You'd expect it from a glory hound.  You'd expect it from a guy who's been wronged by the NFL (allegedly).  You'd expect it from an old man, five years removed from a monumental beat down in football's showcase.

Yup, Al Davis is at it again. 

Rumor has it Davis composed a letter of resignation for Lane Kiffin and sent it off to said coach as well as his attorney.  Rumor also has it Lane Kiffin isn't picking up a pen unless it's for endorsing a check from the Oakland Raiders.

Adding to the laughing stock known as the Raiders, Al Davis is doing his best to not go unnoticed during Super Bowl week.  If he and his team cannot be there, he might as well try to steal some of the headlines.  Looks like he pulled a page out of A-Rod's book.

Aside from the obvious reasons I don't want this soon-to-be second year coach gone, I can't help but shake my head.  After 30+ years of rooting for this franchise, I think I've seen it all.  Not to mention, what would I call my blog if Lane is gone?

I'm not a New Yorker and I'm not a Bostonian. I've never been to either place. With that being said, here's my unbiased prediction on how the Super Bowl will pan out.

I think this game would be much closer if it weren't for the dreaded Super Bowl Bye Week. I'd love to watch a SB where teams didn't have two weeks to prepare for one another.

Since the outcomes of the previous Sunday, all I've heard is how the Patriots will do this and the Patriots will do that. And while every Silver & Black drop of blood of me hates to say this, they ARE a great team. But are they great enough to beat the Giants on the first Sunday in February? (Sounds like it's Easter, huh?........and, BTW, no SB should ever be played in February)

The Patriots breezed through the playoffs with their "B" game. They beat a Jacksonville team with a great rushing tandem, but a QB and WRs that left a lot to be desired. They looked vulnerable at times (Patriots' fans must admit) yet managed to win by 11.

In the AFC Championship game, they beat a Chargers' team that was without the league's best running back, the league's best TE (ok, he played, but y'all know he was hurtin') and an injured QB. I still can't believe a 100% Volek isn't better than a 70% Rivers, but I digress. All that said with Brady's three picks and the Pats still won by 9.

So here we go, Super Bowl XXLII. The Giants don't have the talent when you match 'em up. But they have a chance. And I'm not basing this on Week 17. Their front line is enough to give Brady headaches. Their secondary, despite being beat up, is enough to hang with Moss, Welker, Gaffney, Stallworth and the boys. On offense, let's forget about Peyton Jr. Eli aside, Jacobs and Bradshaw have enough fire power to tire out the Pat's defense. Burress & Toomer can keep the defense honest if Coughlin allows it.

It all boils down to coaching. We all know Belichick is a genius (and a cheater). His two weeks to prepare won't change our opinion of what we think he'll do. IT'S ALL ON COUGHLIN AND HIS STAFF. If they can prescribe an offensive game plan that mixes enough Jacobs, Bradshaw, Burress, and Toomer the Giants will win.

Both teams will have the same amount of turnovers (2) and both kickers will not miss in Arizona. When it all boils down, New York's special teams will be the difference. Their special teams' won't score, but it will be the difference.

FINAL SCORE: New York Giants 33 New England Patriots 27.

Is there anything we can do as fans to fix this travesty? After 20 straight weeks of NFL football that counts, we're left with the most miserable week in sports. We have to pretend that we care about NBA basketball in January. We have to pretend we care about early conference match ups in college basketball. And more importantly, we have to pretend we really need that extra week to get fired up for the Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl Bye Week is a train wreck. The momentum gained by the New York Giants after defeating the Packers Sunday has hit a speed bump as players, fans, and media alike continually remind themselves they've still got TEN MORE DAYS before kick-off.

I'm being a little lazy in my research right now, but does the NFL really have a valid excuse for postponing this pinnacle of sport for an additional week? I'm looking long and hard for anything that might suggest this is a good idea. In fact, I'd like to take this opportunity to make this a special "Bye Week" interactive blog. In your best Letterman-Top-10 style, please list your reasons why this is a good idea.

Thanks in advance for your participation.

We have to criticize because it's human nature. We have to point fingers because if we didn't, what would anybody write about? It can't always be ducky and peachy and warm and fuzzy. And it wasn't Sunday in Green Bay. Despite a spectacular football game for NFC bragging rights and a guaranteed second place in the Super Bowl, the entire nation got to see why a lot of people chuckled when Mike McCarthy was named head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

Sure, he deserves some credit for getting the Packers there. But can you recall a more abominable display of offensive play-calling with but 30 minutes left prior to your trip to football's Mecca? Yeah, Brett will get some of the blame for this loss and rightfully so. But one poor pass shouldn't overshadow the fact that McCarthy completely forgot he had a running back in the second half. For most of the second half, the Pack were in third & forever. Lawrence Tynes gift-wrapped two opportunities for the Packers to prevail. And yet on 2nd & 8 on the first possesion of OT, that guy in the backfield was invisible again.

Credit the Giants for seizing the opportunity. But don't be so quick to hang this loss on Favre. I'm still waiting for McCarthy to admit he called a poor second half. And I think I'll be waiting longer than it takes Jimmie Johnson's glass of water to defrost.

So much Barry Bonds bashing going on as he nears Hank Aaron's record.  It's funny to watch non-Giants fans boo Barry every time he comes to bat.  But what's even better is when the hometown pitcher walks Bonds and the crowd boos.  

 If you ask me, it just shows that people love to hate Bonds, but love to watch him play.  Why else would they boo their own pitcher for walking him?

 You can make the argument all you want about steroids, but it's a moot point.  Barry is the best baseball player of many of our lifetimes. 

Barry will break Aaron's record eventually.  And despite how much he's booed, millions of baseball fans will love to watch it happen.

 

My local radio station teased this announcement the other morning.  They said we'd have to wait until Valentine's Day for the revelation.  Looks like the man scooped himself.  

John Amaechi is ####.  Big deal.  Is this earth-shattering news?

Sure, it's news.  But should it be dominating sports talk radio?  Is it that big of deal?  A former professional athlete comes out after he's out of the game.  It's not common, but it's happened.

Before I get hate mail from those at GLAAD, I'm not homophobic.  I could care less about Amaechi's sexual orientation.  I don't agree with it, but I'm not here to judge him or any other homosexuals. 

I know he's promoting his new book (is The Disney Company really involved in the publishing?).  I'm just baffled as to why a guy, who by his own account didn't necessarily hide his orientation during his playing days, waited until he was nearly four years removed from the league to make this announcement?  Was he waiting for the right time in his life?  Or is he just looking to use his sexual orientation to make another dollar?

 

There's little mention of this subject outside of "The Bee" region and probably rightfully so. But I couldn't help but notice national headlines regarding the Sonics & 49ers recently. The Sonics were sold to a group from Oklahoma. The group said it has intentions of keeping the team in Seattle as long as they can agree on upgrades of Key Arena or a new arena. The 49ers, like you've probably read on some other blogs, are rumored to become residents of Great America's parking lot if a new stadium isn't built at Candlestick Point.

And then there's the Kings. Arco Arena, better known as the Big Gas Pump or The Barn, depending on whom you ask, has seen much better days. A new arena is due for the team, the Maloofs, and the city of Sacramento. It's over due. Why has it taken so damn long for the city and the owners to get this done? It's all about the Benjamins. Unless the city and their leaders realize that it (read citizens) must pay the majority of the frieght for this new arena, the Maloofs will back up the moving vans a la Baltimore Colts, and move this team to a city where they're waiting with arms (and new arena or better arena doors) wide open.

Hopefully the national headlines the Sonics and 49ers have garnered recently will awaken the city leaders of Sacramento. If we truly are a "Cow Town," it's time to get the cattle prod smokin' on the elected officials.

Darting off on another officiating tangent of the Super Bowl, I've come to wonder why the NFL even has Instant Replay. Think about it:

If human error cannot be resolved via instant replay, why have it in the first place?

Your thoughts?

It's been nearly three days. I've waited and waited and waited. He can't be hiding for this long. He's bound to surface soon. Where the hell is Ralph Nader?????

Are you confused? Don't be. Just check out the "About Me" section to your right. Yup, Kings fan here. Still confused? How about this: Game 6, NBA Western Conference Finals. Got it yet?

I whined too. Much like Seahawks fans have for the past three days. I called sports radio. I attacked the message boards. I raised holy hell. I was pissed. It wasn't until public interest activist Ralph Nader commented on the officiating that "we" were heard. The 2004 Presidential candidate brought it to light. The officiating was TERRIBLE. But it wasn't until Nader made his comments that the conspiracy theory gained its credence. I'm not saying the XL was of conspiracy theory magnitude, but the quality of the officiating was just as poor.

I can't listen to sports radio without hearing reference to the XL and the officiating. Everybody's talking about it. Was it that bad? Depends on who you ask. I had no rooting interest in the game. As a Raider fan, I've been born and raised to hate both teams. It wasn't until a life-long Steeler fan made this comment to me: "Man, I love the ring for the thumb, but I didn't want this cloud of doubt over it." Wow. He saw the game. Despite his "steel curtain" blinders, he saw the yellow hankies and the officials that threw them. He (like all Steeler fans) will take it. They earned it. But at what cost? The Lombardi trophy cannot be taken away from the Steelers, but the NFL can change their employment practices regarding officials. It's time to make them full-time employees of the NFL. Not only did XL spotlight the glaring inefficencies of the officials, but the season as a whole should be reviewed.

Don't think that Mike Holmgren and Paul Allen don't have Nader on speed dial. David Stern didn't listen, but maybe Tagliabue will.

That grey cloud isn't the local forecast for Seattle. It's that obnoxious thing hanging over the NFL's zebras.

If you look hard enough, you'll find it. You know, that one stat that will support your point of view, no matter how ridiculous it might be. Trust me, it's out there. If you want your team to win, just keep digging, you'll find it. In honor of all that stats we'll be bombarded with prior to the Super Bowl, here's some you really should be aware of:

Did you know that 89% of all sports articles involve some sort of stat in it's content?

Nine out of 10 bloggers have another window open when composing their blog.

Seven out of 10 Seahawks fans can't name three starters on the Sonics.

Ninety nine out of 100 sports journalists have a column in their back pocket bagging on the city of Detroit just in case they can't think of anything good to write about the Super Bowl.

One sports journalist was dumb enough to make his available prior to deadline.

Forty seven percent (47%) of the bloggers on this site think the scoring is rigged for the "Next Great Sportswriter" contest.

Of those 47%, 46.9% are still counting hanging chads.

That other 0.1% is in the bathroom.

The odds of the Steelers wearing their road uniforms for the Super Bowl, even though they're the home team and not the Cowboys or Redskins: 2 to 1.

Only 50% of the Steelers' helmet has a logo.

Only 50% of the Steelers' fans know which side that logo is on.

Ninety eight percent of Seahawks fans think Kurt Warner was a Seahawk.

Odds of Pittsburgh winning XL: 9-2.

Odds of Seattle winning XL: 35-1.

Percentage of people getting this far in the blog: 16%

Percentage of people so pissed off they feel obligated to add a comment: 95%

Of the 95% previously mentioned, those that will actually post: 1%

Factual information in this blog: it's in my back pocket. I'll break it out if I can't think of anything else.

I won't deny the fact that the Rose Bowl was the most exciting college football game I've seen in a long, long time.  But I cringe when I hear and read about how Vince Young, Reggie Bush, and Matt Leinart will be great pros.  Don't crucify me just yet; continue reading.  The three guys mentioned are great athletes and some of college football's best.  I'm not saying they won't play in the NFL, I'm just saying let's not put the cart before the horse here.

Admit it, Wednesday night's game, while showcasing two great offenses, probably had some of the worst tackling I've seen since watching a 6th grade flag football game.  The performances last night were great, but that kind of tackling doesn't happen on Sunday.  Period.  Those three guys are great college players and will get their share of NFL minutes, but let's not put them on the NFL Hall of Fame ballot just yet.  Just ask Ryan Leaf, KiJana Carter, and Kordell Stewart.

We knew it would be tough. We knew it'd be next to impossible. Going 16-0 in the regular season was something NOBODY ever accomplished. The Colts had the chance, then blew it at home. AT HOME! Against a team that might not make the playoffs!

I know, I know, you'll say the Chargers are a good team.

I know, I know, you'll say the Colts had nothing to play for.

Guess what? It happened. Against the Chargers! Yes, they're a good team and yes they'll probably miss the playoffs. But don't kid yourself, the Colts wanted that record. End of story.

Marty and his boys brought in a team desparate for a win to keep playoff hopes alive. Marty brought in a team with an injured Mega-Star in Tomlinson. And Marty walked away with a "W".

Lacking intensity until the middle of the third quarter, the Colts saw stardom smack them upside the head. The 'Bolts came ready to play. The 'Bolts wanted it more. The 'Bolts laid the ground work for all other Indy opponents to follow.

What we witnessed Sunday was the parody of the NFL. San Diego had no business winning that game. The Colts had no business losing that game, especially at home. Guess who loved the Colts loss the most? You guessed it, the New England Patriots. The Pats could very well be the Colts first playoff game in the 2005 season. Despite cleaning the Pats clock on that Monday night in Foxboro, Indy should be worried. Facing the defending Super Bowl champs AT HOME after that embarassing defeat to the Chargers is like bringing a turkey to a Christmas buffet dinner. It's been done. They'll do it again.

Tony Dungy and his crew better right the ship. If they don't, it will be another playoff loss to New England and an off-season of "coulda, woulda, shoulda."

It all began on January 23, 1984.  The NFC dominating the Super Bowl, that is.  After the Raiders defeated the Redskins, the NFC rattled off 13 straight SB wins.  The conference was a lead-pipe lock for most of that span, with only  the Bengals and Bills managing to keep the game within one score.  

 My, how times have changed.  Since the Packers defeat of the Patriots in 1997, the AFC has been 6-2 in the big game.  And in two victories, the only decisive victory was the Bucs over the Raiders.  The Rams victory over the Titans in 2000 was one yard away from OT on the last play.

Don't expect much to change in 2005/06.  The AFC will continue it's recent winning ways in the winter classic.  For all intents and purposes, the NFC is terrible.  Teams in the AFC would be willing to vote for realignment, as long as their team could play in the NFC North, South, or West.  NFC teams are playing to have their #### handed to them in the Super Bowl.  The Seahawks could be the only formidable opponent from the NFC.  And even then, they'd probably go down by two scores to the likes of the Colts, Bengals, or Broncos. 

I used to attribute the NFC's domination in the SB partially to the dynasties of the Cowboys & 49ers and partially to the "cold weather theory."  That theory suggested that the AFC representative banked on home-field advantage in the playoffs in cold-weather cities (Buffalo - 4 times, Denver - 3 times, New England - 2 times, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati - 1 each) only to be blown away by the NFC in warm weather or a dome. 

 What's the NFC's excuse the past eight years?

 

Despite the enormous odds of making the playoffs, the Raiders were playing for pride Sunday night.  And guess what?  There's no pride left.

After what appeared to be their finest performance for a half (no penalties, good play selection, good defense) the Raiders continued to frustrate their fans.

The Chargers dominated the 2nd half of the game with ball control, defense, and turnovers, thus laying the groundwork for the exodus for the likes of Norv Turner and Kerry Collins.  Turner's predictable play-calling and Collins' tosses off his back foot lead to the demise for a team that many thought would be an offensive powerhouse after the acquisitions of Randy Moss and Lamont Jordan during the off-season.

The defense has improved, especially considering the injuries occurred during the '05 campaign.  It's the offense that struggles.  Scoring 10 points against the Chargers is unacceptable.  It's either coaching or personnel, or both.  I think it's BOTH.

Turner has the back he needs to run the ball 24-30 times a game, yet decides not to use him until they're down three scores.  Collins streakiness ain't worth the upside of ASU graduate Andrew Walter. 

Al Davis won't let this team be down long.  Changes need to be made.  It should start with Norv and Kerry.

Arguably the biggest transaction of the NFL off-season was Randy Moss' trade from the Vikings to the Raiders.  The pundits said Al Davis pulled off highway robbery.  The Raiders' acquisition of Moss and former NY Jets running back Lamont Jordan made them an early favorite to be the NFL's offensive juggernaut.

Eleven games into the 2005 campaign and the term "a lot of bark, but no bite" comes to mind.  The numbers show it and, more importantly, the wins and losses scream the truth:  FAILURE.  A Raiders' squad that averaged 20 points a game in 2004 is managing just 21.7 points per game in 2005 with their new weapons.  Sure, Moss' injury was a minor factor, but more than the injury, the under-utilization of one of the leagues premier playmakers is the cause of the stagnate and flat offense.  Moss has yet to catch more than six balls in any game.  More importantly, he's caught less than five balls in six of the 10 games he's played in (excluding the 10/16 Charger game).  The $8 million decoy has not been a problem off the field, but rather a problem on the field.  Who wants the "old" Randy Moss back?  The one who was confrontational when things weren't going his way?  I DO.  I want him to demand the ball from Kerry Collins.  I want him to get in Collins' face when the pigskin isn't pitched in his direction.  Bad thing is, even if this were the case, you wouldn't ever hear it from the receiver's mouth, as he's not spoken to the local media since the first week of the season.  I'm starting to not like this watered-down version of Moss. 

It's too late to resurrect the hopes of an upcoming season, but it's not too late to demand that the football be thrown to the Raiders' marquee player.........AND OFTEN!!!!!