guy won't help the bad Manning, and since you sold your soul to get the bad Manning, you better do everything you can in every draft to cover your ####. Stupid pick, draft offense.
21. Jarvis Moss/Broncos (A) - There's a good chance this guy could go higher than this. With that being said, getting him at 21 would be a sweet deal. The Broncos offense is what it is, so drafting defense seems to be the way to go for the Mile High Horses.
30 Picks covered so far. Maybe I can be Mel's replacement when his head falls off from the weight of that hair being too much for his neck to support.
On the fourth page of the b section of the sports page I read in the morning, I found some very sad news. This news may only be sad to me though, which is what kind of disappoints me. Barbaro dies, and two seconds later there are 50 articles on the blogosphere we call foxsports, bemoaning the death of a legend. On the television news they have that cheesy music, and fade to silence with a picture of a horse. Oh so dramatic and tragic. Anna Nicole dies and we have sickos on this site talking about what they'd do to her dead body. You can't flip on the cable news without still hearing about this lady who left a trail of kids, and lovers, and money, and drugs, and countless other things. Then she recieves our utmost attention, even after her death. Maybe a suicide, considering the similarties to Marilyn Monroe; Anna wanted to secure her stardom, in a true life Shakespearean tragedy of love and deceit, and ultimate death.
Back to 4b of the paper this morning....Player dead, broken neck, dead on impact, helmet to helmet block, 25 years old, a delay, a completed game, a family left behind.
It saddens me that our society has its priorities so #### up.
It begs me to ask the question, "where are your priorities today?"
Love one another, be kind, respect those around you, forgive and forget, say a prayer, and value every second of your life.
Published sports column contributor, but I'm about the 560th ranked blogger on this site. I'll keep most of my posts sports related. My sense of humor exists to amuse myself. This has happened by default because I rarely seem to amuse anyone else. I'm ashamed that my favorite professional sports teams are from the city of San Francisco.
Favorite sports listed from favorite to least favorite: duck-duck-
goose, red-light green-light, freeze tag, marco polo, and hop-scotch.
