What I Learned – NFL Week 1

I try not to speculate on what will happen in the NFL before the first game of the season. I did have an NFL Prediction post last week, but that was just for fun and possibly bragging rights if any of that stuff comes close to coming true. I did predict that Tom Brady will not throw 30 TDs this season, looks like that will come true. Here is a list of things I have learned after watching week one.

– The Carolina Panthers are what many experts thought they would be last season, very good. San Diego will be good, but looks like the NFC South will be more competitive than the last few seasons.

– Matt Forte looks like Eddie George. I know the Colts haven’t historically had good run defense, but they did a great job last season. If Forte keeps this up, the Bears may find the playoffs this year.

– Matt Cassel “could” be good. He hasn’t started a game since high school. He should have a few good weeks since no team has any film to study on the QB. Unless they dust off some sort of high school recruiting video of Cassel, look for him to have a few good weeks coming up, after that, I’m not sure what will happen.

– The Raiders are still bad. I know this team has a few young studs and added DeAngelo Hall this offseason. Denver isn’t supposed to be good this season and they completely dominated the Raiders in every area. It will be another long year in Oakland and could be headed back to L.A. after this season.

– The pre-season is still a little important. I say this from watching Peyton Manning in the Colts first game. He looked completely rusty and out of sync with all of his receivers. Anthony Gonzalez didn’t help him by dropping a couple key passes, but it could be a down year for them. I am a Colts fan and it saddens me to say that, but I still expect them to win enough to make the playoffs.

– Willie Parker’s job is secure. A lot of people read into this year’s draft that the Steelers aren’t sold on Pakers as their running back. Rashard Mendenhall was taken very high, but appears that he could be a 3rd-down back for awhile. Parker looked amazing and scoring three TDs will make his fantasy football owners approve of him.

– Buffalo looks like an AFC East contender. The Bills dominated the Seahawks and looks much-improved this season. Seattle doesn’t have a great history of playing on the road and this could be a one-week wonder for Buffalo, but I think they are legit.

– Michael Turner is finally a starter in the NFL. Atlanta is going to run the ball a million yards this season with Turner and Norwood as a two-headed backfield. They will give Matt Ryan some time to throw the ball and could lead to a few extra wins for the Falcons this season.

– Jacksonville is over-rated. I have never been high on the Jaguars. I think last season they over-achieved and will fall back down to earth this year. The loss of Marcus Stroud will be too much to overcome and they really don’t have much of an offense if Maurice Jones-Drew is stopped.

– Carson Palmer played like Akili Smith. I know that the Bengals played the Ravens, but this is the 2008 Ravens and not the 2000 Ravens. Palmer didn’t even throw for 100 yards and Chad Ocho Cino, I mean, Chad Johnson was a ghost. Marvin Lewis could be coaching Cincinnati for the last season.

– How ‘Bout Them Cowboys! Cleveland did look bad, but I think Dallas made them look worse than they really are. Dallas is already loaded on offense and having a guy like Felix Jones coming off the bench shouldn’t even be fair. I will definitely watch the Cowboys/Eagles games this season, they should be great.

– Brett Favre is still Brett Favre. He is made the Jets look amazing. I know they played Miami, but he didn’t look rusty at all. The Jets should be much-improved, but it is still too early to put them as a playoff team.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Song Of The Day – Metallica (The Day That Never Comes)

Metallica haven’t been the same since Lars Ulrich pissed off millions of internet users by threatening lawsuits if caught downloading any of their material. Their new album, “Death Magnetic,” has been leaked around the internet and Ulrich came out by saying that the more people who listen to this album, the better. He has either changed his tune or realize that their new album is a lot better than their last few.

I have received a copy of “Death Magnetic” and I enjoy it. I’m not sure how many singles will be released off this album, since 95% of the tracks are over 6 1/2 minutes long. Whatever they release will be played all over rock radio, but as far as top 40 radio goes, they tend to shy away from anything that length. A huge tour should follow the release of “Death Magnetic,” and I’m sure they will have a few bands on the bill to make the tickets expensive.

I like their video for “The Day That Never Comes.” It has a theme that is both anti-war and pro-troops. I think it is a good stand to take in today’s very political world. Here is the video for “The Day That Never Comes.”

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Support Your Local Blogger

I just watched the Giants/Redskins kickoff game tonight and I am wondering a few things. Are the Giants that good or are the Redskins that bad? Does Jason Campbell know how to throw over five yards? How long do you give Jim Zorn before they put in Colt Brennan? When did Brandon Jacobs turn into Jamal Lewis? LaRon Landry got steam-rolled and it was ridiculous. I don’t own Jacobs on any of my fantasy teams, but he is the kind of guy that looks great one week and then disappears for a few games. Here’s a collection of links to fellow bloggers, enjoy.

Eli Manning Loves The Belt-less Trench Coat – The Sports Hernia

Darth Vader In Phillies Starting Rotation? – Hugging Harold Reynolds

New Vs. Old 90210 – You Decide – Co-Ed Magazine

Which McCain Isn’t Like The Rest? – Flatusyahu

WoW comic? – Expect Nothing

Top 10 Non-Kicking Special Teamers Of All Time – Yep Yep

Florida Championship Wrestling – WWE’s Minors – The Serious Tip

Why The St. Louis Rams Won’t Win The Super Bowl – The Hater Nation

Marvin Harrison Is A Thug – Sons Of Sam Malone

Jamaal Tinsley Is A Virus To The Pacers – Ball Don’t Lie

Somebody Has To Win The ACC, Right? – Digital Headbutt

Tatum Bell Don’t Fumble Bags – Empty The Bench

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Sports Crush – Natalie Gulbis

Natalie Gulbis is an LPGA star, which means she should be slightly more of a star than your local high school’s back-up quarterback. She more special than that because of her looks and the fact that she has actually won an LPGA event. She has placed in the top-10 of an LPGA major fives times, oh and she has appeared in FHM magazine.

Gulbis has been coined as “the Anna Kournikova of the LPGA.” She is a cute blonde that plays sports, but she is successful in her sport, so that’s the difference between her and Kournikova. She has appeared in her own reality television show on the Golf Channel, “The Natalie Gulbis Show,” and wrote a monthly column in FHM.

The LPGA isn’t exactly must-see television, but if there were 10 more of Natalie Gulbis, I would pay more attention to it. If Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer were ever in a playoff, you need to set your TiVo.


A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Big Z, That Was A Close Call

The Chicago Cubs should be popping champagne bottles in celebration that Carlos Zambrano won’t need season-ending surgery for his shoulder. He was diagnosed with tendinitis and inflammation in his shoulder, which is much better than what the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times was hinting at the last few days. The Cubs will only go as far as Zambrano can make it.

Rich Harden is having some issues and will have a start pushed back, Dempster hasn’t thrown this many innings since he was on the Florida Marlins, Lilly kind of imploded at the end of the season last year, and I will never trust Jason Marquis. The replacement starters for the Cubs would either be Sean Marshall or long-reliever, Jon Lieber. Marshall seems to pitch one good game and followed it by two awful outings. I don’t think Lieber would be a sufficient addition either, he has been hurt for most of the season. Angel Guzman could possibly start a game, but he has been hurt for nearly the entire season and has yet to win a start in his limited history as a starter.

I think that Zambrano and Harden should make it to the post-season, but their ability to go on 3-days rest on a few occasions isn’t an ideal situation. Zambrano hasn’t been good on 3-days rest and would fear Harden would be over-worked. My theory would work and think it would be best. I know Kerry Wood has been a great closer, but he has post-season experience and seems to be pitching really well. If they were to convert Wood back to a starter for the rest of the season, they would have to start building up his arm strength right now. I know Jeff Samardzjia was a starter in the minors this season, but his ERA wasn’t great and doesn’t have the ability yet to get guys out the 2nd or 3rd time through the lineup.

If Zambrano or Harden can’t make it through their next start, you have to think that starting Kerry Wood would at least make it through Pinella or GM Hendry’s thought process. He is a free agent after this season, so Wood may not want to risk injury, but it may be the Cubs’ best option to winning their first World Series since 1908.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Song Of The Day – P!nk (So What)

I don’t exactly know the correct spelling of her name, either “Pink” or “P!nk,” but for some reason she ends up with at least one song on every album that I actually like. She wouldn’t normally be my cup of tea, but seems like she doesn’t give a crap what she says, so I kind of want to see what she says. I must have heard “U + Ur Hand” about a million times at random places last summer, not my choice, just seemed to be a very popular song.

I saw the video for her new single, “So What,” and my jaw dropped. She has been in a much-publicized divorce with X-gamer Carey Hart and then out of nowhere he is in the video. Not only is he in the video, but he is in the part of the song that she talks smack about him. I’m not sure if I would have been okay with that, but they still seem to be friends, but still. I wouldn’t want an ex-girlfriend, let alone an ex-wife, talk all kinds of smack about me and I pose for the camera. She even talks about how she isn’t going to pay his rent anymore, etc. Looks like Hart & Huntington tattoo shop wasn’t as much of a success as the television show, “Inked,” led everyone to believe.

I’m sure P!nk’s new album will have a few songs that I actually like, don’t make fun, so you should go out and get it. Here is the video for “So What.”

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

2008 College Football – All-Name Team

Not everyone can have the last name ‘Manning’ or ‘Montana’, some of us have to go through life with a pretty ridiculous name. Most of these names are pretty rough to grow up with, but some are names you wish you may have, especially if you are named something bland like Joe Smith or Bobby Roberts.

YourHighNess Morgan – LB – Florida Atlantic
H.B. Banjoman – RB – Eastern Kentucky
Casey Dick – QB – Arkansas
Chris Smelley – QB – South Carolina
Cooter Arnold – WR – North Carolina
Baccari Rambo – DB – Georgia
Sam Spitz – FB – Wisconsin
Mighty Inyang – DB – Houston
Chubb Small – RB – Marshall
Caleb Dyck – RB – Alabama-Birmingham
Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada – QB – Navy
Stash McGuiness – OL – Cal Poly
Mike Lougee – LB – Iona
Dirk Kool – LB – South Dakota State
Heath Cockburn – G – Furman
Jeff Dickmann – CB – UCLA
T-Bob Hebert – C – Louisiana State
Fitz Bobo – WR – Miami (OH)
Prince Moody – DB – Wisconsin
Dane Cook – S – Ball State
Ryan Succup – K – South Carolina
Joker Phillips – Offensive Coordinator – Kentucky

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Time To Support Your Local Blooger

I don’t try and hide my love for the McRib. My mother knows this and he made it a point to call me and tell me that my hometown in Indiana now has the McRib. I have been in Ohio for over two years and we haven’t had them. Looks like I am going to be making a road trip back home in the next few weeks. Now here’s some links to some posts around the blog world.

Roger Clemens’ Son Is In Some Hot Water – Babes Love Baseball

An Effin’ Short Version of ‘Good Will Hunting’ – On 205th

Top 5 Most Depressing Bands You Made Popular – Uncoached

Dinner With Mike Ditka, Almost – Luol’s Dong

An Interesting Note About Jeff Samardzjia – Mondesi’s House

2008 Nickname Olympics – Chicago Bull

Tribute To Don Lafontaine – H8torade

Some Interesting New Orleans Saints “Dialogue” – Kissing Suzy Kolber

College Team Ends 49 Game Losing Streak – SPORTSbyBROOKS

Donyell Is A Sixer – Five Tool Tool

R.I.P. New York Yankees – The Money Shot

– Us Versus Them

Was C.C. robbed? – Out Of Left Field

Bloggers Are Not Dorks! – The Ghosts Of Wayne Fontes

Ocho Cinco Is Radioactive – Hugging Harold Reynolds

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Song Of the Day – Spoon (You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb)

Spoon have played here in Columbus, OH about six times over the past two year that I have lived here. I haven’t seen them, but probably everyone that I know have went to a Spoon concert. I wasn’t ever a fan until I heard “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” on the radio and I fell in love. I don’t like much of the “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” album, but it is definitely worth having.

“You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” sounds like something The Raveonettes should have recorded, but Spoon is much better than that band. Spoon has been around for awhile and they are just now starting to reading a level of mainstream success. They started back in 1996 and stuck with it, the fact that they didn’t break up is a testament to their dedication. Their first single off of “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” was “The Underdog,” also a great song.

Here is the video for “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Chad Ocho Cinco?!

There are reports coming out of Miami that Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals has legally changed his name to “Chad Ocho Cinco.” It is his way to bypass the NFL’s rule against putting nicknames on the back of the jersey. I’m not sure about the spelling yet, could he go metro and throwdown a hyphenate, Ocho-Cinco?

I don’t blame Chad Johnson for doing this, there are like five other players on the Bengals with the last name of Johnson. He is suffering from “bland name disease.” I think everyone knew someone named Chad Johnson growing up. He was probably a pretty lame kid too. I also suffer from this disease, with a name like Bobby Roberts it is bland, but unique enough to let the disease takeover. I am not a Robert Roberts, which most die from “bland name disease.”

I am all for this, maybe Chad Johnson needs to pool his money with a few other guys who have fun nicknames and restart the XFL. I think Rod Smart needs a job, so we could have the resurrection of “He Hate Me.”

Best Jersey Nickname Ever

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

Song Of The Day – Ben Folds (You Don’t Know Me)

Ben Folds has been one of my favorite artists over the last decade. After he went solo, his style of music never changed and he seems goofy as hell. I know many girls who would hook up with him over any kid from Fall Out Boy. Could it be that geek chic has trumped emo/punk chic? It’s a possibility I suppose, I’m a little nerdy, but I know more jock stuff than most meatheads. I toe the line, Johnny Cash should have written a song about it.

Ben Folds is coming out with a new album on September 30th. “Way To Normal” is the name and for some reason is probably meant sarcastically. “You Don’t Know Me” features Regina Spektor, their voices go very well together and Spektor is kind of a geeky man’s dream. She has an awesome voice, her beauty isn’t over-whelming, and she looks fairly obtainable. I’m looking forward to a new Ben Folds album and the month-long courtship with my ears.

Here is the video for “You Don’t Know Me.”

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.

"Hard Knocks" Is The Best Thing On TV

I didn’t get into the television series “Hard Knocks” until last season. I didn’t have HBO, so I didn’t get to see this amazing series. Last season the series followed the Kansas City Chiefs through training camp. It made the uninteresting Chiefs into something must-see. Even though I got to know more about Bobby Sippio and Larry Johnson than I should, it gives you an insider’s view of what goes on in the preparation of an NFL team.

“Hard Knocks” is following the Dallas Cowboys this season and it is as interesting as it sounds. You get to see a different side of every major player on “America’s Team.” I’ve seen the first four episodes of the season and episode five will be shown this weekend. My only suggestion is that they show Marion Barber, he must be a pretty bland guy. They have been showing how well Felix Jones is playing, yet the starter, Barber, hasn’t even been mentioned. Here are some of things I’ve noticed about the players that they are featuring.

Tank Johnson – He loves the “f” word and when they end team meetings, you see him almost running out of there. He seems like the guy I thought he was, so far I haven’t seen him strapped or carrying any kind of weapon. It’s only training camp, stay tuned.

Keon Lattimore – He’s best known as being the younger brother of Ray Lewis. He hasn’t had much playing time and he’s probably a long shot of making the team. Ray Lewis is good television, so he should stick around until the end of the last show and he’ll be cut.

Tony Romo – He actually seems like a good guy. Yeah, he reminds me of a typical jock from small-town American, but you would be lucky to pick up some secondhand ladies that probably attach themselves to his entourage.

Terrell Owens – My perception of T.O. has been totally contradicted by this show. I’m not sure if he is playing it up for the cameras or if he is actually a really good guy. He was even shown playing with Jerry Jones’ grandchildren. I think he may have actually matured.

Martellus Bennett – I hope this guy eventually takes Jason Witten’s job in a few seasons. He’s a big, talented, and pretty funny. He may not be the brightest guy in the room, but he’ll be a productive tight-end in the NFL.

Todd Lowber – Is it me or does this guy always have the “I don’t have a freakin’ clue what is happening right now” look on his face? He is a converted basketball player turned wide-receiver, but I don’t see any legitimate shot of this guy making this team at all. If by some slim chance that he makes the roster, he will be replaced by a proven receiver who was a cap casualty cut at the end of training camp from another team. Terry Glenn could even come back, Jerry Jones said in the first episode that it is still a possibility.

Jason Witten – I haven’t learned much about Witten other than he has a kid that can’t hold a helmet on his head without falling over. He better have another amazing year or that Bennett kid could creep up and take his job.

Pacman Jones – T.O. and him had some battles early on in camp that was fun to watch. He also showed his skills of catching six punt returns in a row, while keeping all the previous balls in hands. He is a talented guy and I hope he keeps out of trouble.

Roy Williams – This guy just loves to hit people. Coach Phillips told him to just tag players during a scrimmage and by the end of it he was trying to lay out dudes. Williams changed his number back to his college ’38’ and looks like it could have changed his focus back towards football and less towards banging members of Destiny’s Child.

Zach Thomas – He’s an old guy, but if he can rejuvenate his career by playing for a contender, he’s in the right situation. The dude was a beast early in his career with Miami, he’s a good addition.

Patrick Crayton – Any guy who comes into a team meeting wearing just a towel gets an A+ in my book. He also tied Pacman’s punt return total by catching six with all the balls still in his hand. He is definitely ready to step into the 2nd wide-receiver position left open by the cutting of Terry Glenn.

Bobby Carpenter – The television show has not been kind to Mr. Carpenter. They have shown him as a pretty boy and that he is soft. Guys from the team were even talking crap to him by calling him Barbie Carpenter and a punk bitch. Later on in the fourth episode the coaches and players were talking very positively about Carpenter, but seeing him getting the rookie treatment while he’s in his third season is always fun to watch. Maybe he can talk the Cowboys into trading for A.J. Hawk or trading him to Green Bay, seems like he was only useful with Hawk on his side.

A Sports & Entertainment blog that focuses on absurdity in sports, snarky banter, updates on Tim Tebow’s virginity, and decent sports gambling advice.